Lidia Thorpe has today been confirmed by the Victorian Parliament, clearing the way for the Greens Senator-Elect for Victoria to make her first appearance in the Senate in October.
With Victoria’s ongoing Stage 4 lockdowns leaving Victorian Parliament sitting on a reduced schedule, the last-minute confirmation was made possible through a joint sitting.
“This is a proud day not just for me, but for Aboriginal people across the country,” Senator-elect Thorpe said.
“It’s now official. I’m bound for Canberra in October as the first Aboriginal person elected to the Senate to represent Victoria. But the work doesn’t wait until then, and it doesn’t just start today.
“Black women fight for their community from the day they’re born. When I was growing up in public housing, the thought that someone like me could be in Parliament was laughable. My promise to the people of Victoria is that I will fight for you, no matter who you are. I know what it’s like to go through the hard knocks and I will never forget where I came from.
“I have fought my whole life for those without a voice – no matter what your background or where you come from. I’m proud to be able to take that fight to the highest office.
“While days like this are just boring parliamentary procedure to some people, to Aboriginal people across the country, it’s a sign of hope. It shows that our parliament can be representative, and that Blak voices can be heard.
“This couldn’t have come at a more important time, and there’s so much to be done when I’m sworn in.
“Aboriginal communities across the country are being hit hard by the consequences of the pandemic. We’re being shut out of talks about how to fix the crisis and the government’s plans for a gas-led recovery would frack and destroy more of our precious heritage and drive the climate crisis.
“After caring for this country for more than 60,000 years, our land is being destroyed by unprecedented bushfires driven by climate change.
“Too many people are being left behind by this government. It’s time for leadership. It’s time for a parliament that truly represents the Australian community, and understands the challenges we face.
“I’ll be fighting for action on climate change, an end to entrenched economic disadvantage and of course, Treaty and justice for First Nations people. I can’t wait to get into Parliament to shake things up.”
Lidia Thorpe is a mother and grandmother from the Gunnai and Gunditjmara nations. She was the first Aboriginal woman in the Victorian parliament, is the first Aboriginal Senator for Victoria and first federal Aboriginal MP for the Greens.
The confirmation process occurred 3:00pm today, via a joint sitting of the Victorian House of Representatives and the Legislative Council.
Lidia Thorpe will now be sworn in to Federal Parliament during the October sitting, pandemic allowing.
Month: September 2020
Human Biosecurity Emergency Period Extended By Three Months
The Australian Government will extend the human biosecurity emergency period under the Biosecurity Act 2015 by an additional three months.
The emergency period, which has been in place since 18 March 2020, will now be in place until 17 December 2020.
The extension of the emergency period was informed by specialist medical and epidemiological advice provided by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC).
AHPPC has advised that the international and domestic COVID-19 situation continues to pose an unacceptable public health risk.
The extension of the emergency period is an appropriate response to that risk.
The human biosecurity emergency declaration ensures the Government has the powers to take any necessary measures to prevent and control COVID-19 and protect the health of all Australians. These powers have been used on a limited basis on expert medical advice.
There are currently four Determinations under section 477 of the Biosecurity Act which are in place to protect Australians during the COVID-19 pandemic, including:
- Restrictions on the entry of cruise ships into Australia
- Protections for the supply and sale of certain essential goods
- Restrictions on overseas travel
- Restrictions on retail stores at international airports
Three people fined over separate COVID-19 breaches at the border
Three Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) were issued in relation to breaches of Public Health Orders at the NSW/Victoria border yesterday.
About 4.30pm (Wednesday 2 September 2020), police stopped a 50-year-old man at a border checkpoint on Jingellic Road, Jingellic, who was unable to produce a permit. The man provided a number of versions as to where his permit was and why he was crossing the border before it was established that he had provided false information in an attempt to cross unlawfully. He was subsequently issued a $4000 PIN under section 10 of the Public Health Act for give false information on request.
Police initiated a pursuit about 8.15pm after a white van approached a border checkpoint on Federation Way, Corowa, at speed and failed to stop. Officers stopped the vehicle on Honour Avenue and spoke with the 49-year-old male driver, who advised he did not have a permit to enter NSW. He was unable to provide a valid excuse to cross the border nor for leaving his home at Flemington, Victoria. Police directed the man to return to Victoria and issued him with a $1000 PIN.
About 8.30pm yesterday, police stopped a 28-year-old woman at a border checkpoint on Wodonga Place, South Albury, who presented a NSW driver’s licence, which expired in 2015, along with an expired border permit. The woman applied for a new permit online and when she presented it to police, it was established she had provided false information in her application. Following further inquiries, police issued a $4000 PIN under section 10 of the Public Health Act for give false information on request and a $581 traffic infringement notice for driving with an expired licence.
Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
Suspended driver charged with high-range drink driving – Lake Macquarie
A man has been charged with high-range drink driving after allegedly crashing his car into a power pole at Bonnells Bay, in the Lake Macquarie area.
About 4.20pm (Wednesday 2 September 2020), emergency services were called to Princes Street, Bonnells Bay after receiving calls a car had crashed into the pole, bringing down live wires.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District spoke with the driver, a 36-year-old man, who allegedly threatened them.
