Category: Australian News

Following dnata’s announcement today that 1000 workers will be made redundant, Greens Senator Janet Rice has condemned the Prime Minister for locking these workers out of JobKeeper and called on him to produce a plan for the aviation industry.
Senator Janet Rice, Greens Transport spokesperson said:
“This is devastating news for dnata workers and their families. My thoughts are with them as they face stress, uncertainty and some tough decisions ahead.
“Though devastating, this move was not unexpected. The Prime Minister was warned this would happen back in May when the government decided to exclude these Australians from getting JobKeeper.
“It’s an absolute disgrace that Scott Morrison has left these workers in the lurch.
“This is not the first time the Morrison government has abandoned aviation workers. Government inaction has seen one of our two major airlines collapse and thousands of jobs lost from both Virgin and Qantas.
“The government still doesn’t have a plan for the aviation sector – even though it’s clear we desperately need one. The Prime Minister needs to explain his actions to all aviation workers who have had their jobs axed, and present a strategy for the aviation industry before things get even worse.”

Australian Greens Education spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has said that the latest Child Care Recovery Package, announced today, is yet another band-aid which does little to heal the wound. A long-term plan is needed for this essential service.
Senator Faruqi said:
“Announcing sporadic measures in dribs and drabs every few months is no way to support early learning workers and families. The government must come up with a long term plan that involves proper funding and abolishing childcare fees.
“Early childhood educators were cut off from JobKeeper before anyone else, and the government still refuses to provide a wage guarantee.
“Rather than suspending the Activity Test until April, it should be scrapped for good.
“Early childhood education is an essential service. Educators, families and centres have had a horror 2020. It’s time to provide long-term certainty for everyone,” she said.

The Morrison Government will invest almost $6 million in additional funding from the Medical Research Future Fund’s (MRFF) Coronavirus Research Response to support research and development of three Australian COVID-19 vaccines.
The rapid development of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines is a critical Australian Government priority.
Under the competitive, peer reviewed COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Research Grant Opportunity, funding will be allocated for the further development of three COVID-19 vaccines.
The University of Melbourne will receive almost $3 million to develop two vaccine candidates. Both vaccines are targeting the tip of the spike protein, known as the receptor binding domain, but use different vaccine techniques to compare which vaccine maximises the production of neutralising antibodies.

• protein vaccine – this vaccine introduces a protein into the body to maximise the antibody immune response to neutralise viral infectivity
• mRNA vaccine – this vaccine represents a genetic sequence that supports the human body to make the protein which would then maximise the antibody response to the tip of the spike protein to neutralise viral infectivity

The University of Sydney, will receive almost $3 million for a Phase 1/1b clinical trial to test the safety and effectiveness of a novel DNA-based COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine is being developed so it can be administered using a needle-free system. The trial is a partnership with four of Australia’s most experienced vaccine trial sites and aims to enrol 150 healthy volunteers. Findings from the trial will inform evaluation of the vaccine in larger Phase two and three trials.
Subject to further work, the resulting vaccines could eventually be deployed in Australia and around the world.
These investments build on existing MRFF support for COVID-19 vaccines, including $5 million provided to the University of Queensland for their innovative ‘molecular clamp’ technology and $1 million to Vaxine for their COVAX-19® vaccine.
Our Government continues to invest in medical research to supercharge the development of promising vaccines to save lives and protect lives.
The Government has invested more than $2 billion in COVID-19 research and development.
This includes $1.7 billion to secure early access to over 84.8 million COVID-19 vaccine doses and $362 million for diagnostics, vaccine development, antiviral development, clinical trials, digital health research infrastructure and research into the human immune response to COVID-19 infection.
Research plays a critical role in ensuring Australia maintains its world-class health system and is particularly important as the world responds to COVID-19.

