Government focuses on alcohol initiatives
Source: NT. Minister for Health. Media Release
"The Northern Territory Government is continuing the fight against alcohol abuse and misuse with the passing of two pieces of legislation. The Liquor Legislation Amendment Act provides for the establishment of an electronic photo ID system for the purchase of alcohol in Alice Springs and the Katherine region. The electronic ID system is aimed at reducing excessive and harmful consumption of alcohol, the Alcohol Policy Minister Chris Burns said. Under the new legislation licensees will be required to scan all customers’ photo ID before any takeaway alcohol sale.
The system will identify:
those with a prohibition or alcohol intervention order in place
those whose court-imposed bail conditions prohibit alcohol consumption
those with court-imposed domestic violence orders against them prohibiting alcohol consumption"

ACT Homelessness Charter launched
Source: ACT. Minister for Disability and Community Services
"Minister for Disability and Community Services Ms. Katy Gallagher MLA has launched the ACT Homelessness Charter to increase community, government and service recognition of the rights of Canberrans who are experiencing homelessness. Representatives of the homelessness services sector also launched the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program Service Guarantee. Ms Gallagher said the ACT Homelessness Charter focused broad principles while the Service Guarantee set out what people can expect from homelessness service providers and clearly defined the services and support available. The charter acknowledges that people who are experiencing homelessness have the same basic human rights afforded to the entire community, she said. It recognises that the right to inclusion, dignity, respect, non-discrimination, safety and freedom, are particularly important to people experiencing homelessness”.

Groundbreaking Approach Unveiled in New Supportive Housing Facility for Melbourne
Source: Victoria. Office of the Premier. Media Release
"A groundbreaking partnership between the Brumby Government and Melbourne company Grocon would see a $50 million supportive housing facility for long-term homeless people built in Melbourne. Premier John Brumby said the development, to be located at 660 Elizabeth St on the edge of the CBD, would provide a home for up to 120 people, with the support of health services, training and employment help on-site.“This Government is taking action to reduce disadvantage and we understand that for people who are chronically homeless, housing alone is not the answer,” Mr Brumby said.“They also need to be close to the right type of support services, and that is exactly what will be provided through this groundbreaking approach to supportive housing. Homeless people often have complex needs, poor health and possibly substance abuse problems which can result in little if any connection to the community or their family. By using a supportive housing model, residents here will be supported long-term, not be bouncing in and out of the emergency health system, the justice system and a range of social services without ever making real progress."

Affordable housing for needy families
Source: South Australia. Minister for Housing. Media Release
"More disadvantaged families will have a roof over their heads this winter, thanks to a joint project between the State Government and Lutheran Community Care, which will provide eight homes north and south of the city. Housing Minister Jay Weatherill will launch the Calvary Housing Association, which aims to provide affordable housing for families on low to middle incomes. Mr Weatherill said the partnership has helped needy families into new homes. The families can now settle into their new homes knowing they have affordable rent, long term security and a supportive land lord who is committed to helping them move forward with their lives. This project is another step in the State Government’s commitment to providing affordable housing through partnerships with the private and non-government sectors."

Government Looks to Increase Competition Across the Economy with Changes to Foreign Investment Rules
Source: Australia. Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs. Media Release
"The Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs, Chris Bowen MP, today announced that the Rudd Government will change the foreign investment policy to extend the timeframe for the development of vacant commercial land from 12 months to 5 years. “This change to the foreign investment policy is aimed at increasing competition in the economy,” Mr Bowen said. “The current time limit on foreign investors discourages new competitors from entering the market and prevents some existing competitors from expanding their business because they cannot secure forward purchases of land in growth areas and ‘Greenfields’ sites. “The change recognises the reality facing commercial land purchasers that 12 months is simply not enough time for completing all the statutory and commercial processes required to enable development to commence. “The Rudd Government believes that a 5 year limit strikes the right balance between encouraging competition while preventing foreign investors from land banking and speculating. This reform creates a more level playing field, and pulls down the barriers to entry to foster competition."

