Category: Australian News

Greens Senators Richard Di Natale, Nick McKim and Peter Whish-Wilson will today join Tasmanian surfers in calling for a ban on oil and gas exploration in the Great Australian Bight.
Senator Di Natale said, “Today we’re standing with surfers and other oceangoers in saying no to oil and gas in the Great Australian Bight.
“It’s just not worth the risk to our marine environment and to our climate.
“The fossil fuel era is coming to an end. This means companies are chasing the last oil and gas into deeper and more dangerous waters than ever.”
Tasmanian Greens Senator Nick McKim said, “Modelling has shown that an oil spill from the Bight could travel thousands of kilometres, even as far as Tasmania.
“The emergency response times to a spill would be much longer due to the remoteness of the Bight.
“This poses an enormous threat to a pristine marine environment that should be under World Heritage Protection.”
Greens Healthy Oceans spokesperson, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, said, “Despite the danger to our marine life and our climate, the major parties can’t get enough of it and are running a protection racket for the industry.
“Last year, they voted against the Greens attempt to hold a senate inquiry into seismic testing.
“Seismic testing involves continuous blasts from an air gun that are louder than a jet engine and can go on for weeks on end. Just how much harm it does to other marine life, including dolphins and whales, is unknown.
“The Federal Government has a responsibility to protect Australia’s oceans and marine life, and to take the strongest possible action to protect future generations and prevent dangerous climate change.”
A new report by Global Witness showed that the opening up of any new oil and gas reserves is inconsistent with the Paris Agreement.
The Greens would:

• Ban all new offshore oil and gas exploration, including a ban on seismic testing.
• Ban all new offshore oil and gas extraction.
• Stop all oil and gas exploration and extraction in marine parks and in the Great Australian Bight, including by revoking existing permits.

The Greens’ Healthy Oceans policy can be found here.

The Greens health reform package will reduce out of pocket costs and build a truly universal healthcare system – including Medicare funded dental care – that provides healthcare for everyone, regardless of bank balance, postcode or illness.
“Medicare was a visionary reform and point of pride for many Australian but years of neglect, populist politics and piecemeal reforms have resulted in driving up costs for patients and prevented investment in areas that matter,” said Leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale.
“You don’t have a truly universal health system when thousands of Australians delay or avoid seeing a doctor, dentist or specialist because they can’t afford it. It’s about time we returned to the principle of free, universal, healthcare.
“Instead we have thousands of Australians languishing on surgery waiting lists or skipping their medications because they can’t afford them. We are now heading down the path to an American two tiered health system.”
“The Greens plan to reduce out of pocket costs and bring dental care into Medicare will finally follow through on the promise of a truly universal health system designed to keep people well. It’s time our health care system provided the care you need when you need it, regardless of your bank balance.
“As a doctor I know that the growing gaps in care and barriers to access cannot be fixed with band- aid solutions that favour one particular patient group over another. Australia’s health system is sick and the only policy prescription is comprehensive reform that addresses the root causes.
“The Greens health reform package will reduce out of pocket costs for everyone, clear elective surgery waiting lists and bring dental into Medicare. We will invest in prevention, implement team- based healthcare for people with chronic conditions, fund capital works that reduce bed block and ramping and put an end to the hospital funding blame game once and for all.”

Bill Shorten needs to explain the impact his extreme vehicle emissions standard will have on Australian consumers.
Under Labor’s the emissions standard, similar to Europe’s current scheme, manufacturers and dealers will be forced to offer more compact vehicle models, less suited for Australians needs.
Australians prefer larger, more powerful cars because they meet their needs, not because we have more realistic fuel efficiency standards.
So far, we know Bill Shorten and Labor’s extreme green plan for an emissions standard of 105 g/km will:

• Increase the cost of a new car by almost $5,000 (Daily Telegraph, 9/04/2019).
• Cost state police forces tens of millions of dollars to comply (Herald ‪Sun, 11/05/2019).
• Hit Australians on the lowest incomes in regional areas the worst (Courier Mail, 13/04/19).
• Give a free ride to millionaires and billionaires with the highest emitting cars (Daily Telegraph, 15/04/2019).

 
As seen in Europe, this will likely result in the removal of some of the most popular models from the Australian market in order to meet Labor’s strict emissions standards, or risk higher penalties.
The EU has adopted the most ambitious vehicle emissions standard in absolute terms with a 2020 mandatory emissions standard of 95 g/km for passenger cars and SUVs.
An analysis of the United Kingdom’s new vehicle market finds that the overwhelming majority of new vehicle purchases are sub-compact to compact cars, making it easier for automakers to meet emissions standards.
But Australians are choosing to purchase larger, more powerful vehicles and on average we drive 20% more – an average of 13,400 km per year in passenger vehicles, compared with just 10,500 km for UK drivers.
Bill Shorten and Labor’s car tax will see a host of popular vehicles and engines vanish from the Australian market.
Vehicles on Bill’s endangered list include:

• Toyota’s Kluger, Land Cruiser SUV and Ute, and Tarago models.
• Nissan’s Pathfinder and Patrol.
• Ford’s Everest and the Ranger’s ‘Raptor’ and ‘Wild track’ models.
• Mazda’s BT-50 and CX-9.

