Category: Australian News

The 5 Urgent Care Clinics promised to be established in South Australia by 1 July this year remain undelivered, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese finally confirmed their locations today.

On top of this broken delivery timeframe, today’s announcement is a shameful hollow promise.

At least four of the five SA clinics appear to be merely a rebadging of existing clinics, with the promised ‘extended hours’ already confirmed by the Department of Health to be a blatant lie.

Labor promised that every Urgent Care Clinic would be open during the extended times of 8am-10pm as a key part of their operation, but it was revealed in Budget Estimates that this will not be possible.

This is far from providing the promised improved access to critical healthcare and reduced pressure on hospital emergency departments.

Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care Anne Ruston said that Labor’s Urgent Care Clinics are a smokescreen that are not addressing the serious pressure on hospital systems across the country.

‘Ramping is at record highs in South Australia, and yet the only action we are seeing from either the State or Federal Labor Government is a handful of re-badged health clinics that are still months away,’ Senator Ruston said.

‘These clinics have not been delivered on time, they are unlikely to be open for the promised extended hours, and health experts have raised concern that they will not take significant pressure off emergency departments.’

‘Labor is misleading South Australians at a time when they need genuine and urgent support with accessing critical healthcare when they need it.’

This failed mismanagement of Labor’s headline health promise also comes at a time when bulk billing rates have fallen every single month under the Albanese Labor Government.

The latest data showing a total Medicare bulkbilling rate of 77%, and 80.2% for non-referred GP appointments, in the 12 months to June this year.

It is becoming more and more evident that Labor has sold the public a lie.

Under the Albanese Labor Government, less than half of their promised Urgent Care Clinics are operational, bulk billing rates are at the lowest levels since 2013, and it is harder and more expensive to see a doctor.

The Albanese Government is partnering with the Malinauskas Government to deliver for South Australians, today announcing the providers for four Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (Medicare UCCs).

Following an Expression of Interest process the four clinics will be:

• Marion Domain Medical and Dental Centre will be established as the Marion Medicare UCC
• Old Port Road Medical and Dental Centre will be established as the Western Medicare UCC
• Elizabeth Medical and Dental Centre will be established as the Elizabeth Medicare UCC
• Mount Gambier Family Health will be established as the Mount Gambier Medicare UCC.

A fifth Medicare UCC, that will be established in the outer southern suburbs, is in final contract negotiations with an announcement to be made soon.

The South Australian Medicare UCCs will deliver on the Albanese Government’s commitment to make it easier for people in South Australia to get the urgent treatment they need – from highly qualified doctors and nurses – while taking pressure off the local hospitals.

The Medicare UCCs will be open extended hours, seven days a week and offer walk-in care that is fully bulk‑billed.

Over 40 per cent of presentations to South Australian hospitals are for non‑urgent or semi-urgent care.

The South Australian Medicare UCCs are expected to begin opening from October 2023, with all to be open by the end of the year.

The Albanese Government will continue to work closely with Adelaide Primary Health Network, the Country South Australia Primary Health Network and the South Australian Government to support the establishment of these Medicare UCCs.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said:

“We’re delivering 58 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics across Australia – just like we promised at the election.

“These clinics mean South Australians who need urgent but not acute care, can get it quickly even if it’s outside standard hours – and all they’ll need is their Medicare card.

“We’re committed to strengthening Medicare and making it easier and cheaper to get quality healthcare, by tripling the bulk billing incentive and making medicines cheaper.”

Premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas said:

“We know South Australian hospitals, like those across the country, are under significant pressure, and the struggle to get access to GPs is playing a huge part in that.

“The South Australia Medicare UCCs will help take that pressure off, by providing a service that bridges the gap between the day-to-day health care of general practice and acute care of hospitals.

“With this partnership between the Australian and South Australian governments, we are ensuring South Australians have better access to affordable urgent care when they need it.”

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler said:

“We went to the election promising urgent care clinics for South Australia and we are now delivering them.

“The five South Australian Medicare UCCs will make a big difference to patients who will be able to walk in seven days a week and get free urgent care from a nurse or a doctor.

“The clinics will ease pressure on South Australian Hospitals, so that our hard-working doctors and nurses can focus on higher priority emergencies.”

South Australian Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Chris Picton said:

“Being able to get free care at a UCC for urgent, but not life-threatening concerns, will be welcomed by many families and help to reduce pressure on emergency departments.

