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Submission of the United Macedonian Diaspora (Australia) to the Australian Foreign Policy White Paper 2017
No full textWe call on the Australian Government to develop and implement a contemporary, independent and high quality foreign policy strategy based on evidence, ethics, social justice, solidarity and strategic partnerships. It must also be free from the corruptive influence of foreign political donations and domestic pressure groups.
UMD supports the Australian Government’s agenda of developing a rigorous and relevant Foreign Policy White Paper that will better meet the needs of all Australians including the Australian Macedonian community.
In our submission, we ask the Australian Government and the Australian Parliament to finally recognise the Republic of Macedonia by its legitimate constitutional name as has been done by 137 nations at the UN. We call upon Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and the Leader of the Opposition, Bill Shorten MP to show how much direct and indirect funding their parties have received from Hellenic sources since 1994 in order to segregate, delegitimise and discriminate against the Republic of Macedonia and against Macedonians living in the Hellenic Republic, in Australia and globally. Finally, we call upon Australia’s political leaders to formally apologise to Macedonia and its people around the world for this shameful, unethical, illegal and unsustainable foreign policy position that has harmed Australia’s national and international reputation and undermined peace, international laws and regional stability in Southeast Europe. 
New Zealand health research strategy 2017–2027: summary of submissions and consultation
No full textExecutive summary
The New Zealand Health Research Strategy 2017–2027 will set a 10-year strategic direction for the health research system. Its aim is to ensure that investments in health research make the greatest contribution to the lives of New Zealanders – to their health and their economic and social wellbeing.
In May 2016 the Government published the New Zealand Health Research Strategy: Public discussion document. This formed the basis for discussions with stakeholders throughout New Zealand on the directions and priorities of the Health Research Strategy.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), the Ministry of Health and the Health Research Council (HRC) met with a range of stakeholders in the health research system, mostly in May, June and July 2016. They held three government agency workshops, 10 regional consultations and 24 topic-specific workshops, including workshops for prioritisation, Māori health research, Pacific health research and disability research.
This document, New Zealand Health Research Strategy 2017–2027: Summary of submissions and consultation, presents the analysis of submissions received and the key themes that emerged from the public consultations and focus groups. MBIE and the Ministry of Health undertook the analysis, with assistance from the HRC.
A wide range of stakeholders provided 166 written submissions. These stakeholders included researchers, non-governmental organisations, universities, district health boards and health professional associations.
In general, submitters enthusiastically welcomed the development of a strategy for health research in New Zealand. Specifically they noted that the public discussion document provided a useful starting point for developing the strategy. Most stakeholders agreed with the broad direction of the document, while levels of support varied for the draft vision, mission and guiding principles.
Most submissions did not respond directly to the 16 specific questions raised in the New Zealand Health Research Strategy: Public discussion document. Typically, submitters used the questions to stimulate discussion around areas of interest to them. Therefore, this analysis identifies broad themes from the submissions rather than the specific responses to questions.
Officials will use the insights gained from the consultation process and the submissions to provide advice to Ministers on the New Zealand Health Research Strategy 2017–2027. MBIE and the Ministry of Health expect to publish the strategy in 2017
Off the track: state of the nation report
No full textAnnually produced each year, this report provides a marker of how New Zealand is doing as a nation.
Introduction
This is the 10th State of the Nation report from The Salvation Army’s Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit. The report is produced each year to provide a marker of how New Zealand is doing as a nation. It is intended to stand alongside other oft-referenced indicators that serve to identify how our nation is doing economically. Economic reports are important in identifying one measure of how well we are doing as a country, but they cannot fully capture what is happening in the lives of ordinary New Zealanders at a social and personal level.
In measuring data around the five key areas of Our Children, Crime and Punishment, Work and Incomes, Social Hazards, and Housing, the State of the Nation report gives an indication of how we are progressing socially—and how this relates to economic trends.
