Category: Australian News

The Greens have reiterated their calls for at least 80% of the whole population, including kids, to be vaccinated before we can start lifting restrictions, writing to Scott Morrison urging National Cabinet this Friday to agree to include children in vaccination targets.
Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt MP said:
“Scott Morrison’s plan will have kids leaving the cave and going straight to the ICU,” Mr Bandt said.
“Yesterday I wrote to the Prime Minister urging him to stop excluding under 16s from the vaccination targets and to at least to seek further expert advice about the impact of Delta on children and teenagers.
“Morrison’s targets are a political solution to an epidemiological problem. Having lower targets might make them easier to meet but won’t make us safer.
“The Prime Minister is desperately trying to use vaccination targets as a club to bash the premiers, chief health officers, and public, but Delta infections and transmissions amongst children are rising and kids and teenagers need to be included in vaccination targets.
“Terrifying new modelling from ANU today highlights the risk of dropping restrictions before people have been able to get vaccinated. Grattan Institute modelling is clear that we need at least 80% of the entire population, including kids, vaccinated before we can open up safely.”
Greens spokesperson Health Senator Rachel Siewert said:
“The Government hasn’t settled on a vaccination target for Phase D yet. But when Morrison does finally release a plan for Phase D, it’s critical that the target rate includes children and teenagers and that the rate ensures we don’t end up with thousands of deaths and our ICUs overwhelmed.
“The ANU report today found that if we drop all public health measures and manage COVID like the flu, our health systems will be overrun with hospitalisations and we will see tens of thousands of deaths. There are now various models released and the Government needs to consider these and not just rely on the Doherty modelling as input.
“We can’t afford to have half-baked vaccination targets of 80% of the adult population, which actually equates to 65% of the entire population.
“This modelling gives a dangerous glimpse into what would happen if we reopen at 65% vaccination rates”

The Morrison Government has welcomed the passage in the Parliament of legislation to continue critical powers to respond to the evolving threat posed by terrorism.
The Government’s highest priority is to keep Australians safe. Our law enforcement and security agencies are among the best in the world and we have to ensure they have the powers they need.
The Counter‑Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Sunsetting Review and Other Measures) Bill 2021, passed yesterday evening, provides for the continuation of key counter-terrorism powers, including control orders and preventative detention orders, noting these provisions are still under review by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security. The Bill also extends declared areas offences for a further three years, as recommended by the Committee.
These powers are critical to managing terrorism threats and remain a necessary component of Australia’s counter-terrorism framework in the current threat environment and looking to the future.
In particular, control orders are a vital tool for managing the terrorist risk posed by persons of concern. These orders allow a Federal Court to impose conditions on a person in the community. Since September 2014, when the national terrorism threat level was raised to ‘probable’, 21 control orders have been issued, the majority of which have been sought for terrorist offenders on their release from prison.
The Bill will also extend the reporting date for the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor’s review of continuing detention order provisions, noting that consultation for that review has been affected by COVID travel restrictions.
The first continuing detention order was made in December 2020, in relation to Mr Abdul Nacer Benbrika.
Since September 2014the Government has taken 22 tranches of legislation through Parliament, with the single purpose of keeping Australians safe.

