SearchArchives for August 2008
27 August, 2008Auditor switches on electricity report
The Auditor-General has reported to Parliament on the Government’s plans to restructure the State electricity industry.
The Auditor, Peter Achterstraat was ordered to undertake the review following recent changes to the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983.
His review followed announcements by the Government that it intended privatising Government-owned sections of the industry, a plan that has caused great interest in the community.
In his report, which he made clear was “not an audit,” the Auditor-General made four recommendations, but found overall that the restructure program was financially responsible.
“Nothing has come to my attention that causes me to believe that the Government’s strategy for the transfer of assets to the private sector as set out in the Strategy Document supplied by the Treasurer is not appropriate for maximising financial value for taxpayers,” the Auditor-General said.
“Based on information provided by Treasury, the planned measures for the proposed employee protections are generally consistent with other privatisations and Government restructures, except for the employment guarantees.”
He said the five year employment guarantee for some of the workers who would be displaced by the sale exceeded similar guarantees in other privatisation projects which were for three years or less. He also found that the customer protections to be part of the deal were “broadly consistent” with those of other jurisdictions.
The Auditor-General identified key matters which he said could enhance the Government’s strategy of maximising employment opportunities through the sale while achieving a reasonable financial return.
“In the electricity sector, there are often a number of ways of executing a restructuring that are equally valid,” he said.
The Auditor-General included as ‘key matters’:
- The suggestion that steps be taken to encourage new entrants in the market to promote competition;
- That Treasury calculate a retention value of each component prior to selling it; and
- That it set reserve prices and adopt contingency plans in case the reserves were not met
The report could be accessed at www.audit.nsw.gov.au
27 August, 2008
Privacy watchdog lets Agencies off leash
The Privacy Commissioner has issued a direction to allow the NSW Ombudsman access to some personal information held by Public sector Agencies during his preliminary enquiries.
According to the Privacy Commissioner, the Ombudsman is able to make ‘preliminary enquiries’ before deciding whether to investigate a public authority and in the course of that preliminary investigation may need to collect information from Agencies or to request that they disclose it to him.
“This Direction has been made to allow Public Sector Agencies to co-operate with the Ombudsman when the Ombudsman is conducting preliminary inquiries under section 13AA of the Ombudsman Act 1974,” the Commissioner said.
“I am satisfied that the public interest in making this Direction is greater than the public interest in requiring Public Sector Agencies to comply with the Information Protection Principles.”
The Commissioner said the direction applied only to the disclosure of Personal Information covered by the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 to the Ombudsman in response to his request and that it did not apply to health information
“This Direction is to apply to every Public Sector Agency,” the Commissioner said.
“This Direction has effect until 31 December 2008.
27 August, 2008
10-year landscape for DECC parks plan
The Department of Environment and Climate Change has published its National Parks Establishment Plan which sets out priorities for the next 10 years.
While recognising that more parks and reserves were needed and the long-term mission of providing them could take 50 years, DECC said it was only because of the far-sighted actions of Governments, volunteer groups and individuals over 130 years that the existing network was in place.
“This network of nearly 800 individual areas covers more than 8% of the State,” the plan said.
“But the job of building this public reserve system is incomplete.”
It said many of NSW’s ecosystems, particularly those west of the Great Dividing Range and on the coastal lowlands were “poorly represented in the park network” and to fully conserve the diversity of the State’s landscapes, fauna and flora and protect important heritage areas “more parks and reserves are needed.
“Recent scientific studies by CSIRO (2008) have also indicated that the establishment of a diverse and resilient reserve system will be essential to minimising the losses to biodiversity that climate change will inevitably bring.”
The plan identifies three stages in the process of building the network: establishing new reserve nodes, building-up existing reserves and fine-tuning boundaries.
The plan focuses on the next 10 years and would broadly involve three parallel strategies:
- Establishing new reserves in parts of far western and central western NSW, where reserves currently protected less than 5% of the landscape;
- Building-up existing reserves on the western slopes and tablelands; and
- Fine-tuning existing reserve boundaries along the coast and coastal ranges
“A securely protected and well-managed public reserve system is an essential component of the infrastructure needed by societies to ensure their long-term sustainability,” Ms Firth said.
The National Parks Establishment Plan could be viewed at www.environment.nsw.gov.au
27 August, 2008
Ombudsman snuffs out police drug trial
The NSW Ombudsman has found that a trial of increased police powers to crack down on drug users and traffickers has been ineffective.
In a report tabled in Parliament, the Ombudsman, Bruce Barbour, said the extra stop and search powers allocated to police led to uncovering drugs in only 2 per cent of cases with the majority of finds being extremely small amounts of cannabis.
The Ombudsman’s report followed a 12 month review of the Police Powers (Drug Detection Trial) Act 2003.
The Act empowered Police to use sniffer dogs to detect drugs in cars stopped at roadside check points over an 18 month trial period.
“Despite the best efforts of police, the trial powers were ineffective in assisting police to apprehend drug couriers on a sustained basis,” Mr Barbour said.
He said the rapid dissemination of information about the nature and location of check points via CB radio and mobile phones posed difficult challenges for police who relied on surprise when targeting drug couriers.
He said the limited ability and accuracy of sniffer dogs to detect drugs while screening the outside of vehicles also reduced the police’s capacity to target heavy vehicles involved in drug trafficking.
“I have considerable reservations about whether these, or similar powers will ever result in the cost-effective detection of persons involved in road-based drug trafficking,” he said.
Mr Barbour recommended Parliament consider whether it was worth continuing the trial powers given the minimal success of the current trial and a previous one of similar nature.
He recommended Parliament look at allowing the sunset provision – the clause stipulating the end of the trial period - to automatically repeal the legislation, which was due to occur on 22 August 2008.
27 August, 2008
Plans come to life in Council upgrade
Local Councils are to be given tough new information-gathering and cost recovery powers as part of the ongoing process of streamlining planning functions across the State.
Planning Minister, Frank Sartor announced that from early September, Councils would be able to seek reimbursement for the costs of reassessing some amended Development Applications and would be able to demand additional information to assess planning proposals.
Mr Sartor said the first changes would ensure Councils were reimbursed for resources spent assessing DAs that had been amended by an applicant in Court.
He said the second change meant Councils would have the power to make people, including applicants and accredited certifiers, answer questions and provide information necessary for the Council to exercise its planning functions.
He said the changes would help Councils deliver the best planning outcomes in the most effective and efficient manner.
“By giving Councils these additional powers and protections, we’re making certifiers and developers more accountable and helping planners better deliver what the community wants,” Mr Sartor said.
He said the information-gathering powers were being introduced to ensure Councils had access to all relevant information and could undertake their planning and enforcement functions in the best way possible.
“This change will particularly assist Councils in ensuring compliance with conditions of consent as well as taking enforcement action if there is a breach of development consent,” Mr Sartor said.
“It will also make it an offence for a person to fail to provide information, wilfully obstruct an authorised officer or to provide false or misleading information to a Council.”
He said a number of other minor amendments to the State’s planning legislation would also come into effect on 1 September.
He said the first set of changes under the planning reforms had commenced on 1 August, with the remainder to begin in stages over the coming months.
27 August, 2008
Health hotline to lower pressure
A new healthcare call centre has been launched in an effort to ease the pressure on emergency departments in the State’s hospitals.
Announced by the Minister for Health, Reba Meagher and her Federal counterpart, Nicola Roxon, the new Centre is staffed by nurses who can advise on a range of health issues and recommend where a caller could best access the most relevant health services.
Ms Meagher said the centre could offer advice on mental health issues, help for parents with sick children and was supported by a service location directory.
“Known as healthdirect, the project is an example of the Commonwealth and NSW Governments coming together to provide improved services to the community,” Ms Meagher said.
“NSW has contributed $29 million over four years to help deliver on an agreement reached at COAG in 2006 to establish a National Call Centre Network.”
She said once the Centre was fully operational, it would take an estimated 650,000 calls each year.
She said staff were aided by computer-based decision support software.
She emphasised that healthdirect Australia would only help ease the pressure on emergency departments and people with serious emergencies should still call 000.
“Our emergency departments are now the best performing in the country, but a recent survey found that only 34 per cent of people presenting at them believed they really needed hospital care,” she said.
Ms Meagher said the first stage of the service began yesterday and that the 24 hour, seven day a week contact number would be progressively introduced across the State.
“The progressive roll out will help ensure a smooth transition and maintain the high quality of advice from the nurses on the healthdirect line,” she said.
She said the roll out would start in the far South Coast before making its way through to the Murray Riverina region, Central and far West NSW, the North Coast, and then New England and the Hunter, and would be completed in all metropolitan areas by June 2009.
Ms Roxon said the national network was a joint initiative of the Commonwealth and the NSW, ACT, Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia governments.
“The start of services here in NSW is a key achievement towards the COAG commitment to establish the network,” she said.
Ms Roxon said calls to healthdirect Australia on landlines would be free, but mobile charges may apply and that a website featuring key health information would be established to complement the centre’s services.
27 August, 2008
Brave police find force is with them
Six officers of the NSW Police Force have been presented with bravery awards by the Governor-General, Major General Michael Jeffery.
Constable David Crawford, Senior Constable Paul Smith and Senior Constable Paul Thompson were awarded Australian Bravery Medals and Senior Constable David Brooker, Senior Constable Michael McCormack and Constable Robert Sasagi received Commendations for Brave Conduct.
NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione, said it was an honour to have such “heroic and selfless Police Officers” as members of the Force.
“The six police officers being awarded Australian Bravery Medals today have gone above and beyond their call of duty, and placed their own lives at risk,” Commissioner Scipione said.
Constable Crawford, Senior Constable Smith and Senior Constable Thompson were involved in the rescue of a man from a burning vehicle at Padstow heights in October 2006.
Constable Crawford was off duty at the time, and helped free the man before on-duty police arrived.
Senior Constables Smith and Thompson helped free the driver, who was on fire, before dragging him to safety.
While off-duty, Senior Constable Brooker detained a man who had threatened a member of the public with a fire-arm, until on-duty police arrived.
Senior Constable Michael McCormack tackled and detained a man who had doused himself and a woman with petrol before threatening to set them and a house on fire in June 2005.
While off-duty, Constable Sasagi disarmed and detained an offender following a stabbing on a passenger train on 22 October 2004.
27 August, 2008
Birds website flies off with award
A website developed by the Australian Museum to help save endangered birds has won the Eureka Prize for Environmental Sustainability Education.
Created in association with Birds Australia, the website, Birds in Backyards, was a research, education and conservation program that focused on ‘birds that live where people live’.
The website contains over 500 pages of information, including encyclopaedic coverage of Australia birds such as the Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo.
Australian Museum Director, Frank Howarth, said by tapping into the enthusiasm for bird-watching, the website was able to provide an introduction to concepts of biodiversity and sustainability.
“And the site assists anyone with a garden to become a conservation activist, by creating habitat for wildlife,” Mr Howarth said.
He said over 20 per cent of Australian bird species were under threat of extinction compared to 10 per cent in other parts of the world.
The website has been a huge success and has 5,000 members and 55,000 user sessions per month.
Visitors were encouraged to become involved by taking part in online surveys, learning how to create bird-friendly spaces in gardens and local communities and by learning about Australian birds and their habitiats.
The website provided information on how to identify birds and included recordings of different birdsongs in categories such as ‘screechers’, ‘hooters’, ‘trillers’ and ‘whistlers’ to help people identify the names of birds they hear each day.
As well as providing information, the site has become a valuable tool for gathering scientific data by encouraging its users to answer surveys about local bird species, which has resulted in nearly 75,000 species records
Birds in Backyards has challenged the loss of biodiversity in urban areas by promoting bird-friendly garden designs and has suggested planting native plants, reducing lawn area, providing water sources and increasing habitat layers to provide food and shelter for small birds.
The site began in 2005 following the discovery that rapid urbanisation and loss of bird habitat appeared to be causing a decline in bird diversity.
The Eureka prize won by the website was sponsored by the Department of Environment and Climate Change and named after Allen Strom in recognition of 40 years of untiring devotion to conservation and education.
The Prize, which included $10,000, was awarded for an outstanding program that contributed to behavioural change among the community and led to changed practices and environmental improvement.
The Eureka Prizes are an initiative of the Australian Museum and are regarded as the ‘Oscars’ of the scientific community. They were announced in Sydney on 19 August.
27 August, 2008
Staff get lift from helicopter training
Staff of the National Parks and Wildlife Service in three country areas have been schooled in the art of entering and leaving helicopters safely during a training program conducted recently in Narrabri and Coonabarabran.
NPWS Senior Ranger, Daniel Trudgeon, said Service staff were often placed in situations requiring them to use helicopters in situations ranging from bushfire and pest control to wildlife surveys and search and rescue operations.
“Last year’s quiet fire season meant most local staff did not use these helicopter skills making the recent training even more important in keeping skills current,” Mr Trudgeon said.
“This course has a theory component designed to give staff basic knowledge in helicopter operations and safety.”
He said the course concentrated on the practical skills involved in winching and hover entries and exits and that all staff were assessed during the exercises.
“The training will enable staff to be skilled-up and ready should they need to use a helicopter in the course of their work,” Mr Trudgeon said.
“Training courses such as these are in place to ensure the safety of our staff in all situations where a helicopter may be needed.”
Over 30 NPWS staff from Narrabri, Coonabarabran and Baradine took part in the training course.
27 August, 2008
Cameraman in frame for Opera House win
The winner of the Sydney Opera House’s House in Focus photographic competition has been named.
Charles Fortin of Sydney took out the prize of a Hewlett-Packard desktop computer and a large scale canvas print of his winning photo.
His winning picture, Phantom of the Opera, would now be displayed in the Western Foyer of the Opera House throughout September.
Phantom of the Opera was chosen from over 2,100 entries from 25 countries in the competition that set a worldwide challenge to find the most imaginative photographic interpretation of the Opera House.
Entries were submitted to the online photo service, www.snapfish.com.au for members of the public to vote on.
The final 10 entries were submitted to the panel of judges, which included the son of Opera House architect Jørn Utzon, Jan; photographer and director of Max Dupain and Associates, Eric Sierins; and the Senior Vice-president and Chief Marketing Officer of Hewlett-Packard, Michael Mendenhall.
Mr Utzon said the winning entry was “spiritually evocative” and likened the photo to impressionistic sketches his father had submitted to the original design competition in 1956 and Mr Sierins said the image made the Opera House’s sails appear to be riding in a speed boat.
Mr Fortin said he was honoured to have his photo picked as the most creative by a member of the Utzon family.
