Category: Australian News

An urgent meeting of the Independent Education Union of Australia’s NSW/ACT Branch Executive was convened today to determine an appropriate response to the NSW Government’s salary cap. The NSW Teachers Federation also convened a meeting of its Executive today for the same reason.

On 6 June, the NSW Government offered a 3% pay increase to public sector workers, including teachers, in 2022-23. However, public sector unions and their members have rejected the revised policy as it fails to stop the dramatic decline in real wages.

“The policy does nothing to address unsustainable workloads or staffing shortages,” said IEUA NSW/ACT Branch Secretary Mark Northam. “It still represents a real pay cut for school staff while keeping workloads at unsustainable levels.”

As a result of the Executive meetings today, a historic joint meeting of the NSW Teachers Federation and the IEUA NSW/ACT will convene on 21 June to consider pay offers contained in the NSW budget and from Catholic employers and determine an appropriate course of action.

“This is an extraordinary moment,” said IEUA NSW/ACT Branch Secretary Mark Northam. “We are standing shoulder-to-shoulder – fixing the education crisis in NSW demands no less.  

“The profession is at breaking point. Staff shortages and sinking salaries mean teachers and support staff are really struggling. The COVID pandemic didn’t cause this but it has certainly exacerbated it.”

The IEU represents 33,000 teachers, principals and support staff in the non-government sector. Since January, the union has been negotiating with Catholic employers for new enterprise agreements for teachers and support staff in Catholic diocesan schools.

While the IEU is subject to federal industrial relations laws, the state wages policy has a direct impact on these negotiations, a point emphasised by Catholic employer representatives in all bargaining meetings. “Not a cent more, nor a day before,” is their long-standing refrain.

The union’s key claims, so far unaddressed by employers, include:

·       pay teachers what they’re worth

·       give support staff a fair deal

·       let teachers teach – cut paperwork

·       allow time to plan – reduce the teaching load by two hours per week

·       end staffing shortages.

Members in 540 Catholic systemic schools already conducted a full-day stop work on Friday 27 May. “I fully support the combined unions’ Executive meeting,” said IEUA NSW/ACT Branch President Christine Wilkinson. “In the face of increasing workloads, teachers and support staff are completely exhausted and need the employers to recognise and act on the extreme pressures they’re facing.”

Today we mourn the passing of Lady Anna Cowen AM, wife of former Governor-General the late Sir Zelman Cowen.

Gracious and caring, Lady Cowen was personally driven by her genuine interest in people.

In 2015, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for vice-regal support patronage and support roles, as well as personal, significant service to youth, medical research, educational, historical and cultural organisations.

I thank Lady Cowen for her contribution to our national life. The Government extends its heartfelt condolences to Lady Cowen’s family.

Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP will visit Japan from 13-15 June, his first visit to North Asia since he assumed office last month.

During his visit, the Deputy Prime Minister will meet his counterparts and key defence and national security figures, to discuss our shared approach in the Indo-Pacific.

He will meet his Defence counterpart, Minister Nobuo Kishi, at Japan’s Ministry of Defense to affirm his commitment to the Australia-Japan Special Strategic Partnership.

“I am delighted to be in Japan as one of my first international visits as Deputy Prime Minister. Australia and Japan share a vision for an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, one where the sovereignty of all states is respected,” Deputy Prime Minister Marles said. 

“Japan is a critical partner in achieving our regional objectives. Our partnership continues to grow as we pursue new and ambitious avenues for cooperation, including through the Reciprocal Access Agreement signed in January,” he added.

As part of the visit, the Minister will also meet a range of Japanese academic and industry representatives to discuss the complex challenges facing the Indo-Pacific, and the need for innovation and collaboration to address them.

Minister Marles is travelling to Japan from Singapore, where he attended the Shangri-La Dialogue, the largest annual regional security dialogue in the Indo-Pacific.

Five Royal Australian Navy ships will set sail from Australia over the next three weeks for regional presence deployments throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

HMA ships Canberra, Waramunga and Supply will participate in Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2022 (RIMPAC 22), in and around the Hawaiian Islands.

HMA ships Sydney and Perth, supported by HMAS Supply, will work with regional partners and participate in Exercises Pacific Vanguard and Pacific Dragon.

