SearchArchives for May 2009
27 May, 2009Electronic records
on digital track
A timetable for the introduction of a State Records Standard on Digital Recordkeeping has been released by the Premier, Nathan Rees.The Premier set out the plan in a Ministerial Memorandum saying it would cover emails, web pages, word documents, digitised paper and other documents made in the conduct of Government business and kept for legal, business or accountability-related reasons.
He said the Standard on Digital Recordkeeping aimed to “provide a measurable benchmark for digital recordkeeping systems and practices within the NSW Public Sector”.
Mr Rees said the Standard had been developed by the State Records Authority and would be gradually phased in, with full compliance required by June 2012.
“Digital records kept in line with the requirements of the Standard will be easier and less costly to manage, migrate and use, now and over time,” he said.
“The Standard does not require Agencies to change existing paper-based recordkeeping practices if these meet an Agency’s needs.
“Rather it provides the minimum standard for digital recordkeeping where that is the method preferred by the Agency for meeting records requirements and achieving business benefits in the online environment.”
Mr Rees said the first step towards compliance would be 30 June 2009, when Departments and Agencies would have to decide whether they planned to keep digital records for any new ICT systems and ensure their systems met the minimum functionality required.
He said by 30 June 2011 Agencies should “define those digital records that are needed to support high risk business processes using existing ICT systems”.
Finally, by 30 June 2012, Mr Rees said Agencies should ensure the existing ICT systems supporting high risk business processes, with defined digital records, had the minimum required functionality and mapped metadata to the requirements of the Standard.
Mr Rees said the moves would improve access to information about the activities of the NSW Government.
The Standard was available from www.records.nsw.gov.au/recordkeeping
27 May, 2009
Super Circular sets
accounts straight
NSW Treasury has released a Circular outlining the accounting treatment for superannuation for NSW Public Sector Entities, recognising superannuation actuarial gains and losses outside of profit or loss.The Circular applies for the financial year ending on or after 30 June 2009, superseding NSWTC 08/03 and incorporating changes resulting from a decision to change an accounting
policy option available under AASB 119 Employee Benefits.
Deputy Secretary (Budget and Financial Management) at the Office of Financial Management, Mark Ronsisvalle said accounting treatment for superannuation would vary depending on whether the superannuation related to a defined contribution or defined benefit plan, and if the defined benefit responsibility was assumed by the Crown.
“Generally the Crown assumes the defined benefit superannuation balances/funding responsibility of Budget dependent General Government Sector Agencies,” Mr Ronsisvalle said.
“These agencies do not recognise a superannuation liability or asset in their Balance Sheet (i.e. as they are recognised by the Crown), but do recognise a superannuation expense and equivalent revenue for the assumption of the liability.”
In relation to superannuation balances/funding responsibility not assumed by the Crown, Mr Ronsisvalle said generally non-Budget dependent General Government Sector Agencies and Public Trading Enterprises did not have their defined benefit superannuation balances/funding responsibility assumed by the Crown.
“These entities must account for the net defined benefit liability/asset, according to AASB 119 Employee Benefits,” Mr Ronsisvalle said.
Attached to the Circular are Guidelines for superannuation scheme reserve transfers and examples of circumstances in which an agency may use a surplus in one defined benefit scheme to extinguish the deficit in another.
27 May, 2009
Legal service relief
for mortgage stress
A new legal service to help people in the process of having their homes repossessed has been established by Legal Aid NSW and the NSW Consumer Credit Legal Centre.Chief Executive Officer of Legal Aid NSW, Alan Kirkland said the service would provide specialist legal advice, financial counselling services and representation to help borrowers who were having problems with their mortgage and other debt issues.
Mr Kirkland said the service was established in response to the “growing need” arising from families experiencing financial stress due to the global financial crisis.
“It is important that help is available at the earliest opportunity and where possible, families are able to prevent a situation where they become homeless,” he said.
Coordinator of the NSW Consumer Credit Legal Centre, Karen Cox said the service would help homeowners to better understand their options and, where possible, avoid repossession of their home.
Mr Kirkland said Legal Aid NSW also conducted specialist advice clinics for homeless people in Western Sydney.
He said the clinics were designed to help homeless people and those at risk of homelessness access legal services and provide face-to-face advice in locations frequently visited by homeless people.
Mr Kirkland said the program would be extended to include the top five areas of mortgage arrears in NSW.
“Legal Aid NSW will place additional solicitors in Parramatta - servicing Western and
South Western Sydney - and Gosford - servicing the Central Coast and Hunter regions,” he said.
Ms Cox said the services were vital to helping people overcome legal financial issues and to prevent homelessness.
In January 2009, Legal Aid NSW published the Mortgage Stress Handbook, a free guide for people experiencing mortgage difficulties.
The handbook and further information on legal services was available from www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au or by contacting LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529.
27 May, 2009
Degree of concern at
University audits
The Auditor-General has released a report to Parliament that finds universities in NSW last year incurred a combined operating loss of $66 million compared to a surplus of $388 million in 2007.Auditor-General, Peter Achterstraat said the 2008 losses included unrealised investment losses of $407 million and a reduction in investment income of $88 million.
“Unfunded superannuation liabilities increased by $1.8 billion to $3.1 billion,” he said.
Also noted in the report, Volume Two 2009 – focusing on universities, was an increased reliance on overseas students, who now contribute nearly half the total student revenue. Revenue from overseas students has increased 40 per cent in five years.
Mr Achterstraat said there were also concerns about how university assets were maintained and the financial exposure to excessive annual leave balances.
“There are significant maintenance backlogs at universities totalling nearly $1 billion dollars,” he said.
“Nearly 13 per cent of academic staff have accrued leave of over 40 days.”
He said his investigation into Government Agencies and universities found there were gaps in the areas of fraud control, disclosure of performance information, compliance with laws and key stakeholder information.
“Organisations that are governed well outperform those that are not,” Mr Achterstraat said.
Recommendations to universities in the report included Vice Chancellors approaching the Federal Government to negotiate a funding agreement to meet staff superannuation obligations; a review of the effectiveness of policies for managing excessive annual leave balances; a review of corporate structures to ensure they are aligned with corporate strategies; and a review of governance arrangements for controlled entities.
“We recommend all universities improve asset management performance reporting in their annual reports,” Mr Achterstraat said.
He also recommended the University of Newcastle and Charles Sturt University implement total asset management plans to ensure their assets are planned and managed efficiently and effectively.
Charles Sturt University was advised to strengthen the corporate governance, accounting and internal control procedures of its Canadian campus.
The Auditor-General said CSU should also investigate alternative procedures to reconcile and clear system generated balances.
He recommended Macquarie University review its corporate strategy to help ensure its corporate structure aligned with that strategy and for Government Agencies, recommended the Office of the Protective Commissioner continue to take corrective action to address control deficiencies in the payment of client expenses.
It was also recommended that the Premier’s State Plan Annual Report be finalised, approved by Cabinet and tabled in Parliament by the end of November each year.
27 May, 2009
Long road to the
top for RTA staff
Minister for Roads, Michael Daley has honoured RTA staff members who have served for 40 years of more at a ceremony this week. Mr Daley presented 162 RTA employees with medallions to commemorate their contribution to the public service and to the NSW public.
“I recognise and honour the hard work of these employees who have dedicated most of their working lives to the NSW public service,” Mr Daley said
“They have provided the people of NSW, and Governments of all persuasions, honest advice and loyal service.
“They have also played an important role in ensuring the RTA changes with the times to suit the needs of all road users, including motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.”
Mr Daley said some of the most iconic road projects in NSW had been completed during their service, including the ANZAC Bridge, the Cahill Expressway and the Gladesville Bridge.
“In the past 13 years, many of these dedicated employees would have also worked on recent achievements including the Sea Cliff Bridge and the Sydney Orbital,” he said.
“These important projects could not have been delivered without the hard work and dedication of the people who made sure the jobs got done.”
Mr Daley said the role of RTA employees could not be underestimated in managing the state’s 20,000 kilometres of roads, 5,000 bridges and 3,700 sets of traffic lights.
“This is no mean feat and it is easy to forget the hard-work that goes on behind the scenes to keep NSW moving,” he said.
Mr Daley said that the knowledge and experience of these staff would be an important factor in delivering future road infrastructure projects in NSW.
“These are people that have the skills and know-how to see major projects through to completion, including the recently announced $1.7 billion Hunter Expressway,” he said.
“Many of them are also experts in licensing, driving laws and dealing with heavy vehicles and are instrumental in implementing important Government initiatives.
“I appreciate the hard work of these long-serving staff members and acknowledge their contribution to the organisation, to the State and to the people of NSW,” Mr Daley said.
27 May, 2009
Travel details make
journey online
Ministers travelling overseas on Government business have been asked by the Premier to publish details of their trip on their Agency website.Premier, Nathan Rees said fully disclosing the costs, purposes and benefits of overseas trips would help “dispel the public perception that overseas travel is undertaken for the private benefit of Ministers”.
Mr Rees said Ministers would have 28 days after returning from a trip to put the details online.
He said information on Ministers’ trips was often sought and released under the Freedom of Information Act 1989.
Mr Rees said Ministers must publish a range of information concerning the travel undertaken by them and their staff, including the portfolio to which the trip related; the purpose and benefits of the travel to the State; the destinations visited; the dates of travel; how many people accompanied the Minister, including family members; and the cost of the airfare, accommodation and other expenses.
“Ministers should ensure that they comply with these new requirements immediately,” he said.
Mr Rees said overseas travel was undertaken by Ministers to attract investment, trade and business opportunities, to learn from the policies and processes of other Governments, and to forge relationships with export markets.
A template for use by Ministers has been prepared by the Department of Premier and Cabinet and could be obtained by phoning (02) 9228 5599.
27 May, 2009
Dragons’ teeth to
bite school speeders
All school zones in NSW are to be marked with ‘dragons’ teeth’ to make them more visible to motorists.Minister for Roads, Michael Daley announced the move saying it would cost $14 million and include every one of NSW’s 10,000 zones.
Mr Daley said the program would involve painting triangles or ‘dragons’ teeth’ on each side of the lanes for 35 metres at the start of each school zone.
“Dragon’s teeth are a clever, cost-effective way of keeping our kids safe,” he said.
“This is good news for schools, good news for families and good news for drivers who might have previously been caught inadvertently speeding in a school zone.”
Mr Daley said the ‘dragons’ teeth’ were used internationally and were proven to ensure motorists knew they were entering a 40km/h school zone.
“For as long as I’ve been a local Member, drivers have come up to me and said that they don’t always know when they’re in a school zone,” he said.
“Combined with the existing signs, flashing lights and speed limit markings on the road, drivers will have absolutely no doubt when they are travelling past a NSW school.”
Road safety advocate, Ron Delezio said the new program was a major victory for the 3,200 schools in NSW.
Mr Delezio said the markings were a great way to help keep kids safe and that it was “good to see the Roads Minister taking the safety of our children so seriously”.
“Children aren’t always capable of judging how fast a car is travelling, so it is important we do everything we can to make sure motorists slow down around schools,” he said.
“We also know that some motorists accidentally speed through a school zone and these visible road markers will help remind them to slow down.”
Mr Daley said the Government aimed to roll out the program “as quickly as possible”.
“Starting from this week, we hope to have a set of dragon’s teeth in every NSW school zone by the end of 2011,” he said.
27 May, 2009
Fire reduction orders
spread like wildfire
The NSW Rural Fire Service has issued more than 540 hazard reduction orders to property owners across the State since 1 July last year, more than in any of the past four years.Minister for Emergency Services, Steve Whan said a growing number of property owners in NSW were taking steps to improve the protection from bush fires.
Mr Whan said fire Agencies, land managers and residents were taking advantage of milder weather conditions to concentrate on hazard reduction.
“Since the devastating Victorian bush fires, residents have become more aware than ever about the importance of being as well prepared as possible,” he said.
“Property owners around the State are to be commended for their responsible approach to managing the bush fire risk on their land.”
Mr Whan said under the State’s streamlined hazard reduction approval process, land owners could apply to the RFS for hazard reduction approval with a single, free application.
He said the RFS had received over 2,400 applications for hazard reduction burning certificates over the five years from July 2004 to May this year.
Mr Whan said these applications were in addition to the works being carried out by fire Agencies and public land managers across the State.
“Almost 95 per cent of these applications have been approved and a hazard reduction certificate issued - and usually within a week,” he said.
“Less than two per cent of applications for burning approvals have been denied for environmental reasons, such as the area was sensitive rainforest or wetlands or burning was not seen as the best treatment method.”
Mr Whan said in cases where applications had been denied, the RFS worked with the applicant to find a more suitable method, such as mechanical or manual clearing. He said some applications had been declined as the area was already covered by an existing approval or not enough information was provided to the RFS.
The RFS has streamlined the hazard protection process for burning by volunteers to allow additional burning to take place.
“In some areas the RFS has access to mitigation works crews, who move into an area and do a lot of the hard and dirty work to prepare the ground for burning, leaving our volunteers to concentrate on the actual burn,” Mr Whan said.
27 May, 2009
Electricity help is
bolt from the blue
Families and pensioners affected by increases in electricity prices are to receive help meeting the costs under a new compensation package unveiled by the Minister for Energy, Ian Macdonald.Mr Macdonald said the package came after the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal announced it would increase electricity prices.
