Greens Co-Deputy Leader and climate change and energy spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today introduced two private member’s bills into the House of Representatives that lay down a challenge to the old parties on the mining and export of thermal coal. The first would prohibit the mining of thermal coal in Queensland’s Galilee Basin, effectively outlawing the Adani mine, and the second would phase out the export of thermal coal entirely by 2030.
“As a country, we haven’t opened a new coal basin in 50 years and now’s not the time to start,” said Mr Bandt.
“The emissions from exported Australian coal exceed Australia’s domestic emissions. We cannot continue to profit off coal that is making global warming worse.
“It disgusts me that as Australia is simultaneously sweltering, drowning and burning, the old parties are even entertaining the prospect of new coal mines.
“The science demands that we stop burning coal. As the second largest thermal coal exporter in the world, Australia needs to act.
“It’s time to export sunlight, not coal. If Labor and Liberal cut their addiction to coal mining, we could start transitioning out of this dirty industry and towards the clean, cheap and promising export market of the future: renewable energy.”
Month: February 2019
Woman dies when car hits tree – Hunter
A woman has died after her car crashed in the Hunter region overnight.
The crash happened about 7.30pm (Sunday 17 February 2019), when the 47-year-old driver lost control on Windermere Road at Lochinvar, and hit a tree.
Police, paramedics and Fire & Rescue NSW officers responded to the crash site; however, the driver had died at the scene.
It’s believed the woman lived in nearby Windermere.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner by officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
5000 EXTRA NURSES & MIDWIVES TO BE RECRUITED – LARGEST EVER HEALTH WORKFORCE BOOST IN NSW
In the largest workforce boost in the history of Australian healthcare, patients will gain an extra 5000 nurses and midwives under a NSW Liberals & Nationals Government.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the unprecedented workforce rise over four years obliterates Labor’s pledge, which does not have the economic credentials to match it.
“We are investing $2.8 billion to recruit thousands of extra nurses, midwives and frontline staff to care for patients, far more than Labor promised,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Labor promised hundreds of nurses across NSW in its election material but the Liberals & Nationals are boosting frontline staff numbers to figures never seen before.
“Patients in NSW will now have more nurses to look after them and nurses will have more colleagues to share the workload – all due to our strong economic management.”
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said almost half the new nurses and midwives employed will be in regional areas. In total, 8300 frontline staff, including doctors, allied health and other professionals will be added to the workforce, with 45 per cent in the regions.
“Whether you are in Byron or Bombala, Broken Hill or Bulahdelah, Wagga Wagga or Walgett, you will get the care you need, much closer to home,” Mr Barilaro said.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said nursing hours per patient day will increase dramatically in Peer Group B and C hospitals across NSW, from 5.2 hours to six hours and 5.5 to six hours respectively.
“This increase in nurse numbers equates to even higher nurse to patient ratios than the NSW Nurses & Midwives’ Association asked for and leaves Labor’s promises in the dust,” Mr Hazzard said.
“No other State or Territory in Australia could match this commitment and the only reason we can deliver it is thanks to eight years of strong economic management.”
The NSW Liberals & Nationals have boosted the nursing and midwifery workforce by almost 20 per cent to 51,890 while in Government, and the number of doctors has soared 35 per cent to 12,100 – huge increases compared to the workforce under Labor. In total 16,000 extra frontline health staff have been employed since 2011, up 23 per cent on Labor.
The new investment will fund targeted areas of services and workforce including:
- More nurses: 5000 nurses and midwives across regional and metropolitan areas of NSW, including mental health and residential care nurses;
- More doctors: 1060 more doctors to enhance response times for patients waiting in emergency departments, for elective surgery, and to access psychiatric care;
- More allied health staff: 880 additional allied health staff including pharmacists, social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and psychologists; and
- More support staff: 1360 hospital support staff.
“The Liberals & Nationals Government has built or upgraded more than 100 hospitals and health facilities since elected, with 100 more underway,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Mr Hazzard said more than half of the hospital redevelopments or upgrades are in regional NSW, where many of the new staff will be deployed. “Good patient care relies not only on first-class facilities but skilled people to deliver it, which is why we are building on our commitment to look after those who look after us,” Mr Hazzard said.
