Australian news and politics recap: Anthony Albanese’s stark warning for Greens defector Dorinda Cox

Anthony Albanese has been asked about the historic bullying allegations linked to his new WA Senator Dorinda Cox after her shock deflection to the party yesterday.

The Prime Minister claims Labor is satisfied that now the allegations were dealt with and government and party mechanisms were in place to mitigate and deal with workplace safety issues.

“They got dealt with by the mechanism that my government established,” he said.

“We support safe workplaces.

“We established a mechanism in the Parliament, which is at arm’s length of government, and that’s important.”

Anthony Albanese has said he “welcomes” the United State’s presence in the Indo-Pacific region despite recent demands by the superpower for Australia to increase defence spending.

Asked in Perth on Tuesday if US secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth had overstepped when he urged Richard Marles at a conference in Singapore to lift defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP.

“No, they’re entitled to express views but we’re entitled as a sovereign nation to ensure that we look after Australia’s national interest,” the PM said.

“There’s no doubt that the US, in part, has a statement based upon their engagement in the region.

“We welcome the US’s engagement in the region, which is why we work with them so closely.”

WA Premier Roger Cook has spruiked the importance of the State Government’s relationship with Canberra to deliver WA projects.

Speaking alongside Anthony Albanese at Perth Traffic Centre on Tuesday, he welcomed the Federal Government’s commitment to help widen the busy Kwinana Freeway.

“I’m delighted for the announcement that we’re making today, which is about getting on, fulfilling our election commitments,” Mr Cook said.

“With nearly half a billion dollars in funding secured as part of our State Budget for key road upgrades in Perth’s southern suburbs. And that includes a $230 million investment to widen the Kwinana Freeway between Roe Highway and Mortimer Road (it will) address one of the worst congestion points in the metropolitan area. This will be supported by matching contribution from the Federal Government.

“We’ve shown time and time again that, by working with Canberra in a constructive way, in a partnership, we can continue to drive the economy forward and making sure that Western Australia remains a great place to live.”

The widening project is due to start in 2026.

Anthony Albanese has welcomed the lift of the minimum wage today by 3.5 per cent.

During the Federal Election campaign Labor had put a recommendation into the Fair Work Commission urging them to consider lifting the wage.

“We’re very pleased that the Fair Work Commission, independently of Government, has made this decision,” he said, while speaking in Perth on Tuesday.

It will mean almost three million Australian workers will see a boost from July 1.

“This decision today will be welcomed by people who keep our economy going,” the Prime Minister said.

“The essential workers who need this wage increase in real terms, and the fact that it is around about a per cent higher than the inflation rate, shows that real wage increase in order to help people with cost-of-living pressures.

“It’s what my government was re-elected to do during the last term.”

Anthony Albanese has announced the Federal Government will chip in $350 million to a WA state government $700m project to widen the city’s central Kwinana Freeway.

The stretch between Roe Highway and Mortimer Road is one of the most congested on Perth’s freeway network.

The PM joined Minister Catherine King and State colleagues WA Premier Roger Cook and Treasurer Rita Saffioti in Perth on Tuesday morning for the announcement, which is part of the upcoming State Budget on June 19.

“The Kwinana Freeway carries 100,000 vehicles every day,” he said, while speaking at the Traffic Centre in Perth.

“This investment is about making sure that our roads function more efficiently.

“This, of course, is a part of our commitment to building the infrastructure which Western

“Australia needs, not just here in Perth but right throughout Western Australia.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he and his fiancée, Jodie Haydon, are still considering when to set their wedding date, as public interest grows in what could be the first prime ministerial marriage during a term in office.

Although Mr Albanese proposed to Ms Haydon, 46, in February 2024, the couple have yet to marry, having paused their plans due to the May 3 election.

“We have now had an opportunity to discuss, and we have a few options between now and the end of the year,” Mr Albanese told ABC Radio on Tuesday. “But we’re waiting as well to look at the calendar.”

