Category: Australian News

Australian Greens spokesperson for Education, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, has said analysis released today shows once again that federal and state governments have monumentally failed to adequately fund public schools.
Data published in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age has shown that, over the last decade, public funding has continued to flow heavily to private schools.
Senator Faruqi said:
“Well-funded public education should be the backbone of our education system, but public schools are getting a raw deal.
“For years, private schools have been the beneficiaries of state and federal public funding programs that have systematically neglected public schools. While 99% of private schools are funded above the national standard, 99% of public schools have absolutely no pathway to the level of funding they need over the next decade.
“With the Commonwealth’s $1.2 billion so-called ‘Choice and Affordability’ fund for private schools due to start dishing out cash in July, it’s way past time for a complete rethink of school funding across the country.
“The sad reality is that over the last decade, both Labor and Liberal governments have never wasted an opportunity to hand out public funds to private schools and entrench educational inequality,” she said.

The Federal and State Liberal and Nationals Governments will support nearly 5,500 jobs across New South Wales through a joint $1 billion investment in shovel-ready infrastructure projects and road safety upgrades.
The funding will be allocated to three key priorities:

• $240 million to fix 11 congestion hotspots around Sydney, supporting 1,000 direct and indirect jobs;
• $382 million to help local councils upgrade roads across regional NSW, supporting 3,500 direct and indirect jobs; and
• $398 million for road safety projects in regional areas, supporting 950 direct and indirect jobs.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said further investment in infrastructure would play a critical role in the Commonwealth’s JobMaker plan and help the New South Wales economy as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Partnering with state and territory governments to invest in more major infrastructure projects across Australia is a key part of our JobMaker plan to rebuild our economy and create more jobs,” the Prime Minister said.
“This funding injection means we have brought forward or provided additional funding of more than $2.7 billion across New South Wales in the past eight months.
“This package builds on the fast tracking of $570 million for infrastructure in New South Wales which we announced last November, locking in priority upgrades that will bust congestion, increase productivity, improve safety, and boost jobs at a time we need it most.”
The jointly funded package is supported by investments from the Commonwealth ($451 million) and New South Wales Government ($569 million).
Premier of New South Wales Gladys Berejiklian said the stimulus package would drive thousands of jobs and improve the safety and travel times of journeys in both the city and the regions.
“This stimulus package builds on NSW’s record infrastructure investment of $100 billion over 4 years, including an extra $3 billion to accelerate projects and create jobs,” the Premier said.
“Projects equal jobs and fast-tracking these infrastructure projects are more important than ever as the economy recovers from the pandemic.
“Building infrastructure will be key to our economic recovery which is why we have already accelerated a number of infrastructure projects, creating thousands of jobs.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Government had worked closely with State, Territory and Local governments to identify shovel-ready projects to help reignite the economy and get money flowing into jobs and businesses as soon as possible.
“This funding will help turbocharge the NSW Government’s Fixing Local Roads program, jointly funding $382 million of projects on a 50:50 basis on the local roads that communities use every day,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“The Fixing Local Roads package will help to repair, maintain or seal priority council roads and see projects start construction in the next 12 months, creating thousands of jobs in the bush.”
NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the first round of jointly funded projects would deliver more than 258 projects across 83 Local Government Areas.
“This is money for small projects that make a big difference in people’s everyday lives in regional NSW,” Mr Toole said.
“It means communities right across the State will see work starting on the local roads in their area as soon as next month.”
Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said the funding injection would also deliver shovel-ready, urban projects.
“We’re investing $240 million to jointly fund on a 50:50 basis a Pinch Point Program that will bust congestion for freight and bus services across Sydney’s metropolitan road network,” Mr Tudge said.
“These small-scale road improvements will make all the difference for mums and dads doing the school drop off, and people on their way home from work.
NSW Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the program was saving Sydney drivers from millions of hours spent in traffic each year.
“Since coming into government we have completed 217 projects with huge benefits across the Sydney network. These include improving safety while busting congestion,” Mr Constance said.
“We’ve already spent $579 million on the Pinch Points program, but we have seen $1.37 billion in realised benefits. It’s these smaller scale, local projects that really help to deliver those massive time savings for drivers and make our road network more efficient.
The jointly funded package is supported by investments from the Commonwealth ($451 million) and New South Wales Government ($569 million).
Commonwealth funding for the package has been drawn from the recently announced $1.5 billion allocation for priority, shovel-ready projects and targeted road safety works.
The additional NSW funding is sourced from the $3 billion Project Acceleration Fund.
The Commonwealth Government has now committed more than $35.4 billion to transport infrastructure in New South Wales.
NSW INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE
Shovel-ready projects

