Category: Australian News

Australian Festival of Chamber Music (AFCM) Artistic Director Jack Liebeck today unveiled his first program, and it leads with three powerful world premieres over the first three days, part of a stunning line-up of over 130 works in total, to be staged from 29 July to 7 August in Townsville, Queensland.

The 31st AFCM boasts 32 events, 33 world class artists including five international and 28 Australian musicians, and three major new festival experiences including Guilty Pleasures, AFCM Illuminates and Festival Garden. A joyous 10-day celebration hosted during North Queensland’s famous wintersun, the 2022 AFCM is the music event the world needs this year!

The Festival opens with three world premieres over three days. On opening Night, 29 July, Deborah Cheetham’s work Nginda Ngarrini Bi Ngya, which was especially commissioned for AFCM, will be performed. Written in the language of the local Indigenous people, it features Deborah singing with the Goldner String Quartet.

The Governor’s Gala concert on Saturday 30 July will deliver an epic world premiere music moment – 25 Australian composers were commissioned to write short variations on Beethoven’s iconic ‘Ode to Joy’ to mark the 25th anniversary of the famous Goldner String Quartet; the work will be premiered by the Goldners at this event!

Rounding out the trio of world firsts, Australian composer Paul Dean will unveil his premiere during the Sunday evening concert, aptly titled The 22’s, and featuring pieces straddling 400 years, from 1722 (Albinoni’s Concerto for oboe in D minor, Op. 9, No. 2), 1822 (Mendelssohn’s Piano Quartet No 1 Op 1 in C minor ), 1922 (Peter Warlock’s The Curlew) and Dean’s specially written Concerto for Chamber Orchestra representing 2022.

That’s not all for Paul Dean, he is also Composer-in-Residence for the Festival and leads a strong Dean family presence at the AFCM; his niece, soprano Lotte Betts-Dean as a guest artist will perform her father Brett Dean’s work, and his wife Trish Dean (cello) makes her AFCM debut.

The artist line-up is led by internationally applauded didgeridoo star William Barton returning to the Festival with his own compositions, and soprano and composer Deborah Cheetham, joined by Kirsty McCahon (double bass), James Crabb (accordion), Lloyd Van’t Hoff (clarinet), Daniel de Borah (piano), Alice Giles (harp), Imants Larsens (viola), Natsuko Yoshimoto (violin), Kristian Chong (piano) and the Goldner String Quartet, among others.

Australian musicians heading north for the first time include Phoebe Russell (double bass), Alison Mitchell (flute), David Mitchell (bassoon), Jacob Enoka (percussion), Brigid Coleridge (violin, and now residing in Boston), Elina Faskhi (cello) and Emmanuel Cassimatis (oboe).

International musicians making their AFCM and Australian debut include Charlotte Bonneton (violin and viola) from France, Daniel Grimwood (piano) from the UK and the famed Turkish cellist Jamal Aliyev while Canadian violinist Corey Cerovsek makes his AFCM debut. Daniel Grimwood and Jamal Aliyev are ONLY performing at AFCM in Australia. Festival Host will be ABC Classic’s Damien Beaumont.

Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said the Australian Festival of Chamber Music will make a triumphant return to Townsville with more than 30 of the world’s finest classical musicians bringing marvellous music to the magical setting of North Queensland. “This long-running renowned festival presents chamber music that sounds like paradise, played in paradise,” Minister Enoch said.

“A highlight this year will be the powerful premiere of Nginda Ngarrini Bi Ngya, performed by renowned Yorta Yorta composer and soprano, Deborah Cheetham AO, with the Goldner String Quartet, developed with additional support from the Queensland Government. This performance will be sung in Wulgurukaba language, acknowledging the local Wulgurukaba people of Gurambilbarra.

“The Queensland Government has supported the Australian Festival of Chamber Music for more than three decades, enabling its showcase of music and the festival’s growth as a significant cultural tourism experience that delivers economic benefits for the region. I encourage Queenslanders and visitors to the state to embrace the melodic magic of the Australian Festival of Chamber Music 2022,” Ms Enoch said.

Member for Townsville and Resources Minister Scott Stewart said the AFCM highlights the diversity of world-class entertainment found in Northern Australia’s events capital.

“Townsville’s famous visitors experiences provide the perfect backdrop for the 2022 Australian Festival of Chamber Music,” Mr Stewart said. “This is a significant cultural festival, delivering thousands of visitor nights and millions of dollars for North Queensland’s visitor economy.

