People smugglers will ‘not succeed’ entering Australia: PM 17/2/2019 (Translation appears in Arabic section) Canberra - M E Times Int'l: Prime Minister Scott Morrison says people smugglers will ‘not succeed’ if they attempt to enter Australia illegally. Mr Morrison has issued a strong warning toward people smugglers during a two-minute video, saying Australia has zero tolerance for the trade and illegal boats. The video message follows the Coalition's colossal defeat after losing a parliamentary vote over the medical evacuation bill, which allows doctors to request the transfer of asylum seekers on Manus Island and Nauru to Australia for treatment. 
Australian tourism surge drives biggest hotel building boom since the Olympics Sydney: Australia's accommodation sector is seeing its biggest transformation since the Sydney Olympics. Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA) said the reboot began three years ago, and more than 40 new hotels had been built across the country since then. Its figures show another 272 new hotels are in the pipeline for completion by the middle of next decade. Chief executive Carol Giuseppi said the rapid expansion came down to investor confidence. "Low interest rates and the [Australian dollar] exchange rate mean there's still potential there."  North Queensland floods destroys $300m worth of cattle Brisbane: Hundreds of thousands of cattle have been killed in North Queensland, costing farmers an estimated $300 million. Local MPs say the floods are a ‘fatal blow’ for the already struggling industry. Queensland Health and Royal Flying Doctors have teamed up to provide mental health support for farmers.  Public spending key concern for voters: Newspoll Canberra: A top concern for voters ahead of the federal election is public spending, according to The Australian’s Newspoll. The poll revealed 33 per cent of people believed increased funding for services should be the top priority. Prime Minister Scott Morrison was regarded as a better economic manager than Bill Shorten by 48-33 per cent. 
Australia signs mega submarine deal with France Canberra: Australia formally signed on Monday a USD-35.5-billion contract with France to build 12 state-of-the-art submarines. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison hailed the "very audacious plan" at a ceremony in Canberra as "part of Australia's biggest ever peace-time investment in defense." The contract is for building 12 attack-class submarines, signed with France's Naval Group, which operates in the field of military industries and energy equipment, formerly known as DCNS. The first submarine is expected to be finished in early 2030s, starting with sea trials around the first quarter of 2031 and operational testing in late 2032. 
Many young Australians are still undecided voters, survey finds Sydney: Housing affordability could be driving the voting decisions of young people with a new survey also showing many millennials are still undecided about who to back at the next federal election. The Australian Millennial Report 2019 surveyed about 1206 Australians online aged 19-36 in January 2019 and asked them about politics, how they got their news and what was most important to them. It also identified a number of “personas” to show the differences between millennials of different ages. “This year’s report includes some extraordinary results,” cofounder of research organisation Millennial Future, Mark MacSmith said. “For example, of all the issues facing millennials, the most concerning is the cost of living. The environment came in last.” 
Labor’s Plan to Get More Australian Children Learning Languages Sydney: A Shorten Labor Government will invest an extra $8 million in community language schools so more Australian children get the chance to learn other languages. Currently, community language schools teach mostly school age kids. But the younger someone starts learning another language, the easier it is to pick up. That’s why we’ll help more community language schools open up their classes to pre-schoolers as well as school age children. Grants of up to $25,000 per school will allow language programs to be expanded to preschool children. The grants could also go towards the costs of setting up a new school, better teacher training, or classroom resources. Community language schools have been operating in Australia for more than 150 years. There are now about 700 community language schools across the country, teaching around 100,000 students in over 80 languages. Community language schools are not-for-profit and operate outside mainstream school hours, often on a Saturday. They are open to all students regardless of their linguistic or cultural background. The more Australians we have learning languages other than English, the better for our economy, and our society. 
Sudanese refugee wins human rights award Geneva: A Sudanese asylum seeker activist who spent four years in an Australian detention centre has won an international human rights prize for exposing "the very cruel refugee policy of the Australian government". Abdul Aziz Muhamat was named the winner of the Martin Ennals Award 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland on Wednesday. Muhamat was sent to Manus Island in Papua New Guinea in 2013 after his boat was intercepted by Australian authorities. He later revealed the conditions of the camp through podcasts and media interviews. "This award sheds light on the very cruel refugee policy of the Australian Government," he said in a statement accepting the award. 
NSW Liberals & Nationals Boost Drought Support to $1.5 Billion Sydney: The NSW Government today boosted the State’s Farm Innovation Fund from $650 million to $1 billion – giving farming communities affected by the drought a long-term guarantee that they have a strong future in NSW. Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the additional funding brings the NSW Liberals & Nationals investment in drought support to almost $1.5 billion. “We know that our farmers and drought-affected communities are doing it tough, which is why we are doing everything we can to make sure they have every support they need,” Ms Berejiklian said. Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the NSW Government is also giving farmers the opportunity to invest in infrastructure that will last for generations by increasing the value of low interest loans available through the Fund from $250,000 up to $1 million. 
Refugee transfer laws pass parliament Canberra: Proposed new laws making it easier for asylum seekers to get medical treatment have passed parliament despite the government's opposition. The coalition tried to derail the Labor amendments at the last minute with advice from the solicitor-general arguing the laws were unconstitutional. But Labor changed their proposed laws to explicitly say a panel of doctors judging medical transfers would not be paid, getting around the constitutional issue. The amendments were originally made in the Senate, and under the constitution the Senate is not allowed to make bills increasing the spending of public money. The laws now go back to Senate where they are expected to be approved. Despite heavy pressure from the government, six crossbench MPs sided with Labor to inflict a series of defeats on the coalition on the floor of the lower house. 
Medical transfers changes would end offshore system: Coleman Canberra: Immigration Minister David Coleman says Australia's offshore processing of asylum seekers would fall apart under changes to medical transfers. Labor, which has supported the changes, has rejected the claim, saying offshore processing is here to stay if it wins the next election. Under reforms to medical transfers that have passed the Senate with the backing of the opposition and crossbenchers, two specially-appointed doctors could request medical transfers for offshore asylum seekers to Australia. A minister would then be required to review their case in 24 hours, and if they reject it, an independent health advice panel would review it. Mr Coleman said the laws are designed to allow every asylum seeker detained offshore to be sent to Australia. 
Labor denies ulterior motives in backing medivac legislation Canberra: Labor MP Tony Burke says the Opposition continually dealt with the medivac legislation 'on its merits', arguing against claims the Party backed the bill to 'embarrass the government'. It became the first time in almost 80 years that the government has lost a vote on its own legislation after it passed the Senate on Wednesday. The controversial medivac bill will give doctors a greater say in allowing refugees and asylum seekers to be transferred to Australia for medical treatment. Mr Burke denies any ulterior motives in backing the legislation, saying if Labor intended to embarrass the government they would have tabled a motion of no confidence in the government. |
