Category: Australian News

Big tech and social media corporations should pay their fair share back to the communities they profit from, including for public interest journalism, according to the Greens and a Parliamentary Select Committee Report into Social Media. 

The Greens are calling on the Government to stand up to tech giants like Meta and protect media diversity and public interest journalism in Australia via comprehensive regulatory reform. In additional comments the Greens are calling for an overhaul of ACMA powers, and the implementation of the News Media Assistance Program.

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is Greens Spokesperson for Communications:

“A strong, diverse and trusted news media sector is essential for a strong and robust democracy. Australia needs to urgently address the lack of trust and sustainability of quality public interest journalism if we are to protect ourselves from the rampant disinformation and politics of division we are witnessing in the United States. 

“Independent public interest journalism is a public good, but more is needed than just short term funding and grant programs. 

“It’s clear that comprehensive digital and media reform is well overdue in Australia and we need stronger laws that deal with the toxic business model of these big tech corporations.

“It’s time for the Albanese Government to make these companies pay their fair share back to the communities they are profiting from, and too often, harming. We’ve seen this in countries like France and Canada and it should be part of the solution to fund the public interest journalism that’s been gutted by the tech giants.

“We also need greater transparency over how these companies use their algorithms and the data of everyday users.

“We need to fund quality, public interest journalism in Australia and ensure that a diversity of publishers, especially small, medium, regional and independent media are supported.

“ACMA’s powers are not fit for purpose in a digital age and comprehensive reform in this area is well overdue.

“A Commission of Inquiry into media regulation and diversity including the damaging impact the Murdoch media empire is having on our democracy is also warranted.

“While this is the first report of this inquiry, focused on the news media bargaining code and journalism support, the final report of the inquiry will deal with the harms of social media and the need for regulating the big tech giants. 

“Labor & the Liberals should back the Greens’ call for a ban on big tech corporations harvesting the data of young people and targeting them with advertising and dangerous algorithms. The business model of collecting, selling and exploiting young people’s data to make massive profits must stop.”

Media diversity in Australia is now second-worst in the world, with experts calling for a levy on tech firms.

The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) has recommended disciplinary action against three officers in their report following Operation Pamir finding that a vulnerable First Nations person had their rights violated in May 2020. Police officers forced the victim to participate in police interviews against the fundamental right to silence and put false information to that person during an interview.

This report follows the report on Operation Mantus last year, which found systemic failures to protect young people and their right to silence. The investigation and report occurred after Police prosecution of the person was halted in court due to the evidence given being inadmissible.

Greens MP and spokesperson for justice Sue Higginson said “This report has once again lifted the lid on a horrid and sordid culture within the NSW Police. Despite two separate Lawyers, including one Aboriginal Legal Service lawyer, advising police that the victim exercised their right to silence, the officers forced two separate interviews with the victim, therefore engaging in serious misconduct.”

“We can’t know how often this is happening, but the impunity shown in this case and by the fact that this was done in collusion between numerous officers would suggest that it is not uncommon,”

“We have seen endless accounts from people that have survived abuse by the police, including current and former police officers, as well as members of the community who are targeted and vilified based on racist policing practices. Everytime the LECC makes findings of wrongdoing and misconduct against the police, the Minister and the Premier try and excuse the issue by saying that the system is working, this is a political failure and it has to stop,”

“Arresting officers, custody managers and bail officers all have a significant responsibility for maintaining a person’s welfare and for protecting the legal rights of the community. The culture of cover up and abuse within the police system in NSW is putting people in danger and violating the community at every turn,”

“The right to silence is one of the most fundamental rights when it comes to freedom from oppressive state prosecution,”

“The Government should direct the Police to make compensation available to the victim of this police misconduct, and the LECC should be resourced according to the number of reports made to them from the community,”

“As long as the LECC does not have enough resources to properly police the police, there is no hope for a genuine clearing of the decks from the toxicity in the NSW Police that is causing harm and violating people’s rights,”

“The three officers should have their employment terminated immediately, to clear these bad apples from the barrel, and the systemic shift that is so badly needed should begin today,” Ms Higginson said.

Under the Albanese Government, Australia is facing a housing crisis. The great Australian dream of home ownership has never felt further out of reach.

We need to get our country Back on Track, and restore the Australian dream of home ownership.

Today, the Coalition is announcing new policies to boost housing supply.

Over the past two years, the Coalition has consulted with hundreds of local councils across the nation to discuss new housing supply constraints and practical ways to overcome these challenges. This consultation has made clear that one of the major impediments to new housing projects is the lack of funding for critical enabling infrastructure.

