Australian Greens Housing spokesperson Senator Mehreen Faruqi has said that AHURI’s Renting in the time of COVID-19: understanding the impacts report, released today, has shone a light on the struggles of renters during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Senator Faruqi said:
“Renters are doing it very tough. The findings of this report confirm many of the fears we’ve had for renters throughout this crisis. Many are earning less, living precariously, and being refused rent reductions.
“The government needs a plan to manage the immense rental stress people are experiencing, and which will worsen as the government continues to withdraw income support.
“There were no measures in last week’s budget to address housing affordability or ensure that people will not have to go hungry to keep a roof over their heads.
“The government must reverse their cruel cuts to income support and invest in social housing to ensure accessible, affordable and sustainable homes for everyone who needs one.
“I call on the National Cabinet to ensure eviction bans are in place so this public health and economic crisis doesn’t leave more and more people in a homelessness crisis,” she said.
Month: October 2020
Liberals 'too busy' for ICAC – doing what?
Greens Leader, Adam Bandt, says the Liberal Party’s continued excuses for not having a National anti-corruption body have become utterly farcical.
“More leaked talking points, more excuses. The Liberals have spent thousands of words justifying why there’s still no Federal ICAC, when it would only take a vote in the House to implement the Greens bill that has already passed the Senate,” Bandt said.
“This has been an issue for going on a decade, and there has been legislation before parliament for several years. It has also been more than 18 months since this government announced they were fully committed to a national ICAC.
“We could have a Federal ICAC passed on Monday. The Greens’ bill has already passed the Senate and it’s right there, ready to go.
“The excuse that the government is ‘too busy’ is utterly ridiculous. They’ve found time to attack the environment, jack up fees for uni students and weaken donations laws in the most recent sittings.”
“The debacle in NSW is proof positive of why we need a Federal ICAC. Dodgy behaviour by politicians doesn’t stop at the ACT border.”
Greens Leader in the Senate and spokesperson on Democracy, Senator Larissa Waters, said:
“The reason we still don’t have a federal ICAC is because this government has so many skeletons in the closet,” Senator Waters said.
“This week the NSW ICAC once again proved how effective corruption watchdogs are for sniffing out political stink.
“The sideshow of scandals plaguing the Morrison government shows the corrupting influence dirty donations have on decision-making.
“It’s been pork barrelling on steroids with Sports Rorts 1, Sports Rorts 2, the Shine Energy saga, and too many Angus Taylor incidents to count – and those are just the scandals we know of!
“The Morrison Government isn’t ‘too busy’ to implement a federal corruption watchdog, they just want to keep their hands in the political cookie jar.”
While the Morrison government has been ‘too busy’ to implement a federal ICAC, they have managed to find the time to:
• Change donations laws to allow political donations to be funnelled between state and federal branches, subverting stronger state donations laws (passed with Labor support).
• Ram through EPBC laws to weaken environmental standards, checks and balances before even receiving the final report from the review that they initiated.
• Legislating to massively increase the cost of university degrees
Nutrition key to health for senior Australians
Senior Australians have been encouraged to maintain a healthy diet as the COVID-19 pandemic changes the way we live, work, study and socialise.
As part of National Nutrition Week, Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Richard Colbeck, has urged people of all ages to eat well to boost their immunity and overall health.
He said this is particularly important for senior and vulnerable Australians.
“Eating well is at the foundation of our individual health but this can be challenging for many people during such difficult times,” Minister Colbeck said.
“The Australian Government maintains the Australian Dietary Guidelines which provide evidence-based advice about the amount and kinds of food we need to eat for health and wellbeing.
“By following the dietary patterns recommended in the guidelines, we will get enough nutrients essential for good health.
“It will also help reduce our risk of chronic health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers and obesity down the track.”
Only one in 20 (5.4 per cent) of Australian adults and one in 17 (6.0 per cent) children aged 2-17 years meet the recommendations in the Australian Dietary Guidelines for fruit and vegetable consumption.
Minister Colbeck praised the efforts of meal delivery services like Meals on Wheels, which plays a crucial role in supporting the health and wellbeing of over 200,000 older Australians across 592 service locations.
“With the impact of the pandemic, the care and wellbeing of senior Australians has been a priority this year, and meals services and food security have become even more important,” he said.
More than 10 million meals every year are delivered with the support of more than 76,000 Meals on Wheels volunteers.
The Government provided an additional $59.3 million to enable more prepared meals, food staples and essential daily items to be delivered to seniors in need.
