Month: September 2021

The Greens have slammed the government for its thousand day failure to introduce a federal corruption watchdog, saying that the four-digit delay demonstrated that it couldn’t care less about taking action on corruption.
The Greens have a bill to establish a federal ICAC that has passed the Senate, and could be brought on for debate in the Lower House immediately, if the Government stopped blocking its passage.
Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt MP said:
“Every day that passes since the government promised a federal anti-corruption watchdog is a reminder of the contempt with which the Liberals hold our democracy,” Mr Bandt said.
“In the thousand days since the Liberals made this promise, we’ve been hit by SportsRorts, Watergate, the Car Park Rorts and dodgy deals for gas donors.
“People have watched the government get more brazen, cocky and corrupt, all while the hopes of a federal ICAC get dashed.
“Times up on the Prime Minister’s delays. Scott Morrison needs to end the rorts, and bring on a federal ICAC.
“Governments of all stripes push back against corruption watchdogs because they’re terrified of what they may find. We need to kick the Liberals out, and put the Greens into balance of power where we can make sure that Labor introduces a federal ICAC with teeth.”
Australian Greens Democracy Spokesperson Senator Larissa Waters said:
“One thousand days after promising Australians an anti-corruption body this government has nothing to show for it but deeply flawed legislation trapped in an endless cycle of review.
“It took 10 years of pressure by the Greens and civil society groups to get the government to accept the need for a corruption watchdog, but the PM is still spinning his wheels.
“Since they made that promise 1000 days ago the Senate has passed my National Integrity Commission bill, but the government has refused to allow it to be debated in the House.
“Perhaps that’s not surprising given that 12 of the 23 current members of his Cabinet have been implicated in integrity scandals!
“We need to clean up politics so we can be sure that politicians are working in the public interest, not the interests of their donors and their re-election campaigns.”

Lorraine Finlay had been appointed as the nation’s new Human Rights Commissioner. Formerly an upper house candidate for the West Australian Liberals and president of the state’s Liberal women’s council, Finlay was appointed to the role without it being advertised.
This could affect the Australian Human Rights Council’s “A status” with the United Nations.
Senator Lidia Thorpe, The Greens Justice and First Nations Spokesperson said:
“Lorraine Finlay’s appointment flies in the face of the United Nations Paris Principles, which require ‘a clear, transparent and participatory selection and appointment process of commissioners.’
“The Morrison government should be looking for the candidate with the most in-depth experience and expertise, instead of parachuting their mates who are clearly inappropriate for the role. If Finlay has any integrity, she should decline and step down.
“This is someone who wrote a book calling for Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act to be abolished, opposes gender-based quotas and called affirmative consent laws ‘dangerous’ in an interview with men’s rights activist Bettina Arndt.
“The Morrison government announced this on the same day that the Women’s Safety Summit began. So often, violence against women is the result of an abuse of power. This appointment is an abuse of power.
“People in this country deserve an independent, objective Human Rights Commissioner who won’t play party politics with people’s rights!”

The National Summit on Women’s Safety has asked all Australians to confront the unacceptable scourge of family, domestic and sexual violence and provided meaningful and constructive actions for change.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women Marise Payne and Minister for Women’s Safety Anne Ruston thanked all the panellists, speakers and delegates as well as all Australians who joined the national conversation.
National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation chair Donnella Mills, Our Watch chief executive Patty Kinnersly and National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Alliance chief executive Sandra Creamer handed down a comprehensive Statement on behalf of all delegates which outlines key priorities to underpin the next National Plan to end violence against women and children.
Minister Payne said the Summit demonstrated all levels of government, business, educators, justice and frontline workers were committed to long-term, continuous action to end all forms of gendered violence.
“The new National Plan will pave the way to achieving our shared goal to end violence against women and children,” Minister Payne said.
“It will build on evidence and achievements from the current plan while addressing new and emerging issues such as technology-facilitated abuse and coercive control.
“It must also be targeted to the unique needs of communities affected by multiple forms of discrimination or inequality and will better address complex forms of violence and harmful cultural practices.”
Minister Ruston said the Statement brought together the key issues discussed across all panels and roundtables.
“The next National Plan to end violence against women and children must turn your insights into practical action because lives depend on it,” Minister Ruston said.
“We all must come together and be united to achieve this goal. That means each and every one of us – politicians, business and community leaders and all Australians – must accept we can do more and promise we will do more.”
For more information about the National Summit on Women’s Safety and to read the Summit Statement visit: Women’s Safety Summit