“I feel lucky that one of my shots was chosen,” he said.
“Sydney Opera House has always been one of my favourite buildings as it reminds me that some buildings, just like people, can have a great personality or style.”
Mr Mendenhall said through the use of technology the competition allowed thousands of people to showcase their individual perception of the House.
James O'Toole and Alicia Higgins, both of Sydney were named as runners-up and received large scale canvas prints of their photos, a roof tile collected during the House’s construction and a copy of the book, Building a Masterpiece: the Sydney Opera House.
Winning entries could be seen at www.sydneyoperahouse.com
27 August, 2008
OFT plan is a credit squeeze
The Office of Fair Trading has produced a Regulatory Impact Statement on proposed new laws to tackle the level of credit card debt and the practice of banks signing up customers to high credit limits they are unable to repay.
Prepared for the national Ministerial Council on Consumer Affairs, the RIS entitled Responsible lending practices in relation to consumer credit cards has turned the spotlight on lenders’ credit card policies and was available for comment by interested people and organisations.
Minister for Fair Trading, Linda Burney, said there were thousands of consumers burdened with “unmanageable” credit card debt who were being given limits higher than they wanted or needed.
Ms Burney highlighted the case of one man who wanted a credit card with a $500 limit, but was given a limit of $10,000 despite earning only $420 per week and holding a car loan with the same bank.
“This is not generosity – it is calculated to encourage full use of the limit by the consumer and then keep them on the hook, paying interest they patently cannot afford,” she said.
Ms Burney said consumers most affected earned low incomes, and were unable to repay more than the minimum.
“These people may carry their debt for a lifetime,” she said.
“Unfortunately many consumers trust their banks to do the right thing by them, often with dire consequences.”
She said over use of credit was the underlying cause of over 27 per cent of personal, non-business related insolvencies in 2006-07 in Australia, an increase of almost 1.4 per cent from the last financial year.
Ms Burney said Wesley Mission research conducted in 2006 reported financial stress contributed to relationship violence and breakdown, substance abuse and gambling.
She said the RIS quoted analysis by Cannex which highlighted that almost 60 per cent of cards on its database required a minimum repayment of 2 per cent, with an average of 2.36 per cent.
Ms Burney said based on the average repayment and the average balance of $2,600 debt, Cannex calculated it would take 23 years and five months to come clear.
“Banks have by far the major share of this market,” she said.
“This is not a problem they can say is the fault of sub-prime lenders. Nevertheless, we have seen the disastrous effect that irresponsible lending can have on the world economy.”
Ms Burney said the total credit card debt in Australia was around $44 billion, which should send “clear warning signals” to banks to be more responsible.
A copy of the RIS for comment was available from www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au
27 August, 2008
Meritorious report for MERIT program
The outcomes of a Court-based drug treatment program have been described as “outstanding” by Attorney-General, John Hatzistergos.
According to Mr Hatzistergos, a report detailing the impact of the NSW Magistrates Early Referral into Treatment program, or MERIT, which helped people break the drug cycle and in turn break the crime cycle, had been impressive.
Mr Hatzistergos and Health Minister, Reba Meagher, said MERIT targeted local Court defendants who could be referred into treatment programs by Magistrates, solicitors, police of family and friends.
“MERIT has been rolled out to 61 local courts across NSW,” Mr Hatzistergos said, “and more than 9,000 people have been accepted for treatment in the program.”
“Many of those entering the program had an almost daily dependence on cannabis or other drugs like heroin or amphetamines.”
He said the outcomes were “outstanding” in terms of helping people lead healthier lives and creating safer communities.
Ms Meagher said the two year study of participants found 98 per cent said MERIT had helped them deal more effectively with their problem and 38 per cent said they had had stopped using drugs altogether.
The study found the number of participants suffering psychological distress dropped from two-thirds at the start of the program to one-third during the course of the program.
“The research tells us that addressing people’s underlying drug use and drug dependency can be the key to breaking the drug-crime cycle,” Ms Meagher said.
“The pleasing thing about this report is that it shows the MERIT program is also having a real impact on people’s health.”
She said the Program was funded under the Illicit Drug Diversion Initiative (IDDI) Agreement between the NSW and Commonwealth Governments up to next year.
Ms Meagher expected the Federal Government to extend funding for the IDDI Agreement to support successful programs such as MERIT.
“We look forward to discussions with the Commonwealth around the new Agreement and the opportunity to continue the expansion of MERIT to offenders with alcohol problem,” she said.
27 August, 2008
Election office pushes polling
The NSW Electoral Commission has announced that mobile pre-poll voting would be available to electors at nine remote locations for the first time in the upcoming Local Council elections.
NSW Electoral Commissioner, Colin Barry, said the NSWEC had employed the services of experienced local returning officers to conduct early voting in the far west and northern NSW from 1 September.
Commissioner Barry said the service was part of the Commission’s approach to conduct the elections to the same standards as a State or Federal poll.
“These are isolated rural communities where it’s often difficult to get to a polling place or lodge a postal vote,” Commissioner Barry said.
“Some people would otherwise have to drive hundreds of kilometres just to cast a vote.”
He said in the past, some postal votes had been delayed due to irregular main services, meaning some people could miss out on getting their postal vote in on time.
The mobile pre-poll voting would be held at Hatfield in the Balranald Shire; Emmdale in the Central Darling Shire; Maude and Booligal in the Hay Shire; Booroorban in the Conargo Shire; Fords Bridge in the Bourke Shire; and Bellata, Pilliga and Gwabegar in the Narrabri Shire.
Commissioner Barry said the service had been offered to all Councils in remote parts of NSW, but only Narrabri Shire had responded with nominated townships.
“We decided to press ahead with the other six locations regardless,” he said.
“Voting at Local Government elections is compulsory and there is no absentee voting which means you have to vote in the Council or ward in which you are enrolled.”
Mobile pre-poll voting is to take place between 1 and 12 September, the arrangements of which would be advertised in local newspapers.
Other pre-poll centres are to operate at fixed locations around the State, more details of which were available at www.elections.nsw.gov.au
27 August, 2008
NPWS shines with solar energy
The Armidale office of the National Parks Wildlife Service in northern NSW has gone solar with a new energy-efficient solar power system being commissioned to meet the office’s daily power needs.
It was even expected to feed excess power into the local grid.
NPWS Armidale Area Manager, Mark Ingram, said the low maintenance system would last around 25 years and produce over 2,500 kilowatt hours per year.
“This is enough energy to significantly reduce our electricity bill and therefore our carbon footprint,” Mr Ingram said.
“As surplus electricity produced will be fed back to the main grid this will further reduce carbon emissions associated with electricity generation and that’s an additional benefit for all electricity users and the environment.”
He said the new system would be supplied and installed by local Armidale company, Solar Solutions, and would showcase what could be done with 'clean and green technology'.
“The direct benefits are the financial savings and reduction of our greenhouse gas emissions,” Mr Ingram said.
“We are also planning to dramatically improve office water efficiency by plumbing the existing infrastructure into our rainwater tank system.”
He said the NPWS was aiming to extend the use of energy and water efficiency systems where possible, with a similar solar system proposed for the works depot at Bingara, north of Armidale.
27 August, 2008
Children in art is not kids’ stuff
The Australia Council for the Arts has launched an enquiry into the depiction of children in art and has called for public input.
The Council was developing a set of protocols to address how children were depicted in artworks, exhibitions and publications that received Government funding.
It has invited the public to comment on the issue by making a submission.
The Council said all submissions were welcome, however perspectives on four critical issues would be of particular interest.
It encouraged submissions addressing the issues of ensuring the rights of children were protected; ensuring everyone viewing the artwork had an appropriate understanding of the artistic content; protecting images of children from being exploited; and creating protocols to acknowledge its statutory role in promoting the right of people to freedom in the practice of the arts.
The Council said submissions and comments were welcome before 19 September 2008.
The protocols draft was being developed in consultation with the Minister for the Arts, Peter Garrett, and other key stakeholders.
The Council said adherence to the protocols, which would be in place by 1 January 2009, would be a condition of receiving Australia Council funding.
To make a submission or for further information visit www.australiacouncil.gov.au or email comms@australiacouncil.gov.au
27 August, 2008
Long life survey finds a hitch
Findings by the Australian Bureau of Statistics that married people lived longer than single ones have been released by the Federal Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot.
ABS data on age-specific death rates in Australia per thousand per age group showed that married people had lower death rates than non-married people in almost all age groups, for both men and women. (The data compares the rate of death per 1000 for single people versus married ones.)
Data analysed by the Minister’s Department showed the difference between single and married people started in their 40s and grew sharply in their 60s.
It found the real spike appeared in the 70-84 group with the death rate for single people almost double that of married men and women.
“It seems that longevity and marriage are directly linked and marriage is good for your health,” Mrs Elliot said.
“Overseas studies have provided similar results on marriage and ageing and the link with longevity has been debated for more than 100 years.”
She said the data also found that for men, the difference evened out after age 85 while married women over 80 continued to have a greater survival rate than single women in the same age group.
However, widowed males over 85 had the highest rate of death per 1000, showing that once their life-partner died, they often followed. It was 191.6 per thousand compared to 140.3 per thousand for married men in the same age group.
Mrs Elliott said historically, one main explanation had been put forward – that marriage reduced the risk of an earlier death as a person was less likely to participate in risky behaviour and more likely to nurture or “guardian” each other’s health through promoting good diet and physical care.
She said the Australian marriage data came on top of research showing that Australians now had the second longest life expectancy in the world - 81.4 years - after the Japanese.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, using the World Health Organisation’s 2007 figures for selected countries, reported that Australian women had a life expectancy of 83.7 years and Australian men 79 years.
In addition, Women on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and Western Australia’s wheat-belt near Perth had the longest life expectancies in the country and the world.
Mrs Elliott said that by 2045-2050, Australian men and women could expect to live five years longer than they currently did, with women going from 83.7 to 88 and men going from 79 to 84.1 years.
She said by 2060, an Australian woman could expect to reach the age of 90 and by mid-century most Australians could expect – on average – to reach the mid-to-late 80s.
Currently, there were 2800 Australians aged 100-years or more, and that was expected to increase to 12,000 by 2020 and grow to 78,000 by 2055.
27 August, 2008
FTO takes Super RAP to Dubbo
Fair Trading staff have staged a Super Regional Access Program in Dubbo, taking the fair trading message to groups in the local community.
Fair Trading Minister, Linda Burney, said the Super RAP visit was part of her Department’s commitment to deliver services to regional NSW and gave locals the opportunity to raise issues and receive face-to-face contact from staff.
Super trustee reports
The Trustee of the State Super Schemes, STC, has released its 2007/08 Investment Update. The edition included the declared rates for 2007/08 for the Growth, Balanced, Conservative Growth and Cash investment strategies in the Pooled Fund.
Members will receive further information with their Annual Statements in October but could see a copy online at www.statesuper.nsw.gov.au
TAS PS back to work
Public Service unions in Tasmania have called off further industrial action and have returned to talks with the State Government over a bid for interstate pay equality for the State’s Public Servants.
They met with officials last week to discuss the possibility of a pay rise of 20 to 29 per cent over three and a half years.
Indigenous pass half million
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has estimated Australia’s Indigenous population reached 517,000, or 2.5 per cent of Australia’s total population, as at 30 June 2006.
Of the 517,000 people identified, 90 per cent identified as being of Aboriginal origin, 6 per cent as Torres Strait Islander and 4 per cent as a mixture of both.
The bureau found New South Wales (152,700) and Queensland (144,900) housed the largest Indigenous populations while 32 per cent lived in major cities and 15 per cent lived in very remote areas.
Road toll trend stalls
After a 30 year decline in the number of deaths on Australia’s roads, the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese has released statistics showing the trend has stopped.
Mr Albanese said the figures showed Australia would struggle to meet the 40 per cent reduction in the road death rate from 2000 to 2010 which was agreed upon by all governments.
He said the goal of no more that 5.6 deaths per 100,000 Australians was unlikely to be achieved as the rate for 2007 was 7.7.
More information on Road Deaths Australia 2007 Statistical Summary was available from www.infrastructure.gov.au
English teachers wanted
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship is seeking submissions to help in its bid to increase the number of English language tests currently accepted as evidence of English proficiency.
The Department is accepting submissions from test owners on their ability to provide English Language testing for Australian visa applications.
Submissions close on 31 December, with more information available from www.immi.gov.au
20 August, 2008
No expense spared in new allowances
The Public Sector Workforce Office has notified Departments and Agencies of increases in allowances for meals, travelling and other related expenses.
It has also notified a reduction in some car allowances
Circular C2008-28 outlines the changes which came into effect on 1 July.
Among the adjustments, Meal Allowances for day trips go up $1.70 for dinner in a capital city to $40.65, lunch by $1 to $23.65 and breakfast up 90 cents to $21.10 and incidental expenses go up 45 cents to $15.90. Meal allowances for overtime increase by $1 to $23.60.
The Circular says these allowances were adjusted line with a determination of the Australian Taxation Office which sets out reasonable allowance limits for 2008-09.
Allowances for cars used on official business increase to 80.3cents for medium sized vehicles up to 2600cc capacity and to 57.5 cents for small cars under 1600cc. The allowance has been reduced by 0.8 of a cent to 86.2 cents for cars over 2601cc however.
For casual usage, car allowance rates are up 1.1 cents to 28.5 for medium cars, up 0.9 cents to 24 for small cars but down 1.2 cents to 30.7 for big cars.
The Circular says these movements were made in accordance with the Crown Employees (Public Service Conditions of Employment) Award.
Other allowances to be adjusted include a $28 increase to $756 a year for staff using a room at home as an office; an increase of 15 cents to $4 for laundry expenses associated with a uniform or protective clothing and an increase in garage allowance of $20 a year to $535 and $4 to $118 for a carport.
“Work related allowances are normally adjusted in line with salary increases under the Crown Employees (Public Sector- Salaries) Award,” the Circular says.
However, it said changes had not been made to on-call, flying, language and first aid allowances as salary negotiations were not yet concluded.
“The Crown Employees (Public Service Conditions of Employment) Reviewed Award 2006 will be varied in due course to reflect the reviewed allowances,” the Circular says.
Further details of the allowances can be found in Table 1 Allowances of Part B Monetary Rates of the Crown Employees (Public Service Conditions of Employment) Reviewed Award which was accessible from the Department of Premier and Cabinet website, www.dpc.nsw.gov.au
20 August, 2008
Fatigue guide a wake-up call
WorkCover NSW has launched a new guide offering advice on addressing fatigue in the workplace.