Project	Federal funding	Total funding
Pinch Point Program – addressing congestion impacting freight and bus services on the Sydney metropolitan road network Bus Priority Improvements – Macquarie Park – Lane Cove Road and Waterloo Road Intersection Bus Priority Improvements – Macquarie Park – Epping Road and Herring Road Intersection Improvements – Showground Road and Carrington Road Intersection Upgrades Intersection Improvements – Pacific Highway and Finlay Road Intersection Improvements – Devlin Street, Blaxland Road and Parkes Street Intersection Improvements – Parramatta Road and Woodville Road Intersection Improvements – Georges River Road and Milton Street Intersection Improvements – King Georges Road and Canterbury Road Install Traffic Signals – Wentworth Avenue and Baker Street Corridor Upgrades – Oxford Street (Bondi Junction) Corridor Optimisation and Cycleway – Centennial Park to Kingsford via Doncaster Avenue	$120 million	$240 million
Fixing Local Roads – repairing, maintaining or sealing priority council roads	$191 million	$382 million

Road safety upgrades

Project	Federal funding	Total funding
Safer Roads Program – including mass action rollout of rumble strips (audio-tactile line marking)	$140 million	$398 million

Total

$451 million

$1.02 billion

The National Cabinet met today to further discuss Australia’s current COVID-19 response, easing restrictions in the coming months, helping Australians prepare to go back to work in a COVID-safe environment and getting the economy moving again.
The Chief Medical Officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, provided an update on the measures underway, the latest data and medical advice in relation to COVID-19.
Treasury Secretary, Dr Stephen Kennedy, provided an update on the labour market and current economic conditions.
There have been over 7,500 confirmed cases in Australia and sadly 104 people have died. There are now around 500 active cases in Australia, and over the past week, daily infection rates have remained low. Testing remains high, with more than 2.2 million tests undertaken in Australia.
National Cabinet discussed the localised outbreaks in Victoria and the health response underway and committed to providing as much support as is necessary. Localised response plans are part of the Three-Step Framework for easing restrictions agreed by all jurisdictions. Victoria is responding well, including with testing and tracing, and the Commonwealth and other jurisdictions stand ready to assist where needed.
National Cabinet recommitted to the strategy of suppression of COVID-19 and to the Three-Step Framework to a COVID-safe Australia.
We need to continue to have the right controls in place to test more people, trace those who test positive and respond to local outbreaks when they occur. These are Precedent Conditions to enable Australia to relax baseline restrictions and enable Australians to live and work in a COVID-safe economy.
National Cabinet thanked Professor Murphy for his work on the COVID-19 response and wished him well in his new role as Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Health.
National Cabinet will meet again on 10 July 2020.
Localised Health Response
National Cabinet discussed the outbreaks in Victoria and how best to ensure a coordinated, cross-jurisdictional response to localised health outbreaks going forward.
The National Cabinet agreed to a new plan for Australia’s Public Health Capacity and COVID-19. Under the plan developed by the AHPPC, six actions for state, territory and Commonwealth governments will improve long term sustainability of the public health workforce for the remainder of COVID‑19 and beyond by:

• strengthening a formal surge plan for the public health response workforce and review the ongoing structure of the public health units;
• progressing the national interoperable notifiable disease surveillance system (NINDSS) project and prioritise appropriate interfaces;
• establishing a national training program for surge workforce;
• better support the Communicable Disease Network of Australia (CDNA), including shared costs;
• prioritising enhancing the public health physician workforce capacity; and
• considering options for developing a formal public health workforce training program.

