Category: Australian News

60 regional airports will receive a share of $41.2 million, in another step taken by the Federal Government to help Australia’s aviation industry get through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Regional Airports Program would assist the owners of regional airports to undertake essential works, promoting aviation safety and access for regional Australians.
“For our regional communities, the local airport is an essential link to the rest of Australia,” Mr McCormack said.
“The Government is investing in regional airports because we know this infrastructure is key to securing our regional aviation network now and into the post-COVID future.
“We are investing $100 million over four years from 2019-20 to 2022-23 to help owners of regional airports right across Australia deliver safer runways, taxiways and other safety upgrades such as new fencing and safety equipment.”
The Federal Government will work with successful recipients and communities under this round to deliver the funding needed to help support regional Australia’s post-pandemic recovery.
Examples of projects funded include:

• A $5 million runway upgrade at Ballarat Airport in Victoria
• $4.5 million for runway works at Merimbula Airport in New South Wales
• $2.45 million for runway and taxiway works at Whyalla Airport in South Australia
• $1.73 million for a range of work at Gladstone Airport in Queensland
• $1.66 million for re-surfacing works at Albany Airport in Western Australia

This funding is in addition to the Federal Government’s total package of support for Australia’s aviation industry of more than $1.2 billion.
For more information on the Regional Airports Program, visit https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/aviation/regional/rap.aspx

In Eden-Monaro, where in 2019 Greens’ preferences were crucial in determining the final result, the Greens have made a decision about who will appear in the important ‘number 2’ spot on their How to Vote cards when voting starts tomorrow. Eden-Monaro is currently held by a margin of less than one percent.
The Greens’ candidate, Cathy Griff, is campaigning on the climate crisis and a green-led economic recovery package, and this by-election is a golden opportunity to send a message.
The Greens will preference Labor ahead of the Liberals and Nationals, with Labor appearing in the number 2 spot on the How to Vote card.
“This is the best chance Eden-Monaro voters have to send a message about the climate crisis,” said Greens Leader, Adam Bandt.
“The government isn’t taking climate change seriously. The government is putting people’s lives and livelihoods at risk by making catastrophic bushfires more likely.”
“The people of Eden-Monaro have the most to lose if we don’t get the climate crisis under control.”
“Whoever you usually vote for, this time vote for the Greens’ Cathy Griff and send a powerful message to the government.”

The National Cabinet met today to further discuss Australia’s current COVID-19 response, easing restrictions in the coming months, helping Australians prepare to go back to work in a COVID-safe environment and getting the economy moving again.
The Chief Medical Officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, provided an update on the measures underway, the latest data and medical advice in relation to COVID-19.
Treasury Secretary, Dr Stephen Kennedy, provided an update on the labour market and current economic conditions.
There have been over 7,200 confirmed cases in Australia and sadly 102 people have died. There are now less than 500 active cases in Australia, and over the past week, daily infection rates have remained low. Testing remains high, with more than 1.7 million tests undertaken in Australia.
National Cabinet recommitted to a strategy of suppression of COVID-19.
We need to continue to have the right controls in place to test more people, trace those who test positive and respond to local outbreaks when they occur. These are precedent conditions to enable Australia to relax baseline restrictions and enable Australians to live and work in a COVID-safe economy.
National Cabinet again encouraged Australians to download the COVIDSafe app to ensure that we can protect Australians and continue to ease baseline restrictions. More than 6.3 million Australians have already downloaded the COVIDSafe app. This is an enormous achievement but more is needed.
National Cabinet will meet again on 26 June 2020.
Statement on risks of COVID and attending mass gathering protests
National Cabinet reiterated the AHPPC advice that protests are very high risk due to the large numbers of people closely gathering and challenges in identifying all contacts. AHPPC again urges the Australian community to not participate in mass gatherings.
Progress on restrictions
National Cabinet reconfirmed the commitment to the 3 step framework for a COVID-safe Australia to be completed in July 2020.
All states are now in Step 2 or 3, the number of new cases has remained low, and localised outbreaks have been responded to effectively. Active case numbers continue to drop, community transmission remains low, and we are starting to see days with no new cases in most parts of the country. This progress needs to be maintained in order to make further economic and social gains – by living and working in COVID-safe ways as restrictions continue to ease.
National Cabinet agreed to further changes based on AHPPC advice to enable extended removal of restrictions under Step 3 for indoor gathering density rules and reopening ticketed and seated outdoor events, including in stadiums.
Indoor Gatherings
National Cabinet agreed to remove the 100 person limit on non-essential indoor gatherings under the Step 3 Framework and replace it with:

• 1 person per 4sqm;
• staying 1.5 metres away from other people whenever and wherever possible;
• maintaining good hand washing and cough/sneeze hygiene;
• staying home when unwell, and getting tested if you have respiratory symptoms or a fever;
• downloading the COVIDSafe app to allow identification and traceability of people that have been in contact with a confirmed COVID case; and
• developing COVIDSafe plans for workplaces and premises.

States and territories will determine when to implement these changes under Step 3.
National Cabinet requested further advice from the AHPPC on the 1 person per 4 sqm density rule and application for small premises.
National Cabinet reiterated that it is vital for our society and our economy that we can live with this virus, and keep ourselves and others safe – we cannot risk a second wave and having to step backwards, especially now that we are making such good progress.
National Cabinet reiterated that high risk venues such as nightclubs do not form part of Step 3 and will be considered following further advice from medical experts.
Outdoor events including stadiums
For outdoor venues up to 40,000 spectator capacity, ticketed and seated events will be able to be held in front of a crowd of no more than 25 per cent of capacity under Step 3.
States and territories will make decisions on when to move to Step 3 under COVIDSafe plans.
At a minimum, COVID-Safe arrangements must be maintained including:

• 1 person per 4sqm;
• staying 1.5 metres away from other people whenever and wherever possible;
• maintaining good hand washing and cough/sneeze hygiene;
• staying home when unwell, and getting tested if you have respiratory symptoms or a fever; and
• downloading the COVIDSafe app to allow identification and traceability of people that have been in contact with a confirmed COVID case.

For outdoor venues of more than 40,000 spectator capacity, further advice is being sought from the AHPPC, with arrangements to be settled by the states and territories on a venue by venue basis.
National Cabinet reiterated that high risk outdoor events without ticketed seating such as music festivals do not form part of Step 3 and will be considered following further advice from medical experts.
International Students
National Cabinet agreed to work closely and carefully to return international students on a small, phased scale through a series of controlled pilots.
This planning process will take time and require well thought through plans from state and territory governments. Preconditions will include the reopening of internal state and territory borders, as well as the return to on-campus learning for the benefit of domestic students and the international students who are already in Australia.
Closing the Gap
Today National Cabinet reaffirmed its commitment to improving the lives of Indigenous Australians so this generation and the next can have the same expectations and opportunities as all Australians. We are doing this in partnership with Indigenous Australians for the first time, working together to decide how policies and targets are developed and delivered.
National Cabinet was provided with an update on the new Closing the Gap National Agreement, and set of targets, that will empower Indigenous Australians to transform their lives. The new National Agreement will set ambitious, yet achievable targets for all governments and will ensure that there is shared accountability and shared responsibility to achieve those targets.
The agreement is very close to final as the draft is now with states and territories for consideration before the Joint Council in July. Our aim is to have the agreement signed by the end of July.
National Federation Reform
Following on from National Cabinet’s agreement to continue as the ongoing forum for first ministers, to form the National Federation Reform Council (NFRC) and to cease the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), National Cabinet today had further discussions regarding the architecture to fundamentally transform federal relations and achieve policy outcomes in areas of shared interest to create jobs and to improve the lives of all Australians.
National Cabinet has announced six initial priority areas of reform, and the formation of six National Cabinet Reform Committees:

1. Rural and Regional Australia
2. Skills
3. Energy
4. Infrastructure and Transport
5. Population and Migration
6. Health