This would be a tax on the vehicle you choose to drive, the vehicle you want to tow your boat, caravan, camper trailer, the car you can fit your family in or the car you want to take off road.

The Morrison-McCormack Government is standing by our farmers and our rural and regional communities affected by drought.
Today we announce further measures worth $57.4 million to ensure our farmers, their families and communities get the support they need as the drought continues.
The Coalition has made drought a national priority. We are investing over $6.3 billion in drought support.
This new suite of initiatives builds on our commitment to establish a $5 billion Future Drought Fund.
We will establish a new restocking and replanting concessional loan through the Regional Investment Corporation to make sure our farmers can bounce back when the rains come. Loans of up to $200,000 will be available with a two year interest free period and no interest accrual.
This will help farm businesses immediately rebuild and restore their business following successive years of financial hardship brought about by harsh drought conditions.
We will progress the recommendations of the Farm Household Allowance (FHA) Review with the agricultural sector, including making the FHA available to farmers for four in every ten years.
We will also make the $5 million farm asset threshold permanent so the FHA is even more accessible.
When our farmers are in drought, so are the small regional businesses that support them. If re-elected, we will deliver $7 million to establish a pilot rural financial counselling service to help small regional and rural businesses with financial planning, mentoring and coaching.
Around 45 specialist counsellors will be employed in rural communities around the country where drought is having a major impact on local small businesses.
We will also extend the Drought Communities Program to an additional 14 Councils that are facing severe drought. This brings our support to 110 Councils across NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania.
The Coalition’s drought plan is backed by a strong record of delivery including:
 

• $266.9 million provided to over 11,200 farmers in Farm Household Allowance fortnightly support payments.
• $40 million in additional FHA lump sum payments to about 6,400 farmers since September 2018.
• $77 million investment in the Rural Financial Counselling Service – 4,000 farming business are being assisted.
• $30 million to support more than 10,000 households in drought areas delivered in cash and vouchers through charities.
• $131 million for the Drought Communities Program to deliver local infrastructure and drought relief projects.
• $5 million provided to the CWA to support their drought efforts.
• $29.4 million in mental health support.
• $15 million for 48 projects to tackle wild dogs, pest animals and weeds in drought.
• $50 million for on-farm water infrastructure.
• $2.7 million for localised weather guides.
• A $72 million special drought round of the National Water Infrastructure Fund.
• $36.9 million for the Great Artesian Basin to implement a range of immediate and long-term capping and piping measures.

 
Only the Coalition is standing by our farmers and their communities through the drought. Labor has no plan for drought, no plan for agriculture, and no plan for rural and regional Australia.
This funding is only possible because of the Coalition’s strong management of the Budget.

A Morrison-McCormack Government will deliver a $30 million package to strengthen rural Australia with initiatives to ensure agricultural shows remain a centrepiece of regional communities, help educate children about agriculture and food production, and encourage more people into agricultural careers.
Our plan for a stronger economy means we can deliver a $30.9 million package that includes:
 

• A $20 million Regional Agricultural Show Development Grants Program;
• $10 million to take city kids to farms so Australians children see how agricultural products get from paddock to plate;
• $720,000 to support Agricultural Shows Australia to promote the value of Australian agriculture, and;
• $220,000 to encourage more young people to study agriculture by improving future education initiatives.

 
Right across regional Australia agricultural shows are delivered by hardworking volunteers, but they are often faced with ageing infrastructure and expensive repair bills, impacting on the quality of the show and in some cases, meaning shows are unable to go ahead.
The $20 million Development Grants Program will help regional agricultural show societies upgrade and maintain existing infrastructure.
For kids, we know from a study completed by the Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia in 2011 that too many of our young Australians don’t understand where their food comes from. For example, 45 per cent of primary and secondary school students didn’t think bread, bananas or cheese came from farms.
We won’t allow our kids to be vulnerable to anti-farming campaigns from extremists hell-bent on shutting down agriculture. This new program will support primary and secondary school students to visit farms and other primary production worksites in the food and fibre supply chain.
We will also back around 80 city schools across the country to set up fully integrated and computerised “mini-farms” to teach students about the use of water, land and energy in food production.
To encourage more workers into agriculture the Coalition will deliver $220,000 to encourage more young people to study a field in agriculture by improving future education initiatives.
This funding will means Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia (PIEFA) can run a new national survey of school students and teachers on food and fibre production and careers available in the agricultural sector.
The Coalition will invest $720,000 into Agricultural Shows Australia (ASA) over the next four years to support country shows and agricultural events so this important organisation can continue promoting the value of Australian agriculture. It means the shows and programs run by ASA to be upgraded and remain relevant into the future.
That support includes $510,000 for the Young Farmers Challenge to educate the broader community on the role of farmers, engage youth in agriculture and promote farm safety, as well as $120,000 for the Young Judges and Paraders’ Program, which promotes junior judging, parading and farm skills and gives rural kids development opportunities.
We are also delivering $90,000 over three years to boost education around sustainable agri-food production for schools, shows and community events.
The Coalition will always stand up for farmers and our agricultural industries.

