Category: Australian News

A Senate Inquiry report into the November 8 Optus outage has recommended greater technological safeguards and public accountability from telecommunications companies. The Optus outage affected millions of Australians. 

Inquiry Chair Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is Greens Spokesperson for Communications:

“Optus failed millions of Australians and small businesses during the November 8 network outage. Not only did the communications network that many of us rely on fail, but the company itself failed to communicate and keep the public informed through the outage.

“This Senate Inquiry report today requires Optus and other telcos to work towards better network safeguards and a higher standard of public accountability in the future. 

“These recommendations mean telcos need to work with the Australian Government and cooperate with one another to deliver large-scale network roaming and mutual assistance arrangements in the event of future outages. 

“In 2024 people expect to be able to call triple 0 in an emergency, to be able to access internet banking for their small business, or to contact their kids or grandparents via their mobile phone. It’s therefore appropriate that telecommunications carriers are included as critical infrastructure providers via amendments to the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018.

“This report raises the bar for all telcos in the future and I will work with my Senate colleagues to implement these recommendations in the public interest.”

Australia will provide $2 million in humanitarian assistance to support civilians in Lebanon, impacted by the escalation of conflict.

This new funding will support the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to provide medical assistance, and address essential nutrition, education and water sanitation needs for displaced and conflict-affected people in southern Lebanon.

It brings the Australian Government’s total package of humanitarian assistance to the Middle East to $84.5 million since 7 October 2023.

Australia has called for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon. We reiterate calls for all parties to exercise restraint, de-escalate and comply with UN Security Council resolutions.

Securing an immediate ceasefire in Gaza also remains an urgent priority, along with the release of hostages and the flow of humanitarian aid.

We again urge Australians in Lebanon to leave immediately. If you require emergency consular assistance you should contact the Australian Government’s 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135 (within Australia) or +61 2 6261 3305 (from overseas).

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong:

“Australia is deeply concerned by the escalation of conflict between Israel and Hizballah – Lebanese civilians cannot be made to pay the price of defeating Hizballah and Lebanon cannot become the next Gaza.

“This is a moment of great distress for the Lebanese people; funding from Australia will support civilians, including women and children, who are paying the highest price in this conflict.”

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

“The situation in Lebanon is already very distressing as is the prospect of a further escalation of hostilities, including in the broader region.

“Australia will continue to monitor and assess the humanitarian situation and stands ready to provide further support.”

What on earth was the Labor government thinking when they created the highly paid position of ‘Ambassador for First Nations People’?

It’s important to look at the timing. Justin Mohamed was appointed in March last year when Labor was still thinking there was strong support for the voice to Parliament, seven months before the referendum. In May last year, Labor’s Budget allocated $13.6 million to the new ‘ambassador’.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the ‘first nations ambassador’ is supposed to “implement a First Nations approach to foreign policy” and “embed First Nations perspectives and interests across the Government’s trade and investment activities”.

It doesn’t close any gaps. It doesn’t lift aborigines living in remote communities out of disadvantage. It doesn’t bring law and order to Alice Springs and other communities plagued by crime and dysfunction. It doesn’t stop the corruption and nepotism in the aboriginal industry. All the ‘ambassador’ position appears to do is be a ‘voice’ – not to Parliament, but to DFAT.

All the current ‘ambassador’ appears to have done is rack up frequent flier points. He’s made a bunch of trips to the United States, and one to Switzerland. So far his travel has cost taxpayers almost $150,000 on top of his $300,000+ salary.

Peter Dutton has said he’ll scrap the worthless position. One Nation never supported it in the first place, but we’ll scrap it too. Australian diplomacy needs only one perspective: the Australian perspective.

The Albanese Labor Government is committed to ensuring Australians are paying a fair price for their groceries and our farmers are getting a fair price for their hard work, with the Government today releasing the ACCC’s Supermarkets Inquiry Interim Report.

When families are doing it tough, they need a Government that’s on their side and a tough consumer cop on the beat – and that’s the important role the ACCC is playing.

In January, the Albanese Government tasked the ACCC to look into supermarkets, and today the Government has released the ACCC’s Supermarkets Inquiry Interim Report, which explores in detail issues including concentration and competition in the sector, rising prices and shrinkflation, supermarket buyer power and other consumer and producer concerns.

