Category: Australian News

Applications are now open for up to $4 million over four years for national partnerships and up to $450,000 for community-based initiatives in 2021 to encourage more Australians to say “yes” to organ and tissue donation.
Minister responsible for the Organ and Tissue Authority (OTA), Mark Coulton, said DonateLife Partnerships and 2021 Community Awareness Grants offer unique opportunities to increase reach and engagement for organ and tissue donation with key target audience groups – both at a national and a local level.
“Increasing awareness about organ and tissue donation and encouraging families to talk about donation and registration, is vital to getting more people to say “yes” to donation,” Mr Coulton said.
“Engaging with a broad suite of national partners and community groups across the country helps drive the importance of organ donation into more Australian homes, leading to greater registration and increased donation.”
Organ and Tissue Authority CEO, Lucinda Barry said the coronavirus pandemic has seriously affected Australia’s national program to increase organ donation, including causing the cancellation of the 2020 Community Awareness Grants round.
“The challenges of 2020 saw a significant drop in both donation and transplantation, making it critical we engage with partners and community groups in 2021 to raise the profile of organ and tissue donation and increase consent.”
DonateLife Partnerships provide opportunity for OTA to partner with sporting, corporate and community organisations who have a national focus to further increase awareness about organ and tissue donation in Australia.
“OTA is looking to partner with organisations that can demonstrate they have a national focus or national platform across the sporting, corporate, media, and community and health care sectors,” said Ms Barry.
Up to $450,000 is available for OTA’s Community Awareness Grants to improve awareness and engagement within the Australian community and strengthen the DonateLife brand.
“This 13^th round of grants will support community groups deliver events and innovative digital engagement activities to support the annual awareness building campaign, DonateLife Week 2021,” said Mr Coulton.
“I encourage all Australians to reflect on the life-changing benefits of organ and tissue donation and to show your support by registering to become a donor at donatelife.gov.au and have the all-important conversation with your family, so they know your intentions.”
DonateLife Partnerships and 2021 Community Awareness Grants are provided by the Organ and Tissue Authority as part of its national Community Awareness and Education Program.
This funding was committed in the October 2020 Budget.
Applications for both grant opportunities open on Tuesday 9 February 2021 and close at
5:00pm AEDT on Sunday 7 March 2021.
For more information about the DonateLife Partnerships and Community Awareness Grants, including the assessment criteria and the application process, visit www.donatelife.gov.au/grants

The Australian Government congratulates the Aged Care Workforce Industry Council on its official launch of the Voluntary Industry Code of Practice.
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck said the Code of Practice is already receiving strong early support from the aged care sector, as some of Australia’s largest providers pledge their commitment to quality care.
“This Code of Practice is the first of its kind for the aged care sector in Australia,” Minister Colbeck said.
“It is based on seven guiding principles for quality care and will be a transformative tool for Australia’s aged care sector.
“Importantly, this Code of Practice tells Australians that the aged care sector has aspirations for excellence, and will hold itself accountable to the community.”
Minister Colbeck said the launch with industry and workforce leaders marks a new chapter in the delivery of quality aged care services in Australia.
Most importantly, it highlights the process of continuous improvement of aged care services in Australia, as a feature of adopting the principles of the Code.
The Voluntary Industry Code of Practice was developed, in consultation with consumers, providers, and peak bodies, and is an achievement against strategic action 2 from A Matter of Care, Australia’s Aged Care Workforce Strategy.
The Code of Practice is a centrepiece of the strategy, and provides the framework for a culture of proactive reform from aged care providers.
“The Government is supporting work to implement the strategy with $10.3 million over three years allocated in the 2020–21 Budget,” Minister Colbeck said.
“This investment will support ACWIC to lead nine projects, and help implement other actions from the strategy.
“This additional funding builds on $2.3 million the Government previously delivered to support the establishment of the ACWIC and kick-start its important work.
“The Code of Practice underpins the values and principles for delivering quality care to our senior Australians.
“In practice, these principles will better support the aged care workforce in its critical role of caring for, and delivering services to, older Australians.”
Minister Colbeck commended the Aged Care Workforce Industry Council and the sector for showing commitment to tangible reform.
“The fact that industry has reached this milestone during a year of such disruption, due to COVID-19, is a testament to the sector’s commitment to cultural change,” he said.
“It’s a demonstration the sector will work to meet – and exceed – the community’s high expectations when the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety releases its final report in February.”
For more information on the Voluntary Industry Code of Practice, please visit www.acwic.com.au.

