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Shutting Down Protests is an Attack on Democracy, Says Greens MP Kobi Shetty

NSW Greens MP and party spokesperson on Democracy, Kobi Shetty, has voiced strong opposition to the NSW Government’s efforts to stop protests in Sydney this weekend.

Shetty emphasised that the fundamental right to protest must be protected, especially at a time when many Australians are deeply concerned about the escalating violence in the Middle East.

Kobi Shetty MP and Greens spokesperson on democracy, says:

“Attempts to block peaceful demonstrations represent a dangerous overreach by authorities and could set a worrying precedent for democracy in Australia.

“By attempting to shut down democratic protests, the government is not just stifling free speech but also ignoring the genuine concerns of thousands of Australians who want to voice their opposition to violence and war. This is not just about one group or one issue – it’s about the right of all people to participate in the democratic process without fear.

Shetty reiterated the importance of ensuring protests are peaceful but argued that shutting down public gatherings is not the answer.

“Our authorities should focus on ensuring protests remain peaceful, rather than intimidating communities with court orders and heavy-handed police responses. We need cooperation with local communities to enable safe and peaceful assembly, not blanket crackdowns.

“At a time when tensions are running high, the best way forward is through dialogue and peaceful protest, not by trying to silence those who speak out against violence. We need to uphold the right to protest while ensuring public safety, and this balance is crucial for our democracy.”

Greens Announce Election Plan for Free GP, Dentist, Psychologist, Nurse Visits

With bulk-billing options plummeting across the country and millions of people delaying healthcare due to cost concerns, the Greens have announced an ambitious plan to enable all Australians to go to the GP for free, as well as get free appointments with other primary healthcare professionals, at new Free Local Healthcare Clinics to be established in every electorate. The plan, part of the party’s ‘Robin Hood’ reforms, will be paid for by taxing big corporations that are profiting off price gouging during a cost of living crisis.

The policy – which will provide significant cost of living relief to millions of people – will be announced by Greens Leader Adam Bandt, health spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John and Greens candidate Sophie Greer in the key Greens target seat of Perth on Thursday.

With a minority Parliament looming, the Greens say it is a key policy for the Party this election and will be on the table and pushed in any minority Parliament negotiations after the next election.

THE GREENS’ PLAN FOR GP FOR FREE INCLUDES:

FREE LOCAL HEALTHCARE CLINICS : The Greens will establish 1000 Free Local Healthcare Clinics across Australia, with government-employed healthcare professionals providing free services. There will be at least 6 Free Local Healthcare Clinics per electorate.
GP, DENTIST, REGISTERED NURSE OR PSYCHOLOGIST: These Free Local Healthcare Clinics will allow people to access free healthcare with a GP, a dentist, a registered nurse or a psychologist with no out-of-pocket costs.
TRIPLE THE BULK BILLING INCENTIVE FOR ALL: The Greens will ensure everyone, and not just specific cohorts, can access a bulk-billed GP appointment in private practice by tripling the bulk-billing incentive for everyone with a Medicare card.
LONGER GP APPOINTMENTS: The Greens will support doctors to spend more time with
patients who need it by implementing a 20% increase to Medicare patient rebates for longer
appointments.
TRAIN THE WORKFORCE: The Greens will support our trainee GP workforce to ensure that GP
trainees receive equal pay to their hospital trainee counterparts.

Each of these policies has been independently costed by the PBO. Based on this analysis, our plan would be expected to cost approximately $54b over the coming decade.

With the cost of living crisis smashing people across the country, the Greens will use the upcoming election campaign to highlight how the Labor and Liberal parties have rigged the system in favour of the big corporations, allowing 1 in 3 to pay no tax at all while others price gouge their way to record profits, while only offering pathetic, band aid solutions for people doing it tough.

With Labor and Liberal lacking the guts to take on the big corporations, the Greens say that change can only come by voting for it.

This election, the Greens are campaigning to hold their existing Senate seats and grow in the House of Representatives, in seats including Wills, Macnamara, Richmond, Sturt and Perth. In addition to stopping new coal and gas mines and ending native forest logging, the Greens will have a strong economic offering, centred around a series of ‘Robin Hood Reforms’ to tackle the housing and cost of living crises: a Big Corporations Tax on large companies’ excessive profits will raise $514b over the decade, which will fund ‘Dental into Medicare’ (already announced) and ‘GP for Free’, as well as other measures to come.

