$3.8 million heritage investment supports Queensland jobs
Source: Australia. Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts. Media Release
"Federal Environment and Heritage Minister Peter Garrett today announced $3.8 million in funding for 10 projects in Queensland as part of a major economic stimulus push through heritage conservation.
The projects will be funded under the Australian Government's $650 million Jobs Fund, and will create 153 jobs in the state."

National Arts and Disability Strategy
Source: Australia. Cultural Ministers Council
"The National Arts and Disability Strategy came out of a consultation process between the Cultural Ministers Council and the arts and disability sector, including organisations and individuals, and with submissions from arts practitioners and arts consumers in the sector."

Building the Education Revolution report card released
Source: Australia. Dept of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.
"The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, today welcomed the release of the Building the Education Revolution National Coordinator's Implementation Report, on progress in the first eight months."

$34 million for Indigenous youth leadership scholarships
Source: Australia. Minister for Education. Media Release
"The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, today announced the new partnership brokers to deliver the Indigenous Youth Leadership Program from 2010.
The Rudd Government is investing $34 million in the Indigenous Youth Leadership Program over the next three years to help Close the Gap in Indigenous education."

Adding $2 million to maths education
Source: Australia. Minister for Education. Media Release
"The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, today announced funding of $2 million to help improve mathematics education in Australian schools and universities."

National Human Rights Consultation Report
Source: Australia. Attorney-General
"Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today released the report of the National Human Rights Consultation Committee.
The Committee has conducted the most extensive consultation on human rights issues in Australia's history, receiving more than 35,000 submissions and conducting over 65 community roundtables and public hearings across more than 50 urban, regional and remote locations.
The report contains 31 recommendations and provides important information about what we do well and assesses options for addressing the areas where we can do better. "

Tough new restrictions on weapons
Source: WA. Police
"Police Minister Rob Johnson has flagged tough new restrictions on the sale and supply of controlled weapons to minors as part of an overall State Government strategy to improve safety in and around entertainment precincts in Western Australia. Mr Johnson said he would be creating new offences under the Criminal Code and increasing penalties for offences under the Weapons Act 1999. Anyone found with a weapon in or near a place of public entertainment could face up to five years' jail."

Draft Public Interest Disclosures Amendment Bill
Source: Tasmania. Attorney General
"Attorney General Lara Giddings today released for public comment a draft Bill designed to encourage disclosure of improper conduct within government.
Ms Giddings said the Public Interest Disclosures Amendment Bill 2009 would replace Tasmania's existing whistleblower legislation as part of the Premier's ten point plan to restore confidence in democracy. "

Tasmania leads way in IR reform
Source: Tasmania. Minister for Workplace Relations
"Legislation to refer the balance of Tasmania's private sector industrial relations to the Commonwealth Government would provide a simpler and fairer industrial system for employees and employers, Workplace Relations Minister, Lisa Singh MP, said today
Debate began today in the House of Assembly on the Industrial Relations (Commonwealth Powers) Bill 2009. Tasmania is leading the way and will be the first of the states still with their own industrial relations systems to make the move. The legislation being debated this week has broad support and means that all Tasmanian private sector workers will be dealt with under the one system."

Joint Approach To Water And Sewerage Management
Source: Tasmania. Dept of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment
"A joint plan to improve the quality of Tasmania's drinking water has been developed by the three regional water and sewerage corporations and the regulators of the sector, the Minister for Primary Industries and Water, David Llewellyn, announced today. The Compliance Implementation Plan will result in better asset management, more reliable drinking water quality, and improved health and environmental outcomes for sewerage treatment. The Plan also provides a firm foundation for the ongoing management of $2.0 billion worth of community assets."

Tough New Bushfire Penalties for the Territory
Source: NT. Minister for Justice and Attorney General
"People who intentionally light bushfires will now face up to 15 years in jail following the passing of legislation through the Northern Territory Parliament."

Action Plan for Construction Industry Workforce
Source: South Australia. Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education. Media Release.
"The State Government today launched an Action Plan to support South Australia’s $4 billion construction industry workforce. "This Plan is a bold step forward for the industry providing a strategy to attract, develop and retain an appropriately skilled workforce, now and into the future," Mr O’Brien said."

New Unlawful Gambling Bill
Source: ACT. Chief Minister
"The Bill has been developed following a public review of the Unlawful Games Act 1984 by the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission. The Government has accepted all of the Commission's recommendations in the drafting of this new Bill which updates and brings together for the first time all unlawful gaming and unlawful betting provisions into the one Act. It makes all gambling unlawful, unless permitted under the Bill or another gaming law. This means that a decision to allow a new gambling activity that doesn't fit the current criteria must be taken, rather than taking action to close down undesirable or risky gambling activity after it has already commenced. The Bill makes private gaming lawful and provides an approval scheme for charitable fundraising through gaming. It will also provide for games that are predominantly of skill such as Bridge, chess, backgammon and Scrabble, to be exempt from being an unlawful game."

New laws to crack down on imitation firearms
Source: South Australia. Minister for Police Minister. Media Release.
"Carrying or using an unregistered or unauthorised imitation firearm is now an offence, with a
maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment, under new laws made by the Rann Government.
Police Minister Michael Wright said the changes meant imitation firearms were now subject to the same licensing and registration conditions as the firearms they imitate."

