Category: Australian News

Greens Spokesperson for the Arts and Senator for South Australia Sarah Hanson-Young has backed calls today for greater support for the hard-hit industry:
“The Arts and Entertainment Industry was one of the first to be hit by Covid restrictions early last year and it continues to be pummelled by repeated lockdowns and social distancing requirements.
“Despite being one of the hardest hit industries, the Morrison Government took months to deliver any support and it continues to underdeliver.
“Our artists and entertainers, their crews, the venues they perform and exhibit in, are suffering. Some artists have been lost from the industry entirely.
“In the Festival State – South Australia – we are in the midst of a seven-day lockdown that has closed the doors on our winter events and live music scene, directly impacting artists and entertainers and the industries that rely on them – hospitality and tourism.
“The Arts Industry Council of South Australia has today called for more support for artists and arts workers by lowering the earnings threshold for sole traders and for safety nets for festivals, live performance music and cultural events. The Greens back their call.
“The Greens also again urge Arts Minister Paul Fletcher to implement a federal insurance guarantee for the Arts Industry. Gigs and festivals across the country have been cancelled or postponed and not for the first time. The industry needs to know it is insured for any losses incurred due to snap lockdowns and Covid outbreaks or it will struggle to reschedule events and recover.
“The arts and entertainment industry has given us so much during this crisis, the Morrison Government can and must do so much more to give back to it and ensure it survives and once again thrives when the pandemic is over.”

Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout has taken another step forward with the Pfizer vaccine being approved for use in children aged 12 to 15 years.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has thoroughly, and independently, assessed the domestic and international evidence before extending its approval for the Pfizer vaccine to be administered to this age group.
Up until now, the Pfizer vaccine had only been approved for use in Australia for people aged 16 years and over.
The TGA’s approval is a very important step in the process.
As with all of our vaccination decisions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) will now consider this approval and provide expert advice on which groups of adolescents should be prioritised for the roll out of the vaccine and how and when it should be administered.
ATAGI has been meeting with global experts over recent days to inform their deliberations and expert advice.
The National COVID-19 Vaccines Taskforce has been undertaking detailed planning to support the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine for children, following an approval from the TGA and in line with the expert medical advice from ATAGI.
The Australian Government has been consistently following the advice of our medical experts in order to roll out COVID-19 vaccines as quickly, and safely, as possible.

Australia’s biggest thermal coal and LNG customer, Japan, has announced new 2030 targets for their electricity sector, slashing the amount of coal and gas they intend to use, with a 41% cut in thermal coal and 46% cut in gas over the next 10 years.
Given Australia’s high reliance on Japan, these new targets could see the Australian thermal coal industry slashed by almost 20% by 2030, putting the lie to Liberal and Labor’s claims that coal will continue to be mined and exported for decades to come.
The almost halving of gas for electricity by Japan underscores the economic and environmental madness of spending hundreds of millions of public dollars to open up the massive new Beetaloo gas fields, as Labor and Liberal are proposing.
Based on data from the Department of Industry’s Resources and Energy quarterly June 2021 publication:

• Last financial year (2019-20), Australia exported 74.1 million tonnes of thermal coal to Japan, which was 34.8 percent of Australian thermal coal exports by volume. The previous financial year (2018-19) Australia exported 79.3 million tonnes of thermal coal to Japan, or 37.8 percent of total thermal coal exports by volume. Over the first three quarters of the current financial year, Australia has exported 56.7 million tonnes of thermal coal to Japan, or 39.5 percent of thermal coal exports by volume.
• Last financial year (2019-20), Australia exported 30.1 million tonnes of LNG to Japan, which was 38 percent of Australian LNG exports by volume. The previous financial year (2018-19) Australia exported 29.9 million tonnes of LNG to Japan, or 40 percent of total LNG exports by volume.