The Morrison Government will provide additional targeted support for thousands of child care providers impacted by extended COVID-19 lockdowns, through new fortnightly payments.
Child care services in Commonwealth-declared hotspots will be eligible for payments of 25 per cent of their pre-lockdown revenue. Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) services will be eligible for payments of 40 per cent.
This will apply to services seven days after the hotspot is declared, where states have directed families to keep their kids at home.
Where kids are still allowed to attend, the supports will kick in four weeks after the hotspot declaration.
The measure is in addition to the existing Commonwealth supports, including gap fee waivers which allow Commonwealth Child Care Subsidy to continue even when children are not attending.
The new payments will immediately benefit child care services in affected areas of Sydney and the ACT and OSHC services in Metropolitan Melbourne.
All other services in Metropolitan Melbourne, regional Victoria and regional NSW will become eligible after seven days of lockdown, and payments will be backdated to today.
The supports will also be available for services who meet the criteria in any future extended lockdowns.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the payments would immediately help around 3,600 services caring for almost 300,000 children in Greater Sydney, as well as nearly 900 OSHC services in Metropolitan Melbourne and nearly 300 services in the ACT.
“The child care and early education sector is critically important for Australian families and our economy, and these payments will help keep services open and staff employed,” Prime Minister Morrison said.
“The sector has been doing an incredible job to provide essential care for Australian kids during the pandemic and we are backing them in while attendance rates are down.
“These payments will ensure our high quality child care and early education centres are there on the other side of these lockdowns.”
Minister for Education and Youth Alan Tudge said the payments build on the support already being provided to the sector through the Child Care Subsidy and broader economic supports.
“Giving families additional absence days and allowing gap fee waivers has kept many children enrolled and means services have still been able to receive the Child Care Subsidy even if kids haven’t attended,” Minister Tudge said.
“Importantly the new payments are targeted to services that have seen attendance levels fall by at least 50 per cent and are conditional on centres keeping staff in work and passing on support for families.
“The measures will encourage services to pass on gap fee waivers to parents, meaning those keeping their kids home during lockdown won’t be paying out‑of‑pocket costs when they aren’t using the service.
“The package recognises the impact extended lockdowns are having on the sector.”
Payments will be contingent on services:
Streamlined payments will be available to services in around two weeks.
Families in affected areas are not required to do anything.

All National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants aged 12-15 years will be able to receive a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine from this Wednesday, 25 August. All NDIS participants aged 16 years and over became eligible in June.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said today’s decision by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) would make a big difference to the lives of children with disability and their families.
“Today’s announcement is welcome news to the disability sector and government and will help ensure some of our most vulnerable Australians can be vaccinated as soon as possible,” Minister Hunt said.
“This is an important protection for over 40,000 children with disability and we encourage their parents and carers to book them in for a vaccination and ensure they can be protected against COVID-19.”
NDIS participants join the current cohort of children aged 12-15 to be prioritised for the Pfizer vaccine, including:

• children with specified medical conditions that increase their risk of severe COVID-19, including severe asthma, diabetes, obesity, cardiac and circulatory congenital anomalies, neuro developmental disorders, epilepsy, immuno-compromised and trisomy 21
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
• all children aged 12–15 years in remote communities, as part of broader community outreach vaccination programs that provide vaccines for all ages (≥12 years).

Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC welcomed today’s announcement.
“I have made representations to Minister Hunt calling for eligibility to be expanded to all NDIS participants aged 12 to 15 years. I am so pleased ATAGI has now approved this expansion in the vaccine rollout for NDIS participants.
“I will continue to work with the disability sector and am passionate about ensuring our most vulnerable Australians are vaccinated as soon as possible.
“The COVID-19 vaccine rollout to the disability sector continues to increase at pace and there are now more than 8,200 vaccination points available.
“More than 123,000, or 46%, of NDIS participants over 16 years have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 28% have received two doses. This is an increase of more than 90,000 participants and a 300% increase since early June.
“More than 18,500, or 68% of NDIS participants in shared residential accommodation have received at least one dose, and almost 53% receiving two doses. This is an increase of more than 12,300, meaning we have tripled the number of people vaccinated since early June 2021.”
“Many participants require bespoke vaccination arrangements that are more complex than in the general population and aged care facilities. This includes the crucial need to ensure informed consent or appropriate decision-making for individuals before the vaccine is delivered and administered.
“There has been a concerted and sustained effort across Government and the disability sector to communicate the importance of vaccination, and to increase the points of access available to people with disability, including specialist disability vaccination hubs.”
The Government expects further recommendations regarding the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for the remainder of children aged 12 to 15 shortly.
Parents and carers should check the COVID-19 eligibility checker from 25 August to book in their child’s vaccination.

