Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, the Hon Manasseh Sogavare MP, to Australia for bilateral talks in Canberra today.
As proud Pacific nations, Australia and Solomon Islands have a deep and enduring history underpinned by strong people-to-people links and shared democratic values.
Following their earlier meeting at the Pacific Islands Forum in Suva, leaders discussed bilateral priorities and challenges, including the existential threat of the climate crisis, and shared aspirations for a peaceful, prosperous and resilient Pacific.
Prime Minister Sogavare welcomed Australia’s stronger action on climate change and commended the Australian Government on the recent legislation of new ambitious climate targets.
Prime Minister Sogavare and Prime Minister Albanese reaffirmed mutual security commitments, and the Pacific family first approach to regional peace and security.
Leaders discussed ongoing economic cooperation, including market access, Pacific labour mobility, scholarships and the Pacific Engagement Visa.
On development, the leaders discussed Australia’s enduring support across all areas of society as Solomon Islands’ largest development partner, including infrastructure, health, education, governance.
Prime Minister Sogavare welcomed Australia’s $16.68 million commitment to support the 2023 Pacific Games, and offer to support the next Solomon Islands’ election.
Police remain at the scene of a fatal helicopter crash in the Hunter this afternoon.
About 4.20pm (Thursday 6 October 2022), emergency services were called to Campbells Road, Maitland Vale – about 10km north of Maitland – after reports a helicopter had crashed.
Upon arrival, crews located a Bell ‘Jet Ranger’ helicopter crashed on a nearby riverbank.
One male occupant was located deceased; he is yet to be formally identified.
Officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District have established a crime scene.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) have been notified and will conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.
Australia strongly condemns North Korea’s launch of a ballistic missile over Japanese territory – the first missile test to overfly Japan since 2017.
The test was a reckless and unacceptable act that threatens the security of our neighbours and partners and undermines the stability of the Indo-Pacific.
Pyongyang continues to show blatant disregard for multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions prohibiting its dangerous ballistic missile and weapons of mass destruction programs.
We continue to be gravely concerned by North Korea’s apparent readiness to undertake a seventh nuclear weapons test.
We urge North Korea to change course, abandon its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs and resume dialogue with the United States and the Republic of Korea.
Australia will continue to work with our allies and partners, including the United States, Japan and the Republic of Korea to address the threats posed by North Korea.
On the 8th of November, the National Cabinet decided to remove the requirement for people to isolate while positive for Covid-19 from the 14th of October.
Senator Jordon Steele-John, Australian Greens Spokesperson for Health and Disability said:
“The removal of the requirement to isolate has left many people feeling vulnerable and deeply frustrated that their wellbeing is being ignored by the Australian Government.
“I was proud to be invited to participate in an online town hall last weekend, where I joined with hundreds of members of the chronically ill, disabled and immunocompromised community who, along with medical professionals and educators shared their concerns about isolation requirements lifting.
“The Australian Greens support the return of isolation periods, along with supporting people to isolate through the provision of the pandemic disaster payment while they are in isolation. As a community, we must look out for one another, and our government must continue to financially support people to stay home while positive with covid-19.
“At the forum, some people shared with me that with isolation requirements lifting, they will not leave their homes to go to the shops, or out for dinner ever again. The Liberal and Labor governments have chosen to remove all restrictions leaving people who are at risk of death, or severe poor health from covid, with no choice but to isolate themselves indefinitely.
“I have heard from medical professionals who are deeply concerned that the removal of isolation requirements will cause an overwhelming demand on an already burnt-out and exhausted healthcare workforce. I have heard from teachers who are now deeply concerned that they’ll be spending hours a day, in poorly ventilated classrooms, with covid positive students.
“The Australian Greens are in solidarity with workers and the community, and we are calling on State and Territory Governments to support our 20 point plan, on where to from hear to support our community through Covid-19.”
Background
In response to the calls of the town hall, the Australian Greens are committed to:
Release the unredacted health advice that was considered by National Cabinet in the decision to remove the requirement for isolation.
Reinstate mandatory isolation for 5 days for people with Covid infection, to be reviewed in 12 months.
Continue with pandemic disaster payments for the 5-day isolation, to be reviewed in 12 months.
End mutual obligations for people on jobseeker and others on income support.
Government agencies to have a non-contact service framework (inc. Centrelink).
Provision of free Rapid Antigen Tests on request, a continuation of free PCRs.
Amendment of relevant regulation(s) to require covid-19 testing to be undertaken if requested by a person receiving care or support.
Fund ongoing public health campaigns including prevention, treatment, the importance of mask-wearing in indoor spaces, and health risks associated with Covid-19.
