Author: admin

I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging.
 
I’m delighted to be here in Ballarat.
 
The course of our national history has been shaped and changed here.
 
It’s a place where leaders were born.
 
A place where the past is present.
 
And we find an important part of our past here at the Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, which speaks of a different chapter in our nation’s story.
 
It’s a story that needs to be told. No one instilled that idea in me more than my dear friend, mentor and father figure, Tom Uren.
 
Tom spent much of the Second World War as a prisoner of the Japanese – captured in Timor, incarcerated at Changi, forced to work on the Thai-Burma railway, then sent to Japan as a slave labourer – only to witness the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.
 
I will always think with wonder of how Tom endured years of such depravity and cruelty – and emerged as a tower of humanity.
 
Tom saw humankind in its darkest depths, yet he was forever after driven to seek out our brightest heights. And when he held up the past to us, he was holding out the hope of a better future.
 
Tom always said Australians survived in the prison camps because of a simple code: The healthy looked after the sick, the strong looked after the weak, the young looked after the old.
 
Tom’s strength was inseparable from his gentleness, and I believe that it was that aspect of life in captivity that lay at the heart of who he was.
 
He knew that the very worst could bring out the very best in us. And I believe those values are at the heart of what it is to be an Australian.
 
That is why I am proud to be here to see the story of Australian PoWs being told.
 
It tells of the sacrifice, courage and mateship of the men and women who served our country in war.
 
And asks us to honour the POWs among them.
 
For whom captivity meant waiting in silence.
 
Long years of isolation and deprivation, without news of loved ones or mates, home or country.
 
When the sounds of war were muffled by chains and fences.
 
And the impulse to action was too often crushed by brutality and inhumanity.
 
For those men and women, their strength lay in the power to endure.
 
This memorial is an eloquent expression of their spirit.
 
It is a record of patience, perseverance and humour.
 
And, above all, hope.
 
The roll of names is a litany of endurance.
 
Its standing stones and sombre granite are a tribute to fortitude.
 
And the flowing water sings a hymn to constancy.
 
Through the centuries, war has led to a flood of diaries and documents, recounting life on and off the battlefield.
 
With them came objects and artworks, many crafted by POWs in the long, oppressive hours of imprisonment.
 
Often made in haste from materials scrounged from dumps, they are a storehouse of memory and a record of fidelity.
 
The work of men and women, imprisoned in the bitter cold of a European winter, or the heat of the tropics.
 
Sick, wounded, starving, exhausted.
 
But, while the breath of life remained, the spark of creativity enlivened their hands.
 
Shaping relics of a time and place no words could comprehend.
 
A pottery mug, inscribed with the plea of a loving father:
 
‘God bless and protect Bill, Jim, Ronnie, Eddie, Kenny and Dear Maud’.
 
A woollen blanket, crocheted in the muted colours of Red Cross-issued socks and jumpers.
 
Rosary beads, painstakingly fashioned from seeds and wire.
 
A Melbourne Cup trophy, improvised out of a can of bully beef.
 
Heartbreakingly, these artefacts often came home without their creators.
 
And for family and friends, they became a window onto the unimaginable — and a final, precious gift from their dear ones.
 
A symbol of the light of hope that burnt within them as the wretched weeks, months and years of captivity passed.
 
This is the spirit so poignantly captured in the arrangement of this memorial to Australia’s POWs.
 
On its 20th anniversary, I offer my thanks to those who saw and acted on the need for a memorial to honour Australia’s prisoners of war.
 
To tell us their story. A story that needed to be told. A story that needs to keep being told.
 
Lest We Forget.

Greens Deputy Leader and Aid and Global Justice spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has questioned Foreign Affairs Minister Senator Penny Wong’s judgement in suspending life-saving funding to UNRWA without having all the facts.

In question time earlier this week, Senator Faruqi asked a direct question on whether the Minister had seen any evidence of claims by the Israeli government before her decision to suspend funding to UNRWA. The full exchange is available on Hansard here and on video here. 

Senator Faruqi said:

“It’s not just wrong, but recklessly irresponsible when a Minister suspends such critical humanitarian funding without having all the evidence. One must wonder, is this a case of poor judgement or is Minister Wong happy to take just the word of Israel?

“After my questioning in the Senate, Minister Wong has been forced to admit what we knew all along; the Labor government has suspended UNRWA funding based on allegations, and without all the facts. Humanitarian aid should never be beholden to politics. 

