Japan mobilised military doctors and nurses to give shots to elderly people in Tokyo and Osaka on Monday as the government desperately tries to accelerate its vaccination rollout and curb coronavirus infections just two months before hosting the Olympics.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is determined to hold the Olympics in Tokyo after a one-year delay and has made an ambitious pledge to finish vaccinating the country's 36 million elderly people by the end of July, despite scepticism it's possible.
Worries about public safety while many Japanese remain unvaccinated have prompted growing protests and calls for cancelling the Games set to start on July 23.
Suga's government has repeatedly expanded the area and duration of a virus state of emergency since late April and has made its virus-fighting measures stricter. But with COVID-19 cases still persistently high, Suga says vaccines .....
Perth Zoo is set to build on its reputation as a contemporary, world-class venue with the final plan for the Perth Zoo's future Masterplan Project released today.
"For 123 years, Perth Zoo has provided wonderful memories for so many Western Australian. Now the time has come for the zoo to get a new lease on life - and this 20-year masterplan will deliver on that.The master plan will ensure our world-renowned zoo continues to provide new wildlife experiences for Western Australians and visitors into the future, and deliver more room for animals to roam," said Premier Mark McGowan.
The Premier and Environment Minister today visited the zoo, on Endangered Species Day, to launch the 20-year masterplan and announce Perth Zoo is expecting a couple of new additions to its giraffe herd.
Perth Zoo is part of the Australasian Giraffe Breeding Program to support the vulnerable species. Bot.....
The Morrison Government is taking strong action to further boost Australia’s long-term fuel security by locking in the future of our refining sector.
The Government’s fuel security package will help secure Australia’s recovery from the COVID crisis and it will help secure our sovereign fuel stocks, locking in jobs and protecting families and businesses from higher fuel prices.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Government was delivering on its commitment to maintain a self-sufficient refining capability in Australia by supporting the operation of the Ampol refinery in Lytton (Queensland) and the Viva Energy refinery in Geelong (Victoria). The package will protect the jobs of 1,250 direct employees across the two refineries and create another 1,750 construction jobs.
The Prime Minister Scott Morrison said locking in Australia’s fuel security would deliver benefits for.....
Western Australian fresh produce will be featured in high-end Indonesian supermarkets over the next month, thanks to a new trade agreement and an innovative virtual marketing initiative.
Locally grown Bravo apples, three varieties of table grapes and premium onions will be showcased in a 'Fresh Flavours of Western Australia' promotion in more than 10 stores across Greater Jakarta.
The opportunity was leveraged from the new Indonesia - Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement signed in 2020, which has helped improve market access to WA's fifth largest export customer for agrifood and beverages.
"This marketing effort, born from the new trade agreement and the Virtual Business Matching Program, has led to the first ever shipments of premium WA fresh produce to Indonesia via importer PT Mulia Raya," said Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan. "The local par.....
The government has looked past rising commodity prices, consumer spending, jobs growth and tax revenues to deliver an expansionary budget for a second year running.
CPA Australia General Manager External Affairs Dr Jane Rennie said, “After years of focusing on achieving budget surpluses, the government has recognised the importance of continuing to use fiscal policy levers. This is a sensible approach given ongoing COVID uncertainty and low wages growth.”
“The 2021-22 Federal Budget targets the historically underfunded areas of health care, aged care and women’s economic security. This investment will deliver enormous social and economic value, however, additional investment may be required.”
The budget commits $1.2 billion to transform Australia into a modern digital economy. Digital investment is vital to securing a sustainable economy and the list of key initiatives.....
The Morrison Government has announced a package of around $3.4 billion new measures to improve outcomes for women’s safety, economic security, health and wellbeing in the 2021–22 Budget.
This includes the Government investing $1.1 billion in funding for women’s safety; $1.9 billion to support women’s economic security including $1.7 billion to improve the affordability of child care for Australian families and $351.6 million in women’s health and wellbeing measures.
“Our approach to developing this Women’s Budget Statement has been informed by our values of respect, dignity, choice, equality of opportunity and justice – these are fundamental to the safety and economic security of women in Australia,” Prime Minister Morrison said.
The package builds on the Government’s investment for women in Australia, including under the National Plan to Reduce Violence Agai.....
The Government is delivering a further $7.8 billion in personal income tax cuts to support more than 10 million low- and middle-income earners worth up to $1,080 for individuals or up to $2,160 for couples.
