An Albanese Labor Government will provide more support to Australians rebuilding their lives after natural disasters by boosting funding for a Veteran-led disaster response organisation.  
 
Disaster Relief Australia (DRA), a fully-Veteran led organisation, has been working since 2016 to provide relief to communities in the wake of natural disasters, deploying hundreds of veteran volunteers across Australia and the world.  
  
Under an Albanese Labor Government, Disaster Relief Australia will receive $38.1 million over three years to expand this program. 
  
The funding will allow DRA to add another 5,200 volunteer veterans to its ranks – a total of 6,700 veteran volunteers able to provide over 13,600 volunteer days per annum. 
  
The funding covers costs relating to deployment, recruitment, equipment, and training. 
  
Over the last three years, Australia has watched Scott Morrison refuse to take responsibility and go missing in action when natural disasters have struck. 
  
Now, as communities recover from devastating floods, Scott Morrison has politicised flood recovery, caring more about who flood victims voted for than what help they need. 
  
An Albanese Labor Government will put Australians first. We will increase support for organisations like the DRA assisting on the ground and never use recovery funding as a political football.

Only an Albanese Labor Government will restore trust in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and ensure a better future for the 4.4 million Australians with disability.

Today Labor reveals its plan to fix the NDIS and return it to its original vision.

Six key measures include: 

1. Labor will revitalise the National Disability Insurance Agency: Labor will lift the staffing cap at the NDIA, commit to urgently reducing insecure labour hire arrangements, increasing permanent staff at the agency and improving the culture. Labor will also review NDIS design, operation and sustainability.
2. Stop the waste: Labor will review the excessive use of external lawyers, crack down on criminal activity and fraud, and review the value for money of lucrative consultancy contracts.
3. Boost efficiency: Streamline the planning process for better initial plans. Fix the planning pathway and appeals to make NDIS decision-making more efficient, fair and investment focused. 
4. Stop the unfair cuts: Labor will introduce an expert review that will guarantee plans will not be arbitrarily cut.
5. Fixing regional access: Labor will appoint a senior officer within the NDIA to tackle the concerning barriers to service delivery in regional areas of Australia. 
6. Put people back into the NDIS: Labor commits to co-designing changes to the scheme with people with disability and the sector and we will boost the number of people with disability on the board of the NDIA.

Beyond these major initiatives Labor will also: 

• Increase advocacy funding: Labor will double existing support for disability advocacy, investing an additional $10 million over four years and match existing provider advocacy funding for AAT appeals.
• More flexible housing: Labor will pause the current changes to Supported Independent Living (SIL) and investigate solutions to excessive red tape and the mounting queues stopping people with disability accessing appropriate housing.
• Boost employment: Labor will create an evidenced-based Centre of Excellence to get more people with disability into long-term jobs.
• No one left behind: Labor will make sure all 4.4 million Australians living with disability get the action and support they need by measuring progress on a National Disability Strategy, developing a National Autism Strategy, backing research, and a central coordination point for disability – to ensure they are never again left at the back of the queue in a crisis.

This policy is the result of thousands of conversations with people with disability, NDIS participants, carers, families, advocates and providers. 

Dealing with the NDIS should not be like having second full time job. We will return the NDIS to its original objective because at the moment, even if you get a good plan, there’s a constant fear it will be cut when it gets reviewed. 

The Morrison Government’s mismanagement of the scheme has seen a 400% increase in appeals of NDIS decisions to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), with the NDIA wasting $28 million in just six months on legal fees to fight people with disability appealing for support at the tribunal.

Labor wants to stop people with disability and their families feeling like they are trapped in a maze of reviews, appeals and legal action. 

We also recognise the NDIS needs more skilled carers. 

And whilst there are many good service providers, we will crack down on the fringe-dwelling unregistered cowboys ripping people off.

The Morrison Government’s mishandling of the NDIS does not just jeopardise the safety of Australians with disability, it puts at risk a major contributor to the Australian economy, with NDIS supported industry valued at $52 billion per year, approximately double the cost of the scheme. 

