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Medicine shortage to worsen under federal budget?

THE Pharmacy Guild of Australia has claimed the Federal Government’s intention to introduce 60-day dispensing -- which doubles the number of medicines patients can receive at once, regardless of need -- in this year’s Budget will "significantly worsen the medicines shortage crisis".

According to the Guild, "this will lead to millions of patients being worse off".
 
A Guild spokesperson said, "This proposal will mean that already stretched supply chains of crucial and everyday prescription medicine will be made much worse. Shortages already exist for medications to treat a range of conditions, including blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, depression, anxiety, osteoporosis, Parkinson’s Disease."
 
The Guild said by providing some patients with twice as much medication as they need, many more Australians will be forced to go without.

"The policy will also lead to panic buying, hoarding of medicines and increased overdoses."
 
National President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Trent Twomey said, “We have very real concerns around the impact of this policy on patient safety.
 
“If the Federal Government puts this proposal in the Budget, I am very concerned for millions of Australian patients who need regular access to critical medicine. 
 
“There are already some 400 medicines in short supply in Australia and around 70 more at risk of becoming short,” Professor Twomey said.
 
“Australians may not be able to access medicines equally, with one patient having double the amount and another missing out. 
 
“Local Labor MPs will need to explain to their communities why their community pharmacist cannot supply critical medicine to patients when they need it.”
 
The Pharmacy Guild is calling on the Federal Government to further reduce the general PBS patient co-payment to $19, supporting 19 million Australians in this cost-of-living crisis.

 

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Sick and tired: Long COVID inquiry report released

A NATIONAL long COVID and COVID-19 database is among the key recommendations of a unanimous report released today by a Parliamentary Committee for its inquiry into long COVID and repeated COVID infections.

The House of Representative’s Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport’s report aims to improve Australia’s response to long COVID, an often-debilitating condition possibly affecting hundreds of thousands of Australians.

Chair of the Committee, Mike Freelander MP said, "It is clear that the emergence of long COVID has created challenges for patients and health care professionals alike. People with long COVID suffer from a lack of information and treatment options. Health care professionals, who worked tirelessly over the acute phase of the pandemic, are now in a difficult situation trying to support patients with this new and poorly understood condition."

Deputy Chair of the Committee, Melissa McIntosh MP said, "Throughout the inquiry, the Committee heard from hundreds of Australians about what it is like to live with long COVID and how the condition impacts their daily lives. The Committee was particularly concerned to hear that long COVID is associated with poor mental health. The Committee heard that many individuals with long COVID feel isolated, disbelieved, anxious or depressed."

The Committee made nine unanimous recommendations aimed at strengthening the Australian Government’s management of long COVID, including regarding:

  • A definition of long COVID for use in Australia
  • Evidence-based living guidelines for long COVID, co-designed with patients with lived experience
  • A nationally coordinated research program for long COVID and COVID-19
  • The COVID-19 vaccination communication strategy
  • Access to antiviral treatments for COVID-19
  • Support for primary healthcare providers
  • Indoor air quality and ventilation.

Over the course of the inquiry, the Committee held four public hearings and received almost 600 submissions from individuals, organisations and government bodies.

The Committee wishes to sincerely thank everyone who provided written submissions and gave evidence at public hearings. The Committee is particularly appreciative of the time taken by many people who, despite being personally impacted by long COVID, have gone to considerable effort to contribute to this inquiry.

The report and further information about the Committee can be found on its website.

 

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Latrobe Valley workers meet to call for a federal Energy Transition Authority

WORKERS and their unions from Victoria’s Latrobe Valley are calling on the Federal Government to urgently support a federal Energy Transition Authority.

Gippsland Trades and Labor Council (GTLC) secretary Steve Dodd said the Latrobe Valley was a living example of a community suffering from power station closures with no alternative plan in place.

“We are still feeling the effects of Hazelwood’s closure in 2017, with just five months notice," Mr Dodd said.

“Coal power and coal mining have been the economic lifeblood of this region.

"We have powered the state and nation for a century but with the timeline for closure for our remaining power stations accelerating – we need federal co-ordination and support," Mr Dodd said.

Mr Dodd and supporters of the proposed body said a federal statutory authority would be responsible for: Co-ordinating the orderly closure of power stations; overseeing industry diversification in energy regions, like the Latrobe Valley; and supporting workers with redeployment, retraining and early retirement where appropriate.

The support for a federal Energy Transition Authority was demonstrated in a public meeting on April 20 at the GTLC Building at Morwell, where the call was amplified through media channels.

www.gippslandtlc.com.au

 

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Voice Referendum Committee commences public hearings

THE Joint Select Committee on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum began its program of public hearings on Friday in Canberra.

At its first hearing the committee heard evidence from representatives of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the Indigenous Voice Co-design Process, Thomas Mayor and Kerry O’Brien, Robert French AC, and panels of eminent legal witnesses.

