Month: April 2019

The Morrison Government’s number one priority is keeping Australians safe and secure. The 2019–20 Budget sees continued strong investment in Australia’s national security, with a particular focus on enhancing our regional security, building defence capability and supporting Australia’s sovereign defence industry.
The Budget maintains the Government’s commitment to grow the Defence budget to two per cent of GDP by 2020–21. The Government will allocate Defence $38.7 billion in 2019-20 and $175.8 billion to 2022-23.
REGIONAL AND GLOBAL SECURITY
As our security environment evolves, we are increasing Australia’s commitment to regional and global security to protect our interests at home and abroad.
Australia currently has around 2,300 Defence personnel deployed around the world, including on operations across the Middle East Region and Afghanistan.
Australia will continue to make a meaningful contribution to the US-led international Counter-Daesh coalition in Iraq. For this reason, Australia has around 400 personnel deployed as part of Operation OKRA.
The Government is committed to assisting the Government of Afghanistan to control its security and to make sure the nation never again becomes a safe-haven for terrorist networks. Operation HIGHROAD will continue to provide security, development assistance and capability building for Afghan institutions.
Defence will also continue to support other Government agencies to keep our borders safe and maintain the capability to support Australians affected by flooding, cyclones and other natural disasters.
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) contributes to the whole-of-government effort to protect our borders through Operation RESOLUTE. At any one time, up to 600 personnel at sea, in the air and on the land, are working to protect Australia’s borders and offshore maritime interests.
Defence is also playing a crucial part of the Morrison Government’s Pacific step-up. This includes:

• building Fiji’s Blackrock Peacekeeping Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Camp into a regional hub for police and peacekeeping training;
• working with the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to increase security cooperation; and
• helping to develop the Papua New Guinea Defence Force’s Lombrum Naval Base in Manus Province and increase the inter-operability between our defence forces.

Defence will also increase the level of support to Southeast Asian countries including:

• increased frequency of visits and training opportunities for regional countries;
• supporting the training of regional military forces in Australia, including the
  $2.25 billion Australia–Singapore Military Training Initiative in Central and North Queensland;
• continuing to work cooperatively with regional countries to support their security, including through the Five Power Defence Arrangement; and
• assisting the Armed Forces of the Philippines with counter-terrorism training to counter Daesh’s influence in the Southern Philippines.

DELIVERING THE INTEGRATED INVESTMENT PROGRAM
The Government is increasing investment in advanced Defence capabilities, while boosting Australia’s sovereign defence industry and creating Australian jobs.
Over the next decade to 2028-29, the Government is investing more than $200 billion in Defence capabilities including:

• the continuous naval shipbuilding program, which is investing around
  $90 billion to build world class vessels, while also building a strong and viable Australian naval shipbuilding industry;
• continuing the purchase of the 5th generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and
  P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft to provide Australia with regionally superior combat and maritime surveillance capabilities;
• continuing to upgrade our EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft and
  E-7A Wedgetail battlespace management aircraft; and
• building our policy and intelligence capabilities to ensure Australia has a deeper understanding of the world we live in.

DEFENCE CAPABILITY INVESTMENT
Since the release of the 2018-19 Budget, the Government has committed around
$47.5 billion to new capabilities including:

• signing the Strategic Partnering Agreement for the $50 billion Attack class submarine program, which will see 12 regionally superior submarines designed and built in Australia;
• nine Hunter class frigates, valued at $35 billion, to replace the Anzac class frigates from the late 2020s. The Hunter class will be a highly capable and lethal surface combat capability;
• a fleet of 211 new advanced Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles to protect our troops, with the majority to be manufactured by Australian workers in Queensland, using Australian steel;
• unmanned maritime patrol aircraft, with an initial investment valued at
  $1.4 billion to acquire the MQ-4C Triton through a cooperative program with the United States Navy;
• Integrated Soldier Systems, valued at up to $1 billion, that will deliver a broad range of equipment to ensure ADF personnel continue to meet emerging threats and that are less detectable, less susceptible to enemy attacks and able to fight longer and more effectively in challenging conditions; and
• the first tranche of the $1.1 billion Defence Fuel Transformation Program to deliver a safer, simpler and more assured Defence fuel network in partnership with industry.

