Category: Australian News

The Victorian Greens are alarmed by the abolition of VicHealth as part of Labor’s sweeping public sector cuts. A move that the Greens believe is political cover for Labor’s own budget mismanagement at the cost of Victoria’s essential public services.

VicHealth has been a world leader in public health promotion for almost 40 years. Their work on tobacco harm reduction is historic, and included the extraordinary step of buying out tobacco company sponsorship of sports and the arts in 1988. 

It has support from across the political spectrum, with protected ongoing funding, its abolition and absorption into the Department of Health is a shock for workers and for the health sector and will compromise the efficiency of Victoria’s health services.

VicHealth’s independence from government has been a critical pillar of its success, enabling it to take on massive commercial interests that cause harm to the health of Victorians, including the food and beverage industry, big tobacco and alcohol, and gambling.

VicHealth can say things that governments too often don’t want to hear. They provide a voice to counter the corporations plugging junk food, alcohol and cigarettes – corporations that often capture Labor and Liberal governments.

Without VicHealth, Victorians will once again be at the mercy of these powerful corporations without proper scrutiny. 

Dr Sarah Mansfield, Victorian Greens Health Spokesperson:

“The Allan Labor government’s decision to absorb VicHealth into the department of health spells the death of its independence, and undermines a key strength of this vital public health institution.

“VicHealth has always been willing to take on the big corporate interests that harm Victorians’ health, like the junk food industry, big tobacco and alcohol, and gambling – something the Allan Labor government has repeatedly demonstrated they’re too afraid of doing. 

“The Allan Labor government is putting short-term political interests ahead of health promotion and prevention, which ironically, will just end up costing our health system even more.”

NSW Ambulance is urging people to monitor conditions with the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) forecasting severe heatwave conditions for Metropolitan Sydney, the Hunter, the Illawarra, Southern Tablelands and Snowy Mountains from Thursday 4 December.  

NSW Ambulance Chief Superintendent Steve Vaughan, Associate Director Emergency Management said people need to plan ahead and stay informed with maximum temperatures predicted to reach the mid thirties to low forties later in the week in locations such as the Sydney metropolitan area, Newcastle, Gosford, Camden, Mona Vale, Nowra, Richmond and Wollongong.  

“Stay hydrated, avoid the heat where possible, and check in on vulnerable people especially as it gets warmer over the next few days,” Chief Superintendent Vaughan said.  

NSW Ambulance has issued an Advice warning for this severe heatwave. Stay up to date in case the situation changes.  

• Stay hydrated – make sure you drink plenty of water and carry a water bottle with you.  
• Keep cool – seek air-conditioned buildings, draw your blinds, use a fan, take cool showers and dress in light and loose clothing made of natural fabrics.    
• Avoid the heat – schedule activities in the coolest part of the day and avoid exercising in the heat.  
• Check in on vulnerable people – hot weather can affect everyone, but some people are at greater risk of heat-related health problems. This includes people aged 65 years and older, babies and young children, and people with some medical conditions.    
• Never leave children or pets in a vehicle – leaving children or pets unattended in a car can be fatal. The temperature inside a parked car can double in minutes.  

Signs of heat-related illness can include headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, fatigue and cramps. People with these symptoms should move out of the sun and seek shade or use a fan or air conditioning, take a cool shower or bath if possible and take sips of water.    

   

People who do not respond to these steps or who show symptoms suggesting a more severe illness, including a sudden rise in body temperature, who are no longer sweating, showing aggressive or strange behaviour or who are fitting, should seek urgent medical attention or call Triple Zero (000).    

For further information, updates and advice go to the NSW Ambulance website or follow NSW Ambulance on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and X .  

For the latest weather forecasts and heatwave warnings go to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) website .  

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, will travel to Port Moresby this week for an inaugural Trilateral Defence Ministers’ Meeting with Papua New Guinea Minister for Defence, Dr Billy Joseph, and Indonesian Minister of Defense, Dr Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.

Defence Ministers from Australia, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia agreed to establish an annual meeting to enable closer cooperation on shared security challenges.

The meeting also builds on long-standing bilateral defence engagements and reflects our mutual commitment to a secure, sovereign and resilient Indo-Pacific.

During the visit, the Deputy Prime Minister will also turn the sod for a new accommodation block at the Goldie River Training Depot.

Australia and PNG will upgrade these vital facilities to deliver new accommodation and essential services for up to 200 additional PNG Defence Force trainees.  

Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles:

“I look forward to meeting with Minister Sjafrie and Minister Joseph for the inaugural Trilateral Defence Ministers’ Meeting tomorrow.

“This meeting marks a significant step forward in our shared commitment to regional peace and security.

“Our trilateral partnership is built on mutual respect, shared interests, and a collective vision for a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

“During the visit, I also look forward to building on the momentum of the recently signed Pukpuk Treaty – as we work together to support the growth and development of the PNG Defence Force.”

Today marks one year since the Albanese Government responded to the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. 

The Royal Commission was the most significant and comprehensive inquiry conducted into suicide and suicidality in Defence and veteran communities. Its Final Report made 122 recommendations to reform the culture, systems and processes across the Defence and veteran ecosystem to prevent suicide and improve the mental health and wellbeing of serving personnel and veterans.

In these 12 months, the Government has made significant progress on these recommendations. By the end of this year, 32 recommendations will be implemented, with work underway on the remainder – including some initially “noted” in the Government response. 

Our priority remains on delivering reforms that protect the health and safety of Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel, while improving the experience of service for personnel, veterans and their families. 

The Royal Commission itself said its most important recommendation was the creation of a legislated, independent oversight body to oversee sustained reform to improve suicide prevention and wellbeing outcomes for serving and ex-serving ADF members. 

Legislation to establish the new Defence and Veteran Services Commission passed Parliament in February this year, and the body commenced operation in September. 

The recommendations of the Royal Commission which relate to sexual violence and safety are being implemented by Defence as a priority. 

Across Government, Defence and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) we have also seen further steps, including: 

• The Albanese Government allocate $78 million to establish a Veteran Wellbeing Agency, to be up and running in July 2026.
• The Australian Human Rights Commission begin consultations on the terms of reference for an independent inquiry into military sexual violence.
• New mechanisms introduced to disclose service convictions.
• Expanding sexual offence data reporting through the Defence Annual Report, with further improvements underway.
• Finalising the Defence Charter for Military Justice Proceedings and progressing legislative reforms.
• Redeveloping mandatory sexual violence workshops and piloting a Healthy Relationships Program for new recruits.
• The launch of the DVA Suicide Prevention Framework and advancing work on new veteran research committee.
• Working with the Australian Human Rights Commission and Our Watch to develop a sexual violence prevention strategy aligned with the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022–2032.

Building on this initial work, in 2026 an independent complaints unit will be established to support the reporting of unacceptable behaviour, workplace health and safety audit findings will be implemented, and Defence and DVA will strengthen research quality and sharing.

The Government’s response to the Royal Commission involved the most comprehensive reform ever undertaken to the systems, culture and processes across Defence, the ADF and DVA. 

While we have taken significant steps forward, continued action by Defence and DVA will be needed to maintain momentum and progress.

The Albanese government is committed to delivering on these reforms so that Defence’s most important capability – its people – are able to receive the support and services they deserve. 

The Greens say that Australia’s biggest superannuation funds are simply following Labor’s lead after a new study exposed “industrial-scale greenwashing”, revealing that most major funds have increased their investments in some of the world’s biggest fossil fuel polluters – despite claiming to be on a pathway to net-zero.

The report by Market Forces assessed 30 of Australia’s largest super funds against their public climate commitments by analysing their exposure to the world’s 200 biggest fossil fuel producers, including Woodside and Santos.

It found that two-thirds of Australia’s biggest super funds, including Australian Super, HESTA, Mercer and Australian Retirement, increased their investments in major global polluters between Dec 2021 and June 2024

ASIC has previously fined Mercer $11 million for misleading “sustainable” investment claims.

Greens assistant Climate Spokesperson, Sen. Steph Hodgins-May:

“Big Super is talking green while investing dirty – the same kind of spin we see from this Labor government.

“Workers are being told their money is building a safe climate future. But behind closed doors, it’s flowing straight to companies like Woodside and Santos who are actively wrecking the climate.

“When Labor approves 32 new coal and gas, investors take the hint. They keep pouring money into fossil fuels because the government is signaling that it’s business as usual.

“There’s no point in saving for retirement if we don’t have a safe planet to live on. This is a betrayal of workers, a betrayal of retirees, and a betrayal to our future.

“Australians should be able to rely on superannuation to do what it’s meant to do: protect their future, not bankroll climate collapse.”

Greens Economic Justice Spokesperson, Sen. Nick McKim:

“Labor could end this today by ruling out approval for any further fossil fuel projects and setting mandatory climate-aligned investment standards for major funds.”

