Category: Australian News

There is no evidence of adverse effects on human health from the consumption of lead in drinking water in Australia. However, lead is not considered to be beneficial or necessary for humans; therefore public health experts recommend Australians take every opportunity to limit potential exposure from all sources.
The concentration of lead set in the drinking water guidelines is very conservative so that it can be sure to protect the most vulnerable people, such as very young children and pregnant women.
There have been instances of detection of lead levels above Australia’ drinking water guidelines and, as a precautionary approach, enHealth has issued household good practice guidelines to assist Australians in minimising their exposure to lead in drinking water, particularly when drinking water from old taps.
enHealth have suggested these simple precautionary measures to ensure that lead levels in drinking water are as low as possible.
Elevated blood lead levels are rarely found to be related to lead exposure from drinking water and it is extremely unlikely that lead from drinking water, even over a lifetime, would cause clinical lead toxicity.
I welcome work being undertaken by the Australian Building Codes Board to examine the issue of the level of lead in plumbing fixtures in line with international best practice.
Further information on lead in plumbing products is available on the enHealth Statement on Lead in Plumbing Products available from the department’s web page at: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/A12B57E41EC9F326CA257BF0001F9E7D/$File/Lead-plumbing-products-Guidance-Statement-July2018.pdf.

The Coalition Government has today released the terms of reference for the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into mental health and announced the appointment of an Associate Commissioner for the inquiry.
The inquiry will consider how mental illness can affect all aspects of a person’s quality of life including physical health, social participation, education, employment and financial status.
The terms of reference will include:

• • Examining the effect of supporting mental health on economic and social participation, productivity and the Australian economy;
  • Examining how sectors beyond health, including education, employment, social services, housing and justice can contribute to improving mental health and economic participation and productivity;
  • Examining the effectiveness of current programs and initiatives across all jurisdictions to improve mental health, suicide prevention and participation, including by governments, employers and professional groups;
  • Assessing whether the current investment in mental health is delivering value for money and the best outcomes for individuals, their families, society and the economy;
  • Drawing on domestic and international policies and experience, where appropriate; and
  • Developing a framework to measure and report the outcomes of mental health policies and investment on participation, productivity and economic growth over the long term.

To assist the Commission in undertaking this inquiry, Professor Harvey Whiteford has been appointed as an Associate Commissioner.
Professor Whiteford is a member of the National Mental Health Commission’s Advisory Board, Professor of Population Mental Health at the University of Queensland, and Professor of Global Health at the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington.
He brings extensive experience to the role, having worked on mental health policy with the World Health Organisation, World Bank, OECD and governments in Europe, Africa and Asia.
The two Commissioners overseeing the inquiry are Dr Stephen King and Julie Abramson.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said: “The inquiry will be able to make recommendations as to how the Government can better support Australians living with mental illness, to enable them to lead fulfilling and contributing lives.”
Minister for Health, Greg Hunt said he has consulted with state and territory health and mental health ministers as well as the National Mental Health Commission to seek their views on the scope and terms of reference of the inquiry.
“The Commission will consult with Indigenous leaders including the National Mental Health Commission’s Professor Helen Milroy and Professor Ngiare Brown on their expertise,” Minister Hunt said.
“Four million Australians deal with some form of chronic or episodic mental health condition. As well as the individuals affected and people close to them, poor mental health also affects businesses, the hospital system, emergency services and social services.”
The Commission will take submissions and will hold public consultations, including in regional areas.
All interested parties, including carers and patients, are encouraged to participate.
The inquiry will begin immediately and is due to report to Government within 18 months.
The Federal Government will spend an estimated $4.7 billion this year on mental health. Once state and territory government funding is added to this, the investment in mental health rises to around $9 billion per year – that is equivalent to $1 million per hour – every hour of every day.
The terms of reference are available on the Commission’s website.

The 70th anniversary of the raising of the Australian Army’s Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) was marked with a ceremonial parade at the Australian War Memorial today.

