Category: Australian News

Greens Spokesperson for the Arts Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is calling on Treasurer Frydenberg to immediately extend JobKeeper to workers who have so far been left out.
“The massive revision on JobKeeper numbers today leaves the Government with no excuse not to extend the program to casuals, migrant workers and workers in the arts and entertainment industry who have been excluded from the program,” Senator Hanson-Young said.
“There is now $60billion already budgeted for JobKeeper that can go to saving more jobs.
“The arts and entertainment industry has been one of the hardest hit by coronavirus restrictions and will be one of the last to recover, yet the government has left many artists and creatives without support due to the nature of the work.
“The arts and entertainment industry needs a tailored package to save it and the government clearly has the financial capacity to do it.
“The Greens have pitched a $2.3billion package to help the arts and entertainment industry recover. The Creative Australia policy includes funding to get our artists, musicians, writers, creators, and crews back producing content for our screens, theatres, live music venues, festivals and galleries.
“This isn’t just an investment in arts and entertainment but our tourism and hospitality industries too. It’s good for jobs and our social fabric.
“We know the Government has the money to do it, there’s absolutely no excuse now not to.”

The Federal Liberal and Nationals Government will deliver a $1.8 billion boost for road and community projects through local governments across Australia.
The package of support will help local councils support jobs and businesses by delivering priority projects focused on infrastructure upgrades and maintenance.
The new $500 million Local Road and Community Infrastructure Program and the bringing forward of $1.3 billion of the 2020-21 Financial Assistance Grant payment will also help communities battling the effects of COVID-19.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said local governments were playing a critical role in responding to the impacts of COVID‑19.
“Our funding boost will help councils accelerate priority projects that will employ locally and support local business and also stimulating our economy,” the Prime Minister said.
“These projects will cut travel times, make our communities safer and upgrade the facilities we all enjoy while also getting more people into jobs.
“We know this is going to be vital support, particularly for councils that have faced the combined impacts of drought, bushfires and now COVID-19.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said supporting councils to improve local roads and community infrastructure would have lasting economic and social benefits for communities, particularly those in the regions.
“This package will improve road safety and bolster the resilience of our local road networks, which will get Australians home sooner and safer, no matter where they live,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“Projects could include constructing or improving bridges and tunnels, street lighting and heavy vehicle facilities such as rest areas.
“Providing support for social infrastructure projects such as new or upgraded bicycle and walking paths, community facilities, picnic shelters and barbeque facilities at parks, will help communities, especially those in regional and remote areas, stay connected.”
Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government Mark Coulton said investing in infrastructure and jobs was crucial to helping regional communities rebound from COVID-19.
“Our package enables councils to continue their proven track record of partnering with the Coalition Government to deliver opportunities for locals to be employed and businesses to benefit by providing materials and services,” Minister Coulton said.
“The package takes Commonwealth investment in local governments through the Financial Assistance Grant program to $2.5 billion this financial year, with a further $1.2 billion being distributed through other programs to deliver infrastructure, and provide relief from drought and bushfires.”
Guidelines for the Local Road and Community Infrastructure Program will be provided directly to local governments by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.
Allocations under the Financial Assistance Grant and Local Road and Community Infrastructure programs can be found at https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/lrci.

Investment in low emissions technologies that strengthen our economy and support jobs and businesses are a priority of the Morrison Government on the road to recovery from COVID-19, and to help Australia reduce global emissions.
Today, the Government has released the Technology Investment Roadmap discussion paper, that will bring a strategic and system-wide view to future investments in low emissions technologies.
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said the Government sees enormous potential in technologies like hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, soil carbon sequestration, biofuels, resources and energy exports to reduce emissions while strengthening our economy.
“The Government is committed to reducing emissions without imposing new costs on households, while at the same time growing businesses and the economy,” Minister Taylor said.
“At its core, this is about technology not taxes. It means reducing emissions, not reducing jobs and the economy. It is an approach based on rigour, confidence, optimism, and Australian ingenuity not ideology.
The Government has a clear focus – back new and emerging technologies that will:

• Continue supplying the affordable and reliable energy households and industry need to support jobs and the economy;
• Increase the productivity of export sectors like agriculture, energy, metals and minerals processing;
• Allow Australia to capitalise on opportunities to develop new industries and jobs; and
• Position Australia to support our trading partners’ plans to reduce emissions through the export of low emissions technologies, energy and other products.

