Latest news with #DavidPocock
SBS Australia
9 hours ago
- Politics
- SBS Australia
Independent ACT Senator calls gas export system a scam
Independent ACT Senator calls gas export system a scam Gaza protest organisers vow to fight Harbour Bridge ban Tim David and Ben Dwarshuis return for final T20. Independent ACT Senator David Pocock has launched a scathing attack on both major parties, accusing them of selling out Australians to multinational gas giants. He says Australia's natural gas is being shipped offshore while locals face soaring prices at home, calling it a scam. "The major parties have sold the Australian people out. They've sold us out to big multinationals that are making an absolute fortune off our gas. This is a scam. What is happening is our natural resources are being sold off, given away, shipped off overseas, and we're not seeing the benefit of that. We're paying its own prices for our own gas, and we're not even getting a return through things like the PRRT, which the latest forecast show, is actually going to decline." He's urging the government to stand up to powerful corporations, and that uncontracted gas should stay in Australia, and go to manufacturers, businesses and households under pressure. Uncontracted gas refers to natural gas that a supplier anticipates will be available for sale in the market within a specific timeframe but is not yet committed under existing contracts. A search is underway after anti-Israel activists vandalised three Toll Group freight locations in Melbourne's CBD, using sledgehammers to smash glass doors and spray red paint across the buildings. Videos posted online show masked individuals carrying out the attacks along Collins Street. In the footage, they accuse the logistics giant of transporting weapons and can be heard chanting "death to Australia" and "death to Israel". The Jewish community has condemned the incidents. Chair of the Anti-defamation Commission Dvir Abramovich has told Channel 7 the ongoing campaign of intimidation has left many feeling unsafe. 'Sometimes it feels like we are being hunted in our own city. The Jewish community is fed-up with the campaign of terror, intimidation and fear." Victoria Police are treating the attacks as linked to a previous firebombing at a Greensborough business several weeks ago. No arrests have yet been made, as investigations continue. Protesters planning a demonstration on the Sydney Harbour Bridge this Sunday say they'll fight any attempt to block it. They aim to draw attention to starvation in Gaza, but New South Wales Premier Chris Minns quickly opposed the protest, citing short notice and traffic chaos. But activists argue the Bridge is a powerful symbol that represents Australia, and say they're willing to delay the event to meet safety requirements. Mr Minns has asked police to work with the group on an alternative route, but organisers say they'll challenge any legal attempt to stop them. Josh Lees of the Palestine Action Group says he's open to negotiation on the timing. "There's nothing chaotic about the people of New South Wales wanting to come out and have a mass peaceful demonstration to oppose the horrific scenes of deliberate starvation and genocide in Gaza. What's in chaos is the world. The world is in chaos. Gaza is in chaos. If we don't do something about that, then what does that mean for us and for humanity? If it's genuinely a matter of time, then we're happy to talk with Chris Minns and say, well, would he support this march then a week later, two weeks later, if that's genuinely the issue. But I question how genuine Chris Minns is in raising that issue." United States President Donald Trump has given Russia 10 to 12 days to reach a peace deal with Ukraine, sharply reducing his original 50-day deadline. The US President says there's no reason to wait the full term, considering the lack of progress. Mr Trump says Russia will face further sanctions if no peace deal with Ukraine is reached. "So what I'm doing is we're going to do secondary sanctions, unless we make a deal. And we might make a deal. I don't know. I don't know. You don't know. We've done so many peace deals. This is the one I started out with. And you know, this Putin called me. He wanted to know if I could help him with Iran. I said, no, I don't need your help with Iran, I need your help with Russia. And so that's the one deal that continues to linger." Mr Trump says he's had several promising talks with President Vladimir Putin, but each was followed by renewed violence between Russia and Ukraine. The US President also dismissed the idea of meeting the Russian president, saying, 'I'm not so interested in talking any more'. Australia have made two changes to their T20 side as they chase a clean sweep on their Caribbean tour, maintaining a perfect toss record with Mitchell Marsh winning for the fifth straight time. Ben Dwarshuis and Tim David return, replacing Xavier Bartlett and Cooper Connolly for the match in St Kitts. West Indies have also made two changes, bringing in Alzarri Joseph and Keacy Carty for Roston Chase and the injured Rovman Powell. Australia have won all four T20s so far, after sweeping the three-Test series.
