Blow the Truth

The Palaszczuk Government has made more than $21 million available to support the health and wellbeing of First Nations Queenslanders and communities during COVID-19. Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Steven Miles said the measures aim to combat the spread of COVID-19 amongst First Nations Queenslanders to ensure the coronavirus does not adversely impact their communities or amplify existing health inequalities. “From the moment the virus appeared in Australia we have been working to prevent outbreaks in Aboriginal and Torres Strait communities where we know it would have a devastating impact. “This funding has gone toward preparing for possible future outbreaks in First Nations communities, while remaining committed to existing health services. “We know that First Nations peoples, particular those that are aged 50 and over with one or more chronic health conditions may experience more severe symptoms of COVID-19. “We have to remain vigilant and be able to r...

That the House:(1) notes that: (a) on 6 May 2020 the Minister for Agriculture put out a media release titled "Time to stop milking dairy, fair go for farmers"; (b) nearly 500 dairy farmers have left the industry in the past year; (c) the ACCC in 2018 identified that there is a market imbalance between processors and farmers; (d) in the state of Queensland alone the number of dairy farmers has dropped from 1,305 in 2000-2001 to 356 in 2019; (e) Australia had 12,896 dairy farms in the year 2000; (f) in 2018 there were just 5,699 dairy farms, a reduction of 57 per cent which is likely to have increased in the last 12 months; (g) in the North Queensland dairy area before deregulation farmers got 60.4 cents per litre, but after deregulation they got 41.1 cents; (h) Dairy Australia's Situation and Outlook March 2020 report says dairy farmers have been impacted by the summer bushfires adding additional price pressures to their operations, including in: (i) NSW, 32 dairy farms on...

Senator Pauline Hanson (Queensland) : One Nation submitted today's matter of public importance: (Migration May 2020) When Australia restarts our migration program, we do not want migrants to return to Australia in the same numbers and in the same composition as before the crisis. I have to admit that they are not my words; they are Senator Keneally's words, which she used in her article. It's quite interesting. I've always said there should be a debate on this, and I'm pleased that we actually got to call on this debate. Forcing debate about immigration and foreign workers is often a thankless task. No-one knows this more than me. When you bring up facts such as more than half of the nation's population growth since 2005 has come from overseas migration, you get called a racist. When you explain that instead of flooding Australia with migrants to drive economic growth we should be increasing productivity or investing in skills and training, people call you xenop...

Senator Mehreen Faruqi (New South Wales): Matters of Public Importance Migration I did ponder a bit whether speaking on this matter of public importance was worth it, because it clearly seeks to divide us. But, to be honest, I have had it up to here with One Nation, so I will have my say. This MPI is just another way for them to define who should be in Australia, who is deemed as 'one of us' and who is deemed as the 'other' because of what they look like or where they come from. Let me make one thing crystal clear: when One Nation talk about changing the composition of our migration program, we know what you mean. It's not simply a technical or abstract debate about temporary versus permanent migration, or skilled workers versus family reunion. For One Nation, the party of the Muslim ban and decades of overt racism, it is about something else entirely. Just two years ago, former Senator Anning, who was elected as a One Nation senator, said the quiet part aloud in hi...

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young (South Australia) 13/05/2020 Covid -19 Arts and Entertainment Industry: I rise today to speak about the impact that COVID-19 has had on hundreds of thousands of artists and entertainers right across Australia. We know that this has been a tough time for all Australians. From having to stay away from loved ones and find new ways to celebrate birthdays and have coffee catch-ups, to those who have lost jobs and livelihoods, with no idea of what awaits them in the future, or those who have tragically lost a family member or friend due to the health crisis of COVID-19, we have all felt these impacts in one way or another. There have been few things that have brought us together during these isolated times, but there has been one thing that we have all been able to turn to and take comfort from, and that's our arts and our entertainment industry. A good book, our favourite TV show or film, musicians doing gigs via social media, and virtual exhibitions have all ...

