Category: Australian News

A re-elected Morrison Government will continue its world-leading reforms that protect children, women and families online including by significantly enhancing eSafety capability in schools, ensuring strong parental controls are available on devices and legislating our tough anti-trolling laws.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Coalition had stood up to big tech and social media giants to make Australia a world-leader in online safety, but there was much more to be done.

“Our kids should be able to learn, be entertained, or connect with their friends and family without facing abuse, humiliation or online predators,” the Prime Minister said.

“The online world cannot be a cowards’ cavern where the rules of the real world do not exist.

“Big tech and social media giants must be held to account. Our plan will force them to do more – they cannot create it, and wash their hands of all consequences of it.

“Our plan will also ensure parents can protect their kids online with strong parental controls, help to prevent harm by raising awareness in every school, and improve our support for those harmed online.

“We have achieved so much in the online world, but there is much more to be done, and only a Coalition Government will stand up to big tech and social media giants.”

The Coalition’s policy includes:

• A $23 million eSafety Schools package to raise awareness of the eSafety Commissioner’s support across every school in Australia, provide training programs for teachers, new and improved online safety resources for schools and enhance the Trusted eSafety Provider Program that connects schools with external online safety providers that meet high standards.
• Ensuring smartphones and tablet devices have strong parental controls installed that are easier to find and activate (particularly when first setting up a device) and harder for kids to bypass, through a binding industry code under the Online Safety Act. If industry doesn’t act within 12 months, we will regulate to force them.
• $10 million for the eSafety Commissioner to further expand coordination with other regulatory and law enforcement agencies, ensuring victims ‘tell-us-once’ and are supported into the right service, so they spend more time recovering and less time in bureaucracy.
• Legislating the Social Media (Anti-Trolling) laws to ensure social media companies are held accountable as publishers and Australians are given more power to deal with harmful defamatory comments from anonymous trolls.
• Supporting online safety in multicultural Australia by earmarking $2 million under the Online Safety Grants for projects that support women and girls in CALD communities.

Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher said the Government’s principle is that the same rules and laws that apply in the real world should also apply in the digital world.

“The online world should not be an ungoverned space,” Minister Fletcher said.

“The internet has brought incredible benefits for us all, but we will continue to remain vigilant to protect our children from some of the toxic harms they can confront when online.”

These announcements build on the Coalition’s strong track-record in online safety. In 2015 we established the world’s first eSafety Commissioner to protect children from bullying and harmful content. We have significantly expanded eSafety’s powers through the Online Safety Act, including introducing the world’s first scheme to remove harmful cyber-abuse of adults.

Other recent initiatives include:

• The announcement of new laws combatting harmful misinformation;
• Drafting of new laws to improve online privacy and ensure social media companies give primary consideration to the best interest of the child when handling their personal information;
• Establishment of a House Select Committee inquiry into social media and online safety, with its recommendations now before the Government;
• $16.6m towards Women’s Safety Online to establish a new telephone service to provide support for women and children experiencing technology-facilitated abuse;
• $10m towards boosting support for online safety NGOs, with organisations such as the Daniel Morcombe Foundation and Alannah and Madeline Foundation already supported under the program;
• $5m for eSafety to expand its national awareness campaign, bringing total funding for the current campaign to $10 million;
• A new Online Safety Youth Advisory Council; and
• Updates to Australia’s Classification System to protect children against content such as loot boxes in video games and to address content that sexualises children or depicts suicide and violence against women and children.

For more detail on our latest commitments, as well as the Morrison Government’s record of keeping Australians safe online, see: https://www.liberal.org.au/our-policies.

To find further resources and tools on online safety and support for removing online bullying, abuse or harassment, visit: www.esafety.gov.au.

The Morrison Government is continuing its support for young people with a $5.5 million investment in youth mental health organisation batyr.

batyr is a preventative mental health organisation, created and led by young people, for young people. It aims to reduce the stigma around mental illness and encourage young people to reach out for support through engagement, education and empowerment.