This is on top of the $25.1 billion of announced tax cuts flowing to households in 2021‑22 under our legislated Personal Income Tax (PIT) Plan.
With the additional year of the low and middle income tax offset (LMITO), our PIT Plan will provide tax cuts of up to $7,020 for individuals, and up to $14,040 for couples, in total over the period from 2018-19 to 2021‑22.
Treasury estimates that extending the LMITO will boost GDP by around $4.5 billion in 2022-23 and will create an additional 20,000 jobs by the end of 2022‑23.
When Stage 3 is implemented in 2024‑25, around 95 per cent of taxpayers will face a marginal tax rate of 30 per cent or less.
Lower taxes means t.....
Government chartered repatriation flights to the Centre for National Resilience at Howard Springs for Australians returning from India will resume on May 15, after the completion of the current temporary ban on re-entry, the Morrison and Gunner Governments confirmed today.
Since the pause on flights from India commenced there has been a sustained reduction in COVID-19 positive cases originating from India in Australia’s quarantine system.
The National Security Committee of Cabinet was advised yesterday that the pause was working and that this would allow the repatriation flights to resume after May 15.
The temporary ban will remain in place until that time, as intended.
The number of COVID-19 positive cases in the Howard Springs has fallen to 21, from more than 50 cases a week ago, and positive cases associated with previous facilitated flights from India are on track to re.....
Work has begun on Australia's first community hydrogen power plant, providing an innovative and renewable alternative to the use of diesel in the Gascoyne town of Denham.
Hydrogen Industry Minister Alannah MacTiernan was on site today to turn the first sod on the project, which will generate enough renewable hydrogen to power 100 residential homes and help decarbonise the future of the electricity supply chain.
Horizon Power will install a 704-kilowatt (kW) solar farm, 348kW hydrogen electrolyser and a 100kW fuel cell in Denham, enabling excess renewable energy to be used to produce renewable hydrogen which will be stored on site and used to power homes as required.
It is the first time in Australia that a renewable hydrogen powered remote microgrid will be used in the community, with Denham chosen due to its proximity to wind and solar resources and land availability.
Site.....
The Morrison Government is investing almost $1.2 billion in Australia’s digital future through the Digital Economy Strategy, as part of this year’s Federal Budget.
The strategy outlines the policies and actions the Government is taking to grow Australia’s future as a modern and leading digital economy by 2030.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said one of our biggest challenges and opportunities turns on how we respond to the digital transformation occurring in every sector and every facet of our lives.
“Every business in Australia is now a digital business. The tradesman or woman who seeks work through AirTasker. The landscaper who finds most of their new business through search engine placement and social media. The farmer who keeps track of their herd with electronic tags or drones. The local Thai restaurant that sells through UberEats, MenuLog, Deliveroo, or any one of h.....
The ‘Indian strain’ of the coronavirus, also known as B.1.617 or a ‘double mutant’, has been found in at least 17 countries, the WHO has said, as the world grapples to contain the surge in the Covid-19 cases with 5.7 million infections detected last week, surpassing previous peaks. The B.1.617 variant of SARS-CoV2 or the ‘Indian strain’, feared to be contributing to a surge in coronavirus cases in India, has been designated as the Variants of Interest (VOI) by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the UN health agency said in its weekly epidemiological update on Tuesday.
“As of 27 April, over 1,200 sequences have been uploaded to GISAID and assigned to lineage B.1.617 (collectively) from at least 17 countries," it said, adding that most sequences were uploaded from India, the United Kingdom, USA and Singapore. GISAID is a global science initiative and primary source estab.....
Spectators will experience the transformation of Northam's skies into a stunning sea of hot air balloons, with two high-profile championships secured for the Avon Valley in 2021 and 2023.
The Australian National Ballooning Championships will be held between August 30 and September 4, 2021, while the Women's World Hot Air Ballooning Championships is scheduled for spring 2023.
Both events are supported by the McGowan Government through Tourism WA's Regional Events Program and delivered by Northam Ballooning Events in partnership with the Shire of Northam. "Northam is known for being a top hot air ballooning destination and these championship events will further cement this reputation and is sure to provide an incredible and colourful display that will be well worth seeing for those travelling to the region," said Tourism Minister David Templeman. "Events such as these also play an i.....