Bookmaking Legislation to Provide Level Playing Field
Source: Victoria. Minister for Racing. Media Release
"Victorian bookmakers will become more competitive in the national market following legislative changes introduced in Parliament today. Deputy Premier and Minister for Racing Rob Hulls said the proposed reforms will create a more level playing field and will allow Victorian bookmakers to conduct internet and telephone betting at any time from approved racecourses and permit corporations to be registered as bookmakers.The proposed legislative changes will also transfer responsibility for the registration of bookmakers to the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation."

New Laws Get Tougher on Drink Spiking
Source: Victoria. Attorney General. Media Release
"Victorians will be better protected from drink spiking under legislation introduced to Parliament today. Deputy Premier and Attorney-General Rob Hulls said the legislation will make it an offence to spike a person’s food or drink, increasing the protection from the threat of harm and sexual assault.“While we already have drink spiking offences this legislation makes it an offence whether or not that drink is consumed,” Mr Hulls said."

Expressions of Interest called for Social Inclusion Commissioner
Source: Tasmania. The Premier
Premier David Bartlett is inviting expressions of interest from committed and motivated individuals interested in the role of Social Inclusion Commissioner for Tasmania. “This position is a key leadership role in my Government’s agenda for a clever, kind and connected Tasmania - a socially inclusive Tasmania,” Mr Bartlett said. “The Commissioner will help generate solutions to benefit Tasmanians who often face multiple challenges, including poverty, geographic isolation, intergenerational disadvantage, poor education, disability, health issues and other barriers.

Stop Cyber Bullying Campaign
Source: Tasmania. Minister for Health
Health Minister Lara Giddings today urged young Tasmanians to join the campaign to stop “virtual” bullying through the internet and mobile phones. The “Stop Cyber Bullying” text message campaign was launched in Hobart this morning by the Acting Team Leader of Clare House, Colleen MacSporran. As part of Mental Health Week, Ms MacSporran sent an MMS message to two young students: “X Stop cyber bullying. Spread the word.” The aim is that the message will be sent on to friends and to friends of friends in a multiplying effect.

Move to ban corporal punishment in schools
Source: South Australia. Minister for Education. Media Release.
"Physical punishment of school students would be legally banned in South Australia under proposed changes to the State’s 36 year-old Education Act.
Education Minister Jane Lomax-Smith today invited the public’s comments on a discussion paper outlining possible changes to the Education Act 1972 and Children’s Services Act 1985.
“Corporal punishment was ceased in government schools in 1991 and a significant majority of non-government schools also have prohibited the practice,” Dr Lomax-Smith says.
“However, we want to make sure this practice absolutely has no place in any South Australian school now or in the future.
“South Australia remains one of only two jurisdictions where corporal punishment is still technically lawful in both government and non-government schools."

Future Farming Grants to Help Councils Tackle Weeds
Source: Victoria. Minister for Agriculture. Media Release
"A new Brumby Government program will assist local councils to tackle invasive species by providing grants to individual councils to manage weeds on local roads, Minister for Agriculture, Joe Helper, announced. In Tatura for a meeting of the Future Farming Advisory Panel, Mr Helper said under the new program local councils would be eligible for interim grants which would go towards managing invasive species on roads managed by that council. “The Brumby Government is taking action to support councils to perform on-the-ground pest and weed management and this new program will deliver immediate grants to councils to ensure they can continue to effectively manage invasive pest,” Mr Helper said. "

Local Government Sustainability Learnings Online
Source: Victoria. Minister for Environment and Climate Change. Media Release
"Support from the Brumby Government’s Local Sustainability Accord has resulted in the development of a new web site for local government to share information on making their communities more sustainable. The ‘Local Government Sustainability Website’ was launched by Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings at a climate change forum organised by the Municipal Association of Victoria.“The Brumby Government is working with Victorian Councils to help our environment,” Mr Jennings said. This new web site will provide a central database for local government to share details of projects incorporating sustainability into a range of council activities."

Brumby Government Leads the Way on Family Violence Prevention
Source: Victoria. Minister for Women's Affairs. Media Release
"“The Brumby Government is committed to breaking the cycle of family violence and supporting victims. We should work towards a national approach to address this devastating crime in our community,’’ Ms Morand said. “The Brumby Government has invested $75 million since 2005 to take action to increase support for those affected and we are now focusing on developing our plan to improve prevention of family violence,’’ Ms Morand said.“In addition to prevention and support, the Brumby Government has tightened laws around family violence. The Family Violence Protection Bill provides stand alone legislation that provides a targeted and cohesive response to family violence.’’ Ms Morand briefed fellow Ministers on the Brumby Government’s recent initiatives to help prevent family violence."

