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SCHOOL REFUSAL AFFECTS TWO IN FIVE FAMILIES: SURVEY

The Greens say new polling showing that two in five families are experiencing school refusal/school can’t reinforces the need for urgent action on the recent Senate inquiry’s recommendations, and adds pressure on Labor to deliver 100% minimum funding to all public schools at the start of the next National School Reform Agreement.

A Greens-commissioned Lonergan poll of 1003 Australian parents of public and private school children found that 39% of all parents of school-age students said their child had been unable to attend school in the past year because of anxiety or stress. The breakdown for public and private schools was 41% and 35% respectively.

Greens spokesperson on Education (Primary and Secondary), Senator Penny Allman-Payne said:

“This polling shows that school can’t is not simply a niche phenomenon experienced by a small minority of school students – it’s a major problem impacting hundreds of thousands of families across the country.

“It should be a wake-up call for governments and education departments that the school system is not capable of responding and adapting to the complex needs of our kids, and that it is increasingly not fit-for-purpose. 

“As the Senate inquiry heard, school can’t is an often misunderstood issue that is too readily blamed on disability or mental health challenges, or passed off as misbehaviour.

“But in reality it is the product of an extreme stress response which leaves a child simply incapable of attending school, even though they want to.

“This is a crisis of exclusion. Students are being forced to adjust to the needs of rigid, commodified educational systems and institutions, rather than the other way around – and massive school refusal rates are the result.

“The Greens call upon education ministers to act on the 14 recommendations of the Senate inquiry into school refusal, including establishing a funded peer support organisation for parents and developing a national action plan.

“And we must ensure all public schools are resourced to at least 100% of the Schooling Resource Standard, so that teachers and support staff are able to give every student the attention they need.”

GREENS WELCOME HIGH COURT’S REJECTION OF INDEFINITE DETENTION

The Greens celebrate the High Court’s landmark ruling against indefinite immigration detention, dismantling a two-decade-long bipartisan regime of cruelty.

“The High Court has struck a blow for liberty and decency,” Greens Immigration and Citizenship Spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

“This is a long-overdue rejection of a Labor/Liberal policy which has seen vulnerable people warehoused in detention with no end in sight.”

“For too long, Peter Dutton and his Labor replicas have acted unlawfully and contrary to the Constitution and foundational principles of a liberal democracy.”

“Courts should decide prison sentences. Politicians must not.”

“People who have been living in a state of perpetual uncertainty can now look forward to freedom and a life beyond the cruelty of indefinite immigration detention.”

“The cruelty of indefinite detention has always been a design feature of the immigration system. It is grossly inhumane and belongs in the dustbin of history.”

“Labor has consistently denied reality by arguing that no-one is being detained indefinitely in immigration detention.”

“This decision puts the lie to that claim and will force the ALP to overcome its political cowardice and finally act.”

“The Greens call on Labor to immediately release people affected by this ruling and to ensure they are supported as they transition into the community.”

“We also demand a commitment from Labor that the government will not attempt to legislate its way around this ruling.”

“Congratulations to everyone involved in the decades-long campaign against indefinite immigration detention and the recent high court challenge.”

GREENS ESTIMATES PUSH FORCES LABOR GOVERNMENT TO HIRE 3000 NEW CENTRELINK STAFF

After the Greens pushed the Labor government in estimates – revealing dismal Centrelink call wait times, congestion messages and claims processing – Centrelink will now gain 3000 new staff and a $228 million funding boost.

Senator Janet Rice will continue questioning Services Australia on Tuesday 7th November to investigate their appalling performance and advocate for a stronger, well-funded Centrelink.

Senator Janet Rice, Greens spokesperson for social services, said: 

“The state of Services Australia’s Centrelink is a disaster. The Greens called out the severe lack of staffing resources being allocated by the Labor government, and now they’ve been forced to address the issue.”

“These failures revealed in estimates aren’t a mere inconvenience for people on Centrelink; they are causing great suffering. When people can’t get help on the phone and aren’t having their claims processed on time, it means they can’t pay their bills or rent or afford to eat.”

“People on Centrelink are barely scraping by as it is, on payments below the poverty line. They don’t have savings to deal with not receiving their income on time.”

“Centrelink’s performance has worsened under Labor – it needed more funding and more staff, and that’s exactly what Greens pressure has achieved. This is a win for vulnerable Australians looking for support.”

