Category: Australian News

Shadow Minister for Early Learning, Felicity Wilson, today welcomed the work of the NSW Early Learning Commission which confirmed that action is being taken to address the risks our children face in early education and care across NSW. 

“Today’s reporting that early education services are being held to account for lack of compliance is a welcome sign that the NSW Early Learning Commission is working as intended,” Ms Wilson said. 

“However, action needs to be taken sooner to ensure services aren’t failing, and parents and kids aren’t left in the lurch, particularly when places are in such high demand.” 

Last October, the NSW Liberals and Nationals supported laws that created the NSW Early Learning Commission to improve the quality of early education and care across NSW, with child safety key to this reform. 

“This Minns Labor Government needs to ensure early learning is of a quality and standard that parents expect and kids deserve.” 

Ms Wilson added that financial and reputational consequences are clear; if you put children at risk, you will pay the price. 

“It is clear, cutting corners in NSW on children’s safety is not acceptable.” 

“As a mum with a child in childcare at the time, I welcomed the reforms, but there will always be more to do to protect our kids and ensure their early education and care services.” 

“Child safety is not a partisan issue; it is the responsibility of all political parties to ensure that child safety in early education and care is paramount.” 

Ms Wilson concluded that she looks forward to working with stakeholders and parents in 2026 to ensure that when parents send their kids to early learning services, they have confidence that their kids’ safety and wellbeing are protected. 

I am pleased to announce the Governor-General has appointed Mr Simon Duggan as the Secretary of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR).

Mr Duggan has an extensive career in the Australian Public Service most recently as the Deputy Secretary of the Energy Group at the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (DCCEEW).

Prior to joining DCCEEW, Mr Duggan was a Deputy Secretary at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet where he led the Economy and Industry Group and served as Australia’s G20 and G7 plus Sherpa.

Mr Duggan also spent 18 years at the Department of the Treasury, leading on policy reforms relating to the domestic and international economy.

Mr Duggan’s term will commence on 16 February 2026 for a five-year period.

I would like to thank Ms Tania Rishniw for acting as Secretary since December 2025.

The Albanese Government is undertaking the most significant reform to the Defence estate ever to ensure it is fit‑for‑purpose – providing the ADF with the facilities and capabilities it needs to keep Australians safe.

Today, the Albanese Government has released a public version of the Defence Estate Audit and the Government’s response to it – agreeing or agreeing-in-principle to all 20 of the Audit’s recommendations.

Commissioned following the 2023 Defence Strategic Review, Ms Jan Mason and Mr Jim Miller led an independent process to assess whether the estate is fit‑for‑purpose and provides the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with the facilities and capabilities it needs to keep Australians safe.

Key areas of focus for the Audit included strengthening the resilience of the Defence estate, mechanisms to accelerate delivery of major infrastructure, and options for consolidation of underutilised facilities.

The Defence Estate Audit found: 

“Defence is constrained by the weight of its past when it comes to management of the estate. 

“Today’s estate footprint comprises numerous legacy sites without a clear ongoing link to current or future capabilities. 

“Urgent interventions are needed to correct the unsustainable trajectory that has resulted from decades of deferred decisions on contentious estate issues.”

The Audit’s 20 recommendations aim to transition the estate toward a more modern, future‑focused and fit-for-purpose capability that best enables the ADF in its tasks. 

The Audit’s first recommendation, which the Government has agreed to, calls for Defence to “reduce its property holdings through focussed divestment of sites at market value in areas not aligned with current or future capability priorities”.

The Government received the Audit at the end of 2023 and has since taken the necessary and appropriate time to assess potential impacts on personnel, capability and broader community groups.

A total of 68 sites were identified for divestment by the Audit. Following assessment, the Government has agreed to: 

• Wholly divest 64 sites, three of which have been divested since the Audit’s commissioning: Magnetic Island (QLD), Haberfield Training Depot (NSW) and Garbutt (QLD)
• Partially divest three sites: HMAS Penguin (NSW), RAAF Williams – Laverton (VIC) and Warradale Barracks (SA)
• Retain in full one site: Pittwater Annex (NSW)

Some of the sites are historically significant and have important meaning to current and former Defence personnel. The Albanese Government is committed to preserving and enhancing public access to historically significant sites and collections so that all Australians can celebrate our proud military history.

As part of the divestment process, the Department of Finance will manage the new divestments arising from the Defence Estate Audit. 

