Category: Australian News

To mark World AIDS Day 2020 and support the ‘now more than ever’ theme, the Morrison Government will provide almost $6.2 million towards the ongoing battle against HIV, and has expanded access to Dovato® on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Today, more than 28,000 Australians are living with HIV and it is very pleasing that most have a suppressed viral load. That means they’re healthy and unlikely to pass on the virus to anyone else.
Australia’s collective and long term track record and leadership in HIV, working together to provide innovative treatments and supporting people living with HIV is respected globally, however – now more than ever – it’s important to maintain the focus.
To take us further along this path to virtual elimination and to support the health and mental wellbeing of people living with HIV, the Morrison Government will allocate:

• up to $1.5 million to the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO) and National Association of People with HIV Australia (NAPWHA) – over two years to develop a workforce development program that increases the knowledge and skills of the workforce and contributes to a reduction in new HIV infections
• up to $750,000 to the Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League (AVIL) over two years to work with its members to implement a number of projects aligned to the key priority areas of the National Strategies; and
• up to $1.4 million to the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) over two years to implement a number of projects including a Hepatitis B Primary Care Referral Pilot Pathway, a trans and gender diverse health care model and review of user experience, a Primary Health Network engagement pilot and an update to the All Good online resource.

A further $2.5 million will support innovation in the sector with grants of up to $500,000 to provide positive outcomes for the National Strategies priority populations.
This funding is part of the $45.4 million investment allocated in the 2019–20 Federal Budget to implement five National Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Strategies, including the Eighth National HIV Strategy.
This is Australia’s roadmap to help further reduce new infections and improve health outcomes.
Our goals include virtually eliminating HIV transmission in Australia by 2022, reducing mortality and morbidity related to HIV and supporting those living with HIV by reducing stigma and discrimination.
Also from today, access to the important new treatment option Dovato® (DOLUTEGRAVIR + LAMIVUDINE) on the PBS will be expanded for the treatment of people living with HIV who have already used antiretroviral therapy.
Previously this medicine was only available on the PBS for people newly diagnosed with HIV who had not had treatment. The expanded listing for the once-daily treatment gives people with HIV more treatment options.
This PBS listing is expected to benefit approximately 28,000 people living with HIV in Australia. Without subsidy, it could cost them more than $8,500 per year, however will now cost as little as $6.60 with a concession card.
This expanded listing follows the recent expansion of other important medicines for people living with HIV over recent years including expanded PBS access to Biktarvy® for children with HIV from 1 September 2020.
The Eighth National HIV Strategy is available on the Department of Health website.

Australia’s economic recovery is well underway and has been strongly supported by the Morrison Government’s temporary JobKeeper payment.
Announced in March 2020, the first phase of JobKeeper supported more than 3.6 million workers and around 1 million businesses, with payments totalling nearly $70 billion for the 13 JobKeeper fortnights to 27 September 2020.
Following a re-test of business eligibility for the second phase of JobKeeper, for the two JobKeeper fortnights in October, around 500,000 entities have had applications processed covering more than 1.5 million employees/eligible business participants (ATO data, current as at 26 November 2020).
The preliminary data indicates that around 450,000 fewer businesses and around 2 million fewer employees qualified for JobKeeper in October than in September.
Around 86 per cent of workers qualified for the Tier 1 payment of $1,200 per fortnight, with around 14 per cent on the Tier 2 payment of $750 per fortnight.
These preliminary October JobKeeper figures suggest an improvement on the 2020-21 Budget assumption of 2.2 million recipients for the December quarter, with around 700,000 fewer employees/eligible business participants covered by the Payment in October due to their employer no longer meeting the required decline in turnover test.
The lower-than-forecast take-up of the JobKeeper Payment extension in October is further evidence that Australia’s recovery from this once-in-a-century pandemic is well underway.
Recent economic data shows that outside Victoria, employment has recovered to be less than one per cent below March levels with some 650,000 jobs created in the past five months nationwide.
The Reserve Bank of Australia has recently updated its forecast for the unemployment rate, which it now expects to peak at around 8 per cent, down from its earlier forecast of 10 per cent.
The effective unemployment rate decreased from 9.3 per cent in September to 7.4 per cent in October, with around 80 per cent of those who lost their job or stood down on zero hours now back at work.
In Victoria, as restrictions have eased, the effective unemployment rate has fallen from 14 per cent to 10.5 per cent.
While there is still a long road ahead, these are promising signs that our economic recovery is well underway.

