Month: November 2019

Greens Acting Leader, Adam Bandt MP, has responded to Scott Morrison’s speech today to the Queensland Minerals Council, saying that any attempts to crack down on protest is a threat to Australia’s democracy.
“Scott Morrison is a direct threat to Australian democracy and freedom of speech,” said Mr Bandt.
“The Prime Minister’s commitment to outlaw the peaceful, legal protest of Australian individuals and community groups reads like a move straight from the totalitarian’s playbook.
“Instead of getting tough on the climate crisis, Scott Morrison is dismantling democracy.
“People are taking action because Scott Morrison’s is making the climate crisis worse, but instead of heeding the message, he’s shooting the messenger.
“The Greens will fight tooth and nail against any move to make it harder for Australians to have their voices heard and take action to solve the climate crisis.
“Until Scott Morrison starts cutting pollution and keeping coal in the ground, protests will keep growing.
“We have one simple message for Scott Morrison today: you can’t arrest your way out of the climate emergency.”

Greens Acting Leader, Adam Bandt MP, has responded to Labor Shadow Minister for Resources Joel Fitzgibbon’s attack on Victorian fracking bans, warning that unleashing toxic methane gas will blow any chance of meeting the Paris Agreement goals.
“Joel Fitzgibbon, the man Anthony Albanese has made responsible for Labor’s coal and gas policy, is trying to bully Labor Premiers into unleashing a toxic methane climate disaster,” said Mr Bandt.
“Unleashing more toxic methane is not a transition plan, it is a recipe for climate disaster.
“Australia won’t become a renewable energy superpower if we start fracking our country and releasing toxic methane.
“An increase in gas mining is a major reason Australia’s pollution keeps rising.
“To avoid climate catastrophe, we need to look beyond gas and coal and transition to a clean energy future.
“While over the weekend Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party announced a ban on fracking in Britain, in Australia Federal Labor was attacking Victorian Labor over its own important fracking ban.
“If Labor is genuine about recognising the climate emergency then they need to join us in not only stopping new polluting gas projects, but planning for a transition away from toxic industries towards the renewable energy future we desperately need.”

The Greens are calling for the Government to start work immediately on the three issues called out in the Aged Care Royal Commission interim report for immediate action.
“This report makes for distressing reading but comes as no surprise to anyone that has been paying attention to what has been happening in the sector”, Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on Ageing said.
“I’m particularly concerned about the use of chemical restraints in aged care facilities and the new regulation which does not focus on elimination of the use of restraint, does not require informed consent before use and is not transparent or accountable.
“This is why I have moved to disallow the Quality of Care Amendment (Minimising the Use of Restraints) Principles 2019 which is the legislative instrument regulating the use of chemical restraints in aged care facilities.
“This interim report reinforces the need to rethink the approach in the new regulation and it needs immediate attention.We have the opportunity to move very quickly to do this better.
“The Greens went to the election with a commitment for more Home Care packages, it is obvious that there just aren’t enough out there, this needs to be addressed immediately so that people aren’t dying while waiting for care.
“The Government is not doing enough to protect people in aged care facilities and as the report says we need to stop with “patch ups”.
“The Royal Commission cannot be used as an excuse for lack of action and ensuring that older Australians get proper care right now. Dignity cannot be drip-fed.
“We have an ageing population. Politicians can’t be shocked by this. There should have been long term planning for this, listening and engaging with the sector and it’s a failure of Governments, who always claims to care for older Australians that we have reached such a crisis point.”

Trainees and apprentices will be taught skills that better match the needs of employers in the mining industry, under a Skills Organisations Pilot announced by the Coalition Government today.
The Pilot will ensure trainees and apprentices, particularly those in remote areas, are part of a growing workforce to support the mining industry, as well as the broader Australian economy.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the Pilot will ensure more Australians are able to get a highly-skilled job.
“This is about making sure more Australians are able to find a job, particularly kids in remote areas. I want these kids to come out of training college with the skills they need to go land a job in the mining industry,” said the Prime Minister.
“We need to make sure we are teaching the skills employers are demanding whether they be heavy diesel fitters, automotive electricians, communication technicians or mine engineers.
“I know that mining is a high-skill, high-wage industry and this is a further statement of confidence in the industry’s future. It recognises mining’s critical role as a creator of job opportunities in regional and remote Australia, including for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
“A stronger mining sector means a stronger Australian economy.”
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, said the industry is committed to ensuring the availability of high-quality training and strong employment pathways for learners.
“Establishing a Skills Organisation Pilot in this important industry will help ensure the ongoing availability of a highly skilled workforce to support the mining industry, as well as the broader Australian economy,” said Minister Cash.
“The Australian Government is committed to a strong vocational education and training (VET) system that is able to deliver a strong and adaptable workforce, and provide employers with access to the skilled workforce needed to grow their businesses.
“Australia’s mining services sector creates jobs, builds skills, and attracts investment supporting more Australian jobs.
“Strengthening this sector is just one more step we are taking toward strengthening our economy and generating more jobs for more Australians.”
Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Matt Canavan said it was critical for Australia to have a well-trained mining workforce to take full advantage of booming demand for our world class commodities.
“Our resources sector is one of the powerhouses of our economy but it can’t happen without the talented people who make it up,” Minister Canavan said.
“Our high quality and clean resources have never been in higher demand and now is the time to invest in our resources sector skills base.
“More than a million Australians work in the resources sector – that’s about one in every 10 jobs. Investing in the skills of these workers is an investment in Australian families and communities.
“Creating a nationwide curriculum under this Pilot will help enhance, expand and advance the skills of our resources workers, securing the sector’s future for decades to come.
“I am especially enthused to get more kids excited about what’s under the ground. The technologies to explore our underground are just as technical as those that launch us into space. Australia leads the world in exploration and young Australians don’t need to play Minecraft to dig, they can do it right here in their backyard.”
The Skills Organisation Pilot will be co-funded by the Coalition Government and the Mineral Councils of Australia, signifying the important buy-in from the sector.
Earlier this year, the Government announced a $585 million Delivering skills for today and tomorrow package aimed at strengthening Australia’s vocational education and training system.
As part of the package, the Government committed to establishing two Skills Organisation Pilots in the priority industries of human services care and digital technologies, and is now adding the mining sector to the initiative.
The Pilots give the target industries the opportunity to shape the national training system to be more responsive to their particular skills needs, and to ensure that employers have confidence in the quality of VET graduates.

