National cabinet united on Voice
STATE and territory leaders have backed a referendum for a constitutionally enshrined Voice to parliament and welcomed an extension of federal funding for hospitals at a “refreshingly collaborative” meeting of national cabinet in Canberra.
The energy crisis had been expected to dominate discussion during Anthony Albanese’s first national cabinet meeting as Prime Minister on Friday, but there were no signs of division on the issue.
Mr Albanese said the cabinet had “noted further challenges” the nation was facing from energy markets but revealed state and territory leaders also backed the 43 per cent greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for 2030, which the federal government formally adopted this week.
Mr Albanese said he would be announcing Australia’s new 2030 target (an increase from the 26-28 per cent cut promised as part of the Paris Agreement) at an Advanced Economies Forum to be convened by US President Joe Biden on Friday night.
He also announced Queensland Labor senator Murray Watt would be reviewing federal government disaster recovery funding.
Mr Albanese said it was important that such funding was “consistent, streamlined and equitable”.
State and territory leaders gave a big tick of approval to Mr Albanese’s announcement that federal Covid-related hospital funding would be extended until December.
Mr Albanese also announced he had asked Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary Glyn Davis to conduct a “process review” of health funding arrangements.
The review would not necessarily involve “additional dollars”, Mr Albanese said, but it would look at ways to alleviate pressure on the hospital system by ensuring people could receive care through their GP and aged care networks.
National cabinet would meet a minimum of four times a year, including before the federal budget in October, Mr Albanese announced, and once a year it would include a representative from local government and Treasury, “to ensure that all levels of government are able to be involved”.
Productivity and removing duplication would be a key focus, he said.
On the issue of the Voice to parliament, Mr Albanese said state and territory leaders had “expressed their support for the commonwealth’s commitment to progress a referendum”.
“It is something that’s got to be progressed, this year and this term,” he said.
The congenial tone of the meeting was emphasised by NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, one of only two Liberal leaders in national cabinet, who called the meeting “refreshingly collaborative”.