the Prime Minister’s Easter 2024 message
 
March message from Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Bilal El-Hayek
 
A solemn funeral to the late Nazih Nicolas in Sydney
 
One Year of Repair, Reform and Action, and much more to do.
 
Kuwait deplores Israeli occupation's seizure of Palestinian land
 
Patriarch Duwaihi's beatification ceremony to be held in Lebanon
 
One Year of Repair, Reform and Action, and much more to do across Canterbury
 
Have your say on a planning proposal in Carlingford
 
Protecting religious institutions
 
AFIC President, stated that AFIC strongly condemns any act of violence and terrorism and stands in solidarity with the Russian people
 
The community’s hopes and expectations of a Muslim public figure
 
Mr Keating has been a public critic of the AUKUS security pact,...”.
 
From Australia News in Brief

Israel and Palestinians agree to ceasefire after Gaza attacks over last three days left 43 people dead and hundreds injured

Peter Dutton urges Albanese Government to acquire military 'deterrent' as he warns of conflict amid China-Taiwan tensions

Rate hikes hurting auctions as buyers shun fixer-uppers

Hundreds of projects worth $7.8 billion in the running for Westinvest funding

Growing community set to have a new primary school

Grants awarded to reduce the impact of cervical cancer in aboriginal communities

In memory of the Beirut blast

Public Health Alert: Meningococcal disease

Unlocking the power of offshore wind

Announcement of new Secretary of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources




Israel and Palestinians agree to ceasefire after Gaza attacks over last three days left 43 people dead and hundreds injured

08/08/2022

(See translation in Arabic section)

Sydney – M E TIMES Int’l: Israel and Palestinian militants have agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza after three days of deadly rocket attacks left dozens of people dead and hundreds more injured.

The deal, which was brokered by Egyptian officials, would see a truce between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group from 11:30pm on Sunday local time.

Israel confirmed the ceasefire but warned it would respond appropriately if the agreement was violated by the other party.

The fighting in the Gaza Strip has left 43 people dead, half of those civilians, including at least 15 children, and more than 300 people injured when rockets struck the region.

The bloodshed began in the Gaza Strip on Friday when Tayseer Jabari, senior commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, was killed by Israel in what it said was a "pre-emptive" response to alleged threats from the group.

The death triggered a deadly retaliation from the Islamic Jihad group as it fired hundreds of rockets towards Israel before later extending the attack to Jerusalem.

Israel's Iron Dome - a system designed to intercept and destroy rockets - stopped most of the missiles bound for the west of the capital.

Israel also claimed a malfunctioned rocket fired by the group had hit a number of kids in northern Gaza on Saturday. The group is yet to respond.

Israeli warplanes then dropped a bomb on the home of another senior member of the Palestinian Jihad group, Khaled Mansour, killing him and nearby civilians.

One resident was forced to let rescuers demolish his home to allow medical teams to gain access to those that were trapped and injured under the rubble.

"This is the hardest night of my life," Ashraf al-Qaisi told Al Jazeera.

"I was sitting in my house with my wife and six children until we suddenly heard the sound of shelling and part of the ceiling collapsed.

"Those were tough moments. Blood, body parts, screams under the rubble, bodies being pulled out dead and wounded."

Gaza's Health Ministry blamed the multiple deaths and scores of injuries on the "Israeli aggression".

The next day, thousands of angry Palestinian residents carried the bodies of victims through the streets ahead of mass funerals.

Photos showed a sea of mourners in tears and riddled with anger as they demanded for justice for the victims' families.

The Gaza trip has been the centre of four wars in 2008, 2012, 2014 and in 2021, leaving hundreds of innocent residents dead.

 Peter Dutton attacks Penny Wong on China declaring he aims to deter  'aggression' on Taiwan | Peter Dutton | The Guardian

Peter Dutton urges Albanese Government to acquire military 'deterrent' as he warns of conflict amid China-Taiwan tensions

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has lashed China for its “completely over the top” reaction to Nancy Pelosi’s Taiwan trip and has urged the Australian government to “provide a deterrent” for potential regional conflict.

