Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold Raised to $70,000

Joint media release between The Hon Clare O’Neil MP, Minister for Home Affairs, and The Hon Andrew Giles MP

The Albanese Government will increase the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) from $53,900 to $70,000 from July 1. 

Frozen since 2013, around 90% of all full-time jobs in Australia are now paid more than the current TSMIT, undermining Australia’s skilled migration system.

The new $70,000 income threshold is approximately where the TSMIT should have been if it had been properly indexed over the previous 10 years.

This is the Government’s first action in response to the independent Review of the Migration System led by Dr Martin Parkinson, which found that Australia’s migration system is broken.

The Albanese Government is also announcing that by the end of 2023, Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) short stream visa holders will have a pathway to permanent residency within our existing capped permanent program.

This will provide employers and migrants with more certainty, and will help increase the skill level in our permanent skilled program.

Together, these two measures announced fulfil important election commitments to increase the TSMIT and expand pathways to permanent residence.

Budget drives road safety in the right direction

Media Release from Senator the Hon Carol Brown, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport

The Albanese Government has continued to listen to the concerns of road safety experts and stakeholders in the formulation of the new National Road Safety Action Grants Program (NRSAGP).

The new program was announced in last week’s Budget, along with the commitment of the continual delivery of the Road Safety Program over the next two years.

The NRSAGP has been established to provide grant funding to programs and initiatives which assist in the Australian Government’s commitment to Vision Zero and supports the policy objectives set out in the National Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 and National Road Safety Action Plan 2023-25.

The NRSAGP will deliver $43.6 million over four years from 2022-23 to support data collection, community education and awareness, First Nations road safety, vulnerable road users, technology, innovation and research.

Providing funding which is underpinned by measurable actions was something stakeholders from across the road safety field called for from the former Government.

The Albanese Government is delivering on this request through the Action Plan and by extension, the NRSAGP.

The Action Plan has been agreed to by transport ministers from each state and territory, as well as the Australian Local Government Association.

The Action Plan contains over 70 actions which when delivered will assist all Australians in achieving Vision Zero.

The Action Plan is underpinned by nine key priority areas – data, research, infrastructure planning and investment, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, regional road safety, remote road safety, vehicle safety, heavy vehicle safety, workplace road safety, vulnerable road users and risky road use.

The Action Plan can be found here. The Australian Government is committed to the improved quality and accessibility of road safety data.

Seeing an improvement in road safety data will strengthen the evidence base for decisions on the most efficient and effective ways to deliver better road safety outcomes.

To support the progression of improving data quality and accessibility, the Australian Government is investing $18.9 million over 3 years from 2023-24 to procure road safety data, research and evaluate projects.

On top of the NRSAGP and funding for data and research, the Australian Government is investing $16.5 million in the Car Safety Ratings Program to improve testing protocols for new light vehicles and provide safety evaluations for used vehicles.

The Australian Government continues to back the Safer Cycling for Safer Roads program conducted by the Amy Gillett Foundation, which is supporting measures to create safer journeys for cyclists by collaborating with local governments across the country.

The Road Safety Program has successfully delivered 1,400 projects to date. The Australian Government will continue funding the Program over the years 2023-24 and 2024-25, with over $976 million to be invested in new life-saving infrastructure upgrades and treatments.

The Australian Government remains committed to investing:

- $500 million for the Roads to Recovery Program

- $110 million per year into the Black Spot Program

- $85 million per year for the Bridges Renewal Program

- $65 million per year for the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program

- $18.9 million for transport research organisations and innovation projects

As the cost-of-living bites, city dwellers consider a move to regional Australia

Younger Australians optimistic by the extensive job opportunities and fast-tracked career growth regional Australia has to offer

Despite unprecedented mass population growth in the regions over the past three years, new research commissioned by the Regional Australia Institute shows one in five metropolitan Australians are wanting to make the move to regional Australia as a solution.

Regional Australia grew by 70,000 people in 2020-2021 due to changing migrations patterns caused by the pandemic1. In 2023, regional migration is up 16% on pre-pandemic levels, despite a small uptick of regional Australians returning to the cities.

According to the study, which surveyed more than 1000 residents in major capital cities, the top three reasons for Aussies wanting to leave the city were to reduce the cost of living, avoid traffic, and minimise stress.

Meanwhile, a sense of space, affordability and improved overall well-being were cited as the main factors attracting city-dwellers to regional Australia.

The data also revealed shifting attitudes towards regional job opportunities, with over a third (35 per cent) viewing salary prospects in the regions on par with the major capital cities.

Younger Australians, aged 18-29 years, were the most optimistic about regional job prospects with nearly half recognising the plethora of professional, skilled and entry-level jobs on offer.

With commuting no longer, a major factor and flexible working arrangements more common, nearly three-quarters (73 per cent) of those surveyed said their ability to work from home has further fuelled the appetite for a move to the regions. However, over half (55 per cent) said they wanted to remain within a two-hour drive of their current city home.

Regional Australia Institute CEO Liz Ritche says regional centres are prepped and primed for Aussies considering the move.

“During the pandemic we saw thousands of Australians make the ‘move to more’, trading the hustle and bustle of the city for a life in the regions,” Ms Ritchie said.

“People are realising a move to regional Australia doesn’t mean compromising your career, income or lifestyle. There are well-paying, professional, skilled and entry-level jobs waiting to be filled in country areas.

“From Toowoomba to Tamworth, Wollongong to Warrnambool, there are dozens of dynamic regional centres ready to welcome city folk with open arms. There’s never been a better time to move to more.”

Steven Wright, Practice Manager for NSW Legal Aid, recently moved from Sydney to Broken Hill and says the decision to ‘go bush’ has dramatically progressed his career.

“The career progression has been incredible. Out here in Broken Hill, I’ve been given more responsibilities and been exposed to greater challenges,” said Mr Wright.

