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Adam Bandt to announce latest public schools spending pledge
Caitlin Cassidy
Every public school child would receive an $800 “back to school” payment and fees and charges would be abolished under a suite of election announcements to be announced by the Greens in Brisbane today.
The $800 payment, to be distributed to students enrolled in primary and secondary schools from 1 July, is estimated to cost $7.6bn to 2028 and would be spent on out-of-pocket costs like uniforms, technology and school supplies.
Additional funding of $2.4bn over forward estimates would also be distributed to public schools to abolish public school fees, charges and contributions, estimated to have risen by 20.58% from 2021 to 2022.
The Greens said the policy was the latest in a suite of “Robin Hood reforms” that would be put on the table in the instance of a minority parliament.
The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, will make the announcement at Coorparoo State School in Brisbane on Tuesday, alongside the Greens spokesperson for primary and secondary education, Senator Penny Allman-Payne, and Griffith MP Max Chandler-Mather.
The Greens were reduced to one seat in Queensland’s state election in October, placing pressure on the party to maintain its three federal seats when voters hit the polls later this year.
Bandt said the cash boost would be funded via the Greens’ planned “big corporations tax”. He said:
Parents are forking out thousands on ‘voluntary’ fees, uniforms and out-of pocket costs, but meanwhile one in three big corporations pays no tax. We can’t keep voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result. If Brisbane voters return their Greens MPs, they can keep Peter Dutton out and get Labor to act on the cost-of-living crisis.
Key events
Birmingham on Trump move to withdraw from Paris agreement and WHO
Turning to the United States, Simon Birmingham was asked about Donald Trump’s move to withdraw from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Paris climate agreement.
How should western nations approach a second Trump presidency? And is there a responsibility for Australia to speak out when actions, such as this, are taken that really weaken our global cooperation in big pillars of foreign affairs?
Birmingham said “nobody should be surprised by many of the steps taken” by Trump, because this is what he said he would do as president.
From an Australian perspective, the shadow minister said, there were two things to manage:
Our equities with the United States – our closest security alliance partner – and our equities with other countries around the world. And it’s important we do manage both of those …
But, of course, continue also to work with our valued partners around the rest of the world in areas of important cooperation and collaboration such as the tackling of HIV, the tackling of tuberculosis, the types of things that we do when near neighbours like Papua New Guinea do important work on that [and are] aided by some of the work at the World Health Organisation.
Birmingham asked if earlier national cabinet meeting would have prevented rise in antisemitism
The shadow foreign minister, Simon Birmingham, spoke with ABC News Breakfast earlier this morning, as the Coalition continues to criticise the government for its response to antisemitism in Australia.
Asked if it was realistic to assume an earlier national cabinet could have prevented this rise in antisemitism, Birmingham said there were “a number of steps” that could have been taken:
There’s of course the type of moral leadership and language that is essential. But there are also some of the practical things. And the reason for seeking a national cabinet meeting was to engage the states and territories – to make a single national value statement to our Jewish community and to all Australians about that type of respect that’s necessary to stamp out antisemitism.
But also, because the states and territories are the leads in law enforcement, to ensure the coordination of those efforts …
Of course also, that civic leadership, that national leadership, by all of Australia’s heads of government [is needed] to make clear that this should not be occurring in the first place.
‘It’s a matter for Peter Dutton’: Patterson on Coalition shadow cabinet reshuffle
James Paterson was asked if he is interested in taking on the role of foreign affairs spokesperson within the shadow cabinet, amid the retirement of Simon Birmingham.
A Coalition shadow cabinet reshuffle has been due for some time. Paterson told ABC RN:
Obviously, to [opposition leader] Peter Dutton, I’m happy to serve in any role that he would like me to do. There is a lot of work to do.
And frankly, all the national security portfolios, [we should] clean up the mess of this government. Whether it’s foreign affairs, defence or home affairs, and I’m very honoured to have the role that I already have under Peter Dutton’s leadership, and happy to continue in that, but it’s a matter for him.
