Category: Australian News

As part of the Green New Deal to solve the climate crisis, Greens Leader Adam Bandt has called for the doubling of the number of paid firefighters across the country paid for by a levy on the coal, oil and gas industry.
Mr Bandt will make the announcement alongside a dozen active firefighters in Parliament House, who will join in calls for the government and opposition to back the plan.
Adam Bandt MP said:
“The Greens are the firefighters of Australian politics. We are the only ones recognising it’s a climate emergency and acting like the house is one fire.
“Our emergency services need to be equipped to fight the climate emergency.
“The first job of a government is to keep Australians safe. To protect Australians from the climate crisis, our Green New Deal will plan for a phase out of coal, oil and gas and double our firefighting forces. We call on Liberal and Labor to back our call.
“Five of Australia’s top coal companies, Peabody, Yancoal, CITIC, Sumitomo and Whitehaven had earnings of $54 billion between them over the past five years, yet paid zero income tax in Australia.
“The burning of coal, oil and gas is fueling the climate crisis and putting Australian lives at risk. It’s time that fossil fuel companies start meeting the costs of tackling the climate emergency.
“Firefighters and experts such as the Climate Council have said that doubling the number of firefighters is necessary to fight these catastrophic fires.
“The people of Australia need more than thoughts and prayers. We need emergency action that matches the scale of the emergency we face.”
Rachel Cowling, Senior Station Officer said:
“Firefighters know an emergency when they see one and this is a climate emergency. There are no skeptics at the end of a firehouse.”

Background

The intensity and duration of the fires has exhausted our firefighters. Despite the incredible efforts of volunteers to manage the fires turbo-charged by coal and climate change, we need to double the number of paid firefighters to protect us from future megafires.
Australia is the world’s biggest exporter of coal and LNG. So by levying a $1 per tonne levy on the CO2 potential from all of Australia’s coal, oil and gas production driving the climate crisis, $1.53 billion a year can be raised from our overseas customers, to be spent on the Australian community.
This money raised each year from the coal, oil and gas industry will be directed to the twin tasks of rebuilding the devastated communities in the short term and as a Commonwealth contribution towards covering the costs of training and employing a doubling of our paid firefighters over the medium term.
On Wednesday Mr Bandt participated in an Emergency Services Summit in Parliament House, hearing directly from emergency services workers who have responded to the bushfire crisis.
Mr Bandt has a long history of working with firefighters. One of Adam’s first acts in Parliament was to introduce a private members bill extending protection for firefighters who contract cancer through their work, which passed into law with unanimous support, becoming one of only 7 private members bills to become law in the past two decades.

The Australian Greens have slammed Scott Morrison’s cabinet reshuffle, which further cements the climate denialism of this government.
Australian Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP said:
“Moving Keith Pitt, a nuke-loving climate denier, back onto the front bench makes the intentions of this government even clearer.
“We are in a climate emergency but this Prime Minister shamefully thinks it’s appropriate to put on the frontbench a man who previously quit cabinet over opposition to the Paris Agreement.
“Appointing a nuclear advocate is a ‘dead cat’ strategy, an attempt at distraction from a Prime Minister who desperately doesn’t want to talk about coal.
“It’s time to turf out this is government of climate criminals.”
Greens Spokesperson for the Environment, Water and Nuclear Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“The cabinet reshuffle today looks like more jobs for the boys.
“The Prime Minister has promoted more turkeys to the Cabinet table who are there simply as lackeys of the coal and nuclear industry.
“The new Resources and Water Minister Keith Pitt is one of the country’s most vocal opponents for global action on climate change. The PM’s promoted a bloke who wants Australia to go nuclear and build more coal.
“This is a disaster for the environment, the Murray-Darling Basin and puts a question mark over Scott Morrison’s intentions when it comes to nuclear power in this country.
“The PM must rule out any support for the further expansion of the nuclear industry in Australia. He must reassure the Australian people that there will be no new plans, money spent or suggestions coming from his government for nuclear in Australia.”

A powerful, new independent body will be created to investigate all suspected veteran and Australian Defence Force (ADF) suicides and causes to help save lives.
The Morrison Government will establish a permanent National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention.
The National Commissioner will have the enduring power, scope and resources to investigate suicides and related issues as they arise, rather than being restricted by a one-off review looking at past practices.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the independent Commissioner would also have the power to compel witnesses to give evidence.
“This is about being forever vigilant for the care and well-being of our veterans,” the Prime Minister said.
“Those veterans and all serving men and women protect our community and our freedoms. It is our duty to do the same for them.
“I have thought long and hard about the best response to this issue. I have spoken to veterans right across Australia and I have met with their families and also local, state and national organisations.
“I believe what we have developed addresses the needs of those veterans, their families and our serving men and women.
“We will be permanently vigilant about their welfare.”
The National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention will be empowered to perform two roles:

• The Commissioner will be an independent and permanent public accountability body, with the same powers of a Royal Commission to compel the production of evidence and summon witnesses, and make findings and recommendations to Government.
• The Commissioner will also provide an ongoing investigative function of individual cases of suicide, working with each state and territory coronial office, making recommendations to Government.

