SBS News in Easy English 24 May 2023

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sign two new economic partnership agreements during a bilateral meeting in Sydney this morning [[WEDNESDAY]]. The new migration and labour mobility partnership agreement will make it easier for students and business people to move between Australia and India, while also increasing cooperation to prevent people smuggling. Prime Minister Albanese has also announced the signing of a new Australia / India green hydrogen task force. He says it will ensure their two countries reach global emissions reduction targets. [[" The task force will comprise Australian and Indian experts in renewable hydrogen and report to the Australian Indian ministerial energy dialogue on the opportunities which are there for Australia and India to cooperate in this important area of renewable hydrogen. Investments like the task force will help power our industries in the future. And ensure that Australia and India meet our energy targets in the interests of both our respective countries but also in support of reduction of global emissions."]] ------------ The Indigenous voice referendum is back up for debate in federal parliament today [[WEDNESDAY]]. Parliament is set to vote on the final wording of the referendum question along with the changes to the constitution should the proposal succeed. Opposition leader Peter Dutton says the proposal will re-racialise our nation, a comment that Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney has called disinformation. Deputy Liberal leader, Sussan Ley, denies her party has resorted to scare tactics. [["Absolutely not. Of course, debate should be respectful, and overwhelmingly it is. And we will always call out outliers, who behave in a disrespectful manner, who have divisive language, and who don’t treat this referendum in the way that all referenda should be treated in Australia. We will always call that out. But overwhelmingly, I’m pleased to say that people are asking genuine questions. Unfortunately, they’re not getting answers."]]