“We know spectacular events like the AFCM inspire visitors to sample Townsville’s great hospitality and amazing tourism opportunities while providing an important boost to our local businesses. The 2022 Australian Festival of Chamber Music confirms Townsville’s credentials as the North’s home of cultural tourism. I can’t wait to hear the AFCM’s aural celebration of culture returning to Townsville.”

CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS

Friday 29 July James Cook University Opening Night Concert – New Beginnings includes the world premiere of Deborah Cheetham’s work especially commissioned for AFCM. See above for detail.

Saturday 30 July Governor’s Gala – in what will be an epic world premiere music event, 25 Australian composers have been commissioned to write short variations on Beethoven’s iconic ‘Ode to Joy’ to mark the 25th anniversary of the famous Goldner String Quartet.

Monday 1 August Evening Series Concert – Entente Cordiale – the historic 1904 agreement between the British and French ended a long period of antagonism. That cross-border cooperation sent Artistic Director Jack Liebeck on a quest to discover music from both sides of The Channel composed in the same year.

Friday 5 August Evening Series Concert – The Silver Screen – featuring music from the Silver Screen, from the earliest exponents of the artform to the present-day giants, it is filled with emotion and joy. Includes John Barry’s Out of Africa theme performed by horn player Peter Luff with the Goldner String Quartet; Charlie Chaplin’s Smile and Henry Mancini’s Moon River to be sung by Lotte Betts-Dean with James Crabb on accordion; Morricone’s Gabriel’s Oboe from ‘The Mission’ performed by Simon Oswell (viola) and Daniel de Borah (piano).

Saturday 6 August – Families’ Concert – Saint-Saëns Carnival of the Animals. This fun, engaging musical suite of 14 movements, with each movement representing a different animal, will appeal to all ages.

Over 30 music-filled years, the AFCM has forged an impressive international reputation as one of the best chamber music celebrations in the world, and while the last two years have been extremely challenging, Jack Liebeck has created a fascinating program that is as spiritually and intellectually enriching as it is celebratory; and an artistic line-up that is exceptional and exciting.

AFCM principal partners include Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and Arts Queensland, Australian Government through the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund and Townsville City Council. AFCM is supported by the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland, and features on the It’s Live! In Queensland events calendar.

Australian Defence Force (ADF) reservists and their civilian employers across Australia have been recognised for their contribution to Defence capability through the 2022 Prince of Wales Awards.

Assistant Minister for Defence, the Hon Andrew Hastie MP, said the awards are an opportunity to thank reservists and their employers, who actively support them, through funding to undertake training and professional development.

“The ADF Reserve have made a vital contribution to Defence’s assistance to the community during the bushfire crisis and the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Assistant Minister Hastie said.

“Reservists are a critical capability for our nation and their contribution to national security cannot be underestimated.”

Each award is granted on merit, from a competitive field of recipients. Winners will receive up to $8,000 to participate in their chosen professional development activity.

“The Prince of Wales Awards recognise the dedication of our ADF reservists and the valued support they receive from their civilian employers,” Assistant Minister Hastie said.

“I congratulate the Navy, Army and Air Force reservists who will have the opportunity to develop new skills and undertake additional training beneficial to their civilian careers.”

More information on Defence’s support to ADF reservists and their civilian employers, and the full list of 2022 recipients, is available at www.defencereservessupport.gov.au .

Australia joins our partners in condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

There is no justification for this aggression, whose cost will be borne by innocent Ukrainians.

Vladimir Putin has fabricated a feeble pretext on which to invade. Russia’s disinformation and propaganda has convinced no one.

We call on Russia to cease its illegal and unprovoked actions, and to stop violating Ukraine’s independence. Russia must reverse its breach of international law and of the UN Charter, and withdraw its military from Ukraine.

We reiterate our staunch support for Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity – the bedrock principles of a rules-based world order.

Russia’s actions are of deep concern to Australians – especially those who have family and loved ones there.

Australia will continue playing our part to ensure Russia pays the high price this invasion warrants.

We will place financial sanctions on an additional 25 persons and four entities who have been responsible for the unprovoked and unacceptable aggression.

We will put restrictions on Australians investing in a further four financial institutions.

We will be working with like-minded countries on further consequences for Russia. 

The Australian Government will continue working with our partners to keep Australians safe and defend our values and principles.

The NSW Government’s decision to ban offshore oil and gas exploration has been welcomed by the Greens, who have commended the coastal communities that have fought tirelessly for the win.