Hotel Quarantine
National Cabinet confirmed that the current hotel quarantine arrangements remain in place. In addition, National Cabinet agreed that further testing will be conducted for all those in hotel quarantine, including within the first 48 hours in quarantine and then on day 10-12 of quarantine.
Roadmap for arts and entertainment venues
National Cabinet asked AHPPC to develop a roadmap for re-opening arts and entertainment venues, in particular to enable planning for productions to commence.
This will build on the AHPPC Statement on the safe return of crowds to stadiums, arenas and large theatres. Under this plan the AHPPC advises that in Step 3, seated and ticked events may take place with crowd limits for example, stadiums with a capacity of up to 40,000 people may operate at 25 per cent seating capacity and stadiums with a capacity of greater than 40,000 people may not have more than 10,000 people. In later steps, states and territories may allow all large venues to admit larger crowds provided there is no evidence of community transmission, the event is seated and ticketed, physical distancing and other public health measures are maintained, and all public health risks are managed.
Small venues and physical distancing
National Cabinet agreed that under Step 3 of the Framework for a COVID-safe Australia and based on AHPPC advice, states and territories can allow small premises to apply a one-person, per two square-metre rule with a COVID-safe plan in place.
Federation Reform
National Cabinet today agreed that former Director-General of the Western Australian Department of Premier and Cabinet and former Commonwealth Cabinet Secretary Mr Peter Conran AM will lead the review of the former COAG Councils and Ministerial Forums with a view to rationalise and reset their work. National Cabinet also agreed to Terms of Reference for the Review which set out avenues for consultation with Commonwealth and state and territory ministers and officials.
National Cabinet agreed that Review will make recommendations on a streamlined structure, scope and reporting arrangements and on focused regulatory and policy work programs. The review will provide recommendations to National Cabinet by September 2020.
Additional Papers
National Cabinet endorsed a number of papers to enable reopening under a 3 Step Framework for a COVID Safe Australia:

• AHPPC Statement on the review of physical distancing and person density restrictions including for smaller venues;
• AHPPC Statement on Hotel Quarantine;
• AHPPC Statement on risk management for boarding schools and school‑based residential colleges;
• AHPPC Statement to update residential aged care facilities about minimising the impact of COVID-19;
• AHPPC Statement on preliminary media reports of the results of a randomised trial of the use of dexamethasone;
• AHPPC Statement on recent outbreaks of COVID-19 in Victoria;
• AHPPC Statement on the safe return of crowds to stadiums, arenas and large theatres; and
• Australian aviation industry’s protocol.

Heads should roll over the ineptitude and failure of duty identified by the Auditor-General in a scathing report into Australia’s environment laws released this afternoon, the Greens say.
Greens Spokesperson for the Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“The Auditor-General’s assessment of the government’s management of the environment and our wildlife is scathing.
“The report shows the Environment Minister and the Federal Department have failed to protect the environment and are, simply put, incompetent.
“Heads should roll over this ineptitude and failure of duty. If this was the Health Minister who had overseen the botched implementation and enforcement of health and safety regulations, they and the head of their department would get the sack. The environment should be no different.
“The PM needs to abandon his so-called fast-track environmental approvals and Labor needs to get off the unity ticket with the government. There can be no argument for weakening environmental laws when the government is this inept.
“The laws have failed to protect Australia’s environment and wildlife for far too long. Things must change. We need stronger protection, not weaker laws.
“This report shows, it’s not just incompetency, it’s a lack of care and duty that has allowed the trashing of the environment. Putting the interests of miners and developers ahead of clean water, critical habitat and the survival of our native animals.
“The government cannot guarantee that not one more hectare of critical koala habitat will be lost under their plan. They cannot guarantee that not one more sacred Aboriginal site will be blown up.
“Enough is enough. There must be accountability, and it must be at the top. Not only do our environmental laws need an overhaul but clearly so does those who are in charge of administering them.
“The 10-year review into the EPBC Act, which the PM and Minister Ley haven’t even waited for before plotting a path to further environmental destruction, will be handed to the government next week and must be immediately released.
“Australians won’t accept anything less than a response that puts our environment first, and well ahead of vested interests that pollute and destroy our precious natural places.”