The first F-35A aircraft has been inducted into BAE Systems Australia’s (BAESA) maintenance depot as part of the next major milestone in the Joint Strike Fighter Program.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the F-35A fleet was now 33 strong and ready to deploy on operations.
“This is about protecting and securing Australia’s interests but it’s also creating jobs and driving investment right here in the Hunter and across the country too,” the Prime Minister said.
“This induction demonstrates the world leading capability of our local defence industry here in Australia.
“We want to give as many opportunities to Australian companies as possible which is why there’s already more than 50 local companies sharing in $2.7 billion worth of contracts as part of the F-35 Program.
“As we recover from the COVID recession a key plank of our Economic Recovery Plan is our $270 billion investment in Defence capability over the next decade and our $65 billion commitment in air capabilities which includes the Joint Strike Fighter Program. This investment is keeping Australians safe and secure while creating more jobs and more opportunities for businesses.”
After being selected as the maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade depot for the Southeast Asia region, the BAESA facility will host Australian F-35A aircraft and in future other nations’ F-35 aircraft.
The Program is progressing on budget and on schedule and the aircraft is undergoing routine structural modifications to improve the airframe, ensuring it reaches full life, and align it with newer aircraft.
Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds CSC said up to four Australian F-35A aircraft were expected to undergo routine maintenance at BAESA’s facility this year, demonstrating the significant boost the Program was having on the local Hunter economy.
“The Morrison Government is unashamedly committed to building a robust sovereign defence industry,” Minister Reynolds said.
“We are building our sovereign defence capabilities. We now have 41 fully trained RAAF pilots, nine of whom trained on home soil at RAAF Base Williamtown. We also have more than 225 trained technicians as the RAAF’s F-35A maintenance capability continues to develop.”
This progress is being supported through the sovereign Training Support Services contract awarded to Lockheed Martin Australia, worth approximately $70 million. It will see more than 70 personnel employed at RAAF Base Williamtown and RAAF Base Tindal.
“This demonstrates the extraordinary opportunities this program is providing for Australians and the economy, especially as it continues to bounce back from COVID-19,” Minister Reynolds said.
Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the program had helped the people of the Hunter region weather the impact of the economic impact of the pandemic.
“In 2020, job losses in the aeronautics industry due to COVID-19 resulted in the closure of Jetstar’s aircraft maintenance facility here in Newcastle, and many other regional facilities,” Minister Price said.
“BAESA recently hired 25 former Jetstar employees who had been made redundant as a result of the pandemic.
“Not only have these technical workers been retained in the local Hunter aviation industry, but they will also help Defence build its sovereign sustainment capability as the fleet continues to grow.”
More information about the F-35A Lightning II is available at: https://www.airforce.gov.au/technology/aircraft/strike/f-35a-lightning-ii and https://www.defence.gov.au/CASG/AboutCASG/OurStructure/Air/

Australian Greens Anti-Racism spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has said that the Scanlon Foundation’s Mapping Social Cohesion report for 2020 contains alarming findings with respect to racism felt towards and experienced by culturally diverse Australians.
The report points to “substantial negative sentiment towards national groups from Africa, Asia and the Middle East”, among other findings. The Greens say the government should read the report with utmost seriousness and invest in anti-racism programs and initiatives.
Senator Faruqi said:
“This report should be a wake-up call for everyone denying that people of colour in Australia continue to face racism.
“The Morrison government is not only denying and deflecting the racism people face every day in this country. They’re actively fomenting it.
“Consistently strong anti-Muslim attitudes are very disturbing in the aftermath of the Christchurch terrorist attack which was driven by anti-Muslim hatred, committed by an Australian, and directly targeted Muslims.
“About 40 per cent of Asia-born respondents reported experiencing discrimination, with racism often experienced when shopping, on public transport, or at work.
“While a healthy level of general support for multiculturalism and our immigration program is welcome, we must tackle these real challenges we face. There are many in our community who are at the receiving end of some really toxic attitudes and behaviours,” she said.

