Millions of Australians will continue to receive medical care and support in their own homes with the Morrison Government investing more than $2 billion to extend a range of COVID-19 health measures for a further six months, to 31 March 2021.
Medicare-subsidised telehealth and pathology services, GP-led respiratory clinics, home medicines delivery, public and private hospital services will all be extended, as well as further investments in PPE.
These health initiatives play a major role in detecting, preventing and treating COVID-19.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the $2 billion extension in funding brought the Government’s commitment for the COVID-19 health response to more than $16.5 billion since March 2020.
“We will continue to provide Australians with critical health care and support to protect both lives and livelihoods,” the Prime Minister said.
“By providing telehealth and home delivery medicine services we are reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the community while also supporting people in isolation to get the care they need.
“Importantly this also includes mental health services, delivered over the phone, by trained specialists and GPs.
“As we continue to suppress COVID-19 while continuing to open our economy up, Australians can be reassured that we have the world’s best medical support in place to protect their health.”
Minister for Health Greg Hunt said “Our Governments response to the pandemic brought forward a 10 year plan on telehealth within 10 days.”
“As a consequence, over 30 million consultations protected the health and wellbeing of Australians, and protected our health workers and the viability of their practices.”
Patients will continue to have access to Medicare-subsidised telehealth for general practitioner, nursing, midwifery, allied health and allied mental health services, where and when they need them.
Telehealth is also being extended for essential specialist services, such as consultant physician, geriatrician, and neurosurgery services. Bulk billing will continue to be available and regular billing practices will apply to all of these services.
Up to 150 GP-led respiratory clinics across the country, which complement state run fever clinics, will continue their pivotal role in testing. Patients will continue to have access to bulk-billed COVID-19 tests under Medicare, with aged care residents and staff getting priority access to rapid testing.
Medicare-subsidised pathology and testing at the point of care will continue in 86 rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. This enables early identification of cases and rapid response if COVID-19 is detected in these highly vulnerable communities.
Eligible people will continue to get free home delivery of essential medicines by their local pharmacist. The Home Medicines Service has already delivered more than one million medicines to patients’ homes at no additional cost to patients.
Our support for states and territories continues, with the historic National Partnership Agreement ensuring the public health system is prepared and the public and private hospital systems are fully resourced and able to respond rapidly to any outbreak.
As an example, this agreement has enabled the transfer of more than 480 aged care residents to private hospitals and deployed clinical and nursing staff to assist in aged care during Victoria’s second wave.
The National Coronavirus Helpline will continue to operate around the clock providing important advice.
The expert Australian Health Protection Principal Committee recognises that future outbreaks will occur. The ongoing health response must be maintained to protect the health of Australians.
Re-appeal after fatal collision between truck and cyclist – Newcastle
Police are re-appealing for information after the death of a cyclist in a collision with a truck in Newcastle last year.
About 9.20am on Wednesday 20 March 2019, emergency services were called to the intersection of King and Perkins streets, Newcastle East, after a cyclist and a truck collided.
Police were told the truck was turning left from King Street into Perkins Street, when the collision occurred.
The cyclist, a 56-year-old woman, was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics; however, she died at the scene.
The truck driver was uninjured and taken to the Mater Hospital for mandatory testing.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District attended and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash
As inquiries continue, investigators would like to speak to witnesses who have not yet spoken to police. In particular, a female pedestrian who was crossing the King Street pedestrian crossing immediately prior to the collision to contact Police.
Police are also appealing for anyone who may have seen the cyclist or truck prior to the collision, witnessed the collision or has dash cam footage, to contact Newcastle Police on (02) 4929 0999.
28 PINs issued following Bondi Junction house party
Police will issue 28 Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) following a house party allegedly breaching the Public Health Order in Sydney’s east overnight.
About 1.20am (Saturday 19 September 2020), officers from Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command were called to a home on Oxford Street, near York Road, Bondi Junction, following noise complaints and reports of a party.
Police attended and observed a large group in the home.
After speaking with a 26-year-old man, it was established he was one of four occupants and there were 24 guests inside, which exceeded the allowable 20-person limit for private gatherings.
The guests were told to leave the premises and given a move on direction from the area.
