Category: Australian News

The Australian Government today announced the first of two grant opportunities for research into developing and delivering improved hearing health support services, which will better assist one in six Australians who are experiencing some form of hearing impairment.
Federal Regional Health Minister, Dr David Gillespie MP announced that applications are now open for the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Targeted Call for Research on Hearing Health: evidence-based support services.
“The Federal Government wants to ensure that all Australians with hearing loss, wherever they live, can get top-quality assistance to help them get the best out of their lives,” Dr Gillespie said.
“This call seeks to support research that develops an evidence base for future policies, interventions and initiatives to support the Hearing Services Program.”
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt said the NHMRC funds research where Australia’s highest-performing health and medical researchers set out to solve the health problems they see in their community to help improve the lives of their fellow Australians.
“NHMRC’s Targeted Calls for Research are one-time requests for grant applications to address a specific health issue where there is a significant research knowledge gap or unmet need,” Minister Hunt said.
Dr Gillespie said the funding was part of the Australian Government’s $21.2 million investment to support activities under the Roadmap for Hearing Health, developed by the Hearing Health Sector Committee, published in February 2019.
The NHMRC is managing $7.3 million in grant funding for hearing research under this measure; the total funding available under the call for research applications announced today is $4 million.
The Targeted Call for Research on Hearing Health will:

• Inform development and delivery of hearing health services in the future.
• Improve the evidence base for health seeking behaviour on hearing health, especially in vulnerable populations.
• Assure providers and consumers that hearing program support services are based on the best available evidence to adapt to client needs and technology changes.

A subsequent Targeted Call for Research grant opportunity on hearing health will occur in 2022 as part of this Budget measure. All other relevant information is available on the NHMRC website and GrantConnect.

The Morrison Government is today launching the world’s first National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
The Strategy provides a framework to guide the development of a comprehensive, integrated system of services to maintain and support the mental health and wellbeing of children aged 0-12 and their families.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said the Strategy was part of the Morrison Government’s long-term national health plan.
“Caring for the mental health and wellbeing of our younger children, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, is critical. We know that proper support can improve long-term outcomes and can help children achieve their full potential in life,” Minister Hunt said.
“To ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow up in a healthy and supportive environment that helps them, and their families and communities, to thrive, we need a mental health and wellbeing system that is well-designed, comprehensive, and nationally consistent.”
“This strategy shows us how, and will be crucial to our current ongoing reform of the mental health and suicide prevention system. It is about ensuring the best for our children at each and every step and I’m honoured to launch it today.”
The Strategy provides a roadmap through coordinated investment and program development to ensure that children aged 0-12 can have all the opportunities for growth and development possible.
Through four focus areas, the Strategy outlines the requirements for an effective system of care for children:
Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, David Coleman, MP said the aim of this universal approach will bring lasting benefits for Australia and for generations to come.
“Half of all adult mental health challenges emerge before the age of 14, yet few children below the age of 12 receive professional support. As a nation, we need to acknowledge this and do everything we can to change it. Our Government is committed to the task,” Assistant Minster Coleman said.
“This is the first time a national government has developed a strategy that considers mental health and wellbeing of our children, as well as their families and communities who nurture them.”
Importantly, several key priorities identified in the strategy received funding in the 2021-22 Budget, which provided a record $2.3 billion for the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan aimed at transforming Australia’s mental health system. Specific initiatives dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children and their parents and carers included:

• $54.2 million to create new Head to Health Kids mental health and wellbeing centres for children up to 12 years, in partnership with the state and territory governments;
• $42.3 million to support access to parenting education and support, to build parenting strategies and help parents to identify problem behaviours early;
• $26.8 million to support Kids Helpline and meet the increased demand for services;
• $47.4 million for perinatal mental health initiatives; and
• $111.4 million to allow family members and/or carers to access up to two of a patient’s available Medicare-subsidised psychological therapy sessions, and to expand access to group sessions where appropriate.

