Category: Australian News

On the Climate Change Authority Report into the international offsets market released today, attributable to Greens leader Adam Bandt MP:

“The government must reject international offset accounting tricks.

“This Morrison-era report, commissioned by Angus Taylor to justify his government’s Paris accounting tricks, should be binned.

“We need to cut emissions here in Australia so that we get the benefits of transitioning to a zero economy. These international offsets just delay action and could also undercut our farmers, who could earn income from helping draw down pollution locally.

“The EU no longer allows international offsets and Australia should ban them too.

“If climate action is left to accounting tricks, pollution will go up and we won’t stop the climate crisis.

“Some of these supposed “carbon credits” are nothing but hot air: they don’t represent real cuts to emissions, they get traded hundreds of times, and they give corporations a free pass to keep pumping pollution into the atmosphere.

“The climate crisis and the threat of floods and fires is urgent. Any carbon reduction scheme must see emissions actually come down and carbon drawdown activities increased.

“If we want to turn the tide on climate breakdown we need to see negative emissions, with more carbon drawdown through reforestation than pollution output. The time for ambition is now and we can’t waste time on schemes that achieve net nothing.”

On Tamboran Resources’ submission to the Climate Change Bill enquiry, attributable to Greens leader Adam Bandt MP:

“The gas industry would rather the government sign off on widespread crop failures, water insecurity, extreme heat and flash flooding rather than take reasonable steps to avert the worsening of the climate crisis.

“No amount of spin from the gas grifters changes the fact that the Beetaloo Basin project will lift Australia’s pollution by up to 13%.

“Fracking the Beetaloo Basin is impossible if the government wants to meet even its weak 43% target.

“There’s no room for new coal and gas in our future.”

The Greens have urged the Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to consider the emissions and climate impact of billionaire miner Gina Rinehart’s proposed expansion of a coal seam gas project in Queensland.

According to reports today, South Korean steel maker Posco will partner with Rinehart to lift production at the Senex venture in the Surat Basin with work set to begin in coming weeks. 

The plan still needs approval by the Environment Minister and comes just days after the Albanese Labor Government passed their 43 per cent climate target bill through the Lower House. 

Greens Environment Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“Any new or expanded coal or gas projects will blow Labor’s already weak 43 per cent target out the water. 

“Approving more coal and gas in the midst of a climate crisis is reckless and dangerous. Minister Plibersek should rule this one out too.

“It is clear we need a climate trigger in our environment laws to require the Minister to consider the impact the emissions from the project will have on the climate crisis. 

“The comments from the Resources Minister backing in the future of coal and gas are a very worrying sign. 

“If the Albanese Labor Government is truly committed to tackling the climate crisis then making sure they, and the government that comes next, don’t approve projects that make it worse is a must.

“Gas is not a transition fuel, there’s no shortage and expanding production only further lines the pockets of billionaires like Rinehart and big fossil fuel corporations, while making the climate crisis worse and doing nothing to lower power prices for everyday Australians.”

Greens spokesperson for mining and resources Senator Dorinda Cox said:

“Mining companies operating in the Surat Basin have repeatedly breached Native Title Land Use Agreements and have not enacted free, prior, and informed consent with Traditional owners and we simply cannot let it happen again. Enough is enough.

“Governments must stop destroying First Nations people’s cultural heritage in favour of untaxed billionaires who get public funding and resources for free.

“The Federal Government is heading the wrong way by creating a vision for Australia’s future resources industry that is backed in by coal and gas. It should be focused on investing in green resources and creating a clean energy export industry, including renewables-generated fuels such as Green Hydrogen.”

The Albanese Government has announced a new $10 million biosecurity cooperation package to assist Indonesia as it responds to the outbreaks of both foot and mouth disease (FMD) and lumpy skin disease (LSD).

The package announced by Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt at the National Press Club today, will see Australia supply additional vaccinations, as well as technical and advisory support to strengthen Indonesia’s biosecurity measures.

Australia will deliver personal protective equipment and disinfectants, train staff on the ground, and provide biosecurity expertise to tackle these outbreaks.

Minister Watt said one of the ways to prevent any outbreak in Australia was to assist the Indonesian Government in their efforts to stop the spread of FMD.

“This package includes $4 million for the purchase of both FMD and LSD vaccines. This is on top of support already announced for Indonesia, which included 1 million doses of FMD vaccine and almost half a million doses of LSD vaccine already committed by the Australian Government,” Minister Watt said.