The Greens say that reports of far-right extremists and neo-Nazis in the Australian military should not come as a surprise, but do further spur the need for a national plan to tackle far-right extremism and white supremacy.
Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Greens spokesperson for Anti-racism, said:
“I’m sure I’m not the only one terrified by the idea of organised fascists with access to military training and weaponry. But these reports are hardly surprising.
“In many countries, including the US, Germany and Britain, we’ve seen clear and indisputable evidence of far-right individuals and groups infiltrating national militaries and police.
“White supremacy poses an existential threat to multicultural Australia. It can’t be denied and it has to be dealt with head-on.
“Government has had its head in the sand on this for far too long. We clearly need a national plan to tackle far right-extremism and a renewed national anti-racism strategy that encompasses organisations and individuals.”
Senator Jordon Steele-John, Greens spokesperson for Peace and Disarmament, said:
“A culture of white supremacy within the Australian Defence Force is totally unacceptable and must be tackled head on.
“These reports outlining a culture within the ADF that has allowed Neo-Nazis to exist within it are alarming. We urge the ADF to take urgent action to address the culture and the ADF Leadership should be held to account for allowing this culture to exist.”

The Morrison Government is urging all Australians to get behind the nation’s Paralympians as they prepare to compete at the Tokyo Games.
Minister for Sport Richard Colbeck said the Tokyo Paralympic Games represented another important opportunity for Australians to unite to celebrate the individual efforts of athletes who had overcome extraordinary odds.
“Just like their Olympic counterparts, the Australian Paralympic Team is a source of enormous pride and inspiration to us all,” Minister Colbeck said.
“The path to Tokyo has not been easy and our athletes have showed great determination and spirit to overcome the challenges of COVID-19 to compete on one of the biggest sporting stages in the world.
“We are all looking forward to watching these Paralympic Games and the pride of Australia will be on show for the whole world to see.”
The team in Tokyo will be Australia’s largest ever at an overseas Paralympic Games and the biggest since Sydney 2000, with 179 athletes to compete across 18 sports including the debut disciplines of Para- taekwondo and Para-badminton.
Minister Colbeck said the size and depth of talent within the team is a credit to the Australian high performance sport sector.
“This is a team that includes soon-to-be seven-time Paralympians Danni de Toro and Christie Dawes, as well as 84 athletes making their Games debut,” he said.
“The success of our athletes very much depends on the team behind the team and the Australian Institute of Sport must be commended for its leadership in assisting sports and athletes manage the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
He said the achievements of the team was also a reflection of the enormous contribution from Paralympics Australia board members including President Jock O’Callaghan, CEO Lynne Anderson, Chef de Mission Kate McLoughlin and all of the Paralympic Australia support staff.
Minister Colbeck said the Morrison Government is proud to support our athletes in achieving their Paralympic dreams.
“Over 85 per cent of athletes competing in Tokyo have received direct grants through the AIS,” he said.
“In this year’s budget, our Government announced an additional $245.8 million for sport over and above our regular sports funding commitments, which includes an extra $136.3 million to support Australia’s high performance sport system and programs.”
The additional funding in recent years for Paralympics Australia and para-athletes includes:

• $3.5 million in 2021-22 to support Paralympics Australia to fund the additional costs associated with COVID-19 for athletes participating in the 2021 Tokyo Paralympic Games.
• $4.5 million in 2020-2021 and 2021-22 in increased funding direct to 13 Paralympic high performance programs in national sporting organisations to enhance preparations for Tokyo and beyond
• $8 million over three years from 2018-19 to support the Australian Paralympic Team prepare for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
• $4 million over two years from 2018-19 to construct new facilities for para-athletes at the Essendon Football Club’s ‘The Hangar’ facility, which is also Paralympic Australia’s Victorian base.
• $310,370 over four years from 2018-19 for eligible Paralympic athletes who may have had their Disability Support Pension impacted as a result of training for events overseas.

