Category: Australian News

The Morrison Government is providing $2.6 million to researchers at the University of Melbourne to use the latest information technology to improve the lives of people who have survived brain cancer.
Funded by the Morrison Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Australian Brain Cancer Mission ­– 2020 Brain Cancer Survivorship Grant Opportunity, the three-year grant opportunity will allow researchers to develop and demonstrate the impact of an online survivorship platform to better connect patients – and their families and carers – with the health care teams providing treatment.
The platform will also allow patients to connect with other survivors to share experiences and support each other.
New cases of brain cancer are increasing each year. In 2020, 2,000 Australians were diagnosed with brain cancer. Less than a quarter (22 per cent) will be alive in five years.
While brain cancer accounts for just 1.4 per cent of all cancers in Australia, it has high rates of morbidity and mortality. Young people are disproportionately affected – brain cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths for people under 25.
The researchers will look at how information technologies can help ensure survivors are not alone on their brain cancer journey, and tailor a survivorship approach that suits individual needs.
After brain cancer treatment, people often have debilitating conditions, with physical, cognitive and psychosocial symptoms. They may be financially distressed and have to cope alone.
Mostly, post-cancer treatment care is only available when patients attend hospital. We need to better connect them, their families and carers with health professionals, and with other brain cancer survivors.
There are no known prevention measures for brain cancer and for some there are no effective treatments. It is widely recognised that the key to improvements in this area is investment in research.
The Australian Brain Cancer Mission is providing $133 million over 10 years from the MRFF and significant donations from funding partners.
The Mission aims to double the survival rates and improve the quality of life of people living with brain cancer over the decade to 2027, with the longer term aim of defeating brain cancer.

The Australian Government has published the Final Progress Report for Australia’s First National Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy 2015–2019 detailing our efforts to limit the incidence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Australia.
AMR is recognised as one of the most serious health problems facing the world. As bacteria, viruses and fungi continue to develop resistance to existing medications, this presents a greater risk of serious health impacts, as well as affecting food production, and the livelihoods and security of producers.
In 2020, the Australian Government released the National Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy – 2020 & Beyond and announced more than $22.5 million over four years in the 2020­–21 Budget to implement it.
Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, David Littleproud, said that globally the use of antibiotics in livestock had been recognised as a potential source for antimicrobial resistance.
“Australia is a world leader in minimising the use of antibiotics in food-producing animals which means that there is a low risk of developing antimicrobial resistance from animals in this country,” Minister Littleproud said.
“We have introduced regulatory and industry changes to ensure that registered animal antimicrobials that are medically important for human health no longer claim to promote growth in animals.”
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said the report identified important AMR initiatives and the collaborative efforts by government and private sector organisations across the One Health sectors of human and animal health, food and the environment.
“These combined efforts aim to minimise the emergence and spread of drug-resistant organisms in Australia and the region will ensure antimicrobial medicines continue to be effective and available to treat infections into the future,” Minister Hunt said.
“We have seen antibiotic dispensing rates for Australians steadily decrease, down approximately 13 per cent since a peak in 2015, equating to around two million fewer prescriptions dispensed, which is a really positive development.
“This and other initiatives show there is increasing understanding and awareness among doctors and the community of the importance of only using antibiotics when absolutely necessary.”
Minister for the Environment, Sussan Ley, said Australian research is adding to our understanding of how antimicrobials enter our environment and accumulate over time.
“It’s not just limited to hospital floors, drug-resistant bacteria, viruses and fungi can evolve in any environment,” Minister Ley said.
“Our new national AMR strategy will be supported with initiatives including developing a ‘One Health’ surveillance system, a national antimicrobial resistance research and development agenda and a national monitoring and evaluation framework.”
Minister Ley is a member of the One Health Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance.
For more information, please refer to www.amr.gov.au

