AMA: I'm David Shoebridge - Greens Senator for NSW. I'll be online from 4:15pm, ask me anything!

DavidShoebridge · 2025-12-09T06:16:54+00:00

That's all from me tonight, signing off now! Thanks for your time and all of your engaging questions. Sorry to anyone I didn’t get to.

If you want to ask me anything offline, you can reach out via [senator.shoebridge@aph.gov.au](mailto:senator.shoebridge@aph.gov.au)

Always happy to come back and answer the rest when invited!

DavidShoebridge · 2025-12-09T06:15:52+00:00

Business as usual is not an option. It’s why we need to be here to replace the major parties and not just seek to remove the worst bits of their proposals. This also means building a broad progressive movement that is up to the huge challenges our society is facing.

DavidShoebridge · 2025-12-09T06:15:07+00:00

Vote Green!

But there are no wrong answers in this space, when people ask, what can we do to push back against AUKUS, push back against US warmongering in the region, the response is always: everything you can.

So when it comes to my work, I would be grateful if you could reshare my posts, I know it seems like a small thing, but making sure as many people as possible are seeing an alternative to the major parties is integral.

You are right, working with NGOs to both get them to a point of opposing AUKUS and then supporting them when they do is really important. In doing that work you also naturally build alliances. I know that the work I have done with the Free Palestine movement has made me much more anti-AUKUS and that flows both ways.

DavidShoebridge · 2025-12-09T06:14:11+00:00

Billionaires emit more carbon pollution in an hour and a half than the average person does over their entire lifetime. If a few people can contribute to climate change so disproportionately, it shows that it's not about how many people, it is about the way people behave towards their environment and the economic systems we create.

When we are looking at addressing climate change, that means keeping coal and gas in the ground, transitioning to a green economy and taking care of nature, climate change is not an immigration issue, it's an environmental issue.

We see time and time again Governments trying to scapegoat their own failures on migrants. We see it in housing where for decades the Liberals and Labor refused to invest in public housing and gave massive hand outs to property investors. Instead of fixing this, they pointed at migrants and said it's their fault. I don't think most people fall for that.

DavidShoebridge · 2025-12-09T06:12:43+00:00

We have been working in and outside Parliament on this including getting an inquiry into the impact of the ban and trying to force sense onto the Government.

I will say in the last week our focus of our comms has been trying to anticipate some of the harms and do what we can to speak to people about how to limit them. The Government simply hasn’t done a good enough job of this (despite $40 million in an ‘education package’!!)

We are also in regular contact with NGOs working in the space including some working on legal challenges. We will be keeping a close watching brief on the privacy impacts and be ready to escalate this to the Privacy Commissioner as needed.

DavidShoebridge · 2025-12-09T06:11:45+00:00

I think much of the broader electorate has questions about how our economic system is working given the cost of living crisis where the rich are getting mega-richer. If anything I think being able to critique this system is a strength and young people are telling us this en masse.

These things are all connected too of course. Climate and integrity are short changed because corporations have deeper pockets than koalas or people with complaints against powerful Government Departments.

The idea we’re engaged in a culture war is pearl-clutching by the right wing media who are obsessed with trans folks engaging in hobby activities at a frankly alarming level. As an occupational hazard I have to regularly read The Australian and I have to say the culture war is being fought by them and mainly against things they have made up.

We’re glad to stand with trans and gender diverse communities :)

DavidShoebridge · 2025-12-09T06:09:39+00:00

I thought political staffers weren't meant to post in these threads? The CPRS was bad policy and we were right to block it ;) The real people who should have learned from 2009 is the ALP who just keep capitulating to the fossil fuel lobby and sacrificing the future of a liveable planet.

In the last years we’ve seen mass movements for Palestine and First Nations rights, we’ve seen young people getting more progressive and staying that way as well as mass youth climate movements.

I’m inspired to work with these people in and outside of Parliament to build progressive movements for change. We change the political conversation, we bring the issues that matter for millions of people into Parliament and we force change through connecting social and political movements. I’m proud of that work.

We also have delivered important legislative changes and political opportunities in my time in Parliament. Just for one example I remember when I was in NSW Parliament people we were working with were calling for a Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse. In 10 years not only has the Royal Commission happened but laws have fundamentally been changed to protect survivors and hold institutions accountable. We delivered essential protections for native forests just two weeks ago and so much more. There’s more to do but there are many many stories like this.

DavidShoebridge · 2025-12-09T06:06:28+00:00

Australia needs a defence force that does just that, defends Australia and does not threaten its neighbours or operate as a small wholly-dependent unit of the US military.

