Category: Australian News

Australian Greens Housing spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has said reports that Labor may scrap commitments to wind back negative gearing and reduce capital gains tax (CGT) deductions would only benefit the wealthy.
Senator Faruqi said:
“For decades, Australian governments have created a housing system that actively impoverishes people and makes inequality worse.
“Not too long ago, Labor was calling out negative gearing and the CGT discount as “tax subsidies” that “benefit the wealthiest Australians” and are “skewed to high income earners”.
“This seems to be an opposition in name only. There is no good policy reason for backing down on negative gearing and capital gains. Any back down would be purely political and would only benefit the rich. It will do nothing to provide a home for everyone.
“Covid-19 has put the inequity and inhumanity of our housing system starkly in the spotlight. Labor should be strengthening its policies on negative gearing and capital gains, not abolishing them.
“I’m urging Labor not to shrink away from what are very modest policies. In reality, we should dismantle this rigged system through comprehensive reform and winding back CGT deductions and negative gearing.”

Today’s comments from Agriculture Minister, David Littleproud, that he is open to adopting net zero emissions by 2050 but wants to see concrete plans before signing up to the pledge begs the question: what has he been doing for the last four years?
Greens spokesperson for Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Peter Whish-Wilson, said evidence of climate change impacts on farming is hardly new information and you’d be forgiven for thinking setting climate targets for 30 years’ time is a joke.
“In the past eight years the Coalition have torn up nearly all existing climate policies like 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,” Senator Whish-Wilson said.
“I welcome today’s indication from Agriculture Minister, David Littleproud, that he is open to adopting net zero emissions targets by 2050.
“However, his desire to see concrete plans before signing up to a 2050 target also begs the question: what on earth he has been doing as Agriculture Minister for the past four years?
“The Nationals have been ignoring farming groups that clearly feel the agricultural sector has an important role to play in climate action. This includes the National Farmers Federation who have backed an economy-wide target of 2050, and The Meat and Livestock Association who have an industry target to be carbon neutral by 2030.
“Australia has within this past decade gone from being a global leader on climate action to a global embarrassment.
“The Nationals are now left playing catch up and David Littleproud’s comments today scream of a face-saving gesture – if he was legit he would be leading on getting a plan for net zero by 2050 developed.
“Few industries are more impacted by climatic disruption to ecosystems and biodiversity than farming and it’s beyond belief that The Nationals – the self-professed ‘farmers friends’ – are so deeply divided on climate change.
“The Greens urge The Nationals to unite with farming groups advocating for real ambition on tackling climate change, ahead of tomorrow’s Coalition meeting.”

The Greens say Mr Morrison must announce a permanent increase to the Jobseeker payment and guarantee that nobody is worse off under any new system.
“Mr Morrison is once again muddying the waters with a suggestion that the JobSeeker payment could be paid at a flat rate and targeted supplements abolished. A permanent increase to Jobseeker is the highest priority” Australian Greens spokesperson on Family and Community Services Senator Rachel Siewert said.
“The income support system needs reform as it is not fit for purpose but right now people need to know that they won’t be dumped back to $40 a day on April 1.
“People in our community are living in situations of extreme anxiety and in many cases distress.
“It is just plain cruelty to be keeping 1.3 million people in limbo on whether they are going back to living on $40 a day.
“The Government must guarantee that no one will be worse off under any reforms they make to the income support system, it is untenable that people may be worse off under any so called reforms.
“Mr Morrison should be able to walk and chew gum. We need an announcement on a long term increase to JobSeeker that is above the poverty line and a commitment to reforming our outdated income support system which has needed an overhaul for decades.”

