Category: Australian News

The Greens say new research showing 1/3 young gamblers started before the age of 18 is a wake up call for Labor and Liberal to back the ban on gambling ads. Seperate research also shows gambling losses in Australia have jumped to $32b per year. The Senate returns tomorrow and will face a Greens amendment to ban gambling ads.

Key Points:

• Nearly 1/3 young gamblers started before the age of 18, ‘Rite of passage Report’ Australian Gambling Research Centre
• Gambling losses in Australia have jumped to $32b new Queensland Government data, reported today in Guardian, up from $25b pre-covid
  • Australians now lose $1,555 per capita, up from $1,395 in 2021-22
  • Australians lose more to gambling than any other nation on earth 

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is Greens spokesperson for Communications:

“This new data shows gambling is becoming a rite of passage for young people, and it’s fuelled by the ads rammed down our throats during footy finals.

“Australians and young people are losing: 1/3 young gamblers started before the age of 18, and losses across the board for all ages have jumped to $32b nationally. We lose more per capita than any nation on earth.

“The public have had enough of the excuses and the political donations. The Government is dragging the chain and every delay is putting our kids in harm’s way. 

“Labor have buckled to the bookies and the public expect better. 

“With footy finals here now and gambling ads dominating, we could vote to ban the ads this week in the Senate.

“Labor and Liberal need to decide which side they are on – the bookies or Australians families?”

The Greens will move in the Senate this week to ban gambling ads in line with the Peta Murphy recommendations, amending the Regional Broadcasting Continuity Bill.

The Victorian Greens have secured significant reforms that enshrine investment in renewable energy into the constitution, as the SEC Bill just passed the Upper House. 

The Constitution Amendment (SEC) Bill puts Victoria’s State Electricity Commission (SEC) into the constitution. It passed the Victorian Parliament today with Greens amendments ensuring that funds from SEC’s public ownership are funnelled directly into renewable energy and/or lower power prices. 

The Greens’ amendment not only drives investment into renewables but it prevents current or future Victorian governments from skimming capital and profits from the SEC into general government revenue in the form of ‘dividends’.

Victorian Greens coal transition spokesperson, Dr Tim Read: 

“The Greens have ensured that a publicly owned SEC will drive investment in renewables and lower power prices for Victorians. 

“Our changes mean that instead of the underfunded SEC being all spin and pre-election merch, it will actually help reduce power prices. 

“The future is clean, renewable energy and the Greens are the ones driving us there. 

“These changes to the SEC are a useful step but to tackle the climate crisis, Labor must stop approving new fossil fuel projects and invest real money in cheaper, cleaner, renewable solutions.” 

The Victorian Greens have opposed the Labor government’s controversial Lawyer X Bill saying that it sets a dangerous precedent for police accountability. 

The Bill capping the state government from paying damages over $1 million in regards to the Lawyer X scandal passed the Upper House today with support from crossbench MPs. 

The Victorian Greens opposed the Bill saying that it undermines the legal right to litigation and sends a dangerous message to police that they can get away with misconduct.

The Greens said that the way to properly limit the millions of dollars the state pays on behalf of the police in compensation and legal fees was to establish a police ombudsman to hold police to higher standards of conduct, rather than seeking to limit the ongoing legal liabilities resulting from its rotten organisational culture.     

Victorian Greens spokesperson for integrity, Dr Tim Read: 

“Victoria Police are responsible for the Lawyer X scandal and after what we saw from police yesterday, today is not the day to be sending them the message that they can get away with misconduct. 

“This is legislation that meddles with people’s right to litigation and sets a dangerous precedent for police accountability. 

“The Premier believes in more legal consequences for 12 year old children, than dirty and corrupt members of Victoria police. 

“When it comes to serious misconduct, crimes, and corruption, Victoria Police are repeat offenders and it’s costing taxpayers millions and millions of dollars.

“We need to establish a fully independent and well resourced police ombudsman to expose the organisational culture of corruption and misconduct that permeates Victoria Police, and costs taxpayers.”

Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell, has demanded an independent inquiry into the police tactics and excessive use of force at the Land Forces protests in Melbourne this week. 

Ms Sandell has written to IBAC requesting an inquiry following independent legal observers witnessing police using pepper spray indiscriminately, police deploying weapons in very dangerous circumstances, multiple protestors injured by police, and extraordinarily violent arrests, as well as police charging horses into crowds of people and whipping people with horse whips.

Independent legal observers at the protests have themselves been assaulted and pepper (OC) sprayed by police.

Police have an obligation to protect the right to protest for all, without discrimination, and must not use indiscriminate policing tactics, except when it is strictly necessary and proportionate to do so. 

Yet in April this year a separate IBAC review of 15 separate investigations into Victoria Police’s use of OC spray found that “the decisions and actions of police escalated incidents or increased the risk of safety of those involved”.

Police officers are obliged to de-escalate all situations that might result in violence and exhaust all non-violent means, including by giving prior warning, before resorting to the use of force. This has not happened at these protests.

Ellen Sandell Greens MP:

“We have seen police throw flash grenades into crowds of protestors, police use pepper spray indiscriminately and whip people with horse whips, and police charging horses into crowds of people who don’t have any room to move away.

These are military-style tactics used by police against protestors who are trying to have their say, as is their democratic right. Police are using excessive force and violence, which escalates the situation and puts people at risk.

Victoria Police have a history of excessive force and pepper spray, and it’s time they were called out for it, because everyone has a right to attend a protest without fear that the police will use violence against them”.

Jeremy King (Principle, Injury Law and Police Misconduct – Robinson Gill Lawyers): 

“I am very concerned at the heavy-handed approach being taken by Victoria Police towards people exercising their fundamental civil right to protest. There is simply no place for the use of rubber bullets in Australia in the 21st century. They are dangerous and we know from history cause serious injuries and have even resulted in death. Victoria Police also have a most unfortunate history with indiscriminately using pepper spray at protests and this needs to stop now.”

The Victorian Greens will push to stop the Victorian Labor government steamrolling ahead with the demolition and privatisation of all 44 public housing towers across the state as the public housing waitlist continues to grow with a historic new bill being introduced into parliament today. 

It comes as public housing residents have triggered a parliamentary debate today calling on the government to protect public housing. 

The Greens will introduce their new Protecting Public Assets and Services Bill 2024 which could protect the towers from demolition and prohibit the privatisation of any public assets or services without the permission of the parliament. 

New figures reported in the Age this morning indicate a 5 per cent increase in three months in Victorians joining the public housing waiting list that already sits at over 100,000 people.

Earlier this year, the Victorian Housing Department admitted to the Yoorrook Justice Commission that they can’t tell how long people on the list will be waiting for a home. 

The Victorian Greens Public and Affordable Housing spokesperson, Samantha Ratnam said that while Labor continues to demolish public housing and hand over public land to wealthy private developers, the waitlist is only going to continue to spiral out of control making the housing crisis worse. 

Public and Affordable Housing spokesperson, Samantha Ratnam: 

“The public housing waitlist already underrepresents the amount of people who are facing homelessness as we know that many people have no faith in this system that takes years, if ever, to actually get a roof over people’s heads.

“Labor has no excuse for tearing down the existing public housing that we do have in the middle of a housing crisis when the waitlist is spiralling out of control. 

“It’s clear that Labor is planning to force public housing evictions, but public housing residents from the towers are fighting back. 

“The Greens are proud to be standing with public housing residents who are resisting the demolition and privatisation  of their homes by tabling their petition and introducing new legislation today that will protect their towers from Labor’s disastrous plan that will displace thousands of residents and make the housing crisis worse.” 

Legislation amending the Sex Discrimination Act to acknowledge biological reality over contrived gender identities will be introduced to the Senate today by One Nation.

Party leader Senator Pauline Hanson said the move was aimed at protecting the rights, privacy and safe spaces for biological women.