Whilst it is not the usual role of the Federal Government to fund enabling infrastructure like water, power, sewerage, and access roads, the scale of Labor’s national housing crisis means the Coalition will, on a time-limited basis, unlock necessary new housing supply and keep the Australian dream alive.

We will invest in shovel-ready infrastructure, the lack of which is hindering the development of new housing, through a new Housing Infrastructure Programme (HIP).

An elected Coalition Government will commit $5 billion to get these projects moving, unlocking up to 500,000 homes to be delivered more quickly through a mixture of grants and concessional loans.

We know there are hundreds of greenfield sites across the country ready for development, but progress has been stalled due to a lack of funding for essential enabling infrastructure. Our approach is focussed on investing in enabling infrastructure to unlock the supply of shovel-ready new housing developments.

The cheapest form of housing for first home buyers is detached housing with backyards and our Housing Infrastructure Programme will be a catalyst for exactly this – new greenfield housing developments.

This funding will be offered on a ‘use it or lose it’ basis. This means if there is no progress on successful projects within 12 months of contracting, then the funding will be terminated.

The Government’s housing crisis is failing Australians. Labor’s promise to build 1.2 million homes over five years has already failed, with industry leaders confirming a likely shortfall of more than 400,000 homes.

Under this Government, building approvals have fallen to their lowest level in over a decade, dropping 8.8 per cent to just 158,690 new starts in 2023-24. Simultaneously, the Government has brought in more than one million migrants in their first two years in office, while only 350,000 homes have been constructed in that time.

That’s why the Coalition’s Housing Infrastructure Programme is essential to getting Australia Back on Track. It will have a significant impact in unlocking new projects or bringing forward projects that might otherwise be delayed for years.

Further, to address supply constraints, the Coalition is announcing today that we will freeze any further changes to the National Construction Code (NCC) for 10 years.

At a time of high inflation, the Government’s changes to the NCC have added red tape and increased the compliance burden for new housing projects, driving up costs for purchasers. Stakeholders estimate the Government’s recent changes to the NCC (including changes to energy efficiency standards) have added up to $60,000 to the price of a new home.

The Coalition’s freeze will provide certainty to the industry and let builders get on with the job of building homes for Australians. We further commit to working with industry to review the Government’s changes to the NCC and identify options to further reduce red tape and bring down costs for consumers.

Today’s announcement sits alongside the Coalition’s already-announced commitments to bring down demand and free up supply by reducing migration, our two-year ban on foreign investors and temporary residents purchasing existing homes in Australia, and capping the number of overseas students. These changes will free up over 100,000 homes for Australians over five years.

At the same time, the Coalition will work with the building and construction industry to ensure there are enough skilled and temporary skilled visas for those with essential skills to support our local tradies to build the homes we need.

The Coalition will also bring down the costs of housing by tackling union corruption that has contributed to driving up the costs of building by 30 per cent. The Coalition will deregister the CFMEU, restore the ABCC, and ensure tough judicial scrutiny for union officials who do the wrong thing.

A Dutton Coalition Government will restore the great Australian dream of home ownership.

Under the Albanese Government, more Australians are working, earning more and keeping more of what they earn, with today’s ABS Labour Force figures showing well over a million jobs (1,039,300) have now been created since Labor came to office in 2022.

This is the first and only time any government of any political persuasion has overseen the creation of a million new jobs in a single parliamentary term.

This is a remarkable achievement, in the context of a slowing economy and a labour market that is expected to soften.

Today’s result means the Albanese Government continues to oversee the largest increase in employment in a single parliamentary term in Australia’s history.

In September, 64,100 jobs were created – 51,600 of which were full-time positions.

It’s also encouraging to note that the labour force participation rate continued to increase over the month, rising by 0.1 percentage points in September, to stand at a record high of 67.2 per cent.

That equates to an additional 54,900 people entering the labour force over the month.

Importantly, the female participation rate increased to a record high of 63.2 per cent, equating to an additional 23,100 women entering the labour force.

Strong jobs growth was recorded across most Australian states and territories in September with employment now at a record high in five jurisdictions.

Particularly positive results were recorded in New South Wales (with employment up by 23,100 or 0.5 per cent), followed by Victoria (up by 21,700 or 0.6 per cent) and Western Australia (up 8,300 or 0.5 per cent).

Helping all Australians find work and delivering higher wages is one of the best ways we can support households with current cost-of-living pressures.

The average full-time worker is now earning $159 extra per week since the Albanese Government was elected. And the average full-time worker is also receiving a tax cut of $44 per week because of the Government’s cost-of-living tax cuts.