“The shared experience of living in a remote town connects people in a way that’s incredibly special. I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

To be inspired by the stories of Steven and other Aussies who’ve #MadeTheMove to regional Australia, visit the Regional Australia Institute’s Move to More website www.movetomore.com.au

Australia's first national Electric Vehicle Strategy to drive cleaner, cheaper to run vehicles

Media Release from The Hon Catherine King MP

The Albanese Government has released Australia’s first National Electric Vehicle Strategy – a comprehensive roadmap to ensure Australians have a better choice of electric vehicles, and encourage greater use of cleaner, cheaper-to-run vehicles.

As part of the Strategy and following extensive public consultation, the Government will introduce a Fuel Efficiency Standard, working with industry and the community to finalise details in coming months.

Fuel efficiency standards are standards which outline how much pollution – or specifically, carbon dioxide – a car will produce when it’s running. 

More efficient vehicles will produce fewer emissions – meaning their environmental impact is lower, and they are cheaper for motorists to run.

Australia and Russia are among the only developed countries that don’t have fuel efficiency standards.

The absence of a standard has meant Australians households and businesses are missing out on greater choice of car models and paying more in fuel costs to run their cars because manufacturers prioritise sending more efficient vehicles to countries with standards in place.

On average, new cars in Australia use 40 per cent more fuel than the European Union, 20 per cent more than the United States, and 15 per cent more than New Zealand.

Previous analysis has shown that the introduction of a fuel efficiency standard could save motorists $519 per year in fuel costs.

With passenger cars making up almost 10 per cent of Australia’s CO2 emissions, it is an important step to meet our emissions reduction targets.

Fuel Efficiency Standards will only apply to new cars, and not retrospectively, so consumers will still be able to choose they vehicle they want to drive.

Australia also lags far behind other countries in EV sales, with our uptake of EVs around four times lower than the global average.

The Strategy also looks at reducing barriers to electric vehicle uptake, whether it be demand, supply or infrastructure, which is the critical planning that consumers have been crying out for.

Transport is the third largest source of emissions in Australia. This Strategy will help cut our emissions by at least 3 million tonnes of carbon by 2030, and over 10 million tonnes to 2035.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said Australian governments, car makers, motoring clubs, climate groups, businesses and unions were all on board with getting cleaner and cheaper cars to Australia 

“This strategy delivers on our commitment to provide greater choice for Australians to drive cars that are cleaner and cheaper to run,” Minister Bowen said.

This strategy provides the coordination and leadership to drive down costs and improve infrastructure so–that we get more affordable and accessible electric vehicles on the market.

“The Government has already cut taxes on EVs through the Electric Car Discount, saving up to $11,000 a year on a $50,000 electric vehicle. Thanks to the Albanese Government’s leadership, two and half times more EVs are being sold this year than they were at this time last year.

“Fuel-efficient and electric vehicles are cleaner and cheaper to run – today’s announcement is a win-win for motorists.”

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King said the government would introduce fuel efficiency standards that work for Australia’s market.

“This strategy offers an historic opportunity to develop fuel efficiency standards that learn from international best practice, while recognising the unique needs of Australians.

It will send a strong message to the global car industry that when it comes to transport technology, Australia will no longer settle for less,” Minister King said.

“More than 85 percent of all cars sold in the world are subject to fuel efficiency standards. It’s time Australians were offered the same choice.”

Consultation on the design of fuel efficiency standards begins today, and is available through www.cleanercars.gov.au.

Following the consultation, the Government will release its proposed Fuel Efficiency Standard by the end of 2023.

The National Electric Vehicle Strategy is available at https://www.dcceew.gov.au/energy/transport.

New research shows benefits will soar as Australia's drone use takes off

Media Release from the Hon Catherine King MP

A new research report has found increasing drone use in Australia presents a range of benefits for communities – particularly for regional areas and in emergency relief and disaster management.

The report, delivered by the national centre for transport and mobility research iMOVE with the University of South Australia as the lead research partner, identifies a number of benefits as well as challenges facing drone uptake across the country.

It also provides an overview of the Australian drone sector, including an international comparison, and assesses the geographic and social drivers behind drone uptake.

The report identifies a number of industries could greatly benefit from increased drone use, including in emergency relief and disaster management, security services, freight, agriculture, last-mile deliveries, recreation and entertainment.

Australia’s emergency services sector is projected to unlock the greatest potential benefits from drones, having a net productivity increase of 10 per cent – resulting in a $460 million net boost to the national economy.

Drones can also lead to savings of between $1-8 billion if used in early fire detection, based on scenario mapping using data from the 2019–20 bushfire season.

Australia’s strong, open economy, combined with its low population density and large rural areas, creates opportunities to unlock further benefits from drone use.

This includes in regional areas, which are predicted to benefit most – particularly as drone technology continues to improve delivery and transport services.

Australia can still expect to face challenges as drone uptake grows. That includes technological limitations, such as battery life and weather resilience, as well as in-air traffic management – particularly ensuring drones aren’t flown in private or restricted areas.

The report’s consumer survey found strong public support for the use of drones in sectors such as emergency services, disaster recovery, security, agriculture and environmental management.

However, some concerns about drone technology include privacy, disturbance to wildlife, safety risks, impact on airspace and security risks.

The report also reiterated the important role of Government in supporting the uptake of drone technologies through regulation, investment, public education and impact management.

This research was jointly funded, with the Australian Government, iMOVE and the University of South Australia. The Australian Government contributed $100,000.

The full report is available at https://www.drones.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/validating-the-benefits-of-increased-drone-uptake-for-australia-final-report.pdf.

UK Parliament approves free trade agreement with Australia

Joint Media Release from Minister for Trade and Tourism, Special Minister of State Senator The Hon Don Farrell and The Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister

The Australian Government welcomes the announcement that Royal Assent has been given to legislation to bring the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement into effect in the UK.

The Australia-UK FTA is a historic agreement, representing the UK's first new trade deal signed since Brexit. It will reset access to the UK market for Australian exporters. Royal Assent paves the way for both countries to bring the agreement into force as soon as possible.

