Category: Australian News

Today’s Antarctic announcement from the Morrison Government is a political ploy that provides no certainty for Tasmania’s globally significant science community and is a distraction from the real threat facing the Antarctic: climate change. 

Greens Senator for lutruwita/Tasmania, Peter Whish-Wilson said:

“The Government has a penchant for big announcements and cutting ribbons but not for investing in people and critical science programs.
 

“The Coalition has spent the last decade ignoring numerous strategic reviews and gutting Tasmania’s contribution to Australian Antarctic science. 

“In this term of parliament the Government has been called out specifically for its lack of coordination and strategic approach in funding Antarctic science programs, which has created uncertainty in the Tasmanian science community and fragmented globally significant Antarctic research. 

“In 2016 the Coalition tried to sack 300 scientists, many of them globally significant researchers in the Southern Ocean and Antarctic science based in Tasmania.

“All the runways, machines, boats, and buildings amount to nothing unless you invest in the people utilising them, and the scientific programs they are needed for. 

“The Government’s dismal track record speaks for itself. Don’t be conned by yet another big election promise from a Government facing defeat at the polls.

“I also question the validity of the $804 million announcement today as “new” funds. In 2016 $413.1 million was earmarked for investment starting from 2020‑21 – this was announced again in 2019, and again today it seems. We also know the Government’s doomed runway project spared $300 million of expenditure into the region – making part of today’s funding announcement a reappropriation of funds from a broken election promise. 

“Science is the currency of the Antarctic Treaty and if Scott Morrison wants to secure Australia’s leadership role in the region he should properly fund Tasmanian scientific efforts. 

“If you want to act on security and on protecting Antarctica then act on the biggest threat this region faces: climate change. Take real action to stop warming oceans and unstable ice sheets, and act on the loss of krill and biodiversity. 

“Climate change is the biggest threat to Antarctica yet our Government is an international embarrassment on climate action, currently looking to approve 114 new fossil fuel projects. No amount of spin will distract from that.”

The swift parrot is on the brink of extinction, and only hundreds of birds exist. The report released today by the Wilderness Society, BirdLife Tasmania and the Tree Projects calls on the State Government to take the essential step needed to save the swift parrot – scrapping Tasmania’s annual minimum sawlog quota. 

The Report’s Protection Plan builds on the work of ANU scientists and conservationists who have confirmed the biggest threat to the critically endangered swift parrot’s survival is native forest logging. This parrot’s future hinges on the reduction, or removal, of Forestry Tasmania’s mandated 137,000 cubic metre annual sawlog target. 

Greens senator for lutruwita/Tasmania, Peter Whish-Wilson said:

“Instead of prioritising the protection of this nationally significant and critically endangered species, Scott Morrison is politicising forestry and looking set to scrap the federal recovery plan for the swift parrot.
 
“A real leader would be protecting what makes this place special, its biodiversity and iconic species. Instead, he is championing climate-denying forest destruction and pushing species like the swift parrot towards extinction.
 
“Federal Labor have been silent on the protection of lutruwita/Tasmania’s forests.
 
“In the balance of power after the federal election the Greens will push the next Government and its state counterparts to support an end to native forest logging in Tasmania – like we’ve seen in WA and Victoria. It’s the right thing to do for the climate and biodiversity restoration, and it’s what needed to protect critically endangered species like the swift parrot.”

Did you see the news that broke last week following the Greens questioning in the Senate? The State and Federal Liberal Governments have taken the first steps towards establishing fish farms in Commonwealth waters, with a trial site selected just 3-6 nautical miles off the coast of Burnie. If successful, this trial could lead to the industrialisation of our seas in Bass Strait, waters that are already under pressure from climate change, pollution, habitat loss and oil and gas drilling.  

The Government opened public submissions for this project on February 4, but typically kept it quiet. Trialling offshore salmon farming in Commonwealth waters is a sensitive and significant matter of public interest. The void of information regarding this project shows clearly that it has not been communicated in good faith with the Tasmanian public. This is fuelling divisions within the community over what is already a controversial and highly emotive issue. The secrecy and lack of detail around this project may well be deliberate given the track record of atrocious regulation of this industry, and the contempt this Government has shown those who have demanded transparency and accountability from it.