The Morrison Government’s long-awaited package for the arts and entertainment industry, announced today, is too little, very late, the Greens say.
Greens spokesperson for the Arts Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, who has been calling for a specific industry package for four months after COVID-19 restrictions shutdown arts and entertainment in Australia basically overnight, said:
“After watching the demise of the arts and entertainment industry for four months, the Morrison Government has finally managed to find some funding to help it.
“At this point, any money will be welcomed by an industry on its knees. But $250million, including loans, falls well short of what is needed to save jobs and generate economic stimulus. The industry itself was calling for a package of close to a billion dollars.
“The Government found $700m for their home HomeBuilder scheme. There’s no excuse for giving the arts and entertainment sector, that has been hit hardest by the COVID19 anything less.
“More Australians have lost their jobs in the creative industries due to COVID than those in building and construction; however Scott Morrison has given the building industry more than double the support. It seems giving granite benchtops to wealthy homeowners is more important to the PM than saving a generation of Australia’s artists and creatives.
“The arts and entertainment industry is worth $112billion a year to our economy. Any investment in the industry is an investment in jobs, the economy and our cultural capital as well as our tourism and hospitality sectors.”

It is time to talk about bringing Qantas International into public ownership as part of any further assistance package, Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt MP said today, urging the government to step in. Mr Bandt said the Greens supported calls for the extension of JobKeeper, but that government needed to do more.
“With one in five workers now gone at Qantas, tens of thousands of workers are now at risk of unemployment unless the government steps in to help,” Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt MP said today.
“Scott Morrison just stood by while Virgin pushed thousands of workers to the dole queue and shuttered an entire airline.
“If Qantas needs further help to keep its international business afloat, the public and Qantas workers should get something for it. A publicly owned airline could guarantee jobs and ensure Australia had a functioning international airline, an essential service for an island nation.
“When you see the kangaroo logo on the shelves, you know you’re buying Australian made. When you see it on a plane, it could mean Australian owned. This could help save tens of thousands of jobs.
“Australia is at a disadvantage because we don’t have a publicly owned airline able to help attract people to our shores.
“An investment in Qantas International is an investment in its workers and our future, and we shouldn’t sit on our hands any longer.”
Lines attributable to Senator Janet Rice, Greens transport spokesperson:
“It’s time for the government to offer support to Qantas through public ownership. Privatisation has failed us. Corporate profits for the major airlines have soared over the years, but now the going has got tough, Qantas chose to leave its workers in the lurch.
“After dealing a devastating blow to 6,000 of its staff yesterday, Qantas is now asking for more government support as it continues to stand down 15,000 workers in the coming months.
“If the public’s money is going to be spent, we should be getting public ownership. It’s as simple as that.
“Public ownership is the only way to ensure the airline prioritises essential workers and meets emission reduction targets.
“We’ve already seen the results of the Morrison government’s failure to step in with Virgin Australia. Virgin will soon be owned by Bain Capital – a company with a disastrous track record on industrial relations, axing jobs and leaving workers without severance pay.
“The government cannot leave the door open to these devastating cost cutting measures for both major airlines and all the workers who rely on them.”

The Greens call on the Australian Government to add its voice to global calls and forcefully speak out against the Israeli Government’s plans to annex parts of the West Bank in clear violation of international law.
Leader of the Greens Adam Bandt said: “There has been an increasing and overwhelming chorus of global voices condemning the Israeli Government’s plans to annex parts of the West Bank as soon as 1 July.
“Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump have virtually no support on the international stage from leaders across the political spectrum, including many Jewish supporters of Israel internationally and in Australia. Yet the Australian Government remains resolutely silent, offering tacit approval for a plan that is an indisputably grave breach of international law, thwarts Palestinians’ right to self-determination, destabilises the entire region and further jeopardises the prospects of a two-state solution.”
“This plan is not only a further blow to Palestinian human rights after decades of occupation and de facto annexation through settlement construction. It is also detrimental to Israel’s security – a point made by many in Israel’s security establishment – and it is a disaster for Israel’s democracy.”
“The misguided and dangerous plan for annexation is driven by the far right in Israel and the US.  It is designed to prevent the creation of a Palestinian state, not to create conditions for peace.  It’s well past time for Australia to show some leadership and speak out.  Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Foreign Minister Marise Payne must make clear to the Israeli Government that serious breaches of international law have diplomatic consequences, including the possibility of Australia joining internationally coordinated sanctions should annexation proceed.”
“This annexation is not a done deal – pressure from countries like Australia can make a difference. There has never been a more critical time for the Australian Government to speak against this gross breach of international law.”