The agreement will remove tariffs on over 99 per cent of the $9.2 billion Australian goods exported to the UK annually. It will help revitalise local manufacturing and provide new access to the UK's government procurement market worth an estimated half a trillion dollars annually.

In addition, it will see Australian professionals gain access to the UK jobs market on par with EU nationals, with more opportunities for intra-company transfers and for working holiday makers.

This gold-standard agreement goes beyond Australia's pre-existing approaches in bilateral agreements on gender and the environment by establishing new commitments and cooperation. Provisions on Investor-State Dispute Settlement, which allow investors to initiate legal action against governments, are not included in the agreement.

The agreement also includes a range of commitments that will advance the commercial interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, including providing for royalties to be paid to First Nations artists where their artworks are resold in the UK. Importantly, the Australian Government's Indigenous Procurement Policy will continue to benefit Indigenous-owned businesses.

The Australia-UK FTA will enter into force after UK processes are complete and Australia and the UK exchange diplomatic notes identifying a commencement date.

Have your say on the essential communications resilience program

The Australian Government is committed to improving the resilience of communications services across regional, rural and remote Australia.

The consultation process is now open on the draft guidelines for Round 2 of the $15 million Mobile Network Hardening Program (MHNP).

The program aims to reduce the risks of service outages and improve restoration times during natural disasters in impacted communities by funding projects like portable generators, power back-up upgrades and physical tower hardening.

Make a submission: your say on MHNP

Submissions close: 5:00PM (AEST) Tuesday 30 May 2023

Learn more: Essential communications resilience

Regional Australia Institute publishes report on LGA migrant population changes

Overseas migrants are helping bolster population growth in regional communities, with 80 per cent of local government areas (LGAs) that saw an increase in their overseas-born population in the five years to 2021, being located in regional areas.

The RAI has been analysing the latest census data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and looking at the status of the region’s overseas-born population between 2016 and 2021. Of the 358 LGAs that reported an increase in overseas-born population, 288 were in regional Australia.

The RAI’s Regionalisation Ambition 2032, includes a target to double the number of new migrants settling in Australia by 2032.

Budget 2023-24: Albanese Government revives Australia's arts and culture

Media Release from The Hon Tony Burke MP

The Albanese Labor Government is delivering record new investment in Australia’s arts sector in the 2023-24 Budget, with almost $950 million in additional spending over four years to safeguard our national institutions, train and support creators, and deliver on the vision of our new national cultural policy, Revive.

The Government has set a new course for the sector that builds on the proud legacy of previous Labor Governments – and marks an end to the decade of decline and neglect inflicted by the Liberals and Nationals.

We’re bringing drive, direction and vision back to a $17 billion industry that employs more than 400,000 Australians – empowering our talented artists and organisations to thrive and grow so they can unlock new opportunities, reach new audiences and tell stories in compelling new ways.

An additional $949.5 million will be invested over the next four years, including:

• $535.3 million to secure the future of our most cherished cultural and historical institutions, addressing the decade of chronic underfunding that has left them in a state of disrepair – including $33 million to secure the long-term viability of the National Library’s Trove database.

• $286 million to deliver on Revive including through; restoring core arts funding; establishing Creative Australia, Music Australia, Writers Australia and a Creative Workplaces centre to support arts workers; establishing a First Nations-led body dedicated to First Nations work; sharing the National Gallery of Australia’s collection with regional and suburban galleries; and improving incomes for authors.

• $9 million in 2023-24 to Australia’s eight national arts training organisations to secure critical training courses and skills development and maintain Australian trained in-demand performers and production specialists for Australia's live performing arts and screen industry and the creative economy more broadly.

• An additional $112.3 million to attract international investment in the Australian screen industry to provide domestic employment and training opportunities by increasing the Location Offset rebate to 30 per cent.

• $6.9 million over 4 years from 2023-24 for Ausfilm to continue to promote screen productions in Australia.

After less than a year in office the Government has already delivered a comprehensive roadmap to lead the arts and culture sector to a better future.

Our National Collecting Institutions finally have certainty that they can keep their staff and afford urgent repairs and safety upgrades. They can also finally invest for the future with confidence, knowing the Government is guaranteeing their ongoing funding.

Artists and creators – from classical musicians to pub rockers, from First Nations designers to the illustrators of children’s books – know they finally have a Government that values and backs them as workers, not hobbyists.

The culture wars from Government are over. Labor is delivering a new chapter in Australia’s cultural story – backed by record funding.

Budget 2023-24: Connecting, informing and protecting Australians

Media Release from The Hon Michelle Rowland MP

The Albanese Government will deliver a more connected, informed, and empowered Australia by providing funding stability to critical institutions in the communications sector in the 2023-24 Budget.
 
Labor’s commitments provide certainty, and support many important areas that were either left unfunded by the former Liberal-National Government, or were simply ignored.
 
These measures will collectively improve online safety, safeguard our democracy, enhance emergency communications, and support regional and First Nations communities – key priorities for the Government.
 
Our investment in Communications will:

• Deliver an additional $132.1 million over four years to the eSafety Commissioner to improve safety online, increasing its base operational funding from $10.3 million to $42.5 million per year;

• Provide five-year funding terms for the national broadcasters – the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) – and increase base operational funding by rolling three current terminating measures in an ongoing basis.

• Extend funding to continue the Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) service across regional and remote Australia for an additional seven years to 2030-31;

• Provide $5 million to support the Australian Associated Press (AAP) newswire service while the News Media Assistance Program (News MAP) is developed.

• $2.5 million to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts to partner with the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of Australia (FECCA) to support media literacy in CALD communities;

• Provide $10.9 million to support the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to establish an SMS Sender ID Registry to help prevent scammers from spoofing key industry or government brand names; and

• Strengthen Australia’s ability to help save lives during natural disasters and emergencies by rolling out a cell broadcast National Messaging System, and investing $10.1 million to establish a Taskforce to progress a Public Safety Mobile Broadband (PSMB) capability.

Funding certainty to improve safety online
 
The Albanese Government will quadruple ongoing base funding to the eSafety Commissioner from 2023-24 onwards, addressing the funding cliff left behind by the Liberals and Nationals. This will provide certainty and stability to the online safety regulator and build a safer experience online for Australians.
 
eSafety’s responsibilities have grown significantly since it was first established in 2015, but base funding has never been increased. Funding decisions taken by the former Liberal-National Government meant this key agency was facing a funding cliff. Without intervention, eSafety’s funding would have dropped from $51.8 million to just $21.3 million next year, before declining further to just $10.3 million from 2027-28, severely impacting the regulator’s ability to do its important job.
 
The Albanese Government’s investment will allow eSafety to keep up with demand for its takedown schemes, deliver more education programs and hold industry to account for keeping their users safe. This funding will also ensure eSafety can better coordinate with law enforcement to remove child sexual exploitation materials, commission additional research and evaluations to guide its work, and elevate the voices of young people in the development and delivery of online safety policies.
 
Stable funding to support media sustainability and safeguard democracy
 
The Albanese Government recognises that a sustainable media sector is central to keeping Australians connected, and to support the resilience of our democracy by holding power to account.

• The Government is delivering on its election commitment to five-year funding terms for the national broadcasters – with annual funding of $1.1 billion for the ABC and $334.9 million for SBS. This funding stability underpins the delivery of quality content and services that inform, entertain and educate millions of Australians, including children, regional audiences and diverse multicultural communities.

• The ABC and SBS will receive an additional $72 million over four years to extend and roll three previously terminating programs into ongoing funding:

  • ABC Enhanced News Gathering, which supports regional journalist positions in regional bureaus throughout Australia;

  • SBS Media Sector Support, which provides news, content, subtitling and English learning resources to Australians who speak languages other than English, with a focus on Chinese and Arabic communities; and

  • ABC and SBS Audio Description, to make screen content more accessible to audiences who are blind or vision impaired.

• The ABC will receive $8.5 million over four years to expand transmission infrastructure in the Pacific under the Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy. The funding will provide further access to Australian content, boosting media connections in the region.

• The Albanese Government is funding the extension of the Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) service across regional and remote Australia for an additional seven years until 2030-31. This supports the provision of free-to-air commercial television to over 1.5 million Australians. The VAST service was established as a safety-net by the then-Labor Government in 2009-10 and, unlike the former Coalition Government who reverted to short-term contract extensions, Labor recognises the importance of stability and certainty for industry and consumers when it comes to long-term investment.

• The Albanese Government will also provide $5 million to help sustain the Australian Associated Press (AAP) while the News MAP is developed to guide news media policy intervention, and support public interest journalism and media diversity.

• The Government will also provide $2.5 million for the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts to partner with the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of Australia (FECCA) to support media literacy in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. This partnership aims to empower multicultural communities to combat harms associated with the proliferation of deceptive information including mis and disinformation, and support improved economic and civic participation.

Tackling scams to keep Australians safe
 
Scams cost victims around $3.1 billion in 2022 – nearly a 390 per cent increase from 2019. There were around 500,000 reports of scam activity in 2022, with vulnerable groups bearing the heaviest burden.
 
The Albanese Government is delivering on its commitment to combat these scams and protect Australians with $10.9 million in funding for a comprehensive package of anti-scams measures.

• ACMA will receive $10.5 million to establish an SMS Sender ID Registry for brands to record their primary and associated names used in text message headers. The initiative will help telecommunications companies prevent scammers from spoofing industry or government brand names – such as Linkt or myGov – in text message headers to deceive Australian consumers.

• This complement a total of $58 million to establish the National Anti-Scam Centre in the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which will deliver an innovative, world-leading public-private sector partnership to disrupt illegal scams.

Safer communities, more capable emergency service responders

• The Albanese Government will roll-out a cell broadcast National Messaging System (NMS) to help keep Australians safe. This will significantly improve the way the States, Territories and the Australian Government are able to send emergency messages, alerts and warnings at-scale to mobile handsets during a crisis or emergency event, in near real time.

• In addition, $10.1 million will establish a central Taskforce to drive the delivery of a Public Safety Mobile Broadband (PSMB) capability. The Taskforce will establish the framework for delivering a mobile broadband service that provides Public Safety Agencies with fast and secure voice, video and data communications and instant access to data, images and information in critical situations. This is a critical step in advancing the national PSMB program following a 2022 PSMB Review.

Both measures will be jointly developed and implemented by the Minister for Communications and the Minister for Emergency Management, Senator the Hon Murray Watt.

Budget 2023-24: Supporting a strong, secure and sustainable regional Australia

Media Release from The Hon Catherine King MP

From Townsville to Tennant Creek, Broome to Bendigo and Nhulunbuy to Newcastle – the Albanese Government is investing in people who call regional Australia home.

This begins with a new strategic approach to delivering regional investment. Developing the Regional Investment Framework - outlined in the 2023-24 Budget - puts regions and the people who live in them, at the heart of decision making.

The Framework will establish a new regional development forum for Australian Government agencies, with regular engagement to better inform Commonwealth decisions. All regional investments must meet standards of merit and integrity, crucial to maintaining trust and confidence in government.

The Framework identifies four key priority areas to support regional development – investing in services, people, places and industry.

The 2023-24 Budget, invests heavily in these four priority areas.

Investing in Services

The 2023-24 Budget works to strengthen Medicare, relieve pressure on hospital systems, and ease the cost of living pressures for Australians, ensuring access to healthcare no matter your postcode or bank balance.

An historic investment of $3.5 billion will triple the Bulk Billing incentive - the largest increase in the 40-year history of Medicare – an immediate injection to benefit communities in regional, rural and remote Australia.

We’ll make common medicines cheaper. Australians in regional Australia will need half as many trips to the GP and pharmacist just to fill a repeat script for more than 300 Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medicines used to treat chronic conditions, saving Australians up to $180 a year for every eligible medicine they buy.
 
