A Cleaner Environment For All Australians

A re-elected Morrison Government will invest $203 million to increase recycling and reduce waste, protect Australia’s unique threatened species and restore our waterways and coasts.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he wanted to ensure Australia’s environment was protected for future generations.
“We have the best beaches, parks and rivers in the world and these measures support practical and meaningful activities that protect our environment and gets results,” Mr Morrison said.
“We will increase Australia’s recycling rates, tackle plastic waste and litter, accelerate work on new recycling schemes and continue action to halve food waste by 2030.”
This new national waste and recycling initiative includes:

  • $100 million Australian Recycling Investment Fund through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to support manufacturing of lower emissions and energy-efficient recycled content products, such as recycled content plastics and paper/pulp.
  • $20 million for a new Product Stewardship Investment Fund to accelerate work on new industry-led recycling schemes, including for batteries, electrical and electronic products, photovoltaic systems and plastic oil containers.
  • $20 million to find new and innovative solutions to plastic recycling and waste through the Cooperative Research Centres Projects grants program.
  • $16 million to support the Pacific Ocean Litter Project, working with our Pacific neighbours to reduce plastics and other waste in our oceans.
  • Up to $5.8 million for a range of initiatives through the Environment Restoration Fund to support the great work of Clean Up Australia, Keep Australia Beautiful, the Australian Council of Recycling, Planet Ark, the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation and OzHarvest.
  • Up to $5 million through the Environment Restoration Fund for Conservation Volunteers Australia to coordinate community campaigns to clean up plastic waste in our beaches and rivers.
  • Continuing to work with state, territory and local governments on opportunities to get more recycled content into road construction, building on the funding provided to the Australian Road Research Board in the 2019-Budget.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the projects announced today directly improve the quality of the environment for the benefit of all Australians.
“At the same time as meeting our emissions targets without harming the economy, we are reducing physical waste, cleaning up our environment and ensuring it is protected for generations to come.”
“Notably, our urban waterways and coastal areas will receive funding of over $15 million through the Environment Restoration Fund. This will go towards cleaning up important systems, including up to $2 million to clean up Melbourne’s iconic Yarra River and improve the environmental health of both the Yarra and Port Phillip Bay.”
Other waterways supported will include River Torrens, Swan-Canning River, Brisbane River and the Hawkesbury and Nepean Rivers.
A re-elected Morrison Government will also invest $10 million through the Environment Restoration Fund in an important program to establish feral predator-free ‘safe havens’ for Australia’s threatened native species.
The safe havens will secure the future of many of our threatened mammals and birds, including species such as the Eastern Quoll, Mountain Pygmy Possum, the Long-nosed Potoroo and Black-footed rockwallaby.
Environment Minister Melissa Price said achieving tangible improvements for the environment through practical initiatives has been a priority.
“These projects will play a significant role in protecting our natural assets.”
“From reducing the amount of plastic that occupies our coastal waters; improving the quality of local waterways; to ensuring the protection of some of our most iconic and vulnerable species; today’s announcement targets all of these challenges.”
$6 million will also be provided to protect the koalas of South-East Queensland and Northern NSW, with funding for hospital and research facilities at Australia Zoo, the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and the Queensland RSPCA, as well as protection and restoration of important habitat across the region.
A further $6 million will be invested to protect other threatened species including WA’s Black Cockatoos, Bruny Island’s Eastern Quolls and Kangaroo Island’s endangered Dunnart.
The Morrison Government is only able to make these investments because of a strong economy.
Our cleaner environment plan is backed by a strong record of delivery, including:

  • Meeting our international climate targets with a $3.5 billion Climate Solutions Plan
  • Delivery of the Reef 2050 Plan and a record $1.2 billion investment in the Great Barrier Reef, including our Great Barrier Reef Partnership Program
  • $1 billion for the second phase of the National Landcare Program
  • $425 million already invested in the protection of threatened species and appointment of the country’s first Threatened Species Commissioner
  • Up to $216 million to improve facilities in Kakadu National Park
  • $100 million Environment Restoration Fund
  • Over $22 million to support local environment projects through the Communities Environment Program
  • Establishment of the world’s second largest network of marine parks
  • $21.4 million for infrastructure upgrades at important defence heritage sites around Sydney Harbour
  • Record $2.8 billion investment in Antarctic science, infrastructure and operations

