Senate Wrap: Cash-Ruston-JMR 2024-25 Estimates
Albanese Government’s weakness, economic incompetence and lack of transparency exposed
The weakness, hypocrisy, economic incompetence and lack of transparency of the Albanese Labor Government has been starkly exposed during what is expected to be the final Senate estimates hearings before the 2025 Federal election.
Coalition Senators highlighted numerous examples of bad Government decisions and wrong priorities which have left Australians financially worse off, less safe and livingin a much less cohesive society.
Leader of Opposition in the Senate, Senator Michaelia Cash said: “The estimates process has again exposed how weak and bad the Albanese Government is.”
“From it’s failure to protect Jewish Australians from antisemitic attacks, the lack of transparency over the Dural caravan potential terror attack to weakness on the Chinese warships live fire exercises and their inaction on Australia’s cost of living crisis, this Government has proved to be unfit to govern this country,” Senator Cash said.
Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Senator Anne Ruston said: “This estimates demonstrated that the Albanese Government has the wrong priorities for hard working Australians. This Labor government is more obsessed with ideology and hiding facts than ensuring Australia is a safe and united nation.”
Is the Prime Minister lying or just not across his brief?
The Prime Minister has serious questions to answer after he seemingly misled the public about what and when the government knew about the flotilla of Chinese warships off Australia’s coastline. It is outrageous to think that it was a commercial airline pilot – not Defence – that first raised the alarm about live-firing in the Tasman Sea, despite the Prime Minister on Friday saying “airlines are notified and stay out of the area. Air Services Australia also has been informed and has now taken action as well.” Labor continues to play down serious national security matters to protect theirown electoral standing. Either the Prime Minister was not across his brief, or he hasbeen blatantly dishonest with the Australian people.
DFAT and the government at odds with the ADF as to what would have been the appropriate warning time for Chinese Navy live-fire drills
A discrepancy between DFAT’s and the government’s position on the PLAN live fire exercise and that of the ADF was exposed, with Richard Marles stating in an interview that the warning time expected for the live fire drills, like those undertaken by the PLAN off the Australian coast, should be 12-24 hours and not in fact the 24-48 hours stated by the ADF chief the previous day. He affirmed that a 24-48 hour warning was in line with international best practice. When asked about this discrepancy the Foreign Affairs Minister supported the Deputy Prime Minster’s statement arguing that 12-24 hours was an acceptable warning time window despite what the ADF might say.
Another weak response from our part-time Defence Minister
Yet again, Richard Marles has proved he is a weak Defence Minister, with officials confirming that he has failed to directly contact his Chinese counterpart to condemn the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) provocative actions. Officials also confirmed that “there has been no recent contact directly between the Prime Minister and his counterparts in China. This is not the first time the Defence Minister has failed to raise this matter at the highest levels.
Tony Burke’s citizenship for votes scheme uncovered
Tony Burke’s citizenship for votes scheme has been exposed as a purely partisan exercise on the eve of the federal election. The Department of Home Affairs could not back up Tony Burke’s claim that there was a backlog in new Australians waiting to be invited to attend a citizenship ceremony. The Department admitted it organised therushed mass citizenship ceremonies around Tony Burke’s personal diary; 21 of the 25 ceremonies were held in Labor-held seats where local Labor politicians were invited.
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Big spending Budget confirmed
Treasury officials confirmed government spending will increase to 27.2% of GDP in 2025-26. The last time it was this high was “several decades ago…in the 1980s”. Australians can only ever count on Labor to deliver high-spending, big-taxing Budgets.
Labor confirms they have built zero homes
Labor’s claim that their Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) is building new homes has been debunked. Labor has been disingenuously fudging the books on the completion rates under their HAFF scheme. Finance Minister, Katy Gallagher, said that 340 homes had been “acquired and converted” under their disastrous HAFF. Acquiring homes that have already commenced or been completed does not count towards ‘new homes’ stock and this is not what Labor promised.
Albanese Government’s caravan cover-up rolls on
Labor’s co-ordinated cover-up of the simple fact of when the Prime Minister was first told of the explosive laden Dural caravan that contained the address of a Sydney synagogue continued. Across multiple Senate committees the Government and Departmental officials refused to answer Coalition questions about the potential terrorist attack. In an opening statement to the Finance and Public Administration committee Senator Penny Wong, representing the Prime Minister, said that she would be taking all questions about the Dural caravan incident on notice. The same tactic of taking the questions on notice was employed in the Legal and Constitutional Affairs committee.
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AFP evasive on PM caravan bomb briefing
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) have repeatedly declined to say when they briefed the Prime Minister after the discovery of the Dural caravan, citing the need to protect the integrity of the investigation. They argued that disclosing such details,even if they may seem innocuous, could harm the investigation. Senator Paterson challenged this proposition, citing numerous examples where the Prime Minister had previously disclosed being briefed on other law enforcement investigations without prejudicing any ongoing investigation.