He said the compensation measures would come into effect on 1 July 2009.
“The NSW Government’s consumer protection package will help off-set any price rises for the most vulnerable in our community,” Mr Macdonald said.
He said all funds raised from increased prices would help improve electricity structure and secure NSW’s energy supply.
Mr Macdonald encouraged any electricity customers having trouble paying their bills to contact their retailer to determine if they were eligible for financial assistance.
“I want to remind people that they are not alone in their struggle and that help is available,” he said.
Mr Macdonald said the $272 million package, to be delivered over five years, included $125 million to support a Customer Assistance Policy, $65 million to increase the pensioner energy rebate from $112 to $130 per year, $55 million to increase funding for the Energy Accounts Payment Assistance Scheme and $27.5 million to extend the pensioner energy rebate to some Health Care Card holders.
He said IPART’s price rises would equate to average weekly increases of around $3.50 for EnergyAustralia customers and $3.90 for Integral Energy and Country Energy customers.
Mr Macdonald said the increases would be effective from 1 July.
“These price increases will help maintain our energy reliability standards and prevent mass blackouts,” he said.
Mr Macdonald said the compensation package complemented the recently announced Low Income Household Refit program.
27 May, 2009
Public to make splash
in water survey
Residents of Sydney, the Blue Mountains and Illawarra have been encouraged to participate in an online survey to make their views known on the future of water management.Minister for Water, Phil Costa, said community input would play a vital role in drawing up Sydney’s 2010 Metropolitan Water Plan.
Mr Costa said a secure water supply was an essential foundation for growth, investment and prosperity.
“This is the first time the community at large has been asked for their input into planning the future of Sydney’s water,” he said.
“It’s important to get people from all walks of life involved in the process as water security is an issue that affects us all.”
Mr Costa said the four main elements of the Metropolitan Water Plan - dams, recycling, desalination and water efficiency - would help ensure NSW had enough water.
“We are now planning for the longer term as part of an adaptive management approach, updating the Plan to factor in new information such as population growth projections and potential impacts from climate change,” he said.
“I’d encourage everyone with an interest in water to log onto the website and have their say.”
Mr Costa said community members would also be randomly invited to take part in a series of workshops across greater Sydney, which would include householders, businesses and non-government stakeholders.
He said the updated plan was expected to be released in 2010.
Residents could have their say until 7 June by visiting www.waterforlife.com.au or by phoning 1300 136 888.
Further information on water efficiencies and rebate programs was available from www.sydneywater.com.au
27 May, 2009
No stone turned in
rock theft warning
The National Parks and Wildlife Service has renewed a warning to the public that removing bushrock from national parks and public lands is illegal and highly damaging to the environment.The warning followed concerns that some native animals who seek the shelter offered by bushrock over the winter, were being affected by people who were removing the bushrock and using it to landscape their gardens.
Director Southern of NPWS, Alistair Henchman said removing bushrock could be devastating for certain species.
“Imagine having your house lifted from above you and just taken away, just before winter,” Mr Henchman said.
“This is exactly the situation confronting rock-dependant wildlife when bushrock is removed.”
He said bushrock was important to the environment as it provided habitat and shelter for plants and animals, helped inhibit soil erosion, retained slope stability and reduce the intensity of bush fires.
“Taking bush rock away is the equivalent of removing a nest or burrow and can contribute to weed infestations and soil destabilisation,” Mr Henchman said.
He said removing bushrock was listed as a key threatening process under the Threatened Species Act.
Mr Henchmen said the rock was very popular with local landscapers, but that there were alternatives that could be used in gardens, including sandstone rock and artificial bushrock.
“Anyone considering adding some bush rock features to their yard this autumn should be warned, the removal of rocks, timber, plants or animals from National Parks is a very serious offence,” he said.
Mr Henchman said offenders could face considerable fines.
He urged residents purchasing rocks from landscape suppliers to check for proof of where the rock had come from.
Mr Henchman urged anyone who had witnessed the removal of bushrock from a national park to contact the NPWS on 131 555.
27 May, 2009
Thinkers’ magazine
is bright idea
The University of Sydney has launched a new public affairs magazine, the Sydney Ideas Quarterly.The magazine is to be published online, with occasional print editions, and will report and comment on local and international affairs.
It is to include feature contributions from some of the world’s leading thinkers and is a spin-off of the Sydney Ideas international public lecture series.
The first edition of the magazine, which was launched at the Sydney Writers’ Festival, features reactions to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s essay on the global financial crisis and includes analysis from former World Bank president, James Wolfensohn and former editor of The Economist, Bill Emmott.
Vice-Chancellor of Sydney University, Dr Michael Spence said the University had a responsibility to stimulate public discussion and debate about the modern world.
“Through our international public lecture series Sydney Ideas, and now with Sydney Ideas Quarterly, we encourage others to participate,” Dr Spence said.
Editor of the new magazine, Minh Bui Jones has 20 years of experience as a journalist.
Mr Bui Jones said the magazine’s aim was to associate the University with “the world of ideas”.
“It's a community service, where we are giving back to the community by encouraging discussion of these ideas,” he said.
The magazine was available from www.sydneyiq.com.au, with a limited number of hard copies also available through selected retailers and the University.
27 May, 2009
Country crime
plans go bush
Crime fighting in rural and pastoral areas has been boosted following a meeting of the Pastoral and Agricultural Crime Working Party.The Working Party used the meeting to highlight new initiatives that would assist the 33 Rural Crime Investigators policing the agricultural sector across NSW.
Minister for Police, Tony Kelly said the meeting looked to ensure Rural Crime Investigators had ongoing resources and the latest intelligence to fight crime.
Mr Kelly said representatives from the NSW Farmer’s Association, the Department of Primary Industries, the NSW Game Council, the NSW Police Force and the Ministry for Police had attended the meeting.
“Rural Crime Investigators are already doing excellent work and achieving results,” he said.
Mr Kelly said the Party was working on new initiatives including education and induction packages for police new to rural commands, electronic surveillance on farms and other programs promoting rural security.
Chair of the Working Party, Gerard Martin said the resurrection of the Working Party reinforced the Rees Government’s commitment to reducing rural and agricultural crime.
“It is essential that we continue to monitor the effect of the global economic downturn on rural communities,” Mr Martin said.
“Intelligence-based smart policing combined with quality community policing is critical to offering rural NSW the support they need in this difficult time.”
He said the education packages for officers new to rural commands would help them understand how to communicate with their local community.
“Local communities continue to be one of our greatest assets in the fight to reduce criminal activities,” Mr Martin said.
27 May, 2009
Speed devices trial
to slow things down
A trial of intelligent speed adaptation devices is to be conducted in the Wollongong area in the coming month with the help of 100 volunteers.Minister for Roads, Michael Daley said the devices (ISAs) would be installed in the volunteers’ cars to see if they helped them stick to the speed limit.
Mr Daley said the trial was the largest of its kind in Australia and had been developed by the NSW Centre for Road Safety.
“This technology has the potential to save lives which is why we’re carrying out this very important trial,” he said.
“Over the second half of this year, the centre will carefully monitor the driving practices of each of the volunteers to see if they are less prone to speeding when the system is operating in their car.”
Mr Daley said his Department would also monitor the drivers once the devices were removed to see if they reverted back to “their old ways”.
“ISA technology uses satellites and in-car technology to alert the driver to the current speed limit and warn them if they need to slow down,” he said.
“The technology also has the capacity to slow the car down by decreasing the supply of fuel to the engine.”
Mr Daley said any information gathered from the trial would be used to formulate practical applications for the technology to help reduce speeding.
“It may be that ISA could become a safety device offered by car manufacturers similar to the way air bags and ABS brakes have become safety features in the car industry,” he said.
“Speeding is the biggest killer on our roads and we’re determined to do all we can to stamp it out.”
Mr Daley said the trial would be discussed at the first International Conference on ISA in Sydney in November.
27 May, 2009
History on display
at oldest Museum
The Australian Museum, opposite Hyde Park in Sydney, is to hold an open day on Sunday 5 July 2009.The Museum will offer free general entry, behind the scenes access to working laboratories and tours of its collections.
The open day will provide the public with the opportunity to meet scientists who work to save unique species and sustain health environments for the future.
Free talks by Museum experts and tours through restricted collection areas will also be offered.
Visitors will be able to make the most of the Museum’s resources by exploring a real forensic DNA laboratory; listening to speeches about dinosaurs, wildlife forensics and birds; and asking Museum scientists tricky questions.
Other Museum exhibitions can also be experienced for free including Dinosaurs, Skeletons, Birds and Insects, Surviving Australia, Indigenous Australians, Planet of Minerals and Interactive Spaces – Search & Discover and Kidspace.
The Australian Museum is the oldest museum in Australia, and is home to over 16 million natural history specimens and cultural artefacts dating back over 150 years.
It features displays on mammals, minerals, birds, butterflies, dinosaurs and DNA, among other exhibitions.
The Museum is located in College Street, with more information on the open day available from www.austmus.gov.au or by phoning (02) 9320 6000.
27 May, 2009
Councils to rate
certifier plan
Minister for Planning, Kristina Keneally has promised Local Councils more time to discuss the role of building certifiers, saying that training and accreditation would not start before July this year.Ms Keneally said the additional time would allow the Government to seek and consider further feedback from Councils and other industry stakeholders.
“During several meetings and a public exhibition process, the Local Government and Shires Association told me they need more time to discuss the role of Council certifiers,” she said.
“In response, the Building Professionals Board will be given more time to consult with Councils about that role.”
Ms Keneally said certifiers issued construction certificates which allowed building work to start on projects ranging from suburban homes to major construction sites, after the work had been given development approval.
She said they also checked building work was in line with plans approved by the Local Council, and had the power to allow plans to be built under a “checklist style” complying development system, rather than a longer, more complicated development application process.
“Both private and Council certifiers will be increasingly used in the planning system, particularly for the approval of houses under the NSW Housing Code,” Ms Keneally said.
She said the Housing Code allowed people to get approval for house plans within 10 days, as opposed to going through the development application process, which took about 75 days.
“Councils are central to the work which the NSW Government is doing to build a better, more efficient planning system,” Ms Keneally said.
“We need to work to a timetable which is realistic for all involved.”
She thanked Councils and planning professionals for working with the Government to build the planning system.
27 May, 2009
Seminar for solicitors
A free orientation seminar for new solicitors is to be held at the Federal Court of Australia on Tuesday 16 June.
The seminar will include presentations by a NSW Judge, Senior Registrars and Senior Registry staff on etiquette for appearing in the Court, how to deal with chambers and the registry online services, case management, alternate dispute resolution and registry practices and procedures.
Further information was available by emailing estelle.robertson@fedcourt.gov.au
NPC gets site control
Newcastle Port Corporation has been given control over the development of the former BHP Steelworks site at Mayfield.
Minister for Ports and Waterways, Joe Tripodi said it was “good news” for prospective developers as they would only need to deal with one entity rather than a range of Government Departments.
The NPC has called for submissions from parties interested in the site, with further information available from www.newportcorp.com
Lawyers invited
The Public Service Association has invited members who are employed as Legal Officers or Lawyers in the Public Service to attend a meeting about re-forming the PSA’s Legal Officers’ Advisory Group.
The invitation was extended following concerns over the development of generic position descriptions for Legal Officers across the NSW Public Service.
The meeting will be held on Wednesday 3 June in Sydney, with further information available by contacting Stephen Spencer on (02) 9220 0926.
Stimulus house up
NSW has become the first State in Australia to build a home under the Federal Government’s Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan
The four-bedroom home in Yennora, Sydney, took approximately 13 weeks to build and will be occupied by a family with three children, one of whom has a disability.
Indigenous do business
At a business briefing in Coffs Harbour, Indigenous organisations were informed of the economic opportunities that could result from carbon trading.
Indigenous business leaders and representatives from the public and financial sectors gathered to discuss the economic crisis, the Commonwealth’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, and the opportunities of doing business in the carbon market
The briefing was organised by Indigenous Business Australia as part of a series of forums following on from the success of briefings held in 2008.
Sentences subject of forum
A public education forum on how criminals are sentenced has been held in Campbelltown.
The forum was held in response to a survey conducted by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research and the NSW Sentencing Council which found many people were interested in knowing more about the justice system.
Participants heard from a former Supreme Court Judge and victims of crime.
Hogg takes Premier’s prize
Director of the University of NSW’s Cancer Research Centre, Professor Philip Hogg has been awarded the Cancer Institute NSW Premier’s Award for Outstanding Cancer Research.
The award is the highest cancer research honour in NSW.
Professor Hogg was presented with $50,000 for his work on changing cancer treatments and improving the survival chances of patients.
20 May, 2009
Agencies join up to
put dumping in can
A joint exercise by nine State and Local Government Agencies has successfully targeted illegal dumping and trail bike riding in the Hunter region.Sixty Officers from various Agencies formed ‘Operation Ibis’ and focused on known hotspots on public land and service easements in the Cessnock Local Government area.
Key Agencies included the Department of Environment and Climate Change, NSW Police, NSW Fire Brigades, the Department of Lands, the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Hunter Councils, Rural Fire Service, Cessnock Council and the Department of Primary Industries.
Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, Carmel Tebbutt congratulated the Agencies on the success of the operation, which was lead by the DECC.
