Received

Details
Category: Received
Hits: 76

Cost of living is front and centre as the federal government prepares the upcoming budget, with a leading welfare organisation calling for people on the lowest incomes to be prioritised.

The Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) released its budget submission which called for unemployment payments to be raised to at least $76, up from the current $48.

The organisation also urged the government to use the budget to lay foundations for a more inclusive future by investing in long-term, essential social services.

ACOSS head Cassandra Goldie said it was a disgrace that despite Australia being one of the wealthiest countries in the world, unemployment payments were the lowest among comparative OECD countries.

As Australians battle a cost-of-living crisis, Dr Goldie said it was the right time for the government to step in and fix the adequacy of key social protections.

"The government has the tools to build a more equal Australia ... every budget is about choice and it does actually set up the values of the country," she said.

"We very strongly think the budget should be about about tackling inflation (and) we should be focusing on measures that are not harming those who are most at risk."

People most at risk of inflationary pressures are those on the lowest incomes and Dr Goldie said many Australians were already going without to try and make ends meet.

"This is not about the cost of a cup of coffee, this is about the essentials of life," she said.

ACOSS also called on the government to do more to raise adequate revenue, including cancelling the $18 billion-a-year stage three tax cuts which overwhelmingly benefit the top 20 per cent of income earners.

The contentious tax cuts are due to come into effect from 2024.

In its submission, ACOSS outlined measures to increase community services funding through proper indexation and proposed investments in energy efficiency and solar retrofits for low-income households.

Dr Goldie said the budget must prioritise gender equality measures as well as invest in more social housing.

"This is a budget we want to see that actually speaks to the government's commitment that nobody is going to be left behind," she said.

© AAP 2023

Details
Category: Received
Hits: 75

AFL coaches have dismissed concerns over the state of the MCG playing surface ahead of a bumper schedule of round-one fixtures.

About half of the famous venue's turf was replaced as it underwent a $1 million repair job following two Ed Sheeran concerts this month, and the MCC has worked round the clock to bring the surface up to scratch.

It has been assessed for safety issues and given the green light for the blockbuster Richmond-Carlton season opener on Thursday night

Tigers triple-premiership coach Damien Hardwick, who enjoyed "a few beers" at one of Sheeran's MCG shows, laughed off suggestions the new turf might not be safe for players.

"I went to Ed Sheeran and it was well worth it," Hardwick said.

"It was an unbelievable concert, so whatever condition it's in ... I don't give a s***."

Adopting a serious tone, Hardwick said: "They'll do a great job.

"The 'G is always in good nick ... it's a really good deck and I'm sure it will be fine."

Up to 300,000 fans are expected to attend AFL fixtures at the MCG in round one.

The schedule features four matches - Richmond-Carlton, Collingwood-Geelong, Melbourne-Bulldogs and Hawthorn-Essendon - over four days.

Like Hardwick, Magpies coach Craig McRae went to a Sheeran concert and said he has no concerns over the surface.

But he will be a keen onlooker when the Tigers and Blues kick off the season.

"At the moment we've got no reason to (be concerned)," McRae said.

© AAP 2023

Details
Category: Received
Hits: 77

The jobs market may have surpassed its tightest point but official data is expected to reveal plenty of heat left in it.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics is due to release the February labour force report on Thursday.

The January report was weaker than projected, with 11,500 jobs lost from the economy and the unemployment rate lifting to 3.7 per cent.

While the jobs market is showing signs of moderating from historic low levels of unemployment, seasonal factors played a role in the weak January result and some economists are predicting a recovery in employment for February.

A new report has highlighted broader trends in the nation's job market, including the top jobs for Australian workers in the past 20 years.

The SEEK report shows sales assistant has remained the top occupation since 2021.

Registered nurse, general clerk, aged and disabled carer and retail manager rounded out the top five occupations in 2021, with aged-care worker a relatively new addition to the top rankings.

As well as the rise in service-based roles, the SEEK report also charted the evolution in technology occupations.

