Zero tolerance approach on bad behaviour extends to public primary schools
Source: Western Australia. Minister for Education and Training. Media Release
"More than 300 highly disruptive primary school students will be subject to intensive intervention and management each year, as part of the Carpenter Government’s zero tolerance approach to bad behaviour in State schools. Speaking at the WA Primary Principals’ Association Conference, Education and Training Minister Mark McGowan said the Government would establish five primary behaviour centres throughout the metropolitan area, to be operational from July."

Tender released for National Emissions Registry
Source: Australia. Minister for Climate Change and Water. Media Release
"The Department of Climate Change has released a request for tender to set up and manage an
Australian national registry under the Kyoto Protocol and ultimately for an Australian emissions
trading scheme."

$150 Million to Slash Elective Surgery Waiting Listsby Delivering Structural Reform
Source: Australia. Prime Minister and Minister for Health. Joint Media Release
"The Rudd Government today (24/5/08) announced a further $150 million to slash elective surgery waiting lists.
This funding builds upon the Government’s initial investment of $150 million for an immediate blitz on elective surgery waiting lists, announced earlier this year.
This new funding will deliver structural reform in the delivery of elective surgery, to ensure that there is lasting change in our hospitals. For example, this funding could be used to buy new, state-of-the-art surgical equipment and construct dedicated elective surgery units."

Melbourne to Host World Conference on Ageing
Source: Australia. Minister for Ageing. Media Release
"Melbourne has secured the right to host an international conference on ageing in 2010 – one of the largest international gatherings of world experts in the field, Australian Federal Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot announced today (29/5/08). It is expected to attract more than 2,000 delegates and will inject more than $8 million in to the economy."

Extra funding for outback public toilets project
Source: South Australia. Minister for Regional Development. Media release
"The Outback Areas Community Development Trust will receive nearly $130,000 from the State Government to improve the standard of public toilets in rural and remote South Australia.
The money is from the Upper Spencer Gulf & Outback Enterprise Zone Fund for two projects:
$67,500 for the Marla Septic Tank Effluent Disposal system upgrade and grey water reuse project.
$59,920 for the Outback Public Convenience upgrade project."

$11 million for metropolitan racing infrastructure
Source: South Australia. Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing. Media release
"$11 million dollars will be committed in this year’s State Budget for the construction of a second turf racetrack at Allan Scott Park Morphettville (ASPM) and redeveloping Gawler Racecourse into South Australia’s second metropolitan thoroughbred racing venue.
Racing Minister Michael Wright says with Victoria Park no longer considered a viable racing option by the SAJC and the impending closure of Cheltenham Racecourse, ASPM will soon be the only recognised metropolitan racing venue in South Australia."

National Child Protection Framework Discussion Paper
Source: Australia. Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Discussion paper
"The Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Jenny Macklin has released a discussion paper titled Australia's children: safe and well: A national framework for protecting Australia's children. The Discussion paper proposes better use of early intervention family support to support child protection, including a reference (page16) to the potential use of FRCs to deliver a wider range of services. There is also reference to the promotion of good parenting (page17) and better collaboration between services (page 18). "

New Flinders developments to attract more tourists
Source: South Australia. Minister for Tourism.Media release
'Tourism in the Flinders Ranges and Outback is riding high, as Tourism Minister Jane-Lomax-Smith launches two developments in the region today.
Minister Lomax-Smith says the $1 million upgrade of the Wadlata Outback Centre at Port Augusta and the unveiling of new mountain bike trails at Melrose will boost visitor numbers to the region even further."

Victorian Centre Brings New Technology to Australia
Source: Victoria. Minister for Innovation. Media Release
"Victoria has further strengthened its position as a global centre for medical research with the launch of the Victorian Centre for Functional Genomics (VCFG). Innovation Minister Gavin Jennings, officially launched the centre and said the Victorian Centre for Functional Genomics will use new technology to advance research in many areas where Victoria was already a leader. The centre, to be based at the Peter MacCallum (Peter Mac) Cancer Centre, is the only facility in Australia to provide a breakthrough new medical research technology, RNA interference (RNAi), that earned its inventors the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine,” Mr Jennings said. "

Local Planning Bodies the Next Step in Growth Strategy
Source: Victoria. Office of the Premier. Media Release
"The Premier, John Brumby announced further action to address Victoria’s population boom, with new joint Local and State Government committees to make planning decisions on key projects in areas of metropolitan significance. Releasing the State Government’s response to the recent Melbourne 2030 audit, Mr Brumby said new local Development Assessment Committees – and new Housing Growth Requirements for all metropolitan councils would ensure Melbourne’s established suburbs helped accommodate the state’s booming population and contribute to better housing affordability. Our new initiatives also lock in a partnership between the State and Local Governments to shape the future of our city. Our estimates are that the new initiatives, combined with our release of land in growth areas this year will provide capacity for around 365,000 new dwellings to address our population boom.”