An Albanese Labor Government will use the existing budget in the forward estimates to fund and fix the NDIS for the 504,000 participants who rely on the scheme to live a better life. 

Labor will work closely with people with disability, stakeholders and State Governments to ensure people with disability are given the choice and control they were promised when the scheme was designed.

The Morrison Government is committed to boosting Western Australia’s status as a global resources and energy powerhouse by investing in regional areas, growing export opportunities and creating more jobs to build a strong economy for a stronger future.

Two new hydrogen hubs will be created in the Pilbara and Kwinana (Perth) and will receive $140 million, as well $6 million to investigate two new development projects in Western Australia, creating more than 3,600 jobs, and $67 million to develop two carbon capture and storage hubs and support the appraisal of a third potential storage site in WA.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Government would also boost Western Australia’s critical minerals sector by investing almost $8 million in two strategically critical projects, securing more jobs and important supply chain industries.

“Securing Western Australia’s economy is absolutely critical to locking in stronger future for Australia and my Government will continue to back the resource, mining, mineral and energy sector in WA by creating more jobs and cutting red tape,” the Prime Minister said.

“Western Australia is a world leader in critical minerals and these investments are just the beginning of our commitment to the sector, alongside our new hydrogen hubs, which backs in the state’s status as an economic powerhouse for the whole country.

“These investments will also turbocharge the development of Australia’s critical minerals and clean hydrogen industries, helping achieve the government’s vision to make Australia a global producer and exporter of clean hydrogen by 2030, while stimulating a surge in regions across WA.”

Minister for Resources and Water Keith Pitt said the Critical Minerals Accelerator Initiative will help fast-track strategically significant projects to market and drive investment.

“It is another step towards establishing Australia as a critical minerals powerhouse,” Minister Pitt said.

“Australia possesses extraordinary reserves of critical minerals crucial to many industries including medical equipment production, defence, aerospace, automotive and agritech.

“The Critical Minerals Accelerator Initiative is yet another example of how this Government is backing the resources sector to strengthen our national economy and create jobs, especially in regional Australia.

“This initiative will help uncover new sources of supply, support robust supply chains, and create high-paying regional jobs for Australians, while improving Australia’s export resilience.”

Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said the Morrison Government is investing more than $1.5 billion to accelerate the growth of the nation’s clean hydrogen industry, along with more than $300 million to support the development and deployment of carbon capture technologies.

“Kwinana and the Pilbara have long made Western Australia an energy and export powerhouse. Today’s announcement will embrace the competitive advantages of WA – plentiful low-cost gas, great solar and wind potential, and a skilled workforce in resources and fertilizers – to grow another huge industry opportunity,” Minister Taylor said.

“These hydrogen projects in WA will bring over $413 million of new private and public investment into the regions and can create over 3,600 jobs initially when operational – but this is just the start of hydrogen’s potential benefits.

“Australia has a competitive advantage in CCS due to our abundant, world-class geological storage basins. Proving up low cost CCS will be essential to reducing emissions from LNG production and building an early cost advantage in clean hydrogen production.

“Our commitments will create jobs, boost clean exports, and help to drive the production costs of hydrogen down, the heart of our technology-focused approach to reducing emissions.”

The projects in Western Australia which will be offered grant funding from this first round of the Critical Minerals Accelerator Initiative are:

• Global Advanced Metals Pty Ltd – $4 million for a tantalum and tin recovery plant at Greenbushes in Western Australia. By increasing the volume of tantalum that is produced in Australia, this project will help make Australia an integral, world leading part of critical supply chains for tantalum. It is estimated the project will create an additional 7 jobs in construction and 12 operational jobs over the life of the project.
• Mineral Commodities Ltd – $3.94 million for developing an Australian integrated graphite ore-to-battery anodes business based in Munglinup, Western Australia. It is estimated the project will create an initial 78 regional jobs and around a further 210 highly skilled jobs in Esperance and Kwinana as the project moves into value-adding downstream processing.

These projects build on the Morrison Government’s announcement of a $1.25 billion loan through the Critical Minerals Facility to Australian company Iluka Resources, to develop Australia’s first integrated rare earths refinery at Eneabba in Western Australia.