Scott Morrison needs to listen to veterans, advocates and the will of the Parliament and establish a Royal Commission into veteran suicide immediately.
The motion to establish the Royal Commission was put and passed the House of Representatives late yesterday.
As the motion notes, Australian Defence Force personnel have a suicide rate nearly twice that of the wider Australian community. More veterans have died by suicide than in war in the past 20 years.
This is a black mark against us as a nation that we have allowed so many people who have served their country to needlessly die.
These are the people who put on our uniform, in our name, to protect our nation.
We owe it to those that have gone, but it is essential for those who remain.
Labor has called for a Royal Commission into veteran suicides since December 2019, and we are pleased this is something the Parliament now wants too.
Labor co-signed the motion that passed the Senate unopposed last week along with the Greens and crossbench Senators. And now the same motion has just been passed unopposed in the House.
It is now up to the Prime Minister to follow the will of the Parliament and of the people and establish a Royal Commission into veteran suicides.
You only had to see the number of people rallying outside Parliament today in the rain to understand there is overwhelming support for a Royal Commission.
It’s what veterans and families want, it’s what the experts want, and it’s what thousands of Australians want.
Now we know it’s what the Parliament wants too.
Scott Morrison needs to do the right thing and give the grieving families of veterans the proper investigation they deserve.
The Prime Minister needs to act now.

With Australia’s economic recovery underway, the Morrison Government are providing even more opportunities for people to start their own new small business and assisting people already running a micro-business with more free training and support available.
An additional 1,000 places are being provided under the New Business Assistance with the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) program and an additional 350 places for people to access an Exploring Being My Own Boss Workshop.
The free Exploring Being My Own Boss Workshops provide valuable information on what is involved in starting a new business – helping people decide if self-employment is right for them. They include practical information about running a business and information on small business support services available.
The New Business Assistance with NEIS program provides a range of free small business assistance to people who have a great business idea and need help getting started. This assistance can include access to free accredited small business training, support to develop business plans and personalised business mentoring.
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, says: “Anyone looking for work, people who have part-time or caring responsibilities, or any micro-business owners or sole traders who have been impacted by COVID-19 can participate in the New Business Assistance with NEIS program or undertake a Workshop.
“New Business Assistance with NEIS is a highly successful program and has helped over 185,000 people start a new small business since 1985”.
“Small business assistance can provide people with extremely valuable business, organisational and marketing skills and help people turn their new business ideas into a reality”.
“Running a small business can be a deeply rewarding experience for many Australians and are the backbone of communities.
“By expanding the New Business Assistance with the NEIS Program, we are able to assist more Australians to get their business idea off paper and into reality.”
For more information visit: http://www.dese.gov.au/neis

Today is a momentous day for Australia’s fight against COVID-19, with the rollout of Phase 1B of the Australian Government’s vaccination plan.
The COVID-19 vaccine rollout out is one of the largest logistical exercises ever undertaken in this country and we are particularly encouraged by the enthusiastic response from Australians in getting vaccinated.
Australia’s vaccination rollout will help reduce the health, social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. It will save lives and livelihoods.
Appointment availability will increase as the number of clinics grow from 1,000 to more than 4,000 over the next four weeks, so we thank you for your patience.
Priority groups in Phase 1B include:

• elderly adults aged 80 years and over
• elderly adults aged 70 years and over
• health care workers not vaccinated in Phase 1A
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults over 55
• adults with a specified medical condition
• adults with a severe disability who have a specified underlying medical condition
• critical and high risk workers including defence, police, fire, emergency services and meat processing.

Australia has a world class manufacturing facility right here at home, putting us in a very strong position to supply vaccines when and where they are needed. Our contract with CSL for 50 million doses means we do not need to rely on overseas supply to ensure all Australians who want a vaccine, can be vaccinated.
Australia has very successfully suppressed this highly infectious disease and it is really important that all Australians come forward and get the vaccine when it is their turn to do so.
We thank the more than 4,000 GP clinics and health services—doctors, nurses, practice managers and staff—for participating in the vaccination rollout.
Further information about the next phases of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout will be announced over the coming months.
In the meantime, please visit www.health.gov.au for information about COVID-19 and use the Eligibility Checker to find out when you can get vaccinated.

