26 March, 2009

New faces on Cabinet seats

Newly re-elected Premier, Anna Bligh, has announced portfolio responsibilities for the incoming Government.
   Naming a Cabinet including eight new Ministers, Ms Bligh said it reflected
her commitment to renewal across the whole of Government.
   "I pledged to Queensland that there would be significant renewal across the Ministry and today I have delivered that renewal," Ms Bligh said.
   "It’s a mix of experience and new blood and reflects a Government that is hungry for change and hungry to get on with the job and deliver for Queensland.”
   She said the returning Ministers represented experience blending with new faces from among the most talented people on the Back Bench.
   "Today I have finalised matching both these new and experienced Ministers with appropriate portfolios and have also delivered a clear message – now is the time to jump straight in and get on with the job,” the Premier said.
   "Queenslanders have given us a clear mandate to do just that and to improve our performance as a Government and I have been extremely clear in delivering that message to my Ministry."
   The composition of the new Cabinet is as follows:
   Anna Bligh, Premier, Minister for the Arts;
   Paul Lucas, Deputy Premier and Minister for Health;
   Andrew Fraser, Treasurer and Minister for Employment and Economic Development;
   Robert Schwarten, Minister for Public Works and Information and Communication Technology;
   Stephen Robertson, Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy and Minister for Trade;
   Geoff Wilson, Minister for Education and Training;
   Neil Roberts, Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services;
   Tim Mulherin, Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland;
   Craig Wallace, Minister for Main Roads;
   Desley Boyle, Minister for Local Government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Partnerships;
   Stirling Hinchliffe, Minister for Infrastructure and Planning;
   Rachel Nolan, Minister for Transport;
   Cameron Dick, Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations;
   Karen Struthers, Minister for Community Services and Housing and Minister for Women;
   Kate Jones, Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability;
   Annastacia Palaszczuk, Minister for Disability Services and Multicultural Affairs;   Peter Lawlor, Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading;
   Phil Reeves, Minister for Child Safety and Minister for Sport.

26 March, 2009

Housing plan drives stimulus home

The first construction contracts to be signed for new Defence houses under the Commonwealth’s Nation Building and Jobs Plan (NBJP) are for homes in Queensland.
   Federal Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon said 17 houses will be built in North Brisbane and 72 in Ipswich.
   Mr Snowdon said contracts had been awarded by Defence Housing Australia (DHA), to Ausbuild Pty Ltd in Brisbane and the Ipswich contracts would be offered by tender to pre-qualified builders.
   Federal MP for Brisbane, Arch Bevis said he was pleased to see new, good quality homes being built for Defence families based at Enoggera Barracks.
   “The early signing will also sustain valuable local jobs in the building and construction industries,” Mr Bevis said.
   Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, Mike Kelly said the Ipswich project would centre on the suburb of Yamanto, which was ideally located for Australian Defence Force members working at RAAF base Amberley.
   “A residential construction project of this scale in Ipswich can only have a positive effect on everyone involved,” Dr Kelly said.
   "This project shows that the Nation Building and Jobs Plan is committed to making an impact in regional areas, supporting these communities while also having long term benefits for our serving Defence Force members,"
   Local Federal MP, Shayne Neumann said it would strongly support the building industry in Ipswich, ensuring local jobs and helping the community.
   DHA expects $251.6 million in funding under the NBJP to construct a total of 802 homes across the country.
   The new housing will be located in areas that support Defence operational requirements in Ipswich, Brisbane, Toowoomba, Townsville and Cairns in Queensland as well as such interstate areas as Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart, Sydney, Wagga Wagga, Wodonga, Nowra, Darwin, Victoria, and the Hunter Valley.

26 March, 2009

Court finds in favour of lost documents

People who lost Court documents in the recent floods will be able to get new copies for free.
   The Family Court of Australia and the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia have announced they will waive the normal fees for supplying copies of Court documents.
   Chief Executive of the Family Court, Richard Foster said the offer would also apply to victims of the recent bushfires in Victoria.
   “Court orders, documents and divorce certificates are vital records, and lives already in turmoil can be further disrupted when the lost documents are required.” Mr Foster said.
   “The Family Law Courts will replace lost Court documents without charge for those affected by fire or flood.
   “As people will often have lost proof of identity as well, the Courts will follow Centrelink’s lead in this regard and apply the same tests.
   “No one will be refused assistance in circumstances where it is entirely reasonable that he or she will lack normal means of identification,” he said.
   Mr Foster said all correspondence from the Courts to self represented litigants will include a broadsheet with information about measures in place to overcome difficulties associated with lost documents.
   They will be advised that changed circumstances of one party may affect the applications and responses of the opposing party.
   He said the Family Law Courts website www.familylawcourts.gov.au had information in the “What’s New?” section on replacing lost documents and the National Enquiry Centre, 1300 352 000, would answer any queries.

26 March, 2009

Donations flood in to flood appeal

The Premier’s North and North-West Flood Appeal has passed the $6 million mark.
   Donations included the sum of $343 collected by prisoners at Maryborough Correctional Centre who had also supported the Victorian Bushfire Appeal.
   Premier, Anna Bligh said 50 per cent of the profits from the Sydney concert segment of the Sydney-Melbourne Sound relief bushfire concerts would go to the Premier’s Flood Appeal.
   “It has been incredibly hard for Victorian fire victims and for those in the North and North West, but it is so heartening knowing fellow Queenslanders, other Aussies and our Papua New Guinea neighbours are digging deep,” she said.
   Ms Bligh said the State Government launched the Appeal on 6 February with $500,000 and major donors to join in so far have included the PNG Government with $1 million; Rio Tinto, $250,000; Woolworths, $150,000; Queensland Gas Company and Newcastle Region Natural Disaster Relief Fund Trust, both $100,000.
   She said others included Felix Resources (staff and company), $71,750; CSR, $50,000; Bank of Queensland, $50,000; Gold Coast City Council, Adventist Development and Relief Agency Trust, Logan City Council, all $30,000; Caltex, Queensland Hotel Association, AWB Ltd, all $25,000; Sunshine Coast Regional Council, $20,000; Data #3, $11,250 and Eric Donald Aldridge, the Australian Credit Union and Mr I. and Mr M. Howard-Smith all $10,000.
   Ms Bligh said no donation – whether it be $20 or $2 – was too small.
   “Every dollar will be directed toward helping victims,” she said.
   Donations can be made at the major banks including the Commonwealth, Westpac, NAB, ANZ, Suncorp Metway and the Bank of Queensland.
   Cheques can be made out to the Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal Fund, or credit cards can be used 24 hours a day at the Smart Services Queensland Call Centre on 1800 173 349. All donations are tax deductable.
   Ms Bligh said the Appeal would remain open for at least another 10 weeks.

26 March, 2009

Ambulance picks up 32 new graduates

The ranks of the Queensland Ambulance Service have been expanded with 32 students graduating from the Queensland Combined Emergency Services Academy.
   Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said the graduates, who had successfully completed the Diploma of Paramedic Sciences (Ambulance) would fill some of the 250 additional front-line ambulance positions being created throughout Queensland during this financial year.
   This comes on top of the 255 positions added in the 2007-08 financial year.
   “We are creating employment as well as boosting the number of paramedics on the front line,” Mr Roberts said.
   Twelve of the new paramedics will work in the Brisbane region while six each will be based in the North Coast and South Eastern regions, four in Central Region, three in the Far North Region and one in the South West Region.
   Mr Roberts said the addition of the 32 to the QAS ranks would ensure the Service’s reputation as being the best in Australia would be maintained with response times leading the nation.
   “In 90 per cent of Code One cases, a Queensland ambulance was on the scene within 16.7 minutes, significantly better the national average of 18.75 minutes and NSW’s 19.9 minutes,” he said.
   “Queensland’s ambulance-officer-to-population ratio is the second highest in the country – 52.4 ambulance officers per 100,000 people - well above the national average of 41.1.”
   The Minister said the additional paramedics would support and enhance that ratio.

26 March, 2009

Best employers are ladies’ choice

The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA) has issued its 2009 list of “Employer of Choice for Women” workplaces.
   According to the Federal Minister for the Status of Women, Tanya Plibersek, the 111 organisations on the list provided workplaces that encouraged women to contribute to their full potential.
   “These 111 organisations recognise the challenges women face in the workplace and are responding,” Ms Plibersek said.
   “I hope that Employer of Choice for Women organisations will inspire and encourage other businesses to promote diversity and create female-friendly conditions.”
   She said addressing inequities in the workplace wasn’t just the right thing to do - it also made business sense.
   Ms Plibersek said Australia had made advancements towards women and men sharing life at work and home better but women still faced challenges in being fully valued in the workplace.
   “Significant improvements in gender equality require a shift in attitude from the entire community, including businesses, and that’s why these awards are so important,” Ms Plibersek said.
   She said the Government was pursuing three key priority areas for advancing gender equality:

improving women's economic outcomes and financial independence;
ensuring women’s voices are heard at all levels of decision-making; and,
reducing violence against women.