Paterson says ‘serious penalties’ needed on antisemitism
James Paterson said that out of yesterday’s national cabinet, he would have liked to see a more combined response from state and federal police – pointing to the Coalition’s call for mandatory minimum sentences:
Serious penalties, like mandatory minimum sentences, would have sent a much stronger signal.
He criticised the online database announced by the government yesterday and said he was “not sure how” this would act as a deterrent.
Australians deserve more information about ‘overseas actors’ possibly linked to antisemitic attacks – Paterson
The shadow home affairs and cybersecurity minister, James Paterson, has been speaking with ABC RN about the recent spate of antisemitic attacks and the response from the federal government.
He said it was “undeniably true” the government had been slow to act, saying it took the PM 14 months to convene a national cabinet meeting on antisemitism.
It was only yesterday, after months and months of pressure and other appeals – including from the antisemitism envoy Jillian Siegel – that the prime minister caved in, basically dragged kicking and screaming, into convening a national cabinet.
On reports that federal police are investigating whether the spate of antisemitic attacks has been funded by “overseas actors” using cryptocurrency, Paterson said this was a “gravely serious claim”.
I think the Australian people are entitled to more information from the prime minister today about what he knows about this, when he was briefed about it, and what action the government is taking about us.
Paterson said a claim like this would “make it the most serious domestic security crisis in peacetime, in Australia’s history, and will cause incredible alarm within the Jewish community”.
So a lot more information is required about this claim, and a lot more comfort needs to be given about what is being done in response to it. You cannot put information out this partially, as has been done so far.
Accusations government was slow to act on antisemitism ‘unfair’ – Clare
The education minister, Jason Clare, also spoke with Sunrise, where he defended the government’s response to antisemitism.
The host noted that national cabinet met yesterday and announced an electronic database to track antisemitic crime. But was the government too slow to act?
Clare was this was “unfair criticism” and that within two weeks of 7 October 2023, the government allocated $25m to the Jewish community for more security at schools, preschools and synagogues.
We’ve also introduced legislation to criminalise hate speech, and we’ve set up police task forces at a national level, as well as at a state level. Some people have already been arrested … But there’s obviously more morons out there and that’s why we need more police.
Clare said the idea that people overseas might be paying criminals in Australia to perpetrate antisemitic attacks was “truly terrifying”.
Ultimately, if this is going to stop, we’ve got to hunt down the criminals that are doing this and lock them up.
Rabbi says recent antisemitic attacks have to be ‘taken very seriously’
Rabbi Zalman Goldstein spoke on the Today Show earlier, live from the Maroubra synagogue in Sydney, near the childcare centre that was targeted with antisemitic graffiti and set alight this week.
He said it “means a lot” to the Jewish community that the PM convened national cabinet to address antisemitism, because the recent attacks have to be “taken very seriously”.
We definitely welcome that and hopefully we’ll see some real results and that these attacks will just finally stop.
He said that last night, a huge turnout of people came to the Maroubra synagogue to “pray, to sing, to get strength and courage”.
What the perpetrators wanted to accomplish was to make us scared. They weren’t successful … We hope that the law enforcement will find the perpetrators and will finally bring an end to this.
Hume says there is ‘no Coalition position’ to take same route as Trump on gender
The shadow finance minister, Jane Hume, also appeared on Sunrise and fielded questions on whether the Coalition would follow Donald Trump in recognising only two genders.
Hume said it wasn’t an issue that was being raised with her or Peter Dutton, and that people were focused on the cost of living.
I think Donald Trump will create a lot of issues that people debate around the world. I’m not focused on this one.
Asked if she agreed with her Coalition colleagues Matt Canavan and Barnaby Joyce, who backed the move by Trump, Hume said:
It’s not an issue to keep me awake at night. This is not an issue that mainstream Australians are talking to me about … There is no Coalition position to take the same route as Donald Trump.
Watt defends government response to antisemitism as ‘very strong’
Asked if the federal government has been going enough to combat antisemitism, Murray Watt said it had responded “very strongly here”.
