Category: Australian News

Critical medical supplies should be made in Australia – and the Australian Government should be buying Australian-made medical supplies.
A Labor Government will increase Australia’s sovereign manufacturing capacity in medical essentials, like testing equipment, masks, PPE and ventilators.
We will achieve this in two ways:

• We will give first priority to Australian made medical technology for Government purchases in consumables and equipment.
• We will instruct the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund to make medical technology a top priority and work with the Future Made in Australia Office to develop a national investment plan for health care essentials, which will identify what needs to be made in Australia and how to make that happen.

The fact that we are three years into the pandemic and still face shortages on critical needs like Rapid Antigen Tests is an indictment of a government that has failed Australians.
At every stage of this pandemic, experts warned Mr Morrison of what was on the horizon, and every time he failed to listen and failed to act.
Mr Morrison makes the same mistakes over and over, but he is too arrogant to learn from them – and it’s Australians who wear the consequences.
His insistence on letting the market decide means Australians are forced to count on overseas producers and unreliable supply chains for basic medical equipment – and are still facing shortages as a result.
We need to re-build our medical and pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity in this country – but the government that drove out car manufacturing will never be a government that delivers on domestic medical supply manufacturing.
Labor’s approach will give homegrown industry the certainty to invest and grow, meaning more jobs, more exports, better health and greater self-reliance.
Australia has innovative businesses and some of the world’s best scientists. When government backs them and gives our workforce a chance to shine, we know they’ll deliver.
If we don’t invest in making things here, we will always rely on others in a crisis.
While this is about shoring up our long-term self-reliance, we also call on the Morrison-Joyce Government to act now to help Australian companies access the resources they need to gain approvals for Australian made tests.
It just doesn’t make sense that our manufacturers are exporting tests that have been approved in the United States, while we struggle to secure imports for ourselves.

Anthony Albanese’s promise to support the Health Services Union Fair Work Commission case for a 25 per cent wage increase for aged care would provide a massive boost to the workforce, support attraction and retention of staff and improve quality of care.
HSU National President, Gerard Hayes said:
“The great unresolved crisis in aged care is wages. Until the Commonwealth Government commits to pay aged care workers a decent wage this crisis will only get worse.
“Today we see a clear difference emerge between the major parties. Mr Albanese’s declaration of support for the HSU case to lift aged care wages is hugely significant.
“In the short term it will lift the spirits of aged care workers. But in the longer term we need to lift wages to allow more workers to stay in the industry and stem the short staffing crisis.
“We’re into our third year of this pandemic and an exhausted aged care workforce who can earn more stacking shelves in a supermarket are barely holding on.
“Scott Morrison and Richard Colbeck have been warned that staff shortages are at catastrophic levels but it seems the cricket takes precedence.”

A Labor Government will invest $150 million to build the Camerons Lane Interchange at Beveridge, helping create thousands of jobs and unlocking the potential of Melbourne’s North.
Under Labor’s plan, the full diamond interchange with the Hume Highway will transform Melbourne’s North – with the potential for more than 30,000 homes and up to 20,000 jobs across the region, according to estimates from the Mitchell Shire Council.
During construction alone, this project will create up to 2,000 direct and indirect jobs and support significant growth in housing, health and education opportunities right across Beveridge and surrounds.
For too long, the Morrison-Joyce Government has neglected Melbourne’s North – failing to deliver a single commitment for the people of McEwen despite multiple promises over nine years.
Of the $150 million committed by Labor, we will reserve $10 million to commence the detailed planning work for this project before construction gets underway- planning ahead to ensure we’re building a better future.

Anthony Albanese, Leader of the Australian Labor Party said:

“This interchange is essential to the future of this region: without it, future economic and residential growth at Beveridge will be left at a standstill and the future of the region will be held back.
When complete, this project will help locals across Melbourne’s North spend less time on the road and more time at home, as well as opening the door to the job opportunities of the future.
This is all part of Labor’s plan to deliver a better life to working families across Australia and ensuring we can have a future made in Australia.
The Camerons Lane Interchange will create local jobs, create homes and create new opportunities in the region supporting significant growth, and greater opportunities for local health and education.
Labor is committed to supporting the future of this region, to provide key opportunities to those areas which have been impacted by COVID-19 and this $150 million investment is a part of that commitment.”

Catherine King, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development said:

“Labor’s infrastructure investments are about creating jobs and allowing locals to spend more time at home and less on the road. 
“This investment will help unlock the next generation of jobs across Melbourne’s North, creating a better life for locals.”

Rob Mitchell, Member for McEwen said:

“Today’s announcement removes the roadblock for the development of jobs, education and community development in our region.
Delivering this vital project will unlock jobs and housing opportunities in our region for the following decades. This interchange is the key piece needed to open a new chapter of development and prosperity for Melbourne’s North.
Labor is committed to investing in projects that support communities through the recovery from the impacts of COVID-19 and provide substantial economic, social and environmental benefits in the long term.”

