Category: Australian News

The Australian Government has extended the capital sensitivity exemption for medical imaging equipment in rural and regional Australia until 1 May 2022.
This extra time for remote practices to replace older medical imaging equipment will ensure that patients in remote areas can continue to receive Medicare benefits for diagnostic imaging.
On 1 May 2020, Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items and rules related to diagnostic imaging services were amended in line with the recommendations of the MBS Review Taskforce and the Medical Service Advisory Committee.
The changes ensure that diagnostic imaging services provided under Medicare are up to date and reflect best clinical practice.
As COVID-19 has impacted on these practices, the extra 12 month’ exemption will allow them more time to accrue finance and arrange new equipment, while ensuring that modernisation does occur.
The Australian Government is committed to ensuring that all Australians can access to safe, quality Medicare funded diagnostic imaging services, wherever they live.

Small businesses across Australia are getting support from the Morrison Government to cut energy costs, putting more money back in the pockets of business owners as we recover from COVID-19.
Through the Government’s Energy Efficient Communities Program, 336 small businesses have been awarded grants of up to $20,000 to lower their energy bills by upgrading to more energy efficient equipment, carrying out energy audits or installing energy monitoring equipment.
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said the Government was focused on bringing down the cost of energy for small businesses.
“Small businesses have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Government is focused on helping them through this difficult period, and beyond,” Minister Taylor said.
“Energy bills are a significant overhead for many small businesses. These grants will help small businesses all around Australia pay less on their energy bills, helping them keep their doors open, expand their business and employ more Australians.”
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business Michaelia Cash said helping small businesses lower their energy costs is critical for them to prosper, grow and create more jobs.
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our local communities and the backbone of the Australian economy. Employing over 6 million Australians, our 3.5 million small businesses contribute over $418 billion to our national economy,” Minister Cash said.
“As we recover from the impacts of COVID-19, small businesses will play a key role in the Government’s plan for a stronger economy”.
“Lowering energy bills for our small businesses through the Energy Efficient Communities Program will help alleviate financial pressure and deliver the conditions they need to succeed.”
The Energy Efficient Communities Program was announced as part of the Government’s $3.5 billion Climate Solutions Package to deliver on Australia’s 2030 climate commitments.
The full list of successful applicants for the small business grants is available on business.gov.au.

Australia has been confirmed as a climate pariah as the UN’s Climate Ambition Summit speaking list released today confirms the Prime Minister has been barred from speaking at the key international meeting.
The list also confirms the Prime Minister misled Parliament when he claimed he would be attending in the Summit.
The government this morning is also defying a Senate Order to release the rejection letter from the Summit organisers which would show the reasons why Australia has been barred.
Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt MP said:
“Australia is now a climate pariah with the rest of the world turning their backs on us,” Mr Bandt said.
“The world is sending Scott Morrison a clear message that his weak 2030 targets are not enough to tackle the climate crisis.
“With Donald Trump on his way out, there is now nowhere left for Scott Morrison to hide.
“Australia now sits with Russia and Saudia Arabia in the club of climate deniers.
“World leaders recognize we are on track for climate catastrophe unless everyone lifts their ambition, but Scott Morrison refuses to do what’s needed to protect Australia and its people.
“The Prime Minister is now scrambling to create a fig leaf for his humiliation by using a Pacific Islands climate roundtable tonight to announce Australia would no longer cheat on its climate targets with so-called Kyoto credits.
“If he bullies the Pacific Island leaders like he did at the last Pacific Islands Forum, Scott Morrison risks further damaging our relationship with our neighbours.
“Committing to science-based 2030 targets and a green recovery would also help with our big problems with China.
“It is not too late for Australia. The Prime Minister should change course and join with President-elect Biden and Europe and lead the world in confronting the climate emergency.”
LIST OF CONFIRMED SPEAKERS ON 10 DECEMBER, 17:00
Afghanistan, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Ecuador, Ethiopia, European Union, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Grenada, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Iceland, India, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Luxembourg, Malawi, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Nations, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe
https://climateambitionsummit2020.org/