Thousands of Australians with debilitating back and joint pain will have access to a life changing treatment option through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) which would otherwise cost tens of thousands of dollars.
From December 1, access to Taltz^® (ixekizumab) on the PBS will be expanded for patients with active ankylosing spondylitis.
Without the PBS subsidy, up to 8,000 patients would pay more than $22,000 per year for this treatment.
Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory condition, which can cause some small bones in the spine to fuse.
Ankylosing spondylitis leads to reduced flexibility and can lead to severe back and neck pain.
There’s also good news for almost 50,000 Australians suffering from heart and cardiovascular conditions.
Access to Xarelto^® (rivaroxaban) will be expanded to include the treatment of patients at high risk of recurrent cardiovascular events with coronary artery disease or peripheral artery disease.
Without PBS subsidy, these patients would pay more than $790 per year for treatment. Up to 46,900 patients every year could benefit from this listing.
Coronary artery disease and peripheral artery disease are types of atherosclerosis, which occurs when arteries that supply blood to the heart or limbs become hardened and narrowed, due to a build-up of cholesterol and/or plaque fatty deposits.
Coronary artery disease and peripheral artery disease increase risk of blood clots and reduce blood flow to key areas of the body such as the heart, brain or limbs.
Australians who are living with these conditions have an increased risk of heart attack or stroke which can lead to disability, amputation or death.
The Morrison Government is continuing to make important medicines available to Australians at affordable prices.
These PBS listings have been recommended by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.
Since 2013, the Government has approved more than 2,500 new or amended listings on the PBS at an overall investment by the Government of $11.8 billion.
The Government’s commitment to ensuring that Australians can access affordable medicines, when they need them, remains rock solid.

Patients living with one of Australia’s most common forms of leukaemia are set to benefit from expanded access to a breakthrough medicine through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
From 1 December, access to Venclexta® (venetoclax) will be extended in combination with obinutuzumab for the first-line treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia who have co-existing conditions and are unsuitable for fludarabine-based chemo-immunotherapy.
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is a relatively uncommon type of cancer however it is the most common type of leukaemia diagnosed in Australia with around 1,000 people diagnosed each year.
Based on a landmark research discovery by the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Venclexta was also co-developed and trialled in Australia, showcasing the great work of our nation’s medical researchers.
Up to 500 patients every year are expected to benefit from this listing.
Without PBS subsidy, these patients would pay more than $69,250 per course of treatment. Thanks to PBS subsidy, they will pay $41 per script or $6.60 with a concession card.
The Morrison Government is continuing to make important medicines available to Australians at affordable prices.
These PBS listings have been recommended by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.
Since 2013, the Government has approved more than 2,500 new or amended listings on the PBS at an overall investment by the Government of over $11.8 billion.
The Government’s commitment to ensuring that Australians can access affordable medicines, when they need them, remains rock solid.

The decision by the big four banks to do nothing for homeowners risks putting families out on the streets, Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt MP, and Housing spokesperson, Mehreen Faruqi, said today, calling for the government to get big banks to give vulnerable homeowners a residential ‘mortgage holiday’ to make sure families don’t lose their homes.
At a time of unprecedented financial stress and rapidly rising unemployment, the decision by the big four banks to limit their deferred loan repayments to small business customers is insufficient and risks furthering workers’ budgeting woes.
The Greens today called for the national cabinet to impose a ban on mortgage foreclosures during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as a freezing of homeowners’ credit ratings. The Greens also called on the government to get the big 4 banks – who have just been the beneficiaries of significant support from the Reserve Bank – to give vulnerable homeowners a mortgage holiday, just as they have with business.
Adam Bandt, Leader of the Australian Greens said:
“Thanks to COVID-19, millions of workers are wondering if they’ll have a job tomorrow, and this cowardly inaction from the big banks will now have them wondering if they’ll be able to pay their mortgage too.
“People expect the banks not to be bastards through this crisis, but they’re leaving homeowners out in the cold.
“By deferring payments for small business, banks have shown they recognise the scale of the financial crisis ahead of us. Deciding to leave homeowners out in the cold is either greed or laziness.
“No one should be forced out onto the streets during a global pandemic.
“The national cabinet must look at making the big banks give vulnerable homeowners a mortgage holiday. If banks won’t show compassion, the government must step in.”
Mehreen Faruqi, Australian Greens Housing Spokesperson said:
“Banks have reaped huge profits for years. If they want to keep what little is left of their social license after the Royal Commission they have to do the right thing by families at risk during this crisis.
“Housing is a human right, no matter the circumstances. Not one person should be made homeless during this crisis, and the banks have a big role to play in that.
“This crisis highlights how messed up housing in Australia is. Urgent action now needs to be followed by massive investment in rebuilding social housing, an expansion of crisis housing and reforming the tax loopholes that advantage wealthy investors over the community.”

The Greens are warning water ministers not to put up the white flag on saving the Murray-Darling Basin and the environmental flows needed to secure its future at tomorrow’s Ministerial Council meeting.
Australian Greens Spokesperson for Environment and Water Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“Water Ministers must not go to tomorrow’s meeting waving a white flag on saving the Murray-Darling Basin and the environmental flows needed to secure its future.
“Last year’s meeting of water ministers was a dramatic farce and a communique couldn’t even be agreed upon at the time and was later released by the MDBA who should be independent of this process.
“This bad behaviour when it comes to the management of our biggest river system cannot continue.
“The Murray Darling Basin Plan is due to recover a total of 2,075 GL/year of water plus 450 GL/year of efficiency measures by 2024. If the MDB is going to survive then the Plan must be delivered in full and on time.
“For seven years, the Liberal-National Government has let corporate irrigators run amok with water at the expense of from river communities, small family farms and the environment. It’s time to rein them in, for everyone’s sake.
“The Greens will keep pushing for a Royal Commission in the MDB to get to the bottom of the trillions of litres of missing water, theft, corruption, greed and lack of action on climate change that is plaguing the river. We also back a High Court challenge to fight for South Australia’s water and the Murray-Darling Basin if the Federal Government won’t deliver it on time.”