NAVAL SHIPBUILDING PROGRAM
The Government’s $90 billion investment in continuous ship and submarine building is the largest regeneration of the Navy since the Second World War. Fifty-four naval ships will be built in Australia using Australian steel. This commitment will create thousands of jobs for decades to come.
Development of the Osborne North Shipyard in South Australia is continuing in preparation for the construction of the 12 new Attack class submarines.
The $535 million infrastructure redevelopment at Osborne South is on track to be completed in early 2020, in time for the start of Hunter class frigate prototyping. Nine Hunter class frigates will be built at the shipyard.
The first two Arafura class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) are being built in existing facilities at Osborne South. Twelve OPVs will be built as part of the $3.6 billion investment to protect our borders and replace the existing patrol boat fleet. Ten OPVs will be built at Henderson in Western Australia. This project will also help sustain critical skills in Australia’s naval shipbuilding workforce.
Plans for the upgrade and development of facilities in WA to support the Hunter class frigates and the Arafura class offshore patrol vessels are progressing. Around $1.5 billion dollars will be spent on infrastructure in WA to support our new fleet.
Twenty-one Guardian class patrol boats are being built in WA to help our Pacific neighbours and Timor-Leste. Our $504 million investment will improve the security and prosperity of the region.
SUPPORTING DEFENCE INDUSTRY
The Government is making additional investments in our national sovereign industrial capacity, which will ensure we can respond to changes to Australia’s future security situation. The Government’s actions include:

• implementing the Defence Industry Skilling and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Strategy, released by the Government in February 2019, which outlines support to help our defence industry to meet anticipated workforce and skills demand over the next decade;
• establishing the Defence Global Competitiveness Grant program, an initiative of the Defence Export Strategy (launched in January 2018), investing up to $4.1 million a year to support small to medium enterprises to overcome barriers in accessing export opportunities;
• establishing the Sovereign Industrial Capability Grant program, a key initiative of the Defence Industrial Capability Plan (launched in November 2018) to invest up to
  $17 million per year in grants to build the capacity and capability of Australian small to medium-sized enterprises to deliver operationally critical capability for Defence;
• providing advisory and facilitation services through the Centre for Defence Industry Capability for 550 small and medium enterprises, issuing over $3 million in grants and conducted stakeholder outreach events which have been delivered to more than 5,000 participants; and
• administering the Defence Innovation Hub which has received over 800 innovation proposals and awarded around $100 million in contracts and an additional 12 Special Notice contracts worth around $10 million focused on specific capability challenges.

ENHANCING CYBER SECURITY
The Government continues to invest in the Australian Signals Directorate, including the Australian Cyber Security Centre, to deliver intelligence, cyber security and offensive operations in support of the Australian Government and ADF.
As part of our continued investment to protect Government networks from hostile cyber compromise, and ensure the integrity of the 2019 Federal Election, the Government is investing in the creation of cyber security ‘SPRINT teams’ and a Cyber Security Response Fund.
LOCAL JOBS SUPPORTING THE DEFENCE ESTATE
The Government continues to invest in upgrading and expanding the Defence estate, comprising hundreds of bases, facilities and other sites right across Australia, particularly in regional communities.
The Government has commenced pilots of Local Industry Capability Plans for major Defence infrastructure projects to ensure local industry has the best opportunity to be involved in our unprecedented investment in Defence capability. Pilot projects include:

• the HMAS Cerberus Redevelopment Project in Victoria, a $465.6 million project;
• the Explosive Ordnance Logistics Reform Program, a $230.9 million project covering 12 Defence sites across Australia;
• the Shoalwater Bay Training Area Redevelopment in Queensland, an approximately $135 million infrastructure upgrade project; and
• a program of works worth approximately $112 million comprising the Townsville Field Training Area Mid-Term Refresh, RAAF Base Townsville Mid-Term Refresh and the HMAS Cairns Mid-Term Refresh in Queensland,

All of these investments and initiatives continue to ensure that we remain on track to implement the plans as set out in the 2016 Defence White Paper to keep Australia safe and secure, while maximising the involvement of Australian industry in our unprecedented capability investment.