Chief executive, Jon Blackwell, said the guide entitled Fatigue – prevention in the workplace applied to employers and workers across all industries and outlined procedures to identify and manage the risks associated with fatigue at work.
“Fatigue can affect a person’s health, reducing performance and productivity and increase the chance of workplace injuries,” Mr Blackwell said.
“The impact of fatigue can reduce one’s ability to concentrate, recognise risks and communicate effectively.”
He said workplace fatigue could occur due to a range of issues including mental and physical demands, work scheduling and planning issues, environmental conditions and individual factors.
He said in 2006-07 there were 40 workers’ compensation claims made in New South Wales as a result of workplace fatigue.
He said adopting a risk-management approach was the best way for businesses to prevent work-related fatigue and the guide provided practical advice including a Fatigue Hazards Identification Checklist.
Mr Blackwell said the Guide outlined workplace safety responsibilities around fatigue and provided tips for addressing risks associated with work’s mental and physical demands.
He said businesses could eliminate excessive mental and physical demands, redesign jobs to include a variety of mental and physical tasks, introduce job rotation and use rest periods and equipment to reduce excessive physical demands.
Mr Blackwell said reducing the effects of fatigue in the workplace would lead to better health and safety outcomes.
“Effective fatigue management will mean fewer workplace injuries as well as reductions in absenteeism and staff turnover and better performance and productivity,” he said.
The Guide was developed in collaboration with WorkSafe Victoria following a12-month consultation period with key industry groups.
Mr Blackwell said a copy of the guide was available from 1300 799 003 or by visiting www.workcover.nsw.gov.au
20 August, 2008
All-talk program is broken record
Registrars in the Supreme Court of NSW have conducted a record 266 mediations in the first half of this year, almost equalling the full-year total of 282 in 2007.
The record effort was hailed by Attorney General, John Hatzistergos as evidence that more people were turning to mediation as a way of settling their civil disputes and in the process were avoiding costly court hearings.
“Mediation ensures cases can be resolved early and to the satisfaction of both parties, saving time and costs,” Mr Hatzistergos said.
“It is very encouraging that so far this year 59 per cent of the mediation sessions have concluded with the litigants resolving their dispute.”
He said the Court encouraged litigants, and in some cases required them, to attempt mediation before a Court hearing was allocated as they decided to mediate, the greater the benefits were likely to be.
“A major advantage is that parties to the dispute can resolve their issues themselves, rather than have a judgment imposed on them,” Mr Hatzistergos said.
“Also, mediation can resolve a dispute earlier than a Court hearing, should be less costly and is conducted privately rather than in a public Courtroom.”
Ten registrars at the Supreme Court handled mediations, with up to four held daily, with half a day allocated to each.
Mr Hazistergos said the majority of cases were from the Equity Division of the Supreme Court and involved disputes over estates under the Family Provision Act.
He said others included the division of property following the breakdown of a de facto relationship.
Mr Hatzistergos said the Supreme Court launched a mediation push in March and April this year and had kept up the pace since.
20 August, 2008
Walk to Work Day gets a good run
NSW Public Servants are being encouraged to take part in this year’s ‘Walk to Work Day’ which was being planned for Friday, 3 October.
In a Ministerial Memorandum, Premier Morris Iemma pointed out that the Day originated in NSW and was now a national community awareness event.
Each walk to Work day, the Pedestrian Council of Australia encourages workers, including Public Servants, to leave their cars at home and walk all or part of the way to work.
Mr Iemma said the initiative promoted walking as a healthy activity to create better physical, mental and social health; reduce reliance on cars; promote the use of public transport; and improve air quality by reducing vehicle emissions.
He said this year's event Better Health - Cleaner Air encouraged people to add walking into their daily routine and to walk to work every day to help the environment and their health.
Mr Iemma said the NSW Government supported Walk to Work Day.
The Pedestrian Council of Australia has asked corporations, organisations and Government Agencies to register as corporate ambassadors.
More information was available at the Pedestrian Council of Australia's website www.walk.com.au
20 August, 2008
Tax Commissioner puts money where mouth is
The Australian Taxation Office has published its compliance work plan for 2008-09 and is to give priority to helping Government organisations deal with complex transactions.
Included on a long list of tax targets including a general focus of cracking down on tax havens, dodgy tax schemes, big business and the cash economy, Taxation Commissioner Michael D’Ascenzo said the ATO would make it its business to help Government Agencies when they restructured or became involved in difficult tax issues and it would review its public ruling on grants of financial assistance.
Mr D’Ascenzo said the ATO would place practical advice and information to Government organisations on its website and follow up complaints from employees and contractors who had not received the correct super guarantee contributions or had not been offered a choice of super fund
“In 2008-09 we are working with Government grant providers and representatives of recipients to review our GST public ruling on grants of financial assistance with a view to providing further clarification,” Mr D’Ascenzo said.
“(We would) continue to review the GST treatment of property transactions involving Government organisations, communicating the correct position through discussions with Agencies and with audits where there is potential non-compliance.”
He said in 2007-08, the ATO conducted 295 visits with Government employers to encourage their early lodgment of end-of-year employer obligations reports.
He said his Office actioned 46 cases relating to employee complaints on super guarantee obligations and raised $1.9m in super guarantee liabilities.
“Our compliance program is an important part of our ‘prevention is better than cure’ approach to tax administration,” Mr D’Ascenzo said.
“By publishing our compliance program, we are letting the community know where we will focus our attention and the action we will take.”
He said additional funding received from Federal Government this year would allow the ATO to expand its coverage of income tax compliance issues across the board.
He said the Office was encouraging people who may have done the wrong thing to come forward before being contacted and to take advantage of reduced penalties for coming clean.
Mr D’Ascenzo said the greater use of data matching techniques would help the ATO identify and target people who may have under-reported income or over-claimed expenses.
He said Tax Office staff would carry out more than 5,000 cash economy audits or reviews.
He said he full range of compliance measures, were available on the ATO website at www.ato.gov.au
20 August, 2008
ICAC rails against RailCorp employees
The Independent Commission Against Corruption has found that former RailCorp employees Allan Michael Blackstock, Shane Ward and Renea Hughes engaged in corrupt conduct that saw more than $4 million funnelled to a private company Mr Blackstock was involved with, $650,000 paid out on false invoices and records associated with Ms Hughes and claims for work not performed made by Mr Ward.
In the first report from its Investigation into bribery and fraud at RailCorp, ICAC found that Mr Blackstock abused his position at RailCorp by providing welding work to a company he was associated with.
The Commission found that Mr Blackstock received payments totalling $1.35 million from the contracted company between 2004 and 2007 and his business associate benefited by $1.1 million over the same period.
In addition, the Commission found that Mr Blackstock and his associate claimed $30,000 for work that was never done and that he and another RailCorp employee, Shane Ward, submitted false time sheets claiming payment for more hours than they had worked.
In its second report into RailCorp, ICAC found that Ms Hughes and the owners of an excavation company elicited more than $500,000 from the Agency via schemes involving other contractors.
It said Ms Hughes received $115,137 in wage payments to which she was not entitled, by submitting false or misleading invoices relating to her employment with RailCorp and also received $366,000 from the excavation arrangement.
ICAC Commissioner, Jerrold Cripps said the behaviour of Mr Blackstock and Mr Ward was typical of RailCorp at the time, inasmuch as they ignored their responsibilities and the trust placed in them to indulge in corrupt schemes that cost the NSW taxpayer millions of dollars and could potentially put lives at risk.
He said that while Ms Hughes and the contractors had engaged in corrupt schemes, he believed there were deficiencies in RailCorp’s systems that enabled the activities to continue undetected for so long.
Mr Cripps said the Commission held public inquiries into both matters and received evidence.
He said it would be taking the matters further with the Director of Public Prosecutions and would be releasing the reports of more investigations over the coming months.
20 August, 2008
4600 candidates to rock the vote
The Electoral Commissioner has announced that more than 4,500 candidates have nominated to stand in the Local Government elections next month.
The Commissioner, Colin Barry, reported a last-minute rush to get on the ballot papers, with over 500 lodging their candidacies in the three hours before the 13 August deadline, taking the total to 4,620.
Commissioner Barry said although the figure was slightly under the 5,000 who stood for public office in 2004, “there are some fiercely contested elections shaping up, particularly in the larger regional centres and on the outskirts of Sydney”.
He said communities across the State would have the opportunity to have a say on who would represent them at the Local Government level for the next four years.
“This is a win for voters, the Councils and for democracy itself,” Commissioner Barry said.
He said Campbelltown City had the most candidates, with 92 vying for 15 Council seats while other Councils recording large numbers included Penrith (83); Port Stephens (78); Wingecarribee (70); Hawkesbury (69); Warringah (65); Blue Mountains (65), Newcastle (64); Blacktown (62); Wagga Wagga (60); Manly (58); Maitland (57) and Albury (53).
Five candidates nominated for the Lord Mayor’s position in the City of Sydney and 39 candidates are to compete for nine Council seats.
Shellharbour, Wollongong, Broken Hill and Port Macquarie-Hastings remain under administration.
Commissioner Barry said by-elections would be held in Bland, Warren (A Ward) and Wellington Council areas due to low candidate numbers.
He said candidates would have until 5 September to register their How-to-Vote material for polling day.
“How-to-Vote material that is to be handed out on Election Day must be registered by the Returning Officer in each Council area,” the Commissioner said.
He said any material that appeared to be offensive or obscene would not be registered.
“Electoral material must meet the broadest community expectations of not causing offence to the broadest range of people in the community, from very young adults to older citizens of different views, beliefs and perspectives.”
Commissioner Barry said the four weeks leading up to the 13 September poll would be very busy.
“With just one month until polling day, candidates will be busy campaigning while election officials will begin the important task of organising pre-poll and postal voting, particularly because there is no absentee voting at Council elections,” he said.
Commissioner Barry said election officials had conducted the ballot paper draw to determine the order of candidates on each ballot paper.
He said the draw results could be viewed at www.elections.nsw.gov.au
20 August, 2008
Tina snares role as Indigenous officer
The Indigenous community in Bourke has a new advocate with the appointment of Tina Suckling as Centrelink’s Indigenous Services Officer.
Ms Suckling, described by Centrelink management as a “familiar face around town,” said she planned to use her new role to connect local Indigenous communities
“I’m passionate about working with people in the Bourke area and helping them make a positive difference to their lives,” she said.
“My main focus as an Indigenous Services Officer is to inform and connect local Indigenous communities with Centrelink and to build on the strong relationship we have with the people here.”
Ms Suckling said she was working closely with the Brewarrina local community and hoped to visit the Enngionia, Weilmoringle, Nyngan and Cobar people in the near future.
She said she joined Centrelink eight months ago and enjoyed the challenges her work offered.
“So far my time with Centrelink has been fantastic. It has been hard work but gratifying at the same time,” Ms Suckling said.
“I'm a local girl through and through, so working with people in the area was a deciding factor for me in accepting the job.”
Manager of Centrelink’s Indigenous Service Unit, Amanda Tootell, said Ms Suckling was a welcome addition to the team.
“Tina brings a bundle of experience to her new role, and has been working hard to build her networks,” Ms Tootell said.
“She has been ensuring Centrelink continues to work in line with the National Indigenous Employees Plan, Indigenous Service Strategy and Centrelink’s Reconciliation Statement.”
She said Ms Suckling had been promoting Centrelink programs and helping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander customers claim and maintain their correct entitlements.
“Tina has provided a fresh and enthusiastic face to Centrelink in Bourke and we’re glad to have her on board to help make a difference in the lives of the local Indigenous people.”
Ms Suckling has also worked at the district hospital, local police force and JobLink Plus.
20 August, 2008
Events managers go for gold in Beijing
A joint NSW/Victoria assault on the world’s sporting events market has taken its message to Beijing for the Olympic Games with an Olympics Business event held to showcase NSW’s event management strengths.
The gathering was hosted by the Australian International Sporting Events Secretariat (AISES) and Austrade as part of Austrade's Business Club Australia and highlighted NSW’s talents in staging or assisting major sporting events.
AISES is a partnership between the NSW and Victorian Governments to promote Australian major sporting events expertise internationally.
According to the Department of State and Regional Development, the Olympic meeting was a chance to showcase NSW and other Australian major events business expertise at an exclusive networking event for about 200 people, including participants from China, the UK, Canada, Spain, Switzerland, Japan, New Caledonia and Australia as well as representatives from major sporting event organising committees, bidding groups and host cities.
“The Beijing Games were an important showcase for Australian businesses, including about 40 NSW companies and experts that worked on 2008 Olympic preparations,” the Department said in a media statement.
“NSW specialists worked on Beijing 2008 preparations in a variety of areas.”
It said these areas included master planning, building and venue design, project management, volunteer training, telecommunications, security, lighting and landscaping design, transport planning, media operations and more.
“Going forward, the NSW Government and AISES will be targeting business opportunities for Australian companies at forthcoming major events.
“These include the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games, Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games, Shenzhen 2011 World University Games, Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Shanghai 2010 World Expo Bureau, Shenzhen 2011 World University Games, and London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
DSRD estimated that Australian companies won contracts worth more than $150 million from the 2006 Doha Asian Games and over 60 Australian specialists and companies won in excess of 70 contracts related to the Beijing 2008 Olympics at a value estimated at over $100 million over two years.
“Australian companies are already involved in the early phases of delivery of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games including delivering master planning, sports venues design, strategic advice to organisers and to government.”
20 August, 2008
Ministers consummate consumer law pact
Australia’s Consumer Affairs Ministers have agreed to adopt a new national consumer law which would operate across all Australian jurisdictions.
NSW’s Consumer Affairs Minister, Linda Burney welcomed the new law saying it would be based on the consumer protection provisions of the Commonwealth’s Trade Practices Act 1974 with appropriate amendments recognising best practice in State legislation.
Ms Burney said Ministers from all jurisdictions worked together to develop a world-leading consumer policy framework to benefit Australian consumers.
“These reforms are estimated by the Productivity Commission to add between $1.5 billion and $4.5 billion to the national economy,” Ms Burney said.
“They will help overcome inefficiencies resulting from the division of responsibilities between Australian Governments thereby delivering better outcomes for consumers, and lower costs for businesses.”
She said the law would draw on the recommendations of the final report of the Productivity Commission’s Review of Australia’s Consumer Policy Framework.
“It will improve consumer wellbeing through consumer empowerment and protection, foster effective competition and enable the confident participation of consumers in markets in which both consumers and suppliers trade fairly,” she said.
Ms Burney welcomed recommendations from the Productivity Commission regarding a model to regulate unfair contract terms for consumers.
