This Newsletter covers Federal and State policy and legislative developments in the area of health. Copies of documents referred to can be obtained by clicking on the reference in this Newsletter or through Capital Monitor's collection at www.capitalmonitor.com.au or from the source quoted.
Major Announcements
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
29 April
NSW: COVID-19 (Coronavirus) statistics
NSW recorded no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm. Fifteen new cases were acquired overseas to 8pm, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 5,275. There were 12,894 tests reported to 8pm, compared with the previous day's total of 16,635. NSW Health administered 3,728 vaccines in the 24 hours to 8pm. The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 608,538, with 202,220 doses administered by NSW Health to 8pm and 406,318 administered by Commonwealth Government providers, including GPs, to 11.59pm on Tuesday 27 April.
Download
VIC: Planning to begin on dedicated quarantine hub
Victorian Acting Premier James Merlino said that the Victorian Government has selected a preferred site and will now commence discussions with the Commonwealth about planning for a new purpose-built quarantine accommodation hub, guarding against the potential long-term threat of coronavirus and its changing variants. With a delayed vaccine rollout here in Australia and an increasingly dire situation around the world, it's clear quarantine will continue to be a part of the protections for some time.
Download
WA: Post-lockdown restrictions to ease further from 12.01am Saturday
As planned, the Perth and Peel post-lockdown restrictions are set to be significantly eased further from 12.01am Saturday, May 1. The easing of restrictions will see Perth and Peel move closer to the return of pre-lockdown life, but a small number of transitional measures will remain in place until Saturday, May 8. The Chief Health Officer has advised Perth and Peel will need to see through the full 14-day incubation period before pre-lockdown life can fully resume, said WA Premier Mark McGowan.
Download
28 April
AIS welcomes vaccinations ahead of Tokyo Games
The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) welcomed the Australian Government's announcement that Australian athletes and support teams will be vaccinated ahead of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. AIS CEO Peter Conde also acknowledged Games partners - the Australia Olympic Committee and Paralympics Australia - for the collaborative work being done to give Australian athletes the safest possible preparation and environment in Tokyo. 'We welcome this decision by the Australian Government because not only does it give some assurance to athletes, their support teams and their loved ones, it is also wonderful recognition that our country greatly values these athletes as ambassadors and representatives of our country,' said Conde.
Download
Greens call on WA Government to close high risk quarantine hotels
The Greens said that quarantine will be part of managing the pandemic for the foreseeable future and purpose built facilities should be built now. 'The Western Australian Government needs to urgently close the quarantine hotels that have been identified as high risk and improve other areas of its approach to quarantine. These hotels are not fit for purpose and we cannot go any longer using these sub-par facilities that can result in outbreaks. Australia clearly needs a no-fault vaccine compensation scheme to help increase vaccine confidence and secure other vaccine deals. Having such a scheme in place will ensure people don't need to pursue compensation through the legal system in the rare event of adverse side effects,' Senator Rachel Siewert.
Download
ACT: Information on new case of COVID-19
A new case of COVID-19 has been detected in a man in his 50s, who is a returned overseas traveller to the ACT. The man is a diplomat who returned to Australia on 25 April. He flew into Sydney International Airport and travelled to Canberra by private vehicle on the same day. He did not stop en route to the ACT and has been in home quarantine since his return. While in quarantine, the diplomat experienced mild COVID-19 symptoms and was tested for COVID-19, returning a positive result. The individual has followed all quarantine measures for returning overseas travellers and is being supported by ACT Health.
Download
WA: COVID-19 update 28 April 2021
The Western Australia Department of Health has reported four new cases of COVID-19. They are three males - one each in their 30s, 40s and 50s - and a female in her 20s, all returned from overseas travel and in hotel quarantine. The State's total number now stands at 994. WA Health is monitoring 27 active cases of COVID-19 and 958 people have recovered from the virus in WA. To date, the WA Department of Health has administered 91,957 COVID-19 vaccinations, including 21,730 people who have received both doses. .
Download
WA: COVID-19 vaccination campaign 'Roll up for WA' launches
Western Australia Premier McGowan and Western Australia Minister for Health Roger Cook said that a new campaign is rolling out across the State encouraging Western Australians to roll up their sleeves and get vaccinated against COVID-19, as the State prepares to open up its vaccination eligibility to people aged 50 and over. The 'Roll up for WA' campaign is aimed at getting as many Western Australians vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible. The campaign features real frontline workers who were among the first vaccinated in WA and their personal reasons as to why they chose to 'roll up their sleeve'.
Download
27 April
Flights from India now paused as Australia sends emergency medical supplies
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne said that the Government has agreed a number of new measures to protect Australians from the increased risk of the COVID-19 outbreak in India, while also providing significant new support to assist the Indian Government in their humanitarian response. On advice from the Chief Medical Officer, India has been determined to be a high-risk country for the purposes of travel arrangements. Australia will implement a temporary pause on direct passenger flights between India and Australia for two weeks, with consideration of further flights to be made by 15 May 2021.
Download
Australia's Olympic athletes granted access to COVID-19 vaccines
National Cabinet has agreed to vaccinate athletes and support staff headed to the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games under priority group 1b. Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt and Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services Richard Colbeck said it offers an assurance to athletes preparing to represent Australia on the world stage. Supplies of the COVID-19 vaccine will be made available to approximately 2050 Australians identified by the AOC and Paralympics Australia. 'We want to see our athletes head to Tokyo to compete and then return to Australia safely,' Minister Hunt said.
Download
Indian COVID support is timely and critical
The End COVID For All campaign has endorsed Prime Minister Scott Morrison's announcement that Australia will provide ventilators and personal protective equipment to India as it battles through its COVID outbreak. Campaign spokesman, Reverend Tim Costello said: 'COVID is visiting untold misery on the Indian people and it is important for Australia to step up with proportionate, targeted support where it's needed. Ventilators, oxygen concentrators, protective gowns, goggles and face shields are on their way to India. This will directly assist nurses, doctors and health workers to ease and prevent this awful outbreak.'
Download
NT: Infringement - CHO Directions - Yulara
The Northern Territory Department of Health said that Yulara Police have issued an infringement notice for a breach of Chief Health Officer Directions. A 64-year-old man from Western Australia entered the Territory via the South Australia border on 25 April, without submitting an online border entry form. He arrived at the Yulara campground where staff established that the man had been in a hotspot area within the last 14 days, and contacted police. The man was issued a $5,056 infringement notice and sent immediately to the Alice Springs quarantine facility.
