Category: Australian News

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 has accepted all 38 recommendations from a review into COVID-19 outbreaks in residential aged care facilities.
The Independent Review of COVID-19 Outbreaks in Australian Residential Aged Care Facilities, will underpin continued improvements as the Government and aged care sector prioritise the health and wellbeing of senior Australians in care.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, and Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck said the review was an important blueprint as we navigate the ongoing impact of the pandemic.
“It has been an extremely challenging time for all of us, but particularly senior and vulnerable Australians and those who care for them,” Minister Hunt said.
“The review’s 38 recommendations will help aged care facility administrators better prepare for and respond to future COVID-19 outbreaks and will assist the Government in monitoring and evaluating these measures.”
Minister Colbeck said the review was already guiding measures for the protection of aged care residents and workers in the current New South Wales, Victoria and ACT outbreaks.
“Importantly, the findings show that while community transmission is the biggest predictor of COVID‑19 outbreaks in aged care settings, effective leadership at all levels is the most critical factor in defending against the virus,” Minister Colbeck said.
He said the information in the report will also provide input and guidance into the principals required as we move towards living with COVID-19 in residential aged care.
The report outlines nine key lines of defence to minimise risk of COVID-19 outbreaks:

• Built environment and infrastructure;
• Clinical care;
• Effective interagency communication;
• Emergency response;
• Infection prevention and control;
• Leadership, management and governance;
• Planning and preparation;
• Preventing social isolation; and
• Workforce and staff mental health.

The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) and its Aged Care Advisory Group have considered the recommendations.
Minister Hunt said the Government will continue to adapt the way it prepares for and responds to an outbreak, based on what has been learned.
“This will be done in collaboration with the aged care sector, state and territory governments and health authorities,” Minister Hunt said.
“It will also be important that, as the community transitions to living with COVID, we continue with critical strategies such as vaccinations and testing, so that aged care residents and staff are protected.”
Minister Colbeck said since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Morrison Government has committed over $2.1 billion in funding for aged care COVID support.
“We have listened to the experiences and stories of those living, working and caring in the aged care sector throughout the pandemic,” Minister Colbeck said.  “We are committed to improving our preparation for and response to outbreaks, and better supporting our most vulnerable Australians.”
The Ministers thanked the authors of the review and the residents, families, friends, carers, providers and workers who contributed to this and the previous four independent reviews.
The full report can be found here.
Please note that the release of the report may be confronting for anyone affected by the impact of the pandemic on Australia’s aged care sector. The following support is available:

• The Older Persons Advocacy Network can be reached on 1800 700 600
• The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement can be reached on 1800 22 22 00
• The Essential Network for health professionals– a website and mobile app by the Black Dog Institute available at blackdoginstitute.org.au/ten or via the Google Play and Apple Store
• Smiling Mind – a mobile application with practical tools to support good mental health during challenging times, available via the Google Play and Apple Store.

Aged care workers can also access mental health support available to all Australians including:

• Beyond Blue Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service can be reached on 1800 512 348 or at coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au.
• Lifeline can be reached on 13 11 14
• Head to Health provides access to free and low cost digital and phone mental health services and supports, available at headtohealth.gov.au