The refinery project is estimated to have a construction workforce of around 300 people and an operational workforce of around 270 people. These high skilled regional jobs are crucial for Australia to grasp its place in the global new energy economy.

Western Australia’s resources sector provides critical inputs for Australia’s manufacturing industry and these initiatives will build on the more than $304 million we have invested through the Government’s Modern Manufacturing Strategy to continue to grow our resources technology and critical minerals sector.

The Government is delivering Western Australia’s first Clean Hydrogen Industrial Hubs by committing:

• Up to $70 million to support BP Australia Pty Ltd’s H2Kwinana Clean Hydrogen Industrial Hub, with a total project value of over $252.5 million.
• Up to $70 million to support the Western Australian Government’s Pilbara Hydrogen Hub, with a range of local and international private partners and a total project value of $140 million.

And supporting two projects under the Design and Development stream by further committing:

• Up to $3 million for Engie Hydrogen Pty Ltd’s ENGIE Pilbara Green Hydrogen Hub project, with a total project value over $7.8 million.
• Up to $3 million for Santos Limited’s Carnarvon Clean Hydrogen Front End Engineering Design project, with a total project value of over $13 million.

As part of the $250 million investment in CCS announced in the 2021-22 Budget, the Government is committing:

• Up to $40 million to support the design and construction of Woodside Energy’s multi-user Burrup carbon capture and storage hub and CO2 gathering and transportation network.
• Up to $20 million to support the design and construction Mitsui E&P’s Mid West carbon capture and storage hub.
• Up to $7 million to support Buru Energy to assess the potential for onshore storage in the Carnarvon Basin.

The Burrup and Mid West hubs are expected to reduce emissions by a combined 7.4 million tonnes per annum from 2028. The projects are expected to drive more than $1 billion of investment in regional Western Australia and will create more than 2,000 jobs.

The National Hydrogen Strategy released in 2019 sets the goal for Australia to become a major producer and exporter of clean hydrogen by 2030. Hydrogen hubs were identified as an effective means to create demand, build scale and reduce production costs by co-locating producers, exporters and users.

Australian hydrogen production for export and domestic use could generate more than $50 billion in additional GDP by 2050. Clean hydrogen exports could directly support 16,000 jobs by 2050, plus an additional 13,000 from the construction of related renewable energy.

The Morrison Government will invest $50 million to create a new business and research partnership with Western Australia’s Curtin University, focusing on the critical mineral supply chain that will create 1,300 jobs.

This project is the first under the Government’s Trailblazer program and will see Curtin University partner with 33 business representatives, the University of Queensland and James Cook University.

The focus will be on developing new technology that will help Australia to establish competitive advantage in key critical minerals supply chains, including nickel, cobalt and lithium.

The project is expected to create 1,300 new jobs over the next decade through industry employment of researchers and work ready students, an increase in research and industry activity at regional campuses, and new positions created in start-ups launched through the Trailblazer.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Curtin University was the first Australian university to receive funding through the Trailblazer program which is designed to focus Australia’s considerable research power on Australia’s National Manufacturing Priorities.

“Our economic plan backs in talented Australians to supercharge research and new ideas, working with business and industry leaders, to develop new products, new companies and more jobs to help build a strong economy and a stronger future,” the Prime Minister said.

“Employment in the mining industry grew by over 26,800 jobs – or 10.6 per cent – over the past year and is expected to grow by 5.9 per cent over the next five years, so it is important we back our best researchers and their ideas to ensure Australia’s mining sector is secure for the future.

“It’s no accident we’re announcing the first Trailblazer program in WA, which is designed to push the boundaries, drive collaboration between universities and industry and challenge intellectual property arrangements that limit the dividend for our young, smart, savvy researchers.”

Minister for Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education Bridget McKenzie said the project will have a significant impact for regions across Australia, but particularly in Western Australia.

“This is a research commercialisation project that will directly benefit regional Australia by ensuring our mining sector is strong, efficient and reliable,” Minister McKenzie said.

