Category: Australian News

The Australian Government is continuing our support for the mental health and wellbeing of children and young Australians with a $26.8 million investment in Yourtown’s Kids Helpline.
Caring for the mental health and wellbeing of Australians, particularly children and young people, remains one of the Australian Government’s highest priorities.
It is estimated that more than three quarters of mental health conditions begin before the age of 25, and there are approximately 630,000 young people with mild to moderate mental illness nationally.
Providing early support is vital in helping young people get back on track and can minimise longer-term impacts.
Kids Helpline has played a vital role in our efforts to protect and nurture the emotional wellbeing and lives of children and young people across Australia.
The service provides a free, private and confidential 24/7 telephone and webchat counselling support, specifically for young people aged 5 to 25 years. Its unique model allows a young person to contact the same counsellor on an ongoing basis and doesn’t place a limit on the length of counselling sessions.
Kids Helpline also publishes online articles on a range of mental health and wellbeing issues, including early intervention and self-help strategies individually tailored for each age group, and provides information and referrals, one-off counselling support, and ongoing counselling and case management in conjunction with face-to-face services.
The additional funding for Kids Helpline includes $24 million to support operations over the next four years, and a further $2.8 million to meet the immediate demand caused by the pandemic.
This funding means that children and young people will continue to get the help they need to deal with issues ranging from mental health problems to family relationships, child abuse, suicide and self-harm.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said Kids Helpline had provided lifesaving care in times of crisis, practical advice or a place to turn to so young Australians know that they are not alone.
“Never has this support been more important that in the last 18 months, with the effects of Black Summer Bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic putting significant pressure on the mental health and wellbeing of many,” Minister Hunt said.
Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, David Coleman, said Kids Helpline’s incredible work has made a real difference in the lives of children and families across Australia.
“I would like to thank all those involved in Kids Helpline for their invaluable contributions to the health and wellbeing of children and young adults in Australia,” Assistant Minister Coleman said.
The funding is part of the Government’s $2.3 billion National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan – a landmark commitment to transform the mental health system and ensure that all Australians can access the right care and essential services whenever and wherever they need.
In a first for Australia, the Plan includes a specific focus on the mental health of children under 12 and their parents and carers, including:

• $54.2 million to establish a network of Head to Health Kids mental health centres in conjunction with the states and territories
• $42.3 million to provide parenting tools and support, and
• $111.4 million to allow parents and carers to use two sessions under the Better Access initiative to discuss their child’s care needs with their treating practitioner, while supporting their own mental health and wellbeing.

These investments will ensure better social and health outcomes for our young people, giving them the opportunity to reach their full potential in life, and safeguarding the long-term future of our country.
The funding reinforces our Government’s strong commitment achieving better mental health for all Australians, and will complement the existing investment of $6.3 billion in mental health services in 2021-22.
Anyone experiencing distress can seek immediate advice and support through Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), Beyond Blue (1300 224 636), Lifeline (13 11 14), or the Government’s digital mental health gateway, Head to Health (www.headtohealth.gov.au).

Families of sick children across Queensland will have better access to much-needed accommodation and support through the newly refurbished Ronald McDonald House in South Brisbane.
The Australian Government invested $2.57 million to renovate and modify areas of Ronald McDonald House, which will be a life saver for regional and Far North Queensland families of very sick children being treated at Queensland Children’s and Mater Misericordae hospitals.
The newly refurbished home can now cater for large family groups, families who need longer stays and immuno‑suppressed patients who have been discharged from hospital but must remain in Brisbane for ongoing care.
Providing a warm and welcoming home away from home is crucial to the care and recovery of unwell children, as well as helping to keep families together and close to the care their child needs.
Accommodation at the Ronald McDonald House is free for eligible families of seriously ill children, with priority given to families whose children have been recently diagnosed, seriously injured or who require emergency treatment, as well as families of premature babies.
The South East Queensland (SEQ) chapter of Ronald McDonald House Charities is the largest in Australia, operating in Herston, South Brisbane and inside the Queensland Children’s Hospital.
Supporting thousands of families a year since 1991, the SEQ chapter provided a total of 103,894 bed nights for 5,685 families in 2019.
80 per cent of families cared for by SEQ come from Wide Bay and Capricornia, Central Queensland, Mackay, Central West, West Moreton, Pine Rivers, Caboolture, Townsville, Cairns, Far North Queensland and Cape York.
Funding for this refurbishment was provided through the Australian Government’s Supporting our Hospitals – Additional Infrastructure and Services program.

