Key milestone for Pacific Engagement Visa program

Pacific Island and Timor-Leste nationals will be able to register for Australia’s new Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) program from 3 June 2024, providing new opportunities for Pacific and Timorese nationals to live, work and study in Australia.

The program will enable up to 3,000 citizens of Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste to migrate to Australia as permanent residents each year.

This will grow Australia’s diaspora, deepen cultural connections, boost business, and educational ties between Australia and participating countries and support economic development in the Pacific.

Countries participating in the first year of the program include Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, with discussions ongoing with other partners in the region.

The PEV program will use an online ballot to select participants, who can then apply for the visa, providing an equitable, streamlined and transparent system.

Applicants must secure a formal ongoing job offer in Australia and meet health and character requirements, before being granted a visa.

The PEV responds directly to Pacific requests for greater regional mobility, delivering education, skills and economic and development dividends for the region, and linking us more closely together.

Pacific and Timorese nationals participating in the program will have access to a range of supports, including migrant settlement services, English language programs, public schools and healthcare, and financial supports to encourage participation in study and training.

For further information visit Pacific Engagement Visa program.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong:

“The Albanese Government is delivering on our commitment to deepen our connections with the Pacific and Timor-Leste with the commencement of the Pacific Engagement Visa.

“Australia has listened to the calls of Pacific leaders and responded, as we play our part for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Pacific.”

Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP:

“The Pacific Engagement Visa demonstrates the high value Australia places on its relationship with the Pacific and Timor-Leste.”

“The program will grow Pacific and Timor-Leste diasporas in Australia, strengthening linkages between our people and encouraging greater cultural, business, economic and educational exchange with Pacific countries.”

“The program has transformative potential, making Australia’s world-class education and training system more accessible for new residents under the Pacific Engagement Visa.”

“Through these impacts, and by boosting remittance flows to Pacific countries, the program will also support economic development and welfare in the Pacific.”

Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Andrew Giles MP:

“The Pacific Engagement Visa program is an opportunity to address the under-representation of Pacific island and Timorese nationals in Australia’s permanent migration program, with less than 1 per cent of permanent migrants currently coming from the region.”

“The program is in keeping with the Government’s Migration Strategy which identifies deepening Australia’s people-to-people links with the Indo-Pacific as one of eight key actions to reform the migration system.”

LABOR IS MIA ON MENTAL HEALTH

The Chair of Mental Health Australia has resigned because the labor government has failed to take sufficient action on mental health policy. 

The Australian Greens agree that the government is failing people in Australia when it comes to proactive policies that would improve our communities’ mental health. 

Senator Jordon Steele-John, Greens Spokesperson for Health:

“We are experiencing a mental health crisis in this country – the former chair of Mental Health Australia knows it, our community knows it, but Labor does not seem to care. 

“This month we’ve seen the Labor government choose to provide billions in handouts to weapons companies, instead of investing in our community and expanding mental health care available through Medicare. 

“We need to see Labor reverse their decision to reduce the number of better access scheme sessions and commit to return to 20 mental healthcare sessions. 

“In the cost of living crisis we’re experiencing there should be no out-of-pocket costs for people accessing mental health care in this country. It is unacceptable that people are in a situation where they need to ration their healthcare because of the cost.

“This is beyond crisis point. The Federal Government must explore ways for people to get affordable mental health care, including expanding the range of mental healthcare professionals that offer services through Medicare.” 

AUSTRALIA EXPORTED $1.5 MILLION WORTH OF WEAPONS TO ISRAEL IN FEBRUARY 2024, FRESH DFAT DATA SHOWS

Just published data from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade shows that in February 2024 alone Australia directly exported over $1.5 million in ‘arms and ammunition’ to Israel.

This most recent version of DFAT’s monthly ‘country and commodity pivot tables’ shows that the value of the February 2024 exports was nearly as much as the entire value of direct ‘arms and munitions’ exports to Israel since the Albanese Government came to power, collectively over $3.25 million.

The term ‘arms and ammunition’ only refers to guns, bullets, missiles, tanks, swords and other weapons. This definition does not cover the bulk of military goods Australia exports directly to Israel or through third countries, such as engines for drones and military-grade steel for armoured vehicles. These figures also likely do not include weapons exported indirectly, such as F35 fighter parts that likely are channelled through the United States and Europe.

At a recent Senate Estimates hearing, the Chief Economist of DFAT acknowledged that the DFAT data showing Australia has exported $10 million worth of ‘arms and ammunition’ to Israel over the past five years is credible.