Helping lift the burden for people living with dementia and those who care for them is the focus of an awareness campaign across Australia this week.
With the theme “A little support makes a lot of difference”, Dementia Action Week starts today, World Alzheimer’s Day.
Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Richard Colbeck, said both initiatives provide an opportunity to help those grappling with the difficult health diagnosis.
Around Australia more than 447,000 people live with dementia.
Alzheimer’s is the most common form.
“It is very confronting, not just for the individual, but for their family and friends,” Minister Colbeck said.
He said the correct support could make all the difference – particularly as COVID-19 continues to present challenges for aged care facilities across Australia.
“Dementia already affects nearly half a million Australians and the number is rising rapidly,” Minister Colbeck said.
“For Australia, and similar countries around the world, it represents a huge health challenge.
“While dementia is a progressive condition, people can continue to live active and happy lives for many years after diagnosis.
“They deserve support not just from their families but from the community as a whole, to allow them to live their best lives as long as possible.”
By following appropriate infection control protocols, it is important aged care providers continue to allow visitation for dementia patients and their families during the pandemic, Minister Colbeck said.
He urged all providers to consider the industry-agreed Aged Care Visitor Access Code which ensures the response to the pandemic was proportionate and in the best interests of the residents.
Dementia Action Week is organised by Dementia Australia, which receives Government funding of $38 million over three years from 2019 to 2022 to deliver the National Dementia Support Program.
As well as improving awareness and understanding, the program connects people living with dementia with services that support them to self-manage and live well for as long as possible.
Dementia Australia launched an ongoing campaign to reduce discrimination against people with dementia in May 2020.
It aims to increase dementia awareness and understanding, across the public, consumers, and healthcare professionals.
It is also delivering the Government’s $3.7 million Dementia Friendly Communities program.
Additionally, the Specialist Dementia Care Program funds specialist dementia care units in residential aged care homes.
The units provide specialised care to people with very severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia and aim to reduce or stabilise symptoms so that people can move into less intensive care settings.
Minister Colbeck said a further investment of $185 million in the Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission was also providing much needed support.
“This vital investment continues to drive support for our researchers as they look for more effective treatments, as well as ways to prevent Alzheimer’s and improve brain health,” Minister Colbeck said.
Dementia Action Week continues until Sunday, 27 September.
More information can be found here.
The Aged Care Visitor Access Code can be found here.

A new billion-dollar partnership between the Commonwealth Government, State Government and City of Perth has been finalised, unlocking economic benefits and opportunities for the Perth CBD.
The $1.5 billion City Deal will re-energise Perth, bringing government and private investment into the CBD, creating almost 10,000 jobs while encouraging more people back into the city creating flow on economic benefits for small businesses.
The Perth City Deal includes:

• $695 million investment by the Commonwealth Government, State Government and Edith Cowan University, to move its law and business schools, along with the world class Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts into the Perth CBD, creating the State’s first inner-city university campus. More than 9,200 students and staff are anticipated on campus from day one.
• $360 million investment from the State Government, Curtin University and Murdoch University to expand or establish new presences in the Perth CBD. Murdoch University will create a vertical campus and eSports Stadium linked with Singapore and East Asia, while Curtin University will build a CBD knowledge and innovation precinct.
• $105 million has been allocated to the Perth CBD Transport Plan to upgrade cycling and walking infrastructure, bus stop accessibility upgrades and enhance Roe Street. The centrepiece of this plan is the new Swan River Causeway Bridge.
• A $20 million investment into the Perth Cultural Centre precinct will see immediate improvements in lighting, security, wayfinding and environment and the development of a longer-term vision for the space to become a place of destination for all visitors to the city.
• $42 million to develop the Perth Concert Hall into a premier world class music venue.
• Up to $100 million to redevelop the WACA and transform it into a state of the art sporting facility including an inner city swimming pool
• $20 million for the East Perth Power Station to upgrade necessary infrastructure and improve connectivity to the site and surrounding areas while plans for redevelopment and preservation of the historic buildings and heritage progress.
• $36 million to provide facilities, safety improvements and services for homeless people in the city.
• $18 million for the creation of an Australian Space Robotics, Automation, and AI Command Control Complex to encourage start-ups, small businesses, and researchers supporting the development and operation of robotic and remote asset management activities in space.
• $10 million towards a WA Indigenous Business and Employment Hub in partnership with the Wirrpanda Foundation to provide support and advice to Indigenous businesses, job seekers and entrepreneurs.
• $4 million of funding to undertake a pre-feasibility study for an Aboriginal Cultural Centre to be located in Perth on the traditional lands of the Wadjuk Noongar people.

