Since March, the Australian Government’s Economic Support Payments have delivered $8.8 billion to over 7 million Australians, with almost $43.5 million being paid to residents of Reid.
The two $750 payments were paid automatically to people who were eligible in March and April, and again in July 2020.
Dr Fiona Martin MP, Member for Reid, welcomed the payments, saying they have made a big difference in the lives of many members of the Reid community who have been doing it tough in the face of the coronavirus.
“I know a lot of people are doing it tough right now and I have been fighting hard to make sure our community remains supported through the devastating impacts of the global pandemic,” Dr Martin said.
Fiona Martin MP welcomes delivery of Morrison Government’s economic support payments. Photo: John Appleyard.
“These Economic Support Payments are part of the broader plan we are delivering to keep Australia moving forward.”
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the Morrison Government is providing an unprecedented level of support totalling $314 billion to keep businesses in business and Australians in jobs.
“In addition to JobKeeper, the Cashflow Boost and other measures, the Government’s two $750 economic support payments have injected almost $9 billion into the economy and provided an economic lifeline to millions of Australians at a time when they need it most,” he said.
“The Morrison Government will continue to do what is necessary to cushion the blow and help Australians get to the other side of this once in a century crisis.”
Minister for Government Services Stuart Robert said the package has helped support lower income Australians through uncertain times and has boosted economic activity.
“It has been particularly pleasing to see pensioners and families made up the majority of the 7 million Australians who were paid the $750 Economic Support Payments to help them cope with the financial impacts of the pandemic,” he said.
“Services Australia stepped up to get these payments out the door quickly and efficiently with payments made directly into the bank accounts of Australians.”
In late March, the Government announced further targeted financial support which included the fortnightly Coronavirus Supplement for people on income support payments.
People who were eligible for the Coronavirus Supplement did not receive the second Economic Support Payment in July. More information on support being provided by the Australian Government during the coronavirus pandemic, can be found at www.australia.gov.au.
Victorian Health Minister, Jenny Mikakos, has faced the COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Inquiry today, declaring that she was not part of the decision to use private security in the botched hotel quarantine program.
“I was not part of any decision-making process to use private security contractors in the HQP [Hotel Quarantine Program]. I do not know who made this decision,” Mikakos said in a written response she submitted to the inquiry.
“I would not support the engagement of private security contractors in any future iteration of the HQP.”
In a further exchange between counsel assisting the inquiry Ben Ihle and Mikakos, she went on to say she did not ‘turn her mind’ to how hotel quarantine was being enforced until the Rydges outbreak.
Victoria’s Health Minister, Jenny Mikakos, was questioned at the COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Inquiry today.
“Is it your evidence to this inquiry that until the outbreak at Rydges you didn’t even turn your mind to the question of how people were actually being detained in the hotels?” Mr Ihle asked.
To which Mikakos replied: “That’s correct. The DHHS provided the legal framework, I understood that Authorised Officers were issuing those travellers with detention notices. But I had no reason to be turning my mind to the issue of security guards.”
The Health Minister added that she did not believe it was her health department’s role to ensure private security guards and other workers in Victoria’s quarantine hotels were adhering to infection control measures such as wearing personal protective equipment.
“I understand that the DHHS’s role… was essentially to a) facilitate the legal framework for the hotel quarantine program by issuing detention notice and b) to provide health and wellbeing services to returned travellers participating in that program,” she said in her written statement.
Health Workers Union calls for Mikakos to resign over ‘repeated mismanagement’:
The HWU says Jenny Mikakos is “clueless” about her portfolio. Photo: AAP / James Ross.
Mikakos’ appearance before the inquiry today comes in the face of calls for her resignation after the Health Workers Union (HWU) published a scathing letter accusing her of “breathtaking incompetence” and “repeated mismanagement of the Victorian health system.”
The letter, addressed to Premier Daniel Andrews and signed by HWU secretary Diana Asmar, said Ms Mikakos lacked “even a basic understanding of her portfolio.”
“Sadly, our union’s relationship with your government is now officially dead,” Ms Asmar wrote.
