The Climate Council report released today shows that the costs of climate change-driven weather events cannot be ignored. The Greens are once again calling for the government to stop approving new coal and gas projects, and stop the $42.7 billion of fossil fuel subsidies that are turbo charging climate destruction.
Greens Senator for Queensland Larissa Waters said:
“The Climate Council report released today shows that my home state of Queensland has suffered more economic damage from extreme weather and natural disasters than any other state or territory.
“The economic cost to Queensland from the floods in February and March alone was $7.7 billion, not to mention the emotional toll of seeing your home flooded again and again.
“Last week’s State of the Climate report found changes to weather and climate extremes are happening at an increased pace across Australia.
“We already knew this continued support for the coal and gas industry was leading us to environmental disaster, now we know it’s a wrecking ball for the economy as well.
“We’ve been disappointed that under the new Labor government, Australia has continued to open up new coal and gas mines, and is sticking to targets that will see the world go beyond a disastrous 2C of warming.
“There are 114 new coal and gas projects headed to the Environment Minister’s desk for approval – not a single one should be approved without considering the impact its emissions will have on the climate.
“Unless we stop opening up new coal and gas, Australia’s children will inherit a country that is wracked by devastating fires, floods, and heatwaves.
“The Greens bill to add a climate trigger to our federal environmental laws means that climate impacts of polluting projects would need to be considered, and importantly that the Minister would have to refuse approval for new large fossil fuel projects.”
Today Theia Energy announced it will resubmit its application to frack the Canning Basin.
Theia has changed its plans multiple times in an attempt to dodge Western Australia’s EPA laws, but is betting the McGowan government’s review on onshore fracking will favour companies over the environment.
Greens spokesperson for resources Yamatji-Noongar Woman Senator Dorinda Cox said:
“The McGowan government should care about its constituents equally. The ban on fracking should extend across all of WA not just the metropolitan regions and southwest.
“The government is allowing manufactured consent for fossil fuel projects. If they won’t invest and support regional communities they are effectively forcing Traditional Owners to agree to these projects.
“The International Energy Agency’s ‘World Energy Outlook 2022’ report doesn’t support the idea of gas as a transition fuel.
“Black Mountain Energy’s exemption from the export of onshore gas shows the McGowan government is happy to sell out our environment and fuel the climate crisis.
“A report released today by The Climate Council showed Queensland is bearing the brunt of the climate crisis. We cannot allow Western Australia to suffer the same fate by opening up new fossil fuel projects.
“A recent poll showed 63% of Australians want to accelerate the shift to renewables. Rather than open up new polluting projects we need to invest in cleaner, greener renewable energy sources.
“We can’t trust the WA Labor government to do the right thing. We must strengthen our Federal environmental protection laws to ban fracking across all of Australia.”
The Greens respond to formal review process on the rate of income support, warning that it needs to be independent and include the voices of people living in poverty.
Greens spokesperson for government services and social services, Senator Janet Rice said:
“The ‘Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee’ could be great if it leads to meaningful change, it can’t be an excuse for more delays or a pathetic raise to the rate that still leaves people living in poverty.
“This review needs a clear methodology with a focus on how much people actually need to live, not what the Government feels like allocating in the budget.
“It should be genuinely independent with public terms of reference, public hearings and public reporting. And it needs to hear from people actually living in poverty.
“Last week the Greens provided the Government an easy opportunity to raise the rate and do something concrete for the people that need it most, and they joined the Liberals to vote it down.
“The cost of living crisis isn’t waiting for a review – people are living in poverty right now, they can’t afford to put food on the table right now, they can’t afford their medical bills right now.
“The Greens will keep pushing to get concrete outcomes for people on income support so Australians don’t have to make decisions like which meals to skip because they have to pay the rent this week.”
There’s never been a bigger year for active transport in New South Wales, with $117 million now invested this year towards walking and cycling paths as part of the Get NSW Active program.
Minister for Active Transport Rob Stokes said the third and final tranche of the 2022 program would see $77 million in funding delivered for 161 projects across 45 councils.
“NSW is leading the nation when it comes to investment in new active transport infrastructure, building better footpaths and bike lanes in our cities and regions,” Mr Stokes said.
“More than $18 million has been committed to projects in Western Sydney and $20 million in regional NSW, where we’re seeing a growing demand for infrastructure that helps people walk and cycle safely.
“For children, older people, parents pushing prams or people with disabilities – a street without a footpath isn’t an inconvenience – it’s a barrier to moving freely in public space.
“That’s why we’ve already opened applications for Get NSW Active 2023 and we’re encouraging all councils to apply now.”
Key projects to be delivered across the state include:
$11.6 million to build a new permanent, separated bike lane along Oxford Street and Liverpool Street, providing a critical link between Taylor Square and the CBD.
