The Morison Government will provide an additional $27 million in grants of up to $10,000 to child care services to ensure they can continue providing care to the children of essential workers.
The new child care system was implemented to ensure children of essential workers have continued access to child care, and the planned review of the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package will prioritise ensuring those children do have access to care.
The Morrison Government introduced the Relief Package in response to a dramatic fall in attendance that threatened the viability of the sector. If nothing was done, we were told in no uncertain terms by the sector that operators would go out of business, workers would lose their jobs, and families would lose their child care service altogether.
Thousands of workers – including essential workers – would have lost the child care services they rely on.
The new system, introduced on April 6, guarantees revenue for operators. The guaranteed weekly income from the Relief Package was designed to be used in conjunction with the JobKeeper Payment to ensure that services can continue to provide care during the COVID-19 pandemic and emerge on the other side.
JobKeeper is a key element of the Government’s Relief Package because approximately 60 per cent of a child care services’ costs relate to staff wages. JobKeeper will cover a large proportion of those costs. The Government is covering most of a services’ staffing costs, on top of paying half of the revenue they would have received under normal circumstances.
The Federal Government is providing substantial support for services that has given them certainty to plan appropriately to get through the pandemic.
Services that accept payment through the package are required to remain open and prioritise the children of essential service workers, vulnerable children and families with an existing relationship with the service.
The Government listened to the sector and acted on their advice, and it relies on services providing care to as many children as they can with the staff and resources they have.
While services may not have the usual incentives to take on children during this time, they need to consider the staff and resources they have available to provide and maximise the care for families that need it during this national emergency.
Every Australian has a role to play to help us get through the COVID-19 pandemic, from child care services, to frontline health workers, to the teachers providing continuity of education to our students and the workers ensuring the supermarket shelves are stocked with essential items. We are grateful to everyone who is making a contribution to get Australia to the other side of this crisis.
Where services have increased demand and feel they cannot afford to meet it based on current levels of support, exceptional circumstances funding is available. This means if a service has more children attending now than it had during the reference period it can apply to receive a higher payment from the Morrison Government.
This funding is also available to services which are not eligible for JobKeeper Payments. Services not eligible for JobKeeper can apply for a supplementary payment under the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package and the JobKeeper package.
The Government is working with providers and the sector to ensure that demand for services is met, particularly where it relates to the children of essential workers and vulnerable children.
Part of the package is a planned review after the Government has collected four weeks of data. This review will prioritise ensuring services that have capacity based on our relief package are providing care to the children of essential workers and vulnerable children.
The Government is monitoring data for evidence of services that are artificially keeping attendance below capacity while receiving the Government’s support payment, which is in contravention of the conditions of the package. Information about such practices can be directed to the Department of Education, Skills and Employment’s tip off line 1800 664 231 or emailing tipoffline@dese.gov.au.
The Government has also launched a helpline that will provide families with advice on services available in their local area, including centre-based day care, family day care, outside school hours care and vacation care. The helpline number is 1800 291 041.
Month: April 2020
Release of ACCC Home Loan Price Inquiry Interim Report
The Morrison Government has today released the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) Home Loan Price Inquiry interim report.
In October 2019, the ACCC was directed by the Government to undertake an inquiry into the pricing of residential mortgage products to ensure the pricing practices of Australia’s financial institutions are better understood and made more transparent.
The interim report has also examined the factors influencing interest rate setting decisions and the pricing of mortgages.
With respect to the factors influencing interest rate setting decisions, the ACCC found that a wide range of factors including bank profitability, the implications for deposit rates, community expectations and overall competitive position were considered.
In relation to standard variable interest rates (“SVR”) offered by the major banks, the ACCC found an overall lack of price transparency, particularly for new loans, making it difficult for customers to compare home loans.
Specifically, the ACCC found that the SVR is not an accurate indicator of the actual prices paid by major bank customers, with the overwhelming majority (around 90 per cent) receiving an average 128 basis point (1.28%) discount off the SVR. For the average mortgage holder, this discount represents a saving of nearly $5000 in the first year alone.
The ACCC also found that new customers are paying on average 26 basis points (0.26%) less than existing customers on owner occupied loans. This difference is even more significant for older loans, with customers who have had their loan for more than five years paying 40 basis points (0.40%) above the price on newer loans.
The report also makes clear that banks do not proactively reduce the SVR when their overall cost of funds come down. Instead, banks typically only announce a reduction in the SVR when the RBA announces a reduction in the cash rate – notwithstanding that the cash rate only represents a part of their overall funding costs. The ACCC also found that the time taken to pass on the announced reduction in SVR to customers varies across the banks with additional revenue being a motivator for increasing the delay in some circumstances.
These findings underline the importance of greater transparency and competition in the sector and need for customers to remain highly engaged and shop around to get access to the best deal – including from their existing financial institution.
The findings also underscore the Government’s continued commitment to a number of major reforms to increase competition across the banking industry, including implementation of the Consumer Data Right which will empower consumers to more easily compare and switch between home loan products and lenders.
At the same time, the Government has been focussed on ensuring that its actions in responding to the Coronavirus pandemic support competition, including through:
- the $15 billion in funding provided to the AOFM to invest in wholesale funding markets used by small ADIs and non-ADI lenders; and
- enabling a broad cross-section of lenders to participate in the Coronavirus SME Guarantee Scheme, with 39 lenders now approved to participate in the Scheme.
The ACCC’s Home Loan Price Inquiry final report will examine the impediments consumers face when switching lenders and will provide recommendations focused on driving further competition in the home loan market.
In light of the coronavirus pandemic, the Government will extend the timeframe for the Inquiry’s final report until 30 November 2020.
ACCELERATED PLANNING PROJECTS TO DELIVER JOBS AND BOOST THE ECONOMY
Thousands of new homes, new industrial complexes and six schools are among the first wave of projects that will have their assessments fast-tracked to boost the State’s economy and create opportunities for thousands of new jobs in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes and Treasurer Dominic Perrottet have today announced the first 24 projects to undergo a fast-tracked assessment process as part of the NSW Government’s new Planning System Acceleration Program.
“By fast-tracking assessments, we will keep people in jobs and keep the construction industry moving as we ride out the COVID-19 pandemic and set our sights on economic recovery,” Ms Berejiklian said.
The 24 projects identified in the first tranche of fast-tracked assessments have the potential to: – Create almost 9,500 new jobs during construction and once complete; – Inject $7.54 billion into the State’s economy; – Deliver more than 325,000 square metres of new public open space, parks and environmental conservation lands; and – Allow more than 4,400 new homes to be built, including more than 1,000 social and affordable homes.
Mr Stokes said decisions will be made on the first tranche of projects within the next four weeks.
“This will mean shovel-ready projects can get underway and the construction pipeline can continue to grow,” Mr Stokes said.
“If approved, these projects will be a win-win for NSW: delivering jobs for today, and local community and business benefits tomorrow.”
“It’s important to note that this is not a greenlighting exercise, the same stringent checks, balances and community consultation that ensures transparency, public benefit and merit-based assessment of projects remain.”
The criteria to identify and progress projects through a fast-tracked assessment
process has also been released.
To be considered for a fast-tracked assessment, the development application (DA) or rezoning must already be in the system, deliver a public benefit, demonstrate an ability to create jobs during construction and once complete, be able to commence construction within six months (for a State Significant Development application or State Significant Infrastructure application) or allow a DA to be lodged within six months (for a rezoning).
The criteria has been formulated by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment in consultation with government agencies and key industry groups. A probity advisor will continue to oversee and report on the fast-tracked process to ensure it is transparent and robust.
Mr Perrottet said additional projects that fit the new criteria would go through the fasttracked process, with further tranches to be announced.
“We know our planning system will be a key lever in driving investment in NSW as we come out of this crisis,” Mr Perrottet said.
“NSW already has the country’s biggest infrastructure program and we need to do what we can now to make sure that continues.”
Fast-tracking project assessments is one of the key pillars of the NSW Government’s Planning System Acceleration Program that will create opportunities for more than 30,000 jobs by the end of September 2020.
Other elements of the Program include a new one-stop shop for industry, clearing the backlog of cases stuck in the Land & Environment Court and investing $70 million to co-fund vital new community infrastructure in North West Sydney.
To view the fast-tracked assessment criteria and list of projects visit www.planning.nsw.gov.au/fast-tracked-assessments.
NSW GOVERNMENT BILL RELIEF FOR ENERGY CUSTOMERS
Households struggling to pay their energy bills during COVID-19 now have access to additional financial support directly through Service NSW and the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, thanks to a $30 million boost to the Government’s emergency support Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA) Scheme.
Energy Minister Matt Kean said the NSW Government is doing everything it can to ease cost-of-living pressures during the COVID-19 pandemic and has more than doubled the budget for the EAPA Scheme next financial year.
“For ease of access, residential energy customers can now apply for EAPA vouchers directly through Service NSW and will be called for an assessment without having to leave their house,” Mr Kean said.
“I encourage people that need bill support during this tough time to head to the Service NSW website and register for an energy voucher assessment.”
The EAPA assessment threshold has been temporarily increased so people can receive up to $400 per assessment twice per year, compared to the normal amount of $300.
“This means the annual maximum limit of vouchers for a household with both electricity and gas has increased from $1,200 to $1,600, up by $400,” Mr Kean said.
“We are expecting more people across NSW to need this emergency bill support as they are faced with unexpected changes to income and usage increases while working from home.”
During the assessment for EAPA vouchers, NSW Government representatives will also contact energy retailers with customers to assist with getting customers onto hardship plans, which will further protect customers during this extraordinarily difficult time.
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the funding for EAPA was part of almost $100 million recently allocated to help our most vulnerable, including $34 million to prevent homelessness, $10 million to support charity programs and $6 million for Lifeline’s operations in NSW.
“We are deploying the financial strength of NSW to bolster the health system, keep people in jobs and assist those most in need of help during this difficult time,” Mr Perrottet said.
“This funding will help thousands of people meet their energy bills as we head into winter.”
People needing further information should visit service.nsw.gov.au and search EAPA.
At the same time, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders across NSW are being reminded to apply for the Seniors Energy Rebate now.
“With the COVID-19 virus keeping seniors, who are among the most at-risk in our community, confined to their households and using more electricity, we’re very aware of this extra pressure being applied on their back pockets,” Mr Kean said.
“This NSW Government annual rebate, which will ease electricity costs by $200 a year, has been available since July last year but a majority of those eligible are yet to apply, and we’re urging them to do so now before applications for this financial year close.”
The program extends NSW’s generous energy rebates to Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders for the first time.
In 2019-20 over $329 million is being invested by the NSW Government on energy rebates alone, with almost a third of all electricity customers receiving a rebate.
To be eligible, applicants must hold a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) and be the primary account holder named on the electricity bill.
For more information and to apply online, customers can go to service.nsw.gov.au and type ‘Seniors Energy Rebate’ into the search function.
Customers who are unable to apply online can call Service NSW on 13 77 88. Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders who have already applied this financial year can reapply again from 1 July 2020 for the new financial year.
Man charged after pursuit – Maitland
A man will face court today, charged after a pursuit with police in Maitland overnight.
About 1.35am (Tuesday 28 April 2020), officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District, were patrolling the Rutherford area when they saw a Hyundai Tuscon on Harvey Road.
After turning on to the New England Highway, officers attempted to stop the Hyundai; however, it failed to stop and a pursuit was initiated, travelling through several suburbs.
At the end of Wallace Street, South Maitland, the Hyundai drove through timber fence and through the backyard of a home on Anzac Street, before colliding with a police om Bloomfield Street.
The driver, an 18-year-old man, got out and ran away before being arrested by police, after a short struggle.
He suffered minor injuries and was taken to Maitland Hospital for treatment.
During a search of the car, officers allegedly located property, believed to have been stolen.
The man was later returned to Maitland Police Station where he was charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly, drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, learner not accompanied by driver/police officer/tester, goods in personal custody suspected being stolen (not m/v), and resist officer in execution of duty, and breach of bail.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Tuesday 28 April 2020).
Three PINs issued after alleged gathering and non-essential travel breaches – Taree
Police have issued three COVID-19-related Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for offences on the Mid North Coast at the weekend.
Officers attached to Manning-Great Lakes Police District commenced an investigation into alleged breaches of the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW), which had been documented on social media.
Police have been told a group of more than 10 men were at a gathering on a rural property near Taree on Saturday 25 April, in contravention of current ministerial directions.
Following extensive inquiries, today (Monday 27 April 2020), three men – two aged 22 and one aged 24 – have been issued with $1000 PINs for failing to comply with a ministerial direction.
The 24-year-old had previously received a warning for breaching the Public Health Act.
Inquiries are continuing to identify the other persons and continue investigations.
Investigations are also continuing into other potential offences, including potential breaches of the Firearms Act (1996) at the Taree property.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
Man charged after allegedly coughing on security guard – Wollongong
A man has been charged after allegedly coughing at a security officer in a government building in Wollongong earlier today.
About 9am (Monday 27 April 2020), a 48-year-old man attended a government office on Burelli Street, Wollongong.
As the man was leaving the building, he allegedly became verbally abusive towards security staff.
As a security officer directed the man to leave the premises, the man allegedly turned and coughed in his face.
Officers from Wollongong Police District attended a short time later and commenced inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
A 48-year-old man was arrested outside the building and taken to Wollongong Police Station, where he was charged with assault.
He was refused bail and is due to appear in Wollongong Local Court today (Monday 27 April 2020).
Breakdown of latest Public Health Act charges and Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs)
Police have charged one person under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) and issued 23 COVID-19-related Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for offences within the past 24 hours.
Yesterday’s charge:
- About 2pm (Sunday 26 April 2020), a 26-year-old woman was at Nepean Hospital seeking treatment, when she allegedly became aggressive towards staff. After threatening them, the woman then allegedly spat on two nurses, two women aged 26 and 34, and a 49-year-old female doctor. Officers from Nepean Police Area Command were notified and attended the hospital. The 26-year-old woman was arrested and taken to Penrith Police Station, where she was charged with not comply noticed direction re spitting/coughing – COVID19, and common assault. The Penrith woman was refused bail to appear at Penrith Local Court today (Monday 27 April 2020).
Yesterday’s PINs include:
- About 1am, three men – aged 20, 21 and 23 – attended a fast food restaurant on the Princes Highway, Nowra, and sat at an indoor table together. Staff spoke to the trio and informed them the restaurant was only open for take-away meals. They refused and continued to eat their meals before leaving. Officers from South Coast Police District were patrolling nearby and after speaking to staff, police stopped their vehicle. The 20-year-old driver told police he had driven from Bexley to Sussex Inlet to buy a boat with two friends. They were each issued a $1000 PIN for non-essential travel.
- About 1am, officers from Northern Beaches Police Area Command were patrolling when they observed two males drinking alcohol on Penrith Avenue, Wheeler Heights. When approaching, it’s alleged they ran from police. Following a short foot pursuit, an 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy were arrested. Officers had previously spoken to the pair two hours earlier about the current Ministerial Directions and were issued with $1000 PINs. The youth was also issued with an infringement for trespass.
- Just after 2am, officers from Leichhardt Police Area Command were patrolling when they stopped and spoke to two men – aged 22 and 44 – on Glebe Point Road, Glebe. It’s alleged the men could not provide a reason for not being home. Checks revealed the younger man has previously been issued two warnings and was subsequently issued a $1000 PIN. The older man was issued a warning.
- About 4pm, officers from Coffs/Clarence Police District were called to a unit on West High Street, Coffs Harbour, following reports of a gathering. Police spoke to a 38-year-old man who did not reside at the location. Checks revealed he was previously issued a warning on Thursday 2 April at the same location and was subsequently issued a $1000 PIN.
- About 9am, officers from Riverina Police District were called to Bentley Place, Wagga Wagga, following reports a woman – armed with a tomahawk – was outside a home unit threatening the occupants – a 72-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman. Police attended and arrested a 33-year-old woman. She was taken to Wagga Wagga Police Station and charged with stalk/intimidate intend fear physical harm (personal), destroy or damage property, and armed with intent to commit indictable offence. The woman was also issued a $1000 PIN for failing to comply with Ministerial Directions. She was refused bail to appear at Wagga Wagga Local Court today (Monday 27 April 2020).
- About 11.20pm, police attended a unit on Park Avenue, Kingswood, and spoke to a 36-year-old Werrington man and a 35-year-old St Marys woman. The pair allegedly told police they were at the location to visit two friends, who were the occupants of the unit. Checks revealed the man and woman had previously been issued warnings and the woman was issued a PIN last Wednesday (22 April 2020). They were subsequently issued $1000 PINs.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
Greens Respond to COVID-19 App
The Government’s shameful disregard for privacy continues with the release of its COVID-19 app.
“If the Government wants people to use this app, they need to put protections in law beforehand,” Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt MP said.
“People have very legitimate concerns about how the data will be used and where it will be stored.”
“The reported storage of the data by a US company raises real concerns. When it comes to privacy, if there’s one person I trust less than Peter Dutton, it’s Donald Trump.”
“We all want the lockdown to end, but something like this needs to be done properly because the stakes are too high. Once it’s out, the genie can’t be put back in the bottle.”
Greens Digital Rights spokesperson Nick McKim said the Government had a long and terrible track record of undermining privacy and IT blunders.
“This government has repeatedly failed to ensure the security of data it has collected, and has made an art form of deliberately releasing people’s sensitive personal information to media outlets for political gain,” Senator McKim said.
“They should immediately release the source code and relevant legislation before rolling this out to the public.”
“Peter Dutton has been dreaming of a surveillance state in Australia for years, and this app, without protections, takes him one step closer.”
COVIDSafe: New App to Slow the Spread of Coronavirus
The Australian Government today launches the new voluntary coronavirus app, COVIDSafe.
The app is an important public health initiative that will help keep you, your family, and your community safe from further spread of coronavirus through early notification of possible exposure.
“Australians are doing an extraordinary job to flatten the curve and contain the spread of the coronavirus, but we cannot be complacent,” said Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
“The Chief Medical Officer’s advice is we need the COVIDSafe app as part of the plan to save lives and save livelihoods. The more people who download this important public health app, the safer they and their family will be, the safer their community will be and the sooner we can safely lift restrictions and get back to business and do the things we love.”
The health initiative uses technology to automate and improve what state and territory health officials already do manually. COVIDSafe will speed up the process of identifying people who have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with coronavirus, quickly stopping further spread of the virus in the community.
Minister for Health, Greg Hunt thanked Australians for their actions during the pandemic, and said the app is part of the three key requirements for easing restrictions: Test, Trace and Respond.
“We thank Australians for their help in adhering to the difficult but life-saving social distancing measures,” Minister Hunt said.
“We are now calling on all Australians to download the COVIDSafe app to help protect you, your family and your community from further spread of COVID-19. This will be necessary if we are to start easing some of the difficult social distancing restrictions we have had to put in place” Minister Hunt said.
“It will be one of the critical tools we will use to help protect the health of the community by quickly alerting people who may be at risk of having contact with COVID-19. If you’d been exposed, you’d want to know, wouldn’t you?”
The app has received strong support from states and territories and the health sector, which recognise it is a valuable tool that will enhance the ability to respond rapidly to local outbreaks, and the confidence to know the virus is not silently spreading throughout communities.
A new determination issued by the Minister for Health under the Biosecurity Act will ensure information provided voluntarily through the App will only be accessible for use by authorised state and territory health officials. Any other access or use will be a criminal offence.
Minister for Government Services, Stuart Robert described the App as being developed with one purpose: to stop the spread of coronavirus.
“Once installed and running, the COVIDSafe app uses Bluetooth to look for other phones that also have the app installed,” Minister Robert said.
“To be effective, users should have the app running in the background when they are coming into contact with others. Your phone does not need to be unlocked for the app to work.”
“It then securely makes a ‘digital handshake’, which notes the date and time, distance and duration of the contact. All information collected by the app is securely encrypted and stored in the app on the user’s phone. No one, not even the user, can access it.”
“Unless and until a person is diagnosed with COVID-19, no contact information collected in the app is disclosed or able to be accessed. Then, once the person agrees and uploads the data, only the relevant state or territory public health officials will have access to information. The only information they are allowed to access is that of close contacts – when a person has come within approximately 1.5 metres of another app user for 15 minutes or more – in their jurisdiction,” Minister Robert said.
Welcoming the announcement, Australian Chief Medical Officer, Brendan Murphy said COVIDSafe is set to be a major tool in streamlining the process of identifying contacts after a person tests positive for coronavirus.
“Finding out quickly means you can quarantine yourself or be treated much faster, protecting your family and friends from possible infection, and slowing the spread of the virus,” Professor Murphy said.
“Without this technology, health officials have to rely on people being able to remember who they have been around, and being able to provide contact details for those people.”
“It is important to note that only state and territory health officials will be able to use the information.”
“COVIDSafe only keeps contact information for 21 days. This covers the maximum incubation period for the virus and the time it takes for someone to be tested for COVID-19,” Professor Murphy said.
“Once the coronavirus pandemic is over, and Australia no longer needs the app, the app and the information on it will be deleted permanently. No virus, no app,” Minister Hunt said.
Coronavirus is a serious and contagious respiratory disease with symptoms including fever, a dry cough, a sore throat and shortness of breath that has infected more than 2.8 million people globally and led to 200,000 deaths. In Australia around 6,700 people have contracted coronavirus and sadly 82 people have died.
The App can be downloaded from the App stores.