SearchArchives for August 2008
28 August, 2008Archives Briefs go on public record
Queensland State Archives has issued a series of Public Records Briefs to update Agencies on the proper management of public records.
Ranging in topics from Moving data off-line; Managing records created in shared environments; and using Search Technology to index records, the Briefs explain the recordkeeping implications of each issue, offer conclusions and advice and provide contact details for Agencies requiring more information.
Moving Data Offline:
According to the Archives, there was a growing realisation across the QPS that storing data online came with real costs and that Agencies were looking to alternatives.
The Brief entitled Moving Data Offline – implications for public records warns that although off-line storage in the form of magnetic tape or optical media might be less expensive than storing on a server, it could also become subject to less stringent management controls.
“As a result, some information may be lost due to media degradation,” the Brief says. “Another risk is technology obsolescence.
“To ensure that any offline media is not simply ‘forgotten’, a register of the location and contents of offline media should be kept.”
The Brief points out that Agency Chief Executives were required by law to protect public records and needed the approval of a State Archivist to dispose of them.
Records from Shared Environments:
In a Brief entitled Collaborative Workspaces and Recordkeeping, the Archives explains when a record was created in a joint environment such as a blog, wiki, document sharing exercise, virtual classroom, web conference or discussion forum, it needed to be kept and managed.
It says information from these sources was a public record if it provided evidence of the decisions or actions of a public authority during its business activities.
It urges managers to ensure that their staff were aware of these requirements, that risk assessments were undertaken, that management plans were developed and that the records that arose were managed according to the rules.
Using Search Technology:
A Brief that explains how search technology worked as well as its strengths and weaknesses also concludes that a proper recordkeeping system was more appropriate for public records than one which relied on a search function.
“While this technology may provide increased access to internal information, it does not deliver the broader records management practices required in accordance with the Public Records Act 2002,” the Brief entitled Enterprise Search Technology, says.
“Improving accessibility of information is only one of the functions of a recordkeeping system.”
It says that while search technology could be used by a public authority to assist with retrieval of records or information, public records still needed to be managed through a system with recordkeeping functionality.
The above Public Records Briefs could be accessed in full on the Queensland State Archives website: www.archives.qld.gov.au
28 August, 2008
Health workplace passes examination
A survey of the staff of Queensland Health has revealed a major improvement in workplace culture over the past two years.
The change has been welcomed by Health Minister Stephen Robertson.
According to Mr Robertson, a Better Workplaces opinion survey among the staff of Queensland Health showed a “marked improvement in workplace culture” which was a far cry from the claims of widespread bullying that plagued the health system in 2005.
“This report clearly shows staff are benefiting from the strong commitment to, and momentum of positive change, within Queensland Health,” Mr Robertson said.
“Staff rated their relationships with co-workers as the best thing about working in Queensland Health.”
He said there was also an increase in the numbers of staff who enjoyed a good quality of work life, benefited from peer support and trusted their immediate supervisor.
He said these were all vital elements of a functional workplace.
He quoted the report as saying the results of the ‘survey showed improvements on almost every measure.
“While only just short of a clean sweep in improvements on all indices, staff clearly recognise the momentum of positive change,” the report said.
“As always for any organisation, there is room for further improvement, but this should not cloud the many constructive gains made by staff and management working together.”
Mr Robertson said the turnabout demonstrated the Government’s commitment to bringing about cultural change within Queensland Health following the Forster Report in 2005.
He said while the survey results were pleasing, the Government was committed to further improvements.
“Only a minority of staff surveyed said they were looking for jobs, and most of those were seeking career advancement and hoped to stay within Queensland Health,” he said.
“Importantly, our frontline doctors and nurses reported increases in morale, opportunities for professional growth, participative decision making and supervisor support.
“This is the fifth staff opinion survey to be completed since April 2006, and it provides a genuine yardstick to measure cultural change at the grassroots of the organisation,” Mr Robertson said.
He said the report was prepared by researchers from the University of Southern Queensland.
28 August, 2008
Horse review after virus has bolted
An independent review is to be conducted into the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries’ emergency response to the outbreak of Hendra virus among horses at Redlands.
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries, Tim Mulherin said he would be expecting feedback about the proposed Terms of Reference from the Horse Industry Council and the Australian Veterinarians’ Association.
“I am aware that there is a high level of public interest in Hendra, which is why I have asked for an independent review of the Department’s emergency response,” Mr Mulherin said.
“Queenslanders can be assured that this review will be properly focused and they can expect that those responsible will identify how and where improvements can be made.”
He said the draft Terms of Reference would include a review of DPI&F’s standard operating procedures, as well as standards for veterinarians about the handling of suspect Hendra virus cases. Workplace health and safety for DPI&F officers would also be included.
“I am aware that continuous improvement is already a normal part of Biosecurity Queensland’s best practice,” Mr Mulherin said.
“This was the case during the 2006 Peachester review. That final report was tabled in Parliament and it found that Departmental officers reacted appropriately and responsively in that Hendra event.”
He said Biosecurity Queensland officers should be credited for their professionalism and hard work in the challenging circumstances surrounding the outbreak.
“Biosecurity Queensland’s officers continue to learn and examine their operating standards,” he said.
The processes required to appoint an independent consultant to head the review were underway and it was expected the services of an appropriately qualified person would soon be secured.
The consultant would be asked to report on the findings by the end of October 2008.
28 August, 2008
Database extends long arm of the law
New laws that would allow Queensland Police to share information with other police forces around the country have been introduced into Parliament with Police Minister Judy Spence saying they would reduce the ability of offenders to escape by travelling interstate.
“The Police Service Administration and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2008 will allow our police to share vital information as part of the CrimTrac National Police Reference System,” Ms Spence said.
“This system has been established by the Commonwealth’s CrimTrac agency with the support of all States and Territories, to ensure police in every part of Australia can immediately access essential information about offenders and suspects.
“In the past, police trying to ascertain information about an offender’s history from interstate had to place an individual request through their own coordination centres and wait for the information to be made available from the other jurisdictions,” Ms Spence said.
She said the national database would hold information provided from the individual systems of every State jurisdiction, enabling police across Australia to instantaneously view information in relation to an offender regardless of their State of origin.
She said appropriate safeguards were included in the legislation to ensure that only information crucial to operational policing was available on the national database. General information on witnesses and victims would not be included.
“This is about ensuring police in all parts of Australia have the information they need to detect, prevent and solve crime,” Ms Spence said.
“All Australian States and Territories have agreed to participate in the National Police Reference System, with all jurisdictions expected to be fully operational by the end of 2009.”
She said once the Bill was passed through Queensland Parliament, the police were expected to transfer information to the national database in October, with all officers in the State gaining access to approved information from other jurisdictions by the end of the year.
28 August, 2008
Audit catches DPI&F with its plants down
A performance audit of the State’s protection measures against plant disease and pests has found that coping with recent emergencies and outbreaks had diverted limited staff from maintaining adequate safeguards.
The Auditor-General, Glenn Poole has made eight recommendations following the audit, saying he considered it “critical” that systems be in place to protect Queensland’s primary industries and environment.
Mr Poole focused his audit on the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries’ Biosecurity Queensland, which had responsibility for preventing, detecting and responding to plant and animal threats once they had entered the State.
He admitted the threats could never be eliminated because pests and disease could always enter Australia via wind, water, migratory birds, illegal smuggling or accidental cargo.
His audit found however that the procedures that could afford the State protection were in need of improvement.
“Since its establishment in 2007, Biosecurity Queensland’s capacity has been stretched in dealing with emergency responses to consecutive outbreaks,” the Auditor-General said.
“As a result deficiencies in corporate and governance systems have not been addressed in a timely manner.”
He found a number of important tasks had yet to be completed, including reviewing and updating legislation, developing a comprehensive operational strategy, setting up a risk management framework, establishing a communication plan and adopting a workforce plan.
“I consider it critical to the protection of Queensland’s primary industries and environment that all systems are in place to prevent, detect and respond to biosecurity threats with the aim of eradicating a pest or disease,” the Auditor-General said..
“Having mature systems in place will ultimately reduce the pressure on staff during emergency responses.”
Responding to the audit, the Acting Director-General of DPI&F said another independent review of the emergency response systems had found that while the current approach demonstrated the capability of the highly dedicated and experienced staff the Agency would be severely taxed if it had to cope with simultaneous major outbreaks or serious incidents.
“Biosecurity Queensland is currently developing a work program for the reform of its emergency response system, starting with the establishment of an emergency response unit, training of a number of first response teams and development of a basic IT system,” the response said.
28 August, 2008
New health plan is good medicine
A new preventive health program aimed at making Queenslanders the healthiest people in Australia has been launched by the Premier Anna Bligh and Health Minister Stephen Robertson.
Advancing Health Action – Making Queenslanders Australia’s Healthiest People was intended to address five key health challenges, including preventable disease, and represented a new phase of reform that would build on the early achievements of the Government’s Health Action Plan.
Ms Bligh said the other challenges to be addressed included expanding the State’s health services to treat record numbers of patients; giving mothers and babies the best start; improving mental health care; and reducing the gap for rural communities and for all indigenous Queenslanders.
Ms Bligh said it had been her long-held vision to break the barriers that held back Queenslanders’ health over generations, particularly poor lifestyles and habits.
“I want to see Queenslanders become Australia’s healthiest people by leading healthier lifestyles and receiving better health care,” she said.
“The benefits would be enormous – better run hospitals that aren’t overburdened by preventable disease, a more productive workforce and a better performing economy.
“But to get there, Governments, communities, individuals, business and industry all have a role to play.”
Ms Bligh also announced that towns and cities could compete against each other in a State-wide competition to be named ‘Queensland’s healthiest community.’
The winning communities would share in a total annual pool of $1 million towards “healthy” infrastructure such as swimming pool, a basketball court or a bike and walking path.
Two other awards would be handed to Queensland’s healthiest school and Queensland’s healthiest workplace, Ms Bligh said.
“Students and teachers can also strive for a total pool of $500,000 worth of prize money for Queensland’s Healthiest Schools award while employers can enter the $100,000 Queensland’s Healthiest Workplace award.”
Ms Bligh said the inaugural Healthiest Community Awards would be held soon with guidelines and assessment criteria due to be announced in late October. The first awards would be handed out next year.
28 August, 2008
Charity lifeline as PS dresses down
Public Servants on the Gold Coast have dressed down and stressed down to raise money for charity.
Biggera Waters Centrelink manager, Judith Swanton said staff were enthusiastic about the cause, and adopted unique ways to raise the much-needed $1000 for Lifeline’s 24-hour telephone counselling service.
“We chose to twist the campaign into a dress down and stress down day at Biggera Waters,” Ms Swanton said.
“Staff wore casual dress and brought along their favourite comfort food. There were lots of chocolate, warm drinks as well as ideas on how to people can make small changes to improve their lives. However, the most important thing for us was ensuring all our customers were well looked after.”
She said the choice for staff to get involved in the event was easy, as both Centrelink and Lifeline shared a common interest through helping people in need.
“Our staff are very community focused and it was a fun way for us to make a contribution to a good cause,” Ms Swanton said.
“Other Centrelink offices even created a relaxation room to de-stress in, and some staff wore their slippers into work.”
Lifeline Australia’s Claire Paddison thanked Centrelink staff for their campaign support.
“It’s brilliant that Centrelink have come on board for the first year of Stress Down 24/7,” Ms Paddison said.
“One of the biggest challenges we have at Lifeline is recruiting volunteer telephone counsellors. The money Centrelink has kindly donated will go some way to addressing this issue.”
Lifeline answers approximately 450,000 calls per year from people all over Australia needing support during difficult times.
28 August, 2008
Rural land advisors get down and dirty
Membership of a new committee to advise the Government on managing rural leasehold land and implementing the Delbessie Agreement has been announced by the Minister for Natural Resources and Water, Craig Wallace.
Mr Wallace said membership of the State Rural Leasehold Land Ministerial Advisory Committee had been approved by the Governor-in-Council and was a key step in implementing the historic agreement.
“This Committee will provide the Government with independent, expertise-based advice on the land condition assessment guidelines and other Delbessie implementation matters,” he said.
“Once the guidelines have been agreed to, on-ground assessment of rural leasehold land can take place and land management agreements can be prepared.”
Mr Wallace said the Delbessie Agreement was a new framework for securing the productive and environmental future of State rural leasehold land that came into effect on 1 January this year.
“The agreement is a key initiative of the Blueprint for the Bush,” he said.
“It’s all about the long-term sustainable management of Queensland’s rural lands and giving landholders the certainty they need over the future of their enterprises.”
Mr Wallace said he was delighted with the calibre of the committee members.
“The members have a wide range of expertise and experience in areas such as rural industry, natural resource management, agricultural science, public policy, native title, cultural heritage, and environmental science,” he said.
The committee comprises Kenneth Drysdale as Chair; Leith Boully, Malcolm Collinge, Anthony John Pressland, Laurel Johnson, Andrew Freeman, Des Boyland, Greg Coonan from NRW, Peter MacDonald from EPA, Malcolm Martin from DPI&F and Dr Martin Taylor, Nature Conservation advisor.
28 August, 2008
Pipe band blows in for 50th anniversary
Queensland’s police pipe band has celebrated 50 years of entertaining Queenslanders and representing the State’s police service, at a special anniversary dinner held at City Hall.
Police Minister Judy Spence and Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson congratulated the Queensland Police Pipes and Drums band on their golden anniversary.
“Our Police Pipes and Drums band is considered one of the most prestigious bands of its kind in the world,” Ms Spence said.
“We are fortunate to have this calibre of band entertaining communities around Queensland and representing our State across the globe.”
Ms Spence made note of Officer-in-Charge, Senior Sergeant Peter Flexman, who has been a leader within the band for more than 30 years, both as a drummer and now as Drum Major. He joined the police service in March 1977 and has been a dedicated member of the band since.
“Senior Sergeant Flexman and his fellow band members do excellent work building positive links between police and the community – breaking down barriers through music,” she said.
Commissioner Atkinson said the band was considered one of the most accomplished pipe bands in the world and that it had also proven itself to be one of the most powerful tools the Queensland Police Service used to connect with the community.
“It performs for around 350 Queensland audiences a year and does so to not only entertain and educate, but to also help raise valuable funds for worthwhile community causes and organisations,” Mr Atkinson said.
“The men and women of Queensland Police Pipes & Drums, both past and present, have achieved much, both at home and abroad,” he said.
28 August, 2008
Science Week awards are just the formula
Twenty-five of Queensland’s most outstanding and innovative contributors to science and science education were recognised during National Science Week which ran to 24 August
Education and Training Minister, Rod Welford congratulated the students, teachers, schools and organisations on their success in the $85,000 awards program, named after leading Queensland scientist and Nobel laureate Professor Peter Doherty.
“We’re pleased to be able to reward these high achievers and give them an incentive to further their science studies or strengthen their education programs,” Mr Welford said.
“This year’s nominations were of a very high standard and winners should be justifiably proud of their efforts.”
Mr Welford said 10 senior science students won $2,000 each, 10 science teachers won $5,000 each, two laboratory assistants (operations officers) won $3,000 each and three science education partners won $3,000 each.
“These students, teachers, schools and organisations demonstrated an outstanding contribution to, or achievement in, science and science education in Queensland,” he said.
Mr Welford said the Peter Doherty Awards for Excellence in Science and Science Education program was a key part of the State Government’s Science Education Strategy 2006-2009.
“As Queensland is the Smart State, it’s important to encourage more young Queenslanders to pursue careers in science as well as to improve the quality of science education,” he said.
