New Car handover Ceremony 12 Midday Thursday 28 September 2023
Illawarra Toyota cnr Princes Hwy & Miall Way, Albion Park Rail NSW 2526

Australian Heart Ministries, are giving a new Toyota Prado 4WD to indigenous Leader Ps Peter Walker a Bundjalung elder from the North Coast of NSW. The handover of the new Toyota Prado to Ps Peter Walker will take place 12 Midday Thursday 28 September 2023 in Albion Park, NSW.

The Canberra Declaration Christian Prayer Community which is a ministry function of Australian Heart Ministries have been raising money for Ps Peter’s new 4WD. Illawarra Toyota has graciously given a generous discount to help Ps Peter Walker get mobile again so he can keep serving the people of Australia behind the wheel of a good reliable vehicle.

Warwick Marsh the co-founder of Australian Heart Ministries said, “The scriptures say in 1 Timothy 5:17, “The elders who perform their leadership duties well are to be considered worthy of double honour (financial support).” Such a man is Ps Peter Walker who is 77 years old and widely regarded as the leading indigenous Christian leader in our nation today.”

Marsh continued, “I have had the pleasure of working closely with Ps Peter Walker for over three decades. Ps Peter and I served together on the Praise Corroboree. The Praise Corroboree was a 72 hour cross cultural gathering to glorify God at Parliament House in Canberra, from 1996 – 1998. Watch the video below.”

Insert Video: https://youtu.be/vXfYTBVTAnE?si=CvA9s9a_5A7_uI-k

Peter Walker’s Amazing Life Story

Ps Peter Walker, and Maria have now been married for 55 years and they have five children, 12 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Peter has been involved in ministry for more than 40 years and was the pastor at Redfern Indigenous Church in Sydney for 10 years, from 1987 to 1997. From 1987 – 1997 Ps Peter Walker was also a Prison Chaplain and Welfare Officer within the NSW gaol system and worked in over a dozen gaols including Long Bay, Bathurst, Grafton and Goulburn Gaols. He also served on the NSW Government Parole Board from 2002 – 2006.

In 1998 Ps Peter Walker led a cross cultural delegation to meet with the then Governor General, William Deane and most recently during the National Day of Prayer & Fasting 2020. Ps Peter Walker prayed with and for the Governor General, David Hurley, in front of Parliament House. Ps Peter Walker has travelled to every corner of Australia, helping and ministering to his people. He is known by both tribal people and those on the east coast and is held in great affection by everyone.

Insert Video Here: https://40stories.com.au/people/peter-walker/

Warwick Marsh said, “In 2001 Ps Peter Walker was gifted a Toyota 4WD Prado for his busy ministry. He was very thankful for this providential gift. Over three years ago, with almost half a million kilometres and 19 years of faithful service, his ministry vehicle gave up the ghost. Peter has been borrowing his daughter Estelle’s car for the last three years. She will be glad to get her car back.”

Marsh Continued, “Australian Heart Ministries has been raising money for Ps Peter Walkers new car through the ministry of the Canberra Declaration. Thankfully, over the last three years, with the help of our faithful doners, we have been able to give three cars away to Indigenous ministers. Recently we also saw three other Indigenous Christian leaders get their cars back on the road. Another indigenous elder got a full set of new tyres on his 4WD. Just for the record if you have a car you want to give away to an Indigenous Christian leader, please register your gift here.”

Marsh continued, “Thank you to all those who have given sacrificially to help get Ps Peter & Marie Walker a brand new 4WD. Peter and his beautiful family are indeed worthy of double honour.”

Ps Peter Walkers Response

Ps Peter Walker voice choked with emotion as he said, “My family and I are overwhelmed with the incredible kindness of the people of Australia. This gift of this Prado 4WD will help us keep going in ministry. I even have my favourite bible verse 2 Chronicles 7:14 imprinted on the back of the vehicle. We are so thankful!”

For media interviews:
For Ps Peter Walker contact Estelle Walker: 0484 336 651
For Warwick Marsh: 0418 225 212

To Give to the Indigenous Ministers Car Appeal place the initials IMCA in the donation note:

Innovative New Approach to the Housing Crisis

Brisbane, September 28, 2023 — In a world where affordable housing remains a pressing issue, a visionary new perspective on homes is poised to change the game. An innovator passionate about lean production systems is proud to announce this groundbreaking approach to tackling the affordable housing crisis.