“As we saw in the case of Sall Grover’s ‘Giggle’ app, biological women’s private spaces and rights are being attacked by biological men,” Senator Hanson said. “This platform was intended to provide a safe space for biological women free from the harassment often experienced by women online.

“However the court ruled in favour of a biological male who had changed their gender identity, allowing them access to this woman-only space.”

Senator Hanson warned the Labor government not to allow the Greens to block the introduction of One Nation’s Sex Discrimination (Acknowledging Biological Reality) Bill.
“The Greens have always moved to block any examination or scrutiny of gender ideology, identity politics and its many victims,” Senator Hanson said.

“Along with Labor, David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie, the Greens have blocked a number of enquiries into the massive increase in Australian children presenting with gender dysphoria and being treated with puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones.

“They have all ignored the pleas of Australian women to protect their private spaces, and protect their safety in sports, from biological men who have ‘transitioned’.

“Generations of Australian women have fought for their rights and equality with men, only for transgender men to swoop in and take those hard-won rights for themselves.”
One Nation’s legislation seeks to reverse the amendment made to the SDA under the Gillard Labor Government which inserted gender identity and removed the definition of men and women.

“Our intention is to return the definition of men and women to their original meaning, as defined by human biology,” Senator Hanson said. “This is about acknowledging reality.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel to the United States for the 2024 Quad Leaders’ Summit, to be held on 21 September in Wilmington, Delaware. The Prime Minister will attend with fellow Quad Leaders, the President of the United States Joseph R. Biden Jr., Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan.

The Quad is a diplomatic partnership of four countries committed to practical action in the Indo-Pacific to shape the kind of region in which we want to live – an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific, where sovereignty is respected and competition is managed responsibly.

The Quad is making a positive contribution to the Indo-Pacific by delivering practical outcomes that respond to the region’s priorities.

The Quad is building on these efforts, year on year, in areas such as strengthening clean energy supply chains, supporting maritime security, helping to train the region’s infrastructure practitioners, enhancing regional health security, and building resilience and connectivity through undersea cable cooperation.

At the Summit, the Prime Minister will discuss regional issues and opportunities to further advance the Quad’s positive and practical agenda.

This will be the fourth in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit. Leaders look forward to India hosting the 2025 Quad Leaders’ Summit.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“I look forward to meeting with my Quad partners to discuss important challenges facing the Indo-Pacific and strengthening the Quad’s cooperation.

“Australia is deeply invested in the future prosperity and stability of the Indo-Pacific.

“Australia, the United States, India, and Japan share a vision for a region that is governed by accepted rules and norms, where all countries can cooperate, trade and thrive.

“We will work together to shape the kind of region in which we want to live. We are always better off when we act together with our close friends and partners.”

The Greens will introduce a bill to the Senate to make price gouging illegal, with big penalties for corporations who charge excessive prices.

“Australians are being smashed by rising costs for essentials like rent, food and energy, while corporations are raking in massive profits,” Greens Economic Justice Spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

“There is rampant price gouging and it needs to end.” 

“Our bill will put an end to corporate price gouging by making it illegal for corporations with substantial market power to charge excessive prices for goods and services.”

“This will rein in corporate greed and reduce the cost of food and groceries.”

“Since Labor took office, the cost of living has skyrocketed, but they’ve done nothing to stop big corporations from exploiting this crisis.”

“They’ve allowed banking, supermarket and energy corporations to rake in billions in profits while millions of Australians struggle to make ends meet.”

“We’re taking a stand against the unchecked greed that’s fueling the cost-of-living crisis, and we’re urging the Parliament to support this critical reform.”

“The choice is clear: side with the big corporations who are profiting from people’s pain, or side with the Australians who are struggling to get by.” 

The bill will target corporations that abuse their market power by charging prices beyond what is justified by costs or competitive conditions.

The proposed law mirrors successful provisions in the European Union, which have protected consumers from unjustified price hikes.

