Labor Announces Candidate for Reid

Labor leader Anthony Albanese has today announced the ALP’s candidate for Reid, Sally Sitou.
Sally and her husband are Homebush locals, where they live with their young son Max. Sally is the daughter of hardworking Chinese parents who fled Laos after the Vietnam war.
She believes passionately in the education and work opportunities that allowed her family to thrive and prosper in Australia.
Sally is a doctoral researcher at the University of Sydney Business School where her focus is the finance industry and how to strengthen leadership in this sector by empowering more women and people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
Before commencing her PhD, Sally worked in the international education and international development sectors, including stints with AusAID in Samoa and with a not-for-profit advocating for the elderly in China as an Australian Government Youth Ambassador for Development.

Anthony Albanese said:

“Sally is an exceptional candidate. She joined the Labor Party because she believes that with hard work, a good education, strong community support and secure employment, everyone can build the life they want for themselves and their children – regardless of their background or where they come from.
“Sally knows what matters to the working families of Reid and she will work hard every day to elect a Labor Government focused on affordable housing and childcare, a stronger Medicare, quality aged care and cheaper power bills.’’

Free hospitality training caters for skills gap

Whether it’s a first job or a career change, the NSW Government is out to attract job seekers with free training opportunities designed to help fill skill shortages in the hospitality sector.
The NSW Government today announced around 3000 free training places across 29 different courses are now available to study at TAFE NSW and other registered training providers, including barista training, safe food handling, responsible service of alcohol (RSA) and introduction to cooking courses.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the free training would help attract more workers to hospitality venues, at a critical time in the sector’s recovery from the pandemic.
“People from all over the State are lining up to get into pubs and clubs and we want to support those businesses with enthusiastic and skilled staff,” Mr Perrottet said.
“We know businesses are struggling without the international workforce they depended on pre-lockdown. That’s why opportunities like this are so valuable, filling labour gaps and giving jobseekers the opportunity of a bright future in hospitality.”
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said the sector had been calling out for help to staff venues, and the NSW Government is responding.
“We’ve opened the doors to the State, and now we want to equip the sector with the confidence to thrive with the rest of the economy,” Mr Lee said.
“This training not only helps businesses staff venues, but it also opens up career opportunities for people looking to make their start in the once again booming hospitality industry.”
“There are great career pathways in hospitality; today’s bartender or wait staff can become tomorrow’s pub, bar or restaurant owner.”
Australian Hotels Association Chief Executive John Whelan said the training had come at the right time as pubs and resturaunts dial up business.
“The NSW government is to be congratulated. This comprehensive program provides the skills to build a new era of hospitality – both school leavers and those looking for a career change,” Mr Whelan said.
Today’s announcement complements the free training already being funded under the joint State and Federal JobTrainer program.
To enrol in a free TAFE hospitality course, visit: https://www.tafensw.edu.au/skills-served-up
To explore other free hospitality courses available to study, visit: https://bit.ly/3GpNEKW