The new funding includes $3.8 million, delivered through the 2022-23 Budget, for batyr to expand its OurHerd digital platform. OurHerd is a free app that provides young people with a safe digital space to view and learn from positive mental health stories shared by their peers. The funding builds on the Government’s previous investment of $2.8 million through the 2019-20 Budget to develop OurHerd.

In addition, batyr will receive $1.7 million under the Government’s $114 million National Suicide Prevention and Leadership Program, which was expanded and extended in the 2021-22 Budget, to deliver the Thrive On project. This is an evidence-based, peer-to-peer mental health and suicide prevention program particularly focused on high school and tertiary education students.

The Prime Minister said that while an estimated one in four young Australians aged 16 to 24 years experienced mental illness in any given year, many do not seek help.

“Young Australians are facing more pressures than ever before, particularly as the pandemic had many feeling like they were completely alone,” the Prime Minister said.

“It is essential that we increase awareness, reduce stigma and empower young people to reach out for help.

“That’s why initiatives such as the OurHerd app and the batyr schools program are so important – they break down barriers, show young people they are not alone, and ensure more people know that help and support is available.”

Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt said the additional funding for OurHerd will support approximately 60,000 young people aged 14-30 years with mild to moderate mental health needs, their families, carers and communities.

“Through peer-to-peer education and the sharing of stories of lived experience, batyr is helping more young people to get help before they reach a crisis point,” Minister Hunt said.

“This early support reduces the lifelong impacts of mental illness and saves lives.”

Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention David Coleman said the funding injection backs batyr’s innovative and peer-led mental health and suicide prevention programs.

“Our Government has made mental health and suicide prevention a national priority and we are committed to ensuring all Australians, especially young Australians, can get the support they need, when and where they need it,” Assistant Minister Coleman said.

“Since inception, batyr has delivered over 2,500 programs reaching over 300,000 students and trained over 1,000 young people to safely share their stories of mental ill-health.

“Their approach is effective because their programs are designed by young Australians, for young Australians.”

The Morrison Government is delivering structural reform and real change in mental health and suicide prevention, and has invested $3 billion towards the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan since 2021-22.

This brings the estimated health portfolio expenditure in mental health and suicide prevention services and supports in 2022-23 to a record high of $6.8 billion, an increase of more than 100 per cent since we came to Government.

Unlike the Labor Party, which has not given Australians any detail on their plans for mental health, the Morrison Government will continue to ensure that all Australians can access information, advice, counselling, or treatment, when and where they need it.

Australians needing support throughout the COVID-19 pandemic can access the Beyond Blue Coronavirus Wellbeing Support Service any time via telephone at 1800 512 348 or online at coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au.

Anyone experiencing distress can also seek immediate advice and support through Lifeline (13 11 14), Beyond Blue (1300 224 636), or the Government’s digital mental health gateway, Head to Health.

Young Australians needing support can access free services through Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), their local headspace or online through eheadspace.

If you are concerned about suicide, living with someone who is considering suicide, or bereaved by suicide, the Suicide Call Back Service is available at 1300 659 467 or www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au.

St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia welcomes the commitment by the Australian Labor Party to develop a National Housing and Homelessness Plan and establish a National Housing Supply and Affordability Council.

National President Ms Claire Victory said housing is a fundamental human right, vital to human dignity.

‘For too long, federal governments have failed to provide national leadership to address the growing housing crisis and support access to affordable and safe housing,’ Ms Victory said.

‘The Australian dream has become a nightmare, with a whole generation unable to afford a home and a growing number of Australians at risk of becoming homeless as wages and income supports fail to keep up with surging costs of living,’ Ms Victory said.

‘For years, Vinnies has been calling on the Federal Government to deliver a national housing strategy and to work with all governments and stakeholders to address the housing crisis. 

