Category: Australian News

The NSW Government is injecting $25 million to fast-track statewide research and clinical trials to tackle the global COVID-19 pandemic and reduce its impact on the community.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the funds are part of about $800 million in extra health funding by the NSW Government to bolster the health system.
“Already researchers in NSW have made huge inroads to improve diagnostics and potentially aid the eventual creation of a vaccine by growing the novel coronavirus,” Mr Hazzard said.
“The $25 million funding boost will further assist the collaborative research efforts of clinicians, universities and research hubs with crucial roles in the NSW COVID-19 response”.
The funding will be directed to research focused on:

• accurate and timely diagnosis of COVID-19;
• support conducting COVID-19 clinical trials including vaccine trials;
• monitoring, developing and evaluating strategies to slow community transmission;
• developing and evaluating treatments for COVID-19;
• preventing the need for intensive medical care.
• minimising the impact of physical and psychological trauma on the community.

The $25 million is on top of $108 million already invested in medical research in 2019-2020 and will help ensure all research findings on COVID-19 can be implemented rapidly.
The extra funding will also support clinician-led research into the COVID-19 impacts on the healthcare workforce, vulnerable populations and regional, rural and remote communities.
Professor Anthony Kelleher, Director of the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney, said the institute is leading several research projects on COVID-19, including developing an antiviral therapy.
“The infectious disease expertise within the NSW medical research sector is truly world class, and we are eager to turn this investment into research that will transform this pandemic and ultimately save lives,” Professor Kelleher said.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said: “This funding will go a long way to progressing urgent research to minimise the health, social and economic impacts of COVID-19 in NSW.”
Progress on research

• ICPMR Westmead was the first lab in Australia to develop and introduce a blood antibody test for tracking the spread of COVID-19 and is working with researchers from The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance at Westmead and the Kirby Institute who will lead NSW studies of COVID-19 in schools, aged care, hospitals and the home.
• Westmead Institute researchers believe that they have found blood biomarkers that tell clinicians whether patients will need intensive care and are working with clinical trials experts from across NSW to integrate these markers in to critical studies of the course of COVID-19 and its transmissibility.
• Garvan and Kirby Institute researchers have developed a world-leading technology to identify the critical antibodies amongst the myriad produced by our immune cells when challenged by this virus – that could lead to a new treatments and diagnostic tests and are working with virology researchers at UNSW and Westmead
• University of Sydney researchers are at the forefront of research into how best to communicate information during epidemics prevent transmission of infection and into the psychological trauma that may result from managing this epidemic in Australia.

The Australian Greens have condemned US President Donald Trump’s announcement this week that the United States will withdraw critical funding from the World Health Organisation (WHO), and cautions the Australian government from signalling any similar action.
As the international body responsible for coordinating the world’s response to pandemics like the current COVID-19 crisis, it is critical that governments maintain their financial commitments to the organisation.
Australia has a crucial leadership role in our region in particular, to demonstrate steadfast commitment to the WHO and other international bodies. It is through the WHO and other global organisations that wealthy nations like Australia and the US can share capacity, information and resources so that countries have a fighting chance of withstanding this crisis.
Gutting the WHO of critical funding will do nothing but further cripple its ability to provide support in the fight against this lethal virus.
“As we face a global health emergency, it is essential that the WHO is properly funded and resourced to coordinate an international response. Now more than ever it is critical that we have international cooperation and a coordinated response to the pandemic.” Greens health spokesperson Dr Richard Di Natale said.
“In the aftermath of this crisis there will be many lessons to learn from how the world responded to the pandemic and what we can do better. This is appropriate, but if Mr Trump thinks cutting funding is the answer he is dangerously wrong. Trump is seeking to hide behind the WHO for his own disastrous response to the pandemic, which has led to thousands of unnecessary deaths.”
“The usual suspects on Scott Morrison’s backbench and some members of the Labor party have lined up to support Trump’s dangerous blame-shifting. Scott Morrison must now reject this, and commit that Australia will not reduce funding to the WHO.”
Greens International Aid and Development spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi said: 
“Organisations like the WHO are critical to our global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Divisive leaders like Trump will not get us on the other side of this, our collective global community work will.
“Australia’s aid and development funding is already pitifully low. We should be looking to increase our contributions to bolster public health around the world, not reduce them.
“It’s shameful and frankly embarrassing to see the Trump-wannabes of the Liberal party step into action whenever the US president does or says anything. The prime minister must reject this bizarre and dangerous way of making policy decisions, and rule out any further cuts to Australia’s aid contributions to the WHO.
“We live in a grossly unequal world and wealthy countries like Australia have an obligation to contribute to the global response this pandemic requires. That necessarily involves continuing to fund the WHO and working to ensure a strong international effort against COVID-19.”

