Category: Australian News

An innovative health training program will be established in Murray Bridge, Berri and other sites in the Riverland Mallee Coorong (RMC) region, improving access to health services and providing invaluable training opportunities for health students.

Member for Barker, Tony Pasin today announced Flinders University will receive $1.94 million from the Federal Coalition Government to establish a new model of person-centred, multidisciplinary health training placements for the RMC region.

Mr Pasin said that Flinders will work closely with RMC Local Health Network and Aboriginal Medical Services to provide opportunities for about 18 students each year to take part in 4-6 week training placements, which equates to around 360 weeks of placements in local communities over the next two years.

“Additionally, Flinders will employ several local academic and administrative staff to work in the region, attracting and retaining the health workforce” Mr Pasin said.

Federal Regional Health Minister, Dr David Gillespie joined Mr Pasin today at Flinders University’s Murray Bridge campus to announce the investment through the Coalition Government’s Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training (RHMT) program.

Mr Pasin said the project will extend the university’s existing rural health training activities into new, more remote settings, as well as a greater range of health professions.

Dr Gillespie, a former regional doctor, said the project was part of a $14.25 million investment to establish multidisciplinary health training demonstration sites in more remote areas of Australia.

“This will give students in many health disciplines the experience, skills and positive learning experiences to encourage them to return to these areas after they graduate,” Dr Gillespie said.

“Additionally, it will give local students new career pathways in health while boosting access to local health services for patients, now and into the future.”

Mr Pasin said Flinders will hold recruitment activities in schools to create a career pathway for young health professionals to become educators, supervisors, and mentors to local students.

Flinders has co-designed this project,working with local health services to create more multidisciplinary placements for students from Flinders, University of South Australia, University of Adelaide, and TAFE SA.

To ensure that the project is appropriate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Flinders will second a cultural expert from the Aboriginal Health Unit of RMC Local Health Network.

“Flinders will extend collaborations with the local Aboriginal Medical Service, Moorundi, and multiple community and non-government health services providers in the region to expand existing training programs,” Mr Pasin said.

Dr Gillespie said the training hubs would build on Flinders’ existing rural health training staff and infrastructure, providing multiple benefits for local people.

Flinders will give priority to students from Indigenous and rural backgrounds.

“Located in an area with one of the largest Indigenous populations in SA, the initiative has the potential to transform health outcomes for Indigenous communities,” Mr Pasin said.

“Bringing staff and students to the region will also make an economic contribution to the local community.”

Flinders will purchase two additional houses for student accommodation, one in Berri and one in Murray Bridge, which will actively encourage students to stay in the region rather than commuting from Adelaide, adding to their overall rural experience.

An Albanese Labor Government’s $200 million Northern Territory Strategic Roads Package will bring better economic and social opportunities to remote and regional communities across the Territory.

Road upgrades will be focused on all weather access, ensuring that remote communities have more reliable year-round connections to the services and opportunities that they need.

We have identified the Santa Teresa Road, Mereenie Loop Road, and all weather access to Maningrida, Ramingining, and the Milingimbi mainland barge ramp, as early priorities.

We will work closely with the NT Government to determine the final list of projects, ensuring Labor’s investment brings the greatest possible benefit to communities across the Territory.

Not only will these upgrades bring jobs in the construction phase, they will also act as crucial enabling infrastructure, ensuring locals have more reliable access to health, education, social and sporting services across the Centre and the Top End. Labor also wants to see communities across the Territory benefit from increased tourism opportunities as the health crisis recedes.

This funding will be included in our first Budget, ensuring work can get underway as soon as possible.

Anthony Albanese, Leader of the Australian Labor Party said:

“Labor’s infrastructure investments are about creating jobs and extending opportunities to all Australians.”

“ Remote Australia is dependent on good, safe roads for accessing essential services, getting to work, or welcoming tourists.”

“Sadly, remote roads still have a death toll 11 times higher than those in major cities. These investments will give remote communities the connections they deserve, allowing more people to get around with greater safety.”

Catherine King, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development said:

“These investments will ensure local communities have year round access to the services they need.”

“Unlike the Morrison-Joyce Government, Labor will work closely with state and territory governments to deliver the projects that bring most benefit to communities around Australia.”

Marion Scrymgour, Labor Candidate for Lingiari said: 

“This is a great investment for remote communities across the Territory.”

“This package of works will mean more locals can more easily access the work, education, health and recreational services we all rely on.”