Police restrained the man and conducted a roadside breath test, which provided a positive result.
The man was arrested and taken to Toronto Police Station where he was subjected to a breath analysis which returned an alleged reading of 0.185.
The man was charged with high-range PCA, driver refuse to disclose identity, drive whilst licence suspended, and resist arrest.
He was released on strict conditional bail and is due to appear at Toronto Local Court on Tuesday 13 October 2020.
Man charged over alleged unprovoked assault – Charlestown
A man will face court today after an alleged unprovoked assault in the Hunter region.
About 8.40am yesterday (Thursday 3 September 2020), a 31-year-old woman was at a shopping complex in Pearson Street, Charlestown, when she was approached by an unknown man who allegedly pulled her hair until she fell to the ground.
It’s further alleged the man yelled at the woman, before he ran away.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District attended and commenced an investigation.
Following inquiries, police attended a motel on the Pacific Highway, Charlestown, about 10am the same day.
A 39-year-old man was arrested at the motel and taken to Belmont Police Station, where he was charged with common assault and affray.
He was refused bail to appear at Belmont Local Court today (Friday 4 September 2020)
Man charged over alleged sexual abuse of young girl – Newcastle
Detectives have charged a man over the alleged sexual assault of a young girl in the state’s Hunter region last year.
Last month, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad commenced an investigation following reports a young girl had been sexually abused by a man known to her.
Following inquiries, investigators arrested a 59-year-old man at a home in Beresfield just after 10am yesterday (Thursday 3 September 2020).
He was charged with three counts of have sexual intercourse with child (between 10 and 14 years), intentionally do sexual act with child (between 10 and 16 years) and two counts of intentionally sexually touch child (between 10 and 16 years).
Police will allege in court that the man sexually assaulted the girl – who was aged between 11 and 12 at the time – on multiple occasions last year.
The man was refused bail and appeared before Raymond Terrace Local Court yesterday (Thursday 3 September 2020), where he was formally refused bail to appear before Maitland Local Court on Wednesday 28 October 2020.
The Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad is comprised of detectives who are specially trained to investigate matters against children and adults, including sexual assault, serious physical abuse, and extreme cases of neglect.
Anyone with concerns about suspected child abuse or exploitation should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. People should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.
Four venues issued PINs since last COVID-19 update
Two restaurants and a registered club are among the latest businesses and individuals to be issued PINs for not complying with Public Health Orders.
- About 7.45pm yesterday (Thursday 3 September 2020), police received information a restaurant on Snowy River Avenue, Jindabyne, was not complying with Public Health Orders. Officers from Monaro Police District attended the venue a short time later and observed a large crowd of people inside the venue. The female owner was subsequently issued with a $1000 PIN.
- About 6.30pm on Saturday 29 August 2020, officers from Eastern Beaches Police Area Command were conducting proactive patrols when they noted a restaurant on Clovelly Rd, Randwick, appeared to be over capacity. Police claim the venue was failing to adhere to a COVID-19 Safety Plan and had been taking additional bookings. The male licensee was issued with a $1000 PIN.
- About 11.30pm on Wednesday 25 August 2020, officers from Monaro Police District were called to a unit at a ski resort on Snowy River Avenue, Jindabyne, following reports of a party. Officers arrived to find more than 20 people in attendance. Police subsequently issued three occupants each with a $1000 PIN.
- About 8.15pm on Saturday 22 August 2020, police attended a recreational shooting club on Heathcote Road, Heathcote, after receiving reports it was not complying with Public Health Orders. Officers from Sutherland Shire Police Area Command asked to see the club’s COVID-19 Safety Plan; however, they claim the club was unable to supply one. The woman was issued with a $1000 PIN.
Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
Bishops Rorting Poor Students Must Be Held Accountable: Greens
Australian Greens Spokesperson for Education, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, has reacted to the Catholic Schools NSW documents leaked to the ABC that confirm their practice of taking funding meant for disadvantaged schools to subsidise fees in wealthy areas.
Senator Faruqi said:
“Private school rorting of their disadvantaged students like this should be illegal. It’s an indictment on our education system that it’s not.
“This is galling confirmation of the dirty open secret of Australian school funding.
“Liberal and Labor governments have been running a protection racket for private schools for years.
“That this went on was well known, but the major parties have spent years avoiding putting in place transparency requirements that would have confirmed it.
“For too long, private schools have benefited from opaque reporting requirements that mask where public funding is going. Every last public dollar spent in the private system should be reported and justified at a school level.
“It’s clear the NSW Catholic Schools are more concerned with losing enrolments to public schools than they are about giving disadvantaged, First Nations and regional students the funding they are allocated.
“The ethics of this aren’t just between the Bishops and God. The Bishops were fully aware they were ripping off low-SES families to help the wealthy. It’s public money. They must apologise and be held accountable.
“This is the system that successive Labor and Liberal governments have lavished with billions in special deals while they starved hardworking public school teachers and students of basic funding.”
Major parties leave backdoor open for dirty donations
The Greens condemn the major parties for voting to create a backdoor for dirty donors to bypass state donations laws.