Under this plan more than 25,000 students and staff will be bought into the city and the construction of the campuses will bring over $1 billion of investment to Perth’s CBD. It is estimated this will create more than 4,100 construction jobs and nearly 1000 ongoing direct jobs.
Under the deal, Edith Cowan University will move their law and business schools into the CBD, along with the world class Western Australian Performing Arts Academy.
Murdoch University will establish a vertical campus that will include partnerships with STEM, other higher education providers and an eSports stadium linking to Singapore and South East Asia. The campus will also include a digital futures academy, and Aboriginal CBD Centre, professional development and cultural activities.
Curtin University will develop an east end ‘historical heart’ development, building on their existing CBD campus and establishing a knowledge and innovation precinct in the CBD.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Perth would benefit for generations to come from the game-changing investment in education, culture, jobs and lifestyle.
“This is a JobMaker investment which will generate employment for thousands of hard-working West Australians, it will boost those businesses that are already in the CBD and it will drive new businesses to open,” the Prime Minister said.
“WA, like the rest of Australia, needs a targeted economic stimulus which will provide a boost now and into the future, and this is what we’re delivering.”
Premier Mark McGowan said the Perth City Deal will see more than $1.5 billion worth of investment into the Perth CBD unlocking thousands of local jobs and creating flow on economic benefits for small businesses.
“This City Deal has given us the unique opportunity to collaborate with the Commonwealth Government, universities and local businesses to help re-energise our capital city,” he said.
“We have worked to establish up to three university campuses in our CBD which will create up to 5000 direct and indirect jobs while re-energising Perth.
“This will have positive flow on effects for small businesses including retail, restaurants and bars while returning vibrancy to our capital city.”
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said City Deals are the Federal Government’s proactive approach to help develop our cities and regions.
“The opportunity is to bring all levels of government together as well as the private sector and the community to provide a coordinated investment plan for Perth,” he said.
“We have negotiated an ambitious City Deal that unlocks Perth’s incredible future potential while continuing to develop it into a vibrant, exciting and liveable capital city.”
Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said the new deal will help drive people into the Perth CBD.
“More people and students in the CBD, means more activity, a better vibrancy and more money flowing for retail, restaurants and tourism,” Mr Tudge said.
Western Australian Transport and Planning Minister Rita Saffioti said the City Deal aligns with the McGowan Government’s key objective to connect, activate and future proof Perth’s communities.
“The Perth City Deal is creating exciting new opportunities in the planning and transport spaces while also re-energising our capital city,” she said.
“The Perth CBD Transport Plan will feed into METRONET, closing gaps on the shared path network while encouraging people to embrace new modes of transport.
“The new university campuses highlight what density can achieve and the positive effect it can have on creating well planned and vibrant communities.
“This new deal will create and support local jobs, encourage more people into our CBD and provide a much needed boost for local businesses.”
Chair Commissioner for Perth Andrew Hammond said the City of Perth welcomes the announcement of the Perth City Deal as a transformative landmark deal between all three tiers of government.
“The City’s commitment includes $25 million toward the redevelopment of the iconic WACA, specifically funding the addition of a community aquatic facility, and $10 million toward the CBD Transport Plan to upgrade Roe Street and facilitate regeneration of the area.
“We look forward to working in partnership with the Federal and State Government and the wider community to bring the Perth City Deal to fruition and secure the future prosperity and liveability of our great city.”