   Australia’s accession to the United Nations Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) came into effect two weeks ago.
   Ms Plibersek said the Government had a comprehensive agenda for women that attempted to address the challenges working women grappled with every day.
   She said a full list of the Employer of Choice organisations could be accessed at www.eowa.gov.au

26 March, 2009

Health awards off to healthy start

The community of Bowen in North Queensland is being encouraged to do more physical activity in a project that could win up to $1 million in the Healthy Queensland Awards competition.
   Queensland Health’s Chief Health Officer, Dr Jeannette Young said the Bowen project had been entered by Health Promotion Connections, a community organisation that worked closely with Government, non-Government and local organisations to address health concerns and quality of life issues in the community.
   “This is one of many groups from throughout the State entering the Healthy Queenslanders Awards, which is a partnership between the State Government, through Queensland Health, and Keep Australia Beautiful,” Dr Young said.
   Health Promotion Connections had undertaken consultation with schools, sporting
groups, aged care facilities, health professionals and individual residents to assess ways to increase participation in physical activity.
   Dr Young said the group planned to get more people in the community participating in physical activity and gaining more benefit from their community parks and recreation areas.
   “They have five strategies planned to achieve this, such as installing outdoor gym equipment and 10,000 Steps signage; free or low-cost recreation activities in parks; a pamphlet promoting Active Parks; and the appointment of an Active Parks project officer,” she said.
   “The group believes that everyone – children, teenagers, adults and the elderly – can use the outdoor gym equipment and it will encourage both regular and not-so-regular exercisers.”
   Dr Young said regular physical activity was important for both physical and mental health and wellbeing.
   “Just 30 minutes a day for adults and 60 minutes for children is recommended for health benefits, and to reduce the risk of chronic disease,” she said

26 March, 2009

Report says bullies don’t beef enough

A recent survey of workplaces has found a majority of people bullied and sexually harassed at work did not report the incidents because they feared ruining their career.
   Of 788 respondents surveyed by recruitment company CareerOne, 62 per cent had been bullied and 29 per cent had been sexually harassed but most of the respondents who had been bullied (59 per cent) or sexually harassed (74 per cent) didn’t report the incident.
   CareerOne spokeswoman Kate Southam said workers could find themselves more vulnerable in this cost cutting climate.
   “In the current climate where thousands of jobs are being slashed, employers have more power and workers suffering poor conditions such as bullying fear losing their job if they complain,” Ms Southam said.
   “Redundancies also create greater workloads for those left behind adding to the stress already caused by the challenging economic conditions.
   “Poorly trained managers who can’t cope can resort to bullying.”
   The survey, conducted in partnership with research company CoreData, also found

37 per cent of people sexually harassed at work were women compared to the 19 per cent men;
Most (77 per cent) of those sexually harassed at work were harassed by more senior staff;
Of the respondents who reported being bullied, 64 per cent were female and 60 per cent male; and
Most of them (74 per cent) said they were bullied by a more senior person.

   Ms Southam said employers who turned a blind eye to bad behaviour at work were failing to realise how much bullying and sexual harassment was costing them in lost productivity and staff loyalty.
   “Not only is the target of the bullying and/or harassment focused on what is going on instead of on their work, so is the perpetrator and their respective support groups,” she said.
   “Bullying also silences people so employers are only hearing one set of ideas – and they may not be the best ones.”
   She said such employers risked litigation and damaging their reputation with potential future employees and clients.
   “Tolerating bullying and harassment is just bad business practice,” she said.
   The organisation, Beyond Bullying, defines workplace bullying s repeated unreasonable behaviour where there is some kind of power imbalance between the individuals involved.
   It said bullying behaviours included name calling, public humiliation, deliberately leaving someone out of a communication loop such as an email list, assigning someone meaningless tasks, stealing ideas, taking credit for another person’s work and spreading rumours.

26 March, 2009

Support for charities begins at home

A commitment to slashing bureaucratic red tape for the charities and the non-profit sector has emerged from the Council of Australian Governments’ Business Regulation and Competition Working Group meeting in Melbourne recently.
   The BRCWG agreed to seek agreement from COAG for all States, the Territories and the Commonwealth to work on practical measures that would reduce red tape in the multi-billion dollar, non-profit sector.
   Co-Chair of the Group, Federal Minister for the Service Economy, Dr Craig Emerson said the non-profit organisations provided valuable services to those in need and the regulatory burden on them could be enormous and costly.
   “It is vital we embark on a reform process that will ultimately save money that can be passed on to those in need,” Dr Emerson said.
   He said a Senate Inquiry had already found that overlapping and inconsistent regulation of the sector created an unnecessary compliance burden as well as hindered efforts to increase its transparency and accountability.
   He said the Senate found the sector was subject to 178 State and Federal statutes and reported to 19 Government entities and 74 other Agencies.
   Dr Emerson was pleased that the States and Territories were acting on reducing red tape in the non-profit sector.
   The BRCWG meeting that made the commitment to cut back on regulation was attended by the Federal Parliamentary Secretary for the Voluntary Sector, NSW Senator Ursula Stephens, who also met with 40 non-profit groups last December
   Senator Stephens described the current arrangements as “inefficient and unproductive” saying they put extra pressure on charities and other non-profit organisations which were wasting valuable resources dealing with cumbersome red tape.
   “For example, when a charity wishes to pursue a fundraising drive across Australia, it is required to comply with six fundraising laws, including seeking a licence from six different Ministers or regulators,” Senator Stephens said.
   She said the BRCWG would also be looking at further reform opportunities for the sector when it had completed its current reviews.

26 March, 2009

Poster gives notice for Anzac Day

The 2009 Anzac Day ceremonies are to be commemorated with a souvenir poster, depicting Australian efforts to restore peace to East Timor.
   Unveiled by the Federal Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, the poster features an image of Australian soldiers patrolling in the streets of Dili, taken on 2 October 1999.
   One of the soldiers featured in the poster, former Private Paul Everett, was with Mr Griffin at the unveiling of the poster at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
   “This year marks 10 years since Australia led the INTERFET operation in East Timor - restoring peace to a territory torn apart by political violence,” Mr Griffin said.
   “East Timor was a milestone in Australia’s military history. It is there that the work of people like Paul Everett made a real difference to the lives of our near neighbours.”
   Mr Griffin said he was pleased the poster would draw attention to the service of Australia’s younger veterans.
    “These young Australians may not yet see themselves as veterans, but with more than 25,000 troops having deployed overseas since 1999, the number of younger veterans is growing,” Mr Griffin said.
   “It is clear that our proud Anzac traditions are in good hands.”
   Mr Griffin also noted the 93rd anniversary since the first Anzacs arrived on the Western Front from Gallipoli.
   This year the Government would again hold an official Anzac Day Dawn Service on the Western Front. This now annual service would join those also organised in Gallipoli, Hellfire Pass, Sandakan and Isurava.
   “I encourage all Australians to attend a local Anzac Day service or march. If they are travelling abroad, I ask them to consider attending a service in the country they are visiting,” Mr Griffin said.
   He said more than 85,000 copies of the poster would be distributed around Australia and overseas.
   For information about Anzac Day services in Australia and overseas, or to download a copy of the poster, visit www.dva.gov.au

26 March, 2009

Mobile services easy as ABC

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has launched a new “mobile platform” to make many ABC services available to people through their mobile phones.
   Managing Director of the ABC, Mark Scott said ABC Mobile, at m.abc.net.au, had been developed specifically for mobile phone screen sizes so content was fast to load and easy to navigate.
   “The ABC is already a leading provider of digital media content in Australia,” Mr Scott said.
   “But we are now delivering even more with this significant move onto the mobile platform.”
   He said ABC Mobile provided another way for Australians to access reliable, quality content wherever and whenever they chose.
   Mr Scott said content on the mobile site would include news, sport and entertainment stories; localised information including weather forecasts and radio schedules; movie reviews and session times; TV guides for ABC1 and ABC2; music news from triple j; and much more.
   In addition to the mobile site, Mr Scott also announced the launch of the ABC iPhone application and a news application for the new G1 Android handsets. He said both applications would be available online as free downloads and a basic Java application for use on all other high end handsets would be coming soon.
   The site has launched with a text and image service to keep data charges low however users could look forward to ABC video and audio when more content was added to the site later this year.
   The site can be accessed by typing m.abc.net.au into any internet enabled mobile phone browser or by SMSing the word “ABC” to 19 712 111 to receive a live link to the site.