The Liberal National Government will commit over $525 million to ensure Australia’s vocational education and training (VET) sector delivers the skills critical to the economy now and into the future.
The Government’s Delivering Skills for Today and Tomorrow package responds to the expert review into Australia’s VET sector led by the Hon Steven Joyce, which set out a vision for VET as a modern and flexible alternative to classroom-based learning. This Package will ensure Australians develop the skills they need to succeed in a changing workplace and will provide businesses (including those in rural and regional areas) with a pipeline of qualified workers they need to grow and prosper.
The Delivering Skills for Today and Tomorrow package will:

• Create up to 80,000 additional apprentices over five years in priority skill shortage areas through a new apprenticeship incentive ($156.3 million over four years from 2019-20 and an additional $108.0 million in 2023-24).
• Increase support provided to people with lower levels of education attainment to enable them to gain the skills they need to secure jobs now and into the future. This will include four pilots in remote Indigenous communities ($62.4 million).
• Address youth unemployment by providing 400 scholarships in regions throughout Australia ($8.2 million).
• Raise the profile of the VET sector and improve career advice to young Australians and workers transitioning careers by establishing a National Careers Institute and a National Careers Ambassador ($32.4 million).
• Develop skills in areas of need by building innovative partnerships between schools, employers and the VET sector through a new competitive grants program ($10.0 million).
• Promote a nation-wide approach to skills development, including through better identifying areas of skills shortages, and enhance the role of industry in designing training courses by establishing a National Skills Commission and piloting Skills Organisations across the country in the key areas of human services care and digital technologies including cyber security ($90.0 million).
• Provide greater job opportunities for young people in regions with high youth unemployment through ten Training Hubs that create better linkages between schools and local industry ($50.6 million).
• Streamline incentives for employers of apprentices and trainees and modernise the skills needs list ($44.0 million).

Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education, Senator Michaelia Cash said the Liberal National Government will ensure Australia’s VET sector is accessible, high quality and responsive to industry needs.
“The Liberal National Government’s Delivering Skills for Today and Tomorrow package enhances VET as a direct pathway into Australia’s labour market – be it for their first job, for career progression, to transition to new industries or to create their own business,” Minister Cash said.
“It provides clear and reliable careers guidance to inform study choices, provides foundational skills so no one is left behind and will get more apprentices in jobs in areas of demand.
“Our new apprenticeship incentive will address priority areas of skills shortage for traditional trades including carpenters and plumbers. We are providing an additional $4,000 incentive payment to employers and $2,000 to apprentices.
“We are streamlining the process for employers to work out what support they are eligible for when engaging a new apprentice. Delivering Skills for Today and Tomorrowpackage simplifies the current Australian Apprenticeship Incentives Program by consolidating the more than 30 current payment categories into 14.
“These significant investments by the Liberal National Government are a significant part of our economic plan that will see 1.25 million jobs created over the next five years.
“I thank Steven Joyce and the members of the taskforce team for their enthusiasm, hard work and dedication to strengthening Australia’s VET system. I also thank the large number of stakeholders who contributed to this once-in-a-generation review”.
Additional information about the package is available at www.education.gov.au/skills-and-training-budget-overview-2019-20

The 2019-20 Budget is the Morrison Government’s next instalment of our plan to build a stronger economy and secure a better future for all Australians.
This Budget, which proposes lower taxes at the same time as increased funding for essential services like schools, hospitals and roads, is the foundation for a stronger economy and more jobs.
After more than a decade of deficits, this budget forecasts a surplus of $7.1 billion in 2019-20, a $55.5 billion turnaround from the deficit we inherited six years ago.
While the Budget forecasts a surplus it also delivers an additional $158 billion in income tax relief for hard-working Australians on top of the $144 billion in tax cuts locked into legislation last year. The Government will provide additional tax relief to hard-working Australians by more than doubling the low and middle income tax offset. Low- and middle-income earners will receive tax relief of up to $1,080 to support consumption growth and ease cost of living pressures. That’s up to $2,160 for a dual income family. Over 10 million Australians are estimated to benefit from the offset with around 4.5 million individuals estimated to receive the maximum benefit for the 2018-19 income year.
Taxpayers will be able to access the offset after they lodge their end of year tax returns from 1 July 2019, which is in just 13 weeks’ time.
The Government is helping Australian businesses grow by increasing and expanding access to the instant asset write-off. In total, around 3.4 million businesses will now be eligible to access the instant asset write-off. From tonight small and medium-sized businesses with an annual turnover of up to $50 million (up from $10 million currently) will be able to immediately deduct eligible assets costing up to $30,000 (up from $25,000) enabling them to grow their businesses and employ more Australians.
We will deliver record infrastructure investment of $100 billion over the next decade: busting congestion and getting families home sooner and safer, while investing in our future economic growth.
This includes $2 billion to help deliver fast rail from Geelong to Melbourne, an increase of $3 billion for the Urban Congestion Fund taking it to $4 billion, a $2.2 billion Road Safety Package and an additional $1 billion for the next phase of the Roads of Strategic Importance initiative.
Our economic plan delivers record health funding to guarantee Medicare, fund even more hospital services and provide greater access to more affordable medicines.
In this Budget, the Government is increasing total health funding from $81.8 billion in 2019-20 to $89.5 billion in 2022-23, up from $64 billion in 2013-14.
We will deliver record funding for schools and new measures to equip Australians with the skills they need.
Recurrent funding for schools will reach a record $19.9 billion in 2019, with average Commonwealth funding per student having increased from $3,755 in 2014 to $5,097 in 2019.
The Government will also invest more than $525 million to upgrade the vocational education and training sector including a package which will deliver up to 80,000 new apprentices.
Through strong economic management, we have successfully turned around Labor’s legacy of debt and deficit. By directing spending to where it’s most needed and most effective, average annual real growth in payments, expected to be 1.9 per cent, is the lowest of any government in 50 years.
Our plan for a stronger economy will put more money back in the pockets of Australians, create more jobs and guarantee essential services like Medicare, hospitals, schools and roads.