“This is not about a personality clash with Ms Mikakos. I’m accustomed to dealing with individuals who display pomposity and arrogance, even when their ability does not warrant it.
“Ms Mikakos, through her incompetence, has turned the HWU, a once supportive stakeholder of your government, into an actively hostile one.”
In a press conference today, Andrews addressed the letter when he was asked whether the Health Minister “lacked basic competence and understanding of her portfolio.”
“No,” was his reply, adding later that he has confidence in all his ministers “otherwise they wouldn’t be in my government.”
“If there are issues that a group or any group in the community, particularly health sector, want to address, we are more than happy to sit down and work with those issues. We have done that as a feature of the pandemic.”
Following the fire that devastated the Moria refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesvos, the EU Commission announced on Wednesday that it will establish a dedicated taskforce to improve the situation on the island in a meaningful way.
In line with the framework recently proposed in the new Pact on Migration and Asylum, the taskforce will:
Implement a joint pilot program with the Greek authorities for new reception facilities.
Help ensure that migration is managed in an effective way, including adequate living conditions, more certainty through faster procedures and more balanced responsibility-sharing and solidarity.
Work in close collaboration with EU agencies and international organisations on the ground.
In a statement ahead of the presentation of the Commission’s proposals for the new migration pact, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, said the taskforce is a sign of the EU “stepping up.”
“Moria is a stark reminder of the need to find sustainable solutions on migration. We are stepping up, with our EU agencies, to provide support to the migrants who were left without shelter, and to Greece,” von der Leyen said in the statement.
“And we expect the other Member States to step in, too. Together we have to show that Europe manages migration in a humane and effective way. The European Commission is ready to contribute its share.”
Olympiacos has taken a leap toward another campaign at the group stage of the Champions League, beating Omonia Nicosia 2-0 in the first leg of the competition’s playoffs on Wednesday in Piraeus.
After more than an hour of frustration, Olympiacos managed to find the way through the Omonia defense, first via a penalty and then courtesy of a beautiful strike by last season’s top scorer Yussef El-Arabi.
The tight defense of the Cypriot team coached by Henning Berg had Olympiacos pegged at a goalless draw up to the 69th minute at the quiet Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium.
However, the introduction of Lazar Randjelovic and El-Arabi on the 58th minute did the trick for Olympiacos coach Pedro Martins. Ten minutes later, Randjelovic forced Omonia to commit a handball in the area, and Mathieu Valbuena converted the penalty for 1-0.
The Reds kept pushing, but the second goal would not come until the second minute of time added on, when Andreas Bouchalakis found El-Arabi and he buried the ball into the left-hand corner of the Omonia goal.
The second leg will take place in Nicosia next week.
Stefanos Tsitsipas cruised to a 6-3, 6-1 win against the UK’s, Daniel Evans, in the first round of the Hamburg European Open on Wednesday in Germany.
Tsitsipas won 14 of 19 points at the net, struck four aces and saved the only break point he faced in the 59-minute encounter. He will face Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas in the second round.
“It’s very satisfying to be playing that level of tennis, as I’ve missed playing on clay,” the Greek tennis player said in an on-court interview.
“It helps for my confidence. I’ve watched this tournament on TV since I was very young and I’m delighted to have gotten off to a strong start.”
Impressive start into his 1st 𝗛𝗮𝗺𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗴 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 〽️ 🎾@StefTsitsipas
Tsitsipas turned defence into attack to force a forehand error from Evans for a 3-1 advantage in the 29-minute first set, which the Greek closed out to love with a forehand volley winner.
Evans was continually pushed deep behind the baseline at the AM Rothenbaum.
Tsitsipas broke the Briton in the third game of the second set, with a deep forehand return and forehand approach combination.
The World No. 6 was later the recipient of backhand slice errors from Evans when leading 3-1 and 5-1.
Greece said Wednesday that it still expects the European Union to approve sanctions against Turkey despite the two NATO members agreeing to restart talks on maritime boundaries, energy rights and other long-standing disputes.
