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PROVIDER SELECTED FOR TAMWORTH MEDICARE URGENT CARE CLINIC

The Albanese Government is delivering on its commitment to Tamworth residents to help strengthen Medicare.

Following an Expression of Interest process, Northwest Health will be established as a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, treating patients from October 2023.

The Tamworth Medicare UCC will deliver on the Australian Government’s commitment to make it easier for people in New South Wales to get the urgent treatment they need – from highly qualified doctors and nurses – while taking pressure off Tamworth Hospital.

The Medicare UCC will be open extended hours, seven days a week and offer walk-in care that is fully bulk-billed.

Almost 63 per cent of presentations to Tamworth Hospital are for non-urgent or semi-urgent care.

The Tamworth clinic is one of 14 Medicare UCCs across New South Wales – located in Albury, Batemans Bay, Blacktown, Campbelltown, Cessnock, Coffs Harbour, Gosford, Lismore, Penrith, Randwick, Westmead, Wollongong and Wyong.

The Australian Government will continue to work closely with Primary Health Networks and the New South Wales Government to deliver the remaining Medicare UCCs, all of which will open this year.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said:

“The Tamworth Medicare UCC will make a big difference to patients in the region who will be able to walk in seven days a week and get free urgent care from a nurse or a doctor.

“The clinic will ease pressure on Tamworth Hospital, so that its hard-working doctors and nurses can focus higher priority emergencies.

“The Tamworth Medicare UCC is just another way the Government is strengthening Medicare and making it easier to see a doctor.”

Health Minister Mark Butler said:

“The UCCs will offer high-quality care for people who need to see a medical professional for a health issue that is urgent and requires treatment but is not life-threatening and does not require attending the emergency department.

“The Tamworth UCC will ease pressure on the local emergency department, and be much more convenient for our community – closer to home, at short notice, and free under Medicare.

“This is another example of the Australian Government delivering better healthcare for New South Wales.”

NEWCASTLE AND LAKE MACQUARIE FAMILIES DROWNING IN POWER BILLS AS HOUSING CRISIS WORSENS

Almost half (45 per cent) of financially disadvantaged households in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie were unable to pay their utility bills on time in the past 12 months, according to new research.

Further, 67 per cent reported being in housing stress, defined as spending more than 30 per cent of your income on housing.

These findings are from peak advocacy body NCOSS’ latest Cost of Living in NSW 2023 research, undertaken by the University of Technology Sydney.

The survey was undertaken in April and May of this year, involving a representative sample of 1,134 households living on low incomes and below the poverty line in regions across NSW.

NCOSS CEO Joanna Quilty said the survey reveals just how tough life is for low income and below the poverty line households in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie right now.

“These figures are stark and show the extent to which households are being hammered on multiple fronts,” Ms Quilty said.

“These are households who, in the main, are working and who are doing everything they can to cut costs and keep their heads above water.

“But the compounding effects of COVID-19, sky-high inflation, successive disasters and flatlining wages have had a devastating impact – pushing many to breaking point.”

Key findings for Newcastle and Lake Macquarie include:

62 per cent reported having no money set aside for emergencies.
40 per cent reported going without prescribed medication or healthcare.
35 per cent ranked housing as the number one area of household expenditure that has been put under pressure.
31 per cent reported being unable to travel for essential reasons due to cost.
22 per cent had used ‘Buy Now Pay Later’ (BNPL) services to afford essential goods three or more times in the last year.
33 per cent reported that they experience extreme housing stress, with more than 50 per cent of their income spent on housing in the last year

The survey exposes the steps people are taking just to get by.

“We knew things were bad, but this is the worst we’ve seen in many years. And the impacts are showing through the increased stress and strain that relationships are under and families are experiencing,” Ms Quilty said.

“People are hanging on by a knife edge – savings have been eaten away, the use of Buy Now Pay Later is more prevalent and borrowing from family and friends is a growing necessity.

“Our members – community organisations on the frontline – consistently report that they cannot keep up with demand, and that the needs of their communities are becoming more complex.

“New cohorts of people are appearing at their doors – families with two incomes who used to get by, but have now drained their savings and cannot put food on the table.”

Ms Quilty said NCOSS has put forward a set of recommendations to the NSW Government, developed in consultation with NCOSS members.

