Joshua McPherson has won the KILGOUR PRIZE 2020 People’s Choice Award for the second year running with a painting titled Portrait of Meg.
This year McPherson won – from a total pool of more than 1,600 votes collected since the KILGOUR PRIZE 2020 exhibition opened Saturday 1 August. McPherson has won $5,000 in recognition of the popularity of his work.
“When Meg arrived for the first session I was inspired by her youthful slightly “edgy, grunge” look contrasted with her beautiful Indian jewellery passed down from her mother,” artist Joshua McPherson said.
“I sought to capture a young woman of today but still respectful of her family tradition and heritage.”
Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton said McPherson excels in portraiture that provokes an emotive response in his viewers.
“McPherson’s skill as a painter is captured in the beautiful composition and vulnerable expression of his sitter,” she said.
McPherson has exhibited internationally in Italy, London and the United States. He has also been selected as a finalist in other national portrait prizes such as the Archibald Prize and the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize.
The Sydney-based artist will receive $5,000, generously funded by the bequest of artist Jack Noel Kilgour. The KILGOUR PRIZE 2020 exhibition will remain on display at the Gallery until 15 November 2020.
Anonymous comments collected during the voting process included:
“Of all the works, Portrait of Meg moves me the most. There is a simple complexity, a depth of emotion, a subtlety of light and shade, a beautifully softened sharpness. And those haunting eyes…they draw you in even as they withdraw into their own earnest, private contemplation.”
“It’s very evocative and insightful representation of the complexity of youth culture.”
“The subject is very relatable and reminds me of myself and every other teenage girl struggling with identity and self-awareness.”
“Culturally-diverse, beautifully composed, reflecting the promise and uncertainty of youth.”
Artist statement, Joshua McPherson:
I first met Meg when she modelled for my weekly portrait class. My students and I immediately found her to be a breath of fresh air. Such a great attitude to life at a time when she was experiencing significant change and complexities in her life. I knew immediately I would like to have her pose privately for a portrait.
When Meg arrived for the first session I was inspired by her youthful slightly “edgy, grunge” look contrasted with her beautiful Indian jewellery passed down from her mother. I found the juxtaposition between her attire quite fascinating and intriguing.
I sought to capture a young woman of today but still respectful of her family tradition and heritage. This was Meg’s first time posing in a private studio and I feel that the portrait captures her initial slight coyness but a willingness to embrace herself in the portrait painting process.
KILGOUR PRIZE 2020 FINALISTS
An Sheng, Andrew Bennett, Anh Nguyen, Ben Ryan, Brittany Jones, Bronni Krieger, Corinna Howell, Craig Handley, Dagmar Cyrulla, Daniel Butterworth, Elizabeth Austin, Erik Krebs-Schade, Esther Erlich, Greg Creek, Jacqueline Hennessy, Jordan Richardson, Joshua McPherson, Kenneth Lambert, Kerry McInnis, Kylie Melinda Smith, Lileana Colarelli, Lori Pensini, Lynn Savery, Melissa Ritchie, Michael Bell, Oliver Shepherd, Peter Gardiner, Tony Costa, Tracy Dods, Wendy Sharpe.
PLANNING FUNDS FOR REDEVELOPMENT OF GRAFTON HOSPITAL GETS GREEN LIGHT
The NSW Government has today honoured its commitment to residents of the Clarence Valley by announcing funds to progress planning for the redevelopment of Grafton Base Hospital during this term of Government.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro joined Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis outside the hospital in Grafton to announce planning for the hospital can now get underway.
“Accessible quality health care is essential when living in rural and regional NSW and today’s announcement means we can commence planning work for Grafton Base Hospital, as promised to the people of the Clarence Valley,” Mr Barilaro said.
Minister for Health Brad Hazzard said the future redevelopment of Grafton Base Hospital will support the health needs and wellbeing of the communities and the healthcare workforce across the Clarence Valley for years to come.
