Category: Australian News

An Albanese Labor Government, if elected, will develop and implement a whole of government Early Years Strategy.
Currently, the programs and funding that impact early childhood development are scattered throughout departments – including Education, Social Services, Health, and the National Indigenous Australians Agency.
Without a coordinated approach across government, there is a lack of ultimate responsibility and accountability for the wellbeing, education and development of Australia’s children.
This issue has been exacerbated under the Morrison Government, with a Prime Minister and Minister who take little interest in the early childhood education space.
Labor’s Early Years Strategy will create a new integrated, holistic, whole of government approach to the early years.
It will examine the range of programs and funding delivered across the Commonwealth Government that directly impact on early childhood development.
The strategy will identify ways to reduce program and funding silos across departments, better integrate and coordinate functions and activities across government, and target outcomes to deliver better outcomes for young Australians and their families.
It will develop a programme of action which will set out the policies, initiatives and plans to help achieve the vision and outcomes.
The development of the strategy will be led by a steering committee, with senior representatives from the relevant line departments, as well as Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Other governments have adopted similar whole of government strategies, including in New Zealand, and almost all State and Territories.
This commitment builds on Labor’s existing commitments to:-

• Introduce our Cheaper Child Care for Working Families plan, which will make child care cheaper for 97 per cent of families in the system;
• Task the Productivity Commission to review the early learning sector, with the aim to implement a universal 90 per cent Child Care Subsidy for all families;
• Task the ACCC with designing a price regulation mechanism to drive down child care costs for good; and
• Improve transparency in the child care sector, by forcing large providers to publicly report revenue and profit, provide real time fee data and quality ratings to families, and ban non-educational enrolment inducements.

An Albanese Labor Government is committed to delivering a better future for Australian families and children.