Finance is leading this process due to its experience in managing large-scale divestment programs, expertise in divestment and remediation, and oversight of the Commonwealth Property Disposal Policy and other land policy and legislation.

All proceeds from divestments under this process will be retained within the Defence portfolio and be reinvested in National Defence Strategy priorities, including continuing to upgrade and strengthen our northern bases.

The Albanese Government thanks Ms Jan Mason and Mr Jim Miller for their diligent, focused Audit, drawing on their experience in estate management, infrastructure development and financial governance.

The Albanese Government is committed to ensuring the Australian Defence Force has the facilities and capabilities it needs to keep Australians safe. This means making the hard decisions to transition to a modern Defence estate that reflects the needs of our nation and our Defence personnel.

A copy of the final report and the government’s response is available here: https://www.defence.gov.au/about/reviews-inquiries/defence-estate-audit

A full list of sites is available here: https://www.defence.gov.au/about/locations-property/delivering-future-estate

The Department of Finance expression of interest site is available here: https://www.finance.gov.au/government/property-and-construction/divestments/defence-estate-audit

Richard Marles, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence: 

“In order for the Australian Defence Force to protect our nation and keep Australians safe, it must have a Defence estate that meets its operational and capability needs.

“For many years this has not been the case, with many Defence sites vacant, decaying, underutilised and costing millions of dollars to maintain. That is why the Albanese Government is undertaking the most significant reform to the Defence estate in Australia’s history.

“We know this is significant and challenging reform, but we are clear-eyed and committed to seeing it through, because it is the right thing to do in the national interest.”

Katy Gallagher, Minister for Finance:

“The Department of Finance has the expertise to manage the large-scale Defence estate divestment program.

“This approach will ensure sites identified by the Audit are sold at market value, with careful consideration of remediation, heritage and community impacts. Importantly, proceeds will be reinvested in key Defence priorities.”

Peter Khalil, Assistant Minister for Defence: 

“We promised to ensure taxpayer money spent within Defence is aligned with the public’s expectations, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.

“These reforms present a once in a generation opportunity to reposition Australia’s Defence estate to ensure it meets the strategic challenges we are facing, and enhance our ability to maintain the stability of our region.

“The Defence estate plays such an important role for our Defence personnel and within the broader community. We will continue to support and engage closely with the community as these reforms are implemented.”

Today marks two years since Australian citizen, Dr Yang Jun, received a suspended death sentence in Beijing.

Dr Yang has demonstrated remarkable resilience and fortitude in the face of great challenges for the past seven years of his detention.

The Australian Government has made clear to China that we remain appalled by Dr Yang’s suspended death sentence.

Dr Yang is entitled to basic standards of justice, procedural fairness and humane treatment, in accordance with international norms and China’s legal obligations. We advocate consistently for Dr Yang’s welfare and conditions.

Today our thoughts are with Dr Yang and his loved ones. We want to see him reunited with his family.

The Government will continue to advocate for Dr Yang at every opportunity.

We, the Foreign Minister of Australia, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, and the Federal Foreign Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany, Dr Johann Wadephul met in Canberra to reaffirm the closeness of our bilateral relationship, underpinned by shared values, interests and commitment to the rule of law.

Looking towards celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2027, we discussed common security challenges amid a rapidly changing geo-strategic environment and committed to work together to support security, freedom and prosperity, between Europe and the Indo-Pacific in keeping with the Charter of the United Nations.

Strengthened partnership for a sustainable future

We acknowledge significant achievements in advancing our Enhanced Strategic Partnership (ESP), and its renewed work plan 2025-27. We have deepened our security cooperation on defence, hybrid and cyber threats. Our commitment to renewable energy and critical minerals partnerships remains firm. Our practical action in support of the international trading system, through the joint H2Global window to support the development of hydrogen supply chains, and work to build green iron and steel value chains, is increasing opportunities for investment in offtake arrangements and helping establish trade corridors for renewable hydrogen products between Australia and Europe.

We discussed the importance of working to build peace and social cohesion and reaffirm our commitment to collaborate in international fora to combat antisemitism and all forms of hatred and discrimination.

We reaffirm our commitment to reinforce the rules of the international system that protect peace and economic prosperity and that support sustainable development, civil society, gender equality, governance and human rights. We stress our firm commitment to the multilateral, rules-based trading system with the WTO at its core and our support for negotiations of a free trade agreement between Australia and the European Union, to strengthen our economic relations.