Download
QLD: Management of close contacts direction
The Queensland Department of Health released a Public Health Direction that affects those who have been informed that they are a close contact of someone who has COVID-19 and must quarantine for 14 days from the day they last had close contact with that person unless an exception applies. Separately from the requirements under Public Health Directions, under sections 362G and 362H of the Public Health Act 2005, a person may be given a direction by an emergency officer (public health) to stay at or in a particular place for up to 14 days if the emergency officer believes it is reasonably necessary to assist in containing, or to respond to, the spread of COVID-19 in the community.
Download
NT: COVID-19 Update: WA hotspots revoked
The Chief Health Officer has revoked Metropolitan Perth and the Peel Region in Western Australia as hotspots for the purposes of travel to the Northern Territory. People arriving into the Northern Territory from Metropolitan Perth and the Peel Region will no longer have to undertake mandatory supervised quarantine in the NT. Anyone currently in mandatory supervised quarantine from Metropolitan Perth and the Peel Region will be able to exit, said the NT Department of Health.
Download
26 April
SA: COVID-19 update
The South Australia Department of Health said: 'There have been 14 new cases of COVID-19 today. There have been a total of 719 cases notified in South Australia. Today's active cases are four children (two boys, two girls), a man and a woman in their 20s, four women in their 30s, and a man in his 40s. Three of today's cases are considered to have an historical infection and include one child, and a man and woman in their 30s. All of today's cases acquired their infection overseas and have been in a medi-hotel since their arrival.'
Download
25 April
WA: COVID-19 update
The WA Department of Health has reported no new local cases of COVID-19 in the community. WA Health is reporting two new cases of COVID-19. A male in his 50s in hotel quarantine, who tested positive after returning from overseas travel. The other is a male in his 40s, a resident of WA who was a close contact of a case now in Victoria. He is now also in hotel quarantine and is assisting contact tracers with their work. The State's total number now stands at 986.
Download
24 April
QLD: Queenslander in list of recent AstraZeneca reactions
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) released a list of three new individuals across Australia who have experienced the rare blood clotting reaction to the AstraZeneca vaccine, said the Queensland Department of Health. These recent reactions, identified specifically as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), includes one Queenslander, a 49-year-old man who received his vaccination from a GP in South Brisbane. The man was treated for two days at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital and has since been discharged. Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said the recovery of all three individuals is thanks to the fast reactions of both patients and staff.
Download
23 April
Government walks away from workplace vaccinations for aged care, disability support workers
The Government is backing away from previous commitments to provide vaccinations in workplaces for all workers covered by the highest priority 1A grouping, including those in aged care and disability services. Instead, workers in these groups, many of whom are casual, will now have to travel to vaccination centres, with no commitment from the Federal Government that they will be supported in the event they have to give up shifts or suffer side effects which prevent them from working. This lack of support puts at risk the high level of vaccination necessary to keep COVID out of these high risk settings, said the ACTU.
Download
Return to top
Aged Care
29 April
Royal Commission: Palliative care is core business for aged care
The recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (The Commission) are aligned with, and a very strong endorsement of recommendations long held and advocated by the nation's peak palliative care organisation, Palliative Care Australia (PCA). That endorsement has been highlighted in a new report, Palliative care is core business for aged care, which summarises the Royal Commission's recommendations against Palli-8, PCA's eight-point plan for palliative care.
Download
SA: CCTV pilot begins in SA disability homes
Enhancing the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable South Australians living with disability is the focus of a state-first CCTV camera pilot which has begun in state-run disability homes. Following extensive consultation with clients, families, guardians, staff and stakeholders, the three month-trial has begun in two southern suburbs supported accommodation homes - home to 10 people living with disability. SA Minister for Human Services Michelle Lensink said the Government had listened to calls from families and clients about their desire to implement a CCTV camera trial.
Download
26 April
ANMF launches new national aged care campaign: 'It's not too much'
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) has launched its new national campaign aimed at ensuring that aged care is a priority in the upcoming 2021 Budget and that the Government introduces urgently-needed laws that mandate safe, staff ratios in every nursing home, 24/7. The 'It's Not Too Much' campaign features a series of radio and TV commercials and website, asking Australians to help influence the Government to legislate staff ratios, to stop the suffering and neglect of elderly nursing home residents. Mobile billboards will also circulate across the electorates of five key politicians.
Download
Return to top
Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety
None this edition.
Return to top
Allied Health
None this edition.
Return to top
Children's Health
29 April
TAS: Supporting access to cutting edge treatments for children with cancer
Tasmanian Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff said that a re-elected Government will provide $600,000 over three years to secure the future of Tasmania's only Children's Cancer Clinical Trials Unit, which has previously depended entirely on donations. Childhood cancer is the leading cause of non-traumatic deaths in Tasmanian children, and is a significant contributor to long-term health issues. The Children's Cancer Clinical Trials Unit was established around three years ago through funding of over $300,000 by The Kids' Cancer Project to ensure Tasmanian children with aggressive forms of cancer could locally access cutting edge innovative treatments by participating in large scale trials.
Download
27 April
VIC: Smile Squad to visit even more schools from Term Two
Thousands more Victorian school students will get free dental check-ups, with a major expansion of the Victorian Government's landmark free dental program. Victorian Acting Premier James Merlino and Victorian Minister for Health Martin Foley announced 161 new primary and secondary schools will be invited to take part in Smile Squad for Term 2, following a temporary pause during the pandemic. From Term 2, Smile Squad vans will be rolling out to schools in 10 new Local Government Areas: Ararat, Banyule, Bass Coast, Darebin, Monash, Northern Grampians, Southern Grampians, Warrnambool, Yarra and Yarra Ranges.
Download
23 April
VIC: Imagination tree inspiring sick kids to recover faster
A giant 'imagination tree' spanning four levels in the foyer of Victoria's world-class Monash Children's Hospital has been officially opened. Victorian Minister Foley launched the Moose Imagination Tree, which is an interactive space for sick children and families, imagined by The Walt Disney Company and built by Moose Toys. The Monash Children's Hospital was opened in 2017 and provides care for more than 100,000 children each year. The 'Imagination Tree' rises through four levels of the hospital providing play, creative and relaxation spaces.
Download
Return to top
Clinical Governance
None this edition.
