Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott: 'out of touch', 'arrogant', 'narrow-minded' and 'erratic'

Five days before the September 2013 federal election which saw him become Australia’s 28^th prime minister, Anthony John ‘Tony’ Abbott’s chief personal attributes (according to Essential Research polling at the time) were ‘hard working’ and ‘intelligent’.

Seventeen months later, he is primarily seen as 'out of touch with ordinary people', 'arrogant', 'narrow-minded' and 'erratic'.

For over half those polled he remains ‘hardworking’, but is also viewed as ‘superficial’ and ‘intolerant’.

The percentage of poll respondents who consider Tony Abbott as ‘intelligent’ has dropped from 63 per cent prior to his becoming prime minister down to 50 per cent at the beginning of this week.

Tony Abbott, when compared with Bill Shorten, is considered by more respondents to be ‘erratic’, ‘out of touch with ordinary people’, ‘arrogant’, ‘narrow minded’, ‘intolerant’, ‘aggressive’ and ‘superficial’.

Bill Shorten, when compared with Tony Abbott, is regarded by more respondents to be someone who is ‘intelligent’, ‘hardworking, ‘understands the problems facing Australia’, and ‘a capable leader’.

'Someone else' still has more support than Tony Abbott as being the best leader of the Liberal Party - as does Malcolm Turnbull and Julie Bishop at 24 per cent and 21 per cent respectively.

This poll indicates that if an election had been held on Tuesday 2 February 2015 Labor would have taken back federal government by roughly the same percentage as the Coalition won it in 2013.

Essential Report* of 3 January 2015:

* This report summarises the results of a weekly omnibus conducted by Essential Research with data provided by Your Source. The survey was conducted online from the 30th January 2015 to 2nd February and is based on 1,019 respondents.    

Yet another policy Abbott & Co didn't think through

The Sydney Morning Herald 21 November 2014:

A central pillar of the Abbott government's fledgling environmental plans - the $300-million Green Army - has been hobbled by a High Court ruling.

In June the High Court ruled that the Commonwealth did not have power under the Constitution to fund the school chaplaincy program through direct funding as proposed. 

The case has meant the types of projects approved for the Green Army must now be of a national focus and "directed towards meeting Australia's relevant international obligations" or "conserving matters of national environmental significance".

The Coalition marketed the Green Army as delivering "local conservation outcomes" and first-round projects approved on guidelines set before court ruling had a strong local theme, including weed and pest control in Nillumbik, removing weeds in the Dandenongs, and revegetation and fencing in the Macedon Ranges.

The chaplaincy ruling may also mean some of the 196 Green Army projects approved under the first round of the scheme may not survive a High Court challenge.

The Green Army scheme was a key Coalition election promise at the 2010 and 2013 elections and involves young people aged between 17 and 24 paid an allowance to do up to 30 hours a week of environmental work.

About 2500 participants across 250 projects are expected in the first year, climbing to 1500 projects and 15,000 participants a year by 2018-19. 

The scheme is to be funded directly by the Commonwealth government.

Environment Minister Greg Hunt described the first-round projects as "community-led projects that support practical, grassroots environment and conservation activities".

But new guidelines released this month for second-round Green Army projects include a new clause, stating that projects "must be directed towards meeting Australia's relevant international obligations or, alternatively, directed towards protecting and conserving matters of national environmental significance".

One project co-ordinator hoping to be involved in the Green Army scheme - who did not want to be identified - said their project would no longer meet the guidelines because it came under state heritage regulations and was not of national and international significance. 

"The scheme has been gutted for community projects," they said. 

