Category: Australian News

The Albanese Labor Government is securing Australia’s future during a time of global uncertainty by making our economy more productive and more resilient.

Our best defence against global pressures is a stronger economy, and that’s what we are building in this Budget.

We’re making our economy more dynamic by advancing National Competition Policy reforms and investing in productivity-enhancing infrastructure, including the National Broadband Network.

We’re building a Future Made in Australia – creating jobs and opportunity for generations of Australians as we continue the work of making our country an indispensable part of the global net zero transformation.

We are also backing hardworking local businesses by investing $20 million to encourage consumers to buy Australian made products through the Buy Australian campaign.

The world has thrown a lot of challenges at Australia over the past few years.

It’s clear the rules that underpinned global economic engagement for more than 40 years are being rewritten. Our economic plan is all about ensuring Australians are beneficiaries, not victims, of this churn and change.

Budget commitments to build a stronger economy include:

• Investing more than $3 billion to support local green metals production to help build a Future Made in Australia.
• Unlocking an expected $6 billion of additional private investment in renewable energy and low emissions technologies through a $2 billion expansion of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.
• Support for small businesses, including extending energy bill relief for around one million small businesses and cracking down on unfair trading practices.
• $7.1 million over two years to strengthen enforcement of the Franchising Code.
• $165 million in tax relief for hospitality venues, brewers, distillers and wine producers including a two-year freeze on the indexation on draught beer excise.
• Supporting local businesses including $20 million to encourage consumers to buy Australian made products through the Buy Australian campaign.
• $17.1 billion over 10 years for road and rail projects to improve the productivity and resilience, liveability and sustainability of our cities, regions and communities.
• Up to $3 billion to complete the National Broadband Network to deliver access to faster and more reliable broadband services to a further 622,000 premises nationwide.

Our reforms in this Budget reduce red tape for businesses and workers.

The Government is also accelerating productivity-enhancing reforms as part of our revitalised National Competition Policy. This Budget includes:

• Banning non-compete clauses for low and middle-income earners to boost workers’ wages. Research shows that reforms to these clauses could lift the wages of affected workers by up to four per cent or $2,500 for workers on average wages and lift GDP by $5 billion per year.
• Progressing the design of a national licensing scheme for electrical occupations to cut red tape for businesses, save tradies time and money and enable electricians to work seamlessly across borders. The Productivity Commission suggests licensing reforms across a range of industries would provide long-term benefits, including a boost to GDP of up to $10.3 billion.

The Government is also ensuring Australia has a highly skilled workforce for the future by putting public schools on a path to full and fair funding and making Free TAFE permanent.

Our economic plan is already helping to strengthen Australia’s economy and this Budget will help to ensure we continue to make progress.

We saw growth in our economy rebound solidly at the end of last year, with the private sector taking its rightful role as a key driver of growth.

Treasury expects growth in our economy to pick up in the period ahead, with the private sector driving more of the growth.

In an increasingly uncertain global economic environment, this Budget invests in our people and productivity to make our economy stronger and more resilient.

Today I announce the appointment of Dr Scott Watkins as Chair of the Australia-Korea Foundation (AKF), as well as new board members to support the Foundation’s work.

The AKF works to strengthen economic, strategic and personal links between Australia and the Republic of Korea (ROK).

Dr Watkins has been a Board Member since 2022 and is active in forging networks between Australian and South Korean youth. He is the Chief Sustainability Officer at KISCO, a South Korean chemicals and inks manufacturer, and previously worked for CSIRO.

I am pleased to announce the appointment of three new board members who each bring extensive experience to support the objectives of the AKF:

• Professor Gordon Flake, founding CEO of the Perth USAsia Centre
• Ms Julianne Lee, Vice President of Voice of Korean Australian Businesses and Director a Rosecello Pty Ltd
• Mr Sung Ho Lee, Partner at Johnson Partners.

I have reappointed Ms Robyn Bryant, from Bryant Family Grazing in Southern Queensland, for a second three-year term from March 2025.