He said there had been dozens of arrests, and in recent years the federal government moved to ban the display of hate symbols, including the Nazi salute and certain flags, and doxxing.
Unfortunately, there are some people in the community who are engaging is disgusting behaviour and the AFP and state police have demonstrated they will be caught and go to jail, which is where they belong.
Watt says news of foreign interference in antisemitic attacks is ‘worrying’
The workplace relations minister, Murray Watt, says it is a “worrying development” that “overseas actors” have potentially funded antisemitic attacks in Australia using cryptocurrency.
Speaking on Sunrise, he said these attacks were happening “far too frequently in Australia.”
I [will] leave it to the AFP to confirm some of the details about this, but I think this demonstrates exactly how far our police authorities are going to try to crack down on the shocking behaviour …
[The number of arrests made] sends a really clear message from the whole community that there is no tolerance that this kind of hate, and you will be caught if you do these kind of disgusting attacks.
Paterson calls on PM to ‘urgently clarify’ what he knows on potential foreign interference in antisemitic attacks
Yesterday, federal police revealed they were investigating whether a spate of antisemitic attacks have been funded by “overseas actors” using cryptocurrency.
Earlier this morning, the shadow home affairs and cybersecurity minister, James Paterson, called on the prime minister to “urgently clarify” what he knows and what action will be taken. He wrote in a post to X:
It is a gravely serious claim to suggest foreign actors may be behind the spate of terror attacks targeting the Jewish community. The PM must urgently clarify what he knows about it and what action he will take to address it.
Paterson is due to speak on ABC RN later this morning – we’ll bring you those comments when he speaks.
Anthony Albanese is also due to address reporters in Parramatta today, about 8.15am AEDT. We’ll bring you the latest here in the blog – there are sure to be questions asked around this.
Stephanie Convery
More effort needed to ensure free pads and tampons in public schools, study finds
Australian state government policies to provide free pads and tampons in public schools are a step in the right direction to alleviate period poverty but more effort is needed to ensure the people most in need receive them, a study has found.
Researchers at the Burnet Institute conducted in-depth interviews with menstruating people aged 19-45 from marginalised groups, including First Nations people, recent migrants, trans and nonbinary people, people with disability, those experiencing homelessness, and welfare recipients.
The study, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health today, sought to understand how free product provision could best be targeted to help vulnerable people.
Interviewees in housing insecurity, recent refugees and asylum seekers, and those fleeing intimate partner violence, were among those experiencing severe period poverty, and described improvising with old towels and clothes, stealing products, and accessing them from social services when they could due to need.
Those on low incomes, welfare payments, and people with disability also described high levels of insecurity, with rural or remotely located participants struggling with travel costs, limited supply or stigma causing barriers to access. They described prolonged wear of menstrual products, stealing from friends or family, and purchasing products only when on sale as ways of getting by.
The study found that what was convenient and accessible could be vastly different depending on a person’s situation. Those experiencing severe period poverty were much more likely to already frequent food banks and community centres, while the option for provision methods like home delivery or collection from a specified location was more likely to help participants living with a disability or based in rural areas.
Participants also emphasised the need to balance privacy in the provision of free period products with visibility of the service for those who needed it.
Good morning
Emily Wind
Emily Wind here, signing on for blogging duties. Thanks to Martin for kicking things off for us – I’ll be taking you through our rolling coverage for most of today.
As always, you can reach out with any tips, questions or feedback via email: emily.wind@theguardian.com. Let’s go.
Analysis: Albanese has pledged action on antisemitism – but Dutton still setting agenda
In an analysis piece this morning, our political correspondent Josh Butler writes that although Anthony Albanese has pledged action on antisemitic attacks and called a national cabinet meeting, he still looks like “he’s playing catchup” to Peter Dutton on this issue.
Albanese has reacted quicker than he did with the Melbourne attack at the end of last year when he as panned for an allegedly slow response.