The committee is inquiring into the provisions of the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 (Bill), introduced to the House by Mark Dreyfus MP, Attorney-General on March 30, 2023.

Committee Chair Senator Nita Green said, "The committee will be interested to focus its discussion on the question of whether the legislative provisions achieve what is intended and give effect to the government’s stated objectives before it moves to a referendum."

"The committee looks forward to the contributions received from witnesses as it moves to regional centres and back to Canberra for its hearings."

Programs for public hearings will be published on the Committees website as they are confirmed. The dates and locations are:

  1. Date: Friday, 14 April 2023Location: Committee Room 2S1, Parliament House, Canberra
  2. Date: Monday, 17 April 2023Location: Council Chambers, Orange
  3. Date: Wednesday, 19 April 2023Location: Cairns Performing Arts Centre, Cairns
  4. Date: Friday, 28 April 2023Location: Venue TBC, Perth
  5. Date: Monday, 1 May 2023Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra

Submissions are requested by COB Friday 21, April 2023. Further information about making a submission to a committee inquiry can be found at the following link.

The committee intends to hold public hearings. The dates and locations of hearings will be decided shortly and published as soon as possible.

Further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the committee’s website.

 

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Audit Committee examines findings of the Watt procurement review and NDIA issues in the Commonwealth Financial Statements

THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) held a public hearing on Friday, April 14, to examine the findings of the Independent Review of Services Australia and NDIA Procurement and Contracting, led by Ian Watt AC (the Watt review), as part of its ongoing inquiry into Commonwealth procurement.

The Watt review examined 95 procurements undertaken by Services Australia and NDIA from 2015–16 to the present, and found that 19 procurements with an approximate value of $374 million showed inconsistencies with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules or did not show good practice.

Julian Hill MP, the Chair of the Committee, noted that Dr Watt’s findings closely mirrored the issues that had been raised by the Australian National Audit Office during the committee’s procurement inquiry.

“The Watt review flagged five of the 95 procurements as being of lower standard than comparable procurements undertaken by the agencies,” Mr Hill said. “The committee is keen to question the key parties involved in the procurement process to gain an understanding of where the issues lie and how they have been addressed.”

The committee heard from Dr Watt AC, followed by the two agencies subject of the review, as well as representatives from a number of companies who were awarded contracts identified as being of particular concern in the Watt review including Infosys Pty Ltd, Portland, Synergy 360 / Milo Consulting and Australian Property Reserve Pty Ltd.

Following the session on procurement, the JCPAA will continue its program of public hearings for its inquiry into Commonwealth Financial Statements hearing from the NDIA.

Friday's hearings were held in Canberra.

Further information about the inquiries is available on the Committee website.

 

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Deeper dive into Australia’s international education sector

THE Trade Subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade will hold public hearings for its Inquiry into Australia’s tourism and international education sectors on April 18 and 19, 2023.

The subcommittee will hear evidence from university and vocational and education training (VET) peak bodies, student accommodation, education agents and sector professional bodies about sector recovery and future growth.

Trade Subcommittee Chair, Senator Deborah O’Neill said, "The Melbourne public hearings will progress the inquiry’s focus into the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for international education.

"These hearings are a chance for the committee to engage with sector leaders on the lessons from COVID-19 and how to apply those to Australia’s international education continued recovery and growth."

Further information about the inquiry and program, are available on the inquiry webpage.

Public hearings details

Melbourne

Day One

Date: Tuesday, 18 April 2023Venue: Davui Room, G1, 55 St Andrews Place, East MelbourneTime: 8:30am – 5:15pm (AEST)

Day Two

Date: Wednesday, 19 April 2023Venue: Davui Room, G1, 55 St Andrews Place, East MelbourneTime: 8:30am – 12:30pm (AEST)

The hearing will also be live streamed on the APH website: aph.gov.au/live.

 

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Human rights, women’s safety stakeholders to give evidence to inquiry on women and children’s rights

THE Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (JSCFADT) Human Rights Subcommittee will hear from human rights advocates and women’s safety stakeholders in a public hearing to be held today (12 April 2023) in Camperdown, Sydney.

Chair of the Human Rights Subcommittee, Maria Vamvakinou MP said, "We have recently heard evidence detailing the increase of human rights abuses of women and children in recent years, including the prevalence of acid attacks, rape as a weapon of war, and orphanage trafficking.

"After hearing from government agencies recently, the committee is eager to hear from those working in the sector to learn what they’re seeing and what can be done."

Ms Vamvakinou said the Subcommittee intended to hold additional hearings in coming months to support its work on the inquiry.

Submissions to the inquiry were due by Friday, December 16, 2022; however, late submissions may be considered. Submissions containing graphic material will not be accepted to the inquiry. Submissions should be lodged online using a My Parliament account.

Further information in relation to the inquiry is available from the JSCFADT’s website.

