$250,000 Scholarship to boost clever State
Source: New South Wales. Premeir. Media Release.
"Premier Nathan Rees today announced the NSW Government will invest $250,000 to establish the first NSW Fulbright Scholarship.While meeting with NSW university vice-chancellors the Premier said that the new Fulbright Scholarship will enable a talented young person from NSW to benefit from US study and travel.“The Fullbright program supports people who excel in any discipline – from academia to business and the arts,” Mr Rees said.“The scholarship will be valued at $50,000 with the first applications to be invited in June this year.“The winner will be a postgraduate or postdoctoral student whose project is judged to have greatest potential benefit for NSW.“This is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen the ties between the Government and the higher education sector in NSW at a time when governments around the world are looking increasingly to scientific research and higher learning to find solutions to our global problems."

Police on beat to trial body-worn video cameras
Source: South Australia. Minister for Police. Media Release.
"Minister for Police Michael Wright announced today South Australia Police (SAPOL) is to shortly begin a trial of body-worn video devices for officers on the beat. Mr Wright says the use of body-worn video devices has the potential to considerably improve the quality of evidence provided by police and increase the number of offenders brought to justice. The SAPOL trial of eight cameras is to be conducted by beat patrols in and around Hindley Street with the results to be evaluated at the conclusion of the trial period, Mr Wright says.
Speaking after meeting Amsterdam-Amstelland regional police, Mr Wright says the introduction of body-worn video devices in those regions has been effective in reducing crime and increasing convictions."

Early childhood reforms for South Australian children
Source: South Australia. Minister for Early Childhood Development. Media Release.
"Under the proposed changes, South Australia would move towards a ratio of one carer for every four children under two years of age in long day childcare services.
“The current ratio is one to five but research shows increased care and attention is fundamental to children’s emotional wellbeing, development, learning and safety,” Mr Weatherill said.
“These reforms are about helping children enjoy the best possible start in life. Quality early childhood care can improve child development and school performance – especially for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.” The State Government also is investigating every childcare worker in the state being required to hold a qualification of at least an accredited training Certificate III."

SA to lead fight against climate change with Sustainable Building Innovation Fund
Source: South Australia. Premier/Minister for Sustainability & Climate Change. Media Release.
"The State Government has announced a $2 million Sustainable Building Innovation Fund to help drastically cut the greenhouse gas emissions of South Australia’s commercial buildings.
Premier Mike Rann, who is also Minister for Sustainability & Climate Change, said Adelaide’s commercial buildings emit over one million tonnes of greenhouse gas every year.
“Improving the sustainability of these buildings could help cut their emissions and running costs by over 20 percent and could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70,000 tonnes a year - or close to one-and-a-half billion black balloons,” Mr Rann said."

Stormwater study begins at Adelaide Airport
Source: South Australia. Minister for Water Security. Media Release.
"The State Government and Adelaide Airport Limited will partner in a $60,000 feasibility study to investigate the potential of harvesting and storing stormwater at the airport site.
Minister for Water Security Karlene Maywald says SA Water and Adelaide Airport Limited have signed a Memorandum of Understanding and will each contribute $30,000 towards the study, to be complete in April 2009. “The feasibility study will investigate stormwater treatment options and aquifer storage capacity at the Adelaide Airport,” she said."

MedSTAR – faster emergency help for South Australians
Source: South Australia. Minister for Health. Media Release.
"A single, state-wide, emergency retrieval service for South Australia means medical teams can now reach the victims of serious accidents and medical emergencies faster than ever before.
The new service - MedSTAR – bases retrieval teams at Adelaide Airport instead of the Royal Adelaide or Flinders. Launching the new service today, Health Minister John Hill said the coordinated service means highly trained doctors, paramedics and nurses can get to seriously injured or unwell people much faster.“Before this new coordinated service, if there was an emergency, a helicopter had to leave the airport and fly first to either the Royal Adelaide or Flinders to pick up intensive care staff before heading to the patient, potentially losing vital life-saving minutes. “Now we have highly-trained staff based right by the aircraft and ready to go at a moment’s notice."

Protecting victims of domestic violence
Source: South Australia. Attorney-General. Media Release.
"Domestic violence victims will be better protected and perpetrators will be more accountable under tough legislation changes proposed by the Rann Government. Attorney-General Michael Atkinson said a Bill is now being drafted to strengthen the ability of police and courts to prevent and stamp out family abuse. “Every week in South Australia, victims turn to the police or our courts to help stop violence in their own homes,” Mr Atkinson said.
“These changes will ensure a swift and effective response by our justice system.
“Together with sweeping changes to rape and sexual assault laws, this new Bill will turn the table on those who use violence to control and dominate other family members,” he said."

New mandatory interlock scheme passed by Parliament
Source: South Australia. Minister for Road Safety. Media Release.
"Legislation requiring serious drink drivers to fit interlocks to their vehicles so they can’t start them if they register a positive blood alcohol reading has been passed by State Parliament.
Road Safety Minister, Tom Koutsantonis says the new legislation means that drivers who commit serious drink drive offences must, after serving their disqualification period, have an alcohol interlock fitted to their vehicles for a period of time equal to the disqualification.
“The mandatory interlock scheme will target drink drivers who have committed a serious drink driving offence within the last 5 years,” Mr Koutsantonis said."

OPAL – A lifestyle revolution for SA families
Source: South Australia. Health Minister. Media Release.
"The State Government’s announced details of a push to improve the health of young South Australians - helping mums, dads and families to eat well, move more and live longer.
The new five-year, $22.3m Obesity Prevention and Lifestyle (OPAL) program is aimed at tackling chronic disease in the community by starting at the beginning – with our children."

Election law changes to keep up with the times
Source: South Australia. Attorney-General. Media Release.
"The Attorney-General Michael Atkinson will today introduce legislation to Parliament to increase voter participation in elections and bring election laws up to date with modern times.
“The Electoral Bill lays out the laws about how political parties are registered, what rules they operate by and how elections are run, as well as who can vote and how voting is conducted,” he said.
“These measures will give homeless people a voice at the ballot box for the first time and help to improve the participation of young people at election time.
“It also takes into account modern times – with measures to protect people from unwanted mass marketing, deter sham political parties and include Internet advertising in existing laws."

More Sustainable Jobs for Regional Victoria
Source: Victoria. Premier. Media Release
"More than 560 of Victoria’s most disadvantaged jobseekers will find sustainable employment through a new, $5 million Brumby Government jobs initiative. Launching the program, Premier John Brumby said that the New Workforce Partnerships would create 29 new work projects across Victoria targeting disadvantaged jobseekers in areas of high unemployment. Regional projects will take place at Corio/Norlane, Colac to Warrnambool, Ballarat, Castlemaine, Morwell, Churchill, Traralgon, Greater Bendigo, Maryborough, Orbost, Bairnsdale, Sale, Geelong, Eaglehawk and Long Gully.“We understand the pressure on workers and their families during this time of global economic crisis, and that’s why we are acting now to secure more jobs for Victorians,” Mr Brumby said.“Victoria’s future depends on developing our skills base and helping more Victorians enter the workforce. The New Workforce Partnerships program will help meet Victoria’s skills needs and address social disadvantage by increasing employment in areas of low workforce participation.”

$115M Plan Paves the Way for Victoria's Cycling Future
Source: Victoria. Premier. Media Release
"Encouraging Victorians to ride their bikes and integrating new and existing cycling infrastructure into the transport network are key features of the $115 million Victorian Cycling Strategy, launched by Premier John Brumby. Mr Brumby released the strategy with Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas at North Fitzroy where a new bike and pedestrian bridge will be built over the Merri Creek, linking two important cycling routes.“The Victorian Government is taking action now to keep Melbourne moving, improving our transport network and providing more sustainable and accessible travel options for Victorians,” Mr Brumby said. This $115 million cycling strategy seeks to further establish cycling as a viable, sustainable, affordable and safe transport option, investing in projects to reduce congestion and better integrate bike infrastructure into our transport network. "

Victoria Calls for National Legal Regulator
Source: Victoria. Attorney General. Media Release
"The Brumby Government proposed a national regulator for the legal profession to simplify rules across jurisdictions and reduce regulatory costs for law firms. Deputy Premier and Attorney-General Rob Hulls said a national regulator would promote more consistent regulatory practice and iron out variations between jurisdictions.“The Brumby Government is a national reform leader, putting forward actions so Governments can work together to achieve the best for our people, our State and Australia,” Mr Hulls said.“If we are going to be fair dinkum about a national legal profession, then we have to be fair dinkum about having a single national regulator. We can’t have eight different sets of rules operating across eight different jurisdictions.” Mr Hulls said a single national regulatory regime could be administered through branch offices in each jurisdiction. States and Territories could continue to have a role through an Intergovernmental Agreement."

Ad Campaign Empowers Problem Gamblers to Seek Help
Source: Victoria. Minister for Gaming. Media Release
"More problem gamblers are seeking help because of the Brumby Government’s Take the Problem Out of Gambling advertising campaign, Gaming Minister Tony Robinson said. Launched in October 2008, the campaign led directly to sharp increases in calls to the Gambler’s Helpline and visits to the new Problem Gambling website (www.problemgambling.vic.gov.au). The total number of calls answered by Gambler’s Help Services rose by 45 per cent (to 2063 calls) in the two months to Christmas compared with the same period in 2007 and 29 per cent of callers directly cited the campaign as the impetus for their call.Visits to the Problem Gambling website peaked at more than 400 unique visitors per day during the campaign, almost three times the usual site traffic."

Cash for cleaning up the Territory
Source: Northern Territory. Chief Minister
The Northern Territory will introduce a cash for containers scheme to reduce litter and boost recycling efforts. "Cash for containers will make the Territory cleaner and greener – it will reduce litter by rewarding people who do the right thing,” Mr Henderson said.

Cut in Red Tape to Boost Territory Economy
Source: Northern Territory. Chief Minister
"Chief Minister Paul Henderson announced comprehensive changes to procurement so the Territory can take full advantage of the Federal Government’s $42 billion stimulus package: procurement thresholds will be lifted across the entire process; a developers' desk will be established to provide a one-stop shop for developers; the Development Consent Authority will meet every fortnight instead of every month, etc."

New Fuel-Efficient Vehicle Rules for Young Drivers
Source: Victoria. Minister for Roads and Ports. Media Release
"Young drivers will no longer be prevented from driving larger family-type cars with new fuel-efficient technologies previously viewed as high-powered vehicles. Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas announced the new changes to regulations for young drivers and the use of lower-performance moderately-powered vehicles. Mr Pallas said the Brumby Government recognised developments in the automotive industry where moderately-powered, greener, lower performance cars used turbo or superchargers to improve fuel consumption and efficiency.“To balance the benefits of restricting high-powered vehicles and allowing P-platers to drive safe, moderately-powered cars, we’re introducing changes to provide permits for some lower-performance turbocharged or supercharged cars with greater fuel-efficiency,” he said."

Foster A Brighter Future for Victoria's Children
Source: Victoria. Minister for community Services. Media Release
"Victorian families are fostering a brighter future for the state’s most vulnerable children with a $500,000 Brumby Government campaign encouraging Victorians to become foster carers. Community Services Minister Lisa Neville launched the recruitment, retention and advertising campaign saying Victoria has a long and proud history of voluntary foster care, however more carers are needed.“The Brumby Government is taking action to improve the out of home care system and provide for the health, wellbeing and future prospects of all children in care,’’ Ms Neville said."

Bold New Direction for Victoria's Mental Health Services
Source: Victoria. Minister for Mental Health. Media Release
"A bold 10 year reform agenda to support all Victorians to achieve and sustain good mental health has been unveiled by the Brumby Government. Launching Because Mental Health Matters: Victorian Mental Health Reform Strategy 2009-2019 at Melbourne Museum, Mental Health Minister Lisa Neville said prevention, early intervention, a focus on recovery and social inclusion would be the drivers of mental health reform in Victoria.“The Brumby Government is taking action to ensure Victorians have a world-class mental health system, because we want Victorian families to get the treatment and care they deserve,’’ Ms Neville said."