The revered Queen’s and recently updated Regimental Colours, featuring the 17 theatre and battle honours bestowed on the RAR, were on display with their respective Colour parties from the battalions of the regiment.

Major General Mark Kelly, AO, DSC (Retd), Colonel Commandant of the RAR said the regiment’s birthday was a time to reflect on its rich history and achievements.

“The battalions of our regiment have provided the full-time infantry combat capability for the Australian Defence Force for the last 70 years,” Major General Kelly said.

 “This parade, and the display of the Colours, helps us to reflect on the sacrifice and valour of those who came before us, including the 684 members of the regiment who died on operations.

“We remain committed to duty, ready to serve the Australian public as a key component of our modern and professional land force.

“We will continue to uphold the high standards set by infantry soldiers before us and look forward to continuing to serve our nation under the regimental motto of ‘Duty First’.”

The RAR, originally consisting of three ‘regular’ infantry battalions – the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions – was raised in 1948 for service in Japan after World War Two. There are now seven RAR battalions, based in Adelaide, Brisbane, Townsville and Darwin.

The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove, AK, MC (Retd); Chief of the Defence Force, General Angus Campbell, AO, DSC; and Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Rick Burr, AO, DSC, MVO were all officers of the regiment. Seven Victoria Cross recipients, including the four most recently serving in Afghanistan, were at one time RAR soldiers.

The RAR has deployed on many operations including the Korean War, Malayan Emergency, Vietnam War, Somalia, Rwanda, East Timor, Solomon Islands, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme (FITS) will commence on 10 December, 2018.
The Attorney-General announced the start date today, saying FITS would enhance transparency across the Australian Government and safeguard the nation’s democracy.
“FITS will provide visibility of the forms and sources of foreign influence in Australia’s governmental and political processes,” the Attorney-General said.
“Covert foreign influence can have serious implications for political sovereignty and national policy.  This can result in the interests of foreign principals being placed over Australian national interests without appropriate transparency.
“FITS, along with the Espionage and Foreign Interference Act, both of which passed Parliament with bipartisan support in June of this year, provide key protections to our national security and democratic institutions and processes and support our sovereignty, values and national interests.
“These new national security Acts were requested by our national security agencies and reflect the fact that, as we have heard time and time again from our most senior national security leaders, we live in a time of unprecedented foreign intelligence activity against Australia with more foreign agents, from more foreign powers, using more tradecraft to engage in espionage and foreign interference than at any time since the Cold War.”
From Monday, 10 December 2018, any person who undertakes certain activities, on behalf of a foreign principal for the purpose of influencing a political or government process will be required to register under the scheme.
A register of all those covered by the scheme and details about their activities as well as the nature of their arrangements with foreign principals will be publicly available.
The Attorney-General said since the passage of the legislation the Government has been finalising two sets of rules under the Foreign Influence Transparency Act 2018, which would underpin the operation of the FITS.
The first is a set of rules specifying the disclosures that must be made when undertaking communications activity.  This could include media broadcasts, articles or messages sent via applications such as WhatsApp.
The second set of rules will set out what information about registrants will be made public. This includes:

• names the registrant and the foreign principal would be known by;
• details of the arrangements with a foreign principal;
• details of the activity being undertaken on behalf of the foreign principal; and
• the date or period in which the activity is taking place

Together, these rules will ensure the FITS provides as much transparency in the Australian democratic system as possible,” the Attorney-General said.
“This is the first scheme of its kind in Australia. As such, detailed guidance materials are being prepared to support those who will need to register.
“Foreign actors will remain free to promote their interests in Australia, provided this is done in a lawful, open and transparent way.”
The IT platform to allow participants to register is almost complete with testing to be conducted later this month, ahead of its official launch on 10 December 2018.