“Officers in 4WD vehicles, trail bikes and a helicopter successfully cracked down on illegal dumping in bushland, unlicensed/unregistered trail bike riders, and dumped and stolen vehicles,” Ms Tebbutt said.
“Altogether the operation netted: 196 rubbish dumping sites, including 56 for asbestos; 12 stolen vehicles; 12 unlicensed/unregistered trail bike fines totalling $12,000; and 15 sites for follow-up investigations.”
She said illegal dumping was a serious issue that cost the Government and Local Councils millions of dollars each year.
“Not only is illegal dumping a health risk to the community, it also spoils the natural landscape and can lead to serious environmental damage,” Ms Tebbutt said.
She said the multi-agency Hunter Central Coast Region Illegal Dumping Working Group, which was established in 2006, would use data collected from Operation Ibis to define the extent of illegal dumping in the region and investigate clean up options and preventative measures.
Ms Tebbutt said since 2006, penalties for dumping had increased significantly with a maximum penalty of $5 million for corporations and $2 million or seven years in prison for individuals.
“The NSW Government has a strong record of taking tough action on illegal waste dumping,” she said.
Ms Tebbutt said illegal trail bike riding was another serious issue as it caused erosion, destroyed bushland and threatened the habitat of native animals.
She encouraged members of the public to report any concerns to 131 555.
20 May, 2009
Auditor weighs in
on heavy vehicles
An audit on the impacts heavy vehicles have on road safety has recommended stricter controls to reduce speeding and fatigue related accidents.Auditor General, Peter Achterstraat recommended the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) step up enforcement measures and safety checks to ensure maximum road safety.
In the report, Improving Road Safety - Heavy Vehicles, Mr Achterstraat said the RTA’s on-road enforcement program for heavy vehicles focused on three main causes of crashes – speed, fatigue and vehicle roadworthiness, but that the RTA was “not doing all it can” to catch truck drivers breaking the law.
“These factors are present in around a quarter of crashes involving heavy vehicles, and a third of crashes involving heavy vehicles where someone dies,” he said.
“If truck drivers and operators are not being caught and penalised for breaking the law, they will keep doing it.”
Mr Achterstraat said he was pleased the Minister for Roads, Michael Daley, had already announced plans to implement point to point speed cameras.
“The immediate enforcement of point to point speed monitoring will not only slow drivers down but will also cause them to think about how to manage their fatigue better by planning rest stops more frequently,” he said.
“The facts are that drivers of heavy vehicles speed as much as other drivers but get only one third the rate of speeding fines.”
Mr Achterstraat said it was significant that fixed speed cameras did not distinguish between a heavy vehicle and a standard car, meaning vehicles restricted to 100km per hour could get away with travelling at 110km per hour.
“We already have the technology to differentiate between a heavy vehicle and a standard car but we are not using it,” he said.
“We must enforce our speed limits for everyone and we must do it now.”
The audit also recommended vehicle safety enforcement to be tightened.
“The RTA's approach to detecting and enforcing heavy vehicle safety has produced mixed results,” Mr Achterstraat said.
“Even where the RTA detects a heavy vehicle that may pose a safety risk, only one in seven are pulled in for inspection at a checking station.
“Unsafe vehicles are a danger on the roads regardless of the speed they are travelling.”
Mr Achterstraat made 12 recommendations to the RTA, encompassing improved detection and enforcement of speeding, improved road vehicle safety and better use and allocation of resources.
The RTA agreed to nine of the recommendations and is to look into the remaining three.
20 May, 2009
Taskforce rolls in
for broadband rollout
A NSW National Broadband Network Taskforce has been set up by the Government to accelerate rollout of the proposed internet broadband network in the State.Premier Nathan Rees announced the Taskforce at the opening of the CeBIT Australia 2009 Conference, saying it would help ensure the system was implemented as fast and efficiently as possible.
Mr Rees said the State Government would work with the Commonwealth to pilot and toll out the NBN in metropolitan and regional NSW.
“I will establish a combined cross-Government and industry Taskforce, to prepare NSW for the National Broadband Network rollout,” he said.
“As Australia's leading ICT State, NSW is pitching to become the headquarters for the Commonwealth's National Broadband Network.”
Mr Rees said the Taskforce would be chaired by the Director General of the Department of Commerce, Graham Head.
He said the Taskforce would include representatives from the Departments of Premier and Cabinet, Commerce, State and Regional Development, Lands and Planning.
The Taskforce is expected to focus on four key areas: securing the NBN headquarters in NSW; ensuring a smooth rollout; promoting the ICT industry; and investigating opportunities for leveraging the Government’s assets and purchasing power for the NBN rollout.
“I have also asked the NSW Taskforce to investigate the establishment of NBN test beds in NSW, to test the next generation of applications and content in areas such as smart metering, education, housing and health,” Mr Rees said.
Taskforce members include: NSW Chief Scientist and Scientific Engineer, Professor Mary O'Kane; Managing Director of Australian Telecommunications Users Group, Rosemary Sinclair; Laboratory Director at National ICT Centre of Excellence Australia, Dr Terry Percival; and Director CSIRO ICT Centre, Dr Alex Zelinsky.
20 May, 2009
Federal guarantee is
security for States
Details of the Commonwealth’s offer to guarantee State and Territory borrowing have been released by the Federal Treasurer, Wayne Swan.The Guarantee is to be administered by the Reserve Bank of Australia.
The Commonwealth announced the Guarantee in March to protect infrastructure development from the ravages of the global financial crisis by providing a time-limited, guarantee over State and Territory borrowing.
According to Mr Swan, the measure recognised that pulling back on nation-building infrastructure investment under current circumstances would hinder a recovery from the global recession, resulting in slower growth and higher unemployment into the future.
Mr Swan said that as most States and Territories provided their own guarantee over borrowings of their issuing entities, the Commonwealth would guarantee the obligations of the States and Territories rather than the obligations of the issuing entities directly.
He said the guarantee would be voluntary and unconditional but would not be able to be applied to borrowings of non‑Government owned entities.
Mr Swan said the States and Territories would have 28 days from the date they first apply to guarantee new issuances to decide whether to cover existing securities, allowing them to assess market conditions and determine whether they need to use the Guarantee.
He said the Guarantee would cover bond lines of up to 15 years including indexed securities and those with cross default clauses.
“This will cover the majority of the States and Territories' actively traded stock and will support liquidity in the secondary bond market.”
He said the Guarantee would commence once an Appropriation Bill to be introduced into the Federal Parliament during the Winter sittings receives Royal Assent and a Deed of Guarantee is executed.
The Treasurer said the Government was working closely with the States and Territories to finalise the Deed of Guarantee and the Scheme Rules.
He said the arrangement would operate until market conditions normalize and full details of the Guarantee could be found at www.stateguarantee.gov.au
20 May, 2009
Housing homes in
on house purchases
The Government has announced it is in the market to buy 1,000 units and houses.Minister for Housing, David Borger said the purchases would provide a much needed boost to property markets across the State.
Mr Borger encouraged people interested in selling their property to contact Housing NSW to help lift the economy and provide housing to those in need.
“We are looking for one and two bedroom homes as more and more we are finding that our average tenant lives on their own – a small block of units located close to transport and shops is ideally what we are looking for,” he said.
“Of course, we still house larger families and so we are also looking at townhouses and cottages.”
Mr Borger said Housing NSW would “not be building any more concentrated public housing estates in NSW”.
“We are looking to redevelop land that is close to shops, jobs and opportunities and to better salt and pepper public housing with private housing,” he said.
“Research shows that healthy communities have a good mix of both.”
Mr Borger said the homes would be used to re-house tenants whose homes were going to be redeveloped into new housing under the Federal Government’s Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan.
“This will see many old, out-of-date properties replaced by new, modern homes that will improve local streets and suburbs,” he said.
“We regret that some residents will need to be relocated but we will do everything we can to make the transition as smooth as possible.”
Mr Borger said the Government would cover all reasonable removal costs, the reconnection of electricity, gas, phone and internet, three months of mail redirection and would waive the first two weeks rent.
He said the State was investing $1 billion to build 3,000 homes in addition to the Federal Government’s commitment to deliver 6,000 new social housing homes in NSW.
Mr Borger said a social housing maintenance program coordinated by the State and Federal Governments would also boost the economy and had seen 4,148 jobs secured and 11,735 properties upgraded in the past three months.
Residents interested in selling their property could visit www.housing.nsw.gov.au
20 May, 2009
New housing report
is rental as anything
The latest edition of Housing NSW’s quarterly Rent and Sales Report has been released showing the cheapest and most expensive areas to rent and buy property in Sydney.Minister for Housing, David Borger said the figures showed Western Sydney was still the cheapest place to rent and buy.
“The latest figures from the report show the cheapest place to rent a four bedroom home is in Campbelltown, an average of $360 per week, and the cheapest place to rent a one bedroom home is in Blacktown or Bankstown, an average of $180 per week,” Mr Borger said.
He said at the other end of the scale, four bedroom houses in Mosman and Waverley were the most expensive, averaging $1,300 per week, and one bedroom units were the most expensive in Willoughby with an average price of $430 per week.
“The Report showed that the most expensive areas to buy houses are Mosman, Waverley and Woollahra, whilst the cheapest are Campbelltown, Wyong and Penrith,” Mr Borger said.
“It also showed that the most expensive areas to buy units are Woollahra, Manly and
Ku-ring-gai, whilst the cheapest are Fairfield, Penrith and Campbelltown.”
He said the report found rent increases were still exceeding wage and Consumer Price Index growth.
“There was some good news though; the report showed there were some areas in Sydney where rents for two bedroom units went down rather than up.”
Mr Borger said the new edition covered January 2009 to March 2009 for rental properties and October 2008 to December 2008 for home purchases.
“During the March 2009 quarter, the average rent across Sydney was $390 per week
– up by $5 a week,” he said.
“Worryingly, we are seeing rents rise in some rural and regional areas in NSW.
“Over the year we’ve seen rent for a three bedroom house increase by 13.6 per cent in Cessnock, while two bedroom unit rentals have increased by 13.6 per cent in Wollongong and 11.1 per cent in Wagga Wagga.”
Mr Borger said as more renters took advantage of Government grants and purchased properties, more rental properties should become available to ease the market.
He said Sydney still remained a buyer’s market.
“The Government has been taking the right steps to stimulate the housing market – we’ve cut red tape and levies to stimulate the construction industry,” Mr Borger said.
Further information was available from www.housing.nsw.gov.au
20 May, 2009
Fair Trading flushes
out water scammers
The Office of Fair Trading has warned Sydney residents to be wary of fake traders masquerading as Sydney Water employees.Minister for Fair Trading, Virginia Judge said the schemers worked in pairs, with one person turning off the water supply while the other told residents it had been disrupted and would cost between $300 and $500 to fix.
Ms Judge said the bogus traders turned the water supply back on once they had received payment.
“These bogus traders have been targeting elderly people on the Northern Beaches,” she said.
“Sadly there are some despicable people out there who will do anything for financial gain.”
Ms Judge said residents who received a visit from someone claiming to represent Sydney Water and offering the same story should not hand over any money but report the incident to her office.
“Sydney Water repairmen never take money from householders when they carry out services,” she said.
“These perpetrators are falsely representing trusted members of our community and are tarnishing the good name of Sydney Water.”
Ms Judge encouraged householders to use commonsense when dealing with a scam.
“Always get independent advice if an offer involves significant money, time or commitment and be wary of people offering jobs that require an upfront fee,” she said.
“Do not agree to offers or deals straight away. Tell the person you are not interested or that you want to get some independent advice before making a decision.”
Ms Judge said it was important to ask for identification and to keep all credit cards, ATM cards and PIN numbers safe.
To report a scam call Fair Trading on 13 32 20 or visit www.scamwatch.gov.au
20 May, 2009
High-tech expo plugs
into Sydney deal
Australia’s largest information and communications technology exhibition, CeBIT, is to be held in Sydney every year until 2011.Premier Nathan Rees has signed an agreement with CeBIT organisers to call Sydney home for the next three years, and follows ongoing Government sponsorship support for the event since its introduction in 2002.
Mr Rees said the conference attracted businesses from around the world, supported jobs and provided a boost to the NSW economy.
“In previous years we have seen more than $10 million injected into the local economy as a result of this conference,” he said.
“Last year more than 35,000 people attended this conference and we are expecting an even bigger crowd this year.”
Mr Rees said the Government had been a major sponsor and exhibitor of CeBIT Australia since its inception in 2002.
“During these tough economic times it is essential companies continue to invest in technology that can maximise competitiveness, so they can emerge stronger when economic conditions improve,” he said.
“Events like CeBIT at Darling Harbour give businesses a chance to market their products and services, keep abreast of latest trends, chase business leads and connect with international players.”
Mr Rees said this year the Department of State and Regional Development had chosen 18 of the State’s most cutting-edge technology companies to promote on its stand at CeBIT Australia.
“These companies are offering technology solutions for a range of industries, including communications, security, transport, entertainment, business services, government, and training services,” he said.
20 May, 2009
Expanded register
hangs up on callers
Proposed expansions to the Do Not Call Register will help protect businesses, fax users and emergency service providers, according to the Federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy.Senator Conroy said the scope of the register would be widened to include all telephone and fax numbers, including the numbers used by businesses and emergency service operators.