Greens Media and Communications Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“We have seen two positive steps forward on media reform from the Government today; the announcement that there will be further investment in public interest journalism through the establishment of the PING Trust and
the announcement that the Government is intending to introduce Australian content obligations for online video streaming services.
“While these are positive steps forward, we will consult with stakeholders and the community and consider the details of the proposals before coming to a final position on the reforms.”
PING Trust
“The PING Fund has played an important role in supporting public interest journalism and rural and regional news. I’m delighted to see that the Government is proposing an extension of this fund that will be able to support the future of public interest journalism in Australia.
“Funding through the original PING Fund was used to save the AAP from closure earlier this year after the Greens made the protection of AAP a key priority before opening any negotiations with the Government on the News Media Code.
“AAP plays an essential role in the Australian media landscape and I hope to see the long term future of AAP secured through this trust.
Local content obligations for online video streaming services
“There is good news for the Australian screen industry at the end of an extremely tough year. We welcome the introduction of local content quotas for online video streaming services. Not only is the telling of Australian stories on our screens essential in shaping our national identity and reflecting the diversity of our community but local productions create Australian jobs.
“Reform to regulate online streaming services in Australia is well overdue. The Greens have long been calling for the Government to regulate streaming giants like Netflix that are making billions of dollars from Australian subscribers without any obligation to host any Australian content on their screens.
“The Greens already have a motion before the Senate next week calling on the Government to take action and regulate online video streaming services. I call on other Senators to show their support for the Australian screen industry and support this motion.
“The question of the rate of investment obligation on streaming services will be crucial to the success of this policy reform and I urge the Government to look around the world for effective examples to follow. France has recently brought in a quota for 20% of local revenue to be spent on local productions and I hope to see Australia go down a similar path. Sub quotas to ensure that streaming services are commissioning drama, documentary and children’s content will also be an important part of policy discussions.
“There is a lot of detail to be considered in this proposal and we will be working with stakeholders in the industry over the coming months to ensure that we are able to get the best outcomes to tell Australian stories and secure Australian jobs.”

The Morrison Government’s new environment-wrecking laws do not have enough support to pass the parliament the Senate Inquiry report into the legislation released this afternoon shows.
The Greens, Labor and crossbench senators Patrick, Lambie and Griff all declared their opposition to the Bill leaving just the Morrison Government and One Nation in support.
Greens Environment Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“The Morrison Government’s environment-wrecking laws are dead in the water.
“The Government shamelessly tried to smooth the path for their big mining and developer mates to get their environment-destroying projects approved even faster while completely ignoring the independent review of environment laws that was underway.
“These laws are nothing more than a rehash of Tony Abbott’s 2014 bill which failed to pass the parliament then and will fail again now.
“The Environment Minister should announce today that the Government will not be pursuing this Bill any further.
“We have a once-in-ten-year opportunity to reform our environment laws to protect our wildlife and our wild places. Any new laws must be informed by a full and proper consideration of the final Samuel Report and include strong national environmental standards and an independent regulator to enforce them.”

The Morrison Government is supporting six new COVID-19 research projects across four institutions, allowing researchers continue to examine the virus and our response to the pandemic.
More than $4 million will be distributed from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) through two grant rounds to institutions including Monash University, Deakin University and Macquarie University.
These grants aim to develop high priority digital health infrastructure, improving the speed and features of health system responses during acute crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Each of these projects has the ability to assist and inform government responses to the pandemic and continue our improvements to health outcomes for all Australians.
Three projects will receive funding through the 2020 Rapid Response Digital Health Infrastructure Grant Opportunity, worth approximately $3.5 million.
This includes $1.9 million to support Monash University’s work to create a national data management platform and Learning Health System, alongside real-time monitoring of Australia’s COVID-19 response.
A further three projects will also share in $600,000 through the 2020 Communication Strategies and Approaches during Outbreaks Grant Opportunity, focusing on understanding people’s communication needs, in order to improve community engagement and responsiveness to information and advice about pandemics.
A project through Deakin University will identify communication priorities and effective support for people with an intellectual disability living in high risk specialist disability accommodation during disease outbreaks.
As part of the Morrison Government’s Coronavirus Research response, over $96 million from the MRFF has been invested in COVID-19 research, including vaccine, anti-viral and respiratory medicine research.
Investing in health and medical research is a key priority of our Government’s Long Term National Health Plan. Research continues to play a critical role in ensuring Australia maintains its world-class health system, particularly as the world continues to respond to COVID-19.
The Morrison Government’s MRFF is a $20 billion endowment fund, allowing for long-term investment and support for Australia’s best and brightest researchers. Further information about the MRFF is available at www.health.gov.au/mrff.