National Cabinet met today to discuss Australia’s COVID-19 response, recent outbreaks of COVID-19 and the Australian COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly provided an update on the current COVID-19 situation and health response across Australia including new principles for test, trace, isolate and quarantine as well as public health and safety measures.
Since the beginning of the pandemic there have been 177,393 confirmed cases in Australia and, sadly, 1,795 people have died. More than 44 million tests have been undertaken. Testing has increased nationally over recent days with 1,088,293 tests reported in the past 7 days.
Globally there have been over 248 million cases and sadly over 5 million deaths, with 502,386 new cases and 7,801 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge in many countries around the world.
Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine roll out continues to expand. To date 36.4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Australia, including a record 181,833 doses in the previous 24 hours.
In the previous 7 days, more than 1.1 million vaccines have been administered in Australia. More than 89 per cent of the Australian population aged 16 years and over have now had a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, including over 95 per cent of over 50 year olds and more than 99 per cent of over 70 year olds.
More than 79 per cent of Australians aged 16 years and over are now fully vaccinated, including more than 87 per cent of over 50 year olds and more than 92 per cent of Australians over 70 years of age.
Lieutenant General John Frewen, DSC, AM, Coordinator General of the National COVID Vaccine Taskforce (Operation COVID Shield) also reported on work underway to support a higher level of vaccination uptake amongst Indigenous Australians. All leaders reiterated the importance of Australians, especially those in vulnerable groups, to get two doses of a COVID-19 vaccination.
Lt General Frewen, Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly and Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Health Professor Brendan Murphy also provided an update on boosters and third dose vaccinations.
National Cabinet and the National Federation Reform Council agreed to meet next on Friday 10 December.
Vaccination and Booster Plans
National Cabinet discussed the roll out of the booster program following approvals by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and Australian Technology Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) supporting COVID-19 boosters for Australians aged 18 and over who have received two doses at least six months ago.
The booster program has commenced for immunocompromised Australians and high priority groups. Already around 150,000 third doses have been administered. The booster program will open more broadly on 8 November 2021.
The booster roll out will continue to utilise the existing vaccination infrastructure with around 10,000 general practices and pharmacies, augmented by in-reach services and state clinics across Australia. Commonwealth funding under the vaccine schedule of the National Partnership on COVID-19 Response will continue.
Lt General Frewen provided an update on plans to accelerate the roll out for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across all jurisdictions in order to deliver vaccinations in partnership with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) and relevant jurisdictions. With supplies available, there are significant opportunities available to be vaccinated across urban, rural, remote and very remote areas. Hesitancy continues to be a factor in low uptake, with all jurisdictions introducing measures to reduce hesitancy.
National Cabinet received advice from the Chief Medical Officer on emerging scientific evidence of the benefits of vaccinating for 5-11 year olds. A vaccination program for children aged 5-11 years will be implemented, if supported by upcoming regulatory decisions from the TGA and advice from ATAGI.
Ensuring COVID-19 Outbreak Readiness for Indigenous Communities
National Cabinet noted the risks of COVID-19 outbreaks for Indigenous communities from the easing restrictions in Phases B and C of the National Plan to transition Australia’s National COVID-19 Response, particularly where vaccination rates are lower, including in regional and remote communities.
National Cabinet noted recent developments provided an opportunity to update existing outbreak preparedness plans, including revised Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) National Guidance for remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities for COVID-19, due to be updated in early November; revised Doherty modelling of outbreak scenarios which take higher vaccination rates into account; and learnings from recent outbreaks.
National Cabinet agreed that the Commonwealth and all jurisdictions will update outbreak management plans, in partnership with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community sector, and ensure that Emergency Management Australia (EMA) is consulted in the updated planning, and that plans include timely requests for support through EMA where needed, particularly to support localised vaccine acceleration and/or establishing quarantine facilities.
The Commonwealth and all jurisdictions will return to National Cabinet in December with updated outbreak management plans for final agreement.
National Plan to Transition Australia’s COVID-19 Response
National Cabinet received its final update from Professor Jodie McVernon from the Doherty Institute on the second phase of modelling work under the National Plan to transition Australia’s National COVID-19 Response.
National Cabinet noted that this modelling, which incorporates updated parameters and recent evidence, confirms that Doherty’s previous findings regarding the thresholds for moving to Phases B and C of the National Plan remain robust.
The modelling also confirmed the importance of high vaccine coverage in the Australian population, combined with public health strategies. Streamlined public health responses, such as testing and isolating only close contacts, combined with high vaccination rates, can also reduce transmission risks. It also finds shorter periods of quarantine below 14 days may be effective for vaccinated people testing positive.
Doherty found that localised health strategies may be required with high case numbers and for key high risk groups, areas and settings, including Indigenous communities and in schools.
The modelling found that cases resulting from international arrivals would be manageable once 80 per cent or more of the eligible Australian population is fully vaccinated.
Doherty found that surveillance in high risk areas to identify outbreaks early and contact management can reduce infections, keep schools open and minimise disruptions to face-to-face learning.
The Doherty Institute, in consultation with the CDNA and the AHPPC, identified strategies to streamline and focus test, trace, isolate and quarantine responses as jurisdictions move into Phases B and C of the National Plan in the context of increasing caseloads, the current Delta strain and high vaccine coverage.
National Cabinet thanked the Doherty Institute and Professor McVernon for their work which has informed the development and implementation of the National Plan.
The Taskforce summary of these findings is attached and will be available on www.pmc.gov.au. Detailed modelling reports will be released by The Doherty Institute over the coming days.
Living with COVID-19 – Revised Test, Trace, Isolate and Quarantine (TTIQ) and Public Health and Social Measures (PHSMs)
National Cabinet received updated advice from AHPPC on test, trace, isolate and quarantine (TTIQ) measures and public health and social measures (PHSMs) in place during the transition to living with COVID-19.
National Cabinet agreed to the AHPPC principles of test, trace, isolate and quarantine (TTIQ) applicable from Phase B of the National Plan, and the AHPPC principles to guide the application of public health and social measures (PHSM) appropriate to maintain disease control.
National Cabinet further agreed to adopt the baseline PHSM with the implementation of Phase C of the National Plan, with flexibility to apply variable PHSM in communities with less than 80 per cent vaccination coverage, and as required by specific epidemiological circumstances.
National Cabinet also agreed, from Phase C, to adopt a risk-based approach to changes to quarantine arrangements for contacts, including differential arrangements for fully vaccinated close contacts.
For vaccinated primary close contacts:

• Jurisdictions to adopt an appropriate testing regime
• Jurisdictions to consider risk-based quarantine arrangements for fully vaccinated primary contacts, including no quarantine or minimal quarantine for up to 7 days
• Casual contacts, where identified, required only to seek testing and isolate if experiencing symptoms, and avoid high risk settings until a negative result
• Unvaccinated close contacts quarantining for 14 days

