Category: Australian News

The Health Services Union today commences a precedent-setting legal push to prevent aged care operators slashing pay by engaging catering staff under the hospitality award through labour hire operators.

The Union will take Catering Industries to the Federal Court, insisting it should pay its employees under the aged care award rather than the hospitality award when the employee works in an aged care facility. Weekend penalty rates are 25 per cent higher under the aged care award.

Base rates are also lower under the hospitality award. Currently a full time cook who has worked in aged care for 13 years Tuesday to Saturday is just shy of $4,200 ($4195) a year worse off in wages. A full time supervisor who has oversight of an aged care kitchen working the same shifts (Tue-Sat) is $3,175 a year worse off in wages. This is before either of them have done any overtime or worked a public holiday. The drop in wages is even more profound for casual employees.

HSU anticipates the gap will widen if its separate case for a 25 per cent increase in aged care wages succeeds in the Fair Work Commission.

HSU National President Gerard Hayes said the best interests of residents were better served through keeping catering in-house.

“We saw through the Royal Commission just how important food is, with residents in some facilities being served jelly and frankfurts. It’s simply astounding that Catering Industries is trying to bolster its legal position by arguing that it bans its staff from communicating with residents. How on earth can they be attentive to the needs of residents if they are banned from communicating with them?

“Aged care’s race to the bottom must end. The endless splintering of the workforce undermines the bargaining position of all aged care staff and keeps wages rock bottom.

“Aged care residents requires holistic care and to deliver that you need a holistic workforce. You can’t carve out catering or cleaning from care and health. The same employer should be responsible for the vast bulk of the aged care effort.

“Some catering companies might argue they have seasonal or event based work. But the nutrition needs of our elderly do not stop and start. They requires constant attention.”

The HSU case arises from members at a Port Botany aged care site insisting on their right to bargain under the Aged Care Award, which Catering Industries refused to accomodate.

Two teenagers have been charged after an alleged armed robbery near Singleton yesterday.

About 1.30am (Thursday 26 May 2022), a 25-year-old man was working inside a service station on Bridgman Road, Dunolly, near Singleton, when a woman entered the store.

Police will allege in court as she was exiting, a man – armed with a knife – entered the store and threatened the attendant, before demanding cash and e-cigarettes.

The pair fled on foot together towards the New England Highway.

Officers from Hunter Valley Police District established a crime scene and commenced an investigation.

Following inquiries, detectives executed a search warrant at a home on Wakehurst Crescent, Singleton Heights, shortly before 3pm (Thursday 26 May 2022).

A 14-year-old girl was arrested inside the home while a 16-year-old boy was located and arrested from inside a roof cavity.

Both were taken to Singleton Police Station, where the teenage boy was charged with robbery armed with an offensive weapon, and two counts of goods in custody. He was refused bail to appear at a children’s court today (Friday 27 May 2022).

The teenage girl was charged with robbery armed with offensive weapon principal 2nd degree serious indictable offence, and dishonestly obtain property by deception. She was granted conditional bail to appear at a children’s court on Thursday 30 June 2022.

The Bringing them Home Report was released 25 years ago today. The Greens are renewing calls for a national compensation scheme: a $200 000 payment plus additional $7000 for funeral expenses to compensate for the harm inflicted by successive Australian Governments.

“They stole our children to break our people. No Government has ever brought peace to survivors of the stolen generation.” Said The Greens spokesperson for Justice and First Nations: Gunnai, Gunditjmara and DjabWurrung Senator Lidia Thorpe.

“Our pain continues and we can see that today. My mum was a co-commissioner on the Inquiry in the 90s. Just this week, she was giving testimony at the coronial inquest of a Gunditjmara, Dja Dja Wurrung, Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta woman who died in police custody. We need to break the cycle and stop the trauma.”

“It’s been 25 years since the Bringing Them Home report recommended that a National Compensation Fund be established to adequately compensate survivors. This is far too important to be patchy and inconsistent across state lines.”

“How many of our people have died since the Report was released? How much longer do our people have to wait for the Report’s recommendations to be implemented?”

“Sorry means you don’t do it again. Today, there’s more First Nations kids in out of home care now than when Kevin Rudd apologised to the Stolen Generations. We call on the Albanese Government to compensate survivors and stop a new Stolen Generation.” 

“It’s time for truth, Treaty and Blak justice.” Said Thorpe.

The best thing the new Labor government could do to repair the relationship with Pacific is commit to no new coal and gas, Greens Leader Adam Bandt said today.

