Category: Australian News

The Greens have successfully established an inquiry into media diversity with the support of the Senate today.
Greens Spokesperson for Media and Communications Senator Sarah Hanson-Young who is chair of the Environment and Communications References Committee which will conduct the inquiry said:
“The Senate has today agreed to the Greens motion to establish an inquiry into media diversity in this country.
“It’s clear from the half a million signatures on the record-breaking petition for a Royal Commission into media diversity that Australians are very concerned about the concentration of media ownership and the power and political influence of Murdoch. As a Parliament it was right that we acted on those concerns.
“The media landscape in Australia has been changing rapidly. We need to ensure we have a strong and independent public interest news industry to support our democracy.
“We are losing the diversity of media voices across the country and access to news and public interest journalism in some regions altogether. The loss of media outlets and the increasing pressure faced by small and independent publishers is bad for our democracy and should be given the attention it deserves.
“The dominance of Facebook and Google has been ever increasing and this inquiry will also provide an opportunity for a proper consideration of how that is impacting media diversity.
“The US election has highlighted the need for truth in journalism and the need to call out unsubstantiated and false claims. Before we head into another election period in Australia we can now take a proper look at the state of media diversity here and help protect a pillar of our democracy.”
The inquiry will open for public submissions soon with details available on the Environment and Communications Committee website.

Greens Senator Larissa Waters moved to bring on her Parliamentary Standards Bill this morning to address Parliament’s appalling ineffectual complaints process for staff suffering workplace bullying and harassment.
The move follows the Morrison Government’s refusal to even acknowledge there is a problem, following Monday’s Four Corners investigation into sexual harassment within the Liberal Party.
Senator Waters, Greens Leader in the Senate and Spokesperson on Women, said:
“This is Parliament’s Me Too moment.
“The existing complaints process is little known and far too weak, with no consequences for MPs or MOPS Act staff found to have breached the code.
“Instead of trying to silence the ABC and downplaying his ministers’ behaviour, the Prime Minister must act decisively to fix Parliament’s reporting processes so women feel encouraged to come forward, without fear of reprisal.
“The only people in Parliament facing repercussions for workplace harassment and bullying in this place are the complainants. We need to change that.
“Morrison is more interested in saving face than taking action, so the Greens have stepped up to ensure Parliament is a safe and respectful workplace for all women.
“The Greens Parliamentary Standards Bill would create an independent parliamentary standards commissioner to investigate complaints, and, where complaints are upheld, censure, fine, or suspend offending MPs from Parliament.
“We want women to know that if they come forward with allegations of workplace harassment and bullying here, they will be heard and there will be consequences.
“We are bringing this bill forward so the Prime Minister cannot continue to sweep these issues under the carpet.”

The Australian Greens Party Room has agreed to strengthen rules for Senators and MPs, making explicit a ban on sexual relations between any Federal Greens MPs and any Federal Greens staff members.
The Australian Greens and the Party Room already had very strong and extensive policies on sexual harassment and bullying and this update further strengthens those rules. These rules conform to community expectations and what is in place in workplaces around the country.
The rules go further than other parties, in that they apply to all MPs (not just Ministers or Shadow Ministers) and apply to staff of other Greens MPs (not just the MP’s own staff).
Sanctions for any breach of the rules would be determined by the Party Room, and could include loss of leadership roles, portfolios, or committee membership.
The Greens have called on other parties to update their rules so that there is uniformity for all staff working for elected representatives in Parliament.
“Women have a right to a safe workplace. The Greens have always been leaders in Australian politics on issues of workplace relations, integrity and Parliamentary standards, and this further strengthening of our rules continues our commitment to safe workplaces,” said Greens Leader, Adam Bandt.
“After the 4 Corners report on Monday night, the Prime Minister’s response has been to blame others, refuse to investigate and fail to put in place a clear way for people to raise complaints without fear of reprisal. It’s not good enough. We need to lift standards across the board so that everyone working in Parliament feels safe.”

The Greens echo the Australian Federal Police Association’s description of the Morrison Government’s sham integrity commission as nothing more than a “protection racket” for government MPs.
Greens Leader in the Senate and Spokesperson on Democracy, Senator Larissa Waters, said:
“The Morrison Government has designed its sham integrity commission to shield their mates from proper scrutiny. It wants one rule for its politicians, and another for everyone else.
“The Government’s CIC bill has no friends. Earlier this week, the Senate made clear it thought the bill is too weak by supporting a Greens motion demanding an independent corruption watchdog with teeth.
“My bill for a federal corruption watchdog passed the Senate a year ago. If Morrison brought on my bill for debate in the House, we could have an effective ICAC by Christmas.”

The Greens have responded to new ABS data showing an alarming drop in women studying at university in 2020 as compared to 2019.
Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Greens spokesperson for Education, said:
“I’ve said from the very start that women have borne the brunt of the impacts of Covid-19.
“These numbers challenge the assumption that people will enrol to study when there’s an economic downturn. Women are still doing much of the unpaid care work during these hard times. They are the ones now having to give up the opportunity to go to uni.
“The government’s plan to hike up university fees and cut funding for courses with a high proportion of women enrolled will be another barrier to university education.
“With the Covid recession rolling on, the government should be making it easier for women to go to uni, not hiking up fees and cutting course funding,” she said.
Senator Larissa Waters, Greens spokesperson for Women, said:
“The Morrison Government never thinks twice about how its policies will disproportionately disadvantage women and widen the gender pay gap, and the increase in uni fees is a perfect example.
“You don’t find inequities if you don’t look for them, and that’s why this Government needs more women in Cabinet and a Women’s Budget Impact Statement to reveal the gendered impacts of their decisions.”

