Category: Australian News

For the first time in its history, Australia’s National Incident Centre (NIC) has been activated continuously for more than one year, working across Government to respond to unprecedented health emergencies faced by Australia and the world.
The NIC was activated in November 2019 in response to a measles outbreak in Samoa, and continued to act during the 2019–20 bushfires, the Whakaari Island volcano eruption and, most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic.
From December 2019 and into January 2020, the NIC was concurrently managing three different situations, also for the first time ever.
I want to thank all of the extraordinarily talented, dedicated and hardworking staff of the National Incident Centre over the past year. Led by the Department of Health, the staff have been drawn from across Government, including the ADF.
Their work around the clock allowed Australia to maintain an air bridge for critical and scarce global supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) and test kits at a time of international shortage. The NIC has literally been the Operations Headquarters for Australia’s national response to the pandemic.
Never has the National Incident Centre been more important, and its worth is shown in the Medical Journal of Australia’s paper, which attributes the saving of 16,000 lives to the comprehensive and early nature of Australia’s response.
The staff of the NIC have embodied the concept of real and profound public service. We are fortunate to have had such a well-prepared and well-drilled centre as the NIC in place before the pandemic. We are even more fortunate to have such an extraordinarily capable and dedicated team to help save lives and protect lives across Australia.
As the Department of Health’s emergency operations centre, the NIC coordinates Australia’s health emergency response to national and international incidents. It is also the primary means of communication between the World Health Organization and Australia for public health events, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
A significant accomplishment was distributing millions of masks and other PPE from the National Medical Stockpile in response to the bushfires and COVID-19 to states and territories, aged care facilities, disability service providers and Primary Health Networks.
As part of the COVID-19 response, key staff from a range of agencies across the APS were seconded to help operate the NIC. At its peak, the NIC engaged more than 200 employees, including liaison officers from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Border Force and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Surge staff have included epidemiologists and analysts from the Department of Defence, the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
The NIC has also engaged in public information, community awareness and communications. The Australian Government has the strongest commitment to informing the community about the latest health advice and developments. This includes a national campaign, website, fact sheets, media liaison and social media.
The NIC was first formally activated for the SARS outbreak of 2003. It has since been activated for a range of emergencies including the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, the Bali bombings of 2005, the H1N1 Pandemic in 2009, the Victorian bushfires of 2009, and the Christchurch earthquake of 2011.
I thank the hardworking public servants in the NIC, which will remain activated for as long as this national health emergency demands.

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The Greens have backed calls from animal welfare groups and an equine veterinarian for an independent investigation and necropsy report into the death of the racehorse Anthony Van Dyck following Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup race.
Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Australian Greens spokesperson for Animal Welfare, said:
“Tuesday’s race was horrific. There are serious questions to answer about this racehorse death. There must be no industry cover-up.
“Horse racing kills. No horse is safe at the Melbourne Cup.
“Every year, more and more people are saying ‘nup’ to the Cup and rejecting this carnival of cruelty.
“Ultimately we need to see an end to the Melbourne Cup and the brutality of commercial horse racing,” she said.
Ellen Sandell MP, Acting Leader of the Victorian Greens, said:
“Every year the Greens call on the state government to end animal cruelty at the hands of our racing industry – and every year the government tries to pretend they have no power to stop it.
“The reality is that our government’s cosy relationship with the racing industry has prevented them from putting an end to cruelty against horses. Even a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic wasn’t enough to warrant them closing the gates this year.
“We need an independent investigation into Anthony Van Dyck’s death so that our government can wake up to the unnecessary pain and cruelty the Melbourne Cup inflicts on horses.”

