Category: Australian News

The Greens will implement a Big Tech Tax to ensure companies like Meta, Google, Microsoft and Amazon are paying their fair share to support the Australian communities and consumers that spend billions on their services.

The policy is expected to bring in approximately $11.5b in revenue over the medium term, according to independent analysis from the Parliamentary Budget Office. 

Under the proposal, revenue in excess of $20 million earned from digital services in Australia will be taxed at a rate of 3%. Digital services include advertising, online marketplace services, user data, social media and cloud services.

To be captured under the tax, platforms would need to make more than €750 million in worldwide revenue. 

Sarah Hanson-Young is Greens spokesperson for Communications & Senator for South Australia:

“Companies that trade in Australia need to pay tax on the money they make in Australia. Global tech giants are making billions of dollars in revenue in Australia while paying very little in tax. 

“Parliamentary Budget Office analysis of digital service revenue shows that in 2022-23 alone, Google raised more than $8.7billion, Amazon almost $6b, while Microsoft and Uber both earned over $2.9b.

“It’s time the tech giants and the billionaire tech bros paid their fair share back to the Australian community. 

“A tech tax would raise approximately $11.5 billion over the medium term which could be invested in essential public services, like dental into Medicare and cost of living relief.

“We know this works overseas and it can work here. At least 12 other countries already have a Digital Services Tax including the UK, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Portugal.

“A digital services tax is the first step in reining in the astronomical power that big tech companies currently wield. Not only are they making super profits, they are harvesting and selling the personal data of millions of Australians and ripping off Australian journalists and creators.

“These big foreign owned corporations make huge profits off Australians and resist regulation at every turn. It’s time they paid their fair share of tax.

“With a power sharing Parliament likely, the Greens will push for this policy after the election.

“We need to stand up for our national interest against Donald Trump’s billionaire oligarchs like Zuckerberg, Musk, and Bezos.”

The Greens have called on SA Premier Peter Malinauskas to extend free public transport for ticket holders during the Adelaide ‘Mad March’ festival season, including the Fringe, Adelaide Festival, WOMAD and Adelaide Writers Week.

Free public transport for festival ticket holders – similar to that afforded sporting events like the AFL and Cricket at Adelaide Oval – would have significant benefits for the South Australian economy and arts sector. The Greens have also urged the Premier to rename the Adelaide Cup public holiday on March 10 to Adelaide Festivals Day.

Sarah Hanson-Young is Greens spokesperson for the Arts and Senator for South Australia:

“Adelaide is at its best during our March festival season and free public transport for ticket holders should be a no-brainer. This is a win-win for our economy and the arts.

“I have written to Premier Malinauskas and urged him to consider our proposal that anyone coming in to see a show or event at the Fringe, Adelaide Festival, WOMAD or Writers Week can travel for free. 

“It is also time to change the name of Monday’s public holiday from ‘Adelaide Cup Day’ to ‘Adelaide Festivals Day’. The long weekend that hosts the Adelaide Festival, the Adelaide Fringe and WOMADelaide is the crescendo of Mad March. 

“Plenty more people are participating in the festivals this weekend than those going to the Adelaide Cup. It’s not even a Group 1 race anymore – it was downgraded years ago, while the Fringe alone is now the largest arts festival in the country. 

“Backing our arts festivals and encouraging audiences to attend more performances and events via public transport has a range of cultural, economic, and environmental benefits.

“We know that free public transport works and has proven immensely popular during the Adelaide Test Cricket, and of course for AFL football including the Gather Round. Given the huge contribution of the arts and festivals to our city, it makes sense to offer the same level of support to locals and visitors who are attending these hugely successful cultural events.

“The arts make an enormous contribution to the South Australian community, directly employing over 13,500 South Australians; not to mention the economic multiplier effect for jobs in hospitality, tourism and so many other small businesses. Making public transport free would add further value to our thriving cultural economy.

“Our festival season is a huge drawcard for South Australia, and we are already known as the Festival State. It’s time we recognised this properly with free public transport for ticket holders and by renaming the public holiday Adelaide Festivals Day.”

