In a major boost to regional and remote communities, the Morrison Government will support 76 arts projects across Australia, with a share in almost $1.2 million as part of the latest round of the 2021 Regional Arts Fund Project grants.
Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities, Communications and Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP said the funding will boost local economies in regional and remote areas across Australia.
“This funding will help regional artists develop works and shows that can be enjoyed by Australians everywhere – both in regional and metropolitan areas,” Minister Fletcher said.
Federal Member for Monash, Russell Broadbent said the Project grants will provide opportunities for artists and arts workers to cultivate creative community engagement with the arts as we emerge from the pandemic – reconnecting regional communities.
“I am pleased to announce that Chelle Destefano has been awarded a $30,000 Regional Arts Fund Project grant, which will strengthen their artistic and creative practice, and help develop audiences to reconnect to their communities and continue telling their regional stories,” Mr Broadbent said.
“This is a major boost for Monash and is part of the Government’s investment towards a sustainable, thriving and diverse arts sector across regional and remote communities.”
Each year the Government provides around $3.6 million through the Regional Arts Fund, supporting sustainable cultural development in regional and remote communities.
For more information about the Regional Arts Fund and to view the full list of Project grant recipients visit: www.arts.gov.au/funding-and-support/regional-arts-fund
From bushfires to floods, storms to road accidents, Emergency Service Workers serve our community 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to ensure our safety. Their work requires much courage and resilience.
We all rely on their bravery and selflessness as our first point of call when emergencies hit and they deliver. That’s why investing in mental health support for our first responders is important.
The government is funding $11.5 million towards mental health services to support our first responders. Grant funding will be provided directly to reputable support organisations, such as the Black Dog Institute and Fortem Australia, to deliver mental health support to our first responders and their families.
I hope that in every first responder centre, there is a sign that says, ‘If you need help, call this number’. Mental health support services are a lifeline for many in our community. How much more so for emergency service workers and their families.
For more information about Fortem’s support program for first responders, please call 1300 33 95 94, or visit: fortemaustralia.org.au
I hope the first responders and their families in Gippsland are the first to embrace the opportunity to access these support services. They deserve it!
That’s just as I see it.
I just want to say, before I start, that to be in the parliament when Youssef Chaaya's memories are brought to the table by the member for Greenway is a marvellous moment to be here. It doesn't happen very often that somebody gives an address to the parliament like the one you've just given. Congratulations. I know it must be heartbreaking for your family, but this is just the sort of man who makes this nation what it is.
On the afternoon of Saturday 1 May, I had the privilege of attending the Mayday Women's Forum held in Toora. I was rather humbled and honoured even to be invited, as a male and a local member. I'd been invited to be a witness and listen to 11 impressive women from in or around Toora share their personal stories, to participate in the subsequent discussions and to take what I heard back to this parliament, which I'm doing today. I acknowledge two of the organisers, Sue Plowright and Rosemary Brooks, who are here in the chamber tonight.
Toora is a small farming village in my electorate whose main industry is dairy farming. It's located at the top of Corner Inlet, opposite Wilsons Promontory National Park. It's a stunning part of the world. With Toora having a population of around 680, you might understand that I expected around 20 participants. What a surprise it was when I walked into the hall and there were 70 women and a couple of men there. There had been a shift. This community was galvanised.
Several themes and issues emerged from the forum, but, overwhelmingly, homelessness and family violence were front and centre. The 11 presenters each shared their own powerful and personal stories: for example, an older woman with no superannuation and no home of her own; a young woman, a tradie, who had to fight against entrenched antagonism by many of the men around her but who was fortunately supported by her employer to continue to work as a diesel mechanic; and a dedicated teacher who missed out on a promotion because she sought to work less than full-time hours, to work around the needs of her young family. Each of the presenters shone a light on a myriad of insidious aspects of disrespect towards and discrimination against women.
The last presenter spoke on behalf of women she works with who have shared their experiences of family violence. Her community health centre helps people in the district with the food bank, referrals to services, food vouchers and advocacy for people at risk of homelessness. Homelessness, family violence, mental health crises and food insecurity are all rampant in her community and have been made even worse by the pandemic. In what became a moment of reckoning which stopped us all in our tracks, she asked us, as forum participants, to imagine we were in a relationship with a partner who withholds medications from you; sells your possessions without permission; hurts or kills your pets; monitors all of your everyday activities, including the clothes you wear and who you talk to—if you're even allowed to go out at all; controls all of your money, from shopping to paying bills; or abuses or hurts you in front of your children.
