Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP has criticised today’s climate announcement, saying Labor has given up on climate.
Labor’s target is not consistent with the science of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, the goal set out in the Glasgow Climate Pact. Labor now joins the Liberals with targets that have given up on the science, given up on Glasgow and given up on the climate.
The independent Climate Targets Panel, the Climate Council and the climate and environment movement have all determined that Australia needs a 74-75% by 2030 target, in line with the UK’s 68% by 2030 cut.
Labor is going backwards on the last election, and a 43% cut is not much more than business as usual. The Greens policy is for a 75% emissions reduction on 2005 levels by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2035.
Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP said:
“Labor has given up on climate.
“Labor has given in to the coal and gas corporations and given up on climate.
“The climate crisis is getting worse but Labor is going backwards.
“Labor now joins the Liberals with targets that have given up on the science, given up on Glasgow and given up on climate.
“Labor and Liberal want more coal and gas and their low targets mean we lose the fight against global warming.
“Labor’s backdown shows the only way we’ll get climate action is kicking the Liberals out and putting Greens in balance of power to push Labor to go further and faster.
“These targets take us past the point of no return. The Liberals are taking us over the cliff at 200 km/h while Labor’s promising to do it at 180 km/h. Both their plans mean Australia heats up by more than 3 degrees, which is game over for our country.”
Author: admin
Powering Australia – Labor’s Plan to Create Jobs, Cut Power Bills and Reduce Emissions by Boosting Renewable Energy
Creating jobs, cutting power bills and reducing emissions by boosting renewable energy are at the centre of Labor’s Powering Australia plan. This plan will bring cheaper renewable energy to Australian homes and businesses.
For nearly a decade, the Liberal Government’s mismanagement of our energy policy has been a threat to our economy – leaving Australia missing out on the jobs, growth, and opportunities that our abundant renewable resources could unlock.
Business has shown leadership. Government must play its part.
A Labor Government will close the yawning gap between our current Federal Government and our business community, agricultural sector and state governments when it comes to investing in the renewables that will power our future.
Our plan will create 604,000 jobs, with 5 out of 6 new jobs to be created in the regions.
It will spur $76 billion of investment.
It will cut power bills for families and businesses by $275 a year for homes by 2025, compared to today.
Powering Australia will prioritise growth and investment for the regions that have served as Australia’s engine room for so long – that know energy, manufacturing and resources.
Under a Labor Government, those regions will continue to power Australia and provide a stream of exports into the future.
Powering Australia’s benefits to the Australian economy are backed up by the most extensive independent modelling ever carried out for an Opposition.
Alongside the economic benefits, our plan will reduce Australia’s emissions by 43 per cent by 2030 – which will become Australia’s target under the Paris Agreement, keeping us on track for net zero by 2050.
Australians deserve a plan to secure our nation’s future, to maximise the benefits of new technology, cheaper energy, new job opportunities and cheaper low-emissions vehicles.
For nearly a decade, the Liberal Government’s mismanagement of our energy policy has been a threat to our economy – leaving Australia missing out on the jobs, growth, and opportunities that our abundant renewable resources could unlock.
Business has shown leadership. Government must play its part.
A Labor Government will close the yawning gap between our current Federal Government and our business community, agricultural sector and state governments when it comes to investing in the renewables that will power our future.
Our plan will create 604,000 jobs, with 5 out of 6 new jobs to be created in the regions.
It will spur $76 billion of investment.
It will cut power bills for families and businesses by $275 a year for homes by 2025, compared to today.
Powering Australia will prioritise growth and investment for the regions that have served as Australia’s engine room for so long – that know energy, manufacturing and resources.
Under a Labor Government, those regions will continue to power Australia and provide a stream of exports into the future.
Powering Australia’s benefits to the Australian economy are backed up by the most extensive independent modelling ever carried out for an Opposition.
Alongside the economic benefits, our plan will reduce Australia’s emissions by 43 per cent by 2030 – which will become Australia’s target under the Paris Agreement, keeping us on track for net zero by 2050.
Australians deserve a plan to secure our nation’s future, to maximise the benefits of new technology, cheaper energy, new job opportunities and cheaper low-emissions vehicles.
Australians deserve a plan to secure our nation’s future, to maximise the benefits of new technology, cheaper energy, new job opportunities and cheaper low-emissions vehicles.