On 19 November 2018, Papua New Guinean national Koloney Bama, 52, was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment in the Cairns Supreme Court for multiple counts of trying to smuggle drugs and the drug precursor ephedrine into Australia. He was also sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for one count of people smuggling.
On 11 November 2015, Bama tried to smuggle what he thought was 500ml ephedrine liquid, 28 grams of cocaine powder, and 10 kilograms of cannabis by dinghy from Papua New Guinea (PNG) to Bamaga—on the tip of Cape York in Queensland—via the Torres Straits.
But not long after entering Australian waters, Bama’s outboard motor started playing up and he couldn’t fix it. After numerous phone calls to his co-conspirator back in PNG—an Australian called Aniba—Bama rang 000 asking for help.
During the call, BAMA told the 000 operator that he was on a ‘drug run’ and had 12 kilograms of marijuana with him in the boat. He said he was looking for a market for his drugs and that Customs knew he was a drug runner and would know where he was.
Shortly after making the phone call, Bama was able to restart the outboard motor and returned to PNG. On the way he threw the ephedrine and cannabis overboard and buried the cocaine on an island to prevent being caught with the drugs by police.
Bama was unaware that his phone calls had been intercepted as part of a 2015 operation between the Queensland Police and the Australian Federal Police, investigating the supply of drugs in the Cape York area.
Between 1–11 March 2016, lawfully intercepted phone calls revealed that Aniba and Bama were communicating with another PNG national named ‘Joe’. Joe said he had 200kg of cannabis he wanted to exchange for firearms and cash. The plan was for Bama and Joe to smuggle the drugs from PNG to Bamaga where they would sell them, then use the cash to buy firearms. The deal never eventuated.
On 19 August 2017, Bama smuggled six Chinese nationals on a 14-foot dinghy from PNG to Saibai Island on the northern tip of Queensland, close to PNG. When Bama was arrested on 22 August, he said the Chinese had come from the Indonesian island of Merauke and that the plan had been to take them to Bamaga.
The six Chinese nationals were detained by officers from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, and Australian Defence Force, between 20–21 August.
Charges and sentence:
Bama was charged with:

• One count of attempting to import a marketable quantity of border-controlled precursor, ephedrine, contrary to section 11.1 and 307.12 Criminal Code Cth.
• One count of attempting to import a marketable quantity of border-controlled drug, cocaine, contrary to section 11.1 and 307.2 of the Criminal Code (Cth).
• One count of attempting to import a border-controlled drug, cannabis, contrary to section 11.1 and 307.3 Criminal Code Cth.
• One count of conspiring to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, cannabis, contrary to section 11.5 and 307.1 of the Criminal Code (Cth).
• One count of aggravated people smuggling (at least 5 people) contrary to section 233C of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth).

Bama was sentenced for the drug/precursor importation offences and the people smuggling offence to a total effective sentence of 6 years’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 3.5 years.

Research proposals are invited from small businesses and universities to help Defence devise novel ways of integrating advanced materials onto military platforms.

Australia’s Defence Science and Technology (DST) and the United Kingdom’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) are collaborating on research to find innovative joining technologies that will provide Defence in both countries with enhanced capability through improved performance and increased durability.
The technologies may include new adhesives to improve longevity in body armour, new methods for producing graded material, or advanced processes for integrating new joining techniques into existing structures.
An information session will be held on Wednesday 28 November in central Melbourne.
This event will allow you to find out more about the call as well as meet the SBIRD team, technical experts from DST, front-line users and potential collaborators.
Please register  for an entry ticket.
Applications will open on 28 November, 2018 and close on 1 February, 2019.
Further information is available SBIRD and DASA 