During its initial work, the ACCC received over 80 public submissions and spoke to more than 21,000 customers across Australia between February and April 2024 – the largest number of responses it has ever received for a consumer survey.

It also held seven roundtable discussions across the nation for farmers and produce wholesalers to discuss their experiences with supermarket supply chains.

The Government is supporting a competitive and sustainable food and grocery sector that is fairer for Australian families and farmers, and this Inquiry is a key component of our work.

The Interim Report makes no specific findings or recommendations, which are set to be in a Final Report that is handed to the Government in early 2025, but the ACCC’s work is exceptionally detailed.

We support their thorough investigations, which will strengthen the sector.

The Government’s economic plan is all about easing the cost of living for Australians – and we know that grocery prices are a key part of pressures people are facing right now.

The Albanese Government is taking a range of actions to make sure Australians are paying a fair price at the checkout and Australian suppliers are getting a fair price for their goods, and the ACCC Inquiry is a key component of the work to identify and fix ways the industry is letting down consumers and producers.

This follows the ACCC announcing legal action against Coles and Woolworths for misleading consumers through discount pricing claims on hundreds of common supermarket products.

A new mandatory Food and Grocery Code, currently open for consultation, will ensure Aldi, Coles, Woolworths and Metcash are subject to multi-million-dollar penalties for serious breaches of the Code. 

Yesterday, CHOICE released its second government funded price monitoring report, giving Australians accurate data on where to get the cheapest groceries.

This is only one part of the Government’s broad competition policy agenda. We’ve banned unfair contract terms and increased penalties for breaches of competition and consumer law.

We are delivering the most significant merger reforms in Australia in almost 50 years, and working with the states and territories to revitalise National Competition Policy.

The next phase of the Supermarkets Inquiry will see the ACCC conduct hearings with the supermarket sector throughout October and November 2024.

The ACCC has invited further feedback on the key issues raised in the Interim Report by 18 October 2024.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“I directed the ACCC to commence an inquiry into supermarkets in January and today they deliver their Interim Report.

“This is an important piece of work and we will study it closely.

“My Government is taking a range of actions to make sure Australians are paying a fair price at the checkout and Australian suppliers are getting a fair price for their goods.

“Customers don’t deserve to be treated as fools by the supermarkets. They deserve better than that.”

Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury, Andrew Leigh:

“The Albanese Government’s ACCC Supermarket Inquiry is the biggest, most thorough look at supermarket competition in over 15 years.

“Businesses need to do the right thing by Australians – and the Albanese Government is committed to improving the food and grocery sector so it works for families and farmers.

“Greater competition is critical for lifting dynamism, productivity and wages growth, putting downward pressure on prices and delivering more choice for Australians dealing with cost-of-living pressures.”

One of the largest seismic blasting proposals ever in Australian history has been withdrawn by proponent TGS following immense community pressure.  

The monster seismic blasting proposal off the Victorian and Tasmanian coasts was grossly unpopular from the get-go. TGS repeatedly reduced the size of the blasting area from 75,000 sq km back in 2022, to 45,000 sq km in 2023, to 31,500 sq km in 2024; before finally announcing the project’s end today. 

Greens spokesperson for Healthy Oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson: 

“This win belongs to all the people who have rallied hard for years to protect marine ecosystems and avoid irreversible changes to the Earth’s climate.

“This is a historic moment. Community pressure works!! 

“Increasingly people from all walks of life are waking up to the dangers of seismic blasting in our oceans – there’s no plausible excuse for it! 

“This is a siren call to all the fossil fuel companies eyeing off our oceans: your time is up. 

“It’s unforgivable that our government continues to allow big oil and gas corporations to blast our marine environment for more fossil fuels at this time in history. 

“People want their leaders to start taking bold and radical climate action, and today’s news is welcome proof that with enough sustained pressure people power and protest action works.”

Acting Leader of the Victorian Greens, Sarah Mansfield: 

“This is a huge win for people power. First Nations and local communities have been fighting to protect Southern Sea country from seismic blasting for years. 