The Australian Greens have said the disastrous flooding in NSW was a grim look at the future of extreme weather in a climate crisis, warning that more action must be taken to prevent the situation from rapidly worsening.
The Greens say that parliament must urgently declare a climate emergency, then start a rapid transition away from coal, oil and gas, the primary causes of global heating.
Adam Bandt MP, Leader of the Australian Greens said:
“This is an utterly tragic situation in New South Wales. My heart goes out to everyone who has lost their home, livestock, or is currently out in the extreme conditions battling to protect their communities and save lives,” Mr Bandt said.
“This is a grim look at the future of Australia’s climate in a future of global heating, where we’ll see bigger fires and worse floods, all with less time of normal weather in between. ‘Unprecedented’ fires one year, ‘once in a 50 year’ floods the next. This is not normal.
“Like bushfires, no one flood can be blamed on the climate crisis, but scientists warn that a warming planet will increase the intensity of extreme rainfall and bushfires.
“While our brave firefighters and emergency services are up to the challenge, we must take urgent action to move away from coal, oil and gas. If not, we’ll see more and more lives taken, more houses burnt or swept away, and more bushland and wildlife lost.
“The Liberals have taken millions in donations from coal & gas companies and are backing plans to expand these industries. They’ve put their donations, and the profits of the coal and gas industry ahead of the safety of you and your family.
“The Greens refuse donations from coal & gas corporations. We are working in parliament everyday to push the Labor and Liberal parties to go further and faster to tackle climate change.
“It’s time for the Parliament to declare a climate emergency and start taking urgent action to transition away from coal, oil and gas.
“Through an urgent transition away from coal, oil and gas and onto renewables, we won’t just create tens of thousands of jobs in regional Australia, we’ll protect our regional communities from the worst ravages of global heating. There’s no time to waste.”
Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Senator for NSW said:
“Scientists have been telling us for years that the climate crisis increases the risk of extreme weather events,” Senator Faruqi said.
“Every day the Liberals prop up fossil-fuels and drag their heels on tackling the climate crisis, they risk more extreme weather, including worse and more destructive floods.
“The science is clear: coal, oil and gas worsen the climate crisis and are making floods more intense.
“My thoughts are with communities across NSW, many of which have already been badly impacted by the floods. Stay safe and follow the official advice.”

Today the Government gagged the Senate and allowed no time to even debate the first so-called real permanent increase in the Jobseeker Payment since 1994.
After more than a decade campaigning and tireless advocacy, we should be celebrating this moment but there hasn’t been any celebrating and there won’t be.
Today there is only distress and anger. I share that distress and anger. I stood in here a year ago and thanked the Government for doubling the Jobseeker payment when the pandemic hit saying I had tears in my eyes when I heard.
Well I had tears in my eyes when I heard about this pathetic increase – tears of distress, anger and despair.
I’m angry because this pitiful increase to Jobseeker Payment amounts to $3.57 a day.
I’m angry because the Government is choosing to entrench poverty.
I’m angry because in a wealthy country like Australia, no one should be skipping meals and going hungry.
Today I am thinking of the people who have been ignored, dismissed and demonised  by this Government and who are now condemned to poverty.
This is not over. We will not stop campaigning with the community until we get an increase that is above the poverty line.
The senate was denied the opportunity to debate this bill and to hear the voices of people who will be impacted by this cruel bill. I would like to share some of these people’s experiences today to demonstrate what life will be like for people when they are forced further below the poverty line. 
One woman said: “I am currently living in an isolated, rural area, but after many years of abuse, I have finally found peace here. My ex physically attacked me, leaving me every day in pain. I have anxiety and panic attacks when I leave the property. And I struggle with day to day life. While I am currently applying to get onto the Disability Support Pension, I am still struggling to live fortnight to fortnight on the current rate. The current rate is liveable. But cutting it back to the poverty rate is reprehensible.”
A single parent from the Northern Territory said: “Since the latest round of cuts I have had to default if paying my electricity bill- it is currently in danger of being cut off and incurring over $100 to put it back on. I won’t be able to drive my car soon as I can’t afford registration which I pay monthly.
I have given up filling one of my prescription medications as I cannot afford it. I have been unable to pursue study that I was nearly finished which would have increased by employability. I cannot afford to renew an important qualification. I have been missing six meals per week, every week in order to pay my rent Important rehabilitation is out of my reach.”
Another person said: “With the Covid 19 supplement I have been able to pay my bills, get my life preserving medication, and buy fresh fruit and vegetables. Life on $44 a day will mean I have to go back to eating packets of pasta and sauce, two minute noodles, and rice with frozen vegetables. Going back to $44 a day will mean I have to miss meals to catch public transport to go to my mandated in person meetings. Miss meals to pay for my phone that I use to look for work.”
One young person who struggles with poor health told us: “There have been several periods where I have relied on food banks and charities to afford basic necessities. I rely on the kindness of others to help me get to appointments or go get groceries when my health is bad. This pitifully low rate does not allow me to live with independence and dignity.”
There was this heartbreaking plea: “Don’t do this. You’ll be sentencing me to homelessness and starvation. Its heartless.”