Introducing the Future of Affordable Housing

The housing crisis is a global challenge, and providing a solution that combines innovation, affordability, and high-volume production capabilities due to low numbers of production parts is paramount. This revolutionary housing system is designed to transform the way we think about and approach housing.

Buying a home currently involves purchasing an entire house. However, the concept of buying a home with a staged build is not new, but purchasing one room at a time is. Essentially, this will allow people to aim for a standard 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom house and plan for it through local council. Then, customers purchase rooms as they can afford to add more. To maintain streetscapes, the front rooms of the property can be placed first, with the rear added later. This will reduce the initial repayments, enabling today’s less affluent individuals to have an equal opportunity to buy and cherish having their own home, with the potential for future growth.

Housing System Features:

Customization: Flexibility is at the core of this system. Whether it’s a single-family home, a multi-unit housing complex, or a disaster relief shelter, the modules can be customized to meet diverse housing needs.

Industry Investors

To bring this transformative housing solution to life, we are actively seeking visionary investors who share this commitment to addressing the affordable housing crisis. By investing in this project, you have the opportunity to be at the forefront of a housing revolution.

Why Invest in This Project:

Impactful: Your investment will contribute to solving one of the most pressing issues of our time—housing affordability.

Growth Potential: The demand for affordable housing is vast and growing. Join us as we expand our footprint and make a significant social and financial impact.

Profitability: While the mission is rooted in social responsibility, the project is equally committed to delivering a strong return on investment.

Investors who recognize the potential for significant returns, social impact, and innovation are encouraged to contact Daniel today to learn more about this exciting opportunity. Together, we can redefine affordable housing for generations to come.

For inquiries, please contact:

Daniel Bambridge
Email: [email protected]

Join this project in reshaping the future of housing. Together, you can build a world where everyone has access to safe and affordable homes.

About the Project

For more information about this project, please visit: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/build-your-home-one-room-at-a-time/x/35281481#

At this webpage, the visual content, including imagery and videos, has been generated using Sketchup as a measure to safeguard intellectual property. It is important to note that production drawings distinctively differ, as those within the industry would readily recognize.

• Australia has built a reputation as a leader in agritech and has cemented international recognition as a global frontrunner in the agtech arena
• The Australia – UK Free Trade Agreement (A-UKFTA) came into effect May 23 and has opened up bilateral trade between the two countries, reducing import tariffs and paving the way for UK Agritech scaleups to land and launch into Australia.
• The Global Incubator Program (GIP): Gateway to Australia is a market internationalisation program for UK agritech scaleups to open up commercial opportunities and de-risk market entry
into Australia.
• Following the success of the 2022 Gateway to Australia program, Farmers2Founders is delivering the second innovation accelerator as part of the 3-year commitment with Innovate UK.
• Eight innovative UK Agritech scaleups have been selected from over twenty applications for the 2023 cohort who will participate in the 5-month program, which includes two funded in-market visits to Australia.
• In-Market Visit #1 (November 23): Teams will participate in a Welcome Breakfast event hosted by the British Consulate General in Sydney, followed by an intensive Bootcamp. The visit includes a field trip to the New England North-West region, an agricultural powerhouse for NSW, to visit key sites, including NSW DPI Agricultural Research Institute in Armadale and the University of Sydney DigiFarm in Narrabri as well as attending the Farmers2Founders AGtivate event in Tamworth.
• In-Market Visit #2 (February 24): Teams will have the opportunity to participate in Asia Pacific’s premier Agrifood tech event, evokeAG, being held in Perth in February 2024, along with attending numerous side-line agrifood & tech events and pitching opportunities to investors and potential partners.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

27 September 2023

This week, the Global Incubator Program- Gateway to Australia started with an Official Launch event. This is the second program in the series delivered by Farmers2Founders in partnership with GROW and Innovate UK to support UK Agritech scale-ups to land and launch into Australia.

Jon Hazell, Partnership Manager Global Incubator Program, Innovate UK, said, “I am delighted to continue the relationship with our partners at Farmers2Founders and GROW, building on the successful cohort from last year and now announcing cohort two so we can continue to support UK organisations in Agri-Tech that are now looking to innovate their products and services through building global partnerships and collaborations to accelerate their growth and scaling journey in Australia.”

The following teams have been selected as part of the 2024 cohort
AgAnalyst Ltd: www.aganalyst.co.uk/
Precision farm data integration platform for improving profitability, significantly reducing GHG emissions and accelerating the adoption of precision ag.