The National Coordinating Mechanism will develop and communicate TTIQ approaches to maintain operation of key sectors of the economy (including food distribution) in high-case scenarios, in consultation with relevant government and non-government bodies.
National Cabinet further agreed that the Commonwealth Department of Health with the AHPPC will develop a nationally consistent framework for the use of Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT), including recommended cadence for screening and outbreak management, protocols for management of positive RAT and advice on high risk settings and prevalence.
National Cabinet further noted the Second Review of Quarantine Arrangements in Australia and thanked Ms Jane Halton AO PSM on the recommendations which align with the phases in the National Plan to transition Australia’s National COVID-19 Response.
Living with COVID-19 – Health System Capacity
National Cabinet received an update on progress being made by all jurisdictions on enhancing health system capacity planning under the various phases of the National Plan to Transition Australia’s National COVID-19 response.
All states and territories have confirmed that each has sufficient health system capacity to transition to living with COVID-19 and under different levels of community transmission.
National Cabinet agreed to release updated Doherty Institute modelling in coming days on health system capacities at living with COVID and surge capacity at different levels of community transmission.
National Cabinet noted the Commonwealth’s additional support for the health sector during the transition to living with COVID, including primary health care support, the minimum funding guarantee for hospitals continuing through 2021-22, the extension of COVID-19 AUSMAT Support for Vulnerable Australian Communities and support to facilitating overseas health practitioner migration.
National Cabinet agreed to release a revised Common Operating Picture including revised metrics for health system capacity.
National Cabinet endorsed the AHPPC papers on vaccinations of home care and disability care workers.
Borders and International Travel
National Cabinet noted the successful reopening of international borders with no quarantine into New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria for fully vaccinated international arrivals. Since the last National Cabinet:

• Commonwealth has set new caps for vaccinated and unvaccinated inbound arrivals
• One way travel bubble has reopened with New Zealand
• Removal of restrictions on outbound travel for fully vaccinated Australians
• Quarantine free travel into NSW, Victoria and ACT for fully vaccinated international arrivals, including Australians, permanent residents, immediate family, parents and exempt foreigners visa holders. Already around 7,000 fully vaccinated travellers have arrived through Sydney and Melbourne Airports
• Commencement of Pacific Pathways Plan for workers from COVID free Pacific countries
• Extension of travel exemptions for inbound travel for parents of Australians
• Singapore two way travel bubble for Singaporean Nationals will commence on 21 November

National Cabinet also noted a paper on international cruise ship reopening.
National Cabinet noted that states and territories will control the recommencement of cruises in each jurisdiction when the Commonwealth Minister for Health and Aged Care has revoked the BioSecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency)(Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential)(Emergency Requirements for Cruise Ships).
High Risk Weather Events
National Cabinet received a briefing from Emergency Management Australia on the 2021-22 High Risk Weather Season, and noted that a La Niña watch has been issued in 2021.

The Morrison Government is supporting nine Australian researchers with almost $62 million to improve the health and wellbeing of Australians by accelerating research knowledge and outcomes into health care and practice.
Funded through the Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), the 2020 Rapid Applied Research Translation (RART) Grant Opportunity is investing $216 million over 10 years and focuses on turning research findings into real health benefits that help Australian patients.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said Australia continues to be a global leader in health and medical research, which will help us improve and save lives.
“These research projects range from helping the youngest to the oldest Australians, in the biggest cities to our smallest and most remote communities,” Minister Hunt said.
“Our Government continues to provide unprecedented support to health and medical research, as we back our best and brightest researchers to transform today’s ideas into breakthrough treatments for the patients of tomorrow.”
The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health will receive $9.9 million to lead work to improve the lives of young people who have a stroke, who are often misdiagnosed and underserved in the current health system.
Led by Professor Julie Bernhardt, the team is developing an innovative digital service for this group to overcome geographic barriers and respond to the user’s needs. It will foster the individual’s ability to take control, engage in and direct their long-term care by helping them with communication and cognitive challenges.
This work has the potential to improve lives and reduce the burden of strokes on young people, their families and carers, and on the Australian community.
Additionally, Western Alliance Health Research (WAHR) will receive $9 million to deliver better health care at home for older people living in regional and rural Australia.
Minister for Regional Health, Dr David Gillespie, said the WAHR project would help to improve health outcomes for elderly Australians in regional, rural and remote areas.
“Offering more support and health care to aging Australians in their own home, means they’re able to comfortably and safely stay at home longer without the need to re-locate into a care facility,” Dr Gillespie said.
“Working initially in Western Victoria, the researchers are identifying the key challenges to providing health care at home and testing new ways to deliver part of that care virtually. They’ll find local solutions and develop a blueprint to scale it nationally.”
The Morrison Government’s $20 billion MRFF, is a long-term, sustainable investment in Australian health and medical research, helping to improve lives, build the economy and contribute to the sustainability of the health system.
Further information about the Medical Research Future Fund is available at www.health.gov.au/mrff
2020 Rapid Applied Research Translation