The presenter then went on to ask the attendees a series of questions, none of which I'd ever considered from a woman's perspective. I'd never put myself in a woman's shoes. We were then asked to reflect on matters we'd need to consider if we were a woman at risk of or experiencing family violence: Have you learnt how to delete your search history when looking for help online? Have you considered using a code language that the person using violence against you will not know? Have you used this at the hairdresser or the chemist? Have you needed to take photos of bruises or injuries and given them to a trusted friend before deleting them? Have you needed to ensure you always have petrol in your car and a spare set of keys in case you need to leave quickly? Where is your rental agreement? Where are your property deeds? Where is your birth certificate? Can you grab them in a hurry? Does your doctor have contact numbers for your friends and for the kids' school in case you get really hurt next time? The last question was: Have you taught your children the warning signs? Do they know a safe place to hide? Do they know how to call the police? Do they know your address, should the worst happen?
I ask this question soberly and with no accusation or judgement: How have we, as a society, come to this? How have we let this happen?
Violence against a partner affects all members of a family. Put simply, it occurs when one person exerts power over another in a relationship or family situation. To any victims listening to me now, family violence is not your fault. You are not responsible for the violent behaviour of others or those around you, not ever. You don't ask for it. It's never an appropriate response. Although men may experience family violence, it's far more likely in Australia that women, non-binary or gender diverse people will be in a relationship of violence or abuse. People with all sorts of backgrounds, cultures and circumstances experience violence and abuse at home.
The focus of the Mayday Women's Forum was rural women's safety, justice, opportunity, achievements and their role in rural communities. The forum followed the March4Justice on 15 May, and the organisers asked me to convey this to the parliament: 'We call on you as democratic lawmakers and policy setters to exercise your representative responsibility to act in particular on the following: provide in place, affordable and safe emergency accommodation, temporary housing and long-term homes with supports for mental health et cetera through extending existing centralised services to include comprehensive, in-person mobile and outreach services and creative and better use of existing buildings as a priority; recognise, prioritise and work through community-led enabling initiatives that draw on local knowledge, networks and know-how; recognise that every small rural town and district is distinct and has different circumstances, cultures, landscapes, assets and needs; promote neighbourliness and community cohesion; address, through formal and informal education, the lack of respect and acknowledgement of women's skill and productivity that is endemic in Australia.' But the one message in the rural context of dispersed small towns, locales and farms that is particularly important is summed up by this one plea: 'Secure long-term funding for community houses in every rural town.'
This Mayday forum and my subsequent engagement with the presenters and organisers has been a turning point, a fork in the road for me. Since engaging on issues directly on the treatment of women in this country, I have been approached by numerous people, both men and women, who are pleading with me to help make a meaningful difference, not just talk and platitudes. Our history of white settlement talks of the awful history of misogyny, from our very beginnings, that has hovered like a bad odour over our national being, an underlying theme that has infected the generations. We, as a people, have lived in a state of denial of society's generational habits, then allowed them to penetrate every institution of our creation across every state, territory and region. This lack of respect for a partner manifests itself in many ways where power, manipulation and outright intention to control another are enacted. More often than not, this is a learned behaviour, which arises from observed experience in any given setting. It is respect that we have lost—to honour one another as a first response, not one that has to be learned, but one expected as a fundamental part of our cultural norm.
I would like to finish up on a rare uplifting note. One of the families that I heard about as a result of the forum was a mum and her four sons who had escaped family violence. At the time the family was looking at the prospect of being wrenched from their close-knit community networks, including a very supportive school community, which supported the boys, becoming homeless and uprooting to a town 40 kilometres away. Long story short: the community drew on its own networks and social capital, and a home was miraculously found for this family—a small glimmer of hope in what was otherwise a very desperate and dire picture of life for so many people in our society.
Funding won't fix this. It's not money that's going to fix this. Our society has to fix this. We have to own the problems. Once we have owned the problems, we have to work out ways to fix them. Whatever those ways are, what we're currently doing is not working. But we can work together as a nation for a better outcome.
