Category: Australian News

The Australian Greens are calling on Minister Amanda Rishworth to listen to disability stakeholders and scrap mutual obligations from the new disability employment service model.

Australian Greens spokesperson for community affairs and social services, Senator Janet Rice said:

“The mutual obligations system for people on income support has long been shown to be punitive, discriminatory, and one that prioritises profits over people.

“In the consultation report released today, stakeholders have clearly spelled out to the government that mutual obligations are “ineffective” and “excessive”. 

“The Greens call for an end to all mutual obligations for everyone on income support. 

“We saw in 2020 that when income support payments for jobseekers were raised to $550 on the covid supplement and mutual obligations were dumped, that this led to better outcomes, including employment outcomes. 

“If Labor genuinely want to help people get a job, they should be providing people with a living wage, and including voluntary and supportive services in the new DES model, not the same punitive measures that keep people in poverty.”

It is a true honour and pleasure to come here as Prime Minister and congratulate you on your 90th anniversary.

Through nine decades, the ABC has brought us closer together as a nation.

You’ve added to our identity. You’ve added to our voice.

You’ve brought us laughter and tears.

You’ve exposed hard truths and celebrated triumphs.

You’ve brought sunshine into dark corners.

You’ve sought out the bright moments in order to share the light.

As one of the mainstays of Australian life, the ABC has woven so many great strands into the fabric of our nation.

And no one should ever diminish the sheer scale of your achievement in cementing a pair of talking bananas in our national consciousness.

Trust and truth

As the ABC has added to Australia’s collective voice, you’ve done it in part with voices we knew instinctively we could trust.  Among them:

James Dibble. Geraldine Doogue. Mark Colvin. Andrew Olle. Caroline Jones. Kerry O’Brien. Liz Jackson. Chris Masters. Norman May. Alan McGilvray. Bill Peach. Richard Morecroft. Leigh Sales. Laura Tingle. Tony Jones. Fran Kelly.

I could list them all night. They have slotted perfectly into the ABC, because the ABC has never been afraid to treat issues with the seriousness they deserve.

Even the briefest rollcall of programs over the years is testament to that: Four Corners. PM. This Day Tonight. Foreign Correspondent. 7.30. And of course Lateline – which I still miss, by the way.

What they have all offered is journalism worthy of the fourth estate.  Quality analysis and real reporting. Investigation determined to uncover facts and extract hard truths.

Anyone can skim a quick opinion off the top of their head in a beautifully lit echo chamber.

Not everyone can shine a light so brightly that it burns away the darkness.

Not everyone can report a truth that changes the course of events.

And certainly not everyone is still willing to devote the time and the resources that make such an essential public service possible.

The ABC does. Why? Because it matters. Truth matters. Accountability matters.

If they ever cease to matter, we’ll be left with very little that does.

Confidence in our democratic system is underpinned by strong public organisations contributing accurate information and well-informed, carefully reasoned analysis.

That has to be delivered in an atmosphere of independence, without any form of intimidation – no matter how subtly applied.

And one of those public organisations has to be the ABC.

Democracy is not something we can afford to take for granted.

As we look around the world, we see democracy under sustained attack – either through direct assault or a more insidious erosion.

A strong ABC is an insurance policy against the misinformation and disinformation chipping away at what we hold dear.

Amid the rising tide of social media, the ABC is a beacon of trust. Trust takes a long time to establish – and it takes energy to maintain.

A lifeline in disaster

It is in no small part due to that trust that the ABC has been invaluable during the pandemic. So many Australians turned to you, safe in the knowledge they could rely on the COVID-19 information you made available online.

And you were absolutely crucial during the bushfires and the floods. Commercial broadcasters and community radio have played an important role, but times of disaster have seen our treasured national institution really shine.

When mobile phone towers have been knocked out, or Telstra exchanges submerged, when the power’s gone and people are down to a handful of batteries in a radio …

… you’ve been there, ready with critical information in some very fast-moving, often desperate situations.

There have been moments when you’ve been the difference between life and death. Ponder that. There are people still alive right now because of the ABC.

Keeping the nation connected

As I crisscrossed the country during the election campaign, I was reminded again just how vast our continent is.

There’s something especially comforting about knowing that this great space is humming with voices thanks to the ABC – whether it’s TV, the internet or, especially important, local radio.

If the ABC doesn’t entirely defeat the tyranny of distance, it certainly softens it.

Just as the ABC keeps regional Australia in touch with metropolitan areas and other parts of the country, it also provides important insights from regional and remote Australia to those in the suburbs and inner cities.