“I’m very pleased that the spirit of cooperation which has been evident throughout this process has prevailed,” Ms Burney said.
“I am confident that all jurisdictions can agree to the modified proposal.”
She said the recent public debate over fitness centre contracts, prompted by the Supreme Court case involving Fitness First, indicated there was a need for legislation that allowed consumers to challenge unfair contract terms.
20 August, 2008
Opera House history strikes right note
A comprehensive on-line history of the Sydney Opera House has been launched covering the construction, the site, personalities and events that shaped the design and building of one of Australia’s most symbolic buildings.
Chief Executive of the Opera House, Richard Evans said the building was an architectural masterpiece that had come to symbolise the nation.
He said the new on-line resource would allow anyone, anywhere, to read or research its making.
Sponsored by construction company, Baulderstone Hornibrook, House History examined the history of the Bennelong Point site since 1788 and covered the design competition, the controversy surrounding the House’s completion, and the events that made the Opera House the cultural hub of Australia.
The site included images of the Opera House at various milestones in its history.
In 1957, Jorn Utzon won the international design competition for the Opera House with a design that was acknowledged as a masterpiece of late 20th century modern architecture which was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2007.
An evaluation report to the World Heritage Committee described the House as “one of the indisputable masterpieces of human creativity, not only in the 20th century but in the history of humankind”.
Mr Evans said Baulderstone Hornibrook (previously Hornibrook Group) had played an integral role in the creation of the “remarkable building”.
“The company constructed the roof shells and the interior structure and fitouts of the main halls,” he said.
“The enormous challenges in construction demanded pioneering applications and new materials as well as new developments in building and engineering practices.”
Mr Evans said the Opera House’s unique design had required a new approach to construction and a collaborative working environment to find the necessary engineering and building solutions.
He said in particular, construction of the shells, was one of the most difficult engineering tasks ever attempted.
Mr Evans said House History could be accessed at www.sydneyoperahouse.com and included links to other information including a comprehensive case study of the work undertaken by Baulderstone Hornibrook.
20 August, 2008
Building guideline to nail noise levels
The Department of Environment and Climate Change has invited public comment on a proposed new Guideline covering noise from construction sites.
The new Guideline would replace one published by the State Pollution Control Commission in 1985.
Entitled Construction Noise Guideline, the new document would provide clear and consistent guidance on how to assess noise from construction and how to minimise it using best-practice approaches.
DECC developed the Guideline in association with the Department of Planning, Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA), WorkCover NSW, the Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW, and NSW Health.
The Department said the proposed Guideline would be primarily aimed at minimising noise impacts from construction activities regulated by the Department, and once finalised, would be used by DECC officers to inform the setting of mandatory conditions during planning approval and licensing processes and to guide smaller construction projects regulated by Local Councils.
DECC consulted with the public and stakeholders while creating the draft.
According to the draft Guideline, construction noise was one of the major environmental noise issues in NSW and originated from building works, demolition, remediation, renewal and maintenance.
The draft said construction noise could affect sleep, concentration, learning performance and mental and physical health and that no single approach could minimise all construction noise.
The level of effort and sophistication needed to assess impacts and identify ways to minimise noise will be guided by factors such as the duration of works and the extent of the noise,” the draft said.
“Construction works of short duration and low noise level will be easier to assess and manage.”
The Guideline said the four steps for managing noise impacts were identifying sensitive land uses; identifying hours during which the construction would take place; identifying noise impacts; and selecting and applying best work practices.
For more information on how to submit a comment by 19 September, visit www.environment.nsw.gov.au or email construction_noise_guidelines@environment.nsw.gov.au
20 August, 2008
Free advice is money maker
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has recommended to wage earners that they put their tax returns to work
The Commission said that while many people would use their tax return to buy a new pair of shoes or the latest DVD box set, they should also consider using it for both a bit of fun and to improve their financial position.
“If you receive a tax refund, you might decide to use a small part of your refund to splurge on something for yourself,” said ASIC’s Acting Executive Director of Consumer Protection, Delia Rickard, “but also consider letting your money work for you and use the bulk of it to put yourself in a better financial position.”
“By doing this, you can really boost your financial position, especially if your weekly budget is tight for other reasons, such as higher fuel costs.”
Ms Rickard said one of the best ways to make your money work for you was to pay off some or all of your credit card debt.
“And if you are able to pay off your credit card in full, consider using a card that debits your savings account instead, so you spend your own money and you’re not paying to use someone else’s,” she said.
Ms Rickard said another good option was to put your tax refund straight into your super fund as contributing more than the usual nine per cent (the Superannuation Guarantee) could really boost your savings.
“The key to growing your super is to start early so you can harness the power of compound interest. Money invested today has longer to earn interest compared to money invested just before you retire.”
While Christmas and the summer holidays were still months away, Ms Rickard said planning ahead could help many families get through those expensive times. She offered three ways to use a tax refund to help out come Christmas time:
- Start a high-interest savings account – “Kick-start your Christmas saving by putting your tax refund into a special account and watch your money grow. You’ll feel a real sense of satisfaction.”
- Shop and hold – “Use the money from your tax refund to buy gifts now. You may be able to take advantage of sales or discounts that may not exist leading up to Christmas.”
- Use lay-by – “If you have a small tax refund, use it to make a purchase by lay-by so that you’ll have your gift paid off before Christmas, rather than having a New Year’s hangover in the form of a large credit card debt.”
20 August, 2008
Tourism strategy is the way to go
Tourism NSW has unveiled a new draft strategy for the State’s tourism industry saying it was a blueprint to deliver strong growth.
The draft Strategy was developed in response to the Government’s Review into Tourism which was conducted by John O’Neil earlier this year.
Tourism NSW said the Government and the tourism industry had come together over the past two months to develop the plan to make the most of the Government’s $40 million injection of funds to deliver tourism growth throughout the State.
It said the draft strategy reflected the views of industry and gave both operators and the Government a way forward to build growth into the sector.
It said the blueprint was being developed to point out future directions the government, industry and stakeholders could take to work collaboratively and achieve that growth.
“The release of the extra $40 million in funds was contingent on industry and government reaching agreement on the way forward,” it said.
According to Tourism NSW, the draft strategy was developed after extensive consultations with industry stakeholders, regional tourism organisations and Government Agencies at the Federal, State and local level.
It said key components of the draft strategy were a new ‘Visit Sydney’ unit in Tourism NSW to increase the promotion of Sydney; stronger partnerships between Government and industry; a new ‘Brand Sydney’ for use across industries and Government; a greater focus on aviation, planning, National Parks and infrastructure; and a new Tourism Industry Plan to be developed over the next 12 months to replace the Tourism Masterplan.
Tourism NSW thanked the industry and stakeholders for their support and input and said the final strategy would be presented to NSW Cabinet in September.
20 August, 2008
Opera House history strikes right note
A comprehensive on-line history of the Sydney Opera House has been launched covering the construction, the site, personalities and events that shaped the design and building of one of Australia’s most symbolic buildings.
Chief Executive of the Opera House, Richard Evans said the building was an architectural masterpiece that had come to symbolise the nation.
He said the new on-line resource would allow anyone, anywhere, to read or research its making.
Sponsored by construction company, Baulderstone Hornibrook, House History examined the history of the Bennelong Point site since 1788 and covered the design competition, the controversy surrounding the House’s completion, and the events that made the Opera House the cultural hub of Australia.
The site included images of the Opera House at various milestones in its history.
In 1957, Jorn Utzon won the international design competition for the Opera House with a design that was acknowledged as a masterpiece of late 20th century modern architecture which was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2007.
An evaluation report to the World Heritage Committee described the House as “one of the indisputable masterpieces of human creativity, not only in the 20th century but in the history of humankind”.
Mr Evans said Baulderstone Hornibrook (previously Hornibrook Group) had played an integral role in the creation of the “remarkable building”.
“The company constructed the roof shells and the interior structure and fitouts of the main halls,” he said.
“The enormous challenges in construction demanded pioneering applications and new materials as well as new developments in building and engineering practices.”
Mr Evans said the Opera House’s unique design had required a new approach to construction and a collaborative working environment to find the necessary engineering and building solutions.
He said in particular, construction of the shells, was one of the most difficult engineering tasks ever attempted.
Mr Evans said House History could be accessed at www.sydneyoperahouse.com and included links to other information including a comprehensive case study of the work undertaken by Baulderstone Hornibrook.
20 August, 2008
Long life survey finds a hitch
Findings by the Australian Bureau of Statistics that married people lived longer than single ones have been released by the Federal Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot.
ABS data on age-specific death rates in Australia per thousand per age group showed that married people had lower death rates than non-married people in almost all age groups, for both men and women. (The data compares the rate of death per 1000 for single people versus married ones.)
Data analysed by the Minister’s Department showed the difference between single and married people started in their 40s and grew sharply in their 60s.
It found the real spike appeared in the 70-84 group with the death rate for single people almost double that of married men and women.
“It seems that longevity and marriage are directly linked and marriage is good for your health,” Mrs Elliot said.
“Overseas studies have provided similar results on marriage and ageing and the link with longevity has been debated for more than 100 years.”
She said the data also found that for men, the difference evened out after age 85 while married women over 80 continued to have a greater survival rate than single women in the same age group.
However, widowed males over 85 had the highest rate of death per 1000, showing that once their life-partner died, they often followed. It was 191.6 per thousand compared to 140.3 per thousand for married men in the same age group.
Mrs Elliott said historically, one main explanation had been put forward – that marriage reduced the risk of an earlier death as a person was less likely to participate in risky behaviour and more likely to nurture or “guardian” each other’s health through promoting good diet and physical care.
She said the Australian marriage data came on top of research showing that Australians now had the second longest life expectancy in the world - 81.4 years - after the Japanese.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, using the World Health Organisation’s 2007 figures for selected countries, reported that Australian women had a life expectancy of 83.7 years and Australian men 79 years.
In addition, Women on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and Western Australia’s wheat-belt near Perth had the longest life expectancies in the country and the world.
Mrs Elliott said that by 2045-2050, Australian men and women could expect to live five years longer than they currently did, with women going from 83.7 to 88 and men going from 79 to 84.1 years.
She said by 2060, an Australian woman could expect to reach the age of 90 and by mid-century most Australians could expect – on average – to reach the mid-to-late 80s.
Currently, there were 2800 Australians aged 100-years or more, and that was expected to increase to 12,000 by 2020 and grow to 78,000 by 2055.
20 August, 2008
Fuels strategy released
The Department of Environment and Climate Change has released the NSW Cleaner Vehicles and Fuels Strategy
The Strategy outlines the Government’s actions for cleaner fuels and a cleaner motor vehicle fleet and links with transport and planning actions to reduce vehicle dependence and traffic congestion.
Among the issues it addresses are vapour recovery at service stations, the environmental rating of heavy vehicles, benchmarking the vehicle fleet, alternative fuels and community awareness and behaviour change education.
A draft version of this strategy was released for public comment last November and the final version can be obtained from www.environment.nsw.gov.au
Snow warning from Minister
The Minister for Health, Reba Meagher has urged people to take care on the snow slopes this season.
Ms Meagher said Ambulance paramedics had been particularly busy this season with three skiers dead and 112 others injured so far, already surpassing the number of people injured during last year’s season.
She said Skidoos fitted with emergency warning lights and carrying the markings of the Ambulance Service of NSW had been commissioned to operate out of the Perisher Valley Ambulance Station.
Courthouse in facelift
Gosford Courthouse is to receive a $1 million facelift aimed at making the building more accessible to people with a disability and improving registry services and facilities.
The Courthouse would be among the first in NSW to introduce Face-to-Face registry design, which would include a public computer terminal, information boards, a registry interview room and more comfortable seating in the waiting area.
The upgrade was expected to be completed in June 2009.
Boat show to sail on
The exhibition Bateaux Jouets - toy boats from Paris 1850-1950 is to remain on view at the Australian National Maritime Museum for an additional two months until 12 October.
The exhibition, from France’s Musée national de la Marine, comprises about 200 colourful and imaginative craft, ranging in style from simple paper boats to mechanical marvels with the ability to propel themselves across a carpet, a pond or even an open bay.
Water advice on DVD
The Department of Health has released guidelines and a DVD designed to minimise the chance of bacterial and viral infections being spread through unsafe private water supplies.
The guidelines are for use in facilities that rely on small private water supplies such as caravan parks, school camps, and tourist attractions.
The Guidelines provide advice on protecting water sources, providing safe drinking water, maintaining and monitoring the system and how to warn consumers of the risks if the quality of the water supply cannot be guaranteed.
NSW Health is to work with local Councils to distribute the Private Water Supply Guidelines and the DVD but the Guidelines can be accessed from www.health.nsw.gov.au
History show at Library
A new exhibition of photo-interviews has been opened at the State Library of NSW, revealing the personal histories of ordinary Australians.
Entitled Home Truths, the exhibition by photographers Ruth Maddison, Hayley Hillis and Pippa Wishcher combines candid interviews with portraits to share the private dreams and harsh realities faced by their subjects.
Home Truths is a free exhibition in the Picture Gallery and will run to 7 December 2008.
DWE calls for water report
A groundbreaking report by the Department of Water and Energy has provided the first detailed understanding of the impacts of climate change on rainwater runoff and water availability across NSW and the ACT.
Conducted by DWE’s Senior Research Scientist, Dr. Jai Vaze, its Senior Natural Resources Officer. Jin Teng in collaboration with CSIRO Land and Water and CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, the report shows an overall decrease in average annual rainfall as the climate changes with winter rainfall likely to be lower across the entire region.
It does not show a reduction in future summer rainfall however.
DWE commissioned the report to inform its decision-making on the management of water resources throughout NSW.
13 August, 2008
Premier plans work to work PS plan
The Department of Premier and Cabinet has published a five-year strategy to plan, develop and manage the NSW Public Service until 2012.
Derived from the NSW State Plan which sets out measures to make the State a better place to live, work and do business, the NSW Public Sector Workforce Strategy 2008-2012 aims at improving the way the Public Service recruits, retains and develops staff; addresses shortages likely to result from the ageing workforce; develops capabilities in its employees; and manages the PS workforce to meet current and future needs.
According to the Premier, Morris Iemma, the Government must use the years ahead to explore every avenue to attract and keep talented PS employees to ensure the people of NSW received the high quality public services they deserved.
He said as an employer in a competitive marketplace, the NSWPS needed to sustain and renew its workforce in the face of an ageing population and tighter labour market.
“As the largest employer in Australia, the NSW Government has a lot to offer,” Mr Iemma said, “such as high levels of job security, portability of leave and the chance to make a real contribution to our community.”