Coalition Delivering Defence Infrastructure in the Northern Territory

In an uncertain world, Australia’s prosperity depends on our security. To protect Australia and our national interests, we are building a stronger Defence Force, restoring Defence funding to 2 per cent of GDP by 2020-21 and investing over $200 billion in military capability over the decade
The Liberal and Nationals Government‘s 2016 Defence White Paper sets out a comprehensive strategy to deal with our security challenges. Included in this comprehensive strategy is a commitment to invest in Defence infrastructure in the Northern Territory as part of the Integrated Investment Program.
The Assistant Minister for Defence, David Fawcett said that the Northern Territory has a vital role to play as a partner with Defence and that timely investment in Defence infrastructure was important to ensure that local businesses remain viable into the future to provide support to our military and allies.
“The Morrison Government will therefore direct Defence to bring forward the start date on approved infrastructure work packages for commencement before the end of 2019”, Assistant Minister Fawcett said.
“Our decision will bring real money into the Territory and Top End businesses more quickly than was otherwise planned”
“The successful Local Industry Capability Plan initiative has been based on feedback from regional businesses and means that work packages will be tendered that are suitable for local companies to bid for and win, delivering both value for money and local benefit”.
Minister Fawcett thanked Country Liberal candidates Jacinta Price (Lingiari), Cathy Ganley (Solomon) and Dr Sam McMahon (Senate) for their advocacy to ensure that work continued to flow to local companies from the $20 billion Defence infrastructure package for the Northern Territory.
“Total work funded in 2018/19 will be $335 million, growing to over $400 million in 2019/20. Defence is currently investing in projects across the NT including Larrakeyah, Robertson Barracks, and RAAF Tindal.”

LABOR REELS IT IN FOR ANGLERS

A Shorten Labor Government will ramp up support for the recreational fishing industry with a $55.5 million investment to renew ageing infrastructure, replenish native fish stocks in our rivers and create the first ever Prime Ministerial Roundtable on Recreational Fishing.
Around 3.4 million Australians engage in recreational fishing each year, directly contributing an estimated $1.8 billion to the economy and supporting around 90,000 Australian jobs.
Labor will provide a $45 million boost to improve recreational fishing infrastructure all across Australia. This new investment builds on our previously announced $10 million commitment.
We will focus on upgrading existing and building new boat ramps, pontoons and jetties to help improve safety and amenity for people launching their vessels.
Many existing boat ramps are in bad need of an upgrade – they are often single lane, resulting in long queues and often dangerous competition for spots on the launches.
Labor will invest $10 million into native fish breeding and stocking across Australia, replenishing 10 million native fish a year into Australia’s rivers.
We will work closely with similar state programs and in consultation with recreational fishing groups to determine which species and breeds should be priorities.
A further $500,000 grant will be provided to the Give Back to Habitat campaign to support on the ground efforts to protect and restore fish habitats. Recreational fishers are some of Australia’s most committed conservationists, and Labor wants to offer practical help.
In addition to this funding, a Shorten Labor Government will establish the first Prime Ministerial Roundtable on Recreational Fishing.
Industry leaders and recreational fishing groups will be invited to meet annually and discuss issues with the prime minister, and minister responsible for fisheries.
The annual roundtable will be held in regional Australia – for example North West Tasmania, the North Coast of New South Wales, or Central or North Queensland: areas in Australia where recreational fishing is a major pastime. For the first time, recreational fishing groups will be able to take issues directly to the prime minister.
A Shorten Labor Government will also:

  • Ensure the small pelagic fishery is protected from large-capacity factory freezer trawlers, preventing the use of super trawlers
  • Continue to support the national Recreational Fishing Council and give our recreational fishers a seat at the decision-making table

This election is a choice between Labor’s plan to invest in communities around Australia, or bigger tax loopholes for the top end of town under the Liberals.
After six years of Liberal cuts and chaos, our united Labor team is ready.