Queensland Senator Larissa Waters said:
“A belated cash splash on the Great Barrier Reef is a joke from a government that has turbo charged the climate crisis imperilling the Reef by giving billions to fossil fuels and backing new coal and gas.
“Climate policy is the most important factor in saving the Reef and the government’s policy is crap.
“Under Scott Morrison’s leadership, Australia played a spoiler role at the climate summit in Glasgow, holding the entire world back from achieving the emissions reduction we need to slow global heating.
“This is a pathetic attempt to shore up Queensland regional seats but if this is to save tourism it’s too late. Cairns tourism operators needed JobKeeper for much longer.
“Everyone in Queensland knows Scott Morrison has been wrecking the reef for years. This cash splash is a distraction from his myriad failures on the climate crisis.
“We need to phase out coal by 2030, and the only chance we have at that is by kicking out this appalling government and putting the Greens in balance of power.”
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson for Environment and Water said:
“No matter how hard Scott Morrison wants to spin this, he can’t save the Reef while making climate change worse.
“Pollution from coal, oil and gas needs to be cut if the  Reef is to have any chance of survival.
“Our environment is in crisis and the Great Barrier Reef is at top of the list of casualties. We need genuine action not just lip service. Spending $1 billion of the reef over the next decade, while handing out over $220 million to open new gas wells in the Beetaloo Basin makes no sense!”
Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, Greens spokesperson for Healthy Oceans said:
“The science is simple: burning fossil fuels leads directly to warming oceans which are destroying coral reefs and other marine ecosystems.
“Giving a billion dollars to ‘save the reef’ while approving new coal mines and gas projects that are killing the reef is simply a sick joke.
“The Reef is on life support and Sussan Ley is offering a cup of herbal tea. She is doing nothing to address the root cause of the sickness and expects Australians and the international community to fall for this tragic deception.”

The Federal Government has today invested more than $5 million to boost training opportunities in rural and remote Western Australia for up-and-coming nurses and allied health professionals.
Federal Regional Health Minister, Dr David Gillespie and Federal Member for Durack, The Hon. Melissa Price MP said the $5 million investment will boost student training in allied health and aged care careers and provide increased access to care for rural and remote patients in WA.
“I continue to work hard every day to improve access to high quality regional education. Opportunities like this Morrison Government investment is another great example and outcome for health care and aged care training and employment in Durack, through the Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training (RHMT) program,” Ms Price said.
“This announcement for Carnarvon, Roebourne and the surrounding remote Aboriginal communities of Cheeditha and Mingullatharndo will greatly benefit those areas directly, but it will also provide more health workers right across rural and remote WA. The recent opening of Carnarvon’s new aged care facility Gnullingoo Mia, will provide the ideal environment for students to learn on the job,” she said.
Federal Regional Health Minister, Dr David Gillespie said research shows that health and medicine students who train in the regions are more likely to stay and practice there once qualified.
“As a former regional doctor, I know this is true, which is why the Coalition Government is investing heavily in increasing rural training opportunities to further boost our regional and rural workforce,” Dr Gillespie said.
Ms Price said the funding includes:
• A grant of close to $2.2 million to create the Roebourne Remote Health and Social Care Training Hub to increase allied health, social care and nursing student training opportunities in Roebourne and the surrounding Aboriginal communities of Cheeditha and Mingullatharndo; and
• A grant of nearly $3 million to establish the Western Australian Centre for Rural Health Aged Care Training Program in Carnarvon.
Partnering with the WA Country Health Service, and the University of Western Australia will develop placement programs for nursing and a broad range of allied health disciplines with the overall aim of addressing workforce issues and gaps in services.

