NSW welcomes clean coal technology project
Source: New South Wales. Department of Primary Industries. Media release.
"Today’s launch of Australia’s first commercial scale demonstration of CO2 geo-sequestration - the Otway Basin carbon storage project in Victoria - is a clear indication that clean coal is about the future, NSW Minister for Mineral Resources Ian Macdonald said today.
"The Iemma Government is committed to reaching an interim target of Year 2000 greenhouse gas emission levels by 2025 and a long term target of a 60 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050," Mr Macdonald said."

Industrial Hemp industry coming soon
Source: New South Wales. Department of Primary Industries.
"Environmentally friendly locally grown industrial hemp could soon be used in everything from dog food to bio-fuel, with plans to introduce a new licensing scheme, Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald said today.
Minister Macdonald said a potentially lucrative industrial hemp industry was not far off, following changes which will be introduced by the Iemma Government.
“Industrial hemp fibre produced here in NSW could pave the way for the establishment of a new viable industry that creates and sells textiles, cloth and building products made from locally grown industrial hemp,” Mr Macdonald said."

Strata Bill released for comment
Source: New South Wales. Department of Commerce. Office of Fair Trading. Media release.
"NSW Fair Trading Minister, Linda Burney, today released for public comment the draft Strata Management Legislation Amendment Bill.
Ms Burney said the draft Bill includes changes to the strata and home building laws that will improve the balance between the rights of strata owners and developers.
“Reforms to strata laws over the last few years have succeeded in limiting the voting powers of developers who own more than half of the units in a scheme, when it became apparent some developers try to control proxy votes as a way of maintaining ongoing control over the building and the other owners,” Ms Burney said."

Government inquiry into exercise treadmills
Source: New South Wales. Department of Commerce. Office of Fair Trading. Media release.
"NSW Fair Trading Minister, Linda Burney, today announced an inquiry into the safety of domestic treadmills following an increase in severe injuries to young children.
Ms Burney has referred the safety of domestic treadmills to the NSW Products Safety Committee for inquiry and report.
The Committee will examine a number of issues, including whether domestic treadmills are a source of unacceptable injuries, and whether there should be some kind of control placed on the sale of treadmills."

Tenancy skills for young people
Source: New South Wales. Deparment of Commerce. Office of Fair Trading. Media release.
"Coinciding with Youth Week, NSW Fair Trading Minister and Minister for Youth, Linda Burney, today announced the launch of a Gosford-based program providing young people with invaluable information and advice on tenancy.
Ms Burney said the program, Youth Tenancy Skills, is being conducted in partnership with Regional Youth Support Services (RYSS).
“The program will address areas of tenancy most relevant to young people and will provide essential information about financial literacy and obtaining a driver’s licence,” Ms Burney said. "

Minister announces Satellite Navigation Units for all NSW Ambulances
Source: New South Wales Health. Minister for Health. Media release.
"NSW Health Minister Reba Meagher today announced a $1.2 million dollar upgrade of ambulance vehicles to buy state of the art navigation equipment.
Ms Meagher said the NSW Government was committed to having the best ambulance service in the country, which is why additional money had been allocated to install new equipment.
"This funding will allow the installation of satellite navigation units and reversing cameras in all emergency ambulance vehicles.
"Over the past two years we have been using this equipment in the Ambulance Services single officer Rapid Reponse vehicles and it has proved to be very beneficial," said Ms Meagher."

Lack of GP access driving demand on public hospital emergency departments
Source: New South Wales Health. Minister for Health. Media release.
"Declining access to GPs has been identified as a critical factor in the growing demand on public hospital Emergency Departments in a new independent report into emergency department activity across five Australian states.
NSW Minister for Health, Reba Meagher, said the study by Booz Allen Hamilton of Key Drivers of Demand in the Emergency Department provided a clear picture of the factors driving the increasing pressure on emergency departments."

Release of forensic patients in hands of specialist division
Source: New South Wales Health. Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health). Media release.
"A specialist division of the Mental Health Review Tribunal will be established to oversee the release of forensic patients, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health) Paul Lynch announced today.
Mr Lynch said the specialist division strengthened the role of victims of crime, allowing them to make submissions on key events and decisions.
The establishment of the Forensic Division followed a year-long review into the management and release of forensic patients."

