Category: Australian News

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, the Hon Manasseh Sogavare MP, to Australia for bilateral talks in Canberra today.

As proud Pacific nations, Australia and Solomon Islands have a deep and enduring history underpinned by strong people-to-people links and shared democratic values.

Following their earlier meeting at the Pacific Islands Forum in Suva, leaders discussed bilateral priorities and challenges, including the existential threat of the climate crisis, and shared aspirations for a peaceful, prosperous and resilient Pacific.

Prime Minister Sogavare welcomed Australia’s stronger action on climate change and commended the Australian Government on the recent legislation of new ambitious climate targets.

Prime Minister Sogavare and Prime Minister Albanese reaffirmed mutual security commitments, and the Pacific family first approach to regional peace and security.

Leaders discussed ongoing economic cooperation, including market access, Pacific labour mobility, scholarships and the Pacific Engagement Visa.

On development, the leaders discussed Australia’s enduring support across all areas of society as Solomon Islands’ largest development partner, including infrastructure, health, education, governance.

Prime Minister Sogavare welcomed Australia’s $16.68 million commitment to support the 2023 Pacific Games, and offer to support the next Solomon Islands’ election.

Australia strongly condemns North Korea’s launch of a ballistic missile over Japanese territory – the first missile test to overfly Japan since 2017.

The test was a reckless and unacceptable act that threatens the security of our neighbours and partners and undermines the stability of the Indo-Pacific.

Pyongyang continues to show blatant disregard for multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions prohibiting its dangerous ballistic missile and weapons of mass destruction programs.

We continue to be gravely concerned by North Korea’s apparent readiness to undertake a seventh nuclear weapons test.

We urge North Korea to change course, abandon its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs and resume dialogue with the United States and the Republic of Korea.

Australia will continue to work with our allies and partners, including the United States, Japan and the Republic of Korea to address the threats posed by North Korea.

On the 8th of November, the National Cabinet decided to remove the requirement for people to isolate while positive for Covid-19 from the 14th of October.

Senator Jordon Steele-John, Australian Greens Spokesperson for Health and Disability said: 

“The removal of the requirement to isolate has left many people feeling vulnerable and deeply frustrated that their wellbeing is being ignored by the Australian Government.

“I was proud to be invited to participate in an online town hall last weekend, where I joined with hundreds of members of the chronically ill, disabled and immunocompromised community who, along with medical professionals and educators shared their concerns about isolation requirements lifting.

“The Australian Greens support the return of isolation periods, along with supporting people to isolate through the provision of the pandemic disaster payment while they are in isolation. As a community, we must look out for one another, and our government must continue to financially support people to stay home while positive with covid-19. 

“At the forum, some people shared with me that with isolation requirements lifting, they will not leave their homes to go to the shops, or out for dinner ever again. The Liberal and Labor governments have chosen to remove all restrictions leaving people who are at risk of death, or severe poor health from covid, with no choice but to isolate themselves indefinitely.  

“I have heard from medical professionals who are deeply concerned that the removal of isolation requirements will cause an overwhelming demand on an already burnt-out and exhausted healthcare workforce. I have heard from teachers who are now deeply concerned that they’ll be spending hours a day, in poorly ventilated classrooms, with covid positive students.

“The Australian Greens are in solidarity with workers and the community, and we are calling on State and Territory Governments to support our 20 point plan, on where to from hear to support our community through Covid-19.” 

Background

In response to the calls of the town hall, the Australian Greens are committed to:

1. Release the unredacted health advice that was considered by National Cabinet in the decision to remove the requirement for isolation.
2. Reinstate mandatory isolation for 5 days for people with Covid infection, to be reviewed in 12 months. 
3. Continue with pandemic disaster payments for the 5-day isolation, to be reviewed in 12 months. 
4. End mutual obligations for people on jobseeker and others on income support.
5. Government agencies to have a non-contact service framework (inc. Centrelink).
6. Provision of free Rapid Antigen Tests on request, a continuation of free PCRs. 
7. Amendment of relevant regulation(s) to require covid-19 testing to be undertaken if requested by a person receiving care or support. 
8. Fund ongoing public health campaigns including prevention, treatment, the importance of mask-wearing in indoor spaces, and health risks associated with Covid-19. 
9. Provision of N95 and KN95 Masks for free on request, including in health, aged care, disability and education settings. 
10. Data to be released more regularly, including full disclosure of statistics in at-risk settings (e.g. congregate care).
11. Increased funding for telehealth, to reinstate health items that were available in 2021. 
12. Stronger diagnosis and health support for those experiencing Long Covid.
13. Establish a centre of research into post-viral diseases, including Covid-19, and an estimate of the burden of disease.
14. Review NDIS criteria and processes to ensure disabled people with chronic illnesses, such as long covid, can get support through the NDIS.
15. The Australian Government set standards for auditing, retrofitting and maintaining safe indoor air quality. 
16. HEPA Filters to be installed in government buildings, and subsidies provided to organisations and small entities to improve indoor air quality.
17. Ensure that isolation requirements support the continuation of First Nations cultural practice and sorry business.
18. Health Ministers to make a public commitment to ethical non-discriminatory treatment of disabled, sick and immunocompromised people.
19. Hold a national memorial and one-minute silence in all Australian parliaments to respect those who have died from COVID-19.
20. Establish a National Centre for Disease Control

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will welcome Solomon Islands Prime Minister the Honourable Manasseh Sogavare MP to Canberra on Thursday 6 October.

