Victorian government announces complete overhaul of child safety practices
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Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
States blindsided by Butler's plans for new scheme for autistic children
Health and Disability Minister Mark Butler has moved to assure parents their kids won't be kicked off the NDIS and slapped down complaints from state premiers as concern brews about the government's ability to deliver a new disability system for children within two years. The federal government stands to save up to $100 billion over the next decade if Butler can contain growth in the NDIS to 5 per cent a year, as he flagged on Wednesday, in part by delivering a new 'Thriving Kids' support scheme for children who have otherwise flocked to the insurance scheme. But curbing costs of the NDIS, which grew by 10.2 per cent last financial year, will rely on state governments matching Butler's urgency in rolling out the new system for children with developmental delays and mild or moderate autism across Medicare, schools, childcare and playgroups by the middle of 2027. As Butler on Thursday moved to assure nervous parents that their children would not lose out under his plans, state governments distanced themselves from the new system that will require them to collectively stump up $2 billion over the next four years, to be matched by the Commonwealth. NSW Premier Chris Minns said he was not going to sign a blank cheque or 'commit sight unseen, but we will commit to working with the Commonwealth government to have a sustainable disability support program'. Loading Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said there had been ongoing discussions about challenges delivering the NDIS, but that 'like many states and territories, we heard about the proposed changes from the federal government when the minister made his address yesterday'. 'I'll leave it to the federal government to answer questions on the way they've made this announcement,' she said. A Tasmanian government spokesman said the Commonwealth was 'yet to provide details on how this will actually work', and Queensland also claimed to have been left in the dark.
Herald Sun
3 hours ago
- Herald Sun
Gas exports from the east coast could be brought under a new licence scheme
Gas exports from the east coast could be brought under a new licence scheme to protect supplies for Aussie users, under a plan backed by industry groups and manufacturers. But the looming overhaul is dividing the states, with Queensland blaming the southern states for looming gas shortfalls. The Albanese government recently opened a gas market review, and flagged it would consider existing domestic gas reservations such as the one operating in Western Australia, ahead of a supply crunch expected to begin from 2028. Energy sector insiders expect a new reservation policy to be introduced this decade, with one likely option the creation of an export licence system. They say this could include forcing gas giants to provide a percentage of production for domestic use, which would bolster energy security for critical bush industries such as food processing, dairy, and supply chain sectors. The Albanese government recently opened a gas market review. Picture: Stuart McEvoy Focusing on exports would avoid constitutional issues that arise if there was a move to restrict production for domestic use, and having to get bickering states to agree on a uniform position. In Australia, the Commonwealth is in charge of trade and exports, but states preside over production and transmission within their borders. The Australian Industry Group and Energy Users Association of Australia say an export licence scheme would boost transparency and ensure things are still made in Australia. 'Unfortunately we have lost our comparative advantage of low cost energy, and the goal should be to recover that comparative advantage,' EUAA chief executive Andrew Richards said. 'Gas supports industries that are critical to everyday life – food, agriculture, manufacturing. We cannot let them slip away because of high energy costs.' Experts are split about the effect of a domestic reservation, a form of which operates in Western Australia and has been called for by Victoria. The AI Group's energy and climate change director, Tennant Reed, said WA's scheme had provided local benefits and a licence scheme would allow for similar results 'without the constitutional complications of a direct copy-and-paste'. Queensland is blaming the southern states for looming gas shortfalls. Picture: Thinkstock The Australian Energy Market Operator has forecast gas shortfalls on the east coast from 2028 due to a combination of factors such as declining production in the Bass Strait, and warns of annual supply gaps from 2029. Some gas producers or industry groups have seen the writing on the wall and backed a reservation, despite criticising former opposition leader Peter Dutton's proposal for a gas security charge on exports that would have acted like a reverse tariff to protect local supplies. Australia's emissions reductions targets that will phase out the use of fossil fuels such as gas long-term, but Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the transition away from coal will require gas, hydro and batteries to firm renewables, and that 'gas remains important for many hard to abate heavy industries, like cement, aluminium and steel'. South Australian Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis has also sparred with Victorian Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio over gas policy. Picture: Nadir Kinani Victoria, where more than two thirds of households are connected to gas for heating, backs a domestic reservation, but has also pushed for households to ditch gas under net zero plans. A spokesperson for the Allan government said it would 'continue to advocate for Australian gas for Australians first'. But Queensland accused Victoria of failing to do enough to find new supplies, and Treasurer and Energy Minister David Janetzki blamed the 'southern states' for looming supply constraints. 'Queensland has consistently delivered reliable energy for consumers and supported the development of its gas industry, even as policy failures in southern states have constrained supply,' Mr Janetzki said. South Australia Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis has also sparred with Victorian Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio over gas policy. He said the need for gas as an important firming mechanism for renewables 'will remain the case for the foreseeable future'. 'The best and fastest way to get more gas is more acreage, fewer bans, and encouraging industry investment,' Mr Koutsantonis said.