Senator Larissa Waters: The Greens support the aim of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (Cross-boundary Greenhouse Gas Titles and Other Measures) Bill 2019 to strengthen and clarify the monitoring, inspection and enforcement powers of NOPSEMA during an oil pollution emergency. Earlier this year we celebrated Equinor pulling out of the Great Australian Bight. It was a huge win for environmentalists, coastal communities and the surfing community. For those who love our pristine beaches, the risk of an oil pollution emergency was not something to be monitored or managed; it was to be avoided at all costs. Thousands of people stood up, and Equinor stood down. My colleague Senator Hanson-Young will be moving amendments in the committee stage of this bill to secure the ongoing protection of the bight from the sorts of emergencies that this bill is designed to manage. But what of the ongoing climate emergency? We've just experienced one of the hottest summers on ...

PRIME MINISTER:  Welcome back, colleagues, in this rather unusual setting but it's good for us to get together in a COVID safe way. We're back at work - we've never not been at work over these many months - we have been hard at work, but here we are, back today and in Canberra for the sittings today. Getting people back into their workplace and back into jobs, getting our economy moving again. That's our task. In the last four months, we've been fighting this virus and we've been doing it with some success, particularly when you look at it internationally. And over the course of this period, we have been following a very clear plan. It is our response to the COVID crisis that has enveloped the world. Step one of that way has always been to fight the virus. And we are winning, but we have not yet won. That virus is still out there, that virus still has a great potential to do enormous harm to the livelihoods of Australians and the lives of Australians. We need to...

PM Scott Morrison's three-step roadmap to a COVIDSafe Australia with our aim to get through these steps and get Australia working again in July this year. States and territories will set their own pace and decide the timings for each step. Roadmap to a COVIDSafe Australia The PM Morrison Liberal -National Party government has outlined a three-stage plan to allow businesses to reopen, large gatherings, and interstate travel by the end of July with ScoMo PM Scott Morrison declaring it's time to (get out from under the doona).  Victoria Dan Andrews has his road map and Queensland Premier is on Board.

On this National Nurses Day,  we should all take a moment to reflect on the dedication of America’s incredible healthcare workers. While their selflessness is evident each day, the risks and challenges of the job are on full display during this pandemic. Watch on Youtube I First Lady Melania Trump  shared a video message today to thank nurses for slowing the spread of Coronavirus and saving many American lives.   “In addition  to the work you do each day, you have gone above and beyond your call of duty in responding to our nation’s invisible enemy, COVID-19,” she said.   “You are an inspiration  to us all, and your actions show us the true power of the American spirit. Thank you for your care and compassion. Our nation will continue to pray for your safety and strength.”   In the Oval Office today,  President Trump recognized a group of exemplary nurses and signed a Presidential Proclamation in honor of National Nurses Day.

Works have started on the $1 billion Pacific Motorway upgrade from Varsity Lakes to Tugun, the Gold Coast’s largest road project. Concrete safety barriers have been put up, VMS boards installed and speeds reduced to make way for the mammoth jointly-funded project, which will see the M1 transformed into at least six lanes from Brisbane to Tugun. It comes as another milestone is reached on the $218.5 million M1 upgrade between Mudgeeraba and Varsity Lakes with the new Stapley Drive bridge expected to open to traffic next week. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Government had fast-tracked the project to help bust congestion and create a jobs pipeline to help in the recovery from COVID-19. “We’re getting moving as quickly as we can to get shovels in the ground and workers on site,” the Prime Minister said. “Our $500 million investment to upgrade the M1 will boost jobs and get workers home sooner and safer. “This isn’t just a project with significant long-term benefits, it’s going to b...

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, thank you very much everyone.  This is a great honor.  And I see you have social distance on your mind and that’s a very good thing.  Jovita, congratulations.  Tremendous job you’re doing. I want to thank everyone for being at the White House — a very special house, a very special place.  No matter where you go in the world, they love the White House.  And being here in the East Room of the White House in particular, where so many important functions have taken place over the years. And today, we’re really celebrating American workers and small businesses.  And we’ve done a job for you and we’re going to make it so, as we open up our country, you’re going to be in good shape, as opposed to be either losing your business or, “How do we get some people to work here?”  Especially since your employees were so good over the years and those are the ones you wanted, so we made that possible for you. We’re delighted to be joined...