A spokeswoman for Mr Hunt declined to directly comment on the High Court decision……

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/high-court-hobbles-green-army-for-local-community-projects-20141123-11r4di.html

Tony Abbott's Blue Screen Of Death

Australian Attorney-General Brandis gets a Dorothy-Dixer on the subject of the recent High Court ruling concerning national school chaplaincy program

Blissfully ignoring the fact that the High Court of Australia found that the Commonwealth funding the National School Chaplaincy and Welfare Program was of no material benefit to public school students, the Abbott Government looks for the best angle going forward in the coming public debate:

Attorney-General George Brandis Media Release 19 June 2014

TRANSCRIPT – QUESTION TIME, SENATE

Subjects: High Court Decision – Williams v The Commonwealth (No 2)

E&OE

SENATOR SESELJA: Can the Attorney-General advise the Senate on the decision of the High Court in the Williams (No 2) matter.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL: This morning the High Court gave judgement in the Williams and The Commonwealth (No 2).  The effect of the Court’s decision is that the Commonwealth’s National School Chaplaincy and Welfare Program is invalid.  The basis of the decision is that the School Chaplaincy is invalid because the Court found it is not supported by any legislative head of power in the Constitution.  In particular, the Court decided that the program was not a benefit to students within the meaning of section 51 (xxiiiA) of the Constitution and was therefore not supported either by that or by any other constitutional head of power.  It is important to note that in arriving at that conclusion, the Court did not deal with the merits of the program, merely that the question of whether it fell within a particularly constitutional definition.

SENATOR SESELJA: Can the Attorney-General advise the Senate what implications the decision may have for any other Commonwealth Government programs?

ATTORNEY-GENERAL:  The Court did not deal with any other Commonwealth programs. It did not consider the broader question of whether Division 3B of the Financial Management and Accountability Act was a valid law.  It merely decided that insofar as that Act purported to validate the School Chaplaincy Program, it was ineffective because the School Chaplaincy Program was not supported by any constitutional head of power.  The Court did not decide that any other Commonwealth program was invalid.  I noticed a statement by the Shadow Minister for Finance, Mr Bourke, issued a short while ago in which he suggests a range of Commonwealth programs are put at risk as a result of the Court’s decision this morning.  That statement by Mr Bourke is erroneous and ignorant.

SENATOR SESELJA: Can the Attorney-General advise the Senate what assurances the Government can provide to recipients who have already received funds under the School Chaplaincy Program?

ATTORNEY-GENERAL: Yes, Senator Seselja, I can.  It follows from the Court’s judgement that Commonwealth payments to persons under the School Chaplaincy Program were invalidly made. The effect of the decision is that these program payments, totalling over $150 million, are now debts owed to the Commonwealth under the Financial Management and Accountability Act.  However, under that Act, the Minister for Finance has the power to approve a waiver of debt of an amount owing to the Commonwealth which totally extinguishes that debt.  I’m advised by my Friend, Senator Cormann, that he has today agreed to waive the program payments made to date.  That decision will provide certainty to funding recipients that these debts will not be recovered in consequence of that decision.

BACKGROUND

First High Court judgement in Williams v Commonwealth of Australia [2012] HCA 23 (20 June 2012) and second judgement in Williams v Commonwealth of Australia [2014] HCA 23 (19 June 2014).

I'd laugh if the Abbott-Hockey ploy didn't presume Australian voters were idiots

To date the Abbott Government has run up at least an additional $29.3 billion dollars in national debt over the last 135 days.

This means as of today the nation owes in excess of $189,422.8 billion in gross public debt.

Having mapped out this level of rising debt some months ago, the Abbott Government abolished the legislated debt ceiling late last year.

On 22 January the Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey made this nonsense announcement:

"I direct that the maximum total face value of stock and securities that may be on issue is $500 billion"

The directive apparently expires rather appropriately on April Fool’s Day 2024, as at the rate it is currently borrowing this $500 billion debt cap (now unsupported in law and therefore meaningless) will be exceeded by Abbott, Hockey and Co in under three years.

After all, Abbott still hasn’t said how the nation will fund his proposed personal $250 million VIP aircraft and other little prime ministerial luxuries or compensate for the reduced revenue his industry level taxation cuts will produce before the next federal election in 2016.

Where is Australian Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey sourcing his financial advice?

By the end of October 2013 the Abbott Government was borrowing an est. $265 million per day and it continues to borrow at a frenetic pace. 

At the same time it is moving away from the budget measures outlined in its September 2013 costing table and has blown out the 2013 budget deficit by an estimated $10 billion.