Where’s the desk DPS?
The Department of Parliamentary Services was questioned by Senator Jane Hume over the $3.8 million they’ve spent on bespoke furniture. Of particular interest, was the $56,702 office revamp for the former Deputy Secretary office which included a $19,200 sit-stand desk, that the Acting Secretary did not know existed until the questions were asked. If the cost of the desk wasn’t outrageous enough, the officials revealed that despite the fact that the desk is perfectly usable, it is currently sitting in storage.
FWO has only initiated two cases against CFMEU
The Fair Work Ombudsman has only launched two cases against the rogue CFMEU since it took over responsibility for policing the building and construction industry from the ABCC in 2022. Under questioning from Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Michaelia Cash, FWO officials revealed the tiny number of proceedings launched against the CFMEU since 2022. When it was abolished by the Albanese Labor Government in 2022 the ABCC handed 41 live cases against the CFMEW over to the FWO, many of which were dropped by the FWO.
Government refuses to reveal if they would arrest Netanyahu
The Albanese Government has again refused to rule out arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visited Australia. Don Farrell representing the Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus continually refused to answer if Mr Netanyahu was welcome in Australia.
Wong snubs Israel at UN
It was revealed under questioning from Senator Sharma that Minister Wong failed to meet with any Israeli officials throughout her visit to the UN General Assembly discussions in New York late last year. She had met with officials from Iran and the Palestinian National Authority. She even found time to meet with former New Zealand PM Jacinda Adern and Andrew Forrest from Fortescue. But she failed to holda single meeting with anyone representing Israel. Under questioning, her excuse was that her counterpart Foreign Minister from Israel wasn’t there.
Makarrata Commission
The Albanese government has confirmed that the entire $27.7 million earmarked for the establishment of a Makarrata Commission has been returned to the contingency reserve. This is a significant increase on the $5.8 million the government had previously confirmed to be earmarked for the Commission. The government has also revealed that they are awaiting the final report from the Senate Inquiry into a Truth and Justice Commission and “what Australians are saying to that Senate Inquiry.” This confirmation leaves the door wide open to a future Albanese Labor government establishing a Commission for treaty and truth-telling, in flagrant disregard for the outcome of the Voice referendum.
The Doctor of Spin has been caught out
A series of emails released under a Senate Order for the Production of Documents on Treasury’s costing of the Opposition’s small business tax policy prove the Treasurer’s office deliberately misused the Public Service for its own political agenda. Under questioning by Senator Hume, Treasury officials admitted their costings were of “low reliability” and that this was conveyed to the Treasurer’s office: Not only were Treasury’s costings wildly inaccurate, they represent a political intervention by the Treasury not seen since Chris Bowen’s short 87 days of Treasurer.
First Nations Ambassador accc
Despite the Albanese Labor government’s regular criticism of using contractors to perform the core work of government, it has been revealed that their own First Nations Ambassador is in fact a contractor, not an APS employee. The Department has confirmed that in addition to the Ambassador and his staff of ten full-time equivalent positions, it currently engages a consulting unit out of Sydney to advise on First Nations policy, costing the taxpayer hundreds of thousands of dollars.
How many Parliamentary Services staff work from home? Who knows!
The Department of Parliamentary Services was questioned by Senator Hume over their answer to Question on Notice 157, where they said it was too challenging tocalculate the number of staff with work from home arrangements. But somehow they were able to provide the number of staff who work from home 3 or more days a week – half of which were confirmed to be at the tier one executive level.
Albanese Bruce Highway promise a con job
Only $285 million from the $7.2 billion Bruce Highway funds has been allocated by Albanese over the next three years. It turns out in fact only $430 million will be spent over the next three years in evidence given by Infrastructure Department officials at Senate Estimates this week, proving this Labor Prime Minister cannot be trusted on big spending infrastructure promises.
Weakness of Albanese over NSW train strike revealed
The weakness and impotence of the Albanese Labor Government was again highlighted when Murray Watt revealed the Prime Minister never asked him to use his ministerial powers to intervene in the NSW train strike. Mr Watt said that during the long running strike he was interviewed by the media and expressed his frustration and acknowledged the frustration of the NSW public. But Mr Watt did not use his powers that could have brought the strike to a halt and was not asked to do so by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Income Management
The Albanese government have revealed a radical about-face with respect to their position on income management. It was admitted by the Minister for Indigenous Australians that there are people in community who in fact wanted income management. The Minister was also forced to confirm that some people remain under mandatory income management by way of the Basics Card in the Northern Territory, despite the Labor government’s pre-election pledge to make income management voluntary.
