the Prime Minister’s Easter 2024 message
 
March message from Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Bilal El-Hayek
 
A solemn funeral to the late Nazih Nicolas in Sydney
 
One Year of Repair, Reform and Action, and much more to do.
 
Kuwait deplores Israeli occupation's seizure of Palestinian land
 
Patriarch Duwaihi's beatification ceremony to be held in Lebanon
 
One Year of Repair, Reform and Action, and much more to do across Canterbury
 
Have your say on a planning proposal in Carlingford
 
Protecting religious institutions
 
AFIC President, stated that AFIC strongly condemns any act of violence and terrorism and stands in solidarity with the Russian people
 
The community’s hopes and expectations of a Muslim public figure
 
Mr Keating has been a public critic of the AUKUS security pact,...”.
 
From Australia News in Brief

“Both Mr Minns and Mr Perrottet were lauded for their conduct throughout the election campaign...” - Peta Credlin
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Climate deal struck after Labor and the Greens reach safeguard mechanism agreement
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Bill Shorten calls for more answers after review finds government contracts failed to meet standards
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New South Wales election: Labor pins hopes on four seats still in doubt to achieve a majority
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Biden warns Iran after US air strikes over drone attack in Syria
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US expands diplomatic presence in South Pacific amid concerns about growing Chinese influence
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Illegal drone use near Sydney’s Bankstown Airport increasing, says CASA
***
APPEA Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch congratulates Labor on election victory, urges strategy for gas in NSW
***
Push for budget boost to electrify 500,000 homes to get them off gas power
***
Melbourne gears up to host 4 days of grand prix motor racing action
***
New ship moorings to better protect coral on Great Barrier Reef
***
Queensland and India have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to defvelop space and defence technologies.
***
NSW safety inspectors to keep visiting excavation sites



