Month: April 2022

The Prime Minister has taken the final step to reject the application for the Offshore Petroleum Exploration Permit PEP-11.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Government’s decision under section 59(3) of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 to propose to refuse the application has been formalised.

“PEP-11 is officially dead in the water,” the Prime Minister said.

“I said the project would not proceed on our watch, and that is exactly what has happened.

“The decision has been finalised to ensure PEP-11 will not go ahead as a result of the steps taken by my Government.

“I would like to thank our local Liberal Members and candidates and the coastal communities from Newcastle through to Wollongong for voicing their concerns and for working with the Government to ensure the local communities and environment remain protected.”

The New South Wales Government agreed with the Morrison Government’s proposed decision.

The National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator (NOPTA) has advised the applicant of the decision.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Prime Minister James Marape have welcomed $158 million (PGK415 million) in agreements under the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) to upgrade key power and road networks across Papua New Guinea.

The two Prime Ministers recognised the importance of working together to deliver high‑quality, transformational infrastructure projects, which are critical to Papua New Guinea’s prosperity, and economic recovery from COVID-19.

Australia will support an $86 million (PGK226 million) financing package to improve Papua New Guinea’s national power infrastructure and connect more than 30,000 households, schools and clinics to electricity. Access to electricity is key to improving development outcomes. This partnership will connect many communities in Morobe and East New Britain provinces to the grid for the first time.

Australia’s financing is part of the PNG Electrification Partnership, and supports the Government of Papua New Guinea’s objective of connecting 70 per cent of PNG’s population to electricity by 2030.

Australia is also investing $72 million (PGK189 million) to upgrade road infrastructure in key economic corridors across Papua New Guinea, connecting communities and supporting improved access to markets.

The financing will enable the rehabilitation and maintenance of approximately 359 kilometres of priority roads, including the Sepik Highway in the East Sepik and West Sepik provinces, and the Wau Highway in Morobe Province.

Prime Minister Marape welcomed the agreements.

“This financing will assist my Government to progress our priority Connect PNG Strategy, increase strategic connections across Papua New Guinea, and build up critical infrastructure in the power sector,” Prime Minister Marape said.

Prime Minister Morrison said the partnership would support the development of critical infrastructure in Papua New Guinea, and provide a significant boost to the local economy.

“Australia is pleased to support the development of high-quality infrastructure across Papua New Guinea’s diverse regions, and build on our strong record of supporting critical infrastructure across the Pacific,” Prime Minister Morrison said.

“This partnership will employ Papua New Guinean workers and use local materials where possible to help stimulate the local economy and assist in its economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The agreements recognise the critical importance of Australia and Papua New Guinea’s bilateral partnership and build on the joint ambition established through the Papua New Guinea-Australia Comprehensive Strategic and Economic Partnership (CSEP).

Australia will continue to partner with governments and the private sector in Papua New Guinea, and across the Pacific, to respond to infrastructure needs and support our shared interest for an open, resilient and inclusive Pacific region.

Today in Beijing, Australian citizen Ms Cheng Lei faced a closed trial on charges of illegally supplying state secrets overseas. At the end of proceedings, the court deferred its verdict.

The Australian Government respects the sovereignty of China’s legal system. However, Ms Cheng’s case has lacked transparency and the Australian Government has never been provided with details of the charges.

Australia’s Ambassador to China and officials were present at the court entrance, reiterating Australia’s support for Ms Cheng and our concerns with what has been a closed and opaque process.

Regrettably, the Ambassador was not permitted entry to the court. The continuing lack of transparency is concerning and further undermines confidence.

Since Ms Cheng was detained in August 2020, the Australian Government has consistently stated the fundamental importance of procedural fairness, basic standards of justice and China’s international legal obligations.

Following Ms Cheng’s trial, we renew our calls for China to uphold these principles and to allow Ms Cheng unimpeded access to her lawyer.

We will continue to provide consular assistance to Ms Cheng under the terms of our bilateral Consular Relations Agreement, and to advocate for her rights, including for her to be able to speak to her two young children in Australia, with whom she has had no contact since her detention in 2020.

Australia stands by Ms Cheng and her family at this difficult time.

Last night, the Greens Senator for Victoria Lidia Thorpe successfully introduced a Private Senators Bill that will ensure this Country complies with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, or UNDRIP.