Alarmingly public submissions for the project close this Thursday 24 February, and without the Greens in parliament we would have missed this small window to respond to the project entirely. I wrote to the Federal Minister seeking an extension to the window of opportunity for the public to make submissions, and that request was declined. This failure to extend the deadline for public submissions will inevitably jeopardise this project moving forward, at a time when public confidence in the industry is at an all-time low. 

Extending the deadline for public submissions and providing more information about the project would have demonstrated that industry and government were listening to the community regarding this planned trial. The salmon industry repeatedly gets taxpayer dollars to help fund its commercial activities and this project won’t be any different. We have every right to expect full transparency.

Just last week the Morrison Government responded six years late to a critical Senate Inquiry report on the regulation of the fin-fish aquaculture industry in Tasmania, staging the response slyly alongside its own government-led report on supporting the future of aquaculture. The Federal Government is required to respond to Senate Inquiry reports within three months of them being tabled. Six years is a joke. I moved for the inquiry in 2015 because the regulation of the fin-fish aquaculture industry in Tasmania had been a total disaster. The State Minister and regulators had failed spectacularly to protect the environment, including matters of national environmental significance. It was only thanks to pressure from the Greens that the Federal Environment Department finally visited Macquarie Harbour in Tasmania which led to the Tasmanian EPA ordering Tassal to de-stock its Atlantic salmon fish pens.

There’s no doubt climate change is the single biggest threat to the Tasmanian salmon aquaculture industry. Shallow waterways like Macquarie Harbour and inshore Huon Valley have experienced mass fish mortalities from unprecedented warming water associated with the burning of fossil fuels and global warming, and just recently we saw 60,000 fish deaths in kanamaluka/River Tamar. Water temperature has obviously always fluctuated in this river, but the science tells us climate change is magnifying the frequency and intensity of warming events, leading to lower oxygen levels in our waterways and higher risks of pests and diseases that kill fish and marine life. This is exactly why the aquaculture industry is seeking to trial moving fish pens way offshore into deeper Commonwealth waters, but even this will fail if our oceans continue to warm. 

So where to next for this doomed industry that continues to prove time and time again that it cannot be trusted? As a taxpayer helping fund the industry, you have a right to have your say. If you care about our oceans and coastal communities, I encourage you to urgently make a submission via the Federal Governments Have Your Say website: https://haveyoursay.awe.gov.au/aquaculture-trial-site

I am very concerned about what the trial could lead to, considering the state government’s appalling track record in regulating the industry. The Government isn’t making any promises about moving salmon farms out of the state’s inshore waters. We should demand this pledge now. This trial is just an excuse to aggressively expand the profits of the salmon barons.

You can rest assured The Greens will continue to hold our Government, and this toxic industry to account. We will never stop fighting to protect the health and future of our waterways for lutruwita/Tasmania, its people and our future.

For the first time, more than 20,000 South Australians living in rural and remote communities will be able to access a range of bulk-billed primary health care services under an innovative Federal Coalition Government-funded initiative.

Patients in Lameroo, Wallaroo and Ceduna can now visit their local hospital to access bulk-billed GP consultations, appointments with allied health professionals and other nursing and midwifery services.

The initiative fills gaps in primary care provision in rural and remote South Australia by allowing Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) payments to be claimed for a range of services, through a funding boost provided by Federal Coalition Government.

States are generally not permitted to claim MBS funding for services delivered in their public hospitals, as the Federal Coalition Government already provides such funding through its national public hospitals funding.

The newly eligible sites, put forward by the SA Government and agreed by the Federal Government, are Ceduna District Health Service, Mallee Medical Practice at Lameroo, and Northern Yorke Peninsula Health Service at Wallaroo.