UN agencies and experts have called on countries, including Australia, to stop exporting military equipment to Israel for months. These calls are being ignored by the Albanese Government.

Greens Senator and Defence Spokesperson David Shoebridge said: “Make no mistake the Albanese Labor Government by permitting these exports to Israel is complicit in the genocide that is occurring. Each of these exports requires the express consent of the Australian government.

“The fact these arms and ammunition exports occurred in February 2024 is appalling. This was five months into the brutal assault on the people of Gaza when the world had witnessed indiscriminate and disproportionate killing and mass starvation being used as a weapon by the Israeli military.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says Australia is still exporting military equipment to Israel, as does the UN and Australian arms manufacturers. It is no longer credible for the Albanese Government to deny this reality.

“It’s remarkable that Australian exporters are being more honest about sending arms and ammunition to Israel in the middle of a genocide than our own Government.

“It is long past time for the Albanese Labor Government to stop the two-way arms trade with the State of Israel. This is their obligation under international humanitarian law and the express provisions of the Genocide Convention.

“How many more deaths will it take, and how many more times will the Government try to mislead the public, before action is taken?”

GOVERNMENT CAN TAKE ACTION ON MEN’S VIOLENCE WITHOUT WAITING ROYAL COMMISSION

A Royal Commission could draw further attention to this epidemic, but we already know what needs to be done to reduce and eliminate violence against women: fund and roll-out nationwide prevention programs, fully fund frontline response services including crisis housing, and fix the justice system.

Greens leader in the Senate and spokesperson on women, Larissa Waters

“Many state and federal parliamentary inquiries into violence against women and children have already been undertaken, creating many excellent recommendations that await implementation. The National Plan likewise contains laudable aspirations.

“A Royal Commission could further delay those urgent actions while women continue to die at the hands of men they know.

“If we want to stop women being murdered, we need to see the government cough up real funding increases in the upcoming budget that are guaranteed in the long-term. 

“We need to properly fund crisis accommodation, so that women and children experiencing violence can find a safe place to sleep.

“We need to fund prevention services, to put an end to the gender inequality and culture of disrespect for women that exists in our society.

“We need to increase income support payments so that women trying to escape violence aren’t forced to choose between a violent home and poverty. 

“These are real, concrete actions Labor can take now to keep women safe. Without waiting for a Royal Commission.”

LABOR’S MIA IN PERTH ON MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS

The Chair of Mental Health Australia has resigned because the Labor government has failed to take sufficient action on mental health policy.

The Australian Greens agree that the government is failing people in Australia when it comes to proactive policies that would improve our communities’ mental health.

The Greens plan includes investing $4.8 billion to ensure mental healthcare is fully covered under Medicare by providing unlimited sessions with a psychologist or psychiatrist with no out-of-pocket fees so everyone can get the support they need, when they need it, at every stage of their mental health journey.

Senator Jordon Steele-John, Greens Spokesperson for Health

“The Labor government’s obsession with providing billions in handouts to weapons companies instead of investing in our communities has left millions of Australians struggling.

“Last Week Defence Minister Richard Marles announced an additional $50 Billion in funding to accelerate long-range missiles and targeting systems, as well as lethal autonomous systems. This $50 billion could have instead provided free and unlimited mental health care to every resident in Perth and across the country for a century.

“We are experiencing a mental health crisis in this country and instead of getting rid of the arbitrary division between mental health and physical health this government has cut Medicare subsidised psychologist sessions by half.” 

“The Greens want to end the creeping Americanisation of Australia’s healthcare system and bring mental healthcare fully under Medicare so it’s your medicare card and not your bank balance that determines whether you can get the support you need when you need it.”
 

Sophie Greer, Greens Candidate for Perth

“Our community here in Perth are struggling right now and the cost of living crisis is having a significant effect on the mental wellbeing of our community.”

“During COVID the increase in subsidised psychologist sessions was a relief for so many residents who were struggling. It’s unbelievable that the Labor government, including our local member, would support reducing people’s access to affordable mental health care.” 

“1 in 2 people in Australia experience a mental health condition in their lifetime, and our Perth community is in urgent need of more community mental health support. 

“The Greens plan will see a huge investment into our healthcare system, it’ll support our local mental health workforce and ensure people can access mental health support, including access to psychology or psychiatry sessions free of charge when they need it.”

NSW Government delivers on election commitment to empower female sports leaders

In a boost for female participation in sport, the NSW Labor Government is today delivering on it’s election commitment to ensure our State Sporting Organisations are better funded to provide for our grassroots sporting communities.

A key component of the election promise was to drive outcomes for women in sport, in governance, as coaches, or building the next generation of female leaders.

As part of the Organisational Support Program a new project to deliver the next generation of female sporting leaders was launched today following an agreement between the NSW Government and peak body Sport NSW.

The NSW Government will provide $250,000 to Sport NSW to deliver the Female Leadership and Fair Play Project which will expand on Sport NSW’s female leadership and Fast Track for Female Coaches program to increase the number of female leaders and coaches in NSW sport.

The project will also support the implementation of the NSW Sport Fair Play network which will support and advise on initiative to make community sport environments more welcoming and supportive for participants at a grass root level.

The aim of this initiative is to build a pipeline of board ready female leaders to support gender equity on boards and close the gender gap amongst coaches in pathway and elite coaching roles.

NSW Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:

“The NSW Government is committed to supporting pathways for female coaches and officials in sport.

“Participants in this project will become role models for future female coaches and athletes, increasing the depth of knowledge and expertise among female coaches in this state.

“Importantly, it will also create a pipeline of board-ready female leaders, resulting in increased gender equity on boards in the future.”

Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said:

“The NSW Government is committed to improving gender equality and one of the ways it is doing this is the Female Leadership and Fair Play Project to increase the number of female leaders and coaches.

“Research shows that organisations with women in leadership positions leads to a decline in their gender pay gap.

“Therefore, it is vital that we provide women and girls pathways to leadership so we can continue to address gender quality and the pay gap in sport.

“It’s not only good for women, it’s good for sport.”

Sport NSW Chair Chris Hall said:

“The Female Leadership and Fair Play Project aims to increase knowledge and capability among female coaches, match officials and leaders at NSW sporting organisations.

“This funding will allow us to develop more female leaders across the sport sector.

“Sport NSW looks forward to partnering with sporting organisations so even more women have the opportunity to become coaches, senior administrators and board directors.”

Paralympic Gold Medallist and NSW Institute of Sport Coach and program presenter Louise Sauvage OAM said:

“It is vital that we provide programs that support the pathway development of female coaches, match officials and leaders.

“Importantly, this project also aims to improve inclusiveness in sport by providing guidance and education to leaders on inclusive participation opportunities.”

Call for input into noise camera trial in Bayside

For too long residents in the Bayside local council area have had to put up with noisy vehicles interrupting their peace. The NSW Government is taking action to end that.

The NSW Labor Government committed in the election to trialling noise cameras and cracking down on cars that disturb the peace.  

Residents are now being invited to provide input into the noise camera trial, which is due to start in the coming months.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) will trial noise cameras in Bayside and Wollongong in response to community concerns about the impact of noisy vehicles.

Residents can make suggestions on where the noise cameras should be trialled, via the EPA’s website. The EPA plans to test the moveable cameras at several locations.

Vehicle noise cameras are an emerging technology currently being tested in various formats in major cities around the world, including in London, Paris and New York.  

In NSW, the EPA works in partnership with local government, NSW Police and NSW Roads and Maritime Services to enforce noise control regulations.

Give input on the noise camera trial

Report noisy vehicle pollution

Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said:

“Car hoons are on notice. The NSW Government has heard the community’s concerns about noisy vehicles and is committed to sourcing and testing the most effective methods to deter anti-social behaviour on our roads.

“Work is underway to test noise cameras in communities fed up with noisy vehicles, and we invite all residents to have their say and play a key role in the trials.”

Member for Rockdale Steve Kamper said:

“The local Rockdale community has been calling for action against disruptive noisy vehicles for years.

“In the first 12 months of Government, we have already delivered three new fixed speed cameras along The Grand Parade to address the reckless behaviour endangering our local community.

“The Noise Camera Trial is the next step in addressing the antisocial behaviour. I encourage all interested residents in the Rockdale and Bayside Council area to have their say.”

Recovery support extended for flood-affected NSW communities

Disaster assistance will be extended to the Armidale, Campbelltown, Lismore, Moree Plains, Northern Beaches and Port Stephens Local Government Areas (LGAs), following heavy rainfall and flooding across NSW from 1 April 2024.