But while the Albanese Labor Government is focused on supporting more well-paid, secure jobs, Peter Dutton and the Coalition have promised to cut wages and working conditions if they’re elected.

Just this week, Shadow Finance Minister Jane Hume told Sky News the Coalition will “definitely consider” a request to allow medium sized businesses to unfairly dismiss their workers, without repercussions.

This is on top of earlier promises from Peter Dutton to cut labour hire workers’ pay and scrap the rights of casual workers and the Right to Disconnect, forcing Australians into more unpaid overtime.

At a time when many Australians are doing it tough, Peter Dutton and the Coalition will make things worse.

We’re all about more people working, earning more and keeping more of what they earn and this shows we’re making good progress.

Peter Dutton and the Coalition want you to work longer for less.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“Today’s data shows that one million new jobs have been created since our election, and that our Government has helped more Australians than ever into secure, well-paid jobs – earning more and keeping more of what they earn.

“This is the most jobs ever created in a parliamentary term in Australian history.

“The majority of our one million new jobs are full-time, around half are for women and the gender pay gap is at a record low.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers

“More than a million new jobs in one parliamentary term is a pretty remarkable achievement in a slowing economy, and it means more new jobs have been created on our watch than any other government at any time.

“This is the first and only time any government of any political persuasion has overseen the creation of a million new jobs in a single parliamentary term.

“It’s a tribute to Australian workers and employers and it justifies the responsible way we’re managing the economy.”

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Murray Watt

“This is a great result that is helping more Australians deal with cost of living pressures.

“There’s nothing more important than having a well-paid job, so that you can pay your bills, and that’s what the Albanese Government is delivering. 

“In contrast, Peter Dutton has promised to make life harder for people, by cutting wages and conditions and making it easier to get the sack.”

The Albanese Government has committed $6 million to the Channel 7 Telethon Trust to help improve the health and wellbeing of Australian babies and children.

Telethon is an annual televised fundraising appeal in Western Australia and is broadcast live for 26 hours.

Over the past five decades Telethon has raised more than $600 million for sick and disadvantaged children in Western Australia.  

The Government’s contributions to the trust over the past two years have supported 29 research projects which included research into gut health, cancer treatment, improving child and adolescent mental health, as well as seven grants to purchase medical equipment.

One of the fantastic research projects is ORIGINS, which tracks the health of 10,000 children beginning with their mother’s pregnancy.

The project’s researchers are investigating how we can give our children a better start in life and reduce the amount of chronic disease seen later in life.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“Our children are our future, and we have a responsibility to ensure they have the best start in life.

“We are proud to once again support the Channel 7 Telethon Trust and its efforts to help Australian children to thrive.
  
“This funding is an investment in Australia’s world leading research sector, and will help Australian researchers to develop new techniques and treatments to improve the health and wellbeing of Australian children.

“With chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes continuing to rise, it is more important than ever that we support research into how parental health impacts a child’s life.”

Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Deputy Greens Leader and spokesperson for Anti-Racism, calls on the Albanese Labor Government to fully fund the implementation of a national anti-racism strategy, following the release of the latest report on anti-racism commissioned by the Australian Human Rights Commission – An Anti-Racism Framework: Experiences and Perspectives of Multicultural Australia.

The report can be found here.

Senator Mehreen Faruqi:

“Here’s another report that shows what many of us already know, and what the Labor government refuses to acknowledge – that racism is entrenched in Australia, and that it is rooted in settler colonialism and whiteness as an ideology and practice.

“Racism is rife across society – in government, in the media, in interactions with the police, in workplaces, in playgrounds. For how long will First Nations people and people of colour in this country be subjected to racism before it is acknowledged and systemically tackled by the government?

“Instead of using ‘social cohesion’ as a distraction and a way of cracking down on legitimate protests against Israel’s genocide in Gaza, Labor must fully fund the AHRC to urgently implement a national anti-racism strategy.

“The Labor government can start today by mandating anti-racism training for all parliamentarians, to challenge white privilege which is at the core of racism in this country.” 

This week the Australian Government welcomes Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, His Excellency Bui Thanh Son, and Minister of Planning and Investment of Vietnam, His Excellency Dr Nguyen Chi Dung to Adelaide.

On Thursday, Minister Farrell and Minister Dung will hold the fourth Australia-Vietnam Economic Partnership Meeting to advance our shared goal of increasing two-way trade, tourism and investment, and deepening economic cooperation across Southeast Asia.

On Friday, Minister Wong and Deputy Prime Minister Son will hold the sixth annual Australia-Vietnam Foreign Ministers’ Meeting to advance cooperation under our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and address key regional challenges.

