People living with disability will have the world of music opened to them at this year’s Melbourne Design Week, with performances involving hi-tech instruments that use sensory technology to convert movement into sound and visuals.
AirSticks 2.0 are the latest in a string of gestural musical instruments developed at Monash University’s SensiLab that allow musicians and dancers to trigger and manipulate sounds and visuals through body movement.
They will be used in new works by five pioneering physical artists over three concerts, in a partnership between SensiLab researchers – part of the Faculty of Information Technology – Melbourne Design Week and the Jolted inclusive performance space.
AirSticks 2.0 look like drumsticks and are able to convert movement into sound and visuals through in-built sensory technology. The drumsticks can be handled easily and make the art of music creation accessible to a diverse range of performers, including those living with disability.
SensiLab researcher and co-designer of Airsticks 2.0, musician Dr Alon Ilsar, said many people with disability are not given the opportunity to find their musical creative outlets, particularly as the vast majority of instruments are designed by people without disability, for people without disability.
“AirSticks 2.0 can be customised for the individual to promote creative musical improvisation and emotive responses for people with cognitive and physical limitations. The instrument promotes social engagement, connection, and a sense of self and identity through creativity,” Dr Ilsar said.
During Melbourne Design Week 2022, performances using Airsticks 2.0 will take place over three nights from 25-27 March.
The first performance will be by dancer and poet Dr Melinda Smith, premiering her new work, ‘The Rhythm of my Body Shapes.’
Dr Smith promotes the health and wellbeing outcomes of dance for people with disability, and also mentors young people who use alternative means of communication around the world.
The performance is inspired by Dr Smith’s own text, reflecting on getting to know the possibilities of the AirSticks technology. It is a collaboration with University of Melbourne music researcher Dr Anthea Skinner, disability advocate Libby Price and Dr Ilsar, funded by the Australia Council for the Arts’ Arts and Disability Mentorship Initiative.
“I’ve had many years’ experience working in disability, art and education but I could not have imagined that I would have such a unique opportunity to connect with sound through my dance movements and integrate it with my words in this way,” Dr Smith said.
‘‘I use dance and movement to communicate ideas and experiences that cannot be conveyed by words alone, so to combine movement with sound and text, and have the technology from SensiLab to do this with so much expression and transparency, is a match made in heaven.”
Other performers at the event will include emerging sound artist Alessio Dilettoso, composer and PhD candidate Ciaran Frame, Safe in Sound Founder Robbie Avenaim, dancerAmanda Betlehem, Dr Ilsar, artist Sam Trolland, and Croatian musician and new media artist Lucija Ivsic.
Airsticks 2.0 was co-designed by Dr Ilsar along with his PhD candidates Ciaran Frame and Sam Trolland.
SensiLab researcher Dr Alon Ilsar and performer Dr Melinda Smith are available for interviews.
For World Oral Health Day this Sunday (March 20), the Australian Dental Association (ADA) has unmasked some home truths about teeth whitening with new consumer findings.
Of a survey sample of 25,000 Australian adults conducted for the ADA, the peak dental body found that 22% of us have whitened our teeth – an 8% increase since it first started recording this data in 2017.
More than twice as many women than men have teeth whitened, and it’s most popular in the 24-34 year-old age group.
But as of 2021, whitening treatments done by dentists is a downward trend with unfortunately only 1 in 3 adults whitening their teeth under the supervision of a dental professional – with 19% of respondents using take-home kits and 14% opting for in-clinic whitening.
The other two thirds of Australians teeth whitened by other means, with all three of these methods on the rise:
· * 39% bought a teeth whitening kit online,
· * 16% bought an over-the-counter product like strips or gel from a pharmacy or supermarket, and
· * 9% used whitening services provided by someone other than a dental professional.
“The theme for WOHD is ‘Be Proud of Your Mouth’, and people seem to be trying to do this by undertaking cosmetic procedures to lighten their teeth,” said Dr Mark Levi, ADA spokesperson and Sydney dentist who focusses on whitening procedures.
