Month: March 2022

“The Closing the Gap Report tells us the same thing every year: treating the symptoms of
colonisation doesn’t work. We need to address the cause of the injustices we face through
Treaty,” said The Greens spokesperson for Justice and First Nations: Gunnai, Gunditjmara
and DjabWurrung Senator for Victoria Lidia Thorpe. 

This comes on National Close the Gap Day 2022, as the rate of First Nations children in
out-of-home care is increasing. First Nations and non-Indigenous Australians continue to have
an unequal life expectancy. Aggressive policing results in too many Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people being locked up in prisons that do not have independent oversight to
safeguard their human rights.

“Treaty is an opportunity for us to tell the story of who we want to be as a country. We need
to explore, understand and reckon with our past to unpack the impact it continues to have on
First Nations people today. Co-design doesn’t work. Shared ownership doesn’t work.” 

“The continuing high rate of suicide among First Nations people shows that too many of us
cannot see a future in the current system. The system wasn’t designed to keep us alive,
because ultimately, it’s killing us.”

“The Morrison Government has continued a long legacy of taking decisions about our health,
our education and our Country away from us. We can put First Nations people back in the
driver’s seat, by backing community controlled services and decision-making.”

“First Nations people know what’s best for our communities. We have the solutions. Treaty
will restore our right to make decisions for ourselves. Our people are strong, and just like
everyone else, we thrive when we’re free to set our own course.”

“We are sick of hearing about this gap, we want action. We demand the recommendations
from the Bringing Them Home Report and the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in
Custody be implemented. Stop wasting our time.” Said Thorpe.

The Morrison Government’s plan to make private health insurance simpler and more affordable for all Australians is continuing to move ahead through landmark reform of the Prostheses List.

The multi-year reforms are anticipated to deliver total savings of approximately $900 million for consumers and the private health insurance system through significant reductions in prices for medical devices.

This will be achieved by better aligning the prices of medical devices between private and public hospitals and delivering structural reforms that better focus the Prostheses List for the future on high-cost and innovative medical devices.

The List, established in 1985, sets the minimum price insurers must pay hospitals for a surgically implanted prosthesis received by a private patient in a privately insured episode of hospital treatment. Examples of prostheses are replacement hips and knees, cardiac implantable electronic devices, such as pacemakers, and human tissue.

Since 1985, the Protheses List has grown in both size and complexity, now including more than 11,600 items.

In 2019-20, more than 3.1 million prostheses on the list were supplied at a cost – to private health insurers – of approximately $2.1 billion.

The Government is reforming the list to better align prices in the private system with those paid in public hospitals, and comparable international markets. Prices for medical devices vary and recent analysis shows that they can be up to 145 per cent higher than the cost of the same items in the public health system.

These reforms will improve the affordability and value of private health insurance for Australians by keeping downward pressure on premiums, while still maintaining access to high quality medical devices.

These reforms will help to continue to deliver record lower premiums changes for consumers.

The Morrison Government’s ongoing reforms to private health insurance have contributed to the lowest annual average premium change for consumers since 2001, which will be 2.70 percent in 2022.

To support the implementation of the reforms, I have completed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA).

The Government recognises it is important to provide predictability for the medical technology industry and this MoU sets out a process to ensure a more seamless implementation of the reform arrangements and will ensure the commitment of the medical technology industry to the success of the reforms.

In particular, the MoU provides clarity to industry about how items on the List will be costed, setting in place a process to reduce the gap between the cost of medical devices in the public and private health sectors over three years.

The MoU also clarifies the process for the implementation of new funding arrangements for general use consumable items which will also delivers predictability for patients, hospitals and insurers. These items can be better funded through bundled funding arrangements which are being designed with the sector.

I thank all stakeholders – including consumers, private hospital networks, private health insurers, clinicians and the broader medical technology industry – for their continued commitment to these reforms and for engaging constructively with the Government for the benefit of Australians with private health insurance.

Further detail regarding the reforms is available at https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/private-health-insurance/the-prostheses-list/prostheses-list-reforms-and-reviews

The Australian Government has appointed a new Chief Executive Officer for Australia’s primary authority on radiation protection and nuclear safety, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA).

Dr Gillian Hirth has been appointed as the new CEO of ARPANSA for a five-year term.