“The Trailblazer investment is an important component of the Government’s $2 billion Regional Accelerator Program announced in the recent 2022 Budget, which is designed to drive economic growth and jobs in regional Australia.”

Acting Minister for Education and Youth Stuart Robert said Curtin University and its industry partners have promised $144 million in co-investment, matching public funding more than 2 to 1.

“The investment of industry partners in this project highlights the extraordinary potential of the Government’s Research Commercialisation Action Plan, with leading edge manufacturing at its core,” Minister Robert said.

“Harnessing the significant and important research done right here in Australia means more jobs right here in Australia, more exports and a stronger economy. The Morrison Government has a plan for a stronger economy and a stronger future.”

Minister for Science and Technology Melissa Price said it was a win for Western Australia to see Curtin University chosen as a Trailblazer.

“Curtin University and its partners will create new resources technologies, new STEM and mining jobs in critical regions – particularly in Western Australia – and new career paths,” Minister Price said.

“It is incredibly exciting for Western Australia to have this investment right here on the ground, supporting Western Australian jobs and the Western Australian economy.”

Curtin University is the first successful Trailblazer to be announced, with further announcements expected in coming weeks.

Curtin University was selected as a Trailblazer from a two-stage competitive assessment process where universities were required to submit expressions of interest and then more detailed business cases.

Earlier this year, the Morrison Government released its ten-year $2.2 billion University Research Commercialisation Action Plan, which focuses Australia’s considerable research power on our National Manufacturing Priorities. The Action plan included an initial $243 million for four Trailblazers. An additional $119 million was invested for two more Trailblazers through our regional accelerator program announced on Budget night.

The individual wartime journeys of over 330,000 Australian men and women who volunteered to serve overseas in the First World War are revealed for the first time in an ambitious family history project launched today.

Australian War Stories by Memories enables descendants to search for a loved one at australianwarstories.memories.com.au and receive a free online memorial of their wartime journey: from enlistment, to training, embarkation and beyond.

The memorials are delivered via a link sent free-of-charge by email and mobile text. They can be shared among extended family and posted to social media.

An estimated 5 million Australians have a relative who served overseas during the First World War. Many more will wish to honour a local ANZAC hero by registering their details to receive and share an online memorial.

Australian War Stories is a collaboration between leading family memorial platform memories.com.au and media services company Mediality.

Memories CEO Tom Ainsworth said: “The heart of Australian War Stories is the commemoration of this extraordinary generation and the creation of a permanent memorial for each of them.”

“Every descendant of a First World War veteran can now very easily open the window on that special part of their family history.”

Each memorial contains historically-accurate details of the veterans’ enlistment, embarkation and military unit.

Mediality CEO Bruce Davidson said the core tenet in creating the 330,000 stories was respect for the legacy of the First ANZACs.

“It is, quite rightly, a revered part of our nation’s history and with that comes a responsibility in telling the stories of these men and women,” Mr Davidson said.

“We have drawn on official military records and histories to anchor these stories in fact. This is a critical foundation of Australian War Stories .

“We then bring the individual stories to life in a way which I believe will be a revelation to descendants and, indeed, all Australians.”

Australian War Stories has been launched in the lead up to Anzac Day, which after two years of Covid-imposed restrictions, will resume most of its traditions.

“Anzac Day is a time when many families pause to reflect on the service and sacrifice of their loved ones, and the Anzac spirit of mateship, courage and resilience.” Mr Ainsworth said.

“The Australian War Stories memorials add a new dimension for the nation to honour our veterans.”

The Morrison Government is investing $124 million in two new Evolved Cape Class patrol boats from Austal in WA to continue its commitment to keeping our borders secure and supporting Australian defence industry and jobs.

This additional acquisition will support the continued employment opportunities for around 400 direct jobs and a further 150 jobs across small and medium businesses in Austal’s supply chain, already established under the previous six Evolved Cape Class patrol boats. The new boats bring the total investment in industry for the Evolved Cape Class patrol boats to more than $440 million.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Coalition Government’s plan for a strong economy would strengthen WA’s shipbuilding workforce and support the work of the Navy and Australian Border Force (ABF).