Robert Simms MLC is Greens spokesperson for Transport

 “The Fringe and festival season are enjoyed by many South Australian families. In the middle of an economic crisis, the exorbitant costs of car parking can make a visit to the city very expensive.”

 “The city is well serviced by public transport ⁠— the State Government should make this free for the duration of the festival season to reduce costs and ease congestion on our roads.”

 “The festival season should be open and accessible to all South Australians regardless of their bank balance.”

This week the Greens’ Queensland Senators, MPs and Councillors have been working around the clock to provide information, fill sandbags, distribute emergency kits, and knock on doors in communities susceptible to damage and flooding to offer assistance.

However, the Greens say while keeping communities safe right now is their number one priority, we must listen to the climate scientists who this week are warning that the climate crisis is supercharging catastrophic weather events, including tropical cyclones.

The Australian Greens are working with communities to prepare for the impact of Cyclone Alfred as they call for stronger climate action to prevent future climate disasters.

Globally we have just sweated through our hottest year on record, with annual sea surface temperatures for the Australian region their warmest on record. 

Marine heatwaves accelerate evaporation, and can intensify storms and cyclones. 

Climate change is also increasing the destructive power of tropical cyclones, including the windspeed, rainfall and rapid intensification, as well as coastal flooding from storm surges that are more destructive as a result of rising sea levels. 

Warming oceans are also increasing the likelihood of cyclones shifting further south, like this cyclone.

Meanwhile coal and gas companies are reaping massive profits while increasing others’ misery.

To prevent these climate disasters from becoming more frequent and intense, the Greens say governments must take stronger climate action, which means no new coal and gas.

Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt MP:

“Please listen to the authorities and if you need help, reach out.

“All our elected representatives in Queensland are focused on helping their communities prepare, and it’s right that federal and state governments are doing the same. Right now everyone needs to listen to the authorities to stay safe, and that includes governments listening to the climate scientists. 

“As we hope for the best and prepare for the worst, the priority right now is making sure people are as ready as possible to deal with this cyclone that was supercharged by coal and gas. Over 30 new coal and gas projects have been approved in this Parliament alone, which is just making it harder for us all to prepare and protect people. More coal and gas puts more people in more danger.

“Governments need to be helping people right now, but they also need to stop approving the coal and gas mines that are making these disasters worse.

“Governments have a responsibility to keep people safe – now and in the future.”

Today I am pleased to announce a pilot program that will harness the knowledge and experience of Asian Australians to deepen our understanding of our region and make Australia stronger and more influential in the world.

Australia’s diversity is one of our strengths – it gives us broader perspectives, deeper connections and a better ability to engage with our region on issues that matter to all Australians.

The Asian Australian Voices pilot program will equip professionals with the training and skills to contribute to public life.

The program will help to ensure Australians with deep expertise and personal experience of our region are part of the national conversation on the economic, security and diplomatic challenges and opportunities shaping our future.

It will also ensure we are using our strengths to Australia’s advantage, building Australia’s Asia literacy and creating a pipeline of senior Asian-Australian representation in civic life.

In partnership with Asia Society Australia, this initiative is a collaboration between DFAT’s National Foundation for Australia-China Relations, Centre for Australia-India Relations, and ASEAN-Australia Centre.

It reflects the Albanese Government’s commitment to ensuring all Australians can contribute to our engagement with the world.

Details about the pilot program can be found here: Asian Australian Voices.

The Greens have welcomed comments by former secretary of the federal Department of Education, Dr Michele Bruniges, examining disadvantage in Australian schools.

Greens spokesperson on Primary and Secondary Education, Senator Penny Allman-Payne:

“Dr Bruniges’ work on disadvantage in schools confirms that public schools are doing more and more of the heavy lifting in terms of educating disadvantaged students.

“Our current system of schooling is hollowing out many of our public schools, particularly in growth areas, and forcing parents to make tough decisions for their kids.

“It’s not a real choice for parents when both the local private and public school receive taxpayer money, but only one is expected to cater to disadvantaged kids.

“I strongly welcome a national conversation about disadvantage in schools and I thank Dr Bruniges for her work with all sectors on this research.