Dr David Gillespie, the Minister with oversight of the agency, welcomed Dr Hirth to the important role.

“Dr Hirth has the strong technical and regulatory expertise and experience needed to ensure Australia maintains the highest standards of radiation and nuclear safety,” Dr Gillespie said.

“Dr Hirth will have regulatory oversight of key national facilities including Australia’s research reactor at Lucas Heights in Sydney and the establishment of a National Radioactive Waste Management Facility. She will also provide advice on nuclear safety and contribute to strong stewardship arrangements for Australian nuclear-powered submarines.”

Dr Hirth has served as Deputy CEO of ARPANSA since 2017 and is currently the Chief Radiation Health Scientist.

She replaces Dr Carl-Magnus Larsson, who is retiring after 12 years heading the agency.

Minister Gillespie paid tribute to Dr Larsson.

“Dr Larsson has raised the international profile and reputation of Australia and ARPANSA as a leader in radiation protection and nuclear safety,” Dr Gillespie said.

“Dr Larsson increased the agency’s transparency and consulted closely with the community on regulation. He has also overseen progress towards a nationally uniform approach to radiation regulation across Australian jurisdictions.

“I wish him well in his retirement and thank him for his enormous contribution.”

For more information on the role of ARPANSA, visit www.arpansa.gov.au.

Almost two years since telehealth was introduced by the Morrison Government as a temporary initiative in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, 100 million services have now been delivered across the nation.

Between 13 March 2020 and 16 March 2022, over 100 million telehealth services were delivered to around 17 million Australians across the country. More than $5 billion in Medicare benefits has been paid, and more than 92,000 medical practitioners have now used telehealth services to support their patients.

Of these services, GPs have provided almost 83 million, specialists almost 11 million, and allied health professionals around 5 million services.

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said universal Telehealth for all Australians is the most significant reform to Medicare since it began, improving access and providing more choice to patients and their health professionals to support health care.

“From the moment we introduced COVID-19 telehealth, patients and medical practitioners have enthusiastically taken it up. Telehealth services, delivered by GPs, specialists, nurses, midwives and allied health practitioners, have saved and protected lives during the pandemic,” Minister Hunt said.

“In response to rapid developments in the pandemic, our introduction of telehealth was achieved in record time. This was achieved through close and effective consultation with the sector, which has continued over the past two years as we further refined and improved telehealth and now made is an abiding legacy of covid.”

The Morrison Government continues to consolidate and build upon telehealth as part of strong record and longstanding commitment to strengthen Medicare. The best patient outcomes are achieved with continuity of care. The requirement for patients to have an existing clinical relationship for most GP telehealth services will continue, recognising patients’ preferred GP and practice, and encouraging patients who want to access telehealth to engage with a known provider.

Telehealth services provided by GPs will now also be included in calculating incentive payments to practices. This recognises that telehealth services are now an ongoing and permanent feature of quality primary health care.

Telehealth services continue to have a role in the Government’s responses to ongoing and emerging challenges of COVID-19 and natural disasters, such as the current floods. Patients living in flood-affected areas declared natural disaster areas by states and territories can access GP services by telehealth from any GP, if clinically appropriate.

Medicare funding has also increased from $19 billion when we came to Government and is growing to $33 billion per year over the budget cycle. This is an increase of $14 billion per annum under the Coalition.

Our Government continues to strengthen Medicare, including by making telehealth permanent, allowing easier access to your GP, despite false claims from the Labor Party, who when last in Government, stopped listing treatments and medicines on the PBS.

The Morrison Government continues to ensure that Australians can access the services, medicines and treatments they need, when and where they need them, no matter where they live.

Australia’s critical minerals sector and the job-creating industries that rely on it are being supercharged under the Morrison Government’s $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative.

The Government has today announced over $243 million in support for four projects under the Collaboration Stream of the Modern Manufacturing Initiative, which will create over 3,400 jobs over time and cement Australia’s place in the rapidly growing critical minerals, electric vehicle and battery markets.