“Our recommendations are aimed at tackling the underlying causes of the cost-of-living crisis – most notably energy bills and housing affordability – and providing immediate relief,” Ms Quilty said.

“The NSW Government cannot quickly solve this crisis, but it can alleviate its most extreme impacts and help those who are doing everything they can to survive but have nothing left to give.”

Some of the key recommendations put forward include:

Improve the impact of NSW Government cost-of-living initiatives including permanently increasing EAPA vouchers to $2,000 pa and making the Low Income Household Rebate a fixed percentage of a person’s energy bill.
Build an additional 5,000 social housing residences each year, targeting unmet needs such as overcrowding for culturally diverse communities, and groups at greatest risk of homelessness.
Improve conditions and protections for NSW renters by urgently implementing: limits on rental increases so they are fair and reasonable; no-grounds evictions; and the elimination of rental bidding.
Strengthen the social service sector by developing a consistent approach to annual indexation that covers the real cost of service provision, and enhancing capacity of essential programs facing overwhelming demand.

For more information, and to read the full report, visit ncoss.org.au

Definitions:

Below the poverty line: defined as households living on less than 50 per cent of the median NSW household income after tax and housing costs (below $518 per week).
Low-income households: defined as households living on 50 – 80 per cent of the median NSW household income after tax and housing costs ($518 – $829 per week).
About the survey: the research, undertaken by the University of Technology’s Institute of Public Policy and Governance, involved stratified random sampling to engage a statistically representative sample of 1,134 NSW residents, living on low incomes and below the poverty line, through an online survey undertaken in April and May of this year. 23 people also participated in focus groups and interviews.

NO WAR WITHOUT A VOTE OF THE PARLIAMENT

Today, the government has responded to the report by the Parliamentary Inquiry Into Conflict Decision Making by affirming its decision to refuse giving the parliament a vote, thus ensuring that Australians can be dragged into more illegal wars at the whims of the United States.

Senator Jordon Steele-John, Greens spokesperson for Peace and Foreign Affairs said:

“The Government’s response to the War Powers inquiry is proof that the Albanese government is refusing to embrace meaningful reform of Australia’s archaic and unaccountable process for going to war.”

“No other democracy in the world has an executive government that holds such unilateral power to send troops to war.”

“The Labor party took a promise to the election to conduct a fair inquiry into how Australia goes to war. The Defence Minister and Foreign Minister have spent the past two years doing everything in their power to unwind that promise; including stating their opposition to meaningful reform before the inquiry’s completion.

“We have seen over and over that the mechanism for sending Australians to war lacks accountability and results in significant human disaster. Hundreds of thousands have died, millions have been displaced, and, to this day, ADF personnel find themselves in overseas conflicts that were never subject to debate, vote, or scrutiny.”

“Today ADF personnel are still deployed to conflict zones globally without any meaningful engagement done with the Australian people or the parliament about why they are there, the contribution to national interest or the flow on effects these conflicts have.”

“The proposed changes by the government leave our Australian community vulnerable to the whims of the United States. The decision to go to war should be a vote of the Australian Parliament. When Australians get dragged into the next war the Australian Labor party should spare us their feigned outrage because the truth is they had the opportunity to stop it and didn’t, the blood will be on their hands.”

LABOR URGED TO PROVIDE CRITICAL SPEECH THERAPY FOR CHILDREN WITH CLEFT LIP AND PALATE CONDITIONS

The Australian Greens, in collaboration with the Australian Cleft Lip and Palate Community, are proposing amendments to the Health Insurance Amendment (Prescribed Dental Patients and Other Measures) Bill 2023. If supported, it will grant children with Cleft Lip and Palate access to crucial speech therapy services under Medicare’s Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Scheme

The community has been advocating for improved access to speech pathology services for more than 13 years. Affordable access to speech therapy plays a pivotal role in the lives of children with cleft lip and palate conditions; boosting their self-esteem, and enhancing their overall quality of life.

The current exclusion of speech therapy services from the Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Scheme places an unjust financial burden on families.

Senator Jordon Steele-John, Greens spokesperson for Health and Disability has said:

“It’s beyond time for the Medicare Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Scheme to incorporate a greater number of speech pathology sessions for individuals with cleft lip and palate. The current provision of only five speech pathology sessions per year falls short. Today, the Greens are proposing amendments to expand the Medicare Cleft Scheme to encompass 26 sessions over a 12-month period.”