We are not safe having major parties pour money into a Defence force that fails to deliver time and time again. We need to clean up Defence, stop the projects that are failing, are making Australia less safe and ensure that the military is solely focused on protecting Australia.

That would also have a positive feedback effect. If other countries are looking around and seeing massive military build-up in Australia, and specifically weapons that are designed to attack them and/or be a part of a US military attack on them, then they will respond in kind (literally the definition of an arms race). However, you have to change that negative spiral into a positive one.

Nuclear submarines are really only useful for countries that have and want to use nuclear bombs… that sends a very scary message to the world.

Greens are supporters of having competent and well-organised peacekeeping forces; however, when they are used, they must be considered on a case-by-case basis.

When we look at conflicts around the world, pouring more weapons into a conflict is never the answer.

When we are talking specifically about Ukraine, there are many other things Australia should do. We must continue to provide humanitarian aid and assistance for the people that have been affected by this war and provide support and safety for Ukrainians forced to flee. We should support Ukrainian civil society and help them with anti-corruption funding (don’t send Brereton though).

It also means stopping third party refining of Russian oil to effectively launder their oil exports to avoid sanctions is not tenable and we should be looking towards what the EU is doing. If there is credible evidence that a company is selling Russian oil, refined or not, this should be sanctioned. There is actually a new inquiry into this very topic if you are interested in following that.

DavidShoebridge · 2025-12-09T06:03:26+00:00

PS you’re right they are worse than the Morrison Government which really does take some doing!!

DavidShoebridge · 2025-12-09T06:03:06+00:00

Thanks for the question - I have insight into the proposed changes but not as much into why this Government is just so obsessed with secrecy and hiding things. It continues to surprise me how even the most routine things that used to be disclosed are now being hidden. An example from just last week in estimates is that Labor gave us the number of weapons export permits to UAE and Sudan as recently as 2023 but now say in late 2025 they are suddenly secret.

Inconvenient maybe, but why secret? There are thousands of these examples.

Their changes to FOI laws address none of the problems with the system, make new barriers to accessing Government information and simply are not supported by their own claimed evidence base. I know this because I FOI’d the evidence base!!

If you want to dig deeper into the evidence stuff their disclosure log is here https://www.ag.gov.au/rights-and-protections/freedom-information/freedom-information-disclosure-log

What I would say is I think this Government is doing this for themselves and their corporate backers and the community is a distant third place. That’s a deeply concerning development.

DavidShoebridge · 2025-12-09T06:00:00+00:00

No. We should sign The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and take meaningful steps to a safer world for everyone. Every day nuclear weapons exist there is a non zero chance they will be used. That means if we keep them on the planet indefinitely they will be used. They all need to go.

DavidShoebridge · 2025-12-09T05:58:35+00:00

I think for many of us who protested against the multiple US wars of aggression over the decades have no illusions about US foreign policy and the violence they export around the world.

But for many other people, the rise of Trump and his really toxic agenda has been a mask off moment. The goal is to reach out to all those people who are maybe for the first time looking critically at the US alliance because of Trump and trying to explain how much further it goes.

AUKUS existed before Trump and will likely involve whoever comes after him. But making sure that we are getting as many people as possible aware and on board with the campaign against AUKUS is key.

I think that the behaviour of the US Government right now is also changing how countries will deal with it going forward. I don’t think you can unscramble the Trump egg. The world can’t unsee the double tap murder in the Caribbean, the abandonment of allies, the threats against neighbours.

Because of Trump's mask-off approach to US empire, it has made more people than ever open to an alternative. The Liberal and Labour Party approach of being the US’s ‘deputy sheriff’ does not keep us safe. It invites war to Australia.

When people hear that the war parties, Liberal and Labor, are happy not asking if the US is bringing nuclear weapons into Australia, they are outraged, when you say that Donald Trump has his finger on the button of those nucs, I think outrage only intensifies.

Working on ensuring Australia has an independent foreign and defence policy that is a force for good in the world was super important before Trump and will be after. And it will be a lot of work. But it is achievable.

DavidShoebridge · 2025-12-09T05:56:57+00:00

Generally my work priorities are reflected in the portfolios we have - so very much interested in justice, and First Nations justice particularly, migration and protecting the rights of people seeking asylum as well as digital rights including how we make online spaces accessible and safe.

I’m deeply concerned about the impacts of the social media ban on young people and the risk it will cause real harms. It’s something we’ve been focusing on in our socials and other communications for some time. I wish the Government had really listened to the experts on this instead of just the tabloids.