26 March, 2009

Students put to test in Q150 spectacular

Tickets for the Creative Generation - State Schools Onstage 2009 spectacular are now on sale.
   Education and Training Minister, Rod Welford said the event, to be staged at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Boondall, on June 6, would involve more than 3,500 Queensland State School students as well as some of the State’s biggest show business stars
   “Some of our most talented State School students will feature alongside a number of Queensland’s most successful entertainers, including last year’s So You Think You Can Dance winner Jack Chambers, 2008 Australian Idol finalist Chrislyn Hamilton and performers from Raw Dance Company, Flipside Circus and Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre,” Mr Welford said.
   “This is our fifth year of Creative Generation – State Schools Onstage and this year’s show-stopping performances will be six times bigger.”
   He said in the lead-up to the event, workshops would offer students invaluable industry lessons with expert coaching and presentations from industry professionals covering all aspects of a career in the performing arts.
   “With a kaleidoscope of colour, dance and music, audiences will be treated to a range of styles delivered by inspiring students through a symphony orchestra, stage band, a 2,000-voice choir and 1,500 dancers, all celebrating the Q150 theme of our ‘people, our places, our stories’,” Mr Welford said.
   Performances would also feature ‘Qtubes’ - video messages from high profile Queenslanders.
   Tickets are available now through all Ticketek outlets, by phoning 132 849 or visiting www.ticketek.com.au

26 March, 2009

Smooth plans for roads upgrade

A partnership between the State and Commonwealth Governments is expected to produce safer roads for the drivers in the Darling Downs, Fitzroy and South West regions.
   Commonwealth Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese, and Queensland Main Roads Minister, Warren Pitt, announced the $8.5 million funding package, saying it would be used for continuing maintenance work to improve road safety.
   "Queensland's Southwest is important to the State's economy and this funding will not only improve road safety, but also freight efficiency on these vital transportation routes," Mr Albanese said.
   "Roads in these areas suffer from the effects of extreme weather conditions … resealing sections of roads is a cost-effective way to extend the life of the road network across Queensland.”
   Mr Albanese said the Australian Government was contributing $922,000 towards the resealing works from its annual contribution to Queensland for maintenance of the road network, which in 2008-09 totalled $67.76 million.
   "This funding will also assist in maintaining employment opportunities for locals in these regions,” he said.
   Mr Pitt said the resealing work on 310 kilometres of road was part of a long-term asset-protection strategy to preserve roads against wear and tear caused by weather, traffic and other factors.
   Weather permitting, Boral Asphalt and SAMI Road Services will complete the work by the end of April.
   More information, including specific locations for resealing works, can be obtained from the Main Roads South West Regional Office on 4622 9511 or by using the 'Contact Us' function on the Main Roads website at www.mainroads.qld.gov.au

26 March, 2009

Schools are backbone of spinal program

Five schools in the Brisbane area have been singled out for special recognition for recording the highest numbers of students taking part in a spinal injuries awareness program over the past 20 years.
   The schools were congratulated by the Minister for Disability Services, Lindy Nelson-Carr.
   Ms Nelson-Carr said the Spinal Injuries Association’s award winning Spinal Education Awareness Team (SEAT) program delivered important messages about road safety, playing sports safely and raised awareness about the fragility of the spinal cord.
   “It provides a reality check for many students, as all of the presenters are people with paraplegia or quadriplegia and use wheelchairs,” she said.
   “It makes the program especially powerful because students hear stories firsthand about how easy it can be to injure their spinal cord and the consequences of making the wrong decision.”
   Ms Nelson-Carr said Chatswood Hills State School was at the top of the list, with almost 5,700 students involved in the program over the past 20 years.
   Boronia Heights State School came second with 5,200 students, followed by Albany Creek State School (5,000), Greenbank State School (4,500) and Anglican Church Grammar School (4,200).
   Ms Nelson-Carr; the MP for Springwood, Barbara Stone; and the Chief Executive Officer of the Spinal Injuries Association, Mark Henly; visited Chatswood Hills State School to congratulate students.
   They presented the school with the message ‘my school rules at injury prevention.’
   Ms Stone said she was proud her local school had been recognised for its commitment to safety and injury prevention.
   “Every student will receive a ruler, which is a fun way for students to remember the messages from SEAT and to be proud that their school values their safety,” she said.
   “The more times students hear the message about safety, the more the message will sink in. This is so important, as the only cure for spinal cord injury is prevention.”
   Mr Henley congratulated all five schools for their commitment to keeping students safe and sharing important safety messages.
“We would like to thank Chatswood Hills State School and the other schools for continuing to invite us year after year to speak to their students about staying safe,” he said.
   “As we are at the start of the school year, we would encourage other schools in Brisbane to become Schools that Rule in the future.”
   The SEAT program has been visiting schools around Queensland for 22 years, seeing over 1.2 million students in that time.
   Further information was available by phoning (07) 3391 2044.

26 March, 2009

Heritage grants for old times’ sake

The National Library is calling for applications for its 2009 Community Heritage Grants.
   Community groups and representatives across Australia have been encouraged to apply for the grants to help them preserve nationally significant cultural heritage collections of documents and objects.
   The grants are worth up to $15,000 and can be used to support significant assessments, preservation needs assessments, the purchase of archival storage materials, digitisation, conservation treatments and environmental controls.
   The grant money could also be used to improve staff training by funding community organisation staff and volunteers’ participation in collection management workshops to help them improve their skills when working with heritage collections.
   Over $2.8 million in funding has been provided to 661 projects since 1994.
   Representatives from historical societies, museums, public libraries, archives and Indigenous and migrant community groups have been urged to apply, with applications due to close on 5 June 2009.
   The 2009 Community Heritage Grants Program is funded by the National Library of Australia; the Commonwealth Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts; the National Archives of Australia; the National Film and Sound Archive; and the National Museum of Australia.
   Further information, guidelines and application forms were available from www.nla.gov.au

26 March, 2009

Teacher swap is lesson in schools

A joint education program to build partnerships between Australia and Indonesia is to see 180 teachers swap schools for several weeks.
   Thirty teachers from Indonesia have arrived in Australia for the launch of the program, Building Relationships through Intercultural Dialogue and Growing Engagement (BRIDGE).
   Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, announced the project in August 2008, saying it was an initiative of the Australia-Indonesia Institute and would be funded by the national aid Aency, AusAID and the Myer Foundation.
   Mr Smith said the Indonesian teachers would spend several weeks in Australian classrooms developing curricula with their Australian counterparts in a mix of metropolitan, regional and rural schools across all States and Territories.
   The three year project is expected to boost Indonesian language study in Australia and the study of English in Indonesia, complementing the Government’s goal of having 12 per cent of year 12 graduates fluent in an Asian language by 2020.
   Mr Smith said BRIDGE aimed to create strong links between teachers, schools and communities and to equip Australians to live and work with some of the nation’s closest neighbours better.
   He said trough the relationships formed and the provision of IT training and computer hardware, it was hoped future generations would overcome what Indonesia’s President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono described as the “tyranny of stereotypes”.
   One hundred and eighty teachers from 80 schools are to be involved in the project, including around 10 Indonesian schools from the Federal Government’s Basic Education Program which is building 2,000 schools and education services in Indonesia.
   The BRIDGE program is being managed by the Asian Education Foundation at the University of Melbourne.

26 March, 2009
PS invited to try for awards
Public Service Departments and Agencies have been invited to apply for the third annual Australian Community ICT Awards.
   The Awards are designed to promote Australia’s most innovative use of ICT by nonprofit organisations, Government Agencies and companies working with nonprofit organisations.
   The awards will be presented on 11 May 2009, and more information is available from www.connectingup.org

Redistribution begins
Enrolment quotas for Queensland have been set as the first step towards redistributing the State’s federal electoral boundaries.
   Electoral Commissioner, Ed Killesteyn, said the quota for Queensland was 88,343 electors, determined by dividing the number of electors enrolled in the State by the number of House of Representatives seats it would be entitled to at the next federal election.
   Commissioner Killesteyn said a Redistribution Committee would soon be formed to begin creating electoral boundaries with similar numbers of electors for the State.
   Queensland stands to gain one extra Federal seat as a result of the redistribution, taking its national lower house representation to 30.

Historical search begins
The search for the wreck of the World War II Australian Hospital Ship Centaur, torpedoed by a Japanese submarine south east of Cape Moreton in May 1943, is to be managed by Blue Water Recoveries.
   Premier, Anna Bligh said the wartime incident formed an important part of the State’s history, and the relatives of the more than 250 who died deserved to know the vessel’s last resting place.
   “The Project Manager’s first responsibility will be to develop a detailed Project Plan which will outline the likely search area, the timeline for the search, and the estimated costs of the project,” Ms Bligh said.
   A Reference Working Group, including Department of Defence representatives, will convene later this month.
   The Federal Government is matching Queensland’s $2 million commitment to the search.

Indigenous students up
The number of Indigenous school students enrolled in Year 12 has doubled since 1999, according to the National Schools Census released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
   In 2008, there were 4,779 Indigenous school students enrolled in Year 12, compared with 2,206 enrolled in 1999.
   Overall in 2008, 151,669 school students were identified as Indigenous, a 42 per cent increase on the 1999 total of 106,628 students.

19 March, 2009

Houses no longer homes for Health

The Department of Public Works has been given responsibility for the maintenance and upgrading of staff accommodation for the Department of Health.
   The transfer was made at the direction of the Premier, Anna Bligh, who said she was dissatisfied with progress in rectifying widespread security and other maintenance problems uncovered in Health staff accommodation around the State last year.
   According to Ms Bligh, Health had completed all the work required on staff houses classified as at extreme risk by the accommodation audit but only 45 of 100 houses at “high” risk.
   “Even though progress on this work is on-going in regional centres,” Ms Bligh said, “it has failed to meet a reasonable time frame.”
   “Accordingly, today I have directed that responsibility for health staff accommodation maintenance and upgrading be transferred in full to the Department of Public Works.”
   She said the failure by Health to meet the time frame for fixing the problems highlighted that the Department’s core business was running hospitals and other health facilities and taking care of sick Queenslanders: “not the business of maintaining staff accommodation and housing.”
   Ms Bligh said she that as well as giving Public Works responsibility for the accommodation, she had also directed it have all the maintenance and upgrading work completed by Easter.
   “It is completely unacceptable that this work has taken such a long period of time to bring to this standard and I’ve made this absolutely clear to both the Minister (for Health) and the Director General,” Ms Bligh said.
   At the time of announcing the results of the audit, Health Minister, Stephen Robertson said to be at ‘extreme’ risk a building needed to lack such items as fire alarms, safety switches and suffer from inappropriate screening and/or locks, and to be at ‘high’ risk it needed to have smoke alarms not properly maintained and security measures not fully implemented.
   Two of the houses judged unfit are no longer being used for Health staff accommodation.

