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The Senate Community Affairs References Committee has tabled its fourth interim report into the Government’s robodebt scheme.
“The Committee does not accept the Government’s ongoing claim of public interest immunity in regards to the legal advice on the illegal robodebt scheme”, Senator Rachel Siewert said.
It is very clearly in the public interest for the Government to release this legal advice and Government Ministers are simply avoiding accountability by hiding behind this claim.
The court case is over. There is no longer an excuse to hide this information.
People in the community want justice, people lost their lives and many more were ruined because of this illegal program and they deserve to know who knew what and when.
The information the Committee is seeking is vital to the conduct of this inquiry as it goes to the legal foundation of the Income Compliance Program and its administration and the Minister has shown a blatant disregard for the Senate as well as the Committee process.
The Senate supported the Committee’s resolution for a number of documents related to legal advice be laid on the table by August 25th 2021.
The Committee will continue to pursue this matter with hearings scheduled for later this month.
The report can be found here.

Kids and teenagers must be included in the government’s national vaccine targets, Greens leader, Adam Bandt, said today. Young people deserve protection and without high rates of vaccination of the whole population, we will never get out of rolling lockdowns.
The Prime Minister’s current targets exclude children and most teenagers. The PM’s 80% target is really a 65% target of the whole population.
There are reports that kids and teenagers make  up a third of cases in NSW and outbreaks in schools are happening across the country. Over 5000 children and teenagers have contracted the virus since the pandemic began in Australia, with the numbers of children contracting the delta strain growing.
Greens Leader Adam Bandt said:
“I am again calling on the National Cabinet to include children and teenagers in the vaccine targets and rollouts.”
“The Prime Minister might want to exclude kids and teenagers so that his vaccination targets are easier to meet, but National Cabinet should not let him.”
“National Cabinet can’t let Scott Morrison fudge the numbers by excluding children from vaccine targets.”
“These current outbreaks are a pandemic of the unvaccinated, but if we leave kids out of the national targets it will become a pandemic of children.”

To respond to the current outbreak in Far North New South Wales, the Australian Government will provide an additional 7,680 Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses immediately for use in the eight affected local government areas, including Walgett.
Expected to arrive in regional communities tomorrow, the delivery includes 4,800 vaccines for use across general practices and Commonwealth Vaccination Clinics (CVCs) and 2,880 for use in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS). This includes activating three additional general practices and an additional Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS) in Bourke.
In line with the ‘New South Wales COVID-19 Vaccine Implementation Plan’, the Government is working directly with the New South Wales Government, ACCHS, the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (NACCHO), local stakeholders and the local community to provide immediate support to outbreak impacted communities. These areas include Bogan Shire, Bourke Shire, Brewarrina Shire, Coonamble Shire, Gilgandra Shire, Narromine Shire, Walgett Shire and Warren Shire.
The Australian Government has also activated an Incident Management Team to respond to this situation, providing additional support to the remote communities in the area.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said the additional doses will help provide protection to those living in the area, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“This is a whole-of-government effort to support these communities and ensure that people can be protected through vaccination, while also having access to additional health support and testing services,” Minister Hunt said.
“We are also ready to provide additional AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines for general community vaccinations.”
The National COVID Vaccine Taskforce has also engaged the Royal Flying Doctors Services (RFDS) for emergency response and evacuation, Personal Protective Equipment drop offs and additional vaccine capacity where needed.
As part of the Commonwealth’s Point of Care Testing Program the Government has expedited more cartridges and another testing machine to the Walgett ACCHS to meet testing demand in Walgett and surrounding regions.
In addition, NSW Health has advised they are committed to a whole-of-community vaccine blitz in Walgett.

