Month: March 2022

GREENS POLICY LAUNCH: Economic Security for Women

This International Women’s Day, the Greens have announced a plan to deliver economic security for Australian women and work to close the persistent gender pay gap that sees too many women struggle to make ends meet, juggle multiple jobs, live in poverty or without a home, or to stay in abusive relationships. 

Australia has dropped to 50th place on the Global Gender Gap rankings and the gender pay gap has barely shifted in a decade. Without more effective and targeted strategies, the Workplace Gender Equality Agency estimates that it will be 26 years before the gap closes completely. Australian women cannot afford to wait that long.

Studies consistently show that women’s workforce participation and earning capacity are higher where they have access to a strong parental leave scheme, flexible working arrangements and affordable childcare. 

The Greens will invest $24.5 billion over ten years to provide a 26-week parental leave package, paid at the carer’s replacement wage (pro rata up to $100,000 annual, with superannuation), with “use it or lose it” provisions to encourage parents to share care more equitably.  Single parents will be entitled to the full 26 weeks.  

We will also require workplaces to consider flexible working arrangements and fund free and universal childcare to give families more options to juggle work and caring responsibilities. Because giving more women the option to return to work is good for women, good for families, and good for the economy.

Other measures in the Greens’ comprehensive plan include:

  • Lifting the minimum wage, boosting superannuation for low-income earners with caring responsibilities to address the ‘parenting penalty’, and doubling low-income super offsets
  • Reversing the unfair Stage 3 tax cuts which disproportionately benefit men
  • Increasing the transparency of pay data and giving WGEA more power to act when employers fail to take action to close their gender pay gap 
  • Investigating long-term options to value unpaid care work 
  • Supporting female-led businesses
  • Requiring a Women’s Budget Impact Statement to consider the gendered impacts of budget allocations before they are made 
  • Implementing all recommendations of the Respect@Work and Set the Standard reports to ensure women are equal and respected at work
  • Addressing the housing crisis where older women are the fastest growing group of homeless, by building one million social homes over 20 years

Greens deputy leader and spokesperson on women Senator Larissa Waters said:

“It’s pretty simple: women are busier than ever and they just aren’t paid enough.

“Women do more unpaid family work, including childcare, than men, and they’re punished for it with smaller pay packets, missed promotions, insecure employment, and tiny super balances. It’s shameful that in one of the richest countries in the world, the reward for taking time out of the workforce to raise children is lower wages, fewer opportunities, and, too often, poverty in retirement. 

“The current parental leave scheme tends to lock mums into the role of primary carer and the loss of work opportunities that comes with it. We need to do much more to encourage both parents to share the parenting load, and to normalise working arrangements that help families juggle work and caring responsibilities. 

“We know from the experience in other countries that more equitable parental leave, coupled with free childcare, has a significant impact on women’s workforce participation. It also helps to shape long term sharing of childcare and unpaid household tasks.

“The Greens’ plan will reduce the amount of time women are missing a pay cheque and provide families with more incentives, and more support, to share caring responsibilities more fairly. 

“The Greens will also work to close the gender pay gap by lifting the minimum wage, boosting superannuation balances for low income earners, who are disproportionately women, reversing the sexist Stage 3 tax cuts which go largely to men, removing pay gag clauses, and increasing the penalties on employers who fail to close their gender pay gap.

“And we’ll get the Productivity Commission to examine options for valuing unpaid caring responsibilities and domestic labour, and reinstate the Women’s Budget Impact Statement to analyse the gendered impacts of budget allocations.

“We know the Liberals aren’t interested in improving the lives of women. That’s why Tony Abbott removed the gender lens on the budget in the first place, and it’s why they continue to pay nothing but lip service to women’s demands for fairness and equality.

“Australian women can no longer afford a government that cries poor when it comes to meeting women’s economic needs, while spending billions of dollars on failed military technology and subsidies to their coal and gas donors.

“At the next election the Greens will help send the Coalition scuttling to the opposition benches, and we’ll push the next government to deliver the economic security that all women deserve.”

Greens call for extension of mutual obligations suspension for people in flood-affected areas

The Australian Greens are calling on the Morrison Government to immediately extend the suspension of mutual obligations for jobseekers and others on income support in flood-affected areas across New South Wales and Queensland.

Australian Greens spokesperson for community affairs and social services, Senator Janet Rice said: 

“Morrison’s decision to reinstate mutual obligations today for people on income support in flood-affected areas is a cruel joke.

