Category: Australian News

The Commonwealth and Victorian governments have come together to prepare the Centre for National Resilience at Mickleham to provide crisis accommodation for Victorians affected by widespread flooding.

From Tuesday, 250 beds at the Mickleham facility will open to help people whose homes have been inundated. As well as accommodation, residents will be provided with food and support services both on-site and remotely.

The Commonwealth, which built and owns the Mickleham facility, has agreed to its use as crisis accommodation after the centre closed as a quarantine hub last week.

Emergency Management Victoria, Emergency Recovery Victoria (ERV) and COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria (CQV) are working together to stand up the facility, using former quarantine staff and service providers who can get on the ground to start providing support quickly.

The Centre has dedicated car parking onsite for residents, as well as a shuttle bus providing free regular transport to and from Craigieburn train station and the local shopping centre, as well as other short transport requests if residents need.

Unlike the Centre’s time as a quarantine facility, residents will be free to move around the facility, socialise with each other, and come and go as they see fit.

Each room comes complete with toiletries and other necessities, and residents will be provided with three meals each day, and snacks and drinks on arrival. Charities will provide assistance with items like clothing that families may have had to leave behind or lost during the floods.

ERV and CQV will provide colouring books, puzzles, sporting equipment and other children’s activities for residents – making an uncertain and stressful time easier for families, and helping to welcome children to the Centre and reduce the anxiety they will be feeling.

Pets will also be welcome at the Centre, but must be on a leash or in carriers when outside their cabins.

There are also additional services specifically tailored to the new residents’ crisis needs, including Commonwealth assistance through Centrelink and case management service to help Victorians whose properties have been affected by the floods through one easy contact point.

Medical care will be available onsite around the clock – including mental health support, and specific support for any trauma residents may be experiencing as a result of the flooding emergency.

Emergency Management experts toured the facility to assess its possible use during a disaster earlier this year – and Victoria has been working closely with the Federal Government to ensure the hub could be activated quickly if needed.

Responders on the ground in flood zones will help determine who is most in need of accommodation at the centre – and from Monday, Emergency Management Victoria’s support service on 1800 560 760. will help refer anyone who needs immediate shelter as soon as they make contact.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “We’re ensuring Victorians can have a safe roof over their heads immediately following a major flood event.”

“We have not hesitated to make the Centre for National Resilience available in this time of crisis.”

“We will be on hand to help in any way we can during this crisis and in its aftermath.”

Premier Daniel Andrews thanked the Commonwealth Government for working with Victoria to ensure flood affected Victorians could quickly access crisis accommodation and financial support to help them through this challenging time.

“We thank the Albanese Government for working with us to quickly ensure flood-affected Victorians will have a safe, comfortable place to sleep, and food on the table,” Mr Andrews said.

“As we’ve always said – we wish we didn’t need to use the hub, but we’re grateful it’s here to support Victorians who have been so profoundly affected by this flooding event.”

“Whether it’s crisis accommodation or financial support for families doing it tough, we’ll do everything we can to support Victorians while the waters are still rising, and long after they’ve receded.”

The Australian Government has moved quickly to support people in Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales affected by the ongoing extensive flooding, making disaster assistance payments for individuals available across an additional 44 Local Government Areas.

In Victoria, the Disaster Recovery Allowance is available to people in the 23 LGAs of Alpine, Benalla, Buloke, Campaspe, Central Goldfields, Corangamite, Gannawarra, Greater Bendigo, Greater Shepparton, Hepburn, Horsham, Loddon, Macedon Ranges, Mansfield, Maribyrnong, Mitchell Shire, Moira, Moonee Valley, Murrindindi, Northern Grampians, Pyrenees, Strathbogie and Wangaratta.

The Disaster Recovery Allowance has been made available to assist employees and sole traders who experience a loss of income as a direct result of a major disaster and is payable for a maximum of 13 weeks. DRA is taxable.