The Greens say that the Government must continue to expand and diversify Australia’s vaccine portfolio immediately in light of the varying rates of effectiveness of vaccines against new strains.
“We cannot rely on AstraZeneca as our only contingency plan – we need to have a diverse portfolio to rapidly pivot to deal with new strains, including securing deals with Moderna and more Pfizer doses”, Greens spokesperson on Health Senator Rachel Siewert said.
“We need to ramp up CSL’s capacity to start locally producing Novavax at the same time as AstraZeneca given the promising Phase 3 Trial data.
“The Government should immediately invest in developing Australia’s capacity to locally manufacture vaccines and medicines that use mRNA technology. We need a publicly owned manufacturing capacity, mRNA technology is likely to revolutionise vaccine and drug development and Australia could be at the forefront of this.
“This should be started immediately as it will take some time to establish local manufacturing. Our local manufacturer CSL is not currently equipped to produce vaccines that use mRNA technology.
“A successful vaccine rollout will rely on strong leadership from the Federal Government and good faith and cooperation between the States and Territories.
“I am very concerned that if the bickering which is occurring between the State and Feds on quarantine arrangements continues to happen when the vaccine rollout commences Australians will not be served well.
“We need a public health response, not point scoring. No one wants to see the Prime Minister and Premiers bickering.
“Quarantine is a Federal responsibility, as is the vaccine rollout.
“Far too much of the official expert advice and consideration has been enveloped in secrecy, not least of which have been the decisions around vaccines.
“There needs to be more transparency about how decisions on masks, quarantine and vaccines are being made.
“It is essential that Australia continue to support COVAX and our neighbours in the pacific region must have timely and adequate access to Covid-19 vaccines.
“Australia should commit to increasing its funding to the COVAX AMC to at least the level of Canada (an additional $135.2m USD). This could also include calling on big pharma to temporarily waive intellectual property rights on Covid-19 vaccines to facilitate universal access.”

The Australian Greens have welcomed Labor’s confirmation today that the party opposes the renewal of the Petroleum Exploration Permit 11 (PEP11) licence, which allows oil and gas drilling off the NSW coast.
Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Greens Senator for NSW, said:
“This clear position from Labor will be welcomed by communities across NSW, and indeed across the country. Now all eyes are on the Coalition to see sense and outright reject PEP11.
“Today’s news is a result of the tireless activism of tens of thousands in the community who have pressured politicians on this matter. There is absolutely no case for drilling dirty fossil fuels off the beautiful NSW coastline.
“Drilling for fossil fuels risks irreversible damage to our climate, coasts, oceans and the wonderful marine life that lives within. It will hurt local industries and communities that depend on our oceans and coasts.
“From the outset, I’ve been working with the community who have been united in opposition to the renewal of PEP11. This shows the power of people to push for change,” she said.
Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, Greens spokesperson for Healthy Oceans, said:
“It’s good to see Labor confirm their position on banning oil and gas drilling in PEP11 after voting to support a Greens Senate motion calling for this.
“The Greens welcome any allies in our fight against dangerous seismic testing and proposals to drill for fossil fuels off our pristine coastlines.
“The decision from Labor to oppose oil and gas drilling off the coast of NSW will give hope to climate, coastal and marine campaigners right around the country.
“It would only be logical for Labor to now join the Greens and Tasmanian Liberal MP Gavin Pearce in publicly opposing plans to explore for oil and gas off the coast of King Island.
“In this time of climate emergency our oceans are warming rapidly and the changes we are seeing in our marine environment, such as repeated mass coral bleaching, are catastrophic.
“There is no justification for further risking the marine environment and exploring for the exact fossil fuels which are cooking the ocean and causing the problem in the first place.”

