Month: February 2024

The upcoming departure of Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci will change nothing while the supermarket duopoly retains its market dominance and current pricing practices,  the Greens say.

“It is appropriate that Mr Banducci is leaving, however that will by no means solve the problems in the food and grocery sector” Greens Economic Justice spokesperson Senator Nick McKim, who is chairing the Senate Select Inquiry into Supermarket Pricing, said.

“CEOs come and go, but the supermarket duopoly will continue to ruthlessly use their market dominance unless forced to change.”

“Farmers, workers and shoppers are going to keep getting smashed regardless of who wears the CEO badge.”

“It is price gouging, corporate power and market dominance that are the real problems, and that is exactly what the Senate inquiry will focus on.”

The Greens will move an amendment in Parliament to retain s11 of the RBA Act which gives the Treasurer the power to override Reserve Bank decisions.

“As the Reserve Bank was smashing renters and mortgage holders with interest rate rises, Jim Chalmers was working on a scheme to remove his own power to intervene, “ Greens Economic Justice spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.

“Dr Chalmers wants to throw renters, first home buyers and mortgage holders under the bus by getting rid of his powers to set interest rates.” 

“His attempt to wash his hands of responsibility for interest rate rises is looking increasingly friendless and self interested.”

“Not one of the 78 public submissions to the Review of the RBA recommended removing section 11 and yet bizarrely it seems to be Dr Chalmers’ top priority.”

“The Greens will move an amendment in Parliament to ensure that this power is retained.”

“We now have three current and former RBA Governors who say that the bank is independent enough.”

“We also have Dr Chalmers’ hero Paul Keating, and former Liberal Treasurer Peter Costello who are against this move.”

“It seems that the only person who wants this change is Dr Chalmers himself.”

The Albanese Government today launched the Stronger Medicare Awards, to honour those who have made a significant contribution to Australia’s primary care sector.

The Stronger Medicare awards will recognise and honour Medicare Champions from around Australia: outstanding individuals and practices that provide exceptional care, embrace innovation, and work together to improve the health of their community.

First and foremost, these Medicare Champions are individuals and practices that go above and beyond to benefit patients.

Nominations will be open to individual health professionals, practices or health centres and multi-disciplinary teams working across the full range of primary care services.

They can also extend to the many hard-working people who do not have professional qualifications in healthcare, but work for primary care services to help patients access the care they need, when and where they need it.  

Anyone can nominate an individual, team or practice for a Medicare Champion Award and highlight what makes that person special and deserving of national recognition.

This could be their contribution to patient care, innovation, multidisciplinary care or work with diverse communities or vulnerable patients.

An independent panel of respected health experts will review eligible nominations to determine the result.

Nominations will be open in coming weeks and the Awards will be announced at a ceremony in Canberra in October 2024. 

The awards are part of the commemorative activities in 2024 to mark Medicare’s 40th anniversary and celebrate all those who work to benefit patients.

For further information visit: Celebrating 40 years of Medicare

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said:

“Our nation owes an incredible debt to all those who dedicate their lives to protecting and improving the health and wellbeing of their fellow Australians.

“As we celebrate 40 years of Medicare and all that it has delivered for Australia, let’s also take time to celebrate the health workers who are the backbone of the system and the heroes of the pandemic.”

Minister Mark Butler said:

“These awards are another way to support the talented health practitioners that work to keep Medicare strong, alongside the historic investments the Albanese Government has made in new rebates, tripled bulk billing incentives, 58 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics and reforms like MyMedicare.

“The Stronger Medicare Awards are an opportunity to recognise and honour the outstanding health professionals and other workers in clinics, health centres, general practices and primary care settings, all around Australia.

“Doctors, nurses and other health professionals don’t do the important work they do for the limelight, instead they are driven to improve the lives of their fellow Australians. The Stronger Medicare Awards are one more way that we can honour and say thanks for their effort and their excellence.”

Assistant Minister Ged Kearney said:

“As a former nurse, I know the life changing but often unrecognised work healthcare professionals do day in day out.

“This is a simple, yet powerful way to acknowledge the workers in primary care who have gone above and beyond to make a positive difference to our lives, our families and our communities.”

While Labor tries to spin and spend its way out of a cost of living crisis, the Coalition is focused on finding real solutions to this crisis.

The Cost of Living Committee is holding a hearing in Gladstone to hear how Labor’s dual cost of living and cost of doing business crises is impacting the regions.

Chair of the Committee, Senator Jane Hume, will hear from local business groups and Master Builders Australia about Labor’s industrial relations changes. Senator Hume will seek to understand how Labor’s anti-productivity agenda and high energy prices have impacted their ability to deliver lower prices for consumers.

The Committee will also hear evidence from the Gladstone Regional Council and Gladstone Women’s Health Centre, as well as not-for-profit organisation Aussie Helpers, about how the cost of living crisis is taking its toll on the community.

Senator Hume said that while the Albanese Government has been focused on the wrong priorities, Australian households, particularly those in regional Australia, have been left behind.

“The Prime Minister has finally admitted that Labor’s policies to tackle the cost of living haven’t worked. But he’s still not listening. With Australian households hurting, the Coalition will continue to pursue finding sensible solutions to Labor’s cost of living crisis.

“Everywhere we go, from suburban Melbourne to Port Augusta to Alice Springs, we hear that cost of living is the number one issue facing Australian households and businesses. Yet Labor has no plan to help them.

“Labor knows the Australian public can see through their spin on the cost of living, that’s why they’re looking to spend $40 million on a PR campaign to explain why they lied.

“Australians are paying the price for a government that has no economic plan and can’t keep its promises.”

Senator Matt Canavan said Labor’s policies are pushing up the cost of doing business, and have already cost 1000 nickel jobs in WA.

“It’s only a matter of time before our aluminium, and other manufacturers start to struggle under the weight of the extra costs of policies like the safeguard mechanism.

“We need to be listening to these businesses, and make sure that they can keep people employed in Central Queensland.”

The full Cost of Living Committee program is available here: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Cost_of_Living/costofliving/Public_Hearings.

Anthony Albanese’s claims that he will not touch Western Australia’s GST are completely worthless because they come from a Prime Minister who breaks his promises, particularly when it involves tax.

The Prime Minister’s weakness on protecting our borders, despite his claims to the contrary, has also been exposed with the arrival of an illegal boat in Western Australia.

The Prime Minister and the Treasurer promised more than 100 times they would deliver the stage 3 tax cuts but have gone back on their word, leaving the important piece of taxation reform in tatters.

“If the Prime Minister and Labor can perpetrate such a huge lie, how can anyone ever believe anything they say, ever again?” Senator Cash said.

“Western Australians certainly should not believe him when he talks about not touching the GST deal, delivered by the previous Coalition Government which finally gave our State a fair share,’’ she said.

“Mr Albanese’s word is worthless. Watch him fold to pressure from other States and come after our GST money when he needs it,’’ Senator Cash said.

Mr Albanese has become the liar in the Lodge. Before the election, he promised a $275 reduction in people’s power bills, “cheaper mortgages”, and he promised that families would be “better off” under him. Yet in just 18 months: Food has gone up more than 9%; housing has gone up more than 12%; electricity has gone up more than 23%; gas has gone up more than 29% and rents are experiencing the highest increase since 2009.

“If the best Mr Albanese can do for Western Australia is leave our coastline vulnerable to people smugglers and offer hollow promises about our rightful share of the GST then I’m not sure why he’s bothering to come here,’’ Senator Cash said.

“He can pretend all he likes that he cares about Western Australia but those words count for nothing coming from a PM who keeps breaking promises,’’ she said