Category: Australian News

New South Wales:

General information about COVID-19 and the rules and restrictions currently in place for people in NSW.
COVID-19 information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Find out if you’re eligible and book your COVID test.
Walk-in clinics for the AstraZeneca vaccine.
NSW pharmacies participating in the vaccine rollout.
Locations for testing clinics in NSW.
Download the NSW services app to check-in across the state.
Information and resources about COVID-19 in your language.

Queensland:

General information about COVID-19 and the rules and restrictions currently in place for people in Queensland.
COVID-19 information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Places you can get a COVID-19 test.
Go here to find out if you’re eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, and register.
If you’re eligible here’s where you can book your vaccination.
Vaccination clinic locations.
Download the QLD COVID-19 check-in app.
Information and resources about COVID-19 in your language.

Australian Capital Territory:

General information about COVID-19 and the rules and restrictions currently in place for people in the ACT.
COVID-19 information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Places you can go to get a COVID-19 test.
Information about vaccine eligibility, registration and booking.
Download the ACT COVID-19 check-in app.
Information and resources about COVID-19 in your language.

Victoria:

General information about COVID-19 and the rules and restrictions currently in place for people in Victoria.
COVID-19 information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Places you can get a COVID-19 test.
Go here to find out if you’re eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, and register.
If you’re eligible here’s where you can book your vaccination.
Vaccination clinic locations.
Download the VIC COVID-19 check-in app.
Information and resources about COVID-19 in your language.

Western Australia:

General information about COVID-19 and the rules and restrictions currently in place for people in WA.
COVID-19 information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Places you can get a COVID-19 test.
Go here to find out if you’re eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, and register.
If you’re eligible here’s where you can book your vaccination.
Vaccination clinic locations.
Download the WA COVID-19 check-in app.
Information and resources about COVID-19 in your language.

Tasmania:

General information about COVID-19 and the rules and restrictions currently in place for people in Tasmania.
COVID-19 information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Places you can get a COVID-19 test.
Go here to find out if you’re eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, and register.
If you’re eligible here’s where you can book your vaccination.
Vaccination clinic locations.
Download the TAS COVID-19 check-in app.
Information and resources about COVID-19 in your language.

South Australia:

General information about COVID-19 and the rules and restrictions currently in place for people in South Australia.
COVID-19 information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Places you can get a COVID-19 test.
Go here to find out if you’re eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, and register.
If you’re eligible here’s where you can book your vaccination.
Vaccination clinic locations.
Download the SAGov app to safely check-in.
Information and resources about COVID-19 in your language.

Northern Territory:

General information about COVID-19 and the rules and restrictions currently in place for people in the Nothern Territory.
COVID-19 information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Book to get a COVID-19 test.
Go here to find out if you’re eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, and register.
If you’re eligible here’s where you can book your vaccination.
Download the NT COVID-19 check-in app.

