Category: Australian News

Today the Prime Minister, along with state and territory First Ministers, met in Canberra to discuss their shared priorities.

They discussed how the National Cabinet can support strong collaborative relationships and drive progress on priorities for the nation.

National Cabinet will build on recent collaborative efforts to support the COVID-19 health response and support the delivery of additional areas of focus.

In recognition of the pressures in the health and hospital system exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commonwealth Government will extend the National Partnership on COVID-19 Response for a further three months to 31 December 2022, at a cost of approximately $760 million.

To deliver a more cooperative streamlined approach to Federation, First Ministers agreed to identify practical improvements to the health system and specifically the connections between GPs and hospitals. This includes working together to identify practical ways to get aged care residents and NDIS participants out of hospital and into a more appropriate setting.

Following the Commonwealth Government’s commitments to increased investment in primary care, the Commonwealth will also work with states and territories, drawing on local knowledge, to determine the final locations for Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.

The First Secretaries Group, chaired by Professor Glyn Davis, has been tasked with developing these improvements to the way the health system operates and reporting back to the National Cabinet.

National Cabinet affirmed its shared commitment to urgently addressing skills shortages. As part of the Commonwealth’s commitment, it will urgently work to address a backlog in processing visa applications in areas of skills shortages, reduce visa processing times and prioritise training and migration.

The Council on Federal Financial Relations (CFFR), chaired by Dr Jim Chalmers, will also provide advice within three months to National Cabinet on pressures on Commonwealth and State and Territory budgets, including anticipated fiscal pressures with a focus on areas of joint funding responsibility.

National Cabinet will next meet before the Commonwealth Budget in October 2022 to discuss these reforms and how the Commonwealth and states will work better together in the future. To advance microeconomic and productivity reforms, First Secretaries were also tasked with providing advice on the role of Ministerial Councils in progressing national priorities, with a sharpened focus on productivity improvements.

States and Territories expressed their support for the Commonwealth’s commitment to progress a referendum to constitutionally enshrine a Voice to Parliament in the Constitution as a matter of priority.

At the meeting, Treasury Secretary, Dr Steven Kennedy, provided an update on the economic and fiscal outlook for 2022.

Senior national security officials also provided First Ministers an update on national security issues and the current national threat environment, to further information sharing and intergovernmental engagement on national security matters.

National Cabinet noted several further challenges facing the nation and committed to continue to work together on solutions that will produce the best outcomes for all Australians.

• Energy markets across eastern Australia and the ongoing discussions between energy Ministers. They further agreed to continue working together to protect and improve outcomes for Australian consumers.
• Disaster recovery funding arrangements and the need to ensure they were consistent, streamlined and equitable.
• Measures to boost productivity across all sectors.

The National Cabinet affirmed a shared commitment to the Commonwealth’s revised Nationally Determined Contribution to a reduction in Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions of 43 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, which has been submitted to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

National Cabinet will invite a representative of Local Government to future meetings of National Cabinet and CFFR once a year to ensure all levels of Government are represented. The National Cabinet has agreed to meet a minimum of four times a year or as necessary and will next meet prior to the Federal Budget in October 2022.

Australia will provide an initial $675,000 to assist Kiribati respond to the country’s severe drought.

The funding commitment follows the Kiribati Government’s declaration of a State of Disaster on 13 June.

We are also working closely with New Zealand, Japan, UNICEF and the World Bank to identify needs and gaps for enhanced international support across Kiribati.

Australia will support the installation of 100 solar distillation units in Outer Island communities to convert well water into safe drinking water, and help primary schools ensure water is available for students.

Australia’s funding will support Australian NGOs to work with the Government of Kiribati and local NGOs to help deliver sustainable and inclusive access to drinking water in South Tarawa and the Outer Islands.

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

“As Pacific family members, Australia is standing with Kiribati to meet the challenges of climate change and its impacts.”

Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP said:

“Australia is listening actively and carefully to ensure that we mobilise resources that best support the people of Kiribati.”

Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Education spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has said that NSW and Victoria’s announcement of universal preschool for 4-year-olds must spur national efforts to make early education universal and free.

Senator Faruqi said:

“This is a big step forward for universal early education and it must be a catalyst for national efforts.

“There is no reason why we can’t see universal and free early education in every state and territory within a few years — for three and four year olds.

“Leadership at the state level really exposes the failure of the federal government to invest in universal early education. It seems the Commonwealth is constantly playing catch-up.

“Ensuring universal access should involve a substantial expansion of the public and community provision of early childhood education and care, rather than handing out billions more to for-profit providers.

“Universal access must go hand in hand with a proper plan to address serious underlying workforce issues with pay and conditions.

“This is a big change and unions, existing centres, early education experts and school communities must be consulted and brought along.

“Early education is critical for children’s development. It’s great to see this finally being recognised by NSW and Victoria.”