I greatly appreciate the efforts of outgoing Chair Peter Coleman and Board Member Ms Karen Halbert for their substantial contribution the Australia-ROK relationship and thank them for their work supporting the AKF.

Today I am also delighted to announce that grants have been awarded to 22 recipients in the 2024-25 AKF Grant Round. These are listed on the AKF website and include:

• The Australia-Korea Academic Maritime Security Dialogue in South Korea, convened by La Trobe University and the University of Western Australia, to promote discussions on maritime-related issues in our region.
• An Australia-Korea Business Council initiative to connect female leaders in Australia and South Korea through networking and panel discussions, to promote leadership skills, cross-cultural exchanges and mentorships.
• Supporting 10 Australian scientists to attend the Federation of Asian and Oceanian Biochemists and Molecular Biologists’ Young Scientist Program in South Korea, to enhance bilateral scientific ties.

Applications are now open for the 2025-26 Grant Round. For more information visit the Australia-Korea Foundation.

I am pleased to announce the 22 recipients of the Australia-Japan Foundation (AJF) grant round for 2024-25.

The AJF advances Australia’s foreign and trade policy interests with Japan by supporting partnerships in areas of shared interest and increasing Australian engagement with Japan.

The grant recipients in 2024-25 include:

• The Australian Antarctic Program Partnership at the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, to develop new pathways for Japanese and Australian scientific collaborations in Antarctic and Southern science.
• An Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) workshop to convene leading Pacific experts from Australia, Japan and the Pacific, focusing on improving Pacific resilience to new security challenges.
• The University of Queensland’s initiative to advance higher education on sustainable construction in Australia and Japan through teaching workshops, a public guest lecture series, and a presentation at Expo 2025, Osaka, Kansai.
• A Drift Consulting project to bring together Australian and Japanese experts to exchange knowledge and progress the use of Australian seaweed in livestock feed to reduce emissions.

A full list of successful grant recipients is available on the AJF website.

The Albanese Labor Government will provide another $150 in Energy Bill Relief, extending our energy rebates until the end of 2025.

This responsible cost of living relief measure will help every household and small businesses.

From 1 July 2025, every household and around one million small businesses will see another $150 in rebates automatically applied to their electricity bills in quarterly instalments, on top of the previous rebates already being rolled out to Australian households and small businesses.

Treasury estimates this will directly reduce headline inflation by around half of a percentage point in 2025, and reduce household bills by 7.5 per cent on average nationally, compared to bills without the extension.

As the Australian Bureau of Statistics has shown, the energy bill rebates we have been rolling out with the states have directly reduced electricity prices. In 2024, electricity prices fell 25.2 per cent, but would have fallen just 1.6 per cent without energy rebates.

The extension of energy bill rebates will cost $1.8 billion over the forward estimates. 

In addition, the ACCC’s Inquiry into the National Electricity Market will be extended for 12 months, helping to ensure households and small businesses are getting a fair deal from their energy retailer.

The Albanese Labor Government’s energy reforms will help consumers to switch between energy plans to secure the best value for their money, remove excessive fees and charges, and ensure people get the concessions they are entitled to, potentially saving them hundreds of dollars per year.

We are providing immediate relief on energy bills now while we continue to progress the overdue reform needed to deliver the modern, affordable and reliable energy grid Australians deserve.

Our economic plan is all about finishing the fight against inflation, providing responsible cost of living relief and building a stronger and more productive economy. 

Helping with the cost of living is the number one priority of the Albanese Government and the Budget, and that’s what our energy rebates will do.

Australia would have a Climate Response Service to put thousands of people on the ground and help prepare for fires, floods, and cyclones; and assist with the extensive cleanup after they strike, under a Greens plan to protect communities from disasters supercharged by coal and gas. The “climate army” would be funded by making big coal and gas corporations pay more tax.

Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt MP, Deputy Leader and Greens Climate Adaptation & Resilience spokesperson Mehreen Faruqi, and Richmond candidate Mandy Nolan launched the plan today in the Northern Rivers, a region that was still recovering from the 2022 floods even as this year’s Cyclone Alfred struck.

