A report on electricity prices released today by the Australian Energy Regulator confirms that electricity bills were lower when the Greens/Labor carbon price was in effect than they are now under the Liberals, said Greens energy spokesperson, Adam Bandt.
“Electricity bills were lower under the Greens/Labor carbon price than they are now under the Liberals, and back then we were also cutting climate pollution,” said Mr Bandt.
“The regulator has belled the cat.
“It takes a particular kind of genius to deliver both higher pollution and higher electricity bills, but the Liberals have managed to stuff everything up.
“To cut both pollution and power bills, we should bring back the carbon price and build more renewable energy.”
The September 2019 ‘Affordability in retail energy markets’, released today by the Australian Energy Regulator, contains the following Figure 1 on page 6, with the data supporting the report revealing the electricity price index has risen by 2.6% since the carbon price was at its peak in 2014.
Author: admin
We need a Greens Stimulus Package to boost weak growth
Today’s weak economic figures reveal an economy that is spluttering and directionless under a Coalition Government whose plans are nothing more than the same old discredited trickle-down nonsense. That’s why the Greens are calling today for the Government to adopt a Green Stimulus package, said Leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale.
“The growth figures released today prove what has been clear to so many of us for so long: this Government’s lame old trickle-down approach to the economy is a flop and they have no plan to fix it,” Di Natale said.
“Today’s growth figures, the weakest we’ve seen since this country was last in recession almost 30 years ago, should be a wake up call for both the Liberals and Labor that business as usual just isn’t going to cut it.
“We need a bold approach if we’re going to weather the storm that’s rattling the global economy, and that’s why the Greens are calling on the Government to launch a Green Stimulus package that would boost Newstart, lift wages and accelerate and expand the pipeline of green infrastructure investment in this country.”
Key Components of Green Stimulus Plan:
- • Immediately increase Newstart and Youth Allowance payments by $75 a week.
- • Accelerate and expand the pipeline of Green infrastructure investment in electricity generation, transmission and storage, energy efficient public housing and public transport.
- • Remove the Commonwealth public sector wage cap and commit to lifting wages by 4% per annum.
- • Unleash private sector wage growth by legislating to reverse the cuts to penalty rates and peg the minimum wage to 60% of the median full-time wage.
Greens response to AFP raids
The Greens responded to the AFP raid on the home of an Australian Signals Directorate intelligence officer today:
Greens Spokesperson for Media and Communications and Chair of the Senate Inquiry into Press Freedoms and Whistleblower Protections Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“Today’s raid by the AFP on an intelligence officer is very concerning. The intimidation of truth tellers by this government is alarming.
“Journalism and the protection of whistleblowers are essential pillars of democracy.
“First the AFP raided the journalists, now they are raiding public servants.
“The Government should be upfront about whether today’s raid is in relation to the earlier raids on a News Corp journalist who exposed the Government’s draconian plan to allow the Australian Signals Directorate to spy on Australians.
“The Senate Inquiry into press freedoms and whistleblowers is increasingly urgent, and will consider protections for public sector employees who disclose sensitive and classified information.”
Greens Spokesperson for Justice Senator Nick McKim said:
“These raids are designed to intimidate potential public interest whistle blowers.”
“This is the stuff of a police state, not a democracy.”
Medicare bulk billing at record level
An increased number of Australians are attending General Practitioner (GP) appointments without reaching into their pockets, with GP bulk billing rates under Medicare hitting a record high of 86.2 per cent for the full year of 2018-19.
Since 2012-13, bulk billing rates have increased by four full percentage points from 82.2 per cent, and is further proof Medicare is stronger than ever before under this Government.
Our commitment to Medicare and bulk billing is rock solid.
The latest figure – up 0.1 percentage point compared to last year – was the fourth consecutive quarter last financial year to achieve a record, and is evidence more Australians are visiting their doctor without having to pay a cent.
Patients made 136.5 million bulk billed GP visits in 2018-19, up 3.3 million on the previous financial year.
The bulk billing rate for total Medicare services reached 79.2 per cent for 2018-19, up 0.2 percentage points compared to the previous year, and up 2.7 percentage points from 76.5 per cent in 2012-13.
The benefits for patients are clear. Australians accessed 335.8 million bulk billed services including GP, specialist, pathology and diagnostic imaging services in 2018–19, up 8.9 million more than the record set last year.
The total cost of all Medicare services in 2018-19 was $24.1 billion, an increase of 3.5 per cent in benefits paid.
These figures show that Medicare is supporting the health and wellbeing of Australians more than ever before.
As well as continuing and increasing its investment in Medicare, the Morrison Government is ensuring it supports quality health care.