“The Indonesian Government will direct these vaccines to the areas of the country that need them the most.

“We’ve also included seed funding so Indonesia can get a livestock identification system up and running.”

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong said the package was another demonstration of the close partnership between Australia and Indonesia.

“Indonesia is one of our closest neighbours and partners in the region and the Australian Government wants to offer whatever help we can at this time,” Minister Wong said.

“Safeguarding the biosecurity of our region is a shared concern and this package will build on our longstanding health cooperation including through the Australia Indonesia Health Security Partnership.

“We are committed to working together to respond to this common threat.”

Greens Treasury spokesperson, Senator Nick McKim, has responded to the ACTU’s paper to the Government Jobs Summit saying the pressure is growing on Labor to walk away from the Stage 3 tax cuts.

“The Greens welcome the ACTU’s paper and congratulate them on making the case for serious economic reform.

“Scott Morrison’s Stage 3 tax cuts will overwhelmingly flow to the wealthiest people in the country, with a $9000 tax break for people earning $200,000 but nothing for those on the minimum wage.

“Instead of giving a tax cut to billionaires and politicians, we should be putting dental and mental health into Medicare and making childcare free.

“There is a cost of living crisis being driven in large part by big corporations and the super wealthy – they need to pay their fair share of tax so everyone in Australia can benefit.

“The Greens also welcome the ACTU’s call for the introduction of super profits taxes to rein in corporate profiteering and a reform of business tax to encourage productive investment.

“CBA has just reported an obscenely large profit in the face of rising inflation and rising interest rates.

“While the government and the RBA are asking workers to take more pain, big corporations are filling their shareholders’ pockets.

“Super profits taxes are needed to curb corporate profiteering that is exacerbating inflation and to fund cost of living relief for Australians who are struggling to make ends meet.”

The ACTU’s radical plan for higher taxes, higher inflation and heavy-handed Government will send a wrecking ball through the economy.

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said with inflation on the rise globally, the ACTU’s reckless demands for Labor’s Jobs and Skills Summit are a recipe for ruin, not recovery.

“Today’s calls from the ACTU show that Labor’s only plan is to make a bad situation worse,” Mr Taylor said.

“The answer to addressing rising inflation isn’t heavy-handed government or eliminating stage three tax cuts – it’s to have sensible fiscal and monetary policy driven by a focused, independent Reserve Bank.

“The comments made by Sally McManus criticising the RBA are completely irresponsible.

“It is critical the RBA’s core mandate is not diluted in any way. Calls for heavy-handed interventions to control inflation like price-fixing, corporate intervention and more taxes will cripple Australian businesses and send the economy further backwards.

“The Treasurer must categorically rule out adopting these proposals.

“It’s become increasingly clear over the past few weeks that the Labor Government will always back their union bosses over hardworking Australian businesses, families and workers.”

Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Michaelia Cash said this is just further proof the so-called Jobs Summit will be nothing more than a union-dominated talkfest.

“It’s a stunt that will no doubt end in the Government rolling over to their union paymasters and delivering whatever they want. Calls for more taxes will be a disaster for the economy as we recover from the pandemic,” Senator Cash said.

“The Treasurer must explain why he has chosen to give voices like the ACTU a disproportionately large voice at his forthcoming Jobs and Skills Summit.”

Aussie dog owners are being urged to grab that lead, put it on their pooches and take their dogs for a walk each day. It’s vital to keep them physically and mentally healthy, says Dogs Australia, a leading peak body that promotes responsible dog ownership.

“Exercise is vital for dogs – and us! And it should be part of every dog’s daily routine,” says Hugh Gent, Dogs Australia President, who is also a dog breeder and dog show judge. “But sadly, some dog owners rarely, if ever, take their dogs for a walk, assuming the dog will be happy just spending time in their yard. 

“During the pandemic, many people purchased puppies – and now that people are back at work and school, a lot of dogs are being left at home alone and are missing out on the exercise and interaction they had previously. Separation anxiety has become a major issue. It must be remembered: dogs are not just cuddly toys; they have their own needs, which dog owners need to take into account.”