A national poll funded by The Greens has shown that 74% of the people agree that the government should ensure people can go to the GP for Free.

In the power-sharing Parliament of 2010, the Greens secured dental into Medicare for children.

Mr Adam Bandt, Leader of the Australian Greens:

“1 in 3 big corporations pays no tax. The Greens will make big corporations pay their fair share of tax so you can see the GP for free.

“If you’re worried about the cost of seeing a doctor, dentist or psychologist you’re not alone.

“In a wealthy country like ours everyone should be able to get the healthcare they need, but more and more people are putting off health appointments because they can’t afford it.

“Under Labor and Liberal, big corporations are price gouging and making massive profits, but everyday people are hurting.

“The Greens are fighting for outcomes for everyday people, and that means being able to see a GP, psychologist, dentist or nurse for free with your Medicare card.

“We can’t keep voting for the same two parties and expecting a different result. If you want to see the GP for free, the first step is to vote for someone who’ll fight for you.”

Senator Jordon Steele-John, Greens Health spokesperson and Senator for WA:

“The Greens have a bold plan that will improve the health of our community, and bring down the cost of living.

“It’s disgraceful that we’re in a cost of living crisis where people are choosing between going to the doctor, paying rent and putting food on the table. This is why I am so pleased to announce our Greens plan that will see people being able to get back to the GP for free.

“I’ve heard from many people here in Perth that the cost of going to the GP is too high. In the Perth CBD, the average out of pocket costs to see a doctor is $48.64, and rising.

“The majority of adults with a Medicare Card are unable to find a bulk-billing appointment like they used to. We’re seeing people skipping regular appointments, prioritising their kids appointments over their own health, or not following up test results because going to the doctor has become too expensive. This is exactly why we need to triple the bulk-billing incentive and establish Free Local Healthcare Clinics.

“We know that the future of general practice is in crisis. There’s a problem with too few trainee doctors choosing General Practice. One of the key barriers to this is pay inequity. If a trainee chooses to undertake a GP traineeship they get paid less than their peers training in a hospital. With the cost-of-living so high, students are making a financial decision to pursue careers other than becoming a GP. This is why the Greens are announcing our commitment to the future of the GP workforce with our plan to offer pay-parity to trainee GPs.

“Today’s announcement is the latest commitment from the Greens that will save the community thousands of dollars a year in healthcare costs. Our plan to go to the GP for Free sits alongside our plan to get dental health care and mental health care into Medicare; these will bring us closer to a universal healthcare system.”

Learn more:

See a GP for free

All Australian media outlets should conduct racism reviews

Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens and spokesperson for Anti-Racism, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, has responded to the Race Reporting Handbook developed by the Australian Human Rights Commission and Media Diversity Australia.

Senator Faruqi urges all media outlets to conduct immediate anti-racism training for all staff, as well as commission independent racism reviews and develop an anti-racism strategy going forward.

Senator Mehreen Faruqi:

“The shocking dehumanisation of Arabs and Muslims by Australian media over the past year has emphasised the urgent need for all newsrooms to commission independent racism reviews, develop anti-racism strategies for their organisations and conduct anti-racism training for staff immediately.

“An independent review found systemic racism exists within the ABC. But the ABC are not the only ones. People of colour are dehumanised daily in Australian media, and we’ve seen more and more diverse journalists leave the profession due to their workplaces being unsafe. This has to change, and it has to change now.

“The Race Reporting Handbook is a step in the right direction, but the impetus for change must come from the media outlets. They need to recognise that racism is a serious problem in their industry, and it is infecting the way they cover stories as well as harming staff of colour.

“The consequences of not dealing with the racism in Australian media is the further erosion of audience trust. People can see when the media are not covering a story honestly, and are dehumanising sections of the community.”

Grant paves way for Paralympian to champion NSW’s first wheelchair-accessible skate bowl

City of Newcastle is dropping into history to support Paralympian Paul Nunnari activate NSW’s first wheelchair-accessible skate bowl as part of a $20,000 boost for local inclusive sports events.