Morgue gives rise to ambulance superstation

A sod turn ceremony at the city site of the former NSW Coroners Court and Morgue has signalled the start of construction on Sydney’s newest ambulance superstation.
Premier Dominic Perrottet and Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the Central Sydney Ambulance Station is the final superstation in a $184 million infrastructure program.
“We are continuing to invest record amounts in our health system across the State to ensure we have the doctors, nurses, paramedics and facilities we need to keep people safe and provide them with care when they need it most,” Mr Perrottet said.
“This state-of-the-art ambulance facility will be home to around 65 paramedics and managers helping bolster our first-class network of ambulance centres ensuring our paramedics are best placed to respond to emergencies and save lives.”
The NSW Government’s Sydney Ambulance Metropolitan Infrastructure Strategy program is the biggest investment in infrastructure across Sydney in ambulance’s 126-year history.
As a result, new stations are operational at Caringbah, Kogarah, Blacktown, Liverpool, Bankstown, Penrith, Artarmon, Northmead, Randwick, Haberfield and Mona Vale.
Mr Hazzard said the Glebe project is on time and on budget and will be completed in 2023, helping to enhance ambulance operations in metropolitan Sydney into the future.
“This once familiar site of coronial and forensic excellence is on the CBD doorstop and was carefully chosen for its proximity to major roads and hospitals,” Mr Hazzard said.
“It will ensure paramedics are best placed to respond to medical emergencies to the local community but also to the many visitors to central Sydney for work and leisure.”
The facility will boast 30 ambulance bays; administration, office areas and amenities; on site undercover parking for staff, an internal wash bay, logistic and storage areas.
NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dominic Morgan said the new Central Sydney Station will be supported by the Eveleigh ambulance centre and other response points.
“With all the new superstations and Paramedic Response Points, there will now be 55 operational facilities across metro Sydney to respond to emergencies,” Dr Morgan said.
The NSW Government has invested more than $9 billion in NSW Ambulance since 2011 which has seen a boost of 1160 paramedics. In the 2021-22 Budget, $1.4 billion will be invested in ambulance services including $214 million for a new State Operations Centre at Sydney Olympic Park.

More people in prison despite less crime, Productivity Commission report finds

Today, the Productivity Commission released their research paper: Australia’s Prison Dilemma. The paper reports that imprisonment rates have increased by more than 35% despite crime rates dropping.
“Our legal system fails too many people. It fails First Nations people regularly, and the consequences can be a matter of life or death.” Said the Greens spokesperson for Justice, Senator Lidia Thorpe.
“Our country needs a smarter, more ambitious approach to fixing our criminal legal system. First Nations people in particular are being disproportionately targeted by the system, often with devastating effects on people and their communities.
“The Australia’s Prison Dilemma report shows us that 42% of imprisoned people are serving non-violent offences, 15% are considered low risk. It’s astonishing that a third of all imprisoned people are on remand.
“The report echoes what First Nations people have been saying for decades, that we need to prioritise our self-determination and properly resource our community-run services like Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services, health and social support services. Our people are the most effective at prevention and building strong and healthy communities.”
“Ultimately, the best way to reduce crime is to prevent it. We must reform the criminal legal system by preventing people getting caught up in it in the first place. Prioritising strong communities over prisons and other punitive measures is also known as justice reinvestment.”
“If we want justice in our communities, we need to look at alternatives to prison. The report recommends culturally safe, community-based programs, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sentencing courts, diversion and trauma-informed wrap-around services.” Said Thorpe

Australia’s COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout delivers high vaccination rates among people with disability