The Morrison Government today reinforces its commitment to protecting the health and wellbeing of older Australians with landmark reform to keep seniors safer.
The Aged care legislation amendment (Serious Incident Response Scheme and other measures) Bill 2020 will ensure tangible steps toward the prevention of incidence of abuse and neglect of older Australians in care.
The SIRS legislation will also provide a range of broader powers for the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner, consistent with the Regulatory Powers Act.
It follows the passing of the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Improved Home Care Payment Administration No.2) Bill 2020 aimed at improving the way home care subsidies are paid to providers for care recipients.
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services Richard Colbeck said the measures reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to prioritising the needs of ageing Australians.
“The Commonwealth continues to build on and strengthen the aged care sector as we anticipate the final recommendations from the Royal Commission later this month,” Minister Colbeck said.
“As the Royal Commission has carried out its important work, we have continued to reform the sector.
“Importantly, these latest measures offer security and peace-of-mind for all older Australians in residential and in-home care settings and for their families.
“The Commonwealth Government is listening and acting to ensure the needs of older Australians are met while Labor continues to deliver nothing but spin and rhetoric.”
Minister Colbeck said the SIRS is intended to drive quality and safety improvements to residential aged care at the individual service and broader system level.
Residential aged care providers will be required to manage all incidents, with a focus on the safety and wellbeing of consumers and reduce preventable incidents from reoccurring.
The SIRS will expand the responsibilities of residential aged care providers in relation to identifying, recording, managing, resolving and reporting assaults and a broader range of serious incidents in residential aged care.
Reporting under the SIRS will include a range of new matters such as sexual misconduct, neglect, psychological abuse, inappropriate use of restraint, and unexpected death amongst others.
Significantly, the SIRS will lift the current exemption on the reporting of resident-on-resident incidents, where the perpetrator has an assessed cognitive impairment.
The first stage of the SIRS will start on 1 April.
Minister Colbeck said consumers expect continuity of care and safeguards across an end-to-end aged care system, which is why the Government has already committed to a prevalence and feasibility study of a SIRS in home and community care settings.
The study is being undertaken by KPMG and is expected to be finalised by late June and will inform Government decisions on a SIRS for home and community care.
Minister Colbeck said the Morrison Government is delivering record investment across the aged care system – from $13.3 billion in 2012-13 under Labor, growing to $24.3 billion in 2020-21 under the Morrison Government.
It is estimated that funding for aged care will grow to more than $27 billion by 2023-24.
“Senior Australians are increasingly choosing to remain in their own homes for longer and the Government is committed to supporting this choice,” Minister Colbeck said.
Since the 2018-19 Budget, the Government has invested an additional $5.5 billion for an additional 83,105 home care packages.
Home care packages are estimated to increase from 60,308 in 2012–13 when we came to Government, to 195,597 during 2020–21.

As part of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, the Morrison Government will provide a further $1 million to Ovarian Cancer Australia for their work supporting those living with ovarian cancer.
Each year in Australia, approximately 1,500 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Tragically, more than 1,000 will die. While ovarian cancer is more commonly diagnosed in women over the age of 50, it can occur at any age.
Ovarian Cancer Australia’s Teal Support Program is built on a psychosocial support case management model, including using telehealth to provide care and support to both ovarian cancer patients and their families.
Women diagnosed with ovarian cancer face extraordinary challenges: it has the lowest 5-year survival rate of all gynaecological cancers (46%) with recurrence rate of up to 70%. The psychological impact of this prognosis is overwhelming and 40% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer experience clinical levels of anxiety or depression.
Supporting patients and their families now is important, but research remains our best hope of defeating ovarian cancer in the long term.
Since 2011, the Government has invested more than $71 million for ovarian cancer research through the National Health and Medical Research Council and is the single biggest funder of cancer research in Australia.
In addition, through the Government’s $20 billion Medical Research Future Fund, we are supercharging the growth of Australia’s health and medical research capabilities.
To date, more than $16.9 million from the Fund has been invested in ground-breaking ovarian cancer projects, like the work done by Ovarian Cancer Australia.
Our Government also provides funding for a range of other measures to support women with ovarian cancer and their families, including the listing of life-saving and life-changing medications on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
This includes the recent extension of the PBS listing of Lynpara, meaning an additional 300 Australian women with ovarian cancer each year will have access to a medicine that would otherwise cost $140,500 per course of treatment. Instead, they will pay as little as $41.30 per script, or $6.60 with a concession card.
In August 2020, we also saw two new Medicare items become available for genetic testing for BRCA variants. This is in addition to Medicare rebates for gynaecology, oncology, radiology and pathology.
While we have made great progress in tackling this disease, there is more work to be done.
Today, at the Teal Ribbon Breakfast, our Government reaffirms its commitment to ensuring women with ovarian cancer in Australia know more about the symptoms and risks of this condition so they get the treatment, information and support they need both now and into the future.
2021 also marks the 20th Anniversary of Ovarian Cancer Australia. The Morrison Government congratulates OVA on this milestone and commends its work in supporting woman and their families.

