Category: Australian News

The Senate has today recognised that the climate crisis is the greatest threat to our health this century.
“The fact is, the climate crisis is a health emergency”, Greens spokesperson on Health Senator Rachel Siewert said.
“The Government acted on the science when it came to the COVID crisis and yet for decades they have refused to act on the science when it comes to the climate crisis.
“In Parliament today there are over 30 health leaders, including two former chief state health officers, calling for a National Strategy on Climate Change, Health and Wellbeing.
“We urgently need a National Strategy on Climate Change, Health and Well-being to protect our community and our future generations.”
The motion reads:
I give notice that on the next day of sitting I shall move that the Senate –

1. Notes that the World Health Organization has acknowledged climate change to be the greatest threat to health this century;
2. Recognises that acting on climate change is the greatest opportunity to improve health;
3. Also recognises the Australian Government, as a signatory to the Paris Agreement, has an obligation to consider health in its climate change response;
4. Applauds the growing calls from the health sector to act on climate to protect our health, including the 30 health leaders in Parliament today meeting with representatives to discuss climate change and health; and
5. Calls on the Government to urgently develop a ‘National Strategy on Climate Change, Health and Well-being’, which is supported by more than 50 health, social welfare and conservation groups.

Refugees that the Australian Government exiled to Papua New Guinea contracting COVID should prompt their immediate evacuation to Australia, Greens Immigration spokesperson Nick McKim says.
“For years, Labor and Liberal Governments have deliberately withheld adequate medical treatment from people in their care,” Senator McKim said.
“The refugees who have contracted COVID need to be medevacced to Australia, and all other refugees in PNG need to be brought to Australia to prevent them contracting the illness.”
“With COVID now out of control in Papua New Guinea, all remaining refugees must be brought to Australia.”
“Their immune systems have been damaged by eight years of brutality, and they are particularly susceptible to disease.”
“It is unconscionable for Peter Dutton to continue to try to wash his hands of responsibility for refugees who sought Australia’s protection and remain in his duty of care.”

An invite-only drinks at Parliament House with Elbit Systems – Israel’s largest privately-owned weapons company – has been facilitated by former Defence Minister Christopher Pyne, highlighting the urgent need for reforms in Australian politics to stop the revolving door of politicians becoming lobbyists.
Australian Greens peace and disarmament spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John said Elbit Systems – a worldwide purveyor of advanced unmanned aircraft (drones), and advanced surveillance and electronic warfare equipment, including weapons considered illegal under international laws of war such as white phosphorous and cluster bombs – have no place in the halls of Australia’s parliament.
“Elbit systems was awarded contracts worth roughly $89 million between August 2018 and May 2019 when Christopher Pyne was Defence Minister. Now, barely 18 months later, he is here inside Parliament House spruiking weapons on their behalf at an invite-only event for sympathetic MPs!” Steele-John said.
“Christopher Pyne’s lobbying firm – Pyne and Partners – now lists Elbit Systems as one of its major clients, a relationship that was clearly forged when he was Defence Minister.
“As our Defence Minister he was paid by the taxpayers to make decisions in the public interest, not to network for his own personal financial gain. This is one of the most egregious and sickening examples of the revolving door of former politicians becoming lobbyists for their big corporate mates that I have seen.
“Elbit is a company that markets their weaponry as being ‘field tested’ by the Israeli Defence Force, a reference to the extensive use of Elbit Systems equipment in Palestine where they have profited from the ongoing occupation and oppression of Palestinian people.
“In taking Pyne to task for this association, the Greens join a growing international outcry.
“Those who have divested from Elbit include the Norwegian Pension Fund, Danish financial watchdog Danwatch, the French investment firm AXA Investment Managers, and global banking giant HSBC. Norwegian Minister of Finance Kristin Halvorsen was clear in his views, saying ‘We do not wish to fund companies that so directly contribute to violations of international humanitarian law’, violations that Christopher Pyne overlooks in his pursuit of personal profit.”

