Category: Australian News

The competition presents an opportunity for online narrative creators to apply for the chance to pitch their project live on stage to a panel of industry experts at VidCon Australia (19-22 September 2019). The team with the best pitch will be awarded $30,000 in funding for script development and to make a proof of concept.
Applications open today and up to five teams will be selected to pitch their project at VidCon Australia. Teams will need to be able to present an engaging pitch that gets the panel excited about their narrative concept, summarises who the project is for, how an audience will access it, and why that audience will want to watch it.
Successful finalists will participate in a closed workshop on 19 September in Melbourne to help them prepare for the live pitch the next day. Each finalist team will also receive two complimentary Creator Track passes to VidCon Australia.
Online Investment Manager at Screen Australia, Lee Naimo said: “We know that Australia has a huge amount of talent making really engaging and exciting content for online audiences. Pitcher Perfect is an incredible opportunity for those emerging creatives with strong ideas to build their pitching skills, and access funding to start a career in the industry. For the winning team $30,000 is a significant amount of money to develop a proof of concept in the form of a trailer, pilot or episode to bring their idea to life, and I can’t wait to see the range of teams that apply.”
VidCon’s General Manager, Jim Louderback said: “Australia is seeing one of the fastest growth spurts in online video on a global scale – it is one of the many reasons we brought VidCon to Melbourne, and this year’s event is set to become our best yet. It’s crucial we support the incredibly talented emerging creators from Australia, who will undoubtedly play a key role in shaping the future of the market as it continues to grow. We’re really excited to see what the entrants have to offer!”
Applicant teams need to have a minimum of two people covering the roles of producer, writer and director. Larger teams can apply, but only two people from each team will take part in the live pitch at VidCon Australia.
To apply, teams need to submit a video pitch up to three minutes in length. Finalists who are not based in Melbourne will receive flights and accommodation for two team members. For more information on eligibility and application guidelines click here 
Applications close Friday 19 July.

Statement from Australian Greens Whip Sen. Rachel Siewert:
Today the Australian Greens Party Room met and re-affirmed the positions of our leadership team.
Following a customary spill of the leadership positions, the roles of Leader, Co-Deputy Leader and Whip have all been returned without challenge. The rotating position of Party Room Chair has moved from Adam Bandt MP to Sen. Janet Rice.
The leadership roles for the 46th Parliament are as follows:
Parliamentary Leader: Dr Richard Di Natale
Deputy Leader: Sen. Larissa Waters
Deputy Leader: Adam Bandt MP
Party Whip: Sen. Rachel Siewert
Party Room Chair: Sen. Janet Rice
Statement from Leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale:
I am excited to have been re-elected parliamentary leader by my Party Room colleagues and want to thank them for putting their trust in me again. I am so proud of our achievements and the strong role the Greens have played in shaping the debate of the 45th Parliament, and I am confident that we will once again be a driving force in responding to the major challenges that confront our nation.
First and foremost on the Greens’ agenda in the 46th Parliament will be tackling the existential threat of dangerous climate change and ensuring that no one is left behind as we undertake the transformation of our economy away from dirty, polluting fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas to a clean, green, jobs-rich economy powered by renewable energy.
I also know that many Australians are struggling with the rising cost of living, job insecurity and growing inequality. Our determination to secure a safe climate future for our kids and grandkids, and to create a fairer and more equal society, go hand in hand.
In 2016 I began a conversation with our membership over how the leader of our Parliamentary team is elected in future, so that it better reflects the rapid growth our party has experienced over the last 20 years. I am very pleased with the level of positive engagement this conversation has generated within the Party and I look forward to it continuing.
Statement from Willisa Hogarth and Catherine Garner, Co-Conveners of the Australian Greens
The Australian Greens welcome the reappointment of Richard, Larissa, Adam and Rachel to their parliamentary roles, and congratulate Janet on being appointed Party Room Chair. We are thrilled to see our entire federal team returned following the election.
Our party is in the midst of important discussions about how we support and grow our movement, engage with our members and address the social, economic and environmental challenges our country and our planet is facing. We, Richard and our whole party room, remain committed to this process.
Again, we extend our congratulations and gratitude to the whole Parliamentary Team, all of our candidates who put themselves forward this election and our incredible movement of Greens volunteers and members who continue to work so hard for a future for all of us.

