THE Housing Industry Association (HIA) has welcomed National Cabinet’s agreement this week to support a range of reforms to address housing supply.

HIA deputy managing director for industry and policy, Jocelyn Martin said the decision to tackle planning reforms to increase housing supply and affordability would ultimately lead to more affordable rental accommodation and provides the capacity to deliver social housing without impacting housing supply more broadly.

“The HIA has always agreed more needs to be done at the Federal, state, and local level of government, to achieve a sustainable level of supply where both the cost of buying or renting a house is in the grasp of the average Australian,” Ms Martin said.

“Today’s announcements recognise the extent of the housing crisis is a shared challenge. The Housing Australia Future Fund will provide the crucial base for these reforms to occur. It is important the opposition and cross bench do not delay in passing these Bills.

“HIA is ready to work closely with industry and with all levels of government to ensure that these reforms come to fruition. Without changes such as these, the housing problem will only worsen, governments on all levels have a role to play and todays proposals are a good step forward to easing the problem” concluded Ms Martin.

www.hia.com.au

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THE outcomes arising from the Australian Government's review of the migration system have been broadly welcomed by the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA), the peak body representing independent providers in the skills training and higher education sectors.

Given that independent skills training and higher education providers support more than half of the onshore international student enrolments, the Australian Government’s announcements are critical for ITECA members, an internal report found.

“ITECA members agree with the Australian Government that students need simple pathways to stay in Australia if they have the skills and capabilities that businesses need," ITECA chief executive Troy Williams said.

"In that context, ITECA looks forward to working with both the Minister for Education and the Minister for Skills and Training to ensure that independent tertiary education providers committed to quality can continue supporting international students wanting to come to Australia,” Mr Williams said.

The linkages between international education and addressing Australia’s skills needs are critical areas of reform, according to ITECA.

“From the perspective of the international education sector, it’s great to see a commitment to closer alignment of the nation’s skills needs and international education.  The Minister is correct to say that the migration system will never be a substitute for adequately skilling Australian workers, but there are also benefits in leveraging the skills of international students in Australia with the education and skills our economy needs,” Mr Williams said.

ITECA has welcomed a more appropriate architecture for international student visa processing.

“International students and Australia’s international education sector are baffled by too many visa categories and lengthy processing arrangements that produce inconsistent outcomes.  ITECA members welcome a more transparent and less complicated system,” Mr Williams said.

Of interest to ITECA members is a commitment to ensure that a whole-of-government approach is taken to migration matters.

“Jobs and Skills Australia will have a lead role, and ITECA is pleased to see an acknowledgement that the state and territory governments have a role to play.  At the end of the day, all job needs are local, as to are the housing shortages that impact international students.  The state and territory governments are critical to this conversation,” Mr Williams said.

ITECA will work with the Australian Government as issues associated with implementing the recommendations are considered, he said.

About ITECA

Formed in 1992, ITECA is the peak body representing Australia's independent providers in the skills training, higher education, and international education sectors.

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Migration will kick off the hearing schedule for its Migration, Pathway to Nation Building inquiry with public hearings in Melbourne and Robinvale in regional Victoria.

On Wednesday April 26, the committee will hear from manufacturers, policy think tanks, academics, migrant advocacy groups, and settlement service providers at a public hearing in Melbourne. The following day, the committee will head to northwest Victoria to speak with local government and fruit and vegetable growers on how migration policy can better support regional economies and communities.

Committee Chair, Maria Vamvakinou MP, said the hearings would provide the committee with the valuable opportunity to question witnesses on the details of their submissions made to the inquiry "and to see firsthand how Australia’s migration policy settings impact industry sectors, such as primary producers, who rely heavily on migrant labour and regional Australian communities".

"The committee looks forward to speaking with experts on migration issues and those directly impacted by our migration policy settings," Ms Vamvakinou said.

The full hearing programs are available on the Committee website.

Hearing details

Wednesday, 26 April 2023 – 9am to 4.30pm – Balmoral Room, Stamford Plaza Melbourne Hotel, 111 Collins St, Melbourne Vic. 3000
Thursday, 27 April 2023 – 1pm to 3.20pm – Foyer/Meeting Room, Robinvale Community Arts Centre, 37 Robin St, Robinvale Vic. 3549.

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THE Pharmacy Guild of Australia has claimed the Federal Government’s intention to introduce 60-day dispensing -- which doubles the number of medicines patients can receive at once, regardless of need -- in this year’s Budget will "significantly worsen the medicines shortage crisis".

According to the Guild, "this will lead to millions of patients being worse off".
 
A Guild spokesperson said, "This proposal will mean that already stretched supply chains of crucial and everyday prescription medicine will be made much worse. Shortages already exist for medications to treat a range of conditions, including blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, depression, anxiety, osteoporosis, Parkinson’s Disease."
 
The Guild said by providing some patients with twice as much medication as they need, many more Australians will be forced to go without.

"The policy will also lead to panic buying, hoarding of medicines and increased overdoses."
 
National President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Trent Twomey said, “We have very real concerns around the impact of this policy on patient safety.
 
“If the Federal Government puts this proposal in the Budget, I am very concerned for millions of Australian patients who need regular access to critical medicine. 
 
“There are already some 400 medicines in short supply in Australia and around 70 more at risk of becoming short,” Professor Twomey said.
 
“Australians may not be able to access medicines equally, with one patient having double the amount and another missing out. 
 
“Local Labor MPs will need to explain to their communities why their community pharmacist cannot supply critical medicine to patients when they need it.”
 
The Pharmacy Guild is calling on the Federal Government to further reduce the general PBS patient co-payment to $19, supporting 19 million Australians in this cost-of-living crisis.

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