Category: Australian News

The Morrison and Berejiklian governments have reached a landmark agreement to lower power prices for consumers, reduce emissions and strengthen grid reliability.
Through this partnership, both governments have committed to deliver a number of initiatives that will:

• increase gas and electricity supply in NSW by encouraging investment;
• improve grid security by supporting transmission interconnection and network access; and
• support emissions reduction projects that deliver genuine abatement.

The more than $2 billion deal includes:

• NSW-based emissions reductions initiatives utilising $960 million in federal funding, (with a minimum $450 million grants and the remaining $510 million a mix of grants and loans) matched by $1.01 billion in direct funding from NSW.
• Jointly underwriting the delivery of HumeLink and the Queensland-NSW interconnectors to strength grid reliability.
• Commitments from the NSW Government to facilitate investment opportunities to inject an additional 70 petajoules of gas per year into the east coast market.
• An undertaking from the NSW Government to remove barriers to coal supply to the Mount Piper Power Station.
• Supporting new generation projects in NSW through the Federal Government’s $1 billion Underwriting New Generation Investment program.
• Financial support for the establishment of a pilot renewable energy zone in the Central West to help large-scale renewable generators pump as much as energy as possible into the grid.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the NSW energy deal was the first of many he hoped to sign with state and territory governments across Australia.
“I want households and businesses paying less for their electricity and I want to continue to get emissions down – this deal does both,” the Prime Minister said.
“There is no credible plan to lower emissions and keep electricity price down that does not involve the greater use of gas as an important transition fuel.
“This plan is about getting greater access to that gas, as a vital accompaniment to our record investment in renewables.
“Our agreement also outlines a responsible transition of the NSW electricity sector to lower emissions technologies, while recognising the critical contribution that energy dependent manufacturing jobs make to the economy.
“Energy security is an important issue for all states and territories and we are committed to continuing our investment in supporting the security of the National Electricity Market so all Australians have access to reliable power,” the Prime Minister said.
“NSW already has a pipeline of around $26 billion of large scale renewable and non-renewable energy projects and the NSW Government has introduced a range of rebates to help keep prices down as well as a five-year $1.4 billion Climate Change Fund,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.
“Our agreement with the Commonwealth today will ensure we continue to strengthen and diversify our energy sector here in New South Wales – securing traditional energy sources whilst growing renewable energy investment across the state.
This is the first of a series of state bilateral energy agreements between the Federal Government and state and territory governments.

The Australian Government is working across agencies to assist the departure of isolated and vulnerable Australians from Wuhan and to put strict quarantine arrangements in place.
Australian diplomatic and consular staff have been working very closely with the Chinese authorities and with other partner countries to develop options for the departure of Australians in Wuhan and Hubei Province, in what continues to be a difficult and complex situation.
The Australian Embassy in Beijing is now seeking formal approval from the Chinese Government to send a plane to Wuhan to assist the departure of Australians from Hubei Province.
We thank the Chinese Government for the cooperative way they have dealt with Australian counterparts and those of other countries who have citizens in Wuhan and Hubei province.
Australians departing on any flight arranged by the Australian Government will be flown to Christmas Island to undertake a period of quarantine of up to 14 days based on current medical advice, as a condition of their assisted departure.
They will also be required to commit to making a contribution to the cost, consistent with normal arrangements in these circumstances.
This will ensure we are also prioritising public health in Australia.
A consular team is positioned to support an assisted departure. A temporary Consular office is being set up in Wuhan to work with local authorities to help give effect to this plan. We do not have a permanent consular presence in Wuhan.
An Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) will provide medical support and expert advice to returning Australians upon arrival at Christmas Island.
There are just over 600 Australian citizens currently registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. We will seek to speak with each of them in relation to the Government’s announcement. Our focus and priority is on vulnerable and isolated citizens.
We are endeavouring to make further contact with those people who have provided us their details. Contact can be difficult due to high demand on phone lines in China. We request that those who have registered their details contact DFAT again if they have not spoken to Australian consular officials in the past 24 hours. The DFAT emergency number is +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas or 1300 555 135 if you are calling from Australia on behalf of a family member.
We also thank Qantas, which has offered to support Australians out of Wuhan if the authority to proceed is provided.
We understand this is a very stressful time for those impacted. We encourage people to make contact with family and friends, stay in touch with travel providers and contact your insurers. Australians should continue to follow all health precautions which are available on the Smart Traveller website – www.smartraveller.gov.au.
We advise that Australians do not travel to Hubei Province and reconsider their need to travel to China overall.
There is still significant work to do but we are taking all necessary steps to ensure that we can help Australians to leave Wuhan as soon as possible.

