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Australia’s contribution to the Solomons International Assistance Force

This week, we mark the return of the final Australian members deployed under the Solomons International Assistance Force (SIAF), after supporting the successful delivery of the 2023 Pacific Games and 2024 Joint Elections.

The SIAF was established after the Australian Federal Police and Australian Defence Force responded within 24 hours to Solomon Islands’ call for support in 2021.

Over the last three years, more than 1,600 Australian personnel have deployed to Solomon Islands, to work alongside military and police from Fiji, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand in support of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF).

This is part of a tradition of Pacific forces working together to maintain peace and security, and respond to crises in our region.

AFP personnel will continue working in Solomon Islands with RSIPF counterparts providing mentorship, delivering assistance for major operations, and boosting capabilities through targeted training and exchange programs.

Our Defence Cooperation Program will continue partnering with the RSIPF to boost its maritime security, explosive ordnance disposal, infrastructure and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities.

As Solomon Islands’ number one security partner, Australia is honoured to have served alongside our Pacific partners as part of SIAF and we will continue to support Solomon Islands’ priorities.

Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP:

“Australia has been proud to work with Solomon Islands as its security partner of choice, including by responding quickly to Solomon Islands’ needs through our Bilateral Security Treaty.
“Australia will continue working with the RSIPF to boost its maritime security, explosive ordnance disposal, border security, band, infrastructure, education and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities”.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong:

“As Pacific family, we will always step in to help each other, and Australia is honoured to have served alongside our Pacific partners as part of the Solomons International Assistance Force.
“We share a vision for a peaceful, stable, prosperous and unified region, where security is the shared responsibility of Pacific Islands Forum members.”

Attorney-General the Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP:

“The Solomons International Assistance Force has worked side by side with the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force to strengthen law and order, support major events and build Pacific policing capacity.
“Off the back of the successful Pacific Games in 2023 and safe and secure Joint Elections in 2024 the Australian Federal Police will continue to build on its strong partnership with the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force through our Policing Partnership Program.”

Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP:

“The Solomons International Assistance Force has again proved the Pacific Islands Forum family is best placed to meet the security challenges facing the region, with Pacific police and defence forces working side by side to build capability together.
“This was also a practical example of what Prime Minister Manele has set out in his three-tier approach to Solomon Islands’ security.”

Back to basics education critical to combating disastrous NAPLAN results made worse by Labor’s failed school reforms

The disastrous 2024 NAPLAN results show there is a national crisis in Australian schools, compounded by Labor’s failed school reform agenda.

This academic scorecard reflects the dire state of school education across the nation.

With one third of students continuing to fail NAPLAN, the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority’s claim these “stable” results are “an important achievement” is an embarrassment.

Across the four NAPLAN test areas of reading, writing, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy, Year 9 students fared the worst, with 35.3 per cent failing to reach minimum standards of proficiency, falling into either the ‘developing’ or ‘needs additional support’ categories.

The Albanese government has failed to deliver the national school reforms it promised and Australian children and their families are paying the price. Rather than put students first, Education Minister Jason Clare has become embroiled in a school funding war with the states which is a mess of Labor’s own making.

Delivering a back to basics education sharply focused on literacy and numeracy, underpinned by explicit teaching and a knowledge-rich, common sense curriculum, is critical to raising school standards.

It is shocking so many young Australians do not reach minimum standards of literacy and numeracy. Getting back to basics also means ridding the classroom of indoctrination and other activist causes.

Every child deserves to reach his or her best potential. That is why it is vital to support our nation’s hard working educators with evidence-based teaching resources so they can excel in the classroom.

New data confirms primary care crisis under Albanese Government

Health Minister Mark Butler has been caught lying to Australians as the Government quietly released new data, which proves bulk billing is collapsing under Labor’s watch.

Published by the Health Department on 12 August 2024, this data shows the GP bulk billing rate decreased over the 2023-24 financial year by a further 3% to 77.3%. When the Coalition left government, the bulk billing rate was 88.5%.

The number of bulk billed GP services provided to Australians also decreased by 2.4 million in comparison to the previous year.

