Month: August 2021

Australia continues to be an immunisation nation as parents protect their children from disease at record rates.
2021 second quarter results show Australia has remained above the national immunisation target of 95% for all five-year olds at 95.18%.
This is the third consecutive quarter Australians have been above the 95% target, a fantastic achievement when compared to the rate of 74.4% in 2005 when 5-year-old immunisation rates were first recorded.
This gives Australia the herd immunity needed to stop the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases.
The five years old immunisation rates are also well above the estimated World Health Organization international average immunisation coverage rate of 83% in 2020, making Australia a world leading vaccination nation.
The Australian Government invests over $450 million each year though the National Immunisation Program, providing free vaccines to protect against 17 disease groups for eligible Australians, including children, adolescents, the elderly, pregnant women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Among two-year olds, the coverage rate has increased to 92.63% for the 12 months to June 2021. One-year old children have a coverage rate of 94.85%.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children at five years of age continue to have the highest coverage rate of any group at 97.12%.
The coverage rate for two-year old Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children increased to 91.96%, while the rate for one year olds is 93.36%.
Parents and carers continue to show their confidence in Australia’s expert medical advice to keep their children protected and safe from life threatening illness.
I want to thank parents and carers for continuing to step up to protect their children and keep them healthy, well and safe from disease.
 

Labor’s belated recognition that Scott Morrison’s 2030 climate targets aren’t good enough is a move in the right direction, said Greens Leader, Adam Bandt, but he called on Labor to join the Greens in setting science-based 2030 targets now, to help put pressure on Scott Morrison before the Glasgow climate summit at the end of the year.
Labor’s move comes as Scott Morrison has already announced that he is considering ‘updating’ the government’s 2030 climate targets before Glasgow, suggesting government targets may be lifted but by an insufficient amount.
Earlier this year, the independent Climate Targets Panel, led by former Liberal leader John Hewson, said that to be consistent with limiting global heating to 1.5 degrees, Australia’s targets would need to be 74% reduction on 2005 levels by 2030, and net zero by 2035. For a 2 degree goal, the targets would need to be at least 50% below 2005 levels by 2030 and net zero by 2045. In either scenario, net-zero by 2050 alone was found to be insufficient.
Quotes attributable to Greens leader Adam Bandt MP:
“It’s easy to say Scott Morrison’s 2030 targets are too weak, but we need to put pressure on him now to triple Australia’s ambition before Glasgow.
“2030 is the main game and refusing to have a clear 2030 target still lets Scott Morrison off the hook.’
“Getting Scott Morrison to merely nudge his 2030 targets up a bit isn’t enough, especially given he’s said he might do that himself anyway.
“It’s right to say Scott Morrison’s targets are too low, but teasers of policy positions are not enough when the world is experiencing unprecedented environmental crises.
“The science is clear. We need targets that match the science, not the demands of coal and gas corporate donors.”
The Greens’ Climate Policy:

• Net zero emissions by 2035 and 75% cuts by 2030, consistent with the science and the independent Climate Targets Panel.
• Lead the world on climate action by phasing out coal stations and exports by 2030 and legislating against new coal mines and gas fields.
• Achieve 100% renewable energy by 2030 and work towards 700% renewables, funding a massive investment in infrastructure that will transform our energy system over the next decade and grow a new export industry.
• Phase in 100% electric light vehicle sales by 2030, with subsidies to make them affordable for all
• Reduce bills by $200 a year by creating a publicly owned energy provider and subsidising investment in solar power and batteries.
• Build a multi-billion dollar clean energy export industry to replace coal exports.
• Invest in local coal and gas communities so they can attract the jobs and new industries they want, retain, upskill and ensure these local communities can continue to thrive.

