Category: Australian News

The Greens have slammed the Morrison Government’s 2021 national gas infrastructure plan as exposing its Net Zero 2050 pledge as a short term ruse to fool the US and UK in Glasgow.
Despite the IEA’s repeated calls for no new coal mines or gas fields to meet net zero by 2050, the plan is hoping to open three new gas basins (Beetaloo,  Gunnedah and North Bowen-Galilee basins) and build up to eleven new gas transmission pipelines spanning thousands of kilometres across the country.
The government’s gas plan doesn’t even look at the alternative to new supply, which is switching  homes and businesses away from gas, which will be far cheaper than building new pipelines, but create more jobs, save everyone money, reduce childhood asthma and help reverse the climate crisis
The plan makes no reference to net zero by 2050, demonstrating that the government isn’t even pretending to meet their own globally pledged aspirations.
The Greens’ policy is for net zero by 2035 as net zero by 2050 is too late for a developed country like Australia, but this new gas plan shows the government isn’t even committed to its own  weak target.
Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP said:
“The Morrison Government lied to the international community as well as the Australian public. Australia has no pathway to net zero, even by too-late 2050, and this plan is the proof.
“The rest of the world wants to cut methane, but Liberal and Labor want more gas.
“The International Energy Agency says no new oil, coal, or gas if we want to limit warming to 1.5 degrees. This plan for massive gas expansion locks in devastating global heating and it means climate catastrophe within our lifetimes.
“Labor and Liberal have both proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are captured by the gas corporations.
“If Labor are serious about climate action, they’ll join the Greens next week in the Senate to block fracking the NT at Beetaloo and Santos’ rorting of carbon capture and storage.
“With the Government in chaos, Labor should join with the Greens and strike while the iron is hot. Climate action could start in parliament next week; we don’t need to wait for an election.”
Senator Dorinda Cox, Greens spokesperson for Mining and Resources said:
“The government has put fracking in the NT at the centre of their gas plan. The Greens will support Traditional Owners to make sure these destructive gas plans never see the light of day.
“For over a decade, Traditional Owners have been clear: they don’t want fracking on their Country. Consent matters – and that has not been given by the First Nations communities that span the land earmarked for fracking.
“Public money should be spent on the services that make communities in the NT stronger, not funnelled to gas corporations to pollute their land and water. This plan will line the pockets of gas corporations instead of supporting Traditional Owners’ ability to live safely on land and On Country.
“This addiction to gas has infected the minds of decision makers in my home State of WA with the State Government there now showing signs of supporting the expansion of the destructive Scarborough project.
“Their blatant disregard for cultural heritage will not only pollute the planet but will permanently destroy the ancient Murajuga rock art.”

Australian Greens International Development spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has said that the emergence of the Omicron variant has put further pressure on Australia to co-sponsor an intellectual property waiver on Covid-19 vaccines at the World Trade Organization (WTO).
At its upcoming ministerial meetings, the WTO will consider the intellectual property waiver first proposed by India and South Africa more than one year ago.
Senator Faruqi said:
“The global Covid crisis continues to evolve but Australia is missing in action. Omicron has put further pressure on wealthy countries like Australia to step up and support vaccination across the world.
“It’s absolutely critical that Australia comes out in strong support of the intellectual property waiver as proposed by India and South Africa.
“By refusing to co-sponsor the waiver, Australia has taken the side of big pharmaceutical companies over the health and wellbeing of millions of people.
“In addition, Australia should substantially boost funding to the COVAX vaccine facility to ramp up vaccination in low-income countries. Our per capita contributions, to this point, have been miserly.”

