Latest news with #AnthonyAlbanese
Free Malaysia Today
2 hours ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Australia makes second US$525mil Aukus payment amid US review
Australia sees the nuclear-powered submarines as critical to its defence in the Indo-Pacific. (EPA Images pic) SYDNEY : Australia has paid the US A$800 million (US$525 million) in the second instalment under the Aukus nuclear submarine deal, despite an ongoing formal review of the agreement by US President Donald Trump's administration. Prime minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the latest instalment today, following an initial US$500 million paid in February. In 2023, the US, Australia and Britain unveiled details of a plan to provide Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarines from the early 2030s to counter China's ambitions in the Indo-Pacific. Australia committed to spend A$368 billion over three decades in its biggest-ever defence deal. Canberra is due to pay the US US$2 billion by year-end to support the expansion of American submarine shipyards, Reuters reported in April. 'There's a schedule of payments to be made. We have an agreement with the US as well as with the UK, it is about increasing their capacity, their industrial capacity,' Albanese told national broadcaster ABC. 'As part of that as well, we have Australians on the ground, learning those skills.' Trump launched a formal review of Aukus in June to examine whether the pact met his 'American First' criteria. It will be led by Elbridge Colby, who in the past has expressed scepticism about Aukus. Australia, which sees the submarines as critical to its own defence as tensions grow over China's military build-up, has maintained it is confident the pact will proceed. 'We support Aukus,' Albanese said. 'We have an agreement to a treaty level, with our partners, signed, of course in San Diego with the US and UK.' Washington will sell several Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines to Australia, while Britain and Australia will later build a new Aukus-class submarine.
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- Business
- News.com.au
PM will honour a big election promise as he moves to tackle cost of living
Anthony Albanese will move to freeze beer taxes on Thursday honouring his election pitch to tackle the cost of living. The Prime Minister confirmed during the election that 'we will freeze the indexation on draught beer excise for two years' in what he described as a win for beer drinkers and hospitality businesses. With schooners and pints tracking closer to $15 and $20 in major cities, publicans have expressed fears the steep prices are driving customers away. It follows warnings that a half of the cost of a $59.99 slab of Coopers Pale Ale was going to the taxman. On Thursday, the Albanese Labor Government will table tariff proposals to stop the excise and customs duty on beer from increasing from 1 August. The Albanese government has confirmed it will amend the legislation to temporarily pause the indexation on excise and customs duty. The pause on indexation for excise and customs duty will be in place for two years from 1 August 2025. The Albanese Government said that the excise and customs tariff proposals tabled in Parliament will be ratified by primary legislation to be introduced in coming months. However, the tariff proposal on Thursday will stop the price of beer increasing due to indexation until that freeze is legislated. 'Continuing to deliver cost of living relief to Australians is our number one priority,'' Mr Albanese told 'Freezing the excise on draught beer is a common sense measure that is good for beer drinkers, good for brewers and good for pubs.' Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the government remained focused on easing the cost of living for Australians. 'This will help take a bit of pressure off beer drinkers, brewers and bars,'' he said. 'Whether it's a tax cut for every taxpayer, help with energy bills, or the new relief that's rolling out this month like higher wages for award workers, we're doing everything we responsibly can to help with the cost of living.' understands the cost to the budget in tax revenue foregone will be $95 million over four years. But it's not all beer. It needs to be coming off tap in a licensed hospitality venue, so only schooners and pints of beer from your local watering hole will be blessed with a tax freeze. Those who prefer buying their beer, or any other alcohol, from the bottle-O can expect prices to keep rising. Last year Anthony Albanese said cutting beer taxes wasn't a priority for his government. 'We are not looking at that at the moment, but obviously in the lead-up to budgets, you have submissions and I'm sure that there'll be submissions along a whole range of ways,' he told 3AW. 'One of the things that we have to do though, is look at ways where we provide cost of living support, while putting downward pressure on inflation.' Health Minister Mark Butler was singing the same tune back then, insisting that the government's focus was on 'cheaper medicines, not beer'. Nationals leader's lonely call for action David Littleproud faced a backlash last year from senior Liberals after floating the prospect of a beer tax relief because the price was 'hitting a tipping point.' 'I'm part of the shadow expenditure review committee and our final taxation policy has not been determined,' he said. 'That will be determined by the National Party and the Liberal Party. That's why we'll be running the ruler over this. 'When we determine the taxation policy we'll take to the next election, it'll be a Coalition policy.' But the big idea was slammed down by the opposition treasury spokesman Angus Taylor. 'The starting point to reducing the pressure of indexation is to get inflation down,' Mr Taylor said. Opposition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume also wasn't a big fan. 'I always like the idea of free beer. But, unfortunately, that might not be the policy slogan that you'll be seeing us going into the election with,' she said. Ahead of the announcement, the Australian Hotels Association CEO Stephen Ferguson noted that beer and spirits tax quietly goes up twice a year every year and complained that the Government's only response is to refer pubs to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. 'Australia's beer tax is already the third highest in the OECD. There's also $38 tax on a $60 bottle of whisky or gin. That is outrageous and the voters are awake to it,'' Mr Ferguson said.