“Until that happens, the risk is that Big Super will keep chasing returns in the industries wrecking our planet.”

“People’s compulsory retirement savings should not be used as collateral for climate damage.”

“They should support a stable, liveable future built on renewables, climate resilience, and sustainable jobs.”

Media reports today have exposed supermarket giant Woolworths for exploiting affordable housing development schemes to fast-track new supermarket and luxury apartment complexes.

The current housing crisis has rental vacancy rates at record lows, 175,000 people on waiting lists for social housing, and first-home buyers unable to compete with wealthy property investors.

The Greens say it’s abhorrent that supermarket giant Woolworths is able to cheat the housing system for profit and get away with it. 

Greens spokesperson for finance, housing and homelessness Senator Barbara Pocock:

“Billionaire price gouger Woolies is using tiny affordable housing sidebuilds with ‘poor doors’ to sweeten their pathway to housing profits.

“The retail giant is drinking from the trough of affordable housing for disgusting profiteering.

“This is the perfect example of big corporations maximising profit over people: Corporations fast-tracking profit from taking up housing space in the midst of a housing crisis. 

“During a housing crisis, Labor is undermining affordable housing by allowing big corporations and property developers to profit.

“Supermarkets don’t have Australians’ best interests at heart. They’ve price gouged and we know where their priorities lie. They must not be let loose on housing.

“Australians have had enough of the supermarket duopoly ripping them off at the check out. What Australians want is affordable housing, not another Woolies scam.

“When state and federal governments give profit-hungry developers new avenues for profit in a housing crisis, you have to wonder who they’re really working for – it’s certainly not voters.”

The Victorian Greens say Labor’s donation laws have been dodgy from the beginning, designed to entrench power for the major parties by protecting Labor and the Liberals’ political slush funds.

It comes as the Allan Labor Government has finally conceded defeat in the face of a High Court challenge and announced it will amend Victoria’s donation laws to allow other parties and independents to establish nominated entities and place new limits on how funds can be transferred.

The current laws, introduced by the Andrews Labor Government in 2018, have always been a “major-party stitch-up”, with special carve-outs for Labor, the Liberals and Nationals to access tens of millions in “political slush funds” while locking out independents and minor parties.

The Greens say that if Labor were serious about fixing the system, it would scrap the slush funds entirely, not just tweak the rules to protect the advantages of the major parties.

In addition, Labor still refuses to abolish group voting tickets, which allow backroom preference deals to determine upper house results rather than voters.

With yet another upper house inquiry handing down its report today, the Greens say Labor has kicked this reform down the road for so long it has finally reached the end of the road, and that abolishing group voting tickets must be part of any genuine fix to Victoria’s electoral system.

the Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell:

“Labor’s donation laws were dodgy from day one. This has always been a major-party stitch-up designed to protect Labor and Liberals’ political slush funds.”

“Labor and the Liberals rigged the rules so they could access tens of millions in slush-fund money while everyone else was locked out. It’s dodgy, and Victorians are sick of it.”

“Labor is only changing these laws because it was dragged to the High Court – and even now, it’s offering a patch-up job to preserve its own advantage.”

“If Labor were serious about fairness, it would scrap the slush funds and abolish group voting tickets so Victorians can have confidence that our elections work for voters, not backroom deals or major parties desperately clinging to power”

A parliamentary inquiry has today delivered scathing findings on the Allan Labor Government’s plan to demolish and privatise Melbourne’s 44 public housing towers and has called for all demolition works to be halted immediately.

The final report, which was tabled in Parliament today, paints a damning picture of a Labor Government pushing ahead with a multi-billion-dollar mass demolition and privatisation of public housing, while withholding evidence, sidelining experts, and placing public housing residents under immense stress and uncertainty.

The inquiry repeatedly heard of Labor’s refusal to produce key documents to justify the decision to demolish the 44 public housing towers including feasibility studies and cost-benefit-analysis comparing demolition to retrofitting or refurbishment.

The report makes several recommendations including that the claim of ‘executive privilege’ – a mechanism that lets the Labor Government block documents from public release – over more than 140 different documents relating to the demolition be assessed by an independent legal arbiter for legitimacy, and that assessments for each individual tower be released.

The report also reflects the serious concerns about residents’ human rights that were raised throughout the inquiry – where evidence of coercion, pressure and confusing communication during relocations were all exposed and recommends independent of oversight for any future relocations and that the wellbeing of residents be prioritised.