“It’s a welcome announcement but it’s a drop in the ocean compared to the investment that is actually required to fix our broken, punitive social safety net.”

“We still need to raise the rate of income support to at least $88 a day, abolish punitive and counterproductive mutual obligations, remove unfair restrictions on who can access payments and put an end to debt recovery.”

“This funding announcement highlights that poverty is a political choice, one that Labor makes time and time again unless pushed to do differently.”

Inaugural Maitri Scholars Program

Applications are open for the inaugural Maitri Scholars Program, to support India’s best and brightest students to complete post-graduate STEM degrees at Australian universities.

The program will deepen scientific and research collaboration between Australia and India, in emerging sectors of advanced manufacturing, critical technology, critical minerals, and clean energy solutions.

The Maitri Scholars Program will provide scholarships to around 45 students over the next four years in these fields, with an Australian Government investment of $11.2 million to support the program.

Scholarships will be administered by the Centre for Australia-India Relations, and be open to all Australian universities, who can nominate PhD and masters’ students.

The Maitri Scholars Program is a recommendation of an update to the India Economic Strategy to 2035, aimed at creating life-long connections and goodwill between our countries. Australia’s education ties with India are one of the bedrocks of our bilateral relationship.

Further details on the Maitri Scholars Program can be found at australiaindiacentre.org.au. Australian universities can submit grant applications until 1 January 2024.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Penny Wong said:

“The Maitri program will deepen scientific and research collaboration between Australia and India.

“In supporting India’s brightest minds in STEM research, the Maitri Scholarships set the foundations for life-long connections for Australian and Indian leaders in new and emerging technology.”

QMinister for Education Jason Clare said:

“The launch of the Maitri scholarships is a key outcome of today’s meeting of the Australia India Education and Skills Council which was hosted by my Indian counterpart the Hon Dharmendra Pradhan in Gandhinagar.

“The program will strengthen our education partnership with India by giving some of its brightest young researchers the opportunity to study at our world class universities.”

Centre for Australia-India Relations CEO, Tim Thomas said:

“The Maitri Scholars program reinforces Australia’s credentials as a provider of quality education and will help to catalyse professional development, links with industry and research commercialisation.”

Medicare bulk billing strengthened as largest investment in 40 years takes effect

The Albanese Government is making it easier to see a bulk billing doctor for more than 11 million Australians, with the largest investment in bulk billing in the 40-year history of Medicare.

From today, the incentive that general practitioners receive to bulk bill children under 16, pensioners and other Commonwealth concession cardholders will be tripled for most common GP consults.

It will be easier to find a bulk billing doctor for around 5 million children and their families and 7 million pensioners and other concession cardholders.

Together, these patients account for around 3 out of 5 visits to the GP.

At the 2023-24 Budget, the Albanese Government also announced a $1.5 billion indexation boost to Medicare payments, with the increase also taking effect today.

Together, the indexation boosts in July and November have delivered the largest increase to Medicare payments since Paul Keating was Prime Minister, delivering a larger increase in one year than the former government delivered over seven years.

The indexation boost and tripling of the bulk billing incentive provides a significant increase to the Medicare payments that GPs get to bulk bill eligible patients.

In our major cities, a doctor will get 34% more for a standard bulk billed consultation of under 20 minutes (a Level B consultation), taking the Medicare payment for eligible patients to $62.05.

In regional and rural Australia, a doctor will get around 50% more for the same visit, taking the Medicare payment to between $72.80 and $81.10, depending on location.

A new Medicare rebate for GP consultations of 60 minutes or longer will also commence today, giving patients a rebate of $191.20 and doctors the time to provide better care for people with complex physical and mental conditions.

Patients registered with MyMedicare will now be able to access Medicare rebates for longer telephone consultations from their registered practice.

MyMedicare is the foundation upon which a stronger, more personalised Medicare will be built, with patients to get more tailored quality care from their regular general practice, doctor and primary care team.

Since voluntary registration for MyMedicare opened to patients on 1 October, more than 150,000 people have registered with their preferred general practice and will now get access to longer telehealth consults.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said:

“We’re delivering the biggest investment in Medicare in over 40 years, with more incentives for bulk billing and 58 new Urgent Care clinics across Australia.

“These changes to the Medicare bulk billing incentive will make it easier, and cheaper for more than 11 million Australians to visit a doctor.