Provision of N95 and KN95 Masks for free on request, including in health, aged care, disability and education settings.
Data to be released more regularly, including full disclosure of statistics in at-risk settings (e.g. congregate care).
Increased funding for telehealth, to reinstate health items that were available in 2021.
Stronger diagnosis and health support for those experiencing Long Covid.
Establish a centre of research into post-viral diseases, including Covid-19, and an estimate of the burden of disease.
Review NDIS criteria and processes to ensure disabled people with chronic illnesses, such as long covid, can get support through the NDIS.
The Australian Government set standards for auditing, retrofitting and maintaining safe indoor air quality.
HEPA Filters to be installed in government buildings, and subsidies provided to organisations and small entities to improve indoor air quality.
Ensure that isolation requirements support the continuation of First Nations cultural practice and sorry business.
Health Ministers to make a public commitment to ethical non-discriminatory treatment of disabled, sick and immunocompromised people.
Hold a national memorial and one-minute silence in all Australian parliaments to respect those who have died from COVID-19.
Hundreds of Knights fans lined King Street outside City Hall last night to celebrate the Newcastle Knights’ historic 2022 NRLW Premiership win.
Bringing home the trophy for the first time since the men’s side took out the 2001 NRL Premiership, the 24-woman squad finished grand final winners on Sunday with a 32-12 victory over the Parramatta Eels.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes hosted a civic reception at City Hall, congratulating the team and club officials on their efforts throughout the season. The team was also presented with a Key to the City in front of a huge crowd of adoring Knights supporters who lined King Street and Civic Park.
“These women are fantastic role models, showing women and girls everywhere that anything is possible, even in a sport like rugby league traditionally played by men,” Cr Nelmes said.
The Key to the City was accepted by team captain Millie Boyle, who, alongside teammate Caitlan Johnston, picked up Prop of the Year at the recent Dally M Awards, while halfback Jesse Southwell, at just 17 years of age, won the Rookie of the Year Award. Boyle and Johnston were also named alongside Tamika Upton and Yasmin Clydesdale in the Australian Jillaroos squad for the World Cup from 15 October to 22 November, although Boyle and Upton have since withdrawn due to work commitments and injury respectively.
Sharing the moment with co-captain Hannah Southwell, who ruptured her ACL in round 1 against the Brisbane Broncos, Boyle said the team had gone from strength to strength this season under the guidance of coach Ron Griffiths.
“On behalf of the entire team, I’d like to thank the Lord Mayor for opening the doors to City Hall to celebrate the team’s victory,” Boyle said.
“It means so much to the players, captains and coaches to have such strong support from Novocastrians, which has kept us buoyed throughout the season. It’s wonderful to share this celebration with the city.”
Following a light-hearted challenge suggested by the Lord Mayor of Parramatta Cr Donna Davis, where the Lord Mayor of the losing team’s city had to wear the winner’s jersey to the next Council meeting, Cr Davis will be sporting the Knights jersey this month.
Newcastle cricketers will take to the pitch for the first round of their district cricket season this weekend to celebrate the reopening of Newcastle’s No.1 Sportsground following its $8 million upgrade.
The players will benefit from the ground’s extensive refurbishment, which included the construction of seven turf cricket wickets, new sight screens and oval perimeter fencing.
The playing surface has also been completely rebuilt, with a new sub-soil irrigation and drainage system providing a high quality, consistent playing surface, while the increased field size achieves the minimum standard for high level AFL and cricket fixtures.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said No.1 Sportsground’s redevelopment will allow Newcastle to attract first class cricket and pre-season AFL fixtures while also benefitting those locals who utilise it regularly for grassroots and regional level sport.
“No. 1 Sportsground was designed and constructed in 1921 and was officially opened 100 years ago last month,” Cr Nelmes said.
“In that time the venue has hosted a variety of sporting and non-sporting events, including the 1931 Mayor’s Relief Fund and Newcastle Ambulance Round, in which cricket legend Don Bradman captained a female cricket team at No.1 Sportsground.
“The redevelopment delivers significantly upgraded facilities for regular users of the ground while also providing our city with a potential economic boost through the attraction of major sporting events.
“Novocastrians love their sport and the completed work at No.1 Sportsground will put us in the running to host pre-season AFL fixtures and regional Big Bash League matches right here in Newcastle.
“We’re also continuing to investigate government funding opportunities to complete the second stage of the project, which will increase the footprint of the existing grandstand with a two-storey addition at the rear of the building to provide upgraded amenities for players, officials and spectators.”