These committees will be driven by leaders of National Cabinet and tasked to progress a rapid jobs agenda.
Deregulation will be taken forward by the Council of Federal Financial Relations (CFFR) as a matter of priority.
National Cabinet held further discussions regarding the role of the CFFR, which is led by the Commonwealth Treasurer and made up of Treasurers of states and territories. The CFFR has a central role in the new system, supporting the work of National Cabinet as it focuses on job creation. Specifically, National Cabinet has tasked CFFR to progress targeted reforms in areas such as tax, deregulation and housing. CFFR will report to National Cabinet on findings and recommendations of these commissioned reform projects, with input from Expert Advisory Groups. Further information on reform projects to be undertaken by the CFFR will be provided shortly.
The CFFR will also take on responsibility for coordination of all commonwealth/state funding agreements, including National Partnership Agreements. National Cabinet has asked that CFFR commence a review of existing agreements with a view to consolidation and rationalisation. This includes identifying agreements that could be ceased in order to streamline responsibilities and to reduce duplication and overlap. CFFR will provide National Cabinet with an update on their progress and a plan for implementation by the end of August.
As new Commonwealth/State National Partnership Agreements are developed, it will be CFFR’s responsibility to negotiate funding elements, in consultation with relevant portfolio ministers.

Unemployed people in Eden-Monaro would have meaningful work under The Greens’ plan to recover from the coronavirus economic shock in a visionary plan that would also address the climate crisis.
The Greens say this election is a chance to send a message to Canberra about tackling climate change and providing decent jobs, especially for young people.
The 5670 local jobs provided by the Invest to Recover plan would assist the post-pandemic recovery, while also providing long-term employment for the next generation.
The Greens’ modelling shows more than 1600 jobs would come from the construction of public housing and sustainable infrastructure, another 1100 in caring roles and the public sector, with the vital post-bushfire environmental restoration to offer another 200 jobs.
A youth Jobs Guarantee would also put another 1250 people under 30 into meaningful employment, preventing a lost generation of young people in towns across the region.
6100 people were unemployed in Eden-Monaro and surrounds (Capital Region SA4) as of April 2020 and many more were under-employed (that is, didn’t have enough hours of work).
Importantly, the green recovery plan would provide this jobs boost while also furthering the transition away from coal, oil and gas, helping minimise the risk of escalating bushfires that devastated Eden-Monaro in January.
Greens Candidate for Eden-Monaro Cathy Griff, Leader Adam Bandt MP, and Senator for NSW Mehreen Faruqi say the job offering presents a compelling case for a green economic recovery over the government’s gas-led approach.
 
Greens Candidate for Eden Monaro, Cathy Griff said:
“Our recovery from the bushfires has a long way to go. We’ve got a lot of work ahead, and clearly young people will be key to getting Eden-Monaro working again.
“Our ‘Invest to Recover’ plan will jump-start the local economy with green investment, grow new industries and create thousands of jobs, while also providing a safety net that ensures people out of work won’t be thrown into poverty.
“Young people across the region will bear the brunt of politicians’ decisions made today. We need a recovery plan that not only provides jobs for young people, but diminishes the worst ravages of the climate crisis. A pandemic response that takes one step forward on the economy, but two steps back on climate will be disastrous for young people.
“Recovery must mean a vibrant future for young people that also steps away from risky fossil fuels. This by-election is a valuable chance for people across Eden Monaro to send a message that we can’t rely on the failed approaches of the past.”
 
Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt MP said:
“People across Eden-Monaro have had a bloody tough year. After many sleepless nights fighting to save their homes and communities from the bushfires, now the local economy has been hit by the coronavirus freight train too.
“People in Eden-Monaro are now the most powerful voters in the country. This is a chance to send a message to Canberra about acting on the climate crisis and providing decent jobs, especially for young people.
“We need an investment-led recovery plan that tackles the climate crisis and coronavirus crisis while also delivering long-lasting benefits to the country. Instead, the government’s recovery plan is an insult to everyone doing it tough in Eden-Monaro.
“The government is putting lives at risk. The government’s coal- and gas-fired recovery will do nothing to put Eden-Monaro locals back into work, but will just make it more likely that bushfire seasons will get worse.
“People are still homeless after the bushfires, but instead of building houses to put a roof over their heads, Scott Morrison is funding renovations with his ‘granite benchtop grants‘ that won’t help one single person get back into their homes.
“There is a better way forward. A jobs-rich investment-led recovery will find meaningful work for more than 90% of people who are out of work in Eden-Monaro, stop people falling through the cracks and rebuild an economy that puts people first.”.
 
