It seems of late that if you question a status quo around vaccinations, you are deemed to be part of the radical fringe of society. Australians do question things, especially authority. Always have, always will.
You know of my questions regarding vaccines, vaccine passports and mandatory vaccinations. If not, this is where I stand:
1.I am uncomfortable with mass vaccination of the population with a vaccine that is, according to Minister hunt, “being trialled across the world”. We have no knowledge of side effects until they present themselves and of course no idea about possible long-term ramifications. The producers of the vaccines obviously share my discomfort because they are indemnified, that is, no one can sue them for unseen outcomes.
2. I am concerned about vaccine passports which will split this nation in two. If passports are imposed, just wait to see the effect on families, workplaces and neighbourhoods. It might seem an obvious solution now, but the division which separates loved ones and fractures society will be devastating. Those who choose not to be vaccinated pay the price, some giving up their careers, others facing separation from family and other loved ones. It appears they are not just a handful of people, and many of them are otherwise fully vaccinated.
3. Mandatory vaccinations. There are a range of views on how to manage the COVID virus. While I can understand why mandatory vaccination may seem an obvious path to follow, is it making the difference hoped for?
Vaccination may give protection against the more severe case of COVID but it doesn’t stop you from getting COVID or passing it on. And what about the variants? What about the variants to come?
Is it time to reflect? At least reflect?
We seem to be following one path only without looking at other possible avenues of prevention and treatment. Why are we scared to look more broadly? To ask the question. And then have the discussion.
I know the pandemic frightens people but that should not stop us asking any question we want to ask, in fact, it should drive us to seek answers. Fear corrodes one’s health, COVID or no COVID.
It is not helpful to label those who have a different view as ratbags. We need to engage in honest discussion about why people are choosing not to be vaccinated, including members of the health profession and some members of the teaching profession I have just learned.
Wherever the nation is headed on these issues, it’s important that we put our relationships before the divisions that this issue is causing.
This is a time, if ever there was a time, to respect our differences be it friend, family, neighbour, work colleague, politician and have the courage to ask the hard question and use this situation to help us mature as a compassionate and empathic people who choose to move beyond fear.
That’s Just As I See It.
Leongatha roadside rest areas will be upgraded to help combat driver fatigue and make local roads safer, thanks to funding under the Liberal and Nationals Government’s Driver Reviver Site Upgrade Program.
Federal Member for Monash Russell Broadbent said there is nothing more important than saving lives, which is what this funding is all about.
“I am pleased to announce a total of $150,000 in federal funding will upgrade sites in Leongatha, delivering Driver Reviver sites Mr Broadbent said.
“Anyone who has used a Driver Reviver site here in Monash or elsewhere across the country knows how vital a place they are for safety and fatigue breaks for drivers and their passengers, and we want to ensure they continue to be that reliable break spot for even more Australians well into the future.
“That is why our Government is investing in these vital Driver Reviver upgrades that will help keep people safe on our roads.
“This funding will also support our hard-working local volunteers who put in their time and effort to man our Driver Reviver sites, offering motorists a cuppa, friendly conversations and a nice spot to take a break to manage fatigue and reduce the risk of crashes.”
In total, the Government is providing $7.2 million to upgrade 71 sites across the country.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said the upgrades will help ensure motorists and their passengers can relax and revive in comfort.
“One accident, one injury, one death is one too many and no family should have to endure the loss of a loved one on our roads,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“Driver Reviver sites provide a place for safety and fatigue breaks for drivers and their passengers. The upgrades we are funding are aimed at making rest sites more welcoming and comfortable for drivers, to help them overcome fatigue and ensure they reach their destination safely.”
Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said the program is part of the Government’s record investment in life-saving road safety initiatives.
“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility and our Government is doing what it can to ensure Australia moves towards ‘Vision Zero’ of zero deaths on our nation’s roads,” Mr Buchholz said.
“Initiatives such as the Driver Reviver program showcase what governments and communities can achieve when working together, as well as of course the role road users can play to ensure we all get home safely at the end of each trip.
“Our investments include the $3 billion Road Safety Program, $500 million Targeted Road Safety Works initiative and further funding for innovative road safety technologies and education campaigns.”
The Australian Government is working closely with states, territories and local governments to develop the National Road Safety Strategy 2021–30 to move towards zero fatalities and serious injuries on our roads.
More information on the Australian Government’s road safety initiatives is available at www.officeofroadsafety.gov.au.
Project funded:
Leongatha – Victoria SES – six mobile vans
Monash individuals and organisations can apply for a share of $13 million in Australian Government Smart Farms Small Grants funding for activities to assist farmers and land managers improve their understanding and management of their soil.
Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud said the round provided an exciting opportunity for raising awareness and knowledge of our nation’s soil.
“This round will continue to support the Smart Farms Small Grants Program outcomes while also supporting outcomes under the National Soil Strategy,” Minister Littleproud said.
“We all know that healthy soil is the basis for great agricultural output as well as environmental benefits, so this final round of Smart Farms Small Grants is getting back to basics.
