16 News

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Jotham Napat, signed a new treaty, the Vanuatu–Australia Nakamal Agreement, in Canberra today.

In Vanuatu, the Nakamal is the traditional meeting place where the community and its leaders consult and make decisions with mutual respect, trust and understanding.

The Nakamal Agreement elevates the partnership between Australia and Vanuatu, deepens integration between our people, strengthens the collective security of our region, and supports Vanuatu’s development aspirations and economic transformation.

Australia and Vanuatu share history and close cultural connections between our Melanesian, South Sea Islander and First Nations communities. Honouring and strengthening these ties is at the heart of the Agreement and will be among our earliest actions.

As Vanuatu’s longstanding primary policing partner, Australia will provide additional training and equipment to the Vanuatu Police Force, as well as greater maritime security, infrastructure, intelligence cooperation and cyber support.

Reaffirming regional leaders’ commitment that Pacific security is the shared responsibility of Pacific Islands Forum members, Vanuatu has committed to prioritise policing cooperation with Pacific Islands Forum members. Vanuatu will not allow any foreign military base or infrastructure in its territory, and will keep its critical infrastructure free from militarisation, foreign interference or unauthorised access. Vanuatu will consult Australia when it considers third party engagement in its critical infrastructure.

The Nakamal Agreement formalises Australia’s longstanding support to Vanuatu in response to major natural disasters. Vanuatu has committed to come to Australia, New Zealand and France first for humanitarian assistance.

Recognising the existential threat posed by climate change, Australia and Vanuatu will work together to transition to renewable energy sources, including by supporting on-grid and off-grid renewable energy solutions for Vanuatu’s communities.

We will work to make it easier for our people to move between our two countries through enhanced mobility arrangements and border systems, and will establish a new traineeships program to boost Vanuatu’s domestic workforce and skills.

The Nakamal Agreement will enter into force as soon as possible, following domestic processes in both countries.

The Nakamal Agreement is available at: Vanuatu – Australia Nakamal Agreement

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“The Nakamal Agreement is an important step in our long-standing partnership with Vanuatu.

“Initiated at Vanuatu’s request, this agreement elevates and strengthens the relationship between our countries – we are committing to walking forwards together.

“Prime Minister Napat’s visit to Australia to sign the Nakamal Agreement is a demonstration of our shared commitment to shaping our countries and our region for the better.”

The Australian Greens will today introduce legislation to create a dedicated LGBTIQA+ Human Rights Commissioner within the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Despite sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status being protected under Commonwealth anti-discrimination law since 2013, they remain the only protected attributes without a dedicated Commissioner.

“LGBTIQA+ Australians deserve the same level of protection and representation under federal law as other communities,” Greens LGBTIQA+ spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

“This is about equality before the law in practice, not just on paper.

“Discrimination against LGBTIQA+ people should be treated with the same seriousness as discrimination against other protected groups.

“Anything less is a double standard.

“The Greens’ legislation would establish a dedicated Commissioner and require a merit-based appointment process with meaningful involvement from LGBTIQA+ civil society organisations.

“For more than a decade, community organisations, legal experts and advocates have called for this reform. The Greens are turning that consensus into action.

“This reform is ready to go. It should not be buried in another inquiry.

“LGBTIQA+ Australians deserve the same institutional protection, visibility and respect that Parliament already affords to others.”

The Victorian Greens say fresh analysis of Labor’s 40-year lottery licence deal shows the Allan Government has prioritised a short-term budget fix and the profits of gambling corporations over the long-term interests of Victorians.

Analysis published today estimates the deal could hand billions of dollars in future profits to the Lottery Corporation over the life of the licence, after the Allan Government granted a 40-year extension without putting the licence to an open competitive tender.

The Lottery Corporation has donated $132,000 to the Australian Labor party since 2022.

The Greens said the deal is a total rip off and another example of Labor putting the interests of their big corporate donors ahead of the public interest while refusing to properly tax big corporations and gambling companies.

The Victorian Auditor-General is currently investigating whether the process delivered value for taxpayers.

Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell:

“Labor has treated Victoria like it’s having a garage sale.

“The Lottery Corporation has donated $132,000 to Labor – and Labor gives them special treatment while selling out Victorians’ futures.

“Labor has sold off decades of future revenue to paper over their short-term problems, in an election year, to give special treatment to their donors. Victorians deserve better than this

“Instead of funding our public schools, public housing and cost of living relief, Labor is boosting the profits of their corporate mates.”

Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens and spokesperson for Anti-Racism, has responded to the Albanese Government’s launch of the Social Cohesion Education Hub.

Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens and spokesperson for Anti-Racism:

“This so-called Social Cohesion Education Hub includes 24 resources on antisemitism but just two on Islamophobia and one on First Nations hate. That isn’t social cohesion. That is creating a hierarchy of racism where some victims are seen as worthy and others are seen as an afterthought.

“We’ve seen this pattern over and over again. The budget included more than $600 million in antisemitism measures, but did not mention Islamophobia once. The Government has failed to respond to the National Anti-Racism Framework, and has simply ignored the recommendations of the Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia.

“Muslim Australians, First Nations people, and every other community of colour are facing rising and escalating racism, fuelled further by One Nation, which cannot be tackled by this selective treatment. When some Australians are wrapped in the protection of the Government, while others are left to weather the storm alone, and when some voices are amplified, while others are ignored, it is not going to lead to anti-racism or social cohesion. 

“For the past two and a half years, the Albanese Government has weaponised “social cohesion” to silence dissent and punish voices it finds inconvenient. Education resources should help children challenge all racism equally and to speak out against injustice.”

The ACT Greens today announced that Jo Clay has been elected as their new Leader and Andrew Braddock as Deputy Leader, following a ballot of the party’s membership.

Jo Clay MLA, ACT Greens Leader:

“I’m honoured and grateful to have been elected by our members as the new Leader of the ACT Greens. I don’t take that trust lightly,” said Ms Clay.

“I’d like to acknowledge Rebecca Vassarotti, whom I’m delighted to have back alongside us as our Member for Kurrajong. Rebecca cares deeply about community and democratic collaboration. I look forward to working together with her to deliver progressive outcomes for Canberrans.

“My focus now is firmly on what comes next – because Canberrans deserve better than the status quo.

“As seen in the latest Budget, the Greens fought to scrap the $250 health levy, reinstate the rent relief fund, take climate action, protect our precious wildlife and bushland, and secure stable funding for the community organisations that hold our city together – and we won.

“But there is more to do. Canberrans want a government that will ensure housing is affordable, no one sleeps rough, the climate is protected, and the cost of living doesn’t keep them up at night. And the Greens will keep fighting with everything we have.”

Andrew Braddock MLA, ACT Greens Deputy Leader:

“The ACT Greens are unique in Australia in that our members choose who leads us. I’m incredibly proud that this vote was conducted in an overwhelmingly positive and supportive way. Our members had a choice between two strong, experienced women to lead our party. That speaks volumes about who we are and where we’re headed,” said Mr Braddock.

“I’m excited to stand alongside Jo Clay as Deputy Leader and feel really confident about our party’s future. While the formalities are being announced today, our party room is continuing to work together on bold solutions and make sure no Canberran is left behind.”

The ACT Greens have also confirmed their portfolios for the 11th Assembly:

Jo Clay MLA, ACT Greens Leader and Member for Ginninderra

• Environment
• Planning
• Treasury & Economic Equality
• Circular Economy
• Arts
• Animal Welfare
• Birth

Andrew Braddock MLA, ACT Greens Deputy Leader and Member for Yerrabi

• Transport
• Climate Change
• Democracy
• Integrity and Public Service Transformation
• Municipal Services
• Anti-Racism and Multicultural Affairs
• Emergency Services

Rebecca Vassarotti MLA, Member for Kurrajong

• Housing
• Health and Mental Health
• Justice, Law, Corrections, Policing, Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs
• Gaming Reform
• Ageing and Carers
• Veterans

Laura Nuttall MLA, Member for Brindabella

• Education, Skills and Training
• Young People
• Air and Water
• Food and Agriculture
• Women
• Community Sector
• Disability
• Sport and Recreation
• LGBTIQA+ Affairs
• Whip

“Today the Albanese government voted to keep the widow’s tax breaking yet another promise to the Australian people”, Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson said.

Mr Wilson’s comments come in the wake of Labor and the Greens voting against Coalition amendments in the Senate to repeal the widow’s tax that the Government legislated last week.

“The Treasurer claimed on Insiders on Sunday that the government would “fix” their flaw in the tax legislation, but couldn’t say how, or when, and now they’ve voted in the opposite direction”, Mr Wilson said.

“The Treasurer was deliberately evasive because he never intended to fix his tax hit on grieving Australians”.

“To pass their Budget the Albanese government promised the Parliament and the Australian people they’d fix the widow tax, and today they voted against fixing a problem they caused”.

“Jim Chalmers’ budget has changed so many times, he’s lost track of what he supports and what he doesn’t”.

“Labor and the Greens hatched a dirty deal to push their Budget through and haven’t revealed the details, which raises the question: who is on their tax hit list after widows”?