H1N1 Medical Research Projects Fast-Tracked
Source: Australia. Minister for Health and Ageing. Media Release
"Today approval and funding was given to 41 Australian medical research projects that will help ensure the Australian Government’s response to the evolving threat of H1N1 is based on the most up-to-date information available. The research will help the Government tailor its response to the spread and nature of the disease, and better equip the Government to help those most at risk from the disease."

Respectful Relationship Program to begin in 40 Northern Territory Schools
Source: Australia. Minister for the Status of Women. Media Release
"The Australian and Northern Territory Governments today announced that 40 schools will receive funding to roll out respectful relationship programs."

Early Years Learning Framework
Source: Australia. Dept of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
"The Early Years Learning Framework is part of the Council of Australian Government’s (COAG) reform agenda for early childhood education and care and is a key component of the Australian Government’s National Quality Agenda for early childhood education and care. It will underpin universal access to early childhood education and be incorporated in the National Quality Standard in order to ensure delivery of nationally consistent and quality early childhood education across sectors and jurisdictions.
The Early Years Learning Framework describes the principles, practice and outcomes essential to support and enhance young children’s learning from birth to five years of age, as well as their transition to school. The Framework has a strong emphasis on play-based learning as play is the best vehicle for young children’s learning providing the most appropriate stimulus for brain development. The Framework also recognises the importance of communication and language (including early literacy and numeracy) and social and emotional development. "

National Early Childhood Development Strategy- Investing in the Early Years.
Source: Australia. Dept of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
"On 2 July 2009, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) endorsed the National Early Childhood Development Strategy- Investing in the Early Years.
In jointly developing the Strategy, the Australian, state and territory governments have signalled their intention to take a leadership role in early childhood development now and into the future.
The Strategy will help all levels of government to build a more effective and better coordinated national early childhood development system to support the diverse needs of Australian children and their families. It covers children from before birth to eight years and aims to improve the health, safety, early learning and wellbeing of all children and better support disadvantaged children to reduce inequalities.
The Strategy provides the road map for action and for engaging effective partnerships across and between governments, with the non-government sector, and with families around the needs of young children."

DEFENCE CAPABILITY PLAN 2009
Source: Australia. Dept of Defence
"The DCP is a tool to allow industry to undertake strategic planning. Providing a public version of the DCP to Australian industry is a key part of ensuring that the ADF will continue to have the major equipment and systems it needs."

More Australian dairy cattle to be exported to China
Source: Australia. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Media Release
"The Rudd Government has announced another step forward in our agricultural trade with China, with the signing of an agreement set to further expand our dairy cattle exports.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke announced Australian and Chinese quarantine authorities had signed a new export protocol for breeding dairy cattle from Australia."

New plan to secure South Australia’s water future
Source: South Australia. Premier and Minister for Water Security. Joint Media Release.
"The State Government has today outlined its comprehensive plan Water for Good to guarantee South Australia’s future water security to 2050 and beyond, diversify our water supplies and reduce reliance on the River Murray."

New approaches to boost return to work
Source: South Australia. Minister for Industrial Relations. Media Release.
"The State Government has announced the start of a range of innovative projects designed to help people return to the workplace after they have been injured and off work for a long time."

Boost to industry skills in schools
Source: South Australia. Minister for Education. Media Release.
"New industry-endorsed training programs in areas of strategic importance to the State, such as defence and manufacturing, will be introduced in each of the State’s high schools. The move is part of the Rann Government’s new $19 million Industry Skills Program, the latest in a suite of ‘school to work’ initiatives to improve the job skills of high school students."

SA seniors get free public transport
Source: South Australia. Premier. Media Release.
"Premier Mike Rann today encouraged older South Australians to take advantage of the State Government’s free public transport during off-peak periods for holders of a State Seniors Card. Despite the current financial times, we want older South Australians to continue to get out and about." “It also helps us reach South Australia’s Strategic Plan target of increasing public transport use to 10 per cent of weekday passenger vehicle kilometres travelled by 2018."

Hotline for access to education and training places
Source: South Australia. Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education. Media Release.
"The State Government has set up a special information hotline to help 15 to 19 year olds in South Australia gain priority access to education or training places. Employment, Training and Further Education Minister Michael O’Brien said the move was part of the State Government’s implementation of the Compact with Young Australians recently announced by the Council of Australian Governments."

Ads aim to ease winter congestion
Source: South Australia. Minister for Health. Media Release.
"An advertising campaign encouraging South Australians to use ‘Emergency Departments for emergencies’ this winter. We want to remind South Australians that EDs are meant to deal with traumas and medical emergencies,” Minister Hill said." The additional workload of less serious illnesses such as colds and flu "puts increased pressure on our doctors, nurses and other hospital staff, who all work extremely hard, particularly during the winter months."

Victorian Schools A Step Closer to the Ultranet
Source: Victoria. Minister for Education. Media Release
"Education Minister Bronwyn Pike announced that CSG Services Pty Ltd will join forces with the Brumby Labor Government to deliver the Ultranet project to every Victorian government school and to secure more than 55 new jobs over the next year. Ms Pike said the Ultranet will provide parents, students and teachers with a 21st Century system to keep them connected, involved and informed about their childrens’ learning 24-hours a day.”The Ultranet will enhance student learning, support the work of teachers and allow parents to become more involved in their child’s education at the click of a button,” Ms Pike said."

Council Valuations Choice Would Save Ratepayer Money
Source: Victoria. Minister for Environment and Climate Change. Media Release
"Councils would save money and have greater flexibility in conducting municipal valuations under proposed amendments to the Valuation of Land Act, Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings announced. The amendments, which follow a review last year of rating authority valuations and discussion paper The Future Direction of Rating Authority Valuations in Victoria, would give councils the option to transfer their two-yearly municipal valuations responsibilities to the Valuer-General of Victoria.“With the amendments to the Act the Brumby Labor Government is taking action to address concerns raised by councils in the review that at times excessive red tape could cause cost inefficiencies,” Mr Jennings said.“Councils would be able to opt out of valuations and voluntarily transfer their valuation responsibilities on to the Valuer-General.“This would be a great outcome for councils because they would have the flexibility to decide what best meets their needs and make an informed decision on the best use of ratepayer funds at a time when working families are under pressure to cope with the Global Financial Crisis."

Smart Funding Supports Smart Local Energy Solutions
Source: Victoria. Minister for Environment and Climate Change . Media Release
"Community facilities across Melbourne – including swimming pools, shopping centres and public housing buildings – will be given funding to create and share their own electricity, under an innovative Brumby Government program unveiled by Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings. Mr Jennings announced the successful $2.57 million Smart Energy Zones projects at the Craig Family Centre in Ashburton, a funding recipient which will receive power from a gas-fired co-generation plant to be installed at the adjoining Ashburton Pool and Recreation Centre."

Energy Consumers Urged to Make Voice Heard on New Framework
Source: Victoria. Minister for Energy and Resources. Media Release
"Energy and Resources Minister Peter Batchelor has urged consumer groups to make their voices heard in the development of a new national framework that will regulate energy retailing and protect Australia’s energy consumers. “The Brumby Government supports the development of the National Energy Customer Framework (NECF), which will provide energy customers with a range of benefits including reduced costs and greater competition between energy retailers,” Mr Batchelor said. This national framework will strengthen energy governance in Australia and improve the efficiency of the energy sector, which is important to families, industry and businesses.”

Fiona Stanley Hospital moves ahead - more than $100million of contracts to be awarded
Source: WA Minster for Health
"Expressions of interest are being sought from organisations and companies interested in providing cutting-edge goods and services for the new $1.76billion Fiona Stanley Hospital. Over the next three to four years, a full range of modern hospital furniture, fittings and equipment, as well as state-of-the-art medical, imaging and diagnostic equipment, will be required, along with a comprehensive range of hospital and operational support services. Health Minister Kim Hames said in excess of $100million had been allocated for the furniture, fittings and equipment to fit out the hospital. In addition, significant service contracts were being considered to provide operational support to the hospital."

Review concludes MPCI not commercially viable in WA
Source: WA. Minister for Agriculture and Food
"A review undertaken by the Department of Agriculture and Food has concluded a Multi Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) Scheme is not commercially viable in Western Australia. Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman said while he was supportive of an MPCI insurance scheme, it would have to be driven and funded by industry."

Transport Plan Open for Public Comment
Source: Tasmania. Minister for Infrastructure
"The State Government is seeking public comment on a draft plan which sets out the strategic framework for planning and investing in Southern Tasmania’s regional transport system over the next 20 years. This is the third and final regional transport plan for Tasmania, with Northern and Cradle Coast plans already in place."

Paid maternity and primary care giver leave now 18 weeks
Source: ACT. Chief Minister
Minister Hargreaves is pleased to announce the delivery of the Government's election commitment to extend paid maternity and primary care giver leave to 18 weeks and to double paid bonding leave. "The 2009-10 Budget provided funding of $7.06 million over four years to extend paid maternity and primary care giver leave for ACT public service employees, "said the Minister. "The increase, which covers all ACT Government agencies, puts the ACT ahead of the Federal Government as well as ahead of other states and the Northern Territory. This is the nation's most generous whole of government paid maternity leave scheme for State and Territory public sector workers," said MrHargreaves.

Coal to Liquids Project Offers New Opportunities in the Latrobe Valley
Source: Victoria. Minister for Energy and Resources. Media Release
"The Brumby Labor Government welcomed the announcement that a coal-to-liquids and coal drying project is planned to be built in the Latrobe Valley. Energy and Resources Minister Peter Batchelor said the announcement by Ignite Energy Resources (IER) and TRUenergy to build a demonstration project in the Latrobe Valley would boost local employment and provide an important step in the development of new and clean options for coal development in the valley. “The Brumby Labor Government has invested record levels in leveraging investment and job growth from the Latrobe Valley’s brown coal and, through projects such as this, it is fantastic to see industry also committing to the future development of our coal resource and the Latrobe Valley,” Mr Batchelor said.“The project is expected to process up to 60,000 tonnes of high moisture content brown coal per annum that will produce up to 60,000 barrels high grade oil and 18,000 tonnes of high-grade dry coal."

Test Drive the Arts - Free Tickets for First Timers
Source: Victoria. Minister for the Arts. Media Release
"Victorians have been invited to take the arts for a spin with thousands of free tickets available for first timers, through the Brumby Government’s new Test Drive the Arts program. Arts Minister Lynne Kosky said Test Drive the Arts was designed to encourage more Victorians to experience the state’s vibrant performing arts events. “The Brumby Government is taking action to ensure Victoria continues to be the home to some of the country’s most well respected and exciting artists and arts companies, and hosts a jam-packed calendar of arts events,” Ms Kosky said."

Victorian Government Delivers on Historic Early Learning Framework
Source: Victoria. Premier. Media Release
"A new national early childhood development strategy has been endorsed at COAG to ensure all Australian children have the best start in life, Premier John Brumby announced. Investing in the Early Years – A National Early Childhood Development Strategy commits the Commonwealth, states and territories to an ongoing reform program.Key priorities within the national strategy include:• Strengthening universal maternal and child health family services;• Supporting vulnerable children;• Engaging parents in the community;• Improving early childhood infrastructure;• Strengthening the early childhood workforce; and• Building policy based on solid evidence-based research."

PRINTERS SIGN UP FOR GREEN SAVINGS
Source: Queensland. Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability. Media Release
"Commercial printers in Queensland are receiving a helping hand to cut down on their water, energy and waste and other environmental impacts through a new State Government-funded program. Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Kate Jones launched the Sustainable Green Print program in Brisbane which will help printers go green. The Printing Industry Association of Australia developed the program with $59,000 in State Government funding.
The Sustainable Green Print program helps and encourages printers to improve their environmental performance and establishes four levels of certification to recognise the differing environmental credentials of various printers. Each certification level increases the environmental standards required."

Government poised to unveil planning strategies
Source: Queensland. Minister for Infrastructure and Planning. Media Release
"Planning for Queensland’s future development is at a critical stage, with four regional plans due to be launched over the next few months, Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe said. The first cab off the rank will be the South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009-2031, which has been finalised after five months of public consultation drew more than 3000 submissions. This will be followed by the launches of the Maronoa-Balonne, South West Queensland and Central West Queensland regional plans."