Return to top
Construction and Health Infrastructure
None this edition.
Return to top
Dental
27 April
VIC: Smile Squad to visit even more schools from Term Two
Thousands more Victorian school students will get free dental check-ups, with a major expansion of the Victorian Government's landmark free dental program. Victorian Acting Premier James Merlino and Victorian Minister for Health Martin Foley announced 161 new primary and secondary schools will be invited to take part in Smile Squad for Term 2, following a temporary pause during the pandemic. From Term 2, Smile Squad vans will be rolling out to schools in 10 new Local Government Areas: Ararat, Banyule, Bass Coast, Darebin, Monash, Northern Grampians, Southern Grampians, Warrnambool, Yarra and Yarra Ranges.
Download
Return to top
Disabilities
None this edition.
Return to top
Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability
None this edition.
Return to top
E-Health
28 April
Telehealth extension welcome but permanent system needed
The Government's decision to extend Medicare-funded telehealth for GPs and non-GP specialists until the end of the year is welcome but is a missed opportunity to enshrine telehealth as a permanent feature of the Australian health system in a form which has greatest benefit for vulnerable and hard-to-reach communities, Australian Medical Association (AMA) President, Dr Omar Khorshid, said. The AMA had previously called for the extension of all existing COVID telehealth items through until the end of the year. 'The AMA will continue to work towards finalising permanent telehealth arrangements with Government as a matter of urgency, in a form that has the greatest benefits for patients, so that the profession and patients have certainty going forward.'
Download
27 April
Ongoing Telehealth drives innovation and gives everyone better access to healthcare
The Consumers Health Forum welcomed the extension of Medicare coverage for telehealth consultations for GPs, allied health and specialists to the end of 2021. To be able to consult with your health care provider by phone or video was an important step in making ongoing healthcare safer for patients during the early days of the pandemic. 'This was particularly essential for people with complex and chronic conditions who needed ongoing care.' said the CEO of the Consumers Health Forum, Leanne Wells.
Download
26 April
Universal Telehealth extended through 2021
Over the last 12 months, Telehealth services have been life changing for many in need of support, which is why as part of the 2021-22 Budget, the Government is investing more than $114 million to extend Telehealth until the end of the year. Telehealth items were rapidly implemented in March 2020 to ensure the primary care sector could continue to function and that Australians could continue to access important health services. Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt said Telehealth has played an important role in supporting Australians through the pandemic.
Download
New telehealth extension welcome, but should be wider and permanent
Catholic Health Australia (CHA) has welcomed the Government's latest extension of the telehealth program but the peak body is calling for it to cover a wider range of services and be cemented as permanent. The list of Medicare services delivered via the telehealth program was due to end this month, but following calls from patients and providers, including CHA and its members, Health Minister Greg Hunt has announced it will now run until December. CHA Director of Health Policy James Kemp said telehealth had been a huge success, hitting the main health aims of better outcomes, value for money, and clinician and patient satisfaction.
Download
Return to top
Education and Training
28 April
VIC: Funding for mental health, doctor training top of Budget wish-list for rural doctors
The Rural Doctors Association of Victoria (RDAV) said dedicated funding to improve access to mental healthcare in rural Victoria - as well as funding to support the training of more future Rural Generalist doctors - should be critical elements of the Victorian Budget for 2021. RDAV President, Dr Rob Phair, said without adequate funding from the Victorian Government, recommendations from the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System would remain just that. 'The Victorian Government has the plan, and it has committed to the recommendations to improve mental health access, but now we need to see the funding to make these recommendations a reality,' Dr Phair said.
Download
27 April
Reconsider Dan Murphy's plans in the Northern Territory
The Australian Medical Students' Association (AMSA) called upon the Northern Territory Government to urgently reconsider its plans to allow a Dan Murphy's superstore to be built next to electively dry communities in Darwin. Despite being rejected twice by the NT Liquor Commission, Woolworths-owned Endeavour Drinks Group continues to move forward with plans to construct a Dan Murphy's superstore in Darwin. The proposed location for the development of the superstore is within close proximity to three voluntarily dry communities. Furthermore, the NT Government is working to change legislation that may override this decision by the NT Liquor Commission.
Download
Return to top
Funding
28 April
$23.7 million to support Australia's peak health groups
Minister for Health Greg Hunt said that the Australian Government is opening a new round to invest more than $23 million to support the nation's peak health groups and advisory bodies. These groups play a major role in improving the health and wellbeing of all Australians and the advice of Australia's peak health groups and advisory bodies remains critical. Their impartial advice, expertise and experience means the Government can implement reforms that boost the health and wellbeing of all Australians now and into the future. This new grant opportunity supports a wide range of health organisations consult and share information with their members, the wider health sector, the community and the Government.
Download
27 April
Breakthrough 2022 Athlete Funding Program Aiming to Deliver in Birmingham
Sport Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport said that Commonwealth Games Australia launched a $2 million-dollar support scheme for athletes in the lead-up to Birmingham 2022 and the AIS is proud to help deliver it. CGA's 'Breakthrough2022' will be administered by the AIS and will be in addition to the $14 million in direct athlete grants the AIS already provides each year through its dAIS scheme. Athletes can receive up to $8,000 to support their training and competition activities to assist their performance outcome in Birmingham such as fund international or domestic travel for training or competition, medical support or other training-related expenses.
Download
Return to top
Health Professionals
29 April
Changing the conversation in the health system to empower consumers to choose wisely
With the theme Empowering consumers to choose wisely, the upcoming 2021 Choosing Wisely Australia National Meeting will offer a platform for Choosing Wisely members and supporters, consumer advocates, health services and other healthcare influencers to engage and be champions in the health system so that people only receive care that is evidence-based and truly needed. NPS MedicineWise CEO Adj A/Prof Steve Morris says he encourages people working in hospitals, general practice and other health services as well as policy makers and consumer advocates with a stake in consumers choosing their healthcare wisely to join the meeting.
Download
Wellways Australia signs Enforceable Undertaking
Mental health, community care and disability services provider Wellways Australia Limited will back-pay staff more than $1.5 million after entering into an Enforceable Undertaking (EU) with the Fair Work Ombudsman. The not-for-profit organisation first self-reported underpayments to the workplace regulator in September 2020. After being prompted by an external review of its payroll function and a pay query from an employee, Wellways discovered it had underpaid more than 500 current and former employees' entitlements under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 between 2014 and 2020.
