Month: April 2019

The Liberals spending $185m to reopen and then close Christmas Island is rank cynicism and deeply wasteful, Greens Immigration spokesperson Nick McKim says.
“This is effectively $185 million spent on a press conference, so Scott Morrison could spread his message of hate and division, ” Senator McKim said.
“Not a single refugee or person seeking asylum has been transferred to this centre. It is tens of millions of dollars wasted on a press conference.”
“This is money that should be spent on resettling people here in Australia, or on climate  action, or raising Newstart or myriad other worthy causes.”
“This is the same Scott Morrison who begrudged a few thousand dollars being spent so refugees could attend the funerals of their relatives.”
“This cynical stunt just shows the depth of his hypocrisy and meanness of spirit.”

Scott Morrison’s pre-election budget has confirmed cuts to the ABC will continue under the Liberals, the Greens say.
“This is a government that has undermined the integrity of the ABC again and again and now, in this budget, they’ve locked in further cuts. The ABC needs a boost in funding, and under this government it continues to lose out,” Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“This was an opportunity to ensure our ABC was well-resourced, by increasing funding and setting five-year funding cycles. Instead, the Liberals want to cut funding and 50 more jobs.
“This comes on the back of almost $340 million in funding cuts, pointless reviews that undermine the ABC’s independence and instances of political interference.
“Even the Labor Party won’t return the Liberal Party’s full cuts to the ABC. The only way to strengthen the ABC, to restore its funding and give our beloved public broadcaster stability and certainty, is to have Greens fighting for it in the Senate.
“The ABC is overwhelmingly Australia’s most trusted news source. It provides a vital service across the country, it is where we turn when there is a disaster, emergency or bushfire. To do its job as the public expects, to continue producing the new Australians trust and the stories we love, the ABC must be well-funded.”

The Morrison government’s $400,000 allocation for a national electric vehicle strategy in the Budget is an absolute joke, especially when they have allocated 25 times as much in luxury car rebates, say the Australian Greens.
“The staggeringly low $400,000 to roll out a national electric vehicle strategy is an absolute joke,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens transport spokesperson.
“With this woeful amount of money towards electric vehicles, the Morrison government is leaving Australia stalled on the sidelines of the electric vehicle revolution while the rest of the world zips us by.”
“The Budget even has $11 million earmarked for a luxury car rebate for tourist operators and primary producers. This is 25 times more funding for people to buy luxury cars than for a national electric vehicle strategy.”
“This is a government with absolutely no plan, no vision and no desire to get Australia on track to enjoy the many benefits that electric vehicles will bring.”

The Morrison government putting $245.7 million into religious chaplains in secular, public schools over the next four years puts LGBTIQ+ students in danger, say the Australian Greens.
“$245.7 million for religious chaplains in public schools is unacceptable and puts LGBTIQ+ students in danger,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens LGBTIQ+ spokesperson.
“Public schools are secular institutions and are no place for religious chaplains.”
“The school chaplain program should be scrapped and the $245.7 million funding should be redirected to providing public schools with trained, secular counsellors, and inclusive anti-bullying programs like Safe Schools, not chaplains who may be pursuing their own religious agenda.”

The Morrison Government is delivering more than $3.8 billion for a better environment in the 2019 20 Budget, including Australia’s biggest ever direct investment in emissions reduction.
$3.5 billion will be invested through the Climate Solutions Package with a further $137.4 million for Practical Environment Restoration which includes funding for environmental protection projects, threatened species, the restoration of coastal land and waterways, and waste recycling.
This investment highlights the critical role of a strong economy in supporting positive environmental outcomes. Our commitments will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, ensure Australia meets its international climate targets and address local environmental challenges, while maintaining a strong economy.
At a time when Australia is seeing record levels of investment in renewable energy, with $25 billion committed across 18,800 MW of new wind and solar projects, the 2019-20 Budget assists our transition towards a low carbon economy and provides practical environmental solutions that will benefit future generations.
Climate Solutions Package:
The $3.5 billion Climate Solutions Package is the biggest single investment any Australian government has made in reducing emissions. This funding will help ensure we meet our Paris commitment to reduce emissions by 26-28 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030.
Its centrepiece is a $2.0 billion Climate Solutions Fund, which is expected to deliver more than 100 million tonnes of emissions reduction, over and above the almost 200 million tonnes being delivered through the successful Emissions Reduction Fund.
The Climate Solutions Package also includes significant investments in renewable energy to reduce emissions, while ensuring Australian households and businesses have lower power prices and reliable dispatchable power that keeps the lights on:

• $1.38 billion for Snowy 2.0 ensuring clean, reliable affordable power.
• $56.0 million for a new electricity interconnector to support Tasmania’s Battery of the Nation project.
• $61.2 million to support small businesses, local community groups, households and building owners to improve energy efficiency.
• $400,000 for the development of a National Electric Vehicle Strategy.

Cleaner Environment Package:
The Morrison Government’s $137.4 million for Practical Environment Restoration builds on the Government’s $1.1 billion National Landcare Program, which is already funding a range of environmental initiatives including Indigenous Protected Areas and Regional Land Partnerships that support wetland preservation, sustainable farming, threatened species and native habitats. The Practical Environment Restoration provides $100.0 million for the establishment of an Environment Restoration Fund that will support practical action on waste and recycling, the protection of rivers, waterways and coasts, and further support for our threatened and migratory native species.
It also includes $28.3 million of funding for a Communities Environment Program for community-led environment projects. The Government has also committed $9.2 million over four years towards the strengthening of biodiversity conservation in Queensland tropics through the control of the Yellow Crazy Ant population.
The 2019-20 Budget is also supporting the environment through:

• $25.0 million for the establishment of a National Centre for coasts, environment, climate research and education facility at Victoria’s Quarantine Station Precinct at Point Nepean.
• $25.0 million for the establishment of the Harry Butler Environmental Education Centre through Murdoch University, which will include an innovation hub developing sustainable environmental outcomes from economic development.
• $18.3 million to accelerate the eradication of red imported fire ants in Queensland.
• $34 million to grow stewardship and sustainable land management practices in agriculture.
• $32.1 million to extend the Bureau of Meteorology radar coverage and rain monitoring capability across northern NSW, Queensland and the Northern Territory.
• $21.4 million for infrastructure upgrades at key defence heritage sites around Sydney Harbour enabling community, educational and recreational use.

Since the Coalition came to Government in 2013, we have:

• Turned around a 755 million tonne emissions shortfall in meeting our 2020 international emissions reduction target to now be on track to overachieve that target by 367 million tonnes.
• Improved the outlook for the Great Barrier Reef, prompting UNESCO to remove the reef from its “in-danger” watchlist.
• Introduced protection for an additional 2.3 million square kilometres of Australia’s oceans.
• Appointed Australia’s first Threatened Species Commissioner and launched the Threatened Species Strategy which contains a commitment to turn around population trajectories for 20 mammals, 20 birds and 30 plants by 2020.

Key spending commitments since 2013 include:

• $2.55 billion in the Emissions Reduction Fund.
• More than $1.1 billion in Phase 2 of the National Landcare Program (2018-23).
• Over $1.2 billion to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
• Up to $216 million to upgrade Kakadu National Park and help the township of Jabiru transition to a tourism-based economy.
• Over $450 million over the next 10 years to upgrade Australia’s Antarctic research station network and supporting infrastructure.
• $1.35 billion in grant funding for more than 400 renewable energy projects through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.
• $6.4 billion funding through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation in projects with a total value of more than $21 billion.

