JOBS BOOST FOR VICTORIAN SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESSES
Sources: Victoria. Minister for Regional & Rural Development. Media Release
"A program linking regional and rural businesses to major infrastructure projects will be rolled out across Victoria beginning this month after the Brumby Labor Government committed $150,000 to the project. Regional and Rural Development Minister Jacinta Allan said the extension of the government’s Regional Industry Link program would offer more jobs for Victorians employed by small and medium businesses across the state.“The pilot connected 3000 businesses from 26 regional and rural councils to $9 billion worth of private and public building projects across Victoria during its 18 month trial period,” Ms Allan said."

‘SUPER NANNIES’ SET TO FLY INTO VICTORIA
Source: Victoria. Minister for Community Services. Media Release
"Vulnerable Victorian parents who are struggling to cope are set to receive in-home help from specialist staff, Minister for Community Services Lisa Neville said. Ms Neville said thanks to a new Brumby Labor Government initiative, some of Victoria’s most complex families will get the support they need to learn how to give their children the best possible start in life.“We understand Victorians are concerned about the future of their children and that is why we are trialling this initiative of family mentors working with vulnerable families,” Ms Neville said.“Becoming a parent is a difficult and confusing time for everyone, but some mums and dads need some extra help.“These specialist staff from the Department of Human Services will work intensively with parents who are struggling to cope. They will spend time with the family in their home focusing on the specific concerns of the parents, covering every aspect of what it takes to be an effective parent."

Changes to Queensland’s insurance duty legislation
Source: Queensland. Treasurer and Minister for Employment and Economic Development. Media Release
"The state government will legislate to close insurance duty liability loopholes for insurance taken out with overseas insurers. “Following a New South Wales Court of Appeal decision that saw a major company not have to pay insurance duty on contracts entered into with overseas-based insurers, the Queensland government will amend legislation to ensure that in future, duty is paid in similar circumstances,” Treasurer Andrew Fraser said. Contracts with Australian insurers attract the obligation and we will clarify the law to ensure liability cannot be escaped through using offshore insurers."

New adoption laws for Queensland
Source: Queensland. Minister for Community Services and Housing and Minister for Women. Media Release
"A new Adoption Act will take effect in the coming weeks modernising decades-old laws and supporting child-focused and efficient adoption practice in Queensland. Acting Child Safety Minister Karen Struthers said the Adoption Act 2009 would mark the most significant reform of Queensland’s adoption laws in more than 45 years. “No longer will we have the most restrictive adoption laws in the country,” Ms Struthers said. “Under the new Act, which will come into force on February 1, 2010, adopted people and birth parents will have the right to identifying information regardless of when the adoption took place. The new laws balance people’s right to information about their birth parents or son or daughter who was adopted, with the right of others to maintain their privacy."

Massive social housing roll-out boosts Queensland economy
Source: Queensland. Minister for Community Services and Housing. Media Release
"Queenslanders are due to see a massive roll-out of social housing across the state as the Bligh Government works to build more than 3000 social housing dwellings by the end of this year.
The roll out is part of a Nation Building Plan which will accommodate more than 6200 eligible Queenslanders. About 4000 homes will be completed in total and 75% must be built by the end of this year. The plan is pumping $ 1.1 billion from the federal government into the state’s economy over three years to June 2012 and creating 13,000 jobs. More jobs are to be created as the Bligh Government builds a further 1600 social housing dwellings under other national agreements and spends $140 million through the Queensland Future Growth Fund during the 2009-2010 financial year."

TRIAL OF NEW TECHNOLOGY TO SLOW DOWN SPEEDING DRIVERS
Source: Victoria. Minister for Roads & Ports. Media Release
"Special speed assist devices that automatically warn drivers when they are travelling over the limit will be installed in the vehicles of repeat offenders as part of a trial to curb speeding on Victorian roads. Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas launched the Repeat Speeders Trial that would see Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA) devices fitted to participants’ vehicles for three months. “The device has been designed to assist motorists to manage their speed,” Mr Pallas said. “We understand people are concerned about safety on our roads, which is why the Brumby Labor Government is taking action to improve community safety and drive down the road toll."