More than 142,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech COZVID-19 vaccine have arrived at Sydney airport in a major milestone in Australia’s response to the pandemic.
This is the first shipment of 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine the Government has secured as part of Australia’s COVID-19 Vaccine and Treatment Strategy.
The doses have been securely transported from the airport. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will batch test the vaccines to ensure they meet Australia’s strict quality standards.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the country was on track for the first and most vulnerable Australians to start receiving the vaccine from 22 February.
“The vaccine has landed and we’re stepping up our fight against the pandemic,” the Prime Minister said.
“Once the final safety checks are completed we can start rolling out the vaccine to our most vulnerable Australians and to our frontline border and health workers.
“The hard work of Australians has meant we’re in an enviable position in our fight against the pandemic so we’ve been able to take the time to properly assess our vaccine decisions and give our world-class regulator the time they need to review the safety of the jabs.
“While we’re taking the time to get the rollout right, I am confident all Australians who wish to be vaccinated against COVID-19 will receive a vaccine this year.”
Approximately 80,000 doses will be released of the Pfizer vaccine in the first week. Approximately 50,000 vaccines will be made available for the states and territories for hotel quarantine and border workers and frontline healthcare workers. Approximately 30,000 vaccines will be made available for the Commonwealth vaccine in-reach workforce to aged care and disability care residents.
It is expected that of these, at least 60,000 will be administered by the end of February with others to be continually administered thereafter.
Subject to TGA approval and shipping confirmation of the international AstraZeneca vaccine, it is expected these numbers will double from early March. Phase 1a remains on track for first round doses to be delivered within a six week period.
In lessons learnt in rollouts around the world and on the advice of experts, approximately 60,000 vaccines will be provisioned to ensure consistent supply and sufficient stock for second doses. The second dose of the vaccine will be administered at 21 days after the first dose.
The Phase 1a priority groups will ensure our quarantine and border workers, frontline healthcare workers and aged care and disability care residents and staff that the most vulnerable will receive priority access to the vaccine.
Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt said, “The Pfizer vaccine will save lives and protect lives.”
“Australians can be reassured this vaccine has gone through rigorous, independent testing by the Therapeutic Goods Administration to ensure it is safe, effective, and manufactured to a high standard,” Minister Hunt said.
“These vaccines will now go through further batch testing to further check for quality and efficacy, ensuring all Australians have confidence in the vaccines they receive.”
The Pfizer vaccine will be delivered through hospital ‘hubs’ across Australia, and in residential aged care and disability care facilities.
Logistics company DHL has been engaged to support the distribution of the Pfizer vaccine across Australia.
The company, along with a network of 200 ultra-low temperature portable freezers, will ensure Australians across the country, including in rural and remote areas, are able to access the Pfizer vaccine, which needs to be stored at minus 70 degrees.
By following the medical advice, Australia has maintained a diverse portfolio of vaccines, and are constantly engaging with international counterparts and vaccine sponsors to access the best available information on vaccine developments worldwide.
Pending TGA approval, the Government has also secured 53.8 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses and 51 million doses of the Novavax vaccine. Each is sufficient to vaccinate every Australian who chooses to be vaccinated in 2021.
The Australian Government has also signed up to the international COVAX facility, which provides access to a range of vaccines to immunise up to 50 per cent of the Australian population.
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is the first vaccine to receive provisional approval for use in Australia by the TGA. The TGA bases such decisions on the safety, efficacy and quality of the vaccine candidates.

Greens bill aimed at strengthening the privacy protections of witnesses who give evidence to the Disability Royal Commission has passed the Senate with the support of Labor and the entirety of the cross-bench including One Nation.
The Government opposed the passage of the bill.
Senator Jordon Steele-John, who introduced the bill, said it was a huge win for the community and sent a clear signal to the Attorney General that these changes are urgently needed.
“Disabled people want to know that they are safe to tell their stories to the Disability Royal Commission, and that the evidence they give will not be used against them after the Royal Commission ends,” Steele-John said.
“With the government today losing this historic vote in the Senate, the community now know that the majority of their representatives in the Australian Senate support their desire for change.
“For the last 18 months the Attorney General has known this issue is having a chilling effect on the work of the Royal Commission, as many people in the community are worried about coming forward to tell their stories. We’re still yet to see any detail on how the government plans to fix this critical issue.
“With the Disability Royal Commission recommencing hearings for 2021 in Brisbane on the experiences of people with cognitive impairment in the criminal justice system Tomorrow,  it’s more important than ever that our Royal Commission can hear evidence from as many people as possible.
“With my bill today passing the Senate, we are already halfway there. It’s time this government acted to give people the peace of mind that telling their stories won’t cause them more harm.”