Winners would be presented with their awards at a ceremony in Brisbane on 21 October.
Australian of the Year in 1997, Professor Doherty and his Swiss colleague Rolf Zinkernagel were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine in 1996 for discovering the nature of cellular immune defence.
28 August, 2008
Junk food ban for fat-free television
Public comment has been invited on a proposal to ban junk food advertising during children’s television viewing times.
Premier Anna Bligh and Health Minister Stephen Robertson released the discussion paper, the first initiative announced under the Advancing Health Action – Australia’s Healthiest People.
“My Government puts a premium on children’s health and wellbeing and has already demonstrated it isn’t afraid to make the tough decisions about our future,” Ms Bligh said.
“But Queensland is now facing a problem of epidemic proportions that will have devastating consequences if left unchecked.”
Ms Bligh said one in five children aged between five and 17 were overweight or obese and this rate was growing.
“Overweight children are 78 per cent more likely to become overweight adults, leading to the well-supported prediction that this generation of kids will be the first to die younger than their parents.”
She said the State Government had already introduced a number of successful measures to curb the problem.
“We’ve cleaned up school canteen menus, entrenched weekly physical activity in State school curricula and public campaigns encouraging healthier eating and more exercise have really hit home,” Ms Bligh said.
“But it’s not enough and we can no longer ignore the influence TV can wield over our children’s food choices.”
As a parent herself, Ms Bligh said she knew all too well the “pester power” junk food ads could cause.
“Quite frankly, junk food advertising is an issue that’s been long overdue for widespread discussion in our community,” she said.
“I want to see parents, academics, non-Government organisations, industry even children all talking about it and sharing their views with Government.”
Mr Robertson said on average Queensland children who watched television did so for more than two hours a day - exposing them at least 60 ads a week promoting foods that are high in energy and low in nutrients.
“Three out of every four food ads on children’s TV now promote junk foods or drinks – it’s increased from two out of three food ads in two years,” Mr Robertson said.
People can view the discussion paper at www.qld.gov.au or www.health.qld.gov.au or by emailing a request to tvfoodads@health.qld.gov.au
Feedback should be submitted by 31 October, 2008.
28 August, 2008
Election crackdown to sink vote people
Tighter reporting requirements for political donations and stricter controls on election funding have been announced as part of the Government’s move towards greater accountability and transparency in the electoral process.
Premier Anna Bligh said the amendments to the Queensland Electoral Act 1992 would give Queensland the strongest reporting requirements in the country.
She said breaches of the requirements could result in heavy fines or prison terms.
“These reforms, following on from FOI changes last week, help deliver on my desire for greater accountability and transparency in the political process,” Ms Bligh said.
She said Queensland would adopt the key measures proposed by the Commonwealth Government but would go even further.
“They are still working on their legislation,” she said, “but there is no need for us to wait for them.”
Ms Bligh said the amendments would include:
- Cutting the threshold for reporting of donations from $1500 to $1000
- Reducing disclosure timeframes for donations from 12 months to six months which would mean twice-yearly reporting
- Requiring disclosure returns to be made to the Electoral Commission within eight weeks instead of the existing 20 weeks
- Banning donations from overseas or non-Australian companies
“Any donation totalling $100,000 or more from any single donor must be reported to the Electoral Commission of Queensland within 14 days of making the donation,” she said.
“These returns are in addition to the twice yearly reporting returns and must be made each time subsequent donations amounting to $100,000 or more are made by that donor in the reporting period.”
28 August, 2008
High expectations for treetop walking track
A spectacular new walkway in the canopy of the Mamu Rainforest in the Wooroonooran National Park has been officially opened for tourism by the Premier, Anna Bligh.
Developed by the Environmental Protection Agency, working closely with the Mamu people, the walkway has been designed in a culturally and environmentally sensitive way, and to provide long-term employment opportunities.
The tree-top walkway, which is near Innisfail, is the largest project ever undertaken in a Queensland National Park and features 2.2km of forest walking track that links a 40m-high, 340m-long elevated walkway through the canopy with a 37m high observation tower.
The route uses the natural clearings created by Cyclone Larry, with cyclone debris mulched for use around the site.
Ms Bligh said it was an exciting chapter for tourism in North Queensland and for the Mamu People.
“People from all over the world now will get the chance to learn more about the Mamu, their country and culture,” Ms Bligh said.
“This is a world class educational and interpretive facility. It’s also a tremendous shot in the arm for the tourism industry in north Queensland and a stunning way to celebrate 100 years of national parks in this State.”
Twelve hectares next to the walkway have been set aside for the Mamu people to potentially develop a business venture such as a shop, restaurant and accommodation. For each entry fee paid by visitors, the Mamu people would receive $1, estimated to be about $150,000 a year.
Durable, environmentally-sustainable materials were used – from walkway decking, wall cladding and seats made from recycled plastic through to open unpainted galvanised steel. Solar panels have been installed to supplement mains energy supply.
The walkway is also accessible to all, thanks to suggestions from the Innisfail-based Disability Focus Group that were incorporated into the design.
It will be open every day except Christmas Day or in extreme weather and opening hours will be 9.30am to 5.30pm with last entry at 4.30pm.
To enjoy all sections of the walk and the interpretive display, visitors would need at least one and a half to two hours, and were also encouraged to bring a picnic and enjoy the grounds.
28 August, 2008
Gold Coast tram plan making tracks
A light rail network has been proposed as the solution to keep the Gold Coast moving into the future.
Transport Minister John Mickel said a preliminary business case found that a network would offer greater capacity, reliability, and a longer lifespan than buses and could be delivered in stages, with Griffith University to Broadbeach the top priority.
“This is truly an international solution for an international city that enhances the Gold Coast’s reputation as a tourism and lifestyle destination,” Mr Mickel said.
“The project has moved a step closer to construction and delivering a public transport solution that the Gold Coast deserves.”
Mr Mickel said for the project to move forward it needed to pass several more tests.
“First and foremost we are looking to the Gold Coast City Council delivering on its strong support to date,” he said.
“Our partners, the City Councillors, have already had the opportunity to view the preliminary business case and this enables Council to make an informed decision on the project.”
Mr Mickel said the next test for the feasibility of the project to move it from concept to reality was to embark on “market sounding” which would start in October.
“What this means is we will start discussions with private sector construction companies to determine their willingness to partner with the State Government and Gold Coast City Council on the project,” he said.
“Up until now, the private sector could not realistically begin planning their bids but with the certainty of the business case these companies can now get to work.”
He said further work was also needed on a corridor planning study, with construction estimated to commence in 2010. This process involves releasing the planning study to the community in October, with the community able to have their say in October and November. He said their valuable input would help refine the design.
Mr Mickel said once the State Government had this information it could make a decision in the first half of 2009.
“Doing nothing is simply not an option,” he said.
“Traffic on the city’s main roads is estimated to be increasing by an average of 4.3 per cent each year. Currently only 4 per cent, or 65,000 trips, are made by the Coast community on public transport, and with rapid transit it is projected to grow to 10 per cent by 2026.”
He said by making public transport faster, more efficient and more reliable, this project was estimated to take up to 40,000 car trips off the roads, having a significant effect on future congestion and avoiding gridlock.
He said the Gold Coast Rapid Transit project goes hand in hand with the State Government’s Ten Year Network Plan for the Gold Coast.
28 August, 2008
Children in art is not kids’ stuff
The Australia Council for the Arts has launched an enquiry into the depiction of children in art and has called for public input.
The Council was developing a set of protocols to address how children were depicted in artworks, exhibitions and publications that received Government funding.
It has invited the public to comment on the issue by making a submission.
The Council said all submissions were welcome, however perspectives on four critical issues would be of particular interest.
It encouraged submissions addressing the issues of ensuring the rights of children were protected; ensuring everyone viewing the artwork had an appropriate understanding of the artistic content; protecting images of children from being exploited; and creating protocols to acknowledge its statutory role in promoting the right of people to freedom in the practice of the arts.
The Council said submissions and comments were welcome before 19 September 2008.
The protocols draft was being developed in consultation with the Minister for the Arts, Peter Garrett, and other key stakeholders.
The Council said adherence to the protocols, which would be in place by 1 January 2009, would be a condition of receiving Australia Council funding.
To make a submission or for further information visit www.australiacouncil.gov.au or email comms@australiacouncil.gov.au
28 August, 2008
Big Sound expo hits right note
Trade Queensland has thrown its weight behind the BIG SOUND 2008 Music Industry Summit and Showcase in a bid to promote contemporary music as an export industry.
Minister for Trade, John Mickel said that Trade Queensland’s support of BIG SOUND would be a major catalyst to further advance contemporary music as a Queensland Smart State export industry, and to firmly establish BIG SOUND as the premier music industry summit and showcase event in the Southern Hemisphere.
“The Queensland Government wants BIG SOUND to be a ‘must attend’ event on the world music calendar. The event supports our goal of promoting Queensland music exports, and it also puts Queensland top of mind for tourism, investment and business,” Mr Mickel said.
“We want to build Queensland’s annual world-class music industry event to complement and equal established annual events like Los Angeles’ Musexpo, or the Great Escape Festival in Brighton UK.”
He said Trade Queensland’s commitment to support Brisbane’s annual BIG SOUND event in 2008 would help to fast-track export opportunities and capitalise on the State’s growing international reputation as a source of new music talent.
“Queensland’s capital Brisbane, is becoming recognised overseas as one of the world’s top cities for new, world-class music talent and music industry expertise, and there is a wealth of music industry talent across Queensland,” Mr Mickel said.
“BIG SOUND is about ‘connecting the connectors’ in the music industry, by not only launching new artists, but also by linking them with relevant new and innovative business people and ideas to help them build international careers.”
He said Trade Queensland’s sponsorship for the event in 2008 would go toward attracting overseas industry tastemakers and representatives of high profile international agencies and outlets.
He said BIG SOUND was already one of the fastest growing, internationally focused music business events in the Asia Pacific region with the event including three days of panels and workshops as well as performance opportunities and showcases for local, national and international music industry representatives.
The 2008 event would be held in various entertainment venues in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley from 10-12 September and would complement Valley Fiesta – a three-day free music event running from 12-14 September.
28 August, 2008
Roads workers walk out
The Queensland Public Sector Union has reported that its members in the Department of Main Roads walked out on strike for the first time in 20 years last week.
The QPSU said they acted in response to its campaign for a fairer public service wage increase.
The union said the 24-hour stoppage affected about 1,000 infrastructure workers in all areas of the Department across the State.
Union members have rejected a pay offer of 3.25% saying it represented a wage cut in light of inflation rates exceeding 5%.
New licensing officers
Ten new Liquor Licensing Officers are to be appointed in metropolitan and regional areas to ensure compliance with changes to the Liquor Act.
The new officers would be assigned the Gold Coast, Brisbane,Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Hervey Bay, Toowoomba and Mackay and would play a role in minimising the harm caused by the misuse of alcohol.
The $1.1 million cost of the new positions would be funded by revenue generated from the introduction of annual fees for licensed premises.
Schools in line for upgrade
Older schools and classrooms across Queensland are set to receive a major makeover in the next phase of the Government’s $850 million State Schools of Tomorrow initiative.
The Department of Education, Training and the Arts plans to conduct an audit of school facilities to determine which were in greatest need of modernisation and renewal.
Games bid alive
The State Government plans to bid for the Gold Coast to host the Commonwealth Games in 2018.
Formal contact has been made with the Australian Commonwealth Games Association to advance the plan with the Association indicating it would decide whether Australia would bid in the next few months.
Australian Olympic Committee chief John Coates has indicated Queensland would be the next cab off the rank when it came to Australia bidding for the Olympics.
Agreement signed with China
Premier Anna Bligh and the Chairman, of the Standing Committee of China’s Guangdong People’s Congress, Ou Guangyuan, have signed a Friendship State Agreement to help to build stronger partnerships and assist in opening doors for Queensland exporters in China’s fastest-growing regional economy.
Queensland and Guangdong have enjoyed a close and productive relationship since an Economic Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Governor of Guangdong Province in 2004.
Miles school wins water award
Around 550 schools from throughout the State have participated in the Waterwise Awards as part of Keep Australia Beautiful’s annual Green and Healthy Schools competition.
The eventual winner was Miles State School which planted drought tolerant plants in the school grounds, with the water to irrigate the grounds supplied through eight, 40,000 litres tanks.
This same water is also used for local agricultural projects in the community.
Safety contract awarded
The State Government’s Safety in Mines Testing and Research Station, known as SIMTARS, had been awarded a $350,000 contract to provide software to a leading United States mine safety institute.
The Station’s gas monitoring system, long considered one of the best in the world, is used extensively in underground coal mines in Queensland and in New South Wales.
Mining out at Whitsundays
The Whitsunday region has been placed off limits for shale oil mining with the Queensland Government placing a 20-year moratorium on all mining activities, bulk sampling and exploration over the area’s McFarlane deposit.
This stops immediate plans to dig up approximately 400,000 tonnes of rock for resource testing from the world-famous landscape.
TAS PS back to work
Public Service unions in Tasmania have called off further industrial action and have returned to talks with the State Government over a bid for interstate pay equality for the State’s Public Servants.
They met with officials last week to discuss the possibility of a pay rise of 20 to 29 per cent over three and a half years.
Indigenous pass half million
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has estimated Australia’s Indigenous population reached 517,000, or 2.5 per cent of Australia’s total population, as at 30 June 2006.
Of the 517,000 people identified, 90 per cent identified as being of Aboriginal origin, 6 per cent as Torres Strait Islander and 4 per cent as a mixture of both.
The bureau found New South Wales (152,700) and Queensland (144,900) housed the largest Indigenous populations while 32 per cent lived in major cities and 15 per cent lived in very remote areas.
Road toll trend stalls
After a 30 year decline in the number of deaths on Australia’s roads, the Federal Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese has released statistics showing the trend has stopped.
Mr Albanese said the figures showed Australia would struggle to meet the 40 per cent reduction in the road death rate from 2000 to 2010 which was agreed upon by all governments.
He said the goal of no more that 5.6 deaths per 100,000 Australians was unlikely to be achieved as the rate for 2007 was 7.7.
More information on Road Deaths Australia 2007 Statistical Summary was available from www.infrastructure.gov.au
English teachers wanted
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship is seeking submissions to help in its bid to increase the number of English language tests currently accepted as evidence of English proficiency.
The Department is accepting submissions from test owners on their ability to provide English Language testing for Australian visa applications.
Submissions close on 31 December, with more information available from www.immi.gov.au
21 August, 2008
Information overboard as freedom fight won
The State Government has released its response to David Solomon’s report into Freedom of Information laws and is to support 139 of its 141 recommendations.
Premier, Anna Bligh said the Government accepted 116 of the recommendations in full, partially supported another 23 but rejected two.
She said the Government’s response would form the basis of new “Right to Information” legislation.
“Existing laws will be completely revamped,” Ms Bligh said.
“In many cases we have fully implemented Dr Solomon’s recommendations and gone even further – particularly in relation to Cabinet documents.”
She said the new laws would break down bureaucratic barriers and make Queensland the most open and accountable Government in Australia.
Ms Bligh said among the many reforms to be made, the waiting time for releasing Cabinet documents would be cut from 30 years to 20 years and for some information, the time limit would be 10 years.
“Access to specific information will be available on application in line with the public interest test. This will include incoming Ministerial briefs.”
Ms Bligh said she would ensure that Cabinet information was released proactively on a regular basis.
Another change would see the lifting of FOI exemptions from Government Owned Enterprises and Corporations and Local Government Owned Corporations.