Download
ACTU writes to Hunt calling for action on failed vaccine rollout for aged care, disability support workers
The ACTU has written to Minister Hunt to express increasing concern that the vaccine rollout isn't reaching those most vulnerable, including elderly and disabled people and those working with them. The current rollout appears to have abandoned in-workplace vaccination plans for workers in aged care and disability support, instead requiring workers, who are often in insecure work, to take time off to travel to a vaccination hub or GP clinic.
Download
28 April
COVID-19 Select Committee ignoring nursing in vaccine rollout
The Senate Select Committee on COVID-19 cannot be effective as they have overlooked inviting the most influential profession to the delivery of a successful vaccine rollout, according to the Australian College of Nursing (ACN). Without hearing the nursing profession share their concerns and ideas, the Committee is missing a real opportunity to offer solutions to the challenges of Australia's COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Australian College of Nursing Chief Executive Officer, Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN, said the Committee should be directly engaging with the role of nurses in the rollout, particularly given that nursing is responsible for the vast majority of immunisation in the community.
Download
International day of mourning: Remembering nurses who have died from Covid-19 during the global pandemic
On the International Day of Mourning, which commemorates those who have died at work, The End COVID for All campaign and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF), came together to pay tribute to the 3,000 nurses across the world who have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Tragically, that is more nurses than the total of nurses who died throughout the entirety of World War 1. 'Nurses around the world have been at the forefront during the fight against COVID-19. Today, we stop and reflect on their extraordinary commitment, dedication and the sacrifices they made for those people in their care,' ANMF Acting Federal Secretary, Lori-Anne Sharp said.
Download
HESTA adds to investments team with new General Manager Defensives appointment
Health Employees Superannuation Trust Australia (HESTA) announced the latest addition to the leadership of its investment team, with the appointment of Stephen Howard as General Manager, Defensives. HESTA CIO Sonya Sawtell-Rickson welcomed Mr Howard to the $60 billion industry superannuation fund, saying his appointment would continue to build on the internalisation program that will see management of fixed interest and cash begin to shift in-house in 2022. 'Stephen will be leading the next phase of our internalisation journey, as we move to internally manage fixed interest and cash instruments,' Ms Sawtell-Rickson said.
Download
Return to top
Hospitals
28 April
NSW: Nats in government continue Griffith hospital redevelopment
The $250 million redevelopment of Griffith Base Hospital is a step closer, with NSW Health Infrastructure lodging the State Significant Development application for the work. NSW Nationals Duty MLC for Murray Wes Fang welcomed the lodging of the application as bringing the project another step closer to delivering better health services for Griffith and the surrounding communities. 'The lodgement of the planning application represents over two years of detailed planning and extensive consultation with clinicians, operational staff, community members and local and state government agencies,' Mr Fang said.
Download
TAS: Labor will deliver new dedicated hospice beds for Launceston
A majority Labor Government will commit $5 million to the build of a ten-bed dedicated hospice at the Launceston General Hospital precinct. Tasmanian Labor Leader Rebecca White said the small number of dedicated hospice beds currently in Launceston meant there were not enough and people were forced to use beds that could be used for medical emergencies. 'The current situation is simply unacceptable and it is completely inappropriate for people to die in emergency departments without the dignity and privacy they deserve at the end of life,' Ms White said.
Download
27 April
VIC: Liberal Nationals launch campaign to keep local hospitals local
Victorians are being asked to add their voice to a new campaign standing against the Government's plan to amalgamate local hospitals across the state. The 'Hands Off Our Hospitals' petition comes in response to a growing push to amalgamate services under a 'formal partnership approach'. Hospitals at Mildura, Warrnambool, Horsham, Wangaratta, Echuca, Wonthaggi and Bairnsdale are among those to be targeted by the plan. It will see health services at Geelong, Ballarat, Traralgon, Albury Wodonga, Shepparton and Bendigo appointed as lead organisations above smaller hospitals in what Labor's trying to sell as 'Regional Area Health Partnerships', said Victorian Leader of the Nationals Peter Walsh and Victorian Shadow Minister for Health Georgie Crozier.
Download
VIC: Campaign launched to save Mildura Hospital from amalgamation
'A plan to merge Mildura Base Public Hospital under the Bendigo Health service must not go ahead,' said Mr Walsh. 'Local people are being asked to add their names to a petition pressuring the Government to get its hands off our regional hospitals. A stand-alone health service was a critical foundation of any regional community, but particularly for Mildura. Labor is taking the 'local' out of local hospitals to create mega-hospitals controlled by the bureaucracy and dominated by the larger regional cities.'
Download
26 April
Keep ahead of the spread and get your flu jab by your local pharmacist
It's that time of year again, with influenza looming large as the seasons change. Whilst attention is currently centred on the COVID-19 virus, the danger of the influenza cannot be underestimated, nor understated. Influenza is dangerous and highly infectious, and potentially life-threatening to at-risk Australians. The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) is encouraging people to heed the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation's (ATAGI) advice to vaccinate against influenza annually. Annual vaccination is necessary in providing the best protection for you and people you come in contact with, including family and friends.
Download
23 April
Get your flu vaccine now
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) is urging all Australians to get their seasonal flu vaccination now, with general practices across the country having recently received stock ahead of the upcoming flu season. 'Winter is coming, and influenza remains a very serious illness, particularly for the vulnerable members of our community,' AMA President Dr Omar Khorshid said. 'Thousands of Australians are admitted to hospitals with influenza complications each year. Last year we saw record flu vaccinations, which was fantastic. We need to do the same again this year.'
Download
Return to top
Insurance
None this edition.
Return to top
Medicare
28 April
Telehealth extension welcome but permanent system needed
The Government's decision to extend Medicare-funded telehealth for GPs and non-GP specialists until the end of the year is welcome but is a missed opportunity to enshrine telehealth as a permanent feature of the Australian health system in a form which has greatest benefit for vulnerable and hard-to-reach communities, Australian Medical Association (AMA) President, Dr Omar Khorshid, said. The AMA had previously called for the extension of all existing COVID telehealth items through until the end of the year.
Download
Return to top
Men's Health
27 April
HIIT and resistance training builds muscle and improves fitness in middle-aged men, ACU study
A six-week exercise program of either high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or resistance training can help middle-aged men build and maintain muscle mass and strength, new ACU research has found. The Mary Mackillop Institute for Health Research (MMIHR) study, published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, found middle-aged men who undertook an intense program of targeted exercise for six weeks were able to maintain gains in muscle strength for two to three weeks after ceasing all structured exercise.