Achievements of the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government in health include:
- Timely treatment: The best on-time elective surgery in Australia with 97.4 per cent of patients in 2017-18 receiving their elective surgery within clinically recommended timeframes, compared to 88.4 per cent in 2009-10 under Labor;
- Less time in emergency: The percentage of patients leaving the emergency department within four hours has improved from 62.2 per cent in 2009-10 under Labor to 73.0 per cent in 2017-18 under the Liberals & Nationals Government; and
- Fewer overdue for surgery: Across all surgical categories, almost 1200 patients waited longer than the recommended benchmark in June 2010 under Labor, this dropped to just 257 in June 2018 under the Liberals & Nationals.
Changes to communications landscape accelerating
Australians’ ever-increasing appetite for data-hungry video services is transforming the communications landscape.
This is a key finding of the Australian Communications and Media Authority’sCommunications report 2017–18, tabled in federal parliament today. The annual ACMA report examines the current telecommunication and media environment, including the latest in industry innovations and consumer trends.
‘Over 50 per cent of Australian adults have subscribed to video services such as Netflix and Stan since their Australian launch in 2015, indicating just how fast the communications market can change,’ said ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin.
Other key findings show that Australian adults are increasingly diversifying the use and mobility of their connected devices. In particular:
- 40 per cent of adults used five or more devices in 2018, up from 23 per cent in 2014
- 87 per cent of adults accessed the internet through their mobile phone in 2018, up by 10 percentage points from 2014
- 16 per cent of adults only used a mobile connection to access the internet in 2018, down from 23 per cent in 2014
- 41 per cent of adults only used a mobile phone to make voice calls at home, up from 27 per cent in 2014.
‘Consumer demands have led to significant investments in underlying infrastructure by industry and government,’ said Ms O’Loughlin.
These investments include:
- the Australian Government contributed equity of over $24 billion between 2013–14 and 2017–18 towards the National Broadband Network (NBN) rollout
- the Australian Government has spent $220 million to deliver more than 800 new mobile base stations since 2013
- industry spent around $5 billion between 2013 and 2018 at spectrum auctions, in addition to maintenance and upgrade of their mobile networks.
‘Interconnectivity and mobility are now integral to the work, home and social lives of all Australians,’ said Ms O’Loughlin.
ACTIVE KIDS PROGRAM HITS DOUBLE CENTURY TO ENCOURAGE HEALTHY CHILDREN ALL YEAR ROUND
The hugely popular Active Kids program will double with the NSW Government today announcing two separate $100 vouchers will be available for each child to encourage them to become involved in sport across the entire year.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said from July 2019 families will be able to access two Active Kids vouchers with the twin aims of encouraging children to play sport from January to December and to further ease the cost of living for NSW families.
“The program has been hugely popular with more than 1 million vouchers issued since launching,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“This is all about making sports more accessible for more children across the State and by making it affordable for parents, we are doing our part to help make kids active and healthy.”
In 2019 a second $100 Active Kids voucher will be available for the six month period from 1 July to 31 December. From 2020 two $100 Active Kids vouchers will be available from Service NSW for the entire calendar year.
The aim of the expanded program is to pay for two separate sports such as netball in winter and swimming in summer, or two separate seasons or terms of the one sport such as winter football and summer football.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said increasing the popular rebate program will help all parents across the State with school-aged children cover the cost of their children’s sports and active recreation fees.
“We are doing everything we can through our strong financial management to ease the cost of living burdens on families,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Because of the strength of the NSW Budget we are able to allocate more funding because we want more kids to be happy and healthy.”
The two $100 vouchers issued under the Active Kids program can be used by every school age child towards the cost of sports registration, membership expenses and fees for physical activities such as swimming, football, netball, dance lessons and athletics.
Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres said the expanded program would benefit sports which traditionally seek registrations in the second half of the year as families would now have access to two vouchers per year.
“If your child plays cricket in the summer and football in winter, you can choose to use a $100 voucher to pay for cricket registration fees and then use the second $100 voucher to help offset the costs for the football season,” Mr Ayres said.