‘Labor’s commitment to develop a National Housing and Homelessness Plan and establish a National Housing Supply and Affordability Council in consultation with key stakeholders is a welcome and important step forward. This will give some hope to many Australians locked out of home ownership or at risk of homelessness,’ Ms Victory said.

The St Vincent de Paul Society has long advocated for a well-designed and targeted shared equity housing program to help low-and-middle income earners into a home, while avoiding upward pressure on prices.

‘The Help to Buy shared equity program will also provide modest assistance and is welcome as part of a broader approach promising structural reform,’ Ms Victory said.

St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia calls on all parties and candidates at this month’s federal election to do more to address Australia’s housing and homelessness crisis.

‘Australia desperately needs further reforms to address the housing and homelessness crisis,’ Ms Victory said.

‘We call on all parties to commit to increasing JobSeeker and Commonwealth Rent Assistance, reinstating the National Rental Affordability Scheme, funding the National Low Income Energy Productivity Program, and establishing national minimum standards for renters and landlords to manage tenancy issues,’ Ms Victory said.

These demands are set out in Vinnies federal election statement, A Fairer Australia.

The Electric Vehicle Council has welcomed Labor’s commitment to investing in the nation’s EV changing network, which would help every Australian embrace the benefits of electric vehicles.

At its election launch today, Labor committed to encouraging cheaper, cleaner transport by establishing a new Driving the Nation Fund, and by building a National Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Network.

Labor’s investment in the EV Charging Network, with charging stations at an average interval of 150km on major roads, would be matched by the NRMA, and involve partnerships with State, Territory and local Governments.

EVC chief executive Behyad Jafari said the proposed investment would send a potent signal to consumers and the EV industry.

“Under Labor’s commitment you could be certain that no matter where you live or where you’re going you could get there in an EV,” Mr Jafari said.

“We know range anxiety remains a major impediment to Australians purchasing EVs. Although much of this anxiety is misplaced, building a modern network of charging infrastructure would send a strong signal that there’s nothing to fear.

“City drivers are flocking to EVs because the benefits are so clear and obvious. For regional drivers hesitancy is stronger, but that’s why it’s excellent to see the NRMA committing to partnering with the federal government to roll out regional charging infrastructure and make EVs an option for all Australians.

“Despite some very unfortunate fear mongering and a general lack of ambition at the federal level in recent years, Australians are now wide awake to the myriad benefits of EVs.

“If they can see the Australian Government is in behind this shift we will see a rapid acceleration of progress.

“The EVC congratulates the alternate government on this important commitment to Australia’s transport future.”

Greens Leader Adam Bandt announced today that the Greens would preference Labor ahead of the Liberals across the country. Greens Local and State branches finalised preference recommendations for how-to-vote cards this week ahead of early voting polling booths opening on May 9.

Greens how-to-vote cards, distributed at polling booths, will recommend a preference for Labor above the Coalition and place other right wing parties last. The Greens will also recommend a preference for climate independents in key Liberal held seats.

In the Senate the Greens will also recommend preferences to progressive candidates and Labor. 

Door knocking with volunteers in his electorate of Melbourne today, Mr Bandt also reminded voters that they decide where to put their preferences, not political parties.

The Greens are running in 151 seats across the country and Greens preferences will be critical in many key marginal seats.

Greens Leader Adam Bandt said:

“At this election everyone should Vote 1 Greens to kick the Liberals out and put the Greens in the balance of power to push the next government to act on the climate crisis, get dental and mental health into Medicare and build affordable housing.

“People can safely vote Greens knowing they’ll kick Scott Morrison out and their preferences will go to Labor. If you follow the Greens’ how-to-vote card, your preferences will go to Labor.

“Across the country Greens how-to-vote cards will recommend preferencing Labor ahead of Scott Morrison and the Coalition.

“The Greens have put the Coalition, Palmer’s United Australia Party, One Nation and other extreme right wing parties last across every seat in Australia.” 

“In a number of Liberal seats, we’re recommending people vote 1 Greens then preference an independent.

