Category: Australian News

We congratulate Rosemary Kayess on her re-election to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

A respected lawyer and academic, Ms Kayess’ candidacy was strongly supported by the Australian Government and Australian organisations of persons with disabilities.

She was awarded the Australian Human Rights Medal in 2019 in recognition of her contribution to human rights at home and abroad.

Australia is a global leader on disability issues.

Australian advocacy played a leading role in establishing the Committee at the United Nations.

In her second term, Ms Kayess will advance the Committee’s critical work advocating for the human rights of all persons with disabilities.

Ms Kayess will promote the rights of women and girls with disabilities; inclusive education; and reasonable accommodations to allow people with disabilities to fully participate in their communities.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong said:

“Ms Kayess’ re-election is a strong endorsement from her international peers of her decades-long work to progress disability rights.”

Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, the Hon Bill Shorten MP said:

“It’s wonderful to have an Australian with a disability as a representative at the United Nations. She will be an exceptional voice for people with disability on the Committee, particularly promoting the rights of women, children and inclusivity.”

Australia’s low-paid workers will be better off because the Albanese Labor Government fought to get them a pay rise.

During the election campaign, we promised to put in a new submission to the Fair Work Commission’s annual wage review to argue that people on low wages should not go backwards. We delivered on that promise in our first fortnight in office.

Today, the Fair Work Commission has delivered a 5.2 per cent rise in the minimum wage, slightly above headline inflation.

Its decision means an extra $40 a week for full-time workers on the minimum wage or low-paid awards.

Many low-paid workers are young, female, in casual employment, and are far more likely to find themselves experiencing financial hardship. Many of them were on the front line delivering essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

They deserve more than our thanks. They deserve this pay rise.

This is a great result for these workers. But it’s only the beginning.

The Government is determined to get wages moving again.

For the last nine years, low wages were a deliberate design feature of the Liberal National Government’s policies. They never once advocated for low-paid workers to get a pay rise.

That era is now over.

Labor will continue to fight for more secure jobs and better pay for workers. Our submission to this wage review was simply the first step.

The Government expects there to be a comprehensive discussion about other ways to get wages moving at the Jobs Summit later this year.

We also want to acknowledge the role the union movement played in today’s decision. They too argued that low-paid workers deserved a pay rise, particularly given the cost of living pressures people are experiencing.

The Albanese Labor Government is building a better future for all Australians—just as we promised.

A new report argues that energy ministers will need to increase the benefits to regional communities that host large-scale solar, wind and transmission infrastructure if governments want to ensure continued support for renewable energy.

The report is published by the Australia Institute and the Sydney Environment Institute and will be launched by independent NSW MPs Alex Greenwich and Dr Joe McGirr today (Wednesday, 15 June.)

The report authors endorse the decision by governments to establish Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) across regional Australia to replace retiring coal-fired power and expand generation capacity. Field trips and research interviews were conducted in Australia’s first two REZs: Central-West Orana and New England.

The authors found that although renewable energy enjoys a high level of community support, if the pace and intensity of development are not carefully managed and local benefits maximised it will risk creating conflict that could delay the clean energy transformation and harm energy security.

The report finds that governments can increase financial benefits for local communities, target First Nations participation, reduce negative impacts, and coordinate more sustainable economic development beyond short-term construction booms.

The Australia Institute’s Dan Cass said: “Our research is timely because the new Australian government has promised to spend $20 billion to subsidise 10,000km of new transmission lines which will unlock huge private investment in generation and storage in REZs.

“The federal government has been instantly thrust into an energy crisis but if it works quickly with state governments to design a fair system for planning and developing REZs it will be the last energy crisis Australia ever has to face.”

University of Sydney Emeritus Professor Linda Connor said: “This report highlights that the shift from coal to renewables is also a spatial shift that brings many physical and social changes to regional communities.

“This infrastructure is urgently needed for energy security and to reach zero emissions electricity, but we need to ensure it creates value for hosts. An unprecedented level of community participation, social impact assessment, and sustained local benefits is required.”

Riikka Heikkinen said: “Australia’s vital shift to renewables will proceed more quickly and ultimately at lower cost if it is better calibrated to share and amplify the economic benefits for regional communities that will host tens of billions of dollars worth of investment.”