He said the 2009-10 Budget had provided $4.7 million of funding over 4 years to improve the service, but that around $3.5 million would be recovered from Register access fees paid by the telemarketing and fax marketing industries.
“This is consistent with the (Commonwealth) Government's election commitment that industry will bear the full direct costs of the Register,” Senator Conroy said.
He said at present the Register did not allow telephone numbers used primarily for business, emergency service numbers and fax numbers to be registered.
“Community consultation indicated that these telephone and fax users want protection from unsolicited commercial telemarketing and fax marketing representations,” Senator Conroy said.
“It was particularly concerning to me that these unwanted calls and faxes are wasting business resources and adversely affecting the operation of emergency services.”
He said the changes responded to the productivity and privacy concerns of those who had been excluded from the register.
Senator Conroy said the changes would require legislative amendments and would make allowance for legitimate business-to-business telephone calls.
He said the amendment Bill would not be introduced into Parliament until community and industry consultation.
Senator Conroy said the register was operated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority and that registered telephone account holders could lodge a complaint at www.donotcall.gov.au or by phoning 1300 792 958 if they had received an unsolicited telemarketing call.
20 May, 2009
Agency makes child’s
play of Families Week
The Centrelink office in Fairfield celebrated National Families Week by providing its customers with a day of fairytales, face painting and visits from storybook characters.Leah Hanania of Fairfield Centrelink said the festivities reflected the theme of National Families Week, “Celebrate how everyone makes a difference”.
"There will be a special colouring-in corner for children at Fairfield Centrelink, as well as three staff dressed as Little Red Riding Hood, the Queen of Hearts and a clown,” Ms Hanania said.
“These characters will entertain children with story time and face painting throughout the day."
She said Centrelink was a long-time supporter of National Families Week which ran from 10 to 16 May.
"Centrelink is a major supporter of National Families Week and recognises the important role families play in our lives and in our community," Ms Hanania said.
As part of Families Week, Centrelink was encouraging people receiving Family Tax Benefit (FTB) to update their income estimate for the 2009/10 financial year to ensure they continue to receive their correct entitlements.
"FTB customers can also update their income estimate over the phone or online without having to talk to a Centrelink Customer Service Adviser,” Ms Hanania said.
“All they need to do is call Centrelink on 13 6150 Monday to Friday between 8am and 8pm and, after providing their Customer Reference Number, simply follow the prompts to update their income estimate - it’s easy.”
20 May, 2009
Carbon campaign
gets green light
Two new initiatives to reduce carbon pollution and keep household energy and power bills down have been launched by Premier Nathan Rees and Deputy Premier Carmel Tebbutt.A new community education campaign, ‘What can you do in your world’ has been launched to help communities and families live green, while the Government’s Low Income Household Refit program is to provide low income families across the State with free advice and energy saving devices.
Mr Rees said the advertising campaign included television ads and a new website which used “black balloons” to demonstrate carbon pollution.
“Most Australians understand that greenhouse gases and carbon pollution are serious environmental problems,” Mr Rees said.
“Showing what that actually looks like has been a challenge but this new campaign uses a simple black balloon to show how much pollution our everyday appliances produce.”
Mr Rees said one balloon equaled around 50 grams of carbon pollution, with families able to “save” over 11,600 black balloons each year by simply upgrading to energy efficient globes.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, Carmel Tebbutt said the campaign encouraged personal action in the home to help combat climate change.
“The average NSW household produces around eight tonnes of carbon pollution and 160,000 black balloons every year,” she said.
“Simple changes like switching mobile phone chargers, televisions and stereo systems off at the power point can save 10,100 black balloons, or 505kg of carbon pollution each year.”
Mr Rees also announced 1,000 low-income families from Western Sydney had been chosen to pilot the $63 million Household Refit program.
“We know times are tough and this is the right time to help families save around $100 a year on their bills and protect the environment at the same time,” he said.
“For the first time on this scale in NSW, we will provide free expert advice and energy saving devices to private households to reduce their electricity use.”
Mr Rees said overall 220,000 families would receive a free pack of tips, energy saving light bulbs and water efficient shower heads.
“These are tough economic times and we want to help people take small, practical steps to save money and the environment,” he said.
“Education and practical support will help NSW lead the nation as the Green State.”
Further information on the initiatives was available from www.savepower.nsw.gov.au
20 May, 2009
No tiers for Senator
in nation reform call
The Leader of the National Party in the Senate, Queensland Senator Barnaby Joyce has called for reform of Australia’s three tiers of Government.In an address to the National Press Club in Canberra, Senator Joyce said the inability by some States to manage their affairs meant they were untenable.
“More and more the affairs of our Nation are run by the Federal Government,” Senator Joyce said.
“Whether we like this or not, it has become the natural course of the political stream.
“In the near future, States for all intents and purposes, will be irrelevant.”
He said there were Australian States who were “effectively bankrupt” and had lost the capacity to deliver basic services which was their core function.
He said it was only the Federal Government’s underwriting of those troubled States that kept them viable.
While Senator Joyce said he supported the Federal Parliament’s upper and lower House structure, he thought changes were needed to ensure better representation in the Senate.
He said Senators should be selected to represent regions within a State, rather than the whole State.
Senator Joyce criticised the current system, pointing to Tasmania’s 12 Senators and comparing them to Queensland’s Gold Coast which had roughly the same population but no Senators based in the region.
He said regional Australia would be better served if each region selected two Senators.
“If New York can only have two Senators, the same as Montana, then Brisbane can have two Senators and North Queensland [can] have two Senators and four other regions in Queensland two each as well, elected at each election,” he said.
Senator Joyce also called for Constitutional recognition of Local Government as essential in keeping the “spread of power” in Australia.
He said the Federal Government should directly appropriate Councils for the provision of certain services, with strong oversight to stop “nepotism and corruption” at the local level.
20 May, 2009
Higher education
comes out on top
Far-reaching reforms to the Australian higher education sector have been announced in response to the Bradley Review of Australian Higher Education.A package of $5.7 billion over four years was announced in the Federal Budget to go towards a number of measures, including an additional 55,000 university places across Australia for students from lower socioeconomic status backgrounds by 2020.
Other reforms include resources to promote equity and performance funding tied to quality; an increase to university indexation; a phased move to address the gap in funding for the indirect cost of research; and changes to student income support to help needy students and increase postgraduate stipends.
There would also be a $3 billion investment in infrastructure through the Commonwealth’s Education Investment Fund and recurrent funding of $2.1 billion over the forward estimates for higher education teaching, learning and research.
In a joint statement, the Federal Ministers for Education, Julia Gillard and Innovation, Senator Kim Carr said the investment was a key part of the Government’s “education revolution”.
“By investing now, the Government will prepare Australia for growth beyond the global recession with that growth driven by high skilled and environmentally sustainable jobs,” the Ministers said.
They said the announcement would mean less red tape and micromanagement for universities and improved facilities for teaching, learning and research.
“These reforms will drive a greater focus on students and their needs, an increased emphasis on quality teaching and learning and increased participation by students from disadvantaged backgrounds,” Ms Gillard and Senator Carr said.
“These changes will allow more Australians, irrespective of their socio-economic circumstances, to access a quality higher education qualification.”
20 May, 2009
Door opens for
out-of-home care
New legislation to improve the delivery of out-of-home care services to children and young people in care has been passed by Parliament. Minister for Community Service, Linda Burney said the amendments to the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 were part of a wider reform package regarding out-of-home care services for children.
“These changes to the Act will provide greater flexibility to out-of-home care agencies applying for accreditation,” Ms Burney said.
She said organisations wishing to provide out-of-home care had to be accredited by the
Children’s Guardian’s Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program, which had been operating since July 2003.
“In mid-2006, the NSW Children’s Guardian commenced an extensive review of the program and its systems, looking at its efficiency, effectiveness and ease of use,” Ms Burney said.
“As a result, some legislative changes are being made, which should also ensure continuous improvement.”
Ms Burney said the program was a comprehensive, standard-setting framework that was the first of its kind in Australia.
She said Barnardos, Burnside and the Foster Parents’ Support Network all supported the changes.
“The proposed amendments were also presented to Justice Wood’s Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW and are consistent with his recommendations in the Final Report,” Ms Burney said.
20 May, 2009
Businesses go bush
with country tourism
A $200,000, seven-month campaign aimed at enticing businesses to hold their next conference or business event in regional NSW is to be launched by the State Government.Minister for Tourism, Jodi McKay said the joint campaign between Tourism NSW and Business Events NSW would promote business tourism and the use of conference space in regional NSW.
Ms McKay said the campaign was identified as a priority at the recent Jobs Summit for Tourism.
“The NSW Government recognises the potential of business events to stimulate regional economies across the State, supporting local jobs, particularly in tourism and hospitality,” she said.
Ms McKay said the campaign would start in the last week of June and run for seven months and was part of an increased Government focus on supporting regional tourism.
“It will help all regional areas of NSW tap into the lucrative business events and conference market,” she said.
Ms McKay said over 230,000 business delegates visited regional areas of NSW for conferences, exhibitions, conventions and trade fairs in 2008, providing a $44 million boost to the economy.
“We know 2009 will be critical in terms of the way the Government responds to the global spending slowdown and regional areas of NSW really need our support,” she said.
“That’s why, as part of our $40 million Tourism Strategy we are investing $10.5 million to promote regional areas and help Regional Tourism Organisations capitalise on opportunities to strengthen local industry and attract more visitors.
20 May, 2009
Sun sets on tanning
industry self rule
A new Regulation imposing mandatory safety requirements for commercial tanning units is to be introduced in NSW as part of a national response to community concerns about health risks associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation.Deputy Premier and Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, Carmel Tebbutt said the requirements would include new age and skin-type restrictions.
Ms Tebbutt said the provisions would be contained in the new Radiation Control Amendment (Tanning Units) Regulation.
“Industry self-regulation was not working,” she said.
“Late last year we exhibited a draft regulation for public comment and as a result of the feedback we have strengthened the provisions.”
Ms Tebbutt said as younger skin was more sensitive, a minimum age would be introduced for people wishing to use solariums.
“People who are under 18-years-old or have fair skin will no longer be able to use tanning beds, and people who are still eligible to use them will receive more accurate information about health risks and the operation of the units will be supervised,” she said.
“The use of solariums can pose a considerable health risk and this is an issue we take seriously.”
The new regulation will also ensure operators have appropriate training; skin-type assessments are made by trained operators; written consent forms are used, restrictions are placed on the amount of UV radiation exposure per session and the frequency of sessions; and that warning notices are displayed.
Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer), Jodi McKay said solarium use was not a safer alternative to sun tanning and that there was no such thing as a safe tan.
“Solariums emit ultraviolet radiation up to five times stronger than the sun and there is clear evidence of the link between solariums and skin cancer,” Ms McKay said.
“These tough new mandatory safety requirements will help protect those most vulnerable - young people and people with fair skin - from excessive exposure to UV rays and ensure a better understanding of the associated health risks.”
She said tanning was often perceived as less deadly than it really was, with the misconception able to lead to complacency and dangerous tanning behaviour.
“Melanoma is responsible for 30 per cent of all cancers in young people aged 15 to 30 in NSW, but it’s entirely preventable,” Ms McKay said.
Ms Tebbutt said businesses offering solarium services would have to register their name, location and contact details and the number and type of tanning units used with her Department.
Further information was available from www.environment.nsw.gov.au
20 May, 2009
Revenue lost
NSW is expected to lose around $4.8 billion in GST revenue from the Federal Government over the next four years, according to NSW Treasurer, Eric Roozendaal.
Mr Roozendaal said the global recession had a major impact on the outcome, but welcomed Commonwealth funding for key programs and infrastructure projects.
Police volunteers
Over 800 volunteers in policing have been thanked by the Minister for Police, Tony Kelly for taking part in National Volunteer Week.
Mr Kelly said volunteers had given over 1.6 million hours to the NSW Police Force since the program commenced in 1995.
He said volunteers helped promote crime prevention and provided assistance to customers, victims of crime and witnesses.
Tourism awards
Di Riddell from the Department of Education and Training has received a National Tourism Legends Award at the Minister’s Student Achievement Awards.
Minister for Tourism, Jodi McKay congratulated all students who were recognised for their potential in the tourism industry, saying they demonstrated the kind of people who would drive tourism in NSW.
Propeller warning
NSW Maritime has warned boaters not to be complacent about the dangers of propellers,.
General Manager of the NSW Maritime Recreational Boating, Brett Moore said propellers were regularly ignored because they were “out of sight and out of mind”.
Mr Moore said there had been 41 propeller strike incidents since
January 2003 on NSW navigable waters, resulting in five fatalities, 39 serious and seven minor injuries.
Propeller injuries were preventable, he said.
More information on boating safety could be found at www.maritime.nsw.gov.au
Crime grants
Innovative programs aimed at steering young people away from crime and reducing domestic violence have been introduced in Kempsey.
NSW Government grants totaling almost $60,000 are to be used to start up a “Midnight Basketball” competition for youths at risk of committing or becoming victims of crime.
Participants in the eight-week program will be required to attend life skills workshops covering drugs, alcohol, employment, health and anger management.
Family preservation
The State Government has provided funding for a new family preservation and out-of-home care service for families in Inner and South East Sydney.
