STRENGTHENING AUSTRALIA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PHILIPPINES

Today Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines in the margins of the 29th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. 

Prime Minister Albanese and President Marcos agreed to strengthen the already warm and deep ties between the two countries by formally elevating the relationship to a Strategic Partnership. The Prime Minister has asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs to take forward negotiations with the Philippines on this important step forward.

The elevation will build upon the Comprehensive Partnership signed in 2015, and 76 years of formal diplomatic relations between Australia and the Philippines.  

Through the Strategic Partnership, Australia and the Philippines will seek to expand existing defence and maritime cooperation, counter-terrorism and law enforcement links, and facilitate deeper cooperation in a range of areas including addressing climate change.

Prime Minister Albanese said:

“In the Filipino spirit of bayanihan and the Australian tradition of mateship, we have stood by each other in good times and bad.

“Elevating our relationship to a Strategic Partnership will reinforce our focus on strengthening ties between our two countries, and working together to build a region that is resilient and prosperous for all. 

“I look forward to continuing the work between our two nations.”

APEC ECONOMIC LEADERS’ MEETING

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined counterparts from across the Asia-Pacific in Bangkok, Thailand for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting from 17-19 November. 

During the Economic Leaders’ Meeting, the Prime Minister joined others to condemn Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and the resulting economic impacts on our region. 

The Prime Minister welcomed the meeting’s endorsement of the Bangkok Goals on the Bio-Circular Green Economy, which will drive action to develop quality infrastructure, financing and investment to support the region’s clean energy transition. 

He emphasised the importance of a rules-based, free and open trade and investment environment that will support economic recovery and the strengthening of supply chains. He welcomed the meeting’s commitment to inclusive growth, including through the economic empowerment of women and First Nations people.

With other Economic Leaders, the Prime Minister highlighted the importance of digital confidence in realising the full benefits of the digital economy and committed to work together across the region to strengthen business and consumer trust in digital transactions.

Prime Minister Albanese had an audience with Their Majesties the King and Queen of Thailand, and met with Prime Minister Prayut of Thailand and President Marcos of the Philippines. 

Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese said:

“I congratulate Prime Minister Prayut for Thailand’s success in delivering on it ambitious priorities as Chair during a challenging year.”

“APEC’s member economies comprise around three quarters of Australia’s trade. The forum provides us with a seat at the table to shape our region’s economic future.”  

“A focus of my participation at the Summit was reiterating Australia’s commitment to sustainable growth, trade and investment – and sharing our perspectives on trade liberalisation.”

“I look forward to working closely with President Biden as the US assumes its position as APEC Chair for 2023.”

Professor Sean Turnell Returns Home

I am pleased to confirm that Professor Sean Turnell has arrived safely home to Australia, and has been reunited with his wife and family, after more than 21 months of unjust detention in Myanmar.

His return will be an enormous relief to his family, friends and many supporters in Australia and across the region.

The Australian Government has worked tirelessly for Professor Turnell’s release, and we will continue to provide whatever consular support he and his family require.

Australia thanks all those who have advocated for his release, including regional partners, and especially members of ASEAN.

We are grateful for the efforts of Cambodia and Brunei Darussalam, the ASEAN Chairs over the term of his detention, and the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar.

We appreciate the arrangements that were made by Myanmar authorities for Professor Turnell’s release and welcome the news of the release of other prisoners alongside Professor Turnell, including foreign nationals from the UK, US and Japan.

The Australian Government remains deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation in Myanmar, and we will continue to advocate for the release of the remaining political prisoners.

As Professor Turnell returns to his life in Australia and reunites with this family, we ask that the media respect his family’s wishes for privacy.

Delivery of verdicts in MH17 trials in the Netherlands

Australia has been steadfast in our enduring commitment to seeking truth, justice, and accountability for the victims of the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.