The title of this year’s report is Off the Track . It draws on the picture of the tramping tracks so familiar to many Kiwis. Walking these tracks requires frequent checking of maps and track markers to ensure the trail is not lost. Failure to do so in the New Zealand bush can carry significant and sometimes tragic consequences.
In the context of this report, ‘off the track’ reflects a sense that many of the markers routinely analysed for the State of the Nation report currently suggest we are not heading in the best direction for New Zealand as a whole. There are some undeniably positive signs, such as rising employment and wage growth, reduction in youth offending and a falling teenage pregnancy rate. However, in some of our most critical areas the nation appears to have stalled or even gone backwards. In publishing this report, The Salvation Army wishes to particularly highlight the following areas:
seemingly entrenched rates of child poverty and child abuse
the burgeoning incarceration rates of prisoners, along with high recidivism rates
an alarming lack of safe, affordable housing that has resulted in a level of homelessness not seen in New Zealand in the lifetime of most Kiwis.
These concerns alone seem sufficient reason to ask the question: Are we off the track?
In an election year, it is timely to challenge all who would aspire to govern—and, in fact, all New Zealanders who are part of the fabric of Aotearoa New Zealand—to think deeply about the social progress we want to achieve for ourselves and our children. Are we heading off the track in a way that benefits only a few (and perhaps only in the short term), while leaving others at risk? Or will we work together to establish a track leading to a New Zealand where all children and families are able to live, grow and be supported to flourish in a nation we might gladly call ‘God’s own’.
The question all voting citizens will consider this year is: Who has the insight, the imagination and the courage to identify a path that might lead to such a country
Panel: the pros and cons of raising the pension age
No full textMorning Report put together a panel of under 45s to talk about the new policy to increase the age of entitlement for the pension from 65 to 67.
On the panel: Maori political commentator Morgan Godfrey (25), political blogger and director at Piko Consulting Stephanie Rodgers (33) and Head of Research at The New Zealand Initiative Dr Eric Crampton (41) share their thoughts on the announcemen
Management of selected fraud prevention and compliance budget measures
No full textAudit objective and criteria
The objective of the audit was to assess the Department of Human Services’ and the Department of Social Services’ management of selected fraud prevention and compliance Budget measures. To form a conclusion against the audit objective, the ANAO adopted the following high level audit criteria:
Have sound processes and practices been established to support the design and implementation of specific Budget-funded compliance measures?
Is there effective monitoring of the implementation and achievement of the measures?
Have expected savings and other benefits from the measures been achieved?
The audit focussed on seven Centrelink-related compliance measures announced in the relevant Budgets and implemented from 2012–13 to 2015–16 (see Appendix 2). In examining the Strengthening the Integrity of Welfare Payments measure, the audit focussed on two specific initiatives that had identified savings for 2015–16—that is, the Employment Income Matching initiative and the AUSTRAC initiative. The audit’s scope did not consider any compliance measures announced following the 2015–16 Budget. Further, the audit scope did not examine the Department of Human Services’ management of its broader Centrelink compliance program.
Conclusion
The Department of Human Services’ management of the seven selected compliance measures resulted in:
three measures not being effectively implemented;
two measures’ implementation being partially effective—with one measure achieving the expected savings but not the expected level of compliance activity and the other measure achieving the expected level of compliance activity but not the expected savings; and
two measures being effectively implemented.
As a consequence, most of the compliance measures examined did not fully achieve their expected outcomes, including savings and addressing the risks to payment integrity, as agreed.
Shortcomings were also identified in the Department of Human Services’ approach to monitoring and reporting for all measures examined. As the entity responsible for the Administered appropriations against which savings were to be delivered, the Department of Social Services’ oversight of the achievements of the measures was not effective. Improvements are warranted to both the bilateral and the internal monitoring arrangements presently in place, to support both entities’ capacity to track progress against the Government’s expected outcomes, including savings targets.