The development of the Strategy was undertaken by the National Mental Health Commission, supported by an expert advisory group.
National Mental Health Commission Chair, Mrs Lucy Brogden AM and CEO, Ms Christine Morgan thanked the many people who helped make the strategy a reality.
“This is one of the most important and meaningful and significant pieces of work we have done at the Commission,” Ms Morgan said.
“This Strategy proposes a fundamental, cultural shift in the way we think about the mental health and wellbeing of our children, including a change in language and the adoption of a continuum-based model of mental health and wellbeing.”
“We could not have done it without our advisory group led by our co-chairs, Professors Frank Oberklaid and Christel Middledorp, and I would like to thank them for their incredible work. Through them and others, we have engaged with hundreds of people who care deeply about the mental health and wellbeing of our children and understand the immense benefits that flow from protecting and nurturing it.”
The Strategy is available on the Commission’s website www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au
Australians looking for support throughout the COVID-19 pandemic can access the Beyond Blue Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service anytime via telephone at 1800 512 348 or online at coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au.
Anyone experiencing distress can seek immediate advice and support through Lifeline
(13 11 14), Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), or the Government’s digital mental health gateway, Head to Health (www.headtohealth.gov.au).

Around 250,000 Australian families will now benefit from increased Child Care Subsidy (CCS) from 7 March 2022, four months earlier than first expected. On average, these families will be more than $2,200 a year better off.
The additional subsidies for families with two or more children in care were due to start on 11 July 2022, but the Morrison Government has been able to work across Departments and service providers to make necessary technical changes sooner.
Families with two or more children aged five years and under in care will have their CCS rate increased by 30 percentage points for their second child and any younger children, up to a maximum rate of 95 per cent.
More than half of eligible families will receive the maximum 95 per cent subsidy.
A family earning $110,000 a year with two kids in care, four days a week, will be better off by around $100 each week.
The $10,655 annual CCS cap will also be scrapped on 10 December 2021 and applied retrospectively for the whole 2021-22 financial year. Anyone who reaches the cap before this date will have any additional out-of-pocket costs for the 2021-22 financial year reimbursed.
Minister for Education and Youth Alan Tudge said the changes would ease pressure on working families and encourage more parents into work.
“These changes are good for families and great for the economy, and it’s significant that we are able to deliver them sooner,” Minister Tudge said.
“Removing the cap and increasing subsidies means more parents, particularly mothers, can return to work or take on more hours if they choose to.
“There are 280,000 more children in child care than when we came to office and this additional support will take our total investment to $11 billion a year.
“Importantly, our support is targeted to those who need it most. We are reducing the out-of-pocket child care costs which really add up when you have two, three or more children in care.”
Minister for Women’s Economic Security Senator Jane Hume said the package would particularly support mothers looking to get back into the workforce or take on more hours.
“Treasury estimates the additional subsidy will mean the equivalent of 40,000 parents are able to work an extra day per week, boosting the economy by up to $1.5 billion per year,” Minister Hume said.
“The Morrison Government is committed to increasing economic opportunities for Australian women and this additional child care support will remove disincentives for primary carers, particularly mothers, to participate in the workforce.
“Under this government women’s workforce participation has increased steadily and reached a record high of 61.9 per cent in March 2021.”
The Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Child Care Subsidy) Bill 2021, which enables the additional payments, was passed on 12 August 2021.
The changes build on the Morrison Government’s Child Care Package, introduced in 2018, which is still keeping out-of-pocket costs low for families using child care.
Latest data shows the average out-of-pocket cost is just $4 per hour – around 90 cents per hour cheaper than before the Child Care Package was introduced more than three years ago.
More than 70 per cent of families pay less than $5 per hour, while almost a quarter pay less than $2 per hour, thanks to our system of providing the most support to those on lower incomes.
The Morrison Government has also recently paid out around $180 million in support payments to more than 6,000 child care services across areas of New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT impacted by COVID-19 lockdowns.
These payments are keeping services open, staff in work and providing financial relief for families by encouraging services to waive gap fees for children not attending care during COVID lockdowns.