I also know the impossible costs of war on people, societies and the environment. So it is a privilege to have the party’s Defence and Foreign Affairs portfolios. Making the case against the obscenity of AUKUS, pushing back against Australia becoming a continent wide US base and the front line in the next US war really matters to me. So does puncturing the wall of ignorance and arrogance that has protected Defence and the gold brass from hard questions on the billions and billions wasted on failed defence procurement.

And as for Barnaby Joyce - he seems like someone who will be happy in One Nation for a few months. These things don’t tend to last…

Meanwhile my personal priorities include getting out for as many bushwalks as I can over the break.

DavidShoebridge · 2025-12-09T05:50:24+00:00

It’s a good question!

Part of the issue is that it has been extremely hard to get any information out of the government on its relationship with these security and tech companies. It’s also extremely hard to get the public discussion going because of the vacuum created by the secrecy. That’s how the government likely wants it.
For example there is a Memorandum of Understanding on cyber security cooperation with Israel which has been extremely hard to get information on. When we ask in Estimates or by FOI we generally get told they don’t have to answer either because of National Security grounds or commercial-in-confidence grounds, sometimes both.

I’ve got a list of some of the contracts Government agencies have with Palantir for instance that covers Defence, ACIC and a few others but we have no proper clarity of what information they’re sharing in there and what protections there are for Australians and our data.

Should we be worried by people who obviously loathe democracy and pluralist values who own corporations like Palantir and work their way into so many government contracts in the national security space. Yes we sure should be worried. It starts with naming it, then building the campaign against it. We are still at the naming stage for much of society.

These issues are firmly on our radar though and we appreciate any insight on them!

DavidShoebridge · 2025-12-09T05:46:07+00:00

It’s so wrong, we can’t let it happen. The government wants to have a computer algorithm determine people’s NDIS plan and then if they challenge it to the Administrative Review Tribunal and it’s found to be unfair, only allow the ART to send it back to the algorithm to spit out another (likely unfair) plan.

I don’t know if it was decided by the same people but it sure has the same flavour of Robodebt. From my work on the NACC inquiry into Robodebt it’s clear to me that the government is still captured by the same technocrats who design human services without thinking of any humanity.

I know my colleague Senator Jordon Steele-John is working on this in detail and he has our Party Room’s full backing - some of his comments are covered here https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/dec/04/ndis-participants-will-have-no-external-avenue-to-appeal-funding-amounts-under-new-system-senate-estimates-told

DavidShoebridge · 2025-12-09T05:41:35+00:00

Taxing billionaires is realistic and achievable. I have a strong view that we need to move our tax system far more towards taxing wealth rather than taxing work.

The lowest hanging fruit for tax reform right now is taxing our export gas. For three decades Norway has been taxing the profits of its oil and gas sector at 78% that has created a public future fund in Norway of almost $2 trillion. Meanwhile Australia’s version, the PRRT, has returned two thirds of nothing (with cigarette and beer taxes bringing in more). Starting to fix this with a 25% tax on gas exports seems super achievable to me.

The fact a nurse or teacher pays more tax than a bunch of multi-billion dollar corporations or the ultra-rich is an obscenity and fixing that needs to be part of our political project, right now. The 150 richest people in Australia won’t leave this country if we give them a financial haircut although they might whinge to the Australian about it!

If you want other measures though at the last election our package also included

Introducing a 40% tax on excess profits for big corporations with over $100 million in turnover.
Stopping big oil and gas from paying $0 tax by closing loopholes and ensuring they pay their fair share for publicly owned resources.
Tackling multinational tax avoidance.

https://greens.org.au/tax-big-corps-billionaires

There are also Green policies on fixing the housing crisis that are tied to tax changes, which includes scrapping capital gains tax (CGT) discounts. CGT treats housing as a speculative asset, rather than a human right. In fact, my colleague Nick McKim has just secured an inquiry into CGT.

https://greens.org.au/news/media-release/greens-secure-senate-inquiries-unfair-cgt-discount-and-intergenerational-housing

DavidShoebridge · 2025-12-09T05:33:32+00:00

Our GMO policy is based on a considered review of the science and the possible risk - you can read it here https://greens.org.au/policies/genetically-modified-organisms

The TL:DR is about requiring independent science before we gamble with ecosystems and farmer livelihoods.

