Australia information stay: ‘fraud within the Medicare system’, well being minister says, however $8bn determine ‘approach out of whack’; flood help for 12 new LGAs in Victoria and Tasmania | Australia information
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Twelve new areas in Victoria and Tasmania eligible for flood help funds
Josh Butler
The federal authorities has prolonged one-off flood help funds to extra areas devastated by rising waters, with 12 new LGAs in Victoria and Tasmania now eligible.
The catastrophe restoration cost of $1,000 per eligible grownup and $400 per baby shall be out there in the present day from 2pm for folks within the Victorian native authorities areas of Benalla, Boroondara, Central Goldfields, Higher Bendigo, Loddon, Moonee Valley, Mount Alexander, Murrindindi and Yarra.
That’s along with funds already being out there in areas comparable to Campaspe, Higher Shepparton, Maribyrnong, Mitchell and Strathbogie.
The Tasmanian LGAs of Launceston, Latrobe and Devonport are additionally eligible for the cost from 2pm.
The federal government companies minister Invoice Shorten and emergency administration minister Murray Watt mentioned:
Claims might be made on-line by way of myGov, 24 hours a day. For data on eligibility and apply, go to the Companies Australia web site: www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/disasterevents.
For data on all the help the Australian and respective State governments have made out there to people, companies and councils following the in depth flooding, go to www.nema.gov.au”
Shorten beneficial that the best approach to declare was by way of my.gov.au, which is accessible on-line 24/7.
Peter Hannam
Science minister warns CSIRO in opposition to ‘renting out’ its model to fuel firms
The science minister, Ed Husic, has questioned the priorities of Australia’s premier science physique, warning it in opposition to “renting out” its model to large fuel firms that would simply fund their very own decarbonisation efforts.
Husic instructed the Spark competition on Monday {that a} “very main fuel firm” had approached CSIRO to help its claims of working in direction of web zero greenhouse fuel emissions. Whereas emphasising CSIRO’s independence, Husic mentioned it ought to focus efforts elsewhere.
Husic mentioned:
I’d reasonably the CSIRO work with much more notably smaller or extensively Australian corporations on that [decarbonising] effort.
Drone footage exhibits inundation in Forbes
Aged care funding to elevate by 10% per resident, well being minister says
Circling again to that interview with the well being minister Mark Butler. After accounting agency StewartBrown surveyed greater than 1,300 aged care properties and located two-thirds have been working at a loss final yr, is Butler frightened the sector may very well be liable to collapse?
We’ve been saying for some years that the aged care system is in disaster.
The primary piece of laws that Anika Wells, the aged care minister, was in a position to get by way of the parliament on behalf of the federal government launched a brand new funding system, which got here into impact solely a few weeks in the past, which on common we’re assured will elevate the extent of funding per resident by 10%. So we’re assured what we’ve put in place already goes to alleviate that strain.
Uncle Jack Charles to be honoured in state funeral
A state funeral shall be held in Melbourne to honour the Indigenous elder and storyteller Uncle Jack Charles.
The service shall be held at Hamer Corridor this afternoon and shall be open to the general public and streamed on-line.
The actor, musician, activist and member of the Stolen Generations died at Royal Melbourne Hospital on 13 September after struggling a stroke. He was 79.
The occasion shall be stay streamed into prisons, remand centres and youth justice centres throughout Victoria, in recognition of Charles’ work throughout the state’s justice system.
The Boon Wurrung, Dja Dja Wurrung, Woiwurrung and Yorta Yorta man’s profession spanned many years and featured movie roles in The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978) and Blackfellas (1993).
Extra not too long ago he voiced the frilled-neck lizard character Greg in animated movie Again to the Outback (2021).
His works additionally included touring his one-man present Jack Charles v The Crown based mostly on his life, and the ABC TV sequence Cleverman and Preppers. He additionally appeared on SBS sequence Who Do You Assume You Are.
A portrait of Charles by comic and creator Anh Doh gained the Individuals’s Selection award on the 2017 Archibald Prize in NSW.
Earlier this yr, Charles spoke at Victoria’s truth-telling Yoorrook Justice Fee about being taken from his mom as a four-month-old and rising up in a Salvation Military Boys’ Residence in Field Hill, the place he was sexually abused and taunted.
His household have given their permission to make use of his title and pictures.