AgriSynth Ltd: https://agrisynth.io/
An enabling technology creating novel and complex synthetic imagery to reduce the time needed to train agricultural AI models. Applications are as diverse as agricultural robotics, field research, controlled environment agriculture and grain quality.

Cattle Eye Ltd: www.cattleeye.com
A hardware-independent, autonomous dairy cow monitoring platform harnessing the capabilities of advanced AI and video analytics. This is a hands-free solution to monitoring a cow’s welfare and performance.

Flox Ltd: www.flox.ai
Integrated poultry livestock sensing and management platform, utilising AI to bring better welfare and performance outcomes to broiler chicken production.

Intelligent Growth Solutions Ltd: https://www.intelligentgrowthsolutions.com/
Innovative vertical farming infrastructure that uses a Total Control Environment Agriculture platform to manage growth cycle stages and operational inputs.

Personalised Diagnostics Ltd: https://pd2x.com/
A clinical diagnostics and vaccines delivery Software as a Service (SaaS) company, developing innovative, user-friendly, cloud-based platforms for more efficient animal diagnostic testing.

Studford Agtech Ltd: www.ag-drive.com
Ag-drive is a seamless, integrated, cost-effective business management platform for farmers and ag contractors. From job planning, scheduling, recording, completion and invoicing, the app is a paperless system that enables the business to be more accountable, traceable and efficient.

Wootzano Ltd: http://www.wootzano.com/
A highly dexterous fresh produce packing robotic system designed to meet the needs of the post-harvest industry. A reliable and immediate solution to labour shortages includes cutting-edge vision technology, sophisticated machine learning, cloud updates, and the system can learn and see in real-time.

The program was officially launched this week through a virtual presentation and introductions event, during which Louise Cantillon, the UK Consul-General for NSW and Deputy Trade Commissioner for APAC, warmly welcomed the successful teams, “I’m excited to see a second Gateway to Australia program cohort beginning their journey to expand into the Australian agricultural sector. The program represents the strong ongoing commitment between our nations – which now see even more opportunities with the Free Trade Agreement coming into effect. I’m looking forward to seeing how our agritech innovations can work together in this rapidly growing and transformative space.”

The Gateway to Australia program includes bespoke business support, with each team allocated a dedicated agrifood internationalisation coach and the pairing of expert mentors to provide introductions and connections to strategic partners, suppliers, investors, customers, distributors, and more. The cohort learning experience includes group sessions, masterclasses and one-on-one office hours. The UK agritech scale-ups will participate in industry showcase events and pitching opportunities across the 25-week program.

Dr Christine Pitt, Managing Director of Farmers2Founders, said in her address, “We are excited to kick off the second cohort of the Global Innovation Program. Our mission is to work with entrepreneurs, founders, start-ups and scale-ups who make a positive difference in the global food and agriculture sector, impacting sustainability, security and food waste to ultimately help farmers become more productive. All the teams selected into this program fit well within that definition, and we look forward to working with you and welcoming you to Australia in November.”

To learn more about the program, visit https://www.farmers2founders.com/gateway-to-australia

Media contact:
Claire Pink
Head of Operations; Farmers2Founders.
[email protected]

AboutFarmers2Founders:
Farmers2Founders is a unique world-first agrifood tech and innovation incubator that operates nationally across all sectors and all parts of the value chain. They help producers fast-track the development, commercialisation and adoption of agrifood tech and innovation solutions that benefit individual farm businesses and broader industry and community levels. Farmers2Founders also support agtech and foodtech developers and researchers looking to commercialise their technologies (eg. digital; IoT; automation & robotics; precision agriculture; data and decision support tools; traceability; controlled environment agriculture; sustainable production systems etc) and innovative agrifood businesses along the value chain looking to create impact in areas including (but not limited to): plant-based foods & alternative proteins; functional foods; health & wellness products; personalised nutrition; food & packaging waste; and the circular economy.
www.farmers2founders.com

About GROW:
Based in Singapore, GROW is an ecosystem catalyst advancing innovation, sustainability, and resilience in the food system. We’re on a mission to inspire and accelerate extraordinary founders who are developing technology solutions that deliver positive impact for people, place, and planet. Through our fund and accelerator programs we work with startups to supercharge their growth on the global stage. GROW is supported by Enterprise Singapore and backed by leading agrifoodtech VC AgFunder.
www.gogrow.co