19 March, 2009

Red letter day for green building

The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries has opened the Queensland Government’s first environmentally friendly office building.
   DPI&F’s Maroochy Research Station at Nambour is expected to save between 15 and 20 per cent on energy and 50 per cent on water annually, compared to a typical office building.
   Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries, Tim Mulherin said environmental sustainability was vitally important to the success of the Department’s business.
   “This new building sets a benchmark for environmental standards that are in keeping with the State Government's Towards Q2 ‘green’ aspirations, with a 2020 target to cut Queensland’s carbon footprint by one-third,” Mr Mulherin said.
   “This office reflects our future direction as an eco-conscious organisation, and one that is intent on protecting our lifestyle and environment.”
   Mr Mulherin said the role DPI&F played in the Southeast of the State was just as important as its role in any other part of Queensland.
   “Many people might be surprised to learn that this region currently accounts for 25 per cent of Queensland’s total farm-gate turnover,” he said.
   Regional Services Manager with the DPI&F, Southeast, Paul Grealy said the office rationalised the location of the Department’s staff in the Nambour area.
   “The DPI&F is taking a fresh approach to the way it delivers information and the co-location of the Maroochy Research Station and this office will further enhance our service to the primary producers in the area,” Mr Grealy said.
   “With 25 staff, the office will work across the areas of industry and regional development, Biosecurity Queensland, and research, development and extension services.”
   Designed by Project Services in the Department of Public Works, the $2.2 million regional headquarters features controls for ventilation, lighting levels and glare; translucent cladding for more natural light and raked ceilings.
   Pollution is minimised through reduced flows to the sewer and stormwater system, less dependence on coal-fired electricity for ventilation and lighting, and operational waste minimisation.

19 March, 2009

Open tally room is vote winner

The Electoral Commissioner has announced that members of the public will have access to the election tally room for the first time in a Queensland State poll.
   Commissioner David Kerslake said the accessible tally room would be located at the Brisbane Convention Centre at Southbank.
   The public area of the tally room can cater for up to 200 people at a time and there will also be screens in the foyer area televising proceedings. The first results are expected to be posted around 7pm.
   “We want to give people the opportunity to witness the outcome at first hand, and for young people this could be their first direct experience of democracy in action,” Mr Kerslake said.
The Commission will also be trialling a ‘Kids’ Election’ in which a small number of school students will be given the opportunity to vote for candidates in their electoral district.
   “While their votes obviously won’t be included in the real event we will still try to make voting as realistic as possible, with all of the usual polling equipment.” Mr Kerslake said.
   “The main difference will be that in the Kids’ Election, voting isn’t compulsory.”
   He said groups of students will be trained to conduct the election in each school, but will not count the votes until after 21 March.
   It might be a sobering thought for the winning party in the main event if their candidates didn’t fare well in the Kids’ Election, but it would still be encouraging to see young people taking an interest in democracy.
   If the trial is successful, the Commission hoped to expand the concept at future elections.
   Major media outlets will also be providing coverage of the State election from the tally room and election results will be available on the Commission’s designated election website www.queenslandvotes.com.au

19 March, 2009

Tourist campaign to be slick sell

Tourism Queensland has hit the ground running with a high-profile marketing campaign to counter the effects of the damaging coastal oil spill.
   Deputy Premier, Paul Lucas said the $750,000 campaign was intended to help tourism operators on the Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay and Fraser Coast get back on their feet.
   The publicity campaign, including television and online advertising, would target Brisbane, Sydney and Northern NSW with the aim of enticing visitors back to the affected areas.
   It will be run in partnership with Tourism Sunshine Coast, Brisbane Marketing and Fraser Coast Tourism.
   “This campaign will very clearly say we’re back in business, South East Queensland is still the place for your Easter holiday,” Mr Lucas said.
   “While the clean-up is continuing on the eastern side of Moreton Island, we’ve got beautiful beaches all along the coast.
   He said many tourism operators were already struggling in the tight economic climate and needed to be helped with a positive message.
   "We’re hoping to really break the back of this clean-up over the next week or so and the open for business sign is up for Easter,” Mr Lucas said.
   “Tourism Queensland and the regional tourism organisations are also working on immediate communication activities targeting radio and television programs, travel wholesalers and retailers and online communications.”
   Mr Lucas pointed out that the majority of Sunshine Coast beaches were in good condition and significant events such as the Noosa Festival of Surfing and the Mooloolaba Triathlon Festival were going ahead.
   Chief Executive of Brisbane Marketing, John Aitken said the tourism bodies were working together on both short and long-term marketing and communication strategies to mitigate the negative perceptions of the oil spill.

19 March, 2009

Compo compendium is good insurance

The Australian Safety and Compensation Council has released its 16th Annual Compendium of Workers' Compensation Statistics report.
   Council Chairman, Bill Scales said the 2006-07 Compendium provided a detailed analysis of compensated work-related injury and disease among employees in Australia.
   Mr Scales said preliminary data in the Compendium showed in 2006-07 there were 236 compensated fatalities and 132,055 serious workers’ compensation claims across Australia.
   “This equates to 2.5 fatalities per 100,000 employees and 14 serious workers’ compensation claims per 1,000 employees,” he said.
   “Even one work-related death is one too many,” Mr Scales said.
   “However as a nation we are continuing to reduce workplace fatalities.”
   He said the number of workplace fatalities fell from 320 to 254 during 200-01 to 2005-06, a drop of 21 per cent.
   “In this period, incidence rates also fell by 29 per cent, from 4 fatalities per 100,000 employees down to 2.8,” he said.
   Mr Scales urged workers and managers to be continually vigilant with workplace safety.
   “We all have a responsibility for safety in our workplaces,” he said.
   “And with a continued focus by workers, employers and Governments we can continue to reduce death, injury and disease in Australian workplaces.”
   Mr Scales said the Compendium revealed that 73 per cent of serious claims involved injury while the remaining 27 per cent were disease related.
   He said the most common injury (accounting for 41 per cent) leading to a serious claim was sprains and strains of joints and muscles.
   According to the Compendium, men accounted for 68 per cent of all serious workers’ compensation claims with incidence rates almost twice that of females.
   Mr Scales said all industries recorded falls in incidence rates over the period, though the wholesale trade industry only recorded a 1 per cent decrease.
   He said the electricity, gas and water supply industry recorded the greatest percentage improvement with rates falling 43 per cent.
   The construction industry recorded the highest number of fatalities (50) followed by the transport and storage industry (45).
   The most common cause of death was vehicle accidents, causing one third of the 236 fatalities.
   Thirty-one deaths occurred due to long term contact with chemicals or substances.
   The Compendiumwas available from www.ascc.gov.au

19 March, 2009

Top marks for finest students

The highest achievers from the State’s Year 12 students have been awarded this year’s TJ Ryan Memorial Medals.
   Minister for Education and Training, Rod Welford said the 10 medal winners, who also receive university scholarships, had graduated from Year 12 last year from both State and Non-State Schools.
   “The TJ Ryan Medals are awarded to students for achieving academic excellence and displaying exceptional leadership in their schools and communities,” Mr Welford said.
   “The recipients will receive $2,000 in scholarship payments for each year they complete of a degree course, to a maximum of five years.”
   A further five students were highly commended and received $1,000 prizes to assist them in their tertiary studies. Another 13 graduates received certificates of merit.
   The medal is named after Thomas Joseph Ryan, Premier of Queensland from 1915 to 1919 and widely recognised as an educational leader.
   From 1927 to 1970, it was awarded to the top student in the State’s annual scholarship examination. After a break of 23 years, Mr Welford said, it was reintroduced in 1993 to continue the tradition of recognising academic excellence and student leadership.
   Previous medallists include the former Queensland Commissioner for Children and Young People and Child Guardian, Dr Robin Sullivan and University of Queensland Emeritus Professor, John de Jersey.
   Mr Welford said every secondary school in Queensland is invited to nominate one student who displays excellent leadership and academic skills.. The recipients are selected with the help of the Queensland Studies Authority and representatives of both the State and Non-State education sectors.
   The medal recipients were:

Joshua Chakravarty, Somerset College, Gold Coast
Kate Chambers, Ferny Grove State High School
Natasha Gorrie, All Saints Anglican School, Merrimac
Rohan Hughes, Proserpine State High School
Joy Liu, Somerville House, Brisbane
Michael Liu, Kirwan State High School
Rhys Parry, St Edmund’s College, Ipswich
Taylor Redwood, Sunshine Beach State High School
Kate Stevenson, Wavell State High School, Brisbane
Kathryn Zealand, Brisbane Girls Grammar School