The leaders of the EU’s 27 nations are expected to review proposals for imposing sanctions on Turkey at their next summit, which was originally scheduled for this week but has been postponed until Oct. 1-2. Greece is an EU member, but not Turkey.
Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas said he expects the national leaders to adopt some proposals, but he told state-run ERT television: “The question is how those sanctions will be activated in the case of Turkey’s non-compliance, because we are not used to seeing the (EU) operating on a very fast track.”
Ankara dispatched a warship-escorted research vessel to survey for potential undersea gas and oil deposits in the east Med earlier this month.
Greece and Turkey engaged in a tense military standoff in the eastern Mediterranean Sea earlier this month after Ankara dispatched a warship-escorted research vessel to survey for potential undersea gas and oil deposits in an area over which the Greek government insists it has sole jurisdiction.
Both countries pulled back and agreed to engage in exploratory discussions after the Turkish ship returned to port, although Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the move was only temporary.
In a telephone call with EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, on Wednesday, Erdogan affirmed his government’s readiness to resume talks with Greece, and his support for a negotiated end to the dispute.
According to a statement from Erdogan’s office, he also expressed hope that “Greece would not waste this opportunity afforded to diplomacy as it did previously.”
Turkey was angered after Greece signed a maritime boundary agreement with Egypt in the summer while Turkish and Greek delegations were holding talks to de-escalate tensions.
Erdogan during a video-conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Council President Charles Michel on Tuesday.
The issue has been complicated by a related spat between Turkey and war-divided Cyprus. The east Mediterranean island nation insists that the EU slaps sanctions on Turkey for continuing “unlawful” prospecting in waters where it claims exclusive economic rights.
Cyprus is holding up EU sanctions against Belarus officials suspected of election fraud or being involved in a security crackdown until the bloc honors a deal that EU foreign ministers struck last month on imposing similar measures on Turkey.
Cyprus Foreign Minister, Nikos Christodoulides, said his government would support even tougher sanctions against Belarus officials. But he said it makes no sense to delay sanctions against Turkey when it continues to violate an EU member’s sovereign rights.
Turkey doesn’t recognise Cyprus as a state and says it’s within its rights to prospect in waters that it claims lie over its continental shelf.
Meanwhile, a Cypriot government statement said Von der Leyen told President Nikos Anastasiades in a telephone call on Wednesday that the EU would be “forced to take measures” if Turkey doesn’t end its “illegal actions” and if “there is no de-escalation of tensions.”
Formal negotiations between Turkey and Greece were suspended four years ago. No date has been set for the exploratory talks planned to take place in Istanbul. Germany, which currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency, led intense diplomatic efforts to end the dispute.
“From our point of view, it is, of course, important that these talks begin soon and further confidence is built up,” Steffen Seibert, a spokesman for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, told reporters in Berlin on Wednesday.
Greece and Turkey have been holding separate, military-level talks at NATO aimed at preventing an armed confrontation between the two allies in the eastern Mediterranean.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said “good progress” had been made in Brussels.
“These are technical military talks. They complement the diplomatic efforts led by Germany to resolve the underlying dispute,” Stoltenberg said. “The German efforts have led to an agreement yesterday to hold exploratory talks, which I welcome.”
Matthew Jurman is reportedly the next Aussie star to join Greek second division side Xanthi FC, after a Greek news outlet announced his upcoming exit.
According to information obtained by Sportsaddict.gr, the second division Greek side are preparing to complete the transfer of international Australian defender Matthew Jurman.
Jurman’s transfer to Greece is likely to have been influenced by new Xanthi FC owner Bill Papas. The Socceroo played with Sydney Olympic FC, owned by Papas, for one season before moving to Sydney FC. During the 2007-2008 season for Olympic, he made 26 appearances and scored 2 goals.
New Xanthi FC coach Tony Popovic will likely use the two Skippers as a foundation for building up the club. Photo: Supplied
Jurman has played eight matches for the Socceroos during his time as a player, being part of Australia’s 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The Socceroo will join new signing Joshua Brillante after Xanthi FC board member Damon Hanlin confirmed his departure from Melbourne City FC to The Greek Herald.