ABC News 9 November 2013:

The Budget Monitor from Deloitte Access Economics..... has raised concerns about whether the Government will take unpopular decisions to improve the budget outcome and return to surplus within the promised 2016/17 timeframe.

The assessment has forecast a budget deficit of $39.7 billion for this financial year, almost $10 billion higher than the Pre-Election Fiscal Outlook (PEFO) predicted.

The PEFO estimated a deficit of $30 billion, but since then the new Coalition Government has scrapped some tax windfalls and handed $9 billion to the Reserve Bank.

Deloitte's Chris Richardson says those decisions have significantly contributed to the size of the deficit.

"That is a cost to the budget, it's all fallen this year. It's a lot of dollars," he said.

"You might eventually see those dollars head back to the Government but it is a really rotten budget deficit this year."

The new Nationals Member for Page needs to act quickly if he is to get a decent slice of the regional funding pie

This was the new Nationals Member for Page Kevin Hogan in the local media:

The Northern Star

24 September 2013:

A CHANGE of government has brought uncertainty to the upgrading of the Northern Rivers Livestock Exchange.

The Labor campaign promise of $3.5m to go towards the renovation of the Casino Saleyards has fallen by the wayside with the Coalition now in power.

Newly elected Nationals MP for Page, Kevin Hogan, said all was not lost.

"We didn't make that promise but I really like the idea, as I see the value of contributing to the upgrade of the saleyards," he said.

While Labor's Regional Development fund has been disbanded, Mr Hogan said it would be replaced with the Coalition's Stronger Region fund.

"As soon as their door is open I will have the application on their desk," he said.

25 September 2013:

However, Member for Page Kevin Hogan is good at multitasking, yesterday packing up his old office while being interviewed for this story simultaneously.

The poll will be officially declared today and he will get the keys to his office.

For his first 100 days of office he has set himself some big goals.....

He planned to roll out funding for the Pacific Hwy upgrade and work toward fulfilling his campaign promises to provide more than $4 million to Ballina District Hospital as well as making installation of CCTV in Casino a priority....

It would appear that Kevin Hogan is very optimistic about his chances of securing funding under the Stronger Regions Fund and is patiently waiting for it to open its doors before acting.

Because under Stronger Regions what will be created are finite area funding pools from a budget of $400 million (with no funds distributed before 2015-16), Mr. Hogan actually needs to be vigourously lobbying now if he is to deliver a local funding arrangement capable of delivering the $3.5 million required for the Casino Regional Livestock Exchange upgrade as well as the many other infrastructure needs of local councils and communities.

Until then, the only money coming into the Page electorate for regional development will be that former Labor Government funding which Treasurer Hockey has been unable to claw back.

As for Ballina Hospital, well that is a costed $5 million Coalition election promise due to be delivered in this financial year. Again Hogan needs to get his skates on and see the hospital funding signed off on as soon as possible because there is a clear intention in the Coalition costings that this financial year it will only be spending $35 million in new funding nation-wide.

When it comes to the $3.6 billion Pacific Highway upgrade funding which Kevin Hogan promised to release and the promised $2.1 billion in extra funding – one has to wonder where it is all coming from.

Coalition election promise costings make no mention of this $5.7 billion and, it appears that for the next three years the Abbott Government will only be spending the same total amount outlined in the former Labor Government’s upgrade plan. In other words no more than $2.5 billion in total.

One also has to wonder where Mr. Hogan’s promise to obtain $463,969 in funding for 55 CCTV cameras in Casino CBD is leading, for the Abbott Government’s Safer Streets Program will not be releasing any funding until the 2014-15 financial year and how much money it holds in hand will likely rely on how much is received by government under Proceeds of Crime legislation.

Australian Government Economic Statement August 2013

Full Economic Statement here.

Coal Seam Gas: and so the industry hard sell begins again

The Northern Rivers needs to closely watch this situation and make it views known to federal and state government……

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in his speech to the National Press Club 11 July 2013:

The discussions I have had in the last couple of weeks with both business and the unions have been useful in elaborating the possible content of a new national competitiveness agenda for Australia.