– by way of AAP
Exterior choose ought to determine if integrity fee hearings are public, Liberals say
The shadow legal professional common Julian Leeser has adopted Mark Butler on ABC Radio.
As the primary day of the general public inquiry into the federal government’s nationwide anti-corruption fee invoice begins, Leeser is asking for a high-ranking choose to make the ultimate choice on whether or not the fee’s hearings ought to be public. The legal professional common Mark Dreyfus says it may lavatory down the committee.
Leeser says:
We consider that the Nacc must have in place correct safeguards to make sure it features.
Leeser says the federal fee advantages from the actual fact there may be 30 years of expertise from the states and territories on how these commissions function. He says it’s “essential to be taught from issues of state”.
We predict it’s essential to have an exterior private figuring out whether or not the stability is correct.
Butler criticises Morrison authorities’s scrapping of psychological well being help for areas
The federal government yesterday introduced it will restore funding for regional communities to have the ability to entry bulk billed video telehealth psychiatry consultations.
Mark Butler mentioned he was shocked by the previous Morrison authorities’s choice to chop this system at a time when Australians dwelling outdoors capital cities have been combating the results of Covid-19 and pure disasters.
We predict greater than 100,000 consults yearly shall be delivered beneath this program.
Well being minister says ‘there has at all times been’ fraud in Medicare system
Karvelas asks Butler if he can communicate as to if there may be fraud within the Medicare system, and the way widespread it’s. He replies:
Effectively there may be fraud within the Medicare system sadly … There are 24 instances in entrance of the courts proper now the place prosecutions are being pursued for fraud.
There’s and there has at all times been a small variety of instances of fraud they usually’re pursued appropriately.
I’m not going to do something apart from defend the extraordinary exhausting work that tens of 1000’s of healthcare professionals ship on a regular basis, in a program of which all Australian’s are proud – Medicare.
Butler acknowledges fraud within the Medicare system however says $8bn determine ‘approach out of whack’
ABC radio is chatting with the well being minister Mark Butler concerning the findings of an ABC and 9 newspapers investigation that claims well being practitioners are rorting Medicare and distorting official statistics on bulk billing.
Within the report, Dr Margaret Fake, a lawyer with a background in Medicare claims and compliance, estimated that as much as $8bn a yr was being misplaced from Medicare due to fraud and non-compliance, which represents practically 30% of the $28bn annual value of Medicare.
The story is much like one which Guardian Australia’s medical editor Melissa Davey delivered to consideration in Might that hole charges typically aren’t recorded.
The Australian Medical Affiliation has mentioned the claims are unjustified.
ABC host Patricia Karvelas requested Butler which aspect he comes down on, and he mentioned:
I need to come down on the aspect of fact clearly.
Butler says he has requested his division for an evaluation of Fake’s PhD thesis, which is the idea of the ABC and 9 investigation. He says he has additionally requested a report on the present audit compliance {and professional} companies assessment course of.
He says the determine of $8bn “does appear terribly excessive” and is “approach out of whack with another determine offered to authorities”. However he says he takes it critically.
It does appear terribly excessive. I perceive the response from the AMA to the idea that 30% of consults are inappropriately billed – as a result of a determine like that has by no means been used, despite the beautiful longstanding compliance and audit techniques governments of each political persuasions have had.
It’s approach out of whack with another determine that’s ever been offered to authorities, together with as I mentioned by the nationwide audit workplace, that solely did a assessment of this system a number of years in the past.
However I’m taking it critically, so I’ve requested the division for some formal evaluation of the work.
It’s a well timed alternative for us to have an intensive have a look at the way in which that the audit & compliance system is working and making certain, notably at a time the place each single greenback going to Medicare is so treasured, that we’re getting the utmost worth for that cash.
Echuca group maintain spirits excessive at evacuation centre
With the group of Echuca instructed to evacuate, residents have been getting ready their properties and transferring to evacuation centres.
ABC Radio has shared the heartwarming story of Margie who celebrated her 83rd birthday with the complete centre singing Blissful Birthday to her.
Didn’t count on myself to get barely emotional so early within the morning however then @RNBreakfast reported on folks on the Echuca flood evacuation centre singing glad birthday to Margie who turned 83 after her residence was broken, and, effectively… 🥲
— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) October 17, 2022
Rising Murray River places cities on edge
Residents in Victoria’s north are constructing partitions from sandbags to guard 1000’s of properties because the Murray River rises, AAP stories.