Download
Return to top
Mental Health
28 April
Tasmanian Mental health clinic to be redeveloped
Tasmanian Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier Jacquie Petrusma said that: 'I'm pleased to announce that a re-elected majority Gutwein Liberal Government will provide $2 million to The Hobart Clinic towards its $19 million redevelopment at its Rokeby site. The current facility is ageing and no longer fit for purpose, and this funding will help the Clinic to rebuild as a modern 48 bed facility. This expansion will help to ease the pressure on the state's mental health services, with the funding to be provided as part of our $20 million commitment to support our private hospitals and community nursing and home care sector.'
Download
VIC: Funding for mental health, doctor training top of Budget wish-list for rural doctors
The Rural Doctors Association of Victoria (RDAV) said dedicated funding to improve access to mental healthcare in rural Victoria - as well as funding to support the training of more future Rural Generalist doctors - should be critical elements of the Victorian Budget for 2021. RDAV President, Dr Rob Phair, said without adequate funding from the Victorian Government, recommendations from the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System would remain just that. 'The Victorian Government has the plan, and it has committed to the recommendations to improve mental health access, but now we need to see the funding to make these recommendations a reality,' Dr Phair said.
Download
27 April
Two million Australians call on the Prime Minister to fund quality dementia care
Prominent Australians including Prof Graeme Samuel AC, Ita Buttrose ACOBE, Denis Walter, The Veronicas and Abbie Chatfield have banded together with more than 200 Dementia Advocates to write to the Prime Minister ahead of next month's Federal Budget. The letter calls on the Government to fund the Roadmap for Quality Dementia Care developed by Dementia Australia with partners Dementia Training Australia and Dementia Support Australia. Professor Graeme Samuel AC, Chair of Dementia Australia said that after twenty years of reviews and reports, now is the time for the Government to fund quality dementia care.
Download
Highly respected industry leader joins the National Mental Health Commission
The National Mental Health Commission said it was pleased to announce the appointment of mental health sector leader, Dr Michelle Blanchard. Dr Blanchard has joined the Commission in the role of Special Adviser leading the development of the National Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy, a key recommendation of the Productivity Commission in to mental health announced by Government in December 2020. 'The Commission is incredibly fortunate to have Michelle come on board. She joins us at a time when we are working towards systemic mental health reform,' Commission CEO Christine Morgan said.
Download
26 April
Consumer report card points to highs and lows of the health system
A new Consumer Report Card on Australia's Health System finds that significant areas including mental health and cost barriers to care present issues of concern. The Consumers Health Forum (CHF) has studied 12 indicators against historical and international measures to report on health system performance from a consumer's perspective. The report identified six of the 12 indicators as areas 'of concern' for consumers. These include relatively high rates of psychological distress compared to other western countries, relatively high level of out-of-pocket health costs and levels public expenditure on preventive health measures.
Download
24 April
TAS: Boosting mental health and wellbeing services
'To ensure Tasmanians can get the right care, at the right time and in the right place, a reelected majority Tasmanian Government will invest an additional $56 million to continue our transformation of the mental health system, alcohol and drug services, and boost preventative health measures,' said Tasmanian Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff. 'New funding of $26 million will be invested in mental health including an exciting new initiative, an Emergency Mental Health Co-Response Team.'
Download
23 April
Help at hand as mental health referrals rise
As excitement and nerves build in the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, AIS CEO Peter Conde has encouraged athletes and sport staff to prioritise mental health and wellbeing and seek support if needed. The AIS has seen a 79 per cent increase in demand for the AIS Mental Health Referral Network (MHRN) at the start of 2021 compared to the same period last year. The MHRN has also received as many referrals in March 2021 as were received in January and February combined. The impact of COVID was the primary or secondary issue in about 80 per cent of the referrals.
Download
Return to top
Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System
None this edition.
Return to top
Pharmaceuticals and Regulation
28 April
Consultation: Proposed amendments to the Poisons Standard (oral contraceptives)
The Therapeutic Good Administration (TGA) said that Subdivision 3D.2 of the Therapeutic Goods Regulations 1990 (the Regulations) sets out the procedure to be followed where the Secretary receives an application under section 52EAA of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (the Act) to amend the current Poisons Standard or decides to amend the Poisons Standard on his or her own initiative and decides to refer the proposed amendment to an expert advisory committee. These include, under regulation 42ZCZK, that the Secretary publish (in a manner the Secretary considers appropriate) the proposed amendment to be referred to an expert advisory committee, the committee to which the proposed amendment will be referred, and the date of the committee meeting.
Download
PHI 22/21 Cut off dates for the November 2021 Prostheses List
The TGA released The Prostheses List: Guide to Listing and setting benefits for prostheses advises that Prostheses List applications (new, amendment, expansion or compression) can be submitted at any time before midnight on the second Sunday in May. Consistent with this advice, applications for the November 2021 Prostheses List should be received by the Department no later than 11:59pm on 9 May 2021. This deadline applies to applications for products from any category and any part (Part A, Part B and Part C). Applications received on 10 May 2021, or later, will be considered for the March 2022 Prostheses List.
Download
Antidepressant utilisation and risk of suicide in young people
This safety investigation was conducted by the TGA in response to a review article by Whitely, Raven, and Jureidini, in July 2020 that identified a decade long pattern of increasing antidepressant use and increasing rate of suicide in young Australians. The aims of this safety investigation were to assess:
1. The strength of the current evidence for a causal association between prescribing of antidepressants and rates of youth suicide;
2. The international regulatory landscape with respect to use of antidepressants in children and adolescents and risk minimisation;
3. The current role of antidepressants in clinical practice for the treatment of psychiatric and developmental disorders in young people in Australia; and
4. Whether the current risk minimisation measures in place in Australia are adequate.
Download
27 April
Global Therapeutics fined $119,880 for alleged unlawful advertising of complementary medicines
Global Therapeutics Pty Ltd (Global Therapeutics) has paid penalties of $119,880 in response to nine infringement notices issued by the TGA, part of the Department of Health. The infringement notices related to five listed complementary medicines sponsored by Global Therapeutics. The advertising of these medicines was alleged to:
- refer to serious conditions without approval or permission of the TGA
- contravene requirements of the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code (the Code)
- include therapeutic uses that were not accepted as indications for the medicines.