“People across NSW and QLD are dealing with an ongoing natural disaster and the impacts have already been devastating. People in these areas have been battered by more than a week of catastrophic weather conditions, their lives as they’d known them have been destroyed, and they’re struggling to rebuild their homes and communities. More than ever they need the support of their government.

“Yet after only seven days, the Morrison Government has ended the suspension of mutual obligations for jobseekers and people on income support.

“Clearly, Morrison and his government have not even an ounce of empathy or understanding for the hell people are living through. 

“People should be focusing on healing from the disaster and repairing their lives. Instead, those on income support are once again being forced to fulfil mutual obligations or risk their payment being cancelled.

“The government must immediately extend the suspension of mutual obligations to ensure that these communities aren’t further devastated.”

Grant program to help regional sporting events bounce back

Sporting events across rural and regional Australia are set to benefit from the Morrison Government’s Regional Sport Events Fund.

Now open for applications, the fund will support community sporting events with an aim of kick-starting local economies and encouraging visitors back after the impacts of the pandemic.

The grants will also assist rural and regional communities across New South Wales and Queensland affected by flooding.

Minister for Sport, Richard Colbeck, said local government areas outside major cities would benefit from the $1.9 million investment from Sport Australia.

“Sport is often the glue that brings rural and regional communities together and this program aims to fast-track the recovery from what’s been a very challenging period for these parts of Australia,” Minister Colbeck said.

“Local sporting clubs and associations play an incredibly important role in regional Australia and through this fund, the Australian Government is encouraging communities to come together and celebrate through sport.

“Staging these events in regional and remote communities will also benefit the small businesses that are central to local economies across the country.”

More than 400 eligible LGAs across Australia can apply for funding of up to $50,000.

Local government areas are encouraged to work with local sporting clubs and organisations to deliver fantastic sports events to their respective communities.

Events can range from “come and try days” to larger events including elite sporting exhibitions and state level competitions that engage the broader community.

Sport Australia Acting CEO Rob Dalton said the resumption of these events will have wide-ranging benefits for regional and remote communities.

“Like so many sectors of our economy, community sport has been hit hard by the pandemic and this fund will support many of the events that were cancelled or postponed to resume,” Mr Dalton said.

“This program encourages LGAs to be creative in how they re-engage with their communities through sport and will have substantial flow on effects throughout the rest of the community.”

Applications for the Regional Sport Events Fund are now open.

More details about the program, including the Fund Guidelines and closing dates can be found on Sport Australia’s Grants and Funding page, here.

Resources for flood affected communities

Australia wide

For up to date weather information and warnings

Specifically for weather warnings

For non-life threatening assistance call the SES on 132 500 or in a life threatening emergency call 000. 

Queensland

For assistance, call the Queensland SES on 132 500

In an emergency call 000.

Queensland emergency updates: https://www.qld.gov.au/alerts 

Federal Government financial support for people in flood-affected areas in Queensland: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/south-east-queensland-floods-february-2022?context=60042 

State Government Personal Hardship Financial Assistance: https://www.qld.gov.au/community/disasters-emergencies/disasters/money-finance/eligibility-apply/seq-flooding-february-2022 

Regional Community Support services: https://www.qld.gov.au/community/disasters-emergencies/disasters/resources-translations/regional-support-brochures or call the Community Recovery hotline on 1800 173 349

SES website: https://www.qfes.qld.gov.au/about-us/frontline-services/state-emergency-service 

Queensland schools closures: https://closures.qld.edu.au/ 

Social Media to follow: 

New South Wales

For assistance, call the New South Wales SES on 132 500

In an emergency call 000.

Financial support for people in flood-affected areas in New South Wales: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/nsw-floods-february-2022?context=60042  

State Government Disaster Relief and support https://www.nsw.gov.au/disaster-recovery/disaster-relief-and-support 

SES website: https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/ 

Info on schools https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/school-safety 

NSW Floods updates https://www.nsw.gov.au/floods 

Social Media to follow: 

Labor’s Plan to Teach Students Respect: Helping Protect Kids and Prevent Violence

Australian schoolkids will learn more about respect and relationships as part of a new Labor plan to prevent violence and improve child safety. 

Labor’s $77 million plan will train teachers how to best talk to students about respect and relationships in a way that’s appropriate for their age. It will ensure students and families who’ve experienced violence get the help they need.