There’s nothing quite like sharing our stories to stop us becoming strangers to each other.

We’ve all heard the mantras about the ABC as a haven of inner city elites, repeated with straight faces by critics based … in our inner cities.

I hope those commentators take note of the 48 regional ABC bureaus spread in a great constellation across the country, and the continued existence of Landline.

Likewise your announcement in December of 50 new journalist roles and a trial of five new mini-bureaus across regional Australia.

The ABC has one of the largest dedicated rural reporting workforces in the world. It’s all part of your commitment to being a truly national broadcaster.

Comedy and beyond

As part of our great national conversation, the ABC has also provided a great haven for comedians and satirists and purveyors of absurdity.

Sometimes it’s laughter wrapped around a great truth. Sometimes it’s just laughter.

And sometimes it feels mainly like an exercise to keep the members of the complaints unit in gainful employment.

The Gillies Report. Wendy Harmer. The Doug Anthony Allstars. Elle McFeast. The Late Show. Mad as Hell. Roy and HG. John Clarke and Bryan Dawe. The perfection of Frontline. The confronting accuracy of Utopia.

And I’ll mention my friend Andrew Denton, because he has my phone number.

The thing about the ABC is just how ubiquitous a presence it is in our memories, whether it is drama so compelling it becomes part of our dialogue, or the massive earworm that is the Majestic Fanfare. Or memories of Backchat.

Or Richard Glover’s and Peter FitzSimons’s world-record, 24-hour, one-on-one radio interview – congratulations, Richard, on getting a few words in.

The sheer electricity of Phoenix and Redfern Now.

Richard Roxburgh creating menace in a cardigan in Blue Murder.

Every minute we spent in the garden with Peter Cundall and Costas Georgiadis.

Every back road Heather Ewart has ever taken us down.

The great Energiser Bunny that is Australian Story.

Aunty Jack bringing colour to Australian TV a couple of minutes before any of the commercial stations.

Tony Armstrong reacting to the Socceroos qualifying for the World Cup.

And more reruns of Doctor Who and The Goodies than we ever really knew what to do with – except to just keep watching.

Fire up the amps

Then there’s the ABC’s many years building our national soundtrack.

I believe the fact I am a Triple J fan has been detected along the way. Even before I got into Parliament, I was campaigning for it to become a national station. A truly righteous cause.

Look at what Triple J’s Unearthed alone has achieved in discovering fresh Australian talent. You could put together a pretty solid playlist from the galaxy of Unearthed artists, from Montaigne to Thelma Plum to Gang of Youths.

Imagine the great Australian jukebox without all those voices.

Think of every time Molly Meldrum implored us all to do ourselves a favour.

Think of the night TISM hosted Rage.  And for that matter, the night I hosted Rage – an absolute career highlight.

Then of course there’s your role in the birth of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. You’ve made classical music accessible to a bigger audience and strengthened its place in our nation’s cultural life.

The kids are all right

I don’t want to get on Jemima and Big Ted’s bad side, so I’d also like to talk about the powerhouse of your children’s programming.

As ABC Kids has grown into one of the nation’s most trusted babysitters, you have been capturing hearts across the globe, whether it’s Bananas in Pyjamas, the juggernaut that is the Wiggles, and, of course, Bluey.

There’s an ABC story for you. A family of dogs, one of them voiced by the lead singer from Custard, going out and conquering the world.

Bluey has the second-highest rated TV episode on the International Movie Database, beaten only by Breaking Bad.

Imagine a crossover episode. Things would have turned out better for Walter White if Bandit and Chilli had got involved.

It’s fun, but it’s also important. Without it, an important aspect of the development of cultural identity in young Australians’ formative years would be lost to a tide of imported programming.

Just as in drama, we need other voices and all the perspectives they bring, but not at the expense of our own.

It’s also important that our notion of ourselves has become broader and more inclusive – with the ABC as a driving force.

One example is Little J & Big Cuz, a great SBS and NITV-initiated kids’ show available in a host of Indigenous languages, including Warlpiri and Noongar.

A voice in region

You also help us to share our voice in the region. That was undervalued by the previous government, even trivialised. That was a mistake.

If we don’t have our voice out there – if we cut programming or drop out of shortwave frequencies – others are only too ready to fill the gap.

The ABC is a crucial part of our ongoing conversation with our regional neighbours.

That is why my Government is committed to delivering an Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy that includes increased funding to the ABC to boost Australian content and to project Australian identity, values and interests to the Indo-Pacific region.

On top of every other consideration, it is a prudent investment in our security and national interest.