Remembrance Day has come to signify a moment where, as a nation, we pause collectively to reflect on past conflicts.
Today at 11:00am, we stop for one minute’s silence in honour of those who have served- some two million men and women, who have taken up our nation’s uniform.
We honour all Australians who have served and reflect on the sacrifice they made to keep our nation safe, including the more than 102,000 defence personnel who have tragically died during, or as a result of, wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.
Since the guns first fell silent on the Western Front, Armistice Day, as it was formerly known, has gained special significance in the post-war years.
Today, on Remembrance Day we honour and pay tribute to our current and former service personnel and their families who have sacrificed so much.

The Morrison Government is continuing to support our economic recovery and secure Australia’s future by today passing legislation to establish the JobMaker Hiring Credit, giving businesses access to up to $200 per week for each eligible employee.
The $4 billion JobMaker Hiring Credit is a key part of the Government’s economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Youth unemployment was particularly impacted by restrictions imposed as part of the health response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the JobMaker Hiring Credit specifically designed to encourage businesses to take on additional young employees and increase in employment.
The JobMaker Hiring Credit is a fixed amount of $200 per week for an eligible employee aged 16 to 29 years and $100 per week for an eligible employee aged 30 to 35 years paid quarterly in arrears by the Australian Taxation Office.
This will help young people access job opportunities and reconnect them with the labour force as the economy recovers from the effects of the coronavirus.
To be eligible, the employee must have been receiving JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance (Other) or Parenting Payment for at least one of the previous three months, assessed on the date of employment.
Employees also need to have worked for a minimum of 20 hours per week of paid work to be eligible, averaged over a quarter and can only be eligible with one employer at a time.
The hiring credit is not available to an employer who does not increase their headcount and payroll. The legislative framework also prohibits both employers and employees from entering into contrived schemes in order to gain access to or increase the amount payable.
Existing rights and safeguards for employees under the Fair Work Act will continue to apply, including protection from unfair dismissal and the full range of general protections.
The JobMaker Hiring Credit will ensure hard-working Australians and businesses have the support to get back to work and is part of the Government’s Economic Recovery Plan to create jobs, rebuild the economy and secure Australia’s future.

Australian Greens Peace and Disarmament spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John said any Australian SAS soldiers found guilty of war crimes as part of the IGADF Afghanistan Inquiry must be prosecuted to the full extent of domestic and international law.
Senator Steele-John also reiterated calls for the full report to be made public by Chief of the Defence General Angus Campbell.
“It is not good enough for the ADF to simply strip medals from SAS soldiers who are found guilty of committing heinous crimes; that is the very least the Chief of the Defence can do in response to these incredibly serious allegations,” Steele-John said.
“General Campbell must make public the  IGADF report – which he now has on his desk – so that the public can assess its findings in full.
“It is alleged on the public record that innocent people lost their lives; the individuals responsible must lose more than just their medals and the Australian people must know to what extent those allegations are true.
“Australians deserve to know what our defence force personnel are doing in overseas conflict zones in our name.”

Australian Greens Animal Welfare spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has welcomed the Senate’s agreement to her motion acknowledging all Melbourne Cup horse deaths since 2013 and stating that no horse should die at a racetrack.
Senator Faruqi said:
“The Senate has sent a blunt message to the racing industry today: you have failed to protect the animals under your care. Enough is enough.
“Horse racing is inherently dangerous for these animals. No horse is safe at an Australian racetrack.
“With NSW trainers now urging Racing Australia to strip power from Victorian racing authorities over the carnage of the Cup, it’s clear the industry knows they’ve lost their social license and are panicking.
“Horses should not die at racetracks and they should not die at slaughterhouses when they are no longer profitable.
“We need to implement a proper national tracing system for all horses and an end to commercial horse racing,” she said.

The Australian Government is ensuring senior Australians get the services and assistance they need with a $2.5 million investment to extend and expand the Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line.
Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Richard Colbeck, said the support line will be extended until 30 June 2021.
“The Government will invest up to $2.5 million so senior Australians can continue to access information about the COVID-19 pandemic and get the support they need,” Minister Colbeck said.
“Many vulnerable senior Australians may not have easy access to the internet or be able to readily access information about COVID-19.
“The support line has proved to be a very beneficial service for senior Australians who continue to face particular risks because of COVID-19, including social isolation and loneliness.
“Being able to pick up the phone and call someone, or receive calls from expert service providers, is proving to be very effective.”
Between 22 April and 23 October 2020, the support line received more than 5000 inbound calls and provided more than 29,000 outbound calls.
The top five reasons for calls included:

• wellbeing checks
• information about COVID-19
• advice to vulnerable people
• travel restrictions
• access to new, or queries about existing, home care services.

The support service is a joint initiative of COTA Australia, Dementia Australia, National Seniors Australia and the Older Persons Advocacy Network. The expansion of the service will also include support from the Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care (PICAC) Alliance.
“We identified the need early on in the COVID-19 pandemic to provide targeted support for vulnerable senior Australians who are at greater risk of isolation, carer stress and elder abuse,” Minister Colbeck said.
“The extension of this valuable service will now include outbound calls to carers of people living with dementia, as well as more specific community supports for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) seniors.
“The Government’s investment in the Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line means people have multiple ways to communicate their questions and concerns with trusted community organisations working with senior Australians.”
“The additional services will be established as quickly as possible to ensure all senior Australians, no matter what their circumstances, can access the support they need, when they need it, in a way they prefer.”
Senior Australians who would like information and support are encouraged to contact the Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line on 1800 171 866, Monday to Friday between 8:30am to 6pm (except public holidays).