The Government will invest an initial $40 million to support the Commissioner’s work and this will be expanded to ensure they have whatever resources they need.
The Government will also establish an immediate, independent review of historical veteran suicide cases, conducted by the Commissioner, focusing on the impact of military service and veterans’ post service experience.
An interim report will be delivered within 12 months. Families will be engaged in this process if they wish, with an opportunity to participate and tell their stories openly and safely.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, along with coronial and legal experts, will provide technical expertise in support of this work.
Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel Darren Chester said the Commissioner would also deliver an Annual Veteran and Defence Suicide Death Report to the Parliament.
“This will be a transparent report directly to the Parliament on an annual basis on suicides within the defence and veteran community, including an update on the implementation and evaluation of measures to reduce suicide risk factors,” Mr Chester said.
“The Government is committed to ensuring ADF members, veterans and their families have access to the right support, at the right time, especially those who are vulnerable or at risk.”
Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said the Chief of the Defence Force and each Service Chief was committed to being open and transparent, to support improved health outcomes for ADF personnel and veterans.
“The mental health and wellbeing of our vets and Defence Force members is an issue of national and enduring importance.
“These comprehensive measures have been developed with a very clear focus on finding the most effective and practical ways of better identifying, preventing, understanding and acting on suicide and suicide risks among our vets and service men and women.”
A Veteran Family Advocate will also be appointed to directly engage with the families of veterans, to improve the design of all veteran programs and services, including mental health supports and services.
“The new Veteran Family Advocate will focus on mental health and suicide prevention, and contribute to our understanding of risk factors relating to the wellbeing of veterans and their families, particularly during transition from the ADF,” Mr Chester said.
“The Advocate will represent the views of veterans and their families by engaging and advocating to help shape policy and the administration of veteran benefits and support.
“We want to assure defence and veterans’ families that help is available now and it can make a difference. Open Arms – Veterans and Families Counselling provides support and counselling to current ADF members, veterans and their families and can be contacted 24/7 on 1800 011 046.”

New figures released today prove beyond doubt that Anthony Albanese and his Labor team are nothing more than highly-paid mouthpieces for militant unions.
Electoral Commission political donation data reveals that more than $13.8 million was pumped into Labor’s coffers by unions in 2018/19, while almost $35 million was spent directly by unions on trying to make Bill Shorten Prime Minister.
Australia’s most lawless union – the CFMMEU – was among the biggest individual contributors to Labor, kicking in almost $2 million.
And what did the CFMMEU get in return for their generosity? They got every Labor MP and Senator to go into bat for them against the Morrison Government’s vitally important Ensuring Integrity Bill – a Bill that promises to break the CFMMEU’s stranglehold over the construction industry and end the violence, bullying and intimidation that has plagued the sector for decades.
“What these figures prove is that if you pump enough money into Labor’s coffers, you can guarantee its support in Parliament, even if it means defending the indefensible, such as thuggery, coercion and harassment,” Attorney General and Minister for Industrial Relations, Christian Porter, said.
“Let’s not forget that the CFMMEU has been described by the Federal Court as the most recidivist corporate offender in Australia’s history, having racked up more than $17 million dollars in fines in recent years for offences such as coercion, intimidation and even faking safety concerns.
“Yet Labor is more than happy to take the union’s money, even though Anthony Albanese doesn’t believe that John Setka is a fit and proper person to be a member of his party. Anthony Albanese needs to come clean and tell the Australian people whose side he is really on. Is it the side of the Australian people, or the side of union thugs and bullies?”

The first major piece of infrastructure at Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport is complete with Badgerys Creek Road ready for traffic.

Reports of a mass koala massacre in Victoria by a private logging company require an urgent independent investigation, the Greens say.
Greens Spokesperson for the Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said she had written to the Victorian and Federal Environment Ministers asking them to investigate and explain the gruesome footage that had emerged showing hundreds of koalas bulldozed to their deaths at a bluegum plantation.
“Thousands of koalas have died in the fires across the country and now it seems even more are dead because of logging in their habitat,” Senator Hanson-Young said.
“Australians already heartbroken by the images of burned koalas, will be ashamed and distressed that this is happening.
“Our environmental laws and our government should be protecting our precious wildlife not allowing private companies to inflict incomprehensible cruelty on innocent animals.
“The private companies involved must explain their actions and if laws have been broken they must be held accountable. I’ve contacted the companies involved seeking an urgent meeting.”
Senator Hanson-Young said that as Chair of the Senate’s Environment and Communications Committee she would seek to have those involved brought before the Faunal Extinction Inquiry.
“We cannot allow anyone to get away with this type of cruelty and harm and it’s up to governments to do something to stop it,” Senator Hanson-Young said.

