Key occasions
Stephanie Convery
Productiveness Fee report on NDIS
The NDIS High quality and Safeguards Fee was notified of greater than 1.7m incidents of unauthorised restrictive practices used towards folks with incapacity final monetary 12 months, in response to a brand new report.
The Productiveness Fee’s annual report on authorities companies, launched this morning, additionally confirmed that of the 26,368 different reportable incidents of which the High quality and Safeguards Fee was notified, practically half (45%) had been cases of abuse and neglect.
Unauthorised restrictive practices embrace seclusion, or chemical, bodily, mechanical or environmental restraint.
The 2023-24 determine of 1,732,298 reported incidents represents a rise from 2022‑23, when there have been 1,608,913 notifications of using unauthorised restrictive practices – and each characterize an enormous improve on 5 years in the past.
The speed of reported incidents is noticeably increased in Tasmania and the Northern Territory, with Tasmania reporting unauthorised restrictive practices at a fee of 37.5 incidents for each 1000 NDIS members, virtually double that of NSW, the place the speed was 16.7 incidents for each 1000 members.
Complaints to the High quality and Safeguards Fee have additionally elevated, from 17,553 complaints in 2022-23 to 29,054 within the final monetary 12 months, a fee of 43.9 whole complaints per 1000 lively NDIS members, up from 28.8.
“Choice and control” is a central tenet of the NDIS and likewise an indicator by which this system’s success is measured. Nationally, at 30 June 2024, simply 53% of NDIS members reported that they received to decide on who helps them, a slight uptick from 2019 (48%), whereas 42% of households and carers of NDIS members reported that they really feel in management when deciding on companies – a determine that has not modified over time.
Rafqa Touma
Thanks Martin Farrer for beginning off the weblog this morning. I’ll be updating you with the day’s information from right here.
Blood most cancers has been dubbed Australia’s silent killer after a surprising rise in circumstances prompted requires extra prevention and early detection analysis, Australian Related Press studies.
The illness claims the lives of 16 Australians day by day.
Nonetheless the Leukaemia Basis is asking Australians to make a distinction by digging deep for his or her annual fundraiser, the World’s Best Shave.
One in 12 individuals are set to be identified with blood most cancers of their lifetime, virtually 10 per cent of the nationwide inhabitants. The incidence of the illness in Australia had elevated by 79% up to now 20 years.
About 140,000 households are at the moment going through a blood most cancers battle.
The inspiration’s head of analysis Invoice Stavreski mentioned we don’t know what causes blood cancers.
“Without these key answers, unfortunately, it will continue to impact Australians of all walks of life and all ages and we urgently need help to save Australian lives.”
The inspiration’s nationwide analysis program has funded about 365 blood most cancers analysis grants since 2000.
It has referred to as on Australians to assist elevate important funds by collaborating in its annual World’s Best Shave marketing campaign launching across the nation as we speak.
Additional to Sarah’s put up on the electoral reform challenge, Labor is on observe to cross the centrepiece of its Future Made in Australia plan when parliament resumes subsequent week.
Learn extra right here:
Sarah Basford Canales
Advocates urge politicians to assist Labor’s electoral reform legal guidelines
Transparency advocates are urging federal politicians to assist the Albanese authorities’s proposed electoral reform modifications, warning public belief may very well be additional eroded with out it.
Labor’s plan, one in all its key election guarantees in 2022, would impose a $90m cap for a federal political marketing campaign, $800,000 for a person voters and separate caps for every state and territory primarily based on their measurement.
It will additionally introduce donation caps of $20,000 per impartial candidate or per state division for a political get together and decrease the donation disclosure threshold from $16,300 to $1,000.
“Real-time” disclosures would require events to declare donations each month in the course of the time period, each week throughout an election marketing campaign and day by day within the week earlier than and after election day.
Nonetheless, the invoice stays stalled within the Senate till a deal is struck between Labor and the opposition or the crossbenchers.
Transparency Worldwide Australia wrote to key leaders in each homes – together with senators Don Farrell, Michaelia Money and Jane Hume – on Thursday, imploring them to assist decreasing the donation disclosure threshold and introducing real-time disclosures when Parliament resumes subsequent week.
The group’s chief govt officer, Clancy Moore, mentioned the modifications had been essential first steps to making sure public belief in elections.
Australians need to know who’s funding their politicians and shaping public coverage behind closed doorways. With out transparency, we threat additional eroding public belief in our democracy.
“Pam the Bird” alleged vandal charged in Melbourne
Victorian police have charged a person over a collection of “Pam the Bird” photos graffitied on metropolis landmarks.
The 21-year-old man from Yarraville was arrested on 30 January, police mentioned in a press release. He faces greater than 50 expenses together with legal harm, housebreaking, store theft and theft of a motorized vehicle.
Police allege he scaled and defaced the heritage listed Flinders Road railway station clock tower on 10 July 2024.
