Health News at Your Fingertips

South Australia is adopting the health advice to reduce the Covid reinfection period to 28 days, joining a string of states and territories.

Back to the Pacific Islands Forum, where the Fijian prime minister has been speaking.

Bainimarama specifically references Australia when speaking of the required “end [to] fossel fuel addiction, including coal”.

Dialling back, Albanese said all Pacific leaders supported Australia’s bid to co-host UNFCCC COP29.

You will see that reflected in the communique. Every nation expressed support and were very enthusiastic about the idea. What it will do, it will provide a focus on the very real threat of climate change … in the communique you will see that threat very directly mentioned … there is time, of course, the decision will not be made until the COP21 seven, which is being held later this year.

Need to make sure ‘people’s talents are fully utilised’, says Rishworth

Rishworth is asked about employment figures released today which are at near historic lows. Is this likely to see a budget improvement with more people in jobs?

She says the figures are a “good thing” but there are still barriers for some cohorts to enter the workplace.

This is good news for so many people that may not have had a job last month. There was an additional 80,000 jobs available to people in the economy.

We also know that there are people, some people for example living with a disability or some people who have been unemployed for some time. For those people we want to make sure that they get the support to enter the job market and that is what the focus for me will be on at the job summit is how do we make sure that people’s talents are fully utilised.

We do know that there are some barriers for people that have stopped them from getting into the labour market, to take up the opportunity that now exists. We need to support those people as well … it is really important that as a government that we support them with growing skills and productivity to ensure that there is ongoing economic growth as well.

‘Range of payments’ available, says social services minister

Rishworth says the pandemic has been “very difficult to navigate”, that the payments were expected to end on 30 June.

It is a difficult time, there is no suggesting that it is not. Our government has, as I said, as we move into the next phase of the pandemic, really looked at how we can support states and territories with hospital funding and all those other measures … such as making antivirals available.

Rishworth says there are a “range of payments” available through Services Australia for people doing it tough.

Jeremy Rockliff, the Tasmanian premier has written to Albanese to ask that it is reconsidered. So has NSW Labor leader Chris Minns. “Both of them, same answer?”

She replies:

The government has made the decision that this payment is to end and moved into the next phase of the pandemic. There are payments available around states and hospitals and as I said, a range of other measures that we are taking.

‘No money’ for Covid payments for casual workers, says government

Social services minister Amanda Rishworth has appeared on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing.

Asked about the pandemic leave disaster payments, which have recently lapsed, Rishworth said there was “no money” to extend the $750 payments and focus is now turning to antiviral drugs and vaccine boosters.

Labor has faced some backlash, including from within its ranks, for refusing to extend the payments, which were introduced by the Coalition for casual workers who were isolating with Covid.

That payment was due to end at the end of this financial year. The government has taken that decision but there is no money to be able to extend that and this is the right time to end up payment.

Of course, we haven’t sat on our laurels when it comes to tackling this pandemic. What we have done is we extended money to hospitals, very important for states and territories to be able to deal with the increased numbers of patients, we have been off to make those … putting in information campaigns of getting a booster and ensuring that there is a fourth shot available for people, as well as antivirals and making sure that they are widely available.

Perth protest against transfer of juvenile inmates to an adult jail

In Perth, about a 100 people have assembled to protest the transfer of 20 young people from WA’s only juvenile detention facility Banksia Hill to an adult prison.

The rain didn’t dampen advocates’ attendance urging the West Australian government to consider alternatives after what the state government says is ongoing disruptions and disturbances from the boys.

Rally organiser Megan Krakouer told Guardian Australia’s Indigenous Affairs reporter earlier that there are serious concerns young vulnerable people could be at risk of harm if the transportation goes ahead:

Youth justice has failed – what they’re doing is shifting the problem. They’re shifting the problem into an adult prison.

A grandmother of one of the boys said she fears for the life of her teenage grandson.

Can Pacific Island visa scheme alleviate Australian labor shortages?

Finally, the prime minister is asked if he will extend the Pacific Island visa scheme to help address labor shortages currently hitting the aged care sector.

“Have a look at what we promised in the election campaign,” he replies.

We promised a Pacific island visa campaign to be extended … we promised more permanent migration from the Pacific for a specific visa to be applicable … to make people from the Pacific permanent Australian citizens.

It’s one of the things I’ve been working on, whether it be here or with New Zealanders who are in Australia, we need to give people more security. There is a role for temporary migration but I am someone who believes people should have a stake in the country and there is huge opportunities there.

From that brief, vital rugby interlude, back to the climate crisis.

Reporter:

The declaration of a climate emergency – is that the same kind of words you would use to describe what the world is facing with climate change? Is Australian policy consistent with such a declaration?

Albanese:

People have used that term before many times. What I say is that the word climate emergency is Australian’s opportunity, jobs opportunity for Australia we could be a renewable energy superpower for the world if we just seize that opportunity.

Now to … the State of Origin.

Albanese is asked with “many people … passionate about rugby league” if the State of Origin could be brought to the Pacific as a soft diplomacy tool.

I’ve … had discussion with the NRL, very directly and I have spoken … about the Pacific and the engagement with rugby league, it is a passionate sport here. It’s the number one sport here. Rugby league, rugby union of course is very big in Fiji here, and as well, but in places like Papua New Guinea … the prime minister who was sitting next to me last night watching the origin said it’s the one time in PNG that everything stops. Everything stops through the entire country. And they are very passionate and it would be a great thing for such an event to occur.

It was a great game last night, congratulations to Queensland on a deserved one, even though I’m a loyal NSW person, clearly the best team won last night.

Relief on Solomon Islands ruling out Chinese military base?

Albanese is asked whether he feels a sense of “relief” when it comes to China in the Solomon Islands after revelations any military base would be ruled out and Australia remained their “nation of choice”.

I think that we have set about an objective to, I guess, reconfirm Australia’s position in this region. We have been, since the Second World War, a security partner of choice. We are now very much re-engaged with the Pacific.

I note that previously this meeting would have still been going for many hours. I’m told that one of the reasons … is the changed position of Australia. For example on the communique, we dealt with that pretty expeditiously. It was all over not long after three o’clock today. That represents a success.