Australia and Solomon Islands are part of the Pacific family and have a strong security partnership, based on decades-long policing and maritime cooperation.

Australia is Solomon Islands’ largest development partner, contributing in all areas of society and the economy—from health, justice and education, to infrastructure, labour mobility, private sector growth, agriculture and rural development.

Prime Minister Albanese last met with Prime Minister Sogavare in July at the Pacific Islands Forum in Fiji.

Prime Minister Albanese said:

“Our relationship with Solomon Islands is incredibly important.

“As members of the Pacific Family, we are committed to working together to face our shared challenges and achieve our shared goals, including on climate change.

“I look forward to engaging with Prime Minister Sogavare on building a strong and prosperous Pacific region, based on principles of transparency, respect and partnership.”

The latest OECD Education at a Glance report reveals unforgivable cuts to public education spending in Australia during the Covid pandemic, the Greens say. Federal, state and territory governments must properly fund public education to ensure everyone in our community has access to high-quality lifelong learning.

Lines attributable to Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Greens Deputy Leader and spokesperson for Education:

“Decades of neglect has left public education in Australia undervalued and under-resourced. “When disaster struck in 2020, our entire education system was thrown into crisis — from early learning through to university and TAFE. But the government’s response was to cut spending rather than boost it.

“The Albanese government must change course and properly fund public education. The future of this country quite literally depends on it.

“The report reveals an alarming reliance on privately-run childcare compared to OECD countries. Education is a public good, and should never be run for-profit.

“Instead of spending $244 billion on the obscene Stage 3 Tax Cuts, the federal government should be investing in high-quality, fee-free public education for all. The urgency of this investment cannot be overstated.”

Lines attributable to Senator Penny Allman-Payne, Greens spokesperson for Schools:

“The OECD report shows that not only does Australia have one of the most unequal school systems in the developed world, the gap between the haves and have-nots grew even wider during the pandemic.

“While students at the richest schools were able to rely on the best resources and technology to support them through Covid, students at the poorest schools fell back even further.

“We have enough money to deliver a quality education to all students, but far too much is being funnelled into private schools – many of which don’t even need it. We need a fundamental rethink of education funding that prioritises a good public education for all.

“Labor needs to use the new National School Reform Agreement, currently under development, to focus on equity in Australian education, and we need to see more money in this month’s Budget for public schools.”

The Australian Government will impose further costs on Russia for its unilateral, illegal and immoral war on Ukraine.

Additional targeted financial sanctions and travel bans will be imposed on 28 Russian-appointed separatists, ministers and senior officials.

Among them are individuals who are flouting international law to legitimise Russia’s illegal actions in Ukraine through sham referenda, disinformation and intimidation.

Russia’s sham referenda in occupied areas of Ukraine are illegitimate and have no legal effect.

The regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia are sovereign Ukrainian territory. President Putin’s annexation is illegal and any claims that these territories are now part of Russia are baseless and false.

Australia has also filed an intervention in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) case brought by Ukraine against Russia, supporting Ukraine’s claims Russia has violated the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Genocide Convention).

Australia continues to call on Russia to immediately comply with the ICJ’s legally binding order of 16 March 2022 to immediately withdraw its military forces from Ukraine.

We remind Russia that as a member of the United Nations, Russia is legally obliged to comply with decisions of the ICJ in any case to which it is a party.

Australia will continue to coordinate closely with our partners to impose high costs on those responsible for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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

“These additional sanctions reinforce Australia’s strong objection to the actions of President Putin and those carrying out his orders.

“The areas of Ukraine currently occupied by Russian forces are the sovereign territory of Ukraine. No sham referendum will change this.

Attorney-General, the Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP said:

“We stand with Ukraine in bringing these proceedings against Russia before the International Court of Justice.

“Our intervention underscores our commitment to upholding fundamental rules of international law and the integrity of the Genocide Convention.”

Today I announce new appointments that strengthen Australia’s diplomatic capability and match people with the right qualifications and expertise to senior postings.

The Albanese Government is reversing the previous government’s approach and rebalancing appointments towards qualified senior officials, consistent with position requirements and community expectations.

