Category: Australian News

A Shorten Labor Government will help create up to 70,000 new jobs and support more young Australians train in the jobs for the future, with a $75 million Renewables Training Package – including support for 10,000 apprentices in the renewable and clean energy industries.
Renewable energy means more jobs, more investment, cheaper energy and lower pollution.
Labor’s commitment to 50 per cent renewables by 2030 will see up to 70,000 jobs created.
Australians already know the benefits of cheaper, cleaner renewable energy. The number of households with rooftop solar has grown from 7,000 in 2007 to more than two million today.
To support this renewables revolution, Labor will support 10,000 apprenticeships in renewable energy-related fields and will upgrade TAFE campuses around the country.
Labor will invest $45 million in 10,000 additional Apprentice Incentives for apprentices in the renewables industry. Employers will be able to access up to $8,000 take on an apprentice and apprentices will get $2,000 to assist with the costs of their education. This is part of Labor’s commitment to an additional 150,000 Apprentice Incentives.
These Apprentice Incentives will be available for apprentices working on renewable energy projects and for clean energy businesses. This includes wind and solar, battery manufacture and installation, pumped hydro and transmission.
Labor will also invest $30 million to upgrade TAFEs and train locals for the 70,000 jobs our renewable energy policies will help generate:

• $20 million Renewable Industries TAFE Upgrades – to make sure apprentices and TAFE students have the opportunity to train on industry standard equipment, including batteries, solar panels, turbine and grid components. This will also support building, construction and design students to integrate renewables into their studies and make sure TAFE is at the forefront of renewables innovation and education.
• $10 million in a Clean Energy Training Fund – to support industry partnerships for the training and upskilling of workers in clean energy industries, from solar and battery installers to energy management system professionals. Labor will work with TAFEs, RTOs, unions, and industry on the implementation of this fund.

There will be thousands of opportunities for apprentices and TAFE students because of Labor’s investment in Solar Schools, Household Battery Program, doubling of the CEFC’s capital, and commitment to delivering 50 per cent renewables by 2030.
Investment in renewable energy is good for Australian jobs and good for the Australian economy.
Scott Morrison and the Liberals are hopelessly divided on climate change – all they have are baseless scare campaigns and no plans to bring down power bills for Australian households and businesses.
The Liberals and Nationals have pushed up power prices and pollution by undermining investment in renewable energy and backing power privatisations – and their chaos and division means industry can’t adequately plan and invest in the future.
Only Labor will deliver real action on climate change and lower pollution, lower power prices and build a stronger economy.
This election is a choice between Labor’s plan for better investment in renewable energy and skills, TAFE and apprenticeships, or bigger tax loopholes for the top end of town under the Liberals.
After six years of Liberal cuts and chaos, our united Labor team is ready.

Greens climate and energy spokesperson Adam Bandt MP has welcomed the UK Parliament’s declaration of a climate and environment emergency. Mr Bandt said the Greens would seek to move and pass a similar motion as soon as possible in the new Parliament after the election.
“The UK Parliament has recognised the world is facing an existential climate crisis and that we all need to act urgently,” Mr Bandt said.
“I will seek to move a similar motion to the UK and have a state of climate emergency declared here as soon as the new Parliament returns after the election.
“It’s time to act as if our house is on fire, because it is.
“This election is a climate election and the Greens are the only party that supports emergency action. The Australian people have an opportunity to show their support for emergency action by voting Greens.”

The Australian Greens condemn the vile racism behind vandalism of Greens SA Senate candidate Major Moogy Sumner’s election poster.
“This racism is not acceptable. We need First Australians in our Parliament and they need to be able to participate without these kinds of attacks,” Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“This does not represent South Australia. Moogy is a beloved and respected leader in our state. People on all sides of politics respect him, love him and I know wish him well for this election.
“I am so proud to have such a distinguished aboriginal elder standing shoulder to shoulder with me in this election campaign.
“Our Parliament and our state would be all the richer with Moogy Sumner in the Senate.”
Moogy Sumner, Ngarrindjeri elder, said:
“My face is well known in Adelaide. People know who I am and what I stand for,” he said.
“It is disappointing to see this crop up in our community, but it won’t stop me from standing up for what we believe in. Here I am, you’re not going to scare me away.”