Students Get Educated on Gambling Issues
Source: Victoria. Minister for Gaming. Media Release
"Victorian students are being given more help to make informed decisions about gambling in a new curriculum kit aimed at students in years seven to 10 and those studying under Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL). Gaming Minister Tony Robinson launched the comprehensive responsible gambling school-based learning program aimed as part of Responsible Gambling Awareness Week 2008, which runs throughout Victoria this week. “The Brumby Government is talking action to protect Victorians from the harm associated with problem gambling and the learning program aimed to give young people the knowledge, skills and behaviour to make informed decisions about gambling and money management throughout their lives,” Mr Robinsons said."

Inquiry into Regional Centres of the Future Launched
Source: Victoria. Minister for Regional and Rural Development. Media Release
"Regional and Rural Development Minister Jacinta Allan launched a Parliamentary inquiry into the future investment needs of regional Victoria in State Parliament. Ms Allan said the Regional and Rural Affairs Committee Inquiry into Regional Centres of the Future would examine what additional measures may be needed to build on the Brumby Government’s record investment in regional and rural Victoria. “The Brumby Government is taking action to ensure provincial Victoria has the right investment and infrastructure to support the future needs of families in regional Victoria,” Ms Allan said. The inquiry will focus on the future of provincial Victoria, examining productivity, sustainability and liveability to ensure regional Victoria can meet the challenge of future population growth.”

New Rules to Stop Jurors Making Own Investigations
Source: Victoria. Office of the Attorney General. Media Release
"Jurors and panel members involved in a lengthy empanelment for trials will be prohibited from making their own enquiries under legislation introduced by Deputy Premier and Attorney-General Rob Hulls. Mr Hulls said the new prohibition on enquiries by jurors and jury pool members was necessary to ensure that those sitting on trials were making decisions based on the evidence seen and heard in court.“In light of advances in technology, there are ever-increasing opportunities for jurors to undertake research relating to trial participants and events,” Mr Hulls said.“There have been appeals in New South Wales which have emphasised the damage caused by undirected juror investigations, not only to the viability of public prosecutions, but also to the peace of mind of victims of crime.“Such investigations can lead to jurors accessing potentially irrelevant and prejudicial material, which will affect the result of the trial. There have been retrials in New South Wales as a result of undirected juror investigations.” Those who breach the new prohibition on enquiries face a fine of up to $13,214, which Mr Hulls hopes will act as a deterrent."

WA first to meet world target for threatened species
Source: Western Australia. Minister for the Environment. Media Release
"Western Australia has become the first partner in a global seed conservation program to meet one of the international targets for conserving threatened plants. Environment and Climate Change Minister David Templeman said the achievement positioned WA as a world leader in conservation. The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, part of the Convention on Biological Diversity, has set a target for 60 per cent of threatened plant species to be in accessible seed collections, preferably in the country of origin, and for 10 per cent of them to be included in recovery programs by 2010. The Department of Environment and Conservation’s Threatened Flora Seed Centre now holds seed collections from more than 70 per cent of the State’s threatened (declared rare) flora species. “WA is the first place in the world where both aspects of this target have been met,” the Minister said."

WA leads way on franchise industry reform
Source: Western Australia. Minister for Small Business. Media Release
"Western Australia is leading the charge in creating greater certainty for both franchisors and franchisees in laws governing the franchising industry, Small Business Minister Margaret Quirk said. Australian State and Territory and New Zealand Small Business ministers at the Small Business Ministerial Council in Christchurch, New Zealand, welcomed the recommendations made by an independent inquiry into WA’s franchise business. “The State Government’s position that consideration should continue to be given to the introduction of a well-defined obligation for parties to bargain and negotiate in ‘good faith’ as part of the franchising code of conduct was endorsed by all ministers,” Ms Quirk said. "

Sex offender assets to be returned to WA community
Source: Western Australia. Attorney General. Media Release
"The properties of eight sexual offenders and alleged sexual offenders have been frozen, with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions considering the confiscation of a further four properties. Attorney General Jim McGinty said properties owned by sex offenders and used in the sexual abuse of minors would be seized under the Criminal Confiscation Act. “We expect the eight properties to yield nearly $5million for the people of Western Australia,” Mr McGinty said.
The community is understandably outraged by these heinous crimes and is demanding tough penalties for these offenders."

