Category: Australian News

Today, on World Suicide Prevention Day, the Morrison Government is recognising this year’s theme of ‘Creating Hope Through Action’ by establishing the Australian National Suicide Prevention Office to lead a national mission to reduce the prevalence and impact of suicide in Australia.
World Suicide Prevention Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of suicide and to promote action that will reduce the number of suicides and suicide attempts. ‘Creating Hope Through Action’ is a reminder that there are actions that we can take that may provide hope to those who are feeling overwhelmed.
The Government is leading this work through record investment in, and concerted structural reform of, the national approach to suicide prevention. In a first for Australia, the new National Suicide Prevention Office will have the capability to work across all governments and sectors to drive a nationally consistent and integrated approach to reducing suicide rates.
Working as part of the National Mental Health Commission, the Office will take a comprehensive approach to cover policy implementation, investment, data collection, research and workforce reform.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said the Morrison Government is providing $12.8 million to create the National Suicide Prevention Office, as part of the commitment to prevent suicide and support Australians who have been affected by suicide.
“The creation of the National Suicide Prevention Office recognises that everyone plays a role in suicide prevention and that a collective national effort is required,” Minister Hunt said.
“The Office will be a significant step forward in the efforts to reduce suicide by helping to build capacity to address the social determinants that play a role in suicide, working to reduce fragmentation and duplication of efforts across governments, supporting better data collection and sharing, providing advice on research priorities and knowledge translation, and – critically – improving the ability of our system to deliver evidence-based compassion-focused suicide prevention interventions.”
National Suicide Prevention Adviser to the Prime Minister and National Mental Health Commission CEO, Christine Morgan, said it has long been the hope and ambition of many Australian advocates and those with a lived experience of suicide to have a comprehensive national approach to suicide prevention.
“We are committed to the clarion call made for a more connected and compassionate approach to suicide prevention which takes support to people – where they are when they experience distress.”
Establishing the Office is among recommendations and priority actions of the National Suicide Prevention Adviser’s Final Advice report, all of which were accepted by the Government.
Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, David Coleman MP, said the establishment of Australia’s first National Suicide Prevention Office to coincide with the annual World Suicide Prevention Day was a key part of the Government’s ongoing work to transform the mental health and suicide prevention system and ensure that it delivers high quality, person-centred care to all Australians.
“Our Government has made mental health a national priority, investing an unprecedented $2.3 billion in the 2021-22 Budget for the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan, bringing the annual investment in mental health and suicide prevention services and support to a record $6.5 billion in 2021-22.”
Some of the Government’s key investments through the 2021-22 Budget include:

• a further $158.6 million to provide universal access to aftercare services which provide non-clinical follow up and support to Australians following a suicide attempt or suicidal crisis;
• $22 million to provide national postvention services to ensure those bereaved or impacted by suicide have access to support;
• $31.2 million to directly help people experiencing psychological distress, including establishing a national distress intervention trial, implementing national standards for Safe Spaces services, and expanding the Roses in the Ocean CARE connect service; and
• an additional $61.6 million for the National Suicide Prevention Leadership and Support Program which delivers whole of population suicide prevention activities and services.

“This is delivering vital support for those experiencing a suicidal crisis or those bereaved by suicide. It is life-saving care for people when they need it most,” Assistant Minister Coleman said.
“But, each and every one of us can play a role in suicide prevention. We can all create hope for someone by reaching out and showing that we care, and I encourage all Australians to take the opportunity today to do so.”
Anyone experiencing distress can seek immediate advice and support through Lifeline (13 11 14), Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), or the Government’s digital mental health gateway, Head to Health (www.headtohealth.gov.au).
If you are concerned about suicide, living with someone who is considering suicide, or bereaved by suicide, the Suicide Call Back Service is available at 1300 659 467 or www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au.

