Latest news with #PatConroy
Sky News AU
2 days ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
Labor open to increasing defence spending
Labor has revealed it's open to increasing defence spending and boosting military forces. Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy says $57 billion of additional funding has been made since Labor took office. Mr Conroy has criticised a new Cost of Defence report, which hints at the Coalition injecting more cash into defence, as well as suggesting the defence force is not prepared for near-term conflict. It follows remarks made by the US this week, which has called on Australia to increase funding to 3.5 per cent of GDP.
AU Financial Review
23-05-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Ghost Bat military drone decision looms for minister
Australia's first locally developed military aircraft in five decades will soon conduct its initial test flights at the top secret Woomera weapons range, as the Albanese government seeks to quell criticism billions of taxpayer dollars are not flowing to domestic firms. Amid concerns China could be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027, and doubts over the $365 billion nuclear-powered submarine pact, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy declared this term of the Albanese government would focus on ramping up delivery of projects. Its first three years were dominated by a series of high-level reviews.
SBS Australia
21-05-2025
- Health
- SBS Australia
Australia pledges $5 million to combat PNG polio outbreak
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 was detected in stool specimens of two healthy children in PNG earlier in May. Pacific Minister Pat Conroy said the newly elected Labor government would fund vaccines through the WHO, with the potential to reach three million children. "Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the spread of polio," he said. "That's why we are working closely with the government of Papua New Guinea to step up vaccination efforts to protect children and ensure a healthy region." PNG vaccination rates are estimated at around 44 per cent, giving rise to the potential for outbreaks. Polio, which is often carried without symptoms, primarily affects children, with a small number of cases causing paralysis and even death. Rates of the virus have plummeted in recent decades owing to a global eradication program, with polio now endemic in only Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The Advertiser
21-05-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
Australia funding vaccines after polio find in PNG
Australia is spending $5 million towards vaccinations in Papua New Guinea after the declaration of a polio outbreak in its close northerly neighbour. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 has been detected in stool specimens of two healthy children in PNG earlier in May. It is the first outbreak of the debilitating virus in PNG since 2018, with the WHO testing centred on the city of Lae, in New Guinea's north. Wastewater samples have also picked up the highly-infectious virus - particularly in regions with poor sanitation - in the capital of Port Moresby. Australia's Pacific Minister Pat Conroy said his government would fund vaccines through WHO with the potential to reach three million children. "Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the spread of polio," he said. "That's why we are working closely with the government of Papua New Guinea to step up vaccination efforts to protect children and ensure a healthy region." PNG vaccination rates are estimated at around 44 per cent, given rise to the potential for outbreaks. Polio, which is often carried without symptoms, primarily affects children, with a small number of cases causing paralysis and even death. Rates of the virus have plummeted in recent decades owing to a global eradication program, with polio now endemic in only Pakistan and Afghanistan. Australia is spending $5 million towards vaccinations in Papua New Guinea after the declaration of a polio outbreak in its close northerly neighbour. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 has been detected in stool specimens of two healthy children in PNG earlier in May. It is the first outbreak of the debilitating virus in PNG since 2018, with the WHO testing centred on the city of Lae, in New Guinea's north. Wastewater samples have also picked up the highly-infectious virus - particularly in regions with poor sanitation - in the capital of Port Moresby. Australia's Pacific Minister Pat Conroy said his government would fund vaccines through WHO with the potential to reach three million children. "Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the spread of polio," he said. "That's why we are working closely with the government of Papua New Guinea to step up vaccination efforts to protect children and ensure a healthy region." PNG vaccination rates are estimated at around 44 per cent, given rise to the potential for outbreaks. Polio, which is often carried without symptoms, primarily affects children, with a small number of cases causing paralysis and even death. Rates of the virus have plummeted in recent decades owing to a global eradication program, with polio now endemic in only Pakistan and Afghanistan. Australia is spending $5 million towards vaccinations in Papua New Guinea after the declaration of a polio outbreak in its close northerly neighbour. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 has been detected in stool specimens of two healthy children in PNG earlier in May. It is the first outbreak of the debilitating virus in PNG since 2018, with the WHO testing centred on the city of Lae, in New Guinea's north. Wastewater samples have also picked up the highly-infectious virus - particularly in regions with poor sanitation - in the capital of Port Moresby. Australia's Pacific Minister Pat Conroy said his government would fund vaccines through WHO with the potential to reach three million children. "Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the spread of polio," he said. "That's why we are working closely with the government of Papua New Guinea to step up vaccination efforts to protect children and ensure a healthy region." PNG vaccination rates are estimated at around 44 per cent, given rise to the potential for outbreaks. Polio, which is often carried without symptoms, primarily affects children, with a small number of cases causing paralysis and even death. Rates of the virus have plummeted in recent decades owing to a global eradication program, with polio now endemic in only Pakistan and Afghanistan. Australia is spending $5 million towards vaccinations in Papua New Guinea after the declaration of a polio outbreak in its close northerly neighbour. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 has been detected in stool specimens of two healthy children in PNG earlier in May. It is the first outbreak of the debilitating virus in PNG since 2018, with the WHO testing centred on the city of Lae, in New Guinea's north. Wastewater samples have also picked up the highly-infectious virus - particularly in regions with poor sanitation - in the capital of Port Moresby. Australia's Pacific Minister Pat Conroy said his government would fund vaccines through WHO with the potential to reach three million children. "Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the spread of polio," he said. "That's why we are working closely with the government of Papua New Guinea to step up vaccination efforts to protect children and ensure a healthy region." PNG vaccination rates are estimated at around 44 per cent, given rise to the potential for outbreaks. Polio, which is often carried without symptoms, primarily affects children, with a small number of cases causing paralysis and even death. Rates of the virus have plummeted in recent decades owing to a global eradication program, with polio now endemic in only Pakistan and Afghanistan.
ABC News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Foreign Minister Penny Wong begins tour of Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu
Foreign Minister Penny Wong is today on a three country tour of the Pacific, starting in Fiji where she will meet with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and representatives of Pacific governments. Minister for the Pacific, Pat Conroy says implementing those agreements and initiatives will be the first step. Parents of children under 10 years of age in Papua New Guinea have been urged to immunise their children against the Polio virus. The Diocese of North Queensland is on the brink of financial collapse, as it faces millions in redress claims from survivors of historical child sexual abuse. Today marks a historic moment in Fiji with the re-opening of the Great Council of Chiefs building after it burned down in 2019.
