Yet another devastating climate change report details that the Great Barrier Reef is all but doomed without radical climate action. It begs the question: what will it take for our leaders to act?
Greens spokesperson for Healthy Oceans Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said immediate transformative action to reverse climate change impacts on the reef is possible, but political will and determination is lacking.
“It’s disgraceful that reports like these are becoming normalised under the Liberal Government’s watch – the destruction of our climate isn’t a natural phenomenon, it’s a political decision.
“Governments have choices around acting on climate change, and they’re making the wrong ones.
“Our Government has all the science and the technology it needs to create radical change, but it is failing miserably at showing the leadership needed for real action.
“This latest report clearly indicates that we are set to lose 70 – 99% of corals on the Great Barrier Reef unless radical action is taken now.
“If the Government isn’t motivated by common sense and decency to protect the life on this planet that sustains us, maybe the threat of losing the $5 billion in tourism income from the reef will motivate it to act?”
Category: Australian News
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New requirements to protect senior Australians
New requirements starting today for aged care providers will better protect older Australians.
Launched today, The Morrison Government has invested $67.2 million to implement the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) which offers greater security and peace-of-mind for Australians in residential care settings and their families.
Under the scheme, residential aged care providers are required to manage all incidents of abuse or neglect, with a focus on the safety, health, wellbeing and quality of life and reduce preventable incidents from reoccurring.
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services said it was another step forward as the Morrison Government drives generational change of the sector.
“The Australian Government has never been more committed to keeping older Australians safe and supporting the dedicated staff who assist them,” Minister Colbeck said.
“Any mistreatment or assault of a care recipient is unacceptable and it is important that these incidents are managed and prevented from occurring in future.
“Today’s launch of the SIRS is a vitally important step to usher in a new era of aged care in this country – building an aged care system that puts people at its heart, and reassures families that their loved ones are safe and secure.”
From today, providers must implement and maintain an incident management system to identify, record, manage and resolve all incidents.
The scheme builds on the previous compulsory reporting and expands the range of incidents that must be reported to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
This includes unreasonable use of force, unlawful sexual contact and sexual misconduct, neglect, psychological or emotional abuse, stealing or financial coercion by a staff member, inappropriate use of restraint, unexplained absences and unexpected death.
Significantly, resident-on-resident incidents caused by someone with an assessed cognitive impairment will no longer be exempt from reporting. Lifting the exemption is in line with the recommendations in the final report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, which oversees the Serious Incident Response Scheme, will also have stronger powers to hold providers to account and insist on improvements.
A prevalence and feasibility study to inform the possible expansion of the scheme is due to report by 30 June 2021.
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 venues announced
Cities across Australia have received a significant boost after being announced as host venues for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. The major tournament is being held in Australia for the first time and will be co-hosted with New Zealand.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Marise Payne and Minister for Sport, Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck said after a challenging year, this would be a win for communities across Australia, as we recover from a health and economic crisis.
The host cities and venues include:
- Brisbane – Brisbane Stadium
- Sydney – Stadium Australia and Sydney Football Stadium
- Melbourne – Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
- Adelaide – Hindmarsh Stadium
- Perth – Perth Rectangular Stadium
Minister Payne said hosting the matches in each centre would shine a light on women’s sport.
“The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup will strengthen our already solid reputations as world leaders in women’s sport,” Minister Payne said.
“It will be a platform to inspire girls across Australia,” she said. “They will learn that with courage, focus and determination, they can reach any goal in sport or in life.
“That’s an important message and Australia will be delivering it to the world.”
The competition will champion the further development of women’s football in both our countries, the Asia-Pacific region and globally, creating a profound and enduring legacy for the women’s game, Minister Payne said.
The Australian Government provided $5 million to Football Federation Australia (FFA) over three years from 2016-17 to develop the joint bid “As One” with New Zealand Football.
It will be the largest FIFA Women’s World Cup in history, with FIFA expanding it from 24 to 32 teams.
Minister Colbeck said each city and regional centre would reap the benefits as FIFA hosts.
“The benefits of tourism and the injection into local economies should not be understated,” Minister Colbeck said.
“We have already witnessed the capacity of both nations to host world-class sporting events and this will now showcase Australia’s regional centres like never before.
“Witnessing the world’s best female footballers play and train in local regions is also likely to result in a significant surge in interest in local competition and that is something to celebrate.”
Minister Colbeck said the Federal Government’s support for the event aligns with both health and sports initiatives under the national sport plan – Sport 2030 – to inspire girls and women to participate in sport and increase their physical activity.
Sport 2030 has a key focus on improving attitudes towards gender equality in sport.
“Hosting the Women’s World Cup will showcase improving attitudes towards gender equality in sport and strengthen Australia’s reputation as a world leader in promoting women’s sport and as a premier host of major international sporting events.”
The past two years have seen landmark achievements in Australia for women in sport, including football, with improved pay and conditions and record crowds turning out to support our female athletes.
Queensland pays the price for Morrison’s flawed vaccine rollout
The Greens have laid the blame for Brisbane’s three-day COVID lockdown at the Morrison government’s door, saying its failure to ensure all frontline healthcare workers are vaccinated has triggered a necessary public health response that will damage already struggling businesses and force more workers into unemployment.
The more than 130,000 people currently receiving JobSeeker in Brisbane will have their safety net slashed to below the poverty line on Thursday after the Coalition and Labor refused to support the Greens’ proposal for an $80 a day payment.
Queensland Senator and Greens leader in the Senate Larissa Waters said:
“The people of Brisbane and Queensland can thank the Morrison government for this lockdown.
“The PM promised us that four million Australians would be vaccinated by early April. But with two days until April less than 15% of that number – 550,000 people – have received a dose. In Queensland that number is only 65,000.
“The PM must explain why there are still unvaccinated frontline healthcare workers treating COVID patients in Queensland hospitals.
“Not only has this government failed the people of Queensland and Australia with its flawed vaccine rollout, it’s abandoned businesses and workers by pulling away the safety nets that have allowed hundreds of thousands to remain employed and kept millions above the poverty line.
“By ending JobKeeper the government consigned 150,000 to unemployment nationally, right at the time when the JobSeeker unemployment benefit is being slashed to $43.57 a day. The Brisbane lockdown will guarantee that more people will be forced out of work and into poverty.
“It’s unconscionable that this government can leave thousands of businesses and millions of workers to fend for themselves knowing full well that their failure to bring COVID under control leaves them vulnerable.”
New lights to boost cricket and AFL numbers at Marrara
The Morrison Government is helping deliver more sporting opportunities for Northern Territory clubs with Darwin’s first night cricket venue now ready for competition.
The installation of new light towers at Marrara’s TIO Stadium is expected to significantly boost participation in cricket and AFL competitions, allowing night matches and training across all levels.
The Federal Government contributed $500,000 to the $1.54 million project as part of its Community Sport Infrastructure grant program.
Minister for Sport Richard Colbeck said the upgrade will provide increased opportunities for cricketers to train and play.
“Installing lighting at the venue not only allows players to escape the heat and humidity in the north but will support female and junior participation in social and competitive cricket”, Minister Colbeck said.
Lighting the oval will support game and training fixtures and open up new timeslots to accommodate junior and women’s games during the week, increasing participation and helping to attract and retain players.
The installation of floodlights will also benefit AFL who use the facility to train and play during the football season, resulting in almost full-time use of the facility year-round. The lighting can also be adjusted to accommodate various sports, training, general event lighting and senior cricket matches.
Senator for the Northern Territory Dr Sam McMahon said in addition to increasing grassroots participation in sport, it’s also hoped the new lighting will see the Marrara cricket ground attract teams and host further domestic and international matches in Darwin.
“This is a wonderful facility for NT Cricket and the wider Darwin community, and it has taken a real team effort to deliver this project, bringing together the support of the Australian Government and Northern Territory Government,” Senator McMahon said.
Minister Colbeck said the Australian Government’s $100 million Community Sport Infrastructure grant program is a valuable investment in building community spirit and pride.
“This program is not just about building better sporting facilities, it is about building stronger, healthier communities by promoting physical activity, social connection, and economic vitality.”
Labor’s Electric Car Discount and Community Battery Plan to Cut Household Bills and Emissions
An Albanese Labor Government will deliver an Electric Car Discount and Power to the People – Community Battery Plan that cuts taxes, unlocks consumer choice, reduces power and fuel costs for families, and cuts emissions.
Under Labor, electric vehicles will be cheaper.
Just 0.7 per cent of cars sold in Australia are electric, compared to a global average of 4.2 per cent, and 75 per cent in Norway.
A majority of Australians say they would consider buying an electric model as their next car, but because of scaremongering and the policy vacuum under the Morrison government, electric vehicles remain unaffordable for most Australians.
Labor will cut government taxes on non-luxury electric vehicles, including import taxes and fringe benefits tax, to give people choice and ensure that more Australians who want electric cars can afford them.
By reducing upfront costs, Labor’s Electric Car Discount will encourage uptake, cutting fuel and transport costs for households and reducing emissions at the same time.
Labor’s Electric Car Discount will encourage car makers to supply more affordable electric vehicles to Australia which will in turn increase competition, drive down price and give consumers more choice.
An Albanese Labor Government will also develop Australia’s first National Electric Vehicle Strategy.
Labor will pursue policy settings to encourage Australian manufacturing of EV components, and consider leveraging existing Commonwealth investments in its fleet and infrastructure spend to increase electric vehicle stock.
An Albanese Labor Government will also deliver Power to the People – the community battery plan to cut power bills, support the grid and reduce emissions.
Australian households have been voting with their feet on rooftop solar.
Our 1 in 5 solar households is world-leading.
But without battery storage, solar households are still reliant on the grid when the sun isn’t shining.
Only 1 in 60 households have battery storage, because the upfront costs are still just too high.
Labor’s Power to the People is a $200 million investment to install 400 community batteries across the country.
It will support 100, 000 households by storing energy from solar households during the day, and drawing on it at night – reducing power bills, reducing demand on the grid at peak times, and cutting emissions.
Households that can’t install solar (like apartments and renters) can participate by drawing from excess energy stored in community batteries.
The technology of the future to cut household bills and emissions is already here, we just need the policy settings to unleash it.
When it comes to lower power bills and reducing fuel costs for families, Labor is on your side.
That’s exactly what an Albanese Labor Government will deliver.
Under Labor, electric vehicles will be cheaper.
Just 0.7 per cent of cars sold in Australia are electric, compared to a global average of 4.2 per cent, and 75 per cent in Norway.
A majority of Australians say they would consider buying an electric model as their next car, but because of scaremongering and the policy vacuum under the Morrison government, electric vehicles remain unaffordable for most Australians.
Labor will cut government taxes on non-luxury electric vehicles, including import taxes and fringe benefits tax, to give people choice and ensure that more Australians who want electric cars can afford them.
By reducing upfront costs, Labor’s Electric Car Discount will encourage uptake, cutting fuel and transport costs for households and reducing emissions at the same time.
Labor’s Electric Car Discount will encourage car makers to supply more affordable electric vehicles to Australia which will in turn increase competition, drive down price and give consumers more choice.
An Albanese Labor Government will also develop Australia’s first National Electric Vehicle Strategy.
Labor will pursue policy settings to encourage Australian manufacturing of EV components, and consider leveraging existing Commonwealth investments in its fleet and infrastructure spend to increase electric vehicle stock.
An Albanese Labor Government will also deliver Power to the People – the community battery plan to cut power bills, support the grid and reduce emissions.
Australian households have been voting with their feet on rooftop solar.
Our 1 in 5 solar households is world-leading.
But without battery storage, solar households are still reliant on the grid when the sun isn’t shining.
Only 1 in 60 households have battery storage, because the upfront costs are still just too high.
Labor’s Power to the People is a $200 million investment to install 400 community batteries across the country.
It will support 100, 000 households by storing energy from solar households during the day, and drawing on it at night – reducing power bills, reducing demand on the grid at peak times, and cutting emissions.
Households that can’t install solar (like apartments and renters) can participate by drawing from excess energy stored in community batteries.
The technology of the future to cut household bills and emissions is already here, we just need the policy settings to unleash it.
When it comes to lower power bills and reducing fuel costs for families, Labor is on your side.
That’s exactly what an Albanese Labor Government will deliver.
Labor Leader Anthony Albanese said:
“Only Labor is on your side when it comes to reducing power bills and fuel costs for families.”
“Labor’s Power to the People will invest in Australia’s future and help Australia catch up to the rest of the world when it comes to electric vehicles.”
Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said:
“Labor’s Power to the People will unlock the full potential of rooftop solar for Australian households – lower power bills, cut emissions, and help stabilise the grid.”
“Labor’s Electric Car Discount will cut government taxes on electric vehicles, and reduce day-to day transport costs and emissions for Australian families.”
Discover space and future jobs in Adelaide
Young Australians will be inspired to dream big and consider a space career, with the launch of the Australian Space Discovery Centre in Adelaide.
Located in the innovation precinct of Lot Fourteen, the Australian Space Discovery Centre will showcase hands-on interactive space exhibits and provide practical advice for those wanting to pursue a career in the growing space sector.
There is also a state-of-the-art Mission Control Centre on site, which will simultaneously inspire people who visit, while also making it easier for local start-ups to control satellites and space missions.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Australian Space Discovery Centre will be the number one place to visit for those interested in Australia’s space industry.
“The Australian Space Discovery Centre will be the go-to destination for curious minds to learn about the wonders of space and to see themselves as part of Australia’s space story,” the Prime Minister said.
“But the Discovery Centre isn’t just for the young and the young at heart – the cutting-edge Mission Control Centre will enable our local space businesses to track and control their very own missions and satellites, providing critical new capability here on home soil.”
South Australian Premier Steven Marshall said the Australian Space Discovery Centre and Mission Control cemented South Australia as the space capital of Australia.
“The Federal Government has an ambition to grow the size of the Australian space economy to $12 billion by 2030 and create an additional 20,000 jobs,” said the Premier.
“South Australia will lead this charge – and that’s a coup for our state. Young South Australians should have stars in their eyes.”
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Christian Porter said the exciting national facilities are an investment in Australia’s future – including future jobs in space and other industries.
“Careers in space aren’t all about being an astronaut. From manufacturing, to engineering, space medicine, geology, AI and computing, there are thousands of opportunities being created in this rapidly-growing sector – and we want to inspire the next generation to consider one of these exciting jobs,” Minister Porter said.
Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher said that space was at the heart of a 10-year agreement to grow Adelaide as an innovative and vibrant city.
“The Adelaide City Deal sets out a plan to boost the economic and social vibrancy of Adelaide. The Discovery Centre and Mission Control Centre at Lot Fourteen will be an important part of this plan,” Minister Fletcher said.
Head of the Australian Space Agency Enrico Palermo said the Mission Control Centre was part of the Agency’s Space Infrastructure Fund, targeting investment in common-user platforms to allow Australian businesses and researchers to focus on space-related solutions.
“We are establishing infrastructure for critical space flight and engineering capability. Companies and researchers at university will be able to utilise the Mission Control Centre for pre-flight testing, launch support, as well as communications during flight,” Mr Palermo said.
The Australian Space Discovery Centre will open to the general public in May following rigorous testing with community groups and other organisations throughout April. The Centre is being delivered in partnership between the Australian Space Agency and Questacon.
Since 1 July 2018, the Morrison Government has invested over $700 million into the Australian civil space sector as part of our goal to triple the sector’s size to $12 billion and create up to an extra 20,000 jobs by 2030.
Cabinet reshuffle is cold comfort to Australian women say Greens
The Greens say the Prime Minister’s reshuffle is rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic and won’t fix entrenched cultural and systemic issues in parliament or improve the lives of Australian women.
Greens leader in the Senate and spokesperson on women Larissa Waters said:
“A whole one additional woman in Cabinet will not change the rank and sexist culture in this government, the Liberal Party, or the parliament.
“How is it possible that after all that has happened over the past few weeks, Christian Porter and Linda Reynolds remain in the Cabinet? If the PM thinks moving Porter to a different ministry will make Australian women forget the allegations against him he’s reading us wrong, again.
“The PM has shown that once again, his priority is to his mates, not women or victims and survivors of violence.
“If the PM was serious about fixing the culture in parliament he would appoint a Cabinet of 50% women, and ensure that it also reflected the diversity of our community by including people of colour and people of differing abilities, races and religions.
“The newly announced Cabinet taskforce on women’s equality, safety, economic security, health and wellbeing should start with reinstating the women’s budget impact statement axed by Tony Abbott in 2014. For decades prior to that the statement had applied an essential gender lens on all budget decisions.
“That taskforce should also implement all 55 of the Respect@Work recommendations, fully fund frontline domestic violence and sexual assault services, legislate to end the gender pay gap, strengthen sexual harassment laws, make early childhood education free, build enough social housing and fund and resource compulsory whole-of-school consent training in all schools nationwide.
“These are practical and material steps that this government can be taking right now to end gender inequality, stop gendered violence and improve the lives of all Australian women.
“We need more action and fewer press conferences.”
Labor’s Plan for a National Reconstruction Fund Creating Jobs and Driving Investment
An Albanese Labor Government will establish a National Reconstruction Fund to create secure jobs for Australian workers, drive regional economic development, boost our sovereign capability and diversify the nation’s economy.
The COVID pandemic has exposed serious deficiencies in Australia’s economy, in particular our ability to manufacture products and be globally competitive when it comes to innovation and technology.
Building new industries and boosting our existing industries represents an opportunity for Australia to recover from the COVID pandemic with a stronger economy. After 8 long years of policy drift presided over by consecutive Liberal leaders, this country needs a government with a vision to put the country back on a road to prosperity.
