Category: Australian News

The Morrison Government is improving the participant experience for people on the National Disability Insurance Scheme, with easier access to assistive technology.

Minister for the NDIS Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC has announced an increase in the upper limit for automatic approval of assistive technology (AT) purchases. This limit has now increased from $5,000 to $15,000.

“I have listened closely to participants and their representatives, and what they have told me is they want a Scheme which is more person focused, with less red tape,” Minister Reynolds said.

“This is another example of the Morrison Government’s commitment to improving the NDIS and improving the participant’s experience.”

The changes will also assist many participants who currently have quotable AT under $15,000 in their plans. The NDIA will automatically approve the funding for these items so participants can access this AT faster.

This new measure is still subject to the necessary checks and balances to maintain the integrity of the scheme.

The most commonly purchased AT within the $15,000 price range includes manual wheelchairs, specialty beds and bathroom chairs/stools.

The NDIA has summarised these changes in an updated guideline and new participant factsheet, setting out what evidence participants need to provide and what to do before buying AT.

The NDIA has also created a new guideline and template on vehicle modifications and driving supports, which includes simpler and clearer information. These will help participants work with assessors to provide evidence for vehicle modification support requests over $15,000.

A new support package for flood-affected communities across New South Wales will be released today to support farmers, businesses and local councils to recover and rebuild.

This initial $434.7 million of funding from the Commonwealth and New South Wales governments will be provided to support communities clean up and remove damage and debris, as well as further support local government areas (LGAs) that have been flood-affected.

Grants of up to $75,000 for primary producers and up to $50,000 for small businesses and not for profit organisations devastated by flooding will soon be available through NSW Government agencies, with registration now open through Service NSW. This program will be demand driven.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said this package is just the first phase of the financial support that will support communities in need.

“We will be there to help farmers, small businesses and every community in New South Wales to get back on their feet as soon as possible when flood waters recede,” the Prime Minister said.

“Farmers will need to restock and rebuild and small businesses will need help replacing damaged goods and shop fronts, and when more support is needed, more support will be given.

“I have already asked the New South Wales Premier to provide my Government with a proposal for a second support package to ensure all communities get the support they need.

“We are working with Queensland on what support will be made available under Category D funding, ensuring communities receive the funding they require to rebuild, and my Government has requested a proposal of projects from the Queensland Government.

“This initial package is in addition to the federally funded $1,000 disaster relief payment and the 13-week income replacement for employees and small business, which to date has already paid out almost $63 million in a matter of days.”

New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet said the NSW Government stood ready to support communities hit hard by the floods across the State.

“We activated these measures during the 2021 floods, and we have done so again – they are large grants that will get much-needed funds to people quickly to provide some relief and assistance,” Premier Perrottet said.

“We know these supports will have an immediate positive effect and I would encourage anyone in NSW impacted by these awful floods to please contact Service NSW and find out what you are eligible for.”

Seventeen LGAs have been declared as disaster areas and are eligible for support through Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience Bridget McKenzie said the activation of extraordinary Category D grant assistance under the DRFA was vital to help kick start the recovery of affected primary producers and small businesses.

“The Commonwealth and NSW Governments are focused on giving small businesses and not-for-profits the tools they need to clean-up, rebuild and keep operating,” Minister McKenzie said.

“We will continue to work with the NSW Government to roll out ongoing targeted support for communities impacted by these devastating storms and floods.”

New South Wales Deputy Premier Paul Toole said a phased approach to support was being adopted to ensure communities had the resources and support they needed at every stage from response to recovery.

“We know it’s going to be a long road to recovery for many of our regional communities and this targeted funding will ensure they get immediate assistance as well as in the weeks and months ahead,” Deputy Premier Toole said.

“In addition to the funding now available, Service NSW offers a one-stop shop for all information and support on disaster assistance by phoning 13 77 88 or online via service.nsw.gov.au.”

New South Wales Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke said the mass clean-up is already underway and recovery grants have been designed to kick-start recovery.

“Many areas are still in the emergency phase and many more are unfortunately at risk of flooding. We are focused on delivering as much support as possible to impacted communities right across the State,” Ms Cooke said.

“While the acute response continues, we are working tirelessly in the background preparing for the significant clean-up and recovery ahead of us.”

People in NSW requiring assistance are urged to contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 or online at: www.service.nsw.gov.au/floods.

People and businesses can register their interest for these grant programs through Service NSW, with funding soon available through NSW Government agencies at: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/storm-and-flood-assistance-businesses

The phase one package includes:

• Demand driven – $75,000 grants to assist primary producers that have suffered direct damage from the recent severe weather and flooding. NSW Government estimate this to initially be $111.5 million.
• Demand driven – $50,000 grants to assist small business and not-for-profit organisations that have suffered direct damage from the event. NSW Government estimate this to initially be $89.7 million.
• $210 million to assist affected communities with the clean-up and removal of flood and storm related damage, debris and green waste. This will enable LGAs to work with Resilience NSW and NSW Government agencies to coordinate clean-up activities in their communities.
• $1 million grants to impacted councils to assist with their immediate social, built, economic and environmental needs. This list may continue to grow.
• $6.5 million to provide Community Recovery Officers to support communities impacted by this event.