The Greens say that unemployed workers and people living in poverty have been very clear that they want to see their representatives in Parliament supporting and campaigning for them, doing everything they can to increase the rate of JobSeeker above the poverty line.
“People living in poverty in this cruel punitive income support system feel isolated, they feel abandoned and want people to be vocal in their condemnation of this joke of an increase in the rate of Jobseeker”, Senator Rachel Siewert said.
“When we work to improve this pathetic increase we offer a glimmer of hope that people are not forgotten, that they are seen and that their Members of Parliament do not accept that anyone in a country as wealthy as Australia should live in poverty.
“The Greens will continue to campaign for a meaningful increase in the Jobseeker payment to ensure no one in this country lives in poverty and that includes seeking the support of the Senate to amend the pathetic bill that increases the JobSeeker payment by just $3.57 a day.
“Senators and MP’s across the political  spectrum should use their power and their voices to campaign for their communities.
“The Greens support all unemployed workers and will not stop campaigning until we have an increase to JobSeeker that is over the poverty line.”
When this pathetic so-called increase gets to the Senate this week I will be seeking support to amend this bill to:
1.    Increase all income support payments to $1115 a fortnight which is in line with the Henderson Poverty Line.
2.    Retain the current income free threshold of $300 a fortnight.
3.    Abolish compulsory income management.
4.    Abolish Mutual Obligations.
5.    Increase the base rate of age pension/DSP/Carer Payment to $1115 a fortnight.

Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Greens spokesperson for Anti-Racism, has criticised ASIO’s shift away from naming the threat of right-wing extremism, as announced in its 2021 Annual Threat Assessment.
Senator Faruqi said:
“To counter the far-right, we have to name the far-right.
“The people who benefit most from a failure to name far-right extremists are far-right extremists themselves.
“ASIO backing away from calling a spade a spade will harm our efforts to confront the existential threat of far-right violence.
“Make no mistake. This shift has occurred following complaints to ASIO by right-wing Government MPs.
“There is no ideological equivalence here. ASIO itself has said, just weeks ago, that right wing extremism is on the rise while left wing extremism is “not currently prominent”.
“ASIO were happy to label extremists ‘Islamic’ when it suited the Liberals’ desire to demonise a whole community, but now the group in question is predominantly young white men, it’s suddenly out of the question.”

The Morrison Government will provide a $2.4 billion boost to the economy by cutting red tape as part of our Economic Recovery Plan to allow for a uniform scheme for automatic mutual recognition (AMR) of state and territory based occupational licences and registrations.
Under this reform, builders, electricians, plumbers, architects, real estate agents, security guards and other workers who hold an occupational licence in their home state or territory and who want to do the same work in another state or territory will be automatically deemed to have the necessary licence. These workers will also not need to pay any additional fees or apply for additional licenses.
The current mutual recognition regime for licensed occupations across Australia is complex, costly and imposes an excessive regulatory burden on businesses that operate across jurisdictions. Currently, around 20 per cent of workers in the economy are required to be licensed.
In November 2020 the National Cabinet endorsed a uniform, national scheme for AMR and in December 2020 the Prime Minister, State Premiers and the Northern Territory Chief Minister signed an intergovernmental agreement for the federal government to establish the scheme and the states and territories to implement it.
This reform will directly benefit over 124,000 workers who currently work across borders and an additional 44,000 who are expected to work across borders following these reforms. In particular, the reforms will benefit those workers living in border regions, those who relocate temporarily for work, fly-in fly-out workers and people who provide services remotely. The time and cost savings associated with AMR for these workers is expected to increase GDP by $2.4 billion over 10 years.
A uniform scheme means businesses can operate more seamlessly across Australia, which helps to create jobs, increase output, competition and innovation and lower prices for consumers.