Yesterday, the District Court of The Hague found Igor Girkin, Sergey Dubinskiy and Leonid Kharchenko, guilty of contributing to the downing of Flight MH17 and the murder of all 298 individuals on board. A sentence of life imprisonment was imposed on the three men, who have been tried in absentia. A fourth man has been acquitted.

While nothing can take away their grief, we hope the outcome of the trials brings some comfort to the bereaved loved ones of the victims, 38 of whom called Australia home.

The delivery of these verdicts is an important milestone in our collective efforts to hold those who are responsible to account.

We commend the work and professionalism of the Joint Investigation Team officials, including the Australian Federal Police, that have conducted rigorous investigations to support bringing those responsible to justice.

The Australian Government committed financial support to ensure that Australian next of kin could meaningfully engage in the trial process, both virtually and in person.

Our thoughts remain with those who lost their lives, their families and loved ones.

NO PUBLIC MONEY FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS WITHOUT FULL TRANSPARENCY

The Greens spokesperson for schools, Senator Penny Allman-Payne, has written to Education Minister Jason Clare calling on the government to make public funding to private schools conditional on full transparency of how those funds are used.

The call comes after a report that headmasters in some Sydney private school are being paid five times more than their counterparts in government schools, and revelations earlier this year that the King’s School – which received $17.2 million in federal funding in 2020 – had planned to pay for a plunge pool for the headmaster’s residence and business-class flights for staff to attend a sporting event in England.

Greens spokesperson on schools, Senator Penny Allman-Payne said:

“The Department of Education conceded during budget estimates last week that they have no ‘clear line of sight’ to how private schools are using the money

“This is unacceptable. Not only is the federal government over-funding the non-government school sector by giving private schools more than the Schooling Resource Standard says they need, it has absolutely no idea how or where the money is being spent.

“The government has committed to $70 billion in private school funding over the forward estimates. It’s not unreasonable for Australians to want to know precisely how that $70 billion is being used, particularly during a cost of living crisis when most people are having to watch every dollar.

“In the next National Schools Reform Agreement the government should ensure that every non-government school is required to give a full, itemised accounting of how they spend government funding as a condition of receiving that funding.

“I also call on the government to ensure that every public school is funded to 100% of the Schooling Resource Standard from the commencement of the next Agreement. The persistent underfunding of our public schools is a national shame that punishes students and families and widens inequality.”

Letter to Minister Clare

WA GOVERNMENT IGNORING SOLUTIONS TO YOUTH DETENTION

No child should be in detention. 

In WA First Nations youth are 21 times more likely to be incarcerated, making up 60% of the youth in detention. Most of the youth in detention under 14 are First Nations. 

However WA Premier, Mark McGowan, has categorically ruled out raising the age of legal responsibility to at least 14, defying the experts and his own party.

Greens spokesperson for resources, Yamatji-Noongar Woman Senator Dorinda Cox said:

“As a former police officer and researcher in this space, I know there are better solutions than locking children up and treating them like animals.

“Recommendations have previously been presented to the government so why are they now calling for a meeting with ‘stakeholders’? 

“When will the WA government start listening to the advice already presented to them from experts?

“We already have guidance on the solutions to the crisis, we should be looking at fast tracking the use of the $81.5 million dedicated to restorative justice by the federal Labor government.”

Ambitious play for the lucrative cultural tourism market

City of Newcastle has outlined its plan to become a nationally significant destination for cultural tourism as part of a masterplan designed to preserve Newcastle’s cultural institutions and enhance the surrounding precinct.

Councillors will vote next week to adopt the new Cultural Precinct Masterplan, which provides a roadmap to amplify the existing and emerging opportunities in the city’s arts and entertainment hub.

The precinct covers an area loosely bounded by Honeysuckle, Civic, Laman Street, the former Tower Cinemas, and the edge of the Hunter Street Mall.

It includes institutions and public spaces such as the Civic Theatre, City Hall, Newcastle Art Gallery, Newcastle City Library, Civic Park, Victoria Theatre, Conservatorium of Music, the University of Newcastle’s inner city facilities and the Boat Harbour site on Wharf Road.