In certain circumstances there is a clear advantage for Australia to be represented by people who have had distinguished careers beyond the public service, such as businesspeople and former parliamentarians.

The eminence of Australia’s relationship with the United Kingdom has long been reflected in the appointment of a former senior Cabinet minister.

In keeping with this tradition, the Government intends to appoint the Hon Stephen Smith as Australia’s next High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

Mr Smith was a member of the Australian Parliament for 20 years, and served as the Minister for Defence, and prior to that, as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Trade.

It is intended that he will commence his posting at the completion of the Defence Strategic Review in early 2023. Until then, Lynette Wood will continue as Acting High Commissioner.

A replacement for the Hon Arthur Sinodinos AO will be announced ahead of the completion of his posting as Ambassador to the United States of America in February 2023.

A DFAT recruitment process will be carried out to appoint experienced public servants as heads of mission in Singapore, New Delhi, Tokyo and at the United Nations in New York.

The Hon Will Hodgman will conclude as High Commissioner to Singapore in February 2023.

The Hon Barry O’Farrell AO will conclude as High Commissioner to India in February 2023.

The Hon Mitch Fifield will conclude as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in June 2023.

Today I also announce the appointment of six career diplomats to lead Australian overseas posts:

• Dr Simon Twisk as Ambassador to Argentina.
• Dr Axel Wabenhorst as Ambassador to Egypt.
• Ms Melissa Kelly as Ambassador to Kuwait.
• Ms Indra McCormick as Ambassador to Portugal.
• Mr Tony Huber as Consul-General in Istanbul, Türkiye.
• Mr Andrew Goledzinowski AM as Ambassador to Vietnam.

Our foreign service is the driver of Australia’s engagement with the world and responsible for ensuring our national interests today and into the future.

I thank outgoing ambassadors, high commissioners and consuls-general for their contributions to advancing Australia’s interests in these countries during their respective tenures.

Today the Federal Government’s Native forest biomass in the Renewable Energy Target consultation paper was released with submissions open to the public on some key questions. 

This comes after the Greens secured a commitment from the government to look at removing a Coalition loophole from the Renewable Energy Act, which allows the destruction and burning of native forests to be classified as renewable energy. 

Greens forest spokesperson, Senator Janet Rice said:

“The Greens welcome the release of this discussion paper which is now open for public submissions. This discussion paper is an acknowledgement that classifying the burning of native forest as renewable is a real concern. We look forward to a positive outcome for precious native forests and a just transition of affected workers.

“Burning native forest wood is a disaster for the environment. The evidence heard by the Senate committee made clear that native forest biomass should not be classified as renewable energy. 

“If the means used to generate energy results in harm to threatened forest ecosystems and more carbon being emitted than coal, it simply cannot be classed as renewable or clean.

“This process is a clear opportunity to reverse an Abbott-era change that Labor opposed at the time. The Greens will be working with the government to seek the action we need to end the farce of classifying native forests burning as a ‘renewable’ energy source.”

The Australian Government rejects today’s court ruling in Myanmar against Australian Professor Sean Turnell and calls for his immediate release.

Professor Turnell was tried in a closed court. Australia’s Chargé d’Affaires and consular officials in Myanmar made every effort to attend the verdict but were denied access to the court.

The Australian Government has consistently rejected the charges against Professor Turnell during the more than 19 months he had been unjustly detained by the Myanmar military regime.

We will continue to take every opportunity to advocate strongly for Professor Turnell until he has returned to his family in Australia. We acknowledge the strong international support shown for him, including from our region.

Professor Turnell is internationally respected for his work to support the people of Myanmar and their economic development.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will continue to provide consular assistance to Professor Turnell and his family for as long as required.

We ask that his family’s request for privacy continue to be respected.

The Australian Government condemns the deadly and disproportionate use of force against protesters in Iran, following the tragic death of 22-year-old woman Mahsa Amini.

We have raised concerns into the circumstances surrounding her death in custody with the Iranian Embassy in Canberra.

Australia supports calls led by the Acting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for a prompt, impartial investigation into Ms Amini’s death by an independent body, which ensures her family has access to truth and justice, with those responsible held to account.

We are alarmed by reports that dozens of people have been killed and many more injured, including teenagers, during heavy-handed measures Iranian authorities have implemented to crack-down on ongoing protests.

Australia supports the right of the Iranian people to protest peacefully and calls on the Iranian authorities to exercise restraint in response to ongoing demonstrations.

Reports of internet restrictions are also deeply troubling and suggest an effort to stifle freedom of expression.

Australia regularly raises Iran’s significant discrimination against women and human rights violations with officials in both Tehran and Canberra, as well as in multilateral fora.

Australia stands with Iranian women and girls in their struggle for equality and empowerment, and we call on Iran to cease its oppression of women.

Australia is committed to promoting gender equality and women’s human rights, empowerment and ending violence against women and girls worldwide.