August 2023 – Page 22

Resolution of barley dispute with China

Today the Australian Government was notified that from tomorrow, China will remove the 80.5 per cent anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Australian barley.

We welcome this outcome, which paves the way for our barley exporters to re-enter the Chinese market – benefiting Australian producers and Chinese consumers.

It affirms the calm and consistent approach that the Albanese Government has taken.

Since May 2020, China’s duties on Australian barley have effectively blocked exports to that market, worth about $916 million in 2018-19.

The removal of duties is the result of work by government and industry to resolve this matter.

We acknowledge and thank industry and affected businesses for their support and patience throughout the World Trade Organization (WTO) process.

In April this year, Australia announced a pathway agreed with China to temporarily suspend our WTO dispute while China conducted an expedited review of the measures.

The removal of these duties means that Australia will now discontinue legal proceedings at the WTO.

This outcome demonstrates the importance of the WTO dispute mechanism in defending the interests of Australia’s world-class producers and farmers.

We have been clear that we expect a similar process to be followed to remove the duties on Australian wine.

In the meantime, we are continuing to pursue our wine dispute at the WTO and remain confident in a positive outcome.

The Australian Government’s approach has been to cooperate with China where we can, disagree where we must and engage in our national interest. The outcome on barley reflects that approach.

We will continue to press for all trade impediments affecting Australian exports to be removed, which is in the interests of both Australia and China.

New law banning religious vilification passes NSW Parliament

Landmark legislation to prohibit religious vilification passed NSW Parliament today.

The amendment to the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 makes it unlawful to, “by a public act, incite hatred towards, serious contempt for, or severe ridicule of, a person or group of persons, because of their religious belief, affiliation or activity”.

A “public act” includes any form of communication to the public, verbal and non-verbal.

The legislation mirrors existing provisions in the Anti-Discrimination Act that make vilification unlawful on the grounds of race, homosexuality, transgender status and HIV/AIDS status.

People who do not have a religious belief or affiliation or do not engage in religious activity are also protected under the new law, which recognises that these are also positions in relation to religion which should be respected.

A wide range of stakeholders were consulted on the amendment, including faith-based organisations, community groups, multicultural associations, legal advocates and NSW Government agencies.

The new law comes into effect three months after the date of assent to the Act.

NSW Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“We are lucky to live in a harmonious society that values respect, tolerance and inclusivity.

“Vilification on the grounds of a person’s religion (or no belief) is completely unacceptable in our community. Now we have a clear law to protect people from public actions that incite hatred or serious contempt or severe ridicule of them on the basis of their religious belief or lack of belief.”

NSW Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper said:

“NSW is one of the most successful multicultural states in the world. Our vibrant multicultural and multi-faith communities enrich our society.

“It is regrettable to see any expression of vilification towards certain groups based on their beliefs.

“This legislation sends a strong message to those people who seek to stir hatred and division in our community. It won’t be tolerated.”

icare repair begins with new board appointments

Changes that aim to create a better governance structure at the state’s worker’s compensation provider have passed both houses of parliament and will now become law.

Minister for Industrial Relations and Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis will appoint employer and employee body representatives to the icare Board in the first step in the reform of icare’s governance.

Two suitably qualified employer and employee directors will be nominated by employer and employee representatives and will replace two non-executive directors, leaving the size of the icare Board unchanged with nine directors.

The two new directors will provide fresh perspectives, helping to better represent the employers who pay workers’ compensation premiums and the injured workers who need to access the scheme.

Legislation to amend the State Insurance and Care Governance Act 2015 for the Board changes passed both houses of Parliament on Thursday evening.

icare provides worker’s compensation for about 330,000 business and 3.4 million workers in New South Wales, managing about 60,000 new claims each year.

Minister for Industrial Relations and Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said:

“Appointing representatives of employer and union bodies to the icare Board will ensure these important perspectives are heard in the icare boardroom.”