The Morrison Government has welcomed the formal submission of the final report from the Disability Royal Commission on Public Hearing 12, which examined the experiences of people with disability through the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout.
The Disability Royal Commission held a public hearing focusing on the vaccine program in May 2021. Since then, vaccination rates among Australians with disability have significantly increased with an ongoing focus on supporting access to ensure maximum protection from severe outcomes of COVID-19.
More than 77 per cent of NDIS participants in shared residential accommodation are fully vaccinated, and more than 217,000 (77 percent) NDIS participants 16 years and over have received at least their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with 66 percent fully vaccinated. This is an increase of more than 186,000 NDIS participants since late May.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said the Government has accepted six of the seven recommendations and noted the seventh, emphasising that significant progress in the vaccination rollout for people with disability has already been made.
Recommendation 4 concerns the easing of restrictions in line with vaccination thresholds being reached, which the Minster noted is the responsibility of state and territory governments.
“Many of the recommendations from this report go to measures which have already been put in place – the nature of the COVID-19 pandemic has always demanded quick assessment, response and action,” Minister Hunt said.
“Our Government will approach these recommendations as important pointers to supporting Australians with disability to access and rely on the protection of a COVID-19 vaccine.
“The health response to COVID-19 and the vaccine rollout have both demanded quick action and continue to be shaped by expert advice and direct feedback to deliver the greatest possible protection and support to all Australians.”
The Morrison Government has led significant consultation with people across the disability community, including active and regular engagement with people with disability, their families, carers, NDIS providers and unions. This work has helped drive vaccination rates and deliver support for people with disability and workers within the disability sector to access vaccines.
The Morrison Government refutes many findings in the report, including criticism of the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Strategy. As a high-level document, the strategy provided an overview and pathway forward which has been adapted and updated following consultation and expert advice throughout the vaccination program.
Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said Australians with disability have been a priority throughout the rollout.
“Since commencing as the Minister for the NDIS I have very actively engaged with disability representative organisations, NDIS providers, sector peaks, states and territories and other disability stakeholders in relation to the vaccine rollout, “ Minister Reynolds said.
“This engagement with the disability sector has directly informed portfolio actions to support people with disability to have the opportunity to access COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible,” Minister Reynolds said.
“Since the commencement of the vaccine program, people with disability in residential accommodation settings of 2 or more people, and the workers supporting them, have been prioritised in Phase 1A, with access to vaccines from February 2021 which now sees more than 77 percent of NDIS participants over 16 years of age living in shared residential accommodation now fully vaccinated.
“Many other people with a disability joined the priority list from March 2021 under Phase 1B, which specifically focused vaccine access on people with underlying medical conditions. This prioritisation is reflected in the high vaccination numbers amongst all NDIS participants, with 77 percent of NDIS participants over 16 years having received at least one dose, and impressively nearly 60 per cent of NDIS participants aged 12-15 years having received at least one dose, since becoming eligible in late-August.
“In addition, from 8 November 2021 people in high priority groups, including residents of disability facilities, will be the first eligible for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots. The booster program will roll out directly to people living in disability facilities through an in-reach program.”
Resources about the vaccine strategy and how it relates to people with disability are readily available. Disability peak bodies and providers have also provided support to the Government’s communication efforts, disseminating accurate and accessible COVID-19 disease and vaccine information.

New and amended PBS listings to help thousands of Australians

From 1 November 2021, Australians with a respiratory illness, early onset puberty and blood cancer will have improved access to subsidised medicines through new and amended listings on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a preventable and treatable lung disease, which causes the airways in the lungs to narrow, making it difficult to breathe.
About 1 in 20 Australians aged 45 years and over have COPD, tragically, in 2018 it was the fifth leading cause of death.
Breztri Aerosphere® (budesonide + glycopyrronium + formoterol) will be available from November 1, 2021 on the PBS to treat COPD.
The three ingredients of Breztri Aerosphere® work to reduce swelling and irritation in the lungs and relax the muscles in the airways. Together, they act to relieve and prevent shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing.
Without PBS subsidy, around 68,000 Australians per year might pay more than $1,000 per year for treatment.
Also from 1 November 2021, Diphereline® (triptorelin) will be expanded to include the treatment of central precocious puberty (CCP).
In Australia, the average age for the onset of puberty is around 10 years for girls and 12 years for boys. In central precocious puberty, this onset occurs earlier – before 8 years of age in girls and before 9 years in boys.
More common in girls, CCP can cause physical, emotional, behavioural and social problems. Diphereline is a new treatment option, which will help children manage the condition and reduce the number of consultations needed.
Diphereline® works by lowering the levels of the hormone oestrogen for females and testosterone in males that lead to puberty-related changes to the body.
Without PBS subsidy, around 800 Australians per year might pay more than $3,600 per year for treatment.
Earlier this year, Darzalex® (daratumumab) was listed on the PBS for the first time for use in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone, as a second-line treatment for around Australians with multiple myeloma.
Myeloma is a type of blood cancer that develops from plasma cells in the bone marrow and it is estimated that around 2,423 Australians will be diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2021. Darzalex® is a ground-breaking treatment mobilises the patient’s own immune system to fight the disease. This treatment will bring improved clinical outcomes and quality of life for those affected by this disease.
From 1 November 2021, these patients will now have access to a new subcutaneous form of Darzalex®, which means it can be given as an injection under the skin.
This additional treatment option for patients will provide a more convenient alternative, delivered as a 5‑minute injection that can be administered at home compared with the intravenous infusion which is given over several hours in a healthcare facility.
Without PBS subsidy, around 1,165 Australians per year might pay more than $136,000 per course of treatment with this new subcutaneous form.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said thousands of Australians and their families will benefit from these new and expanded listings, which will also reduce out of pocket costs.
“Since 2013, the Coalition Government had approved more than 2,700 new or amended listings on the PBS. This represents an average of around 30 listings or amendments per month – or one each day – at an overall investment by the Government of $13.9 billion,” Minister Hunt said.
“Without PBS subsidies many Australians would be thousands of dollars out of pocket, instead they’ll only pay $41.30 per script or $6.60 with a concession card for these medicines.
“The Morrison Government’s commitment to ensuring Australians can access affordable medicines, when they need them, remains rock solid.”
Also available from November 1, 2021, Verzenio® (abemaciclib) will be expanded for use in combination with fulvestrant through the PBS. A new treatment option for Australians battling advanced forms of breast cancer.
These PBS listings have been recommended by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.

