Month: May 2019

It is with a heavy heart that I write to you about the passing of Bob Hawke, Australia’s 23rd Prime Minister.
The Australian people loved Bob because they knew Bob loved them, this was true to the very end.
With his passing, the labour movement salutes our greatest son, the Labor Party gives thanks for the life of our longest-serving Prime Minister and Australians everywhere remember and honour a man who gave so much to the country and people he cared for so deeply.
In coming days and weeks our nation will give its tribute to a leader and statesman who inspired such profound affection and admiration, such loyalty and love among so many.
We will remember and revisit the images we know so well.
Bob with microphone or megaphone in one hand, the other moving in time with his words, rallying, inspiring and delighting a crowd.
Bob with head cocked, one hand grasping his earlobe, listening respectfully to an Aboriginal elder, a captain of industry, laughing with an American President or charming a local parent out doing their shopping.
Maybe in the stands, eyes fixed on the track, creased and folded form guide in hand, ticking off another winner.
Or in that iconic jacket, mouth open with laughter, dodging the beer and champagne, giving his Prime Ministerial blessing to a national sickie.
Those images will always be with us, the words to accompany them will pour in from across the country and around the world.
But the most powerful and enduring tributes to Bob Hawke are not words or pictures, they are found all around us.
World-class universities, where places are earned on merit not purchased by privilege.
Children from working-class families who finish school. Less than 3 in 10 kids did that when Bob came to office, 8 in 10 when he left.
A modern, outward-looking, competitive economy, built around the principle that working and middle class people must be fairly rewarded for their efforts.
A system dedicated to the idea that growth is stronger when it is shared, when wages and living standards rise and a generous safety net catches those who fall on hard times.
A country where tourists and locals alike share the wonders of the Daintree, or ride the rapids of the Franklin.
An Australia at home in Asia, a voice heard and respected in the councils of the world.
A country that steps up and plays its part, keeping peace in the Middle East, keeping Antarctica safe for science.
Every Australian carries a monument to Bob Hawke with them, their Medicare card. A green-and-gold promise that the health of any one of us, matters to all of us.
As President of the ACTU, Bob was the champion of unpopular causes:
The right of unions to organise and bargain.
Opposing French nuclear testing in the Pacific.
Opposing the war in Vietnam.
Opposing Apartheid and defending Nelson Mandela, when conservatives were branding him a terrorist.
He was a leader of conviction – and a builder of consensus. But for Bob, consensus and co-operation never meant pursuing the lowest common denominator.
Bringing the country together never meant presenting people with the soft option, or taking the nation down the low road or the lazy path of least resistance.
Bob and the brilliant cabinet he chaired so assuredly didn’t demand consensus or capitulate to it, they built it: through leadership, through persuasion, through Bob’s special connection with the Australian people that he nurtured and treasured.
After he left politics, Bob’s innate appreciation for Australians’ aspirations made him a wonderful source of advice and inspiration for his successors.
He was always generous with his time, and well into his ninth decade, remained a star performer at every Labor gathering he attended. No night was complete without his rendition of “Solidarity Forever”.
In Australian history, in Australian politics, there will always be B.H. and A.H: Before Hawke and After Hawke.
After Hawke, we were a different country.
A kinder, better, bigger and bolder country.
His brilliant, incomparable partnership with Paul Keating transformed our economy.
His deep friendship and co-operation with Bill Kelty gave us the national Accord and the social wage.
In our region, conscientiously, sensitively and with deep humility, he engaged the leaders and people of Asia.
He knew that Australia’s future depended on making peace with our past, through true and lasting Reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
And he understood the duty we all have to preserve our natural heritage, to protect the environmental treasures we hold on trust for future generations.
Of course, to honour Bob is to pay tribute to Blanche, his chronicler, companion, confidante and champion. Their love for each other shone through everything.
Blanche is in our hearts today, so too are Bob’s children, Sue, Stephen, Rosslyn, his stepson Louis and his grandchildren.
At our Labor launch I told Bob we loved him, I promised we would win for him. I said the same to him the next day at his home, when I visited.
It was Monday 6 May, the Sydney sun was out, that famous silver mane, now snow-white. Cigar in hand, strawberry milkshake on the table, the hefty bulk of his dictionary holding down the day’s cryptic crossword.
I gave the man who inspired me to go into politics a gentle hug, I tried to tell him what he meant to me, what he meant to all of us.
I couldn’t quite find the right words, few of us can, when we’re face-to-face with our heroes.
But Bob knew.
He knew what he meant to Australia, he knew what he had achieved for the country.
He knew he was loved, right to the end.
We honour him.
We will remember him.
In solidarity, forever.
May he rest in peace.
– Bill Shorten

The Morrison Government will provide $81.5 million to support Western Australians with cancer, mental health issues and chronic heart failure
These new initiatives will improve the lives of Western Australians in need, providing much needed support and hope.
Our strong economic management means we can provide record investment in these initiatives, Medicare, public hospitals and medicines, delivering more doctors, more nurses and more services to West Australians.
$44 million for West Australian cancer strategies
$25.1 million is being invested to help implement a cancer care strategy across rural WA.
This includes $9 million for new radiation oncology treatment services at Geraldton, WA.
The WA Country Health Service (WACHS) Cancer Strategy will be the first WA-wide coordinated approach to providing specialist cancer services in rural communities.
It is aimed at overcoming the inequity of access for country cancer patients in WA, increasing survival and improving the quality of life for country people diagnosed with cancer.
In addition, $19 million will be allocated for state wide genomic testing that will take the treatment of WA cancer patients to a new level.
This testing will benefit all WA patients diagnosed with cancer by using the patients DNA to personalise their cancer treatment plan.
It will enable earlier, more informed clinical decision-making, aligning patients with the best treatment for their disease from the start.
This funding is in addition to the Liberal National Governments $50 million investment in the Australian Genomics Cancer Medicine Program and the landmark $500 million Medical Research Future Fund Genomics Health Futures Mission.
$33.5 million for better mental health in Western Australia
The Morrison Government will invest $33.5 million in three new initiatives to support the mental health of Western Australians.
North Perth will be the location of a $14 million walk-in adult community mental health centre funded through the Morrison Government’s record-breaking $736 million mental health Budget measure.
This new centre, will provide much needed mental health support services particularly in times of crisis.
People will be able to walk in without a prior appointment and have access to treatment, advice, and support provided by a range of mental health professionals at any time of the day or night.
This is part of a $114.5 million trial of eight walk-in community centres around the country.
The Morrison Government is also providing an investment of $4.8 million to establish a new behavioural assessment unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Wanneroo to provide better support for people frequently presenting to the hospital’s emergency department with mental illness and drug and alcohol issues.
The funding will also support new comprehensive primary care hubs across existing general practices in the Wanneroo area.
Young West Australians with mental health issues will also get improved care and support in a new, dedicated 10-bed forensic mental health ward, through an investment of $14.8 million from the Morrison Government.
This new service will address a critical gap in mental health services in Western Australia – the need to ensure children and young people who are in trouble with the law and referred through the court system can get the mental health support they need.
The Liberal National Government was the first to designate mental health as one of the four key pillars of the health care system and is prioritising better mental health for all Australians by investing a record $4.8 billion in mental health this financial year alone and an expected $5.3 billion next year.
$3.8 million for new support for chronic heart failure patients
West Australians living with chronic heart failure will get improved support under a Morrison Government-funded trial of a new multidisciplinary care approach to this chronic disease.
The Morrison Government is providing $3.8 million to develop and implement models of multidisciplinary care for patients in two WA locations – one metropolitan, one country.
All of these initiatives are part of our plan to strengthen Australia’s world class health system.
We can deliver this record investment in health without raising taxes for hard-working West Australians.

The Government will allocate $16.5 million to expand mental health services which will benefit the residents of Higgins.
A new headspace centre will be established in Glen Iris to support young people dealing with mental health challenges.
And a $13 million residential centre for treating eating disorders will be established through the South East Primary Health Network which covers the Higgins electorate.
One in four people aged 16 to 24 experiences some form of mental illness every year and three-quarters of all mental illness manifests in people under the age of 25.
“The new headspace centre will provide vital services and deliver innovative support for young Australians in Higgins,” Minister Hunt said.
Liberal candidate for Higgins, Katie Allen, said “I am committed to ensuring young Australians can get information, advice, counselling or treatment, when and where they need it.”
The headspace program aims to improve access for young people aged 12 to 25 years who have, or are at risk of, mental illness. headspace offers early intervention services across four key areas—mental health, related physical health, social and vocational support, and alcohol and other drug use.
Minister for Jobs and Industrial Relations, Kelly O’Dwyer, said “There are around 1 million Australians living with an eating disorder. Eating disorders are extremely complex illnesses, and have one of the highest mortality rates of any psychiatric illness – with anorexia by far the deadliest mental health condition in Australia and disproportionally impacting women.”
The Morrison Government has taken a leading role in tacking this issue and has guaranteed $63 million in funding for 7 residential eating disorders centres, and $7.2 million for the Butterfly Foundation and National Eating Disorders Collaboration to ensure the quality of care for those impacted by an eating disorder and their families.
As part of the national network, the Victorian centre will be established through the South East Primary Health Network.
The Government is prioritising better mental health for all Australians with a record $4.8 billion to be spent on mental health this financial year alone.
The Government’s strong economic management ensures the continued record investment of funding into vital health initiatives including mental health, life-saving medicines, Medicare and hospitals.