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- Business
- The Advertiser
HECS debt relief nears as Labor eyes further uni reform
Students and graduates will soon receive a cut to higher education debts but advocates say the government must do more to make university fees fairer. Legislation was introduced to parliament on Wednesday to slash HECS debts by 20 per cent and increase income thresholds before minimum repayments kick in. It is expected to be passed with the support of the opposition in the coming weeks. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese credited the bill as a key reason behind Labor's victory in the May election. "Because it resonated with those young Australians in particular, who are looking for intergenerational equity measures, which is what this is, saving some three million Australians an average of $5500 each," he said during question time. Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said the policy will make the system fairer. "It means you start paying off your uni degree when uni starts to pay off for you," he said while introducing the bill to the House of Representatives earlier on Wednesday. People earning between $60,000 and $180,000 will save hundreds of dollars each year under the changes. Someone on $70,000 will save the most on minimum repayments - $1300 a year - due to an increase to the thresholds for when the debts must be paid. The bill is set to sail through both houses of parliament, with Opposition Leader Sussan Ley telling Sky News: "We will be constructive where we can." Bruce Chapman, the architect of the HECS scheme, said the relief would make the system fairer by giving those on lower salaries more money in their pockets. But the top priority should be reviewing the price of each degree because humanities students finish with the highest level of debt and end up being the lowest-paid graduates. "All the prices are wrong," Professor Chapman told AAP. Mr Clare said further reforms were being looked at after the failure of the former Liberal government's job-ready program. The program aimed to fill skills shortages by making it cheaper to take courses such as teaching, nursing and psychology, while doubling the cost of popular degrees including law, communications, business, humanities and the arts. "If the intention there was to reduce the number of people doing arts degrees, it hasn't worked," Mr Clare said. "People study the courses they're interested in, that they want to do, that they love." The universities' accord final report branded the program "deeply unfair" because it punished students who followed their interests. It recommended that fees reflect future earning potential as part of 47 recommendations to reform the sector. The universities sector welcomed the HECS bill but called on the government to repeal the jobs-ready graduates scheme. "Scrapping the job-ready graduates package to make student fees fairer and expanding the Commonwealth prac payment could help shift the dial on participation, which is what the country needs," Universities Australia chief executive Luke Sheehy said. Other aspects about how HECS debts were paid off also needed to be addressed, Prof Chapman said. HECS repayments are taken from a person's pay if they earn above an income threshold. But the money isn't immediately taken off the total debt and is instead deducted as a lump sum at the end of the financial year after indexation has been applied. The university accord recommended the arrangement be changed to make the system fairer. The Australian Tertiary Education Commission has been established in an interim capacity to implement long-term university reform and will review the HECS system over the next 12 months. Mr Clare will introduce further legislation to make the commission a permanent body. Students and graduates will soon receive a cut to higher education debts but advocates say the government must do more to make university fees fairer. Legislation was introduced to parliament on Wednesday to slash HECS debts by 20 per cent and increase income thresholds before minimum repayments kick in. It is expected to be passed with the support of the opposition in the coming weeks. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese credited the bill as a key reason behind Labor's victory in the May election. "Because it resonated with those young Australians in particular, who are looking for intergenerational equity measures, which is what this is, saving some three million Australians an average of $5500 each," he said during question time. Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said the policy will make the system fairer. "It means you start paying off your uni degree when uni starts to pay off for you," he said while introducing the bill to the House of Representatives earlier on Wednesday. People earning between $60,000 and $180,000 will save hundreds of dollars each year under the changes. Someone on $70,000 will save the most on minimum repayments - $1300 a year - due to an increase to the thresholds for when the debts must be paid. The bill is set to sail through both houses of parliament, with Opposition Leader Sussan Ley telling Sky News: "We will be constructive where we can." Bruce Chapman, the architect of the HECS scheme, said the relief would make the system fairer by giving those on lower salaries more money in their pockets. But the top priority should be reviewing the price of each degree because humanities students finish with the highest level of debt and end up being the lowest-paid graduates. "All the prices are wrong," Professor Chapman told AAP. Mr Clare said further reforms were being looked at after the failure of the former Liberal government's job-ready program. The program aimed to fill skills shortages by making it cheaper to take courses such as teaching, nursing and psychology, while doubling the cost of popular degrees including law, communications, business, humanities and the arts. "If the intention there was to reduce the number of people doing arts degrees, it hasn't worked," Mr Clare said. "People study the courses they're interested in, that they want to do, that they love." The universities' accord final report branded the program "deeply unfair" because it punished students who followed their interests. It recommended that fees reflect future earning potential as part of 47 recommendations to reform the sector. The universities sector welcomed the HECS bill but called on the government to repeal the jobs-ready graduates scheme. "Scrapping the job-ready graduates package to make student fees fairer and expanding the Commonwealth prac payment could help shift the dial on participation, which is what the country needs," Universities Australia chief executive Luke Sheehy said. Other aspects about how HECS debts were paid off also needed to be addressed, Prof Chapman said. HECS repayments are taken from a person's pay if they earn above an income threshold. But the money isn't immediately taken off the total debt and is instead deducted as a lump sum at the end of the financial year after indexation has been applied. The university accord recommended the arrangement be changed to make the system fairer. The Australian Tertiary Education Commission has been established in an interim capacity to implement long-term university reform and will review the HECS system over the next 12 months. Mr Clare will introduce further legislation to make the commission a permanent body. Students and graduates will soon receive a cut to higher education debts but advocates say the government must do more to make university fees fairer. Legislation was introduced to parliament on Wednesday to slash HECS debts by 20 per cent and increase income thresholds before minimum repayments kick in. It is expected to be passed with the support of the opposition in the coming weeks. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese credited the bill as a key reason behind Labor's victory in the May election. "Because it resonated with those young Australians in particular, who are looking for intergenerational equity measures, which is what this is, saving some three million Australians an average of $5500 each," he said during question time. Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said the policy will make the system fairer. "It means you start paying off your uni degree when uni starts to pay off for you," he said while introducing the bill to the House of Representatives earlier on Wednesday. People earning between $60,000 and $180,000 will save hundreds of dollars each year under the changes. Someone on $70,000 will save the most on minimum repayments - $1300 a year - due to an increase to the thresholds for when the debts must be paid. The bill is set to sail through both houses of parliament, with Opposition Leader Sussan Ley telling Sky News: "We will be constructive where we can." Bruce Chapman, the architect of the HECS scheme, said the relief would make the system fairer by giving those on lower salaries more money in their pockets. But the top priority should be reviewing the price of each degree because humanities students finish with the highest level of debt and end up being the lowest-paid graduates. "All the prices are wrong," Professor Chapman told AAP. Mr Clare said further reforms were being looked at after the failure of the former Liberal government's job-ready program. The program aimed to fill skills shortages by making it cheaper to take courses such as teaching, nursing and psychology, while doubling the cost of popular degrees including law, communications, business, humanities and the arts. "If the intention there was to reduce the number of people doing arts degrees, it hasn't worked," Mr Clare said. "People study the courses they're interested in, that they want to do, that they love." The universities' accord final report