19 March, 2009

Race to save wildlife lines up at barrier

An innovative approach to roadside barriers developed by Main Roads is expected to save the lives of many koalas in the future by making the barriers more “wildlife friendly.”
   Minister for Main Roads, Warren Pitt, said the new initiative would allow koalas trapped between roadside barriers on busy roads or roadworks to climb out to safety.
   Mr Pitt said Main Roads, in consultation with the Australian Wildlife Hospital and the Environmental Protection Agency, had run a series of trials involving koalas crossing the safety barriers typically used in road construction work.
   “The solutions developed as a result of this research initiative have the potential to save the lives of many koalas each year on Queensland roads,” he said.
   Mr Pitt said the barriers were necessary to protect workers, motorists and pedestrians but posed a risk to koalas.
   “The trial identified that koalas which go around the barriers to cross the road can become trapped if they are unable to climb the barriers on the other side,” he said.
   “Research from the University of Queensland shows that 26 per cent of koala deaths each year in south-east Queensland’s Koala Coast area can be contributed to high-speed road environments.”
   Mr Pitt said improving facilities around roadworks was one way the Government could help prevent koalas from dying on the roads.
   He said the initial trial involved testing two concrete and plastic barriers to determine the ability koalas to climb over them and which materials made climbing easier.
   “Most adult koalas showed an ability to climb over plastic barriers using the grooves in the structure,” Mr Pitt said.
   “Installing mesh to barriers, particularly on permanent concrete barriers, improved a koala's ability to climb over the barriers.”
   The research recommended mesh material be installed on barriers in key koala crossing locations and that suitable design solutions be discussed with barrier manufactures to try to get a design that was more koala friendly.

19 March, 2009

Police Bike Squad wheeled out

A new era for policing in Cairns has been marked by Police Minister, Judy Spence officially launching the City’s first Police Bike Squad.
   The Bike Squad, which will patrol Cairns on mountain bikes and motorcycles, will provide a highly-visible police presence with the aim of cracking down on street-level crime and anti-social behaviour.
   Ms Spence said the seven Bike Squad police were new positions for Cairns and formed part of the Cairns District Tactical Crime Squad.
   “This Government is committed to increasing the number of police on Queensland’s streets and the new Cairns Bike Squad is another example of how we are delivering on that commitment," she said.
   Member for Cairns, Desley Boyle said the geography of the Cairns Central Business District and the foreshore made bikes an ideal way to conduct patrols and respond rapidly to incidents.
   Ms Spence said the Brisbane Bike Squad, which covers an average of 25 kilometres every shift, had been a huge success.
   “The Brisbane Bike Squad have proved themselves quick and versatile when responding to incidents – they can cross blocks in a matter of minutes and they can travel through arcades, along walkways and down narrow laneways,” she said.
   “I am sure the Cairns Bike Squad will prove just as successful.”
   The Minister said the officers would also be available to patrol with other members of the existing Tactical Crime Squad in other parts of the Cairns District when necessary.

19 March, 2009

Flood victims to hang out online

Queensland residents affected by recent flooding are to be offered a free computer to help them stay in touch with family and friends.
   The Australian Information Industry (AIIA) and the State Government have joined forces to provide residents and businesses with tools to reconnect their communities.
   Chief Executive Officer of AIIA, Ian Birks, said he aimed to match service and hardware providers to people in need to help them re-establish their lives.
   “This is a long-term commitment and the industry will stand by these communities as basic ICT services are restored,” Mr Birks said.
   He said AIIA had worked with national not-for-profit organisation InfoXchange Australia to create a website facility to repair ICT facilities and find volunteers to help install technology and software to get people and businesses back on track.
   “The website facility will match the needs of people and businesses with the service and support offered by Australian ICT companies,” Mr Birks said.
   He said the Australian Information and Communications Technology industry was working to deliver a range of free hardware, software and services.
   “In addition to helping individuals and families in need, this initiative will also deliver assistance to support services that have been pushed to the limit by the scale of the crisis,” Mr Birks said.
   He said a similar program had been launched in Victoria to help those affected by the recent bushfires.
   “It is tremendous to see the ICT sector’s generosity now extended to Victoria,” Mr Birk said.
   Victorian Minister for ICT, John Lenders, said thanked AIIA and its members for helping “shattered communities as they strive to recover.”

19 March, 2009

Web users urged to log onto safety

A report released by the Australian Communications and Media Authority has warned internet users they need to be more pro-active protecting themselves online.
   The report, Australia in the Digital Economy: Trust and Confidence summarises a national survey of consumer attitudes and behavior which found most people were not protecting themselves adequately from the dangers of the net.
   Chairman of ACMA, Chris Chapman, said the report had examined internet users’ levels of trust and confidence in the internet and indicated there may be a need for more formal education about internet security.
   Mr Chapman said the report looked at perceptions of the internet as a trusted source of information, the type of online protection adopted by internet users, levels of internet competency, sources of internet training, awareness of internet security and how age, education level, frequency of internet use and online competency influenced the above factors.
   “The report clearly shows that Australians see the internet as having a positive effect on their lives,” Mr Chapman said.
   “However, internet users are either not taking or only taking limited measures to ensure their online security.”
   He said the report suggested the lack of action, both behavioural and technical, could be linked to a high reliance by internet users on informal methods of training and acquiring knowledge about the internet.
   He said this could impact on users’ awareness of available technical measures to protect home computers from online risks.
   “These concerns do not currently form a barrier to participation in the online environment- as evidenced by the increasing numbers of people using the internet for a wide range of activities, including e-commerce and social networking,” Mr Chapman said.
   ‘While more than 80 per cent of Australian internet users consider themselves to have average or above average internet skills, these survey results highlight the need for more formal and continuing education for on-line users.”
   He said proficient skill levels were critical for the public to be able to maximise the benefits of the internet.
   “Such education could also raise awareness of e-security and address knowledge gaps about the appropriate measures that can be implemented to mitigate online risks,” Mr Chapman said.
   A full copy of the report was available from www.acma.gov.au

19 March, 2009

Aids showroom aids independent living

A new showroom that provides information, education and hands-on sampling of devices to aid independent living has been opened in Townsville.
   The Government-funded LifeTec Centre is the only one of its kind outside Brisbane.
   Officially opening the showroom, the Minister for Communities and Disability Services, Lindy Nelson-Carr invited everyone to try out the equipment free of charge to see what best suited their needs. Occupational therapists were on hand to provide advice and assistance if needed.
   “LifeTec Queensland provides information, education and hands-on sampling of devices that can make a real difference to the lives of people with disabilities and older people so they can be independent and in their own homes for as long as possible,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
   The showroom has more than 500 aid items on show.
   Disability Services Queensland has helped fund the showroom under the Home and Community Care (HACC) Program with a capital allocation of $259,000. Recurrent costs of the Townsville and Brisbane facilities are also covered through HACC.
   Ms Nelson-Carr said a wide choice of technology was available to help people maximise their independence, but the problem was often knowing what best suited their individual needs.
   That was where LifeTec came in, she said.
   “Assistive technology includes such devices as modified eating utensils, page turners, help with speech impairment, mobility and sensory aids, systems to help control household appliances and even items to enable participation in sport, social and cultural events,” she said.
   “This showroom is tremendously welcome for people in North Queensland and its central location at thriving Domain Central, where there is ample parking available, seems ideal.”

19 March, 2009

Students put to test in Q150 spectacular

Smooth plans for roads upgrade

Schools are backbone of spinal program

Heritage grants for old times’ sake

Teacher swap is lesson in schools

A joint education program to build partnerships between Australia and Indonesia is to see 180 teachers swap schools for several weeks.
   Thirty teachers from Indonesia have arrived in Australia for the launch of the program, Building Relationships through Intercultural Dialogue and Growing Engagement (BRIDGE).
   Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, announced the project in August 2008, saying it was an initiative of the Australia-Indonesia Institute and would be funded by the national aid Aency, AusAID and the Myer Foundation.
   Mr Smith said the Indonesian teachers would spend several weeks in Australian classrooms developing curricula with their Australian counterparts in a mix of metropolitan, regional and rural schools across all States and Territories.
   The three year project is expected to boost Indonesian language study in Australia and the study of English in Indonesia, complementing the Government’s goal of having 12 per cent of year 12 graduates fluent in an Asian language by 2020.
   Mr Smith said BRIDGE aimed to create strong links between teachers, schools and communities and to equip Australians to live and work with some of the nation’s closest neighbours better.
   He said trough the relationships formed and the provision of IT training and computer hardware, it was hoped future generations would overcome what Indonesia’s President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono described as the “tyranny of stereotypes”.
   One hundred and eighty teachers from 80 schools are to be involved in the project, including around 10 Indonesian schools from the Federal Government’s Basic Education Program which is building 2,000 schools and education services in Indonesia.
   The BRIDGE program is being managed by the Asian Education Foundation at the University of Melbourne.