At the same time, the out-of-pocket costs incurred by non-bulk billed patients rose by 5.5%. This backs up research from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, which shows Australians are paying the largest percentage of GP fees on record.

This concerning new data was published on the same day that the Health Minister falsely reassured South Australians listening to 5AA radio that “bulk billing is turning around.”

Shadow Minister for Health, Senator Anne Ruston said that despite the Minister’s misleading rhetoric, the data clearly shows that it has only become harder and more expensive to see a doctor.

“If the Minister seriously thinks his government has made it easier to see a doctor, he is completely out of touch with reality.

“This past financial year, Australians’ access to bulk billed GP services has been severely reduced. At the same time, it has literally never been more expensive to pay for a non-bulk billed appointment.

“In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, Australian families are feeling the pain of increased out of pocket costs and we know many have been forced to choose between seeing their doctor or paying the bills,” Shadow Minister Ruston said.

Labor’s primary care crisis is having serious flow-on consequences for our entire health system, as further demand is being pushed down the line to overrun hospitals across the country.

The Albanese Labor Government is plainly failing to ensure Australians have affordable and ready access to essential healthcare.

3G delay decision a result of Albanese Government mishandling

Today’s delay of the 3G shutdown is a direct consequence of the mishandling of the issue by the Albanese Government.

As we have been highlighting for months, the Government was too slow to act on the warning signs, and significant responsibility for the delay sits clearly at the doorstop of the Communications Minister.

In July, we said that due to the Albanese Government’s gross incompetence it now appears highly likely that the 3G shutdown will have to be delayed. That decision has been confirmed today.

The Government was clearly disinterested in the issue and were seen to be washing their hands of the issue until what has been an untidy, last-minute scramble as the shutdown deadline loomed.

It took too long to respond to the warnings that started coming in over a year ago.

An IT expert told the recent Senate inquiry into the 3G shutdown that he wrote to the Communications Minister in June last year to warn her about risks of 4G phones being unable to call triple zero. Optus was also highlighting problems to the Government, back in July.

The Senate inquiry also heard powerful evidence about the risks of the shutdown to people with various devices, including medical and fire alarms.

Telstra and Optus have today confirmed they will delay the shutdown of their 3G networks until 28 October. Telstra had been due to shut down its 3G network in about two weeks, while Optus was due to follow in September.

We welcome the plans which Telstra and Optus have announced, including a public safety campaign for those still relying on the 3G network.

The freeing up of 3G spectrum for use in other productive telecommunications uses is an important reform, which was first announced five years ago.

The Communications Minister must ensure that the Albanese Government works hand-in-glove with the telecommunications sector and public to ensure the 3G transition is smooth and successful.

Labor sending jobs for mates through post

The Albanese Labor Government has continued its record of hypocrisy in appointing Labor mates to Government Boards.

Today’s announcement that failed former Labor Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk would be appointed to the board of Australia Post is treating Australians like mugs.

Ms Palaszczuk might be famous for willing to attend the opening of an envelope, but she has now been appointed to oversee a service millions of Australians rely on to deliver their packages and letters.

Having her own colleagues disown her in Queensland, the Albanese Labor Government has rewarded Ms Palaszczuk’s terrible performance with a board role at the taxpayers’ expense.

Given Ms Palaszczuk led a government that was more focused on itself than it was focused on dealing with the cost of the living crisis, the housing crisis, and the crime crisis that are facing Queenslanders, can Australians expect the same level of service at Australia Post?

In Opposition, Michelle Rowland said ‘Australia Post is a respected national service that should not be dragged into the mud by political appointments.’ Her actions speak louder than her words.

“This is just rank hypocrisy, writ-large, made worse by the fact that the Albanese Government has appointed a failed and unpopular former Queensland Premier,” Shadow Minister for Communications David Coleman said.

“Australia Post is going through a significant reform process in an era of change and the last thing the board needs is for the Government to appoint one of its Labor mates whose poor record in public administration speaks for itself.”

The Government has waited until Friday to slip this announcement out to avoid the scrutiny of a parliamentary sitting week.