“But as people do so, the ADA has unmasked some home truths about teeth whitening based on tracking of consumer oral health habits.
“The problem with home treatments that are not supervised by a dental professional or being treated by someone other than a dental professional is that you’re exposing yourself to a range of injuries including soft tissue burns from peroxide, extreme pain if the bleach gets into a crack or hole, blotchiness and damaged enamel – and even swallowing the bleach.
“A high percentage of my patients who’ve tried to whiten their teeth themselves report pain – but when done correctly, there shouldn’t be any pain. That’s why seeing a dentist for teeth whitening is best.”
He added: “People need to get their oral health assessed first to ensure there are no cracks in teeth, untreated dental decay, leaking fillings or other unresolved dental issues that could cause pain, discomfort, damaged nerve pulp – or even more serious problems down the track.”
One problem with buying off-the-shelf products is that you may not know how effective that product will be. As Emeritus Professor Laurie Walsh from UQ’s School of Dentistry reports, “the blue light sold with peroxide whitening gels speeds up the tooth whitening process by warming the gel or even better, by using special light-based chemistry.
“But there are some peroxide products on the market where the gel does not include chemicals that these lights will work on, so they’re essentially being sold as a gimmick.”
Another issue is that in some products the bleach trays are not customised to mouth shape so with a one-size-fits-all tray, peroxide from the bleach can escape and burn the mouth’s soft tissue, or worse, be ingested.
“Sometimes too high a concentration of peroxide in the bleach is used and many of the online and off-the-shelf products are unregulated so it’s a bit of a wild west and you take a chance with them as you just don’t know how well they will work,” said Dr Levi.
A further concern is that online and over-the-counter products sometimes make claims of using ‘all natural’ ingredients, which do not stand up to scrutiny – some products contain sodium chlorite, an industrial chemical also used in swimming pool cleaning.
Dr Levi added: “Nor do many people know that whitening doesn’t alter the shade of existing fillings, veneers, crowns or artificial teeth such as dentures which are already in the mouth. Yet there are no clear warnings of this lack of effect visible on sale websites or on over-the-counter products.
“The safest option recommended by the ADA is to see a dentist to assess your mouth first, to see if it is suitable for whitening and for any problems to be fixed. Then you can decide with your dentist on a course of action to ensure you get the best outcome.”
The ADA has long held serious concerns about this unregulated space and has written to the ACCC on several occasions about the availability of teeth whitening products that contain illegally high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide which have no safety warnings, as well as concern over false advertising claims about the nature of product ingredients, the extent of the whitening effect consumers can expect, and the claimed expertise of non-dental practitioner teeth whitening service providers.
As the peak dental body, the ADA has asked that the ACCC and its regulators act to better protect Australian consumers by enforcing compliance with relevant Australian laws and educating consumers about the health risks associated with undergoing teeth whitening procedures without first seeking the advice of a dental professional.
Background
*World Oral Health Day is an annual initiative of the FDI (Federation Dentale Internationale).The theme for 2022 is ‘Be proud of your mouth’. The campaign aims to help reduce the burden of oral diseases which affects individuals, health systems and economies everywhere by empowering people with knowledge and the tools to pursue good oral health practices.
*The ADA conducts an annual survey of consumer’s oral habits every year. The results published here come from a survey of 25,000 Australians from every state and territory between November and December 2021
The Morrison Government will invest up to $4.3 billion to deliver Western Australia’s first large-vessel dry berth, creating a world-class precinct at the Henderson shipyard and supporting thousands of local jobs.
The Henderson dry-dock will enable the construction and sustainment of large naval vessels in Australia and support an even stronger commercial shipbuilding and sustainment market in Western Australia.
Government-owned Australian Naval Infrastructure will oversee the design and build of this nation building infrastructure, with work to start in 2023 and initial operations to commence in 2028.
