Category: Australian News

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.”

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.”

The Guardian reports today that the Australian Border Force’s marine unit is rife with “inappropriate workplace behaviours including sexual harassment and bullying”.

A secret AHRC report revealed that in the marine unit every woman who responded to a survey had witnessed sex discrimination, as well as sexual and/or sex-based harassment, and 78% had personally experienced the same behaviour.

Senator Larissa Waters, Greens Leader in the Senate and spokesperson on women

“The Respect at Work reforms were the centrepiece of the government’s response to workplace harassment, and no workplace, including the Australian Border Force can continue to operate without regard to the new legal framework. 

“The remoteness of the marine unit has allowed an unacceptable culture to develop. The ABF must act immediately to comply with its positive duty and ensure base stations are not hostile work environments.

“The sex discrimination commissioner, Anna Cody is correct, immediate intervention is required. Border force leadership must be held accountable for addressing incidents of inappropriate workplace behaviours.”

Veteran business incubator Frontline Labs is encouraging Australians to give back by supporting veteran-owned and operated businesses.

This Anzac Day, veteran business incubator Frontline Labs, is calling on all Australians to rally behind veteran-owned and operated businesses.

The Support Veteran Business campaign encourages business and the public alike to support the veteran economy. By choosing to engage with a veteran business, or supporting veteran products in the supply chain, everyone can make a meaningful difference to this valuable community – made up of more than 30,000 veteran innovators.

Mark Leatham, veteran and Frontline Labs co-founder, says supporting veteran-owned businesses is one of the best ways Australians can show their support for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) community.

“Every Anzac Day we see hundreds of thousands of people rally behind veterans at ceremonies and dawn services, which always means so much to the veteran community,” he says.

“This year, we’re encouraging Australians to take that support one step further by directly engaging with a veteran-owned business, helping to improve the livelihoods of servicemen and women who typically face various challenges when transitioning outside of military life.”

In their transition back to civilian life, veterans disproportionately face severe health and social issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, unemployment, suicide, and homelessness, with a 2023 report finding that veterans are overrepresented in Australia’s homeless population.

Michael Handley, an army veteran with seven years of army experience and two overseas deployments under his belt, faced these challenges first-hand during his own transition back to civilian life in 2022.

Michael says that his personal experience with mental health challenges – including PTSD and suicidal thoughts – inspired him to create REDSIX, a revolutionary veteran support app that helps veterans and ADF servicemen and women seek help when they need it.

“REDSIX was designed and developed from lived experience in one of the highest suicide risk demographics globally – the military. This is due to the rising rate of modern-day veterans losing the battle after returning home from operation demands,” says Michael.

Each year, approximately six thousand individuals depart from the ADF to reintegrate into civilian life. For many veterans, this transition can present numerous challenges, including difficulties in adjusting to new lifestyles and environments.

During his transition out of the ADF, Michael participated in one of Frontline Labs’ Veteran Entrepreneurship program, an experience he says was essential to helping him navigate such a challenging time.

“I think for me personally, having REDSIX has helped with my transition into civilian life by allowing me to look at my service history as part of my make-up – part of my DNA – but not my only identity,” he says.

Understanding the importance of self-employment in the transition process, Frontline Labs supports Australia’s defence community with fully funded programs. It’s here they can be encouraged with new opportunities to seek cohort and purpose in the growing veteran economy.

This Anzac Day, Frontline Labs is asking all Australians to do their part to support the servicemen and women who have sacrificed so much for our country. By choosing to engage with veteran business, or supporting veteran products in the supply chain, everyone can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who have served their country.

To learn more about the ‘Support Veteran Business’ campaign or to contribute, please visit supportveteranbusiness.com.au.

Today I announce diplomatic appointments to lead Australian posts in Chengdu, Guangzhou, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Kingdom of Spain, the Kingdom of Tonga, Phuket and the Republic of Chile.

These appointments strengthen Australia’s diplomatic capability and its prosecution of our national interests around the globe.

I am pleased to announce the following appointments:

• Ms Meaghan Shaw as Australia’s next Consul-General in Chengdu.
• Dr Timothy Kendall as Australia’s next Consul-General in Guangzhou.
• Mr Ian McConville as Australia’s next Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran.
• Ms Rosemary Morris-Castico as Australia’s next Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain.
• Mr Brek Batley as Australia’s next High Commissioner to the Kingdom of Tonga.
• Ms Kirsten Fletcher as Australia’s Consul-General in Phuket.
• Mr Andrew Martin as Australia’s next Ambassador to the Republic of Chile.

