Tasmania leads the way with Australia’s first Micro-LNG plant
Source: Tasmania. The Premier
"Premier David Bartlett today took part in a sod turning ceremony at Westbury for Australia’s first Micro-LNG plant. The plant will be operated by BOC, a member of the Linde Group, a world leader in the production of Liquefied Natural Gas used for transport. The micro LNG production technology at this plant will provide an alternative fuel to diesel for heavy vehicles – a fuel that releases up to 20% less greenhouse gases."

Families as first teachers
Source: NT. Minister Assisting the Chief Minister on Education
"The NT Government has committed $1.5 million towards a program aimed at giving remote Indigenous children the best start in life by involving families in learning and development.
Minister Assisting the Chief Minister on Education, Gerry McCarthy, today said applications for grants under the first of its kind program would be open until the end of the month."

Positive Ageing Strategy - draft available for comment
Source: ACT. Minister for Ageing
"The whole-of-government strategy is being developed by the ACT in partnership with the Ministerial Advisory Council on Ageing and the community. The release of the draft sets the scene for a second round of consultation on the strategy - a strategy that will guide ageing policy in the Territory for at least five years. The aim is to promote positive ageing by supporting people to remain active participants in the community. "

New system to help councils deal with complaints
Source: New South Wales. Minister for Local Government. Media Release.
"People’s concerns will be dealt with under a clear and consistent framework thanks to new complaint management guidelines that are set to be issued to councils around the State. Minister for Local Government Barbara Perry said the new guidelines will help streamline the way councils handle complaints from their community."

NSW action plan to tackle homelessness
Source: New South Wales. Minister for Housing. Media Release.
"Housing Minister David Borger and Community Services Minister Linda Burney officially launched NSW’s Action Plan for homelessness. It’s just not good enough to give homeless people a bowl of soup, they need doctors, dentists, counselling, relationship advice, job skills and a roof over their heads if they are ever going to be able to stop the cycle of homelessness."

Boaties safer with WorkCover safety partnership
Source: New South Wales. Minister for Finance. Media Release.
"NSW Finance Minster Joe Tripodi said a new WorkCover initiative will assist the boating industry improve workplace safety."

Maritime online alert service launched
Source: New South Wales. Minister for Ports and Waterways. Media Release.
"Ports and Waterways Minister Joe Tripodi launched a first in Maritime safety – an on-line alert system to help boat owners and rock fishermen prepare and plan a day out on or near the water. "NSW Maritime is delivering this system as a 12 month trial in a bid to encourage people to think about their limits when it comes to boating."

10-DAY PLANNING APPROVALS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR BUSINESS TO DO BUSINESS
Source: New South Wales. Minister for Planning. Media Release.
"A fast-track planning approval system for businesses will come into effect next month, potentially saving small retailers and other businesses thousands of dollars each. Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally, announced the NSW Commercial and Industrial Code, the next step the NSW Government is taking in building Australia’s best planning system."

New laws target billion dollar ID crime industry
Source: New South Wales. Attorney General. Media Release.
"Attorney General John Hatzistergos announced the Rees Government proposes to introduce tough identity crime laws to crack down on the billion dollar personal fraud industry, built on new cyber technologies.Mr Hatzistergos said the laws would create new identity offences, which would carry up to five years imprisonment, and allow police to target criminals who possess or trade in personal information for the purpose of committing fraud."

NSW commits to common ground
Source: New South Wales. Premier. Media Release.
"Premier Nathan Rees announced an ambitious project to tackle Sydney’s homelessness as part of the Government’s co-ordinated response to this serious social problem. The Premier said the Government would develop a purpose built building for homeless people based on the successful New York ‘common ground’ model."

NSW aims to be the top gun
Source: New South Wales. Premier. Media Release.
"The NSW Government has launched an enthusiastic campaign to significantly grow the State’s defence industry to generate jobs and economic growth across the State."

New protection for SA’s fresh produce industries
Source: South Australia. Minister for Agriculture. Media Release.
"South Australia’s $1.5 billion fresh produce industries will now have greater protection, thanks to new statewide laws coming into effect from this week. The Plant Health Act 2009 tightens import rules for plant and plant-related products and boosts the State’s plant biosecurity measures."

Bligh Government $16 million boost for disability services
Source: Queensland. Minister for Disability Services and Multicultural Affairs. Media Release
"The Bligh Government announced $16 million to boost accommodation and respite options for people with a disability throughout Queensland. Disability Services Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk announced in Parliament a $10.5 million funding boost to provide accommodation options for up to 80 people with a disability with an ageing carer. Minister Palaszczuk said a further $5.5 million would be provided to support an estimated 828 respite places under the Disability Assistance Package (DAP) initiative. One of my key priorities is to provide ageing carers caring for a child with a disability with a range of accommodation options to suit their needs."

Legislation to ensure public officials are kept accountable
Source: Queensland. Attorney-General . Media Release
"Queensland Parliament passed the Criminal Code and Other Legislation (Misconduct, Breaches of Discipline and Public Sector Ethics) Amendment Bill 2009, which will hold public officers accountable for misconduct whilst they are in office and after they cease employment in public office. Attorney-General Cameron Dick said the Bill was a further example of the ongoing commitment by the Bligh Government to ensuring accountability and transparency of public officials, be they public servants, police officers or elected Members of Parliament. “This Bill is part of the Bligh Government’s ongoing reform agenda to ensure that no-one is above the law in Queensland,” said Mr Dick."

Outdated resort laws simplified and modernised
Source: Queensland. Minister for Infrastructure and Planning. Media Release
"Interim amendments bringing complicated body corporate and planning laws into the 21st century were passed by Parliament last night. Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe said it was time the laws for Sanctuary Cove Resort, Royal Pines Resort, Hope Island Resort, Kingfisher Bay Resort, Laguna Whitsundays Resort and the Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas Resort were simplified and modernised. Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe said resort laws had not been substantially updated for at least 20 years.
The Integrated Resort Development Act 1987 and Sanctuary Cove Resort Act 1985 were only ever designed to help the resorts develop over a 10-year timeframe,” Mr Hinchliffe said."

MORE QUEENSLANDERS GO ON A LOW CARBON DIET
Source: Queensland. Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability. Media Release
"Eighteen organisations across Queensland such as sporting teams, multicultural communities and volunteer groups are the latest to sign up for the Bligh Government’s Low Carbon Diet.
Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Kate Jones said today the successful applicants would share in more than $153,000 under round two of the $1 million Low Carbon Diet Community Funding Program. She said the program was part of the Bligh Government’s commitment to reduce Queensland’s carbon footprint."

Geothermal energy plan to provide clean energy future
Source: Queensland. Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy. Media Release
"The Bligh Government is creating a cleaner energy future with two significant steps forward today in the development of a geothermal energy industry. Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Stephen Robertson announced an additional 16,000 sq km of land for geothermal exploration and released a consultation paper on the proposed draft legislation for geothermal energy production. The new legislation being developed will enable explorers to progress to production when a suitable geothermal resource has been identified,” Mr Robertson said."

QUEENSLANDERS TO HAVE THEIR SAY ON INTEGRITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Source: Queensland. Premier. Media Release
"Premier Anna Bligh released a discussion paper and called on Queenslanders to have their say on the issues of accountability and transparency in the political process. The release of Integrity and Accountability in Queensland follows a number of reforms announced recently by the Premier, including a ban on all Labor Members of Parliament attending political fundraisers where businesses pay for access and a ban on lobbyists serving on Government appointed boards, or in other significant appointments paid by the Queensland Government. "

The Green Paper is available online at http://www.premiers.qld.gov.au/community-issues/open-transparent-gov/integrity-and-acountability-review.aspx

BLIGH STEPS UP INTEGRITY REFORM & BANS LOBBYISTS FROM GOVT BOARDS
Source: Queensland. Premier. Media Release
"Individuals who are listed on the Queensland Lobbyist Register will be banned from serving on Government appointed boards, or in other significant appointments paid by the Queensland Government. Premier Anna Bligh made the announcement in Parliament. “Over the past week I have announced a significant platform of reforms to deliver the changes that Queenslanders are demanding from all sides of politics,” Ms Bligh said. “I am determined that Queensland will lead the nation in this drive for reform towards more open and accountable relationships between politics and business. “I have already announced a ban on success fees. I’ve announced a ban on members of my caucus attending political fundraising events where businesses pay on the basis they will have access to Members of Parliament. "

Export cooperation agreement signed as trade Ministers gather in Brisbane
Source: Queensland. Minister for Trade. Media Release
"Queensland business will be boosted by the signing of a new agreement that aims to support the State’s export industry and create jobs for Queenslanders. Minister for Trade Stephen Robertson made the announcement following the COAG Ministerial Council for International Trade meeting in Brisbane. “Trade Queensland has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade),” Mr Robertson said.
“It makes perfect sense for two agencies with complementary roles and goals to share information and resources more openly. Improved cooperation between these agencies can only improve export outcomes for the Queensland businesses and this means jobs."

NEW ANTI-TERRORIST MEASURE ON QUEENSLAND TRAINS
Source: Queensland. Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services. Media Release
"Queensland’s first bomb dog is set to start working on the State’s train network in an unprecedented anti-terrorist initiative by the State Government. The trial measure comes in the wake of recent bombings in Indonesia and the anti-terrorist raids in Victoria and could be extended if the terrorist treat in Australia heightens. The investment means the first specially trained three year old Labrador dog will be working across the urban trains network, Police Minister Neil Roberts and Transport Minister Rachel Nolan announced."

Reforming Australia's Foreign Investment Framework
Source: Australia. Treasurer. Media Release
"I am pleased to announce reforms to Australia's foreign investment screening framework which will support Australian jobs and economic growth, and position Australia for a more competitive recovery beyond the global recession."

$243M BOOST TO AUSTRALIA’S INNOVATION AGENDA
Source: Australia. Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. Media release
"The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator the Hon Kim Carr, today announced funding of $243 million for world-class collaborative research and innovation under the Australian Government's Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program."

$11.4 million for Homelessness Research
Source: Australia. Minister for Housing. Media Release
"Minister for Housing, Tanya Plibersek today announced $11.4 million over four years for new research to direct the Rudd Government's efforts to reduce homelessness in Australia."

Australia India Institute to strengthen international ties
Source: Australia. The Minister for Education. Media Release
"The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, today announced the Australian Government will provide more than $8 million to fund a new Australia India Institute at the University of Melbourne.
The centre will aim to strengthen and sustain bilateral relationships between Australia and India and will be a joint project of the University of Melbourne, La Trobe University and the University of New South Wales."