Welcome to the latest edition of Clark Matters, Andrew’s monthly email newsletter to help keep you abreast of federal politics and what he’s been up to.
Aged care
Andrew is approached frequently by people concerned about aged care. Home care in particular has been a hot topic since last November when the new Support at Home Program replaced the Home Care Packages Program and the Short-Term Restorative Care Programme. Andrew is alert to these changes and is regularly representing community concerns to the Federal Government.
Problems include the continuing long wait times for assessments and then for the allocation of packages. The new “integrated assessment tool”, which determines exactly how much funding is to be allocated to specific packages, has also been widely criticised for its lack of nuance and flexibility. And the “grandfathering”, intended to protect existing package recipients from the fee increases built into the new program for future participants, often isn’t effective because service providers are increasing fees to cover increased compliance and other costs.
Protecting our waterways
Like many members of the community, Andrew was appalled to learn that the antibiotic florfenicol, used by Tasmania’s salmon industry since last November, has been detected in native species including lobster, abalone, urchins and whelk. Moreover, the antibiotic was found more than 10 kilometres from the nearest fish farm, despite public health advice suggesting people avoid eating wild seafood only within three kilometres of treated pens.
This development should hardly come as a shock given that we now know Tasmanian government officials expressed concern with the approval for the use of florfenicol in this way. In fact, prior to its approval, Andrew raised these concerns with the federal fisheries minister, and the Tasmanian health minister, both times his concerns falling on deaf ears.
The salmon industry has until next Monday 2 March to convince the federal regulator that continued use of the chemical would be acceptable.
The Defence Estate
The Federal Government recently announced widespread reform of the Defence Estate. This includes almost four million hectares of land, 70 major bases, around 100 training ranges, more than a thousand properties, and some 30,000 built assets.
The Government’s plan would affect 68 Defence sites nationally. Among them, 15 Tasmanian sites would be affected, with Derwent Barracks at Dowsing Point, and Training Ship Derwent in Hobart, being shut down and sold off. All units and personnel would be re-located, with many moving to Anglesea Barracks which would receive funding for upgrades.
Andrew supports in-principle the Government’s plan to rationalise the Defence Estate. Governments have long been too timid in dealing with surplus Defence assets, and many of the reforms around the country are warranted. But not all are, and since the announcement Andrew has met with the Defence Minister and the Assistant Defence Minister to convey community concerns and queries.
The Government must be open to public feedback, including in Tasmania, because as it stands reservists and cadets will be forced to parade at new locations, which will be disruptive and could be a disincentive to further service. There would be no field firing facilities in the Tasmania in particular, which would be a nonsense. And tenants, like the Defence and Veterans’ Workshop at Derwent Barracks, could become homeless.
Yours sincerely
Andrew Wilkie