Under recent changes to the Public Health Order, the occupants and attendees will all be issued $1000 PINs.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related Public Health Order is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
Concerns held for teen missing from Charlestown
Police are appealing for the public’s help to find a teenage boy who has been missing from his Lake Macquarie home since Tuesday.
14-year-old Cooper Hazlewood was noticed missing about 1.00pm on Tuesday 15 September 2020.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District and Cooper’s family have concerns for his welfare as this behaviour is considered out of character.
Cooper is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 140-145cm tall, thin build, light brown hair and green eyes.
Cooper is known as a user of the bus network in the Lake Macquarie area and is known to frequent the shops at Whitebridge and Hudson Park in Kotara.
Police are appealing for anyone with information about Cooper’s whereabouts, or who may have seen him since Tuesday, to contact Lake Macquarie Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
Appeal to locate missing teen – Lake Macquarie
Police are appealing for public assistance to find a teenage boy missing from the Lake Macquarie area.
Chase Scorey, aged 14, was last seen leaving a home on Buller Street, Charlestown, just after 8.15am today (Friday 18 September 2020).
When he failed to return home, officers from Lake Macquarie Police District were notified and have commenced inquiries to locate him.
Police and family have concerns for Chase’s welfare due to his age.
Chase is described as being Caucasian appearance, about 170cm tall, of thin build and with brown hair.
He was last seen wearing a dark coloured hooded jumper with a thick grey stripe across the chest and arms, and blue dual tone boardshorts. He is believed to be wearing a grey helmet while riding a black mountain bike and carrying a grey and white backpack.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
$2 Billion To Extend Critical Health Services Across Australia
Millions of Australians will continue to receive medical care and support in their own homes with the Morrison Government investing more than $2 billion to extend a range of COVID-19 health measures for a further six months, to 31 March 2021.
Medicare-subsidised telehealth and pathology services, GP-led respiratory clinics, home medicines delivery, public and private hospital services will all be extended, as well as further investments in PPE.
These health initiatives play a major role in detecting, preventing and treating COVID-19.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the $2 billion extension in funding brought the Government’s commitment for the COVID-19 health response to more than $16.5 billion since March 2020.
“We will continue to provide Australians with critical health care and support to protect both lives and livelihoods,” the Prime Minister said.
“By providing telehealth and home delivery medicine services we are reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the community while also supporting people in isolation to get the care they need.
“Importantly this also includes mental health services, delivered over the phone, by trained specialists and GPs.
“As we continue to suppress COVID-19 while continuing to open our economy up, Australians can be reassured that we have the world’s best medical support in place to protect their health.”
Minister for Health Greg Hunt said “Our Governments response to the pandemic brought forward a 10 year plan on telehealth within 10 days.”
“As a consequence, over 30 million consultations protected the health and wellbeing of Australians, and protected our health workers and the viability of their practices.”
Patients will continue to have access to Medicare-subsidised telehealth for general practitioner, nursing, midwifery, allied health and allied mental health services, where and when they need them.
Telehealth is also being extended for essential specialist services, such as consultant physician, geriatrician, and neurosurgery services. Bulk billing will continue to be available and regular billing practices will apply to all of these services.
Up to 150 GP-led respiratory clinics across the country, which complement state run fever clinics, will continue their pivotal role in testing. Patients will continue to have access to bulk-billed COVID-19 tests under Medicare, with aged care residents and staff getting priority access to rapid testing.
Medicare-subsidised pathology and testing at the point of care will continue in 86 rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. This enables early identification of cases and rapid response if COVID-19 is detected in these highly vulnerable communities.
Eligible people will continue to get free home delivery of essential medicines by their local pharmacist. The Home Medicines Service has already delivered more than one million medicines to patients’ homes at no additional cost to patients.
Our support for states and territories continues, with the historic National Partnership Agreement ensuring the public health system is prepared and the public and private hospital systems are fully resourced and able to respond rapidly to any outbreak.
As an example, this agreement has enabled the transfer of more than 480 aged care residents to private hospitals and deployed clinical and nursing staff to assist in aged care during Victoria’s second wave.
The National Coronavirus Helpline will continue to operate around the clock providing important advice.
The expert Australian Health Protection Principal Committee recognises that future outbreaks will occur. The ongoing health response must be maintained to protect the health of Australians.