ACTIVITIES and programs to support the mental health and wellbeing needs of younger veterans in Monash have received $48,854 in funding through the Supporting Younger Veterans grants program announced today.
Member for Monash, Mr Russell Broadbent, said the funds would assist local organisations to ensure veterans and their families continued to get the support they need as they establish their civilian lives.
“In my electorate of Monash, funding has been allocated to South Gippsland Landcare Network in consortium with Leongatha RSL to provide nature-based training and learning for younger veterans and families,” Mr Broadbent said.
“This is fantastic for veterans and their families in my electorate and I encourage them to engage with some of these projects.
“Congratulations to the successful applicants for this round and thank you for the ongoing support that you offer to the veteran community.”
This year, the Supporting Younger Veterans grants program has supported a total of 21 organisations to develop capability within the veteran community that services the unique needs of younger veterans’ and their families.
Applications for the next round of Supporting Younger Veterans Grants are expected to be available in late 2021. For more information about grants that are available, visit the Community Grants Hub www.communitygrants.gov.au
I note the contribution from the member for Lingiari and absolutely respect his position on all of these issues and his experience in this area—his knowledge and experience over a long period of time, as he referred to John Howard and his commitment at the head of his government to first moot recognising the Indigenous Australians in our Constitution back in 2007. There is a commitment of both Labor and coalition governments to closing the gap, and over 13 years we've been trying. It's been more trying than we have been able to stand here before you and say, 'Look what we've done.' In fact, I can go back to Kevin Rudd and his disappointment in our performance.
We respect, as I have respected, the member for Lingiari for his knowledge in this area and his memory of what leaders of our nation have said. I'm sure that, every time they said it, it was heartfelt and deliberate on behalf of their government representing our nation. When you hear the words that John Howard said and Kevin Rudd said and leaders of opposition said in support of what those leaders said, there has been no less desire to respect the Indigenous peoples of Australia, but our respect has not carried through to delivery.
If there's no respect—if we cannot respect the rights of Indigenous peoples in this country to be at least recognised in the Australian Constitution, as John Howard outlined and as the member for Lingiari described a few minutes ago—how can we progress? If there is no respect between us and the Indigenous communities we represent, and if there is no respect from them to us because we've never given them a reason to respect us, we can't progress; we can't go forward.
I have openly, along with a number of my colleagues, supported the Uluru statement, in full—no stepping back, but accepting it in full. But this then demands the respect of the Australian people of this parliament to deliver on their behalf. Quite often, my constituents will say to me: 'We elected you to make decisions on our behalf. We don't want to have to stand back here in the electorate and make decisions.' When I go to them and I say: 'What do you think about this issue or that issue?' they say: 'You're actually elected to make the hard decisions.'
But sometimes, I don't roll with the mob, whatever the mob are doing, because, when you've got the experience of the member for Lingiari, and perhaps my experience in this place as well, you do have regard for the passage of time, and the healing time that it takes to deal with a lot of issues. You've got to come to a position of absolute respect for the Indigenous communities the length and breadth of the nation, and to look at the nation as a nation—as I did in the parliament today, talking about Christians who are oppressed across the world—and say, 'Well, what are we doing here, in our own land, if we've got this schism between our communities?' That respect goes back 60,000 years. You've got to look at our nation as a nation 60,000 years old, not 250 years old, and to recognise and respect them as an absolutely integral part of our thinking. When we come to that space and we come to that place of respect, we may have an opportunity to move forward.
I’m on the record as a staunch advocate for the compassionate treatment of refugees and asylum seekers. I’ve even crossed the floor of the parliament and voted against my party and copped the political fallout!
However, our legal system has found that these children are not refugees. I feel desperately sad for the Murugappan family. The children have been caught up in a terrible situation – detaining children offshore is unconscionable. I’ve never supported offshore detention.
I’m not a member of the government’s Executive so I do not understand why the family has been detained on Christmas Island and at great expense to the taxpayer.
The circumstances surrounding the Murugappan family are complex. Their detention on Christmas Island has been exacerbated by lengthy court proceedings. Children born in Australia to parents that are non-residents are not deemed to be Australian citizens.
Mr Murugappan has returned to Sri Lanka as Fran Kelly reported on ABC Radio on 16 June and therefore cannot be considered to be a refugee. Of course, our hearts to go out to the children. We must retain our humanity and compassion. I have always viewed refugees and asylum seekers through this lens.
