Category: Australian News

Australian Greens Anti-racism spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has expressed her serious concerns about a Lowy Institute survey which found that 1 in 5 surveyed Chinese-Australians have been threatened or attacked during the past 12 months.
Senator Faruqi said:
“There’s no doubt ‘Covid racism’ is at play here. But we should not disregard the impact of political rhetoric and the consequences of heated debate over Australia-China relations.
“When Government MPs see nothing wrong with interrogating Chinese-Australians about their allegiances in Senate committee hearings, you can be sure there are deep-seated problems with our political debate.
“It’s completely unacceptable that thousands of Chinese-Australians are being subjected to threats or attacks.
“We need the government to commit to anti-racism, not just through policy and funded programs, but also through stamping out racist rhetoric among its own MPs,” she said.

The Greens say that the Aged Care system is fundamentally broken and there needs to be a sense of urgency in fixing it.
“The Royal Commissioners set out a five year process and the work needs to start today”, Senator Rachel Siewert said.
“This reform needs to be underpinned by a new aged care act based on a human rights approach.
“For too long, aged care has been put in the too hard basket. The Royal Commission Report clearly shows that years of tinkering around the edges has fundamentally failed older Australians.
“The funding that the Government announced yesterday is not close to enough. We have to see more in the budget.
“There is no point being sorry and distressed by what has occurred if we don’t see concrete plans for substantive reform and the commitment to adequately fund them.
“The Government must act on the most serious breaches of human rights against older Australians and an essential part of that is to move swiftly to reduce and eliminate the use of restraints in aged care.
“The use of physical or chemical restraints for control, punishment, retaliation or as a measure of convenience must be prohibited. Medicines should only ever be used for therapeutic purposes and with the free and informed consent of the person receiving them or their nominee.
“Older Australians will not be properly cared for and protected until the workforce is adequately paid and trained and the number of hours of care are increased.
“Aged Care workers can no longer be seen as collateral damage in this failed system.
“For too long those doing some of the most important work in our community have been overworked and underpaid. We must value the work that they do.”

Over 14,000 Defence personnel, through Operation COVID-19 ASSIST, have already supported the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including contact tracing, emergency clinical support, border control measures, swab testing, and support to hotel quarantine.
As part of the continued expansion of the phase 1A COVID-19 vaccine rollout, the Australian Defence Force will provide supplementary support to the rollout of vaccines to Australians in aged care.
As we move into the next phase of the aged care vaccine rollout and continue the expansion of teams, additional nurses, pharmacists and providers are being added, with ADF vaccination teams supplementing these efforts.
The teams are expected to start next week and will build on the planning, logistics, and operations support Defence personnel are already providing to the Department of Health’s COVID-19 Vaccination Taskforce.
Defence’s support to the vaccine rollout will focus on vaccinating senior Australians in locations not readily accessible by other medical providers.
This is another important role the ADF is playing in protecting Australians against COVID, as they have throughout the pandemic.

Australian Greens Senator for NSW, Mehreen Faruqi, has said that today’s announcement of a NSW ban on firefighting foam containing PFAS chemicals is welcome, but long overdue.
The Commonwealth should now proceed with a national ban.
Senator Faruqi said:
“Communities across NSW will welcome this news. It is long overdue. Our environment and people’s livelihoods have been ruined by toxic PFAS chemicals.
“We need a national ban now. The cross-party Senate committee I sit on has already recommended that the Commonwealth expedite the work to ban and destroy long chain PFAS-based firefighting foams. It’s time to get this done. No excuses. No ifs, no buts.
“When visiting PFAS-affected communities, I have seen first-hand the impacts these toxic chemicals have had on the lives of ordinary people. They all deserve justice.
“The government must commit to a proper compensation scheme for those impacted by PFAS chemicals, including the possibility of buy-backs. Too many people have been completely left behind,” she said.

“Yesterday the Senate supported my motion calling on the Government to immediately revise its JobSeeker announcement and urgently increase the Jobseeker Payment to be above the poverty line”, Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said.
“In supporting my motion the Senate has agreed that the Government’s proposed $3.57 a day increase to JobSeeker is not enough.
“I strongly urge Senators to support amendments to the bill in the Senate to increase the rate.
“Today the Government’s JobSeeker bill has been referred to a Senate inquiry which will report on March 12.
“We need to hear from the people who will be impacted by this Government’s shocking cruelty.
“$44 a day is bad for our community and bad for our economy.”

The Australian Government welcomes the Final Report from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, which has today been tabled in Parliament, noting its significant and sweeping proposals for reform of the aged care sector.
As a country it is important that we all acknowledge that we need to do more to ensure senior Australians are treated with respect, care and dignity and have access to quality care as they age.
The Royal Commission’s Final Report recognises the immense effort of our nurses and carers but also brings the challenges of aged care services into clear focus. The Government is committed to transforming aged care and the Royal Commission’s monumental report, with 148 recommendations, delivers a challenging, but achievable road to reform.
Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, said it was clear from the Royal Commission’s work that while significant progress has been made, there is a clear roadmap to improve respect and care for our older Australians.
“I called this Royal Commission to ensure our oldest and most frail Australians could receive the respect and care that supports their dignity, and recognises the contribution that they have made to society,” the Prime Minister said.
“I warned when I called the Royal Commission there will be stories that will be hard to hear. And that has been the case. But at the same time, we have also heard heart-warming cases of dedication and with the challenges of COVID-19 in the past year, we need to acknowledge the hard work performed by our aged care workforce.
“As I noted at the time, Australians must be able to trust that their loved ones will be cared for appropriately and the community should have confidence in the system. This remains our clear goal.
“Today, the Australian Government is continuing to drive reforms with additional funding of $452.2 million to address immediate priorities in the sector.”
These immediate steps will drive improved quality of care by strengthening aged care provider governance, and improved oversight of home care which will ensure senior Australians and taxpayers are getting value for money.
It will provide additional financial assistance for residential care providers so they can improve care, whilst building the much needed workforce of the future to support Australians who want to age in their own homes.
Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, reiterated the Australian Government’s commitment to the necessary reform of aged care.
“The Royal Commission’s report is a significant document, the culmination of a two year inquiry, and demands a carefully considered response,” Minister Hunt said.
“We thank the Royal Commissioners and commit to the two fundamental principles of respect and care for our elders. We responded quickly to the Royal Commission’s interim report and its special report on COVID-19, with additional investments in the priority areas identified by the Royal Commission.
“The Government announced a $537 million package in November 2019 in response to the Interim Report, with a focus on more home care packages, reducing the number of young people living in residential aged care, and improving medication management.
“As part of the Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in aged care $1.8 billion was committed last year, including a $132 million package in November 2020. This funding is increasing access to mental health support and allied health services for aged care residents, and has provided significant additional financial support to improve infection prevention and control and workforce capability in aged care facilities during the pandemic.
“Today, we announce a further $452.2 million package as an initial step in responding to this Final Report.
“Our comprehensive response to the Royal Commission final report will be driven by the principle of respect and care and through the lens of five broad pillars –

1. Home Care,
2. Residential aged care quality and safety,
3. Residential aged care services and sustainability,
4. Workforce, and
5. Governance.

“The five pillars will underpin the Australian Government’s response, along with its reform agenda and the implementation of those changes.”

1. SUPPORTING OLDER AUSTRALIANS WHO CHOOSE TO ACCESS HOME CARE

The Australian Government knows with more Australians wishing to stay in their own homes as they age, there is increasing demand for appropriate services to help them do so. This has been a key focus of the recommendations of the Royal Commission.
Since the 2018-19 Budget, the Government has invested a total of $5.5 billion in new funding to deliver more than 83,000 additional home care packages, including 10,000 packages announced in December 2020.
Minister Hunt said service providers must focus on the senior Australians at the centre of their work, to ensure their needs are met and that the care they receive continues to be tailored as those needs change.
“The Australian Government will immediately invest more than $18 million to enhance the oversight of the Government’s Home Care Packages Program, to deliver better value for senior Australians and the Australian taxpayer,” Minister Hunt said.
“Our Government expects home care providers to offer real value for money – and for the delivery of care, rather than any unjustified administrative fees, to make up the lion’s share of the cost. I expect our increased oversight will put downward pressure on any unfair administrative charges while supporting providers to deliver quality and safe services.”
Enhancing oversight of the delivery of home care packages will lead to more care and services going directly to care recipients and reduce the potential for fraud in the system.

2. QUALITY AND SAFETY IN RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE DELIVERS DIGNITY ALONGSIDE CARE

The Australian Government is committed to driving improvements to quality of care and safety for senior Australians.
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck, said the Government will review and enhance the sector’s quality standards with a focus on areas of concern identified in the report, including governance, diversity, dementia, food and nutrition.
“Funding worth $32 million will immediately be allocated to enhancing the capacity of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and greater regulation around the use of restraints in care,” Minister Colbeck said.
Eligible providers will be able to access programs to build their corporate and clinical governance across their Boards, to support increased accountability through strengthened legislative obligations. This will complement broader reforms, including improvements to provider governance and regulation.
“The use of physical and chemical restraint is a particular area of focus for the Royal Commission, and our Government has announced a number of measures to drive cultural change in this area following an independent review into the issue.
“In response to the Royal Commission, the Government will further establish clear new obligations and guidelines around the use of restraint to protect older Australians receiving care. A Senior Restraint Practitioner will be appointed to the Commission to lead an education campaign for the sector and general practitioners, to minimise the use of restraint, and bring practice into line with those in the disability sector.”

3. INVESTING TO DRIVE IMPROVEMENTS IN RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE SERVICES AND SUSTAINABILITY

Minister Colbeck said the Australian Government wants to ensure there continues to be stable and reliable residential aged care options for senior Australians.
“The Australian Government committed more than $14.1 billion in 2020-21 towards residential aged care, up from $9.2 billion in 2012‑13 and reaching an estimated $17.1 billion by 2023‑24,” Minister Colbeck said.
“In response to the Royal Commission report, the Australian Government will immediately invest an additional $189.9 million for residential care providers to provide stability and maintain services while the Government considers the recommendations of the Royal Commission’s Final Report.
“This support equates to around $760 per resident in metropolitan residential aged care, and $1,145 for those in rural, regional and remote areas.”
In addition, the Government will invest $90 million to support a Viability Fund to assist those facilities which are facing financial challenges, particularly as we see the sector start to restructure and respond to the changing choices of people to live at home longer.

4. WORKFORCE: GROWING A PASSIONATE AND SKILLED AGED CARE WORKFORCE

As more Australians are supported to remain in their homes, there will be an increasing demand for skilled personal care workers (PCWs).
In response to the Royal Commission, the Government will immediately invest $92 million to create over 18,000 places for workers between now and mid-2023.
“There will be a significant increase in activity to attract job seekers into the sector, and a new Home Care Workforce Support Program will provide additional targeted support, including assistance to employers to access support and training for new recruits,” Minister Hunt said.
“The total value of measures to grow the skilled and professional aged care workforce is almost $92 million over four years.”
The Prime Minister said community confidence and the trust of senior Australians and their families would be bolstered by changes which bring transparency, accountability and oversight.
“Along with the measures to further develop residential aged care governance, our Government is also strengthening the arm of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, by appointing an Assistant Commissioner for Sector Capability with responsibility for leading a transformative change program,” he said.
Minister Colbeck said the enhanced oversight of the home care system will ensure senior Australians receive the quality of care they expect and that they get good value for the considerable investment made by families themselves and by Government in aged care.
In response to the Royal Commission, the Government will immediately invest $30.1 million to strengthen the governance of aged care providers and legislative governance obligations on the sector.
Minister Hunt also confirmed that work will immediately commence to replace the Aged Care Act 1997, providing a strong, fresh foundation to enable the reforms to be implemented and drive a cultural change with the focus on responding to the needs of senior Australians.
All of these immediate measures announced today are a starting point for further reform. Careful consideration will be given to the Royal Commission report and the Government will outline the path to transform aged care in the Budget.

5. GOVERNANCE: OVERSIGHT, STANDARDS AND ACCOUNTABILITY – A NEW ERA

The Prime Minister said, “Ultimately I called this Royal Commission as one of my first acts because I believe we owe a duty of care to every older Australian to ensure they have respect and quality care.
“This report provides an honest assessment and an important roadmap to deliver still greater respect and care for our older Australians. As a nation we commit to further honouring our elders and giving them respect and care.”
The Government thanks the Royal Commissioners, the Honourable Tony Pagone QC and Lynelle Briggs AO, for their considerable work in conducting the Royal Commission and all those who contributed throughout the course of the inquiry.

Thousands of Australians with multiple sclerosis, asthma and diabetes will benefit from the listing or extension of several medications on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), bringing further support to patients and their families.
From March 1, Zeposia® and Atecture Breezhaler® will be listed on the PBS for the first time, and Trulicity® will have its PBS listing extended.
Zeposia® (ozanimod) is used to treat relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), a chronic disease that attacks the central nervous system, and for which a cure is yet to be found.
Over 25,600 people in Australia have multiple sclerosis, and it affects each person differently, with more than 10 Australians diagnosed every week.
Without the PBS subsidy, over 5,200 patients might pay more than $29,000 per year for this medicine, instead they will now pay $41.30 per script or $6.60 with a concession card.
Atecture Breezhaler® (indacaterol with mometsone) is used as a treatment for asthma, helping to relax and reduce swelling and irritation in the small airways in the lungs.
Around 2.7 million Australians live with asthma and can experience episodes of wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, chest tightness and fatigue caused by narrowing of the airways.
Without the PBS subsidy, over 34,600 patients might pay more than $400 per year to access this medicine, instead they will now pay $41.30 per script or $6.60 with a concession card.
Trulicity® (dulaglutide) is used in combination with insulin and metformin to treat type 2 diabetes, by helping the body produce more insulin when blood sugar levels are high.
Almost one million Australians have type 2 diabetes and their pancreas does not produce enough insulin to control blood sugar levels.
Without the PBS subsidy, around 12,000 patients might pay more than $1,700 per year for treatment, instead they will now pay $41.30 per script or $6.60 with a concession card.
Each listing has been recommended by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.
Since 2013, the Australian Government has approved more than 2,550 new or amended listings on the PBS. This represents an average of around 30 listings or amendments per month – or one each day – at an overall investment by the Government of $12.6 billion.
The Government’s commitment to ensuring that Australians can access affordable medicines, when they need them, remains rock solid.

Signalling yet another major milestone in Australia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, 300,000 doses of the University of Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine have arrived in Sydney today.
Australia has secured 53.8 million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. The first doses of this vaccine have arrived from overseas ahead of 50 million doses to be manufactured by CSL here in Australia on behalf of AstraZeneca.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will now batch test the vaccines to ensure they meet Australia’s strict quality standards.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said today was a significant milestone for the vaccine rollout.
“This is the next step as we ramp up the vaccine rollout,” the Prime Minister said.
“The University of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine will undergo the same rigorous TGA process to batch check the vaccine that the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine underwent.
“We will now be able to scale up the vaccination rollout to our priority groups, including our most vulnerable Australians and to our frontline border and health workers.
“Most Australians will receive the University of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, with the rollout of these due to commence from 8 March 2021 – provided they clear the TGA’s rigorous batch testing process.
“Australia is in a unique position because importantly this vaccine gives us the ability to manufacture onshore. Every Australian who wishes to be vaccinated will be able to receive a vaccine this year.”
The approximately 300,000 doses that arrived this morning will be distributed via logistics partners DHL and Linfox, and made available to priority groups in Phase 1a.
A further 50 million vaccines will be manufactured onshore and 1 million of these doses will be delivered each week from late March.
For AstraZeneca the second dose of the vaccine will be administered at 12 weeks after the first dose.
On 15 February 2021, the World Health Organization said, “This regimen was shown in clinical trials to be safe and effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19, with no severe cases and no hospitalisations more than 14 days after the second dose.”
On 3 February 2021 the Lancet Journal said, “COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca confirms 100% protection against severe disease, hospitalisation and death in the primary analysis of Phase III trials.”
Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt said this vaccine provides the option for the majority of Australians to get their vaccination through their usual GP, local respiratory centre and eventually community pharmacies.
“Importantly the TGA has conducted a full and thorough, and world class assessment process,” Minister Hunt said.
“As the rollout begins, the people in priority groups who need the most protection will receive a vaccine first. This includes aged care and disability care residents and workers, frontline healthcare workers, and quarantine and border workers.
“Having AstraZeneca available in Australia provides an easier avenue for distribution across the nation, meaning people in rural, regional and remote areas will not have to travel as far to receive their vaccine.
“The cold chain requirements of this vaccine – it can be stored and handled in the same way as any other vaccine – make it a very good candidate for a country like Australia.
“As well, vaccine providers can use some of the vaccine vial, put the rest back in the fridge for 48 hours and use the rest the next day.
“This will save lives and protect lives.”
Australia has maintained a diverse portfolio of vaccines, and we are constantly engaging with international counterparts and vaccine sponsors to access the best available information on vaccine developments worldwide.
Pending TGA approval, the Government has also secured 51 million doses of the Novavax vaccine.
The Australian Government has also signed up to the international COVAX facility, which provides access to a range of vaccines to immunise up to 50 per cent of the Australian population.
This diverse portfolio ensures access for everyone in Australia, and is likely to equip us to support our neighbours in the Pacific and Southeast Asia.
The University of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is the second vaccine to receive provisional approval for use in Australia by the TGA. The TGA bases such decisions on the safety, efficacy and quality of the vaccine candidates.