$630,000 boost for Newcastle Museum and Art Gallery
Local stories will take centre stage at Newcastle Museum thanks to a multiyear funding allocation from the NSW Government that will allow it to expand its program of self-curated exhibitions.
The museum will receive $135,000 each year for three years under the Create NSW Local Government Authorities (LGA) Arts and Cultural Programs funding, after being recognised by the assessment panel for its excellence in programming and strategy.
Newcastle Art Gallery has also received a welcome boost from the NSW Government after being granted $75,000 a year for three years in recognition of the Gallery’s ambitious programming and development of major exhibitions.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes welcomed the funding from the NSW Government and said it was testament to the quality of exhibitions, collections and programming produced by both the Museum and Art Gallery.
“Newcastle Museum and Newcastle Art Gallery are vibrant, award-winning cultural attractions, which play an important role in interpreting and preserving our city’s fascinating history and providing a time capsule of Australian art dating back to the earliest days of Newcastle,” Cr Nelmes said.
“Their respective collections and exhibitions also add to the rich diversity of experiences that help attract visitors to our city.”
Newcastle Museum Director Julie Baird said the grant will allow them to undertake several new self-curated exhibitions, while also delivering programming under the three yearly themes of Seeing Differently, Neighbours and Fluidity.
“Our vast collection, which includes more than 12,500 objects and stories, allows visitors to gain a sense of Newcastle’s unique identity by exploring the city’s past, present and future, while our exciting annual program of self-curated and touring exhibitions are on the cutting edge of contemporary museum practice,” Ms Baird said.
“The Museum and History Artform Advisory Board, which assessed our funding application, supports projects based on the program’s vision, quality and engagement with the community and I’m proud to say that Newcastle Museum was the only local government museum to receive the full three years of funding.
“This grant will allow Newcastle Museum to undertake some new, free-of-charge self-curated exhibitions such as 1X4, an innovative social history exhibition, designed to tour through regional NSW, that challenges visitors to see things through different perspectives.”
Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton said the funding will allow the Gallery to host an ambitious mix of exhibitions and events engaging local, national and international artists and practitioners.
“The three-year funding commitment recognises the Gallery’s continuing commitment to developing and delivering nationally significant exhibitions, events and programs for our city and community,” Ms Morton said.
“It also reflects our continued commitment to local and indigenous artists, including our landmark exhibition WARWAR: The Art of Torres Strait, which showcases the evolution and strength of Torres Strait Islander tradition and society through arts practitioners from the 19th Century through to today.
“The Visual Arts Advisory Board receives the highest amount of applications across the Arts Minister’s 10 Arts Advisory Boards. As first-time applicants in an extremely competitive field, the Gallery has not only been successful in securing multiyear funding, but also achieved an increase in annual funding compared to previous years.”
SUMMER SUMMIT PLANS TO BOOST FESTIVE SYDNEY
Sydney cafes, bars, restaurants and business operators are set for a summer revival with the NSW Government’s Summer Summit paving the way for business to capitalise on Sydney’s transformation into a COVID safe alfresco city.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes, Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello and Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope hosted dozens of key business leaders and operators at the Museum of Contemporary Art, where a raft of ideas were discussed to re-ignite Sydney’s economy as the countdown to summer begins.
“We have heard loud and clear from those on the front lines about what is needed to restore public confidence and get the city buzzing again to ensure businesses have a bumper summer while keeping the people safe,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Our health response has been strong and that will allow us to have a strong economic response to ensure Sydney is ready for summer, which is just 73 days away.”
Mr Perrottet said the Government was already working with City of Sydney Council to ensure retailers, cafes, bars and restaurants had the best opportunities possible across the Christmas and summer trading period.
“We are exploring a range of options and ideas and are willing to invest in the right projects that support businesses and jobs.”
At the Summit the NSW Government and City of Sydney Council agreed to explore a range of possible measures, including:
- Allowing more flexible outdoor dining and seating arrangements;
- Establish outdoor entertainment stages throughout the CBD, in areas such as Martin Place;
- Enhance promotion of cultural institutions and allow them to stay open later;
- Increase promotion and advertising to attract people into the Sydney CBD;
- Explore COVID safe creative ideas such as hosting outdoor cultural events;
- Recruiting renowned local artists to perform in dining areas and entertainment precincts throughout the CBD;
- Longer retail trading hours;
- More flexible public transport options;
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said we must work together to get life back into our city centre while ensuring the safety of residents, workers and visitors.