The 17 LGAs are Armidale, Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Glen Innes Severn, Hornsby, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lismore, Nambucca, Port Macquarie/Hastings, Richmond, Tenterfield, The Hills and Tweed.

This is one tranche of assistance that will be offered to NSW residents, and is in addition to the disaster payments already available to flood victims.

The Commonwealth stands ready to provide similar financial help to victims of the flood disaster in Queensland once a request is received from the Queensland Premier.

The EveryAGE Counts campaign and the Older Persons Advocacy Network are calling on the Australian Government to support the development of a new UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons, claiming the human rights of older people are currently poorly defined and routinely overlooked.

Today marks an international day of action in support of the Convention on the Rights of Older Persons, with gathering momentum to create and ratify a new convention. But although Australia has historically played an active role in advancing similar conventions – relating to rights of children, women, and people with disabilities – the Australian Government is yet to throw the nation’s support behind the new global initiative.

EveryAGE Counts campaign co-chair and human rights advocate Robert Tickner said the time was perfect for Australia to formally get behind the global movement.

“Ageism is a barrier to older people enjoying general human rights protections. Because our society often values older lives less than other lives, we tend to see the diminishing status of people as they age which pushes them to the margins as rights holders,” Mr Tickner said.

“While in theory, the Universal Declaration on Human Rights has no expiry date, as advocates for children, people with disability, and those who experience racial or gender discrimination have already found, general human rights protections are no substitute for specificity.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has been a turning point in recognising the burning need to step up on human rights protections for older people around the world. During the pandemic, we have seen human rights – such as the right to health and the right to participate in decision-making about personal circumstances – arguably denied to many older people, especially those in some parts of the aged care system in many parts of the world.

“Meanwhile, we know older Australians seeking employment currently face discrimination on a mass scale, with a recent survey finding almost 30 per cent of Australian employers confirming they are reluctant to hire workers over ‘a certain age.’ For more than two thirds of this group, that age was over 50.

“What we need is a defined international rights framework that calls out the discrimination of ageism and places the human rights of older people alongside those guaranteed to others. Without this framework, we lack even a commonly understood language or set of values to talk about the rights of older people and whether they might have been violated.

“Historically, both sides of politics have supported Australia playing an important role in leading the world on passing and implementing conventions designed to dismantle prejudice and discrimination. However thus far Australia has not played a comparably significant role in working for the establishment of an International Convention on the Rights of Older People. That needs to change.”

Older Persons Advocacy Network chief executive Craig Gear said the proposed new convention was necessary.

“Australia supporting an international convention would provide an explicit universal statement that reaffirms the essential truth that older persons are entitled to human rights and fundamental freedoms on the same basis as everyone else,” Mr Gear said.

With distressing events continuing both at home and overseas, Lifeline is reassuring the community that it is normal to be experiencing some level of psychological distress.

Patron John Brogden said it’s critical that every Australian knows they can access services like Lifeline when they are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping or staying safe.

“Our thoughts go out to anyone directly impacted by the floods in Queensland and NSW. Our 13 11 14 crisis line is available 24/7 and our Lifeline Centres on the ground are ready and primed to provide practical and psychological help at a local level.”

“The vision and stories of war in Europe are very distressing to us all – more so for Australians whose family, friends and homelands are at war.”

Mr Brogden revealed Lifeline has received approximately 192,000 calls and 32,000 text and webchat contacts since January 1st, 2022 and continues to see elevated call volumes compared to those before the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“During January and February, calls to Lifeline were up 5% on the same months last year. We are consistently seeing this trend towards increased help seeking behaviour, and I am pleased to say that Lifeline’s call answer rates remain around 90%,” said Mr Brogden.

“Even for the most resilient of us, some of the news we are reading and images we are seeing at the moment are very confronting, and we know there will be an increasing number of people who will be struggling with heightened anxiety and distress.”

“If you are feeling overwhelmed, I encourage you to connect with Lifeline in the way you feel most comfortable, whether that be on 13 11 14, or via our 24/7 text and webchat services”. 

“Our trained Crisis Supporters are ready and waiting day and night to listen without judgement, chat about your needs, worries and feelings and work with you to explore the best ways to stay safe and get support in your community.”

Lifeline has also developed a range of free toolkits to provide you with practical information and assistance during challenging times. Anyone can browse, print or and download them at  www.lifeline.org.au/resources/toolkit-downloads/.