branded the program "deeply unfair" because it punished students who followed their interests. It recommended that fees reflect future earning potential as part of 47 recommendations to reform the sector. The universities sector welcomed the HECS bill but called on the government to repeal the jobs-ready graduates scheme. "Scrapping the job-ready graduates package to make student fees fairer and expanding the Commonwealth prac payment could help shift the dial on participation, which is what the country needs," Universities Australia chief executive Luke Sheehy said. Other aspects about how HECS debts were paid off also needed to be addressed, Prof Chapman said. HECS repayments are taken from a person's pay if they earn above an income threshold. But the money isn't immediately taken off the total debt and is instead deducted as a lump sum at the end of the financial year after indexation has been applied. The university accord recommended the arrangement be changed to make the system fairer. The Australian Tertiary Education Commission has been established in an interim capacity to implement long-term university reform and will review the HECS system over the next 12 months. Mr Clare will introduce further legislation to make the commission a permanent body. Students and graduates will soon receive a cut to higher education debts but advocates say the government must do more to make university fees fairer. Legislation was introduced to parliament on Wednesday to slash HECS debts by 20 per cent and increase income thresholds before minimum repayments kick in. It is expected to be passed with the support of the opposition in the coming weeks. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese credited the bill as a key reason behind Labor's victory in the May election. "Because it resonated with those young Australians in particular, who are looking for intergenerational equity measures, which is what this is, saving some three million Australians an average of $5500 each," he said during question time. Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said the policy will make the system fairer. "It means you start paying off your uni degree when uni starts to pay off for you," he said while introducing the bill to the House of Representatives earlier on Wednesday. People earning between $60,000 and $180,000 will save hundreds of dollars each year under the changes. Someone on $70,000 will save the most on minimum repayments - $1300 a year - due to an increase to the thresholds for when the debts must be paid. The bill is set to sail through both houses of parliament, with Opposition Leader Sussan Ley telling Sky News: "We will be constructive where we can." Bruce Chapman, the architect of the HECS scheme, said the relief would make the system fairer by giving those on lower salaries more money in their pockets. But the top priority should be reviewing the price of each degree because humanities students finish with the highest level of debt and end up being the lowest-paid graduates. "All the prices are wrong," Professor Chapman told AAP. Mr Clare said further reforms were being looked at after the failure of the former Liberal government's job-ready program. The program aimed to fill skills shortages by making it cheaper to take courses such as teaching, nursing and psychology, while doubling the cost of popular degrees including law, communications, business, humanities and the arts. "If the intention there was to reduce the number of people doing arts degrees, it hasn't worked," Mr Clare said. "People study the courses they're interested in, that they want to do, that they love." The universities' accord final report branded the program "deeply unfair" because it punished students who followed their interests. It recommended that fees reflect future earning potential as part of 47 recommendations to reform the sector. The universities sector welcomed the HECS bill but called on the government to repeal the jobs-ready graduates scheme. "Scrapping the job-ready graduates package to make student fees fairer and expanding the Commonwealth prac payment could help shift the dial on participation, which is what the country needs," Universities Australia chief executive Luke Sheehy said. Other aspects about how HECS debts were paid off also needed to be addressed, Prof Chapman said. HECS repayments are taken from a person's pay if they earn above an income threshold. But the money isn't immediately taken off the total debt and is instead deducted as a lump sum at the end of the financial year after indexation has been applied. The university accord recommended the arrangement be changed to make the system fairer. The Australian Tertiary Education Commission has been established in an interim capacity to implement long-term university reform and will review the HECS system over the next 12 months. Mr Clare will introduce further legislation to make the commission a permanent body.