Australian Greens Senator for NSW, Mehreen Faruqi said:
“Communities in Eden-Monaro have a real opportunity to reset the political agenda, and vote for progressive change and a Green New Deal that actually works for people, not fossil-fuel vested interests.
“Constructing public and community houses will provide a permanent home for people who are struggling to keep a roof over their heads, while creating jobs and apprenticeships.
“We can rebuild and recover through public investment in strengthening TAFE and universities which have been abandoned by the government. Higher education will be critical to get us through the climate crisis and the pandemic, and beyond.
“Southern NSW has been terribly affected by the summer bushfires. The crisis wrought havoc and destruction across our state. In 2020, no one can say with a straight face that we are not in a climate emergency.
“We need a huge investment to build climate resilience and plan for the future. Let’s support a just and rapid transition to 100 per cent renewable energy that can actually create tens of thousands of jobs for the future.
“The Greens have a plan to invest in our communities. We can recover from the COVID-19 crisis, rebuild after the bushfires and create thousands of jobs, including in Eden-Monaro,” she said.

Two thirds of Australians support laws requiring streaming services like Netflix and Amazon to show and fund locally made shows and films, new research shows.
Greens Spokesperson for the Arts Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“The polling shows the public wants Australian made content – TV, films and documentaries.
“The Government should get on with regulating the bigwigs of streaming like Netflix, Amazon and Apple.
“With these tech giants taking more and more market share it’s a no brainer to ensure they contribute to the making and telling of Australian stories.
“The government has dragged its feet on this issue and then after cutting local content requirements for broadcasters, put the issue out to an options paper that just yesterday, they’ve extended the time on.
“There is no need for more reviews. The arts and entertainment industry is on its knees because of Coronavirus lock downs and the removal of local content requirements at a time when people are consuming content more than ever, was another blow.
“Letting broadcasters out of local content requirements and failing to immediately regulate streaming services has 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.
“The government should implement requirements now to help stimulate the industry after the havoc wreaked on area and entertainment by Covid-19.”
The national poll of 1008 adult Australians in all states, was commissioned by Senator Sarah Hanson-Young and conducted by Lonergan between 30 April and 4 May 2020.
 

Today in the House of Representatives the Morrison Government stood by its regulations which slash Australia Post services and threaten jobs and wages.
Labor Leader Anthony Albanese moved to disallow the regulations which cut the frequency of postie delivery rounds, extend mail delivery times for millions of Australians and put the jobs of up to one in four posties and many others at risk.
The Prime Minister was so desperate to stop debate he used his majority to silence Labor on his Australia Post service and job cuts.
Many Australians, including isolated, vulnerable and older Australians and those living in regional areas, rely on regular postal services.
These regulations rip away services from Australians who need them most.
Labor considers the parcels boom an opportunity to preserve and create jobs — not cut them.
The Morrison Government has used the coronavirus pandemic as cover for an attack on essential services and frontline workers.

Labor welcomes the community call for an anti-racism strategy.
Today, 30 major community organisations have called on the Prime Minister and the Labor Leader to establish a bipartisan National Anti-Racism Strategy.
This call must be heeded as there is no place for racism in Australia.
Regrettably, there has been a rise in racism as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Human Rights Commission says close to a quarter of people who have lodged complaints about racial discrimination in the past two months have been targeted because of COVID-19.
Just as we are responding to COVID-19, we need a bipartisan approach to tackling racism in Australia through a national anti-racism strategy.
Labor has, and will continue to, raise this issue in Parliament and will keep working with, and listening, to culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
While the vast majority of Australians abhor racism, we need to stand against the actions of an unrepresentative minority so that we can all get through this together.
Labor supports a national anti-racism strategy and is ready to work with the Government to see this progressed as a bipartisan, unifying initiative.
We would welcome the Morrison Government adopting a bipartisan approach to combating racism in Australia through a national anti-racism strategy and any other appropriate measures.