I thank the outgoing ambassadors, high commissioner and consuls-general for their contributions to advancing Australia’s interests in these countries during their respective tenures.

Ahead of the Education Ministers Meeting this week the Greens say they will use their numbers in the Senate to push Labor to end systemic underfunding and save our public schools.

Federal Labor has doubled down on its refusal to increase its share of public school funding to 25%, despite calls from the states, teachers unions and the Greens to do so.

With Labor saying it will introduce legislation to lock in new funding deals, and the Coalition ideologically opposed to public education, the Greens are likely to be in balance of power on any future bills.

The Greens will use their numbers to fight for 100% SRS funding to all public schools by January 2025, an end to the public overfunding of wealthy private schools and ongoing capital funding from the Commonwealth.

Greens spokesperson on Primary and Secondary Education Senator Penny Allman-Payne:

“Labor can easily find another $50 billion to spend on war but are crying poor when it comes to providing an extra $3 billion a year to invest in the education of our kids.

“The Greens already have a bill before the Senate that would axe the so-called 20% cap on Commonwealth funding of schools and replace it with a floor of 25%. This is what the states and the unions are calling for and it’s what Labor could deliver if it backed our bill.

“But even if we get to 100% of the SRS, we need to be very clear that this is not full funding by any measure. It’s not even the bare minimum.

“The SRS is based on the funding a school needs to get 80% of students above the minimum NAPLAN standard. Calling that ‘full funding’ isn’t just misleading, it’s an out-and-out lie.

“We need to end overfunding of privileged private schools and ensure that our public system is fully funded, fully staffed and inclusive for all students.”

World Immunisation Week (24 – 30 April) is a timely reminder for everyone in Australia to book their annual flu vaccination.

Free vaccines are now available for people most at risk of complications through the Australian Government’s National Immunisation Program. For those not eligible, you can purchase a vaccine through your immunisation provider.

People can get their vaccine at general practices, pharmacies, and immunisation clinics – and in many cases, at their workplace.

Although we can’t predict the 2024 flu season, we can look at, and learn from, key outcomes from the 2023 season.

Last year, the highest notification rates for flu were in children under 14 years. But concerningly, the vaccine uptake was very low in this population group.

In good news, the 2023 vaccine was very effective at protecting people from needing to go to hospital or visit their GP.

Children under 5 years of age are at increased risk of getting severely ill or dying from the flu.

In Australia, 39 people died from the flu last year – and of these, 9 were children younger than 16 years. This was higher than the number of flu-associated deaths in children in 2022 and in many pre-COVID-19 pandemic years.

This is a tragic reminder that the flu is not the common cold, which people often mistake it for. It is a serious virus that can cause severe illness, hospitalisation and death among otherwise healthy children and adults.

I encourage everyone 6 months of age or over to get vaccinated against the flu. It could save your life!

People eligible for free flu vaccine doses include children aged 6 months to under 5 years, pregnant people, First Nations Australians, people aged 65 years or older and people with certain medical conditions that put them at greater risk.

For convenience and if recommended, COVID-19 vaccines can be given at the same time.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese must make a series of major changes to his Government’s proposed religious discrimination laws to address the severe concerns of Australian faith leaders that the controversial package of legislation will be a backwards step for religious schools and communities.

Shadow Attorney-General Senator Michaelia Cash said: “I have consulted widely with faith leaders across the country in the past few weeks and what is apparent from the feedback of those leaders who have been consulted by the Government is that they do not support the bills as proposed.’’

“They have raised numerous areas of concern with me and want the government to make changes,’’ Senator Cash said.

“For example, faith leaders have consistently told me that the Federal laws would be irrelevant if they do not afford protections from State and Territory laws that seek to erode religious freedoms,’’ she said.

“The Prime Minister should guarantee that religious schools are able to ensure that their staff members’ conduct and behaviour adheres to the school’s religious ethos,’’ Senator Cash said.

“Hundreds of thousands of Australian families choose to educate their children in faith-based schools, and that choice ought to be respected,’’ Senator Cash said.

“It is worrying that the Government seems inclined to adopt changes that would leave religious schools with a potentially huge and ongoing exposure to litigation risk,’’ she said.

“It is even more worrying that they seem intent on doubling down on these changes byputting forward legislation that ensures that, in almost all cases, schools will end up paying for the costs of that litigation. These costs will inevitably be passed on to parents.’’ Senator Cash said.