“Government Owned Corporations are an arm of government and given Ministers are ultimately accountable for their activities we agree they should not be completely exempt from FOI,” the Premier said.
“We will still retain limited exemptions in relation to those GOCs engaged in commercially competitive activities.
“I think the option we have come up with strikes a good balance.
Ms Bligh said other changes would see Departments and Agencies supplying documents in 25 days instead of the current 45 unless the applicant allowed an extension; application fees would be refunded if a deadline was not met; a separate Privacy Bill would be created to deal with access to personal information; and a Privacy Commissioner would be appointed.
Ms Bligh said a new fee structure would also be introduced to keep charges down.
She said the two recommendations that were not supported were the imposition of new fees by the Information Commissioner and the repeal of certain secrecy provisions.
“Parts of the Act that were suggested be repealed protect items such as the confidentiality of the witness protection program, adoption information, child protection notifications and personal tax information,” Ms Bligh said.
“We believe there is a compelling public interest in protecting this information from public disclosure in all circumstances.”
She said draft Right to Information and Privacy Bills would be released for public consultation by December of this year and the new rules would be up and running by mid 2009.
“This is massive reform that will require significant administrative and cultural change,” Ms Bligh said.
“It will require investment of time and resources but the benefit will a more open and accountable system of government in our State.”
21 August, 2008
Website adds value to QPSU pay claim
The Queensland Public Sector Union has launched a new website as part of its mounting industrial campaign for salary increases across the QPS.
The union said on its existing website that a key component of the campaign would be to attract signed-up ‘contacts’ to spread the word about the importance of the pay claim and that 1500 people had already made that commitment.
“Please check it out at www.qpsu.org.au/wages and let us know what you think,” the union said.
“This website is only one part of what we will need to do to get the Government to listen.”
The union has rejected a 3.25% pay rise which it said would not keep pace with inflation.
“Last week the Reserve Bank of Australia released a new statement on inflation. It’s continuing to grow, faster than was predicted,” the union said.
“Queensland is leading the nation in price increases.”
It said food prices had increased 3.9% over the 12 months to June 2008, housing prices had gone up 8.0% and petrol prices18.4%.
“The very same day that the Reserve Bank made its announcement, we finally received a letter from Premier Anna Bligh, still saying, in the face of all the evidence, that a 3.25% wage increase ‘will match estimated average inflation’.
“It’s time for the Government to pull its head out of the sand and acknowledge that 3.25% is a real wages cut that will hurt QPSU members and their families.”
The union said the new website would help the Government “catch up with the times.”
It said it needed more contacts to register on the website.
“It urged its members to “sign up as a wages campaign contact so we can get a fair wage increase for all Queensland public sector workers.”
21 August, 2008
Health restructure what doctor ordered
A major restructure of Queensland health services has been announced that would cut management positions and inject a new emphasis on frontline services.
Minister for Health, Stephen Robertson, and new Director-General, Mick Reid, said the revised arrangements would sharpen Queensland Health’s focus on patient care.
Included in the reforms would be the removal of an entire level of bureaucracy by abolishing the three Health Areas and reducing the number of Health Districts by a quarter from 20 to 15, and establishing direct reporting lines from Health District heads to the DG.
Mr Robertson and Mr Reid said the changes would lead to the loss of around 50 management and communications positions and would save $5 million a year. They said the savings would be used to cut waiting lists for children’s elective surgery.
Mr Robertson said he wanted to ensure District CEOs were focused on providing doctors, nurses and allied health professionals with the resources and support they needed. “That’s why the Director-General is making structural reforms to remove a layer of bureaucracy and build on the efficiencies already achieved,” he said.
“And that’s why he is ensuring District CEOs report directly to him.”
Mr Robertson said Queensland Health established the Health areas in the first place to strengthen local decision making.
“However, in practice we discovered that this got in the way of decision makers and the local communities they serve,” he said.
“That’s why the restructure will remove this level of bureaucracy and move decision making closer to frontline health services.”
Mr Reid said the Health Service Districts would be strengthened by reducing their number.
“This will allow larger and better resourced Districts to deliver local health services and important hospital building and rebuilding programs,” he said.
“We will also do this by devolving decision-making, encouraging closer relationships between District managers and clinicians and strengthening the performance and accountability requirements on District CEOs.”
Mr Reid said the restructure would require some Area Health Service functions to transfer back into Head Office where a cap on staff numbers was in place.
“To ensure a tight control on numbers, I will be signing off on all new Head Office positions,” he said.
Mr Reid said to maximise the benefits of the reforms, the current role of Senior Director in the Office of the Director-General would become a Senior Communications role providing timely advice to the media and the public with the focus on greater openness and transparency.
He said the 50 jobs that had to go would not be forced and the welfare of staff was of “primary importance”.
Mr Robertson thanked the Area Managers for their hard work, particularly in driving improvements to Area and District plans that would focus Queensland Health on the challenges that lay ahead.
“It will now be up to the strengthened Districts to deliver on those Health Service Plans,” he said.
21 August, 2008
Tourism award is just the ticket
Tourism Queensland has been voted the best State tourism body in Australia by North American travel agents at a training convention in Los Angeles.
Minister for Tourism, Desley Boyle, said Tourism Queensland (TQ) won the Opal Award for Excellence from the travel agents who specialised in Australian travel.
“I’m thrilled Tourism Queensland has edged out perennial winners Tourism Tasmania to take out this coveted award for the first time,” Ms Boyle said.
“This award is voted for by around 200 North American travel agents who specialise in selling Australia, so it’s particularly gratifying for our Tourism Queensland staff in the US.”
She said she Aussie Specialist agents were highly influential when it came to advising their clients on where to travel in Australia.
“Tourism Queensland has worked hard to put Queensland front of mind with travel agents,” Ms Boyle said.
She said one of Tourism Queensland’s newest initiatives had been the appointment of a Queensland Advisory Board made up of six Premier Aussie Specialist agents.
Ms Boyle said the Board offered insights into market trends from an agent’s perspective and ensured Tourism Queensland’s travel agent tactics were on track.
“Their market intelligence suggests the travel agent community is still busy despite rising oil prices and economic concerns in the US,” she said.
“The Board has also emphasised the need for Queensland operators to maintain personal contact with their Aussie Specialist agents in the US to ensure they remain top of mind.”
Ms Boyle said the Board’s insights would help strengthen TQ’s position as an attractive destination for Americans, who already accounted for around eight per cent of international visitors to Queensland.
“Tourism Queensland’s efforts have been recognised with this Opal Award ahead of other State and Territory programs in the US, and it should pay dividends for our industry here on the ground,” she said.
21 August, 2008
Justice overhaul gets fair trial
Major reforms to the Queensland legal system have been announced which would see criminal trials by a Judge alone and majority verdicts from juries.
Premier Anna Bligh and Attorney-General, Kerry Shine announced the proposed changes saying they would help create a more robust and equitable justice system.
Ms Bligh said one of the cornerstones of Australia’s legal system was that everyone brought before a Court should be able to receive a fair trial.
“If at all possible, this should be a trial by a jury of one’s peers,” she said.
However, she said in a small number of cases it would be useful to have the matter heard by a Judge alone.
“There may be cases that are of such complexity or such notoriety that a Judge may be better placed to hear the matter,” she said.
Mr Shine said a number of other States had ‘Judge only’ trials and that creating the same in Queensland was in line with national and international practice.
“Ensuring that we have mechanisms at hand to respond to a range of situations for both prosecution and defence is important,” he said.
Mr Shine said the system the Government was considering was similar to Western Australia’s, where a ‘Judge only’ trial could only take place following an application from the prosecution or defence, which would be determined by a Judge on the case’s merits.
“In trials where the prosecution applies for a ‘Judge only’ trial, it will only proceed if the accused consents,” he said.
Ms Bligh and Mr Shine said legislation would also be amended to allow majority verdicts in some jury trials.
“The introduction of majority jury verdicts brings Queensland into line with the majority of other Australian jurisdictions and may also help reduce the number of hung juries in Queensland,” Ms Bligh said.
“It would only be considered if a jury cannot reach a unanimous decision after a long deliberation - where one juror dissents after a deliberation of more than eight hours.”
She said the verdict could be accepted by the Court provided only one juror disagreed with the rest.
“In the case of trials for the most serious criminal offences - which carry a mandatory life sentence - unanimous verdicts would be retained,” Ms Bligh said.
Mr Shine said the amendments to the Jury Act 2005 and the Criminal Code would be introduced into State Parliament this month.
21 August, 2008
Solar scheme is hot stuff
The Government’s solar bonus scheme had attracted hundreds of Queensland households to sign up, a response Premier Anna Bligh described as “outstanding.”
The Premier congratulated Queenslanders on their support for the scheme which was proving popular in its first couple of months.
The scheme, which was launched on 1 July, paid households and businesses 44 cents per kilowatt-hour for surplus electricity generated by their roof top PV systems and fed into the electricity grid.
Ms Bligh said more than 80 households from Cairns to Coolangatta had signed up and more than 300 households and businesses had sent in applications.
“It’s clear from those early figures that more and more Queenslanders are keen to do their bit for the environment,” Ms Bligh said.
Minster for Mines and Energy, Geoff Wilson “said households that conserved energy would reap even greater rewards.
Mr Wilson said some of the ways of maximising the benefits from the scheme included:
- Minimising standby power use;
- Reducing the use of heating and cooling appliances;
- Making the most of natural and energy-efficient lighting;
- Switching off second fridges or freezers if possible; and
- Switching pool or spa pumps and filters to off-peak tariffs.
He said the first residential solar system had been installed on a home on Magnetic Island and more would follow and Ms Bligh said other parts of Queensland had also seen the light.
“Windorah, in remote south west Queensland will be the first town in Queensland to use solar power for all of its daytime electricity needs,” she said.
“This could revolutionise the way power is produced for remote communities that are not on the national electricity grid.”
More information on the solar bonus scheme could be obtained by calling (07) 3237 1508 during business hours or email solarbonusscheme@dme.qld.gov.au
21 August, 2008
WorkCover safely housed in Cairns
The Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, John Mickel has officially opened the new WorkCover Queensland office in Spence Street, Cairns.
Mr Mickel said the new office was designed to help WorkCover address the changing needs of the region and to boost customer services.
He said rapid growth in the area in recent years had presented challenges that the new office would help overcome.
“WorkCover’s Cairns office manages over 10,000 policies for employers across northern Queensland from Cardwell to the Torres Strait,” Mr Mickel said.
He said the office would assist injured workers and employers in the region receive faster decision making on their claims and that the effective use of health professionals would lead to earlier rehabilitation which would get injured staff them back to work quicker.
“Effective rehabilitation and a quicker return to work reduces costs to the State workers’ compensation scheme,” Mr Mickel said, “which is good for workers and good for employers.”
He said about 1500 workers’ compensation claims were lodged through the Cairns office each year.
“This new ground floor location, with free parking and conference facilities, will ensure improved access for customers to WorkCover services.
“WorkCover staff achieve significant results for injured workers and employers in the region.”
He said customer advisers provided employers with a single local point of contact for both premiums and claims and a positive relationship with employers helped WorkCover tailor its customer services to suit their needs.
Mr Mickel said WorkCover had also streamlined its claim determination process to speed up the time it takes to make decisions.
“This is critical when a claim is received and determined.”
21 August, 2008
Tax Commissioner puts money where mouth is
The Australian Taxation Office has published its compliance work plan for 2008-09 and is to give priority to helping Government organisations deal with complex transactions.
Included on a long list of tax targets including a general focus of cracking down on tax havens, dodgy tax schemes, big business and the cash economy, Taxation Commissioner Michael D’Ascenzo said the ATO would make it its business to help Government Agencies when they restructured or became involved in difficult tax issues and it would review its public ruling on grants of financial assistance.
Mr D’Ascenzo said the ATO would place practical advice and information to Government organisations on its website and follow up complaints from employees and contractors who had not received the correct super guarantee contributions or had not been offered a choice of super fund
“In 2008-09 we are working with Government grant providers and representatives of recipients to review our GST public ruling on grants of financial assistance with a view to providing further clarification,” Mr D’Ascenzo said.
“(We would) continue to review the GST treatment of property transactions involving Government organisations, communicating the correct position through discussions with Agencies and with audits where there is potential non-compliance.”
He said in 2007-08, the ATO conducted 295 visits with Government employers to encourage their early lodgment of end-of-year employer obligations reports.
He said his Office actioned 46 cases relating to employee complaints on super guarantee obligations and raised $1.9m in super guarantee liabilities.
“Our compliance program is an important part of our ‘prevention is better than cure’ approach to tax administration,” Mr D’Ascenzo said.
“By publishing our compliance program, we are letting the community know where we will focus our attention and the action we will take.”
He said additional funding received from Federal Government this year would allow the ATO to expand its coverage of income tax compliance issues across the board.
He said the Office was encouraging people who may have done the wrong thing to come forward before being contacted and to take advantage of reduced penalties for coming clean.
Mr D’Ascenzo said the greater use of data matching techniques would help the ATO identify and target people who may have under-reported income or over-claimed expenses.
He said Tax Office staff would carry out more than 5,000 cash economy audits or reviews.
He said he full range of compliance measures, were available on the ATO website at www.ato.gov.au
21 August, 2008
Main Roads plugs wastewater map
An addition to the Main Roads website that directs caravanners to wastewater ‘dump sites’ has been unveiled as part of the Department’s interactive map of Queensland.
Main Roads Minister, Warren Pitt, said the website addition would make it easier for recreational vehicle users to find a place to stop and unload their wastewater.
“With growing numbers of people enjoying travelling in motor homes and caravans, providing an easy and environmentally safe way to dispose of wastewater is more important than ever,” Mr Pitt said.
“Main Roads has made finding these dump points easier by including their locations on an online interactive map of Queensland, which also includes locations of rest areas, driver reviver sites and scenic stops throughout the state.”
He said by visiting the Main Roads website, motorists with navigational devices would be able to download the files for use with their GPS equipment.
He said Main Roads funding would help provide more dump points across Queensland over the next two years and that funding to the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia would provide for at least 22 new dump points around the State.
Under the dump point scheme, the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia provided Local Councils with specially designed polyethylene dump units that were placed in easy-to-access locations, including parks, rest areas and camping areas.
Mr Pitt said the units were free for all travellers to access so people did not dispose of their waste illegally, and were connected to town sewage systems.
He said recreational vehicle users could visit www.mainroads.qld.gov.au for the interactive map and a list of current dump sites was also available from www.cmca.net.au
21 August, 2008
Sport staff have winning ways
Thirteen staff members of the Department of Sport and Recreation and the Queensland Academy of Sport have been recognised with awards for outstanding service.
Sport Minister Judy Spence presented the awards to staff from across Queensland including Toowoomba, Townsville and Brisbane.
Ms Spence said that since she had become Sport Minister, she had been “greatly impressed” by the hard work and dedication of the Department’s officers
“These awards recognise the commitment of our staff to providing Queenslanders with a range of opportunities to get out and get active,” Ms Spence said, “from grass roots athletes through to the elite.”
She said some employees were also recognised for their ongoing commitment and dedication to the Department and the Academy, and to serving the people of Queensland.
“The high level of work being conducted by individuals and teams is simply outstanding and I thank all the staff for helping Queensland to set new benchmarks in the sporting arena.”
Ms Spence said the kind of work demonstrated by the award recipients would ensure that Queensland athletes continued to excel and built on their excellent results at the Beijing Olympics.
Staff members who received awards from the Minister were:
- Doug Pitt from Townsville who started the Palm Island Rugby League competition in consultation with the local community.