Australian business, industry, farmers, state and local governments deserve a Government that is in step with them.
Powering Australia is squarely focussed on the economic interests of Australian families and businesses, and it will be achieved with policy that is both realistic and ambitious.
Australian business wants certainty. This plan will deliver what they need to move forward.
Labor’s Powering Australia plan will:
Powering Australia is squarely focussed on the economic interests of Australian families and businesses, and it will be achieved with policy that is both realistic and ambitious.
Australian business wants certainty. This plan will deliver what they need to move forward.
Labor’s Powering Australia plan will:
- Upgrade the electricity grid to fix energy transmission and drive down power prices.
- Make electric vehicles cheaper with an electric car discount and Australia’s first National Electric Vehicle Strategy.
- Adopt the Business Council of Australia’s recommendation for facilities already covered by the Government’s Safeguard Mechanism that emissions be reduced gradually and predictably over time, to support international competitiveness and economic growth – consistent with industry’s own commitment to net zero by 2050.
- Protect the competitiveness of Emissions Intensive Trade Exposed industries by ensuring they will not face a greater constraint than their competitors.
- Allocate up to $3 billion from Labor’s National Reconstruction Fund to invest in green metals (steel, alumina and aluminium); clean energy component manufacturing; hydrogen electrolysers and fuel switching; agricultural methane reduction and waste reduction.
- Provide direct financial support for measures that improve energy efficiency within existing industries and develop new industries in Regional Australia through a new Powering the Regions Fund.
- Roll out 85 solar banks around Australia to ensure more households can benefit from rooftop solar.
- Install 400 community batteries across the country.
- Demonstrate Commonwealth leadership by reducing the Australian Public Service’s own emissions to net zero by 2030.
- Invest in 10,000 New Energy Apprentices and a New Energy Skills Program.
- Establish a real-world vehicle fuel testing program to inform consumer choice.
- Work with large businesses to provide greater transparency on their climate related risks and opportunities.
- Re-establish leadership by restoring the role of the Climate Change Authority, while keeping decision-making and accountability with Government and introducing new annual Parliamentary reporting by the Minister.
Labor’s plan will see Australia re-join key trading partners in their ambition to 2030, like Canada (with its similar economic base) at 40-45 per cent, South Korea at 40 per cent and Japan at 46 per cent.
Peak groups including the BCA, Australian Industry Group, and National Farmers Federation have said that raising Australia’s 2030 emissions mitigation goals is “necessary to provide a clear and credible basis for action and investment [and] maintain our competitiveness amidst a growing global transition”. Powering Australia puts Government policy in line with Australia’s leading industry, business and agricultural groups.
The Australian Government has agreed to the recommendations of COP26 and signed up to deliver a more ambitious 2030 target. Scott Morrison is not telling Australians what his plan is to meet it.
Whether Scott Morrison can see it or not, we are in a race. Every major economy in the world is moving toward renewables and if we do not seize this moment to invest in a homegrown renewables sector, Australia will be left out and left behind.
When faced with this economic reality, Scott Morrison’s response was to offer a glossy pamphlet full of old ideas and a vain hope that yet-to-be discovered solutions will materialise.
Under his leadership, the Government is both divided and divisive when it comes to energy, focused on scare campaigns and falsehoods.
Labor sees an opportunity to bring people together and move the country forward.
Under Labor, Australia has a chance to be at the front of the pack globally, reaping the economic rewards for families and businesses alike.
Powering Australia will create jobs, cut power bills and reduce emissions by boosting renewable energy, and will be delivered by an Albanese Labor Government that puts Australia’s interests first.
Labor Leader Anthony Albanese has said:
“For nearly a decade the Coalition has failed on energy policy, certainty, and Australia’s jobs opportunity.
Today I announce our plan to create jobs, cut power bills, and reduce emissions by boosting renewable energy.
Less than a month after the biggest climate conference in world history Australia has been asked to try again when it comes to climate policy, after being ranked last in the world.
The Morrison Government is unable and unwilling to rise to this challenge. Labor will, and as we do, we will create jobs, economic opportunities across Regional Australia and cheap power.
Under Labor, Australia will respond to the changes that are coming and shape our future to benefit all of us. A fourth term for the Morrison Government will see them frozen in time as the world warms around them.”
