Category: Australian News

Children in rural and remote areas will have better access to life-saving medical equipment under new funding provided by the Morrison Joyce Government.

The Government is providing $100,000 to the Humpty Dumpty Foundation in 2021-22 to support its work to improve the care of children in rural and remote Australia by providing medical equipment to hospitals and health services.

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said the funding will help save and improve children’s lives.

“The health and wellbeing of children and young people is a priority for the Government,” Minister Hunt said.

“This funding will positively impact the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous children in rural and remote areas of Australia by increasing their access to fit-for-purpose paediatric medical equipment.”

“This investment will help meet community need, including screening for iron deficiency in children by Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Services, echo devices to screen for rheumatic heart disease, or specialist neonatal, paediatric, and adolescent education in health services and hospitals, in partnership with state and territory governments.”

Minister for Regional Health, Dr David Gillespie, said the Coalition was committed to addressing the rising burden of chronic disease and to improving public health, no matter where people live or their circumstances.

“The Humpty Dumpty Foundation is a children’s charity celebrating more than 30 years of helping to save and improve the lives of sick and injured children in hospital,” Dr Gillespie said.

“Its mission is to raise funds to provide essential and often life-saving medical equipment for hospitals in every corner of Australia, and I’m proud to be part of a government supporting them in this endeavour.”

To date, Humpty Dumpty has provided medical equipment to paediatric wards, neonatal units, maternity and emergency departments at more than 440 hospitals and health services across Australia.

The Government recognises certain groups of children and young people are especially prone to health inequity as a result of social, geographical and other determinants of health.

To address this, the Government has launched the first National Action Plan for the Health of Children and Young People: 2020–2030, to provide a roadmap to improve the health and wellbeing of all young Australians.

The vision is to ensure that Australian children and young people, from all backgrounds and all walks of life, have the same opportunities to fulfil their potential, and are healthy, safe and thriving.

The Morrison Government will direct $14.8 million to key aged care groups advocating for senior Australians.

This funding will be provided over three years to ensure the organisations can continue supporting and advocating for older people during a period of significant change and reform of the aged care system.

Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck, said the funding would ensure the voices of senior Australians across a number of diverse communities.

“We are undertaking once in a generation reform of the aged care sector,” Minister Colbeck said.

“As we work towards a high quality and safe aged care system, we must have a deep understanding of the views, the wishes and the concerns of our diverse communities.

“It is vital that people with dementia, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, LGBTQI+ individuals and communities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, gerontologists and associated health professionals continue to be well represented.

“The Government is pleased to provide this funding to ensure peak bodies can continue to represent their constituents and support the highest quality of policy and program design.”

The aged care consumer peak bodies being funded from 1 July 2022 are:

• The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA)
• Dementia Australia (DA)
• National Seniors Australia (NSA)
• LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA)
• The Australian Association of Gerontology (AAG)
• COTA Australia
• The Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO), acting on behalf of the National Advisory Group for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care (NAGATSIAC).

Funding will also support the establishment of a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ageing and Aged Care Council (NATSIACC) to formalise representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in aged care.

An Albanese Labor Government will protect Australia’s precious water resources with a five-point plan for the Murray Darling Basin that strikes the right balance between the needs of local communities, farmers and the environment.
 
The Murray Darling is Australia’s biggest and most important river system and its future is critical for the livelihoods and welfare of millions of Australians and for our environment and natural resources.
 
The future of the Murray Darling is too important to risk three more years of Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce.
 
The Morrison-Joyce Government will never act because the Nationals won’t let them. The environment is hurting and Murray Darling Basin communities are paying the price.
 
Australians have noticed the efforts of members of the Morrison-Joyce Government to shred the Plan altogether. And South Australians haven’t forgotten that Barnaby Joyce told them to “move to where the water is” during the millennium drought.
 
Labor will deliver on the final 450 gigalitres (GL) of water for the environment that Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce have failed to deliver.
 
