Regrowth legislation takes balanced approach
Source: Queensland. Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy and Minister for Trade. Media Release
"Queensland’s new regrowth vegetation protection laws strike the right balance by protecting vital regrowth vegetation and its high biodiversity values, while allowing farmers to continue to manage their properties responsibly. Premier Anna Bligh and Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Stephen Robertson said prior to the moratorium on clearing endangered regrowth, less than 240,000 hectares of regrowth vegetation were subject to regulations controlling clearing.
“This government delivers on our commitments and this legislation strikes a balance between the needs of landholders and the environment,” Ms Bligh said. The new laws, introduced to Parliament, will take effect from October 8 and will see an additional one million hectares protected."

New report highlights skill gaps in primary industries
Source: Queensland. Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland. Media Release
"A new report released by the Queensland Government has identified an urgent need for basic and advanced skills training across the primary industries and fisheries sectors, especially in the areas of welding and the operation of machinery. The Queensland Rural Skills and Training Demand Report is released annually after consultation with industry. Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland Tim Mulherin said the report puts forward strong recommendations on how to address the current skills gaps. “There are a number of key skills in demand right across the primary industries and fisheries sectors,” Mr Mulherin said. “These include basic skills, such as welding and the operation and maintenance of machinery as well as higher level technical and management skills. We also found that many communities are struggling to access relevant and necessary training in their local area."

Taxi Reforms to Make it Easier to Get a Cab
Source: New South Wales. Minister for Transport. Media Release.
"Minister for Transport David Campbell announced reforms to the taxi industry which aim to get more taxis on the road for passengers. Mr Campbell said the Government was changing the way taxi licenses were issued by introducing a new licence which can be renewed each year and would allow more people to get into the taxi market."

NSW Crackdown on 'Death Trap' Cars and Dangerous Drivers
Source: New South Wales. Minister for Transport. Media Release.
"NSW Transport Minister David Campbell has announced law changes to crackdown on dangerous motorists who are driving unregistered ‘death trap’ cars. Mr Campbell said speed cameras would now be used to not only catch speeding drivers but to also identify unregistered and uninsured vehicles."

Numbers add up on Green Slip price calculator
Source: New South Wales. Minister for Finance. Media Release.
"Finance Minister Joe Tripodi, said more than 19,000 people per week are getting the message to ‘shop around’ for their Green Slip thanks to the Motor Accident Authorities’ Green Slip Calculator. The MAA is currently running an on-line, print and radio awareness campaign promoting a free service for motorists to compare green slip prices."

Prepare. Act. Survive marks start of NSW bush fire season
Source: New South Wales. Minister for Emergency Services. Media Release.
"Emergency Services Minister Steve Whan today unveiled a hard-hitting statewide campaign alerting people to what they must do this summer to protect their homes and families from bush fire. Mr Whan revealed the Prepare. Act. Survive campaign at the Rural Fire Service's Homebush Headquarters on the official start of the bush fire season."

Minister's response to Ombudsman's report
Source: New South Wales. Minister for Community Services. Media Release.
"The NSW Ombudsman released his report into the role of various government agencies in Ebony’s life and what could have been done to prevent her tragic death."
Report

NSW embargo on water trades lifted
Source: New South Wales. Premier. Media Release.
"The Australian and New South Wales governments today announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) allowing New South Wales farmers to sell their water entitlements to the Federal Government to return to the Murray-Darling Basin’s stressed rivers and wetlands."

Automotive Australia 2020
Source: Australia. Cooperative Research Centre for Advanced Automotive Technology (AutoCRC) supported by the Australian and Victorian Governments
"Australian Innovation Minister, Senator Kim Carr, and the Victorian Industry and Trade Minister, Martin Pakula, today released a report outlining a strategic vision for the Australian automotive industry.
The report was developed at a recent Vision Workshop held in Melbourne with key automotive industry stakeholders and marks the first phase of a comprehensive technology roadmap “ the Automotive Australia 2020 Project.
The automotive technology roadmap is about identifying and mapping the industry's capabilities and needs to 2020 and beyond “ allowing the industry to play to its strengths and support innovative technologies with strong commercial potential.
The Cooperative Research Centre for Advanced Automotive Technology (AutoCRC) is managing the project, which is supported by the Australian and Victorian Governments."