The Morrison Government is encouraging Australians to reach out to the people we care about for an important conversation about mental health this R U OK? Day.
R U OK? Day has been happening since 2009, but this year it is more important than ever before.
We all continue to face unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, and these challenges can have significant impacts on our mental health.
This year’s R U OK? Day theme is ‘Are they really OK? Ask them today’.
Research has shown that around 22% of Australians don’t reach out to check on the people around them because there hasn’t been an occasion where they felt someone needed their help. However, a regular check in, or just starting the conversation – even when someone is not visibly distressed or in crisis – can make a real difference.
The conversation about mental health need not be difficult, it is as simple as asking if someone is okay, listening to them, encouraging action and checking back in.
As much of the country faces restrictions to lower the risk of COVID-19, there are numerous other issues that are testing our resilience as individuals and collectively. Whether it is fear for our physical health, uncertainty around businesses, employment or school, sadness over missed things like a holiday, a birthday or a wedding, or grief over lost loved ones, we are all carrying a significant emotional load.
In 2021, we know that an honest answer to ‘are you okay?’ is likely to be ‘no, I’m not’ and that is okay, it’s understandable in these circumstances. But it is not something that has to be carried alone.
Help is available. Anyone experiencing distress can seek immediate advice and support through Lifeline (13 11 14), Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), or the Government’s digital mental health gateway, Head to Health (www.headtohealth.gov.au).
The Australian Government is proud to support R U OK? Day and has committed $2.1 million to the work of R U OK? between April 2017 and 30 June 2022.
Mental health and suicide prevention are a national priority. Our Government has invested a record $2.3 billion in the 2021–22 Budget for the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan. A record $6.5 billion will be spent in mental health and suicide prevention services and supports in 2021–22, doubling since 2012–13.
More information and resources to help support the conversation around mental health are available at www.ruok.org.au

The Greens say day one of the Women’s Safety Summit was yet another exercise in political theatre for a government that remains completely out of touch with Australian women.
Greens deputy leader and spokesperson on women Senator Larissa Waters said:
“Bless the experts at the Women’s Safety Summit for so patiently saying the same things they’ve said so many times before!
“If the government had actually been listening to women, nothing said at today’s summit should have been news to them.
“Women need more than yet another performative talkfest, they need a commitment to action.
“In his opening word salad the PM talked about opening eyes and hearts — well what about opening wallets? If he really cared about preventing violence against women he’d restore Our Watch’s The Line campaign and invest in respectful relationships education in all schools.
“If he wanted to actually provide women with the frontline domestic and family violence services they need he’d stump up the $1 billion dollars a year that the sector is calling for, address the housing crisis, and raise JobSeeker to provide income security for women.
“If he really wanted to talk about respect, his government would not have voted against implementing key Respect at Work recommendations just last week.”
“And if he was genuinely interested in hearing from people affected by violence, he would have invited survivors to the Summit, he would include National Family Violence Prevention Legal Service in the National Plan advisory group, and he would support a separate First Nations plan that aligns with the Closing the Gap goals.
“An evidence-based, properly funded, comprehensive National Plan is crucial to stopping violence against women. But it’s clear from today that the Morrison Government just wants a showpiece summit and a National Plan for Trying to Win Back Women Voters.
“Once again, they underestimate our intelligence.”

The Greens have slammed the government for its thousand day failure to introduce a federal corruption watchdog, saying that the four-digit delay demonstrated that it couldn’t care less about taking action on corruption.
The Greens have a bill to establish a federal ICAC that has passed the Senate, and could be brought on for debate in the Lower House immediately, if the Government stopped blocking its passage.
Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt MP said:
“Every day that passes since the government promised a federal anti-corruption watchdog is a reminder of the contempt with which the Liberals hold our democracy,” Mr Bandt said.
“In the thousand days since the Liberals made this promise, we’ve been hit by SportsRorts, Watergate, the Car Park Rorts and dodgy deals for gas donors.
“People have watched the government get more brazen, cocky and corrupt, all while the hopes of a federal ICAC get dashed.
“Times up on the Prime Minister’s delays. Scott Morrison needs to end the rorts, and bring on a federal ICAC.
“Governments of all stripes push back against corruption watchdogs because they’re terrified of what they may find. We need to kick the Liberals out, and put the Greens into balance of power where we can make sure that Labor introduces a federal ICAC with teeth.”
Australian Greens Democracy Spokesperson Senator Larissa Waters said:
“One thousand days after promising Australians an anti-corruption body this government has nothing to show for it but deeply flawed legislation trapped in an endless cycle of review.
“It took 10 years of pressure by the Greens and civil society groups to get the government to accept the need for a corruption watchdog, but the PM is still spinning his wheels.
“Since they made that promise 1000 days ago the Senate has passed my National Integrity Commission bill, but the government has refused to allow it to be debated in the House.
“Perhaps that’s not surprising given that 12 of the 23 current members of his Cabinet have been implicated in integrity scandals!
“We need to clean up politics so we can be sure that politicians are working in the public interest, not the interests of their donors and their re-election campaigns.”

