Teaching for the Digital Age
Source: Australia. Minister for Education. Media Release
"The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard today (3/6/06) announced new opportunities for Australian teachers to develop their proficiency in using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in teaching and learning.
Today the Minister for Education committed $650,000 to initiate and fund professional development activities over the next 12 months."

State of Public Health Report 2008
Source: Tasmania. Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Human Services. Media release
The Minister for Health and Human Services, Lara Giddings, today tabled in State Parliament the State of Public Health 2008 report by the Director of Public Health, and the accompanying document Health Indicators Tasmania 2008.

Work Starts on Launceston Airport’s $20 Million Upgrade
Source: Tasmania. Minister for Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts. Media release
"The Minister for Environment, Parks, Heritage and the Arts, Michelle O’Byrne, today officially marked the beginning of work on a $20 million upgrade of Launceston Airport that will introduce checked baggage x-ray systems, more retail space and a new-look terminal building. "

Tasmania On Show For US Film Industry
Source: Tasmania. Minister for Economic Development and Tourism. Media release
"Representative of Los Angeles-based Ausfilm are visiting the State exploring further opportunities for Tasmania as a filming destination for the American film industry.
The Minister for Economic Development and Tourism, Paula Wriedt, said the visit was an important part of growing our screen industry and broadening the state’s skills base.
“Screen Tasmania has built a screen industry in our state which is currently worth around $18 million a year,” said Ms Wriedt."

Groundbreaking Climate Change Bill Released
Source: Tasmania. Premier. Media release
"Premier David Bartlett has asked Tasmanians to prepare for life in a low-carbon world with groundbreaking climate change legislation released today.
“Climate change is the challenge of our generation, and dealing with it will require significant changes to the way we live and work,” Mr Bartlett said.
“We are climate change opportunists in the Government I lead and I want us to be at the forefront of meeting this challenge."

Water Resources the Key to Future Growth
Source: Tasmania. Member for Braddon. Media release
"Member for Braddon Bryan Green said today the development of major water infrastructure for irrigation was vital for Tasmania’s primary industries.
Mr Green who played a leading role in the establishment of the Meander Dam said future growth of the agricultural sector would be underpinned by the State’s water resources.
Mr Green said a $220 million irrigation program jointly funded by State and Federal Governments aimed to provide additional water equivalent to that from 10 Meander dams. "

Recycled water now flowing from Alice Springs Water Reclamation Plant
Source: Northern Territory. Minister for Essential Services. Media release
"The new $10.4 million Alice Springs Water Re-Use Project officially began operating this morning, with up to 600 megalitres of recycled water now flowing to the Arid Zone Research Institute (AZRI) every year."

Extra Teachers Closing the Gap
Source: Northern Territory. Minister for Employment, Education and Training.Media release
"Education Minister Marion Scrymgour announced today that the first 19 of an additional 200 Australian Government funded teachers for the Northern Territory had been employed.
Ms Scrymgour said the ten male and nine female teachers would start work in classrooms in remote communities at the start of Semester 2.
“Before starting work the teachers will be undergoing nine-weeks of orientation and professional learning to develop their Cross-Cultural, English as a Second Language, and Accelerated Literacy skills,” Ms Scrymgour said.
“Under Closing The Gap we are upgrading and supplying new facilities in remote communities and we’re also employing extra teachers to improve educational outcomes."

Chief Minister Continues Fight for Inpex Project
Source: Northern Territory. Chief Minister. Media release
"Chief Minister Paul Henderson leaves Darwin later today for Europe, where he’ll continue his fight to secure the $12 billion Inpex gas project for the Northern Territory.
Mr Henderson said he would be meeting in Paris with senior executives from Total, Inpex’s joint venture partners and developers of the Ichthys gas field.
“I have made Inpex aware of the advantages Darwin has as a location for the project, this trip will allow me to put our case directly to Total as well,” Mr Henderson said.
“As a joint venture partner and developer of the Ichthys gas field with Inpex – Total will play an important role in deciding whether the project is located in Darwin or Western Australia.

