Category: Australian News

Today, a damning independent report undertaken in the month before MyWay+ went live. The report revealed that the Transport Minister, Chris Steel, was advised that the system was ‘sub-optimal’, the ACT Government was avoiding robust conversations with the contractor, and there was a lack of planning for the transition.

“This report reveals shocking evidence that Minister Steel let the MyWay+ go live – without question, despite extensive warnings about the system’s issues,” said Andrew Braddock, ACT Greens Spokesperson for Transport.

“The report highlights that there was ‘avoidance of robust conversations’ between Transport Canberra and NEC due to the desire to maintain positive working relationships. Minister Steel chose his relationship with a consultant over the basic rights of Canberrans to access public transport in their city.

“Despite promises to bring Canberra’s public transport network into the future with ‘seamless’ experience and ‘world-class’ capability, NEC and Transport Canberra agreed to reduce the functionality of the system ahead of launch and even described the system as a ‘minimum viable product’.

“It is insulting that our Transport Minister has such low standards for public transport in our city. Canberrans deserve the world-class system that they were promised.

“Since launch, validators have not worked, senior Canberrans and those with a disability have been locked out from the system, and Canberrans’ personal and payment information has been put at risk to hackers. There is nothing seamless or world-class about an inaccessible and insecure transport system.

“While we are still awaiting the Assembly Committee findings, this report is incredibly damning and supports the evidence that has been gradually coming to light through the Committee Hearing process.

“What more do we need to find out before Minister Steel apologises to Canberrans for this botched MyWay+ rollout and before he addresses the issues that continue to plague commuters?” said Mr Braddock. 

Deputy Leader of the ACT Greens Jo Clay:

“On the crossbench, the ACT Greens have effectively pushed the government to balance the needs for housing and the environment.

“The Greens have pushed the government to progress work on the Missing Middle since early 2023. Two months ago we got the Government to move faster and release the guidelines issued today. 

“Not long after, we secured Government commitment to set an urban growth boundary to prevent needless sprawl.

“Just days ago we heard from the ACT’s Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment report that decades of prioritising new suburbs over infill in planning Canberra’s urban environment has seen a rapid decline in the state of our natural environment.

“We need more homes in Canberra, and we can build them without paving over our precious environment.

“The Missing Middle Design Guidelines released today are an important start to publicly discuss how Canberra will build more homes across our existing suburbs.

“We need the right kinds of homes in the right places. With more town houses, terrace houses and three-storey apartments, more people will live close to the things they need and want in their lives such as parks, schools, work, shops and public transport.

“It gives us a greater housing diversity to meet the needs of the growing number of people who are making Canberra their home.

“But it is just a start. To get this right we need people living in Canberra to be part of this process so we build a city together that best supports the way people live within our current footprint without impacting our marvellous bush capital.”

The guidelines and public consultation is available on the ACT YourSay website.

The Australian Government is appalled at the sham trial and 13-year sentence given to Australian man Oscar Jenkins.

As a full serving member of the regular Armed Forces of Ukraine, Mr Jenkins is a prisoner of war.

The Australian Government has made clear to Russia that Mr Jenkins must be given the protections afforded to him as a prisoner of war. Russia is obligated to treat him in accordance with international humanitarian law, including humane treatment.

We continue to hold serious concerns for Mr Jenkins. We are working with Ukraine and other partners, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, to advocate for his welfare and release.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade continues to provide consular support to Mr Jenkins’ family.

The Greens federal party room has unanimously elected Senator Larissa Waters as the new leader of the Australian Greens.

The leadership ballot was uncontested.

Greens Leader Senator Larissa Waters will be ably supported by a team of proven performers:

• Senator Mehreen Faruqi will remain in the role of Deputy Leader
• Senator Sarah Hanson-Young will be the Greens Manager of Business
• Senator Nick McKim will be Party Whip
• Senator Penny Allman-Payne will be Party Room Chair and Deputy Whip

Larissa Waters was elected to federal parliament in 2011 after a career as an environmental lawyer working on high profile cases protecting biodiversity, world heritage-listed sites, stopping native species extinctions and broadening environmental impact assessments.

Larissa has held various portfolios in the Greens, most notably the women’s portfolio and climate spokesperson in the Senate.

In the women’s portfolio, Senator Waters established the Issues related to menopause and perimenopause senate inquiry which gave voice to legions of women and resulted in cheaper  menopause treatments being included on the PBS. She also instigated the Universal access to reproductive health senate inquiry to protect Australia’s abortion rights from global threats under the first Trump administration, which highlighted the lack of accessibility and affordability of abortion and the need for free contraception.

A strong advocate for women’s rights in the workplace, Larissa made history in 2016 as the first MP to breastfeed in federal parliament. Larissa was also the first person to say the word perimenopause in the federal parliament in 2023.

Larissa is the single mum to two school-aged kids and resides in Meanjin/Brisbane.
Portfolio allocations are decided by the Greens Leader, and will be allocated at a later date.

Attributable to Greens Leader Senator Larissa Waters:
“I call today for politics with heart – for a progressive parliament that gets outcomes for people and genuinely tackles the problems we’re all facing.

“This parliament could achieve real progress: climate and environment action, dental into Medicare and free childcare.

“The Greens will be firm but constructive in our approach with the Labor government, and work for outcomes that help improve peoples’ lives and protect nature and the climate.

“Voters across this country delivered the Greens the sole balance of power in the Senate and we take that responsibility really seriously.

“Labor will have a choice: work with the Greens for climate action and dental into Medicare, or work with the Liberals to keep opening up new coal and gas and tinker around the edges of the housing and cost of living crises.

“I thank my party room colleagues for their unanimous support today, and I also want to pay tribute to Adam Bandt for his leadership and dedication to our movement over the last 15 years.”

Attributable to Greens Deputy Leader Senator Mehreen Faruqi:
‘I’m delighted to get the trust of my colleagues to continue on as the deputy leader with Larissa as leader.

“I’m really excited that for the first time there are two women at the helm of our Greens ship and we are ready to start the work our members, voters and the community have given us to do.

“Migrant and multicultural communities in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne have backed us for speaking the truth and standing against the genocide in Gaza.

“To the right wing media, the billionaires, the big corporations and the Albanese Government this is my message: We will not be taking a step back on climate action, on the environment, on housing and on Palestine. People want us to fight for them and the planet, and that is exactly what we will be doing.

“This moment demands more from us, not less. The planet is burning, inequality is deepening, and young people cannot afford a Government that tinkers around the edges as their future disappears.

“We will deliver the hope, courage and transformation this moment demands.

“People have voted for the Greens to hold the sole balance of power in the senate and we will not let them down.

In the face of climate change, with increased bushfires, floods and storms, it’s critical that emergency services have the funding they need to keep the community safe. We only need to look to the fires in LA to see what happens when emergency services are under-resourced.

The Victorian Greens share the concerns that have been raised by farmers and firefighters about Labor’s changes to the fire services levy, and have pushed the government to make significant changes to make the levy fairer and ensure it commits real, additional funding for our emergency services and firefighters.

Labor’s original proposal had a lot of problems. It was going to redirect money from this levy to fund government administration, while leaving key emergency services like firefighters without the basic funding to replace their fleet of aging, unsafe firetrucks – which puts firefighters, and the whole community, at risk. 

In summary, the Greens have secured the following significant changes to gain our support for the legislation which also requires the support of other crossbench MPs to pass: 

• Increased funding for emergency services – instead of the new levy providing no more than 87.5% of FRV annual funding, it will now be required to provide no less than 90% of FRV annual funding and no less than 95% of funding for the CFA and SES.
• Guaranteed $10 million every year ongoing, for a rolling fleet replacement program for out-of-date firetrucks for FRV, on top of the funds for rolling fleet replacement for the CFA and additional money for vehicles for the SES.
• Key amendments that ensure the levy is strictly used for frontline emergency services and not a dollar can be used for other government administration. 
• Exemptions for farmers experiencing hardship due to drought. 
• A significant additional drought relief package for farmers.
• Additional $15 million for support for farmers to reduce their energy bills.
• A commitment to a reduced levy rate for primary production land.

People expect that 100% of this levy go towards properly funding frontline emergency services we rely on, like safe and reliable firetrucks – which is why the Greens have ensured every dollar will go towards funding frontline emergency responders and have secured guaranteed funding for a rolling firetruck fleet replacement for both the FRV and CFA, which makes sure every firetruck is replaced when they reach retirement age. 

The Greens are deeply concerned about farmers facing drought and have secured changes that will exempt them from the increased levy and expand drought-affected areas to cover more farmers. We’ve also pushed the government to agree to a major drought relief package to be announced before the state Budget and significant additional support for farmers to reduce their energy bills.

All this legislation does is provide a legal tool to provide secure, ongoing funding for our emergency services into the future. The rate of the levy is not part of the legislation and is set by the Treasurer separately.

Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell: 

“With increased bushfires, floods and droughts, we need fully funded emergency services to keep us all safe – so we don’t face a horrific situation like the LA fires.

“Labor’s original levy had some serious problems, so the Greens pushed for significant changes. These changes mean farmers experiencing hardship from drought will be exempt from the increased levy, firefighters will have proper secure and ongoing funding including to replace their ageing trucks, and amendments will ensure every dollar goes to emergency services and can’t be spent to plug government budget holes.” 

The Victorian Greens have successfully secured a parliamentary inquiry to investigate how we can unlock the full potential of electric vehicles (EV) to power our homes and the grid.

The inquiry will explore how electric vehicles can best support Victoria’s energy system without putting increased pressure on the during peak demand, and utilise them during times when renewable energy is plentiful.

EV batteries are around five times the size of household batteries and most trips only use a small portion of that stored power leaving plenty of capacity to power a home in the evening.

Australians bought 91,000 EVs last year with a combined battery storage capacity roughly equivalent* to all the big batteries built or under construction in Victoria, illustrating the storage potential of EVs.

The inquiry will consider how to make best use of this capacity, while avoiding a tangle of power cords snaking across inner city footpaths and uncoordinated, ill-timed demand on the grid.

And when drivers want to replace a tired old battery with reduced range, the inquiry will examine whether old EV batteries can have a second life as stationary household or community batteries.

Terms of reference include:
• Measures to reduce EV charging during peak demand and increase it during periods of peak renewable supply
• Whether public charging infrastructure is being rolled out at sufficient rates across different areas, including older suburbs with limited off-street parking
• The role of electricity distributors in EV charging rollout and how network tariffs should be set
• How to support broader EV take-up, including enabling bi-directional charging
• The potential for old EV batteries to be reused in household or community energy storage
• Opportunities and barriers in battery manufacturing, reconditioning, and recycling in Victoria
• Any other related matters

Victorian Greens MP, Dr Tim Read:

“We’ve secured this important inquiry because electric vehicles aren’t just a way to get from A to B – they’re batteries on wheels which can power your home or the grid. With the right policy settings, EVs can help more Victorians cut emissions, support our electricity grid, and lower energy bills.

“If we get this right, there will be synergy between EVs and a fully renewable energy grid, each supporting the other. The climate emergency means there’s no time to stuff it up.”

*Victoria currently has about 4.7 GWh of storage in big batteries built or under construction, equivalent to the storage capacity of 78,000 EV batteries (60kWh).

Shane Rattenbury, Leader of the ACT Greens 

“On behalf of the membership of the ACT Greens, I want to sincerely congratulate Larissa Waters for her election as Federal Parliamentary Leader of the Australian Greens, following the election process this afternoon.

“I also congratulate Mehreen Faruqi on being elected as the Federal Deputy Parliamentary Leader of the Australian Greens.

“Over the past half-decade, Adam Bandt has shown what it means to lead with purpose, and has set a high standard for what growing the Greens movement looks like, and what people-powered politics can achieve.

“Now looking ahead, I’m confident this new leadership team has what it takes to guide our movement into its next chapter—growing our support and driving meaningful change with collaboration, but also with strong conviction.

“Despite the media spin and tireless work of major party commentators to bring down the Greens, we’ve seen a strong primary vote at this election–and while there is work to be done in growing our movement even more, well over a million Australians have put their faith in our party to fight for change.

“Not only do we hold the balance of power in the Senate, but across the country, the Greens are now in a two party contest in more winnable seats than ever before–setting us up for success at the next federal election.

“Having worked closely with both Larissa and Mehreen in the past, I’m confident in their ability to lead the party with strength and vision. I’m looking forward to working alongside them to deliver real outcomes for progressively minded Canberrans—especially on the issues that matter most: tackling climate change, protecting our precious natural environment, increasing bulk billing and building affordable housing.

“I will also be personally working with our new leadership team to deliver for the ACT. That will include pushing the Government to prioritise increased funding for light rail—so we can deliver it faster and extend it across all of Canberra.

“We will also work together to expand the representation of the ACT in the Senate to ensure Canberrans have a fair representation of their range of political views in the parliament.

The Minns Government is paving the way to a greener energy future with the approval of a large-scale solar farm in the Richmond Valley that will power more than 36,000 homes, create 200 local jobs in construction and deliver strong community benefits. 

The $312 million Summerville Solar Farm, located 57 kilometres southwest of Lismore, will have a generating capacity of 90 megawatt (MW). 

It will also boast 360-megawatt hour (MWh) battery energy storage system so the farm can capture and release solar energy to the grid during peak times and outside daylight hours.  

Clean energy produced from the solar farm will save more than 139,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually. 

The proponent will also provide approximately $3.1 million to Richmond Valley Council to deliver infrastructure and community benefits. 

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) responded to key issues raised during the community consultation period including biodiversity and fire safety.   

The project has been approved, subject to strict conditions including a 10-metre perimeter for fire safety and others to manage or mitigate any impacts on traffic and the environment. 

The Summerville Solar Farm requires approval from the Commonwealth Government before construction can begin.   

Since March 2023, the Minns Government has delivered 34 renewable energy State Significant Development assessments, including five wind farms, 12 solar farms and 15 large-scale energy storage systems.  

The projects have the combined capacity to generate 6 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy, and store 7.8 GW / 21.5 GWh of energy.

This could save an estimated 10.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year and power 2.78 million homes while boosting the state’s energy security. 

For more information visit https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/summerville-solar-farm

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said: 

“The Minns Labor Government is committed to diversifying energy production and reducing carbon emissions while providing energy security and reliability. 

“Summerville Solar Farm will produce clean energy and bolster the Northern Rivers economy by creating jobs during construction and operational phases.  

“The renewable project will also help renew the community with Richmond Valley Council to receive about $3.12 million to spend on community projects for locals to enjoy. 

“NSW is leading a once-in-a-generation upgrade of the electricity network, to deliver even more clean, affordable and reliable energy for everyone in NSW.” 

Minister for the North Coast Janelle Saffin said:

“This is a big win for our community. Renewable energy projects are the cheapest form of energy to build. They mean more jobs, cleaner energy, and reliable power as more projects like Summerville get built. 

“I’m also happy to see that the successful tenderer will be delivering some funds to Richmond Valley Council to build local infrastructure and support our local community groups. This project won’t just create jobs, it’ll help deliver some much-needed support for our community too.”  

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and His Excellency Mr Prabowo Subianto, President of the Republic of Indonesia, met today in Jakarta for the Australia–Indonesia Annual Leaders’ Meeting and issued a Joint Communiqué.

This is Prime Minister Albanese’s fourth visit to Indonesia as Prime Minister, and first overseas bilateral opportunity in the Government’s second term.

In the context of an uncertain global economic and strategic outlook, the two leaders discussed how Australia and Indonesia can expand and deepen cooperation in a spirit of true partnership under our bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Australia is committed to boosting trade and investment in the region through Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040. The strategy is supporting Australian businesses to take advantage of trade and investment opportunities in Indonesian healthcare, renewable energy, agriculture, infrastructure and mining industries—broadening our strong and mutually beneficial economic relationship.

The two leaders agreed to review and expand the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA), the centrepiece of our economic relationship, to take into account new opportunities for economic growth powered by the net zero transition, critical and emerging minerals and technologies, and digital trade.

Building on the momentum of the Australia–Indonesia Defence Cooperation Agreement signed last year, Prime Minister Albanese announced a number of initiatives to build the security relationship, including:

• $15 million over four years to enhance our maritime cooperation, including establishing an annual officials-level dialogue on maritime issues
• supporting the Indonesian military to commence training in the Northern Territory later this year
• $3.5 million for a clinical anti-malaria drug trial for the Indonesian military.

Australia is committed to strengthening our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and partnering with Indonesia on its domestic priorities to bolster regional stability and the health security of both countries, including:

• $100 million to strengthen Indonesia’s health system, and its ability to prevent, detect and respond to human and animal infectious diseases
• Supporting Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund Danantara to join the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds and inviting it to conduct a roadshow in Australia
• $50 million to the Fund for Green Infrastructure under the Australia-Indonesia Climate and Infrastructure Partnership (KINETIK), to incentivise investment in green infrastructure and clean energy projects in Indonesia
• Doubling the number of participating scholars and institutions under Australia’s Indonesian Language Learning Ambassadors program, and
• Supporting Indonesia’s Garuda Schools Program though 10 scholarships for students to study a Masters of Education in Australia.

Leaders welcomed enhanced cooperation between Football Australia and the Football Federation of Indonesia (PSSI), which could include major event opportunities and women’s football mentorship.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“I am pleased to again make Indonesia my first bilateral leaders’ meeting in this new term of Government, reflecting the high priority I accord to this vital relationship.

“Australia and Indonesia are indispensable partners—we’re working together as neighbours and as partners committed to a secure, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

“Our two great nations continue to invest in each other through our strong trade relationship, creating economic opportunity and deepening the bonds between us.

“I am proud of the enduring friendship between Australia and Indonesia, and I look forward to working closely with President Prabowo on our countries’ shared priorities.”

Shane Rattenbury, Leader of the ACT Greens 

“Today, Greens questioning in the ACT Parliament has revealed that the government quietly axed an expert advisory group of Canberrans directing work to reduce harm from gambling across the territory.

“The Minister for Gaming today confirmed the Community Clubs Ministerial Advisory Council has been disbanded. This follows the earlier ditching of the Law Reform and Sentencing Advisory Council by the Labor Government.

“This revelation follows the discovery last week that Labor has also yet to convene the Domestic Violence Prevention Council, with no clear answer given as to when the council might meet to provide advice to the Minister.

“We also learned last week that the term of the Ministerial Advisory Council for Women ended on 18 April. Recruitment for the new Council has not even commenced as it is currently being ‘reviewed’.

“This set of developments raises some serious questions about this Labor Government’s attitude to community input.

“Almost seven months on from the election, how many Advisory Council and similar bodies have not even met? Are there other groups that have been disbanded, or quietly not re-appointed by this government?

“Community input is invaluable in helping the government meet the needs of Canberrans, and it is concerning to see that ministers have shown no interest in convening with experts in their fields to ensure good governance.