WA Labor has announced high profile City of Wanneroo Mayor Tracey Roberts will contest the electorate of Pearce at the upcoming federal election.
Since being elected to Council in 2003, Tracey has been a local champion for almost 20 years. She sits on a number of school boards and is patron and committee member of dozens of community organisations.
Tracey is a strong advocate for Western Australia as President of the Western Australian Local Government Association and Vice President of the Australian Local Government Association.
In the mid-1980’s, Tracey emigrated to Australia from the UK like many people in Perth’s northern suburbs. She lives in Mindarie with her husband, Pete, and has two sons.
In 2008, Tracey was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was the Wanneroo community who got her through these challenging times, and that support has driven her to give back.
Tracey has a proven track record of delivering for the City of Wanneroo, and has worked side by side with Premier Mark McGowan to deliver key infrastructure projects for Perth’s northern suburbs.
In 2020, Tracey was appointed by the State Government to the State Recovery Advisory Group to drive the economic recovery from COVID-19.
Voters in Pearce have not forgotten that Scott Morrison and Christian Porter attacked Mark McGowan and sided with Clive Palmer to open our borders at the height of the pandemic.
Tracey will be a part of an Albanese Labor Government that will work with Mark McGowan – not against him – to stand up for WA.
 

Anthony Albanese MP

“I’ve known Tracey for years – she’s a fierce advocate for her community, who knows how to work with the Federal and State Governments to get things done.
“Tracey will be an important member of my team in WA – standing up for WA, and working with the McGowan Labor Government to create new jobs and protect your health.
“Scott Morrison and Christian Porter have let down Pearce and WA. They sided with Clive Palmer against Mark McGowan on the borders, and they failed to deliver quarantine facilities and to effectively roll out the vaccine.”

Labor Candidate for Pearce Tracey Roberts

“I have represented my community as the Mayor of Wanneroo for 10 years. In that time, I have secured more than $1 billion in investment for the City.
“For too long, Scott Morrison and the Christian Porter have neglected WA.
“We need ambitious, job-creating infrastructure projects from the Federal Government. I will stand up for Pearce in Canberra to make sure we see that investment right here in our community.”

The Morrison Government has today passed legislation that will provide more affordable child care for around 250,000 Australian families, and allow more parents to return to work or pick up more hours.
The Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Child Care Subsidy) Bill 2021 will increase the child care subsidy to a maximum of 95 per cent for families with more than one child aged under six in child care.
The $10,655 cap on the Child Care Subsidy has also been removed, benefitting around 18,000 families.
The measures will mean the equivalent of 40,000 people are able to work an extra day per week and will boost the economy by up to $1.5 billion per year.
A family on $110,000 with two children in child care four days a week will be $95 per week better off.
A single parent earning $80,000 with two kids in fulltime care would now pay just $5 per day for their second child.
Minister for Education and Youth Alan Tudge said the changes would see families with two children benefit by up to $185 a week.
“This legislation is good for families and good for the economy,” Minister Tudge said.
“It is targeted, it is measured, and it is geared towards those families who really need it – those who are managing the increased costs of having two or more children in child care.
“The Morrison Government supports choice for Australian families, and that’s why our policies are designed to be fair for those who use the child care system and taxpayers who don’t.”
Minister for Women’s Economic Security Jane Hume said the package would provide further economic opportunities for Australian parents, particularly women.
“We are supporting working parents, especially women who represent the majority of primary carers, by reducing child care costs and giving them more flexibility if they chose to return to work or want to work more hours,” Minister Hume said.
“Under this Government, women’s workforce participation is at a near record high of 61.6 per cent and this policy will help more Australian women to increase their incomes and secure their economic futures.”
The measures build on the Morrison Government’s $10 billion annual investment in child care, and the Child Care Package introduced in 2018 that is still keeping out-of-pocket costs low for Australian families.