From August 1, the Morrison Government is listing a number of new medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) to support thousands of Australians with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), high cholesterol and chronic migraine.
Australians patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) types 1, 2 or 3a who are aged 18 years or under when treatment begins will have subsidised access to Evrysdi® (risdiplam), which is being listed on the PBS for the first time.
Spinal muscular atrophy is a rare inherited genetic muscle wasting disease characterised by a loss of motor neurons. It causes progressive muscle weakness and wasting, and its most severe forms can cause paralysis and death.
One in 10,000 births in Australia are affected by SMA and the disease is the number one genetic cause of death of babies under two in Australia. There is no known cure for SMA.
One in 35 people in Australia unknowingly carry the SMA gene. Being a carrier does not mean you are affected by the condition.
Evrysdi® is an oral form of treatment for SMA. It is a less invasive treatment option for patients compared to spinal injections which may also reduce the frequency of visits to specialist hospitals. Without PBS subsidy, around 100 Australians a year will pay more than $123,000 for treatment.
Australians suffering from hypercholesterolaemia (elevation of cholesterol in the blood) will have access to a new treatment, Praluent® (alirocumab), which lowers cholesterol levels and can reduce a person’s risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Hypercholesterolaemia results in abnormally high levels of cholesterol in the blood, can lead to blockages in the arteries, hardening of the arterial walls, and a higher risk of a heart attack or stroke without proper treatment.
The treatment will be available to Australians with severe forms of hypercholesterolaemia and without PBS subsidy, more than 20,000 Australians would pay around $6,500 per year for this treatment.
Also, being listed for the first time is Ajovy® (fremanezumab), which will be available to Australians with chronic migraine.
It is estimated around 20 per cent of the population live with migraine or experience migraine attacks at some stage in their lives. Migraine often appear in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood, but affect the greatest number of people between 35 and 45 years of age who experience migraine attacks.
Without PBS subsidy, around 10,000 Australians would pay around $6,700 per year for this new treatment.
This follows a recent listing earlier this year by the Government of Emgality® (galcanezumab), which means Australians will now have a choice between two treatment options for chronic migraine.
Earlier this month, we also announced from August 1, Keytruda® (pembrolizumab) will be extended on the PBS for the treatment of Australians with colorectal cancer, a type of bowel cancer.
These new listings with save Australians and their families thousands of dollars for these treatments, which will now only cost them $41.30 per script or just $6.60 if they have a concession card.
These listings has been recommended by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.
Since 2013, the Coalition Government has 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 $13.5 billion.
The Morrison Government’s commitment to ensuring Australians can access affordable medicines, when they need them, remains rock solid.’

The National Cabinet met today to discuss Australia’s COVID-19 response, recent outbreaks of COVID-19 and the Australian COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy.
National Cabinet continues to work together to address issues and find solutions for the health and economic consequences of COVID-19.
Since the beginning of the pandemic there have been 33,909 confirmed cases in Australia and, sadly, 923 people have died. More than 24.8 million tests have been undertaken in Australia. Testing has increased nationally over recent days with 1,209,935 million tests reported in the past 7 days.
Globally there have been over 196.5 million cases and sadly over 4.1 million deaths, with 660,253 new cases and 11,538 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 12,005,978 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Australia, including a record 210,742 in the previous 24 hours.
In the previous 7 days, more than 1,154,985 vaccines have been administered in Australia. More than 39.9 per cent of the Australian population aged 16 years and over have now had a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, including over 64.6 per cent of over 50 year olds and over 78.5 per cent of over 70 year olds. More than 18.2 per cent of Australians aged 16 years and over are fully vaccinated including more than 25.2 per cent of over 50 year olds and more than 40.5 per cent of Australians over 70 years of age.
Acting Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd provided an update on current outbreaks of COVID-19.
Lieutenant General John Frewen, Coordinator-General of Operation COVID Shield, provided a briefing on the vaccination program, which continues to expand significantly.
National Cabinet received a detailed briefing from the Director of Doherty Epidemiology, Professor Jodie McVernon on modelling of COVID-19 infections and vaccinations to define target levels of transition to Phase B and Phase C of the four step National Plan to Transition Australia’s COVID-19 Response, taking into account COVID-19 transmission, severity and vaccine effectiveness of the delta variant.
The modelling has informed an updated four step National Plan to Transition Australia’s COVID-19 Response by COVID-19 Risk Analysis and Response Taskforce (Taskforce), led by the Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Mr Phil Gaetjens, and the Commonwealth Treasury economic impact analysis of COVID-19 transitions. Analysis is being coordinated with Commonwealth, state and territory Treasuries, Health Departments and First Secretaries Departments.
All leaders reiterated the importance of Australians, especially those in vulnerable groups, to get a COVID-19 vaccination. Both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are registered for use in Australia and are proven to be effective in preventing serious illness and death, as well as limiting transmission.
National Cabinet agreed to meet next on Friday, 6 August 2021.
National Plan to Transition Australia’s National COVID-19 Response
The National Cabinet agreed in-principle to an updated four-step National Plan to transition Australia’s National COVID-19 Response (National Plan) taking into account the Doherty Institute COVID-19 modelling and the Commonwealth Department of Treasury economic analysis.
The National Plan charts the way back.
The National Plan provides a graduated pathway to transition Australia’s COVID-19 response from its current pre-vaccination settings focused on continued suppression of community transmission, to post-vaccination settings focused on prevention of serious illness and fatalities, whereby the public health management of COVID-19 is consistent with other infectious diseases.
The National Plan sets out four phases to effectuate this transition. Each phase will be triggered by the achievement of vaccination thresholds of both the nation, and the individual state or territory expressed as a percentage of the eligible population (16+), based on the scientific and economic modelling conducted for the COVID-19 Risk Analysis and Response Taskforce.
The updates agreed in-principle today by the National Cabinet are the Vaccination thresholds to move to Phase B and Phase C. The National Cabinet will commission further detailed modelling over the coming months to update and refine the National Plan as required.
A sub-group of National Cabinet consisting of Victoria, Tasmania and the Northern Territory will also prepare options on how restrictions can be eased for vaccinated Australians in Phase B.
Phase A. Vaccinate, Prepare and Pilot (Current Phase)
Australia will continue to strongly suppress the virus for the purpose of minimising community transmission. Measures may include accelerating vaccination rates, closing international borders to keep COVID-19 out, and early, stringent and short lockdowns if outbreaks occur.
Phase B. Vaccination Transition Phase (~70% of adult population fully vaccinated)
In this phase, Australia will seek to minimise serious illness, hospitalisations and fatalities as a result of COVID-19 with low-level restrictions. Measures may include maintaining high vaccination rates, encouraging uptake through incentives and other measures, minimising cases in the community through ongoing low-level restrictions and effective track and trace, and with lockdowns unlikely but possible and targeted.
Phase C. Vaccination Consolidation Phase (≥80% of adult population fully vaccinated)
In Phase C, Australia will seek to minimise serious illness, hospitalisations and fatalities as a result of COVID-19 with baseline restrictions. Measures may include maximising vaccination coverage, minimum ongoing baseline restrictions adjusted to minimise cases without lockdowns, and highly targeted lockdowns only.