The Department of Social Services used an agreed methodology to calculate the savings expected from the compliance measures and the Department of Human Services developed useful implementation plans to support the delivery of the measures. There are opportunities to improve both the methodology and plans.
The monitoring and oversight arrangements for the compliance measures, set out under the Bilateral Management Arrangement between the Department of Social Services and the Department of Human Services, have not been effective as they were not followed. The Department of Social Services as the relevant policy entity did not take responsibility for monitoring outcomes, including impacts and actual savings, achieved from the measures.
The Department of Human Services’ internal and external monitoring and reporting for compliance measures could be improved. While the Department of Human Services has well established monitoring and reporting arrangements, these mechanisms did not consistently provide clear and accurate advice on whether the compliance measures were achieving the desired outcomes, including savings and planned levels of activity
Health concerns associated with unconventional gas mining in Western Australia: a critical review
No full textThis paper examines the evidence available from peer-reviewed journal publications regarding the broad array of health concerns associated with unconventional gas mining and whether two Western Australian governmental reports, used to contribute to policy decisions on unconventional gas, adequately and accurately address these health concerns. The reports are:
“Implications for Western Australia of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas” (Western Australian Standing Committee of Environment and Public Health Affairs, Report 42, 2015)
“Hydraulic fracturing for shale and tight gas in Western Australian drinking water supply areas: Human health risk” (Western Australian Health Department, June 2015).
The literature review identified increasing evidence of multiple potential hazards and exposure pathways posing credible risks to human health, via air emissions, water contamination, psychosocial stress and climate change. Increasing numbers of published studies report associations between negative health and developmental outcomes and nearness of residence to and/or intensity of unconventional gas operations. These significant risks, combined with substantial gaps in understanding, prevent confirmation of the safety of the industry to health and the environment.
Four main concerns emerged from the examination of the two Reports, which prevent them from adequately and accurately assessing the potential risks and benefits of the industry to the health and wellbeing of Western Australians, based on current knowledge.
This paper concludes by urging the Western Australia government to conduct an updated and fully comprehensive review of the potential direct and indirect impacts of proceeding with an unconventional gas industry on human health and wellbeing, both now and in future. Six recommendations are made to maximize the value of such a review.
 
Australia Day 2017: change the date mate?
No full textSummary
The majority of Australians don’t want to change the date of Australia Day, see us become a republic or change the national flag, according to a survey conducted following the recent controversies of Australia Day 2017.
The national poll was conducted in the wake of intense publicity surrounding the #changethedate campaign which led to protests on Australia Day demanding that it be held on a different date because of the atrocities suffered by Indige nous people after the landing of the First Fleet on January 26th.
Conducted among 1043 Australians by research firm Review Partners , in association with Survey Sampling International , the study looked in detail at Australians’ attitudes towards Australia Day and its link to our British origins.
\u27Images of protests and burning flags dominated the reporting on Australia Day, so we wanted to understand the truth of Australians attitudes towards the national day,’ said report author Paul Costantoura, of Review Partners.
Most people (85%) told us they had heard something in the news or social media about the campaign to change the date, but only 16% said we should change it to another date,’
‘However, t he majority (59%) said it shouldn’t be changed and about a quarter of the population (24%) didn’t really care what date Australia Day is held.’
‘To make sure people knew the arguments, we told them some people said it represents the day when Australia’s original Indigenous peoples were invaded by the British, had their land stolen from them and were slaughtered in their thousands by the early British settlers.’
‘After reading this, the number wanting a new date inc reased to 28%, but 53% still said the date should stay the same and 20% still didn’t really care about the date.’
‘Asked to rate the importance of changing the date, becoming a republic, or changing the flag, 53% of people didn’t want to make any changes , 30% said a republic was most important, 11% gave top priority to changing the date , while only 6% nominated changing the flag .