Statement from Adam Bandt regarding the Labor candidate for Melbourne’s resignation

Greens Adam Bandt MP today said that the decision by the Labor candidate in Melbourne is the right one, and noted that the contest is now one between the Greens and the conservatives.
“Violence against women and sexual violence is unacceptable, in any circumstances. The decision of the Labor candidate to resign is the right one,” Mr Bandt said.
“Melbourne is now a contest between the Greens and the conservatives, so if voters want to change the government and get real action on climate change, they need to vote Greens.”
“I won’t take this seat for granted. I will continue to campaign hard, talking to voters and seeking their support for my re-election right up to 6pm on election day.”

Liberals’ empty environment promises

The Liberal Party’s piecemeal promises on the environment will not undo the damage their billions of dollars in fossil fuel subsidies have done to our natural world, the Greens say.
“This is way too little, way too late from the Liberal Government. Today’s offering is a drop in the ocean to try and appease voters in Victoria rather than properly investing in environmental restoration and tackling dangerous climate change,” Greens environment and water spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“Melissa Price has been Australia’s worst Environment Minister. She’s overseen cuts to her department and ticked off on shonky approvals for her mining mates on the eve of the election.  Today’s she was kept away from Prime Minister’s key environment announcement, keeping her from stuffing up another interview.
“It’s clear the Liberals will never do right by the environment. When they’re handing $20 billion out in subsidies for fossil fuels, they are funding the destruction of our environment.
“Under the Greens plan for the environment, the big polluters would pay for the restoration of the environment and protecting our native species.
“With Adani facing another setback because of its inadequate plan for the black-throated finch, voters are faced with a clear choice this election. A vote for the Liberals is a vote for the big miners over the environment.
“Under our plan projects like drilling in the Great Australia Bight would never go ahead, and the animals that depend on the Bight – like the Australian sea lion – would be fully protected.
“Australians have a clear choice. If they want real action on climate change, the protection, and restoration of our environment, and a plan to save our threatened species, they have to vote Green on May 18.”

From New York to Newcastle – Gallery exhibition celebrates internationally significant artist

Newcastle Art Gallery’s next exhibition VIRGINIA CUPPAIDGE: the nature of abstraction is a survey exhibition of work celebrating Cuppaidge’s return to Australia.
After more than 40 years living and working in New York, the Australian-born abstract painter has returned to Australia to live and work in Newcastle. Her retrospective exhibition, opening Saturday 11 May, will feature works of art painted in New York.
Cuppaidge’s practice is embedded in the abstract; the works of art selected celebrate her acute understanding of the landscape and mastery of light, balance, colour and form.
Virginia-Cuppaidge.jpgBorn in Brisbane in 1943, Cuppaidge studied art in Sydney before moving to New York in 1969 where she remained for more than 40 years. Newcastle Art Gallery has collected Cuppaidge’s works of art since the 1980s and this exhibition provides yet another opportunity to develop a project that showcases a prominent artist from the collection.
“Drawn from the Gallery’s holdings are three monumental paintings, Saix 1974, Valoniah 1979 and Center Of The Beginning 1988,” explained Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton.
“It’s fantastic that we have Virginia’s work in the collection. As an expatriate Australian artist living overseas and a young female artist working in 1970s New York, she was living in one of the art capitals of the world when some extraordinary shifts were taking place in the international women’s rights movement.
“In line with the title of the exhibition, Virginia’s works of art also help us explore the very nature of abstract art. She is an important artist with immense skill and considerable international renown.”
About Virginia Cuppaidge (left)
Virginia Cuppaidge studied in Sydney with Desiderius Orban, Stanislaus Rapotec, Marea Gazzard, John Olsen and Robert Klippel before moving to New York in 1969 to ‘see the best abstract art going on at the time and live in the art museums.’
Although Cuppaidge lived in New York for more than 40 years, she came to the realisation that her abstract work is routed in her Australian experience (she believes the Australian landscape is in her system).
Cuppaidge’s exhibiting career has traversed the American, Canadian and Australian art scenes, with 33 solo exhibitions and numerous public commissions and awards, including a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1976.
Virginia has exhibited in USA and Australia. Galleries include: Stella Downer Fine Art – Sydney, Rosenberg + Kaufman Fine Arts – New York, Robin Gibson Gallery – Sydney, Gallery A – Sydney, AM Sachs Gallery – New York, Bloomfield Galleries – Sydney, Susan Caldwell Gallery – New York. In 1973 Cuppaidge held her first first solo show in New York City at AM Sachs NY. Virginia was adjunct associate professor of art at C.U.N.Y, Borough of Manhattan Community College, and Bronx Community College, 1992–2008.
Virginia-Cuppaidgeinside.jpgVirginia CUPPAIDGE Valoniah 1979 acrylic on canvas 198.0 x 305.0cm Purchased 1980 Newcastle Art Gallery collection
Since early 2017, Virginia has lived in Newcastle, and is currently writing “The New York Stories”. An account of arriving in New York in 1969, meeting up with Australian sculptor Clement Meadmore, adapting to the huge metropolis, working at the Max Hutchinson Gallery in SoHo, and surviving as an artist in New York City for five decades.
VIRGINIA CUPPAIDGE: the nature of abstraction (11 May – 21 July 2019) Newcastle Art Gallery. Entry is free.
Explore Newcastle Art Gallery’s future exhibition program

