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Third wave of Covid coming, minister warns
Mark Butler says we have to put together ourselves for case numbers to extend once more, and encourages individuals to get a vaccine booster in the event that they haven’t but (booster charges are nonetheless far, far decrease than double doses):
In case you’ve had two doses, and even if you happen to’ve had a case of Covid BA.1, you might be doubtlessly inclined to reinfection over coming months. The entire well being authorities do anticipate there to be a 3rd wave overcoming months. I feel the affect on our hospital system, whether or not there’s a larger severity, remains to be not likely well-known. We’re nonetheless making an attempt to grasp this subvariant … However we do want to arrange ourselves for an additional wave of elevated circumstances.
Penny Wong, minister for international affairs, launched an announcement final night time saying Australia stays “deeply involved” by the persevering with erosion of Hong Kong’s rights.
It comes as China’s president, Xi Jinping arrives in Hong Kong forward of his scheduled attendance on the inauguration of town’s new chief govt, and the twenty fifth anniversary of the British return of Hong Kong to Chinese language rule.
Wong mentioned in an announcement:
Australia stays deeply involved by the persevering with erosion of Hong Kong’s rights, freedoms and autonomy, two years because the imposition of the Nationwide Safety Legislation.
The Nationwide Safety Legislation has been utilized broadly to arrest or stress pro-democracy figures, opposition teams, the media, commerce unions and civil society. The electoral reforms imposed by Beijing in 2021 have additional eroded Hong Kong’s democratic governance.
We urge the Chinese language Authorities and Hong Kong authorities to uphold and defend these components which have been so essential to Hong Kong’s success, together with its excessive diploma of autonomy, the rights and freedoms assured by the Primary Legislation and the Sino-British Declaration, to which Beijing dedicated.
Many Australians know and love town of Hong Kong and its individuals. Friday marks the twenty fifth anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong, and we reaffirm the significance of these freedoms which have enabled its prosperity and stability.
Helen Davidson has extra on the occasions that precipitated the assertion and the context to Xi Jinping’s go to right here:
NSW rail union pushes forward with industrial motion
Sydney commuters are in for a “very messy day” because the NSW rail union pushes forward with industrial motion that can take out 70% of the prepare fleet, AAP studies.
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union has been locked in long-running stoush with the Perrottet authorities over a brand new Korean-made Intercity fleet, which it says is unsafe.
Whereas the federal government has signalled it may very well be ready to spend $264m to switch the fleet, the union says it has refused to signal an settlement confirming it can repair the security points raised by prepare drivers. The union mentioned on Friday:
This would be the fourth time the federal government has supplied to make the adjustments, introduced the adjustments, after which backtracked because of inner politics.
Rail, Tram and Bus Union NSW secretary Alex Claassens mentioned throughout a gathering with the federal government yesterday, components of the modification supply had been taken off the desk:
I’m simply undecided the place we go from right here however our members are resolute. We’re going to proceed combating to get these trains made secure, and we’ll do no matter it takes to make that occur.
Protected industrial motion deliberate for right this moment goes forward, which can see prepare drivers refuse to function international or privately made trains. This implies solely 30% of Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink companies shall be working.
Claassens:
It’s going to be a really messy day. It’ll be a weekend timetable with different trains taken out of it.
Transport minister David Elliott mentioned yesterday that the federal government had supplied railway staff $3,000 bonuses:
The households of the railway staff proper now may very well be having $3,000 deposited of their account, as an alternative of getting that cash spent on modifying completely good trains.
However Claassens described the funds supplied to railway staff, to get the fleet on the tracks with out modifications, as “bribes”.
Sydney commuters have been suggested to anticipate vital prepare delays and cancellations. A flow-on impact is prone to affect individuals travelling to Sydney airport and on buses.
Performing PM on price of residing: wage enhance a ‘step in the precise path’
Whereas we had been listening to the well being minister, the appearing prime minister Richard Marles was on ABC Information Breakfast, speaking about the price of residing. He doesn’t supply a lot that we haven’t already heard on this concern over the past months, to be trustworthy – it’s a difficult time, wages have stagnated, it’s going to take time to repair. Right here’s a pattern:
There are a variety of challenges which are going through the nation, as you will have articulated. This can be a tough drawback to work by means of. A place to begin for the federal government was to concentrate on wages as a result of wages had been flatlining over the past 9 years beneath the Liberals. We had flatlining productiveness beneath the Liberal authorities and the truth that the minimal wage has gone up right this moment, which is a results of the federal government arguing for precisely that wage improve with the Honest Work Fee, that could be a actually necessary step for our lowest paid. It is going to be the higher a part of $2,000 a yr for many who want that cash probably the most and people individuals who had labored so arduous to get the nation by means of the pandemic.
It doesn’t remedy every little thing and we aren’t pretending it does however it’s a step in the precise path and what you realize with a Labor authorities is we are going to battle for wage will increase and we’re going to be doing what we are able to to deal with the price of residing challenges.
