Category: Australian News

The Australian Government has renewed calls for Australians to stay vigilant as the toll of people who have died as a result of COVID-19 rises to 100.
Minister for Health Greg Hunt and Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians Richard Colbeck today urged residents to maintain physical distancing and strict hygiene measures to ensure the nation continues to flatten the curve.
It follows confirmation of the death of a resident at Sydney aged care facility Newmarch House – the centre’s 19th since the COVID-19 outbreak at the facility, with 17 directly attributed to COVID-19 and Australia’s 100th overall.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to all those people who have lost a loved one as a result of this pandemic,” Minister Hunt said.
“This tragic toll reminds us that even as Australian states and territories move toward easing of restrictions, the threat of this virus remains.”
Minister Hunt said it was vital Australians continued to follow the advice of National Cabinet and the AHPPC, which clearly outlines the measures needed to ensure we can navigate through this pandemic.
“We recognise the profound impact of every single death in Australia as a result of COVID-19,” Minister Hunt said. “While this is a tragic toll, it also indicates how strict measures adopted across the nation have served to protect our way of life.
“The Australian Government has outlined a clear pathway to recovery, but Australians everywhere should stay alert, follow physical distancing guidelines and look out for each other. Together, we can do this.”
Minister Colbeck said he was deeply saddened by the latest death at Newmarch House.
“Our thoughts are extended to all those affected by this latest loss,” Minister Colbeck said.
“The deaths at Newmarch House underline the dangers COVID-19 pose for vulnerable and senior Australians.
“Protecting the health and wellbeing of residents remains a focus for both Commonwealth and State.
“We are not out of the woods. Protecting our most vulnerable is everybody’s responsibility.”
Minister Colbeck said the Aged Care Visitor Access Code, released earlier this month, set out a nationally consistent framework to ensure the health and wellbeing of aged care residents remained a priority while ensuring important social connections were retained.
Both Minister Hunt and Minister Colbeck said the COVIDSafe app remained a key to ensuring a stronger, safer future for Australia.
The voluntary opt-in contactp app will help health authorities know who has been in contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus.
The CovidSafe app can be found here.
The Aged Care Visitor Access Code can be found here.

The Greens have backed a community call to retain free childcare in light of the Education Minister’s strongest indications yet that the government would revert back to a fee-paying model, potentially as early as next month.
Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Greens spokesperson for Education, said:
“Free childcare has been a huge step forward for access to childcare for families. It should be made permanent.
“The government may think it will save money by going back to the fee-paying model, but we know the social and economic benefits of free childcare are enormous.
“The economic impacts of COVID-19 are going to be felt for many months and years. People are doing it tough, and a return to fee-paying childcare now will only make things worse.
“The Minister should be looking at how to ensure ongoing access to free childcare, and options for expanded public operation of childcare, not doubling down on a return to fees that will once again prevent families from accessing childcare.
“Free childcare, hand-in-hand with a fair and decent wage for workers in the sector, benefits everyone.
“It’s time to recognise childcare as an essential service available to anyone who needs it, not just those who can afford it,” she said.

The Australian Government has renewed calls for Australians to stay vigilant as the toll of people who have died as a result of COVID-19 rises to 100.
Minister for Health Greg Hunt and Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians Richard Colbeck today urged residents to maintain physical distancing and strict hygiene measures to ensure the nation continues to flatten the curve.
It follows confirmation of the death of a resident at Sydney aged care facility Newmarch House – the centre’s 19th since the COVID-19 outbreak at the facility, with 17 directly attributed to COVID-19 and Australia’s 100th overall.
“We extend our deepest sympathies to all those people who have lost a loved one as a result of this pandemic,” Minister Hunt said.
“This tragic toll reminds us that even as Australian states and territories move toward easing of restrictions, the threat of this virus remains.”
Minister Hunt said it was vital Australians continued to follow the advice of National Cabinet and the AHPPC, which clearly outlines the measures needed to ensure we can navigate through this pandemic.
“We recognise the profound impact of every single death in Australia as a result of COVID-19,” Minister Hunt said. “While this is a tragic toll, it also indicates how strict measures adopted across the nation have served to protect our way of life.
“The Australian Government has outlined a clear pathway to recovery, but Australians everywhere should stay alert, follow physical distancing guidelines and look out for each other. Together, we can do this.”
Minister Colbeck said he was deeply saddened by the latest death at Newmarch House.
“Our thoughts are extended to all those affected by this latest loss,” Minister Colbeck said.
“The deaths at Newmarch House underline the dangers COVID-19 pose for vulnerable and senior Australians.
“Protecting the health and wellbeing of residents remains a focus for both Commonwealth and State.
“We are not out of the woods. Protecting our most vulnerable is everybody’s responsibility.”
Minister Colbeck said the Aged Care Visitor Access Code, released earlier this month, set out a nationally consistent framework to ensure the health and wellbeing of aged care residents remained a priority while ensuring important social connections were retained.
Both Minister Hunt and Minister Colbeck said the COVIDSafe app remained a key to ensuring a stronger, safer future for Australia.
The voluntary opt-in contactp app will help health authorities know who has been in contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus.
The CovidSafe app can be found here.
The Aged Care Visitor Access Code can be found here.

Support Act is delighted to announce that its Wellbeing Helpline has been expanded beyond the music and theatre industries to now incorporate all artists and arts workers across Australia.
The Wellbeing Helpline is a free confidential service available 24/7, staffed by professional clinicians familiar with issues faced by people working in music and the arts. It can be accessed by calling 1800 959 500 within Australia, or via email. Zoom video calls are also available.
The twelve-month expansion of this essential service has been made possible thanks to the Australian Government, through the Office for the Arts.
Clive Miller, CEO, says he is thrilled that Support Act can extend access to the Helpline to the wider arts community during this challenging time.
“COVID-19 is clearly having a huge impact on the mental health and wellbeing of people across the entire arts sector, with many people struggling as a result of financial hardship, concern about careers, being cut off from social networks and working from home. Our clinicians can provide support in all these areas and more, and we encourage any music or arts worker who is concerned about their mental health to call the Helpline on 1800 959 500.”
Support Act launched the Wellbeing Helpline in June 2018 with support from The Tony Foundation and Levi’s and partnered with the Arts Centre Melbourne’s Arts Wellbeing Collective to extend access to all performing arts workers in July 2019.
The Wellbeing Helpline is delivered in partnership with AccessEAP, a leading not-for-profit Employee Assistance Program provider with close to 30 years’ experience in mental health and workplace wellbeing.
“I have used the Helpline and it really helped me at the time deal with some flat feelings after a project came to an end,” said Ben Steel, writer & director of the documentary, The Show Must Go On . “It was a relief to speak with a trained clinician who could understand my creative world and provide thoughtful and relevant advice at a convenient time to my busy schedule. I know screen actors and our friends across all of arts & entertainment will benefit from having access to this incredible industry Helpline.”
More information is available on our website, including digital resources to download and share on socials, websites, emails as well as venues and workplaces.

Australian Greens Disability Rights Spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John has called on the South Australian Premier to reconsider the appointment of David Caudrey to lead the task force investigating the death of Ann Marie Smith, citing “unacceptable conflicts of interest”.
“The tragic death of Ms Smith must be investigated by a truly independent task force led by disabled people, not by individuals with links to the very systems at fault,” Steele-John said.
“Unfortunately, there is no chance of an independent outcome when this task force is led by Mr Caudrey; it’s letting the fox guard the henhouse.
“Mr Caudrey has been working in various state government disability roles with direct links to the very systems that have failed Ms Smith for more than a decade.
“As Executive Director of Disability SA from 2011 to 2016, Mr Caudrey lead the very agency that funded Ms Smith’s supports until her transition to the NDIS.Then, as South Australia’s Disability Advocate he had direct oversight of her care under the NDIS.
“Investigating both of these institutions, their systemic failures and their role in the abuse, and ultimately the death, of Ms Smith will be a key component of the task force’s work, including potentially Mr Caudrey’s own role.
“His role in this taskforce is completely untenable and he must be replaced immediately.”
South Australian Greens Disability Spokesperson Tammy Franks MLC said:
“South Australians are still reeling from what happened to Ann Marie Smith. We failed her when our systems failed her.
“While a task force is welcomed we need to make sure it has the trust of the community to do its important work. That requires absolute clarity to community that the Chair is truly independent and also does not come with the baggage of previously being a leader in shaping the broken system.”