The Commonwealth will work closely with the Western Australian Government and industry to develop a comprehensive master plan for the defence precinct at Henderson to ensure this investment fully supports our national naval shipbuilding enterprise effectively.
This project is likely to create at least 500 direct construction jobs at its peak and thousands more through local sub-contracts and the national supply chain. Once completed, this infrastructure will help support at least 2,000 direct shipbuilding jobs at Henderson, particularly as continuous naval shipbuilding in Western Australia comes to fruition as part of the national naval shipbuilding enterprise.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that Western Australia was a central pillar to the Government’s commitment to growing sovereign capabilities and turbocharging our national naval shipbuilding.
“This is a $4.3 billion vote of confidence in Western Australia’s shipbuilding capabilities, jobs, training and the critical role that Western Australia plays in defending Australian and powering our national economy,” the Prime Minister said.
“This multi-billion dollar infrastructure investment will transform the Henderson maritime precinct into a world-class shipbuilding powerhouse, and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to naval capability in the West.
“This investment in WA’s future will ensure we can build, as well as sustain larger vessels in Australia, turbocharging our national naval shipbuilding endeavour and creating thousands of job opportunities for West Australians.
“Henderson, HMAS Stirling and Fleet Base West all form a key part of our maritime capability and our nation’s security, particularly given the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean, and will continue to do so for decades to come.”
Minister for Defence Peter Dutton said the project builds on the Government’s previous $1.5 billion commitment to infrastructure improvements at HMAS Stirling and the Henderson maritime precinct.
“The Morrison Government is committed to delivering the sovereign shipbuilding outcomes outlined in the 2020 Force Structure Plan and the 2017 National Naval Shipbuilding Plan, and Western Australia is central to them,” Minister Dutton said.
“This decision will ensure that we can meet the Navy’s future requirements as we undertake the enormous investments in the maritime capabilities we need to keep our nation safe in the decades ahead.”
Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the investment would generate economic and jobs growth in Western Australia, building sovereign defence industry in the region, with Australian industry requirements being built in from the beginning.
“This is a significant infrastructure project that Australian industry is already supporting through concept work and there will be significant future job opportunities for Australian industry throughout design and construction, and once it’s up and running,” Minister Price said.
“The project will build the capacity and capability of sovereign defence industry in the region, particularly in the advanced manufacturing sector, with Australian Industry Capability requirements in contracting arrangements.
“The infrastructure will also support Defence’s $90 million Regional Maintenance Centre due to be operational in Henderson in the second half of 2022 to enable a level of maintenance to be conducted on all surface fleet units and creating 40 jobs.”
Minister for Finance Simon Birmingham said that utilising Australian Naval Infrastructure for the design and build of this advanced facility would be crucial to maintaining sovereignty in our shipbuilding and sustainment infrastructure.
“Using ANI as our partner in the Henderson dry dock ensures we capture their experience from the Osborne Shipyard and maintain maximum sovereignty and flexibility in design, construction and management of this future facility in the decades to come,” Minister Birmingham said.
South-western Sydney communities can look forward to accessing more first class health services close to home, with construction beginning on a six-storey hospital tower as part of the $790 million Liverpool Health and Academic Precinct.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the new hospital would deliver enhanced health facilities and will include an integrated cancer centre, a larger emergency department, intensive care unit and more theatres.
“The $790 million health and academic precinct the NSW Government is building here at Liverpool is one of the largest hospital redevelopments across the state – and will transform healthcare services in this rapidly growing part of Sydney,” Mr Perrottet said.
“We have the best health system in the nation and we are ensuring that no matter where you live in our State you have access to the best healthcare facilities.”
The new hospital will also include a larger neonatal intensive care unit and six new in-patient units including paediatric, maternity and women’s health services – all designed to cater to the area’s growing population. A new multi-storey car park, which is nearing completion, will also provide an additional 500 spaces across the campus.