Under the Bill, the ACCC will be able to apply to the Court for an order where it believes a corporation has abused its market power by price gouging.

If a corporation is found to have illegally price gouged, the court can then impose orders under section 76 of the Competition Act, which include a maximum civil penalty of $50 million. 

Under section 87(B) of the Competition Act, the ACCC can also require enforceable undertakings by a corporation.

The undertakings the ACCC may impose are sufficiently broad to allow the ACCC to require a corporation to lower the price of a product to the price it would cost if it was sold in a competitive market, for a specified period of time while guaranteeing supply of the product. 

The Greens will give notice of the Bill today and formally introduce it next week.

Today legislation to establish an Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission has finally passed the Senate, and will now commence on 1 October 2024.

Recommendation 22 of the Set the Standards report was that an Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission (IPSC) to enforce codes of conduct should be established within 12 months. While years overdue, the establishment of this body is welcomed by the Greens.

Greens leader in the Senate and spokesperson on Women, Larissa Waters

“This has been such a long time coming, but I am pleased we will now see the establishment of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission to enforce codes of conduct endorsed by both houses of parliament – and finally have some consequences for misbehaving politicians, who have been immune until now. 

“Throughout this lengthy process, the Greens pushed for stronger sanctions including higher fines for MPs and consequences for Ministers, and for more transparency over politicians sanctioning themselves. 

“It is disappointing the Greens’ amendments did not pass to give the IPSC power to suggest sanctions, and if Privileges depart from that suggestion, table an explanation as to why. That guidance and transparency was needed to give the public confidence that politicians won’t just close ranks and protect their own. Only time will now tell.

“I deeply thank the brave staff who spoke out against the appalling and horrific misconduct that has occurred in parliament, for pushing as hard as you have to get us here, including Brittany Higgins, Dhanya Mani, Chelsey Potter, Rachelle Miller, Tessa Sullivan and Josie Coles.

“The Greens support the review of this framework at the start of each parliament to track how well the IPSC is working to clean up this place, with genuine consultation with staff. Because this should not be a set and forget.

“Australians need to trust that their elected officials will be held responsible if they misbehave, and a strong and transparent process is needed for that confidence.

“It’s now up to parliamentarians to start setting the standard and not continue to be a national shame.”

The ACT Government has released the fourth and final report on the Parliamentary and Governing Agreement (PAGA) for the 10^th Legislative Assembly, highlighting commitments delivered across the parliamentary term.

Major achievements over the past four years include:

• Nation-leading action on climate change as we transition to an all-electric city and phase out fossil fuel gas, working towards a net-zero-emissions future.
• Modernising transport in Canberra with nation-leading uptake of electric vehicles and progress toward the next stage of light rail through the city to Commonwealth Park
• A new Territory Plan that will unlock more and better housing options including public housing
• Establishing universal access to early learning for three-year-old children
• Raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility to divert Canberra’s children away from harm, toward the support they need to be part of a safer and more connected community

The PAGA was signed by all ACT Labor and ACT Greens MLAs, summarising the shared priorities and commitments of the two parties for the parliamentary term.

This fourth and final PAGA report includes the addition of delivery statements, outlining how each initiative has been, or is being, delivered.

The report is available on the ACT Government’s Cabinet and Assembly website: www.cmtedd.act.gov.au/policystrategic/cabinet/cabinet-office

ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury:

The final update on the Parliamentary and Governing Agreement demonstrates how the ACT Government has continued to address major social, economic, and environmental challenges.

We have built on our previous achievement of reaching 100 per cent renewable electricity by taking the next steps to reduce greenhouse emissions as we work towards a net-zero-emissions future, including transitioning away from gas to electricity.

Throughout this parliamentary term we have worked hard to make a real difference to the lives of Canberrans and ensure Canberra continues to be a happy, healthy and connected community. 

*Quotes from the ACT Labor Leader has been removed from the original ACT Government media release at their request.