Exercise RIMPAC 22 runs from 29 June to 4 August and will see around 25,000 personnel from 26 nations participate, with the ADF also deploying two RAAF P-8A Poseidon aircraft, mine warfare and clearance diving capabilities, and a joint landing force.

Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Mark Hammond highlighted the significance of five Navy vessels deploying to train with international partners.

“Working with our regional partners is critical for remaining an agile and ready force,” Rear Admiral Hammond said.

“We appreciate the opportunity to work with like-minded partners to test our interoperability and responsiveness.”

Routine regional presence deployments demonstrate Australia’s commitment and engagement with the region and play a vital role in Australia’s long-term security by upholding a rules based order, enhancing cooperation and relationships with regional partners and allies and developing capability and interoperability.

The Australian Government rejects this week’s court ruling in Myanmar against Australian Professor Sean Turnell.

It is more than sixteen months since Professor Turnell was detained by the Myanmar military.

He remains imprisoned in Myanmar, and we continue to call for his immediate release.

Professor Turnell has worked for Myanmar’s economic development for many years and is internationally respected for this record.

We will continue to advocate for Professor Turnell’s interests and well-being and will not stop until he is safely back with his family.

The Australian Government has finalised negotiations with Naval Group to conclude the Attack class submarine program.

The former government made the decision to terminate the contract on the basis of advice about capability requirements for the Australian Defence Force—advice that was accepted by Labor in Opposition.

We have reached a fair and equitable settlement of €555 million (around $830 million) with Naval Group.

Now that the matter is resolved we can move forward with the relationship with France.

Australia and France share deep historical ties of friendship, forged in common sacrifice in war.

We are both vibrant democracies, committed to upholding human rights and fundamental values.

We deeply respect France’s role and active engagement in the Indo-Pacific.

Given the gravity of the challenges that we face both in the region and globally, it is essential that Australia and France once again unite to defend our shared principles and interests: the primacy of international law; respect for sovereignty; the rejection of all forms of coercion; and taking resolute action on climate change.

I look forward to taking up President Macron’s invitation to visit Paris at an early opportunity, and to continuing to work closely with him as we deepen the strategic partnership between our nations.

Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel have touched down in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to support the country’s national elections.

At the request of the Government of PNG, more than 130 ADF personnel will provide capabilities to support the 2022 national elections – deployed under ADF Operation KIMBA.

The ADF’s support comes as part of the DFAT-led Whole of Government assistance to the national elections and the ADF’s long-standing partnership with the PNGDF, through the Defence Cooperation Program.

Commander of ADF operations in the South West Pacific, Major General Scott Winter, AM said the ADF would be working closely with the Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission, the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) and Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary.

“Our personnel are providing specialist planning, logistics and air transport support to PNG authorities to assist with their national election,” Major General Winter said.

“This mission is enabled by the capabilities of the ADF, particularly the Royal Australian Air Force C-27J Spartan and C-130J Hercules aircraft. These aircraft will support the transportation of election material and personnel prior to, during and post the election period.”

ADF personnel arrived at Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby on Royal Australian Air Force C-17 Globemaster aircraft.

Ahead of the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12), the Australian Government announces its $2.9 million contribution to the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF).

Australia’s contribution to the STDF helps developing and least-developed countries build capacity to participate in, and benefit from, the multilateral rules-based trading system.

The STDF assists developing countries implement quarantine standards to gain access to international agricultural markets.

This contribution builds on Australia’s long-standing support to help Indo-Pacific countries access the benefits of digital trade.

Australia’a $5.6 million E-Commerce Fund has helped over 850 small businesses in our region access the benefits of digital trade through e‑commerce skills development.

The Fund has supported draft e-commerce laws in Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu, a one-stop national digital tourism booking platform in Vanuatu, and a mobile application to promote major commodity production and compliance in Vietnam.

The Australian Government is committed to supporting developing countries to enhance their ability to export, their international competitiveness, and their engagement in the global economy.

As we approach MC12, the Australian Government also reiterates its support for Timor-Leste’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong said:

“An effective, rules-based trading system with the WTO at its core is fundamental to the global economy – including the stability and prosperity of our region.