Making the announcement today in Adelaide, Federal Regional Health Minister, Dr David Gillespie said the three services support a significant number of people living not only in, but around these rural communities.

Joining Dr Gillespie and Member for Grey, Rowan Ramsey for the announcement, SA Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Stephen Wade, who said the initiative would increase primary care services available for rural patients and help to keep those services sustainable.

“The challenge of sustaining rural health services is no secret, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Minister Wade said.

“This is an innovative service model and once operational, will be the first time we have used it in South Australia.”

Mr Ramsey said the initiative was another way the Coalition Government was bridging the city-country divide in South Australia.

“The initiative recognises that many patients in small rural and remote towns have limited access to primary health care services and that in response to a lack of private practices, many rural and remote public hospitals have employed medical officers to make traditional GP services available,” Mr Ramsey said.

“I’m focussed on improving healthcare for local patients, and anything we can do to support health professionals to join or stay in local rural workforce, is a step in the right direction.”

“Since its introduction in 2006, this initiative has been a game changer for many small remote communities around the nation,” the Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, said.

“It has increased support for primary health care delivered in rural and remote public hospitals and health services in small communities, with major benefits for patients.”

Federal Member for Barker, Tony Pasin said he often heard that patients in the area had difficulties in accessing bulk-billing care.

“This is just another measure the Federal Government is using to improve access to care for patients in my area,” Mr Pasin said.

“I know this will be of great benefit to many patients.”

Under the initiative, South Australia must reinvest at least 70 per cent of the MBS funds in new services and improvements at approved eligible sites or outreach services.

Reinvestment of rebates into primary care services and providing incentives to doctors and other health professionals will attract them to live and work in the more remote parts of the state.

Rebates are reinvested according to local community needs and may include after hours and emergency primary care, locum support, mental health support services, allied health, nursing and midwifery support services, professional development, and new equipment to better deliver primary care. Reinvestment decisions are made using local governance arrangements.

In 2020–21, eligible sites collectively received approximately $16.2 million in additional revenue to improve access to primary care services in their communities.

Dr Gillespie also announced $3.7 million for the University of South Australia to create a targeted aged care allied health training site in Port Lincoln, and $1.94m for Flinders University to provide more training opportunities in Murray Bridge, Berri, and other sites in the Riverland Mallee Coorong region during his visit to South Australia.

Six Australian health and medical researchers are set to receive a share of $22.9 million, to further ground-breaking research that will improve health and treatment outcomes for Australians and their families.

The Morrison Government is investing $5.6 million to support five projects through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Partnership Project scheme. The research projects have also attracted more than $16.3 million from more than 60 funding partners, bringing the total to $21.9 million.

The Partnership Project scheme provides funding for researchers and partner organisations to work together to define research questions and undertake the research, which can lead to break throughs in treatment and prevention.

The University of Sydney, who will receive $1.2 million through the scheme, is working with the aged-care industry to improve the independence and safety of older people living with dementia in care homes. Their project will promote the implementation of person-centred support to dementia care in aged care homes.

Working with AIDS organisations, government health departments and peak bodies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island health and culturally and linguistically diverse communities, researchers at the University of New South Wales will receive $1.2 million to identify the barriers to the uptake of HIV prevention and treatment programs in Australia.

The project links HIV diagnoses from 1997-2025 with nine other national datasets to track and analyse missed clinical opportunities for HIV testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake and usage, HIV treatment uptake and adherence, and HIV-related morbidity and mortality.

Outcomes from their research will be used to develop tailored HIV programs, to achieve the elimination of HIV transmission in Australia.

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said by partnering researchers with organisations and experts in the field, means we can work together to achieve better health outcomes for Australians now and into the future.

“Australia continues to be at the forefront of medical research and these projects have the potential to increase not only our understanding of diseases, but to also revolutionise their treatment,” Minister Hunt said.

“Our Government continues to provide unprecedented support to health and medical research, as we back our best and brightest researchers to transform today’s ideas into breakthrough treatments for the patients of tomorrow.”

NHMRC CEO Professor Anne Kelso AO welcomed the additional support of all partners.