Other features of the stage one works that have been completed include a lighting upgrade to enable evening fixtures, new player dug out benches, and additional bleacher seating to almost double the seated capacity from 400 to 790.
Newcastle District Cricket Association Secretary Aaron Gray said he is excited to see cricket once again being played at the premier facility.
“Our season will commence at No.1 Sportsground with a first grade fixture on Saturday and our new SG Moore Shield under-16 boys’ Twenty20 competition on Sunday,” Mr Gray said.
“It’s a very good position for us to have the best ground back in play for this season, especially now we have swelled to 208 teams across all competitions, while the enhancement of lighting means we can play more day/night events and host female and male cricket at a quality venue.”
No. 1 Sportsground is located on the corner of Parry and Union Streets in the iconic National Park, one of Newcastle’s largest and oldest sportsgrounds and open space reserves. It boasts facilities for a range of sports including netball, AFL, cricket, rugby, football, athletics, and croquet, and caters for casual sport and play through basketball courts and parklands.
Other work recently completed within National Park includes the construction of four additional basketball courts on the former tennis court site near the corner of National Park and Parry Streets, along with playing field upgrades at No. 5 and No. 6 Sportsgrounds, which have improved the playing surface of both grounds and allowed for effective management of the flood storage capacity of National Park.
Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) clubs are set to benefit from more than $5 million to help the upgrade, restoration and construction of surf life saving facilities, thanks to the NSW Government’s Surf Club Facility Program.
Minister for Sport Alister Henskens said rain, hail or shine, our volunteer surf lifesavers never waver in their commitment to protecting the community and ensuring safety at our beaches.
“Whether you’re going to the beach to have a swim, surf or participate in nippers, our surf clubs are often the hub of their communities and our lifesavers are the unsung heroes, protecting swimmers in and out of the water,” Mr Henskens said.
“This funding will ensure that from Tathra to Tweed Heads, surf clubs along the NSW coast are the best they can be while promoting a healthy and active lifestyle for their communities.”
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke said SLSNSW clubs can each apply for up to $650,000 through the NSW Government program.
SLSNSW President George Shales said ensuring volunteers have safe, accessible and secure facilities is a priority.
“We have 129 clubs across the State, with volunteer surf lifesavers performing more than 3,000 rescues, 114,000 preventative actions and 7,000 first aid treatments last year, and this funding will allow surf club facilities to be upgraded for our 76,000 members,” Mr Shales said.
A tiny seed, no bigger than a grain of rice, is having a big impact on breast cancer care for patients in Murrumbidgee.
Murrumbidgee Local Health District is the first District in NSW to introduce Magseed – a tiny, stainless steel “seed” that is implanted in a cancerous breast tumour to mark its location for surgery.
Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor said the successful implementation of this new technology is a testament to the quality of medical care available in rural and regional NSW.
“We have some of the finest surgeons and medical professionals in Australia choosing to work in regional NSW. I am so proud that the first Local Health District in NSW to provide this exciting, new and life-saving technology is a regional one,” Mrs Taylor said.
Griffith surgeon Dr Kate FitzGerald said she was keen to see the Magseeds available for public patients in NSW, after first using the technology and seeing the difference it made in Scotland.
“The thin wires, which usually had to be placed the day of surgery, needed to be placed by a radiologist and then taped to the patient’s breast until they were in the operating room,” Dr FitzGerald said.
“With the seed I have more flexibility around where I make the incision. As well as getting the best result as far as removing the cancer, I can also make it look as nice as possible.”
Mrs Taylor thanked the Griffith Breast Cancer Support Group for a substantial donation towards the purchase of the Magseed technology and said the group’s support has been instrumental in making the technology available locally.
President of the Griffith Breast Cancer Support Group, Kaye Mossman said the group is thrilled to see its fundraising efforts contribute to this new technology.
“Through the generosity of the Griffith community we have raised enough money to not only support our local patients with their individual costs, but also make a very substantial donation to Murrumbidgee Local Health District to help fund this exciting new technology,” Mrs Mossman said.
A proposal to raise the Warragamba Dam wall by 14 metres has been declared Critical State Significant Infrastructure (CSSI), as it is deemed essential to NSW for economic and social reasons.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the proposal to raise the Dam wall would save lives, save properties and would help future-proof Western Sydney from flood risks.
“First and foremost my number one priority as Premier is protecting NSW communities and we know from the independent flood inquiry that the best way to protect communities downstream is to raise the wall,” Mr Perrottet said.
“This declaration reinforces that raising the dam wall is the most effective long-term flood mitigation strategy to help protect residents across the Hawkesbury-Nepean.
“This region has been hit hard by floods and we are committed to progressing this important project to make sure residents have genuine flood protection into the future.”