In Tasmania, the Disaster Recovery Allowance is available to people in the 17 LGAs of Break O’Day, Burnie, Central Coast, Central Highlands, Circular Head, Devonport, Dorset, Flinders, George Town, Kentish, Latrobe, Launceston, Meander Valley, Northern Midlands, Waratah-Wynyard, West Coast and West Tamar.

In New South Wales, the Disaster Recovery Allowance is available to people in the additional 4 LGAs of Central Coast, Coonamble, Goulburn-Mulwaree and Parkes, bringing the total number of NSW LGAs receiving support from the Australian Government for this event to 31.

In addition, in recognition of the number of homeowners affected in particular LGAs, the one-off, non-means tested Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment of $1000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child is available to people who live in the Victorian LGAs of Campaspe, Greater Shepparton, Maribyrnong, Mitchell and Strathbogie and in the Tasmanian LGAs of Central Coast, Kentish and Meander Valley, who have suffered a significant loss as a result of the floods, including a severely damaged or destroyed home or a serious injury.

Equivalent financial assistance will also be available to eligible New Zealand citizens (‘non-protected’ Special Category Visas, subclass 444 holders) affected by the floods.

Claims are available to be made from 2pm Sunday and they can be made 24 hours a day.

For information on eligibility and how to apply, visit the Services Australia website: www.servicesaustralia.gov.au.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said:

“It’s heartbreaking to think that for many people this is the third or fourth time in 18 months that their lives have been disrupted by a natural disaster of this magnitude.”

“Over the last few years our resilience has been tested time and time again, and many people are doing it tough.”

“I want everyone in a flood affected region to know that the Commonwealth stands ready and committed to provide support now and through the recovery.”

Bill Shorten, Minister for Government Services said:

“These are the toughest of times for people and we want to help communities get back on their feet.”

“This is a modest payment to help flood victims doing it hard.”

“Services Australia’s priority is to help people to access essential disaster assistance, and staff have been mobilised to provide on-the-ground support.”

“People affected by the flooding can check their eligibility for Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment and Disaster Recovery Allowance on the Services Australia website at servicesaustralia.gov.au/disasterevents, before lodging a claim for assistance.”

“The easiest way to claim is online through my.gov.au. Online claiming is available 24×7. Claims can be submitted from 2pm Sunday.”

“If people need additional support to claim, they can call the Australian Government Emergency Information Line on 180 22 66 from 2pm Sunday.”

Murray Watt, Minister for Emergency Management said:

“This is a very serious situation across multiple states and the Albanese Government has worked closely with state and local authorities to make financial help available as swiftly as possible.

“We know that there may be more communities impacted by these flooding events over the coming days.

“As the full extent of the damage starts to become more apparent, we will keep working to provide assistance when it’s needed.”

The Greens welcome the Albanese government’s announcement to extend Paid Parental Leave (PPL) to 26 weeks with shared care, but will continue to call on the government to increase it to be paid at a replacement wage, with super, and immediately.

Greens deputy leader and spokesperson on women Senator Larissa Waters said:

“Australia has one of the weakest parental leave schemes globally; yes it should be paid for longer, but without super, or an increase to the amount paid, women are still losing out. And phasing this in over four years is an insult when women have waited for over a decade for decent paid parental leave. 

“Women deserve fair PPL, and immediately – it improves their economic security, reduces the gender pay gap, increases the likelihood of mothers returning to work.

“Experts and business groups are united in their calls for fairer PPL for its economic and social benefits – now, not staggered over the next six years.

“Fairer paid parental leave is a no-brainer that benefits everyone – parents, children and the economy. And if we scrap the Stage 3 tax cuts, we can easily afford it.

“Labor needs to decide if they are a government for the rich or for women”, concluded Senator Waters.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic toured ABC Refinery in Marrickville today and viewed the iconic Melbourne Cup trophy.

ABC Refinery is part of Pallion which employs more than 300 people in Marrickville, and hundreds more across Australia, processing, refining and working precious metals.