The Morrison Government is building a better tax system that rewards hard-working Australians and empowers small and medium-sized businesses to invest, grow and create more jobs.
As part of our plan for a stronger economy, we will provide tax relief to Australian taxpayers with immediate relief for low- and middle-income earners.
The Government will provide additional tax relief to hard-working Australians by more than doubling the low and middle income tax offset. Low- and middle-income earners will receive a benefit of up to $1,080 for low- and middle-income earners to support consumption growth and ease cost of living pressures. That’s up to $2,160 for a dual income family. Taxpayers will be able to access the offset after they lodge their end of year tax returns from 1 July 2019, which is in just 13 weeks’ time.
In 2022-23, we will lock in the benefits of low- and middle-income tax relief by increasing the top threshold of the 19 per cent tax bracket from $41,000 to $45,000 and by increasing the low income tax offset from $645 to $700.
And in 2024-25, the Government will reduce the 32.5 per cent tax rate to 30 per cent. This will be accompanied by the abolition of the 37 per cent tax bracket, which we have already legislated. This will provide permanently lower taxes and improve incentives for Australian taxpayers.
In 2024-25, 13.3 million taxpayers are projected to benefit from tax relief provided by this Government. It will mean 94 per cent of taxpayers are projected to pay a marginal tax rate of no more than 30 per cent in 2024-25.
We are also delivering additional tax relief for around 3.4 million small and medium-sized businesses to help them reinvest in their business, create jobs and grow.
In this year’s Budget we are increasing the instant asset write-off threshold to $30,000 and expanding access to medium-sized businesses with an annual turnover of less than $50 million. These changes will apply from 7:30pm (AEDT) on 2 April 2019 to 30 June 2020.
Around 22,000 additional businesses employing around 1.7 million workers will now be eligible to access the instant asset write-off. More than 350,000 businesses have already taken advantage of the instant asset write-off.
The Government is continuing to strengthen its efforts to maintain the integrity of Australia’s tax system by making sure multinationals pay their fair share of tax on their Australian profits.
In particular, the Government is extending funding for the ATO’s Tax Avoidance Taskforce until 30 June 2023. The extension is expected to raise a further $4.6 billion in liabilities over the next four years.
This is in addition to the $12.9 billion in tax liabilities the Government’s multinational tax avoidance initiatives have helped raise since July 2016.

The budget is back in the black with the Morrison Government delivering the first budget surplus in more than a decade.
This year will see a surplus of $7.1 billion. A $55.5 billion turnaround from the deficit we inherited six years ago.
In 2020-21, a surplus of $11.0 billion.
In 2021-22, a surplus of $17.8 billion.
In 2022-23, a surplus of $9.2 billion.
A total of $45 billion of surpluses over the next four years.
Surpluses will continue to build toward one per cent of GDP within a decade.
Through disciplined budget management Australia is again well-positioned to respond to challenges both here and abroad.
A strong economy means we can deliver lower taxes, guarantee essential services, invest in congestion-busting infrastructure and keep Australians safe and secure.
And with the budget moving into surplus, it means the Government is strengthening its commitment to pay down debt.
The Government is reducing debt, not through higher taxes, but by good budget management and growing the economy.
By paying down debt, the Government will put the nation’s finances on a more sustainable footing and reduce the burden on future generations. Net debt is projected to be eliminated by 2029-30.
Reducing debt will ensure that the next generation does not pick up the tab for the last.
In delivering a surplus budget, the Government’s economic plan is giving Australians more opportunities, and creating a stronger economy.

