Patient care and safety enters the digital age
Source: NSW. Minster for Health
"The State Government has started rolling out new electronic medical records (eMR)s technology into public hospitals across the State to help improve patient care and safety.
The Minister said the new technology would also make it easier for doctors and nurses to track the condition of patients through the health system as hospital information would be linked between facilities via eMRs. "

Expert Panel and Terms of Reference for Review into the Governance, Efficiency and Structure and Operation of Australia's Superannuation System
Source: Australia. Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law. Media Release
"Senator Nick Sherry, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law, has today announced the details of the Review into the governance, efficiency, structure and operation of Australia’s superannuation system including the membership of the Expert Panel and the Terms of Reference."

Pollution reduction support for Australian households
Source: Australia. Treasurer and Minister for Climate Change and Water. Joint Media Release
"Low and middle income families will be assisted in moving to a low pollution future as a result of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Amendment (Household Assistance) Bill 2009, tabled in Parliament today."

Australian Government to support future Indigenous media careers
Source: Australia. Minister for Employment Participation. Media release
"An Australian Government grant will help 60 Indigenous Australians to get their first big break in an Australian Football League sports media career.
Speaking at an event before the ‘Dreamtime at the G’ match, the Minister for Employment Participation, Brendan O’Connor launched the ‘Indigenous Radio Broadcasting’ project which the Rudd Government is supporting through funding of $441,600."

Rees Government helps problem gamblers inside venues
NSW. Minister for Liquor, Gaming and Racing
"The NSW Government has launched a new campaign to update anti-problem gambling
materials in the State’s gaming venues in an effort to deliver a consistent and effective message to gamblers."

National Centre for Rural Greenhouse Gas Research to be led by Professor Cowie
Source: NSW. Minister for Primary Industries, Minister for Energy
"The NSW DPI commits close to $100 million on research, development and extension each year, supporting agricultural and forestry industries that produce more than $9 billion worth of product annually," he said. "This latest initiative will position NSW to harness the new opportunities that will be created by the shift to a low-carbon economy."

Stronger defence against cyber bullying
Source: South Australia. The Premier
"Amongst other measures, principals can also now confiscate students’ mobile phones and hand them over to police as evidence, if there is reasonable suspicion that the phones have been used to record a crime."

Government Blitz on International Education Providers
Source: Victoria. Minister for Skills and Workforce Participation. Media Release
"The Brumby Government will carry out an immediate and rapid audit into the operations of Victoria’s international education providers, Skills and Workforce Participation Minister Jacinta Allan announced. Ms Allan said this will be an Australian-first for the international education industry and has the support of the Federal Education Minister Julia Gillard and Immigration Minister Chris Evans.“The Brumby Government is taking action to ensure Victoria retains its reputation as a leader of Australia’s $15 billion education export industry,” Ms Allan said.“The Brumby Government is committed to ensuring Victoria’s international students have access to the best educational infrastructure, support and programs available."

Victoria Working to Assist Disdvantaged Jobseekers
Source: Victoria. Minister for Skills and Workforce Participation. Media Release
"The Brumby Government is encouraging industry and community organisations to lodge expressions of interest to help 1150 disadvantaged Victorians enter the labour market. Skills and Workforce Participation Minister Jacinta Allan said the 09/10 State Budget provided $10.2 million to increase its current workforce participation goals to generate more opportunities for disadvantaged jobseekers.“The Brumby Government is taking action to assist people with barriers to employment develop skills and find a job,” Ms Allan said. “Now more than ever, it is vital that as many Victorians as possible are in work or training and that’s why we’ve funded the New Workforce Partnerships (NWP) program for a further two years.“I encourage industry and community organisations to work in partnership to tender for projects that deliver employment outcomes for disadvantaged jobseekers."

$650,000 To Grow Victoria's Agribusiness Sector
Source: Victoria. Minister for Regional and Rural Development. Media Release
"A $650,000 Brumby Government initiative will help Victoria’s agribusiness industry development and boost exports. Regional and Rural Development Minister Jacinta Allan said a $250,000 independent industry study and a $400,000 industry development program will help boost opportunities for Victorian corporate agribusiness enterprises.“The Brumby Government is taking action to support industry and develop sustainable agribusinesses for the future at a time of global economic uncertainty,” Ms Allan said. “Threats to the agribusinesses include drought, water security, climate change, industry structural adjustment, growing global competition, capital availability, and the need to collaborate to develop exports and investment. This independent study will assist government and industry develop a new way forward to boost production and trade while managing the impact of the global financial crisis, introduction of a carbon pollution reduction scheme and increasing employment in the sector.”