The Greens condemn Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton for using his ministerial powers to slash millions in grant funding for community projects recommended by his department, in favour of his own handpicked list in electorally beneficial locations.
Greens Leader in the Senate and spokesperson for democracy, Senator Larissa Waters, said:
“Another day, another pork barrelling scandal.
“Ministers picking their own pet projects against departmental recommendations to secure electoral outcomes has become commonplace under the Morrison Government.
“The rorts will keep coming because Morrison and his mates treat public money as their own kitty for keeping themselves in power.
“After Sports Rorts, the Greens moved to establish a broader Senate Inquiry into Government rorts, only for it to be blocked by the Government and One Nation.
“Minister Dutton may be in breach of Ministerial Standards but as if the Prime Minister would choose now to start enforcing them.
“This pork barrelling will only stop when we have a federal corruption watchdog that applies to all MPs.
“The Government has proposed a sham integrity commission that would shield their mates from proper scrutiny – and it’s clear why.
“My bill for a federal corruption watchdog passed the Senate a year-and-a-half ago, but Morrison – surprise, surprise – still refuses to bring it on for debate in the House.
“Enough is enough. This Government is running away from integrity and transparency as fast as new corruption scandals emerge. It’s time for Morrison to clean up his sideshow of scandals.”

The Australian Government is ensuring the COVID-19 Vaccination Program meets the needs of everyone in Australia, including those from culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.
To be successful, high uptake of COVID-19 vaccination will be required in Australia. Therefore it is critical that the vaccine program is designed and delivered in a manner which is accessible, inclusive and culturally safe.
This includes ensuring that communications are developed and targeted for CALD communities and that information and services are delivered in appropriate languages and formats and within appropriate facilities and locations.
The Government recognises that people from multicultural communities are a significant part of the health, aged care, childcare and disability workforce and will be among the first people in Australia to receive vaccinations.
A comprehensive vaccine implementation plan (the Plan) has been developed in partnership with multicultural specialist agencies – and with advice from the national CALD Communities COVID-19 Health Advisory Group – to reach people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
The Plan also ensures that the medical workforce administering vaccinations will be trained to work with people from culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse communities to ensure that services are delivered in a culturally appropriate and safe way, with the assistance of interpreters where needed.
The Plan is supported by the $31 million COVID-19 vaccination public information campaign which is now rolling out across the country, which included an additional $1.3 million to reach culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities through their peak multicultural organisations.
This Plan is available on the Department of Health website.
Vaccinations will be accessible on a rolling basis, depending on vaccine delivery schedules and prioritisation of groups for most urgent vaccination.

The Australian Government’s roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccines across the country is moving closer, with the plans for the complex distribution process and safe and secure storage of the vaccines well in hand.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack and Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communities and Local Government Mark Coulton on Sunday inspected DHL Supply Chain’s large scale ultra-cold storage infrastructure.
DHL’s ultra-cold and secure storage facility will keep safe the supply of Australia’s Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which needs to be stored at between minus 60 and 80 degrees. Australia will receive 20 million Pfizer-BioNTech doses in 2021.
Mr McCormack said DHL is one of two world-class logistics and distribution companies contracted to ensure the COVID-19 vaccines are available to everyone in Australia, no matter where they live.
“I have been determined to ensure that regional and rural Australia gets the same access to the vaccine that our cities will and that’s what we are doing,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“Australians have done the right thing throughout this pandemic and now the Australian Government is making sure everyone who wants to be vaccinated is, and is for free.
“We now have access to more than 150 million vaccine doses across the Pfizer-BioNTech, OxfordAstraZeneca and Novavax vaccines, ensuring we remain a world leader in the fight against the virus.
“It is important that these vaccines, which are in high-demand worldwide, are kept safe and secure which is what the Australian Government and our logistics partners are doing.
“This afternoon we were shown how the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccines across Australia is moving closer, with the plans for the complex process and safe and secure distribution.
“DHL is capable of handling close to three million Pfizer vaccine doses, as part of the initial deliveries to Australia.”
Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communities and Local Government Mark Coulton said the Australian Government is partnering with world-leading logistics provider, DHL, to ensure vaccines will be available to all Australians, including those in rural and remote Australia.
“We all understand how vast Australia is and the challenges we face delivering these vaccines to everyone, with more than a third of our population living outside capital cities,” Minister Coulton said.
“The Government is committed to ensuring every Australian receives safe, effective vaccines, wherever they live.
“That’s why we are partnering with highly-experienced logistics professionals to ensure we have the capacity to deliver on our national vaccination plan.
“Every person living in regional, rural, and remote Australia can rest assured they will have access to safe, effective COVID-19 vaccines at the same time as their city cousins.
“Australians will soon begin to receive their two-shot vaccine regime, with priority populations starting at the end of February.”
DHL will also distribute the Astra Zeneca and Novavax vaccines – when approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) – to Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, the Northern Territory, Western Australia and external territories, such as Norfolk Island.
DHL will also support the distribution of the Pfizer vaccine in aged care residential facilities and disability residences across Australia.
Vaccination of Australians against COVID 19 will commence in late February to ensure an orderly roll out to priority groups which is safe, effective and explained properly to Australians.