“After the recent weather events we’ve had, these investments are more important than ever.”

“I know that not only will an Albanese Labor Government invest in our communities, but we’ll get the work underway as soon as possible.”

From 1 March 2022, Australians with chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD), a complication that can occur when patients undergoing cancer treatment receive transplanted stem cells from a donor, will have access to a new treatment through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

cGVHD is a complication of allogeneic stem cell transplant, that occurs when donor bone marrow or stem cells start recognising the recipient’s body as foreign and start attacking the recipient’s body cells.

This causes damage in the body, especially to the liver, skin and gut. cGVHD can appear immediately or any time after a patient’s allogeneic transplant.

Uvadex® (methoxsalen) will be used as part of an integrated, closed system extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) service for the treatment of cGVHD.

ECP is a type of treatment which removes some of a patient’s blood using a machine. The machine separates the white blood cells—then red blood cells and plasma go back into the body.

The white blood cells are mixed with Uvadex^®, then exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light and put back into the patient.

The listing of Uvadex® on the PBS will be extended for the treatment of steroid dependant, steroid intolerant or steroid refractory chronic cGVHD.

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said the listing of Uvadex® on the PBS will benefit around 180 Australians a year.

“Without PBS subsidy, Australians with cGVHD could pay more than $9,200 per course of treatment, instead, from March 1, they’ll be able to access it for $42.50 per script or just $6.80 for people with a concession card,” Minister Hunt said.

“Since 2013, the Coalition Government had approved more than 2,800 new or amended listings on the PBS. This represents an average of around 30 listings or amendments per month – or one each day – at an overall investment by the Government of $14.3 billion.”

Concurrently, two new items will be introduced on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (PBS) for the use of ECP in combination with Uvadex^® to treat this condition, as recommended by the Medical Services Advisory Committee.

This PBS listing has been recommended by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.

The Morrison Government’s commitment to ensuring Australians can access affordable medicines, when they need them, remains rock solid.

This is a strong contrast to Albanese and Labor, who when last in Government stopped listing essential medicines and treatments on the PBS.

Today in Cairns the Greens have announced a more than $2 billion plan to save the Great Barrier Reef and the workers who rely upon it for their livelihood, as the Reef remains at serious risk from the effects of climate change and poor water quality.

Last year the Reef narrowly avoided a World Heritage Committee “In Danger” listing after cynical lobbying by a Morrison Government desperate to avoid another PR disaster, but Australia was given just one year to pull up its socks on Reef protection.

Under this government’s watch, half of the Reef’s coral cover has died over three mass coral bleaching events, in 2016, 2017 and 2020, bleaching events driven and exacerbated by the climate crisis being fuelled by the burning of coal, oil and gas.

As one of the seven natural wonders of the world, an employer of 60,000 people, and one of Australia’s greatest tourist attractions, we must take serious action to protect what’s left of our Reef.

The Greens will:

• Act rapidly on the climate crisis by boosting clean energy and banning new coal and gas;
• Improve Reef water quality with a $2 billion grant fund over 10 years available to scientists, governments and farmers to improve farming practises and repair catchments; and set legal caps on water pollution by catchment
• Reclaim the balance of the $443 million grant made to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, and reallocate the funds through a new grants process
• Properly fund the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Australian Institute of Marine Science with $90 million in extra funding and stronger powers
• Stop damaging coal and gas port expansions 
• Ban offshore dumping of dredge spoil

The Greens’ plan to save the Reef forms part of our “Green Australia” policy initiative which can be found here.

Greens deputy leader and Queensland Senator Larissa Waters said:

“You can’t save the Reef by making climate change worse. Scott Morrison flew to Queensland last month and promised less than half of what’s needed to fix water quality, and totally ignored the climate crisis which is imperilling the Reef. 

“Meanwhile he had denied tourism businesses JobKeeper while the economic effects of the pandemic continued to hurt the industry, and gave handouts to airlines instead of local tourism operators.

“The Prime Minister’s $1 billion over 10 years announcement was self-defeating and hollow rhetoric, when it is just one per cent of the public money he gifts to coal and gas, which is driving the decline of the Reef. 

“The Morrison Government has turbo-charged the climate crisis by funnelling billions of dollars of public money into the pockets of their fossil fuel donors to ramp up coal and gas production. The federal government has put the Reef, and the 60,000 people who depend on it for their livelihoods, at serious risk – just so they can keep their donation gravy train rolling.