“Combined with our cheaper medicines policy, electricity bill relief, cheaper child care and increased rent assistance, we’re continuing to deliver targeted cost of living relief without adding to inflation.”

Health Minister Mark Butler said:

“The tripling of the bulk billing incentive will help over 5 million children and their families, and more than 7 million pensioners and concession card holders to see a bulk billed GP.

“Doctors’ groups have called this a ‘game-changer’ and GPs right around the country have said this will help them maintain and even shift back to bulk billing.

“Peter Dutton froze the Medicare rebate when he was Health Minister 10 years ago – a freeze that remained in place for six long years and led to a very substantial decline in bulk billing in general practice.

“Bulk billing is the beating heart of Medicare and Labor will always strengthen it.”

Minns Labor Government delivering dedicated sports high school for South West Sydney

Budding athletes in Sydney’s South West will soon have the opportunity to pursue a sport-focussed education close to home, as the Minns Labor Government delivers on its election commitment to convert Eagle Vale High School to a sports school. 

A new selective sports stream will commence in 2025 at the school, which will run the Talented Sports Program with basketball, cricket and rugby league as the foundation sports.

Planning for a multi-purpose hall and new and upgraded sports facilities is now under way to support the delivery of the program at the school.

This announcement means families in the Macarthur region for the first time will have a school on their doorstep that caters to students excelling in sports, alongside a strong academic program.

Previously, up-and-coming athletes in the region have had to make long trips out of the area to pursue their athletic ambitions at other sports high schools.

The Talented Sports Program, which runs in another seven NSW public high schools, has a long tradition of nurturing some of the country’s best up-and-coming athletes.

Alumni of NSW public sports high schools include Test cricketer Usman Khawaja, soccer greats Harry Kewell and Alanna Kennedy, and former Australian rugby league captain Boyd Cordner.

Local and national sporting organisations, including Wests Tigers NRL club, have given in-principle support to partner with the school for the program. Formal partnership agreements are expected to follow.

These organisations include:

  • Wests Tigers (NRL)
  • Macarthur Rams, Camden Tigers and Macarthur District Football Associations (soccer)
  • Campbelltown, Wollondilly and Roar Basketball Associations
  • Campbelltown/Camden District Cricket Club and Camden District Cricket Association
  • Macarthur Quake FUTSAL Club.

The school will continue to cater comprehensively to local students, with the program and upgrades offering increased academic and sporting opportunities through increased curriculum options.

Trials for the school’s foundation sports will be held in 2024. The program’s first cohort will begin in 2025.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“Our commitment at Eagle Vale will mean children in south-western Sydney will finally get a real opportunity to follow their sporting dreams – without having to commit hours to travel every day.

“There is such a strong sporting culture and tradition in this part of Sydney, it’s time that was reflected in the opportunities available to local school children. 

“This is a project that Labor MPs in the region, especially Anoulack Chanthivong, Nathan Hagarty and Greg Warren, have championed for years and we’re proud that as a government we can now bring it to fruition.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“The Macarthur region has produced a long line of great sporting champions and having a school to meet the needs of upcoming young athletes in the area is long overdue.

“Instead of spending hours each day getting to and from school, the region’s gifted young athletes will soon have more time to concentrate on both their studies and sport, with quality facilities easily accessible from home.

“The Talented Sports Program at Eagle Vale High School will see local students reap the benefits of the school’s partnerships with a wide range of sporting clubs, fostering excellence in sports like rugby league, soccer, basketball and cricket.”

Celebrating NSW’s dedicated pathology staff

NSW Health Pathology’s laboratory at Randwick is today celebrating 25 years as a designated World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre.

The NSW Health Pathology laboratory at the Prince of Wales Hospital supports the WHO’s global efforts fighting sexually transmitted infections and antimicrobial resistance.

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria become resistant to antibiotics.

Health Minister Ryan Park said he was delighted to celebrate the milestone anniversary of the facility on International Pathology Day (8 November).

“NSW Health Pathology staff working at laboratories across the state are the hidden heroes of healthcare, working to ensure doctors have the diagnostic results and advice they need to make informed decisions about patient care,” Mr Park said.

“Many medical decisions rely on pathology, and most cancer diagnoses start with pathology.

“I want to thank all our NSW Health Pathology teams for the incredible role they play, often behind the scenes, in the NSW health system to help protect our lives. We simply couldn’t do without them.