There is tailored support for anyone being impacted by floods at www.lifeline.org.au/floods.

Lifeline is Australia’s leading suicide prevention service, with 41 centres around the nation. The service responds to over one million requests for support each year, creating an average of 120 safety plans to keep a person experiencing suicidal ideation safe every day. 

You can phone Lifeline to speak to a Crisis Supporter on 13 11 14 (24 hours/7 days), text 0477 131 114 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or chat to Lifeline online at www.lifeline.org.au (24 hours/7 days).

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has recommended the use of the Novavax vaccine as a booster in Australians aged 18 and over where an mRNA vaccine is not suitable.

Novavax is the first protein-based COVID-19 vaccine to be provisionally approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

It has been proven safe and effective in protecting against severe illness or death associated with COVID-19 infection, with clinical trial data showing a robust immune response providing around 90 per cent protection from infection.

Protein vaccines use a non-infectious protein component of the virus manufactured in a laboratory. After vaccination, immune cells recognise the vaccine protein as foreign and launch an immune response against it.

More than 25,000 Australians have received a first dose of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine since it was approved for use last month, ensuring that Australia continues to be one of the most highly vaccinated countries in the world.

Australia was one of the first countries in the world to commence a whole-of-population COVID-19 booster program. More than 11.6 million Australians have received a booster dose.

Approximately 94.5 per cent of people in Australia have completed their primary course of vaccination.

The Australian Government has secured 51 million doses of Novavax to compliment the vaccine rollout.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration is currently considering an application for whole of population use of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine as a booster following a two-dose course of either the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccine or the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The TGA and ATAGI continue to review emerging evidence on all COVID-19 Vaccines.

All Australians who are currently eligible for their primary course of vaccination, or for their booster dose, and who have not yet acted are urged to make a booking as soon as possible to get vaccinated.

Please use the COVID-19 Clinic Finder and make your appointment.

Tonight I tested positive to COVID-19.

I am experiencing flu-like symptoms and will be recovering over the next week.

I had tested myself daily since Sunday, including this morning, with all tests returning a negative result.

I took a further test this evening after developing a fever late today. The test was inconclusive so I took a PCR test tonight which returned a positive result late this evening.

I am continuing to follow health guidelines and am isolating at home in Sydney.

Jenny and the girls have thankfully tested negative but will isolate for seven days at home as close contacts.

While in isolation I will continue to discharge all my responsibilities as Prime Minister, including virtually chairing meetings of the National Security and Expenditure Review Committees of Cabinet, focusing on our emergency response to the devastating floods in Queensland and New South Wales, and ensuring we stand with each and every one of the affected communities both now and as the waters eventually recede.

I will also be focused on our urgent response to the tragedy unfolding in the Ukraine and Russia’s senseless aggression, staying in regular contact with our security and intelligence officials and our international partners, as well as working with the Treasurer to finalise the Budget.

Australia will provide significant additional military assistance and emergency humanitarian support to help the people of Ukraine following the brutal invasion by Russia.

Australia stands in solidarity with our friends and partners in supporting Ukraine and condemning Russia utterly for its unprovoked and unjustified attack on its neighbour.

Australia will provide around $70 million in lethal military assistance to support the defence of Ukraine, including missiles and weapons. We will also provide a range of non-lethal military equipment and medical supplies in response to a specific request from the Ukrainian Government.

Our contributions will complement actions taken by partners such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, the European Union and other European nations – each of which we welcome. We will work with and through our closest partners and allies to supplement the already substantial support from the international community.

Australia will also commit immediate humanitarian assistance of an initial $35 million to help meet the urgent needs of the Ukrainian people. This assistance will deliver lifesaving services and supplies, including the provision of shelter, food, medical care and water.

Our lethal and non-lethal military assistance, along with our humanitarian funding, are in addition to the significant sanctions we have already imposed on Russia.

With the situation now seriously deteriorating after Russia’s invasion, current indications are that at least 160,000 people have been displaced inside Ukraine and around half a million people have fled to neighbouring countries. Numbers of displaced people will rise sharply as the security situation deteriorates further.

The cost of Russia’s aggression is being borne by innocent Ukrainians. This is a challenge the international community will meet, and Australia stands ready to provide further humanitarian assistance to support the people of Ukraine, including those fleeing to neighbouring countries.

Russia’s actions are a gross violation of international law and the UN Charter. There is no justification for these actions in Ukraine which are illegal, unjustified and unprovoked.

Following the Prime Minister of Australia’s announcement that Australia will provide defensive military assistance to Ukraine, a Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster III departed RAAF Base Richmond for Europe on 2 March 2022, carrying critical military equipment and medical supplies.

Australia will join other allies and partners to help the people of Ukraine to defend their nation, following Russia’s senseless and illegal invasion of Ukraine sovereignty.

