Category: Australian News

The Greens say Labor’s claim that today’s 22 cents a day indexation of JobSeeker will help with cost-of-living pressures is an insult to the hundreds of thousands of people the government has chosen to leave in poverty while costs have soared.

Greens spokesperson for Social Services Senator Penny Allman-Payne:

“Claims from the Social Services minister that indexation is ‘helping Australians with cost of living pressures’ are pretty revolting when she knows full well that her government administers a system of poverty payments.

“Indexation for the JobSeeker payment is a pathetic 22 cents a day. It’s a pathetically small adjustment that will do nothing to improve the lives of the hundreds of thousand of people who are barely surviving on the meagre payments Labor provides.

“Labor must raise the rate above the poverty line. We are one of the wealthiest countries in the world – it’s time we made the billionaires and tax-dodging corporations cough up their fair share so Australians get a fair go.

“The Greens will keep fighting to lift all Centrelink payments about the poverty line, and we won’t stop until no one is forced to live in poverty.

Shane Rattenbury, Leader of the ACT Greens:

“Today’s legislation from Labor to regulate short-term rentals falls far short of addressing the housing crisis facing Canberrans.

“The Greens went to the election calling for stronger action, with options such as limiting short-term rentals to the home you live in. 

“The government’s step today is insufficient. This small levy will fail to increase the number of affordable homes available to long-term renters, and it will fail to raise enough revenue to make a meaningful impact on the budget bottom line.

“In this housing crisis, the ACT Government needs to do everything it can to ensure every member of our community has access to a stable and affordable home.”

The Greens will today launch their plan to end homelessness, offering every single one of the 37,800 people experiencing chronic homelessness across Australia access to a permanent home and wrap-around support services, with no strings attached. The plan has been launched a week after the Lord Mayor of Brisbane announced the council would be evicting homeless campers from parks without having provided any safe and secure housing alternatives.

The Greens housing spokesperson Max Chandler-Mather MP will launch the plan today alongside the CEO of Common Ground, a supportive housing provider in South Brisbane which has been proven to work, helping hundreds of people who were previously chronically homeless stay off the streets long term, improving their health, happiness and giving them a sense of home. 

The Greens plan would see the Federal Government fund 50,000 ongoing supportive tenancies over the first four years, along with doubling housing and homelessness funding to the states. This would see every Australian suffering long term homelessness offered a good home, with supportive services. The extra places would be provided in anticipation of emerging new needs during the housing crisis. 

Once in a secure home, participants will receive the wrap-around support services they need to stay there long-term, and are supported to manage complex personal, mental health or substance abuse issues. 

The approach means homeless people are supported to stay in safe and suitable homes where they feel safe, rather than being dumped in motels with no supports or cramped boarding houses with poor ventilation where they may be exposed to drugs, violence or harassment, and eventually face eviction or choose to leave for their own safety.

The Greens will follow successful international models such as Finland’s ‘Housing First’ program which has virtually eliminated chronic homelessness, and been successful in pilot projects in Australia. Housing First programs like Common Ground in Brisbane helps keeps residents out of emergency departments, hospitals and the justice system, saving the government far more than the programs cost.

The Greens plan to end homelessness will:

• Invest $5.2 bn over the first four years for:
  • Providing 50,000 ongoing Housing First supportive tenancies nationwide, providing people experiencing chronic homelessness and at-risk youth with the support they need to build stable lives and stay housed long-term. 20,000 of the places would be set aside for at-risk youth.
  • Building 40 new supportive accommodation buildings around Australia, such as Common Grounds and Youth Foyers, providing purpose-built supportive and affordable housing to permanently house and support thousands of adults experiencing chronic homelessness and provide stable, genuinely affordable housing and support to keep thousands of young people out of long-term homelessness
• Double federal funding to states and territories for homelessness services and public and community housing ($7.5 bn over first four years)

The Greens plan would also see funding to states and territories for public and community housing and homelessness services doubled, a desperately needed intervention to reverse Australia’s decades long decline in public housing and chronic underfunding of homelessness services, which are currently regularly forced to close their doors due to underresourcing.