We appreciate the deep commitment to the return of ancestors and significant cultural heritage material to First Nations custodians and welcome on-going close cooperation with German institutions.

We reaffirm the ongoing importance of defence and security cooperation to the Australia-Germany relationship. Building resilience and bolstering economic security are important to this endeavour. We have agreed to deepen our cooperation on economic security through a new Australia-Germany senior officials-level exchange and 1.5 track dialogue.

A combined commitment to peace and territorial integrity

Australia and Germany unequivocally condemn Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. We demand Russia’s complete and unconditional withdrawal from the territory of Ukraine in respect of its internationally recognised borders. We have provided substantial support to Ukraine – Germany, the largest European contributor, and Australia, the largest non-NATO contributor of military assistance. We agree that continued support is crucial for Ukraine’s efforts to defend itself against Russia’s military aggression.

We condemn Russia’s targeted attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during the coldest winter in 10 years. Russia’s war is causing immense human suffering, perpetuating sexual and gender-based violence, disrupting supply chains, heightening energy and food insecurity, constraining growth, increasing inflation and elevating financial stability risks.

We call on support from the international community to increase the pressure on Russia to end the war, including for third countries to cease the direct and indirect support to Russia’s military, and for those with influence on Russia to play a positive role in achieving a just and lasting peace based on international law, including the principles of the United Nations Charter.

We share a long history of contributing to peace in the Middle East and remain committed to working with the international community towards a two-state solution as the only viable pathway to a just and enduring peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike. We must make every effort to ensure all sides fulfil their commitments under the US Peace Plan to end the suffering of the people of Gaza, including the full-fledged disarmament of Hamas.

We condemn the brutal crackdown perpetrated by the Iranian regime against its own population during the protests and follow closely and with great concern the shocking reports on the number of casualties and arbitrary detentions. We urge Iranian authorities to adhere to Iran’s international obligations and fully uphold the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. We also call for ensuring the right to seek, receive and impart information, including by restoring access to the internet for all.

We underscore the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and reaffirm our shared opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo. We call for the peaceful management of cross-Strait issues through dialogue, without coercion or the use of force. We support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organisations as a member where statehood is not a prerequisite, and as an observer or guest where it is.

We are concerned by the increased tensions in the South China Sea and unsafe behaviour at sea and in the air. We reiterate that disputes should be settled peacefully in accordance with international law and reaffirm the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award as final and binding on the parties.

We are also concerned over Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) and attempts to undermine security and democratic institutions and processes. The impacts of disinformation, interference, transnational repression, cyberattacks and the malicious use of AI on societies like Australia and Germany are deeply concerning. We are committed to working closely to build collective responses, including in multilateral fora, to promote resilient, healthy, open and fact-based environments and to countering foreign interference and misinformation. Countering mis- and disinformation will help build social cohesion and security at home and abroad.

Strengthened multilateral cooperation and international development

Australia and Germany have worked hard to build peace and prosperity. Today, hard-won freedom is once again under pressure – challenged by military aggression, disinformation, and attempts to redraw spheres of influence. We must work even harder, together and with others, to build our collective resilience, to create space for innovation and economic opportunity and to protect the parts of the multilateral system that matter most.

We note the current significant challenges to the multilateral system and rules-based order and reaffirm the paramount importance of international law with the United Nations at its core. We underscore our support for a comprehensive reform of the United Nations to make it more efficient and effective, while maintaining a balance across all UN pillars: peace and security, human rights and sustainable development.

We recognise the global development architecture must reform to suit the evolving context. We will continue to promote development cooperation in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and accelerate its implementation for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. We will work to protect the multilateral system’s ability to advance sustainable development and cooperate to support reforms to ensure the global development system is fit for our times.

We recognise the extreme pressure on the international system in responding to humanitarian crises. We remain focused on delivering on the commitments we made, together with more than 100 other countries, through the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel and to upholding respect for international humanitarian law, also through our engagement within the International Committee of the Red Cross Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law.

Building climate and energy resilience in the Pacific and South-East Asia

Australia strongly welcomes Germany’s decade long engagement as a dialogue partner of the Pacific Islands Forum, support for Pacific priorities and expanding involvement in the Pacific.