- Jo Merrell from Toowoomba who coordinated sport and recreation activities and arranged equipment for the hundreds of horse riders and their families isolated at Morgan Park during the Equine Influenza outbreak last year.
- Sharon Hodges for supporting the annual Indy 300 event.
- Lisa Watson for dedication and initiative.
- Mara Johnston for her continued high level of support and knowledge.
- Janene Dixon for her support, knowledge and development.
- Kate Mullens for delivering a training and information program for the Performance and Pleasure Horse Industry during the Equine Influenza outbreak.
- Colin Smith for his facility management skills and personalised service to tenants at Sports Houses.
- Damon Meadows, Tony Williams, Jo Merrell and Ben Lorraway of the South West Regional Office for the support they gave the Ministerial Regional Community Forum in Charleville in June.
- Alison O’Malley and Craig Tichon for benchmarking a solid framework to guide upcoming major sponsorships in the sport and recreation industry.
- Simon Stephens and his team in the South East Regional Office for their assistance to sport and recreation clubs during the Shawsportz venues difficulties.
- Lisa Sarago, Brian Kerle and Duncan Hall of the Indigenous Sport Unit for delivering the highly popular Sports Locker Room forums across Queensland, free of charge.
- Tim Condon and his team in Recreation Centre Development for successfully refocussing the Active Recreation Centres.
21 August, 2008
Nameless hill to be given name
The residents of Goomeri have been invited to comment on plans to officially name Policemans Hill which does not appear on the register of Queensland place names.
Minister for Natural Resources, Craig Wallace, said although Policemans Hill had been known by that name for 70 years, the former Kilkivan Shire Council had approached his Department to have it included on the register.
“The Hill is located in the township of Goomeri and signposted near the Goomeri Police Station and again at the eastern end of Hodge Street,” Mr Wallace said.
He said the Hill was a focal point of the Goomeri Pumpkin Festival, which had been held on the last Sunday of May every year.
“The festival attracts around 12,000 people who converge on the town to celebrate all things pumpkin,” Mr Wallace said.
He said his Department was accepting individual submissions regarding the place names proposal and they could be lodged until 17 October with the Regional Services Director, South East Region, Nambour Office, Department of Natural Resources and Water, PO Box 573, Nambour Q 4560.
He said the place names plan QPN1070, which showed the proposal, could be viewed at the Department’s street address – 27 O’Connell Street, Gympie, the Gympie Regional Council, Kilkivan Branch Office, the Kilkivan and District Hisotrical Society, the Goomeri Library and the Goomeri Post Office.
He said his Department was the administrator of the Place Names Act 1994, which controlled the official naming of localities, suburbs and geographical features within Local Government areas.
21 August, 2008
Consumer package is something out of box
A package of reforms to consumer law that included acting on contracts that unfairly penalised consumers has been agreed on by Australia's Consumer Affairs Ministers, meeting as the Ministerial Council on Consumer Affairs.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Kerry Shine, said the reform package would create a single law to regulate the national marketplace and enhance consumer protection.
Mr Shine said the meeting found there was a need to review implied warranty laws including the provision of ‘lemon laws’.
“Lemon laws protect consumers from defective new motor vehicles and would complement consumer protection currently offered to Queenslanders,” he said.
“For some time Queensland has sought a consistent national consumer protection law and supports the inclusion of unfair contract term provisions.”
He said protection for consumers against unfair contract terms was a key focus at the meeting.
“At present, if a person is faced with a contract that unfairly disadvantages the consumer, their only option is to walk away from the transaction,” he said.
“If they do sign, the consumer may be caught by terms that, for example, put unfair obligations on them or restrict their rights.”
Mr Shine said it was important for individuals and regulators to be able to take action when they believed contract terms were unfair but that the protections offered must balance business and consumer needs.
He said Victoria was the only Australian jurisdiction currently with the provisions but that similar protections existed in the United Kingdom.
“State and Commonwealth agencies will work together to develop a harmonised national arrangement for Australia's consumer policy framework,” Mr Shine said.
“I am determined to ensure that this new national scheme will not in any way diminish the protections Queensland consumers already have.”
Mr Shine said the reforms would build on the consumer protection regime already in place in Queensland and would create a more integrated system of regulations throughout Australia.
He said the majority of consumer transactions were regulated by different Ats in each State, which had led to different rules and “unnecessary costs” for businesses and consumers.
He said the package would be put to the October meeting of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) for endorsement.
21 August, 2008
Free advice is money maker
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has recommended to wage earners that they put their tax returns to work
The Commission said that while many people would use their tax return to buy a new pair of shoes or the latest DVD box set, they should also consider using it for both a bit of fun and to improve their financial position.
“If you receive a tax refund, you might decide to use a small part of your refund to splurge on something for yourself,” said ASIC’s Acting Executive Director of Consumer Protection, Delia Rickard, “but also consider letting your money work for you and use the bulk of it to put yourself in a better financial position.”
“By doing this, you can really boost your financial position, especially if your weekly budget is tight for other reasons, such as higher fuel costs.”
Ms Rickard said one of the best ways to make your money work for you was to pay off some or all of your credit card debt.
“And if you are able to pay off your credit card in full, consider using a card that debits your savings account instead, so you spend your own money and you’re not paying to use someone else’s,” she said.
Ms Rickard said another good option was to put your tax refund straight into your super fund as contributing more than the usual nine per cent (the Superannuation Guarantee) could really boost your savings.
“The key to growing your super is to start early so you can harness the power of compound interest. Money invested today has longer to earn interest compared to money invested just before you retire.”
While Christmas and the summer holidays were still months away, Ms Rickard said planning ahead could help many families get through those expensive times. She offered three ways to use a tax refund to help out come Christmas time:
- Start a high-interest savings account – “Kick-start your Christmas saving by putting your tax refund into a special account and watch your money grow. You’ll feel a real sense of satisfaction.”
- Shop and hold – “Use the money from your tax refund to buy gifts now. You may be able to take advantage of sales or discounts that may not exist leading up to Christmas.”
- Use lay-by – “If you have a small tax refund, use it to make a purchase by lay-by so that you’ll have your gift paid off before Christmas, rather than having a New Year’s hangover in the form of a large credit card debt.”
21 August, 2008
Working in aged care is seniors’ moment
A project to encourage Cape York Indigenous people to join the aged care workforce has been unveiled by the Commonwealth Minister for Employment Participation, Brendan O’Connor.
Mr O’Connor launched the Blue Care Cape York Employment Facilitation Project, providing $100,000 to Blue Care appoint a regional Indigenous employment coordinator in Cairns to work with local communities in Cape York.
He said the strategy would have a particular focus on providing training opportunities for people who wanted to work in the aged care and associated health sectors.
“There will be opportunities in aged care, disability work, community development, horticulture, carpentry, business management, asset management, hospitality and allied health,” Mr O’Connor said.
“Aged care and associated services are growing, and the Australian Government wants Indigenous Australians to share in the employment opportunities that will flow from that."
Federal MP for Leichhardt, Jim Turnour said the Employment Facilitation Project would help in raising employment levels in Cape York, and communities would benefit from the lasting effects of the strategy.
Mr Turnour said Blue Care was the largest provider of aged care services nationally and had more than 9,500 staff in Queensland and northern New South Wales.
He said the organisation became a signatory to the Government’s Corporate Leaders for Indigenous Employment Project in 2006 and was nationally recognised as a leader in the employment of Indigenous staff in the aged care industry.
He said Blue care had increased its Indigenous staff numbers in Queensland from eight to 100 in just seven months last year.
Mr O’Connor said Blue Care had made a substantial contribution to successfully supporting Indigenous jobseekers to find and retain employment.
21 August, 2008
Honoured teachers in a class of their own
Teachers across the State have been recognised for their innovative use of information technology in the 2008 Smart Classrooms Teacher Awards.
Minister for Education and Training, Rod Welford, congratulated all the award winners saying the nominations were of a high standard and reflected a significant step up in Information Communication Technology practice.
He said 172 teachers were nominated, 92 completed applications and that the 12 winners shared $60,000 in industry-sponsored professional development.
“Nominated teachers had to apply for the Award through a digital portfolio demonstrating how they made ICT integral to the classroom to improve student learning,” Mr Welford said.
“The winning entries include individualised digital content for disabled students, soundscapes embedded in art imagery, a Statewide online poetry competition, virtual performance for drama students and development of a software-based recording studio.”
He said the winning teachers came from a range of learning environments, from Prep and vocational education to south-east Queensland’s new academies and Indigenous communities.
“The entries demonstrate the use of eLearning spaces to give students access anywhere, any time to classroom learning and opportunities to use new web technologies to communicate and collaborate locally, nationally and globally.”
Mr Welford said the State Government supported teachers in their bid to integrate technology into the curriculum and to promote digital education and had allocated more than $100 million this year to further Smart Classrooms initiatives.
Award winners would attend specifically tailored professional development Master Classes.
The awards were sponsored by Adobe, Blackboard, Cisco, Citec, Computer Corp, Data 3, Direct National, IBM, Microsoft, Oakton, Videopro and WebCentral and the winners were:
Susan Cumming, Victoria Park State School;
Kay Denning, Hannaford State School;
Rosalie Everest, Queensland Academy for Health Sciences;
David Green, Arundel State School;
Glenda Hobdell, Queensland Academy for Creative Industries;
Katherine Johns, Redland District Special School;
Nicole Mobbs, Chancellor State College;
Jesseca Oram, Aldridge State High School;
Leanne Paxton, Gracemere State School;
Linda Pilkington, Sunshine Beach State School;
Heather Thomson, Wilsonton State School; and
Philip Van Heusden, Northern Peninsula Area College Bamaga Campus.
21 August, 2008
Environment Centre given green light
Work has begun on a new “Ecosciences” precinct at Dutton Park which will eventually house more than 1,000 scientists and researchers working on climate change.
Premier Anna Bligh watched on as construction of the precinct started in the Boggo Road Urban Village redevelopment recently.
Ms Bligh said that when the precinct was complete in 2011, the Centre would be home to scientists from the CSIRO, the Queensland Climate Change Centre of Excellence, and the Departments of Natural Resources and Water, Primary Industries and Fisheries, Mines and Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
She said the $280 million centre would be Australia’s first to be dedicated to solving some of the biggest environmental issues of today, including climate change, water and sustainable growth.
“The Queensland of the future faces great challenges and that’s why I want us to have the world’s best research facilities,” Ms Bligh said.
“It will give us the scientific tools to plan for the future and enhance our growing reputation for scientific research and innovation.”
She said the project would be the “scientific cerebral cortex” of Queensland.
Ms Bligh said the Boggo Road precinct, along with the Health and Food Sciences Precinct at Coopers Plains, was a collaborative project between the State, which would contribute $290 million to both projects, and the CSIRO, which would put almost $88 million into them.
She said despite the precinct’s past having a “gloomy prison link”, the research focused development would be “exciting and vibrant”.
“The end result will see greater collaborations and coordination between State and Federal Government researchers, along with new partnerships research projects and world-class facilities,” Ms Bligh said.
She said the Ecosciences Precinct was a key component of the Government’s Smart State Strategy and that the $1 billion of construction planned for the area would make it the biggest and most advanced health and ecosciences research facility in Australia
Ms Bligh said the precinct would be part of 109 Central - a concept integrating four science and education themed precincts into a world leading environmental and biomedical research community, named after the bus route that connected them.
109 Central also included the Princess Alexandra Hospital Health Science and Education Precinct; the University of Queensland Precinct and the Mater Hospital Precinct.
“109 Central is crucial to our vision for Queensland’s scientific advancement,” Ms Bligh said.
“It links industry, universities and the community in a way that is absolutely guaranteed to produce some very exciting results.”
Minister for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry, Desley Boyle, said the Ecosciences Precinct was the latest in a long list of science infrastructure projects.
21 August, 2008
Boundaries redrawn
The Queensland Redistribution Commission has completed its revision of the State’s
electoral boundaries.
The report, including maps and reasons for determinations, has been published in a special gazette and posted on the Electoral Commission of Queensland’s website www.ecq.qld.gov.au
The new State electoral boundaries will become law in 21 days unless Court appeals are lodged.
Water choppers arrive
The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service has taken delivery of three B3 Squirrel water-bombing helicopters to boost its bushfire fighting resources.
The choppers will be available to the QFRS for the 12-week bushfire season each year until 2010.
They will be based at Archerfield from where they can be despatched to any bushfire in southern Queensland.
Treadmill warning
Parents have been warned to keep children away from treadmills following 50 children being treated in hospital for injuries sustained on the exercise machines over the past five years.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Kerry Shine said there had been only six injuries in the five years before that.
Mr Shine said Queensland would support any recommendations arising from an investigation into the use of domestic treadmills currently being undertaken by the New South Wales Products Safety Committee.
He said the Office of Fair Trading has produced an awareness page for treadmills on the website, www.justice.qld.gov.au, and was also in the process of producing an information pamphlet.
Health pilot launched
A pilot program to train Physician’s Assistants to relieve the shortage of health professionals has been launched in Queensland, the first of its kind in Australia.
Five sites had been chosen to join the 12 month program which would be based on overseas experience.
The locations for the pilot will be Mt Isa Hospital, Cooktown Multi-Purpose Health Service, the Prince Charles Hospital, Princess Alexandra Hospital and the Specialist Connect private centre.
Business managers meet
School Business Services Managers from over 230 Queensland Schools and about 30 Interstate Schools have met on the Gold Coast for a three day conference.
Under the theme Human Resources – Hidden Treasures the conference was designed to further develop and enhance BSM’s Human Resources skills and was opened by the Department of Education, Training and the Arts’ Acting Assistant Director-General, Strategic Human Resources, Sonia Godsave, and included presentations by Commonwealth Games and Olympic medal swimmer Hayley Lewis and mental health professionals Sandy Ogier and Dr Phil Jauncey.
The conference was organised by the School Business Managers Association of Queensland in conjunction with the Australian Association of Government School Administrators.
Borers on way for tunnel
Two of the largest tunnel boring machines ever to operate in Australia are to make their way to Brisbane following the signing of a $90 million contract for the Airport Link road and tunnel project.
The machines used disc cutters with 12.48 metre diameters and were 165 metres long, weighed 3,000 tonnes and needed 22 experts to operate them.
They would work 55 metres below the ground and could cut through rock six to eight times harder than concrete.
The first machine was expected to arrive from Germany by the end of next year to begin tunneling around mid 2010 and the second shortly after. They were being purpose-built and would take about a year to make, two months to ship and four months to assemble when they get here.
ICT directory launched
An initiative of the Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry’s Information Industries Bureau has seen a ‘white pages’ for Gold Coast information and communication technology (ICT) companies launched by Regional Development and Industry Minister, Desley Boyle.
Ms Boyle said the Gold Coast ICT Directory 2008 showcased the strengths and capabilities of 80 local companies.
“ICT is booming on the Gold Coast and this new directory will support the industry’s continued growth,” Ms Boyle said.
She said the directory was developed with support from the Gold Coast City Council, Griffith University, Bond University and IT Gold Coast.
Correction Centre contract awarded
Construction giant, Thiess Pty Ltd has been appointed managing contractor for the Lotus Glen Correctional Centre redevelopment in Far North Queensland.
Located west of Cairns on the Atherton Tableland, Lotus Glen will provide an additional 300 cells and 24 low security farm beds at a cost of $445 million.
Project Services, which was a business unit of the Department of Public Works would manage the project on behalf of Corrective Services Queensland.