The total cost of the plan to solve homelessness is $12.7 billion over the next four years, and would be funded through the Greens plan to tax big corporations, including the big banks. 

The plan sits alongside the Greens previously launched plan to address Australia’s shortfall in genuinely affordable housing by establishing a public property developer to build 610,000 homes over the coming decade and sell and rent them at well below market rates, with 20% allocated to those on the lowest incomes.

Last Census there were 122,000 people homeless on Census night. For many of these people, what they need is an affordable home, which would be provided by the public developer. But for others who face complex challenges such as mental health, substance abuse issues or recent incarceration, housing alone is not enough. In Australia there are around 37,800 people experiencing persistent homelessness

According to Federal Government data, this is an increase from 29,500 in 2018–19 to 37,800 in 2023–24. “Increases were particularly evident among clients aged under 25 (around 18,100 clients) and women and children affected by family and domestic violence (15,700).”

Australian Greens housing and homelessness spokesperson, Max Chandler-Mather MP:

“The Greens will tax big corporations like the big banks to fund a plan to end homelessness in Australia, because it’s not right that thousands of Australians are forced to sleep in parks while the Commonwealth Bank makes record profits.”

“It might sound radical to some politicians, but the solution to homelessness is giving people homes and then providing the support they need to get back on their feet.”

“It is a national disgrace that there are tens of thousands of children and women, often escaping domestic violence, abandoned to long term homelessness because neither major party cares enough to fund the support services they need to escape a life of deprivation and hardship.”

“The Greens plan to end homelessness adopts the Housing First model, which has virtually eliminated chronic homelessness in Finland and is working successfully in Australia in projects like Common Ground.”

“Instead of requiring people to get their lives together to prove they are worthy of a home, the Greens Plan to end homelessness says that everyone deserves a secure place to call home, and provides rough sleepers with permanent housing and the wrap-around support services they need to actually stay there long-term.” 

“The Lord Mayor of Brisbane has falsely claimed that the vast majority of people are choosing to be homeless. We know for a fact, from chatting to services on the ground, that there are hundreds of people just in this part of Brisbane alone that have been denied the housing and support they need because there is simply not enough funding. The LNP’s plan is doomed to fail because Labor and the Liberals are giving people nowhere else to go.”

“In a wealthy country like ours, nobody should be forced to sleep in a park because they don’t have a safer option. But that’s where Labor and the Liberals’ housing crisis has led us.”

“In a minority parliament the Greens will keep Dutton out and push Labor to fund real action on the homelessness and housing crisis.”

Sue Pope, CEO of Common Ground Queensland:

“Homelessness is solvable. Supportive housing like Brisbane Common Ground ends homelessness and prevents re-entry into homelessness for people with the most complex issues”

“Supportive housing results in excellent outcomes for tenants including improved life expectancy, reduced social isolation and loneliness and reduced exposure to violence,  it saves governments in avoided costs savings and it is the right thing to do for our communities.”

“Homelessness is a whole of community issue, not a political issue. Governments need to work together to address homelessness.”

 “A commitment for more supportive housing like Brisbane Common Ground will have life changing results for individuals and families and for our communities.”

Professor Kidd is a highly respected medical leader known for his significant contributions to public health and primary health care, in Australia and internationally.

He has extensive experience as a general practitioner, primary care researcher, educator and academic and has served as president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the World Organization of Family Doctors.

Most recently, Professor Kidd has been the Professor of Global Primary Care and Future Health Systems at the University of Oxford, and Director of the International Centre for Future Health Systems at the University of New South Wales.

Professor Kidd served as Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Principal Medical Advisor with the Department of Health and Aged Care during the COVID-19 pandemic making a significant contribution to the national primary care response.

Professor Kidd:

“I am looking forward to rejoining the Department of Health and Aged Care and supporting national reforms in public health and healthcare services.”

The Albanese Labor Government is making cheaper medicines even cheaper – with a script to cost Australians no more than $25 under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

This is another key cost of living measure delivered by the Albanese Government which will continue to put downward pressure on inflation.