“On behalf of the Australian Government, I would like to congratulate Paralympics Australia Chef de Mission Kate McLoughlin and Chief Executive Lynne Anderson for their dedication and hard work in making these Games a reality,” Minister Colbeck said.
“I would also like to extend our thanks to the Government and people of Japan, who are preparing to once again warmly welcome our athletes to their shores.
“To our Paralympians, good luck. We will all be on the edge of our seats cheering you on.”
Get behind our Paralympians on social media:
@AUSParalympics across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn;
@AUSParaTeam on YouTube.
#ReadySetTokyo
#AusSquad
#Tokyo2020

Australia continues to be an immunisation nation as parents protect their children from disease at record rates.
2021 second quarter results show Australia has remained above the national immunisation target of 95% for all five-year olds at 95.18%.
This is the third consecutive quarter Australians have been above the 95% target, a fantastic achievement when compared to the rate of 74.4% in 2005 when 5-year-old immunisation rates were first recorded.
This gives Australia the herd immunity needed to stop the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases.
The five years old immunisation rates are also well above the estimated World Health Organization international average immunisation coverage rate of 83% in 2020, making Australia a world leading vaccination nation.
The Australian Government invests over $450 million each year though the National Immunisation Program, providing free vaccines to protect against 17 disease groups for eligible Australians, including children, adolescents, the elderly, pregnant women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Among two-year olds, the coverage rate has increased to 92.63% for the 12 months to June 2021. One-year old children have a coverage rate of 94.85%.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children at five years of age continue to have the highest coverage rate of any group at 97.12%.
The coverage rate for two-year old Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children increased to 91.96%, while the rate for one year olds is 93.36%.
Parents and carers continue to show their confidence in Australia’s expert medical advice to keep their children protected and safe from life threatening illness.
I want to thank parents and carers for continuing to step up to protect their children and keep them healthy, well and safe from disease.
 

Labor’s belated recognition that Scott Morrison’s 2030 climate targets aren’t good enough is a move in the right direction, said Greens Leader, Adam Bandt, but he called on Labor to join the Greens in setting science-based 2030 targets now, to help put pressure on Scott Morrison before the Glasgow climate summit at the end of the year.
Labor’s move comes as Scott Morrison has already announced that he is considering ‘updating’ the government’s 2030 climate targets before Glasgow, suggesting government targets may be lifted but by an insufficient amount.
Earlier this year, the independent Climate Targets Panel, led by former Liberal leader John Hewson, said that to be consistent with limiting global heating to 1.5 degrees, Australia’s targets would need to be 74% reduction on 2005 levels by 2030, and net zero by 2035. For a 2 degree goal, the targets would need to be at least 50% below 2005 levels by 2030 and net zero by 2045. In either scenario, net-zero by 2050 alone was found to be insufficient.
Quotes attributable to Greens leader Adam Bandt MP:
“It’s easy to say Scott Morrison’s 2030 targets are too weak, but we need to put pressure on him now to triple Australia’s ambition before Glasgow.
“2030 is the main game and refusing to have a clear 2030 target still lets Scott Morrison off the hook.’
“Getting Scott Morrison to merely nudge his 2030 targets up a bit isn’t enough, especially given he’s said he might do that himself anyway.
“It’s right to say Scott Morrison’s targets are too low, but teasers of policy positions are not enough when the world is experiencing unprecedented environmental crises.
“The science is clear. We need targets that match the science, not the demands of coal and gas corporate donors.”
The Greens’ Climate Policy:

• Net zero emissions by 2035 and 75% cuts by 2030, consistent with the science and the independent Climate Targets Panel.
• Lead the world on climate action by phasing out coal stations and exports by 2030 and legislating against new coal mines and gas fields.
• Achieve 100% renewable energy by 2030 and work towards 700% renewables, funding a massive investment in infrastructure that will transform our energy system over the next decade and grow a new export industry.
• Phase in 100% electric light vehicle sales by 2030, with subsidies to make them affordable for all
• Reduce bills by $200 a year by creating a publicly owned energy provider and subsidising investment in solar power and batteries.
• Build a multi-billion dollar clean energy export industry to replace coal exports.
• Invest in local coal and gas communities so they can attract the jobs and new industries they want, retain, upskill and ensure these local communities can continue to thrive.