China has ramped up military exercises in the Taiwan Strait and East China Sea following the US Speaker of the House’s visit to Taipei.

The People’s Liberation Army launched five high-powered missiles across the strait with one entering Japan’s exclusive economic zone over the weekend.

Mr Dutton said China’s recent ratcheting up of aggression could result in “conflict or war” and labelled Beijing’s actions as “quite phenomenal”.

In the wake of the military build-up, Mr Dutton also welcomed the Albanese Government’s openness to purchasing nuclear-powered submarines to fill a potentially decades long capability gap.

“It’s absolutely essential that we acquire the capability to provide a deterrent,” Mr Dutton said.

“We’re an island nation in the middle of the pacific and we have a particular responsible not just to our own country but to keep peace within our region as well.”

Peter Dutton urges Albanese Government to acquire military 'deterrent' as he  warns of conflict amid China-Taiwan tensions | Sky News Australia

Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said the government would prioritise “strategic need” over local manufacturing after Labor launched a major defence capability review last week.

Mr Marles told the Nine newspapers that acquiring the nuclear submarines early was an option, but the extent of the capability gap needed to be determined first.

 “To the extent a capability gap exists when we determine how quickly we can get the nuclear-powered submarines, we need to be looking at every option about how we plug that gap,” he said.

“The point is that we must have an evolving and improving submarine capability in this country from this day forth. And that necessitates plugging the gap. And there are lots of ways one can do that.”

China launched its military drills on Thursday following Ms Pelosi’s visit to Taipei earlier in the week.

Beijing also sanctioned the US Speaker in response to what the government described as a “egregious provocation”.

Mr Dutton praised Ms Pelosi’s visit and said it exposed China’s “disproportionate” reaction.

 “Yes, she should have (gone) and I’m pleased that she did because the reaction from China is completely over the top,” Mr Dutton said at a press conference in Brisbane on Monday.

“And it’s disproportionate to the visit by a Speaker of the House of Representatives in the world’s biggest democracy to visit an independent country.”

While supporting the speaker’s decision, Mr Dutton said he would not partake in a similar “political stunt” but warned that China’s military build-up was reminiscent of 1930s Europe.

“Nobody’s arguing for there to be a breaking of the current arrangement, but at the same time the Chinese government’s reaction under President Xi has been wildly disproportionate," he said.

“This has been entirely predictable, China is amassing nuclear weapons and when we say that we’re in a period similar to the 1930s that is not made up, it’s not exaggerated.”

 Real estate, RBA rates: Buyers avoid unrenovated homes as house prices fall  | news.com.au — Australia's leading news site

Rate hikes hurting auctions as buyers shun fixer-uppers

The Australian property marketing is already “settling”, with rising interest rates scaring borrowers away and forcing sellers accept lower prices.

But not all homes are made equal, and buyers are becoming more picky — with newly renovated, turnkey properties now in demand, auctioneers say.

Stefan Stella from Ray White Glenroy, whose sale of a $1.5 million East

Brunswick terrace to a young couple who “weren’t really looking” went viral over the weekend, told media there was “a bit of turmoil” in the market but that “anything that’s priced correctly does sell”.

“I had another auction on Saturday that was a complete dead duck, no action whatsoever,” he said.

That property, a 700 square metre corner block development site, would have normally sold for $1.3 million to $1.4 million, but passed in at $1.1 million.

Given the troubles in the building industry, Mr Stella said properties that are already renovated are more desirable.

“Basically anything that is going to require work, people are now taking into consideration the additional time and costs,” he said.

“Barkly Street was an exception, it’s the best street in East Brunswick.”

 “With all the negativity in the media the past three or four months, I’d say now most people are accustomed to the market that is, whereas at the start they were utilising comparable sales from three months earlier when the market was no longer comparable,” he said.

“That’s where it was hard. Everything is still selling provided it’s priced right.”

Mr Stella said apartments had been worst affected by the downturn, followed by unrenovated properties.