They allege he’s additionally answerable for graffiti throughout the rail community, the “Cheese Stick” column on CityLink, a tv station constructing in Docklands, concrete silos on Mercer Road in Geelong and a lodge in South Wharf.
Together with a 39-year-old man from Abbotsford, additionally modified with graffiti offences, he was remanded to seem at Melbourne magistrates court docket as we speak.
Frydenber accuses Albanese of failing to stem rise in antisemitism
Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg has accused Anthony Albanese of failing to set purple strains to not be crossed after antisemitic assaults started ramping up in Australia, Australian Related Press studies.
The previous Liberal get together deputy chief mentioned the invention of a caravan containing explosives and addresses of Jewish targets was simply the newest in an extended record of incidents which have left the Jewish group much less secure.
“The Jewish community – and it’s about only 116,000 strong – is very scared. People are afraid to send their kids to school. People are afraid now to gather at places of worship,” he informed the ABC’s 7.30 Report final evening.
Frydenberg, who’s Jewish, mentioned he was personally “cautious and extra vigilant” after receiving “very serious threats” that he had referred to federal police.
He mentioned antisemitism had gained a foothold in Australia and from the start the prime minister “should have set red lines that were not to be crossed” to verify culprits had been arrested, convicted and punished.
“Because of the absence of action those who hate and those who harm have been emboldened.”
Frydenberg mentioned he backed a coalition name for minimal obligatory sentences for individuals who commit terror assaults.
Rabbi Zalman Goldstein, who heads the Maroubra synagogue in japanese Sydney, mentioned his congregation was feeling defiant amid a rising tide of antisemitism and wouldn’t permit worry to take maintain.
“The Jewish community is saddened to see this happening in Australia, and at the same time, the community is very strong and resilient – we don’t get deterred or intimidated by bullies,” he informed AAP.
“Our strength comes from thousands of years of Jewish perseverance and survival. We’ve been through a lot.
“We’re not going to allow fear to take hold.”
Greens announce $8.1bn plan for 50c public transport fares
Sarah Basford Canales
The Greens will announce an $8.1bn plan to make all public transport charges throughout the nation simply 50 cents a experience as a part of a collection of “Robin Hood” insurance policies designed to alleviate the price of dwelling disaster.
On Friday, the chief, Adam Bandt, will reveal the plan in Melbourne forward of the state byelection in Prahan subsequent weekend in a bid to place stress on the foremost events to undertake extra formidable value of dwelling insurance policies on the federal election.
Beneath the proposal, costed by the Parliamentary Funds Workplace, the federal authorities would pay states and territories $8.1bn over the following 4 years to totally fund public transport prices and permit them to cost a flat fee of fifty cents per journey. An extra $250m can be given to help the states and territories to undertake a “smart ticketing” system permitting travellers to make use of their cellphone, credit score or debit playing cards.
Bandt mentioned:
We will’t maintain voting for a similar two events and anticipating a distinct end result. This election can be crucial in a technology. By electing extra Greens we will maintain Peter Dutton out and get Labor to behave on the cost-of-living disaster.
The 50c fares have been adopted in Queensland after trials started in August. The Crisafulli Liberal authorities agreed to maintain the cut-price fares in place after being elected.
The Greens declare the coverage, if adopted federally, may save households 1000’s of {dollars} a 12 months. Bandt mentioned electing a minority Labor authorities, supported by the Greens, may make the plan a actuality.
Greens stress received 50c fares in Queensland, and now we wish it for everybody. The foremost events can’t say it’s not possible, as a result of it’s taking place proper now in Queensland.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our reside information weblog. I’m Martin Farrer with the highest in a single day tales after which it’ll be Rafqa Touma to wrap up the week.
The previous treasurer Josh Frydenberg has accused Anthony Albanese of failing to set purple strains that might not be crossed as antisemitism assaults started ramping up in Australia. The previous MP mentioned the prime minister’s failure to behave had “emboldened” folks to hate. It comes because the investigation into the explosives present in a caravan in Dural together with a listing of Jewish targets continues. Extra developing.
Whereas one in 5 ladies over the age of 15 has been sexually assaulted of their lifetime, virtually 90% won’t report back to police. Of those that do make a report, solely 1 / 4 will see their perpetrator charged. These are the statistics behind our newest investigation, Damaged Justice, taking a look at how the authorized system fails rape victims. Coming forward of a report by the regulation reform fee to be tabled in parliament subsequent week, we additionally hear from a survivor who explains why the system appears stacked towards ladies who search justice.
Transparency advocates are urging federal politicians to assist the Albanese authorities’s proposed electoral reform modifications, warning public belief may very well be additional eroded with out it. With the federal parliament getting ready to renew for a fortnight subsequent week, the laws is doubtful.
Extra developing – in addition to some particulars on the Greens’ new coverage for nationwide 50c public transport fares.