Greens Leader in the Senate and spokesperson for Democracy, Senator Larissa Waters, said:
“Once again, we see the major parties going to every length to keep the dirty donations flowing to their coffers.
“These new laws allow donors to bypass state donations laws. If we leave this backdoor wide open, we will see big money flowing to state parties under the guise of ‘federal purposes’.
“Thanks to pressure from the Greens, Queensland Labor has banned the corrupting influence of donations from property developers. Yet both Labor and the Libs just voted for laws that will undermine those protections.”
Labor sided with the government to oppose Greens amendments that would have lowered the disclosure threshold, capped donations at $1,000 each year, and stopped all donations from industries – such as mining, banking, and gambling – with a track record of trying to buy political outcomes.
“We had a chance today to stop corporations from buying their seats at the table; but the big parties remain all too willing to sell democracy to the highest bidder,” Senator Waters said.
“Corporate money should have no place in parliament. It’s time the government cleaned up legalised corruption and put public need ahead of party greed.”
Funding Boost For Covid-19 Research
The Australian Government is backing several Australian research projects aimed at finding breakthrough treatments, diagnostics and – the ultimate – a vaccine in the fight against COVID-19.
Our Government has allocated $10.4 million for 13 early stage biomedical projects through Biomedical Translation Bridge (BTB) program, which forms part of the landmark Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).
Five of them are COVID-19 research projects receiving $4.1 million. A key project, conducted by the University of Melbourne, involves developing an innovative ventilated hood for patients in isolation.
The Hood provides better respiratory treatment for patients, reducing the need for invasive ventilation, and also gives hospital staff greater protection from COVID-19, reducing viral levels in the immediate surroundings.
The novel hood is effective, comfortable, reusable and can be rapidly improved for urgent supply to Australian hospitals, clinics, GP surgeries, and beyond. A smaller, mobile version under development will have significant health benefits in developing countries and for patient transport.
Other COVID-19 research projects include a vaccine candidate being developed in South Australia, a new treatment for respiratory complications of COVID-19, a preventive nasal spray, and a rapid response test to predict how severely the disease will progress.
The remaining eight projects, receiving $6.3 million, will help patients of the future with new treatments and diagnostics for conditions such as muscular dystrophy, breast cancer, metabolic and fibrotic disease, prostate cancer, ataxia, antimicrobial resistance and the Zika virus.
Industry partners have contributed a further $28 million to the 13 projects, complementing our Government’s investment of $10.4 million – this means a total of $38.4 million is being invested into the biomedical sector.
The BTB is a four year $22.3 million MRFF program, operated by MTPConnect.
It helps researchers transform their ideas into new treatments to help tomorrow’s patients. These investments are from the second and third rounds of the BTB program.
Research is a key weapon in the fight against COVID-19.
The emphasis of the BTB program is on rapid translation of ideas into new products and treatments that will make a real difference to patients, both in Australia and globally.
Research is also about jobs and exports – which is particularly important as we tackle both the social and economic disruption of the pandemic to our lives and livelihoods.
Further details of the 13 successful projects are listed here.
BTB Round 2 recipients:
Bard1 Life Sciences Limited, VIC (ASX listed) is developing a novel high-throughput SubB2M-based liquid biopsy blood tests for breast cancer screening and monitoring based on a unique cancer-specific probe.
Cincera Therapeutics Pty Ltd, VIC/SA is developing a new drug treatment for Metabolic and Fibrotic Disease.
Envision Sciences Pty Ltd, SA is developing diagnosis and prognostic detection methods for prostate cancer, using blood and tissue samples.
LBT Innovations Limited, SA (ASX listed) is developing APAS®-AMR: An Automated Plate Assessment System for Anti-Microbial Resistance using Artificial Intelligence.
Pharmaxis Ltd, NSW (ASX listed) is developing compound PXS-4699 with tailored dual action to treat Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
The University of Adelaide, SA is developing a world-first needle-free Zika virus vaccine.
The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, VIC is developing a device for guiding therapy in ataxia and imbalance.
UniQuest Pty Ltd, QLD is developing first-in-class drug candidates for the treatment of prostate and other cancers.
BTB COVID-19 Round 3 recipients:
Dimerix Bioscience Pty Ltd, VIC (ASX listed) is developing a new treatment for respiratory complications as a result of COVID-19 in a global clinical study with a potential fast track pathway to clinical practice.
Starpharma Pty Ltd, VIC (ASX listed) is developing an intranasal spray, utilising an already-marketed, broad-spectrum antiviral dendrimer for COVID-19 and potential use in future pandemics.
SpeeDx Pty Ltd, NSW is developing the InSignia(TM) Respiratory Virus Host Response test – a rapid-response COVID-19 assay to enhance Australia’s current and future pandemic preparedness.
University of Melbourne, VIC is developing a novel ventilated hood for patient isolation to provide better patient respiratory treatment and protect hospital staff from COVID-19.
Vaxine Pty Ltd, SA is developing an Australian COVID-19 vaccine, COVAX-19®, which comprises of a recombinant spike protein antigen formulated with Vaxine’s proprietary Advax™ adjuvant.