Labor’s Powering Australia plan and modelling is available here.
Peak groups including the BCA, Australian Industry Group, and National Farmers Federation have said that raising Australia’s 2030 emissions mitigation goals is “necessary to provide a clear and credible basis for action and investment [and] maintain our competitiveness amidst a growing global transition”. Powering Australia puts Government policy in line with Australia’s leading industry, business and agricultural groups.
The Australian Government has agreed to the recommendations of COP26 and signed up to deliver a more ambitious 2030 target. Scott Morrison is not telling Australians what his plan is to meet it.
Whether Scott Morrison can see it or not, we are in a race. Every major economy in the world is moving toward renewables and if we do not seize this moment to invest in a homegrown renewables sector, Australia will be left out and left behind.
When faced with this economic reality, Scott Morrison’s response was to offer a glossy pamphlet full of old ideas and a vain hope that yet-to-be discovered solutions will materialise.
Under his leadership, the Government is both divided and divisive when it comes to energy, focused on scare campaigns and falsehoods.
Labor sees an opportunity to bring people together and move the country forward.
Under Labor, Australia has a chance to be at the front of the pack globally, reaping the economic rewards for families and businesses alike.
Powering Australia will create jobs, cut power bills and reduce emissions by boosting renewable energy, and will be delivered by an Albanese Labor Government that puts Australia’s interests first.
Labor Leader Anthony Albanese has said:
“For nearly a decade the Coalition has failed on energy policy, certainty, and Australia’s jobs opportunity.
Today I announce our plan to create jobs, cut power bills, and reduce emissions by boosting renewable energy.
Less than a month after the biggest climate conference in world history Australia has been asked to try again when it comes to climate policy, after being ranked last in the world.
The Morrison Government is unable and unwilling to rise to this challenge. Labor will, and as we do, we will create jobs, economic opportunities across Regional Australia and cheap power.
Under Labor, Australia will respond to the changes that are coming and shape our future to benefit all of us. A fourth term for the Morrison Government will see them frozen in time as the world warms around them.”
Labor’s Powering Australia plan and modelling is available here.
Celebrate inclusion on International Day of People with Disability
City of Newcastle is calling for comment on its new draft Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) as part of its commitment to creating an accessible and inclusive community.
City of Newcastle Interim Director Strategy and Engagement Kathleen Hyland said International Day of People with Disability was the perfect time to reflect on key achievements of Newcastle’s inaugural DIAP and ask the community for their input on the updated Plan.
“Today we celebrate the progress made through the 2016 DIAP, including the establishment of the Access Inclusion Advisory Committee,” Ms Hyland said.
“I’d like to thank our Access Inclusion Advisory Committee members for their hard work and support of our plan to ensure Newcastle is an inclusive community.
“It’s now time for the broader community to provide input into the new draft 2021 DIAP, which sets the direction and outlines key actions to be implemented over the coming years to ensure our services and programs are accessible for everyone.
“City of Newcastle remains committed to ensuring our city is inclusive for all who live, visit and work here, by leading action towards a more equitable society.”
Image: Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Interim Director Strategy and Engagement Kathleen Hyland with members of the Access Inclusion Advisory Committee Eliot Shaw, Chris Leishman, Kirsty Russell and Tracy Walker, community representatives and City of Newcastle staff members.
City of Newcastle was the first Council in New South Wales to adopt a DIAP under the current legislation, which saw 55 of 57 actions significantly progressed or completed across the four-year period from 2016 to 2020.
Positive outcomes from the first plan include:
- the establishment of the Access Inclusion Advisory Committee to ensure decisions are informed by direct consultation with people with lived experience with disabilities.
- the establishment of Newcastle’s Count Us In festival to raise the profile of disability inclusion across the city.
- the inclusion of people with a disability in the consultative processes, including provided input into or co-design of major projects by City of Newcastle. Examples include the planned revitalisation of Newcastle Ocean Baths, inclusive play spaces for Stevenson Park and Harbour Foreshore and access improvements such as lift and change facilities at Nobbys Beach and Newcastle Museum.
- support ahead of the International Deaf Games 2022.
- increase in accessible format programming at CN cultural facilities for people with disability.
- continued access improvements in public domain and local centres planning.
Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities towards an inclusive, accessible and sustainable future is this years’ theme for International Day of People with Disability. Community engagement to develop the 2021 DIAP included in-person consultation sessions, focus groups survey as well as internal consultation with CN areas such as facilities, services, human resources and project planning divisions.
Under the new DIAP, 35 new actions will be carried out to achieve the community’s vision for Newcastle in line with the City’s Community Strategic Plan and pave the way for City of Newcastle to become a more inclusive organisation.
Accessible and easy-read versions of the draft DIAP are available for comment until Monday 10 January 2022. Feedback can be made online at newcastle.nsw.gov.au/yoursay
Committee members include Guide Dogs NSW/ACT’s Nathan Burford, Community Disability Alliance Hunter’s Joseph Popov, Maroba Communities’ Tracy Walker, community representatives Chris Leishman, Kirsty Russell, Eliot Shaw and Margaret Wood, and Councillors Carol Duncan and Andrea Rufo. Former committee members include Cath Mahony from Community Disability Alliance Hunter and community representative Norm MacPherson.
Goulburn Hospital delivers first-class care
The Southern Tablelands community will benefit from a major upgrade of hospital services with the official opening of Goulburn Hospital’s clinical services building.
Premier Dominic Perrottet, Deputy Premier Paul Toole, Health Minister Brad Hazzard and MP for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman marked the milestone, which is part of the $165 million Goulburn Hospital and Health Service redevelopment.
“We’re making record investments in our health system across our State to ensure that no matter where you live in NSW you will have access to the best healthcare services,” Mr Perrottet said.
“The Goulburn Hospital redevelopment will provide a major health boost for people in Southern NSW with this new clinical services building improving health outcomes and future-proofing health services for communities in the Southern Tablelands region.”
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the NSW Government was pushing ahead with a record $900 million investment in regional and rural health in 2021-22 to deliver new and upgraded infrastructure, enhanced services and more jobs across regional communities.
“We know how critical it is for communities like Goulburn to have the services they need. That’s why we’re bolstering our investment with an additional $500 million across regional communities to ensure they not only have access to great facilities, but a secure, stable workforce to deliver the quality of care our communities deserve.”
Minister Hazzard said the four-storey building brings state-of-the-art healthcare services together under one roof, providing seamless care in a modern health facility.
“With a new emergency department and intensive care unit and the latest digital theatres this purpose-built facility will greatly improve the hospital experience for patients, carers and staff,” Mr Hazzard said.
The NSW Government is investing more than $10.8 billion in health capital infrastructure, with a program of $3.2 billion in 2021-22.
This continued record investment will ensure the 29 new and upgraded hospitals and health facilities announced in 2019 will commence before March 2023.
Mrs Tuckerman said: “This is a long-awaited day for the entire Goulburn region. I am delighted to see the new facility – which brings world-class healthcare closer to home – open and ready to care for Goulburn and surrounding communities for many years to come.”
The new four-storey clinical services building will feature:
- Main entry and hospital reception;
- Emergency department;
- Medical imaging department;
- Intensive care unit;
- Operating theatres, day surgery and recovery areas;
- Medical, surgical, paediatric, rehabilitation inpatient units with specific designated palliative care beds within the Medical IPU;
- Maternal and newborn unit, birthing suite and special care nursery, as well as paediatric and antenatal outpatient clinics.
The final works stage to complete the redevelopment of the hospital is expected to begin later this year.
The Greens Announce First Nations Legal Defence Fund
When First Nations people fight for Country, against dirty mining companies or corporate landowners with deep pockets, they’re often locked in a long, expensive and ultimately unfair legal battle.
The Greens have a plan to balance the scales, by making billionaires and big polluters pay their fair share of tax. Through a ‘billionaires tax’ and a ‘corporate super-profits tax,’ we can put resources towards an environmental and cultural heritage legal defence fund.
“We need better resources so Traditional Owners can fight back and assert their rights to Country.” Said the Greens spokesperson for Justice and First Nations: Gunnai, Gunditjmara and DjabWurrung Senator Lidia Thorpe.
“Right now, there’s no money and no support when we take big corporations to court. In balance of power, The Greens will contribute $51m to establish a First Nations Legal Defence Fund so Traditional Owners can access independent legal advice.”