The Australian Greens today condemned US President Donald Trump’s blatantly unfair “peace” proposal for Israel and Palestine, which would instead further entrench injustice and conflict in the Middle East.
“This proposal is not worth the paper it’s written on. It fails to provide the minimum requirement for a Palestinian State and rewards breaches of international law like the Israeli Government’s flagrant settlement building,” said Leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale.
“This is very clearly a political document drafted by men who are desperate to distract from the corruption allegations that surround them. The Palestinian people have been excluded from this process and will be forced to reject this deal, because it compels them to effectively live on scraps of territory.
“The Australian Greens call on the Coalition and the Labor Party to condemn this terrible proposal, and clearly communicate to the US and Israeli Governments that it will further entrench conflict and division. It is critical that Australian voices speak out before we see emboldened ultranationalists illegally annexing even more territory.”

The Australian Government is working across agencies to assist the departure of isolated and vulnerable Australians from Wuhan and to put strict quarantine arrangements in place.
Australian diplomatic and consular staff have been working very closely with the Chinese authorities and with other partner countries to develop options for the departure of Australians in Wuhan and Hubei Province, in what continues to be a difficult and complex situation.
The Australian Embassy in Beijing is now seeking formal approval from the Chinese Government to send a plane to Wuhan to assist the departure of Australians from Hubei Province.
We thank the Chinese Government for the cooperative way they have dealt with Australian counterparts and those of other countries who have citizens in Wuhan and Hubei province.
Australians departing on any flight arranged by the Australian Government will be flown to Christmas Island to undertake a period of quarantine of up to 14 days based on current medical advice, as a condition of their assisted departure.
They will also be required to commit to making a contribution to the cost, consistent with normal arrangements in these circumstances.
This will ensure we are also prioritising public health in Australia.
A consular team is positioned to support an assisted departure. A temporary Consular office is being set up in Wuhan to work with local authorities to help give effect to this plan. We do not have a permanent consular presence in Wuhan.
An Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) will provide medical support and expert advice to returning Australians upon arrival at Christmas Island.
There are just over 600 Australian citizens currently registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. We will seek to speak with each of them in relation to the Government’s announcement. Our focus and priority is on vulnerable and isolated citizens.
We are endeavouring to make further contact with those people who have provided us their details. Contact can be difficult due to high demand on phone lines in China. We request that those who have registered their details contact DFAT again if they have not spoken to Australian consular officials in the past 24 hours. The DFAT emergency number is +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas or 1300 555 135 if you are calling from Australia on behalf of a family member.
We also thank Qantas, which has offered to support Australians out of Wuhan if the authority to proceed is provided.
We understand this is a very stressful time for those impacted. We encourage people to make contact with family and friends, stay in touch with travel providers and contact your insurers. Australians should continue to follow all health precautions which are available on the Smart Traveller website – www.smartraveller.gov.au.
We advise that Australians do not travel to Hubei Province and reconsider their need to travel to China overall.
There is still significant work to do but we are taking all necessary steps to ensure that we can help Australians to leave Wuhan as soon as possible.

