Category: Australian News

The Morrison Government is continuing to provide unprecedented levels of support to households and businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic after legislation passed the Parliament today allowing the extension of JobKeeper by six months to 28 March 2021.
As part of our plan to keep businesses in business and Australians in jobs, the JobKeeper payment has provided cash flow support to more than 900,000 businesses and income support to around 3.5 million workers to date.
This extension will provide further support to significantly impacted businesses so more Australians can retain their jobs and continue to earn an income.
The passage of the JobKeeper legislation will also see an extension to the vital workplace flexibility that has been available for businesses receiving JobKeeper payments. Similar flexibility will also be provided to legacy JobKeeper businesses where their turnover remains between 10-30 per cent down.
As the economy reopens the payment will be tapered in the December and March quarters to encourage businesses to adjust to the new environment, supporting a gradual transition to economic recovery, while ensuring those businesses who most need support continue to receive it.
A two-tiered payment will also be introduced from 28 September 2020, to better align the payment with the incomes of employees before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Morrison Government has provided an unprecedented level of economic support totalling $314 billion to cushion the blow for Australians during COVID-19.
The JobKeeper payment will continue to remain open to new participants that meet the eligibility requirements.
Eligible businesses can apply for the extended payment online via ato.gov.au

Australian Greens Senator for NSW, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, has said that the latest progress report of the parliamentary PFAS Sub-committee, tabled today, has highlighted failures of the Government in adequately dealing with PFAS contamination.
Among other recommendations, the Committee recommends “that the Government prioritise assisting property owners and businesses in affected areas through compensation for financial losses associated with contamination emanating from Defence bases, including the possibility of buy-backs.”
Senator Faruqi said:
“The nation-wide damage wrought by toxic PFAS chemicals has been extensive and people have suffered for too long.
“The government has not done enough to adequately deal with PFAS contamination. Financial compensation must be provided for residents and property owners, including buy-backs.
“Communities are still concerned about the lack of consistency and a piecemeal approach to PFAS management. They have ongoing worries regarding contamination on non-Commonwealth sites.
“The government is dragging its heels on banning the use of PFAS across the country. We know the alternatives exist, they just aren’t being used.
“I want to thank and acknowledge community members and community groups across the country who have been organising on PFAS contamination and compensation issues, including in NSW. This saga has been immensely exhausting for so many,” she said.

Record GP bulk billing rates under Medicare reached 87.5 per cent in 2019–20. This means that on average, more than 8 out of 10 visits to the GP were provided with no out-of-pocket cost.
In total, Medicare services increased to 428.3 million with total benefits reaching $24.7 billion.
To ensure Australians have access to the healthcare services they need through the COVID-19 pandemic, temporary Medicare telehealth services have been introduced and widely taken up by the community.
In the period from 13 March to 30 June 2020, there were 1.4 million COVID-19 video consultations and 16 million COVID-19 phone consultations provided by GPs, specialists and allied health professionals.
Temporary telehealth items have played a critical role in the Government’s response to COVID-19. They have allowed patients to access essential health care while minimising the risk of community transmission of the virus.
The uptake of the telehealth items was greatest for GPs, with 13.9 million GP consultations provided by phone and 504,307 by video.
For the 2019–20 financial year, temporary telehealth items represented 8.8 per cent of GP consultations and 4.1 per cent of all Medicare services.
Bulk-billing incentive payments have been temporarily doubled to support sustainable practice, while the types of services eligible for the incentive payments have been expanded.
The Morrison Government has also required telehealth services to vulnerable Australians to be bulk billed. These measures have reduced the barriers to timely health care for thousands of Australians.
Our rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic has meant better protection for patients and health care providers, and ensured continuity of access to affordable care.
The Morrison Government’s commitment to Medicare and bulk billing remains rock solid. These figures show that we are supporting the health and wellbeing of Australians more than ever before.