Townsville will be the location of a $14 million walk-in adult community mental health centre funded through the Morrison Government’s record-breaking $736 million mental health Budget measure.
The new centre will provide much needed support individuals seeking help, particularly in times of crisis.
One in five Australians experience a common mental disorder each year and almost half of us will face some form of mental health problem during our lives. This is of particular importance to the Townsville community and its defence force personnel.
The Morrison Government will delver $114.5 million for eight walk-in community mental health centres, with one located in each state and territory to trial which model works best for the needs of their particular community.
Announcing Townsville as the location of Queensland’s centre, LNP candidate for Herbert, Phillip Thompson, said “I am delighted that our community’s advocacy for further mental health services has been acknowledged and rewarded by the Morrison Government.
As many people know, this is a very personal issue and I understand the importance of having easily accessible services.”
The centre will operate over extended hours. People will be able to walk in without a prior appointment and have access to treatment, advice, and support provided by a range of mental health professionals.
Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, said “In guaranteeing these centres through the Budget, we have recognised that Australia needs a comprehensive, inclusive mental health system that caters for everyone, regardless of their age, or needs. It’s part of our plan to deliver a comprehensive mental health system in Australia.”
The mental health centres will ensure that people are provided with appropriate immediate support, but are also connected to pathways of less urgent longer-term care by integrating with other local community services including GPs, local Primary Health Network (PHN) services, and state-operated services. The centres will also be able to assist people to access related health and social services.
Work on the design and branding of the national network is expected to begin later this year, with the first centres expected to begin operations in 2021.
The Liberal National Government was the first to designate mental health as one of the four key pillars of the health care system and is prioritising better mental health for all Australians by investing a record $4.8 billion in mental health this financial year alone.
This important announcement builds on several significant investment to support the health of people living in the Townsville region, including:

• Greater hospital and health services and infrastructure, with $13 million for 33 additional beds at Townsville Hospital to help meet increasing demand and provide a new in-patient ward allowing for treatment closer to home and $9 million for a new Maternity and Neo-Natal unit at the Mater Hospital to improve important health services for residents and people in the surrounding Townsville region.
• Better mental health support, for people living in Northern and Western Queensland impacted by the recent floods, including through telehealth, with an investment of $26.9 million.
• More funding for preventative health, with $12 million for the Heart of Australia to support and expand mobile cardiology and other services, including a third mobile clinic to service Northern Queensland and the Cape.
• Drug and alcohol services, including $700,000 for a new community residential withdrawal management service in Townsville and $5.9 million for the Salvation Army to build a 10 bed detox facility in Townsville and fund an additional 8 residential rehab beds.
• Spinal cord injury, $24 million for a Queensland-wide program aimed at giving new hope and support to people living with brain and spinal cord injuries with a new rehabilitation centre developed in Townsville.

We are determined to keep Australians safe and well. But record investment in can only come from good economic management. Our Government’s strong economic management ensures that Australia can maintain its world-leading health system and maintain the vital services we need to protect and save lives.

Greens employment and industrial relations spokesperson Adam Bandt MP today welcomed Labor’s announcement that it would establish a new small claims tribunal to enforce orders for the payment of wages. Mr Bandt noted this announcement follows his own announcement that the Greens will establish and resource a $20 million dedicated Wage Theft Unit within the Fair Work Ombudsman tasked with identifying, investigating and prosecuting cases of underpayment and wage theft. Mr Bandt also called on Labor to go further in lifting the minimum wage.
“The systematic underpayment of hundreds of thousands of low paid workers has to stop,” said Mr Bandt.
“In the fast food sector alone, some estimates have placed yearly losses at more than $300 million.
“Labor’s announcement of a new body to tackle wage theft is an important step in the right direction, but we need to work out how the situation got so dire in the first place.
“We’re glad Labor accepts the minimum wage is too low, but the next government must back the Greens’ push to lift the minimum wage to at least 60% of the median wage.
“The Greens will move in the Senate to amend Labor’s IR laws to lift the minimum wage to 60% of the median wage.
“The Greens will ensure that when the next government’s industrial relations reforms reach the parliament, they tackle the critical issues, like wage theft and low pay, at the heart of our industrial relations laws.”