$24milllion utility support net catches WA families in crisis
Source: Western Australia. Minister for Child Protection. Media Release
"Western Australians in financial hardship are set to benefit from a $24million State Government relief package that will reduce their risk of having essential utilities disconnected and provide them with free financial counselling. Child Protection Minister Sue Ellery said the package was a major support net for the increasing number of individuals and families who were finding themselves at the wrong end of the State’s economic boom. “The Government is introducing a Hardship Utilities Grants Scheme to help people pay their overdue utility bills before disconnection, and will provide these people with free financial advice to reduce the future likelihood of disconnection,” Ms Ellery said."

New apprentice card the key to savings
Source: Western Australia. Minister for Education and Training. Media Release
"More than 8,480 of Western Australia’s 36,278 apprentices and trainees have signed up for a new loyalty card that will provide access to special discounts and offers. Education and Training Minister Mark McGowan today launched the Apprentice Edge card, which will give apprentices and trainees access to a range of discounted goods, services and attractions throughout the State.
“Discounts on offer at leading outlets include food, fashion, fitness clubs, haircuts, travel, movie tickets, DVD hire and recreational activities,” Mr McGowan said. “Projections show WA will need an extra 180,000 skilled workers by 2016, and so it is vital to support up-and-coming tradespeople. This new scheme is designed to make life a little easier while they are training."

New digital initiative for artists is an Australian first
Source: Western Australia. Minister for Culture and the Arts. Media Release
"An Australian-first initiative will give Western Australian artists an opportunity to reach and interact with new audiences through ABC television and online. Culture and Arts Minister Sheila McHale said the iArts project would partner selected WA artists and musicians with WA producers to create interactive works that could be streamed online, podcast, vodcast or broadcast on mobile networks and on ABC TV. “iArts is the first initiative of its kind in Australia and is an excellent example of cross-industry collaboration,” Ms McHale said. It will give WA artists an opportunity to develop critical online business skills which will help them profile their work nationally and internationally."

Getting good teachers into challenging schools
Source: Australian Policy Online. Suzanne Rice
"Australia has relatively high levels of education, and our students perform well in international achievement tests, but there is an unacceptable gap between the performance of our best students and our weakest, many of whom are pooled in schools that are hard to staff. While there are undoubtedly some outstanding teachers in hard-to-staff schools, one way to address this achievement gap is to get more of the very best teachers into the most challenging schools, and this has been behind recent calls to give top teachers salary incentives to work in disadvantaged settings. But is money the only answer?"

Preschool education in Australia
Source: Australian Policy Online.Marilyn Harrington / Information and Research Services, Parliamentary Library
"Following on from its election commitment to ensure preschool access for four-year-old children, the Australian Government is proceeding with its plans to provide access to ‘universal’ preschool education. This commitment is supported by an overwhelming body of evidence attesting to the efficacy of early childhood education for school and later life outcomes, as well as a growing economic argument for greater investment on the basis of productivity gains."

Legislation Toughens Up 40 Km/Hour Limit
Source: Minister for Infrastructure. Media release.
"Legislation to strengthen the enforcement of new 40 km/h electronic speed limit signs through school zones was introduced to State Parliament today.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure, Graeme Sturges, said that the legislative amendment would allow the Transport Commission to issue an evidentiary certificate that an electronic speed limit sign was operating on a particular date, at a particular time, at a particular place, and was displaying a particular speed limit.

New Era in Water Management
Source: Tasmania. Minister for Primary Industries and Water. Media Release.
"A project to revolutionise water management in Tasmania moves to the implementation phase, with commercial water-users in four catchments installing approved meters over the coming three months.
Primary Industries and Water Minister, David Llewellyn, said that the system would be efficient, timely, accurate and transparent - providing excellent water management information to both irrigators and DPIW.
Ultimately, all major users extracting water from Tasmanian waterways will be part of the new system, which uses wireless telemetry to provide near real-time water data to a central database."

Safer Northern Suburbs for Territory Families
Source: Northern Territory. Chief Minister. Media release.
"A community safety review of Darwin’s largest retail and business precinct and construction of the new Casuarina Police Station is helping to build safer northern suburbs for Territory families, Chief Minister and Police Minister Paul Henderson announced today.
Mr Henderson said the Government has instigated a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) audit at the Casuarina retail and business precinct. ...
“CPTED expert, Mr Tony Lake from AMTAC, is working closely with precinct management, retail owners and staff to identify potential hot spots and areas of concern around the precinct, and an online survey is available for shoppers to have their say. "

New Teacher Housing Closing the Gap
Source: Northern Territory. Minister for Employment, Education and Training. Media release.
"Education Minister Marion Scrymgour today announced that the construction of an extra 22 houses for teachers in remote communities was on track to be finished by the end of the dry season.
Ms Scrymgour said increased accommodation for teachers was a key education commitment under the Northern Territory Government’s Closing the Gap package to address Indigenous disadvantage."