Download
TGA issues warning about unlawful advertising of listed medicines
The TGA warned sponsors not to advertise listed medicines that are not included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) with permitted indications. Listed medicines that were not transitioned to use permitted indications were cancelled from the ARTG, effective 6 March 2021. If you are the sponsor of a listed medicine, you should be aware that this puts your medicines at risk of being unlawfully advertised. The TGA does not intend to take regulatory action in relation to products that are still available for supply carrying specific (free text) or coded indications providing these were compliant prior to their release for supply.
Download
Patient safety through quality prescribing: Refreshed Prescribing Competencies Framework now available
NPS MedicineWise, in extensive consultation with key stakeholders in the sector, has led a project to review and refresh the Prescribing Competencies Framework, first created in 2012. This update will be of interest to anyone involved in prescribing, whether regulators or accreditation bodies, governance boards, educators and education providers, all of whom have an interest in adequately preparing health professionals to prescribe within a quality use of medicines framework. NPS MedicineWise CEO Adj A/Prof Steve Morris said quality prescribing outcomes and patient safety are critical to all prescribing professions, and the review of the Framework was driven by a need to ensure the competencies would continue to uphold patient safety and quality use of medicines.
Download
Return to top
Research
27 April
Invitation to comment on a clinical trial of a genetically modified herpes virus for the treatment of cystic fibrosis
The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator is assessing an application from Novotech (Australia) Pty Limited to conduct a clinical trial, under limited and controlled conditions, of a genetically modified Herpes simplex virus for the treatment of cystic fibrosis. The trial is proposed to take place at hospitals within Australia and up to 15 cystic fibrosis patients would receive the treatment. The Regulator has prepared a Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) for this application and welcomes written submissions on issues relating to the protection of human health and safety and the environment before making a decision on whether or not to issue the licence.
Download
New Report: Poor sleep costs $14.4 billion each year
A new report released by the Sleep Health Foundation estimated that poor sleep costs Australia $14.4 billion each year in financial costs, with a further $36.6 billion in non-financial costs related to loss of well-being. Written by Deloitte Access Economics, the report calculates productivity losses at $11 billion in 2019-2020. These costs were distributed across three major sleep disorders - obstructive sleep apnoea, insomnia and restless legs syndrome. 'What is striking about the results of this analysis is the relatively small amount spent on identifying and treating sleep disorders compared to the large costs of living with their consequences,' said Natasha Doherty, who leads the Deloitte Access Economics Health and Social Policy team.
Download
26 April
Is it time to co-prescribe naloxone with opioids?
With the rate of fatal opioid overdoses almost doubling in Australia between 2002 and 2018, experts are calling for the routine co-prescription of emergency reversal agent naloxone to opioid users. Writing in the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA), Dr Pallavi Prathivadi, a GP and PhD candidate at Monash University, and Associate Professor Suzanne Nielsen, Deputy Director of the Monash Addiction Research Centre, said: 'Take-home naloxone provided to laypeople to administer in the event of overdose was found to successfully reverse more than 96% of community overdoses in a systematic review. The evidence of naloxone's therapeutic effect and life-saving role has resulted in the drug being carried in most emergency medical kits.'
Download
State of emergency medicine 'worst in 30 years'
A former President of the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine has described the current state of Australia's emergency medicine sector as 'the worst I have seen in my 30 years'. Dr Simon Judkins, an emergency physician and the Immediate Past President of ACEM, wrote in InSight+, the weekly online news magazine of the MJA, that emergency medicine in Australia was 'in a dire state'. 'The acute parts of the health care system (EDs and ambulance services) are spending part of most days in 'Code Yellow' - a perpetual state of crisis escalation,' Dr Judkins wrote.
Download
23 April
Australia's investment in eradicating malaria
Over the last 10 years NHMRC has invested more than $191 million in research on malaria. Malaria remains a global health priority. According to the latest World malaria report 2020, there were 229 million cases of malaria in 2019. Children under 5 years of age are the most vulnerable group affected by malaria; in 2019 they accounted for 67 per cent of all malaria deaths worldwide. Malaria has historically been endemic in Australia but was declared eradicated from the country in 1981. Although it is no longer endemic, approximately 700-800 cases occur each year in Australia in travellers who have been infected elsewhere.
Download
Return to top
Rural, Regional and Remote Health
28 April
Budget 2021 - time to deliver for 'Real Rural' Australia
The Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) said this year's Federal Budget provides an 'enormous opportunity' to reset the rural health system and deliver more doctors with the right skills to 'Real Rural' communities - that is, the heartland towns and remote communities found right across rural Australia. 'With an ongoing maldistribution of doctors between urban and rural areas, the time is right for the Federal Government to put in place stronger foundations for an improved rural health system going forward - and particularly to improve access to local doctors for rural communities' RDAA President, Dr John Hall, said. 'There is much that can be done to encourage more doctors to move to our rural and remote communities.'
Download
VIC: Funding for mental health, doctor training top of Budget wish-list for rural doctors
The Rural Doctors Association of Victoria (RDAV) said dedicated funding to improve access to mental healthcare in rural Victoria - as well as funding to support the training of more future Rural Generalist doctors - should be critical elements of the Victorian Budget for 2021. RDAV President, Dr Rob Phair, said without adequate funding from the Victorian Government, recommendations from the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System would remain just that. 'The Victorian Government has the plan, and it has committed to the recommendations to improve mental health access, but now we need to see the funding to make these recommendations a reality,' Dr Phair said.
Download
26 April
Universal Telehealth extended through 2021
Over the last 12 months, Telehealth services have been life changing for many in need of support, which is why as part of the 2021-22 Budget, the Government is investing more than $114 million to extend Telehealth until the end of the year. Telehealth items were rapidly implemented in March 2020 to ensure the primary care sector could continue to function and that Australians could continue to access important health services. Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt said Telehealth has played an important role in supporting Australians through the pandemic.
Download
New telehealth extension welcome, but should be wider and permanent
Catholic Health Australia (CHA) has welcomed the Government's latest extension of the telehealth program but the peak body is calling for it to cover a wider range of services and be cemented as permanent. The list of Medicare services delivered via the telehealth program was due to end this month, but following calls from patients and providers, including CHA and its members, Health Minister Greg Hunt has announced it will now run until December. CHA Director of Health Policy James Kemp said telehealth had been a huge success, hitting the main health aims of better outcomes, value for money, and clinician and patient satisfaction.