Australian Greens Housing spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has responded to the latest data on median property prices in this week’s Domain House Price Report, with Sydney’s median house price now over $1.4 million and Melbourne over $1.0 million.
Senator Faruqi said:
“Millions of people are being robbed of housing security and housing affordability. This is nothing less than intergenerational theft.
“House prices are out of control while both Liberal and Labor turn a blind eye.
“It’s an absolute outrage that Labor has dumped its commitments to wind back negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount in the same week it was revealed that house prices have reached record highs across the country.
“It’s not good enough to pass the buck on housing to the states and territories. The Commonwealth cannot abrogate its responsibility on this.
“Unfair tax rules like negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount make it easier for someone to buy their fifth investment property than a first home to live in.
“To get the housing crisis under control we need to massively increase public housing supply through record investment and wind back the tax rules that have turned the housing market into a speculator’s game.”

Senior Australians in regional and remote areas will benefit from the single largest investment in residential aged care infrastructure in Australia’s history.
A total of $150 million in capital grants has been allocated following the conclusion of the competitive 2020 Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR).
This substantial investment by the Australian Government has funded 72 infrastructure projects worth, on average, $2.1 million each.
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services Richard Colbeck, said the investment reflects the Morrison Government’s commitment to greater respect, care and dignity for senior Australians no matter where they live.
“Investing in aged care infrastructure means we can improve the quality and safety of residential aged care from the ground up,” Minister Colbeck said.
“Safe, secure and comfortable residential care homes, designed around the needs of residents, provide the foundation for our five-pillar, five-year aged care reform plan.”
The 2020 ACAR also includes the allocation of over 4000 residential care places and more than 1000 short-term restorative care places worth a combined $380 million a year.
Minister Colbeck said most of these new places will take effect immediately or within the next 18 months.
“I’m delighted with the response by providers that demonstrated their capacity to fast-track the delivery of quality care to senior Australians,” Minister Colbeck said.
“As a result, twice as many residential care places have been allocated than were made available for allocation”.
Priority locations were also a focus, with more than half of the new places allocated to areas most in need, including in regional and remote Australia.
Information about the 2020 ACAR outcomes, including details of the successful providers is available on the Australian Government Department of Health website.