Evacuation warnings are in place for folks in Echuca and different cities alongside the river, with the Murray anticipated to peak from Wednesday. Emergency companies are involved the river ranges may exceed the 94.77 metres recorded in Echuca throughout the 1993 floods.
Individuals within the northern Victorian city spent most of Monday constructing a makeshift sandbag levy in an effort to guard 1000’s of properties and companies. Greater than 1000 Echuca properties have been already inundated with floodwaters on Sunday after the Campaspe River broke its banks.
There are additionally considerations the agricultural city of Kerang, about 95 kilometres northwest of Echuca, will grow to be remoted resulting from floodwaters. Main flooding at Kerang alongside the Loddon River is anticipated in a single day on Tuesday and into Wednesday, with the water forecast to peak across the January 2011 peak quickly after.
A sandbag levee is anticipated to assist maintain nearly all of the city dry however it may very well be minimize off for as much as seven days, Victoria’s State Emergency Service warned.
A warning has additionally been issued for the Wimmera River, with Horsham residents instructed main flooding is feasible on Tuesday.
4-day inquiry into anti-corruption invoice begins in the present day
The federal government’s proposed nationwide anti-corruption fee (Nacc) invoice will come beneath examination as public hearings into the laws begin in Canberra in the present day and can proceed to Friday.
The Labor senator Linda White is chairing the parliamentary committee with the unbiased MP Helen Haines as deputy.
White mentioned she wished to listen to as many voices as potential throughout the hearings, whereas Haines mentioned there had been sturdy group curiosity within the invoice.
The legal professional common Mark Dreyfus launched the laws into the decrease home and mentioned he wished it handed by Christmas. He mentioned the physique would carry belief and integrity again into politics after years of lies and rorts.
Our intention is to create a long-lasting physique, one which not solely causes our authorities to be higher, however all future governments to be higher too.
The invoice will put aside $262m over 4 years for the unbiased physique to research critical or systemic corrupt conduct throughout the commonwealth public sector.
The committee will hand down its report by 10 November.
The opposition has offered in-principle help for the fee, however chief Peter Dutton says he’s ready on the committee’s report earlier than making a ultimate willpower.
For these following alongside at residence right here is the witness listing for in the present day’s listening to into the Federal anti-corruption fee. Whistleblower protections, the take a look at for public hearings, jurisdiction over third events and the position of politicians are all in play in the present day ⚖️ pic.twitter.com/hr0mJlqvrT
— David Shoebridge (@DavidShoebridge) October 17, 2022
– with AAP
You may learn extra concerning the Greens’ considerations concerning the invoice from my colleague Paul Karp:
Widespread rain forecast for the approaching eight days
Good morning! Natasha Might now on deck with you.
Guardian Australia’s economics correspondent (and climate fanatic) Peter Hannam has shared this picture from the Bureau of Meteorology which exhibits the rain isn’t going away any time quickly.
Outlook continues to look grim for extra widespread rain over the approaching 8 days. And naturally, this may not be the final bout of rain with much more anticipated earlier than this ‘basic’ La Nina/damaging Indian Ocean Dipole is finished. (Supply: @BOM_au ) pic.twitter.com/sQIXqjxEmV
— Peter Hannam (@p_hannam) October 17, 2022
PM assembly with Singapore counterpart over decarbonisation push
Daniel Hurst
A inexperienced financial system settlement between Australia and Singapore shall be high of the agenda when Anthony Albanese meets along with his counterpart, Lee Hsien Loong, in Canberra in the present day.
The 2 prime ministers had dinner on the Lodge final night time earlier than their formal assembly in the present day:
We have been so happy to welcome Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Mrs Lee to Canberra tonight.
I sit up for discussing how we will strengthen the ties between our two international locations. pic.twitter.com/su1nguOm5w
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) October 17, 2022
They’re anticipated to carry a press convention this afternoon, when they’re prone to announce the signing of a deal to cut back obstacles between the 2 international locations in environmental items and companies as a part of the push to decarbonise their economies. The settlement is anticipated to incorporate various parts, together with harmonising labelling requirements for inexperienced certification.
And among the key headlines from world wide:
In different information round Australia:
Good morning
Good morning and welcome to the Guardian Australia’s stay information weblog for Tuesday 18 October. Natasha Might shall be in shortly to take you thru the morning, however right here’s an replace on the persevering with flood emergency in Victoria.