Xanthi FC also bought rising star, Callan Elliot, off New Zealand team Wellington Phoenix, offering him a three-year deal.
Xanthi FC were demoted to the second Greek football division this season before the takeover by Greek Australian business owner Bill Papas.
New Xanthi FC coach Tony Popovic will likely use the two Skippers as a foundation for building up the club, with both players to contribute to the club’s promotion journey to the Greek Super League.
The Greek Herald have reached out to Xanthi FC for confirmation.
In the last 30 years, mental health illness has swept Australia like a deadly plague.
With at least one in five Australians experiencing a mental health illness at some point in their life, it’s certain that people have been required to support their friends or family emotionally, or financially.
While parents are, in most circumstances, the first point of contact for mental health victims, they also receive close attention from support services. These support services could include consultations with mental health professionals, mental health clinic visits, or receiving at-home support by their parents.
“Many people with long term mental illnesses live with their parents and basically, for all types of reasons, they have complications with living in the community,” Helen Andrianakis says to The Greek Herald.
“They can’t live on their own or they have to monitor their medication. And the parents have to take on that role.”
Parents are the active support system for their children during the course of their life. However, what happens when this critical support system suddenly disappears, and there is not financial system or familial support left in place?
“From what I’ve seen, after the parents begin to deteriorate, the siblings aren’t looking after those people with mental health illness.”
Parents are the active support system for their children during the course of their life. Photo: CEU
Helen Eleni Andrianakis is a senior mental health drug and alcohol clinician and psychiatric nurse practitioner. Working in the mental health support industry for over 10 years, Helen has had deep experience with people who are reliant on support services.
Helen makes specific reference to a former client whose parents had passed on and left their inheritance to the children. As part of the conditions in their Will, the late parents required the siblings to dedicate a portion of the funds for mental health services for their brother.
“Well they didn’t do that,” Helen said bluntly.
“They just put him out on the street and took him to the crisis accommodation centre.”
Baffled upon hearing the news, Helen called the siblings about their decision receiving only two, very compassionate, words: “Tough luck”.
Ending up in a Special Residential Unit (SRS), the man is a representation of one in possibly thousands of mental health victims who are without proper support.
“There’s not enough institutions or SRS’ to place these people.
“They’re overpriced. You get very minimal support. A lot of them are very rundown.”
Yet while the government provides additional housing support and other free services to these victims, it sometimes still isn’t enough to talk them off the cliff edge.
“At the end of the day we all want to live with dignity,” Helen says.
“The stigma is already there but you need to be monitored, siblings need to be there.”
“At the end of the day we all want to live with dignity,” Helen says. Photo: Getty Images
St Vincent’s Private Hospital in Sydney, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Camperdown, and the Alfred hospital in Melbourne are only a few centres that provide special mental health clinics for patients. These clinics provide support for all kinds of mental health illnesses, including those which are developed through alcohol and drug abuse.
The Australian Institute of Health recognises a strong, yet complex relationship between mental health and alcohol and other drug use. A mental illness may make a person more likely to use drugs to provide short-term relief from their symptoms, while other people have drug problems that may trigger the first symptoms of mental illness.
“Just because they’ve taken this path, whether it’s from drugs or being born with a mental illness…. Once they deteriorate it’s hard to manage them and get them back on that stable level.”
Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians aged 25-44, and it is vital that at-risk people are closely monitored, whether it be by family or friends.
“Siblings should respect parents’ wishes and follow through to look after the complex care family member, rather than they just boot them out to the street,” Helen says.
“We know some of these family members are difficult to deal with but at the end of the day, we’re not here to judge and kill these people.”
One of the greatest signs of deterioration is a decrease in personal hygiene, Helen explains. This is followed by not eating, not looking after themselves, disturbing and anti-social behaviour.
If you notice any of these symptoms in close family members or friends, urge them to reach out to the following support helplines, or visit one of the support clinics listed above.