“This will legally ensure perspectives on premium affordability, timely and accurate payment of wage entitlements, timely access to medical diagnosis and treatment to support recovery and returning to work.”

“Adding employer and employee representatives to the Board is the first step to bring a critical lens upon management to improve performance and accountability to ensure better outcomes for the 330,000 businesses and 3.2 million workers covered by icare.”

New vessels join Maritime fleet

The Minns Labor Government has received the first of five new purpose-built incident response vessels for NSW Maritime.

These vessels have the capabilities to support first responders during an emergency while delivering a significant boost to the current fleet. They are extremely durable and fitted with the latest state-of-the-art technology.

Each vessel is 5.3m long and fitted with a stabilised camera that can be viewed locally or streamed and controlled from the State Marine Incident Coordination Centre.

The vessels will enter service over the next 12 months and will be strategically stationed at key maritime bases in Northern New South Wales, the South Coast and the high-tech headquarters in Rozelle, to respond to any unfolding marine situation.

Each vessel will have capacity for 2 crew members and 6 passengers, will have a 2.9m tender for even greater access and a purpose-built trailer for on-land transportation.

These marine-grade, aluminium incident response vessels have been designed and manufactured in Australia for Australian conditions.

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

“These boats have the grunt to provide maritime crews with a capability uplift to operate across different environments such as aquatic events, natural disasters and marine pollution incidents.

“Using their cameras, these boats are equipped to provide real time intelligence directly from the field. They will be able to assist in emergency operations such as flooding or bushfires, reach residents in remote communities, help with major aquatic events and improve wharf and bridge inspections.”

Community invited to provide input into new palliative care units

The community is invited to contribute to the planning and design of 3 new dedicated palliative care units, which will enhance services for people with a life-limiting illness and better support their families and carers.

The NSW Government has committed $93 million to redevelop and refurbish palliative care units throughout the state under the World Class End of Life Care commitment, which includes new and expanded units at Westmead, Nepean, Wyong, Tamworth and Orange hospitals.

Minister for Health Ryan Park said community input into the design process will be crucial in ensuring each of the new units meet the needs of the local community.

“The NSW Government is committed to ensuring people with a life-limiting illness receive the highest quality end-of-life care, to provide peace of mind to patients, families and carers when they need it most,” Mr Park said.

“As well as featuring the latest technology and equipment, the new Palliative Care Units will provide a comfortable and home like setting to deliver the very best clinical care and emotional support.”

The Wyong, Nepean and Westmead Palliative Care Units are scheduled to complete master planning in September and will be shortly followed by Orange and Tamworth, with all 5 sites scheduled to commence construction in 2024.

Minister Park said the new palliative care units will complement the existing palliative and supportive care teams at Westmead, Nepean, and Wyong Hospitals.

“The new units will provide more choices for patients on where they want to receive care and how they want to be cared for, providing a comprehensive range of hospital and in-home services,” Mr Park said.

“It’s important the community is involved in this process to ensure the new units provide the care and support people need as they approach the end of their life.

“That’s why we’re encouraging anyone who is interested to register today.”

Community members who wish to contribute to the design are invited to register interest by completing the relevant form for Wyong, Westmead and Nepean hospitals.

A similar opportunity for the Orange and Tamworth communities will be available in the coming months.

The $93 million allocated for new and redevelopment of palliative care facilities is part of the 2022-2023 budget providing funding over 5 years (2022-2023 to 2026-2027) for NSW Health to deliver end of life and palliative care service enhancements across the state.

Construction of the new palliative care units across all 5 sites will commence following the design and planning process, in consultation with staff, patients and the community.

Treasurer and Ministers meet coal industry

NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey and Minister for Natural Resources Courtney Houssos today met coal mining industry representatives as part of consultations on the future beyond the State’s temporary coal cap.

The Government is considering options following the conclusion of the cap, which is set to expire on 1 July 2024, including modernising the coal royalty system to ensure it remains fit for purpose.

Minister for Energy Penny Sharpe also today held a meeting with representatives from coal power station operators.