Newcastle’s two five-star hotels also fall within this precinct, with the Kingsley and the QT playing an important role in improving the visitor experience in and around neighbouring cultural institutions.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle was committed to protecting and promoting the city’s cultural heritage.

“In October 2020, the elected Council resolved to explore the creation of a formal ‘Civic Cultural Precinct’ to ensure appropriate long-term planning for the protection of the city’s cultural institutions as well as ways of enhancing and better activating the precinct,” Cr Nelmes said.

“Newcastle is already known as an innovative and creative community with a vibrant cultural history and an amazing depth of talent within its performing and visual arts sector.

“As part of this planning process, we have laid out our vision to grow our visitor economy by creating a nationally significant platform for arts, culture, festivals, and expression.

“This will ultimately deliver a diversity of experiences within in a walkable footprint that will preserve the heritage of the precinct while delivering beneficial cultural, economic and tourism outcomes.”

The Cultural Precinct Plan was developed following consultation with 23 cultural institutions, community groups and local businesses and will require ongoing collaboration between stakeholders to be delivered.

It identifies the importance of key cultural projects such as the expansion of Newcastle Art Gallery and the refurbishment of the Victoria Theatre, which, along with increased collaboration across institutions, will help unlock more than $16 million in direct and indirect benefits to the local economy each year, including almost 35,000 additional visitor nights.

These projects would be augmented by “five big moves” identified to reshape the precinct, including the creation of an “academic corridor” to help integrate the Cultural Precinct with the University of Newcastle’s City Campus, and increased activation around Wheeler Place, Museum Park and Boat Harbour.

$9.9 million to prepare communities for future flooding

Councils across NSW are being supported with $9.9 million in NSW Government grants to reduce the impacts of flooding by mitigating flood risks in their communities.
 
Minister for Environment James Griffin said the 2022-23 Floodplain Management Program grants will help ensure communities are better prepared for and protected from potential flooding.
 
“Across the state, we’re funding 65 Council projects that have a focus on understanding risks and taking action to reduce the impact of floods on local communities,” Mr Griffin said.
 
“The funding being delivered to local councils will help them understand their local flood risks and implement actions to reduce flood impacts, such as building levees, flood gates and establishing warning systems.
 
“The Floodplain Management Program has been running since the 1980s, and now with a third La Nina season upon us, these grants will help councils future-proof their flood plans, and ensure communities are more prepared for flood risks.” 
 
In the past decade, the NSW Government has provided approximately $165 million through the Department of Planning and Environment’s Floodplain Management Program to fund more than 770 local council projects.
 
Minister for Local Government Wendy Tuckerman said the grants are excellent news for local councils and provide an opportunity to improve flood prevention. 
 
“The NSW Government is aware of the challenges local councils face in understanding and managing flood risk, especially as La Nina continues to batter our communities,” Ms Tuckerman said.
 
“We’re helping councils take positive steps to understand and plan for future flooding events, so we can minimise damage and loss to our towns and cities.”
 
Examples of new projects funded as part of the 2022-23 Floodplain Management Program include:

  • $100,000 for Shoalhaven City Council to update the 2013 St Georges Basin Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan
  • $120,000 for Bega Valley Shire Council to conduct the Wolumla flood study and management plan to better manage flood risks and inform future land-use
  • $101,332 for the Georges River Council to develop a flood study
  • $284,000 for the Tweed Shire Council to construct the Dorothy-William Streets levee area pump station and reduce the effects of flooding on private property and public infrastructure
  • $666,667 for the Griffith City Council to complete construction of the first stage of the Hanwood stormwater pump and levee
  • $1.8 million for Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council to construct an overflow channel on Turallo Creek, which will direct flood waters away from properties.

 
For more information and a full list of grants, visit: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/water/floodplains/floodplain-management-grants/grants-awarded

NSW Government ready to roll out rural doctor expansion

The NSW Government has put the Commonwealth on notice over the rural GP crisis, declaring the need to urgently expand a program to attract and retain doctors in the bush.
 
Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor said while the Federal Government’s commitment to the Single Employer Model is welcome, the decision to wait until next year before commencing the trial is detrimental to regional NSW communities that need action now. 
 
The Single Employer Model sees Local Health Districts take on junior doctors as the single employer, in partnership with Primary Health Networks and individual GP practices.
 
This adds a significant incentive for junior doctors to work and stay in the bush, with benefits including a higher salary early in their career and stable employment.
 
“The NSW Government has identified five areas of regional NSW to expand the Single Employer Model that is currently being piloted in Murrumbidgee Local Health District – and we are ready to go now,” Mrs Taylor said.
 
“The model demonstrates that by doing things differently we can deliver outcomes that work for our communities.”
 
Minister Taylor has written to the Federal Government stating that urgent action is required to address the lack of primary care providers and the concerning future pipeline of health care professionals in regional NSW.
 
NSW is ready to expand this model, however, requires the Commonwealth to grant exemptions under section 19(2) of the Health Insurance Act 1973.
 
Mrs Taylor said the Commonwealth must immediately expedite the process and allow the NSW Government to get on with rolling out the model across rural and regional NSW.
 
“The Federal Health Minister has said he will look at this next year, but next year is too late. The GP crisis in the bush is real and our communities are calling for action now. This should have been the Albanese Government’s first priority six months ago.”
 
Mrs Taylor said NSW Health will commence expressions of interest with GP practices in five Local Health Districts, including Western NSW, Hunter New England, Far West and Northern NSW and a further expansion of the program in Murrumbidgee. 
 
Remaining regional Local Health Districts are actively considering adopting the model.
 
“The success of the Murrumbidgee model proves that by working together, the benefits can be life-saving. It’s time the Commonwealth stepped up rather than just talking it up,” Mrs Taylor said.

Sydney in Summer’s OPEN FOR LUNCH set to make the city sizzle

Sydney is set to burst into life this summer with five individual and unique long lunches celebrating the diversity of the Sydney hospitality scene.
 
Thanks to the NSW Government and part of the Sydney in Summer event series, OPEN FOR LUNCH will feature Sydney’s best chefs and restaurants including Luke Mangan, Matt Moran, Anna Polyviou and more.
 
Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin said OPEN FOR LUNCH will bring thousands of locals and visitors together to kick-off Sydney in Summer and inject a significant boost to NSW’s world-class hospitality industry.
 
“OPEN FOR LUNCH will be an unforgettable dining experience and a celebration of food, produce and award-winning chefs across four dining precincts along George Street and a once-off takeover of CommBank Stadium at Parramatta on Friday, 2 December,” Mr Franklin said.
 
“Top culinary delights will be on the menu featuring NSW produce and legendary musical performances across all locations, making Sydney the place to be this summer.
 
“This world-class event features never before seen collaborations between Sydney’s hospitality royalty including mimi’s and Tottis; and YCK venues with NOLA Smokehouse, Rockpool Bar & Grill and dessert queen, Anna Polyviou.
 
“These are exciting times in NSW as Sydney in Summer builds on an incredible major events line-up including Opera on Cockatoo Island, Frida Kahlo: The Life of an Icon, the Art Gallery of NSW Opening Festival, Sydney WorldPride, blockbuster musicals, festivals, major sporting events such as SailGP, the United Cup, the HSBC Sydney 7’s and racing carnivals.”
 
Each precinct will have different attractions from food style and beverage pairings, to the entertainment and ambiance, which includes roving performers, DJs, Ministry of Sound Orchestra, Australian Motown legends, International musical guests, amusement rides, hay bales and country music.
 
Tickets are now on sale to all of the long lunch options, which are priced at $65 plus a booking fee. Tickets for each dining experience are limited. To book tickets visit www.openforlunch.com.au.
 
OPEN FOR LUNCH is the first of the Sydney in Summer event series, presented by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW.
 
To find out more and plan your summer in Sydney visit www.sydney.com/events.