Pallion employs metallurgists, chemists, assayers, engineers, traders, jewellers and gold and silver smiths.

Pallion refine and manufacture billions of dollars of precious metals each year, including gold bars and coins, jewellery items, through to trophies including the Melbourne Cup.

The Melbourne Cup is mined, processed, refined, crafted and manufactured by highly trained goldsmiths here in Australia – not one element in this process occurs overseas.

Australia is the second largest gold producer in the world, with gold our fifth-largest export commodity, valued at $23 billion in 2021-22. Our gold production was 308 tonnes in 2021-22, and is forecast to reach 331 tonnes in 2022-23.

An Albanese Government will rebuild our proud manufacturing industry through our Future Made in Australia policy.

As part of that policy, we want to take the raw minerals we mine and value add by using local highly trained workers, before we export to the rest of the world.

The Albanese Government will establish the National Reconstruction Fund to provide finance to support projects that create secure well-paid jobs, drive regional development, and invest in our national sovereign capability, broadening and diversifying Australia’s economy.

Our policies will support local jobs, create training and apprenticeship opportunities in key industries and show the world the value of Australian manufacturing.

PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE said:

“Pallion is a great local business, right here in my electorate, that employs hundreds of local workers and delivers top quality unique products including the iconic Melbourne Cup.

“The Melbourne Cup trophy is mined, refined and manufactured right here in Australia – not one part of this process occurs overseas.

“This is the definition of Australian made and shows what we can achieve when we back Australian businesses.

“Through our ‘A Future Made in Australia’ policy, we will strengthen local manufacturing and create good, secure jobs for Australians.”

MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY AND SCIENCE ED HUSIC said:

“A Future Made in Australia means investing in a future for all Australians.

“The Albanese Labor Government backs local businesses. Pallion is a prime example of self-sufficient manufacturing right here in Australia, based on our resources and our renowned know-how.

“The National Reconstruction Fund will be central to rebuilding our industrial base. It will show faith in Australian ideas, Australian manufacturing and deliver secure, well-paid jobs in the cities and the regions.”

The Albanese Labor Government will deliver the biggest boost to Australia’s Paid Parental Leave scheme since it was created by the former Labor Government in 2011, giving every family with a new baby more choice, greater security and better support.

Labor will add an additional six weeks of Paid Parental Leave (PPL) for families, bumping the total leave payable up to 26 weeks. A full six months.

Increasing PPL was one of the most frequent proposals raised by participants at the successful Jobs and Skills Summit in September. The Albanese Government has listened, has continued to consult and will now act to extend PPL to boost productivity, boost the economy and increase the time parents have with their newborns.

Families will have access to more leave and enjoy greater flexibility, with extended PPL able to be taken in blocks between periods of paid work. Single parents will be entitled to the full leave payable so their children don’t miss out.

Importantly, the government will maintain “use it or lose it” weeks to encourage and facilitate more dads and partners to access PPL, so that both parents can share in those precious early days and share the caring responsibilities more equally.

Labor made commitments around gender equality during the Federal Election and we are determined to deliver on them.

This reform has a significant benefit to families, and is an investment in women’s economic equality and in the broader Australia economy.

The Government will introduce reforms to modernise the system and improve flexibility from July next year. From 1 July 2024, the Government will start expanding the scheme with two additional weeks a year until the scheme reaches its full 26 weeks from July 2026.

The inaugural Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce, chaired by Sam Mostyn AO, will examine the optimal model for 26 weeks and what mix of flexible weeks and use it or lose it component for each parent will deliver the best outcome for families and encourage more shared parenting.

Further detail of this important measure will be released on Budget night.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said “This is a modern policy to support modern families. We know that investing in parental leave benefits our economy. It is good for productivity and participation, it’s good for families and it’s good for our country as a whole”.

“More generous and more flexible paid parental leave rewards aspiration and provides every parent of a new baby with greater choice and better support.”

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said boosting women’s workforce participation and encouraging more dads to take parental leave was a priority for the Government.

“This will benefit mums, it will benefit dads, it’s good for children, and it will be a huge boost to the economy,” Minister Rishworth said.

“We know that treating parenting as an equal partnership helps to improve gender equality.

“It is important that we have a Paid Parental Leave scheme that supports modern Australian families and that complements other parental leave schemes offered by a growing number of employers.”

Minister for Women and Minister for Finance, Senator Katy Gallagher said that this investment in families would not only boost individual choice but would have flow on benefits to the broader economy.

“The issue of increased flexibility and access to Paid Parental Leave was consistently raised at the Jobs and Skills Summit and today’s announcement is evidence that the Albanese Labor Government has listened and taken action to deliver for Australian families.”

“Having a child shouldn’t be an economic barrier for families or indeed act as a handbrake on the broader economy.

“Right now, this burden is borne disproportionately by women but we know that good women’s policy is also good economic policy and this decision is evidence of that,” Minister Gallagher concluded.

Public submissions are invited to inform the design of Australia’s new international development policy, announced by the Foreign Minister at the United Nations General Assembly.

The Government is designing a new policy to set the long-term direction for Australia’s Official Development Assistance, which is being increased by more than $1 billion over four years.

The policy will deliver on Australia’s commitment to work in partnership with our neighbours to achieve a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

It will also see Australia contribute to a global system that can help meet present and future development needs.

The Government is listening to the priorities of our partners and seeking their ideas on how we can work together to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Public submissions to inform the design of the new policy can be made until 30 November 2022.

More information, including the Terms of Reference and submissions process are available on the DFAT website.

The first hearing of the Greens’ led Senate inquiry into the nature and extent of poverty and cost of living pressures in Australia begins on Thursday in Melbourne. 

The inquiry will hear from community organisations and those experiencing disadvantage with the first hearing focused particularly on housing.

On the first day of anti poverty week Greens spokesperson for social services, Senator Janet Rice, is calling for a raise of all income support. 

Senator Rice said:

“The theme for anti-poverty week this year is halving child poverty by 2030. 

“Poverty is a political choice and currently one in six kids are living in poverty in Australia. No parent should have to wonder how they’re going to pay the rent, feed their kids this week or afford new school shoes that their kids desperately need. Currently income support payments are up to $40 a day below the poverty line, and there are 300,000 female single parents relying solely on Centrelink as their source of income.

“Poverty is a political choice and the Labor Government is choosing tax cuts for the wealthy instead of making life easier for these families. 

“The Greens are calling on Labor to raise the rate of all income support payments above the poverty line and provide people with a guaranteed liveable income. 

“Everyone deserves the right to live in safety with a roof over their head, food in their cupboard, medical care and hot showers. Families are having to decide which of these they will have to sacrifice right now. The Labor Government can change this through a guaranteed liveable income.

Parliamentary poverty inquiry first hearing this Thursday 20th October

Senator Rice said:

“Poverty is impacting so many Australians and it is only getting worse. With skyrocketing rents, interest rate rises, and months of inflation, so many are struggling to get by. From not being able to afford nutritious food, an education, housing, the resources to get a job, this is having a significant impact on their physical health and mental wellbeing.

“This inquiry will hold wide-ranging hearings across the country. It’s about time we heard from the people who have been forced to rely on woefully inadequate payments to have their voices heard, and take that evidence into Parliament.

“There are over 120,000 people waiting for a safe, affordable home in Victoria. The first inquiry hearing this Thursday will give a voice to some of those people.”

More than 400,000 low-paid workers in key industries will take home a bigger pay slip from today, thanks to a 4.6 per cent increase to minimum wages under their awards.

Industries in which workers are set to benefit include hospitality, tourism and aviation, with full-time workers seeing a minimum $40 extra per week.

It will be the first pay cycle for many workers set to get a bump in pay after the change came into effect on 1 October.