It’s the social justice and equity issue the major parties aren’t talking about with their various marketing slogans featuring “a fair go”. And that is having a home, one of the most basic human needs.
While we talk about housing or shelter as a human right, as we should, people crave not just bricks and mortar but the sense of place and belonging. It’s why homeless people gather. Sure there’s safety in numbers when sleeping rough but we need each other and want to be together with others. Surely that is fundamental to a fair go.
These days we – and our governments – are increasingly failing each other and a crisis is upon us. More people than ever sleep rough, in train station tunnels, in parks and cars, on a revolving series of friends couches and floors even on beaches if they can. Over 120,000 Australians – the population of Darwin – are trapped in this needless hell. Increasingly these forgotten people are women and children. Youth homelessness is also on the rise. This escalating but largely invisible human tragedy has caught up significant numbers of military veterans. In this, one of the wealthiest countries on earth.
Disgracefully, Australia has no overarching program for preventing, reducing and dealing with the effects of youth homelessness. And we lag behind our global wealthy nation peers, many by some distance in addressing this tragedy of national neglect.
Once considered to be an inner city problem, homelessness is spreading into our outer suburbs and country towns. Homelessness is no longer rare but shamefully and sadly, close to it being a new, very wrong kind of normal.
The Together Party’s founder and Senate Candidate Mark Swivel grew up in inner Sydney and nearby beaches, familiar with homeless folk in Kings Cross, Woolloomooloo and at the backs of Eastern Suburbs beaches.
“These days I run Barefoot Law, a community legal clinic in Mullumbimby near Byron Bay, a town that now has the most expensive real estate in the country now with a median house price of $987,500,” he said. “Yet down the road we have a serious problem with housing affordability, rental stress and homelessness. For me homelessness is not abstract, I see it every week with our clients, many of whom have mental health challenges, little or no work, in lives torn about by on-going domestic violence. The results being that many of them have no home.”
Swivel singles out the chronic need for emergency housing for women escaping domestic violence and aggressive men, some of those with mental health issues
“One client Bill sleeps in his van in a car park on an isolated road. He has bi-polar disorder and struggles to keep a job or a spot in a share house going,” Swivel says. “He often smokes pot to manage his anxiety but ends up getting into minor scrapes around town. Nothing major but enough to see Bill in the local court and having regular run ins with the cops.”
“We got him back to the mental health team at the hospital who delivered proper treatment, and we helped keep him out of jail. But the fundamental problem is that Bill still didn’t have anywhere stable to live. In a competitive market for emergency accommodation, blokes can be a long way down the list. Bill still struggles and not having a home aggravates his condition.
“Homelessness is primarily related to poverty but not always,” Swivel said, noting that thousands of traumatised veterans come home to no home. “Yet we can find tens of millions of dollars to redevelop our National War Memorial.”
Homelessness should not be the new normal, or just part of somebody else’s life. The solution is not more CEO sleep-outs to raise awareness of the problem; while admirable, the problem has only increased since. It is government that must take an active role to build social and community housing.
Our governments have sold off housing commission properties en masse and not replaced them. We have half-baked under funded band-aids for the homeless when we really need major surgery in the form of an ongoing sustainable commitment to more public housing.
That’s why Together has earmarked $250 million in its Alternative Budget for social housing. The richest 10% of Australians who get tax breaks from negative gearing need to pay their share, countless millions that can be spend on social housing for our most vulnerable instead of beach houses for the well-heeled and inner-city high rises for middle class landlords to rent to young people who cannot afford a home.
The great Australian homeowner irony is that during the last generation property developers have grown rich, as have so many regular Australian homeowners due to the housing boom. Yet all the while the ranks of the homeless in our streets and towns have swelled. There is something very wrong with this picture.
Homelessness is a growing blight on our nation. Whoever is elected as the new government and must begin dealing with this issue from day one with policies to lead us back to an Australian when homelessness was rare and not the inevitable result of policy neglect an d bad decision making that has made poor use of our shared assets and resources.
Together is a new party but not a niche party and has a comprehensive policy manifesto https://thetogetherparty.org.au/manifesto.