Category: Australian News

New data from the Productivity Commission reveals that this country is still failing to hit more than two-thirds of the Closing the Gap targets. Suicide, adult incarceration, First Nations children in out of home care and developmental milestones are among the targets that are not on track.

“If the Albanese Government has any backbone, they will implement all of the recommendations from the Bringing them Home report and the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.”

“First Nations people are sick of hearing about the continued failures of Closing the Gap, we demand action from this so-called progressive Government who says that Blak Lives Matter.”

“We have the solutions. We’ve known how to Close the Gap for over 30 years.”

“First Nations people are taking their lives because they can’t see a future for themselves in this system. Survivors of the stolen generation are seeing a new generation of our children being stolen. Over 500 people have died in custody since the Royal Commission and no one has been held accountable. It’s devastating.”

“The Joint Council on Closing the Gap shows us that advisory bodies don’t work. Every year, they tell us how bad we’re doing. The Albanese Government needs to listen to the voices that have already spoken and go back to the incredible work that our old people have already done.”

“Everyone does better when we’re free to make our own choices. We can Close the Gap by putting First Nations people in charge of our own communities through Treaty. The area’s where we’re seeing progress shows us that putting First Nations people in the driver’s seat works.”

“The area’s where we’re going backwards are areas that successive Governments have chosen to ignore, for over 30 years. They have the solutions and they choose to ignore them. This is your chance to do the right thing, Labor.”

I have declared the unfolding situation regarding monkeypox (MPX) in Australia to be a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance.

This follows the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring the global situation regarding MPX to be a public health emergency of international concern.

The latest data from 1 January to 28 July 2022 as reported by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) indicates there have been 20,311 MPX cases in 71 countries (including Australia) that have not historically reported MPX.

In Australia, there have been 44 cases – the majority of which have been within returned international travellers.

It is important to note that although I have declared MPX to be a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance, it is far less harmful than COVID-19 and there have been no deaths reported during the current outbreak outside of countries where the virus is endemic.

MPX is also not transmitted in the same way as COVID-19 – and is far less transmissible.

The decision to declare MPX a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance was made under the Emergency Response Plan for Communicable Disease Incidents of National Significance, in consultation with the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee.

Since May, Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care public health experts have engaged with at-risk communities in partnership with key stakeholders and have been working very closely with their counterparts in state and territory health departments to ensure our response to MPX has been swift and coordinated.

The National Incident Centre has been activated to provide enhanced national coordination to assist states and territories to effectively manage the outbreaks within their jurisdictions.

MPX’s rash and flu-like symptoms are relatively mild, and in most cases, resolve themselves within two to four weeks without the need for specific treatments.

Most cases of MPX in Australia have been among people aged 21 to 40 years. The experience internationally and in Australia to date is most cases have been among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.

Although MPX is not usually considered a sexually transmissible infection, physical contact with an infected person during sexual intercourse carries a significant risk of transmission and intimate physical contact such as hugging, kissing and sexual activities represent a risk of infection, with infectious skin sores being the likely mode of transmission.

The rash usually occurs on the face before spreading to other parts of the body, including the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. However, in this outbreak it is being seen especially on the genital and perianal regions of affected people.

The rash can vary from person to person and take on the appearance of pimples, blisters or sores. The flu-like symptoms often include fever, chills, body aches, headaches, swollen lymph nodes and tiredness.

The National Medical Stockpile has available stock of MPX treatments, such as antivirals, for states and territories to access on request.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has updated clinical guidance on vaccination against monkeypox using the ACAM2000 vaccine to include the use of MVA-BN vaccine to prepare for supplies of the third-generation vaccine being made available in Australia.

Further information about monkeypox is available from the Department of Health and Aged Care’s website www.health.gov.au/health-topics/monkeypox-mpx

Inflation figures out today confirm what many families are already feeling – the cost of everything is going up.

The ABS has confirmed The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 1.8 per cent this quarter. Over the twelve months to the June 2022 quarter, the CPI rose 6.1 per cent.