The strategic founder of Australia’s National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre (NCCTRC), Professor Leonard Notaras AO, has been appointed Chair of the World Health Organization’s Emergency Medical Team (EMT) Strategic Advisory Group (SAG).
Professor Notaras has a long history in disaster response having coordinated the Royal Darwin Hospital response to the 2002 and 2005 Bali bombings, along with events at Ashmore Reef in 2009.
Professor Notaras AO currently serves as the Executive Director of the NCCTRC and has been a staunch supporter of the EMT Initiative and its network since it began in 2014.
The Australian Government provides annual funding to the NCCTRC since its inception in 2005, with the current National Partnership Agreement with the Northern Territory providing $67.6 million from 2019-2023. Its role, out of Darwin, Northern Territory, includes coordinating and deploying the AUSMAT (Australian Medical Assistance Team) capability, as well as providing extensive training and research opportunities in response to major national and international disasters.
AUSMATs have been deployed internationally for more than a decade, providing medical response following major disasters and health crises.
More recently AUSMATs have been deployed domestically, in particular to provide additional support to the states and territories during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the 2019–20 Black Summer bushfires.
Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt, said Professor Notras’ nomination and acceptance of the role was a testament to his storied career in the medical profession.
“The Australian Government nominated Professor Notaras for the position in recognition of his commitment and work in the EMT Initiative, a program endorsed by the Strategic Advisory Group and the World Health Organization,” Minister Hunt said.
“I am delighted that Professor Notaras will take up the 2-year appointment, advising on the strategic direction of the EMT Initiative, as well as continuing his vital work in his role with the NCCTRC.”
“The appointment of Professor Notaras as Chair also recognises the continued commitment from Australia to supporting the EMT Initiative. I commend him for his work and know he will serve Australia and the world well in this new position.”
Professor Notaras said he was honoured to have been nominated and appointed to the role, following in the footsteps of highly acclaimed World Health Organization Ambassador Toni Frisch.
“Ambassador Frisch played a critical role in guiding the EMT initiative and I am honoured that I have been appointed to steer this important work for the next two years,” Professor Notaras said.
“The EMT initiative plays an important role in the global health workforce and the COVID‑19 pandemic has demonstrated the value of continuing to ensure teams have training and equipment, are self-sufficient, credentialed and meet the necessary standards for emergency deployment.”
 

The Liberal and Nationals Government is helping refine the delivery of life-saving stem cell and bone marrow transplants for patients with blood or immune disorders, and those receiving chemotherapy or radiation treatment.
Haemopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) are self-renewing stem cells which can change and mature into all blood cell types. A HPC transplant regenerates bone marrow and blood-forming systems, potentially saving or extending the recipient’s life.
Federal Regional Health Minister, Dr David Gillespie said the new National HPC Framework spans Commonwealth and state and territory governments, delivering on a commitment to enhance future operations and management of the Australian HPC sector.
“This will set strong foundations for robust decision-making and future arrangements across the HPC sector, helping to guide clinicians, advocates and policy-makers,” Dr Gillespie said.
“We know that demand for transplants is increasing; in 1996–97 there were 237 donor searches, while in 2019–20 there were more than 900.
“Our Government is committed to improving access to HPC transplants for Australian patients, whether they have leukemia or other blood disorders, or are undergoing chemo or radiation therapy, which can damage their blood-forming system.”
Dr Gillespie said the principles within the framework cover important issues across the HPC sector including national consistency, governance and oversight, funding and sustainability, donor registration and retention, collection, searching and matching, and ethics and research.
The Framework was informed by a 2018 Review of the HPC sector in addition to targeted consultation. Its development has been a collaborative effort by all jurisdictions and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
A copy of the National HPC Framework is available on the Department of Health website.

Fresh from helping derail G20 climate commitments, Scott Morrison is now gearing up to be a climate action wrecker at Glasgow.
The Prime Minister’s world leader summit speech today and other interventions at the global climate summit, such as spruiking gas, have Australia promoting coal and gas at Glasgow while the rest of the world is trying to phase it out.
Alongside Russia and Saudi Arabia, Australia is continuing to play the role of global climate spoiler, undermining 2030 action to keep the world under 1.5 degrees of heating.
Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP said:
“Scott Morrison’s lying to the French about submarines and to the world about coal.
“Scott Morrison is sabotaging global climate action, undermining the G20 climate push and going to Glasgow with targets based on the planet warming by over 3 degrees.
“As the world’s scientists warn we could hit a dangerous 1.5 degrees of warming in a few short years, Scott Morrison is undermining the global push to get out of coal and gas.
“Like selling cigarettes at a cancer conference, Scott Morrison and Angus Taylor boast about spruiking gas in Glasgow. While everyone else is trying to get out of coal and gas, Scott Morrison wants more of it, pretending we can take climate action while opening up more coal and gas mines.
“While Boris Johnson warns of civilisation collapse, the Prime Minister is a modern day Nero saying ‘let it burn’.
“The house is burning and Scott Morrison is throwing petrol on the fire.
“As President Macron reminded us yesterday, the PM can’t be trusted.
“If Scott Morrison is really concerned about ‘developing countries’, he should heed the urgent calls from Pacific Island leaders and act to limit warming to 1.5 degrees, which means 2030 targets of 75% emissions reductions.
“The Greens have a plan for a science-based, legislated 75% climate pollution cut by 2030, net zero by 2035 and policies to shift Australia to 700% renewables.”