Pacific leaders have been making clear for years that the good relationship with Australia is dependent on climate action, with a focus on no new coal and gas.

Former President of Kiribati, Anote Tong, has said this week that ““My hope is that we will see stronger and more urgent climate action from the incoming government, including a more ambitious emissions reduction target, ramped-up support for climate-vulnerable communities in the Pacific and, most importantly, a commitment to no new coal and gas projects in Australia.”

Tuvalu’s former Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga said “This would include radical new Australian targets for emissions reduction under the Paris Agreement, no new coal or gas, and an ongoing commitment to supporting Pacific Island nations as we face the brunt of climate impacts.”

Adam Bandt MP said:

“Keeping coal and gas in the ground is the key to our relationship with the Pacific and is the best way to deal with concerns about security in the region.

“Pacific leaders want real climate action. By committing to no new coal and gas we can not only protect the Pacific, but also reestablish the relationship with the Pacific.

“Sea level rise and other climate impacts are an existential threat to the Pacific. As former President Tong has said, the Pacific Islands’ “survival is on the line”.

“Climate is the number one national security threat to the Pacific, so concerns about China will fall on deaf ears if we continue to threaten the Pacific with our coal and gas.”

The review of the Liberal Party’s 2022 federal election campaign has been established and is now seeking submissions.

The review will be conducted by Mr Brian Loughnane AO and Senator the Hon Jane Hume.

The terms of reference for the review are:

“To conduct a review of the Liberal Party’s 2022 federal election result, including the campaign and the period leading up to it, and to make recommendations arising from the review.

The review will include examination of the performance of – and lessons arising for – the Federal Secretariat/CCHQ, the Divisions of the Liberal Party (including the Country Liberal Party’s campaign in Solomon), and the parliamentary team.

The review will also examine, among other things:

• The long-term challenge for the Party presented by independents running in, and winning, seats from the Liberal Party.
• The Liberal Party’s electoral performance among different voter segments.
• The selection of candidates by the Liberal Party.”

All submissions will be treated as strictly confidential. They should be sent to the review by Wednesday 30 June 2022.

Submissions should be sent to review@liberal.org.au and include the submitter’s name, state, electorate and role in the campaign, with the submission and any supporting files as an attachment to the email.

Every Division is asked to take every reasonable step to inform Party members of these arrangements as quickly as possible. Submissions are invited from individual Party members, FECs, campaign committees, candidates, MPs, Senators, campaign staff and the Division itself.

Mr Loughnane and Senator Hume said:

“In undertaking this important review, we will consult widely across all parts of the Party. We welcome input from all Party members and encourage submissions from all involved in the campaign.”

The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has released its Default Market offer (DMO). See expert responses below: 

Andrew Stock, Climate Councillor, energy expert, former Origin Executive and past Director of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation said: 

“The significant increases in electricity prices for consumers approved by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) today demonstrate that Australia must get off fossil fuels – and fast. Big increases in fossil fuel costs for gas and coal are the main reason behind the big increases.” 

“NSW and Queensland are seeing the biggest percent increases because they still rely heavily on expensive gas and coal, and their old coal power stations increasingly fail. South Australia, which has much more renewable electricity, sees far lower increases, and expensive gas is the main reason for the increase there too.”

“These results show once again that Australia must implement plans to get off expensive, polluting and unreliable fossil fuels fast. The previous Federal Government stalled the transition to renewables wherever possible, causing investment in large scale new renewable capacity to collapse, backed fossil fuel expansion, and put off coal closure. It demonstrates starkly just how much of an expensive energy failure the policies of the former Morrison Government have been. Now electricity consumers will be forced to pick up the tab.”

“The climate and energy wars have cost Australian consumers dearly. Their impacts will be felt for years to come because most of the nation has wasted a decade in the energy transition to renewables. Now we need the new Australian federal government to get on with it and show strong climate leadership.” 

Nicki Hutley, Climate Councillor, leading economist and former Partner at Deloitte Access Economics said: 

“This demonstrates the cost of remaining heavily reliant on fossil fuels for energy. Soaring energy bills for many households will exacerbate already significant inflationary pressures. Much of the price pressure comes from global factors, notably the Russian invasion of Ukraine. But this underscores our need to reduce our reliance on global factors, which European nations in particular are already planning as fast as possible.” 

“As one of the sunniest and windiest countries on earth, we have the tools we need. Governments can step up by attracting capital and by investing in more labour skills to support the transition.”