Minister for Lands and Water Kevin Anderson said the importance of the Dam was highlighted in the recently released Greater Sydney Water Strategy that showed the significant risks and costs of alternative proposals such as Labor’s plan to lower the supply level.
“In a flood similar to the worst on record in the valley, the number of homes impacted would drop threefold from 15,500 to 5,000, while 14,000 people would need to be evacuated rather than 90,000. The cost of damages would also be reduced by up to $8 billion,” Mr Anderson said.
“Labor’s plan to lower Warragamba’s water supply level by 12 metres would have severe consequences such as putting Sydney into severe water restrictions and increasing people’s water bills.”
Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes Anthony Roberts said the CSSI declaration would not impact the rigorous assessment and stakeholder scrutiny the proposal would need to go through.
“The proposal has already been subject to an 82-day public exhibition, which gave stakeholders a chance to provide their feedback,” Mr Roberts said.
“The recent flood inquiry confirmed that raising the Warragamba Dam wall is the most effective flood mitigation option available to us.
“This proposal doesn’t hurt us during drought, but will protect us during floods, balancing the natural extremes that are becoming more frequent.”
WaterNSW will respond to the feedback and issues raised in submissions and its Preferred Infrastructure Report, before a comprehensive assessment is undertaken in accordance with the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.
New dedicated walking tracks and pedestrian and cycling links connecting towns in the Blue Mountains are among the latest projects funded through the Local Council projects announced as part of the $5 billion WestInvest Fund.
Premier Dominic Perrottet, Treasurer Matt Kean and Minister for Local Government Wendy Tuckerman announced more than $9 million in funding to the Blue Mountains City Council for three projects, which will deliver transformational infrastructure to shape the future of Western Sydney.
The $2 billion WestInvest Community Project Grants includes $400 million for 15 Local Government Areas in West and South West Sydney, with funding shares based on population size.
Projects funded in the Blue Mountains include:
$3.5 million for the Lomatia Park Clubhouse and Amenities Upgrade project to replace an ageing building with a new fit for purpose facility to improve access to sport and recreation.
$3.2 million for the Active Transport Links – The Greater Blue Mountains Trail to deliver 4.5km of walking and cycling tracks to connect key towns in the Blue Mountains.
$2.4 million towards the spectacular 20km multi-day Grand Cliff Top Walk project, delivering improved and accessible walking tracks, visitor parking, amenities and open space infrastructure at Gordon Falls Reserves.
The Blue Mountains City Council has provided a total of $179,752 in funding towards the Grand Cliff Top Walk project and the Lomatia Park Clubhouse project.
Mr Perrottet said these projects will make it easier for the community and visitors to explore the beautiful natural assets in the Blue Mountains and build a brighter future for people of Western Sydney.
“The Active Transport Links – The Greater Blue Mountains Trail project will deliver more than 4.5km of safe walking and cycling tracks creating better connections between key destinations in Glenbrook, Bullaburra, Hazelbrook, Woodford and between Wentworth Falls and Leura for the first time,” Mr Perrottet said.
“This record investment in Western Sydney has been made possible by of our successful WestConnex asset recycling strategy, with communities across the region now benefitting from new major investments that will deliver better local facilities, open spaces and convenient services all closer to home for families, businesses and residents.”
Mr Kean said the WestInvest funding for the Grand Cliff Top walk project will build on the work being undertaken by the NSW Government and the Blue Mountains City Council to deliver key sections of the new 20km, two day walk.
“The Grand Cliff Top Walk, which is well underway thanks to joint funding from NSW National Parks and Wildlife along with Blue Mountains City Council, is the first substantial new walking track in the Blue Mountains in more than 70 years,” Mr Kean said.
Minister Tuckerman said the projects funded in the Blue Mountains align with the feedback from the WestInvest Have Your Say survey.
“The projects put forward by Blue Mountains City Council will conserve and enhance the environmental, economic, social and physical wellbeing of the community and is consistent with the feedback from the WestInvest Have Your Say survey.”
The Blue Mountains City Council was allocated 23 million through the Local Government Allocation. Additional projects submitted by council for the combined value of $13.5 million are being assessed and will be funded if they meet all requirements under the WestInvest Guidelines. Announcements on other LGAs will be made soon.
The $5 billion WestInvest program was made possible by the Government’s successful WestConnex asset recycling strategy.
A further $1.6 billion from the $2 billion Community Project Grants is available to local community groups. Successful projects will be announced from December.
A total of $3 billion is also set aside to deliver transformational projects led by NSW Government agencies. These projects are expected to be announced later this year.