“We need to start asking all schools that receive public money to cater to the needs of the public. That could mean a serious conversation around common standards or catchment areas for any school that receives taxpayer funding.

“In my view, every proportional increase in private school enrollments is a public policy failure, especially when they are publicly funded schools too.

“I was a public school teacher for over 25 years, and I know that the vast majority of parents and carers would prefer to be able to send their kids to a properly resourced local public school.

“Australia’s future relies on public education. Only the Greens fully support public schools – we’ll fund them, build them, and make them free for all kids.”

The Victorian Greens say that no one would have to pay more on their bills and we wouldn’t have to risk blowing our emissions targets in a climate crisis if Labor pulls it together and gets renewables online faster.

In recent years we’ve seen significant delays on getting renewable energy online and now a new report from Infrastructure Victoria has warned that these delays will prevent Victoria from hitting its emissions targets and could make energy bills more expensive until 2035 when more renewables come online.

More than a third of what Australians hand over to energy giants like AGL and Origin for electricity is pure profit for the companies and the Greens say that people shouldn’t have to pay more money to greedy energy companies for climate-destroying fossil fuels because Labor are dragging their feet on getting cheaper renewables online.

The Victorian Greens say we can’t risk more emissions that will supercharge climate change which we know creates even more expenses for people, with insurance premiums as one of the first costs to skyrocket.

Victorian Greens spokesperson for coal transition, Dr Tim Read:

“Renewable energy is the cheapest form of energy and if we got them online faster everyone would actually be paying far less on their bills sooner.

“Labor must prioritise getting Victoria off dirty coal and expensive gas and properly support and invest in fast-tracking our clean energy transition.

“We know that climate change is going to cost people. Insurance premiums are already going through the roof. We can’t risk blowing our emissions targets that we know will supercharge climate change and create even more everyday expenses for people.”

The Victorian Greens have second read their Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill today to urge the Labor Government to consider further reforms that could be made to improve access to VAD in Victoria.

It follows the Labor Government’s recent announcement that they will amend Victoria’s legislation, including removing the gag clause that prevents doctors from discussing VAD with their patients.

The Victorian Greens have strongly welcomed the announcement but say that these changes will only just bring Victoria into line with other states and still behind some jurisdictions and there is more that can be done to make our laws more compassionate, by removing barriers and improve access.

As the first legislation of its kind in Australia, Victoria’s VAD laws took a very cautious approach and what were initially intended to be safeguards are now barriers preventing people who should be able to access VAD from being able to access it.

The Victorian Greens first introduced their VAD Bill to Parliament last year and have extensively consulted with stakeholders, now following the government’s announcement they’re calling for a full scope of reforms to be considered to improve access.

One key difference in the Greens’ Bill is expansion of the type of practitioners allowed to provide VAD assessments and support by enabling more GPs and nurse practitioners to provide these services. The Greens say that strict requirements to see certain types of specialists is creating barriers, especially for regional Victorians.

The Victorian Greens health spokesperson who is from regional Victoria and a GP herself, Dr Sarah Mansfield, said that the opportunity to update these laws doesn’t come around often and that we want the best possible laws to be passed swiftly.

Victorian Greens health spokesperson, Dr Sarah Mansfield:

“We’ve been really heartened to see the Labor Government’s commitment to update these laws, but the changes they are proposing only go so far, and we could be doing more to make our laws more compassionate and remove barriers to accessing voluntary assisted dying in Victoria.

“The opportunity to amend these laws doesn’t come up often, and we don’t want to just see this as yet another thing on Labor’s to do list. We are ready to work with the government now to make much needed changes to our VAD laws so that people who want to access choice and dignity at the end of their lives can do so.”

Family and Domestic Violence (FDV) in Western Australia is at crisis levels and getting worse. Every day, women and children are forced to flee their homes to escape violence, yet frontline services remain critically underfunded and unable to meet demand. 

An estimated 30% of women in WA have experienced physical, sexual, or economic abuse by a partner. In 2022-23, WA Police attended nearly 60,000 call-outs related to family and domestic violence—an increase of approximately 6,000 from the previous year.

