Government News

Parliamentary Secretary for School Education, Senator Jacinta Collins, launched the second phase of the Gillard Government’s Positive Partnerships to provide classroom and family support for students with autism.

Senator Collins said the Gillard Government reinvestment of over $21 million is a great kick start to Autism Awareness Month throughout April.

“The first phase of the Positive Partnership initiative was so widely successful that the number of teachers and staff we expected to train in helping students with autism was exceeded,” Senator Collins said.

Since 2008, Positive Partnerships has trained more than 8,000 parents, carers and school staff across Australia in how better to meet the needs of students with autism, and has provided online resources for more than 28,000 people.

Senator Collins said Australia’s significant progress in supporting school-aged students with autism spectrum disorder is also making the jobs easier for their parents, their carers, their teachers, school leaders, teaching support assistants and occupational specialists.

"I am pleased to announce that a new consortium will train more than 450 additional teachers and 1,450 parents each year until 2015,” Senator Collins said.

The Partnerships between the Education and the Autism Community (PEAC) group will deliver the program between 2012 to 2015.

Members of this group include Autism Queensland, Autism South Australia, Flinders University and Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) who will lead the consortium. 

The Federal Government and the European Union have confirmed their ‘strong commitment’ to working towards linking their respective Emissions Trading Schemes (ETS), during bilateral talks in Brussels.

Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Minister Greg Combet said that the move will further develop a strong international carbon market.

"Linking our schemes is a priority for the Australian government. The European Union's ETS is the largest emissions trading scheme in the world. Together, the schemes will provide access to a wider range of options for cost-effective emission reduction," Mr Combet said.

The South Australian Government has blasted the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s (MDBA) draft plan, saying the allocated 2750 gigalitres for environmental flow is not enough to return the system to a state of health.

The government’s attack is backed by the Goyder Institute for Water Research, who’s investigation into the draft plan shows that the proposed quantity for environmental flow is inadequate.

Releasing the Institute’s review, Premier Jay Weathrill and State River Murray Minister Paul Caica warned of the consequences of following the draft plan.

“As the state at the end of the Murray Darling Basin South Australia has the most to lose if we don’t get the plan right,” Mr Weatherill said.

“The science shows that less than half of the MDBA’s own environmental water requirements for the internationally-significant Riverland-Chowilla floodplain would be achieved.

“The State Government has always maintained that the Basin Plan must be based on the best available science.

“The Goyder Institute has found that while there could be some improvements with an extra 2750GL, it is not enough to ensure we can withstand droughts and protect our Ramsar-listed sites.

Mr Caica said the analysis shows that, in its current form, the Basin Plan is unlikely to maintain the ecological character of the Riverland-Chowilla and Coorong Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth Ramsar sites.

“The Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth remain at risk of low water levels and high salinities which will have serious consequences for the aquatic animals and plants in this region,’’ Mr Caica said.

“Under the proposal, there will still be insufficient flows to export salt out of the Basin and ensure the Murray Mouth will remain open during times of drought.”

The analysis shows under the 2750GL proposal:

• The middle and high elevation areas of the floodplains, where most black box and river red gum woodlands occur, will receive little or no additional water and declining vegetation health is likely to occur
• In the longer term, the contraction of river red gum and black box distributions on floodplains, with losses of organic carbon production and habitat
• Ongoing degradation of mid-and high-elevation floodplain wetlands caused by salinity and other factors, with a loss of habitat
• An accumulation of salt in the lower Murray region during drier periods as a result of insufficient salt export through the Murray mouth
• Extreme low water levels and salinities may still occur in the Lower Lakes and Coorong under extended drought conditions, which would reduce the habitat available for fish and migratory water birds and may threaten several endangered native fish in the CLLMM region.
• The likelihood that the Murray Mouth will still require some dredging to be kept open during extended droughts.

The report can be found here

$41 million in funding is being allocated to up to 29,000 Queensland school students with disabilities. The Gillard Governement’s More Support for Students with Disabilities initiative will provide greater access to classroom support and specialized equipment.

This will enable students with disabilities to finish their schooling and secure a job.

