From Susan's Desk
Members of the Blue Mountains and the Hawkesbury communities have really stepped up for each other since lockdown orders were made in June.
The calls and emails to my office, and the many conversations I’ve had, show it’s a really hard time for many – whether it’s isolation, loneliness, financial pressures, supervision of kids while trying to work, the stress of trying to get vaccinated, or a combination of any of those, it’s tough.
With the harshest lockdowns just beyond the electorate, I am sure we are all grateful that we aren’t subjected to armed guards outside buildings. People are, by and large, doing their very best to keep Covid out of Macquarie.
What’s more, I’ve seen on social media many inspiring examples of local people being wonderful neighbours by doing simple things, like buying extra groceries and offering them to others who may have missed out. I thank everyone who has been able to reach out to someone else.
As we face another four weeks of lockdown, we know that there’s more hardship to come.
I have included a number of links in this newsletter for those needing services such as help with food or financial support – both for individuals and businesses - so if you know of anyone in need right now that could use some help, don’t hesitate to get in contact. Support was finally expanded this week to provide people who have lost 8 hours of work a week but receive income support payments like the age pension, disability or carer payment, parenting payment, JobSeeker and Austudy, with an extra $200 a week. Again, you can find the detail below.
In past newsletters I have encouraged people to be vaccinated, but what I am seeing now is less hesitation to have a vaccine, and more frustration and fear at their inability to get an appointment soon and/or close to home. I’m advised that 14 Blue Mountains GPs are delivering AZ and 7 are delivering Pfizer, while 21 GPs in the Hawkesbury have AZ and 9 have Pfizer, plus the GP respiratory clinics at Hazelbrook and Windsor. We know these practices are delivering as many jabs as they are provided with, and as their workforce will allow. I appreciate that both Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury Councils have offered their buildings. But clearly the big problem remains a lack of supply of the Pfizer vaccine and the shortage of workers to administer it.
The situation is not irretrievable. The Australian Government should reach out to the United States and others to access surplus vaccine supplies. The US has Pfizer and Moderna vaccine supply to spare. And we need to work harder with pharmaceutical companies to develop the capacity to produce mRNA vaccines here in Australia.
It only took Germany six months to get Pfizer production up and running. The only action Australia has taken on mRNA production has been to pay millions of dollars to consultants to write reports about mRNA production. We need local manufacturing capacity now and we’re going to need it into the future.
I’d like to see these steps not just because they’re practical but because it’s vital we start to be shown the way out of the merry-go-round of vaccine shortages and lockdowns. We need it for business confidence and we need it for our sanity.
I am currently isolating in preparation for Parliament, and have been for nearly two weeks. It’s given me a chance to touch base via phone with many people in our community to check on how they’re doing, and I am pleased so many are keeping others upbeat during what is an extremely challenging time.
Thank you to all the community and charity workers who are keeping people fed and checking on their wellbeing. Thank you to the cleaners, the supermarket staff, the health care workers, childcare workers, delivery drivers and so many others who are on the frontline and who continue to look after us all, and to the teachers whose job never gets easier. A special shout out to Year 12 students who are going through a special kind of chaos in their lives.
And thank you to all of you who have contacted me to tell your story. I will continue to walk by your side as we navigate these difficult times together, and come out the other side.
While my office is physically closed during lockdown, my staff are working hard from home to deal with enquiries and assist the community as per normal. If you are having problems and need federal assistance, please get in contact via email susan.templeman.mp@aph.gov.au and a member of my team will be in contact to help.
|
|
Restrictions
It’s been confirmed that the Greater Sydney lockdown will continue until August 28, which includes the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury.
However, Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury are not included as one of the eight “LGAs of concern”; those are Canterbury-Bankstown, Fairfield, Liverpool, Blacktown, Cumberland, Parramatta, Campbelltown and Georges River.