“Voters get to decide where their preferences go, not political parties, but if you vote Greens and follow our how-to-vote card you will be helping kick Scott Morrison out.”

An Albanese Labor Government will cut the cost of buying a home by up to 40 per cent for 10,000 Australians per year. 
 
Help to Buy will help Australians buy a home with a smaller deposit, a smaller mortgage and smaller mortgage repayments. 
 
In some parts of Australia this will cut the cost of a mortgage by up to $380,000. 
 
We have a housing crisis in Australia.  It’s harder to buy a home today than ever before. 
 
It’s hard in our big cities. It’s also hard in the regions.   
 
It’s hard for first home buyers. It’s also hard for many older Australians. 
 
The biggest drop in home ownership is amongst Australians on low and modest incomes who have been forced to give up on the great Australian dream. 
 
Forty years ago, almost 60 per cent of young Australians on low and modest incomes owned their own home. Now, it is only 28 per cent. 
 
An Albanese Labor Government will provide eligible homebuyers with an equity contribution of up to 40 per cent of the purchase price of a new home and up to 30 per cent of the purchase price for an existing home.  
 
The homebuyer will need to have a deposit of 2 per cent and qualify for a standard home loan with a participating lender to finance the remainder of the purchase.   
 
The following table shows how much people will save on their mortgage under Labor’s Help to Buy in different cities and regions.

Note – Regional centres include Newcastle & Lake  Macquarie, Illawarra, Central Coast, North Coast of NSW, Geelong, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. 
 

Homebuyers will also avoid the need to pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI), representing an additional saving, depending on purchase location, of potentially more than $30,000.

This will help many Australians on low and modest incomes to buy a home with a much smaller mortgage that they can afford to pay rather than renting for the rest of their life. 

During the loan period the homebuyer can buy an additional stake in the home when they are able to do so.  

The homebuyer will not be required to pay rent on the stake of the home owned by the Federal Government.  

This scheme is not just for first homebuyers, it’s for other Australians who need a helping hand as well. 
 
Help to Buy will be available to Australians with a taxable income of up to $90,000 for individuals and up to $120,000 for couples. Homebuyers must be Australian citizens and not currently own or have an interest in a residential dwelling.  
 
Help to Buy will make money for the Government as the Federal Government will recover its equity and its share of the capital gain when the house is sold. 

Help to Buy will cost around $329 million over the forward estimates.  

National Housing Supply and Affordability Council

An Albanese Labor Government will also establish a National Housing Supply and Affordability Council, to ensure the Commonwealth plays a leadership role in increasing housing supply and improving affordability.

The Council will be advised by experts including from the finance, economics, urban development, residential construction, urban planning and social housing sectors. 
 
More land supply and better land use planning will improve housing affordability and provide a boost to national productivity and economic growth – but the only way to achieve this is by partnering with the States and Territories.

The Council will set targets for land supply, in consultation with States and Territories. It will also collect and make public nationally consistent data on housing supply, demand and affordability.

The Council will also have a key role in developing Labor’s National Housing and Homelessness Plan – something the Morrison Government has refused to do.

Doubling foreign investment fees and penalties

To pay for our housing affordability polices, Labor will double foreign investment screening fees and financial penalties. 

These changes will commence from July 2022 and raise around $445 million over the forward estimates. 

Anthony Albanese, Leader of the Australian Labor Party said: 

“After nine long years in Government, housing affordability has only got worse under the Liberal-National Government. 

“Help to Buy is part of Labor’s plan to tackle the housing crisis.” 

Jim Chalmers, Shadow Treasurer said:

“There is a housing crisis in Australia – it’s harder to buy a home than ever before. It’s harder in the big cities and harder in the regions. 

“It’s harder for first home buyers and harder for many older Australians. Many people on modest incomes have been forced to give up the Australian dream. Help to Buy will address this.”

Jason Clare, Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness said: 

“It’s harder to buy, harder to rent and there are more homeless Australians than ever before.