On 1 July this year, the Government increased the patient rebate for further GP items on the Medicare Benefits Schedule. Specialist procedures, allied health services and other GP services such as mental health and after hour’s services, were indexed.
The Medicare Benefits Schedule Review will ensure Medicare services are effective and appropriate for patients now and into the future.
Australia has one of the best health systems in the world, founded on Medicare. These figures show Medicare, under the Morrison Government is supporting the health and wellbeing of Australians more than ever.
City commits to supporting flagship events
ity of Newcastle has locked in three years of support for two flagship community events that attract tens of thousands of people to the city each year.
The sponsorships, worth almost $350,000, will provide certainty for both the Newcastle Writers Festival, and the Anzac Day services delivered by the City of Newcastle Returned Services League (RSL) Sub-branch.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the City was committed to supporting these quintessentially Newcastle events, which celebrate culture and the legacy of the Returned Servicemen and Women.
“These three-year sponsorship agreements will provide event organisers with certainty of the City’s assistance for these important community events,” she said.
“City of Newcastle is proud to have been a founding sponsor of the Newcastle Writers Festival, which since its inception in 2013, has grown into a three-day literary event renowned in the cultural community.
“This three-year agreement offers a commitment to the strong community focus of the Newcastle Writers Festival, with more than 40 per cent of its event program free to the public.
“The City of Newcastle will continue its support of the region’s Anzac Day events, which provide community members with a chance to show their respect for the men and women who bravely fought for our freedom and continue to serve our country today.”
Under the terms of the agreement, the City will provide $40,000 per annum ($30,000 value-in-kind and $10,000 cash) to the Newcastle Writers Festival during 2020, 2021 and 2022, ensuring almost all of its events are held in the City’s cultural facilities including City Hall and Newcastle Region Library.
The funding is contingent on Newcastle Writers Festival keeping at least 40 per cent of its events free for the community to attend.
Event organiser Rosemarie Milsom was overjoyed after locking in the long-term sponsorship, ahead of their eighth annual festival in 2020.
“I believe this sponsorship, which will secure the venues that are key to our event, is recognition of our contribution to the cultural dynamic of the city,” she said.
A separate sponsorship agreement will provide $75,000 per annum to the City of Newcastle Returned Services League (RSL) Sub-branch, supporting their delivery of the Anzac Day dawn service, the Anzac Day march and a United Service of Remembrance at Civic Park for three years from 2020.
Sub-branch President Ken Fayle acknowledged the importance of the long-term sponsorship agreement, which helped provide certainty around their delivery of the various Anzac Day events.
“By providing alternative commemoration services, it gives everybody within the community the opportunity to attend an Anzac Day event,” he said.
Mr Fayle said this year’s dawn service was the best attended in Australia, attracting more than 50,000 people to the Camp Shortland site.
Afghani refugee happy to call Newcastle home
At 21 the life of Afghani refugee Zarmina Ali was a far cry from that enjoyed by most men and women celebrating their rite of passage to adulthood in Australia.
Twelve years ago, the now 33-year-old was living in the midst of civil unrest in war-torn Afghanistan – 10,000km away from the city she now calls home.
Zarmin Ali and husband Esmatullah Ali with their two daughters Baha Ali, 10 and Elaha Ali, 6, at today’s ceremony.
In 2007, Mrs Ali fled Afghanistan for Pakistan with her husband Esmatullah, and it was another five years before they finally secured a refugee visa to settle in Australia with their two daughters Bahar 10, and Elaha 6.
Today, more than seven years since arriving in Newcastle, the Waratah resident will be able to officially call herself Australian.
Mrs Ali joined more than 169 new Citizens from 30 countries at today’s City of Newcastle Citizenship Ceremony at the Civic Theatre.
Guests were greeted to performances from the Grainery Church and Indigenous dance groups before Newcastle Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen invited citizens to take their citizen oaths and affirmations.
“Today’s Citizenship Ceremony is an historic moment,” the Deputy Lord Mayor said. “The year 2019 marks 70 years since Australian Citizenship was introduced into law, creating for the first time a legal status of being an Australian.
“Australians are privileged to live in a true democracy that protects and defends hard-fought freedoms.
“As Novocastrians, we are proud to be a culturally diverse, inclusive community, united by a commitment to democratic principles and fairness ensuring our residents enjoy equal rights and are treated with equal respect.”
Working as an Uber driver and studying English at TAFE, Mrs Ali said she will follow her passion for design and fashion now that she has her Citizenship status.
“I am enjoying learning English but I love design and clothes,” she said. “Today is a really happy day for me and I am happy for my children to grow up here. We have a smile on our face.”
ONE MILLION REASONS WHY NSW KIDS LOVE BEING ACTIVE KIDS
NSW families are cashing in on the NSW Government’s Active Kids program with over a million vouchers created since the start of this year.
