The Australian Government has launched ReMade in Australia – a national campaign urging Australians to recycle more, and show how they can help create jobs and protect our environment.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced ReMade in Australia at Sydney’s Woollahra Public School today, saying it was a critical step in giving Australians the confidence to recycle more and to buy products manufactured with recycled content.
“We are taking responsibility for our waste, we put a stop to it being shipped overseas as someone else’s problem and we have made recycling one of six national manufacturing priorities,” the Prime Minister said.
“Australians are doing the right thing and they want to be assured that the efforts they make in recycling at their homes and workplaces are delivering real outcomes, from the roads they drive on to the sunglasses they choose to wear.
“We need to recycle even more and this campaign will help consumers and business understand the benefits that recycling can deliver for our environment and for jobs.
“ReMade in Australia builds on the pride we all have in Australian made and the pride we take in doing the right thing for our environment.”
Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said that recycling can reduce pressure on our environment and we want to create Australian manufacturing jobs.
“The ReMade in Australia campaign asks Australians to look for those products using recycled materials, it raises awareness about the ways recycled materials contribute to our everyday lives,” Minister Ley said.
“The Morrison Government is driving a billion dollar transformation of Australia’s waste and recycling industry, through the Recycling Modernisation Fund. We are seeing governments and industry investing in the commissioning of new plant and equipment, and our waste export bans are driving fundamental change.
“ReMade in Australia will help Australians understand the ways they are contributing through both recycling and the choices they make at the checkout.”
Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management Trevor Evans said that now was the right time for Australian businesses and consumers to think ReMade Australia.
“This campaign taps into the pride Australians have in doing the right thing for the environment,” Assistant Minister Evans said.
“At a time of year when people are buying gifts and unwrapping tonnes of packaging it is all the more important to have recycling front of mind.”
Member for Wentworth Dave Sharma said that practical environmental action such as recycling was important to his community.
“The people of Wentworth care deeply about our environment and want sustainable ways to reduce their waste, in order to protect our global environment,” Mr Sharma said.
“Keeping waste out of our oceans and landscapes and turning it into resources that can be reused is something we can all be a part of, and this campaign will help spread that message.”
Launched this week online and in print, the campaign will include television advertising later this month as Australians buy new products and recycle everything from packaging to electronic food across Christmas and New Year.
Further information: https://www.awe.gov.au/remadeinaustralia
Author: admin
Historic agreement secures $840 million in preschool funding
Families with young children in NSW will have better access to high quality pre-school and early childhood education due to an historic agreement between the Commonwealth and New South Wales Governments.
The new National Preschool Reform Agreement, with NSW as its first signatory, ensures every child will receive high quality education in the year before school, regardless of where they live or their background.
Acting Minister for Education and Youth, Stuart Robert said the agreement will ensure children in NSW have access to quality preschool options and are better prepared for their first year of school.
‘This funding agreement provides certainty to parents, educators and the sector throughout New South Wales,’ Minister Robert said.
‘It will help every child in New South Wales—about 400,000 children over four years—have the opportunity to attend at least 15 hours of preschool a week in the year before they start school.’
The Commonwealth Government has committed $560 million of new funding with more than $280 million from the NSW Government to support the four year funding deal.
The NSW Government will also increase the quality of preschool and long day care education by delivering targeted programs for children who experience disadvantage.
NSW Treasurer Matt Kean said our most important economic asset is our people and there is no better way to ensure a prosperous future than to make sure everyone has the best possible education and start to life.
‘We want every child in NSW to have the best start in life and every family the support they need to fully participate in the workforce,’ Mr Kean said.
‘Investing in our people, our families and our kids will help us grow today’s economy by increasing workforce participation rates and it will help our future prosperity by giving our kids the best possible start in life.
‘This is a game changing deal for families in NSW, providing parents and carers the freedom to participate in the workforce in ways that better suit their needs.’
Funding will be linked to reforms to increase preschool participation rates and improve outcomes, benefiting all children regardless of the type of preschool they attend.
In NSW increased funding to long day care will also allow a greater focus on quality and support for children’s transition to school.
There will also be an increased focus on engagement of children and families, particularly from vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds, to help them have a happy, safe and supported preschool experience and a stronger start in life.