When Parliament resumes at the foreshadowed May sitting, the Greens will move in the Senate to disallow the Government’s regulation shortening the notice required to change enterprise agreements, said Greens Leader and Industrial Relations spokesperson, Adam Bandt.
“The government is using a temporary emergency to make long-term changes to workers’ rights,” said Mr Bandt.
“I am worried about Liberal mission creep.
“The Australian people are prepared to give the government latitude to fight a health emergency, but this doesn’t give them license to take away rights for the long-term.
“Workers will be put under extreme pressure to agree in a day to changes that could last for years.
“There is no evidence this change is needed, especially given the high degree of co-operation witnessed during this crisis.
“People need a fair amount of time to seek advice about significant changes to their rights and the Greens will oppose this corporate power grab.
“Those of us who fought WorkChoices know the Liberals are no friend of workers. But to use the cover of a global pandemic to strip away workers’ rights is a gross new low.”

Australian Greens Senator and Education spokesperson Dr Mehreen Faruqi has said that the government must provide a new funding package for higher education to save the jobs of thousands of staff.
Senator Faruqi said:
“Across the country, universities are drawing up plans to cut staff and wages. From PhD students to career academics and professional staff, higher education workers will lose their jobs as a direct result of the government’s failure to provide support during the COVID-19 crisis.
“No higher education jobs should be lost. With universities unfairly excluded from the JobKeeper wage subsidy, the government must step up immediately to provide a new funding package. Job security on campuses must be guaranteed, ensuring that all casual staff are also retained.
“Universities are some of the most casualised workplaces in the country. Staff and students are now suffering as a result.
“Universities have been starved of adequate public funding for decades. This has led to a reliance on revenue from international student enrolments, which are now greatly at risk due to the pandemic. Significant new investment, including a minimum ten per cent boost to Commonwealth Grant Scheme funding, is essential.
“Universities with large reserves should also be prioritising staff jobs in spending what money they have. At the end of the day, universities are about people. Keeping university staff on payroll should be top of every Vice-Chancellor’s agenda in managing this crisis.
“In addition to securing jobs through emergency funding, now is the time to make university and TAFE free for all so we can rebuild as a more fair and just society after this crisis,” she said.

The latest review into the management of the Murray-Darling Basin exposes greed, politicking and climate change are killing the nation’s biggest river system, the Greens say.
Responding to the Interim Inspector-General of Murray–Darling Basin Water Resources Mick Keelty’s report, released today, Greens Spokesperson for the Environment and Water Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“There are no jobs on a dead river. This report shows greed and vested political interests are putting the River at risk for all users and killing the River from top to bottom.
“The importance of maintaining environmental flows for the sake of the River’s survival is confirmed in this report.
“The anti-science and anti-environment agenda fanned by people like Barnaby Joyce has created misinformation and frustration amongst the community. Family farmers have been used as political pawns, while the National Party’s corporate irrigator mates are able to keep being greedy.
“The River system is under enormous stress, the Murray-Darling Basin Plan was meant to tackle the over-extraction of water from irrigation. Politics and greed have continued to hinder doing what the science and the environment needs to save the River. It’s time we got on with retuning water to the environment so the River is there into the future.
“This report proves what many of us have known for a long time – allowing the National Party to control the Water Ministry has been a recipe for disaster. They peddle lies, misinformation and have a lack of respect for the science. Morrison should take the portfolio off the National Party, and put science back in charge.”

Qantas and Virgin Australia Groups will operate a minimum domestic network servicing the most critical metropolitan and regional routes in Australia thanks to a significant investment from the Federal Government of up to an initial $165 million.
Underwriting the cost of the network, which includes all state and territory capital cities and major regional centres such as Albury, Alice Springs, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Kalgoorlie, Mildura, Port Lincoln, Rockhampton, Tamworth, Townsville and Wagga Wagga, comes in addition to the more than $1 billion of Federal Government support for Australia’s aviation industry in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said sustaining Australia’s aviation industry is critical to protecting livelihoods and saving lives and that’s why the Government has acted again today to provide further support.
“As Australians are asked to stay home unless absolutely necessary, we are ensuring secure and affordable access for passengers who need to travel, including our essential workers such as frontline medical personnel and defence personnel, as well as supporting the movement of essential freight such as critical medicine and personal protective equipment,” Mr McCormack said.
“We know that a strong domestic aviation network is critical to Australia’s success and today’s announcement demonstrates our commitment, yet again, to maintaining connectivity during this pandemic.
“This investment will also help Australians returning from overseas, who find themselves in a different city after 14 days of mandatory quarantine, complete their journey home safely.”
This announcement complements the actions the Federal Liberal and Nationals Government has already taken to underwrite international flights to help Australians get home, as well as flights to our regional and remote communities through the $198 million Regional Airlines Network Support program announced on 28 March and the $715 million package announced on 18 March.
These arrangements will last for an initial eight weeks with a review mechanism in place, where the Government will continue to monitor the market and determine if further action is required.
We continue to support every Australian to get to the other side of this pandemic with more than $320 billion of investment, including our $130 billion JobKeeper Payment to support workers and businesses.

Greens leader Adam Bandt and transport spokesperson Senator Janet Rice have called for public ownership of Virgin in light of reports the airline is considering going into administration.