Labor breaks defence funding promise
Less than one year since the Defence Minister announced that the Albanese Government would lift Defence spending to 2.4 per cent of GDP, Labor has already broken its own commitment. Defence officials confirmed in Senate Estimates that Defence spending as a share of GDP would only get to 2.33 per cent by 2033-34 – not 2.4 per cent like the Albanese Government promised.
Labor delays general purpose frigate decision
Just last week, Defence Industry Minister, Pat Conroy, assured a room full of defence industry representatives that a decision around the SEA 3000 program, to select a design for Australia’s future general purpose frigates, was on track. However, Defence officials confirmed this is not the case, and that things are slipping under the Albanese Government, with the decision to be delayed until the first quarter of 2026.
Too little, too late for Ukraine tanks
Under this lethargic Albanese Government, Australia’s retiring M1A1 Abrams tanks won’t begin to be delivered to Ukraine under the third quarter of this year – one whole year after they were committed to our Ukrainian friends in October 2024. Labor should be working at best speed to deliver these promised tanks to assist in Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion.
Henderson consolidation kicked into the long grass
The consolidation of the Henderson Defence Precinct-a key part of the plan for shipbuilding and AUKUS sustainment in WA-is already on the back foot, with Defence officials confirming that an initial design isn’t expected to be handed to government for another three years.
Home care services access cut
Questioning to the Department of Health and Aged Care by Senator Ruston revealed that over half of all Aged Care Planning Regions across Australia have been affected by My Aged Care Portal closures, cutting access to community home care services. The Government also conceded defeat on their own deadlines for the Aged Care Act, delaying service implementation for up to a year.
Burke’s Chinese-made Electric Vehicle (EV) still a national security risk
Home Affairs officials confirmed that the Home Affairs Minister’s personal vehicle is a Chinese-made EV, but would not say what make and model of EV the Minister drives. The Department has warned the Minister should not connect his work phone to his EV due to the national security risks. The Department also revealed that both ASIO and the Australian Signals Directorate have also had to brief Tony Burke on the risks of using a Chinese-made EV and yet the Minister has failed to mitigate the risk entirely by simply not driving the EV.
Minister Watt defends terrorists supporting taxpayer funded organisations
It has been revealed that the Albanese government has not rescinded a single social cohesion grant from organisations whose members have promoted extremist and antisemitic material online. The inadequacy of the government’s due diligence processes in assessing grant applications has been exposed, as the Department confirmed that it did not examine the social media presence of organisations before awarding funding to those groups to promote social cohesion in Australia.
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AFP contradicts Tony Burke on illegal terrorist flags
Senator Paterson asked the AFP about the recent display of a flag associated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) at a rally in Melbourne. The AFP Commissioner stated that the AFP is not currently investigating that display of the flag because the PFLP is not listed as a terrorist organisation in Australia, and the individuals concerned were not ‘acting’ as a terrorist group, and therefore the display of its flag does not constitute an offence. This reveals a dangerous gap in our prohibited hate symbols laws, and it is now incumbent on the Minister for Home Affairs to proscribe the PFLP as a terrorist organisation to remedy this situation.
ABF admits to serious detention centre failures
The ABF has confirmed that there were two security incidents at immigration detention centres during the United Workers Union’s industrial action, with two detainees climbing the roof of the Melbourne detention centre and the Villawood detention centre.
$100m spent and not one criminal locked up
The Department of Home Affairs confirmed that 90 of the 291 NZYQ-affected individuals released from immigration detention have committed new criminal offences. Of the full cohort, there are 14 murderers, 90 sex offenders including child sex offenders, 133 violent offenders, 21 serious drug offenders, 19 domestic violence perpetrators and 7 people smugglers.
Antisemitism our top security threat: ASIO
ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess made clear his concerns about the rise in antisemitism in Australia. He suggests that the normalisation of such behaviours hascontributed to the increase in antisemitism. He stated that ASIO now considers antisemitism as the agency’s top priority due to the volume of incidents.
Contract killers, gang rapists & violent offenders escaped deportation
Serious violent criminals – including contract killers, gang rapists and violent offenders – have been spared deportation under Labor’s weak Direction 110. The government’s decision to prioritise a person’s ties to Australia in visa cancellation decisions is in stark contrast to the record of the former Coalition government, which refused or cancelled over 10,000 visas. This comes after 163 foreign criminals had their visa cancellations overturned by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal under Andrew Giles’ Direction 99.
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Questions to answer over letter on antisemitism in health system
The Albanese Labor Government admits it took no action in response to an alarming letter from more than 230 health practitioners in late 2023 raising allegations of severe antisemitic behaviour within Australia’s health system. The Government, the Ministers the letter was addressed to, the Department nor Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) never bothered to reply to the letter.