Meal deliveries are available through Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP).
“National Nutrition Week is a great opportunity for people to think about the foods they eat and ensuring they maintain a healthy and regular diet,” Minister Colbeck said.
For more information about the Australian Dietary Guidelines, see here.
To locate an Accredited Practicing Dietitian visit the Dietitians Australia website here.
More information about meal deliveries is available by contacting Commonwealth Home Support Package meal providers directly, or through My Aged Care on 1800 200 422.
Taskforce looks to Hunter River for Stockton sand as City upgrades coastal protection works
Following a meeting of the Deputy Premier’s Stockton Beach Taskforce, City of Newcastle will meet with the Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation, and Regional NSW to explore the possibility of using sand from the south arm of the Hunter River to replenish Stockton Beach.
Chair of the Stockton Community Liaison Group Barbara Whitcher spoke in support of the initiative at the meeting earlier this week.
“It’s encouraging to hear through the Taskforce the potential for relocating sand from the Hunter River to Stockton for short-term sand replenishment. This news was received well at today’s Stockton Community Liaison Group Meeting and we look forward to further updates.”
This progress is in keeping with The City’s work to access the initial sand for a beach nourishment campaign as approved in the Stockton Coastal Management Program 2020.
The news from the Taskforce meeting also coincides with a decision from the City to use ‘Kyowa Rock Bags’ as emergency works in place of existing sandbagging at the northern end of Stockton Beach.
The City’s investment in this technology is expected to offset the need for ongoing emergency response at Barrie Crescent and for the two buried terminal protection structures (Stone Street and Griffith Avenue) as approved in the Stockton Coastal Management Program 2020, saving the community $2.45 million and buying time for the Taskforce to achieve mass sand nourishment.
The rock bags are a patented flexible mesh product used for erosion protection which are more durable and sturdier than traditional sandbags. Initially, they will be assembled off site at the Ballast Ground in Stockton, before being installed at the Barrie Crescent section of beach.
The bags will provide up to 15 years protection which allows for a window of time in which mass offshore sand nourishment can be achieved, as outlined in the Stockton Coastal Management Program 2020.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the Taskforce was making positive progress on achieving mass sand nourishment for Stockton Beach.
“It’s encouraging that the Taskforce is making headway on finding suitable sand sources for mass nourishment at Stockton Beach and we’re optimistic about the potential Hunter River south arm opportunity.
“Since June last year City of Newcastle has spent more than $3 million on emergency works associated with protecting coastal assets and property from erosion at Stockton Beach, including sandbagging and safety measures.
City of Newcastle’s Acting CEO Ken Liddell said that in the meantime, the rock bags will be a significant improvement on the sandbags currently in place.
“The innovative rock bag technology to be used at Stockton Beach will provide a range of benefits, not the least to provide further protection for the community and offsetting ongoing reactive emergency, and capital works costs.
“Upgrading the emergency protection to rock bags will provide greater protection to coastal properties while allowing City of Newcastle to reinstate a passive recreational area at Barrie Crescent Reserve,” Mr Liddell said.
The rock bags will be placed in the same location as existing sandbags, along the Barrie Crescent frontage from the northern end of the Mitchel Street seawall at Stone Street to Griffiths Avenue road extension.
City of Newcastle has also confirmed it will complete three coastal management programs (CMP) in 2021, including an updated Stockton CMP, a Newcastle Southern Beaches CMP taking into account the area between the southern Harbour Breakwater to Glenrock, and an Hunter Estuary CMP completed in partnership with Port Stephens and Maitland councils. The revised Stockton CMP will take into account the roughly three kilometre section of coastline north of Meredith Street not included in the Stockton CMP 2020, and include additional studies which were not possible to be completed prior to the NSW Government’s shortened 2020 deadline.
Community engagement on the CMPs is expected to commence in early 2021.
RELAXING OF RESTRICTIONS FOR REMEMBRANCE DAY
Groups of up to 100 people will be able to gather for Remembrance Day services across NSW after the approval of a one-off exemption from COVID-19 restrictions.
Acting Minister for Veterans Geoff Lee said Remembrance Day is a major event for both veterans and the broader community to pay their respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
“Australians have paused to reflect and pay tribute on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month since 1918, so this is welcome news for our veterans community,” said Mr Lee.
“While some of our larger commemorations won’t look the same as in past years, this exemption means smaller services can be held in all local communities across NSW.”