“Parents, carers, teachers and health specialists in QLD and around the country have been calling for action to help students with disability stay in school and get the best education possible,” said School Education Minister Peter Garrett.

“This funding, part of our overall $200 million national initiative, will provide much-needed specialist support and assistance to many thousands of students in government, independent and Catholic schools across the state.”

Under the More Support for Students with Disabilities initiative, QLD students and schools will receive:

• $1.8 million to pay for allied health services in up to 100 schools, such as occupational therapists, audiologists, nurses, psychologists and speech pathologists
• $8.9 million to help employ 450 new teacher aides or train existing aides
• $15 million to train up to 1250 staff in adapting their curriculum to the needs of students with disability, including individualised learning plans
• funding for up to 185 students in Catholic schools to participate in work readiness programs and work placements
• more options for assistive technology and ‘hands on’ courses for teachers;
• training for teachers to strengthen their skills in classroom assistive technology, for example, to support students with learning disability such as dyslexia
• more support for classroom teachers to undertake post graduate study in the area of special education.

The Federal and Victorian governments have announced work has begun on the next section of the $2.25 billion M80 upgrade, marking the commencement of the state’s largest road infrastructure project.

“As Victoria's biggest road project on the ground, the M80 Upgrade is providing a much needed boost to the state's economy, directly supporting up to 6500 jobs over the life of the project, with thousands of other flow on jobs for services and suppliers,” Victorian Transport Minister Terry Mulder said.

“When completed, the improved freeway with extra lanes and better access will help ease congestion, and reduce travel times and costs for commuters, and importantly for road freight industry, with 20,000 trucks currently using the Ring Road each day.

So far, the Federal Government has invested $900 million in the project, while the State Government has contributed $300 million.

The project is considered a vital part of the Federal Government’s Nation Building Program. 

The South Australian Government has appointed Mike Sinkunas as the state’s first Small Business Commisioner.

Mr Sinkunas will be tasked with championing the cause of the state’s 136,000 small businesses and assisting in the establishment of industry codes required to create a regulatory framework that can resolve disputes without court action.

“This Government wants the Commissioner to stamp out things such as predatory behaviour; unconscionable conduct and franchise churning that often target small business operators,” Minister for Small Business Tom Koutsantonis said.

The Commissioner also has the power to enforce mandatory codes of conduct that carry monetary penalties for breaches, he says.

Other key functions of the Small Business Commissioner are:

• Provide educative and guidance to help inform decision making to minimise disputes;
• Monitor and investigate unfair market practices and non-compliance with prescribed industry codes under the Fair Trading Act 1987;
• Offer other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms where appropriate;
• Work proactively with key stakeholders to encourage better business conduct and the principles of fair dealing and good faith and;
• Advise the Minister for Small Business on a range of matters affecting small business.

Mr Koutsantonis says the appointment of the Commissioner is to make the small business sector stronger by developing a set of standards – a set of codes - that will be the benchmark for equality in business-to-business relationships and transactions.

The South Australian Government has announced that South Australian irrigators will begin the 2012-13 water year with 100 of their allocations.

State Minister for Water Paul Caica said the announcement will give irrigators and other water users the certainty required to make important business decisions for the coming year. The full allocations are in stark contrast to the drought period, which saw the season opening with as little as 2 per cent of the allocation.

“Over the past four months, there has been a sequence of substantial rainfall events across the Murray-Darling Basin,’’ Mr Caica said.

“This 100 per cent opening allocation is due to the high volume of water in upstream storages and confirmation by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority that South Australia will receive its full 1,850 gigalitre entitlement flow during 2012-13. It is the second successive year that our irrigators have started the water year on a full allocation.”

“This further emphasises the importance of the State Government’s preparedness to take all actions necessary to ensure we get a strong Basin Plan that is not only capable of restoring the Basin to a sustainable level of health, but which also underpins the security of all water entitlement holders.”

Mr Caica said the new carryover policy, developed in consultation with irrigators and other waters users, is operational from 2012-13.