Sam Lim’s phone hacking mystery deepens
The mystery surrounding a claim by Labor’s Member for Tangney San Lim that his phone was hacked deepened, with estimates hearing it was not known if the device had been compromised. Chief Information Officer James Lawson told the Finance and Public Administration committee that his office had reached out to and then worked closely with Mr Lim’s office. But when asked if Mr Lim’s phone had been hacked Mr Lawson said: “I can’t answer that question Senator, I don’t know the answer.”
Ill-advised shelving of project increasingly possible under Labor
Answers to Senator Duniam revealed that DCCEEW has not sought any external advice about the risks of stalling or ending the vital, multibillion dollar North West Shelf LNG project in Western Australia. Instead, the Department has alarmingly decided, purely by itself, that slowing and/or blocking the project will not damage gas supply in Australia or upend the Federal Government’s own so-called Future Gas Strategy. These answers only served to further intensify fears that a potentially re-elected Albanese minority government would succumb to Greens and Teals’ demands to end the project.
Labor fails to line up its ducks on salmon
Despite the different impression that was presented in a 15 February 2025 letter from the Prime Minister to Salmon Australia, there is actually no legislation that has been developed by the Albanese Government to support the continuation of salmon farming on Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour.
DCCEEW positive Labor’s disastrous environment laws still on agenda
Notwithstanding the attempts of Minister Tim Ayers to run interference, officials from DCCEEW finally belled the cat on the future of the Government’s disastrous ‘Nature Positive’ agenda. After weeks of excruciating non-answers from Federal Labor about whether a re-elected Albanese Government would again pursue (the currently shelved) Nature Positive laws, DCCEEW confirmed that work is definitely still continuing on their plans for national environmental reform.
See no ACIL, hear no ACIL, speak no ACIL on Nature Positive
The Environment Department astonishingly revealed that it has never even so much as asked for a copy of an ACIL Allen report modelling the impacts (especially in Western Australia) of the Albanese Government’s Nature Positive Plan. Among other findings, that ACIL Allen report has concluded that implementation of Nature Positive could, just in Western Australia alone, cause a 38% increase in wholesale electricity prices; an 8.3 million tonnes rise in carbon emissions; reductions in residential housing availability by 25%; and higher than 10% house price increases in a number of areas.
Independence of review of EDO under question
Extraordinarily, it appears that officials from the Environment Department were not aware of the close relationship between the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) and law firm Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) at the time the latter was hired in 2024 to run an ‘independent’ review of the use of the former’s multimillion dollar grant from the Albanese Government.
Billion trees commitment – another broken Labor promise
Despite their best efforts to shirk responsibility, DAFF officials and Minister Chisholm were ultimately forced to admit to yet another broken Labor promise. Under questioning from Senator Duniam about Labor’s 2022 commitment to oversee the planting of one billion new trees in Australia, the public servants and the Minister initially claimed that the Labor Party had not committed to any formal targets for tree planting and anything along these lines was instead an industry aspiration.
Labor: Tasmanian salmon bad, but Chilean salmon good
Questions to DAFF officials from Senator Duniam elicited that the Government had failed to update a quarter of a century old biosecurity risk analysis framework before last year greenlighting the importation of Chilean salmon into the Australian market. The relatively light touch to approving Chilean salmon has been all the more baffling given that it has been applied at the very same time as the environmental standards of the Tasmanian salmon industry have formally been placed under a nearly 18 month review by Minister Plibersek.
$3.7 million broken election promise for the Headstone Project
Labor promised $3.7 million during the 2022 election campaign for the Headstone Project to mark the private graves of First World War veterans who died after the war and are resting in civilian cemeteries. Officials from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs were unable to provide any update to Senate Estimates on how much of the $3.7 million promised to the Headstone Project had actually been provided. However, officials did confirm that $1.063 million of the $3.7 million promised has been spent to administer a grants program.
Crime continues to plague NDIS
More dodgy conduct within the National Disability Insurance Scheme has beenVrevealed, with NDIA officials confirming foreign organised crime syndicates are interacting with the taxpayer-funded Scheme. When asked about this kind of criminal activity, CEO Rebecca Falkingham confirmed the NDIS fraud team are aware of ‘a number of cases’.
Creative Australia board debacle
During questioning of Creative Australia, Senator Chandler asked why the Minister for the Arts had not acted to remove a board member who made antisemitic comments from his taxpayer funded position at Creative Australia. The Minister representing the Minister for the Arts (Senator Tim Ayres), conceded that artist Fred Leone’s social media comments were “dreadful” and “reprehensible”, however Mr Leone remains in his taxpayer funded board position Minister Burke appointed him to.