The one-off exemption to the Public Health Order increases the current restrictions from 20 people to 100 people, to gather at community war memorials, provided they adhere to social distancing measures and have a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place.
The exemption is in place for Remembrance Day Services held before 12 November.
RSL NSW Acting President Ray James OAM thanked the NSW Government for lifting the restrictions to ensure services could go ahead safely.
“With this year’s Anzac Day commemorations cancelled due to the pandemic, it is particularly meaningful for the veteran community to see Remembrance Day gatherings taking place,” said Mr James.
“Local Remembrance Day services have a significant role in regional and rural communities where the incidence of COVID-19 has been low in recent months.”
Planning for a NSW State Commemorative Service in Martin Place is currently underway.
14 PINs to be issued following university protest
Police will issue 14 Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for breaches of the Public Health Order following an unauthorised protest at Camperdown today.
Officers attached to Inner West Police Area Command attended the grounds of a university on City Road, Camperdown, about 11.30am (Wednesday 14 October 2020), after receiving information regarding planned protest activity.
About 1pm, a large group of people began protesting inside the grounds of the university, before moving out onto the surrounding streets.
Members of the group attempted to disrupt traffic on multiple occasions and were removed from the road by officers.
General duties police were assisted by specialist officers from the Public Order and Riot Squad, Central Metropolitan Region ODIN, Mounted Unit and the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command.
The crowd dispersed, with 14 people to be issued $1000 Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) in relation to breaches of the Public Health Order.
Government must act on companies taking advantage of gamblers during COVID and legislate a national exclusion register
A study released by the Australian Gambling Research Centre (AGRC) today shows that gambling companies are using the pandemic as an opportunity to prey on people who may have more time on their hands because of lockdown or job loss and are feeling anxious and alone.
“The underhanded and sneaky tactics used by gambling campaigns through this pandemic show exactly why we need proper regulation nationally and in all States and Territories, including a national regulator and a national self-exclusion register”, Greens spokesperson on Gambling Senator Rachel Siewert said.
People are migrating to gambling online due to the nature of the pandemic and there is not enough regulation and oversight of these huge companies whose profits have gone up during COVID and who are preying on people going through a difficult time in their lives.
Gambling behaviours are connected to emotional wellbeing and mental ill health.
The relationship between the Liberal and Labor parties and the gambling industry, with gambling revenue received by state governments creates an inherent conflict of interest when implementing appropriate regulations and restrictions.
Governments need to act both State and Federally so that we have strong regulation that protects our community, not these weak regulations.
We can all agree that big companies should not be using manipulation and predatory techniques to profit off everyday Australians.
More evidence of shameful lack of support for disadvantaged and people on low incomes in Anglicare’s Jobs Snapshot
The Australian Greens said today Anglicare Australia’s Jobs Snapshot once again demonstrates the urgent need for a permanent increase to JobSeeker and Youth Allowance to ensure that the payment is above the poverty line.
It is absolutely shameful that in a country as wealthy as Australia the Government is not ensuring that disadvantaged people and those people on low incomes are properly supported through this crisis”, Greens spokesperson on Family and Community Services Senator Rachel Siewert said.
The Government also needs to fix the employment services system in this country, it is not fit for purpose and instead of cutting over a billion dollars from employment services that money should be invested in better delivery of service.
The budget did not deliver for many unemployed Australians, for example there are hundreds and thousands of jobs in the care economy, not only would that help vulnerable Australians obviously it creates employment.
We are not all in this together. The Government is turning a blind eye and giving the cold shoulder to the people that were out of work before this crisis and to the million people who have entered the income support system because we are in a recession.
The Government has no plan to manage the mortgage and rental stress that is coming now that Jobseeker is back below the poverty line.
It’s pretty galling that the Government keeps talking about the mental health of Australians when they are keeping so many people in limbo on whether they will be living on $40 after Christmas.
I have just introduced a Greens private senator’s bill to reinstate the original rate of the Coronavirus Supplement to $550 a fortnight for people on Youth Allowance, JobSeeker and the Disability Support Pension.
This is the sixth bill to increase JobSeeker – formerly Newstart – that I have introduced in my 15 years in Parliament. Those in Parliament who support an increase to JobSeeker should vote for their professed values.
If this bill is passed it will reinstate the original rate of the Coronavirus Supplement at $550 a fortnight for people on Jobseeker and Youth Allowance and extend the supplement to people on DSP and those on the Aged Pension accessing Commonwealth Rent Assistance.”