Last night’s global Climate Ambition Summit confirmed Australia’s status as the world’s climate reject. While Scott Morrison was barred from the Summit, world leaders lined up to announce ambitious new 2030 targets and action.
The Europe Union upped their 2030 target to 55% and the UK to 68%. Japan announced they would raise their targets next year and Canada released modelling showing they would beat their 2030 target.
The Summit opened with the UN Secretary General calling on all countries to declare a climate emergency, which was followed by a long list of leaders promising more strong action, from famous cricketer turned PM Imran Khan saying Pakistan would ban coal plants to Finland’s PM announcing carbon neutrality by 2035.
Lame duck President Donald Trump wasn’t there, but President-elect Joe Biden announced just beforehand that he would lead a further summit of the world’s major economies before April next year, which will further boost 2030 ambition ahead of the Glasgow climate talks in November next year.
Lines from Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP:
“Scott Morrison’s Australia is now the world’s climate reject,” Mr Bandt said.
“Scott Morrison’s weak 2030 target doesn’t just put lives at risk, it isolates Australia.
“The PM has isolated Australia, but he won’t be able to hide when Joe Biden calls together the key world economies by April next year.
“The Liberals now have no choice but to increase Australia’s 2030 climate targets in the next few months.
“The acid is also now on Labor, who continue to let Scott Morrison of the hook by failing to put forward their own 2030 targets.
“Both Liberal and Labor are failing the climate test. I call on Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese to join with the Australian Greens next year in declaring a climate emergency and a science-based target of 75% cut to pollution by 2030.”

New purpose-built teaching facilities that will train the next generation of rural GPs in Dubbo following the Morrison McCormack Government’s investment of more than $9 million to start construction.
Federal Regional Health Minister and Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton said the new facility will boost local training opportunities and in turn, improve the future distribution of Australia’s rural medical workforce.
“A strong rural health workforce is central to improving the health of people living in rural, regional and remote Australia,” Minister Coulton said.
“We also know that when students train in rural settings, they are more likely to live and work in the regions at the end of their studies.
“Improving access to health services and creating more training opportunities in rural communities is a priority for the Federal Nationals in Government.”
Minister Coulton said the Liberal and Nationals Government investment of $9.27 million to establish the new school included more than $7 million for the construction of the new facility at the University of Sydney’s School of Rural Health in Dubbo.
“The facilities at the new medical school will include a state of the art anatomy space including 2D and 3D visual technologies, virtual and augmented reality and 3D printing, learning studios, simulation space, service rooms, and amenities,” Minister Coulton said.
“The investment in the School of Rural Health is expected to directly benefit rural communities as well as boost local jobs in construction and strengthen the region’s future health workforce.”
The program will see GPs training at locations including Broken Hill, Balranald, Bourke, Brewarrina, Dareton, Lightning Ridge, Menindee, Walgett, Wentworth, Wilcannia, Gilgandra, Forbes and Wellington.
Sydney University has a vigorous selection process that targets applicants from rural origin and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status as well as those from the western, north western and far western NSW.  The new school is expecting its first cohort of medical students in January 2022.
The campus will be part of the Murray-Darling Medical Schools Network which enables medical students to stay in their communities while they study and train to become a doctor, increasing their likelihood of staying and working in rural areas. The school will provide an end-to-end approach to rural training.
Planning for the new medical school is well underway. Patterson Building Group will carry out the redevelopment, with completion scheduled for October next year.

Almost nine out of ten visits to the GP across Australia over the year to September were provided at no cost to the patient.
For GP services, the bulk-billing rate for the 12 months to September 2020 was 88.7 per cent. This was 2.6 percentage points higher than over the previous year.
In total, Medicare services increased to 433.3 million with total benefits reaching $25.3 billion.
Today’s figures show the Morrison Government’s rapid response to the pandemic allowed Australians to access the health care they needed, despite the challenges of COVID-19.
Temporary changes to Medicare introduced in response to the pandemic contributed to high bulk billing, while also reducing the risk of spreading the disease in the community.
The Government mandated GP telehealth services be bulk billed for vulnerable patients. The Government also temporarily doubled its bulk billing incentive payments to GPs, and expanded the types of services eligible for the incentive payments.
By the end of September, Medicare had paid benefits for 2.5 million COVID-19 video consultations and 30.4 million COVID-19 phone consultations provided by GPs, specialists and allied health professionals.
The temporary telehealth items represented 16.7 per cent of GP consultations and 7.6 per cent of all Medicare services over the year to September. In total, 26.6 million GP consultations were provided via phone and 814,068 via video over the year.
The temporary telehealth items played a critical role in the Government’s response to COVID-19. They allowed patients to access essential health care while minimising the risk of community transmission of the virus.
The Morrison Government has a rock solid commitment to Medicare as the foundation of our world-class health system. I intend for telehealth to be a positive legacy of this crisis and continue to work on a long-term plan, in consultation with the medical community.