“This investment doesn’t just help secure our borders, it secures hundreds of shipbuilding jobs in Western Australia,” the Prime Minister said.

“Keeping our borders safe is a key priority for my Government, and the acquisition of two more Evolved Cape Class patrol boats will boost the capability of Navy’s patrol force to ensure it is available where and when needed.

“My Government’s record on keeping borders safe, supporting naval capability, and growing our defence industry is in stark contrast to Labor who never commissioned a new naval vessel, oversaw a border security failure, slashed defence spending to the lowest levels since before the Second World War and saw thousands of job losses in our defence industry.

“More shipbuilding work means a strong economy, and a stronger future for this important industry and our Navy and Australian Border Force.”

Minister for Defence Peter Dutton said the acquisition would build our Navy capability and help secure our borders.

“These additional patrol boats will strengthen Navy’s contribution to the nation’s fisheries protection, immigration, customs and drug law enforcement operations,” Minister Dutton said.

“The improved design increases the quality of life for the ship’s company, manages obsolescence and increases the use of Australian supplied equipment.

“These extra boats will also enable Navy to transfer two of its Cape Class patrol boats to the ABF – further strengthening our border defences.

“The Evolved Cape class patrol boats will reduce the risk in Navy’s transition from the ageing Armidale class patrol boat fleet to the new, more capable Arafura class offshore patrol vessels.”

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the acquisition added to the Government’s continuous naval shipbuilding program and ongoing commitment to developing the defence industry in Western Australia.

“This is a great shot in the arm for our shipbuilding skills and jobs pipeline with at least 68 per cent of the contract value being invested in Australian industry,” Minister Price said.

“Australia has some of the best shipbuilders in the world, and right here in WA, Austal are leading the way with the Evolved Cape Class patrol boats.

“This project is in addition to our planned investment of up to $30 billion in dozens of new vessels for our Navy that will be built in WA over the coming decades, supporting 2,000 WA jobs and hundreds of WA businesses in the supply chain.

“WA’s defence industry is at the centre of our plan to develop our sovereign capability so we can build at home what we need to defend our home.”

The two additional vessels are scheduled to be delivered by late 2023, with all eight to be operational by early 2024.

Tens of thousands more Australians will be able to buy a house with the Morrison Government’s new property price caps for the successful Home Guarantee Scheme.

Increasing the price caps for homes available under the Scheme means more people have more options when purchasing a home, and the new caps help accommodate larger families under the Family Home Guarantee.

Prime Minster Scott Morrison said the Home Guarantee Scheme had already helped 60,000 Australians on the path to home ownership.

“We’re building a stronger future for Australians by making home ownership easier by making more properties eligible for the Scheme and expanding it to 50,000 places each year,” the Prime Minister said.

“People are cutting years off the time they’d need to save a deposit for a home because of this program. Now even more Australians can get into a home sooner.

“Saving to buy a house has always been hard work and we know as prices have increased it’s been getting harder.

“That’s why these higher price caps will help more people realise their dreams and lock in a stronger future for themselves.”

The adjusted price caps take into account the 50,000 place per year expansion of the Home Guarantee Scheme, particularly in regional areas where the new Regional Home Guarantee is open to non-first homebuyers.

Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Housing Michael Sukkar said that the adjusted price caps would help guarantee more Australians can achieve the dream of owning their own home.

“As a Government we fundamentally believe in the aspiration of home ownership, with people being able to build a place of their own and invest in their future. We know the importance home ownership brings, which is why we are expanding our extraordinarily successful Home Guarantee Scheme,” Minister Sukkar said.

“We acknowledge how hard it can be to buy a new home or re-enter the housing market and that saving a deposit is the hardest part of getting into home ownership. By adjusting the price caps for the Home Guarantee Scheme, we are ensuring Australians have more options when buying a home.

“Because 41% of scheme-backed loans are ahead of their pay back schedule, we are confident these adjusted price caps strike the right balance.