“The Government’s Technology Investment Roadmap is about more than just reducing emissions,” Minister Taylor said.
“This is about developing technologies that will support jobs growth. This is about ensuring that mums and dads and small businesses are paying a fair cost for energy and not imposing taxes on them. This is about backing new industries that will help our regional communities and local economies to prosper. This is about putting Australia at the forefront of research and development, and maintaining our strong track record of reducing global emissions.”
The alternative is to sign up to long term targets without a clear plan. This approach will penalise energy-intensive industries and reduce economic activity.
Other countries, particularly our largest trading partners, are reluctant to commit to policies and targets with material economic costs.
“Australia will play its role on the global stage by partnering with other nations to accelerate technologies with high abatement potential. Reducing emissions in a way that benefits the economy of these countries is the only way to broad agreement on a way forward,” Minister Taylor said.
“Real action on technology, not taxes, is the pathway to increasing global ambition.”
The Roadmap goals will be developed in consultation with industry, researchers and the financial sector, with progress reported through an annual Low Emissions Technology Statement.
The Government has appointed a Ministerial Reference Panel, led by Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel, to support the development of the first Low Emissions Technology Statement that will be published later this year.
The Roadmap will be a cornerstone of Australia’s Long Term Emissions Reduction Strategy, to be released ahead of COP26.
The Government will look to support a wide range of technologies with the potential to reduce emissions across sectors. Through the Technology Investment Roadmap process, clear goals will be set for the most important and prospective of these – as we have already done with the ‘H2 under $2’ program.
The Government has already made substantial investments in clean energy technology, with more than $10 billion invested in more than 670 clean energy projects with a total project value in excess of $35 billion.
To contribute to this important national conversation or learn more about the Roadmap process, visit: https://consult.industry.gov.au/climate-change/technology-investment-roadmap/
Written submissions are open until Sunday 21 June 2020.

The Morrison Government will invest almost $400 million in world-leading health and medical research projects to improve the lives of all Australians.
Our Government will strengthen Australians’ health through research to prevent illness and deliver better health care as we recover and restore our nation in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A total of 237 new projects will receive funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), with a further 30 grants to be funded through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Priority Round.
Funding will support research in the areas of:

• Cancer – $87.1 million
• Cardiovascular Disease – $46.5 million
• Mental health – $54.0 million
• Indigenous – $19.4 million
• Infectious diseases – $84.7 million

Of the grants funded, a total of $84.7 million will go towards 61 new research projects in infectious diseases – a significant strength of Australia’s research sector.
Whilst applications for this grant round closed in 2019, prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, infectious disease research into influenza and pneumonia may contribute to our understanding of COVID-19 and translate into new treatment strategies and trials.
Professor Allen Cheng from Monash University will receive $1.7 million to optimise vaccine and treatment strategies to prevent illness and death from severe influenza in Australia.
Professor Cheng’s research project will transform the prevention and treatment of influenza and its complications by developing innovative public health and treatment strategies that can be applied globally
Australians will benefit from this vital health and medical research being conducted around the country:

• $186 million in research funding for 124 projects in Victoria, including University of Melbourne research to put 3D printing into the reality of surgery by developing an approach for regenerating joint cartilage within the body using one-step surgery
• $119.8 million in research funding for 83 projects in New South Wales, including University of New South Wales research to explore how novel internet solutions can be used to overcome the burden of depression in youth.
• $48.8 million in research funding for 29 projects in Queensland, including QIMR Berghofer Institute of Medical Research research into the genetic basis of breast cancer risk with the aim of reducing breast cancer incidence and mortality.
• $24.1 million in research funding for 15 projects in South Australia, including University of South Australia research into the monitoring of medical conditions such as preeclampsia, epilepsy, fetal arrhythmias and heart attacks through advanced technologies that can be integrated with point-of-care and wearable diagnostic tools.
• $8.4 million in research funding for nine projects in Western Australia, including University of Western Australia research into novel and effective chemotherapy and immunotherapy drug combinations to reduce deaths from cancer.
• $5.6 million in research funding for five projects in the Northern Territory, including Menzies School of Health Research work towards the elimination of chronic hepatitis B in the Northern Territory.
• $3.8 million in research funding for two projects in the ACT, including Australian National University research to strengthen the detection and prediction of outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases, and the control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases.

While this round was closed for submissions last year, we are currently in the process of awarding $42 million for COVID research through the MRFF.
Medical research is one of the core elements of the Australian Government’s $104 billion Long Term National Health Plan. This vital investment across the broad health spectrum will continue the proud Australian tradition of discovery and translation for the better health for all.
A full list of grant recipients is available on NHMRC’s website: www.nhmrc.gov.au.

The Australian Government has renewed calls for Australians to stay vigilant as the toll of people who have died as a result of COVID-19 rises to 100.
Minister for Health Greg Hunt and Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians Richard Colbeck today urged residents to maintain physical distancing and strict hygiene measures to ensure the nation continues to flatten the curve.
It follows confirmation of the death of a resident at Sydney aged care facility Newmarch House – the centre’s 19th since the COVID-19 outbreak at the facility, with 17 directly attributed to COVID-19 and Australia’s 100th overall.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to all those people who have lost a loved one as a result of this pandemic,” Minister Hunt said.
“This tragic toll reminds us that even as Australian states and territories move toward easing of restrictions, the threat of this virus remains.”
Minister Hunt said it was vital Australians continued to follow the advice of National Cabinet and the AHPPC, which clearly outlines the measures needed to ensure we can navigate through this pandemic.
“We recognise the profound impact of every single death in Australia as a result of COVID-19,” Minister Hunt said. “While this is a tragic toll, it also indicates how strict measures adopted across the nation have served to protect our way of life.
“The Australian Government has outlined a clear pathway to recovery, but Australians everywhere should stay alert, follow physical distancing guidelines and look out for each other. Together, we can do this.”
Minister Colbeck said he was deeply saddened by the latest death at Newmarch House.
“Our thoughts are extended to all those affected by this latest loss,” Minister Colbeck said.
“The deaths at Newmarch House underline the dangers COVID-19 pose for vulnerable and senior Australians.
“Protecting the health and wellbeing of residents remains a focus for both Commonwealth and State.
“We are not out of the woods. Protecting our most vulnerable is everybody’s responsibility.”
Minister Colbeck said the Aged Care Visitor Access Code, released earlier this month, set out a nationally consistent framework to ensure the health and wellbeing of aged care residents remained a priority while ensuring important social connections were retained.
Both Minister Hunt and Minister Colbeck said the COVIDSafe app remained a key to ensuring a stronger, safer future for Australia.
The voluntary opt-in contactp app will help health authorities know who has been in contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus.
The CovidSafe app can be found here.
The Aged Care Visitor Access Code can be found here.

The Greens have backed a community call to retain free childcare in light of the Education Minister’s strongest indications yet that the government would revert back to a fee-paying model, potentially as early as next month.
Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Greens spokesperson for Education, said:
“Free childcare has been a huge step forward for access to childcare for families. It should be made permanent.
“The government may think it will save money by going back to the fee-paying model, but we know the social and economic benefits of free childcare are enormous.
“The economic impacts of COVID-19 are going to be felt for many months and years. People are doing it tough, and a return to fee-paying childcare now will only make things worse.
“The Minister should be looking at how to ensure ongoing access to free childcare, and options for expanded public operation of childcare, not doubling down on a return to fees that will once again prevent families from accessing childcare.
“Free childcare, hand-in-hand with a fair and decent wage for workers in the sector, benefits everyone.
“It’s time to recognise childcare as an essential service available to anyone who needs it, not just those who can afford it,” she said.

