Month: February 2022

Anglo American’s acknowledgement their labour hire rort at the Grosvenor mine needs to change if safety is to improve is welcomed by the Mining and Energy Union.

Coal production at the notoriously gassy mine began again this week almost two years after an underground methane explosion left five miners with horrific burns.

In a statement issued yesterday Anglo American claimed it “plans to review the employment model at Grosvenor… we have been progressively increasing the number of permanent roles at our five mining operations in Queensland, including creating around 130 new permanent jobs over the last six months”.

Rather than employ its workforce directly at the Grosvenor metallurgical coal mine near Moranbah, as it does at other mines, Anglo American uses labour hire firm One Key.

All coal workers at the Grosvenor mine are employed by this labour hire firm. These workers are employed under different employment agreements to those directly employed in permanent jobs by Anglo American at other mines – they have fewer rights and can be sacked more easily.

A recent inquiry into the May2020 explosion heard if coal workers reported unsafe work practices, they could lose money under so-called ‘safety penalties’ or even be sacked – completely legally.

An inquiry recently heard 14 potential incidents of methane exceedance were recorded at longwall 104, where the explosion occurred, in the eight weeks leading up the explosion.

It found the mine’s gas drainage systems could not cope with the rate of production.

“The labour hire arrangements at Grosvenor are at the heart of the safety issues, Anglo needs to employ their workers directly in permanent jobs,” says Stephen Smyth, Queensland District President of the Mining and Energy Union.

“If Anglo American want to eliminate deaths and injuries at their mines, they can start by giving their workers direct permanent jobs instead of holding them at arm’s length, and they can start listening when they are told about safety issues.

“They don’t need to do reviews or consultations, or any other time-wasting nonsense, they can make all the coal workers at Grosvenor permanent Anglo American employees today.

“One Key has got form for putting production before safety, removing them from the equation would be a huge relief for the workforce.

“Since the incident the workers have formed a union lodge which means they will have a stronger unified voice when it comes to safety, rostering, pay and other issues.”

The Australian Greens condemn Vladimir Putin’s military aggression in the Ukraine, as we condemn all military aggression. We call on all parties to remember the human cost of war and to work peacefully through diplomatic channels to de-escalate the situation.

We affirm the right of the people of Ukraine to sovereignty and territorial integrity.

As leaders of global military powers bring the world closer to the brink of war, the Greens emphasise that the cost of war is borne by ordinary people, and call on the Australian government to use every effort to de-escalate tensions and bring the focus back to diplomacy.

We call upon our Foreign Minister to use Australia’s Autonomous Sanctions framework to respond to Russia’s actions.

Minister Keith Pitt has this morning recommitted the Government to fracking the Northern Territory’s Beetaloo Basin through the funding stream that was previously struck down by the Federal Court.

The Beetaloo Cooperative Drilling Program will now see $19.4 million in grants awarded to Liberal Party-aligned donor Empire Energy.

Empire Energy, who today have been promised almost $20 million in public money to frack the NT’s Beetaloo Basin, have previously donated $40,000 to the Liberals and $25,000 to NT Labor. Empire’s Chair has personally previously donated over $200,000 to the LNP.

Australian Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP said:

“Scott Morrison is using the dying days of his government to cause as much climate damage as he can, all with Labor’s backing.

“By signing off on NT Labor’s giant climate bomb, the Liberals are putting lives at risk.

“Gas is as dirty as coal, and the Betaloo gas project will be worse for the climate than the Adani coal mine. The NT gas fields contain almost 70 years’ worth of Australia’s total climate pollution, and today Keith Pitt has signed off on detonating that climate bomb.

“The only way we’ll break the bipartisan coal and gas grip on this country is by putting Greens in balance of power.”

Greens Resources and Minerals Spokesperson Senator Dorinda Cox said:

“Minister Pitt’s decision today is a climate grenade that this government is throwing over their shoulder on the way out. What a desperate act from a dying government. 

“This decision will cause enormous destruction to Country. My heart goes out to people of the ​​Gudanji, Yanyuwa, Garrwa, Jingili, Mudburra and Alawa nations over this dreadful news, who are on the frontline as as the last line of defence for their land, skies and waters.”

“Once again decisions are being made about our land that desecrate our cultural heritage, while simultaneously wrecking the climate for our kids, where mining interests take precedence over Traditional Owners’ right to their land.”

The Australian Government has accepted advice from leading immunisation experts to make the Moderna (SPIKEVAX) COVID-19 vaccine available for children aged six years and older from 24 February 2022 – broadening the previous recommendation for children aged 12 years and older. 