Work on $41 Million Helium Plant Begins
Source: Northern Territory. Ministser for Infrastructre and Transport. Media release
"The Northern Territory Government today welcomed the start of construction of the new $41 million helium plant at Wickham Point.
Infrastructure Minister Delia Lawrie, said the plant will create jobs and boost the economy, and show more companies that the Territory has the capacity for major gas development."

Common User Area Open for Business
Source: Northern Territory. Minister for Business and Economic Development. Media release
"A new multi-user, multi-purpose assembly yard and lay down area has opened for business at East Arm to help ensure that Darwin continues to benefit from the growing Timor Sea oil and gas industry, mining and export industries.
Minister for Business, Economic and Regional Development, Kon Vatskalis, declared the new Darwin Common User Area facility open this afternoon before operators located within the Land Development Corporation."

Education in country and city New South Wales
Source: Parliament of New South Wales. Briefing paper, no. 4
"Evidence exists of differences in levels of achievement between country and city students in New South Wales, and governments have attempted to respond by instituting programs to enhance achievement. Retaining students, to year 12, appears to be a particular issue in providing education to students in rural areas. This paper surveys and evaluates government initiatives."

$38.7million arts initiatives launched
Source: Western Australia. Minister for Culture and the Arts. Media Release
"More than $38.7million of initiatives to build and sustain Western Australia’s exciting arts and culture sector were launched. Culture and Arts Minister Sheila McHale said the seven initiatives, part of the $73million Ignite package, were designed to transform arts and culture activities in WA, and build a foundation for future growth. “Investment in the arts by Government and business is very important if we are to continue to transform this State into a culturally-rich and vibrant place,” Ms McHale said. The package includes two initiatives that are the first of their kind in Australia and will promote major productions and philanthropy."

$77million worth of training funds now available to the private sector
Source: Western Australia. Minister for Education and Training. Media Release
"The Carpenter Government will open up the market for apprenticeship funding to the private sector - paving the way for a more competitive, flexible and responsive training system. Announcing the reforms, Education and Training Minister Mark McGowan said the change was part of an ongoing reform agenda to modernise Western Australia’s training system. Mr McGowan said the current system, where the majority of Government funding available for apprenticeship delivery was quarantined for the TAFE sector, would be opened up completely to deliver a more responsive and flexible training system."

$68 Million to Continue Driving Regional Growth
Source: Victoria. Office of the Premier. Media Release
"Initiatives to drive growth, expand industry, build on skills and respond to the challenges ahead are the focus of a $68 million Brumby Government package to keep provincial Victoria moving forward. In Ballarat, Premier John Brumby unveiled Moving Forward: Update – The Next Two Years 2008 to 2010, setting out a series of Victorian Government actions in regional and rural Victoria from now until 2010. "

Future Farming Advisory Panel Announced
Source: Victoria. Minister for Agriculture. Media Release
"A broad cross-section of respected industry professionals will help drive Victoria’s $205 million Future Farming Strategy. In Birchip, Agriculture Minister Joe Helper today announced the make-up of the Future Farming Advisory Panel. Mr Helper said the seven-member panel comprised of plant nursery owner Lyn Coulston, stonefruit farmer Gaethan Cutri, wool producer Christine Forster, Birchip Cropping Group chairman Ian McClelland, Goulburn-Murray Water chairman and dairy farmer Stephen Mills, primary producer Jenny O’Sullivan and Victorian Farmers Federation president Simon Ramsay. “Input from farmers, farming communities and their representative bodies will be vital in the delivery of the key new measures outlined in the $205 million Future Farming Strategy,” Mr Helper said."

New chair and website for Ministerial Advisory Committee on Ageing
Source: New South Wales. Department of Ageing, Disability & Home Care
"Pino Migliorino will chair the NSW Ministerial Advisory Committee on Ageing (MACA) – the expert panel which advises the Iemma Government on ageing and policy issues.
NSW Minister for Ageing, Kristina Keneally, today announced that the MACA is coming to Newcastle today to officially launch their new website and to host a forum about the opportunities and benefits associated with volunteering.
"The MACA’s new look website will help in expanding on the priorities outlined in the NSW Government’s recently announced plan for our ageing population, Towards 2030," Ms Keneally said.