The Greens say today’s report that more than 98% of the Great Barrier Reef’s coral reefs have suffered bleaching is a damning indictment of the Morrison Government’s climate inaction and exposes the sickening cynicism of its campaign to keep the Reef off UNESCO’s “in danger” list earlier this year.
Greens deputy leader and Queensland Senator Larissa Waters said:
“Climate change and pollution have already killed off half of the Great Barrier Reef’s coral cover, endangering this precious natural asset and the 60,000 jobs that rely on it.
“Today’s report from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies now reveals that only 2% of the Reef has escaped bleaching – and this is in the same week that the PM went to an international climate summit to flog fossil fuels on behalf of his donors.
“Morrison’s climate policies, enabled by Labor’s bipartisan support for public subsidising of new coal and gas, are cooking the Reef and our future.
“The commitments given at Glasgow give the world a fifty-fifty shot at limiting global heating to two degrees, but that would be catastrophic for the Reef. At two degrees we would lose 99% of coral reefs worldwide; even at 1.5 degrees we would lose 90%.
“If the PM really wants to keep the Reef off the ‘in danger’ list when the World Heritage Committee convenes in Russia next year, he should shut his door to fossil fuel lobbyists and adopt ambitious and science-based 2030 targets to constrain the climate crisis.”
Greens spokesperson for Healthy Oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said:
“Report after report continues to paint the most tragic and bleak picture for the Great Barrier Reef unless radical climate action is taken immediately.
“The high-profile Great Barrier Reef is a barometer for the declining health of marine ecosystems everywhere.
‘While the Great Barrier Reef deserves the world’s attention and significant funding for its restoration, Australia’s Great Southern Reef system also suffers yet goes largely unnoticed.
“This massive temperate-water reef system, similar in size and significance to its northern sister, connects much of Southern Australia including Tasmania and has also suffered devastating impacts from warming oceans.
“Tasmania’s giant kelp forests were listed as endangered under EPBC laws a decade ago, yet have now largely vanished. The government still hasn’t produced a recovery plan for this critical habitat, indeed it receives virtually no federal research or adaptation funding.
“Signs of the climate emergency are everywhere along Australia’s coastlines, and we now have our eyes wide open to this belligerent government who refuse to take necessary climate action.”

The Australian Government is supporting the states and territories to increase the capacity of the health system, as the country enters the next phase of the National Plan to re-open and live with COVID-19.
In total, the Government has committed more than $32 billion in additional health expenditure in response to COVID-19.
To further support the states and territories, the Government will extend the Minimum Hospital Funding Guarantee for an additional year (to 30 June 2022) in recognition that COVID-19 is still having a significant impact on public hospitals, particularly in New South Wales and Victoria.
The funding contribution for public hospitals services in all states and territories under the National Health Reform Agreement (NHRA) has grown substantially, from $13.3 billion in 2012–13 to $25.5 billion in 2019–20, a 92% increase. Over this same period, state and territory funding for their own hospitals has only recorded 44% growth.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt said “The extension will provide security of funding for our critical public hospitals while the National Plan is implemented.”
“Australian’s can rest assured, they have access to a world class health system whenever and wherever they need it,” Minister Hunt said. “As restrictions are easing around Australia, particularly in areas which have experienced outbreaks of the Delta variant of COVID-19 in 2021, many hospitals are returning their focus on the jobs they do so well, emergency care, cancer care, elective surgery and all the critical services which have been less of a priority during the pandemic.”
The 2019–20 minimum hospital funding guarantee delivered a $532 million increase to the states’ 2019–20 National Health Reform Agreement entitlements.
Regional Health Minister, Dr David Gillespie said the Government will facilitate the migration of health practitioners with confirmed employment in the state and territory health system, including in regional areas, through above-cap places on commercial flights to boost the health workforce.
“The Government is investing a further $8 million to extend support to AUSMAT, for its domestic deployment capacity to support remote and vulnerable communities facing future COVID-19 outbreaks,” Dr Gillespie said.
“AUSMAT’s deployment to western and far western New South Wales earlier this year improved access to health care and vaccines for local communities during outbreaks.”
To support senior Australians move from hospital into their homes or residential aged care more quickly, the Government is providing $16.6 million funding for an extra 357 temporary Transition Care Programme places.
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck said, “The additional capacity will help an additional 1,000 senior Australians to access transition care between now and 30 June 2022.”
“The Transition Care Programme provides up to 12 weeks of short-term post-hospital restorative care for senior Australians, providing services such as allied health and nursing support to enable people to return to their own homes or an aged care home, or a mix of both, rather than having to remain in hospital,” Minister Colbeck said.
Specifically, the Northern Territory will also receive 10 new permanent Transition Care places with an annual investment of more than $780,000 from the Australian Government, to support more than 40 additional senior Territorians each year.
These announcements build on the significant funding of more than $180 million already announced to support the primary care health sector that includes:

• National COVID Triage, Management and Escalation Infrastructure: readying the national health call centre Healthdirect to connect COVID-positive people who receive a positive COVID-19 laboratory test result are contacted as early as possible and connected to the right level of care and support.
• COVID Community Care Pathways: providing clear plans on where and how COVID positive people will be managed through primary and community care services, and when care needs to be delivered through hospitals.
• Additional MBS item for general practitioners: providing a rebate of $25 which can be claimed in addition to existing general consultation items, to support face-face care of COVID-19 positive patients.
• Home visits for patients recovering at home: commissioning home visits by practice nurses, nurse practitioners and medical deputising services for patients requiring home visits or after hours services while under GP management with a particular focus on regional and rural areas.
• National Medical Stockpile supplies to support primary health care: procuring supplies of pulse oximeters and strengthening distribution arrangements for personal protective equipment (PPE) to general practice and other primary health care settings seeing COVID-positive people, with particular emphasis on strengthening the supply chain for rural and remote practices.
• General Practice Respiratory Clinics (GPRCs): Extending the reach and the role of our network of GPRCs so that COVID-positive people without an available usual GP, or where access to GPs is limited, have a general practice that they can safely attend for assessment and management rather than presenting at an emergency department in non-urgent circumstances.
• COVID-19 Management Guidelines: the RACGP is urgently updating its COVID-19 Management Guidelines for GPs to include treatment of COVID positive patients with moderate symptoms and to support care for COVID-19 positive people at home.
• Continued dispensing arrangements: extending the temporary Continued Dispensing (Emergency Measures) for the dispensing of medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) until 30 June 2022.

Combined, these measures further support the continued implementation of the National Plan and deliver on the Government’s commitment to a timely and safe re-opening of Australia.

The Morrison Government will invest more than $780,000 for 10 new permanent transition care places to better cater to the needs of senior and vulnerable Territorians.
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck, and Senator for the Northern Territory, Dr Sam McMahon said the additional places, made available through the Government’s Transitional Care Program offered peace-of-mind for those seeking care and their families.
“The Northern Territory is a small, remote jurisdiction, and the new places recognise the challenges this brings by helping more than 40 additional people to access transition care every year,” Minister Colbeck said.
“These additional transition care places are also expected to ease some of the current capacity pressure being experienced by Royal Darwin Palmerston Hospital.”
Minister Colbeck said the Transition Care Program provides vital restorative care for senior Australians after hospitalisation.
The additional places mean more people can be discharged from hospital and receive transition care in their own home an aged care home, or a mix of both, rather than remaining in hospital.
Senator McMahon said the permanent care place would offer recipients services such as allied health and nursing support to enable people to return to their own homes, where possible.
“Navigating the care needs of seniors can be extremely challenging but these additional places will ensure the health and wellbeing of older Territorians remains a priority,” Dr McMahon said.
“It is reassuring for families knowing their loved one may be able to return to their own homes or aged care homes after a hospital stay.”