NSW Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said the new funding deal will provide stability to the sector and provide more access to early childhood education for young children.
‘Every child deserves the best start in life, and this reform means more children will have access to a quality preschool education right across New South Wales,’ Ms Mitchell said.
‘This agreement builds on our commitment to support young families through our free preschool program, which we know has made a positive impact across New South Wales.
‘By boosting funding for long day care services to provide high quality preschool programs, families will get more flexibility and choice when it comes to early education for their child.’
The historic signing means the Preschool Reform Agreement 2022-2025 is now a National Partnership and the Commonwealth welcomes other states signing on ahead of the 2022 preschool year.
The Commonwealth has guaranteed ongoing funding for preschools and this four-year agreement provides long term certainty to around 300,000 Australian children and their families each year, along with the early childhood education sector.
The Commonwealth’s historic investment in early childhood education also includes around $10 billion a year through the child care system to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for families using child care and improve workforce participation.
Service boost for regional healthcare
Regional communities will benefit from a $98.3 million health services boost to support local and visiting frontline health workers as part of a record investment into more health services and infrastructure in the bush.
Premier Dominic Perrottet, Deputy Premier Paul Toole, Mental Health Minister Bronnie Taylor and Health Minister Brad Hazzard announced three new initiatives which aim to attract more health workers to regional NSW and support rural and regional patients who need to travel to access care.
The initiatives, which are part of the NSW Government’s recently announced $500 million package, include:
- $45.3 million to deliver modern, sustainable accommodation for health workers close to health facilities in the Murrumbidgee, Southern NSW and Far West Local Health Districts
- $30 million to help attract and retain health care workers, including new scholarships for young people
- $23 million to make it easier to access health care, including support for rural and regional patients who need to travel longer distances and a new online tool to navigate local services.
Mr Perrottet said this additional investment would help ensure people in rural and regional areas have access to the best health care possible, no matter where they lived.
“Health challenges can be tough enough without adding the burden of distance to a care plan, and that’s why we’ve set aside an additional $23 million to help address this,” Mr Perrottet said.
“The NSW Government’s focus has always been ensuring rural and regional communities get their share of health upgrades – and this latest announcement builds on the $900 million regional and rural health infrastructure spend in 2021-22.”
Mr Toole said a key component of the investment boost was securing more modern and sustainable accommodation for essential health workers which will also generate construction jobs in the regions.
“We know how important it is to ensure there is adequate and modern accommodation close to our health facilities in regional and rural communities that caters for locums, student placements and other visiting medical and nursing staff.
“This funding builds on the $30 million package for health worker housing I recently announced for the Hunter and Western NSW and extends the package to more than $75 million with intended benefits to communities in Broken Hill, Balranald, Cooma, Crookwell and Griffith,” Mr Toole said.
“The package also includes new regional scholarships to encourage young people from the bush to pursue a career in health care closer to home, caring for their communities.”
Mrs Taylor said the investment will also go towards supporting patients who need to travel long distances to access specialist care.
“As a registered nurse from the bush, I know firsthand how important it is that patients feel supported when having to travel away from home and their support networks for care,” Mrs Taylor said.
“Living in rural and regional NSW shouldn’t affect the care you receive, and this package delivers on all fronts – ensuring we have the health workforce, infrastructure and support we need.”
Mr Hazzard said the investment will help regional and rural health facilities provide upgraded or refurbished accommodation which is fit for purpose.
“There are many and varied challenges in attracting and retaining health staff to the regions and it is an issue nationwide, not just in New South Wales,” Mr Hazzard said.
“Our Government continues to look at and address those barriers such as providing modern accommodation and tackling the limited availability of leased residential property for health workers in various regions, including southern NSW.”
More reasons to teach in the bush
Even more teachers will now have access to incentives and pay bonuses, with the NSW Government expanding its Rural and Remote Incentives Reform program.
Deputy Premier Paul Toole and Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell today announced $8 million of the initial $15 million incentives package will be used to extend the existing program to include temporary teachers and double the bonuses for teachers taking up a job in regional NSW.