“The future redevelopment will expand a range of clinical services to support timely healthcare, ensuring Grafton Base Hospital can cater for the future health needs of the community and surrounds,” Mr Hazzard said.
“Detailed planning and consultation with clinicians and the community will ensure we get it right for the redeveloped Grafton Hospital.”
Clarence Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis said he is thrilled to have the Deputy Premier and Leader of the Nationals in Grafton to deliver this news because planning work means the community is a big step closer to improved health services.
“Not only do we need to get the infrastructure and facilities right, we also need to look at the future range of health services and health workforce to best serve the residents of the Clarence Valley,” Mr Gulaptis said.
The NSW Government has invested more than $10 billion to build, upgrade and redevelop hospitals and health facilities across the state since 2011. A further $10.1 billion has been committed from 2020 to continue current projects, and start the upgrade or building of a further 29 hospitals and health facilities across the State.
These investments ensure local communities can continue to receive the best possible healthcare closer to home. It also supports the local economy, including: opportunities for local businesses to be involved employment opportunities for skilled trades and related professionals
NSW HITS THREE MILLION TESTS AS COMMUNITY URGED TO REMAIN VIGILANT
As the state marks three million COVID-19 tests since January, the NSW Government is calling on the community to continue to work together to fight the deadly virus.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said reaching three million tests was a major milestone in the State’s fight against COVID-19.
“I want to thank everyone in NSW who has come forward to be tested – three million COVID-19 tests is an incredible result,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“As we ease restrictions, it is critical that we maintain our high rates of testing which has been central to our success in limiting the spread of the virus and keeping NSW open.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard warned that while recent easing of restrictions is very welcome, it comes with risks and it is critical everyone keeps getting tested.
“This is a stealthy virus and if we give it an inch, it will take a mile and undo a lot of good work,” Mr Hazzard said.
“The community response to COVID-19 has been fantastic and I thank the people of NSW for their efforts and sacrifices during the past nine months, which have put us in a position where we have been able to ease restrictions.
“We hope to be able to continue to ease restrictions in the weeks and months ahead, but this depends on us being successful in minimising community transmission.”
As at 8pm on 26 October 2020, 3,000,641 COVID-19 tests had been performed on 2,247,101 people in NSW. Of those people tested, 63.7 per cent had a single test and 36.3 per cent had more than one test, with 1.16 per cent having more than five tests.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said it was critical that people continue to come forward for testing and practice COVID-safe behaviours when out and about and catching up with family and friends.
“When we have high numbers of people continuing to get tested, that allows us to detect cases in the community earlier and prevent onward transmission,” Dr Chant said.
“Get tested at the first sign of even the mildest of symptoms, wash your hands regularly, physically distance and wear a mask when using public transport and in places where you can’t physically distance.
“We have been able to get the recent clusters under control with the support of the community, but their emergence shows that the risk of a resurgence of cases in NSW remains very real.”
Restrictions eased recently by the NSW Government include:
- 30 people can now gather outdoors in public spaces (previously the rule was 20 people). It remains a maximum of 20 people in households;
- There can be 30 customers per booking, and 30 customers per table, at hospitality venues (previously the rule was a maximum of 10 customers);
- Corporate functions of up to 300 people can now be held at any appropriate premises, including at restaurants, subject to a COVID safety plan (previously it was just function centres);
- Religious gatherings/places of worship (excluding weddings and funerals) can have up to 300 people, subject to a COVID-19 safety plan; and
- Gyms are now only required to have a COVID-19 safety marshal if there are more than 20 people in the gym at one time.
Additionally, from 1 December 2020, the number of people who can attend weddings will be increased to 300 people subject to the four square metre rule indoors and two square metre rule outdoors. This will allow people to make plans and book venues knowing the capacity ahead of time.
There are more than 300 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW. To find your nearest clinic visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/how-to-protect-yourself-and-others/clinics or contact your GP. Most people receive their results within 24 hours.