Minister for Community Services, Linda Burney said Barnardos had received almost $900,000 in funding to establish 30 family preservation places to prevent children from entering the care system.
“Family preservation services link struggling families with support services such as after- school care or respite care. It can help families address issues before they spiral out of control,” Ms Burney said.
Irrigation survey
Irrigators have been encouraged to participate in a voluntary survey to help build a more detailed profile of the State’s irrigation industry.
The survey is open to 15,000 irrigators from over 1,800 towns across NSW, and will address issues such as water use efficiency, water trading, employment, individual operations and enterprises.
Further information was available from www.dwe.nw.gov.au
Hunter Expressway a goer
The NSW and Commonwealth Governments have announced funding for the new $1.65 billion Hunter Expressway between the F3 and the New England Highway near Branxton.
Premier Nathan Rees said the new 40 kilometre dual carriageway would have many benefits, including reducing the travel time between Newcastle and the Hunter by 28 minutes.
He said construction was to occur between 2010 and 2013 and support up to 800 direct local jobs.
The Federal Government was to invest $1.45 billion and the NSW Government $200 million in the project.
13 May, 2009
Audit finds grants
not on the money
The Auditor-General has called for a review of grant administration in NSW in a report that looked at five key Government agencies and how they allocated grant money over a five year period.
In his report, Grants Administration, the Auditor-General, Peter Achterstraat said a lack of transparency was a common complaint amongst grant recipients.
“We were consistently told in this audit that it was hard to find out when a grant was available and also where to go to for that information,” he said.
“More importantly, the decision making process of who receives a grant is not explained to those organisations that do apply.”
He said this lack of transparency alone meant Agencies needed to have a look at how their grants were administered.
“In addition to this, many Agencies do little to show that the public get value for money for the millions spent on grants.
“There are cases where grants have been given out with no follow up at all about how the grant was actually used.
“Clearly this is not a good way to hand out public money.”
The Auditor-General found that NSW Government spent $5.5 billion on grants in the past financial year.
He said grants were important to the community and Agencies needed to look more carefully at how they allocated the funds.
“Put simply, they need to make it easier for people to find when and where a grant is available, how the decision is made about who gets the money, and a consistent form of reporting on how it was used.”
He said internet technology could be used to make it easier to search for grants, but warned against more bureaucracy “because this causes a lack of transparency itself”.
He said if grants were not administered efficiently and correctly, the people of NSW would be the ones losing out.
“Grants are an important part of local communities but if the money is not directed to the right places it will be families that will suffer,” the Auditor-General said.
13 May, 2009
New freedom
laws released
Exposure drafts of new Freedom of Information laws have been released for public comment.Premier, Nathan Rees unveiled the new legislation which he said was a “complete overhaul” of the system and “fundamental reform” to the NSW FOI regime.
Mr Rees said it was the first time in 20 years that FOI had been updated.
“These reforms underline the presumption that Government information should be accessible to the public,” he said.
“Agencies should release information without having to wait for someone to make a formal application for it.”
Mr Rees said the reforms followed the Ombudsman’s review of the Freedom of Information Act in February this year.
He said the legislation would retain protections for information where there was an overriding public interest against disclosure, including personal information about individual citizens and some business information.
“The confidentiality of Cabinet, which is a cornerstone of the Westminster system of democracy, will also be maintained,” Mr Rees said.
He has released three Bills for public consideration which are proposed to replace the current Freedom of Information Act.
The Open Government Information Bill aims to promote greater pro-active disclosure of information by the Government and confers a legal right for the public to apply for access to information held by the State.
The Information Commissioner Bill aims to establish the new office of Information Commissioner to champion the legislation and ensure Government Agency compliance.
The Open Government Information (Consequential Amendments and Repeals) Act proposes to amend and consolidate other related legislation.
Mr Rees said the Government was inviting interested parties to provide written submissions on the draft Bills by 3 June 2009.
The drafts and further information were available from www.dpc.nsw.gov.au
13 May, 2009
NAIDOC participants
land rights to attend
Departments and Agencies have been urged to get behind this year’s NAIDOC Week celebrations, scheduled to be held from 5 to 12 July.In a circular, the Director General of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, John Lee encouraged Agencies to “support and release” Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff so they could participate in NAIDOC Week events.
Mr Lee also encouraged Agencies to fly Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander flags alongside the NSW flag on their buildings.
“NAIDOC Week celebrations give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people an opportunity to celebrate and share their culture and heritage with the broader Australian community,” he said,
Mr Lee said according to Chapter Six of the NSW Government Personnel Handbook, staff members who identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders “shall be granted up to one day’s special leave per year” to enable them to participate in the National Aboriginal and Islander Day of Commemoration Celebrations.
“Leave can be taken at anytime during NAIDOC Week, or in the weeks leading up to and after NAIDOC Week as negotiated between the supervisor and staff member,” the Handbook said.
Mr Lee said the theme for NAIDOC Week 2009 was “Honouring Our Elders, Nurturing Our Youth”.
He said information on flag flying protocols was available from www.dpc.nsw.gov.au and further information about the celebrations could be accessed from www.nidoc.org.au
13 May, 2009
Privacy a matter of
public importance
The NSW Privacy Commissioner, Judge Ken Taylor, has welcomed FOI and Privacy Contact Officers to ‘Privacy Week.’Judge Taylor said the focus of the week was educating young people on the dangers of providing information over the Internet.
“The catch-cry of this year's Privacy Awareness Week is: ‘Think - before you upload. Once it's out there, it's everywhere’,” he said.
Judge Taylor used the campaign, which was jointly supported by the Asia Pacific Privacy Authorities (APPA), to remind Public Servants to be aware of privacy issues.
“It is an opportunity to make sure that staff training is in place and that privacy management plans are up to date,” he said.
Judge Taylor said he was “particularly concerned” about privacy issues affecting computer use by young people.
He said to help educate youths on privacy issues, the Federal Privacy Commissioner had launched APPA’s youth privacy video online.
“This and other material, including e-handouts on the same subject, will be available on our website.”
Judge Taylor said Privacy New South Wales, in collaboration with the New South Wales Crown solicitor, had prepared flyers and teaching resources to help counter privacy problems for children using laptops.
“We will be providing this and other material to the Department of Education and Training for adaptation or use,” Judge Taylor said.
He encouraged Public Servants to contact his office at anytime, and wished them a “happy and fruitful” Privacy Awareness Week.
“As always, my office is always happy to hear from, and provide ongoing assistance to Public Sector Agencies in NSW,” Judge Taylor said.
Further information and copies of resources were available from www.privacy.gov.au and www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au
13 May, 2009
Safe work campaign
slips into May
May has been designated “Slips, Trips and Falls Month” in a campaign being run by WorkCover NSW aimed at reducing injuries at work.Chief Executive Officer of WorkCover, Jon Blackwell said the campaign aimed to raise awareness of the risks faced by employees at work.
Mr Blackwell said slips, trips and falls referred to incidents such as workers falling from a height or stepping, kneeling or sitting on an object that could cause injury.
“By focusing on slips, trips and falls during May, WorkCover expects to make employers and workers stop and think about the ways in which they can eliminate or significantly reduce such incidents,” he said.
“We will do this through a new, online WorkCover toolkit, which includes four Slips, Trips and Falls Guides and Fact Sheets and a series of safety posters.”
Mr Blackwell said the publications were practical guides to help workers and employers identify safety issues, assess the causes and eliminate or control the hazards.
“They include handy checklists to draw attention to flooring coverings, poor lighting, spillages, workplace clutter, unguarded door openings, uneven floor surfaces, ramps and the use of ladders,” he said.
Mr Blackwell said there were 25,000 injuries as a result of slips, trips and falls in NSW during 2006-07, representing 18 per cent of all workers compensation claims and costing around $203.5 million.
He said the campaign aimed to reduce those figures, by offering the publications, Safety Essential workshops and free visits from WorkCover Business Assistance Officers. Mr Blackwell said a kit that included the posters could be ordered from the WorkCover Publications hotline on 1300 799 003 or downloaded from www.workcovernsw.gov.au
13 May, 2009s
Police graduates get
Bill of approval
Over 300 new police men and women have graduated from the Goulburn Police College.Premier Nathan Rees, Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione and Police Minister, Tony Kelly welcomed the 319 graduates at a ceremony in Goulburn.
Mr Rees congratulated the new officers, thanking them for deciding to join the Force.
“They have chosen a challenging job, but one which can have a tremendous impact on the safety of the community,” he said.
Mr Rees said the graduates, 245 men and 74 women, would join more than 15,000 officers who already served in the NSW police force.
“Our State now has a record number of police, with more than 15,300 serving the community,” he said.
“The NSW Government promised to put more police on the streets and to give our existing officers further support, and that’s exactly what we are delivering.”
Mr Rees said figures from the Bureau of Crime Statistics showed 15 out of 17 major crime categories had either remained stable or fallen over the past five years.
“This result is a credit to every police officer in the State and I expect this trend will continue with help from our newest officers,” he said.
“I would like to thank every officer for the role they are playing in making our community safer.”
Further information on careers in policing was available from www.police.nsw.gov.au or by phoning 1800 222 122.
13 May, 2009
Councils cash in
on finance standards
New laws governing financial reporting by Local Government Councils are expected to set new, high standards for long-term planning at the local level across the State.Minister for Local Government, Barbara Perry released the draft Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework for community consultation, saying the proposal was designed to encourage consistent and thorough planning.
Ms Perry said the framework would require Councils to plan for the long-term and to match infrastructure to community need.
“Whether it’s a new fountain or a new multi-storey carpark, Councils will need to show community support with clear plans and budgets,” she said.
“We want this new framework to provide transparency to the community while ensuring Councils are accountable for their plans and projects.”
Ms Perry said under the framework Councils would have to develop a 10 year community strategic plan outlining local priorities; a resourcing strategy to include asset management, workforce and financial planning; and a delivery program every four years to demonstrated project delivery strategies.
“This new framework is designed to help Councils avoid over-committing to projects they simply cannot afford to undertake,” she said.
“Balancing budgets during tough times needs careful consideration and hard-headed financial planning – and that’s what these new laws aim to achieve.”
Ms Perry said the new framework had been developed in consultation with the Local Government Sector over a number of years and would introduce consistency across the sector.
“Many Councils already have excellent planning and budgeting systems in place,” she said.
“However, these proposed changes will help ensure consistency across all 152 councils in NSW.”
Ms Perry encouraged interested parties to provide feedback on the changes by 12 June.
Further information was available from www.dlg.nsw.gov.au
13 May, 2009
Mental illness
making headway
A joint initiative between the Department of Community Services and NSW Health will ensure that hundreds of DoCS and Health Services staff are trained to identify mental illness in children and young people.Minister for Community Services, Linda Burney and Minister Assisting on Health (Mental Health), Barbara Perry said the initiative would focus on vulnerable children and young people living in out-of-home care.
Ms Burney said many children who came into care had lead traumatic lives, which often impacted on their physical and mental health.
“Our number one priority is to increase the wellbeing of these children, which is why this mental health training program was developed – to help caseworkers better detect and refer children who have mental health issues and to provide health workers with improved knowledge of the child protection system,” she said.
Ms Perry said staff would be trained to identify symptoms that could indicate some form of mental illness.
“Staff will look out for whether the child is displaying symptoms such as antisocial or aggressive behavior, symptoms of self-harm or signs of illogical thought or speech,” she said.
“This training helps ensure that if a mental illness is identified, the young person will be referred for appropriate medical attention.”
Ms Perry said a study published in the Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health and conducted in NSW had found over half the children in care had psychiatric disturbances, including trauma-related anxiety.
“The risks of mental health issues arising increase with the age of the child when they enter care,” she said.
“For instance, a child who enters care before the age of seven months has fewer attachment problems than a two-and-a-half year old who has a much higher risk of mental health and attachment problems.”
Ms Burney said the joint program would be delivered at 62 locations across NSW over the next three months.
“Experienced staff in the Sydney West Area who work with children with mental health issues developed and piloted the program in December 2008,” she said.
“It was shaped to be relevant, valuable and to make working together easier.”
For further information and session dates and locations, visit www.community.nsw.gov.au
13 May, 2009
Watchdog snaps
at police powers
An Ombudsman’s report into a number of important police powers has found legislation could be simpler and police practices improved.The two-year review investigated police functions relating to personal searches on arrest and in custody, police powers relating to crime scenes and their ability to obtain documents held by financial institutions.
Ombudsman, Bruce Barbour, said the report reviewed the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002.
Mr Barbour said the legislation went to “the heart of operational policing”.
“It is vital that it [the legislation] is clear, simple and practical to ensure that the powers and safeguards are applied effectively and fairly across the board,” he said.
Mr Barbour said the review found officers varied in their understanding of the personal search provisions, and recommended a number of legislative amendments to simplify them.
He said while the majority of searches were performed in custody and were ordinary or frisk searches, five per cent were identified as strip searches.
Mr Barbour said 884 strip searches involved children but that only 6 per cent had a support person present, as required under the Act.
He recommended condensing search types into two tiers; key terms such as ‘lawful custody’ and ‘body cavity’ be more clearly defined; and support requirements for strip searches involving a child and people with impaired intellectual functioning be tightened.