Perrottet Government Weekly Update – 29 October 2021

SCHOOL SPORT AND HSC SUPPORT AS STUDENTS RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM

  • The final stage of the return to school began this week with more than 500,000 students from Years 2 to 11 welcomed back to classrooms across Greater Sydney and remaining regional areas of NSW.
  • To help students return to normal life and support their studies, restrictions on school sport will be lifted and HSC special consideration extended for students most impacted by the learning from home period.
  • From Monday, November 1, school sport can resume on site, schools can utilise external sport facilities in line with community sport guidelines, and schools can engage in inter-school sport outside of school hours.
  • Schools are also now able to make applications on behalf of HSC students who have experienced severe disruption during the learning from home period through the NSW Education Standards Authority’s (NESA) new COVID-19 Special Consideration Program for HSC written exams.
  • The program is open to students whose learning was significantly compromised for six weeks or more due to COVID-19 restrictions.
  • More information on the COVID-19 Special Consideration Program can be found here: educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/covid-advice.

NEW TOURISM CAMPAIGN FOR NSW INVITES VISITORS TO FEEL NEW

  • The NSW Government has unveiled a new tourism campaign to entice visitors to the State and re-energise them to feel new.
  • Developed by Destination NSW in consultation with the state’s visitor economy stakeholders, the ‘Feel New’ campaign showcases the abundant natural wonders and vibrant cultural experiences on offer across Sydney and NSW.
  • The ‘Feel New’ campaign is a key pillar of the NSW Government’s Visitor Economy Strategy 2030, which aims to make NSW the premier visitor economy of the Asia Pacific.
  • To view the Destination NSW ‘Feel New’ campaign click here and for more information and travel inspiration go to visitnsw.com to make you #FeelNew.

WATERSHED MOMENT FOR A BETTER BAAKA AND BIDGEE

  • Significant progress has been made for communities across the Murray Darling Basin, with a new proposal presented to communities on two of the most significant projects associated with the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
  • The re-scoped Menindee Lakes and Yanco Creek Offtake projects, two of the major projects within the Basin Plan, are key to getting the Murray Darling Basin Plan back on track delivering important benefits for cultural, productive and environmental users.
  • The proposed initiatives include:
    • Morton Boolka Enhancement, which will investigate options to upgrade the Cawndilla Creek weir and pipeline to maintain a reliable flow of water into the Cawndilla Creek.
    • The Menindee Weir modifications proposal, which would improve fish passage connectivity along the lower Darling-Baaka
    • A series of initiatives, including new fish passageways and screens that will open up more than 1,000km of the Murrumbidgee for fish migration and breeding, as well as measures to address cold water pollution and improve water quality
    • Weir upgrades and renewals along the Darling-Baaka, including at Pooncarie, Bourke and Collarenebri to improve town water supply and deliver better environmental outcomes
  • Consultation on the Better Bidgee and Better Baaka programs starts this week, with the first of a series of information and feedback sessions to be held in early November.
  • For further details and to have your say, visit Better Baaka www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/better-baaka and Better Bidgee www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/better-bidgee.