ABC News
4 hours ago
- ABC News
Anti-corruption advocate calls for greater scrutiny over political lobbyists
The good news, for those currently striding the halls of power, is that there is life after politics. The bad news, for the rest of us, is that a favoured career path for ex-pollies involves peddling influence for powerful clients with their former colleagues, often behind closed doors. Lobbying has become big business. At last count, around 727 lobbyists were registered in the national capital, more than three times the number of elected officials sitting in parliament. Even more concerning, the rules governing federal lobbyists are among the slackest in the country. A new study by Transparency International Australia has found that the Commonwealth ranks almost last when it comes to transparency, integrity and enforcement of lobbyists, outranking only the Northern Territory. The findings were released in conjunction with an Australian Anti-Corruption Summit where lobbying reform was a central theme. Queensland comes out on top, followed by South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia. Tasmania and the ACT. "Despite a stated cooling-off period, former federal ministers can start lobbying straight out of office with impunity, while only Queensland has a ban of two years to stop the revolving door," the report found. According to the report, at least eight federal ministers, senior ministerial advisers and at least one state premier have taken up roles promoting gambling. But the infiltration is even more pronounced in the resources industry. Unlike most states, the Commonwealth has no independent regulator to enforce rules around lobbying and, instead of dedicated legislation, there is merely an administrative code of conduct. It may be the richest all-cash takeover offer in Australian history but money alone is not enough. When the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, in partnership with a national wealth fund and US private equity firm Carlyle, lobbed a $36 billion bid for gas giant Santos, the Australian company's board was quick to accept the offer to shareholders. But the consortium has to step through a maze of regulatory hoops before the bid gets across the line, including an assessment by the Foreign Investment Review Board and then the tick of approval from Treasurer Jim Chalmers. After years of gas shortages and soaring energy prices, a backlash from business and community groups is gathering pace, an environment that has seen a furious demand for lobbyists. Among those pushing for the deal to proceed unhindered is former federal minister Stephen Conroy, who operates under the banner of TG Public Affairs. He is working alongside Michael Choueifate, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's former chief of staff. It would be naive to think those opposing the transaction wouldn't be equally as armed in the lobbying department. While there is nothing untoward in their engagements, Transparency International Australia argues that we should be concerned about the lack of public scrutiny over the activities of former politicians and staffers and the industry more generally. It is pushing for a range of reforms, including a legislated code of conduct and a waiting period of at least three years before former politicians, senior staffers and former public servants can take up positions related to their previous roles. It also argues that the current list of registered lobbyists ignores the vast army of individuals working inside corporations and is demanding amendments requiring lobbyists to declare who they have met with and who has unescorted access to Parliament House. It also wants an independent body to enforce standards and codes of conduct for both parliamentarians and lobbyists along with sanctions and fines for those who fail to meet the standards.