"Both Mr Minns and Mr Perrottet were lauded for their conduct throughout the election campaign...” - Peta Credlin
27/3/2023
(See translation in Arabic section)
Sydney - Middle East Times Int’l: Premier-elect Chris Minns has labelled his predecessor Dominic Perrottet a “fantastic person” and said he will be “catching up with him soon” to get his advice on running government.
Speaking to 2GB in his first sit-down interview since Labor’s emphatic win in New South Wales over the weekend, Mr Minns said the former premier had also been gracious in defeat.
“He’s such a lovely person and the words he gave me were really heartfelt, really personally meant and I’m not going to change my view about him now that the election is over,” Mr Minns told 2GB’s Ben Fordham.
 “He is a fantastic person, a great dad.”
Both Mr Minns and Mr Perrottet were lauded for their conduct throughout the election campaign, with neither leader opting to attack the other’s personality.
Political commentator Peta Credlin – a former chief of staff for ex-PM Tony Abbott – noted the pair were both “unfailingly polite”.
“The referencing of each other is with a lot of dignity,” she said of the leaders’ conduct toward each other.
The premier-elect said he would be leaning on Mr Perrottet to provide him with some valuable advice in his first few months of government.
“I’m looking forward to catching up with him soon to talk about his experiences in government, I think there are things to learn,” Mr Minns said.
“Now obviously we’ve got different policy issues, but he might have views about how parliament works, the machinery of government.
“We’d be crazy not to take his expertise or his experience on board.”
When asked whether he’d be giving the former premier a job, Mr Minns laughed off the suggestion.
Labor and the Greens reach a deal over safeguard mechanism revamp | The  Singleton Argus | Singleton, NSW
Climate deal struck after Labor and the Greens reach safeguard mechanism agreement
The federal government has secured the support it needs to implement its central climate change commitment, after reaching a deal with the Greens following months of safeguard mechanism negotiations. 
This policy is the centrepiece of Labor's pledge to reduce carbon emissions by 43 per cent by 2030.
The Greens have long demanded Labor commit to no new coal and gas projects, but the government has repeatedly ruled this out.
Greens leader Adam Bandt said the deal included a hard cap on emissions, which would impact new or expanded high-polluting projects. 
He predicted the hard emissions cap would make it unviable for 116 new coal and gas projects in the pipeline because they would be unable to get their emissions below the limit. 
"The Greens have stopped about half of them [in the pipeline] but Labor still wants to open the rest," Mr Bandt said.
"And, so, now there is going to be a fight for every new project that the government wants to open."
The safeguard mechanism bill before the parliament seeks to impose emissions limits on the 215 largest-polluting facilities in the country.
It requires those companies to cut, or pay offsets, to reduce their emissions by 4.9 per cent each year to 2030.
Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen has led the safeguard negotiations with the Greens since Labor won power last year.
He said Labor only accepted amendments that were in keeping with Labor's election commitments and policy agenda.
"They do two things, strengthen accountability, transparency and integrity of the scheme and, secondly, provide extra support for those strategic manufacturing industries that are so important for our economy and transition as well," Mr Bowen said.
Bill Shorten calls for more answers after review finds government contracts  failed to meet standards - ABC News
Bill Shorten calls for more answers after review finds government contracts failed to meet standards
Government Services Minister Bill Shorten has called for further investigation into several government contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars over potential conflicts of interest.
Mr Shorten ordered the investigation on the back of allegations published in Nine Newspapers that former cabinet minister Stuart Robert intervened to help friends negotiate a lucrative Centrelink contract. 
The allegations do not constitute any illegal conduct and Mr Robert has repeatedly rejected the accusations.
The review looked at Services Australia and National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) contracts from 2015 to the present. It found 19 procurements with an approximate value of $374 million had inconsistencies with standards and good practice.
Retired public servant Ian Watt completed the review for the government.
"Dr Watt's report reveals that in a range of these contracts, perceived conflicts of interest were simply not disclosed," Mr Shorten said.
"More needs to be done to find out what was the basis of the allocation for $374 million worth of taxpayer money under the previous government. Why weren't the basic standards met? It is completely unacceptable."
In a statement, a spokesman for Mr Robert said the review looked at procurement processes at Services Australia and the NDIA, not ministerial involvement. 
"This is because there wasn't any," the spokesman said.
"Mr Robert has not been contacted by Services Australia, the NDIA or any person conducting any review. Mr Robert has not received or been asked to provide input to any report prepared for either agency."
Last year, Nine newspapers reported that consulting firm Synergy 360, whose shareholders are close friends of Mr Robert, claimed in leaked emails that the then-NDIS minister had allegedly met with them several times over a multi-million-dollar Centrelink contract, which was ultimately won by a client of the firm.
While the task force found some procurements had poorly managed conflicts of interest, or questionable judgements about the choice of procurement method and repeated use of limited or sole sourcing, the task force did not find clear misconduct within the 95 procurement processes."
Mr Shorten said Mr Robert had questions to answer because the bulk of procurements had occurred on his watch. But Mr Robert accused Mr Shorten of "trying to play politics".
Mr Shorten said the government would now consider its response to the report. 
New South Wales election: Labor pins hopes on four seats still in doubt to  achieve a majority - ABC News
New South Wales election: Labor pins hopes on four seats still in doubt to achieve a majority