The long-overdue resignation of the ministry by Bridget McKenzie leaves unanswered questions about the Sports Rorts scandal and does not address underlying integrity issues with the Morrison Government, according to the Greens.
Co-deputy leader and spokesperson on democracy Senator Larissa Waters and spokesperson on sport Senator Janet Rice said the Prime Minister will try and draw a line under this sports rorts scandal after Bridget McKenzie’s resignation but the announcement today does not stop the rot.
Senator Larissa Waters said:
“Channel 10 News raised serious allegations on Friday about the Prime Minister’s office being directly involved in this scandal. Scott Morrison should make a statement to parliament this week clarifying the exact role his office played in bribes going to marginal seats and how the Prime Minister was involved.
“Sports Rorts is only the latest of a long line of scandals involving government ministers, including multiple conflicts of interest surrounding Angus Taylor and the post-parliament employment of Christopher Pyne and Julie Bishop in industries they were previously responsible for regulating.
“On top of the Prime Minister’s list of business for this week should be restoring trust in the government and his ministers.
“My bill establishing an independent federal corruption watchdog passed the Senate in September last year, the Prime Minister should bring on a vote for the bill as first order of business in the lower house this Wednesday.
“The community is growing tired of witnessing behaviour from politicians that shows they are serving their own self-interest and benefit donors to their party. It’s time to clean up politics and strengthen our democracy so it works for everyone,” she said.
Senator Janet Rice said:

“The idea that political considerations were not a determining factor when deciding what clubs got funding is farcical.

“Australians take pride in a sporting culture that aims to play fair, from school competitions to social sport, right up to our elite national teams, so why won’t the Prime Minister and his ministers do the same? The same rules should apply to them.

“Minister McKenzie’s resignation does not change the result: we still have a government up to their neck in dishonesty and scandals, and there are still hundreds of deserving clubs across Australia who were robbed as the government used sports grants to buy and cheat their way back into government.
“The Prime Minister should do the right thing and make sure every community that met Sport Australia’s independent criteria for funding receives support for their local sports projects, regardless of their electorate.
“This is the level playing field the community expects: fix the problem, hold those responsible to account, and ensure this porkbarrelling never happens again.”

The National Security Committee of Cabinet met again today to consider new and urgent information regarding the novel coronavirus situation.
Based on updated health advice from the Commonwealth’s Chief Medical Officer and the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee and the increased risk posed by the spread of novel coronavirus, we have decided to introduce strict new travel restrictions and new travel advice.
Effective immediately, foreign nationals (excluding permanent residents) who are in mainland China from today forward, will not be allowed to enter Australia for 14 days from the time they have left or transited through mainland China.
Australian citizens and permanent residents will still be able to enter, as will their immediate family members (spouses, legal guardians or dependants only). This exemption will be extended to airline crews who have been using appropriate personal protective equipment.
I want to assure Australians that we are doing everything we can, through these increased actions, to protect Australians and keep them safe from what is an escalating threat.
This is a temporary measure, which will be reviewed in 14 days.
Any foreign nationals who do arrive in Australia notwithstanding the prohibition, and who choose not to immediately return to their port of origin, will be subject to mandatory quarantine.
We will also be requiring Australian citizens, permanent residents and their families who do enter Australia and who have been in mainland China to self-isolate for 14 days from the time they left mainland China.
Further, enhanced screening arrangements will be effected at ports of entry. The Government will make 500,000 masks available for airport and port staff and arriving passengers and handheld thermometers will be made available at impacted ports.
We will also raise the travel advice to Australians for all of mainland China to Level Four – “Do not travel.”
We have not taken any of these decisions lightly. Over the past month we have consistently relied on expert advice, including from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, based on the advice of the Communicable Diseases Network Australia. Their advice has guided the decision to announce these new measures today.
In particular, the changing epidemiology of the coronavirus in China and the uncertainty that remains around its transmission and virulence, mean the utmost precaution is warranted.
There is no basis for alarm. It is important to remember the risk to Australians is currently very low. We need to keep it that way.
Australia is well-prepared to respond to these challenges. We have been assessed by the World Health Organization as a world leader in preparedness for pandemics.
The Australian Government continues to monitor and respond to the coronavirus outbreak as it evolves.
We will work in close cooperation with state Government authorities and our international partners to coordinate our response and keep Australians safe.