“I deliberately did not get ahead of myself. So from May 3 and beyond, there was a blank diary.”

Mr Albanese added that if Labor had lost the May 3 election, he and Ms Haydon would have taken a two-month honeymoon, but after the win, they’re aiming for a shorter break.

“We’re trying to find a couple of weeks. I reckon the Australian people will go: ‘Fair enough’.”

Multicultural Affairs Minister Anne Aly has announced the Albanese government will create a new “Office for Multicultural Affairs”.

The Cowan MP said it will bring together key functions within the Department of Home Affairs and work with three-tiers of government to more closely align the policies and programs.

“The establishment of a federal Office for Multicultural Affairs is a significant step, recognising the importance of not just celebrating multiculturalism but valuing diversity,” she said in a statement on Tuesday.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the office provided a central hub for government work and “makes sure every Australian feels welcomed and at home”.

Dr Aly’s new ministerial role marks an Australian first stand-alone position of “Minister for Multicultural Affairs”.

Anthony Albanese says his new Environment Minister Murray Watt will be “working hard” ahead of Parliament returning to find a pathway to reform Australia’s environmental laws.

Speaking on ABC breakfast radio on Tuesday, the Prime Minister said the Labor Government had an ambitious agenda that had been knocked back by the Coalition and the Greens.

Under former environment minister Tanya Plibersek Labor had tried to get through the “Nature Positive” reforms in three tranches, however, it was struck down in the Senate and faced backlash from industry and wA PRemier Roger Cook.

“The EPBC Act we, of course, tried to change to have a federal EPA. We agreed that the EPBC Act is not fit for purpose,” he told ABC radio.

“Unfortunately, the Coalition and the Greens both combined to ensure that that change couldn’t occur in the last term of Parliament.

“The new Minister, Murray Watt, is working hard over coming months to make sure that we try to get a federal EPA that is fit for purpose.

“That provides greater certainty for business but also provides greater support for sustainability so that we get a quicker answer, either yes or no, through these processes.

“He’ll be doing that over coming months.”

Former environment minister Tanya Pilbersek said it’s “not at all fair “ for the Federal Government to take the blame for the delayed Woodside gas project on the North West Shelf.

During her time in the role before the portfolio was handed to Murray Watt after their May 3 reelection, Ms Pilbersek had twice delayed the Federal Government decision.

“The West Australian government had six years to assess this project,” she told ABC breakfast radio on Tuesday, adding the Commonwealth only had the decision for six months.

Senator Watt last Wednesday gave provisional approval for the project to continue to 2070. The decision comes with strict conditions which Woodiside are now mulling over and are expected to respond to Senator Watt on or before Saturday.

Ms Plibersek said she couldn’t comment on the provisional decision process while it was ongoing.

“The environment Minister Murray Watt has made a provisional decision. I’m not going to go into the details of the conditions that might apply in this circumstance. That’s for the Environment Minister,” she said.

“When it comes to emissions, all of these projects have to fit within Australia’s trajectory to Net Zero.”

Tanya Pilbersek has said she’s “proud” of her track record in the Environment portfolio after a blitz by successor Murray Watt just weeks into the role.

Speaking on ABC radio on Tuesday, Ms Pilbersek - who is now the social services minister - said she approved a swathe of renewable projects and put Australia on track to reach its emission goals.

“I am proud of the work that the government did while I was environment Minister,” she said.

“I’m very proud of what we achieved during the last three years.

“During my time as Environment Minister, I approved more than 80 renewable energy projects, enough to power 11 million Australian homes.

“When it comes to emissions, all of these projects have to fit within Australia’s trajectory to Net Zero.

“We’re on track to get to 82 per cent renewable energy. We’re on track for our emissions reduction.”

On environmental protection areas, she said under her leadership Australia added about a hundred million hectares of land and ocean.

“That’s an area larger than Germany, Italy and Norway combined,” she said.