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommendation follows the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approval of Moderna for children aged six years and older on 17 February 2022.

Pfizer continues to be available to children aged five and over, and nearly half of children aged between five and 11 have already received one dose of the Pfizer vaccine since it became available in January this year.

With Moderna being made available for children aged six and above, parents and carers will have more choice and flexibility in the vaccine they choose for their child.

The Australian Government has secured more than 25 million doses of Moderna and is well placed to continue to achieve world leading vaccination rates against COVID-19.

Before any COVID-19 vaccine can be supplied for use in Australia it undergoes a rigorous evaluation by the TGA for safety, quality and effectiveness. The TGA will only approve a vaccine once it has established that the benefits greatly outweigh any potential risks.

Moderna has been clinically proven to produce a strong immune response in children. Most side effects are mild and short-term, and similar to those experienced by children who have received the Pfizer vaccine.   

For children aged between six and 11 years old, a paediatric dose of Moderna is half the dose currently provided for people aged 12 years and over – two doses of 50μg per dose (0.25mL), eight weeks apart, or three doses for immunocompromised children.

The recommended eight-week interval can be shortened to four weeks for children at risk of moderate to severe COVID-19, for example those with underlying health conditions, in an outbreak or before international travel.

The TGA and ATAGI will continue to actively monitor the safety of the vaccine in children and adults both in Australia and overseas and will not hesitate to take action if safety concerns are identified.

Moderna is not currently recommended for anyone under the age of six years.

Australia was one of the first countries in the world to commence a whole of population COVID-19 booster program. Over 10.9 million Australians have already received a booster dose over recent weeks.

Over 94.3 percent of Australians have completed their primary course of vaccination.

1.12 million Australian children aged six years and older have received a first dose of vaccination.

All Australians who are currently eligible for their primary course of vaccination, or for their booster dose, and who have not yet acted are urged to make a booking as soon as possible to get vaccinated.

To book a vaccination please use the COVID-19 Clinic Finder and make your appointment.

The Morrison Government is creating jobs and strengthening the future of defence manufacturing in Victoria, with a new state-of-the-art armoured vehicle centre of excellence to be established at Avalon Airport in Greater Geelong.

A first of its kind, Hanwha Defense Australia’s 32,000sqm armoured vehicle centre of excellence is estimated to create a minimum of 300 jobs over the life of the $1 billion project, generating ongoing support opportunities for Australian industry until the late 2040s.

Hanwha was contracted by the Morrison Government last December to deliver 30 self-propelled howitzers and 15 armoured ammunition resupply vehicles, collectively referred to as the Huntsman family of vehicles.

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said Hanwha would build the sovereign armoured vehicle manufacturing and maintenance facility to deliver core platforms of the Protected Mobile Fires project.

“Hanwha will draw on Greater Geelong’s highly skilled and experienced workforce to deliver this project,” Minister Price said.

“About 100 jobs are expected to be created during the two-year, $170 million construction of the armoured vehicle centre of excellence.

“It is great news for the Geelong region economy that the $1 billion program will support at least 300 jobs during its lifespan.

“This project demonstrates the Morrison Government’s commitment to supporting local jobs.”

Senator for Victoria, Sarah Henderson said Avalon Airport was an ideal location for the armoured vehicle centre of excellence.

“Avalon Airport, complete with its international terminal which the Morrison Government helped build, is a wonderful asset for our region and will make a first-class home for the Howitzer defence project,” Senator Henderson said.

“The Government’s election commitment to base this $1 billion defence project in the Geelong region, announced in May 2019, is an absolute game-changer for our local economy and for Victoria.

“With five Australian-owned companies currently shortlisted to construct the armoured vehicle centre of excellence, a sovereign national asset for military capability manufacturing, this will deliver an immediate jobs boom for our region and for Victoria.

“Geelong is set to become one of Australia’s most important defence manufacturing centres. It is expected that other defence industry suppliers will consider re-locating to the Geelong region so the opportunities for future growth are enormous.”

Design work on the facility is now in its final stages, and there is an opportunity for Australian defence industry partners to co-locate on site to streamline the manufacturing process and maximise export opportunities for the Australian defence industry.

The new facility will include multiple assembly lines, a 1500m test track, a deep-water test facility, and an obstacle course to test capability.

Hanwha will build the new facility on a 20-hectare site at Avalon Airport.

The site will be leased from Linfox Pty Ltd, an Australian-owned logistics and supply chain management company.