“Importantly, centres operating extended hours will be very convenient for families and helpful for the health system more broadly.

“I thank the Albanese Government for its investments in these centres, as well as its upcoming increase in bulk billing incentives for targeted groups.

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is the Greens spokesperson for communications & media:

“It is a shockingly bad decision and an indictment on Murdoch. It is a terrifying insight into Lachlan’s plans to entrench his Fox-style news agenda in Australia.

“Putting Tony Abbott on the Fox board is a brazen attack on global efforts to tackle climate change.

“This proves what we all know about the Murdoch’s, they are right wing, climate wreckers. It is no wonder Tony Abbot has been welcomed into the family business.

“We need a Murdoch Royal Commission more than ever.”

Revelations about Home Affairs Secretary Mike Pezzullo’s deeply inappropriate involvement in the political process and contempt for the principle of accountability should prompt his immediate resignation or dismissal, the Greens say.

“Mr Pezzullo’s time as a senior public servant needs to end and it needs to end today,” Greens Immigration and Citizenship spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

“Throughout his time as Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs he has overseen a litany of governance failures and shown complete contempt for the principle of accountability.”

“His brazen attempts to manipulate the political process and his failure to respect the boundaries between politics and the public service mean that his position is untenable.”

“If Mr Pezzullo wants to play in the political sandpit then he should stand for Parliament.”

“The PM needs to set high standards and make it clear what he will and will not stand for. The standard he walks past is the standard he accepts.”

“It was a grievous mistake for Mr Albanese to reappoint Mr Pezullo when he came to office, and he now has the chance to correct the error.” 

“If Mr Pezzullo is not already working on his resignation, then the Prime Minister should demand it or sack him.”

“That must not mean a sideways shuffle, a golden handshake or a cushy diplomatic post.”

The third and final public hearing of the Greens-led Senate inquiry into Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Assessment and Support Services will take place in Melbourne tomorrow, Tuesday 26th September. 

The hearing will invite a range of organisations and individuals to provide evidence to the historic inquiry. Among those scheduled to appear at the hearing are prominent writer and ADHD advocate Em Rusciano and Guardian journalist Matilda Boseley.

Around one in 20 Australians have ADHD, which is widely dismissed and misunderstood despite the significant impairment and dysfunction it can create.

The ADHD hearing will take place on Tuesday September 26 at the Savoy Hotel in Melbourne, with members of the public welcome to attend the full-day event.

The ADHD inquiry’s final report, which includes recommendations to the government, will be published on Wednesday October 18.

Senator Jordon Steele-John, Australian Greens spokesperson on Disability Services, Health and Mental Health said:

“The powerful testimony I’ve heard from the lived experience community over the past few months has confirmed exactly why the ADHD inquiry was so critical to begin with.

“Again and again, I’ve heard that cost, wait time and stigma present huge barriers to people seeking assessment and support services for ADHD in Australia. Again and again, I’ve heard about the immeasurable impact these barriers can have on their lives every single day.

“I’m so proud of how staunchly the ADHD community has pushed for this inquiry and how generous folks have been in sharing with the committee what are often quite distressing experiences.

“I’m also very humbled to support ADHDers and their loved ones to get access to the life-affirming services they need and deserve, and I will continue to do so beyond the life of this inquiry.

“I’m really looking forward to what the third and final hearing of the ADHD inquiry in Melbourne will yield, and I hope to see the community’s experiences properly reflected in the final report to be released next month.”

The Australian Government is extending punitive tariffs on goods imported from Russia and Belarus for a further two years, until October 2025.

Australia is working closely with international partners to impose costs on Russia, through targeted sanctions and trade measures that diminish Russia’s ability to fund its illegal and immoral war in Ukraine.

The additional 35 per cent tariff on Russian imports was first introduced in April 2022. Together with the prohibition on gold and energy imports, it has had a significant impact on trade between our countries.

Imports from Russia fell by over 95 per cent in the second half of last year, compared to the same period in 2021.

Australia again calls on Russia to immediately withdraw its forces from Ukrainian territory and on Belarus to stop supporting Russia’s senseless war.

Australia reiterates our unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, and for the Ukrainian people.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong said:

“The extension of punitive trade measures shows Australia’s unwavering determination to diminish President Putin and Russia’s ability to fund this illegal and immoral war.”

