Category: Australian News

Australian Greens Education spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has responded to the latest analysis released by Save Our Schools this morning, which finds that over the last decade, government funding for private schools increased by $3,338 per student, adjusted for inflation, compared to $703 per student for public schools.

Senator Faruqi said:

“The systemic underfunding of our public schools and corresponding overfunding of private schools is a national disgrace.

“Special deals such as the Liberals’ $1.2 billion so-called ‘Choice and Affordability’ slush fund for private schools have only worsened decades of systemic favouritism.

“Public schools are trying their best to navigate the impacts of Covid, inadequate and crumbling infrastructure, and provide suitable educational resourcing for students, all while enrolments tick up and funding remains stubbornly low.

“The Coalition and Labor are on a unity ticket so far as unfair, outrageous private school funding is concerned.

“The Greens are taking to the federal election a fully-costed plan to invest $32 billion in our public schools over the next decade and achieve 100% funding of the Schooling Resource Standard for public schools by 2023.”

Greens Election Policy: https://greens.org.au/campaigns/fully-funded-public-schools

Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP says the closure announcement of Australia’s largest coal fired plant shows why Australia urgently needs a credible climate and energy plan.

Origin Energy has brought forward closure of the NSW Eraring power plant, one of the most polluting in the country, by seven years to 2025.

Despite this build up of announced coal closures before 2030, the government’s own projections that they took to Glasgow show another one to two further coal plants closing in the next eight years, which the government won’t tell us – or coal communities – about.

Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP said:

“We urgently need a national climate and energy plan to manage this accelerating shift from coal.”

“Instead of lying to coal workers and their communities about a future for coal, Liberal and Labor need to get real and join the Greens with a plan that secures workers’ future.”

“By lying to communities about the future of coal, Liberal and Labor are leaving workers exposed to the wolves of the market.

“The climate crisis and falling costs are driving a renewables revolution and it’s not going to stop.”

“Everyone could see this coming. Instead of fighting the renewables revolution, Scott Morrison should have been investing in renewables and storage and putting in place a planned phase down of coal.

“Coal workers and the Hunter community are being left behind by the big energy corporations and the Morrison government. They have failed to put in place a renewables and industry investment plan for the region, leaving everything to the decision of overseas corporate boardrooms.”

“The fact Origin is giving only the minimum notice for the power plants closure shows that coal is on the nose financially.”

The Greens election policy calls for increased government investment in renewables, storage and the grid and a timetable for the orderly closure of coal fired power stations and support for workers and communities.

Mr Bandt and NSW Greens Senate Candidate David Shoebridge will visit the Hunter region to meet with the community and coal workers next week.    

The rate of new registrations for organ donation has reached record levels, with 87 per cent year-on-year growth in Australians signing up as an organ donor.

Data released today reveals a substantial increase in new registrations on the Australian Organ Donor Register (AODR), in a report that also outlines the ongoing impact COVID-19 has had on donation and transplantation rates.

Minister responsible for the Organ and Tissue Authority (OTA), Dr David Gillespie released the 2021 Australian Donation and Transplantation Activity Report, confirming that despite a further drop in donation and transplantation rates last year, public support for donation is increasing.

“We saw 350,000 more Aussies getting behind organ and tissue donation in 2021, registering to be donors at a rate never seen before,” Dr Gillespie said.

“It’s heart-warming to see that even during the toughest of times, Australians understand the importance of donation and have joined the 7 million other Australians on the AODR.”

“Importantly, 1,174 Australian lives were saved in 2021 through an organ transplant, due to the generosity of 421 deceased organ donors and their families.”

Dr Gillespie said that while record-breaking new registrations were a step in the right direction, the strain that COVID-19 has put on the Australian healthcare system continues to be felt.

There was a nine per cent decrease in the number of organ donors and a seven per cent decrease in the number of people who received a transplant during 2021, compared to 2020.

Overall, this equates to a 25 per cent drop in donation and transplantation activity from pre-COVID levels seen in 2019 and is consistent with the experience of comparable countries like the UK and Canada.