Japan gets 67% of its thermal coal and 39% of its LNG from Australia.
Quotes attributable to Greens Leader, Adam Bandt:
“When Liberal and Labor say that coal will be mined and exported for decades, they’re lying to voters.
“This year, about 40% of Australia’s gas and thermal coal exports have gone to Japan.
This one decision from Japan alone could end close to 20% of Australia’s thermal coal exports within a decade, and with China and Korea also committing to net-zero emissions, the industry could soon collapse.
“These industries could be over by 2030 as our biggest customers accept the climate science, but Liberal and Labor are giving communities false hope about coal and gas continuing for decades.
“It’s time to face facts and tell workers in Queensland and New South Wales the truth. Coal and gas are now on borrowed time and we need to support workers and communities to transition.”
“The federal government must now massively ramp up investment in manufacturing and green energy in Queensland and NSW to guarantee secure jobs after 2030.
“Liberal and Labor must immediately halt their plans to use public money to open up the massive new Betaloo gas fields in the Northern Territory. Opening up new gas fields isn’t just a climate crime, it’s an economic disaster.
“This is further evidence that 2030 is the main game for the rest of the world. The Liberals’ 2030 target is completely out of step with the science, and Labor doesn’t have one at all. That kind of denial is putting coal and gas workers at risk.
Australian fossil fuel exports

2020 Exports	Thermal Coal (M$) (% of Aust exports)	LNG (M$) (% of Aust exports)
Japan	6,941	15,209
China	2,492	13,006
South Korea	2,145	3,863
Combined Exports	$11,578 (70%)	$32,078 (88%)

Thousands of community pharmacies and additional GPs across Australia will be invited to join the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
This additional workforce will be brought on board to support pharmacies and GPs already delivering COVID-19 vaccines in cities, regional, rural and remote areas, as well as areas with a COVID-19 outbreak.
To date, 118 community pharmacies are currently vaccinating across the country and over 470 community pharmacies will be vaccinating by the end of July 2021.
From Monday, over 3,900 community pharmacies who have expressed interest in joining the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, and who have previously been found suitable, will also be invited to participate.
This includes 1,262 suitable community pharmacies from regional, rural and remote areas and 1,668 suitable community pharmacies that have also been identified in metropolitan areas.
Pharmacies who have not yet expressed interest will also be offered the opportunity to participate, as well as any GPs that are not yet participating in the rollout.
Community pharmacy is an essential part of the Australian health care system and pharmacists are highly accessible health care professionals who provide patients with access to vital medicines, health care services and support.
Community pharmacies across Australia have kept their doors open during the COVID-19 pandemic to support their patients and will now play a crucial role in vaccinating Australia.
The National COVID Vaccine Taskforce is continuing to work with state and territory Governments to accelerate the vaccination program and ensure the nation has broad coverage of primary care sites across the country who are delivering the COVID-19 vaccine.
In the past week, the Taskforce has been fast tracking the on-boarding of community pharmacies in the Local Government Areas of Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool, with 48 pharmacies to commence offering vaccines in these areas by the start of next week.
It is anticipated that pharmacies wishing to administer AstraZeneca vaccines will commence vaccinating from mid-August.
In addition, community pharmacy will also participate in the rollout of the Moderna vaccine from September.
Further information on this pharmacy roll-out will be made available through the Department of Health.

As the need to reestablish a large-scale JobKeeper becomes increasingly obvious, the Greens say the same coalition that dragged the Prime Minister over the line the first time can do it again.
Greens Leader, Adam Bandt said:
“13 million people are under lockdown but Scott Morrison is fiddling with makeshift support packages rather than simply reintroducing a previously successful, well-understood JobKeeper scheme.
“The government resisted JobKeeper last year, and we saw Depression-era dole queues. The Greens were the first party to call for wage guarantees, Labor joined us and ultimately the government was dragged kicking and screaming to JobKeeper.
“Cruel austerity is the default for this government and they’re resisting JobKeeper yet again, but without JobKeeper and a lifted JobSeeker people will fall through the cracks and Australia’s success against Covid is at risk.
“When people don’t have adequate support, they are forced into making potentially risky decisions. This was a clear lesson from last year’s Melbourne outbreak.
“JobKeeper and a lifted JobSeeker were needed last year, and they’re needed again now.”
Greens Family and Community Services Spokesperson, Senator Rachel Siewert said: 
“The Morrison Government’s double standards have to stop. People on income support payments who are in lockdown urgently need access to the $600 per week Covid-19 Disaster Payments.”
“I am appalled that this Government is once again leaving unemployed people, students, single parents, disabled people and carers behind.”
“The Government’s decision to stop people on income support payments from accessing the Covid-19 Disaster Payments is adding to the significant amounts of stress people in lockdown are experiencing.”

