Category: Australian News

“Chilling” revelations in National Climate Risk Assessment make net zero by 2035 imperative, say Greens

The Greens forced the release of the National Climate Risk Assessment report via an order for production of documents (OPD) in the Senate as a necessary input to Labor’s upcoming decision on the new 2035 climate target or Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), required by each country under the Paris Agreement.

In light of the chilling revelations in the report, the Greens today reiterate their call on the government to set a science-based climate target of net zero by 2035.

Anything less than net zero emissions by 2035 would lock Australia into exceeding 2 degrees of warming, which as the report outlines, will have dire consequences for civilisation as well as the environment.

The report outlines scenarios such as:

• Significant potential for loss of life and strain on health systems. If global heating rises above 3 degrees, heat-related deaths could surge over 400% in Sydney and Darwin.
• Sea levels rising by half a metre would leave over 3 million people, a third of Australia’s coastal population, at a high risk of coastal inundation. Brisbane could flood 300 days a year, and Fremantle 200 days a year.
• A cumulative wealth loss at $4.2 trillion by the end of the century, with over $600 billion wiped from the property market. 

In terms of target aspirations, state and territory governments have already made and legislated climate target commitments, and a new federal target lower than 71% would actually take the current sum of commitments backwards.

The National Climate Risk Assessment report should have been released in 2024, meaning the Labor government was aware of the contents at the time of their approval of the North West Shelf gas project through to 2070 in May 2025. The North West Shelf is the Albanese government’s most polluting fossil fuel project so far, and will alone contribute the equivalent of 10 years of Australia’s total pollution to the atmosphere over its lifetime.

Greens Leader Senator Larissa Waters:

“The revelations about Australia’s future under climate change detailed in this report are chilling,” Senator Waters said.

“The Greens forced the public release of this report that the government sat on for months, while they ticked off on massive gas projects like the North West Shelf and the Ulan coal mine in their first months of the 48th parliament.

“Coal and gas is delivering Australia a bleak climate future and the polluting profits of the coal and gas industry are a dead weight on Australia’s climate target.

“The climate crisis is a risk to our safety, to nature, and to our economy and productivity. This report must be a wake up call for Labor ahead of their 2035 climate target decision.

“Anything less than net zero by 2035 puts Australia on track for more than 2 degrees warming.

“What this report shows is that a 2035 target of 65% means significant potential for loss of life and strain on health systems, more extreme heat, more devastating floods, crop failures, fires, global insecurity and the death of every coral reef around the world.

“If Labor fails to set a science-based climate target then it’s crystal clear: they have utterly prioritised coal and gas profits at the expense of community safety and nature.”

Greens Deputy Leader and spokesperson for Climate Adaptation, Senator Mehreen Faruqi:

“The Government has been hiding these shocking findings since 2024 and it took the Greens to force its release. ” said Faruqi.

“Now that the diabolical truth of what’s coming is laid bare, Labor has no choice but to set a strong climate target in line with science and with this dire reality. Anything less is signing Australia and the world up to devastating climate collapse.

“Labor is driving us off a climate cliff and backstabbing climate vulnerable communities in service of coal and gas profits and hoping nobody notices.

“It is unconscionable that Labor had this information when they chose to sign off on the North West Shelf gas project, which alone will release more than 10 years of Australia’s pollution over its lifetime. 

“This is the moral test for this parliament – Labor could change course and work with the Greens to prevent climate collapse, or be responsible for consequences of the dire revelations in this report.”

ANZ’s blatant disregard for their customers and the law is yet another example of big corporations taking the piss, the Greens say.

“ANZ have shown absolute contempt for basic standards and for the people they’re supposed to serve,” Greens Economic Justice Spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

“They break the law. They negotiate a fine. And then they just pay it out of their obscene profits. All while sacking thousands of staff and showering their executives in bonuses.”

“ANZ charged fees to thousands of dead customers, stonewalled grieving families, lied about savings rates, and ripped tens of thousands of people off.”

“This is just standard operating procedure for corporate Australia. Time after time we see big corporations breaking the law and treating their customers with contempt, and when they get caught they get a slap on the wrist.”

“The banking Royal Commission demanded cultural changes in Australia’s big banks, but customers keep on getting screwed.”

“This is taking the piss. Ordinary people get punished for the smallest mistakes, while the big end of town get a slap on the wrist and a wink.”

“Labor and the Liberals are far too close to the banks to hold them to account.”