The Government is launching a $15 million competitive grant round to kick start Australian clinical trials exploring the use of potential breakthrough combination therapies for the treatment of debilitating mental illnesses.
It is estimated four million Australians experience a mental health disorder ever year, and almost half of all Australians will be affected at some point in their lifetime. The most prevalent mental illnesses are anxiety disorders – affecting more than 14 per cent of adults each year – depression and substance abuse disorders. Evidence also suggests that up to 12 per cent of Australians experience PTSD during their lifetime
Many of the standard treatments for these illnesses can have varied efficacy and recovery rates, and there have been few advances in novel pharmaceutical discoveries in recent years.
However, there is now a strong and emerging body of international evidence that shows that substances such as ketamine, psilocybin, and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), when used in a controlled environment and supported by psychological/ psychiatric care, offer a promising new approach to effectively treating pernicious mental illnesses that are resistant to first-line treatments.
Several have been granted ‘Breakthrough Therapy’ status for treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The Government’s $15 million Innovative Therapies for Mental Illness Grant Opportunity under the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) will accelerate global efforts by supporting Australian-led research into the use of these approaches to combat resistant illnesses such as PTSD, major depressive disorder, addiction disorders and eating disorders that are impacting the lives of so many Australians.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said the Government’s MRFF is helping ensure that Australia’s medical research sector remains at the forefront of global innovation.
“The early results of trials in Australia and internationally are extremely encouraging, but more research is desperately needed before these approaches can be used by psychiatrists outside of controlled clinical trials. It is vital that we continue to support the search for new and better treatments for mental illness.”
“This grant opportunity will boost local research into potentially life-saving therapies and offers hope all those suffering from mental illness, including our Veterans and emergency service personnel dealing with the devastating effects of PTSD,” Minister Hunt said.
Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental health and Suicide Prevention, David Coleman, said mental health and suicide prevention is one of our Government’s highest priorities.
“The prevalence and impact of mental illness is devastating for individuals, families and communities. This bold initiative is about ensuring that we explore every avenue of potential treatment for Australians diagnosed with a mental illness,” Assistant Minister Coleman said.
The MRFF is a long-term, sustainable investment in Australian health and medical research helping to improve lives, build the economy and contribute to the sustainability of the health system. It is also a capital preserved fund, which matured at $20 billion in July 2020.
Through the MRFF, the Australian Government has committed $614 million to support and encourage clinical trials.
Funding for the 2021 Innovative Therapies for Mental Illness Grant Opportunity will be over three years from 2021–22, with project activity up to five years.
Applications for grants for Australian clinical trials to assess innovative therapeutics, including ketamine, psilocybin, and MDMA, supported by psychological/ psychiatric care, are now open via GrantConnect (www.grants.gov.au) and close on 21 July 2021.
Further details are available on the Department of Health website.

The Morrison Government has welcomed the launch of a new campaign encouraging Australians to consider jobs in aged care.
The campaign, “Bring your Thing”, commissioned by the Aged Care Workforce Industry Council, highlights the diverse range of skills and professions employed in aged care, including chefs, hair stylists, maintenance workers, and social coordinators.
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Senator Richard Colbeck, said he hoped more Australians will consider a career in aged care.
“One of the great messages in the campaign is that working in aged care, where human connections are at the core of the roles, is meaningful and rewarding,” Minister Colbeck said.
“If you’re looking for work while you study, or want flexibility in a job that’s interesting and meaningful, the support and care sector might be just what you’re looking for.”
The campaign coincides with the Government’s substantial boost to the aged care workforce around the country to meet increasing demand for services, particularly for home care.
“Over the next two years, our Government will invest $92 million to attract, train and support 18,000 new personal care workers to the home and residential care sector,” Minister Colbeck said.
“As one of the five pillars of our response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, our workforce initiatives will ensure there are sufficient opportunities for the right workers to gain the necessary skills and training to work in aged care.”
Minister Colbeck said the campaign is an achievement against strategic action 1 in A Matter of Care: Australia’s Aged Care Workforce Strategy.
“This is yet another achievement for the council against the recommendations in the Strategy,” Minister Colbeck said.
It follows the launch of the council’s Voluntary Industry Code of Practice last month.
Developed in consultation with consumers, providers, and peak bodies, the code provides a framework for a culture of proactive reform from aged care providers.
“The work of the Council is critical to boosting the aged care workforce, which is why the Government funded this campaign as part of an investment of $10.3 million to the Council in the last budget,” Minister Colbeck said.

Labor is calling on the Morrison Government to work with Lebanon and the international community to deliver an independent, impartial and transparent investigation into the explosion at Beirut Port on the 4th of August, 2020.
Australians were all deeply shocked and distressed by the blast, which killed 200 people, including two-year old Australian Isaac Oehlers, wounded 7,000 people and left 300,000 people displaced.
That shock was compounded by reports that there had been multiple and repeated warnings of the danger posed by 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate being stored at Beirut Port.
Despite ongoing Lebanese inquiries into the explosion, and despite around 50 separate calls for an independent, impartial and transparent investigation, the prospect of an outcome that delivers real justice for the victims seems as remote as ever.
This is simply not good enough and amounts to a deep betrayal of the rights of the victims of this unprecedented and terrible event.
It is time the Australian Government stepped up to rally the international community to ensure that the Lebanese people get the answers they deserve.
Today in Geneva, Legal Action Worldwide and Human Rights Watch will host a side event on the proposal in the margins of the Human Rights Council. Issac’s mother Sarah Copland will participate, but the Australian Government will not be formally represented at the event.
This is yet another disappointment for Australia’s interests in getting to the bottom of how the events of that day transpired.
The Oehler family, and the many Lebanese Australians who were impacted by this tragedy, deserve better from the Morrison Government – it needs to act now.
Labor calls on the Government to support publicly such an inquiry and work with like-minded states to deliver it.
Shadow Foreign Minister Senator Wong has written directly to Foreign Minister Marise Payne on this matter, but we have seen no sign of action

The Community Affairs Legislation Committee has tabled its report into the Government’s pitiful Bill to increase the JobSeeker payment by $3.57 a day. The Greens have tabled a dissenting report.
The Australian Greens are deeply disappointed in the lack of time provided to consider and scrutinise this change to Australia’s social security system.
“The Government had months to consider an increase and prepare this legislation with the knowledge that the reduced Coronavirus Supplement was coming to an end on 31 March 2021, but they chose to introduce this Bill as late as possible in an attempt to suppress debate and dissent”, Senator Rachel Siewert said.
“While the Government tries to stifle scrutiny and debate on their callous decision to condemn millions to poverty, the community is watching and they do not accept this cruelty.
“Everyone in our community deserves to live a life free of poverty and to ensure that they can care for their wellbeing and that of their family.
“There were hundreds of submissions to this inquiry. You only have to read a handful to understand the significant pain, anxiety and poverty taking JobSeeker back to $44 a day is going to cause.
“This is not a decision based on evidence but on an ideological obsession with punishing people on income support.
“It’s shameful the way this Government attacks people on income support, calling them job snobs, essentially implying they are undeserving of support.
“At a time when the Government should be focusing on economic recovery, they are making choices that will slow down our recovery from the recession.
“The poverty rate for households whose main source of income is allowances dropped to 26% following the introduction of the $550 a fortnight Coronavirus Supplement. Researchers estimate the poverty rate for these households will skyrocket back up to 85% after this Bill is introduced.
“Researchers at the Grattan Institute estimate that the Government’s plans to cut the rate of Jobseeker Payment by $50 a week will remove $5 billion from the economy over the next year and result in up to 40,000 fewer jobs . Millions will be ripped from the retail sector as people on income support payments spend an estimated 58% of their payments on retail goods or services.
Next week the Greens will seek the support of the senate to:  
1.    Amend the bill to increase all income support payments to $1115 a fortnight which is in line with the Henderson Poverty Line.
2.    Retain the current income free threshold of $300 a fortnight.
3.    Abolish compulsory income management.
4.    Abolish Mutual Obligations.
The report can be found here.

Older Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse communities across the country are set to access more tailored respite care.
The Morrison Government will fund an additional $9.67 million per year over two years through the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP).
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck, said the funding would support culturally and linguistically diverse senior Australians to live independently and safely in their own homes and local communities and provide respite for carers.
“Forty aged and disability care providers will deliver the additional centre‑based respite services to older Australians from multicultural communities, including those from Chinese, Italian, Greek, Polish, Russian and Indian backgrounds, to name a few,” Minister Colbeck said.
“Importantly, the Government is directing the extra funding to those areas in most need across the country – where there are service gaps and the highest level of demand.”
Centre‑based respite services can include group activities to help ease isolation and encourage social interaction, group excursions, and meals. Carers and family members can take part in the activities or leave the older person in the care of the provider.
“Social isolation was – and is – a very real problem for older Australians during the pandemic,” Minister Colbeck said.
“Language barriers and cultural differences have made it even harder for people from diverse backgrounds.
“It’s important the additional services on offer focus on tailored support and programs that are suited to the needs of these seniors, and the needs of their communities.”
To access services, older Australians will need to contact My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 and arrange for a formal assessment of their care needs.
Service providers are required to be as responsive as possible to requests from older Australians and their carers for short-term or non-ongoing respite.

A national network of leading mental health researchers will work with more than 2000 people living with mental illness to deliver better models of mental health care across Australia, thanks to the Morrison Government.
Funded by $10 million from the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Special Initiative in Mental Health, the new national centre, called ALIVE, will help to lead a generational shift in mental health care research.
Operating from research hub, to be based at the University of Melbourne, ALIVE will establish an Academy of Lived Experience and Co-Design Living Labs at 14 universities across all states and territories.
Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, said the centre will use research to rethink models of mental health care and the way they are delivered, to find a national solution to a national problem.
“The Australian Government’s investment in mental health services and suicide prevention in 2020-21 is at a record high of $5.9 billion,” Minister Hunt said. “This not only delivers better treatment of mental health conditions, but provides Australian researchers the tools to improve treatment.”
“ALIVE will drive a national research agenda to deliver innovative, evidence-based mental health care. The centre complements the National Mental Health Commission’s reform program so that all people in Australia can lead fulfilling lives, participating socially and economically in thriving communities.”
“This national network will grow and develop the next generation of mental health researchers in Australia.”
Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, David Coleman, said the centre would be guided by lived experience.
“The knowledge and experience of more than 2000 Australians living with mental illness will help shape the research, and will be critical in designing a more effective, coordinated and compassionate system,” Assistant Minister Coleman said.
“Through this approach we are putting the needs of people at the centre of the design and delivery of mental health services in Australia.”
ALIVE’s evidence-based model will emphasise early identification and prevention over crisis support, and take a holistic approach, addressing physical as well as mental health.
Priority populations include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and people who are living with severe and complex mental illness.
The centre will be led by Associate Professor Victoria Palmer who leads the University of Melbourne’s Integrated Mental Health Research Program and is internationally recognised for her expertise in primary care mental health research.
“Our approach begins with the lived experience of people with mental health conditions as central to the co-design of the transformation that is required across the health care system,” Associate Professor Victoria Palmer said.
“By working hand-in-hand with those living with mental illness and carers we aim to develop a better system of care which saves lives and improves outcomes.”
NHMRC CEO Professor Anne Kelso AO said the new national centre was the result of a considered assessment of existing mental health research and would complement other Australian Government initiatives.
“This centre is a strategic investment in national collaboration to develop long-term partnerships between research, health care and service delivery. It is designed to find approaches to prevention and treatment that can address the issue at a national scale,” Professor Kelso said.
The centre will report to an independent governance committee, chaired by Professor Allan Fels AO, former chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the National Mental Health Commission.