Labor’s plan for a National Reconstruction Fund will allocate $15 billion to partner with the private sector, including superannuation funds to support investments which demonstrate they will grow the economy and increase employment.
From commercialising our historic capacity in science and innovation to boosting the development of medical devices and pharmaceuticals, through to reviving our capability to make cars, trains and ships, today’s announcement will support the businesses in these industries to secure the capital and investment to grow and prosper.
Australia must be a country that makes things, to have our own industrial and manufacturing capabilities.
If there is anything that COVID has taught us, it is the need for Australia to be a place which makes things- to have our own industrial and manufacturing capabilities – our own sovereign capabilities.
This will build on Labor’s Future Made in Australia agenda to invest in Australia and Australian workers.
The Fund will be legislated and be governed by an independent Board using the successful model which Labor created through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.
It will provide $15 billion of investment through a combination of loans, equity, co-investment and guarantees. The Fund will be administered on the basis that it will achieve a return to cover borrowing costs, with an expected positive underlying cash impact.
Labor’s plan to unlock investment opportunities is the first part of our comprehensive plan of our national reconstruction agenda.
Australians deserve a government that is on their side.
The COVID pandemic has exposed serious deficiencies in Australia’s economy, in particular our ability to manufacture products and be globally competitive when it comes to innovation and technology.
Building new industries and boosting our existing industries represents an opportunity for Australia to recover from the COVID pandemic with a stronger economy. After 8 long years of policy drift presided over by consecutive Liberal leaders, this country needs a government with a vision to put the country back on a road to prosperity.
Labor’s plan for a National Reconstruction Fund will allocate $15 billion to partner with the private sector, including superannuation funds to support investments which demonstrate they will grow the economy and increase employment.
From commercialising our historic capacity in science and innovation to boosting the development of medical devices and pharmaceuticals, through to reviving our capability to make cars, trains and ships, today’s announcement will support the businesses in these industries to secure the capital and investment to grow and prosper.
Australia must be a country that makes things, to have our own industrial and manufacturing capabilities.
If there is anything that COVID has taught us, it is the need for Australia to be a place which makes things- to have our own industrial and manufacturing capabilities – our own sovereign capabilities.
This will build on Labor’s Future Made in Australia agenda to invest in Australia and Australian workers.
The Fund will be legislated and be governed by an independent Board using the successful model which Labor created through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.
It will provide $15 billion of investment through a combination of loans, equity, co-investment and guarantees. The Fund will be administered on the basis that it will achieve a return to cover borrowing costs, with an expected positive underlying cash impact.
Labor’s plan to unlock investment opportunities is the first part of our comprehensive plan of our national reconstruction agenda.
Australians deserve a government that is on their side.
Appointment to Attorney General and Minister for Industrial Relations
I am honoured the Prime Minster has today appointed me as Attorney General and Minister for Industrial Relations.
As Attorney-General, I will, among many tasks, work closely with Senator Amanda Stoker to finalise the Government’s response to the Respect@Work report.
In my role as Industrial Relations Minister, I look forward to working with all stakeholders to ensure that employers, in particular small businesses, and their employees are given better access to information about their rights and responsibilities. This will help create greater confidence for small business to employ more Australians.
I want to thank my predecessor the Hon Christian Porter MP for his work in the Attorney General and Industrial Relations portfolios.
As Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business I am extremely proud of my record. As Employment Minister, I worked with colleagues to oversee the largest return in jobs, following the short and sharp recession caused by the covid-19 pandemic. I am also proud to have initiated the overhaul and modernisation of our employment services system to create more efficient and better outcomes for job seekers.
It was an honour to serve as Minister for Skills where skills reforms agreed by the National Cabinet have been progressed and I thank my State and Territory counterparts for the constructive way we have engaged on these reforms.
The success of the Morrison Government apprenticeship wage subsidies has seen more than 120,000 apprentices remain in their jobs and created over 100,000 new apprenticeship and trainee opportunities.
Finally, in the Small and Family Business area, I have implemented a number of landmark reforms to support small businesses to prosper, grow and hire more Australians. This includes improving small business cash flow through the Payment Times Reporting Scheme and Procurement Connected Policy and access to finance through the Australian Business Securitisation Fund and the Australian Business Growth Fund.
With these achievements, and a record number of Australians in employment, I believe my successor the Hon Stuart Robert MP will be able to continue to deliver good outcomes for all Australians.
Scott Morrison