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor said Labor promised cost of living relief during the election campaign but is now telling struggling families they’ll need to wait.

“Families are feeling it at the bowser, in the supermarket, when they pay their power bills and when they renovate their homes,” Mr Taylor said.

“Labor went to the election promising to ease the cost of living, reduce electricity costs and increase real wages but it’s only getting harder for Australian households and the Government has offered no real plan to address these challenges.

“We haven’t seen inflation this high in more than three decades. The Government can make choices to address these pressures. The Treasurer should avoid being complacent about these real pressures on Australians and outline a proactive plan to address inflation.

“Australians are already paying the price for the lack of a Labor plan.”

Shadow Minister for Finance Senator Jane Hume said the Government needed to provide a clear and credible path forward to managing the budget, not just excuses.

“Jim Chalmers says that his statement tomorrow will be outlining why his job is hard. Labor had all the answers during the election campaign, but now at a time when Australians are paying more for their groceries, their petrol and their homes, there are no solutions in sight from the Government,” Senator Hume said.

“Australians are feeling the pinch in their pockets and need more than the same old excuses from Labor to afford basic necessities.

“The International Monetary Fund report released overnight has confirmed that the Government needs to act and plan for the future now.

“The former Coalition Government left Labor with the toolkit to continue Australia’s strong economic position. Record low unemployment, strong GDP growth, historically low interest rates and the largest turn around to the budget bottom line in 70 years.

“Anthony Albanese needs to provide Australians with a plan to help them deal with this cost of living crisis, not a list of excuses.”

The Albanese Labor Government introduced legislation today to deliver our commitments to fix the crisis in aged care, and usher in a new funding model for residential aged care.

The Aged Care Amendment (Implementing Care Reform) Bill 2022 will require a qualified registered nurse to be on site in every residential aged care home 24 hours a day, seven days a week, ensuring older Australians living in residential aged care receive immediate care when needed.

The former Morrison Government ignored the Royal Commission’s recommendation that nursing homes should have a RN on site 24/7.

We are also delivering on our election commitment to improve transparency in the aged care system, with the Bill introducing measures to monitor the costs associated with aged care, placing greater responsibility on providers to be transparent and fair.

This will see the publication of more information about providers’ operations including what they are spending money on.

The legislation also delivers on our election commitment to stop the rorting of Home Care fees, by placing a cap on how much can be charged in administration and management fees.

This means home care users can be confident their money is going directly to care – not the bottom line of providers.

Also introduced today, the Aged Care and Other Legislation Amendment (Royal Commission Response) Bill 2022 contains nine measures to implement urgent reforms to the aged care system, and responds to 17 recommendations of the final report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

The Royal Commission Response Bill provides the legislative framework for the new AN-ACC funding model for residential aged care homes, which will replace the outdated Aged Care Funding Instrument in October 2022.

This framework will offer more equitable funding, better matched to providers’ costs in delivering the care residents need.

It also extends the functions of the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority, which will lead to better price-setting for aged care homes.

Other measures enshrine transparency and accountability of approved providers, and improve quality of care and safety for older Australians receiving aged care services.

This includes the Star Ratings System, which will see the Department of Health and Aged Care publish a comparison rating for all residential aged care services by the end of 2022; an extension of the Serious Incident Response Scheme to all in home care providers from 1 December 2022, meaning increased protection for older Australians from preventable incidents, abuse and neglect; and a new Code of Conduct for approved providers, their workforce and governing persons.

The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese said:

“We are wasting no time getting on with the job with fixing the aged care system.

“The introduction of this legislation is the first step towards delivering new funding, more staff and better support to the sector, while improving transparency and accountability.

“We are using this first sitting week of the 47th Parliament to take important first steps towards fixing aged care and protecting vulnerable Australians, while addressing the challenges in our economy. “

The Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler said:

“We’re delivering on our commitment to putting nurses back into nursing homes and improve transparency in aged care.

“ Every person with a loved one living in residential aged care expects, is the peace of mind in knowing aged care residents have access to clinical care from a qualified, registered nurse when they need it, 24 hours a day, every day.”