“The world is watching. World Heritage Committee representatives are coming to visit the Reef before the Committee makes its final decision on the “In danger listing” – they will want to see real action, and they’ll see right through the government’s empty promises. 

“The Greens are the only party with a comprehensive plan to protect the Reef, and we’re the only party talking seriously about the climate crisis and the need to transition away from coal and gas to clean renewable energy.

“In balance of power after the next election the Greens will push for a freeze on all new coal, gas and oil projects while Parliament negotiates new climate legislation, and we’ll push the next government to act swiftly to save the Reef before it is lost forever.”

Greens candidate for Leichhardt Phillip Musumeci said:

“The LNP will tell you that we can’t afford to phase out fossil fuels – but the opposite is true. We can’t afford not to.

“From Cairns to Thursday Island, it’s obvious to those of us who live and work in the Far North that climate change is already affecting our lives.

“From the failing health of the Reef, to the increase in extreme weather events, and the impacts on biodiversity, the Far North is suffering from the effects of climate change more than most other parts of Australia. And without serious and urgent intervention it will get worse.

“Not only will a transition to clean and renewable energy help to keep global temperatures below the 1.5-degree increase scientists tell us we must not exceed, it will also create hundreds of thousands of well-paid, long-term jobs, ensuring we leave no one behind.

“By kicking out this Coalition of chaos and putting more Greens in parliament we can push the next government to tackle the climate crisis, save the Reef and build a future for all of us.”

Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP has announced a bold plan to expand and repurpose Snowy Hydro, the Commonwealth owned corporation, to build over 25 GW of wind, solar and energy storage over the next decade, the equivalent to Australia’s current coal generation capacity. The Greens will push for this plan in balance of power after the next election.

The expanded and repurposed ‘Snowy Hydro 3.0’ – renamed Clean Energy Australia – will be supplied with $40 billion of equity over the decade by the Commonwealth to invest in the equivalent capacity to Australia’s remaining 20 coal fired power stations.

The plan will also create a new not-for-profit electricity retailer from Snowy Hydro, called Power Australia, that will sell electricity on a cost-price basis, driving down household and business power bills. Power Australia will incorporate Snowy’s current retail arms, Lumo and Red Energy.

The plan will also reverse the Liberal-Labor subsidy of $600m to build a gas-fired power plant in the Hunter Valley.
Mr Bandt unveiled the plan in Canberra where a Labor-Greens government has already transitioned the ACT to 100% renewables and has a government owned retailer.

The Greens want to kick the Liberals out and put the Greens in the balance of power in the House of Representatives and the Senate to ensure the next government takes real climate action. 

Greens Leader Adam Bandt said

“To fight the climate crisis and to secure Australia’s economic prosperity we need a large scale public investment in renewables, not subsidies for coal and gas.”

“The government’s plan locks the Snowy Hydro into a fossil fuelled failure with expensive and polluting gas. In balance of power the Greens will kick the Liberals out and push for a big build of renewables.

“This investment will push out coal and gas and create tens of thousands of jobs by providing cheap electricity and making Australia a renewable energy superpower.

“With a massive government-led build of renewables, we can tackle the climate crisis while growing jobs.

“Cheap electricity from the sun and the wind should be Australia’s international advantage. By selling electricity at cost-price to homes and businesses, we will drive down power bills, attract energy-intensive industries to Australia and become the region’s clean energy hub. 

“We need a Snowy Hydro for the twenty-first century, with the biggest public investment in infrastructure we’ve seen for decades to get us to zero emissions as quickly as possible.

“Liberal and Labor talk up renewables, but they want more coal and gas, not less, and they don’t have a policy to drive investment at the scale we need.” 

“Clean Energy Australia will lead our plan to power past coal and gas and into a clean energy future and a safe climate.”

Greens MLA and ACT Energy Minister Shane Rattenbury said

“The ACT is 100 percent renewable electricity because the government took a deliberate decision to make it happen. 

The climate crisis means we don’t have the time to sit back and passively wait for the market to solve it – government can and must play a leadership role. The ACT has shown what is possible when you do that. 

The community is not only supportive, but many are proud of this achievement, and the policy has created significant economic and job opportunities in the ACT, with around $500 million of local investment resulting from the policy.

An Albanese Labor Government would provide a permanent home for Danila Dilba Health Service in Palmerston.
 