“Given the current conditions, South Australia is prevented from deferring and storing entitlement flow for carryover under the Murray Darling Basin Agreement, therefore there will be no ability to carryover water into the 2012-13 water year,’’ he said.

The South Australian Government and the city of Adelaide have announced a comprehensive overhaul of the city’s planning laws.

The reforms to the planning and development system will unlock millions of dollars in investment potential according to the State Government.

Premier Jay Weatherill said the agreement has spelled the end of decades of disagreements between the city’s council and the state government.

“This plan was endorsed by the City Council nine votes to one and the consensus represents a new era in State Government and City Council co-operation,” he said.

“This reflects a new constructive approach to solving the big issues South Australia faces and adds to the growing confidence in our state’s future.

“South Australians are justifiably proud of Adelaide’s reputation as a beautiful city but want it to become more vibrant, while retaining its character and charm.”

The planning reforms include:

• a new Capital City Zone providing for framework to stimulate investment across the square mile, while also setting high standards for design excellence
• A change in allowable building heights
•  greater mix of uses (housing, shops, cafes, restaurants and offices)
• better links between ground floors and public spaces and more vibrant main streets
• better defined boulevards (such as King William, Grote and Wakefield streets)
• activation of the city squares and park lands
• innovative development on ‘catalyst sites’ that encourage more vibrant neighbourhoods
•  quality outcomes with design at the forefront of the planning process through theestablishment of a new city design review panel
• faster decisions - answers within 10 days of lodgement with design review panel input

Deputy Premier and Planning Minister John Rau said the reforms would bring more people into the city, more investment into the city and more jobs into the city.

“The city centre is the heart of the State’s civic, commercial and cultural life and must be a place we can showcase the best of South Australia to the rest of the nation and the world,” he said.

News Release“The measures outlined in this package represent a significant and dramatic reform to our city planning system, helping Adelaide to maintain and improve its edge as the nation’s most liveable capital city—a place to live, work and do business.”

The announcement comes after Adelaide scored the highest review of city infrastructure, land management and economics of all capital city’s in the latest review published by the Reform Council of COAG. 

The Western Australian Government’s pay offer has been accepted by the state’s  27,000 teachers and school administrators after they voted in favour of the December agreement.

The total packaged deal includes wage increases of 12 per cent across three years (3.75 per cent, 4 per cent and 4.25 per cent) and includes initiatives to further support collaboration and school decision making.

“This outcome once again demonstrates the ability of Wages Policy to deliver fair, balanced and economically sustainable outcomes for the Government and its employees.  This should send a strong message to groups currently negotiating with Government,” State Commerce Minister Simon O’Brien said.

Education Minister Liz Constable said the deal would ensure WA school teachers remained the highest paid across the country.

“The majority of teachers will be earning in excess of $99,000 per annum by December 2013,” Dr Constable said.

“Teachers play an instrumental part in our society, and their pay continues to reflect the esteem in which they are held by this Government.”

The Northern Territory Government and Envirobank has announced the new cash for containers mobile depot will be operational shortly after Easter and will service large and small-scale volumes of returned containers.

“We’ve got normal depots, mini-depots, and now we’ve got mobile depots which can do it all,” Territory Minister for the Environment Karl Hampton said.

“I welcome today’s news from Envirobank that they are setting up a mobile depot in Shoal Bay to further expand the locations Territorians are able to turn their containers in for cash.

“Getting a scheme of this magnitude up was never going to be easy and we knew that, but we also realise Territorians want it, and is proven to be successful – that’s why the scheme is continues to grow.

“The ever increasing interest from the community and their involvement in Cash for Containers means that the flow of returned containers has not slowed down. If anything, it continues to increase, and a number of sporting groups and organisations are taking advantage of this scheme to raise funds to great effect.

The Federal Government has announced it will allow skilled workers from the United States, such as electricians, plumbers and other trades, to get their licence to work in Australia on arrival.

Federal Skills Minister Senator Chris Evans said the move will ease shortages in trades and engineering.

"This is a great opportunity to address skill shortages in Australia by filling shortfalls in particular areas with qualified candidates from the US, with applications expected to open from mid-April," Senator Evans said.