“This legislation delivers on the Government’s major reform agenda to protect the safety, dignity and wellbeing of every older Australian accessing aged care services.”

The Minister for Aged Care, Anika Wells said:

“This Implementing Care Reform Bill will put nurses back into nursing homes; it will put a stop to high administration and management fees for home care, which means more dollars go to care and support; and it will improve integrity and accountability for residential aged care homes.”

“We have introduced urgent legislation for a new funding model that will increase funding to aged care providers that was left languishing by the former Government because they couldn’t work with the Senate.”

“This legislation demonstrates our commitment to making public what aged care providers are spending their money on, ensuring a fair and transparent system for our older Australians and their families and carers.”

“24/7 registered nurses in residential aged care is a significant and much needed change to ensure high quality care for older Australians. This will be supported by the initiatives we have in place to grow and boost the skills of aged care nurses.”

“Publishing Star Rating for residential aged care homes will help people meaningfully compare services to make the right choice for themselves or their loved ones”

Over the weekend, four democracy activists in Myanmar were put to death by the military junta, including hip hop artist Phyo Zeya Thaw who had close ties to the diaspora community here in Australia, and protest leader Ko Jimmy. 

According to ABC News “the four men had been accused of helping militias fight the army that seized power in a coup last year and unleashed a bloody crackdown on its opponents.” They had been charged under so-called counter-terrorism laws.

Unfortunately, this is a part of many killings perpetrated by the junta across Myanmar. Extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and serious crack downs on the freedom of expression and the media continue. More than 2,000 people have been killed and more than 14,000 arrested since the military coup in February 2021. 

Greens Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, Senator Jordon Steele-John said:

“It has been over a year and the Australian Government has continually failed to act in supporting the people of Myanmar. Instead, it has been revealed that the Australian embassy has spent $750,000 at a luxury hotel linked to the junta. Rather than uniting in solidarity with the people of Myanmar, the previous Government has effectively been funding the war against them. This is embarrassing, unjustifiable and inexcusable.

“Australia is a country which proudly opposes the death penalty. Minister Wong and Prime Minister Albanese must impose targeted sanctions on the military junta who have led the coup. Countries including the US, UK, Canada and countries in the EU have already acted. We must not continue to fail the people of Myanmar. 

“To the people of Myanmar: My Greens colleagues and I hear your cries for help, and we support you in your struggle for freedom and democracy in your country. The Australian Greens will always champion your democratic rights and freedoms.”

Data released by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) has confirmed the Coalition’s strong record on skills and training, with apprenticeships remaining at record highs in 2021.

The latest data from NCVER shows there were 349,235 apprentices and trainees in-training as at 31 December 2021, 16.8 per cent higher than at the same time in 2020. The number of trade apprentices in-training was also up 12 per cent over the year and hit 216,265, demonstrating numbers were at record highs under the Coalition.

Significantly, NCVER attributed the ongoing strength of the state of the Australian skills sector to the former Coalition Government’s policies when Managing Director Simon Walker said “the number of apprentices and trainees in-training remain higher than in recent years largely as a result of the Australian Government’s Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy.

The Coalition budgeted for ongoing record investment in skills this year including;

• $2.4 billion from 1 July 2022 to upskill apprentices by making employers eligible for 10 per cent wage subsidies in the first two years of hiring a new apprentice and a further 5 per cent in the third year;
• An extra $3.7 billion for skills training that could support an additional 800,000 training places through a new National Skills Agreement, and;
• The Skills and Training Boost, allowing small businesses with annual turnover less than $50 million to access a new bonus 20 per cent deduction for the cost of external training courses delivered by registered training providers.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Industry, Skills and Training Sussan Ley said NCVER’s official update was a warning to the Albanese Government to honour investments for skills, apprenticeships and trainees in full or risk these figures becoming a high-water mark.

“Today’s data demonstrates the Coalition delivered record high numbers of apprentices taking up trades, it shows we got the skills and industry settings right and it is proof-positive that Mr Albanese should keep our policies in place.”