STRICT NEW LAWS TO REGULATE SHORT-TERM RENTALS
Short-term rental accommodation hosts, guests, letting agents and online booking platform operators will soon be subject to strict new laws with a mandatory Code of Conduct for the industry to begin in December.
Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation Kevin Anderson said the new Code, which was released today, includes clear guidance and obligations for hosts and guests centred on minimum standards of good behaviour.
Also included are formal avenues for complaints and dispute resolution and the ability for NSW Fair Trading to ban problematic hosts or anti-social guests from booking short-term rentals for five years.
“The popularity of short-term rentals has exploded in recent years and is now a $30 billion a year industry,” Mr Anderson said.
“While the sector has gone from strength to strength, what has been missing is a clear set of rules to protect the rights of both hosts, guests and neighbours and which put mutual respect front and centre.
“The NSW Government is introducing these laws as part of our broad reform of the sector. Together, they will ensure the minority of participants who are giving the sector a bad name are removed and the short-term rental sector is improved for hosts, guests and communities.”
Mr Anderson said a key feature of the new laws was the establishment of an exclusion register, which will introduce a ‘two strikes and you’re out’ policy for unruly guests.
“We have all heard the horror stories of hosts doing the wrong thing or the house guests from hell behaving disgracefully in holiday rentals,” Mr Anderson said.
“If you are going to carry on like that in someone else’s house or neighbourhood, be warned – under these new rules you will be banned, and for a very long time.
“The standards are enforceable, with powers available to NSW Fair Trading Commissioner to take disciplinary action, including penalties and exclusion from the industry for repeat offenders.”
All participants, including booking platforms, will be required to comply with the Code and with directions and requests from the Commissioner.
The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment is also developing a government-run premises register and state environmental planning policy for short-term rental accommodation which will round out the reforms to this sector and launch in 2021.
The Code of Conduct, which can be viewed here, will come into force on 18 December 2020.
For additional information, please visit the Fair Trading website.
Appeal after man stabbed during home invasion near Newcastle
Police are appealing for public assistance as they continue to investigate after a man was stabbed during a home invasion near Newcastle earlier this year.
About 10.30pm on Tuesday 15 July 2020, emergency services were called to a unit on Blue Gum Road, Jesmond, following reports a man had been stabbed.
Upon arrival, police located a 29-year-old man with multiple stab wounds before he was taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment. He has since been released.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District attended and commenced an investigation into the incident.
As investigations continue, detectives are hoping to speak to a man who may be able to assist with their inquiries.
He’s described as being of Caucasian appearance, between 170cm and 175cm tall, with a stocky build, wearing dark clothing and had his face covered.
It’s believed the man left in a vehicle, described only as a light coloured four-door sedan which was waiting nearby.
Anyone who may have seen or heard anything suspicious between 10pm and 11pm on Tuesday 15 July, or who may have nearby dashcam or CCTV footage is urged to contact Newcastle Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Man wanted on outstanding warrants – Newcastle
Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man wanted on outstanding warrants.
Paul Tighe, aged 34, is wanted on two outstanding warrants for assault and stealing offences.
Police from Newcastle City Police District have commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.
He is known to frequent Western Sydney, Newcastle, Bathurst and Port Macquarie.
He is described as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander in appearance, between 175cm to 180cm tall, with a thin build and a distinctive tattoo on his upper left arm.
It is believed he may be travelling in a white Subaru Outback with NSW registration ATA 42D.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to contact police immediately.
PRIVATISATION NOT THE SOLUTION TO AUSPOST DEBACLE
Greens Leader, Adam Bandt, says the Australia Post debacle is symptomatic of corporatisation, a problem that would only be made worse by full privatisation, as the Greens call instead for executive salary caps and a winding-back of privatisation.
At the National Press Club this month, Bandt outlined plans for a major inquiry into the impact of privatisation. This inquiry would include the impact of corporatisation of the public service.