The Greens have pledged to make Australia’s rivers and lakes swimmable again, under their Covid-19 Economic Recovery plan, that’s good for jobs, the economy and the environment.
The Swimmable Lakes and Rivers Pledge would see iconic rivers and lakes across the country restored and clean enough to swim in within the next decade.
It is one of the job-rich projects under the Greens Next Gen Guarantee which would see young people guaranteed a job and secure income to restart the economy and build a better normal after Covid-19.
Greens South Australian Senator and Spokesperson for Environment and Water Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“A green jobs recovery is desperately needed to stem the flow of jobs across the country, as our young people in particular stare down the barrel of years of unemployment.
“From the bushfires to yearning to reconnect with nature after the Covid lockdown, Australian’s are concerned about our environment more than ever before.
“Making the rivers like the Adelaide’s Torrens, Melbourne’s Yarra, Perth’s Swan and even Canberra’s Lake Burley Griffin, clean enough to swim in, is a wonderful investment in our environment and the community.
“The Greens plan for getting young people into jobs that rehabilitate bushfire devastated areas, protect native wildlife and restore our iconic rivers is a win-win. It’s good for the economy, it tackles youth unemployment and its good for our environment.
“Swimmable rivers and lakes in our cities isn’t just good for jobs, it’s great for Aussies who want to cool off as we experience more hot days, for our social fabric as we come back together after the pandemic and of course for the environment.
“Many of our urban rivers used to be swimmable, and remain beautiful spots to picnic or exercise around, why shouldn’t they be returned to their former glory of being a spot for a dip as well?
“We are facing a devastatingly high unemployment rate across the country and our young people have been hit the hardest. Jobs in our environment shouldn’t just be in regional areas, we need urban jobs in nature too.
“Together with a Habitat Taskforce to restore bushfire devastated areas and rehabilitate the environment and our wildlife, the Greens’ plan to get young people into jobs is a win-win. It’s good for the economy, it tackles youth unemployment and its good for our natural assets.”

Young people will be guaranteed a job, secure income, and free education under a new Greens recovery plan to build ‘a better normal’ and restart the economy after the coronavirus economic shock.
The vision for a debt-financed recovery reaffirms the government’s role in responding to the crisis, and rejects the austerity approaches offered by the Liberal and Labor parties, charting a course for a government-led recovery that extends Australia’s social services, instead of slashing funding for education, healthcare, and the environment.
Greens Community Services Spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert said “We have a unique opportunity here in WA to invest to recover.
“We can’t cut our way out of this crisis. The government and big corporations are calling for more cuts – to company taxes, to public spending, to workers’ rights – but that is a recipe for disaster.
“Our Jobs and Income Guarantee offers people security and decent work while setting Australia up for the future.
For older Australians, for those who haven’t reached retirement age and are staring down their last years in the workforce without access to a job, the half a million jobs being created through our investment package will offer hope and pathways back to employment.
“We need to make sure we are looking after people as we come out of this pandemic, I can’t see how anybody can think that it is okay to return the Jobseeker Payment to the old rate of $40 a day which will condemn unemployed Australians to poverty and will act as a barrier to employment.
Australian Greens Youth and Disability spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John said young people are really struggling as a result of COVID-19.
“History shows recessions disproportionately affect young people, with under-employment remaining persistently higher for years, even as the general population recovers.
“With the April 2020 ABS data showing that nearly 4 in 10 young people are now without a job or enough hours of work, it’s clear that we need to place addressing the challenges we face now at the centre of all plans to build a future for all of us.”
The Invest to Recover plan is part of the Green New Deal approach.
Key elements of the plan will:

• Create 870,000 jobs in the private and public sectors through projects that will build new energy infrastructure, 500,000 new public and community homes, expand TAFE and universities, save the arts and creative sectors, expand the care-based sectors and restore axed public service jobs;
• Renew and reshape the economy with $60bn in government support to revive manufacturing and  grow new processing, manufacturing and pharmaceutical jobs in these industries that have been neglected or decimated in the era of Liberal/Labor free trade agreements, mining booms & neoliberal industry policy;
• Get Australia running on 100% renewable energy with $59bn investment in sustainable infrastructure
• Guarantee everyone under 30 either a free place at uni or TAFE, an apprenticeship or traineeship, or a secure job working on nation building, planet saving projects that will build our nation, restore our environment, and help care for Australians;
• Save Australia’s hard-hit arts, entertainment and creative industry with a $2.3bn Create Australia recovery package, that will put artists in every school and library in the country, and directly fund festivals, films and live performances; and
• Establish a $6.7bn Nature Fund to clean up our natural environment and create 13,000 jobs.