Minister for Health Brad Hazzard and Member for Holsworthy Melanie Gibbons today turned the sod on the site of the new hospital tower and toured the project’s ‘Buraga Gul’ skilling and employment hub which will help drive education and jobs throughout construction and beyond.
Mr Hazzard said the new precinct in the heart of Liverpool would be an attractive drawcard for clinicians, specialists, researchers and educators locally and worldwide, which would boost the community and deliver better long term health outcomes.
“The NSW Government is investing an unprecedented $790 million into south-western Sydney to meet the community’s healthcare needs and also provide employment opportunities for our future generations of nurses, doctors, researchers and educators,” Mr Hazzard said.
Project builder Lendlease has opened a new skilling and employment hub next to the hospital construction site to create more education and employment opportunities for south-western Sydney communities and boost the local workforce.
Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said the establishment of the skills and employment hub is one of the key components of the project.
“Working in partnership with NSW Health, TAFE NSW and Liverpool City Council, the hub will offer construction pre-employment programs and Aboriginal employment initiatives to support people of all ages to acquire new skills for construction and health-related roles,” Mr Henskens said.
Ms Gibbons said the NSW Government is catering to the needs of the local community now and into the future, with close to 1.3 million people expected to call south-western Sydney home by 2031.
“This significant redevelopment will ensure both the long-term health and economic wellbeing of local communities here in south-western Sydney,” Ms Gibbons said.
“With around 850 construction jobs to be supported throughout the redevelopment and the potential for thousands more jobs over the project’s life, the on-site skills and employment hub will help attract, retain and upskill local workers in yet another fantastic win for our community.”
The new precinct forms part of the NSW Government’s record $10.8 billion investment in health infrastructure over four years to 2024-2025.
Since 2011, the NSW Government has delivered more than 170 hospitals and health facilities across the state, with more than 110 currently underway.
BAE Systems Australia will create 55 new skilled engineering jobs in the Hunter through support provided by the NSW Government’s $250 million Jobs Plus Program to expand the company’s Williamtown base and strengthen the region’s export capability.
This assistance will support the creation of an additional set of regionally focused bays at the aircraft sustainment hub, which will complement the new bays planned to be built by BAE Systems. As part of this hub, the company will manage an F-35 South-Asia Pacific Regional Depot.
These regional bays will be export focused, attract overseas aircraft and sustainment contracts from the region, increasing jobs and opportunities for the Hunter region.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the investment in BAE Systems would promote the growth of skilled jobs in regional NSW, while enhancing the nation’s sovereign defence capability.
“This Australian-first facility will increase the number of international aircraft that can be maintained at Williamtown and make regional NSW more competitive for future defence export opportunities,” Mr Toole said.
“The NSW Government has already invested more than $16 million to develop infrastructure and skills in the Hunter region to strengthen its defence and aerospace industry, through the Astra Aerolab Defence Aviation Technology Precinct and the Williamtown Special Activation Precinct.”
Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade Stuart Ayres said the Jobs Plus Program support, including payroll tax exemptions, would create 55 maintenance and engineering jobs by 2030 and support 147 indirect jobs by 2024.
“This is a big win for highly skilled jobs in the Hunter, with STEM-focused roles making up 60 per cent of the BAE Systems workforce,” Mr Ayres said.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Taylor Martin said the size of BAE’s supply chain meant more opportunities for local businesses.
“BAE Systems has more than 1,600 businesses as part of its supply chain. This investment will increase the number of workers and businesses operating here in the Williamtown Special Activation Precinct, and drive benefits for the entire supply chain through enhanced networking, information exchange and skills development,” Mr Martin said.
BAE Systems Australia CEO Gabby Costigan said Jobs Plus support is pivotal in maximising the sovereign capability we are developing in Williamtown to sustain the Australian F-35 fleet.
“The facilities developed here will be a beacon for global F-35 fleets operating within and near our region,” Ms Costigan said.
“BAE Systems Australia will continue working with our supply chain partners in the Hunter Valley to identify and secure new opportunities that build on the solid foundation of leading-edge aircraft support we have developed over two decades at Williamtown.”
