Month: November 2019

The Australian Greens have responded to Scott Morrison’s appalling decision to allow Minister Angus Taylor to continue serving in his role while under active police investigation, saying that it shows the Prime Minister is deep in denial.
Greens spokesperson for the climate crisis and energy, Adam Bandt MP said:
“Scott Morrison is deep in denial.
“The PM has thrown integrity overboard to hang on to a 1 seat majority on the floor of Parliament.
“The government says unions need special ‘integrity’ legislation because they can’t manage their own affairs, then the Liberals keep a Minister under police investigation on the front bench.
“If you’ve got a blue collar the Liberals throw the book at you, but if you’ve got a white collar they turn a blind eye.
“Not only is Scott Morrison refusing to accept that burning coal makes bushfires worse, he’s backing a Minister being investigated by police for using forged documents in a climate-related attack.”
Greens leader, Senator Richard Di Natale said:
“It’s appalling that the Prime Minister has allowed one of his ministers to sit on the front bench while under active police investigation,” Leader of the Australian Greens Dr Richard Di Natale said today.
“From this document saga, Taylor’s climate change denial, and allegations he intervened as Minister to help out his family farm, there’s been a stench around Angus Taylor’s conduct for months.
“At every turn, Angus Taylor has been protected from scrutiny from a government clearly more concerned about its numbers in the House than its integrity.
“If the Prime Minister was serious about improving faith in his government he would suspend Angus Taylor until this NSW Police investigation is complete.”

Australian Greens Animal Welfare Spokesperson, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, has welcomed the Senate Inquiry report calling on the Federal Government to establish a horse traceability scheme. Senator Faruqi established the inquiry in February and has been a leading voice for the establishment of a register to protect horses.
The report has called for the establishment of a national working group to work towards implementing a National Horse Traceability Register.
Senator Faruqi said:
“Australians saw horrific scenes of cruelty and slaughter of race horses and were outraged. This register is the beginning of much-needed transparency in the racing industry. We need to track horses throughout their lives so the industry has no more excuses for not ensuring every horse has a dignified retirement.
“I established the inquiry into a national  horse traceability register to hear from all parties on how we can better protect all horses from sickness, neglect and cruelty. We now have a very compelling case for a register.
“It is completely unprecedented to have so many stakeholders and groups in favour of the need to establish a national horse traceability register. Animal welfare groups, the racing industry and the broader horse industry all overwhelmingly support a register. We just need national leadership from the Government to make it happen.
“There is a huge gap in biosecurity for horses in this country. It is pretty shocking to think that we don’t even know how many horses there are in Australia. We heard evidence that ten years on from the Equine Influenza breakout of 2007, which cost billions of dollars, we are effectively flying blind still. That’s simply unacceptable.
“I wish to acknowledge and thank Julianna and Mark Waugh who tragically lost their daughter, Sarah, in a horse riding accident and have worked tirelessly to improve riders safety in Australia. I thank the many horse advocates, including reporters and activists, whose work protects horses and exposes animal abuse.”

Today, we begin 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and culminating on 10 December with Human Rights Day.
But the responsibility and effort to end violence against women never ceases – and rests with all of us.
While domestic and family violence affects everyone, we know that women are disproportionately impacted.
Violence and abuse against women exists in many forms including physical, emotional, financial. And the sharing of non-consensual intimate images is becoming more prevalent.
This is a national scourge, a national crisis and a national shame – the status quo is unacceptable.
Preventing violence against women requires fundamental cultural and attitudinal change through awareness and education of both young and old.
Government and business; communities and individuals – everyone has a role to play – and men are an integral part of the solution.
The Government can and must make it easier for women to escape violent and abusive relationships.
It can improve access to the social security system.
It can provide more safe places for women and their children to stay.
It can ensure our national employment standards provide the flexibility and support for women to leave violent relationships, including a commitment to paid domestic violence leave.
It is encouraging to note that last week’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency scorecard showed more employers were enacting policies and strategies on family and domestic violence.
Everyone in the community has a role to play in the prevention of family violence – this is everyone’s business.