The Youth Action Projects Grant Scheme is now open to individuals and organisations supporting activities important to young Australians.
The Australian Government understands the unprecedented impact COVID-19 and last summer’s bushfire season has had on young Australians.
Minister for Youth and Sport, Richard Colbeck, said the targeted scheme was an opportunity for individuals and organisations to apply for funding to support projects that will make a difference in the lives of young people.
“It’s a difficult time in our nation’s history and young people are feeling the repercussions of job losses, breaks in education and social isolation,” Minister Colbeck said.
“Life as we know it is not the same, but we know young Australians are keen to take part in activities that will help them and their communities thrive.”
As part of the program, grants of between $5000 and $20,000 are available for projects which respond to the social challenges facing those aged 15–24.
The Government has engaged the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) to administer the scheme.
FYA is a non-profit organisation committed and passionate about improving the outcomes and life opportunities for youth.
Projects need to be either new initiatives that recognise and respond to the hardship young people face now and will face in the future, or existing initiatives which already provide a valuable on-going service to young people, but which need further funding to continue.
Funds can be used to pay for any type of project including but not limited to staffing, equipment purchase, consumables or marketing.
“While grants will be used for projects which support young people in a variety of ways, there will be a particular focus on employment, transportation, mental health and the impacts of COVID-19 and the Australian bushfires,” Minister Colbeck said.
“I look forward to working with FYA and seeing the outcomes of the exciting projects funded by the Australian government for the benefit of young Australians everywhere.”
Successful grant recipients are expected to deliver projects over the 2020-21 financial year.
The grant round opens today, Tuesday 1 September and closes Wednesday, 7 October, 2020.
For more information and to download the application form, visit the website.

More than 900,000 job seekers are set to benefit from local jobs taskforces with specialised expertise and knowledge to get more Australians back into work.
Recognising the importance of local knowledge, the Morrison Government is investing $62.8 million in a Local Jobs Program to support the nation’s recovery.
As part of the program, 14 Employment Facilitators, in addition to the existing 11 facilitators, will be engaged and expanded to help connect job seekers to local employment opportunities.
The Employment Facilitators will act as on-the-ground presence that work with local job seekers in specific regions to connect them with training, job opportunities or other support.
These Employment Facilitators will chair Local Jobs and Skills Taskforces across Australia. The taskforces will bring together local employers, employment and training providers and other local stakeholders, to develop projects to get job seekers back into work. Local Recovery Funds will be available in each selected region to support this approach.
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, said tailoring solutions specific to each local area was vital to helping regions recover.
“Small and family businesses rely on their local communities and we want to tap into their expertise and connections to get people working again” Minister Cash said.
“As the economy recovers from COVID-19, the jobs that are created may look different to those that existed before.
“The recovery is also likely to look different across sectors and communities which is why it is critical to provide tailored support to help Australians find work in their local regions.
“Local knowledge and collaboration will be vital to achieving this.”
Using information provided by the National Skills Commission, each ‘Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce’ will develop a local jobs plan, identifying the region’s priorities, opportunities and skills gaps.
“For instance, a taskforce might use National Skills Commission data to explore what industries are growing in their region,” Minister Cash said.
“The Employment Facilitator can then work with employers, employment services providers and training providers to match jobseekers with appropriate employment and training opportunities.”
The Local Jobs Program will run until 30 June 2022.
The employment regions included in this measure are:

Employment Region

New South Wales

Illawarra South Coast *

Hunter *

New England and North West *

Mid North Coast

North Coast

Sydney Greater West

Sydney South West

Queensland

Cairns *

Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast *

Townsville

Wivenhoe

Gold Coast

Tasmania

North and North Western Tasmania *

Hobart and Southern Tasmania

Victoria

Gippsland *

Western Melbourne *

Inner Metropolitan Melbourne

North Western Melbourne

South Eastern Melbourne and Peninsula

South Australia

Murray and South East *

North West Country *

Adelaide North

Western Australia

Perth South *

South West WA

Northern Territory

Darwin and Alice Springs

* These 11 Employment Regions already have an Employment Facilitator. The role of these existing facilitators will be expanded to include oversight of the Local Jobs Program.
For more details visit: www.dese.gov.au/local-jobs-program