The Morrison Government will fund thirteen new congestion-busting projects across South-East Queensland with a further $226.25 million funding boost.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the projects would help thousands of people living in South-East Queensland.
“People are sick of sitting in traffic and these local and practical measures will help people get home sooner and safer,” Mr Morrison said.
“By managing money and running a strong economy we are able to invest record funding in road and rail projects which improve the lives of so many Queenslanders.
“This funding will fix local traffic pinch points and bottlenecks that have the most impact on congestion, helping everyone get home sooner.”
Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population Alan Tudge said these projects make it easier for people to get onto the train and easily accessible station carparks are critical to this.
“These three new commuter car parks will take up to 1,200 cars off the road,” Mr Tudge said.
“This entire package is a transport strategy that is smart and clear and will make a tangible effect.”
The projects include:
 

• Commuter car parking at Beenleigh Station
• Commuter car parking at Loganlea Station
• Commuter car parking at Coomera Station
• Upgrading the intersection at Oxley Drive and Brisbane Road, Arundel
• Upgrade of High Road and Easterly Street between Sabre Street and Old Logan Village Road, Waterford
• Upgrading the Henry Road-Dohles Rocks Road, Griffin
• Upgrade the Klinger Road & Boardman Road intersection, Kippa-Ring
• Upgrading Beams Road between Lacey Road to Handford Road, Bracken Ridge
• Level crossing removal at Boundary Road, Coopers Plains
• Upgrading Rochedale Road and Priestdale Rd intersection, Rochedale
• Upgrading Beaudesert-Beenleigh Road between Milne St to Tallagandra Rd, Beenleigh
• Upgrading Chambers Flat Road between Park Ridge Road to Derby Road, Park Ridge
• Upgrading the Kenmore Roundabout at Moggill Road, Kenmore

 
The projects will bolster the significant investment across South-East Queensland that includes an additional $500 million for the M1 between Daisy Hill and the Logan Motorway.
It also includes the recently completed Gateway Upgrade North project from Nudgee to Bracken Ridge, which would not have been possible without a $861.8 million Coalition investment.
There has also been a $112 million investment for Stage 3a of the Gold Coast Light Rail project following $95 million for Stage 2.
In February the Morrison Government pledged to work with the State Government and local Councils to develop a City Deal for the region.
These commitments are all part of the Liberal National plan which is seeing $25 billion invested in road and rail projects across Queensland.
Investments across South East Queensland include:
 

• M1 Pacific Motorway Upgrade Program – $1.775 billion, including:

 
o Gateway Merge – $115 million
o Eight Mile Plains to Daisy Hill – $500 million
o Daisy Hill to Logan Motorway – $500 million
o Mudgeeraba to Varsity Lakes – $110 million
o Varsity Lakes to Tugun – $500 million
 

• Gateway Motorway – Bracken Ridge to Pine River – $800 million
• Gateway Upgrade North – $861.8 billion
• Brisbane Metro – $300 million
• Gold Coast Light Rail Stages 2 and 3A – $207 million

 
Regional Queensland is also receiving significant investments to better connect the regions including:
 

• Bruce Highway Upgrade Program – $10 billion, including:

 
o Pine River to Caloundra Corridor – $1.42 billion
o Cooroy to Curra Section D – $800 million
o Rockhampton Ring Road – $800 million
o Mackay Ring Road Stage 1 – $397.9
 

• Toowoomba Second Range Crossing – $1.1 billion

 