CEO of the Aboriginal Family Legal Service Southern Queensland and Manly West mum Tabatha Young has been endorsed to contest the seat of Bonner at the next Federal Election for the Australian Labor Party.
Working with women and families who are facing Domestic Violence and the Child Protection System, Tabatha knows the impact Scott Morrison’s inability to walk the talk has had for the community.
Tabatha will be a fierce advocate for Government action supporting survivors of Domestic and Family Violence and funding for essential services to Bonner such as health and aged care.
“Scott Morrison has not taken responsibility for the inadequate services here in Bonner, with Gunda Pa providing only limited health services since the LNP closed the Wynnum Hospital. Bonner is being left behind when it comes to health care and essential services under Scott Morrison.”
“After the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, we have seen too little action taken by Scott Morrison for a sector in crisis. Even in our own backyard, the Macleay Ward at the Redlands Hospital has been converted into a dementia ward when we know those patients should be in a specialised care facility, not a hospital bed.”
“The people of Bonner deserve a representative who listens to them and is on their side. It’s time for a change here in Bonner.”
Senator Murray Watt said “Scott Morrison has given the community of Bonner nothing but political spin since he took on the job of Prime Minister. Tabatha is an authentic member of the Bonner community and will be a strong advocate as part of the Labor team in Brisbane.”
Labor Leader Anthony Albanese also welcomed Tabatha to the Labor team.
“Labor has a plan to fix our health system and create secure, local jobs here in Queensland and I need strong advocates on my team like Tabatha to help deliver Labor’s plan for Queensland.”
“Tabatha’s advocacy and experience will make her a strong representative for Bonner.”

From 1 December 2021, Australians with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) will have access to a new treatment option on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
The Morrison Government is expanding the list of Venclexta^® (venetoclax) for the treatment of AML, for use in combination with azacitidine.
AML is a type of cancer that appears suddenly and grows quickly. AML occurs when immature white blood cells called blasts become cancerous. These abnormal blast cells are known as leukaemia cells.
Because the leukaemia cells are immature and abnormal, they don’t carry out the usual infection-fighting role of white blood cells. In AML, changes in these cells prevent them from turning into mature blood cells, resulting in too many of them and too few mature blood cells, platelets and other white blood cells in the blood.
Venclexta^® targets and blocks the action of a specific protein within leukaemia cells called BCL-2. Blocking this protein helps to kill and reduce the number of cancer cells, and may slow the spread of the disease.
In 2021, almost 5,000 Australians were diagnosed with leukaemia. In Australia, it is estimated that around 1,100 people are diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) each year. AML becomes more common with age and mostly occurs after 65.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said having access to Venclexta^®, which is already listed on the PBS for other conditions, will give AML sufferers more treatment options and better outcomes.
“Around 340 Australian patients a year will benefit from this expanded listing, who without the PBS subsidy would may more than $88,800 per course of treatment. From 1 December, they’ll pay $41.30 per script or $6.60 with a concession card,” Minister Hunt said.
“Since 2013, the Coalition Government had approved more than 2,800 new or amended listings on the PBS. This represents an average of around 30 listings or amendments per month – or one each day – at an overall investment by the Government of $14 billion.
“Our Government’s commitment to ensuring Australians can access affordable medicines, when they need them, remains rock solid.”
This PBS listing has been recommended by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.

Families in Armstrong Creek, Barwon Heads and all across the Bellarine will have quicker and safer commutes to work, school and weekend sport under an Albanese Labor Government, thanks to a $125 million commitment to help build stage 2 of the Barwon Heads Road duplication.
By 2031, Barwon Heads Road is projected to carry up to 44,000 cars and trucks every day and Armstrong Creek is one of Victoria’s fastest growing suburbs. It consists of 2,500 hectares of developable land, which makes it one of the largest growth fronts in the country.
This growth area will provide for 22,000 lots and a population of around 60,000 people.
If we don’t build for that growth now, locals will be trapped in ever-growing gridlock.
That’s why an Albanese Labor Government will partner with the Victorian Government to duplicate Barwon Heads Road from Reserve Road, past Armstrong Creek, to Lower Duneed Road.
This project will link up with stage 1 of the duplication, between Belmont and Reserve Road, which the Victorian Government is already busy constructing.
This project will future-proof infrastructure across this growing region, creating local jobs in the construction phase and ensuring that working families can spend less time in the car and more time at home.
And, unlike so many of the Morrison-Joyce Government’s commitments, an Albanese Labor Government will actually deliver it.