“Russia’s actions against Ukraine’s sovereignty, the rule of law and the UN Charter, are reprehensible.”

Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell said:

“Russia cannot expect to reap the benefits of international trade when its actions violate the international rule of law.

“We are keeping up the economic pressure on Russia and Belarus by extending the application of the additional tariff on goods from these countries for a further 24 months.”

Labor’s Employment White Paper “Working Future” is a missed opportunity from a government that is distracted by a range of issues which aren’t the economy.

Everyone knows the best way to support more jobs is to make it easier for employers to find staff and for Australians out of work to find jobs.

The Coalition wants to see a labour market that removes barriers to get people into jobs.

Labor’s industrial relations reforms will just raise more barriers: big employers are saying this, small businesses are saying it, and gig economy workers are saying it.

If Labor is serious about increasing jobs, they need to listen to the BCA, ACCI, Master Builders and the millions of small businesses screaming out that Labor should rethink these extreme IR reforms.

Instead, this White Paper shows Labor is doubling down on putting more roadblocks up to work through its industrial relations reforms.

This leaves little in this Paper for small business owners.

Labor’s industrial relations reforms will just pile more red tape on small businesses and employers that won’t be good for business, won’t be good for the economy and won’t be good for jobs.

The Coalition has put forward constructive solutions to support Australians into work.

• Allowing pensioners and veterans to work more hours without losing their pension.
• Doubling the income free area for Jobseeker recipients allowing Australians on income support to earn an extra $150 a fortnight before their payments reduce encouraging them back to work and take more shifts.

So far, it’s been disappointing that the government has refused to adopt these measures in full.

We will continue to put forward pro-jobs policies in the lead-up to the next election.

With regards to the immediate items in the Treasurer’s announcement it is disappointing that it has taken $4.7 million of taxpayer funding and a year of work for the Treasurer to come up with a list of re-heated, rehashed and re-announced policies.

When you realise there were more politicians at the press conference than policies in the White Paper, you understand why Australians would be disappointed with yet another costly prime ministerial flop.

Australia’s apprentice and trainee starts have collapsed by 33.5 per cent over the year to December 2022 and nothing in this White Paper is going to fix this total disaster.

Instead of more sideshows and distractions, Australians are crying out for some actual leadership from this Prime Minister. Sadly, it is nowhere to be seen.

What is clear today is that this is a government distracted by the Canberra Voice and whose main priority paying back their biggest donor – the unions.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus must urgently act to give judges in the Federal Circuit and Family Courts protection from being found personally liable in matters over which they preside.

Media reports revealed that some judges have indicated they will refuse to sit on cases until the matter is dealt with by the Attorney-General.

The situation arises following the matter of Stradford (a pseudonym) v Judge Vasta in which Judge Vasta, a judge of Division 2 of the Federal and Family Court was found personally liable in respect to proceedings over which he presided.

Shadow Attorney-General Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash wrote to Mr Dreyfus a week ago asking him to act urgently on the matter and pledging to work constructively with the Government in relation to any legislation required to ensure judges can exercise their judicial functions without fear or favour.

“Attorney General Dreyfus’s inaction means we are now in a situation where some judges may refuse to sit on cases,’’ she said.

“Mr Dreyfus’s incomprehensible refusal to address the issue has put the administration of justice in this country at risk,’’ Senator Cash said.

“It is Australian families who will feel the effects of this incompetence. These matters must be addressed as a matter of urgency,’’ she said.

“In my letter to Mr Dreyfus, for which I have not had a reply as yet, I pointed out that the judgment may have profound implications for the administration of justice in our country,’’ Senator Cash said.

Senator Cash’s letter said: “Immunity from suit serves a critical role in ensuring that a judicial officer can make decisions based on the merits of the case and the application of law.

“It allows a judge to perform their role free from external influences such as a fear of personal liability.

“Members of the judiciary and the legal profession have raised concerns that, following the judgment, there is now significant uncertainty around the limits of judicial immunity, with potential adverse consequences for our legal system.

“In your capacity as First Law Officer, I ask that you urgently progress options to restore certainty to our judiciary—whether legislative or non-legislative.”

The Albanese Government’s failure to conduct a proper inquiry into school closures and other COVID-19 decisions made unilaterally by the States and Territories fails every Australian family.

Labor’s ‘Clayton’s inquiry’ puts the Prime Minister’s political interests ahead of Australia’s national interest.

