Category: Australian News

Today, I was pleased to meet with Mongolia’s Deputy Prime Minister, His Excellency S. Amarsaikhan, as Mongolia and Australia prepare to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

Our business, educational, and people-to-people ties have grown year-on-year since we officially established relations on 15 September 1972.

Mongolia’s 2007 decision to designate Australia a ‘third neighbour’ was a significant milestone for our relations, which has been reinforced by the opening of the Mongolian Embassy in Canberra in 2008, and the Australian Embassy in Ulaanbaatar in 2015.

Australia has supported more than 650 Mongolians to study under Australia Awards – many rising to leadership positions – which has strengthened our people-to-people ties.

I am hopeful that reciprocal Work and Holiday Maker visas, established this year, will build on these links.

In our meeting today, His Excellency S. Amarsaikhan and I agreed that we look forward to supporting the Australia-Mongolia relationship to grow even stronger in the years ahead.

Penny Wong

In a legal first, the Gomeroi Nation is using the public interest test, commonly used by fossil fuel companies to fight native title cases, to prevent Santos’ planned gas project in the Pilliga Forest. 

If the argument is successful, it would set a precedent for First Nations people to use climate change as a reason to stop fossil fuel projects on Country.

Greens spokesperson for Resources and Yamatji-Noongar woman Senator Dorinda Cox said:

“The Gomeroi people are co-opting the public interest test – using the fossil fuel industry’s tricks against them. Hopefully this sets a precedent for future native title cases.

“The Gomeroi people are spiritually linked to the Pilliga Forest. It is their lungs, and one of the most spiritually significant elements of their culture. They shouldn’t have to take an energy giant to court to have their heritage and culture protected.

“This is a classic example of a fossil fuel company ignoring the wishes of Traditional Owners in favour of profits.

“The Gomeroi people have chosen Country over profits, declining substantial financial compensation from Santos, proving you can’t put a price on culture.”

The Greens say an interim report by the Productivity Commission into the National Schools Reform Agreement (NSRA) obscures the fact that persistent funding inequity is the main reason why the Agreement is failing to meet its goals.

It’s projected that, until the end of the decade, private schools will be funded over 100% of their Schooling Resource Standard (SRS), while public schools won’t even reach 91%. On average, public school students are missing out on $1800 in funding every year under the NSRA.

The SRS represents the minimum funding level required for students to achieve the minimum standard.

Greens spokesperson on schools, Senator Penny Allman-Payne said:

“The elephant in the room in the national debate on school and student performance is the huge funding gap that exists between the haves and have- nots in our education system.

“If you’re not talking about persistent school funding inequity then you’re not talking seriously about improving outcomes for our students.

“While funding falls outside the scope of the Productivity Commission’s report there can be no doubt from its conclusions that the deliberate underfunding of Australia’s public schools is undermining our children’s education and driving the teacher shortage crisis.

“Inequity in our education system will not be fixed by tinkering at the edges of the next National School Reform Agreement. As negotiations between the Federal and State Governments ramp up, we need to see a wholesale shift away from funding expensive private schools, and reinvestment in our public education system.

“The Productivity Commission is right to highlight the massive administrative workload faced by teachers. We need better conditions, better pay, and better career progression opportunities for public school teachers.

“If we gave less of our money to elite private schools so they can build extra boat sheds, and more to underfunded public schools, we can close the funding gap and lift standards across the board.”

Australia and Vietnam today reaffirmed their strong partnership during the Australia-Vietnam Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Canberra.

The visit, by Vietnam’s Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, is the first visit to Australia by a Vietnamese minister since 2019.

Australia and Vietnam are strong partners and friends. Our relationship is underpinned by close economic and trade links, our growing peacekeeping relationship, and longstanding people-to-people ties.

We share a commitment to ASEAN centrality and a strategic interest in maintaining a region which is peaceful, stable and prosperous, in which sovereignty is respected.

Australia and Vietnam have supported each other throughout the pandemic. In this spirit, Australia will provide Vietnam with a further 4.2 million adult Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses, in addition to the 22.2 million doses delivered to date.

Foreign Minister Son and I had warm and productive discussions about how we can further expand our Strategic Partnership. We also discussed ways to strengthen our climate change cooperation as both countries work towards meeting our commitments to net zero emissions by 2050.

Australia and Vietnam will mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year. Throughout 2023 we will reflect on our relationship and look forward to what we can achieve together.