“South Australia is showing the rest of the nation how investing in renewables delivers greater returns to households and businesses in the form of cheaper, cleaner energy. And in addition to the economic dividends from renewables, we will have far better health outcomes as we wean ourselves off coal- and gas-fired power.”

Dr Madeline Taylor, Climate Councillor, energy expert and Senior Lecturer at Macquarie University, School of Law said: 

“The latest findings from the AER show that Australia’s reliance on volatile fossil fuels will have a significant impact on mounting cost of living pressure. This proves the two most important issues of the election – climate change and cost of living are deeply intertwined. 

“We knew this was coming and it’s clear evidence of what we’ve been expecting here for a long time as a result of the inherent volatility of the oil and gas market. This coupled with geopolitical tensions has resulted in increased prices for all states across the National Electricity Market.” 

“Consumers and manufacturers are now feeling the pinch from soaring fossil fuel prices. We need to double down on speed and support for renewable energy and storage to help protect ourselves, lower emissions, create new industries and become more self-sufficient.” 

Charles Darwin University (CDU) students are joining a team of NASA-funded scientists and astronomers to observe Pluto pass in front of a distant star in Katherine on June 1.

The event, known as a stellar occultation, happens when Pluto passes in front of a distant star and casts its shadow on the Earth, much like a solar eclipse.

The Earth, Pluto and the distant star would be perfectly aligned, and the centre of Pluto’s shadow will be located north of Katherine.

CDU students are joining teams of observers from the United States that are bringing 12 portable telescopes set up between Darwin and south of Katherine to watch Pluto pass in front of the distant star. 

This is the first time that NASA telescopes will be set up in Australia, making it a valuable opportunity for the students and community to get involved.

CDU STEM Pathways lecturer, Dr Carla Eisemberg, said this is a once-in-a-lifetime astronomical observation that is also exciting for the community.

“It is fantastic that NASA is engaging with our CDU students and the community. Their research is fascinating and will help to inspire Territorians interested in careers in technology and science,” Dr Eisemberg said.

Observing such a precisely timed event takes practice, so plenty of practice time is planned to acquaint the students with the telescopes and equipment so they can be full participants in this astronomical observation.

The observation will tell astronomers information about the structure and state of Pluto’s atmosphere, seven years after NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft visited Pluto in July 2015.

The path that Pluto follows around the Sun is tilted compared to the rest of the solar system, and the path is shaped more like an ellipse than a circle, making Pluto a dynamic world.

Pluto’s atmosphere and surface both change during the planet’s 248-year-long trip around the Sun, and the new observation will help scientists identify the latest changes.

The NASA-funded scientist team is planning some outreach programs in which they will present an overview of the observation campaign and an update on NASA’s New Horizons mission since its Pluto flyby.

A community workshop and seminar will be held at CDU’s Katherine rural campus from 6.30 to 10.30pm on May 29, where the community is welcome to come to meet the astronomers as they practise with the telescopes, with an opportunity to look at the stars and planets through the NASA telescopes.

Adam Bandt has today called on Labor to listen to climate voters and refuse to open up catastrophic climate destroying gas projects of Scarborough in WA and the Beetaloo in the NT.

Former WA Premier, Colin Barnett, today is reported in the Australian Financial Review as saying:

“But climate change is what people talked about and Labor talked about [at the election] so it will be difficult to achieve a tougher target for 2030 when you’ve got a big project like Scarborough.

“The project needs to happen, but it’s going to be a dilemma for Albanese because a lot of people would say he’d be breaking his word – the emissions out of Scarborough dwarf everything else.”

Woodside’s Scarborough gas project will release 1.4b tonnes of pollution while pollution from the Beetaloo will increase Australia’s already high emissions by as much as 13%.

Yesterday, Kiribati’s former president Anote Tong and ​​Tuvalu’s former prime minister Enele Sopoaga called for a commitment to no new coal and gas projects in Australia rather than “greenwashing” and political stunts.

Adam Bandt MP said:

“Colin Barnett is right that if Labor proceeds with climate bombs like the Scarborough gas project, the increased emissions will ‘dwarf everything else’ and Labor won’t meet even its own weak climate targets. 

“Labor proceeding with climate-destroying gas projects like Scarborough and Beetaloo would indeed be breaking a promise with people who voted for more climate action.”

“The first rule of dealing with an emergency is to stop making the problem worse but Labor is vowing to open up new methane projects like Scarborough and Beetaloo, adding fuel to the fire and putting a safe climate further out of reach. 