The Greens health reform package will reduce out of pocket costs and build a truly universal healthcare system – including Medicare funded dental care – that provides healthcare for everyone, regardless of bank balance, postcode or illness.
“Medicare was a visionary reform and point of pride for many Australian but years of neglect, populist politics and piecemeal reforms have resulted in driving up costs for patients and prevented investment in areas that matter,” said Leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale.
“You don’t have a truly universal health system when thousands of Australians delay or avoid seeing a doctor, dentist or specialist because they can’t afford it. It’s about time we returned to the principle of free, universal, healthcare.
“Instead we have thousands of Australians languishing on surgery waiting lists or skipping their medications because they can’t afford them. We are now heading down the path to an American two tiered health system.”
“The Greens plan to reduce out of pocket costs and bring dental care into Medicare will finally follow through on the promise of a truly universal health system designed to keep people well. It’s time our health care system provided the care you need when you need it, regardless of your bank balance.
“As a doctor I know that the growing gaps in care and barriers to access cannot be fixed with band- aid solutions that favour one particular patient group over another. Australia’s health system is sick and the only policy prescription is comprehensive reform that addresses the root causes.
“The Greens health reform package will reduce out of pocket costs for everyone, clear elective surgery waiting lists and bring dental into Medicare. We will invest in prevention, implement team- based healthcare for people with chronic conditions, fund capital works that reduce bed block and ramping and put an end to the hospital funding blame game once and for all.”

The Liberals have shown we can’t risk another term of them in Government, by approving a destructive uranium mine on the eve of an election being called, and trying to hide it.
“The Liberals are trashing the environment behind voters’ backs. They have tried to hide this destructive uranium mine decision from voters. They do not deserve another term of government,” Greens environment spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“Melissa Price as Environment Minister has been an environment wrecker. Days after she signed off on the Adani coal mine, she’s sold out our environment again to her mining mates in WA by approving a uranium mine.
“We need stronger environmental laws enforced by a national Environmental Protection Authority that back nature, our communities and traditional owners who have raised serious concerns and objections to mines such as this. The Western Australian EPA advised against it, yet is powerless to stop it.
“The environment can’t handle another three years of the Liberal Government looking after their mining mates rather than looking after the planet. The Liberals cannot be trusted to put our environment first.
“We need Greens in the Senate to stand up to governments who side with their mining industry mates. We will always fight for restoring and protecting nature over opening up another destructive uranium mine.”

Australian Greens Education Spokesperson and Senator for NSW, Dr Mehreen Faruqi, has launched the Greens’ ambitious plan to make childcare fee-free for most families, abolish the activity test and guarantee all three and four year olds access to 24 hours of early childhood education a week. The Greens will also provide an extra $200m in capital grants to community and government run centres in areas of highest need as well as supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander run centres. The plan has been costed at $20.4b over four years by the Parliamentary Budget Office and is the biggest investment in early childhood education to date. In addition, the Greens are also committed to developing a workforce strategy with the early learning sector and unions to achieve professional pay and better working conditions for workers.
Senator Faruqi said:
“We know the current system doesn’t work for most families with young children. Families are working hard, sometimes putting a whole income towards just paying for childcare. Under our plan, four out of five families will be able to access fee free childcare if and when they need it.
“The reality is that the lack of affordable child care affects women disproportionately. Often, women have to give up work and career opportunities because childcare is too expensive or not available.
“The two major parties treat childcare as a workforce participation measure, not the essential service it is. We know that affordable, quality and accessible child care benefits everyone.
“The activity test has negatively impacted access to childcare for families on lower incomes. By ditching the test completely, we will ensure people who need access to child care are able to do so without any barriers.
“Under the Greens plan for universal early education, all three and four year old children will be able to attend to pre-school for up to 24 hours a week.
“Our current system penalises primary carers, who are overwhelmingly women and is a source of significant financial stress.
“Australia’s current public funding of early childhood education and care is one of the lowest in the OECD. We can pay for universal childcare and early education by removing tax breaks that favour the highest income earners.
“I know firsthand the value of affordable childcare. When I came to Australia, I wouldn’t have been able to complete my higher education without access to affordable childcare. No one should be denied opportunities due to not being able to pay for child care.
“The Greens strongly support early childcare educators across the country and their rights to fair pay. It is well past time for the people who educate and care for children to have decent pay and conditions. We will institute a strategy for professional pay and conditions,” she concluded.