Mr Barbour also suggested amendments be made in relation to establishing crime scenes to clarify occupier’s rights.
“The crime scene powers in the Act must be coupled with appropriate safeguards, particularly for occupiers of private premises,” Mr Barbour said.
He said most Crime Scene Warrants (CSWs) were made outside of Court hours and while 92 per cent were granted, amendments could be made to make them more practical.
Other recommendations included improved record keeping, increased accountability, reduced duplication and the development of standard operating procedures regarding CSWs and notices to produce documents.
Mr Barbour also suggested the NSW Police Force encourage officers to use plain English where possible and ensure officers had clear and consistent guidance.
Further information on the review and recommendations was available from www.ombo.nsw.gov.au
13 May, 2009
Rule changes breathe
life into probate
Applications for probate in the Supreme Court of NSW are to become easier and faster under new rules to be introduced from 1 June 2009.The new rules and forms are expected to streamline the probate application process for both parties and the Court.
From June, anyone wishing to apply for a grant of probate, letters of administration or a reseal will need to complete a Uniform Civil Form 111, which is to replace form 90 under Supreme Court rules.
Applicants will be required to lodge two copies of Uniform Civil Form 112 and two copies of their supporting documentation as required under the Court’s Rules.
The Court has reminded applications to include a self-addressed envelope with their application to ensure they received return correspondence.
If the application is deemed to be in order and a grant can be made, the Supreme Court will post the grant, letters of administration or release to the applicant within around five working days after receiving the application.
If the form of grant needs to be changed, the Court will return it to the applicant with a list of deficiencies.
For a sample of the deficiencies coversheet or for more information, visit the Probate forms and Information page on the Court’s website, www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au
13 May, 2009
Queensland hot stuff
for NSW ski slopes
Tourism NSW has joined forces with the Snowy Mountains ski resorts to entice tourists from Queensland to a snow holiday experience in the NSW Southern Alps.Minister for Tourism, Jodi McKay said the Snow NSW campaign aimed to attract visitors from south-east Queensland through print and radio advertising.
“The Snow NSW promotion highlights that our snowfields are easily accessible, that there is on-snow accommodation and also a complete range of snow holiday packages for skiers and snowboarders of all experience levels,” Ms McKay said.
“It should serve as a reminder to Australians who travel across the Tasman to New Zealand for their snow or ski adventure that we have high quality snow fields much closer to home.”
She said a website would be launched at www.snownsw.com to support the campaign.
“The website will include information on all NSW’s snow resorts and links to individual resort sites to provide people with additional information on snow holiday packages,” she said.
Ms McKay said the Snowy Mountains region had received over one million visitors in the year ending December 2008.
She said international and domestic visitors spent more than 2.3 million nights in the region, injecting $542 million into the economy and supporting around 3,900 jobs.
Ms McKay urged all NSW and Queensland residents to log on to www.visitnsw.com for more information on the Snowy Mountains.
13 May, 2009
DPC takes stand on
Committee seats
The Department of Premier and Cabinet has issued a Circular announcing a pre-qualification scheme for the selection of Chairs and Members who serve on NSW Government Agency Audit and Risk Committees.Entitled Prequalification Scheme: Audit and Risk Committees, the Circular describes the scheme which was established in conjunction with the NSW Treasury and the Department of Commerce following the Review of Internal Audit Capacity in the NSW Sector.
Director General of DPC, John Lee issued the Circular saying that from 30 April 2009, all new appointments of independent Chairs and Members to Audit and Risk Committees needed to be made from the prequalified panel.
Mr Lee said other guidelines require that current NSW Public Servants employed under the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 2002 can no longer serve as independent Members or Chairs of Audit and Risk Committees for other NSW Government Agencies.
“This is to ensure that independence, real and perceived, is maintained,” Mr Lee said.
He said Chairs and Members would also need to meet the independence and conflict of interest criteria that will be set out in the forthcoming NSW Treasury Internal Audit and Risk Management Policy.
In addition, independent Chairs or Members would be able to serve on no more than five NSW Audit and Risk Committees at any one time.
The full Circular can be downloaded from the Department of Premier and Cabinet website www.dpc.nsw.gov.au
13 May, 2009
Forests deal plants
seeds of success
The NSW Government has entered into an agreement with stock exchange listed company Forest Enterprises Australia to establish and maintain plantations for private industry in the State’s north.Minister for Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald said the planting of 4,500 hectares of hardwood for would start immediately.
Mr Macdonald said Forests NSW would licence the use of its land to FEA, which acts on behalf of private growers under managed investment schemes.
The Minister said the Agency would manage the establishment and maintenance of the plantations for FEA.
“Forests NSW will now source seedlings and prepare sites so as to establish the initial hardwood plantation of blackbutt and other hardwood species during the current financial year,” Mr Macdonald said.
“It is expected that 1,400 hectares will be planted by 30 June.”
He said Gloucester, Wauchope, Walcha, Lismore and Grafton would benefit from the new agreement, with hardwood plantations in those districts planted and maintained by Forests NSW.
“The new arrangement will assist Forests NSW in diversifying its business services to the community and ensure continuing development of the timber industry in the north of NSW,” Mr Macdonald said
The Minister congratulated the Chief Executive of FEA, Andrew White for his role in the project.
“The local community will benefit from the work in establishing the plantations and further in building a renewable resource to be maintained for the benefit of the State and the timber industry,” Mr Macdonald said.
13 May, 2009
No argument with
disputes paper
A discussion paper that lays out a range of strategies for resolving community and civil disputes has been released by the Attorney General for public comment.Attorney General, John Hatzistergos said the paper entitled Blueprint for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) could make everyday legal disputes cheaper and quicker.
Mr Hatzistergos said the paper would be used to inform future policy surrounding the use of ADR and expanding it across the State.
“Only a small number of these kinds of disputes get decided by a judge. But many people spend a lot of time and money preparing for Court anyway,” he said.
“One idea in the paper is to have a one-stop-shop so that people can more easily access information about resolving their everyday disputes without going to Court.”
Mr Hatzistergos said the strategies outlined in the paper built on free legal advice and mediation services provided through the LawAccess helpline and a network of Community Justice Centres.
“The discussion paper suggests establishing Sydney as a centre for international arbitration, including having organisational facilities, secretarial, computer and research support, located in a single location,” he said.
Mr Hatzistergos said other initiatives included strategies for businesses involved in major commercial disputes, legal training, professional practice and case management.
He said ADR reform was an important step toward streamlining civil procedure and would require support from Government Agencies and the Courts.
“I encourage anyone with an interest in this area to comment on the strategies contained in the ADR Blueprint,as these will form the basis of future reforms,” Mr Hatzistergos said.
He said submissions were due by 29 May 2009 and that copies of the paper were available from www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au
The helpline could be contacted on 1300 888 539.
13 May, 2009
New restoration
for old house
The National Heritage-listed Old Government House at Parramatta is to enjoy $2 million worth of conservation and restoration work following a decision by the Federal Government to allocate the funds.Federal Heritage Minister, Peter Garrett announced the funding, saying it would be used to restore Governor Macquarie’s office, complete structural stabilisation and upgrade plumbing, painting, landscaping and signage.
Mr Garrett said Old Government House was the first site in NSW to receive funding under the Government’s Jobs Fund.
“The Australian Government's Jobs Fund is designed to support and create jobs and develop skills that build both community and social infrastructure,” he said.
“The $60 million for heritage projects under the Jobs Fund is one of the largest investments in heritage conservation ever to be undertaken in Australia.”
Mr Garrett said Old Government House had played an important role in the history and development of Australia,
He said Federal funding would allow the conservation project to be completed in time for the Macquarie's Bicentennial celebrations in 2010.
“It will also have an immediate impact on the local economy: 26 short-term positions and more than 40 long-term positions are expected to be created as a result of this initiative,” Mr Garrett said.
“As well as heritage benefits, it will provide employment and economic stimulus, building on the significant economic, social and environmental value of our heritage places.”
Old Government House is the oldest surviving public building on the Australian mainland and the only early colonial Government House in Australia to have survived relatively intact.
It is part of the World Heritage nomination of 11 of Australia's Convict Sites.
Further information was available from www.heritage.gov.au
13 May, 2009
Competition a winner
with planning paper
A discussion paper on how the NSW planning system can increase competition and investment growth has been released by Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally.Ms Keneally said the paper, Promoting Economic Growth and Competition through the Planning System, would help the Government create an open and transparent planning system that made efficient decisions and facilitated State growth.
“The review will encourage discussion on how the Government can achieve the right balance between sustainable planning and environmental outcomes and promoting a competitive business environment,” she said.
“Submissions from Local Councils, big and small business and members of the community will assist the Government in improving competition and investment growth through changes in the planning system.”
Ms Keneally said the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s review into grocery pricing prompted the Government to look at competition in the planning system.
“All regulatory systems should be reviewed from time to time and after the ACCC’s review into grocery pricing now is an appropriate time to focus on the planning system,” she said.
“In the current economic climate it is more important than ever that the NSW Government, through the planning system, ensures businesses are provided the flexibility to respond to market demand.”
The review is to be undertaken by the Department of Planning and the Better Regulation Office.
Ms Keneally said it would “guide future State planning reforms” and inform the State’s input into the Council of Australian Governments discussion.
She said submissions closed 12 June 2009, and that copies of the paper were available from www.planning.nsw.gov.au and www.betterregulation.nsw.gov.au
13 May, 2009
Wetlands log onto
forests issue
The State and Federal Governments are working together to resolve issues regarding the logging of internationally significant wetlands managed by Forests NSW.Federal Minister for the Environment, Peter Garrett said his Department was working with Forests NSW to look at the “potential for logging to impact on wetlands of international importance and other matters protected under the national environment law”.
Mr Garrett said the issue had been the subject of discussion between NSW and the Commonwealth “for some time”.
The National Parks Association of NSW (NPA) welcomed the discussions, saying the State-owned River Red Gum Wetlands in the south-west of NSW were more valuable to the economy as tourist attractions than as “firewood”.
Spokesperson for NPA, Georgina Woods, accused the NSW Government of “illegally logging” the wetlands and setting double standards for private and public enterprises.
“It is appalling that the Government, which should be setting the highest standards in environmental management, is in fact flagrantly flouting the law,” Ms Woods said.
“Patch-clearfelling of internationally significant forests for cheap firewood is not a solution to the economic woes of the Riverina region.”
Mr Garrett said forest harvesting would continue in a large part of the forest, subject to the discussions between the State and Commonwealth counterparts
“All parties are keen to secure an outcome which is good for local jobs and good for the environment without the need to impose bans which significantly impact on employment in the region,” he said.
“This is an important question of balance - protecting habitat and internationally listed wetlands, with the need to protect jobs in the region and I urge all parties to continue negotiations to get this issue resolved as quickly as possible.”
Mr Garrett said he expected the issue to be resolved before 31 May.
“However if necessary the Commonwealth is prepared to agree an appropriate timeline for the resolution of this matter with the New South Wales Government,” he said.
Ms Woods called for the Government to provide structural adjustment funding for the timber industry and to create new National Parks in NSW.
“The tourism benefits of protecting these forests are immense – economic analysis shows that large new National Parks in the region will yield five times the economic return of the logging industry,” she said.
13 May, 2009
Denial on book
The Attorney General’s Office has denied allegations a sex education book aimed at two-year-olds was endorsed by the Department.
In a statement the Attorney General, John Hatzistergos said, “There is no connection between the Attorney General’s office and the book Where Did I Really Come From?
“The NSW Government has not funded or endorsed the book at any time. Any assertion to the contrary is incorrect.”
New police powers
Legislation to increase police powers for dealing with groups of drunken people has been introduced to Parliament.
Under the new law police would be able to disperse groups of people who were “noticeably affected” by alcohol or drugs and were likely to threaten public safety or damage property.
Under previous legislation police needed to be satisfied people were “seriously affected” by alcohol before having the power to act.
Fishing for culture
Public submissions on new guidelines for Aboriginal cultural fishing in NSW have been invited by the Minister for Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald.
Amendments have been proposed to the Fisheries Management Act 1994 to formally recognise cultural fishing.
For further information on community meetings and submissions, email cultural.fishing@dpi.nsw.gov.au
ICAC to South Coast
The Independent Commission Against Corruption is to visit the South Coast as part of a program promoting anti-corruption initiatives and training.
The visit will include workshops and briefing sessions for Local Government Agencies on corruption risks and prevention strategies.
Further information was available from www.icac.nsw.gov.au
Defence meeting
The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon has met with Defence families in Wagga Wagga as part of a series of forums taking place across the nation.
The Defence Family Forums aim to give families the opportunity to voice their opinions on Defence and provide feedback about their experiences of the military lifestyle.
Abhorrent crime dealt with
Tough new legislation targeting child sex offenders has been introduced to Parliament.
Under the legislation, the maximum sentence for offenders who have intercourse with a child under 10 would increase from 25 years to life if the crime was committed during a break and enter.
Attorney General, John Hatzistergos said children had a right to feel safe in their own homes and that the crime was “abhorrent”.
Walkers wanted
The Pedestrian Council of Australia has encouraged all primary school children to participate in Walk Safely to School Day on 15 May.
The event, which is supported by Federal, State and Local Governments combines road safety, health, public transport and environmental objectives.