Tom Burton: separating fact and fiction
No full textIt is 34 years since the dollar was floated, arguably the single most important reform of the post-war period. And 34 years of argument between then Prime Minister, Bob Hawke and Treasurer Paul Keating (and their offices) about who actually led the push to liberalise the currency.
The “Hawke” version is that Keating was reluctant to upset the status quo and had bought the alleged Treasury line, then led by John Stone, that it would lead to widespread market instability. The alternative view, promoted by Keating through several books and interviews, is that it was “old jellyback” Hawke, who, along with his chief economic adviser, Ross Garnaut, were worried about the disruption it would cause.
To this day, depending who you talk to, you will get contradictory views from eye witnesses, many of whom remain among the economic elite of the country.
As they say, intelligent people can disagree, even on the “facts”. Which is a long-winded way of introducing the concept psychologists have long known to be true, we believe what we want to believe.
Continued via link
Recruiting and retaining foster carers
No full textThe ICPS Research to Practice Series links the findings of research undertaken by the Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University, to the development of policy and practice in the area of child, youth and family welfare.
This issue explores what works to help people make the choice to become a foster carers, and the strategies that can assist in supporting and retaining carers for out-of-home care. It is based on a literature review, which is part of a three-year project to identify the most effective strategies to attract, support and retain successful foster care families. 
Experiences of maternity care in NSW public hospitals: January to December 2015
No full textProvides detailed information about the experiences of care for women during various stages of the maternity journey, highlighting where NSW performs well, and potential areas for improvement.
Key Findings:
1) A statewide survey of 4,739 women who gave birth in a NSW public hospital in 2015 shows t hat most had good experiences of maternity care – 79% said they would speak highly about the hospital where they had their baby. Women responded more positively about their experiences during labour and birth; and less positively about postnatal hospital care – a finding consistent with surveys in other jurisdictions.
2) Access to important elements of care, within recommended timeframes, differed. For example, 40% of women said they had their first antenatal appointment before the 14th week of pregnancy. Administrative records for the same indicator show that among public hospital births, 57% of women received antenatal care before 14 weeks. More positively, 95% of women said they saw a midwife or nurse in the two weeks after they left hospital. Most (80%) said their length of stay in hospital was ‘about right’ however 13% said it was ‘too short’.
3) Most women received key information and advice about safe sleeping for their baby. However, almost three in 10 women said they were not given advice during antenatal visits about healthy weight gain; and around one in 10 were not told about the risks of alcohol consumption; or exposure to tobacco smoke.
4) In line with current best practice, almost all women had skin to skin contact with their baby shortly after birth. A high proportion of women – about nine in 10 – said they were given enough privacy during labour and birth; and received breastfeeding support.
5) Most women said they were engaged in decisions about their care – about seven in 10 said that during labour and birth they were ‘definitely’ involved in decisions (as much as they wanted to be); and a similar proportion said they were ‘definitely’ engaged in decisions about their discharge home.
6) In terms of patient-reported outcomes, 22% of women said they experienced a complication w hile in hospital or shortly after they were discharged – most commonly reported were infection (8%) and excessive bleeding (7%). A higher proportion of women who had a caesarean section said they experienced a complication than women who had a vaginal birth (28% and 20%).
7) Across local health districts (LHDs), responses from women who gave birth in Southern NSW were s ignificantly more positive than NSW results; and those from women in South Western Sydney were less positive. At a hospital level, responses were more positive for Ryde and Wyong and less positive for Fairfield.
8) The question for which there was greatest variation across hospitals was related to time spent waiting to be seen at antenatal appointments. Other questions with marked variation addressed overall experience of postnatal care in hospital, and cleanliness of toilets and bathrooms.
9) Women who gave birth to their first baby, and women who had a caesarean section r esponded to many survey questions less positively.
10) There are a limited number of maternity surveys available for benchmarking. Three surveys (Queensland, England and Scotland) altogether contained 26 comparable questions and of these, NSW had the most positive result for six questions and the least positive for four questions