Shadow Minister for Finance, Senator the Hon Jane Hume said that this is yet another example of Labor’s jobs for mates hypocrisy.

“When Minister Gallagher announced her review into public sector board appointments back in February 2023, she said it was “all about putting an end to the jobs for mates culture”.

“Yet this review was provided to the Government over a year ago, and it still has not been published.

“If the Albanese Government was really committed to transparency, Minister Gallagher would release the review and explain why she has sat on it for over a year.”

Community comes together as Wallsend celebrates milestone moment

More than 7500 people enjoyed the sights, sounds and side shows of the family-friendly festival that helped mark the 150th anniversary of Wallsend being declared a municipality.

Uncle Alex Nean provided a special Welcome to Country on the main stage celebrating the area’s rich Indigenous heritage, before Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes officially opened proceedings for City of Newcastle’s historic event yesterday.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes with Uncle Alex Nean and his dancers on Nelson Street for Wallsend’s 150^th anniversary celebration.The large crowd was spoilt for choice throughout the celebration with a variety of entertainment on two stages, dance schools, DJs and food from around the world, including Germany, Tibet, Turkey and China.

Thirty-five local businesses embraced the opportunity to take part in the celebration, with market stalls lining Nelson Street, reminiscent of the former Wallsend Winter Fair.

The Wallsend Historical Society gave an insight into the past with guided walks, while festival goers took a step back in time thanks to historical costumes and a penny farthing demonstration.

The youngest visitors were able to choose between graffiti and street art workshops at Wallsend Park, face painting, rides, a Fire and Rescue display and a messy play session, complete with cake smashing.

When the sun went down, stories of Wallsend’s rich history were projected onto buildings through a collection of photographs.

Cr Nelmes said it was important to celebrate Wallsend’s major role in the development and growth of Newcastle.

“Wallsend started as a mining colony with some of the best coal in Australia and has emerged as a multicultural hub that attracts families from all over the world,” Cr Nelmes said.

“City of Newcastle ensured Wallsend was ready to mark this significant milestone with extensive road resurfacing on Nelson Street, as well as a pressure cleaning campaign on the footpaths and around the 136-year-old rotunda.

“It was fantastic to see so many members of our community and business owners join together yesterday to mark this significant milestone acknowledging Wallsend’s history, which stretches back tens of thousands of years and includes being declared a municipality in 1874.”

The 150th anniversary event was supported through the NSW Government’s Vibrant Streets Program.

Community invited to dive into consultation on year-round pool facility

Locals are being invited to help shape the delivery of Newcastle’s first indoor public pool as City of Newcastle welcomes swimmers back into the water at Lambton today for the new season.

City of Newcastle will launch its consultation with a workshop at Lambton Park War Memorial Swimming Centre from 11am to 4pm on 29 August, which will give community members a chance to provide feedback on the proposed year-round pool facility.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, community members and BlueFit representatives celebrate the reopening of Lambton Park War Memorial Swimming Centre today and the upcoming community consultation on the year-round facility.A temporary “ideas wall” will be set up on site until 20 October so pool users can share their views during their next visit, while community members can also have their say online via City of Newcastle’s website.

Today marks the start of the extended swimming season at Lambton Park War Memorial Swimming Centre, with City of Newcastle’s pools at Wallsend, Mayfield, Stockton and Beresfield reopening at the beginning of the September school holidays.

Creating a year-round pool facility at Lambton is a priority of City of Newcastle’s Inland Pools Strategy 2043, which sets out to ensure Newcastle’s network of public swimming pools are fit for purpose in the long term.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said it was important to hear from a variety of community members on their aspirations for the city’s first public year-round pool facility.

“We have invested more than $5 million upgrading and $2 million maintaining the city’s public pool network during the past few years to ensure they continue to meet the expectations and evolving needs of our community,” Cr Nelmes said.

“We want to make sure the community shapes the direction and decision-making for our inland pools, including the delivery of a year-round pool facility at Lambton.

“Swimming and aquatic recreation are intrinsic to our community’s way of life. The addition of a year-round pool facility at Lambton Park War Memorial Swimming Centre will ensure we can enhance our learn-to-swim programming and continue improving water safety across our region.