The 1700 kilometre Inland Rail project is moving ahead thanks to the Liberal and Nationals’ Government, with ground-breaking geotechnical work underway for one of the most technically complex segments of nation-building project.
The Gowrie to Kagaru section of Inland Rail in Queensland of about 130km will require 8.5km of tunnels to be built through the Toowoomba, Teviot and Liverpool ranges to reduce travel times and increase operating efficiencies.
This vital infrastructure will link one of Australia’s most productive farming regions to the eastern seaboard, and global and domestic markets, to operate faster-moving trains carrying more freight, on the Brisbane to Melbourne rail-line.
To optimise project outcomes, a deep understanding of the geological conditions is needed to gather information which will be used to guide strategic planning, assessments and engineering solutions.
The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has awarded a $23 million contract to Golder Associates Pty Ltd to undertake these comprehensive geotechnical studies to optimise tunnel designs.
This detailed work also includes drilling the deepest borehole for the project in Queensland – estimated to be 280 metres – to gather the necessary rock and earth samples.
With the $23 million contract announced today, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack welcomed the start of the important geotechnical investigations.
Mr McCormack said this work will provide vital information for the companies preparing bids to win the Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract for the Gowrie to Kagaru section of the Inland Rail.
He said the PPP is vital for guiding the Inland Rail’s overall construction and will assist the Australian Government and private sector to work together strategically and cohesively, while utilising industry expertise and minimising project costs.
“Awarding this $23 million contract will help to generate the best possible design solution for this critically important but ground-breaking segment of the Inland Rail,” he said.
“The Inland Rail is a nation-building project which will still be operating and delivering economic and community benefits a century from now, which is why we are working purposefully to ensure we optimise the design and construction.
“An estimated $10 per tonne freight saving, with faster and more efficient movement of farm produce from paddock to cities, is just one of the many exciting benefits of the Inland Rail which this government is delivering.”
Minister for Finance and the Public Service Mathias Cormann said the geotechnical work is vital to ensuring outcomes such as double-stacked trains being able to operate on the rail line through the ranges west of Brisbane.
Senator Cormann said this will improve freight industry productivity and link Toowoomba and Darling Downs producers to hungry and growing domestic and international markets.
“This geotechnical work will provide the vitally important technical information needed to build the 6.4km tunnel under the Great Dividing Range which will be an engineering feat driven by government and industry collaboration,” Senator Cormann said.
“Inland Rail will create over 7000 direct and indirect jobs here in Queensland and contribute $7 billion to the Gross State Product so it’s critical we get it right and that’s something this Government knows is important to the local community.”
In making the announcement of the $23 million contract at the borehole site north of Toowoomba, Federal Member for Groom John McVeigh welcomed geotechnical work commencing on the Gowrie to Kagaru section of the Inland Rail.
Dr McVeigh said his home State stood to benefit greatly from the nation-building rail project.
“The Inland Rail will deliver substantial benefits for Queensland so it’s critical we build the best possible rail line which is what this work helps to achieve,” Dr McVeigh said.
“It will ease pressure on our roads and highways, making them safer and less congested removing an estimated 200,000 truck movements from roads each year.
“I’m looking forward to the Queensland Government finalising the bilateral agreement so we can get on with the job of building this vital infrastructure and Queenslanders can experience the Inland Rail’s benefits.”

The Department of Human Services is often the first place those experiencing domestic violence turn to when in crisis, with the agency providing significant help and support to tens of thousands of families each year.

The Department delivered crisis payments to about 50 people a day last financial year and more than 63,000 individuals received support from our network of more than 700 social workers based around the country.

Marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Minister for Human Services and Digital Transformation Michael Keenan said everyone had a right to live free from violence.

“My Department is deeply committed to helping those in need and I am proud to say that 22,000 of our employees have now undergone special training to help them proactively identify people at risk,” Mr Keenan said.

“This training enables us to engage in early intervention and direct people to the wide range of support that is available to them, both from the Government and external partner agencies.

“For those unable to come into one of our service centres, support information is available online 24 hours a day. Our Family and Domestic Violence web pages were viewed almost 190,000 times last year.

“These online resources are also available in 28 languages so it’s easier for culturally and linguistically diverse communities to find out about the support that’s available.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing family or domestic violence, please contact the national sexual assault and family and domestic violence counselling service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or visit humanservices.gov.au/enough.

