Category: Australian News

Making tech giants like Facebook and Google pay for the content they take from Australian journalists and creators is a welcome, albeit long overdue, move by the Morrison Government, the Greens say.
Greens Spokesperson for Media Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“Big tech giants have been ripping off Australians by taking content for free and making huge profits. It’s beyond time to put the blowtorch on Big Tech and make them pay for content they’ve been taking for free and pay proper taxes in this country.
“The Greens have been calling for Big Tech to have to pay for the content they take from Australian journalists and creators for many months.
“Finally the Government is doing something, albeit late and after much suffering for Australian media and creators. Waiting until November for tech giants and media companies to reach a deal was never going to cut it and would’ve seen more news outlets hit the wall.
“Australian media outlets were already under pressure because of this content theft before COVID-19, but the loss of advertising revenue during this crisis has been the last straw for many.
“The key issue now is what the code will look like and how it will be enforced. Other jurisdictions have been grappling with this issue and Australia must learn their lessons.
“Public interest journalism is vital for a robust democracy and Big Tech must be held to account if we are going to protect Australia’s right to know and Australian jobs.”
Leader of the Australian Greens Adam Bandt MP said:
“If the government can force Google to pay Rupert Murdoch, they can make tech giants pay our authors and artists as well.
“People working in the arts and creative sectors regularly have tech giants use their work without remuneration, and now their sectors are hit hard by coronavirus too.
“Just as we need a media industry with fearless and independent reporting to ensure politicians and business leaders are accountable to the public, we need a well-paid arts and creative sector to sustain us through times of isolation and give our nation a voice.
“Whether it’s printed on a newspaper, hung on a wall or piped through our speakers, content creators deserve to get paid for their work. Google’s CEO doesn’t work for free and neither should Australia’s creators.”

The Morrison Government has directed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to develop a mandatory code of conduct to address bargaining power imbalances between digital platforms and media companies.
The development of a code of conduct is part of the Government’s response to the ACCC’s Digital Platforms Inquiry final report to promote competition, enhance consumer protection and support a sustainable Australian media landscape in the digital age.
In its final report the ACCC identified that Facebook and Google have each become unavoidable trading partners for Australian news media businesses in reaching audiences online, resulting in an imbalance in bargaining power.
In December last year, the ACCC was directed by the Government to facilitate the development of voluntary codes to address bargaining power imbalances between digital platforms and news media businesses. The Government indicated at the time that if an agreement was not forthcoming, the Government would develop alternative options to address concerns raised, which may include the creation of a mandatory code.
The Government has decided that the original timeframe set out in its response requires acceleration. The Australian media sector was already under significant pressure; that has now been exacerbated by a sharp decline in advertising revenue driven by coronavirus. At the same time, while discussions between the parties have been taking place, progress on a voluntary code has been limited according to recent advice provided by the ACCC following a request by the Government for an update. The ACCC considers it is unlikely that any voluntary agreement would be reached with respect to the key issue of payment for content.
As a result, the Government has instructed the ACCC to develop a mandatory code to address commercial arrangements between digital platforms and news media businesses. Among the elements the code will cover include the sharing of data, ranking and display of news content and the monetisation and the sharing of revenue generated from news.
The mandatory code will also establish appropriate enforcement, penalty and binding dispute resolution mechanisms.
A draft mandatory code will be released for consultation by the ACCC before the end of July, with a final code to be settled soon thereafter.
The Government is delivering a regulatory framework that is fit for purpose and better protects and informs Australian consumers, addresses bargaining power imbalances between digital platforms and media companies, and ensures privacy settings remain appropriate in the digital age.

Australians are being encouraged to honour the service and sacrifice of our veterans and serving Defence personnel on ANZAC Day from home this year by watching the nationally broadcast Dawn Service from the Australian War Memorial and participating in the RSL’s #lightupthedawn campaign.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said while ANZAC Day will be different this year, with no community commemorative services or marches, we will be doing all we can to honour and commemorate the sacrifice of our Anzacs and thank all those who have served and continue to serve Australia in our defence forces.
“ANZAC day is a sacred day for all Australians. It is an important time to remember the sacrifices of those who have gone before us, those who have laid down their lives or suffered great hardship to protect Australians’ way of life,” the Prime Minister said.
“This year, we will not be gathering at the local cenotaph, or attending gunfire breakfasts at the local RSL, or gathering together to bow our heads in silence and listen to the bugles at dawn.
“But we will still remember the sacrifice of those who gave so much for us at Gallipoli and on many fronts, as we ourselves give what we can to protect Australian lives while we face this terrible virus.”
This year, a Dawn Service will be broadcast across Australia from the Australian War Memorial.
The Australian Wall Memorial is the home of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as well as the Roll of Honour which contains the names of the 102,000 servicemen and women who have given their lives for Australia.
In keeping with the national commitment to social distancing, this will be a service without crowds.
The Prime Minister will deliver the commemorative address at the Australian War Memorial’s Dawn Service alongside dignitaries representing Australia, New Zealand, the Returned and Services League, and veterans.
There will be a ceremonial piper, didgeridoo player and bugler among other traditional elements, supplied by the Australian Defence Force.
RSL State and Territory branches are also urging Australians to show their Anzac spirit at home by safely participating in a private dawn service at their own home.
The RSL’s #lightupthedawn campaign year asks Australians to stand in their driveway, balcony or living room, with a torch or candle, immediately following in the televised dawn service, to remember all those who have served and sacrificed.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Darren Chester said Australians are at their best when they come together to support one another and while we cannot physically gather to commemorate the service and sacrifice of our Defence personnel, we can show them our respect.
“Whether it’s a solitary driveway tribute, baking Anzac biscuits, a small ceremony with your household, sharing a message for our service personnel, or watching the televised service from the Australian War Memorial on the morning of 25 April, I encourage everyone to pause, reflect and say a simple ‘thank you for your service’,” Mr Chester said.
“We should think about all those who have served and died during their service in the Australian Defence Force, we should think about those who continue to serve in uniform today and we should think about those who love and support them in their service.”
The coverage of the commemorative service will take place at the Australian War Memorial on Anzac Day, 25 April 2020, with the ABC starting pre-service coverage from 5am AEST, with the service broadcast live from the Commemorative Area and Hall of Memory from 5.30am AEST.
The event will not be open to the public but will be broadcast live across Australia and streamed online. The ABC will make the broadcast available to other networks under a host broadcaster arrangement to enable people to mark Anzac Day safely and respectfully from home.

The NSW Government today announced a $140 million Bushfire Industry Recovery Package to support forestry, horticulture and agriculture industries impacted by the recent bushfires.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Disaster Recovery John Barilaro said the package will help industries significantly impacted by bushfires to rebuild, recover, regrow and remain the heartbeat of regional economies.
“This funding will support the recovery and resilience of key industries by backing projects that retain and create jobs, strengthen local supply chains and support a return to production,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Regional NSW relies on these key driver industries to help generate jobs and economic activity and this funding will provide the direct help many businesses need to recover from devastating losses, which in turn will help their wider industry remain viable.”
Mr Barilaro said regional NSW is the backbone of this State and it is critical to support the key regional industries which keep our economy thriving.
“Our farmers feed this State and this Nation, and not only have they endured the worst drought on record, but many have suffered horrific bushfires and now COVID-19 is affecting our regional economies,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Bushfire impacted towns cannot afford to suffer further job losses and economic downturn, which is why we are delivering this funding to keep our key regional industries in business.
“Industries with the greatest impact will be given the greatest share of this funding. The program will focus on recovery in the short term and will support valuable investments to help these sectors plan for recovery in the longer term.”
Details of funding criteria including amounts available for businesses under this package will be made available with the release of program Guidelines in the coming weeks.
Other bushfire support measures include the NSW and Australian Governments sharing the cost for the clean-up of residential and small business properties, the NSW Government’s $1 billion fund to replace vital state infrastructure, $75,000 grants for bushfire affected primary producers and $50,000 grants for bushfire affected small businesses.
For a full list of all available bushfire support, go to www.service.nsw.gov.au.