The Morrison Government is guaranteeing essential services through the 2019-20 Budget with record funding for schools and hospitals while also keeping Australians safe and our borders secure.
Investing in Australia’s education system
The 2019-20 Budget will deliver record levels of funding for schools to ensure teachers have the support they need to prepare students for the future.
Recurrent funding for schools will reach $19.9 billion in 2019, with average Commonwealth funding per student having increased from $3,755 in 2014 to $5,097 in 2019. By 2029, this funding will grow to $32.4 billion, an increase of 63 per cent.
The Budget also includes $30.2 million in 2019-20 to schools under the Local School Community Fund that will allow communities to fund projects such as upgrades to libraries, classrooms and play equipment.
To help children get the best start to their education, the Government will ensure every child has access to a quality preschool education by investing $453 million to extend the National Partnership Agreement on Universal Access to Early Childhood Education until the end of 2020.
The Government is also investing a record $17.7 billion in the university sector to build on our world-class higher education system in 2019. This is projected to grow to more than $20 billion by 2024.
Delivering Skills for Today and Tomorrow
The Government will equip Australians with the skills they need now and for the future by investing $525 million over five years to develop a modern vocational education and training (VET) sector.
A National Skills Commission (NSC) will be established to drive long-term reform of VET.
To deliver up to 80,000 additional apprentices over five years to enter occupations currently experiencing skill shortages, the Government is introducing an Additional Identified Skills Shortage Payment.
The Government will provide $41.7 million over four years to pilot Skills Organisations across the country in the key areas of human services care and digital technologies including cyber security.
To ensure all Australians have the skills they need for work, the Government will provide $62.4 million to establish a national program to deliver foundational training in language, literacy, numeracy and digital skills.
To tackle high youth unemployment in regional areas, $50.6 million will be invested to pilot ten Training Hubs.
Investing in better health
The Government is also committing record funding to health to continue to guarantee and strengthen Medicare, boost health services across the country, and make medicines more affordable.
Total health spending is expected to increase from $81.8 billion in 2019-20 to $89.5 billion in 2022-23.
Commonwealth funding of public hospitals is estimated to exceed $130 billion over the life of the next health and hospitals agreement from 2020‑21 to 2024‑25.
The Government is helping to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for patients by providing $199 million to increase patient rebates for diagnostic imaging items on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) from 1 July 2020. To support about 14,000 breast cancer patients each year, a further $32.6 million is being provided to reduce the cost of services for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
The Government is also providing $187 million to increase patient rebates for 119 GP service items on the MBS from 1 July 2019.
A further $152 million will be invested in new MRI licenses for lifesaving medical imaging technology to give patients from across Australia better access to leading health care, including at Mount Druitt Hospital in New South Wales, Ipswich Hospital in Queensland and Kalgoorlie Health Campus in Western Australia.
The $1.3 billion Community Health and Hospitals Program will boost health services across Australia. This includes $100 million funding for a comprehensive children’s cancer centre at Sydney Children’s Hospital, and $60 million to support the James Cook University Tropical Enterprise Centre in Queensland to become a centre of excellence in tropical medicine.
The Government is ensuring Australians have affordable access to medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
This Budget includes $331 million for new and amended listings on the PBS, including life-changing medicines to treat lung, bladder, kidney and skin cancer as well as leukaemia.
The Government will invest $461 million in Australia’s most significant youth mental health and suicide prevention strategy which will see 30 new headspace centres, reduced waiting lists and more support for indigenous youth including through mentoring and peer support.
Supporting older Australians
A record $21.6 billion will go towards ensuring older Australians can access higher-quality and safer aged care in 2019-20. This is an increase of more than 50 per cent since 2013-14.
The Government is providing $282.4 million to support older Australians who wish to stay at home for longer through an additional 10,000 home care packages.This will bring to 40,000 the number of new packages announced over the last 18 months. The Government is providing a $320 million general subsidy boost in 2018‑19 for residential aged care and 13,500 new residential care places. To assist older Australians to save for their retirement, the Government is relaxing restrictions on their ability to contribute to superannuation. From 1 July 2020, Australians aged under 67 years will be able to make voluntary contributions without meeting the work test and other age‑based rules will be streamlined.
Affordable and reliable energy
The Government will provide $284 million for a one‑off, income tax exempt payment of $75 for singles and $125 for couples to more than 3.9 million eligible social security payment recipients, assisting with their next power bill and cost of living expenses.
The Government has given the green light to the Snowy 2.0 project by providing a $1.4 billion equity injection. The project will provide more affordable, reliable and sustainable power for up to 500,000 homes.
Partnering with the Tasmanian Government, the Australian Government is accelerating the Battery of the Nation and Marinus Link projects by providing $56 million for a new interconnector between Tasmania and Victoria. This will unlock Tasmania’s hydro capacity and support more sustainable and reliable electricity for homes and businesses.
Delivering for Australians in need
Australia’s carers are our nation’s unsung heroes That is why the Government is investing $84.3 million to enable carers to leave a loved one in safe hands and get a much needed break.
The Government is also providing $328 million over four years from 2018‑19 to deliver its Fourth Action Plan under the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010‑2022.
Subject to the finalisation of the terms of reference and consideration by the Governor-General, the Government will provide $528 million over five years to establish a Royal Commission to examine violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability.
Keeping Australia safe
In this Budget, the Government is continuing to make Australia more secure and ensure Australians remain safe.
Through our $337 million Comprehensive Drug Strategy, the Government is helping to prevent and minimise the harmful effects of illicit drugs, like ice and heroin. The Strategy will increase access to services outside metropolitan areas to fund local family drug support programs while also providing the Australian Federal Police with extra resources to crackdown on outlaw motorcycle gangs and their drug supply chains.
A record $200 billion will be invested in Australia’s Defence capability over the next decade to strengthen the capability of the Australian Defence Force to protect Australia and Australia’s interests.
These investments will both enhance our capability and provide opportunities to develop Australian industry and jobs.
The Government is also building the capability of national security and law enforcement agencies. This includes over $513 million over five years for the Australian Federal Police to enhance its counter terrorism activities and community policing services.
The Government is continuing to bolster Australia’s defences against cyber attacks as part of the Cyber Security Strategy. This will help protect IT systems against targeted attacks and enable quick responses in the event of incidents. Guaranteeing essential services is part of our plan for a stronger economy.