“The Greens are fighting for tougher penalties, stronger regulators, and to make sure these corporate crooks don’t get to keep treating our economy like their personal casino.”

Tasmania is the state most exposed to climate hazards according to the National Climate Risk Assessment released today, which considered frequency, severity and location of climate hazards.

“Tasmania’s high vulnerability to climate hazards like bushfires, floods, extreme weather events and sea level rise should be a clarion call for us to finally stop logging our native forests,” Greens Senator for Tasmania Nick McKim said.

“Nationally we need to stop approving new fossil coal and gas projects, end fossil fuel subsidies, stop logging native forests and set a 2035 emissions reduction  target of net zero.”

“In Tasmania we need a clear climate adaptation strategy to embed resilience into our communities, infrastructure and ecosystems, and an end to native forest logging.”

“This report should make it abundantly clear to the Labor and Liberal parties that it is in Tasmania’s interests to end native forest logging.

“Protecting our precious forests would make Tasmanians safer, not just from bushfires but a range of significant climate risks.”

The full report can be found here.

 Sophie McNeill MLC, The Greens (WA) spokesperson for AUKUS/ Peace and non-Violence:

“The secret is finally out. The US is being invited to transform Henderson into a key nuclear submarine maintenance hub.

“This is a massive shift from what the community was originally told about AUKUS. 

“Now, it’s clear that the Cockburn Sound foreshore is slowly going to become a massive US base, and potentially one of just five facilities worldwide where US nuclear submarines can undergo deep cycle maintenance.

“This looks like it has come out of US demands in their AUKUS review – to which the Albanese government has dutifully obeyed, pandering to the Trump administration’s every demand.

“Meanwhile, Western Australians have been left in the dark about what this would mean for nearby residents and for public access to Cockburn Sound.

“Just three weeks ago, I questioned Minister Dawson during budget estimates about whether Henderson would become a maintenance base for US nuclear-powered submarines, and he claimed “no decision has been made by the Commonwealth about what is in that defence precinct.”

“It is time the Cook government came clean about just how much of WA is being handed over to the US military. 

“This shock news about Henderson comes as the Australian Submarine Agency are holding “community town halls” in Rockingham and Fremantle this week to try and make it look like they are consulting with the community.

“The reality is the opposite. There is zero indication of what this will mean for the local community regarding safety, public access, and nuclear waste storage at Henderson. 

“Enough lies and secrecy. 

“Western Australians are being deliberately drip-fed tiny bits of information about AUKUS because both the state and federal government knows the social licence of this project is non-existent.”

Federal Greens Foreign Affairs and Defence Spokesperson Senator David Shoebridge:

“This latest $12 billion AUKUS promise from the Albanese Labor government is designed so the PM has a fresh tribute payment for Trump if they meet next week in New York.

“The timing of this announcement could not be more cynical, or more obviously designed to deliver a military base for the US rather than peace and security for Australia.

“While the $12 billion commitment is a shockingly large amount, the Albanese Government says it really wants to spend $25 billion building AUKUS-related facilities at Henderson over the next decade.   

“Because none of this additional funding is contained in this budget or even the forward estimates, what Labor is doing is robbing funding from housing, climate and education from future budgets. That’s an appalling misdirection for our country.   

“The Albanese Government has been actively misleading the public about the scale of US military deployments in Australia. 

“When it was first announced, Labor claimed Henderson would have no role in the AUKUS nuclear submarine program, but it is now being made a key cog. 

“It is the same playbook we saw with their nuclear waste Bill, mislead, gaslight and then steamroll ahead, ignoring the locals. 

“AUKUS is an independence firesale, with the Albanese Government putting no limits on the US military’s ambition for our real estate.”

The Australian Government is relisting the terrorist organisations Hamas, Hizballah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, as well as 30 other entities and 10 persons, for counter-terrorism financing sanctions.

These counter-terrorism listings expire every three years, and are being renewed ahead of their expiry date in 2025. Hamas has been listed since 2001.

We are also imposing new counter-terrorism financing sanctions on three persons and one entity linked to Hamas, to reflect changes in the leadership of the terrorist organisation.

These listings target Mr Izz al-Din al-Haddad, who has been the leader and military commander of Hamas since May 2025, a member of Hamas’ Politburo, a senior financial facilitator, and a currency exchange used to facilitate the transfer of funds and cryptocurrency to Hamas.

The Albanese Government remains unequivocal in its condemnation of Hamas and continues to call for the immediate, unconditional and dignified release of the hostages it took during the horrific October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks.

We continue to work with the international community to isolate Hamas and end its grip on Gaza. We have made clear that there can be no role for Hamas in a Palestinian state.

A listing for counter-terrorism financing sanctions makes it a criminal offence to use or deal with a listed person or entity’s assets, or to make an asset available to them.

Counter-terrorism financing sanctions disrupt the ability of terrorist organisations to raise funds, making it harder for terrorists to fund operations and recruit.

Penalties for a breach of an Australian sanctions law include up to 10 years’ imprisonment and/or heavy fines.

A consolidated list of sanctions is available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s website.

The Albanese Government will provide $12 billion towards delivering a Defence Precinct at Henderson to deliver continuous naval shipbuilding and AUKUS in Western Australia.

Alongside the Albanese Government’s record investments across shipbuilding and AUKUS in the West, these commitments will support 10,000 direct jobs over the next two decades as well as providing opportunities for small and medium sized businesses across the state.

Today’s announcement of new money is a significant down payment for the Defence Precinct, with early independent planning and advice indicating the Henderson Precinct will require investment in the order of $25 billion over the decade.

This early commitment of funding will provide certainty to industry who will partner on the construction of infrastructure and facilities and will also kick-start early works whilst more detailed planning and design work for Henderson are finalised.

This initial investment will underpin the delivery of:

• The construction of surface vessels for the Australian Defence Force, starting with Army’s Landing Craft and, pending successful consolidation, the domestic build element of Australia’s future general purpose frigates;
• Facilities to support the sustainment of Australia’s surface combatant vessels;
• Contingency docking capabilities for Australia’s future conventionally-armed, nuclear­ powered submarine fleet from the early 2030s; and
• Depot-level maintenance, including graving docks.

Progressing these capabilities will be critical for Australia’s delivery of the AUKUS pathway and ensure Australia is ready to receive its first Virginia class submarine in the early 2030s.

This commitment builds on the government’s initial $127 million commitment to progress planning for the Defence Precinct.

Additional funding requirements will be considered once detailed design works are finalised and as delivery models, including the opportunity for private financing models, are determined.

In partnership with the Western Australian Government, and in line with the Commonwealth­ State Cooperation Agreement, we will continue to work together on transition arrangements and certainty for current and future users of Henderson.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“Today’s investment is another way we are delivering record defence funding to bolster Australia’s capabilities.

“This world class precinct will create more than 10,000 local jobs and strong opportunities for local industry.

“There is no greater honour than serving our country in our nation’s uniform and my Government is dedicated to investing in the defence capabilities our nation requires.”

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles:

“The Albanese Government continues to increase defence spending to record levels to deliver the capabilities Australia needs.

“Henderson will be critical to Australia’s shipbuilding and sustainment industry while supporting continuous naval shipbuilding in Western Australia and Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine pathway.

“In less than a year from our announcement to establish the Defence Precinct at Henderson, today we are announcing additional funding to start delivering on key programs for the Australian Defence Force.”

Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy:

“This investment is part of the Albanese Government’s commitment to building our sovereign defence industry and supporting a future made in Australia.

“Western Australia already plays an important role in the delivery of capabilities for the ADF, and the consolidation of the Henderson precinct will be a significant boost for defence industry in the West.

“It will support around 10,000 highly skilled, well paid jobs over the next two decades, helping people across Western Australia build great futures for themselves and their families.”

The Albanese Government has begun the process of establishing the per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) National Coordinating Body with Assistant Minister of Defence, Peter Khalil set to provide oversight of the Body alongside NSW Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe, given the initial focus of operations.

The National Coordination Body will expand to encompass other locations over the next twelve months, with Ministers from other states and territories invited to nominate representatives to join the Body and become involved in its oversight. 

As this National approach evolves, both Ministers Khalil and Sharpe will also work closely with representatives from across government to establish the first community-based Working Group aimed at continuing to drive progress on PFAS-related issues near RAAF Base Williamtown.

Representatives from Defence, the Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council, Port Stephens Council and NSW Government will form the first Working Group. Members of the Williamtown community are also invited to join the group, with expressions of interest now open for applications.

These advances at a national and state level mark a significant step toward continuing to address the needs of communities who have been impacted by PFAS contamination, while also improving the management and oversight of PFAS remediation across Australia. 

The establishment of a PFAS National Coordinating Body and Williamtown Working Group were key recommendations agreed in the Government response to the Independent Review of land uses around key Defence bases impacted by PFAS contamination, released in December 2024.