14 August, 2008
Justice system to be put on trial
The Attorney-General has announced a review into the State’s justice system.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Kerry Shine, said the study would look at improving the way civil and criminal cases were dealt with by the Courts.
Mr Shine said the review would be conducted by Martin Moynihan, former Senior Judge Administrator of the Supreme Court of Queensland.
“The review will examine aspects of both the civil and criminal justice system and identify practical improvements to resolve cases more quickly and fairly,” he said.
He said the allocation of cases between the District Court and the Magistrates Court and new ways of handling civil and criminal matters were due to be reviewed in any case.
“It is at least 10 years since the time and public resources consumed by civil litigation have been examined.
“The review will also look at ways to encourage earlier resolution of criminal matters, which would benefit victims, witnesses and defendants, and be a more efficient use of Courts’ resources.”
Mr Shine said there was potential for other offences to be handled in the Magistrates Court and that Mr Moynihan would hold a series of round table discussions and consultations to identify specific issues during the course of the review.
He had asked Mr Moynihan to report on the range of indictable offences heard by Magistrates; possible reforms to committal proceedings; sentencing discounts for early pleas; case conferencing; and monetary limits for civil matters heard in the District and Magistrates Courts.
“I welcome feedback from our key stakeholders in the legal community and others with an interest in the justice system,” Mr Shine said, “and look forward to the outcomes of the review.” He said submissions could be made until 5 September and that copies of the first review discussion paper on committal proceedings were available from www.justice.qld.gov.au
14 August, 2008
Union members pay out on pay case
The Queensland Public Sector Union has reported that hundreds of its members have signed up to the current campaign for Public Service pay increases that were higher than the inflation rate.
The union said a request to the Government that it revise its pay offer of 3.25% had not been responded to yet, despite the inflation rate reaching 5.1%.
In a campaign update published on its website, QPSU said the Government was ignoring its members.
“Two weeks on, the State Government still have not responded to our urgent request to revise their wage increase offer,” the union said.
“And since then Queensland's inflation figures have continued to climb.”
It said recent figures produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed prices of basic food and housing items were rising faster in Brisbane than any other capital city.
“Right now, inflation's at 5.1%, once again higher than what was predicted.
“Overwhelmingly, through phone surveys, email and face-to-face, QPSU members have told us how rising prices are hurting them and how they need their wages to keep up.”
The union called on the Government to acknowledge the effect rising prices were having on family budgets.
It foreshadowed a major campaign in support of its wage demands saying it would take many different forms including political, community and industrial action and asked its members to do three things:
- Sign up to support the campaign;
- Forward information about the campaign to workmates; and
- Maintain a watch on developments.
14 August, 2008
Lucky numbers up at marriage registry
The lucky omens that came with the eighth day of the eighth month of the eighth year of the century saw a record number of couples tie the marriage knot at the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Brisbane last week.
Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Kerry Shine, said it was a very busy day for the Registry.
Mr Shine said one couple was married at 8am while another couple were the 808th wedding held at the registry this year.
He said 33 couples were married on the Friday, and the Registry’s marriage room had to extend its hours to accommodate for all the bookings, some of which were made as early as May 2007.
“The last time we hit a record was last year on 07/07/07, with 15 couples married,” he said.
Mr Shine said it was a case of ‘first in, best dressed’, as the Registry received so many enquiries it had to turn many couples away.
“With a record number of couples wanting to marry on the one day, the Registry organised to hold ceremonies at both the Brisbane marriage room and the Hotel Conrad’s function room next door,” he said.
Mr Shine said the registry was a “buzz of activity” and celebrants were kept busy throughout the day.
He said couples had chosen the date for a number of reasons.
“Some people consider the number eight to be quite auspicious and believe the number will bring prosperity and wealth,” he said.
“Others have indicated the date will make it easier to remember their wedding anniversary.”
Mr Shine said the Brisbane marriage room had been extremely popular since the Registry relocated to the heritage-listed Old Government Printery building near the Botanic Gardens in 2005.
“The marriage room hosts more weddings than any other venue in Queensland, with more than 1250 ceremonies held there in 2007,” he said.
Mr Shine said in Queensland, 134 marriages were performed on 04/04/04, 67 on 05/05/05, 25 on 06/06/06 and 581 on 07/07/07.
“There was a record 26,008 marriages registered in Queensland last year alone,” he said.
14 August, 2008
Advisory committee opens wide for health
A new consumer advisory committee has been set up to give patients a stronger voice in how the public health system was run.
Health Minister Stephen Robertson announced that a Ministerial Advisory Committee to be known as the Health Consumers Queensland would comprise 13 members and advise the State Government on a range of public health issues.
"We promised in the 2006 election to establish a major health consumer body with top-level access to Government,” Mr Robertson said. "We've delivered on that promised by establishing Health Consumers Queensland.”
He said the 13 members were people of great talent and initiative who were all committed to ensuring patient safety and quality health care.
"Their collective knowledge, skills and experience will ensure Queensland health consumers have a strong voice to represent their needs and interests," Mr Robertson said.
He said the Executive Director of the Council on the Ageing Queensland, Mark Tucker-Evans, would chair the Committee with other members being Myra Pincott, Jeff Cheverton, Mary Martin, Beryl Crosby, Janelle Colquhoun, Brendan Horne, Alan Neilan, Melissa Fox, Gwen Schreiber, Odette Tewfik, Agnes Whiten and Adele Gibson.
Mr Robertson said the committee members were chosen from 91 applicants and the committee’s establishment would bring Queensland into line with best practice in health planning.
"This body will be a fearless voice for health consumers in Queensland, playing an important role in policy and planning and providing high-level, strategic advice.”
He said each member was appointed in their own right and not as a representative of any organisation or service.
Health Consumers Queensland was made up of the Ministerial Consumer Advisory Committee and a secretariat supported by the Director General of Queensland Health.
The Committee would be reviewed after two years to assess its best model and governance arrangements for the future.
14 August, 2008
Purchase office buys into procurement gig
The Chief Procurement Office is to host a Sustainable Procurement Conference in Brisbane in September.
Designed to introduce Government and private sector organisations to the ways and means of integrating sustainability considerations into their procurement products, the two-day conference would feature keynote addresses from national and international leaders in sustainable procurement.
It would be the fourth in the series formerly known as the National Buying Green Conferences.
Associated with the conference, is to be an expo of sustainably preferred products and services that would allow delegates direct access to businesses and organisations during conference breaks.
The theme of the conference will be integrate, connect, progress and the organising committee included representatives from the QGCPO, the Department of Public Works, the Environmental Protection Agency, Main Roads, the Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry, the Local Government Association of Queensland, ECO-Buy Limited and Impact Environmental Conferences. It was chaired by Queensland Purchasing’s Evelyn Jelliffe.
Among the speakers to address the Conference will be the Minister for Public Works, Robert Schhwarten; television presenter, Tanya Ha; Ms Jelliffe; the EPA’s John Cole; Lend Lease’s Maria Atkinson; the UK Government’s Barbara Morton; and New Zealand’s Christopher Browne.
The Sustainable Procurement Conference 2008 is to be held at the Brisbane Hilton hotel on 18 and 19 September and more information can be obtained from the Queensland Government marketplace website, www.qgm.qld.gov.au
14 August, 2008
Top end hits bottom in PS slash plan
Threats by the Northern Territory Country Liberal Party to slash the NT Public Service by 860 positions over the next three years have been criticised by the Community and Public Sector Union as irresponsible and counter productive.
The CLP made the pledge in the lead-up to last week’s Territory election saying the cuts would be needed to pay for other election commitments.
Party Leader Terry Mills said 700 general staff of the NTPS and 40 executive officers would not be replaced when they left over the next three years but the CPSU said that number was 10 per cent of the entire PS.
"There will be no sackings of Public Servants below the executive level," Mr Mills said.
He also promised to reduce to 45 the number of political staffers working for the Government and appoint only eight Ministers instead of nine while cutting portfolios from 36 to 13.
He said he would sell off the NT car fleet, the Government Printing Office and Sports House which would bring in an extra $93 million.
CPSU Regional Secretary, Naomi Porrovecchio said if the cuts went ahead they would have a “devastating effect” on the delivery of public sector services in the NT.
“The knock-on effect to front line services would be disastrous,” Ms Porrovecchio said.
"Our economy is growing and fuelling greater demand on public services as the population increases.
“Attacking our social infrastructure by slashing the ranks of the public sector is irresponsible and counterproductive.”
She said the NTPS was already struggling to attract and retain employees in the tight labour market. To remain competitive in the battle for talent, she said, it required quality jobs, competitive pay and conditions, opportunities for personal development and career advancement.
"Threatening the job security of public servants will do nothing to ensure the ranks of the public sector are staffed by our best and brightest," she said.
14 August, 2008
Union finds prison story over the top
The Queensland Public Sector Union has acted quickly to correct a newspaper article relating to prison officers.
As the union covering Corrections Officers, the QPSU took issue with the Courier Mail report which claimed that staff at the ‘Department of Corrections’ allegedly hired a private investigator to secretly videotape another member of staff.
The union said it wanted to clarify the public record regarding the article headlined “Jail Boss in scrap row” on a number of points.
According to the newspaper, the staff of Queensland Corrective Services carrying out the surveillance were associated with the Queensland Prisoners’ Officers Association, which it incorrectly described as a “union”.
“The QPOA is not a registered trade union and has no standing as such before the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission or any other competent industrial tribunal,” the QPSU said in a statement.
“The member of staff was not, as implied by the article headline, a ‘boss’. He was an ordinary staff member relieving in a higher duty position.”
It said the Corrections Officers who were members of the QPSU wished to stress that they did not endorse the practice of covertly videotaping or otherwise engaging in secret surveillance of fellow employees.
“These discreditable practices are deeply contrary to union principles,” it said.
“QPSU officers would never condone, much less authorise or conduct, such activity.”
14 August, 2008
Big build up to city development area
A draft plan has been unveiled to develop a key part of inner city Brisbane as a new business and entertainment precinct.
Premier Anna Bligh announced the concept saying the 108ha Bowen Hills Urban Development Area would be centred around the Bowen Hills Railway Station including the RNA Showgrounds, Perry Park, Mayne, Bowen Hills and bordered by Breakfast Creek.
Ms Bligh said the plan was developed by the Urban Land Development Authority which had the task of working with Local Government, landholders, the community and development industry to place more land on the market and help address issues of housing affordability in key metropolitan areas.
"They have come up with a innovative proposal for this important area,” Ms Bligh said, “only a couple of kilometres from the city heart yet under-utilised and in need of urban renewal.
"Their plan includes more mixed use commercial, mixed use residential, light industry and public open space.”
She said about 4,500 new dwellings would be built in the area, housing up to 10,000 people and there would be 400,000 square metres of office space to cater for more than 20,000 jobs.
"It also includes dedicated pedestrian and cycle links as well as a target of 650 new affordable dwellings set to be delivered through organisations such as not-for-profits and the Department of Housing,” Ms Bligh said. “At the centre of the plan will be incorporation of our Bowen Hills Transit Oriented Development which will contain a mix of retail, commercial, residential and civic functions focussed around the Bowen Hills railway station.”
Ms Bligh said plans for redevelopment by the RNA had also been taken into account including commercial and residential opportunities in perimeter locations such as O'Connell Terrace, Brookes Street and St Pauls Terrace.
"This plan endorses the developable areas proposed by the RNA Master Plan and will revitalise this site for greater use all year round," she said.
"The ULDA will work with the RNA and the selected developers to create and finalise the shape and form of more detailed proposals for individual RNA sites.”
Ms Bligh said existing uses for the Ekka site would be retained but revitalised with new uses and facilities.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, Paul Lucas encouraged residents and members of the community to have their say on the proposal.
"Through August and September the ULDA will consult with State Government Agencies and the Brisbane City Council followed by public consultation commencing in October," Mr Lucas said.
"They will be working towards developing it into the Bowen Hills Development Scheme to become effective in late March next year.”
14 August, 2008
Bullies take hit on new safety website
The Department of Education, Training and the Arts has set up a new website to tackle violence, bullying and harassment among young Queenslanders.
Minister for Education and Training, Rod Welford, said the new Act Smart Be Safe website had been developed up as a gateway for teachers, parents, students and the community to access information and improve the safety of young people.
Mr Welford said violence in any form was unacceptable and the Government would do everything in its power to keep young Queenslanders safe.
“However, youth violence is a community problem and it needs a collaborative approach to develop prevention strategies that work,” he said.
“This website encourages parents and the community to play a greater role in keeping young people safe.”
Mr Welford said the website was one of the recommendations made by the Youth Violence Taskforce which was set up to tackle the issue of alcohol and youth violence and inappropriate behaviour in the community.
“Young people said it would be useful to have a ‘one-stop-shop’ for information about these issues and this new website provides a range of helpful tips and advice,” he said.
“It has information for young people and parents about Schoolies, partying safely, anti-bullying strategies and the impact of technology such as YouTube and mobile phones.”
Police Minister, Judy Spence, said education programs about safety were important in reducing youth violence.
“More than 100 students from schools across the State’s south-east were involved in a Youth Violence Taskforce forum last year to discuss the issue of violence among young people,” Ms Spence said.
“It was their recommendation that a website be developed to give students and their parents clear and practical advice about how to combat violence among young people.”
Ms Spence said the website was part of a wider campaign to ensure young people acted smart and behaved safely.
“The website gives smart and useful advice for young people to help them to make the right decision when confronted with violence and inappropriate behaviour,” she said.
The website would be updated regularly to include positive case studies, including successful programs in schools, resources for teachers, and state and national campaigns such as Bullying. No Way!
The address for the website is http://education.qld.gov.au/actsmartbesafe
14 August, 2008
Health workforce plan is judged fit
A national proposal that would lead to a more flexible, sustainable, mobile and responsive health workforce is a step closer to implementation according to Health Minister, Stephen Robertson.
Mr Robertson said national registration and accreditation for health professionals had been agreed to by the Australian Health Ministers' Conference with a notional starting date of July 2010 and when introduced it would create a more streamlined system that was also better equipped to deal with patient safety issues.
Mr Robertson, who chaired the Conference and was responsible for introducing the scheme, told a Brisbane forum that the new arrangements would set the foundation for a more flexible and responsive health workforce.
"National registration and accreditation will establish consistent national standards,” Mr Robertson said.
He said it would also lead to common processes for registering individual health professionals across all the States and improve information sharing across health professional bodies.
“This means there will be consistent procedures for handling complaints and investigations, and for monitoring conditions imposed on impaired practitioners.”
He said the provision of good quality health care in Australia relied on the commitment and skill of about 500,000 health professionals.
Queensland had the responsibility of developing and hosting the primary legislation to establish the national accreditation scheme.
Mr Robertson said the first Bill, which would be introduced into the Queensland Parliament later this year, would establish the bodies that would oversee and manage the registration and accreditation of health professionals.
It would initially cover 10 registered health professions.
Each State and Territory was conducting forums on the subject and a national one would be held on 4 September in Canberra.
14 August, 2008
Office on wheels roll into Ekka
The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries used the Ekka to introduce primary producers to its new mobile office.
The Department scheduled a stop-over at the Ekka as part of a State-wide tour by the mobile office delivering DPI&F services, advice and products to people on and from the land.
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries, Tim Mulherin, said the Ekka stop-over and mobile office were part of a fresh approach to bringing expertise directly to those who needed up-to-date industry advice and access to Departmental services.
“Over the past month, it has toured southern Queensland visiting towns such as Crows Nest, Chinchilla, Cecil Plains, Stanthorpe and Warwick,” Mr Mulherin said.
