Month: June 2023

Prime Minister Albanese and His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam met in Canberra today to elevate the Australia-Brunei Darussalam relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership.

The elevation of our bilateral relationship demonstrates the practical steps that Australia is taking to strengthen ties with our Southeast Asian neighbours.

The Comprehensive Partnership articulates our shared aspirations for a peaceful and prosperous region, and our respect for international law, sovereignty, open markets and ASEAN Centrality.

Under this new Partnership, Australia and Brunei Darussalam will work together on a range of issues including trade and investment, maritime security, education, the transition to net-zero and increased food security.

The Partnership will also see our countries deepen longstanding defence cooperation. To reflect our defence partnership and shared aspirations for a peaceful and stable region, His Majesty will travel to Darwin to visit Robertson Barracks and meet Australian Defence Force personnel.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said:

“I am pleased to embark on a Comprehensive Partnership with Brunei Darussalam.

“The Partnership offers a chance to cooperate on the net-zero transition in the region, strengthen trade ties, and deepen cooperation on defence and security.

“It affirms our shared support for ASEAN as the region’s central platform for open, transparent and rules-based dialogue.”

The Albanese Government is providing $6.2 million to The Embrace Collective for their Embrace Kids program to help kids tackle body image issues to live happier, healthier lives now and in the future.

Body image is a serious issue for Australians, especially for our kids, and the problem is getting worse.

The number of young Australians (16-25 years) reporting Body Image Distress has risen by 33 per cent since 2009, with 77 per cent self-reporting body image distress in 2015.

Australia’s young minds are exposed to harmful body image messages through social media, advertising, their peers and influence of adults in their lives.

These harmful messages are highly pervasive and if left unchecked, exposure can lead to poor body image. This can contribute to the development of eating disorders, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, increased suicidal intentions and ideation. It must stop.

The Embrace Kids program is a national initiative led by 2023 Australian of the Year, Taryn Brumfitt and international body image expert Dr Zali Yager.

Ms Brumfitt is the director of documentaries Embrace and Embrace Kids and Executive Director of The Embrace Collective alongside Dr Yager, who is also an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Institute for Health and Sport at Victoria University.

Embrace Kids will deliver a nationwide program of educational activities and events in schools, sport clubs and the wider community. This program will help give kids the tools to dispel negative body image messages and reach their full potential.

The Albanese Government is committed to building the evidence base for eating disorders care and investing in evidence-based programs. The Embrace Collective will be undertaking an independent evaluation of the Embrace Kids Australia Program as part of this funding.

the Prime Minister said:

“Any parent with young children or teenagers knows just how much their kids are bombarded with images and expectations of bodies and the way that can impact how their child feels about themselves.

“Teaching kids to celebrate how amazing their bodies are is a powerful way to dispel some of the negative, harmful body image messages out there.”

Minister Butler said:

“The Australian Government is investing $6.2 million in the Embrace Kids program so children, parents, carers, teachers and coaches have the tools to combat body image and body shaming issues before they arise.

“This funding aims to prevent harm and intervene early in a fun, positive way. I want all our kids to appreciate their bodies and celebrate the diversity of bodies as they go about living their best lives.”

Assistant Minister Gorman said:

“As Australian of the Year, Taryn Brumfitt has led our national discussion about body image and reminding all Australians that our bodies are the vehicle to achieve our dreams.

“Today’s announcement adds to her important work as Australian of the Year 2023.”

Assistant Minister McBride said:

“Body dysmorphia is complex and often misunderstood. As a government we are determined to understand it better and support what works.

“We’re committed to prevention and proud to support Embrace while following its success in primary, high schools, sporting clubs and through community events.”

Australian of the Year Taryn Brumfitt said:

“This is an incredibly important announcement that will benefit young Australians right across the country.”

“There is a huge problem with the way young people feel about themselves and it’s having a profoundly negative impact on people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.”

“77% of adolescents are in body image distress, rates of eating disorders, self-harm, steroid use related to body dissatisfaction are on the rise.

“We also know that adolescents with a poor body image are 24 times more likely to have and develop depression.”

“I want to thank the Prime Minister and Minister Butler for listening to the growing evidence this is something we can – and must – act on.”

“I’m so proud of the work we do at The Embrace Collective and now it’s our job to ensure this investment makes a difference to as many lives as we can.”

The Albanese Government is delivering more than $610 million to New South Wales to immediately begin boosting social housing stock.

Part of the $2 billion Social Housing Fund Accelerator payment, the funding will be provided to States and Territories within the next two weeks, and will deliver thousands of new social homes across Australia.

Funding has been allocated on a per capita basis with a minimum of $50 million allocated to each State and Territory.

This investment will build more housing, for more Australians, in more parts of our nation.

The Albanese Labor Government knows a secure home will give more Australians the foundation for a better future.

States and territories will have flexibility in how they permanently boost social housing stock, including through new builds, expanding existing programs, renovating or refurbishing existing but currently uninhabitable housing stock.

This will create thousands of homes for Australians on social housing waiting lists and will increase housing supply sooner, with all funding to be committed by States and Territories within two years ending 30 June 2025.

This continues the work of the new National Housing Accord, a shared ambition to build one million new homes over five years from 2024, and builds on the work of National Cabinet on renters’ rights and planning reforms.