Lorraine Finlay had been appointed as the nation’s new Human Rights Commissioner. Formerly an upper house candidate for the West Australian Liberals and president of the state’s Liberal women’s council, Finlay was appointed to the role without it being advertised.
This could affect the Australian Human Rights Council’s “A status” with the United Nations.
Senator Lidia Thorpe, The Greens Justice and First Nations Spokesperson said:
“Lorraine Finlay’s appointment flies in the face of the United Nations Paris Principles, which require ‘a clear, transparent and participatory selection and appointment process of commissioners.’
“The Morrison government should be looking for the candidate with the most in-depth experience and expertise, instead of parachuting their mates who are clearly inappropriate for the role. If Finlay has any integrity, she should decline and step down.
“This is someone who wrote a book calling for Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act to be abolished, opposes gender-based quotas and called affirmative consent laws ‘dangerous’ in an interview with men’s rights activist Bettina Arndt.
“The Morrison government announced this on the same day that the Women’s Safety Summit began. So often, violence against women is the result of an abuse of power. This appointment is an abuse of power.
“People in this country deserve an independent, objective Human Rights Commissioner who won’t play party politics with people’s rights!”

The National Summit on Women’s Safety has asked all Australians to confront the unacceptable scourge of family, domestic and sexual violence and provided meaningful and constructive actions for change.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women Marise Payne and Minister for Women’s Safety Anne Ruston thanked all the panellists, speakers and delegates as well as all Australians who joined the national conversation.
National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation chair Donnella Mills, Our Watch chief executive Patty Kinnersly and National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Alliance chief executive Sandra Creamer handed down a comprehensive Statement on behalf of all delegates which outlines key priorities to underpin the next National Plan to end violence against women and children.
Minister Payne said the Summit demonstrated all levels of government, business, educators, justice and frontline workers were committed to long-term, continuous action to end all forms of gendered violence.
“The new National Plan will pave the way to achieving our shared goal to end violence against women and children,” Minister Payne said.
“It will build on evidence and achievements from the current plan while addressing new and emerging issues such as technology-facilitated abuse and coercive control.
“It must also be targeted to the unique needs of communities affected by multiple forms of discrimination or inequality and will better address complex forms of violence and harmful cultural practices.”
Minister Ruston said the Statement brought together the key issues discussed across all panels and roundtables.
“The next National Plan to end violence against women and children must turn your insights into practical action because lives depend on it,” Minister Ruston said.
“We all must come together and be united to achieve this goal. That means each and every one of us – politicians, business and community leaders and all Australians – must accept we can do more and promise we will do more.”
For more information about the National Summit on Women’s Safety and to read the Summit Statement visit: Women’s Safety Summit

The Morrison Government is hosting the National Summit on Women’s Safety on 6 and 7 September which is the culmination of extensive consultations to develop the next National Plan to end violence against women and children.
The Summit will include keynote addresses, panel discussions and a series of roundtables focused on key issues affecting women’s safety including economic security and financial independence, perpetrator interventions, and responding to sexual violence.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women Marise Payne said the Summit was an opportunity for a diverse range of people with lived experience, advocates, services providers, academics and other stakeholders to come together to inform the next National Plan.
“The Summit is an important step towards a future free from family and domestic violence and sexual assault in Australia,” Minister Payne said.
“I encourage every Australian to take part in this important national conversation, so together we can create change.”
Minister for Women’s Safety Anne Ruston said the key themes, issues and recommendations discussed by Summit delegates would be captured in a Summit Statement which would be released at the end of the two days.
“The Summit will further elevate the important national discussion we are having about women’s safety and ensure that we bring all people along with us as we develop the next National Plan,” Minister Ruston said.
“We are pleased to have Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Age Discrimination Commissioner Dr Kay Patterson, Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant and Our Watch ambassador Arman Abrahimzadeh among others joining us as speakers.”
All key panel discussions and presentations will be live streamed on 6 and 7 September via womenssafetysummit.com.au. Written submissions and feedback on the topics discussed at the Summit can be provided at engage.dss.gov.au/national-summit-on-womens-safety until 15 September 2021.

The Greens have today announced they will push for a new 40% corporate super-profits tax on the excess profits made by big corporations, including mining corporations, in the balance of power after the next election.
The Greens’ push for a ‘tycoon tax’ follows the announcement this week of record super-profits across retail and mining sectors, and National Account figures showing the profit share of national income at the highest (30.3%) since records began, eclipsing last year’s new record¹.
These new taxes are essential because there’s huge wealth in this country, but it’s being hoarded by billionaires and offshore shareholders. It’s time to make them pay their fair share.
On current polling, a power-sharing Parliament is the most likely outcome of the coming election and in the balance of power, the Greens will push for billionaires and big corporations to pay their fair share of tax to get dental and mental health fully into Medicare and build affordable housing.
The Greens’ Plan to tax the tycoons includes:

1. A new Corporate Super-Profits Tax, being a 40% tax on big corporations, including mining corporations, that would raise $338 billion over the decade.
2. The previously-announced new 6% tax on the wealth of billionaires to raise $48 billion over the decade (more details here)
3. Winding back handouts and subsidies to coal, gas and oil corporations, details of which will be announced at a later date.