Amidst devastating floods over east and growing calls for climate action, the Greens are urging Perth Festival, WA Youth Orchestra, and WA Symphony Orchestra to end their sponsorships with Woodside and Chevron and for the WA State Government to provide supplementary funding while new sponsors are secured. 

It comes as prominent West Australians and Perth Festival artists, including Tim Winton, Stella Donnelly, Fringe World performer Noemie Huttner-Koros, Kuruma Marthedunera woman and Murujuga traditional owner Josie Alec, and Nick Allbrook, lead singer of the band Pond, have each reportedly called for an end to this funding arrangement.

Australian Greens Senator for WA, Dorinda Cox said:

“It’s deeply disappointing that the Perth Festival – an event that is a huge highlight in our arts calendar – is being sponsored by companies like Woodside that profit from the destruction of our climate.”

“It’s not acceptable that this event is being sponsored by one of the nation’s biggest fossil fuel polluters. Woodside is drilling and blasting our oceans and with risky seismic surveys, and has plans for the development of the Scarborough Gas Project  – the biggest carbon bomb in our nation’s history. They shouldn’t get the opportunity to ‘greenwash’ and normalise their activities.

“Well done to those Perth Festival artists who have called this out, alongside Greenpeace Australia and 350 Perth and many others. We must keep fighting to change the corrupt political systems that continue to support exploring and burning fossil fuels for greed, a system that is cooking our planet and our oceans. We need everyone to stop these greedy corporations using opportunities to justify and elevate their dangerous activities.”

The Greens (WA) spokesperson for Climate Change, Dr Brad Pettitt MLC said:

“Woodside and Chevron alone are responsible for 14% of Australia’s total Scope 1 emissions and over a third of WA’s total annual emissions. As one of the largest exporters of LNG in the world and the only state in Australia with rising emissions, WA’s inaction will very literally have global implications.

“Just last night the IPCC released their 6th Assessment Report and it’s unequivocal: the climate delay and ‘smouldering dumpster fire of business as usual’ that governments like the McGowan and Morrison ones insist on is going to cost billions of people a livable future. This is far greater than politics now; our actions in the next 8 years will impact generations.

“From flooding in Queensland and New South Wales to heatwaves and bushfires in WA, the catastrophic effects of climate change are playing out in our backyards right now. 

“If we want any chance of mitigating the worst of climate change, we need to put an end to the influence that gas companies like Chevron and Woodside have had in our communities and politics for too long.

“We have all the technologies we need to address climate change, we just need different politicians. I want to be a part of the generation that acted for future generations while we still could, don’t you?

More than 35 allied health students each year will undertake placements and hands-on training in Katherine health clinics thanks to a grant from the Federal Coalition Government.

The new program will increase local access to occupational therapists, speech pathologists and social workers for patients in Katherine.

In addition to providing around 260 weeks of new placement opportunities for 36 students each year, three additional allied health clinicians and an Aboriginal allied health assistant will be employed.

Flinders University Northern Territory will receive $1.9 million in Federal funding from the Coalition Government for the Katherine Regional Collaborative Allied Health Placement Program.

Regional Health Minister, Dr David Gillespie visited the site today to meet local staff and make the announcement, that will help to improve the recruitment and retention of local allied health professionals.

“There is growing evidence that students who have a positive and rewarding extended training experience in a rural or remote area are more likely to take up rural practice upon graduation, which is what this site will help to provide for students,” Dr Gillespie said.

“A focus of the new allied health placement program will be to increase placement numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students undertaking their training in Katherine.”

Dr Gillespie said the project had strong local support. It is a partnership with Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA) and two Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) — Wurli-Wurlinjang and the Katherine West Health Board (KWHB).

Dr Gillespie said the partnership with Wurli-Wurlinjang will enable the employment of speech pathology and occupational therapy supervisors to support allied health students at its clinics.

Allied Health supervisors will be employed through Flinders University to supervise final-year allied health students within local health services.

The Aboriginal allied health assistant will be employed full-time to support the students and supervisors, and assist the team to work with local schools, families, community, and the health service to improve engagement, coordination and integrated care.

The site will also support the development of a Katherine-located IAHA Health Academy, mirroring its successful Darwin model.

It will also provide a scholarship for one allied health assistant traineeship, supported through the Academy and embedded into Wurli-Wurlinjang.

The partnership with KWHB will enable a part-time social work supervisor to be employed to join the social work team. Social work students will work under supervision as part of the team.

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students will be a priority and they will be guided by IAHA, which will mentor and support both supervisors and students on placement,” Dr Gillespie said.

“The local Katherine economy will get a boost too because along with the employment of more staff and the increase in students on placement, Flinders NT will purchase additional student accommodation and an 8-seater vehicle to transport students and supervision staff.”