Greens Environment Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has re-iterated the Greens call for the Australian Government to push for a global ban on the trade of wildlife, after the Agriculture Minister’s comments today on wildlife wet markets.
Senator Hanson-Young said:
“The Agriculture Minister and the PM can wax lyrical about an investigation into wildlife wet markets all they like, but if wildlife continue to be traded for consumption and other purposes, a health risk will remain.
“The science is well established on the link between wildlife consumption and the transfer of zoonotic diseases to humans.
“When wildlife is traded, it brings animals in contact with humans and other species in horrendous conditions leading to the spread of disease.
“The Australian Government has an opportunity to really lead on this issue and help end the cruelty and reduce the risk of another pandemic like coronavirus in the future.
“Right now it seems they’re not really serious about leading a global effort to reduce the risks for disease to emerge and spread.
“Just last week the major parties voted against my Senate motion calling on the government to advocate for a global ban. They should both explain why they wouldn’t support it and why they won’t back the hundreds of organisations and millions of people across the world pleading for a global ban on wildlife trade.”

Australian Greens Disability Rights spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John has called on Government Services Minister Stuart Robert to accept the Federal Court ruling that NDIS participants can use their funds for sex work.
Steele-John also said Minister Robert’s proposal to change NDIS rules, stopping participants from making claims for sex services, rather than accept the outcome of the court case were “a new low”.
“The suggestion that granting disabled people their basic human right to sexual expression will somehow destabilise the financial sustainability of the NDIS is ridiculous,” Steele-John said.
“The NDIS was designed to give people choice and control over the supports they need to live a good life; any attempt to curtail the rights of individual participants by the Minister is a direct attempt to undermine the whole intention of the scheme.
“I am very concerned that Minister Robert continues to escalate this matter, despite a Federal Court ruling against him.
“The desexualisation of disabled people is a key factor in a lot of the abuse situations we end up in and it is disappointing to see the Minister responsible for the NDIS continuing to push that as the official government line.
“Disabled people shouldn’t be denied access to their basic human rights just because this government can’t get their head around the fact that disabled people have sex!”

Young people will be guaranteed a job, secure income, and free education under a new Greens recovery plan to restart the economy and build ‘a better normal’ after the coronavirus economic shock.
The vision for a debt-financed recovery reaffirms the government’s role in responding to the crisis, and rejects the austerity approaches offered by the Liberal and Labor parties, charting a course for a government-led recovery that extends Australia’s world-class social services, instead of slashing funding for education, healthcare, and the environment.
The Invest to Recover plan is part of the Green New Deal approach announced by Greens Leader Adam Bandt earlier in the year. Key elements of the plan will:

• create 870,000 jobs in the private and public sectors through projects that will build new energy infrastructure, 500,000 new public and community homes, expand TAFE and universities, save the arts and creative sectors, expand the care-based sectors and restore axed public service jobs;
• renew and reshape the economy with $60bn in government support to revive manufacturing and  grow new processing, manufacturing and pharmaceutical jobs in these industries that have been neglected or decimated in the era of Liberal/Labor free trade agreements, mining booms & neoliberal industry policy;
• get Australia running on 100% renewable energy with $59bn investment in sustainable infrastructure
• guarantee everyone under 30 either a free place at uni or TAFE, an apprenticeship or traineeship, or a secure job working on nation building, planet saving projects that will build our nation, restore our environment, and help care for Australians;
• save Australia’s hard-hit arts, entertainment and creative industry with a $2.3bn Create Australia recovery package, that will put artists in every school and library in the country, and directly fund festivals, films and live performances;
• establish a $6.7bn Nature Fund to clean up our natural environment and create 13,000 jobs.