These policies have been costed by the Parliament Budget Office, they’re hugely popular and build on the Greens’ recent electoral success in Queensland.

How the Greens’ new super-profits tax will work

The 40% Corporate Super-Profits Tax announced today involves two components – one tax that applies to the mining sector and another that applies to corporations more broadly – both of which have been separately costed by the PBO and together raise $338b over a decade. The 40% tax would be applied as follows:

1. For non-mining corporations with over a $100 million turnover, the tax would apply to their super-profits. Both Australian corporations and the share of a multinational corporation’s operations in Australia would be subject to the tax. The corporate super profits tax would apply to net revenue after deducting income tax and after making an allowance for a fair return to shareholders.²
2. For mining projects, the tax on corporations will be assessed on a Australian project-by-project basis, based on the original Henry Review’s mining super profits tax.

The independent Parliamentary Budget Office has calculated the mining component will raise $124 billion over 10 years and the wider component will raise $214 billion over that same period, totalling a $338 billion boost to the fiscal balance. The Greens will announce further details about the super-profits tax on oil and gas corporations at a later date.

40% Corporate Super-Profits Tax Policy in application

The following companies are estimated to have the following change in their tax liability based on most recent financial reports.³ Because mining companies would be assessed on a project-by-project basis, it is not possible to estimate individual corporate liability without greater knowledge of individual corporations’ operations.

	Profit	Current company income tax	New corporate super profits tax	Total tax paid
Telstra	$1.9B	$540m	$300m	$840m
CBA	$8.8B	$3.5B	$1.3B	$4.8B
Apple	$1.4B*	$120m	$420m	$540m
Harvey Norman	$840m	$340m	$190m	$530m
Ramsay	$510m	$230m	$70m	$300m
Wesfarmers	$2.4B	$1.0B	$570m	$1.6B

*Assumes profit attributable to Australian operations is equal to Australian share of turnover.

Super-Profits announced this week

• Billionaire Gerry Harvey’s Harvey Norman lifted profits 75% to a record $841 million.⁴
• Australia’s three biggest miners recorded $65.5 billion profit, and one person – Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest – reportedly personally raked in over $4b.⁵

Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP said:

“Big corporations making big profits should pay more tax.
“While everyone else has suffered through the pandemic, billionaire corporations have made out like bandits and profits are at record highs.
“A ‘tycoon tax’ is essential because there’s huge wealth in this country, but it’s being hoarded by a greedy few.
“People want Clive Palmer to send fewer texts and pay more tax.
“By making mining billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share, we can build a better life for all of us.
“The next election will be closer than people think Scott Morrison is only 828 votes away from losing majority government and on current polling, a power-sharing Parliament is the most likely outcome.
“In balance of power, the Greens will kick the Liberals out and push the next government to make billionaire corporations pay their fair share of tax so we can get dental and mental health into Medicare and build affordable housing.
“The Greens are putting Gerry, Gina, Twiggy and Clive on notice. People run this country, not billionaire corporations. These measures have public support and will be a top issue this election, and a top priority in power-sharing Parliament afterwards.

Greens Treasury Spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said:

“Gerry Harvey is making out like a bandit while we shortchange our nation’s future prosperity.
“Many of Australia’s billionaires have doubled their wealth during the pandemic while turbo-charging climate change. This has to change.
“Outrageous profits for corporations shows the way that big players have furthered their monopolies through Covid lockdowns.
“Excessive profits are a red flag for an economy. Super profits are a sign that there is a lack of competitiveness, that staff are not sharing in the spoils of increased revenue and that customers are getting ripped off.
 