The Morrison Government will continue to prioritise better support for older Australians by investing in a new targeted research centre, funding a new program to combat loneliness while ensuring the aged care workforce meets growing demand in the future.
$34 million will be provided to establish a new Aged Care Workforce Research Centre, which will examine new ways to deliver care for older Australians and training and education for aged care providers, drawing on the world’s best practice.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said older Australians deserve our support.
“Older Australians have built our country and they deserve our respect and support for the choices they want to make.
“This funding will deliver better support and care for older Australians, while ensuring we build the workforce to meet the demands of an aging population.
“As a nation we must continue to support our older Australians and I remain absolutely committed to doing more.
“A strong economy means we can make these important decisions and invest in the essential services Australians rely on – without higher taxes.”
For some older Australians, retirement brings new challenges and stresses and sometimes that can lead to social isolation and loneliness, with a third of all seniors living alone.
A re-elected Morrison Government will invest $10 million to develop a Seniors Connected Program to address the silent battle of loneliness that thousands of older Australians live with every day.
The program will work with local community groups, including schools and sporting clubs, as well as with grassroots organisations dedicated to supporting older Australians.
Funding will boost support for organisations like the Friends for Good phone service, which offers support services outside normal business hours and on weekends, while also expanding Village Hub projects across the country.
Today more than 1.3 million Australians access or use some form of aged care, with that number expected to grow to an estimated 3.5 million Australians by 2050. This will have a profound impact on the demand for skilled workers within the aged care sector.
A re-elected Morrison Government will prioritise the growth area of aged care with the goal of reaching 475,000 aged care workers in Australia by 2025, with significant growth projected in personal care workers, nurses, support staff and allied health professionals.
Aged care will be the first sector where a pilot program will be undertaken under the Morrison Government’s $41.7 million Skills Organisations package to support future jobs growth.
The Morrison Government will expand the Community Visitors Scheme which aims to improve the quality of life of residents of aged care homes and consumers of home care packages who are socially isolated or lonely and would benefit from a friendly visitor.
The Scheme helps to establish links between people living in aged care homes and their local community. It can act as a vehicle for intergenerational connection, providing young Australians with the opportunity to talk with and learn from older Australians.
Part of the Seniors Connected Program will encourage volunteering activity by Australia’s seniors. Many senior Australians choose to volunteer because they still have so much to contribute to the community. Volunteering offers connection and a sense of purpose.

From today the Morrison Government will make available new medicines available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) saving patients and their family’s up to $150,000 a year.
By keeping our economy strong the Morrison Government is listing all new medicines on the PBS following the advice of the medical experts.
These listings on the PBS change and improve lives. They reduce the burden of expensive medicines, saving patients and families money.
New medicines from 1 May 2019 include:

• Bavencio® for metastatic merkel cell carcinoma (rare skin cancer), which would normally cost $150,000 per year for a course of treatment without subsidy
• Besponsa® for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (blood cancer), which would normally cost $120,500 per course of treatment without subsidy
• Ibrance® for advanced and metastatic breast cancer, which would normally cost $55,000 per year for a course of treatment without subsidy
• Vimpat® for the treatment of intractable partial epileptic seizures for children aged four to 15 years, which would normally cost $4,700 per year without subsidy
• Xeljanz® for the treatment of patients with psoriatic arthritis, which would normally cost $16,500 per year without subsidy

Patients will now be able to access these medicines for just $40.30 per script, or $6.50 with a concession card.
All were recommended by the independent medical experts at the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.
Since 2013, the Morrison Government has listed over 2,000 new or amended items on the PBS. This represents an average of around 31 listings per month – or one each day – at an overall cost of around $10.6 billion.
We are listing all medicines on the PBS unlike the former Labor Government.
In 2011 when the current leader of the opposition Bill Shorten was Assistant Treasurer Labor took the unprecedented step of stopping the listing of new medicines on the PBS.
Labor’s 2011-12 Budget stated “given the current fiscal environment the listing of some medicines would be deferred until fiscal circumstances permit”. This included medicines for asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, endometriosis chronic pain and IVF amongst others.
Our commitment to ensuring that Australians can access affordable medicines, when they need them, remains rock solid.

Large scale research projects with a vision to boost industry and create jobs could share in funding from the Federal Government.
Round 21 of the Co-operative Research Centre (CRC) grants are now open, with the average CRC receiving around $35 million.
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the CRC Grants are designed to bring industry and our world-class researchers together to grow and create new Australian jobs.
“Our aim through this program is to improve the competitiveness, productivity and sustainability of national industries, especially where Australia has a competitive strength,” Minister Andrews said.
“These partnerships solve industry-identified problems through conducting and commercialising leading-edge research, driving emerging technologies and leveraging global supply chains and new markets.
“Since 2013, the Liberal National Government has invested almost $1 billion into CRCs, demonstrating our commitment to ensuring the innovative work of our best and brightest reaches the market.
“Along with other Coalition initiatives such as the Entrepreneurs Programme and Industry Growth Centres, the CRC Grants is a proven model for industry and research cooperation that produces impressive commercial results.”
This latest funding further builds on our commitment to strengthening Australian industry, strengthening our economic growth and helping to create 1.25 million jobs in the next five years.
The Coalition Government continues to make significant investments in science, research and innovation – smart, strategic investments that will deliver stable support for our researchers and entrepreneurs across the coming decade.
The CRC Grants provides competitive and merit-based grant funding to support industry-led collaborative research partnerships. The grant is complemented by cash and in-kind support from industry and research partners.
Applications for Round 21 will close at 5:00 pm AEDT on 1 July 2019
Information on the CRC Grants and how to apply is available at www.business.gov.au/CRC