$25 million for ageing SA Dog Fence

South Australia’s 100-year-old Dog Fence will receive a $25 million upgrade under a re-elected Morrison Coalition Government with joint funding from the South Australian Government and industry.
The $25 million will be made up of $10 million of Commonwealth funding if the Coalition is re-elected with a matching contribution from the Marshall Liberal Government and $5 million from industry.
Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey and South Australian Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Tim Whetstone made the election commitment today to replace 1,600 kilometres of the ageing 2,150 kilometre-long South Australian Dog Fence.
Mr Ramsey said the Morrison Government’s commitment to renewing the fence was an absolute game changer for the state’s livestock industries.
“Investing in the Dog Fence is a multi-generational investment in our livestock industry,” said Mr Ramsey.
“The current fence is 100 years old and in desperate need of renewal and an upgrade will serve the industry well into the future.
“The election last year of the Marshall Government has provided a new era of co-operation between the Federal and State Governments.
“At last we have a government in South Australia as keen on investing in the regions as we are.
“Wild dogs have been tearing thousands of sheep to pieces in the areas to the south of the leaking fence.
“Increasingly the dogs are finding their way further and further south. Now is the time to act and I am pleased we are stepping up to do that job.
“Federally we will front-load the investment by making $1 million available now and the balance will be one of the first projects delivered from the $3.6bn Drought Future Fund, which kicks in on 1 July.
“The fund will provide $100 million a year to assist Australian farmers to prepare and deal with drought. This investment is just the first example of the benefits of this new fund.”
Mr Ramsey said he would also like to thank Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud for his strong support.
“Last October I invited the Minister to a meeting in Jamestown with a group of affected South Australian producers from across several areas of the state and he was quick to grasp the enormity of the problem and has been very supportive in my quest to get things moving on the renewal of the fence,” said Mr Ramsey.
Minister Whetstone said the South Australian Government is committed to partnering with the Morrison Government and industry to renew the state’s Dog Fence.
“The Marshall Liberal Government will provide $10 million towards the required works if $10 million of Commonwealth funding and $5 million of industry sector funding is secured,” said Minister Whetstone.
“The South Australian Government looks forward to working with both the Morrison Government and industry to finalise arrangements to renew this very important asset.
“It is the longest continuous fence in the world, and a crucial part of supporting and protecting the South Australian sheep industry.
“South Australia’s component of the 5,400 kilometre Dog Fence is approximately 2,150 kilometres, with approximately 1,600km being more than 100 years of age.
“The $25 million announcement today to replace 1,600 kilometres of ageing fencing will ensure its continued effectiveness and support pastoralists from the ongoing threat of wild dogs.”