The Greens are thrilled to announce educator, NGO consultant and local mum Sonya Semmens as the candidate for the federal seat of Higgins in the next federal election.
Higgins is set to be a hotly contested battleground at the next federal election, with electoral redistribution picking up Windsor shifting the balance towards the Greens, and threatening a key Liberal-held seat.
The Greens are set to run a campaign focusing on the failure of moderate backbenchers to shift party policy and the massive influence of Barnaby Joyce over the Coalition– pointing to the government’s disastrous response on COVID, and highlighting that Katie Higgins MP was either silent or being ignored by Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce.
Booths in South Yarra and Windsor are progressive bulwarks, with the Greens leading the vote count in the last election. More conservative areas at the East of the electorate in Hughesdale and Glen Iris have moved into other electorates.
Greens leader Adam Bandt MP said:
“This is a battle between a backbencher who will be told how to vote by Barnaby Joyce, and someone who will listen to the experts.
‘If you vote Liberal in Higgins, you get Barnaby Joyce.
‘Higgins voters want evidence-based policy but they’re getting Barnaby Joyce’s ramblings.
‘The voters of Higgins are powerful and they can send a message to the Morrison-Joyce government to listen to the science and the experts.
“The science deniers run the show in the Morrison-Joyce government, and despite Katie Allen’s medical background, she has either been silent or ignored by the Prime Minister. The catastrophic failure to listen to experts in the covid crisis will be outstripped by the impacts of failing to listen to experts on climate change.
“Sonya Semmens is a fierce advocate for her electorate, a brilliant communicator, and we need her in parliament fighting for immediate, targeted and evidence-backed action on climate.”
Greens Higgins candidate Sonya Semmens said:
“Higgins deserves an MP who has power in the parliament, and will not only listen to the experts, but take their advice to the floor of the House where it counts.
“As a vocal campaigner for climate action, I will push the next government to go further and faster on the climate crisis so we can secure a better future for everyone.
“As a local parent and educator, I understand what matters to our community and will fight for a more secure future for us and our children.
“Experiencing homelessness as a single parent, made me confront the reality of housing instability in this country. It’s not good enough, and it’s getting worse. Everyone deserves a secure place to live, and that’s what I’ll be fighting for in parliament.
“The major parties can’t be trusted to fight the climate crisis. The climate crisis will utterly dwarf the pandemic and we need someone who has what it takes to protect people.”

The Australian Government should immediately issue bridging visas to Afghan people in Afghanistan who have made substantive visa applications, the Greens say.
“The Government must expedite visas to give people at least a chance to leave Afghanistan and get to safety,” Greens Immigration and Citizenship spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.
“We understand that the situation around the Kabul Airport is extremely dangerous and unpredictable, and people may not be able to access flights.”
“But we also know that without a valid visa, people have no chance to get onto evacuation flights even if they can get into the airport.”
“Bridging visas can be issued in real time with the stroke of a pen and without complicated and lengthy assessments.”
“The government should immediately issue Bridging visas to Afghan people who worked for Australian armed forces or consulates, partners of Australian permanent residents and citizens, and people who have applied for humanitarian visas, so that they at least have a chance to reach safety.”
“The priority should be to get people to safety rather than forcing them to wait in danger while their substantive visa applications are processed.”
“If evacuation is possible, people’s substantive applications can then be assessed.”
“Some people from Afghanistan have been waiting years to have their visa applications assessed – their plight has been worsened by the Australian Government’s unacceptable delays.”