$25M KICKS OFF COMMUNITY SPORT RECOVERY

  • The sport and recreation sector has scored a $25-million funding boost as part of the COVID 19 Economic Recovery Strategy, to support the return of community sport as restrictions ease.
  • The NSW Government’s Sport and Recreation Recovery and Community Rebuild Package will provide financial support, assistance and participation opportunities, particularly in areas hardest hit by the COVID lockdown.
  • The Sport and Recreation Recovery and Community Rebuild Package includes:
    • Up to $12.5 million for grants of up to $1,000 to eligible clubs and associations
    • Up to $7.8 million to support sporting organisations and peak bodies;
    • $3.1 million to support participation initiatives focused on areas most affected by restrictions, including south-western Sydney and regional NSW;
    • Up to $1 million for grants to support marketing and promotional activities for outdoor and active recreation providers; and
    • $600,000 to support regional talent pathways in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.
  • For more details, see: www.sport.nsw.gov.au/recoverypackage.

‘FIRST LAP’ SWIM PROGRAM EXTENDED TO KINDY KIDS    

  • The NSW Government’s new learn to swim voucher program will be expanded from preschool-aged children to include kindergarten kids who missed out on lessons due to COVID restrictions.
  • Under the ‘First Lap’ program, eligible children can access a $100 voucher for swimming lessons with an approved provider, with businesses able to register for it from next month.
  • Premier Dominic Perrottet said the program, which starts on December 1, would be extended to cover children in kindergarten this year, or who are starting kindergarten in 2022.
  • Active Kids vouchers can be used by school-enrolled children, including those in kindergarten, for sport and recreation activities such as swimming lessons. Families can apply for the First Lap vouchers from 1 December, through Service NSW.

METRO CONSTRUCTION ON TRACK WITH NEW MILESTONE

  • Track laying on the first rail crossing under Sydney Harbour is complete, marking a major milestone on the Metro City & Southwest project.
  • The excavation of the Barangaroo caverns, which will house the metro platforms, took almost two years to complete. About 650,000 tonnes of crushed rock – enough to fill 100 Olympic swimming pools – was removed.
  • Station builder BESIX Watpac will now fit out the station, creating 300 jobs at the peak of construction. Across the Sydney Metro City & Southwest, more than 5,000 people are currently working on the project; about 50,000 will have worked on the project by the time it is complete.
  • Metro trains will start running through the harbour tunnels in 2024, extending the North West Metro into the city and beyond to Bankstown.
  • New stations are being delivered at Crows Nest, Victoria Cross, Barangaroo, Martin Place, Pitt Street and Waterloo, along with new underground platforms at Central Station.

NEW RFS AD CAMPAIGN URGES THE COMMUNITY TO GET BUSH FIRE READY

  • A new state-wide campaign by the NSW Rural Fire Service has kicked off, urging the community to prepare for the bush fire season, and to live bush fire ready.
  • The ‘Live Bush Fire Ready’ public awareness campaign captures the stories and emotive images of people at the height of the 2019-20 bushfire season, and importantly, how they are planning and preparing for this bushfire season.
  • It takes just five minutes to check your bush fire survival plan. Visit www.myfireplan.com.au to learn more about preparing your plan. You can also watch the new TV ad online at https://youtu.be/x8EJj6QNUgE.