The Greens call on the Labor Government to immediately shut down plans for seismic blasting that could impact the Mermaid Reef and Rowley Shoals Marine Parks – which the Australian Government and the West Australian Government recognise as ‘one of the most remote and pristine marine areas in the world’. 

“Humpback whales, hammerhead sharks, turtles, 200 species of coral, 600 species of fish, and the livelihoods of small business owners could all be impacted by reckless seismic blasting in this area. 

“It’d be absolutely hypocritical of Labor not to shut down plans that could negatively impact these precious marine ecosystems and the lives and livelihoods that depend on them. 

“Anthony Albanese promised he’d stop exploration associated with the PEP-11 project on Australia’s east coast because he thought it was a ‘bad idea’ and it’d be completely contradictory for him not to do the same here in WA.

“Blasting marine life with seismic shockwaves is the reality of what happens when our Government opens up our ocean for more oil and gas – and let’s not forget that Labor has just opened up 46,758 square kilometres of new ocean acreage for fossil fuel companies to exploit.”

Greens spokesperson for resources and Yamatji Noongar woman, Senator Dorinda Cox said:

“Successive governments continue to damage First Nations culture and heritage in favour of big corporations.

“Traditional Owners’ culture and spirituality is intrinsically connected to Sea Country, we shouldn’t be selling it to multinational coal and gas companies for private profit.

“If Labor wants to meet their own emissions target, we cannot keep opening up new coal and gas.

“Gas has no part to play in a green future. We need cleaner, greener, renewable energy sources and investment in a clean energy export industry.”

Greens social services spokesperson, Senator Janet Rice, has urged the Federal Government to extend Pandemic Leave Payments beyond September at tomorrow’s national cabinet meeting. 

Senator Rice said:

“As much as we all wish it wasn’t, the pandemic is still with us, and national cabinet still has COVID isolation requirements in place.

“The state and territory premiers have called for pandemic leave payments to continue, and so we know that if national cabinet doesn’t grant this necessary extension, it’s Anthony Albanese who’s the blocker.

“If Albanese is happy to give $244b in tax cuts for the rich, he has no excuse to claim the federal government can’t hold up their end of the 50/50 bargain with the states to make sure that people who need to isolate or quarantine are financially supported.

“Amid the cost of living crisis, a pandemic that is still with us, and the fuel excise due to end this month too, people need support. 

“The government can’t ask people to follow public health advice and then completely undermine that message by taking away the financial help they need to isolate, like the Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment and the Crisis Payment for National Health Emergency. 

“If national cabinet does not agree to the extension tomorrow, I will be moving an urgent disallowance in the next sitting of Parliament, to ensure that the crisis payment remains in place for people on income support who are forced to isolate or quarantine.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has invited 10 everyday Australians to travel with him to the United Kingdom for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral.

In addition to invitations extended to Australia’s Heads of State, the Palace has invited 10 Australians who have made extraordinary contributions to their communities, and who represent Australian culture and values. 

Among invitees are 2022 Australian of the Year recipients and community representatives who embody inclusion and the spirit of helping others.

They represent each state and territory and the rich diversity of contemporary Australia.

The 10 everyday Australians who will represent Australia at Her Majesty’s funeral are:

• Dylan Alcott AO – 2022 Australian of the Year
• Valmai Dempsey – 2022 Senior Australian of the Year
• Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann AM, 2021 Senior Australian of the Year
• Shanna Whan – 2022 Australian of the Year Local Hero
• Saba Abraham – Local Hero 2022, Queensland
• Kim Smith APM – Local Hero 2022, Tasmania
• Trudy Lin – Young Australian of the year 2022, South Australia
• Danny Abdallah – Co-Creator of i4give Day and Foundation
• Chris Waller – Inductee, Australian Racing Hall of Fame
• Professor Helen Milroy – Western Australia Australian of the Year 2021

These everyday Australians will travel alongside the Prime Minister and Governor-General His Excellency the Hon David Hurley AC DSC (Retd). The travelling party will join the acting High Commissioner Lynette Wood currently located in the United Kingdom.

Prime Minister Albanese said:

“I am honoured to be accompanied by these Australians who will join me, on behalf of Australia, in paying our respects to Her Majesty The Queen, Elizabeth II.

Each of these extraordinary citizens represents contemporary Australia, and quintessential Australian values such as respect, inclusion and helping others.”

Australia will hold a National Day of Mourning to observe Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday 22 September 2022.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has written to Premiers and Chief Ministers asking they declare this day a National Public Holiday to commemorate Her Majesty’s remarkable life and dedication to service. 