The assistance measures are being provided by the Albanese and Minns Governments through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Support includes:

  • assistance for eligible residents to help meet immediate needs like emergency accommodation or small cash payments to purchase essential items generally provided from evacuation or recovery centres
  • grants for eligible residents to replace lost essential household items to maintain basic standard of living
  • grants for eligible residents to undertake essential structural repairs to restore their homes to a safe and habitable condition
  • support for affected local councils to help with the costs of cleaning up and restoring damaged essential public assets
  • concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, primary producers, and non-profit organisations and grants to sporting and recreation clubs to repair or replace damaged or destroyed property
  • freight subsidies for primary producers to help transport livestock and fodder.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt said the extent of the flooding impact is still being assessed.

“This flood event has caused damage across communities, impacting homes, farms, businesses and volunteer groups,” Minister Watt said.

“Many Government agencies and community groups are still out on the ground to assess the damage and continue the mammoth clean-up effort.

“I know the Minns Government is continuing to assess the situation and is adapting as we gain a clearer picture of the impact of this disaster, and our Government stands ready to support as needed.”

NSW Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said the extension of the Natural Disaster Declaration is part of the NSW Government’s ongoing response to the flooding and storm events earlier this month.

“The extension of this disaster declaration unlocks assistance for additional communities in need, as the full extent of the damage becomes known,” Minister Dib said.

More information and support

For information relating to financial assistance, replacing lost documents, location of your nearest recovery centre and more, please contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 or visit www.nsw.gov.au/floods

To apply for a concessional loan or primary producer grant, contact the NSW Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593 or visit www.raa.nsw.gov.au

Further information on disaster assistance can be found on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au

Investigation to be launched into Liverpool City Council

The Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig has requested the Office of Local Government to undertake an investigation into Liverpool City Council.

The Section 430 Investigation will look at whether there has been a breakdown in the council’s operations amid ongoing reports about dysfunction and staff matters within council.

Under Section 430, the Deputy Secretary Local Government has the power to carry out investigations into council operations either independently or at the request of the Minister for Local Government.

The Terms of Reference for the Inquiry will be finalised in the coming days and will be available on the Office of Local Government website.

A report into the investigation will be provided to the Minister for Local Government and Liverpool City Council.

Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said:

“I’ve been concerned about the operations of Liverpool Council for some time and it’s clear there’s a fractured relationship between councillors and staff.

“I’ve asked the Office of Local Government to undertake an investigation into the Council because the local community needs reassurance that their council is operating properly.

“Elected officials have a responsibility to their communities to operate effectively and efficiently, and I’m concerned about the level of dysfunction within Liverpool Council that is playing out publicly.

“A robust investigation undertaken by the OLG will shore up public confidence and ensure council is focused on delivering for its community.”

Eliminating malaria in our region

Australia is investing up to $30 million to support governments and communities across the Pacific and Southeast Asia deliver new tools and build critical skills to eliminate malaria.

Malaria remains a major challenge in our region with over 7 million reported cases in 2022, and rising infection rates in some countries. Malaria is a burden on families and health systems, slowing development and restricting growth.

New tools are urgently needed to address the emerging resistance to current treatments, and the impact of climate change, which threaten to roll back progress achieved against malaria.

Our new package, announced on World Malaria Day, provides comprehensive support ranging from preventing infections through strengthened mosquito control to developing better testing tools and improved treatments.

This includes $5 million to James Cook University to support Pacific countries to strengthen surveillance and control of mosquito-borne diseases like malaria, dengue and zika.

It also includes a new $8 million partnership with non-government health organisation PATH, in a consortium with Australia’s Burnet Institute and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, to develop new diagnostic tests targeted to our region.

Additionally, we are partnering with the Medicines for Malaria Venture, providing $17 million for the development of new malaria treatments including medicines suitable for use in pregnancy and for children.

This new package is part of the Partnerships for a Healthy Region initiative, which works with governments and civil society organisations in the Pacific and Southeast Asia to build resilient, equitable and inclusive health systems.

It adds to our existing support for malaria elimination, including through the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance, and the Innovative Vector Control Consortium.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong:

“Malaria is not only a threat to the health and wellbeing of communities in the Pacific and Southeast Asia, it also impacts education, tourism and economic growth.

“Investing in our partnerships with our region and its capacity to test and treat malaria is clearly in Australia’s interest.”

Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP:

“The Australian Government is supporting the development of new health tools and skills to fight malaria at every stage.

“We are investing to support our region with better surveillance, better control to prevent infections, better diagnostics to detect cases, and better medications so people with malaria receive the best possible care.”