This budget is a cynical attempt to buy votes instead of planning for the nation’s looming challenges. What we needed was a plan to tackle the climate emergency through a real investment in renewables and a managed transition away from coal and other fossil fuels. What we needed was a plan to tackle growing inequality and to fund our essential services. Instead Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg have stuck their heads in the sand and delivered a few election bribes.
“Josh Frydenberg said in his speech that we owe our children budget discipline. We owe our children a plan for their future, and that should mean tackling climate change through a managed transition away from fossil fuels to a clean, green, jobs-rich renewable economy. By any measure this budget fails to do that,” said Leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale.
“If the Liberals cared as much about addressing our climate catastrophe as they do with looking after their corporate donors, we might not be in this mess. Instead, just six weeks before an election that will be fought over action on climate change, the Treasurer only uttered the words once in his speech.
“It is shameful that this government has only committed a pittance on their national electric vehicle strategy and to modernise our hopelessly outdated electricity network. It’s verging on criminal that they’ve only budgeted $189 million over the forwards on the centrepiece of their climate change policy when we’re facing a climate crisis.”
“This is a mean-spirited budget that perfectly reflects the Coalition’s worldview. It funds tax cuts for the rich by reducing funding for the public services that are essential for everyone but them. It gives billions of dollars more to overfunded private schools than to the public schools that educate most of our children. The Liberals blame immigrants for our overcrowded cities while spending on defence goes up infrastructure goes down.
“One thing that this budget makes absolutely clear is that we don’t lack the financial resources to solve the problems we face as a nation. What we lack is the political vision,” Di Natale said.
“Let’s get real: there wouldn’t have been a surplus without the bump in commodities prices, and that’s not in keeping with the long-term trends. This budget doesn’t put us on a trajectory to sustainable growth, it’s just a pea-and-shell game designed to buy some votes,” Greens Treasury Spokesperson Peter Whish-Wilson said.
“The tax cut and surplus in this budget are worth $64.5 billion, which is enough to fully fund TAFE and free university education for all Australians, increase Newstart, build 500,000 new affordable homes, provide Medicare-funded dental care and invest $10 billion to fight climate change and still have billions to spare.
“But the giveaway to their wealthy donors doesn’t stop with the personal income tax cuts. This budget could find an extra $1.8 billion in additional fossil fuel subsidies for rich miners like Gina Rinehart but nothing to boost stagnant wages.
“The Government’s infrastructure spend is not a plan, it’s a scheme to funnel pork to marginal Coalition seats without any concrete vision for transforming our cities and regions so they can thrive. Announcing five feasibility studies on top of the existing three is hardly a groundbreaking plan for fast regional rail,” Whish-Wilson said.