Workers under 111 other awards received their pay rise in July.

Supporting a minimum wage increase was a promise the Albanese Government took to the election, and one of its key priorities on taking office.

Boosting workers’ pay is a critical step to tackling cost of living pressures, alongside cheaper child care and medicines.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said:

“My Government is focused on tackling the spiralling cost of living that is making life tough for too many Australians.

“That’s why we put forward a submission to the Fair Work Commission to increase the wages of people who are on the minimum wage and successfully argued for the result, which was a 5.2 per cent increase.

“We must get wages rising again and make health care, child care and housing more affordable, while we work to grow the economy.

“This Government will deliver a future where no one is held back and no one is left behind.”

Quotes attributable to Treasurer Jim Chalmers:

“We are working around the clock to get wages moving again.

“Wage suppression was a deliberate design feature of the former Government’s economic policy – that era is well and truly over.

“We’ll continue to fight for more secure jobs and better pay for workers. This month’s Budget will take forward initiatives from the Jobs and Skills Summit to build a bigger, better trained and more productive workforce, creating opportunities for more Australians.”

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Tony Burke said:

“This pay rise is higher than it otherwise would have been because – for the first time in nearly a decade – the Federal Government actually argued in favour of a pay rise.

“Many low-paid workers are young, female, in casual employment, and are far more likely to find themselves experiencing financial hardship.

“Many of these same workers were at the frontline of our pandemic response, keeping our supply chains moving and delivering essential services during the pandemic.

“Workers like these deserved this pay rise. And we’re going to keep fighting for them.”

Additional background:

More than 2.7 million workers, covered by the combined July and October award increases, will receive a pay bump due to the Fair Work Commission decision.

Pay rise broken down by States/Territory:

STATE	NO. OF WORKERS TO RECEIVE A PAY RISE
New South Wales	1,048,000
Victoria	546,100
Queensland	466,900
South Australia	227,200
Western Australia	234,200
Tasmania	75,900
Northern Territory	22,000
Australian Capital Territory	39,400

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is pleased to announce that the Governor-General has made four appointments to the Council for the Order of Australia on the Government’s recommendation.

Reconciliation advocate, Ms Shelley Reys AO, has been appointed Chair of the Council for the Order of Australia.

Ms Reys is a Djirribul woman of Far North Queensland and will be the first woman and First Nations woman to be appointed Chair of the Council. She has significant governance experience through previous roles as the inaugural Co-Chair of Reconciliation Australia and Vice Chair of the National Australia Day Council.

Ms Reys is currently a Board member of KPMG Australia, the Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (Brisbane 2032) and Chair of her own firm, Arrilla Indigenous Consulting.

Ms Annie Butler, Ms Cathy McGowan AO and Professor Samina Yasmeen AM have been appointed to the Council as community representatives.

Ms Butler is an experienced registered nurse and was appointed Federal Secretary of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation in 2018.

Ms McGowan was the independent Federal Member for Indi, from 2013 to 2019, former Chair of Regional Women’s Advisory Council and past president of Women in Agriculture.

Professor Yasmeen is a researcher and teacher at the University of Western Australia, and director and founder of the University’s Centre for Muslim States and Societies.

Australia is a proudly diverse country and the appointments of Ms Reys, Ms Butler, Ms McGowan and Professor Yasmeen means the Council for the Order of Australia is more reflective of our diversity, with all four of the women appointed having close links to the community.

The Council makes recommendations to the Governor-General for appointments and awards to the Order of Australia.

Appointments to the Council are made by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd).

Prime Minister Albanese said:

“I am proud to recommend Ms Reys, Professor Yasmeen, Ms Butler and Ms McGowan to the Council for the Order of Australia and congratulate them on their appointments.

“Australia is a proudly diverse country and it’s important the Council represents our community.

“Ms Reys will be the first Indigenous woman appointed to the role of Council Chair, while Professor Yasmeen, Ms Butler and Ms McGowan bring their own diverse backgrounds and perspectives to their new roles.