Daily Telegraph
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Telegraph
David Pocock slams Nationals' net-zero review as 'total madness'
Don't miss out on the headlines from Climate Change. Followed categories will be added to My News. Independent senator David Pocock has labelled the National Party's review of net-zero emissions targets as 'total madness'. Kicking off the second week of the new parliament, on Monday former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce introduced a Repeal Net Zero Bill. The Bill is unlikely to have support from Opposition Leader Susan Ley. However, the former Nationals leader is an influential figure, even from the backbench. 'I think it's total madness to see the path that the Coalition is taking on this,' Senator Pocock told Channel 9 on Tuesday. 'The Labor government; Yes, they're doing something, but they're not doing enough. It's not actually aligned with what climate scientists are telling us. Senator Matthew Canavan is leading the Nationals' review of the party's net-zero policy. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman 'They love to talk about how we're a small jurisdiction. We're actually one of the biggest fossil fuel exporters in the world, so we have a real role to play in this and Australians love punching above our weight.' Australia produces about 1.1 per cent of global emissions. However, Australia is the world's largest coal exporter and a major gas exporter. Despite being banished to the backbench during the Liberal and National parties' brief split following the election drubbing, Mr Joyce holds considerable sway within the Nationals. Unless Ms Ley drastically changes course in rebuilding the Coalition as a moderate opposition, Mr Joyce's private member's bill will not get far. Nationals senate whip Matt Canavan was in June appointed to an internal Nationals committee tasked with reviewing the party's net-zero policy. The senator has been a longtime critic of the energy transition and fervently supports coal. Speaking on Tuesday, Senator Canavan said he would conduct the review, would not change his position against net zero, and Australia had not debated getting to net-zero emissions. 'We need to have this fulsome debate,' he said. 'I don't think this is working, I think the evidence is in now. 'The average Australian has just suffered since we announced net zero,' he added, citing higher electricity prices. 'Why, if coal is the cheapest form of power, isn't the government using it? 'It's about time we're not led by people who clearly don't have a grasp on how the world works.' Health Minister Mark Butler said the Labor government had put in place investment-inducing policies. 'We have got a clear (emissions) target by 2030. We are on track to meet that target. We have clear policy parameters to give investors confident to make the decisions that the country needs,' he said. 'The important thing for the government is getting on with the job of fixing up a decade of inaction. 'We will focus on delivering and implementing that policy architecture, not the chaos and division on the other side of politics.' Originally published as 'Total madness': Senator David Pocock slams net-zero review
Perth Now
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
‘Total madness': Net-zero review slammed
Independent senator David Pocock has labelled the National Party's review of net-zero emissions targets as 'total madness'. Kicking off the second week of the new parliament, on Monday former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce introduced a Repeal Net Zero Bill. The Bill is unlikely to have support from Opposition Leader Susan Ley. However, the former Nationals leader is an influential figure, even from the backbench. 'I think it's total madness to see the path that the Coalition is taking on this,' Senator Pocock told Channel 9 on Tuesday. 'The Labor government; Yes, they're doing something, but they're not doing enough. It's not actually aligned with what climate scientists are telling us. Senator Matthew Canavan is leading the Nationals' review of the party's net-zero policy. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia 'They love to talk about how we're a small jurisdiction. We're actually one of the biggest fossil fuel exporters in the world, so we have a real role to play in this and Australians love punching above our weight.' Australia produces about 1.1 per cent of global emissions. However, Australia is the world's largest coal exporter and a major gas exporter. Despite being banished to the backbench during the Liberal and National parties' brief split following the election drubbing, Mr Joyce holds considerable sway within the Nationals. Unless Ms Ley drastically changes course in rebuilding the Coalition as a moderate opposition, Mr Joyce's private member's bill will not get far. Nationals senate whip Matt Canavan was in June appointed to an internal Nationals committee tasked with reviewing the party's net-zero policy. The senator has been a longtime critic of the energy transition and fervently supports coal. Speaking on Tuesday, Senator Canavan said he would conduct the review, would not change his position against net zero, and Australia had not debated getting to net-zero emissions. 'We need to have this fulsome debate,' he said. 'I don't think this is working, I think the evidence is in now. 'The average Australian has just suffered since we announced net zero,' he added, citing higher electricity prices. 'Why, if coal is the cheapest form of power, isn't the government using it? 'It's about time we're not led by people who clearly don't have a grasp on how the world works.' Health Minister Mark Butler said the Labor government had put in place investment-inducing policies. 'We have got a clear (emissions) target by 2030. We are on track to meet that target. We have clear policy parameters to give investors confident to make the decisions that the country needs,' he said. 'The important thing for the government is getting on with the job of fixing up a decade of inaction. 'We will focus on delivering and implementing that policy architecture, not the chaos and division on the other side of politics.'