The National Cabinet has held its 32nd meeting today, in Canberra.
At the final meeting of the year, leaders discussed Australia’s economic recovery, the COVID-19 response, the Australian COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, the Framework for National Reopening by Christmas, helping Australians prepare to go back to work in a COVID-safe environment and measures to get the economy moving again.
National Cabinet continues to work together to address issues and find solutions to the health and economic consequences of COVID-19.
National Cabinet received a detailed briefing on the labour market by the Commonwealth Treasury Secretary Steven Kennedy and National Skills Commissioner Adam Boyton. Leaders also noted progress on the successful rollout of the JobTrainer program for over 300,000 free or low-cost training positions across the country.
The Acting Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, provided an update on the latest epidemiological data and medical advice in relation to COVID-19.
There have been more than 28,000 confirmed cases in Australia and, sadly, 908 people have died. There are now around 50 active cases in Australia, all in hotel quarantine. Over the past week there has been no cases of community transmission in Australia. More than 10 million tests have been undertaken across the country.
Australia has done well on both the health and economic fronts compared to most countries around the world. National Cabinet noted the significant increase in COVID-19 cases in many countries and the comparative strength of Australia’s effort in addressing COVID-19 compared to most other developed economies. Globally there have been over 68 million cases and sadly over 1.5 million deaths. Globally, average daily cases have now reached more than 600,000.
National Cabinet welcomed Australia’s achievement of a goal to reopen Australia by Christmas under a three-step framework agreed by all states, except Western Australia. All states are on track to successfully reopen state borders by Christmas, subject to health precautions.
National Cabinet again discussed the COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, which sets out the roles and responsibilities of the Commonwealth, states and territories in rolling out COVID-19 vaccines. It is vital that Australians have public confidence in vaccination and its roll out. The roll out plans will continue with a partnership between the Commonwealth and States and territories under the COVID-19 Vaccination Policy.
National Cabinet welcomed the extension of vaccine purchasing arrangements with AstraZeneca and Novavax, which bolster arrangements with both vaccine suppliers and support Australia’s diversified portfolio of vaccines which also include the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine and the COVAX facility.
While vaccines are being developed, and treatments for COVID-19 are being improved, an important means to continue to bring about a return to normal economic and community activity is rapid testing, contact tracing, isolation and outbreak management. These measures back up the ongoing need for COVID-safe behaviours such as social distancing and good hygiene.
Infrastructure Australia
National Cabinet agreed that Infrastructure Australia will now evaluate project proposals which require more than $250 million in Commonwealth funding, an increase from the existing threshold of $100 million.
The increase will better focus Infrastructure Australia‘s business case evaluation process on the key projects that will help rebuild our economy and support jobs into the future.
All states and territories have advocated for the increase and it is supported by Infrastructure Australia.
The increase will be reflected in an updated Statement of Expectations to be issued by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, and Regional Development, and will take effect from 1 January 2021.
Streamlining Approvals
National Cabinet reaffirmed its commitment to implement ‘single touch’ environmental approvals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) to speed up projects, support economic recovery and create jobs.
Leaders agreed the immediate priority was to pass legislation streamlining approval processes and to develop national environmental standards reflecting the current requirements of the EPBC Act.
Subsequent phases of reform will build on these streamlining efforts and address any further changes and improvements, including to environmental standards, taking into account the recommendations of the independent review led by Professor Graeme Samuel AC.
Automatic Mutual Recognition of Occupational Registration
All jurisdictions signed the Intergovernmental Agreement on Automatic Mutual Recognition of Occupational Registrations, with the exception of the ACT. The Agreement, which will be subject to revision following consultation and to reflect the legislation agreed by the signatories, will ensure that licenced workers will not bear additional costs to perform the same activities in those jurisdictions and makes it easier to do business across state and territory borders. The ACT will continue to work towards finalising arrangements, with the aim of signing the Intergovernmental Agreement shortly.
Seasonal Workers
National Cabinet acknowledged the importance of Australia’s agricultural sector having sufficient workforce to harvest what is a bumper season across the country. It was agreed that bilateral arrangements will be established between the Commonwealth and jurisdictions based on each jurisdiction’s health protocols for Pacific workers. As a next step, jurisdictions will write to the Commonwealth outlining their health protocols (including for example, on-farm quarantine arrangements similar to the Queensland model, requirements for workers to remain in the jurisdiction etc). The Commonwealth will then be able to facilitate visas for workers under the Seasonal Worker Programme and the Pacific Labour Scheme based on these bilateral arrangements.
International border arrangements
Quarantine arrangements are an essential part of Australia’s response to COVID-19. Existing quarantine arrangements will continue to prioritise returning Australians. Other groups including international students and skilled migrants will be further considered by National Cabinet in February 2021 subject to the health and safety advice.
National Cabinet agreed that the Commonwealth and NSW will work to strengthen standards regarding quarantine and testing arrangements for international air crew and noted an additional compliance requirement being put in place for incoming diplomats.
Priorities for 2021
National Cabinet discussed priorities for 2021 to support Australia’s COVID-19 recovery. Priorities tasked to the Council on Federal Financial Relations and the National Cabinet Reform Committees include:
Delivering the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement;
Delivering a new National Skills Agreement to improve vocational education and training;
Expediting infrastructure projects to support job creation;
Ensuring more affordable and reliable energy, including progressing National Electricity Market and gas-market reforms;
Promoting economic growth and job creation in rural and regional Australia.
National Cabinet will meet again on Friday 5 February, 2021.