The two vouchers cannot be combined to pay for a single program costing more than $100. They can be used with the one provider to help pay the cost of two separate terms of sport such as the summer and winter season of netball.
To apply for the Active Kids voucher parents can register online with Service NSW and find a registered sport or physical activity, club or organisation to use their voucher with.
The Active Kids rebate is one of a raft of NSW Government cost of living measures, including Free Rego, cheaper CTP green slips and energy rebates.
More information: sport.nsw.gov.au/activekids or by phoning Service NSW on 13 77 88.
NEW TAFE FOR NELSON BAY
People from Nelson Bay will have access to the training they need to get a job and get ahead with the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government announcing a new local TAFE campus will be built.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian was today joined by Liberal Candidate for Port Stephens Jaimie Abbott for the announcement.
“The NSW Liberals & Nationals are driving a massive expansion of TAFE’s footprint across rural and regional NSW, with Nelson Bay set to benefit from a new and state-of-the-art TAFE campus,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“TAFE campuses are the beating hearts of our regional communities and provide access to the education and training people need to get a job and get ahead.
“Today’s announcement is yet another significant investment in the future of rural and regional communities.”
Ms Abbott said she was delighted locals in Nelson Bay would soon have access to their very own TAFE.
“This announcement is an absolute game-changer for the people of Nelson Bay who until now have never had a major TAFE presence in town,” Ms Abbott said.
“For the first time ever people in Nelson Bay will be able to study a broad range of courses at TAFE locally, improving their ability to get the education they need to get a job and get ahead.
“As it stands many locals have to travel for an hour to access the courses they wish to study at either Maitland or Newcastle.
“This is about giving people the chance to study right here locally and removing barriers to education and training.”
The NSW Liberals & Nationals have already delivered 14 new or upgraded TAFE campuses in regional NSW since 2017. These campuses have on average tripled course offerings (compared to an existing facility) and more than doubled student enrolments.
NEWCASTLE LIGHT RAIL MAKES HISTORY
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance today joined some lucky Novocastrians on an historic journey along the completed Newcastle Light Rail line.
Ms Berejiklian said the gamechanging light rail line is a turning point in the city’s revitalisation and it is only possible because of the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government’s strong economic management.
“Newcastle Light Rail has been delivered on time and on budget and I am thrilled regular commuter services will start on Monday,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is committed to delivering for Newcastle and has invested more than $650 million into the city.
“Thanks to this investment the CBD has now been opened up to the waterfront, there is a record number of cranes in the sky and light rail down Hunter Street.”
Mr Constance said the NSW Government’s investment in Newcastle has created an environment which will help the city to thrive into the future.
“Newcastle Light Rail was built in 12 months and after four months of testing and commissioning it is now taking its first passengers,” Mr Constance said.
“This project has revitalised Newcastle and encouraged more people to look to live and work in the city centre.”
Liberal candidate for Newcastle Blake Keating said Newcastle Light Rail is a world-class transport system that will help Newcastle reach its potential.
“I encourage the Greater Newcastle community to come along to the Newcastle Light Rail open day this Sunday to take a free ride and celebrate the completion of this great project,” Mr Keating said.
Indigenous Education Boost
Australia’s Closing the Gap targets will be redeveloped in partnership with Indigenous Australians for the first time with a direct focus on education as the key to unlocking the potential of this and future generations.
The Prime Minister said the 2019 Closing the Gap report highlighted successes across the country but that refreshed targets were an opportunity to work together to accelerate progress.
“Today is a day to celebrate what so many people have helped achieve, but we cannot hide from the fact that on average at the moment Indigenous children do not have the same opportunities as other children growing up in our country,” the Prime Minister said.
“With only two of the seven Closing the Gap targets on track to be met, it’s time to refresh what we’re doing.
“There is hope. Together there’s nothing we can’t achieve.
“The original targets were well intentioned but developed without the collaboration and accountability for states and territories and without input from Indigenous Australians.
“We want a Closing the Gap framework that’s developed alongside Indigenous Australians with targets based on science. That’s why the partnership we took and agreed through the Council of Australian Governments late last year is so important. These things take time, and we are committed to getting it right.”