“WHO Collaborating Centres are an international network of laboratory institutions designated by the Director-General of the WHO to help fulfil its mandated activities and harness international expertise, skills and resources.”

Member for Coogee Marjorie O’Neill said the 25th anniversary of the Randwick lab serves as an important opportunity to recognise the skills and significant contribution of NSW Health Pathology staff in monitoring antimicrobial resistance over many years.

“I’m incredibly proud of the staff at the Randwick facility, providing a service that is integral to care delivery across the whole health system,” Ms O’Neill said.

The NSW Health Pathology laboratory at Randwick works with the WHO on antimicrobial resistance surveillance and acts as the National Coordinating Centre for the WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System. Since the 1980s the laboratory has also coordinated the national surveillance program for invasive meningococcal disease.

NSW Health Pathology’s Randwick Laboratory Medical Director Professor Monica Lahra congratulated her colleagues on the milestone, saying it was an honour to be working with the WHO as a collaborating centre.

“Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria become resistant to antibiotics and is a major emerging health threat around the world.  It can affect anyone and can result in longer hospital stays, higher medical costs, and cause long-term side effects or even death,” Prof Lahra said.

“Our world-leading experts are providing vital surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and working to keep all our communities safe.

“Our NSW Health Pathology team coordinates these programs and collaborates with partner organisations globally to support the WHO’s important work.”

Overseas licence holders converting to NSW system

Almost 20,000 drivers on overseas licences have converted to a NSW licence over the past 4 months, with some taken off the road altogether after running up enough demerit points to lose a licence almost 3 times over.

The Minns Labor government has welcomed the first tranche of foreign licence holders rolling over to a NSW licence but is determined to go further than the previous Coalition government, with all drivers on overseas licences in future to be directed to convert their licence.

Under the current regulation brought in by the Liberals, only drivers moving to NSW since 1 July 2023 must convert to a NSW licence.

This has led to 20,000 foreign licence surrenders since that date.

The regulation now allows for overseas drivers to be stripped of their driving privileges permanently if they accrue 13 demerit points or are convicted of certain speeding, drug and alcohol or serious driving offences.

In the past 4 months, drivers who have been hit with suspensions include:

  • A driver who accumulated 37 demerit points since 2021 in 7 speeding offences and 3 mobile phone infringements was banned for 5 months and must apply for a NSW licence.
  • A driver who had 33 demerit points and was still on the road after being caught speeding at 30 km/h-plus over the limit, as well as multiple other speeding and mobile phone offences, was banned for a minimum 8 months.
  • A driver who had 29 demerit points from a combination of disobeying traffic lights, speeding and mobile phone offences has been able to pass a test to obtain a NSW licence and is currently under good behaviour conditions until September 2024.

In the first 10 months of 2023, there have been 5 fatal crashes involving a driver or rider with an overseas licence.

Minister for Roads John Graham said:

“It will be a relief for the nearly 7 million drivers in NSW on a state licence that we are seeing the beginning of a long overdue rollover of foreign licences. This will improve the overall standard of driving in NSW and therefore safety in general.

“It is frightening to say the least that some drivers on overseas licences have been able to chalk up demerit points almost with impunity.

“It is appropriate that people visiting the country are able to drive on our roads – just as Australians do when they travel overseas – but the Minns Labor government is determined to make sure that anyone residing in the state longer than 6 months is required to get a NSW licence. We will have more to say on this in future. 

“Sadly, there has been a rise in the number of lives lost on our roads this year. The impact of road trauma lasts a lifetime, so we are doing everything we can to put a stop to this upward trend.”

Proposed Macquarie Park precinct to pave way for thousands of new homes

The NSW Government proposing at least 3000 new homes for Macquarie Park as part of a plan to create a lively community in the suburb.

The rezoning proposal would deliver 3060 new homes, 8 hectares of new public open space, a large multi-purpose indoor recreation facility, along with paths for walking and cycling.

The development is currently zoned to support commercial office space for up to 23,000 jobs.

Under this proposal, developers would be given flexibility and could choose to instead construct up to 5040 build-to-rent homes instead of commercial real estate.

This is a well-located part of Sydney that is bounded by 2 Sydney Metro stations (Macquarie University and Macquarie Park), is home to Macquarie University and the Macquarie Centre shopping centre, and is near the Lane Cove National Park.

