16 News

Victoria’s fire preparedness is under threat with yesterday’s State Budget effectively cutting funding to the State’s professional fire service: with not one extra cent on previous years’ budgets despite inflation being at a record high.

United Firefighters Union secretary Peter Marshall says the Budget puts firefighters and the community at risk.

“This is not about wages and allowances for firefighters – this is about the tools and training that firefighters need to save lives and property.”

Fire Rescue Victoria needs more funding, not less, if it is to do its job. For example …

New suburbs and growing towns need protection, but Fire Rescue Victoria can’t service them without funding. Communities that need FRV fire stations include Rockbank, Mernda, and Scoresby. Victorians all pay the same Fire Services Levy but those in these newer areas are not getting the guaranteed 7.7-minute emergency response that others get.

There is no Trench Rescue capability in Gippsland, or in the west from Ballarat (where two workers died tragically in a 2018 trench collapse) to Mildura. The State’s only Trench Rescue stations are Richmond, Wangaratta and Warrnambool.

FRV’s truck fleet is overdue for upgrade, with Rescue units still in use three years after their planned expiry (following a seven-year extension) and despite more than 90 OHS issues identified, Breathing Apparatus vans up to 32 years old, and old Pumpers still in use with no new Pumpers in sight. The FRV fleet poses a danger to firefighters and those they are called to help.

A lack of Training capability means firefighters can’t undergo skills maintenance or learn new specialist skills. FRV’s only functional training college is fully committed, and Victoria needs two more training facilities in outer Melbourne, or the training backlog will worsen.

Victoria is falling behind international stanndards:

Twenty years ago, the standard was a minimum of 7 professional firefighters on the fireground to

ensure safety, and allow firefighters to enter burning structures and comply with the “2 in, 2 out”

principle. Today, the global standard is for more a dozen on the fireground.

Outer metro areas like Rosebud and Pakenham have only have one truck crewed by four firefighters

– an unsafe response to fire incidents.

The AWU is launching a new initiative today to investigate farms the union suspects have been underpaying their workers, starting with employers who have publicly claimed changes to the Horticulture Award have destroyed their business model.

The new Horticulture Award mandates a baseline rate of pay to sit beneath the piece rate system – prompting several farm owners to publicly claim their business models have been destroyed. The union considers that if an employer’s business model is destroyed by having to meet Australian minimum wage requirements, it is likely these employers may have been routinely underpaying workers by a significant margin. 

AWU organisers will now be seeking to contact workers employed by these farms to check if they are owed money. The union will also be launching a new online tool for migrant workers – available in English and Chinese at launch – which will enable them to easily check whether they are being underpaid.

“If you’re out there whinging your business model can’t survive paying the Australian minimum wage, then it’s fair to assume you might have been ripping off your workers,” said AWU National Secretary Daniel Walton. 

“The NFF, when they were opposing the safety net we now have, kept telling everyone that no worker on piece rates was getting paid below the minimum wage anyway. If that’s the case, where’s all this complaining we’ve seen in the media coming from?

“We thank the complainers for giving us a good place to start in our new drive to identify historic and current underpayment in the industry.

“We strongly encourage anyone who has picked fruit in Australia, and who thinks they may have been ripped off, to contact us or to use the new calculator we’ve set up.

“The only way we fix this nasty scourge of underpayment and abuse is to start tackling it head on. There are many good farmers out there who respect Australian pay and Australian conditions. They shouldn’t be placed at a competitive disadvantage against the shonks and abusers that have been allowed to grow endemic under the current federal government.”

Greens LGBTIQA+ spokesperson Senator Janet Rice and candidate for Macnamara Steph Hodgins-May will today announce the Greens fully-costed plan for Achieving LGBTIQA+ Equality.

With the Liberals actively harming queer people, with Scott Morrison and Katherine Deves doing all they can to manufacture a culture war, and with Labor conspicuously silent on LGBTIQA+ rights, the Greens are the only party LGBTIQA+ people and progressives can rely on this election.

Under the LGBTIQA+ Equality plan, the Greens will appoint a Minister for Equality and an LGBTIQA+ Human Rights Commissioner and introduce a Charter of Rights to bolster federal anti-discrimination law.

This is the first Greens election policy aiming to expand the Ministry, reflecting the party’s commitment to ensuring LGBTIQA+ people are represented and heard at the highest level of government and across portfolios.

Today, Senator Rice will join Steph Hodgins-May at the Equality Now! event at Melbourne’s Pride Centre to outline the Greens’ bold plan, which will also include funding a national LGBTIQA+ health and wellbeing action scheme, addressing the housing and homelessness crisis, and ending conversion practices.