Access to healthcare is a priority for regional Australia. We are also investing:

• $358.5 million for Medicare Urgent Care Clinics to support delivery of an additional 8 clinics, bringing the total commitment to 58 clinics around Australia, including Broome and Rockhampton. Clinics will be operating this year, open for longer hours and with no out-of-pocket costs.

• We’re also expanding After Hours Primary Care. And more Australians in regional and rural locations will benefit from longer telehealth consultations.

• We’ll reinvest savings into strengthening community pharmacies, including by doubling the rural maintenance allowance. We want our pharmacists to play a larger, more central role in their communities, with funding to provide many more vaccinations, deliver opioid dependency treatments and medication reviews in Aged Care.

• And commit $238.5 million to address inequities in cancer outcomes for First Nations people.

For regional families, the Government is also addressing critical shortages in Child Care and Teaching, to support and build a quality workforce. 

• $72.4 million to support Early Childhood Education and Care professional development.

• A further $9.3 million to the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan, with initiatives to increase the number of people choosing to become teachers, and ensure we keep existing teachers.

We will also deliver $40.4 million in additional funding for schools in Central Australia to increase school enrolment, student engagement and improve learning outcomes.
 
Plus, we will invest further in the Indigenous Boarding Providers grants program, supporting dozens of providers who host some 2,300 First Nations students from remote areas.
 
The Albanese Government continues work to ensure Regional Australians are connected, informed and safe. We are:

• Creating a new National Messaging System to help protect people and property – with targeted, real-time information to mobile phones during an emergency.

• Continuing delivery of free-to-air satellite television services to regional and remote Australia, including First Nations communities.

Investing in People

The 2023-24 Budget delivers impactful cost-of-living relief to regional Australians.

• Jobseeker and related working age payments will be increased by $40 and the Government will reduce the eligibility age for the higher JobSeeker rate for single people on the payment for 9 continuous months or more and who are 60 or over to 55 years or over.

• The Single Parenting Payment, will be expanded to cover principal carers with a youngest child under 14 years of age, benefiting around 22,000 people in regional and remote Australia.

• In addition, maximum rates of Commonwealth Rent Assistance will be increased by 15 per cent, benefiting around 300,000 people in Australia's regions. 

We are looking after our Aged Care Workforce, with a 15 per cent payrise – a record $11.3bn investment which will impact the some 4,000 aged care services taking care of our older Australians in rural, remote and regional Australia.

This Budget extends our commitment to our National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children - with a $589.3 million package, which includes a focus on First Nations women and children.
 
And we’re redesigning the Skills for Education and Employment program, to provide more pathways for Australians who want to access training, gain secure employment and career progression.
 
On top of our commitment to deliver 480,000 Fee-Free TAFE and vocational education places, we are:

• Committing $8.6 million over four years to design and implement the Australian Skills Guarantee, which will create opportunities for apprentices, trainees, paid cadets – and for women to work on major Government projects in regional Australia.

• Extending the Foundation Skills for Your Future Remote Community Pilots program, which currently supports people in 11 remote communities to better language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy skills.

Investing in Places

The Albanese Government is making it easier for people to secure a safe and affordable home, no matter where they live.
 
We are expanding the Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee from July 1, to any two eligible borrowers, such as friends and siblings, beyond married or de facto couples, and making it available to non-first home buyers if they haven’t owned a property in Australia in the last 10 years.

And we’re supporting more social and affordable housing by increasing the guaranteed liabilities of the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) by $2 billion, to support more financing through the Australian Housing Bond Aggregator.
 
The Albanese Government is also committing $200 million, to deliver real change for Australians experiencing disadvantage – with a range of initiatives and a new targeted framework.
 
This Budget is also investing in safer communities with:

• Up to $200 million per year to support disaster risk reduction projects in regional Australia, under the Disaster Ready Fund.

• $236 million over 10 years to improve flood forecasting and warnings.

• $231.8 million invested in Services Australia to establish a cost-effective emergency response capacity – ensuring the delivery of high-quality government services and payments, when customers need them the most.

We remain focused on keeping communities well connected.
 
The Albanese Government is committed to our 10-year, $120bn Infrastructure Pipeline. But we will clean up an unsustainable backlog we inherited with an independent review, to ensure we have a nation-building investment pipeline – with projects that provide regional connectivity, liveability and safety.

Other initiatives include:

• Funding of up to $95 million a year for the Bridges Renewal Program.

• $500 million for the Roads to Recovery Program.

• 33 Remote Roads Upgrade Pilot Program projects to be delivered in 2023 and 2024.

• And, $43.6 million to deliver the National Road Safety Action Grants Program over 3 years, building on the Government’s commitment to improve road safety for all Australians.

The Budget also builds on the $250 million landmark plan for A Better, Safer Future for Central Australia, delivering the next phase of initiatives including in infrastructure, health, education and engagement for ‘at risk’ First Nations Youth.

We are also committed to lock in Commonwealth funding contribution to support the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games – including $935 million over 10 years towards 16 new or upgraded Games venues. This will benefit regional location including Barlow Park in Cairns and the Toowoomba Sports Ground.

And we continue to invest in the environment and culture, which make our regions unique.

This Budget invests $355.1 million over four years to end the neglect of Commonwealth National Parks, funding which will create local jobs. And $439.2 million over five years to support programs that repair World Heritage properties, restore Ramsar wetlands and conserve threatened species and ecosystems.

Plus, dedicated funding of $286 million under our landmark National Cultural Policy: Revive. This includes targeted initiatives in regional arts, including protecting First Nations knowledge and cultural expressions.

Investing in Industry and Local Economies

The Government is making future-focused investments, recognising the significant contribution Australia’s regions makes to securing a productive and sustainable future for the nation.

This budget allocates over $1.4 billion through the Powering the Regions Fund to support industrial decarbonisation and develop new clean energy industries in the regions, through three new streams of grants.