“Mr Albanese’s plans to abolish our construction industry watchdog and balance his budget by cutting skills and industry programs are deeply concerning and will be catastrophic for our country’s efforts to meet the workforce challenges before us.”

Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Industry Sussan Ley is calling on the Albanese Government to rule out tearing up commitments made to Australian manufacturing businesses by the previous government and to honour investments for skills, apprenticeships and trainees in full.

Projects totalling around a billion dollars, funded through the previous government’s $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative, are at risk of being torn up by Ed Husic alongside record investment in skills and training.

Industries include:

• Defence, space and national security
• Recycling and clean energy
• Food security and processing
• Medical Products

A month into a review of the Modern Manufacturing Initiative, grant recipients are in the dark about whether their funding will be ripped away. Companies who were promised millions of dollars in crucial funding, have been waiting since the election for direction and have received no timeframe and no clarity.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Sussan Ley said alarm bells were ringing across Australia’s manufacturing and skills sectors as Labor’s razor gang looks to gut their funding.

“Reports that Mr Albanese is looking to balance the budget on the back of Australian jobs, workers and manufacturing businesses are deeply concerning, and confirm all suspicions that Labor can’t manage money.

“We are talking about boosting sovereign manufacturing capability on everything from defence, to vaccination, to food security and construction – every day Labor refuses to confirm funding certainty for these nationally significant projects is a day Australia falls behind the rest of the world.

“This indecision is putting tens of thousands of jobs at risk, threatening investment certainty, threatening productivity and jeapordising the Australian Government’s reputation as a stable partner to do business with.

“Businesses are relying on the continuity of these commitments to hire apprentices and make investment decisions – make no mistake, if this uncertainty continues, job losses will follow and each one of them will be on Mr Albanese’s head.”

Tony Burke’s announcement today that the powers of the Australian Building Construction Commission would be “pulled back to the bare legal minimum” is a stark reminder of the chaos we can expect in Australia’s building industry under Labor.

Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Senator Michaelia Cash said: “this proves once again that Labor will always capitulate to their paymasters at the CFMMEU”.

“They will do anything to appease the CFMMEU and in doing so will put Australia’s economic recovery at risk,” she said.

“Mr Burke talks about other regulators taking over some of the functions of the ABCC – but where is his plan for this? What exactly is he expecting to be taken over by health and safety regulators or the Fair Work Ombudsman?” she said.

The construction industry is key to Australia’s economic recovery. It is Australia’s 5th largest industry (in terms of GDP), contributing around 7 per cent of GDP, and employs 1.1 million Australians.

The abolition of the ABCC will bring chaos to the building and construction industry – we’ve seen it before.

Working days lost rose from 24,000 in 2011-12 to 89,000 in 2012-13 when Bill Shorten abolished the ABCC. But since the ABCC was re-established by the Coalition in December 2016, the commission has proved effective at tackling union excesses head on.

The cost of critical infrastructure also rose astronomically with crucial projects such as hospitals and school costing up to 30 per cent more.

“We can now expect jobs will be lost, one of the nation’s most militant unions the CFMMEU will run riot, building costs will sky-rocket and large and small businesses will fold,’’ Senator Cash said.

“Who is going to protect workers in the construction industry from thuggish behaviour and who’s going to stop the harassment of women and worse.” she said

“We can now expect women in the construction industry to be increasingly targeted with sexist slurs and physical threats.’’ she said

“Labor will leave this crucial industry and those who work in it unprotected by abolishing the ABCC,’’ she said.

The Government is pleased to announce the creation of a new role, Special Envoy for Disaster Recovery, which will be held by Senator Tony Sheldon.

Senator Sheldon will work alongside Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt, to ensure much-needed support is delivered to communities when natural disasters hit.

A number of natural disasters have impacted parts of Australia in recent years, and we know from experts natural disasters will become more frequent and more severe due to the effects of climate change.

The appointment of Senator Sheldon to the Special Envoy position, as well as the Government’s commitment to establish a new Disaster Ready Fund of up to $200 million a year on mitigation works, is a demonstration of the Albanese Government’s commitment to strengthening emergency management.