Funding for farmers, small businesses, families and schools in drought-affected communities across Australia will now start rolling out as part of a $57 million support package.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said it was important that those people and businesses suffering from the drought continued to get the support they need.
“While we know the nation has been gripped in recent months by the bushfire crisis I want all Australians impacted by drought to know that you have remained firmly in our Government’s focus,” the Prime Minister said.
“You remain at the centre of relief, response and recovery plans for the future and making Australia more resilient to these challenges in the future.
“This funding will support local tourism initiatives, new infrastructure and amenities, and funding to help non-government schools facing financial hardship as a result of drought.”
Minister for Drought David Littleproud said an additional 52 councils would now receive up to $1 million under the extended Drought Communities Programme, determined by rainfall data and both agricultural and broader employment information.
“We will distribute $47 million to drought effected areas based on population, providing councils of less than 1,000 people with $500,000 and those with a larger population with $1 million to ensure we continue to provide appropriate, tailored support,” Minister Littleproud said.
“Drought doesn’t just hurt farmers, it goes out the farm gate. It hurts small businesses and the wider community as well, but this extra funding keeps money flowing through affected areas.
“Funding will support events that create jobs, boost tourism and improve community wellbeing, and enable construction of infrastructure that encourages people to stop in these small towns.
“So far, the DCP extension has funded over 300 projects, such as the construction of amenities blocks, potable water supply, local tourism assets, community resilience events and employing local drought support officers.”
Minister for Education Dan Tehan said the Government was committing an additional $10 million to ensure families affected by drought are supported to continue accessing education.
“We have doubled our drought relief support for non-government schools to $20 million to help more schools across New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia keep their doors open,” Minister Tehan said.
“Many of these schools have been taking money out of their own pockets to waive fees and subsidise fees to ensure that families can continue to send their children to school.
“This additional funding will ensure students don’t have their education interrupted as a result of financial hardship caused by drought.”
Since the election the Government has rolled out more than $1 billion in extra grants and payments to support drought-affected communities.
Today in Orange the advisory board of the National Drought and North Queensland Flood Response and Recovery Agency will meet for the first time, working with the National Farmers Federation to improve access to support programs for affected farms and communities across all levels of government.
A list of the additional councils made eligible for the DCP Extension can be found below. A full list of eligible councils for the DCP Extension can be found at business.gov.au/dcp

New South Wales
Clarence Valley	Junee	Lismore	Richmond Valley	Snowy Monaro
Cootamundra-Gundagai	Kempsey
Northern Territory
Barkly	Central Desert
Queensland
Bundaberg	Scenic Rim
South Australia
Barossa
Tasmania
Devonport
Victoria
Benalla	Greater Shepparton	Moira	Wangaratta
Western Australia
Albany	Carnamah*	Dumbleyung*	Kent*	Narembeen*
Beverley	Coorow	Esperance	Kojonup	Pingelly
Bridgetown-Greenbushes	Corrigin	Gnowangerup	Kulin*	Plantagenet
Brookton*	Cranbrook	Irwin	Lake Grace	Quairading
Broomehill-Tambellup	Dandaragan	Jerramungup	Mingenew*	Ravensthorpe
Bruce Rock*	Denmark	Katanning	Moora	Three Springs*
Busselton	Donnybrook-Balingup	Kellerberrin	Nannup	Wickepin*

*Denotes councils with populations of less than 1,000 and receiving $500,000 in funding.
All other councils have populations of 1,000 or greater and will receive $1 million in funding.
Funding for farmers, small businesses, families and schools in drought-affected communities across Australia will now start rolling out as part of a $57 million support package.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said it was important that those people and businesses suffering from the drought continued to get the support they need.
“While we know the nation has been gripped in recent months by the bushfire crisis I want all Australians impacted by drought to know that you have remained firmly in our Government’s focus,” the Prime Minister said.
“You remain at the centre of relief, response and recovery plans for the future and making Australia more resilient to these challenges in the future.
“This funding will support local tourism initiatives, new infrastructure and amenities, and funding to help non-government schools facing financial hardship as a result of drought.”
Minister for Drought David Littleproud said an additional 52 councils would now receive up to $1 million under the extended Drought Communities Programme, determined by rainfall data and both agricultural and broader employment information.
“We will distribute $47 million to drought effected areas based on population, providing councils of less than 1,000 people with $500,000 and those with a larger population with $1 million to ensure we continue to provide appropriate, tailored support,” Minister Littleproud said.
“Drought doesn’t just hurt farmers, it goes out the farm gate. It hurts small businesses and the wider community as well, but this extra funding keeps money flowing through affected areas.
“Funding will support events that create jobs, boost tourism and improve community wellbeing, and enable construction of infrastructure that encourages people to stop in these small towns.
“So far, the DCP extension has funded over 300 projects, such as the construction of amenities blocks, potable water supply, local tourism assets, community resilience events and employing local drought support officers.”
Minister for Education Dan Tehan said the Government was committing an additional $10 million to ensure families affected by drought are supported to continue accessing education.
“We have doubled our drought relief support for non-government schools to $20 million to help more schools across New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia keep their doors open,” Minister Tehan said.
“Many of these schools have been taking money out of their own pockets to waive fees and subsidise fees to ensure that families can continue to send their children to school.
“This additional funding will ensure students don’t have their education interrupted as a result of financial hardship caused by drought.”
Since the election the Government has rolled out more than $1 billion in extra grants and payments to support drought-affected communities.
Today in Orange the advisory board of the National Drought and North Queensland Flood Response and Recovery Agency will meet for the first time, working with the National Farmers Federation to improve access to support programs for affected farms and communities across all levels of government.
A list of the additional councils made eligible for the DCP Extension can be found below. A full list of eligible councils for the DCP Extension can be found at business.gov.au/dcp