New System to Streamline Energy Reporting
Source: Australia. Minister for Resources and Energy. Media Release
"Company reporting on energy use will be easier under a new streamlined system, Minister for Resources, Energy and Tourism, Martin Ferguson AM MP, and Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, announced. Regulations governing the Federal Government's Energy Efficiency Opportunities (EEO) program will be amended from 1 July 2008 to enable participating companies to streamline energy use reporting with requirements under the new National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System. The EEO program is a key component of the Government’s push to improve energy use by Australia’s largest energy-using businesses. It requires companies using more than 0.5 petajoules of energy a year to undertake energy efficiency opportunity assessments and report publicly on the results of those assessments and measures planned to reduce energy use. The EEO program covers around 60 per cent of Australia’s total business energy use."

Taskforce to Drive the North's Economic Development
Source: Australia. Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Media Release
"The Rudd Labor Government will transfer the $20 million Northern Land and Water Taskforce to the newly created Office of Northern Australia and broaden its terms of reference.
Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Development and Northern Australian, Gary Gray, made the announcement during an address to the True North Conference in Darwin. I am delighted the Rudd Government has decided to place the Taskforce within the Office of Northern Australia and give it a broader sustainability focus," said Mr Gray. This move is an indication of just how serious the new Government is about attracting and encouraging development opportunities across the country's vast north that deliver social, environmental and economic benefits."

Foreign students gain automatic work rights in Australia
Source: Australia. Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. Media Release
"International students will be eligible to work part-time in Australia automatically under new streamlined visa arrangements introduced this week, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, said. Senator Evans said international students can work for up to 20 hours a week while their course is in session but previously had to apply separately for permission to work. Under the new processing arrangements which come into effect from 26 April, all student visas will be granted with work rights attached, removing the need for people to make a separate application, Senator Evans said. 'It means that international students can apply for part-time jobs in Australia as soon as their courses start."

More Health Services For Indigenous Families
Source: Australia. Minister for Health and Ageing. Media Release
"The Government announced the first sites for its expansion of Indigenous child and maternal health services, as well as 30 new Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarships to help Indigenous health professionals studying child and maternal health. These initiatives form part of the Government’s $260 million Indigenous early childhood package. The Government will also deliver $18 million in immediate funding to six sites to help boost primary health care service delivery in areas where health services are lacking. By helping tackle disturbing trends in infant mortality, low birth weights and poor access to health care, these initiatives will play an important role in closing the 17-year life expectancy gap within a generation by giving Indigenous kids the best possible start in life. Investing in early childhood health is one of the best investments we can make in Australia’s future."

Rudd Government Acts to Strengthen Laws to Promote Fair Competition
Source: Australia. Minister for Small Business, Independent Contractors and the Service Economy. Media Release
"The Rudd Government announced a package of measures aimed at promoting competition and cracking down on anti-competitive behaviour by powerful businesses. The Government will move to further defend small business from predatory pricing and give it a permanent voice in the competition watchdog the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (the ACCC), amongst other key reform to the Trade Practices Act 1974. Small business and consumers demand nothing less than an effective trade practices regime. Reforming the Trade Practices Act to bring it into the 21st century has been an article of faith for this Government."

Government announces Disability Investment Group
Source: Australia. Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services. Media Release
"The Australian Government has established a Disability Investment Group to explore innovative funding ideas from the private sector that will help people with disability and their families' access greater support and plan for the future. Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services, Bill Shorten, said the group would encourage the private sector to play a greater role in the disability sector. "The Disability Investment Group will look closely at identifying and developing options for private investment in housing, education, employment, equipment and other support for people with disability," Mr Shorten said. There is a real role the private sector can play here, and it is the Disability Investment Group's job to find out what barriers are stopping private investment, and what can be done to remove them."

Helping Families Affected by Drug Abuse
Source: Australia. Minister for Families, Housing and Indigenous Affairs. Media Release
"Eighteen organisations across the country, working with families affected by substance abuse, will receive a $3 million boost over the next financial year as part of the National Illicit Drugs Strategy Strengthening Families program. Harmful drug use by one person within a family can have disastrous health and social consequences for other family members. Substance abuse can wreck lives and destroy families and has far reaching implications for the broader community. The personal cost to families from substance abuse can be devastating often resulting in mental health problems, domestic violence, chronic illness and social isolation. The Australian Government is increasing funding to support children affected by their parent's drug abuse, people trying to deal with a partner's drug abuse and adolescents who are abusing drugs and whose drug use is affecting their siblings. The funding will also help grandparents who find themselves raising grandchildren because the children's parents are abusing drugs."