Building on this work, we will legislate a national Net Zero Authority to ensure the workers, industries and communities that have powered Australia for generations, can seize the opportunities of Australia’s net zero transformation.

Regional Australia will also benefit from new opportunities in the emerging hydrogen sector, and the Government has allocated $2bn to establish Hydrogen Headstart – to help underwrite large-scale renewable hydrogen projects through competitive hydrogen production contracts.

We are committed to ensuring Australia is a country that makes things, including through the Government’s $15bn National Reconstruction Fund, which will transform Australia’s industry and economy, creating secure, well-paid jobs in regional areas – with investments in seven priority areas, including value-add in resources, value-add resources, value-add in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, transport and renewables and low emissions technology.

The Albanese Government continues its support of our strategically significant critical minerals projects, establishing the Critical Minerals International Partnerships Program and extending funding for the Critical Minerals office, to created continued economic opportunity for regional Australia.

And we are delivering on an election commitment to Australia’s agriculture sector - investing $1bn over four years, to strengthen the national biosecurity system. 

We’ll create a new, sustainable and accountable funding model that will help minimise disruption and economic loss through outbreaks, support better yields through lower damage to produce and provide new access to markets, through greater biosecurity assurance and reputation.

The Budget also commits:

• $40.6 million over four years to continue the Indigenous Rangers Biosecurity Program, supporting a strengthened biosecurity system in Northern Australia.

• $302.1 million over five years through the National Heritage Trust to reduce the agriculture sector’s emissions, build climate resilience, enhance market access and improve environmental outcomes.

We are also growing and expanding the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme by strengthening domestic operations and enhancing oversight, without compromising safeguards that ensure vulnerable workers are adequately protected. 

Budget 2023-24: Strengthening Australia's $120 billion infrastructure pipeline

Media Release from The Hon Catherine King MP

The 2023-24 Federal Budget delivers real nation building through a genuine review of Australia’s infrastructure investment pipeline, and bold new measures for Australia's cities and suburbs.

Infrastructure Investment Program

A 90-day independent review of the Infrastructure Investment Program will ensure that we are investing in projects that are truly nationally significant – to make sure that freight keeps moving, that people can get home safely from work and that the connections between our cities and our regions are strong.

Under the Liberals and Nationals, the number of infrastructure projects in the pipeline blew out from 150, to almost 800.  Projects were left without adequate funding, resources or genuine commitment.

The Albanese Government is keeping the $120 billion rolling 10-year pipeline - and every dollar remains in the budget. But it would be irresponsible to move ahead, without fixing the backlog. This review will allow all levels of government time to consider the projects that are actual priorities, and assess their cost and deliverability in the current climate. The process will help to lay firm foundations to build a more sustainable, credible pipeline of investment.

The review has the support of the states and territories and will be undertaken by Mr Reece Waldock AM, Ms Clare Gardiner-Barnes and Mr Mike Mrdak AO, who all have extensive expertise in land transport infrastructure.

Major Projects Business Case Fund

Additional funding of $200 million will replenish the Major Projects Business Case Fund (MPBCF).

The MPBCF funds the development of major project business cases, to engage early on the next phase of strategically significant projects.

This commitment will help to support the Government’s refreshed approach to funding future major land transport infrastructure projects, through facilitating earlier engagement in the planning stage and ensuring the broader Commonwealth objectives are considered as projects are developed.

National Urban Policy

After decades of inaction, the 2023-24 Budget delivers a bold agenda for urban Australia – ensuring the Australian Government is, once again, a trusted partner in building better cities and suburbs. The Albanese Government will develop a comprehensive National Urban Policy to address urgent challenges facing our major cities – from equitable access to jobs, homes and services, to climate impacts and decarbonisation.

This policy reform will be matched with new programs – Thriving Suburbs and Urban Precincts and Partnerships – ensuring urban communities can partner with the Australian Government to deliver essential community infrastructure and precinct-level development.

• The Thriving Suburbs Program is being funded with $200 million over two years from 2024-25 to provide merit-based and locally driven grants that address shortfalls in priority community infrastructure in urban and suburban communities.

• The $150 million urban Precincts and Partnerships Program will support transformative investment in urban Australia based on the principles of unifying urban places, growing economies and serving communities.  This program will fund both the development of precincts through facilitating planning, design and consultation, leading to business cases for investment-ready proposals, as well as a stream to support delivery of larger scale precinct projects. 

Together, these programs will deliver best-practice investment in urban infrastructure, connecting people and communities to services and opportunities that improve liveability and inclusion.
 
The Australian Government will once again listen to experts, convening the Urban Policy Forum to advise the Minister on the latest thinking in innovation, planning, property, design and sustainability.
 
A new Cities and Suburbs Unit (CSU) will be established to deliver this work, including the State of the Cities reports, which provide an accurate and up-to-date picture of life in our cities. The CSU will also have oversight on National Cabinet urban planning matters to be discussed in Planning Ministers’ Meetings.
 
We want more Australians to enjoy life closer to home, help decarbonise our cities, and improve both community connections and economic productivity.
 
The 2023-24 Budget will also:

• Lock in the Albanese Government’s funding contribution for important infrastructure that will be at the heart of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and leave an enduring Games legacy.  The Government will invest up to $2.5 billion for the Brisbane Arena development and up to $935 million in contributions for a further 16 new or upgraded venues to be jointly funded in partnership with the Queensland Government.

• Deliver $240 million to support development at Macquarie Point in Hobart. This investment is a broader urban renewal precinct, including construction of affordable housing and Macquarie Point Stadium.

• Match Tasmanian Government funding of $65 million, for upgrades to the UTAS Stadium in Launceston.

National Road Safety

The Albanese Government is committed to Vision Zero – zero deaths and serious injury due to road crashes, by 2050. We want all road users in Australia to get home safely from every journey, no matter the distance travelled. Improving regional and remote road safety are two priorities identified in the National Road Safety Strategy 2021–2030.
 