“I have personally heard from parents of children with cleft lip and palate who have expressed that the current allowance of five speech pathology sessions per year is inadequate. The absence of additional Medicare-covered sessions forces them to incur thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses. This puts them in the difficult position of choosing between providing their child with life-changing support, or meeting basic necessities such as rent and food.

“The Australian Community is rallying behind this change. A change.org petition addressing the issue has immense public support, with over 14,000 signatures.

Statements from The Cleft Palate and Lip Society (ClefPALS) Community Advocates:

Jessica Beckman, the campaign manager for CleftPALS and a mother of a three-year-old with cleft lip and palate vividly portrays the challenges faced by these families.

“There are too many children suffering from developmental delays from not having access to speech therapy, which leads to other mental anguish. Australian kids shouldn’t be getting bullied at school for not being able to talk properly.”

“In 2009, CleftPals wrote to the then Parliamentary Secretary for Health, and now Minister for Health, Mark Butler, asking for speech therapy support. That request was ignored. Now is the time for Minister Butler to act; he should commit to providing fair and equitable access to speech therapy services for our cleft kids”.

Timothy Delivin, President of CleftPALS NSW, whose kindergarten-aged son Joshua struggles with clear speech, underscored the “significant financial burden that is placed on families with a cleft kid with sessions with a specialist costing up to $190 per hour!”

MORE ACTION NEEDED TO ADDRESS SEXUAL VIOLENCE ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES

The Greens are in solidarity with tireless campaigning groups like End Rape on Campus, Fair Agenda, The STOP Campaign and the National Union of Students who continue to shine a light on sexual violence on campus, and support their calls for an independent mechanism to hold universities to account on sexual assault.

LActing Greens Leader & Greens spokesperson on Education, Senator Mehreen Faruqi said:

“While it’s great that the Government has appointed Patty Kinnersly to their working group on uni governance, there is so much more they must do to keep students safe.

“The Government must establish an independent mechanism to hold universities accountable on sexual violence and commit to funding another student safety survey. A working group to examine the issues is just not good enough on its own, when we know decisive action is needed now.

“Every student has the right to study in a safe, respectful environment, without fear of being sexually assaulted or harassed.

“Sadly though, far too many uni students continue to experience sexual violence across the country, especially women, non-binary people, people with disability, and First Nations people. For many, these traumatic experiences can totally upend and ruin lives.

“Both governments and universities have failed to act, despite knowing for years about the shocking prevalence and damaging effects of sexual violence on campuses.

“The Greens stand in solidarity with tireless campaigning groups like End Rape on Campus, Fair Agenda, and the National Union of Students — who have bravely shone a light on sexual violence on campus, and who are holding the government and universities to account for their abject failures.”

Greens spokesperson on Women, Senator Larissa Waters said:

“There is an epidemic of sexual assault on campus and universities and governments need to stop trying to brush it under the carpet.

“Labor is in government, they have all the levers. Students need to know their safety is being taken seriously. Parents need to know their kids are safe in residential halls. Universities need to be forced to take action.

“End Rape on Campus, Fair Agenda and The STOP Campaign continue their calls for an independent mechanism to hold universities accountable on sexual violence, and the Greens support those calls.

“The 2021 National Student Safety Survey found that 275 students are reporting assaults on campuses across the country every week, but that survey was done in the middle of COVID lockdowns. We need to know the true extent of the epidemic of rape on campus once students are back to post-pandemic campus life.

“Universities Australia have said it is up to the vice-chancellors whether they run another student safety survey, and that they haven’t yet decided. That prevarication is unacceptable – student safety surveys must be funded and committed to by both government and universities. You can’t fix the problem by hiding it. These are the same vice-chancellors who canned the $1.5 million consent education program Universities Australia was funded to provide, because of the archaic mindset of a few old dinosaurs in charge of our tertiary institutions.

“We are still waiting on a response to Questions on Notice from Universities Australia regarding whose archaic opinions were relied on in the decision to pull the plug on its consent education campaign, but it’s pretty clear that if they don’t want to provide sexual consent education to the adults on its campuses, it should hand back the $1.5 million it was provided to do so.

“Despite the tireless efforts of advocates like End Rape on Campus, Fair Agenda and The STOP Campaign, who Minister Clare met with last week, far too many students, particularly women, still feel unsafe at uni. The Greens support their calls for an independent mechanism to hold universities accountable on sexual violence.”