The Morrison Government has opened a $20 million grant program for home care providers to increase and report on the vaccination rate of their workforce.
More than 175,000 senior Australians are on a home care package with the services they receive provided by around 116,000 home care workers.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said the grants would give home care providers extra assistance to ensure the safety of their clients.
The approval of the program follows today’s meeting of National Cabinet which continues to act on the advice of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee.
“Although we are seeing a great take up of the vaccination in older Australians, with almost 92 per cent of people over 70 having received two doses, it is imperative this workforce is vaccinated to minimise the risk of COVID-19 entering the homes of vulnerable seniors,” Minister Hunt said.
While COVID-19 vaccination is not a mandatory requirement nationally for in-home and community aged care workers, the Government expects to receive advice soon from the medical experts of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) about whether it should be a prerequisite of employment across Australia.
COVID-19 vaccination is a mandatory requirement for this workforce in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, and Victoria.
Western Australia has announced requirements for COVID-19 vaccination for a range of occupations and workforces in the state, including in-home and community aged care workers.
“Irrespective of the advice from the AHPPC, I urge workers to take up vaccination now to protect themselves, their families and the people in their care,” Minister Hunt said.
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Senator Richard Colbeck, said the vaccination status of the workforce was continuing to grow.
“As at 4 November, home care providers reported 85 per cent of home care workers had received a first dose and 69.5 per cent a second dose,” Minister Colbeck said.
“These grants – up to $48,000 – will help approved providers support their workforce to get vaccinated. It will also assist with mandatory reporting of the vaccination status of their workforce on the My Aged Care Portal, which came into effect in July.”
The Department of Health is working closely with all providers to ensure workforce COVID-19 vaccination reporting is up to date and accurate.
“Good data will help us support public health measures and inform any adjustments we need to make to better support vaccinations for workers,” Minister Hunt said.
In-home and community aged care workers have had priority access to COVID-19 vaccination since March 2021.
Dedicated vaccination hubs initially opened to residential aged care and disability workers are now available to in-home and community aged care workers.
GPs, pharmacies and government vaccination clinics have also been asked to support in-home and community aged care workers with appointments within 7 days
Providers can use the grants announced today to cover costs incurred from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022. This is in addition to existing financial support for aged care providers directly impacted by COVID-19.
Applications open on 5 November. Further details are available on GrantConnect.
This funding builds on $13.8 million that was recently made available to support Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) providers increase and report on the vaccination rate of their workforce, as part of the CHSP COVID-19 emergency funding grant opportunity.
This funding can assist CHSP providers to meet the costs associated with staff taking leave to attend a vaccination clinic, activities that encourage staff to get vaccinated and the collection and reporting of the vaccination status of workers.
Applications are available on GrantConnect and also close on 30 June 2022.

The final tunnelling breakthrough on the M4-M5 Link Tunnels has been completed, marking a major construction milestone in Australia’s largest road infrastructure project.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the $16.8 billion project was cutting travel times and supporting thousands of families with work as Sydney and Australia were reopening from COVID lockdowns.
“This breakthrough isn’t just for a tunnel, but it’s a breakthrough for getting people home sooner and safer and helping workers to move around,” the Prime Minister said.
“As well as the 9,000 jobs this project has been delivering, the tunnel is going to make it easier for people across Sydney to pick up work and jobs that just wouldn’t have been possible before with traffic.
“As we reopen Sydney and Australia, projects like this bypass and our record $110 billion infrastructure investment are going to give our economy even more of a boost.”
New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet said the third stage of WestConnex is now another step closer to forming a western bypass of the Sydney CBD.
“This project will change the lives of thousands of people, bypassing dozens of sets of traffic lights and allowing an uninterrupted drive from the Blue Mountains to the city,” the Premier said.
“As part of the New South Wales Government’s record $108.5 billion investment pipeline, WestConnex is already easing congestion, creating jobs and connecting communities, right across our city.
“Our Government has its eye to the future and this breakthrough will complete a ‘missing link’ between the new M4 Tunnels at Haberfield and the M8 at St Peters.”
Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher said the Commonwealth Government had co-funded WestConnex from the outset with a grant of $1.5 billion and a concessional loan of $2 billion.
“This is a major milestone in what is one of the most significant road infrastructure projects in the country, which is already delivering major benefits for Sydney commuters by reducing travel times, easing congestion and improving safety,” Minister Fletcher said.
“When opened to traffic in 2023, the M4-M5 Link Tunnels and Rozelle Interchange will complete the WestConnex project, providing improved links between key employment hubs and local communities.”
NSW Minister for Transport and Roads Rob Stokes said 22 of the 33 kilometres of WestConnex would be underground, including the 7.5 kilometres that make up the M4-M5 Link Tunnels.
“This final breakthrough means both the north and southbound tunnels are connected for the first time, with roadheaders carving out the rock 43 metres below ground at Leichhardt,” Minister Stokes said.
“The milestone is an enormous credit to every one of the 9,000 workers and sub-contractors who’ve worked on the project, ensuring construction continues safely.
“The M4-M5 Link Tunnels will remove tens of thousands of vehicles from surrounding streets, including Parramatta Road, and will help slash up to 40 minutes from an average peak journey between Parramatta and the Sydney Airport.”
Transurban CEO Scott Charlton said drivers are already enjoying the benefits of WestConnex, with close to 150 million trips made on the first two stages in the last financial year.
“The New M4 Tunnels and M8 have been transformative for Sydney, by easing traffic congestion and improving liveability for local communities,” Mr Charlton said.

