More than two thirds (68%) of Australians want stronger laws to protect our wildlife and environment, new research shows.
Poll figures released today, come after the Federal Government announced plans to amend Australia’s environment laws in a bid to fast-track applications for developments such as new mines and land-clearing as part of its post-COVID-19 agenda.
Greens Spokesperson for the Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“The Government thinks it can use the cover of COVID-19 as an excuse to scrap environmental protections, but this polling shows they are barking up the wrong tree.
“Two-thirds of Australians want stronger environmental laws, not weaker ones that favour the Government’s big mining mates.
“The poll results show little support for the Morrison Government’s attack on the environment, with respondents rejecting the push to cut ‘green tape’ before the scheduled 10-year review of environmental laws is even complete.
“Australians have just experienced and witnessed overwhelming destruction of our environment with the catastrophic bushfires and so many of us have turned to nature to help us through the Coronavirus pandemic.
“They know our precious wildlife is endangered and our pristine wilderness and native bushland is being pummelled by miners and developers, and they want it protected.
“There was more than 1700 threatened species in Australia before the bushfire crisis including our beloved koalas and Victoria’s faunal emblem the Leadbeater’s possum, and with so much more habitat lost from the summer fires, many more species are expected to now be endangered.
“The EPBC Act is already failing in its purpose of protecting conservation and biodiversity with flora and fauna becoming threatened, endangered and even going extinct.
“Fast-tracking applications will do even more damage. As it is, only about 2 per cent of applications under the existing laws get knocked back.
“Worse still, many applications to clear potential habitat for threatened species and ecological communities are not even referred to the Federal Government for assessment, which has resulted in 7.7 million hectares being cleared between 2000 and 2017.
“Australia is losing more and more of our precious environment and the public want change that protects wildlife and habitat.
“The public will not fall for the lazy argument that sacrificing the environment is necessary for economic recovery, particularly when so many industries like tourism, accommodation and hospitality – some of the hardest hit by COVID-19 shutdowns, depend on our environment.
“This poll shows only 5% support the Government’s plans to weaken environment laws. It’s time the Morrison Government started listening to the people rather than the mining lobby, and protect what makes Australia such a great place to live and visit.”
Question: The Federal Government wants to make the process for approving developments and projects faster by changing laws that protect the environment and wildlife. Under the new laws, do you believe the environment and native wildlife should have …? Base: Australians 18+ (n=1,008)
The national poll of 1008 adult Australians in all states, was commissioned by Senator Sarah Hanson-Young and conducted by Lonergan between 30 April and 4 May 2020.
Month: May 2020
Publicly-owned COVID19 vaccine manufacturer may be only way to save lives: Greens
The Australian Greens have called on the government to establish publicly funded vaccine manufacturing capacity in Australia to ensure any COVID19 vaccine is available to all Australians.
A recent Defence science technology report outlined in today’s media has warned of a shortage in vaccines in Australia during a pandemic because of the lack of production capacity in Australia.
Speaking in Melbourne Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP and Greens Health spokesperson Dr Richard Di Natale called on the Morrison government to immediately invest $70 million in expanding the CSIRO’s vaccine manufacturing facilities and to develop a plan to stand up a publicly funded manufacturing capacity by working with the Australian medical industry.
The Greens also want the Australian government to ensure the vaccine is available free of charge and have repeated their call for the flu vaccine to be fully available and free.
Adam Bandt said:
“We need a publicly backed vaccine manufacturer.”
“Currently most vaccine manufacturing happens in the United States, China and Germany. Australia risks being at the back of the queue.”
“Australians shouldn’t have to rely on Donald Trump putting us ahead of his reelection chances and expect that vaccines made in the United States will come here quickly.”
“We have wonderful medical scientists who are already working on vaccine candidates and some manufacturing capacity at the CSIRO and elsewhere that could be scaled up with the right investment from the Commonwealth.”