Sunk by Venice failure
Shadow Minister for Science and the Arts, Senator Claire Chandler exposed extraordinary lapses throughout the selection process to select Australia’s representative at the prestigious Venice Biennale. Creative Australia have committed to review the selection process, but further action is needed to restore public confidence in the agency.
Victims of Natural Disasters Still Left Waiting for Support
In Victoria, business operators in the Grampians National Park are still waiting for joint state and federal government support. Why? Because the Victorian government has failed to submit the necessary paperwork and the federal government refuses to intervene. This is despite the Prime Minister’s pledge during the fires that, “We’ll keep doing everything we can to support this incredible community.”
Bureau of Meteorology faces scrutiny over financial mismanagement
The Bureau of Meteorology has come under fire after an ANAO report revealed significant concerns over financial management and asset maintenance. The BoM’s departing CEO Dr Johnson claimed the Bureau had repurposed maintenance funding with government approval, but the ANAO report gives no evidence of that approval. This is yet another example of financial mismanagement under their watch.
Government fails to address regional telecommunications costs and sovereign risks
The Government has failed to provide clear answers on the cost burden of LEO satellite technology for regional Australians, despite its claims of improving connectivity. Senator Perin Davey questioned whether regional customers would be forced to bear additional costs for accessing LEO satellite services, highlighting concerns that “as a regional customer who is more likely to be dependent on LEO sats… will I pay for the extra cost every time I connect to a satellite?” The Government failed to provide a clear answer. This comes alongside warnings from the 2024 Regional Telecommunications Review,which flagged potential sovereign risks associated with foreign-owned LEO satellite networks.
Universal Outdoor Mobile Announcement
The Albanese Labor Government has attempted to grab a desperate headline by announcing what they are calling a ‘Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation’ on the eve of the election. The government claims this will provide mobile coverage, almost everywhere, but has failed to detail which areas will miss out or the cost. Departmental officials testified the Government’s announcement was to communicate an intention and ‘send a clear signal to the market they want Direct to Advice technology in Australia’ – but were forced to admit the technology isn’t available yet.
NBN’s pre-election advertising blitz
NBN Co. has gone on an advertising blitz in a questionable bid to promote its brand ahead of the election. The advertising spree has included giant billboards and electronic displays at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the recent Boxing Day test and slots on top-rating radio stations.
No Housing/Migration Modelling
Over the last three years, the Albanese Labor Government has let in more than a million new migrants. For the past year, Coalition Senators have been probing Treasury to see whether Labor has requested any modelling on the impact migration is having on Australia’s housing market. Disappointingly, Labor has still refused to commission any research to determine the impact of their open-door migration policy on Australia’s housing market.
Labor denying consumers improved insurance options
The Albanese Government is excluding insurance from the Consumer Data Right, preventing consumers from accessing the competition benefits that would bring. Treasury said it had been exploring ways to ensure Australians “understand and compare products within the market” and can “find the insurance most suitable to them”.
Labor’s Consumer Data Right go slow continues
Stakeholders were left hanging after Senator Gallagher refused a request from Senator Dean Smith for an undertaking that a key component of the CDR rollout will be in place before the election. This competition policy has only become law following Coalition pressure in the Senate. Having pressed Treasury officials on progress, it was confirmed non-banking lending rules have been drafted and are expected to be delivered to the Assistant Treasurer by Friday. Senator Smith later received confirmation the Assistant Treasurer is attending the G20 meetings overseas.
Key Labor charity election promise still not delivered
The Albanese Government has failed on its promise to harmonise State and Territory fundraising laws – jeopardising the charities and not-for-profits sector and the goal of doubling giving by 2030. Treasury officials confirmed for Senator Smith that the commitment had not been delivered by Labor.
Terror-linked charity complaints surge under Labor
Complaints about charities with alleged links to terrorist organisations or activities associated with the financing of terrorist activities in the context of the Gaza/Israel conflict continue to rise on the Albanese Government’s watch. Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission officials revealed there have been 440 complaints between the 7 October 2023 attacks and 31 December 2024. The ACNC has undertaken eight related investigations and Commissioner Ms Sue Woodward also confirmed 8 complaints received are related to antisemitic behaviour.
ACCC calls for gas moratorium to be lifted, Government ignores advice
Under questioning from Senator McDonald, the ACCC Commissioner said that they had repeatedly provided advice to the Government advocating for the removal of any State-based mandatory gas moratoriums, due to the looming risk of gas shortfalls from 2028. The ACCC confirmed that they were not aware of any actions the Government had taken to make efforts to action those recommendations, highlighting the clear ideological opposition the Albanese Labor Government has to developing new gas supply.
Taxpayers still give millions to EDO whilst unknown lender props it up.
