New Water Research Centre in Werribee
Source: Victoria. Minister for Water. Media Release
"Expanded use of recycled water in the Werribee region is the focus of a multi-million-dollar research program announced by Water Minister Tim Holding. Speaking at the launch of the $4.6 million Centre for Sustainable Water in Werribee, Mr Holding said developing water recycling would help local industry and market gardeners. “This research initiative aims to expand the use of recycled water and develop sustainable water management,” Mr Holding said. As we face the challenge of climate change and a growing population we must continue to expand the use of recycled water and find new and innovative ways to re-use our water."

Network to Deliver Skilled Workers for Power Industry
Source: Victoria. Minister for Skills. Media Release
"The Minister for Skills and Regional Development, Jacinta Allan, launched a $1 million Specialist Energy Training Network of local TAFEs to secure a skills base for Victoria’s power industry. Ms Allan said 90 per cent of Victoria’s electricity and nearly all of Victoria’s natural gas was produced in Gippsland.“One of the key challenges facing our power industry is emerging labour shortages brought about by an ageing population and changing skills needs,” Ms Allan said.The Specialist Energy Training Network is one of three specialist networks to be funded as part of the 2006 skills and provincial statements."

NSW Government tackles childhood obesity
Source: NSW. Minister for Health. Media Release.
"The Minister for Health, Reba Meagher today launched a new program aimed at increasing activity and healthy eating habits among school-age children.
"Live Life Well at School, will focus on teaching children simple ways to lead a healthy and active life through eating good food, and exercising regularly," said Ms Meagher.
"Childhood obesity rates have soared in the past decade - with recent figures showing a quarter of all children aged 7-16 is now overweight or obese.
"This figure is unacceptable, which is why over the next four years, the NSW Government will be spending $6.5 million on anti-obesity initiatives in primary and pre-schools across the state."

Independent review of the regulatory oversight of the NSW racing industry
Source: NSW. Minister for Gaming and Racing. Media Release.
"The Minister for Gaming and Racing has requested Malcolm Scott to conduct an independent review of the regulatory oversight of the NSW racing industry.
The review is to examine whether there are adequate powers and procedures in place for the effective and efficient regulatory oversight of the three codes of racing in NSW by their respective industry controlling bodies."

Funds flow for irrigation projects
Source: Australia. Minister for Climate Change and Water. Media Release
"Grants totally $4.6 million have been awarded to 14 irrigation water providers to develop modernisation plans for reducing water loss in the water infrastructure that they own and operate."

Public Consultation - National Employment Standards
Source: Australia. Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Media Release
"The Rudd Government has released a discussion paper on ten National Employment Standards (NES) which contain the key minimum entitlements for all Australian employees to apply from 1 January 2010.
The NES will provide a simple, fair and flexible safety net for all employees, without the administrative complexity and machinery rules that are a feature of the current Work Choices system."

GRANTS ANNOUNCED TO CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF WOMEN’S VOTE
Source: Victoria. Minister for Women's Affairs. Media Release
"More than 50 organisations across Victoria have shared in grants worth a total $345,000 to fund projects celebrating 100 years since Victorian women won the right to vote, the Minister for Woman’s Affairs, Maxine Morand, said. Ms Morand, who announced the grant winners today, said 29 grants would fund projects and activities in across Melbourne’s surburbs.“The Centenary of Women’s Suffrage Grants is part of a package of Brumby Government sponsored events and activities to promote and celebrate this year’s democratic milestone,” Ms Morand said."

COMPUTER DISPATCH MOVES RURAL AMBULANCE INTO NEW ERA
Source: Victoria. Minister for Health. Media Release
"Ambulances in the Barwon and south-west regions are being digitally guided to patients as part of a $2.8 million Brumby Government upgrade of Rural Ambulance Victoria’s dispatch systems.Health Minister Daniel Andrews said the Geelong Ambulance Centre’s new Computer Aided Dispatch system will allow ambulance dispatchers to pinpoint the location of every ambulance on an electronic map, and guide them to the scene of an accident or illness."

BRUMBY GOVERNMENT SAVES THE SAUSAGE SIZZLE AND OUTS DODGY FOOD OUTLETS
Source: Victoria. Office of the Treasurer. Media Release
"Dodgy food outlets that are successfully prosecuted will be named and shamed in a Department of Human Services annual report as part of new changes to food regulations, announced by Treasurer John Lenders. Mr Lenders said the changes to food regulations also meant that the organisers of sausage sizzles, cake stalls, community fundraisers and farmers markets would also be big winners from a big cut to the red tape around food regulations."