He said however, it needed to recognise that the benefits of the past were not sufficient to attract and retain present-day employees, especially younger workers.
“We need to attract and retain young people by harnessing their energy and by offering opportunities for innovation, creativity and ongoing education and career development.”
Mr Iemma said the NSWPS was facing challenges “unprecedented in decades” and targeting new recruits to the PS would require a sophisticated variety of responses, which was precisely the purpose of the Strategy.
The Strategy identifies the NSWPS’s biggest assets as its depth of experience, corporate knowledge and service culture within the public sector.
“The NSW public sector workforce is older than the NSW workforce,” it says, “a substantial number of key staff will retire in the next few years.
“This will create a knowledge gap across the public sector and impact on our ability to respond to changing service needs and increasing demands.”
The Strategy says that promoting a ‘career that counts’ was the Service’s best appeal to prospective staff.
“We also need to highlight the advantages of working in the public sector, like job flexibility.”
It says that research has revealed an opportunity to focus on under-employed groups in the labour market as a way of increasing the number and range of job candidates.
“We need to more effectively target young people, people with disabilities (and) mature workers.
“This means that we need to be increasingly more flexible in the way we design and promote jobs, and in our approach to managing and developing staff.”
The Strategy sets its priorities for 2008-09 and identifies a series of actions designed to achieve them.
It commits all public sector Agency heads to new and innovative ways of attracting
the right people with the right capabilities to the right jobs.
“The Public Sector Workforce Strategy is our blueprint for the way ahead,” Mr Iemma said.
“I urge its adoption as a high priority by every Minister and CEO.”
Copies of the Strategy and a summary of its priorities can be accessed at the DPC website www.dpc.nsw.gov.au
13 August, 2008
Levy on parking is such sweet sorrow
Staff entitled to city parking spaces have been advised that their parking space levy has been increased.
The Department of Premier and Cabinet has issued a Circular advising the new charges which took effect from 1 July but did not have to be paid until 1 September.
According to the Circular, the Parking Space Levy Act 1992 was introduced to discourage car use and decrease congestion and pollution in Sydney's prime business districts including Sydney, North Sydney and Milsons Point (category one areas); and Bondi Junction, Chatswood, Parramatta and St Leonards (category two areas).
The levy has increased to $950 per space per year for category one areas and to $470 per space per year for category two.
The Director General of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Robyn Kruk, said the levy was adjusted annually to reflect the Consumer Price Index but was exempt from GST.
Ms Kruk said Public Service staff who had an entitlement to use one or more parking spaces were required to pay the levy from their own remuneration. This included Chief and Senior Executive Service officers, statutory officers, staff in Ministers’ offices and other persons in Public Service positions who were provided with a parking space under their employment arrangements.
Ms Kruk encouraged Agencies to ensure that all appropriate officers within their administration knew of the changes and to ensure the remuneration packages were adjusted accordingly.
She said the Act provided the legislative basis for administrative arrangements to collect the levy, which was payable by owners of off-street parking spaces.
She said exemptions were provided for residential parking on the premises, disabled parking and various other classes of parking space uses.
A Treasury factsheet with details of the locations involved was available at www.osr.nsw.gov.au
13 August, 2008
Ombudsman quick to call progress slow
The NSW Ombudsman has tabled a report in Parliament describing progress on a collaborative Public Service project to reduce disadvantage for some people in the criminal justice system as “slow.”
The Ombudsman, Bruce Barbour, said a Senior Officers’ Group formed five years ago to address the issue had yet to finalise key areas of its work.
He said the people most affected were those with mental conditions.
"People with an intellectual disability are over-represented and face significant disadvantage in all areas of the criminal justice system,” Mr Barbour said.
“In 2002, a cross-Agency Senior Officers Group was formed to improve (their) outcomes.”
He said the tabled report examined progress made by the Senior Officers Group towards meeting its objectives but found that while a number of significant initiatives had been commenced, developments had been limited.
“We have concerns about the progress of this collaborative work,” Mr Barbour said.
“While a number of significant initiatives have commenced in the five years since the Senior Officers Group was formed, key areas of work have yet to be finalised or progressed to a point where they can be evaluated.”
He said while NSW Government Agencies had recognised that a comprehensive interagency approach was necessary to meet the needs of the individuals, not a great deal had been achieved.
“In our view, the community would expect greater progress by the Senior Officers Group than what has been achieved over the past five years,”Mr Barbour said.
“Continued and sustained commitment by the relevant Agencies is needed to advance the agreed collaborative work, and to improve the outcomes for this vulnerable group of people.
“Given the significant and financial cost of poor inter-departmental collaboration, more needs to be done to strengthen cross-Agency service delivery for offenders with an intellectual disability.”
Mr Barbour said the Senior Officers Group was due to review its progress in 2010 and that would include an evaluation of its work.
He said the Ombudsman, through a recommendation to the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care which was lead agency for the Senior Officers Group, would closely monitor progress.
Copies of the Ombudsman’s report can be accessed at www.ombo.nsw.gov.au
13 August, 2008
Election voted a close contest
The NSW Electoral Commission has tipped a strong field for the 13 September local Government elections with over 2,660 candidates lodging their nominations before today’s cut-off.
Election officials across NSW would conduct the ballot paper draw at local returning offices following the midday deadline to determine the position of candidates and groups on the ballot papers.
NSW Electoral Commissioner, Colin Barry, said the nomination process was similar to the concept of the Golden Slipper.
“If you don’t meet the deadline then unfortunately you can’t run the race,” Commissioner Barry said.
“We’re expecting a strong field and hopefully not too many late scratchings.”
Commissioner Barry had advised candidates to lodge their nominations as soon as possible to avoid any problems.
“A candidate must be properly enrolled in the Council they wish to represent and must be nominated by at least two people who are correctly enrolled in the same Council area,” he said.
“We don’t want people putting their names forward at two minutes to midday, only to find that their nominators are incorrectly enrolled.”
Commissioner Barry said strong nominations had been received by Returning Officers in Newcastle City Council, Campbelltown City Council, Manly Council, Blacktown City Council, Fairfield City Council, Albury City Council, Blue Mountains City Council and Auburn Council.
He said more than 5,000 candidates stood for local council elections in 2004 and that more people were expected to apply by the time nominations closed.
He said candidate names were published live on the NSWEC’s website as they were accepted.
For more information on the ballot draw or to access candidate details, voters and other interested people could visit the Council Index page at www.elections.nsw.gov.au or contact the Elector Enquiry Centre on 1300 135 736.
13 August, 2008
PS security is new terror weapon
The South Australian Government has hired armed guards and introduced new security measures to protect its Public Servants and some Government buildings it regards as ‘critical’, including a number of schools.
The measures are in response to the brutal killing of the State’s former chief of mental health, Dr Margaret Tobin almost six years ago.
Protective Security Services officers, some of whom are armed, have been given legislative powers to detain and search suspected offenders and to protect public property as a part of the State’s anti-terrorist strategy.
Dozens of recruits have joined former Police Security Services officers in the new-look unit, bringing the total to123 renamed Protective Security Officers or PSOs.
The officers, who wear white shirts and gold and blue hatbands, have been trained at the police academy and were operating at public buildings, schools and other vulnerable infrastructures, including reservoirs and utility facilities.
Officers monitoring schools would not be carrying guns.
The new unit will come under the direction of police and have powers from the Protective Security Act which was passed in April.
Operations Manager with the PSS, Inspector Richard Lambert, said a review of security at Government facilities following the Death of Dr Tobin led to upgraded training and recruitment standards of security officers.
“That (shooting) increased the awareness of security for Government employees and buildings,” Inspector Lambert said.
“The Government will designate certain sites as critical infrastructures and they will be monitored for security by the PSO officers.”
He said the review led to the introduction of officers with legislative powers, and that new recruits included former UK police officers, spray painters and former security officers.
A police crime scene investigator in England for five years, Sue Lawson, has joined the team.
Ms Lawson said the ability to communicate effectively was critical in her new role. “You've got to have those skills, definitely,” she said.
“The more experience you have with the public, especially violent members of the public, being able to talk them down (improves) with experience.”
Former psychiatrist Jean Eric Gassy was convicted of Dr Tobin’s murder but the High Court has since ordered a retrial.
13 August, 2008
Mayors rate high in Council elections
The Department of Local Government has written to Councils explaining the role of the local Mayor following the coming elections for Councillors.
In a Circular to the Councils, Director-General of the Department, Garry Payne, said that unlike Councillors who ceased to hold office on the day of the election, the Mayor remained in position until a successor was declared elected.
Mr Payne said under the Local Government Act 1993, the rule applied equally to a popularly elected Mayor and a Mayor elected by the Councillors.
He said it also applied whether or not a Mayor elected by Councillors was re-elected at the election.
“A popularly elected Mayor takes office from the declaration of the Mayoral election,” Mr Payne said. “The position for a Mayor elected by Councillors is different.”
He said the Act required the election of a Mayor by Councillors be conducted at a meeting held within the three weeks of an ordinary election.
Mr Payne said a Mayor elected by Councillors would be entitled to preside at the meeting, even if he or she had not been re-elected as a Councillor, until the successor was declared elected.
“However, such a Mayor could decline to preside at the meeting at which the Myoral election is to take place,” he said.
Mr Payne said if this occurred, the first item of business at the meeting had to be the election of a chairperson, and would be conducted by the general manager, a Council employee of their choice or by the person who called the meeting.
“It is good practice if, once the chairperson is elected, the next item of business is the Mayoral election,” he said.
“A Mayor elected by the Councillors would continue to exercise his or her Mayoral functions as set out in section 226 of the Act after election day until a successor is declared.”
However, Mr Payne said it would be expected that such functions be exercised only in a “caretaker” capacity.
“Councils might consider limiting the operation of any delegations that can be exercised by the Mayor during this ‘caretaker’ period,” he advised.
13 August, 2008
Top end hits bottom in PS slash plan
Threats by the Northern Territory Country Liberal Party to slash the NT Public Service by 860 positions over the next three years have been criticised by the Community and Public Sector Union as irresponsible and counter productive.
The CLP made the pledge in the lead-up to last week’s Territory election saying the cuts would be needed to pay for other election commitments.
Party Leader Terry Mills said 700 general staff of the NTPS and 40 executive officers would not be replaced when they left over the next three years but the CPSU said that number was 10 per cent of the entire PS.
"There will be no sackings of Public Servants below the executive level," Mr Mills said.
He also promised to reduce to 45 the number of political staffers working for the Government and appoint only eight Ministers instead of nine while cutting portfolios from 36 to 13.
He said he would sell off the NT car fleet, the Government Printing Office and Sports House which would bring in an extra $93 million.
CPSU Regional Secretary, Naomi Porrovecchio said if the cuts went ahead they would have a “devastating effect” on the delivery of public sector services in the NT.
“The knock-on effect to front line services would be disastrous,” Ms Porrovecchio said.
"Our economy is growing and fuelling greater demand on public services as the population increases.
“Attacking our social infrastructure by slashing the ranks of the public sector is irresponsible and counterproductive.”
She said the NTPS was already struggling to attract and retain employees in the tight labour market. To remain competitive in the battle for talent, she said, it required quality jobs, competitive pay and conditions, opportunities for personal development and career advancement.
"Threatening the job security of public servants will do nothing to ensure the ranks of the public sector are staffed by our best and brightest," she said.
13 August, 2008
Contracts entered for tender care
The Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care has awarded tenders for three new support services for people with a disability in northern New South Wales.
DADHC Regional Director, Northern, Chris Leach said the services would begin operating in the next few months and would provide ‘drop-in’ style support for Aboriginal clients of the Department and people who had an Acquired Brain Injury.
The services are to run under a $1.54 million trial announced by the NSW Minister for Disability Services, Kristina Keneally.
Mr Leach said the trial would deliver culturally responsive services to Aboriginal people in the New England and mid-North Coast areas.
He said in DADHC’s experience, Aboriginal people with a disability preferred to receive support services in their family home or communities.
“Trained staff will provide assistance to Aboriginal people in areas including Kempsey, Nambucca, Coffs Harbour, Moree and Narrabri,” Mr Leach said.
“The services will vary between individuals and communities and will be designed to meet a person’s specific needs depending on whether they require high-level or low-level support, and whether they need regular assistance or simply help with a one-off task.”
He said $345,000 a year and one-off set-up costs had been allocated to Challenge Disability Services to provide support to 10 people in Moree and Narrabri, while $345,000 a year plus set-up costs would fund Coffs Harbour Support Services Inc to support 10 people in Kempsey, Nambucca and Coffs Harbour.
Mr Leach said New Horizons Enterprises Inc would receive $365,000 plus set-up costs to support five people with Acquired Brain Injury on the Far North Coast.
He said the new drop-in services would be matched to individual needs and could include helping with personal care and domestic tasks; helping people master tasks such as using the bus service; and helping with shopping and community participation.
Mr Leach said staff would be able to provide information directly to clients about any of the Government and non-Government organisations throughout NSW who provided a range of disability services in the community.
13 August, 2008
Gardens branch out for seeds in space
The Botanic Gardens Trust has sent Australian seeds into space for an extended time as part of an experiment to see if they would grow on the moon or other planets.
Executive Director of the Trust, Tim Entwisle, said Australian seeds were among the hardiest on Earth and could be suitable as oxygen producers should humans colonise outer space.
“It’s hoped this small experiment will show how Australian seeds respond to microgravity and ionising radiation, perhaps demonstrating they are the toughest on earth and in space!,” Dr Entwisle said.
“This NASA experiment could even lead to some ground breaking research by providing a preliminary evaluation of Space Station seedbanking – a possible option for the future.”
He said seedbanking involved storing seeds under conditions best suited to extending their lives.
He said sending native seeds into space could open up new areas of research or simply confirm the Trust was doing “the best we can to conserve our seed for future needs”.
“Perhaps more importantly, I hope this short trip into space for some Aussie seeds will raise awareness of seedbanking as an insurance policy for the future.”
NASA astronaut, Dr Gregory Chamitoff, took the seeds with him on the Discovery Mission, which was launched in late May on Mission STS-124 to the International Space Station.
Dr Chamitoff was scheduled to spend up to six months in space, bringing the seeds back with him when he returned.
Dr Entwisle said the experiment would highlight the important role of the Botanic Gardens Trust in seedbanking.
“This provides an insurance policy for species that might become extinct due to global warming or other changes to their habitat,” he said.
“With habitats under increasing threat, conservation seedbanking is an important strategy for both storing and understanding genetically important wild seeds.”