Medical Assessment Units provide specialist treatment for elderly patients
Source: New South Wales Health. Minister for Health. Media release.
"NSW Minister for Health, Reba Meagher, today announced a major step forward in the way our public hospitals treat elderly patients and those with chronic diseases.
Ms Meagher said Medical Assessment Units were being opened in 16 public hospitals to provide faster and better coordinated care for older patients within the hospital, community and home.
"The number of people aged 75 years and older who are going to public hospital emergency departments is rising by 20 per cent each year," Ms Meagher said.
"The key challenge for our health professionals and for Government is to find the best way to provide the right type of care that these patients need."

Tougher penalties for hydroponic cannabis, amphetamines
Source: South Australia. Attorney-General. Media release.
"Attorney-General Michael Atkinson today announced plans to legislate to increase penalties against the cultivation of hydroponic cannabis and require courts to treat amphetamines alongside the most serious category of illicit drugs.
Mr Atkinson gave notice to Parliament that he will introduce the Controlled Substances (Controlled Drugs, Precursors and Cannabis) Amendment Bill 2008, the latest step in the Government’s largest review of drug laws in 25 years.
“These reforms will make it more difficult for the drug barons to source the chemical ingredients needed to fuel their death dealing drug labs,” the Attorney-General says."

Funding model for desalination plant announced
Source: South Australia. Treasurer and Minister for the River Murray. Media release.
"Treasurer Kevin Foley says the State Government has decided that Adelaide’s desalination plant will be financed by SA Water – and not by a Public Private Partnerships (PPP) scheme.
Mr Foley and Water Security Minister Karlene Maywald made the announcement today about the 50 gigalitre desalination plant which the Government expects to be delivering water to the people of Adelaide by the summer of 2011/12.
Mr Foley says the Government has chosen to use a procurement option more commonly known as Design, Build, Operate and Maintain (DBOM) following an extensive review by consultants KPMG."

Major review of adult literacy & numeracy programs
Source: South Australia. Minister for Employment, Training & Further Education. Media release.
"The State Government will embark on a major review of the delivery of adult literacy and numeracy programs across South Australia.
Announcing this today, Further Education Minister Paul Caica says the aim of the initiative, Secret Codes, is to boost employment opportunity and workforce participation.
“We recognise that literacy and numeracy skills are fundamental building blocks for people to be able to fully participate in community life and in the workforce. And we also recognise that there are too many adults in Australia whose literacy levels are considered too low to work in a knowledge-based economy or meet the demands of everyday life*”, he says. "

Recycled water use first for Victor Harbor
Source: South Australia. Minister for the River Murray &Minister for Water Security. Media release.
"Minister for Water Security Karlene Maywald will today launch South Australia’s first private rural living domestic wastewater reuse scheme near Victor Harbor.
A group of 20 householders, led by former Premier Dean Brown, have formed a cooperative to pipe recycled water from the Victor Harbor Wastewater Treatment Plant network to their homes for outdoor use.
The householders, called the Finniss Road Recycled Water Group, have each spent about $1200 on average to construct a network of pipes to transport 20 million litres of treated wastewater a year from the plant to their properties."

Free computer access to help tenants and homebuyers
Source: South Australia. Minister for Housing. Media release.
"Tenants and homebuyers can now access free computer terminals at Housing SA offices to help them find the accommodation and housing services they need.
Housing SA has launched a new website, www.housing.sa.gov.au, which has links to information as wide-ranging as affordable homes on the market to concessions available to Housing SA tenants.
To make these services more accessible to its customers, Housing SA has installed free computers in its major Housing SA offices for customer use. "

Housing SA listens to tenants’ concerns about shared meters
Source: South Australia. Minister for Housing. Media release.
"Housing SA is making changes to its new water use charges to address the concerns raised by public housing tenants with shared meters.
Housing Minister Jay Weatherill has announced that Housing SA will pay for the first 30 per cent of water used by tenants with shared water meters. "

Students’ literacy results go digital
Source: South Australia. Minister for Education & Children's Services. Media release.
"State school teachers have online access to the literacy and numeracy test results of their students through a new electronic ‘data-mart’, now available in South Australian schools.
The initiative is part of the Rann Government’s efforts to support teachers to improve the literacy and numeracy skills of South Australia’s school students."

Government takes earth hour long term
Source: Australia. Minister for Climate Change and Water. Media Release
"The Australian Government today (29/3/08) announced new steps to deal with climate change and sustainability, as more than 100 of its departments and agencies sign-up to switch-off for
Earth Hour 2008.
A whole of government taskforce will work on ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,
waste, energy and water use in Government operations, as well as the sustainable use of
Commonwealth land.
Known as the Inter-Departmental Committee on Government Leadership in Sustainability, it
will report to the Prime Minister in June, with an ongoing role in overseeing the
implementation of Government action on sustainability."

Government To Fund Wound Management Research
Source: Australia. Minister for Health and Ageing. Media Release
"Improved wound management in aged care has been made a high priority by the Rudd Government, with plans announced for wound management research projects worth up to $500,000.With over 270,000 older Australians suffering from chronic wounds, this research will develop best practice in wound management that will be able to be translated across the sector – allowing for shorter stays in high care facilities and hospitals and much greater comfort to residents and patients."

Government Holds Homelessness Roundtable
Source: Australia. Minister for Housing. Media Release
"The Rudd Government today brought together experts from across the country to discuss new approaches to addressing homelessness as part of a forum of key stakeholders in Sydney.Convened by Homelessness Australia, the forum comprised representatives from peak homelessness, health, social housing, youth and welfare agencies, homeless service providers, state, territory and local government agencies, academics and Indigenous organisations."

Action to protect our biodiversity from climate change
Source: Australia. Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts. Media Release
"The Federal Government will make up to $250,000 available for work to identify climate
change refuges for Australia’s native plants and animals, Minister for the Environment,
Peter Garrett, said today (30/3/08).
The need to identify refuges for species threatened by a changing climate is one of the
key recommendations of a CSIRO report, Implications of climate change for the National
Reserve System, released today."

Gillard Launches National OHS Review
Source: Australia. Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Media Release
"Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Julia Gillard, today (4/4/08) announced the commencement of a National Review into Model Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Laws."

Government Releases Reform Road Map On Skills
Source: Australia. Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Minister For Employment Participation. Treasurer. Joint Media Release
"The Skilling Australia discussion paper launched today (1/4/08) sets out the delivery of the Rudd Labor Government’s additional 450 000 training places.
It highlights a new industry demand driven approach to training delivery rather than the old supply driven approaches of the Howard Government."

Planning reform exposure bill released following community feedback
Source: NSW. Minister for Planning. Media Release.
"State Plan Priority P3: Cutting Red Tape
Planning Minister Frank Sartor today released a draft exposure bill – the first legislative step towards reinvigorating the NSW planning system.
Mr Sartor said the Bill outlined major reform initiatives including an independent commission to determine major proposals, tougher penalties for rogue accredited certifiers and new anti-corruption measures.
“This is an important step towards creating a transparent, modern planning system,” Mr Sartor said.
A discussion paper titled Improving the NSW Planning System was placed on public exhibition for a ten-week period in late 2007 and early 2008, attracting 538 submissions. "

New sex laws for disabled people
Source: NSW. Attorney General. Media Release.
"Stroke victims and people suffering from Alzheimer’s will be better protected from sexual predators under tough new laws, said NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos.The new laws will use the term “cognitively impaired” rather than “intellectually disabled,” so many more people who are vulnerable to being manipulated into have sex because of their condition will be protected.“Taking advantage of a cognitively impaired person for sexual gratification is absolutely despicable,” said Mr Hatzistergos."

Tenders called for 24-hour mental health line
Source: NSW. Minister assisting the Minister for Health. Media release.
"A new 24-hour Mental Health access line to provide instant assessment and referral services will be established by the NSW Government.
Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health) Paul Lynch said the State-wide line would be staffed by mental health professionals. Mr Lynch said it was expected to be available to rural communities in late 2008. The line would then be rolled out across the State within the next 12 months. Mr Lynch said the mental health line was part of the Iemma Government's record commitment to people living with a mental illness.

Race Club Facility Grant Program
Source: NSW.Minister for Gaming and Racing. Media Release.
"Minister West has announced a $2 million Race Club Facility Grant Program to assist rural and regional race clubs develop their facilities and recover from the Equine Flu crisis. Eligible applicants under this program are incorporated not-for-profit organisations, affiliated with Racing NSW, Harness Racing NSW and Greyhound Racing NSW wishing to develop facilities that will directly assist racing in rural and regional areas. "