“Soil extension activities will take action to improve soil health with evidence-based interventions leading to improved soil management practices.
“If we get this right, our farmers and land managers will see increased productivity and profitability, which will help the entire agriculture sector reach its Ag2030 goal to grow agriculture to $100 billion by 2030.”
Member for Monash Russell Broadbent said the final round of Smart Farms Small Grants would fund a diverse range of soil extension activities across Australia.
“These grants will promote knowledge and awareness of soil and lead to better soil management practices for our local farmers and land managers at the grass roots level,” Mr Broadbent said.
“This will also deliver benefits for our communities and natural resources in Monash. Better soil management will deliver productivity benefits to our farmers and land managers and help to improve our air and water quality.”
Under this round, multiple activities may be applied for in the one application. Grants are available for between $100,000 to $250,000 per activity and will be delivered over two years.
Applicants may apply for a maximum of $2 million per application.
Eligible activities could include engaging a soil extension officer; conducting soil management workshops, seminars, roadshows or field days; creating communications products, webinars or online materials; and/or establishing trials, demonstrations and monitoring sites.
Extension Activities will seek to improve soil management, improving productivity and profitability. These measures will also support and complement the two-year National Soil Monitoring and Incentives Pilot Program which forms part of the National Soil Strategy.
For more information and details on how to apply, visit the Community Grants Hub www.communitygrants.gov.au/grants/smart-farms-small-grants
Fast Facts:
I have said to my children and anybody else who would listen that there is no problem on Earth that cannot be faced that would necessitate the taking of one’s life.
This week includes National Suicide Prevention Day and R U OK?Day. Every day should be suicide prevention day and every day should be R U OK?Day.
Just talking to those around you and being brave enough to ask your friends if they are okay.
When someone comes to my mind, I always give them a ring for no other reason than they were on my mind. Invariably, they welcome the call and even if when you make the call you wonder why you were doing it, just talking often reveals the unexpected reason for the talk.
That’s my experience.
Being interested in another person’s well-being has personal benefits too, for when you are supporting somebody else you are not concentrating on your own ups and downs of your daily life.
These lockdowns have increased the pressure on the mental health and well-being of all ages from children through to the elderly. If there was ever a time to phone a friend, this is the time.
Every one of us can make a difference, every one of us can show we care and every one of us can ask are you really okay?
That’s just as I see it.
The Federal Liberal and Nationals Government has approved funding for 11 projects as part of its $2.5 billion Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, which is supporting local jobs, businesses and boosting the economy during COVID-19.
Federal Member for Monash Russell Broadbent said getting shovels in the ground on local construction projects was important for maintaining jobs and economic growth in Monash.
“Every single job we support makes a huge difference in our local community, now and as we build our way out of the pandemic,” Mr Broadbent said.
“That is why we have moved quickly to approve funding to flow to 11 projects.
“Not only will this program support jobs, construction businesses and economic growth across Monash, it will also improve road safety and bolster the resilience of our local road networks, helping Australians get home sooner and safer.
“We will work closely with our local councils in Monash to ensure local projects get underway and start supporting jobs and businesses as soon as possible.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said over 5,800 projects have already been approved under the program with around $835 million paid to councils across Australia.
“This funding will result in some much wanted facilities and infrastructure in our community, which will have flow-on effects for local companies and suppliers,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“We know how important our support is to communities who have faced the combined effects of drought, bushfires and COVID-19, which is why the construction of new infrastructure will help support the community recover from their economic hardships.
“These projects are driving new money back into the local economy in Gippsland and creating jobs at a time when we need it most – it’s a real win-win.”
In June 2021, the Federal Liberal and Nationals Government also pre-paid $1.3 billion of this year’s Financial Assistance Grant to provide untied funding for all local councils across Australia to spend on local priorities.
More information on the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program is available at infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure_investment/local-roads-community-infrastructure-program.
Warragul Cinemas – independent cinema in Monash has been given a lifeline from the pandemic, with a $60,000 grant under the Morrison Government’s $20 million Supporting Cinemas’ Retention Endurance and Enhancement of Neighbourhoods (SCREEN) Fund.
Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said the Morrison Government is committed to keep cinemas operation during the pandemic.
“Independent cinemas are so important to the social and cultural health of our communities in Australia, which is why we acted quickly to introduce our $20 million SCREEN Fund,” Minister Fletcher said.
Federal Member for Monash Russell Broadbent said the grants would support the recovery of independent cinemas from significant declines in revenue due to COVID-19.
“I’m pleased to announce that Warragul Cinemas have been approved for grants of up to $60,000 as part of the Morrison Government’s $20 million SCREEN Fund,” Mr Broadbent said.
“This funding will enable our independent cinemas to keep operating during a period of severe disruption, which is so important to the fabric of our community.”
Administered by Screen Australia, the fund assists independent cinema operators who have experienced significant declines in revenue due to the pandemic, with one-off business continuity grants of up to $85,000.