Minister Farrell will also give a keynote address at the inaugural Australia Vietnam Policy Institute Conference on trade diversification opportunities in Southeast Asia.

The meetings this week will deepen our partnership as we work together to implement our shared vision for a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong:

“The Australia-Vietnam relationship has never been stronger.

“Our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership reflects the depth of cooperation and the ambition we hold for our future.

“This meeting will build upon my visit to Hanoi last year, where we marked 50 years of diplomatic relations, underscoring the deep friendship and strategic trust between our countries.”

the Trade & Tourism Minister, Don Farrell:

“Trade between Australia and Vietnam is booming, which means more opportunities for our exporters, businesses, and workers.

“Over the last three years, our two-way trade with Vietnam hit record highs of over $26 billion, and Vietnam has become one of the fastest growing sources of international visitors to Australia since the pandemic.

“Our Southeast Asia Economic Strategy is supporting Australian businesses to seize new opportunities in the region, and Vietnam is one of the many places right on our doorstep which holds a wealth of potential for our exporters.”

Australia is joining international partners to strengthen efforts to hold North Korea to account for violations and evasions of UN Security Resolution sanctions.

Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States have committed to establishing a member state-led Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) to monitor and highlight North Korea’s sanctions non-compliance.

This follows Russia’s March veto of the renewal of the mandate of the Panel of Experts (PoE) under the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718. The PoE was responsible for reporting on North Korea’s non-compliance with sanctions.

Despite Russia’s obstruction, all North Korea-related UN Security Council resolutions remain in effect and all UN Member States are required to implement them.

North Korea’s ongoing pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems undermines international non-proliferation efforts. Its actions are contrary to Australia’s interest in an open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

North Korea’s malicious cyber activities pose serious national security and economic risks and threaten the security and stability of the online environment.

North Korea’s supply of arms and related materiel to Russia, in support of Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine, directly violates United Nations Security Council resolutions and increases the suffering of the Ukrainian people.

Australia will continue to work with our partners to uphold international rules and norms and support global non-proliferation efforts to promote a safe and secure region and world.

A Queensland town has lost its war on a “secret” land transfer deal to an Aboriginal group, but the publican who led the battle is refusing to stand down.

A Queensland country publican has lost his one-man battle to stop his tiny town’s reserve being handed over to an Indigenous corporation as freehold land, but has vowed to continue the fight against Aboriginal Land Act transfers happening across the state alongside Pauline Hanson.

Michael Offerdahl, owner of the Toobeah Hotel near Goondiwindi, has been campaigning to prevent the town reserve from being given to the Bigambul Native Title Aboriginal Corporation.

The corporation sought the 210ha site under the Aboriginal Land Act which allows unallocated state land to be given to First Nations groups as “inalienable freehold”.

Mr Offerdahl railed against the transfer, which he claimed would result in 95 per cent of the town and $2m worth of land being given away and restrict access to locals.

This was hotly disputed by the Bigambul people, who said the reserve represented less than 1 per cent of the Toobeah district and was only meant to be used for travelling stock and camping. They also pledged to preserve a town water easement and rodeo grounds access on the reserve, on which it plans an “eco-cultural attraction”.

But land titles records reveal the site was transferred to the BNTAC late last month, after the state government revoked the Goondiwindi Regional Council’s 118-year-old trusteeship of the reserve.

A furious Mr Offerdahl, who had slammed Goondiwindi mayor and state LNP president

Lawrence Springborg’s tacit support of the land transfer, said the situation was ‘pretty s***’.

“There’s only one way that they win this and that’s Springborg – the council did this to us,” he said.

“The state government, the council, they haven’t backed up one thing. They haven’t even proven that (council) trusteeship (of the reserve) can be taken away. The council gave it up. You can’t take away trusteeship without talking to the community about it.

“It’s going to lock my kids out of the creek. They’ll have to go into an individual access agreement with a (Aboriginal) corporation in Cherbourg. We’ve been told we’ll have to go and have a yarn to them about swimming in our own f***ing creek. It’s bulls***.”

Mr Offerdahl, who lodged an unsuccessful Ombudsman’s complaint about the council’s handling of the matter, also took aim at Southern Downs MP James Lister’s support for the land transfer which he said flew in the face of the LNP’s opposition to Queensland’s Path to Treaty.

Mr Springborg has previously defended the Toobeah land transfer, saying claims locals would be losing a large slice of their town were “completely false” and “complete misrepresentation”.

“There is not one square metre of people’s private freehold land, or land that can be lawfully accessed by the community, that can be impacted by this,” he has said.