The Morrison Government’s plan for a stronger economy is delivering essential social services Australians depend on, with the 2019-20 Budget backing people with disability and their families and carers, keeping women and their children safe from the scourge of domestic violence and bringing down welfare dependence to record lows.
Our Government’s first priority is to keep Australians safe and that is why we committed $328 million over four years from 2018-19 for the Fourth Action Plan of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022 to fund prevention, response and recovery initiatives to keep women and their children safe. This is the largest ever Commonwealth contribution to the National Plan.
The Budget also extends the successful cashless debit card scheme and builds on the Morrison Government’s actions to get people off welfare and into work – actions which have reduced the level of working age welfare dependency to a record 30-year low.
The Morrison Government will provide an $84.3 million funding boost for new carer services being progressively rolled out to Australia’s 2.7 million carers in 2019. This represents one of the biggest reforms to carer services in more than a decade and includes new online educational resources, peer support, coaching and phone based counselling services. It also includes financial support packages valued at up to $3,000 to cover supports such as planned respite and participation in education and training. Additional funding will focus on young carers and ensuring appropriate support is available.
In line with our commitment to work towards the establishment of a Royal Commission, into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, the Morrison Government has committed $527.9 million over five years. This is subject to the finalisation of the terms of reference and consideration by the Governor-General. This includes $148.8 million to provide advocacy and support services to people with disability, their families, carers and supporters who may be impacted by the Royal Commission. All violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability is abhorrent and the establishment of the Royal Commission builds on the Morrison Government’s strong actions to provide safe and quality services to people with disability through the establishment of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
The Budget will provide more than 3.9 million Australians with a one-off Energy Assistance Payment to help with their next energy bill and cost of living expenses. The payment of $75 for singles and $125 for eligible couples will be exempt from income tax and will be paid automatically before the end of the current financial year, subject to the passage of legislation.
This Budget continues the Morrison Government’s strong record of investment in social services and support for vulnerable Australians including children, youth, Indigenous students, migrants and refugees, with measures including;

• $22.6 million to extend and expand the National Community Hubs Program and establish the National Youth Hubs Program across the country. These will provide valuable services and support for vulnerable groups such as migrant and refugee women and children to help them integrate and participate in their local communities. Thirty two additional National Community Hubs will be created, bringing the total number of funded Hubs to 100. A further 25 new Youth Hubs will be established.
• $36.4 million to help Indigenous students stay in boarding school, by ensuring that families of ABSTUDY recipients who need to live away from home to study continue to receive Family Tax Benefit until the end of Year 12.
• $14.1 million to establish three Social Impact Investment (SII) payment by outcome trials, funding organisations based on the social outcomes they achieve. Organisations will partner with the Government to participate in the trial design, implementation and outcome measurement. In addition, the Government has committed $5.0 million for the establishment of a Social Impact Investing Taskforce that will develop the next stage of the Government’s strategy for its role in this market, including how investments can provide solutions for entrenched disadvantage. This funding builds upon the Government’s 2017-18 and 2018-19 Budget commitments to support the SII market in Australia.
• $25.5 million towards the establishment of the National Centre for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse. Establishing the National Centre, as recommended by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, highlights the importance the Government places on ensuring the safety of children and young people and its commitment to taking significant steps to prevent future abuse and supporting victims and survivors.

Improvements in technology that enable a more accurate reporting of income for Social Security income support recipients will achieve savings to the Budget and to taxpayers of $2.1 billion. Importantly, neither eligibility criteria nor maximum payment rates for Social Security income support recipients will change. Under this measure, income support recipients who are employed will report income that is received during the fortnight, rather than calculating and reporting gross earnings. This measure will reduce overpayments of income support payments, and produce a better user experience for income support recipients.
Minister Fletcher said the Morrison Government is committed to improving the wellbeing of individuals and families in Australian communities by guaranteeing the essential services on which they rely. The Budget delivers a range of initiatives to advance this goal.