But no matter which he goes, he seems to end up being panned, as Josh writes:
Of course, despite taking the course demanded by the Coalition, Albanese will receive little credit from opponents. Once again he has been criticised first for a lack of action, and then for taking too long to act after he moves. Moments after reports of a snap national cabinet meeting emerged, the deputy opposition leader, Sussan Ley, slammed him for ‘mealy-mouthed words’.
Read Josh’s whole piece here:
University heads to front antisemitism inquiry
University heads will be confronted over hate on campus as Australia struggles through a crisis of antisemitism, AAP reports.
Vice-chancellors from the University of Sydney, the Australian National University, the University of Queensland and Western Sydney University, alongside members of the student and educators’ unions, are due to front a federal inquiry on the topic when it resumes today.
With university students set to return in a matter of weeks, the institutions have acknowledged an increase in antisemitism and committed to prevent its occurrence on campus with education and disclosure initiatives.
Western Sydney University’s submission said:
We support freedom of speech but draw the line at hate speech.
Boy dies after being crushed by falling parking meter
A child has died in hospital in Western Australia after being crushed by a falling parking meter stored in a museum courtyard.
The five-year-old boy was seriously injured last week at Bunbury Museum and Heritage Centre south of Perth.
He died two days later, police said in a statement yesterday.
The incident happened during an environmental education school holiday program run by the state’s biodiversity and conservation department.
Paramedics were called to the scene about 10.30am and transported the boy in a critical condition to Bunbury hospital.
He was later airlifted to Perth children’s hospital.
The City of Bunbury’s chief executive, Alan Ferris, said the organisaton was “heartbroken”.
WorkSafe is investigating the incident and police will prepare a report for the coroner.
Adam Bandt to announce latest public schools spending pledge
Caitlin Cassidy
Every public school child would receive an $800 “back to school” payment and fees and charges would be abolished under a suite of election announcements to be announced by the Greens in Brisbane today.
The $800 payment, to be distributed to students enrolled in primary and secondary schools from 1 July, is estimated to cost $7.6bn to 2028 and would be spent on out-of-pocket costs like uniforms, technology and school supplies.
Additional funding of $2.4bn over forward estimates would also be distributed to public schools to abolish public school fees, charges and contributions, estimated to have risen by 20.58% from 2021 to 2022.
The Greens said the policy was the latest in a suite of “Robin Hood reforms” that would be put on the table in the instance of a minority parliament.
The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, will make the announcement at Coorparoo State School in Brisbane on Tuesday, alongside the Greens spokesperson for primary and secondary education, Senator Penny Allman-Payne, and Griffith MP Max Chandler-Mather.
The Greens were reduced to one seat in Queensland’s state election in October, placing pressure on the party to maintain its three federal seats when voters hit the polls later this year.
Bandt said the cash boost would be funded via the Greens’ planned “big corporations tax”. He said:
Parents are forking out thousands on ‘voluntary’ fees, uniforms and out-of pocket costs, but meanwhile one in three big corporations pays no tax. We can’t keep voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result. If Brisbane voters return their Greens MPs, they can keep Peter Dutton out and get Labor to act on the cost-of-living crisis.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with some of the best overnight stories before Emily Wind takes the reins.
Sydney’s Jewish community is in shock after the latest antisemitic attack in the city targeted a childcare centre in Maroubra and left people fearful about their safety. Since late November, there have been six major antisemitic incidents in Sydney and one in Melbourne, five of those involving arson. Yesterday federal police revealed they were investigating whether the attacks have been funded by “overseas actors” using cryptocurrency.
It comes as vice-chancellors from some of Australia’s leading universities front a federal inquiry on antisemitism today.
The Greens leader Adam Bandt is on the pre-election trail this morning and is due to visit a school in Brisbane to promote his party’s new policy of giving every public school child an $800 “back to school” payment. The party would also abolish other fees and payments faced by parents under a suite of announcements to be announced today. More coming up.
A young boy has died in Western Australia after being crushed by a falling parking meter. The five-year-old was on an education trip to a museum in Bunbury south of Perth last week when the parking meter, which was being stored in a courtyard, fell on him. More details coming up.