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- Business
- The Advertiser
New dawn as leaders face off in first question time
Familiar battle lines have been drawn as MPs locked horns for the first question time of the 48th parliament. Anthony Albanese and Sussan Ley faced off for the first time in the parliamentary showcase, with the size of Labor's second-term majority on full display as MPs got down to business on the first working day. Ms Ley used her opening appearance in question time as leader to push the government on looming superannuation tax changes. But with the coalition commanding 43 of the 150 House of Representatives seats, the scale of the election wipeout was clear on the benches. Promising to deliver on election commitments, the prime minister batted away suggestions of plans for taxes on unrealised capital gains. "The time to run a scare campaign is before an election," he told parliament. "Tax was an issue at the last election ... we had not one tax cut but two tax cuts." With Labor holding 94 seats in the parliament, the government now sits on both sides of the aisle in the lower house, for the first time in the party's history. It was the newest members of parliament who took centre stage for the government during question time, with Labor questions all being asked by first-term MPs. Among them were Ali France, who defeated former opposition leader Peter Dutton, and Sarah Witty who beat ex-Greens leader Adam Bandt in his seat of Melbourne. Independent MP Nicolette Boele, who narrowly won the blue-ribbon seat of Bradfield from the Liberals by 26 votes, also pressed the government on climate action during the first session. Although question time and first speeches from MPs made up much of the lower house agenda, the government wasted no time in kicking off its agenda with Education Minister Jason Clare using the first hour of sitting to introduce priority legislation. A proposal to slash university debt by 20 per cent for three million Australians was delivered in the house first-thing, after Labor campaigned heavily on the promise. People with an average HECS debt of $27,600 will have $5520 wiped from their loans. Mr Clare also introduced legislation that would strengthen safety in the childcare system after promising to expedite the bill in response to shocking sexual abuse allegations against a Victorian childcare worker. "We have to do everything that we can to ensure the safety of our children when they walk or when they're carried through the doors of an early education and care service," he told parliament. Labor's newest MPs used the first full sitting day to lay out their own priorities for the term ahead. Banks MP Zhi Soon paid tribute to the multicultural community in southwest Sydney that helped raise him. "One moment I was eating a Devon sandwich, the next a curry laksa, a kibbeh, a banh xeo, or a pani puri," he told the chamber. "I'm a proud Asian-Australian, I'm a proud Malaysian-Australian, I'm a proud Chinese-Australian, but most of all, I am a proud Australian." Former school teacher and Deakin MP Matt Gregg used his address to lay bare the consequences of social media on education and young Australians. "Some of the toughest teachers I've ever worked with have felt they need to leave the profession - harassed with misogynistic and other antisocial behaviours like never before," he said. "Young people themselves feel it in their own sense of self-worth - they know something is wrong. "We must continue to meet the challenges posed by social media and the landscape it's created, not with panic, but with serious, thoughtful action." Familiar battle lines have been drawn as MPs locked horns for the first question time of the 48th parliament. Anthony Albanese and Sussan Ley faced off for the first time in the parliamentary showcase, with the size of Labor's second-term majority on full display as MPs got down to business on the first working day. Ms Ley used her opening appearance in question time as leader to push the government on looming superannuation tax changes. But with the coalition commanding 43 of the 150 House of Representatives seats, the scale of the election wipeout was clear on the benches. Promising to deliver on election commitments, the prime minister batted away suggestions of plans for taxes on unrealised capital gains. "The time to run a scare campaign is before an election," he told parliament. "Tax was an issue at the last election ... we had not one tax cut but two tax cuts." With Labor holding 94 seats in the parliament, the government now sits on both sides of the aisle in the lower house, for the first time in the party's history. It was the newest members of parliament who took centre stage for the government during question time, with Labor questions all being asked by first-term MPs. Among them were Ali France, who defeated former opposition leader Peter Dutton, and Sarah Witty who beat ex-Greens leader Adam Bandt in his seat of Melbourne. Independent MP Nicolette Boele, who narrowly won the blue-ribbon seat of Bradfield from the Liberals by 26 votes, also pressed the government on climate action during the first session. Although question time and first speeches from MPs made up much of the lower house agenda, the government wasted no time in kicking off its agenda with Education Minister Jason Clare using the first hour of sitting to introduce priority legislation. A proposal to slash university debt by 20 per cent for three million Australians