Labor would invest $11.6 million for a new clinic to deliver medical and wellbeing services to the Palmerston community.
 
Danila Dilba currently provides services to over 15,000 clients. Labor’s investment will help them meet growing demand as the First Nations population in the area they serve grows and ages.
 
One of the lessons of the pandemic is that well-supported local medical services in high-quality facilities are central to keeping our community healthy and safe.
 
Culturally safe primary health care is central to making sure we close the life expectancy gap.
 
Labor is committed to working with First Nations controlled organisations to Close the Gap.
 
Labor introduced the Closing the Gap targets, and Labor will always invest in communities to make sure Australia meets those targets.
 
Labor will work closely with the Danila Dilba and the Northern Territory Government to finalise the best location for them to deliver expanded primary care services in Palmerston.
 
The Morrison-Joyce Government treats communities in the Northern Territory as too far away to bother supporting. They failed to get First Nations communities vaccinated. They failed to provide enough PPE. They failed to provide enough tests to keep services running, let alone keep people safe.
 
It’s time we had a government which would make sure NT communities have the health facilities and services they deserve – an Albanese Labor government.

The Australian Defence Force Academy’s (ADFA) incoming Midshipmen and Officer Cadets were formally welcomed today at the annual Chief of Defence Force (CDF) Parade.

The CDF Parade marks the culmination of the initial military training period for more than 330 first year Midshipmen and Officer Cadets and their acceptance as members of the corps of Trainee Officers at ADFA.

Acting Chief of the Defence Force, Vice Admiral David Johnston, congratulated ADFA’s newest Midshipmen and Officer Cadets on completing their initial military period.

“Over the past three weeks, the Midshipmen and Officer Cadets were introduced to life in the Australian Defence Force including activities such as drill, physical training, leadership and ethics education, and weapons handling,” Vice Admiral Johnston said.

“This is just the beginning of military life for these young men and women who are the future of our Defence Force and our partner Defence Forces.”

The new Trainee Officers will now commence university studies at the University of New South Wales Canberra, co-located with ADFA, alongside ongoing military training.

“This unique combination of university education and military training prepares Midshipmen and Officer Cadets intellectually, physically and ethically for their future roles as officers and leaders in the Navy, Army and Air Force,” Vice Admiral Johnston said.

“ADFA is just the first step in a fantastic career in the Australian Defence Force and foreign militaries for this year’s incoming class of Trainee Officers, and I will be following their progress with interest.”

As coal production begins again at Anglo American’s Grosvenor mine almost two years after a methane explosion left five miners with horrific burns the Mining and Energy Union (MEU) says all Queensland mine workers’ thoughts are with those injured in the disaster.

As the regulator, Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ), allows operations to recommence the mine operator must ensure coal production at the notoriously gassy mine is never again put ahead of safety. 

An inquiry recently heard 14 potential incidents of methane exceedance were recorded at longwall 104, where the explosion occurred, in the eight weeks leading up the May 2020 explosion.

It found the mine’s gas drainage systems could not cope with the rate of production.

The inquiry also heard if coal workers reported unsafe work practices, they could lose money under so-called ‘safety penalties’ or even be sacked – completely legally.

Workers at the mine aren’t directly employed in permanent jobs by Anglo American like workers at other Anglo American mines, but by labour hire company One Key, which means they have fewer rights and can be sacked more easily.

“The labour hire arrangements at Grosvenor are at the root of the safety issues, Anglo needs to employ their workers directly in permanent jobs,” says Stephen Smyth, Queensland District President of the Mining and Energy Union.

“We welcome RSHQ decision to allow the mine to reopen, but significant trust issues remain and we call on Anglo American and One Key to support the workforce and be transparent about all issues.

“Since the incident the workers have formed a union lodge which means they will have a stronger unified voice when it comes to safety, rostering, pay and other issues.

“We are so proud of their resilience and strength; they won’t be taking a backward step on safety.

“Union safety inspectors will be keeping a close eye on operations, and we call on the regulator to keep a close eye as well. 

“Anglo American and One Key have a history of putting production before safety, this must stop.

“Anglo American and One Key were warned many times about safety issues at the mine, they need to start listening.

“It’s so important to the workers, their families, and coal workers all over Queensland we don’t see a repeat of the catastrophic explosion of May 2020.

‘I note the RSHQ’s investigation of the incident was also referred to the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor for consideration of potential charges, the union is hoping those responsible for the explosion feel the full force of the law.”