Our policy will uphold the Murray Darling Plan and lay the groundwork for the Plan’s future by restoring integrity, boosting compliance and driving reforms.
 
Labor will commit $26 million to establish a National Water Commission to drive ongoing water reform, and future-proof Australia’s water resources, bringing national leadership and fairness into water policy.

Labor will broaden the National Water Grid Fund investment policy, to allow funding for a broader range of projects, including for essential town water supplies in regional and remote communities.  
 
Our five-point plan for the Murray Darling Basin comprises: 

1. Working with Basin governments and stakeholders to deliver on water commitments, including the 450 GL of water for the environment.
2. Increasing compliance across the Basin and, to support that compliance work, committing an additional $35 million for improved metering and monitoring.
3. Restoring integrity and confidence by working with stakeholders to implement relevant ACCC recommendations, and by making the Murray Darling Basin Authority’s modelling and data publicly available where possible.
4. Increasing First Nations ownership of water entitlements and participation in decision making.
5. Future-proofing the Basin Plan by updating the science, committing $8.5 million for the CSIRO Sustainable Yield study to inform the forthcoming review, committing $3.5 million for an independent study on climate change’s effect on Ramsar wetlands in the Basin and, if justified, considering whether to bring forward the commencement of the 2026 review.

 
Over nearly a decade in office, the Morrison-Joyce Government has refused to implement the Murray Darling Basin Plan, and it is Basin communities that are paying the price.
 
The Government’s refusal to act means they’ve failed to deliver the final 450 GL and resulted in delays and failures on the environmental outcomes equivalent to 605 GL of water following adjustments to the recovery amounts.

They have also failed to deliver the $40 million promised for First Nations water entitlements back in 2018.
 
Unlike the Morrison-Joyce Government, Labor will uphold the letter and spirit of the Murray Darling Basin to keep faith with its participants and with all Australians.
 
For water infrastructure, we will take up the Productivity Commission’s recommendation to broaden the remit of the National Water Grid Fund. As the Productivity Commission said, the fund’s investment policy should neither prioritise a particular sector or class of water user, nor be limited to providing water for primary industry.

When it comes to water reform, Labor will end the drift and recognise the importance of water policy. Our National Water Commission will drive the renewal of the National Water Initiative and will better prepare Australia for future threats to water security, including climate change.
 
Only an Albanese Labor Government will provide the leadership needed to drive water reform, deliver water security, and uphold the Murray Darling Basin Plan.

An Albanese Labor Government will join forces with leading Australian cook Maggie Beer to ensure aged care residents get the healthy and high-quality meals they need and deserve.

Labor will work with the aged care sector and other stakeholders to develop and implement standards for aged care homes to ensure every resident receives sufficient, tasty, nutritious and safe food which respects cultural, religious and dietary requirements.

These standards will be supported by workable guidelines, education programs and easy compliance which will not burden aged care providers with time consuming administrative functions.

An Albanese Labor government will work with the Maggie Beer Foundation, its Alliance partners and other stakeholders – all of whom have already done great work promoting the importance of good food in aged care. This will include funding the development of training and education for key staff to ensure every aged care resident gets the nutritious and flavoursome food they need and deserve.

Labor will also implement mandatory reporting rules to make sure the Basic Daily Fee paid to providers is used for care and nutrition. Public reporting of expenditure on care, nutrition, food and kitchen staff will be required.

Labor will invest $5 million – through the Maggie Beer Foundation – to enable a proper focus on food in aged care, including the development of new standards, supporting guidelines to facilitate their implementation and new education and training programs to support the sector to keep raising the bar on aged care food for each and every resident.

The Australian Government will provide further support to the Government of Ukraine by gifting 20 Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles, including two ambulance variants, to aid the Government of Ukraine’s response to Russia’s unrelenting and illegal aggression. Australia’s response follows a direct request from President Zelenskyy during his address to the Australian Parliament on 31 March 2022.