Millions of dollars of unknown funding is being channelled into the EDO without scrutiny whilst Australian taxpayers are still propping up this damaged organisation.The Business Grants Hub in the Department of Industry, Science, and Resources confirmed that after the damning rulings by the Federal Court, the EDO were forced to abide by strict new regulations for each milestone payment it received from the Government. However, under questioning from Senator McDonald, the Department confirmed that they were aware that the EDO had received a multi-million-dollar loan, from an unknown lending facility, and they have no oversight of where this funding was sourced, or if there were concerns around foreign interference.
Minister out of suburban rail loop
Despite assurances by the Minister for Infrastructure Transport and Regional Development the $2.2b Suburban Rail Loop funding had been released. Senate estimates revealed that the conditions placed on the funding have not been met and the money has not been released.
Labor’s attacks on live exports continue
It was revealed that farmers and exporters have to pay an additional $20k per day due to Biosecurity Officers only working during daylight hours at the Port of Broome and Darwin. This is off the back of Labor shutting down the live sheep trade having significant impacts to farmers profitability and sustainability.
Labor’s Rex promise fails to fly
DITRDC Officials confirmed that despite the Governments promise to save Rex, the sale process could still see the airline wound up and sold for parts. Acting Deputy Secretary Marisa Purvis-Smith confirmed that the Government was not a bidder in the sale process and that the administrators were bound by the Corporations Act to ensure the best return for creditors.
D.E.I. cast as Labor’s infrastructure Department blows $785K
Department for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts revealed it spent weeks promoting A-Sexuality Awareness Week, although the department does not know what activities occurred during the week of inclusion. Estimates inquiries exposed DITRDCA has spent $785,000 to promote cultural change while cutting $31 billion from road, rail and other infrastructure projects. Labor’s infrastructure priorities are all wrong.
Keep the sheep
Revelations that no money was spent on advertising for a recent round of transition consultation workshops in Western Australia, while live sheep phaseout ads were running in metropolitan areas nationally. The campaign was developed by the American company Universal McCann that targeted print, and social media advertisements in country and metropolitan areas nationally.
The Teals searching for donations far and wide
The Australian Electoral Commission has said it will be inquiring into the Teal candidates for Bradfield and Berowra, after it was revealed that there was no obvious mechanism to prevent foreign citizens from donating on their websites. In the donation form, there is a drop down menu that does not prevent people from nominating another country other than Australia. So much for that Teal transparency and integrity.
Apolitical departments plagued by partisan union material
Australian Public Service Commissioner Gordon de Brouwer refused on multiple occasions to provide an answer on whether it is appropriate for partisan union material to be distributed in government departments. The questioning from Senator Hume and Senator McGrath came in light of clearly partisan material which said, “Can you afford a pay cut? Can you afford to risk Dutton?” and had a QR code linking to this website, was found in a common area of a government department. It was a disappointing display from the Commissioner of an agency who is responsible for the values of the APS, where the first value is impartiality.
This pre-election spending is far from ‘modest’
In responding to questions from Senator Jane Hume, it was revealed that despite having $5.5 billion in decisions taken but not yet announced, the Government has squirrelled away money in the contingency reserve to pay for its recent announcements. Of the billions sitting in the contingency reserve, there is $5.4 billion for the Medicare package, $4.5 billion for the Bruce Highway Upgrade, and plenty more of hidden election commitments too.
To Budget or not to Budget?
Following increasing speculation in the media that the Government won’t go to a Budget, Senator Hume sought clarification from Finance officials about whether an Economic Statement was on the cards or not. Despite Minister Gallagher’s best efforts to intervene, the lengthy silence from Secretary Jenny Wilkinson before providing a very non-committal answer, was perhaps the most telling answer we could have got.
Labor’s bloated public service is here to stay
Minister for Finance, Katy Gallagher has confirmed that she will not be cutting the public service despite the fact that her budget fails to account for the wages of 20,000 public servants. Minister Gallagher’s assertion that the public service will not be cut confirms the $11.1 billion black hole in Labor’s Budget. It’s a shame that we were unable to find out why Labor has lied about this in their Budget.
The cost of looking like a good government instead of being one
For all Labor’s grand promises about slashing advertising costs, here’s the shocking reality: the Treasury is pouring millions into campaigns. A staggering $24.4 million for “Tax Cuts,” $12.9 million for “Supporting Australians,” and an eye-watering $33.5 million for “Future Made in Australia.”
The cause of WGEA’s turnover and hiring struggles? Cost of living in Sydney
The CEO of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA), Mary Wooldridge, has attributed the cost of living in Sydney as part of the reason they have difficulty retaining and hiring staff. She said: “…part of the challenges are context-specific, being a public agency in the Sydney market, where cost of living is high and salaries are high and paying at APS rates is one of the challenges that is specific to us as a public sector agency”.