Morrison Government's Plan to Support People with Disability

The Morrison Government is backing Australians with disability, their families and carers.
We understand that people with disability want to participate fully in the social and economic life of our community. We recognise that such participation is good for them, good for their families and good for the nation.
If people with disability want to work, we will support them to find and keep a job. Keeping the economy strong is vital. It is only by building a stronger economy that we can guarantee the essential services that people with disability, their families and carers rely on and deliver them the jobs they deserve.
The Morrison Government proudly supports the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which is transforming the lives of people with disability, their families and carers. It is important we get it right.
In the next term of a Morrison Government we must finalise the rollout of the NDIS and set it up for long term success. A re-elected Morrison Government will:

  • Continue to ensure the NDIS is fully funded by building a stronger economy and keeping the budget in the black.
  • Rollout new NDIS participant planning pathways – making sure people with disability have a single point of contact with the NDIS, and can choose to be on a longer NDIS plan of up to 3 years if their disability is stable.
  • Expand the NDIS community connectors program to support and assist hard to reach communities – including Indigenous Australians, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities and ageing parents of children with disability – to navigate the NDIS and get the services they or their children need.
  • Introduce a new NDIS Participant Service Guarantee from 1 July 2020 – setting new standards for shorter timeframes for people with disability to get an NDIS plan and to have their plan reviewed, with a particular focus on children, and participants requiring specialist disability accommodation and assistive technology.

We recognise that the NDIS was never intended to be the only support provided to people with disability, their families or carers. A re-elected Morrison Government will:

  • Commit $45 million to develop a national disability information gateway, including a website and 1800 number, to assist all people with disability and their families to locate and access services in their communities.
  • Introduce a new 7 per cent employment target for people with disability across the Australian Public Service (APS) by 2025.
  • Provide $2 million to support people with autism to find and keep a job, including a $1.5 million national expansion of the successful Dandelion Program in partnership with DXC Technology.

We will be implementing these initiatives in close consultation with people with disability, their families, carers and supporters.

LABOR REELS IT IN FOR ANGLERS

A Shorten Labor Government will ramp up support for the recreational fishing industry with a $55.5 million investment to renew ageing infrastructure, replenish native fish stocks in our rivers and create the first ever Prime Ministerial Roundtable on Recreational Fishing.
Around 3.4 million Australians engage in recreational fishing each year, directly contributing an estimated $1.8 billion to the economy and supporting around 90,000 Australian jobs.
Labor will provide a $45 million boost to improve recreational fishing infrastructure all across Australia. This new investment builds on our previously announced $10 million commitment.
We will focus on upgrading existing and building new boat ramps, pontoons and jetties to help improve safety and amenity for people launching their vessels.
Many existing boat ramps are in bad need of an upgrade – they are often single lane, resulting in long queues and often dangerous competition for spots on the launches.
Labor will invest $10 million into native fish breeding and stocking across Australia, replenishing 10 million native fish a year into Australia’s rivers.
We will work closely with similar state programs and in consultation with recreational fishing groups to determine which species and breeds should be priorities.
A further $500,000 grant will be provided to the Give Back to Habitat campaign to support on the ground efforts to protect and restore fish habitats. Recreational fishers are some of Australia’s most committed conservationists, and Labor wants to offer practical help.
In addition to this funding, a Shorten Labor Government will establish the first Prime Ministerial Roundtable on Recreational Fishing.
Industry leaders and recreational fishing groups will be invited to meet annually and discuss issues with the prime minister, and minister responsible for fisheries.
The annual roundtable will be held in regional Australia – for example North West Tasmania, the North Coast of New South Wales, or Central or North Queensland: areas in Australia where recreational fishing is a major pastime. For the first time, recreational fishing groups will be able to take issues directly to the prime minister.
A Shorten Labor Government will also:

  • Ensure the small pelagic fishery is protected from large-capacity factory freezer trawlers, preventing the use of super trawlers
  • Continue to support the national Recreational Fishing Council and give our recreational fishers a seat at the decision-making table

This election is a choice between Labor’s plan to invest in communities around Australia, or bigger tax loopholes for the top end of town under the Liberals.
After six years of Liberal cuts and chaos, our united Labor team is ready.