Victoria's Workforce to Learn More About Responsible Gambling
Source: Victoria. Minister for Gaming. Media Release
"Victorian workers will learn about responsible gambling through an employee education program launched by the Brumby Labor Government in partnership with the Victorian Employer’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI), employer groups and 22 local governments. Launching the campaign at Jayco Caravans in Dandenong, Gaming Minister Tony Robinson said the initiative was a fitting start to this year’s Responsible Gambling Awareness Week (May 25 – 31). Through this employee education program, VECCI will provide responsible gambling resources to its 15,000 members across Victoria through newsletters, websites, emails and CEO messages to be distributed to their employees.”

SMALL BUSINESS TAX BREAK BOOST
Australia. Treasurer. Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. Joint Media Release
"Small businesses will now be able to claim a bonus tax deduction of 50 per cent – up from 30 per cent previously of the cost of eligible assets acquired between 13 December 2008 and 31 December 2009, and installed by 31 December 2010."

$108M CRC FOSTERS HIGH-END MANUFACTURING
Source: Australia. Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. Media Release
"A $108 million Advanced Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre, officially launched by Innovation Minister, Senator Kim Carr, is working hard to foster increased collaboration, innovation, and productivity among Australia’s high-end manufacturers."

New Regulations for Better Children's Services
Source: Victoria. Premier. Media Release
"Victorian parents will benefit from better childcare services for their children under significant new reforms unveiled by the Brumby Government. At Yarraberg Children’s Centre in Richmond, the Premier John Brumby said the new Children’s Services Regulations 2009 would greatly improve childcare standards, boost staff to child ratios and increase staff qualification requirements. The new Children’s Services Regulations will boost childcare standards whilst ensuring childcare remains affordable for families, adaptive to their changing needs and attractive to quality childcare workers."

SUPPORTING WORLD-CLASS UNIVERSITY RESEARCH
Source: Australia. Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. Media Release
"The Rudd Government will increase Australia’s capacity to generate new ideas and technologies by investing more than $700 million more in world-class university research over the next four years."

GMO Ban Bill Passed
Source: Tasmania. Minister for Primary Industries and Water
"Tasmania’s ban on the release of genetically modified organisms to the environment will continue for at least another five years under a Bill passed by Parliament today (20/05/2009).
The Minister for Primary Industries and Water, David Llewellyn, said today that the State’s GMO-free status is a key factor in the Tasmanian Brand."

SUPER SCIENCE INITIATIVE
Source: Australia. Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. Media Release
"The Government will extend the nation's horizons with a $1.1 billion boost for critical areas of scientific endeavour, including astronomy, climate change, marine and life sciences, biotechnology and nanotechnology. "

Powering Ideas: an innovation agenda for the 21st century
Source: Australia. Dept of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. Report
"The Government has outlined its innovation agenda for Australia over the next decade in Powering Ideas: An Innovation Agenda for the 21st Century, supported by a $3.1 billion boost in funding over the next four years.
The Budget package includes more support for world class university research, a Super Science Initiative focusing on national research strengths, a new Research and Development Tax Credit and other measures to boost business innovation."

BUILDING INNOVATION IN TEXTILES, CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR
Source: Australia. Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. Media Release
"The Government will drive innovation and renewal in the Australian textiles, clothing and footwear (TCF) industries by investing $401.0 million in a retargeted TCF package from 2009-10 to 2015 16. The package redirects $55.0 million towards innovation, including $10.0 million in new funding."

Assistance for Self Funded Retirees
Source: Australia. Treasurer. Media Release
"From 1 July 2009, the Government will halve the minimum amounts self-funded retirees have to draw down from their account-based pensions for 2009-10."

R&D Tax Credit to Boost Business Investment
Source: Australia. Treasurer. Media Release
"The Rudd Government will simplify and enhance the Research and Development (R&D) Tax Concession so that it provides better incentives and more support for Australian jobs in the face of the global recession."

Australia's Future Tax System - The Retirement Income System: Report on Strategic Issues
Source: Australia. Treasury. Report
"The Government is pleased to launch the Australia's Future Tax System (AFTS) Report on the retirement income system prepared by the AFTS Review Panel.
This vital report accompanies historic measures in today's Budget to boost the level of the pension so that older Australians can live in dignity through their retirement."

Reform of Family Payments
Source: Australia. Treasurer. Media release
"In particular, the reforms will support low and middle income families with the cost of raising children and promote workforce participation and reward for effort. They will complement other key reforms in the tax and transfer systems, including increasing the Low Income Tax Offset."

Secure and Sustainable Pension Reform
Source: Australia. Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Media Release
"Australia's single pensioners will receive increases of up to $32.49 a week as part of the Australian Government's Secure and Sustainable Pension Reforms."

A Working Future: Real Towns, Real Jobs, Real Opportunities
Source: Northern Territory. Minister for Indigenous Policy and the Chief Minister
"A Working Future is a visionary six-part plan that will develop 20 large service towns, set a new path for homelands and outstations, and focus and coordinate the delivery of infrastructure, services and development in the remote Territory."