A National Memorial Service will be held at 11:00am in the Great Hall of Australian Parliament House in Canberra and will begin with one minute’s silence. It will be broadcast live across the nation.  

The Prime Minister, Governor-General David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), Premiers and Chief Ministers and other attendees from across Australia will be invited to come together to pay their respects.

Prime Minister Albanese said:

“Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Second led a remarkable life, dedicated to service and duty.  

“Queen Elizabeth II is the only reigning monarch most Australians have known and her faithful service will be remembered for centuries to come.

“Her Majesty was the only reigning monarch to ever to visit Australia and it was clear from her first trip that she had a special place in our hearts.

“I have asked Premiers and Chief Ministers that Thursday 22 September 2022 be declared a National Public Holiday in honour of the life and service of our late Queen.

“Over the coming weeks, Australia will continue to commemorate our late Queen. 

“I encourage all Australians, wherever you may be, to take time to pause and reflect on Her Majesty’s extraordinary life of service.”

California-based energy company, Chevron, wants Western Australia to be excluded from the Australian Domestic Gas Security Mechanism, so as to reassure its customers in Asia and protect its windfall profits. 

A significant portion of natural gas produced by Chevron comes from their Gorgon, Wheatstone and the North West Shelf projects in Western Australia. 

Greens spokesperson for resources, Yamatji-Noongar Woman Senator Dorinda Cox said:
“While everyday Australians are facing a cost-of-living and energy crisis, Chevron is reaping in massive profits and continuing to destroy the climate.

“Chevron is putting its profits above the wellbeing of everyday Australians. Its Gorgon gas project paid $7 million in tax in the 2019/20 financial year, while producing as much as $32 million a day. Its Wheatstone project paid no tax or royalties in 2021. 

“Chevron claims to be a good corporate citizen yet it’s putting the market over people. Australia is facing an energy crisis and any impact on their international exports could be redirected to the Australian domestic market

“For decades, both Liberal and Labor governments have been taking political donations from mining companies and giving them massive tax handouts and tax breaks in return.”

Never in modern history has there been a more dignified monarch, a more dutiful leader, or a more decent human than Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

An extraordinary life which touched so many has sadly come to an end.

The last page has been inked on an exceptional reign.

She was our Sovereign.

As she was for other nations of the Commonwealth spread across the world’s continents and oceans.

A Monarch who ruled with an empathetic heart and wisdom both innate and gained from almost a century of life and experience.

Her Majesty was gentle, kind, and much-loved.

Following her Coronation on the 2nd of June 1953, our Queen said:

“I have in sincerity pledged myself to your service, as so many of you are pledged to mine. Throughout all my life and with all my heart I shall strive to be worthy of your trust.”

Not only did our Queen earn our trust, she also won our admiration.

In serving the people, the people marvelled at her unflagging service.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II lived through the pivotal events of the 20th and 21st centuries – wars and conflicts, depression and recession, the end of empire and decolonisation, the race to the moon and the attainment of civil rights, the brilliance of Olympic Games and the barbarity of terrorism.

She led Britain through the darkest of days and through the times of triumph.

Though the world changed around her, she remained steadfast in her devotion to God, her country, and to the Commonwealth.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited Australia on sixteen separate occasions between 1954 and 2011, with her reign spanning sixteen separate Australian Prime Ministers.

She visited every state and territory, helped to open our new Parliament House and the Sydney Opera House, and attended the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane and Melbourne. Wherever she went, crowds choked the streets, cheering, clapping, and waving flags to express their adoration.

Despite her royalty, she possessed extraordinary humility, greeting all those she met with courtesy, treating them as equals and offering an attentive ear.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II again exemplified the optimism, poise and stoicism which she carried throughout life and which inspired so many. She told the people of the United Kingdom, via broadcast, “We will succeed… better days will return… We will meet again.” Seventy-six years earlier as an eighteen-year-old Princess, she had insisted on joining the Army, donning a uniform and training as a truck driver and mechanic to support the war effort.

Today, a comforting warmth has left the world. One of humanity’s brightest lights has gone out.

May our memories of our dear Queen inspire the very best in us, just as she drew inspiration from her subjects.

As the Leader of the Opposition, and on behalf of the Federal Coalition, I offer my heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family and to the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is finally at peace with her beloved husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip.

Thank you, Your Majesty, for everything.