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☆ Safety of Defence Personnel 'Utmost Priority', Australia Says After China Warship Incident
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The safety and wellbeing of Australian defence personnel is Canberra's "utmost priority" and Australia expects all countries to operate militaries in a safe and professional manner, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Tuesday. Wong's comments came a week after an incident involving a Chinese warship and an Australian navy vessel in Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in which an Australian military diver was injured. HMAS Toowoomba - a long-range frigate - was conducting a diving operation on Nov. 14 to clear fishing nets from its propellers when the Chinese warship acted in a dangerous manner, Australia has said. India's relations with China have deteriorated since a 2020 border clash between their militaries in which 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese troops were killed. Australia, she added, "will cooperate where we can, we will disagree where we must, and we will engage in our national interest".

Persons: Penny Wong, Wong's, Anthony Albanese's, Wong, Subrahmanyam, Richard Marles, YP Rajesh, Krishn Kaushik, Sharon Singleton Organizations: PLA Navy, Liberation Army Navy, PLA, Defence, Indian, YP Locations: DELHI, Australian, Japan's, New Delhi, Toowoomba, Australia, Beijing, Canberra, Ningbo, China, India

☆ Australia confident China will lift all trade blocks next month
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Flags of Australia and China are displayed in this illustration picture taken May 11, 2023. REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Australia said on Wednesday China could lift all its remaining trade blocks by next month as relations between the commodity trade partners stabilise and after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's visit to Beijing earlier this month. China has lifted most trade blocks imposed amid a 2020 diplomatic dispute after Australia called for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19. "I remain very confident ... that by Christmas all of these trade impediments will be removed," trade minister Don Farrell told ABC Radio from San Francisco, where he is attending Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings. Farrell said he hoped to resolve the issues over lobster and beef, which related to bio-security rules, ahead of a meeting with Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao in San Francisco.

Persons: Florence Lo, Anthony Albanese's, Don Farrell, Farrell, Wang Wentao, Renju Jose, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, China, ABC Radio, Economic Cooperation, Thomson Locations: Australia, China, Beijing, San Francisco, Asia, Sydney

☆ Record numbers of Australians enrol for referendum on Indigenous recognition
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The proposal has been struggling to get majority support with recent opinion polls showing voters are will reject it. A record 97.7% of eligible Australians have enrolled to vote in the referendum, the Australian Election Commission (AEC) said in a statement late on Thursday. More than 8.4 million people, 47% of the roll, were not enrolled when the last referendum was held in 1999, the commission added. Indigenous Australians, who account for 3.8% of the population, face disadvantages including discrimination, poor health and education outcomes and high incarceration rates. Some Indigenous Australians want stronger action, including a treaty with the government.

Persons: Rita Wright, Loren Elliott, Tom Rogers, Anthony Albanese's, Albanese, we’ll, Praveen Menon, Lincoln Organizations: Australian, REUTERS, Rights, Torres Strait, Commission, Nations, Anthony Albanese's Labor, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia

☆ Former Pacific leaders hope Australians 'find conscience' to pass First Nations referendum
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Passing the referendum should be a "first step" towards a treaty with First Nations people, they added. It has also pointed to historical trade by the country's First Nations people with Pacific Islands as a basis for strong modern ties, amid competition for influence with China. He added that whatever the outcome, his work would continue to highlight that Australia's First Nations people had been linked by trade to the Pacific Islands for centuries. Indigenous Australians, who account for 3.8% of the population, face disadvantages including discrimination, poor health and education outcomes and high incarceration rates. Some Indigenous Australians want stronger action, including a treaty with the government.

Persons: Rita Wright, Loren Elliott, Anote Tong, Tommy Remengesau, Hilda Cathy Heine, Anthony Albanese's, Justin Mohamed, Julie Bishop, Kirsty Needham, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Australian, REUTERS, Rights, Former Pacific Islands, First Nations, Kiribati, Marshall, Pacific Elders Voice, Reuters, Aboriginal, Torres Strait, Nations, Vanuatu, VBTC, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Palau, Pacific, China, Islands

☆ Former Pacific Leaders Hope Australians 'Find Conscience' to Pass First Nations Referendum
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

Persons: Kirsty Needham SYDNEY, Anote Tong, Tommy Remengesau, Hilda Cathy Heine, Anthony Albanese's, Justin Mohamed, Julie Bishop, Kirsty Needham, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Former Pacific Islands, First Nations, Kiribati, Marshall, Pacific Elders Voice, Reuters, Aboriginal, Torres Strait, Nations, Vanuatu, VBTC Locations: Palau, Australia, Pacific, China, Islands

☆ Thousands in Australia rally for struggling Indigenous referendum
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A depiction of the Australian Aboriginal Flag is seen on a window sill at the home of indigenous Muruwari elder Rita Wright, a member of the "Stolen Generations", in Sydney, Australia, January 19, 2021. REUTERS/Loren Elliott Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Thousands rallied in Australia on Sunday to support recognising the country's Indigenous people in the constitution, a proposal that is struggling ahead of a referendum next month. Indigenous Australians, who account for 3.8% of the population, face disadvantages including discrimination, poor health and education outcomes and high incarceration rates. To change the constitution, the referendum, backed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Labor government, would require a national majority in favour and majorities in at least four of Australia's six states. Most Indigenous people favour the referendum, but some, like prominent No campaigner Warren Mundine, say it is a distraction from achieving practical and positive outcomes and would not fully resolve the issues affecting them.