News.com.au
13 hours ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
‘Total madness': Senator David Pocock slams net-zero review
Independent senator David Pocock has labelled the National Party's review of net-zero emissions targets as 'total madness'. Kicking off the second week of the new parliament, on Monday former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce introduced a Repeal Net Zero Bill. The Bill is unlikely to have support from Opposition Leader Susan Ley. However, the former Nationals leader is an influential figure, even from the backbench. 'I think it's total madness to see the path that the Coalition is taking on this,' Senator Pocock told Channel 9 on Tuesday. 'The Labor government; Yes, they're doing something, but they're not doing enough. It's not actually aligned with what climate scientists are telling us. 'They love to talk about how we're a small jurisdiction. We're actually one of the biggest fossil fuel exporters in the world, so we have a real role to play in this and Australians love punching above our weight.' Australia produces about 1.1 per cent of global emissions. However, Australia is the world's largest coal exporter and a major gas exporter. Despite being banished to the backbench during the Liberal and National parties' brief split following the election drubbing, Mr Joyce holds considerable sway within the Nationals. Unless Ms Ley drastically changes course in rebuilding the Coalition as a moderate opposition, Mr Joyce's private member's bill will not get far. Nationals senate whip Matt Canavan was in June appointed to an internal Nationals committee tasked with reviewing the party's net-zero policy. The senator has been a longtime critic of the energy transition and fervently supports coal. Speaking on Tuesday, Senator Canavan said he would conduct the review, would not change his position against net zero, and Australia had not debated getting to net-zero emissions. 'We need to have this fulsome debate,' he said. 'I don't think this is working, I think the evidence is in now. 'The average Australian has just suffered since we announced net zero,' he added, citing higher electricity prices. 'Why, if coal is the cheapest form of power, isn't the government using it? 'It's about time we're not led by people who clearly don't have a grasp on how the world works.' Health Minister Mark Butler said the Labor government had put in place investment-inducing policies. 'We have got a clear (emissions) target by 2030. We are on track to meet that target. We have clear policy parameters to give investors confident to make the decisions that the country needs,' he said. 'The important thing for the government is getting on with the job of fixing up a decade of inaction. 'We will focus on delivering and implementing that policy architecture, not the chaos and division on the other side of politics.'
The Australian
21 hours ago
- Health
- The Australian
Labor denies David Pocock's call for more aged care packages
Labor has refused calls from the crossbench and the aged care sector to immediately release 20,000 extra home care packages, as elderly Australians wait up to 15 months for care they have already been deemed eligible for. The government's decision to delay the release of tens of thousands of additional packages from July to November has sparked outrage from all sides of politics, with Anthony Albanese facing having the move scrutinised by a Senate committee later this year. David Pocock, Zali Steggall, Jacqui Lambie and other crossbenchers wrote a letter to Health Minister Mark Butler and Aged Care Minister Sam Rae last month, recognising the need to delay some elements of the multibillion-dollar aged care reforms but demanded 20,000 care packages be released in the meantime. Mr Rae on Wednesday evening formally rejected the calls. 'We made the difficult decision to defer the start date of the Act until 1 November, so that providers, clients and staff working in the sector are ready for the transition,' Mr Rae said in a letter to crossbenchers, seen by The Australian. 'We recognise that the deferral of the Act has implications for those who are receiving or eligible to receive home care, and that the consequence of deferral is that new funding for Support at Home packages will commence rolling out at a later time. 'We will continue to monitor the impact of the deferral.' Senator Pocock slammed Labor's decision to ignore the calls for additional packages to be put online immediately. 'Australians are dying waiting to receive home care packages and we're hearing report after report about bedblock,' he said on X. 'The (crossbench) asked the government to bring forward 20,000 packages to help with the 87,000 backlog and the minister said no.' Senator Pocock, the Coalition and other crossbenchers are preparing to vote for an inquiry to investigate handling of the policy. It is less clear whether the Greens will support the inquiry, having this week sided with Labor on other matters. But Greens spokeswoman for older people Penny Allman-Payne said in a statement on Thursday she was concerned there was 'a world of pain coming to aged care from this November unless Labor urgently gets serious about care'. Politics The steelmaking giant will have access to rival proposals for the SA facility under a 'right of last offer', giving it a significant advantage over competitors. Politics The UN climate change official issuing doomsday appraisals of Australia's future should spend more time lecturing the world's biggest emitters in China, India and the US.