“The government acknowledging that UNWRA do life-saving work and then halting funding is hypocritical and misguided.

“There is not a minute to waste. The Labor government must immediately lift the suspension of UNRWA funding. In fact, there is a need to rapidly increase aid given the dire situation in Gaza. 

“The most humanitarian thing would be for Minister Wong to take strong action to stop Israel from bombing civilians in Gaza.”

Four hundred delegates from across the Indian Ocean region and beyond will today meet in Perth for this year’s Indian Ocean Conference.

This is the first time Australia has hosted this important gathering. Together with India’s Minister of External Affairs Dr Jaishankar, I look forward to welcoming Sri Lanka’s President Wickremesinghe, 17 Ministers, Secretaries-General and high-level delegates.

The Conference theme of ‘Towards a Stable and Sustainable Indian Ocean’ presents an opportunity to discuss positive and practical ways in which we can work towards a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indian Ocean; a community in which agreed rules and norms empower all states to cooperate, trade and thrive.

Indian Ocean countries share common interests in the security of our region, tackling climate change, the health of our oceans, marine safety, trade, and economic development.

Our region faces shared challenges, and we are working together on shared solutions.

The Albanese Government’s disastrous “right to disconnect” law could lead to fines of over $18,000.

The new “right to disconnect” law was tabled on Wednesday night as part of over 100 amendments to the Albanese Government’s latest radical industrial relations Bill.

The amendment was put forward by the Greens after they did a dodgy deal with the Government to pass the wider Bill if the Government supported the so-called “right to disconnect’.

The law says an employee may refuse to monitor, read or respond to contact, or attempted contact, from an employer outside of the employee’s working hours unless the refusal is unreasonable.

The law allows for an application to be made to the Fair Work Commission for a stop order to be put in place if either party believes the other is acting in contravention of the law.

“At the 11th hour we learn that fines of over $18,000 could flow from this law,’’ she said.

“This law just opens up another level of complexity for businesses at a time when they are doing it very tough,’’ Senator Cash said.

“In a country with five time zones during the summer months and in a globally competitive economy, it’s not clear how this will help increase productivity in the workplace,’’ she said.

“Western Australia will be hit particularly hard by the right to disconnect law because of the three-hour time difference over summer. The Prime Minister and this Government has complete contempt for Western Australia and the hard work of businesses and workers who contribute so much to the national economy,’’ Senator Cash said.

Australia’s research sector is vital in driving innovation, advancing our economy and building a globally competitive nation, but it must expend taxpayers’ funds in the national interest.

Labor’s proposal to outsource public funding decisions for more than half a billion dollars to an Australian Research Council (ARC) board, unaccountable to the Parliament, is irresponsible.

It is also contrary to our system of parliamentary democracy which ensures that elected representatives are accountable to the Australian people, not untouchable boards or committees.

Without oversight from the minister, there is the risk wasteful or questionable projects, which may involve large travel or other inappropriate costs, will be funded without recourse. This shows how little Labor cares about safeguarding taxpayer funds.

In 2022-23, more than $895 million was delivered through ARC grant programs.

Of the many thousands of ARC research projects, the former Coalition government vetoed just 32 projects.

This is bad policy from a very bad government.

Given Labor will retain control of big-ticket funding programs such as the ‘ARC Centres of Excellence’ involving several hundred million dollars, Jason Clare’s hypocrisy is on full display. What double standards from a minister who has refused to hand over the ribbon cutting and photo opportunities.

Since its election, the Albanese government has shown only contempt for the research sector, cutting $102 million from university research programs in the December MYEFO, with no sign Labor will keep its election promise to increase research funding to 3 per cent of GDP.

The establishment of an ARC board, to be paid from the ARC’s budget, means a direct cut to research of another $1.5 million.

Australians are paying more for their passports under the Albanese Labor Government in return for a woefully inefficient service.

A report released by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) today on the Australian Passport Office has revealed that “passport applications are not being processed in a time and resource efficient manner.”

Since being elected, Labor has hiked up the price for Australians with an adult passport of 10 years going up $38 and plans of a second increase this year of $28 from 1 July.

Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Simon Birmingham said the Albanese Labor Government had no shame in slogging Australians with higher passport fees while delivering woefully inadequate services to deliver them.