The Morrison Government is hosting the National Summit on Women’s Safety on 6 and 7 September which is the culmination of extensive consultations to develop the next National Plan to end violence against women and children.
The Summit will include keynote addresses, panel discussions and a series of roundtables focused on key issues affecting women’s safety including economic security and financial independence, perpetrator interventions, and responding to sexual violence.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women Marise Payne said the Summit was an opportunity for a diverse range of people with lived experience, advocates, services providers, academics and other stakeholders to come together to inform the next National Plan.
“The Summit is an important step towards a future free from family and domestic violence and sexual assault in Australia,” Minister Payne said.
“I encourage every Australian to take part in this important national conversation, so together we can create change.”
Minister for Women’s Safety Anne Ruston said the key themes, issues and recommendations discussed by Summit delegates would be captured in a Summit Statement which would be released at the end of the two days.
“The Summit will further elevate the important national discussion we are having about women’s safety and ensure that we bring all people along with us as we develop the next National Plan,” Minister Ruston said.
“We are pleased to have Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Age Discrimination Commissioner Dr Kay Patterson, Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant and Our Watch ambassador Arman Abrahimzadeh among others joining us as speakers.”
All key panel discussions and presentations will be live streamed on 6 and 7 September via womenssafetysummit.com.au. Written submissions and feedback on the topics discussed at the Summit can be provided at engage.dss.gov.au/national-summit-on-womens-safety until 15 September 2021.

The Greens have today announced they will push for a new 40% corporate super-profits tax on the excess profits made by big corporations, including mining corporations, in the balance of power after the next election.
The Greens’ push for a ‘tycoon tax’ follows the announcement this week of record super-profits across retail and mining sectors, and National Account figures showing the profit share of national income at the highest (30.3%) since records began, eclipsing last year’s new record¹.
These new taxes are essential because there’s huge wealth in this country, but it’s being hoarded by billionaires and offshore shareholders. It’s time to make them pay their fair share.
On current polling, a power-sharing Parliament is the most likely outcome of the coming election and in the balance of power, the Greens will push for billionaires and big corporations to pay their fair share of tax to get dental and mental health fully into Medicare and build affordable housing.
The Greens’ Plan to tax the tycoons includes:

1. A new Corporate Super-Profits Tax, being a 40% tax on big corporations, including mining corporations, that would raise $338 billion over the decade.
2. The previously-announced new 6% tax on the wealth of billionaires to raise $48 billion over the decade (more details here)
3. Winding back handouts and subsidies to coal, gas and oil corporations, details of which will be announced at a later date.

These policies have been costed by the Parliament Budget Office, they’re hugely popular and build on the Greens’ recent electoral success in Queensland.

How the Greens’ new super-profits tax will work

The 40% Corporate Super-Profits Tax announced today involves two components – one tax that applies to the mining sector and another that applies to corporations more broadly – both of which have been separately costed by the PBO and together raise $338b over a decade. The 40% tax would be applied as follows:

1. For non-mining corporations with over a $100 million turnover, the tax would apply to their super-profits. Both Australian corporations and the share of a multinational corporation’s operations in Australia would be subject to the tax. The corporate super profits tax would apply to net revenue after deducting income tax and after making an allowance for a fair return to shareholders.²
2. For mining projects, the tax on corporations will be assessed on a Australian project-by-project basis, based on the original Henry Review’s mining super profits tax.

The independent Parliamentary Budget Office has calculated the mining component will raise $124 billion over 10 years and the wider component will raise $214 billion over that same period, totalling a $338 billion boost to the fiscal balance. The Greens will announce further details about the super-profits tax on oil and gas corporations at a later date.

40% Corporate Super-Profits Tax Policy in application

The following companies are estimated to have the following change in their tax liability based on most recent financial reports.³ Because mining companies would be assessed on a project-by-project basis, it is not possible to estimate individual corporate liability without greater knowledge of individual corporations’ operations.

	Profit	Current company income tax	New corporate super profits tax	Total tax paid
Telstra	$1.9B	$540m	$300m	$840m
CBA	$8.8B	$3.5B	$1.3B	$4.8B
Apple	$1.4B*	$120m	$420m	$540m
Harvey Norman	$840m	$340m	$190m	$530m
Ramsay	$510m	$230m	$70m	$300m
Wesfarmers	$2.4B	$1.0B	$570m	$1.6B

*Assumes profit attributable to Australian operations is equal to Australian share of turnover.

Super-Profits announced this week

• Billionaire Gerry Harvey’s Harvey Norman lifted profits 75% to a record $841 million.⁴
• Australia’s three biggest miners recorded $65.5 billion profit, and one person – Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest – reportedly personally raked in over $4b.⁵

Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP said:

“Big corporations making big profits should pay more tax.
“While everyone else has suffered through the pandemic, billionaire corporations have made out like bandits and profits are at record highs.
“A ‘tycoon tax’ is essential because there’s huge wealth in this country, but it’s being hoarded by a greedy few.
“People want Clive Palmer to send fewer texts and pay more tax.
“By making mining billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share, we can build a better life for all of us.
“The next election will be closer than people think Scott Morrison is only 828 votes away from losing majority government and on current polling, a power-sharing Parliament is the most likely outcome.
“In balance of power, the Greens will kick the Liberals out and push the next government to make billionaire corporations pay their fair share of tax so we can get dental and mental health into Medicare and build affordable housing.
“The Greens are putting Gerry, Gina, Twiggy and Clive on notice. People run this country, not billionaire corporations. These measures have public support and will be a top issue this election, and a top priority in power-sharing Parliament afterwards.