REFORMS TO DELIVER JOBS AND HOMES

  • The community is encouraged to have its say on detailed reforms to build a simple, clear and consistent infrastructure contributions system to unlock up to $12 billion in productivity gains for NSW.
  • The reforms are the result of extensive consultation with experts, councils and industry, and respond to the NSW Productivity Commission’s review into infrastructure contributions.
  • The proposed reforms include:
    • Giving councils more control over what type of local contributions plan they choose to apply to new developments;
    • Creating a separate and consistent Regional Infrastructure Contribution collected by the State Government to be applied in Greater Sydney, the Illawarra Shoalhaven, Lower Hunter and the Central Coast;
    • Requiring owners who benefit from their land being rezoned for development to contribute towards the provision of land for local infrastructure when their land is either sold or developed;
    • Greater transparency to make it easier for communities to access and understand Planning Agreements; and
    • Incentives for councils to fund infrastructure upfront, allowing them to borrow and pool their funds.
  • To read the Infrastructure Contributions Reform package and to have your say until Friday 10 December, visit www.planning.nsw.gov.au/contributions-reform.

BIG BOOST TO NATIONAL PARKS IN WESTERN NSW

  • The NSW Government is massively expanding the NSW national park estate with the purchase of two properties, Avenel/Mt Westwood station near Broken Hill and Koonaburra station near Ivanhoe, which will add a combined 166,924 hectares.
  • Both properties are significant in size, with the 121,390 hectare Avenel/Mt Westwood Station the second largest purchase by NPWS in the state’s history.
  • Avenel/Mt Westwood Station, a remote and ecologically diverse landscape on the South Australian border, features spectacular dune fields of the Strzelecki desert transitioning to the rocky plateau of the Barrier Range, with a network of river red gum and coolabah fringed rivers, creeks and watercourses. The property also supports habitat for an estimated 30 threatened plant and animal species including the Australian bustard and the dusky hopping mouse.
  • Koonaburra station, will add a further 45,534 hectares including an extensive area of sandplain and dune field country featuring a vast network of water depressions (“melon holes”) providing important water sources for many species. It also supports habitat for at least 20 threatened animal species including the Major Mitchell cockatoo, Mallee fowl and the fat-tailed dunnart.

First new Emerald Class ferry now in service

The first of three new Emerald Class ferries, named after the popular Sydney Harbour beach Fairlight, is now in passenger service on the F1 Circular Quay – Manly route.
Minister for Transport and Roads Rob Stokes said the new vessel had met strict safety standards, completing many hours of successful on water testing ahead of its introduction to service.
“The Generation 2 Emerald Class ferries are purpose built to operate in heavy swells, are fully accessible, have significantly reduced carbon emissions and are cheaper to run than our older vessels,” Mr Stokes said.
“The new Emerald Class ferries, along with ten new River Class vessels, were built by Australian shipbuilder Birdon, with all design work undertaken in Australia.
“Throughout the design and build of these ferries there’s been a strong focus on Aussie involvement, with 70 per cent of the total program of work benefitting local suppliers and creating local jobs.”
Member for Manly James Griffin said the remaining two Emerald Class ferries will be introduced progressively over the coming weeks, and are named after the popular Sydney Harbour beaches Clontarf and Balmoral.
“The introduction of the new Emerald Class ferries will allow for more weekly services to be added to the busy F1 route and will ensure there’s plenty of capacity to meet demand, particularly over Manly’s busy summer months,” Mr Griffin said.
“More frequent services between Manly and Circular Quay will be a welcome boost for our visitor economy as domestic and international travel resumes this summer.”
Two remaining Freshwater Ferries (MV Freshwater and MV Collaroy) will continue to operate alongside the new Generation 2 Emerald Class ferries on weekends and public holidays.
Retirement plans for the MV Narrabeen are still being finalised. Transport for NSW will update the community about the farewell plan for this vessel soon.