“I would like to thank the outgoing members for their significant contribution to the Australian community.”

Biographical information on the recommended appointees:

Ms Shelley Reys AO – Chair

• Ms Reys was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2012 for distinguished service to the Indigenous community, reconciliation and social inclusion.
• She shares a passion for helping the Australian workforce to work in First Nations and reconciliation spaces with greater skill and confidence.
• Her vision is to create a culturally competent Australia, one workplace at a time. Ms Reys is an advocate for improving educational, health and employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Ms Reys is also the CEO of Arrilla Indigenous Consulting, Partner and Board member of KPMG Australia and Board Member of the Brisbane Organising Committee for the Olympic Games 2032.

Professor Samina Yasmeen AM – Community representative

• Professor Yasmeen was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2014 for significant service to international relations as an academic, adviser and social welfare advocate.
• Professor Yasmeen was born in Pakistan. She is a researcher and teacher at the University of Western Australia, School of Social Sciences and director and founder of the University’s Centre for Muslim States and Societies.

Ms Annie Butler – Community representative

• Ms Butler was appointed Assistant Federal Secretary of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation in 2014 and Federal Secretary in 2018.
• Ms Butler is an experienced registered nurse and is passionate about improving Australian healthcare.

Ms Cathy McGowan AO – Community representative

• Ms McGowan was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for service to the community by raising awareness about issues affecting women in regional, rural and remote communities.
• Ms McGowan was the independent Federal Member for Indi, from 2013 to 2019. She was the former Chair of Regional Women’s Advisory Council and past president of Women in Agriculture.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic toured ABC Refinery in Marrickville today and viewed the iconic Melbourne Cup trophy.

ABC Refinery is part of Pallion which employs more than 300 people in Marrickville, and hundreds more across Australia, processing, refining and working precious metals.

Pallion employs metallurgists, chemists, assayers, engineers, traders, jewellers and gold and silver smiths.

Pallion refine and manufacture billions of dollars of precious metals each year, including gold bars and coins, jewellery items, through to trophies including the Melbourne Cup.

The Melbourne Cup is mined, processed, refined, crafted and manufactured by highly trained goldsmiths here in Australia – not one element in this process occurs overseas.

Australia is the second largest gold producer in the world, with gold our fifth-largest export commodity, valued at $23 billion in 2021-22. Our gold production was 308 tonnes in 2021-22, and is forecast to reach 331 tonnes in 2022-23.

An Albanese Government will rebuild our proud manufacturing industry through our Future Made in Australia policy.

As part of that policy, we want to take the raw minerals we mine and value add by using local highly trained workers, before we export to the rest of the world.

The Albanese Government will establish the National Reconstruction Fund to provide finance to support projects that create secure well-paid jobs, drive regional development, and invest in our national sovereign capability, broadening and diversifying Australia’s economy.

Our policies will support local jobs, create training and apprenticeship opportunities in key industries and show the world the value of Australian manufacturing.

PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE said:

“Pallion is a great local business, right here in my electorate, that employs hundreds of local workers and delivers top quality unique products including the iconic Melbourne Cup.

“The Melbourne Cup trophy is mined, refined and manufactured right here in Australia – not one part of this process occurs overseas.

“This is the definition of Australian made and shows what we can achieve when we back Australian businesses.

“Through our ‘A Future Made in Australia’ policy, we will strengthen local manufacturing and create good, secure jobs for Australians.”

MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY AND SCIENCE ED HUSIC said:

“A Future Made in Australia means investing in a future for all Australians.

“The Albanese Labor Government backs local businesses. Pallion is a prime example of self-sufficient manufacturing right here in Australia, based on our resources and our renowned know-how.

“The National Reconstruction Fund will be central to rebuilding our industrial base. It will show faith in Australian ideas, Australian manufacturing and deliver secure, well-paid jobs in the cities and the regions.”