Month: November 2024

Greens pressure on the Government has delivered a major windfall gain for Tasmania, with electrification upgrades set to benefit at least 1,750 Tasmanian public and social housing households, saving residents around $1,800 a year according to government modelling.

Greens Senator for Tasmania Nick McKim said the agreement marked a significant win for the state, securing funding to help households reduce energy bills while slashing emissions.

“This is a major win for climate, and  for people living in public and social housing in Tasmania,” Senator McKim said.

“Electrifying these homes means lower power bills, warmer homes in winter, and cleaner energy for our state.”

“For so many Tasmanian families these upgrades will ease the cost of living and improve quality of life.”

The funding, part of a $500 million national spend secured by the Greens, will allow for energy efficient upgrades such as air conditioning, insulation and shading; electric hot water systems, cooktops and ovens; and solar panels and batteries.

“Tasmania should be leading the way in the clean energy transition, and this deal is a step toward ensuring that everyone can benefit from it,” Senator McKim said.

“Tasmanians have been hit hard by rising costs, and this deal shows what the Greens can deliver when we hold the balance of power.

“This funding wouldn’t exist without the Greens, and we’re proud to be securing real outcomes that make a difference in people’s lives.

“Having the Greens in Parliament means better outcomes for people and the planet.”

Australia’s native forests have been thrown under a fleet of log trucks after Prime Minister Albanese abandoned the environment on the instructions of Australia’s logging and mining industries. 

“It’s now crystal clear that the PM and his Forests Minister Julie Collins are simply puppets of logging and mining interests.”

“Any chance of better protections for nature have been lost due to big corporate interests completely capturing the Labor Party.”

“This was a naked display of power by big polluters, and the boardroom of the BCA is now acting like the third chamber of the Commonwealth parliament.”

“The Greens will keep fighting to end native forest logging.”

“It’s now abundantly clear – a vote for Labor is a vote to destroy nature.”

“If we want to save Australia’s precious native forests we need more Greens in Parliament.”

The latest quarterly emissions data has revealed emissions remain higher under Anthony Albanese than Scott Morrison, as the Greens call on Labor to stop backing new coal and gas mines.

In the year to June 2022 – the last quarter of the Morrison Government – 438.4 million tonnes of emissions were released.

In the quarterly data released today, they sit at 440.6 million tonnes per annum in the year to June 2024.

The data also shows that pollution has risen 3.5% since the last quarter, up from 109.5 million tonnes in the March quarter to 113.4 million tonnes in the June quarter. 

The Greens say to drive down emissions and take the action needed to limit global warming to 1.5 or 2 degrees, Labor needs to stop approving coal and gas projects.

Since coming into office Labor has approved 28 new coal and gas projects, and both the Prime Minister and Climate Change Minister have indicated they won’t announce Australia’s 2035 climate targets before the next election.

Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt MP:

“Climate emissions are higher under Anthony Albanese than under Scott Morrison.

“Under Labor, emissions are rising and they have approved 28 new coal and gas projects.

“Labor have disappointed the country on climate, talking up renewables while approving 28 new coal and gas projects and lifting emissions. 

“To have any chance of a safer climate, Labor must stop approving new coal and gas projects and start rapidly cutting emissions.

“Coal and gas are keeping emissions high, but Labor and Liberal are backing more. Labor has lifted emissions and Peter Dutton would be even worse. We can’t keep voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result on climate.”

I am pleased to launch the ASEAN-Australia Centre, delivering a key commitment of the Albanese Government from the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit earlier this year.

The Centre will be launched tonight at Parliament House in Canberra alongside H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN.

The ASEAN-Australia Centre will build on the Labor Government’s work to deepen engagement with Southeast Asia and will focus on further increasing business, education, cultural and community connections with Southeast Asia. 

Key initiatives of the ASEAN-Australia Centre will include: 

• launching an Emerging Leaders Program to support the brightest minds from the region to build skills and connections; 
• investing in expanding the BRIDGE school partnerships program to connect teachers and students in Australia, Southeast Asia and Timor-Leste; and
• developing a Young Women Entrepreneur Exchange to supercharge the business and creative ventures of Australian and Southeast Asian women.

The Centre is also supporting creative industry exchanges, cultural initiatives and Southeast Asia literacy through a Grants Program. 

The Centre invites applications related to creative industry exchanges, cultural initiatives that drive two-way trade and connect our region, and practical projects that strengthen Southeast Asia literacy in Australia. Information is available on the GrantConnect website and applications are open until 10 January 2025. 

I’m also pleased to announce a partnership between the ASEAN-Australia Centre and National Museum of Australia with a world-first First Nations Art Exhibition to tour Southeast Asia from 2025. This partnership delivers on recommendations from Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040. 

From the day the Albanese Government was elected, we have worked to deepen our ties with Southeast Asia because we know how important these relationships are for Australia’s future.

With the launch of the ASEAN-Australia Centre, we have delivered on another commitment to help make Australia stronger and more influential in our region and the world, and to build a better future for Australians.

The Albanese Labor Government has launched a new International Disability Equity and Rights Strategy, to drive meaningful improvements for people with disability through Australia’s international engagement, including international development and humanitarian programs.

It is the first international disability strategy released by the Australian Government in almost a decade and for the first time, includes the introduction of a performance target for disability equity in Australia’s international development program.

Australia will also provide $12 million to expand access to essential assistive technology across the Indo-Pacific, including wheelchairs, hearing aids, prostheses, and communication devices.

The Strategy focuses on five priorities:

• partnering with people with disability and the disability rights movement;
• eliminating discrimination and exclusion;
• promoting meaningful disability inclusion;
• supporting equity in humanitarian assistance and climate action; and
• strengthening evidence on effective disability equity practices.

This will see improvements for people with disability through Australia’s support for the region, which in turn will contribute to economic growth, sustainable development, and social cohesion.

The Strategy’s release comes ahead of the United Nations International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) marked on 3 December each year and the Strategy will be officially launched today at an event in Parliament House, Canberra to celebrate IDPwD.

International Day of People with Disability is a day to champion and promote community awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability. It celebrates the contributions and achievements of people with disability and is led by people with disability.

The United Nations IDPwD theme this year is Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future. Our Government’s approach to implementing the Strategy directly aligns to with this theme as it includes local leadership and decision-making as a priority.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong:

“Advancing equity and rights for people with disability reflects Australia’s values and helps build resilient communities, reduce poverty and foster peace.

“Through this strategy, we will continue Australia’s proud legacy of support for the rights of people with disability across the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

“The Australian Government is ensuring disability equity is an essential part of our international engagement, so no one is left behind.”

Minister for International Development and the Pacific, 
the Hon Pat Conroy MP:

“Globally, people with disability remain among the poorest and most marginalised.

“Australia’s new Strategy goes beyond disability inclusion to focus on equity and rights — addressing structural barriers that impact the dignity of all individuals.

“Importantly, people with disability helped to shape this strategy, through consultations with representative organisations and development partners from across our region.”

Minister for Social Services, the Hon Amanda Rishworth MP:

“Australia is a proud signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability and we are committed to its implementation.

“Through our Supporting Participation Program, people with disability in Australia are supported to attend international conferences hosted by the United Nations and share their perspective and experiences on the world stage to advance equity and human rights.

“This Strategy will drive progress on our commitments and complements Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031 – our national policy framework to drive action at all levels of government to improve the lives of people with disability.”