The Greens say that older Australians are at significant risk without mandatory COVID -19 vaccines for all aged care workers, including those working in home care and disability care.
“It’s shocking that workers caring for a very vulnerable population in their homes, moving between many households in a day are not a priority for the vaccine rollout”, Greens spokesperson on Ageing Senator Rachel Siewert said.
“So-called ‘strong encouragement’ is not enough, we urgently need a targeted blitz and the introduction of mandatory vaccines similar to residential aged care to ensure all home care workers are vaccinated.
“This Government’s complacency when it comes to the most vulnerable members of the community is reprehensible and it’s not acceptable.
“The Delta variant is in the community and poses a risk to people receiving home care, we need strong and urgent action now.”

Increased financial support for hundreds of thousands of workers in New South Wales will be available from next week as part of the Commonwealth Government’s expanded national COVID-19 Disaster Payment.
Payments will continue to support workers in every state and territory who lose hours due to a state government lockdown or public health order.
Eligible workers will receive $750 per week if they lose 20 hours or more of work while those that lose between 8 and less than 20 hours, or a full day of work, will receive a payment of $450 per week.
This new level of payment recognises the significant impact that the new COVID-19 Delta strain is having on communities, businesses and workers.
The Commonwealth Government will provide financial support to those in a declared Commonwealth Hotspot. The provision of financial support outside of these areas will be provided where requested at the cost of state or territory governments.
The new national payment rate will commence for payments processed week commencing 2 August and will be automatically updated for those already in the Services Australia system.
It will be available from day one of any potential lockdown in the future, with claims made from day eight in arrears for the previous seven days. A weekly payment will then be made for the duration of the hotspot declaration.
There will be no liquid assets test applied to eligibility for these payments and an individual does not need to run down personal annual leave.
Individuals who currently receive an income support payment through our social security safety net will receive a weekly payment of $200, in addition to their existing payment, if they can demonstrate they have lost more than 8 hours of work and meet the other eligibility requirements for the COVID-19 Disaster Payment.
Claiming this payment must be done through Services Australia and myGov and will be a separate stand-alone payment. It will be paid weekly for however long the lockdown and Commonwealth Hotspot remains in place.
Our Government will continue to support Australians facing the economic consequences of extended lockdowns.
The Commonwealth Government, through Services Australia, has processed more than 955,000 COVID Disaster Payment claims, paying out more than $490 million to workers in New South Wales and Victoria.
More information about the COVID-19 Disaster Payment can be found on the Services Australia website.

The Morrison and Berejiklian Governments continue to work together to support businesses in New South Wales during the current COVID-19 lockdown.
With Greater Sydney set to remain in lockdown until at least 28 August 2021, both governments have agreed to expand the COVID-19 Business Support Payment.
Under the expanded payment, eligible entities, which includes not-for-profits, will now receive payments of between $1,500 and $100,000 per week based on the level of their payroll with the maximum turnover threshold increased from $50 million to $250 million.
The payment will continue to be calculated based on 40 per cent of payroll for businesses that have suffered a 30 per cent or more decline in turnover.
For non-employing businesses, such as sole traders, the payment will remain set at $1,000 per week.
The expanded payment will now cover more than 400,000 businesses employing 3.3 million workers in NSW subject to eligibility.
The payment will also provide more substantial support for businesses to cover unavoidable costs such as rent, insurance and maintenance as well as employee costs during an extended lockdown.
The expanded support will continue to be conditional on businesses maintaining their employee headcount as at 13 July (covering permanent and long-term casual employees) by not taking active steps to terminate their employment.
This will help maintain the connection between employers and employees and in doing so support the economic recovery once restrictions are eased.
The expanded payment will take effect from 18 July 2021, the start of the program. Businesses that have already submitted an application will not need to do anything, their payment will be automatically adjusted consistent with the expanded program.
Workers who have lost hours will continue to be supported by the COVID-19 disaster payment with more than 812,000 claims granted in NSW to date with more than $411 million in weekly payments.
The Prime Minister Scott Morrison said as NSW’s restrictions looked set to continue, his government had been developing options to supercharge the partnership with NSW to support businesses.
“These businesses are the ones we all need still standing to drive the recovery on the other side,” the Prime Minister said.
“Our support has never been set and forget and even before Service NSW had started to deliver the support on Monday that we announced earlier this month, my government had been looking at what else businesses would require to strongly emerge on the other side of this lockdown.
“Whether you’re a worker who has lost their income or a business that’s suffering, even more help is on the way.”
The Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said as the virus and the situation in NSW continues to evolve so does the Morrison Government’s response.
“The expansion of the NSW COVID-19 Business Payment remains consistent with the approach we have taken throughout the pandemic in delivering temporary, targeted and proportionate economic support,” the Treasurer said.
“Up to an additional 1,900 businesses employing around 300,000 people could benefit from the expanded eligibility while increasing the cap will also make the payment more generous for some businesses currently accessing support.”
Businesses should contact Services NSW or visit https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/ for more information.