There's still a question mark over how many seats Labor will secure in the New South Wales parliament as vote counting resumes this morning.
Labor won Saturday's state election but the incoming Chris Minns' government will need two more seats to secure the all-important 47 seats needed for a majority.
"We're absolutely confident of the 45 and confident they will go onto a majority," ABC election analyst Antony Green said.
"Labor will reach 47 and potentially go beyond that."
Currently, they are ahead in four of the 14 seats still in doubt — Terrigal, Miranda, Ryde and Kiama.
But with only 50 per cent of total votes counted, and a record number of postal votes to process, Labor could easily lose the lead in these seats.
Postal voters are generally more Liberal-leaning in New South Wales as they tend to be submitted by older voters or those in regional areas.
The Liberal party also actively encourages supporters to take up postal voting.
In this election, half-a-million postal vote packs were sent out and voters have until April 6 to get their votes in to the Electoral Commission.
So far, there's been no counting of postal votes for Terrigal and Miranda.
U.S. will 'act forcefully' to protect Americans, Biden warns Iran after  clashes in Syria
Biden warns Iran after US air strikes over drone attack in Syria
US President Joe Biden has delivered a warning to Iran after the American military carried out air strikes against Iran-backed forces over an attack in Syria.
“Make no mistake: the United States does not ... seek conflict with Iran but be prepared for us to act forcefully to protect our people,” Biden said during a visit to Canada.
Officials said a US service member was wounded in Syria on Friday in the latest tit-for-tat strike between Iran-backed forces and US personnel.
It comes after an attack on Thursday killed an American contractor and wounded five US troops and another contractor. Washington has said a drone of Iranian origin was used in that attack.
Two US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it appeared that the defensive system on the base had failed. One US official said troops on the ground did not appear to have had enough time to react to the drone.
The Pentagon had said US F-15 jets on Thursday attacked two facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the war in Syria, claimed the US strikes had killed eight pro-Iranian fighters.
Suspected US rocket fire on Friday targeted new areas in eastern Syria, according to two local sources, with no casualties reported. 
Pro-Iranian forces in Syria replied via an online statement that they have a “long arm” to respond to further US strikes while Iranian state TV claimed no Iranians were killed.
The US strikes were a response to a drone attack on Thursday on a base near Hasakah in north-east Syria operated by a US-led coalition battling remnants of Islamic State.
Three service members and a contractor required medical evacuation to Iraq while two wounded American troops were treated at the base and were in stable condition.
A US base at the Al-Omar oil field in Syria was attacked on Friday, according to the Lebanese pro-Iranian TV channel Al Mayadeen.
US, Pacific Island leaders vow to strengthen ties with historic partnership  declaration amid growing China risks - ABC News
US expands diplomatic presence in South Pacific amid concerns about growing Chinese influence
The United States says it will open a fourth, new embassy in the South Pacific.
Top White House Asia advisor Kurt Campbell said in Vanuatu this week that the Biden Administration was fast-tracking efforts to open an embassy in the capital of Port Vila.
The US already re-opened its embassy in Solomon Islands and plans to open diplomatic missions in Tonga and Kiribati.
He said the push to expand the US diplomatic presence across the Pacific showed that the Biden Administration was intent on doing more to help Pacific nations tackle challenges like climate change, drug smuggling and illegal fishing – and counter China’s influence.
“We are determined to take the necessary steps to step-up our own game. We recognise that there have been periods where we have not been as deeply engaged as we should have been,” he said.
During a visit to Canberra, Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa warned that China was not the only major power that may want to secure further military access to the Pacific “under the guise of protecting assets”.
Mr Campbell acknowledged there was a “degree of strategic competition in the Pacific” but denied the intensified US engagement was driven by a desire to push back on China’s growing influence in the region.
“We do not seek a new Cold War. We do not seek confrontation,” he said.
“Our role is to address the specific, urgent needs of the people in the Pacific Islands.”
In Solomon Islands, Mr Campbell indicated that the US was close to bringing Peace Corp volunteers back into the country while flagging that the US Coast Guard was looking for opportunities to extend assistance to the country.
In Fiji, he met with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, who said that Fiji was “keen” to re-open its embassy in Washington DC “in recognition of the important co-operation between the two nations”.
Public put at 'risk' by spike in drones at Cairns airport | The West  Australian
Illegal drone use near Sydney’s Bankstown Airport increasing, says CASA
INCREASING number of drones have been found operating in controlled airspace neat Bankstown Airport in Sydney, NSW.
The detection was made by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), in partnership with Airservices Australia and Bankstown Airport.
CASA Manager Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) Operations, Scott Duffy says there had been a rise in drone activity and non-compliance with drone safety rules around the airport.
‘Our reports show higher instances of drones being flown on the weekends within 5.5 km of Bankstown Airport, especially on weekends and afternoons,’ he says.
“As drones continue to soar in popularity especially after Christmas, it is important users inform themselves about where they can and can’t operate their drone, if they need to be licensed and the dangers of flying drones near airports.’
CASA banned drones that weigh more than 250g from being flown within 5.5 km of a controlled airport.
All drones, regardless of how much they weigh, are also prohibited from flying over or in the departure or approach path.