“While Labor and the Liberals continue to support new coal and gas projects in a climate crisis, what this shows is that when people come together to fight for our climate, we can win. 

“We need to put an end to all new oil and gas projects. The community won’t give up the fight for our oceans and our climate, and The Greens will be right there with them.”

The Auditor-General has today handed down a scathing performance audit report, Supporting students with disability, which exposes a decades-long failure to adequately fund and deliver targeted supports, monitor school practice and track outcomes for students with disability.

The Auditor-General’s report has been described as damning by Greens NSW MP Abigail Boyd, who chaired the recent parliamentary inquiry into the Experiences of children and young people with disability in NSW educational settings. The report from that inquiry was tabled just last month, and reinforces the Auditor-General’s findings that children with disability and their families are seeing no real improvement in their experiences within NSW’s education system, despite stated government policies and commitments.

The Auditor General’s report found the Department of Education failed to implement their own inclusive education policies and procedures, monitor outcomes and ensure targeted supports for students with disability, despite being aware of these gaps for almost two decades.

It also found serious gaps in the Department’s complaints management process which is neither student-centric nor accessible, and called for independent advice and disability expertise to be provided to parents and guardians of students with disability.

Abigail Boyd, Greens NSW MP and Spokesperson for disability rights and inclusion:

“The message coming through in this and previous reports is loud and clear – when it comes to disability rights and inclusion, the NSW Government is all words and no action.

“The NSW Department of Education has knowingly and persistently underfunded measures that would deliver greater inclusion for people with disability, and then chosen not to measure what they know will be the harmful outcomes of their decisions. This is a shocking abrogation of responsibility, and cannot stand.

“With such limited oversight of our education system, it’s no wonder that students with disability continue to experience exclusion, discrimination and neglect in our schools. The latest suspension data from the Department reveals that year on year, students with disability continue to make up half of all suspensions.

“In light of this and multiple other audit reports, parliamentary inquiries and the Disability Royal Commission, it is clear that the Department is unable to oversee itself and its performance under its legal obligations under anti-discrimination legislation.

“We can no longer leave the Department to its own devices. We need an independent oversight body for children with disability in our education system — as unanimously recommended by all members in the recent multi-partisan parliamentary inquiry report — with the primary purpose of advocating for students with disability and their families at its core, with the ability to oversee all issues from enrolments and adjustments to exclusionary discipline and allegations of discrimination.

“The NSW Government must commit to implementing in full all recommendations of this report, our parliamentary inquiry, and the Disability Royal Commission. Anything less than this will constitute a tragic failure of leadership and serve to perpetuate the cycle of disadvantage experienced by disabled people in this state.”

Australia will join Germany, Canada and the Netherlands to take unprecedented action to hold Afghanistan to account under international law for the Taliban’s treatment of women and girls.

This action is being brought against Afghanistan for violations of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, to which Afghanistan is a party.

We urge Afghanistan to participate in negotiations, as provided for under the Convention.

Australia is strongly committed to protecting and promoting the rights of women and girls at home and around the world.

Today we were united with partners from all regions of the world on the importance of strong international action in response to the Taliban’s treatment of women and girls.

The Taliban has demonstrated contempt for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls in Afghanistan, through a campaign of sustained and systematic oppression.

This includes denying girls their right to education and attempting to erase women from public life.

We will not stand by and allow the situation in Afghanistan to become a ‘new normal’.

We have heard the calls of Afghan women and we are committed to defending their human rights and amplifying their voices.

The participation of women and girls in society is essential to achieving peaceful societies and sustainable development.

Australian and Tasmanian governments agree to fully fund all Tasmanian public schools

All Tasmanian public schools will be fully and fairly funded by the Albanese and Rockliff Governments following a historic agreement signed today.

Both governments have signed the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement and agreed to increase funding for all public schools in Tasmania to 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS).

Tasmania has become the third state or territory to sign on to the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement.

Currently, the Commonwealth provides 20 per cent of the SRS for Tasmanian public schools. This will now increase to 22.5 per cent by no later than 2029.

The Tasmanian Government, as the primary funders of Tasmanian public schools, will increase its contribution to 77.5 per cent of the SRS by no later than 2029.