About Innovate UK:
Innovate UK is the UK’s national innovation agency. We support business-led innovation in all sectors, technologies and UK regions. We help businesses grow through the development and commercialisation of new products, processes, and services, supported by an outstanding innovation ecosystem that is agile, inclusive, and easy to navigate.
https://www.ukri.org/councils/innovate-uk/

Melbourne’s culinary scene welcomes Spice 107, a vibrant and innovative restaurant specialising in Sri Lankan fusion cuisine. Conveniently located at 107 Flinders Street in the heart of Melbourne, Spice 107 promises to be a culinary journey like no other, offering a unique smorgasbord of traditional Sri Lankan and Indian flavours with a modern twist.

“We’re thrilled to introduce Spice 107 to Melbourne, the only authentic and modern fusion Sri Lankan dining experience in the heart of Melbourne CBD.” said Prabath Tennison (Owner). “Our goal is to take diners on a sensory journey, where they can savour the authentic taste of Sri Lanka while experiencing the excitement of fusion cuisine. Sri Lankan food has a variety of food options that caters to all, from vegans to vegetarians and meat lovers with a depth of flavours found from all around the island. I’m also very familiar with lots of flavours, having grown up in Sri Lanka.”

Spice 107 offers a diverse menu that marries the bold, aromatic flavours of Sri Lankan cuisine with international culinary influences. Diners can discover mouth-watering dishes like Grandma’s Chicken Curry, Fish Croquette Balls, and Turmeric Gnocchi. Each of the handcrafted cocktails is also thoughtfully designed to complement the flavours of the cuisine.

Spice 107 is officially open from 5:00pm, Thursday-Saturday, with reservations now being accepted. You can also currently enjoy 20% off from the total bill, if bookings are made between 5PM – 6PM before 31st September. Bookings for large groups of 60-80 pax can also be accommodated.

For more information about Spice 107 or to make a reservation, visit www.spice107.com.au, call on 0451 667 304 or mail [email protected].

Follow Spice 107 on social media for the latest updates:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Spice107/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spice_107/

Goulburn Born and Wollongong based passionate and dedicated Musician, Singer & Songwriter, Polly Hazelton, is thrilled to announce the release of her first single,
‘Round 2000.’

This captivating song combines the power of music with thought-provoking lyrics, that delve into the complex relationship between addiction and lifestyle.
With its unique blend of rock, pop, and grunge vibes, ‘Round 2000’ is set to resonate with audiences of all ages, however, its deeper and well-written messages will impact those of a more mature age.
In today’s society, addiction is an all-too-common struggle that affects millions of people around the world.
Polly Hazelton’s ‘Round 2000’ addresses this issue head-on, exploring the detrimental impact addiction can have on our lives, relationships, and overall well-being.

Through her powerful lyrics and emotive vocals, Hazelton encourages listeners to break free from the cycle of addiction and embrace a more positive and fulfilling lifestyle, by firstly, acknowledging and coming to terms with the issues and by owning one’s demons and setbacks, in order to welcome change.

With its raw and honest portrayal of addiction and its consequences, ‘Round 2000’ is a song that will resonate with teenagers and adults alike.
Hazelton’s lyrics touch upon the loss of jobs, family, and friends that often accompanies addiction, as well as the feeling of powerlessness that can consume those struggling with this topic.

By sharing some of her own experiences and insights, including those she has crossed paths with, Polly aims to provide understanding to those who are suffering in silence, ensuring the listener knows that they or others in their immediate circle aren’t alone, by putting herself in the driver’s seat and firing ring, first-hand in this destructive world.
Accompanying the release of ‘Round 2000’ is a visually stunning music video, Written and Produced by Polly Hazelton and Directed and filmed by the incredibly talented Adam Jordan, that further enhances the message of the song.

The video, which contains explicit content, serves as a powerful visual representation of the destructive nature of addiction and the disappointment and lows that follow. While it all looks fun & almost harmless in the moment, the repercussions are detrimental.

The individual consumed by this world will feel trapped and powerless, however, should be reminded that freedom can and will be found through breaking free from addictions grip.
The impact of addiction on our society is undeniable, with over 210 million people worldwide addicted to something as simple as social media alone.