The Morrison Government is stepping up and building a new gas power plant in the Hunter Valley, which will create jobs, keep energy prices low, keep the lights on and help reduce emissions.
This important project delivers on the Government’s 1,000 MW target set last September, which was created to avoid unacceptable price increases following the closure of the Liddell power station in 2023.
In the 2021-22 Budget, the Government committed up to $600 million for Snowy Hydro Limited to construct a 660 MW open cycle gas turbine at Kurri Kurri in the Hunter Valley.
The Hunter Power Project will deliver an important economic boost to the region, creating up to 600 new jobs during peak construction and 1,200 indirect jobs across NSW.
This project, together with EnergyAustralia’s 316 MW Tallawarra B open cycle gas plant, will help shore up the security, reliability and affordability of electricity for consumers in NSW, with a commitment to be generating in time for summer 2023-24 when Liddell closes.
Securing reliable, affordable energy is critical to our plan to secure Australia’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said the Government had given the private sector every opportunity and is fulfilling its promise to deliver the cheap, reliable power that NSW households, businesses and industries needed to prosper and grow.
“Cheap power is crucial to ensuring families, businesses and job-creating industries in NSW can thrive, which is why we are committed to replacing the energy generated by Liddell to keep prices down,” Minister Taylor said.
“This important project is good news for NSW as well as the broader National Electricity Market.
“We were very clear from the start – we will not stand by and watch prices go up and the lights go off. This project will deliver flexible gas generation to replace Liddell and maintain reliable power alongside Australia’s world-leading investment in renewables.”
This is a responsible investment. Expected investment returns for the Hunter Power Project are strong and Snowy Hydro is on track to deliver this critical, dispatchable capacity, on-time and on-budget.
The Morrison Government has also announced a $24.9 million package in the 2021-22 Budget to support new gas generators to be hydrogen-ready, including a $5 million commitment to Tallawarra B.
The construction of two new gas power plants will create over 2,000 direct and indirect jobs. This is what the Government’s gas-fired recovery is about – helping Australia bounce back strongly from the COVID-19 recession.
Through the 2021-22 Budget, the Morrison Government is also providing up to $30 million to support early works on Australian Industrial Power’s (AIP) Port Kembla power station project as it progresses to Final Investment Decision. The project will play a crucial role in reducing market volatility risks in NSW by supporting reliable electricity supply and keeping prices low.
Progressing the AIP power station would also support the development of the Port Kembla import terminal, providing a key source of demand for imported gas. The Government will continue to work with AIP to fully assess the project and evaluate support through the Underwriting New Generation Investments (UNGI) program.
New gas supply and generation will help strengthen our economy and make energy more affordable for families and businesses, while complementing the world-leading levels of renewables in Australia.
Gas supports jobs in our important energy intensive industries that are the lifeblood of our economy and our regions.
Gas is a critical enabler of Australia’s economy and helps to support our manufacturing sector that employs over 900,000 Australians.

Australian Greens Disability spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John has called for an urgent review into the Health Department to determine why disabled people have been discriminated against in the Morrison government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and, in particular, phase 1a of the vaccine rollout.
“Today’s evidence to the Disability Royal Commission is conclusive: disabled people and our support workers have been excluded from receiving priority vaccines as part of phase 1a of the vaccine rollout,” Senator Steele-John said.
“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic so many people in our community have been living in fear and in isolation, with little information from the Morrison government about how we would be supported.
“Because of these ongoing failures we are now in a position where there are more Olympians who’ve been vaccinated than high-risk disabled people living in residential care!
“There should not be a single Health Department document relating to the pandemic that fails to mention disabled people, yet time and again we’ve seen our community not thought of, not factored in or actively excluded.
“When asked today if she was concerned that disabled people had been overlooked in the vaccine rollout, Health Department Associate Secretary Caroline Edwards stated that she could not comment. This response from a senior public servant is completely unacceptable.
“Quite simply, the treatment of disabled people throughout this pandemic has been discriminatory.”