The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese said:

“Creating a Special Envoy for Disaster Recovery illustrates how seriously we are taking natural disasters..

Senator Sheldon is someone who has spent his entire working life helping others, and is a strong contributor in our Senate team.

My Government will always take responsibility and stand with Australians – before, during and after a natural disaster.”

The Minister for Emergency Management, Senator Murray Watt said:

“I welcome Senator Sheldon to the role and, having worked closely with him in the Senate, I know he will do a terrific job.

We know that disaster recovery can take a long time, but Senator Sheldon’s appointment will ensure our government is doing all it can to get support where it’s needed, as quickly as possible.

We’ve seen disaster victims feel abandoned in past years and Senator Sheldon’s appointment will help ensure that doesn’t happen in future.”

The Special Envoy for Disaster Recovery, Senator Tony Sheldon said:

“I’m very honoured to take on the new role of Special Envoy for Disaster Recovery.

In my own state of New South Wales, I’ve seen first-hand the trauma created by compounding fires and floods and I will now have the chance to help those affected.

I’m looking forward to strengthening the Albanese Government’s team, to ensure Australians get the support they need, in their darkest hour.”

The first bullet of World War I heralded a calamity on a scale unknown to humanity. The last shot was followed by silence.

As Charles Bean wrote of the eerie quiet that settled along the Western Front:

“The change went too deep for actual rejoicing… The sound of guns ceased – the gates of the future silently opened.”

While many of our soldiers found ways to celebrate, many greeted the peace with their own quiet.

Unlike the children who chalked the walls of village houses with messages celebrating the end of the war, many couldn’t even bring themselves to note it in their diaries.

In the spare words of one Australian digger:

“It was over. That was enough.”

We thank them for the peace that came when the final shell crater had uncurled its final wisp of smoke.

When the sea and the sky were killing grounds no more.

When the last coil of barbed wire had been cut apart or turned to rust.

When the singing of bullets had given way to the song of birds.

When the naked mud had begun to once again be clothed in grass and flowers, hellscapes turned back to meadow and farmland.

When ruin had given way to rebuilding.

But as those who survived the War to End All Wars soon learned: victory in war offers no guarantee of the victory of peace.

Another war came. Another generation of Australians went. And at the end of it, another silence.

It was the silence of guns suddenly stilled, of planes left on the ground, of ships with their cannons lowered.

But it was also the silence of the dead, and the grief of those they left behind.

Each time we honour our fallen with silence, it is a silence that also contains within it the hope that humanity has at last learnt its lesson.

The hope that this will never happen again.

Hope, it must be said, is playing a long game. And hope may yet win out.

But we will keep returning to this silence.

This solemn quiet that holds both endings and beginnings.

Of exhaustion and rebirth, and a belief in humanity that somehow survives and holds on despite everything that is thrown at it.

It is a silence I hope that our courageous, suffering friends in Ukraine will also soon know.

For so many of our veterans, silence is also a shield against the world – an outer stillness while within them, the cacophony of war rages on.

That has been the experience for so many, whether they raised arms against the enemy, or worked desperately to save the lives of the wounded and the dying.

But when that outer silence ends, when that shield is lowered, we must listen.

Listen even to the silence.

Just as our veterans stepped up for us, we must step up for them.

We owe them a debt greater than mere gratitude.

I have stood here before and cited the examples of my great mentor Tom Uren – a giant of the Labor Party – and Sir John Carrick, a giant of the Liberal Party.

Two great Australians who, even amid the deprivation of prisoner of war camps, managed to encapsulate what is best about our national character: that our deepest instinct is to respond to the worst of times by being our best.

As we gather in this place of memory, we honour all those who have gone in our name.
We honour them as the bugler sounds the Last Post.

We honour them as the piper plays The Flowers of the Forest, a lament of stately sadness unsoftened by the passing of centuries.

But in our gratitude and sorrow at their sacrifice, we honour them most profoundly with silence.

Lest we forget.