“While the Government’s first priority is to train Australians for jobs in the resources and construction sectors, projections show that we will need workers from overseas for a peak in activity in the next three to five years.”

“I understand some of the relevant unions have been talking to their US counterparts about the opportunities for skilled US workers to fill shortages in the resources sector over the next three to four years.

”Currently, such workers need to be assessed onshore which can mean waiting months between entry and starting work.”

The reform will allow for prompt offshore processing of applications, which have traditionally had to be done with the applicant in country and could take months.

Under the new agreement, US workers will be assessed against Australian requirements before entering the country.

To support employers in linking with potential skilled workers, Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said the Australian Government had also decided to run its overseas program of Skills Australia Needs expos in the United States for the first time to attract skilled workers in the resources, energy and infrastructure sectors.

The Victorian Government has unveiled a new model for industry engagement which will aim to ensure employers’ and industries’ training needs are better met.

State Higher Education and Skills Minister Peter Hall said the reforms are needed to better support the state’s demand driven training system and to promote a skills based economy.

Under the old model, which predates Victoria's move to a demand driven training system, 16 Industry Training Advisory Boards (ITABs) provide advice to government on the skills needs of the industries they represent.

Mr Hall said the changes, to be implemented over the next nine months, followed extensive consultation with business and industry and reflected the findings of two independent reviews of Victoria's industry advisory arrangements.

"The new industry participation model will enable government to engage more directly with industry and give industry a greater role in shaping training provision," Mr Hall said.

"While ITABs have previously played a constructive role in Victoria's training system, the new model will use the bodies and associations employers already value to directly influence the training market ensuring training is more responsive to the needs of a skilled workforce and economy."

Mr Hall said key elements of the reforms would:

• Establish a more direct model of consultation with industry built around strengthened partnerships between the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD)and other government departments, employers and industry associations.
• Strengthen industries' and employers' opportunity to talk directly to government about the effectiveness of the training market.
• Make better use of the existing industry consultation mechanisms across government to reduce duplication of efforts.

"Under the new model the DEECD will work in partnership with other government departments and their networks to access more than 12,000 direct industry consultations, a far greater network than previously available," Mr Hall said.

Mr Hall said those industry sectors that wished to retain their existing ITABs could elect to do so through their own funding.

The reform legislation will be introduced later this year.

The Reform Council of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has savaged the planning of the country’s capital cities, publishing a review that urges governments to do better in planning future land use, infrastructure assets and economies of the country’s major cities.

Chairman of the COAG Reform Council, Paul McClintock AO, said governments need to get better at bringing together different aspects of their city planning.

“Just like you can't solve a Rubik’s cube one side at a time, you can't deal with land use, infrastructure and economic development separately,” Mr McClintock said.

The council was critical of all major cities with the exception of Adelaide.

“Our report found that while governments have shown strong commitment to improve their planning systems, none of their systems are entirely consistent with COAG’s agreed criteria to re-shape our capital cities,” Mr McClintock said.

The report found that all governments share a number of common issues and challenges and that no one single government has all the policy assets and expertise to deal with issues.

Mr McClintock said that COAG’s reforms and the review process demonstrate the value of collaboration by governments on planning capital cities.

“It is absolutely essential that all nine governments continue to work together to achieve COAG’s objective for our capital cities.”

“The value of improving planning in our cities is clear–around 75 per cent of Australia’s population live in our major cities and these cities generate nearly 80 per cent of GDP.”

“Governments have shown a strong commitment to improve their planning systems and we appreciate their active participation in our review,” Mr McClintock said.

The council has made a number of recommendations to COAG on the need to engage more with community, businesses and other stakeholders; focus more on implementing plans and getting results in cities; and consider ways to improve investment and innovation by the private sector.

The review can be found at http://www.coagreformcouncil.gov.au/reports/cities.cfm

The Western Australian Government has passed the gas services Information Bill, with State Energy Minister Peter Collier saying the legislation will play a key role in securing the state’s gas supply and security.