Extra $36 Million to Help Queenslanders Stay Independent and in their Homes
Source: Australia. Minister for Ageing. Media Release
"Queensland will get an extra $36 million to support older people living independently in their own homes under the Commonwealth-State Home and Community Care (HACC) program."

Rudd Government helps businesses access the global carbon market
Source: Australia. Minister for Climate Change and Water. Media Release
"As of today, individuals and businesses can open accounts in the Australian National Registry of Emissions Units," Senator Wong said.
The Australian Government also today established Australia's National Authority for the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI). "

Smart Grid, Smart City: A new direction for a new energy era
Source: Australia. Dept of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Report
"The pre-deployment study undertaken for Smart Grid, Smart City confirmed that national adoption of smart grid technologies would deliver considerable social and economic benefit to Australia.
The report Smart Grid, Smart City: a new direction for a new energy era outlines the potential economic and environmental benefits of smart grid technologies, and indicates that the Smart Grid, Smart City demonstration project can deliver the robust data needed to inform broader adoption of smart grid technologies and applications across Australia.
The report proposes a project design and governance framework that will demonstrate world's best practice through the delivery of a truly integrated, commercial-scale example of an Australian smart grid."

Helping drought-affected families with education expenses
Source: Australia. Minister for Education. Media Release
"The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Tony Burke, today announced funding of $17.4 million to help rural families whose children attend schools in drought-affected areas with education expenses."

$1.69 million to help small business become more family friendly
Source: Australia. Minister for Employment & Workplace Relations. Media Release
"The Minister for Employment & Workplace Relations, Julia Gillard, today announced that 258 Australian small businesses will share in $1.69 million worth of grants to help them become more family friendly."

$10 Million Maritime Research Facility Launched
Source: Australia. Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science. Media Release
"The new facility is unique in Australia and one of only a few maritime experimental laboratories in the world used to test the hydrodynamic behaviour of structures submerged in flowing water, such as submarines, ship hulls and underwater vehicles.

The new $10 million facility will be used by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) to undertake maritime experiments in support of new capabilities for the Royal Australian Navy."

Free Internet for Victorian Government Schools in 2010
Source: Victoria. Minister for Education. Media Release
"Victorian government schools will now enjoy free internet access from the first day of term one in 2010, Education Minister Bronwyn Pike announced. All Victorian government schools will have their internet charges covered by the Brumby Labor Government, saving schools projected costs of $9.5 million annually."

New Planning Guidelines to Shape Our Future Suburbs
Source: Victoria. Minister for Planning. Media Release
"New planning guidelines for Melbourne’s fastest-growing outer suburbs will help deliver more connected urban communities to local transport and local employment. Planning Minister Justin Madden launched new planning guidelines designed to change the way our future suburbs look, feel and what they offer to families.“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action to manage growth and to help families secure their lifestyle,’’ Mr Madden said. These new guidelines for Precinct Structure Planning (PSP) are a robust planning tool to enable the development of master plans for the creation of suburbs of more than 3,000 dwellings each."

Victoria and India Unite to Develop Future Technologies
Source: Victoria. Minister for Skills and Workforce Participation. Media Release
"Victoria will strengthen its global reputation as a leader in technological innovation following Deakin University’s $24 million academic partnership with 45 key Indian institutions and businesses. Visiting one of the partners, the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) in the central Indian city of Hyderabad, Minister for Skills and Workforce Paticipation Jacinta Allan launched the Deakin-India Research Initiative (DIRI). Ms Allan said DIRI would encompass Deakin’s Indian research partnerships and foster scientific advancements in nano and biotechnology, metallurgy and other advanced materials.“DIRI will deliver a series of research projects that will boost Victoria’s innovation capabilities and promote Victorian as a knowledge hub throughout India,” Ms Allan said.“By the end of this year, 25 Deakin PhD students will be enrolled through the DIRI, and over the next five years a total of 150 students will be supported through the program,” Ms Allan said.The venture will initially focus on PhD projects in advanced materials, biotech and nanotech and this will be extended to also include metals and metallurgy and intelligent systems."