Hugh says that most dogs need at least 1-2 walks a day (unless specified by your vet). “A rule of thumb is that they should be exercised for between 30 and 45 minutes daily. Of course, senior dogs won’t need as much but it’s still important to give them gentle daily exercise to keep their joints moving and keep them happy.

“Dogs that don’t get enough exercise get a build-up of energy, and they don’t know how to release it. This brings on bad behaviour such as excessive barking, jumping, destructive chewing or even biting. Science shows that taking your dog for walks is good for them, both in terms of their behaviour and physical exercise.”

Research from Finland shows the importance of exercise for all dogs*. It looked at non-social fears such as fear of objects, surfaces (like hardwood floors), heights and noises such as fireworks and thunder. Dogs who took part in more activities with their owner (including walking) and who received more training had the lowest levels of non-social fears. 

“In Germany, dog owners are required by law to exercise their dog twice a day for a total of at least an hour – and while it’s more likely to be enforced for kennels rather than private individuals, it’s certainly brought the topic to the fore. I understand some people aren’t able to always take their dogs for walks, which is why professional dog walkers can be a great option,” adds Hugh.

10. reasons why your dog needs to be walked daily:

1. It keeps your dog healthy and limber: daily exercise keeps joints limber and strengthens the muscles supporting those joints.
2. Fitness: dogs that are walked daily stay lean and trim. 
3. Weight management: studies have proven that dogs that are walked regularly are less likely to be overweight, and eliminating obesity truly extends their life.
4. Helps reduce undesirable behaviours, such as barking, licking, chewing, digging, and other anxiety-related and attention-seeking behaviours.
5. Promotes physical health: in addition to keeping your dog fit, daily exercise/walking provides exposure to fresh air and Vitamin D from the sunshine. For puppies, Vitamin D is used for proper bone development and growth. Sunshine also speeds up healing, kills bacteria and fungi. 
6. Promotes emotional and good mental health – for both your dog and you! 
7. Helps boost your dog’s confidence: a daily walking routine helps to provide structure and stability to your dog’s life, which helps boost confidence.
8. Provides mental exercise: physical activity is an essential source of mental stimulation, which in turn helps prevent boredom and frustration. 
9. Helps with socialisation: dogs need to be exposed to all kinds of things in order to be well adjusted in new situations and environments. Daily walks and exercise provide a great opportunity for you and your dog to meet new dogs, new people and see new things.
10. Helps build a better relationship between you and your dog.

*Hakanen et al 2020

Dogs Australia is a not-for-profit organisation, promoting responsible dog ownership. It is the consumer face of the Australian National Kennel Council, which was established in 1958. 

More information: 

www.dogsaustralia.org.auKey facts:

– Dogs Australia, a leading peak body that promotes responsible dog ownership, is urging Aussie dog owners to walk their dogs daily

– It’s crucial to keep dogs physically and mentally healthy

– Sadly, some dog owners rarely, if ever, take their dogs for a walk

– Dogs Australia provides 10 reasons why it’s important to walk your dog

Greens spokesperson for housing Max Chandler-Mather has today responded to the Housing Minister’s comments on social housing, calling Labor’s plan to build 20,000 afforable homes over 5 years deeply unambitious and inadequate to address Australia’s social housing crisis.

Max Chandler-Mather MP, Greens spokesperson for Housing and Homelessness said:

“While it’s good to see the Housing Minister talk about social housing today, Labor’s plan doesn’t even come close to touching the surface of Australia’s massive housing crisis, and in fact under their plan things will only get worse.”

“There are 163,500 households sitting on social housing waitlists across Australia and that number grows by 7600 homes a year, which means Labor’s 4000 social homes a year will literally see the waitlist grow every year.”

“We would never accept 163,500 kids sitting on waitlists to access public schools, so why should we accept that number of people waiting for a home?”

“Once you take into account people living in severe housing stress, then the actual need for social and affordable housing is over 600,000 homes.”

“The Federal Labor Government plans on spending $224 billion over 10 years on the Stage 3 tax cuts, but only $10 billion on building social and affordable housing, which is a real kick in the teeth for the hundreds of thousands of people in desperate need of a home.”

“The Greens plan would see at least 250,000 public and affordable homes built over 5 years, and 1 million over 20 years, which is exactly what we need to ensure everyone has a place to call home.”

“ We have the capacity, money and resources to build enough public housing for everyone who needs one, we just need to break the hold banks and property developers have over our political system.”

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.