The consultation process includes inviting industry to provide written submissions by 11 August 2023.

The information from consultations will help inform the Government’s priorities in the second half of the year.

The current system will remain unchanged until the expiration of the coal cap.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer David Mehan participated in today’s discussions.

NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:

“These consultations are critical to ensuring we strike the right balance for the people of New South Wales and key industry stakeholders.

“It is important to meet representatives of the coal mining industry and hear their views on the operation of the coal cap and the future of the sector.”

Minister for Finance and Minister for Natural Resources Courtney Houssos said:

“Today’s meeting was productive and together with written submissions will inform the Government’s strategy.”

Minister for Energy Penny Sharpe said:

“The coal caps have played an important role assisting households and businesses with electricity costs. Understanding how the implementation has worked for power stations is important. I thank them for sharing their views as we contemplate future changes.”

Alcohol delivery reform consultation underway

The NSW Government is seeking feedback from the community and stakeholders on nation-leading reforms for regulating alcohol delivery services.

Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said everyone with an interest in the issue is invited to comment on the effectiveness of laws that have reduced risks of minors or intoxicated people accessing alcohol through delivery services.

“These changes were an Australian first with fit-for-purpose measures for the range of alcohol delivery models that have emerged – particularly same-day and express services,” Mr Harris said.

“Liquor and Gaming NSW has released a discussion paper for community input and will consider all feedback to determine if any improvements or changes are needed.”

Mr Harris said the online alcohol delivery sector continues to expand and as new technology emerges, it’s vital that key stakeholders and the community are consulted to ensure the regulatory framework remains relevant.

“Alcohol delivery services are a part of the gig economy, so it’s important that the safe and responsible service of alcohol is top of mind for delivery providers in this growing market,” Mr Harris said.

“The review seeks feedback on whether the laws governing alcohol delivery remain appropriate as well as emerging trends and technologies, the use of direct and social media marketing and collection of consumer data.”

The reforms which began in July 2021 covered all alcohol delivery services with a focus on same-day and express delivery with measures including:

Age verification at the point of sale and on delivery
Only the named adult can accept a delivery with identity verification required
No financial penalties for drivers who refuse delivery to intoxicated or unverified customers
Mandatory Responsible Supply of Alcohol (RSA) training for same-day alcohol delivery drivers
Online self-exclusion options for customers
No delivery to public areas where alcohol consumption is banned.

This second stage of the review will complement the first stage which focused on age and identity verifications for alcohol delivery and the RSA course. The discussion paper outlines how stakeholders and the community can provide feedback through an online survey or by providing a written submission.

Find out more about the alcohol delivery reforms consultationlaunch.

Consultation runs until 28 August.

One Nation demands Royal Commission into the COVID-19 pandemic

Recent revelations of a cover-up over the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and of the Australian government’s deliberate suppression of free speech during the pandemic have made the need for a Royal Commission more urgent.

The Prime Minister has promised it, and while he’s not known for keeping promises (remember how our electricity bills were supposed to fall by $275 per year), he must keep this.

The pandemic was the most disruptive event in Australia since the Second World War. Thousands of people died. Entire cities were locked down. State borders were closed. Military forces were deployed to support the police. Hundreds of billions of dollars were borrowed by Australian governments to fund pandemic relief.

Thousands of jobs were lost, and many skilled workers in critical sectors are still excluded from working thanks to vaccine mandates being maintained by vindictive government bureaucracies. Thousands of businesses closed, many never to open again.

Fundamental human rights like freedom of speech, freedom to travel, freedom of assembly and freedom of association were suppressed or attacked outright. Australians who questioned or resisted these attacks were demonised by the media and elected politicians.

Only a Royal Commission has the necessary coercive power to compel the ‘expert’ health advice that led to lockdowns and mandates – advice which remains hidden from the Australian people – and unearth the accurate figures on who died from, or just died with, the virus. We need to learn what worked and what didn’t to better prepare us for the next pandemic.

