Category: Australian News

Over the past 12 months, 86.1% of Australians did not have to pay to visit their GP.
Figures for the past 12 months show:

• An increase of more than 5.5 million free bulk-billed GP visits compared to the same period last year
• The number of fully subsidised services across Medicare rose with an additional 9.6 million bulk-billed services delivered for a total of 343.6 million.

The Morrison Government’s commitment to Medicare and bulk billing remains rock solid.
In March, to help reduce the risk of community transmission of COVID-19, the Government introduced new temporary Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) telehealth items.
The Government’s rapid response meant better protection for patients and health care providers.
During this period, the COVID-19 temporary telehealth and telephone items represented 3.4 per cent of services across Medicare. This included:

• 110,060 telehealth consultations provided by GPs, specialists and allied health professionals.
• 1,137,873 phone consultations provided by GPs, specialists and allied health professionals.

The uptake of the COVID-19 temporary telehealth items was most pronounced for GPs. In March, 7.5 per cent of GP visits were provided through via phone (999,470 services) or telehealth (65,996 services).
We doubled bulk-billing incentives to support these critical services because of the health emergency.
The Government unveiled a comprehensive $2.4 billion health package to protect all Australians, including vulnerable groups such as the elderly, those with chronic conditions and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, from COVID-19.
Australia has one of the best health systems in the world, founded on Medicare.
The figures released today show Medicare, under this Government, is supporting the health and wellbeing of Australians more than ever.

The Greens are calling on Environment Minister Sussan Ley to immediately release the interim report into Australia’s environment laws handed to her a week ago by the independent reviewer.
Greens Spokesperson for the Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young who successfully moved an order in the Senate for the interim report to be released by today at the latest, said:
“The Environment Minister has sat on the interim report into Australia’s environment laws for a week already and then today tried to claim releasing it would reveal Cabinet deliberations. This is a pathetic excuse for keeping it hidden from the public.
“The 10-year statutory review into the EPBC Act is supposed to be independent of government and therefore any interim report cannot possibly reveal Cabinet deliberations.
“The Minister was handed the interim report a week ago, there is no excuse for holding onto it any longer, it should be released immediately in full.
“Graeme Samuel who is leading the review has said he intends to consult on the interim report yet he cannot do that if the community and stakeholders are unable to even see it.
“The Auditor-General’s assessment of the government’s management of the environment and our wildlife, released last month, was scathing.
“The Environment Minister and the Federal Department have failed to protect the environment and are, simply put, incompetent. Refusing to release the interim report suggests it highlights further ineptitude and failures by the government which they are trying to cover up.”

As Melbourne goes back into stage 3 lockdowns, the Federal government is pulling the major childcare supports which played a positive role in the initial outbreak response.
Dan Tehan’s announcement of a new semi-subsidy will risk the viability of many centres who will neither be able to return to normal operations, nor collect full income if parents keep their kids at home.
“The Government is tying itself up in knots. It would be far simpler and fairer to extend free childcare after 12 July,” Greens Leader, Adam Bandt said.
“Dan Tehan has presented no evidence that free childcare shouldn’t continue, so why change it now, in such a precarious moment?”
“The safest course of action would be to extend free childcare after 12 July with a guaranteed relief payment and extend JobKeeper to all childcare workers.
“Childcare centres have had a tough time and many are on the brink. They deserve some policy consistency and certainty so that they can focus on working with health authorities to ensure safe and hygienic practices.
“I’m concerned that the Morrison government appears impatient to start withdrawing social supports that were a vital part of Australia’s largely successful efforts to flatten the curve.
“From chasing after businesses who may have been paid JobKeeper in error to cutting childcare, it looks like Scott Morrison’s instincts are wrong again, and we need another united effort to drag him over the line again,” Bandt said.