A summary of the changes announced by the NSW Government for the next four weeks includes:
- Shopping will now be the same as exercising - within your LGA or within 10kms of your home;
- Non-occupied construction will be allowed outside the eight LGAs now identified as areas of concern;
- Contactless tradies are also allowed outside the eight areas of concern;
- Students will remain in home-schooling for the next four weeks, except Year 12 who will be able to recommence face-to-face learning from August 16;
- A singles-bubble system will be implemented for those living alone to nominate one person to visit, but for our region they must not be from one of the eight LGAs of concern;
- The penalty for failing to wear a mask has increased from $200 to $500;
- Police now have the power to shut down businesses, worksites and public premises that continue to break the rules.
For more detail, click here.
Greater Sydney restrictions are available here.
Keep up to date on the latest case location hotspots here.
Vaccinations
The advice for Greater Sydney has been updated. All individuals aged 18 years and above in Greater Sydney, including adults under 60 years of age, should strongly consider getting vaccinated with any available vaccine including COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca. Read more about this here.
If you are unsure of what vaccine is right for you, you must speak to your GP.
This information has been sourced from the NSW Government. You can read more detailed information here.
You can check your eligibility here.
Call for nurses
Wentworth Healthcare has put out a call for more registered nurses to help vaccinate our community against COVID-19. Wentworth Healthcare is the provider of the Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network, and has stated that as more vaccine doses become available nationally in the coming months, general practices will need more nurses to help administer the vaccines. Find out more here.
Business support
The COVID-19 Business Support Payment has been expanded to include larger businesses due to the extension of the lockdown.
Under the expanded payment, eligible entities, which include not-for-profits, will now receive payments of between $1,500 and $100,000 per week based on the level of their payroll, with the maximum turnover threshold increased from $50 million to $250 million.
The payment will continue to be calculated based on 40 per cent of payroll for businesses that have suffered a 30 per cent or more decline in turnover.
For non-employing businesses, such as sole traders, the payment will remain set at $1,000 per week.
Click here for more information.
A list of available business supports in NSW has been compiled by business.gov.au.
If you cannot access support, please reach out at susan.templeman.mp@aph.gov.au.
Assistance for individuals
Changes to the COVID-19 Disaster Payments for individuals were announced this week. The maximum payment will be increased from $600 to $750; for those who have lost less than 20 hours of work per week, the payment will rise from $375 to $450.
People receiving social security support who have lost more than 8 hours of work will now be able to receive $200 on top of their payment.
Click here for details.
Food support
There are a number of organisations providing emergency food relief during the current lockdown. If someone you know is in need of supplies, please get in contact:
- Blue Mountains Police have been dropping off food boxes from the Rapid Relief Team to help people stay safe in the current lock down. If you or someone you know lives anywhere from Lapstone to Mt Victoria and needs a hand with some emergency food supplies (which will last about 48 hours), email Chief Inspector Garry Sims APM at 33211@police.nsw.gov.au
- In addition to regular food assistance organisations in the Blue Mountains, seniors or people with disabilities have access to Emergency Food Boxes. These boxes contain a variety of non-perishable, long-life food that can be delivered to the doors of self-isolating households that meet the relevant criteria. Contact Council at goodneighbour@bmcc.nsw.gov.au or call 4723 5000 (Lower Mountains) or 4780 5000 (Upper Mountains).
- For a list of other food support services in the Blue Mountains, click here.
- Hawkesbury Helping Hands in South Windsor is available for people in need. Contact them here.
- Mountain of Joy are providing support for vulnerable people in the Kurrajong area. Contact them through their Facebook page here.
- The Living Room Richmond provides meals and food parcels. They are open on Wednesday or Thursday between 10:00AM and 2:00PM at 15/25 East Market Street.
Food fundraiser
Speaking of food support, can you help Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre (BANC) assist someone in need, and support a local business at the same time? With many people losing their income in lockdown, BANC has seen a doubling in demand from people asking for help with food, with food parcels delivered down the mid-Mountains. BANC has started a Facebook fundraiser to keep the pantry stocked and purchase vouchers from local businesses. If you can help, it’s a great way to support so many in our community.