Australians will have better access to subsidised medicines and medication management services through community pharmacy with the Morrison Government finalising a Seventh Community Pharmacy Agreement (7CPA).
Under this landmark agreement, our Government will continue to partner with community pharmacy to ensure Australians have access to more than 200 million subsidised Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescriptions each year through their community pharmacy of choice.
Medicine safety will be a key focus of the 7CPA with our Government increasing its investment in medication management services and programs to $1.2 billion over five years, which is an additional $100 million investment compared to actual expenditure in the Sixth Community Pharmacy Agreement.
Elderly Australians, people with chronic conditions and Australians on concession cards will benefit from this increased investment through simplified and improved Community Pharmacy medication management and adherence programs, such as dose administration aids and medicine checks.
There will also be greater support for regional, rural and remote pharmacies to deliver community pharmacy services with reforms to the Rural Pharmacy Maintenance Allowance to adopt the Modified Monash Model for rural classification.
Our Government will also implement reforms to improve access to medicines for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by expanding the number of people eligible for the Closing the Gap PBS Co-payment measure.
This program provides free or lower cost medicines to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who have, or at risk of, chronic disease.
There will be greater transparency for consumers on the cost of their medicines and the Government will reduce the level of discretionary fees that can to be charged on medicines priced below the general patient co-payment.
Consumers will continue to have access to cheaper medicines through the continuation of the optional $1 discount on PBS co-payments.
Our Government will also work to support the adoption of a nationally consistent approach to vaccinations available through community pharmacies.
The 7CPA signed by the Commonwealth, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and for the first time the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, will commence on 1 July 2020, and be in place until 30 June 2025.
The 7CPA demonstrates the Morrison Government’s ongoing support for patients and community pharmacy, and acknowledges that Australia’s community pharmacies have played, and will continue to play a crucial role in our Government’s efforts to improve the health of all Australians.
Community pharmacies have played a central role in supporting their community during the recent bushfires and have kept their doors open to support patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Remuneration for the dispensing of subsidised PBS medicines, community pharmacy medication management programs and services, is expected to be $18.3 billion over the five years of the agreement.
Our Government will provide greater funding predictability for the dispensing of PBS medicines by community pharmacies through structural reforms to dispensing remuneration, and risk sharing arrangements to ensure Australians continue to have timely access to safe and affordable medicines for the next five years.
Reforms to pharmaceutical wholesaling and the Community Service Obligation Funding Pool arrangements will ensure pharmaceutical wholesalers can continue to support community pharmacies in providing equitable and timely access to medicines for all Australians, particularly those living outside our major cities.
The Morrison Government continues to make more medicines available for patients through the PBS. Since 2013, our Government has approved more than 2,400 new or amended medicine listings on the PBS.
This represents an average of around 30 medicine listings or amendments per month – or one each day – at an overall investment by the Government of $11.6 billion.
Taken together, the measures agreed as part of the 7CPA underscore the Morrison Government’s rock solid commitment to ensuring that Australians can access essential, affordable medicines and community pharmacy services, when and where they need them.

The Australian Senate has narrowly voted down a Greens motion to disallow parts of the Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Amendment Rules (No. 2) 2020 that have the effect of excluding universities from accessing the JobKeeper wage subsidy.
The vote was defeated 30 votes to 31.
The Greens, Labor and Centre Alliance voted for the motion; the government, One Nation and Senator Lambie opposed it.
Senator Faruqi said:
“Universities are being smashed during this pandemic and the government has refused to throw them a lifeline.
“The government is fully aware that 30,000 jobs are on the line, but they just don’t care, because this is an opportunity to destabilise and weaken the university sector and lay the groundwork for further marketisation.
“Scott Morrison and his minister’s mistreatment of universities in this crisis is nothing but their ideology writ large. With a $60 billion underspend they don’t even have a financial justification to hide behind for excluding universities — or migrants and casuals — from JobKeeper.
“Shame on the Senators who claim to represent regional areas, but just voted to skewer any chance regional university workers in their states had of getting JobKeeper.
“The Greens will continue to fight the myopic, neoliberal corporatism that the Liberals use time and again to weaken public institutions and the communities which they are a part of,” she said.