Healthy Oceans spokesperson, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, today praised the order from the Administrative Appeals Tribunal which will see an end to Queensland’s shameful lethal shark culling in the World Heritage-Listed Great Barrier Reef.
Senator Whish-Wilson said, “Lethal shark measures are indiscriminate killers and weapons of mass destruction to protected marine life.
“This is a massive win for our Great Barrier Reef and for healthy oceans.”
The AAT’s findings of “overwhelming scientific evidence” that killing sharks doesn’t reduce the risk of unprovoked shark interactions, comes on the same day the Queensland Government’s response to a 2017 Senate inquiry into shark mitigation was tabled in the Senate, claiming their Shark Control Program “continues to provide a safer swimming and surfing environment at popular beaches in Queensland.”
Senator Whish-Wilson said, “This is absolute claptrap. The Queensland Government still has its head in the sand and refuses to acknowledge the scientific fact that its inhumane method of culling sharks does not make people safer.”
Senator Whish-Wilson chaired the 2017 Senate inquiry into shark mitigation and deterrent measures that recommended NSW and Queensland phase out shark nets, immediately replace lethal drum lines with SMART drum lines and increase funding and support for the development and implementation of non-lethal mitigation measures.
“It’s uplifting to see the hard work of the Senate inquiry supported by the Tribunal’s findings to phase out lethal shark mitigation methods. This new finding will further assist in breaking down many of the myths that surround sharks and safety, which is an absolutely critical part of getting change.
“It has been a long road to get to this point. I applaud the persistence of Humane Society International in pursuing an end to this inhumane, lethal shark culling.”
Queensland Greens Senator Larissa Waters said her state should never have been turned into a shark killing field.
“The judgement by the AAT confirms what the Greens have been saying all along about Queensland’s shark control program – it’s completely out of date at more than half a century old, isn’t in line with community expectations, doesn’t protect swimmers and harms marine life,” she said.
“The Great Barrier Reef has copped enough recently from climate change, coral bleaching and floodwaters but now finally at least one disruption to its precious ecosystem from the senseless killing of sharks will end.
“I call on the Queensland Government to act immediately, phase out all lethal shark mitigation methods in our state and invest in new approaches that help increase beach safety whilst protecting precious marine life.”
The Greens’ plan to invest in non-lethal shark mitigation measures can be found here.

The Liberal National Government is improving the lives of patients with breast cancer and a rare skin cancer by subsidising innovative medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), saving patients up to $150,000 a year.
In this year’s Budget our Government will invest $81.5 million to list the medicine Bavencio® (avelumab) on the PBS for the first time for the treatment of metastatic merkel cell carcinoma, a rare and highly aggressive type of skin cancer.
The incidence of Merkel cell carcinoma is rising in Australia and has become the second most common cause of skin-cancer death after melanoma.
Those with a high level of sun exposure who are over the age of 75 are most at risk.
This is a new immunotherapy medicine designed to help the body’s immune system attack and destroy cancer cells.
It has the potential to save and prolong the lives of around 160 patients a year who expected to benefit from this listing.
Without PBS subsidy patients would pay approximately $150,000 per year for this treatment.
From May 1 this year it will be reduced to the PBS price of $40.30 per script, or $6.50 with a concession card.
Australian patients with breast cancer will benefit from an Australian Government decision to list Ibrance®(palbociclib) for the first time, on the PBS.
Ibrance® will be listed on the PBS for the treatment of hormone receptor positive locally advanced inoperable or metastatic breast cancer.
Hormone receptor positive tumours are the most common form of breast cancer and account for most deaths from the disease.
By inhibiting two proteins which drive the growth of tumour cells, Ibrance® — used in combination with other medicines — will slow the progression of breast cancers in some patients.
Without PBS subsidy, patients would pay more than $55,000 a year for this treatment.
Around 3,000 patients a year are expected to benefit from this listing.
These patients will now be able to access this medicine for just $40.30 per script, or $6.50 with a concession card from May 1, 2019.
These treatments improve lives. They reduce the burden of expensive medicines, saving patients and families money.
Every medicine was recommended to be added to the PBS by the independent expert Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. By law the Federal Government cannot list a new medicine without a positive recommendation from the PBAC
Unlike Labor, we are subsidising all drugs recommended by the independent medical experts.
Since 2013, our Government more than 2,000 new or amended items on the PBS.
This represents an average of around 30 listings per month—or one each day— at an overall cost of around $10.6 billion.
Our commitment to the PBS is rock solid. Together with Medicare, it is a foundation of our world-class health care system.
Our plan for a strong economy continues to deliver record funding for essential health services that saves lives.

