‘We will not allow that to be diminished': Labor removes ban on US beef imports
'Australian biosecurity rules are put into place to not only protect our production, our farmers, but also our consumers,' Mr Jochinke told Sky News host Steve Price.
'We will not allow that to be diminished.
'We have called … to have an inquiry to ensure that these standards are rigorous enough.'
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Sydney Morning Herald
11 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Scaring off poor students': HECS relief welcome, but high fees have become a barrier
While Shorten said he respected every tertiary institution's contribution, he said the University of Canberra, Western Sydney University and Edith Cowan were key in the government's goal to get more students from poor backgrounds into universities. 'We're doing the unglamorous heavy lifting of higher education, which is getting people into higher ed who might not have always attended higher ed. Loading 'If I can be really direct, Gen Zs and Millennials and people thinking about coming to uni, they don't want to be going to some sort of educational sausage factory where they're just churned, where they just seem to be interested in the dollars generated from international students to build more prestigious glass buildings. So that's part of it. That's how you get people in.' When it came to reducing fees, other former Labor politicians including Peter Garrett, Barry Jones and Gareth Evans publicly rebuked the government last week, over its failure to fix the $50,000 cost of humanities degrees, in an open letter to the Executive Committee of the Australian Historical Association. It noted that prestigious research-intensive universities had maintained strong course enrolments while other institutions were suffering. 'Enrolments for many humanities and social science units at other universities – those often favoured by Indigenous, regional and female students – are falling,' the letter said. At Western Sydney University, the number of commencing students from low socioeconomic backgrounds fell by 1000 students in the year after the Job-ready Graduates program was introduced. WSU vice chancellor George Williams said the steep price tag had scared off poor students who feared they would never pay off the high debt. 'It does work as a price signal to price people out of university … It's unfair, and it really restricts social mobility,' he said. Williams noted that the government had spent $20 billion on debt relief, but said that failing to reform fees was 'setting ourselves up just to have to do debt relief again down the track'. University of NSW student Norman Huang, a final-year student in commerce and computer science, welcomed the 20 per cent cut to student loans. 'For most students, it is a relief both mentally and financially,' he said. 'A lot of students are starting to think more long-term with their careers and personal goals.' Sydney University deputy vice chancellor (education) Professor Joanne Wright said unwinding the Job-ready Graduates program 'can't happen quickly enough'. 'We're looking forward to working with the incoming Australian Tertiary Education Commission and helping to address these complex issues,' she said. A Macquarie University spokesman said it supported a review of higher education funding arrangements to ensure more 'Australian students can access university, offers equitable support across all disciplines, and does not unfairly penalise students for the choices they make'.
The Age
11 minutes ago
- The Age
‘Scaring off poor students': HECS relief welcome, but high fees have become a barrier
While Shorten said he respected every tertiary institution's contribution, he said the University of Canberra, Western Sydney University and Edith Cowan were key in the government's goal to get more students from poor backgrounds into universities. 'We're doing the unglamorous heavy lifting of higher education, which is getting people into higher ed who might not have always attended higher ed. Loading 'If I can be really direct, Gen Zs and Millennials and people thinking about coming to uni, they don't want to be going to some sort of educational sausage factory where they're just churned, where they just seem to be interested in the dollars generated from international students to build more prestigious glass buildings. So that's part of it. That's how you get people in.' When it came to reducing fees, other former Labor politicians including Peter Garrett, Barry Jones and Gareth Evans publicly rebuked the government last week, over its failure to fix the $50,000 cost of humanities degrees, in an open letter to the Executive Committee of the Australian Historical Association. It noted that prestigious research-intensive universities had maintained strong course enrolments while other institutions were suffering. 'Enrolments for many humanities and social science units at other universities – those often favoured by Indigenous, regional and female students – are falling,' the letter said. At Western Sydney University, the number of commencing students from low socioeconomic backgrounds fell by 1000 students in the year after the Job-ready Graduates program was introduced. WSU vice chancellor George Williams said the steep price tag had scared off poor students who feared they would never pay off the high debt. 'It does work as a price signal to price people out of university … It's unfair, and it really restricts social mobility,' he said. Williams noted that the government had spent $20 billion on debt relief, but said that failing to reform fees was 'setting ourselves up just to have to do debt relief again down the track'. University of NSW student Norman Huang, a final-year student in commerce and computer science, welcomed the 20 per cent cut to student loans. 'For most students, it is a relief both mentally and financially,' he said. 'A lot of students are starting to think more long-term with their careers and personal goals.' Sydney University deputy vice chancellor (education) Professor Joanne Wright said unwinding the Job-ready Graduates program 'can't happen quickly enough'. 'We're looking forward to working with the incoming Australian Tertiary Education Commission and helping to address these complex issues,' she said. A Macquarie University spokesman said it supported a review of higher education funding arrangements to ensure more 'Australian students can access university, offers equitable support across all disciplines, and does not unfairly penalise students for the choices they make'.
AU Financial Review
11 minutes ago
- AU Financial Review
Small businesses create special communities
'We regularly make special deliveries throughout a wide country area for the sick or elderly who can't come into the store,' she says. 'Beyond medicine, we've started hosting monthly tea parties at the pharmacy to help bring people together, because we know those human connections are crucial.' The colder months can be quieter for small businesses, but one initiative helps them to continue their role as thriving neighbourhood hubs all year round. Now in its 13th year, Shop Small is a national movement from American Express that celebrates the important contribution small businesses make to the Australian economy and its multi-faceted communities. Thanks to the initiative, during the month of August, people all over Australia are encouraged to visit and spend with small businesses to give them a boost. Parker says initiatives like Shop Small are vital for the survival of local businesses. 'It reminds people how powerful it is to shop local and stay connected,' she says. Moss Vale Community Pharmacy is just one example of the smaller firms that are the gold thread running through Australian society. As data shows, small businesses make up more than 97 per cent of all enterprises in Australia and employ more than five million of us. The Agrestic Grocer is another example of the huge value small businesses offer their local area. With a background studying architecture and running stalls at farmers markets, Beau Baddock has owned The Agrestic Grocer in Orange in regional NSW for 12 years. Like Parker's chemist, Baddock's shop is much more than a place to grab life's essentials. 'What started as a little café has grown into something really special,' says Baddock. 'It's a place where locals and travellers come to connect over good food, live music and a shared love of our region. 'We stock jams, chutneys, oils, wine, beer and all sorts of regional goods so people can support local without thinking twice. We're passionate about championing the local legends who put so much energy into growing, making and creating good produce and experiences.' Since launching Shop Small in Australia in 2013, American Express has delivered more than $24 million in value and awarded more than 2.1 billion Membership Rewards® points to card members through exclusive Shop Small offers[i]. It's testament to the long-term commitment Amex has to small businesses and the customers who support them. 'Shop Small celebrates the incredible small businesses that are the lifeblood of our communities,' says Robert Tedesco, vice president and general manager of global merchant and network services for American Express Australia and New Zealand. 'It recognises the tireless work they do to deliver essential services and support the human connections which keep our highstreets thriving. 'Whether it's your local barista taking the time to have a conversation, the pharmacist who delivers medicine to your door when you're sick or that small business that provides financial support for your children's sports club, small businesses help keep our communities running. American Express is incredibly proud to continue backing small business and rewarding our card members who support them.' This year, eligible American Express card members who shop at participating small businesses during August receive five bonus points for every $1 spent, up to a total of 1000 bonus points[ii]. Baddock says the support from initiatives like Shop Small mean the world to small businesses like his. 'It helps us keep doing what we love, in the community we love,' he says. [i] Based on internal American Express data from 2013 to 2024.