“These projects can still be stopped. The incoming government has the power to hit the pause button, and that’s what the scientists are telling us we need to do because we’re in a climate emergency.

“For Whitehaven to suggest their economic contribution will assist budget recovery is shameless deception. Coal and gas corporations are amongst the most egregious tax avoiders in the country, so stopping new projects will have a very manageable impact on the Federal budget. 

“‘Budget repair’ can be achieved by other means; climate repair cannot.”

There is every reason to be optimistic that the new Labor government will work with the nation’s peak dental body to fix the broken dental system for people in aged care.

Labor promised in a letter written before polling day, that it would work with the Australian Dental Association (ADA) to improve training for aged care workers, so it includes an oral health component.

“The ADA congratulates the new Labor government and looks forward to its new Cabinet delivering on the undertaking to work with us,” said ADA President Dr Mark Hutton.

“Labor has said it understands the importance of oral health to elderly Australians and acknowledges the relevant recommendation of the Aged Care Royal Commission’s Final Report.

“Further, they wrote to us saying that an Albanese Labor Government would engage with relevant stakeholders, including the ADA, to address issues with aged care vocational and university education programs, the Aged Care Quality Standards and other regulations relating to oral health needs in residential aged care.

“This is great news and will go a long way to fixing some of the biggest issues facing the 190,000 residents of aged care facilities around Australia, many whose oral health issues are not being met as often as they should be, or not at all.”

Dr Hutton added: “Within the next few weeks, the ADA will be contacting all relevant members of parliament to ask for their support in pushing for these and other advocacy issues which will improve the oral health of older Australians – primarily to back a Seniors Dental Benefits Schedule to fund dental care delivered by private and public dental services to older Australians who need it most.”

Community organisation Inclusee is encouraging Australians who are feeling isolated or lonely to visit their new website (inclusee.org,au) to access the power of connection.

“Our service has hundreds of participants and volunteers across 19 regions who have had thousands of hours of connection, laughter, education and conversation together,”  Rachael Cook, CEO of Inclusee, a community organisation designed to combat loneliness particularly in the lives of senior Australians in remote and regional areas, says.

“Loneliness can greatly impact physical health, mental health, and overall well-being.”

Covid lockdowns and border closures have exacerbated the problem with many Australians reporting that their isolation from family and friends has worsened. 

Inclusee is calling for participants who are over the age of 65, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples over the age of 50, who feel they are at risk of social isolation and loneliness.

The service has been in operation for nearly 50 years, connecting qualified volunteers with older Australians who are in need of social interaction through face-to-face visits, telephone and digital catch ups.

“The programs are absolutely fantastic,” says 79-year-old Jan Wilson, “The idea of having someone to connect with every week and having a laugh is just the best feeling. And it’s like they are sitting there right beside you.”

Ms Cook explains that the Inclusee programs are completely free for participants, though some eligibility conditions apply.

“Volunteers get partnered with participants who have similar interests, and they meet at regular intervals over video. We provide this service to a broad and diverse number of people around Australia and respect the individuality and culture of all people who participate in our programs,” Ms Cook explains.

“While there will never be a substitute for one-on-one, person-to-person contact, simple technologies are opening up exciting prospects for the future of care.

“We use video chat and a user-friendly mobile tablet to keep connected and create enjoyable experiences related to the interests of the individual. The device is pre-configured with bespoke software designed to easily facilitate video chatting for those not already confident with mobile technology.”

Inclusee launched in 1973 under its original name of Golden Years Senior Centre and was recently known as Aurous Ltd. It is funded by various government grants including the Commonwealth Home Support Program and the Federal Community Visitors Scheme throughout the eastern states of Australia. 

“We connect Australians experiencing isolation or loneliness with individuals, groups, family and friends through our easy-to-use digital technology so they can engage, learn and enjoy experiences.  We are a community that encourages and empowers our participants to connect, learn new skills, join in on exciting events, as well as play games or learn about different cultures.

“We offer a virtual community centre that is open 8am-5pm weekdays where participants bring a cuppa, connect with our volunteers and other participants and talk about everything and anything that they wish,” Ms Cook explained.

Inclusee has a range of online clubs and interest groups from learning to shop online to bingo, men’s shed, Greek culture club, and caters for travel enthusiasts and trivia buffs too. 

You can register to participate online at www.inclusee.org.au or call on 1800 287 687.