“Despite the drop, donation and transplants continued throughout the year, which is testament to a highly skilled workforce of doctors and nurses who helped to minimise risk,” Dr Gillespie said

“Australian DonateLife teams worked with transplant teams to navigate the challenges created by COVID-19 — including pressures on hospitals, staff impacts, restricted family visits in hospitals, and logistics impacting the national program, such as flight reductions and border closures.

Dr Gillespie said there were 200 people who received a kidney from a living donor in 2021, more than 2,400 people with restored eyesight through a corneal transplant, and over 10,000 people who received tissue (e.g. musculoskeletal, heart, skin) transplants – all thanks to the life-changing gift of donation.

“I would like to acknowledge all donors and express heartfelt thanks to families who say “yes” to organ donation and give the gift of life to others,” Dr Gillespie said.

“There are around 1,850 Australians who are waitlisted for an organ transplant and an additional 13,000 people on dialysis – some who may need a kidney transplant one day.

“The best chance we have to address the challenge of the longer waitlist is to have more Australians say “yes” to donation – both yes to registering and yes in the hospital if there is the opportunity to donate.”

Data shows that nine out of 10 families consent to donation if their loved one is registered, but this drops to 4 out of 10 if they don’t know what their what they wanted.

Registering to be an organ and tissue donor is easy. You just need your phone, Medicare card and one minute. Head to donatelife.gov.au or you can join through the Express Plus Medicare app when you download your COVID-19 vaccination certificate. The report is available at the above link.

Leading law firm Maurice Blackburn Lawyers today welcomed findings made by eminent barrister Kate Eastman SC that a former Victorian Supreme Court Judge sexually harassed two women who worked as his associates.

The women were prompted to contact Maurice Blackburn Principal Josh Bornstein in July and October 2020 following findings that claims of sexual harassment by former High Court Judge Dyson Heydon were upheld by an independent investigation.

Mr Bornstein formalised the women’s complaints to the Victorian Supreme Court and Ms Eastman was engaged to investigate them, delivering a damning report into the Judge’s behaviour last month.

Ms Eastman found the Judge wrote sexualised poetry to one of the women, sent her renaissance art featuring a naked cherub, told her he loved her and made unwelcome sexual advances.

Ms Eastman also found the Judge put his hand between the thighs of one of the women and on another occasion kissed her on the lips.

“(The Judge) used his position and power to satisfy his personal needs,” Ms Eastman’s report found.

The Judge kept tabs on the women after they left the Court and also contacted one of them after he learned of Ms Eastman’s investigation in August last year.

“I acknowledge his actions in August 2021 have caused (the former associate) significant distress and further anxiety. She fears retribution, embarrassment and holds concerns about her privacy and safety,” Ms Eastman wrote.

Mr Bornstein’s said the Judge’s behaviour was disgraceful and left both women traumatised.

“The two women I represent welcome the findings of the Eastman report. Regrettably, the legal profession is a high-risk profession when it comes to sexual harassment. A reckoning is underway and a critical part of that reckoning is confronting the truth of what has happened and ensuring that there is appropriate accountability.

“In due course, claims for compensation for both women will be pursued, he said.

One of the women no longer works in the legal profession.

Mr Bornstein added that further progress could be made to address gender inequality if the Federal Government were to legislate to require organisations to proactively take steps to stamp out gender inequality in their workplaces, as recommended by the Respect At Work Inquiry. Most of the recommendations of that inquiry have not been adopted.

Mr Bornstein is representing a number of other women who allege sexual harassment by judges at both the federal and state level, with further claims for compensation arising from those other cases likely.

The Morrison Government has started planning for the renovation and ongoing use by Defence of an historic art-deco building in the Victoria Barracks precinct in Melbourne.

Defence has engaged Melbourne architects Lovell Chen to conduct a feasibility study into the refurbishment and re-use of the former Repatriation Outpatients Clinic located at 310 St Kilda Road, Melbourne.

Lovell Chen specialises in the preservation and adaptive re-purposing of heritage buildings.