Eight initiatives will share in the pool of funding from City of Newcastle, which was allocated as part of the Inclusive Sports Pitch Night at this year’s Count Us In Sport festival.

Paralympian Paul Nunnari at City of Newcastle’s wheelchair accessible skate bowl. The grants will allow community-based sporting organisations and recreation providers to deliver events and activities designed to increase the participation of people with a disability in sport.

This includes a “come and see” wheelchair motocross (WCMX) demonstration hosted by Mr Nunnari, which will showcase how wheelchair users can fully engage with the inclusive skate bowl and terrain park at South Newcastle Beach delivered through City of Newcastle’s multi-faceted Bathers Way project.

The event aims to promote the physical and social benefits of being involved in sport and highlight the importance of inclusive sports facilities.

City of Newcastle Executive Director of Creative and Community Services Alissa Jones said these grants contribute to ensuring everyone has access to the benefits of sport.

“The funding awarded to these eight organisations represents our commitment to changing the narrative for people with a disability in Newcastle,” Ms Jones said.

“These initiatives not only open doors for participation but also inspire a more inclusive sporting community.”

Mr Nunnari said he is proud to be a part of an initiative that will open up new possibilities for wheelchair users.

“This skate bowl is more than just a facility, it’s a space where everyone has dignified, equitable access and can thrive and have fun,” Mr Nunnari said.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase how accessible skate facilities can showcase the skills of wheelchair users (WCMX) and the broader disability community. This is the first of its kind in NSW, and I know it will set a benchmark for other communities to create similar inclusive spaces.”

A range of other sports including water polo, soccer, dance, lawn bowls, tennis and surfing will also be made more accessible to the community thanks to the City of Newcastle grants.

Rachel Pond will continue to facilitate weekly sports activities through her organisation, Wheelchair Sports for Kids at the Newcastle PCYC. After identifying a need for age-appropriate accessible sessions for her two-year-old, Rachel developed this program for wheelchair users aged 12 and under.

The New Lambton Eagles Football Club, known for their longstanding support of footballers with disabilities, will install soft cushioning around their synthetic multi-sport playing surfaces to enhance the safety for those who have less balance or are at higher risk of falling.

Local hubs will be created at Bar Beach and District Park Tennis Courts to provide opportunities for people to learn and play standing adaptive tennis, while Learn to Surf Newcastle will host five group learning opportunities for people with a disability.

The Fun Fit water polo initiative, supported by NSW Water Polo, aims to create an inclusive space for participants of all abilities, including those with disabilities, to play in a non-contact and non-competitive environment.

Greater Newcastle Bowls will trial an all-abilities program to make lawn bowls more inclusive. While accessible bowling exists nationally and internationally, this initiative will create pathways for local players to participate and engage at these levels.

City of Newcastle’s annual Count Us In Sport festival was held from August 8-15 to champion the importance of making sport accessible for all.

The program featured a range of events and activities designed in consultation with City of Newcastle’s Access Inclusion Advisory Committee and community members with lived experience of disability, including a “come and try” sports day and an inclusive sports forum featuring former Newcastle Knight Alex McKinnon and Paralympian Rae Anderson.

2024 Central Coast Regional Business Awards

The Central Coast Regional Business Awards showcases and celebrates the innovation, resilience and dedication of the region’s businesses and their staff.

It is crucial to recognise the work done by businesses because they play a vital role in driving economic growth, creating jobs and contributing to the overall well-being of the Central Coast.

Wyong-based tech logistics business 4id Solutions was crowned the region’s Business of the Year in recognition of both its contribution to the local economy and innovative leadership in the international market.

The winners will now represent the Coast against the rest of the state at the 2024 State Business Awards Gala on 30 October.

2024 Winners:

Employer of Choice (21+ Employees): Pacific Link Housing

Employer of Choice (Under 20 Employees): Seton Family Lawyers

Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion: Allcare Nursing & Community Services

Excellence in Innovation: Signarama Tuggerah

Excellence in International Business: 4id Solutions

Excellence in Large Business: Central Coast Mariners Football Club

Excellence in Micro Business: Key2 Realty

Excellence in Small Business (Hall of Fame): LEP Digital

Excellence in Sustainability: Signarama Tuggerah

Outstanding Business Leader (20 Employees and Under): Suzy Miller, Suzy Miller Leadership Development Specialists

Outstanding Business Leader (21+ Employees): Paul Chapman, Central Coast Sports College

Outstanding Community Organisation: Allcare Nursing & Community Services

Outstanding Employee (Hall of Fame): Melinda McCrone, LEP Digital

Outstanding Local Chamber: CTBC – Coastal Towns Business Chamber

Outstanding New Business: Renew Projects

Outstanding Visitor Experience: Australian Reptile Park

Outstanding Young Business Leader: Robert O’Donoghue, CCTS

Business of the Year: 4id Solutions

Minister for the Central Coast David Harris said:

“I want to congratulate all the nominees and the winners of this year’s Central Coast Regional Business Awards.

“Local businesses are the backbone of our region which is why it’s important we celebrate all the fantastic work they do and their staff that make it all happen.

“I look forward to seeing the winners represent our region at the state awards in October.”

Have your say on Wagga Wagga road and transport needs

Riverina residents are being invited to have their say on local roads and transport priorities as part of the Minns Labor Government’s planning for future growth.

Transport for NSW is investigating predicted areas of industrial and residential growth in the north of Wagga Wagga as part of a new strategy to help build better future transport networks.

The Wagga Wagga Northern Access Strategy will build on previous consultation with the community and focus on the transport network connecting the city, in particular the Sturt and Olympic highways including major intersections on both corridors.

Insights gained through development of the strategy will feed into the broader Riverina-Murray Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan (SRITP) which is being developed.

Two drop-in sessions for community members to meet with Transport for NSW to discuss the Wagga Wagga Northern Access Strategy will be held at:

Wagga Wagga Marketplace, 87 Baylis Street, Saturday 12 October 9am to 12pm
Wagga Wagga Civic Centre arcade, 243 Baylis Street, Wednesday 16 October 10am to 1pm

To share ideas that will help shape the Northern Access Strategy, Riverina residents can also take part in a survey until it closes on 28 October.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“The Minns Labor Government is committed to building better roads and transport links in Wagga Wagga.

“Feedback from the community is critical to ensuring the Wagga Wagga Northern Access Strategy best guides Transport for NSW decision making around future planning priorities and investment opportunities.

“Investigations will look at multimodal opportunities to improve access between the growth area in the north and the CBD and identify ways to reduce commuter delays and support freight movements while catering for future traffic growth.”

Independent Member for Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr said:

“I am working closely with the community and the government to ensure we have the right infrastructure in place to meet the needs of the booming northern suburbs, including intersection improvements on the Olympic and Sturt Highways.

“We know that a second river crossing is a very high priority so now is the time to step up our advocacy for the structures and services we’ll need in the future.

“This is an important opportunity to help Transport for NSW understand where future investments are needed most, and I encourage all community members to take part in the survey and share their thoughts on our current and future transport needs.”

Australia’s first statewide hub to improve health literacy launches

Australia’s first Statewide Health Literacy Hub has been officially launched, marking a pivotal step towards improving health experiences and outcomes for NSW residents.

NSW Health is investing $3.7 million over three years and partnering with Western Sydney Local Health and the University of Sydney to launch the Statewide Health Literacy Hub which is designed to address the challenge of low health literacy in NSW.

Health literacy refers to how people access, learn from, and use health information and services, to look after themselves. Low health literacy affects more than half of all Australians.

The Hub will serve as a centre for online training, practical tools and resources and translational research aimed at improving healthcare staff’s communication skills, empowering patients to manage their health, and promoting equity throughout the state’s health system.

The Hub will foster partnerships between healthcare providers and community organisations to help people navigate the NSW healthcare system so they can access the right care when they need it.

Through helping people access, understand and use healthcare services, the Hub will aim to alleviate pressure on Emergency Departments, reduce hospital readmissions, and improve patient health experiences and outcomes.

Further information on the Statewide Health Literacy Hub can be found at https://www.healthliteracyhub.org.au/

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“The Hub is about more than just information. It is about ensuring that every person in NSW, no matter their background, has access to clear, compassionate, and effective healthcare.

“By equipping our health workforce with the tools and strategies for clear communication, the Health Literacy Hub is poised to transform how healthcare is delivered and experienced, leading to better, more equitable outcomes for all.

“Clear, respectful and empathetic communication can help people better understand their health conditions and treatment options, and help patients follow post care instructions, resulting in fewer hospital readmissions.”

Minister for Medical Research David Harris:

“The Health Literacy Hub has a key role in turning research into real-world solutions, ensuring that new knowledge drives meaningful change across our diverse communities.

“Low health literacy affects more than half of Australians, and we know that is leading to poorer health outcomes and increased pressure on the healthcare system.

“This Statewide Health Literacy Hub is a great initiative which will empower staff to provide clear and easy to understand information to everyone.”

Chief Executive, Western Sydney Local Health District, Graeme Loy:

“Having started right here at Western Sydney Local Health District the Statewide Health Literacy Hub is something we are incredibly proud of. This Hub began as a local initiative and it’s inspiring to see it now being expanded statewide.”

Digital roadmap drives innovation and delivers for communities

Greater accessibility, upskilling communities and building resilience for the future are at the heart of the Minns Labor Government’s new digital roadmap for New South Wales.

The NSW Digital Strategy launched today sets out how the state will deliver innovative, inclusive and secure digital services to improve the lives of residents. For the first time, the new strategy includes a way to track progress on digital as a state.

The NSW Digital Strategy is built around five key missions:

Accessibility: Make digital services accessible, inclusive and connected for all people in NSW
Productivity: Use digital to advance service delivery, support the local economy and drive productivity
Trust: Build trust through reliable, stable government services and sustainable digital infrastructure
Resilience: Keep NSW safe and resilient for emergencies online and in-person
Digital Skills: Uplift digital capability in our public sector workforce.

This provides a roadmap for how NSW will harness digital transformation to support economic growth, improve service delivery and create more connected communities.

NSW is home to 32 per cent of Australia’s population and is one of the most diverse states in the world, with the Government committed to making digital services inclusive by supporting all NSW communities on their digital journey.

People responding to a NSW Government survey to understand the challenges faced when engaging with digital technologies and services found 1 in 5 people (22 per cent) feel they lack the necessary skills to perform important online tasks such as job searching, working, studying or accessing government services.

The feedback also found those aged 65+, from low-income households or whose highest education level is high school are less likely to feel confident in performing these tasks.

The strategy leverages leading technology and builds on large-scale projects already underway, including ongoing work to deliver a secure and privacy-preserving NSW digital identity and verifiable credentials system for use across the public and private sectors.

Key initiatives under the strategy include:

Delivery of the NSW Digital ID and NSW Digital Wallet to enable a safer, more inclusive digital economy by streamlining services and providing a secure way to prove who you are.
The state’s first Digital Inclusion Strategy, informed by community input which shows that key barriers to inclusion include not just location, physical challenges and economic factors, but also confidence in digital skills and trust in digitalisation.
Better coordination of information and communications technology spending across government to reduce duplication and an enhanced approach to cyber security coordination, governance and investment.
Supporting housing delivery by improving the NSW Planning Portal and developing the Digital Housing Pipeline, an initiative that offers access to information on the delivery of new homes, facilitating improved collaboration among developers, government agencies and homeowners to streamline the process from planning to occupancy.
Delivering secure and resilient critical communications for emergency services and supporting communities during disasters by building on projects like the Hazards Near Me app which includes fire, storm, tsunami and flood information.
Updating strategies to leverage data and use artificial intelligence to enhance the response to natural disasters and emergencies through tools like RFS Athena which predicts fire behaviour.

The NSW Digital Strategy puts people at its heart by targeting practical benefits, powered by community insights and formulated through extensive collaboration with industry and academic partners. For more information, read the strategy at www.digital.nsw.gov.au/strategy

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Jihad Dib said:

“The NSW Digital Strategy lays the foundation for a future for digital services that are more secure, inclusive and accessible, and is a commitment to improving people’s daily lives.”

“This strategy is about more than just technology— it’s about people and how we build world-class digital services that strengthen our communities while supporting economic growth.”

“Our key missions of accessibility, productivity, trust, resilience and skills will help ensure we deliver with purpose on the things people need, like increasing access to government services.”

“We are already bringing our strategy to life, through initiatives like our new EasyRead hub and updated AI frameworks, by ensuring digital infrastructure is front of mind for government projects, and by improving cyber security coordination and investment.”

“From Western Sydney to regional and remote NSW, our vision is for a more connected state and a government that embraces new technologies and brings everyone on the journey.”

“The NSW Digital Strategy will help ensure we continue to innovate and build digital services that are both forward-thinking and responsive to the needs of the community we serve.”

From the eyes of veterans, photography exhibition explores life in military service

A new temporary photography exhibition has launched at the Anzac Memorial, showcasing rare glimpses into life in military service as captured by ex-serving personnel.

Accompanied with stories from veterans, the Point & Shoot exhibition honours a range of modern conflicts, peace operations and service from the Second World War onwards.

The purpose of the exhibition is not to display perfectly captured photos but to share raw moments frozen in time that ex-service personnel thought were worth remembering.

Point & Shoot is the concept of Point Assist founder Mark Direen, a former Infantry and Special Forces soldier with over 20 years military service including six overseas deployments.

Mark took a plethora of photos to document what he saw during service. His experiences became the impetus for this project, which launched onto the national stage in 2022 and continues to grow.

The exhibition is open for a limited time only – until Sunday 6 October. Entry is free. The Memorial’s opening hours are 9am to 5pm, seven days per week.

Find out more about the Point & Shoot exhibition.

Minister for Veterans David Harris said:

“For Australians who have not served, it can be difficult to understand what military life looks like, including the unique sights and encounters that come with conflict or peacetime operations.

“Point & Shoot is an intimate opportunity to see through the eyes of our veterans and to reflect on their experiences during service.

“Thank you to Mark Direen and the other ex-service men and women who so candidly contributed their personal photos to this exhibition.”

Veteran and photographer Mark Direen said:

“Operating in remote, high threat environments as a combat soldier was both physically and mentally demanding.

“It was behind the lens of a camera that I found stillness and meaning and it was then I wondered, maybe others do this too and so the concept of this exhibition began.

“Through this collection of images, I also hope to shine a light on the sacrifices of the many that allow these stories to be told.”

Councils to share $3 million to push regional housing

The Minns Labor Government is inviting regional councils to apply for a share of $3 million in funding for projects that will support the delivery of more well-located and affordable homes.

From today, regional councils will be able to apply for between $20,000 and $250,000 for individual projects as part of the NSW Government’s Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund.

Delivering more well-located homes near transport and services has been central to the NSW Government’s planning reforms so far and we’re not done.

As regional NSW plans for and delivers more homes to its growing communities, the Minns Government is supporting that growth by funding strategic planning projects.

Councils can use the funds to speed up new housing strategies, prepare infrastructure and servicing plans and make local planning amendments for the delivery of more diverse and affordable housing supply.

These projects will support regional NSW work towards its housing target of 55,000 homes during the National Housing Accord.

The first round of the program funded 20 projects across 19 councils to support the delivery of 40,000 homes. Among them was $107,400 for Port Stephens Council’s partnership with Homes NSW on a sub-precincts masterplan to support the delivery of affordable housing in Raymond Terrace.

The second round allocated $2.9 million to 16 councils to support the delivery of nearly 23,800 homes across regional NSW, including $230,000 to Federation Council to undertake a stormwater-servicing plan supporting 5,600 homes across the Murray region.

All NSW councils outside Greater Sydney are eligible for funding. Round three opens today and closes at 12pm on Friday 22 November 2024.

To learn more about the fund visit https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/policy-and-legislation/housing/regional-housing/regional-housing-strategic-planning-fund

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“The housing crisis is hitting regional communities just as hard as it is hitting Sydney, and the Minns Government wants to make sure they have the resources to plan for and deliver more homes in all parts of the state.

“As regional communities grow and evolve, this funding will help deliver the important planning work needed to boost housing supply, affordability, and diversity.

“The NSW Government is working with regional councils on a coordinated planning approach to deal with regional housing challenges.”

Minister for Regional NSW and Western NSW Tara Moriarty said:

“We really encourage councils to apply and help us unlock the delivery of thousands of new regional homes sooner.

“This funding will support more homes, which means more jobs and better communities in regional NSW.

“Their submissions will then be assessed by an independent panel using a published criteria.”