This Budget will provide:

• Funding has been allocated to maintain the $110 million-per-year Black Spot Program to work with state, territory and local governments to improve road safety across the nation.

• Allocation of $43.6 million for the new National Road Safety Action Grants Program (NRSAGP) over four years from 2022-23. The NRSAGP provides non-infrastructure grants to help implement the National Road Safety Action Plan 2023–25 with a focus on First Nations road safety, vulnerable road users, community education and awareness, technology, innovation, research and data. 

• Also $16.5 million to the Car Safety Ratings Program to improve testing protocols for new light vehicles and provide safety evaluations for used vehicles.

• Continual delivery of road safety improvements through the Road Safety Program, with $976.7 million available across 2023–24 and 2024–25, building on the more than 1,400 projects delivered to date.

The Albanese Government is committed to working with governments and communities to support urban and regional Australia to be more productive, more resilient, and more liveable into the future.

Have your say on how best to welcome key workers to regional NSW

Share your experiences of essential services and ideas on how to best welcome key workers to regional NSW communities.

Many regional NSW communities are experiencing a shortage of key workers, including teachers, healthcare workers and police.

To help more key workers move and settle in to regional communities, the NSW Government is piloting a service called The Welcome Experience.

By matching and connecting new key workers with local people and resources, the service helps the newcomers settle in and feel at home in their new community faster.

They’d like to hear from regional communities to help improve this service and support regional essential services.

Have your say

How do you experience essential services in your community?

Share your experiences of local services and your ideas on how we can best welcome key workers to regional communities.

Take the survey and share your ideas through the link below.

The consultation is open for contributions until 28 May 2023.

Spirit of the Bush Photography Competition back for 2023

Rural Aid’s Spirit of the Bush photography competition started in 2020 and has been the source of beautiful photo’s of rural Australia, most not seen before. These photos have produced beautiful calendars each year which has been a great source of fundraising to give back to these rural communities.

This year, the photograph categories include:

• Family

• Community

• Mates

• Faces

• Eyes

• Tough

• Golden Hour (Sunrise/Sunset)

• All things Rural

The competition opens at 8am March 22th 2023 (AEST) and closes at 5pm May 29th 2023 (AEST).

Each entry must be high resolution and landscape and by submitting you grant Rural Aid a non-exclusive licence to use this photo on social media and print media.

Twelve photographs will be selected by a panel of judges and will be featured in next year’s 2024 calendar.

Each winner will receive an AUD$250 prepaid visa card and a copy of the 2024 calendar once it is created.

Guidelines released for new regional grants program

Grant guidelines have now been released for the first round of the Australian Government’s new $600 million Growing Regions Program, with expressions of interest to open on July 5 this year.

The program will invest in critical regional infrastructure and community projects across regional and rural Australia through two $300 million funding rounds – with a second round to follow Round 1.

Local government entities and not-for-profit organisations will be able to apply for grants of between $500,000 and $15 million through the program, which will be open, competitive and merit-based.

The grants can be used to cover up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs, with lower co-funding requirements in place to support First Nations, disaster-affected and remote applicants to make their projects a reality.

By funding community and economic infrastructure projects in rural and regional Australia, the program will drive economic prosperity, enhance liveability, bolster social inclusion and support local amenity.

Further information on the program, including the Round 1 guidelines, is available at www.infrastructure.gov.au/territories-regions-cities/regional-australia/growing-regions-program.

More funding for local road infrastructure priorities

The Australian Government is delivering on an election commitment to provide an extra $250 million dollars for road projects in rural, regional and outer-urban areas under Phase 4 of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.

Phase 4 of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program has already delivered $500 million to Australian councils to deliver priority local road and community infrastructure projects in their region, creating jobs and long-lasting benefits for communities. 

The additional $250 million investment is available to councils classified as rural, regional or outer-urban to spend on road projects.

466 of Australia’s 550 councils will benefit from this extra funding committed to by Labor at the last election.

The Government has drawn on the Australian Classification of Local Governments, as a robust framework underpinning the determination of eligible councils for this additional $250 million in funding.

In March, the Government extended project construction timelines for Phases 1–3 of the program. Councils across Australia will now have until 30 June 2024 to complete works, giving them a much-needed extra year on the LRCI construction timeframes for all three phases.

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King MP said:

“We are delivering our election commitment of a further $250 million through Phase 4 to prioritise road upgrades in regional, rural and outer urban areas.

“We know many councils across the country are struggling to maintain and improve their local road networks – especially following repeated flooding and other natural disasters in recent times.

“We have listened to councils and are standing stand side-by-side with local governments to support them in their vital role in delivering critical infrastructure for their communities.”

Individual council allocations are available on the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program website.

Rex announces investment in dovetail electric aviation

Regional Express (Rex) has announced it had taken a 20 per cent stake in Dovetail Electric Aviation (Dovetail) which is pioneering the conversion of turbine powered aircraft to electric, emission-free propulsion.

The equity participation agreement formalises the strategic partnership between Rex and Dovetail and builds on the Memorandum of Understanding between the two companies which was unveiled on 21 July, 2022.

Rex will appoint one of its Board members to sit on the Board of Dovetail.

The Australian-headquartered Dovetail recently received a $3 million grant from the Federal Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) program. This will facilitate Dovetail’s development of electric propulsion systems for aircraft used on regional routes operated by Rex and other regional airlines.

Dovetail also recently announced the successful completion of initial ground tests involving a small-scale Electric Propulsion System (EPS) to spin a three blade propeller for the first time.

Rex is Australia’s largest independent regional and domestic airline operating a fleet of 61 Saab 340 and 7 Boeing 737-800NG aircraft to 58 destinations throughout all states in Australia. In addition to the airline Rex, the Rex Group comprises wholly owned subsidiaries Pel-Air Aviation (air freight, aeromedical and charter operator), the Australian Airline Pilot Academy with campuses in Wagga Wagga and Ballarat, and propeller maintenance organisation, Australian Aerospace Propeller Maintenance. Rex is also a 50% shareholder of National Jet Express (NJE), a premier Fly-In-Fly-Out (FIFO), charter and freight operator.