The next phase of the Australian Government’s $31 million public information campaign begins today to inform Australians, with the vaccination program underway.
At the end of Friday after four full days of operation and Monday as a setup day, almost 30,000 Australians had been vaccinated, including 8,110 aged care and disability residents throughout 117 care facilities.
Both the state and territory teams alongside the aged care in-reach teams are ramping up their operations, with more vaccines being distributed across the country in the next week.
The initial advertising campaign, which launched on 27 January 2021, focused on informing the Australian community about the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s world-leading independent approval process.
The second round builds on these safety messages and informs the community about Phase 1a of the vaccination program rollout, which prioritises those who are the most at risk of serious illness from the virus.
The advertising is important, so people understand how the vaccination program is operating, how they can find out when it will be their turn and answer any questions they have about the vaccines. They can go to Australia.gov.au and use the Vaccine Eligibility Checker to confirm which phase of the rollout they will be in.
The campaign will continue to run across a variety of channels, starting with television, and continuing on radio, press, digital, social, mobile, search and in medical settings and shopping centres including billboards and signs.
There are two advertisements, one which is animated, and a second which features a registered nurse, Melanie, who explains the rollout and the current priority groups.
Special committees representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, people with a disability and the multicultural communities are consulted regularly to ensure messaging is clear, appropriate and disseminated through the best communication channels to reach all people in Australia.

A 2020 report on organ and tissue donation and transplantation shows that despite the significant impact of COVID-19, around 4,000 Australians benefitted from the gift of organ, eye, and tissue donation from a deceased donor.
The Minister responsible for the Organ and Tissue Authority, Mark Coulton, said the 2020 Australian Donation and Transplantation Activity Report confirms Australian generosity and willingness to give complete strangers a second chance through organ and tissue donation.
“This report shows that even when the chips are down and a global pandemic interrupts the national transplant program, Australian generosity shines through.
“Last year, despite the pandemic, some 1,644 Australians’ death provided the gift of life and sight to another Australian,” Minister Coulton said.
“We are very grateful to these Australians and their families for making organ, eye, and tissue donations possible.”
The report, released today, shows 1,270 Australian lives were saved through an organ transplant in 2020, due to the generosity of 463 deceased organ donors and their families. The report also shows 2,277 Australians received corneal transplants in 2020 from 1,318 donors.
“A corneal transplant can make a remarkable difference to someone’s quality of life.
“More than 23,500 Australians have thankfully received the gift of sight since the national program began in 2009,” Minister Coulton said.
Minister Coulton said it is important to also recognise the great power of tissue donation.
“Whether they gave heart valves to repair genetic defects in young children or skin grafts to help treat infection and trauma, the 290 deceased tissue donors in 2020 made a great difference to many lives.
“Last year, 182 living donors improved the lives of another Australian; predominantly by donating kidneys and in one case, a partial liver.
“Living donors make an incredibly generous sacrifice to improve the life of someone else.
“Organ transplants are not without risk to those who donate, and their act of kindness mustn’t be understated,” Minister Coulton said.
Last year, just 29 kidney transplants took place in Australia from living donors through the Australia and New Zealand Paired Kidney Exchange Program. This figure represents a 42 per cent drop compared to 2019.
Organ and Tissue Authority CEO, Lucinda Barry, said 2020 outcomes were primarily impacted by the program’s suspension due to COVID-19 concerns in early-March, with the program gradually returning in earnest from September.
“The reality is there were 210 fewer kidney transplants across living and deceased transplant programs, mostly due to the impact of transplant program suspensions,” Ms Barry said.
“These suspensions were a responsible reaction to concerns within the health sector for hospital capacity and transplant patient welfare as the global pandemic took hold in Australia.”
Minister Coulton said the report once again demonstrates the need for more Australians to discuss donation with their friends and family and to register as a donor.
“We need all Australians to talk about organ and tissue donation, to understand what they and their loved ones wish, and to register to become a donor at donatelife.gov.au,” Mr Coulton said.
“It takes less than a minute.”
The 2020 Australia Donation and Transplantation Activity Report is available at:  donatelife.gov.au/outcomes.