The plan will also allow principals to hire extra expert support, and develop respect and relationships education programs that are based on evidence and tailored to their school. 

Recent changes to the national school curriculum have strengthened the mandatory minimum standards for Australian children to learn about consent and respectful relationships.

But delivery of high quality respectful relationships education programs is patchy and inconsistent across the country. For example, there’s nowhere near enough support to train teachers properly in this kind of education, and some schools don’t have access to programs developed by experts. Too many school students are missing out on education that can help keep them safe. 

Labor’s investment will change that. We will partner closely with state and territory governments, and school systems, to deliver these improvements to respect and relationships education. 

When students are younger, teaching respect covers things such as how to have healthy, happy relationships with friends and family – learning kindness, and how to share and take turns. 

It’s also about teaching kids how to seek help if they feel unsafe. Alarmingly, parents say only one in five Australian schools have programs that do that. That leaves our children vulnerable. 

As students get older, teaching respect covers issues such as consent, and additional education to help stop sexual harassment, sexual assault, and family and domestic violence.

Age-appropriate respectful relationships education can also help promote equality between women and men and improve classroom behaviour.

Too many school students experience sexual harassment and assault. The Teach Us Consent campaign, led by Chanel Contos, saw more than 6,700 young women share their experience of being sexually assaulted.  Labor’s plan to teach schoolkids more about respect and relationships will help put a stop to this. 

Scott Morrison has seriously dropped the ball on respect education in schools.

In the 2020 Budget, Mr Morrison tried to halve funding for respect education in schools.

Just months later, his Government released the widely panned “milkshake and taco” respect education video for schools. The video had to be dumped after experts described it as “bizarre, concerning, confusing” and “harmful.”

Shane Warne State Funeral

Australians have woken in shock and sadness to the awful news of the death of Shane Warne.

Shane was one of our greatest cricketers of all time, one of only a few that could approach the extraordinary achievements of the great Don Bradman. His achievements were the product of his talent, his discipline and passion for the game he loved.

But Shane was more than this to Australians. Shane was one of our nation’s greatest characters. His humour, his passion, his irreverence, his approachability ensured he was loved by all. Australians loved him. We all did.

There was something magical that he brought to our summers. The bleached blonde hair, the almost casual way he moved to send down a delivery, and his engagement with the crowd. He was one of a kind.

He inspired so many girls and boys to try their hand at cricket. He made it all look so easy. At some point, in most Australian backyards, we all tried to deliver a flipper.

As we heard as a commentator, behind the playfulness that we associated with Shane, there was a player who understood the strategies and intricacies of cricket as few others. A brilliance that will always be remembered alongside that of Bradman and Benaud.

There was also a generosity to so many people away from the cameras. With a smile and a g’day he’d bridge every gap.

Shane was his own man, following his own path. In those times when he could have been knocked down by the headlines, he got back up. He always did.

Shane was the “King of Spin” because there was none like him. The “ball of the century” will be talked about forever.

Our love and condolences go to Shane’s family and particularly his children Brooke, Jackson, and Summer.

We have lost one of Australia’s greatest cricketers and today we are bewildered by this sad and sudden loss.

In recognition of Shane Warne’s national achievements his family will be offered a state funeral by the Commonwealth Government. This will be done in consultation with the Warne family, Cricket Australia and the Victorian Government to ensure we honour Shane’s passing and memory.

Concept plans reveal grand ambition for second stage of No.1 Sportsground upgrade

A proposed major refurbishment of Newcastle’s No.1 Sportsground grandstand will transform the facility into a modern venue able to cater for the needs of local, regional and elite-level sporting fixtures.

City of Newcastle has applied for a $5 million grant from the NSW Government to complete the project, which will increase the footprint of the existing grandstand with a two-storey addition at the rear of the building to provide upgraded amenities for players, officials and spectators.

Concept designs prepared for a proposed upgrade of the grandstand facilities at No.1 Sportsground. City of Newcastle has applied for a State Government grant to complete the project.

The construction is the second stage of the overall redevelopment of No.1 Sportsground, which began with a major upgrade of the playing facilities, lighting and seating capacity.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said a refurbished grandstand would be the icing on the cake to attract first class cricket and AFL matches to Newcastle’s premier inner-city sportsground.