Today it is finally official: lutruwita/Tasmania’s federal election preferences have been formally distributed and Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson has been re-elected to the Senate in third position. 

Greens Senator for lutruwita/Tasmania, Peter Whish-Wilson said:

“The Greens’ Senate quota in Tassie has officially come in at 15.48%. This is our Party’s highest Senate result across all of Australia. 

“In real terms the Greens’ Senate vote in lutruwita/Tasmania climbed almost 25% from 2019.

“I’m honoured that my below the line first-preference vote was the highest of all Tasmanian Senators, including Eric Abetz who has served as a Tasmanian Senator for 28 years. 

“This magnificent result is down to all those who worked hard and supported the Greens this election. Supporters, volunteers, staff, candidates, and so many others. I extend a very big thank you to you all. 

“This election people backed the Greens in record numbers and delivered a massive mandate for action on climate. Big opportunities now lie ahead for us to get outcomes for our planet and its people, and to be part of a progressive political chapter in this nation’s history – one that does politics differently, and breaks the state capture of our parliament by powerful vested interests.”

The Australian Greens Leader, Adam Bandt, has announced the party’s updated portfolio allocation for the upcoming 47th Parliament, ahead of the first sittings in July.

Presented to yesterday evening’s Party Room, the new allocation gives newly elected MPs and Senators the power to progress the issues they were elected to advance, while recognising the years of experience behind the Greens existing portfolio holders.

The reshuffle sees Max Chandler-Mather represent the Greens on housing matters, Libby Watson-Brown represent Infrastructure and Transport, and Stephen Bates take on the LGBTIQA+ and Youth portfolios.

Former economist Barbara Pocock will represent the Greens on Finance and Employment, Gladstone-based former teacher Penny Allman-Payne will take on Schools as well as Industry, Transition & Regional Development, and former NSW MLC David Shoebridge, who has successfully pushed for action on corruption over many years, will serve as spokesperson for Justice and Defence.

“With more Greens in Parliament than ever before, this talented team combines years of experience with fresh perspectives,” Mr Bandt said.
“This strong team will push the government to deliver on climate, integrity and inequality. 

“With the Liberals in disarray and wiped off the electoral map, this Parliament offers an opportunity to make the big changes we need, like getting out of coal and gas while looking after workers and communities, while making big corporations pay their fair share of tax to get dental into Medicare and fix the housing affordability crisis.

“While the Liberals chase after the far-right fringe, this new Greens line-up will offer a progressive economic alternative to a Labor government that’s giving tax cuts to billionaires while opening more coal and gas.”

Greens Portfolios for the 47th Parliament

Member of Parliament	Portfolio
Adam Bandt Leader	Climate Change and EnergyWorkplace Relations
Mehreen Faruqi Deputy Leader	Education Anti-RacismInternational Aid & Global JusticeAnimal Welfare
Larissa Waters Leader in the Senate	WomenDemocracy
Lidia Thorpe Deputy Leader in the Senate	First NationsThe Republic Sport
Sarah Hanson-Young Manager of Greens Business in the Senate	Environment & WaterArts & Communications
Nick McKim Senate Whip	Economic Justice and Treasury Home Affairs, Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs
Janet Rice Party Room Chair	Social Services Aged CareGovernment Services Forests
Peter Whish-Wilson	AgricultureHealthy Oceans Waste
Jordon Steele-John	Health Foreign Affairs, Peace and Nuclear Disarmament Disability Rights and Services
Dorinda Cox	ResourcesScienceTrade and Tourism
David Shoebridge	Justice Defence and Veterans’ Affairs Digital Rights
Elizabeth Watson-Brown	Infrastructure Transport Sustainable Cities
Barbara Pocock	FinanceEmployment Public Sector
Max Chandler-Mather	Housing Homelessness
Penny Allman-Payne	Industry, Transition and Regional Development Northern Australia Schools
Stephen Bates	LGBTIQA+ Youth

The Australian Government is committed to taking more ambitious action on climate change.

Today, the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese and the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen conveyed Australia’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement to the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

This formalises Australia’s pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 43 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, and will put Australia on track to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

When Parliament resumes, the Government will seek to enshrine these targets in legislation, providing the certainty industry and investors have been seeking.

The current issues confronting Australian and global energy markets highlights why these policies are so important.

We will support the transition to renewable energy by investing in the transmission and storage needed to balance the grid, which will lower energy prices and support economic growth.

Our plan will create more than 604,000 jobs, with five out of six new jobs to be created in the regions, and will spur $76 billion of investment. Australia’s abundant renewable energy resources mean we’re well placed to become a clean energy superpower.