Before handing over any public money to the major airlines, the Greens are calling for conditions to be attached:

• Government support being provided as an equity stake, not a loan. Given the financial position of the airlines the required equity stake would almost certainly result in public ownership.
• Workers remaining employed and fully paid
• A pay cut and no bonuses for executives
• A ban on share buybacks or dividends
• A seat for workers on the company board
• Board seats (proportional to the equity stake) for government
• Paying a fair share of corporate tax

Greens transport spokesperson Senator Janet Rice said:

“If public funds are used to bail out Virgin then the airline should be brought into public hands.

“Keeping airlines afloat is important to guarantee essential transport and protect jobs during and after this crisis. But the government must attach conditions to any bailout money to ensure a fair outcome for workers and some return on investment for the Australian people, rather than another handout for corporate investors.

“Privatisation has failed us. While corporate profits for the major airlines have soared over the years, the public has been paying more, and now most of Qantas and Virgin’s workforce have been stood down and left in the lurch.

“The Greens plan ensures that the government does not write a blank cheque to the airlines without prioritising our essential transport workers.”

Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP said:

“If Virgin is about to go into administration, the government should bring it into public ownership.

“Public ownership of Virgin may be the only way to save jobs and ensure Australians can remain connected as we travel in a carbon-constrained world.

“If we’re spending public money, we should be getting public ownership. It’s as simple as that.

“Private companies shouldn’t feel entitled to public money when they need help, only to turn around and abandon workers in their hour of need.

“Our government likes to pretend they’re good economic managers, but forking over billions in public money without getting an ownership stake is a bad deal.”

Australian Greens Housing spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi and Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt MP have said that the federal government must step up and develop a national housing policy that addresses big gaps left by the states.
Housing packages announced by state governments in recent days have largely left vulnerable renters in the lurch and failed to address the power imbalance between landlords and tenants.
Senator Mehreen Faruqi said:
“We have seen some positive steps from the states, such as moratoriums on evictions and funding for tenant advocacy services, but it’s not good enough to leave renters at the mercy of landlords.
“Measures across the board are still skewed towards landlords and leave renters behind. Leaving negotiation up to individual landlords and their tenants makes the most vulnerable tenants open to exploitation at a time when they need security and certainty.
“This power imbalance between landlords and tenants will further entrench inequality post-pandemic. This is the time to ensure a better deal for renters and the dignity of a secure home for everyone.
“Renters need confidence that if they ask for a rent-free period or for rent reductions now, they won’t be faced with rental hikes or a big debt to pay later when the pandemic is over. We need a nationwide rent freeze so no one is left behind now or later.
“The federal government has really failed here. They must immediately step up. We need an increase and expansion of Commonwealth Rent Assistance payments. The government needs to bring big banks to the table, and direct them to provide mortgage relief, with no interest accrual, a ban on foreclosures and a freeze on owners’ credit ratings,” she said.
Adam Bandt MP said:
“No one should be forced onto the streets during a pandemic. These approaches by the states are a good step towards keeping a roof over everyone’s heads through this crisis, but they need to go further.
“Even when faced with the prospect of thousands of renters being unable to pay their rent, state and territory governments have heavily weighted their response in favour of landlords.
“As it stands, renters face being saddled with thousands of dollars of debt.
“Telling renters to ‘work it out’ with their landlords doesn’t mean much when landlords hold all the cards.
“While some landlords are wondering whether their investment properties will turn a profit this year, renters are wondering whether they’ll be able to eat this week. It shouldn’t be difficult for governments to figure out who needs the most help.”

Australian exporters impacted by the COVID-19 crisis will now have access to business-saving loans between $250,000 and $50 million under a new $500 million capital facility to be administered by Export Finance Australia.
The new COVID-19 Export Capital Facility will target loans to established and previously profitable exporters who, due to COVID-19, are unable to gain finance from commercial sources.
Federal Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said the COVID-19 Export Capital Facility would help trade-exposed businesses, including those from regional Australia and businesses in the tourism and education sectors, to get through this crisis and get to the other side.
“These are tough times for many trade-exposed businesses who have been some of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 crisis,” Minister Birmingham said.
“Rising export costs, disruptions to supply-chains and loss of markets are some of the factors that are making it difficult for exporters to access vital commercial finance.
“We are currently in a difficult credit environment and these loans will provide a lifeline to Australian exporters to help them maintain their operations.
“This critical financial assistance will help exporters to get back on their feet through helping to re-establish markets, or provide working capital support or help exporters purchase new equipment to expand their operations.
“Helping our export sector to get access to business-saving finance is crucial to reducing job losses through this crisis and a critical part of the ultimate economic recovery.
“These business-saving loans are in addition to the significant steps our Government has already taken to support exporters and jobs across the sector to get through these incredibly tough times.”
The COVID-19 Export Capital Facility complements other initiatives to sustain exporters, and position them to rebound quickly, including the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Guarantee Scheme that will support up to $40 billion of lending to SMEs (including sole traders and not-for-profits). Under this scheme, the Government will guarantee 50 per cent of new loans issued by eligible lenders to SME up to $250,000.
In addition to the COVID-19 Export Capital Facility, Export Finance Australia will also provide assistance to its existing customers through access to credit and financial relief.
For more information on Export Finance Australia, including how to apply for finance, visit: www.exportfinance.gov.au/covid19.