Australia’s plastic recycling and waste reduction targets have been slashed and rebranded in an attempt to hide inaction and failure from the Government and big polluters.
The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) today launched its ANZPAC Plastics Pact, which undercuts the organisation’s own 2025 National Packaging Targets.
Greens spokesperson for Waste and Recycling, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, said the announcement is a result of the Government’s recent refusal to legislate mandated packaging targets in the Australian Senate.
“The Greens, Labor and all of the cross bench except One Nation voted to make voluntary targets mandatory in law.
“The packaging industry fought hard to stop mandatory targets, even though they always said they were confident in meeting voluntary commitments.
“Today’s announcement from APCO equates to a 27% reduction in these voluntary commitments for plastic recycling.
“APCO has also halved its commitment to increase what packaging is collected and effectively recycled.
“Just a few months ago APCO, Woolworths and the Australian Food and Grocery Council openly said at a series of Senate inquiries they didn’t need regulation and mandated targets as they would meet the voluntary targets the industry set themselves.
“Now that the spotlight is no longer on them, and genuine waste reform is off the Government’s parliamentary agenda, we get them backtracking from their commitments.
“Did they deliberately mislead the Senate in order to avoid government regulation and accountability, or did they just stuff it up?
“Either way the packaging industry and their cheerleaders in Government – including Minister Evans and Ley – have some serious explaining to do.
“We should be ramping up actions to meet waste and recycling targets, not weakening them, and the producers within the packaging industry need to play a key role in this.
“The waste and recycling industry employs over 60,000 Australians and has pushed for strong, regulated targets for the packaging industry.
“Strong, mandated targets would give the waste and recycling industry the certainty to invest in building a circular economy and creating green new jobs.
“Today’s announcement is simply more uncertainty for this critical industry. They have been let down by the Morrison Government, who lobbied hard to prevent the Senate from passing amendments that would have properly regulated the blatant self-interest of big plastic polluters.”

Senior Tasmanians, their families and carers are set to benefit from the Australian Government’s once-in-a-generation reform of aged care, announced in last week’s Federal Budget.
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services Richard Colbeck said older Tasmanians are at the heart of the $17.7 billion package.
“We are committed to ensuring that those who have contributed so much – our nation builders, our parents and grandparents, our founders and protectors– get the respect, care and dignity they rightly deserve,” Minister Colbeck said.
In response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, the Government’s unprecedented investment will improve quality care, increase viability of the sector, and provide services that respect the needs and choices of seniors.
With Australia’s fastest ageing population, Tasmania’s share of the record investment will be a major boost to aged care services.
The funding will include $630.2 million to make the aged care system more accessible for seniors with special needs, including people in regional and rural areas in Tasmania.
This new support will include $397 million for aged care providers to undertake capital works to build new and improve existing facilities, improving access to care and providing local jobs.
East Devonport’s Melaleuca Home for the Aged is one of a number of residential aged care providers across the state that will play a lead role in implementing the reform package, translating the Royal Commission’s recommendations and the Government’s response into actions.
Member for Braddon Gavin Pearce said the engagement of aged care homes like Melaleuca will be crucial in progressing the vital reforms.
“We will rely on support from the aged care sector, providers and the workforce to embrace and embed these changes, creating a better system within their business and their work,” Mr Pearce said.
Minister Colbeck said residential aged care services and sustainability was one of the five pillars of the Government’s response to the Royal Commission.
“The Government has committed $7.8 billion towards improving and simplifying residential aged care services,” he said.
“This includes $3.2 billion to support aged care providers to deliver better care and services through a new Basic Daily Fee supplement of $10 per resident per day. A further $3.9 billion will increase the amount of frontline care delivered to residents of aged care and respite services.”
“I look forward to working with aged care consumers, their families and the sector to implement these changes.”

The Morrison Government will increase the minimum meals unit price to $7.50 to help aged care providers deliver meals to older Australians receiving aged care at home.
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services Richard Colbeck said it was a significant step forward to reinforce the tremendous efforts of food providers which help meet the nutritional needs of an increasing number of older Australians.
“This vital measure puts the health and wellbeing of older Australians first, while strengthening the viability of meal providers across the country,” Minister Colbeck said.
The mechanism will see the minimum unit price of $4.90 paid to providers lifted by $2.60.
The changes are expected to be implemented over the course of 2021-22.
It amounts to a $7 million funding injection under the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP).
The CHSP provides home support to Australians aged 65 years and over (or 50 years and over for Indigenous Australians) living at home and in their own communities.
Meals are delivered under the CHSP to ensure food security and nutritional and social benefits for older Australians.
In 2020-21, there are 571 meals providers funded by the Australian Government to deliver 11.5 million meals across Australia.
One provider alone, Meals on Wheels, has been operating in hundreds of metropolitan and rural communities nationally for more than 60 years.
More than 10 million meals every year are delivered with the support of more than 76,000 Meals on Wheels volunteers.
As part of National Volunteer Week, Minister Colbeck acknowledged the efforts of volunteers across the aged care sector – from those caring for loved ones at home to those who give their time to ensure older and vulnerable Australians receive good food and nutrition.
“Volunteers are the backbone of Australia – but across the aged care sector, each and every day there are remarkable examples from people who put the needs of others ahead of their own,” Minister Colbeck said.
“These people are ultimately providing an important mechanism for older Australians to stay connected, healthy and happy.
“Thank you to the hundreds of thousands of people volunteer their time to improve the lives of others.”

The Australian Government has today launched its National Strategic Action Plan for Pain Management, providing Australians living with chronic pain access to the care and support they need.
Providing a whole-of-care approach, the Plan recommends eight goals and will focus on reducing the burden of disease and improving the quality of life and care for patients.
It will also outline the importance of educating Australians on understanding and managing pain, as well as providing a framework for health practitioners on how to deliver the best treatment and care to patients.
Developed by Painaustralia, with $170,000 from the Australian Government, the Plan is a national approach towards support chronic pain and has been endorsed by health ministers from every state and territory.
The Government is providing $2.5 million towards the early implementation of the plan, including:

• $1 million to the University of Sydney – Pain Management Research Institute to train health professionals how to offer pain management care more effectively.
• $500,000 to the Australian New Zealand College of Anaesthetists to improve the availability of, and access to, consistent and up-to-date information, training and education programs for health professionals on the appropriate management and care for people living with chronic pain.
• $1 million to Painaustralia to support consumer education and awareness for people affected by pain.

We have also allocated $4.3 million to expand pain management services for regional, rural and remote Australians through the Rural Health Outreach
Chronic pain affects more than three million Australians, who suffer from a persistent pain, restricting the ability to work and sleep and costing the economy more than $70 billion each year.
Smoking, physical inactivity, genetics and increased age are all factors that can increase the likelihood of developing chronic pain.
The National Strategic Action Plan for Pain Management is available at https://health.gov.au/resourc

The Senate has supported a Greens referral to the Senate Community Affairs References Committee to conduct a Senate inquiry into the purpose, intent and adequacy of the Disability Support Pension (DSP).
There have been a series of changes and cost-saving measures over recent years that have reduced the number of people able to access the Disability Support Program. Since then, there has been a sharp decline in people applying for and being approved for the DSP.
These changes have also seen a significant increase in sick and disabled people on other payments and having to deal with the JobActive and Disability Employment Services system. These changes also mean that many people must complete a so called Program of Support.
Labour force participation rates for disabled people have remained static for the past 20 years despite Disability Employment Services receiving significant levels of funding. This is an issue that causes a great deal of concern to disabled people.
The inquiry will shine a light on these serious issues and give disabled people and community members an opportunity to make submissions on programs and policies that have such significant impact on their lives.
Terms of reference:
That the following matter be referred to the Community Affairs References Committee, for inquiry and report by Tuesday 30 November 2021:
The purpose, intent and adequacy of the Disability Support Pension, with specific reference to:
a. the purpose of the Disability Support Pension;
b. the Disability Support Pension eligibility criteria, assessment and determination, including the need for health assessments and medical evidence and the right to review and appeal;
c. the impact of geography, age and other characteristics on the number of people receiving the Disability Support Pension;
d. the impact of the Disability Support Pension on a disabled person’s ability to find long term, sustainable and appropriate, employment within the open labour market;
e. the capacity of the Disability Support Pension to support persons with disabilities, chronic conditions and ill health, including its capacity to facilitate and support labour market participation where appropriate;
f. discrimination within the labour market and its impact on employment, unemployment and underemployment of persons with disabilities and their support networks;
g. the adequacy of the Disability Support Pension and whether it allows people to maintain an acceptable standard of living in line with community expectations;
h. the appropriateness of current arrangements for supporting disabled people experiencing insecure employment, inconsistent employment, precarious hours in the workforce; and inequitable workplace practices;
i. the economic benefits of improved income support payments and supports for persons with disabilities, their immediate households and broader support services and networks;
j. the relative merits of alternative investments in other programs to improve the standard of living of persons with disabilities;
k. any related matters.