“We have to make sure the communities that are providing us with the path to clean energy security are also communities that are benefiting fairly from the change.
ANU’s Dr Rebecca Pearse said: “In many instances regional communities are benefiting greatly from new renewable energy projects, like farmers being paid to host solar farms on relatively unproductive paddocks. But there have also been instances where communities have been disrupted by things like transmission lines being built across private land.

“Regional Australia is doing the country a terrific service by hosting our shift to renewable energy, so we need to make sure those communities have the mechanisms to negotiate beneficial deals for themselves.”

Key recommendations for energy ministers

• Improve benefit sharing: 
  • More inclusive and generous benefit sharing arrangements, which should also include new transmission infrastructure.
  • Encourage the pooling of community funds from energy developments in each REZ to enable funding of larger-scale facilities and programs that benefit diverse host communities.
• Target First Nations participation
  • Create stronger processes for culturally appropriate consultation and inclusion of Traditional Owners in all aspects of REZ development to maximise socioeconomic benefits.
• Manage cumulative impacts
  • Governments can work with residents and local agencies to schedule when and where projects are built to minimise negative cumulative impacts.
• Coordinate economic development
  • REZ frameworks for multisectoral economic planning can help deliver employment, skills and other sustainable benefits to host communities.

The four co-authors are affiliated with the Australian National University, University of Technology Sydney, University of Sydney and The Australia Institute.

An urgent meeting of the Independent Education Union of Australia’s NSW/ACT Branch Executive was convened today to determine an appropriate response to the NSW Government’s salary cap. The NSW Teachers Federation also convened a meeting of its Executive today for the same reason.

On 6 June, the NSW Government offered a 3% pay increase to public sector workers, including teachers, in 2022-23. However, public sector unions and their members have rejected the revised policy as it fails to stop the dramatic decline in real wages.

“The policy does nothing to address unsustainable workloads or staffing shortages,” said IEUA NSW/ACT Branch Secretary Mark Northam. “It still represents a real pay cut for school staff while keeping workloads at unsustainable levels.”

As a result of the Executive meetings today, a historic joint meeting of the NSW Teachers Federation and the IEUA NSW/ACT will convene on 21 June to consider pay offers contained in the NSW budget and from Catholic employers and determine an appropriate course of action.

“This is an extraordinary moment,” said IEUA NSW/ACT Branch Secretary Mark Northam. “We are standing shoulder-to-shoulder – fixing the education crisis in NSW demands no less.  

“The profession is at breaking point. Staff shortages and sinking salaries mean teachers and support staff are really struggling. The COVID pandemic didn’t cause this but it has certainly exacerbated it.”

The IEU represents 33,000 teachers, principals and support staff in the non-government sector. Since January, the union has been negotiating with Catholic employers for new enterprise agreements for teachers and support staff in Catholic diocesan schools.

While the IEU is subject to federal industrial relations laws, the state wages policy has a direct impact on these negotiations, a point emphasised by Catholic employer representatives in all bargaining meetings. “Not a cent more, nor a day before,” is their long-standing refrain.

The union’s key claims, so far unaddressed by employers, include:

·       pay teachers what they’re worth

·       give support staff a fair deal

·       let teachers teach – cut paperwork

·       allow time to plan – reduce the teaching load by two hours per week

·       end staffing shortages.

Members in 540 Catholic systemic schools already conducted a full-day stop work on Friday 27 May. “I fully support the combined unions’ Executive meeting,” said IEUA NSW/ACT Branch President Christine Wilkinson. “In the face of increasing workloads, teachers and support staff are completely exhausted and need the employers to recognise and act on the extreme pressures they’re facing.”

Today we mourn the passing of Lady Anna Cowen AM, wife of former Governor-General the late Sir Zelman Cowen.

Gracious and caring, Lady Cowen was personally driven by her genuine interest in people.

In 2015, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for vice-regal support patronage and support roles, as well as personal, significant service to youth, medical research, educational, historical and cultural organisations.

I thank Lady Cowen for her contribution to our national life. The Government extends its heartfelt condolences to Lady Cowen’s family.

Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP will visit Japan from 13-15 June, his first visit to North Asia since he assumed office last month.

During his visit, the Deputy Prime Minister will meet his counterparts and key defence and national security figures, to discuss our shared approach in the Indo-Pacific.