Federal Labor congratulates Queensland on Brisbane’s successful bid to host the 2032 Olympic Games.
The announcement that Brisbane will host the Games is extremely exciting news for Queensland and the nation.
An Albanese Labor Government will be completely committed to making the 2032 Olympic Games a success.
Hosting the 2032 Games will provide a boost to tourism, trade and the national economy, deliver jobs, and accelerate infrastructure development – benefits that will be more important than ever as Australia continues to recover from the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The decade-long runway into 2032 will also provide a unique and unprecedented opportunity to engage an entire generation in a range of sports, boosting participation and giving more young Australians the opportunity to benefit from an active, healthy lifestyle.
Australia has a proven track record for delivering world-class sporting events on a global scale, from the 1956 Melbourne Olympics to Sydney 2000, five Commonwealth Games and many world championships.
Federal Labor looks forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders towards making the 2032 Olympics are the best Games yet and ensuring that the benefits of hosting the Games – for sport, tourism, infrastructure, trade and the economy – are fully realised.

Australia will host the Olympics for the third time and Paralympics for the second time after Brisbane and South East Queensland tonight secured the 2032 Games.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said securing the Games was a coup for the nation.
“It’s a historic day not just for Brisbane and Queensland, but for the entire country,” the Prime Minister said.
“Only global cities can secure the Olympic Games – so this is fitting recognition for Brisbane’s standing across our region and the world.
“It also marks an important leap forward for Australia as we look toward major events that lock in economic growth and social benefits that will echo for years to come.
“We know the impact on Sydney more than two decades ago was transformative. We can now expect a repeat for Brisbane and communities across Queensland.
“It’s a proud day for Queenslanders and Australians everywhere.”
Minister Richard Colbeck said securing the biggest sporting event in the world offered a tantalising goal to any young Australian who dared to dream big.
“If you think of the young sports fans sitting at home today who aspire to be an Olympian – they now have something tangible to aim for – a chance to compete on home soil in just over a decade.
“It’s a huge opportunity. We saw it in 2000 when Cathy Freeman and so many others performed so brilliantly and inspired a new generation of sports stars.”
Minister Colbeck said the Morrison Government had backed the bid every step of the way and preparations for the event would now trigger considerable growth and investment.
“We will see Brisbane and Queensland deliver an Olympic and Paralympic Games which are affordable, beneficial and sustainable for Queensland and Australia,” Minister Colbeck said.
“In the coming years investment in infrastructure will continue to ensure transport and venues are not just fit for the purpose of the Games but support future growth in the region and remain shining examples of Australia’s success in staging some of the most important global events.
“Hosting the 2032 Games sets us working towards a common purpose, from those in the heart of the action in Brisbane, to people across South East Queensland and beyond.
“It will reinforce unity, health and wellbeing and celebrate Australia’s enduring love of sport.”
KPMG has estimated economic and social benefits at $8.1 billion for Queensland and $17.6 billion for Australia.
Ted O’Brien, who has served as the Prime Minister’s representative for the Queensland bid, said hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games will see “a decade-long runway paved in green and gold all the way to 2032”.
“Hosting the 2032 Olympics will not only inject billions into the economy, it will also create around 120,000 new jobs, including 90,000 jobs for Queenslanders,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Local companies and businesses right across Queensland should take the opportunities which will come over the next decade to contribute to the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“For Queenslanders, this is our moment and it’s now up to us to make the most of it.
“We’ve just won the right to host the biggest show on earth right here on home soil, but this is far larger than two weeks of sport,” said Mr O’Brien. “It’s about two decades of transformation that only an Olympic and Paralympic Games can unleash – a decade in the lead up to the Games, and a decade beyond.”
“As the Games approach, Queensland will be well-positioned to host training camps and Olympic teams as they arrive and acclimatise prior to the start of competition and in the years before the Games.
“Construction, services, retail and hospitality will all be winners, and then there are the social benefits from health and wellbeing, social inclusion and improved accessibility for people with a disability.”
Minister Colbeck said the Olympics and Paralympics will be the crowning achievement in Australian sport, but well before the Olympic torch is lit there are other top tier events coming to Australia.
“From next year, we will see many of the world’s best competing right here in Australia in a range of sports, including, potentially, 4 of the top 5 largest sporting competitions in the world,” he said.
2022