Greens Treasury Spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said:

“Gerry Harvey is making out like a bandit while we shortchange our nation’s future prosperity.
“Many of Australia’s billionaires have doubled their wealth during the pandemic while turbo-charging climate change. This has to change.
“Outrageous profits for corporations shows the way that big players have furthered their monopolies through Covid lockdowns.
“Excessive profits are a red flag for an economy. Super profits are a sign that there is a lack of competitiveness, that staff are not sharing in the spoils of increased revenue and that customers are getting ripped off.
 

With the UN calling for Australia to quit coal by 2030, but Rupert Murdoch officially moving only to ‘net zero by 2050’, the looming divide between climate activists and fossil fuel supporters is now clear, Greens Leader, Adam Bandt MP said, announcing the Greens will introduce a bill to phase out coal by 2030 to parliament, putting legislative action behind the UN’s demands.
With climate denial now thoroughly discredited, fossil fuel backers including Murdoch, Liberal and Labor are shifting to ‘net zero by 2050’, which will be insufficient to stop dangerous climate change without deeper emissions reductions by 2030.
Meanwhile, the UN, the Greens and the world’s scientists are demanding fossil fuel producing nations phase out coal, oil and gas, with a just transition that ensures good, meaningful work for workers in affected industries.
The independent Climate Targets Panel found earlier this year that ‘net zero by 2050’ as a target for Australia is incompatible with the temperature targets in the Paris Agreement and that stronger 2030 targets were needed.
“This sets the stage for climate action in the 2020s. With ten years to prevent the climate crisis, one side is trying to urgently phase out coal, oil, and gas, but the other is trying to delay action until 2050,” Mr Bandt said.
“Delay is the new denial. Australia must phase out coal by 2030, because by 2050 it will be too late.”
“The Greens will do what the science demands and move legislation in Parliament for Australia to phase out coal by 2030.
“The latest IPCC report is clear: we’re on track to hit 1.5 degrees of warming by the 2030s. If we want a safe climate for future generations, we need to phase out coal by 2030 with a transition plan and significant support for affected workers.
“Rupert Murdoch appears to be shifting from straight out climate denial to climate delay. The favoured tactic of coal and gas advocates is now to try and delay climate action, squeezing out the last profits for an industry in decline.
“While the Greens, United Nations and climate scientists are pushing for Australia to quit its coal addiction by 2030, Rupert Murdoch, the Liberals and Labor are pushing for coal to stay in the system for decades.
“The climate crisis is already here. Weather events supercharged by global heating are already killing people – and will affect us all. With disaster after disaster unfolding across the world, we can’t wait until 2050 to take action.
“According to the independent Climate Targets Panel, we need 75% emissions reductions by 2030, with net zero by 2035 at the latest. Anything less amounts to denial of climate science.”

The Morrison Government congratulates our Australian Paralympians after a showcase of unforgettable performances in Tokyo.
The Australian team of 179 was the country’s largest ever at an overseas Paralympic Games notching up 80 medals – 21 gold, 29 silver and 30 bronze.
Minister for Sport Richard Colbeck said the efforts of our Paralympians had reinforced the nation’s love for green and gold competition on the world stage.
“This was a Paralympic Games for the history books,” Minister Colbeck said.
“From the moment Danni di Toro and Ryley Batt proudly carried the Australian flag at the opening ceremony, the Australian Paralympic team displayed the best of our
nation to the world.
“Madison De Rozario’s nail-biting gold medal win in the T54 wheelchair marathon on the final day was a fitting finale.
“We have celebrated gold medal triumphs, but we have also laughed, cried and marvelled at the fortitude of all our athletes who have given their very best for their country.”
Minister Colbeck said it was fitting to see our most decorated Paralympic medallist Ellie Cole carry the Australian flag in the closing ceremony.
“It exemplified the performances of every single athlete who have each been superb national ambassadors,” he said.
“The outstanding performances have buoyed not just sports lovers across Australia but all those who have been doing it tough in a difficult time.
“Congratulations should also go to Paralympics Australia Chef de Mission Kate McLoughlin, Chief Executive Lynne Anderson and President Jock O’Callaghan for championing the Paralympic cause and helping to prepare such a strong and spirited team.”
Minister Colbeck said the Government was proud to have extended its support to Paralympic Australia ensuring its medal-winning athletes will receive bonus payments in line with the rewards paid to Olympic athletes.
“The one-off payments for medallists will be equivalent to those made by the Australian Olympic Committee to medal-winning Olympic athletes in Tokyo,” he said.
“This was an important step which compliments the ongoing funding ensuring our para-athletes can continue to make their mark internationally.”
He said the Morrison Government’s commitment to support para-athletes was reflected in this year’s Budget with direct funding injections of more than $3 million for 2021-22.
The boost for Paralympic competitors, across 13 sporting programs, marks a 40 per cent increase in funding since 2012 with 86 per cent of the Australian Paralympic team receiving direct grants from the AIS.
Minister Colbeck said it offers funding clarity and security for athletes looking ahead to the 2022 Winter Paralympics, the 2022 Commonwealth Games and ensures a springboard for those vying to represent Australia at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
“The Morrison Government’s record core funding levels to support athletes builds on the recent investments to support wellbeing and pathways for young aspiring Paralympians,” he said.
Other funding includes:

• • $4m over two years from 2018-19 to construct new facilities for para-athletes at Paralympic Australia’s Victorian base at Essendon.
  • $310,370 over four years from 2018-19 for eligible Paralympic athletes who may have had their Disability Support Pension impacted as a result of training for events overseas; and
  • $1.5m to improve Australia’s capability in finding Australia’s best para-athletes to compete on the world stage.

Making sure women can live safely, free from violence and harassment, is not a new challenge. Throughout my lifetime, these issues have been making headlines.
Over time, I’ve seen our country make progress on women’s safety. We know so much more about abuse and how to support survivors thanks to a generation of women who have spoken out and pioneered change. Still, the events of the past year – and the brave and tireless advocacy we have witnessed – makes this particular moment feel full with potential, the sense we are living through a transformational time for Australia’s women.
Grace Tame, Brittany Higgins, and the women who came together in their thousands this year have inspired a national conversation about the treatment of women at home, at work and in our communities. But we have a long way to go, and we need federal leadership that is prepared, in both word and deed, to catalyse lasting change. That is why the National Summit on Women’s Safety this week is so important. The Prime Minister did not invite me to participate in the summit, and I didn’t seek to. Creating space for women to lead and to decide is imperative.
As a man and as a committed ally in this work, we need to listen and to amplify the voices of women. But we also need to join with them in action.
So I want to make my perspective clear: change is urgent. Almost one in four Australian women have experienced violence from an intimate partner. Each week an Australian woman is murdered by her current or former partner.
Participants in the summit do incredible work on the front lines of our domestic violence crisis. But they are stretched thin.
Nearly 10,000 women a year are turnedaway from shelters, 40 per cent of calls to women’s legal services last year went unanswered, and the ABS recorded nearly 100,000 victims of domestic violence in 2019. Services are crying out for back-up.
The outcome of this summit must be nothing short of a concrete commitment in funding and resources from this government, after eight long years of neglect – not more inaction from a Prime Minister who refused to even meet with the March 4 Justice protesters when they were on his doorstep.
Labor has already announced several policies for women escaping violent situations. Our focus is on providing women with the housing and economic support they need to establish a safe life.
No woman should have to choose between her job and leaving an abusive situation. That’s why Labor will establish 10 days of paid domestic violence leave, and allocate an additional 4000 units of social housing to women and children experiencing family violence and older women on lower incomes. In addition, we will provide $100 million for crisis and transitional housing.
We also need to recognise the battles women face – whether it be workplace harassment, pay inequities or everyday sexism.
Labor has fully embraced all 55 recommendations of the Respect@Work report, including the duty of employers to ensure workplaces are free of sexual harassment.
An Albanese Labor government will ensure there are Working Women’s Centres in every state and territory to provide free, confidential assistance on workplace matters, including sexual harassment and discrimination. We will also establish a one-stop shop within the Australian Human Rights Commission to assist victims of workplace sexual harassment.
Last week in Parliament the government finally responded to the Respect@Work report, adopting just six of the 55 recommendations. It was a tricky, half-hearted response to a powerful report.
Change is urgent, but not simple. Addressing women’s physical, emotional and economic safety and solving it for the long term will require some significant shifts.
Men need to step up. We must hold ourselves accountable and assess our institutions and actions to ensure higher standards.
That’s not going to be easy. Institutions I have loved my whole life – football, the church and yes, the Labor Party – are mostly run by men. We must provide an honest accounting of where we’ve failed.
Today, across this country, too many kids are watching their mums grapple with the harrowing cost of domestic abuse. Too many women are living with the fear, the anguish and the emotional and physical scars of an abusive encounter.
I hope the National Summit on Women’s Safety can be a turning point for this government, finally delivering long overdue change Australian women are calling for.