A Shorten Labor Government will work with Australia’s transport sector to cut vehicle emissions, boost adoption of electric vehicles and help Australians save on their petrol bills.
Australia needs real action on climate change – not the chaos and division of the Liberals. And real action on climate change means a plan to reduce pollution in the transport sector while saving money for motorists.
Transport emissions make up almost 20 per cent of Australia’s emissions and are a fast growing source of pollution
Cleaner cars and transport aren’t just good for the environment – they are cheaper to run. But Australia lags behind our competitor countries, whether it’s in electric vehicle take-up, or vehicle fuel efficiency. We have ten times lower electric vehicle take-up than the global average, and we’re at risk of being left behind.
That’s why Labor will introduce Australia’s first National Electric Vehicle (EV) policy – building the local industry, generating more local jobs, and helping consumers make the switch.
Labor’s strategy will include:

• A national electric vehicle target of 50 per cent new car sales by 2030 – The global transition to electric vehicles is well underway, but the Liberals’ failure to deliver credible climate change and electric vehicle policies means Australia is now last among western counties for electric vehicle uptake. Incredibly, New Zealand has more electric vehicles than Australia.  Setting a national target will deliver more affordable electric vehicles into the Australian market and drive the switch to electric vehicles, reducing their cost, create thousands of jobs and cutting pollution.

 

• Set a government electric vehicle target of 50 per cent of new purchases and leases of passenger vehicles by 2025 – This government fleet target will send a strong signal to the global industry that we expect cost competitive vehicles to be available for the Australian market. Government electric vehicle fleets will also be important in developing a second hand market. Labor will work towards requiring all Commonwealth‑owned-and-leased office buildings to include the provision of charging infrastructure where appropriate.

 

• Growing private electric vehicle fleets: Labor will allow businesses an upfront tax deduction to purchase electric vehicles for business purposes, as part of Labor’s announced Australian Investment Guarantee. We will allow business to immediately deduct 20 per cent depreciation for EV vehicles valued at more than $20,000 as part of private fleets

 

• Regulatory reforms and COAG agenda: Labor will establish an electric vehicle COAG agenda to improve coordination of electric vehicle take-up and related infrastructure planning. Labor will also require all federally-funded road upgrades to incorporate electric vehicle charging infrastructure, work with states to ensure new and refurbished commercial and residential developments include electric vehicle charging capacity, promote national standards for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and ensure investment in public charging stations meet these standards.

As part of our focus on cleaner and cheaper transportation, Labor will also work with industry to introduce vehicle emissions standards, to save Australian motorists hundreds of dollars each year at the bowser while driving down pollution on our roads.
Australia is now one of the only developed nations without vehicle emissions standards in place. As a result, motorists will pay as much as $500 each year more at the bowser than they should be, as well as seeing pollution on our roads sky-rocket.
Labor will consult on the timeline and coverage of vehicle emission standards to ensure consumers are made significantly better off, and aim to phase-in standards of 105g CO2/km for light vehicles, which is consistent with Climate Change Authority advice.
These are sensible standards which will bring Australia’s cars into line with those in the US, which has a similar car fleet to ours, but won’t be as stringent as those operating in the EU.
These standards will be applied to car retailers to meet average emissions standards, rather than imposing blanket mandatory standards on manufacturers. This will allow retailers to meet the standards by offsetting high emissions car sales with low or zero emissions car sales – such as electric vehicles.
In addition, Labor will also develop a Low Emission Transport Strategy to inform future policy development across transport more broadly, including maritime, aviation, rail and heavy vehicles. We’ll develop a Bioenergy Strategy, that will see more clean fuels on our roads and more jobs on our regions. These policies will be complemented by our already announced Hydrogen Plan.
Labor also has an electric vehicle innovation and manufacturing strategy and will work with industry to create new job opportunities with the transition.
After six years of chaos, uncertainty and rising pollution under the Liberals, Australians need stability and certainty on climate change policy – that’s what our plan delivers.
A Shorten Labor Government will reduce pollution, invest in renewable energy and take real action on climate change – to ensure we hand on a better deal to the next generation.
More information is available at  https://www.alp.org.au/climate_change_action_plan