“These (Aboriginal) land transfers have been happening in Queensland since 1991.”

Mr Springborg said the Bigambul people had indicated they were “happy” to talk with Toobeah locals about giving them lawful access to the reserve which they currently did not have, “and there are members of the community who are keen to engage in that process”.

He said the council would also negotiate with the Bigambul and state government to purchase native title-designated land in Toobeah for the town’s future expansion.

Mr Springborg, a former LNP state leader and current party president, said the council had no control over the land transfer but he had told the government the process needed to be overhauled to provide better community engagement.

The Bigambul have taken a thinly-veiled swipe at Mr Offerdahl, saying he had known about the proposed land transfer for years.

Earlier this year, the state government revealed that Aboriginal corporations and groups were seeking freehold land transfers in 15 towns across Queensland, from Mt Isa and Maryborough through to the tiny Cloncurry Shire township of Duchess which has just 53 people.

The expressions of interest have sparked outcry in towns including Toobeah and Eurong and Happy Valley on K’gari (formerly Fraser Island).

The government also said that 6.7 million hectares of land, or 3.93 per cent of the state, had been transferred under the Aboriginal Land Act or Torres Strait Islander Land Act since 1991 – including 11 parcels of land transferred in 2023-24.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson slammed the land transfers as “taking place in secret” and vowed her party would seek to “get rid of the Aboriginal Land Act” if the party is re-elected next week.

“The government and the council headed by Lawrence Springborg should apologise for keeping the Toobeah community in the dark while they actively worked against the community’s interests to transfer the land to some faceless indigenous corporation more than 400 km away,” she said.

The Albanese Government is taking action to stop businesses ripping off Australians by banning unfair trading practices under the Australian Consumer Law.

This is about easing the cost of living and getting a fair go for consumers and suppliers.

From concert tickets to hotel rooms and gym memberships, Australians are fed up with businesses using tricky tactics that make it difficult to end subscriptions or add hidden fees to purchases.

These practices can distort purchasing decisions, or result in additional costs, putting more pressure on the cost of living.

The Government’s actions will address a wide range of practices, including:

• ‘Subscription traps’ that use arduous and confusing steps to make cancelling a subscription difficult.
• ‘Drip pricing’ practices where fees are hidden or added throughout the stages of a purchase.
• Deceptive and manipulative online practices that aim to confuse or overwhelm consumers, omit or hide material information, or create a false sense of urgency or scarcity – this can include warnings that a customer only has limited time to purchase a product.
• Dynamic pricing where a product’s price changes during the transaction process.
• Requiring consumers to set up an account and provide unnecessary information to make an online purchase.
• Where a business makes it difficult for a consumer to contact them when they have a problem with their product or service.

Treasury will consult on the design before the Government legislates a general prohibition on unfair trading practices. This will include specific prohibitions of a range of dodgy practices.

Today the Albanese Government has also released a consultation paper on reforms to strengthen protections for consumers and small businesses under the Consumer Guarantees and Supplier Indemnification provisions of the Australian Consumer Law.

The Government welcomes stakeholder feedback on the proposed reforms, which include introducing penalties for suppliers that refuse to provide consumers with a remedy such as a repair, replacement or refund when required under law.

Currently, it can be difficult for consumers to obtain a remedy, especially when engaging in the digital economy.

These reforms will empower the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and state and territory consumer protection agencies to issue infringement notices or pursue penalties for breaches of the Consumer Guarantee and Supplier Indemnification provisions of the Australian Consumer Law.

Following consultation, the Government will work with states and territories to settle a final reform proposal in the first half of 2025.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“We’re taking strong action to stop businesses from engaging in dodgy practices that rip consumers off.

“Today’s announcement puts businesses engaging in unfair trading practices on notice.

“Hidden fees and traps are putting even more pressure on the cost of living and it needs to stop.”

Treasurer Jim Chalmers:

“We’re taking important steps to ban unfair trading practices and ease the cost of living for Australians.

“Whether it’s traps that make it difficult or confusing to cancel a subscription, hidden fees and charges at different stages of a purchase, deceptive or manipulative practices online or making it difficult for people to report problems with their products or services, we’re going to change the rules.

“Most businesses do the right thing by Australians and they’ve got nothing to worry about.

“This is all about cracking down on dodgy deals to save Australians money if we can, and where we can.”

Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services Stephen Jones:

“Consumer protections shouldn’t stop at the internet. Whether you are shopping online or at a brick and mortar store, the Albanese Government is protecting Australian consumers.

“This is all about ending the rip offs so people don’t fall into subscription traps or added fees when they purchase things like airline or concert tickets.”