“And then the townhouse market, I think because of its pricepoint, you generally find it holds its own a little bit more,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sydney-based auctioneer Tom Panos said in a video update on Saturday that seven out of his 10 auctions that day sold.

“That’s a pretty good result – 70 per cent today, which is saying to me two things,” he said.

“Number one that there is settling and normality coming into the market.”

Mr Panos said the media was the “best vendor manager in real estate at the moment”.

“Every time I walk into a property the first thing I ask is, ‘Mr and Mrs Vendor, what’s your understanding of the current market?’ Nine out 10 vendors say to me, ‘We know it’s hard, and we know it’s getting harder.’ And for that reason you are getting vendors that are either giving you reserves that are realistic, or they’re giving you optimistic reserves with a fallback number which is normally good enough to sell a property,” he said.

After a few weeks of “OK results” – Mr Panos in July said he was “really stressed” after almost no buyers showed up to his auctions – the real estate coach said there was a “settling in the market and people are accepting these are the new values”.

“The real question is going to be, what’s going to happen in September, October, November as the market appraisals start lining up now as we end the winter, and we move into our spring selling season which sees an upswing in listings?” he said.

“One would assume that more listings should see a softening of prices. But the softening’s already happened. I’ve said it before, there’s a data lag that economists are missing by about three, four months. The market has already be repositioned in most areas by 10 per cent, even 15 per cent, some markets even 20 per cent. But realistically, we’re probably going to see another softening of around five, 10 per cent. We’re close to the bottom I think.”

He pointed out that “every time there’s a rate rise that equates to 1 per cent, it basically means borrowers get 10 per cent less from their bank”.

“So if you get a 2 per cent increase in interest rates, you’re roughly looking at approximately a 20 per cent drop in borrowing availability for a buyer from a bank,” he said.

“This is an important number because what’s it’s basically telling us is that if rates keep going up at the speed that they’re going up at the moment, that buyers are going to have less money.”

Mr Panos speculated that this is why there were “a few buyers that are rushing in and snapping up property”.

 “They’ve sat down with their mortgage broker and their broker has basically said to them, ‘Listen, there’s two sides to this. Yes there might be a further dropping of prices, but since they’ve already dropped, and you’ve got this loan approved right now, use it, secure a home that you like, and even if you haven’t bought at the bottom, you are keeping it for the next five, 10 years. But if you don’t buy it right now, guess what happens? You might not have the same amount of money out in the marketplace because you’re going to be rerated by the banks.’”

It comes after the Reserve Bank hiked interest rates for the fourth month in a row last week.

PropTrack’s Home Price Index shows a national decline of 1.66 per cent in prices since March, but some regions have seen much sharper falls.

“As repayments become more expensive with rising interest rates, housing affordability will decline, pushing prices further down,” PropTrack senior economist Eleanor Creagh said.

There were 1080 auctions across the country on Saturday with 51.3 per cent sold, according to preliminary clearance rate data from PropTrack.

Melbourne saw 364 auctions with a clearance rate of 59.1 per cent, while Sydney had 354 auctions with a clearance rate of 48.9 per cent.

“It was a quiet week for auctions across the country,” Ms Creagh said.

“Although, clearance rates ticked up in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth despite the third consecutive outsized rate rise delivered last week which brought the cash rate to the highest it’s been in six years.

Ms Creagh added that buyers were also aware that borrowing power would be “further constrained with rates continuing to rise and so some are taking advantage of the increased choice available now”.

 Hundreds of projects worth $7.8 billion in running for WestInvest funding |  Mirage News

Hundreds of projects worth $7.8 billion in the running for Westinvest funding

Hundreds of local organisations in West and South West Sydney are now competing for a share of $1.6 billion under the WestInvest Community Project Grants – Competitive Round.

Treasurer Matt Kean said organisations from Burwood to the Blue Mountains, and Wollondilly to the Hawkesbury stepped up in numbers with ideas for city-shaping infrastructure projects.

“We’ve received an overwhelming response with almost 680 projects worth $7.8 billion submitted for assessment,” Mr Kean said.