Through the Next Gen Guarantee, the plan lays the groundwork to ensure young people are supported through the crisis with jobs, education and income. History shows recessions disproportionately affect young people, with under-employment remaining persistently higher for years, even as the general population recovers. With the first post-corona crisis ABS data showing nearly 4 in 10 young people now without a job or enough hours of work, a youth-focused jobs plan is essential to avoid a lost generation.
Learning from the success of post-war recovery efforts, a debt-funded Invest to Recover plan is needed because austerity will worsen existing economic inequality and set back economic recovery efforts.
The plan also borrows from the successful ‘New Deal’ programs of the 1930s in the US and post-depression initiatives in Australia, which delivered long-lasting benefits to the respective countries, such as the National Parks system in the US and Australia’s beachside pools, which are still used to this day.
The plan calls for the current JobSeeker rate of $1115 per fortnight to be retained and by blocking any attempts to halve the payment, it ensures no Australian would be forced below the poverty line.
The ongoing job and social programs will be funded by measures such as winding back unsustainable tax breaks to the fossil fuel sector and not proceeding with Stages 2 and 3 of income tax cuts, with the balance of the investments to be debt-funded. The cost of the jobs guarantee would reduce as private sector jobs growth picks up.
The additional debt required to support the recovery plan is not only affordable, but a good investment in our nation’s future. With current net debt estimated to be around 29%, the Greens estimate that by borrowing to fund these investments over the next 10 year period, net debt would remain below 44%, well below the post-corona OECD average of around 95%. The Federal Government committed to spend over $200b in about six months as part of its coronavirus response; under the ‘Invest to Recover’ plan, net debt would increase by about $250-300b, spread over a 10 year period, to be subsequently repaid through a stronger economy. By way of further comparison, gross debt in Australia peaked after WWII at around 120%, but was back at previous levels in a decade because the money was invested in rebuilding.
Greens Leader Adam Bandt said:
“Government must lead the way out of this crisis by investing in our future.”
“Coronavirus is smashing into an economy already hit hard by inequality and the climate emergency, presenting us with the biggest economic crisis our country has ever seen.”
“Depression-era job numbers demand a Depression-era response. That means not shying away from debt, but using it to invest in building a cleaner, fairer Australia.”
“We can’t cut our way out of this crisis. The government and big corporations are calling for more cuts – to company taxes, to public spending, to workers’ rights – but that is a recipe for disaster. We must invest to recover.”
“The economy is not in hibernation, it is in an induced coma, and a lot more support and rehabilitation will be needed to get the patient walking again. More rounds of government investment will be needed to avoid a lost generation of young people who now face joblessness, debt and the climate emergency.”
“Our Jobs and Income Guarantee offers people security and decent work while setting Australia up for the future.”
“Young people have been smashed by the corona crisis. If we don’t offer every young person a job, a study place or a decent income, we risk creating a lost generation.”
“Without public investment now, young people at the start of their working lives will be consigned to years of unemployment or lower wages, something that could damage them for life. People starting their careers now will be $35,000 worse off than their peers and without substantial action, they’ll only get left further behind.”
“We can’t leave young people the burden of dealing with the coronavirus and the climate crisis as well. Under the Greens’ plan, every young person who wants a decent job or a free study place will be given one or they’ll get income support they can actually live on. Young people will be key to getting this country back on its feet.”
“Our ‘Invest to Recover’ plan will jump-start the economy with green investment, grow new industries and create hundreds of thousands of high paid jobs, but until the private sector picks up again, government will also act as a ‘safety-net’ employer by guaranteeing young people decent jobs on nation-building projects that tackle the climate and inequality crises and make Australia a more creative and caring place.”
“If you don’t like the coronavirus, you’re going to hate the climate crisis. The climate crisis still looms and will result in decades of corona-style restrictions and deprivation unless we act right now.”
“Our recovery plan doesn’t simply get us ‘back to normal’, it builds a better normal. The Green New Deal puts people at the centre of the recovery effort, stops people falling through the cracks and reshapes an economy that works for people.”
“After WWII, Australia had record high debt of 120% of GDP, but it only took a decade to get back to normal levels because the money was invested in rebuilding. We won’t need to borrow anywhere near as much to invest our way out of this downturn, tackle the climate emergency and make Australia more equal.”
Greens Environment Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“From the bushfires to yearning to reconnect with nature after the COVID lockdown, Australian’s are concerned about our environment more than ever before.
“The Greens plan for getting young people into jobs that rehabilitate bushfire devastated areas, protect native wildlife and restore our iconic rivers is a win win. It’s good for the economy, it tackles youth unemployment and its good for our environment.”
Greens Community Services Spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert said:
“We need to make sure we are looking after people as we come out of this pandemic, I can’t see how anybody can think that it is okay to return the Jobseeker Payment to the old rate of $40 a day which will condemn unemployed Australians to poverty and will act as a barrier to employment.
“We can and should choose to support people who are not in work, particularly when we know very well that we are in an economic downturn and it will be difficult for many people to find work That is why we need to keep the rate of Jobseeker for good.”
Greens Industry Spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi said:
“We have to invest now to rebuild Australian manufacturing. This will create decent well-paid jobs, ensure economic resilience and centre environmental sustainability. Embracing this future will go hand in hand with reviving our public TAFEs which have been decimated.
“High-quality, well-funded and fee-free higher education will be critical to delivering a Green New Deal. The research, training and skills fundamental to this fair and just future can only happen through universal access to university and TAFE.”
Greens Spokesperson for Women Senator Larissa Waters said:
“The gender inequalities in the Australian jobs market have been turbo-charged by the COVID crisis and the Government’s lack of specific focus on supporting women to remain in employment.
“Now more than ever the women of Australia need the gender pay gap closed, free childcare retained, valuing of the unpaid care work they disproportionately perform, and better pay for workers in feminised industries – many of whom have kept us safe during COVID.”