The Bushmaster was built in Australia to provide protected mobility transport, safely moving soldiers to a battle area prior to dismounting for close combat. The Bushmaster is well suited to provide protection to the Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers and Ukrainian civilians against mines and improvised explosive devices, shrapnel from artillery and small arms fire.

The 20 vehicles are painted olive green to suit the operating environment. Additionally, a Ukrainian flag is painted on either side with the words “United with Ukraine” stencilled in English and Ukrainian to acknowledge our commitment and support to the Government and people of Ukraine. The ambulances will have the traditional Red Cross emblem.

The Bushmaster will be fitted with radios, a global positioning system and additional bolt-on armour increasing their protection. Defence will continue to work with the Government of Ukraine to develop a suitable logistics support package, while training will be conducted through Army video training with Ukrainian subtitles.

To date, Australia has committed a total of around $116 million of Defensive Military Assistance to Ukraine, the addition of these vehicles takes our commitment to around $165 million. In addition, Australia is delivering 70,000 tonnes of coal to power Ukraine’s resistance, on top of $65 million in humanitarian assistance for the people of Ukraine, with a focus on protecting women, children and the elderly, including for food, shelter and emergency medical supplies.

The Government will not disclose further specific details of delivery arrangements at the direct request of Ukrainian officials and our other partners.

The Australian Government will continue to identify opportunities for further Defensive Military Assistance where it is able to provide a required capability to the Ukraine Armed Forces expeditiously.

Australia stands with the Government and people of Ukraine, and calls on Russia to cease its unprovoked, unjust and illegal invasion of Ukraine. The Australian Government will continue to take steps, together with our partners, to ensure Russia pays the highest possible price for its actions.

The Morrison Government’s more than $1 billion defence contract for new self-propelled howitzers for the Australian Army has marked a significant milestone with the start of construction of an Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence at Avalon, near Geelong.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison today led the sod-turning for the Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence, which will build the self-propelled howitzers and armoured ammunition resupply vehicles.

The Prime Minister said the project would deliver a major economic boost for Geelong with more than 300 jobs to be delivered over its lifespan.

“With the turn of the sod today at Avalon we are keeping our promise, securing Geelong’s rightful place in our country’s advanced manufacturing and defence industry, creating skilled jobs and delivering huge economic benefits for the region,” the Prime Minister said.

“As construction ramps up it will create up to 100 jobs, and once this cutting edge facility is up and running around 300 locals will be employed at the site.

“Importantly, several local businesses will be engaged along the way to help deliver this critical $1 billion defence project. This includes an Australian-owned Victorian-based construction company that will build this $170 million facility with completion by 2024.

“This project is a clear demonstration of my Government’s commitment to securing a strong economy and a strong future for all Australians, with investments in both our economic and national security.

“When Labor was last in Government they delayed this project, before cancelling it entirely when they drove down defence spending to its lowest level since before the Second World War.

“In contrast, Australians know they can trust my Government to make the tough decisions and make strategic investments that secure Australia’s interests in an increasingly uncertain world. Since we have come to office we have rolled out our plan to protect Australians, and this $1 billion contract is a key part of that plan.”

The turning of the sod today follows the signing of a $1 billion defence contract in December last year for the new self-propelled howitzers, which was awarded to Hanwha Defence Australia.

Based in Greater Geelong, the contract will procure self-propelled howitzers and armoured ammunition resupply vehicles under the LAND 8116 Phase 1 project. The Government committed to this project in May 2019.

Hanwha will build 30 of the self-propelled guns and 15 armoured ammunition resupply vehicles used to replenish stocks of artillery shells on missions.

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the $1 billion contract again demonstrated the Morrison Government’s commitment to supporting jobs in Australia’s growing defence industry.

“This project will create hundreds of jobs, with more than 90 per cent of vehicle sustainment to be completed in Australia,” Minister Price said.

“The opportunities for our defence industry are significant and will benefit local companies until the late 2040s.

“The self-propelled howitzers are just the latest step in the Morrison Government’s 10-year plan to invest $270 billion to increase Defence capability, not only securing the defence of our nation but bringing enormous benefits to our defence industry.