Passengers from Macquarie Park Metro Station will be able to reach the CBD within 20 minutes when the City and Southwest Metro opens between Tallawong and Sydenham in 2024.

The Macquarie Park Innovation Precinct Stage 1 proposal would also create a lively community in one of Sydney’s biggest employment hubs.

Macquarie Park is the fourth largest office market in NSW, behind Parramatta, North Sydney and Sydney CBD, and is home to businesses from industries such as IT and pharmaceuticals.

The proposal is now open for consultation. It includes mixed-use commercial and residential development along Shrimptons Creek, Lane Cove Road and Epping Road and the renewal of Waterloo Road.

Along with residential development, the revitalisation proposal includes ground level retail for entertainment, dining, and recreation.

The new public open space would include play areas, sports fields, fitness stations, BBQ areas along with picnic tables and shelters.

The rezoning proposal builds on the vision set out in the Macquarie Park Innovation Precinct (MPIP) Place Strategy finalised by the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) in 2022 which outlines a staged approach to the development and transformation.

Feedback received from the community and stakeholders will be taken into consideration to help inform the final plan in mid-2024.

To view the proposal and have your say, visit the NSW Planning Portallaunch.

Premier of NSW Chris Minns said:

“We are constantly searching for ways to ease our housing crisis, and this proposal can help.

“The construction of homes in NSW has simply not kept pace with our population growth.

“This area is already a good place to work, and we will make it a great place to live and work.

“More and more, we will ensure the construction of new homes happens in places with great transport links, like this area.

“We need to take full advantage of the investments our state’s taxpayers make into public transport.

“Proposals like this are important to change the trajectory of the housing supply crisis.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“We need more housing in established areas to improve affordability, reduce infrastructure costs, and limit the burden on taxpayers.

“This rezoning is an opportunity to deliver more homes on the doorstep of the CBD and near well-connected public transport including the new Macquarie Park metro station.

“We want to see density in precincts like this be part of Sydney’s future, supporting homes and jobs that are accessible to everyone in the community.

“The precinct’s growth has the potential to provide a huge economic boost and secure Macquarie Park’s reputation as a world-class place for business, innovation, research, and education.

“More homes and workplaces will also help support a 24-hour economy with more opportunities for late night entertainment, dining, and recreation.

“I encourage the community to view the proposal and have their say by Sunday 10 December 2023.”

Innovation not a priority for Minns Labor Government

Extraordinarily in Budget Estimates today, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, Anoulack Chanthivong revealed that innovation and the start-up sector is not a priority for the Minns Labor Government.
 
Shadow Minister for Innovation, Mark Coure said since coming to power in March, the Minns Labor Government has failed the innovation sector, who have suffered from uncertainty, budget cuts and a lack interest from Minister Chanthivong in the issues affecting startups.
 
“Minister Chanthivong’s performance in Budget Estimates today confirmed he is a Minister who does not see value in the innovation portfolio, blaming the former government for his lack of advocacy to ensure there was a budget that appropriately supported founders in the innovation sector.” Mr Coure said.
 
“The Minister’s unwillingness to answer legitimate and important questions, including why he reduced the budget of the nation leading MVP Ventures Program from $10 million to $3 million, speaks volumes about his knowledge of the programs he is responsible for.” 
  
“In eight months since becoming Minister, Minister Chanthivong has also failed to meet with significant innovation sector stakeholders, instead, choosing pollsters and unions over innovators and entrepreneurs like Fishburners, an anchor tenant of the Sydney Startup Hub.”
 
“NSW based innovators and entrepreneurs make an enormous contribution to our economy, and reputation as a nation-leader in this space – they deserve a Minister who actually values this work.”
 
Liberal MLC Jacqui Munro said founders who had originally set up in NSW because of the strong support on offer were now looking interstate due to policy uncertainty from the Minns Labor Government.
 
“We no longer have a government in NSW that is willing to provide stability and reliability for a thriving innovation sector. Minister Chanthivong had an opportunity to correct the record today, but instead dodged legitimate policy and process questions, refusing to give certainty to founders who have been seeking information for months.” Ms Munro said.
 
“The NSW Liberals and Nationals will continue to call out the Minns Government and Minister Chanthivong for abandoning the innovation sector and will fight to keep NSW as the innovation capital of Australia.”