This includes:

• $119.6 million for Pure Battery Technologies’ $399 million Western Australian pCAM Hub, in partnership with Poseidon Nickel, will build an integrated nickel manganese cobalt battery material refinery hub in the Kalgoorlie region. The site will become home to a growing workforce with 380 construction jobs and 175 initial permanent jobs from 2023.
• $49 million for a $367 million project led by Australian Vanadium, to process high-grade vanadium from its Meekatharra mine in WA and transported to its Tenindewa plant powered by clean hydrogen from partner ATCO Australia. This highly sought-after critical mineral will then be transformed into energy-storing batteries to fuel the growing domestic and overseas market, with more than 740 jobs to be supported.
• $30 million for Arafura Resources’ flagship Nolans Project near Aileron, in Central Australia, the first of its kind rare earth separation plant in Australia and only the second outside China. The $90.8 million project, located in the Northern Territory, will leverage Australia’s mineral processing expertise to develop rare earth separation technology not currently available here now, creating 650 jobs at the peak of construction and new high-value export opportunities.
• $45 million for Alpha HPA’s $330 million project with Orica to construct a high purity alumina production facility near Gladstone that will help meet the rapidly expanding demand for lithium-ion batteries and LED lights, with more than 300 jobs to be created from this year.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the projects were key to securing manufacturing in Australia and the thousands of jobs that come with those industries.

“Projects like these make for a stronger economy and a stronger future for Australia,” the Prime Minister said.

“These projects are about manufacturing the products and materials Australians need and the world needs, by making them right here at home.

“We’re helping grow the local critical minerals processing and clean energy industries and locking in the future of those industries by backing manufacturing projects in Australia.

“The $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative is a key part of my Government’s plan for a stronger economy and a stronger future for our country.”

Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said these projects would help us capture even more parts of the global supply chain, while at the same time helping us power our lives here at home.

“The things we use every day like our smartphones, computers and rechargeable batteries need to be made with critical minerals. They are also needed to make solar panels, electric cars, defence technology and many other high-tech applications,” Minister Taylor said.

“Australia is lucky to have some of the largest reserves of the critical minerals and metals which drive the modern global economy. But China currently dominates around 70 to 80 per cent of global critical minerals production and continues to consolidate its hold over these supply chains. This initiative is designed to address that dominance.

“These projects are not only game-changers for the local region with the creation of new jobs, they will also open up incredible export opportunities.”

Australia is a global leader in resources technology and can build greater capacity in critical minerals processing by leveraging our vast natural resources, huge investments in R&D and proximity to the growing global market.

Under our Modern Manufacturing Strategy, Australia’s regional manufacturers are playing an important role in seizing this opportunity.

As part of our plan for a stronger future, the Coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to support the growth of Australia’s critical minerals sector, announcing a package of measures to help unlock the industry’s significant potential.

The measures, which are part of the 2022-23 Budget, include a $200 million Accelerator grants program, $50 million to support research and development and an updated industry strategy.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia’s resources companies were leading the world in developing new critical minerals markets.

“The world is becoming a more uncertain place and we want to secure Australia as a reliable partner for local and global businesses that need the critical minerals we have right here,” the Prime Minister said.

“We’ll dig them up right here. We’ll refine them right here. We’ll look to make the products that use them right here.

“These suite of initiatives are about backing our home grown resources industry just like Liberals and Nationals always have.

“As the global economy changes, there are exciting new growth opportunities emerging in areas such as rare earths and critical minerals that ultimately mean we can deliver a stronger economy for Australia and secure a stronger future.

“Critical minerals are used in more and more essential products. That means there are huge opportunities to backing the Australian critical minerals with programs like these, to be a partner whose products are high quality and consistent. A partner people can trust to deliver.”

Minister for Resources and Water Keith Pitt said the Accelerator initiative will provide grants to strategically significant critical minerals projects at the early to mid-stage to fast-track them to market.

“By backing these important projects, we are also driving private sector investment to enhance Australia’s strong international reputation as a reliable supplier of the resources the world needs,” Minister Pitt said.

Minister Pitt said the 2022 Critical Minerals Strategy, launched today, sets out to grow our critical minerals sector, expand downstream processing and help meet future global demand.

“The Strategy will cement Australia’s position as a leading producer of critical minerals, while contributing to our national security and economic prosperity,” Minister Pitt said.

“Developing and diversifying our resources sector strengthens our national economy, delivering jobs and growth opportunities, especially in regional Australia.

“While the Greens openly talk about partnering with Labor to destroy Australia’s resources sector, the Government strongly supports the industry and today’s announcement builds on our strong record of delivery.