Most of the week this office is mostly empty
Despite an annual lease cost of $416,000 and $190,865 of other building related costs, the Workplace Gender Equality Agency’s Kent Street office in the Sydney CBD is largely empty for most of the week. Officials confirmed to Senator Hume that only 30 per cent of WGEA staff work from the office more than two days a week. Only 26 per cent of executive-level staff working from the office for a majority of the week – below the 38 per cent of APS-level WGEA staff working from the office for a majority of the week.
A Playbook for Australian employers that may not feature Australians
The Workplace Gender Equality Agency’s Action Planning Playbook is focussed on aiding Australian employers but that claim is looking cloudy after it was revealed that the images in the Playbook may not contain many Australians at all.
Small Business Minister shown the ‘exits’
Coalition Senator Maria Kovacic unveiled an embarrassing error by the Minister Collins. She was reminded by Treasury Officials that her most recent proof point, for Australian small business prosperity, the number of small business ‘births’ in the Australian economy – ‘5,700 new small businesses created every week’ – was, in-fact, exceeded, over the same period, by the number of small business exits – 6,837.
NRFC independence trashed by Labor
Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) Officials could do little to maintain Labor’s fig leaf that the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC) remains at ‘arms-length’, from government, following Senate Estimates scrutiny from Senator Andrew Bragg. Evidence raised at the hearing indicated that Labor had sought, from the ‘independent’ NRFC, draft media releases and advice for the purpose of Question Time Brief preparation.
Research grant suspended but question remain
The Australian Research Council’s (ARC) suspension of an $870,000 grant awarded to Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah at Macquarie University has left more questions than answers. During estimates the ARC said it wasn’t satisfied with the information provided by Macquarie University to date and confirmed it had suspended the grant. However, concerns regarding the grant and the academic’s anti-Jewish activism were raised with the Minister for Education by Senator Henderson 10 months ago.
School principal with antisemitic social media post still in job
Earlier this year, the Federal government launched an investigation into anti-Semitic social media comments made by New Madinah school principal Sheikh Abdulghani Albaf. A post on the Facebook page of Sheikh Abdulghani Albaf said “Zionists should burn in the pits of hellfire”. Under questioning from Senator Sarah Henderson, the Department of Education said it was of the belief that “the principal is still there.” That is despite a current federal government investigation.
What’s the minister hiding on school funding?
The Albanese government continues to act in secrecy defying an order of the senate to produce the school funding agreements and draft agreements with Victoria, Queensland and News South Wales. Despite an order of the senate earlier this year and a subsequent order denying the Minister’s public interest immunity claim, the department and the minister failed again in senate estimates to hand over the documents.
Politicisation of the Public Service
The Coalition called out the reckless politicisation of the public service which has involved the Department of Education has been fixing incorrect statements of ministers in media material and allowing political statements to be published on its website. The Department has also published a dodgy estimator of student debt which has no legislative authority and has the potential to mislead young Australians with HELP debts.
Justice Reinvestment Program
Despite having promised as part of their pre-election campaign that the $79 million funding for the Justice Reinvestment Program would be matched by states, the department has confirmed that this funding has not been matched by all of the states. In fact the only specific example of funding provided in response to questioning by Senator Nampijinpa Price was from the Northern Territory. Another broken election promise by the Albanese Labor government.
Seven Requests of Northern Territory Government
In December 2024, seven critical areas were identified by the Northern Territory Government in which they require Commonwealth assistance. Speaking to ABC Alice Springs on 30 January 2025, the Minister for Indigenous Australians told the public that in relation to those areas, the Albanese government “has been able to set up a working group…so they can work through this.” However, upon questioning from Senator Nampijinpa Price, the misleading nature of the Minister’s statement has been revealed as the working group they “had been able to set up” was in fact a group that was established in early 2023, long before the Territory government made their requests.
Outback Stores
The Government has admitted that while they announced 76 Outback Stores would receive subsidised food items, they have not yet decided which stores these will be. The revelation confirms the poorly thought through nature of the government’s announcement and that it was nothing more than a last-ditch attempt to make an announcement relating to remote communities on the eve of a federal election.
Better Safer Future for Central Australia
Despite having committed $349 million to the betterment of Central Australia, it has been revealed that approximately $214 million of that amount remains unspent. That means just over 60% of the amount advertised by the Albanese Labor government has not hit the ground, despite the government having previously made this announcement as a remedy to the emergency situation in Central Australia.