More than 6,100 older Australians will live independently for longer following a $325.7 million investment in new home care packages by the Morrison Government.
The extra 6,105 home care packages brings the total number of additional packages to over 50,000 since the 18-19 Budget, at a cost of more than $3 billion.
Home care package numbers will increase to 164,135 in 2022-23 – up more than 170 per cent since Labor were last in office – with funding increasing by 258 per cent due to growth in high-level packages.
Following a request from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, the Federal Government has agreed to extend its reporting period for a further three and a half months due to the impact of COVID-19.
The Commission will now deliver its final report by 26 February, 2021.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his government remained focused on the needs of older Australians, particularly as the country battled the impacts of COVID-19.
“Our number one priority for older Australians is to keep people safe and healthy and to live independently,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister said the suspension of Royal Commission hearings had reduced the ability to engage with stakeholders at the height of the pandemic.
“While these delays are have been caused by unprecedented circumstances, we’re committed to ensuring the Royal Commission has the time and resources it needs to do its important work.”
As part of its inquiry, the Royal Commission has recently announced it will examine the impact of the virus on residential aged care and home care, including responses from the sector and governments.
Minister Hunt said it would serve as an important review.
“This further investment in home care supports our senior Australians who are seeking assistance to stay longer in their homes,” Minister Hunt said.
“The extension of the Royal Commission is in response to the delays due to COVID-19 and the opportunity for the Commission to inquire into the impact of the pandemic on aged care.”
Minister Colbeck said the latest investment of $325.7 million toward 6,105 home care packages was another step toward reducing wait times and connecting more senior Australians to essential care sooner.
“We remain focused on ensuring the health and wellbeing of those people we love most,” Minister Colbeck said.
“From additional home care packages, to improvements to medication management, additional dementia training support for workers and funding to ensure younger people can move to more age-appropriate support – the Federal Government continues to prioritise the needs of senior Australians.
“We look forward to receiving the Royal Commission’s final report. The Government will carefully consider the Commissioners’ recommendations.”
As part of the extension, the Hon Tony Pagone QC will be formally appointed as the Chair of the Royal Commission.
Commissioner Pagone has been acting in the role since late 2019, following the death of the Honourable Richard Ross Sinclair Tracey AM RFD QC.

The Greens are calling on the Morrison Government to rule out killing more Australian jobs by permanently abolishing local content rules and to get on with requiring streaming giants to produce Australian-made shows.
Greens Spokesperson for Communication and the Arts Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said now the consultation period for the local content options paper had closed, Minister Fletcher needed to get on with the job.
“Letting broadcasters out of local content requirements and failing to immediately regulate streaming services put the jobs of every person who works on Australian drama, documentaries and children’s TV shows from actors, to writers, to crews at risk,” Senator Hanson-Young said.
“The big wigs of streaming and broadcasting can’t be allowed to call the shots when it comes to Australian stories on our screens.
“Regulating streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon, Apple and Stan should be part of the government’s arts and entertainment industry Covid recovery package, which is woefully inadequate, and therefore treated as a matter of urgency.
”The Government can help create jobs and generate investment in the domestic market by backing requirements on the giant tech companies and streaming services. Local content requirements must also be reinstated for free-to-air broadcasters.
“Australian stories are vital for our culture and social fabric and the sustainability of our arts and entertainment industry.
“Good quality children’s content is good for the community and it creates jobs.
“The time for reviews and consultation is over. Minister Fletcher needs to come out and tell the community and the industry what he is going to do to protect Australian-made stories and jobs.”

The Greens are calling on Environment Minister Sussan Ley to immediately release the interim report into Australia’s environment laws handed to her a week ago by the independent reviewer.
Greens Spokesperson for the Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young who successfully moved an order in the Senate for the interim report to be released by today at the latest, said:
“The Environment Minister has sat on the interim report into Australia’s environment laws for a week already and then today tried to claim releasing it would reveal Cabinet deliberations. This is a pathetic excuse for keeping it hidden from the public.
“The 10-year statutory review into the EPBC Act is supposed to be independent of government and therefore any interim report cannot possibly reveal Cabinet deliberations.
“The Minister was handed the interim report a week ago, there is no excuse for holding onto it any longer, it should be released immediately in full.
“Graeme Samuel who is leading the review has said he intends to consult on the interim report yet he cannot do that if the community and stakeholders are unable to even see it.
“The Auditor-General’s assessment of the government’s management of the environment and our wildlife, released last month, was scathing.
“The Environment Minister and the Federal Department have failed to protect the environment and are, simply put, incompetent. Refusing to release the interim report suggests it highlights further ineptitude and failures by the government which they are trying to cover up.”

The Morrison Government will commit $190 million to a new Recycling Modernisation Fund (RMF) that will generate $600 million of recycling investment and drive a billion-dollar transformation of Australia’s waste and recycling capacity.
More than 10,000 jobs will be created and over 10 million tonnes of waste diverted from landfill to the making of useful products as Australia turbo charges its recycling capacity.
The RMF will support innovative investment in new infrastructure to sort, process and remanufacture materials such as mixed plastic, paper, tyres and glass, with Commonwealth funding contingent on co-funding from industry, states and territories.
Australia’s waste and recycling transformation is being further strengthened by an additional:

• $35 million to implement Commonwealth commitments under Australia’s National Waste Policy Action Plan, which sets the direction for waste management and recycling in Australia until 2030.
• $24.6 million on Commonwealth commitments to improve our national waste data so it can measure recycling outcomes and track progress against our national waste targets.
• The introduction of new Commonwealth waste legislation to formally enact the Government’s waste export ban and encourage companies to take greater responsibility for the waste they generate, from product design through to recycling, remanufacture or disposal (Product Stewardship).