The Australian Greens have called on the Education Minister to not ditch a proposed university sexual assault taskforce . Fairfax Media has revealed that the taskforce was close to being announced by former Minister Birmingham, but has since been put on hold by Minister Tehan.
Australian Greens Education Spokesperson said:
“For the Minister to effectively ditch a taskforce on such an important issue is offensive and shows he has no understanding of the very real issue of sexual assault and harrassment on university campuses. The taskforce is ready and waiting to go, why is the Minister blocking this crucial accountability measure.
“Minister Tehan would rather stand up for denialists of campus rape culture like Bettina Arndt than for students who have been working in good faith with the Government over the last few years.
“All the key players understand the need for an institutional change in culture to protect women in universities. The Minister must admit he was wrong and allow the taskforce to proceed as planned” she concluded.
Australian Greens Spokesperson for the Status of Women, Senator Larissa Waters, said:
“What a blow for women’s safety on campus that the Morrison coup has led to shelving an important reform to keep women safe.
“Women shouldn’t have to run the gauntlet of sexual assault and harassment to gain an education.
“The Morrison Government should immediately progress the taskforce and ensure universities and residences are held to account when it comes to ending rape on campus.
“The safety of women on university campuses shouldn’t be neglected because of Liberal Party ministerial musical chairs.”

Women will get a better deal in accessing superannuation assets at the end of a relationship as a consequence of a new information-sharing initiative announced today as part of the Coalition Government’s Women’s Economic Security Package.
$3.3 million will be provided to the Australian Taxation Office to develop an electronic information-sharing system to ensure the family law courts have better visibility of parties’ superannuation assets when making property orders.
Separating couples will have access to faster and fairer family law property settlements as a result of this new system which will make it easier to identify lost or undisclosed superannuation assets.
“The Coalition Government’s Women’s Economic Security Statement is delivering practical measures to help give women greater choices about their lives and to build financial security for themselves and their families,” Minister for Women, Kelly O’Dwyer, said.
“Improving the visibility of superannuation assets in family law proceedings is particularly important for Australian women.”
“The Coalition Government is focused on delivering a family law system that supports the needs of Australian families,” Attorney-General, Christian Porter, said.
“Getting full visibility of superannuation assets in family law matters can be complex, time-consuming and costly, often requiring parties to go on ‘fishing expeditions’ using subpoenas and other formal court processes, with no guarantee of success. This new system will ensure faster and fairer resolutions of family law property disputes.”
“Superannuation is often the most significant asset in a separated couple’s property pool, particularly for low-income households with few assets,” Assistant Treasurer, Stuart Robert, said.
“About 40 per cent of people with superannuation have more than one account.”
“In 2015–16, the gap between the median superannuation balance of men and women nearing retirement age was 42 per cent,” Minister O’Dwyer said.
“Parties to family law proceedings are legally required to disclose all of their assets to the court, including superannuation, however, in practice, parties may forget, or deliberately withhold, information about their superannuation assets.”
The non-disclosure of superannuation assets can often disproportionately disadvantage women due to a significant disparity in superannuation savings between men and women. A lack of financial disclosure by a former partner can result in women receiving a smaller share of property than they would otherwise be entitled to.”
Non-disclosure of assets in family law proceedings can also delay cases. A recent study by the Women’s Legal Service Victoria found that two-thirds of clients surveyed faced delays caused by a former partner failing to make the necessary financial disclosures.
Giving the courts access to superannuation information held by the ATO is expected to result in faster and fairer family law property settlements. It will help parties in family law proceedings, particularly women, avoid the cost and complexity involved in seeking superannuation information from multiple superannuation funds, or subpoenaing employment records.
It will also provide the family law courts with a more accurate and reliable source of superannuation information to inform a property settlement, and result in more just and equitable outcomes.
The electronic information-sharing system will commence on 1 July 2020.