“When the corporate model is exposed to be corrupted and scandal-ridden, some who advocated for the failed experiment will double-down and push for the privatisation of Australia Post,” Bandt said.
“Our corporatised public services have been infected with neoliberal ideology and privatisation would only make the problem worse.”
“Essential services should be run for the public good. By treating Australia Post as just another business, the government has allowed a ‘greed is good’ culture to dominate.
“The Australia Post scandal, made iconic by Cartier watches, is a symptom of a long ideological campaign to corporatise the culture and operations of public services.
“We should be winding back the corporatisation of our public services. Our wide-ranging inquiry will reveal the full impact of privatisation and corporatisation in this country.
“The Greens would also work towards ending so-called ‘performance-based pay’ for executives. This is a failed experiment. It has not improved performance, but it has eroded a sense of teamwork and it is inconsistent with the role and culture of the public service.
The Public Governance Performance and Accountability Amendment Executive Remuneration Bill (2017), which the Greens have already tabled would tie executive pay across the public service, including Australia Post, to 5 times the Australia-wide average wage (approximately $420,000).
“We could have started a culture change years ago, but the bill didn’t get support. We’re looking to put the proposal to cap executive salaries back to Labor and the Crossbench again now,” Bandt said
New research from Ownership Matters, released today, showed a ‘directors club’ in Australia’s biggest corporations.
“Is this the club we want Australia Post to join? The corporate model is one of runaway executive salaries and the ‘game of mates’. It’s a broken model stemming from a trickle-down agenda and it’s one that the Greens aim to reign in,” Bandt said.
50th Ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
Labor welcomes the 50th nation ratifying the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons – which will mean it will now come into force.
We congratulate International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and advocates for the significant milestone.
The ambition of a world free of nuclear weapons is one that Labor shares.
Labor has committed to signing and ratifying the treaty after taking account the need to ensure an effective verification and enforcement architecture, interaction of the Treaty with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and achieving universal support.
New medicines for Australians with multiple sclerosis, lymphoma, carcinoma and reproductive cancers
From 1 November, the Morrison Government will invest more than $86 million over the next four years to provide greater access to life saving medicines for Australians living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and various forms of cancer.
MS is the most commonly acquired neurological disease in younger adults with over 25,600 Australians living with multiple sclerosis and over 2.3 million people affected globally.
The average age of diagnosis is only 30 and around 75% of those affected with multiple sclerosis in Australia are female.
There is a high clinical need for effective treatments for patients with progressive forms of relapse onset multiple sclerosis.
Mayzent® (siponimod) will be listed on the PBS for the first time to treat those patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.
Without PBS subsidy, these patients would pay more than $25,000 per year for treatment with approximately 800 patients benefiting from this listing each year.
The PBS subsidy now means patients will only need to pay $41 per prescription, or $6.60 with a concession card.
In addition to this listing, Australians diagnosed with a rare type of lymphoma which affects the skin will receive subsidised access to a new medication and specialised treatment from 1 November 2020 through an investment of over $11.5 million.
Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that affects the skin and causes an accumulation of malignant T-cells in the skin, resulting in raised, rash-like or itchy patches of skin, skin lumps or ulcers and swollen lymph nodes.
Uvadex® (methoxsalen) will be listed on the PBS for the first time for treatment of patients with erythrodermic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma who have not responded to other treatments.
Around 75 patients per year may benefit from this listing. Without PBS subsidy, these Australians would pay more than $3,400 per year.
Concurrently, two new items will be introduced on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) for the use of extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) in combination with Uvadex® to treat the condition, as recommended by the Medical Services Advisory Committee.
ECP is a type of treatment that involves attaching a patient to a machine that removes some of their blood. The machine separates the white blood cells, and the red blood cells and plasma go back into the body. The white blood cells are mixed with Uvadex®, exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, then put back into the patient. ECP activates the patient’s immune system to fight the cancer.