Minister for Sport John Sidoti said voucher downloads have been hugely popular for parents as they save money while keeping their kids active.
“I want to see kids play sport because when we nurture our grassroots, we reap the benefits as a society. It’s a huge win for NSW to have these vouchers to contribute towards the costs of sports like swimming, dancing, netball, soccer, rugby or tennis,” Mr Sidoti said.
“With over a million vouchers downloaded this year you can see how keen parents are to get their kids involved in sport. Participation not only brings physical benefits but also builds confidence, resilience and leadership.”
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said NSW school-enrolled children have been able to access two $100 Active Kids vouchers, since July 1.
“We know sporting activities are popular with children but the costs can add to a household budget, which is why we introduced this program,” Mr Dominello said.
“Parents simply love the program and have given it a 99.8 per cent customer satisfaction rating. We are committed to easing the cost of living for families and so far nearly $130 million has been saved by parents.
“By doubling the vouchers children can play both a summer and winter sport.”
Tennis NSW CEO Lawrence Robertson said Active Kids has assisted Tennis NSW in getting more kids playing tennis at a grassroots level.
“Active Kids go far and I encourage all families to take advantage of the second Active Kids voucher and enrol in sport or recreation like tennis over summer,” Mr Robertson said.
Some of the most popular activities for girls in 2019 include dance, netball and swimming while for boys, soccer, swimming and rugby league are attracting the most vouchers.
For further information visit www.sport.nsw.gov.au/activekids or call 13 13 02.
Pair arrested after Wallsend crash
A man and woman are under police guard in hospital following a single vehicle crash that occurred at Wallsend this morning.
About 7.40am (Thursday 5 September 2019), police identified a vehicle with an occupant they believed could assist with inquiries into a number of break and enters in the Newcastle area.
A short time after a member of the public informed officers that a Subaru, matching the description of the vehicle, had been involved in a crash near Cowper Street at Wallsend.
The 18-year-old male passenger was arrested at the scene and taken to Waratah Police Station. After complaining of feeling unwell, the man was taken to John Hunter Hospital.
The 28-year-old female driver was taken to John Hunter Hospital by road ambulance. She is he is recovering from non-life threatening injuries suspected to have occurred in the crash
Inquiries into the events leading up to the crash are continuing.
Grant permanent protection for all Hong Kongers residing in Australia
In light of escalating violence in Hong Kong and the looming threat of intervention by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, Australian Greens Leader Dr Richard Di Natale is calling on the Government to immediately offer permanent protection for anyone from Hong Kong who currently resides in Australia.
“The recent attacks on peaceful protesters by the Hong Kong police and proxy forces are shocking and completely unacceptable. Using force against peaceful protestors is never acceptable and we stand in solidarity with the people of Hong Kong,” Di Natale said.
“It is now absolutely clear that any Hong Kong resident currently in Australia faces a genuine risk of harm should they return home. We have a legal and a moral obligation to offer them safe haven, and that is what Scott Morrison must order his Government to do.”
“The Australian Greens are calling on Scott Morrison to immediately offer permanent protection to anyone from Hong Kong currently residing in Australia.
“We have been here before; we have a roadmap. Bob Hawke’s decision to grant protection to Chinese citizens in Australia in the wake of the Tiananmen Square massacre was a shining example of Australian leadership in the world, and has only made our multicultural nation richer in the decades since.
“Like Bob Hawke in the wake of Tiananmen Square, Scott Morrison now has an opportunity to demonstrate to the world some kindness and generosity. For the sake of everyone involved in these tragic circumstances, I hope he takes it.
Note: There were a total of 18,839 Hong Kong residents in Australia across all visa classes as of June 30, 2019 according to the Department of Immigration.
Greens Welcome Early Learning Matters Week
Australian Greens Senator and Education Spokesperson, Dr Mehreen Faruqi, has welcomed Early Learning Matters Week and called for the Morrison Government to commit to supporting the sector, including by introducing funding certainty, guaranteeing all three and four year olds access to 24 hours of early childhood education a week and supporting early childhood workers with professional pay.
Senator Faruqi said:
“Early Learning Matters Week is a great opportunity to highlight how early childhood education supports the well-being of our children, families and society.
“We need to recognise the importance of a well-resourced and accessible early childhood education system with professional pay for staff and thank Australia’s early childhood educators for their work.
“The Morrison Government needs to get serious about early childhood education in this country by introducing funding certainty for providers, guaranteeing all three and four year olds access to 24 hours of early childhood education a week and supporting early childhood workers with professional pay.
“The Greens strongly support early childhood educators across the country and their rights to fair pay. It is well past time for the people who educate and care for children to have decent pay and conditions” she concluded.