Northern Land Council unable to provide details of Equatorial Launch
The Northern Land Council has put on a stunning display of in incompetence. With respect to the missed opportunity of the Equatorial Launch worth $3.6 billion to the Northern Territory, the Council’s CEO Mr Yusuf conceded he was “not fully versed” in the Council’s consultation processes. Further, in response to questioning from Senator Nampijinpa Price, no representatives were able to provide details of the complications caused by ELA as claimed in the Council’s media release about the foiled project.
Vulnerable children left untreated
Senator Kerrynne Liddle highlighted the 230-long waitlist for children to undergo multi-disciplinary diagnostic assessment by the Northern Territory’s only FASD service yet the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress has only assessed 114 children in the past year. The target under the $18.4 million over four years Better Safer Future for Central Australia funding was to assess about 200 Indigenous children and young people each year. The department blamed resource challenges in “remote” Alice Springs for the lack of progress.
Mental health services cuts
Following the Prime Minister’s forced backflip on critical funding for Red Nose Australia, questioning in Community Affairs estimates revealed that the Government was also forced to backflip on their attempt to cut another critical mental health service for grieving Australians, Grief Australia. How many more critical mental health services has the Government cut?
Private health premiums
Senator Ruston questioned the Government and the Department on Health on the upcoming private health insurance premiums change, demanding a guarantee that it would be announced before an election is called. Despite the Minister and the Department refusing to provide that guarantee, the Government then finally revealed the premium hike via a late afternoon media release.
The curious case of Kevin Rudd’s “meeting” with President Trump
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was unable to confirm any details relating to an alleged meeting held between Ambassador Rudd and President Trump. This is despite the PM proudly stating in an interview with ABC Radio on 17 January 2025 that they had had “direct contact”. Despite this, no DFAT officials seemed to be aware at all of when, where, the type of, and the details of this “meeting”.
Penny Wong’s hypocrisy regarding meeting people who don’t support a two-state position
Penny Wong was caught off guard when she attempted to attack Senator Sharma for meeting with the Australian Jewish Association (AJA), known for not supporting a two-state solution when Senator Paterson raised the fact that she had not only met with Nasser Mashni, a representative of the Australian Palestinian Advocacy Network and also known for his reprehensible antisemitic and anti-Israeli views as well as not supporting a two-state solution. Minister Wong would not clarify if she had met with Nasser since 13 May 2024, where Nasser made deeply offensive remarks at a pro-Palestine rally at Monash University, saying Australia and Israel are both “Sh*thole racist settler colonies” and that the skin colour of Israelis (and European Australians) shows that they are not meant to live in the middle east or Australia.
RBA acknowledges hardship, prices pain under the Albanese Government
Deputy RBA Governor Andrew Hauser noted the crippling financial challenges inflation and rising prices have created for many Australians. Senator Dean Smith asked Mr Hauser if households should budget for further rate cuts. The Deputy Governor noted the Bank will “do whatever is necessary to bring inflation back to target” but highlighted the financial pain many have suffered since Labor came to power.
No relief in sight under Labor for the charities and community services sector
The RBA has flagged the need to get inflation down and real incomes up to ease urgent pressure on charities and community services sector. Referring to recent RBA forecasts, Senator Smith questioned the Bank about the experience of the sector, which is facing massively heightened demand in Labor’s cost of living crisis. The Deputy Governor described hearing firsthand accounts of those in debt stress as “humbling”, while Assistant Governor Dr Brad Jones confirmed the challenge was directly linked to real incomes – and that improving the current situation will not happen quickly.
DFAT provides answering service for Wong’s office
DFAT admitted it used its Emergency Call Unit – which is meant to help Aussies in trouble overseas, particularly during international crisis – to take calls for the Foreign Minister’s personal office for almost three weeks in 2023. The reason? The Minister’s office couldn’t cope with the volume of calls to her office after the aftermath of the Hamas attacks on Israel.
Labor’s broken promise to early educators
Department of Education data has revealed just 19% of eligible educators have received Labor’s promised pay rise. This is despite repeated promises from Labor that 200,000 educators would get a pay rise by the end of 2024. In fact, on 5 December, Education Minister Jason Clare declared “it’s pay day for hundreds of thousands of early educators”. We now know that by 31 December, just 29,300 educators had received it.
Labor’s BEEF completely undercooked
The Albanese Labor Government can’t be trusted to fulfil its promise to build 160 centres with its $1 billion Building Early Education Fund. Coalition Senators asked a series of basic questions around where the centres would be built, who could apply and how, they simply did not have the answers. And while Labor has promised the money will roll out from July 2025, the Department made it clear that even that is “still to be decided”. It appears history is set to repeat itself. Labor promised to build 260 new child care centres in 2007 before building just 38.
https://www.liberal.org.au/2025/03/03/cash-ruston-jmr-2024-25-senate-additional-estimates-wrap-up