With our energy and climate partnership a central pillar of the Germany-Australia bilateral relationship, we underscored the importance of multilateral and international cooperation to accelerate global climate action to meet the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement. Germany welcomed Australia and the Pacific agreeing with Türkiye to deliver COP31 in partnership. Recognising the existential threat posed by climate change to small island developing states, and Australia and Germany’s foundational contributions to the Pacific-led and owned Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), we will work together to build momentum on climate finance in support of the PRF and further multilateral climate funds. We welcome the significant reform to multilateral climate funds, including the Green Climate Fund, and Global Environment Facility, to increase access to climate finance and better meet the needs of small island developing states, including Pacific island countries.

Noting the importance of supporting Southeast Asia’s energy transition to meet the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement, we will increase coordination to bolster energy security in Southeast Asia, reduce costs, and accelerate the region’s shift to cleaner energy sources. We welcome the Partnership for ASEAN Connectivity on Energy (PACE), a new platform to strengthen collaboration between international financial institutions and donors, which will better harmonise support for the region’s cross-border power trade and allow us to more effectively leverage our respective clean energy expertise in support of the region.

Labor’s planned fire sale of Victoria Barracks sites ignores the obvious solution: converting this prime publicly-owned urban land into social and affordable housing for those locked out of the market. 

Selling to the highest bidder while Australians sleep in cars and tents exposes the government’s misplaced priorities.

Greens Senator and Defence Spokesperson David Shoebridge said: 

“Labor is planning to sell off prime public land to developer mates while families can’t afford a home. 

“Victoria Barracks could house hundreds of families in real public homes, flogging it for luxury private developments would squander this opportunity. 

“We built hundreds of thousands of public homes in the past. Defence Housing does it now. After all Labor’s bluster about taking action on the housing crisis why are they ignoring this critical opportunity? 

“A few ‘affordable’ apartments for 10 years isn’t a plan, it’s crumbs from the table while developers feast on our public land.

“Done right these sites could deliver literally thousands of homes, protect heritage and provide beautiful and much-needed public parklands. 

“Labor selling this land without any regard to the desperate need for public housing and the strong community support for the built heritage and green open space is a three way betrayal. 

“These buildings are located towards the centre of cities where housing affordability is hitting hardest and driving ordinary people into hours-long commutes. 

“Keep Victoria Barracks public. Build bold. Build green.

“If Labour was serious about public housing, they’d prove it at Victoria Barracks. I call on them to at least try rather than just flogging off more public assets to the highest bidder. 

Greens spokesperson for housing Barbara Pocock:

“We are in the middle of a national housing crisis, we have people on decades-long waiting lists for a roof over their head and a severe lack of public and affordable housing. 

“The solutions to the housing crisis are simple, but this isn’t it. Instead of flogging off land to private developers for massive profits, what we need is direct public investment in social and affordable housing. 

“Labor needs to start treating housing as a human right rather than a game of monopoly, and to make the best use of prime publicly-owned land.

“We need affordable housing in central city locations with access to green space – not the privatisation of prime public sites.

“Labor can find the money and political will to build public housing for US troops and foreign defence contractors – but not for Australians. Instead it offers a fire sale to salivating developers and privatisation pirate profiteers. We say no.”

The Greens’ Bill to ban corporate price gouging across the economy will be debated in Parliament tomorrow, giving Labor the chance to stop sitting on its hands and tackle inflation.

“Price gouging is a major driver of inflation, and Australians are copping it every day,” Greens Economic Justice Spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

“When big corporations with market power jack up prices simply because they can, that feeds inflation right through the economy”

“Supermarkets are a clear example, but this problem goes far beyond the checkout. Price gouging is happening across the economy, and it’s keeping inflation higher for longer.”

The Greens’ Bill would make price gouging illegal across the economy and give the ACCC the powers it needs to investigate and prosecute corporations that exploit their market power to unfairly hike prices.

“Instead of leaving the inflation fight to the Reserve Bank and interest rate rises, the government should be tackling corporate price gouging, which is one of the major inflation drivers.”

“Labor promised to act on price gouging. Tomorrow, they’ll have the chance to prove it.”

“If Labor is serious about bringing inflation down and easing cost-of-living pressure, they should support the Greens’ Bill and ban price gouging across the economy.”

The Australian Greens have reintroduced a Bill to ban political donations from dirty industries driving the cost-of-living and climate crises, including fossil fuel companies, gambling giants and the big banks, as new AEC data this week shows the major parties are still bankrolling their campaigns with millions in corporate handouts.

Greens Democracy Spokesperson, Senator Steph Hodgins-May:

“AEC data confirms that the major parties are still hooked on dirty donations. 

“While everyday Australians struggle with soaring cost of living and housing crises, big corporations are pouring millions into Labor and Liberal coffers to protect their profits. 