The Morrison Government is committed to preventing future children in Australia suffering from severe mitochondrial disease, a devastating genetic disorder and is calling on the public to share their views through the release of a consultation paper outlining our proposed approach.
By harnessing new technologies such as mitochondrial donation, we have the potential to change the lives of parents and their children and reduce the burden of mitochondrial disease for future generations.
Severe mitochondrial disease can have a devastating effect on families, including the premature death of children, painful debilitating and disabling suffering, long-term ill health and poor quality of life.
In Australia, approximately one child each week is born with a severe form of the disease, often with a life expectancy of less than five years.
Mitochondrial donation provides an option for some women who carry a mitochondrial genetic defect to have a biological child free from this devastating disease.
Our Government recognises that the introduction of this technology in Australia is complex and it will require an appropriate regulatory framework, medical safeguards and, in the longer term, the support of state and territory governments.
For these reasons, we have sought expert advice to ensure that Australia’s approach to implementing mitochondrial donation is undertaken safely and cautiously.
We are proposing to introduce this technology through a two stage process, which would see mitochondrial donation legalised for use in research settings and through an initial pilot clinic, before permitting it in clinical practice more broadly, after success has been demonstrated over a number of years.
We are committed to continuing to advance Australia’s position as a world leader in medical research and delivery, which will ultimately benefit all Australians.
More detailed information on the Government’s proposal is available on the Department of Health’s website at www.health.gov.au/mito
The consultation opens on 5 February and closes on 15 March. You can share your views at: https://consultations.health.gov.au/strategic-policy/mitochondrial-donation-in-australia

The Australian Government has secured an additional 10 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID 19 vaccine on the advice of the Scientific Industry Technical Advisory Group on Vaccines led by Professor Brendan Murphy.
Through the Government’s Advance Purchase Agreement with Pfizer, this additional 10 million vaccines means Australia will now receive 20 million Pfizer doses in 2021.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Government is committed to providing safe and effective vaccines free to everyone in Australia.
“Securing the additional Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines is another positive step in protecting Australians from COVID-19,” the Prime Minister said.
“We now have access to over 150 million vaccine doses, ensuring we remain a world leader in the fight against the virus.”
The vaccination program remains on track for commencement of delivery in late February to people in the first priority group, Phase 1a.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said making safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines available to everyone in Australia is a key priority for the Australia Government.
“I encourage people to get vaccinated when their turn comes – every vaccination helps us defeat the virus,” Minister Hunt said.
“Australians understand that vaccines work. They save lives and improve lives. They protect lives. We can be confident that every COVID-19 vaccine approved in this country will be safe and effective.”
“Australia is a vaccination nation—we have one the highest vaccination rates in the world.”
As the rollout begins, people who need protection the most will get the vaccine first. This includes aged care and disability care residents and workers, frontline health care workers, and quarantine and border workers.
The priority groups have been determined based on the advice of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) which oversees Australia’s highly successful immunisation program.
The Australian Government is also extending free access to COVID-19 vaccines to all visa-holders in Australia.
This will include refugees, asylum seekers, temporary protection visa holders and those on bridging visas. People currently residing in detention facilities will also be eligible, including those whose visas have been cancelled.
“It is vital that we offer vaccines to all people living in Australia to achieve the maximum level of coverage.” the Prime Minister said.
Australia has entered into four separate agreements for the supply of COVID-19 vaccines, if they are proved to be safe and effective. Combined, these agreements will ensure access to approximately 150 million doses.
The Australia Government, states and territories, regulators and the health and medical sectors are working together to finalise arrangements under the Australian Vaccination Strategy and detailed roll out plans. Further information about the Australian Government’s COVID-19 Vaccine National Roll-out Strategy can be found at www.health.gov.au/covid19-vaccines