The Albanese Government will continue to work with State and Territory Governments to address housing affordability, supply, and homelessness.

The $2 billion in additional funding brings the Albanese Government’s investment in housing and homelessness to more than $9.5 billion in this financial year to 30 June.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said:

“My Government is delivering $610 million to New South Wales, within the next two weeks, to immediately boost social housing supply.

“We know Australians want practical solutions, and we’ll work with the Minns Government to get on with the job of delivering more social housing.

“This is real dollars, driving real change and building more homes for Australians.”

Minister for Housing and Homelessness Julie Collins said:

“At every opportunity, the Albanese Government has added to our already ambitious housing agenda.

“This significant new funding will help build more of the rental homes that we know New South Wales needs.

“We could do even more if the Senate stopped blocking our $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund – the single biggest investment in social and affordable rental housing by a Federal Government in more than a decade.”

State	Funding
New South Wales	$610 million
Victoria	$496 million
Queensland	$398 million
Western Australia	$209 million
South Australia	$135 million
Tasmania	$50 million
Northern Territory	$50 million
Australian Capital Territory	$50 million

Responding to the Chair of the Murray Darling Basin Authority’s comments at the launch of the Roadmap for the 2026 Basin Plan Review, Senator for South Australia Sarah Hanson-Young said:

“Greed and fossil fuel pollution is killing our Murray River.

“The Chair of the MDBA has warned that climate will have a significant impact on water availability across the Murray-Darling Basin. South Australian communities and ecosystems downstream, as always, will bear the brunt of this.

“This is not news for South Australians, who have long been fighting against upstream greed to ensure our communities and ecosystems receive the water they need to survive.

“The River is suffering now. Unveiling a Roadmap to a 2026 Review is all well and good, but how is the Albanese Government going to deliver on the commitments of the current plan? South Australians are still waiting for the promised 450GL to be delivered on time and in full.

“Issuing a climate warning for the Murray in Narrabri, where the Albanese Government and big polluters are advancing new coal and gas, is baffling. The climate crisis is being made worse every time the fossil fuel industry gets a new mine.

“The warning is simple – if we are to ensure the survival of Australia’s most important river system we must stop over-extraction and stop making the climate crisis worse.”

Today I announce the appointment of five career public servants to lead Australian posts in Makassar, Athens, India, Bengaluru and Papeete.

Australia’s representatives overseas prosecute our national interests and through their diplomatic engagement help uphold the norms and rules that have underpinned decades of peace and prosperity.

I am pleased that these individuals will take up the following positions:

• Mr Todd Dias as Australia’s next Consul-General in Makassar, Indonesia.
• Ms Alison Duncan as Australia’s next Ambassador to Greece. Ms Duncan will also be accredited to Bulgaria and Romania.
• Mr Philip Green OAM as Australia’s next High Commissioner to India.
• Ms Hilary McGeachy as Australia’s first Consul-General in Bengaluru, India.
• Ms Alison Shea as Australia’s next Consul-General in Papeete, French Polynesia.

I thank the outgoing Ambassador, High Commissioner and Consul Generals, for their contributions to advancing Australia’s interests.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is no longer a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance (CDINS). Australia’s coordinated response to the outbreak is being wound back, with states and territories well placed to continue to manage any ongoing risk.

JEV is spread to humans through bites from mosquitoes which have previously bitten pigs and waterbirds infected with the disease. Infection in humans is usually asymptomatic, but on rare occasions it can cause severe illness and even death.

In March 2022, the first JEV outbreak in mainland Australia led to the declaration of a CDINS.

The coordinated national response focused on minimising the public health risk posed by JEV by securing immediate access to vaccines to protect those at greatest risk of infection (more than 125,000 doses of JEV vaccine have been administered since February 2022), raising awareness with health professionals, informing the public about the importance of avoiding mosquito bites, and improving understanding of spread through enhanced mosquito surveillance and control.  

Since 1 January 2021, 45 people have been infected with JEV in Australia. Sadly, seven people died as a result. There have been no new human cases identified in Australia since December 2022.

Based on the current epidemiological risk, collaboration across agencies, the maturity of response activities and Australia’s preparedness, the need for a nationally coordinated emergency response has reduced, allowing the CDINS declaration to be stood down at this time.

The Department of Health and Aged Care has worked closely with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and state and territory human and animal health agencies, to ensure a consistent and dedicated One Health response to JEV.

One Health is the paramount approach to managing diseases that cross the health, animal, and environment sectors.

Lessons from the national JEV response will inform the development of the future Australian Centre for Disease Control’s One Health agenda to strengthen Australia’s capacity and preparedness to respond to similar outbreaks in the future.

While the national emergency response has ended, JEV remains a nationally notifiable disease in humans and animals. States and territories will continue to manage the risk of JEV in line with local arrangements, including ongoing disease and vector surveillance activities.

Australia is well placed to continue to manage the risk of JEV and, while the immediate threat from this outbreak has passed, it is important people continue to take these steps:

• Remain vigilant to avoid mosquito bites and be aware of JEV symptoms
• If you live in a high-risk area, you may be eligible for free vaccination through state and territory vaccination programs
• Contact your public health authority for information on the local risk of JEV and steps you can take to prevent infection.

General information about JEV is available at www.health.gov.au/jev/.