The Greens WA are committed to a full reform of the family, domestic, and sexual violence response systems in WA and to fully funding the services required to keep women and children safe. 

WA Labor has recently committed to large-scale reform of the FDV response system, which is a welcome step, but greater resourcing and more tangible commitments are needed to ensure this reform is a top priority in the next term of government.

The Greens will work with Labor to ensure that the reform is implemented, along with monitoring and compliance, and make sure that life-saving services get the full funding and support they require.

While FDV is beginning to receive the urgent attention it desperately needs, sexual violence remains overlooked, with both major parties missing in action.

Every month, 600 sexual offences are recorded by police, yet research shows that 91% of victims never report. In spite of this epidemic, WA employs only 12 full-time sexual assault service workers statewide, and access to forensic and medical examinations is location-dependent. 

Many areas of WA have no access to sexual assault services at all. Women and children across this state are being left without the support they need to report sexual violence or receive care.

The Greens WA will make freedom from fear for women and children a priority in the next government. 

The Greens WA will:

• Fully reform the Family and Domestic Violence system as a priority, ensure ongoing monitoring and compliance measures.
• Take a collaborative approach where health, education, justice and police work constructively together to make perpetrators visible, share information and take action to protect victim survivors.
• Fully fund the Centre for Women’s Safety and Wellbeing.
• Fully fund the development of a specialist workforce, as well as crisis services, transitional and long-term housing for victim survivors, and evidence-based perpetrator interventions. This includes through Aboriginal Controlled Community Organisations (ACCOs) services that are culturally safe and led by First Nations women.
• Reform sexual assault response and services across WA, including law reform, multi-agency collaboration and full funding of services to prevent and respond to sexual assaults across the state including in remote areas.
• Invest $432m over 4 years in family and domestic violence and sexual violence specialist workforces, crisis and frontline services and preventative programs. 

WA Greens Legislative Council candidate, Jess Beckerling:

“The sheer scale of family, domestic, and sexual violence in WA is horrifying, yet governments continue to underfund the very services that are meant to keep women and children safe.”

“We need urgent and comprehensive reform of WA’s response to these crises, including stronger action to hold perpetrators accountable and full funding for frontline services, crisis accommodation, and long-term housing for victim survivors. The Greens will fight to ensure women and children across WA don’t have to live in fear.”

WA Greens candidate for Churchlands, Caroline McLean:

“It is completely unacceptable that WA has just 12 full-time sexual assault service workers for the entire state, leaving thousands of victim-survivors without access to critical support.”

“We cannot continue to ignore the epidemic of sexual violence in WA. The Greens will push for major reforms, including full funding for specialist services, increased workforce capacity, and justice system reforms that ensure victim-survivors are supported, not silenced.”

The Albanese and Minns Labor Governments have reached an Agreement to fully and fairly fund New South Wales public schools.

As part of the Heads of Agreements signed today, the Commonwealth will provide an additional 5 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) to New South Wales.

This will lift the Commonwealth contribution from 20 per cent to 25 per cent of the SRS by 2034 and follows New South Wales delivering its election commitment to reach 75 per cent of the SRS in 2025, two years ahead of the former Liberal National Government.

This will see an estimated $4.8 billion in additional Commonwealth funding to New South Wales public schools over the next 10 years.

This represents the biggest ever new investment in New South Wales public schools by the Australian Government.

New South Wales has also committed to removing the 4 per cent provision of indirect school costs such as capital depreciation so that New South Wales schools will be fully funded over the life of the Agreement.

Commonwealth funding will be tied to the reforms needed to lift education standards across the country, including more individualised support for students, continuing evidence-based teaching practices, and more mental health and wellbeing support for schools.

This is not a blank cheque. The Agreement will be accompanied by a New South Wales Bilateral Agreement, which ties funding to reforms that will help students catch up, keep up and finish school, such as: 

• Year 1 phonics and early years of schooling numeracy checks to identify students who need additional help;
• evidence-based teaching and targeted and intensive supports such as small-group or catch-up tutoring to help students who fall behind;
• initiatives that support wellbeing for learning – including greater access to mental health professionals;
• access to high-quality and evidence-based professional learning, and
• initiatives that improve the attraction and retention of teachers.