The NSW Government’s Jobs Plus Program provides eligible companies with support to establish and expand their footprint in NSW, including payroll tax relief, streamlined planning approvals and subsidised training programs, along with rebates for enabling infrastructure.
Australian businesses that currently employ 20 or more staff, and international companies with at least 80 current employees, looking to establish a minimum of 30 new jobs in NSW before June 2024, are eligible to apply for the Jobs Plus Program.
The My School website has been updated for 2022 with new data, including the first NAPLAN results and attendance data in 2 years.
The cancellation of NAPLAN for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic meant there was no NAPLAN data last year, but with NAPLAN successfully undertaken across the country in 2021, the My School website has now been updated with school-level NAPLAN data.
“My School is an excellent resource to help parents, schools and governments understand the performance of schools,” said ACARA CEO, David de Carvalho.
Over the last 3 years, My School has had an average of 2.3 million visitors. In 2020, My School was relaunched with an improved presentation of data and a stronger focus on student progress, resulting in enhanced quality and usefulness of the information.
The “Student progress” information includes tables showing the percentage of students at the school whose progress was better than expected, given the school’s average score 2 years ago and the level of community socio-educational advantage.
In the 2022 update, more than 500 Australian schools showed well above the average progress of students with the same starting score and similar backgrounds for at least one domain and more than 30% of these schools were in regional or remote areas.
My School includes an Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA) that indicates the average educational advantage of the school’s students and is calculated using information about a parent’s occupation and education, school geographical location and the proportion of Indigenous students. A school’s ICSEA value is provided to encourage taking socio-educational advantage into account when comparing school achievement.
“Too often, media organisations try to construct crude ‘league tables’ based on overall achievement without considering the schools’ level of socio-educational advantage or the amount of progress the students have made in the previous 2 years. Such comparisons are meaningless,” Mr de Carvalho said.
“The schools that are punching above their weight are those that are achieving above expectation in terms of progress on where their students were 2 years ago, taking into account their level of socio-educational advantage. Let’s find out what those schools are doing and think about how good practice can be replicated.”
The 2022 My School update contains:
· 2021 NAPLAN results for schools
· 2021 school profile and population data
· 2021 school attendance data
· 2020 school financial information, including capital expenditure and funding sources
· 2020 post-school destinations data.
Recent research conducted for ACARA by market research specialist EY Sweeney indicates that of the parents surveyed who visit My School:
· 44% do so to see how their child’s school is performing in literacy and numeracy
· 41% do so to help inform decisions made in relation to their child’s education
· 32% do so to fairly compare their child’s school’s performance with other schools
· 21% do so to find schools within a geographical area.
The Australian Government today announces fresh sanctions on 33 Russian oligarchs, prominent businesspeople and their immediate family members.
The sanctions announced today reinforce Australia’s commitment to sanction those people who have amassed vast personal wealth and are of economic and strategic significance to Russia, including as a result of their connections to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
They include Roman Abramovich, Chelsea Football Club owner, Alexey Miller the CEO of Gazprom, Dmitri Lebedev Chairman of Rossiya, Sergey Chemezov Chair of Rostec, Nikolay Tokarev CEO of Transneft, Igor Shuvalov Chairman Vnesheconombank (VEB.RF) and Kirill Dmitriev CEO of Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).
We strongly support recent announcements by Canada, the European Union, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States of further restrictive measures against key Russian individuals.
Australia has joined with our partners in establishing strong, sequential sanctions, with over 460 sanctions placed on individuals and entities in past weeks. This includes the Central Bank of Russia; their national sovereign wealth fund, Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF); Russia’s Armed Forces; political and military figures including President Putin, his Security Council and his strategic drivers of disinformation; and a number of oligarchs.
We will continue to coordinate closely with our partners to impose a high cost on Russia for its actions.
The Australian Government reiterates our strongest support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and for the people of Ukraine.