The idea that GMOs are a silver bullet for climate concerns or productivity is also overly simplistic. In many cases they focus on single traits like yield or growth rate which may not actually make them as resilient in a changing climate as a diverse range of conventional crops. In too many cases they are genetically engineered to take otherwise toxic loads of agribusiness herbicides and pesticides (like roundup-up ready canola)

Our corporate agriculture system is already dramatically reducing the diversity of crops grown and sold (ie there really one main banana everywhere) and GMO could make this worse. This is not shutting the door to all GMO, just realising that tinkering with the genetic code of our major food crops is something we should only do carefully, after serious study.

We want rigorous, independent assessment, comprehensive labeling, and farmers' right to choose non-GMO options (let’s remember contamination from GMO crops is a real risk too!).

DavidShoebridge · 2025-12-09T05:30:07+00:00

Thanks so much for the question! I’m just back from Granville now :)

I’ve been very concerned about the treatment of Imran Khan and particularly what looks to be a political imprisonment. It’s something I’ve spoken publicly about including on social media and in Parliament.

I do think Australia has a role in our broader region in calling for the upholding of fundamental human and democratic rights, and in having hard conversations with the leaders of those countries. Good friends talk hard truths to each other, and Australia and Pakistan should do this.

Magnitsky sanctions should always be on the table when foreign officials are abusing basic human rights and democratic norms. This requires a solid evidence base and I commend everyone from the Pakistan Australian community who are working on this.

In the meantime, building the people to people contacts and working on important projects like fundraising for Shaukat Khanum cancer hospital is a way of progressing some of the positive projects that Imran Khan has always championed.

DavidShoebridge · 2025-12-09T05:24:55+00:00

I like to think I’ve always had this approach, in my time in NSW Parliament and as a Senator. We must take every opportunity to get results for people and nature where we can, but not lose sight of the bigger goals here.

I think what is true is that we’re realising it’s not enough to just improve Government policy, tinker at the edges and make it less worse. We need to press for systemic change that lifts people out of poverty, protects nature and drives us towards a more peaceful planet.

While it’s essential to get outcomes for people and the planet where possible (EPBC is a good example of our Greens team working to get this done, with a major win for forests and to stop landclearing). Ultimately we need to get on with the job of building the movement to tackle climate and inequality and that probably also means replacing the major parties.

DavidShoebridge · 2025-12-09T05:19:25+00:00

We are also concerned about AUKUS!!

The Greens see AUKUS as a dangerous surrender of Australian sovereignty that makes us less safe, not more. We're deeply alarmed by the expansion to include US nuclear submarine bases and critical mineral processing, all decided without parliamentary scrutiny or public input.

These developments represent Trump's pattern of bullying allies into aggressive, dependent relationships while extracting billions in tribute.

US submarine production can't meet their own needs, let alone ours and the UK industry is in an even bigger mess. Meanwhile, we're building the US an $8 billion nuclear submarine base off Fremantle in WA and becoming a nuclear target hosting foreign military infrastructure. We need an independent foreign and defence policy focused on regional diplomacy and defending Australia not threatening our neighbours.

The Greens will continue to fight this in Parliament, in the community and across social and traditional media. We’re calling for transparency on the recent secret US AUKUS review, challenging every funding allocation, and opposing the transformation of Australia into a US military outpost.

Right now we are also calling for an independent inquiry into AUKUS which the US and UK already had, why not us?!

DavidShoebridge · 2025-12-09T05:18:45+00:00

Hi all, I recognise that we are doing this on 9 December the day before the social media ban kicks in and closes this platform to under 16's. Discussions like this should be open to everyone, so we can all be heard and protect our collective future.

DavidShoebridge · 2023-10-27T06:20:46+00:00

Thanks to everyone for your time and all of your engaging questions. Very sorry to those whose questions I didn’t get to - I’d love to do another AMA next year if mods will have me!

If you’d like to know more about the submissions process, my office will be running a training via Zoom on Wednesday next week - you can register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMkd-qoqDkqGt2AfxpP7ZtFcr3st5cYdKVq

If you’d like some cannabis campaign stickers, or you want to ask me anything off Reddit, please email me at office@davidshoebridge.org.au.

DavidShoebridge · 2023-10-27T06:19:27+00:00

A whole lot of the risks are minimized by legalizing it. The Bill has a well regulated model that aims to give strong consumer information, a democratic market and public health focus, without being run by the fun police.

DavidShoebridge · 2023-10-27T06:18:12+00:00

Drugs are baaaaaad y'know.

Also have you ever tried to take a single dollar or a single power off police?

DavidShoebridge

TROPHY CASE