Hearing details

Time: 9.15am to 1.15pm (AEDT)​Venue: Auditorium, F23 Administration Building, University of Sydney, Camperdown NSW

 

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Public hearing on National Redress Scheme

 THE Joint Standing Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme will be holding a public hearing tomorrow for an inquiry into the National Redress Scheme.

Commencing at 10:15am, the committee will hear evidence from Knowmore Legal Services, Tuart Place and the Department of Social Services.

The program is available on the committee’s website.

The inquiry is looking into a range of areas, including:

  • The experience of First Nations applicants and applicants with disability in their dealings with the Scheme.
  • Accessibility, performance and effectiveness of support services and legal advice for survivors and their advocates.

The committee is continuing to accept submissions from interested individuals and organisations on the inquiry’s terms of reference on the committee’s website.

A discussion paper, an easy English guide and a short video about the inquiry is available on Facebook or YouTube

Public hearing details

Wednesday 12 April 202310:15am to around 12:45pm (Canberra time)Committee Room 2S1, Parliament House, Canberra

The hearing will be audio and video streamed at aph.gov.au/live 

 

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Public hearing on national security bill

THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security will hear evidence tomorrow from a range of witnesses for its Review of the National Security Legislation Amendment (Comprehensive Review and Other Measures No. 2) Bill 2023.

The committee will hear from witnesses including Dr Brendan Walker-Munro, the Commonwealth Ombudsman, the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, ASIO, the Department of Home Affairs and the Attorney-General’s Department.

“The committee is undertaking a review of the bill on referral from the Attorney-General.” PJCIS Chair Peter Khalil MP said.  

“The Australian Government has been implementing recommendations of the Comprehensive Review of the Legal Framework of the National Intelligence Community (known as the Richardson Review) since its completion in December 2019. This bill would implement a further 10 of those recommendations, across several Commonwealth Acts, related to the Attorney-General’s portfolio. The bill also proposes amendments to the Intelligence Service Act 2001 regarding the number of members and composition of the PJCIS, as well as changes to Ministerial directions issued by the Foreign Minister to the Australian Secret Intelligence Service.

“Careful consideration of the various changes proposed in the bill reflects a central role of the PJCIS, in providing assurance to Parliament that these amendments will be appropriate, proportionate and well considered.” Mr Khalil said.

Further information on the bill review can be obtained from the Committee’s website.           

Public Hearing Details

Tuesday, 11 April 202310.45am – 3pm (AEST)Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra

A program for the hearing can be found here and the hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

 

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PJCIS to consider Comprehensive Review and Other Measures Bill No. 2

The Bill also proposes to amend the Intelligence Services Act 2001 (IS Act) to provide certainty regarding the level of detail required to describe the directed activities in a Ministerial direction to the Australian Secret Intelligence Service under paragraph 6(1)(e) of the IS Act. In addition the bill proposes amendments to the IS Act on the composition and associated quorum requirements of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS).

Peter Khalil MP, Chair of the PJCIS said, “The committee’s (PJCIS) review of this national security Bill is an important Parliamentary oversight of the implementation of the recommendations of the Richardson Review. The PJCIS review process adds an extra layer of assurance that these changes are not only appropriate but will not have unintended impacts.”

The Attorney-General has requested that the committee report by the end of April 2023. Accordingly, submissions to the inquiry are invited by midday on Thursday, April 6, 2023. The committee acknowledges the very tight timeframe requested for submissions and appreciates all efforts to support the committee with its review.

Further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the Committee’s website.

 

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Proposed constitutional reform legislation referred to new Joint Select Committee

The proposed provisions to amend the Constitution by referendum have been referred to the newly established Joint Select Committee on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum for inquiry and review.

The Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice) 2023 (Bill), introduced to the House by Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus MP, would – if passed at a referendum – amend the Constitution to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Peoples of Australia.

It would also establish the Voice, intended to be an enduring institution to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can make representations to the Commonwealth Parliament and the Executive Government on matters that relate to them, improving the development and implementation of laws and policies.

Committee Chair Senator Nita Green said, "The government has now released the legislation which will ultimately be the mechanism to change the Constitution once it has been taken to the Australian public. This is a critical opportunity for the Parliament to examine the legislative provisions and hear from experts to ensure that the bill gives effect to the creation of the Voice.

"The committee is focused on the question of whether the legislative provisions achieve what is intended and give effect to the Government’s stated objectives before it moves to referendum," Senator Green said.

The committee has invited written submissions addressing the provisions of the bill. Submissions to the inquiry must be prepared solely for the inquiry and should not be published prior to being accepted by the committee.

"Prospective submitters should note that the committee does not intend to accept submissions that do not specifically address the provisions of the bill," Senator Green said.

Submissions are requested by COB Friday, April 21, 2023. Further information about making a submission to a committee inquiry can be found at the following link.

The committee intends to hold public hearings. The dates and locations of hearings will be decided shortly and published as soon as possible, a spokesperson said.

Further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the committee’s website.

 

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