Category: Australian News

The Greens are again urging the Morrison Government to do more for the Arts and Entertainment Industry after a report released today shows two out of every three jobs in the live entertainment sector have been lost this year.
Greens Spokesperson for the Arts Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“The Arts and Entertainment Industry was completely ignored in last week’s budget despite being the hardest hit by Covid19.
“These latest figures confirm the crisis the Industry has been telling the Government it is in for half a year now.
“Despite pleas for specific industry assistance since March, the Morrison Government continues to fail artists, creatives, support crews and all the businesses that depend on it.
“Not even the fact the industry pulls in hundreds of billions of dollars each year, which is now at great risk, is enough to motivate the PM to actually provide proper support.
”The live entertainment sector that commissioned the EY Report is calling for an extension to JobKeeper, support with insurance for events and more funding for grants programs, and the Greens back their calls.
“The PM can’t keep turning a blind eye, it’s time he reached a bit deeper into his Government’s pockets and pulled out proper support for the arts and entertainment industry.
“The PM found three times as much for the construction industry which has only suffered a quarter of the job losses. Our artists, creatives, crews and supporting businesses shouldn’t suffer just because the PM prefers tool belts to arts and culture.
“We will be pressing the government on this issue in Estimates next week.”

The Australian Government will implement key initiatives from the Roadmap for Hearing Health, investing $21.2 million over five years.
Addressing a meeting of the Hearing Health Sector Alliance today, Minister for Regional Health, Mark Coulton, said the Government’s investment reflects its ongoing commitment to improving access to hearing support services for vulnerable Australians.
“With more than 3.6 million Australians currently affected by hearing loss and that number expected to reach 7.8 million by 2060, it is vital we have the services and support that allow them to best live to their potential,” Minister Coulton said.
“That’s why the Government is investing in and reforming its hearing services to improve access and quality of services for all Australians.
“With numerous efforts already underway, including development of paediatric standards and increasing screening in remote areas, we today announce the implementation of key initiatives from the Roadmap for Hearing Health.”
Minister Coulton said the announced Roadmap initiatives focused on making Australians well aware of the importance of hearing health and ensuring services reach those who need them, especially the vulnerable.
“Targeted activities to improve outcomes for Indigenous children and efforts to upskill the aged care workforce will see better outcomes for some of the most in need,” he said.
“Regional Australians will be pleased to hear about specific measures to ensure their access to services continues and improves with funding for a rural workforce audit and summit and implementation of new tele-audiology standards to allow this tool to bridge the gap between rural Australians and necessary hearing tests.
“We expect the $5 million awareness campaign to help break down the stigmas that surround hearing loss and to encourage more Australians to get their hearing checked.
“We know how important early identification is in minimising further damage and increased awareness will certainly help.”
Minister Coulton said the initiatives announced in the Budget followed work by members of the Hearing Health Sector Alliance to develop the Roadmap.
“Members of the Hearing Health Sector Alliance played a central in role in developing the Roadmap and it is particularly pleasing to be able to discuss its implementation with them today,” Minister Coulton said.
“The Commonwealth will continue to work with states and territories to deliver further elements of the Roadmap.”
Hearing Health Sector Alliance Chair, Dr Tony Coles, welcomed the announcement, saying it was important the Government was funding the five key priority areas by the Hearing Health Sector Alliance and included in the Roadmap for Hearing Health.
“We’re delighted this funding will assist more Australians protect their hearing health, fund research into hearing loss, and support those who need greater access to audiological services.
“With one in six Australians experiencing hearing loss, and links between hearing loss, falls, depression and anxiety, cognitive impairment and dementia, it is important for Australians to protect their hearing and to gain a greater understanding to prevent, treat and manage hearing loss,” Dr Coles said.
“The Hearing Health Sector Alliance is looking forward to working collaboratively with the Federal Government to implement these important initiatives as part of the Roadmap for Hearing Health, which will improve hearing outcomes for all Australians.”
Roadmap initiatives announced in the Federal Budget are:

• $5 million hearing health awareness campaign
• $7.3 million for research to develop a sound evidence base for effective treatment, service delivery, and prevention of hearing loss
• $5 million for improvements in and early identification of hearing and speech difficulties for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
• $2 million for initiatives in the aged care sector to improve the capability of the aged care workforce to support people with hearing loss.
• $400,000 for development and adoption of new tele audiology standards for hearing services.
• $200,000 to support rural service delivery through a workforce audit and a rural hearing workforce summit.

Today’s Housing Industry Association (HIA) New Home Sales Report for September 2020 again demonstrates how HomeBuilder is providing the stimulus the construction industry needs that is protecting tradies’ jobs.
The HIA’s data shows that 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.
Also following HomeBuilder’s announcement, new home sales have been higher in each month than any month in the past two years.