Parents and carers are encouraged to walk to school with their children to enforce safe pedestrian behaviour.
Gambling week on the cards
NSW Gambling Awareness Week has been launched by the NSW Government, ClubsNSW, the Australian Hotels Association and Star City casino.
Minister for Gaming and Racing, Kevin Greene said the week would highlight the risks associated with gambling and would encourage people with gambling problems to seek help.
Free counselling services will be made available and awareness posters, coasters and stickers will be distributed to pubs and clubs across the State.
Parliament prize to Pople
The 2009 NSW Parliament Plein Air Painting Prize has been won by Marrickville artist, Rodney Pople for his painting of Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral.
Premier Nathan Rees said the painting, St Mary’s Cathedral at 4am, was “haunting” and would be on permanent exhibition at Parliament House.
Mr Pople received $20,000 in prize money.
6 May, 2009
Red tape is losing
its grip on business
The latest six-monthly progress report on the slashing of red tape for businesses shows the Government is on track to comply with the actions recommended by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal in 2006.Acting Minister for Regulatory Reform, Michael Daley said the third progress report showed 49 of the 74 reforms had been completed and the remaining 25 were well on-track to be delivered.
Mr Daley said the progress report had identified significant milestones that had been achieved to reduce the regulatory burden on NSW businesses.
“Reforms introduced in the last six months include reducing duplication in environmental reporting, completing post-implementation reviews of planning policies, and improving information sharing among NSW Agencies,” he said.
He said many of the remaining recommendations depended on processes underway through the Council of Australian Governments and other cross-jurisdictional forums.
“In these cases, it is appropriate that long-term action to implement reforms is taken in partnership with other States and Territories,” he said.
Mr Daley said after IPART’s review into regulation in 2006, the Government had agreed to report publicly on its progress in implementing the recommendations.
“Any reform, large or small, that reduces the burden on industry and improves the efficiency of Government is a good thing,” he said.
Mr Daley said the Government would reduce the weight of regulation by $500 million by June 2011.
The April 2009 progress report is available at www.betterregulation.nsw.gov.au
6 May, 2009
Audit report sees
forest for the trees
An audit of Forests NSW has found that native forests on the north coast are being harvested faster than they can grow back and that prices being charged are too low.In his report Sustaining Native Forest Operations, Auditor-General, Peter Achterstraat called for improvements in the way native forests were managed for the supply of timber in NSW.
Mr Achterstraat said native forests were being harvested too fast in order to meet supply commitments, and that operations ran at a loss of $14.4 million during 2007/08.
“I can only see this loss increasing as Forests NSW continues to look for new sources of hardwood timber and the costs of harvest and haulage increase,” he said.
“This raises concerns about how much worse this financial burden may get.”
Mr Achterstraat said the audit found Forests NSW should have sufficient timber to meet its wood supply commitments, which are for fixed periods up to 2023.
“However, the cost and difficulty of harvesting and hauling this timber is likely to increase over time,” he said.
The Audit found Forests NSW had “adequate estimates” of how much timber was available from native forests, but that “more could be done to improve reliability” to ensure the Government knew how much timber it could safely sell.
Mr Achterstraat said while Forests NSW had risk identification strategies in place to gauge its ability to supply hardwood, they had mixed success.
In the audit, he made nine recommendations, which were agreed to “in principle” by Forests NSW.
Mr Achterstraat recommended Forests NSW improve its knowledge of timber availability by upgrading its forestry management system; improve the accuracy of its estimates; review yield estimates for native forests and hardwood plantations in South NSW; report on sawlog yields; and compare harvest results against actual yield.
“Forests NSW needs to revisit its estimates of future supply, especially for hardwood plantations and for southern region where reviews are well overdue,” he said.
To address business risks, the Auditor suggested Forests NSW investigate the potential for developing commercial markets for forest waste; look at why it did not meet its private property targets; and simplify timber pricing by introducing a new transparent pricing system that ensured log production costs were recovered.
“Forests NSW should also review its pricing in an effort to reduce its losses,” Mr Achterstraat said.
His final recommendation suggested the Minister responsible for native forest operations include yield review requirements allowing for non-compensable reduction in allocation, in all future wood supply agreements.
“Our forests are one of our most important natural resources,” Mr Achterstraat said. “Harvesting them must be done sustainably and economically.”
A copy of the report is available from www.audit.nsw.gov.au
6 May, 2009
Judges give verdict
on Court efficiency
A Working Group of senior judicial figures has reported on how to improve the efficiency of the NSW Court system.Attorney General, John Hatzistergos has already announced that some legislation will be amended as a result.
Mr Hatzistergos said the legislation would be amended to reduce the length of criminal trials and to give the Court the power to order parties to meet before trial to discuss key issues for determination.
“NSW Courts lead the nation in the timely disposal of criminal cases and the majority of trials are completed efficiently,” he said.
“However, we can do more to reduce avoidable delays, which place a significant burden on the justice system and the taxpayer.”
Mr Hatzistergos said the amendments aimed to reduce the burden on juries, relieve the anguish for victims and cut costs to the Court system and involved parties.
The Trial Efficiency Working Group included three Supreme Court Judges, the NSW Senior Crown Prosecutor, the Bar Association, Directors of the Attorney General’s Department and other experts.
The Group recommended changes that included requiring prosecution and defence to exchange information immediately following committal; allowing the Court to order a pre-trial conference to determine the evidence to be admitted; allowing a party to provide a summary of the evidence from a witness; making it easier for the Court to order intensive pre-trial case management; and giving the Court the power to order parties to identify the issues for determination at trial.
Mr Hatzistergos said amendments to the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 would be introduced based on the recommendations.
“Measures for pre-trial case management already exist for complex cases, but they are not being used frequently enough,” he said.
“These amendments will relax the requirements of the Evidence Act and dispense with formal proof requirements where the issues aren’t in dispute.”
6 May, 2009
Injured police take
aim at benefits
The NSW Police Association has described as “disappointing” the plan to cut benefits for police officers injured in the line of duty.The Association is planning to meet this week to develop a strategy to respond to the Government’s plans, which would see officers injured on the job losing their benefits after being off work for 26 weeks.
The plan has been put forward in the context of wage negotiations.
“The Government’s offer is disappointing to say the least,” said the President of the Police Association of NSW, Bob Pritchard.
“Taking protections away from officers injured in the line of duty and their families is disgraceful, as is cutting relocation allowances which will make it harder for communities to attract police.
“Police and residents across the State will end up suffering so the government can save a buck. We’re happy to look at ways we can save money, but certainly not at the expense of communities or police protection,” he said.
Mr Pritchard said the Government’s proposed measures also included cutting support for injured officers’ spouses and children; reducing night shift allowances; cutting relocation allowances; and reducing the number of Local Area Commands.
Meetings of the Association will be held across the State over the next three weeks to discuss the proposals.
6 May, 2009
ID scheme looks
at gaining access
A safer and more secure ID authentication system has been developed by Centrelink and is being offered to the rest of the PS and private industry free of charge.According to the Minister for Human Services, Senator Joe Ludwig, Centrelink’s Protocol for Lightweight Authentication of Identity system (PLAID) is used with ID cards for staff access to secure buildings and computer systems and allows fast, flexible, private and secure authentication as well as inter-operability within and between users.
Senator Ludwig said until the development of PLAID, existing technology in the ID field had been at risk due to hackers.
“PLAID will prevent the cracking of authentication systems and foil the cloning of smartcards and other system-access devices,” he said.
“With a vast database including millions of Australians, Centrelink takes a very serious approach to customer privacy and employee access.”
Senator Ludwig said Centrelink was making PLAID freely available on the internet for Government Agencies and private corporations concerned about staff security.
“The idea is that commercial operators will build on PLAID by developing security software and hardware for other organisations to purchase and use,” he said.
“Centrelink will save money buying an ID authentication system, rather than building and maintaining a system in-house.”
Senator Ludwig said Centrelink had around 26,000 employees and administered over $70 billion in payments and services to millions of customers annually.
“That’s why it is so important Centrelink has a reliable and strong IT system in place,” he said.
6 May, 2009
Ministers counselled
on rules for Councils
The Premier has reminded Ministers and senior executives of the protocols surrounding the operation and attendance at Ministerial Councils involving representatives from other Governments.Premier, Nathan Rees issued a Ministerial Memorandum outlining the requirements and calling for their full co-operation in ensuring they are implemented successfully.
In the memorandum, Mr Rees urged Ministers to adhere to a set of protocols which were established in 1993 and provided ground rules for Ministerial Councils while retaining flexibility in their operation.
“One of the aims of these Broad Protocols is to facilitate high-quality consultative decision-making, through a robust framework that is accountable, fiscally prudent, and administratively efficient,” Mr Rees said.
He said Ministerial Councils were important mechanisms for intergovernmental consultation and decision making.
“It is essential, therefore, that Ministers be in a position to properly reflect the interests and views of the Government when they meet with their Commonwealth, State and Territory counterparts.
“This is of particular importance where resolutions require commitment, especially financial commitment, from respective Governments.”
Mr Rees reminded Ministers they must seek Cabinet clearance in relation to any substantive changes to, or announcements of, policy which could be agreed upon by a Ministerial Council.
He said the Cabinet must clear any policy positions to be put to a Ministerial Council Meeting and that the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) must also be advised.
“Ministers should decline to consider matters unless adequate notice of them has been given beforehand,” Mr Rees said.
“Where Ministerial Councils have been combined, it would be appropriate for the Ministers involved to consult one another concerning items on the agenda, in order to determine whether it is necessary for more than one Minister to attend.”
He said upon receipt, copies of Ministerial Council agendas, relevant papers and briefing notes should be forwarded to the Director General of the DPC, as should results of the Ministerial Council meetings.
6 May, 2009
Testing time for
schools officers
The Public Service Association has launched a campaign in support of school Learning Support Officers whom it says should enjoy improved professional standards so they can give the children in their care the assistance they deserve.President of the PSA, Sue Walsh said students with specific needs were not getting the support they should as 70 per cent of Learning Support Officers (LSOs) were long-term temps and many were only employed for two hours a week.
Ms Walsh launched the Students Need Us campaign, calling on the Government to look at raising the professional standards of LSOs.
“Learning Support Officers constantly go beyond their statement of duties in order to give these students the care and support they deserve, to be able to reach their full potential,” she said.
“We are launching Students Need Us, a campaign aimed at raising professional standards for all support staff in schools, and ensuring students with specific needs are given the highest level of care.”
Ms Walsh said the PSA has also launched an LSO campaign website to encourage all supporters to sign a petition calling for a “better deal” for students and staff.
“The message we want to send to the Government today is that there is a lot of goodwill these workers provide, and its time the government recognised their hard work, because schools simply could not function without them,” she said.
“Learning Support Officers are a vital part of the school community, and there is much more the NSW Government can do to help these workers help students.”
Ms Walsh said there were 30,000 children who required assisted learning in NSW schools.
6 May, 2009
WorkCover job drive
is road to success
WorkCover NSW has embarked on its annual recruitment drive for Workplace Safety Inspectors.Chief Executive Officer of WorkCover, Jon Blackwell, said the organisation was looking for applicants who had experience in improving workplace safety and productivity.
Mr Blackwell said Inspectors would help WorkCover provide guidance to assist employees and workers in reducing injuries and improving safety.
“Inspectors also investigate work place incidents and work closely with a range of industry sectors to develop and implement safety and injury prevention projects and campaigns,” he said.
“Successful candidates will spend 18 months participating in a nationally accredited workplace based training program, and upon completion will receive a Diploma of Government Workplace Inspection.”
Mr Blackwell said the new Inspectors would play a vital role in working with industry.
“Becoming a workplace Inspector can create a career path that presents scope for development and ongoing training,” he said.
Mr Blackwell said the selection process was highly competitive and was designed to recruit applicants based on merit.
Inspector Kevin Murphy joined WorkCover through the 2008 Inspector Recruitment intake.
Mr Murphy said it was satisfying to know he could have helped save a life and had played a role in preventing serious injuries
“Inspectors visit workplaces and provide on-the-spot advice and guide employers so they can develop and implement tailored safety solutions for their business,” he said.
Of the 1,600 applications received for the 2008 recruitment drive, 20 new Inspectors were recruited.
A series of information sessions will be held for potential applicants this month in Sydney, Redfern, Parramatta and Blacktown.
Further information and recruitment packs are available from www.inspectorjobs.com.au or by phoning 1800 998 255.
6 May, 2009
Big response to
nano-tech issues
An official response to a Legislative Council Inquiry into the use and applications of Nanotechnology has emphasised mechanisms to ensure safety in the emerging technology while still encouraging innovation and industry development.Minister for Science and Medical Research, Jodi McKay said workers, consumers and the environment needed to be protected.
“This is about ensuring we have a business friendly environment for driving productivity and high-end jobs growth in nanotechnologies whilst making sure that appropriate mechanisms are in place,” Ms McKay said.
She said while nanotechnology had many applications and was applied in fields including medicine, chemistry, the environment, energy efficiency, heavy industry, aerospace and textiles, regulations needed to keep pace with technology.
“This is particularly important for our high-growth industries in smart devices, cutting edge materials and products related to nano-sized particles,” she said.
Ms McKay said the Government would work with organisations and relevant Departments to recommend to the Commonwealth that a National Council for Ultrafine Particles be established.
“The Government response to nanotechnology will help NSW remain a national leader in nanotechnology and protect existing jobs in this area,” she said.
Ms McKay said the Government supported the recommendations made by the Inquiry, which suggested establishing the NSW Nanotechnology Policy Coordination Committee and creating a Nanotechnology and Nanoscience Laboratory Network as a one-stop-shop for materials characterisation and toxicology assessment.
She thanked the Government Advisory Committee on Nanotechnology, saying it brought a broad range of Agencies and independent scientists together to advise the Government on appropriate action.
Chair of the Committee, NSW Chief Scientist and Scientific Engineer Professor, Mary O’Kane said nanomaterials presented complex issues.
“Governments around the world are grappling with issues related to nanotechnology, from the United Kingdom, the United States through to Australia,” Professor O’Kane said.
“It is heartening that NSW is leading Australia in setting up the Legislative Council Inquiry.”
The Government’s response to the Inquiry can be found at www.parliament.nsw.gov.au
6 May, 2009
First report on dog
attacks has bite
The first quarterly report of dog attacks in NSW has revealed there were 263 attacks by dogs on people and 328 on animals in the three months from January this year to March.The new Dog Attack Register report found a high number of fines were being issued for attacks and that many dogs were being declared as dangerous.
Minister for Local Government, Barbara Perry said the register was designed to encourage consistent reporting of dog attacks by NSW Councils.
Ms Perry said under the new system, Councils must report any attacks online within 72 hours.
“Accurate reporting by Councils of all dog attacks is essential,” she said.
“This Dog Attack Register gives us a better understanding of the type of attacks and what action resulted.”
Ms Perry said this information could then be used to improve Government policy.
She said the report found the 591 attacks resulted in 192 infringements and 158 warnings being issued, 77 dogs being declared dangerous, 117 dog seizures, and the destruction of 100 dogs.
Ms Perry said over 200 investigations were still continuing from the attacks.
“This report shows Councils are being active in enacting NSW’s tough dog laws,” she said.
The report noted that from the attacks on people, which often had multiple victims, 196 people were not injured, 85 received a minor injury, 61 required medical attention, 23 were hospitalised and one died.
Ms Perry reminded pet owners to take responsibility for their pets and to help prevent dog attacks.
“NSW has the toughest dog laws in Australia with fines of up to $55,000 but there is no substitute for responsible pet ownership,” she said.
The Dog Attack Register report is available from www.dlg.nsw.gov.au
6 May, 2009
National law puts
heat on arsonists
Attorneys-General from around the nation have agreed to strengthen the penalties for bushfire and arson offences in every State and Territory.Commonwealth Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, presented the proposals for new offences which carry penalties of up to 25 years for bushfire arson causing death or serious harm.
State and Territory Attorneys-General have commissioned a report for the next meeting of their Standing Committee of Attorneys-General dealing with incorporating the offences into the Model Criminal Code.
Mr McClelland said jurisdictions which had not yet done so would also examine implementing existing model bushfire and arson offences that included up to 15 years imprisonment.
“Given the incredible damage to property and loss of life that can be caused by bushfires, it is critical that offences across Australia are consistent and effective, and those sentences reflect the seriousness of this crime,” he said.
Mr McClelland said while each State and Territory had its own laws covering arson and bushfires, there was considerable variation in the scope of the offences and penalties that applied.
“I am hopeful that the agreed program of work will make it easier to prosecute a person who lights a fire that results in death or causes serious harm to a person,” he said.
“People who deliberately light fires must face tougher penalties, particularly when those fires result in loss of life as occurred recently in the Victorian bushfires.”
The Attorneys-General also agreed to consider enabling Courts to order a person convicted of arson to pay compensation for the damage caused by their offence.
6 May, 2009
Speed cameras to
slow down trucks
Plans to introduce point-to-point speed cameras for heavy vehicles on 20 stretches of NSW roads have been announced by the Minister for Roads, Michael Daley.Mr Daley said the new cameras would help reduce the number of deaths and injuries on major highways across NSW.
He said the routes would range from 2km to 80km and would be designed to enforce heavy vehicle speed limits on major freight routes.
“Heavy vehicles are over-represented in fatal crashes and speed is all too often the cause,” Mr Daley said.
“This new technology will help slow these drivers down and make our highways and country roads safer for everyone to use.”
He said the point-to-point system would calculate the time it took a vehicle to drive between two points to determine whether it was speeding over an extended period of time.
“If a heavy vehicle is found to be driving above the maximum average speed, they’ll soon face a heavy fine and a loss of demerit points,” Mr Daley said.
He said in 2008 heavy vehicles had made up around 2.6 per cent of all registered vehicles in the State, but were involved in almost 20 per cent of road fatalities.
Mr Daley said on the 20 stretches of road selected for the new cameras, heavy vehicles had been involved in 35 per cent of fatal crashes.
“Overseas studies show point-to-point enforcement can reduce the rate of casualty crashes by around 50 per cent,” he said.
“Many families will know how terrifying it is to see a huge truck drive past them going well over the 100kmh speed limit.
“There’s no place for cowboys on our roads and this new technology will catch them out.”
Mr Daley said the Government would target roads in rural areas such as the New England Highway and freight routs including the Mount Ousley Road, the Hume Highway and the Pacific Highway.
He said an awareness campaign would be launched and would include a two-month warning period where drivers would receive a warning letter rather than a notice.
“The new system will require some changes to the legislation, so it’s our aim to get it through Parliament as quickly as possible, with all 20 sites to be operational within two years,” Mr Daley said.
He said the cameras were not about raising revenue for the Government, but that the RTA had estimated it would cost the Government around $5 million a year to run, even after the costs were offset by fines.
6 May, 2009
Lawyers pack cases
for western road trip
Free assistance to people having legal problems will be the aim of a travelling road show into Western NSW next week, to mark Law Week.Attorney General, John Hatzistergos, said Legal Aid NSW, the Victims of Crime Bureau and LawAccess NSW would join Older Persons Legal and Education Service and the Western NSW Community Legal Service to offer advice to those in need.
“Legal problems can cause considerable stress, yet in some cases all you might need is half an hour with a lawyer to determine a solution,” Mr Hatzistergos said.
“The road show will participate in open days at Courthouses, deliver free talks for older people, and host seminars about services available to victims of crime, and families and friends of missing people.”
He said assistance would also be available on issues such as debt, discrimination, accidents, fines, insurance, access to children and child support.
Mr Hatzistergos said Law Week 2009 would begin on 11 May and would focus on the theme of “The Law and Your Community”.
“These events aim to reach out to people in regional areas who might not be aware of the free legal services available to them,” he said.
The road show is due to visit Dubbo on 10 May, Coonamble on 11 May, Walgett on 12 May, Brewarrina on 13 May, Bourke on 14 May and Nyngan on 15 May.
Legal Aid will also visit Aboriginal communities in Collarenebri on 11 May, Goodooga on12 May, Lightning Ridge on 13 May and Moree on 15 May) to publicise the deadline for claims to the Aboriginal Trust Fund Repayment Scheme.
Mr Hatzistergos said many Aboriginal people had yet to claim wages, pensions and child endowment payments that were held in trust by the NSW Government until 1969.
The deadline for all claims in NSW is 31 May 2009.
6 May, 2009
Canine coppers to
keep rule of paw
The Minister for Police, Tony Kelly has welcomed 10 new recruits into the State’s line-up of true-blue officers, with no addition needed to the stocks of police uniforms.Mr Kelly said the new police puppies would be placed in homes as part of the Force’s Puppy Raising Program before undergoing intensive training to ready them for action.
“These little pups look very cute and cuddly now, but they will soon be highly trained and effective members of the NSW Police Force’s Dog Unit,” he said.
“Police dogs play an integral part of the NSW Police Force including general purpose activities, drug detections tasks, and firearms and explosives identification.”
Mr Kelly said the puppies would support officers on a day-to-day basis.
He said since January this year, dogs in general purpose teams had been involved in 186 arrests, drug dog teams had been involved in 1,029 arrests and explosive dogs had been deployed to 202 incidents.
“Many of those deployments have been to searches of crime scenes where they have rendered great assistance to police in gathering evidence to identify and catch criminals,” Mr Kelly said.
He said of the 10 new recruits, nine were male and one was female.
Mr Kelly said the males would be named Darcy, Dax, Demon, Dexter, Diego, Digger, Dingo, Dozer and Dragon while the female would be called Delta.
“This litter of pups were born and have been raised by their mother in a new purpose built facility on site at the Dog Unit’s base in Menai,” he said.
“This new facility allows for the pups to be born and raised on site under the close supervision of experienced dog handlers and kennel attendants.”
Mr Kelly said the puppies also showcase the growing co-operation with other Australasian jurisdictions as part of an expanded breeding program as their father was a NSW police dog but their mother was purchased from Victoria to expand the force’s genetic makeup.
He said it cost around $60,000 to prepare a pup for police work.
6 May, 2009
New rules for pools
to make a splash
Public comment is being invited on plans to change the laws to make the State’s swimming pools safer for toddlers and young children.Minister for Local Government, Barbara Perry said this was the first major review into swimming pool laws since they were introduced in 1992.
Ms Perry said the development of a swimming pool register, mandatory pool inspections and the removal of fencing exemptions from pools built before 1990 were some of the suggestions open for public feedback.
“While adult vigilance is the best safeguard, we are always looking at ways to improve our pool laws,” she said.
“We want to hear feedback from across the community - mums and dads with pools, community leaders and pool-safety advocates.”
Ms Perry reminded pool owners that even the toughest laws would not work properly without proper efforts on their part.
“We need to remember that our laws are designed to work hand-in-hand with a high level of adult vigilance,” she said,
“There simply is no substitute for a watchful eye at all times when children are in or around water.”
Ms Perry said submissions on fencing for pools on waterfront properties, increased fines for unsafe pool fences, compulsory Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation training for pool owners and other relevant issues would be welcomed.
She said all submissions received by the closing date of 12 June would be examined in detail, with any potential costs carefully considered.
“Of course there will be a rigorous cost benefit analysis conducted for any changes that are considered,” Ms Perry said.
The review comes after swimming pool fencing regulations were strengthened to include new Australian Standards for non-climbable zones, adjusted mesh sizes for fences and other safety provisions.
A summary of the review’s recommendations and topics that arose during recent debate on swimming pool safety were provided in an Options Paper.
Copies of the review, the Options Paper and a feedback form are available from www.dlg.nsw.gov.au
6 May, 2009
IR competition is
work and play
A film-making competition to encourage high school students to understand industrial relations laws has been launched by the Ministers for Industrial Relations and Education.Minister for Industrial Relations, John Hatzistergos and Minister for Education, Verity Firth, said the Know the Deal video competition aimed to increase awareness of workplace laws.
Mr Hatzistergos said the competition was open to all NSW students in years seven to 10, as many students of that age entered the workforce before finishing school.
“It is important they are well-informed about their rights and responsibilities under our industrial relations laws,” he said.
“The competition challenges students to use information on the Young People at Work website to produce an engaging two-minute advertisement on workplace rights for their peers.”
Mr Hatzistergos said the videos could address issues such as unpaid trial work, casual employment, awards, leave and pay slips.
Ms Firth said the competition would help students who were studying employment issues as part their commerce syllabus meet planned learning outcomes as well putting them in the running for cash prizes.
“I encourage high school students to use this opportunity to have some fun while learning about some of the very important issues they will confront in the workplace,” she said.
“I also urge teachers to use this competition as part of their classroom activities and help their students become more workplace-savvy.”
Ms Firth said the winning students would receive $500 for themselves and $1,000 for their school.
She said there were prize categories for metropolitan and country NSW schools.
Entries close on 31 July 2009, with further information and winning entries from 2008 available from www.youngpeopleatwork.nsw.gov.au
6 May, 2009
Women’s award at PSA
The Public Service Association of NSW has called for nominations for the Jean Arnot Award, which recognises women who have shown outstanding work and commitment to advancing women members of the PSA.
The award, which is not handed out every year, was last awarded to PSA Senior vice President, Cheryl McGuire in 2004.
Nominations close on 17 July, with further information available by contacting the PSA Women’s Unit on (02) 9290 1555 or emailing cjoannou@psa.asn.au
Cessnock prison gets out of jail
The Government’s decision not to privatise Cessnock prison has been welcomed by Prison Officers around the State.
The NSW Public Service Association said despite the victory, it would continue to campaign against the privatisation of Parklea prison and still had a “big fight” on its hands.
Power laws plugged in
Legislation to prevent unnecessary power outages across the State is being fast-tracked, according to Energy Minister, Ian Macdonald.
Mr Macdonald said the laws would provide greater protection to electrical supply cables, and would include a Dial Before You Dig program and improved cable management plans.
Lawyers regulated
The Australian legal profession is to be regulated nationally with the Council of Australian Governments appointing a special taskforce to draft uniform legislation.
A consultative group advising the taskforce will include members from each State and Territory, representing peak legal, business and consumer groups.
The legislation will be presented to COAG for consideration by May 2010, and will replace the 55 different regulations which currently operate across the nation.
Levy review extended
The review of Council levy plans has been extended following a request from experts on the Local Contributions Review Panel.
Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally granted the extension, saying the process would be finalised by the end of May 2009.
The review commenced in December 2008.