The Prime Minister said his focus through the refreshed targets would be on education as the key area that can drive generational change, kickstarted by a funding boost for a suite of Indigenous education initiatives.
“Education is the key to skills, to better health, to jobs,” the Prime Minister said.
“Our new suite of initiatives builds on the record investments we’re making from the high chair to higher education to ensure the next generation of Indigenous businessmen and women, academics and workers get the education they need to have a foundation for a successful life.”
The package includes:
- Teacher boost for remote Australia – Removing all or part of the HELP debt for 3,100 students to encourage more teachers to work and stay working in very remote areas
- Getting kids to school – Working community by community and school by school to invest $5 million in remote and very remote areas for projects that support and promote school attendance
Youth Education Package – $200 million extra support to give more Indigenous students the support and mentoring they need through their secondary studies
The Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion said the new education measures were designed to build on the success of existing Government policies developed in partnership with local communities.
“We’ve seen huge success in working with Indigenous communities and organisations over the last five years, to deliver real and meaningful changes. The Indigenous Advancement Strategy has been able to double the number of Indigenous organisations delivering services to Indigenous people since its establishment in 2013,” Minister Scullion said.
“At the heart of our agenda has been getting children to attend school and stay at school. I’m pleased that with the Prime Ministers announcement today, we will be able to further increase our efforts and investment with remote communities.”
Minister Scullion also announced an additional commitment to the Indigenous business sector with the Indigenous Procurement Policy 2.0.
“The Indigenous Procurement Policy, better known as the IPP, has supercharged growth in the Indigenous business sector with 1,473 Indigenous businesses delivering 11,933 contracts worth over $1.83 billion since its establishment in 2015. This is a spectacular increase from the 30 Indigenous businesses winning just $6.2 million in contracts in 2012-13,” Minister Scullion said.
“So from 1 July 2019, the Indigenous Procurement Policy 2.0 will introduce a target of 3 per cent of the value of Commonwealth contracts are to be awarded to Indigenous businesses within a decade, adding to the existing IPP target that 3 per cent of the number of Commonwealth contracts are to go to Indigenous businesses.
“We are investing further in what we know, what the data shows and what Indigenous communities tell us, works.”
Greens Welcome Cosmetic Animal Testing Ban and Vow to Keep Up Pressure on the Government
Australian Greens Senator for NSW and Spokesperson for Animal Welfare, Dr Mehreen Faruqi, has welcomed a ban on animal testing for cosmetics. A full ban is conditional on the Government enacting further measures outside Parliament, and Senator Faruqi has vowed to keep the pressure on the Government. The Greens have been at the forefront of pushing for a ban on cruel cosmetics for years, including introducing the first bill to ban animal tested cosmetics in 2014.
Senator Faruqi said:
“This is a great step forward for animals. Animals shouldn’t suffer and die to test cosmetics or other ingredients. I am proud that the Greens have been at the forefront of this campaign against cruel cosmetics.
“The Government had previously tried to pass a partial ban that would not have come close to ending animal testing. Thanks to the crossbench, the opposition and the Greens standing together, we have been able to extract commitments from the Government for a full ban. The Greens will be pursuing the Government relentlessly to ensure that it follows through with its commitments.
“Australia has lagged behind the world in banning animal testing which is both cruel and completely unnecessary. People quite rightly expect that animals should not have to suffer significant pain and distress, and in many cases die, for cosmetics.
“I want to pay tribute to former Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon who introduced the first bill to ban animal testing for cosmetics and strongly pushed to protect animals from unnecessary and cruel procedures,” she concluded.
Body found in search for missing woman – Lake Macquarie
Police searching for a woman missing in the Lake Macquarie region have today located a body.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District have been searching for a 37-year-old woman, who was last seen on Wednesday (13 February 2019).
About 3pm today (Friday 15 February 2019), a body was located near Dudley Bluff.
While the body is yet to be formally identified, it is believed to be that of the missing woman.
Her death is not being treated as suspicious.
Police would like to thank the public and the media for their assistance.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.