“Our priority is to ensure our partners can support their development goals by exercising their WTO rights and fulfilling their WTO obligations’”

Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator the Hon Don Farrell said:

“Australia is one of the Standards and Trade Development Facility’s most active supporters.

“We are proud to be boosting support for countries in the Indo-Pacific region to access the benefits of the global agriculture market.”

Experts have warned that the 2022 flu season will redefine what it means for Australia to be ‘flu ready’ as the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System reported over 65,775 confirmed cases of influenza in May. 

This compares with 30,372 cases in May 2019 which was until now the highest number of confirmed cases recorded in the month of May.⁴

Meeting today at BioMelbourne Network’s Flu resurgence – what does it mean for our sector?² event, a panel of Australia’s leading influenza and biosecurity experts discussed the implications of flu re-emerging in 2022.

According to Professor Ian Barr, Deputy Director of WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza: 

“Influenza is definitely back in the Southern Hemisphere in 2022. Countries like Argentina have seen similar outbreaks, while Brazil saw an outbreak of Influenza A viruses in summer this year. In Australia, we’re seeing Influenza A viruses dominate with very little circulation of influenza B viruses.”

“From the samples that are being sent to us at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, we’re seeing vaccine components that are well matched to the Influenza A viruses (H1N1 and H3N2) that are circulating in Australia. While it’s too early to assess vaccine effectiveness, this is a positive start.”

“Australia is really at the forefront of the fight against flu, with a number of the viruses in this year’s vaccines being isolated at the WHO labs here in Melbourne.”

Dr Jonathan Anderson, Seqirus Executive Medical Director International Regions, said that this year’s flu season will provide lots of lessons for how we prepare and implement public health strategies in the future.

“Australia is in a unique position in that we are one of the first countries to face COVID and a simultaneous flu season that is similar to pre-COVID levels. It’s clear that the rest of the world will be watching our flu season closely and learning from our successes or failures,” said Dr Anderson.

“In the face of an early and significant season, it’s important that we focus on innovative technology that can help protect us from flu both now and in the future. This flu season, more Australians than ever are opting for protection with flu vaccines that are the product of innovation. 

“As we look towards future flu seasons, further innovation that is still to proven in studies such as adjuvanted cell-based vaccines and self-amplifying mRNA (sa-mRNA) may be the next frontier in vaccine technology. sa-mRNA is the second generation of today’s mRNA and works by instructing the body to replicate mRNA, amplifying the amount of protein made, stimulating the body’s immune response and leaving an immune blueprint to recognize future infection.”

According to Dr Felicia Pradera, General Manager of Health Security Systems Australia at DMTC Limited and Program Manager – Medical Countermeasures Development at Defence Science and Technology:

“Vaccines and treatments are important tools for managing infectious diseases and pandemics but it’s important that we use all the tools at our disposal and develop a whole of system approach. This includes considerations like PPE, modelling and simulation, decision support tools, medical devices, surveillance, real world evidence and more.”

“We can take a number of lessons from COVID-19 to enable better response and recovery planning in relation to influenza and other pathogens. From improved real time data sharing, faster sharing of research and investing in the development of platform capabilities that can then be rapidly modified or trained to a target pathogen. There’s also greater potential for us to implement and leverage public-private partnerships, similar to Operation Warp Speed in the US, to ensure we can tackle Australia’s key health priorities.”

Australia strongly condemns North Korea’s launch of eight ballistic missiles this week – which violates multiple UN Security Council resolutions and undermines the global non-proliferation regime.

The test on 5 June is the latest demonstration of the regime’s reckless and destabilising behaviour.

North Korea has launched a total of 31 ballistic missiles so far this year, including six intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Its apparent preparations to undertake a nuclear test are likewise gravely concerning and a threat to the peace and security of our region.

Australia calls on the Security Council to respond decisively to North Korea’s continued violation of its legally binding resolutions.

We further urge Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs and return to meaningful dialogue with the United States and the Republic of Korea. Permanent peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula can only be achieved through dialogue.

Effective sanctions enforcement requires a global effort. Australia will continue to strictly enforce all UN Security Council resolutions against North Korea and we encourage all countries to do likewise.

Australia will also continue to keep our autonomous sanctions against North Korea under review.