Government Warns Inappropriate Drink Promotions Must End
Source: Victoria. Minister for Consumer Affairs. Media Release
"The Brumby Government has warned licensed venues inappropriate alcohol promotions that put the safety of patrons at risk will not be tolerated. Consumer Affairs Minister Tony Robinson has asked the Liquor Control Advisory Council (LCAC) to assist the Director of Liquor Licensing with the development of new guidelines on drinks and venue promotions and advertising.“All irresponsible alcohol promotions are unacceptable. Offering cheap or free drinks for extended periods of time encourages excessive drinking, flouting responsible service of alcohol principles,” he said. The Guidelines will be a useful tool for licensees and venue promoters, helping them create advertising and events that attract customers without compromising their safety.”

Personal Alert Clients to Get Better Service
Source: Victoria. Minister for Senior Victorians. Media Release
"Older Victorians who use the Personal Alert Victoria service will now have simpler, streamlined access to state-funded personal alarm units. Minister for Senior Victorians Lisa Neville announced that the Personal Alert Victoria (PAV) service will be delivered through one statewide provider, Peninsula Health, from mid-2009. The Brumby Government is contributing $9.05 million to PAV in 2008/09, an increase of $400,000 on 2007/08.“As well, a further 1000 frail elderly and people with disabilities will get these potentially life-saving push button pendants or wrist alarms,” Ms Neville said."

Workers Compensation Legislation Review Released for Consultation
Source: Victoria. Minister for Workcover. Media Release
"An independent review into Victoria’s workers compensation legislation was released for community consultation. Minister for WorkCover, Tim Holding, said the independent review was conducted by Peter Hanks QC. Mr Hanks consulted widely throughout the process of producing his report, receiving over 150 submissions and engaging in over 100 hours of face-to-face consultation. This is the first independent Review of Victoria’s workers compensation legislation in over 20 years,” Mr Holding said."

Call for Arms: Weapons Amnestry Announced
Source: Victoria. Minister for Police. Media Release
"Anyone in possession of unwanted or illegal firearms or weapons has been today urged to hand them in to Victoria Police during a month-long amnesty. Police Minister Bob Cameron and Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe said the Firearms and Weapons Amnesty provided Victorians an opportunity to surrender weapons to police without facing any penalties for possession. "This amnesty is being offered to reduce the overall number of weapons in the community and also help individuals who are unsure about how to properly dispose of firearms,” Mr Cameron said."

Establishment of the Public Sector Commission and position of Public Sector Commissioner
Source: Western Australia. Premier. Media Release
"Premier Colin Barnett announced the establishment of a Public Sector Commission as an important first step in enhancing the independence, professionalism and integrity of Western Australia’s public service. The commission will be headed by a Public Sector Commissioner and will operate independently of the Department of Premier and Cabinet."

New Measures For Australian Financial Services
Source: Australia. Prime Minister, Minister For Superannuation and Corporate Law and Treasurer. Joint Media Release
"The Rudd Government will crack down on dodgy mortgage dealers and payday lenders under a $71 million action plan to modernise Australian financial services.
Other predatory lending practices, including unsolicited offers to extend credit card limits, could be targeted in the second phase of the four-year overhaul of consumer credit laws.
The two-stage plan was agreed to by Premiers and Chief Ministers at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in Perth today (2/10/08)."

National System for Registering Business Names
Source: Australia. Prime Minister and Minister for Small Business. Joint Media Release
"Prospective businesses will be able to apply and pay for a national business name online through a single application under a new system approved today (2/10/08) by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).
The new process has been estimated by Ernst and Young to save Australian businesses $1 billion over the next 10 years.
It will save businesses time and money, with the single application covering both a business name and an Australian Business Number (ABN)."

Ambitious targets set for environmental program
Source: Australia. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Media Release
"One million additional hectares of native habitat will be protected and farmers will be better supported to continue improving land management under ambitious environmental targets set by the Rudd Government for the $2.25 billion Caring for our Country program.
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts Peter Garrett and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke announced the targets, saying it would provide unprecedented transparency for natural resource management funding."