19 March, 2009
Comment on Directives
Departments and Agencies have been invited to comment on a review of three Directives being undertaken by the Public Sector Industrial and Employee Relations Division of the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations.
   The Directives being reviewed are Directive 24/99 Transfer within and between Classification Levels and Systems; 19/05 Sick Leave; and 20/05 Recreation Leave.
   “Feedback about difficulties interpreting or applying the Directives as well as any comment on improving the Directives is welcomed,” said PSIER’s Annette Ozanne.
   Comments on the Directives should be directed to Ms Ozanne at psier@deir.qld.gov.au by 27 March and more information is available from www.psier.qld.gov.au/psiernews/index.html

Ex-Officers found guilty
A Crime and Misconduct Commission investigation into false invoices paid for painting work not performed has resulted in two former Department of Public Works Officers being sentenced in the Brisbane District Court.
   The offences amounted to more than $200,000.
   One former Officer pleaded guilty last month to a charge of fraud while the other admitted charges of official corruption and fraud.
   A third man, from a Brisbane painting company also pleaded guilty to charges of official corruption and fraud.
   The Officer guilty of corruption and fraud and the painting company’s man were sentenced to four years jail to be suspended after one year. The other Officer was given a three-year wholly suspended sentence.
   The painting company was ordered to pay restitution of $210,061.

APRA reports on super
The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has released its Annual Superannuation Bulletin, which found total superannuation assets fell by $25.1 billion (2.1 per cent) over the financial year ending 30 June 2008.
   APRA found small funds with less than five members were the only funds to experience an increase in assets with 6.7 per cent growth.
   Contributions to all superannuation entities totalled $120.4 billion for the year, with employers contributing $69.4 billion and members contributing $49.8 billion.

Trainees online
The Department of Education, Training and the Arts has introduced an online register of experienced apprentices and trainees seeking work.
   Apprentices or trainees who were out of work or at risk of losing employment, can post their details online.
   The service matches them with potential employers who have indicated a willingness to employ an apprentice or trainee.
   The register is located on the apprenticeships information website www.apprenticeshipsinfo.qld.gov.au

Hospital plans out
Plans for the redevelopment of Mount Isa Hospital have been published with work getting underway in the middle of the year.
   Health Minister, Stephen Robertson said project was on track to be completed by 2011.
   “This hospital plan is the right plan for Mount Isa and the right plan for Mount Isa residents – one that will put us on track to meeting their health care needs well into the future,” Mr Robertson said.
   “It will transform health services in the region and provide more than 350 jobs during construction at a time when locals need them most.”

Earth hour stamps
Australia Post has released three new stamps to mark Earth Hour 2009.
   The stamp designs feature simple graphic representations of animals - a Leadbeater’s possum, an owl and an orangutan, two of which are an endangered.
   The stamps also carry the date and time of Earth Hour to encourage people to turn their lights out, switch off and save energy for an hour on 28 March.

12 March, 2009

PS cutbacks are LNP campaign promise

The LNP Opposition has promised to introduce an “efficiency and productivity dividend” into the Queensland Public Service to save more than $1 billion a year in Government waste.
   Leader Lawrence Springborg said the savings would protect jobs.
   In a speech to the Committee for the Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) Mr Springborg said the three per cent productivity dividend would create a better, more focused Government and ensure funding was delivered where it was needed most.
"This productivity dividend will work in concert with a promise, which I reiterate today, that no Public Servant will be sacked by an incoming LNP Government,” he said.
   “The three per cent dividend is across all of Government – leaving us the flexibility to keep staff, particularly in those front-line Departments, and maintain and expand the capital works program."
   Mr Springborg’s proposal received a cold reception from the Government, with several Ministers predicting it would result in job cuts in their Departments and hardships resulting from reduced services.
   Disability Services Minister, Lindy Nelson-Carr said the cuts would hurt Queensland’s most vulnerable citizens with 12,000 jobs lost and the cutting of vital services and her concerns were echoed by Natural Resources and Water Minister, Craig Wallace who described it as a blow for landowners, graziers, irrigators and rural and regional residents across Queensland.
   Mr Wallace said the cuts would affect important services provided by the Department of Natural Resources and Water.
   "Natural Resources and Water staff around Queensland are the backbone of the Department," he said.
   However, to pay for the productivity dividend the Department of Natural Resources and Water would have to either make "de-necessary" more than 200 staff providing frontline services or cut operational spending by $18 million a year.
   Minister for Public Works and Housing, Robert Schwarten said the efficiency dividend could force some public housing tenants onto the streets.
   He said it would mean the loss of some 500 jobs across his Departments.
   “For the Department of Housing there would be fewer housing officers and call centre workers to help those in the greatest need of housing to get a roof over their heads,” he said.
   “These cutbacks would place more pressure on our officers and will result in more people becoming homeless.
   Emergency Services Minister, Neil Roberts said he feared the efficiency dividend would result in cuts to vital emergency services.
   “This is a front-line service delivery agency providing vital ambulance, fire and rescue and disaster management services,” he said.
   Close to 400 Emergency Services workers could be slashed every year.”

12 March, 2009

Extra Health staff to buzz mosquitos

Extra staff from the Department of Health have been moved to Far North Queensland to tackle the outbreak of dengue fever in the region.
   Health Minister, Stephen Robertson said the 100 staff now on duty included mosquito control officers, public health nurses, medical officers and entomologists.
   “Health staff are working side-by-side with Council and the community,” Mr Robertson said.
   “We must all pull together to tackle this issue – Government, Council and the community. It’s the responsibility of all of us.”
   Mr Robertson said the grim reality of the outbreak was brought home by the recent death of an elderly woman from dengue-related illness.
   He urged Far North Queenslanders to take all precautions.
   “Wear insect repellent to avoid being bitten, especially during the day,” he said.
   “Use indoor surface spray and mozzie coils around the house to discourage mosquitoes.
   “We’ve got the resources in place and staff with their sleeves rolled up, ready to help. Their efforts so far have been commendable.”
   More than 580 people in 20 Cairns suburbs had been diagnosed with dengue fever since the start of December.
   SES volunteers in the city have been door-knocking high-risk suburbs giving out surface spray and information packs advising residents how to reduce mosquito breeding sites in their homes and yards.
   The Minister said the roll out of insect repellent included schools, kindergartens and childcare centres.
   “Brisbane City Council has also made experienced mosquito control staff available to residents in Far North Queensland and I thank them for their help,” he said.
   Queensland Health advised people with symptoms of dengue – such as fever, headache, rash, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, and fatigue – to see a doctor immediately.

12 March, 2009

Maternity offer is motherhood idea

The LNP Opposition has promised to introduce “keeping in touch” days for women Public Servants who take maternity leave from their jobs.
   LNP leader Lawrence Springborg said the plan was modeled on practices in the United Kingdom in which working mothers returned to work for two days during their maternity leave to stay in touch with changes in their workplace.
   Mr Springborg said women who took advantage of the ‘keeping in touch’ program would have the days added to their current paid maternity leave entitlement of 14 weeks.
   Making the announcement as part of International Women’s Day, he said the program ensured mothers had a smooth return to work at the end of their maternity leave and were familiar with any changes in their workplace.
   "The LNP is proud to have been the pioneers of introducing maternity leave to Queensland’s Public Sector and today I am doubly proud to be expanding on that program,” he said.
   He said the new program would be funded from the three per cent efficiency dividend aimed at cutting Government waste and claimed that $2.7 million in Government grants to the union movement "looks suspiciously like a money laundering exercise".
   “Today I can announce that the $2.7 million in taxpayer-unded grants to the union movement over the last three years has been identified as Government waste by the LNP,” he said.
   "These grants, which are ultimately redirected to the Labor Party as donations, will be scrapped as a part of our three per cent efficiency dividend.
   Mr Springborg said an LNP Government would use the money to fund the ‘keeping in touch’ program.
   “It’s all about my plan to champion ‘your rights at work’," he said.

12 March, 2009

Bonus holiday is way to go

Tourism Queensland has launched a campaign to persuade Australians to spend their Federal Government bonus on a Queensland holiday.
   A focal point of the campaign will be ‘Bonus Breaks’ offers featuring a range of holiday deals from additional free nights to room upgrades, breakfasts, transfers, discount vouchers and ‘buy one, get one free’ offers for a range of tours.
   Tourism Minister, Desley Boyle said that with so much pressure and stress around, there was no better time to escape and relax for a few days.
   “Queensland’s tourism industry has worked together to come up with 158 short break deals and offers,” Ms Boyle said
   “The Federal Government is encouraging us to spend our bonus, so booking a Queensland Bonus Break holiday will have the double benefit of offering Australians an affordable getaway and injecting some much-needed cash into our local tourism industry.”
   The four-week campaign will primarily target Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne holidaymakers through a range of television and print advertisements and through Flight Centre stores nationally.
   More than 50,000 southern households will also receive a special “bonus offer” in their letterboxes later this month.
   Ms Boyle said Queensland’s tourism industry was currently facing one of its most challenging times.
   "More than 119,000 Queenslanders are directly employed in the tourism industry, mostly in small businesses, so it’s important that we do all we can to protect their jobs during these tough economic times,” she said.