Having already slashed the cost of medicines – with the largest cut to the cost of medicines in the history of the PBS in 2023 – we’re now going even further.

This is a more than 20 per cent cut in the maximum cost of PBS medicines, which will save Australians over $200 million each year.

Only Labor is committed to delivering cost of living relief for Australians, while strengthening Medicare.

Making medicines cheaper is a tangible way we’re helping with the cost of living.

Four out of five PBS medicines will become cheaper because of this $689 million investment in next week’s Budget.

The last time that PBS medicines cost no more than $25 was 2004.

Pensioners and concession cardholders will continue to benefit from the freeze to the cost of their PBS medicines, with the cost frozen at its current level of $7.70 until 2030.

This builds on action we’ve already taken to deliver cost of living relief through Cheaper Medicines, including:

• More free and cheaper medicines, sooner, with a 25 per cent reduction in the number of scripts a patient must fill before the PBS Safety Net kicks in – $480 million (July 2022)
• The largest cut to the cost of medicines in the history of the PBS, with the maximum cost of a script falling to $30, from $42.50 – $624 million (January 2023)
• 60-day prescriptions saving time and money for millions of Australians with an ongoing health condition – $165 million  (Three phases from September 2023)
• Freezing the cost of PBS medicines, with co-payments not rising with inflation for all Australians for the first time in 25 years – $9 million (January 2025)

If re-elected the Albanese Government will pass legislation and $25 maximum PBS scripts will start from January 1 2026.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“My Government will continue to deliver cost of living relief for all Australians.

“Cheaper medicines is another way we are helping with the cost of living, while putting downward pressure on inflation – our number one focus.

“With cheaper medicines, more free GP visits and a stronger Medicare, we say to Australians: we’ve got your back.”

Minister for Health Mark Butler

“The last time Australians paid no more than $25 for a PBS medicine was over 20 years ago. Cheaper medicines are good for the hip pocket and good for your health.

“When Peter Dutton was Health Minister, he tried to make medicines cost more, not less.”

“Peter Dutton tried to jack up the cost of medicines by up to $5 a script and put free medicines for sick pensioners even further out of reach.”

“In opposition, Peter Dutton and the Liberals voted to block cheaper medicines six times

“The contrast this election is clear: cheaper medicines with a re-elected Albanese Government, or the frankly terrifying legacy of Peter Dutton, who wants medicines to cost more, not less.”

Today the Leader of the Victorian Greens Ellen Sandell has called for a large-scale home and community electrification package including extra rebates for batteries and solar panels, home insulation and the reinstatement of the community climate adaptation grants program, which was cancelled by the Victorian Labor Government.

Ms Sandell has called for this climate action package to be included in the upcoming Victorian State Budget, saying that the recent cyclone Alfred that hit Queensland and New South Wales needs to be a wake up call for all politicians that much more needs to be done to avert more climate disasters.

It comes as Victoria also just recorded its hottest summer on record, with many people forced to swelter in recurring heatwaves or face massive energy bills for running air conditioning. 

Extreme weather events are costing billions of dollars as recent reports indicate that Cyclone Alfred has cost more than $1.2 billion of damage, people missing work and having their businesses forced shut by ongoing power outages.

The Victorian Greens say that we need to be doing more to prepare communities and prevent them from footing the bill of climate disasters, but instead Labor continues to burn coal and gas and has cut multiple climate programs. 

Infrastructure Victoria just outlined that we’re behind on climate targets and the most recent data says that Victoria’s emissions have risen by 5%. 

While Labor has cut the Community Climate Change Adaption Program, the battery rebate program, Home Heating and Cooling Program and reduced solar panel rebates as well as continuing to burn coal and gas. 

The Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell said that the Victorian Government was not doing enough to prevent climate disasters or prepare communities for extreme weather – and that a large-scale cash-back program to move homes away from gas and install batteries and solar on Victorian homes would reduce energy bills as well as reduce emissions.

Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell: 

“Labor in Victoria has cancelled and cut multiple climate change programs while continuing to burn coal and gas which make climate change worse.”

“Communities shouldn’t have to continue to foot the bill for climate disasters while Labor governments cut climate programs and continue to burn coal and gas”

“We’ve just had the hottest summer in Victoria’s history and Cyclone Alfred wreaked havoc on NSW and Queensland, it’s not good enough for governments just to clean up after climate disasters, we need to prepare communities for the future and do everything we can to prevent future climate disasters by reducing our emissions now.”

“The Greens are calling on Labor to reinstate cash-back programs for home batteries, and increase rebates for home solar panels, so that people can afford to move away from expensive gas heating to reduce their emissions and their energy bills”

In light of Four Corners’ reporting overnight suggesting Australia’s early childhood education and care system is at breaking point, the Greens are urging the Government to set up a Royal Commission.

Investigative reporting from the ABC’s Four Corners program has highlighted a series of deeply troubling revelations including instances of serious abuse, staff misconduct, over-enrolment and other issues caused by a trend of putting profit over care. There is evidence that these issues may be systemic and occurring in centres across the country. 

The Greens early childhood education spokesperson, Victorian Senator Steph Hodgins-May, says the Prime Minister cannot keep ignoring alarm bells, such as those identified in the Four Corners report, and must set out a clear roadmap to reform via a Royal Commission, similar to the one into Aged Care Quality and Safety. 

Greens early childhood education spokesperson, Senator Steph Hodgins-May: 

“The Prime Minister can’t keep ignoring the alarm bells that are ringing so loudly within the childcare sector. It’s time for a serious overhaul.

“The Greens are urging the government to initiate a Royal Commission, like was done with the crisis in the aged care system, to make sure that every childcare centre in the country is operating safely for both the kids in care as well as the staff.

“The reports we know about are likely just the tip of the iceberg. A Royal Commission into privatised early childhood education would bring to light the extent of the problem, and help pave the way for reform. 

“The current system is riddled with problems after years of neglect and marketisation of policy—it is too expensive, inaccessible and, at times, even harmful.

“Labor’s childcare subsidy encourages for-profit providers to minimise costs, increase fees and make greater returns often at the expense of our kids. It’s a broken system.

“The Greens believe in free universal education for all—right through from children to university—but we recognise a low-cost flat fee of $10 a day would be a significant improvement on the current approach.

“With more Greens in Parliament, we can fight for free, universal and high-quality early childhood education.”

The plan will also see households and businesses with solar supported to install battery
storage.

With the climate crisis leading to increasing climate disasters around the country including
more intense cyclones and devastating fires and floods, the government should be doing all
it can to reduce emissions.

The Greens say supporting people to electrify their homes is one of the cheapest ways to
reduce emissions and would bring the greatest benefits to households.

Under the Parliamentary Budget Office-costed plan, households and small businesses would
receive financial assistance to disconnect from gas appliances and install electric
alternatives.

Households would be able to access a grant of up to $10,000 and low-interest loan of up to
$20,000 to install eligible technologies such as induction cooktops and heat pumps, while
small businesses would be offered grants of up to $25,000 and low-interest loans of up to
$100,000.

Similar financial assistance would be offered to install battery storage as well, to maximise
the benefits of rooftops solar.

Households would be able to access grants of up to $5,000 and low-interest loans of up to
$10,000 to install household storage technology, while small businesses would be offered
grants of up to $10,000 and low-interest loans of up to $50,000.

Over the forward estimates, helping households and small businesses get off gas would cost
$5.1b, and support for households to install batteries will cost $2b, and support for small
businesses to install batteries will cost $1b.

Gas is as dirty as coal – non-renewable, unsustainable, and damaging to our health and the
environment. Household gas is responsible for 12 per cent of childhood asthma while
costing significantly more than renewable alternatives.

Meanwhile, upfront financial costs are a clear barrier to rooftop solar and storage uptake,
with a 2019 study showing over 35 per cent of people without solar said they didn’t have it
because of upfront costs.