On the basis of scientific advice, the Australian Government has secured an additional 20 million doses of the promising AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, strengthening Australia’s position for whole-of-population vaccination.
This will mean a total delivery of 53.8 million Astra Zeneca vaccine doses in 2021, covering the whole of population requirements.
The extra 20 million doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccine will be produced within Australia by CSL.
Our advice remains that Australia remains on track for first vaccinations in March, and completion of whole of population in 2021.
In addition, a further 11 million doses of the Novavax vaccine will be purchased, bringing the total for this vaccine to 51 million. This provides an additional whole-of-population vaccine for Australia if proven safe and effective.
A purchasing agreement is also in place for the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, with 10 million doses scheduled for early 2021.
The Australian Government is also part of the international COVAX Facility which allows the purchases of over 25 million doses of a range of other potential vaccines.
Investment in the portfolio of vaccines is based on advice from the expert Science and Industry Technical Advisory Group (SITAG), which is continually monitoring and assessing each of the vaccines to ensure that Australia remains well prepared for the roll-out when the regulatory health and safety approvals have been granted.
As a result of further medical advice to the Australian Government, the University of Queensland’s research into a possible COVID-19 vaccine which has undergone phase one clinical trials will not be proceeding to phase three.
As part of all clinical trials, assessments are made before expanding to the next phase of research.
This decision is based on how the vaccine interacts with a testing system and has not been based on the safety or effectiveness of the vaccine candidate.
The evidence from the University of Queensland’s phase one clinical trials shows the vaccine to be safe – and that it produces a strong immune response able to neutralise the COVID-19 virus.
This is something the University of Queensland researchers should be very proud of.
Further work is required to address the discrepancies occurring in test results due to the construction of the vaccine.
Australia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic remains the envy of the world – and we are making decisions, based on best medical advice, about vaccines, in our national interest.
We have deliberately not put all of our eggs in the one vaccine basket.
Our Government has strong confidence a COVID-19 vaccine is likely to be available to Australians from as early as next March and that we can achieve our goal of providing a vaccine to all Australians who seek to be vaccinated before the end of 2021.
The University of Queensland utilised a “molecular clamp” vaccines design based on a highly promising technological platform, and has the potential be used to vaccinate against a number of potential viruses.
As part of the vaccine’s design, the university’s researchers included a small fragment of a protein taken from the HIV virus, known as glycoprotein 41 (gp41). This has been used to create a “molecular clamp” to hold the vaccine’s synthetic virus in place.
Although the university’s researchers have confirmed the protein fragment poses absolutely no health risk to people who have taken the vaccine, they have identified a partial antibody response to it among trial participants.
This has the potential to interfere with some HIV screening tests that look for these antibodies – leading to a false positive test result.
It is this impact on HIV screening – and in the context of other promising vaccine candidates becoming available – that has led to the Government’s decision. The decision was based on the unanimous advice of SITAG.
Importantly, pathology testing that directly looks for the HIV virus has confirmed negative results for the trial participants who have taken the vaccine.
Participants were informed the protein formed part of the vaccine before they consented to taking part in the trial – and HIV screening tests were carried out before and after vaccination.
Participants will continue to be monitored to establish if the antibody response to the protein decreases over time.
The Government will continue to support UQ is in its ongoing research due to this new platform providing such a promising breakthrough in vaccinations.