New Campaign Dispels Myths About Drug Driving
Source: South Australia. Minister for Road Safety. Media Release.
"Road Safety Minister, Michael O’Brien launched a new Motor Accident Commission (MAC) campaign aiming to dispel the myths around driving on drugs. "The statistics are telling us that the drug driving detection rate is more than double that of drink driving," Mr O’Brien said."

New equal opportunity laws now in force
Source: South Australia. Attorney General. Media Release.
"Attorney-General Michael Atkinson says new laws to protect South Australians from discrimination will come in force today. Mr Atkinson says carers, mentally-ill people, breastfeeding mothers, contract workers and people wearing religious dress are among those set to benefit from the new laws. "

Prisoner Employment Program First for SA
Source: South Australia. Minister for Correctional Services. Media Release.
"A new partnership between Port Augusta Prison and BHP Billiton will see low security prisoners gain valuable work experience and potential employment at Olympic Dam upon their release. I hope this program encourages other private sector companies to explore similar partnerships that seek to improve prisoner reintegration, reduce reoffending and ultimately help create a safer, stronger community."

Zeroing in on our Shopping Habits to Wipe Out Waste
Source: South Australia. Minister for Environment and Conservation. Media Release.
"Environmental researchers will take a peek into people’s shopping trolleys and have a look at what is served onto dinner plates as part of the first comprehensive study into food waste in South Australian homes. The project, Zero-ing in on food waste: Measuring, understanding and reducing food waste in South Australia from production to consumption in households and restaurants will be conducted by the Zero Waste SA Centre for Excellence. The Centre is a $2 million partnership between the University of South Australia and the State Government."

The future of sustainable living on show
Source: South Australia. Premier. Media Release.
"A working demonstration of how South Australians could be living sustainably in the future is now on display at the nation leading Lochiel Park ‘green village’ in Adelaide’s north-eastern suburbs. Premier Mike Rann unveiled the Lochiel Park Sustainability Centre showcasing cutting edge building techniques and sustainable living ideas being used at Campbelltown’s Lochiel Park."

Bill strengthens Graduated Licensing Scheme
Source: South Australia. Minister for Road Safety. Media Release.
"The Rann Government introduced legislation in State Parliament to restrict P1 & P2 platers, aged under 25, from driving high-powered cars. Road Safety Minister Michael O’Brien said the legislation – the Motor Vehicles (Miscellaneous No 2) Amendment Bill 2009 – included six new measures to strengthen the State Government’s Graduated Licensing Scheme aimed at better preparing young drivers for when they proceeded to full licences."

Creating the Best Climate for Small Business
Source: South Australia. Minister for Small Business. Media Release.
"Minister for Small Business Paul Holloway launched the long-awaited Small Business Statement, highlighting the Rann Government’s commitment to creating Australia’s most supportive environment for small business. With many of the Government programs spread across several agencies, the Small Business Statement was an opportunity for a stock take of all these various initiatives," Mr Holloway says."

Funding Boost for Landowners and the Environment
Source: Victoria. Minister for Environment and Climate Change. Media Release
"The Brumby Labor Government will provide $5.4 million – a boost of $3.3 million – to more than 170 Victorian landholders to help them undertake environmental improvement works on their own properties. Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings said the funding for Victorian Government’s world-leading ecoMarket’s initiative would provide for important environmental protection activities to be carried out on almost 8000 hectares of private land.“A healthy community needs a healthy environment which is why the Brumby Labor Government is taking action to protect our natural assets,” Mr Jennings said.“Sixty five per cent of Victoria’s land is owned by private landholders which means it is important the Government works in partnership with the community to help protect our environment.This $5.4 million funding will allow landholders to gain an additional source of income while enhancing biodiversity at a time our environment is under threat from the impacts of climate change.”

National Online Gambling Counselling Service Launched
Source: Victoria. Minister for Gaming. Media Release
"A new online gambling counselling service will provide support and advice to gamblers and their families across Australia. Federal Community Services Minister Jenny Macklin said Gambling Help Online was an initiative of the Ministerial Council on Gambling (MCG), funded through an agreement between the Rudd Government and State and Territory Governments.“Gambling Help Online will provide a cooperative national approach to help people take control of their gambling, wherever they are in Australia,” Ms Macklin said. For the first time, Australians now have online access to qualified gambling counsellors who can provide assistance through either live online counselling or email.”

Latest Braking Technology Mandatory From 2011
Source: Victoria. Minister for Roads and Ports. Media Release
"The Brumby Labor Government has introduced regulations mandating that new vehicles be fitted with latest life-saving safety technology from 1 January, 2011, as part of an ambitious strategy to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Victorian roads. Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas said Victoria had introduced road safety regulations to make it compulsory from 2011 for new passenger cars to have electronic stability control (ESC) technology fitted as standard."

Synthetic Turf Boost for Grassroots Footy and Cricket
Source: Victoria. Minister for Sport. Media Release
"A new world-first drought-proof synthetic turf surface suitable for footy and cricket has been developed in Victoria and is a giant step forward in securing the future of grassroots sport.
Sports Minister James Merlino joined the AFL and Cricket Australia to announce that a new synthetic ground had been earmarked for one of Melbourne’s top growth regions and would provide a major boost for local clubs facing the impacts of drought and climate change.The new state-of-the-art synthetic turf ground will be established in Point Cook and will provide the highest level of safety and comfort for players and is as close as possible to natural turf."