This week marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Australia and the People’s Republic of China.
In 1972, then Prime Minister Gough Whitlam took a bold decision, recognising the importance of engagement and cooperation between our two nations and peoples.
In the decades since, China has grown to become one of the world’s largest economies and Australia’s largest trading partner.
Trade between Australia and China, as well as strong people-to-people, cultural and business links have delivered significant benefits to both our countries.
Building on the recent constructive meeting between Prime Minister Albanese and President Xi in Bali on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, tomorrow Foreign Minister Penny Wong will travel to Beijing at the invitation of the People’s Republic of China to meet China’s State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, and hold the 6th Australia–China Foreign and Strategic Dialogue. This Dialogue was last held in 2018.
The meeting will coincide with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, on Wednesday 21 December.
We welcome the opportunity to mark this anniversary.
Australia seeks a stable relationship with China; we will cooperate where we can, disagree where we must and engage in the national interest.
Today we announce the Government’s intention to appoint the Hon Dr Kevin Rudd AC as Australia’s next Ambassador to the United States.
Dr Rudd brings unmatched experience to the role. Formerly Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Australia, he is now the global President and Chief Executive of leading international relations institute, the Asia Society.
He is also of the world’s most eminent and sought-after experts on China and US–China relations.
At a time when our region is being reshaped by strategic competition, our interests are well served with a representative of Dr Rudd’s standing.
The United States is Australia’s vital security ally and our closest global partner.
Our countries are aligned by who we are, what we stand for and what we seek – a region that is open, stable, prosperous and where sovereignty is respected.
Along with our deepening collaboration on defence, including through AUKUS, we have an extensive and mutually beneficial economic relationship with the United States, and we are making cooperation on climate change a hallmark of our alliance.
We thank outgoing Ambassador, the Hon Arthur Sinodinos AO, for his service.
Our foreign service is the driver of Australia’s engagement with the world.
Today we announce new appointments that strengthen Australia’s diplomatic capability and its prosecution of our national interests around the globe.
In keeping with past practice of appointing experienced former ministers to significant diplomatic posts, the Government intends to appoint the Hon Dr Kevin Rudd AC as Australia’s next Ambassador to the United States.
Dr Rudd brings unmatched experience to the role. He has served as Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, held prominent academic roles and worked extensively in the United States. It is intended that he will commence his posting in early 2023.
Joining Dr Rudd in the United States is Ms Heather Ridout AO as Australia’s Consul-General in New York, she is the first woman to be appointed to the role. A former Chief Executive of the Australian Industry Group, Ms Ridout brings four decades of experience to the role. She is currently Director of Sims Ltd and Director of Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) Limited.
We are also pleased to announce Ms Bronte Moules as Australia’s inaugural Ambassador for Human Rights. As Ambassador for Human Rights, Ms Moules will lead Australia’s work to protect and promote human rights globally and be a key advocate on issues of importance to our region.
Ms Stephanie Copus-Campbell has been appointed Australia’s Ambassador for Gender Equality. Ms Copus-Campbell will deepen Australia’s international engagement on gender equality with her expertise in community development, gender equality and health.
We also announce the appointment of career diplomats to lead Australian posts:
Ms Sophie Davies as Australia’s Ambassador to Brazil
Dr Ralph King as Australia’s Ambassador to Israel
Ms Sonya Koppe as Australia’s High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago
Ms Minoli Perera as Australia’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe
Mr Richard Rodgers as Australia’s Ambassador to Croatia
Ms Phoebe Smith as Australia’s High Commissioner to the Cook Islands
We thank outgoing ambassadors, high commissioners and consul-general for their contributions to advancing Australia’s interests in these countries during their respective tenures.
The Greens will explore options to remove the legislated 20% cap on the Commonwealth’s contribution to public school funding, after Labor announced on Friday that it would postpone the next National School Reform Agreement (NSRA) by a year.
The government’s decision to kick action on the public school funding crisis down the road comes despite recent data showing that the gulf between the richest and poorest students in Australia is widening, while public school parents are increasingly reaching into their own pockets to pay for building maintenance and basic education resources.
Greens spokesperson on schools, Senator Penny Allman-Payne said:
“This is outrageous. Making public school kids wait another year for a fair go while continuing to pour public money into elite private schools that don’t even need it is a complete abandonment of our most disadvantaged students and makes a mockery of the Education Minister’s pretty words about equity.
“The new NSRA was an opportunity for the Commonwealth, states and territories to end this funding crisis and restore equity to the school system. Their willingness to prolong and further entrench disadvantage is evidence of a deep sickness at the heart of our politics.
“Ten years on from Gonski, public schools in Australia remain underfunded, while the private sector is overfunded. Under the current NSRA public schools will never receive 100% of their Schooling Resource Standard funding. Not in five years; not in 100 years.