Persons: Rita Wright, Loren Elliott, Anthony Albanese's, Warren Mundine, we've, Mundine, Sam McKeith, William Mallard Organizations: Australian, REUTERS, Rights, Aboriginal, Torres Strait, Australian Broadcasting Corp, Anthony Albanese's Labor, ABC, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Brisbane, Sydney , Melbourne, Perth, Hobart, Canberra, Darwin, Newcastle

☆ Thousands in Australia Rally for Struggling Indigenous Referendum
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Thousands rallied in Australia on Sunday to support recognising the country's Indigenous people in the constitution, a proposal that is struggling ahead of a referendum next month. Indigenous Australians, who account for 3.8% of the population, face disadvantages including discrimination, poor health and education outcomes and high incarceration rates. To change the constitution, the referendum, backed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Labor government, would require a national majority in favour and majorities in at least four of Australia's six states. Most Indigenous people favour the referendum, but some, like prominent No campaigner Warren Mundine, say it is a distraction from achieving practical and positive outcomes and would not fully resolve the issues affecting them. "If we can do just three things - accountability, jobs and education - then we'll resolve most of the problems we've got," Mundine told ABC.

Persons: Anthony Albanese's, Warren Mundine, we've, Mundine, Sam McKeith, William Mallard Organizations: SYDNEY, Aboriginal, Torres Strait, Australian Broadcasting Corp, Anthony Albanese's Labor, ABC Locations: Australia, Brisbane, Sydney , Melbourne, Perth, Hobart, Canberra, Darwin, Newcastle, Sydney

☆ Thousands rally across Australia in support of Indigenous reform
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, July 2 (Reuters) - Thousands rallied in Australia on Sunday to back a campaign to recognise the country's Indigenous people in the constitution ahead of a referendum later this year, after a recent dip in support for the change. Another attendee, Isabelle Smith, said in her opinion the referendum was the most important issue in Australia. "It’ll bring Australians together and I think voting 'Yes' is the most important thing that people can do," she said. Opponents, including some Indigenous people, have said the proposal lacks detail and will divide Australians. Indigenous Australians, who account for 3.8% of the population, face disadvantages including discrimination, poor health and education outcomes and high incarceration rates.

Persons: Anthony Albanese's, Jason Howard, Isabelle Smith, It’ll, Yes23, Rachel Perkins, Sam McKeith, James Redmayne, Jill Gralow, Simon Cameron, Moore, William Mallard Organizations: SYDNEY, Voice, Aboriginal, Torres Strait, Labor, Liberal, Australian, of Social, Sydney, Indigenous, ABC, Thomson Locations: Australia, Sydney

"The Albanese Government is delivering a transformational package of support to the Pacific, to respond to Pacific priorities and ensure our shared interests in a peaceful, prosperous and resilient region," the government said in a statement. Canberra has looked to build its defence capabilities amid concerns about rising global geopolitical tensions and China's growing influence among Pacific island nations. Defence spending as a proportion of GDP will lift above its current trajectory to be 0.2% higher by 2032-33, the budget showed. Over the next four years, the government will invest more than A$19 billion to implement the priorities identified in a defence strategic review released last month, the budget statement said. "Ultimately, defence spending will grow over the medium term, which is in line with the strategic circumstances," defence minister Richard Marles said in a statement.

☆ 'Judas betrayal': Indigenous Australians denounce opposition for rejecting referendum
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Praveen Menon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Loren Elliott/File PhotoSYDNEY, April 6 (Reuters) - Senior Indigenous leaders on Thursday criticised Australia's main opposition party's "Judas betrayal" for declaring it would campaign against a proposal to constitutionally recognise the country's Aboriginal and Torres Island people. Noel Pearson, an Indigenous leader and a key campaigner for the community, said he had a sleepless night after hearing the decision of the Liberal Party. "I was troubled by dreams and the spectre of the Dutton Liberal party's Judas betrayal of our country,” he told ABC radio. Uluru Dialogue spokeswoman and Indigenous leader Pat Anderson said the Liberal decision was a vote for “business as usual”. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government has staked significant political capital on the referendum, but no referendum has succeeded in Australia without bipartisan support.

