Category: Australian News

The Greens call on the Queensland and federal governments to reject Arrow Energy’s massive expansion proposal to drill hundreds of new coal seam gas wells at Hopeland in the Western Downs Region and lay 440km of pipelines in fertile farm land.
Arrow Energy has applied to increase its number of coal seam gas wells at the Hopeland site from six to 286. The state government previously declared the area off-limits for future coal seam gas projects after land and groundwater was contaminated by the Linc Energy underground coal gasification disaster.
Greens Leader in the Senate and spokesperson for mining and resources, Senator Larissa Waters, said:
“The Linc Energy project was one of Queensland’s worst environmental scandals. The Queensland Government recognised the extent of damage when it set a no-go zone in the area for future coal seam gas projects and I call upon them to now reject Arrow’s expansion proposal outright.
“I also call on the federal government to reject Arrow’s application as ‘clearly unacceptable’, given the obvious threats the project poses to the region’s groundwater.
“The Greens will always stand up for our communities, our farmland, our water, and our climate in the face of corporate interests and mining magnates.
“Governments need to stop sacrificing our farmland to the highest bidder. We must protect our precious food-producing land, respect the rights of farmers and traditional owners, and stop our water from being contaminated and the climate crisis turbo-charged by leaking gas (fugitive emissions).
“That’s why for the last 10 years I’ve had a private members bill before the Senate to give landholders the legal right to say no to coal seam gas and to ban fracking, but the big parties who take donations from the fossil fuel industry keep voting against it.
“Noting the Prime Minister’s obsession with the misnomer of a gas-led recovery, I will be asking in parliament about the treatment of Arrow’s huge expansion proposals and what it will take for the government to start protecting rural communities from the massive risk to water, the climate and farm land.”
“I also encourage all farmers to lodge an objection to Arrow Energy’s expansion application to the Queensland government by 15 February.
“It’s time state and federal governments listened to scientists, farmers and First Nations Peoples about the risks to land, water and climate. You can’t eat coal or drink gas,” concluded Senator Waters.

The Australian Government is preparing for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout by securing an additional vaccine workforce and working to deliver essential training to everyone who will administer the vaccinations.
Australia’s vaccine roll out will be carried out through hospitals, General practices, state and Commonwealth vaccination clinics, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and Pharmacies.
This additional vaccination workforce will help support and supplement these existing services and assist in outreach in areas such as aged care and remote and indigenous communities working with existing providers.
Through our plan, a panel of four providers have been appointed who will be called upon to provide a vaccine workforce to supplement the existing immunisation workforce for specific populations.
The providers are Aspen Medical, Healthcare Australia, International SOS, and Sonic Clinical Services.
These providers have established their capability and capacity to provide a skilled workforce, particularly for some of the most vulnerable groups throughout each state and territory.
The Australian Government has been closely monitoring the immunisation programs operating overseas, including in the United Kingdom and the United States, and one of the critical requirements has been the availability of a ready and capable immunisation workforce.
Our vaccination strategy requires the highest levels of operational readiness. As vaccines are approved for use in Australia and our vaccination program commences, we are ensuring the workforce is there to administer the vaccines in an efficient manner, particularly to our priority groups including residential aged care, residential disability, and carers.
This vaccine workforce will support the jurisdictions for their part in the vaccine rollout. We anticipate they will also partner with peak organisations and other providers to assist in administering the vaccine for harder-to-reach populations, such as remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Work is also under way to prepare the necessary and compulsory training which will be required for each and every healthcare professional administering COVID-19 vaccines.
The Australian College of Nursing is leading the preparation of the training materials which will cover the handling and administration of COVID-19 vaccines.
The nature of the COVID-19 vaccines requires immunisers receive information on a range of issues, such as the use of multi-use vials and handling practices for the Pfizer vaccine which requires very low temperatures for storage.
Healthcare professionals and the vaccine workforce will not be able to administer any COVID-19 vaccines without having first completed the training modules.
Australia is in the incredibly fortunate position to be able to look and learn from the vaccine rollouts taking place around the world and to ensure our workforce is ready and trained to do a world class job delivering the vaccine to all Australians who chose to be vaccinated in 2021.
This is a position which we have all worked hard to achieve, by following the health advice and suppressing the spread of the virus in our community.
As reported by the Medical Journal of Australia, the Australian response to COVID-19 may have saved over 16 000 lives according to modelling that used the UK response as a template.
The World Health Organisation has identified Australia as one of the most well prepared health systems in the world, according to a 2018 evaluation report on Australian disaster preparedness.
Our next stage is to issue expressions of interest requests for General Practices and Pharmacists, with that expected to be issued this week as foreshadowed.

