‘What our economy needs': Labor to approve North West Shelf extension
Nationals Senator Matt Canavan says the Western Australian gas project extension is 'what our economy needs'.
This comes after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, on Monday, said the transition to renewables could not proceed without gas as a backup.
'This should have happened years, months ago,' Mr Canavan told Sky News Australia.
'The Western Australian government approved this project last year, the North West Shelf.
'It's a $30 billion project; it's what our economy needs.'
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The Advertiser
42 minutes ago
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The request was made directly by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. "On defence spending, Secretary Hegseth conveyed that Australia should increase its defence spending to 3.5 per cent of its GDP as soon as possible," a Pentagon statement said. This would require the federal government to pour tens of billions of extra dollars into the defence budget. Defence spending, currently 2.0 per cent of gross domestic product, is on track to rise to about 2.3 per cent by 2033/34. The 3.5 per cent figure is more than what was previously nominated by the principal advisor to the US defence secretary. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said while the US had asked for a "range of things", the government would determine defence spending. "What you should do in defence is decide what you need, your capability, and then provide for it," he told reporters in South Australia on Monday. "What we need is things that defend us in real terms, and that's what we'll provide." The US has been pushing its allies in the Indo-Pacific to increase their defence spending to help share the burden of deterrence. After meeting with Mr Hegseth, Mr Marles admitted his US counterpart had relayed Australia should increase its defence spending, but did not say by exactly how much. The defence minister on Friday said Australia was willing to have that conversation. But on Sunday, Mr Albanese said his government would decide the nation's defence policy. Mr Hegseth told the Asian security summit at the weekend that the threat posed by China was real and could be imminent. Australia will fund the defence capability it needs, Anthony Albanese says, as the US pushes for spending to increase by tens of billions of dollars. The request was made directly by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. 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The US has been pushing its allies in the Indo-Pacific to increase their defence spending to help share the burden of deterrence. After meeting with Mr Hegseth, Mr Marles admitted his US counterpart had relayed Australia should increase its defence spending, but did not say by exactly how much. The defence minister on Friday said Australia was willing to have that conversation. But on Sunday, Mr Albanese said his government would decide the nation's defence policy. Mr Hegseth told the Asian security summit at the weekend that the threat posed by China was real and could be imminent. Australia will fund the defence capability it needs, Anthony Albanese says, as the US pushes for spending to increase by tens of billions of dollars. The request was made directly by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. 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The US has been pushing its allies in the Indo-Pacific to increase their defence spending to help share the burden of deterrence. After meeting with Mr Hegseth, Mr Marles admitted his US counterpart had relayed Australia should increase its defence spending, but did not say by exactly how much. The defence minister on Friday said Australia was willing to have that conversation. But on Sunday, Mr Albanese said his government would decide the nation's defence policy. Mr Hegseth told the Asian security summit at the weekend that the threat posed by China was real and could be imminent.


The Advertiser
42 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Farmers hit by disasters to get financial counselling
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While some in south-eastern Australia are battling historic droughts, those in NSW have been forced to contend with 'one-in-500 year' floods, putting significant strain on farmers across the country. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged they were "doing it tough". "People put their heart and soul into their farms," he told reporters near Wasleys, north of Adelaide, on Monday. "Australia has always had droughts, we've always had flooding rains, and that has occurred throughout our history on this great continent that we're privileged to live on, but the truth is that there are more extreme weather events and they're more intense. "We need to adjust to that." The government has already promised $36 million to help farmers and producers prepare for, and respond to, drought conditions while expanding its disaster recovery allowance to more areas affected by floods. But Nationals Leader David Littleproud has called on Labor to bring back interest-free loans from the Regional Investment Corporation to help farmers experiencing hardship. The commitment, introduced by the coalition in 2020 according to Mr Littleproud, gave farmers access to a $2 million loan with an initial two-year interest-free period, then three years interest-only before five years principal and interest, offering breathing space and allowed them to restock and replant. Some members of his party have urged Australia to abandon its pursuit of net zero emissions by 2050. Mr Albanese said the science was clear about the increased frequency and ferocity of natural disasters. "Climate change is real and we need to respond to it," he said. "The science has