This Bill is the first step towards implementing UNDRIP into our laws, policies and practice. The Senate also passed a motion, introduced by Senator Thorpe and Senator Cox, that will establish an inquiry into the application of the UNDRIP.

The United Nations General Assembly adopted the UNDRIP in 2007, after 144 countries voted in favor and Australia was one of four nations who voted against it. After endorsing UNDRIP in 2009, this Country is finally taking action thanks to the Greens.

Australian Greens Senator for Victoria: Gunnai, Gunditjmara and DjabWurrung woman Lidia Thorpe said:

“This is a historic development for the rights of First Nations people in this country. For too long, all levels of government have been making decisions about us, without us.”

“The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is about First Nations people having the final say on First Nations affairs. It’s about protecting our right to free, prior and informed consent on what happens to our Country, our culture and our people.”

“Senator Payne said in 2007 that something as important as the UNDRIP should not be rushed. For 15 years, successive governments have failed to act on UNDRIP. Last night, the Greens did.”

“First Nations people are strong and capable. We are proud to stand here with the backing of our Greens colleagues and give this Parliament and this Government solutions to the shame of this country’s past. Together, we can find a better way forwards.”

“The bill requires the Government to develop a fully funded national action plan to implement UNDRIP and to audit existing laws, so they are compliant with UNDRIP. It’s time to fix the broken system, and the Greens will get it done.”

“This is a big step forward for Blak justice in this country. This is what having Greens in Parliament can do.”

Australian Greens Animal Welfare spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has said that the reported winding back of the ban on live sheep export to the Middle East during the Northern Summer will result in completely avoidable animal death and suffering.

Senator Faruqi said:

“Sheep will suffer and die because of this decision. It is a betrayal of the animals and all those who fought hard for the Northern Summer ban just a few short years ago.

“While it certainly wasn’t perfect, the Northern Summer ban clearly did provide some protection to Australian sheep from terrible heat stress and mortality.

“Veterinary and animal welfare experts have repeatedly confirmed that voyages carrying live sheep to the Middle East during the Northern Summer cannot be supported.

“Yet again, the government is folding to their mates in the live export industry for whom profit will always trump animal welfare.

“I find the timing of this decision very devious given the current Senate sat for the last time on Wednesday and now we will not have the opportunity to disallow the regulations before the new arrangements commence.

“Polls repeatedly show that a clear majority of Australians want to see an end to live export. Instead, the government has decided to ramp it up on the eve of an election,” she said.

Greens Leader, Adam Bandt MP, has backed in calls from aged care workers and their unions for a 25% wage increase for the aged care sector, saying their forthcoming fully-costed aged care policy will include a $6b yearly fund to help meet the pledge, along with other measures to be announced. 

The Greens support large parts of Labor’s aged care plans announced in Anthony Albanese’s Budget in Reply, and will go further when the party releases its own aged care policy in coming weeks, but said Labor’s announcements did not include any clarity on what pay rise the workers could expect. In the next Parliament, the Greens say they will push in balance of power for aged care workers to get the full 25% wage increase they are seeking.

The Greens have said a permanent, full increase is required for some of our country’s most essential but underpaid workers.

Greens Leader, Adam Bandt MP said:

“Underpaid and overworked aged care workers deserve a 25% pay rise. 

“We desperately need to turf the Liberals out, but if the next government doesn’t commit to lifting aged care wages by 25%, the problems we’ve seen in aged care will continue. 

“In balance of power, the Greens will kick the Liberals out and push the next government to lift aged care workers’ wages by 25%.

“By taxing billionaires and unwinding the privatisation of aged care we can more than meet the cost of this essential wage increase.” 

Greens Aged Care spokesperson, Senator Janet Rice said:

“Aged care workers do vital work caring for older Australians, but their wages are insultingly low. 

“The aged care sector is in crisis and one in five workers are planning on quitting within the year. The Morrison government has failed older Australians and the workers who care for them.

“Aged care staff have worked tirelessly through the pandemic supporting our most vulnerable people, yet they are on some of the lowest wages in the country. It’s no wonder workers are leaving the sector in droves. 

“Aged care workers need a permanent pay rise. A couple of one-off payments, that look suspiciously like an election bribe, doesn’t cut it. We don’t even know if all the workers have received those payments even though it was announced over a month ago.

“If the Greens are in balance of power after the election, we will push to ensure older voters and the working class aren’t left in the dust again by a future Labor government.”