The building, which adjoins Victoria Barracks on St Kilda Road near the CBD, was completed in 1937 and contains heritage elements of Commonwealth significance.

It was constructed to provide outpatient support to World War I veterans and continued providing services to veterans for decades.

The site was used by Defence up until the late 1990s but has been vacant for more than 20 years.

The feasibility study will identify opportunities for the renovation and ongoing use of the building, while taking into account a planned redevelopment of the wider Victoria Barracks precinct.

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the study would allow Defence to consider options for the future re-use of 310 St Kilda Road.

Minister Price said this would include accommodation for both Defence and Defence-related community groups, such as veterans’ organisations.

“The Morrison Government is committed to ensuring the future use of 310 St Kilda Road preserves the building’s heritage and architecture,” Minister Price said.

“We are seeking to balance the growing needs of Defence, while noting the building’s close links to Australia’s military history and our veteran community.”

This study will guide Defence’s restoration and repurposing of the building, and potential accommodations for Defence-related community groups, including veterans’ organisations.

Similar to the shock announcement of the early closure of Victoria’s Hazelwood Power Station in 2016, Origin Energy is aiming to close it’s Eraring coal power station in NSW’s Hunter Valley seven years early, by August 2025. Eraring is Australia’s largest coal power station (in terms of its capacity). It emits over 11 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually – around 8 percent of the state’s total.

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

“Coal is not a commercially viable industry any longer. Just like AGL last week, this is a commercial decision made by Origin Energy to close its Eraring coal power station seven years early.”

“Some of Australia’s biggest power companies are not able to compete from a price perspective and policy perspective, as the states and territories cash-in on a net zero future, bringing with it cheaper renewable power, economic investments and new clean jobs. The newly announced Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) is set to provide 100 Terawatt hours of power by the mid 2020s, which is almost double the generation of NSW’s entire coal fleet. The new Hunter REZ is just one of the state’s four proposed REZs.”

“Coal is not going to cut it anymore when we have cheap and reliable renewable energy and storage that’s already powering over a third of Australia’s largest electricity grid and providing almost 25 percent of NSW’s power.”

“States and territories are investing in storage technologies and that needs to continue. It’s increased storage that we need, not more investment in expensive electricity generation stemming from gas, which our carbon budget cannot afford and may leave us with stranded assets.”

Victoria’s workers are short-changed $1.22 billion a year from their super and the state’s workers will continue to be ripped off until federal politicians act.

Industry Super Australia (ISA) analysis of the latest tax data shows more than 760,000 Victorian workers lost an average of $1,606 in 2018-19 (see table 1). Those swindled on super can end up retiring with up to $60,000 less.

In six years – from 2013-14 to 2018-19, Victoria’s unpaid super bill climbed to an eyewatering $6.7 billion.

Despite nearly a third of the state’s workforce suffering a super rip off each year, awareness of the unpaid super problem remains chronically low.

It can often take months for workers to uncover that they have been underpaid, making recovery far more difficult. Making matters worse 70% of workers don’t realise super can legally be paid just four times a year, not with their wages – despite what it says on payslips. 

The outdated laws and the lack of awareness amongst workers is being exploited by some unscrupulous employers to not pay super.  

Mandating that super is paid with wages will make it much easier for workers to track when payments are made and uncover underpayments quicker, making recovery more likely.

An ISA report, Super Scandalous how to fix the $5 billion scourge of unpaid super and a community awareness campaign aims to help solve the problem that impacts three million people and provides practical tips on how to ensure workers are getting what they are owed.  

But individuals can only do so much, it is up to politicians to fix the systemic underpayment of super by mandating all employers pay super into a workers’ account when they pay wages.

Unpaid super creates an unequal playing field for businesses, as the employers doing the right thing are undercut by competitors who are ripping their workers off.

Workers must largely rely on the Australian Tax Office to recover their money as it is difficult to sue for super. But the ATO only recovers a dismal 12% of unpaid super annually and rarely issues penalties that would deter dodgy employers.