Other PBS listings from 1 November – announced in the Budget 2020-21 – include the expanded listing of:
- Tecentriq® and Avastin® (atezolizumab and bevacizumab) for use in combination to treat patients with advanced unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of primary liver cancer. An average of 500 patients per year may benefit from this. They would normally pay up to $170,000 for a course of treatment without PBS subsidy
- Lynparza® (olaparib) for the treatment of newly diagnosed advanced high grade epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancers. An average of 300 patients per year may benefit from this listing and would normally pay around $140,500 per course of treatment for this medicine.
These PBS listings have been recommended by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.
Since 2013, the Australian Government has approved over 2,450 new or amended listings on the PBS.
This represents an average of around 30 listings or amendments per month – or one each day – at an overall investment by the Government of $11.8 billion.
The Morrison Government’s commitment to ensuring that Australians can access affordable medicines, when they need them, remains rock solid.
Victorian Restrictions
Victorians have made great progress in reducing the rate of COVID-19 infections from the second wave outbreak in Victoria.
While the Commonwealth Government welcomes Victoria’s commitment to the national framework agreed at National Cabinet to have Australia open by Christmas, for many Victorian businesses and their workers today’s announcement will mean they will simply not be able to make it.
The new Framework to reopen by Christmas is a clear and transparent, three step plan which provides the Australian community and businesses with a way forward where Australians can live and work in a COVID Normal Australia, ensuring that we maintain strong health protections and minimise job losses and mental health impacts.
Victorians are to be congratulated for meeting and beating the considerable benchmarks that were set by their State Government before restrictions could be eased. They have played their part and sacrificed much in the pursuit of reaching those targets in the belief restrictions would be eased.
Under the Victorian Stage 4 lockdown, Victoria has seen the devastation of more than 1,000 job losses per day. We have also agonisingly witnessed a 31 per cent increase in Medicare funded mental health presentations in Victoria during the lockdown and significant increases in other mental health services.
At some point, you have to move forward and put your public health systems to work in a bid to reclaim the jobs that have been lost, and rescue the livelihoods and peace of mind of so many Victorians who have been affected by the inability to contain the outbreak that led to the second Victorian wave.
Victoria’s public health systems are either up to the task of dealing with future outbreaks or they are not. The decision to keep businesses closed suggests that there is still not sufficient confidence within the Government that their systems can support reopening.
This is a profound disappointment. Of course, Victorians do not want to face another lockdown and of course they don’t want all of this to have been for nothing. That is why ensuring the State Government’s capability to deal with outbreaks through their public health response is so essential. This is what you need for Victoria to open up safely and stay safely open.
Borders and closures are not indicators of public health success. They are the opposite.
Victoria’s infection rate is now below the Victorian Government’s own target of a 14 day rolling average of fewer than 5 cases per day to further reduce restrictions. It is also well below the Commonwealth’s hot spot definition, based on the advice of the acting Chief Medical Officer, of a rolling average of fewer than 10 cases per day over 3 days.
During this time, the Victorian Government has greatly benefitted from the cooperation of the Victorian public and business community who have paid a significant price as a result of the prolonged lockdown measures.
The Commonwealth Government has also provided significant assistance from the ADF, medical and technical experts with the management of the lockdown and boosting Victoria’s contact tracing systems.
The Victorian Government has stated that they have now significantly improved their contact tracing capabilities to deal with any future outbreaks. Such capacity has been critical to enabling NSW to deal with numerous outbreaks, whilst staying open.
If this is the case, then we strongly encourage the Victorian Government to rapidly take the next steps to implement the National Framework and mirror the NSW COVID Safe restrictions for the sake of health, mental health and halting the loss of more than 1,000 jobs per day.
The Australian Government will continue to support Victorians through this crisis through our record economic and income supports. We will also continue to work with the Victorian Government to assist them to strengthen their public health and contact tracing capacity.