Category: Australian News

If the Resource Super Profits Tax had not been watered down and then repealed, it would have raised $34.6 billion dollars, enough to give free dental care to every Australian by including dental in Medicare.
A new costing by the Parliamentary Budget Office, provided to the Greens, shows that the decision to give in to the big mining corporations and billionaires by axing the original “mining tax” has cost the Australian budget $34.6 billion, and bringing a super profits tax back would raise $12.7 billion in the first year.
The cost of providing free dental care to the country by including dental in Medicare has been costed by the PBO at $29 billion over nine years.
The richest three mining billionaires Gina Rinehart, Twiggy Forrest and Clive Palmer saw their wealth grow by 141% or $35 billion between them during the pandemic.
The mining industry invested $20 million in a campaign to overturn the tax, and provide millions of dollars in donations to Liberal, Labor and Nationals. The return on their investment was 1,727% and growing every year that we leave their super profits tax free.
Quotes attributable to Greens Leader, Adam Bandt MP:
“Billionaires and big mining corporations are not paying their fair share of tax.”
“If we had the original mining tax, we could have free dental care for everyone.
“Politicians in the establishment parties give billionaires and big corporations too much special treatment. They rely on their donations, and as a result, don’t make them pay their fair share of tax.
“The next election will be closer than most people think.
“If less than a thousand people changed their vote at the last election, the Greens would be in the balance of power.
“At the next election, a minority parliament is likely, and if voters put the Greens in the balance of power, we will make the billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share of tax.
“While everyday people are struggling to afford to go to the dentist, Gina Reinhart, Twiggy Forrest and Clive Palmer increased their wealth by $35 billion during the pandemic.
“By making the billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share of tax, we can make life better for everyone.”

The Greens have again called on the Government to act urgently to end Black deaths in custody, following reports today of yet another death of a First Nations man in custody  – the fourth in the past fortnight.

The Aboriginal Legal Service of NSW and ACT today reports that Barkindji man Anzac Sullivan, 37, died during a police pursuit in Broken Hill on Thursday 18 March.
17 April 2021 will mark the 30th anniversary of the handing down of the final report of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. The report included more than 330 recommendations that, three decades on, have yet to be fully implemented. Since then, around 500 Blak people have been killed in custody – for which not a single individual has been yet held to account.
The Greens today reaffirmed their calls, as a matter of national urgency, for:

• Full implementation of the Royal Commission’s recommendations
• The Prime Minister to take up the invitation from families of those who have had a loved one die in custody to meet with them, ahead of the 17 April anniversary
• Greater transparency around the reporting of deaths in custody, and
• A ban on lethal choke holds.

Greens Senator for Victoria and DjabWurrung Gunnai Gunditjamara woman, Lidia Thorpe said:
“On behalf of the Australian Greens, I wish to express our sympathies to Mr Sullivan’s family, friends and community. I know they are hurting today. What they’re experiencing is something that no family or community should ever have to go through.
“As First Nations people, we are sad – and we are angry beyond words. Why does this system continue to kill us off? We know that was the intent from the beginning of the colonial invasion – is this part of the same genocidal agenda?
“Why should our people keep dying in places where they’re meant to be kept safe? The system is deeply racist.
“As recently as last week, this Government said deaths in custody were a ‘tragedy’, and said they were sorry.
“We’ve said it once, we’ve said it a million times. Sorry isn’t good enough. Sorry means you don’t do it again. It’s all talk and no action from these people, and these families deserve better.”
 

The Morrison Government will inject an additional $135 million to support thousands of jobs in the arts and entertainment sector, as it continues to come back from the impacts of COVID-19.
The Government will provide a further $125 million, available until 31 December 2021, into the already successful Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) fund. This funding will support around 230 projects and up to 90,000 jobs and builds on an original commitment of $75 million. RISE funding is provided to arts businesses and organisations as competitive project grants towards the cost of putting on activities such as festivals, concerts, tours, productions and events.
The Government will also provide a further $10 million to the charity Support Act in 2020-21, to assist with its vital work in providing crisis support to artists and other workers across the creative sector. This is in addition to the $10 million directed to Support Act by the Morrison Government last April.
Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said RISE is helping to drive the creative economy resurgence, as venues reopen and performances are booked in.
“Our focus has turned to stimulating activity so the work opportunities can flow,” Minister Fletcher said.
“This new funding comes at an important stage in the resurgence of Australia’s arts and entertainment sector. The purpose of the RISE program is to get shows put on, bringing employment to performers, crews and front-of-house staff.”
The Government will also update the RISE program’s guidelines to:

• Make it easier for multiple businesses and organisations to access the program to put on a show, including pre-production support. For example, it is common in the music industry that a promoter works with an artist, their manager, a sound and lighting provider and various other parties in the lead-up to a concert or tour.
• Encourage projects from as low as $25,000.

The Government will consult on the wording of these changes before finalising them.
The boost to the RISE program builds on the Government’s investment of almost $800 million in additional arts and entertainment funding announced in 2020, on top of an investment of around $750 million in annual funding, more than $730 million provided to the Creative and Performing Arts subdivision of industry through JobKeeper, and about $119 million provided in cash flow payments to Creative and Performing Arts organisations.
For more information about COVID-19 and arts support visit: www.arts.gov.au/covid-19-update.