$16.35m To Boost Rural Education In Tasmania
Source: Tasmania. The Premier
Rural, regional and disadvantaged communities across the State will benefit from an increased presence of the Tasmanian Polytechnic and Academy through a $16.35 million boost to rural education. Mr Bartlett said that funding commitments would go a long way towards supporting young people to continue with education and training in their local communities.

Learn or earn law takes effect today
Source: ACT. Minister for Education and Training
Young Canberrans will be required to be in school, training or work until the age of 17 under a new law which takes effect today. Since 1943 the school leaving age has been 15. This plan is part of a national drive to ensure Australians have the skills they need for good careers and to keep the economy strong.

Dealing with Government Online to Be Made Simpler
Source: Australia. Minister for Finance and Deregulation. Media Release
"A new Australian Government policy on authentication services will make it simpler for citizens and businesses to interact with government online. Minister for Finance and Deregulation Lindsay Tanner said a new whole of government policy would reduce the number of authentication services - tools used to verify the identity of individuals or organisations online - used by Australian Government departments and agencies.
“This new policy is in line with the Rudd Government’s agenda to improve the delivery of government services to citizens,” Lindsay Tanner said. Increasingly, Australian Government agencies are offering individuals and organisations the opportunity to create online accounts through which they can access government services."

KNIFE CRIME CRACKDOWN AS TOUGH SEARCH POWERS BEGIN
Source: Victoria. Acting Premier. Media Release
"Victoria’s tough new weapons search laws were used for the first time as Victoria Police and the Brumby Labor Government sent a strong message to Victorians that knife crime would not be tolerated. Acting Premier Rob Hulls, Police Minister Bob Cameron and Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe visited Footscray as Footscray Railway Station became the state’s first designated search area for weapons under the new laws.“There has been an unacceptable level of knife crime in the area and under the new laws police have declared it a designated search area and will be stopping and searching people there without a warrant,” Mr Hulls said. Now is the time for action on this sort of crime – not just words. These are very strong powers that have been requested by police."

Massive new investment in Queensland racing industry: Magic Millions redevelopment first cab off the rank
Source: Queensland. Treasurer and Minister for Employment and Economic Development. Media Release
"The Bligh Government will help ‘usher in a new era’ for the racing industry, with a funding package of more than $80 million over four years to redevelop key facilities across the state.
Treasurer Andrew Fraser said the funding package, sourced from the redirection of half of the revenue gained from wagering taxes, will help revitalise an industry that has been estimated to directly and indirectly employ 43,000 people across the state."

$7 million for six months tourism marketing under new Tourism Action Plan
Source: Queensland. Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading. Media Release
"The State Government has launched a $7 million, six month tourism stimulus package for Queensland as part of a new Tourism Action Plan through to 2012. Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor said the Action Plan was supported by $36 million of new tourism funding announced during the 2009 state election campaign. “The next six months will see the delivery of over $7 million worth of major tourism marketing initiatives,” Mr Lawlor said. “This will add to the $2.8m that has already been invested in domestic and international marketing initiatives over the last six months, bringing the total marketing push to $10m in new money over the course of just one year. We are seeing the green shoots of recovery after the global financial crisis and what this stimulus package does is give us the best chance possible of harnessing the recovery for Queensland."
Tourism Action Plan

SOLAR PANELS ROLLOUT FOR GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS
Source: SA. Premier. Media Release.
"Solar panels will be mandatory for all new and substantially refurbished government buildings from July 1 next year, Premier Mike Rann announced. The Premier said this is another action the government is taking to move South Australia towards even greater uptake of renewable energy. "We have increased South Australia’s target for renewable energy generation to 33% by 2020, higher than the national target," the Premier said."

SA INITIATIVE PREPARES WINE INDUSTRY FOR CLIMATE CHANGE
Source: SA. Minister for Agriculture. Media Release.
" A new information kit will put South Australian vignerons on the front foot in dealing with climate change and variability. Prepared by scientists from the SA Research and Development Institute. During a visit to the Coonawarra wine region today, Agriculture Minister, Paul Caica said the kit sets out a well-designed process, backed by climate science to help growers adapt to a changing climate."