The Iraqi Army School of Infantry Non-Commissioned Officer II (SINCO II) marked a significant milestone last week by achieving Initial Operating Capability ahead of schedule.
The School, based at the Taji Military Complex, 20 kilometres north of Baghdad, can now conduct 75 per cent of its training activities without coalition assistance.
SINCO II has been supported by the Australian and New Zealand-led Task Group Taji, part of the broader coalition’s Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve.
Commanding Officer of the Taji Training Task Unit, Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Smith, said the declaration of Initial Operating Capability was the result of significant hard work by the school over a long period.
“This represents a milestone for the Taji campaign plan; a transition towards training that is solely led by the Iraqi Security Forces,” Lieutenant Colonel Smith said.
SINCO II is responsible for training personnel from Iraqi Army Brigades who in turn work to secure and stabilise areas in Iraq, which have recently been liberated from Daesh.
The training is focused on enhancing core infantry skills including weapons handling, marksmanship, explosive hazard awareness, combat first aid, urban operations and combined arms operations. Students are also provided lessons on the Law of Armed Conflict.
In line with this achievement, Australian support to SINCO II has transitioned from direct training of Iraqi soldiers to train-the-trainer and mentoring activities.
Australia’s efforts are now focused on supporting the Iraqi Army to reach full operating capacity at SINCO II.

In April 2018, Screen Australia introduced a mandatory Code of Conduct to Prevent Sexual Harassment for all recipients of Screen Australia production funding.

Since that time, Screen Producers Australia (SPA) and the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) have jointly developed and released the Australian Screen Industry Code of Practice: Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Bullying.
A goal of the Screen Industry Code of Practice is to enable employers to have a consistent approach to these important issues across the entire Australian screen industry. As such, Screen Australia will require projects approved for production funding from 1 July 2019 onwards to implement the Screen Industry Code of Practice rather than the Screen Australia Code of Conduct.
Production companies must, so far as is reasonably practical, implement the Code of Practice as part of its obligations in the Screen Australia funding contract.

Senior South Australian Liberals must clarify whether Tony Pasin’s push to underwrite coal-fired power is part of the Liberals’ plan for our renewables state.
“Liberal Barker MP Tony Pasin went on radio this morning calling for taxpayer money to be spent on new coal-fired power stations. Senior South Australian Liberals must clarify whether this is their new position,” Greens Senator for South Australia Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“Senior South Australian Liberals, Steven Marshall and Simon Birmingham, must face this head on. South Australians deserve to know where they stand. This move by Tony Pasin undermines our renewable energy industry and puts our economy at risk.
“South Australia is proudly coal-free. We have one of the highest uptakes of solar in the country. South Australians expect their MPs to embrace the future, not revert to the dirty days of coal.
“Opening up new coal-fired power stations in this era of climate change is backward and destructive. Our environment cannot afford more coal pollution if we are to stave off the worst of climate change.
“The Greens will fight any move to spend public money propping up coal-fired power stations. Coal must be phased out, our environment and climate depend on it.”

The Australian Greens are deeply concerned at the Hong Kong Government’s proposed new extradition agreement with China.  The proposal will undermine Hong Kong’s independent legal system, and it will expose people to China’s unjust system, Leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale said.
“We all know that China’s judicial system is deeply politicised.  The right to a fair trial is chronically denied and defendants often face ill-treatment and torture – despite policies prohibiting such treatment. People unjustly mired in China’s judicial system have little to no hope of redress.
“The Chinese Government still hasn’t aligned its key criminal laws and policies with international human rights standards.  It does not always allow criminal suspects access to lawyers.  It fails to investigate allegations of police torture and to hold police to account.  It imprisons human rights lawyers, artists and academics.
The Greens urge the Australian Government to speak out strongly against this new proposal in the hope that it doesn’t become law.”