As the climate crisis caused by coal and gas makes extreme weather conditions more frequent and destructive, thousands of volunteers such as the mud army after the Brisbane floods have found themselves taking on an increased burden of preparation and cleanup works – but this “climate army” currently operates without national support or co-ordination.

The proposal to commit $1bn a year over three years would create a service to be managed by the National Emergency Management Agency, working with local communities to provide skilled, scalable support in a crisis. Specifics would be devised through the NEMA’s consultation with communities, the ADF, and local service providers and volunteer groups.

Evidence suggests that the Climate Response Service should assist in:

• Ensuring a reserve of volunteers are recruited, trained, and supported to deploy when needed, including under the management of authorities like the RFS and SES;
• Handling logistics of disaster preparation, such as ensuring stocks of sandbags are available and where they need to be;
• Co-ordinating and supplying existing community based volunteer groups during a disaster, and providing both logistical and organisational support;
• Managing the cleanup after disasters, including community rebuilding works where necessary.

This would raise the threshold before action is required of the ADF, freeing up military resources to respond to the biggest incidents and to focus on their primary role of national defence. Evidence provided to the recent Select Committee on Australia’s Disaster Resilience found that the ADF is being increasingly stretched by the increasing frequency of callouts to global warming charged natural disasters, and lacks the resources to handle incidents like bushfires. 

The recent Defence Strategic Review has said that Defence is increasingly required to respond to climate change and that the ADF should be used as a last resort.

Experts predict the upcoming parliament will be a shared power parliament, and with the Greens pushing to expand in seats like Richmond, Wills and Macnamara, the party is in a strong position to keep the Liberals out and push Labor to act. The Greens seats in Queensland, and target seat of Richmond, have been among those most impacted by the climate crisis.

Nearly 1 in 2 coal and gas corporations pays no tax, and the Greens say that ending fossil fuel subsidies would fund this service and more. Yesterday’s revelatory report from The Australia Institute showed that Labor paid $15b in fossil fuel subsidies in FY24/25, giving $28,381 a minute to some of Australia’s most profitable companies to make the climate crisis worse.

“Communities across the Northern Rivers and Queensland are bearing the brunt of the climate crisis caused by coal and gas, and brave volunteers are spending countless hours protecting people and cleaning up afterwards, but too often the government is underprepared and can’t stay to help the community put the pieces back together” Mr Bandt said.

“Coal and gas are fuelling these fires and floods, but instead of protecting the community and properly funding the cleanup, Labor and Liberal are making the problem worse by approving over 30 new coal and gas projects.

“A national Climate Response Service would help co-ordinate the thousands of volunteers who already do this lifesaving work across the country, and we’ll make the coal and gas corporations pay for it.”

Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens & Climate Adaptation & Resilience spokesperson:

“We need to rapidly move away from coal and gas, but the climate crisis is already here – and it is devastating communities across the country,” Senator Faruqi said.

“When disaster strikes, it’s not the government that shows up—it’s volunteers. Thousands of everyday people are on the frontline, supporting communities, battling fires or floods, and cleaning up the destruction caused by coal and gas companies. We need to take action to ensure that communities are adequately supported and resourced to prepare for and respond to climate-driven disasters.

“The Greens are the only party fighting for real solutions—stronger disaster response, resilient communities, and an end to the reckless expansion of coal and gas. It is time for leadership that puts people before polluters.”

Mandy Nolan, Greens candidate for Richmond:

“Our community is bloody tough and pulls together like no other – but as things get worse, we need the government to step up,” Ms Nolan said.

“Politicians in Canberra might see floods and fires as a few days of headlines, but for us, it’s months or years of cleanup and rebuilding – with no guarantee that it won’t just happen again.

“Thousands of volunteers do incredible work when disaster strikes – from saving lives via helicopters, to shoveling out mud from homes, often without specialised training, much-needed insurance, or mental health support.