Dr Entwisle said as part of a global seed conservation effort, the Botanic Gardens Trust was a partner in the Millennium Seed Bank Project based in the UK.
The Australian seeds taken into space included Golden Wattle, NSW Waratah, Flannel Flower and Wollemi Pine.
13 August, 2008
Homeless at home with PS donations
Public Servants from Marrickville, Leichhardt and Redfern have clubbed together to raise money for the homeless, offering a generous donation to Mission Australia to buy blankets.
Staff of the Centrelink offices in those areas wore casual clothes, scarves and beanies to work to show their support for residents and clients who faced a daily struggle to put a roof over their heads.
According to the manager of Centrelink Marrickville, Renee Kennett, Sydney’s homeless people would be a little warmer this winter as a result of the staff’s charity.
Ms Kennett said Centrelink staff were always willing to help their local communities and that their donations coincided with National Homeless Persons’ Week.
“Staff are passionate about making a positive difference to the less fortunate in our community, so organising some fundraising and the donation of warm blankets and clothing is their way of showing they care,” she said.
“Centrelink staff regularly visit local homeless shelters to gain a better understanding of how they operate and what their needs are, and community workers have been invited to Centrelink offices to talk to staff about the needs of the homeless.”
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has estimated there were nearly 100,000 homeless people in Australia, including teenagers, families and the elderly who were often turned away from shelters due to lack of accommodation.
Ms Kennett said Centrelink staff worked in partnership with other Government and Community Agencies to help homeless people across the country.
“Centrelink staff are very committed to providing vital Australian Government support to the homeless whether it be via welfare assistance or through our specialist teams,” Ms Kennett said.
13 August, 2008
Firefighters hot in charity calendar
Female firefighters from the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service have published a 2009 calendar to raise funds for the Cancer Council Queensland
Acting independently of QFRS, but all employed as full-time firefighters in the Service, the “firewomen” claim their project is a “sizzling fundraiser” and they themselves had never been hotter!
According to their website, the firefighters are proud to be associated with the “first ever Female Firefighters Calendar in Queensland,” which was put together with the help of sponsors.
“Normally hot and sweaty behind the scenes, (the firewomen) found themselves in front of the camera in the name of charity – to help raise funds for Breast Cancer and the Pink Ribbon Appeal,” the website says.
“Fire Fighters, Fire Girls, Fire Women, Fire Ladies... whatever you want to call them .... they are HOTTER than ever!
The women say visitors to the site could find out more about the calendar and the fire fighters who posed for it on its ‘Profiles’ page or could meet them in person at selected events throughout the year.
The calendar was launched last week at the Brisbane Show and supporters who subscribe to their website were invited to the launch.
The calendar is selling for $10 and interested buyers can register their interest at www.femalefirefighters.com.au
13 August, 2008
Sydney pencils in carbon free future
The City of Sydney has become Australia’s first carbon neutral Government.
Chief Executive, Monica Barone announced the breakthrough saying it helped deliver on a promise to make the city more sustainable.
Ms Barone said the City was proud to lead the way in carbon neutrality as climate change was the biggest threat the city, the nation and the planet faced.
“The City of Sydney has committed to doing all it can to tackle this threat,” Ms barone said.
She said by eliminating unnecessary energy use, improving efficiency, using accredited renewable energy and offsetting unavoidable carbon emissions, the City of Sydney had become carbon neutral.
“This means that activities undertaken by the City, from collecting garbage, to running libraries to lighting streets, will have no net carbon emissions,” she said.
Ms Barone said independent assessors had been working since January to measure the City’s carbon emissions.
She said the assessment had found 9 per cent, or 4,360 tonnes of the City’s emissions came directly from its operations such as the use of fuel for its fleet of vehicles.
Indirect emissions, such as electricity for street lights and City owned properties made up 72 per cent (35,000 tonnes) of carbon emissions while other emissions such as business travel, taxis and contractor emissions made up 19 per cent (9,200 tonnes).
Ms Barone said the City’s total emissions for 2006/07 were calculated at 48,550 tonnes, and that to help neutralise the amount, they had switched to 100 per cent accredited GreenPower.
She said the use of green power meant the City’s energy use no longer contributed to overall carbon emissions, with energy providers required to go through a tender review process including an analysis of the type, cost and quantity of renewable energy that could be supplied.
Ms Barone said the City of Sydney invited a panel of independent third party organisations, including WWF-Australia, to be part of the tender evaluation panel.
WWF-Australia CEO, Greg Bourne, said the City had shown it was a “true leader” in sustainability.
“The leadership the city displayed in Earth Hour led to over 370 local and international cities, councils and towns taking part in 2008, which was a tremendous result,” Mr Bourne said.
“We encourage other government bodies around Australia to show the same cooperative spirit and commitment to going carbon neutral and reducing their emissions.”
Ms Barone said other organisations were welcome to use the guidelines developed by the City of Sydney to help make the switch to GreenPower.
13 August, 2008
OFT dinner chews over issues
The Office of Fair Trading has hosted a special lunch for members of the Indigenous business community to provide them with the latest in information, advice and assistance.
Minister for Fair Trading, Linda Burney said the initiative helped build important links between Government, business and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
She said guest speakers included representatives from Fair Trading, Indigenous Business Australia, the Australian Tax Office, Indigenous Community Volunteers and Business Advisory Service Inc, (BASI).
“There were also information stalls set up by Work Cover, Young Achievement Australia, Austrade, Australian Securities and Investments Commission and NEIS (New Enterprise Incentive Scheme),” Ms Burney said.
She said she was confident the event was “invaluable” to Indigenous business owners.
“Running a business in today’s competitive environment can be extremely challenging and metropolitan Sydney is possibly the most competitive business location in the Asia Pacific region,” Ms Burney said.
She said the Office of Fair Trading was committed to assisting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community through the Aboriginal Action Plan, which was launched in 1998.
“The Aboriginal Action Plan aims to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s access to Fair Trading services,” she said.
“This is done by focusing on fair trading issues most common to Aboriginal communities such as tenancy issues, discrimination and consumer credit, recruiting Aboriginal people to improve service delivery, delivering information face to face, going out to the community and coordinating our work with other Agencies.”
Ms Burney said in the last financial year, Fair Trading conducted 262 activities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across the State which involved over 5,000 participants.
“At the same time, Fair Trading conducted 210 activities for business traders, involving more than 6,500 participants,” she said.
13 August, 2008
Leadership shines in Film Office event
The NSW Film and Television Office has entered a partnership with Singapore's Media Development Authority and ScreenWest to stage the Asia-Australia Media Executive Leadership Program in Sydney for the first time this November.
The FTO has offered five scholarships to senior and mid-level NSW screen professionals to participate in the course.
AAMELP is a five-day course designed to develop entrepreneurial, strategic leadership and management skills to help participants strengthen their companies and better meet the challenges of the evolving global marketplace.
It is a partner program to the Leadership Program for European Media Executives held in Halle, Germany, and the North American Media Executive Program held in Banff, Canada, each year.
The program was expected to draw on extensive international industry expertise in its core faculty and the guest executives.
In its courses, specific case studies were used to translate management and leadership development into applied, real situations in the industry.
AAMELP will include a rigorous pre-course preparation process, including reading and evaluation, as well as follow-up activities at the one-month, three-month and six-month stages.
Applications for the course close on 27 August, with successful candidates being notified by 15 September. The course will be held from 23 to 28 November in Sydney, but will return to Singapore in 2009. For further information, contact the FTO on (02) 9264 6400.
13 August, 2008
New water Regs add privateers to mix
The introduction of a regulatory framework to allow competition in the Sydney and Hunter water markets has opened the door to private sector involvement according to the Minister for Water, Nathan Rees.
Mr Rees unveiled the framework, saying it was a key part of the Government’s plan to boost private investment in water recycling.
He said the Water Industry Competition Act 2006 and Water Industry Competition (General) Regulation 2008 provided a licensing regime for private companies that supplied water and sewerage services to metropolitan NSW.
Mr Rees said the gazettal of the Regulation pushed the ‘go button’ for competition in the metropolitan water industry, following the belief that if the private sector could provide services at the required standards they should be allowed to compete in the marketplace.
Mr Rees said the Regulation contained provisions to protect consumers, water quality and the environment.
He said NSW was leading innovative practices in the water industry.
In 2006 the Department of Water and Energy developed the Water Industry Competition Act, Australia’s first legislation designed to facilitate the competitive entry of the private sector into the water industry and to encourage recycling.
Mr Rees said increasing competition in the water industry to promote innovative recycling projects and greater efficiency in water provision and wastewater services was a key component of the Government’s Metropolitan Water Plan.
He said the commencement of the Act and Regulation would provide the framework for the development of a robust, competitive and sustainable water industry in NSW.
Me Rees said key aspects of the Regulation included imposing equal standards on public water utilities for new entrants; standards for drinking and recycled water; safe, reliable and environmentally friendly delivery of services; and provisions to protect consumers, such as pensioner concessions and disconnection prevention.
The Independent Prices and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) was to manage the licensing scheme.
Mr Rees said the Water Industry Competition (General) Regulation 2008 was developed in consultation with key stakeholders and the broader community.
He said the Government would continue to consult with industry and stakeholders as the licensing and regulatory regime was bedded down.
13 August, 2008
Long life survey finds a hitch
Findings by the Australian Bureau of Statistics that married people lived longer than single ones have been released by the Federal Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot.
ABS data on age-specific death rates in Australia per thousand per age group showed that married people had lower death rates than non-married people in almost all age groups, for both men and women. (The data compares the rate of death per 1000 for single people versus married ones.)
Data analysed by the Minister’s Department showed the difference between single and married people started in their 40s and grew sharply in their 60s.
It found the real spike appeared in the 70-84 group with the death rate for single people almost double that of married men and women.
“It seems that longevity and marriage are directly linked and marriage is good for your health,” Mrs Elliot said.
“Overseas studies have provided similar results on marriage and ageing and the link with longevity has been debated for more than 100 years.”
She said the data also found that for men, the difference evened out after age 85 while married women over 80 continued to have a greater survival rate than single women in the same age group.
However, widowed males over 85 had the highest rate of death per 1000, showing that once their life-partner died, they often followed. It was 191.6 per thousand compared to 140.3 per thousand for married men in the same age group.
Mrs Elliott said historically, one main explanation had been put forward – that marriage reduced the risk of an earlier death as a person was less likely to participate in risky behaviour and more likely to nurture or “guardian” each other’s health through promoting good diet and physical care.
She said the Australian marriage data came on top of research showing that Australians now had the second longest life expectancy in the world - 81.4 years - after the Japanese.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, using the World Health Organisation’s 2007 figures for selected countries, reported that Australian women had a life expectancy of 83.7 years and Australian men 79 years.
In addition, Women on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and Western Australia’s wheat-belt near Perth had the longest life expectancies in the country and the world.
Mrs Elliott said that by 2045-2050, Australian men and women could expect to live five years longer than they currently did, with women going from 83.7 to 88 and men going from 79 to 84.1 years.
She said by 2060, an Australian woman could expect to reach the age of 90 and by mid-century most Australians could expect – on average – to reach the mid-to-late 80s.
Currently, there were 2800 Australians aged 100-years or more, and that was expected to increase to 12,000 by 2020 and grow to 78,000 by 2055.
13 August, 2008
Fuel saving probe
The Office of Fair Trading has launched an investigation focusing on fuel saving devices such as additives and catalysts.
Minister for Fair Trading, Linda Burney, said the Department’s focus came at a time when households feeling the squeeze of petrol prices might be swayed by products claiming to save them money.
Ms Burney said she was responding to concerns raised by the automotive industry about the validity and distribution of fuel saving devices.
Ms Burney has encouraged motorists to help the Office with its investigations by calling Fair Trading on 1800 055 555.
Investigations symposium on
The 7th National Investigations Symposium is to be held from 5 to 7 November this year in Sydney.
Hosted by the NSW Ombudsman, the Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Institute of Public Administration Australia (NSW), the symposium is an opportunity for public officials to maintain and increase their investigative knowledge, skills and techniques.
It has been recommended as a significant professional development and networking event for public officials who conduct fact-finding exercises.
More details from www.ombo.nsw.gov.au
More bans in Tas dispute
A pay dispute between State Public Servants and the Tasmanian Government continues, with staff introducing a further round of work bans.
Unions are fighting for pay parity with their interstate counterparts and have rejected a pay offer from the government.
The new action includes bans on answering phones at certain times in the quarantine service and at smaller libraries, restrictions on processing invoices for some health services and a ban on the Sexual Offenders Program at Risdon Prison.
Immigration officers in region
Officers from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) are to visit the Central West next month as a part of their regional outreach program.
The team is to visit Bathurst, Orange, Cowra, Forbes, Parkes, Dubbo and Lithgow to allow locals to discuss immigration related issues face-to-face.
A DIAC spokesperson said appointments being made during the regional visits were with a range of people from farmers to small business owners and the topics they raised varied from citizenship, work visas and how to sponsor refugees.
Volunteers funded
The Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care has launched a new volunteering strategy to subsidise volunteers for the rising costs of petrol.
Premier, Morris Iemma, said an extra $6.7 million had been allocated to the fund that reimbursed volunteers for personal costs connected with community work.
Mr Iemma said the money would go to organisations such as Meals on Wheels,. Other organisations wanting information on the program should contact their local DADHC office or visit www.dadhc.nsw.gov.au
Artists assisted
A $15,000 grant has been made to regional NSW artists and art volunteers to help them attend the Regional Arts Australia national conference.
The conference is supported by the Commonwealth Government, State and regional arts bodies and the Northern Territory Government and the grant would help around 30 people represent the State’s Regional Arts Boards at the conference from 3 to 5 October.
Bulli Pass to close
The Roads and Traffic Authority has reminded motorists that the Upper Bulli Pass is to be closed to all traffic from Monday 18 August for six weeks for essential road repairs.
The slope stability roadworks were expected to be completed by Friday 26 September 2008, weather permitting.
Drivers have been advised to allow an extra 30 minutes to trips that would otherwise use the closed section of road. Barriers will be erected.
6 August, 2008
Law reformers go public on privacy
The NSW Law Reform Commission has released a consultation paper it says would open the way for a major overhaul of the State’s privacy laws with major implication for State Government Departments and Agencies..
According to the Commissioner managing the consultation paper process, Professor Michael Tilbury, the Commission believed that the State’s privacy legislation was unnecessarily convoluted and failed to provide an effective framework for the protection of the privacy of an individual.
“The current state of confusion surrounding privacy laws suggests that it is the complexity of the provisions that is undermining their effectiveness,” Professor Tilbury said.
