Category: Australian News

Labor calls on the Morrison Government to make Rapid Antigen Tests free for Australians via Medicare.
We have been saying for some time that nobody should be denied a test because they can’t afford one.
We have considered the options and it is clear that this is the simplest, most efficient, fairest and most responsible way to fix the mess that Scott Morrison has made of testing at this critical juncture of the pandemic.
As always, we are prepared to work with the Government to determine the best way to provide free tests through the Medicare system.
It’s clear from Scott Morrison’s ridiculous proposal today that he has absolutely no appreciation of the skyrocketing cost of these tests or the consequences of his failure to order enough of them, quickly enough.
We can’t have people at their most vulnerable and contagious being ripped off, or going undiagnosed, or travelling around cities, suburbs and towns searching in vain for tests they can’t find or afford.
Price is one consideration, we also need the Prime Minister to fix the supply issues he is responsible for as well.
In recent days we have been carefully considering the most economically responsible course of action and it’s clear that the cost of tests are dwarfed by the costs of the Prime Minister’s failures to do his job, his undermining of Medicare, and the economic and health consequences of people not being able to test for the virus.
This can’t wait for a change of government.
Scott Morrison needs to act now. His inability to take responsibility has cost Australians too much already.

Many of us have New Year’s resolutions but the most important one all Australians can make in 2022 is to get any health checks they put aside during the pandemic.
With the heavy focus on COVID-19 for the past two years, many of us haven’t prioritised other areas of our health.
Prevention is a key priority for the Morrison Government. Our 10-year National Preventive Health Strategy focuses on valuing health before illness, highlighting the immense value of maintaining good health throughout a person’s life.
Now is the time to do just that. Australia has a world-class health system and, like COVID, we can prevent many diseases and conditions from developing, or reduce their impact.
One of the best ways to prevent future illness is to keep up to date with regular health checks and early detection programs such as cancer screenings, regular immunisations, and tests for blood borne viruses and sexually transmitted infections.
Regular cancer screening saves lives and early detection leads to better outcomes for cancer treatments. Some types of cancer can be detected before symptoms appear, and screening can also find changes in cells before they become cancer.
There are three world-leading population-based cancer screening programs in Australia:

• Cervical screening every five years for women aged 25 to 74, subsidised by Medicare
• Breast screening – or mammograms – provided free every two years for women aged 40 to 74 years
• Bowel screening tests – a free, easy, at-home test posted to men and women aged 50 to 74 every two years.

The timing of your next screening will depend on your age, gender and when your last screening was. If you need screening in 2022, you may need to book an appointment.
To book in for a cervical screening test or check when you’re due, contact your GP or healthcare provider.
To book a free mammogram, call BreastScreen Australia on 13 20 50 and you will automatically be directed to your nearest service.
For bowel screening, a kit will be mailed to you every two years once you become eligible. If you need a replacement kit, order one for free online.
Sexual health is also important to your overall health and decreases in testing and treatment for blood borne viruses and sexually transmitted infections (BBV and STI) mean there could be a lot of people who aren’t aware they have an infection.
If you think you may be at risk, talk to your GP about testing. Medicare items are available for telehealth consultations relating to BBV and STI.
For smokers, the best way to help your health in 2022 is to quit. We know it isn’t always easy, but help is available and there are huge benefits when you kick the habit.
For help to quit smoking, talk to your GP, call Quitline, or visit www.quit.org.au. Research shows that getting the support of a health professional greatly improves a smoker’s chance of successfully quitting.
To help, our Government has extended specific Medicare items for GP nicotine and smoking cessation services – including via telehealth – to 31 December 2023.
For those looking for assistance in reducing their reliance on alcohol and drugs, there is also support available.
Australians can talk to your GP or call the free and confidential National Alcohol and Other Drug hotline on 1800 250 015. If you prefer to seek online treatment, you can visit Counselling Online, a free and confidential service at: https://www.counsellingonline.org.au/.
The pandemic has not only taken a physical toll on some Australians. Many people have also experienced mental health issues.
Since March last year, our Government has provided more than $1 billion in funding to expand mental health services, including a substantial investment in telehealth.
Help is at hand if you are struggling with your mental health, and there are many ways you can get it. Talk to your GP or visit the Government’s digital mental health gateway, Head to Health.
Australians looking for support throughout the COVID-19 pandemic can 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 also seek immediate advice and support through Lifeline (13 11 14) and Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800).
Our health system is in a strong position to support Australians with health challenges, throughout the pandemic and beyond.
COVID-19 has taught us the importance of our health and speaking to our health experts when we notice something out of the ordinary. In 2022, I urge you to attend medical appointments and health checks and follow through on any referrals for blood tests or scans. It is about living well for long – it could just save your life.