The Greens have warned now is a dangerous time to be distracted from the real climate action needed to support farmers and have urged the National Farmers Federation to hold The Nationals to account ahead of their meeting today.
Greens spokesperson for agriculture, Peter Whish-Wilson, said trying to appease The Nationals is a fool’s game.
“Since forming government the LNP have ripped up nearly all existing climate policies such as the carbon price and clean energy package, ramped up fossil fuel exploration and production, whilst not providing a single credible policy that will tackle global warming.
“Now is a dangerous time to be distracted from the real climate action needed to support farmers. The NFF needs to hold the LNP to account.
“With the right policy settings and investment, agriculture is one of the few industries that can become not just carbon neutral, but carbon positive.
“Many farmers are still putting off implementing carbon farming techniques, partly because of a lack of policy support or information about effectiveness. We need to change that. Without a price on carbon, demand for carbon drawdown will remain limited; it would be good to know where the NFF stand on this.
“The Nationals have admitted to no longer representing farmers and their anti-climate ideology is utterly offensive to farmers facing the real-world impacts of climate change, which is currently costing the average Aussie farming family $30,000 a year.
“Carbon sequestration alone is not enough. There are huge opportunities for Australian farmers to change their practices, regenerate their land and create new revenue streams by selling carbon abatement to the carbon market; just like they did before the carbon price was abolished.”

The Australian Government has established a $5.15 million scholarship program to grow and upskill the mental health and suicide prevention workforce to ensure that all Australians have access to high quality, affordable, person centred mental health care when they need it.
The Mental Health Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship Program was announced as part of the Morrison Government’s record $2.3 billion investment in mental health and suicide prevention in the 2021–22 Budget to attract, train and retain key mental health professionals and to address workforce pressures.
The Program will provide 278 scholarships to support mental health nurses and allied health practitioners including psychologists to enter the mental health workforce, in addition to upskilling existing health practitioners in the mental health sector.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said the scholarships will allow health care professionals to complete mental health related tertiary, vocational and continued professional development courses and clinical placements in mental health settings
“Across Australia our mental health workforce has been stretched, particularly during the pandemic, and there are plenty of opportunities for health care workers to move into rewarding work in mental health,” Minister Hunt said.
“Providing opportunities for health care professionals to access appropriate training in mental health and suicide prevention will increase the numbers of skilled professionals to meet demand for services now and into the future,” Minister Hunt said.
Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, David Coleman, said investing in mental health training for health care professionals will also promote mental health as a career option.
“The program will provide 126 postgraduate nursing scholarships for courses related to mental health and suicide prevention,” Assistant Minister Coleman said.
“It will also support up to 152 allied health practitioners including psychologists working in mental health and suicide prevention for related tertiary, vocational and continuing professional development courses and clinical placements.”
The Program will also focus on rural and remote locations, with priority given to health care workers who live and/or work in these rural areas (MM 3-7).
Minister for Regional Health, Dr David Gillespie, said the program aims to address mental health workforce pressure nationally, including those in rural and remote areas of Australia.
“Access to skilled mental health workers shouldn’t be dependent on where you live, and upskilling health workers who are already living and working in rural and remote Australia is a great way to expand their skills and meet their communities’ needs,” Minister Gillespie said.
“For this reason, there will be a preference for applicants living or working in rural and remote areas.”
Alongside the prioritisation for applicants from rural and remote regions, a minimum of five per cent of scholarships will be made available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants as first priority. This will ensure vital services are available for all Australians and can be delivered in a culturally safe and appropriate way.
Individuals can express their interest in applying for a place from November 2021 through the Australian College of Nursing. The scholarships will be supported from Semester 1, 2022

Home and residential aged care providers will develop coordinated workforce planning approaches under a new Australian Government service aimed at ensuring quality levels of personalised care are strengthened and maintained.
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck, launched the Workforce Advisory Service today which will support aged care providers in attracting, retaining and skilling their workforce.
The independent, free and confidential service will assist aged care providers to be reform ready helping to develop coordinated service-level workforce training and skills plans, and leverage supports available across the sector to increase the skills of the workforce.
Minister Colbeck said this will ensure workers can better access and hold the appropriate level of knowledge and skills to meet the individual care needs of senior Australians within a facility or service.
“This will be a win-win for workers, providers and senior Australians alike and will be an important step in building a world-class aged care workforce for Australia,” Minister Colbeck said.
“It will help aged care workers to acquire qualifications and training which will enhance their skills and knowledge and improve their career opportunities. It will support providers to implement workforce planning into business-as-usual.
“And it will help ensure senior Australians receive the individual, quality care they need and deserve.”
The workforce planning advice will be tailored to individual service needs and could include recommendations for widening the search for new workers.
Minister Colbeck said aged care service delivery was becoming increasingly complex as people live longer with more chronic and complex conditions.
“This requires aged care providers to employ a larger workforce with more specialised skills and knowledge to be able to deliver consumer directed care to meet the diverse needs of senior Australians.” he said.
Establishing the Workforce Advisory Service is another response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, which recommended funding for education and training to improve the quality of care and aligns with broader Government priorities to increase workforce skills and capabilities.
The service, provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers, is funded under a $5.9 million expansion of the Government’s Business Advisory Service, and advisors will use best practice guidance from industry while working with providers.
Minister Colbeck said the Government will continue to work closely with the Aged Care Workforce Industry Council to provide workforce planning support to the nation’s aged care providers.
More information about the service is available here.