Amid it all, the ABC has been powered by a spirit of innovation. You were the home of some of the earliest podcasts. You jumped into social media when it was still a novelty. And where would we be without iView? 

Pillar of democracy

The health of our democracy is underpinned by truth, and by the strength of our cultural identity – how we see ourselves as a people and what unifies us in all the splendour of our diversity.

A government that chooses to attack a public broadcaster does so motivated by either ideology or fear – or a toxic cocktail of the two.

No government should fear the ABC – unless it fears the truth.

A government of integrity and transparency should welcome the accountability that a strong, properly resourced public broadcaster brings.

There is little that is so at odds with who we are than an ideology that demands a tame public broadcaster, debased to the status of government mouthpiece.

The ABC must always be a public broadcaster, never a state broadcaster.

A government confident of its own ideas and principles should embrace independent questioning as crucial to the democracy it purports to uphold.

But just as the Government should welcome scrutiny from the ABC, so the ABC should welcome scrutiny from the Government. Accountability is a two-way street.

However strong our affection for the ABC, it cannot be blind. No organisation is infallible, and we can all freely admit that Aunty is no exception.

National government and national broadcaster can both share the goals of transparency, accuracy, effectiveness, diversity, and value for money.

When it comes to your money, which of course is from the taxpayers we all serve, the only condition that should be attached is accountability.

I want to take this opportunity to reiterate my Government’s vow to provide the ABC with 5-year funding terms …

… restore $83.7 million in funding to the ABC …

… and review options for delivering greater financial sustainability to safeguard against political interference.

Conclusion

I want us to be a country at home with our own identity. And a part of that is cherishing the ABC and respecting the ABC.

Our ABC.

Our celebration of your nine decades is a celebration of Australian voices, Australian culture.

Our drama. Our music.

Our struggles. Our triumphs.

Our lives. Our society. Our truth.

And just as you help us see ourselves, you let us see the rest of the world through a lens of our own making.

Put it together and it’s something we can all take pride in.

Thank you for having me. It’s always good to come to Ultimo.

I look forward to celebrating your 100th anniversary – as Prime Minister – up the road in Parramatta.

Australia is deeply concerned about the launch of ballistic missiles by China into waters around Taiwan’s coastline.

These exercises are disproportionate and destabilising.

This is a serious matter for the region, including for our close strategic partner, Japan.

Australia shares the region’s concerns about this escalating military activity, especially the risks of miscalculation.

We urge restraint and de-escalation.

It is in all our interests to have a region at peace and not in conflict. Australia does not want to see any unilateral change to the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. There is no change to Australia’s bipartisan one-China policy.

We are continuing to monitor the situation very closely, and we are talking to allies and partners.

Today I have expressed Australia’s concerns to my Chinese counterpart along with other regional foreign ministers in the East Asia Summit in Phnom Penh, and officials from my department have reiterated our concerns with the Chinese Government.

I am pleased to announce I have recommended the Governor-General appoint Ms Meghan Quinn PSM as the new Secretary of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources.

Ms Quinn has had a distinguished career in both the public and private sector.

In the public sector, Ms Quinn has been focussed on the Commonwealth Treasury portfolio, undertaking a number of senior roles, including as Deputy Secretary of the Markets Group, and the Macroeconomic Group. She was also central to the preparation of the Australia in the Asian Century White Paper in 2012.

She has also worked for BHP and the Bank of England.

In 2009, Ms Quinn was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service in the development of climate change policy.

Ms Quinn’s five-year appointment will commence on 22 August 2022. I congratulate her on the appointment and look forward to working with her.

APS Departments and Secretaries as at 5 August 2022

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet	Prof Glyn Davis AC
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry	Mr Andrew Metcalfe AO
Attorney-General’s Department	Ms Katherine Jones PSM
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water	Mr David Fredericks PSM
Department of Defence	Mr Greg Moriarty
Department of Education	Dr Michele Bruniges AM
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations	Ms Natalie James
Department of Finance	Ms Jenny Wilkinson PSM
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade	Ms Jan Adams AO PSM
Department of Health and Aged Care	Prof Brendan Murphy AC
Department of Home Affairs	Mr Michael Pezzullo AO
Department of Industry, Science and Resources	Ms Meghan Quinn PSM [from 22 August 2022]
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts	Mr Jim Betts
Department of Social Services	Mr Ray Griggs AO CSC
Department of the Treasury	Dr Steven Kennedy PSM
Department of Veterans’ Affairs

AUSTRALIA is a step closer to becoming an offshore wind superpower, with a landmark new offshore wind announcement touted to bring jobs and economic opportunities, after years of waiting for the door to open on this booming global industry. 