“Faith leaders have clearly told us how their ability to educate in accordance with their faith is being cut away, slice by slice, by state and territory governments – and that this affects not only their places of worship but their ability to build communities based on clear values in the thousands of faith-based schools across Australia,’’ she said.

“It is gravely concerning that the Government seems prepared to wash its hands of this issue. It has given no indication it will adopt any type of positive protections that might address these concerns,” Senator Cash said.

“To the contrary, the Government has indicated it will move away from the positive language that it previously supported in Parliament when it voted on the Coalition’s 2022 Bill. Instead, it appears set on dealing with religion almost as an “exception” to discrimination laws. This has been a long-term issue for faith leaders, who do not see freedom of a religion as a mere exception, but instead as a fundamental human right that is protected under international law,’’ she said.

“It is time for Mr Albanese to release his religious discrimination legislation for public scrutiny and stop trying to govern behind closed doors. Australians deserve better,’’ Senator Cash said.

Today’s increase in the unemployment rate to 3.8% is another worrying sign for Australians struggling with the cost-of-living crisis under the Albanese Government.

The March 2024 labour force figures saw nearly 7,000 jobs lost across the economy. There are 57,000 more people unemployed now than a year ago, and youth unemployment is stubbornly higher than it was when Labor came to office.

There are now more people unemployed than there were at the last election.

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said Australians are facing uncertain economic times, with no solutions from the Albanese Labor Government.

“Australians are paying the price for the Albanese Labor Government’s economic mismanagement.

“Household budgets being smashed by higher prices, higher mortgage repayments and higher taxes, and people are working harder for less.

“On top of that, there are now more unemployed people than at the last Federal Election, and a record number of people are working multiple jobs just to keep their heads above water.

Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Michaelia Cash said she was particularly concerned that the labour force figures showed a significant increase in the number of Australians who are unemployed.

“The March 2024 figures show an increase of 21,000 unemployed Australians in a single month. We now have 57,000 more unemployed people in this country than a year ago.” Senator Cash said.

“Instead of trying to encourage the hiring of more Australians, the Albanese Government has created extreme uncertainty for businesses through its industrial relations changes,” Senator Cash said.

“Businesses are extremely confused about new laws surrounding the employment of casual workers, and about their ability to contact employees outside work hours after Labor’s ‘right to disconnect’ changes.” she said.

“I am also concerned that the Albanese Government is focused on an internal ideological debate about our employment services system rather that actually trying to get Australians into jobs.” Senator Cash said.

“It is worth noting the warning delivered by Gary Banks, the founding chair of the Productivity Commission, about the anti-productivity policies of the Albanese Government,’’ she said.

Mr Banks wrote today that: ‘provisions locking in past agreements and unions effectively having veto power over innovations, legislative provisions to restore industry-wide bargaining and to control non-permanent (read non-unionised) work arrangements – will diminish the scope for the win-win enterprise deals that are needed and see more production decision-making influenced by the regulator’.

According to the data, 2022-23 saw the worst average emergency department wait times in a decade, while the wait times for elective surgery have almost doubled compared to 20 years ago.

Capacity has also reached critical levels, with the proportion of public hospital beds available for every Australian over 65 at an all-time low of 14.3 beds per 1000 population.

This comes as the Coalition has been calling on the Government to take urgent action to fix the primary healthcare crisis, which we know is only adding further pressure to our already strained hospital systems.

Last year, we saw more than 1.2 million Australians avoid going to a GP due to concern over cost, as bulk bulling rates collapsed to decade lows.

Since then, we know that out-of-pocket costs have continued to rise to the highest level on record, which means it has literally never been more expensive to see a GP.

It has also never been harder, with the serious impact of the current workforce crisis being felt in GP practices and aged care facilities across the country.

Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Anne Ruston said that the data released today is extremely concerning, but she has been warning the Government that this serious situation is pushing more and more people towards hospitals and blowing out wait times.

“Our primary care system is key in preventing Australians from needing emergency hospital support, but we know Australians are not only having trouble accessing a GP, but they’re also struggling to afford one.

“At the same time, critical workforce shortages are putting significant strain on our aged care facilities as they struggle to meet the Government’s new rigid staffing requirements.

“Aged care providers are also integral in freeing up hospital beds, but the Government has abandoned them amongst these challenges,” Senator Ruston said.

The Coalition continues to call on the Government to implement a national and comprehensive workforce strategy for the entire care sector, as the only way to adequately deal with these pressures.

The Albanese Labor Government must also take decisive action to address the primary care crisis, including by standing up to state premiers on GP payroll taxes.