Equinor’s claims they can drill safely in the Great Australian Bight have gone to water after their ship crashed into their oil rig in Norwegian waters, the Greens say.
“A collision like this in the Great Australian Bight could spell disaster. The waters are rough and remote. The risk is too great, we don’t want an accident like this happening in the Bight,” Greens environment spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“This collision comes after oil was found on the sea surface at the same rig last month. If they can’t drill safely in the calm, shallow waters in the North Sea, they cannot be trusted to risk the Bight.
“No amount of corporate spin will make drilling in the Bight safer. There is no amount of planning Equinor can do to avoid critical accidents or disasters.
“No company should be given the green light to drill in the Bight’s rough waters. The Greens, with the South Australian community, will continue to fight plans to turn the Bight into an oilfield, to keep our tourism and fishing industries strong, our beaches clean and avoid disaster.”

Instead of locking in a spiral of economic inequality by green-lighting Scott Morrison’s flat tax system, the Labor Party should work with the Greens on a long-term plan to drive productivity and create sustainable jobs through investment in renewables and increasing Newstart, Leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale said.
“By supporting these tax cuts the Labor Party are going to make inequality worse and do nothing to set the country up for the future,” Di Natale said.
“Now is not the time for more tax cuts. Now is the time for a massive investment in public services and infrastructure that will work for the wellbeing of everyone in the community, not just the wealthy few. Now is the time to raise Newstart, so that people can live with dignity, as well as giving a boost to our local economy.
“The Government’s tax cut program that Labor is thinking about bringing forward will turbocharge inequality and hamstring future governments from delivering public services down the track.
“The Reserve Bank has been begging the Government to invest in productive infrastructure for the country, but instead, the Liberal and Labor parties have got themselves into a bidding war over who can hand out the biggest tax cuts.
“Instead of getting stuck in a race to see who can give away the money we need to pay for our schools, roads and hospitals the quickest, Labor should join the Greens in pledging to increase Newstart and putting in place a managed transition away from dirty, polluting fossil fuels like coal and gas and towards a clean, green, jobs-rich renewable economy.”

The Greens are calling on new Environment Minister Sussan Ley to formally respond to the UN’s report on the global extinction crisis by using World Environment day to announce the Morrison Government will adequately fund threatened species recovery.
“Australia has one of the worst extinction rates in the world, yet the Government still has not responded to the UN’s harrowing report on the global biodiversity crisis. New Environment Minister, Sussan Ley has the opportunity to act on World Environment Day. She must put in place a properly funded recovery plan, of $200 million a year, to save our threatened species from death row,” Greens environment spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“Climate breakdown, land clearing, and invasive species are wreaking havoc on our natural environment. Australia has a major part to play in curbing the extinction crisis, by properly funding threatened species recovery. The new Environment Minister must listen to the science, and the experts, in dealing with this crisis.
“If we don’t act now, species like the plains wanderer, the Fleurieu Peninsula southern emu-wren and the Kangaroo Island dunnart will be lost forever. Koalas could be extinct in NSW in the next 30 years. We must commit to a way off the threatened species list that doesn’t end in extinction.
“The Greens took a comprehensive plan to save our threatened species to the election. We know, with political will, we can get out of this mess. That’s why we will continue to fight for our threatened species. New Environment Minister Sussan Ley can take strides toward a better future by responding to this report, and committing $200 million a year to threatened species recovery.
“Our birds, mammals, marsupials, marine and plant life are synonymous with life in Australia. We love our native wildlife and our natural world. We must restore and protect what we have left before it is too late.”