Mark Butler gained’t say if he helps Medicare-funded abortion
Mark Butler is requested whether or not he helps Medicare-funded abortion. He doesn’t instantly reply the query. As a substitute of sure (or, certainly, no), he says this:
Nicely, I feel you’re proper to level out that there are very totally different preparations and these companies are largely supplied without charge. And there are variations not solely between states, however clearly between regional communities who will all the time have extra issue accessing well being companies than the massive cities.
, the ladies’s well being technique that was put in place in 2020 identifies equitable entry to reproductive well being together with termination companies, recreation measurement, and I’m working with Ged Kearney on methods during which we are able to really put these phrases into follow.
Telehealth change
He’s now being requested in regards to the authorities scrapping Medicare rebates for telehealth consultations longer than 20 minutes. The Australian Medical Affiliation has mentioned it will drawback weak Australians.
Mark Butler:
What we’re saying is is a choice of the previous authorities that phone consults for a really lengthy seek the advice of, so over 20 minutes, along with your physician will finish on the thirtieth of June. That was initially meant to finish final yr however there was a six-month extension granted by the by the previous authorities. Now it’s necessary to say that if in case you have an extended seek the advice of along with your GP remotely, you may nonetheless do this over video. There are very clear circumstances for for a for a greater scientific consequence if you happen to can really see your physician.
Third wave of Covid coming, minister warns
Mark Butler says we have to put together ourselves for case numbers to extend once more, and encourages individuals to get a vaccine booster in the event that they haven’t but (booster charges are nonetheless far, far decrease than double doses):
In case you’ve had two doses, and even if you happen to’ve had a case of Covid BA.1, you might be doubtlessly inclined to reinfection over coming months. The entire well being authorities do anticipate there to be a 3rd wave overcoming months. I feel the affect on our hospital system, whether or not there’s a larger severity, remains to be not likely well-known. We’re nonetheless making an attempt to grasp this subvariant … However we do want to arrange ourselves for an additional wave of elevated circumstances.
‘We’re nonetheless coping with a really severe section of the pandemic’
Mark Butler is requested why he hasn’t requested an investigation into the vaccine rollout. He says:
I wish to be trying ahead. I wish to be sure that we’re ready overcoming satellite tv for pc maps for the remainder of this yr and into 2023. Given what we are able to a minimum of predict goes to occur with this this virus mutating and what’s going to occur within the vaccine and coverings market. There’ll after all, come a time, as I’ve mentioned on a lot of events, to look again and study. Very broadly, our pandemic response for that point isn’t now. We’re nonetheless coping with a really severe section of the pandemic.
Vaccines have to be ‘match for objective’, minister says
Well being minister Mark Butler is talking on ABC RN about the way forward for vaccine availability in Australia. He says he desires to make sure that Australia’s preparations are “match for objective”:
I’m completely dedicated to creating positive that we stay on the entrance foot, getting precedence entry to the most recent variations of vaccines and coverings for the Australian individuals over the approaching 12 to 18 months …
I’ve requested Jane Halton to conduct to be sure that the preparations of the previous authorities construction to see vaccines and coverings coming into Australia over the approaching months are going to stay match for objective. As I mentioned, this virus is mutating and in addition new vaccines are approaching to the market as nicely.
Good morning
It’s Friday, huzzah! That doesn’t imply the information has stopped, although.
Prime minister Anthony Albanese is in France the place he’ll meet with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, later right this moment in an try to fix the rift between the 2 international locations after the Morrison authorities unceremoniously dumped a $90bn submarine cope with France final yr. We’ll carry you extra on that because it develops.
Again house, Chris Bowen, the local weather change minister, is to announce right this moment that Prof Ian Chubb, a neuroscientist and former vice-chancellor of the Australian Nationwide College, will lead a six-month evaluate of the carbon credit score scheme, after a whistleblower described it as “largely a sham” and waste of taxpayer cash.
Pandemic depart funds will stop from right this moment, which implies that individuals who contract Covid-19 or must miss work to go get examined, take care of a liked one or isolate, will not be eligible for the $750 fee. The measure was launched by the earlier federal authorities, who introduced final September that it will stop on the finish of this monetary yr – a choice the Labor authorities has determined to uphold.
Federal well being minister Mark Butler will meet along with his state and territory counterparts later right this moment, after the federal government ordered a evaluate into the earlier authorities’s dealing with of vaccine contracts. They’re additionally anticipated to speak about methods for extra individuals to entry antiviral medicine, notably these individuals in weak teams.
There’s stacks extra occurring right this moment so keep tuned. As all the time, if you happen to see one thing you assume wants my consideration, you may e-mail me at stephanie.convery@theguardian.com or discover me on Twitter: @gingerandhoney.
Let’s get this executed.
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