Federal and NSW Labor will commit $25 million to an Emergency Operations Precinct in Moruya, including a much needed Emergency Operations Centre.
In a region stretching from Batemans Bay to the Victorian border, thousands of locals face bushfires and floods every year. They deserve to be protected by governments who plan ahead, prepare for the worst and respond quickly when disasters strike.
The Emergency Operations Precinct, to be based in Moruya, would include an Emergency Operations Centre to ensure the community is better prepared and protected from future bushfire and flood risks.
Currently, disaster response in the region is coordinated from separate sites, including a temporary facility in the local RSL hall.
A single, purpose-built operations centre will help local emergency services personnel plan for and respond to disasters more efficiently, potentially saving lives and properties across the region.
Reviews into the tragic 2019/2020 Black Summer bushfires have shown a purpose-built emergency services precinct is needed.
Federal Labor Leader, Anthony Albanese said, “Thousands of Australians who face bushfires, floods and cyclones every year deserve to be protected by a Federal Government who plans ahead and invests to keep them safe.
“These investments will literally save lives, not to mentioned the taxpayers’ funds that have to be spent on recovery and repairs when disasters hit.”
“In remembering the horrific summer of 2019/2020, we owe it to this community to ensure all possible resilience and protection efforts are taken to prevent those same experiences ever tearing a community apart again,” said NSW Labor leader Chris Minns.
“We may not be able to control natural disasters, but we do have the ability to minimise their impact and to ensure coordinated responses.”
Member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips said, “For more than eight years the message from local residents, Eurobodalla Shire Council, emergency services workers and volunteers has been, whilst much loved, the Moruya RSL Hall is not fit for purpose as an emergency management centre.
“Labor’s commitment will ensure that locals are better protected from the natural disasters we know are coming.”
Dr Michael Holland, NSW Labor candidate for Bega said, “This precinct will be critical in providing support to emergency services and the community the next time natural disasters strike.
“But, it should not have to take a by-election for the NSW Government to act. This community deserves better”.
Labor’s commitment stands in stark contrast to the Morrison Government’s failure to plan for future disasters.
In 2019, the Morrison Government established a $4 billion Emergency Response Fund (ERF), which has since earned over $750 million in interest, but has not built a single disaster prevention project.
Only Labor will build a better future for disaster prone communities.

The Morrison Government will invest an additional $1 billion in protecting the Great Barrier Reef, while supporting 64,000 Queenslanders and their jobs which drive the Reef economy.
New funding will back world leading marine science, the deployment of new climate adaptation technology, major investments in water quality programs, and state of the art on-water management practices to reduce threats from Crown of Thorns Starfish, protect key species and prevent illegal fishing.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the new investment would extend the Federal Government’s investment under the Reef 2050 Plan to more than $3 billion.
“We are backing the health of the reef and the economic future of tourism operators, hospitality providers and Queensland communities that are at the heart of the reef economy,” Prime Minister Morrison said.
“This is already the best managed reef in the world and today we take our commitment to a new level.
“Funding will support scientists, farmers and Traditional Owners, backing in the very latest marine science while building resilience and reducing threats from pollution in our oceans and predators such as the Crown of Thorns starfish.”
The additional $1 billion package over the next nine years includes:

• $579.9 million for water quality – working constructively with land managers to remediate erosion, improve land condition and reduce nutrient and pesticide runoff.
• $252.9 million for reef management and conservation – additional support for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to reduce threats from Crown of Thorns Starfish (COTS), implement advanced health monitoring systems and the prevent illegal fishing.
• $92.7 million to research and deploy world leading reef resilience science and adaptation strategies.
• $74.4 million for Traditional Owner and community-led projects including species protection, habitat restoration, citizen science programs and marine debris.

Environment Minister Sussan Ley said the record level of investment in the Reef was being driven by the best science and engagement with local communities and industries, and through working with Traditional Owners.
“From breakthrough science in coral seeding and restoration, to improved water quality, the latest on water management and compliance systems, as well as the protection of native species, we are working across every aspect of the reef,” Minister Ley said.
“Our farmers, tourism operators, and fishers are our reef champions and we are supporting them through practical water and land based strategies that will contribute significantly to the health of the reef.”
Federal Member for Leichhardt and Special Envoy for the Great Barrier Reef Warren Entsch said the Morrison Government was working hand in hand with Reef communities.
“The people in Cairns and Far North Queensland care about the Reef more than anyone,” Mr Entsch said.
“Our tourism operators, local communities and Traditional Owners are invested in the health of the Reef and this funding supports their commitment and the future of the world’s greatest natural wonder.
“The Reef is an amazing place for people to visit and, particularly as local businesses start to recover, I encourage people to come up and see that for themselves.
“This funding will help us keep it that way and ensure that we remain the best Reef Managers in the world.”

Rating agency S&P Global has affirmed Australia’s AAA credit rating, citing Australia’s strong economic recovery from the pandemic and track record of sound economic and fiscal management.
Australia remains one of just nine countries to hold a AAA credit rating from the three major rating agencies.
After balancing the Budget for the first time in 11 years, Australia entered the crisis from a position of strength that provided it with the capacity to respond to the crisis.
S&P attributes this to the fact that “Australia’s budget improved in recent years on the back of tight fiscal discipline, strong labour market conditions, and high commodity prices. The general government budget was effectively balanced…”
Since the onset of the pandemic, the Morrison Government has committed $337 billion, or 16.3 per cent of GDP, in direct economic and health support.
This has supported household and business confidence and spending at time of extreme uncertainty and helped ensure that Australia’s economy recovered sooner than any major advanced economy.
Reflecting Australia’s strong economic recovery, the unemployment rate in Australia fell to 4.2 per cent in December, its lowest rate in more than 13 years.
S&P is confident that the government will continue to secure Australia’s economic recovery, noting that “Australian governments have demonstrated a willingness to implement reforms to sustain economic growth and ensure sustainable public finances and have a strong track record from managing past economic and financial crises.”
Sustainable public finances is key to retaining our AAA credit rating and only the Coalition has a strong track record of fiscal discipline and repairing the Budget.
Australia cannot afford the threat of a high taxing and big spending Labor Government who at the last election proposed $387 billion of higher taxes and sought to divide Australians with their class war rhetoric.