The Australian Government has renewed calls for Australians to stay vigilant as the toll of people who have died as a result of COVID-19 rises to 100.
Minister for Health Greg Hunt and Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians Richard Colbeck today urged residents to maintain physical distancing and strict hygiene measures to ensure the nation continues to flatten the curve.
It follows confirmation of the death of a resident at Sydney aged care facility Newmarch House – the centre’s 19th since the COVID-19 outbreak at the facility, with 17 directly attributed to COVID-19 and Australia’s 100th overall.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to all those people who have lost a loved one as a result of this pandemic,” Minister Hunt said.
“This tragic toll reminds us that even as Australian states and territories move toward easing of restrictions, the threat of this virus remains.”
Minister Hunt said it was vital Australians continued to follow the advice of National Cabinet and the AHPPC, which clearly outlines the measures needed to ensure we can navigate through this pandemic.
“We recognise the profound impact of every single death in Australia as a result of COVID-19,” Minister Hunt said. “While this is a tragic toll, it also indicates how strict measures adopted across the nation have served to protect our way of life.
“The Australian Government has outlined a clear pathway to recovery, but Australians everywhere should stay alert, follow physical distancing guidelines and look out for each other. Together, we can do this.”
Minister Colbeck said he was deeply saddened by the latest death at Newmarch House.
“Our thoughts are extended to all those affected by this latest loss,” Minister Colbeck said.
“The deaths at Newmarch House underline the dangers COVID-19 pose for vulnerable and senior Australians.
“Protecting the health and wellbeing of residents remains a focus for both Commonwealth and State.
“We are not out of the woods. Protecting our most vulnerable is everybody’s responsibility.”
Minister Colbeck said the Aged Care Visitor Access Code, released earlier this month, set out a nationally consistent framework to ensure the health and wellbeing of aged care residents remained a priority while ensuring important social connections were retained.
Both Minister Hunt and Minister Colbeck said the COVIDSafe app remained a key to ensuring a stronger, safer future for Australia.
The voluntary opt-in contactp app will help health authorities know who has been in contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus.
The CovidSafe app can be found here.
The Aged Care Visitor Access Code can be found here.

Support Act is delighted to announce that its Wellbeing Helpline has been expanded beyond the music and theatre industries to now incorporate all artists and arts workers across Australia.
The Wellbeing Helpline is a free confidential service available 24/7, staffed by professional clinicians familiar with issues faced by people working in music and the arts. It can be accessed by calling 1800 959 500 within Australia, or via email. Zoom video calls are also available.
The twelve-month expansion of this essential service has been made possible thanks to the Australian Government, through the Office for the Arts.
Clive Miller, CEO, says he is thrilled that Support Act can extend access to the Helpline to the wider arts community during this challenging time.
“COVID-19 is clearly having a huge impact on the mental health and wellbeing of people across the entire arts sector, with many people struggling as a result of financial hardship, concern about careers, being cut off from social networks and working from home. Our clinicians can provide support in all these areas and more, and we encourage any music or arts worker who is concerned about their mental health to call the Helpline on 1800 959 500.”
Support Act launched the Wellbeing Helpline in June 2018 with support from The Tony Foundation and Levi’s and partnered with the Arts Centre Melbourne’s Arts Wellbeing Collective to extend access to all performing arts workers in July 2019.
The Wellbeing Helpline is delivered in partnership with AccessEAP, a leading not-for-profit Employee Assistance Program provider with close to 30 years’ experience in mental health and workplace wellbeing.
“I have used the Helpline and it really helped me at the time deal with some flat feelings after a project came to an end,” said Ben Steel, writer & director of the documentary, The Show Must Go On . “It was a relief to speak with a trained clinician who could understand my creative world and provide thoughtful and relevant advice at a convenient time to my busy schedule. I know screen actors and our friends across all of arts & entertainment will benefit from having access to this incredible industry Helpline.”
More information is available on our website, including digital resources to download and share on socials, websites, emails as well as venues and workplaces.