Government Action to End Delays for Solar Rebate
Source: Australia. Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts. Media Release
"The Rudd Government has taken action to end unacceptable delays experienced by homeowners seeking to access the Federal Government's $1,000 rebate for installing a solar hot
water service. Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, said that the system for processing rebate claims established by the previous government meant in some cases homeowners were waiting up to 26 weeks to be paid their solar rebate. The delays being experienced by home-owners under the previous government’s system are unacceptable and we have taken action to streamline and change the process so that eligible consumers can get their rebate money in their hands a lot quicker.”

Minister Invites Small Business Action on Climate Change
Source: Australia. Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts. Media Release
"The Rudd Government has invited 500 small businesses to participate in a new climate change
initiative designed to provide greater information on private sector energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, Minister for the Environment, Peter Garrett, said. “Tackling climate change requires gaining a better understanding of all the contributing factors, including energy use in each sector of our society,” Mr Garrett said. “The inaugural Small Business Climate Change Action Initiative will provide a detailed analysis on the behavioural use of energy in the small business sector.” Five hundred small businesses offering a range of different products and services across selected metropolitan and regional areas will undertake energy audits designed to provide the government with information that will shape future policy."

Indigenous program to ease Alice Springs skills shortages
Source: Australia. Minister for Workforce Participation. Media Release
"The Minister for Employment Participation, Brendan O’Connor, launched a new training program designed to reduce skills shortages and boost Indigenous employment in Alice Springs.
The Australian Government has provided $80,000 through the Structured Employment and Training Projects (STEP) program to the Centre for Appropriate Technology (CAT) project to train six Indigenous employees in its Technical Skills and Corporate Services areas.
Employees will use the training to qualify the Australian Quality Training Framework for qualified trainers and assessors, allowing them to assess the training needs of individuals and organisations, and to design appropriate accredited training programs for clients."

Boarding boost for Indigenous students
Source: Australia. Minister for Education. Media Release
" The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard has announced that $2 million of funding will be delivered to improve facilities at a boarding school in North Queensland. Mt St Bernard College will receive urgent funding assistance to replace and refurbish outdated boarding accommodation facilities under the Indigenous Boarding Infrastructure program. The college is a co-educational Catholic secondary school that provides boarding accommodation for girls, and is made up of mostly Indigenous students from remote communities. "

New fund to strengthen higher education
Source: Australia. Minister for Education. Media Release
"The Minister for Education, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, invited universities to apply for the first round of funding under the new Diversity and Structural Adjustment Fund. This fund promotes greater specialisation among providers, better responsiveness to labour markets and diversification in the higher education sector. The Australian Government has allocated $206 million to encourage greater diversity in the higher education sector by encouraging universities to develop strategies to support their unique missions and areas of strength."

Aboriginal communities get connected
Source: Western Australia. Minister for Industry and Enterprise. Media Release
"Superior broadband services, a new training centre and better emergency response equipment are making life a lot easier in remote Aboriginal communities in the Ngaanyatjarra Lands. Industry and Enterprise Minister Francis Logan announced that the provision of high-speed broadband and improved telecommunications in six remote communities was now completed. Mr Logan announced that the second stage of the Ngaanyatjarra Lands Telecommunications project would see another six communities connected."

Independent Review of Family Violence Sentences
Source: Victoria. Office of the Attorney General. Media Release
"The Sentencing Advisory Council will review sentences handed down by Victorian courts for breaches of family violence intervention orders, Deputy Premier and Attorney-General Rob Hulls said. “The State Government is committed to improving the way the justice system responds to family violence,” Mr Hulls said.“As the Government prepares to introduce a new Family Violence Act, it is timely for the Sentencing Advisory Council to review sentences handed down for these breaches.” The review was recommended by the Victorian Law Reform Commission in its report on family violence laws. The Sentencing Advisory Council will also examine the appropriate maximum penalty for a breach of an intervention order. The Government is introducing a new Family Violence Act to better protect victims of family violence and hold perpetrators to account for their actions. The legislation will be introduced into Parliament later this year."

Easier Access to School Activities for Foster Children
Source: Victoria. Minister for Community Services. Media Release
"The Brumby Government will make it easier for children in foster care to have access to everyday school activities, under changes announced by Community Services Minister Lisa Neville. Opening Anglicare Victoria’s annual staff conference, Ms Neville said new permissions guidelines would allow foster carers to sign permission forms for school excursions or similar activities without Departmental approval. “It is a common sense approach that will help to ensure children and young people in care get the chance to participate in age-appropriate activities with their peers,” Ms Neville said. Creating a home-like environment for children in foster care is extremely important, and this change will help do that."

Reference Council to Focus on Climate Change
Source: Victoria. Minister for Environment and Climate Change. Media Release
"The Brumby Government has established Australia’s first Ministerial Reference Council that specifically deals with climate change adaptation. Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings said the council, which meets for the first time next week (Thursday, 24 April) will advise the Government on the best way to manage the challenges of adapting to climate change in Victoria. “The Brumby Government is ready to take action meet the challenges faced particularly by our regional communities posed by climate change. We won’t let these regions be left behind as we address these important issues facing Victorians,” Mr Jennings said.“The council’s role will include advising the Government on how Victoria can adapt to climate change across all sectors and regions, identifying research priorities and creative solutions. Victoria is a national leader in climate change policy and the council will focus on building the capacity of our communities to address the challenges and opportunities of climate change."

New Plan Aims to Cut Red Tape and Net Green Rewards
Source: Victoria. Minister for the Environment and Climate Change. Media Release
"The Brumby Government has released a discussion paper seeking feedback on a new regulatory approach which aims to protect the environment as well as cutting red tape for business. Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings said the discussion paper seeks community feedback on proposed environmental offset approaches that will deliver ‘net’ environmental gains.“The Brumby Government is taking action to fight climate change,” Mr Jennings said. “Environmental offsets are about identifying opportunities where governments can work with industry to achieve better environmental outcomes at less cost.“For example, a company can offset a discharge of suspended solids to a river by revegetating and stabilising river banks to prevent erosion and reduce the amount of nutrients and other pollutants entering the river."

Victoria to Trial Plastic Bag Reduction Campaign
Source: Victoria. Minister for Environment and Climate Change. Media Release
"The Brumby Government and the Australian National Retailers Association will embark on a trial to help reduce plastic bag use in Victoria. Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings said under a pilot project to start in the second half of this year, major supermarket and retailers will voluntarily place a charge on plastic bags at selected sites around Victoria.“The Brumby Government is taking action on environmental challenges and this is the first real action from a state in six years of debate on the plastic bags issue,” Mr Jennings said.“We would like to have a charge that would have a real impact in lowering the number of bags. Figures between 10 cents and 25 cents have been talked about.

New Excellence Program for Tourism Operators
Source: Victoria. Minister for Tourism and Major Events. Media Release
"Tourism and Major Events Minister Tim Holding, is urging tourism operators across Victoria to get involved in the Tourism Excellence program. Mr Holding launched the final module of the program, Participation – Getting Involved, which will focus on nurturing the development of industry leaders. “The Tourism Excellence program provides online training and tools for tourism operators to enable them to get the best from their workforce, deliver the best possible visitor experience and increase visitor numbers and expenditure,” Mr Holding said. “The Tourism Excellence Program provides tourism operators and their staff with the opportunity to develop a competitive edge over other destinations.” Mr Holding said the new module would encourage Victoria’s tourism industry to share information, promote joint regional tourism products and foster professional development."

Graffiti Vandals Will Face Up to Two Years Jail
Source: Victoria. Minister for Police and Emergency Services. Media Release
"Tough new anti-graffiti laws which come into effect will give police greater powers to catch graffiti vandals and mean jail time and hefty fines for offenders. Police Minister Bob Cameron said vandals charged with the new marking graffiti offence could now face up to two years’ jail and a fine of more than $26,000. “Police will be able to issue an on-the-spot fine of $550 to anyone carrying spray paint cans on or adjacent to public transport without a lawful excuse or anywhere a person is trespassing,” Mr Cameron said. Mr Cameron said the new laws were part of a Brumby Government anti-graffiti package giving councils greater powers to remove graffiti from private property and expands a program in which offenders could be forced to clean up graffiti."