The inquiry also called out Labor’s misleading use of the term “social housing” to obscure the shift from public housing to privately run community housing. It had strong findings in support of retaining and refurbishing or retrofitting public housing, rather than privatising homes under the guise of redevelopment.

Victorian Greens housing spokesperson, Gabrielle de Vietri:

“This is a damning report for Labor. It lays bare that their mass demolition and privatisation of public housing has no basis whatsoever, and that it must be halted immediately.”

“Residents told the inquiry they felt pressured, ignored and abandoned, and the report confirms that Labor’s misleading, coercive and at times downright cruel relocation processes have undermined their dignity and their basic human rights.”

“This report leaves Labor totally exposed. In a housing crisis, choosing to demolish and privatise public housing is indefensible.

“Labor’s demolition plan benefits developers and no one else, handing over prime public land while putting public housing residents last. The recommendations are clear and urgent: halt the demolitions now and commit to building more public housing on public land, not wiping it off the map.”

The Albanese Government is taking the next significant step towards ensuring Defence delivers the capabilities, skills and workforce it needs to meet Australia’s strategic circumstances. These reforms will include the establishment of a dedicated agency designed to strengthen and streamline acquisition and sustainment activities. 

Since May 2022, the Government has provided the biggest increase in defence spending in Australia’s peacetime history, with what is now an additional $70 billion over the next decade. This includes record spending on acquisition and sustainment. 

With this record funding comes the need to ensure that Defence continues to demonstrate value for money. 

Once fully established, the new Defence Delivery Agency will integrate three existing Defence capability delivery groups: Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group; Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Group; and Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Group. The agency will report directly to Ministers and have control over its budget, enabling coordinated and holistic delivery of defence capability and growing our sovereign defence industrial base. 

The Government will appoint a National Armaments Director to lead the new agency, who will be responsible for providing advice to the Government on acquisition strategies and the delivery of acquisition and sustainment projects following Government approval. 

In parallel, Defence will also centralise capability development functions to support clearer prioritisation, streamlined decision-making and accountability for new capability proposals to ensure capabilities support an integrated, focused Australian Defence Force.  

These reforms will support greater project and budget management, cost estimation and assurance right across the life of a project.  

Work to implement these reforms, including work to design and develop the Defence Delivery Agency, will begin immediately and include consultation with relevant stakeholders, including industry.

These reforms build on a series of targeted improvements already delivered by the Albanese Government, to ensure the ADF has the capabilities it needs to safeguard Australia and its interests. 

Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles:

“As the Albanese Government makes the biggest ever peacetime investment in Defence, it is important that we put in place the structures and systems to ensure Australia’s Defence Force can deliver the capabilities we need at speed and within budget.

“The establishment of the Defence Delivery Agency will elevate the professionalism and strategic focus of Defence capability acquisition and sustainment. It will drive stronger contestability, more accurate cost estimation, and clearer accountability for the delivery of major projects.”

Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy:

“The increasing complexity of Defence capabilities, systems and platforms requires a systematic rethink of the capability development and delivery system. This is about setting Defence up for success so we can modernise the ADF in line with the National Defence Strategy, while ensuring we spend taxpayers’ money wisely. 

“The new agency will help ensure our industrial base is resilient, innovative and aligned with our strategic priorities. It will create more opportunities for Australian businesses and workers to contribute to Australia’s national security.”

The Australian Government today convened the third Product of Concern Summit in Canberra, reaffirming its commitment to improving the sustainment performance of Australia’s Collins class submarines.

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Pat Conroy MP led the summit alongside Minister for Finance, Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher, and senior representatives from government and industry.

This summit builds on progress made since Collins class sustainment was listed as a Product of Concern in December 2024. Defence and ASC Pty Ltd continue to work collaboratively under the Australian Submarine Enterprise to implement a comprehensive remediation plan.

Key achievements to date include workforce initiatives and productivity enhancements. These efforts are critical to ensuring the Collins class remains among the world’s most capable conventionally powered submarines.

The Product of Concern framework has proven effective in driving accountability and collaboration across government and industry.

Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy MP:

“These summits bring together government, industry and Defence officials to collaborate and agree on plans to improve the sustainment performance of Collins class submarines.”

“Regular Product of Concern summits ensure that Defence and industry officials are coming together to improve capability delivery for the Australian Defence Force.

“These efforts are critical to ensuring the Collins class remain among the world’s most capable conventionally powered submarines.”