This phenomenal result shows HomeBuilder is delivering on its promise to protect the jobs of Australia’s tradies by providing the stimulus the construction industry needs as we get to the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic.
HIA Chief Economist Tim Reardon said today;
“HomeBuilder has been successful in providing consumer confidence for those customers that had delayed a major investment decision earlier in the year.”
“The program has also brought buyers into the market that would otherwise not been able to purchase their first home for a number of years.”
“This increase in sales will support the construction of detached homes in the wake of the COVID recession and pull the rest of the economy forward into 2021.”
Today’s data adds to the growing number of leading indicators that show that HomeBuilder is delivering the support the residential construction industry needs. Recent data shows;

• In August 2020, the number of loans for the construction of new dwellings rose to its highest level in over a decade, up by 22.9 per cent for the month and 34 per cent through the year.

• HomeBuilder has seen first home buyers flood into the housing market. First home buyer loans rose dramatically in August to be 17.7 per cent higher for the month, up 37.3 per cent through the year – the highest level since October 2009.

• ABS Building Approvals data for August 2020 shows private sector house approvals are at their highest level since February 2019, with over 9,000 approvals recorded.

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.

The Greens say that the Government has no excuse not to urgently act on the recommendations of the Aged care and COVID-19: a special report. 
Let’s face it, these recommendations are really the bare minimum of what the Government should have already done when this pandemic started, extra support for the workforce, infection prevention and control training, mental health support for residents and of course a national coordinating body.
It’s shambolic that we have no national coordinating body to address the COVID crisis in aged care, Greens spokesperson on Ageing Senator Rachel Siewert said.
The buck stops with the Commonwealth on Aged Care and so far they have failed dismally.
We knew about the need for infectious control prevention and accreditation after Newmarch.
Given that the Royal Commissioners have made the unusual step of releasing a special report so close to when the final report is due indicates how serious the failures of the system to deal with COVID are.
A commitment to fund these recommendations adequately must be included in next week’s budget.
The funding that the Government has announced today is not enough and there needs to be more in the budget.

The Minister for Government Services Stuart Robert has failed to comply with Senate resolutions that he provide documents relating to robodebt legal advice.
“The Minister’s claims of public interest immunity in regards to the Centrelink Income Compliance Program legal advice and an Executive Minute are not acceptable”, Senator Rachel Siewert said.
Given the significant and ongoing harm this program has inflicted on people in our community, the public most certainly have a right to know what has happened with this program. Clearly the Government knows what approach it took to obtaining legal advice and should let the community know about this.
The Government cannot just keep hiding behind claims of public interest immunity.
It is quite obviously in the public interest for the Commonwealth Government to be transparent about the legal advice in relation to the Income Compliance Program.
The requested information is vital evidence for the inquiry into the Centrelink Compliance Program as it goes to the legal foundation of the program and how it has operated.
I do not accept this obfuscation and attempt to hide behind public interest immunity when it’s clear that the public have a right to know.
The Committee will continue to pursue this matter.

It is unconscionable that the Government did not include a permanent increase to Jobseeker in the budget.
If we can fund billions of dollars worth of tax cuts for the wealthy we can ensure that no one in this country is living in poverty.
Budgets are about the choices we make. This is a budget that ignores people trying to survive without work when we know that there will be far more people without work than there are jobs available for a long time into the future.
Everybody knows that the Jobseeker payment is too low, even the Government does because they brought in the coronavirus supplement.
This budget is based on very big assumptions that there will be a vaccine by next year and that the expenditure on Jobseeker will be half by the next budget.
While disabled people can make use of the extra $500 in this budget it does not make up for the fact they did not receive the coronavirus supplement and the extra costs they had to wear. Disabled people feel abandoned by this Government, they are extremely anxious about both the health risks of this pandemic and their ability to get their medication and pay rent. $500 is not enough.
“Refocusing” existing employment services programs will make savings of $1.4 billion over four years and includes a transition to a new digital employment services platform. The Government is investing further in on-line and digital services before the digital trials have been evaluated. This process is likely to increase the digital divide.
For a start anyone who has spoken to or at least listened to someone on Jobseeker would know that it is very difficult for people to actually afford internet services and smartphones.
The money for aged care is an insult to older Australians, their families and the workforce.  It’s not enough.
Where is the proper funding for a workforce strategy? The sector needs at least $3.5 billion to fix the workforce.
Where is a pay increase for our aged care workers who are caring for our mothers, fathers and grandparents?
Piecemeal funding announcements won’t fix the aged care sector and this budget once again fails older Australians and their families
While more home care places are welcomed, the $1.6bn for an additional 23,000 home care places still leaves a significant portion of the 100,000 Australians on the waiting list on that list.
There is no further funding to the royal commission COVID recommendations, despite the Government accepting all the recommendations.
The Government is now describing the Cashless Debit Card funding as “ongoing funding” rather than funding for trial sites. Clearly the Government wants make this card permanent.
This is yet another attempt to stealthily entrench this racist and punitive card that it is not accepted by the community or has any evidence that it is achieving its purported outcomes.
Of course they won’t tell us how much this social experiment is costing. What we do know is that it is costing people their dignity and quality of life.
Another budget and another failure to recognise the impact that climate change is having on our health.
Inaction on climate change is having a devastating effect on people’s health. Climate change is affecting our health through an increase in infectious disease transmission during extreme weather events and heatwaves, worsening air pollution, higher mortality rates from heat stress, and increased incidence of mental illness.
This budget fails so many in our community, the Government should look after the well being of everyone not just their wealthy mates.
 

