Fiona Stanley Hospital moves ahead - more than $100million of contracts to be awarded
Source: WA Minster for Health
"Expressions of interest are being sought from organisations and companies interested in providing cutting-edge goods and services for the new $1.76billion Fiona Stanley Hospital. Over the next three to four years, a full range of modern hospital furniture, fittings and equipment, as well as state-of-the-art medical, imaging and diagnostic equipment, will be required, along with a comprehensive range of hospital and operational support services. Health Minister Kim Hames said in excess of $100million had been allocated for the furniture, fittings and equipment to fit out the hospital. In addition, significant service contracts were being considered to provide operational support to the hospital."

Review concludes MPCI not commercially viable in WA
Source: WA. Minister for Agriculture and Food
"A review undertaken by the Department of Agriculture and Food has concluded a Multi Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) Scheme is not commercially viable in Western Australia. Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman said while he was supportive of an MPCI insurance scheme, it would have to be driven and funded by industry."

Transport Plan Open for Public Comment
Source: Tasmania. Minister for Infrastructure
"The State Government is seeking public comment on a draft plan which sets out the strategic framework for planning and investing in Southern Tasmania’s regional transport system over the next 20 years. This is the third and final regional transport plan for Tasmania, with Northern and Cradle Coast plans already in place."

Paid maternity and primary care giver leave now 18 weeks
Source: ACT. Chief Minister
Minister Hargreaves is pleased to announce the delivery of the Government's election commitment to extend paid maternity and primary care giver leave to 18 weeks and to double paid bonding leave. "The 2009-10 Budget provided funding of $7.06 million over four years to extend paid maternity and primary care giver leave for ACT public service employees, "said the Minister. "The increase, which covers all ACT Government agencies, puts the ACT ahead of the Federal Government as well as ahead of other states and the Northern Territory. This is the nation's most generous whole of government paid maternity leave scheme for State and Territory public sector workers," said MrHargreaves.

Coal to Liquids Project Offers New Opportunities in the Latrobe Valley
Source: Victoria. Minister for Energy and Resources. Media Release
"The Brumby Labor Government welcomed the announcement that a coal-to-liquids and coal drying project is planned to be built in the Latrobe Valley. Energy and Resources Minister Peter Batchelor said the announcement by Ignite Energy Resources (IER) and TRUenergy to build a demonstration project in the Latrobe Valley would boost local employment and provide an important step in the development of new and clean options for coal development in the valley. “The Brumby Labor Government has invested record levels in leveraging investment and job growth from the Latrobe Valley’s brown coal and, through projects such as this, it is fantastic to see industry also committing to the future development of our coal resource and the Latrobe Valley,” Mr Batchelor said.“The project is expected to process up to 60,000 tonnes of high moisture content brown coal per annum that will produce up to 60,000 barrels high grade oil and 18,000 tonnes of high-grade dry coal."

Test Drive the Arts - Free Tickets for First Timers
Source: Victoria. Minister for the Arts. Media Release
"Victorians have been invited to take the arts for a spin with thousands of free tickets available for first timers, through the Brumby Government’s new Test Drive the Arts program. Arts Minister Lynne Kosky said Test Drive the Arts was designed to encourage more Victorians to experience the state’s vibrant performing arts events. “The Brumby Government is taking action to ensure Victoria continues to be the home to some of the country’s most well respected and exciting artists and arts companies, and hosts a jam-packed calendar of arts events,” Ms Kosky said."

Victorian Government Delivers on Historic Early Learning Framework
Source: Victoria. Premier. Media Release
"A new national early childhood development strategy has been endorsed at COAG to ensure all Australian children have the best start in life, Premier John Brumby announced. Investing in the Early Years – A National Early Childhood Development Strategy commits the Commonwealth, states and territories to an ongoing reform program.Key priorities within the national strategy include:• Strengthening universal maternal and child health family services;• Supporting vulnerable children;• Engaging parents in the community;• Improving early childhood infrastructure;• Strengthening the early childhood workforce; and• Building policy based on solid evidence-based research."

PRINTERS SIGN UP FOR GREEN SAVINGS
Source: Queensland. Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability. Media Release
"Commercial printers in Queensland are receiving a helping hand to cut down on their water, energy and waste and other environmental impacts through a new State Government-funded program. Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Kate Jones launched the Sustainable Green Print program in Brisbane which will help printers go green. The Printing Industry Association of Australia developed the program with $59,000 in State Government funding.
The Sustainable Green Print program helps and encourages printers to improve their environmental performance and establishes four levels of certification to recognise the differing environmental credentials of various printers. Each certification level increases the environmental standards required."

Government poised to unveil planning strategies
Source: Queensland. Minister for Infrastructure and Planning. Media Release
"Planning for Queensland’s future development is at a critical stage, with four regional plans due to be launched over the next few months, Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe said. The first cab off the rank will be the South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009-2031, which has been finalised after five months of public consultation drew more than 3000 submissions. This will be followed by the launches of the Maronoa-Balonne, South West Queensland and Central West Queensland regional plans."

Pensioners and seniors score up to an extra $25 via electricity rebate
Source: Queensland. Premier and Minister for the Arts and the Minister for Community Services and Housing and Minister for Women. Media Release
"A 15% increase to the state electricity subsidy will take effect from July 1, meaning an extra $25 for up to 700,000 eligible Queensland seniors and pensioners. Premier Anna Bligh and Minister for Community Services Karen Struthers said the State Government would spend an extra $15.5 million in 2009-10 to fund the increased subsidy."

Innovative program strengthens Child Safety workforce
Source: Queensland. Minister for Child Safety and Minister for Sport. Media Release
"In less than 12 months, more than 300 temporary child safety officers have converted their status to permanent as part of an innovative new program being undertaken by the Bligh Government. Child Safety Minister Phil Reeves said Child Safety Services was committed to strengthening its frontline workforce. “All child protection agencies strive to retain suitably skilled staff as the work can be challenging and confronting,” Mr Reeves said. “However, Child Safety Services is implementing a range of strategies to enhance attraction and recruitment to these roles, and to improve retention in these vital positions.” Mr Reeves said these included initiatives to enhance employee safety, health and wellbeing as well as career progression and development."

QUEENSLAND PARTNERS IN EARLY EDUCATION RESEARCH PROJECT
Source: Queensland. Minister for Education and Training. Media Release
" $2.2 million research grant will help put Queensland at the forefront of vital research into Early Childhood Education, Education and Training Minister Geoff Wilson announced.
Mr Wilson said the Bligh Government was part of an international research team that secured an Australian Research Council (ARC) grant to evaluate the effectiveness of early education programs in Queensland and Victoria. “The research project will examine quality in early childhood education and care programs and the impact of programs on children’s development.”
The Bligh Government is implementing a range of early childhood education and care (ECEC) reforms to give children a flying start in life including an extra 240 kindergarten services over the next six years."

Urban renewal for inner Brisbane
Source: Queensland. Minister for Infrastructure and Planning. Media Release
"The vision for two key Brisbane locations have been released which will see the areas transformed from underutilised urban infill sites into world class precincts. The Queensland Government has approved the Northshore Hamilton and Bowen Hills Urban Development Area Development Schemes which will inform how these two areas will develop over the next 20 to 30 years. Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe said the development schemes provide a long term vision for the UDAs as well as a blueprint for how these visions can be achieved."

AUSTRALIAN ENERGY MARKET OPERATOR ESTABLISHED
Source: Australia. Minister for Resources and Energy. Media Release
"The Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson AM MP, has welcomed today’s establishment of the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).
The formation of a national institution to operate Australia's energy markets will create efficiencies and benefit all Australian energy consumers. AEMO will operate the existing electricity and gas energy markets in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory."

AUSTRALIA JOINS INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY
Source: Australia. Minister for Resources and Energy. Media Release
"Australia today became a member of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), further strengthening Australia’s global leadership role in renewable and low emission energy. "

Hearing Screening for all Australian Babies
Source: Australia. Prime Minister. Media Release
"The Australian Government will seek a commitment from States and Territories to deliver newborn Hearing Screening for all Australian babies from 1 January 2011. "

$55M BOOST TO TROPICAL MARINE SCIENCE
Source: Australia. Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. Media Release
"A $55 million boost to Tropical Marine Research will greatly increase understanding of Australia’s complex marine ecosystems and support jobs, particularly in regional areas, according to Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research."

National Rollout of KEYS2DRIVE
Source: Australia. Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Media Release
"The national rollout of keys2drive - an innovative driver education program which will provide up to 200,000 free driving lessons to learner drivers and their parents - has begun."

Assessment changes for skilled migrants from July 1
Source: Australia. Minister forImmigration and Citizenship. Media Release
"Trades people applying to live and work in Australia permanently from July 1 will require increased English language skills under changes introduced by the Rudd Government.
The change will mean that people applying for General Skilled Migration (GSM) visas overseas will have to pass a test showing they have competent English. In the past, the pass mark was vocational English which is a lower standard."

More than $2.7 Million Support for Older People from Non-English Speaking Backgrounds
Source: Australia. Minister for Ageing. Media Release
"Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot announced more than $2.7 million for organisations to help aged care service providers deliver culturally appropriate care."

1 July Brings Increased Aged Care Funding, Better Access to Services and More Information for Australian Families
Source: Australia. Minister for Ageing. Media Release
"Australian Government changes introduced from today will benefit older Australians and the aged care industry by providing more information, better access to services and increased funding for more aged care places."

Health Care Boost for Indigenous Australians
Source: Australia. Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery. Media Release
"Health care for Indigenous Australians receives a significant boost today with the introduction of programs aimed at improving services.Across the Health and Ageing portfolio, almost $1 billion is being allocated to health programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in 2009-10."

Health Care Initiatives Boost for Rural & Remote Australians
Source: Australia. Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery. Media Release
"A total of 10,447 new aged care places will be allocated across Australia. People living in rural and remote areas of Australia will receive a significant boost to their health services with the introduction from today of a number of Rudd Government initiatives."

More GP and midwife training support means more choice for Australian mothers
Source: Australia. Minister for Health and Ageing. Media Release
"Midwives and GPs, particularly those in rural and remote Australia, will get more support under a Rudd Government initiative to provide safe, quality maternity care to Australian women."

New Guidelines for Government Grants
Source: Australia. Minister for Finance and Deregulation. Media Release
"The Rudd Government today released new guidelines that promote the consistent, transparent and accountable administration of Commonwealth grants.
Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Lindsay Tanner said the Commonwealth Grant Guidelines were part of the Rudd Government’s reforms to Commonwealth grant programs."