More than 70 of Australia’s leading epidemiologists, GPs, global health, business, development and aid organisations have signed on to an open letter calling on the Prime Minister to make a Budget commitment to accelerate the global vaccination effort and prevent the emergence of another COVID variant of concern.

It comes after US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken on Monday convened foreign ministers from around the world on Monday to coordinate additional leadership, political will, capacity, and resources, to achieve specific targets in the global COVID-19 response.

The letter was initiated by the End COVID For All in December as Omicron broke out and has now grown to include the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), the Business Council of Australia, the Burnet Institute, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) and World Vision Australia.

Their joint letter outlines “grave concern regarding the state of global vaccine inequity” and highlights the opportunity “Australia has to help address this vital issue affecting us all”.

The letter calls on the Australian Government to take three critical steps:

• Continue to add our weight to tackling global vaccine inequity by committing an additional $250 million to the COVAX AMC Facility
• Use our partnerships to tackle vaccine hesitancy by committing $50 million from the existing $532 million Vaccine Access and Health Security Initiative into addressing vaccine hesitancy in the Indo-Pacific
• Reduce the chance of future outbreaks, variants and pandemics by committing $100 million to the CEPI replenishment

End COVID For All spokesperson and CEPI chair Jane Halton said the return on these investments far outweighs the cost.

“We are dangerously behind our targets to vaccinate the world. Less than six per cent of people in low-income countries are fully vaccinated and case numbers are increasing,” Ms Halton said.

“This not only puts these countries in a perilous position but is a significant threat to Australia.

“The emergence of Omicron in a region with dire vaccination rates proves, just as Delta did, that when left unchecked, COVID will mutate into more transmissible and deadly forms.”

End COVID For Allspokesperson and Burnet Institute director Professor Brendan Crabb said the Australian Government can help save lives by ramping up its contribution to the global vaccination effort.

“1,582 people died from COVID across Australia in January alone. We cannot simply wait for another variant to arrive and wreak havoc on our lives, our health system, aged care and economy,” Professor Crabb said.

“The International Monetary Fund estimates the cost may rise beyond $US12.5 trillion by the end of 2024. That’s a very large slice of a circa $100 trillion global economy.

“Investing in COVAX, tackling vaccine hesitancy in the Indo-Pacific and backing CEPI to reduce the chance of future outbreaks is a small ask to help stem the damage, save lives and end COVID for all.

Australian economy remains strong through Omicron

Highest jobs on record, Female participation highest on record

The Australian economy has remained strong and creating jobs through the peak of the Omicron surge with almost 13,000 jobs added to hit a record high at the same time as female workforce participation hit the highest level on record.

Labour force figures released today by the ABS confirm that seasonally adjusted employment increased by 12,900 in January 2022, within the range of market expectations, to stand at a record high of 13,255,000. Employment is now 259,500 (or 2.0 per cent) above the level recorded in March 2020 (when Australia recorded its 100th case of COVID-19).

The unemployment rate was unchanged over the month, at 4.2 per cent, the equal lowest rate recorded since August 2008—below the 5.3 per cent recorded in March 2020 and significantly lower than the 5.7% that Labor delivered when the unemployment rate was rising when they were in Government.

Encouragingly, the participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 66.2 per cent in January 2022, well above the 65.9 per cent recorded in March 2020. It is also worth noting that the female participation rate rose by 0.6 percentage points over the month, to a record high of 62.1 per cent in January 2022. The level of unemployment rose slightly (by 5,600 or 1.0 per cent), to 580,000 in January 2022. Part-time employment rose by 30,000 (or 0.7 per cent) in January, while full-time employment fell by 17,000 (or 0.2 per cent).

Today’s figures reflect the impact that Omicron had on the Australian labour market in January, particularly in relation to hours worked. Aggregate hours worked declined, by 159.4 million hours in January, due, in large part, to the impacts of the Omicron variant.

It is encouraging to note that the level of recruitment activity nationally, as measured by the National Skills Commission’s Internet Vacancy Index, is now 54% (or 90,900) above its pre-COVID level.

Moreover, the RBA has noted that while Omicron has impacted the recovery, it has not derailed it, with information from the Bank’s business liaison program suggesting that more than half of businesses intend to increase their headcounts over the coming months, which augurs well for a rebound in labour market activity in the period ahead.