He will meet his Defence counterpart, Minister Nobuo Kishi, at Japan’s Ministry of Defense to affirm his commitment to the Australia-Japan Special Strategic Partnership.

“I am delighted to be in Japan as one of my first international visits as Deputy Prime Minister. Australia and Japan share a vision for an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, one where the sovereignty of all states is respected,” Deputy Prime Minister Marles said. 

“Japan is a critical partner in achieving our regional objectives. Our partnership continues to grow as we pursue new and ambitious avenues for cooperation, including through the Reciprocal Access Agreement signed in January,” he added.

As part of the visit, the Minister will also meet a range of Japanese academic and industry representatives to discuss the complex challenges facing the Indo-Pacific, and the need for innovation and collaboration to address them.

Minister Marles is travelling to Japan from Singapore, where he attended the Shangri-La Dialogue, the largest annual regional security dialogue in the Indo-Pacific.

Five Royal Australian Navy ships will set sail from Australia over the next three weeks for regional presence deployments throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

HMA ships Canberra, Waramunga and Supply will participate in Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2022 (RIMPAC 22), in and around the Hawaiian Islands.

HMA ships Sydney and Perth, supported by HMAS Supply, will work with regional partners and participate in Exercises Pacific Vanguard and Pacific Dragon.

Exercise RIMPAC 22 runs from 29 June to 4 August and will see around 25,000 personnel from 26 nations participate, with the ADF also deploying two RAAF P-8A Poseidon aircraft, mine warfare and clearance diving capabilities, and a joint landing force.

Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Mark Hammond highlighted the significance of five Navy vessels deploying to train with international partners.

“Working with our regional partners is critical for remaining an agile and ready force,” Rear Admiral Hammond said.

“We appreciate the opportunity to work with like-minded partners to test our interoperability and responsiveness.”

Routine regional presence deployments demonstrate Australia’s commitment and engagement with the region and play a vital role in Australia’s long-term security by upholding a rules based order, enhancing cooperation and relationships with regional partners and allies and developing capability and interoperability.

The Australian Government rejects this week’s court ruling in Myanmar against Australian Professor Sean Turnell.

It is more than sixteen months since Professor Turnell was detained by the Myanmar military.

He remains imprisoned in Myanmar, and we continue to call for his immediate release.

Professor Turnell has worked for Myanmar’s economic development for many years and is internationally respected for this record.

We will continue to advocate for Professor Turnell’s interests and well-being and will not stop until he is safely back with his family.

The Australian Government has finalised negotiations with Naval Group to conclude the Attack class submarine program.

The former government made the decision to terminate the contract on the basis of advice about capability requirements for the Australian Defence Force—advice that was accepted by Labor in Opposition.

We have reached a fair and equitable settlement of €555 million (around $830 million) with Naval Group.

Now that the matter is resolved we can move forward with the relationship with France.

Australia and France share deep historical ties of friendship, forged in common sacrifice in war.

We are both vibrant democracies, committed to upholding human rights and fundamental values.

We deeply respect France’s role and active engagement in the Indo-Pacific.

Given the gravity of the challenges that we face both in the region and globally, it is essential that Australia and France once again unite to defend our shared principles and interests: the primacy of international law; respect for sovereignty; the rejection of all forms of coercion; and taking resolute action on climate change.

I look forward to taking up President Macron’s invitation to visit Paris at an early opportunity, and to continuing to work closely with him as we deepen the strategic partnership between our nations.

Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel have touched down in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to support the country’s national elections.

At the request of the Government of PNG, more than 130 ADF personnel will provide capabilities to support the 2022 national elections – deployed under ADF Operation KIMBA.

The ADF’s support comes as part of the DFAT-led Whole of Government assistance to the national elections and the ADF’s long-standing partnership with the PNGDF, through the Defence Cooperation Program.

Commander of ADF operations in the South West Pacific, Major General Scott Winter, AM said the ADF would be working closely with the Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission, the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) and Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary.

“Our personnel are providing specialist planning, logistics and air transport support to PNG authorities to assist with their national election,” Major General Winter said.

“This mission is enabled by the capabilities of the ADF, particularly the Royal Australian Air Force C-27J Spartan and C-130J Hercules aircraft. These aircraft will support the transportation of election material and personnel prior to, during and post the election period.”

ADF personnel arrived at Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby on Royal Australian Air Force C-17 Globemaster aircraft.