“Help to Buy will help Australians buy a home with a smaller deposit, a smaller mortgage and smaller mortgage repayments.

“This will help a lot of Australians buy a home with a smaller mortgage that they can afford to repay, instead of renting for the rest of their lives.” 

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) has paid tribute to John Coates AC for his leadership of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) over the past 32 years, while welcoming the opportunity to work with incoming AOC President Ian Chesterman AM during an exciting era for Australian sport.The ASC also praised the outstanding work of Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Chief Medical Officer Dr David Hughes, who was today awarded the AOC’s highest honour, the AOC Order of Merit. Mr Coates stood down as AOC President at its Annual General Meeting today and ASC Chair Josephine Sukkar AM commended the incredible legacy he had established.”For more than three decades as AOC President, John has devoted himself to the advancement of Australian sport, especially the Olympic sports that inspire and unite our nation,” Mrs Sukkar said. “His staunch dedication to Australian sport extends far beyond his role as AOC President, indeed he provided strong service to the Australian Sports Commission and Australian Institute of Sport as a Commissioner during our formative years in the 1980s and 90s. John’s influence on Australian and international sport has been profound and we know his leadership will long continue, including in roles with the AOC and International Olympic Committee Boards.”ASC CEO Kieren Perkins OAM was an athlete on three of the six Olympic teams where Mr Coates was Chef de Mission and was also part of the Sydney 2000 bid team alongside him. “When you consider it took 60 years for Australia to first host the modern Olympics, at Melbourne in 1956, it is incredible to think that John played such a prominent role in securing both the 2000 Sydney Games and the 2032 Brisbane Games during his stewardship as AOC President,” Mr Perkins said. “The platform is set for an exciting decade ahead.”Mrs Sukkar welcomed the appointment of Ian Chesterman AM as new AOC President.”The recent Tokyo and Beijing Games were a triumph and in the next decade we have a wonderful opportunity to build on this momentum,” Mrs Sukkar said. “Australian sport is working closer together as part of the National High Performance Sport Strategy. We look forward to continuing to work with the AOC as we drive a collective vision for sport in Australia and build sustainable success on the road to the 2032 Brisbane Games and beyond.”AIS Chief Medical Officer Dr David Hughes was honoured today by the AOC with an Order of Merit Award, having led the Australian Olympic medical team for the past two Summer Olympics in Rio and Tokyo.”Tokyo was an unprecedented Olympic experience, first postponed and then staged in the midst of a global pandemic,” Mr Perkins said. “For the Australian team to thrive as they did in Tokyo, without incident, is testament to the professionalism, diligence and leadership of Dr Hughes and his medical team.”We may never see another Games like Tokyo but we, at the ASC are lucky to see every day the significant contribution Dr Hughes makes to Australian sport. His work impacts Australian sport at every level, from community participation to our Australian representative athletes. He has trained, mentored and influenced a vast network of medical staff and Chief Medical Officers throughout Australia’s sporting industry. “David was a key driver in world-leading protocols that helped Australians return to community and high performance sport when COVID-19 first struck in 2020. He continues to lead work on vital areas such as sport-related concussion and the National Sport Injury Database project. It’s wonderful to see the AOC recognise David with this deserved award.”

Greens Leader, Adam Bandt, has laid the blame for rising power prices on the government’s failure to make progress on the transition to renewable energy with storage and Labor’s pledge that coal-fired power stations will remain in the system just as long under Labor as under Liberal.

AEMO was very explicit that the cause of the price rise was primarily coal power station breakdowns and rising coal prices.

Adam Bandt MP said:

“Coal is driving up the cost of electricity. We need a plan to switch from coal to renewables, but Liberal and Labor are both pledging to keep coal in the system for longer. 

“So long as Liberal and Labor governments keep running a protection racket for coal and gas, Australians will pay the price in their power bills.”

“With the Liberals propping up ageing, unreliable coal and Labor vowing that no coal fired power station will close early, the only way to get Australia out of coal is to put the Greens into balance of power.

