Albanese to focus on health, childcare in second term

SBS Australia

2 days ago

Prime Minister outlines priorities for coming years
Los Angeles police probe rubber bullet fired at Australian journalist
Italy defeat Moldova in race to 2026 World Cup In this bulletin, Prime Minister says affordable healthcare is among the top priorities in his second term, Los Angeles Police Department investigates how an Australian journalist was shot by a rubber bullet, And in football, Italy beat Moldovo as they fight for a place in the World Cup for the first time in a decade. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says expansion of Medicare urgent-care clinics, cheaper childcare, and affordable housing, are among key priorities for Labor's second term. Speaking at the National Press Club, Mr Albanese says the government is focused on its commitments to stronger healthcare, better education, and help with the cost of living. In the Prime Minister's first major address since his election win in May, he says his government is dedicated to implementing lasting and meaningful change. He says delivering on his election promise to improving access to free, urgent medical care is high on the agenda when Parliament resumes in July. "I want to start opening the 50 new Medicare urgent care clinics we promised this year, and we want them all open by the middle of next year. Combined with the 87 we have already opened; this will mean four out of every five Australians will live within 20 minutes of a clinic." Mr Albanese has also announced a new productivity round table, to help lift Australia's lagging productivity. The Prime Minister told the National Press Club business and non-government organisation leaders will be among those invited to attend the planned summit, alongside industry and union representatives. The event is a response to concern from industry experts about Australia's lagging rate of productivity, which is considered a key economic measure of efficiency and improved standards of living. Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young welcomes the summit but supporting more women to participate in the workforce should be a top priority.
"Well one of the first and best things the Prime minister could do to boost productivity is to help more women participate in the workforce, and that would be by making childcare genuinely free, so that mums and dads can participate in the workforce and know that their children will be cared for by good quality educators in an affordable manner."
The Prime Minister has confirmed he has raised the issue of an Australian journalist being shot by a rubber bullet, with the United States. Channel 9 reporter, Lauren Tomasi was covering protests in Los Angeles, when a U-S police officer appeared to aim directly at her, before firing into her leg. Anthony Albanese says he called the journalist and said the incident was unacceptable, but he would not give details whether he would raise the case in talks with U-S President Donald Trump next week. Footage of the shot has made headlines around the world, with an investigation now underway by the Los Angeles Police Department. LAPD Chief, Jim McDonnell, says the case is troubling. "I know the situation you're referring to with the member of the media. We saw that we're very concerned about that and we're looking into that."
The White House has now deployed the Marines to escalating protests in L-A, which began as a response to raids by immigration officers and escalated after military troops were called to respond.
The New South Wales Premier says if major changes aren't made to the state's workers' compensation scheme, it will not exist in five to 10 years. The Premier is proposing to limit insurance protections for workers with psychological injuries. In recent years, growing numbers of mental health claims, which have longer recovery times than physical injuries, have placed the New South Wales scheme under pressure. Mr Minns' bill has been delayed and referred to a second parliament inquiry.
"Ultimately, if you're prepared to put enormous amounts of public money into the subsidy, it can continue, but the point the treasurer has made is that it's not sustainable. And that's the point we've made in relation to workers comp, yes we can keep putting in public money, but it will come at the expense of new schools, new hospitals, new public transport routes, ad also, crucially, an increase in pay for public sector workers in New South Wales."
The EU Commission has announced a 1.5 billion-dollar plan to protect oceans and support coastal communities and fisheries. The pact follows the release of figures from nonprofit Marine Conservation Institute that says less than three percent of the ocean is effectively protected from destructive commercial activities. That's far below the target agreed under the COP28 Global Biodiversity Framework pledge to conserve 30 percent of land and sea by 2030. Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen has laid out some of the key elements of the 27 nation bloc's new Ocean Pact at a gathering in the southern French city of Nice. She says the agreement aims to reduce plastic pollution, restore maritime ecosystems, and fight against illegal fishing.
"We will strive to cut plastic and nutrient pollution by half, within five years. This can be reached. We should make this effort, my friends."
And in football, Italy have beaten Moldova 2-0 as the embattled Azzurri attempt to reach the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 2014. Ahead of Monday night's game in Reggio Emilia, Italy coach Luciano Spalletti received news he would be losing his job after the team's 3-0 loss in Norway last week. After a disappointing start to their campaign to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, goals by Giacomo Raspadiro and Andrea Cambiaso meant Spalletti at least departed with a victory.
But Azzurri remain in a precarious position in Group I, with Norway beating Estonia 1-0 — thanks to Erling Haaland's 62nd-minute goal.