Largest Allocation of Capital Grants for Aged Care in 2008-2009 ACAR: Creating New Aged Care Services
Source: Australia. Minister for Ageing. Media Release
"The Australian Government will provide up to $44.562 million in capital grants to create residential aged care services within the 2008-2009 Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR).This is the largest single capital grant allocation by an Australian Government within the approvals round process – since the Aged Care Act came into effect in 1997.And more than two-thirds of the grants are going to aged care services outside the major capital cities."

Seminars Help Business to Navigate beyond the Global Financial Crisis
Source: Australia. Minister for Trade. Media Release
"The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) and the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC) are combining forces to present a series of seminars to help business meet the challenges of the current financial crisis and identify arising opportunities.
Minister for Trade, Simon Crean, said that the seminars entitled 'Beyond the Financial Crisis: Emerging export and investment opportunities in an uncertain world' will provide an update on international business conditions, strategies for managing risk, and credit issues. "

Global Opportunities program to help industry clusters access export markets
Source: Australia. Minister for Trade. Media Release
"The Minister for Trade, Simon Crean, today (5/2/09) announced that the Austrade-managed Global Opportunities program will provide export and investment facilitation services as well as funding support of up to $1.8 million over the next three years to eight industry clusters of Australian companies, to help them expand their international business activities."

Rudd Government rebates for rainwater tanks and greywater systems
Source: Australia. Minister for Climate Change and Water. Media release
"Australian households will be eligible for a rebate of up to $500 each for the purchase of a rainwater tank or a greywater system under a new Rudd Government program.
Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, joined the Member for Bennelong, Maxine McKew, in Eastwood New South Wales today (30/1/09) to launch the National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative.
“The $250 million National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative delivers on an election commitment to help households save precious drinking water,” Senator Wong said."

Infrastructure funding supports Indigenous students
Source: Australia. Acting Minister for Education. Media Release
"Boarding schools in the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia enrolling Indigenous students today (30/01/2009) received a $16 million boost in infrastructure funding from the Australian Government.
The Acting Minister for Education, Brendan O’Connor, congratulated the fourteen schools and recognised their contributions to the educational welfare and achievements of Indigenous students."

Universities receive $73 million for teaching and learning
Source: Australia. Minister for Education. Media release
A total of 32 Australian universities will share more than $73.14 million for excellence and improvement in teaching and learning, the Minister for Education, Julia Gillard announced today (5/2/09).
The successful universities have been recognised for their achievements as part of the Australian Government’s 2009 Learning and Teaching Performance Fund."

Supporting jobs in regional and rural Australia
Source: Australia. Prime Ministerand Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Joint Media Release
"The Rudd Government’s $42 billion Nation Building and Jobs Plan will support jobs and provide significant new investment in rural and regional communities.
The historic Nation Building and Jobs Plan is a further step in the Government’s response to the severe global recession, ongoing challenges for rural Australia and falling demand in many of Australia’s key export markets.
Treasury estimates the Plan will support up to 90,000 jobs this financial year and next."

Recreational Fishing Industry Development Strategy
Source: Australia. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Media release
"The Rudd Government is delivering on its election commitment to establish a new recreational fishing strategy, as part of a $2 million initiative to support the industry.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke has announced the nine members of an advisory committee established to help develop the strategy."

New kit to help recognise outstanding women
Source: South Australia. Minister for the Status of Women. Media Release.
"South Australians are being urged to consider nominating more of our worthy women for the nation’s top honours, with recognition of our nation’s great men heavily outnumbering women.
Minister for the Status of Women, Gail Gago, says the opportunity to put forward information about deserving women will be made easier with today’s launch of a tailored information kit that explores the myriad of awards available and the nomination process involved.
“This online kit will help ensure more of the State’s outstanding women are put forward for public accolades,” says Ms Gago."

Climate mapping contributes to new farming plan
Source: South Australia. Minister for Regional Development.
"The Kangaroo Island Development Board will receive $90,000 from the State Government’s Regional Project Fund to introduce microclimate mapping at key sites on the island. Minister for Regional Development Rory McEwen says the mapping project will facilitate product diversification for Kangaroo Island primary production, improve farm management and enhance resilience to climate change.
“Soil, rainfall and water resources will be examined and measured for 12 months at nine properties, as part of a pilot program to help inform plans to introduce different high-yield and niche crops.
“Information collected through the pilot project will be incorporated into a TopoClimate Farm Plan for each property.
“The pilot is expected to create at least 20 new farm jobs."