However, governing the nation is hard, and we have to make decisions in line with the law of the land - and it appears to me that neither the government nor Labor intend to change the law.
That’s just as I see it.
As part of Men’s Health Week, the Australian Government is encouraging Men’s Sheds across Monash to apply for funding as part of the newest round of the National Men’s Shed Development Programme (NDSP).
Opening this week, Russell Broadbent encouraged all Sheds in Monash to apply for Round 22 of the NDSP.
“Men’s Sheds are friendly and inclusive settings where men can meet to work with tools and equipment, or just spend time together, to support each other’s mental and physical good health,” Mr Broadbent said.
“Our Government is committed to ensuring that even doing the pandemic, members can stay in touch and continue to providing meaningful contributions to their communities,”
Men’s Sheds can apply for financial support across the following funding categories:
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said connection was the key to the success of the more than 1,000 Men’s Sheds around the country.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has been tough for many Australians, and it is vitally important that Shed Members remained connected to their community during this time,” Minister Hunt said.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting Men’s Sheds, we provided $500,000 to Sheds around Australia in the latest round of NDSP grants and $6.4 million in grant funding to support Men’s Sheds since 2013.”
Regional Health Minister, Mark Coulton, said Men’s Sheds play a vital role in regional Australia, becoming one of the most important regional organisations.
“Men’s Sheds provide a safe and friendly environment for men to gather and or work on meaningful projects, with the ultimate aim of improving the health and wellbeing of their members,” Minister Coulton said.
“I am also pleased to announce that work will soon begin on the $1.5 million Regional Coordinators for Men’s Sheds Initiative, which helps Men’s Sheds to connect with local health services and promote health events for their members.”
Men’s Sheds Associations in WA, Tasmania, Victoria and Queensland will be funded to introduce regional coordinators in those states.
The Australian Men’s Shed Association, which manages the NSDP, has also received funding under the Initiative to implement regional coordinators in NSW, the ACT, SA and the NT. Regional coordinators will be introduced in every state and territory.
Applications for the next round of Men’s Sheds grants is open until 26 July 2021. Those wanting to submit an application can visit https://mensshed.org/development-grants.
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In times of hardship, I always try to look for a silver lining. So, at the height of the COVID crisis last year, I was optimistic that the pandemic could offer a rare and much-needed opportunity for the nation to take stock and set a new vision for our future – one that offered a more equitable, compassionate and healthy way of life.
Rather than going back to so called ‘normal’, why aren’t we looking forward to becoming a more hopeful, self-reliant and re-invigorated Australia?
The role of government, especially in times of crisis, is to set a vision. This requires smart, critical and compassionate thinking. But I don’t see much of that clever thinking at the moment. One of my constituents asked: ‘Why do we have to be the dumb country?’ Regardless of whether we need a big Australia or a sustainable Australia, we definitely need to be a smart Australia.
Take, for example, our reliance on migrants to do a lot of the work that people born in Australia are resistant to, such as roles in aged care. Now is the time for Australia to build skills and capacity across sectors such as aged care that have been heavily reliant on unskilled or semi-skilled migrants for the past 10-15 years. Surely the COVID-crisis taught us that these frontline workers are our most valuable and important asset?
We need to provide appropriate remuneration to attract and retain workers who are valued, and know they are valued. They are given the responsibility of looking after treasured family members, and we should acknowledge their valuable service with decent wages and conditions.
That’s just as I see it.
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People living in Nyora can now look forward to new and improved telecommunications services thanks to the government’s Regional Connectivity Program (the RCP).
Member for Monash, Mr Russell Broadbent today announced Nyora will benefit from new and improved digital connectivity under the program.
The South Gippsland Community secured $204,162 for a new Telstra 4GX macro cell base station.
The new base station will provide improved mobile connectivity to support significant anticipated population growth in the district, as well as the operations of retail businesses, industrial and agricultural enterprises, and community facilities which service the growing township.
“I’m thrilled that residents and businesses in Nyora will enjoy the benefits and opportunities that improved digital connectivity brings,” Mr Broadbent said.
“The Nyora community has long been campaigning for better connectivity in this area.” Mr Broadbent said.