NEW INCENTIVES FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY
Source: SA. Premier. Media Release.
"Premier Mike Rann announced that the South Australian Government would be providing a
significant new incentive to attract more investment in renewable energy to the State.
“From 1 July 2010, investors in new large-scale renewable energy projects will receive a rebate of payroll tax paid for labour associated with direct, on-site construction of new renewable energy projects,” Premier Rann said."

MANDATORY INTERLOCK SCHEME TAKES FULL EFFECT
Source: SA. Minister for Road Safety. Media Release.
"Up to 2,700 serious drink driving offenders in South Australia are expected to have interlocks fitted to their vehicles next year when tough new laws come into full effect in January."

NEW GRADUATES TO HELP TACKLE PROBLEM GAMBLING
Source: NSW. Minister for Gaming and Racing. Media Release.
"NSW officially welcomed the first 29 counselling graduates from an innovative training course developed to build on the expertise of those who help people deal with Problem Gambling.
"The NSW Government takes problem gambling very seriously which is why through the Responsible Gaming Fund the Government has invested $900,000 developing and implementing the program."

NEW ONLINE APPLICATION SERVICE FOR LIQUOR LICENCES
Source: NSW. Minister for Gaming and Racing. Media Release.
"The NSW Government has moved to strengthen licensing practices by streamlining online application processes. Gaming and Racing Minister Kevin Greene said the new system will help not for profit groups as well as Police and Councils."

New rules for NSW retirement villages
Source: NSW. Minister for Fair Trading. Media Release.
"New rules for retirement villages will deliver important benefits for residents and improve certainty for operators, Fair Trading Minister Virginia Judge announced.
Ms Judge said the Retirement Villages Regulation 2009 gazetted today would commence on 1 March 2010, along with the Retirement Villages Amendment Act 2008. “The new regulation is the result of a thorough review process and extensive consultation with residents, industry organisations and the community,” Ms Judge said."

Free DVD to Help People Manage Whiplash Properly
Source: NSW. Minister for Finance. Media Release.
"Minister for Finance Michael Daley today encouraged people involved in car accidents to make use of a new educational DVD designed to help them with whiplash.
Mr Daley said the free DVD had been produced by the Motor Accidents Authority to help people recover more quickly after sustaining whiplash in a car crash.
"Whiplash is the most common injury from crashes on our roads, affecting more than 5,000 people in NSW each year and is a factor in around 45 per cent of all motor accident claims."

Release of the Caring Together: Building Sustainability Report
Source: NSW. Minister for Health. Media Release.
"Deputy Premier and Minister for Health, Carmel Tebbutt, released the next milestone report in the NSW Government’s implementation of the Caring Together Action Plan for Health – Caring Together: Building Sustainability. The Report summarises the work already undertaken to implement Caring Together as well as setting the focus for the next year."

NEW CHILD PROTECTION GUIDE GOES ONLINE
Source: NSW. Minister for Community Services. Media Release.
"A new guide to assist teachers, doctors, police officers and other mandatory reporters to report
cases of child abuse and neglect is now online, Minister for Community Services Linda Burney
announced. The Mandatory Reporter Guide and the web-based application are now available."

ACCESSING ADOPTION INFORMATION MADE EASIER
Source: NSW. Minister for Community Services. Media Release.
"New laws will make it easier for adopted children to access information about their birth family, Minister for Community Services Linda Burney announced. These changes are part of the Adoption Amendment Act 2008 and are an important step in the NSW Government’s commitment to open adoption in this state."

NEW LAWS TO RESOLVE NEIGHBOURHOOD ROWS OVER HEDGES
Source: NSW. Attorney General. Media Release.
The Land and Environment Court will be given the power to resolve disputes between neighbours over high hedges that severely affect views and sunlight, NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos announced."

AMBULANCE SMART CAR TO SUPPORT NYE CELEBRATIONS
Source: NSW. Premier. Media Release.
"New Year’s Eve revellers will have some additional support this year with the NSW Ambulance Service set to deploy a new ‘smart car’ ambulance during celebrations around Sydney Harbour.
The specially designed car can negotiate tight areas that regular ambulances cannot, can carry two paramedics and is a first response vehicle to get assistance to patients as quickly as possible."