Mobile coverage continues to expand across regional Australia thanks to the Coalition Government’s $380 million Mobile Black Spot Program, with 750 mobile base stations now providing connectivity to regional and rural Australian communities.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Liberal and Nationals Government is delivering more reliable services for regional communities though improved network infrastructure.
“Regional communities rely on high quality mobile services to conduct their businesses and better connect with loved ones and this program is ensuring more people have efficient mobile phone access,” Mr McCormack said.
“Programs such as this make a real difference for families, businesses and emergency services, living and working in remote communities have better connectivity where and when they need.”
Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, and Minister for Regional Services, Decentralisation and Local Government, the Hon Mark Coulton MP, and Member for Mallee, Dr Anne Webster MP, today welcomed the milestone under the highly successful Program.
Minister Fletcher said more than 70 per cent of the 1047 base stations funded through the first four rounds of the Program are now complete, reflecting the Government’s unwavering commitment to providing reliable connectivity in the regions.
“Thanks to our significant investment, people living, working and travelling in Nullawil in the Mallee – the location of our 750^th base station – will now have better mobile coverage. This is great news for local grain farmers and their families who can enjoy the benefits of improved mobile coverage,” Minister Fletcher said.
Minister Coulton said the Mobile Black Spot Program is an example of what can be achieved when the mobile industry, state and local governments, local businesses and communities work together.
“Each new mobile tower is connecting regional communities to online services, increasing productivity and generating economic growth, which is why we are continuing to invest in additional program rounds,” Minister Coulton said.
“Communities across Mallee continue to benefit from the Federal Government’s Mobile Blackspot Program, enabling them to connect to family, friends and markets more reliably than ever before,” said Dr Webster.
“It’s great that the people of Nullawil now have access to better mobile coverage, and I look forward to the continuing roll out of the project across Mallee.”
Under the first four rounds of the program, the Government’s commitment has generated a total investment of more than $760 million in new mobile telecommunications infrastructure, with an additional $160 million in new Commonwealth funding for a fifth and sixth round of the program announced earlier this year.
The application process for the Round 5 closed on 26 September 2019, with the outcomes of this process expected to be announced in early 2020.
For more information about the program visit: www.communications.gov.au/mbsp
Quotes attributable to Nikos Katinakis, Group Executive, Networks & IT, Telstra
“Reaching 750 sites in the Federal Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program is a fantastic achievement, and a huge milestone in bringing connectivity to regional Australia.”
“Under the Program Telstra has delivered connectivity stretching from Monkey Mia in Western Australia to Weipa in the Queensland Cape York Peninsula which has added another 185,000 square kilometres of new coverage to Australian communities.”
“Telstra has a long and proud history of investing in regional Australia – which includes more than $280 million dollars as part of the Program by the time Round Four of the program is complete.”
Quotes attributable to Andrew Sheridan, Vice President of Regulatory and Public Affairs, Optus
“Optus is a strong supporter of the Commonwealth’s Mobile Black Spot Program, which is bringing coverage and competition to regional Australia, in many places for the first time.”
“We congratulate the Government on the success of the program and look forward to working closely together in current and future rounds to meet the needs of all regional Australians.”
Quote attributable to Kevin Millroy, Chief Technology Officer, Vodafone
“We’re pleased to be working as part of the Federal Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program to deliver new mobile sites for communities in regional and remote areas.”
“To date, Vodafone has delivered approximately 36,600 square kilometres of new external coverage to our customers; extended 4G services to more than 16,000 additional homes; and added more than 1,400 kilometres of 4G connectivity along major transport routes across the country.”