“We need to allow and encourage businesses to operate outdoors, and we need to support our creative and cultural life to activate and draw people back to our city, safely,” the Lord Mayor said.
“We want to ensure our city businesses survive, and create new opportunities to thrive in the long term.”
Mr Stokes said people would be keen to get out and enjoy the harbour city with the return of warmer weather and daylight savings.
“As we strip off our winter layers, let’s look at how we can also strip away red tape and get this city sizzling,” Mr Stokes said.
“We’re going to look at how we can make it easier for local governments and businesses to use outdoor spaces.”
Mr Dominello said it was time to redouble our efforts and take advantage of Sydney’s summer climate.
“We want people to get out and enjoy everything our great city has to offer and to do that we need to make better use of the natural elements Sydney is blessed with,” Mr Dominello said.
“This week we established a special taskforce, declared red tape enemy number one, and are determined to get the Alfresco job done.”
Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said the NSW Government was keen to hear first-hand from those on the ground who could share ideas on how the city could be re-ignited.
“We want to do all we can to ensure Sydney’s small businesses prosper and thrive and this summit has uncovered a variety of suggestions and options on how that can best happen so our city can flourish once again,” Mr Tudehope said.
The relevant ideas, issues and options raised at the Summit today will help shape policy, inform the upcoming NSW State Budget and be channelled through to work already underway such as the outdoor dining taskforce headed by Minister Victor Dominello.
Leeton venue fined over breach of COVID-19 Public Health Orders
A licensed premises in Leeton has been issued a $5,000 fine following non-compliance with COVID-19 Public Health Orders.
About 11.30pm on Friday 30 August 2020, police conducted a business inspection at a licensed premises in Leeton.
Police observed that the front bar area was crowded and the layout of the room did not provide sufficient room for patrons to be physically distanced.
Police also observed a number of patrons standing and moving between tables, without physically distancing.
Licensing officers from Murrumbidgee Police District commenced inquiries into potential breaches of the current COVID-19 Public Health Orders.
As a result of inquiries, the 31-year-old female licensee was issued with a Penalty Infringement Notices for not comply with noticed direction re s 7/8/9 – COVID 19 – Corporation – $5,000.
Licencing police will continue to enforce compliance checks at licensed premises and other venues across the Murrumbidgee area, to ensure the Public Health Orders are being adhered to.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
Operation Border Closure continues at NSW/Victoria border
A large-scale police operation is continuing along the NSW/Victoria border, with police facilitating the safe movement of more than two million vehicles into NSW.
Since midnight on Wednesday 8 July 2020, thousands of police officers from across the state have been deployed to support border crossings between NSW and Victoria.
The Public Health (COVID-19 Border Control) Amendment Order (No 6) 2020, under section 7 of the Public Health Act 2010, stipulates that border region residents can travel within the border region for any reason with a valid permit as of 12.01am yesterday (Thursday 17 September 2020).
The border resident permit now excludes the ‘permitted purpose’ clause, giving border residents the flexibility to move between border communities for any reason. Existing border region permits will remain the same and there is no need for residents to apply for a new permit.
The changes to the order also allows for recreational activities on the Murray River for border region residents with a current permit.
The Border Region has also been extended to approximately 50km on either side of the border. The new zone can be viewed online at https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/border-zone-address-check.
Operation Border Closure Forward Commander, Superintendent Paul Smith, said police will continue to work with local communities to keep both sides of the border safe.
“The changes to the orders are certainly good news for our border communities,” Supt Smith said.
“The aim of this operation has always been to keep NSW safe, while minimising disruptions to the daily lives of our border communities.
“Police will continue to enforce all ministerial directions in order to protect our health and wellbeing, but we do rely on community support and compliance.
“I would like to extend my thanks to our border communities for their patience and compliance during these times,” Supt Smith said.
For more information about exemptions or to apply for a permit, please visit: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-covid-19-nsw-border-entry-permit
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.