The Liberals and Nationals Government has confirmed eligible workers in the Commonwealth declared pandemic hotspot of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) can soon apply for the COVID-19 Disaster Payment.
Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie said there will be many people eligible if their work or income will be impacted.
“Claims for the COVID-19 Disaster Payment for people in the ACT affected by the lockdown will open on 20 August,” Minister McKenzie said.
“Those eligible will receive $750 per week if they have lost 20 or more hours of work, and $450 per week if they have lost between eight and less than 20 hours of work, or a full day of work.”
People currently receiving an income support payment can also claim an extra payment of $200 if they have lost eight hours or more of work and meet the other eligibility requirements for the COVID-19 Disaster Payment.
Minister for Government Services Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said the quickest and easiest way to claim is online through myGov.
“The fastest and easiest way to claim is online via myGov. Canberrans can get ready to claim now by creating a myGov account if they don’t already have one,” Minister Reynolds said.
“There’s no need to contact Services Australia right now. When claims open on 20 August, you’ll be able to claim financial support back to the start of the lockdown.”
Senator for the ACT Zed Seselja said supporting Canberrans that may be impacted by this latest lockdown was a high priority for the Liberals and Nationals Government.
“If we want to beat this outbreak as soon as possible then ACT residents will need to stay home and observe all of the local health advice, which I know will cause disruption to all of our lives,” Senator Seselja said.
“This support provides certainty for Canberrans who can’t work from home, so that they can safely observe the lockdown without worrying about their job or their income during this challenging time.”
More information about the COVID-19 Disaster Payment, and how to claim, is online at: servicesaustralia.gov.au/covid19disasterpayment

The Liberals and Nationals Government has confirmed eligible workers in the Commonwealth declared pandemic hotspot of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) can soon apply for the COVID-19 Disaster Payment.
Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie said there will be many people eligible if their work or income will be impacted.
“Claims for the COVID-19 Disaster Payment for people in the ACT affected by the lockdown will open on 20 August,” Minister McKenzie said.
“Those eligible will receive $750 per week if they have lost 20 or more hours of work, and $450 per week if they have lost between eight and less than 20 hours of work, or a full day of work.”
People currently receiving an income support payment can also claim an extra payment of $200 if they have lost eight hours or more of work and meet the other eligibility requirements for the COVID-19 Disaster Payment.
Minister for Government Services Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said the quickest and easiest way to claim is online through myGov.
“The fastest and easiest way to claim is online via myGov. Canberrans can get ready to claim now by creating a myGov account if they don’t already have one,” Minister Reynolds said.
“There’s no need to contact Services Australia right now. When claims open on 20 August, you’ll be able to claim financial support back to the start of the lockdown.”
Senator for the ACT Zed Seselja said supporting Canberrans that may be impacted by this latest lockdown was a high priority for the Liberals and Nationals Government.
“If we want to beat this outbreak as soon as possible then ACT residents will need to stay home and observe all of the local health advice, which I know will cause disruption to all of our lives,” Senator Seselja said.
“This support provides certainty for Canberrans who can’t work from home, so that they can safely observe the lockdown without worrying about their job or their income during this challenging time.”
More information about the COVID-19 Disaster Payment, and how to claim, is online at: servicesaustralia.gov.au/covid19disasterpayment

The Morrison Government is continuing to support Australians through the pandemic and is encouraging employers and employees to work together on the issue of COVID-19 vaccination for Australian workers.
Minister for Industrial Relations, Michaelia Cash has welcomed the release of the latest guidance on workplace vaccination, published today by the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO).
Minister Cash said the Morrison Government recommended that all eligible Australians get vaccinated as soon as they can and encouraged employers to assist wherever possible.
“We are seeing record numbers of Australians coming forward for vaccination and we thank each and every person vaccinated and all of our medical workforce for their dedication and hard work,” Minister Cash said.
“Vaccination is free, voluntary and an important way to ensure the Australian community and economy can emerge and recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Minister Cash said.
Minister Cash said some workers in high risk settings—such as aged care and quarantine facilities—are required to be vaccinated to protect vulnerable people and the broader community. These are requirements set by state and territory public health orders.
Minister Cash said it was important that workplaces take a collaborative approach with their workers on discussing, planning and facilitating COVID-19 vaccination in the workplace.
“It is important that both employers and employees continue to work together to get vaccinated as soon as possible. This will benefit not only our workplaces, but help our nation return to normal as soon as possible,” Minister Cash said.
Minister Cash also encouraged employers to visit the Safe Work Australia website for detailed guidance on workplace health and safety. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner has also published guidance for employers on the privacy implications of workplace vaccination.

