$33.6 Million to boost Sugar Industry's Future
Source: Australia. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Media Release
"The Australian Government has announced funding of up to $33.6 million to support sugar industry communities in Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia. The projects will contribute to securing the future of the sugar industry. The projects are tailored to improve the industry’s efficiency levels and help it pursue options to diversify and innovate."

Grants for Managing Emergencies
Source: Australia. Attorney General. Media Release
"Local governments and volunteer organisations are being invited to apply for grants which help communities develop increased self-reliance in the face of disasters, Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said. The funding comes through an Australian Government initiative called Working Together to Manage Emergencies , which has set aside $49 million for projects across Australia. To support this initiative the Australian Government has provided $49 million over four years. "

Productivity Commission Inquiry into Australia's Consumer Policy Framework
Source: Australia. Treasurer. Media Release
"The Treasurer announced that the Productivity Commission will undertake an inquiry into Australia’s consumer policy framework and its administration. The inquiry will be the first substantial review of Australia’s consumer policy framework since 1984 and the Commission has been asked to report on ways to improve the framework to assist consumers to meet current and future challenges. The Commission will also report on ways to improve the harmonisation and coordination of consumer policy and its development and administration across jurisdictions in Australia, as well as ways to avoid regulatory duplication and inconsistency."

Minister releases Broadband Blueprint for Australia
Source: Australia. Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. Media Release
"The Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, released a Broadband Blueprint to provide a national framework for the future of broadband in Australia. It is essential for all levels of government and industry to adopt a strategic and coordinated approach to the rollout of scalable broadband infrastructure."

Release of Draft Defence Industry Policy
Source: Australia. Minister for Defence. Media Release
"All involved with the Defence industry sector are invited to read the Defence and Industry Draft Policy Statement, as it will directly and indirectly affect the way that we do business in the future. Comments on the draft statement can be provided up to 21 December 2006. "

Construction Industry Skills Blueprint for the Future
Source: Australia. Minister for Vocational and Technical Education. Media Release
"The Australian Minister for Vocational and Technical Education, the Hon Gary Hardgrave MP, launched a business-led training strategy aimed at securing Australia’s construction industry skills base for the future.The Master Builders Australia (MBA) “Training for the Future: Training Blueprint 2006-2010” calls for a partnership between governments and to ensure training strategies meet skills demand."

Australia and Chile Move towards a Bilateral Free Trade Agreement
Source: Australia. Minister for Trade. Media Release
"Minister for Trade, Warren Truss, announced that the Australian Government had agreed in-principle to commencing a bilateral negotiation process with Chile, with a view to developing a comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA)."

Australia-Korea FTA Study
Source: Australia. Minister for Trade. Media Release
"The Minister for Trade, Warren Truss, announced that Australia and the Republic of Korea have agreed to conduct a joint study on a possible free trade agreement. The study will be conducted by private research institutions in both countries. Government officials will then review its findings and make recommendations to the governments."