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen today announced six proposed regions for NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and WA that have world-class offshore wind potential. 

Tim Baxter, Climate Council Senior Researcher and energy expert said: “This is an exciting and critical step in realising a cleaner, cheaper, healthier future that is free of coal and gas.

“Just like the new Climate Bill and yesterday’s historic proposed rejection of the Queensland coal mine – this announcement is a symbol of Australia’s climate shift. This is exactly the kind of urgent action we need to reduce pollution this decade.

“While Europe takes great advantage of its offshore wind resources, foot dragging by the previous federal government means Australia – with world class offshore wind resources – still has no industry at all.

“Taking advantage of offshore wind brings many advantages to the grid, further improving the reliability of our power supply. Australians can see the importance of this in the current energy crisis which has been exacerbated by the fleet of failing coal and gas generators.”

Dr Madeline Taylor, Climate Councillor, energy expert and senior lecturer at Macquarie University, School of Law said: “The mapping of offshore wind zones represents an exciting opportunity and important step forward to harness our excellent offshore wind resources. It also provides a positive market signal for industry and communities.

“Australia’s wind resources are among the world’s best, comparable to the North Sea, an area that’s leading the world in offshore wind generation. In fact, if all of our proposed offshore wind farms were built, their combined energy capacity would be greater than all of Australia’s coal-fired power stations.” 

The Climate Council recommends the Albanese Government build on its climate agenda to deliver deeper emissions cuts by 2030 by: 

• Speeding up the transformation of our energy system to renewable power. 
• Ending all government support for fossil fuel expansion.
• Focusing on electrification and energy efficiency. 
• Growing good jobs by giving a major boost to clean manufacturing. 
• Ending land clearing and accelerating efforts to restore degraded land and forests.
• Strengthening the laws and agencies that underpin Australia’s transition to a zero emission economy. 

The Greens welcome reports of record coral recovery on parts of the Great Barrier Reef but warn the Government not to jeopardise its survival by supporting more oil and gas. 

CGreens spokesperson for healthy oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said:

“The Greens absolutely welcome reports of coral recovery on the Great Barrier Reef, however we can’t overlook that the fast-growing corals responsible for an increase in coral cover are also those most at risk from marine heatwaves and pest species. 

“I was fortunate to dive on the Great Barrier Reef recently with experts who explained that these new corals are first to grow but also first to go – meaning the reef is still very much fragile and in danger.

“We know that Labor’s current climate targets equate to 2°C global warming. Make no mistake: this will result in the death of Great Barrier Reef as we have been lucky enough to know it.

“Like it or not, the survival of the Great Barrier Reef is a political choice and Labor’s current climate targets are a death sentence for the reef.

“If Labor wants to end the climate wars they can start by stopping new coal and gas, because as scientists will tell you it’s fossil fuels or the reef – you can’t have both.”

Australia’s tax transparency laws have been significantly strengthened, with the Government supporting Greens amendments to lower the reporting threshold to a turnover of $100 million for Australian private companies.

“This is a massive step forward for tax transparency in Australia,” Greens Treasury and Economic Justice spokesperson Nick McKim said.

“We already know that big corporations are paying too little tax – today’s changes mean we can have a much clearer picture for many more companies.”

“The Australian public has a right to know this information.”

“Corporate tax transparency is critical for applying political pressure to make sure the big corporations pay their fair share of tax.”

“This shows what the Greens can achieve in balance of power, and what Labor and the Greens can do when we work together.” 

Australian Greens Statement on anniversary of revocation of Article 370 and downgrading of Jammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory. 

On the eve of the third anniversary of the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, the Australian Greens are calling on the Australian Government to do more to ensure people’s human rights are upheld. 

Senator Jordon Steele-John, Australian Greens Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs said:

“August 5th is a day of mourning for people of Jammu and Kashmir. The Australian Greens acknowledge that the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir are currently facing a humanitarian and human rights crisis that requires urgent international attention.

“The Australian Greens are calling on the Indian Government to restore and respect the human rights of the people in Kashmir and Jammu,  their right to self determination and peace. 

“The Australian Government must do more. Particularly to ensure community members are safe, and have and have access to healthcare, education, food, and clean water. 

Senator David Shoebridge, Australian Greens said:

“On the third anniversary of the stripping away of Kashmir’s constitutional protections, the Australian Greens stand in solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and the diaspora here in Australia and around the globe. 