The Morrison Government is taking strong action to respond to the three priority areas identified in the Aged Care Royal Commission’s Interim Report released on October 31, by increasing home care packages, reducing chemical restraints, and getting younger people out of residential aged care.
The Royal Commission’s interim report is clear – as a country, the Government, the Aged Care Sector and the entire Australian community, we can and must do better in providing improved support for our older Australians.
We will deliver a $537 million funding package to respond to the Interim Report, across the identified three priority areas, including;

• investing $496.3 million for an additional 10,000 home care packages;
• providing $25.5 million to improve medication management programs to reduce the use of medication as a chemical restraint on aged care residents and at home, and new restrictions and education for prescribers on the use of medication as a chemical restraint;
• delivering $10 million for additional dementia training and support for aged care workers and providers, including to reduce the use of chemical restraint; and
• investing $4.7 million to help meet new targets to remove younger people with disabilities from residential aged care.
• No people under the age of 65 entering residential aged care by 2022;
• No people under the age of 45 living in residential aged care by 2022; and
• No people under the age of 65 living in residential aged care by 2025.
• establishing a Joint Agency Taskforce (JATF) between the Department of Social Services, Department of Health and National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to develop a new strategy that builds on the Action Plan and takes action to ensure these new targets are met;
• establishing a specialist team within the NDIA to prevent younger people with a disability who are eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme from entering aged care. The specialist team will grow to 80 complex support needs planners by end March 2020 to find suitable accommodation and match participants to vacancies;
• working with industry to identify all available Specialist Disability Accommodation and Supported Independent Living supports across the country to develop a database of existing and new housing options available now and in the future; and
• undertaking a detailed analysis of younger people currently living in aged care, as well as up to 2,000 young people at risk of entering aged care, to better inform new policies and pathways to find alternate accommodation.
• providing simpler aged care assessments by creating a single assessment workforce and network; and
• establishing a single unified system for care of our elderly in the home.

Increasing the number of Home Care packages
The additional 10,000 home care packages will be focused on the Royal Commission’s identified areas of need and is strongly weighted towards level 3 and level 4 packages, which provide a high level of care.
These packages will be rolled out from 1 December 2019.
Since the 2018-19 Budget, the Government has invested $2.7 billion in 44,000 new home care packages.
We have also more than doubled the number of home care packages available to a record 150,412 this financial year, up from 60,308 in 2012-13 under Labor.
Better medication management and dementia training
The Royal Commission has identified an over-reliance on chemical restraint in aged care, therefore from 1 January 2020, we will also establish stronger safeguards and restrictions for the prescribing of repeat prescriptions of risperidone.
Doctors will still be able to prescribe it but will be required to apply for additional approval if risperidone is to be prescribed beyond an initial 12 week period. These changes have been developed following recommendations from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, and in collaboration with doctor’s groups and the broader health sector.
Education resources for prescribers will also be developed to support the appropriate use of antipsychotics and benzodiazepines in residential aged care and targeted letters will be sent to high prescribers.
Funding for medication management programs will be increased by $25.5 million, including support for pharmacists to ensure more frequent medication reviews can occur.
The Royal Commission directed that restraint must only be used as a last resort, and amendments to regulations will make this clear.
The Government is also providing an additional $10 million over two years from 2019–20 to increase dementia training and support for aged care workers and health sector staff.
This will better equip them to manage behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, deliver best practice dementia care and comply with the new standards for reducing the use of physical and chemical restraints in aged care.
We have also responded immediately to the Royal Commission’s findings on antipsychotics in aged care facilities by declaring “Quality Use of Medicines and Medicines Safety” a National Health Priority.
Younger people in residential aged care
In March, the Government announced the Younger People in Residential Aged Care Action Plan. Since this time there has been a reduction in the number of younger people in residential aged care, including a decline in the number of younger people entering the aged-care system.
However, in response to the Royal Commission, the Government will strengthen the initial targets of the Younger People in Residential Aged Care Action Plan.
The new targets, apart from in exceptional circumstances, will seek to ensure there are;
The Government will invest $4.7 million to help remove young people from residential aged care and further support these goals by:
Building on longer term reforms
These measures will complement the major reforms the Morrison Government has been undertaking to improve standards, oversight, funding and transparency in the care of older Australians.
In line with the long-term direction as identified by the Royal Commission, we will also progress further measures, including;
We will unify the Home Care and Commonwealth Home Support Programs, in line with the Royal Commission’s direction to deliver a seamless system of care, tailoring services to the needs of the individual.
These changes will be guided by the final recommendations of the Royal Commission and will have the goal of improving care and ending the wait for home care packages.
Simplifying the system for consumers
The Government will streamline assessment by creating a single assessment workforce and a single network of assessment organisations that are able to undertake all aged care eligibility assessments.
This will help people to be connected to care sooner, reduce duplication and inefficiencies, and stop a revolving door of assessments where vulnerable older people get sent to multiple organisations depending on the programs for which they are eligible.
Key reforms continue
The Royal Commission’s final report is due on 12 November 2020, however the Government’s rigorous oversight of the sector and reform program continues.
The Government has established a new independent aged care watchdog in the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, upgraded Aged Care Quality Standards and introduced regulations to minimise the use of restraints, and we are developing a Serious Incident Response Scheme.
The Government is also expanding the powers of the Commission, with the new Commissioner responsible for the approval of aged care providers, compliance and enforcement actions in relation to the care being provided, and the administration of the responsibilities of approved providers to report assaults.
While we undertake these reforms we will continue to deliver record funding for older Australians of $21.7 billion in 2019-20, growing to an estimated $25.4 billion in 2022-23, up from $13.3 billion in 2012-13.
There will be more work to do across aged care as we continue to listen and respond to the issues raised by the Royal Commission.
Like every Australian, we were appalled by the revelations of the Interim Report, however we will do everything we can to build an aged care system of the highest quality.

Widespread benefits for Australian farmers, businesses and investors are one step closer with the enabling legislation for major trade deals with Indonesia, Hong Kong and Peru passing through the Parliament today.
Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham said Australian businesses and farmers would soon be able to access new export opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region thanks to these new free trade agreements.
“These trade deals will mean more market access for our farmers, greater opportunities for our businesses, more jobs and increased investment for Australia,” Minister Birmingham said.
“Continuing to expand opportunities for Australian exporters is a key pillar of our economic plan and builds upon successes that have already fuelled Australia to record levels of exports and a record trade surplus.
“With Indonesia being one the fastest growing economies in the world, this deal will provide a major boost for Australian farmers — with producers of grains, beef, dairy and horticulture, and many other products all set to benefit from lower tariffs and improved access.
“Australian services suppliers and investors will benefit through greater certainty for entry and operation in the Indonesian market, including guaranteed levels of Australian ownership in a range of sectors.
“This agreement with Indonesia also contains a dedicated chapter on non-tariff barriers which will reduce impediments to exporting, the first for any Australian trade deal.
“Our Hong Kong agreement will include modernised conditions for two-way investment, will deliver a competitive edge for business through e-commerce rules, ensuring vibrant digital economic links and enhancing free movement of data.
“Our Peru deal will provide major new market access for Australian farmers as well as open up new opportunities for Australian services providers including in mining and education.”
“I acknowledge and thank the Australian Labor Party who supported this legislation and for recognising the export opportunities these agreements will unlock for Australian farmers and businesses.”
Assistant Trade and Investment Minister Mark Coulton said Australian primary producers will benefit from greater certainty and access, particularly to the Indonesian and Peruvian markets.
“When the drought breaks, farmers and regional businesses are going to need as many new markets as possible to stimulate regional economies, and these new deals will provide more access for more people and are a win for rural communities,” Minister Coulton said.
Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs Jason Wood welcomed the improved customs arrangements that will also flow from the ratification of the three free trade agreements.
“The Morrison Government is committed to ensuring goods can move as easily and efficiently across borders as possible and these bills will contribute to that important goal,” Assistant Minister Wood said.
The Government will now move quickly to complete the final few ratification processes for these three trade deals before the end of the year. Hong Kong and Peru have already completed ratification processes and we remain hopeful that Indonesia will complete their ratification processes early next year.
Further information on the benefits of these trade agreements can be found here.