“A strong economy means a strong future for Australia, and resources are a significant contributor to that.

“Our resources and energy exports hit a record high value of $348.9 billion, and are projected to hit $379 billion in 2021-22.

“Australia is blessed with extraordinary reserves of the critical minerals needed by sectors including defence, aerospace, automotive, energy, telecommunications and agritech.

“We produce around half the world’s lithium and we are the second-largest producer of cobalt and the fourth-largest producer of rare earths.

“We have the potential to do so much more and we are taking action to grow Australia into a critical minerals powerhouse.”

Minister Pitt said Australia’s large critical minerals reserves, our technical expertise and track record as a reliable and responsible supplier, enable the sector to respond to increasing global market demand.

“We can also expand into downstream processing and embed Australia in global supply for technology ranging from mobile phones to fighter jets,” Minister Pitt said.

Minister Pitt said the Government has also committed $50 million over three years to establish the virtual National Critical Minerals Research and Development Centre, which will draw together expertise from CSIRO, Geoscience Australia, and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.

“This Centre will build Australian capability in critical minerals processing, target technical bottlenecks in strategic supply chains, and drive breakthrough collaborative research,” Minister Pitt said.

“The Centre’s projects will help unlock new sources of economically viable critical minerals, and diversify supply chains of strategic interest to Australia and our allies.”

The 2022 Critical Minerals Strategy is available on the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources website.

A new critical minerals mine and processing plant in Kalgoorlie will be given Major Project Status in a move by the Morrison Government to streamline approvals and coordination and bring thousands of jobs to the Eastern Goldfields region.

The $1.165 billion Kalgoorlie Nickel Project will produce cobalt-nickel ore which will undergo a process to produce Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate, which is used as raw material in the growing international battery market.

Projects awarded Major Project Status have access to extra support from the Major Projects Facilitation Agency, including having a single-entry point for Australian Government approvals, project support and coordination.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said declaring Major Project Status would bring the operation to life sooner.

“With 1,500 jobs each year for the three-year construction and 500 jobs a year for the 25-year operation, this Project is a major project and will get every support possible from my Government,” the Prime Minister said.

“It’s projects like this that help build a stronger economy and secure a stronger future for the region and for WA.

“With the project in its early phases now, declaring it a Major Project will get more tradies on site, and more workers into town sooner.”

Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said the Morrison Government was backing local industries which were investing in and supporting technologies to help Australia and the rest of the world meet emissions reduction targets.

“This proposed facility has huge potential to contribute to the growing international demand for lithium-ion battery minerals that will underpin a range of emerging clean energy applications, including electric vehicles and everyday items such as smart phones and laptops,” Minister Taylor said.

“Unlike Labor, the Morrison Government is supporting a balanced approach to driving down emissions that will generate new jobs and not tear them down, all the while keeping power prices low for households and businesses.

“The Morrison Government recognises the enormous economic growth and job opportunities these projects provide for regional Australia. We have now granted Major Project Status to 12 significant critical minerals projects across Australia which will inject more than $8.7 billion into our economy and support over 7,500 construction jobs and over 3,800 ongoing.”

Minister for Resources and Water Keith Pitt said granting Major Project Status for the Kalgoorlie Nickel Project was another step forward for Australia playing a major role in the global critical minerals market, which is expected to grow exponentially over the coming decades.

“This project directly contributes to our Critical Minerals Strategy by increasing the supply of highly sought-after materials for the lithium-ion battery supply chain and has the potential to boost Australia’s sovereign capability,” Minister Pitt said.

Federal Member for O’Connor Rick Wilson said he welcomed significant projects like the Kalgoorlie Nickel Project that bring jobs and investment to the Goldfields region.

“Providing support to this project will help boost Australia’s position in the global critical minerals processing industry and add to regional WA’s reputation as a major contributor to the nation’s booming resource sector,” Mr Wilson said.

Today’s commitment follows a $119.6 million investment by the Morrison Government this week to build an integrated Nickel Manganese Cobalt battery material refinery hub in the Kalgoorlie region – the first facility of its kind anywhere in Australia.

Major Project Status still requires the project to meet all relevant Commonwealth and State regulatory approval processes.

More information on the Major Projects Facilitation Agency and the full list of current major projects is available on the Major Projects Facilitation Agency website.