The Morrison Government this week introduces landmark legislation that sees Australia take responsibility for its waste and establishes a national industry framework for recycling.
The Recycling and Waste Reduction Bill 2020 will phase in the end of the 645,000 tonnes of unprocessed plastic, paper, glass and tyres that Australia ships overseas each year.
At the same time the reforms to the regulation of product stewardship will incentivise companies to take greater environmental responsibility for the products they manufacture and what happens to those products and materials at the end of their life.
Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said the Bill will see the implementation of the export ban on waste plastic, paper, glass and tyres agreed by Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments in March this year.
“This is about tackling a national environmental issue that has been buried in landfill or shipped offshore for far too long,” Minister Ley said.
“That is why the Morrison Government is the first federal government to place waste firmly on the national agenda.
“This is a once in a generation opportunity to remodel waste management, reduce pressure on our environment and create economic opportunity as we move to a circular economy with a strong market for recycled materials.
“Our $190 million Recycling Modernisation Fund and our actions under the National Waste Policy Action Plan will create 10,000 new jobs over the next 10 years – that is a 32 per cent increase in jobs in the Australian waste and recycling sector.
“We are introducing legislation; we are driving a billion-dollar transformation of Australia’s waste and recycling capacity and we are investing in new technologies and new ideas to transform recycling and reprocessing.”
Assistant Minister Evans said the legislation will improve the existing framework for product stewardship by encouraging companies to take greater responsibility for the waste they generate through the products they design, manufacture or distribute.
“We are making it easier for industry to set up and join in product stewardship schemes. Yet where voluntary product stewardship schemes are not effective, or where they are not created in priority areas, the government will have new tools to intervene and regulate,” Assistant Minister Evans said.
“Our legislative changes will transform our waste industry, meaning increased recycling and remanufacturing of waste materials which will create new industry and generate more jobs.”
Australian Council of Recycling CEO Pete Shmigel said: “Taken together with other reforms, this unprecedented legislation marks a new era of environmental and economic achievement in recycling through Government leadership and industry partnership and innovation. The Government deserves full credit for its proactive, positive and purposeful agenda, and industry looks forward to its full implementation.”
Australian Food and Grocery Council Acting CEO Dr Geoffrey Annison said: “Our sector welcomes this Bill as a significant leap in the right direction to reduce waste and increase access to high quality packaging with high levels of recycled content for Australia’s manufacturers. The Bill balances the needs and responsibilities of all industry sectors to collaborate and improve their management of end-of-life material recovery and recycling.”
The Government will continue to consult with industry as we develop rules for each material under the waste export ban, and ensure businesses understand their obligations and how to meet them.

The Greens condemn Adani’s attempts to silence Galilee Blockade leader, Ben Pennings, by seeking to  bankrupt his family with legal action and secretly applying to the Supreme Court to raid his home.
Senator for Queensland and Greens spokesperson for mining and resources, Senator Larissa Waters, said:
“We live in a broken democracy where big companies will do whatever they can to silence opposition.
“The fact that a multinational coal mining giant twice sought the Queensland Supreme Court’s permission to have its private investigators raid the home of a protestor just shows how terrified they are of public scrutiny.
“This is not the first time that Adani have tried to sick their “trained attack dogs” on everyday people trying to stand up to them.
“And all this from a company convicted of breaching environmental conditions, and just this week for unconscionable conduct and dishonest behaviour.
“The big parties may be dancing to the tune of their coal donors, but the Greens will continue to stand with communities across the country standing against Adani’s destructive path.
“Queenslanders want a safe climate, cheap clean power and real, lasting jobs for coal communities as we transition to a clean economy.
“People, like Ben Pennings, will rally in force to stop Adani – and the Greens will be right there with them.”

The Morrison Government will introduce new legislation to ensure the arrangements states, territories, councils and universities have with foreign governments are consistent with Australian foreign policy.
The Commonwealth Government has exclusive responsibility for conducting Australia’s foreign affairs. However, state and territory governments and their entities currently also enter into arrangements with foreign governments in a range of areas – from trade and economic cooperation to cultural collaboration and university research partnerships – without having to inform the Commonwealth.
Under the reforms, the Foreign Minister will have the power to review any existing and prospective arrangements between state and territory governments and all foreign governments.
Arrangements that adversely affect Australia’s foreign relations or are inconsistent with our foreign policy could be prevented from proceeding or terminated.
The laws will cover state or territory entities, including departments, agencies, local governments and universities established under state or territory law.
The Commonwealth Government has the policy expertise and comprehensive understanding of the risks and opportunities associated with any arrangements with foreign governments.
This legislation will support state and territory governments to ensure they are acting in a way that serves Australia’s national interests, is consistent with our values and aligned with our foreign policy objectives. This will give states and territories the confidence necessary to enter into arrangements with foreign government entities.
The Morrison Government looks forward to working closely with state and territory governments, councils and universities and providing all Australians with the certainty that all levels of government are aligned to ensure a consistent approach to managing Australia’s foreign relations.

