Labor hopeful over nature laws tackle Greens as summer holidays approach
Dan Jervis-Bardy
Labor is growing hopeful it can strike a deal with the Greens to pass its signature environmental protection laws before parliament is suspended for the summer recess.
The government is desperate to pass legislation to overhaul the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act in the last two days of the year, and it is finally being done. Graeme Samuel’s A blueprint for fixing the country’s broken nature laws.
The bill was not listed in the draft program for Wednesday, but Guardian Australia understands it will be immediately added to the run-sheet as soon as Labor is confident it has enough numbers to pass the 1,500-page bill in the upper house.
Environment Minister, Murray Watt, Indeed is open to a coalition or compromise with the Greens and has offered many concessions to both in the hope of winning the support of either party.
As we reported yesterday, those concessions failed to woo either side.
New bill means fines and jail sentences for NDIS breaches
sarah basford canales
NDIS providers who repeatedly breach a code of conduct designed to keep participants safe could face major fines of up to $16.5 million in the latest federal government effort to tighten the scheme’s rules.
The Albany government will today introduce a new bill to introduce tougher penalties and even jail terms for NDIS providers who engage in misconduct and unsafe practices.
The NDIS Provider Code of Conduct requires companies to take appropriate steps to prevent and respond to violence, abuse and neglect; To provide services with competence and skill; and to act with integrity and honesty, among other things.
The changes will increase the fine for a company for serious breaches of the code from $400,000 to $16.5m. Additionally, if passed, NDIS providers would be required to be registered – such as specialist disability accommodations – with the potential to face up to two years in jail and fines of up to $16.5 million if they operate unregistered.
NDIS Minister, Jenny McAllisterSaid the plan should be “sustainable, effective and operated with integrity”.
Where we see fraud, we often also see violence, abuse and neglect. It’s not just about cracking down on bad actors in the system, it’s also about keeping NDIS participants safe. These are common sense measures that are ready to be adopted. We also know that there is still more work to do.
Tom McIlroy
Ted O’Brien to outline Coalition’s economic strategy at National Press Club
Ted O’BrienThe Shadow Treasurer and Deputy Opposition Leader, speaking to the National Press Club today, will argue that a future Coalition government will deliver a disciplined, growth-focused economic strategy to build prosperity in Australia.
O’Brien will frame his speech around Jess, 38, who has two children, who he says is making it difficult under Albany government policies. In the speech, O’Brien will say that Jess and her husband, Matt, live in a townhouse in the outer suburbs, but cannot afford a home of their own.
According to an advance copy of the speech, O’Brien will say politicians in Canberra need to take voters like Jess into account.
A strong economy is not an end in itself – but a means to an end. It is the means by which Jess, Matt and their children can aspire to a better life.
But the sad truth is that, today, our intergenerational compact is disintegrating – and all signs point to it disintegrating further.
As liberals in 2025, our mission should be to reassure Jess and the millions of millennials like her, young Gen Zs and still-young Gen alphas, that we see them and we are here to serve them.
He will use the speech to highlight rising government debt and rising government spending.
kat kelly
Dangerous fire warning in NSW
A severe fire warning has been issued in NSW for the first time in two years, as a complete fire ban is imposed across Sydney and much of the state.
In a statement, the NSW Rural Fire Service said catastrophic fire danger is expected in the lower Central West Plains district on Wednesday due to high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds forecast, making conditions dangerous:
Destructive bushfires have the highest level of danger and are the most dangerous conditions for fire. Your life may depend on the decisions you make even before the fire starts.
The fire service said the safest course of action was to leave the area at risk of fire.
Stay away from fences and wooded areas during the hottest parts of the day.
Houses cannot withstand fire under these conditions. You may not be able to go and help may not be available.
Extreme fire warnings are also in place for Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney, Illawarra/Shoalhaven, Central Range, North West, Upper Central West Plains, Southern Slopes, Eastern Riverina, Southern Riverina, Northern Riverina.
Dan Jervis-Bardy
Guardian Australia understands that as of Tuesday night, the government was closer to a deal with the Greens than a coalition after the opposition leader, Susan Le, Described Labour’s offer as “grossly inadequate”.
The Greens were also not satisfied with their proposal, which included changes to prevent fast-tracking of coal and gas projects, but remained in active talks with Labour.
Watt has signaled he is open to shortening the proposed three-year deadline for subjecting native deforestation to national environmental standards, which would give the Greens more ground on one of their initial concessions.
If Labor reaches a deal with the Greens, it would be a dramatic change from 12 months ago Anthony Albanese Intervened to broker an EPBC deal with the minor party amid pressure from miners and the Western Australian Prime Minister, roger cook,
Labor hopeful over nature laws tackle Greens as summer holidays approach
Dan Jervis-Bardy
Labor is growing hopeful it can strike a deal with the Greens to pass its signature environmental protection laws before parliament is suspended for the summer recess.
The government is desperate to pass legislation to overhaul the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act in the last two days of the year, and it is finally being done. Graeme Samuel’s A blueprint for fixing the country’s broken nature laws.
The bill was not listed in the draft program for Wednesday, but Guardian Australia understands it will be immediately added to the run-sheet as soon as Labor is confident it has enough numbers to pass the 1,500-page bill in the upper house.
Environment Minister, Murray Watt, Indeed is open to a coalition or compromise with the Greens and has offered many concessions to both in the hope of winning the support of either party.
As we reported yesterday, those concessions failed to woo either side.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I am martin farrer with the top stories overnight and then it would be Krishna Dhanji With the main verb.
Brace for a spirited showdown over the final two days of Parliament, with Labor confident it will be able to strike a deal with the Greens to pass its signature environmental protection laws before the summer recess. Details are coming.
And beyond politics this morning, New South Wales has issued its first devastating fire warning for two years with high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds putting the Lower Central Western Plains district – covering eight local government areas in the state’s Central Western Rivers region – on alert.
A complete fire ban has been imposed across Sydney and large parts of the state.
More coming.
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