Download
23 April
Permanent telehealth must be funded in May Budget
The Greens are calling on the Federal Government to make telehealth a permanent feature of the Medicare system. 'Telehealth has been lifesaving for Australians, especially for people living in regional and remote areas and for disabled people, people with kids and older Australians. We know that people living in regional and remote areas suffer worse health outcomes. Telehealth helps to bridge that gap,' said Greens spokesperson on Health Senator Rachel Siewert.
Download
Return to top
Women's Health
28 April
High rates of early caesarean sections are putting Australian babies at unnecessary risk
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care confirmed that a major report released has revealed that many Australian babies are being placed at unnecessary risk because their birth by caesarean section is scheduled too early, without a medical reason. This is despite clear evidence that waiting until 39 weeks - unless there is a medical reason not to - is best for the baby. Around half (between 43% and 56%) of planned caesarean section births performed before 39 weeks in 2017 did not have a medical or obstetric reason, potentially putting many newborns at unnecessary risk. Of particular concern, 13% to 19% of all planned caesarean sections performed before 37 weeks did not have a recorded medical or obstetric reason.
Download
Return to top
Transcripts
Prime Minister Scott Morrison
30 APR: Transcript of Interview with Ben Fordham, 2GB
Subjects: International travel, Vaccine rollout, AstraZeneca blood clotting safety concerns, Support for tourism industry, Defence, Foreign investment, Terrorism, ASIO
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg
29 APR: Transcript of Interview with Allison Langdon, The Today Show
Subjects: Fiscal Strategy speech, Budget 2021, Vaccines, Australia-China relationship, GDP, Defence Force
Department of Health
29 APR: Transcript of Chief Midwifery and Nursing Officer, Professor Alison McMillan's Interview with Karl Stefanovic & Allison Langdon, Today Show
Subjects: COVID-19 vaccine, TGA, Pfizer vaccines, ATAGI
Department of Health
29 APR: Transcript of Chief Midwifery and Nursing Officer, Professor Alison McMillan's Interview with Tom Connell, Sky News
Subjects: Vaccination, AstraZeneca safety concerns, Aged care, Pfizer, Quarantine facilities
Department of Health
29 APR: Transcript of Chief Midwifery and Nursing Officer, Professor Alison McMillan's Interview with Ben Knight, ABC News
Subjects: COVID-19 vaccination, GPs, ATAGI, Mass vaccination hubs, TGA
Prime Minister Scott Morrison
28 APR: Transcript of Doorstop Interview, Robertson Barracks
Subjects: Defence funding, Defence industry, Defence forces, Aged care levy, International flights
Minister for Regional Health Mark Coulton
28 APR: Transcript of Interview with Kristy Reading, ABC New England Breakfast
Subjects: COVID-19 vaccination rollout, AstraZeneca vaccine, Regional health, Pfizer vaccine
Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians Richard Colbeck
27 APR: Transcript of Interview with Matt Webber, ABC Gold Coast
Subjects: COVID-19, Public health, India, Olympics, Brisbane 2032, Gabba redevelopment, Construction, India, Sport, Snowy Hydro
Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews
27 APR: Transcript of Interview with Allison Langdon, Today Show, Channel 9
Subjects: COVID-19, Travel exemptions, Public health, India, Department of Home Affairs, ANZAC Day, Health professionals
Shadow Minister for Health Mark Butler
27 APR: Transcript of Interview with David Bevan and Ali Clarke, ABC Adelaide
Subjects: COVID-19, Hotel quarantine, India, Lockdowns, Public health, Ventilation, AMA
Member for Canberra Alicia Payne
27 APR: Transcript of Interview with Stephen Cenatiempo, 2CC Breakfast Show
Subjects: Social Media, COVID-19, Travel bubble with New Zealand, Tourism, Hotels, Childcare, Climate Change, Public health
Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)
27 APR: Transcript of President Michele O'Neil's Speech to the National Press Club, Canberra
Subjects: Union members, COVID-19, Nurses, Aged care workers, Treasurer, Economy, Human rights
Leader of the Opposition Anthony Albanese
27 APR: Transcript of Interview with Fran Kelly, RN Breakfast
Subjects: COVID-19, Referendum on Indigenous Voice to Parliament, Stolen Generations, India, Public health, Returning flights, Hotel quarantine, Religion
Member for Eden Monaro Kristy McBain
27 APR: Transcript of Interview with Simon Lauder, ABC South East NSW Breakfast
Subjects: Rural GP services, Access to healthcare, South East, Covid-19 taskforce, Regional Australia, Childcare, Housing crisis
Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing Mark Butler, Tasmanian Labor Leader Rebecca White, Shadow Minister for Health Bastian Seidel, Chief Opposition Whip in the Senate Anne Urquhart
27 APR: Transcript of Doorstop Interview, Tasmania
Subjects: Tasmanian election, Healthcare, Maternity services, Mersey Community Hospital, Hotel quarantine system, India coronavirus crisis
Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians Richard Colbeck
27 APR: Transcript of Interview with Matt Webber, ABC Gold Coast
Subjects: COVID-19, Public health, India, Olympics, Brisbane 2032, Gabba redevelopment, Construction, India, Sport, Snowy Hydro
Senator for the ACT Zed Seselja and Member for Canberra Alicia Payne
27 APR: Transcript of Interview with Stephen Cenatiempo, 2CC Breakfast Show
Subjects: Social media, COVID-19, Travel bubble with New Zealand, Tourism, Hotels, Childcare, Climate change, Public health
Shadow Minister for Youth Amanda Rishworth
27 APR: Transcript of Interview with Tom & Loggy, K Rock Fresh Daily
Subjects: COVID-19, Child care, Early childhood education, Family, Medicare, Employment, Business, OECD, Economy, Skills
Shadow Minister for Youth Amanda Rishworth
27 APR: Transcript of Interview with Tom Lewis & Lauren Temuskos, K Rock Fresh Daily
Subjects: Child care, COVID-19, OECD, Medicare, Indigenous youth in custody, Welfare payments, Early learning
Australian Medical Association (AMA)
27 APR: Transcript of Interview by President, Dr Omar Khorshid with Peter Stefanovic, Sky News First Edition
Subjects: COVID-19, Public health, India, Hotel quarantine, Lockdowns, State borders
Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt
26 APR: Transcript of Press Conference, Melbourne
Subjects: COVID-19, Vaccination rollout, Telehealth accessibility & funding, International travel restrictions, India, Childcare subsidy, Paid parental leave, Quarantine arrangements
Shadow Minister for Education Tanya Plibersek
26 APR: Transcript of Interview with 4BC's Scott Emerson and Karl Stefanovic, Today
Subjects: Perth lockdown, Border closures, Hotel quarantine, Vaccine rollout, Newspoll, Public holidays, COVID-19 cases in India
Senator for New South Wales Tim Ayres
26 APR: Transcript of Interview with Monte Irvine, 2NZ Invernell
Subjects: Anzac Day, Department of Veteran's Affairs, Climate change, Manufacturing, Employment of veterans, Veterans' mental health, Renewable energy
Shadow Assistant Minister for Financial Services Matt Thistlethwaite and Member for Mackellar Jason Falinski
25 APR: Transcript of Interview with Sharri Markson, Sky News
Subjects: COVID-19 outbreaks in hotel quarantine, Travel ban, National Cabinet, Federal Opposition Leader's visit to Uluru, Indigenous Voice to Parliament
Senator for the Northern Territory Malarndirri McCarthy
23 APR: Transcript of Interview with Katie Woolf, Mix 104.9
Subjects: COVID-19, Vaccine rollout in the NT, Indigenous vaccinations
Return to top
Reports
Australian Government response to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability-Public Hearing Report Public hearing 5 - Experiences of people with disability during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
The Australian Government
The report looked at the experiences of people with disability during the COVID-19 pandemic and contains 22 recommendations mainly focusing on the Australian Government's response in the early stages of the pandemic.
