Category: Australian News

The Greens have repeated their calls for the Government to suspend the mutual obligation responsibilities of people on Centrelink payments that have such requirements, including those on Work for the Dole, CDP and the ParentsNext program.
“Fear of having their payment suspended or losing their payment will mean that people could make decisions that are counter to their health or other peoples,” Greens spokesperson on Family and Community Services Senator Rachel Siewert said.
“People are already struggling to get by, they don’t need the added stress of having a payment suspended because they don’t think they should be attending an appointment or a work for the dole site.
“Our first priority should be looking after people’s health and as we will surely move towards more people needing to isolate and socially distance, this Government still expects those on income support to be attending meetings and appointments?
“The Government should make it clear that they are putting the public health of the community first, including those on income support and suspend mutual obligation requirements.”

Greens leader Adam Bandt MP and health spokesperson Dr Richard Di Natale have called on the Morrison government and national cabinet to explain what actions are being taken to double the number of intensive care units and to secure adequate number of ventilators.
Medical experts have warned that the number of intensive care beds need to at least double if we are to have a chance of managing the corona crisis. The Deputy Chief Medical Officer has flagged that Australia is facing up to 150,000 possible deaths in the worst case scenario.
The Greens also want stronger leadership and greater clarity on the appropriate public health measures.
Adam Bandt, Leader of the Australian Greens said:
“The number of intensive care beds will be the key to how many people die in the crisis. The Morrison government needs to explain what it is doing to double the number of ICUs and what it is doing to secure adequate numbers of ventilators.”
“We also need clarity on social distancing, including in workplaces, schools, restaurants and other sectors.
Richard di Natale, Australian Greens Health Spokesperson said:
“Australia is facing an unprecedented public health threat with the outbreak of COVID-19.”
“As a doctor I know how important our intensive care resources, particularly ventilation, are going to be to provide the necessary care to those most critically in need and to minimise the number of deaths. This should be a top priority for the national cabinet and the Morrison government.”
The Greens are also calling for the government to put in place a minimum of 2 weeks sick leave for the 3.6 million casuals and other workers without leave entitlements; and a permanent increase to Newstart and other payments to support people on low incomes.

Australian Greens Disability spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John has called on the government to implement a comprehensive action plan to ensure that everyone in the community has access to the right information and the appropriate supports to get through the COVID-19 crisis.
“Many people across our communities, especially disabled people and others who are at risk, are feeling worried and uncertain about the impacts the COVID-19 crisis could have on them and the people they love,” Steele-John said.
“We need a better plan. Disabled people and their families, service providers and support workers have all been raising the alarm but the response has not been quick enough nor has it been accessible or inclusive.
“Disabled people who require daily support are worried that their services could simply be cut off if the crisis worsens.
“The government needs to urgently implement a comprehensive action plan that includes the following:

• Ensure all COVID-19 test clinics are accessible and inclusive.
• Ensure all hospitals have the accessibility equipment they need.
• Create a dedicated advice hotline for disabled people and families.
• Ensure all information about the crisis is shared in ways that are easy to understand and accessible for everyone (including the use of interpreters, Easy Read, and Language specific formats).
• Give support workers priority access to personal protective equipment at no extra cost.
• Increase the capacity of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission so that the commission has the resources it needs to make sure service providers are meeting their support obligations and implementing effective safety procedures.
• Fastrack the National Disability Data Asset and utilise existing data to ensure that supports, funding, and equipment are delivered to high-risk areas.
• Provide targeted financial support to the disability sector to make sure that service providers and other support services can continue to support people through the crisis.
• Develop standby capacity that will allow rapid recruitment and expansion of the disability workforce sector by drawing on students of allied health including Occupational Therapists, physiotherapists and social workers.
• Provide financial resources to disability services so they can rapidly scale up their operations to support people during the closures of schools, day services and other programs.
• Ensure children with disability and their families have access to information and services to support them through the crisis.
• Increasing capacity to process Working with Children and Police checks so a new workforce can be mobilised quickly.

The Greens are backing the calls by the arts and creative industry for an urgent $500m rescue package to prevent collapse of the multi-billion dollar sector in the face of COVID-19.
Greens Spokesperson for the Arts, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“Our creative and cultural industries are on the frontline of the COVID-19 fallout with events across the country cancelled and theatres, concerts and festivals effectively shutdown.
“Just this morning we have heard Bluesfest at Byron Bay has been cancelled, this is the loss of another huge festival for our live performing artists.
“As the PM prepares to announce a second stimulus package, this industry must be front and centre as one of the worst hit, with short, medium and long-term ramifications for the economy.
“It’s estimated the arts industry will lose more than half a billion dollars in ticket sales alone over the next three months. The industry needs an urgent rescue package with significant funding to get through the next 12 months.
“The Morrison Government needs to put up to $500m on the table now to stave off mass job losses and business insolvencies.
“The creative and cultural sector brings in about $111 billion a year in Australia and employs almost 600,000 people.
“The Prime Minister must also urgently clarify the regulations and timeframes for the ban on static gatherings of more than 500 people. Clarity is essential to provide legal certainty to event organisers and consumers.
“Many event organisers will be relying on insurance to cover outgoings already incurred which may not kick in if the legal threshold for a government ban hasn’t been met. They must be given certainty immediately.
“The arts industry has been savaged by the Federal Government – the entire department was cut late last year after years of funding cuts and cuts to the Australia Council which smaller community arts organisations have had to cop.
“Yet it was artists and performers and their crews who stepped up to support Australians during the bushfire crisis. It’s time the Government gave back to them.
“A roundtable tomorrow with Minister Fletcher is welcome but the PM needs to put some money on the table and clarify the ban urgently.”

Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP said that when parliament resumes, the Greens will introduce legislation to provide 14 days’ paid sick leave to all workers affected by the coronavirus. The ACTU has called for 2 weeks paid sick leave for workers affected by the virus.
The Fair Work Amendment (COVID 19) Bill will mean the 3.3 million workers currently without paid leave entitlements will be able to access paid sick leave if affected by the virus, and will also ensure workers with leave provisions are not forced to exhaust their sick leave balances if their company temporarily closes because of the virus.
The bill would cover workers diagnosed with COVID 19, those required to self-isolate or who are caring for a family member affected by the virus. Workers whose workplace temporarily closes because of the virus will also be covered.
“The Morrison government must not leave Australian workers to fend for themselves during this crisis,” Mr Bandt said.
“Workers should be able to follow government advice to self-isolate without losing their income or their job.
“If we don’t pass this bill, coronavirus could spread faster because workers without paid sick leave who are affected by the virus may feel pressured to come to work instead of staying home.
“The government should urgently make this change to the law and then use their stimulus package to help small and medium businesses meet the additional costs.”
“If the government won’t act, the Greens will, and we’ll dare them to vote on the floor of Parliament against supporting workers.”

The stimulus package outlined by the Prime Minister this morning falls far short of what the experts say is needed to weather the economic storm caused by the Coronavirus pandemic and does little to stem the crisis facing people on Newstart & Youth Allowance as well as the 3.5 million casual workers in Australia, said Leader of The Australian Greens Adam Bandt, MP.
The Greens will move to expand the package when it reaches the Senate to lift Newstart & Youth Allowance as well as provide 14 days’ paid coronavirus sick leave to all workers, including casual workers.
Greens Leader Adam Bandt, MP said:
“This package is not fair enough, not big enough and will leave too many people behind.”
“The Greens will move in the Senate to make this stimulus fairer and bigger by extending paid sick leave to every affected worker and lifting Newstart and Youth Allowance.”
“By the Prime Minister’s own admission the fallout from COVID-19 could very well be worse than the GFC, and yet he’s only pledging a third of the Rudd Government’s $52 billion stimulus.”
“Businesses will close unless people have money to buy their products and services, and a one-off cash payment to people already living below the poverty line just isn’t enough.”
“Casual workers without paid sick leave have been left behind and the Greens will move in the Senate to expand the package to give workers 14 days paid coronavirus sick leave.”
Australian Greens Treasury Spokesperson Sen. Peter Whish-Wilson said:
“Australians need to know this government has got their backs. The government should use this opportunity to bring about structural reform as well as providing confidence.
“The warning signs were flashing well before coronavirus hit. Real wages have been stagnant, productivity has been stagnant and business investment has been shrinking.
“The government should kill two birds with one stone and target these issues through the design of its stimulus package.
“One of the most important things the government could do is to abandon its policy of paying down government debt. Instead, the government should pledge a massive increase in infrastructure spending to provide confidence that there will be jobs in the future and that they’re committed to the transition to a clean energy future.”

Labor is supportive of the Government’s stimulus measures announced this morning.
We will be as responsible and as constructive as possible and will work with the Government to expedite legislation through the Parliament where required.
Labor’s priority is to protect jobs, help Australian workers, businesses, families and communities through this difficult time, and ensure vulnerable Australians are supported.
There are some welcome measures in this stimulus package that are worthy of our support and we will not stand in the way of them being implemented as soon as possible.
It remains to be seen whether these measures will be big enough or deployed quickly enough to prevent job losses, business failures or a more serious downturn.
This is a Government which is good at announcing things but has trouble actually getting support out the door as we have seen with its poor record on infrastructure investment as well as bushfire and drought relief.
Labor has some concerns with the current measures which we are prepared to work through with the Government, including:

• The lack of more substantial support for casual workers who are required to self-isolate;
• The risk that the Sickness Allowance may not be accessible, sufficient or timely enough to support casual workers, particularly given no additional resources have been provided to Centrelink to process these claims;
• The risk that greater reliance on the Sickness Allowance may create an additional burden on the health system where a medical certificate is required to claim this payment;
• The lack of direct support for sole traders and the self-employed;
• Concern that cash flow assistance to business is not sufficiently targeted to ensure workers are kept on;
• Concerns that measures may have come too late for some businesses already struggling; and
• The lack of detail and delayed rollout of the $1 billion regional and community support fund, particularly given the Government’s poor track record when it comes to integrity and implementation.

The Government must move to implement this package quickly and properly, and be prepared to take additional steps if it becomes clear that this response has been insufficient.

Australian Greens Senator for NSW Dr Mehreen Faruqi has welcomed today’s news that class action participants have reached a settlement of $212.5 million with the government over PFAS contamination, though has labelled the recent government response to the federal PFAS inquiry as extremely disappointing.
Senator Faruqi said:
“This huge settlement is welcome news for residents who have pushed for the class action. It points to the serious loss experienced by affected communities, and will go some way to alleviating the damage.
“However, there are many who have been affected by PFAS contamination, who the government has left out in the cold.
“In light of the settlement, it’s extremely disappointing that in its long-awaited inquiry response, the government has refused to commit to even considering compensation for all affected property owners, including through possible buybacks.
“‘Polluter pays’ is a basic principle of environmental law and justice. The onus should not be on victims to fight for justice when their lives have been upended.
“The government says it supports resolution of legal claims “by agreement, not litigation, where appropriate”. Well, let’s see them come to the table.
“The nation-wide damage wrought by toxic PFAS chemicals has been extensive and people have suffered for too long.
“After residents have waited more than 15 months for the government response to the report, this document is lukewarm, non-committal, and in some aspects completely disrespectful.
“I will continue to work with the community and in parliament to keep this issue front and centre, until the government prioritises needs of the affected communities.”