Live entertainment industry on it's knees deserves PM's urgent attention
The Greens are again urging the Morrison Government to do more for the Arts and Entertainment Industry after a report released today shows two out of every three jobs in the live entertainment sector have been lost this year.
Greens Spokesperson for the Arts Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“The Arts and Entertainment Industry was completely ignored in last week’s budget despite being the hardest hit by Covid19.
“These latest figures confirm the crisis the Industry has been telling the Government it is in for half a year now.
“Despite pleas for specific industry assistance since March, the Morrison Government continues to fail artists, creatives, support crews and all the businesses that depend on it.
“Not even the fact the industry pulls in hundreds of billions of dollars each year, which is now at great risk, is enough to motivate the PM to actually provide proper support.
”The live entertainment sector that commissioned the EY Report is calling for an extension to JobKeeper, support with insurance for events and more funding for grants programs, and the Greens back their calls.
“The PM can’t keep turning a blind eye, it’s time he reached a bit deeper into his Government’s pockets and pulled out proper support for the arts and entertainment industry.
“The PM found three times as much for the construction industry which has only suffered a quarter of the job losses. Our artists, creatives, crews and supporting businesses shouldn’t suffer just because the PM prefers tool belts to arts and culture.
“We will be pressing the government on this issue in Estimates next week.”
Budget delivers for hard of hearing
The Australian Government will implement key initiatives from the Roadmap for Hearing Health, investing $21.2 million over five years.
Addressing a meeting of the Hearing Health Sector Alliance today, Minister for Regional Health, Mark Coulton, said the Government’s investment reflects its ongoing commitment to improving access to hearing support services for vulnerable Australians.
“With more than 3.6 million Australians currently affected by hearing loss and that number expected to reach 7.8 million by 2060, it is vital we have the services and support that allow them to best live to their potential,” Minister Coulton said.
“That’s why the Government is investing in and reforming its hearing services to improve access and quality of services for all Australians.
“With numerous efforts already underway, including development of paediatric standards and increasing screening in remote areas, we today announce the implementation of key initiatives from the Roadmap for Hearing Health.”
Minister Coulton said the announced Roadmap initiatives focused on making Australians well aware of the importance of hearing health and ensuring services reach those who need them, especially the vulnerable.
“Targeted activities to improve outcomes for Indigenous children and efforts to upskill the aged care workforce will see better outcomes for some of the most in need,” he said.
“Regional Australians will be pleased to hear about specific measures to ensure their access to services continues and improves with funding for a rural workforce audit and summit and implementation of new tele-audiology standards to allow this tool to bridge the gap between rural Australians and necessary hearing tests.
“We expect the $5 million awareness campaign to help break down the stigmas that surround hearing loss and to encourage more Australians to get their hearing checked.
“We know how important early identification is in minimising further damage and increased awareness will certainly help.”
Minister Coulton said the initiatives announced in the Budget followed work by members of the Hearing Health Sector Alliance to develop the Roadmap.
“Members of the Hearing Health Sector Alliance played a central in role in developing the Roadmap and it is particularly pleasing to be able to discuss its implementation with them today,” Minister Coulton said.
“The Commonwealth will continue to work with states and territories to deliver further elements of the Roadmap.”
Hearing Health Sector Alliance Chair, Dr Tony Coles, welcomed the announcement, saying it was important the Government was funding the five key priority areas by the Hearing Health Sector Alliance and included in the Roadmap for Hearing Health.
“We’re delighted this funding will assist more Australians protect their hearing health, fund research into hearing loss, and support those who need greater access to audiological services.
“With one in six Australians experiencing hearing loss, and links between hearing loss, falls, depression and anxiety, cognitive impairment and dementia, it is important for Australians to protect their hearing and to gain a greater understanding to prevent, treat and manage hearing loss,” Dr Coles said.
“The Hearing Health Sector Alliance is looking forward to working collaboratively with the Federal Government to implement these important initiatives as part of the Roadmap for Hearing Health, which will improve hearing outcomes for all Australians.”
Roadmap initiatives announced in the Federal Budget are:
- $5 million hearing health awareness campaign
- $7.3 million for research to develop a sound evidence base for effective treatment, service delivery, and prevention of hearing loss
- $5 million for improvements in and early identification of hearing and speech difficulties for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
- $2 million for initiatives in the aged care sector to improve the capability of the aged care workforce to support people with hearing loss.
- $400,000 for development and adoption of new tele audiology standards for hearing services.
- $200,000 to support rural service delivery through a workforce audit and a rural hearing workforce summit.