Mr Toole said the Liberals and Nationals Government is transforming the way teachers are incentivized in regional areas, ensuring all staff are provided with the flexibility and financial support they need.
“Making the decision to leave home and take up a teaching job in an unfamiliar town, often away from family and friends, isn’t easy. That’s why we’re expanding the most generous incentive system in the country, giving temporary teachers support including an additional salary of up to $30,000, as well travel, living and housing incentives,” Mr Toole said.
“We want all teachers to feel comfortable to expand their horizons and consider relocating to the bush and we know once they get there, they won’t look back.”
Ms Mitchell said the additional access to incentives for temporary teachers are crucial to encouraging more teachers to work in regional NSW.
“Temporary staff are vital to our system – they provide flexibility to schools and staff and it’s important we support them in the same way we support other staff in rural and remote areas,” Ms Mitchell said.
“We will also double the teacher recruitment funding from $10,000 to $20,000, giving eligible teachers an additional $20,000 on top of their teaching salaries to teach in the regions.
“We have the most generous incentive system in Australia, however over time it has grown in complexity. This is the first time we have inspected all aspects of the system to make it fair and flexible, allowing teachers to create a package that works best for them and their circumstances.”
The Rural and Remote Incentives Review included recommendations that support the existing commitments to regional NSW under the Rural and Remote Education Strategy.
The NSW Government commitments made to regional schools include improved access to technology infrastructure, increased access to early childhood education and a focus on strengthening leadership development programs for teachers will enable community growth and equity of opportunity across NSW.
The NSW Government has funded a $125 million Teacher Supply Strategy that is focused on ensuring the right teachers, with the right qualifications are working in places students need them. The full strategy can be seen here: https://education.nsw.gov.au/about-us/strategies-and-reports/teacher-supply-strategy
Nominations open for 2022 Newcastle Volunteer Service Awards
I’m very pleased to be opening nominations for my 2022 Newcastle Volunteer Service Awards today as we celebrate International Volunteer Day.
It’s been a tough couple of years for our community groups and organisations, but they have continued to work tirelessly for our community, ensuring that no one is left behind.
Again and again, Novocastrians have gone out of their way to ensure that the most vulnerable in our community are protected and that they have access to the things they need, when they need it.
The spontaneous creation of neighbourhood groups and the overnight transformation of local cafes into community kitchens and corner stores has been life-saving for many.
Novocastrians demonstrated that, when the going gets really tough, we come together to support each other.
This year I have been lucky enough to witness firsthand the amazing efforts of our local community volunteers. Whether it’s in community kitchens providing vital food services to vulnerable or disadvantaged Novocastrians, packing and preparing food hampers for newly arrived Afghani refugees or the amazing volunteer efforts to keep our valuable wetlands and waterways clean and vibrant.
I encourage Novocastrians to take 10 minutes out from their busy lives to nominate someone that they believe has offered outstanding service in our community.
If you want to nominate a special volunteer, fill in the online nomination form by Friday 28 January 2022.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of our community, but too often they don’t get the recognition they deserve – and that’s exactly why these awards are so important.
As always, at the end of the selection process, I will host a presentation ceremony to celebrate the incredible contribution of these dedicated volunteers to our community.
While the final shape of this ceremony will necessarily be determined by the health orders of the day, all award recipients, and those that nominated them, will be invited to participate.
Netball NSW adds male divisions to State Titles
In another ground-breaking development for the game, Netball NSW is delighted to announce that the 2022 HART Junior and Senior State Titles will include male divisions for the first time.
The development comes as netball in NSW looks to continue expanding the game’s reach beyond its traditional playing base.
A frontrunner in terms of playing numbers when it comes to grassroots sport, netball has long been recognised as the leading team sport for women and young girls, as well as the standout leader in high-performance space for the same demographic.
However, as part of Netball Australia’s State of the Game Review, a compelling case was made for netball to be more inclusive in many areas including gender.
The inclusion of male divisions in the State Titles – the sport’s showpiece events at grassroots level – and the placement of the male M-League alongside Netball NSW’s end of year competition, the Court Craft Summer Series, adds to a growing list of initiatives such as the introduction of the organisation’s first Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan and the Inclusive Uniform Program.