“With the first stage of the redevelopment approaching its end, City of Newcastle is turning its attention to the design and funding arrangements for the next phase, which will deliver premium-level facilities that will not only benefit local users but allow Newcastle to attract even more major sporting events to the city,” Cr Nelmes said.

“City of Newcastle are committed to the future of this facility and the wider National Park recreational precinct.

“We have already invested more than $7 million into the redevelopment of No.1 Sportsground and have recently submitted a $5 million grant application to the Multi-Sport Facility Fund through the NSW Government to complete the works.

“If successful, that funding will allow us to deliver the regional sporting facility our community deserves, which is capable of hosting elite level AFL and cricket matches.”

An internal view of the concept plans for the proposed grandstand upgrade.

Chair of City of Newcastle’s Infrastructure Advisory Committee Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz said the concept designs included a range of benefits for both spectators and players.

“Concept designs prepared for City of Newcastle with input from both Cricket NSW and AFL NSW/ACT illustrate our grand plans for this site, with the ground floor featuring new universal player facilities, dedicated spaces for team doctors and medical staff and upgraded rooms for match officials,” Cr Winney-Baartz said

“The building’s new second storey will provide a panoramic view over the sportsground, with floor-to-ceiling windows running the entire length of a multipurpose community function room and team viewing areas, while commercial kitchen facilities will open up a range of opportunities never previously available at this venue.

“Upgraded public toilets will also improve the amenity for spectators, complementing the extended concrete bleacher seating constructed during the first phase of the redevelopment, which has almost doubled the ground’s current seated capacity.”

While wetter than average La Niña weather conditions and supply chain issues brought about by COVID-19 have extended the stage one construction phase, work is now nearing completion with sporting teams expected to be back on the pitch following a final growing-in period for the turf.

The staged works include increasing the size of the playing field to achieve the minimum standard required for a first grade AFL match, constructing seven new cricket wickets and re-building the entire playing surface with a new sub-soil irrigation and drainage system.

The installation of six new 40 metre light poles has upgraded the lighting to 750 lux, with increased electrical conduit to allow for a further increase in lux level if required for televised night-time fixtures. New sight screens, player dug-out benches and oval fencing will also improve the playing experience.

The project will position the region to attract sporting fixtures such as trial Big Bash League and trial AFL fixtures.

No.1 Sportsground History

No.1 Sportsground sits within the 20-hectare National Park, one of Newcastle’s largest and oldest sportsgrounds and open space reserves.

National Park Sports Ground, as it was originally known, was designed by city engineer JF Shine in 1921.

Its original two-storey timber grandstand was completed in October 1921 and could accommodate between 200 and 300 people, with dressing rooms, stores and locker rooms in the lower level.

The sportsground was officially opened on 16 September 1922, with City of Newcastle changing its name two years later to Newcastle Sports Ground.

In 1989 the Newcastle Earthquake caused major structural damage to the original timber grandstand, which resulted in it being almost completely reconstructed with concrete stands, which remain today. This was the last significant upgrade to take place at the ground.

COVID lease protections extended for small business tenants

Small businesses doing it tough due to COVID-19 are set to benefit from further NSW Government support following a decision to extend mediation protections under the commercial leasing regulation until 30 June 2022.
 
Treasurer Matt Kean said the challenges facing small business have been significant which is why we are moving to extend mediation protections to support tenants and landlords to work together to negotiate mutually beneficial outcomes.
 
“Throughout COVID-19 we have made it our mission to listen to the small business community and understand what they need to keep the lights on so they can continue to provide jobs and support to our economy,” Mr Kean said.
 
“The small business community is the backbone of our economy so anything we can reasonably do to support their operation through the challenges, we will do.

“We appreciate and acknowledge the constructive approach of commercial property owners in working together with their tenants in these very challenging circumstances.”
 
Under the extension, from 14 March to 30 June 2022, landlords will be prevented from taking certain actions including evicting and locking out, unless they have attempted mediation with tenants that:

  • Had a turnover of less than $5 million in 2020-21; and
  • Received at any point in time the 2022 Small Business Support Grant, 2021 Micro-business Grant, 2021 Business Grant, or the 2021 JobSaver payment.

 
Minister for Small Business Eleni Petinos said extending mediation provisions until 30 June 2022 would provide practical benefit to both tenants and landlords.
 
“Small businesses have experienced enormous challenges over the past two years,” Ms Petinos said.

“Extending mediation protections under the commercial leasing regulation is a sensible move that will help keep businesses open for trade.”