LABOR TO DELIVER A RENEWABLE FUTURE FOR NORTH WEST TASMANIA

Labor will establish a Renewable Energy Zone in North West Tasmania, and we will take the next steps in establishing Tasmania as the Battery of the Nation – bringing investment in renewable energy, related industries and new jobs for the West Coast of Tasmania.
Tasmania’s got all the potential not just to lead Australia in clean energy generation – but to lead the world. What the state needs is leadership to get it there – and only Labor has the vision to grow jobs, grow investment and cut energy bills.
Labor will support the next phase of the Marinus Link feasibility study with $56 million contribution. If the Marinus link stacks up, then Labor’s $5 billion Energy Security and Modernisation Fund will be available to help finance the project.
The initial feasibility study for the Marinus Link and Battery of the Nation project made clear that this Tasmanian energy vision only stacks up if Australia commits to a “High Emission Reduction Scenario”, which is consistent with Labor’s 50 per cent 2030 renewable commitment. The Liberals’ refusal to support a renewable energy future will sabotage not only Marinus link, but also the Battery of the Nation project and Tasmania’s renewable future.
A crucial part of Tasmania’s renewable future lies in taking advantage of the world-class renewable resources in Tasmania – not just hydro, but wind and others. That is why Labor will make North West Tasmania a Renewable Energy Zone.
Labor will also support the Renewable Future project, at the heart of supercharging Tasmania’s renewable industry. This includes:

  • The Whale Back Ridge Wind Farm (WWF) that will see a new large-scale wind farm of up to 500 turbines generating 1,500 MW of electricity to supply the Battery of the Nation project, hydrogen production for export, and the energy needs of Tasmania. This project will create 2,000 construction jobs, and 50 permanent jobs.
  • Tasmania West Coast Energy Park (WCEP) that will develop a large scale energy park incorporating, the Whale Back Ridge Wind, an industrial scale hydrogen production export facility, wave energy generation of up to 100 MW, battery storage of up to 100 MW, industrial scale greenhouse facilities for hydroponic organic food production, and a commercial scale solar farm to augment hydrogen production. This project will create 2,000 construction jobs, and 200 permanent jobs.
  • Tasmanian Renewable Energy Research and Development Centre (TREND) that will undertake research in renewable energy focused on wind, wave, pumped hydro, temperate solar, hydrogen, and transport and storage technologies. It will also involve education with Tasmanian primary and secondary student training sessions on renewable energy, options for advanced study at UTAS or TasTAFE level, residential skills training and upskilling with TasTAFE at diploma level, and tertiary study up to PhD level through UTAS. Further research, development and commercialisation of renewable technologies will occur in collaboration with CSIRO, UTAS, TasTAFE and industry. The centre will also partner with WWF and WCEP to facilitate educational and research and development outcomes. This project will create 500 construction jobs and 75 permanent jobs.

A Shorten Labor Government will provide $5 million to make the Renewable Future Project a reality. This will provide the necessary seed funding to produce the Masterplan for WWF, WCEF and TREND. It also includes initial seed funding for studies into wind, water, wave and environmental aspects of the project.
The Renewable Future project will help deliver stability to the national electricity grid and support Labor’s commitment to deliver 50 per cent renewables by 2030. It will also complement Labor’s commitment to develop a new hydrogen industry through our $1 billion Hydrogen Plan, to develop hydrogen for use in industry and transport, both here and abroad.
It will also create a world-class educational, research and development facility focussed on temperate climate renewable technology education, research, development and commercialisation, boosting Tasmania’s role in the energy transition underway.
This project is about supporting an energy transition, new industries and jobs, and skill and research development, but it will also provide a significant economic stimulus for the West Coast region that also broadens the economic base of Tasmania, in particular creating new opportunities for West Coast townships such as Zeehan and Rosebery. The project will deliver a total of 4,500 construction and 325 permanent jobs for the region.
Labor’s Energy Plan will secure a clean, affordable, renewable energy future and the new industries, jobs and skills that will deliver sustainable prosperity to Tasmania and the entire country.
Only Labor has a plan to invest in renewable energy, modernise the electricity system, and bring power prices and pollution down.
The Liberals have nothing but a record of increasing prices and pollution and baseless scare campaigns.
This election is a choice between Labor’s plan for increased investment in renewables, or bigger tax loopholes for the top end of town under the Liberals.
After six years of Liberal cuts and chaos, our united Labor team is ready.