Businesses across the state doing it tough during the COVID19 pandemic are encouraged to register for the NSW Government’s small business advisory program.
Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said the NSW Government was injecting more than $14 million into Business Connect to help small and medium businesses navigate this challenging time.
“We want to provide the help our businesses need to get out the other side of this pandemic,” Mr Tudehope said.
“As part of this funding boost we’ve allocated $4.6 million to engage an additional 30 advisors to support businesses, on top of $9.8 million to ensure the program continues for another 12 months.
“Business Connect is a powerful tool, with advisors having assisted more than 28,000 businesses over the past three years, providing advice and skills training for small businesses.
“Business owners have reported increased confidence, stronger finances, and developed plans for their business. We’ve also seen these businesses create and support  more than 15,000 additional jobs since 2017.
“And now Business Connect will be here to assist small businesses during this tough time with the support and information they need.”
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the funding would support Business Connect until June 2021, giving NSW businesses the tools they need to stay in business, rethink their model and boost their digital presence.
“Business Connect was on the front foot, rolling out targeted support and Small Business Bushfire Information Sessions in regional areas following the recent bushfires,” Mr Perrottet said.
“As a result of COVID-19, more than 60 webinars are available through Business Connect to support businesses in developing a road map for success and managing cash flow amid challenging conditions.
“In addition, a series of COVID-19 Business Information Session webinars with representatives from various government agencies will be rolled out soon, to provide information about stimulus and support initiatives.
“Businesses impacted by COVID-19 and bushfires will be able to access the webinars and receive advice free-of-charge.”
Blackrose Café in Liverpool owner Anthony Pellegrino said Business Connect gave him some advice on how to do things a little differently during this time.
Mr Pellegrino said while his Italian restaurant continued to provide takeaway meals, it also started to sell groceries including pasta, pasta sauce, meat and wine.
“Business Connect gave me direction and confidence in executing some of the things I wasn’t sure of, such as using social media to promote our restaurant and the diversification of the business,” he said.
Business Connect supports businesses to start, be resilient and grow by providing professional business advice and skills development events.
The additional 30 advisors will be funded through the new Working for NSW Fund.
Businesses can access support by visiting business.nsw.gov.au/businessconnect or call 1300 134 359.

Jobs in the New South Wales construction sector will receive a major boost ahead of the start of work on the M6 Stage 1.
Minister for Roads Andrew Constance today announced the New South Wales Government will call for tender applications to help build the new ‘missing link’ motorway to connect Sydney’s south, creating around 5,300 new jobs.
The project, costing around $2.6 billion, will allow motorists to bypass up to 23 sets of traffics light on the Princes Highway and take up to 2,000 heavy vehicles a day off surface roads.
Additionally, in a major win for the community, a $20 million upgrade of recreational facilities at popular local parks at Rockdale and Brighton-Le-Sands will start mid-year.
“We know many workers, contractors and sub-contractors are doing it tough during this challenging period, and the start of works on the M6 Stage 1 will be a major boost for the construction industry,” Mr Constance said.
“In NSW there are almost 400,000 people employed in property and construction, and we are committed to keeping as many of them in work as possible.
“The construction of the M6 Stage 1 will create thousands of new jobs and support families across Sydney.”
The M6 Stage 1 connects President Avenue at Kogarah to the New M5 at Arncliffe.
Successful applicants from last year’s Expressions of Interest to design and construct the M6 Stage 1 project will be invited to tender, including:

• Acciona-Samsung Joint Venture (comprising Acciona Construction Australia Pty Ltd and Samsung C&T Corporation)
• Gamuda-BMD Joint Venture (comprising Gamuda Berhad t/as Gamuda (Australia) Branch and B.M.D. Constructions Pty Ltd)
• CPB–Ghella Joint Venture (comprising CPB Contractors Pty Ltd and Ghella Pty Ltd)

An investment of around $20 million to revitalise local recreation facilities will also support local jobs and improve amenities for local residents.
“We’ve now received final approval from Bayside Council to start work on upgrades to Ador Park and McCarthy Reserve at Rockdale and Brighton Memorial Playing Fields at Brighton-Le-Sands, which is great news for our community,” Mr Constance said.
“The new recreational facilities at Rockdale and Brighton-Le-Sands will include the creation of new grass and synthetic playing fields, amenities buildings, more car parking spaces, and a new skate park and play areas.
“Thanks to close collaboration with the community and stakeholders, work is set to start in the middle of this year and finish by the end of 2021, well before significant work begins on the motorway, so local sporting teams will be less disrupted.”
The community will be kept updated as the project progresses.
For more information on the M6 Stage 1 go to: www.nswwork.roads/M6portal

The NSW Government is injecting $25 million to fast-track statewide research and clinical trials to tackle the global COVID-19 pandemic and reduce its impact on the community.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the funds are part of about $800 million in extra health funding by the NSW Government to bolster the health system.
“Already researchers in NSW have made huge inroads to improve diagnostics and potentially aid the eventual creation of a vaccine by growing the novel coronavirus,” Mr Hazzard said.
“The $25 million funding boost will further assist the collaborative research efforts of clinicians, universities and research hubs with crucial roles in the NSW COVID-19 response”.
The funding will be directed to research focused on:

• accurate and timely diagnosis of COVID-19;
• support conducting COVID-19 clinical trials including vaccine trials;
• monitoring, developing and evaluating strategies to slow community transmission;
• developing and evaluating treatments for COVID-19;
• preventing the need for intensive medical care.
• minimising the impact of physical and psychological trauma on the community.

The $25 million is on top of $108 million already invested in medical research in 2019-2020 and will help ensure all research findings on COVID-19 can be implemented rapidly.
The extra funding will also support clinician-led research into the COVID-19 impacts on the healthcare workforce, vulnerable populations and regional, rural and remote communities.
Professor Anthony Kelleher, Director of the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney, said the institute is leading several research projects on COVID-19, including developing an antiviral therapy.
“The infectious disease expertise within the NSW medical research sector is truly world class, and we are eager to turn this investment into research that will transform this pandemic and ultimately save lives,” Professor Kelleher said.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said: “This funding will go a long way to progressing urgent research to minimise the health, social and economic impacts of COVID-19 in NSW.”
Progress on research

• ICPMR Westmead was the first lab in Australia to develop and introduce a blood antibody test for tracking the spread of COVID-19 and is working with researchers from The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance at Westmead and the Kirby Institute who will lead NSW studies of COVID-19 in schools, aged care, hospitals and the home.
• Westmead Institute researchers believe that they have found blood biomarkers that tell clinicians whether patients will need intensive care and are working with clinical trials experts from across NSW to integrate these markers in to critical studies of the course of COVID-19 and its transmissibility.
• Garvan and Kirby Institute researchers have developed a world-leading technology to identify the critical antibodies amongst the myriad produced by our immune cells when challenged by this virus – that could lead to a new treatments and diagnostic tests and are working with virology researchers at UNSW and Westmead
• University of Sydney researchers are at the forefront of research into how best to communicate information during epidemics prevent transmission of infection and into the psychological trauma that may result from managing this epidemic in Australia.