The Australian Greens have today announced plans to make Australia a global leader in science, research and innovation, with a $17.8 billion investment in the sector over the decade.
The Greens will foster a culture where innovation, invention and experimentation can flourish to help communities better respond to our collective wellbeing, economy and major climate crises, by putting Australia on a pathway to investing 4 per cent of GDP in science, research and innovation by 2030.
The Greens’ plan includes:
Boosting block grant funding for universities by $5.5 billion to elevate their roles as powerhouses of the research ecosystem and to help improve job security for scientists working in universities;
Investing an additional $1.3 billion in key research bodies such as the CSIRO, Australian Nuclear Australian Research Council, National Health and Medical Research Centre, Cooperative Research Centres;
Investing $1 billion a year for a research translation fund to turn groundbreaking ideas into world changing applications;
Investing $175 million a year in additional funding for the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy;
Setting up a new Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology to provide independent, objective scientific advice to members of Parliament;
Establishing an additional non-refundable tax offset of 20% for companies that hire STEM PhD students in their first three years of employment;
Providing $50 million per year to improve diversity in science and research and development by funding programs that support First Nations peoples, women and LGBTIQA+ people in science;
Investing $50 million per year for a Secure Work for Researchers fund, to help universities and research institutes transition their workers to secure employment;
Investing $70 million per year in additional funding for the Australian Research Council’s Future Fellowships scheme to support mid-career researchers; and
Providing $41 million per year in additional funding for existing teacher training in STEM education.
Yamatji-Noongar woman and Australian Greens Senator for Western Australia Dorinda Cox said:
“At a time of climate crisis, we can turn this country into a science and innovation superpower.
In the energy sector alone, we have a huge opportunity to turn this moment into a renewable energy revolution that could create hundreds of thousands of jobs exporting Australia’s sun and wind to power our region with clean, green energy.
We need a strong research sector to help move away from the polluting industries of the past, and deliver the jobs of the future to make us a global leader in new and emerging research.
Over the past decade we have seen funding for science, research and development constantly fall below the OECD average thanks to the Morrison Government. No surprises there, given that they have clearly refused to accept climate science, and, backed by their big gas and coal donors, are instead pouring fuel onto the fire.
By investing in science, research and innovation, we can build a safer future for all of us – a future that helps to mitigate against the very real and enormous consequences we will face, from the climate crisis.
Very soon, at the next election, West Australians will be asked to make a choice about what type of future we want to see for our children, and our community.
“At the next election Labor is very unlikely to win majority government in its own right. With the Greens in balance of power, we can kick the Liberals out and make Labor go further and faster on the climate crisis. By making the right investments now in science, research and innovation, we can push the incoming government to future-proof our climate for future generations to enjoy,” Senator Cox added.
Australian Greens Anti-racism spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has said that the latest Islamophobia in Australia report, released today, reveals the horrifying face of Islamophobia and the urgent need for government to tackle anti-Muslim racism and hatred.
Senator Faruqi, who is the only Muslim in the Australian Senate, said:
“Islamophobia in this country is widespread, it is virulent, and it is on the rise.
“In the three years since Christchurch, the federal government has not lifted a finger to tackle Islamophobia and racism in this country.
“The Liberals have stood by while Muslims in Australia are abused, attacked and hated on. They just don’t give a damn about us.
“The killing of 51 Muslims in Christchurch should have woken them up to the reality of Islamophobia, but despite calls to change course and take strong action they decided to ignore this everyday reality of racism for hundreds of thousands of people.
“This report shows, yet again, that Muslims are bearing the brunt of vicious discrimination and hatred which has been fomented by politicians, the media and online communities.
“Islamophobia is highly gendered with Muslim women the common targets of hateful and bigoted attacks. How many times do we have to be abused before this government will take action?
“The toxicity and dangers of racism and Islamophobia have completely escaped the consciousness of this government made up mostly of white men who have never faced its consequences.