Voter ID laws a Trumpian culture war tactic from a desperate government

The Greens say proposed voter identification laws are a solution in search of a problem that will only serve to disenfranchise voters who are already largely excluded from the political process.
The mooted laws, which have long been championed by the far right, could wrongly exclude eligible voters, including First Nations voters, young voters, homeless or itinerant voters, and voters escaping domestic violence.
Greens deputy leader and democracy spokesperson Senator Larissa Waters said:
“Voter identification laws are a purely political tactic from a government that’s sliding in the polls and desperate to ignite a culture war to boost its electoral fortunes.
“Voter ID laws are a solution in search of a problem. At the last federal election there were a total of 19 verified instances of double voting. There is zero credible evidence that election outcomes are being corrupted by voter fraud.
“Recent legislative changes allow the Australian Electoral Commission to identify voters suspected of multiple voting and require their future ballots to be cast by declaration. This reform is more than enough to address any perceived risk of multiple voting.
“Far from safeguarding our elections, voter identification laws would in fact be likely to make them less democratic, disenfranchising many citizens who are entirely eligible to vote.
“The government is insisting on seeing voters’ IDs, but won’t try to find out the ID of Porter’s donors. And while they’re rushing through a bill to deal with imaginary integrity issues, the Australian people are still waiting on an ICAC bill to deal with real integrity issues.
“This is cynical Trumpian politicking on the eve of an election, designed to inflame culture war tensions, undermine confidence in our electoral systems and suppress the vote.”

Amid UN alarm bells, Greens outline vital components of Net Zero

With Scott Morrison’s fraudulent plan setting us up for climate failure, Greens Leader Adam Bandt has outlined the essential components of a Net Zero strategy that will reduce emissions, protect regional communities, and meet an emissions reduction strategy consistent with the science, following a UN Emissions Gap Report showing that the gap between submitted emissions reduction targets and the required action is on track for a catastrophic 2.7 degrees of warming.
Under such a rise Australia, the driest inhabited continent, will suffer extreme heat waves, bushfires, floods and more than twice as many droughts.
Even though many countries have stepped up to the Paris goal, weak targets like those Scott Morrison is taking to Glasgow are responsible for the ‘gap’.
Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP said: 
“We needed a plan based on science but instead we got science fiction, a story where someone rides in on a unicorn in 2049 with technology that doesn’t yet exist and somehow saves us,” Mr Bandt said.
“The United Nations has today rung the alarm bells, warning that with the current lack of political leadership, the world is on track for 2.7 degrees of warming.
“Scott Morrison’s fraudulent plan will cost 64,000 people dependent on a healthy Great Barrier Reef their jobs, see thousands die from heatwaves and dry up Australia’s agricultural food bowls.
“If we keep mining and burning coal and gas, we won’t stop the climate crisis.
“The government’s non-binding projections count for nothing and anything less than a full NDC pledge for 75% reduction by 2030 is giving up on the Paris goal of 1.5 degrees of warming.
“Coal and gas are the major causes of the climate crisis, but both Liberal and Labor want more, with plans to dig up coal beyond 2050.
“The only way to get climate action is by kicking the climate-denying Liberals out and putting the Greens into balance of power, so we can push the next government to take the climate action the science requires.”
Essential components of a plan for Net Zero:

  1. No new coal and gas
  2. End fossil fuel subsidies
  3. Significant public investment to hit 100% renewable electricity by 2030
  4. 100% of new light vehicle sales to be electric by 2030, including consumer subsidies and a national buildout of the fast charging network
  5. Phase out of thermal coal exports by 2030 with a plan to transition workers into new mining and manufacturing jobs
  6. Restore the price on carbon, which was successfully reducing emissions until its destruction by the Liberals
  7. Home electrification and subsidies for domestic and community batteries to supplement utility scale development
  8. $12bn to transform Australia into a green hydrogen and green manufacturing export powerhouse
  9. Immediate end to native forest logging and broadscale land clearing to keep our existing carbon sinks intact
  10. Net-zero by 2035 with net-negative in the years beyond until we return the world to a safe climate