“We need a climate reserve with trained people to pick up tools when there’s more jobs to do, the machines and equipment to take on specialised work, and the resources to bring everything together – even when power and phone lines go down.

“It’s a big job, but the first job of any government should be to protect people. Labor should be building up a Climate Response Service to help deal with climate change, not making it worse by opening new coal and gas.”

The Greens today launched a policy that will reallocate $4 billion from savings within the Defence budget towards domestic production capabilities of uncrewed marine and aerial vehicles as well as missiles, strictly for defensive purposes to ensure the defence of Australia without relying on the US and foreign arms companies. 

Currently, the Australian Defence Force is designed to work interoperably with the US military, not to defend Australia. This shows in Defence’s procurement. Purchasing a low quantity of large, highly technical, and overwhelmingly US equipment has become the norm, for example, Black Hawks, M1A2 tanks and, of course, the Virginia class nuclear submarines. The Greens will seek to end these projects. 

$2.4 billion will be saved from cancelling the M1A2 tanks and the Black Hawk projects. The utility of the M1A2 is in large-scale land engagement, such as the recent conflicts in the Middle East. Unless there is an acceptance that Australia’s military should be fighting in conflicts in the Middle East, Asian mainland or Europe, the need for these tanks is unclear. 

The Black Hawk is a 50-year-old design with the US phasing into a new type. This alone will cause supply issues and highlight the overreliance on US technology. Black Hawks are also very expensive when compared to other utility helicopters. There are other less expensive and better options. The remaining money for reallocation will come from the estimated spending of $375 billion on AUKUS. 

The reallocation is going towards sovereign manufacturing capabilities of uncrewed naval and aerial vehicles as well as medium-range and intermediate-range missiles, for strictly defensive purposes only.

Importantly, these will be genuinely sovereign capabilities, not merely purchases from the US or local assembly lines of imported components.

Senator David Shoebridge, Greens Spokesperson for Defence, said: “For decades, the major parties have based Australia’s defence policy on dependence and integration with the US military. This was a mistake. 

“Our defence policy shouldn’t be based on Donald Trump coming to our rescue.

“Australia cannot continue to waste money on multi-billion dollar US weapons platforms, designed not to defend Australia but supplement Donald Trump’s military. 

“M1A2 Tanks and the Black Hawks share a lot of the same issues. They are both supplied by the US with little to no sovereign input, are expensive and outdated. Like AUKUS, this equipment is much more about signalling our loyalty to the US than defending Australia. 

“There are two obvious lessons from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Low-cost defence equipment, such as drones that can be produced locally and at scale, are effective at territorial defence, and you cannot trust the US, especially under Trump. 

“To seriously decouple the ADF from the US and to proudly take an independent foreign policy, we need to develop sufficient sovereign capabilities. Unlike AUKUS though, these capabilities should be to defend Australia, not threaten our neighbours.

“In defence, what you buy and produce indicates your policy intent far more clearly than your media spin. What Liberal and Labor are screaming with their purchases is an unquestioning loyalty to the US and complete contracting out of our foreign policy to Washington.

“Australia’s most significant strategic asset is our relative geographical isolation. The major parties have made that into a liability by signing us up to US force projection, making distance an obstacle to overcome not an asset to work with. 

“Australia needs to have a defence force that is about that, defending ourselves, not threatening our neighbours. 

“If Australia wants an independent foreign policy and to detach ourselves from Donald Trump, we need to have a clear alternative. The major parties aren’t interested in that, the Greens are.”

Senator Sarah Hanson Young, Greens Spokesperson for the Environment and Water has responded to the Albanese Government’s environment announcement today.

“The extra money for environmental conservation is welcome. However $50m a year is a drop in the ocean of what is needed to halt the destruction of our forests and wildlife and reverse the damage big corporations are having on our natural landscape.

“Sadly, today’s announcement is a fig leaf for a government that has consistently backed the big coal and gas mines and the rotting salmon companies at the expense of Mother Nature.