“We saw at Beetaloo how the Labor and Liberal parties decided to destroy Country, in favour of a company that makes big donations to both of their parties. Too many sacred sites have already been destroyed.”
“We heard evidence in the Senate Inquiry into the Juukan Gorge crisis that mining companies manufacture consent. They talk to corporations who say they represent the Traditional Owners, when they don’t. We need to make sure the right people are making decisions about what happens on their Country.“ Said Thorpe.
Yamatji-Noongar Senator for Western Australia Dorinda Cox: the Greens spokesperson for Mining and Resources said:
“In some state-based legislation, there is no right to appeal. There is no right to veto. First Nations people do not have bags of cash lying around to take mining companies and corporate landowners to the Supreme Court to protect their cultural heritage.”
“The Australian Cultural Heritage Bill and the Senate Inquiry into the destruction of 46,000 year old caves at the Juukan Gorge show that legislation protecting Country is weak. It was written in the interests of mining and development.”
“We need designated resources for First Nations people to assert their rights and fight for Country.”
Liberals and Labor conspire to silence charities
Labor has signed on to the government’s anti-democracy agenda by voting for new legislation designed to silence critical voices from the nonprofit sector.
The Electoral Legislation Amendment (Political Campaigner) Bill was rammed through the Senate tonight without debate and without going to inquiry, passing after a dirty deal between Labor and the Liberals.
The new laws will mean that more nonprofits will now be classified as “large third parties”, increasing their disclosure requirements and administrative burdens. More charities will spend more time on paperwork and less time advocating for public interest policy reforms. Many will be discouraged from advocacy work altogether.
Greens deputy leader and spokesperson on democracy Senator Larissa Waters said:
“This bill is not about transparency and accountability. It’s not about the integrity of elections. This bill will undermine charities and the right to advocate for change.
“It’s always been about shutting critical voices out of the election debate by tying them up in bureaucracy. Whatever happened to the Liberals hating red tape?
“That’s why over 80 charities joined together to call on the government to scrap this bill. And it’s why the government has ignored them.
“Charities are already subject to strict reporting and transparency obligations under the ACNC. There is no justification for the additional reporting that a lower threshold would impose on the many organisations already struggling to make ends meet.
“This is a cynical stitch-up between the government and Labor. We’re glad to see the back of the voter ID laws but secretly trading one legislative outcome for another is not how democracy is supposed to work.
“Labor is of course patting itself on the back for getting some amendments through, but the changes do little more than make terrible legislation marginally less terrible. They don’t deserve a cookie for that.
“If this government was serious about transparency during elections, they would ban dirty donations, immediately lower the donation disclosure thresholds and require real-time reporting.
“And if they were serious about accountability and inappropriate influence, we would not have been waiting more than 1080 days for a national integrity commission.
“This is a kick in the teeth to a sector that needs more support, not more roadblocks. The Greens will continue to stand up for charities who advocate for policy reforms.”
Liberals and Labor join hands to kill off accountability in the Senate
The Greens say today’s move by the Coalition and Labor to reaffirm their dodgy deal to permanently axe Senate motions represents one more nail in the coffin for democracy and transparency.
The decision makes permanent the temporary arrangement between the Liberals and Labor in June which eliminated motions that ask the Senate to form an opinion, replacing them with two-minute statements.
Greens deputy leader and spokesperson on democracy Senator Larissa Waters said:
“Last night we saw Labor join forces with the government to ram through laws designed to silence critical voices from the nonprofit sector.
“And today the big parties have renewed their anti-democracy pact by making permanent their decision in June to prevent Senators from moving and requiring a vote on motions.
“The elimination of motions removes a critical accountability mechanism from the Senate. It allows the big parties to weasel out of telling the public what their position is on issues that might be politically inconvenient.
“Axing motions means shutting down Senators’ rights to represent constituents and to put issues on the agenda that big parties want to stay silent on. It means that the Coalition and Labor will continue to be able to dictate which issues the Senate can vote on.
“Senate motions have been vital in building political pressure to achieve important outcomes, like the banking, disability and veterans Royal Commissions, and the passing of my National Integrity Bill by the Senate in 2019.
“The Liberals and Labor are clearly worried about the influence of smaller parties and independents and are trying to entrench their cosy duopoly.”