The overdue release of dozens of refugees from immigration detention is a very welcome glimmer of humanity in Australia’s refugee policy, Greens Immigration Spokesperson Senator Nick McKim says.
“These men have been through so much for so long, and for them now to be able to breathe free air is a wonderful step forward for them,” Senator McKim said.
“There are still over 150 people who suffered through years of offshore detention detained in Australia. They should also be immediately released.”
“Those released today, and those still in detention, deserved freedom and safety a long time ago. Now they need permanent protection, support in our community, and a pathway to Australian citizenship.”
“There was never a legitimate reason for their detention, and it’s time to write the end of this dark chapter in our country’s story.”
“Special thanks go to the many Australian people who have protested this appalling situation.”

The Australian Government is ensuring senior Australians can live at home for longer thanks to additional assistance under the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP).
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck, said allowing older Australians to choose how and where they lived is a priority.
“The choice to live safely and independently in their community has increasingly become a strong preference for senior Australians,” Minister Colbeck said.
“The Government continues to invest in measures to make this possible no matter where people live.”
The Commonwealth Government will provide up to $124.4m in additional grants across the 2020-21 and 2021-22 financial years.
This will include an additional $32.2m per year over two years starting in financial year 2020-21 and a separate allocation of up to $60m in additional funding in 2021-22.“This funding will expand access to entry-level services to more senior Australians right across Australia, now and into the future,” Minister Colbeck said.
Eligible providers of aged care and disability services are invited to apply for the funding to deliver home support services under the CHSP.
The CHSP is an entry-level aged care program for frail people aged 65 years and over (or 50 years and over for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) who need some help with daily tasks.
As part of its commitment to supporting the entry level care needs of older Australians, the Government has committed a total of $5.94b across 2020-21 and 2021-22 to fund the delivery of services through the CHSP.
Nationally, more than 1,400 organisations are funded to deliver CHSP home support services to around 840,000 seniors.
“Maximising independence and autonomy is a key objective of the CHSP, to help people live their best lives as they get older,” Minister Colbeck said.
Services provided under the CHSP include domestic assistance such as help with cleaning, washing and shopping, transport, allied health services, nursing care and social support, assistance with food preparation in the home and delivery of meals, support for carers including respite services and home maintenance.
The grant opportunity GO3632 is now open and will close on 5 February 2021.
Information for eligible providers and how to apply is available on Grant Connect.

The government’s delay or abandonment of most of the recommendations from the Banking Royal Commission is a commitment to the hands off approach that caused the problems in the first place, the Greens say.
“The Liberals had to be dragged kicking and screaming into this Royal Commission, and they have never accepted that there is serious criminality and bad behaviour within the sector,” Greens Economic Justice spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.
“By delaying or abandoning most of the recommendations, they have made it clear that they are quite happy for people to continue to fall victim to the banks’ predatory conduct.”
“They are also trying to scrap responsible lending laws, which will lead to more people landing in unsustainable debt.”
“With unemployment and underemployment high in the middle of a global pandemic, there has never been a worse time to let banks off the leash.”
“The Liberals have today confirmed beyond any doubt they are a wholly owned subsidiary of their big corporate donors.”

Applications are now open for local communities across regional Australia for the fifth round of the successful Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF).
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said this round will see local communities share in $200 million.
“Releasing the program guidelines last December meant prospective applicants could begin preparing their submissions,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“The Australian Government is now welcoming those submissions, ready to support community investments such as local events and strategic regional plans as well as infrastructure projects which will provide lasting benefits to regional and remote areas.
“This round will see $100 million of dedicated support for tourism-related infrastructure, while maintaining $100 million for broader community infrastructure and investment.
“The Australian Government is proud to continue supporting our rural and regional communities with Round 5 bringing our total commitment to more than $1 billion over seven years.”
Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories Nola Marino said it is vital the Australian Government supports regional and remote communities as they continue leading the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our regions once again demonstrated remarkable strength and resilience in 2020, staring down the challenges of bushfire, drought and a global pandemic,” Ms Marino said.
“Our regions are the lifeblood of this nation and the BBRF will help ensure our local communities bounce back stronger than ever.
“Since 2016, we have funded nearly 1,000 projects through the BBRF, ensuring our communities have an opportunity to gain funding and support for locally driven projects.
“The BBRF is about creating jobs and driving economic growth and I encourage eligible applicants to apply for funding.”
Applications are now open and can be submitted through the online portal at www.business.gov.au/bbrf.
If potential applicants have any questions regarding eligibility or the delivery of the program, they can contact the AusIndustry Business Grants Hub on 13 28 46 to discuss their individual circumstances.
Prospective applicants are also encouraged to contact their local Regional Development Australia (RDA) committee to discuss their application. More information including contact details for your local RDA can be found at www.rda.gov.au.
Applications close on 5 March 2021, with successful applicants expected to be announced in mid-2021.