“This project will provide people in regional Australia access to improved broadband services and data delivering fast, affordable and reliable connectivity. This will help keep our businesses connected, our families stay in touch and mean we can better access Telehealth and online services.”
“Connectivity – digital and physical – is vital for regional Australia to fulfil its full potential to do business, work and raise a family, no more so than now with the unprecedented interest in people living and working in a regional area.”
The Federal Government is contributing a total of $117.4 million (GST inclusive) to the first round of the RCP, generating total new investment of more than $232 million (GST inclusive) through co-contributions from funding recipients, state and territory governments and other third parties, such as local governments, regional businesses and community development organisations.
In addition, the Government has made further funding of $105.8 million available for a second round of the program and will call for applications later this year, following consultation of program guidelines.
The delivery of successful projects under the Program will begin shortly with most projects to be completed by June 2022.
Read more about the Regional Connectivity Program
Dear residents of Monash
I’m writing this letter on day five of Victoria’s fourth lockdown, reflecting on where we are at as a community, and as a nation.
The pandemic has resulted in many Victorians enduring great hardship and uncertainty. In these very difficult times, I am even more aware of my privilege to represent you in Australia’s parliament and influence decision-makers about both local and national issues.
In this context, I’m pleased to report that the 2021 Budget (see attached overview) provides a significant funding boost for Gippsland. This includes:
At a national level, it’s been a great relief to me that the government has put aside the potential privatisation of ACAT and paused the introduction of independent assessments for people on the NDIS. Respect is always a powerful motivator – a value that should underpin genuine consultation processes and essential if the NDIS is to remain a fair, equitable and sustainable scheme.
As a long-time advocate for marginalised and vulnerable people, I continue to speak up for:
In these challenging times, it’s important we support one another. As always, if I can be of assistance please contact my office: russell.broadbent.mp@aph.gov.au or 5623 2064. If you would like to receive my regular updates please sign up to my mailing list.
Download the 2021 Budget Update
Yours sincerely
Russell Broadbent MP
Member for Monash
$11.5 million in mental health grants to support emergency service workers
The Australian Government is investing $11.5 million in mental health services to support emergency services workers and their families impacted by the unprecedented bushfire disaster of 2019-20.
The grant funding will be provided directly to specialist and reputable support organisations, Black Dog Institute and Fortem Australia Limited, to deliver mental health support directly to emergency services workers and their families.
Emergency services workers face extremely challenging and dangerous situations. These grants will ensure specialist support organisations can deliver much-needed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mental health support services to them and their families.
Establishing a support and mental health literacy network will encourage individuals in the emergency services sector to connect, talk, and seek help.
Attending the official launch of Fortem’s support program for first responder families in the Warragul Region, Member for Monash Mr Russell Broadbent emphasised the importance of addressing trauma suffered by emergency service workers.
“These are important and essential services. PTSD is one of the most prevalent injuries suffered by frontline workers whose job it is to respond to traumatic events, yet some people are reluctant to seek support.
“I hope that in every first responder centre, there’s some sort of sign that says if you need help, ring this number.
“I hope our first responders and their families are the first to respond to the opportunity to access these support services” Mr Broadbent said.
For more information about Fortem’s support program for emergency service workers, please visit the following website: https://fortemaustralia.org.au/ or phone 1300 33 95 94.
Mr Speaker, you will agree with me that today in Victoria we have many people in distress, including in your own electorate. I have spoken to my colleague the member for Calwell. She has a number of issues around her electorate that are most difficult to deal with at this time. Every one of us, whatever side of this House we're on, are facing great difficulties. Even my own family are struggling to find out what they can and what they can't do, what my daughter is able to do with her daughter and what my wife is able to do. I wouldn't be a stranger in that place and none of us are strangers in this place.
There are people who are under great stress today and we identify, as Victorians, with every one of them. Our heart goes out to them, our care goes out to them and every effort is being put in on their behalf to make sure the most vulnerable are cared for. In this, we are all Australians and we are all Victorians. It's important for this nation to know what is happening. Maria is here now. Maria, thank you for the work you're doing on behalf of your constituents and we're doing as much we can on behalf of ours. That's Victoria together. We will stay together and we'll do this together, and Victorians will rise to the occasion and do the best they can in the conditions they are surrounded with.