An Albanese Labor Government will strengthen Australia’s economic sovereignty and national security by building an independent Strategic Fleet to secure our ongoing access to fuel supplies and other essential imports.
More than most nations, Australia is dependent on seaborne trade. Shipping accounts for 99 per cent of our Australia’s imports and exports of goods, including fuel.
Despite this, for eight long years the Morrison-Joyce Government has put our national security and economic sovereignty at risk by standing idle as large multinationals dumped Australian flagged and crewed vessels so they could hire cheaper overseas crews.
Right now, less than one per cent of Australian seaborne trade is carried by Australian ships, forcing our nation to reply on foreign governments and companies for our essential imports.
As a first step, an incoming Albanese Labor Government will appoint a Taskforce to guide it on the establishment of the Fleet as quickly as possible. While these ships will likely be privately owned and operate on a commercial basis, we will ensure they are available for use by the Defence Forces in times of national crisis, whether that be natural disaster or conflict.
This Taskforce will include representatives from the shipping industry, major charterers, unions, Australian business and the Department of Defence.
An Albanese Labor Government will also act immediately to close loopholes in the existing regulatory framework to help rebuild Australian shipping. The Taskforce will also advise on how best to enforce existing coastal shipping laws and what legislative or regulatory reforms are necessary to reinvigorate Australian shipping.
In times of conflict and crisis, our economic sovereignty and national security are dependent on Australian seafarers working on Australian ships.
That’s why an Albanese Labor Government will protect Australia and rebuild our strategic fleet.

Senior Australians now have a strong, formal voice to government on ageing and aged care matters, with the 14 members of the new Council of Elders – a specific recommendation coming out of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety – announced today.
The Council of Elders will be led by inaugural Chair Ian Yates AM, who will also sit on the new National Aged Care Advisory Council.
Mr Yates will ensure the voice of senior Australians is heard and that advice is provided to the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, and the Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck, and the Department of Health.
The Council of Elders will engage widely on many aspects of aged care from the perspective of the quality and safety of care and the rights and dignity of older people.
Members include 2021 Senior Australian of the Year Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann AM, dementia advocate Gwenda Darling, writer and carer Danijela Hlis, Age Discrimination Commissioner Kay Patterson AO, and indigenous campaigner Professor Tom Calma AO.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt said Council members have strong expertise, diverse backgrounds and lived experience that would help ensure aged care meets the needs and expectations of senior Australians, their families and carers, and the Australian community.
“Council members, all appointed for two-year terms, will provide advice to government, coordinate feedback from senior Australians and their families and communities, and help to build community awareness of ageing and aged care matters,” Minister Hunt said.
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck said over 130 high calibre senior Australians had nominated to be part of the council.
“We carefully reviewed every nomination, and each person would have made a positive difference as a council member,” Minister Colbeck said.
“I thank every person for their nomination and have invited them to contribute their diverse experience and expertise in other ways.”
Mr Yates, CEO of Council of the Ageing, said it was an honour and privilege to serve alongside such experienced members.
“This is an exciting initiative that we have not had before,” Mr Yates said.  “Having a voice of senior Australians direct to Government will be key to ensure the reforms from the royal commission continue to have the voice of those that experience the system at their centre.”
The first Council of Elders has an appropriately diverse range of experience, background, location and opinions and I look forward to working with the members of the Council to provide this important voice to Ministers and the National Aged Care Advisory Council.”
Minister Colbeck said the new National Aged Care Advisory Council and the Council of Elders were part of the government’s $18.3 billion reform package being delivered over the next five years.
“These reforms will help all Australians feel confident about accessing high quality aged care when they need it – offering greater choice and control, and helping people maintain independence as they age,” Minister Colbeck said.
“So far, thousands of people have engaged with us on the design of reforms such as quality standards and support at home, and over 13,000 people have participated in 8 webinars about the reforms.”
Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) Chief Executive Officer Craig Gear welcomed the appointment of the council.
“We are excited by the announcement of the inaugural members of Australia’s first Council of Elders,” Mr Gear said.  “Older people have been telling us for a long time that there should be ‘nothing about us without us’ and the Council of Elders is a good step along this journey which will help inform aged care reform from their perspective.
“Importantly, we are pleased with the inclusion of a number of older people with lived experience of aged care to guide the transformation of aged care for themselves and the people they care for”
Visit the Ageing and Aged Care Engagement Hub to read about the reforms and to participate in engagement activities, here.
For more information on the Council of Elders and its members see here.
Council of Elders members:

Australians who have completed their primary course of COVID-19 vaccination no less than four months ago, will now be able to receive a booster dose from 4 January 2022, providing further protection and peace of mind.
In making these changes to further bring forward eligibility, the Australian Government has acted on the expert medical advice of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).
The move to reduce the interval between a person’s primary course of vaccination and their booster dose from five months to four months will see approximately 7.5 million Australians eligible for their booster dose as of 4 January.
The Government will also further bring forward, as of 31 January, the interval for eligibility to three months, which will mean that more than 16 million people will be eligible for their booster at this time. This decision is based on the expert medical advice from ATAGI and operational planning from the National COVID-19 Vaccines Taskforce.
Australia was one of the first countries in the world to commence a whole of population COVID-19 booster program, and so far approximately two million Australians have received a booster dose over recent weeks.
ATAGI made its recommendation to reduce the interval after closely monitoring the epidemiology and characteristics of COVID-19 caused by the Omicron variant. It also considered the emerging data on the need, potential benefits, and optimal timing of a vaccine booster dose to prevent COVID-19 due to this variant.
Advice to the Government from ATAGI indicates that further bringing forward booster doses is likely to increase protection against infection with the Omicron variant based on international and Australian data observed over recent weeks.
Whilst early data suggests the risk of hospitalisation, ICU admission and death due to the Omicron variant is far less than Delta or other variants, bringing forward boosters doses and increased public health and social measures such as mask wearing indoors, social distancing where appropriate and ongoing hand hygiene will have an important effect on slowing the spread and impact of Omicron.
As was the case with rolling out doses for people’s primary course of vaccination, these changes continue to allow for a staged approach to the booster rollout going forward, with a clear focus on ensuring our most vulnerable cohorts continue to be prioritised.
Australia has more than enough supply of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to roll out booster doses to the newly eligible cohort from 4 January – through more than 10,000 vaccination sites including GPs, community pharmacies, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, and state and territory clinics. There are currently over 20 million doses in Australia of which over five million have already been placed with States and Primary Care teams on the basis of their forward orders.
Where jurisdictions believe they have sufficient capacity to bring forward the commencement of delivery of booster doses sooner, without displacing people with higher priority eligibility in accordance with the ATAGI recommendations, they will have the flexibility to do so.
ATAGI has maintained its advice that booster doses only be given to people aged 18 years and over.
Immunocompromised people who have received three primary doses of a COVID-19 vaccine will be able to receive a booster dose in line with the timing for the general population.
ATAGI has also highlighted the importance of boosters for pregnant women.
People who have completed their primary course of vaccination against COVID-19 four or more months prior to 4 January are encouraged to contact their vaccine provider early in the new year to make a booking.
Australia is already one of the most vaccinated, and recently vaccinated, countries in the world.
Ninety-one per cent of Australians aged 16 and over have completed their primary course of vaccination. And more than 72 per cent of adolescents aged 12 to 15 have done so.
Arrangements are in place to start rolling out vaccines to children aged five to 11 years from 10 January 2022 with specialised children’s doses arriving in Australia over recent days and now undergoing batch testing by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
All Australians who are currently eligible for their primary course of vaccination, or for their booster dose, and who have not yet acted are urged to make a booking as soon as possible to get vaccinated.
The Australian Government has secured over 151 million booster doses for delivery over the coming year and is well placed to continue to achieve world leading vaccination rates against COVID-19.

The Morrison Government has further bolstered the high-calibre membership of the nation’s pre-eminent sports dispute resolution body, the National Sports Tribunal (NST).
Minister for Sport, Richard Colbeck, has appointed 41 new members to the NST, recommended by an independent selection advisory committee.
They join the NST’s first 39 members who were appointed by the same committee in the first tranche of members, when the NST started in March last year.
The NST is the key element of the Government’s comprehensive sports integrity strategy.
It plays a central role in ensuring the effective provision of dispute resolution services for sports participants, support personnel and sporting organisations across Australia.
“The Morrison Government is profoundly committed to making sure sport is safe, fair and inclusive for all Australians,” Minister Colbeck said.
“The NST’s role is to hear and resolve national-level sporting disputes in Australia.”
Members are responsible for conducting arbitration, mediation, conciliation and case appraisal. They can compel witnesses to appear in person before the NST.
“As the caseload of the NST continues to grow, this second round of members – 21 men and 20 women – will broaden the skills and capability of the NST, factoring in gender, geographic coverage, experience in various dispute resolution methods, and subject matter expertise. Their appointment continues the high calibre of NST membership.”
CEO of the NST, Mr John Boultbee, said the new members had a broad range of experience from administrative and sports law, to sports medicine, to experience as an athlete or as a sports administrator.
“They include specialist mediators, anti-doping experts, restorative justice practitioners, and this enables independent and qualified arbitrators and mediators to be appointed to hear and mediate the broad range of matters which come to the NST,” he said.
“Athletes and sports can have confidence in the independence and quality of the members who will be allocated to their cases.”
The new members are:

High numbers of Australians continue to receive the medical care they need at no cost to themselves, with recent data showing almost 9 out of 10 visits to the GP in the last quarter were provided with no out-of-pocket cost for the patient.
GP bulk billing rates reached 89.6 per cent in the quarter from July to September 2021. This is an increase of 0.7 percentage points from the previous quarter (April to June 2021). It is also 7.9 percentage points higher than July to September 2012-13 (81.7%).
Across all Medicare services, the bulk billing rate reached 82.4%, an increase of 6.5 percentage points since 2012-13 (76.0%).
In the July to September 2021 period, a total of 108.8 million medical services were bulk billed to Medicare, 13.3 million more than in the same period last year.
Telehealth items, introduced to Medicare as part of the health response to the pandemic, contributed to high bulk billing rates. These items also helped to reduce the risk of spreading the disease in the community, saving and protecting lives.
From July to September 2021, Medicare paid benefits for 1.6 million COVID-19 video consultations and 12.7 million COVID-19 phone consultations which were provided by GPs, specialists and allied health professionals.
The telehealth items represented 22.9 per cent of GP consultations in the July to September 2021 period. COVID-19 vaccine services reached 9.5 million and represented 18.4% of all GP consultations.
With an investment of $106 million, telehealth will now become a permanent feature of primary health care in Australia. It has proved to be transformational to health care delivery and is a key element of the Government’s successful COVID-19 response.
Telehealth has ensured greater flexibility for patients and doctors to deliver health care and has played a critical role in ensuring continuity of care for millions of Australian patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

New sport and physical activity programs encouraging Australians to run, play, skate, sail and ride are among those to receive funding through the second round of Sport Australia’s Participation Grant program.
Sharing in $10.3 million worth of grant funding, the 36 new programs will provide more opportunities for Australians to connect with sport and get physically active.
Minister for Sport Richard Colbeck said the Morrison Government was proud to invest in programs that bring communities together.
“Sport continues to face ongoing challenges as a result of COVID-19,” Minister Colbeck said.  “These grants will help increase participation in sport and physical activity by delivering free, inclusive and high-quality programs for everyone to enjoy.
“Through this grant program, we’re making communities stronger, more resilient and active.”
Successful recipients include AUSTSWIM, with their program to address a shortage of swimming and water safety teachers by re-engaging with swimming teachers who have left the industry.
AUSTSWIM CEO Simon Weatherill said the initiative aims to bring the number of swim teachers back to pre-COVID levels.
“While demand for swimming and water safety lessons has recovered quickly, the training and accreditation of teachers has not kept pace, leading to a shortage in swimming and water safety teachers.”
Funding received for the “Creating Jobs, Saving Lives” project will support 900 swim teachers by covering the costs associated with getting and maintaining their qualifications.
Skate Australia will establish come and try events nationwide to provide opportunities for skaters to join competitions, clubs and events.
It follows a successful Olympic debut for skateboarding at the Tokyo Games which included a men’s park gold for Keegan Palmer as well as a huge uptake in roller skating during COVID-19 lockdowns.
Skate Australia Executive Director Ariane de Rooy said: “We’re excited to increase awareness of skate sports like roller derby, speed skating, artistic skating and inline hockey as well as the increasing number of learn to skate options for all ages.
“One of skate’s core values is inclusion and we’re thrilled to provide more opportunities for people of all backgrounds and genders to give skating a try.
“In addition to the Paris and LA Olympics in the coming years, the World Skate Games will be held in Argentina in October 2022 and we’re always on the lookout for emerging talent.”
Deaf Sports Australia will also partner with the AFL to improve access for deaf and hard of hearing Australians who love playing football.
Deaf Sports Australia General Manager Phil Harper said the grant is an acknowledgement of the barriers that deaf and hard of hearing Australians face when participating in sport.
“More than 2000 children and adults across three states who are deaf or hard of hearing will benefit from this project to make AFL more inclusive, accessible and enjoyable,” Mr Harper said.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to create solutions to significantly raise participation levels in AFL.”
Indigenous Basketball Australia’s project will encourage young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to get involved in basketball as a player, coach or official.
Motorcycling Australia will deliver a national program for entry level riders to encourage young Australians and their families to ride, while Lacrosse Australia will partner with UniSports Australia to deliver social and modified Lacrosse programs to 18–25-year-olds.
Sport Australia Acting CEO Rob Dalton said the program will help more Australians enjoy the social, personal and health benefits of being physically active.
“It was great to receive such high quality applications. This diverse range of programs will encourage even more Australians of all ages and abilities to get involved in sport and physical activity,” he said.
“Through this grant program, we will support tens of thousands of Australians to get active and build a healthier and happier nation through sport.”
The list of successful applicants is available on Sport Australia’s grants and funding page.