Australian first safety program for SA rail network
Source: South Australia. Minister for Road Safety. Media Release.
"Road Safety Minister Carmel Zollo says, in an Australian first, visual and audio alarm signals warning pedestrians of the approach of multiple trains are to be installed across the Adelaide rail network. Minister Zollo says the new alarm systems form part of the State Government’s 6 year, $9.2m initiative to increase safety at pedestrian crossings throughout the metropolitan rail network. “The ‘More than One Train’ warning signals will activate when multiple trains are passing through a crossing and will put South Australia at the forefront of rail safety in this country.”

Business support on offer for nursery industry
Source: South Australia. Minister for Small Business and Water Security. Media Release.
"South Australia’s nursery industry will receive tailored business support services to help it manage through the State’s water restriction period. “The Department of Trade and Economic Development has joined with the Nursery and Garden Industry of SA in developing a package of programs and workshops to meet the specific needs of nursery operators,” Minister Maywald said."

Tough new anti-hoon laws pass parliament
Source: Victoria. Police Minister and Attorney-General. Media Release.
"Tougher laws to crack-down on hoon and drug driving and graffiti vandalism have passed through State Parliament and will shortly become law. The new legislation allows:
Police to immediately home-clamp OR impound an offender’s vehicle for up to seven days.
Police to apply to the courts to extend that period to 90 days. This is a concerted attempt to crack down on anti-social behaviour. The courts and police now have the power to deliver the penalties the public expect"

New regulations to target illegal drug labs
Source: Victoria. Minister for Police. Media Release.
"The Minister for Police, Bob Cameron, announced new regulations reversing the onus of proof for those possessing chemicals used in illegal drug manufacture. From 1 August 2007, anyone caught in possession of more than the prescribed amount of 103 chemicals used in illicit drug manufacture, will face up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $66,072 or both."

Positive spectator behaviour campaign for kids finals
Source: Victoria. Minister for Sport and Recreation. Media Release.
"So called “ugly parent syndrome” is being tackled with Minister for Sport and Recreation James Merlino today launching a pilot program urging parents and spectators attending the finals’ series for football and basketball to set the right example for their children.Mr Merlino was joined by campaign ambassador and three-time Olympic Basketball Champion Michele Timms in unveiling the Victorian Government’s Encourage the kids and support the game pilot program, which aims to discourage poor spectator behaviour in community sport."

Howard Government Looking to the Future for Public Housing
Source: Australia. Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Media Release.
"The Howard Government today announced a major shake up of the delivery of public and community housing across Australia to drive an increase in availability. " I am announcing that for the next CSHA from July 2008, we will immediately invite expressions of interest from all parties, including state and territory governments, the non-government sector and the private sector such as major builders and any other interested individuals, groups or organisations, for their proposals and ideas on new and innovative approaches to using the available funds to increase affordable housing supply."This represents an innovative and dynamic shift in approach which will help ensure more effective use is made of Australian taxpayer funds to increase housing supply."

Blacktown Solar City opens for business
Source: Australia. Minister for Environment and Water Resources. Media Release.
"Blacktown Solar City is now open for business and the local community will soon be able to take advantage of offers that will save energy, save money and cut back on greenhouse emissions.
Speaking at the official launch, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Malcolm Turnbull said the Solar City project was a great opportunity for Blacktown residents, businesses and community organisations to help tackle climate change and save $3 million a year in energy bills. The Blacktown Solar City trial will run over six years and information gained and lessons learned from the project will help develop future climate change policies."

International crime cooperation strengthened
Source: Australia. Minister for Justice and Customs. Media Release.
"International crime cooperation between Australia and the United Arab Emirates has been significantly strengthened, Minister for Justice and Customs, David Johnston said. “Australia welcomes today’s treaty signing with the United Arab Emirates,” Senator Johnston said. “These treaties represent a significant step in strengthening our cooperative ties to tackle transnational crime. “The signing of the extradition and mutual assistance treaties will enhance our ability to effectively combat transnational crime including terrorism, people trafficking, money laundering and corruption."

New tourism partnership to sell Western Australia to the world
Source: Western Australia. Minister for Tourism. Media Release.
"Western Australia will be marketed to a global audience thanks to a new partnership between Tourism WA and globally-recognised travel brand, Lonely Planet.Tourism Minister Sheila McHale said WA would feature heavily on Lonely Planet TV and websites, as well as newsletters distributed to more than 200,000 subscribers."