$6.4 MILLION TO KICK START GARMA INSTITUTE

The Albanese Government is pleased to announce $6.4 million towards the Yolngu people’s long held vision for a world class tertiary institution in northeast Arnhem Land.

As the 24th annual Garma Festival kicks off, the investment from the Aboriginals Benefit Account (ABA) to support the Yothu Yindi Foundation with Stage One for the design and development of the Garma Institute – a new tertiary and vocational education facility.

The Garma Institute represents decades of work by the Yothu Yindi Foundation and Yolngu community leaders on a whole-life education project to provide on-Country learning for Yolngu people from early childhood education to university.

The Yothu Yindi Foundation already offers a Yolngu-centred curriculum for school students through the Dhupuma Barker School at Gunyangara. The independent bilingual school has driven strong school attendance rates and improved education outcomes.

This $6.4 million investment will see those students given a pathway to continue their higher education at the Garma Institute.

Consultations with community and stakeholders about the curriculum offered in the new facility will begin at this year’s Garma Festival.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said:

“This is a vision for the future – ensuring the next generation of students can live and learn on-country.

“This has been a long aspiration of the Yolngu people. This partnership shows how governments can work alongside communities, meeting their needs and helping them realise their full potential.”

Minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney said:

“This investment is a step towards realising the dream of the Yothu Yindi Foundation for a world-class education hub for Yolngu people in northeast Arnhem Land.

“The Garma Institute will give Yolngu people the opportunity to continue their education journey, without having to move away from their family and community.

“I commend the Yothu Yindi Foundation and Yolngu community leaders for their dedication and determination to pursue their vision for the Garma Institute.”

Yothu Yindi Foundation Chairman, Djawa Yunupingu said:

“Education remains the number one priority for the Yothu Yindi Foundation and the Dilak Elders.

“The vision of creating a world-class home for education is something that our community leaders have been working towards for more than 20 years. That dream is now becoming a reality.”

CEO of the Yothu Yindi Foundation, Denise Bowden said:

“This is ground-breaking and exciting work.

“The Garma Institute is about getting the best education outcomes possible for Yolngu students.

“This funding will enable the Yothu Yindi Foundation to invest in the extensive consultation and planning required to ensure the long-term success of the Garma Institute.”

GOVERNMENT’S SEA DUMPING BILL IS A CON JOB THAT FACILITATES FOSSIL FUELS

The Greens have condemned the Albanese Government’s Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Amendment (Using New Technologies to Fight Climate Change) Bill 2023, calling it a naked attempt to facilitate more oil and gas development in our oceans.

Greens spokesperson for healthy oceans, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson said:

“This Bill is a naked attempt to facilitate more oil and gas development in our oceans through legitimising carbon capture and storage (CCS) as a commercially viable and effective climate solution.

“This is despite evidence identifying CCS as a public relations and delaying tactic for the coal and gas industry to pretend it is doing something other than jeopardising our future on this planet.

“Pumping carbon under the sea from gas rigs or storing it underground just doesn’t stack up. The importing and exporting of carbon dioxide for sub-seabed sequestration risks turning Australia’s oceans, and those of our near neighbours, into the dumping grounds for the world’s pollution. Meanwhile, the CCS industry has largely been a ploy and a distraction designed to greenwash a dirty industry and delay the inevitable.

“The Greens are incredibly concerned that this legislation appears to be motivated to primarily facilitate the Santos Barossa project, its related Bayu-Undan CCS projects and other fossil fuel projects off Australia’s northern coastlines, as well as provide this government and its mates in the fossil fuel cartel political cover to open up new areas of our ocean to fossil fuel exploration.

“The Albanese government should be taking tangible, meaningful steps to fight climate change by ending the expansion of new fossil fuel projects. Instead it has taken the valuable time and energy to draft and bring forward a Bill that appears to be written by the fossil fuel industry, for the fossil fuel industry.

** See the Greens’ dissenting report to the Bill’s inquiry here.