Nominations open for the National Economic Development Awards for Excellence

Enter the National Economic Development Awards for Excellence for your chance to shine a light on your innovative economic development work and win one of these prestigious awards.

Preparing a submission is free, simple and open to all economic development practitioners in Australia. You are also welcome to enter multiple categories. 

Awards are open for nominations in the following 12 categories:

1. Economic Development Strategic Thinking

2. Economic Development Marketing and Promotion

3. Economic Development Through Partnerships and Collaboration

4. Economic Development Initiatives - Regions Under 15,000 Residents

5. Economic Development Initiatives - Regions Over 15,000 Residents

6. Economic Development Recovery & Resilience

7. Economic Development Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

8. Economic Development - Sustainability & Economic Transformation

9. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Entrepreneurship & Inclusive Economic Development

10. The Peter Chaffey Economic Development Leadership Award (Economic Development Practitioner - over 30 years old)

11. Economic Development Rising Star Leadership (Economic Development Practitioner - up to 30 years old)

12. Economic Development Community Champion Award

Submissions can be made for projects delivered from 1 January 2022 to 30 June 2023 (18 month period).

Applications close on Friday 12 May 2023

Winners will be announced at a gala event during the National Economic Development Conference (NEDC23) in Karratha on 23 August 2023.

Government empowering Australians through a holistic approach to online safety

The Australian Government’s response to the House of Representatives Inquiry into Social Media and Online Safety has been tabled by the Minister for Communications.

The response comprehensively outlines the Government’s holistic online safety agenda and three immediate priorities.

Effectively implementing and reviewing the Online Safety Act

The Government is working with Australia’s online safety regulator, the eSafety Commissioner, to ensure the Online Safety Act 2021 (the Act) is implemented effectively. The Act, which came into effect in January 2022, sets out Australia’s world-leading online safety framework comprising of complaints schemes to respond to harmful content, mechanisms to improve transparency, and a new set of industry codes to address illegal and seriously harmful content online.

The Government has also committed to bring forward the independent statutory review of the Act, which will be completed in this term of government. With the online environment constantly changing, an early review will ensure Australia’s legislative framework remains responsive to online harms and that the eSafety can continue to keep Australians safe from harm.

Tackling gaps in the current legislative framework

While the Online Safety Act includes some mechanisms to address more extreme forms of hate speech and material that incites violence or promotes crime or terrorism, it does not provide the eSafety Commissioner with specific powers in relation to online hate or vilification. Action to address this harm is long overdue. The Albanese Government will consider what else can be done to address group hate speech online.

The Government’s holistic response to harms in the online environment also includes:

• Strengthening digital and media literacy by making eLearning products from the Alannah & Madeline Foundation freely available to all schools.

• Providing the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) with powers to combat dis- and misinformation and improve transparency under the voluntary industry code.

• Committing to a new long-term, whole-of-government approach to reduce Australians’ losses to scams, including through strengthening industry codes and the establishment of a National Anti-Scams Centre.

• Consulting with state and territory governments to introduce mandatory minimum classification ratings of M (Mature) for games with loot boxes that can be purchased and R18+ (Restricted) for games that contain simulated gambling.

This is in addition to the Government’s efforts to protect Australians using dating apps from sexual violence and abuse. Minister Rowland has issued a detailed information request to the top ten online dating services used by Australians about the extent of harms occurring on their services and what they are doing to address them. The industry’s response to the request will inform the Government’s development of further policy options, including regulation, if needed.

Supporting cross-government coordination on the regulation of online harms

The Albanese Government is committed to improving cross-government coordination of online harms to ensure they are dealt with successfully and effectively. The Government will convene a new bi-annual forum for Federal Ministers with responsibility for online harms to discuss cross-cutting issues, and complement the work of the Digital Platform Regulators Forum.

The Government response can be accessed here.

Public consultation open on life-saving alerting technology for electric vehicles

More Australians than ever before are driving electric vehicles, with the numbers almost doubling in 2022, from 44,000 EVs on our roads, to more than 83,000.

As the popularity of electric vehicles grows, we are committed to ensuring they are safe for both the driver and all other road users.

Consultation is now open on the potential mandate of life-saving acoustic vehicle alerting systems (AVAS) for light electric vehicles (EVs) in Australia.

This technology allows EVs to produce an external sound, alerting vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and cyclists, to their approach - thereby decreasing the risk of a collision.

This is particularly important for the blind and low-vision community, whose members rely on sound to negotiate the road network independently.

A survey by the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) found that people in this community felt particularly vulnerable on roads due to EVs, with 35 per cent reporting they had experienced a collision or near-collision with an EV.

This technology is already mandated across most major vehicle markets, including the European Union, United Kingdom, Japan, Korea, China and the United States.

A cost-benefit analysis for mandating AVAS in light EVs in Australia, supported by independent analysis by MUARC and advice from manufacturers, indicates that 65 lives could be saved and 5,000 injuries avoided over a 35-year period.  

As this analysis only covers pedestrian trauma, the benefits for Australian communities will likely be far greater – given AVAS technology will also reduce the risk of crashes involving other road users, particularly cyclists.

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts has released an Impact Analysis consultation paper to seek the public’s views on this technology, the costs and benefits, as well as its implementation. 

While all submissions are welcome, feedback is being specifically sought on areas including:

1. Support for the proposed introduction of AVAS for new light EVs

2. The cost-benefit analysis, including the assumptions on effectiveness of the technology

3. Concerns on functional and performance requirements, test requirements, or implementation

4. Applicable vehicle categories, implementation timeframes, and alternative standards

5. The feasibility of mandating AVAS for heavy vehicles in the future

Consultation on the AVAS Impact Analysis paper is open until Friday, 26 May 2023.

To view the paper or to make a submission, please visit: Have your say | Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts