Category: Australian News

Two more COVID-19 vaccines have been secured for the Australian population under new agreements, bringing the Australian Government’s COVID-19 vaccine investment to more than $3.2 billion.
Under the agreements, Novavax will supply 40 million vaccine doses and Pfizer/BioNTech will provide 10 million vaccine doses, should the vaccines be proven safe and effective.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Government’s COVID-19 Vaccine and Treatment Strategy had now secured access to four COVID-19 vaccines and over 134 million doses.
“By securing multiple COVID-19 vaccines we are giving Australians the best shot at early access to a vaccine, should trials prove successful,” the Prime Minister said.
“We aren’t putting all our eggs in one basket and we will continue to pursue further vaccines should our medical experts recommend them.
“There are no guarantees that these vaccines will prove successful, however our Strategy puts Australia at the front of the queue, if our medical experts give the vaccines the green light.”
The Novavax and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines are expected to be available in Australia from early to mid 2021 – subject to approval by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for use in Australia.
The Pfizer/BioNTech is a messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) type vaccine and the Novavax vaccine is a protein vaccine containing an adjuvant (Matrix-M) which enhances the immune response.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine portfolio now had two protein vaccines and one mRNA and one viral vector type vaccine, strengthening Australia’s position to access safe and effective vaccines as soon as available.
“The goal and the expectation is that Australians who sought vaccination will be vaccinated within 2021,” Minister Hunt said.
“There are no surprises, health and aged care workers and the elderly and vulnerable will be the first to gain access to a vaccine that’s deemed safe and effective.”
These new agreements build on the Australian Government’s existing commitments to purchase the University of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine and a local candidate from the University of Queensland together with Australian manufacturer CSL Limited (Seqirus).
Subject to the vaccine being registered by the TGA as safe and effective, preliminary advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation is that the priority groups for the COVID-19 vaccine are those people who are at increased risk of exposure, such as health and aged care workers, the elderly and those working in services critical to societal functioning.
The Australian Government is currently consulting with the states and territories, key medical experts and industry peak bodies on the framework for the initial roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccination program in early 2021.
Key vaccination sites will initially include GPs, GP respiratory clinics, state and territory vaccination sites and workplaces such as aged care facilities.
Australia has a world class vaccination program with world leading vaccination rates. The COVID-19 vaccine will not be mandatory and individuals will maintain the option to choose not to vaccinate. The vaccine will be available for free to those who choose to be vaccinated.
This commitment forms a crucial part of the Australian Government’s response to COVID-19 and the strategy to protect the health and wellbeing of Australians and the national economy.
Internationally, Australia has also joined the COVAX facility, which will provide access to a large portfolio of COVID-19 candidates and manufactures around the world for up to 50 per cent of the Australian population.
The Australian Government has also committed to support access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for the Pacific and Southeast Asia, as part of a shared recovery for our region from the pandemic, as well as $80 million to the international COVAX Facility for the benefit of high-risk populations in developing countries.
Our agreements allow Australia to donate to partners in the Pacific and Southeast Asia, should these vaccines prove safe and effective, and units are available above domestic needs.
The Government is contributing significantly to vaccine research and development both in Australia and around the world, investing $363 million in vaccines, therapeutics and COVID medicines – including $257 million in vaccines.
The roll-out of a potential COVID-19 vaccine is a significant logistical challenge, suppliers that have a proven track record in vaccine logistics and distribution or booking systems, tracking and reporting of vaccines are being invited to participate in a limited tender process.
As part of our COVID-19 vaccines strategy and broader vaccines strategy, the Australian Government is considering an amendment to the Australian Immunisation Register Act 2015 to mandate reporting of all vaccinations to the Register.
For the latest COVID-19 vaccine information visit: health.gov.au

Patients in the Dubbo region will have access to a 24-hour telestroke service, as part of a $21.7 million groundbreaking program being rolled out across NSW.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Federal Regional Health Minister Mark Coulton were joined by NSW Minister for Mental Health, Regional Health and Women, Bronnie Taylor, and Member for Dubbo Dugald Saunders, to make the announcement at Dubbo Base Hospital ahead of today’s joint Federal-State Bilateral Regional Health Forum.
Mr Hazzard said the jointly funded, lifesaving telestroke service exemplifies how the State and Federal Government can work together to bring world-class health care to people in regional and rural areas.
“This statewide telestroke service effectively breaks down geographical barriers, immediately linking local doctors with specialists, so patients can be diagnosed and treated as fast as possible,” Mr Hazzard said.
“Today, with key State and Federal health experts and consumers, we are all focused on how we can create a sustainable health service for rural and regional communities.”
Mr Coulton said expanding telehealth services, such as this, in the regions meant local doctors in Dubbo would be supported by first-class specialists to deliver enhanced stroke care and treatment for local patients.
“Stroke is one of Australia’s biggest killers and is a leading cause of disability – which is why rapid access to specialists is so important in reducing the impact of stroke,” Mr Coulton said.
“In the unfortunate event of a stroke, this service will ensure that people in the Dubbo region have access to specialist stroke consultants, which will be a huge benefit to patients and their families.”
Mr Coulton said today’s Bilateral Regional Health Forum will continue to look at innovative ways in which the NSW Government can partner with the Federal Government to deliver better access and health outcomes for rural residents.
“This year’s Federal Budget has again demonstrated the Liberal and Nationals Government’s strong commitment to rural health with a $1.2 billion injection to improve healthcare in the bush,” Mr Coulton said.
“That package includes funding to implement locally-led primary care models in southern and western NSW – including the four Ts model for the Dubbo region – to help address workforce challenges and improve health service delivery.”
Mrs Taylor said telehealth for mental health consultations had been a lifesaver for people in regional and rural areas during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This year’s Forum will also focus on supporting resilience in regional communities. The community spirit of people in regional communities is well known, but multiple crises in the past year – drought, bushfires and now the pandemic – and causing significant distress for many people, placing their mental health at risk,” Mrs Taylor said.
The NSW Government committed $14.6 million over 2018-19 and 2019-20 for the Emergency Drought Mental Health Package to improve access to and delivery of mental health services to rural and remote NSW.
The Forum will discuss the impact of drought, bushfires and COVID-19 on the mental health of patients, clinicians and residents in the regions; as well as the use of telehealth for sustainable models of healthcare, including allied health and smaller rural hospitals.
Mr Saunders said he was pleased the Forum, established last year, was being held in Dubbo and welcomed the telestroke service announcement.
“This collaboration between the bush and the city and State and Federal governments has the potential to change lives in our community for the better, forever,” Mr Saunders said.
In June, the NSW Government announced the service, which has already helped 200 patients. Telestroke will be rolled out to up to 23 sites over three years and follows a successful pilot between Hunter New England, Central Coast and Mid North Coast local health districts. Telestroke is now available at Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Lismore and Orange with Dubbo due to come on line later this month.
The funding to deliver Telestroke comprises $12.3 million from the NSW Government and $9.4 million from the Commonwealth Government.
In 2018-19, 13,651 people were hospitalised for a stroke in NSW. Of those, 32 per cent were from regional, rural or remote areas.
The NSW Government has committed $10.1 billion in health infrastructure investment across the state in this term of government.
Since 2011, the NSW Government has built or upgraded more than 130 hospitals and health facilities, with over 80 projects currently underway – more than two-thirds of those have been in regional and rural areas.

The RBA’s decision to cut interest rates to new historic lows and start a new round of quantitative easing is a vote of no confidence in the Government’s recovery plans, Greens Economic Justice spokesperson Nick McKim says.
“This decision shows the RBA has no faith in the Liberals’ agenda of tax cuts for the super wealthy and more handouts for the big corporate polluters,” Senator McKim said.
“Cutting rates to 0.1 per cent and $100 billion of quantitative easing is a sign that the RBA knows that things will continue to worsen for the economy because of deliberate decisions taken by Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg.”
“It suggests that the RBA expects tax cuts will be saved rather than spent, as they were last year before COVID hit.”
“The RBA wouldn’t need to be going to such extremes if the Government was actually trying to fix the economy by investing serious money in green infrastructure and setting income support above the poverty line.”
“Australians face more difficult times ahead unless the Liberals dramatically change course and start investing for the future, and ensuring a decent quality of life for all.”
“Under this government, printed money that should pump prime the economy is instead likely to inflate the housing market.”
“This will be doubly so if responsible lending laws are overturned.”
“The double-whammy of cheap money and looser lending standards is a recipe for an even bigger housing bubble.”

Australian Greens Animal Welfare spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has responded to the death of the Melbourne Cup racehorse Anthony Van Dyck.
Senator Faruqi said:
“This is the brutal reality of horse racing. Anthony Van Dyck’s death is a tragic but hardly unforeseeable outcome. Seven horses have now died as a result of the last eight Melbourne Cup races.
“Horse racing is deadly and completely inhumane. We need to shut this industry down.
“Killing horses for entertainment is barbaric. There is no place for commercial horse racing in our society.
“Horse racing and gambling is a toxic mix of death and misery for animals. There are no winners.
“The gambling-fuelled racing industry cannot be trusted or fixed. Last week I called on the Victorian authorities to cancel the Cup. Of course they pressed ahead with the race, but now, frankly, they have blood on their hands.
“Year after year we see horses die at the Melbourne Cup. No horse is safe in this race.
“It’s time to recognise that horse racing is completely incompatible with animal welfare. These are beautiful animals, sentient beings, who are treated as fodder for the profits of the gambling and racing industries,” she said.

Today the International Monetary Fund has  recommended that Australia invests in child care spending to increase female labour force participation.
This latest G-20 Report on Strong, Sustainable, Balanced and Inclusive Growth prepared by the staff at the IMF “discusses the G-20’s progress during the past year toward the goal of strong, sustainable, balanced, and inclusive growth and provides policy recommendations to help reach this goal.”
The report recommends advanced economies implement labour market reforms, and identifies boosting female labour force participation through child care spending as a priority measure for Australia.
The Morrison Government seem to be the only ones who do not understand the importance of investing in child care for our economic recovery.
The evidence is overwhelming that investing in child care is needed to address the financial disincentives that stop women working.
Yet Scott Morrison’s Budget has no plan to boost female workforce participation or to make child care more affordable.
Just last month the Government’s own data confirmed that child care fees have soared by 35.9 per cent since 2013, crippling family budgets and locking women out of the workforce.
That is why an Albanese Labor Government will introduce Labor’s Cheaper Child Care plan, which will:

• Scrap the $10,560 child care subsidy cap to stop women losing money from an extra day’s work;
• Lift the maximum child care subsidy rate to 90 per cent; and
• Increase child care subsidy rates and taper them for every family earning less than $530,000.

Labor will keep working to fix Australia’s broken child care system, which currently locks out more than 100,000 families because they just can’t afford it.
The Productivity Commission will review the sector, aiming to implement a universal 90 per cent subsidy for all families, while the ACCC will design a price regulation mechanism to drive down child care costs.
The evidence is clear that removing the financial disincentives for women to work more is great for families and great for the economy.
In the worst recession in a hundred years, we have to make sure women aren’t forced to choose between their family and their jobs.

The RBA’s decision to cut interest rates to new historic lows and start a new round of quantitative easing is a vote of no confidence in the Government’s recovery plans, Greens Economic Justice spokesperson Nick McKim says.
“This decision shows the RBA has no faith in the Liberals’ agenda of tax cuts for the super wealthy and more handouts for the big corporate polluters,” Senator McKim said.
“Cutting rates to 0.1 per cent and $100 billion of quantitative easing is a sign that the RBA knows that things will continue to worsen for the economy because of deliberate decisions taken by Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg.”
“It suggests that the RBA expects tax cuts will be saved rather than spent, as they were last year before COVID hit.”
“The RBA wouldn’t need to be going to such extremes if the Government was actually trying to fix the economy by investing serious money in green infrastructure and setting income support above the poverty line.”
“Australians face more difficult times ahead unless the Liberals dramatically change course and start investing for the future, and ensuring a decent quality of life for all.”
“Under this government, printed money that should pump prime the economy is instead likely to inflate the housing market.”
“This will be doubly so if responsible lending laws are overturned.”
“The double-whammy of cheap money and looser lending standards is a recipe for an even bigger housing bubble.”

Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt MP, has said the Government’s much anticipated response to growing concern about rorts in parliament looked like a protection racket for politicians that would fail to discourage and root out corrupt behaviour.
Instead of the government’s toothless model, Mr Bandt called on Morrison to allow debate on the Greens model for a Federal ICAC, which has been approved by both integrity experts and the Senate. It has already passed the upper house and could become legislation by next Monday.
“The Liberals are still running a protection racket for corrupt politicians,” said Mr Bandt.
“After 18 months of delay, the Liberals have rejected the Greens’ model.
“Instead of a tough watchdog, it’s a toothless tiger.
“In announcing his model, Christian Porter pushed back hard against the Greens’ model for a Federal ICAC and it’s not hard to see why.
“The Liberals’ model is limited only to serious criminal conduct, meaning many of the misconduct scandals involving current and former Government MPs would not be caught. It won’t hold public hearings, so politicians could escape scrutiny for years. The public sector branch won’t be able to start investigations under its own steam, so whistleblowers will need to jump through hoops to warn about political corruption.
“This consultation draft could push back action for another 12 months. This sends a green light to any corrupt minister that they’ve got another year to milk every last cent out of our democracy.
“Christian Porter warned that the Greens National Integrity Commission Bill would be too powerful for them to support, so he has come up with a defanged model.
“People are fed up with politics. Every day they see it work for big corporations and developers, but not for the public. This sham ICAC will do nothing to change that.
“With a Greens bill for a Federal ICAC with teeth already through the Senate, we could be rooting out corruption by lunchtime Monday. Bring on the Greens bill for a National Integrity Commission in the House and we can start rooting out corruption next week.”

Scott Morrison must immediately intervene to stop BP from closing its Kwinana Refinery in Western Australia.
News of the planned closure comes just six weeks after the Prime Minister said: “The Government is committed to a sovereign on-shore refinery capacity despite the threat to the viability of the industry.”
It’s not enough for Mr Morrison to say he is disappointed about this decision, which would cost 600 jobs.
He needs to get on the telephone to BP and tell them to reverse the decision.
Australia is an island nation and fuel security should be our top priority.
Despite his promises, Scott Morrison has failed to protect Australia’s fuel security, as well as our crucial refining industry and the jobs it supports. We are increasingly at risk of being a country that imports all of our fuel.
Today, Australians have once again been reminded what an announcement from this Prime Minister is worth; absolutely nothing.
He is always there for the photo op, but never there for the follow up.
Labor took a plan to the 2019 election to establish a national fuel reserve and has been calling for years for the Government to secure the future of our four remaining refineries with real fuel security policies, which Resources Minister Matt Canavan called a “thought bubble.”
After seven years of failing to deliver a critical manufacturing plan, it is now incumbent on the Government to do more to support manufacturing businesses and their workers.
 

The Morrison Government’s Local Recovery Fund is now open for 25 select regions experiencing high unemployment to develop local and tailored projects, to help Australians get back into work and assist communities recover from the economic impact of COVID-19.
Applications are now open for local groups and organisations to apply to receive funding ranging from $10,000 to $200,000, to develop projects, including mentoring, training and reskilling, in line with local employment needs.
The Local Recovery Fund is a key component of the Local Jobs Program and will fund projects, or parts of larger projects, that are not being supported through existing programs or activities.
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, said the fund will help drive job outcomes in the selected regions with locally led initiatives aimed at getting more Australians back into work.
“Local Jobs is focused on reskilling, upskilling and creating employment pathways to help people move back into jobs as the economy recovers from COVID-19,” Minister Cash said.
“Projects supported under the Local Recovery Fund will be locally driven initiatives that are aligned to each regions employment related priorities, as identified in a Local Job Plan.
“I strongly encourage stakeholders in each of the eligible employment regions to work together and put forward innovative project ideas under the Local Recovery Fund.
As part of the Local Jobs Program 25 Employment Facilitators, have been engaged to help connect job seekers to local employment opportunities.
The Employment Facilitators will chair Local Jobs and Skills Taskforces across Australia. The taskforces will bring together local employers, employment and training providers and other local stakeholders, to collaborate and develop projects funded by the Local Recovery Fund to get job seekers back into work.
“We will do this by getting Australians back to work and by supporting locally-driven pathways to jobs.”
Applications for the Local Recovery Fund will open from 3 November with funding available from mid-December 2020.
The employment regions included in this program are listed below.

State/Territory	Employment Region
New South Wales	Sydney South West
	Illawarra South Coast
	Hunter
	New England and North West
	Mid North Coast
	North Coast
	Sydney Greater West
Queensland	Gold Coast
	Cairns
	Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast
	Townsville
	Wivenhoe
Tasmania	Hobart and Southern Tasmania
	North and North Western Tasmania
Victoria	South Eastern Melbourne and Peninsula
	Gippsland
	Western Melbourne
	Inner Metropolitan Melbourne
	North Western Melbourne
South Australia	Adelaide North
	Murray and South East
	North West Country
Western Australia	South West WA
	Perth South
Northern Territory	Darwin and Alice Springs

Further details on how to apply can be found at www.dese.gov.au/local-jobs-program

Today’s Australian Bureau of Statistics lending indicators data for September 2020 shows the number of loans for the construction new dwellings increased by 27.1 per cent, rising to the highest amount since the ABS began collecting this data in 2002.
Also today, the ABS building approvals data for September 2020 showed total number of dwelling approvals rose by 15.4 per cent in September 2020, to be 8.8 per cent higher than a year ago.
Building approvals for private sector houses were up 9.7 per cent, with over 10,000 approvals recorded for the first time since June 2018.
These latest resounding results demonstrate yet again that the Morrison Government’s HomeBuilder programme is delivering the right support to our vital construction industry.
Housing Industry Association Chief Economist Tim Reardon said of today’s record lending figures;
“HomeBuilder was designed to provide consumers with confidence to return to the detached housing market. It has been very effective at achieving this goal.”
“It is evident in today’s data that HomeBuilder has been successful in creating work on the ground in the December quarter. This will protect jobs in the construction industry and the wider economy.”
Chief Executive of the Property Council of Australia Ken Morrison said today HomeBuilder is doing its job to stimulate activity and keep people employed;
“HomeBuilder has been the popstar of government stimulus policies released to date: highly effective, immediate and great value for money.”
“It has helped protect hundreds of thousands of jobs and stimulated activity right at the time the economy needed it most.”
Today’s record ABS lending indicators data and building approval rises are in line with other leading indicators that show HomeBuilder is working to support and protect the jobs of the one million Australians in the construction industry, for example;

• The Housing Industry Association New Home Sales data for September 2020 shows in the four months since HomeBuilder was announced, new home sales have risen 49.8 per cent compared to the four months to June 2020. The data also shows sales have been higher in each month since HomeBuilder was announced than any month in the past two years.

• HomeBuilder has seen first home buyers flood into the housing market with the number of loans to first home buyers reaching the highest number in over a decade. The total number of owner occupier first home buyer loan commitments rose 6.0 per cent, reaching 13,040, seasonally adjusted. This represents 40 per cent of the total number of owner occupier loans issued in September.

Across the board the construction industry is saying that HomeBuilder is delivering for Australia’s tradies and home buyers, which is driving stimulus in the economy at a time its needed most.
The Morrison Government is committed to doing all we can to help Australians get into a home of their own as part of our Economic Recovery Plan for Australia.