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 match schedule announced
Minister for Sport, Richard Colbeck, has welcomed the release of the FIFA Women’s World Cup (FWWC) 2023 match schedule saying it puts our two sport-loving nations in the spotlight.
“With the opening match of the tournament in New Zealand, and the final in Sydney, the schedule demonstrates the strength in our trans-Tasman partnership,” Minister Colbeck said.
“Australia and New Zealand boast a passionate fan base, excellent hospitality, robust security arrangements and exciting tourism opportunities.
“The FWWC will showcase the best of both nations, while bringing considerable economic benefits to help as we recover from the pandemic.”
The Matildas will kick-off the first match on Australian soil with a showdown at Sydney Football Stadium on 20 July.
Australia will host six group-stage fixtures at the Sydney Football Stadium, with Perth and Brisbane both hosting five and a further four each taking place in Melbourne and Adelaide.
Sydney will also be the venue for the final, on 20 August 2023 at Stadium Australia.
The matches being played in Australia are:
- Brisbane – Brisbane Stadium, 8 games
- Sydney – Stadium Australia and Sydney Football Stadium, 11 games
- Melbourne – Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, 6 games
- Adelaide – Hindmarsh Stadium, 5 games
- Perth – Perth Rectangular Stadium, 5 games
The FWWC 2023 will be the largest yet, with 32 teams playing. It is also the first to be hosted across two nations.
“The Australian Government is proud to support this landmark tournament, which will be one of the largest sporting events held here since the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Minister Colbeck said.
“It will shine the spotlight on Australia and bring in hundreds of millions of dollars through international visitors and viewers.”
“It will also continue the positive increase in interest in women’s sport and inspire many young females to pull on the boots.”
The Australian Government provided $5 million to Football Australia for the successful joint bid “As One” with New Zealand Football and committed significant support towards delivery of the event.
The Australian Government has also committed $15 million to build the home of the Matildas in Victoria and $12 million to support both a high-performance program for the Matildas and participation by women and girls in community football.
“Football is the game that connects Australia to the world,” Minister Colbeck said.
“It’s accessible and inclusive, played by two million participants in Australia, from 200 different cultures and spread out over 2400 community clubs.”
$540 million to continue and expand Australia’s COVID-19 response
The Australian Government has invested a further $540 million in response to the COVID 19 pandemic including significant funding to keep Australians safe, and for COVID-19 testing.
COVID-19 has had an unprecedented impact on Australians’ way of life and the emergence of the Omicron variant of concern highlights that while we have come a long way, we require robust health measures to continue to underpin our COVID-19 Health Response.
The Australian Government has committed more than $33 billion in additional health spending since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, to protect the health of all Australians.
Of this funding, $492 million will be invested into measures to continue support for all Australians, including:
- The Aged Care Preparedness Support Measures Extension
- The Victorian Aged Care Response Centre (VACRC)
- Support for Aged Care Workers in COVID-19 Program (SACWIC)
- COVID-19 Indigenous and Remote Response Measures
- The National Incident Centre
- MBS fee for COVID-19 pathology items
- COVID-19 pathology testing in aged care
- Aged Care: RAD Loan Scheme
In addition, $48 million will be invested into COVID-19 medical research to explore multiple aspects of COVID-19, including vaccination, treatment and modelling.
Since March 2020, the Government has delivered funding to secure life-saving vaccines, support for our hospitals, aged care, and to provide access to primary health care, including telehealth.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said the significant investment in health has saved the lives of thousands of Australians who would have died of COVID-19.
“Over the past two years, health has been a focus of the entire Australian population, and the measures we have put in place have helped ensure Australia has one of the lowest mortality rates and highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the world,” Minister Hunt said.
“Compared to the average of the OECD, our actions have helped save approximately 30,000 lives, compared to the United States and the United Kingdom, we have saved approximately 45,000 lives.”
“The availability of highly accurate polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing has been critical in identifying COVID-19 cases and genomic sequencing to understand variants of concern in Australia since the pandemic began, allowing health authorities to respond quickly to manage and curb the disease’s spread.
“COVID-19 testing remains an important part of the Australian Government’s strategy to contain the spread of COVID-19, particularly as Australia continues to open up in accordance with the National Plan to Transition Australia’s National COVID-19 Response.