Perth’s city centre will receive a major boost under the Perth City Deal – a plan which will bring Edith Cowan University’s world-class Creative Industries, Business and Technology Campus into the heart of the city.
The $695 million project will form the centrepiece of the Perth City Deal. By 2025 the campus will draw more than 9,200 students and staff into the CBD.
That number will grow to over 11,000 by 2034 with thousands and thousands of spectators expected to attend more than 300 public performances in the heart of the City every year.
The development will create $1.5 billion of economic stimulus and more than 3,000 jobs during construction, as well as over 380 ongoing jobs.
The ECU City Campus will bring together programs in technology, industry and creativity, including the WA Academy of Performing Arts, the school of Business and Law and an advanced technology and cyber security centre.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Perth would benefit for generations to come from the game-changing investment in education, culture, jobs and lifestyle.
“This is a JobMaker investment which will generate employment for thousands of hard-working West Australians, it will boost those businesses that are already in the CBD and it will drive new businesses to open,” the Prime Minister said.
“WA, like the rest of Australia, needs a targeted economic stimulus which will provide a boost now and into the future, and this is what we’re delivering.”
Premier of Western Australia Mark McGowan said the investment also supports longer term recovery by leveraging Perth’s enviable position as a pandemic safe destination.
“Our strong response to COVID-19 means there is no better place to be in the world than WA, and the new campus will attract both domestic and international students when our borders are safe to re-open,”
Premier McGowan said.
“The Western Australian Government will be investing $150 million in grant funding and CBD land for this transformational project which will support local jobs and encourage people back into the Perth CBD.
“As part of the deal, the current ECU site will revert to full WA Government control and ownership and the State Government will now embark on a masterplan for the site.
“The new university will attract thousands of people into the city, delivering a huge boost to local businesses and building on Perth’s reputation as a vibrant cultural and entertainment district.
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said the new campus will help support Perth’s economic recovery, creating thousands of jobs while reinvigorating the City by bringing lots more people into the CBD on a regular and consistent basis.
“We have committed $245 million to help make this city-shaping project a reality,” Senator Cormann said.
“This campus will be a major catalyst for an exciting rejuvenation of Perth’s CBD, attracting locals and visitors to live, work and play in the city while creating great opportunities for local businesses.”
“The WA Academy of Performing Arts is a world class, world renowned institution, which has produced some of this country’s best known performers, including none other than Hugh Jackman.
“With more than 300 public performances a year, it will attract more than 100,000 unique visitors into the city creating great excitement across Perth for generations to come.”
Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said the relocation of the ECU campus would be a transformational change for Perth with the economic flow-on to last for decades.
“Thousands of students flooding into the city will inject more life, vibrancy and dollars into the city centre and its local businesses,” Mr Tudge said.
“COVID-19 has had a profound impact on all our cities and this element of the City Deal is exactly what WA needs right now because it means local jobs and a boost to the economy.”
Western Australian Minister for Transport and Planning Rita Saffioti said the campus added to other significant commitments to support the Perth City Deal that will enrich Perth’s city centre and boost the livability of the area.
“Every great city needs a lively CBD at its heart, and our investments will bring this in spades,” Ms Saffioti said.
“I can’t wait to see more people riding our world quality public transport and using our state of the art cycling infrastructure to visit and support our amazing small businesses.”
ECU Vice-Chancellor Steve Chapman praised the City Deal model for achieving great outcomes for the university and the city.
“This is an outstanding result for ECU and for the state. We are delighted to be working with all levels of government to create Perth’s first comprehensive university campus in the heart of the city,” Professor Chapman said.
“It is a transformational project which will change the face of our city and shape the future for ECU and its students.
“This campus will be where technology, industry and creativity meet to deliver the innovative thinkers, adaptive learners and global citizens who will be the leaders of tomorrow.”
With the announcement of these significant investments, the three levels of Government and their private partners will now work together to finalise the Perth City Deal that will deliver our joint vision of creating a vibrant, liveable and productive Perth city.

Greens Spokesperson for Communications and Media Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has welcomed the Government’s announcement of $5 million in funding to save newswire service AAP.
Senator Hanson-Young said:
“Earlier this week, I called on the Government to ensure the survival of AAP as they consider options for protecting public interest journalism through the ACCC News Media Code. I am glad that after months of uncertainty, the Government has finally come to the table with the support AAP needs.”
“AAP is key media infrastructure that helps new players into the market and diversity across Australia’s media landscape. Allowing AAP to collapse would entrench the power of big media companies, NewsCorp and Nine and lock out smaller and new players in the industry.”
“The current pandemic has shown us how important it is to have local and regional news. AAP is an essential part of making sure that all Australian communities have access to local news.”
“While today’s announcement has secured AAP’s short term future and will assist AAP’s transition to it’s new not-for-profit model, the newswire service may require the further government support in the future. I urge the Government to consider recurrent funding to ensure the viability of the of AAP so it can continue to play an essential role in ensuring that Australia has a strong and diverse public interest journalism industry.
“Another essential component of the Australian news industry is the ABC. To protect public interest journalism in Australia, I call on the Government to stop their relentless attacks on our national broadcaster and include the ABC and SBS in the upcoming legislation for the ACCC News Media Code.”