Thus far we have agreed on seven broad areas of necessary policy work together.

Number one: Domestic electricity price regulation in Australia, and the impact of the current carbon price as well as the future availability of competitively priced domestic gas supplies are high on the agenda…..

Furthermore, reforms are needed for the supply of competitively priced gas for Australian businesses and households…..

Number four: We need a new approach to the regulatory impost on business from all levels of government.

This particularly applies to multiple and conflicting environmental assessment requirements for state and federal governments.

Surely it lies within our wit and wisdom to begin by integrating the assessment procedures and reports at present separately mandated by the Commonwealth and the states.

Surely we should aim at having one single integrated assessment system, even if we continue to have two different decision points.

An integrated assessment system removes so much of the regulatory burden faced by businesses when trying to get a project off the ground.

I have already discussed this with Premier O’Farrell in particular and I want to take this discussion further. 

Financial Review 12 July 2013:

Lower energy prices through increased coal seam gas production and changes to the regulation of power prices will be pivotal to a seven-point productivity plan Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will take to the election.

The plan would require business and unions to work together in an Accord-style “pact” to boost productivity beyond the mining boom.

The push to boost coal seam gas will include less environmental regulation, pushing NSW to fast-track approval of two major developments and leaning on the Victorian government to lift an exploration moratorium.

The Guardian UK 12 July 2013:

A huge coal seam gas project in New South Wales is emerging as a test case, pitting Kevin Rudd's promises of lower gas prices and "streamlined" environmental processes against Labor's recent pledges to protect the environment.

Gas producers are demanding the prime minister rescind Julia Gillard's final environmental law: the requirement that the federal government assess the impact of coal seam gas wells on the water table.

Santos is ready to begin drilling 18 CSG exploration wells near Narrabri in New South Wales, including in the Pilliga forest, to prepare for a planned 400 well CSG project it says could provide one quarter of NSW's gas needs.

The project has been nominated by federal sources as one that could be sped up by better environmental decision-making to help increase gas supply and reduce prices, in line with the plan outlined by Rudd in Thursday's national press club speech.

The company argues its exploration plans, a pared-back version of its original exploration intentions in the state's north-west, should not require a full, and possibly lengthy, federal environmental assessment under the commonwealth government's long-standing legal powers to protect endangered species or the recently added powers to consider the cumulative impact of CSG wells on the water table.

ABC PM 12 July 2013:

JUSTINE PARKER: Richard Denniss says unlocking supply can do little to lower gas prices once Australian gas prices is linked to the world market.
RICHARD DENNISS: Whether we double or treble the amount of coal seam gas, whether we build floating LNG plants in any part of the country, none of that will have any significant impact on the world gas price. And the fact is soon Australian consumers and businesses will be paying a much higher world price than the local low price they've become accustomed to.
JUSTINE PARKER: A spokesman for Kevin Rudd says he'll work with the states and territories to see if changes to gas regulation can halt energy price rises.
The gas transmission industry believes one way to unlock supply is to reduce state-level restrictions on coal seam gas.
Here's the chief executive of the Australian Pipeline Industry Association, Cheryl Cartwright.
CHERYL CARTWRIGHT: With restrictions on access in coal seam gas, that is reducing access to supply. Queensland's actually doing that well now, but there needs to be a way of working closely with the producers and the farmers, working together on the land to make the most of the land for the energy for the rest of country as well as the agriculture. It can be done.

ABC News 12 July 2013:

Kevin Rudd has named electricity prices as the first plank of his seven-point national competitiveness plan. He is targeting gas supply as one key area for reform. The ABC understands setting aside some of Australia's gas for domestic use is off the table. The gas pipeline industry is now urging the Prime Minister to push governments in the eastern states to lift their coal seam gas restrictions.

Australian Mining 12 July 2013:

Apex Energy have been denied permission to drill 16 exploration wells within Illawarra water catchment areas.

The NSW Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) rejected the proposed drilling program yesterday, stating that more conclusive studies on the impact of CSG activities to drinking water were needed.

PAC said that until the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer’s review on the impacts, along with the state government’s resulting policy decisions were made, it would be inappropriate to approve the drilling program.