“The Greens plan is for an orderly closure of coal-fired power stations by 2030, large scale investment in publicly-owned renewables and storage, and an end to subsidies for coal and gas.

“The Greens also have a plan that will help people get batteries for their homes and switch from gas to renewables, cutting power bills and cutting pollution. Government support has helped bring down the cost of solar panels, and the Greens want to do the same with batteries.”

An Albanese Labor Government will expose the truth of the Morrison Government’s illegal Robodebt scheme, return integrity to the public service, and ensure a disaster like this never happens again. 
 
If elected, Labor will establish a Royal Commission into Robodebt by the end of this year. Our consultation will begin after the election.
 
An Albanese Labor Government would ask a Royal Commission to examine and report on the Robodebt scheme, consistent with these key objectives which will be reflected in the Terms of Reference:

1. To establish who was responsible for establishing Robodebt scheme.
2. To establish what advice, and what process or processes, informed the design and implementation of the Robodebt scheme.
3. To investigate the handling of complaints about the Robodebt scheme – including in relation to the scheme’s legality –by Services Australia, the Department of Human Services, other relevant Commonwealth agencies and Ministers. 
4. To determine how much the implementation, suspension and wind-back of the Robodebt scheme cost taxpayers.
5. To investigate the harm caused to law-abiding Australians by the Robodebt scheme
6. To investigate the use of third-party debt collectors under the Robodebt scheme.

 
Our consultation after the election will inform the Terms of Reference for the Royal Commission.
 
The Morrison Government has consistently denied, obstructed and covered-up the origins of the Robodebt scandal and refused to take responsibility. 
 
It is only when Labor organised a class action that a $1.8 billion settlement was made to repay victims and keep ministers out of the witness box. 
 
It is vital that Robodebt victims and the broader Australian public know the truth of the Robodebt disaster. 
 
We need to learn the truth of Robodebt’s origins so that such an atrocity can never again be perpetrated by an Australian Government against its citizens. 
 
The illegal and immoral Robodebt scheme caused untold carnage in the Australian community – stress, anxiety, financial destitution and even suicide. 
 

Anthony Albanese said: 
“Robodebt was a human tragedy, wrought by this government. Against all evidence, and all the outcry, the government insisted on using algorithms instead of people to pursue debt recovery against Australians who in many cases had no debt to pay. It caused untold misery. Only an Albanese Labor Government will find out the truth.” 
 

Bill Shorten said:
“We still do not know how this reckless scheme was unleashed. We do not know whether poor legal advice was given or whether legal advice was simply never sought. We do not know if public servants were inappropriately heavied and politicised. And without knowing the true origins we do not know what safeguards could be put in place to prevent a repeat.” 

An Albanese Labor Government will launch a user audit of the myGov government services digital portal.

The user audit will take a fresh look at how well myGov is performing for its most important stakeholders – the Australian public – when it comes to reliability and functionality for a user-friendly experience. 

While MyGov has improved over the years there have been blindspots and disappointments. 
There have, for instance, been too many crashes and outages. Notoriously when myGov crashed in March 2020 then-Minister Stuart Robert initially blamed hackers before conceding that was untrue and his Government had simply failed to foresee the lockdown-related surge in welfare needs.

The user audit will help identify what changes and improvements are needed and assist an Albanese Government in strengthening the portal.

Labor will also guarantee myGov user data is retained within Australia.

These moves signal a return to professional, competent and humane delivery of customer services under an Albanese Labor Government.

Anthony Albanese said:

 “Millions of Australians interact with myGov everyday and rely on it to provide essential services. It’s not up to scratch, and Australians deserve better. That’s why we will review myGov, and make improvements where necessary.”

Bill Shorten said: 

“Our MyGov pledge will help revitalise government service delivery alongside Labor’s existing commitments to stop closing Centrelink shopfronts around the nation and hire an additional 200 new Services Australia workers. This Government has a terrible record on service delivery – Labor will change that.”