$3.8 million to build a boardwalk and shared path along the Hawkesbury River waterfront connecting Brooklyn Road with Kangaroo Point in Brooklyn.
$3.2 million to build a two-way separated bike path on Kelly and Mary Ann Streets in Ultimo.
$2 million to build the 4.6km Albury CBD Bike Loop, including on-road bike lands and eight raised pedestrian crossings.
Get NSW Active 2022 received 474 applications from councils across the state with 125 Greater Sydney projects and 158 regional projects receiving funding.
More than $200 million has already been allocated to more than 400 projects over the past five years of the Program, including Parramatta Escarpment Boardwalk, Inner West Greenway and Newcastle Light Rail Shared Path Stages 2 & 3.
Nine preschools across New South Wales will take part in a new study, providing free health and development tests for children before they start school.
The study will start today, with services expanded to 15 more locations in early 2023 before being offered to every NSW preschooler in 2024.
The state-wide program is an Australian first, with checks assessing hearing, vision, physical and cognitive development, social and emotional development, communication and skills.
The study will help inform the state-wide rollout of the program and will include different types of tests in different locations.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the NSW Government was leading the nation with a $15.9 billion investment in early childhood commitments including health and development checks for children in preschools, to help ensure kids across the state reach their full potential.
“This is about giving every child in our state the best start to life as possible,” Mr Perrottet said.
“The first few years of life are some of the most important for long-term health and development, which is why we are investing in this important program to help identify and minimise health and development issues or delays early on.”
Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said the study will run from late November 2022 until February 2023 in metropolitan, regional and remote areas.
“Education is the door to a brighter future, and these development checks are the keys for children across NSW to access the benefits of quality education,” Ms Mitchell said.
“I have witnessed the difference these early checks make first-hand after one of my children was identified with a speech impediment, and they are now thriving at school.”
Minister for Health Brad Hazzard said the program aims to give more families the support they need if it is discovered their child is not on track to meet key milestones.
“Child and family nurses, allied health professionals and early childhood educators will work together to support families so all kids are ready for school,” Mr Hazzard said.
“A child’s health and development plays an important part in their school journey and these checks will identify issues early so that action plans and support measures can be put in place early.”
Click here for information on the NSW Government’s Early Years Commitment.
A new fleet of Australian-designed ferries are set to hit the water in Western Sydney, with the NSW Government investing in new vessels to service commuters and visitors along the iconic Parramatta River to Sydney CBD route.
Tenders will open tomorrow for the local construction of seven new ferries to ensure superior transport infrastructure for the people of Greater Parramatta.
Minister for Transport, Veterans and Western Sydney David Elliott said the NSW Government was committed to boosting local manufacturing and encouraging local content as part of the State’s record $76.7 billion investment in transport infrastructure over the next four years.
“It is vital to our economy and the domestic market that we back Australian ingenuity, design and local manufacturing,” Mr Elliott said.
“These new state-of-the-art vessels will fly the flag for our Western Sydney commuters and deliver a first-class service to the thousands of commuters who use the ferry network each day to travel to and from work, school, or leisure activities.”
Mr Elliott said the seven new Parramatta River ferries, were designed in Australia by experienced local ship designer, Incat Crowther.
“I strongly support local manufacturing and am excited by the opportunity this tender will provide for local businesses to help deliver Australian-designed vessels for our world-class city,” Mr Elliott said.
“While we already have a record low unemployment rate in NSW, the more we can design and also build things right here in Australia, the more jobs and opportunities we will create for our community.”
Transport for NSW Chief Operations Officer Howard Collins said the new design would ensure the 200 person capacity was maintained, but vessels would be more fuel efficient than older models with improved seating and access for passengers.
“These vessels will make a trip along the Parramatta River not just one of the most iconic commutes in the world, but a must-do for visitors who come to our wonderful city,” Mr Collins said.
“These Parramatta River ferries will also be future-proofed for conversion to electric propulsion when the network infrastructure is ready.”
The seven new ferries will predominantly run the F3 Parramatta River route, replacing seven RiverCat vessels after 30 years of service.
To encourage bids from local ship builders of all sizes, tenderers will be able to submit proposals for each and/or multiple vessels (of the seven required).
The Albanese Government is acting to make workplaces safe from sexual harassment with the passage of the Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Legislation (Respect@Work) Bill through Parliament.
Sexual harassment is not inevitable – it is preventable.
This historic Respect@Work legislation significantly progresses gender equality by ensuring women are able to earn a living in safe, sexual harassment-free workplaces.
The legislation closely follows the recommendations of Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, left unfinished by the former government.