PAC found that the impacts of CSG activities ‘were being questioned in a range of studies in NSW, Australia and internationally’.

“It appears that the potential risks of coal seam gas activities are still being established and that there is some uncertainty regarding the potential impacts of the suite of coal seam gas extraction techniques which could be applied within various geological formations,” PAC said.

The Daily Examiner 15 July 2013:

Federal Member for Page Janelle Saffin has denied reports claiming Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will make the expansion of coal-seam gas a priority in a wider push to tackle high electricity prices.

In an agenda-setting National Press Club speech last Thursday, Mr Rudd outlined a seven-point "productivity plan" which included targeting of high domestic electricity prices, with the "future availability of competitively priced domestic gas supplies ... high on the agenda."

"Reforms are needed for the supply of competitively priced gas for Australian businesses and households," Mr Rudd declared.

While there was no mention of CSG in the speech, an Australian Financial Review story by veteran political journalist Philip Coorey quoted unnamed sources saying the policy would involve CSG expansion, specifically the fast-tracking of two major NSW CSG projects and "leaning on the Victorian Government to lift an exploration moratorium".....

 "The Prime Minister made absolutely no mention of CSG mining in his speech or elsewhere," Ms Saffin said.

"My position is clear on Coal Seam Gas mining."

"I fought hard for the Federal changes to the EP&BC Act to protect our water. The water trigger legislation went through and is now law. This offers some protection for our area from CSG," she said.

A spokesman for Richmond MP Justine Elliott labelled the AFR story "mischief-making", claiming it was easy to "stir the pot" with "unnamed sources".

It remains unclear how the Federal Government could move to rein in a future of high gas prices..... 

Federal Labor Government Commits To Upgrading Casino & District Hospital's Emergency Department

       

THE HON TANYA PLIBERSEK MP

Minister for Health

Minister for Medical Research

JANELLE SAFFIN MP

Federal Member for Page

MEDIA RELEASE

4 July 2013

FEDERAL LABOR GOVERNMENT COMMITS TO DEVELOPED CASINO EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

People in Casino and the surrounding area will benefit from a $3 million redevelopment of the emergency department at Casino and District Memorial Hospital, Federal Minister for Health, Tanya Plibersek, and Federal Member for Page, Janelle Saffin announced today.

Speaking at Casino Hospital, Ms Plibersek said this was a momentous occasion for the area.

“I visited Casino Hospital with Janelle Saffin in October last year, where I saw first-hand the pressing need for an upgrade of the emergency department at the hospital,” Ms Plibersek said.

“I was so impressed by the the hard-working staff at Casino hospital, and this redeveloped emergency department will mean they have facilities that match their dedication.”

Ms Saffin said she deliberately brought Minister Plibersek to Casino Hospital so she could see for herself the urgent need for the upgrade. 

“Once Tanya had seen the facility and had a good opportunity to talk to the staff, I was then able to continue to lobby and detail all the things that needed to be done to bring this facility up to the national standard,” Ms Saffin said.

“I know the staff were glad that I brought Tanya, and they’ll be particularly glad following today’s announcement.”

Ms Plibersek paid tribute to the lobbying of Janelle Saffin.

“It’s fair to say that without Janelle’s tireless lobbying efforts this commitment would not have been made,” Ms Plibersek said.

The redeveloped emergency department at Casino and District Memorial Hospital will include:

    ·     Four new treatment bays;

    ·     Two new resuscitation bays;

    ·      A redesigned ambulance entry area;

    ·      A multifunctional Safe Assessment Room;

    ·       A new triage area;

    ·       A relocated waiting area;

    ·       Piped medical gases to resuscitation and observation bays;

    ·        A dedicated emergency department staff room; and

    ·        Enhanced security for the emergency department.