“60,000 Australians have already been supported into home ownership under the Home Guarantee Scheme, with the Morrison Government’s housing policies helping more than 300,000 Australians with the purchase of a home. With our support, first homebuyers reached their highest levels in 12 years.”

In particular, the new price caps for regional areas will ensure that the supply of new builds in regional Australia is supported, helping ease supply constraints that are being felt outside of the major cities. The adjusted caps will also assist in accommodating larger families under the Family Home Guarantee

As announced in the Budget, under the expanded Home Guarantee Scheme the Government will make available:

• 35,000 guarantees each year, up from the current 10,000, from 1 July 2022 under the First Home Guarantee, to support eligible first homebuyers to purchase a new or existing home with a deposit as low as five per cent;
• 10,000 guarantees each year from 1 October 2022 to 30 June 2025 under a new Regional Home Guarantee, to support eligible homebuyers, including non-first home buyers and permanent residents, to purchase or construct a new home in regional areas;
• 5,000 guarantees each year from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2025 to expand the Family Home Guarantee announced in last year’s budget. Australia’s first ever specifically targeted single parent family housing scheme supports eligible single parents with children to buy their first home or to re-enter the housing market with a deposit of as little as two per cent.

Home Guarantee Scheme
	2021-2022 FY	2022-2023 FY
Area	Capital city and regional centre	Rest of state	Capital city and regional centre	Rest of state
NSW	$800,000	$600,000	$900,000	$750,000
VIC	$700,000	$500,000	$800,000	$650,000
QLD	$600,000	$450,000	$700,000	$550,000
WA	$500,000	$400,000	$600,000	$450,000
SA	$500,000	$350,000	$600,000	$450,000
TAS	$500,000	$400,000	$600,000	$450,000
ACT	$500,000	$750,000
NT	$500,000	$600,000
Jervis Bay Territory and Norfolk Island	$550,000	$550,000
Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands	$400,000	$400,000

The capital city price thresholds apply to regional centres with a population over 250,000, recognising that dwellings in regional centres can be more expensive than other regional areas. Regional centres include: Newcastle and Lake Macquarie; Illawarra (Wollongong); Geelong; Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.

To participate, borrowers will still have to meet the usual loan and repayment assessments from their financial institutions. This ensures that home buyers are protected against entering into a loan arrangement that could result in substantial hardship.

The new price caps will come into effect on 1 July 2022. Information on how to apply, eligibility requirements and the participating panel of lenders is available on the NHFIC website.

As Australia and the Netherlands mark 80 years since the establishment of full diplomatic relations, we can reflect with pride on the warm friendship we share.

From the Duyfken’s exploration of the north coast of Australia in 1606, to the contribution made by generations of the thousands of men and women of Dutch heritage to this country, Australia and the Netherlands share enduring bonds of friendship and family.

Our historic defence ties, forged on the battlefields and in the skies of the Second World War, were strengthened most recently by our military partnership in Afghanistan. Today, we stand united in support of the rules-based international order, our defence of human rights and the rule of law.

As we continue to pursue truth, justice and accountability for the downing of MH17, we also stand together in supporting Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity. 

Australia values our cooperation with the Netherlands in supporting our neighbours in the Indo-Pacific, to ensure a region that is open, stable and resilient.

The strong trade relationship between Australia and the Netherlands is the foundation for our collaboration in other areas, such as the green economy and cyber security. Through our growing engagement with global fora, we will cooperate to advance our mutual economic prosperity and stability.

For 80 years, Australia and the Netherlands have worked in unison to build and enhance our strong bilateral relationship. I am proud of what we have achieved in the name of friendship and cooperation, and I look forward to the many opportunities that lie ahead.

Australian Red Cross has distributed funds to more than 30,000 people affected by floods in south east Queensland and northern New South Wales (as of 9am Monday 18 April).

This represents:

· 33,939 financial assistance grants of $500 to households to help with basic needs for people whose primary place of residence was affected by the floods and who are experiencing financial hardship as a result.

· 21 bereavement grants of $20,000 to senior next-of-kin of people who died as a direct result of the floods, to help with funeral and related expenses

Red Cross Acting Director of Australian Programs Garry Page said all grants were going to people in Federal Government designated disaster areas.