“This decision will also heap further strain on under-resourced teachers and schools and will worsen crippling teacher shortages.
“Instead of taking action, Minister Clare says they’ll be forming a panel of ’eminent Australians’ to inform the next Agreement. But we don’t need another panel, or another review, or another study. We already know what needs to be done because Gonski did the work already!
“This government will have a fight on its hands in 2023. When parliament returns the Greens will look to amend the Australian Education Act to remove the cap on Commonwealth funding of public schools, which prevents the federal government contributing more than 20% of the Schooling Resource Standard.
“The Greens will use every lever at our disposal, inside and outside parliament, to push Labor to deliver the funding teachers have been pleading for for a decade.”
Background
The NSRA sets out the school funding arrangements between the Commonwealth and the states and territories. The current NSRA, which was due to expire at the end of 2023, locks in underfunding for government schools. Under the current agreement public schools will have to wait until at least 2027 just to receive 95% of their Schooling Resource Standard (although the capital depreciation loophole will actually see that number closer to 91%), which is the bare minimum level of funding students require to achieve minimum achievement benchmarks.
Three people have been charged after a woman was stabbed during an assault earlier this week.
About 11pm (Sunday 11 December 2022), emergency services were called to Hassall Street, Hamilton South, following reports of an assault.
On arrival, officers attached to Newcastle City Police Area Command were told two men and two women had been involved in a fight, where a 35-year-old woman was stabbed in the neck and a 46-year-old man sustained a laceration to his hand.
The pair drove to the Mater Hospital before the woman was later taken to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition. She is currently serious but stable.
A 36-year-old woman also sustained serious head injuries and a 38-year-old man sustained a fractured arm.
They were treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition.
Police established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Following inquiries, the two men and 36-year-old woman were arrested and charged with wound with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, armed with intent to commit indictable offence and affray.
They were refused bail to appear in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday 22 February 2023.
The Greens will demand an explanation from Google over its decision to ban medical abortion ads in Australia, and push to have the appear at the upcoming Universal access to reproductive healthcare Senate inquiry.
Greens Leader in the Senate and spokesperson for women, Senator Larissa Waters said:
“Google’s blanket ban on abortion ads is an outrageous restriction of women’s rights, and further evidence of the lack of access to reproductive healthcare in this country. It must be overturned immediately.
“We’ll be writing to Google to demand the ban is overturned, and push for a representative to appear at the upcoming Senate inquiry so that we can question why and how the ban on abortion ads happened in the first place.
“When you Google the inquiry, a promoted snippet – with my name in it – equating abortion to murder from an anti-choice organisation is the first result. It is beyond belief that Google is OK having this sort of misinformation promoted at the top of its search results, but is banning ads for a basic health service.
“MSI Australia suggest the ban could be impacting up to 1500 people per week. This is unacceptable and the ban must be lifted immediately.”
We are watching a dark chapter in Iran’s recent history unfold and we are responding in defence of all of its citizens. The Iranian regime’s brutality against its own people, in particular its women and girls, is unrelenting, and the situation is only worsening.
The people of Iran have not given up hope as they courageously demand full respect for their human rights, despite the threats against them.
Iran’s security forces persist with draconian methods to ruthlessly suppress peaceful protesters, including the use of lethal force and senseless violence against women and children.
Hundreds have lost their lives and thousands languish in detention, among them an unknown number of children.
We are appalled by Iran’s execution of protestors since last Thursday. Many others detained may await the same fate.
Cloaking state-sanctioned killing in opaque legal processes is beyond abhorrent. Nothing can justify these shameful actions.
We oppose the death penalty in all circumstances for all people, everywhere.
And we call on Iran to immediately establish a moratorium to halt all executions and to end this brutal and inhumane punishment.
The UN General Assembly spoke unequivocally when it voted overwhelmingly in favour of the resolution on a ‘Moratorium on the use of the death penalty’. The General Assembly also voiced its deep concern at the persistent human rights violations committed by the Iranian regime, voting in favour of the resolution on the human rights situation in Iran.
The global trend away from the death penalty is unmistakable.
The Iranian regime’s violence must end, and there must be justice and accountability for the countless, egregious human rights violations committed since the outbreak of protests.
Now is the time for the regime to start listening and to act and meet the legitimate concerns of its citizens. The Iranian people have suffered long enough, and they are showing they will no longer be silenced. The Iranian regime must address the grievances of its citizens and ensure all Iranians are free to enjoy their fundamental human rights and freedoms.
Our support for the Iranian people to live their lives free from persecution is unwavering. We hear their powerful voices, and we will continue to amplify them wherever we can.
Today, the UN General Assembly adopted by a historic majority of almost two thirds a resolution that unequivocally calls for all countries to establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty.