“The majority of projects sought funding to make local communities in West and South West Sydney even better places to live with open and green spaces.”

WestInvest funding was available to Aboriginal groups, sporting groups, multicultural groups, volunteer groups and many more based in 15 eligible local council areas.

The 15 eligible local councils also submitted 71 projects under the WestInvest Community Project Grants - Local Government Allocation, which awarded each council a share of $400 million in funding, based on population size.

Minister for Local Government Wendy Tuckerman said councils are at the heart of every community.

“WestInvest is a once-in-a-generation opportunity that will celebrate and improve local communities for generations to come,” Mrs Tuckerman said.

“The 15 local councils of Western Sydney have submitted some fantastic ideas for consideration, and I’m really looking forward to seeing some of these projects come to life, to invigorate their local precincts and facilities for their residents.”

All applications will now go through a comprehensive assessment process, with the successful projects expected to be announced in the Local Government Allocation from September and the Competitive Round later this year.

Growing community set for new primary school 

Growing community set to have a new primary school

A multi-million dollar project to deliver the new Green Square Public School and community spaces is officially under construction as the Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell and City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore celebrated this milestone with the turning of the sod.  

The new $76 million primary school co-funded by the NSW Government and City of Sydney will deliver 24 fit-for-purpose learning spaces to cater up to 600 students along with a library, canteen, and staff and administration space. It will also include a covered outdoor learning area and new out of school hours care facilities.  

The project will also deliver additional community facilities and shared spaces designed for both school and community use.  

Ms Mitchell said she was delighted to be at the site to celebrate the NSW Government has continued investment in public school infrastructure.   

“The new Green Square Public School will meet the local demand in one of Australia's fastest growing neighbourhoods,” Ms Mitchell said.

“I’m proud the NSW Government is delivering on our commitment to provide the best facilities to support local students in the Green Square community.

“The new primary school is an exciting project for the community and I look forward to watching as the school takes shape in the coming months.”

Ms Moore said that the school will sit at the heart of the growing Green Square community and set a new benchmark for urban development.

 New research: First Nations women left behind in cervical cancer  elimination | Cancer Council NSW

Grants awarded to reduce the impact of cervical cancer in aboriginal communities

Aboriginal organisations across NSW will benefit from six new Cervical Screening Community Grants which will provide culturally responsive and targeted health promotion initiatives within Aboriginal communities.

The locally-led programs are aimed at boosting the number of Aboriginal women across the State who access cervical screening, reducing the impact of cervical cancer.

Minister for Women, Regional Health and Mental Health, Bronnie Taylor said the grants are part of $114,350 in funding awarded to Local Health Districts and non-profit organisations through the Cancer Institute NSW to promote the National Cervical Screening Program.

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are almost four-times more likely to die from cervical cancer than non-Aboriginal women and these grants work towards closing the gap,” Mrs Taylor said.

“Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers and we know having a Cervical Screening Test every five years is now the best way to prevent it.

Chief Cancer Officer for NSW and CEO of the Cancer Institute NSW Professor Tracey O’Brien said locally led programs empower Aboriginal communities to address local needs and concerns and are critical in helping women understand the new screening options available to them.

“We know that the traditional Cervical Screening Test done by a health professional may create shame and fear for many,” Professor O’Brien said.

 Message for the community from NSW Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure  – The Australian Jewish News

In memory of the Beirut blast

Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure acknowledges and reflects on the anniversary on the explosion that rocked Beirut, Lebanon in 2020. 

Friday, 5 August, marked two years since the Beirut explosion rocked the people of Lebanon and those living in New South Wales.

Lebanon is a country that is very close to many that live here in our state, including my wife, who is of Lebanese heritage. Together, we have travelled the country and experienced all it has to offer. The people of Lebanon are incredibly welcoming, and I was in awe of the country’s beauty.

Seeing the effects of this devastating explosion on Beirut and its people is heartbreaking. I know this feeling is shared by many people in NSW from Lebanon and of Lebanese heritage, especially those that still have family and friends in the country.