If the ATO is unwilling or unable to recover Victoria workers’ savings the law should be changed so that employees, the Fair Work Ombudsman, and others acting on behalf of workers can.

To fix Victoria’s $1.2 billion unpaid super scourge politicians should commit to:

Ø  Mandating super payment at the same time as wages.

Ø  Lift enforcement activity and force the ATO to issue and publicise penalties for not paying super – so dodgy employers can see there is a cop on the beat.

Ø  Empower employees and representatives to recover unpaid super debts.

Ø  Extend the Fair Entitlement Guarantee so workers can recoup their savings if a company goes bust – at the moment super is not included.

Industry Super Australia Chief Executive Bernie Dean said:

“This is a $1.2 billion a year rip off affecting nearly a third of Victoria’s workers, yet many of them remain unaware, assuming super is being paid because it appears on their payslip.” 

“Super is your money, you should get it paid at the same time you get your wages. By not mandating the payment of super with wages, politicians are stopping Victorian workers getting what they are owed.” 

“Our federal politicians get their super paid on payday, so should all Victorian workers.” 

Table 1: Unpaid super by Victorian federal electorate

Electorate	Persons	Percentage of electorate	Average underpaid	Total ($m)
Melbourne	23,800	25%	$1,745	$41.5
Macnamara	24,150	28%	$1,538	$37.1
Hotham	22,250	30%	$1,649	$36.7
Gellibrand	23,300	31%	$1,573	$36.7
Lalor	27,850	34%	$1,293	$36.0
Maribyrnong	21,600	29%	$1,664	$35.9
Holt	25,600	33%	$1,398	$35.8
Corangamite	21,050	33%	$1,684	$35.5
Casey	18,450	29%	$1,905	$35.1
La Trobe	22,550	32%	$1,549	$34.9
Gorton	21,750	29%	$1,591	$34.6
Chisholm	21,950	29%	$1,561	$34.3
Mcewen	20,700	32%	$1,641	$34.0
Dunkley	20,700	32%	$1,635	$33.8
Calwell	20,500	30%	$1,578	$32.4
Fraser	18,250	27%	$1,750	$31.9
Aston	19,950	28%	$1,595	$31.8
Bendigo	18,250	31%	$1,727	$31.5
Higgins	19,950	26%	$1,577	$31.5
Cooper	20,400	29%	$1,542	$31.4
Isaacs	19,800	29%	$1,562	$30.9
Monash	18,650	31%	$1,639	$30.6
Indi	17,450	29%	$1,749	$30.5
Mallee	17,950	29%	$1,682	$30.2
Kooyong	19,650	27%	$1,535	$30.2
Gippsland	16,300	30%	$1,850	$30.1
Goldstein	18,500	27%	$1,619	$30.0
Corio	19,150	31%	$1,561	$29.9
Bruce	19,650	29%	$1,505	$29.6
Scullin	19,150	30%	$1,529	$29.3
Flinders	17,300	30%	$1,684	$29.1
Ballarat	18,050	28%	$1,588	$28.7
Deakin	18,300	27%	$1,556	$28.5
Menzies	17,800	28%	$1,588	$28.3
Nicholls	17,550	30%	$1,591	$27.9
Jagajaga	16,650	25%	$1,648	$27.4
Wannon	17,100	27%	$1,535	$26.3
Wills	19,750	27%	1,684	$33.3
State total	761,750	29%	$1,606	$1,223

Source: ISA analysis of 2018-19 2% ATO tax file and ABS data.

Senior Australians in residential aged care will have greater access to visitors and reduced lockdowns under new visitation guidelines response to the pandemic.

The Australian Government recognises the serious impact of social isolation on residents due to the strict requirements to manage the risk of COVID-19.

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt and Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck welcomed the new advice, which has been endorsed by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) and National Cabinet.

“The new advice will enable aged care providers to take a more flexible approach to visitation, and a more proportionate approach to locking down of facilities following an exposure or in the event of an outbreak,” Minister Hunt said.