Australian Greens International Development spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has responded to Scott Morrison’s commitment to an additional $500 million in climate finance through to 2025.
Senator Faruqi said:
“This is a disappointing, measly commitment. Australia’s total commitment falls far short of the bare minimum $3 billion to 2025 that was called for by aid organisations ahead of Glasgow.
“Morrison is offering up scraps and hoping no one notices. But the reality is that Australia is again failing to pull its weight.
“The Morrison government is not paying our fair share of climate finance and refusing to commit to strong 2030 targets. This is just pathetic.
“Our Pacific neighbours haven’t forgotten that it was the Liberals who pulled out of the critical Green Climate Fund just a few short years ago.
“The Greens have pledged $4.5 billion in climate finance and reparations to 2025. Australia has played, and continues to play, a big role in fueling global heating. We must take responsibility for our contribution to the climate crisis and do more to support the Global South,” she said.

Scott Morrison has been caught lying in his speech to world leaders at Glasgow, deliberately misrepresenting Australia’s climate targets in his major official engagement at the climate summit.
In his speech, Scott Morrison falsely claimed that according to Australia’s official COP26 pledge, Australia emissions “will fall by 35% by 2030.” However, this is in direct contradiction to statements made in Australia and the emissions pledge formally lodged at the summit (Australia’s ‘NDC’), which have reaffirmed that Australia’s formal 2030 target continues to be Tony Abbott’s 26-28%, and the heavily-qualified NDC has reaffirmed only that projections show Australia “on track to reduce emissions by up to 35%”.
Under Scott Morrison, Australia is also siding with Russia and China to block global action on the climate crisis, refusing to phase out coal and gas, the leading causes of global heating.
By refusing to join other world leaders in signing up to pledges to phase out coal, gas and subsidies for polluting industries, Scott Morrison is sabotaging global climate action and securing his place in history as the Glasgow wrecker.
Australian Greens leader Adam Bandt MP said:
“Scott Morrison has just lied to the world about Australia’s climate targets.
”Knowing he’d be slammed for his woeful 2030 targets, Scott Morrison used his major summit speech to lie to world leaders.
“Scott Morrison’s formal written pledge to the climate summit says Australia only promises to cut pollution by a measly 26%, yet his speech said Australia ‘will’ cut pollution by 35%.
“Scott Morrison’s written pledge says one thing but his speech says another.
“Scott Morrison is sabotaging global climate action and lying to cover it up.
“Scott Morrison is lying about his ambition in Glasgow to avoid international scrutiny while working with Barnaby Joyce and his fossil fuel donors at home to ensure nothing changes over the critical next decade.
“Prince Charles is right that the world needs to be “warlike” to fight the climate crisis, but Scott Morrison wants Australia to take the coward’s way, helping the enemy by burning more coal and gas.
“Boris Johnson, President Biden and the world say no more coal and gas but Scott Morrison gives them the finger.
“Money won’t help a Pacific that is drowning because Scott Morrison and Labor want more coal and gas.”
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson for environment on the ground at Glasgow said:
“Today was the day world leaders were asked to increase ambition to cut pollution deeper and faster – but not Australia. Again, Australia was embarrassed on the world stage.
“Scott Morrison’s leader’s speech was underwhelming and cringeworthy. It was as if he resented even being here. He snarled at the world and lectured that Australia is already doing enough – when of course that is a lie.
“Mr Morrison has joined up with China and Russia to block global action on coal pollution. This sends a damaging message here at the summit that rather than helping, Mr Morrsion wants to wreck climate action.”