Greens spokesperson for healthy oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said: 

“Today’s decision by the NSW Government is momentous – but this win belongs to all those ocean-goers who have rallied hard on this matter for years in a bid to protect their  local marine ecosystems and avoid irreversible changes to the Earth’s climate. 

“It is unforgivable that our government continues to invite big oil and gas corporations to explore our marine environment for the very product that is killing our oceans. People want their leaders to start taking bold and radical climate action, and today’s news is welcome proof that with enough sustained pressure people power and protest action works. 

“I call on all other states to resist the toxic influence of big oil and gas companies and follow NSW’s momentous lead on banning oil and gas exploration in state waters. Especially the Victorian, West Australian and Tasmanian Governments which all have dangerous offshore oil and gas projects in the works – these projects are already threatening their coastal communities and local fisheries with things like risky seismic testing. 

“The Greens will continue our plan to ban all new oil and gas exploration in our Commonwealth waters. New Zealand, Greenland, Spain, Denmark, Costa Rica, France, Belize and Portugal have all implemented bans on new oil and gas exploration – there is no reason Australia shouldn’t do the same.”

The Greens have repeated their calls for root and branch reform of Australia’s political donations and election spending regime with billionaire Clive Palmer shamelessly bragging about his plans to spend his way to electoral success.

The Greens’ comprehensive plan to clean up politics would cap election spending, ban all political donations from sectors with a history of buying influence – including coal and gas corporations and gambling companies – and introduce a political donations cap of $1000 per year for all other donors.

Greens deputy leader and spokesperson on democracy Senator Larissa Waters said:

“When a billionaire can pour millions of his own corporate dollars into political attack ads to try to influence an election outcome, you have a serious problem with the health of your democracy.

“Elections should be a contest of ideas, not cheque books. The UAP has already spent more than $31 million on attack advertising since August – 100 times more than Labor and the Liberals have each spent on political ads in the same period.

“Politics is broken and the political system is rigged. Under the Greens’ plan to reform political donations and electoral spending laws, billionaires like Clive Palmer would not be able to use their vast wealth to fund political campaigns – they’d be limited to $1000 a year like everyone else.

“And our 6% wealth tax on billionaires would guarantee that Clive has less money to spend on billboards and YouTube ads and we’d have more to invest in schools and hospitals.

“The Greens have been campaigning for decades to clean up our democracy. The big parties have consistently voted against our reforms because they don’t want to bite the hand that feeds them.

“But in balance of power after the election the Greens will push the next government to reform election funding and spending, to clean up politics and ensure we have a parliament that acts in the interests of everyday Australians, not tycoons and corporations.”

Minister Keith Pitt has this morning recommitted the Government to fracking the Northern Territory’s Beetaloo Basin through the funding stream that was previously struck down by the Federal Court.

The Beetaloo Cooperative Drilling Program will now see $19.4 million in grants awarded to Liberal Party-aligned donor Empire Energy.

Empire Energy, who today have been promised almost $20 million in public money to frack the NT’s Beetaloo Basin, have previously donated $40,000 to the Liberals and $25,000 to NT Labor. Empire’s Chair has personally previously donated over $200,000 to the LNP.

Australian Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP said:

“Scott Morrison is using the dying days of his government to cause as much climate damage as he can, all with Labor’s backing.

“By signing off on NT Labor’s giant climate bomb, the Liberals are putting lives at risk.

“Gas is as dirty as coal, and the Betaloo gas project will be worse for the climate than the Adani coal mine. The NT gas fields contain almost 70 years’ worth of Australia’s total climate pollution, and today Keith Pitt has signed off on detonating that climate bomb.

“The only way we’ll break the bipartisan coal and gas grip on this country is by putting Greens in balance of power.”

Greens Resources and Minerals Spokesperson Senator Dorinda Cox said:

“Minister Pitt’s decision today is a climate grenade that this government is throwing over their shoulder on the way out. What a desperate act from a dying government. 

“This decision will cause enormous destruction to Country. My heart goes out to people of the ​​Gudanji, Yanyuwa, Garrwa, Jingili, Mudburra and Alawa nations over this dreadful news, who are on the frontline as as the last line of defence for their land, skies and waters.”

“Once again decisions are being made about our land that desecrate our cultural heritage, while simultaneously wrecking the climate for our kids, where mining interests take precedence over Traditional Owners’ right to their land.”

The Australian Government welcomes the announcement of training sites for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023.