The Morrison Government welcomes the release of the Report on the Operation of the Aged Care Act (1997) – a vital overview of Australia’s age care system.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, and the Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck, said the report offered important insight into the sector’s operations during the 2020-21 financial year.
Importantly, it details the challenges faced by senior Australians and the aged care sector in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the critical interventions made by Government as it responded to those challenges.
It includes an overview of systems and resources, service provision from community care through to permanent residential care, services delivered to people with diverse needs, and the provision of regulatory and prudential frameworks to ensure consumers receive high quality services.
“The past year has been extraordinarily difficult for all Australians as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to consume our day to day lives,” Minister Hunt said.
“The impact of the virus has been especially felt by people separated from loved ones living in residential aged care facilities because of visitor restrictions necessary to save lives and protect lives.
“The Morrison Government has worked to support the sector through the pandemic to protect the most vulnerable.”
Minister Hunt said more than $2.1 billion in aged care specific measures had been provided to support residential aged care providers and staff and ensure quality of care.
“This support was wide-ranging and included improved infection-control management and training, workforce support and extra funding to cover the increased costs of caring for older Australians during the pandemic.
“We invested additional funding for better communication with older Australians and their families, as well as improved support for their mental health and wellbeing,” Minister Hunt said.
Minister Colbeck said while managing the immediate threat from COVID-19, the Government has also responded swiftly and decisively to the final report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, with a comprehensive $17.7 billion package.
“Underpinning this reform are the principles of genuine two-way engagement with all involved parties, combined with a commitment to absolute transparency in reporting from providers, in order to strengthen the financial oversight of the aged care sector,” Minister Colbeck said.
“Strong, independent oversight of the system is essential for good governance and transparency.
“Progress has already been made across the five pillars of reform, including the release of an average of 3000 home care packages each week, resulting in a significant reduction in waiting times for high care packages.
“New legislation, which will deliver risk-based assurance reviews of 500 home care providers every 12 months, will also improve the safety and quality of services provided to older Australians.”
Minister Colbeck said an Engagement Hub has been established to make it easier for consumers, their families and carers, the workforce, and the sector more broadly, can more easily access information on progress.
The Government has also committed $262.5 million to ensure the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is well equipped to safeguard the quality, safety and integrity of aged care services, and can effectively address any failures in care.
“Our commitment to the wellbeing of senior Australians and the integrity of the aged care system is absolute,” Minister Colbeck said.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the sector to implement reforms that will ensure Australia’s aged care system leads the world now and in the future.”
The full report can be found on the GEN Aged Care Data website, here.
GEN is Australia’s only central, independent repository of national aged care data and is managed and regularly updated by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
 

On International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women the Greens have called for the Morrison Government to commit serious funding to frontline services, prevention programs, and short and long term housing so that women are not forced to choose between violence and homelessness.
The Greens have also endorsed the recommendations of today’s Pathways to Safety report from Aboriginal-led justice coalition Change the Record, which calls for governments to prioritise the leadership of Indigenous women and increase investment in violence prevention, support services and housing.
Greens deputy leader and spokesperson on women Senator Larissa Waters said:
“Every year on this day we recommit to ending sexual and physical violence against women around the world.
“If the Morrison Government was serious about ending this epidemic of violence they would have listened to the sector’s calls for $12 billion over the 12 year life of the National Plan, rather than the inadequate amounts they have pledged to date.
“We need expert-led prevention programs, not milkshake videos, and real work to end the gender inequality that drives violence against women.
“To eliminate violence against women the government must deliver what women’s groups have been demanding for years: proper sexual consent education in schools; addressing the causes of the gender inequality that drives violence; a massive investment in crisis, transition and long-term housing so women are not forced to choose between homelessness and violence; and a commitment of $12 billion over the 12-year life of the next national plan to ensure frontline services are fully funded and no-one seeking help is turned away.
“And we need a stand alone, self-determined First Nations National Women’s Safety Plan – as called for by today’s Pathways to Safety report from Change the Record. First Nations women know how to keep their children and communities safe, and we need a National Plan than listens to them and provides the tools they need to end violence against First Nations women and children.”