☆ Analysis: Australia's climate policies don't match its big talk at COP27
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Praveen Menon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Albanese's climate change minister, Chris Bowen, telling the conference Australia was a "willing climate collaborator", made a pitch to host COP31 in 2026 along with the Pacific island nations. "But if you turn to see the other side of the face it's all about the fossil fuel development and the government's addiction to fossil fuel royalties and revenues," Hutley told Reuters in a phone interview from COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh. Australia's biggest contribution to the climate crisis is its export of fossil fuels. More than 100 fossil fuel developments continued in various stages as of December 2021, the council said in a report this month, based on government data. "There is clearly a policy gap in Australia that is allowing fossil fuel companies to continue expanding and developing new fossil fuel projects," said Will van de Pol, asset management campaigner at activist investor group Market Forces.

☆ Australia aims to cut tax breaks for pension funds of the super rich
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Praveen Menon | Tetsushi Kajimoto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Labor government, which came to power in May, aims to debate the curtailment of tax concessions once it legislates on the future of superannuation -or retirement funds. Curtailment of tax concessions paid to people with multi-million-dollar superannuation accounts would raise billions of much-needed dollars annually for the government. "We have 32 self-managed super funds with more than $100 million in assets - the largest self-managed super fund has over $400 million in assets," Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services Stephen Jones said at the AFR Super & Wealth Summit in Sydney. Jones said providing a clear objective for super funds will enable the sector to identify opportunities where the national interest and member interests align. The government last month said it had discussions with super funds to look at investing in affordable housing projects, to help fix a housing crisis.

SYDNEY, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Australia on Thursday urged its multi-billion dollar mining industry to support the government's plans for a referendum to give the country's Indigenous people a voice in parliament. The proposal to enshrine an Indigenous voice in parliament was a pledge Albanese's Labor party took to the May general election where it ended almost a decade of conservative Liberal-National coalition government. "I urge the resources sector to play a positive and energetic role in ensuring voice campaign is a success. After all, First Nations people of Australia were the first to inherit the extraordinary natural endowment this continent and the resources sector owes First Nations people so very much." A successful referendum would bring Australia in line with Canada, New Zealand and the United States in formally recognising indigenous populations.

☆ Australia promises billions for renewable projects to 'rewire' power grid
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Praveen Menon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Australia on Wednesday announced plans to build renewable energy zones, wind projects and underwater electricity interconnectors, as it looks to build its renewable power capabilities and bring more clean energy into its national grid. The announcements come ahead of the annual budget announcement next week by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's centre-left Labor government, which won power this year promising climate reforms. The state of Victoria, which will have an election next month, will get A$1.5 billion ($947.85 million) of concessional financing for Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) and offshore wind development projects, the government said in a statement. The announcements were the first in Labor's A$20 billion "rewire the nation" policy to modernise and rebuild Australia's national power grid. The government also announced a $1 billion loan for Tasmania’s Tarraleah Power Station redevelopment and Lake Cethana Pumped Hydro project.

☆ Australia reverses decision to recognise West Jerusalem as Israel's capital
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Australia on Tuesday reversed a decision of the previous government to recognise West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, saying the status of the city should be resolved through peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian people. Former United States President Donald Trump had recognised Jerusalem as the capital a year earlier. Wong told reporters Morrison's 2018 decision "put Australia out of step with the majority of the international community", and was met with concern by Muslim-majority neighbour Indonesia. The Guardian first reported a change to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website to remove language describing west Jerusalem as the capital on Monday. Israel's embassy in Canberra was closed on Tuesday, and did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

REUTERS/David GraySummarySummary Companies Net zero push stokes hopes for offshore wind projectsVictoria state aims for 9 GW offshore wind by 2040Sector needs new regulations, to lure technology suppliersIndustry also set to face environmental, landowner concernsMELBOURNE, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Under a new government, Australia is shaping up to be the next big market for offshore wind developers, attracting interest from the likes of Shell, Denmark's Orsted and Norway's Equinor. To many in the industry, Australia could well become the next boom market for offshore wind. Community concerns about the impact of wind turbines on bird life, such as orange-bellied parrots, and sealife, such as fish and whales, are also expected. "There's only a limited number of vessels in the world that can be used for erecting turbines offshore. Victoria state's Gippsland coast first in lineThe state, which has spearheaded the country's offshore wind push, plans to procure 2 gigawatts (GW) of offshore capacity with supply due by 2032, enough to power 1.5 million homes.

☆ Australia is asking its people one question and it's not whether to keep the King
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-13 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

But in Australia, despite Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's pro-republic views, there's no concerted push in that direction. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attends the Proclamation of King Charles III, on the forecourt of Parliament House on September 11, 2022 in Canberra, Australia. Today, Yu says views within the Australia's Indigenous community on the Queen are mixed -- as they are in most communities. He said after the Voice to Parliament passes, Australia may be ready to consider life after the monarchy. However Yu, from ANU, said the issue of Australia's Indigenous people must be addressed before any talk of a republic.

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