Across five cities – Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth – the 13 training sites will play a key role in hosting the world’s elite female footballers as they make their final preparations ahead of the World Cup competition.

Minister for Sport Richard Colbeck said the selection of the training sites by the world body for football demonstrates the importance of community sporting facilities across Australia.

“This will be the largest ever women’s sporting event and it is a privilege for Australia to
co-host the event with New Zealand. It will bring together 32 nations before a global audience of more than 1 billion people,” Minister Colbeck said.

“The event will strengthen Australia’s already world-class reputation as a global leader in women’s sport and is part of a green and gold decade of major sporting events to be hosted in our country.”

Confirmed training sites will include:

• Adelaide– Marden Sports Complex (Marden), South Australia Football Centre (Gepps Cross)
• Brisbane – Perry Park (Bowen Hills), Spencer Park (Newmarket)
• Melbourne – JL Murphy Reserve (Port Melbourne), Lakeside Stadium (Albert Park), Reggio Calabria Club (Parkville)
• Perth– Dorrien Gardens (West Perth), Western Australia State Football Centre (Queens Park)
• Sydney – ES Marks Athletics Field (Kensington), Leichhardt Oval (Leichardt), Valentine Sports Park (Glenwood), Western Sydney Wanderers Centre of Football (Rooty Hill)

The training sites announcement is on top of Australia’s world-class stadiums already announced as match venues.

As part of the 2020–21 Budget, the Australian Government committed $2.4 million to Football Australia to assist with planning and delivery of the event, in addition to $5 million to support the development of the historic bid.

A further $12 million was also committed to Football Australia to support a Matildas’ high performance program in the lead up to the event, and community engagement activities to encourage more participation in football by women and girls.

“The Government is looking forward to harnessing the opportunities that hosting this event presents to inspire even more girls and women to participate in football and sport, and to make playing sport and exercising a big part of their lives,” Minister Colbeck said.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 will be played between 19 July and 20 August 2023.

Further details regarding the training sites announcement can be found here.

Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck, has joined aged care peak bodies Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) and Leading Age Services Australia (LASA) to encourage more visitors to return to residential aged care facilities across Australia.

“We know how important it is for aged care residents to see visitors, such as family, friends and members of their community in person” Minister Colbeck said.

“Personal contact is vital to maintaining the social, emotional and mental wellbeing of residents, reducing their social isolation and loneliness.

“We are also aware of the significant stress on a resident’s loved ones due to the extended restrictions over the last two years and new guidance means that visits can become more frequent and supported.

ACSA Chief Executive Officer Paul Sadler said aged care services have been working hard to keep residents connected with their loved ones.

“They know that regular contact is vital for residents and families and integral to maintaining their wellbeing,” Mr Sadler said.

“I am confident services are well-prepared and staff are keen to welcome visitors back in a safe manner.”

Support available for providers to increase visitation includes:

• Access to Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) kits from the National Medical Stockpile (NMS). Providers can use the RATs provided through the forward deployment process announced on 14 February 2022 to screen visitors. RATs from the NMS for this purpose should be provided to visitors free-of-charge;
• Workforce support through the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to assist during an outbreak. Providers can request ADF teams to screen and manage visitors, which will reduce the workload for existing staff.  A fact sheet has been released outlining the services which can be provided by ADF teams.
• Clear policy advice through the Interim Guidance on Managing Public Health Restrictions on Residential Aged Care Facilities on taking a least-restrictive, risk-based approach to outbreak management; and 
• The Australian Government committed an additional $34.4 million over four years to expand the Community Visitor Scheme (CVS) – now a total investment of $113.99 million. The program expands the number of CVS volunteers to over 17,800 places to support senior Australians with friendship and companionship.

The Department of Health is also currently working with the aged care sector to develop opportunities to actively support the re-engagement of volunteers and to encouraging new volunteers to provide companionship and emotional support to senior Australians.

The “Partners in Care” Program, which provides training in COVID-19 safe practices, infection control and hygiene to enable family to continue visiting their relatives during a COVID outbreak, is being updated for utilisation by all RACFs.

This is a key component of facilitating safe access to visitors during outbreaks.

LASA Chief Executive Officer Sean Rooney said the recent interim guidance released by the Department of Health has made a big difference in how providers and public health units view access by visitors.

“We have seen a reduction in the length of time for lockdowns and isolation, and access by essential visitors is also being supported,” Mr Rooney said.