“The ‘othering’ of Muslims and Islamophobia need to be tackled by the political leadership. There must be a national conversation and reckoning with the fact that the Christchurch mosque killer was an Australian man.
“There must be concrete responses to Islamophobia. Enough is enough. Politicians must take responsibility and act.
“We urgently need dedicated funding for anti-racism initiatives and a coordinated plan to tackle the far-right. We need proper data collection on hate crimes and racial discrimination and we need to strengthen and enforce hate speech laws.
“Everyone who cares about human rights and social justice in this country should read this report and demand that the government take immediate action.”
Polling shows Greens on track to re-elect Dorinda Cox
In his first visit to WA since becoming Greens Leader, Adam Bandt will join Senator Dorinda Cox and key candidates to outline the party’s key priorities for WA.
Mr Bandt, who grew up in WA, is in Western Australia to promote the party’s plans to tackle the climate crisis by phasing out coal and gas, and to tax billionaires to fund the services we all need, giving voters across the country the only alternative to Liberal and Labor’s bipartisan support for tax cuts for the rich and mining more coal and gas.
With the Greens poised to be in balance of power in the Senate, the Greens say they are ready to kick the Liberals out and make the next government tax billionaires, build affordable housing, get dental and mental health into Medicare and go further and faster on climate action.
Polling, included below, shows the Greens are on track to hold our Senate spot in WA, off the back of strong popular support for making the billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share of tax, putting a pause on coal and gas projects and making dental and mental health free as part of Medicare.
Western Australia will be a deciding state this election, with the Greens in a strong position to grow their vote and win the balance of power. The Greens’ Lead Senate Candidate is Dorinda Cox, a Yamatji Noongar Bibbulmun woman who in her short time in the Senate has already demonstrated she is a strong independent voice for WA, through securing a parliamentary inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children, leading the Senate Inquiry into the Beetaloo Basin, pusing the Morrison Government on its approval of the climate-wrecking Scarborough gas project, and for a moratorium on all new coal and gas projects.
Recent Greens polling (below) demonstrates that at the coming Federal election, there is a strong appetite for Greens in the Senate to keep the next Government on track and ensure a cleaner, fairer future for all, with 12% of Western Australians preferring to vote Green in the Senate this time.
The Greens Leader’s visit to WA follows a regional tour of mining regions Newcastle, Townsville, Roickhampton and Gladstone to promote the Greens’ plan to support a transition from coal and gas projects to the industries of the future.
Adam Bandt has a long connection to Western Australia: growing up in Perth, going to school at Rosalie Primary and Hollywood High, as well as studying at Murdoch University, and a passionate Fremantle Dockers supporter.
Greens Leader, Adam Bandt MP said:
“The next election will be closer than people think and a power sharing Parliament is the most likely outcome.
“Instead of wasting their vote on Liberal and Labor parties that can’t win a majority in their own right, voters in WA can vote Greens in the Senate and get one of the most powerful MPs in the country.
“In balance of power, the Greens will kick Scott Morrison out and push the next government to tax billionaires, build affordable housing and go further and faster on climate.
“Almost half of WA voters back the Greens’ plan for a freeze on all new coal and gas projects, and 9 out of 10 West Australians back the Greens’ plan to get dental and mental health into Medicare. Western Australians back the Greens’ key balance of power demands.
“WA is going to be a key contest in the next election, and we’re feeling a massive swell of support on the ground for action on climate change and economic inequality.
“As a Noongar Yamatji First Nations woman, Dorinda Cox knows and understands the importance of caring for Country and our environment.
“In balance of power, Dorinda Cox will be integral in pushing the next government to go further and faster on climate action, so that we can protect and sustain our environment for future generations to enjoy.
“WA is set to comprehensively reject Clive Palmer, thanks to his hugely unpopular court case targeting the state’s border closures. WA wants nothing to do with Clive Palmer, and when people re-elect Dorinda Cox, we won’t just keep Palmer’s malignant influence out of Parliament, we’ll tax his obscene wealth, allowing us to put dental and mental health into Medicare, kickstart the hydrogen and green metals revolution, and significantly increase federal funding for WA hospitals.”