The electrification of homes and businesses coupled with future Greens announcements on
support for electric vehicles will turn homes and businesses into powerhouses.

Household electrification with solar and storage also improves energy security through
decentralising energy production and storage and reduces investment needed in the grid as
power is generated right where it is needed.

The announcement builds on $2.2 billion previously secured by the Greens in negotiations
with the government for electrification for renters, apartments and social housing.

With a minority government likely following the upcoming federal election, the Greens say
they’re ready to keep Dutton out and get Labor to act on climate and implement more of the
Greens’ electrification plan.

Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt MP:

“In a wealthy country like ours, everyone should have clean, cheap energy. The Greens want
to turn every house into a powerhouse.

“Getting homes off gas reduces pollution and helps bring down energy bills. It’s good for your
health and it’s good for the environment.

“We will electrify our homes and businesses and energise our country, leading to greater
safety and prosperity.

“This election, there is hope. The Greens are within reach of winning new seats across the
country. With a minority government predicted, the Greens will keep Dutton out and get
Labor to act.”

Thursday 20 March marks 5 years since the Scott Morrison government raised income support by $275 per week. Overnight, it lifted nearly a million people over the poverty line – but later Morrison ripped away these supports, plunging people back into poverty. 

On the same day this year, the Albanese government will increase JobSeeker by only the legislated indexation rate – a paltry $1.55 per week, leaving single JobSeeker recipients $220 below the poverty line.

News headlines say we’re in a cost of living crisis, but this is an unnatural crisis created by political cowardice: Poverty is a policy choice, and one that Parliament could overturn today.

Welfare recipients and advocates are holding  a joint press conference at Parliament House on Thursday 20 March to mark this anniversary and share the simple policy solutions that could end poverty in Australia: increase payments, expand eligibility, and end the punishing and pointless system of “mutual” obligations.

For those who can’t make it to Canberra, there will also be a  free online event on Monday 24 March at 7:30pm AEDT with Antipoverty Centre, Australian Unemployed Workers’ Union, Anti-Poverty Network Queensland, Anti-Poverty Network South Australia and Nobody Deserves Poverty.

Fiona Moore – Nobody Deserves Poverty; Disability Support Pension recipient:

“The coronavirus supplement in 2020 showed that governments can choose to lift people out of poverty overnight. With the supplement, people were happier and healthier – able to buy fresh fruit and vegetables and the medications they needed. Many were able to actually find work in this time without the added survival pressures of poverty. Keeping people in poverty is unnecessary, and subsidies are no substitute to giving people cash to support themselves.”

Brendan Folwell – Anti-Poverty Network South Australia:

“The COVID supplement was a wake-up call for our members who saw that a better life was possible with just a small increase to their welfare payments. Forcing people back below the poverty line was an act of cruelty that will not be forgotten any time soon.”

Avery Howard – Vice-President, Australian Unemployed Workers’ Union; JobSeeker recipient:

“With the fourth Budget from this Government being handed down next week, they have shown us time and time again that they are choosing to keep millions of us in poverty. The Supplement made it obvious that they can vastly alleviate poverty in Australia, but they are intentionally keeping us back in some misguided attempt at a ‘responsible budget’. There’s never anything responsible about trapping people in poverty.”

Kristin O’Connell – Co-coordinator, Antipoverty Centre; Disability Support Pension recipient: 

“Five years on, when Centrelink payments feel more inadequate than ever, it is hard to think about the extraordinary outpouring of relief and joy when the JobSeeker payment was lifted to the poverty line, and the despair when it was ripped away. It is cruel and insulting for governments to insist every six months that the crumbs we receive through indexation are an ‘increase’, while our rent and bills go up faster than payments ever do.” 

Jayden Oxton-White – Anti-Poverty Network Queensland; Disability Support Pension recipient: 

“2020 was the first time in decades that we had a substantial raise to JobSeeker. This showed people that both major parties were well aware just how dire the situation is for people on income support payments. The fact that they then took it away further illustrates just how callous this colonial system is to those who are disenfranchised.” 