He said it was extremely difficult to identify which State Government Agencies were covered by all or some of the Privacy Principles that underpinned the legislation and which Agencies and activities had complete or partial exemption from the legislation as a whole. He said the current list of exceptions and exemptions ran to several pages.
Professor Tilbury said the NSWLRC proposed structural changes to the legislation which would give it greater simplicity, harmony, clarity and flexibility.
In particular, the Commission proposed reforms to:
- The Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 to transfer the handling of health information by private sector organisations to the Commonwealth;
- Consider doing away with a separate health information privacy Act so that the remaining health information held by public sector agencies was regulated under the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW);
- Limit the numerous exemptions in the legislation, particularly exemptions to the definition of “personal information; and
- Facilitate the exchange of information between Agencies and organisations to improve the provision of services to vulnerable people, particularly in the area of child protection.
“The fact that there are three separate regimes governing access to, and amendment of, documents held by public sector Agencies has given rise to uncertainty about the way in which these pieces of legislation interact with one another,” Mr Wood said.
“Many believe the three regimes are largely incompatible and have led to considerable confusion for both users and the public officials responsible for administering the relevant legislation.”
He said the consultation paper looked at ways to eliminate duplication and inconsistencies and had been formulated in the context of the Australian Law Reform Commission’s review of federal privacy laws, the cornerstone of which was that privacy laws should be consistent across Australia.
The consultation paper could be downloaded from www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au
6 August, 2008
Action day strikes blow for unions
The Public Sector Union’s Day of Action on 30 July to protest against the PS salary cap attracted about 200 demonstrators outside the Premier’s office in Sydney and other smaller groups to rallies outside the Treasurer’s electorate office in Newcastle and outside State Government offices in Wollongong.
Teachers, police and other Public Servants joined the protest after months of negotiating failed to convince the Government that the 2.5% cap on salary increases for the Public Service was effectively a pay cut with inflation trending over 4% for the year.
The protests were also supported by a range of less overt actions including work bans, overtime limitations, work to rule practices, stop work meetings and other activities aimed at disrupting the collection of Government revenue.
Staff in some departments refused to produce briefings and other Ministerial support and police imposed a one-day ban on issuing on-the-spot fines for minor traffic breaches.
Bans and stop work meetings were also put in place by teachers, ambulance officers and firefighters.
The paperwork drought in Ministerial offices prompted the Assistant Secretary of the Public Service Association, Stephen Turner to say that if a Minister wanted to find out something about his or her department on the day they had “Buckley's chance.”
Despite the direct action, Premier Iemma stood by the pay cap policy saying the Government's position was not about to change and repeating the offer that higher wage increases were available if productivity improvements or costs savings could be identified.
“That's the system,” Mr Iemma said. “That's the system that's existed in this State for a long time and that's served the State well.”
He said 18 pay claims had already been negotiated fort public service employees between 2.5 and five per cent.
6 August, 2008
Christmas closedowns a gift for families
Premier Morris Iemma has issued a Ministerial Memorandum setting out arrangements for PS office closures over the Christmas and New Year break.
Mr Iemma confirmed that the customary half-day holiday on Christmas Eve for the staff of Departments closed Christmas Day would be in place again this year.
The Premier said all Agencies not involved in delivering front line services were required to shut down for two weeks over the Christmas/New Year period, and State Owned Corporations were encouraged to maximise the use of leave wherever possible.
He said as well as enabling employees to enjoy time with family and friends, over the past years the closedown had had a positive impact on reducing leave liability throughout the sector.
Mr Iemma said closedown arrangements would vary between Agencies, and decisions as to which areas were appropriate to be closed down, and to what extent, would be made on a case by case basis by the Agencies’ Chief Executive Officers.
He expected some Agencies to close down all sections while others would remain open with skeleton staffing.
The Premier identified two options facing Agencies preparing for the closedown. They could either close:
- From 22 December up to and including 2 January; or
- From 25 December up to and including 7 January.
Mr Iemma said CEOs should encourage managers to release staff on leave over the relevant period; direct employees with excessive leave balances onto leave during this period; make use of temporary assignment provisions; and use the period to reduce accrued work time under a flex agreement.
He said Agencies should hold discussions with employees at least a month before implementing the arrangements and refer to any relevant industrial instruments to determine if special provisions apply.
The Premier said PS employees who were not entitled to a union picnic day or other special day, such as the Tuesday after Easter, were entitled to a Public Service holiday to be taken between Boxing Day and New Year as determined by Department heads.
He said employees directed to work on all working days between Boxing Day and New Year were entitled to be paid overtime at the ‘public holiday’ rate for work performed on the day determined as the public service holiday for the Agency.
6 August, 2008
Report sells out trading entities
A study of Government-run businesses by the Productivity Commission has found that half of them would struggle to survive in the real world of private enterprise.
The Commission’s latest scorecard on the financial performance of Government Trading Enterprises or GTEs, monitored the activities of 86 publicly-owned businesses across key sectors of the economy including electricity, water, urban transport, railways, ports and forestry.
It found they accounted for about 1.7 per cent of Australia's Gross Domestic Product and according to Assistant Commissioner Chris Sayers, the results were disappointing.
“Despite some improvement, about half of the monitored GTEs did not achieve commercial rates of return in 2006-07,” the Commission’s report said.
It said the poor returns underscored a “long-term inability to operate these businesses on a fully commercial basis in accordance with competition policy undertakings.”
The Commission believed the efficient operation of GTEs was important to both the wellbeing of the community and to the competitiveness of Australian industry.
“The continuing poor performance of many GTEs was therefore of concern.”
Mr Sayers said financial performance monitoring of GTEs formed part of the Productivity Commission's research into the performance of Australian industries and the progress of microeconomic reform.
He said in 2006-07, the 86 GTEs included in the report controlled about 2.8 per cent of Australia's non-household assets (valued at $192 billion).
The Commission’s report said the overall profitability of GTEs increased by 36 per cent in 2006-07 but there were mixed results across the sectors.
“Profitability increased in the electricity, urban transport and ports sectors, but declined in the rail, water and forestry sectors,” it said.
For sectors in which profits had improved, the report found it was generally because of the good work of a single GTE in the sector.
Overall it found that in 2006-07:
- 40 per cent of the GTE’s showed a fall in profits;
- 14 GTEs (of which five were in the water sector) reported losses;
- Over half failed to achieve a return on assets above the risk-free rate; and
- Twelve of the 86 GTEs (14%) failed to achieve a positive return on their assets.
“In addition, income tax and tax equivalent payments totalled $1.8 billion.”
It said despite the stated policies of Governments, not all had identified all existing Community Service Obligations (CSOs).
“Governments generally report funding for CSOs in a transparent manner (but) almost no information is reported on the costs of meeting CSOs,” it said.
The Productivity Commission said inadequate funding to pay for CSOs affected the GTE's financial performance and could result in inadequate or misallocated investment, price increases for non-CSO services, and/or lower quality service provision.
“Poor profitability can lead to inadequate investment and asset maintenance, which can in turn reduce the future profitability of GTEs,” it said.
“Without a return to commercially sustainable operations, this cycle can persist.”
The report, which could be accessed at www.pc.gov.au, also examined reasons for the persistently poor performance of some of the GTEs.
6 August, 2008
Watchdog invests in super paper
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has released a consultation paper on the effectiveness of people’s personal superannuation arrangements.
Consultation paper 101 Superannuation forecasts poses the question: “How can we motivate Australians to take charge of their super sooner rather than later?” and concludes that many people might need a “wake-up call”.
The paper revealed that about 46 per cent of workers relied on the minimum contribution, and as many as 33 per cent of workers putting in extra money were still not on target for an “adequate” retirement.
“Many people don’t know how much they will retire with and what kind of lifestyle they will be able to afford,” said ASIC’s Deputy Chairman, Jeremy Cooper.
“It might shock some people, but we want them to see a ‘super snapshot’ of their projected end-benefit in time for them to do something about it.”
The Consultation Paper looks at ways that superannuation providers could give members a “super snapshot” – an estimate of how much they were likely to retire with based on how much they had saved so far.
Mr Cooper said the paper canvassed issues and options for super providers to do this either on paper or via an online calculator allowing members to generate their own super snapshot.
“ASIC understands that producing useful forecasts raises many issues, such as what assumptions should be taken into account, including the likely impact of fees and costs, future contributions and earnings,” Mr Cooper said.
“The end result of this project must be a simple and easy-to-use way of estimating final retirement savings where consumers understand that it is not a guarantee of what they will actually retire with.”
He said ASIC would be asking super funds, their members and industry experts to explain how this could best be done and which types of forecasts would benefit members the most.
“This is an opportunity to have a direct say in further improving Australia’s retirement income system,” he said.
Based on the feedback ASIC received, it would develop more specific proposals and consult on those at a later stage.
Mr Cooper said any more specific proposals would be facilitative only and not mandatory. He said mandatory requirements would require law reform to amend the Corporations Act.
6 August, 2008
Dept cranks up search for new starters
The Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (DADHC) has launched a recruitment drive to attract new staff across the State.
In its efforts to find recruits in Sydney, the Hunter and other areas to the north, south and west, the Department has offered people seeking a career in the human services sector personal training and the promise of a satisfying career.
DADHC’s Regional Director in the Hunter, Jane Cross, said the Department regularly had vacancies for care workers in the Home Care branch and in its ranks of Residential Support Workers.
Ms Cross said working with people with physical or intellectual disabilities and helping aged people was a satisfying career.
“DADHC is one of the larger providers in NSW of services such as respite care, long term accommodation and home care to people with disabilities,” she said.
“We also provide specialist services including physiotherapy, speech pathology, psychology and occupational therapy.”
DADHC’s Southern Region Acting Director, Peter De Natris, said the Department provided its employees with training in a range of areas to help them gain qualifications or specific expertise to expand their careers.
Director of the Western Region, Scott Griffiths, said one of their employees at Cootamundra, Elaine Berryman, had completed a Diploma of Disability and the Certificate for Business Frontline management and had been a finalist in the NSW Trainee of the Year Award.
People interested in pursuing a career with DADHC should contact the office closest to them:
Western Region - 6841 1500
Northern Region - 6621 1488
Queanbeyan - 6200 7300
Newcastle - 4978 6100
Burwood - 9334 3700
6 August, 2008
Runners called to stand for seats
The NSW Electoral Commission has called for nominations from candidates planning to stand in the Local Council elections on Saturday 13 September.
NSW Electoral Commissioner, Colin Barry said candidates would have until 12 noon on Wednesday 13 August to register.
Commissioner Barry said the nomination process was one of the most important phases of the electoral cycle.
“This is when the community learns exactly who will stand to represent them on their Local Council,” he said.
“In the afternoon of Wednesday, 13 August, each of the 90 Returning Officers across the State will conduct the all-important draw to determine the order in which candidates’ names appear on the ballot paper.”
Commissioner Barry said candidates could not nominate themselves but had to be nominated by at least two other electors or a registered political party.
“All candidates must ensure that their nominators are enrolled for the Council area or ward in which they are standing and nominators should check their own enrolment status,” he said.
“We suggest that candidates are proposed by more than two nominators in case some nominators are not correctly enrolled.”
Commissioner Barry said many candidates were expected to run for public office in 148 council areas across the State.
He reminded candidates of new disclosure laws that came into effect on 1 August requiring them to appoint an agent to manage all donations and campaign expenditure of $1,000 or more.
The agent must complete an online training course with the Election Funding Authority.
For more information on the election visit www.elections.nsw.gov.au and for information on the new disclosure legislation visit www.efa.nsw.gov.au
6 August, 2008
Festival State plays musical chairs
A major shake-up of the South Australian Public Service has seen six Departments assigned new Chief Executives to stimulate ideas and bring a fresh approach to key management positions.
South Australian Premier, Mike ran said the moves provided a chance for skilled and experienced executives to bring a fresh perspective in their new portfolio areas.
“These changes, along with the Cabinet reshuffle announced last week, will mark a regeneration in Government, while maintaining a high level of experience and expertise across portfolios for the benefit of all South Australians,” Mr Rann said.
He said he had the highest expectations of the SA Public Service executives to deliver on key performance indicators, and importantly, on targets in South Australia’s strategic plan.
He said the Government had also appointed a new chief executives group with three senior executives to monitor Agency performance and to enhance collaboration between Departments.
Under the changes, Warren McCann, who has been head of the Premier’s Department since John Olsen was in power, will replace Jeff Walsh as the Commissioner for Public Employment.
The Chief Executive of the Families and Communities Department, Sue Vardon, will retire and Scott Ashby will become the Chief Executive of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation.
Brian Cunningham, who was chief of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology is to swap jobs with Ray Gerrard and take on the Trade and Economic Development portfolio and the chief of Thoroughbred Racing SA, Greg Bentley, will become the chairman of the WorkCover Board, replacing Bruce Carter.
6 August, 2008
NSW upfront in Centrelink awards
Three NSW-based Centrelink staff were among 30 from across the nation to receive prestigious awards for their outstanding commitment to public service.
Blacktown’s Niven Morcos, Corrimal’s Byron Jones and former Glen Innes resident, Angela McIntyre (now living in Canberra) were awarded the Minister for Human Services Award for Exemplary Service, beating off 25,000 other Centrelink staff in the process.
. For Centrelink Manager, Ms Morcos, the award was a surprise and great honour.
“It’s very satisfying to receive an award like this, and it’s nice the hard work Centrelink puts into the community is recognised,” she said.
“What is very special is that people outside of the organisation made the nomination.”
The awards, which were introduced last year, were decided based on feedback from customers or from the nominee’s local Member of Parliament and were awarded to winners by Centrelink Chief Executive Officer, Carolyn Hogg.
Recipient, Mr Jones said he was surprised to receive the award as he was “not really an awards person.”
“I just put my head down and do my job to the best of my ability, that’s reward enough for me,” he said.
“But in saying this, it’s still nice to be recognised for the work that I do.”
Mr Jones was nominated by local MP for Cunningham. Sharon Bird and her staff.
“The fact that the local MP recognises that I have always been available to help them and their constituents with Centrelink issues is something that I’m very proud of,” Mr Jones said.
His manager, Anna Mendez, said he was a great asset to Centrelink.
“Byron is very committed to serving the community,” Ms Mendez said.
“He goes the extra mile to provide assistance to the local MP and her constituents.”
Senior Media Adviser for Centrelink, Angela McIntyre was nominated for the award for her work in launching and promoting the Government’s Drought Bus initiative which has provided support to almost 19,000 people in rural regions.