The Morrison Government is taking strong action to further boost Australia’s long-term fuel security by locking in the future of our refining sector.
The Government’s fuel security package will help secure Australia’s recovery from the COVID crisis and it will help secure our sovereign fuel stocks, locking in jobs and protecting families and businesses from higher fuel prices.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Government was delivering on its commitment to maintain a self-sufficient refining capability in Australia by supporting the operation of the Ampol refinery in Lytton (Queensland) and the Viva Energy refinery in Geelong (Victoria). The package will protect the jobs of 1,250 direct employees across the two refineries and create another 1,750 construction jobs.
The Prime Minister Scott Morrison said locking in Australia’s fuel security would deliver benefits for all Australians.
“This is a key plank of our plan to secure Australia’s recovery from the pandemic, and to prepare against any future crises,” the Prime Minister said.
“Shoring up our fuel security means protecting 1,250 jobs, giving certainty to key industries, and bolstering our national security.
“Earlier investment in Australia’s ability to produce better quality fuels, including ultra-low sulfur levels, will also improve air quality and deliver an estimated $1 billion in lower health costs.
“Major industries like agriculture, transport and mining, as well as mum and dad motorists, will have more certainty and can look forward to vehicle maintenance savings and greater choice of new vehicle models.
“This next stage in our plan for Australia’s recovery will create jobs and make our country more self-sufficient and secure.”
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said Australia’s economy is reliant on fuel and this significant package will not only lock-in our refineries, but the jobs of thousands of Australians.
“Fuel is what keeps us and the economy moving. That is why we are backing our refineries,” Minister Taylor said.
“Supporting our refineries will ensure we have the sovereign capability needed to prepare for any event, protect families and businesses from higher prices at the bowser, and keep Australia moving as we secure our recovery from COVID-19.”
The 2021-22 Budget initiatives include:

• A variable Fuel Security Service Payment (FSSP) to the refineries, funded by the Government, which recognises the fuel security benefits refineries provide to all Australians;
• Up to $302 million in support for major refinery infrastructure upgrades to help refiners bring forward the production of better-quality fuels from 2027 to 2024; and
• $50.7 million for the implementation and monitoring of the FSSP and the minimum stockholding obligation (MSO), ensuring industry complies with the new fuel security framework.

The variable FSSP has been costed up to AUD$2.047 billion to 2030 in a worst-case scenario.
This figure assumes that both refineries are paid at the highest rate over the entire nine years in COVID-19-like economic conditions, which is unlikely as the economy recovers.
Actual payments are expected to be less than this, as payments are linked to refining margins at the time and to actual production of key transport fuels.
Payments will be made between the following ranges, limiting the downside risk for refineries:

• Refineries will receive 0 cent per litre (cpl) when the margin marker hits $10.20/bbl (the collar)
• Refineries will receive a maximum of 1.8 cpl when the marker drops to $7.30/bbl (the cap).

This will mean that the refineries are only supported in downtimes, and will not receive Government support when they are performing well.
Refineries will have an option to extend the support and their commitment out to mid-2030.
The Government is also ensuring better quality fuel is provided across Australia earlier.
We will work with the refineries to bring forward improvements to fuel quality from 2027 to 2024 by co-investing with domestic refiners to undertake the necessary infrastructure upgrades for low sulfur fuel production.
Accelerating the necessary major infrastructure upgrades will create up to an additional 1,750 construction jobs, bringing flow-on benefits to the Lytton and Geelong communities.
The Government will also accelerate the industry-wide review of the petrol and diesel standard to 2021, including a consideration of aromatics levels. This aims to create a Euro-6 equivalent petrol and diesel standard that are appropriate for Australia.
The Government will work with both refineries on their plans to consider future fuel technologies and other development opportunities. This will include the refineries’ roles in the roll-out of future fuels, such as electric vehicle charging and hydrogen transport infrastructure.
The Government will introduce the Fuel Security Bill to the Parliament in the coming weeks. This Bill will implement the FSSP to ensure it can begin on 1 July 2021, and set the key parameters for the Minimum Stockholding Obligation that will commence in 2022.
This package implements the Morrison Government’s commitment to the refining sector, announced as part of the 2020-21 Budget, and complements other measures including increased onshore diesel storage and taking advantage of record low prices to store oil in the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve.