Month: July 2020

Medicare Bulk-Billing Rate Remains High At 86.1 Per Cent

Over the past 12 months, 86.1% of Australians did not have to pay to visit their GP.
Figures for the past 12 months show:

  • An increase of more than 5.5 million free bulk-billed GP visits compared to the same period last year
  • The number of fully subsidised services across Medicare rose with an additional 9.6 million bulk-billed services delivered for a total of 343.6 million.

The Morrison Government’s commitment to Medicare and bulk billing remains rock solid.
In March, to help reduce the risk of community transmission of COVID-19, the Government introduced new temporary Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) telehealth items.
The Government’s rapid response meant better protection for patients and health care providers.
During this period, the COVID-19 temporary telehealth and telephone items represented 3.4 per cent of services across Medicare. This included:

  • 110,060 telehealth consultations provided by GPs, specialists and allied health professionals.
  • 1,137,873 phone consultations provided by GPs, specialists and allied health professionals.

The uptake of the COVID-19 temporary telehealth items was most pronounced for GPs. In March, 7.5 per cent of GP visits were provided through via phone (999,470 services) or telehealth (65,996 services).
We doubled bulk-billing incentives to support these critical services because of the health emergency.
The Government unveiled a comprehensive $2.4 billion health package to protect all Australians, including vulnerable groups such as the elderly, those with chronic conditions and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, from COVID-19.
Australia has one of the best health systems in the world, founded on Medicare.
The figures released today show Medicare, under this Government, is supporting the health and wellbeing of Australians more than ever.

City supports accredited training for COVID affected workers

Newcastle small business workers now have access to free accredited online training as part of an initiative of City of Newcastle delivered through TAFE NSW, the University of Newcastle and Novaskill.
The training packages include a focus on customer behaviour, digital and social media marketing, management and finance, and are part of the City of Newcastle’s response to the economic impact of COVID-19.
Training on business innovation and growth, community engagement, and leadership skills is also covered within the 14 online programs being offered.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Newcastle’s business community had been hit hard by the pandemic and the prolonged period of slower economic activity that had followed.
“The small business sector has been required to adapt quickly in order to survive the unprecedented effects of COVID-19 on our community,” the Lord Mayor said.
“This training is targeted at providing local businesses and their staff with an ongoing benefit during the recovery phase and beyond, as the economy returns to a ‘new normal’ state.
“By upskilling our local workforce and empowering people to learn, we can help provide a sense of positivity and support for the business community as they work to recover from this period of extraordinary economic and social disruption.”
Enrolments are now open at the three participating training organisations for anyone who works for a business within the Newcastle local government area that employs 20 staff or less.
Each ‘student’ is eligible to undertake one of the training packages, which are scheduled to be fully delivered by the end of November.
TAFE NSW Regional General Manager Jason Darney congratulated City of Newcastle for incorporating accredited training into the Community and Economic Resilience Package, which will provide meaningful professional development for small business employees.
“TAFE NSW short courses are perfect for training small business professionals in vital skills, which can be applied immediately to improve business functions,” Mr Darney said.
“The customised program of short courses support the specific needs of small businesses moving forward in the recovery phase of COVID-19.”
University of Newcastle Pro Vice-Chancellor, Business and Law, Professor Tony Travaglione said the City of Newcastle initiative aligned with a top engagement priority for the University, which was to respond to challenges in our regions and beyond.
“As the University for our region, any opportunity to help our community respond to the challenges brought about by COVID-19 is a high priority for us. The University of Newcastle is one of the top 200 universities in the world, so this is a great opportunity for businesses to access free world-class education to help support their recovery.”
Amanda Saunders, Novaskill’s General Manager, said the organisation was ready to help support local businesses as part of City of Newcastle’s package.
“It’s important for providers like Novaskill, who are specialist at responding to small business training needs, to be ready and able to support our community through such difficult times,” Ms Saunders said.
“By offering Newcastle business owners and their staff meaningful development opportunities for the future, we are creating ways to keep everyone engaged and prepared for navigating the ‘new normal’ we are all now facing.”
More information, including instructions on how to register interest in the training, can also be found on the City of Newcastle website www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au.

$3 BILLION SAVINGS BONANZA FOR FAMILIES

Households across NSW have collectively saved more than $3 billion since July 2017 thanks to up to 70 cost of living rebates and savings from the NSW Government.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian encouraged families to call Service NSW to check their eligibility and start accessing savings.
“COVID-19 has put families across NSW under enormous stress and the NSW Government wants to make life easier for them by providing a range of hip pocket savings,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Service NSW is a one-stop shop that helps take the hassle out of finding savings by putting all the relevant information under the one roof.
“Whether it’s finding a better energy deal, applying for a $100 Active Kids or Creative Kids voucher, or accessing drought support, Service NSW can check your eligibility for programs and then do the heavy lifting behind the scenes to access the savings.”
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said appointments can take place over the phone during COVID-19.
“Do yourself a favour – make an appointment with a cost of living specialist so you can receive personalised advice,” Mr Dominello said.
“Booking an appointment is simple and easy and you could walk away with money in your pocket. The average saving per customer is $570.”
Examples of savings available and new data includes:

  • Energy Switch – 13,475 switches initiated, with the average customer saving $433.
  • Creative Kids – 586,000 vouchers downloaded.
  • FuelCheck – 1,075,417 app downloads. Drivers who use the app regularly could save up to $500 a year.

Further information is available at https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/cost-living

NEW VISION FOR NORTH SYDNEY CBD TO BECOME REALITY

A new Sydney Metro station, more public space and a new office tower are one step closer for North Sydney residents and workers, with the NSW Government today giving the green light to build the Victoria Cross over station development.
The project includes construction of a 42-storey commercial office tower, a new community hub, a pedestrian link from the station plaza to Denison Street and almost 1,300 square metres of new public open space.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes and Minister for Transport Andrew Constance today inspected Victoria Cross Metro Station’s underground railway site, including the largest rail cavern in Australia at 265 metres long, 25 metres wide and 20 metres high.
A $476 million contract was awarded to Lendlease in 2018 to deliver Sydney Metro’s Victoria Cross Station and the landmark building above it.
With more than 357,000 tonnes of crushed rock removed, excavation of the Metro and service tunnels is now complete, and the cavern and these tunnels are being lined with concrete.
Mr Stokes said the project will combine world-class public transport infrastructure with a connected community hub in the heart of the North Sydney CBD.
“The integrated station development at the new Victoria Cross Metro Station will double the available public open space near the tower and create a continuous ‘civic green spine’ along Miller Street, with landscaped terraces, outdoor dining, casual seating areas and pedestrian paths,” Mr Stokes said.
“North Sydney is already a strong commercial hub for Greater Sydney and this project will provide a much-needed boost, injecting $315 million into the economy and creating between 400-600 construction jobs to deliver the over station development.”
Mr Constance said the integrated development will provide better connectivity for a growing part of the city.
“This tower will provide space for more than 4,000 office workers on top of a world-class public transport system, which is not only transforming our city’s public transport network, it’s transforming the areas around it,” Mr Constance said.
“This project is a great example of the NSW Government’s commitment to ensure our communities have access to great public transport infrastructure regardless of where they live, work or play.”
With tunnelling complete and remaining excavation underway, station fit-out works on the Victoria Cross Metro Station are scheduled to commence in early 2021, with the tower expected to be completed by mid-2024.
The Victoria Cross Metro over station development is one of 19 projects included in Tranche 3 of the NSW Government’s Planning System Acceleration Program that is fast-tracking planning assessments to keep people in jobs and the economy moving during the COVID-19 crisis. To date, the program has created opportunities for more than 25,000 jobs and injected more than $13 billion worth of investment into the NSW economy.
For more information visit: https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/project/11051

Police investigating after suspicious fire – Hunter Region

An investigation is underway following a suspicious house fire in the state’s Hunter region this morning.
About 3.30am (Thursday 9 July 2020), emergency services were called to a house on Hart Road, Loxford, following reports of a fire.
Fire and Rescue NSW attended and extinguished the blaze.
The house was vacant at the time and no injuries were reported.
Officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Initial investigations suggest the fire may have been deliberately lit.
Investigators are appealing for anyone with information to contact police.

Greens call on Environment Minister to immediately release interim report into environment laws

The Greens are calling on Environment Minister Sussan Ley to immediately release the interim report into Australia’s environment laws handed to her a week ago by the independent reviewer.
Greens Spokesperson for the Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young who successfully moved an order in the Senate for the interim report to be released by today at the latest, said:
“The Environment Minister has sat on the interim report into Australia’s environment laws for a week already and then today tried to claim releasing it would reveal Cabinet deliberations. This is a pathetic excuse for keeping it hidden from the public.
“The 10-year statutory review into the EPBC Act is supposed to be independent of government and therefore any interim report cannot possibly reveal Cabinet deliberations.
“The Minister was handed the interim report a week ago, there is no excuse for holding onto it any longer, it should be released immediately in full.
“Graeme Samuel who is leading the review has said he intends to consult on the interim report yet he cannot do that if the community and stakeholders are unable to even see it.
“The Auditor-General’s assessment of the government’s management of the environment and our wildlife, released last month, was scathing.
“The Environment Minister and the Federal Department have failed to protect the environment and are, simply put, incompetent. Refusing to release the interim report suggests it highlights further ineptitude and failures by the government which they are trying to cover up.”

Tehan childcare rules risks collapse of childcare centres: Bandt

As Melbourne goes back into stage 3 lockdowns, the Federal government is pulling the major childcare supports which played a positive role in the initial outbreak response.
Dan Tehan’s announcement of a new semi-subsidy will risk the viability of many centres who will neither be able to return to normal operations, nor collect full income if parents keep their kids at home.
“The Government is tying itself up in knots. It would be far simpler and fairer to extend free childcare after 12 July,” Greens Leader, Adam Bandt said.
“Dan Tehan has presented no evidence that free childcare shouldn’t continue, so why change it now, in such a precarious moment?”
“The safest course of action would be to extend free childcare after 12 July with a guaranteed relief payment and extend JobKeeper to all childcare workers.
“Childcare centres have had a tough time and many are on the brink. They deserve some policy consistency and certainty so that they can focus on working with health authorities to ensure safe and hygienic practices.
“I’m concerned that the Morrison government appears impatient to start withdrawing social supports that were a vital part of Australia’s largely successful efforts to flatten the curve.
“From chasing after businesses who may have been paid JobKeeper in error to cutting childcare, it looks like Scott Morrison’s instincts are wrong again, and we need another united effort to drag him over the line again,” Bandt said.

Supporting Older Australians

More than 6,100 older Australians will live independently for longer following a $325.7 million investment in new home care packages by the Morrison Government.
The extra 6,105 home care packages brings the total number of additional packages to over 50,000 since the 18-19 Budget, at a cost of more than $3 billion.
Home care package numbers will increase to 164,135 in 2022-23 – up more than 170 per cent since Labor were last in office – with funding increasing by 258 per cent due to growth in high-level packages.
Following a request from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, the Federal Government has agreed to extend its reporting period for a further three and a half months due to the impact of COVID-19.
The Commission will now deliver its final report by 26 February, 2021.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his government remained focused on the needs of older Australians, particularly as the country battled the impacts of COVID-19.
“Our number one priority for older Australians is to keep people safe and healthy and to live independently,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister said the suspension of Royal Commission hearings had reduced the ability to engage with stakeholders at the height of the pandemic.
“While these delays are have been caused by unprecedented circumstances, we’re committed to ensuring the Royal Commission has the time and resources it needs to do its important work.”
As part of its inquiry, the Royal Commission has recently announced it will examine the impact of the virus on residential aged care and home care, including responses from the sector and governments.
Minister Hunt said it would serve as an important review.
“This further investment in home care supports our senior Australians who are seeking assistance to stay longer in their homes,” Minister Hunt said.
“The extension of the Royal Commission is in response to the delays due to COVID-19 and the opportunity for the Commission to inquire into the impact of the pandemic on aged care.”
Minister Colbeck said the latest investment of $325.7 million toward 6,105 home care packages was another step toward reducing wait times and connecting more senior Australians to essential care sooner.
“We remain focused on ensuring the health and wellbeing of those people we love most,” Minister Colbeck said.
“From additional home care packages, to improvements to medication management, additional dementia training support for workers and funding to ensure younger people can move to more age-appropriate support – the Federal Government continues to prioritise the needs of senior Australians.
“We look forward to receiving the Royal Commission’s final report. The Government will carefully consider the Commissioners’ recommendations.”
As part of the extension, the Hon Tony Pagone QC will be formally appointed as the Chair of the Royal Commission.
Commissioner Pagone has been acting in the role since late 2019, following the death of the Honourable Richard Ross Sinclair Tracey AM RFD QC.

Further Bank Support For Households And Small Businesses

The Government welcomes today’s announcement by the Australian Banking Association (ABA) on the continued support that will be provided by banks to customers on repayment deferrals.
The ABA has today confirmed that banks will continue to support customers who need it with up to another four months of deferred repayments on already deferred loans. This initiative has been agreed with APRA who will provide the banks with extended regulatory relief so that they can continue to support their customers with greater flexibility during this time.
APRA has also provided relief to encourage the banks to restructure loans where possible as a way of helping these customers. This restructuring could include extending the term of the loan or moving from principal and interest repayments to interest-only for a period of time.
The ABA estimates that there are over 800,000 loans that have been deferred worth over $260 billion.
It is important that customers that can afford to make repayments continue to do so. Borrowers that are facing considerable financial difficulty as a result of this pandemic, should talk to their banks and work with them to find a more sustainable approach.
The Government acknowledges and thanks the Banks, APRA and ASIC for their collective efforts in support of Australians who financing financial hardship during this difficult time.
The Morrison Government continues to support both businesses and individuals that have been impacted by the coronavirus crisis and the actions of the banks and APRA today will complement this support and help more Australians get to the other side.

City Taskforce Update 3 July 2020

MEETING OF THE CITY TASKFORCE
The City Taskforce, a collaboration of 17 leading organisations and employers, chaired by Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes City of Newcastle, held its fifth meeting today via Zoom. The Taskforce was formed to develop a collaborative approach to the City’s response to COVID-19, from crisis to recovery and beyond. City leaders focused their discussion on the second edition of The Newcastle Response, highlighting significant impacts to the tourism sector, as well as commercial rental vacancies across the city and eroded business confidence in the context of further job losses and economic impacts as a result of COVID-19.
The Newcastle Response – Tourism Sector 
City leaders endorsed the second Newcastle Response, which provides local insights on one of the industries hardest hit by COVID-19: tourism. Developed in collaboration with representatives of Newcastle Airport and Alloggio, and supported unanimously today by the City Taskforce, the document recognises the valuable contribution the tourism sector makes to the city’s vibrancy and its role in sustaining local jobs. It calls upon State and Federal decision-makers to:

  • Support an interstate destination marketing campaign for Greater Newcastle, as submitted by Newcastle Airport and partners in June 2020.
  • List Newcastle as a destination independent of the North Coast on Destination NSW’s websites.
  • Make available additional tourism product development training from Destination NSW, and pilot new training through the NSW First Program in Newcastle in 2020/21.
  • Advocate for the reversal of about 200 Hunter Jetstar job losses, including 112 stemming from the closure of Newcastle’s Jetstar maintenance base.

The Taskforce also recognised the need for JobKeeper to be extended or alternative targeted support measures to be introduced for tourism businesses and other sectors that are “on ice”. Despite some restrictions easing, discretionary spending is down 58% at pubs and venues and 34% on travel compared to baseline levels. Among those travel and accommodation services suffering the biggest downturn are those that derive their revenue from regional, interstate and international travellers due to ongoing border closures.
Commercial rental vacancies erode business confidence 
The Taskforce heard how commercial rental vacancies across Newcastle had significantly increased from February to June, changing the city’s streetscape and eroding business confidence – an issue not localised to Newcastle, but which can be seen around the world as a result of COVID-19.
City leaders raised the concept of applying the Renew Newcastle model more broadly to redevelop and revitalise commercial precincts and the city’s overall amenity in parallel with discussions with the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment around zoning and the night-time economy. Leaders agreed to workshop this further with key members of the City Taskforce, including the Hunter Business Chamber, Colliers International, Alloggio and Independent Creative Alliance Newcastle.
The Newcastle Response – Tourism Sector also advocates for the extension of the Retail and Other Commercial Leases (COVID-19) Regulation 2020.
City Taskforce work streams update 
City of Newcastle received $4.2 million in applications to its Industry Response Program, offering targeted grants to businesses, groups and organisations representing those industries hardest hit by COVID-19. A funding pool of $500,000 was made available by the City of Newcastle, with the successful applicants from a wide cross-section of the community – including live music, small business, tourism and the arts – to be announced in the coming weeks.
Engagement with the local evidence base working group continues to provide valuable, granular insights specific to the region, with representatives from the University of Newcastle, Hunter New England Health, Regional NSW, NIB and the City of Newcastle in the areas of research, innovation and data science.
The region’s youth unemployment rate remains a concern, affecting more than one in four young people. The COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to have a generational impact on this cohort in terms of skills and employment gaps. This City Taskforce work stream has seen the establishment of a working group with representatives of Hunter Young Professionals, Youth Council, Hunter Regional Employment Facilitator, Community Disability Alliance Hunter and the arts and tourism sectors. Together they will look at creative ways of tackling the youth unemployment challenge.
Vale Matthew Morris, former Charlestown MP 
Taskforce members acknowledged the passing of former State Member for Charlestown, Matthew Morris, who sadly died of brain cancer. Mr Morris, 51, served two terms as the Member for Charlestown, elected in 2003 and again in 2007, and while he was a private person after he left office, his contribution to the community is his legacy.