Two more COVID-19 vaccines have been secured for the Australian population under new agreements, bringing the Australian Government’s COVID-19 vaccine investment to more than $3.2 billion.
Under the agreements, Novavax will supply 40 million vaccine doses and Pfizer/BioNTech will provide 10 million vaccine doses, should the vaccines be proven safe and effective.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Government’s COVID-19 Vaccine and Treatment Strategy had now secured access to four COVID-19 vaccines and over 134 million doses.
“By securing multiple COVID-19 vaccines we are giving Australians the best shot at early access to a vaccine, should trials prove successful,” the Prime Minister said.
“We aren’t putting all our eggs in one basket and we will continue to pursue further vaccines should our medical experts recommend them.
“There are no guarantees that these vaccines will prove successful, however our Strategy puts Australia at the front of the queue, if our medical experts give the vaccines the green light.”
The Novavax and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines are expected to be available in Australia from early to mid 2021 – subject to approval by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for use in Australia.
The Pfizer/BioNTech is a messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) type vaccine and the Novavax vaccine is a protein vaccine containing an adjuvant (Matrix-M) which enhances the immune response.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine portfolio now had two protein vaccines and one mRNA and one viral vector type vaccine, strengthening Australia’s position to access safe and effective vaccines as soon as available.
“The goal and the expectation is that Australians who sought vaccination will be vaccinated within 2021,” Minister Hunt said.
“There are no surprises, health and aged care workers and the elderly and vulnerable will be the first to gain access to a vaccine that’s deemed safe and effective.”
These new agreements build on the Australian Government’s existing commitments to purchase the University of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine and a local candidate from the University of Queensland together with Australian manufacturer CSL Limited (Seqirus).
Subject to the vaccine being registered by the TGA as safe and effective, preliminary advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation is that the priority groups for the COVID-19 vaccine are those people who are at increased risk of exposure, such as health and aged care workers, the elderly and those working in services critical to societal functioning.
The Australian Government is currently consulting with the states and territories, key medical experts and industry peak bodies on the framework for the initial roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccination program in early 2021.
Key vaccination sites will initially include GPs, GP respiratory clinics, state and territory vaccination sites and workplaces such as aged care facilities.
Australia has a world class vaccination program with world leading vaccination rates. The COVID-19 vaccine will not be mandatory and individuals will maintain the option to choose not to vaccinate. The vaccine will be available for free to those who choose to be vaccinated.
This commitment forms a crucial part of the Australian Government’s response to COVID-19 and the strategy to protect the health and wellbeing of Australians and the national economy.
Internationally, Australia has also joined the COVAX facility, which will provide access to a large portfolio of COVID-19 candidates and manufactures around the world for up to 50 per cent of the Australian population.
The Australian Government has also committed to support access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for the Pacific and Southeast Asia, as part of a shared recovery for our region from the pandemic, as well as $80 million to the international COVAX Facility for the benefit of high-risk populations in developing countries.
Our agreements allow Australia to donate to partners in the Pacific and Southeast Asia, should these vaccines prove safe and effective, and units are available above domestic needs.
The Government is contributing significantly to vaccine research and development both in Australia and around the world, investing $363 million in vaccines, therapeutics and COVID medicines – including $257 million in vaccines.
The roll-out of a potential COVID-19 vaccine is a significant logistical challenge, suppliers that have a proven track record in vaccine logistics and distribution or booking systems, tracking and reporting of vaccines are being invited to participate in a limited tender process.
As part of our COVID-19 vaccines strategy and broader vaccines strategy, the Australian Government is considering an amendment to the Australian Immunisation Register Act 2015 to mandate reporting of all vaccinations to the Register.
For the latest COVID-19 vaccine information visit: health.gov.au

Patients in the Dubbo region will have access to a 24-hour telestroke service, as part of a $21.7 million groundbreaking program being rolled out across NSW.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Federal Regional Health Minister Mark Coulton were joined by NSW Minister for Mental Health, Regional Health and Women, Bronnie Taylor, and Member for Dubbo Dugald Saunders, to make the announcement at Dubbo Base Hospital ahead of today’s joint Federal-State Bilateral Regional Health Forum.
Mr Hazzard said the jointly funded, lifesaving telestroke service exemplifies how the State and Federal Government can work together to bring world-class health care to people in regional and rural areas.
“This statewide telestroke service effectively breaks down geographical barriers, immediately linking local doctors with specialists, so patients can be diagnosed and treated as fast as possible,” Mr Hazzard said.
“Today, with key State and Federal health experts and consumers, we are all focused on how we can create a sustainable health service for rural and regional communities.”
Mr Coulton said expanding telehealth services, such as this, in the regions meant local doctors in Dubbo would be supported by first-class specialists to deliver enhanced stroke care and treatment for local patients.
“Stroke is one of Australia’s biggest killers and is a leading cause of disability – which is why rapid access to specialists is so important in reducing the impact of stroke,” Mr Coulton said.
“In the unfortunate event of a stroke, this service will ensure that people in the Dubbo region have access to specialist stroke consultants, which will be a huge benefit to patients and their families.”
Mr Coulton said today’s Bilateral Regional Health Forum will continue to look at innovative ways in which the NSW Government can partner with the Federal Government to deliver better access and health outcomes for rural residents.
“This year’s Federal Budget has again demonstrated the Liberal and Nationals Government’s strong commitment to rural health with a $1.2 billion injection to improve healthcare in the bush,” Mr Coulton said.
“That package includes funding to implement locally-led primary care models in southern and western NSW – including the four Ts model for the Dubbo region – to help address workforce challenges and improve health service delivery.”
Mrs Taylor said telehealth for mental health consultations had been a lifesaver for people in regional and rural areas during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This year’s Forum will also focus on supporting resilience in regional communities. The community spirit of people in regional communities is well known, but multiple crises in the past year – drought, bushfires and now the pandemic – and causing significant distress for many people, placing their mental health at risk,” Mrs Taylor said.
The NSW Government committed $14.6 million over 2018-19 and 2019-20 for the Emergency Drought Mental Health Package to improve access to and delivery of mental health services to rural and remote NSW.
The Forum will discuss the impact of drought, bushfires and COVID-19 on the mental health of patients, clinicians and residents in the regions; as well as the use of telehealth for sustainable models of healthcare, including allied health and smaller rural hospitals.
Mr Saunders said he was pleased the Forum, established last year, was being held in Dubbo and welcomed the telestroke service announcement.
“This collaboration between the bush and the city and State and Federal governments has the potential to change lives in our community for the better, forever,” Mr Saunders said.
In June, the NSW Government announced the service, which has already helped 200 patients. Telestroke will be rolled out to up to 23 sites over three years and follows a successful pilot between Hunter New England, Central Coast and Mid North Coast local health districts. Telestroke is now available at Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Lismore and Orange with Dubbo due to come on line later this month.
The funding to deliver Telestroke comprises $12.3 million from the NSW Government and $9.4 million from the Commonwealth Government.
In 2018-19, 13,651 people were hospitalised for a stroke in NSW. Of those, 32 per cent were from regional, rural or remote areas.
The NSW Government has committed $10.1 billion in health infrastructure investment across the state in this term of government.
Since 2011, the NSW Government has built or upgraded more than 130 hospitals and health facilities, with over 80 projects currently underway – more than two-thirds of those have been in regional and rural areas.