The closure of schools which caused such damage to young Australians, particularly in Victoria, must be front and centre of any inquiry.

This Labor Government went to the last election on a platform of transparency, yet any inquiry which does not investigate the actions of the States is further proof that Prime Minister Albanese is running a protection racket for his Labor Premier mates.

Families in Melbourne, the most locked-down city in the world, are still suffering from the consequences of Premier Andrews’ decisions to close schools for such long periods which caused widespread harm to the learning, development and mental health of children.

From the shooting of protestors with rubber bullets to the overnight curfew to the closure of borders, workplaces, playgrounds and schools, Victorians endured some of the most extreme pandemic restrictions of any in the world.

At the beginning of the pandemic in Australia, the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, supported by the Coalition Government, advised that schools were safe and should remain open.

The independent Fault Lines report, an independent review into Australia’s response to COVID-19, recommended that schools should have stayed open.

It is critical that Australians learn the lessons of the pandemic and any inquiry without proper powers to engage the States is nothing more than an anti-Coalition witch hunt.

The Albanese and Malinauskas Governments have finalised a grant agreement to develop the Port Bonython Hydrogen Hub near Whyalla, which will create regional jobs and bring Australia another step closer to becoming a renewable energy superpower.

Together, both governments are investing $100 million to develop infrastructure at Port Bonython and prepare it to become South Australia’s first large-scale export terminal for hydrogen.

Along with private sector funding, the redeveloped Port Bonython is expected to host projects worth up to $13 billion and projected to generate as much as 1.8 million tonnes of hydrogen by 2030.

With expanses of available land, abundant solar and wind resources, South Australia is primed to become a world-class, low-cost hydrogen supplier and the SA Government has a comprehensive plan to develop a hydrogen industry in the Spencer Gulf, including through its world leading Hydrogen Jobs Plan, which will include development of a hydrogen electrolyser, power station and storage facility.

The Australian Government, through the Net Zero Economy Agency and review of the National Hydrogen Strategy, will consider what is required to facilitate hydrogen supply chains.

The Australian Government’s vision is to build a clean, innovative, safe and competitive hydrogen industry that benefits all Australians.

The Australian Government is investing over half a billion dollars for regional Hydrogen Hubs including in Pilbara, Kwinana, Gladstone, Townsville, the Hunter, Bell Bay and Upper Spencer Gulf.

The recent Commonwealth Budget allocated $2 billion for a new Hydrogen Headstart program to scale up development of Australia’s renewable hydrogen industry.

This critical new investment is all about making Australia a global leader in green hydrogen, as competition for clean energy investment accelerates around the world.

By 2050, Australia’s hydrogen industry is projected to generate $50 billion in additional GDP and create over 16,000 jobs in regional Australia. The industry is also expected to create an additional 13,000 jobs from the construction of renewable energy infrastructure to power the hydrogen production.

Prime Minister Albanese said:

“We’re working with the Malinauskas Government to develop the Port Bonython Hydrogen Hub, which will support regional jobs and take us a step closer to becoming a renewable energy superpower. 

“The global shift to clean energy and decarbonised economies is a huge economic opportunity for Australia. 

“We are determined to grasp this opportunity and are investing half a billion dollars into regional hydrogen hubs all around Australia.”

Premier Peter Malinauskas said:

“Our state is blessed with the key ingredients the world needs to decarbonise international economies – abundant coincident wind and solar resources, critical minerals, strong renewable energy penetration, and well developed industrial hubs.

“Through our Hydrogen Jobs Plan, my Government is seizing the mantle to produce a world leading hydrogen electrolyser, power plant and storage facility.

“We’re working closely with industry to maximise this opportunity to grow a new industry, which has potential to create thousands of jobs and improve the standard of living for South Australians for generations to come.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said:

“Investing in an Australian green hydrogen industry puts us on a path to become a renewable superpower. 

“Green hydrogen will play a crucial role in our clean energy transformation and will create jobs and spur investment in regional Australia.”

Minister for Energy and Mining Tom Koutsantonis said:

“As the world seeks to decarbonise, hydrogen is emerging as a key commodity for reindustrialisation. 

“The Malinauskas Government has recognised this and we are investing in our Hydrogen Jobs Plan for the future.

“Renewable hydrogen can be used as a reduction gas to decarbonise South Australia’s iron industry – helping fortify our industrial capacity for a zero-carbon future.”