“I look forward to hearing from our community on how they think this new facility could look and feel, and what features it might include.”

Community members jumping into Lambton pool Keen swimmers jumping back into the water at Lambton Park War Memorial Swimming Center

City of Newcastle’s pools experienced their busiest season in almost 30 years, attracting around 450,000 visitors during 2023/24.

A busy program of maintenance and upgrades have been completed across the five pools during the winter closure to prepare for the return of swimmers, including safety upgrades, extensive re-painting, and maintenance of pool tiles and promenades.

Almost $1.5 million has also been invested into new heat pumps and solar matting at the Mayfield and Wallsend pools, with installation to be completed in time for the new season.

Cr Nelmes said the heating upgrades will help regulate the water temperature at the two pools during the cooler months of the swimming season, with the pools utilised for 30 weeks from the start of the September school holidays through to the end of the April school holidays each year.

An additional project to replace the existing solar heating system at Beresfield pool will be undertaken next year as part of a $220,000 grant received from the NSW Government’s Local Small Commitments Allocation program.

Pawsome day out on the new Sydney Metro

Accredited assistance dogs and their owners tested out the new Crows Nest Station on the Metro City line to make sure Australia’s only fully-accessible railway is up to scratch.

A group of 20 visitors from the Guide Dogs NSW/ACT team, including half who are blind or have low vision, and six guide dogs attended the outing to familiarise themselves with the new station which is located close to the Guide Dogs NSW head office.

The preview of the brand new station ahead of opening day allowed the group to understand the layout of the station, positioning of escalators and lifts as well as the location of facilities like customer help and emergency points at their own pace.

Sydney Metro will be fully accessible from day one. Each station is built with people in wheelchairs, parents with prams and people with accessibility requirements in mind.

The accessible features of Sydney Metro stations and trains include:

Level and gap-free access between platforms and trains, meaning no more ‘step’ into a trains;
Australian-first technology in platform screen doors at every station to keep people and objects safely away from the tracks;
Digital screens and interactive kiosks at stations to inform passengers of when the next service is;
Hearing loop services;
Braille signage;
Lifts at all stations;
Audio and video help points;
Tactile flooring;
Accessible toilets;
Kerb ramps and accessible kiss-and-ride drop-off/pick-up points;
Indicator lighting and sounding chimes to let passengers know when platform screen doors are opening and closing;

Each metro train has two wheelchair spaces per carriage as well as dedicated priority seating for those with accessibility requirements. There are also two multi-purpose areas for prams, luggage and bicycles.

When Sydney Metro City opens, fast and reliable metro services will arrive every four minutes in the peak at new stations located at Crows Nest, Victoria Cross in North Sydney, Barangaroo, Martin Place, Gadigal in the Sydney CBD, Central, Waterloo and Sydenham.

Passengers will benefit from fully accessible transport hubs, featuring 54 new lifts and 126 escalators to keep people moving between station entrances on the surface and platforms below ground.

The new city stations will facilitate the seamless movement of up to 37,000 people in the morning peak, with more than 264,000 trips expected to be taken on the line between Tallawong and Sydenham on a typical weekday.

While animals are not permitted at metro stations or able to travel on metro trains, assistance animals with a valid form of accreditation are allowed on all public transport in NSW.

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

“What a treat it was to welcome our Guide Dog NSW/ACT neighbours to Crows Nest Metro Station to experience their new Metro Station ahead of opening day.

“31,400 people are expected to tap in and out of Crows Nest Metro station each day. From day one, Crows Nest and every station on the new Metro will be fully accessible for everyone jumping on board.

“Safety, reliability and accessibility are our three biggest priorities for Metro. From Australian-first technology in the platform screen doors to the no gap step onto trains, Metro is a service that everybody – and their assistance dog if they have one – can safely enjoy.

Minister for Disability Inclusion Kate Washington said:

“The opening of the Sydney Metro will be a game changer for people with disabilities in NSW.

“Importantly, more people in our community will be able to use the Metro without having to ask for help.

“Because the Metro is accessible, travelling is safer and easier for every single passenger.