For media inquiries, please contact Ben Foster (Ms Plibersek’s office) on 0439 305 292 or Lee Duncan (Ms Saffin’s office) 0448 158 150

New Generation Medicines Added To The PBS

 

THE HON TANYA PLIBERSEK MP

Minister for Health

MEDIA RELEASE

30 June 2013

NEW GENERATION MEDICINES ADDED TO THE PBS

A new medicine that can significantly extend the life of people with deadly melanoma (skin cancer) has been approved for inclusion in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

Minister for Health Tanya Plibersek said the inclusion of ipilimumab, sold as Yervoy^® on the PBS would save patients requiring the treatment more than $110,000 a year on average.

“Australia has the highest skin cancer incidence rate in the world, with one in 17 Australians at risk of contracting the disease,” Ms Plibersek said.  

“While prevention is always the best option, the PBS listing of ipilimumab is a major step forward for people who have developed malignant melanoma.

“It is the first in a new class of medicines for melanoma and the first effective treatment in over a decade.”

In clinical trials, more than 60 per cent of patients with very advanced melanoma who were treated with ipilimumab were still alive after one year and notably, some 10 per cent of them were still alive after five years.

A new and effective drug for treating prostate cancer, abiraterone (Zytiga^®) will also be listed on the PBS. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Australian men, with about 20,000 new cases diagnosed each year.  

“The PBS listing of abiraterone will benefit more than 1,000 Australians each year who would otherwise have to pay around $27,000 a year to access the drug.  This medicine offers an important treatment option for patients who are not well enough to tolerate further chemotherapy,” Ms Plibersek said.

Subsidies for vinorelbine (Navelbine®) which treats advanced breast cancer will also be extended to allow the drug to be used when other therapies have failed.

Provided orally, vinorelbine offers an important treatment option for patients but currently costs around $17,314 for an average of six prescriptions a year.

The new subsidies for these three cancer medicines will cost the Australian Government more than $430 million over four years.  

“Cancer is the number one cause of sickness and death in this country and fighting it has always been a top priority for this government,” Ms Plibersek said.

“With these new listings the Government has committed around $3.9 billion to improve the detection and treatment of cancer, including nearly $2 billion on subsidies for new cancer medicines since 2007. This brings the number of new or amended listings subsidised for cancer treatment since 2007 to 36, for 17 different types of cancer.”

More than a hundred thousand Australians will also benefit from the extension of PBS subsidies for a new generation oral anticoagulant medicine, on the PBS.

Rivaroxaban – marketed as Xarelto® – will soon be subsidised as a treatment for the prevention of stroke in patients with irregular heartbeat and treatment of blood clots in the lungs and legs.  

Irregular heartbeat or non-valvular atrial fibrillation is common among older people and increases the risk of severe stroke.  

The extension of the PBS subsidy will cost the Australian Government more than $450 million over four years and will benefit around 120,000 patients per year. Without PBS subsidy, rivaroxaban cost around $1200 per year for the average patient.

Ms Plibsersek said two drugs used to terminate pregnancy for medical reasons would also be available through the PBS from 1 August 2013.

Mifepristone (Linepharma®) and misoprostol (GyMiso200®) will be subsidised for medical terminations up to 49 days of gestation.

“While termination of pregnancy is always difficult, the listing of these drugs provides women and their doctors with greater choice at an affordable price,” Ms Plibersek said.

A total of 17 new and amended PBS listings will come into effect between 1 August and 1 October this year at a cost to the Government of almost $1 billion over four years. Almost 350,000 people a year will benefit.

Patients will only have to pay $5.90 or $36.10 per month to be treated with these medicines.  

“These listings reflect the Government’s continuing commitment to consumers and industry to ensure that effective medicines are readily available to Australians as soon as possible after they are proven effective,” Ms Plibersek said.

“We are able to provide these medicines at a subsidised price because of our diligent work to ensure that the PBS also provides good value for taxpayers and is sustainable.”