New South Wales
Clarence Valley	Junee	Lismore	Richmond Valley	Snowy Monaro
Cootamundra-Gundagai	Kempsey
Northern Territory
Barkly	Central Desert
Queensland
Bundaberg	Scenic Rim
South Australia
Barossa
Tasmania
Devonport
Victoria
Benalla	Greater Shepparton	Moira	Wangaratta
Western Australia
Albany	Carnamah*	Dumbleyung*	Kent*	Narembeen*
Beverley	Coorow	Esperance	Kojonup	Pingelly
Bridgetown-Greenbushes	Corrigin	Gnowangerup	Kulin*	Plantagenet
Brookton*	Cranbrook	Irwin	Lake Grace	Quairading
Broomehill-Tambellup	Dandaragan	Jerramungup	Mingenew*	Ravensthorpe
Bruce Rock*	Denmark	Katanning	Moora	Three Springs*
Busselton	Donnybrook-Balingup	Kellerberrin	Nannup	Wickepin*

*Denotes councils with populations of less than 1,000 and receiving $500,000 in funding.
All other councils have populations of 1,000 or greater and will receive $1 million in funding.

Access to a cutting edge and potentially curative cancer therapy will be expanded for patients with particular forms of lymphoma, following a positive recommendation from the medical experts on the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC).
Between 200 and 250 additional cancer patients with Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma, Transformed Follicular Lymphoma and Primary Mediastinal B Cell Lymphoma, are expected to benefit from access to the CAR T-cell therapy, Kymriah®, each year.
Kymriah is a type of CAR T-cell therapy that uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer. The patients T cells are extracted from the body, genetically reengineered and programmed to recognise and destroy cancer cells, and then reimplanted into the body.
Together with states and territories, the Government currently provides Kymriah to children and young adults with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia for free.
Treatment would cost more than $500,000 for each patient without Government funding.
The agreement with Novartis to extend the availability of this treatment to patients with some types of lymphoma through the public health system, follows a positive recommendation from the medical experts on the MSAC. An MSAC recommendation and agreement with the supplier is an essential step in the public funding process.
Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma is the most common type of Non Hodgkin Lymphoma. Most patients respond very well to current treatments, but for a small number of patients the disease relapses or is resistant to everything available.
Transformed Follicular Lymphoma and Primary Mediastinal Large B Cell Lymphoma are less common types of lymphoma that can also be hard to treat in some patients.
Treatment with Kymriah gives patients a new chance at achieving remission.
As Kymriah is a highly specialised treatment, it is delivered to patients in specialised tertiary public hospitals.
Melbourne is also set to become one of the few cities in the world to manufacture CAR T-cell therapies for the treatment of cancer, with the signing of an historic partnership agreement between Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Novartis Pharmaceuticals, to manufacture Kymriah in Melbourne.
The Government welcomes this announcement.
This historic partnership agreement adds to the Morrison Government’s broader commitment to the Parkville Precinct and Victoria as a world leading health and medical research centre, with a particular focus on cancer.
It follows our $460 million investment in a range of health and medical research centres throughout the state, including $80 million to establish the Centre for Excellence in Cellular Immunotherapy at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
The Centre for Excellence in Cellular Immunotherapy is supporting the capacity and capability of Australia’s leading cancer specialists to use CAR T-cell therapy for the treatment of certain types of cancer.
The manufacture of Kymriah at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre means patient cells will no longer need to be shipped overseas for processing.
Australia will become one of the few countries in the world to manufacture CAR T-cell therapies.
This demonstrates the advanced medical manufacturing capabilities we have in Australia and Victoria.
The Morrison Government’s commitment to ensuring Australians can access affordable treatments, when they need them, remains rock solid.