Yesterday I sought the support of the Senate to disallow the reintroduction of the liquid assets test waiting period for new claims for JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance and Austudy made from 25 September.
I am very disappointed that the Senate did not support the Greens disallowance motion to ensure that people who lose their jobs can get access to income support as soon as possible during this crisis.
It is very unfair to make people use up almost all of their savings before they can access income support. It leaves them in a very precarious position.
For many people the only way they can survive on JobSeeker is by supplementing that income with what little savings they have. This could be the difference between hanging on with the mortgage or rent until they find more work – or losing the family home.
Making people wait before accessing that safety net during these uncertain times is not only unfair, but also irresponsible and it will have a chilling effect on the wider economy. Over the long term, this system entrenches poverty and disadvantage.
It is particularly difficult for older workers who lose work and who will have to use up their retirement savings before they can get JobSeeker. It’s particularly tenuous for older women who have found themselves out of work.
We will see thousands retire into poverty because the government has made them wear down their savings in a job market with very limited opportunities.
Reintroducing the liquid asset test is mean spirited and unfair in the midst of a recession.

The Government has today introduced legislation that will make the Cashless Debit Card permanent in the current trial sites and introduce it to the Northern Territory and Cape York.
“This is a toxic piece of legislation. The Cashless Debit Card is denying people their dignity and quality of life”,  Australian Greens spokesperson on Family and Community Services Senator Rachel Siewert said.
The Cashless Debit Card is a punitive program that punishes people simply because they are on income support.
Just because people are without employment it does not mean that they cannot manage their finances. It is insulting and paternalistic.
This Government has an agenda and it is stigmatising and demeaning people who need to access the social safety net.
This Bill also removes the cap on the number of people who could be placed on the Cashless Debit Card which is currently capped at 15,000 people. The Minister needs to come clean about whether the pause on Jobseeker recipients being placed on the Cashless Debit Card will continue or not.
It is highly likely that people newly on income support will now be put on the card.
The Northern Territory has been devastated by the impacts of income management brought in with the Intervention.
The ANAO found that there was no evidence that there had been a reduction in social harm in the so-called trial sites. Similarly the final evaluation of income management as part of the NT Intervention found that it met none of its objectives. The ORIMA evaluation and the Evaluation by the University of Adelaide have been called into question by numerous experts because no baseline data was collected to make any comparison to and they relied heavily on hand picked anecdotal reports, flawed methodology and a push polling type approach.
Compulsory Income Management in all its various forms should be abandoned and the resources invested in approaches that are therapeutic, individualised and are genuinely supported by the community.
 

Mental illness is one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century and access to treatments should be universal. People in our community should be able to get easy access to treatments in the same way they would for a broken leg or the flu,” Australian Greens spokesperson on mental health Senator Rachel Siewert said.
Mental ill health is the leading cause of sickness and long term work incapacity in the developed world.
There has been under-investment in the mental health sector by successive governments, which has resulted in the system failing to meet the needs of thousands of Australians.
Three quarters of mental health issues begin before the age of 25, it is critical that we support the mental health of children and young people.
Services are too often fragmented and difficult to access and so people fall through the cracks.
We need investment in community-based assertive outreach programs, and more dedicated funding for First Nations peoples.
We need timely and on going evaluation of programs to make sure we are providing quality services that meet community needs. Funding needs to be properly targeted and evaluated so there is transparency around funding and whether outcomes are being achieved.
We are calling on the Government to urgently release the final Productivity Commission report into Mental Health and the final report of the MBS Taskforce’s recommendations regarding Medicare-funded mental health care items.
It is important that any recommendations, for long-term, systemic change, and the Government’s response to these recommendations, be made public and reforms implemented. It is unclear why the Minister is not releasing these reports.
This pandemic will have long-lasting effects on the mental health of many people in our community.
The impact of job losses, economic hardship, lock downs, daily anxiety, reduced social connectedness and long periods of uncertainty have only added to the challenges that our mental health system was experiencing before the pandemic.
And let’s be real. Living in poverty is a contributor to poor mental health and anxiety.
The Government needs to realise that social services policies that push people into poverty cause stress and anxiety and part of looking after mental health in this country is ensuring that we keep people out of poverty and look after their wellbeing.
The global theme for this year’s World Mental Health Day is “Mental Health for All. Great Investment – Greater Access. Everyone, everywhere.”