Private Sector Trust Fund to Support Small Business
Source: Victoria. Premier. Media Release
"The Premier John Brumby announced that the Victorian Government would contribute $500,000 towards a new private sector trust fund to provide assistance to small businesses impacted by the fires. At Narbethong, Mr Brumby said the Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) Business Relief Fund would help to support small businesses indirectly affected by the fires and would receive matching funding from Victorian and Australian businesses. “Small businesses are the backbone of our regional and rural communities, generating jobs and driving growth. I congratulate VECCI for bringing together corporate support to establish this new fund which will provide vital support to those small businesses which are experiencing challenges after these fires,” Mr Brumby said. "

$10 Million for Tourism Bushfire Recovery
Source: Victoria. Premier. Media Release
"The Australian and Victorian Governments will jointly fund a $10 million package to get tourists back to regions economically affected by the bushfires including Victoria's High Country, Gippsland and the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges. The Premier of Victoria, John Brumby, said the Australian and Victorian Governments would support regional tourism operators as part of both governments’ commitment to rebuild communities affected by this summer’s devastating bushfires. Rebuilding local economies is crucial to rebuilding communities. That’s why our governments are helping tourism operators rebuild trade with this $10 million package,” Mr Brumby said. "

National Code of Practice for the Construction Industry – New Compliance Arrangements
Source: Australia. Dept of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.
"The Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, wrote to her State and Territory Workplace Relations colleagues on 10 February 2009 advising that the Australian Government had agreed to make changes to the application of the Code and Guidelines at the request of State and Territory Governments.
Based on the Deputy Prime Minister’s decision, and consistent with the Code and Guidelines, entities operating within the States’ workplace relations jurisdictions will be considered to be in compliance with the Code and Guidelines when they can demonstrate they are complying with their legal obligations set out in relevant legislation, applicable court and tribunal orders, directions or decisions or industrial instruments; and all elements of the Guidelines which do not conflict with their legal obligations. Entities will also be required to confirm that they are not subject to any side deeds (including unregistered agreements) which conflict with their legal obligations or the Code and Guidelines. "

A Marine Nation: National Framework for Marine Research and Innovation
Source: Australia. Oceans Policy Science Advisory Group.
"Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, today (17/3/09)launched the first comprehensive strategy for Australia's $38 billion marine industry sector.
A Marine Nation: National Framework for Marine Research and Innovation sets the direction for research in this critical area through the only nationally co-ordinated initiative of Australia’s marine science, technology and innovation effort.
This historic document has been produced less than a year after the United Nations announced a huge extension of Australia’s continental shelf – making our 13.5 million square kilometre marine jurisdiction the third largest in the world.
The strategy identifies the research, development and innovation needed from government, industry and the community to develop Australia’s marine industries.
Australia's marine industries embrace tourism, fishing, offshore oil and gas and other diverse ocean-based enterprises."

$42 MILLION FOR LEVEL CROSSINGS IN QUEENSLAND
Source: Australia. Minister for Infrastructure, Transport,Regional Development and Local Government. Media Release
"Work will start immediately on installing new boom gates and other safety measures at 66 high-risk rail level crossings around Queensland.
Funding for these safety projects will come from the Rudd Labor Government's$150 million Boom Gates for Rail Crossings Program - a key element of our $42 billion Nation Building and Jobs Plan.
All up, we've allocated $42.7 million to Queensland's 66 projects. Details of the approved projects are attached. "

Government cuts migration program
Source: Australia. Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. Media release
"The Rudd Government will cut the 2008-09 permanent skilled migration program by 14 per cent to protect local jobs while ensuring employers can access skilled professionals in industries still experiencing skills shortages.
As has long been the case, the Government can adjust immigration levels according to the economic circumstances of the day and last week Cabinet agreed to cut the permanent skilled migration program in light of the worsening global economic situation.
Clearly, the economic circumstances in Australia have changed as a result of the global financial crisis so it is prudent to reduce this year’s migration intake accordingly.
The changes to the program are:
A 14 per cent cut in the 2008-09 permanent skilled migration program intake from 133 500 to 115 000.
Removing building and manufacturing trades from the Critical Skills List, such as bricklayers, plumbers, welders, carpenters and metal fitters. The list will now comprise mainly health and medical, engineering and IT professions. "