While the content in Polly Hazelton’s music video highlights substance addiction, there are countless other addictions that our communities are suffering from. For example, Nicotine, Weight loss/gain, gambling, caffeine, shopping, gaming, hoarding, food, working, personal obsessions – the list goes on.

Either you or someone you know is battling addiction and we need to come to terms with it, in order to generate a positive change.
Hazelton’s ‘Round 2000’ sheds light on these alarming statistics and aims to bring awareness to the various forms of addiction that plague our modern world. Through extensive research and real-life experiences, Polly Hazelton has crafted a song that resonates with its audience on a deep and personal level.

In conclusion, Polly Hazelton’s ‘Round 2000’ is a must-listen for anyone who has experienced the suffocating grip of addiction or knows someone who has. With its powerful message, captivating music, and visually striking music video, this single release combines the worlds of music and lifestyle in a truly unique and impactful way.
‘Round 2000’ and Polly’s own change in the way she lives life today, is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of music to inspire change, through, as-mentioned-earlier, coming to terms with the issue “head-on”.

You can find & listen to Polly Hazelton’s “Round 2000” on all streaming platforms from Friday the 29th of September 2023 as well as further engaging content on her social media Pages: Polly Hazelton

27 September 2023 | A new research report has highlighted the role some news media outlets play in contributing, amplifying and worsening online hate speech in Australia.

The researchers at social impact agency, Purpose, conducted analysis into four case studies of dehumanisation and hate speech targeted at different social groups, including First Nations people, people from Indian backgrounds in Australia, transgender people, and people coming to Australia as refugees.

The analysis details a pattern of ‘deficit discourse’ in news media publishing – content that negatively frames and scapegoats a particular group of people. Showing how it generates dehumanising hate speech on social media, which benefits some publishers that capitalise on the increased online engagement. This pattern is further illustrated through the mutualistic relationships between news media and other actors who produce and amplify strong deficit discourse and hate speech. These dynamics highlight the commercial incentives for news media outlets, despite the impact such behaviours have on social cohesion.

The report makes a number of research, programmatic and policy recommendations to address the issue, and argues that without considering the impact of ‘deficit discourse’ and the incentives for news media practitioners to amplify it, a crucial dynamic of how online hate manifests is being missed. Which may, in part, explain why current efforts to address online hate are failing to curb it.
Rita Jabri Markwell, Chief adviser and lawyer at the Australian Muslim Advocacy Network said:

“This is a timely and powerful investigation that actually breaks down and defines the problem. Terms such as deficit discourse and dehumanising hate speech need to become widely understood by researchers, policymakers and news media practitioners.”

Chris Cooper, Senior Advisor at Purpose said:
“Our findings demonstrate how woefully inadequate our conceptualisation and regulation of hate speech online is in Australia, and puts news media in the spotlight for the role some outlets play in seeding and platforming hateful content.”

“The correlation between the role of particular news media outlets and dehumanising hate speech, is clearly visible in the distorted and harmful online conversation around the referendum. If we want to strengthen social cohesion and minimise hateful content online, we need to rethink what accountability of news media looks like in the digital era”

This report is a two-part initiative. Part One explores the roles news media actors play in online hate speech, to spotlight the challenges faced by stakeholders today. Part Two: Curbing Dehumanising Hate Speech Online, explores the regulatory and policy landscape around this issue and makes recommendations for change.

The report is available to download at: www.purpose.com/australian-news-media-and-online-hate-speech

Aspiring TV writers! Do you have a hot idea for a binge-worthy show!? Make sure your pilot script is market-ready before you even think of sending it to agents or producers. Get expert feedback from a screenwriting heavyweight in an intimate and supportive environment.

Media Mentors Australia is delighted to announce a 4-week course led by screenwriter and executive producer David Hannam (Paper Dolls, Rock Island Mysteries, Nowhere Boys) in which
a small group of up to 8 writers will have their original TV pilot scripts workshopped so they’re ready to revise and take to the next level. Open to TV pilots up to 60 pages of any genre.

Every script will get 1 hour of development and feedback with David and the group, plus the chance to learn from everyone else.

And for those without a finished draft of a script or those simply wishing to listen and learn, Media Mentors is offering a small number of audit-only spots at a reduced price. Observers will have the incredible opportunity to watch the course and learn what works and what doesn’t in other writers’ work.

Everyone attending will need to sign a non-disclosure agreement prior to the start.