Maiy Azize – Deputy Director, Anglicare Australia: 

“Five years ago, the Government gave hope to hundreds of thousands of people when it raised the rate of JobSeeker and pulled them out of poverty. Lives were transformed, with many people being able to afford food and shelter – and plan for the future for the first time. It is all the more hurtful that we’ve gone so far backwards. The Government chose to end poverty once before. It can choose to do it again.”

Elise Klein OAM – Associate Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU:

“5 years ago, the Federal government showed how to end poverty in Australia. Today, rather than doing what we know works, the government chooses to inflict poverty on thousands of Australians. This is not necessary, make no mistake about it. Poverty in Australia is largely a government policy choice”. 

The ACT Greens have called on Labor Minister for the Environment Tanya Plibersek to revoke the Canberra Airport’s approval to build a 35 metre wide road which will bisect the habitat of critically endangered species and push the Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon further into extinction.

Deputy Leader of the ACT Greens Jo Clay said that despite the community’s best efforts, the Northern Road development at the Canberra Airport precinct will likely see one of the last three remaining dragon populations perish.

“Labor talks a big game to protect the environment with promises of no new extinctions under their watch. But when action is needed, they simply sit back, fold to developers and put our species and ecosystems at risk of extinction,” Ms Clay said.

“This road is not needed – I understand its main function is to serve as a private, VIP road for people like Dutton and Albo. It’s another example of Labor being more connected to the needs of developers and big corporations than everyday people and our planet.

“Across Australia there are very few patches of Natural Temperate Grassland the size of the area that the Northern Road will bisect. This road will fragment the population and could make one of our last three dragon populations extinct. How much more destruction must there be until Labor says enough is enough?”

In 2023, the former ACT Greens Environment Minister and community secured a commitment from Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to reconsider protections for the earless dragon before this road progresses.

“There has been no transparency or explanation from the Minister on why this work was allowed to commence. This site is critical for the dragon and other threatened species. She committed to no new extinctions but she is watching another happen all over again,” said Isabel Mudford, Greens candidate for Canberra.

“Tanya Plibersek must halt this project before the Federal caretaker period commences – otherwise we will see another species become extinct under hers and the Albanese Government’s watch.

”Our national environmental laws have been failing for years – Labor have thrown in the towel this term to fundamentally reform our systems.

“With Greens in the balance of power we can deliver environmental laws that prevent destructive developments like this one, and hold corporations to account for the damage they cause,” said Ms Mudford.

Background:

• The Northern Road Development was granted approval in 2009 under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, subject to varied conditions. These conditions were set without any consultation with the ACT Government. A Grassland Earless Dragon Recovery Team was responsible for implementing a Recovery Plan at that time. They advised the road would have minimal impact on the population if it went around the core habitat area.
• In 2023 the Canberra Grassland Earless Dragon was up-listed to ‘critically endangered’ – the last stop before extinction. The Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek committed to reconsider protections for the earless dragon before this road progresses.
• The ACT Government 2024-25 budget included funding for emergency response measures to rescue the Canberra Earless Dragon from extinction.
• Construction was first reported by the media on Monday 24 February 2025. In these articles, Canberra Airport Group are reported to have agreed to pause road construction.
• Following news coverage, the ACT Greens contacted both Minister Plibersek’s office and the Canberra Airport Group on 25 February 2025. This was followed up with a formal letter to Minister Plibersek on Wednesday 5 March 2025. To date, there has been no response.
• The ACT Greens formally wrote to the ACT Chief Minister and ACT Environment Minister on Sunday 2 March 2025 seeking urgent action to elevate the issue with their Federal counterparts and ensure the Canberra Airport Road does not make a species extinct.
• The Australian Greens wrote to Minister Plibersek on Thursday 6 March 2025 calling for the Minister to intervene and revoke the road development.
• The ACT Greens were alerted on Thursday 13 March 2025 that construction has recommenced on the road. Ms Clay visited the site and confirmed construction vehicles operating on Friday 14 March 2025.