“Now we’re bringing this unique service to the Ekka, so country visitors can speak face to face with DPI&F staff about issues that affect them.
Mr Mulherin said the office was fully equipped to allow Department staff to offer specialist advice and guidance and provide access to high quality services and products that might otherwise be unavailable in regional towns.
“Wireless capability and onboard equipment will provide access to real-time lodgment and processing of applications and enquiries,” he said.
“It will also deliver educational and training tools in areas such as biosecurity and legislative requirements.” Mr Mulherin said Natural Resources and Water would also offer services from the mobile office.
Other services would include beef extension and industry services; QRAA information; environmental and resource management; farm financial counselling; biosecurity and fisheries legal requirements; National Livestock Identification System information and training; property registration; drought assistance; and internet training.
Mr Mulherin said the mobile office would help DPI&F build skills for the future; attract investment into agricultural science; and improve networking and modernising services.
14 August, 2008
Police share brass at excellence awards
The Queensland Police Service Excellence Awards for 2008 have been presented by the Minister for Police, Judy Spence and Queensland Police Commissioner, Bob Atkinson.
Ms Spence said some of the State’s most innovative crime prevention initiatives were recognised at the ceremony at Police Headquarters.
She and Commissioner Atkinson presented the awards to officers and civilian staff whose ability to ‘think outside the square’ they said, had resulted in the development of new crime prevention initiatives that were very positive for the Queensland community.
“The modern Queensland Police Service is made up of creative, innovative and dedicated people, who regularly go above and beyond the call of duty to serve the Queensland public,” Ms Spence said.
“Today’s award recipients represent the calibre of officers and staff we have working in this State.”
She said there was a wide range of projects in the running for the awards.
“Projects range from localised initiatives in regional Queensland, including a clever puppet show helping to encourage kids in the Mount Isa District to speak out about domestic violence,” she said, “to Statewide initiatives, such as the innovative assault reduction campaign titled ‘One Punch Can Kill’, which uses new-age technology and strategic product placement to promote important anti-violence messages to young people.”
Ms Spence said that campaign was supported by the Matthew Stanley Foundation and the Queensland Homicide Victims’ Support Group.
“These projects are making a difference in the lives of everyday Queenslanders – and highlight the outstanding contribution of members of the Queensland Police Service,” she said.
Commissioner Atkinson said the awards were an effective way of publicly recognising the efforts and achievements of staff members and officers.
“This year’s finalists demonstrate the diligence and commitment of the police officers and staff members who are out there each and every day working to meet and exceed the expectations held by the Queensland community,” he said.
“The projects being recognised here today are an example of QPS members devising new or interesting ways to address the issues faced in the community.”
For the first time, this year the Awards also included the Richard Symes Warry Award for Excellence in Police Education and Training.
Mr Warry was the former Deputy Chief Executive of Queensland Police Resource Management.
The inaugural award, which would become a permanent fixture of the annual presentation, recognised initiatives in the field of education and training, which contributed substantially to the delivery of services to the community.
The award recipients and categories were:
Policing operations
Gold: The Counter Terrorism Awareness Program
Silver: The Crime Bulletin,
Bronze: Traffic Safety Sign Project,
Crime Prevention
Gold: Puppets to the Rescue
Silver: Project ID-IT
Corporate and Support Services
Gold: Police Pursuits – The Emotive Side,
Problem Oriented and Partnership Policing
Gold: Statewide Assault Reduction Campaign – One Punch Can Kill,
Silver: eBay POPP Project
Bronze: Team Up Inala,
Richard Symes Warry Award for Excellence in Police
Education and Training
Winner: Police Pursuits – The Emotive Side
Certificate of Commendation: Incident Command Workshop for Supervisors
14 August, 2008
PS Security is new terror weapon
The South Australian Government has hired armed guards and introduced new security measures to protect its Public Servants and some Government buildings it regards as ‘critical’, including a number of schools.
The measures are in response to the brutal killing of the State’s former chief of mental health, Dr Margaret Tobin almost six years ago.
Protective Security Services officers, some of whom are armed, have been given legislative powers to detain and search suspected offenders and to protect public property as a part of the State’s anti-terrorist strategy.
Dozens of recruits have joined former Police Security Services officers in the new-look unit, bringing the total to123 renamed Protective Security Officers or PSOs.
The officers, who wear white shirts and gold and blue hatbands, have been trained at the police academy and were operating at public buildings, schools and other vulnerable infrastructures, including reservoirs and utility facilities.
Officers monitoring schools would not be carrying guns.
The new unit will come under the direction of police and have powers from the Protective Security Act which was passed in April.
Operations Manager with the PSS, Inspector Richard Lambert, said a review of security at Government facilities following the Death of Dr Tobin led to upgraded training and recruitment standards of security officers.
“That (shooting) increased the awareness of security for Government employees and buildings,” Inspector Lambert said.
“The Government will designate certain sites as critical infrastructures and they will be monitored for security by the PSO officers.”
He said the review led to the introduction of officers with legislative powers, and that new recruits included former UK police officers, spray painters and former security officers.
A police crime scene investigator in England for five years, Sue Lawson, has joined the team.
Ms Lawson said the ability to communicate effectively was critical in her new role. “You've got to have those skills, definitely,” she said.
“The more experience you have with the public, especially violent members of the public, being able to talk them down (improves) with experience.”
Former psychiatrist Jean Eric Gassy was convicted of Dr Tobin’s murder but the High Court has since ordered a retrial.
14 August, 2008
Homeowners scheme is money in the bank
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has released its final package of rules governing the authorisation and oversight of financial institutions planning to offer the new First Home Saver Accounts.
The accounts were being introduced to assist Australians aged 18 and over to save up for their first home. They are the first of their kind and have been designed to provide a simple, tax effective way for people to save for their first home with the Government assisting by making contributions and imposing lower taxes.
The APRA package is made up of a prudential standard relating to superannuation licensees (known as RSE licensees), an authorisation form, a notification of intention to offer FHSAs form and a reporting standard. The standard will come into effect on 1 October 2008, the first day the FHSAs could be offered.
Deputy Chairman of APRA, Ross Jones said submissions received after consulting on the draft requirements had led to some minor changes being made to the proposed package.
Under the First Home Saver Accounts Act 2008, passed in June, RSE licensees, life insurance companies, banks and other ‘authorised deposit-taking institutions’ (ADIs) would be eligible to offer the accounts.
The rules require the RSE licensees to establish a separate trust for the purpose and the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 would not apply to that new trust.
Mr Jones said the paperwork required by APRA required RSE licensees to demonstrate that the risks arising from the new trust were properly considered and addressed.
He said the reports required from providers in all three industries would collect relevant information and companies planning to offer the accounts needed to notify APRA of their intention to do so in advance.
Mr Jones said the APRA prudential standards that already applied to the operations of life companies and ADIs were adequate for the provision of FHSAs.
14 August, 2008
Long life survey finds a hitch
Findings by the Australian Bureau of Statistics that married people lived longer than single ones have been released by the Federal Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot.
ABS data on age-specific death rates in Australia per thousand per age group showed that married people had lower death rates than non-married people in almost all age groups, for both men and women. (The data compares the rate of death per 1000 for single people versus married ones.)
Data analysed by the Minister’s Department showed the difference between single and married people started in their 40s and grew sharply in their 60s.
It found the real spike appeared in the 70-84 group with the death rate for single people almost double that of married men and women.
“It seems that longevity and marriage are directly linked and marriage is good for your health,” Mrs Elliot said.
“Overseas studies have provided similar results on marriage and ageing and the link with longevity has been debated for more than 100 years.”
She said the data also found that for men, the difference evened out after age 85 while married women over 80 continued to have a greater survival rate than single women in the same age group.
However, widowed males over 85 had the highest rate of death per 1000, showing that once their life-partner died, they often followed. It was 191.6 per thousand compared to 140.3 per thousand for married men in the same age group.
Mrs Elliott said historically, one main explanation had been put forward – that marriage reduced the risk of an earlier death as a person was less likely to participate in risky behaviour and more likely to nurture or “guardian” each other’s health through promoting good diet and physical care.
She said the Australian marriage data came on top of research showing that Australians now had the second longest life expectancy in the world - 81.4 years - after the Japanese.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, using the World Health Organisation’s 2007 figures for selected countries, reported that Australian women had a life expectancy of 83.7 years and Australian men 79 years.
In addition, Women on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and Western Australia’s wheat-belt near Perth had the longest life expectancies in the country and the world.
Mrs Elliott said that by 2045-2050, Australian men and women could expect to live five years longer than they currently did, with women going from 83.7 to 88 and men going from 79 to 84.1 years.
She said by 2060, an Australian woman could expect to reach the age of 90 and by mid-century most Australians could expect – on average – to reach the mid-to-late 80s.
Currently, there were 2800 Australians aged 100-years or more, and that was expected to increase to 12,000 by 2020 and grow to 78,000 by 2055.
14 August, 2008
Minister’s apology is a sorry story
The inclusion of incorrect information in a letter to the Mayor of Gympie concerning the Traveston Crossing Dam has prompted the Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Andrew McNamara to apologise.
As part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s assessment of an application for expansion of the Gympie Regional Council sewage treatment plant, the Council was asked to model for “zero flows of the Mary River as a result of the Traveston Dam”.
Mr McNamara said his Department was reviewing how the “clearly incorrect” data came to be included in the letter, but did not excuse the fact it was wrong.
“It goes against all rigorous scientific analysis of the Traveston Crossing Dam,” he said.
“It’s a mistake, pure and simple and that is as far as I will take it.”
Mr McNamara said he had spoken to Mayor Ron Dyne and offered to personally work more closely with him and the Council on the sewage plant proposal.
He said an amended request for information would be sent.
“What has been lost in all of this is the Government’s position that in the long term, councils should be working to find alternatives to putting treated effluent into river systems.”
“That's what affects the people of Gympie and the people downstream, not a mistake made by a public servant.”
Mr McNamara said the Environmental Impact showed the dam’s impact on flows at the mouth of the Mary River would be 3 to 4 per cent.
He said the fact that almost 80 per cent of the Mary River Catchment was downstream of the dam, with tributaries such as Tinana Creek, Amamoor Creek and Six Mile Creek flowing into the Mary River downstream, would ensure healthy flows.
14 August, 2008
Info management on show
The first national Information Management Skills Summit is to be held in October in Brisbane.
The Summit would explore the issues of IM skills shortages and look at all the IM specialities including statistical, spatial, archival, privacy, library and information security.
It is being pitched at Chief Executive Officers, Chief Information Officers and senior IM and HR executives and places are limited.
The Summit is an initiative of the Information Management Sub-Committee of the Queensland Government Strategic Information and ICT Council Executive and is supported by the ICT Innovation Fund.
More information is available from www.governmentict.qld.gov.au
Patients happy with hospital stay
The latest performance report for Queensland’s public hospitals has revealed that 92 per cent of patients were satisfied with the medical treatment they received.
Health Minister Stephen Robertson said this amounted to a “vote of confidence” in the system.
Mr Robertson said the high level of satisfaction came at a time when public hospitals were treating record numbers of patients.
Students to see Parliament
Shool students from Far North Queensland are to be given the opportunity to see Parliament at work when State Parliament sits in Cairns in October.
Minister for Education and Training, Rod Welford said it would be the third time Parliament had convened in a regional centre, and the Government would subsidise travel costs for students living outside 100 kilometres from Cairns.
He said subsidies up to $500 would be available to help up to 191 students with travel and accommodation costs.
Bundaberg targetted
Inspectors from the Workplace Ombudsman’s office have targetted Bundaberg in a campaign to scrutinise the fruit and vegetable industry.
They are expected to interview workers and check employment records when they inspect the records of 15 hostels in the area supplying labour to neighbouring farms.
Executive Director of the Office, Michael Campbell said the operation was being run jointly with the State Department of Employment and Industrial Relations and was deliberately timed to coincide with the start of the picking season.
Mr Campbell said that inspectors uncovered significant underpayments of casual workers in the Gatton region last year with one employer having to back-pay 469 employees almost $70,000.
Repeat for Ad Agency
The State Government has reappointed advertising agency Mediacom to manage its $70 million advertising budget.
The agency beat two competitors to the four-year contract which is the biggest of all the State Governments and the eighth largest account in the country.
New life for wages fund
A fund that compensated Indigenous workers for stolen wages has been reopened by the State Government.
The Indigenous Wages and Savings Reparations Scheme repaid workers who were underpaid by former Governments.
Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Lindy Nelson-Carr said the fund was reopened to give more eligible claimants the chance to apply for a payment.
About $19.5 million had already been paid to 5,553 eligible claimants.
Regional energy expands
A new energy conservation program has been launched at Stanthorpe
The ClimateSmart Living Communities Program promoted energy conservation and helped regional communities understand the impacts of climate change and learn simple steps to avoid energy wastage.
The program was launched with the unveiling of a two kilowatt solar photovoltaic system on the roof of the Stanthorpe Library and Art Gallery building.
Other areas hosting ClimateSmart Living Communities programs were Home Hill, Gordonvale and Biloela.
Councils link for mosaic
Communities around the State are being invited to join an arts project to create a giant mosaic to hang permanently at the RNA Showgrounds as part of the State’s 150th anniversary celebrations next year.
Premier Anna Bligh launched the project which would see communities create their own piece of Queensland for the 41 square metre design.
Ms Bligh said the project brings the Q150 theme together because it was by people from places all around the State telling their stories.
Macrossan remembered
Former Chief Justice and Chancellor of Griffith University, Justice John Macrossan has died.
Justice Macrossan was Chief Justice of Queensland from 1989 to 1998 after serving the Supreme Court bench from 1980 and was the third member of the Macrossan family to hold the Chief Justice post.
He was instrumental in establishing the Court of Appeal and the Fitzgerald Inquiry.
Road concept planned
The Department of Main Roads has launched a $4.5 million concept planning study into upgrading the Centenary Motorway between the Ipswich Motorway and the Toowong roundabout.
Minister for Main Roads, Warren Pitt, said the motorway was a key link in the city’s road network with around 67,000 vehicles travelled along it daily.
He said Main Roads would consult widely with the community as part of the planning study.
Fish traps snare agreement
Minister for Natural Resources and Water, Craig Wallace, has officiated at the signing of an agreement to protect ancient indigenous fish traps on the Bulloo River in south western Queensland.
The agreement was between landholders, Jack and William Tully, and the traditional owners of the land, the Mardigan People.
Mr Wallace said the Department of Natural Resources and Water was heavily involved in devising the management plan for the area.
7 August, 2008
Report sells out trading entities
A study of Government-run businesses by the Productivity Commission has found that half of them would struggle to survive in the real world of private enterprise.
The Commission’s latest scorecard on the financial performance of Government Trading Enterprises or GTEs, monitored the activities of 86 publicly-owned businesses across key sectors of the economy including electricity, water, urban transport, railways, ports and forestry.
It found they accounted for about 1.7 per cent of Australia's Gross Domestic Product and according to Assistant Commissioner Chris Sayers, the results were disappointing.
“Despite some improvement, about half of the monitored GTEs did not achieve commercial rates of return in 2006-07,” the Commission’s report said.
It said the poor returns underscored a “long-term inability to operate these businesses on a fully commercial basis in accordance with competition policy undertakings.”
The Commission believed the efficient operation of GTEs was important to both the wellbeing of the community and to the competitiveness of Australian industry.
“The continuing poor performance of many GTEs was therefore of concern.”