Netball NSW CEO Tain Drinkwater said this was another landmark moment for the sport in the state.
“It is a myth that netball is only a sport for women and young girls,” she said. “But while it was the only team sport that gave the female demographic a fair-go for a very long time, it must also be acknowledged that male participants haven’t always been properly embraced.
“This is something that must change, and we are in the process of changing it with today’s announcement. We want both boys and men to have aspirations to represent their state and country, and contrary to the negative narrative that’s often aimed at netball there are already very well established and respected men’s competitions which run annually.
“Anything that Netball NSW can do to prepare players for these competitions in terms of pathways opportunities via the State Titles and the Summer Series is imperative for us, and overdue.
“Our NSW Swifts and GIANTS regularly play against the NSW Men’s teams in pre-season, and they always speak highly about the calibre of athletes in those sides. At Netball NSW we are very much looking forward to working more closely with men’s netball to ensure this is another way the game can flourish.
“It is also part of our plan to rid community and elite sport of stereotypes and show that netball is a game for all, and build on its established strengths: our huge playing numbers at grassroots level in Australia, the 20 million playing around the world and the world-class pathways that have taken decades to build.
“With netball making a very justifiable claim for Olympic inclusion, today’s development is just a small way to help ensure our game remains flexible, open to change and pragmatic. This is what will ensure its continued presence at the top table of Australian sport.”
Men’s Netball NSW (MNNSW) was founded in 1985 and is an affiliated Association of Netball NSW. It currently operates the M League, the highest level of male competition in the state, with the best players selected annually for the Australian Championships in both Opens and Underage divisions.
MNNSW President Clare McCabe hailed the move by Netball NSW as a massive step in the right direction.
“Our future focus emphasises the need to create pathways for junior boys to play netball and remove all stigmas of boys and men playing the sport,” she said.
“Creating the male divisions at the State Titles will lead to a huge number of additional opportunities and exposure for the men’s game. It will also lead to more participants and a larger talent pool for those wishing to get involved in high-performance sport.
“In terms of Summer Series, partnering with the netball Associations and having them involved shows how serious we and Netball NSW are about further developing a strong platform for men in the game.”
TGA provisionally approves Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 5 to 11-year-olds
Vaccinating 5 to 11-year-old children in Australia against COVID-19 is a significant step closer, with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) provisionally approving the Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine as safe and effective for use among this age group.
Subject to final considerations and recommendations from the vaccination experts on the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), and other related approvals, the Australian Government will start rolling out the Pfizer vaccine to 5 to 11-year-olds from 10 January 2022.
The Government expects to receive ATAGI’s recommendations on how to incorporate this safe and effective vaccine into Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination program over the coming weeks.
Subject to advice from ATAGI, vaccinating the approximately 2.3 million children aged 5 to 11 in Australia will build on the rapid uptake of vaccination among children aged 12 to 15. In just eleven weeks, more than 76.6% of this group have had at least one dose of vaccine, with 67.5% having completed their two-dose course of vaccination.
Across the country, 87.9% of Australians aged 16 or over are fully vaccinated. More than 92.8% have had at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
The TGA’s provisional approval of the Pfizer vaccine for 5 to 11-year-olds was based on a careful evaluation of available data to support its safety and efficacy among this age group.
The vaccine dose approved by the TGA for children aged 5 to 11 is the same safe and effective vaccine used for other age cohorts, however is one-third the dose approved for those aged 12 and over.
The Pfizer vaccine for 5 to 11-year-olds will be distributed to vaccine providers in different packaging to the vaccine approved for people 12 and over, and will be clearly differentiated by being dispensed from orange-capped vials instead of grey or purple capped vials.
As with other age groups, the use of this vaccine in children aged 5-11 years should be given in two doses at least 3 weeks apart.
Already, significant planning work has been undertaken involving the COVID-19 Vaccines Taskforce, the states and territories primary health professionals in relation to how the vaccination rollout will be extended to children in this age group.
It is expected the vaccines would initially be made available through General Practices Aboriginal Health Services, community pharmacies and state and territory clinics.
Once the final ATAGI advice is received, further information on how to book a COVID-19 vaccination will be provided.