been proven, unfortunately, to be playing out." Unusual weather has also continued to transform the east coast, with heavy fog and dust storms both blanketing Sydney in the span of one week. The prime minister maintained his government had a plan to deal with climate change, noting Australia's bid to co-host the United Nations's climate change conference with Pacific nations in 2026. Australia also remains on-track to meet its legislated 43 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030, according to Energy Minister Chris Bowen. Mr Bowen has said Woodside will be required to ensure the project meets net zero emissions by 2050. Disaster-stricken farmers will be able to access free financial counselling, as the prime minister warns of more extreme weather events. The federal government will commit an extra $2 million to the Rural Financial Counselling Service to allow them to hire more staff and deliver increased support to farmers on the ground. While some in south-eastern Australia are battling historic droughts, those in NSW have been forced to contend with 'one-in-500 year' floods, putting significant strain on farmers across the country. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged they were "doing it tough". "People put their heart and soul into their farms," he told reporters near Wasleys, north of Adelaide, on Monday. "Australia has always had droughts, we've always had flooding rains, and that has occurred throughout our history on this great continent that we're privileged to live on, but the truth is that there are more extreme weather events and they're more intense. "We need to adjust to that." The government has already promised $36 million to help farmers and producers prepare for, and respond to, drought conditions while expanding its disaster recovery allowance to more areas affected by floods. But Nationals Leader David Littleproud has called on Labor to bring back interest-free loans from the Regional Investment Corporation to help farmers experiencing hardship. The commitment, introduced by the coalition in 2020 according to Mr Littleproud, gave farmers access to a $2 million loan with an initial two-year interest-free period, then three years interest-only before five years principal and interest, offering breathing space and allowed them to restock and replant. Some members of his party have urged Australia to abandon its pursuit of net zero emissions by 2050. Mr Albanese said the science was clear about the increased frequency and ferocity of natural disasters. "Climate change is real and we need to respond to it," he said. "The science has been proven, unfortunately, to be playing out." Unusual weather has also continued to transform the east coast, with heavy fog and dust storms both blanketing Sydney in the span of one week. The prime minister maintained his government had a plan to deal with climate change, noting Australia's bid to co-host the United Nations's climate change conference with Pacific nations in 2026. Australia also remains on-track to meet its legislated 43 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030, according to Energy Minister Chris Bowen. Mr Bowen has said Woodside will be required to ensure the project meets net zero emissions by 2050. Disaster-stricken farmers will be able to access free financial counselling, as the prime minister warns of more extreme weather events. The federal government will commit an extra $2 million to the Rural Financial Counselling Service to allow them to hire more staff and deliver increased support to farmers on the ground. While some in south-eastern Australia are battling historic droughts, those in NSW have been forced to contend with 'one-in-500 year' floods, putting significant strain on farmers across the country. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged they were "doing it tough". "People put their heart and soul into their farms," he told reporters near Wasleys, north of Adelaide, on Monday. "Australia has always had droughts, we've always had flooding rains, and that has occurred throughout our history on this great continent that we're privileged to live on, but the truth is that there are more extreme weather events and they're more intense. "We need to adjust to that." The government has already promised $36 million to help farmers and producers prepare for, and respond to, drought conditions while expanding its disaster recovery allowance to more areas affected by floods. But Nationals Leader David Littleproud has called on Labor to bring back interest-free loans from the Regional Investment Corporation to help farmers experiencing hardship. The commitment, introduced by the coalition in 2020 according to Mr Littleproud, gave farmers access to a $2 million loan with an initial two-year interest-free period, then three years interest-only before five years principal and interest, offering breathing space and allowed them to restock and replant. Some members of his party have urged Australia to abandon its pursuit of net zero emissions by 2050. Mr Albanese said the science was clear about the increased frequency and ferocity of natural disasters. "Climate change is real and we need to respond to it," he said. "The science has been proven, unfortunately, to be playing out." Unusual weather has also continued to transform the east coast, with heavy fog and dust storms both blanketing Sydney in the span of one week. The prime minister maintained his government had a plan to deal with climate change, noting Australia's bid to co-host the United Nations's climate change conference with Pacific nations in 2026. Australia also remains on-track to meet its legislated 43 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030, according to Energy Minister Chris Bowen. Mr Bowen has said Woodside will be required to ensure the project meets net zero emissions by 2050.