The Morrison Government is today launching the world’s first National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
The Strategy provides a framework to guide the development of a comprehensive, integrated system of services to maintain and support the mental health and wellbeing of children aged 0-12 and their families.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said the Strategy was part of the Morrison Government’s long-term national health plan.
“Caring for the mental health and wellbeing of our younger children, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, is critical. We know that proper support can improve long-term outcomes and can help children achieve their full potential in life,” Minister Hunt said.
“To ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow up in a healthy and supportive environment that helps them, and their families and communities, to thrive, we need a mental health and wellbeing system that is well-designed, comprehensive, and nationally consistent.”
“This strategy shows us how, and will be crucial to our current ongoing reform of the mental health and suicide prevention system. It is about ensuring the best for our children at each and every step and I’m honoured to launch it today.”
The Strategy provides a roadmap through coordinated investment and program development to ensure that children aged 0-12 can have all the opportunities for growth and development possible.
Through four focus areas, the Strategy outlines the requirements for an effective system of care for children:

1. Family and Community
2. Service System
3. Education Settings
4. Evidence and Evaluation

Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, David Coleman, MP said the aim of this universal approach will bring lasting benefits for Australia and for generations to come.
“Half of all adult mental health challenges emerge before the age of 14, yet few children below the age of 12 receive professional support. As a nation, we need to acknowledge this and do everything we can to change it. Our Government is committed to the task,” Assistant Minster Coleman said.
“This is the first time a national government has developed a strategy that considers mental health and wellbeing of our children, as well as their families and communities who nurture them.”
Importantly, several key priorities identified in the strategy received funding in the 2021-22 Budget, which provided a record $2.3 billion for the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan aimed at transforming Australia’s mental health system. Specific initiatives dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children and their parents and carers included:

• $54.2 million to create new Head to Health Kids mental health and wellbeing centres for children up to 12 years, in partnership with the state and territory governments;
• $42.3 million to support access to parenting education and support, to build parenting strategies and help parents to identify problem behaviours early;
• $26.8 million to support Kids Helpline and meet the increased demand for services;
• $47.4 million for perinatal mental health initiatives; and
• $111.4 million to allow family members and/or carers to access up to two of a patient’s available Medicare-subsidised psychological therapy sessions, and to expand access to group sessions where appropriate.

The development of the Strategy was undertaken by the National Mental Health Commission, supported by an expert advisory group.
National Mental Health Commission Chair, Mrs Lucy Brogden AM and CEO, Ms Christine Morgan thanked the many people who helped make the strategy a reality.
“This is one of the most important and meaningful and significant pieces of work we have done at the Commission,” Ms Morgan said.
“This Strategy proposes a fundamental, cultural shift in the way we think about the mental health and wellbeing of our children, including a change in language and the adoption of a continuum-based model of mental health and wellbeing.”
“We could not have done it without our advisory group led by our co-chairs, Professors Frank Oberklaid and Christel Middledorp, and I would like to thank them for their incredible work. Through them and others, we have engaged with hundreds of people who care deeply about the mental health and wellbeing of our children and understand the immense benefits that flow from protecting and nurturing it.”
The Strategy is available on the Commission’s website www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au
Australians looking for support throughout the COVID-19 pandemic can access the Beyond Blue Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service anytime via telephone at 1800 512 348 or online at coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au.
Anyone experiencing distress can seek immediate advice and support through Lifeline
(13 11 14), Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), or the Government’s digital mental health gateway, Head to Health (www.headtohealth.gov.au).