The Greens have today launched a Horse Racing Transition Plan to shut down commercial horse racing in Australia. After years of exposes on the cruelty of the horse racing industry, seven horses having died at the last eight Melbourne Cup races, and ongoing concerns about the power and influence of the gambling industry, the Greens say it is beyond time to shut this industry down.
A Horse Racing Transition Plan would be coordinated and managed through the establishment of a Horse Racing Transition Taskforce within the Commonwealth Government, and funded by a Horse Betting Levy that would finance transition activities as determined by the taskforce.
Horse Racing Transition Plan
A Horse Racing Transition Taskforce would be housed in the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment for a period of 4 years, costing $10.1 million over that period.
The taskforce would:

• Design and implement the national ban on horse racing
• Develop the plan to transition racing facilities to open green spaces
• Develop the plan for workers currently employed
• Assist in rehabilitation and rehoming of horses
• Design and implement a betting levy.

A Horse Betting Levy of 1% of betting turnover related to commercial horse racing would be introduced. Over its first two years, this levy is projected to raise $494 million, and would fund the activities decided by the taskforce, which could include retraining programs for workers, rehoming schemes for animals, and redeveloping racecourses. The levy could be increased or extended depending on the scope and direction of the taskforce’s work.
Both initiatives have been costed by the independent Parliamentary Budget Office.
Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Greens spokesperson for Animal Welfare said:
“Commercial horse racing is inhumane, deadly and incompatible with animal welfare. Like greyhound racing, this gambling-fuelled industry must be shut down.
“More and more people in the community are switching off from racing. Public interest in the Melbourne Cup has crashed in recent times, and more businesses are boycotting the event every year. A recent Lonergan poll found that a majority of people agree that racing animals like horses for gambling and entertainment is cruel.
“We have a huge opportunity here to shut down a cruel industry, deliver new jobs in regions and cities, and repurpose racetracks for community facilities and green spaces.
“With a publicly-funded transition taskforce and a betting levy, we can have the resources needed to ensure a smooth and sensitive transition away from commercial horse racing. “Horse racing kills. A horse dies every three days at a racetrack in Australia. No horse is safe at the Melbourne Cup or at any other race. It’s time to shut this industry down.”

From 1 November 2021, Australian men with prostate cancer will have access to a new medication at an affordable price, thanks to the Morrison Government.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in men in Australia and the third most common cause of cancer death. One in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer by the age of 85. It is more common in older men, with more than 63 per cent of cases diagnosed in men over 65 years of age.
It is estimated that around 18,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in Australia this year alone.
From tomorrow, as we mark the start of Movember, Nubeqa^® (darolutamide) will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for the first time for patients with non-metastatic castration resistant carcinoma of the prostate.
Prostate cancer that is no longer stopped by low testosterone levels is known as castration resistant. Castration-resistant prostate cancer is defined by a rising prostate specific antigen level, worsening symptoms and/or growing cancer verified by scans.
Without PBS subsidy, around 1,000 patients may pay more than $40,000 per year for treatment. Instead, they will pay a maximum of $41.30 per script or $6.60 with a concession card.
This PBS listing has been recommended by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.
Early detection and treatment can significantly improve prostate cancer survival. I encourage men over 50 to learn the symptoms of prostate cancer and if they have any concerns, talk to their GP.
Since 2013, the Coalition Government had approved more than 2,700 new or amended listings on the PBS. This represents an average of around 30 listings or amendments per month – or one each day – at an overall investment by the Government of $13.9 billion.
The Morrison Government’s commitment to ensuring Australians can access affordable medicines, when they need them, remains rock solid.