The Australian Greens have condemned US President Donald Trump’s announcement this week that the United States will withdraw critical funding from the World Health Organisation (WHO), and cautions the Australian government from signalling any similar action.
As the international body responsible for coordinating the world’s response to pandemics like the current COVID-19 crisis, it is critical that governments maintain their financial commitments to the organisation.
Australia has a crucial leadership role in our region in particular, to demonstrate steadfast commitment to the WHO and other international bodies. It is through the WHO and other global organisations that wealthy nations like Australia and the US can share capacity, information and resources so that countries have a fighting chance of withstanding this crisis.
Gutting the WHO of critical funding will do nothing but further cripple its ability to provide support in the fight against this lethal virus.
“As we face a global health emergency, it is essential that the WHO is properly funded and resourced to coordinate an international response. Now more than ever it is critical that we have international cooperation and a coordinated response to the pandemic.” Greens health spokesperson Dr Richard Di Natale said.
“In the aftermath of this crisis there will be many lessons to learn from how the world responded to the pandemic and what we can do better. This is appropriate, but if Mr Trump thinks cutting funding is the answer he is dangerously wrong. Trump is seeking to hide behind the WHO for his own disastrous response to the pandemic, which has led to thousands of unnecessary deaths.”
“The usual suspects on Scott Morrison’s backbench and some members of the Labor party have lined up to support Trump’s dangerous blame-shifting. Scott Morrison must now reject this, and commit that Australia will not reduce funding to the WHO.”
Greens International Aid and Development spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi said: 
“Organisations like the WHO are critical to our global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Divisive leaders like Trump will not get us on the other side of this, our collective global community work will.
“Australia’s aid and development funding is already pitifully low. We should be looking to increase our contributions to bolster public health around the world, not reduce them.
“It’s shameful and frankly embarrassing to see the Trump-wannabes of the Liberal party step into action whenever the US president does or says anything. The prime minister must reject this bizarre and dangerous way of making policy decisions, and rule out any further cuts to Australia’s aid contributions to the WHO.
“We live in a grossly unequal world and wealthy countries like Australia have an obligation to contribute to the global response this pandemic requires. That necessarily involves continuing to fund the WHO and working to ensure a strong international effort against COVID-19.”

When Parliament resumes at the foreshadowed May sitting, the Greens will move in the Senate to disallow the Government’s regulation shortening the notice required to change enterprise agreements, said Greens Leader and Industrial Relations spokesperson, Adam Bandt.
“The government is using a temporary emergency to make long-term changes to workers’ rights,” said Mr Bandt.
“I am worried about Liberal mission creep.
“The Australian people are prepared to give the government latitude to fight a health emergency, but this doesn’t give them license to take away rights for the long-term.
“Workers will be put under extreme pressure to agree in a day to changes that could last for years.
“There is no evidence this change is needed, especially given the high degree of co-operation witnessed during this crisis.
“People need a fair amount of time to seek advice about significant changes to their rights and the Greens will oppose this corporate power grab.
“Those of us who fought WorkChoices know the Liberals are no friend of workers. But to use the cover of a global pandemic to strip away workers’ rights is a gross new low.”

Australian Greens Senator and Education spokesperson Dr Mehreen Faruqi has said that the government must provide a new funding package for higher education to save the jobs of thousands of staff.
Senator Faruqi said:
“Across the country, universities are drawing up plans to cut staff and wages. From PhD students to career academics and professional staff, higher education workers will lose their jobs as a direct result of the government’s failure to provide support during the COVID-19 crisis.
“No higher education jobs should be lost. With universities unfairly excluded from the JobKeeper wage subsidy, the government must step up immediately to provide a new funding package. Job security on campuses must be guaranteed, ensuring that all casual staff are also retained.
“Universities are some of the most casualised workplaces in the country. Staff and students are now suffering as a result.
“Universities have been starved of adequate public funding for decades. This has led to a reliance on revenue from international student enrolments, which are now greatly at risk due to the pandemic. Significant new investment, including a minimum ten per cent boost to Commonwealth Grant Scheme funding, is essential.
“Universities with large reserves should also be prioritising staff jobs in spending what money they have. At the end of the day, universities are about people. Keeping university staff on payroll should be top of every Vice-Chancellor’s agenda in managing this crisis.
“In addition to securing jobs through emergency funding, now is the time to make university and TAFE free for all so we can rebuild as a more fair and just society after this crisis,” she said.