The moves are part of a national strategy to change the way Australia looks at waste, grow our economy, protect our environment and reach a national resource recovery target of 80% by 2030.
“As we cease shipping our waste overseas, the waste and recycling transformation will reshape our domestic waste industry, driving job creation and putting valuable materials back into the economy,” Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said today.
“Australians need to have faith that the items they place in their kerbside recycling bins will be re-used in roads, carpet, building materials and a range of other essential items.
“At the same time, we need to stop throwing away tonnes of electronic waste and batteries each year and develop new ways to recycle valuable resources.
“As we pursue National Waste Policy Action Plan targets, we need manufacturers and industry to take a genuine stewardship role that helps create a sustainable circular economy.
“This is a once in a generation opportunity to remodel waste management, reduce pressure on our environment and create economic opportunity.”
Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management, Trevor Evans, said that the unparalleled expansion of Australia’s recycling capacity followed close consultation with industry.
“Our targeted investment will grow Australia’s circular economy, create more jobs and build a stronger onshore recycling industry,” Assistant Minister Evans said.
“Australian companies are turning plastics and household waste into furniture, decking, fencing and clothing, and we are developing new domestic markets for recycled materials by setting national standards for recycled content in roads and making recycled products a focus of procurement for infrastructure, defence estate management and general government purchasing.
“Our targeted investment will grow Australia’s circular economy, create more jobs and build a stronger onshore recycling industry.
“Companies are already moving with The Pact Group announcing a $500 million investment in facilities, research and technology, Coca-Cola Amatil committing to new recycling targets, and Pact, Cleanaway and Asahi Beverages establishing a $30 million recycling facility in Albury.”
The unparalleled expansion of Australia’s recycling capacity follows the 2019 National Waste Policy Action Plan, Australia’s government ban on exports of waste plastic, paper, glass and tyres, and this year’s first ever National Plastics Summit.

The Commonwealth and Victorian Governments will support construction jobs across Victoria by jointly investing an additional $525 million to deliver shovel-ready infrastructure projects and urgent road safety upgrades.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said further investment in infrastructure would play a critical role in the Commonwealth’s JobMaker plan and help the Victorian economy as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Partnering with State and Territory Governments to invest in more infrastructure projects across Australia is a key part of our JobMaker plan to rebuild our economy and create more jobs,” the Prime Minister said.
“This funding injection means we have brought forward or provided additional funding in excess of $830 million to Victoria in the past eight months.
“This package builds on the fast tracking of $514 million for infrastructure in Victoria which we announced last November, locking in priority upgrades that will bust congestion, increase productivity, improve safety, and boost jobs at a time we need it most.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Government has worked with the Victorian Government to provide additional funding for two key infrastructure projects.
“We are providing an additional $178.2 million towards the Regional Rail Revival package in Victoria, bringing the total Australian Government contribution to this project to $1.8 billion,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“The Federal Government will also provide an additional $70.6 million in funding to complete the duplication of the Princes Highway East between Traralgon and Sale, bringing the total Australian Government contribution to $202.6 million for this project.”
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the additional $320 million in federal funding had taken the Commonwealth’s infrastructure investment in Victoria to more than $29.5 billion.
“Federal funding for this package has been drawn from the recently announced $1.5 billion allocation to priority shovel-ready projects and targeted road safety works and is in addition to our existing commitments,” the Treasurer said.
“We will continue to work closely with both levels of Government in Victoria to get Victorians home sooner and safer whilst creating jobs and supporting our economic recovery.”
The Victorian Government will also provide $179.8 million towards the two key projects and $25.7 million for targeted road safety works.
Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews said the road and rail projects will better connect Victorians and provide a boost for major regional centres.
“This partnership with the Commonwealth will build projects regional communities need and help keep our construction industry strong – which is more important than ever right now as we rebuild from the pandemic,” the Premier said.
“This package is on top of our $2.7 billion we’re investing in new projects across the state to get shovels in the ground – and boots in the mud – to kickstart our economy.”
Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge the said funding injection would deliver shovel-ready projects for Victoria.
“This funding will significantly boost the Regional Rail Revival Package, helping to improve conditions for train passengers on their journeys to and from Melbourne,” Mr Tudge said.
“At the same time, investment in targeted road safety works and the Princes Highway duplication will mean safer, reliable roads for thousands of Victorians.”
Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan said this investment built on the State Government’s investment in roads and rail in regional Victoria.
“We’re building the transport infrastructure to support better connections to our regional cities and country towns and deliver safer roads and more reliable regional rail journeys.”
The jointly-funded package is supported by investments from the Commonwealth ($320.3 million) and Victorian Government ($205.5 million).
VICTORIAN INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE
Shovel-ready projects

Road safety upgrades