The Morrison Government today recognises the contributions of carers across Australia as part of National Carers Week.
Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Richard Colbeck, said the commitment and support carers provide to senior and vulnerable Australians should not be underestimated.
Almost 2.65 million people care for a partner, family member or friend who needs them.
“These are the unsung heroes making an enormous difference in the lives of others,” Minister Colbeck said.
“National Carers Week offers an opportunity to raise awareness about the integral work carers do for many Australians and how they make an important economic contribution to the community as well.”
Minister Colbeck said the tireless work of informal carers was a particular focus of the Morrison Government’s $17.7 billion response to the Aged Care Royal Commission.
Part of the key supports includes an investment of $798.3 million to increase support for those who offer care with little recognition or outside help.
“Strengthening the support available will improve carer wellbeing, maintain the care relationship and avoid crises that may jeopardise the relationship between the carer and those in need,” Minister Colbeck said.
Flexible and Centre Based Respite funding to support 8400 carers a year is being provided to Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) providers from 1 January 2022.
“This will also support approximately 134,000 informal carers through early referral from aged care assessors to the Carer Gateway support network to help plan support services.”
Carer Gateway provides counselling, connection with other carers, coaching, courses, and emergency respite services.
“Through this substantial investment, we are showing we are committed to supporting senior Australians to remain living safely and independently in their own homes and communities for as long as they wish to do so – which would not be possible without carers,” Minister Colbeck said.
Importantly, support for carers of dementia patients has also been reinforced.
The expansion of care models will see increased access to carer education in the early period after diagnosis.
Enhanced early support for people living with dementia in the community and their carers is also being provided through a significant funding increase for evidence-based activities delivered under the National Dementia Support Program (NDSP).
This is expected to provide around 30,000 people with more timely access to supports like counselling, education sessions, support groups, and peer mentoring that provides coaching, advice and support to carers.
Information about support and programs offered by Dementia Australia can be found here.
Carers can contact Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737, to speak to trainer workers in their local area to help find the services and support required or by visiting the website here.
National Carers Week continues until 16 October. For more information visit the website here.

Today is World Mental Health Day. A day to reflect on our mental health and wellbeing, to reach out to our loved ones who may need support and to raise awareness of this important issue.
The lives of many Australians have been turned upside down since the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world.
It has been a challenging time and it’s never been more important to prioritise our physical health by getting vaccinated, but also investing time into our mental health and wellbeing.
One in every five Australians — about four million people — suffers from a mental illness in a given year, and almost half the population has suffered a mental disorder at some time in their life.
The theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day – Mental health care for all: let’s make it a reality – is about taking action to ensure that everyone has access to mental health services, especially as we find ourselves on the other side of the pandemic.
In line with this mission, since March 2020, the Government has stepped up to provide more than $500 million additional funding to ensure Australians have the mental health support they need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This includes rolling out telehealth to enable mental health treatment from home and limit risks to physical health, establishing the national Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service operated by Beyond Blue, and providing funding to scale up support services such as Lifeline and Kids Helpline.
Through the National Pandemic Mental Health and Wellbeing Response Plan, the Government has also delivered vital funding for vulnerable groups such as older Australians, Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islanders, students and young Australians, LGBTIQA+ Australians and those affected by eating disorders and perinatal depression and anxiety.
Through $79.4 million additional funding to Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT, where COVID-19 cases remain high and lockdowns have been extended, the Government has also rapidly rolled out 26 pop-up mental health treatment centres to provide easy access to free, multidisciplinary mental health care.
In addition, in the 2021-22 Budget, the Morrison Government invested a record $2.3 billion in the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan to lead landmark reform. This takes mental health funding to an estimated $6.5 billion in 2021-22 – doubling since 2012-13.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said mental health and suicide prevention was one of the Morrison Government’s highest priorities.
“We have embarked on system wide reform to ensure Australia’s mental health system is more compassionate, accessible and affordable,” Minister Hunt said.
“To achieve this, we are investing in additional mental health services no matter who you are, what your circumstances or where you live in Australia.”
“This includes $820 million to establish a national network of adult, child and youth mental health treatment centres.”
Operating under a ‘no wrong door approach’, these new services will ensure the delivery of easy to access, high quality, person-centred treatment and supports across the mental health care system, in our cities, regions and rural areas, providing stigma-free and compassionate care.
Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, David Coleman, said all Australians should be able to receive compassionate and effective mental health care.
“That is why our Government is prioritising investment for all Australians, including early intervention supports and preventive measures for migrants and culturally and linguistically diverse people,”
“We are also investing in the growth and upskilling of the mental health and suicide prevention workforce, who are the most critical component of Australia’s mental health system, and do a fantastic job.”
On World Mental Health Day, the Morrison Government reiterates our thanks to frontline health care workers and mental health and suicide prevention workers for their tireless commitment.
We are committed to working towards zero suicides and transforming the mental health system, to ensure that all Australians can access the right care whenever and wherever they need.
Help is available so please reach out for support. You don’t have to suffer alone.
Australians looking for support throughout the COVID-19 pandemic can access the Beyond Blue Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service anytime via telephone at 1800 512 348 or online at coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au.
Anyone experiencing distress can seek immediate advice and support through Lifeline
(13 11 14), Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), or the Government’s digital mental health gateway, Head to Health (www.headtohealth.gov.au).
If you are concerned about suicide, living with someone who is considering suicide, or bereaved by suicide, the Suicide Call Back Service is available at 1300 659 467 or www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au.