The Greens have asked the Auditor-General to investigate the approval of the Yeelirrie uranium mine in Western Australia by former federal environment minister Melissa Price, after a damning ABC report this week showed a deeply flawed approval process.
Greens Environment Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young wrote to the Auditor-General Grant Hehir on Thursday and requested his office consider the matter (letter attached).
“The Morrison Government’s conduct when it comes to approval of this uranium mine stinks. Former environment minister Melissa Price, ticked and flicked the night before the 2019 federal election against the advice of her own department,” Senator Hanson-Young said.
“The environmental approval of this mine smacks of political interference and cronyism.
“FOI documents show that somehow between 9.31pm and midnight, the minister managed to examine hundreds of pages of the decision package she had just received, remove key protections for threatened species and grant approval.
“The minister went against her own department’s advice and did so after the company had asked her to expedite the process together with former resources minister Matt Canavan who also intervened to get the approval across the line.
“It seems we have yet another case of an environment-wrecking project riddled with improper process, going against department advice and with political interference all on PM Morrison’s watch. The Auditor-General’s scathing report in June last year showed potentially hundreds of cases such as this exist. It is no wonder we are in an extinction crisis.
“The Morrison Government cannot keep getting away with doing favours for its mining and development mate or our wildlife and wild places will all soon be gone.”

On 9 December 2020, Regional Health Minister, Mark Coulton, chaired the 11th special rural and remote health COVID-19 roundtable with members of the Rural Health Stakeholder group.
Minister Coulton acknowledged the continuing value and importance of these regular Roundtable meetings, with the focus now shifting to vaccine rollout. Minister Coulton advised of the significant work being undertaken regarding COVID-19 vaccines, noting the logistical considerations to support access to, and delivery of, a safe and effective vaccine.
Senior Department staff provided updates on the Commonwealth COVID-19 response. Participants provided valuable feedback to the Minister on the current focus and efforts of their own organisations in response to the outbreak.
Update on the Rural Procedural Grants Program (RPGP)
The RPGP supports procedural GPs and rural generalists in rural and remote areas to attend relevant continuing professional development (CPD) activities, focused on both skills maintenance and upskilling.  Procedural GPs and rural generalists are able to receive financial assistance to maintain their additional skills in emergency medicine and upskill in anaesthetics, obstetrics and/or surgery. The financial assistance contributes to the costs incurred by the GP or rural generalist to attend CPD activities, including travel, accommodation and engagement of a locum.
Stakeholders welcomed the announcement that temporary flexibilities allowing RPGP participants to claim support for CPD activities delivered online have been extended to
30 June 2021.
These flexibilities were introduced in May 2020 as part of the Government’s COVID response and have been well received by program participants, with a good uptake of online options. Due to ongoing limitations in accessing face-to-face training, the Government has extended these arrangements.
COVID-19 Vaccine Update
The Department provided a comprehensive report on the COVID-19 vaccine strategy to support access to, and delivery of, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, as soon as they are available. Australia has secured over 114 million doses of potential vaccines, if proven safe and effective, and registered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
The Government has entered in to a range of agreements for the supply of COVID-19 vaccines. Detailed information can be found at: https://www.pm.gov.au/media/australia-secures-onshore-manufacturing-agreements-two-covid-19-vaccines*.
*Following this Roundtable, the Australian Government announced that the University of QLD/CSL vaccine would not be proceeding to phase 3.
The Government has joined the COVAX facility, as part of a global effort to support rapid, fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. This participation enables the purchase of COVID-19 vaccine doses as they become available. The COVAX facility provides access to a large portfolio of COVID-19 vaccine candidates and manufacturers across the world. Information is available at: https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp/media/australia-now-eligible-to-purchase-covid-19-vaccine-doses-through-covax.
Vaccine Policy
Stakeholders were advised that the rollout of safe and effective vaccines will be guided by Australia’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, which was endorsed by National Cabinet on
13 November 2020. The Policy sets out key principles, including that COVID-19 vaccines will be made available for free to:

• all Australian citizens;
• permanent residents; and
• most visa-holders.