Job Protection for Flood Emergency Volunteers

Premier Dominic Perrottet has activated employment protections for volunteers to ensure they cannot be unjustly fired from their jobs while volunteering in the flood emergency.

The Premier said the provisions mean an emergency volunteer cannot be fired or have their position changed for a work absence that is related to their volunteer work.

“The volunteer response in this flood emergency has been nothing short of amazing – everyone who has put their own lives on hold to help others during these floods has been a true hero,” Mr Perrottet said.

“I think the heartfelt thanks and gratitude around the state for these volunteers would suggest that very few employers would take any negative action against their employees who are volunteering.

“I hope this employment provision can give some comfort and security to volunteers who now know that their regular jobs are safe.”
The employment protection order was made by the Premier under the State Emergency and Rescue Management Act 1989 and will remain in force for at least the next 14 days.

The order means that employers found to have taken negative action against a volunteer can be fined and the court can direct employers to reinstate workers who have been dismissed.

Deputy Premier, Minister for Regional NSW and Minister for Police Paul Toole said  volunteers were the backbone of regional communities, and this support was crucial to allow them to continue making a big difference on the ground at a time it’s needed most.

“Many of the volunteers across the North Coast have been directly hit by the floods themselves – with some even losing their own homes – but they continue to work around the clock to help communities get back on their feet,” Mr Toole said.

“This will safeguard their jobs and provide certainty that putting up their hands to help others now won’t impact their employment down the track. This is about helping them to  help others.”

Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke said volunteers from a number of different emergency services agencies are continuing to support our community, and it is important we continue to support them.

“Please know we have your back. You have all done an incredible job, working long days to help our State through this crisis. As your Minister, I back you in all the way and our government does as well,” Ms Cooke said.

The order covers volunteer emergency workers from agencies such as the NSW State Emergency Service, NSW Rural Fire Service, Surf Life Saving NSW, NSW Volunteer Rescue Association Inc and Marine Rescue NSW.

Greens launch plan to turn Queensland’s sunshine into steel

Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP and QLD Greens Senate candidate Penny Allman-Payne have announced the latest Greens policy to support jobs and development in coal regions as coal is phased out in the coming decades. 

The Greens are announcing their plan to create Green Metals Australia in Townsville today, driving $5.9 billion of investment and coordinating strategic development of the critical minerals and green metals processing and manufacturing industries. 

The announcement is part of Adam Bandt and Penny Allman-Payne’s regional tour of Queensland coal mining areas where the pair will also outline how the recently announced job-for-job guarantee wage for coal workers would secure coal workers’ wages as they move into new mining, metal processing and manufacturing industries. 

Australia has an abundance of critical minerals and metal ores that are crucial to the shift to electrification and decarbonisation of the world’s economy, in particular the lithium, copper, nickel and cobalt resources that are behind the boom in lithium-ion batteries and renewable energy. 

The Greens have also previously announced that government owned Snowy Hydro would build $40 billion of new renewables and storage supported by a $25 billion Future Grid plan to support the development of new transmission infrastructure to link renewable energy zones across regional Australia. 

Adam Bandt, Leader of the Australian Greens said: 

“The best job for a coal miner is another mining job, or a job in metals processing or manufacturing.” 

“Coal workers should be guaranteed well-paid secure jobs in energy, manufacturing and mining. As we move out of thermal coal over the next decade and metallurgical coal over the next two, we need to invest in jobs and industries in regional Queensland now.” 

“Coal is fuelling the climate crisis and making the floods in Queensland and New South Wales worse, but that’s not the workers’ fault. Coal workers need to be supported, not demonised. 

“Australia cannot only become a renewable energy superpower, we can become the foundry of the world, making green steel and aluminium and processing our copper, lithium, cobalt and nickel to make batteries for electric vehicles and grid storage.” 

“As the world goes through an energy transition, we have all the minerals and metals the world wants, but instead of just shipping it off we should be processing the metal and making what the world needs right here in Queensland. 

“And if we power this mining, manufacturing and processing with renewables, not only will the metals and products be green, we will be one of the world’s lowest cost producers, supporting the rest of the world to decarbonise with our exports.” 

“Green Metals Australia will be able to invest in existing industries and help create new ones in the years ahead and our job-for-job guarantee will mean coal workers who move to these new sectors will have their wage supported for a decade with no loss in pay.”