The Agreement signed today will be followed by a Tasmanian Bilateral Agreement, which will tie funding to reforms that will help students catch up, keep up and finish school, including:

• Year 1 phonics and early years numeracy checks to identify students in the early years of school who need additional help
• Initiatives that support wellbeing for learning – including greater access to mental health professionals
• Access to high-quality and evidence-based professional learning
• Initiatives that strengthen teacher and school-leader wellbeing.

The Bilateral Agreement will also set out the specific timing of the Australian and Tasmanian Governments’ increases in SRS funding shares to get to full and fair 100 per cent funding level as soon as possible by no later than 2029.

Currently, no public schools in Australia, except for schools in the ACT, are at the full and fair funding level.

This announcement follows Western Australia and the Northern Territory each signing on to the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, delivering record funding to their public schools.

The Albanese Government welcomes Tasmania’s decision to work together to fully fund public schools.

The Government is committed to working with all states and territories to get all public schools on a path to 100 per cent of the SRS.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“I know firsthand the power of a good quality education.

“I want to make sure that every student in Australia, no matter where they live and learn, receives every opportunity.

“Today’s landmark agreement means every public school in Tasmania will be fully and fairly funded.

“This is a national priority that can only delivered when the Commonwealth and State and Territory governments work in partnership.

“That’s why my Government has put $16 billion in extra funding for public schools on the table – the biggest ever increase in Commonwealth funding to public schools.”

Premier of Tasmania Jeremy Rockliff:

“Tasmanians deserve every opportunity in the world, no matter where they live or what their parent’s income is.

“Today’s deal between the Tasmanian and Australian Governments ensures public schools will be fully funded.

“Additional funding will now flow to Tasmanian schools from 2025, with up to an additional $300 million invested into our public schools over the next five years.

“We have been transforming Tasmania’s education system over the past decade, and this funding partnership is the next step in delivering for young Tasmanians.”

Minister for Education Jason Clare:

“This is a massive day for public education in Tasmania.

“Tasmania’s decision to work with the Albanese Government to fully fund public schools will deliver a better and fairer education system for Tassie.

“This agreement means that all schools in Tasmania will be fully funded and that funding will be invested in reforms to help students catch up, keep up and finish school.

“I look forward to working with all states and territories to properly fund our schools and build a better and fairer education system for all Australians.”

Tasmanian Minister for Education Jo Palmer:

“The Tasmanian Government is focussed on giving children the best possible start in life and learning.

“Our education system is critical in supporting our young people in gaining the skills they need to fully contribute to our community and economic future.

“Our Government has delivered significant generational change and we are committed to further improving our education system.

“This funding agreement will ensure our students are supported to get the educational outcomes they deserve so they can lead their best lives.

“We must move to full funding as quickly as we can, and that is my focus.”

The Albanese Government will invest $120 million to establish the Northern Heart Centre in Launceston, delivering better health care for northern Tasmanians with heart disease.

The commitment will fund the establishment costs for the Northern Heart Centre, which is a key component of the Launceston General Hospital master plan that has been developed jointly between the Commonwealth and State Governments.

Cardiovascular disease is Australia’s number one killer, accounting for one in every four deaths. More than 4 million Australians, or one in six people, are living with cardiovascular disease.

The Northern Heart Centre will deliver:

• A new coronary care unit with 16 inpatient cardiac ward beds, and seven coronary care unit beds, which will be co-located with the intensive care unit (ICU);
• Two cardiac catheterisation labs with dedicated recovery and holding bays for direct access for patients requiring procedures (bypassing the emergency department);
• Dedicated diagnostic testing for echocardiography and outpatient services, with five echocardiography testing rooms, one exercise testing room and six outpatient consultation rooms; and
• Direct access to the ICU, emergency department and medical imaging.

The Northern Heart Centre will also help to address workforce shortages in Tasmania, by attracting and retaining critically needed clinicians to the state, and the north of Tasmania, in particular.

The Centre’s dedicated cardiac beds and labs will help to take pressure off the Launceston General Hospital, freeing up hospital beds and reducing pressure on the emergency department.