Defence is also continuing its scope of work to inform the Williamtown Working Group about options for drainage management across the area south of RAAF Base Williamtown. This work will be a practical first step in addressing key community concerns.

The expression of interest process to join the Williamtown Working Group opened earlier this week and is set to close on Friday, 03 October 2025. Community members who wish to join can complete an application form here.

Assistant Minister for Defence, Peter Khalil:

“Communities affected by PFAS contamination need action. That’s why we’re getting on with setting up the National Coordinating Body and the first Working Group in Williamtown to get things moving. 

“The Independent Review made it clear that a Working Group model is the most effective way to address community concerns and deliver meaningful reform to better support those impacted.

“The National Coordinating Body will support the Williamtown Working Group ensure all levels of government work together to directly address the many concerns raised by locals.

“As representatives from other states and territories join the National Body, I look forward to working with their corresponding Ministers to ensure people living in PFAS impacted areas are provided with the support they need.”

Today, I am pleased to welcome Malaysia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, YB Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad Bin Haji Hasan, to Melbourne for the seventh Australia-Malaysia Annual Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AFMM), in the year we celebrate the 70th anniversary of Australia’s diplomatic presence in Malaysia.

The AFMM is an opportunity to strengthen cooperation under our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including in trade and investment, defence and regional security, and governance and institutional reform.

I look forward to continuing discussions I had with Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan in Kuala Lumpur in July, and reiterating Australia’s support for Malaysia as ASEAN Chair this year.

Australia is a modern multicultural nation, and we share extensive people-to-people ties with Malaysia. Over 172,000 people of Malaysian heritage call Australia home, and more than 500,000 Malaysians have studied in Australia.

Our two countries’ longstanding partnership is grounded in a shared history of friendship and cooperation in support of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region.

I look forward to deepening these ties through our discussions today.

State governments have told Labor today that nearly 2,500 people are unnecessarily in hospital waiting for residential aged care or home care packages. 

The Greens are calling on Labor to use today’s meeting of Health Ministers to help end the ‘rationing’ of aged care. Rationing of aged care means the release of a limited number of care spaces each year, meaning people who need care miss out. 

The Greens spokesperson for Older People, Senator Penny Allman-Payne, previously wrote to the Minister for Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, warning of the impacts of Labor’s shortage of aged care on the hospital system and urging him to take responsibility and act to end the aged care shortage.

Last week’s Aged Care Inspector-General report confirmed the government’s aged care reforms due in November will not deliver the change envisaged by the Aged Care Royal Commission four years ago, and would “both prejudice equity of access to care and create inadvertent cost blow in other areas.”

Senator Penny Allman-Payne, Greens spokesperson for Older People:

“We heard at the Greens-led Senate inquiry into Aged Care that older Australians were being forced into hospital because of Labor’s aged care shortages, and now today’s figures confirm it.

“2,500 older people have been left virtually homeless because Labor are rationing care out to those who can most afford it.

“In the for-profit aged care system, the worse your health is, the less likely you are to be cared for.

“Labor and the Liberals aged care system restricts the supply of care, and providers then choose from their most profitable customers. The Royal Commission said we should end this rationing of care, but Labor have ignored them.

“When 1 in 3 big corporations pay no tax, but an older person with dementia can’t get care, something is seriously wrong.”

“Labor had to be dragged kicking and screaming by the Greens and others in the Senate just to release 20,000 home care packages. This time, they should take heed of this warning from the states and use today’s meeting to help end the rationing of care so that everyone can access the care that they need.”

The Victorian Greens have helped secure a major win for locals in the South by forcing the Allan Labor Government to shelve legislation that would have tripled the annual lockout period of Albert Park for the Formula 1 Grand Prix. 

The Greens say the collapse of the Bill is a win for Albert Park residents and community groups who fought against the extension of the race period, which would have locked locals out of the park for up to three weeks each year.

Victorian Greens MLC for Southern Metropolitan, Katherine Copsey, said the Greens had opposed the Bill from the outset, standing with the local community against and ultimately forcing Labor’s hand in what was little more than an attempt to hand over public land for private profit.

Victorian Greens MLC for Southern Metropolitan, Katherine Copsey: 

“This was nothing more than a public land and access grab by the Labor Government. Albert Park is a public space and it should be for the local community, not a corporate paddock.” 

“We’ve already seen Labor hand over billions of taxpayer dollars to Liberty Media, the private overseas company that owns Formula 1. Albert Park belongs to the people and should be first and foremost for the enjoyment of our local community, not multinational corporations.”