As a multicultural society, when one of us experiences adversity, we all experience it no matter our heritage or cultural background. 

Two years on since the explosion rocked Beirut, I know the city is still recovering and so too is its people. My thoughts and prayers are with those that are still feeling the effects of this horrific incident.

 NSW Health urges residents to be on alert for symptoms of meningococcal –  after Sydney man dies with the disease | Sky News Australia

Public Health Alert: Meningococcal disease

NSW Health has been notified of two cases of meningococcal disease in people who attended the 2022 Splendour in the Grass festival.

Although the disease is uncommon, it can be severe, so we are urging people who attended the event in the North Byron Parklands on 21 – 24 July to be alert to the symptoms of meningococcal disease and act immediately if they appear.

Sadly, as reported earlier today, one of these cases was a man in his 40s from Sydney who died with the disease. NSW Health expresses its sincere condolences to his loved ones.

If you suspect symptoms of meningococcal disease, please contact a doctor immediately.

           Symptoms of meningococcal disease are non-specific but include:

o   sudden onset of fever

o   headache

o   neck stiffness

o   joint pain

o   a rash of red-purple spots or bruises

o   dislike of bright lights

o   nausea and vomiting.

           Young children may have less specific symptoms, these may include:

o   irritability

o   difficulty waking

o   high-pitched crying

o   refusal to eat.

           Not all of the symptoms may be present at once.

So far this year, there have been 15 cases of meningococcal disease reported in NSW.

Brazil offshore wind power regulation in the final stages - BNamericas 

Unlocking the power of offshore wind

The Albanese Government is taking the next steps in creating a new renewable energy industry, today announcing six proposed regions that have world-class offshore wind energy potential.

Public consultation on the proposed Bass Strait off Gippsland area will begin immediately, as the Albanese Government works with communities, environmental groups, industry and the maritime sector to ensure communities are appropriately engaged in establishing this new industry. 

Details of the five other regions and the public consultation processes will be announced in due course.

Unlocking the power of offshore wind in Australia will help power the nation.

Offshore wind can help with energy security and resilience due to its power capacity and availability at times when solar power and onshore wind are not available.

Estimates for the job opportunities of an offshore wind industry in Australia range from 3000-8000 jobs annually. Where offshore wind has been established in other countries, the main pathways into the industry have been from the energy sector and existing offshore industries.          

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen has been fighting to unlock Australia’s offshore wind capacity for years.

“The world’s climate emergency is Australia’s regional jobs opportunity and offshore wind is just one example.

“Unlocking the offshore wind industry is an exciting new chapter for Australia and we want to build a platform of community collaboration and support around it.”

“We have some of the best wind resources in the world - just one rotation of one offshore wind turbine provides as much energy as an average rooftop solar installation generates in one day.

“This new industry will provide opportunities to reduce emissions and fast track job and economic development opportunities for regional Australia particularly in clean energy generation and manufacturing.

“Many other countries have been successfully harvesting offshore wind energy for years, and now is the time for Australia to start the journey to firmly establish this reliable and significant form of renewable energy.”

 Meghan Quinn - Deputy Secretary Markets Group - Commonwealth Treasury |  LinkedIn

Announcement of new Secretary of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources

I am pleased to announce I have recommended the Governor-General appoint Ms Meghan Quinn PSM as the new Secretary of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources.

Ms Quinn has had a distinguished career in both the public and private sector.

In the public sector, Ms Quinn has been focussed on the Commonwealth Treasury portfolio, undertaking a number of senior roles, including as Deputy Secretary of the Markets Group, and the Macroeconomic Group. She was also central to the preparation of the Australia in the Asian Century White Paper in 2012.

She has also worked for BHP and the Bank of England.

In 2009, Ms Quinn was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service in the development of climate change policy.

Ms Quinn’s five-year appointment will commence on 22 August 2022. I congratulate her on the appointment and look forward to working with her.

APS Departments and Secretaries as at 5 August 2022




 














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