 

Details of changes to the PBS 1 August to 1 October 2013

 New listings

·        ipilimumab (Yervoy^®) - for the treatment of certain types of malignant melanoma

·        abiraterone (Zytiga^®) - for the treatment of prostate cancer

·        mifepristone (Linepharma^®) and misoprostol (GyMiso200^®) - for the termination of pregnancy for medical reasons in women who are up to 49 days of gestation

Amended and extended listings

·        vinorelbine (Navelbine^®) - for the treatment of advanced breast cancer, to extend the current listing to include treatment after failure of standard prior therapy

·        botulinum toxin type A (Botox^®) – for the treatment of urinary incontinence, to extend the current listing to include patients with specific neurological conditions, such as multiple sclerosis and adult spina bifida

·        cephalexin (various brands) - for use as an antibiotic in the treatment of urinary tract infection, to amend the current listing to increase the maximum quantity and number of repeats available

·        corifollitropin alfa (Elonva^®) - for use as part of infertility treatment in women, to extend the current listing to remove the weight restriction

·        diazepam (Orion Diazepam Elixir^®) - for the treatment of chronic spasticity in children, to extend the current listing to include an oral solution

·        imatinib (Glivec^®) - for the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumour, to extend the current listing to change the maximum duration of treatment to three years

·        lacosamide (Vimpat^®) - for the treatment of epilepsy, to extend the current listing to remove a restriction for continuation of treatment and amend the listing to a Streamlined Authority

·        lenalidomide (Revlimid^®) - for the treatment of patients with a rare blood and bone marrow disorder (a certain type of myelodysplastic syndrome)

·        risedronate (Actonel^®) - for the treatment of osteoporosis, to extend the current listing to include patients that meet certain age and bone mineral density criteria

·        rivaroxaban (Xarelto^®) - for the prevention of stroke in patients with irregular heartbeat (non-valvular atrial fibrillation)

·        rivaroxaban (Xarelto^®) - for the treatment of blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolism) and prevention of recurrent blood clots in the legs and lungs (venous thromboembolism)

·        sorafenib (Nexavar^®) - for the treatment of a type of liver cancer, to amend the current listing to a Streamlined Authority

·        trimethoprim (various brands) - for use as an antibiotic in the treatment of recurrent urinary tract infections, to amend the current listing to increase the maximum quantity and number of repeats available

All PBS listings and price changes are subject to final arrangements being met by the suppliers of the medicines.

For all media inquiries, please contact the Minister's Office on 02 6277 7220

 

Coal & Coal Seam Gas 'Water Trigger' amendment passes both Australian Houses of Parliament despite Coalition attempts to cripple it

 

On 19 June 2013 the C’wealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment Bill 2013, commonly called the Water Trigger Bill, was voted into legislation by the Australian Parliament.

 

This amendment strengthens the Commonwealth’s power to intervene in relation to water resources, but still leaves regions such as the Northern Rivers vulnerable to exploitation by the coal seam gas industry and an arrogant Coalition state government.

 

The bill as passed by both Houses.

 

Excerpt:

 

Subdivision FB — Protection of water resources from coal seam gas development and large coal mining development

24D   Requirement for approval of developments with a significant impact on water resources

             (1)  A constitutional corporation, the Commonwealth or a Commonwealth agency must not take an action if:

                     (a)  the action involves:

                              (i)  coal seam gas development; or

                              (ii)  large coal mining development; and

                     (b)  the action:

                              (i)  has or will have a significant impact on a water resource; or

                              (ii)  is likely to have a significant impact on a water resource.

Civil penalty:

                     (a)  for an individual—5,000 penalty units;

                     (b)  for a body corporate—50,000 penalty units.

             (2)  A person must not take an action if:

                     (a)  the action involves:

                              (i)  coal seam gas development; or

                              (ii)  large coal mining development; and

                     (b)  the action is taken for the purposes of trade or commerce:

                              (i)  between Australia and another country; or

                              (ii) between 2 States; or

                              (iii) between a State and Territory; or

                              (iv) between 2 Territories; and

                     (c)  the action:

                              (i)  has or will have a significant impact on a water resource; or

                              (ii) is likely to have a significant impact on a water resource.

Civil penalty:

                     (a)  for an individual—5,000 penalty units;

                     (b)  for a body corporate—50,000 penalty units.

             (3)  A person must not take an action if:

                     (a)  the action involves:

                              (i)  coal seam gas development; or

                              (ii)  large coal mining development; and

                     (b)  the action is taken in:

                              (i)  a Commonwealth area; or

                              (ii) a Territory; and

                     (c)  the action:

                              (i)  has or will have a significant impact on a water resource; or

                              (ii)  is likely to have a significant impact on a water resource.