In recognition of the economic, social and national importance of the cultural and creative sector, the Morrison Government is investing over $1 billion into the arts and creative sector in 2021-22.
SCREEN Fund applications are open until 24 December 2021 or until total funds are committed. For more information on the SCREEN Fund, visit: https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/funding-and-support/covid-19-support/screen-fund
The editorial in The Age newspaper, “Victoria can’t go on like this”, after the announcement of the 3-week extension of the lockdown in their words “will leave people struggling beyond the point of endurance.” In my experience after that announcement, that is already the case. Especially for those that did not want to take these vaccines.
Uncertainty as to their future is crippling families, businesses and confidence. These people feel threatened by vaccine passports that will remove their basic human right of freedom of movement, their jobs are threatened by mandated vaccines in the workplace at the same time seeing terrible decline in the mental health of work mates, children and families.
Furthermore they’re threatened by the demand to vaccinate their children which is surely not warranted when Sarah McNab – director of general medicine at the Royal Children’s Hospital said “For children out in the community who were diagnosed with COVID, we know we have about 200 children in Victoria at the moment with COVID and none of these children are in hospital. In children we see very mild illness and the vast majority of children with COVID including Delta are doing very well.”
Harvard Medical School Professor Martin Kulldoorf said, “research showing natural immunity offer exponentially more protection than vaccines which means that vaccine passports are unscientific, discriminating and unethical.”
Jon Miltimore says in FEE Org Magazine “the bottom line is this, that vaccine passports will be immoral and a massive government overreach even in the absence of Professor Martin Kulldoorf’s findings. There is simply no historical parallel for governments trying to restrict the movements of healthy people over a respiratory virus in this manner. People that have not had COVID and choose not to get vaccinated, may or may not be making a wise decision. But if they are, they are principally putting only themselves at risk.”
There are many prominent people and doctors offering a range of different treatments.
Why is the government not testing them?
This proposal of vaccine passports which stabs at the heart of our freedom, must be defeated.
That’s just as I see it.
Leadership training providers in the Monash community are encouraged to apply for the Building Resilient Regional Leaders Initiative pilot program, which will support current and emerging local leaders to become strong voices for the region.
Federal Member for Monash Russell Broadbent said this is a great opportunity for people in Monash to develop their leadership and resilience skills.
“I encourage all interested eligible leadership training providers in Monash to consider applying so that we continue producing local leaders that boost the resilience and vibrancy of our community,” Mr Broadbent said.
“This initiative is one of its kind, with the Australian Government investing $5 million to engage training providers to further develop individual leadership and resilience skills to support our local communities through future economic challenges.
“That’s why I am excited to now have another initiative available to support Monash as band together to support our local economy, businesses and community members through thick and thin.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said the pilot program will run over two years and will help sustain regional Australia’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We know every dollar spent on delivering immediate and long-term benefits for our regional communities will be key to supporting Australia’s economic recovery and renewal,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“That’s why we are backing our regions, to build and grow the leaders of the future who can help our regional and remote communities grow and prosper.
“The pilot program will facilitate the development of networks between current and emerging regional leaders, mentors and other experts, and provide participants with opportunities and techniques to develop deeper connections within their regions.
“This Government knows the regions are the lifeblood of our nation and investing in the wonderful people and businesses of regional Australia will continue paving the way for our economic recovery beyond the pandemic.”
Applications open on Friday, 24 September 2021 and close on Friday, 5 November 2021.
The guidelines can be accessed at: https://business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/building-resilient-regional-leaders-initiative
Training providers interested in delivering the pilot program can contact the Business Grants Hub at business.gov.au or by calling 13 28 46.
More information on the Building Resilient Regional Leaders Initiative is available at: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/territories-regions-cities/regions/regional-community-programs/building-resilient-regional-leaders
Local governments in Monash have received their first 2021-22 quarterly payment through the Federal Government’s Financial Assistance Grant program.
Federal Member for Monash, Russell Broadbent said the funding is untied, allowing councils to spend the grant according to their own local priorities.
“Local governments are vital to building safer and stronger communities,” Mr Broadbent said.
“They are an important delivery partner for the Federal Government’s economic stimulus packages and play a critical role in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Councils in Monash will receive the following quarterly payment:
Assistant Minister for Local Government Kevin Hogan said a total of $2.7 billion in untied Federal funding was allocated for local governments in 2021–22.
“The Federal Government prepaid around half of the allocated funding in June 2021, the remainder will be paid through these quarterly payments across the year,” Mr Hogan said.
“We know the early payment is a valued support to councils, particularly in regions that have faced the combined impacts of bushfire, drought, floods and COVID-19.”
“Across the nation, local governments employ around 194,000 people and deliver a wide range of services in the cities, regional towns and remote areas of Australia. This support will continue to bolster Australia’s economic recovery.”
Since 1974–75, the Australian Government has provided local governments with almost $60 billion in untied funding through the Financial Assistance Grants program.
For more information, visit https://www.regional.gov.au/local/assistance/index.aspx