12 March, 2009

Womens’ history all dressed up

An online pictorial history of Queensland women’s achievements has been launched to mark both International Women’s Day and the 150th anniversary of the State’s foundation..
   Minister for Women, Margaret Keech said the interactive history featured images and information about outstanding Queensland women and their achievements over the past 150 years.
   “All Queenslanders can contribute by submitting images and recommending women they think should be included,” Mrs Keech said.
   “As we look to the future, I encourage us all to take inspiration from the women who have come before us and to whom we are indebted for the lifestyle we all enjoy today.”
   Mrs Keech said the Government’s International Women’s Day theme, ‘Our Women, Our State’, celebrated the achievements of Queensland’s women including earning the right to vote in Queensland’s elections in 1905 and in 1965 extending that right to Indigenous women.
   “Women also could become members of Parliament in 1915 and today we have Queensland’s first female Premier,” she said.
   However, it must be remembered that Queensland’s women faced many challenges on the way to these achievements.
   “From pioneer days to the Great Depression and in wartime, women have played an important role in helping shape Queensland’s future in tough times,” she said
   “Today many Queensland women are supporting their families through the challenges of the global financial crisis.”

12 March, 2009

Hoax warning is no joke

The Minister for Emergency Services has warned hoax callers to Triple 0 that they could end up in jail if they risked the lives or health of emergency workers caught up in their hoax.
   The warning followed an incident in which an Energex helicopter from the Sunshine Coast and two Queensland Ambulance Service vehicles from Gympie responded to a Triple 0 call which claimed a young man had been seriously injured in a fall near Amamoor, south of Gympie.
   Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said QAS investigations indicated the call was a hoax. He had asked police to assist.
   Describing the call as “an act of gross stupidity,” Mr Roberts said it could have cost lives if a real emergency situation had arisen.
   He said amendments to Ambulance Service and Fire and Rescue Service legislation meant false and malicious calls to fire and ambulance call centres could now attract up to a $10,000 fine or a year’s imprisonment - and in some cases on-the-spot fines of $1,000.
   A false call for the Fire and Rescue Service in times of a State or fire emergency, could attract penalties up to $25,000.
   Mr Roberts called on anyone with information about the hoax call to contact Police or Emergency Services.
   He said genuine callers to Triple 0 have nothing to fear from the new infringement notice provisions and increased penalties under the Act.
   “For example, an infringement notice would not be issued where the caller had a genuine but mistaken belief that the Emergency Service was required,” he said.
   “The Act requires an Emergency Services Officer to investigate any lawful excuse of the caller prior to issuing an infringement notice – police can also be asked to assist with investigations,” Mr Roberts said.

12 March, 2009

Builders nail down new bushfire code

The Australian Building Codes Board has unanimously agreed to adopt new national bushfire standards for residential buildings.
   The new standard would replace a 1999 Standard referred to in the Building Code of Australia.
   The ABCB is a joint initiative of all levels of Government in Australia with the building industry and through its national Building Code of Australia requires residential buildings in bushfire-prone areas to be constructed in such a way that the risk of catching fire from a bushfire is minimized.
   The new standard ‘AS 3959-2009’ aligns construction requirements more closely to the assessed level of bushfire exposure for new building work and introduces a science-based method for assessing the potential level of bushfire attack at a building site.
   Chairman of the ABCB, Graham Huxley confirmed the Board's intent to have the stringency of the new standard set at the highest option considered in a recently developed Regulatory Impact Statement.
   Mr Huxley said the RIS found that the strictest option would provide a positive net benefit and be more cost effective than current arrangements.
   The final RIS is available on the board's website at www.abcb.gov.au
   Mr Huxley has written to the Standards Australia asking that the new standard be published as soon as possible.
   The ABCB also welcomed the Victorian Government's recent announcement that a Royal Commission would inquire into all aspects of that State’s recent bushfires, including questions relating to improving fire safety of housing and other buildings, and materials used in construction.
   Mr Huxley said while the Board recognised that construction standards for new houses are important, it also accepted that they were only one factor in addressing bushfire risks.
   “Other actions can be very important and a holistic approach to bushfire risk is essential,” Mr Huxley said.
   He said examples of other strategies included planning controls, vegetation management, community education, evacuation procedures and emergency response.
   A formal change to the national Code was not expected to be made until 2010 but Mr Huxley said the ABCB was ready to assist any State or Territory Government that wanted to adopt the new standard prior to the change.

12 March, 2009

CMC knocks out taser concerns

The Crime and Misconduct Commission has expressed concern about the way the Queensland Police Service handled an incident in which a 16-year-old girl was tasered by a police officer
   CMC Chairman Robert Needham warned the QPS that mistakes were made and that it must learn from them or risk jeopardising the Service’s professionalism.
   He urged Police Commissioner, Bob Atkinson to send a strong message to all Police that they must objectively assess and learn from policing incidents and recommended the Officer concerned receive managerial guidance.
   Mr Needham said the incident at Southbank in April last year “displayed very poor policing by the Officer involved and showed a concerning pattern within QPS towards the handling of policing incidents.
   “The CMC made it clear to the QPS that, as the Southbank matter occurred very early in the QPS taser trial and any injuries in this case were minimal, if misuse of the taser was found disciplinary action would not be called for,” he said.
   “Instead the Commission expected the QPS to use the incident as a learning opportunity for the officer involved and for taser training generally, but there is no evidence to show this has occurred.”
   He said the QPS’s failure to learn from mistakes were not limited to this single case.
   Specific points in the Southbank incident which concerned the CMC included the poor exercise of discretion in requiring youths to move on in circumstances where they were waiting for an ambulance to treat their ill and unconscious friend; failure to advise the youths of the consequences of disobeying a move-on direction; use of a taser where the girl could have been restrained less forcefully and where the police officer admitted he knew she could be a juvenile.

12 March, 2009

Banana clearance called a slip-up

The Queensland Government has claimed that Biosecurity Australia failed to properly consider pests and disease risks when it decided to allow banans to be imported from the Philippines.
   Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister, Tim Mulherin described the ruling as “ill-advised and just plain wrong”.
   He said he had called his Federal counterpart Agriculture Minister, Tony Burke, to register Queensland’s anger at the Biosecurity Australia decision.
   “The Queensland Government appealed against the importation of bananas on the basis that the import risk analysis undertaken by Biosecurity Australia failed to properly consider the risks of pests and disease,” Mr Mulherin said.
   “Our appeal was rejected.
   “We are being told that bananas imported from the Philippines will be subject to strict quarantine testing for pests and diseases both in the Philippines and Australia.”
   He said he understood that the Filipino Government was complaining that the quarantine conditions were too strict.
   “But that is beside the point,” Mr Mulherin said, “... these bananas should not be imported in the first place.”
   Mr Mulherin’s concerns have been echoed by NSW Primary Industries Minister, Ian Macdonald.
   Mr Macdonald called on the Commonwealth to “take special oversight” of the role Biosecurity Australia played in the decision to approve the proposed importation.
   “The last thing we want to see is an exotic disease slip past our border and cause major disruption and a potential economic catastrophe for (NSW’s) $60 million banana industry,” Mr Macdonald said.
   “The Philippines is known to be home to a range of pest and diseases that affect bananas that are exotic to Australia,” he said.

12 March, 2009

ABC points finger at digital date

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has confirmed it will switch on its digital radio service in July.
   The ABC announced it would not meet the 1 May start-up date due to a delay in funding confirmation. The 1 May date had already been extended from 1 January.
   Acting Director of ABC Radio, Kate Dundas, said the ABC was working with the Special Broadcasting Service and the commercial sector to manage any potential interference issues when the service was rolled out to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth.
   Ms Dundas said from 1 July, ABC Radio would offer its five current analogue services - ABC Local Radio stations, ABC Radio National, ABC Classic FM, ABC NewsRadio and triple j, plus its three music services currently on the internet - dig Music, Jazz and Country to the five cities in digital.
   “We are keen for these digital radio offerings to be media rich services that take advantage of a new medium,” she said.
   “We’ll take some time to see how our first eight services are received in the market following the July launch.”
   Ms Dundas said the ABC was keen to look at audience preferences and to provide high quality services to the public.
   “Following the outcome of the ABC’s overall triennial funding submission, we will be in a clearer position to progressively look at the kind of additional digital radio services we can put to air,” she said.
   “The mix of future offerings to be developed would play to ABC Radio’s programming and content strengths.”
   ABC Radio is expected to join SBS and the commercial radio sector in a major listener event to be held in early August once full services are available in all markets.