Former Greens Leader and Senator for Victoria Dr Richard Di Natale will deliver his valedictory speech to the Senate this afternoon by remote video link. He will highlight serious failings in Australian politics to deal with the issues Australian people care about and outline a prescription to rejuvenate our democracy.
After 10 years in the Australian Senate, and five as Leader of the Greens, Richard Di Natale today makes his final speech to the chamber from locked-down Melbourne. The former doctor will diagnose the last decade of Australian politics as captured by vested interests and failing to address the major issues faced by our nation.
“I got into politics because, as a doctor – especially in First Nations health – I saw that the political decisions being made were the decisions that most affected people’s lives, and I wanted to make a difference. It was a wakeup call for me to see that the influence of money and vested interests are so strong in our politics.” Dr Di Natale said
“Our parliament has failed the Australian people over the last decade. Climate action is the biggest example of how the nation has been let down.
“Ten years ago, in balance-of-power, the Australian Greens worked to ensure the introduction of world-leading climate laws, with the Greens leading the debate on the issues that truly matter to our nation’s future including; climate action, democratic and political donation reforms; anti-corruption measures; a meaningful social safety-net and addressing inequality.
In the depths of the crisis, Dr Di Natale will point to COVID-19 as a glimmer of hope for Australian politics – with political maneuvering largely taking a back-seat to expert advice in determining the policy response.
“COVID-19  has shown up the cracks in our society. Inequality is running rife and the virus exploiting our vulnerabilities but has also provided an opportunity for real change. If we listen to experts rather than vested interests – in health, in climate change, in economics – we can build a better society. .
“COVID has provided a clear example that bold action is possible from any government. We can make good policy and deliver good outcomes by listening to the experts and working cooperatively. This should be standard operating procedure for Australian politics. It shouldn’t have taken a pandemic to teach us this.
“We must strengthen our democracy by opening our parliament to a greater diversity of voices and ending the influence of corporations and lobbyists over our politicians.   We must reject the  politics of hatred and division fuelled by parties like One Nation, and too often endorsed by other politicians and parts of the media.
“Despite the setbacks of the past decade I leave politics feeling confident about the future.
Young people around the world are mobilising and social movements are gathering steam. The Greens are strong and resilient. We have the support of millions of Australians and we are the only party with genuine solutions to today’s problems,” Senator Di Natale concluded.

The Greens are calling on the Prime Minister to stand down Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar while the Department of Finance investigates the misuse of taxpayer-funded positions, and to consider whether Sukkar’s actions are in breach of the Ministerial Standards.
“The Prime Minister has asked Australians for their trust over the past few months. But Morrison continues to throw integrity overboard with his failure to act on the ongoing, multiple scandals involving his ministers,” Greens co-Deputy leader, Senator Larissa Waters, said.
“It’s a case of ‘do as I say, not as I do’, with Morrison. He jumped on the chance to smear Labor during its branch stacking scandal a few months ago, but deflects all responsibility when its his own frontbenchers making headlines.
Senator Waters, Greens spokesperson for Democracy, said the latest branch stacking scandal was further proof of why the Greens’ National Integrity Commission Bill is needed, which passed the Senate almost a year ago.
“The public generally thinks politicians are all corrupt, in it for themselves, and behave like pork chops in parliament, and I don’t blame them,” Senator Waters said.
“We are still waiting for the Prime Minister to call my federal watchdog with teeth on for a vote in the House of Representatives, almost a year after the Senate passed it. The government hasn’t introduced its own legislation.  And it has rejected the Greens’ calls for a code of conduct for all politicians and senior staff to prevent exactly the sort of behaviour we’ve seen reported this week.
“To Morrison, I say: tick tock. I’m not the only one getting fed up with your delaying tactics.”