Australia and Costa Rica are deeply proud to have led negotiations on the resolution in 2022, the 15th anniversary of its first adoption. We oppose the death penalty at all times for all people. This is a matter of human rights and the inherent dignity of every human being. There is no evidence that capital punishment deters crime.
The record level of support for the resolution shows that the majority of Member States agree this brutal and inhumane punishment must end. Already, four out of every five countries have abolished the death penalty or no longer apply it. This year’s resolution welcomes the fact that many States with different legal systems, traditions, cultures and religious backgrounds are applying moratoriums, either in law or in practice.
The goal of a global moratorium on the death penalty is all the more meaningful in 2022, when a number of countries have executed citizens for exercising their right to freedom of opinion and expression. Notably, the resolution adopted today calls upon countries to ensure that the death penalty is not applied on the basis of laws that target individuals for exercising their human rights or as a result of discriminatory or arbitrary application of the law.
We wish to particularly congratulate all countries that have abolished the death penalty, established a moratorium, or are on a pathway to doing so. You are contributing to the unmistakeable trend towards global abolition.
We sincerely thank all Member States that negotiated constructively on this resolution. We will continue working with all countries to achieve even higher levels of support for a global moratorium when the resolution is next considered in 2024.
City of Newcastle will invite tenders next month for the construction of Newcastle Art Gallery’s $40 million expansion, as work continues on grouting the historic mine tunnels 80 metres below the building.
Four companies have been shortlisted for the project following an expression of interest process and will be invited to submit tenders in January, with construction scheduled to begin mid-2023.
Early works are continuing to progress at the Newcastle Art Gallery site, with almost 70 bores drilled and more than 1,500 cubic metres of grout successfully placed to date in the Borehole Seam.
The mine remediation is scheduled to continue until mid next year in line with the approved Grouting and Verification Plan, with the NSW Government’s Newcastle Mines Grouting Fund contributing towards the cost of this work.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said it was pleasing to see the much-anticipated project progressing towards a key milestone, which will see a tender awarded for the main construction work.
“After more than 16 years of effort to make this project a reality, we are finally seeing real progress to deliver an expanded and upgraded Art Gallery of international standing, which will become a fitting home for our nationally significant $126 million collection,” Cr Nelmes said.
“By doubling the size of the Gallery and significantly increasing the exhibition space to display works of art of local, national and international importance, this project will launch a new era of cultural tourism that will consolidate the Hunter’s reputation as an active and vibrant centre for the arts in NSW.”
Cr Nelmes said all works of art have been professionally moved to a safe and secure offsite location, and Art Gallery staff have also relocated to City of Newcastle’s Administration Centre at 12 Stewart Avenue ahead of the construction work.
Once complete, the expanded Newcastle Art Gallery will extend the building’s footprint east along Darby Street and Queen Street and will include a new café and retail shop, multi-purpose and educational program space, and a secure international standard loading dock.
Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon welcomed the progress of the expansion project.
“Like all Novocastrians, I am delighted to see progress being made on this important project for our region,” Ms Claydon said.
“The Newcastle Art Gallery has been at the centre of our city’s rich cultural history for over 45 years and this expansion project will ensure its future is assured.”
The $40 million project is supported by $5 million from the Australian Government under the Regional Recovery Partnerships program and $5 million from the New South Wales Government, as well as a $10 million bequest from Valerie Ryan and $500,000 in funding from the Margaret Olley Art Trust through the Newcastle Art Gallery Foundation.
Additional fundraising by the Art Gallery Foundation is ongoing to help reduce the cost to ratepayers.
Seniors can now pick up the latest copy of the NSW Seniors Card Directory from hundreds of locations across the state or access it online.
Minister for Seniors Mark Coure said the directory details more than 2,000 businesses providing significant discounts off products and services available through the NSW Seniors Card program.
“This directory lists all the savings that can be accessed, from supermarkets, retail and boutique stores, health and fitness, travel, utilities and professional services,” Mr Coure said.
“The Seniors Card is the largest program of its kind in Australia, and has been helping keep more money in seniors pockets and easing the cost of living for 30 years.”
The 2023 Seniors Card Directory is available in five regional areas, including Sydney, Central Coast and Hunter, Northern NSW, Southern NSW and Western NSW.
Mr Coure encouraged more businesses to sign up to the NSW Seniors Program and join the more than 6,000 businesses that have opened their door to more than 1.9 million seniors across the state.
“The more businesses that sign up can potentially get more people through their door and seniors have more choice to shop and use services, so it is a win-win,” Mr Coure said.
Seniors Cards are available for permanent NSW residents who are 60 years of age or over and are working no more than 20 hours per week in paid employment.
For more information on where to pick up or download the 2023 Seniors Card Directory, or to apply for a NSW Seniors Card visit www.seniorscard.nsw.gov.au.