Mr Sayers said financial performance monitoring of GTEs formed part of the Productivity Commission's research into the performance of Australian industries and the progress of microeconomic reform.
He said in 2006-07, the 86 GTEs included in the report controlled about 2.8 per cent of Australia's non-household assets (valued at $192 billion).
The Commission’s report said the overall profitability of GTEs increased by 36 per cent in 2006-07 but there were mixed results across the sectors.
“Profitability increased in the electricity, urban transport and ports sectors, but declined in the rail, water and forestry sectors,” it said.
For sectors in which profits had improved, the report found it was generally because of the good work of a single GTE in the sector.
Overall it found that in 2006-07:
- 40 per cent of the GTE’s showed a fall in profits;
- 14 GTEs (of which five were in the water sector) reported losses;
- Over half failed to achieve a return on assets above the risk-free rate; and
- Twelve of the 86 GTEs (14%) failed to achieve a positive return on their assets.
“In addition, income tax and tax equivalent payments totalled $1.8 billion.”
It said despite the stated policies of Governments, not all had identified all existing Community Service Obligations (CSOs).
“Governments generally report funding for CSOs in a transparent manner (but) almost no information is reported on the costs of meeting CSOs,” it said.
The Productivity Commission said inadequate funding to pay for CSOs affected the GTE's financial performance and could result in inadequate or misallocated investment, price increases for non-CSO services, and/or lower quality service provision.
“Poor profitability can lead to inadequate investment and asset maintenance, which can in turn reduce the future profitability of GTEs,” it said.
“Without a return to commercially sustainable operations, this cycle can persist.”
The report, which could be accessed at www.pc.gov.au, also examined reasons for the persistently poor performance of some of the GTEs.
7 August, 2008
Inspectors’ skills on show at Ekka
Despite six weeks inspecting hundreds of showbags in time for the Ekka, product safety officers from the Office of Fair Trading expected to continue their work during the show to ensure it was a safe one.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Kerry Shine said the inspectors had examined hundreds of toys and novelties in case they didn’t comply with mandatory safety standards, including checks for toys that might not be suitable for children up to 3, projectile toys, plush toys and mandatory information labelling.
Mr Shine said showbags were a popular feature of the Ekka and each year inspectors sorted through the range to weed out items that could be a safety risk.
He said this year they found a number of products considered at risk of containing excess levels of lead so they were sent to a laboratory for testing.
One toy porcelain clown was found to contain 30 times acceptable lead levels
“The toy clown will not be sold at the Ekka,” Mr Shine said, “and the Office of Fair Trading is investigating whether the toy has been sold elsewhere and what further action is required.”
He said the inspectors would be at the Ekka conducting spot checks on showbags and other products on sale.
He called on parents to play a role as well in making sure showbag toys were safe for children to play with.
“Consider the safety of items and only buy showbags that are labelled as suitable for the age of your child,” Mr Shine said.
“Parents and carers should be wary of items with sharp points or edges, splinters and folding, moving or mechanical parts that could easily trap a child’s fingers.”
He said anything that would fit into a 35 millimetre film canister was too small for children under 3 as they could choke on it. “Toys with strings or cords more than 30 centimetres long should be avoided as they are a choking hazard.
“I also encourage parents to supervise children with showbags as they can potentially suffocate if playing with the plastic bags.”
Mr shine said the annual showbag checks were particularly relevant this year in the lead up to the first ever National Toy Summit being held in Queensland next month.
7 August, 2008
Nursing recruitment campaigns put to bed
The Chief Nursing Officer has embarked on two media campaigns to strengthen the State’s nursing workforce.
The campaigns were launched by Health Minister Stephen Robertson.
Mr Robertson said there was a nursing and midwifery shortage in the State due to the development of new health services, hospitals, and an ageing and growing population.
“We also know fewer people are entering the nursing profession, hence the need for an innovative, targeted, and well-researched recruitment campaign,” he said.
“Despite recruiting more than 5,100 extra nurses since June 2005, Queensland Health still has around 1,400 nursing and midwifery vacancies.”
Mr Robertson said the ‘What am I? I’m a nurse’ campaigns were designed to attract young people to the profession, and encourage nurses and midwives to return to the workforce.
He said they targeted 14 to 17 year olds who were contemplating career choices and undergraduate course applications. Mr Robertson said the “Nurse Returners” campaign targeted nurses and midwives who were not currently working by encouraging them to rejoin the workforce.
He said the State Government had made a substantial commitment to promoting nursing as a career, and had increased salaries by 23 per cent over three years.
“We have also given support for clinical education and training, incentives for nurses to work in rural and remote areas, and funding for up to 50 nurse practitioner positions over three years,” he said.
“Currently there are 40 endorsed nurse practitioners in Queensland with a further 70 candidates completing their Masters in Nursing.”
Mr Robertson said work was being done to broaden the practising environment of the Enrolled Nurse into specialist areas to promote career pathways and acknowledge their role in the health care team.
7 August, 2008
Hale Street Bridge waits to be tolled
The Minister for Main Roads believes the Government would need a very good reason not to allow a toll to be levied on Brisbane’s Hale Street Link Bridge.
The Minister, Warren Pitt, said tolling was a valid method of funding road projects such as the bridge, which was currently under construction.
“I’m not going to refuse to give the Council tolling powers just because some people believe the project should not be built or should be toll-free,” Mr Pitt said.
“We recognise that tolling is a commonly used means of funding infrastructure and it is up to the Council to explain to motorists and ratepayers its decision to seek tolling approval for this particular project.”
Mr Pitt reminded the public that the bridge was a Council project carried out on Council controlled roads and was funded by the Council.
He said a key priority was to ensure the project had minimal impact on the State-controlled road network.
“This issue appears to have been addressed by the inclusion of an outbound viaduct over the Coronation Drive-Hale Street intersection in Council’s revised design,” Mr Pitt said.
“The Council wrote to me this week outlining the revised design and once I’ve had a chance to review this information and other technical data about the project, I should be in a position to make a decision on tolling powers.”Mr Pitt said when deciding on tolling powers, he had to assess all factors such as overall transport planning, methodology of tolling and the availability of alternative routes.
“I also plan on asking the Council to develop and implement additional traffic and public transport mitigation strategies, both during and after construction, to minimise all projected impacts as much as is possible,” he said.
Mr Pitt said the Royal Automotive Club of Queensland, which had urged him to refuse tolling powers for the Hale St Link, should consider the consequences of its request.
“If this $370 million project is not funded by tolls, Council will have to find the money from other sources,” he said.
“This means scrapping other important projects to the same value or lifting rates to cover the multi-million-dollar shortfall. I don’t think either of these alternatives would be acceptable to ratepayers.”
Mr Pitt said he realised construction of any major road project would cause some level of disruption to traffic.
“To this end, Main Roads will continue to work with Council to help it develop and implement the best possible measures during construction to mitigate its projected impacts,” he said.
7 August, 2008
Watchdog invests in super paper
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has released a consultation paper on the effectiveness of people’s personal superannuation arrangements.
Consultation paper 101 Superannuation forecasts poses the question: “How can we motivate Australians to take charge of their super sooner rather than later?” and concludes that many people might need a “wake-up call”.
The paper revealed that about 46 per cent of workers relied on the minimum contribution, and as many as 33 per cent of workers putting in extra money were still not on target for an “adequate” retirement.
“Many people don’t know how much they will retire with and what kind of lifestyle they will be able to afford,” said ASIC’s Deputy Chairman, Jeremy Cooper.
“It might shock some people, but we want them to see a ‘super snapshot’ of their projected end-benefit in time for them to do something about it.”
The Consultation Paper looks at ways that superannuation providers could give members a “super snapshot” – an estimate of how much they were likely to retire with based on how much they had saved so far.
Mr Cooper said the paper canvassed issues and options for super providers to do this either on paper or via an online calculator allowing members to generate their own super snapshot.
“ASIC understands that producing useful forecasts raises many issues, such as what assumptions should be taken into account, including the likely impact of fees and costs, future contributions and earnings,” Mr Cooper said.
“The end result of this project must be a simple and easy-to-use way of estimating final retirement savings where consumers understand that it is not a guarantee of what they will actually retire with.”
He said ASIC would be asking super funds, their members and industry experts to explain how this could best be done and which types of forecasts would benefit members the most.
“This is an opportunity to have a direct say in further improving Australia’s retirement income system,” he said.
Based on the feedback ASIC received, it would develop more specific proposals and consult on those at a later stage.
Mr Cooper said any more specific proposals would be facilitative only and not mandatory. He said mandatory requirements would require law reform to amend the Corporations Act.
7 August, 2008
Saving animals is pet project
Four Local Government Councils are to take part in a trial program to reduce the number of unwanted cats and dogs being killed each year.
The two year trial would allow the Councils to try a number of methods to cut down on the increasing number of cats and dogs being dumped at animal collection centres around the State.
Local Government Minister, Warren Pitt said Queensland was the only State in Australia not to have mandatory registration of cats and dogs in place.
“This has created a situation where thousands of cats and dogs are being destroyed each year,” Mr pitt said.
“As a Government, we have to help our Councils and other stakeholders to address this serious issue.”
He said it wasn’t just because unwanted fully grown cats and dogs were being put to death, but kittens and puppies were as well, and it was all because Queensland didn’t have the necessary laws and practices in place that would lead to responsible pet ownership.
“It’s needless and senseless, and we have got to do more to put a stop to it,” Mr pitt said.
He said the Councils participating in the trial program were the Gold Coast City Council, Logan City Council, Moreton Bay Regional Council and Townsville City Council.
He said the trial would cover different methods of identification and de-sexing of pets and would collect baseline data on numbers being euthanased.
He said the Government would contribute $380,000 to the trial and a new code of practice for pet shops was being developed, and would be released shortly.
"The code of practice will not only inform the development of legislation for the sale of animals, but it also will help reaffirm the commitment of the industry to animal welfare issues," he said.
7 August, 2008
Water issues dry up in south-east
Water security for the south-east corner of the State was in sight, according to Premier Anna Bligh, who said the easing of water restrictions and completion of new infrastructure would benefit Queenslanders for generations to come.
Ms Bligh said the construction of a $9 billion South East Queensland Water Grid would soon be completed with 85 per cent of the project pipeline already in the ground.
“The last pipe of the Southern Region pipeline is due to be laid within a fortnight linking the Brisbane and Gold Coast water supplies for the first time in the history of the State,” she said.
“That is an incredibly significant moment and the fact is we are entering the end game for one of the biggest projects Queensland has ever seen.”
Ms Bligh said there was still a lot of work to be done, but that the project was on schedule with 340 kilometres of pipeline already laid.
She said the new water supplies would provide enough extra water each day for 1.5 million people.
Ms Bligh said there would be no let-up in the work, despite the region’s dams finally reaching over 40 per cent.
“The dams are still 60 per cent empty and we’re getting on with the job of drought proofing our water supplies,” she said.
“The extra rain and great water savings by families have made a real difference to our dam levels,” she said.
“Soon they’ll be boosted even more by the $9 billion Water Grid.”
Ms Bligh said over 4,000 workers, including labourers, electricians, construction and pipe specialists, designers, technicians and engineers had worked on the project.
“To date more than 34,000 pieces of pipe and fittings had been installed and more than 11 million man-hours worked,” she said.
Ms Bligh said around 400 kilometres of Water Grid pipeline would be completed by the end of the year and would include key features such as the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project to provide water to Swanbank and Tarong North Power Stations and the Gold Coast Desalination Project.
She said sections of the Southern Regional Water Pipeline were undergoing hydro-testing and the Northern and Eastern Pipeline Interconnectors were almost complete.
Ms Bligh said stage two projects from 2009 onwards would include connecting the grid to the proposed Traveston Dam and supplying Toowoomba and the proposed Traveston Crossing and Wyaralong Dams.
7 August, 2008
Barriers no barrier to flood control
Emergency Management Queensland was in the process of finalising tenders for new flood barriers, similar to those that protected Charleville in January.
Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts, announced the progress saying funding for the barriers was provided in the 2008-09 State Budget.
“The tender process is now closed, and we expect delivery of the barriers in time for the first anniversary of the successful Charleville operation,” Mr Roberts said.
He said based on the uccess of the temporary barriers borrowed from NSW for the Charleville emergency, the Government had decided to purchase two sections.
“Emergency Management Queensland has decided to locate one portion each in the State’s south-east and north Queensland to properly service the State,” he said.
“The barriers can be moved to the appropriate area in a matter of hours as we saw in Charleville.”
Mr Roberts said the barriers would provide a last resort measure for river towns and other centres that may be threatened by rising floodwaters.
“The Charleville example showed that temporary barriers of almost 400 metres could be erected swiftly, a feat that would have been difficult to achieve with the very labour-intensive work of filling and placing sand bags.”
Mr Roberts said purchasing the barriers showed the Government was planning ahead for future challenges and was providing the resources to tackle them head-on.
7 August, 2008
Training program learns to win award
A training and recruitment program run by the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service for Indigenous firefighters has been recognised with a major award.
The QFRS Northern Region’s Indigenous Auxiliary Firefighters Project (IAFP) has taken out the Department of Emergency Services’ 2008 Minister’s Award for Excellence in the Partnerships and Reconciliation category.
The Minister for Emergency Services, Neil Roberts, said the program was developed as a part of the Department’s Strategic Plan for Indigenous Australians 2005 – 2008 and aimed to improve the quality of life of Indigenous people by providing employment opportunities while promoting reconciliation in the Hinchinbrook and Mt Isa regions.
Mr Roberts said large-scale disaster management, community safety initiatives and numerous rural and remote area-specific achievements were the other major winners at the awards.
He said 16 projects were recognised, with eight winners, four highly commended, and four commended for their efforts.
He said the Awards for Excellence were designed to recognise outstanding achievements, innovations and leadership.
“Queensland is prone to more natural disasters than most other States in Australia, and each year our staff and volunteers work hard and put their lives on the line to battle bushfires, cyclones, storms and medical emergencies.” he said.
He said the leadership, initiatives and achievements recognised by the Awards ensured that communities across Queensland remained safe.
Mr Roberts said the awards provided recognition to teams, units and volunteer groups that had set new standards and promoted the Department’s vision of creating a safer community and a better quality of life in Queensland.
“Many of these creative initiatives are driving improvements at national and international levels, and I am proud of the standard of world-class emergency and disaster management services that we as a State continue to uphold,” he said.
“The sheer amount of winners this year reflects the quality of nominations and I commend all entrants for their creativity and commitment to improving the delivery and management of emergency services in Queensland.”
The awards were presented at Parliament House in Brisbane.
Other winners included:
- Disaster Operations for excellence in leadership, innovation and creativity;
- The Community Engagement Unit for excellent community relations;
- Helicopter Replacement for innovation and creativity;
- Far Northern Regional Staff – Gubau Kakaruss and Queensland Ambulance Service Graduates of the Isolated Practice Paramedics Program for excellence in building Queensland’s regions; and
- Rural Operations and Rural Fire Service WH&S Implementation for ZEROharm excellence in safety leadership.
7 August, 2008
New foundry forges training excellence
SkillsTech Australia has taken another step towards beating the skills crisis with the opening of a new foundry at its Acacia Ridge Training Centre.
Minister for Education and Training, Rod Welford, said the $7.5 million foundry was part of the Government’s plan to reduce skills shortages in the manufacturing sector.
Mr Welford said the facility would give around 120 students access to the latest technology and allow SkillsTech to deliver short courses to specialised industry groups.
“The courses have grown significantly in popularity in the last six years – from 22 apprentices to 120 apprentices,” Mr Welford said.