Aged care providers can access a range of information about support available from the Australian Government at www.health.gov.au on the Newsletters and alerts for the aged care sector page.

The Morrison Government has opened a $25.5 million funding round for critical infrastructure projects at Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) to support these services to continue their critical work.

The Service Maintenance Program (SMP), which provides funding for repairs, maintenance and minor upgrades for ACCHS is part of a $1 billion national commitment to help achieve Closing the Gap (CTG) Outcomes, and part of the $254.4 million CTG health infrastructure measure announced by the Prime Minister in August 2021.

Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the funding round will give priority to projects related to ventilation and infection control.

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said that ACCHS are a core part of the Australian health system, delivering comprehensive primary health care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 

 “ACCHS set the benchmark for delivering holistic, culturally safe and responsive care and services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities and have played a major role in the Government’s response to COVID-19. This funding will improve their facilities so they can maintain the high level of care they offer their communities”, Minister Hunt said.

“These grants help ensure fit-for-purpose health infrastructure, which is integral to closing the gap in life expectancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”

The SMP and the Major Capital Program make up the Closing the Gap health infrastructure measure.  The opening of the Major Capital Program, which will fund the building and purchase of health clinics and staff housing, as well as major renovations, is due to be announced shortly.

Minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt, said the funding round announced today showed the Government was serious about closing the gap in health outcomes and life expectancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“This investment in the ACCHS sector is a key component of the Government’s commitment to closing the gap through improved health infrastructure,” Minister Wyatt said.

“Key to making real progress, and one of the fundamental principles in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, is to work in true partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders.

“Accordingly, we worked in partnership with the ACCHS sector, through the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), to co-design these grant opportunities”.

Lead Convenor of the Coalition of Peaks and CEO of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Ms Pat Turner, said, “NACCHO has advocated for a long time for increased funding for infrastructure for the health sector and this funding supports and recognises the critical role that ACCHS play in the Australian primary health care architecture”.

“I am pleased to see that this funding is being delivered in line with the Priority Reforms in the National Agreement, where programs and services are developed in partnership with our peoples and where funding is delivered through our community-controlled organisations”.

Information about the SMP grant opportunity can be found on GrantConnect.

The Morrison Government continues to prioritise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and ageing outcomes, providing $781.1 million in the 2021-22 Budget and ongoing funding through the Indigenous Australians Health Programme of more than $4 billion from 2021-22 to 2024-25 to deliver culturally appropriate initiatives to increase access to health care and improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The Morrison Government is taking immediate action to sanction Russian individuals, organisations and banks as part of the international effort to impose a sharp cost on Russia for its unprovoked and unacceptable aggression against Ukraine.

Under a first phase, we will impose travel bans and targeted financial sanctions on eight members of Russia’s Security Council. The Council bears responsibility for the current phase of the invasion by providing policy advice and justification to President Putin’s unilateral declaration recognising the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic.

Targeted financial sanctions will mean Australian individuals and entities cannot do business with the following banks: Rossiya Bank, Promsvyazbank, IS Bank, Genbank and the Black Sea Bank for Development and Reconstruction. This is in addition to restrictions on Australians investing in the state development bank VEB.

We will amend the Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011 to extend existing sanctions that apply to Crimea and Sevastopol to Donetsk and Luhansk. This will impose strong economic sanctions in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk prohibiting trade in the transport, energy, telecommunications, and oil, gas and minerals sectors.

We will also amend the Regulations to significantly broaden the scope of people and entities that Australia can list for sanctions to include those of “strategic and economic significance to Russia”. We are working with our partners to identify additional individuals who will be subject to these sanctions.

In taking these actions, we are in alignment with our key partners, the United States and the United Kingdom.

This is the beginning of our sanctions process, as we remain deeply concerned that Russia is escalating its aggression. We are determined to work with responsible nations worldwide to ensure any further invasion by Russia against its smaller, democratic neighbour incurs the high cost it deserves.

All Ukrainian nationals in Australia with a visa that is due to expire up to 30 June, will be given an automatic extension for six months.

Outstanding visa applications from Ukrainian citizens, which number approximately 430, will be prioritised and fast tracked for a decision by immigration officials, as soon as possible.

Regarding sanctions, we will not hesitate to further amend the Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011 to expand sanctions as necessary, and already have a wider package of sanctions on persons and entities in reserve should Russia escalate its unlawful conduct in Eastern Ukraine.

We welcome the actions taken by other likeminded countries who want to see a stable international order, notably Germany which has suspended the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project.