• ICC Men’s T20 World Cup
• FIBA Women’s World Cup
• World Athletics Cross Country Championships
• UCI Road World Championships
• VIRTUS Oceania Asia Games (for athletes with an intellectual impairment)

2023

• World Transplant Games
• FIFA Women’s World Cup

2025

• ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships

2026

• UCI BMX World Championships

2027

• Netball World Cup
• Rugby World Cup (decision pending)

2032

• Olympic Games
• Paralympic Games

Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt MP has called for the urgent return of the Greens/Labor/Independent carbon price and the lifting of 2030 climate targets, warning that exporters will be subjected to international tariffs beyond our control without it.
A primary condition of the Greens-Labor agreement after Mr Bandt got elected in 2010 and his support was required for Labor to secure government, the carbon price was successfully reducing pollution until it was repealed by Tony Abbott’s Liberal Government in 2014.
“By repealing the Greens-secured carbon price, the Liberals have exposed Australian industry to carbon tariffs and our exporters are going to have a price on carbon whether Scott Morrison likes it or not, but it will be one designed overseas instead of here,” Mr Bandt said.
“To give certainty to our exporters and resource industry, we need to lift 2030 emissions targets and re-establish our own carbon price before we have one set for us in 2023.
“We had a carbon price working as intended until it was torn up by the Liberals in an act of climate bastardry. We should have one again.”

The Morrison Lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne are taking a political toll on the Prime Minister, but the Greens say the long-term damage of the mismanagement will land hardest on young people, and are calling on the Prime Minister to ensure no-one is left behind by lifting JobSeeker back to $1,100 a fortnight and implementing JobKeeper 2.0.
Quotes attributable to Greens Leader, Adam Bandt:
“These Morrison lockdowns are hitting many people just as hard as last year, so the Prime Minister must give people the same level of support as before.”
“The PM might be taking the political hit, but it’s everyone else that’s hurting.”
“The PM’s failures have led to these lockdowns, so now he must make sure no-one is forced to live through them in poverty.”
“If full JobKeeper and $1,100 a fortnight JobSeeker were needed last time, they’re needed again now.”
“Young people are getting hit particularly hard. Scott Morrison’s determination to shortchange young people on everything from superannuation to climate change will drive economic stress for a whole generation.
“The Morrison government is failing young people with housing prices skyrocketing and rents soaring, insecure work and huge student debt growing, all as they watch other countries vaccinating everyone.”

Australian Greens Anti-racism spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has said that a new report by the Australian Human Rights Commission has found that 4 in 5 Australian Muslims have experienced discrimination, and a similar proportion feel the Christchurch mosque attacks made them afraid for their community.
Senator Faruqi is the first Muslim woman elected to the Australian Senate.
Senator Faruqi said:
“This report makes for disturbing reading, but I have to say I am not surprised by its findings, and I expect many Muslims would say the same thing. The discrimination is very real and so are its consequences.
“In recent decades, Muslims have experienced substantial discrimination in Australia and have been on the receiving end of serious racism and bigotry in the community, the media and in politics.
“Most catastrophically, anti-Muslim hatred led an Australian man to murder 51 innocent Muslims in Christchurch two years ago. But we can see anti-Muslim hatred and intolerance throughout our community and we must fight it with everything we have.
“Australia urgently needs to recommit itself to anti-racism and fighting Islamophobia, especially in the face of a resurgent far-right. We need to invest in and roll-out a national anti-racism program, stronger laws on extremism and hate speech, and much better representation of people of colour in public life.
“It has not escaped me that this report has recommended better representation of Muslims in the Australian media in the same week it was revealed Channel Seven cast a woman with a history of toxic Islamophobia and racism in an upcoming TV series. This saga was a strong reminder of the sustained Islamophobia and racism in the Australian media,” she said.