“While the Environment Minister is out announcing limited funding for protected areas, the Prime Minister is doing deals with the Dutton Coalition to ram through legislation that will trash our environment laws and push ancient marine life to extinction.

“You can’t say you’re protecting the environment in one area while working to trash it everywhere else.

“$50m a year is nothing in comparison to the $12.5B of subsidies given to the fossil fuel industry last year alone. This announcement is not the dial shift nature needs.

“To truly protect the environment the government must stop approving and subsidising its destruction. We need decisive leadership to end native forest logging, protect threatened wildlife and address the climate crisis.

“The major parties have shown time and time again they will side with big corporations who want to keep polluting and destroying our environment. In a minority government, the Greens will hold Labor to account and fight for stronger action to safeguard our precious environment and stop our wildlife going extinct.”

There is no more important priority than keeping Australians safe.

The Government announced an Independent Intelligence Review in September 2023 to ensure our intelligence agencies are best positioned to continue to serve the Australian national interest.

The Independent Intelligence Review, led by Dr Heather Smith PSM and Richard Maude, has found Australia’s hard working National Intelligence Community is highly capable and performing well.

The unclassified report of the 2024 review has been released today.

The review found agencies have been successful in protecting Australia’s national interest.

The review recommends investing in further capability to ensure the intelligence community maintains its high performance across a range of fronts, including economic security, crisis warning and preparedness, and open source intelligence.

The Government will invest $44.6 million over four years from 2025-26 in the Office of National Intelligence to support initial implementation of key priorities identified in the response to the Review.

This new investment builds on a significant increase in funding for national security over the past three years.

Since coming to government in May 2022, we have increased national security funding over the forward estimates by $53 billion, or 20 per cent.

The Government’s commitment to keeping Australia secure means national security funding has increased from $265 billion over four years from 2021-22, to $318 billion over four years from 2024-25.

The 2024 Independent Intelligence Review found significant progress had been made since the last Independent Intelligence Review in 2017.

This progress includes establishing the National Intelligence Community and creating the Office of National Intelligence to lead and coordinate the community.

Consistent with the approach to past independent intelligence reviews under successive Governments, details about the proposed approach to specific recommendations will remain classified.

Independent reviews of Australia’s intelligence community have been commissioned periodically since 2004 to ensure Australia can effectively meet and respond to future challenges.

The unclassified report can be found on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s website.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“I welcome this review. Our hard working intelligence agencies are crucial in safeguarding Australia’s national security, and we have full confidence in their capacity.

“We will continue to invest in capability to ensure Australia’s intelligence community can deal with emerging threats and challenges.

“I would like to thank Dr Smith and Mr Maude for their work on this review, which will ensure our intelligence community continues to protect our national interest.”

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Indonesian Foreign Minister His Excellency Sugiono, met today in Sydney to discuss cooperation on shared priorities under the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This is Minister Sugiono’s first official visit to Australia since his appointment in October 2024.

The Ministers highlighted the profound strategic trust and strong friendship that characterises the relationship between Indonesia and Australia.

Australia and Indonesia are working to strengthen economic prosperity for both countries, advancing shared development priorities, enhancing the links between our people, and deepening longstanding cooperation on defence and regional security.

The Ministers agreed to update the Plan of Action for the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2025–2029) ahead of the next Annual Leaders’ meeting. This plan will set key priorities for forward cooperation.

A high-level Indonesian business delegation is also visiting Sydney this week. This builds on momentum from Australia’s largest ever investor mission to Indonesia last month, an initiative under Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.

Indonesia’s strong economic growth represents an enormous opportunity for Australian businesses and investors. There is a great appetite amongst Indonesian consumers for Australian education, healthcare and consumer goods. At the same time, Indonesian investment into Australia has increased.

Minister Sugiono will attend this evening’s FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between the Australian and Indonesian men’s soccer teams, alongside Indonesian Minister for Youth and Sports Dito Ariotedjo.