“It’s such a treat to see assistance dogs riding the Metro and having a paw-sitive experience.”

Jennifer Moon Guide Dogs NSW/ACT Principal Advisor/ Manager – Access & Stakeholder Engagement said:

“We are really supportive of Sydney Metro and the NSW Government’s commitment to ensuring a more accessible transport system including the work at Crows Nest Station.

“Access to transport for the whole community is vital so we are really excited that Sydney Metro and NSW Government have made it a strong focus throughout this project so everyone can travel freely, seamlessly and independently.

“As well as removing hazards and implementing important accessibility features, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT has also been working closely with the Crows Nest frontline staff to train them on access rights and the support or assistance they can provide individuals who are travelling with accessibility requirements.

“It was such a pleasure to visit the new station with some of our clients prior to the opening, providing them with the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the space and all their feedback so far has been fantastic. This project is a really positive step towards a truly accessible and inclusive transport system for those living with low vision and blindness.”

NSW Government buoys coastal safety and rescue efforts with $380,000 investment

The Minns Labor Government has today announced $380,000 in rescue capability and communication grants to enhance the safety and well-being of our coastal communities.

The Water Safety Communications Grant, totalling $300,000, will fund a pilot water safety messaging campaign coordinated by Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA). This initiative, known as the “Stop. Look. Stay Alive.” campaign, will see SLSA work with other water safety organisations to deliver a collaborative campaign that promotes consistent water safety messaging across multiple water-related activities and demographics throughout NSW.

The multi-organisation campaign aims to improve awareness of water safety risks, promote water-safe behaviour and enhance overall water safety outcomes in the community.

The NSW Government is also enhancing the existing Rescue Capability Grant with $80,000 to fund the installation of rescue tubes at Emergency Response Beacon (ERB) locations along the NSW coast. This initiative, managed by Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW), aims to boost safety and rescue capability on the NSW coast, particularly at remote and unpatrolled locations.

The rescue tubes will be alarmed and monitored, providing immediate notification to SLSNSW when a tube is deployed.

In addition to these advancements, SLSNSW is developing an Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) capability that can be rapidly deployed upon activation and controlled from a remote operation centre, significantly expanding the reach and speed of emergency response.

This Drone in a Box (DIAB) capability is currently a prototype and is the next step in establishing long-range, beyond visual line of sight operations under development with and funded by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development through the Shark Management Program. If testing proves successful, a DIAB would have the capability to be stationed at various locations across the state, offering the ability to remotely launch and utilise a drone without delay from an established control centre.

Currently, drones operate visually within 1 kilometre of the operator depending on weather conditions. Testing is currently underway on the DIAB, which can travel up to 5 kilometres from its base and remain in the air for up to 40 minutes.

Existing drone technology has already been deployed to 50 beaches and last year recorded more than 42,000 flights, 11,000 flight hours and 200,000 km flown to make NSW beaches safer.

The expansion of this life saving technology comes after the Minister for Emergency Services convened a roundtable on coastal water safety in March, in response to an increase in coastal drownings at unpatrolled locations over recent years.

Addressing the number of coastal deaths in unpatrolled and isolated locations is a key priority for the NSW Government. These grants are part of the record $71.2 million investment made in Surf Life Saving NSW over the four years from 2023-24 to 2026-27.

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:

“The rise in coastal drownings at unpatrolled beaches is deeply concerning and this funding represents our proactive approach to addressing this issue head-on.”

“Our investment in the ‘Stop. Look. Stay Alive.’ campaign underscores our commitment to ensuring every person who enjoys our beautiful coastline does so with a clear understanding of water safety.”

“It’s not just about better emergency response – water safety is a shared responsibility that requires a united effort to get the message out to our diverse communities. Building awareness in communities and our wider investment in preventative actions all contribute to our efforts to save lives.”

“The installation of alarmed rescue tubes on Emergency Rescue Beacons is a game-changer in our efforts to enhance coastal water safety at unpatrolled locations, giving a first responder access to a vital floatation device if they decide to attempt a rescue.”

“The new Drone in a Box (DIAB) capability could represent a significant leap forward in emergency response technology by enabling rapid, remote deployment and long-range operations.”

Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:

“This innovation builds on our existing drone fleet funded under our Shark Management Program, which has already made a tremendous impact across 50 NSW beaches.”

“We are working closely across Government and with Surf Life Saving NSW to ensure shark management on our beaches is an integral part of the overall water safety approach.”

“Significant investment is essential to delivering impactful, life-saving messages and technologies that will protect our community and visitors alike.”

“We are poised to enhance the safety of our coastline like never before.”

CEO of Surf Life Saving NSW Steve Pearce said:

“There’s no silver bullet for reducing drownings, but the suite of measures the Government is helping to fund will have an impact. A targeted public safety campaign along with expanding our drone technology this summer are positive initiatives.”

A better, fairer system to support NSW Police

The NSW Government has today announced the establishment of the new Enhanced Police Support Scheme (EPSS), commencing 1 October 2024 to better support NSW Police Officers who are injured at work.

Replacing the Police Blue Ribbon Insurance Scheme (PBRI), the Enhanced Police Support Scheme will be a new safety net for injured police officers and has been developed in close consultation with the Police Association of New South Wales.

The focus will be on injury prevention, rehabilitation and supporting officers to return to work, wherever possible.

The new EPSS will:

Streamline support for all injury management claims;
Improve support for recovery and return to work;
Address the significant concessional cap taxation issues; and
Provide an improved safety net to support officers and their families.

The EPSS will provide officers with weekly workers’ compensation as well as supplementary support payments for eligible officers who are injured on duty for up to seven years, with the possibility of extension for up to an additional three years in cases of catastrophic exceptional circumstances.

The new scheme puts an end to one of the most financially complex, onerous and unfair imposts imposed on NSW police for the past decade.

Under the PBRI, insurance premiums to protect officers if they get sick or injured at work were paid by the government with a small officer contribution (1.8 per cent of salary).

The amount was paid into each officer’s superannuation account, which was immediately transferred out to the insurer. When the Australian Tax Office looks at each officer’s income, they count the extra super contributions made for their insurance as income.

This meant police officers’ incomes were artificially inflated, making them look higher than they actually are.

Many police officers end up breaching high income thresholds that cut them off from benefits they may have been entitled to including:

Loss of means tested Commonwealth benefits such as health rebates, childcare rebates and parental leave, entitlements shared by every other Australian dependent on income;
Loss of family tax benefits;
Officers receiving child support payments from a former partner were severely penalised as the level of child support is set according to inflated income which counted contributions for PBRI;
Officers’ superannuation accounts inflated by PBRI contributions so that they breach the cap on concessional superannuation tax rates. This means their normal super contributions are taxable at a higher rate. Officers receive large tax bills from the ATO for just doing their jobs and receiving normal employer super contributions; and
Officers unable to save for retirement by making additional super contributions, making NSW police the only workers in Australia denied the right to do this at the tax rate shared by all others.

The new EPSS scheme fixes those problems for NSW police.

The EPSS will support officers in times of illness and injury and will continue to provide cover for on- and off-duty injuries or if an officer is killed at work.

Police officers will continue to contribute 1.8 per cent of their salary towards the new scheme.

An information hotline has been set up within NSWPF to provide information to all officers on the new scheme.

Attributable to Yasmin Catley, Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism:

“This is a great day for NSW police. Everywhere I have travelled since becoming Minister, police officers have pleaded with me about this dreadfully unfair financial penalty they were being slugged with.

“The Police Association of NSW has fought for more than a decade to get rid of this unfair scheme. Today they have achieved that goal. I couldn’t be prouder of the Minns Government for the way we have worked with them to achieve that.

“From October 1 we will have a scheme that makes taking care of our sick and injured police its top priority, helping them recover and come back to work – or taking care of them if they cannot.

“The significant concessional superannuation tax impacts NSW police have endured for more than a decade is being addressed.

“This is one of the greatest reforms for NSW cops in decades and I’m brimming with pride that by working with the NSWPF and Commissioner Karen Webb and the Police Association of NSW, together we’ve been able to achieve this result for our police.”