The National Cabinet met today to discuss Australia’s COVID-19 response, recent progress following the Victorian outbreak, easing restrictions (including international border measures), helping Australians prepare to go back to work in a COVID-safe environment and getting the economy moving again.
National Cabinet continues to work together to address issues and find solutions to the health and economic consequences of COVID-19. Australia has done well on both the health and economic fronts compared to most countries around the world.
The Acting Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, provided an update on the latest epidemiological data and medical advice in relation to COVID-19.
There have been more than 26,800 confirmed cases in Australia and sadly 837 people have died.
Following Victoria’s second wave, there are now around 1,100 active cases in Australia, a decrease from 2,500 cases two weeks ago. In Victoria, infection rates continue to decline in a positive sign, while daily infection rates have remained low in all other states and territories. Some differences have emerged in testing rates between states and territories, and National Cabinet agreed the importance of enhancing testing. More than 7.2 million tests have been undertaken in Australia.
National Cabinet reaffirmed a suppression strategy for COVID-19 with the goal of no community transmission. Seven of Australia’s eight states and territories are successfully suppressing COVID-19, enabling most Australians in those jurisdictions to live and work in a COVID-safe economy.
National Cabinet recommitted to providing all necessary support to Victoria.
National Cabinet welcomed the Commonwealth’s $2 billion extension of the COVID-19 Health Measures package to support Medicare-subsidised telehealth and pathology services, GP-led respiratory clinics, home medicines delivery, public and private hospital services, as well as further investments in PPE. To date, over 30 million telehealth consultations have been delivered, with mental health telehealth consultations a priority. Telehealth services will be extended to 31 March 2021.
National Cabinet will meet again on Friday 16 October 2020.
ADF Support
National Cabinet welcomed an update from Lieutenant General John Frewen DSC AM, Head of the Defence COVID-19 Taskforce, on the contribution of the Department of Defence and the Australian Defence Force to the national pandemic response, particularly relating to Defence’s support to the states and territories.
As at 17 September 2020, there were 3,241 Defence personnel directly supporting Operation COVID ASSIST and contributing to the Commonwealth’s whole-of-government efforts. This included 1,306 personnel in Victoria, 736 personnel in New South Wales, 586 personnel in Queensland, 163 personnel in Western Australia, 152 personnel in South Australia and 128 personnel in the Northern Territory.
Full details of Defence’s contribution is provided in the attached chart.
Australians returning home
National Cabinet noted that there are a significant number of Australians wishing to return home from overseas, with the Commonwealth having taken steps recently to provide further support for those facing personal hardship.
National Cabinet agreed that all jurisdictions would continue to work towards enabling more Australians to return home by increasing the current caps on international passenger arrivals.
New South Wales and South Australia will continue to implement existing plans to accommodate more returning Australians by increasing their current international passenger arrival caps by Monday 28 September 2020 by 500 and 100 respectively.
Queensland and Western Australia will adopt a two-stage increase in their international passenger arrival caps over the next three weeks that will see an additional 500 Australians returning through each jurisdiction each week. Queensland will commence with an additional 200 passengers from Monday 28 September 2020, increasing to 500 passengers from Monday 5 October 2020. Western Australia will commence with an additional 200 passengers from Monday 28 September, increasing to 500 passengers from Monday 12 October 2020.
National Cabinet also agreed that any facilitation of special commercial services would be carried out through the jurisdictions of South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory.
Contact tracing by domestic airlines
National Cabinet noted that domestic airlines will progressively implement four mandatory contact tracing data fields (name, email address, mobile phone number and state of residence) from 1 October 2020 on a mandatory basis during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This will be implemented by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications in-conjunction with domestic airlines.
Coordinating contact tracing efforts and quarantine arrangements
National Cabinet welcomed the review by Dr Alan Finkel AO and Commodore Mark Hill CSC on the lessons learned from the visit to Health NSW by Commonwealth and Victorian officials.
National Cabinet agreed to a review of systems and operations in all jurisdictions to strengthen capacity and capability to effectively track, trace and isolate COVID-19. Further, National Cabinet agreed to commission a report by Dr Finkel to enable jurisdictions to exchange case and outbreak management data to enhance the management of outbreaks nationally.
National Cabinet received an update from Jane Halton AO PSM on the review of state and territory hotel quarantine systems. Australia’s hotel quarantine system has performed well across most jurisdictions and Jane Halton’s work will provide useful guidance on improvements for state and territory governments.
Agriculture Workers Code
National Cabinet noted progress with implementation of the Agriculture Workers Code, which is on track to be implemented by Victoria, NSW, ACT and the Northern Territory by at least 25 September 2020 as provided for in the Code.
Rural and Regional National Cabinet Reform Committee
National Cabinet commissioned the new Rural and Regional National Cabinet Reform Committee. As a first tranche, the Committee will focus on developing a shared understanding of the quantum, status and impact of existing investments by governments in rural and regional communities and, by the end of 2020 provide advice to National Cabinet on options to improve the delivery of existing investments to support Australia’s COVID-19 economic recovery through strong and sustainable rural and regional communities.
Aged Care
National Cabinet noted progress on joint actions underway to meet the commitments it made on 21 August 2020 to boost aged care preparedness at the provider, local, state and national level.
National Cabinet noted that while all states and territories are considered to have good existing emergency response capabilities and are on track with establishing and/or scaling up virtual or physical Response Centres, further practical actions will be undertaken to ensure a high level of preparedness.
The Commonwealth will continue to work with the states and territories, including through the development of resources, to support the operation of response centres.
On 7 September 2020, AHPPC endorsed advice from its Aged Care Advisory Group that each state and territory should establish emergency response centres.
Within each jurisdictions’ public health response structure, a dedicated aged care emergency response team has been established and key personnel identified at the state and Commonwealth level.
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is completing an infection control site visit program as part of its COVID-19 regulatory activity. As at 11 September 2020, the Commission has undertaken 673 visits relating to infection control out of a total 2,720 Residential aged care Facilities (RACF) (25 per cent). These visits are sequenced based on a risk assessment such that those visits represent those considered to be highest risk facilities. In total nationally, 2,446 visits to RACFs have been undertaken by the Commission, the Australian Defence Force, AUSMAT and state and territory governments.
Income tax exemption for small and medium business grants
The Commonwealth and Victoria have reached an agreement to make the grants to small and medium business recently announced under Victoria’s Business Resilience Package exempt from income tax. This recognises the exceptional circumstances Victorian businesses face.
The Commonwealth will extend this arrangement to all States and Territories on an application basis. Eligibility would be restricted to future grants program announcements for small and medium businesses facing similar circumstances to Victorian businesses. Any tax exemption would be time limited for grants paid until 30 June 2021.
AHPPC Advice on Boarding School Students
National Cabinet agreed to a new AHPPC Statement on Boarding Students and Students Living in Border Zones, which supports all jurisdictions adopting appropriate risk-based approaches (such as the Queensland approach) to ensure boarding students can cross borders and safely return home to their families during school holidays.

