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The Australian Defence Force Academy’s (ADFA) incoming Midshipmen and Officer Cadets were formally welcomed today at the annual Chief of Defence Force (CDF) Parade.

The CDF Parade marks the culmination of the initial military training period for more than 330 first year Midshipmen and Officer Cadets and their acceptance as members of the corps of Trainee Officers at ADFA.

Acting Chief of the Defence Force, Vice Admiral David Johnston, congratulated ADFA’s newest Midshipmen and Officer Cadets on completing their initial military period.

“Over the past three weeks, the Midshipmen and Officer Cadets were introduced to life in the Australian Defence Force including activities such as drill, physical training, leadership and ethics education, and weapons handling,” Vice Admiral Johnston said.

“This is just the beginning of military life for these young men and women who are the future of our Defence Force and our partner Defence Forces.”

The new Trainee Officers will now commence university studies at the University of New South Wales Canberra, co-located with ADFA, alongside ongoing military training.

“This unique combination of university education and military training prepares Midshipmen and Officer Cadets intellectually, physically and ethically for their future roles as officers and leaders in the Navy, Army and Air Force,” Vice Admiral Johnston said.

“ADFA is just the first step in a fantastic career in the Australian Defence Force and foreign militaries for this year’s incoming class of Trainee Officers, and I will be following their progress with interest.”

As coal production begins again at Anglo American’s Grosvenor mine almost two years after a methane explosion left five miners with horrific burns the Mining and Energy Union (MEU) says all Queensland mine workers’ thoughts are with those injured in the disaster.

As the regulator, Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ), allows operations to recommence the mine operator must ensure coal production at the notoriously gassy mine is never again put ahead of safety. 

An inquiry recently heard 14 potential incidents of methane exceedance were recorded at longwall 104, where the explosion occurred, in the eight weeks leading up the May 2020 explosion.

It found the mine’s gas drainage systems could not cope with the rate of production.

The inquiry also heard if coal workers reported unsafe work practices, they could lose money under so-called ‘safety penalties’ or even be sacked – completely legally.

Workers at the mine aren’t directly employed in permanent jobs by Anglo American like workers at other Anglo American mines, but by labour hire company One Key, which means they have fewer rights and can be sacked more easily.

“The labour hire arrangements at Grosvenor are at the root of the safety issues, Anglo needs to employ their workers directly in permanent jobs,” says Stephen Smyth, Queensland District President of the Mining and Energy Union.

“We welcome RSHQ decision to allow the mine to reopen, but significant trust issues remain and we call on Anglo American and One Key to support the workforce and be transparent about all issues.

“Since the incident the workers have formed a union lodge which means they will have a stronger unified voice when it comes to safety, rostering, pay and other issues.

“We are so proud of their resilience and strength; they won’t be taking a backward step on safety.

“Union safety inspectors will be keeping a close eye on operations, and we call on the regulator to keep a close eye as well. 

“Anglo American and One Key have a history of putting production before safety, this must stop.

“Anglo American and One Key were warned many times about safety issues at the mine, they need to start listening.

“It’s so important to the workers, their families, and coal workers all over Queensland we don’t see a repeat of the catastrophic explosion of May 2020.

‘I note the RSHQ’s investigation of the incident was also referred to the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor for consideration of potential charges, the union is hoping those responsible for the explosion feel the full force of the law.”

More than 70 of Australia’s leading epidemiologists, GPs, global health, business, development and aid organisations have signed on to an open letter calling on the Prime Minister to make a Budget commitment to accelerate the global vaccination effort and prevent the emergence of another COVID variant of concern.

It comes after US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken on Monday convened foreign ministers from around the world on Monday to coordinate additional leadership, political will, capacity, and resources, to achieve specific targets in the global COVID-19 response.

The letter was initiated by the End COVID For All in December as Omicron broke out and has now grown to include the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), the Business Council of Australia, the Burnet Institute, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) and World Vision Australia.

Their joint letter outlines “grave concern regarding the state of global vaccine inequity” and highlights the opportunity “Australia has to help address this vital issue affecting us all”.

The letter calls on the Australian Government to take three critical steps:

• Continue to add our weight to tackling global vaccine inequity by committing an additional $250 million to the COVAX AMC Facility
• Use our partnerships to tackle vaccine hesitancy by committing $50 million from the existing $532 million Vaccine Access and Health Security Initiative into addressing vaccine hesitancy in the Indo-Pacific
• Reduce the chance of future outbreaks, variants and pandemics by committing $100 million to the CEPI replenishment

End COVID For All spokesperson and CEPI chair Jane Halton said the return on these investments far outweighs the cost.

“We are dangerously behind our targets to vaccinate the world. Less than six per cent of people in low-income countries are fully vaccinated and case numbers are increasing,” Ms Halton said.

“This not only puts these countries in a perilous position but is a significant threat to Australia.

“The emergence of Omicron in a region with dire vaccination rates proves, just as Delta did, that when left unchecked, COVID will mutate into more transmissible and deadly forms.”

End COVID For Allspokesperson and Burnet Institute director Professor Brendan Crabb said the Australian Government can help save lives by ramping up its contribution to the global vaccination effort.

“1,582 people died from COVID across Australia in January alone. We cannot simply wait for another variant to arrive and wreak havoc on our lives, our health system, aged care and economy,” Professor Crabb said.

“The International Monetary Fund estimates the cost may rise beyond $US12.5 trillion by the end of 2024. That’s a very large slice of a circa $100 trillion global economy.

“Investing in COVAX, tackling vaccine hesitancy in the Indo-Pacific and backing CEPI to reduce the chance of future outbreaks is a small ask to help stem the damage, save lives and end COVID for all.

Australian economy remains strong through Omicron

Highest jobs on record, Female participation highest on record

The Australian economy has remained strong and creating jobs through the peak of the Omicron surge with almost 13,000 jobs added to hit a record high at the same time as female workforce participation hit the highest level on record.

Labour force figures released today by the ABS confirm that seasonally adjusted employment increased by 12,900 in January 2022, within the range of market expectations, to stand at a record high of 13,255,000. Employment is now 259,500 (or 2.0 per cent) above the level recorded in March 2020 (when Australia recorded its 100th case of COVID-19).

The unemployment rate was unchanged over the month, at 4.2 per cent, the equal lowest rate recorded since August 2008—below the 5.3 per cent recorded in March 2020 and significantly lower than the 5.7% that Labor delivered when the unemployment rate was rising when they were in Government.

Encouragingly, the participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 66.2 per cent in January 2022, well above the 65.9 per cent recorded in March 2020. It is also worth noting that the female participation rate rose by 0.6 percentage points over the month, to a record high of 62.1 per cent in January 2022. The level of unemployment rose slightly (by 5,600 or 1.0 per cent), to 580,000 in January 2022. Part-time employment rose by 30,000 (or 0.7 per cent) in January, while full-time employment fell by 17,000 (or 0.2 per cent).

Today’s figures reflect the impact that Omicron had on the Australian labour market in January, particularly in relation to hours worked. Aggregate hours worked declined, by 159.4 million hours in January, due, in large part, to the impacts of the Omicron variant.

It is encouraging to note that the level of recruitment activity nationally, as measured by the National Skills Commission’s Internet Vacancy Index, is now 54% (or 90,900) above its pre-COVID level.

Moreover, the RBA has noted that while Omicron has impacted the recovery, it has not derailed it, with information from the Bank’s business liaison program suggesting that more than half of businesses intend to increase their headcounts over the coming months, which augurs well for a rebound in labour market activity in the period ahead.