Latest news with #DavidLittleproud
Sky News AU
2 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Victorian farmers rally against 'depsperation' of government's all renewables approach and wild $12k fines
Farmers are storming the steps of Victoria's state parliament over plans for hefty penalties to be handed down to landowners unwilling to budge in the government's 'desperation' to pursue an all-renewables approach. Proposed laws will allow the Allan government access to transmission workers onto private land in order, with those who resist facing fines of more than $12,000 fines for refusing. The Victorian government's plan will see 240 km of new transmission lines rolled out in western Victoria, slicing through 250 farms and private properties to connect new solar and wind farms to the grid. Many farmers say the project, which has been touted as being essential for energy reliability and affordability, is a direct threat to their livelihoods. Hundreds of farmers from 24 regional groups are expected at Victoria's Parliament House in Melbourne on Wedneday to rally against the state government plans. Nationals leader David Littleproud has blasted what he described as the 'human toll' of the all-renewables energy approach, and claimed there was no other country with the industrial scale the size of Australia's that was going down a similar path. 'Our farmers are the human toll of the reckless race of an all-renewables approach' Mr Littleproud told Sky News' First Edition on Wednesday. 'When people in the North Head of Sydney railed against six wind turbines, that was OK and it got taken away. "But when our farmers rail against big energy companies, multi-nationals from overseas coming in and taking over, they get slapped with $12,000 fines because of the desperation of Anthony Albanese and Chris Bowen in trying to finish off this madness of an all-renewables approach. 'You're seeing it not just play out in a human toll for our famers, but you're seeing that every quarter when you get your energy bill.' The protest was also hijacked by pro-Palestine demonstrations, protesting the humanitarian situation in Gaza. One farmer was seen being confronted by a woman wearing a Keffiyeh on the steps of Parliament. Under Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan's plan, transmission project workers would be allowed access to private land without consent, with farmers facing fines of more than $12,210 if they refuse. The state government says it will benefit rural communities, but farmers argue they're losing rights to their own property. It comes as analysis Rystad Energy has revealed construction had not started on any new wind farm projects throughout the country in the first half of the 2025 calendar year. Labor government adviser Ross Garnaut has also ruled that the Albanese government's target of reaching 82 per cent renewable energy by 2030 was unachievable, The Australian has reported. 'Australia is currently on a trajectory to miss its renewable targets because of low investment and output in grid-scale solar and wind – not by a little, but by a big margin,' Mr Garnaut said.
Sky News AU
2 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Social media companies have a ‘responsibility' to protect children
Nationals Leader David Littleproud says there is 'educational benefits' from YouTube for children. The government will be adding YouTube to its social media ban for children under the age of 16. Mr Littleproud told Sky News Australia the social media companies have a 'responsibility' to protect children on their platforms.
Sky News AU
2 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Recognising a Palestinian state cannot be done ‘until Hamas is gone'
Nationals Leader David Littleproud slams Labor MP Ed Husic for his push to recognise a Palestinian state. Mr Littleproud told Sky News Australia there is no one to deal with in Palestine 'until Hamas is gone'. 'I think this is dangerous symbolism, and the world needs to understand the situation on the ground there.'