"Ten years ago, jobs in ICT were the most in-demand according to SEEK's job ad volume," the report stated.

"But the shift away from traditional tech roles - plus the permeation of technology into other industries across the board - saw the ICT industry drop to fifth by 2022."

Also on Thursday, Treasurer Jim Chalmers will deliver a speech previewing the Productivity Commission's 1000-page five-yearly productivity inquiry.

The inquiry into Australia's productivity performance will contain 71 recommendations, Dr Chalmers will tell a Committee for Economic Development of Australia event in Brisbane, and will be released in full on Friday.

Originally due later in the year, Dr Chalmers has opted to bring the comprehensive report forward so that it's released ahead of the May budget.

He will say Australia has a "productivity problem", with productivity growth at its slowest point in 60 years, averaging just 1.1 per cent a year.

The report will outline five key trends - the growing services sector, the costs of climate change, the need for a more skilled and adaptable workforce, the growing role of data and digital technology, and how economic dynamism is impacted by geopolitical tensions.

"All are complex, and none will respond to quick-fix, easy win, whack-a-mole policy making," he will say.

Dr Chalmers also says the government is challenged by budget constraints and won't "pick up and run with every recommendation", noting that some of the suggestions would not align with the government's priorities or values.

"We don't believe productivity gains come from scorched earth industrial relations, for example, or from abolishing clean energy programs."

© AAP 2023

Details
Category: Received
Hits: 76

The NRL is considering ramping up its concussion protocols further with saliva and blood testing after introducing a mandatory 11-day stand down for players after brain injuries.

The ARL Commission confirmed the most significant changes to its concussion policy in almost a decade on Wednesday, declaring player safety is the game's No.1 priority.

Under the new rules, which come into effect from Thursday, players who have been diagnosed with a concussion will be automatically stood down from contact training or playing for an 11-day period.

That will mean they are guaranteed to miss the following weekend's match, and potentially a second game depending on turnaround times.

Players will only be able to return sooner in exceptional circumstances, and after approval from an NRL-appointed independent neurologist.

To return early, the player must be asymptomatic the day following the concussion and cognitive testing must have returned to normal.

Players will be ineligible to apply for an early return if they have had five or more concussions previously, experienced a concussion in the past three months or have already gone through a prolonged recovery.

Exemptions will not be available to any player deemed to have received a category-one concussion in a match or in training - determined by a player losing consciousness, failing to protect themself while falling, or showing unsteadiness on their feet after a head knock.

The rule change comes as injured players launch a class action against the AFL, seeking up to $1 billion in damages.

The NRL say their changes are about player safety rather than legal threats, following advice from experts and after watching worldwide trends.

"That (class action) is not a matter that is within our control," NRL chief Andrew Abdo said.

"What is in our control are our policies and procedures and making sure we can do everything we can to create a safe environment.

"We are constantly reviewing that.

"This is purely based on what we know listening to our experts and what we know is right for our sport."

Abdo insisted the ability for players to potentially return earlier was important, and backed the 11-day timeline.

"There is no exact science that points to how long it takes a player to recover from a concussion," he said.

"It is all case-by-case and very individual. Our policy needs to take that into account.

"We don't want players not reporting concussions for fear of a mild concussion ruling them out for a period that is longer than necessary."

The NRL confirmed it would consider monitoring technologies such as blood and saliva testing as a tool for diagnosing concussions.

Two years ago, British researchers reported a study of 150 rugby players between 2017 and 2019 had shown 94 per cent accuracy in picking up concussions via saliva testing.

The US Food and Drug Administration last week approved a commercial blood test to assess concussions, with results available within 18 minutes.

The 11-day stand down marks the biggest change to the NRL's approach to concussions since the introduction of the head injury assessment system in 2014.

The protocols have the support of the players' union, and bring the sport into line with World Rugby, which last year introduced an 11-day stand-down period for the 15-player game.

The changes come days after the latest concussion suffered by Kalyn Ponga, with Newcastle weighing up how best to deal with his fourth brain injury in 10 months.

© AAP 2023