The Greens are thrilled to announce educator, NGO consultant and local mum Sonya Semmens as the candidate for the federal seat of Higgins in the next federal election.
Higgins is set to be a hotly contested battleground at the next federal election, with electoral redistribution picking up Windsor shifting the balance towards the Greens, and threatening a key Liberal-held seat.
The Greens are set to run a campaign focusing on the failure of moderate backbenchers to shift party policy and the massive influence of Barnaby Joyce over the Coalition– pointing to the government’s disastrous response on COVID, and highlighting that Katie Higgins MP was either silent or being ignored by Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce.
Booths in South Yarra and Windsor are progressive bulwarks, with the Greens leading the vote count in the last election. More conservative areas at the East of the electorate in Hughesdale and Glen Iris have moved into other electorates.
Greens leader Adam Bandt MP said:
“This is a battle between a backbencher who will be told how to vote by Barnaby Joyce, and someone who will listen to the experts.
‘If you vote Liberal in Higgins, you get Barnaby Joyce.
‘Higgins voters want evidence-based policy but they’re getting Barnaby Joyce’s ramblings.
‘The voters of Higgins are powerful and they can send a message to the Morrison-Joyce government to listen to the science and the experts.
“The science deniers run the show in the Morrison-Joyce government, and despite Katie Allen’s medical background, she has either been silent or ignored by the Prime Minister. The catastrophic failure to listen to experts in the covid crisis will be outstripped by the impacts of failing to listen to experts on climate change.
“Sonya Semmens is a fierce advocate for her electorate, a brilliant communicator, and we need her in parliament fighting for immediate, targeted and evidence-backed action on climate.”
Greens Higgins candidate Sonya Semmens said:
“Higgins deserves an MP who has power in the parliament, and will not only listen to the experts, but take their advice to the floor of the House where it counts.
“As a vocal campaigner for climate action, I will push the next government to go further and faster on the climate crisis so we can secure a better future for everyone.
“As a local parent and educator, I understand what matters to our community and will fight for a more secure future for us and our children.
“Experiencing homelessness as a single parent, made me confront the reality of housing instability in this country. It’s not good enough, and it’s getting worse. Everyone deserves a secure place to live, and that’s what I’ll be fighting for in parliament.
“The major parties can’t be trusted to fight the climate crisis. The climate crisis will utterly dwarf the pandemic and we need someone who has what it takes to protect people.”

The Australian Government should immediately issue bridging visas to Afghan people in Afghanistan who have made substantive visa applications, the Greens say.
“The Government must expedite visas to give people at least a chance to leave Afghanistan and get to safety,” Greens Immigration and Citizenship spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.
“We understand that the situation around the Kabul Airport is extremely dangerous and unpredictable, and people may not be able to access flights.”
“But we also know that without a valid visa, people have no chance to get onto evacuation flights even if they can get into the airport.”
“Bridging visas can be issued in real time with the stroke of a pen and without complicated and lengthy assessments.”
“The government should immediately issue Bridging visas to Afghan people who worked for Australian armed forces or consulates, partners of Australian permanent residents and citizens, and people who have applied for humanitarian visas, so that they at least have a chance to reach safety.”
“The priority should be to get people to safety rather than forcing them to wait in danger while their substantive visa applications are processed.”
“If evacuation is possible, people’s substantive applications can then be assessed.”
“Some people from Afghanistan have been waiting years to have their visa applications assessed – their plight has been worsened by the Australian Government’s unacceptable delays.”

Greens leader Adam Bandt said Scott Morrison’s announcement today that children would not be included in vaccination targets was a political decision that made the community less safe.
Scott Morrison’s 80% vaccination target is only 65% of the whole population, as it excludes under 16s. An additional 4 million people need to be vaccinated to reach the 80% target if all children and teenagers were included. The Grattan Institute has warned that opening up at such a low level of vaccination could lead to thousands of deaths.
Delta has infected many children across Australia and outbreaks have been seen in schools. The Pfizer vaccine has been approved for over 12s in Australia and other countries have begun national vaccination of children.
Greens leader Adam Bandt MP said:
“Scott Morrison is fudging the numbers so he can wave the ‘Mission Accomplished’ flag in December, even though millions of people will remain unvaccinated.
“Excluding children from the vaccination targets is a political decision. Scott Morrison is setting targets that are easier for him to achieve but that leave millions unvaccinated.
“Israel has opened up with only 65% of the population vaccinated and is experiencing a growing wave of deaths.
“Our kids don’t just need to be vaccinated, they must be included in the vaccination targets, otherwise we risk a wave of deaths and more lockdowns.”