The RBA’s decision to cut interest rates to new historic lows and start a new round of quantitative easing is a vote of no confidence in the Government’s recovery plans, Greens Economic Justice spokesperson Nick McKim says.
“This decision shows the RBA has no faith in the Liberals’ agenda of tax cuts for the super wealthy and more handouts for the big corporate polluters,” Senator McKim said.
“Cutting rates to 0.1 per cent and $100 billion of quantitative easing is a sign that the RBA knows that things will continue to worsen for the economy because of deliberate decisions taken by Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg.”
“It suggests that the RBA expects tax cuts will be saved rather than spent, as they were last year before COVID hit.”
“The RBA wouldn’t need to be going to such extremes if the Government was actually trying to fix the economy by investing serious money in green infrastructure and setting income support above the poverty line.”
“Australians face more difficult times ahead unless the Liberals dramatically change course and start investing for the future, and ensuring a decent quality of life for all.”
“Under this government, printed money that should pump prime the economy is instead likely to inflate the housing market.”
“This will be doubly so if responsible lending laws are overturned.”
“The double-whammy of cheap money and looser lending standards is a recipe for an even bigger housing bubble.”

Australian Greens Animal Welfare spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has responded to the death of the Melbourne Cup racehorse Anthony Van Dyck.
Senator Faruqi said:
“This is the brutal reality of horse racing. Anthony Van Dyck’s death is a tragic but hardly unforeseeable outcome. Seven horses have now died as a result of the last eight Melbourne Cup races.
“Horse racing is deadly and completely inhumane. We need to shut this industry down.
“Killing horses for entertainment is barbaric. There is no place for commercial horse racing in our society.
“Horse racing and gambling is a toxic mix of death and misery for animals. There are no winners.
“The gambling-fuelled racing industry cannot be trusted or fixed. Last week I called on the Victorian authorities to cancel the Cup. Of course they pressed ahead with the race, but now, frankly, they have blood on their hands.
“Year after year we see horses die at the Melbourne Cup. No horse is safe in this race.
“It’s time to recognise that horse racing is completely incompatible with animal welfare. These are beautiful animals, sentient beings, who are treated as fodder for the profits of the gambling and racing industries,” she said.

Today the International Monetary Fund has  recommended that Australia invests in child care spending to increase female labour force participation.
This latest G-20 Report on Strong, Sustainable, Balanced and Inclusive Growth prepared by the staff at the IMF “discusses the G-20’s progress during the past year toward the goal of strong, sustainable, balanced, and inclusive growth and provides policy recommendations to help reach this goal.”
The report recommends advanced economies implement labour market reforms, and identifies boosting female labour force participation through child care spending as a priority measure for Australia.
The Morrison Government seem to be the only ones who do not understand the importance of investing in child care for our economic recovery.
The evidence is overwhelming that investing in child care is needed to address the financial disincentives that stop women working.
Yet Scott Morrison’s Budget has no plan to boost female workforce participation or to make child care more affordable.
Just last month the Government’s own data confirmed that child care fees have soared by 35.9 per cent since 2013, crippling family budgets and locking women out of the workforce.
That is why an Albanese Labor Government will introduce Labor’s Cheaper Child Care plan, which will:

• Scrap the $10,560 child care subsidy cap to stop women losing money from an extra day’s work;
• Lift the maximum child care subsidy rate to 90 per cent; and
• Increase child care subsidy rates and taper them for every family earning less than $530,000.

Labor will keep working to fix Australia’s broken child care system, which currently locks out more than 100,000 families because they just can’t afford it.
The Productivity Commission will review the sector, aiming to implement a universal 90 per cent subsidy for all families, while the ACCC will design a price regulation mechanism to drive down child care costs.
The evidence is clear that removing the financial disincentives for women to work more is great for families and great for the economy.
In the worst recession in a hundred years, we have to make sure women aren’t forced to choose between their family and their jobs.