The Australian
4 days ago
- Business
- The Australian
Coalition calls for Senate inquiry after Labor backflips on US beef exports ban
The Coalition wants a Senate inquiry into the government backflip to allow US beef exports into Australia, citing the 'concerning' timing of the decision amid stalled tariff negotiations. Labor has rejected claims the link to ongoing tariff discussions, stating the decision follows a lengthy review undertaken by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, which found new tracing protocols eliminated risks posed by beef sourced from Canada and Mexico but slaughtered in the US. However Nationals Leader David Littleproud says an inquiry is required to give 'assurance' that 'Labor isn't sacrificing our high biosecurity standards'. Nationals Leader David Littleproud said there needed to be 'assurance' behind the process which reversed the partial ban on US beef imports. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman The probe would look at the threat of importing beef which has potentially been exposed to diseases, the risk assessment taken by the government, standards and protocol for US beef imports and the risk posed by future outbreaks. 'The timing of this decision, just as the Prime Minister seeks to obtain a meeting with the US President, is concerning,' Mr Littleproud said. 'Our biosecurity cannot be a bargaining tool. The protocol outlining the import conditions, only released today, provide little detail on the science and the traceability requirements.' Nationals senator Matt Canavan said an inquiry was needed to 'fully understand the urgency and advice behind the government's decision'. 'It's imperative we understand what impact Labor's decision will have on Australia's reputation as having the world's best and safest beef,' he said. 'Our biosecurity standards are world-leading and our beef producers deserve to know whether they are being sacrificed at the political alter.' The Coalition has questioned the timing of the announcement, with Anthony Albanese still attempting to negotiate an exemption. Picture: NewsWire/ Monique Harmer Speaking during question time on Monday, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said Labor had 'not compromised on biosecurity at all, in any way, shape or form,' and said Mr Littleproud a former agriculture minister, would be aware of the review processes. 'He would know about the industry engagement that has occurred throughout this process,' she said. 'The other thing that he would know is that the US and Australia traceability systems are equivalent and that the decision has been taken based on science … and of course all food imported into Australia must be safe and compliant with our food standards. 'The member opposite would know that the department's security assessment is done in the usual manner as it is done for every other imports into this country.' This comes after Trade Minister Don Farrell mistakenly said US President Donald Trump had directly asked Mr Albanese to remove the ban on US beef exports. Moments later Mr Albanese clarified that the issue was not directly raised in either of the three phone calls he's had with Mr Trump. Instead, he said Mr Trump had made the statement during his Liberation Day tariff announcement. Announcing the levies, which hit a 10 per cent levy on general Australian imports in April, Mr Trump singled out Australia's treatment of US beef. Jessica Wang NewsWire Federal Politics Reporter Jessica Wang is a federal politics reporter for NewsWire based in the Canberra Press Gallery. She previously covered NSW state politics for the Wire and has also worked at and Mamamia covering breaking news, entertainment, and lifestyle. @imjesswang_ Jessica Wang
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
Coalition calls for Senate inquiry after Labor backflips on US beef exports ban
The Coalition wants a Senate inquiry into the government backflip to allow US beef exports into Australia, citing the 'concerning' timing of the decision amid stalled tariff negotiations. Labor has rejected claims the link to ongoing tariff discussions, stating the decision follows a lengthy review undertaken by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, which found new tracing protocols eliminated risks posed by beef sourced from Canada and Mexico but slaughtered in the US. However Nationals Leader David Littleproud says an inquiry is required to give 'assurance' that 'Labor isn't sacrificing our high biosecurity standards'. The probe would look at the threat of importing beef which has potentially been exposed to diseases, the risk assessment taken by the government, standards and protocol for US beef imports and the risk posed by future outbreaks. 'The timing of this decision, just as the Prime Minister seeks to obtain a meeting with the US President, is concerning,' Mr Littleproud said. 'Our biosecurity cannot be a bargaining tool. The protocol outlining the import conditions, only released today, provide little detail on the science and the traceability requirements.' Nationals senator Matt Canavan said an inquiry was needed to 'fully understand the urgency and advice behind the government's decision'. 'It's imperative we understand what impact Labor's decision will have on Australia's reputation as having the world's best and safest beef,' he said. 'Our biosecurity standards are world-leading and our beef producers deserve to know whether they are being sacrificed at the political alter.' Speaking during question time on Monday, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said Labor had 'not compromised on biosecurity at all, in any way, shape or form,' and said Mr Littleproud a former agriculture minister, would be aware of the review processes. 'He would know about the industry engagement that has occurred throughout this process,' she said. 'The other thing that he would know is that the US and Australia traceability systems are equivalent and that the decision has been taken based on science … and of course all food imported into Australia must be safe and compliant with our food standards. 'The member opposite would know that the department's security assessment is done in the usual manner as it is done for every other imports into this country.' This comes after Trade Minister Don Farrell mistakenly said US President Donald Trump had directly asked Mr Albanese to remove the ban on US beef exports. Moments later Mr Albanese clarified that the issue was not directly raised in either of the three phone calls he's had with Mr Trump. Instead, he said Mr Trump had made the statement during his Liberation Day tariff announcement.