Millions of Australians will continue to receive medical care and support in their own homes with the Morrison Government investing more than $2 billion to extend a range of COVID-19 health measures for a further six months, to 31 March 2021.
Medicare-subsidised telehealth and pathology services, GP-led respiratory clinics, home medicines delivery, public and private hospital services will all be extended, as well as further investments in PPE.
These health initiatives play a major role in detecting, preventing and treating COVID-19.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the $2 billion extension in funding brought the Government’s commitment for the COVID-19 health response to more than $16.5 billion since March 2020.
“We will continue to provide Australians with critical health care and support to protect both lives and livelihoods,” the Prime Minister said.
“By providing telehealth and home delivery medicine services we are reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the community while also supporting people in isolation to get the care they need.
“Importantly this also includes mental health services, delivered over the phone, by trained specialists and GPs.
“As we continue to suppress COVID-19 while continuing to open our economy up, Australians can be reassured that we have the world’s best medical support in place to protect their health.”
Minister for Health Greg Hunt said “Our Governments response to the pandemic brought forward a 10 year plan on telehealth within 10 days.”
“As a consequence, over 30 million consultations protected the health and wellbeing of Australians, and protected our health workers and the viability of their practices.”
Patients will continue to have access to Medicare-subsidised telehealth for general practitioner, nursing, midwifery, allied health and allied mental health services, where and when they need them.
Telehealth is also being extended for essential specialist services, such as consultant physician, geriatrician, and neurosurgery services. Bulk billing will continue to be available and regular billing practices will apply to all of these services.
Up to 150 GP-led respiratory clinics across the country, which complement state run fever clinics, will continue their pivotal role in testing. Patients will continue to have access to bulk-billed COVID-19 tests under Medicare, with aged care residents and staff getting priority access to rapid testing.
Medicare-subsidised pathology and testing at the point of care will continue in 86 rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. This enables early identification of cases and rapid response if COVID-19 is detected in these highly vulnerable communities.
Eligible people will continue to get free home delivery of essential medicines by their local pharmacist. The Home Medicines Service has already delivered more than one million medicines to patients’ homes at no additional cost to patients.
Our support for states and territories continues, with the historic National Partnership Agreement ensuring the public health system is prepared and the public and private hospital systems are fully resourced and able to respond rapidly to any outbreak.
As an example, this agreement has enabled the transfer of more than 480 aged care residents to private hospitals and deployed clinical and nursing staff to assist in aged care during Victoria’s second wave.
The National Coronavirus Helpline will continue to operate around the clock providing important advice.
The expert Australian Health Protection Principal Committee recognises that future outbreaks will occur. The ongoing health response must be maintained to protect the health of Australians.