Seniors support
Seniors Rights Service, the NSW member of the Older Persons Advocacy Network, is offering a range of free, independent and confidential support services to support older people, their families and carers in the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury during COVID lockdown.
- Seniors Rights Service – 1800 700 600: Call Seniors Rights Service for support relating to issues or concerns about aged care services received at home
- Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line – 1800 171 866: Support for those feeling lonely or worried about the COVID-19 pandemic.
- My Aged Care Assistance – 1800 200 422: Can help with a grocery supply box and meal delivery.
- Aged Care COVID-19 Grief and Bereavement – 1800 222 200: For those experiencing grief, loss or bereavement due to COVID-19.
Council services
During the lockdown, council services and facilities may be closed. For the latest news on these closures, please visit the Hawkesbury City Council or Blue Mountains City Council websites.
COVID misinformation
You may have seen printed material circulated by Clive Palmer. This material has been doing the rounds for some time now and looks very much like political campaigning. But, as Shadow Health Minister Mark Butler has pointed out, it is a particularly prominent form of misinformation.
It won’t be the only form of misinformation we see in letterboxes and on social media, and while Mr Butler and others have been drawing the attention of the Electoral Commission and other channels such as social media to it, the government has remained silent. Mr Palmer appears to have recognised that this traditional postal way of communicating is relatively unregulated and used this to his advantage.
I would continue to urge residents to ensure they only get information from reliable sources. I have included links to official Australian health sources in this newsletter, and would warn residents to treat with caution information coming from sources such as Mr Palmer, who is not a qualified health professional or scientist.
Covid-19 contacts
- The Australian Government - here
- The Department of Health - here
- The NSW Government - here
- Nepean Blue Mountains Health District - here
- Blue Mountains City Council - here
- Hawkesbury City Council - here
- Domestic travel - here
Surviving the HSC
19,000 HSC students from hotspot LGAs are to be vaccinated from August 9.
Across the state, it’s a really tough time for school students (and their parents), but there are many free, online resources that can help with study for the HSC.
Here are a few websites that provide free help:
- ATARNotes has free notes and videos that step students through HSC content.
- THSC has practice papers that are communally uploaded by students.
- Bored of studies has a forum where students can discuss their work.
Mental health help
Crisis phone lines have a vital – and lifesaving - role, but if you want to try a longer-term mental health program, MindSpot Clinic online or by phone might be the answer.
MindSpot is a government-funded, not-for-profit mental health service that provides free, anonymous assessment and treatment for adults who are experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and chronic pain. I took evidence from the Executive Director of MindSpot, Nick Titov, at the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Committee hearing recently, and he talked through their personal approach, with phone consultations with qualified professionals included. It seemed like a really good option to flag with people given lockdown.
You can start by completing a 20-minute assessment and get connected with help from the team.
Its Tax Time
With the events of 2020 having such a huge impact on people’s incomes, the ATO has a number of online resources available for those sitting down to do their returns. There’s also help available if you need support to lodge or pay.
I have a small number of paper tax returns sent to my office, which I can have posted out to stay Covid-safe, on a first come, first served basis. Drop me a line at susan.templeman.mp@aph.gov.au if you’d like one sent to you.
Enrol to vote
The local government elections due to take place in September have been postponed to December 4. It’s important that you either enrol to vote, or check that the AEC has your most up to date details. You can click here to find information on both.
Census
The Census is coming on August 10, and the data gathered helps inform decisions on everything from schools, healthcare, transport and infrastructure, to local services for individuals and families. This year, you can complete your Census as soon as you receive your instructions if you know where you’ll be on Census night. For more information, click here.