“In a desperate cash grab the Albanese Government has twice hiked the price of passports with a third to come, yet this report reveals Australians are forking out more just to wait longer for their passports,” Senator Birmingham said.

“Australians already pay more for their holiday thanks to Labor blocking airline competition, now they’re paying more just to be allowed to leave the country.

“The Albanese Labor Government should reverse their big passport price hike until they comprehensively respond to these recommendations so that Australians get a fair deal on passports, not a costly, stressful stuff-around.”

In what the Treasurer has called a “relatively modest” change Australians will be paying 21 per cent more under Labor to get their passports during a cost-of-living crunch.

A future Federal Coalition Government will provide a $2 million contribution to support the Frankston City Council in delivering the Monterey Reserve Precinct Revitalisation.

The Monterey Reserve Precinct Revitalisation delivers something for everyone in Dunkley.

Key elements of the revitalisation include a play space, a youth space decked out with a skate park, and a new seniors fitness space, all with improved pathways, landscaping and lighting. These precinct improvements will transform the Monterey Reserve in Frankston North, completely revitalising this key community hub for local residents and families to enjoy.

Federal Leader of the Opposition, Peter Dutton, on a visit to the park today said “Monterey Reserve is clearly a popular place for families and local residents, but it currently doesn’t meet the needs of the growing Frankston North community. This is an important community infrastructure project which will ensure the Monterey Reserve Precinct is fit for purpose for the years ahead. A future Federal Coalition Government in Canberra will contribute towards funding this important community project to revitalise this important community space.”

Liberal Party Candidate for Dunkley, Nathan Conroy, said “Upgrading Monterey Reserve is a critical part of our long-term vision to build a better community for us right across Frankston. Our community deserves world-class infrastructure to support a growing population and this is part of my long term vision for delivery in all areas of Frankston City. This project will significantly benefit the people of Frankston North, and is a real example in our vision of delivering for the people of Frankston.”

We will work with a future Victorian Government state government and local Council that is willing to deliver this project, requiring equal financial contributions of $2 million each.

This is a project that has come directly from community feedback and will improve health, wellbeing, social connection and the environment at Monterey Reserve.

Through his time as local Mayor, Nathan Conroy has shown he will fight for this area and for the community infrastructure that this growing area needs.

If elected at the byelection on 2 March, Nathan will continue to deliver for the people of Dunkley.

Four hundred delegates from across the Indian Ocean region and beyond will today meet in Perth for this year’s Indian Ocean Conference.

This is the first time Australia has hosted this important gathering. Together with India’s Minister of External Affairs Dr Jaishankar, I look forward to welcoming Sri Lanka’s President Wickremesinghe, 17 Ministers, Secretaries-General and high-level delegates.

The Conference theme of ‘Towards a Stable and Sustainable Indian Ocean’ presents an opportunity to discuss positive and practical ways in which we can work towards a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indian Ocean; a community in which agreed rules and norms empower all states to cooperate, trade and thrive.

Indian Ocean countries share common interests in the security of our region, tackling climate change, the health of our oceans, marine safety, trade, and economic development.

Our region faces shared challenges, and we are working together on shared solutions.

Greens Deputy Leader and Aid and Global Justice spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has questioned Foreign Affairs Minister Senator Penny Wong’s judgement in suspending life-saving funding to UNRWA without having all the facts.

In question time earlier this week, Senator Faruqi asked a direct question on whether the Minister had seen any evidence of claims by the Israeli government before her decision to suspend funding to UNRWA. The full exchange is available on Hansard here and on video here. 

Senator Faruqi said:

“It’s not just wrong, but recklessly irresponsible when a Minister suspends such critical humanitarian funding without having all the evidence. One must wonder, is this a case of poor judgement or is Minister Wong happy to take just the word of Israel?

“After my questioning in the Senate, Minister Wong has been forced to admit what we knew all along; the Labor government has suspended UNRWA funding based on allegations, and without all the facts. Humanitarian aid should never be beholden to politics. 

“The government acknowledging that UNWRA do life-saving work and then halting funding is hypocritical and misguided.

“There is not a minute to waste. The Labor government must immediately lift the suspension of UNRWA funding. In fact, there is a need to rapidly increase aid given the dire situation in Gaza. 

“The most humanitarian thing would be for Minister Wong to take strong action to stop Israel from bombing civilians in Gaza.”