“The new foundry training facility will cater for the anticipated growth of apprentices of between 15 to 20 per cent over the next five years.”
He said following the expansion of its facilities and programs in foundry and patternmaking, SkillsTech Australia was well positioned to become the leading centre for this type of training in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific Region.
He said SkillsTech Australia was created two years ago to modernise trade and technician training throughout the State and that this year the Government would invest a further $54.7 million for ongoing construction at Acacia Ridge and detailed planning and construction of centres in Townsville and Mackay.
“SkillsTech Australia has a proud record of achievements in both partnerships and strategic alliances with industry,” Mr Welford said.
He said industry played a major role in the design and development of the foundry project through the Local Advisory Working Group and that it incorporated sustainability features such as motion detectors to control lighting and air conditioning and the use of recycled water.
The Minister was represented by Parliamentary Secretary Bonny Barry at the official opening of the facility.
7 August, 2008
Testing times for drivers’ licences
Police from Julia Creek and staff from the local Courthouse have hit the road to conduct heavy vehicle licensing tests for applicants on remote cattle stations.
The Minister for Police, Judy Spence, and Attorney-General, Kerry Shine, said police officers and the Registrar of the Julia Creek Magistrates Court traveled 130m to Millungera cattle station to conduct the tests.
“The Queensland Police Service and Queensland Courts are working together to hold both written and practical licence tests for employees from several remote stations,” Ms Spence said.
“They will take equipment with them so licences can be issued to the successful applicants on the spot.”
Ms Spence said the safe operation of heavy vehicles was essential so the initiative focused on ensuring that workers in remote areas could obtain a licence and operate the vehicles responsibly.
“This is a great example of the Queensland Government working with rural communities to deliver services where they are needed,” she said.
Mr Shine said people in remote communities often had to travel a long way to access services most people took for granted.
“This initiative allows employees at remote stations to access this service where they work, or to come from nearby properties, providing real cost and time savings,” Mr Shine said.
“Many cattle station employees require a heavy-duty vehicle licence to move cattle around.”
Mr Shine said the combination of large distances and a busy cattle-mustering season meant it was impractical for many people to get their licences.
“We are constantly seeking ways to deliver services to remote areas,” he said. “This uses smart technology to take services to remote areas.”
The Millungera cattle station is north of Julia Creek.
7 August, 2008
Public comment called on pests
A discussion paper on protecting the State from pests and diseases has been released for public comment.
The Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries, Tim Mulherin, urged all stakeholders to put forward their views on biosecurity.
“With the devastation caused by Equine Influenza still fresh in our minds, we want all Queenslanders to have a say on how to better protect the state from pests, diseases and invasive species,’’ Mr Mulherin said.
“Submissions will be considered in the further development of this landmark biosecurity strategy for Queensland, which should be finalised next year.”
He said without adequate biosecurity, Queensland’s agricultural sector, worth around $12.5 billion annually, would be at risk.
“Without good biosecurity, Queensland and Australia risk losing access to these critical markets, which are vital to the Queensland economy,” he said.
Mr Mulherin said biosecurity was important to everyone’s interests, not just producers and exporters as it related to food safety, animal welfare, weed control and protecting the ecosystems relied upon by the State’s tourism industry.
“At the moment we are seeing the impact that an exotic animal disease can have on human health, with confirmation of the rare Hendra virus in Brisbane’s bayside and a property near Proserpine,” he said.
“Our biosecurity experts responded quickly to those outbreaks and are working with the people involved, as well as Queensland Health and horse industries to deal with the current problem and learn more about this virus.”
Mr Mulherin said his Department had been delivering biosecurity services for over 150 years and it was time to work together to ensure an even more effective response to the increasing number of risks.
“The biosecurity expertise in DPI&F has earned international recognition and respect for many of the successful programs operated by our staff in Queensland,” he said.
“But we are not going to rest on our laurels – we are determined to provide the best possible service now and into the future.”
Mr Mulherin said the discussion paper was an opportunity for everyone to have a say on Queensland’s biosecurity systems.He said the paper, Queensland Biosecurity, was available from www.dpi.qld.gov.au and submissions closed on 30 September.
7 August, 2008
Festival State plays musical chairs
A major shake-up of the South Australian Public Service has seen six Departments assigned new Chief Executives to stimulate ideas and bring a fresh approach to key management positions.
South Australian Premier, Mike ran said the moves provided a chance for skilled and experienced executives to bring a fresh perspective in their new portfolio areas.
“These changes, along with the Cabinet reshuffle announced last week, will mark a regeneration in Government, while maintaining a high level of experience and expertise across portfolios for the benefit of all South Australians,” Mr Rann said.
He said he had the highest expectations of the SA Public Service executives to deliver on key performance indicators, and importantly, on targets in South Australia’s strategic plan.
He said the Government had also appointed a new chief executives group with three senior executives to monitor Agency performance and to enhance collaboration between Departments.
Under the changes, Warren McCann, who has been head of the Premier’s Department since John Olsen was in power, will replace Jeff Walsh as the Commissioner for Public Employment.
The Chief Executive of the Families and Communities Department, Sue Vardon, will retire and Scott Ashby will become the Chief Executive of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation.
Brian Cunningham, who was chief of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology is to swap jobs with Ray Gerrard and take on the Trade and Economic Development portfolio and the chief of Thoroughbred Racing SA, Greg Bentley, will become the chairman of the WorkCover Board, replacing Bruce Carter.
7 August, 2008
Children warm to fire safety program
School children are being urged to ‘scream and shout’ when in danger of being caught in a fire as part of a new Fire Education program in Queensland schools.
Minister for Emergency Services, Neil Roberts and MP for Yeerongpilly Simon Finn launched the new program saying it was aimed at Grade One students and delivered a very important fire safety message.
Mr Roberts said traditional lessons such as ‘get down low and go, go, go’, ‘get out and stay out’ and ‘stop, drop and roll’ would continue to be taught but ‘don’t hide: scream and shout’ urged the children to immediately let everyone know of a potential fire danger.
"Some children get confused in dangerous situations and their natural tendency is to hide,” he said.
“By teaching kids to scream and shout, firefighters will have a much better chance of finding the child when conducting searches."
Mr Roberts said the program would cost about $135,000 and would be delivered to more than 45,000 students each year.
Mr Finn said while the Fire Ed program has existed in schools for more than 12 years, the revamped version included more added features for teachers and students.
He said it also incorporated a visit to schools by firefighters to teach students about the importance of fire safety for themselves and their family.
"The program has always been well received by children,” Mr finn said.
“They are always eager to learn fire safety life skills and the new program will ensure students get the most out of the lessons."
7 August, 2008
Copying book is original work
The history of copying in offices is the subject of a book by a conservator at the National Archives of Australia, Ian Batterham,.
The book traces the copying of documents from the use of carbon paper to laser printers.
Mr Batterham said his book, The Office Copying Revolution would be of interest to anyone who ever worked in an office, as well as professional conservators, archivists, librarians and forensic document examiners.
“Copying machines first appeared in the wake of the industrial revolution but more recently have even found a use in the area of fine art,” Mr Batterham said.
“For almost three centuries, Government and business offices across the world have rushed to adopt new copying techniques as they became available.”
The Office Copying Revolution is illustrated with quaint advertisements and colourful images of machines such as the 1870 “Malling Hansen writing ball” from Denmark, the world’s first commercial typewriter.
Mr Batterham describes the story of office copying as “diverse and inventive.” It involves well known inventors such as Thomas Edison who developed the Mimeograph machine and James Watt who invented the first copy press. It also tells the story of the demise of the typing pool (and the drudgery that involved) when word processors came on the scene.
While generations of copying machines had become obsolete, their legacy resided in the historical collections of archives, libraries, personal collections and galleries across the world, he said.
Mr Batterham said it was the challenge for conservators in such institutions to preserve the copies that resulted from varying processes over the centuries.
He said he became interested in the history of office copying techniques 10 years ago when researching for his Master’s thesis on “Thermographic Office Copying”.
“I realised a single reference work on office copying didn’t exist and it became my crusade to create such a book,” Mr Batterham said.
“I see it as a resource for people entrusted with the care of the millions of copies still in existence which were made on these machines.”
The book was aimed at a wide audience and an appendix provided an 11-step process to identify an unknown copy.
The Office Copying Revolution was launched by Senator Kate Lundy at a symposium of the Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Material in Canberra.
7 August, 2008
Plain sailing for river festival ship
The replica of Captain Cook’s ship HM Bark Endeavour is to be a major attraction at this year's Riverfestival in Brisbane.
The tall ship will sail from her 'home port' at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney and arrive at Hamilton No.2 Wharf on Wednesday, 27 August where she will be open for inspection from the following Friday to Tuesday, 2 September.
Captain Cook’s original Endeavour was a converted coal carrier and became one of history's most famous ships after its voyage in 1768-71.
Captain Cook and the scientists on board observed the Transit of Venus in Tahiti, explored vast areas of the southern Pacific Ocean, circumnavigated New Zealand and charted the east coast of Australia, taking possession of it for King George III of England.
The Australian-built Endeavour replica was launched in Fremantle WA in 1993 and has been hailed as the most accurate historical ship replica in the world.
It is now crewed by members of the Royal Australian Navy and is used in youth training programs.
Visitors to the ship during the festival will gain an accurate impression of life at sea in the 18th century as the ship is to be presented as if Captain Cook and his crew had just stepped ashore.
A meal would have been served on the mess deck, Joseph Banks' journal would be open on a table in the Great Cabin and elsewhere there would be evidence that officers and crew were going about their daily routines.
On deck, visitors will be given the opportunity to view the ship’s navigational tools and technology including varnished wooden masts and spars, 24 kilometers of ropes and 700 wooden blocks.
While Endeavour was kept ready to sail at anytime by the Australian National Museum and sailed exactly as the original ship did, it also houses modern facilities including a kitchen, bathrooms, refrigeration and twin diesel engines hidden in its cargo hold.
The ship would be open for inspection from 10am to 5pm and will cost $15 for adults, $8 for children/concessions and $30 for families.
Adventure seekers wishing to join the crew of Endeavour could register their interest at www.anmm.gov.au or phone 1800 720 577.
7 August, 2008
Solar program sets shining example
A Government program to kick start the take-up of green power will see 1,000 homes install solar energy for as little as $185.
Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change, Andrew McNamara said the lucky home owners were the winners of a keenly contested ballot for households with an income under $100,000.
Mr McNamara said eco-Kinetics, an Oxenford-based affiliate of one of Germany’s leading renewable energy companies, had won the tender to supply 1,000 one kilowatt solar-power systems for $8,185 each.
Under the Solar Homes Program, households with an income under $100,000 would be eligible for an $8,000 Federal Government rebate on the installation, which would include a household energy audit and a device that slashed power used by appliances on stand-by.
Mr McNamara said 1,000 systems would be installed throughout Southeast, Toowoomba, Cairns, Rockhampton and Fraser coast over the next twelve months under the pilot program.
He said eco-Kinetics would offer the same price to the 4,000 households who missed out on the ballot.
Mr McNamara said the competitive tender among 19 companies and the fact that 5,200 households swamped the ballot in 48 hours proved Queenslanders were eager to reduce their carbon footprint.
He said the program was part of the Government’s renewable energy strategy.
“Like any product, more competition means cheaper prices,” he said.
“Not so long ago, solar power may as well have been from another solar system for most people. The benefits were obvious to most but few could afford it.”
Mr McNamara said the program was designed to push solar power in the same direction as water tanks.
“Now that Government rebates have got the ball rolling, water tanks are overtaking swimming pools as must-haves of the modern house,” he said.
“The whole idea of this program was to intervene in the market to drive down prices with a bulk purchase.”
Mr McNamara said connecting 1,000 households to solar power was equivalent to taking 425 cars off the road.
Eco-Kinetics Managing Director, Edwin Cywinski, said his company regarded the program as groundbreaking.
“We believe we can deliver a quality product to the Queensland householder at a very competitive price,” Mr Cywinski said.
“All system components are approved by the International Electrotechnical Commission and conform to Clean Energy Council regulations.” He said they had a two year warranty and would be installed by Clean Energy Council accredited installers.
More information was available from www.epa.qld.gov.au and www.eco-kinetics.com
7 August, 2008
Fire season cool
Homeowners have been following fire safety advice this winter, according to the Minister for Emergency Services, Neil Roberts.
Mr Roberts said there had been a dramatic drop in house fires in winter, with only two deaths and 24 injuries reported, compared to last winter which saw four dead and 49 injured.
He urged residents to keep taking safety precautions around heaters and electric blankets as winter continued.
Work Safe Awards open
The 2008 Queensland Work Safe Awards are on again for their third year and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has called on businesses big and small to enter.
It said the awards were a great opportunity to recognise businesses, individuals, associations, partnerships and other organisations that had shown a commitment to excellence in workplace health and safety and more information was available from www.deir.qld.gov.au, 1300 369 915 or worksafeawards@deir.qld.gov.au
Entries close 15 August.
Carebus for Brisbane
A new ‘Carebus’ service for the South Brisbane Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre has been launched by the Commonwealth Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot.
The Carebus will visit peoples’ homes and act as a mobile one-stop shop for providing information on Government and community care services to older Australians.
Mrs Elliot said the service allowed people to remain independent in their homes and communities for longer and urged carers interested in finding out more about the service to contact their local Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre on 1800 059 059.
Stuart police Station opened
The Minister for Police, Judy Spence, has officially opened the new $5.5 million Stuart Police station that has helped local police boost their efforts to work with the community to fight crime.
Ms Spence said the new station housed almost 40 staff members and had seen a 300 per cent increase in counter inquiries since opening.
She said the new facility included state-of-the-art security and surveillance technology including digital CCTV coverage of the two holding cells and monitoring systems inside and outside of the station.
Regional areas go maternity
Enhanced maternity services for regional areas of Queensland have been announced following a Budget commitment of $9 million over four years.
Mothers in Ipswich, Logan and Charleville would be able to access one-on-one midwifery support from conception to post-birth under the new initiative.
Up to 600 mothers were expected to benefit from the program each year.
Multicultural awards open
Nominations are being called for the 2008 Queensland Multicultural Awards.
Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Lindy Nelson-Carr said the awards recognised people who had dedicated their time and efforts towards promoting and supporting diversity in the community.
More information on the Awards, including details of past winners, nomination guidelines and an application form could be downloaded from www.multicultural.qld.gov.au
Kawana hospital named
The $1.2 billion hospital opening at Kawana in 2014 is to be named the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
Health Minister, Stephen Robertson announced the name of the new facility saying it reflected the strong relationship between Queensland Health and both the University of Queensland and the University of the Sunshine Coast.
He said the new building would house 650 beds and would start construction mid-2010 for an opening in late 2014.
New ambulances arrive
Ambulance stations in the State’s south-west are about to take delivery of three new ambulance vehicles worth $500,000 on-the-road.
Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said two would replace existing vehicles at Injune and Pittsworth stations and a replacement patient transport vehicle had been delivered at Toowoomba.
In addition, Mr Roberts said the Queensland Ambulance Service had ordered 30 new patient transport vehicles, worth more than $4 million, as part of a total purchase of 145 new vehicles to be bought by QAS this financial year.
Innisfail hospital opens
Health Minister, Stephen Robertson, and Member for Mulgrave, Warren Pitt, have opened the Innisfail Hospital after it underwent a $42.3 million redevelopment.
The hospital now offers 49 overnight beds and 23 bed alternatives including dialysis and chemotherapy treatment chairs.
The redevelopment began in 2005 but was delayed due to Cyclone Larry in 2006.