In another damning report, the Australian National Audit Office has found that the government does not adequately assess conflict of interests risks or monitor compliance with the Lobbying Code of Conduct.
Greens Senate Leader and Democracy spokesperson, Larissa Waters, said the community was fed up with conflict-of-interest scandals and the revolving door between politicians and lobbyists, including mining and gambling interests. Grattan Institute research shows that many lobbyists previously held Ministerial or Departmental roles, and their connections made it easier for them to secure meetings with government.
“The lack of transparency about who is meeting with Ministers is staggering.  The Australian public needs to know who is influencing the decisions that government makes.”
“The ANAO has previously advised the government that it needs to strengthen oversight of lobbyists, but today’s report confirms the government has ignored that warning.”
Senator Waters said stronger, enforceable standards were essential to protect against the culture of cosiness that allows dirty industries to get favourable policy outcomes.
“Last week, we learned that Senator Colbeck met with alcohol lobbyists, and then postponed action on warning labels.  This was just the most recent example – the influence peddled by industry lobbyists is rife and it undermines democracy.”
The Greens support calls by the ANAO for the government to review the regulatory regime to ensure contact between lobbyists and Government representatives is conducted with transparency, integrity and honesty. The Greens have also called for a range of tougher measures, including:

• Establishing a legislative regime to regulate all lobbyists
• Extending the cooling off period for post-Ministerial lobbying to 5 years, and impose a cooling off period for all politicians and senior staff
• Extending the application of the Code to include in-house lobbyists and orange-pass holders
• Publish details of all meetings between Ministers and for-profit lobbyists
• Establish a Parliamentary Standards Commissioner to oversee and enforce Ministerial Standards and Codes of Conduct
• Introduce effective sanctions for non-compliance with the Code of Conduct, including reduced access to Parliament House, losing parliamentary pension entitlements, or restricted eligibility for government tenders

“The Australian people have had enough of the faceless men and industry donors writing policy. They want their democracy back.”
“The Greens will keep pushing for tougher regulation of lobbyists, a ban on dirty donations and an independent federal corruption watchdog with teeth.”
The report is available on the ANAO website:  https://www.anao.gov.au/work/performance-audit/management-the-australian-government-lobbying-code-conduct-follow-up-audit

The awarding of joint hosting rights for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 is a landmark decision for women’s sport in our region Prime Ministers Scott Morrison and Jacinda Ardern said.
For the first time in history, Australians and New Zealanders will be able to experience a tier one football tournament on home soil.
The 2023 event will be the largest, and no doubt the best, Women’s World Cup that has ever been staged.
This is a huge positive for the footballing and sporting industries on both sides of the Tasman as we recover and rebuild from COVID-19.
As sporting nations we have had a long history of producing some of the best female footballers in the world and this tournament will further inspire our next generation and provide the platform for them to compete on the world stage.
It will also help drive Australia’s goal of achieving a 50/50 split of male and female participation in the game by 2027, and builds on New Zealand’s 35 percent increase in female participation over the past five years.
The event, which will be held between 10 July and 20 August 2023, will provide a near $500 million boost to economic activity for host countries, a significant jobs boost for host cities, and an opportunity for tourist regions in both countries to capitalise on new visitations.
Australia and New Zealand are world leaders when it comes to co-hosting major events with a track record that includes the 2017 Rugby League World Cup and the 2015 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
We also lead the world in equality and fairness, and we are committed to promoting these values through the tournament and beyond.
Thank you to Football Federation Australia, New Zealand Football, the Matildas and Football Ferns, as well as the broader football family who have supported our bid from the outset.

Australian Greens Peace & Disarmament spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John said today that buying new military technology to equip Australia for future wars was the “worst way to spend” $200 billion, especially during a pandemic.
“Hundreds of thousands of people across our community are struggling right now and are unable to access the support they need,” Steele-John said.
“Aside from investing it directly into coal, this government would be hard pressed to come up with a worse way to spend $200 billion during a global pandemic, and against the backdrop of a climate crisis.
“Casual and migrant workers, people on the DSP and carer payment and renters have all been forgotten by this government in the economic response to COVID-19 and in just a couple of months time the JobKeeper payment will cease and the rate of JobSeeker will be cut almost in half, putting even more financial stress on thousands of Australians families and businesses.
“We need a new approach to defence spending that is focused on preparing our defence forces for the impacts of climate change instead of wasting public funds on unnecessary and outdated weapons.
“For Defence MInister Linda Reynolds to double-down on this commitment now is to rub salt into the wounds of every single Australian who is struggling right now.”