The Policy sets out the roles and responsibilities of the Australian Government and state and territory governments to implement a COVID-19 vaccine program in Australia from early 2021. Each jurisdiction, including the Australian Government, will develop supporting Implementation Plans, which will articulate how it will give effect to its responsibilities under this Policy.
Responsibilities of the Australian Government will include the regulation of vaccines, their acceptance from manufacturers, setting funding policy, ensuring appropriate data collection and monitoring systems are in place, and national communications and information.
States and territories’ responsibilities include ensuring appropriately qualified and trained workforce for vaccines delivered at their vaccination sites, providing sites where vaccinations can safely take place, and ensuring that immunisation providers at state and territory vaccination sites remain compliant at all times with their safety, ethical, and reporting obligations.
The Policy also outlines that while the Australian Government strongly supports immunisation and will run a strong campaign to encourage vaccination, it is not mandatory and individuals may choose not to vaccinate.
Detailed information on the Vaccine Policy can be found here.
Rollout
The Department reported that as doses will initially be limited, access to vaccines during the early period of the roll out will be made available to highest priority groups.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation has provided initial advice to the Australian Government on which groups should be prioritised for the first doses for possible COVID-19 vaccination in Australia, being people who:

• have an increased risk of developing severe disease
• are at risk of exposure, being infected with and transmitting the virus
• are working in services critical to society functioning.

Further information can be found at: https://www.health.gov.au/news/preliminary-advice-from-atagi-on-general-principles-for-the-covid-19-vaccination-program
Logistics and distribution
Stakeholders were advised that the Government is currently consulting with the states and territories, and medical experts on how a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine will be distributed.
The Australian Government will be responsible for:

• safely transporting vaccine doses to storage and administration sites within each state and territory, and between these sites and vaccination locations where necessary;
• ensuring relevant logistics and storage chains are in place for each vaccine type; and
• establishing a mechanism to track and trace all doses of vaccine as they move through the system.

Data and reporting
Managing the most effective and efficient roll-out of COVID-19 vaccine/s will require significant coordinated data and reporting mechanisms. The Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) will be used to:

• monitor immunisation coverage levels and service delivery, which can help to identify regions at risk during disease outbreaks;
• measure vaccination coverage at a local, state and national level;
• determine an individual’s immunisation status, regardless of who immunised them; and
• provide an Immunisation History Statement to prove their immunisation status for child care, school, employment or travel purposes.

The Department reported that it is highly likely that two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine will be required for immunisation. Further, each patient will need to have two doses of the same vaccine, i.e. two doses of the Pfizer vaccine or two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
The AIR will monitor overall immunisation levels and individual immunisation status. It will be mandatory for vaccination providers to make timely recordings of any COVID-19 vaccinations into AIR.
Rural and Remote
Stakeholders were assured that the Commonwealth is mindful of the unique issues relating to distribution and access in rural and remote Australian communities and is engaging with states and territories to work through the complexities and challenges.
Further Communication
A range of communications materials will be developed regarding the vaccine rollout, targeted at Health Professionals and consumers. The Department will work with representatives of this forum to assist targeted dissemination to rural and remote Australians.
Workforce and Primary Care updates
Stakeholders expressed concerns that the ongoing impact of COVID-19 has heightened risks around workforce fatigue and burnout due to inability to take leave or undertake professional development. Reporting indicates that although Australian state and territory borders are re-opening, availability of locum support is problematic. The Department and stakeholders agreed to keep a watching brief on this issue.
The Department confirmed that the continuation of MBS telehealth items will be a key focus of the 10 year Primary Healthcare Plan.
Meeting summary
Minister Coulton thanked members for their ongoing participation, particularly over the past 12 months. The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines will be a standing item at future meetings.
Twenty-one rural stakeholder organisations are members of the group, along with the National Rural Health Commissioner and the Commonwealth Department of Health.
Participant list
Members participating in the teleconference for the 9 December 2020 were:

• Rural Workforce Agencies Network
• Australian Rural Health Education Network
• Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health
• CRANAplus
• Indigenous Allied Health Australia
• Royal Flying Doctor Service
• National Rural Health Alliance
• Pharmacy Guild of Australia
• Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine
• Australian Medical Association
• Federation of Rural Australian Medical Educators
• Rural Doctors Association of Australia
• Australian Dental Association
• Royal Australian College of General Practitioners- Rural Faculty
• National Rural Health Commissioner

