Month: March 2021

The Morrison Government will today launch the $18.8 million third phase of the national campaign to reduce violence against women and their children to mark International Women’s Day.
The Stop it at the Start campaign encourages adults to “unmute” themselves and empowers them to take actions that will have a positive influence on the attitudes and behaviours of young people.
Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston said the campaign was critical in our efforts to prevent family, domestic and sexual violence.
“Each and every one of us has a role to play in ensuring disrespectful attitudes and behaviours towards women are not learned in childhood,” Minister Ruston said.
“We all need to unmute ourselves when we witness disrespect and turn it into an opportunity to set the standard for what is and isn’t acceptable.
“Taking action on this issue may seem overwhelming but if we all take small steps, such as reconsidering our own views or talking to our children about respectful relationships, it can add up to a positive change for Australia.”
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Women and Acting Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne said launching the next phase of Stop it at the Start on International Women’s Day sent a powerful message about the role we all must play to ensure all women can fulfil their potential.
“We have made considerable progress towards gender equality in Australia but challenges remain whether that be in the home or the workplace,” Minister Payne said.
“As a Government we see it as our duty to foster a culture in which Australian men grow up respecting the women in their lives.
“Stop it at the Start demonstrates to all adults that responding to disrespect can be a constructive, liberating and an important way to shape future generations.”
The Stop it at the Start campaign began in 2016 as an initiative under the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children 2010-2022.
It is funded under the Morrison Government’s record $340 million investment in the Fourth Action Plan with financial contributions from the governments of South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory and Tasmania.
Evaluation research found the campaign was changing attitudes with 42 per cent of adults taking action, such as having a conversation with a young person about respectful relationships or changing the way they behave towards others as a result of earlier phases of the campaign.
Phase one of the campaign encouraged adults to recognise their own unconscious behaviour and understand the influence such behaviour can have on others, including the next generation. Phase two asked people to take ownership of the issue rather than using arguments to rationalise disrespectful behaviours.
Phase three of the campaign will be rolled out across television, cinema, online, outdoor, digital and social media from Sunday 14 March.
A suite of tools and resources will be available online at www.respect.gov.au to help parents and other adults to model positive behaviours and start a conversation about respect with the young people in their lives.
Ministers Payne and Ruston thanked the Commonwealth Bank for partnering with the Government to deliver the launch event, where a panel discussion would highlight how government, business and the broader community must come together to address the issue of violence against women.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au.
 

The Morrison Government is supporting female entrepreneurs to build their businesses, take on global markets and create local jobs, with the opening of a new $11.6 million funding round under the Boosting Female Founders Initiative.
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said it was fitting that applications for round two of the in-demand initiative are opening on International Women’s Day.
“Female entrepreneurs are underrepresented in our innovation and technology sectors, often because they face greater obstacles in getting early-stage finance,” Minister Andrews said.
“The first round of the Boosting Female Founders Initiative saw more than 50 female-founded and led businesses share in nearly $12 million to scale up, create new jobs and take on new markets.
“In the second round, we are providing a further $11.6 million in funding, while also expanding the program to offer expert mentoring and advice for eligible candidates.
“International Women’s Day challenges us to take action for equality. Through the Boosting Female Founders Initiative, we’re helping Aussie female entrepreneurs overcome barriers to success and launch their great ideas onto the world stage.”
The Boosting Female Founders Initiative provides grants of between $25,000 and $400,000 to Australian start-up businesses that are majority owned and led by women.
The Initiative was announced as part of the 2018 Women’s Economic Security Statement, and expanded under the 2020 Women’s Economic Security Statement.
In total, it will provide $52.2 million of competitive grant funding plus $1.8 million in mentoring services from 2020–2021 to 2024–25.
Applications for the current funding round will be open until 22 April 2021, and can be submitted at business.gov.au/bff.

More than 4,500 accredited general practices will participate in Phase 1b of Australia’s COVID-19 rollout, one of the greatest logistical challenges in our nation’s history.
The plans were announced by Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt today, with the collaboration of the Australian Medical Association, The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt said the Government is committed to bringing on board all eligible practices as quickly as possible, with vaccination start dates set to be staggered and dosage allocation to be dependent on vaccine availability.
“More than 1,000 general practices will commence from the week of 22 March 2021, with a rapid scale up over the following four weeks. This will ensure an efficient and equitable distribution of vaccines across the country,” Minister Hunt said.
 