Hybrid taxi fleet for Melbourne
Source: Victoria. Premier. Media Release
"Melbourne’s taxi fleet is set to go green with Premier John Brumby announcing a special one-off trial of 50 environmentally friendly hybrid taxis. At the Toyota City in Nagoya, Japan, Mr Brumby said 50 of the 100 “peak-cabs” taxi licences that are granted annually in Melbourne would be made available this year for hybrid cars. Peak cabs' are currently licensed to operate between 3pm and 7am everyday - travelling an average 100,000 km every year, Mr Brumby said. Each of these new 'green' taxis would emit almost two tonnes less CO2 and save on average around $5,000 worth of fuel every year. The “green” taxi licences will be offered at a special rate of $1136 - instead of the $6136 per annum fee currently paid. Mr Brumby said the Government would also introduce a new green passenger hire car fleet of hybrid vehicles in metropolitan Melbourne."

Australian synchrotron breaks new ground
Source: Victoria. Minister for Innovation. Media Release
"A new era in Australian research into chronic diseases like cancer has started at the Australian Synchrotron, with construction beginning on a new $10 million facility for advanced medical research. Minister for Innovation, Gavin Jennings, said the new beamline would be the first at the centre to be used for research into new techniques for medical diagnosis and therapy. This new beamline, one of the first in the world, will be the centrepiece of the Imaging and Medical Therapy centre, Mr Jennings said. Opening in late 2008, the new Imaging and Medical Therapy Centre will use synchrotron x-rays to advance studies in biological, medical and industrial sciences. It will lead to major advances in medical, biomedical and industrial imaging and importantly assist with the development and delivery of new cancer treatments.”

Super microscope for SA helps drive industry development
Source: SA. Minister for Employment, Training & Further Education, Media Release
"South Australia now has a super high-powered, $3.5 million ion beam electron microscope to help drive scientific developments for our State’s mining, defence and ‘high tech’ manufacturing industries. The Minister for Science and Information Economy, Paul Caica, will launch the cutting-edge microscope – the most advanced instrument of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere – at the University of Adelaide’s Centre for Advanced Microscopy. It’s the flagship of the new $6.5 million SA node of the National Microscopy and Microanalysis Research Facility. The Facility has been jointly funded by an alliance of the State Government ($2.5m) and SA’s three universities ($1.5m) with support from the Commonwealth ($2.5m) under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS)."

$1m boost for state-wide, disability training & jobs program
Source: SA. Minister for Employment, Training & Further Education. Media Release
"The South Australian Government has announced a $1-million boost to expand a major training and employment program for people with disabilities. The innovative vocational training program, Abilities for All, was launched in late-2006 by Employment, Further Education and Training Minister, Paul Caica as the first ever state-wide program to provide accredited workplace training for people with disabilities. Abilities for All is a joint initiative between government and the disability sector, undertaken by Bedford Industries with TAFE SA. It was funded by $850,000 of State Government funds in its first year under the South Australia Works program and with State training subsidies."

Mandatory scheme to lock out repeat drink drivers
Source: SA. Minister for Road Safety. Media Release
"The Rann Government is moving to take some of the most irresponsible and potentially deadly drivers off South Australian roads. Road Safety Minister, Carmel Zollo says. Cabinet has approved the drafting of legislation requiring serious drink drivers, who have lost their licences, to fit alcohol interlocks to their vehicles for a period of time equal to their disqualification. The Government intends to introduce legislation in the second half of the year. With the endorsement of the Road Safety Advisory Council, the mandatory interlock scheme will target recalcitrant drink drivers who have committed any one of the following offences within the last 5 years"

Drink container deposit increases to 10 cents
Source: SA. Premier and the Minister for Environment and Conservation. Media Release
"The State Government is increasing the incentive for South Australians to keep recycling by doubling the current 5-cent deposit on drink containers to 10 cents, the first increase since the scheme began in 1977. Premier Mike Rann says that while South Australia continues to lead the rest of Australia with recycling of its drink containers, there are still about 8000 tonnes - or more than 185 million of them - going into landfill each year. We know that CDL is extremely popular in the community and effective in reducing litter and encouraging recycling with 92 percent of respondents supporting the CDL scheme in a detailed consumer survey in SA in 2004, Environment and Conservation Minister, Gail Gago said.

Comprehensive Plan to Tackle Youth Crime
Source: NT. Chief Minister and the Minister for Justice and Attorney - General. Media Release
"The Northern Territory Government has announced a comprehensive reform plan to tackle youth crime and anti-social behaviour in the Territory. Chief Minister Paul Henderson and the Justice Minister Chris Burns have announced a three pronged attack. Our community is paying the price for a small group of kids who don’t respect the law, their parents or the public - and enough is enough, Mr Henderson said. As part of the plan, juvenile diversion will no longer be a revolving door, parents will be made more accountable and youth camps will help get kids back on track, Mr Henderson said. The Government will establish a youth camp in the Top End, in addition to the youth camp program that has already been announced for Hamilton Downs near Alice Springs. "

New major sports stadium for Western Australia
Source: WA. Premier, Sport and Recreation. Media Release
"Premier Alan Carpenter has announced that the State Government would build a new $1.1billion multi-purpose outdoor stadium at Kitchener Park in Subiaco.
The new major sport and entertainment stadium would replace the old Subiaco Oval, provide seating for 60,000 people and cater for AFL, rugby, soccer, cricket and major events such as concerts. The stadium would have the potential to expand to 70,000 seats."

Proposed Bill to address bio-terrorism and climate change
Source: WA. Minister for Health. Media Release
"Health Minister Jim McGinty is inviting Western Australians to have their say on a new Public Health Act which will meet the demands of modern issues such as bio-terrorism, climate change and public health epidemics.
“The current Health Act 1911 is long overdue for replacement,” Mr McGinty said.
“The new Act will provide modern, flexible public health laws that better protect and promote public health as well as prevent illness and injury.
The new public health legislation will:

• remove legal barriers to public health standards being applied in indigenous communities;
• establish clear frameworks for relationships with other agencies, in particular local government;
• strengthen the State’s capacity to deal with public health emergencies, pandemics, chemical, biological or radiological (CBR) terrorism, or the public health consequences of other disasters;
• streamline administrative processes; and introduce a contemporary approach to managing public health in line with national best practice.

WA’s new $8million State Major Trauma Unit
Source: WA. Minister for Health. Media Release
"More than 70 per cent of the State’s major adult trauma victims will be treated in a new unit, equipped with state-of-the-art technology at Royal Perth Hospital.
Health Minister Jim McGinty said the $8million unit would provide emergency care for Western Australia’s worst adult trauma cases, including people injured in car and work place accidents and natural disasters.
“The new 30-bed major trauma unit will provide exceptional high-acuity care for people with horrific life-threatening injuries,” Mr McGinty said.
Last year, doctors and nurses in WA’s public hospitals treated more than 730 adults who had experienced a major trauma. The number of major trauma admissions to RPH increased by 112 per cent between 1996 and 2006."

Tax Design Review Panel to Look at Ways to Streamline Process for Changing Tax Laws
Source: Australia. Assistant Treasurer. Media Release
"The Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs, the Hon Chris Bowen MP, announced the appointment of a Tax Design Review Panel that will be charged with examining how to reduce delays in the enactment of tax legislation and improve the quality of tax law changes."

Rudd Government Making it Easier forAustralian Families to Switch Banks
Source: Australia. Treasurer. Media Release
"The Rudd Government is pleased to announce a package of measures to make it easier for Australians to switch banks if they are not satisfied with their current provider. This shows how determined we are to make the banking system work for Australian families and not against them. There are currently too many administrative and other obstacles Australians confront if they want to change banks, and we are addressing that."

Review of Cooperative Research Centres Program
Source: Australia. Ministers for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. Media Release
"Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, announced a review of the Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program as part of a broader review of the national innovation system. The CRC review highlights the Government’s commitment to science and innovation and will identify areas to further promote and encourage investment and collaboration between research and industry. “The review will be comprehensive and will consider all aspects of the CRC Program. It will examine the overall strategic direction of CRCs, looking at the full range of issues, including governance and program design issues, the level and length of funding needed to support the program's objectives, as well as its overall scope and effectiveness. "

$1 Million Safety Upgrades at Remote Airstrips
Source: Australia. Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Media Release
"Anthony Albanese, Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, announced nearly $1 million in funding to improve safety and access for 25 airstrips in remote and isolated parts of Australia through the Remote Aerodrome Safety Program. Mr Albanese said, "People living in remote Australia deserve safe and well-maintained airstrips because they are a vital link to food, medical supplies, mail and essential personnel like teachers, doctors and nurses in remote Australia. The Australian Government's $1 million funding will boost airstrip safety and help provide year-round all-weather access for the Royal Flying Doctors and other services through upgrades of fencing, lighting and the resurfacing of runways."

Major funding for Australian health and medical researchers
Source: Australia. Minister for Health and Ageing. Media Release
"More than $124 million will be invested by the Australian Government in new medical and health research projects. The funding, which I am announcing, is a significant injection in the future careers and research capabilities of Australian research staff.It comes on top of the comprehensive education initiatives outlined by the Prime Minister recently to invest $370 million in Australia’s universities, double the number of undergraduate and post-graduate scholarships, and introduce 1,000 mid-career research fellowships to help keep academics in Australia. We are committed to ensuring that Australia’s best and brightest researchers have sufficient support and financial assistance to continue to work at the forefront of their fields. We will also ensure that all Australians have access to the best possible research in relation to the critical health and medical conditions facing them today."

Helping close the gap through innovative home visit program
Source: Australia. Minister for Health and Aging. Media Release
"Health Minister Nicola Roxon launched a program for nurses to visit Indigenous children and their families at home to ensure they get the support they need earlier. Professor David Olds, the US-based architect of the revolutionary program, was present for the launch. Australia is only the second country after the United Kingdom given permission to use this program.This is an important part of the Rudd Government’s commitment to closing the 17-year life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people within a generation."