Apologies:

• Pharmaceutical Society of Australia
• Rural Health Workforce Australia
• Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association
• National Rural Health Student Network
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Association
• Allied Health Professions Australia
• Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives

Young people in Batemans Bay and surrounds will now have easier access to mental health services with the opening of a new headspace centre today.
The new service was announced as a satellite service as part of the Australian Government’s $111.3 million funding commitment to establish 30 new headspace services. Given the particularly devastating impact of the bushfires on the New South Wales South Coast, the Government announced the expansion of the service to a full centre in January 2020.
The new service is located at 1/11 Clyde Street, Batemans Bay.
Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, said young people have been affected significantly by the impacts of the bushfires and COVID-19, and access to mental health services and support was more important than ever.
“There are more pressures on young people today than ever before and the expansion of headspace will be vitally important in providing services in Batemans Bay,” Minister Hunt said.
“I am committed to ensuring young Australians can get information, advice, counselling or treatment, when and where they need it.”
“headspace is here to deliver quality frontline support and ensure the best possible care for people who are at risk. We know intervention at the earliest possible stage is important to reduce the duration and impact of mental illness, so I encourage young people in our community to reach out for the help they need.”
The headspace program aims to improve access for young people aged 12 to 25 years who have, or are at risk of, mental illness.
One in four people aged 16 to 24 experiences some form of mental illness every year, and three-quarters of all mental illness manifests in people under the age of 25.
Senator for New South Wales, Jim Molan AO DSC, said Bateman’s Bay headspace would offer early intervention services across four key areas – mental health, related physical health, social and vocational support, and alcohol and other drug use.
“Bateman’s Bay headspace, like every headspace service, will provide tailored and holistic mental health support, working closely with young people at a crucial time in their lives to help get them back on track and strengthen their ability to manage their mental health in the future,” Senator Molan said.
“Services are co-designed with young people to ensure they are relevant, accessible and highly effective.”
The Government continues to demonstrate its firm commitment to the mental health and wellbeing of all Australians, providing a record investment in mental health services and support of an estimated $5.7 billion this year alone.
The headspace service has been commissioned by the South Eastern New South Wales Primary Health Network and is designed to meet the needs of young people in Batemans Bay.

Two new medical research centres will be funded by the Morrison Government to produce rapid improvements in preventing, treating and curing diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and their complications.
The Government will provide $10 million each for the new research centres ($20 million overall), as well as $18 million to support translational research projects.
Expressions of interest are now being sought by MTPConnect for the two research centres and also the first tranche of translational research projects, worth $6 million. There will be opportunities to fund translational research projects using the remaining $12 million in the future.
The funding is drawn from the Government’s Medical Research Future Fund, under its Targeted Translation Research Accelerator, which is managed by MTPConnect.
It will be directed to research projects with the potential to transform diabetes and cardiovascular disease outcomes, and reduce the burden of these diseases on patients, families and the community.
The two research centres will stimulate collaboration across industry, research and clinical organisations.
The Diabetes Research Centre’s translational research, development and implementation science activities will address three priority areas:
·       Diabetic kidney disease.
·       Peripheral neuropathy and diabetic foot syndrome.
·       Short term complications of hypoglycaemia and/or hyperglycaemic hyperosmolar syndrome (HHS) and ketoacidosis.
The priorities for the Cardiovascular Disease Research Centre will be:
·       Coronary artery disease (including angina and MACE)
·       Cardiomyopathy and heart failure
·       Transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and stroke (ischaemic and haemorrhagic).
Through a parallel program of research grants, $6 million will also be made available to develop innovative preventative, diagnostic, therapeutic and disease management products and solutions in priority areas.
The priorities for funding were identified through in-depth consultation with doctors and patients and include chronic kidney disease, cardiac and vascular complications, and mental health of people living with cardiovascular disease and/or diabetes.
The new research funding will build on MTPConnect’s work with its partners—ANDHealth, Medical Device Partnering Program, and UniQuest—to help researchers put their diabetes and cardiovascular disease research results into clinical practice, through mentoring and commercialisation support.
Investing in health and medical research is a priority for the Morrison Government. Research is a key pillar of our plan to make Australia’s health system stronger, more equitable, and more sustainable.