was delivered in the house first-thing, after Labor campaigned heavily on the promise. People with an average HECS debt of $27,600 will have $5520 wiped from their loans. Mr Clare also introduced legislation that would strengthen safety in the childcare system after promising to expedite the bill in response to shocking sexual abuse allegations against a Victorian childcare worker. "We have to do everything that we can to ensure the safety of our children when they walk or when they're carried through the doors of an early education and care service," he told parliament. Labor's newest MPs used the first full sitting day to lay out their own priorities for the term ahead. Banks MP Zhi Soon paid tribute to the multicultural community in southwest Sydney that helped raise him. "One moment I was eating a Devon sandwich, the next a curry laksa, a kibbeh, a banh xeo, or a pani puri," he told the chamber. "I'm a proud Asian-Australian, I'm a proud Malaysian-Australian, I'm a proud Chinese-Australian, but most of all, I am a proud Australian." Former school teacher and Deakin MP Matt Gregg used his address to lay bare the consequences of social media on education and young Australians. "Some of the toughest teachers I've ever worked with have felt they need to leave the profession - harassed with misogynistic and other antisocial behaviours like never before," he said. "Young people themselves feel it in their own sense of self-worth - they know something is wrong. "We must continue to meet the challenges posed by social media and the landscape it's created, not with panic, but with serious, thoughtful action." Familiar battle lines have been drawn as MPs locked horns for the first question time of the 48th parliament. Anthony Albanese and Sussan Ley faced off for the first time in the parliamentary showcase, with the size of Labor's second-term majority on full display as MPs got down to business on the first working day. Ms Ley used her opening appearance in question time as leader to push the government on looming superannuation tax changes. But with the coalition commanding 43 of the 150 House of Representatives seats, the scale of the election wipeout was clear on the benches. Promising to deliver on election commitments, the prime minister batted away suggestions of plans for taxes on unrealised capital gains. "The time to run a scare campaign is before an election," he told parliament. "Tax was an issue at the last election ... we had not one tax cut but two tax cuts." With Labor holding 94 seats in the parliament, the government now sits on both sides of the aisle in the lower house, for the first time in the party's history. It was the newest members of parliament who took centre stage for the government during question time, with Labor questions all being asked by first-term MPs. Among them were Ali France, who defeated former opposition leader Peter Dutton, and Sarah Witty who beat ex-Greens leader Adam Bandt in his seat of Melbourne. Independent MP Nicolette Boele, who narrowly won the blue-ribbon seat of Bradfield from the Liberals by 26 votes, also pressed the government on climate action during the first session. Although question time and first speeches from MPs made up much of the lower house agenda, the government wasted no time in kicking off its agenda with Education Minister Jason Clare using the first hour of sitting to introduce priority legislation. A proposal to slash university debt by 20 per cent for three million Australians was delivered in the house first-thing, after Labor campaigned heavily on the promise. People with an average HECS debt of $27,600 will have $5520 wiped from their loans. Mr Clare also introduced legislation that would strengthen safety in the childcare system after promising to expedite the bill in response to shocking sexual abuse allegations against a Victorian childcare worker. "We have to do everything that we can to ensure the safety of our children when they walk or when they're carried through the doors of an early education and care service," he told parliament. Labor's newest MPs used the first full sitting day to lay out their own priorities for the term ahead. Banks MP Zhi Soon paid tribute to the multicultural community in southwest Sydney that helped raise him. "One moment I was eating a Devon sandwich, the next a curry laksa, a kibbeh, a banh xeo, or a pani puri," he told the chamber. "I'm a proud Asian-Australian, I'm a proud Malaysian-Australian, I'm a proud Chinese-Australian, but most of all, I am a proud Australian." Former school teacher and Deakin MP Matt Gregg used his address to lay bare the consequences of social media on education and young Australians. "Some of the toughest teachers I've ever worked with have felt they need to leave the profession - harassed with misogynistic and other antisocial behaviours like never before," he said. "Young people themselves feel it in their own sense of self-worth - they know something is wrong. "We must continue to meet the challenges posed by social media and the landscape it's created, not with panic, but with serious, thoughtful action." Familiar battle lines have been drawn as MPs locked horns for the first question time of the 48th parliament. Anthony Albanese and Sussan Ley faced off for the first time in the parliamentary showcase, with the size of Labor's second-term majority on full display as MPs got down to business on the first working day. Ms Ley used her opening appearance in question time as