Artists to benefit from Resale Royalty Right
Source: Australia. Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts. Media Release
"A resale right for Australia's visual artists is expected to be in place by 1 July 2009, Arts Minister Peter Garrett said today (3/10/08).
Mr Garrett said legislation would be introduced into the Parliament before the end of the year to establish the right which would ensure visual artists received a portion of the proceeds from the resale of their works."

Schools First in new $15 million NAB Partnership
Source: Australia. Minister for Education. Media Release
"The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard today (3/10/08) encouraged all Australian businesses to be part of the Education Revolution and think about how they can build connections with Australian schools.
Ms Gillard today attended the launch of the National Australia Bank (NAB) Schools First initiative, a national education initiative aimed at building stronger partnerships between schools and their local communities.
The Schools First initiative includes funding of $15 million over three years for a national award program, regional workshops to show schools and communities how to improve student learning by building successful partnerships and the creation of a knowledge bank of resources for schools and local communities to draw on."

Experts to develop the Early Years Learning Framework
Source: Australia. Minister for Education. Media Release
"A consortium of early childhood experts led by Charles Sturt University (CSU) will develop the national Early Years Learning Framework to improve outcomes and opportunities for children during their critical early years.
The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education and Child Care, Maxine McKew, today (2/10/08) announced that the Rudd Government will provide $700 000 to the CSU Consortium to develop the framework."

500 new university places for early childhood education teachers
Source: Australia. Minister for Education. Media Release
"The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard today (2/10/08) announced the delivery of 500 new Commonwealth supported higher education places in the national priority area of early childhood education."

Government receives report on quarantine and biosecurity systems
Source: Australia. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Media Release
"The chair of the independent panel reviewing Australia’s quarantine and biosecurity arrangements, Roger Beale AO, today (30/9/08) submitted his report to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke.
Mr Burke appointed the panel in February this year to undertake an independent and wide-ranging review of Australian quarantine and biosecurity – the first in more than a decade."

New plan to protect Adelaide’s dolphins
Source: South Australia. Minister for Environment and Conservation. Media Release.
"Environment and Conservation Minister Jay Weatherill said the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary Management Plan was South Australia’s first comprehensive plan to protect dolphin populations.
“From protecting dolphins from intentional harm to improving water quality, the management plan integrates everything affecting the waterways our much-loved dolphins call home,” Mr Weatherill said.
“Litter and other pollution, illegal fishing and educating industry and the public are among the challenges facing the sanctuary that require a co-ordinated approach. Future management of the sanctuary will be guided by the plan, which includes a strong focus on environmental research and education.” "

State’s police, ambulance and emergency services officers to get shared job dispatch solution
Source: South Australia. Minister for Emergency Services. Media release.
"A $36m State-of-the-Art Computer Aided Dispatch solution has been given the green light to be installed and accessed by all of the State’s emergency services organisations including the MFS, CFS and SES as well as members of SAPOL and the SA ambulance service.
The integrated solution will offer significant advantages including:
Increased reliability, resilience and support to emergency crews on the ground
An improvement in public and officer safety through greater ability to capture and share information
Versatile call taking and dispatch processes.
Increased Agency Command and Coordination and more efficiency through information sharing
Substantial capacity for growth and ability to take advantage of emerging mobile computing technologies.
A contract has recently been signed with one of the world’s leading software providers, Integraph, to install the innovative software, which is set to significantly enhance communication between agencies."

New National Counter-Terrorism Alert System
Source: South Australia. Attorney-General. Media release.
"A new, more flexible, National Counter-Terrorism Alert System will be implemented tomorrow.
Premier Mike Rann endorsed this new system announced earlier today by Attorney-General Robert McClelland.
“The previous approach required a “one in, all in” approach. If an alert level was changed for one community, location or sector it would be changed for all,” Mr Rann said.
The four levels (low, medium, high, extreme) will remain the same; the difference is in how they are applied across the country."

Customer Report Card is Out for CityRail
Source: New South Wales. Minister for Transport. Media release.
"NSW Minister for Transport David Campbell said today a new survey of rail customers has found many positive results but has also put the Government on notice to improve services.
Mr Campbell said the fifth annual survey from the Independent Transport Safety and Reliability Regulator reinforces what we already know are issues on our rail services and now we need to work hard to make changes.
"The survey tells us that the major issues for rail customers are crowding and frequency of services," Mr Campbell said.
"CityRail patronage is increasing every year and in 2007-08 there were 296 million passenger journeys, an increase of 5.2 per cent on 2006-07.
"We know that more people will continue to use our rail networks and we need to do more to increase capacity and frequency of our trains."