The Greens announcement today in Macnamara reflects the party’s optimism for winning the lower house swing seat, and the belief that LGBTIQA+ voters, young people, and progressives no longer feel represented by Labor or the Liberals.

The Greens will commit over $200 million in each year over the forward estimates period with costs of the policy to be met through measures such as the billionaires tax and corporate super-profits tax, as well as reversing unfair Stage 3 tax cuts.

Greens LGBTIQA+ spokesperson Senator Janet Rice said:

“LGBTIQA+ rights are non-negotiable. 

“Governments are supposed to serve all people. Instead, the Morrison government has been using queer people as a political football for years, and Labor has done a complete disappearing act on LGBTIQA+ rights. 

“Since the 2019 federal election, Labor has abandoned their values and LGBTIQA+ people. Labor axed their LGBTIQA+ portfolio, and betrayed queer and other marginalised communities when they voted with the Morrison government on the Religious Discrimination Bill.

“Between the cruelty of Katherine Deves attacks on trans people, Morrison’s cynical creation of culture wars to win back ultra-conservative voters, and Labor’s deafening silence, it’s never been more important to elect strong advocates for equality and LGBTIQA+ communities in parliament.

“The Greens are the only party that voters can be assured will always fight, inside and outside parliament, for equality and human rights for everyone.

“In balance of power, the Greens will push Labor to act on the important progressive issues, and drive meaningful action on funding holistic and comprehensive health services, secure housing and safe, positive spaces in schools and other institutions for LGBTIQA+ people.”

Greens Macnamara candidate, Steph Hodgins-May said:

“In the last year alone, LGBTIQA+ communities have faced discrimination and a fear-mongering campaign led by the most powerful people in the country. From the outright bigotry of the Religious Discrimination Bill the government tried to ram through Parliament with Labor’s support, to the recent attacks on trans people behind a facade of ‘protecting women’, this is a community that needs our support.

“Between the Liberals’ dangerous candidate Colleen Harkin backing in Katherine Deves and making deliberately hurtful statements about trans people, and Labor’s equivocation on protecting queer rights, it’s more important than ever to have Greens in balance of power fighting for LGBTIQA+ communities.

“Macnamara is home to the Victorian Pride Centre, and the iconic Pride March. Voters here deserve an MP who represents its values and will champion those values in Parliament. 

“When it came to votes on the floor of Parliament, the Labor party voted for Morrison’s hateful Religious Discrimination Bill. If elected to the next parliament, my votes will always be to protect LGBTIQA+ rights in law, not override them.”

Greens plan: Achieving LGBTIQA+ Equality

It is an indictment on the Tasmanian Government that the state’s natural environmental values, agricultural productivity, and cultural heritage have been so badly impacted by feral deer mismanagement. 

In a balance of power situation after the federal election, the Greens will push for federal intervention to fix the critical threat of feral deer on lutruwita/Tasmania’s biodiversity and cultural heritage.

Greens senator for lutruwita/Tasmania, Peter Whish-Wilson said: 

“Invasive species like feral deer pose a critical threat to lutruwita/Tasmania’s biodiversity and cultural heritage. They inhibit fire recovery, trample cushion plants, destroy fences and crops, and cost Tasmanian farmers $80m a year.

“It is an indictment on the Tasmanian Government that the state’s natural environmental values, agricultural productivity, and cultural heritage have been so badly impacted by feral deer mismanagement. 

“The State Government is failing to halt the spread of this pest and we now desperately need federal intervention. 

“In 2018, the Australian Greens led a Senate committee inquiry into the impact of feral deer, pigs and goats in Australia. The Senate inquiry report identifies that Federal Government funding is now needed to eradicate deer in Tasmania’s World Heritage Area, and it is encouraging that the Federal parliament recognises a zero-tolerance approach to deer in World Heritage Areas.

“The Greens plan will push for a standalone Key Threatening Process listing for feral deer in the EPBC Act, accompanied by a Threat Abatement Plan, to enhance the focus on controlling feral deer impacts.

“We will also push for necessary changes to existing legislative and regulatory frameworks to ensure that feral deer are treated as an environmental pest. 

“The Liberals have all but given up on stopping exploding feral deer numbers at a federal level: their department’s factsheet is over ten years old, and there is little specific reference to deer compared to other animals. Meanwhile the Labor Party isn’t much better. 

“Only the Greens have a plan to tackle this issue head on and work cooperatively across all levels of government to stop the spread of this pest.”