The Australian Greens condemn the vile racism behind vandalism of Greens SA Senate candidate Major Moogy Sumner’s election poster.
“This racism is not acceptable. We need First Australians in our Parliament and they need to be able to participate without these kinds of attacks,” Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“This does not represent South Australia. Moogy is a beloved and respected leader in our state. People on all sides of politics respect him, love him and I know wish him well for this election.
“I am so proud to have such a distinguished aboriginal elder standing shoulder to shoulder with me in this election campaign.
“Our Parliament and our state would be all the richer with Moogy Sumner in the Senate.”
Moogy Sumner, Ngarrindjeri elder, said:
“My face is well known in Adelaide. People know who I am and what I stand for,” he said.
“It is disappointing to see this crop up in our community, but it won’t stop me from standing up for what we believe in. Here I am, you’re not going to scare me away.”

Labor’s latest backflip, abandoning support for more native forest reserves in Tasmania, including 356,000ha of permanent reserves, shows they cannot be trusted to protect the environment or tackle climate change.

“Labor talks big about overhauling environment laws and taking strong action on climate change, but has now backflipped on protecting vast areas of Tasmania’s native forests,” said Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens forest spokesperson.

“Labor still won’t rule out support for the Adani mine, plans to open up the Northern Territory to fracking, and just yesterday backtracked on their electric vehicle target.”

“This decision shows Labor will buckle under the slightest pressure from their industry mates and corporate donors.”

“You just cannot trust Labor when it comes to protecting our environment or climate.”

“The Greens plan would end native forest logging immediately, and transition the industry to 100% plantations from the current 88%.”

“Labor is willfully allowing the destruction of our forests because, which are hugely important for storing carbon, for threatened animals and for our water security. To log them, mainly for woodchips, is just madness.”

“Labor are reverting to type as they always do when the pressure comes on from the loggers,” said Senator Nick McKim, Australian Greens senator for Tasmania.

“Trashing and burning carbon rich forests like takayna/Tarkine, the Blue Tier and the Styx is unacceptable while the world is in a climate emergency and a biodiversity crisis.”

“The Greens will fight to protect these beautiful places, the carbon they store and the wildlife they support.”

“We are the only party standing up for Tassie’s forests – we always have and we always will.”

Bill Shorten has shown he either isn’t across the details or that Labor hasn’t done its homework on the cost of its own policies.
On Perth radio this morning Mr Shorten couldn’t tell listeners the cost of Labor’s 45 per cent emissions reduction target.
“I can’t tell you what the cost is going to be.”
Bill Shorten, Nova Radio Perth, 30 April 2019
Coalition Campaign Spokesman Senator Simon Birmingham said it was time for Bill Shorten to come clean with Australians.
“How can a man who wants to be Prime Minister not know the cost of one of his key policies,” Senator Birmingham said.
“Either Bill Shorten doesn’t know the cost of his policy or he is hiding the true cost.
“Australians deserve to know what Labor’s 45 per cent emissions reduction target and 50 per cent renewable energy target will cost them, just like they deserve to have Bill Shorten answer questions about Labor’s tax policies.
“Bill Shorten chose to release a policy that relies on Australian businesses buying international permits, so why won’t he be honest and upfront about how many permits will be bought and how much money will be sent offshore?
“Last week Labor were falsely spinning that there was no cost to their policies yet now Shadow Climate Change Minister Mark Butler claims it’s not even possible to cost their plans.”
“If I can go to the cost impact of the policy we have announced, it is impossible to cost.”
Mark Butler, Doorstop, 30 April 2019
However, we know from independent modelling by BAEconomics that Labor’s 45 per cent emissions reduction target and 50 per cent renewable energy target will:

• cost the economy $472 billion
• slash more than 336,000 jobs
• cut the average wage by over $9,000
• increase wholesale electricity prices by more than 58 per cent.

“It’s time Bill Shorten came out of the shadows and outlined the true cost of his reckless policies,” Senator Birmingham said.