The new laws will:
Place a positive duty on employers to take reasonable and proportionate measures to eliminate sex discrimination, sexual harassment and victimisation, as far as possible;
Strengthen the Australian Human Rights Commission with new functions to assess and enforce compliance with this new requirement, including the capacity to give compliance notices to employers who are not meeting their obligations;
Expressly prohibit conduct that results in a hostile workplace environment on the basis of sex; and
Ensure Commonwealth public sector organisations are also required to report to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency on its gender equality indicators.
Over the past five years, one in three people experienced sexual harassment at work, with women experiencing higher rates of harassment than men.
Everyone has the right to a safe and respectful workplace and the fact that workplaces have not been safe or respectful for so many Australians is unacceptable.
The Government would like to thank Ms Jenkins for her work, as well as all victim-survivors who came forward to share their stories and to inform the Respect@Work Report.
This is a Government that listens to women – and acts.
Greens Leader and Workplace Relations spokesperson, Adam Bandt MP and Greens Employment Spokesperson, Senator Barbara Pocock say the Greens have agreed to back the government’s IR bill after securing significant additional improvements, including giving parents an enforceable right to request unpaid parental leave and protecting the existing Better Off Overall Test.
The Greens have been locked in negotiations with the government on the bill for several months and the government has already included a number of long-standing Greens initiatives, such as an enforceable right to better work/life balance, banning of pay secrecy clauses and abolishing the ABCC, in the bill.
The government’s original bill attempted to remove prospective workers from being considered under the Better Off Overall Test when agreements are approved, something the Greens were concerned could have led to prospective workers being worse off. The Greens have ensured that the test in the existing s193 will remain. Further, the bill will be amended to clarify that when applying the BOOT and considering potential work patterns of current or future employees, the FWC will still have to apply the existing tests and assess any work patterns the employer, union or employees consider foreseeable, save that the FWC must have regard to the kind of business the employer is running (so, for example, the FWC does not have to consider arrangements for working in a cool room when considering an office supply company’s agreement even though the award may cover that kind of work).
Greens Leader and Workplace Relations spokesperson, Adam Bandt said:
“The Greens strongly back most of what is in this bill, including abolishing the ABCC and multi-employer bargaining, but we wanted to ensure low paid workers wouldn’t go backwards because of some of the changes,” Mr Bandt said.
“This is an important win for all workers, especially low paid workers in the retail and the hospitality industries. The Better Off Overall Test has been preserved.”
“Workers will now have an enforceable right to unpaid parental leave and better work/life balance.”
Greens Employment Spokesperson, Senator Barbara Pocock said:
“Workers in the care sector, so many of them low paid women, need a pay rise. The supported bargaining stream and the new object of gender equality make this more likely in the near future,” Senator Pocock said.
“It’s time workplace law caught up with the real lives of Australia’s 5 million working carers, women and men. Our workplace relations system is broken, but we can fix it, and this bill is a good start.”
“Australian workers, especially women, have waited decades for an enforceable right to flexibility that actually works for them. The Greens have secured important changes on flexibility and on unpaid parental leave. These will now be enforceable rights.”
“There is more to do and we will move further amendments in the Senate and continue to fight for greater flexibility and workplace laws that support working carers in the coming months.”
Newcastle has launched into a sizzling summer of events, with 150 of the state’s best rowers taking to the waters of Throsby Creek today ahead of a busy period of music, sport and culture.
The Central Districts Sprint Championships hosted by Newcastle Rowing Club are part of a stacked calendar of events supported by City of Newcastle, which will see everyone from global music superstar Elton John to some of the world’s best surfers descend on the city during the next four months.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Newcastle has become an events powerhouse, attracting nationally and internationally renowned acts and events to entertain audiences across the city.
“Newcastle has a vibrant calendar of major and community events, which continues to grow off the back of a strategic focus and investment by City of Newcastle,” Cr Nelmes said.
“City of Newcastle is proud to support events at every level in Newcastle, from community-led activations to the attraction of major events of international renown, which offer invaluable benefits including increased visitation and a significant boost to the local economy.
“We’ve recently delivered another highly successful New Annual festival, including an extended season of the blockbuster Van Gogh Alive experience, which attracted more than 84,000 people to Newcastle in its first visit to a regional area in Australia.
“But this is only the beginning of a busy period on our events calendar, and I encourage everyone to get out and enjoy what’s on offer across our city in the coming months.”
The summer schedule got off to a supercharged start on Saturday night when a 20,000-strong crowd packed into McDonald Jones Stadium for the 2022 Australian Supercross Championship.
The events calendar will kick into a different gear on Sunday 4 December when more than 10,000 motorcycle riders and enthusiasts from across the east coast gather for the 45th annual Bikers for Kids Newcastle Toy Run and community fun day at Carrington.