Bill Papas is president of NSW NPL team Sydney Olympic FC, and has developed the club into one of the most successful NPL sides in NSW. Playing a large role in the club’s development, as President, Papas has refined the team’s infrastructure at a collective level, while also motivating club fans to fill up its stadium seats.
Now, he is spreading his strategy and capacity to Greece for Xanthi F.C, making a bold step in Greek Football.
TGH: Mr. Papas, I will start with the question of: Why Greece?
Bill Papas: As you know, my love for football and Greece is a given. Thus the opportunity was found, I would say, to build a bridge with Europe, and where better with the country of our Parents.
TGH: Why Xanthi and not another group?
Bill Papas: The partners chose an area that has many challenges for development with steady steps. We will be able to change the competitive level of the team while helping develop of football throughout the wider region of Thrace.
TGH: Mr. Papas, who follows you in the dream of development?
Bill Papas: Firstly, it is Leo Karis, known to all of you and the football community for representing players. His expertise extends to negotiations for footballers’ contracts, friendly matches and he is considered the leader in this field in Australia. He has an extensive local and international business network that has developed over 20 years.
Damon Hanlin CEO of Titan Group of Companies is a friend and great collaborator with international experience. He is a director and a positive force in Sydney Olympic FC’s development.
Tony Popovic, coach of the team known for his successes with Perth Glory FC. Tony Popovic has signed a two-year contract.
Arthur Diles, who left the Western Sydney Wanders Academy coaching staff, is Popovic’s right-hand man. Also, two people who believe in this development are Anestis Tsetines and Yiotis Panayiotou, an executive from the Xanthi group.
TGH: How do you think this move will help the team?
Bill Papas: Our goal is not to win a title or waste a few million but to invest so that the team improves day by day in all areas. In the field of training, on the football pitch, utilisation of the talents in Thrace, making the team the first choice of all the talents of the wider region, in cooperation with Academies in the long run. And, of course, for people to come to the stadium and support a strong team, building up not only Xanthi but the whole of Greece and abroad. I believe in a project that will bring results in the long run.
TGH: Fans of Sydney Olympic are left wondering, what will happen to the team?
Bill Papas: Sydney Olympic FC cannot leave your heart. Other horizons open up for the group. The envisaged establishment of the 2nd National Division will be an incentive for an influx of players to strengthen the team. At the same time in Greece, with Xanthi FC being in the second division, it is a great incentive for players to play in a competitive championship, with young players to gain experience in the academies and in training, contributing to the development of Xanthi.
Editors Note:
With Xanthi now playing in Super League 2, it is an additional motivation for Bill to bring this historic team back to the Super League where it belongs. Beyond that, it opens channels between Greece and Australia.
There are no borders in development. Development starts from the academies at the base of each group. We want Xanthi and the wider region to become a pole of attraction for all young talents who will be able to strengthen local football and upgrade it to a competitive level.
I can say for sure that Bill Pappas and his associates are evolving the development of modern football. A new ‘Aeolus’ blows strong in Australia and Greece.
Melbourne City FC midfielder Joshua Brillante has finalised his anticipated move to Xanthi FC, making him the club’s first Aussie purchase since the takeover, Xanthi FC board member Damon Hanlin confirms.
While spending last season at Melbourne City FC, Brillante gained a high reputation in the A-League with Sydney FC. The Australian was part of two A-League championship titles and one FA Cup title with the club.
Holding a dual citizenship due to his Italian heritage, Brillante had overseas spells in 2014, 2015 and 2016 in Italy. Brillante couldn’t secure enough game time, moving back to the A-League.
Photo: Getty Images
New Xanthi FC coach Tony Popovic will likely use Brillante as a foundation for building up the club, with the skipper likely to be only the first A-League singing made by the Greek club.
Xanthi FC were demoted to the second Greek football division this season before the takeover by Greek Australian business owner Bill Papas. Xanthi are using Tony Popovic and fellow Australians Zeljko Kalac and Arthur Diles as club assistants, hoping to bring the club back into the Greek Super League.