An Albanese Labor Government will back Aussie businesses and create more local jobs by rolling out common sense changes to the way the tens of billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money is spent each year in government purchases.
During this pandemic, we have seen the best of Australians supporting Australians. But we’ve also seen some of the holes in our economy exposed.
COVID has made clear that Australia must be a country that makes more things here and supports homegrown businesses and industries.
Labor believes government must do its part to make that happen and ensure that our future is made in Australia, which is why we are announcing our Buy Australian Plan.
Australia has an abundance of talent, resources and innovation. We have workers who are highly respected and sought after all around the world, as well as businesses and entrepreneurs who provide environments for them to flourish in. What we lack right now is a federal government who is willing to back them.
We see no reason why Australian taxpayer dollars should go to London when they can go to Launceston or why we buy from Pittsburgh when we can buy in Perth.
The Australian Government has spent around $190 billion on government contracts over the last three financial years showing that procurement policy is a major economic lever available to drive the economic recovery from COVID-19.
What’s clear is that the Morrison-Joyce Government is not pulling this lever in a way that maximises benefit to Australian businesses.
An Albanese Labor Government will improve the way Australian Government contracts work, ensuring more opportunities are available to Australian businesses and their employees through our 10-point Buy Australian Plan.

1. Establish a Future Made in Australia Office, backed up by laws that will lock in key elements of Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs) to actively support local industry in taking advantage of government purchasing opportunities
2. Maximise opportunities for Aussie businesses in major infrastructure projects
3. Open the door to more government work for more small and medium businesses by decoding and simplifying procurement processes
4. Establish a Secure Australian Jobs Code to prioritise secure work in government contracts and ensure that government purchasing power is being used to support businesses that engage in fair, equitable, ethical and sustainable practices
5. Provide more opportunities for First Nations businesses with a view to maximise skills transfer so that we can get more First Nations workers into long-term skilled work
6. Level the playing field by bringing in a Fair Go Procurement Framework requiring those that gain government contracts to pay their fair share of tax
7. Supporting industry sectors through the government’s purchasing power
8. Use government spending power to take action on climate change and support energy projects
9. Strengthen Defence industries and capability
10. Make National Partnerships work to maximise the use of local workers and businesses

Over eight long years in government, the Liberals and Nationals have squandered the opportunities for Aussie business and workers that come from government buying power, but Labor has a plan to change that and put Australians first.
Labor’s Buy Australian Plan is good for Australian businesses, Australian jobs, Australian families, and it’s good for the economy.
Under this plan, we’ll also be ensuring that the government’s buying power is used to maximise opportunities for regional workers and businesses and First Nations workers and businesses that do the right thing by their workers and encourage women into the workforce.
As we as a nation transition out of the COVID-19 pandemic, Australians need their government to be on their side.
The Morrison-Joyce Government has pulled the handbrake on the Australian economy for too long and only an Albanese Labor Government can be trusted to rebuild the economy, so it works for all Australians.