The passage of the Gas Services Information Bill provides for the establishment of a Western Australian Gas Bulletin Board and Gas Statement of Opportunities and implements a governance framework that will enable the Independent Market Operator to operate the Bulletin Board and the publish Statement of Opportunities periodically.

“The Gas Bulletin Board will benefit consumers and industry by increasing the levels of transparency in the sector through a specific website containing near-term information on gas production, transmission, storage capacity and demand. It will also include an emergency management facility to help Government and industry manage gas supply disruptions,” Mr Collier said in a statement.

The Gas Statement of Opportunities will periodically publish a comprehensive picture of the gas industry in WA and provide an outlook of the industry for a period of up to 10 years.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has announced the formation of the new Ministry.

The Ministry will include both experienced members and newcomers according to Mr Newman.

“The new faces in the Ministry reflect the depth of talent in the LNP and the experienced members will continue their outstanding work for the people of Queensland,” Mr Newman said. 

Cabinet members are:

• Campbell Newman Premier and Cabinet 
• Jeff Seeney Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning 
• Tim Nicholls Treasurer and Minister for Trade 
• Lawrence Springborg Minister for Health 
• John-Paul Langbroek Minister for Education, Training and Employment 
• David Gibson Minister for Police and Community Safety 
• Jarrod Bleijie Attorney General and Minister for Justice 
• Scott Emerson Minister for Transport and Main Roads 
• Bruce Flegg Minister for Housing and Public Works 
• John McVeigh Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry 
• Andrew Powell Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection 
• Andrew Cripps Minister for Natural Resources and Mines 
• Mark McArdle Minister for Energy and Water Supply 
• David Crisafulli Minister for Local Government 
• Tracy Davis Minister for Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services 
• Ros Bates Minister for Science, IT, Innovation and the Arts 
• Steve Dickson Minister for National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing 
• Jann Stuckey Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and Commonwealth Games 
• Jack Dempsey Minister for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander & Multicultural Affairs and Assisting the Premier 

Assistant members are:

• Lisa France Assistant Minister for Natural Resources and Mines 
• Tim Mander Assistant Minister for Sport and Racing 
• Chris Davis Assistant Minister for Health 
• Gavin King Assistant Minister for Tourism 
• Steve Minnikin Assistant Minister for Public Transport 
• Rob Molhoek Assistant Minister for Child Safety 
• Ian Walker Assistant Minister for Planning Reform 
• Deb Frecklington Assistant Minister for Finance, Administration and Regulatory Reform 
• David Kempton Assistant Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs 
• Saxon Rice Assistant Minister for Technical and Further Education 
• Robert Cavallucci Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs 

Parliamentary roles:

• Fiona Simpson Speaker 
• Glen Elmes Deputy Speaker/Chairman of Committees 
• Ray Stevens Leader of the House 
• Vaughan Johnson Chief Whip 
• Rosemary Menkens Senior Whip 
• Ted Sorensen Deputy Whip 
• Tarnya Smith Deputy Whip 

The Queensland Government has announced it has appointed Peter Costello as the head of the Independent Commission of Audit into the state’s finances.

The Independent Commission has been tasked with providing an interim report covering the Government’s current financial position by mid-June, with a complete final report finished by February next year.

Mr Costello AC will be joined by two other commissioners Dr Doug McTaggart and Professor Sandra Harding.

The Commission will have a broad terms of reference, covering Queensland’s current and forecast financial position; opportunities to improve Queensland’s finances, service delivery and infrastructure.

It will also be asked to look at ways in which the Government can improve Queensland’s economic performance.

The New South Wales Government has announced it will fund the employment of an additional 200 full-time teachers to target underperformance in literacy and numeracy across government and non-government schools.

NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell said the extra $24 million in school funding in 2012 is the start of the government’s plan to provide an extra 900 teachers across NSW schools.

The Minister for Education, Adrian Piccoli also announced the NSW Government had accepted the recommendations of the Ministerial Advisory Group on Literacy and Numeracy established last year.

"Under the expert leadership of Dr Ken Boston AO, the advisory group has recommended a plan of action to boost the literacy and numeracy of students in NSW and those recommendations will now be implemented," Mr Piccoli said.