The Greens have slammed the PM’s refusal to sign the EU and US global methane pledge, after it was announced this morning that over 100 countries have now become signatories.
It is appalling that Labor is also refusing to back the pledge.
The pledge commits to reducing global methane emissions by 30% on 2020 levels by 2030 and would significantly reduce warming.
Continuing to run a protection racket for coal and gas projects and their methane emissions, Scott Morrison, Barnaby Joyce and Labor have collaborated to frame methane emission reduction as an attack on agriculture, despite the numbers indicating we could meet the 30% reduction by acting on coal and gas emissions by 2030 and without touching a single cow. Further, the final wording of the pledge does not even require each country to cut by 30%.
The fastest growing source of Australia’s emissions is the gas industry.
Meat and Livestock Australia, the peak body for the cattle industry, has already committed to net-zero by 2030 and agriculture emissions are already declining.
With the world’s first (Brazil) and third (United States) largest beef exporters now both signatories to the pledge, it is clear Australia’s recalcitrance has nothing to do with the cattle industry and everything to do with the coal and gas corporations’ donations to Liberal and Labor.
Australian Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP said:
“The world knows that the quickest way to help stop global warming is to cut methane, but Liberal and Labor want more coal and gas.”
“Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce have whipped up a fact-free frenzy about farmers, pretending this pledge would somehow hurt agriculture. But this isn’t about protecting farmers, it’s about protecting fracking.
“Australia could join the rest of the world and sign this methane pledge without touching a single cow.
“Our leaders are lying to farmers, just like they lie to coal and gas workers, just like they lie in diplomatic relations. This isn’t leadership, it’s a failure of leadership.
“Farmers are at risk from more severe droughts because Liberal and Labor are taking donations from big coal and gas corporations, choosing coal over crops.”

Scott Morrison has departed Glasgow after committing Australia to the international consortium of climate sabotage alongside Russia and Saudi Arabia.
​​In a major announcement, more than 40 countries have agreed to phase out coal-fired power, but Australia has refused to sign on, with Liberal and Labor instead wanting more coal and gas.
As global momentum grows to match commitments with the goals of the Paris agreement, Australia is running a protection racket for coal and gas through accounting tricks, “non binding targets”, interference and delay tactics.
The International Energy Agency said earlier this year there must be no new coal, oil or gas projects if the global energy sector is to reach the 1.5 degree temperature goal of the Paris Agreement and help avoid catastrophic climate change.
In stark contrast with this advice, in Australia there are 72 new coal projects and 44 new gas projects in the investment pipeline. According to research from the Australia Institute, these 116 projects would push up global emissions by nearly 1.7 billion tons a year if they were to all proceed, more than three times Australia’s domestic emissions today.
To ensure the fossil fuel industry continues long into the future, Labor supported the Coalition in a vote to allow Export Finance Australia to invest in fossil fuel projects, in contrast to the new pledge to end public financing of fossil fuels in Glasgow.
Australian Greens leader Adam Bandt MP said:
“This government is completely committed to climate sabotage, aligning themselves with Russia and Saudi Arabia.
“Scott Morrison says we won’t fix global warming without China, but then refuses to work with the US and UK to get China in the tent.
“In the middle of a climate crisis, Liberal and Labor want more coal and gas.
“This year alone we’ve seen nine new coal mines and coal mine extensions approved. Empire Energy is about to frack the NT Beetaloo Basin, Woodside will deepwater drill off the West Australian coast, and Santos will open up a coal seam gas field in Narrabri.
“Nothing tells the story of Liberal and Labor’s climate sabotage like the 116 fossil fuel projects in the pipeline. They’ve got no plans to quit coal, no plans to quit gas, and no plan for climate action.”