The Morrison Government is providing $3.3 million to support the approximate two million Australians living with a rare disease, providing them with support, raise awareness and create new educational programs.
The new funding will drive the development and delivery of awareness and education resources, and care and support services, for people living with a rare disease, their families and carers, health professionals and the wider population.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said the funding would help to provide new supports to those living with rare diseases.
“Rare diseases are defined as those that affect fewer than 5 in 10,000 people. It’s estimated there are more than 7,000 rare diseases affecting about 8% of the Australian population. Most have genetic origins and many have no known cure,” Minister Hunt said.
“The Morrison Government took the first nationally coordinated step to address rare diseases with the release of the National Strategic Action Plan for Rare Diseases in February 2020 and this funding helps to build on these key foundational steps.”
The University of New South Wales has received $1.9 million to deliver the Rare Disease Awareness, Education, Support and Training Project (RArEST). This project will develop and deliver rare disease resources, education and training which will include a focus on mental health, and social and emotional wellbeing.
Rare Voices Australia has received $1 million for its Rare Awareness Rare Education Project (RARE Project). This project will develop and deliver rare disease awareness, information and education activities including a national rare disease digital platform. This digital platform will provide specific information on how to access rare disease expertise, support and services in the health and disability systems, and elsewhere.
The Australian National University has received $198,000 over 2 years for work to enhance healthcare provider awareness to improve the timely and accurate diagnosis of rare diseases. The project will develop a diagnostic reasoning tool to support recognition of rare diseases with different presentations, based on 3 indicative diseases – myositis, primary immunodeficiency disorder and sarcoidosis.
The Morrison Government is also funding the Childhood Dementia Initiative with $185,000 for the National Childhood Dementia Awareness, Support and Education Project. This project will develop and deliver awareness, information, and education for families and health professionals about childhood dementia, a term used to describe over 70 rare genetic neurodegenerative disorders.
The National Strategic Action Plan for Rare Diseases was developed by Rare Voices Australia in consultation with stakeholders, including people living with a rare disease, their families and carers.
The plan highlights three main pillars – awareness and education, care and support, and research and data. It can be found on the Australian Government Department of Health website.

Australian Greens Housing spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has responded to Labor’s move to dump its commitment to winding back negative gearing.
Senator Faruqi said:
“This is a cowardly and pathetic backflip. House prices and rents are skyrocketing, and Labor is throwing fuel on the fire.
“In the middle of a housing affordability crisis, Labor has caved to wealthy investors and the Liberals. This is a shocking move and a betrayal of young people in particular.
“Not too long ago, Labor was calling out negative gearing and the CGT discount as ‘tax subsidies’ that ‘benefit the wealthiest Australians’ and are ‘skewed to high income earners’. What, exactly, has changed?
“It seems that for Labor, short-term, cheap politics have trumped any semblance of a commitment to progressive and equitable public policy. Shame!”