A SAFER AND MORE SECURE AUSTRALIA
The safety and security of Australians is the Morrison Government’s number one priority.
The challenges and threats facing our nation become more and more complicated every day.
The 2019-20 Budget invests in building safer communities within secure borders while providing the resources to combat crime gangs, child exploitation, terrorism and foreign interference.
Only through our plan for a stronger economy can we ensure a safer and more secure Australia.
COUNTER TERRORISM
The dangers to Australia from terrorism continue to evolve. The tragic events in Christchurch last month show the need to remain vigilant to the threat of violent extremism.
In the last five years, there have been seven terror attacks in Australia and 15 major operations to disrupt planned attacks. Ninety-three people have been charged with terror-related offences.
In the coming years, as a nation, we face the dual risks of returning foreign fighters and the possible release from prison of those already convicted of planning or preparing terrorist acts in Australia.
To meet the ever present danger of terrorist attacks, spending to strengthen and enhance our intelligence and law enforcement agencies capacities will increase yearly over the next four years and total $381 million in that period.
This will enable the formation of additional investigation teams and adoption of new methods to meet the evolving terrorist threat, using the full suite of powers our Government has given our security agencies.
OPERATION SOVEREIGN BORDERS
The Coalition stopped the boats after the disastrous Labor years where open borders prevailed and allowed 50,000 illegal arrivals on more than 800 boats between 2008 and 2013, with at least 1200 avoidable deaths at sea.
With the boats stopped we were able to remove all children from detention and then close or put into contingency 19 detention centres.
However, particularly as a result of Labor’s Medevac legislation, the threat posed by people smugglers has not gone away, and as a nation we must remain vigilant. Operation Sovereign Borders continues its vital mission.
Australia will also continue the Regional Cooperation Arrangement in Indonesia, providing $39.5 million in assistance for our regional partners to deal with irregular people movements.
TACKLING THE SCOURGE OF GANGS AND DRUGS
Outlaw motorcycle gangs and organised criminal networks are behind the bulk of importation and trafficking of illegal drugs like ice, which wreak havoc across Australian communities.
As part of the Whole of Government Drug Strategy, the 2019-20 Budget provides Home Affairs agencies $152 million over four years to disrupt and reduce the supply of illicit drugs such as ice.
This allocation will revitalise the National Anti-Gangs Squad (NAGS), enhance Australian Border Force screening capabilities, support the new South Australian Joint Agency Ice Strike Team and extend the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program.
Funding of the NAGS will also enable joint-targeting of non-traditional and emerging criminal gangs, such as those responsible for crimes in South Eastern and Western Melbourne.
COUNTERING FOREIGN INTERFERENCE
We live in a time of unprecedented foreign intelligence activity against Australia. Covert foreign operations can have serious implications for Australia’s sovereignty by interfering with governmental and political processes.
Last year, the Government introduced ground-breaking legislation to deal with foreign influence and interference, and this Budget provides our security agencies the resources to investigate and disrupt foreign threats to our national sovereignty.
To meet this growing threat, $34.8 million has been allocated over the forward estimates to intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
Part of the funds will go to establish a Foreign Interference Threat Assessment Centre operated by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the Australian Federal Police.
CHILD SEX OFFENDER REGISTER
Protection of our most vulnerable – our children – remains one of the highest priorities of the Morrison Government.
Last year’s Budget provided funding to initiate the Australian Centre to Combat Child Exploitation (ACCCE) in Brisbane.
This Budget provides $7.8 million over four years for the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission to develop and implement a National Public Register of Child Sex Offenders, which will provide information on convicted offenders residing in the community.
SAFER COMMUNITIES
The Safer Communities Fund helps keep Australians safe through local crime prevention projects.
Following the terrorist atrocity in Christchurch the Prime Minister boosted to $55 million the funding available in the current Round Four grants.
This Budget will extend the Safer Communities Fund out to 2022-23 with $35.1 million dollars for a further round of grants (Round Five). This will boost efforts of councils and community organisations to address crime and anti-social behaviour, including through the installation of additional Closed Circuit television (CCTV) cameras and street lighting.
Schools and organisations with concerns associated with racial or religious intolerance can seek funding to improve their security.
More than $100 million has supported 340 safer community projects such as installation of CCTV, bollards and enhanced lighting of community spaces since the inception of the Safer Communities Fund in 2016.
NATURAL DISASTERS
Australia’s susceptibility to catastrophic natural disasters was frighteningly evident over recent months with massive flooding in the north and raging bushfires across most states.
To deliver initiatives to reduce disaster risk and improve risk information, the Government will provide $132.2 million over the next five years commencing in this Budget.
The Morrison Government will also establish an Emergency Response Fund from 1 October 2019, to fund natural disaster recovery and response initiatives above and beyond existing state and federal programs.
The Fund will be established as a Commonwealth Investment Fund under the management of the Future Fund Board of Guardians with an initial capital of approximately
$3.9 billion.
Up to $150 million per annum will be available from 2019-20 to 2023-24 from the Fund if the Government determines there is a need for additional support in parallel with existing natural disaster response programs, following a significant and catastrophic natural disaster.
The Fund will continue beyond 2023-24, with funding available annually for natural disaster recovery and response to reflect the five‑year average realised earnings of the Fund.