Fitness challenge for schools
Source: New South Wales. Public Schools. Media release
"The promotion of student participation in sport and physical activity will take centre stage in NSW public schools in a State Government initiative to combat childhood obesity.
The Premier’s Sporting Challenge aims to encourage students to participate in moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. Students who reach predetermined exercise levels will receive Premier’s awards, with the “gold award” of 60 minutes of physical activity a day – the recommended national guideline – the program’s target."

$2.45m for further research into schizophrenia
Source: New South Wales Health. Media release
"The Iemma Government will provide $2.45 million over the next five years for research into the causes of schizophrenia.
Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health) Paul Lynch said research into schizophrenia was a vital investment into an illness linked to youth suicide."

Helping state's students to plan their careers
Source: South Australia. Minister for Education and Children's Services. Media release
"South Australia’s senior school students will get better help to plan their careers after a conference of more than 160 teachers and career coaches being held over the next two days.
Education Minister Jane Lomax-Smith says the training session is part of the Rann Government’s $84m School to Work reforms, being rolled out from this year"

State Government gets tougher on drugged up drivers
Source: South Australia. Minister for Road Safety. Media release
"Road Safety Minister Carmel Zollo says motorists caught driving with a prescribed drug in their system will face tougher penalties from next month.
From July 1, the offence of driving with a prescribed drug in oral fluid or blood will attract an expiation fee of $420 and 4 demerit points – compared with the current penalty of $313 and 3 demerit points"

'Value of Parks' benefit environment, tourism & health
Source: South Australia. Minister for Environment and Conservation. Media release
"South Australia’s unique network of parks are contributing to enhanced physical and mental wellbeing, economic growth, employment prospects, massive tourism opportunities and of course immeasurable environmental benefits.
It’s all identified in a new Australian and New Zealand ‘Value of Parks’ booklet collated for the first time and launched in South Australia today "

Controlled Operations to Become More Accountable
Source: Victoria. Office of the Attorney General. Media Release
"Deputy Premier and Attorney-General Rob Hulls introduced in Parliament an amendment enabling the Crimes (Controlled Operations) Act to start, which will ensure greater accountability for covert police operations.“This legislation will allow us to start a comprehensive scheme governing controlled operations in Victoria that will largely replace the existing patchwork of legislative provisions,” Mr Hulls said.“While organised criminal networks such as drug cartels are able to operate across the nation, police have often been hampered in investigating cross border crime because the laws on police investigations vary across Australia.”The legislation amends the Crimes (Controlled Operations) Act 2004, which was developed as part of a national initiative to tackle cross-border criminal activity. However, this 2004 legislation has not come into force because of constitutional concerns that it imposed obligations on a Commonwealth agency, the Australian Crime Commission."

Extended Supervision Scheme to Apply to More Sex Offenders
Source: Victoria. Minister for Corrections. Media Release
"Sex offenders who have committed crimes against adults and who have served their sentences will be subject to stricter monitoring after legislation passed through Parliament. Corrections Minister Bob Cameron said the extended supervision scheme previously only applied to sex offenders with child victims but now those with adult victims would also be included.“The Brumby Government is taking action to make our streets safer with some of the toughest sex offender laws in the country including the Serious Sex Offenders Monitoring Act 2005, the sex offender registration scheme and working with children checks,” Mr Cameron said."

Zero tolerance approach on bad behaviour extends to public primary schools
Source: Western Australia. Minister for Education and Training. Media Release
"More than 300 highly disruptive primary school students will be subject to intensive intervention and management each year, as part of the Carpenter Government’s zero tolerance approach to bad behaviour in State schools. Speaking at the WA Primary Principals’ Association Conference, Education and Training Minister Mark McGowan said the Government would establish five primary behaviour centres throughout the metropolitan area, to be operational from July."