“The participation and support from partners are key to the success of these projects, enabling the research, ensuring it meets real-world needs and then applying the outcomes,” she said.

The Morrison Government is also providing $1 million to Macquarie University to support research into the chronic symptoms associated with exposure to mould and biotoxins to improve diagnosis, treatment and the management of symptoms.

This research will study both affected individuals and healthy controls, examining their blood, urine and sweat, along with other tests such as brain scans and environmental testing in their homes. This will help identify appropriate diagnostic tests that doctors can use.

The funding is provided through the NHMRC Targeted Call for Research into Biotoxin-related Illnesses and delivers on the Morrison Government’s commitment in response to the Inquiry into Biotoxin-related Illnesses in Australia.

The Morrison Government will send a clear international signal of Australia’s world-leading Antarctic leadership with an $804.4 million investment over the next ten years to strengthen our strategic and scientific capabilities in the region.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the package would both strengthen Australia’s national interests in Antarcticaand be a jobs boost for Australians through local procurement.

“The money we are investing in drone fleets, helicopters and other vehicles will enable us to explore areas of East Antarctica’s inland that no country has ever been able to reach before,” the Prime Minister said.

“My Government will continue to back our world-class scientists and expeditioners with the necessary funding and resources, because their research on the frozen continent and in the southern ocean is critically important to Australia’s future.

“Our ongoing investment in Antarctica will directly support jobs at home, with Australian businesses, contractors, medical suppliers and providores reaping the benefits of local procurement.

“Our $800 million commitment supports the next decade of Australia’s operations in Antarctica and provides more opportunities for local businesses across Australia that support this work, especially in Tasmania.”

The new measures include:

• $136.6 million to support Australia’s inland traverse capability, critical charting activities, mobile stations, environmental protection and other core activities
• $109 million to increase aerial and inland capability:
  • $60.6 million for drone fleets and other autonomous vehicles able to map inaccessible and fragile areas of East Antarctic, establishing an ‘Antarctic eye’ with integrated censors and cameras feeding real-time information
  • $35 million for four new medium lift helicopters with a range of 550 kilometres that when launched from the Nuyina can access parts of the continent we could never reach previously
  • $13.6 million for capability development to further enhance Australia’s reach inland including investigations into modern intracontinental aeroplanes
• $44.2 million in additional shipping support to enable the RSV Nuyina to focus on extended science voyages
• $17.4 million for marine science in the Southern Ocean and a new state-of-the-art krill aquarium in Hobart
• $14.3 million for environmental management including a ‘Cleaner Antarctica Strategy’ to remove legacy waste and to establish new ‘geographic information system’ technology to support environmental management
• $7.4 million for research focused on Antarctic ice sheet science to build global understanding of climate change impacts – improving our ability to support Pacific partners to monitor information about climate and oceans, including sea level rise
• $3.4 million to enhance Australia’s international engagement to support the rules and norms of the Antarctic Treaty system and promote Australia’s leadership in Antarctic affairs

The new funding package also includes $92.2 million a year from 2026-27 to further support Antarctic activities.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women Marise Payne said the package would reinforce Australia’s commitment to the Antarctic Treaty system, and to promoting Tasmania as the gateway to East Antarctica.

“Our investments are a clear marker of our enduring commitment to the Antarctic Treaty system, its scientific foundations, and Australia’s leadership within it,” Minister Payne said.

“The investment will also strengthen Tasmania’s status as an international science hub and pave the way for more opportunities in the years ahead as we continue to work on further projects such as the Antarctic Science and Research Precinct under the Hobart City Deal.”

Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said the package will significantly enhance our scientific capability which is at the heart of our leadership within the Treaty system.

“When I sit down with world leaders to discuss the Antarctic and the Southern Ocean in the face of increasing pressures, the strategic importance of our scientific leadership is clear,” Minister Ley said.

“We need to ensure that the Antarctic remains a place of science and conservation, one that is free from conflict and which is protected from exploitation.