DonateLife
It only takes one minute to register as an organ and tissue donor. DonateLife Australia is aiming for 100,000 new registrations as part of the Great Registration Race for DonateLife week, because the more registrations, the more lives that can be saved every year. If you are one of the 13 million eligible Australians aged 16+ who haven’t signed up, join me in being part of the race to register by clicking here.
Young writer's competition
The Mental Health Foundation of Australia’s Young Writer’s Creative Writing Competition is now on for primary and secondary students. The theme is Mental Health: Post Pandemic Recovery Challenges and Resilience, and you can write a play, a poem, or story - the style is up to you. Your creative piece should be about what you feel, think of, or have experienced when it comes to mental health. Good luck and happy writing!
Small business rebate
If you’re a sole trader, the owner of a small business or a not-for-profit organisation in NSW, you may be eligible for a small business fees and charges rebate of $1,500. You only need to apply for the rebate once, but can submit multiple claims until the full value is reached. Funds can be used to offset the costs of eligible NSW and local government fees and charges due and paid from March 1, 2021, including food authority, liquor and tradesperson licences, event and outdoor seating fees, and council rates. The rebate will be available until June 30, 2022.
Bank support
The Australian Banking Association Council has announced a number of support measures for customers in the lockdown. The national support package will be available to all small businesses and home loan customers significantly impacted by current lockdowns or recovering from recent lockdowns, irrespective of geography or industry. Support includes business banking repayment deferrals, home loan and everyday banking support. More information is available on the ABA website.
Ecommerce help
Find help with taking your business online via business.gov.au, or read more about navigating the online retail space here.
Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants
Are you kicking yourself for not having applied for previous bushfire grants? Or did you miss out?
There’s another chance for anything from $20,000 to $10 million with the new Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants program and applications are now open. This program supports social, economic and built environment recovery.
- Online workshops are now being held for people to get more information.
- For information on the grant and eligibility criteria, please click here.
- Register for the workshops. Click for the Katoomba workshop, or Hawkesbury workshop.
- For technical assistance and enquiries and the Grant portal, click here
Grants open 22 July 2021. They close 2 September 2021. Decisions are expected late November with announcements in December. The chosen projects to be completed 31 March 2024.
While the grants won’t come through my office, please contact me before the deadline via email at susan.templeman.mp@aph.gov.au if you need a letter of support.
Community Wellbeing Grants
Primary Health Networks (PHN) were provided with funds last year to support the mental health of people in our electorate after the bushfires.
The first phase of these Community Wellbeing Grants has been rolled out. Forty individuals have been funded to conduct small grassroots, community connection activities across the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, and Lithgow areas.
The Nepean Blue Mountains PHN is still accepting applications for grants of up to $1,000. If you would like to find out more about these, please click here.
Grants bulletin
Would your organisation be interested in hearing about some of the latest government grants available? Sign up to my grants newsletter.
In the news
The seat of Macquarie in the media:
Isolated residents delighted with check-in calls from young volunteers during Greater Sydney's lockdown
Almost a dozen like-minded teenagers and young people have joined forces to check the welfare of more vulnerable residents during the COVID lockdown.
Templeman calls for Nashos recognition with Vietnam campaign medal
About 3,000 National Servicemen who fought in Vietnam are ineligible to receive the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal (RVCM), because their service conditions meant they weren’t able to meet the ‘qualifying’ period. I wrote to the former Veterans’ Affairs Minister to request the situation be changed, but he knocked it back. I’ve now asked the new Minister, Andrew Gee, for his support.
Hawkesbury groups share in Macquarie electorate project funding
Kurrajong Heights Bowling and Recreation Club and Bilpin Shed have received funding under the Federal Government Stronger Communities funding.
Boost for new Dragon Boat club
Great to see the new dragon boat club that started in the Blue Mountains has received a boost with a grant recommended by my office.
Keep in touch.
I hope this information has been useful. If there are specific issues you’d like information on, please do not hesitate to ask.
Kind regards,
Susan Templeman
Federal Member for Macquarie
|
|
|
|
|