“Nearly $4 million from coal and gas has flowed to the major parties in just one year. You cannot fight the climate crisis while being funded by those who profit from it.

“When the gambling industry and the big banks write massive cheques, they’re not doing it for nothing — they’re pulling the strings from behind the scenes.

“This Bill would finally clean up politics by putting a stop to dirty donations.

“It will cap donations at $3,000 per term, finishing the job abandoned when Labor and the Liberals cut a backroom deal to gut last year’s electoral reforms.”

After taking years, the federal government has finally responded to the recommendations of two parliamentary inquiries into the consultancy sector, prompted by the PwC tax scandal. Unfortunately, the government has failed to meet the moment. 

The two parliamentary inquiries made 52 recommendations between them, which were agreed to by Labor, the Liberals and the Greens, which gave the government an opening for reform across the accounting and consulting sector. 

The reports made clear recommendations, including lowering partnership caps, separating audit from non-audit services, improving whistleblower protections and not allowing PwC to tender for government work until all ongoing investigations have concluded.

The Greens say the government’s responses are woefully inadequate but not surprising and call on the government to legislate the reports’ recommendations instead of relying on voluntary guidelines and endless reviews.

Australian Greens spokesperson for finance and public sector Senator Barbara Pocock:

“The government’s response to this consultancy crisis is woefully inadequate. We discovered a tidal wave of malpractice, poor governance and structural failures. The government’s response fobs off our report with baby steps that don’t meet the scale of this crisis.

“So much of the Parliament’s time and resources have been spent uncovering unethical behaviour in the consultancy sector. The government was provided with clear recommendations for cleaning up the sector but instead of agreeing to them, Labor continues to greenlight unethical contractors. 

“This is a government of gestures. Despite the extensive evidence and comprehensive recommendations, the government is once again choosing to tinker around the edges, instead of committing to actual reform.

“Political donations data released this week shows that big consulting firms are still giving large donations to the government. It’s a straightforward conflict of interest – it’s no wonder Labor is failing to act. Three of the Big 4 consultancy firms continue to donate to the government – this is just wrong and the government is refusing to take action on this.

“The government continues to distance itself from a myriad of consultancy scandals, which won’t go away. The fact that the government let PwC back into the fold before the TPB, AFP and NACC investigations had concluded is both baffling and pathetic. Astonishingly they’ve refused to comment on PwC continuing to hide crucial information from the Senate. 

“The government’s refusal to clean up the unethical practices rife across the consultancy sector is the reason why the Greens introduced a bill to parliament. We must close the legal loopholes that allow government contractors who behave unethically to get away with it.”

In the same week Australian households were told their mortgage repayments will go up, they have also learnt who the real beneficiaries of government housing policies are and…. it’s not first-home buyers.

As reported in the media, the Housing Minister’s “policy brain” who was pivotal to the creation of Labor’s 5 percent deposit scheme, which drove up house prices in the midst of a housing crisis, is making the move to Commonwealth Bank – one of the big four banks profiting off bigger home loans.

The Greens say the lucrative revolving door is shameful and it’s clear that Labor cares more about the profits of the banks than it does about first-home buyers.

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

“In the midst of a housing crisis, Labor’s 5 percent deposit scheme has driven up house prices. It’s a policy that encourages people to take on more and more debt while they compete with wealthy property investors.

“As millions of Australians now face increased mortgage repayments in a cost of living crisis, many will be left wondering who benefits? The banks do. For every mortgage, the banks make $200,000 profit. 

“When the Housing Minister’s adviser takes up a job at an institution that is among the greatest beneficiaries of Labor’s policy, what are mortgage holders and first-home buyers supposed to think? 

“This is a blatant example of the endless rewards of the lucrative revolving door. 

“Australians are fed up with the jobs-for-the-mates mentality that’s plagued successive governments. This is why the Greens have always supported strengthening lobbying oversight by extending the ban on former ministers’ lobbying from 18 months to five years and applying it to senior staff.

“Treasury’s own modelling said house prices would go up under the 5 percent deposit scheme. Borrowing 95% of a mortgage when homes are eight times the average household income is a recipe for financial stress, not stability. It’s clear that Labor and its advisors care more about banks than it does about first-home buyers and making housing affordable. 

“Without tackling the root causes of the housing crisis, which is the tax breaks for wealthy property hoarders, house prices will continue to spike, and banks will continue to rake in the profits.”