“We have distributed $17.4 million so far. With thousands of applications yet to be processed, we are approaching the point at which funds available will be fully subscribed. When this occurs, we will stop accepting new applications so we don’t have people applying for grants that aren’t available,” he said.

“These grants are a result of extraordinary support for our March telethon hosted by broadcasters Nine, Seven and Ten, which raised more than $26 million. This financial assistance is a gift from the Australian people, and 100 per cent of the funds raised from the Telethon will go on cash grants.”

Mr Page said a team of 60 people had been processing tens of thousands of grant applications, working seven days a week, including over Easter, to process grants as quickly as possible.

About 50,000 applications are still being processed, although some will not be eligible due to being duplicates, incomplete, from areas that are not disaster-declared, or for other reasons.

“Our message to people affected by the floods is to apply as soon as you can. Applications will be processed in the order they are submitted,” Mr Page said.

“If you have already applied, then there’s no need to do anything unless you are asked for more information. Applications with all the required documentation are being processed faster. Assessing duplicate and incomplete applications is a longer process.

“This cash assistance is one part of our broader recovery support, and we will continue to assist communities in the months and years to come.

“Red Cross thanks networks Nine, Seven and Ten and each and every person and organisation who donated to the telethon or to our appeal (Qld and NSW Floods Appeal | Australian Red Cross). Donations have provided financial support for tens of thousands of people who really need help at a very challenging time in their lives.”

Up-to-date information on grant allocations is available at the Cash Assistance dashboard at www.redcross.org.au/cashassistance.

More polystyrene is being collected from the nation’s largest waterways than any other type of plastic, supporting a national government push to phase out its use in consumer products by the end of the year, according to new research from Conservation Volunteers Australia released today.

CVA CEO Phil Harrison revealed over a quarter-of-a-million pieces of litter – about 80 per cent of it plastics –had been removed from eight key river systems flowing into the Great Southern Reef, which stretches from Brisbane to Perth, by over 3,000 everyday Australians since CVA launched its #SeaToSource program in partnership with the Federal Government 18 months ago.

Mr Harrison said polystyrene led the Top 10 litter items collected along with plastic food wrap, while cigarette butts also featured highly, despite national smoking rates halving in the past two decades. In contrast, plastic utensils and bags came in at #9 and #10 respectively, suggesting bans were starting to have a positive impact.

Mr Harrison encouraged everyday Australians, businesses and politicians to sign up ahead of the #SeaToSource National Day of Action this Saturday (April 23 2022) by visiting the CVA website, or going straight to conservationvolunteers.com.au/preparing-for-flood-recovery/ , with events in every state capital.

“It’s critical for the nation’s environmental and economic recovery that Australia’s world-famous riverbanks, bays and beaches are “dressed for success”, particularly following the floods and border closures,” he said.

“Australia ranks number one in the world for its coastal, nature and wildlife tourism and, with global borders reopening after two years, it is doubly critical for environmental and economic recovery we all lend a hand.

“Once small plastics like polystyrene enter the water, they’re both a major threat to wildlife and food chains, and near on impossible to remove, which is why we need as many Australians to lend a hand as we can.

“Many people also don’t realise cigarette butts are considered plastic waste, not paper, and therefore don’t breakdown, ensuring they remain a major threat to marine wildlife health so long as Australians continue smoking. This once again demonstrates the clear intersection between a healthy planet and healthy people.

“It’s also important everyday Australians aren’t left to clean up the mess alone. Particularly given the major role business and industry can play in preventing plastic waste entering our waterways in the first place.

“Many of the nation’s business leaders have proactively got behind the national government push to phase out consumer polystyrene plastics by the end of 2022 and we encouraged more of them to do more.

“Whether you can lend a couple of hours or a couple of days, there will be nature volunteering experiences to suit everyday Australians, every day.”

In March 2021, the Federal Government released its National Plastics Plan, declaring it would take the fight against plastic waste to a new level, from plastic free beaches, to ending the confusion over household collection systems, declaring war on cigarette butts and putting an end to polystyrene consumer packaging.