Australian Greens Education spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has responded to reports that RMIT will pay back up to $10 million to casual staff for work dating back to 2014.
Senator Faruqi said:
“Casual university staff are absolutely sick and tired of being underpaid, undervalued and taken for granted.
“Wage theft at our campuses is systemic and universities are finally realising they can no longer run away from this. This wage theft disproportionately affects casual staff and women.
“As universities have casualised their workforces, wage theft has been allowed to fester, and it’s now been revealed that staff at campuses in all parts of the country are affected.
“My congratulations must go to the staff and unions who continue to fight hard for the rights of university workers.
“The Senate Inquiry into Job Security, which I sit on, has made numerous excellent recommendations with respect to wage theft which should be implemented as a matter of urgency.”

The Greens have vowed to block Scott Morrison’s religious discrimination bill, saying it was a Trojan horse for hate that went well beyond a shield to protect people with religious beliefs, calling on Labor and Senators to join them in blocking it.
Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt MP said:
“Scott Morrison’s bill means more discrimination, not less.
“Scott Morrison has a bill for more discrimination but no bill to stop corruption.
“The bill overrides State and Territory protections and makes bigoted hate speech legal.
“The bill goes beyond being a shield. It has many swords and they will do harm.
“The Greens call on Labor to block this harmful bill.
“The Greens support protections against religious discrimination, which is why Australia needs a charter of rights, but this bill isn’t that.”
Australian Greens LGBTIQA+ spokesperson Senator Janet Rice said:
“Scott Morrison’s discrimination bill is a Trojan horse for hate.
“Any bill that enables discrimination against LGBTIQA+ people, women, people with disabilities, minority faiths, or First Nations people is unacceptable and must be voted down.
“Under the guise of faith, bigots would be free to discriminate against people at school and universities, in the workplace, hospitals, restaurants – anywhere in public life.
“Morrison’s whole schtick is to divide Australians and create problems where none existed.
“Morrison and the Liberals are using culture wars as a distraction so people won’t notice this government has done absolutely nothing to help struggling Australians.
“While the Liberals are fighting fake cancel culture, the Greens are fighting for what Australians want – action on climate change, taxing the billionaires, raising income support, getting dental into medicare and laws that protect all of us equally.”

The Greens say today’s tabling of the Final Report of Pauline Hanson’s toxic family law inquiry marks the welcome end of more than two years of political grandstanding that has traumatised survivors of family and domestic violence and provided a platform for hate and misinformation.
Greens deputy leader and spokesperson on democracy Senator Larissa Waters said:
“What a colossal waste of time and energy.
“This inquiry was a cynical and politically motivated stunt that emboldened domestic violence offenders and re-traumatised victim-survivors and their children.
“The Greens opposed this inquiry from the outset, not because there are no problems within the family law system, but because those problems have been the subject of many previous inquiries. We needed action on recommendations but, true to form, the government gave us another inquiry.
“This inquiry told us what we already know: that gendered violence is a core problem at the heart of the family law system; that more money is needed to fix delays and gaps in the system that continue to put women and children at risk; and that funding, specialisation, and wrap-around service models are the solution.
“We have now spent more than two years re-litigating those issues and delaying implementation of previous recommendations, while giving oxygen to some of the most extreme and toxic views of the men’s rights movement.
“Thankfully, having heard all the evidence, the committee’s primary recommendations are not those championed by extremists. Because of the weight of evidence presented by survivors, experts, practitioners and frontline workers, the report instead acknowledges the need for a better understanding of gendered violence to be embedded throughout the family law system.
“The Greens opposed the merger of the Family and Federal Circuit Courts and will continue to fight for:

• Maintaining specialist family law expertise by increasing funding and training for experienced family court judges, registrars, report writers and liaison officers
• Adequate and secure funding for Legal Aid, community legal centres, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services, Family Violence Prevention Legal Services, and their peak bodies
• $12 billion to properly fund the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women, and the development of a standalone, National Plan for First Nations Women and Children.”