With the UN calling for Australia to quit coal by 2030, but Rupert Murdoch officially moving only to ‘net zero by 2050’, the looming divide between climate activists and fossil fuel supporters is now clear, Greens Leader, Adam Bandt MP said, announcing the Greens will introduce a bill to phase out coal by 2030 to parliament, putting legislative action behind the UN’s demands.
With climate denial now thoroughly discredited, fossil fuel backers including Murdoch, Liberal and Labor are shifting to ‘net zero by 2050’, which will be insufficient to stop dangerous climate change without deeper emissions reductions by 2030.
Meanwhile, the UN, the Greens and the world’s scientists are demanding fossil fuel producing nations phase out coal, oil and gas, with a just transition that ensures good, meaningful work for workers in affected industries.
The independent Climate Targets Panel found earlier this year that ‘net zero by 2050’ as a target for Australia is incompatible with the temperature targets in the Paris Agreement and that stronger 2030 targets were needed.
“This sets the stage for climate action in the 2020s. With ten years to prevent the climate crisis, one side is trying to urgently phase out coal, oil, and gas, but the other is trying to delay action until 2050,” Mr Bandt said.
“Delay is the new denial. Australia must phase out coal by 2030, because by 2050 it will be too late.”
“The Greens will do what the science demands and move legislation in Parliament for Australia to phase out coal by 2030.
“The latest IPCC report is clear: we’re on track to hit 1.5 degrees of warming by the 2030s. If we want a safe climate for future generations, we need to phase out coal by 2030 with a transition plan and significant support for affected workers.
“Rupert Murdoch appears to be shifting from straight out climate denial to climate delay. The favoured tactic of coal and gas advocates is now to try and delay climate action, squeezing out the last profits for an industry in decline.
“While the Greens, United Nations and climate scientists are pushing for Australia to quit its coal addiction by 2030, Rupert Murdoch, the Liberals and Labor are pushing for coal to stay in the system for decades.
“The climate crisis is already here. Weather events supercharged by global heating are already killing people – and will affect us all. With disaster after disaster unfolding across the world, we can’t wait until 2050 to take action.
“According to the independent Climate Targets Panel, we need 75% emissions reductions by 2030, with net zero by 2035 at the latest. Anything less amounts to denial of climate science.”

The Morrison Government congratulates our Australian Paralympians after a showcase of unforgettable performances in Tokyo.
The Australian team of 179 was the country’s largest ever at an overseas Paralympic Games notching up 80 medals – 21 gold, 29 silver and 30 bronze.
Minister for Sport Richard Colbeck said the efforts of our Paralympians had reinforced the nation’s love for green and gold competition on the world stage.
“This was a Paralympic Games for the history books,” Minister Colbeck said.
“From the moment Danni di Toro and Ryley Batt proudly carried the Australian flag at the opening ceremony, the Australian Paralympic team displayed the best of our
nation to the world.
“Madison De Rozario’s nail-biting gold medal win in the T54 wheelchair marathon on the final day was a fitting finale.
“We have celebrated gold medal triumphs, but we have also laughed, cried and marvelled at the fortitude of all our athletes who have given their very best for their country.”
Minister Colbeck said it was fitting to see our most decorated Paralympic medallist Ellie Cole carry the Australian flag in the closing ceremony.
“It exemplified the performances of every single athlete who have each been superb national ambassadors,” he said.
“The outstanding performances have buoyed not just sports lovers across Australia but all those who have been doing it tough in a difficult time.
“Congratulations should also go to Paralympics Australia Chef de Mission Kate McLoughlin, Chief Executive Lynne Anderson and President Jock O’Callaghan for championing the Paralympic cause and helping to prepare such a strong and spirited team.”
Minister Colbeck said the Government was proud to have extended its support to Paralympic Australia ensuring its medal-winning athletes will receive bonus payments in line with the rewards paid to Olympic athletes.
“The one-off payments for medallists will be equivalent to those made by the Australian Olympic Committee to medal-winning Olympic athletes in Tokyo,” he said.
“This was an important step which compliments the ongoing funding ensuring our para-athletes can continue to make their mark internationally.”
He said the Morrison Government’s commitment to support para-athletes was reflected in this year’s Budget with direct funding injections of more than $3 million for 2021-22.
The boost for Paralympic competitors, across 13 sporting programs, marks a 40 per cent increase in funding since 2012 with 86 per cent of the Australian Paralympic team receiving direct grants from the AIS.
Minister Colbeck said it offers funding clarity and security for athletes looking ahead to the 2022 Winter Paralympics, the 2022 Commonwealth Games and ensures a springboard for those vying to represent Australia at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
“The Morrison Government’s record core funding levels to support athletes builds on the recent investments to support wellbeing and pathways for young aspiring Paralympians,” he said.
Other funding includes:

• • $4m over two years from 2018-19 to construct new facilities for para-athletes at Paralympic Australia’s Victorian base at Essendon.
  • $310,370 over four years from 2018-19 for eligible Paralympic athletes who may have had their Disability Support Pension impacted as a result of training for events overseas; and
  • $1.5m to improve Australia’s capability in finding Australia’s best para-athletes to compete on the world stage.