The Australian Government’s $31 million COVID-19 vaccination public information campaign is now rolling out across the country, with an additional $1.3 million provided for peak multicultural organsations to help reach culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.
Making safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines available to everyone in Australia is a key priority for the Australia Government. That is why we are extending free access to COVID‑19 vaccines to all visa-holders in Australia.
This will include refugees, asylum seekers, temporary protection visa holders and those on bridging visas. People currently residing in detention facilities will also be eligible, including those whose visas have been cancelled.
We know that Australia is a vaccination nation, and we trust this campaign will provide the assurance and motivation for everyone in Australia to have the COVID-19 vaccination.
A major roundtable was held today involving more than 50 community leaders to discuss how we can partner together in supporting the vaccination rollout.
A comprehensive plan, including communication activities and community engagement strategies, has been developed in partnership with multicultural specialist agencies and, with advice from the national CALD Communities COVID-19 Health Advisory Group, to reach people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
The campaign will reach Australians through a range of channels including regular website updates, social media, health professionals and community and grass roots organisations, networks, and the media. It includes advertising in 32 languages across radio, print and social media, and will extend to communities that are harder to reach through traditional channels.
Messages will target specific multicultural groups to ensure everyone in Australia has a full understanding of the vaccination program. Many people working in sectors such as aged care will be in the first groups to be vaccinated and are from CALD communities, and it is critical that they receive translated information that is culturally appropriate.
Translated resources have been developed for multicultural communities, including radio and print editorials, a video development guide for community leaders to film their own videos, in-language web content, social media posts, posters, and newsletter articles. The Department of Health’s vaccine hub also has a translation button for 63 languages available on its website and on mobile devices.
The Government is working with SBS to finalise short videos explaining the vaccine rollout in more than 60 languages, and with the Migration Council of Australia to produce an animated vaccine explainer in 29 languages. These products will be provided to multicultural peak bodies and networks and available online.
As more information becomes available through expert medical advice and complete data sets from clinical trials, the Department will provide timely updates through its multicultural channels.
The Australian Government is confident, given Australia’s current high vaccination rates, everyone able to take up the vaccine will do so in high numbers.

Today, on World Cancer Day, the Morrison Government recognises the millions of Australians whose lives have been touched by cancer.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates more than 48,000 Australians died from cancer in 2020. This disease has a devastating impact on individuals, their families, friends, colleagues and classmates.
World Cancer Day encourages the world to unite in the fight against the cancer epidemic, with the message that Together, all our actions matter.
The Morrison Government has invested record funding in cancer research – $6.6 billion over four years from 2020–21 to 2023–24, which supports Australia’s best and brightest medical researchers in their fight against cancer.
In addition, more Australians are benefitting from our commitment to listing new, lifesaving and life-changing cancer treatments on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Recent new listings include

• From 1 January 2021, Darzalex® (daratumumab) was listed on the PBS in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone, as a second-line treatment for patients with multiple myeloma – a cancer of the plasma cells. Around 1,165 patients per year may benefit from this listing. Without PBS subsidy, patients can pay around $160,000 per year for treatment.
• On the same day, the PBS listing for Tagrisso® (osimertinib) was expanded for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, who have a certain type of mutation in the lungs, known as Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) positive. This expansion resulted in a script that previously cost close to $8,000 reduced to as little as $6.60 per script for about 1,120 patients per year.

All Australians can help combat this disease, and one of the best ways is through cancer screening. Cancer screening can help protect your health through early detection, even if you don’t have any symptoms. Simple screening tests look for particular changes and early signs of cancer before it has developed or before any symptoms emerge.
Each year, more than 7.5 million Australians participate in our free national cancer screening programs for bowel, breast and cervical cancers.
The Government asks Australians to make their health a priority on World Cancer Day. Speak to your healthcare provider today to check if you are due or overdue for screening and visit cancerscreening.gov.au for more information about our national cancer screening programs.
Through early detection and treatment, routine cancer screening can lessen the impact of cancer on a personal level and a global scale.