Millions of Australians will continue to receive medical care and support in their own homes with the Morrison Government investing more than $2 billion to extend a range of COVID-19 health measures for a further six months, to 31 March 2021.
Medicare-subsidised telehealth and pathology services, GP-led respiratory clinics, home medicines delivery, public and private hospital services will all be extended, as well as further investments in PPE.
These health initiatives play a major role in detecting, preventing and treating COVID-19.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the $2 billion extension in funding brought the Government’s commitment for the COVID-19 health response to more than $16.5 billion since March 2020.
“We will continue to provide Australians with critical health care and support to protect both lives and livelihoods,” the Prime Minister said.
“By providing telehealth and home delivery medicine services we are reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the community while also supporting people in isolation to get the care they need.
“Importantly this also includes mental health services, delivered over the phone, by trained specialists and GPs.
“As we continue to suppress COVID-19 while continuing to open our economy up, Australians can be reassured that we have the world’s best medical support in place to protect their health.”
Minister for Health Greg Hunt said “Our Governments response to the pandemic brought forward a 10 year plan on telehealth within 10 days.”
“As a consequence, over 30 million consultations protected the health and wellbeing of Australians, and protected our health workers and the viability of their practices.”
Patients will continue to have access to Medicare-subsidised telehealth for general practitioner, nursing, midwifery, allied health and allied mental health services, where and when they need them.
Telehealth is also being extended for essential specialist services, such as consultant physician, geriatrician, and neurosurgery services. Bulk billing will continue to be available and regular billing practices will apply to all of these services.
Up to 150 GP-led respiratory clinics across the country, which complement state run fever clinics, will continue their pivotal role in testing. Patients will continue to have access to bulk-billed COVID-19 tests under Medicare, with aged care residents and staff getting priority access to rapid testing.
Medicare-subsidised pathology and testing at the point of care will continue in 86 rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. This enables early identification of cases and rapid response if COVID-19 is detected in these highly vulnerable communities.
Eligible people will continue to get free home delivery of essential medicines by their local pharmacist. The Home Medicines Service has already delivered more than one million medicines to patients’ homes at no additional cost to patients.
Our support for states and territories continues, with the historic National Partnership Agreement ensuring the public health system is prepared and the public and private hospital systems are fully resourced and able to respond rapidly to any outbreak.
As an example, this agreement has enabled the transfer of more than 480 aged care residents to private hospitals and deployed clinical and nursing staff to assist in aged care during Victoria’s second wave.
The National Coronavirus Helpline will continue to operate around the clock providing important advice.
The expert Australian Health Protection Principal Committee recognises that future outbreaks will occur. The ongoing health response must be maintained to protect the health of Australians.