“This decision will provide consistent guidance for states and territories, and we encourage them to reflect this in their public health orders.”

The new Interim Guidance on Managing Public Health Restrictions on Residential Aged Care Facilities has been developed based on expert medical advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC).

“We need to shift the balance from restricting visitors during an outbreak to providing access by at least one visitor per resident per day. This will assist to reduce the impact of the restrictions to date and provide families with more valuable time with their loved ones,” Minister Colbeck said.

“Every effort is made to protect residents and with these processes in the place, this provides the opportunity to safely increase visitation for residents.”

The new guidance encourages increased visitation and supports aged care providers to apply the least restrictive isolation requirements on residents. It was agreed that each resident should have access to one Essential Visitor at all times (including during an outbreak or exposure).

The Government is supporting increased visitation through the provision of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) through the medical stockpile.  Over 12.2 million RATs have been deployed to the aged care sector since August 2021.  

Since 1 January 2022 the National Medical Stockpile has provided residential aged care facilities with approximately:

• 19.1 million masks
• 7.7 million gowns
• 23.6 million gloves
• 4.4 million goggles and face shields
• 74,544 bottles of hand sanitiser.

This Guidance will also assist all State and Territory Public Health Units to adopt a more consistent and risk-based approach to the management of COVID-19 outbreaks.

The increased transmissibility of the Omicron variant has created enormous challenges for facilities, as aged care workers have been forced to stay at home and isolate. The updated Interim Guidance on Permissions and Restrictions for Workers in Aged Care acknowledges risk of transmission cannot be eliminated and exposures will occur. 

Endorsed by AHPPC, the revised document provides clear advice on how aged care facilities can take a risk-based approach to use their workforce flexibly.

The guidance provides clear criteria for aged care providers to allow a worker to continue to work if he or she has been exposed to COVID-19 but tests negative, is asymptomatic and is willing to work.

It has been updated to align with the Updated COVID-19 Test and Isolate National Protocols which limits the time required for isolation following contact. This means that providers can reduce the detrimental loss of workforce by retaining existing staff in the workplace, using steps to limit transmission.

The new Interim Guidance documents will be published on the Department of Health’s website.

The Government encourages providers to use these guidance materials to provide a better balance between protecting residents from the potentially tragic impacts of COVID-19, and supporting their mental, physical and emotional wellbeing.

Australians with diabetes will now have access to the next-generation Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM), ensuring they can use the latest technology to manage their diabetes.

From 1 March, 58,000 eligible Australians participating in the CGM Initiative will have the option of using the new Dexcom G6 CGM device, as the current Dexcom G5 CGM device is phased out.

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said around 1.8 million people in Australia live with diabetes and more than 120,000 Australians have developed diabetes in the past year.

“CGM measures glucose levels to gain insight into patterns and trends—day and night.

Monitoring blood glucose levels helps prevent both short-term and long-term health complications including heart attacks and strokes, amputations, kidney failure and preventable blindness,” Minister Hunt said.

“The Morrison Government remains committed to ensuring all Australians have access to the latest health care products when and where they need them.”

Funded by the Morrison Government, CGM products are available through the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) to help thousands of people manage their diabetes every day.

Thousands of Australians have successfully used the Dexcom G5 monitoring device but, due to international supply chain issues, the G5 would no longer be available in Australia. 

To ensure this doesn’t impact current G5 users, the Morrison Government has been working with the product sponsor and Diabetes Australia to make sure Australians can transition to the new G6 product before the G5 supple is exhausted.

To minimise the impact of this change, the listing for the G6 has been expanded so that all people eligible to participate in the CGM Initiative can access this option.

In addition, existing G5 users—about 7,500 people—will be automatically transitioned to G6 on 1 March to avoid any delays receiving their CGM product.

All products, including the new G6, provided under the CGM initiative remain free of charge.

The Morrison Government has invested more than $300 million in the CGM Initiative over four years. In 2020-21, the NDSS delivered more than 5.9 million diabetes products worth more than $186 million and more than $709 million in medicines for diabetes were dispensed under the PBS.

