Month: May 2022

Surge of support for the Greens. Griffith, Ryan won, a number of Greens target seats still undecided.

The Greens national vote has surged, putting the party on track for balance of power and electing additional Senators. The Greens have won the seats of Griffith and Ryan, and a number of House of Representatives seats targeted by the Greens are still too close to call with postal vote results key to the outcome.

The Greens are on track for our best result ever with large swings across the country.

Despite the challenges of a change of government election with a major swing from the Liberals to Labor and attention on the rise of the teal independents, the Greens vote has grown with approximately 2 million people voting Greens. Greens preferences have also been crucial in removing Scott Morrison’s government in many Labor and teal seats around the country

Greens Leader Adam Bandt thanked voters, candidates, Party volunteers and members of his Party Room for the strong result and said he wanted to work towards securing a stable, effective and progressive government delivering action on climate and inequality in any power sharing discussions.

Greens Leader Adam Bandt said:

“This is a Greens-slide. The Greens are on track for our best result ever.”

“People have backed the Greens in record numbers and delivered a massive mandate for action on climate and inequality.”

“We have won Griffith and Ryan and we are on track in Brisbane, Macnamara and Richmond, and other target seats are still unresolved. We are on track to elect more Senators and secure the balance of power in the Senate to push for action on climate and inequality.”

“Scott Morrison is gone. For a man who spent his term claiming it’s not his job, now it’s not and the country can celebrate.”

“The Greens have been a big part of removing the Liberals and without us this wouldn’t have happened.”

“In the coming days, if there is a minority Parliament we will work towards delivering a stable, effective and progressive government for the country.”

“I am so proud of our community driven people powered movement and especially welcome the massive turnout of young people, many of whom are voting for the first time who have backed the Greens.”

“This is just the next step in the growth of our movement for climate action and to end inequality. We will continue to go from strength to strength in the community, in the streets and in the Parliament.”

The Federal Government, in consultation with the Federal Opposition, has immediately acted on advice provided by the AEC this morning.

Any voter who has tested positive for COVID-19 after 6pm Friday 13th May will be able to access the Secure Telephone Voting service.

It is important that every Australian who is enrolled and entitled to vote, be able to exercise their democratic right and this change ensures that.

Labour force figures released today by the ABS confirm a 48-year low of 3.9 per cent unemployment for the month of April 2022.

More Australians are in work now than ever before.

This is what a strong economy looks like under a Liberal Government.

Even in the face of global shocks like the war in Europe, Australia’s economy has remained resilient. We need to keep the strong economic management going. Now is not the time to risk our economy on an opposition that has no plan and makes things up on the run.

Today’s figures are a reminder of the clear choice at the Federal Election. A choice between the Morrison Government that is building a strong economy and a stronger future or a Labor Party that would weaken our economy.

A choice between a long-term economic plan delivered by an experienced and tested team or a Labor leader who continues to lie about his own economic credentials, has no economic plan and would put our economic recovery at risk.

The Liberals have also announced a plan to deliver an additional 1.3 million new jobs. Under our plan, we will:

• Create another 1.3 million jobs over the next five years;
• Back small businesses with tax incentives to upskill and train their employees;
• Ensure Australians have the skills they need through new funding to support 800,000 new training positions;
• Train the next generation of apprentices with additional incentives, including $5,000 payments to new apprentices and incentives for employers; and
• Back jobs across Australia through our record $120 billion infrastructure pipeline.

Today’s strong economic data contrasts with Labor’s track record in Government. When Labor last came to office, the jobless rate was a little over 4 per cent. When they left government six years later, unemployment was 5.7 per cent and rising and there were 54,600 fewer young people with jobs.

That is what a weak economy looks like.

By working together and following our strong economic plan, Australia’s recovery is leading the world.

Let’s not turn back now.

COALITION	LABOR
Unemployment rate3.9 per cent (Apr-22)	Unemployment rate5.7 per cent (Sep 13)
Youth unemployment rate8.8 per cent (Apr-22)	Youth unemployment rate12.7 per cent (Sep-13)
Underemployment rate6.1 per cent (Apr-22)	Underemployment rate7.4 per cent (Sep-13)
Economic GrowthThe economy is forecast to grow by 4.25 per cent in 2021-22	Economic Growth2.1 per cent when Labor left office
ApprenticesA record 220,000 trade apprentices in training	ApprenticesIn 2012-13, the number of apprentices and trainees in training collapsed by 110,000 – the largest decline on record.

The Commonwealth and Queensland Governments will each invest $360 million to support a new Phase 3 Floods Recovery Package for Queensland under Category C and D of the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

The Federal Government’s investment in the $720.61 million package follows consultation with the Federal Opposition.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said this new investment brought the Federal Government’s total financial support for Queensland’s flood recovery to more than $1.76 billion.

“My Government has always backed Queenslanders in good times and in difficult times, and today we extend that support further,” the Prime Minister said.

“The terrible floods that we saw earlier this year will take many months to rebuild from, and we’ll stand with resilient Queenslanders every step of the way on that journey to recovery.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Category C and D funding is welcome.

“I’ve always said we work best when we work together,” the Premier said.

“I’m pleased the Federal Government has agreed to our request.”

Minister for Emergency Management Bridget McKenzie said the package included new funding for mental health, environmental measures and economic initiatives.