SENATE INQUIRY INTO AAD MISMANAGEMENT ESTABLISHED

A Senate inquiry into the current funding mismanagement of the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) has been established. It comes following the Albanese Government’s failure to acknowledge rising fears within the AAD about what science programs will be axed as a result of the division having to cut its operating budget by $25 million.

Greens spokesperson for healthy oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said:

“It’s time to put politics aside and get to the bottom of why the AAD is short $25 million and has to cut scheduled science programs this summer.

“Now isn’t the time for splitting hairs over the semantics of what went wrong – Antarctic science is too important and too time critical for that.

“What needs to be thoroughly scrutinised is why the AAD is set to lose $25 million from its operating budget and what decision-making process is being employed to determine which science programs are being deemed “critical” and which programs are being cancelled.

“This is a highly distressing time for some of Australia’s best scientists and a government seemingly unconcerned about cutting Antarctic science programs is not acceptable, especially not for those now facing job insecurity as a result.

“The fact the Minister is still spinning that there are no budget cuts is incredibly unhelpful and shows the government is more focused on shifting blame than tackling the matter head-on.

“We have internal documents identifying Antarctic science projects that can’t be supported ‘due to budget constraints’ and a leaked email from the Head of the AAD revealing it will lose 16% of its operating budget – the situation speaks for itself.

“Hopefully the Senate can assist the Albanese Government to clear up this troubling situation, and make sure science programs are prioritised and fully funded as originally planned.”

GREENS TO BACK 60 DAY DISPENSING, WILL NOT SUPPORT LIBERALS MOVE TO BLOCK

The Australian Greens will not be supporting the motion to disallow 60 day dispensing, as moved by the Liberals.

Following consultation with consumers and health care providers, the Australian Greens Party Room supports the community’s access to cheaper medicines, which will come into effect from the 1st September 2023.

Senator Jordon Steele-John, Australian Greens spokesperson for health said:

“We’ve heard from the community that their priority is cost of living relief, additionally the move to 60 day dispensing will support disabled and chronically ill people as they will undertake fewer trips to the pharmacist.

“We are incredibly proud that after years of the Greens calling for the change, the government has agreed to support better access to medicines for people with opioid dependency.

“Through our negotiations, the Greens have pushed the Government to announce measures that will provide additional support to regional and rural pharmacies, along with a commitment to bring forward the negotiation on the next Community Pharmacy Agreement.

“We strongly encourage the Minister to commence negotiations on the Community Pharmacy Agreement in good faith with the sector, and implement an updated agreement that prioritises measures to support the communities access to community pharmacies.

“The Greens are committed to making a more universal and accessible healthcare system for all of the community and we will continue to push for reform that achieves this.”

Labor’s factions force another about-face on Israel

One week out from its National Conference, it’s clear Labor’s factions have forced the Albanese Government into another about-face in relation to Australia’s policies on Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Labor’s back-room decisions on Israel and the Palestinian territories have everything to do with managing factional differences ahead of the Labor National Conference and nothing to do with advancing a lasting two-state outcome.

It’s clear the Albanese Government is undertaking more consultation with factional bosses than with those impacted by these changes, including the Israeli Government.

Foreign Affairs Minister Wong has previously criticised unilateral decisions that undermine a two-state solution, yet now appears committed to Labor making its own unilateral decisions without any genuine consultation.

These decisions prompt many questions, such as whether a determination of certain territories to be “occupied Palestinian territories” is accompanied by determinations on the precise boundaries of such territories? Without that, what exactly is the determination referring to?

Equally, will a declaration of settlements as being illegal result in a change to Australia’s position on key motions at the United Nations, including votes within the last year where Australian officials said that such motions “will not help bring the parties together”?

These latest acts of the Albanese Government come on top of the disgraceful handling by Labor of the changes to Australia’s recognition of the Israeli capital, which was marked by disrespect for a Holy Day and a gross lack of consultation.

The Coalition remains committed to supporting a lasting two-state solution, in which Israel and Palestine co-exist. It is extremely regrettable that Labor’s internal differences are undermining the consistency of Australia’s position on these matters.

City of Newcastle champions disability inclusion with launch of Count Us In festival

City of Newcastle will team up with 2022 Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott next month to champion opportunities for people with a disability in the workplace.