“Phase 1b of the rollout includes vulnerable populations, such as older people and people with certain underlying conditions.”
 
No-one is better placed in the community than local GPs, who will play a major role in ensuring all Australians who seek to be vaccinated have access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines.
President of the Australian Medical Association (AMA), Dr Omar Khorshid said “General Practitioners (GPs) have a proven track record with flu vaccination of older Australians and those living with chronic disease who will make up the bulk of the Phase 1B rollout.”
“It is very pleasing to see the majority of GPs putting up their hands to participate in this critical national program,” Dr Khorshid said.
“General practice is highly accessible for people and has helped Australia achieve some of the highest rates of vaccination in the world.”
“Patients see their GP for trusted advice and support and rolling out a COVID-19 vaccine through general practice is the best way to encourage the community to get vaccinated.”
President of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Dr Karen Price said the approach is built on a platform of trust and knowledge.
“This is an historic and logistically-challenging project and GPs across the country are honoured to contribute, and committed to ensuring that all eligible patients have access to the vaccine, no matter where they live,” Dr Price said.
“We already have the trust of our patients and our communities and can ensure that those who are ready to be vaccinated can be, and those who are unsure can have their questions answered to help them decide.”
The staged commencement of general practices will be complemented by GP-led Respiratory Clinics and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services working together to deliver vaccines to eligible priority populations.
In welcoming the announcement, President of The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM), Dr Sarah Chalmers recognised the significant preparation undertaken in the lead to rollout.
“ACRRM acknowledges the enormous amount of work that has been put into planning for the vaccination rollout, including for rural and remote communities. The equitable distribution points across the country means that all our vulnerable patients can access the vaccine,” Dr Chalmers said.
Nationally, more than 130 Respiratory Clinics and over 300 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service sites will support the Phase 1b roll out. This adds to more than 5,000 points of presence across Australia in addition to vaccination clinics set up by states and territories.
Minister Hunt said, “It has been clear from the positive response to the EOI that GPs are both prepared and committed to support the natural COVID-19 vaccination effort as well, as their local communities.
“We also acknowledge the work of The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Australian Medical Association and Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine have been instrumental during this process,” Minister Hunt said.
Australia’s COVID-19 Vaccine National Rollout Strategy is underpinned by multiple parts of the health system working together to contribute to the vaccination effort.
This will be further enhanced by pharmacies to ensure equitable and timely access across Australia.
The Australian Government thanks all practices that expressed an interest in participating in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, and for their ongoing commitment to support their local community.

After staunch opposition from local communities and businesses and pressure from Labor Scott Morrison has finally admitted that he doesn’t support the extension of the Petroleum Exploration Permit 11 (PEP 11).
Scott Morrison’s shaky coalition with the Nationals has been tested yet again with the Prime Minister staying silent on PEP 11 until today.
Advent Energy’s PEP 11 application would allow oil and gas exploration drilling off the NSW coast from Port Stephens, Newcastle, the Central Coast and Sydney.
Under the company’s proposal thousands of local jobs in tourism, hospitality, recreational and commercial fishing would be jeopardised.
Scott Morrison’s backdown is in stark contrast to recent comments from the Minister for Resources, who was recently defending the proposal by saying “any rig is unlikely to be visible from the coast”.
Unlike the Morrison Government, Labor’s position on this proposal has been crystal clear.
PEP 11 doesn’t make sense from an economic, environmental, or energy perspective.
Labor has been consulting with Save Our Coast, Surfrider Foundation, other advocacy groups and the broader community. We congratulate them on their fierce advocacy in protecting their region.
We support new energy and resources projects where they make sense, but this was always a dumb idea.
A broad spectrum of people across the community knew it, it’s just a shame it took Scott Morrison so long to realise it.
Rest assured, Matt Thistlethwaite, Emma McBride, Meryl Swanson, Sharon Claydon, and the whole Labor team will not rest until this bad idea is 100 per cent dead and buried.
Labor is against it.
The community is against it.
The NSW Government is against it.
Several Federal Liberal MPs are against it.
With his Prime Minister now joining the ranks of those against the application, is Keith Pitt still “concerned about some of the exaggerated claims being made by groups who are opposed to the permit”?
Either Keith Pitt is wrong or the Prime Minister is.