Labour force figures released today by the ABS exceeded all market expectations in December 2019, with seasonally adjusted employment rising by 28,900 over the month, to stand at a record high of 12,981,600.
Over the year to December 2019, employment has risen by 262,500 (or 2.1 per cent), above the decade average growth rate, of 1.8 per cent.
Seasonally adjusted full-time employment is now at 152,700 (or 1.8 per cent), which is higher than it was a year ago.
Full-time employment has comprised 58.2 per cent of total employment growth over the last year.
Part-time employment rose by 29,200 in December and is now 109,900 (or 2.7 per cent) higher than it was a year ago.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage points over the month, to 5.1 per cent in December 2019.
The participation rate was steady in December 2019, at 66.0 per cent, but is 0.3 percentage points higher than it was a year ago.
The Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, welcomed today’s positive figures and noted that while labour force figures can jump around from month-to-month, a total of 1,505,400 jobs had been created since the Government came to office, an increase of 13.1 per cent.
“The Government is also facilitating a record infrastructure spend, which will help create tens of thousands of jobs across the country and also has a plan to create 80,000 apprenticeships,” the Minister stated.
“Today’s data continue to reflect the underlying strength and resilience of the Australian labour market and highlight the success of the Government’s efforts to stimulate ongoing, sustainable jobs growth, even in the face of significant global and domestic headwinds,” the Minister said.

The Greens have backed the community groups taking legal action to challenge the government regulator’s (NOPSEMA) initial approval of Norwegian oil giant Equinor’s plans to drill for oil in the Great Australian Bight.
Senator for South Australia and Greens Environment Spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young said the environmental approval announcement last month was a devastating outcome for the tens of thousands of Australians deeply opposed to the project.
“The Christmas eve approval for drilling in the Great Australian Bight has not gone unnoticed. The Greens, together with the community, will take all steps necessary to stop this environmental destruction from going ahead,” Senator Hanson-Young said.
“Australians rightly feel as though their pleas for the Great Australian Bight to be protected from oil and gas drilling have fallen on deaf ears. It’s therefore no wonder The Wilderness Society SA and the Great Australian Bight Alliance have decided to challenge the decision.
“South Australians, and indeed the majority of Australians, don’t want our Great Australian Bight turned into an oil field. They don’t want a foreign oil giant destroying our coastline and one of our most precious and treasured assets.
“Just today an Ipsos Australia poll shows the environment is the biggest worry for Australians, above cost of living, healthcare and the economy. This comes after catastrophic fires across the country fuelled by the climate emergency. Australia should be cutting fossil fuel pollution not opening up new oil fields in our oceans. It seems everyone gets that except for the Morrison Government.
“The Federal Government could put a stop to this pain by agreeing to world heritage protection and backing Greens’ legislation currently before the Senate to give the Bight the protection it deserves.”

The Australia Institute analysis released today showing the Federal Government paid exorbitant prices for water rights to a company linked to Minister Angus Taylor is further evidence of the need for a Royal Commission into the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, the Greens say.
In April 2018, Greens Spokesperson for Water Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, referred allegations that the Department of Agriculture significantly overpaid vendors for water in the Warrego catchment, Tandou and the Condamine-Balonne Valley to the Auditor-General for investigation. In April last year, Senator Hanson-Young asked the Auditor-General to audit all water purchases signed off by former Water Minister Barnaby Joyce.
Senator Hanson-Young said she would be drawing the Auditor-General’s attention to the latest documents showing the Department had rejected offers made by Eastern Australia Agriculture for water rights in the Condamine-Balonne valley many times on the basis they were ‘not value for money’ before ultimately paying almost double the price EAA had offered.
“This is further proof these were dodgy deals and exactly why I referred the procurement of water rights to the Auditor-General,” she said.
“The Federal Government has refused to release independent valuations of water rights, companies involved are allegedly linked to Energy Minister Angus Taylor, and taxpayers footed an $80m bill for water that’s never been seen. Then-Water Minister Barnaby Joyce has some explaining to do, the whole thing stinks.
“The Murray-Darling Basin has been riddled with dodgy accounting, mismanagement, and out-right water theft, and it looks more and more like it’s just another slush fund for the National Party and their corporate irrigator mates.
“These scandals aren’t going to go away and the more we find out the worse the story gets. The LNP’s management of the MDB has been woeful from the beginning.
“We need a Royal Commission to get to the bottom of these scandals and I urge all sides of politics to back my bill to establish one.
“Corporate greed and the climate emergency have pushed our biggest river system into drought which is having devastating impacts on river communities and the environment. Getting to the bottom of what’s gone so wrong for the MDB is the least we can do right now to give such a precious water resource a chance of survival.”