The new investment will extend Australian patient access to bulk-billed COVID-19 tests under the Medicare Benefits Scheme.”
Funding is also being extended for the National Incident Centre (NIC) within the Department of Health, which has been stood-up, without a break, since the Samoan measles outbreak in September 2019.
“The NIC is the epicentre of Australia’s COVID-19 public health response, and is central to advising Government and National Cabinet on COVID-19 in Australia and around the world,” Minister Hunt said.
“It also contributed to the Australian Government’s evidence-based public health response and underpinning the goals of the National Plan and the COVID-19 vaccination program.”
Five research projects around the nation will also share in $15 million in funding and $33 million in competitive grant opportunities will be provided to further support researchers as part of the Morrison Government’s ongoing COVID-19 pandemic response.
The $15 million will be provided for projects led by the University of Melbourne, University of New South Wales, University of Western Australia, Murdoch University, and Monash University.
These projects will support early research into the long-term health impacts of COVID-19, clinical trials to improve COVID-19 vaccination planning for Australians who are immunocompromised, and clinical trials focussing on the effectiveness of combining different COVID-19 vaccines.
In addition, $33 million in further funding support will be made available through five streams of research to investigate different aspects of COVID-19.
- $4 million to evaluate safety, effectiveness, and feasibility of new treatments for COVID-19 in Australian clinical settings
- $16 million to accelerate the development of antiviral candidates to prevent or treat SARS-CoV-2
- $7 million to study COVID-19 immune response in children, adolescents, adults and vulnerable populations
- $3 million to study SARS-CoV-2 airborne transmission to inform new and/or improved modelling, and
- $3 million to create a national linked data platform bringing together health data sets to strengthen evidence-based public health and health system planning and management.
“Funding research projects through this grant opportunity will help protect Australians from COVID-19 by increasing the options available to clinicians to treat people who are infected and improve our ability to predict the spread of the virus and better target our response,” Minister Hunt said.
Minister for Regional Health, Dr David Gillespie, said support will be extended for the Remote Community Preparedness and Retrieval measure, which is keeping regional Australians safe and helping address COVID-19 outbreaks,
“Our Government will extend the Remote Community Preparedness and Retrieval measure has been in place since March 2020,” Minister Gillespie said.
“This will continue to assist in the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine to rural and remote areas, utilising the resources and expertise of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
“The Government also recognises that COVID-19, including potential new variants present a risk to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, who experience a burden of disease more than double that of non-Indigenous Australians.
“To ensure potential outbreaks are caught early, the Remote Point of Care Testing (POCT) Program, which is operated through the Kirby Institute, will be extended as well.”
The POCT Program will help to detect and manage outbreaks of COVID-19 in rural or remote communities. Outbreaks in these communities have the potential to be very serious due to the risk of rapid spread, the burden of disease, and barriers to access to some health services.
These measures will continue to support the joint outbreak preparedness and response work the Australian Government undertakes with the Indigenous health sector and state and territory governments through the expert leadership of the national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group on COVID-19.
The Australian Government is committed to ensuring our senior Australians are protected against COVID-19 which has had a disproportionately significant impact across the aged care sector, particularly in 2020.
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck, said the Government is continuing to assist aged care service providers to manage the direct impacts of the pandemic.
“Our investment will continue funding the Aged Care Support Program Extension grant opportunity, which reimburses providers for eligible costs incurred as a direct result of managing COVID-19,” Minister Colbeck said.
“Ready to deploy surge workforce arrangements also remain in place to ensure the continuity of care for aged care residents even in the event of an outbreak within their residential facility.
“The spending on aged care preparedness will also continue intensive case management support available to aged care services experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak amongst residents and/or staff. This will ensure we remain ready to assist providers experiencing outbreaks.”
The Australian Government recognises the outstanding efforts of our aged care workforce in protecting the health and wellbeing senior Australians throughout the pandemic, and will provide additional funding to continue the Support for Aged Care Workers in COVID-19 (SACWIC) grant opportunity. This grant opportunity is being extended to 30 June 2022 to ensure support remains available as required.
At times where there is significant community transmission of COVID-19, the SACWIC grant enables aged care workers to adhere to single site restrictions without being financially disadvantaged. Single site restrictions are voluntarily enacted to mitigate the risk of workers unintentionally spreading COVID-19 between facilities.