The gold medal-winning wheelchair tennis player will serve up a message of advocacy and inclusion in employment during City of Newcastle’s annual Count Us In festival, which will run from 4-24 September.

The festival features more than 40 events and activities designed to celebrate and encourage access and inclusion across Newcastle, including dance and art experiences, sports challenges, social and peer networking events and training opportunities, whilst the business community is invited to join a business lunch led by keynote speaker Dylan Alcott AO.

The program was developed in collaboration with Community Disability Alliance Hunter (CDAH) and City of Newcastle’s Access Inclusion Advisory Committee and is being delivered with the assistance of a range of community partners including 13 successful grant recipients, who shared in a $20,000 pool of funding from City of Newcastle.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said inclusive employment was a key focus for this year’s Count Us In festival.

“City of Newcastle prides itself on being a liveable and welcoming community for all people, increasing social inclusion and community connections with events like Count Us In festival in line with CN’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan,” Cr Nelmes said.

“This year, we are delighted to welcome Dylan Alcott AO to lead the Hunter business community in an important conversation as we work together towards solutions for greater employment and workplace inclusion for people with lived disability.”

Councillor Margaret Wood, co-chair of City of Newcastle’s Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee, said Count Us In recognises and celebrates the contributions made by people living with disabilities.

“Count Us In effectively and respectfully brings the whole community into the discussion about inclusion, this builds awareness, breaks down barries and helps create future opportunities especially when it comes to employment,” Cr Wood said.

Councillor Dr Elizabeth Adamczyk said CN is proud to deliver the fourth Count Us In festival with its largest all-inclusive event offering over an expanded three-week program.

“Count Us In is for everyone, and I’d encourage all Novocastrians to come and join in the many events and activities on offer over the festival’s largest event program offering,” Cr Dr Adamczyk.

“This year, we’ve extended the program over three weeks to allow for Count Us In festival to cross over with some dates on the New Annual 2023 program, to encourage greater community participation.”

Councillor Katrina Wark said having an inclusive community is important to all Novocastrians of the Newcastle community.

“The benefits of an inclusive community give Newcastle a wonderful opportunity to showcase a variety of local talent in Count Us in festival,” Cr Wark said.

Andrew Vodic Executive Director Community Disability Alliance Hunter (CDAH) says the organisation is proud to partner with CN as the official community partner for the festival 2023.

“Once again, CDAH members are excited to be involved in the Count Us In festival. We are looking forward to the 2023 activities, and as official partners with CN, CDAH members have a great opportunity to showcase some of our peer groups and community initiatives,” Mr Vodic said.

Follow City of Newcastle’s social media channels for further program announcements or visit City of Newcastle’s website.

Western Sydney tree tech provides 1500 homes for animals

An innovative tree carving technology pioneered by Transport for NSW has so far provided 1500 new homes for animals across the state.

The Habitat Hollows program is being used to offset habitat loss from road projects from the Snowy Mountains to Sydney and the North Coast.

The program creates sustainable homes within trees for hollow-dependent birds, bats, reptiles and mammals, replicating the cavities in trees that can take 70 to 120 years to form naturally.

The Hollowhog carving tool used in the program was designed and developed by a passionate environment officer within Transport for NSW and is being manufactured in Emu Plains.

Minister for Roads John Graham said:

“Trees that have hollows carved into them are not harmed and what’s better is that we have already passed 1500 new homes for animals in habitat that is nearby roads projects.

“New and upgraded roads do result in tree removal and some habitat loss, we don’t pretend otherwise, but this program has so far ensured new living spaces for many native Australian species that have been observed using the hollows. It is great to watch night vision of native animals using these hollows as their home.

“The carving tool is the first of its kind in the world and ensures we don’t have to wait up to seven decades or more for tree hollows to form naturally. Replicating hollows by carving into the tree without causing any damage is a game changer for supporting biodiversity.”

Penrith MP Karen McKeown said:

“Compared to traditional nest boxes that sit outside the tree, carved hollows are there forever, require less maintenance, and are used by a broad range of wildlife, including gliders, microbats, owls, possums and parrots. It’s fantastic that Hollowhog is manufacturing right in Emu Plains.

“My community has been affected by the removal of some large old trees during the upgrade of Mulgoa Road but it is heartening to know that this area is also a location where Habitat Hollows is making a difference.

Find out more about Transport for NSW’s Biodiversity Guidelineslaunch