Civil penalty:

                     (a)  for an individual—5,000 penalty units;

                     (b)  for a body corporate—50,000 penalty units.

             (4)  Subsections (1) to (3) do not apply to an action if:

                     (a)  an approval of the taking of the action by the constitutional corporation, Commonwealth, Commonwealth agency or person is in operation under Part 9 for the purposes of this section; or

                     (b)  Part 4 lets the constitutional corporation, Commonwealth, Commonwealth agency or person take the action without an approval under Part 9 for the purposes of this section; or

                     (c)  there is in force a decision of the Minister under Division 2 of Part 7 that this section is not a controlling provision for the action and, if the decision was made because the Minister believed the action would be taken in a manner specified in the notice of the decision under section 77, the action is taken in that manner; or

                     (d)  the action is an action described in subsection 160(2) (which describes actions whose authorisation is subject to a special environmental assessment process).

             (5)  A person who wishes to rely on subsection (4) in proceedings for a contravention of a civil penalty provision bears an evidential burden in relation to the matters in that subsection.

 

Liberal-Nationals Federal Coalition failed amendment seeking to hand back powers to the states, as it was put to the Senate.

 

Excerpt:

 

Schedule 1, page 9 (after line 31), after item 18, insert:

 

18A  Section 528 (at the end of the definition of coal seam gas development )

Add “, but does not include exploration, assessment or appraisal pursuant to a petroleum title granted under a law of a State or Territory.”.

[definition of coal seam gas development]

(4)           Schedule 1, page 9 (after line 31), after item 18, insert:

18B  Section 528 (at the end of the definition of large coal mining development )

Add “, but does not include exploration, assessment or appraisal pursuant to a minerals exploration licence or permit granted under a law of a State or Territory.”.

[definition of large coal mining development]

Liberal-Nationals Federal Coalition failed other amendment.

Perhaps the National Party’s federal election candidate in the Page electorate, Kevin Hogan, might like to explain how he (as a candidate who has never held political office) would stop these or similar Coalition amendments being put to the Parliament should he become a member of the House of Representatives in an Abbott-led federal government?

 

Federal Labor MP Janelle Saffin also has some concerns according to her media release on 19 June 2013:

 

Page MP Janelle Saffin said the passage of the Australian Government’s ‘water trigger’ legislation through the Senate today is an important step in the battle to protect our water from Coal Seam Gas mining in our local area. 

 

Janelle said, “The water trigger can help us stop any CSG mining going ahead in our area, but we need more action and it has to be at State level.”

 

“The power to stop CSG mining completely in our area, rests with the NSW Government, who have done nothing to protect us, and our way of life, despite promises.  We just cannot trust the Nationals to protect our communities from this harmful CSG mining.

 

“I lobbied hard on behalf of our community to get the Federal Government to use the full extent of its powers to protect our water.  The battle is however far from over with the Coalition vowing to undo the legislation, if they get an opportunity.”

 

“To add insult to injury the Federal Coalition put forward an amendment that we blocked, which was to hand back the water assessment process to the NSW Government.  This means Minister Hartcher would be in charge and he is the Minister who has been fast-tracking the expansion of CSG mining in NSW.”

 

“The Coalition made it clear in the Senate they plan to change everything should they win Government –a frightening prospect, which means we can’t trust the Nationals on CSG.

 

“One of their stated aims is to hand environmental assessment power back to the states. In New South Wales that means a Coalition State Government that has done nothing to protect our region, while declaring CSG exclusion zones around Hunter Valley horse studs and wineries.

 

“The people of Page do not want 1000 gas wells and more across the Northern Rivers.

 

“Communities across the region have given the message loud and clear- we want to keep the Northern Rivers CSG-free. We will not accept the risk to our water, farmland, environment, tourism, local economy and our way of life.

 

“It is clear the mining companies are hoping for a Coalition federal government in September, to give them the green light on CSG. I am not going to let that happen locally.