The Government’s comprehensive set of policies include:

• $20 billion investment in Australia’s electricity grid to accelerate the decarbonisation of the grid.
• An additional $300 million to deliver community batteries and solar banks across Australia.
• Up to $3 billion investment of from the new National Reconstruction Fund to support renewables manufacturing and low emissions technologies.
• Powering the Regions Fund to support the development of new clean energy industries and the decarbonisation priorities of existing industry.
• A further $100 million to train 10,000 New Energy Apprentices in the jobs of the future.
• $10 million New Energy Skills Program to provide additional training pathways.
• The introduction of declining emission baselines for Australia’s major emitters, under the existing Safeguard Mechanism.
• Australia’s first National Electric Vehicle Strategy, to reduce emissions and accelerate the uptake of electric vehicle.
• Double existing investment in electric vehicle charging and establish hydrogen refuelling infrastructure – to $500 million.
• The application of new standardised and internationally-aligned reporting requirements for climate risks and opportunities for large businesses.
• A commitment to reduce the emissions of Commonwealth Government agencies to net zero by 2030.
• Restoring the role of the Climate Change Authority, while keeping decision-making and accountability with Government and introducing new annual Parliamentary reporting by the Minister.
• Bid to host a future Conference of the Parties in Australia with an offer to Pacific partner countries to co-host.

The Australian Government has also confirmed Australia will not use over‑achievement (otherwise known as carryover) from its 2020 and Kyoto Protocol targets to meet its Paris Agreement targets.

The Prime Minister said:

“Updating Australia’s 2030 emissions reduction target is a promise our Government made to the Australian people.

“The new target reflects my Government’s resolve to urgently step up the pace of action, and work alongside global partners and particularly with our Pacific family, to tackle the climate crisis and keep 1.5 degrees within reach.

“When Parliament resumes, we will move quickly to enshrine Australia’s 2030 and 2050 targets in legislation, providing the certainty industry and investors have been seeking.

“Our Powering Australia plan will support the transition to renewable energy, including investing in the transmission and storage needed to balance the grid.

The Minister for Climate Change and Energy said:

“The world’s climate emergency is Australia’s jobs opportunity.”

“With the right ambition, action and cooperation, Australia can seize the once-in-a-generation opportunity ahead of us and thrive in a net zero world,” he said.

“The Government will be working in collaboration with states and territories, industry, community groups and the Australian people to drive down emissions while ensuring secure, affordable energy supplies.

“The current crisis in the east coast energy market, highlights how the nation needs a long-term plan and that it is more important than ever to invest in renewable energy sources, and that’s exactly what our Government will do.”

Despite some signs of progress, the speed and scale of forced displacement is outpacing solutions for refugees.

The number of people forced to flee their homes has increased every year over the past decade and stands at the highest level since records began, a trend that can only be reversed by a new, concerted push towards peacemaking, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, said today.

By the end of 2021, those displaced by war, violence, persecution, and human rights abuses stood at 89.3 million, up 8 per cent on a year earlier and well over double the figure of 10 years ago, according to UNHCR’s annual Global Trends report. 

Since then, the Russian invasion of Ukraine – causing the fastest and one of the largest forced displacement crises since World War II – and other emergencies, from Africa to Afghanistan and beyond, pushed the figure over the dramatic milestone of 100 million. 

“Every year of the last decade, the numbers have climbed,” said the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi. “Either the international community comes together to take action to address this human tragedy, resolve conflicts and find lasting solutions, or this terrible trend will continue.” 

Last year was notable for the number of conflicts that escalated and new ones that flared; 23 countries, with a combined population of 850 million, faced medium-intensity or high-intensity conflicts, according to the World Bank. 

Meanwhile, food scarcity, inflation and the climate crisis are adding to people’s hardship, stretching the humanitarian response just as the funding outlook in many situations appears bleak. 

The number of refugees rose in 2021 to 27.1 million. Arrivals climbed in Uganda, Chad and Sudan among others. Most refugees were, once again, hosted by neighbouring countries with few resources. The number of asylum seekers reached 4.6 million, up 11 per cent.

Last year also saw the 15th straight annual rise in people displaced within their countries by conflict, to 53.2 million. The increase was driven by mounting violence or conflict in some places, for example Myanmar. The conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray and other regions has spurred the flight of millions within the country. Insurgencies in the Sahel drove fresh internal displacement, particularly in Burkina Faso and Chad. 

The speed and volume of displacement is still outpacing the availability of solutions for those displaced – like return, resettlement or local integration. Yet the Global Trends report also contained glimmers of hope. The number of refugee and IDP returns increased in 2021, returning to pre-COVID-19 levels, with voluntary repatriation having surged 71 per cent, though numbers remained modest. 

“While we’re witnessing appalling new refugee situations, and existing ones reigniting or remaining unresolved, there are also examples of countries and communities working together to pursue solutions for the displaced,” Grandi added. “It’s happening in places – for example the regional cooperation to repatriate Ivorians – but these important decisions need to be replicated or scaled up elsewhere.” 

And although the estimated number of stateless people grew slightly in 2021, some 81,200 acquired citizenship or had it confirmed – the biggest reduction in statelessness since the start of UNHCR’s #iBelong campaign in 2014. 

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.