Festive fun in Wheeler Place, New Year’s Eve along the Foreshore and the sweet sounds of the 76th Australian Jazz Convention at City Hall will wrap up the revelry for 2022.
There will be plenty of sporting action to kick off 2023 with national and international events including Surfest, Beach 5s Rugby, Australian Water Polo League matches, the Summer of Cricket festival and the opening round of the Supercars championship.
Elton John’s incredible Yellow Brick Road tour and smash hit Broadway musical Come From Away will provide plenty of star power for the city’s cultural events calendar, with the sizzling summer schedule following on from the success of the city’s springtime events including the New Annual festival.
New Annual, City of Newcastle’s flagship cultural event, attracted almost 40,000 people to more than 140 performances and activities across the city.
The 10-day event involved more than 530 artists and over 400 staff, crew and volunteers, and was recently awarded $400,000 over two years from the NSW Government as part of its Major Festival and Events grants program through Multicultural NSW.
Upcoming events supported by City of Newcastle
27 November 2022: Central Districts Rowing Association Sprint Championships, Throsby Creek
4 December 2022: Bikers for Kids Newcastle Toy Run, Stockton to Connolly Park, Carrington
10,11, 17, 18 December 2022: City of Newcastle Christmas Tree, Santa selfies and pet pawtraits in Wheeler Place alongside free live music
26-31 December 2022: 76th Australian Jazz Convention, Newcastle City Hall
31 December 2022: City of Newcastle New Year’s Eve, Harbour Foreshore
7 January 2023: King of Concrete, Bar Beach (Empire Park)
8, 10 January 2023: Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road tour,McDonald Jones Stadium
26 January 2023: Cross Harbour Swim, Newcastle Harbour
26-29 January 2023: Beach 5s Rugby, Nobbys Beach
4-5 February 2022: Australian Boardriders Battle, Newcastle Beach
3-5 February 2023: City of Newcastle Island Triathlon and Oceania Paratriathlon, Stockton
10-12 February 2023: The Great Australian Pub Fishing, Newcastle Harbour
18 February – 5 March 2023: Come From Away, Civic Theatre
10-12 March 2023: Newcastle 500, Newcastle East and Harbour Foreshore
18-19 March 2023: Money Bowl Australian Skateboarding Community, Empire Park
25-26 March 2023: Surfest (finals weekend),Merewether Beach
On International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women the Greens are once again calling for full funding and meaningful goals for the National Plan for Ending Violence Against Women and Children, and a standalone National Plan for First Nations Women.
Today also marks the start of the UN 16 Days of Activism, running until International Human Rights Day on 10 December. During this time, Senator Waters will dedicate her social media platforms to discussions about the National Plan, sharing stories from advocacy groups and frontline services, and explaining what we need to do to make sure no one seeking help is turned away.
Senator Larissa Waters, Greens Leader in the Senate and spokesperson on Women said:
“Australia is in an epidemic of gendered violence and harassment. 40 women have been killed this year. Women as young as 12 report sexual harassment in public. One in three Australian women experience abuse in their lifetime.
“First Nations women, women from culturally diverse backgrounds, women in regional areas, older women, LGBTIQ+ women, and women with a disability are even more likely to experience violence.
“Every year on this day we recommit to ending sexual and physical violence against women around the world, but frontline services are still underfunded and women and children are being turned away as a result.
“Enough with empty promises. Enough with ignoring the impact of financial insecurity and housing stress on women’s capacity to leave. Enough with underfunding the services women reach out to in a crisis.
“We need full funding for services under the National Plan for Ending Violence Against Women and Children, and a standalone National Plan for First Nations Women.
“The women’s safety sector has repeatedly called for a $1 billion per year investment to meet demand. The recent Budget provided less than half that amount for frontline services.
“Women deserve better than that, and $1 billion each year is a very small price to pay to ensure every Australian woman is safe at work, at home and in public.
“Additional funding for emergency housing is welcome, but when the waiting list for social housing is over 50,000 in Queensland alone, $100 million for 720 houses is a drop in the ocean.
“The housing crisis is felt even more acutely by women and children experiencing family and domestic violence. Women are forced to choose between abuse or homelessness, because there is nowhere to go.
“Women on low wages or income support are especially vulnerable without the resources to escape violent situations. Yet this government persists with the cruelty of keeping income support payments like JobSeeker below the poverty line, and has the audacity to cry poor while dishing out hundreds of billions in tax cuts and investment property perks for the rich.
“The Greens are calling for full funding of frontline DV services, along with clear outcomes, targets and support for specialist services to address the needs of vulnerable communities. Ending violence against women in one generation is possible, but not without more dollars and clear targets to drive the necessary changes.