Tourism businesses and fire-affected communities around the country will receive much needed support from the Morrison Government’s National Bushfire Recovery Fund today through an initial $76 million tourism recovery package to protect jobs, small businesses and local economies by helping get tourists travelling across Australia again.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Government was throwing its support behind the country’s $152 billion tourism industry as part of an initial push to help the sector recover after a devastating blow from unprecedented bushfires.
“Our federal response to these devastating bushfires is comprehensive and unprecedented,” the Prime Minister said.
“More than 6000 defence boots on the ground, more than $50 million in emergency payments already in hand and more to come, $76 million in new mental health support to first responders and local communities, $50 million to support wildlife recovery and habitat restoration, $75,000 grants to our farmers to help them rebuild, and now surging our support for our all-important tourism industry. It’s all part of a clear plan to lead our response to the recovery driven by our National Bushfire Recovery Agency.
“Australian tourism is facing its biggest challenge in living memory.
“One in thirteen Australian jobs rely on tourism and hospitality so our $76 million investment is an urgent injection to help all those hotels, restaurants and cafes and tour operators get back on their feet.
“This is make or break for many businesses and tourist hot spots and not just in those areas directly hit by the bushfires.
“This is about getting more visitors to help keep local businesses alive and protect local jobs right across the country and especially in those areas so directly devastated such as Kangaroo Island and the Adelaide Hills, the Blue Mountains and right along the NSW Coast and East Gippsland in Victoria.
“We’ve heard directly from local operators, industry leaders, communities and the states and territories. Their message is to act now and that is exactly what we are doing. And we’ll be working closely with them all to deliver on our recovery plan to get these regions back up and running.”
The Government’s initial tourism recovery package responds directly to calls from the tourism sector and includes $20 million for a nationally coordinated domestic marketing initiative and $25 million for a global marketing campaign to drive international visitation.
A further $10 million will be provided for a regional tourism events initiative across bushfire affected areas, $9.5 million for an international media and travel trade hosting initiative, $6.5 million to support tourism business’ attendance at the largest annual tourism trade event, the Australian Tourism Exchange, and $5 million for our diplomatic network to educate that our tourism, international education and export sectors are open for business.
Federal Minister for Tourism Simon Birmingham said the funding boost would help get tourists back into areas that need it most but also make it clear that Australia is very much open for business.
“Tourism is the lifeblood of so many communities around Australia and it’s absolutely critical that we help to get people back visiting those communities that rely on tourism,” Minister Birmingham said.
“These bushfires have dealt the biggest reputational blow to our tourism industry that it has ever faced internationally. Losses caused by cancellations and collapsing booking numbers stretch well beyond those communities directly affected by fire into the many Australian towns that rely on international visitors to sustain tourism jobs.
“My message to anyone thinking about a holiday – from here or overseas – is that Australia’s towns and our incredible parks and beaches are open for business and they need your help.
“Just as it will be a long and challenging process for communities as they rebuild from fires, it will also take time and sustained effort to recover from the saturation media coverage and mistruths told online that have scared potential visitors away, including from parts of Australia that remain completely unaffected by fire.
“We will break from the practice of Tourism Australia exclusively focusing on international visitors and urgently kick off a local campaign because Australians are best placed to immediately understand that most of our country remains as safe to visit as ever.
“Tourism Australia will work with all states to upscale their existing and planned efforts to increase tourism visitation. This will include support for efforts in both bushfire affected regions and elsewhere. We understand acutely that regions that neighbour bushfire affected regions as well as the broader national tourism sector have been impacted by this crisis.
“Australians have shown enormous compassion towards fire affected communities and donated in record sums. For those who can, the next best way to help fire affected and other tourism dependent towns is to make a booking for a short break, visiting these towns and helping to sustain their small businesses and local jobs.
“Our international marketing campaign and extensive hosting of international media or travel trade partners will demonstrate to the world that Australia is very much open for business, that we maintain incredible tourism experiences in every state and territory and explain the regeneration that the Australian bush goes through after bushfires.
“I assure Australia’s tourism industry that we will work with them through this tough time to ensure visitors once again flow into our nation, supporting jobs for hundreds of thousands of Australians.”
This initiative forms part of the Morrison Government’s initial $2 billion National Bushfire Recovery Fund.