Students Encouraged to Step Back and Rethink Violence
Source: Victoria. Acting Premier. Media Release
"Hundreds of Year 9 and 10 students from Government schools across the state will soon become ‘respect champions’ thanks to a new Brumby Labor Government pilot program, No Regrets. Acting Premier of Victoria Rob Hulls announced the violence prevention program, funded by the Victorian Government and developed in partnership with Step Back Think and the Foundation for Young Australians.“Respect for ourselves, others and our community is the key to a healthy, friendly and productive community,” Mr Hulls said.“The example we set today will be carried through to the next generation. That is why our Government is developing a plan to promote respect – because we believe mutual respect is at the centre of what it means to be Victorian. We are very proud to support the No Regrets pilot program, which is aimed at strengthening the culture of respect in our schools and helping young people understand the consequences of their actions and avoid living their life regretting what they may have done or said.”

Funding announced for biodiversity conservation
Source: WA. Minister for Planning, Culture and the Arts
"Planning Minister John Day announced more funding for natural resource management in Western Australia. $400,000 has been allocated to assist Perth metropolitan local governments to prepare local biodiversity strategies and bushland protection plans.This project tackles one of the five key priority areas the State Government has outlined for managing our natural resources - biodiversity, biosecurity, water quality, climate change adaptation and NRM interaction with planning. The ensuing strategies will assist with the protection and management of bushland that exists outside of conservation reserves and is subject to development pressure.These local biodiversity strategies will identify areas of high priority bushland and establish actions to support their conservation through integration into local planning strategies and schemes. Considering biodiversity conservation early in the land use planning process will minimise the impact of development on biodiversity; reduce the amount of uncertainty for land owners and planners; and make decision-making more efficient."

New Laws to Supervise Underage Drinking
Source: Tasmania. Minister for Police and Emergency Management
"New laws to prevent people under the age of 18 being supplied with alcohol on private property without proper adult supervision were today passed by State Parliament's Lower House.
Minister for Police and Emergency Management, Jim Cox, said the Government was seeking to amend legislation to make it an offence to supply people under 18 with alcohol without the direct consent of a parent or guardian."

Liquor law reform to improve public safety and focus on high risk venues
Source: ACT Chief Minister
"A total rewrite of the ACT's liquor licensing laws will focus on improving public safety in Canberra's entertainment precincts through a risk based regulatory framework for licensed clubs, pubs, nightclubs and restaurants, Attorney General, Simon Corbell announced today.
"The establishment of dedicated ACT Policing liquor licensing teams, extra regulatory inspectors and new offences including the banning of buying drinks for those who are drunk are also among the major reforms to the regulation of licensed premises in the Territory," Mr Corbell said.
"This is the first major reform to the Liquor Act 1975 for almost 35 years and comes after nearly 18 months of public consultation, the release of a public discussion paper and detailed policy development by the Department of Justice and Community Safety."

Modernising Queensland’s Biosecurity legislation
Source: Queensland. Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland. Media Release
"Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin invited people to have their say on Queensland’s biosecurity legislation to help develop a new single, cohesive Biosecurity Act. The Minister launched the Modernising Queensland’s biosecurity legislation discussion paper and encouraged all stakeholders to submit their ideas. “Queensland’s agricultural sector is worth around $12.5 billion per year – with around $6 billion of this production exported overseas,” Minister Mulherin said. Without good biosecurity, Queensland and Australia risks losing access to these critical markets which are vital to the Queensland economy.
Modernising Queensland's Biosecurity Legislation discussion paper.

New bushfire building standards take effect
Source: Queensland. Minister for Infrastructure and Planning. Media Release
"New building regulations designed to help protect Queensland homes from the devastating impact of bushfires will come into effect. Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe said the State Government is leading the way with the early adoption of new national bushfire standards for residential buildings. The new standards will be incorporated in the Building Act 1975, which regulates building development in Queensland. The new standards replace the 1999 Australian Standard for design and construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas and will apply to residential building work in designated bushfire prone areas."

Delivering on Renewal of the Queensland Public Service
Source: Queensland. Premier. Media Release
"A new job for a job scheme to replace corporate staff roles with front line staff such as child safety officers, customer service workers and school support staff has been launched by the Queensland Government. Premier Anna Bligh has said that under the scheme up to 250 senior public servants will be given the chance to voluntarily retire from the Queensland Public Service creating new employment opportunities for young people in entry level front line service delivery roles. "