As Australia transitions to living with COVID-19 the need for rapid response in our aged care sector, including access to diagnostic testing, will continue.
Minister Colbeck said the residents of Australia’s aged care facilities are a very highly vaccinated population and the same is true of the aged care workforce, but testing remains a critical tool to manage potential outbreaks.
“The Government will provide funding to extend the ‘in-reach’ COVID-19 pathology services for residential aged care facilities, as we work towards a future approach were rapid antigen testing becomes the standard for COVID-19 surveillance in aged care,” he said.
“We are also making funding available to continue the work of the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre (VACRC) to support preparedness activities and rapidly respond to COVID-19 outbreaks in that state.
“The VACRC has been critical in prioritising the quality of care and protection of residents, and ensuring a rapid and effective response for providers, and communicating with families.”
The existing Refundable Accommodation Deposit (RAD) Support Loan Program will be extended to continue to support the residential aged care sector, preventing the unnecessary insolvency of providers as a result of the pandemic.
Some residential aged care facilities have experienced declining occupancy rates during the pandemic, as senior Australians look to remain in their own homes or with family.
The RAD Support Loan Program has helped facilities manage the financial impact of declining resident numbers, which has minimised the flow-on cost to taxpayers.
New laws get tough on abandoned shopping trolleys
Supermarket operators could be hit with an on the spot fine of $660 for not collecting abandoned shopping trolleys following advocacy by the City of Newcastle.
The fine would be issued to any supermarket that fails to collect a shopping trolley from a public space within three hours of being notified it is causing an obstruction, or within seven days if it has just been left unattended in a public place such as a park, creek or local street.
Following advocacy from the City of Newcastle, the NSW Government is proposing the tough new rules via its Public Spaces (Unattended Property) Bill 2021.
Fines ranging from $660 to $13,750 would be applied to owners, depending on the nature, number and time the trolleys remained.
A Notice of Motion calling on the NSW Government to crack down on abandoned trolleys was unanimously supported by City of Newcastle Councillors at the November 2020 Council meeting.
Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen welcomed the new legislation as a win for the community and other local councils in NSW, and particularly the environment.
“Advocacy led by Local Government NSW and City of Newcastle raised concerns about the negative impact of abandoned shopping trolleys on community amenity, safety and the environment, and the costs to council associated with their removal and management,” Cr Clausen said.
“The new legislation is a real improvement on existing laws that in the past made compliance almost impossible to enforce. The onus is now on trolley owners to ensure their property is not littered throughout our suburban streets and environment.
“Major supermarkets and local shopping centre management will need to take a more proactive approach to managing their assets, and preventing them from ending up in public places, on roads, or in creeks and waterways or face large fines.
“I would like to thank the NSW Government for listening to City of Newcastle and working with Local Government NSW to address our concerns around abandoned trolleys.”
The fine would be issued to any supermarket that fails to collect a shopping trolley from a public space within three hours of being notified it is causing an obstruction, or within seven days if it has just been left unattended in a public place such as a park, creek or local street.
Following advocacy from the City of Newcastle, the NSW Government is proposing the tough new rules via its Public Spaces (Unattended Property) Bill 2021.
Fines ranging from $660 to $13,750 would be applied to owners, depending on the nature, number and time the trolleys remained.
A Notice of Motion calling on the NSW Government to crack down on abandoned trolleys was unanimously supported by City of Newcastle Councillors at the November 2020 Council meeting.
Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen welcomed the new legislation as a win for the community and other local councils in NSW, and particularly the environment.
“Advocacy led by Local Government NSW and City of Newcastle raised concerns about the negative impact of abandoned shopping trolleys on community amenity, safety and the environment, and the costs to council associated with their removal and management,” Cr Clausen said.
“The new legislation is a real improvement on existing laws that in the past made compliance almost impossible to enforce. The onus is now on trolley owners to ensure their property is not littered throughout our suburban streets and environment.
“Major supermarkets and local shopping centre management will need to take a more proactive approach to managing their assets, and preventing them from ending up in public places, on roads, or in creeks and waterways or face large fines.
“I would like to thank the NSW Government for listening to City of Newcastle and working with Local Government NSW to address our concerns around abandoned trolleys.”