The Commonwealth Government will continue to work closely with vaccine providers and states and territories as a priority to provide the opportunity for children aged 5 to 11 to receive a first dose of this COVID-19 vaccine in the lead up to and in parallel with school returning in 2022.
The Government has an agreement in place with Pfizer to receive sufficient supply of the paediatric vaccine for the entire population of children aged 5 to 11 in Australia.
The first shipment of children’s doses are due to arrive in Australia by early January 2022 and will undergo the same rigorous batch testing processes in the TGA laboratories as other batches of COVID-19 vaccines.
The TGA is also currently evaluating an application from Moderna for its COVID-19 vaccine to be used in Australia for children aged 6 to 11 and the Government already has supply deals in place to make it available should it be approved by the TGA and recommended by ATAGI.
This two step TGA and ATAGI assessment and approval process is the same rigorous process followed for all COVID-19 vaccine approvals in Australia.
Labor: Free TAFE and More Uni Places for a Future Made in Australia
An Albanese Labor Government will deliver secure, well-paid jobs, by investing in the skills Australia needs to drive future economic growth.
Labor will provide Australians access to Free TAFE, create more university places and tackle the skill shortages that are holding back our COVID-19 comeback.
Under Labor, Australians studying in an industry with a skills shortage will be supported through the provision of free TAFE.
Our $1.2 billion Future Made in Australia Skills Plan will focus on closing the gap on key areas of skills shortages with new places at university and TAFE.
This is good policy for jobs, good policy for people looking to train or retrain, and good policy for businesses, which need more skilled workers.
For nearly a decade, the Liberal-National Government has cut TAFE and slashed apprenticeships. Today we have 85,000 fewer apprenticeships and traineeships compared to 2013.
At the same time, it’s getting harder and more expensive to go to uni.
The proportion of applicants who get an offer of a place at university has fallen every year since the Liberal Government slashed university funding. This year, the offer rate fell to its lowest level in years.
This has happened in the face of the stark economic reality that nine out of ten jobs of the future will require a VET qualification or a university degree.
One in four Australian businesses are experiencing critical skills shortages at the same time there are 2 million Australians who are either looking for a job or want to work more hours.
Free TAFE
Free TAFE will help rebuild industries hit hardest by the pandemic, like hospitality and tourism, as well as meet current and future needs in the care economy, including jobs like child care, aged care, disability care, nursing and community services.
It will also provide more opportunities for apprentices and trainees. And fill skills shortage gaps like those in trades and construction, resources, digital and cyber security, new energy and advanced manufacturing.
Free TAFE will provide opportunities for school leavers, workers wanting to retrain or upskill, and unpaid carers – who are predominantly women – to get back into the workforce.
Under Labor’s plan for free TAFE, we will focus on those areas which are currently seeing a critical skills gap, because of the Morrison Government’s neglect.
Labor’s Future Made in Australia Skills Plan will close this gap, and boost these critical workforces by providing 465,000 Free TAFE places, including 45,000 new TAFE places.
Labor’s $50 million TAFE Technology Fund will improve IT facilities, workshops, laboratories and tele-health simulators across the country.
Additionally, Labor will work closely with industry and unions for opportunities which allow workers to transfer and build on their accredited micro credential training.
Labor is committed to investing in the jobs of the future which is why our $100 million New Energy Apprenticeships will encourage and support 10,000 apprentices to train in new energy jobs, and provide the additional support they need to complete their training.
While many states and territories have invested in the skills and training sector, the Morrison Government has neglected the backbone of our vocational educational system – public TAFE.
Labor will end privatisation by stealth – ensuring at least 70 per cent of Commonwealth vocational education funding is for public TAFE.
More university places
Labor’s Future Made in Australia Skills Plan will also deliver up to 20,000 new university places.
This will help fix areas of skills shortages and fill future skills needs by training Australians in jobs including engineering, nursing, tech, and teaching.
Places will also be prioritised for universities offering more opportunities for under-represented groups such as people in regional, remote and outer-suburban areas, those who are the first in their family to study at university, and First Nations Australians.
Our Year 12s have had the final school years from hell.
Our students didn’t ask for this significant disruption.
Labor’s commitment will help lighten the load for school leavers at a very stressful time.