Alinta Given Green Light
Source: Tasmania. Minister for Energy. Media Release.
" The $230 million Alinta Tamar Valley power station will go ahead as planned. Minister for Energy, David Llewellyn, said the deal came about after Aurora Energy provided Alinta extra time to negotiate revised commercial arrangements based on alternative gas supplies. “Alinta and Aurora have now reached agreement for a long-term electricity supply contract, paving the way for construction of the 200 MW gas-fired Tamar Valley Power Station. "

Weathering the Change – ACT Climate Change Strategy
Source: ACT. Chief Minister. Media Release
"The ACT Climate Change Strategy provides an overview of climate change science, the predicted impacts on the ACT and the Government’s vision and direction for responding to climate change. It has evolved from a discussion paper released in March 2006, to which many submissions from the public, business and community groups were received. It replaces the ACT Greenhouse Strategy 2000. and complements People, Place, Prosperity and the Think Water, Act Water Strategy that addresses long term Territory water needs. "

Helping to Better Protect Victims of Family Violence
Source: Victoria. Minister for Womens Affairs. Media Release
"The Minister for Women’s Affairs, Jacinta Allan, launched a new guide to provide professionals with information on how to better identify and respond to women and children at risk from family violence."

Big Expansion of Industry Water Saving Program
Source: Victoria. Minister for Water. Media Release
"The top 2100 non-residential water users across the State will be required to have water efficiency plans by the end of this year, saving up to five billion litres of water in Melbourne alone by 2008, Water Minister John Thwaites announced. We are introducing this program as a Permanent Water Saving Rule, which means penalties such as fines and restriction of water supply can be imposed, Mr Thwaites said."

Victoria Rocks - New Program to Boost Victoria's Contemporary Music Scene
Source: Victoria. Minister for the Arts. Media Release
"Minister for the Arts Lynne Kosky launched a new $7.1 million program to boost Victoria’s contemporary music scene and assist local bands and musicians."

Action Plan Ensures Bouyant Future for Boating
Source: Victoria. Minister for the Environment. Media Release
"Environment Minister John Thwaites launched a coastal action plan to ensure a buoyant future for recreational boating in Port Phillip and Western Port. The Bracks Government’s commitment to protecting and enhancing Victoria’s coastal and marine environments includes investing responsibly to maintain and upgrade boating facilities and services, Mr Thwaites said."

Worthy organisations to be given payroll tax relief
Source: South Australia. Premier. Media Release
"Premier Mike Rann says organisations such as the Animal Welfare League and the RSPCA are likely to benefit from a new round of payroll tax relief measures being introduced by the State Government. Mr Rann says the new criteria will be included in legislation soon to be introduced into Parliament that will generally reform our payroll tax system and bring it into line with legislation in Victoria and New South Wales."

Step Forward for Virgin Blue International to Operate to the United States
Source: Australia. Minister for Transport and Regional Services. Media Release
"The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Regional Services, Mark Vaile, welcomed the announcement that Australia's International Air Services Commission (IASC) had allocated air service capacity to Virgin Blue International Airlines (VBIA) for air services between Australia and the United States of America."

HealthDirect Australia begins operation
Source: Australia. Minister for Health and Ageing. Media Release
"From 25 July 2007, people in the Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory and Western Australia can call a 24 hours a day, seven days a week call centre for health advice. HealthDirect Australia, once fully operational, will allow anyone anywhere in Australia to seek health advice from a registered nurse ensuring people have access to the health information they need, when they need it."

Cape York welfare reform trials to begin in 2008
Source: Australia. Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Media Release
"Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, announced $48 million to fund welfare reform trials in Cape York. Mr Brough said the Australian Government's agreement to support the trials followed consideration of the recommendations in the Cape York Institute's From Hand Out to Hand Up report, which was presented to the Australian Government in June."

Australia Joins Forces with the World Bank to Reduce Deforestation
Source: Australia. Minister for the Environment and Water Resources. Media Release
"Australia will contribute AU$11.7 million ($US10 million) to the World Bank’s new Global
Forest Alliance to help protect the world’s remaining great forests from deforestation and to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

New Global System to Monitor Forests
Source: Australia. Minister for Environment and Water Resources. Media Release
"Australia will lead action to establish a new global system to monitor changes in forest cover
and forest carbon levels as part of its $200 million Global Initiative on Forests and Climate."

Jobs And Training For Indigenous People In The NT
Source: Australia. Minister for Employment and Work Relations. Media Release
" The Hon Mal Brough MP, Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, and the Hon Joe Hockey MP, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, announced a further key step in the Emergency Response being implemented in the Northern Territory.
The Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) programme in the
Northern Territory will be progressively replaced by real jobs, training and mainstream employment programmes, complementing the work already in train to lift remote area exemptions.

Australian Government funding for literacy and numeracy
Source: Australia. Minister for Education, Science and Training. Media Release
"The Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, welcomed the confirmation from State and Territory Governments that they will participate in the national testing for literacy and numeracy in 2008, as required by the Australian Government under the current schools funding agreement. "

Remote Indigenous communities to benefit from emergency management plan
Source: Australia. Attorney General. Media Release
"A new strategy to prioritise support to remote Indigenous Communities in times of natural disaster has been unveiled today by Attorney-General Philip Ruddock at the coastal Indigenous community of Bidyadanga in Western Australia.
Called ‘Keeping Our Mob Safe’, the strategy is expected to guide governments in the development of emergency management planning and emergency services support."

Increased water efficiency measures brought in
Source: Western Australia. Minister for Water Resources. Media Release
"Water Resources Minister John Kobelke today announced water efficiency measures would be extended across the State."