“These investments are the dividend of a strong economy, because when you have a strong budget you can afford to fund the essential services that Australians rely upon,” Minister McKenzie said.

“Long after flood waters recede, continuing support from governments is needed and that’s what this package delivers.”

The package includes:

• Human and Social Recovery Package: $20 million in flexible funding grants; $24.5 million for a community health and wellbeing package; $121.1 million for an accommodation package; and more than $12 million for a community development program.
• Economic Recovery Package: $2.5 million for industry recovery and resilience officers; $14.5 million for a small business support package; $7 million for a tourism recovery and resilience package; $3 million for a rural landholder recovery grant program; and $150 million for medium to large business recovery loans.
• Environmental Recovery Package: $28.9 million for an environmental recovery package; and $28 million for a flood risk management package.
• Infrastructure and Built Recovery Package: $150 million for a community and recreational assets program; $150 million for betterment for roads and transport assets; and $4 million for local recovery and resilience grants.
• Monitoring and evaluation program: $5 million for monitoring and evaluation of the package.

The Commonwealth’s significant contribution to Queensland’s flood recovery effort has included the deployment of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), direct funding to Queenslanders from the Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) and the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP), as well as the Phase 1 and Phase 2 packages. Residents across 23 local government areas have been supported, with more than $450.3 million distributed in direct Commonwealth payments to Queenslanders.

More than 17,000 teachers and support staff in 540 Catholic diocesan schools throughout NSW and the ACT have voted overwhelmingly for the right to take protected industrial action in support of five key claims for their new enterprise agreement.

The IEU Executive has endorsed a full-day stop work on Friday 27 May. Rallies will be held throughout NSW and the ACT (see attached list).

“Taking protected industrial action is no small thing – we don’t take it lightly,” said Independent Education Union of Australia NSW/ACT Branch Secretary Mark Northam. “Teachers and support staff across both the government and non-government sectors are dedicated professionals pushed to breaking point. Schools have been running on good will, but it is rapidly evaporating.”

For the right to take protected action, IEU members participated in a formal balloting process complying with strict federal laws. It was run across all 11 Catholic dioceses by an external agent – and all 11 Catholic dioceses sent a strong message that it’s time for action.

“The sharply rising cost of living, lack of real wages growth, ever-increasing workloads and the pandemic have caused crippling staff shortages in Catholic schools – our members are exhausted
and burnt out,” Northam said.

“Catholic school employers are following the NSW Government’s lead in limiting pay rises to 2.04%, a short-sighted approach that has resulted in the current staffing crisis. Teachers are leaving the profession and graduates are not entering it.”

The IEU has been negotiating a new enterprise agreement for its members in Catholic diocesan schools throughout NSW and the ACT since January, calling on employers to:

·       Pay teachers what they’re worth (an increase of 10% to 15% over two years)

·       Give support staff a fair deal (pay parity with colleagues in public sector schools)

·       Let teachers teach – cut paperwork

·       Allow time to plan (two more hours release from face-to-face teaching per week)

·       End staff shortages.

“Teachers are totally exhausted, they can give no more,” said IEUA NSW/ACT Branch President Chris Wilkinson. “With the chronic shortage of casuals, teachers and support staff are being asked
to take extra lessons and double classes on top of their teaching load, which takes away precious planning and preparation time. We urge employers to listen to teachers and support staff, hear our voices and pay us what we deserve.”

Northam said: “During the pandemic, parents and the community realised how vital teachers and support staff are, and just how much work they do. Now we urge employers to Hear Our Voice.”

Contacts

Sydney IEUA NSW/ACT Branch Secretary Mark Northam 0427 667 061
Canberra IEUA NSW/ACT Branch Deputy Secretary Carol Matthews 0418 272 902
Newcastle Therese Fitzgibbon 0427 936 072 Wollongong Pam Smith 0418 297 409

Media: Monica Crouch 0411 645 751; Sue Osborne 0430 220 254 Images: https://bit.ly/IEUmediaHOV

The IEUA NSW/ACT Branch represents over 32,000 teachers, principals and support staff in Catholic and independent schools, early childhood centres and post-secondary colleges.

Authorised by Mark Northam, Secretary, IEUA NSW/ACT Branch

MARCH AND RALLY: FRIDAY 27 MAY

Sydney

10am Sydney Town Hall square, George/Bathurst

Streets (march to Polding House on Liverpool St)

Canberra

10am Thoroughbred Park, Silks Room, Level 2

1 Randwick Rd, Lyneham

Newcastle

10am Wickham Park, cnr Maitland Rd & Albert St,

Wickham (march to Catholic Schools Office on

Hunter St)

Wollongong

10am MacCabe Park, Burelli St

(march to Catholic Education Office on Market St)

Bathurst

10am The Bistro, Paddy’s Hotel, Gilmour St, Kelso

(march to Catholic Education Office on Gilmour St)

Dubbo

10.30am Victoria Park Rotunda, Darling St

(march to Catholic Education Office on Brisbane St)

Lennox Head

10am Club Lennox,

10 Stewart St, Lennox Head

Port Macquarie

9am Westport Club

25 Buller St, Port Macquarie

Tamworth

10am West Tamworth Leagues Club,

Ken Chillingworth Rm, 58 Phillip St, West Tamworth

Wagga Wagga

10.30am Romano’s Hotel, 81 Fitzmaurice St

(march to Catholic Education Office on Tarcutta St)