Media Mentors understand that investing in career development can be challenging, especially with the skyrocketing cost of living. So in the spirit of their motto “helping creatives create” they are offering ONE FREE SPOT (audit-only ticket) to a screen practitioner who is experiencing financial hardship. Applicants will be chosen at random and can apply online for a chance to secure a place.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8QKMLBPbOVZ7t2JLgCkt_z8uy7U8gO-8A3nbfOheGcqeMjg/viewform

Take Your TV Pilot From Good to Great will be held across the following Saturdays: 28th Oct, 4th Nov, 11th Nov and 18th Nov from 10am-12pm AEDT.

Like many of Media Mentors’ offerings, this course will be held online via Zoom making it more accessible to regional participants.

Tickets – https://www.mediamentors.com.au/event-details/take-your-tv-pilot-from-good-to-great

MORE INFO:
David Hannam – Best known for penning ABC’s hugely popular biopic Carlotta, and developing the internationally successful Prisoner reboot Wentworth, David’s work on Matchbox/NBCU’s hit teen sci-fi Nowhere Boys garnered numerous awards, including a BAFTA and an International Emmy.
In addition to development and production executive roles, David’s writing and script producing credits include Wanted and Secret Bridesmaids’ Business, currently being adapted by NBC in the US, medical-procedural The Doctor Blake Mysteries, period drama A Place to Call Home, and critically acclaimed teen series such as Paramount+’s More Than This and the internationally successful Dance Academy.
David has original projects in development in Australia with Werner Film Productions, Beyond and ACTF, and with Synchronicity and Headline in the UK.

About Take Your TV Pilot From Good to Great
Buy tickets – https://www.mediamentors.com.au/event-details/take-your-tv-pilot-from-good-to-great
$495 early bird ticket
$595 general ticket

‘Long COVID is a growing public health challenge,’ says Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA) Chief Executive Kylie Woolcock.

‘Long COVID has affected more than one in 25 Australians and left more than 1.5 million at risk of long-term chronic illness, preventing many with the condition from going about their day-to-day lives.’

‘But as examined in an Issues Brief published today by our Deeble Institute for Health Policy Research, the true burden of this condition on our healthcare system is not well understood and is likely underestimated, meaning that care and support resources cannot be allocated appropriately.’

The Issues Brief, How patient experiences can guide the development of Long COVID health policy, co-authored by final year Griffith University PhD candidate Breanna Weigel as part of a 2023 Deeble Summer Scholarship, examines the role lived experiences can play in guiding Australian health policy in recognising and providing support to people living with Long COVID.

‘One of the many challenges people with Long COVID face is that there is no single, nationally accepted case definition for Long COVID in Australia, and public health messaging differs across each state and territory. This complicates an already challenging diagnostic process,’ says Ms Woolcock.

‘What’s more, despite formal recognition in other OECD countries, Australia does not recognise Long COVID as a disability. This compromises access to necessary care and support services, which are already limited, and contributes to the discrimination and stigma faced by people with Long COVID in healthcare and employment settings.’

To ensure that Australians with Long COVID are recognised and supported with adequate and appropriate person-centred healthcare, social, and disability services, a number of key priority areas must be addressed.

‘Improved surveillance and consistent public health guidance will be essential to accurately identifying the burden of Long COVID on Australia’s healthcare system and resourcing it to respond accordingly.’

‘The recognition of the disabling impacts of Long COVID in Australian health policy must also be pursued so that people with Long COVID can access necessary services and be protected from discrimination.

‘Increasing engagement with Long COVID consumers will be vital to developing and delivering person-centred, value-based care for all people with Long COVID in Australia.’

The Deeble Summer Scholarship program is supported by HESTA.

The online version of this media release and the Perspectives Brief ‘How patient experiences can guide the development of Long COVID health policy’ can be found on the AHHA website: https://ahha.asn.au/news/lived-experiences-guide-long-covid-health-policy