leader to push the government on looming superannuation tax changes. But with the coalition commanding 43 of the 150 House of Representatives seats, the scale of the election wipeout was clear on the benches. Promising to deliver on election commitments, the prime minister batted away suggestions of plans for taxes on unrealised capital gains. "The time to run a scare campaign is before an election," he told parliament. "Tax was an issue at the last election ... we had not one tax cut but two tax cuts." With Labor holding 94 seats in the parliament, the government now sits on both sides of the aisle in the lower house, for the first time in the party's history. It was the newest members of parliament who took centre stage for the government during question time, with Labor questions all being asked by first-term MPs. Among them were Ali France, who defeated former opposition leader Peter Dutton, and Sarah Witty who beat ex-Greens leader Adam Bandt in his seat of Melbourne. Independent MP Nicolette Boele, who narrowly won the blue-ribbon seat of Bradfield from the Liberals by 26 votes, also pressed the government on climate action during the first session. Although question time and first speeches from MPs made up much of the lower house agenda, the government wasted no time in kicking off its agenda with Education Minister Jason Clare using the first hour of sitting to introduce priority legislation. A proposal to slash university debt by 20 per cent for three million Australians was delivered in the house first-thing, after Labor campaigned heavily on the promise. People with an average HECS debt of $27,600 will have $5520 wiped from their loans. Mr Clare also introduced legislation that would strengthen safety in the childcare system after promising to expedite the bill in response to shocking sexual abuse allegations against a Victorian childcare worker. "We have to do everything that we can to ensure the safety of our children when they walk or when they're carried through the doors of an early education and care service," he told parliament. Labor's newest MPs used the first full sitting day to lay out their own priorities for the term ahead. Banks MP Zhi Soon paid tribute to the multicultural community in southwest Sydney that helped raise him. "One moment I was eating a Devon sandwich, the next a curry laksa, a kibbeh, a banh xeo, or a pani puri," he told the chamber. "I'm a proud Asian-Australian, I'm a proud Malaysian-Australian, I'm a proud Chinese-Australian, but most of all, I am a proud Australian." Former school teacher and Deakin MP Matt Gregg used his address to lay bare the consequences of social media on education and young Australians. "Some of the toughest teachers I've ever worked with have felt they need to leave the profession - harassed with misogynistic and other antisocial behaviours like never before," he said. "Young people themselves feel it in their own sense of self-worth - they know something is wrong. "We must continue to meet the challenges posed by social media and the landscape it's created, not with panic, but with serious, thoughtful action."
Perth Now
4 hours ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Extra $800m for AUKUS was scheduled, PM
Australia has sent another $800m to the US as part of the AUKUS deal, which the Trump administration has under review, but the Prime Minister says it was simply a part of the 'schedule'. Anthony Albanese was asked about the new payment that took the total to $1.6bn, which was reported in Nine newspapers on Wednesday. 'There is a schedule of payments to be made, we have an agreement with the United States as well as with the United Kingdom,' Mr Albanese told ABC's Afternoon Briefing. 'It is about increasing the capacity, their industrial capacity, and as part of that, we have Australians on the ground, learning the skills so that when it comes to the SSN-AUKUS, the submarines being built here in Australia, we have those skills.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the $800m sent to the US for AUKUS was a scheduled payment. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia Defence Minister Richard Marles earlier confirmed the report saying 'the payments are occurring in line with Australia's commitment to contribute US$2bn by the end of 2025, which underscores our commitment to the successful delivery of AUKUS Pillar I outcomes'. The US' review was announced in June and is being headed up by Elbridge Colby, the US undersecretary of defence. Mr Colby recently made headlines when it was revealed he was pressuring the Australian and Japanese governments to reveal what they would do if China invaded Taiwan. The nuclear submarines are set to be built in Australia. NewsWire / Morgan Sette Credit: News Corp Australia The AUKUS deal is a long-term arrangement that will cost upwards of $268bn, and as much as $368bn, over the next 30 years. Australia would buy nuclear submarines from the US, while developing our own capacity to build submarines in Adelaide. The new payment came as Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor said he was 'worried' about the government's position on defence. 'I worry that the government – I think it's not just me worried, I think every expert looking at this is making these comments – they're deeply worried that we're not on our way to having the defence force we need in such an uncertain time,' Mr Taylor said. 'We've got authoritarian regimes around the world flexing their muscles.'