Ms McIntyre said it was an honour to be nominated and that winning was very satisfying.
“It’s great to be formally recognised in this way for the work that I love doing,” she said.
“I’m particularly humbled to have been nominated for this award by the Minister for Human Services and his staff.”
Ms McIntyre said the Drought Buses had made a difference in the lives of many farmers and small business people who suffered through the drought.
“I’m proud of my involvement with the program,” she said.
“I was born and raised in Glen Innes and that’s something I’m very proud of. I might live and work in Canberra, but Glen Innes will always be home to me.”
Ms Morcos had worked in the Public Service for 18 years with Centrelink and the Commonwealth Employment Service and Mr Jones began his career in the Public Service in 1986.
6 August, 2008
Breakers breaking heritage house
Parts of an outside brick wall at the Governor-General’s Sydney residence, Admiralty House, have begun to break and fall away.
The Governor-General’s staff have called in experts to assess the condition of the harbour wall and advise on repairs and restitution work.
Engineers had begun assessing the wall, which was thought to have been built in the late 19th century.
The wall has faced considerable wear from its exposure to the harbour.
As soon as the damage was detected, safety rails and signs were installed on the property to protect guests and staff.
Additional signage was also being prepared to alert passing craft on the harbour of the possible danger.
Following receipt of the engineers’ report and the best methods to repair the wall had been considered, work would begin on fixing the wall, preserving the heritage of Admiralty House and ensuring the safety of passers-by.
6 August, 2008
Border no boundary for new police law
NSW Police have been granted new surveillance powers to assist them in the war against terror.
The Surveillance Devices Act 2008 came into force on 1 August and allows surveillance warrants to be used by police during cross border operations once the legislation has been recognised by participating jurisdictions.
Attorney-General, John Hatzistergos said the use of emerging technologies, including listening devices, optical devices, tracking devices and data surveillance devices, to monitor and record information on a computer had also been regulated by the new law.
“This will mean that law enforcement officers will be able to obtain one warrant for a range of new devices, with the warrant applying in NSW and other participating States and Territories,” Mr Hatzistergos said.
“The duration of warrants will also be extended from 21 to 90 days, cutting red tape for police who won’t have to continually re-apply for them.”
He said the laws would eliminate the need to seek warrants against persons located in other States and Territories and would allow law enforcers to exploit technology advances.
“To adequately track and prosecute terrorists, we need to be able to monitor computers, as well as be able to watch and listen with whatever means available,” he said.
Mr Hatzistergos said to prevent serious crimes, the law also gave police “emergency” powers to immediately begin electronic monitoring of a premises or person of interest.
“The law says emergency powers may be used if there is an imminent threat of serious violence or substantial damage to property, or if a serious narcotics offence will be committed,” he said.
Mr Hatzistergos said in incidents where devices were immediately employed, police would have a limited time frame to have a warrant retroactively applied by a Judge.
The new law superseded the Listening Devices Act 1984 and was based on national laws agreed to by Australia’s Police Ministers and Attorneys-General.
The new law allows law enforcement officers to obtain warrants for surveillance devices; immediately act against threats of serious violence; protect members of the public from the illegitimate use of surveillance devices; regulate the devices; impose requirements for securely storing and destroying records and reporting to parliament; and recognise warrants and emergency authorisations issued in other jurisdictions.
Warrants or emergency authorisations issued under the new law would permit the use of surveillance devices on specified premises, vehicles, objects and persons.
6 August, 2008
Copying book is original work
The history of copying in offices is the subject of a book by a conservator at the National Archives of Australia, Ian Batterham,.
The book traces the copying of documents from the use of carbon paper to laser printers.
Mr Batterham said his book, The Office Copying Revolution would be of interest to anyone who ever worked in an office, as well as professional conservators, archivists, librarians and forensic document examiners.
“Copying machines first appeared in the wake of the industrial revolution but more recently have even found a use in the area of fine art,” Mr Batterham said.
“For almost three centuries, Government and business offices across the world have rushed to adopt new copying techniques as they became available.”
The Office Copying Revolution is illustrated with quaint advertisements and colourful images of machines such as the 1870 “Malling Hansen writing ball” from Denmark, the world’s first commercial typewriter.
Mr Batterham describes the story of office copying as “diverse and inventive.” It involves well known inventors such as Thomas Edison who developed the Mimeograph machine and James Watt who invented the first copy press. It also tells the story of the demise of the typing pool (and the drudgery that involved) when word processors came on the scene.
While generations of copying machines had become obsolete, their legacy resided in the historical collections of archives, libraries, personal collections and galleries across the world, he said.
Mr Batterham said it was the challenge for conservators in such institutions to preserve the copies that resulted from varying processes over the centuries.
He said he became interested in the history of office copying techniques 10 years ago when researching for his Master’s thesis on “Thermographic Office Copying”.
“I realised a single reference work on office copying didn’t exist and it became my crusade to create such a book,” Mr Batterham said.
“I see it as a resource for people entrusted with the care of the millions of copies still in existence which were made on these machines.”
The book was aimed at a wide audience and an appendix provided an 11-step process to identify an unknown copy.
The Office Copying Revolution was launched by Senator Kate Lundy at a symposium of the Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Material in Canberra.
6 August, 2008
DECC swoops on bird sanctuary
The Department of Environment and Climate Change has joined with the Centennial Park and Moore Park Trusts to establish a Threatened Species Demonstration Site using best practice management techniques.
DECC has signed an agreement to restore two reserves of Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub (ESBS) in the parkland, one known as the Bird Sanctuary and the other smaller area on York Road.
The Trusts have begun work on removing four trees from the area which were shading out and dropping leaves on the native plants trying to regenerate in the area.
They plan to hold an Open Day in October and produce best practice guidelines and a brochure for the ESBS community, using Centennial Parklands as a case study.
“This recognition is an endorsement of the quality work of our dedicated volunteers, and would not have been possible without the support of the National Trust in providing supervision of volunteers and financial assistance from our neighbours, Moriah College and the Commonwealth Government’s Envirofund,” the Centennial Parklands Trust said.
The $26,000 project was expected to be completed by November this year.
The works taking place are adjacent to the Centennial Parklands Restaurant and Parklands Office and depot.
6 August, 2008
Potato celebration to be appealing
A celebration of the culture and cuisine of Peru is to be held at the Australian National Maritime Museum at Darling Harbour on Sunday, 17 August to mark 2008, the International Year of the Potato.
The popular and versatile vegetable is Peru’s “gift to the world”.
Entitled Lima - City of Kings the free, day-long festival will focus on the humble potato and include live performances of Peruvian music and dance, an Alpaca-fibre fashion parade, films and great cooking demonstrations.
The celebration will include food stalls offering diverse cuisine from produce grown in Peru’s high mountains and sea regions, and the influence of ancient communities such as the Incas and immigrant cultures.
According to the Peruvians, the history of the potato is around 8,000 years old and began when communities of hunters and gatherers began domesticating wild potato plants near Lake Titicaca in the Andes Mountains.
There are around 5,000 varieties of the vegetable now grown in that same area where the planting of potatoes is the most important activity of the farming year. Locals call the potato ‘Mama Jatha’ or the Mother of Growth.
The United Nations designated 2008 as the International Year of the Potato to recognise the nutritious value of the world’s top non-grain food commodity, of which global production is around 320 million tonnes per year.
A lecturer from the University of Canberra, Augusto Tamayo del Solar, will give a lecture on The Potato – A Native of Peru in the museum’s theatre at 12:30.
Following the lecture, Bilson’s Peruvian sous chef Diego Munoz will demonstrate how to cook two classic Peruvian potato dishes – papas rellenas, potato croquettes stuffed with beef, and causa, a seasoned mash potato terrine with yabbies.
Other food activities would include displays from Chef Alejandro Saravia and how to make traditional Peruvian cocktails.
During the displays food stalls would sell tempting specialties including pan con chicharron (lean port infused with garlic served on a bread roll with sweet potato and onion salsa), empanadas (chicken, meat and spinach pastries) and suspiro de limena (literally translated it means ‘the sigh of a woman from Lima’, and includes smooth caramel with egg yolk topped with port Italian meringue).
Other activities would include dancing by Te Amo Peru and two Peruvian films nominated in the Best Foreign Film Category of the Academy Awards.
The festival is sponsored by the Consulate General of Peru and Soul of Peru and will run from 10am to 5pm.
6 August, 2008
Tribunal decides on information day
The Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal has held a consumer information day for the Aboriginal community of Nowra, offering community members the chance to find out how they could access CTTT services better.
The Minister for Fair Trading, Linda Burney, launched two information products specifically tailored to the needs of Indigenous people at the event.
“The first, ‘Get a fair go at the CTTT’ answers questions about the type of matters you can take to the Tribunal and the process itself,” Ms Burney said.
“The second information product is a brochure produced to help Aboriginal people understand the Tribunal’s services.”
Ms Burney said the Information Day helped the Aboriginal community find out how the CTTT could help them resolve consumer disputes.
She said the Tribunal had recently set up an Aboriginal Consultative Forum to make it easier for Aboriginal organisations to have input in the development of information sheets such as the ones presented at the launch.
Ms Burney said the Tribunal provided consumers with efficient and affordable dispute resolution services through eight specialist divisions that focused on tenancy matters, car repairs, faulty white goods and electrical equipment and issues in strata schemes.
“I am fully supportive of the CTTT’s plans to build on great local initiatives such as this successful information day,” she said.
“Other local events throughout NSW are being arranged to help strengthen the partnerships between the Tribunal and Aboriginal communities.”
6 August, 2008
Garden plants seeds of good citizenship
A program to inspire disadvantaged young people to learn about gardening, conservation and the environment has been developed by the Botanic Gardens Trust.
At the launch of Youth Community Greening, the Executive Director of the Trust, Tim Entwisle said through the program, experienced educators would help young people create environmentally sound gardens at NSW schools and within community housing developments.
“Students involved in the program come from the most disadvantaged schools in the State – schools where a high percentage of the student population lives in community housing,” Dr Entwisle said.
“Youth Community Greening will provide learning, creativity and a healthy life for these students.”
He said participation often led to students becoming leaders for recycling and environmental initiatives within their schools and communities.
“The students’ gardens can include food plants, native plants (often done in cooperation with local Aboriginal artists and elders), bush tucker, sensory plants or plants that attract butterflies or wildlife,” he said.
“Some of the gardens are large and elaborate and others (often schools within cities that have extremely small school grounds) do all of their gardening in pots or planters.”
Dr Entwisle said the Youth Community Greening team visited schools to teach gardening related classes and to consult with teachers about planning and maintaining school gardens.
He said a new teacher inservice would provide information for starting, maintaining and utilising school gardens and garden clubs throughout the entire curriculum.
Dr Entwisle said the launch coincided with a milestone for Plunkett Street School.
“It’s been 22 years since, on Monday 28 July 1986, students from the same school planted seeds on Arbor Day in our Myrtales bed here at Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens,” he said.
He said students from the school would first attend a Youth Community Greening lesson, then visit the same bed planted by the school students 22 years ago.
He said the Trust was grateful to the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation, Roslyn Packer and a private benefactor for providing four years funding towards the Youth Community Greening project.
“During this time many disadvantaged schools will be able to seek assistance,” he said.
Dr Entwisle said Youth Community Greening worked in cooperation with Community Greening which was sponsored by Housing New South Wales.
The program’s funding depended upon the four year grant from the Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation, with current funding pledged to June 2011.
6 August, 2008
Transport no to sitting fees
The Ministry of Transport has made clear its position on paying sitting fees for members of local committees: it is opposed to them.
The Department said while consultation with the community was an important part of planning and reviewing local transport services, it could occur in a variety of ways including meetings, surveys and committees.
“Occasionally requests are made from members of the community for a sitting fee to attend meetings and participate on committees,” it said.
The Ministry of Transport does not support the payment of sitting fees for committee members on local committees that are organised or supported by its staff.
Courthouse upgrade
Parramatta Courthouse is to undergo a $14 million upgrade.
Attorney General John Hatzistergos said the Courthouse had a reputation as one of
Australia’s most important legal centres and the 21st Century makeover would bring it in line with standards set in the nearby Parramatta Justice Precinct.
Work had already begun on the project after which the revamped Courthouse would comprise six local courtrooms, a drug court and a callover court.
The work was expected to be completed in June next year and in the meantime, services would be temporarily relocated to Parramatta Children’s Court, Sydney West Trial Courts and courthouses in Bankstown, Hornsby and Ryde.
Sharp response to knife story
The Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research has rebuffed newspaper claims that knife attacks had increased sensationally in Sydney, saying the Daily Telegraph chose unusually low years a sdthe basis of its comparison.
BOCSAR Director, Dr Don Weatherburn said the number of knife assaults varied from year to year and there was no consistent upward or downward trend over the period the newspaper reported.
Boat buyers warned
Second-hand boat buyers have been warned to get a REVS check before making the decision to buy.
Fair Trading Minister, Linda Burney said a REVS (or Register of Encumbered Vehicles) check was very simple to do and was available for all boats registered in NSW.
She said the REVS service handled more than 1.6 million enquiries a year and held details on more than 3.5 million financial encumbrances on motor vehicles and boats.
“You can do a check and purchase a REVS certificate by using the REVS website at www.revs.nsw.gov.au or by contacting Fair Trading on 13 32 20,” she said.
Video comp for kids
The Office of Industrial Relations has invited schoolchildren in Years 7 to 10 to take part in its “Know the Deal” video competition
“The Know the Deal video competition helps you learn about workplace rights and responsibilities, while meeting syllabus outcomes,” the Office says on its website.
The task is to produce a 2-minutes or less video advertisement which delivers at least one key message about workplace rights and promotes the 'Young people at work' website.
Cash prizes are on offer.
More information from www.youngpeopleatwork.nsw.gov.au
Surrogacy review
An in-depth review of surrogacy laws in NSW has been ordered by the NSW Attorney-General, John Hatzistergos.
Mr Hatzistergos said the work was needed in view of plans for a national model being explored by the Standing Committee of Attorneys General.
He is to ask the Legislative Council’sStanding Committee on Law and Justice to conduct the review and report on issues to allow stakeholders to contribute their thoughts.
Access point near home
A Centrelink Access Point in Kendall has been made available for the Camden Haven community to access a range of the Department’s services much closer to home.
Centrelink clients unable to travel to Port Macquarie would now be able to pick up copies of publications and use the telephone, photocopier and fax services which were available at the access point.
The Kendall Access Point is located at 19 Comboyne St and would be open from 10am to 4pm weekdays, and more information was available from www.centrelink.gov.au