The key recommendations of the advisory group are:

• early identification of the level of attainment in literacy and numeracy of each individual child and tailoring a specific program of learning to that child's needs
• change in teaching practice from a focus on the whole class to a focus on the needs of the individual student
• using tiered interventions according to need where remediation in literacy or numeracy is needed.

Mr Piccoli said the change to the focus on the needs of individual students will involve three key elements:

• personalised learning
• diagnostic assessment
• teacher professional development in the classroom under the direction of an instructional leader.

"What the Ministerial Advisory Group has made clear, is that not all students requiring special attention were being identified and given the appropriate attention – that needs to change," Mr Piccoli said.

A five-year independent evaluation of the program will start later this year

David Murray, the outgoing chairman of the multi-billion national Future Fund, has savaged the Federal Government’s carbon tax, describing it as the “worst piece of economic reform” has ever seen.

Mr Murray, who is ending his tenure as chairman to be replaced by David Gonski, publically savaged the legislation, describing it as “very bad” for the economy and will quash international competitiveness.

"If you want me to tell you my view, it is the worst piece of economic reform I have ever seen in my life in this country," Mr Murray told the ABC.

"The consequence of introducing that tax at that level in Australia today is very, very bad for this economy, particularly in terms of its international competitiveness.

"It raises costs further within Australia, it reduces our competitiveness for export of energy-related commodities, and it therefore renders us less competitive in the future."

Treasurer Wayne Swan has defended the tax, describing it as international best practice.

"I just reject what Mr Murray has had to say about this fundamental economic reform which goes to the core of our future economic prosperity,” Mr Swan told the ABC.

"Big reforms like this are tough reforms, they're never easy, and you will get vested interests and people like Mr Murray out there opposing them."

The Federal Government has announced $8.56 million in funding from the Urban Waterways Renewal project to assist in improving water quality of the Swan and Canning Rivers.

"These projects will refurbish existing drainage lines and restore natural drainage features to improve water quality and environmental flows," Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water Senator Don Farrell said.

The construction phase will include the realignment of stream banks and riffle construction to reduce water velocity.

"Establishing native plants throughout the catchment will improve water quality by intercepting and drawing nutrients out of the water and will also improve habitats."

"In addition to improving water quality, these projects will enhance the environmental qualities of urban areas and restore natural habitats, improve biodiversity and reduce erosion."

The project is supported by the Australian Government through the Water for the Future initiative under the National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns program.

An additional $4.5 million has been provided (in cash and kind) by state government initiatives, Water Corporation and the local governments of Armadale, Gosnells and Canning.

The Victorian Government has hit out at the recently announced 3-year rollout plan of the National Broadband Network (NBN), saying that the state has been duded.

State Technology Minister Gordon rich-Phillips said Victoria has received less than 20 per cent of program funding, giving a disproportionately low amount of funding for the state that is home to a quarter of the country’s population.

Mr Rich-Phillips said although there had been a slight increase to Victoria, the rollout still clearly favoured the Labor-held states of South Australia, Tasmania and ACT.

"Although South Australia has just 7.3 per cent of national population, it is receiving 9.2 per cent of the funding. Tasmania, which represents just 2.3 per cent of population is receiving 5.9 per cent of the program funding,” Mr Rich-Phillips.

"With only 19.5 per cent of the premises in the total plan allocated to Victoria, our share of NBN construction activity is still too low given we represent a quarter of the national population."

NBN Co recently announced that Stage 1 of the large-scale rollout of the National Broadband Network is now underway and will see of the fibre optic component of the network delivered or be underway to areas of the country containing 3.5 million premises in 1500 communities in every state and territory in Australia, comprising one third of the nation’s homes and businesses.

Across Australia, the numbers of homes, businesses, schools and hospitals that will see construction begin or be completed by mid 2015 are:
·         1,010,700 in New South Wales
·         691,600 in Victoria
·         678,600 in Queensland
·         429,200 in Western Australia.
·         327,300 in South Australia
·         135,300 in the ACT
·         65,200 in the Northern Territory
·         209,100 in Tasmania