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong:

“This visit to Australia by Minister Sugiono, Minister Dito Ariotedjo and a high-level Indonesian business delegation demonstrates the breadth of our bilateral relationship across political and strategic cooperation; economic partnership; and the strong links between our people.

“Deepening our economic engagement with Indonesia is of enormous value to both our countries, and is a key part of Australia’s broader effort to diversify our economy, especially through growing markets in Southeast Asia.”

Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs Sugiono:

“This visit signifies the strong partnership between our two countries which is built on shared values, mutual respect for sovereignty, and our unwavering commitment to take an active part in fostering peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and at the global stage.

“We will continue to highlight our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership through mutually beneficial cooperation in key areas such as trade and investment, critical minerals, electric vehicle and battery products, agriculture and food security, education, research, defense and security, and people-to-people contact.”

Today Leader of the ACT Greens, Shane Rattenbury will introduce legislation to the ACT Legislative Assembly which will revoke a development approval for the environmentally important  ‘Ainslie Volcanics’ off Limestone Avenue.

“As a community, Canberrans take pride in our commitment to caring for the environment. Today, the Greens are calling on Members of the Legislative Assembly to reflect that commitment, and reflect the significant community opposition to construction of a large telecommunications tower at Ainslie Volcanics,” said Leader of the ACT Greens Shane Rattenbury.

“Ainslie Volcanics is an area of critically endangered grasslands that grassroots community volunteers have invested hundreds, if not thousands of hours into restoring. Building a tower here threatens to undermine the hard work and dedication of these community volunteers–the Greens won’t stand for it.

“This site is home to some of the last remaining natural temperate grasslands in Australia, and it’s our responsibility to do everything we can to restore and protect them. While it’s true Ainslie Volcanics has faced significant decline, our focus should be on repairing and restoring it, not abandoning it. 

“In 2024, as a condition to forming a government, the Greens secured a written and public commitment from the Labor Party to specifically protect this site. The legislation we are proposing today provides a mechanism for the Labor Party to help us deliver on this commitment. 

“Our legislation follows the same approach, unanimously supported by the ACT Legislative Assembly in 2021, to stop polluting incinerators from being built in Fyshwick. At the time, there was significant community opposition to the proposal to build an incinerator, with concerns surrounding the pollution and potential impact on air quality.

“Following a considerable community campaign, everyone in the ACT Legislative Assembly agreed change was needed, and specific legislation was brought forward to completely stop incinerators from being built in Fyshwick.

“Now, in the case of Ainslie Volcanics, members of the ACT Legislative Assembly face a similar choice. While current planning laws technically allow this tower to be built, this doesn’t reflect what the Canberra community wants. 

“It’s the Assembly’s job to step in and fix things when they’re not in the best interest of the people. This is the moment for all members of this place to take action and listen to the community to secure a better outcome.

“This doesn’t have to be a complicated decision. The government’s own planning documents show that this tower could have been placed just a few hundred meters up the road, avoiding this entire issue. 

“The community, along with the Greens, aren’t against the idea of a new cell tower. There are practical alternatives available—what we need now is the political will to make them a reality.”

Quotes attributable to Marianne Albury-Colless, Friends of Ainslie Volcanics Grasslands:

“The last thing we should be doing is destroying critically endangered Natural Temperate Grasslands and disfiguring areas where people enjoy walking.

“Of course these towers are necessary but community concerns need to be heard about the positioning of them. 

“Legislation has to change so that the community has a voice in where these towers are located.”

Amy Blain, Friends of Ainslie Volcanics Grasslands:

“We’re so lucky to have these precious pocket grasslands in the heart of the Bush Capital, it’s places like this that are absolutely vital ecosystems. 

“If our governments are serious about protecting nature and ending extinctions, they have to actively do that. 

“We have to tip the balance back to the environment and not keep degrading and destroying grasslands, developing ever closer to areas we need to restore. 

“We are delighted to see The Greens legislating to protect this special place.

“If we want to protect nature we cannot keep selling it out for telecoms. The cost to the Grasslands is too high.”