Last November, the Government released the Australian National Diabetes Strategy 2021–2030 to drive real improvements in the prevention, early detection, management, and care of people with diabetes.

With approximately one in 20 Australians affected by diabetes, the new strategy will bring together the latest research and evidence to ensure people living with diabetes, their family and carers have access to care, treatments and support where and when they need it.

As part of the Morrison Government’s plan for a strong economy, an additional $2.26 billion will be invested to complete the final stage of Adelaide’s North-South Corridor, creating thousands of jobs while ensuring residents get home sooner and safer.

The Torrens to Darlington (T2D) project is the final stage of the North-South Corridor, and once complete, will deliver 78 kilometres of non-stop motorway between Gawler and Old Noarlunga, slashing 20 minutes of commuting time and bypassing 21 sets of traffic lights.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said this funding would ensure the entire North-South Corridor is delivered.

“Our plan for a strong economy in South Australia is all about investing in life-changing infrastructure on our roads and in our important our defence industry projects, creating thousands of jobs in Adelaide,” the Prime Minister said.

“Our Government, together with the Marshall Government, is getting on with delivering what is the most significant infrastructure project ever undertaken in South Australia that will ensure a jobs boom for the next 10 years.

“Today we’re announcing $2.26 billion to help ensure the delivery of the final piece of this complex project, bringing our total investment in the North-South Corridor to over $6.8 billion.

“The investment in this project alone is expected to support around 4,900 jobs and slash travel times by up to 20 minutes between the River Torrens and Darlington and help ensure South Australians get home to family and friends safely.”

The 10.5km T2D project will be delivered over two stages, with stage one (Southern Tunnel) connecting Darlington to the Anzac Hwy and stage two (Airport Link and Northern Tunnel) connecting the River Torrens and Anzac Highway.

The Morrison and Marshall Governments have already committed $5.422 billion to Stage 1 on a 50:50 basis.

Premier for South Australia, Steven Marshall, said having the funding locked in place for the whole T2D project means job security for South Australia’s construction sector for the next decade.

“This once-in-a-generation project is going to create a record number of jobs for South Australians and underpin the construction industry for the next ten years,” Premier Marshall said.

“Our strong partnership with the Morrison government means we are able to invest in projects that make a real difference to the everyday lives of South Australians and get people home faster and safer to spend more time doing what they love.”

Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher said the funding for this project builds on the Commonwealth’s existing $10.7 billion commitment for infrastructure in South Australia.

“Set to unlock Adelaide’s traffic network, the T2D will stimulate economic activity, helping ensure people, produce and products arrive where they need to be safer and sooner,” Minister Fletcher said.

“The Morrison Government remains committed to funding the delivery of significant infrastructure projects across South Australia and the nation, getting Australians home sooner and safer and helping freight move more quickly between our cities.”

Federal Minister for Finance and Senator for South Australia Simon Birmingham said the T2D would complete South Australia’s largest infrastructure project to deliver commuters a 78 km non-stop transit link from Noarlunga to Gawler.

“The vision of linking southern and northern Adelaide with a non stop motorway will finally be fully funded, fully delivered and is set to be a drivers paradise,” Minister Birmingham said.

“The Darlington interchange and northern stretch of the motorway have been transformational for road users, with this tunnelling of around 60 per cent of the final stretch allowing motorists to bypass approximately 21 sets of traffic lights and have one of the best transport experiences in the nation.

“With close cooperation and coordination, the federal and South Australian governments are backing critical infrastructure projects that are necessary to improving supply chains and helping South Australian commuters get home sooner and safer.”

The design for T2D consists of two tunnel sections joined by a lowered motorway, with the Southern Tunnel to connect Darlington to Anzac Highway, while the Northern Tunnel will be located north of Anzac Highway and connect to Torrensville.

The $9.9 billion project is jointly funded by the Australian and South Australian governments on a 50:50 basis, with construction expected to start in late 2023 and be finished by late 2030.

For more information, visit the South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport website.