Significant new support from the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments will bolster businesses most affected by the extension of the public health lockdown in Melbourne.
The need to combat the Delta strain of coronavirus means restrictions will remain in place in 31 metropolitan local government areas until 11:59pm on Thursday, 19 August – severely impacting the trade of businesses across a range of sectors.
Grants from the $367 million joint Commonwealth-Victorian package announced today will flow to more than 100,000 businesses across Melbourne.
The Commonwealth and Victorian Governments have combined to allocate $1.16 billion over the past two weeks alone to back Victorian businesses that are doing it hard, so they can continue to pay their bills and the wages of workers and be in the best shape possible to recover.
Under the new initiative, businesses including sole traders who have received or been approved for a Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two or Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension grant, or a Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund grant, will receive an automatic payment.
A significant boost to the new Small Business COVID Hardship Fund that opens today will take the one-off payments for eligible businesses that do not qualify for existing programs to $10,000.
The Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the Morrison Government has delivered more than $45 billion in direct economic support to households and businesses in Victoria.
“This is a very difficult and challenging time for all Victorians,” the Treasurer said.
“Along with the state government we will continue to support Victorians through the crisis to ensure households and business can bounce back from this latest set of restrictions.”
“Victorian businesses have shown remarkable resilience during the pandemic. We will continue to stand by them during this crisis with support they need to get through.”
“During the most recent lockdowns the Federal Government has provided significant economic support delivering more than $245 million of COVID-19 Disaster Payments and in conjunction with the Victorian Government, we are delivering almost $1.2 billon to support small and medium sized businesses.” Treasurer Frydenberg said.
The Victorian Government has provided more than $7 billion in direct economic support for businesses over the course of the pandemic, including $1.4 billion in cash grants paid to more than 97,000 businesses since the May/June restrictions period.
Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas said that the Victorian Government will continue to directly support businesses affected by restrictions.
“As we continue to fight the Delta strain, we are not forgetting the toll that this has taken on our business community,” Mr Pallas said.
“We’ve backed businesses with direct, targeted and consistent support where it has been needed most and we’ll continue to do so.”
Victorian Minister for Industry Support and Recovery Martin Pakula said that the funding will provide vital support and reassurance.
“Thousands of businesses will benefit from this new injection of support and we know that the funds are essential to back businesses through this difficult period. We’re acting decisively to get on top of the Delta outbreak and also to give businesses the best chance to emerge in decent shape on the other side,” Mr Pakula said.
The new package contains three main elements, with agreement also reached between the two Governments to extend Commonwealth COVID-19 Disaster Payment arrangement for workers and eligible businesses affected by the metropolitan Melbourne lockdown extension.
COVID-19 Disaster Payments
Eligible workers across the state who lose hours due to the lockdown will be able to access the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 Disaster Payment, as will individuals who are sole-trader businesses who lose work and that do not qualify for Victorian Government support programs.
The COVID-19 Disaster Payment is administered through Services Australia, with the Federal Government funding the areas declared a Commonwealth hotspot and the Victorian Government assuming responsibility to fund payments in the rest of the state.
The payment is set at $450 for people who have lost from eight and up to 20 hours work or a full day of work (over seven days), and $750 for 20 hours or more of work lost. People who receive certain Commonwealth income support are eligible to receive a $200 payment.
Small Business COVID Hardship Fund
An allocation of $41 million will boost the Small Business COVID Hardship Fund to $180 million, with grants of $10,000 available to small- and medium-sized businesses across the state.
The fund opens for applications today through the Business Victoria website and will help up to 18,000 businesses that have been ineligible for business support programs and have experienced a reduction in revenue of at least 70 per cent.
Businesses that are legally allowed to operate but are restricted in their ability to generate revenue – such as a food store located at a shopping centre or a manufacturer supplying goods for closed venues – will be among those that that could be eligible.
Businesses that have lost custom due to restrictions affecting foot traffic – such as pharmacists located in the CBD – could also be eligible.
Business Costs Assistance Program
More than 95,000 businesses in metropolitan Melbourne will automatically receive payments of $2,800, with grants scheduled to be paid within seven business days.
This new $271 million Business Costs Assistance Program assistance will allow businesses across multiple sectors to continue paying overheads and other costs despite significant impacts on revenue.
Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021
Automatic payments of $5,000, $10,000 and $20,0000 will be made in coming weeks to more than 7,000 licensed hospitality venues in metropolitan Melbourne that have previously received or been approved grants under the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund program. A total of $55 million has been allocate to the new licensed venue initiative.
Payment amounts will be tiered according to premises capacity: $5,000 for a capacity of up to 99 patrons, $10,000 for a capacity of 100 to 499 patrons and $20,000 for a capacity of 500-plus.
More information about the business programs is available at business.vic.gov.au