Download
Provisional determination eligibility criteria - Including supporting documentation
Department of Health, Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
Download
High rates of early caesarean sections are putting Australian babies at unnecessary risk
Australian Commission on Safety & Quality in Health Care
The report examines 17 items across six clinical topics: early planned births; potentially preventable hospitalisations for chronic disease and infection; ear, nose and throat surgery in children and young people; lumbar spinal surgery; gastrointestinal investigations; and medicines use in older people.
Download
Profession-led community-based training - Excellence in general practice training to serve all Australian communities
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
Transition of the Australian General Practice Training (AGPT) Program to the general practice colleges was announced by the Federal Minister for Health, the Honourable Greg Hunt, in 2017. As a result of this commitment and subsequent discussion regarding the inclusion of the Remote Vocational Training Scheme (RVTS), Australia finds itself at a transformative moment in specialist medical education history. They have an opportunity to reform the nation's general practice education and training system to provide significant, meaningful improvements in the quality and safety of training, and the distribution of general practitioners.
Download
Acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in Australia, 2015-2019
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)
This report presents data from the National Rheumatic Heart Disease data collection, collated from the acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) registers in Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. New South Wales register data are also summarised. The second version of the national guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis and management of ARF and RHD (released in 2012) is relevant to the data in this report. The third version of the guidelines (released in 2020) are not relevant for the data in this report.
Download
Rise and try to shine: The social and economic cost of sleep disorders in Australia
Deloitte Access Economics
The Sleep Health Foundation engaged Deloitte Access Economics to estimate the social and economic impact of sleep disorders in 2019-20. Three previous reports, Asleep on the Job (Deloitte Access Economics, 2017), Reawakening Australia (Deloitte Access Economics, 2011), and Wake Up Australia (Access Economics, 2004), focus on the prevalence and costs of sleep disorders with emphasis on OSA, insomnia and RLS, as well as some of the secondary effects of sleep disorders such as excessive daytime sleepiness, insufficient sleep and inadequate sleep.
Download
Return to top
Hansards
Federal
20 APR 2021: SENATE COMMITTEE HANSARD: Community Affairs References Committee - Investigations into possible cancer cluster on the Bellarine Peninsula, Victoria - Barwon Heads
ACT
21 APR 2021: ACT ASSEMBLY HANSARD: Motion - Health, Dementia - 21 APR 2021
20 APR 2021: ACT ASSEMBLY HANSARD: Ministerial Statement - COVID-19 pandemic response update
20 APR 2021: ACT ASSEMBLY HANSARD: Adjournment - Mental Health, Veterans
20 APR 2021: ACT ASSEMBLY HANSARD: Committee - Health & Community Wellbeing Standing Committee - Report 1
20 APR 2021: ACT ASSEMBLY HANSARD: Motions - Health, Assisted Reproductive Technology
20 APR 2021: ACT ASSEMBLY HANSARD: Questions Without Notice - Budget, Health funding
20 APR 2021: ACT ASSEMBLY HANSARD: Adjournment - Health, Organ Donation
Western Australia
29 APR 2021: WA ASSEMBLY HANSARD: Questions Without Notice - Coronavirus - Vaccination Plan
Return to top
Court Cases
None this edition.
Return to top
New Regulations
Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code - Schedule 20 - Maximum residue limits Variation Instrument No. APVMA 3, 2021
Legislative Instrument - F2021L00491
The proposed changes to regulation are minor and machinery in nature involving necessary technical variations to the Food Standards Code. In November 2010, the Office of Best Practice Regulation provided a standing exemption from the need to assess if a Regulatory Impact Statement is required for applications relating to variations to MRLs.
Explanatory Statement
ACT
Public Health (COVID-19 Affected Areas) Emergency Direction 2021 (No 6)
Notifiable Instrument NI2021-245
The purpose of this Direction is to limit the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
Download
Public Health (COVID-19 Affected Areas) Emergency Direction 2021 (No 7)
Notifiable Instrument NI2021-244
The purpose of this Direction is to limit the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
Download
Return to top
Proclamations
None this edition.
Return to top
Gazette Notices
Federal
28 APR 2021: GOVERNMENT NOTICES GAZETTE: Invitation to comment on a clinical trial of a genetically modified Herpes virus for the treatment of cystic fibrosis
Victoria
24 APR 2021: VIC SPECIAL GAZETTE No. S 186: Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 - Section 200 - Stay Safe Directions (Victoria) (No. 20)
Return to top
Consolidated Legislation
National Health (Listing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Instrument 2012
Legislative Instrument Compilation - F2021C00365
PB 71 of 2012 Other as amended, taking into account amendments up to National Health (Listing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Amendment Instrument 2021 (No. 3).
Download
Return to top
New Bills
None this edition.
Return to top
New Acts
None this edition.
Return to top
|