THE GREENS WILL: 

• End the protection for feral deer 
• Initiate and fund a process for a standalone Key Threatening Process listing for feral deer in the EPBC Act 
• Implement and fund a Threat Abatement Plan following any declaration of them as a “threatening process”
• Implement a Code of Practice for the humane control of Feral Deer 
• Review the roles of the Biosecurity Committee and Environment and Invasives Committee

Labor will widen eligibility for the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, in line with the Government’s announcement today.
 
We’re not interested in playing politics when we see a good idea.
 
Unlike the Morrison Government, we can be trusted to deliver on our announcements for older Australians and pensioners.
 
The Liberals have a habit of making promises to pensioners at election time but cutting support at budget time. 
 
Over the course of their decade in power, this Government tried to lift the pension age to 70 years, and when Scott Morrison was in charge as Minister, he took 90,000 seniors off the Pensioner Concession Card.
 
When Labor was last in government, we delivered the biggest lift to the pension in history.
 
We know how important it is for healthcare to be accessible to all Australians. That’s why we will strengthen Medicare, and make it easier for Australians to see a doctor.
 
That’s in contrast to Scott Morrison, who has chosen a new Health Minister who thinks Medicare needs to be cut.
 
Only Labor can be trusted to deliver on this promise, and to protect Medicare for all Australians.

Millions of Australians will save $12.50 on medical scripts under an Albanese Labor Government, with a commitment to slash the cost of common medications. 

Labor will reduce the maximum co-payment under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from $42.50 to a maximum of $30, a reduction of 29 per cent.

Under Labor’s proposal a person taking one medication a month could save $150 a year, with those taking two medications a month saving up to $300 each year.

The changes to the PBS will take effect from the 1st of January 2023 and will save Australians more than $190 million in out-of-pocket costs.

The existing safety net provisions will continue and all scripts currently counting towards a patient’s safety net will continue to do so.

An Albanese Labor Government will ensure Australians have access to affordable medicines by listing every drug recommended by the independent experts on the PBS. 

The PBS is designed to keep medications affordable for Australians. The PBS and Medicare are the foundation stones of our health care system. 

An Albanese Labor Government will strengthen Medicare and the PBS.

Anthony Albanese said:
“Cost of living pressures are real. Everything is going up under the Morrison Government. These changes to the PBS are necessary because we need to make sure that Australians can afford the medications they need.”

Mark Butler said:
“We know out-of-pocket health care costs are too high in Australia and among the highest in the OECD countries. Cutting the cost of medications will help millions of Australians. Our changes to the PBS mean that the trip to the chemist won’t be an expensive one.”

An extra 50,000 older Australians will have access to more affordable health care and medications to help ease cost of living pressures under changes to the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.

A re-elected Morrison Government will increase the singles income test threshold from $57,761 to around $90,000 from July 1 this year, to give more senior Australians access to the concession card. The couple’s threshold will also increase from $92,416 to $144,000.

At the Commonwealth level, all card holders are eligible for cheaper medications and health care, and they may also be eligible for state, territory and local government savings such as discounted rates, electricity and gas bills, ambulance, dental, eye care, recreation and public transport.

The Prime Minister said the Coalition would invest more than $70 million over four years to expand eligibility, helping an extra 50,000 senior Australians this year.

“Our economic plan is delivering affordable, practical cost of living relief for senior Australians and this is the dividend of running a strong economy,” the Prime Minister said.

“This means more senior Australians could save hundreds of dollars, including up to $428 a year for access to a monthly script for vital medicines and a refund for medical costs if you reach the Medicare Safety Net.

“This is the first major change, outside of indexation, to the income threshold of the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card in over 20 years. The Coalition can deliver this because of our strong economic management.

“Every dollar counts, especially for older Australians who are no longer working. Senior Australians have worked hard to make Australia all that it is today, and it’s important that the country takes care of them in return.

“There is a clear choice at this election. Australians can vote for the Coalition with a plan for a strong economy and a stronger future that delivers cost of living relief, or a weak economy under Labor, which has no economic plan.”

Currently, more than 436,000 Australians aged over 67 years who are not already receiving a pension or benefit have a Seniors Health Card. The income threshold change will mean more than 486,000 would be eligible, an 11 per cent increase.

Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston said the commitment would build on the Coalition’s $525 million investment in the Budget to reduce the safety net threshold for PBS medications to help concession card holders who need multiple medicines a year.

“We are absolutely committed to supporting older Australians to have affordable access to the medicines and care they need so they can enjoy a happy and healthy retirement,” Minister Ruston said.