“The Australian Greens acknowledge the right of the peoples of Jammu and Kashmir to freedom and self-determination. We also acknowledge and support the work of the diaspora to bring awareness of this human rights crisis in Australia and beyond.

“The Australian Government has an obligation to raise the attacks on Jammu and Kashmir in its diplomatic engagements with India. This is about Australia speaking the truth to our friends and acknowledging the universal right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to basic human freedoms.”

The Commonwealth and New South Wales governments will extend the Back Home grant to renters, landlords and homeowners impacted by the June-July flood event, with a total of $47 million available to get people home sooner.

The grants will be available across the 17 local government areas (LGAs) deemed to be the most severely flood impacted: Blacktown, Camden, Canterbury-Bankstown, Central Coast, Cessnock, Fairfield, Hawkesbury, Hornsby, Liverpool, Maitland, Mid Coast, Penrith, Port Stephens, Singleton, Sutherland, The Hills and Wollongong.

The grants can go towards any clean-up costs to restore housing to a habitable condition, such as:

• Inspection and safe reconnection of electrical, gas, water, hot water and sewerage equipment not otherwise the responsibility of utility companies; 
• Necessary replacement or repairs to damaged essential household goods such as refrigerators, ovens, washing machines and microwaves;
• Necessary replacement or repairs to damaged equipment such as computers and tools and other essential household contents;
• Moving to a new property if you are a tenant; and
• Necessary structural repairs including roof, flooring, walls, fittings (owner-occupier/owner).

“This Federal Government will be one that works across all levels of Government, with all organisations and communities to provide the support to those affected by natural disasters,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

“We know recovery is a long road ahead and we stand with the New South Wales Government in helping victims of the recent devastating floods get their lives back on track.”

Premier of New South Wales Dominic Perrottet said the grants would help renters, homeowners and landlords repair properties and replace belongings lost in the flooding.

“Whether a home needs electricity reconnected or structural repairs, this fund provides cash support to ensure this can happen fast. It also makes up to $5,000 available for the replacement of essential household items such as beds or kitchen equipment,” Mr Perrottet said.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Senator the Hon Murray Watt said under the Back Home grant scheme, households declared damaged or destroyed by the June-July flood event would be eligible for up to $20,000.

“The priority is to get people and families affected by floods back into a safe and dry home as quickly as possible,” Minister Watt said.

“This program will help their homes to become habitable again by contributing to the cost of replacing appliances, reconnecting utilities, fixing roofs, connecting electricity and making other necessary repairs.”

New South Wales Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said helping people return to their homes is a key part of the recovery process.

“It’s vital people have a roof over their head as they recover from this devastating flooding. The Back Home grant is aimed at helping people return to their properties as quickly as possible,” Ms Cooke said.

The Back Home program is in addition to a series of other jointly-funded clean-up and funding programs underway, including up to 16 weeks in rental support payments, rural landholder grants, small business and not-for-profit support, and an $80 million clean-up support program.

The grants will go live in coming days. Register to be notified at: Floods grants and other support.

Further information on assistance available as a result of the June-July flood event is available at: National Recovery and Resilience Agency.

Today, National Cabinet met virtually to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic, Monkeypox (MPX), Foot and Mouth Disease and the upcoming Jobs and Skills Summit.  

Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly provided an update on the current COVID-19 situation, including the uptake of vaccine booster doses and COVID-19 treatments.

The Commonwealth, State and Territory leaders discussed the continuing impact of COVID-19 on health system capacity and that they would work together to plan and prepare for likely future waves of COVID-19.

First Ministers agreed to continue to work together to manage the response to Monkeypox, following an update from Professor Kelly on the emerging situation.

The Chief Medical Officer declared MPX a Communicable Disease of National Significance on 28 July following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (23 July).

Internationally, there have been ten MPX deaths reported this year.

First Ministers also discussed the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak in Indonesia and work to ensure FMD preparedness in Australia.

The Commonwealth is providing a $14 million biosecurity package to bolster Australia’s frontline defence and provide more technical support for countries currently battling FMD and Lumpy Skin Disease.

Through this package, the Commonwealth continues to increase its biosecurity measures, including additional biosecurity officers, detector dogs, sanitation foot mats and increased messaging at airports.

First Ministers agreed to continue to work collaboratively on FMD preparedness to protect Australian livestock and businesses from the devastating impacts of this disease.

The Prime Minister also provided an update on the upcoming Jobs and Skills Summit and National Cabinet discussed how states and territories would work together on priority issues for consideration at the Summit.

The National Cabinet remains committed to working together on national priorities and will continue to meet as necessary.