The Northern Heart Centre builds on other Albanese Government investments to improve health services for Tasmanians, like:

• the $20 million committed to establish the Launceston Hospice,
• four new Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in Hobart, Launceston and Devonport, and
• a $28 million investment in services and programs to help older Tasmanians get the care they need outside of hospital, when they no longer medically need to remain there.

Bulk billing is now more available in Tasmania, thanks to the Albanese Government making the largest investment in bulk billing in Medicare history, with Tasmania seeing the largest increase in GP bulk billing in in the country.

The Northern Heart Centre is currently expected to be completed in 2029.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“We know cardiovascular disease is the number one killer right around the nation, impacting the lives of so many Australians and their families.

“Chest pain is one of the most frequent presentations to the emergency departments in North West Tasmania.

“This investment will support the delivery of critical health facilities that will serve the people of Launceston and surrounding communities.

“My Government is dedicated to ensuring all Australians have access to quality healthcare, no matter their postcode.
“This is why we have made record investment in strengthening Medicare.

“Our policies have saved Tasmanians have saved more than $9.5 million on the cost of their medicines, thanks to our cheaper medicines policies.”

Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler:

“People in Launceston and right across northern Tasmania will benefit from a new dedicated Northern Heart Centre, funded by the Albanese Government.

“The Northern Heart Centre will mean Tasmanians with heart disease will get the best possible care, while also helping to free up beds at the Launceston General Hospital and take pressure off its emergency department.

“Nearly 45,000 Tasmanians have visited a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic and received free, urgent care, with Tasmanians also benefitting from the largest increase to GP bulk billing in the country.”

The second CHOICE Quarterly Report on Supermarket Prices initiated by the Albanese Government has been released today, providing facts to consumers about where to find cheaper prices.

Funded for three years by the Albanese Labor Government, the CHOICE Report gives Australians accurate data on how to get the cheapest groceries.

To compile the Report, CHOICE visited 104 stores across Australia including Aldi, Coles, Woolworths and IGA.

The report found that Aldi once again had the cheapest basket of goods, with the price of CHOICE’s basket falling from the previous quarter.

The Albanese Government is taking a range of actions to make sure Australians are paying a fair price at the checkout and Australian suppliers are getting a fair price for their goods.

This follows the ACCC announcing legal action against Coles and Woolworths for misleading consumers through discount pricing claims on hundreds of common supermarket products.

This week the Albanese Government also released the draft mandatory Food and Grocery Code for consultation, which will mean supermarkets could face significant penalties if found to be in breach of the Code.

Actions the Government is Taking to Hold Supermarkets to Account:

• Commissioning the ACCC to investigate competition in the supermarket sector to get better prices for shoppers.
• Introducing legislation to make the Food and Grocery Code mandatory, making big supermarkets subject to multi-million-dollar penalties for serious breaches of the Code.
• Funding CHOICE reports for another three years, with the next due in December 2024, in time for Christmas.
• Progressing the most significant merger reforms in Australia in almost 50 years.
• Working with the states and territories to revitalise National Competition Policy.

Report Findings – The Cost of an Average Basket of Groceries Nation Wide:

• Aldi: $50.79 (with and without specials)
• Woolworths: $68.70 (without specials), $68.37 (with specials)
• Coles: $69.91 (without specials), $66.22 (with specials)
• IGA: $78.95 (with specials)

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“We know Australians are under pressure and we’re working every day to help.

“Our cost of living help is about getting wages up for workers, bringing costs down for households and getting inflation back to where it should be.

“We are doing everything we can to ensure Australians are paying a fair price at the checkout and Australian farmers are getting a fair price for their goods.

“Today’s CHOICE Report provides important information to consumers, but we know there is more to do and we are committed to taking action to make sure Australians are getting the best deal possible.”

Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury Andrew Leigh:

“The Government’s economic plan is all about easing the cost of living for Australians.

“CHOICE’s team of shadow shoppers are helping Australians get the best deal at the checkout. With many consumers feeling the pinch, these results provide hard evidence on prices across the nation.

“The Australian Government is committed to delivering the information that will help shoppers save money and deliver more supermarket competition.

“We want a supermarket sector that’s fairer for farmers, and fairer for families.”