In addition to these reforms, the Agreements have national targets that complement the New South Wales Government’s own public school targets released last week.

National targets include:

• Improving NAPLAN proficiency levels for reading and numeracy across all year levels;
• Increasing the outcomes for priority equity cohorts in NAPLAN results;
• Increasing the Student Attendance Rate;
• Increasing the engagement rate (completed or still enrolled) of initial teacher education students; and
• Increasing the proportion of students leaving school with a Year 12 certificate.

This means more help for students and more support for teachers.

Today’s agreement with New South Wales follows agreements with Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory, South Australia and Victoria.

The Commonwealth is continuing to work with Queensland.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“Building Australia’s Future means investing in the next generation.

“That’s why every dollar of this funding will go into helping children learn.

“We know that education opens the doors of opportunity, and we want to widen them for every child in Australia.

“This is about investing in real reform with real funding – so all Australian children get the best possible education.”

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns

“Public education is the best investment any government can make. Every dollar spent in this space is a dollar spent on the future of our country.

“Every single child in Australia has the right to a quality, free public education and we are proud to work with the Albanese Labor Government to ensure New South Wales schools are fully funded.

“We’ve seen a 40% reduction in teacher vacancies since we came to government, but we know there’s still more to do.

“This investment is vital as we work to lift education standards across the state by ensuring there is a qualified, dedicated teacher at the front of the classroom.”

Minister for Education, Jason Clare

“This is big. The biggest state in the country has now signed up.

“This will help more than 780,000 kids in more than 2,200 public schools.

“This is real funding tied to real reforms to help students catch up, keep up and finish school.

“It’s not a blank cheque. I want this money to get results.

“That’s why funding will be directly tied to reforms that we know work.

“It will help make sure every child gets a great start in life. What every parent wants. And what every Australian child deserves.”

New South Wales Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car

“This incredible outcome for public schools will allow us to deliver on the ambitious targets we have set for the public education system in New South Wales.

“Our commitment to rebuilding public education will now be underpinned by an agreement that delivers full funding for public schools.

“The Minns Labor Government inherited a teacher shortage crisis and falling outcomes after a decade of under funding by Federal and State Liberal and National Governments that saw 10,000 merged and cancelled classes daily and over 3000 teacher vacancies.

“With teacher vacancies now down 40 per cent and the number of cancelled classes halved, we are delivering tangible results.  

“This investment will enable us to restore public education in New South Wales to the world-leading standards that families deserve.”

I am pleased to announce the recipients of the ASEAN-Australia Centre’s 2024-25 grants program and the 38 schools selected for the BRIDGE school partnership program.

The Centre’s initiatives support the implementation of Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, through practical action that increases Australia’s business, cultural and community connections with the ASEAN Member States and Timor-Leste.

The Centre is funding grants across three priority areas – creative industry exchanges, business and education initiatives and practical research to strengthen shared understanding and connection between Australia and Southeast Asia.

Successful grant recipients will be listed on GrantConnect, and include:

• support for young women entrepreneurs from Australia and ASEAN countries to scale-up their start-ups through business and investment connections
• a visiting fellowship for ASEAN business and community leaders to share trends and opportunities with Australian businesses and communities
• exchanges for Southeast Asian and Australian music industry professionals to enhance two-way trade
• a football diplomacy program for women’s football administrators and players to strengthen cultural, professional and sporting connections in the lead up to Australia hosting the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2026; and
• an initiative to enhance the supply of premium Australian horticultural produce to Southeast Asia and introduce the region’s next generation of chefs to the sustainability, traceability and quality of Australian produce.

I also congratulate the 38 exceptional primary and secondary schools from Australia and Southeast Asia selected for the ASEAN-Australia BRIDGE School Partnerships Program – providing structured learning opportunities and building cross-cultural connections between educators and more than 300 students.

These schools join a prestigious network of more than 1,200 schools that have participated in BRIDGE across the Indo-Pacific region since 2008.

I look forward to seeing the enduring friendships that will emerge from the expanded program.