As of this week around 87,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 55 or older are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in phase 1B of the national rollout strategy.
Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP today made time to attend Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Service to receive his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“We have done a remarkable job so far in the fight against the COVID-19 virus, we cannot now become complacent,” Minister Wyatt said. “Vaccines are an important tool in our strategy and I urge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to come forward and get vaccinated when they are able to. It will help protect themselves, their family and their community.”
There are 32 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services around the country who will begin providing COVID-19 vaccinations this week. The number of participating services and delivery sites will increase each week; building to around 100 services for around 300 sites in remote, rural and urban communities. People can also get their vaccination from general practices, commonwealth vaccination clinics (previously known as GP-led respiratory clinics). Pharmacies will begin vaccinations later in the rollout.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation advised the Australian Government to prioritise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccination in Australia based on evidence on who would be most affected if they contracted COVID-19.
“Our people have a higher risk of getting and developing serious outcomes from communicable diseases due to a number of factors including having a high rate of underlying chronic health conditions and in some cases crowded-living conditions, which increases the risk of transmission,” Minister Wyatt said.
“It’s normal to have questions or concerns, and possibly feel hesitant about getting a vaccine. I encourage all of you to listen to your local community controlled health organisation as a trusted source” he added.
The Department of Health also provides evidence-based information about COVID-19 vaccines on health.gov.au/covid-19-vaccines-is-it-true.
One of the reasons Australia has been so successful in preventing COVID-19 in reaching remote and Indigenous communities and causing serious illness, like it has overseas, is the quick response and hard work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities, leaders and health services.
Every Australian will have the opportunity to be vaccinated over the coming months and we thank every Australian for their patience. There are more than six million Australians in phase 1B, and not everyone will be able to be vaccinated immediately. No-one will miss out, whether they live in a city or country town or a very remote area.
To see if you are eligible and find your local service to make an appointment, you can use the eligibility checker at covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility or you can also contact your health service or general practitioner directly.
The Australian Government continues working in partnership with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector and state and territory governments in all aspects of the National Response to COVID-19, including in the roll-out of the vaccine program to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people throughout Australia.
For more: https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines/getting-vaccinated-for-covid-19/information-for-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-peoples-about-covid-19-vaccines

The Morrison Government is allowing corporations with massive conflicts of interest – including one run by former NDIA CEO Robert De Luca – to begin cashing in on planned Independent Assessment changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme before they’ve even been introduced.
Australian Greens Disability spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John said today we’ve discovered that on top of being dehumanising and unworkable for disabled people, proposed independent assessment changes were ripe for corruption.
“This is deeply problematic because the individual who assesses your support needs could be working for a company who is owned by the corporation that is providing you with those supports. It is a massive conflict of interest,” Steele-John said.
“It is unacceptable that planners and service providers have been allowed to create subsidiary companies and legal entities that can uniquely position themselves to exploit that government’s planned Independent Assessment changes.
“It is even more concerning that one of the biggest corporations that is cashing in is being run by former NDIA CEO Robert De Luca.
“It is clear from the report this morning that the lines are already blurring between these companies and their parent corporations.
“Job advertisements for independent assessors in subsidiary companies owned by the corporation Mr De Luca runs are popping up all over Australia, months ahead of when the proposed changes are due to be introduced. There has been no transparent and public tender process for these independent assessment contracts.
“The entire thing stinks and should be immediately halted until disabled people, our families, our advocates and peak representative organisations have been properly consulted.”

The Greens have strongly condemned the lifting of the temporary pause on new income support recipients going on to the Cashless Debit Card program, put in place in response to COVID-19.
“The Government has spent billions pushing this punitive scheme, and millions on flawed evaluations trying to prove that the card works and to justify their punitive approach.
“They have been unable to provide ANY compelling evidence that the card has had a positive outcome or achieved any of its supposed aims.
“From April 1, not only will millions be condemned to poverty, those in the so-called trial sites who are new to income support will be put on income management.
“Managing money is not the problem, it’s the $44 a day people are trying to survive on!
“The Government say they will implement a “staggered approach” to ensure income support recipients who are new to the Cashless Debit Card program can get the support they need during their transition.
“I’m frankly staggered they are even trying this on, this card makes life harder for people.
“While we are having a national conversation about violence against women, I am deeply concerned that this card may keep people in violent situations and the low rate of income supports severely limits the options for women and children leaving violent homes.
“This Government is flogging a dead horse. Give it up. The card doesn’t work. This cruel social experiment needs to end.”
 