“If we can’t get the vaccine through other means, a publicly-owned COVID vaccine manufacturer may be the only way to save lives.”
Dr Richard Di Natale said:
“The government has a responsibility to ensure that Australians have timely, secure and free access to any COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available. We know that the pandemic will likely disrupt existing supply chains for vaccines at a time when unprecedented supply will be required.”
“In past pandemics we have seen uneven and unfair distribution of vaccines in which wealthy nations have placed huge early orders and squeezed out smaller nations. By producing the vaccine locally Australia can secure domestic access for vulnerable Australians and also assist in ensuring access in our region.”
“The government also needs to ensure any COVID19 vaccine is free and widely available.”
Australia’s first regional Aboriginal-led COVID clinic opens in Toowoomba
Australia’s first regional Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service-led GP respiratory clinic has opened today in Toowoomba to provide locals with culturally safe place to be tested and treated for COVID-19.
The clinic, at Carbal Medical Clinic, will also take pressure off local hospital emergency departments and other GP clinics within the Toowoomba area.
Federal Regional Health Minister, Mark Coulton said the clinic is best placed to support people with a fever, a cough, a sore throat, and other respiratory symptoms and help to minimise the risk of infection in the communities.
“The respiratory clinic will enable members of the community with symptoms to receive the appropriate medical advice and get tested, without posing a risk to other patients in the clinic who may be seeing their GP for a non-COVID19 related reason,” Minister Coulton said.
“While the pandemic is not widespread in regional areas as yet, it’s important we have local doctors leading the local response and preparation for their communities.
“I want to assure regional Australians that our number one priority is protecting and supporting communities through COVID-19.”
Minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt said sadly, Indigenous Australians are more likely to suffer from a serious illness if they contract COVID-19. There are higher rates of chronic conditions and other health issues in regional communities and it can be hard to access health care.
This means that an outbreak of COVID-19 in an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community has the potential to be very serious. This testing program will help protect Indigenous Australians against the virus.
Federal Member for Groom, Dr John McVeigh said the opening of the region’s first respiratory clinic was a very important step in the community’s ongoing fight against COVID-19.
“The Federal Government has been working with Carbal Medical Service, Darling Downs & West Moreton PHN, local GPs and Aspen Medical — which has significant health emergency management experience in Australia and overseas — to rollout the Toowoomba ACCHS clinic,” Dr McVeigh said.
To access the clinic GP respiratory clinic, patients can visit health.gov.au and use the online booking system or phone Carbal Medical Centre on 07 4639 7300.
The Federal Government has invested $206.7 million to establish around 100 respiratory clinics across Australia, including in rural and regional areas in each state and territory. Additionally, more than 200 fever clinics, jointly funded by the Commonwealth and State and Territory governments, are also in operation across Australia.
PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST DURING COVID-19
Service NSW has been contacted around 1.5 million times since COVID-19 began, with people turning to the app, calling the hotline and visiting the website to remain informed and learn about the impact of the virus on their local area.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said more than 2 million people have downloaded the Service NSW app and 63,000 phone calls have been made to the hotline with the most common questions being about restrictions, traveling to visit family and providing transport.
“Families and businesses are under enormous stress right now, but we are helping make life easier for them by providing a one stop shop where they can get all the information and support they need,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Whether you’re a business owner after details on financial assistance, a couple wanting to book an appointment with a cost of living specialist, or a senior seeking the latest information on restrictions, Service NSW is here to help.”
The top five questions Service NSW has been asked are:
- Can I travel interstate?
- Can I travel to visit my kids/parents/brother/sister/friend/partner?
- Can I travel to see my elderly parents on ANZAC Day?
- Can I provide transport to family/friends to pick up food/essentials?
- Can I travel for work purposes / medical purposes?
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said support is available at Service NSW Centres, over the phone, via the app and online.
“It’s the Service NSW way to put customers first and make access to information and programs as painless and efficient as possible,” Mr Dominello said.
“Download the free Service NSW app to receive the latest COVID-19 information. Staff are also contactable around the clock to point customers in the right direction via the 24/7 hotline on 13 77 88.”
Other examples of COVID-19 assistance available via Service NSW includes:
- $10,000 small business grants – more than 18,750 grants have been approved;
- Cost of living support – phone appointments with specialists are available to assist customers with finding savings, including newly established COVID-19 specific rebates. Households have collectively saved more than $1.6 billion since July 2018, with the average customer saving $563;
- More than 200,000 businesses to benefit from up to $70 million in tradie and liquor licence fee waivers.
Further information on Service NSW is available at www.service.nsw.gov.au
LAND TAX CONCESSION APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN
Landlords providing rent relief for eligible tenants in financial distress due to COVID-19 can now apply for land tax concessions online.
Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said the land tax concessions were part of a wide range of support measures designed to help those in need and to support jobs and business.
“Eligible landlords will be able to apply for a land tax concession of up to 25 per cent of their 2020 land tax liability on relevant properties so long as they pass on the full savings in the form of a rent reduction to their tenants,” Mr Tudehope said.
“The land tax concession is expected to be divided approximately 50-50 with around $220 million going to the commercial sector and a further $220 million expected to benefit the residential sector.”
Once approved, a concession will be applied to any unpaid 2020 land tax notices, and refunds will be issued for payments already made this year. Those refunds are expected to take up to five days to process once determined.
Landlords can find out more about eligibility and apply for a tax concession online and are encouraged to complete their applications before 31 October 2020.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the NSW Government was committed to supporting people, communities and businesses during COVID-19.
“We are doing everything we can to keep people in jobs and businesses in business,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Small businesses severely impacted by COVID-19 restrictions may be eligible for the NSW Government’s $10,000 Small Business Support Fund grant and those with a payroll of $10 million or less can get a 25 per cent payroll waiver for 2019-20.”
To find out more about how the NSW Government is working to bolster our health resources, protect jobs and businesses visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/support
Celebrated senior artist Tom Gleghorn OAM homeward bound to Newcastle Art Gallery
In 1959 Tom Gleghorn held his inaugural solo exhibition at Newcastle Art Gallery. Sixty-one years later, he is homeward bound.
Newcastle Art Gallery is staging the first major survey of work by Tom Gleghorn OAM, regarded as one of Australia’s finest and influential abstract expressionists.
HOMEWARD BOUND: the art and life of Tom Gleghorn will feature paintings and drawings from Newcastle’s collection, including the new major acquisition Landscape Altar – MacDonnell Ranges 1986, as well as works of art on loan from private and public collections.
Drawn from across the artist’s extraordinary career of more than 70 years, the exhibition will also feature a new documentary created by journalist and author Scott Bevan specially for the exhibition.
“We are deeply honoured to be staging the first major survey of Gleghorn’s work,” Newcastle Art Gallery Director Lauretta Morton said.
“His ability to evoke a strong sense of immersion within his compositions, his connection to the Australian landscape, as well as his mastery of colour and form, is strongly represented within this exhibition.
“As a highly respected senior artist, Gleghorn has influenced the Australian artistic community through not only his own practice, but his commitment to education. This survey is long overdue.”
Now aged in his mid-nineties, Gleghorn has maintained a sense of kinship with Newcastle and Lake Macquarie throughout his life.
Born in England in 1925, he migrated to Australia with his family at the age of two. He was a student of renowned artist William Dobell and grew to be a contemporary of artists such as John Coburn and Robert Dickerson.
Due to current restrictions, the exhibition will launch online on Saturday 9 May at 12 noon via Newcastle Art Gallery’s social media and website.
“Despite the difficult circumstances, the Gallery team has worked hard to continue to stage the exhibition,” Morton said. “We’ve developed several exciting ways in which our audience will be able to engage with the exhibition while our doors are temporarily closed.”