“Science is the key to that future. This investment, together with the window of discovery that is already being opened through RSV Nuyina, will reflect Australia’s commitment to our sovereignty in the Australian Antarctic Territory and its leading voice in the region.”

The Morrison Government will invest more than $86 million over five years to support the establishment of new plantations for our future wood supply.

The Government will partner with states and territories to deliver this through a grants program, backing in a key component of the National Forest Industries Plan.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that timber was a critical national resource and the Government was committed to securing its future supply.

“This program is about getting more trees in the ground and securing an Australian supply of timber for future generations,” said the Prime Minister.

“Australia has 1.77 million hectares of plantations and we want that to grow further, that’s why we’re making the largest investment of any Australian Government in this space for more than 30 years.

“Getting more trees in the right places will help to meet future demand for wood products, which at a global scale is expected to quadruple by 2050.

“The farming, fishing and forestry sectors are projected to be worth $84 billion in production value this year and my Government will keep doing everything we can to see that grow even further.”

Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud said this program would have long-lasting benefits for rural and regional communities.

“This program will create jobs in regional Australia, not just in the planting phase, but in 25 or 30 years’ time when that wood is harvested and processed into a truss, a timber frame or an engineered wood product,” Minister Littleproud said.

“We want to partner with states and territories who own and manage forestry resources to plan for the future and turbo-charge this industry.

“Forestry is a renewable, sustainable industry that continues to create jobs in the regions and delivers quality, Australian-made products for this country.”

Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries Jonno Duniam said that this commitment was a clear indication that only a Morrison Government could be trusted to back-in the future of the forestry sector.

“In contrast to the Labor party who are intent on shutting our sustainable, world-class forest industries down, we are focused on growing them,” Assistant Minister Duniam said.

“We have worked hand-in-hand with industry to address the immediate and long-term challenges facing this sector, and will continue to back them in every step of the way.

“Whether it is opening access to carbon credits, providing support following the Black Summer bushfires, or this important $86 million investment in growing our plantation estate, our Government will always support this sector and the rural communities that rely upon it.”

For more information on the program visit: www.awe.gov.au/agriculture-land/forestry

Australia welcomes back visitors from the rest of the world from today.

The first international flights carrying tourists are due to land across the country today, as Australia reopens its borders to double vaccinated arrivals.

The return of double vaccinated international visitors will reinvigorate Australia’s tourism sector, that supports 660,000 jobs and contributed $60.4 billion to the economy in 2018-19.

There are more than 1.23 million student, visitor and working holiday maker visa holders offshore who, if vaccinated, will be able to travel to Australia from 21 February 2022. Since November, 92,000 visitors, 80,000 international students, 35,000 skilled visa holders and 5,600 Working Holiday Makers have arrived in Australia.

Fifty-six international flights are due to arrive in Australia on Monday, including 27 into Sydney, from the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Japan and other destinations.

To celebrate the return of international arrivals, Australia has rolled out the welcome mat, with special events planned at Sydney International Airport.

The first visitors back in Sydney will be greeted with gifts of Vegemite and toy koalas and kangaroos, an iconic Surf Life Saving crew and a DJ playing Australia’s favourite tunes.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan said the return of international arrivals was an important step in Australia’s COVID-19 recovery.

“Australia’s health and economic response to the pandemic has been among the best in the world, with one of the highest vaccination rates and low mortality,” Mr Tehan said.

“We are successfully managing the pandemic and learning to live with the virus. Australians are travelling overseas, and we are welcoming international visitors to our country.

“International tourists will come here to see our iconic attractions, sample our world-leading food and drink, learn about our Indigenous culture, and enjoy the Australian way of life.

“Australia is the best country in the world and we’re excited to be sharing it with the rest of the world again.

Tourism Australia has launched a $40 million international marketing campaign to coincide with the reopening of our international borders as the first step in a long-term strategy to restart tourism to Australia, with further investment in tourism marketing campaigns internationally to come in the second half of the year.