Training communities to monitor and recover critical mangrove habitat on the NSW south coast, the restoration of Macquarie Perch habitat in alpine waterways, and helping Greater and Yellow-bellied Gliders in South-East Queensland are among 111 new bushfire recovery Landcare grant projects.
Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said the new projects are part of a $14 million Morrison Government commitment to deliver on-ground activities to aid in the recovery of native wildlife and habitat in seven regions severely impacted by the Black Summer bushfires.
“Landcare Australia and the National Landcare Network are co-ordinating the grant projects, located in the worst bushfire impacted areas – from South-East Queensland to the NSW north and south coasts, the Blue Mountains, Australian alpine areas, East Gippsland and Kangaroo Island,” Minister Ley said.
“The work builds on a broad range of projects already being carried out by Landcare and other community groups in the wake of the fires.
“We are already seeing results from swift practical actions on the ground like the installation of hollows for species that lost their habitat in the fires, pest weed and feral animal control and erosion management.”
Successful projects include Conservation Volunteers Australia’s work to restore important habitat in the Barrington Tops and Grose Valley through weed control, citizen science wildlife surveys and monitoring, and construction and installation of nestboxes for wildlife.
Other projects include the conservation and repair of riparian areas along the Nymboida River – home to Platypus and critical habitat for threatened Eastern Freshwater Cod.
“There is also a project supporting an Indigenous-led native plant nursery to collect and propagate more than 100,000 native seeds to regenerate impacted habitats near Jervis Bay in NSW,” Minster Ley said.
“These new projects will not only directly support native species recovery, but also provide benefit for bushfire-affected communities and landholders.”
Out of the 111 grants, there are projects supporting landowners to work together on neighbouring properties to control foxes and replant native vegetation as well as funding to extend feral pig control on Kangaroo Island, reducing the impact the animals have on agriculture.
CEO of Landcare Australia Dr Shane Norrish said: “The large network of Landcare and other community groups are essential to the local recovery effort, and the Landcare Led Bushfire Recovery Program is supporting over a hundred great projects to restore significant areas of native habitat and assist recovery of threatened species.”
CEO of the National Landcare Network Jim Adams said: “The support of Landcare Networks, Groups and others by the Government to continue the important work they do is very welcome and has provided Landcare and communities in the fire affected regions with much needed encouragement to deliver environmental outcomes and build community resilience.”
To date, the Morrison Government has committed $200 million for wildlife and habitat recovery through the $2 billion National Bushfire Recovery Fund. A list of the 111 Landcare grant projects can be found at http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/bushfire-recovery/activities-and-outcomes