To continue our unprecedented investment into improving the mental health of all Australians, the Morrison Government is investing a further $44 million to increase access and reduce wait times at headspace services for young people aged 12 to 25 years.
Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt said both mental health and suicide prevention remains one of our Government’s highest priorities.
“One in four young Australians are affected by a mental health illness every year and as we continue to battle COVID-19 it’s more important than ever that we prioritise mental health,” Minister Hunt said.
“The disruption to normal life caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has had profound impacts on young Australians and we are ensuring that they can access the mental health supports they may need to help them get back on track and minimise longer-term impacts.”
“These grants form part of the Morrison Government’s headspace Demand Management and Enhancement Program – an investment of $152 million over 7 years from 2018. Through three funding rounds to date, this program has supported 28 PHNs and 86 headspace services to reduce wait times and invest in capital and infrastructure.”
Australia’s headspace centres, for young people aged 12 to 25 years, are a single-entry point for holistic, wrap around mental health services. Services provided through headspace centres are a safe place to turn to, somewhere young people can get professional help, peer support and feel comfortable enough to tackle their challenges in a way that is right for them.
The Government encourages Primary Health Networks (PHNs) across the nation to apply for up to $1.8 million each in wait time reduction grants. In addition, grants of up to $940,000 are available for capital and infrastructure improvements to existing headspace services.
Together, the grants will:

• increase access to high quality and more timely youth-friendly mental health support
• enhance the quality of service experience for young people
• boost the physical capacity of headspace facilities and enhance the accessibility of services through refurbishment or relocation.

Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, David Coleman said these new grants added to the Government’s significant support for headspace around the nation.
“Our Government is providing unprecedented funding and support for mental health, investing a record $2.3 billion in the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan” Minister Coleman said.
“There is nothing more important than the mental health of our young people. headspace makes a real difference in the lives of young people across Australia, and this funding will help to increase access to these important services.”
Australians looking for support throughout the COVID-19 pandemic can also access the Beyond Blue Coronavirus Wellbeing Support Service any time via telephone at 1800 512 348 or online at coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au.
Anyone experiencing distress can seek immediate advice and support through Lifeline
(13 11 14), Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), or the Government’s digital mental health gateway, Head to Health.
If you are concerned about suicide, living with someone who is considering suicide, or bereaved by suicide, the Suicide Call Back Service is available at 1300 659 467 or www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au.
Guidelines for grant applications are available on the GrantConnect website: www.grants.gov.au

Tasmania’s economy is set for a major $57.4 million boost after the Morrison Government approved a significant upgrade to the nation’s oldest Australian Army barracks. The Anglesea Paterson Project includes significant upgrades to infrastructure and facilities at Hobart’s Anglesea Barracks, as well as a new facility and redevelopment of defence infrastructure in Launceston. The improvements in Anglesea, an investment of $17.7 million, will ensure the Barracks continues to provide a safe and functional environment for base personnel. Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the Morrison Government was committed to significant investment across Tasmania to support current and future Defence capabilities. “This is a huge win for Tasmania, particularly the small businesses that stand to reap the benefits of this significant $57.4 million investment,” Minister Price said. “It is expected that 80 per cent of the work will go to local industry, maximising opportunities for local businesses and giving the economy a real shot in the arm. “The Anglesea Paterson Project will also deliver a new cadet facility in the northern suburbs of Launceston, worth $15.8 million and a significant commitment in the Launceston City Deal. “Australian Defence Force reserves and cadets at Youngtown Depot in South Launceston will benefit from an $11.2 million investment to upgrade facilities there. “With additional contract costs, our total investment comes to $57.4 million, which is wonderful news for the Tasmanian economy. “The construction workforce across the projects is predicted to be an average of 30 personnel, with a peak of around 80 workers per day across sites.” Defence has worked closely with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications to develop this project. Defence will also provide a new 1800 Defence Call Centre at Anglesea Barracks to Support the Defence Customer Service Network, enabling continuity of the 1800DEFENCE service in Tasmania. The expanded call centre facility will create five new jobs, allowing for an increase in capacity and will provide a contemporary environment consistent with modern day practices. Construction work on the project is due to start in early 2022 and is expected to be completed in mid-2023. Works will occur across Anglesea Barracks and Youngtown Depot.