“The Commonwealth Seniors Health Card provides self-funded retirees with benefits including cheaper medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

“Senior Australians know the risks of Labor. When they were last in Government, Labor’s poor economic management left them unable to list vital medicines on the PBS.”

This plan builds on the Coalition’s immediate cost of living relief, and plans for a stronger economic future. The Coalition is cutting the fuel excise in half, meaning a family with two cars would save $700 over six months. We are delivering a one-off $420 tax offset to eligible low- and middle-income earners. We are also providing a $250 payment to eligible pensioners, welfare recipients, veterans and eligible concession card holders to help with cost of living. In addition, we have announced that a re-elected Morrison Government will cut the price of medications listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme by $10 per script from January 1 next year.Only the Morrison Government has a plan to responsibly relieve cost of living pressures, create more jobs, guarantee the essential services Australians rely on and keep Australians safe.

A re-elected Morrison Government will continue its world-leading reforms that protect children, women and families online including by significantly enhancing eSafety capability in schools, ensuring strong parental controls are available on devices and legislating our tough anti-trolling laws.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Coalition had stood up to big tech and social media giants to make Australia a world-leader in online safety, but there was much more to be done.

“Our kids should be able to learn, be entertained, or connect with their friends and family without facing abuse, humiliation or online predators,” the Prime Minister said.

“The online world cannot be a cowards’ cavern where the rules of the real world do not exist.

“Big tech and social media giants must be held to account. Our plan will force them to do more – they cannot create it, and wash their hands of all consequences of it.

“Our plan will also ensure parents can protect their kids online with strong parental controls, help to prevent harm by raising awareness in every school, and improve our support for those harmed online.

“We have achieved so much in the online world, but there is much more to be done, and only a Coalition Government will stand up to big tech and social media giants.”

The Coalition’s policy includes:

• A $23 million eSafety Schools package to raise awareness of the eSafety Commissioner’s support across every school in Australia, provide training programs for teachers, new and improved online safety resources for schools and enhance the Trusted eSafety Provider Program that connects schools with external online safety providers that meet high standards.
• Ensuring smartphones and tablet devices have strong parental controls installed that are easier to find and activate (particularly when first setting up a device) and harder for kids to bypass, through a binding industry code under the Online Safety Act. If industry doesn’t act within 12 months, we will regulate to force them.
• $10 million for the eSafety Commissioner to further expand coordination with other regulatory and law enforcement agencies, ensuring victims ‘tell-us-once’ and are supported into the right service, so they spend more time recovering and less time in bureaucracy.
• Legislating the Social Media (Anti-Trolling) laws to ensure social media companies are held accountable as publishers and Australians are given more power to deal with harmful defamatory comments from anonymous trolls.
• Supporting online safety in multicultural Australia by earmarking $2 million under the Online Safety Grants for projects that support women and girls in CALD communities.

Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher said the Government’s principle is that the same rules and laws that apply in the real world should also apply in the digital world.

“The online world should not be an ungoverned space,” Minister Fletcher said.

“The internet has brought incredible benefits for us all, but we will continue to remain vigilant to protect our children from some of the toxic harms they can confront when online.”

These announcements build on the Coalition’s strong track-record in online safety. In 2015 we established the world’s first eSafety Commissioner to protect children from bullying and harmful content. We have significantly expanded eSafety’s powers through the Online Safety Act, including introducing the world’s first scheme to remove harmful cyber-abuse of adults.

Other recent initiatives include:

• The announcement of new laws combatting harmful misinformation;
• Drafting of new laws to improve online privacy and ensure social media companies give primary consideration to the best interest of the child when handling their personal information;
• Establishment of a House Select Committee inquiry into social media and online safety, with its recommendations now before the Government;
• $16.6m towards Women’s Safety Online to establish a new telephone service to provide support for women and children experiencing technology-facilitated abuse;
• $10m towards boosting support for online safety NGOs, with organisations such as the Daniel Morcombe Foundation and Alannah and Madeline Foundation already supported under the program;
• $5m for eSafety to expand its national awareness campaign, bringing total funding for the current campaign to $10 million;
• A new Online Safety Youth Advisory Council; and
• Updates to Australia’s Classification System to protect children against content such as loot boxes in video games and to address content that sexualises children or depicts suicide and violence against women and children.

For more detail on our latest commitments, as well as the Morrison Government’s record of keeping Australians safe online, see: https://www.liberal.org.au/our-policies.

To find further resources and tools on online safety and support for removing online bullying, abuse or harassment, visit: www.esafety.gov.au.