“The big advantage of these highly mobile, hard-hitting weapons is that they can fire, and immediately move, before any enemy can accurately locate them.

“The new guns, mounted on tracks and with heavy armour, offer much better protection to their crews in the face of nuclear, biological, chemical and radiological threats.

“The result is that our troops have a mobile and versatile weapon system that gives them the best possible chance of successfully completing their mission and returning home safely.”

The Australian Government will provide further military support to the Government of Ukraine in response to Russia’s unrelenting and illegal aggression.

This $26.5 million package of anti-armour weapons and ammunitions for the Ukrainian Armed Forces will further boost the capabilities Australia has supplied that have proven critical on the battlefield so far.

This will bring Australia’s total military assistance to date to approximately $191.5 million. 

This extra support comes on top of the 20 Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles we announced today that our Government is gifting the Government of Ukraine.

The Government will not disclose specific details of the new package, or delivery arrangements, at the direct request of Ukrainian officials and our other partners.

Our Government will continue to identify opportunities for further military assistance where it is able to provide a required capability to the Ukraine Armed Forces expeditiously.

Australia may be thousands of kilometres away but we’re standing side by side with Ukraine against this illegal invasion with arms, equipment, aid and even energy sources.

This fight is important because not only are Ukrainian lives and their lands at stake, but so are the principles of freedom and the rule of law.

Australia stands with the people of Ukraine, and again calls on Russia to cease its unprovoked, unjust and illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Australia will partner with the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence to help strengthen NATO’s capacity to address hybrid threats and to counter disinformation.

The Centre, based in Riga, Latvia, is a multinational organisation whose mission is to carry out research, analysis and training, and develop technical expertise, in order to build the strategic communications capabilities of NATO, NATO allies and NATO partners.

Australia will initially contribute to research conducted at the Centre through a seconded Australian official who will arrive in May. Australia has also begun the process of becoming a longer term contributing partner of the Centre.

The importance of improving strategic communications has been underscored by Russia’s use of disinformation and propaganda during its illegal and unprovoked war against Ukraine. I discussed these challenges today with the NATO Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg.

Australia’s cooperation with the Centre will deepen our insights into the strategic communications and security challenges facing NATO, NATO Allies and partners, and reinforce Australia’s support for NATO. We will offer the Centre a clear-eyed view of the geostrategic dynamics in the Indo-Pacific and implications for NATO.

Australia is an Enhanced Opportunities Partner of NATO, under which we work together on interoperability, take part in some NATO military training and exercise programs, and share views on issues of mutual interest.

Australia’s engagement also highlights our strong bilateral relationship with Latvia and our shared commitment to democracy, human rights, and the international rules-based order.

The Australian Government looks forward to working with our partners in the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence to combat the scourge of disinformation and other hybrid threats.

The Australian Government has decided to impose targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on a further 67 individuals for their role in Russia’s unprovoked, unjust and illegal invasion of Ukraine.

This latest round of sanctions follows the emergence of evidence of war crimes committed by Russia in Bucha and other towns around Kyiv. Australia condemns these atrocities in the strongest possible terms.

Those sanctioned include prominent Russian military official Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev, who has been described as the “Butcher of Mariupol”, for attacks including the bombing of the theatre in which innocent civilians were sheltering in Mariupol.

They also include Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko, Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov, Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma, Aleksander Babakov, and other senior Russian government officials.

In addition, we are also listing the Kremlin-installed so-called “mayor” of Melitopol, Ukrainian Galina Danilchenko, and a member of the Ukrainian Parliament, Oleg Voloshyn, who has been working with Russia to undermine the Ukrainian Government.

With these latest listings, the Australian Government has now sanctioned close to 600 individuals and entities in relation to Russia’s illegal war.

The Australian Government is committed to imposing the highest costs on those who bear responsibility for Russia’s aggression in Ukraine or hold levers of power.

The Australian Government reiterates our strongest support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and for the people of Ukraine.