The Plan includes an action for government to work with industry to phase out certain polystyrene plastics, such as those used in consumer packaging (July 2022) and food and beverage containers (December 2022).

Federal Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management Trevor Evans also encouraged Australians to sign up ahead of CVA’s #SeaToSource National Day of Action on Saturday (April 23 2022), saying small plastics and litter being washed out to sea were particularly threatening marine habitats, and the wildlife and humans relying on them for food.

Assistant Minister Evans said marine waste collected was being collated locally and mapped nationally through CVA’s current partnership with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

“Prior to the floods, the CSIRO found marine litter was around 75% plastic, with 99% of sea birds ingesting plastic by 2050, while others predict ocean plastic outweighing fish by 2050,” Mr Evans said.

“That’s why the Morrison Government committed $5 million in partnership with Conservation Volunteers Australia to tackle marine plastic head on.

“Our partnership with CVA has seen over 250,000 pieces of plastic and litter already removed the past two years. To put that in context, the CSIRO found it takes as few as 14 pieces of plastic to kill a sea turtle.

“Now think how many wheelie bins and other household plastic and waste washed out into our waterways from the floods and it’s important we act now to minimise the damage. The same goes for the wildlife displaced and habitats damaged by the floods.”

Mr Harrison said a flood of ongoing volunteers was also needed to help blitz recover and repair waterways – and the wildlife habitats relying on them – from Brisbane down to Sydney following the recent rain deluge.

“Over 12,000 Australians signed up to help nature recover post the 2019-20 Black Summer Bushfires and we would love to see a similar flood of support.”

Conservation Volunteers Australia’s #SeaToSource program has removed over 250,000 pieces of plastic from riverbanks, bays, and beaches since 2020 thanks to about 3000 volunteers turning out, while CVA’s national nature recovery and resilience portal saw 12,000+ Australians sign up following the 2019-20 Black Summer Bushfires. Both are partnerships with the Federal Government for $5m and $2.5m respectively.

SeaToSource targets eight major river catchments across Australia, including the Parramatta and Georges (NSW), Brisbane (QLD), Werribee (VIC), Torrens (SA), Swan (WA), Derwent and Tamar (TAS).

CVA’s volunteer portal takes registrations from the public and matches them with CVA projects, councils and other local environment and wildlife groups requiring assistance with nature recovery and resilience efforts.

CVA National Day of Action Events (Saturday April 23 2022)

Date
Capital City
Time
Location

April 23 2022
Sydney
10am (morning)

1pm (afternoon)
Cook Park, Ramsgate Beach

April 23 2022
Melbourne
10am
St Kilda Marina Reserve

April 23 2022
Adelaide
10am
Ozone Beach, Henley Reserve

April 23 2022
Perth
8:30am
Leighton Beach

April 23 2022
Brisbane
8:30am

10:45am (workshop)
Wynnum Foreshore

April 23 2022
Hobart
9am
Bellerive Beach

Registration (conservationvolunteers.com.au)

Top 10 litter items identified in 8 of the nation’s largest waterway catchments flowing out into the Great South Reef by Conservation Volunteers Australia crews since September 2020 up to the recent floods.

Categories
Total
%

1.
POLYSTYRENE (D4)
35,028
14%

2.
UNKNOWN/OTHER HARD (H10)
32,145
13%

3.
UNKNOWN/OTHER SOFT (S6)
29,405
12%

4.
FOOD WRAPPER/LABEL (S2)
24,651
10%

5.
CIGARETTE/BUTT (P1)
17,069
7%

6.
BOTTLE CAP/LID (H4)
12,536
5%

7.
PAPER/CARDBOARD (P2)
9,341
4%

8.
UNKNOWN/OTHER GLASS (G4)
6,985
3%

9.
UTENSIL/PLATE/BOWL (H6)
5,352
2%

10.
THIN FILM CARRY BAG (S1)
4,253
2%

Total
ALL PLASTIC & LITTER PIECES
251,474
100%