No hiding from justice
Source: South Australia. Attorney-General. Media release.
"The Attorney-General Michael Atkinson will take action to stop criminals from escaping over outback borders by introducing a new Bill to Parliament this week.
The Cross-Border Justice Bill 2009 will close the legal gap that allows offenders to evade the long arm of the law in the cross-border region of South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
“This Bill will let accredited police officers, corrections officers and Magistrates exercise their powers lawfully in neighbouring States. This is a groundbreaking agreement that will benefit all three jurisdictions and, most importantly, the victims of crime.
“Law enforcers will be able to arrest and charge suspects, transport them over borders, enforce fines and court orders, catch bail or parole violators and conduct thorough investigations outside their own State or Territory,” Mr Atkinson says."

Small business urged to make most of stimulus package
Source: South Australia. Premier. Media Release.
"Minister for Small Business Paul Holloway today encouraged South Australian small businesses to make the most of the $2.7 billion tax break offered as part of the Rudd Government’s economic stimulus package.
Mr Holloway also urged South Australians to use their bonus payments to buy locally to support local retailers and manufacturers.
“Every dollar spent in South Australia will help to support small business and help us to limit any job losses as we face up to the fallout from the global financial crisis,” Mr Holloway says.
“South Australian small businesses should also consider bringing forward investment decisions to ensure they are eligible to apply for the tax breaks announced in the stimulus package."

SA school projects to be fast-tracked
Source: South Australia. Premier. Media release.
"The Rann Government has today begun planning to fast-track building projects in South Australian schools through the Rudd Government’s $14.7 billion Building the Education Revolution.
Premier Mike Rann and Education Minister Jane Lomax-Smith today announced that South Australian schools are expected to receive more than $1 billion.
“This is a massive investment in building even better schools for South Australia’s children,” Premier Rann says. “I will be informing Mr Rudd that the SA education department has started work on a plan that will deliver the projects in the quickest possible timeframe and make the best use of local tradespeople and contractors."

Let’s get moving
Source: South Australia. Premier. Media Release.
"South Australian Premier Mike Rann today joined other Premiers and Chief Ministers in officially signing up to the Rudd Government’s $41.5 billion economic stimulus package.
Mr Rann told the Prime Minister that South Australia was ready to get moving on a slate of projects.
“The economic wreckage in Britain, Europe, the United States and even Asia caused by the global financial crisis means that it is critically important to crank up economic activity as rapidly as possible,” Mr Rann said.
“All of us today were united in our resolve.
“For Australia, tackling the global financial crisis must be viewed as the economic equivalent of wartime. It’s a war we have to win to save Australian jobs.
“South Australia will appoint a Coordinator-General, with special powers, to oversee the roll-out of infrastructure projects large and small."

Rees to raise school leaving age to give students a better chance of a job
Source: New South Wales. Premier. Media Release.
"The NSW Government will raise the school leaving age to ensure NSW students have a
world-class education and improved opportunities to go to University or secure
employment.
From 2010 all students in NSW will complete Year 10. In addition if a student is under 17 and wants to leave school after Year 10, they will need to be in vocational training, an apprenticeship or paid employment for more than 25 hours per week.
“The evidence is clear – a good education means better chances in life,” Mr Rees said."

PREMIER TO LEAD INDUSTRY SUMMIT TO PROTECT NSW JOBS
Source: New South Wales. Premier. Media Release.
"Premier Nathan Rees today announced that he will chair a high level summit with senior industry leaders later this month, to protect jobs in NSW in the face of the global economic crisis.
Premier Rees said the summit will bring together some of the State’s major employers, representatives from sectors most impacted by the global downturn and those with greatest potential for growth. Mr Rees said the summit is one part of the Government’s broader response to the global economic downturn.
"NSW, like economies across the globe, faces unprecedented economic circumstances."

NSW plans for creative industries future
Source: New South Wales. Minister for State Development. Media Release.
"The Rees Government is planning for the future of the state’s important Creative Industries with today’s release of a report outlining the creative sector’s economic contribution to NSW, Minister for State Development Ian Macdonald said.
Minister Macdonald said the report - “Creative Industry Insights” and its accompanying “Economic Fundamentals” - includes detailed economic data and analysis of a range of creative industries.
“NSW is already the Australian leader in 10 out of 11 creative industry sub-sectors - design, publishing, advertising, architecture, visual arts, music, television, film, performing arts and radio,” Minister Macdonald said."