Australian consumers have every right to be furious at the banks continuing to force their cashless agenda while pretending otherwise, the Australian Citizens Party (ACP) said today.
The Commonwealth Bank (CBA) is a classic example.
Last Wednesday, CBA CEO Matt Comyn claimed to the Senate inquiry into bank closures in regional Australia that CBA was committed to providing cash to the economy, indefinitely. All Big Four CEOs made the same claim.
But at the same time:
• Comyn complained that people who don’t use cash are “cross-subsidising” people who do;
• He announced that CBA’s wholly owned WA subsidiary BankWest plans to go fully digital, i.e. cashless, like Macquarie Bank;
• CBA hiked fees on small businesses for handling their cash deposits from $3 to $10, which is deliberately pressuring more and more businesses to go cashless.
ACP Research Director Robert Barwick accused the major banks of being two-faced, because they know there is a growing public backlash against their digital agenda, but they don’t want to back off from forcing Australians into dystopian digital banking where every transaction can be fully tracked and traced, and skimmed with fees.
“You can see the backlash in the extensive media reporting and social media outcry every time a business announces it is going cashless, like Macquarie Bank, or the KFC outlets in NSW that have gone cashless”, Robert Barwick said.
“You can also see it in the current Senate inquiry into bank branch closures, which is putting the banks under intense scrutiny and holding them to account.
“That inquiry has so far visited seven towns in four states, and in every hearing the locals have made it crystal clear their economies can’t function without cash.
“Under the pressure of the inquiry’s scrutiny, CBA announced last week it has decided to use a three-year moratorium on regional branch closures to experiment with being the bank that retains branches, to see if it attracts more customers.
“But at the same time, CBA revealed that its moratorium doesn’t extend to the regional branches of its WA subsidiary BankWest, as BankWest plans to become a digital bank.
“WA customers of Bank West should revolt”, Barwick urged.
Having examined the issue in-depth, the ACP can cite numerous very good reasons why Australia cannot and should not become a cashless society:
• Practical – Australia does not have reliable enough power and communications infrastructure to support a fully digital financial system. This is especially true for the regions, but it’s also true for the cities—nowhere in Australia is immune from natural disasters and any of the other reasons for outages, when the only way to transact is with cash.
• Privacy – digital banking and transactions allow the banks to surveil, track and trace everything their customers do, so they can monetise the data and take a cut of every transaction—Australians should not be forced to give up their right to privacy just so the banks can gouge more profits.
• Security – cash allows people who are vulnerable to the risks of online banking scams to transact with 100 per cent certainty; while cash also has security risks, the scale of those risks are tiny compared with the scale of theft through online scams.
• Control – fully digital banking and transacting gives the banks total control over consumers, trapping consumers inside the banks; cash on the other hand allows people to transact independently of the banks.
Barwick encouraged Australians to keep resisting the cashless agenda, including by supporting the ACP’s policy of a national post office People’s Bank, which would permanently guarantee the supply and safe processing of cash in Australia.

Last week The Australian newspaper released distressing footage and images of a child being forcibly removed from a home in the Northern Territory by police officers. It is believed the child was in the care of the NT’s Territory Families Department and The Australian has reported that the boy was taken from people who were previously his foster parents, but were no longer viewed as such under NT’s child protection laws. Acting NT Children’s Commissioner Nicole Hucks confirmed she has received formal complaints regarding the incident, and was conducting “preliminary inquiries” into what had happened.

“We were shocked by the footage of an 11 year old boy being dragged screaming from a home he wanted to be at into a paddy wagon cage. We often hear from children and young people involved in the child protection systems about how their rights are not upheld and this is an extremely distressing example.” says CREATE Foundation’s CEO, Jacqui Reed.

Ms Read continued, “We feel for the child and family involved. At a system’s level there should have been alternative options available to avoid this outcome for the child. Police and child protection agencies must work with children in a way that does not involve force or cause significant distress. Child protection agencies need to listen to children and young people about what they want, and ensure children and young people are actively involved in the decisions that affect them, including around contact with family and friends and their housing. It seems more work was needed in lead up to this situation to prevent the need for police intervention at all”.

All children in the child protection and out-of-home care systems have rights and they must be listened to. The NT Government’s Charter of Rights for children and young people in care includes the right to feel safe and protected; to be treated fairly; to be respected; and to see family and friends and stay connected to culture. We urge the NT Government to reflect carefully and seriously on this incident to ensure that children’s rights are upheld.

CREATE Foundation is the national consumer body representing the voices of children and young people with an out-of-home care experience. Our vision is that all children and young people with a care experience reach their full potential. At CREATE, we listen to what children and young people with a lived experience of the care system tell us, and advocate with and for them to achieve systemic change.
For more information please visit the CREATE website at www.create.org.au.

For further comment from CREATE’s Chief Executive, Ms Jacqui Reed, and/or a young person with care experience contact Erin Laing, Media Coordinator, via 0401 880 522 or [email protected]