As part of an ongoing national drone safety education campaign, CASA is raising awareness and understanding of safe flying in the Sydney region by working with local councils and community groups.
‘We’d like to encourage users to find out where they can safely fly by using one of the CASA-verified drone safety apps available now through the Know Your Drone website,’ says Mr Duffy.
CASA-verified drone safety apps and web applications give location-based information with easy-to-use maps about where you can and can't fly your drone according to CASA’s drone safety rules.
‘Drone operators are also encouraged to test their knowledge of the drone safety rules by visiting our Know Your Drone website and taking the quiz.’
For more information about drone safety, visit knowyourdrone.gov.au.
APPEA Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch congratulates Labor on election win,  urges strategy for gas in NSW | Sky News Australia
APPEA Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch congratulates Labor on election victory, urges strategy for gas in NSW
The nation’s oil and gas lobby has called on the incoming Labor government to recognise the crucial role that fossil fuels play in New South Wales.
The message to Labor from the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) comes after repeated warnings of higher electricity bills for households and businesses.
In a statement APPEA congratulated Chris Minns, after he ended 12 years of Coalition dominance in the country’s biggest state.
However Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch said Mr Minns must now provide a clear strategy to promote investment to avoid the forecasted shortfalls.
“New South Wales is a big gas user but has left its own reserves in the ground and outsourced its energy security, exacerbating the cost-of-living pressures on NSW households and businesses,” she said.
“Bans and regulatory uncertainty have made new supply investment very difficult and left users paying $2/GJ extra when gas is transported from Queensland, often over untapped NSW reserves.
“The new government needs to recognise the key role of natural gas in a cleaner energy future as identified by international and national energy authorities and echoed by the Prime Minister.
“The state needs to provide a clear strategy to promote investment in new supply in order to help avoid forecast shortfalls in the east coast energy market and put downward pressure on prices.
“This could include fast-tracking new supply options like the long-delayed Narrabri Gas Project, which could supply enough natural gas to meet up to half of the state’s gas demand.”
Earlier this month the Australian Energy Market Regulator (AER) revealed its draft default market offer, which showed household electricity bills could increase by between 19.5 per cent and 23.7 per cent, while business owners can expect rises from 14.7 per cent to 25.4 per cent.
Saul Griffith's Rewiring Australia pushes for budget boost to electrify  500,000 homes - ABC News
Push for budget boost to electrify 500,000 homes to get them off gas power
The federal government is facing calls to use the upcoming budget to kickstart efforts to electrify households and wean them off gas to help fight global warming.
Amid wrangling over the government's proposed safeguard mechanism to tackle emissions from big industrial players, Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen has signalled a willingness to invest in a scheme to electrify homes.
Rewiring Australia is urging the government to set aside $2.5 billion in the May budget to electrify 500,000 homes.
The group also wants the Commonwealth to enshrine in legislation an extra $10b for the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) to "amplify" the work.
Rewiring Australia claims the move would allow the average household to slash its energy bills by $3000 to $5000 a year.
"Our argument to the federal government is that household electrification is sound economic policy and vital climate policy," executive director Dan Cass said.
"Electrification will build on Australia's competitive advantage as the leading rooftop solar country in the world."
In a statement, Mr Bowen said the government had identified electrification as a "priority" in the transition away from fossil fuels.
"Too many Australian are paying for wasted energy," Mr Bowen said.
"Improving energy performance lowers energy costs, improves productivity and reduces emissions."
However, one gas industry player urged caution, saying it would be harder and take longer than many people realised.
Tas Gas chief executive Phaedra Deckart said even if governments helped fast-track the move away from gas, some households would continue to need the fuel for another 20 years.
In any case, she said electrification would have to involve government participation and argued that most households would struggle to afford it in the current circumstances.
"In a high-inflation, high-interest rate environment, you're asking households to find somewhere between $5000 and $15,000 per household to take all their gas appliances out and replace them with electricity," Ms Deckart said.
Under Rewiring Australia's plans, "at least" $2b of the CEFC's existing funds would be extended as concessional loans to electrify households and businesses.
Melbourne Grand Prix in doubt - Drive
Melbourne gears up to host 4 days of grand prix motor racing action
Melbourne businesses and sports fans are revving up for the return of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix to the city.
The grand prix will be held from March 30-April 2.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos joined representatives from the Australian Grand Prix Corporation at Albert Park where the circuit build is taking shape.
More than 2300 extra tram services will be put on over the race weekend with holders able to use their ticket to travel free on trams to and from Albert Park on the day of admission. There will also be dedicated Grand Prix express trams operating every one to two minutes during busy times from Southern Cross Station and Flinders Street Station (St Kilda Road) from 5.30am until 10pm each night.
Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos said: “… the Grand Prix will be another demonstration of why we are the best in the world for global sports – and they bring big benefits for local businesses and workers.”
Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll said: “Motor sport fans should leave the car keys at home – with public transport the best way to get trackside because we’re providing more than 2300 extra tram services to get people to and from Albert Park.”
Australian Grand Prix Corporation CEO Andrew Westacott said: “With just over one week to go, we’re getting ready for the biggest Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in the event’s Albert Park history – we can’t wait to see Melbourne come alive next week.”
Caption: Thirty new public moorings will soon be installed in northern Queensland that can protect coral.
New ship moorings to better protect coral on Great Barrier Reef
Thirty new public moorings will be installed across the Whitsundays in northern Queensland to help protect sensitive coral on the Great Barrier Reef.
The new environmentally friendly vessel moorings will be located at key points on the Reef to provide safe and sustainable access to popular snorkelling and anchorage sites.
Townsville company Pacific Marine Group was awarded the contract for the installation works, due to take place in May.
The public mooring project is part of the Qld Government’s $3.9 million Reef Trails project to reduce anchor damage on coral reefs and improve public access to the Reef.
Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef Meaghan Scanlon said: “The Great Barrier Reef is Queensland’s most iconic natural asset and our investment is designed to protect it, while also supporting a sustainable reef-based tourism industry.
“There are now 309 public moorings and 289 reef protection markers throughout the Great Barrier Reef that can be used by recreational boaties and reef-based tourism operators.
“The moorings help to reduce the impact of boat anchors on coral reef, sea grass beds and other sensitive marine habitats, which in turn supports the long-term health and resilience of these important ecosystems.
Steven Jones, the Business Development Manager for Pacific Marine Group, said: “We installed over 400 of our Environmentally Friendly Moorings all along the Great Barrier Reef, with many now up to 30 years old and performing as well as the day they were installed.
“This project will use all North Queensland local supplied labour and materials, with the planning, procurement and fabrication phase employing around 15 people, and the site installation phase also employing around 15 people between marine crew, diving crew and management crew.
“Our unique Environmentally Friendly Mooring system continues to provide positive environmental outcomes by providing an alternative to vessels dropping anchors in sensitive marine environments.”
Queensland and India partner for future space and defence technologies -  Ministerial Media Statements
Queensland and India have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to defvelop space and defence technologies.
The MoU between Ferra Engineering (Qld) and Dynamatic Technologies was signed in the presence of Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick during his India Trade Mission.
Dynamatic Technologies is a global aerospace company with strong links to defence manufacturers; 
Mr Dick had recently visited Ferra’s headquarters in Brisbane to inspect the company’s progress manufacturing components for Boeing’s autonomous MQ-28A Ghost Bat aircraft.
“I commend Ferra for securing partnerships with prestigious customers in India like Dynamatic Technologies,” Mr Dick said.
“Partnerships with global defence giants like Boeing and Dynamatic Technologies strengthen Queensland’s advanced manufacturing capabilities.
Group Chief Executive Ferra Engineering Australia, David Rogers said: “Succeeding in these opportunities allows for strengthening of our industrial base within our Indian subsidiary and expanding out to the wider Ferra Group.
“Thanks to support from the Queensland Government, we can further boost defence manufacturing capabilities for a range of upcoming projects, including delivering against the new MoU with Dynamatic Technologies.”
"With its increased manufacturing capability, in-house engineering services and assembly setup, Ferra India is now equipped to support more end-to-end services to its global customers.
"Trade and Investment Queensland relationship with Ferra is well established having assisted the company to achieve several export outcomes in markets like the UK."
Ferra Aerospace was founded in 1992 with its headquarters in Brisbane and offices in the United States and India. Ferra India was established in 2011 to build a strategic presence in Asia.
Ferra specialises in the design, manufacture, and maintenance of complex electromechanical subsystems and structures primarily for defence, commercial and military aviation, and other industries.
Become a SafeWork NSW Inspector | SafeWork NSW
NSW safety inspectors to keep visiting excavation sites
Safety inspectors in NSW will visit excavation sites until April to ensure that construction workers and farmers don’t put their lives at risk while excavating.
The NSW regulator for workplace safety warns that persistent heavy rains have deteriorated ground conditions and contributed to a rise in excavation accidents.
According to SafeWork NSW, 74 per cent of earthmoving plant and excavation accidents led to serious injury or death statewide.
Natasha Mann, Head of SafeWork NSW, said it was crucial for business owners, site managers and supervisors to consult with workers to ensure trenches are safe. This process involves assessing potential risks and completing a Safe Work Method Statement before starting excavation.
“Proper planning before work begins and ongoing monitoring of ground conditions is essential, especially following flooding or heavy rain. If in doubt we recommend consulting further with a geotechnical engineer,” Ms Mann said.
“The consequences of failing to properly assess site conditions can be fatal.”
Although the La Nina season is likely near its end; excavators should never let their guard down, as there are more dangers beyond wet weather conditions.
Many accidents occur when workers excavate without first checking what equipment or assets exist beneath the excavation site. There’s a risk of rupturing electricity cables when “digging blind”, which is a major cause of electrocution.
“Workers can be severely injured if they are struck by earthmoving equipment or if their equipment comes into contact with electrical assets,” Ms Mann said.
For Safe Work Australia resources: visit www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/



 














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