Greens Senator and lead Senate Candidate, Dorinda Cox said:
“I am from a long line of women who have fought for their people, their country and their future. And as the Greens Senator, I am ready to fight for WA.
“Liberal and Labor are both taking millions in donations from big coal and gas corporations.
“In Western Australia, we have some of the biggest coal and gas projects in the world, and many of the big corporations are making massive profits, and not paying their fair share of tax.
“It’s clear that Western Australians want action on climate, affordable housing and a better life for all of us. I’m here to be a strong voice fighting for West Australians in Canberra.
Media Background:
The poll also demonstrates that despite a massive ad spend, Clive Palmer has thus far failed to convincingly advance his position from the last election, where he polled 1.75% in WA’s Senate race.
With other polling suggesting he’s currently tracking at 4% of the vote in NSW, this suggests that his attempt to sue the WA Government has backfired disastrously.
The Greens will be using the community’s anger at Clive Palmer to direct energy towards the party’s ‘tax the billionaires’ campaign – with the taxes to pay for hugely popular Greens proposals like putting dental and mental health into medicare.
The poll shows strong backing from West Australians for the Greens’ key balance of power demands of a pause on all new coal and gas projects and getting dental and mental health into Medicare.
KEY ISSUES & POLICY LOCALISATION FIGURES:
The Greens are campaigning this election for:
A plan to urgently transition to clean energy through:
A freeze on oil and gas projects including Woodside’s Scarborough development and drilling for oil and gas in the Kimberley
A $5.9 billion Greens Metals fund to support critical minerals mining and metal processing and new industries like green steel and lithium-ion battery manufacturing to store clean energy
Making WA 100% renewable by 2030, with our $40 billion investment in new publicly owned generation and storage from a repurposed Snowy Hydro corporation
A job-for-job guarantee for coal mine and power stations workers in Collie
Tax billionaires and big corporations to:
Put dental care into Medicare
Provide over $1.1 billion in extra federal funding for WA hospitals
Free childcare and early childhood education for all families
Build 119,000 new, affordable homes in WA and create 5,300 new construction jobs and apprenticeships for West Australians
About the poll:
The poll was conducted by independent polling organisation the Online Research Unit for the Australian Greens.
This poll was conducted with 1016 people in Western Australia during Feb 22 to March 2, 2022.
Lower House Voting intention
1.1 In the upcoming Federal Election, which party are you considering giving your first preference to in the Lower House?
Column %
Total
Labor
42%
Liberal
31%
Greens
11%
Nationals
2%
Clive Palmer United Australia Party
1%
Pauline Hanson One Nation
4%
An Independent
9%
(Sample: 1016)
Upper house voting intention
1.3 Thinking about the Senate, or Upper House, which party are you considering giving your first preference vote to?
Column %
Total
Labor
39%
Liberal
31%
Greens
12%
Nationals
2%
Clive Palmer United Australia Party
2%
Pauline Hanson One Nation
3%
An Independent
11%
(Sample: 1016)
Putting a pause on coal and gas
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement
To tackle the climate crisis we need to pause all new coal and gas projects
Strongly agree
16%
Somewhat agree
29%
Neither agree nor disagree
23%
Somewhat disagree
13%
Strongly disagree
12%
Don’t know
6%
Total Agree
45%
Total Disagree
25%
(Sample: 1016)
Big donations
How concerned are you that Labor and Liberal both accept big donations from billionaires and big corporations like coal and gas, gambling and media organisations?
Very concerned and it would affect the way I vote
23%
Somewhat concerned and it might affect the way I vote
38%
Not concerned at all and it won’t affect the way I vote
28%
Don’t know
11%
(Sample: 1016)
Free mental and dental care
Do you support or oppose making dental and mental healthcare free as part of Medicare?