KEY EXHIBITION DATES
Saturday 9 May, 12 noon – Virtual tour launch of HOMEWARD BOUND: the art and life of Tom Gleghorn via Newcastle Art Gallery website and social media
NEW VOLUNTEERING PLATFORM TO SUPPORT VULNERABLE AMID COVID-19
Volunteers are being empowered to provide welfare checks, deliver supplies and offer essential transport to vulnerable people through a new online platform linking community members with charities, NGOs and councils in need of support.
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward encouraged volunteers and organisations to register on the new Emergency Support Volunteering website to help support people impacted by COVID-19.
“In times of crisis, we rally around each other and do everything we can to support those who are struggling. We saw it during the bushfire emergency and we are seeing it again now,” Mr Ward said.
“The pandemic is placing a significant strain on volunteer-driven organisations who support vulnerable members of our community, and many require more people to help meet demand.
“This platform allows you to register your details online and an organisation in your local area will get in touch and offer volunteering opportunities when they arise.”
The NSW Government has partnered with the Centre for Volunteering to develop the platform which is also operating in Victoria and Western Australia.
Centre for Volunteering CEO Gemma Rygate said the platform prioritises the safety and wellbeing of participants and is designed to offer informal voluntary opportunities that consider physical distancing restrictions.
“There are many ways you can safely volunteer during the current pandemic, including by making welfare check phone calls from the comfort of your home, or by delivering groceries to those unable to do their own shopping,” Ms Rygate said.
“This new platform is a link for spontaneous volunteers and organisations, and has capacity to be used beyond COVID-19 as a means of connecting willing participants with organisations in need of support during an emergency.”
For more information, and to register, visit https://emergency.volunteer.org.au/.
HAVE YOUR SAY ON ENERGY SECURITY FOR NSW
Energy businesses, workers and consumer groups are being encouraged to help shape the design of the new Energy Security Safeguard, to ensure it will drive down power prices and improve the reliability of the NSW grid.
Energy Minister Matt Kean today called on interested stakeholders to respond to the Energy Security Safeguard consultation paper, which is an important next step to implement the State’s Electricity Strategy to lower power prices and improve the reliability and sustainability of the electricity system.
“The Energy Security Safeguard will extend the highly successful Energy Savings Scheme to 2050, with an energy savings target increasing to 13 per cent by 2030, to ensure households and businesses can continue to save money on their bills by upgrading to energy efficient technology.”
Mr Kean said the Safeguard will now also drive the rollout of appliances and equipment that reduce demand during peak periods when the electricity system is under stress, for example during the recent bushfire season or prolonged heatwaves.
“The existing Energy Savings Scheme supports over 1600 jobs and has already helped projects that will deliver about $5.6 billion of bill savings. This is our chance to deliver even bigger savings for consumers and support small businesses and their employees doing it tough with new markets and opportunities.”
“The energy efficiency industry is a big driver of business and employment in NSW and lowers power prices for everyone by reducing demand on the grid. I look forward to working with tradies, small businesses and other stakeholders to implement the changes as soon as possible to support a strong and sustainable economic recovery from COVID-19,” Mr Kean said.
The Energy Security Target and Safeguard consultation paper can be viewed at https://energy.nsw.gov.au/government-and-regulation/consultation.
The NSW Government has also released a Draft Statutory Review Report on the Energy Savings Scheme, which can be viewed at https://energy.nsw.gov.au/government-and-regulation/consultation.
An online public consultation forum for the Energy Security Safeguard will take place from mid-May with written submissions due by Monday 22 June 2020.
COVID-19: $9M STIMULUS A WIN FOR JUSTICE AND JOBS IN REGIONAL NSW
A fast-tracked program of courts and corrections facility upgrades is about to pump $9 million through regional economies hit hard by COVID-19 restrictions.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Attorney General Mark Speakman said the package includes improvements to 63 regional courthouses, with upgrades to fire safety and security, as well as structural repairs and general maintenance.
“The NSW Government has prioritised projects that can begin immediately, to help communities rebuild after the impacts of COVID-19, bushfires and drought. These projects will focus on awarding construction work to small-to-medium sized businesses and prioritise local builders where possible,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Local tradies will begin working on courthouses across the state from Bega to Broken Hill and Wagga Wagga to Wilcannia to deliver the upgrades efficiently and effectively.
“Accelerating renovations is part of a huge recovery effort to kick start the economy, create jobs, support local businesses and help regional NSW get back on its feet.”
The courthouse projects are part of $10 billion in NSW Government support measures to underpin our state’s recovery from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The $9 million funding forms part of more than $100 million for regional stimulus announced last month.
Mr Speakman said most of the projects will begin this month and be completed this year.
“It makes sense to carry out renovations while courts are sitting less due to the COVID-19 pandemic, because fewer disruptions mean the work can be completed faster,” Mr Speakman said.
“These investments will also put courts in the best possible position to address the busy period ahead when normal sittings resume.”
More information on the $9 million regional court upgrade program can be found at: www.coronavirus.dcj.nsw.gov.au/services/courts-tribunals-and-jury-services
CREATIVE KIDS EXPANSION GOES DIGITAL
The NSW Government is helping Creative Kids providers go digital in response to the COVID-19 crisis, expanding access to the popular program for kids across the State.
From today eligible Creative Kids providers will be able to access up to $5,000 in digital adaptation grants to help them offer creative learning activities online thanks to a $1 million injection.
This includes purchasing equipment and internet services to help them transition online so they can provide lessons to children or young people who are at home and can’t attend workshops or classes in person.
The program’s eligible activities are also being expanded to include those which support the 2020 school curriculum, with Creative Kids providers able to supply creative supplies and equipment such as instruments, art and craft supplies and other materials to children or young people.
The changes to the program announced today by Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello include:
- $1 million in digital adaptation grants of up to $5,000 for Creative Kids providers to further support online delivery of Creative Kids programs
- A toolkit to help providers pivot to online delivery
- Extension of the use of Creative Kids vouchers for online programs and educational materials
- Improved Service NSW website to make it easier for parents to find an online provider
Mr Perrottet said $1 million in small business grants would help arts and cultural providers deliver programs remotely providing a vital economic boost for small businesses doing it tough and keeping kids connected to quality cultural and creative activities.
“Whether it’s school education or extra-curricular activities, we want our kids to be able to maximise every opportunity. Creative Kids has been incredibly popular, and these changes will help to ensure that continues,” Mr Perrottet said.
“At times like this, adapting your business can be the key to survival. Our digital adaptation grants will flow to more businesses and sole traders in the arts and creative industries, helping to keep people in jobs and businesses in business in a sector that has been hit hard by COVID-19.”
“They say William Shakespeare wrote King Lear in quarantine, and we want to give our own generation of budding creative geniuses every opportunity to keep honing the creative skills that will enrich our culture in the years ahead.”
Mr Dominello said the updated Service NSW Creative Kids webpage would list the eligible providers and help parents navigate the process.
“In a Covidian world we need to use technology to make life easier for people. That is why we are building a new online navigator that makes it simple and hassle free for parents to identify the right program for their children,” Mr Dominello said.
The Creative Kids program offers families an annual $100 voucher for every school aged child to contribute to registration, participation and tuition costs for performing arts, visual arts, coding, languages, literature, music and other creative and cultural activities.
Applications for the Creative Kids provider grants will open 6 May 2020. To be eligible, grant applicants must:
- Be a Creative Kids Provider
- The provider must be a small business (have fewer than 20 employees). This also includes non-for-profit organisations.
- Clearly demonstrate adaptation and expansion of Creative Kids activities to online delivery
- Describe how this support can maintain or increase voucher redemption during COVID-19
- Meet the objectives of the Creative Kids program.
Find out more information including details on how to apply at www.create.nsw.gov.au