$44 million for teacher laptops and extra primary school computers
Source: New South Wales. Premier. Media Release.
" NSW Premier Nathan Rees today announced that all 25,000 NSW public high school teachers would receive a wireless laptop as part of a new $44 million investment in computer technology in schools.
"NSW public schools lead the nation in providing computer resources, giving our teachers and our young people the vital skills they need to help them succeed in our IT savvy world."
Mr Rees said the roll-out to teachers comes as part of the revolutionary mini lap-top program for the state's 197,000 senior high school students."

Tourism NSW targets kids in America
Source: New South Wales. Minister for Tourism. Media Release.
"Tourism NSW is promoting opportunities to work, study and holiday in Sydney
and NSW direct to thousands of young Americans this week, building on the
success of its recent MySpace/My Sydney campaign.
Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay said that Tourism NSW is selling Sydney and
NSW as the ideal destination for working holidays and study to more than
30,000 students at the Aussie Youth Festival at Santa Monica College in
California this week."

Building the Education Revolution New and Upgraded Buildings in every Australian School
Source: Australia. Prime Minister. Media Release
"To boost jobs and invest in Australia’s long term future the Rudd Government will build or upgrade buildings in every one of Australia’s 9,540 schools.
Building the Education Revolution is a $14.7 billion long term investment to improve the quality of facilities, like gymnasiums, libraries and science labs in Australian schools.
Building the Education Revolution will commence in 2008-09 and will:
Build or upgrade large scale infrastructure, such as libraries and multipurpose halls in every primary school, special school, and K-12 school in Australia.
Build around 500 new science laboratories and language learning centres in high schools with a demonstrated need for upgraded facilities.
Provide up to $200,000 to every Australian school for maintenance and renewal of school buildings and minor building work "

LICENCE RENEWALS TARGET EYE HEALTH
Source: New South Wales. Minister for Roads. Media Release.
"Acting Minister for Roads David Campbell today announced a joint campaign with the Macular Degeneration Foundation to raise awareness of eye health and encourage drivers to have their eyes tested.
Mr Campbell said for the first time, licence renewal notices will include a flyer about macular degeneration, a debilitating eye condition which is the leading cause of blindness and severe vision loss in Australia."

$950 One-off Cash Bonus to Support Jobs
Source: Australia. Prime Minister. Media Release
"The Rudd Government today (3/2/09) announced five key $950 one-off payments for low and middle income households and individuals.
The Government is providing these cash payments to immediately support jobs and strengthen the Australian economy during a severe global recession.
These targeted cash bonuses are a key element of the Government’s $42 billion Nation Building and Jobs Plan to support up to 90,000 Australian jobs.
To immediately stimulate the economy in the shortest possible time, five groups of one-off cash bonuses will be paid in March and April 2009."

20,000 Social and Defence Homes - Nation Building Investment
Source: Australia. Prime Minister. Media Release
"To support jobs and invest in the long term future of the Australian economy and the Australian community the Rudd Government will construct over 20,000 new homes.
Under this historic program, the Government will construct 20,000 new social housing dwellings and 802 new houses for Australian Defence Force personnel.
This program will also fund urgent maintenance to upgrade around 2,500 vacant social houses that would otherwise be unusable as social housing."

Black Spots, Boom Gates, Regional Roads and Community Infrastructure
Source: Australia. Prime Minister. Media Release
"The Rudd Government today (3/2/09) announced $890 million to support Australian jobs by improving community infrastructure and safety on the nation’s roads.
Black Spots, Boom Gates, Regional Roads and Community Infrastructure is an investment that will improve road safety and quality of life in local communities.
The program is a key element of the Government’s $42 billion Nation Building and Jobs Package to support up to 90,000 Australian jobs.This local community focused program underscores the Government’s commitment to reducing the number of accidents on Australian roads."

Funding to help country businesses invest in water saving technologies
Source: New South Wales. Minister for Regional Development. Media Release.
"Minister for Regional Development, Phil Costa today called for expressions of interest for funding to invest in water saving technologies that support new jobs and business investment.
Mr Costa said the $9 million Water Adjustment Innovation Fund will help NSW country towns
affected by water reforms and drought.
“The Rees Government is committed to supporting businesses who are in the major catchments
and are impacted by drought and water reform,” said Mr Costa.
“This includes the catchment management areas of the Border Rivers/Gwydir, Namoi, Central
West, Western, Lachlan, Lower Murray Darling, Murrumbidgee and Murray.
“This fund will generate new jobs by assisting businesses who are developing and manufacturing
water efficient technology.
“Projects will need to involve innovative technologies that encourage efficient water usage, or
contribute to the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly manufacturing practices."