Visa holders who are not fully vaccinated will still require a valid travel exemption to enter Australia, and will be subject to state and territory quarantine requirements.

Tasmania will share in the benefits of a $1 billion defence industry contract signed by the Morrison Government last year, with around 55 new jobs to be created at Wynyard-based manufacturing company Elphinstone.

Elphinstone will manufacture 45 turrets and hulls for the Australian Army’s new Huntsman howitzers, delivering a major boost to Tasmania’s defence industry.

This is part of a $1 billion defence contract for new self-propelled howitzers for the Australian Army which was last year awarded to Hanwha Defense Australia, based in Greater Geelong.

Elphinstone will complete the steel fabrication, machining and painting of the turrets and hulls at their Wynyard factory, before shipping them to Hanwha in Geelong where the Huntsman vehicles will be assembled.

The Prime Minister said this was a major vote of confidence in Elphinstone and Tasmania.

“My Government will always back Tasmanians and ensure they benefit from our significant investment in defence industry,” the Prime Minister said.

“After decades specialising in mining manufacturing capabilities, Elphinstone has secured its first defence contract – this is a big win for our highly skilled workers in Wynyard.

“As manufacturing ramps up, around 55 new jobs will be created for locals in north-west Tasmania, in so many roles, including boilermaker welders, painters, fitters, machinists and other trades.

“Tasmanians should be proud that they will be significant contributors to increasing the firepower and security of Australian artillery capability.

“My Government can always be trusted to keep our nation and our region safe and to protect our interests in a rapidly changing global environment.”

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said Australian industry will play a vital role delivering and sustaining the Huntsman howitzers.

“Right across the country we are backing our small and medium businesses and creating local jobs, and Elphinstone is a prime example of this commitment to grow our defence industry,” Minister Price said.

“Tasmania has a formidable reputation for exporting niche, high-quality products and services to the world.

“I have no doubt it will continue to make an outstanding contribution to our Government’s Defence programs, boosting statewide employment and economic opportunities.

“Our Defence investments are giving Elphinstone an important opportunity to diversify its manufacturing operations.

“Our decision to back Australian industry is a demonstration of our determination to ensure that we have the ability to maintain a lethal, relevant and effective sovereign defence capability in Australia.”

In addition to the manufacture of turrets and hulls, Elphinstone will also undertake structural repairs over the life of the howitzers, including design changes and modifications in the future.

The Australian Workers’ Union is calling on the Prime Minister to put David Littleproud’s disastrous new Agriculture Visa out of its misery, after it was revealed Asian nations are now formally withdrawing from even considering it.

Media reports today reveal The Philippines has formally withdrawn from discussions with other southeast Asian nations looking set to follow.

The Agriculture Visa, originally billed by Mr Littleproud as being more convenient for farmers due to containing even fewer safeguards than existing Pacific Island visas, has failed to attract the support of Asian nations.

The Australian Workers’ Union has opposed the introduction of the visa, arguing it would make already endemic levels of exploitation and abuse in the horticulture sector worse.

“The meetings we’ve had with ambassadors are confidential. But if there are nations now formally withdrawing from engagement with the visa I can confirm that is entirely consistent with the the tenor of the discussions we’ve been having. I would expect to see the others following suit shortly,” said AWU National Secretary Daniel Walton.

“Littleproud and his mates in the Nats have been bloviating and carrying on, accusing our union of treason and of being un-Australian. Well, the truly un-Australian position is to support the abuse of workers on Australian soil.

“Our union will always fight against the abuse and exploitation of workers in this country and if that means engaging with foreign embassies then that’s precisely what we’ll do.

“If Asian nations are rejecting this agriculture visa it’s not because they trust the AWU blindly. It’s because they’ve probably read the 11 independent reports since 2016 that have confirmed widespread abuse of foreign workers on Australian farms. Anyone who lightly dismisses this massive weight of evidence would be unethical, stupid, or both.

“I suspect no nation will want to expose their citizens to our horticulture sector until they believe the Australian Government is serious about ensuring proper safeguards.”