A major push to improve the health of the Indigenous community has been launched this week by the Australian Government, with a focus on increasing annual health checks.
Backed by a new radio advertising campaign delivered in five Aboriginal languages: Kriol, Yolngu Matha, Warlpiri, Arrente and Burarra, the Government is encouraging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to see their GP and have a 715 health check.
The health check, listed as item 715 on the Medicare Benefits Schedule, is tailored specifically to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of all ages. It is free and available every nine to twelve months.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt said the health checks are an opportunity for early intervention, prevention and chronic disease management for all age groups.
“In-person 715 health checks decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic and the new radio advertising campaign, along with the availability of the 715 health check via telehealth, will help to increase awareness and uptake,” Minister Hunt said.
“The three-month radio advertising campaign is part of our ‘Your Health is in Your Hands’ communications project, delivered in partnership with Aboriginal-owned company 33 creative, who have created print, audio and online content to promote the health checks.”
Minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt, said the Government was committed to increasing the rates of the 715 health check by 10 per cent, as part of the Long Term National Health Plan.
“These health checks provide important information for both Indigenous people and health professionals, ensuring they can have their physical, psychological and social health comprehensively assessed,” Minister Wyatt said.
“While rates have been trending upwards in most locations and age groups, increasing from 11 per cent in 2010-11 to 29 per cent in 2017-18, we encourage all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to visit your local GP and have your health checked.”
Collectively, it is estimated that there are approximately 13,000 speakers of the five Aboriginal languages which will be aired across the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
The English language ads will be launched in the urban areas of Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart as well as nationally in remote and very remote areas of Australia.
The campaign began on 21 March 2021 and will run for three months.

From today, Australia’s best and brightest researches can apply for the fourth and final round of the $45 million BioMedTech Horizons (BMTH) program, which has been successful in bringing cutting edge medical devices to market.
The Australian Government, through the BMTH program, offers $3.2 million in partnership projects to help get innovative new medical devices to the next steps of starting human trials and early stage manufacturing.
The funding is available for up to four well-developed projects that can be completed within a year, and will see devices take the final steps towards commercialisation.
The BMTH program has already achieved great results, with recent funding recipient WearOptimo announcing a deal to manufacture its next generation Microwearable™ sensor health technology.
The wearable device gives patients, and their doctors, early warning of heart attacks, heat stroke and other life-threatening events. The device will be manufactured in Brisbane and distributed worldwide.
The Government supported WearOptimo’s research through the BMTH program, to develop the Microwearable technology itself and then its application in monitoring dehydration and cardiac health.
Our researchers are world-class innovators and we are committed to ensuring their research can lead to new treatments, drugs and devices which address our biggest health challenges.
The BMTH program is improving health outcomes for Australians, while also bolstering the biomedical and medical technology sector, boosting employment and growing business.
The Government funds the program through the $20 billion Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF). The MRFF is a long-term, sustainable investment in Australian health and medical research helping to improve lives, build the economy and contribute to the sustainability of the health system.
MTPConnect, a not-for-profit organisation driving innovation, collaboration and commercialisation in the medical technology, biotechnology and pharmaceutical sector, delivers the BMTH program.
Details on how to apply for funding under the program are available at www.mtpconnect.org.au

The Disability Royal Commission confirmed yesterday in Senate Estimates that the Morrison government has yet to formally respond to their request for a 17 month extension, acknowledging they need more time to enable them to fulfil the Terms of Reference.
Australian Greens Disability Rights spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John said it was clear that the COVID-19 pandemic and the lack of privacy protection for witnesses had had a significant impact on the ability of the Royal Commission to effectively do its job.
“This is not a question of budget constraints, it is simply a question of having enough time to properly do their job,” Steele-John said.
“Our Royal Commission has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Public hearings were stopped for 6 months, as was outreach and engagement into the community. When public hearings resumed they were, and still are, closed to the general public.
“Important community engagement in WA, SA, NT and Tasmania hasn’t resumed and in remote and regional parts of Australia, it never even began.
“Representatives of the Royal Commission confirmed last night that the Commission has a desire to go to all states and territories, including remote and regional areas of Northern and Central Australia ‘subject to COVID-19’.
“The Royal Commission also acknowledged that an extension ‘certainly would allow us to have more hearings, do more engagement, receive more submissions, undertake more private sessions and ultimately means that we would fulfil our terms of reference’.
“It’s now been six months since the Royal Commission requested a 17 month extension and the Morrison government still have not even provided a formal response. They must grant an extension now!”

Following the announcement by the EU, UK, US and Canada of targeted sanctions against Chinese officials responsible for gross human rights abuses in Xinjiang province, the Australian Greens have called on the Australian Government to take urgent action.
Senator Janet Rice, Australian Greens Foreign Affairs spokesperson, said:
“The Chinese Government is committing cultural genocide against the Uighur people. Xinjiang is under mass surveillance and more than one million people have been captured and put in internment camps.
“The Australian Greens echo Marise Payne in welcoming the measures announced by our allies overnight, and share the deep concern for the mass internment of Uighur people in Xinjiang province by the Chinese Government.
“It’s time that the Australian Government turned concern into action. The Australian Government should join countries around the world and impose targeted sanctions, such as travel bans, against senior Chinese Government officials and any other entities credibly alleged to be involved with or responsible for these human rights abuses.
“If the Chinese Government’s denial that genocide is occurring is to have any credibility then they must immediately allow access for international and UN observers.”