16 News

Today the Prime Minister, along with state and territory First Ministers, met in Canberra to discuss their shared priorities.

They discussed how the National Cabinet can support strong collaborative relationships and drive progress on priorities for the nation.

National Cabinet will build on recent collaborative efforts to support the COVID-19 health response and support the delivery of additional areas of focus.

In recognition of the pressures in the health and hospital system exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commonwealth Government will extend the National Partnership on COVID-19 Response for a further three months to 31 December 2022, at a cost of approximately $760 million.

To deliver a more cooperative streamlined approach to Federation, First Ministers agreed to identify practical improvements to the health system and specifically the connections between GPs and hospitals. This includes working together to identify practical ways to get aged care residents and NDIS participants out of hospital and into a more appropriate setting.

Following the Commonwealth Government’s commitments to increased investment in primary care, the Commonwealth will also work with states and territories, drawing on local knowledge, to determine the final locations for Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.

The First Secretaries Group, chaired by Professor Glyn Davis, has been tasked with developing these improvements to the way the health system operates and reporting back to the National Cabinet.

National Cabinet affirmed its shared commitment to urgently addressing skills shortages. As part of the Commonwealth’s commitment, it will urgently work to address a backlog in processing visa applications in areas of skills shortages, reduce visa processing times and prioritise training and migration.

The Council on Federal Financial Relations (CFFR), chaired by Dr Jim Chalmers, will also provide advice within three months to National Cabinet on pressures on Commonwealth and State and Territory budgets, including anticipated fiscal pressures with a focus on areas of joint funding responsibility.

National Cabinet will next meet before the Commonwealth Budget in October 2022 to discuss these reforms and how the Commonwealth and states will work better together in the future. To advance microeconomic and productivity reforms, First Secretaries were also tasked with providing advice on the role of Ministerial Councils in progressing national priorities, with a sharpened focus on productivity improvements.

States and Territories expressed their support for the Commonwealth’s commitment to progress a referendum to constitutionally enshrine a Voice to Parliament in the Constitution as a matter of priority.

At the meeting, Treasury Secretary, Dr Steven Kennedy, provided an update on the economic and fiscal outlook for 2022.

Senior national security officials also provided First Ministers an update on national security issues and the current national threat environment, to further information sharing and intergovernmental engagement on national security matters.

National Cabinet noted several further challenges facing the nation and committed to continue to work together on solutions that will produce the best outcomes for all Australians.

• Energy markets across eastern Australia and the ongoing discussions between energy Ministers. They further agreed to continue working together to protect and improve outcomes for Australian consumers.
• Disaster recovery funding arrangements and the need to ensure they were consistent, streamlined and equitable.
• Measures to boost productivity across all sectors.

The National Cabinet affirmed a shared commitment to the Commonwealth’s revised Nationally Determined Contribution to a reduction in Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions of 43 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, which has been submitted to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

National Cabinet will invite a representative of Local Government to future meetings of National Cabinet and CFFR once a year to ensure all levels of Government are represented. The National Cabinet has agreed to meet a minimum of four times a year or as necessary and will next meet prior to the Federal Budget in October 2022.

Australia will provide an initial $675,000 to assist Kiribati respond to the country’s severe drought.

The funding commitment follows the Kiribati Government’s declaration of a State of Disaster on 13 June.

We are also working closely with New Zealand, Japan, UNICEF and the World Bank to identify needs and gaps for enhanced international support across Kiribati.

Australia will support the installation of 100 solar distillation units in Outer Island communities to convert well water into safe drinking water, and help primary schools ensure water is available for students.

Australia’s funding will support Australian NGOs to work with the Government of Kiribati and local NGOs to help deliver sustainable and inclusive access to drinking water in South Tarawa and the Outer Islands.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong said:

“As Pacific family members, Australia is standing with Kiribati to meet the challenges of climate change and its impacts.”

Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP said:

“Australia is listening actively and carefully to ensure that we mobilise resources that best support the people of Kiribati.”

Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Education spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has said that NSW and Victoria’s announcement of universal preschool for 4-year-olds must spur national efforts to make early education universal and free.

Senator Faruqi said:

“This is a big step forward for universal early education and it must be a catalyst for national efforts.

“There is no reason why we can’t see universal and free early education in every state and territory within a few years — for three and four year olds.

“Leadership at the state level really exposes the failure of the federal government to invest in universal early education. It seems the Commonwealth is constantly playing catch-up.

“Ensuring universal access should involve a substantial expansion of the public and community provision of early childhood education and care, rather than handing out billions more to for-profit providers.

“Universal access must go hand in hand with a proper plan to address serious underlying workforce issues with pay and conditions.

“This is a big change and unions, existing centres, early education experts and school communities must be consulted and brought along.

“Early education is critical for children’s development. It’s great to see this finally being recognised by NSW and Victoria.”

Today it is finally official: lutruwita/Tasmania’s federal election preferences have been formally distributed and Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson has been re-elected to the Senate in third position. 

Greens Senator for lutruwita/Tasmania, Peter Whish-Wilson said:

“The Greens’ Senate quota in Tassie has officially come in at 15.48%. This is our Party’s highest Senate result across all of Australia. 

“In real terms the Greens’ Senate vote in lutruwita/Tasmania climbed almost 25% from 2019.

“I’m honoured that my below the line first-preference vote was the highest of all Tasmanian Senators, including Eric Abetz who has served as a Tasmanian Senator for 28 years. 

“This magnificent result is down to all those who worked hard and supported the Greens this election. Supporters, volunteers, staff, candidates, and so many others. I extend a very big thank you to you all. 

“This election people backed the Greens in record numbers and delivered a massive mandate for action on climate. Big opportunities now lie ahead for us to get outcomes for our planet and its people, and to be part of a progressive political chapter in this nation’s history – one that does politics differently, and breaks the state capture of our parliament by powerful vested interests.”

The Australian Greens Leader, Adam Bandt, has announced the party’s updated portfolio allocation for the upcoming 47th Parliament, ahead of the first sittings in July.

Presented to yesterday evening’s Party Room, the new allocation gives newly elected MPs and Senators the power to progress the issues they were elected to advance, while recognising the years of experience behind the Greens existing portfolio holders.

The reshuffle sees Max Chandler-Mather represent the Greens on housing matters, Libby Watson-Brown represent Infrastructure and Transport, and Stephen Bates take on the LGBTIQA+ and Youth portfolios.

Former economist Barbara Pocock will represent the Greens on Finance and Employment, Gladstone-based former teacher Penny Allman-Payne will take on Schools as well as Industry, Transition & Regional Development, and former NSW MLC David Shoebridge, who has successfully pushed for action on corruption over many years, will serve as spokesperson for Justice and Defence.

“With more Greens in Parliament than ever before, this talented team combines years of experience with fresh perspectives,” Mr Bandt said.
“This strong team will push the government to deliver on climate, integrity and inequality. 

“With the Liberals in disarray and wiped off the electoral map, this Parliament offers an opportunity to make the big changes we need, like getting out of coal and gas while looking after workers and communities, while making big corporations pay their fair share of tax to get dental into Medicare and fix the housing affordability crisis.

“While the Liberals chase after the far-right fringe, this new Greens line-up will offer a progressive economic alternative to a Labor government that’s giving tax cuts to billionaires while opening more coal and gas.”

Greens Portfolios for the 47th Parliament