Officers, woman assaulted in DV incident – Lake Macquarie
Two officers have been injured during the arrest of a man after an alleged domestic violence assault in the Lake Macquarie area yesterday.
Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District were called to a home on Orlong Close, Edgeworth, about 11am (Saturday 4 December 2021), in relation to the alleged assault of a pregnant 27-year-old woman.
On arrival, officers found the woman had suffered facial bruising and arrested a 26-year-old man in the backyard.
As the two male senior constables moved him towards the police truck, a struggle allegedly ensued resulting in one officer suffering a dislocated right shoulder and injuries to his right hand, lower back and groin.
The second officer was allegedly then kicked three times in the face, suffering swelling and bruising as well as injuries to his right hand and elbow.
The man was taken to Toronto Police Station where he has been charged with 17 offences,
• Common assault (six counts)
• Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV) (two counts)
• Assault officer in execution of duty (two counts)
• Assault police officer in execution of duty cause actual bodily harm (two counts)
• Resist police (three counts)
• Stalk/intimidate intend fear physical harm
• Destroy or damage property.
He’s been refused bail to appear in Newcastle Bail Court today (Sunday 5 December 2021).
The first officer was taken by NSW Ambulance paramedics to John Hunter Hospital where he was treated and underwent further tests; the second officer was initially treated at the police station and continues to receive medical treatment. Both officers are now at home but are currently unfit for duty.
IDPwD – Greens Commit to Making Trains, Beaches and Public Institutions Accessible
Disabled person and spokesperson for Disability Rights and Services Senator Jordon Steele-John has announced the Australian Greens have released a plan to improve the lives of 4 million disabled people across the country.
Australian Greens Spokesperson for Disability Rights and Services Senator Steele-John said:
“On International Day of People with Disabilities, The Australian Greens are confirming their commitment to centering the needs and voices of disabled people.
“Right now, disabled people face many systemic barriers. Decisions that impact our lives are made without us everyday. Public buildings and public transport are built to be inaccessible, workplaces aren’t equipped to support us, adequate housing isn’t available and information is provided in formats that don’t meet our needs.
“All of these systemic barriers can be overcome, and I am proud to be announcing our Greens commitment to address these. The Greens are the only party with a plan to address these.
“Our Greens Accessible Australia plan will tackle the affordable housing crisis. Right now, so many people are experiencing housing stress. It’s especially dire for those who need accessible accommodation. The Greens will build 1 Million physically accessible homes across Australia and invest in accessible housing solutions.
“Catching public transport can be a nightmare, if not impossible, for so many disabled people. The Greens will invest $1 billion over four years to boost accessible public transport across Australia.
“The Greens want everyone to be able to enjoy outdoor places and access public spaces. That’s why we’re committing $3 Billion for an Accessible Infrastructure Fund, including $30 million for an Accessible Nature Fund. These investments from the Federal Government could be accessed by state, territory, and local governments to improve the accessibility of existing public places, and allow disabled people to enjoy outdoor places like beaches, parks, and other tourism spots.
“Our plan also will make our digital world accessible to everyone. We will restore funding to ensure the availability of AUSLAN interpreters and invest an additional $30 million over the forward estimates towards relay and translation services, and expand the regulatory requirement for audio description and captioning services to commercial TV.
“Working together, The Greens and the disability community have achieved many things. We’ve stopped the Morrison Government’s attempts at implementing Independent Assessment, successfully negotiated stronger confidentiality protections for people sharing their experiences with the Disability Royal Commission, and obtained justice for Thalidomide survivors.
“The next election will be closer than people think. Scott Morrison is only 828 votes away from losing majority government and on current polling, a power-sharing Parliament is the most likely outcome.
“In the balance of power, the Greens will kick the Liberals out and push the next government to make billionaires and corporations pay their fair share of tax so all people are supported to live a good life and able to access education, housing, and public spaces.
The Greens will:
- Make our physical world accessible to everyone by investing in public transport, schools, hospitals, nature play spaces, and other public infrastructure to make them physically accessible.
- Increase support for the advocacy organisations and intervention services that are needed to protect disabled people from abuse and bring perpetrators to justice.