12 March, 2009

Emergency callers on safe ground

The Federal Government is to amend its Telecommunications Act to allow States and Territories to introduce telephone-based emergency warning systems.
   The emergency warning systems which would be used for bushfire, floods and other threatening conditions have been the subject of discussions between the Commonwealth, States and Territories since 2004 with an agreement reached in November 2008.
   The proposed amendments would allow emergency services to access telephone numbers while protecting the identity of individuals.
   Access to the Integrated Public Number Database (IPND) would be provided through a new secure database allowing real-time access to telephone numbers
   Following the bushfire emergency in Victoria, the Government sought advice from the Solicitor-General on an interim measure to allow access to the IPND before draft legislation, which commenced in 2008, was finalised.
   Based on the advice, the Government made a regulation under the Telecommunications Act 1997 to allow immediate access by States and Territories wishing to implement a more limited system as soon as possible.
   Attorney-General, Robert McClelland said the interim solution was not a substitute for future amendments to the Act, but simply a temporary measure.
   He said if the States and Territories could agree on a national system at the next Council of Australian Governments meeting, the Commonwealth would make increased financial contributions to establish it.
   Under the COAG agreement reached in November last year, States and Territories would retain autonomy over the warning systems they chose to implement.
   Mr McClelland said current technologies were limited to communicating with fixed landlines and mobiles on the basis of billing addresses, meaning it would be a challenge to communicate with all telephones in a threatened area.
   It said individuals in an at-risk area may not receive a warning, while others outside the area did.
   The Attorney-General said at the next COAG meeting the Commonwealth would offer the States and Territories financial help to research improved location-based emergency warning systems.
   He said the public the phone-based emergency warning systems would not replace other warning systems such as media, sirens, signage and doorknocking.
   The Federal Government is to provide $11.3 million in funding towards the project, with a Request for Tender to build the database to be issued shortly.

12 March, 2009

Online safety program hung out for kids

A pilot program to keep children safe online has been announced jointly by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
   The Agencies said with the involvement of software company Microsoft, the ThinkUKnow program has already been introduced into a number of schools, resulting in over 500 teachers, carers and parents being educated about online safety issues.
   During the pilot phase of the program, volunteers from the AFP, ACMA and Microsoft ran education programs at over 100 schools across NSW, Victoria and the ACT.
   ThinkUKnow aims to educate adults on how to ensure children have a positive online experience and give them tools to manage their online safety.
   Program participants learnt about the types of activities young people were involved in online, and were given guidance on how to minimise risks and address issues as they arose.
   Acting National Manager of High Tech Crime Operations at the AFP, Commander Neil Gaughan, said while the internet was a fun place where kids could interact with the world, it also had many hidden threats.
   “Every time an Australian child logs onto the internet to use instant messaging or social networking sites, they and their parents and teachers need to be aware of some of the negative aspects,” Commander Gaughan said.
   “They need to understand that the people they are chatting to may not be who they say they are.”
   He said the program originated in the UK and was founded by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre.
   Commander Gaughan said a pilot study carried out by the Virtual Global Taskforce and Microsoft revealed that one in 12 young people in the UK had met someone in the real world who they first met online – someone they didn’t know if they could trust.
   “The AFP’s child protection team finds and prosecutes online offenders,” he said.
   “ThinkUKnow is another proactive piece of the puzzle with the aim to ensure children have a positive online experience.”
   Chairman of ACMA, Chris Chapman, said as part of the Government’s cybersafety policy, ACMA provided a national program of cybersafety initiatives including research of current cybersafety trends, information campaigns and activities and the development of cybersafety education materials.
   ”The ThinkUKnow program and partnership is a welcome addition in helping young Australians to stay safe online,” Mr Chapman said.
   Regional Director of Online Safety for Microsoft, Julie Inman-Grant, said over 60 volunteers from Microsoft had committed their time to the program.
   “Our volunteers feel passionately about harnessing their professional skills to help others to be more involved in their children’s online experiences,” Ms Inman-Grant said.
   “Many adults trail behind children when it comes to technology, but children may lack real-world experience and sound judgment, making them more vulnerable to online risks.”
   She said Microsoft had commissioned a survey that found even though a quarter of children said they had been cyber-bullied, 83 per cent of parents did not know what to do about it.
   “We believe that the strength of the ThinkUKnow partnership will bring significant and tangible benefits to communities around Australia,” Ms Inman-Grant said.
   For further information, visit www.thinkuknow.org.au

12 March, 2009

Carers share in carers’ week

The Department of Child Safety is supporting Foster and Kinship Carer Week during which Queensland carers are being celebrated for their efforts in protecting children in need.
   Child Safety Minister, Margaret Keech said the Week is raising community awareness about the important role foster and kinship carers played in society.
   “It is a sad fact around 7,000 Queensland children cannot live at home because of abuse or neglect,” Mrs Keech said
   “Queensland’s 3,700 carer families work in partnership with my Department and non-Government agencies to protect these vulnerable children.”
   She said the Government had provided $37,421 for community groups to celebrate the Week, the funds being part of the 2008-09 Child Protection Budget of $586.6 million.
   She said this followed on from the Government’s $15 million Foster and Kinship Carer Recruitment Campaign, launched last year.
   “To date the campaign has recruited more than 150 new carers and is on target to reach our goal of 500 new carers,” Mrs Keech said
   “I urge Queenslanders to consider opening their homes to help us provide brighter futures for abused and neglected children.”
   More information on events being held to celebrate Foster and Kinship Carer Week, or on becoming a foster carer, can be obtained by contacting the Department of Child Safety on 1300 550 877 or visiting www.childsafety.qld.gov.au

12 March, 2009

Townsville prison captures accolades

Queensland’s first stand-alone women's prison outside the State’s South-East has been commissioned.
   Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence said the new facility at Townsville cost $130 million.
   Describing the prison as “state-of-the-art”, Ms Spence said it underlined the Government’s commitment to building the prison infrastructure required for Queensland's future growth.
   She said approximately 2,000 people had been employed on the construction of the Townsville Women's Correctional Centre and another 200 new jobs had been created to staff it and the refurbished $142 Million Townsville Correctional Centre nearby. The upgraded Correctional Centre was scheduled for completion later this year.
   “The new employees have joined Queensland Corrective Services from a variety of backgrounds including security, the military, mining, retail, hospitality and trade industries,”
Ms Spence said.
   "The 154-bed Centre features the latest security technology with independent systems such as video, audio, staff duress tracking, movement control, and perimeter security integrated into the one system."
   Ms Spence also launched a new women offender's policy and action plan, Improvingu Outcomes for Women Offenders.
   "Women offenders have distinct needs and characteristics," she said.
   "Centres such as Townsville Women's Correctional Centre, which includes a double unit, equivalent to eight beds, for mothers with babies, are one example of improving infrastructure to meet the needs of women offenders."
   The new facility is also the first prison in Queensland to offer a nationally-accredited training program for trade instructors working in correctional centre tailor shops.

12 March, 2009

Police Academy has the force with it

The new Super Learning Centre at the Police Academy is part of a continuing plan to boost the number of officers patrolling the State.
   Work on the $2.14 million centre was in its final stages and Qbuild expected it would be completed by mid-March.
   Police Minister, Judy Spence said the new facilities, which will accommodate two classrooms, three meeting rooms and office space, will increase capacity at the Academy allowing it to train an additional 50 to 70 police recruits each year.”
   She said the Government is committed to increasing police numbers.
   “The Queensland Police Service will have 10,000 police on Queensland’s streets for the first time in the State’s history this week,” she said
   “During this term of Government we have increased the size of the Queensland Police Service by around 650 police.
   “These police have contributed to the 24 per cent fall in the overall crime rate across Queensland in the past seven years.”
   Ms Spence said the new classroom space would be used to house recruits entering the service through the Police Recruit Operational Vocational Education (PROVE) Program.
   She said PROVE recruits were those with higher education qualifications or equivalent employment experience.

12 March, 2009

Upgraded beach coasts to glory

Money from the Department of Local Government, Sport and Recreation’s Environmental Infrastructure Program is to be used to restore the popular Kirra Beach to its former glory.
   The $1.5 million project will involve a short-term sand excavation strategy backed by a long-term strategy to solve the problem on the world famous stretch of beach.
   Premier Anna Bligh said that over the past eight years Kirra Beach had been slowly transforming from a world-famous surfing destination to a flat expanse of sand and water.   Restoration will involve the relocation of up to 200,000 cubic metres of sand.
   “The sand will be moved towards the shore to create sand dunes,” Ms Bligh said.   “Moving the sand in this way will allow tidal forces to move additional sand off the reef which should begin to restore the normal wave activity that Kirra was famous for.”
   The Premier said the excavation plan would be backed up by moves to cooperate with the NSW Government and the Gold Coast City Council to alleviate the long term cause of the problem.
   “We need to make sure that a solution such as this will not impact on other beaches on the Gold Coast,” she said.
   “This, combined with the immediate measures we will take, should ensure that future generations can enjoy the world class surf beach that the people at Kirra can remember.”

12 March, 2009
Commonwealth congratulated
The Queen has congratulated the Commonwealth on its 60th anniversary.
   Queen Elizabeth said the Commonwealth was “a family of nations and peoples” that believe in freedom, democracy and human rights; equality and equity; development and prosperity.
   “As the Commonwealth celebrates its sixtieth birthday, its governments, communities and we as individuals should welcome that achievement,” she said.

Taxes to be studied
All State taxes and charges would be reviewed by an incoming LNP Government.
   Shadow Treasurer, Tim Nicholls said this would include the $390 million of charges introduced in the December mini-Budget.
   "Treasurer, Andrew Fraser’s 20 per cent hike in motor vehicle registration, announced in December 2008, will fall under this review,” he said
   "Our aim is to make the system simpler and easier for business and to reduce the overall burden of tax on Queenslanders.”

Flood appeal milestone
Contributions from all over Australia and from the Papua New Guinea Government have pushed Queensland’s North and North-West Flood Appeal to $4.86 million.
   Premier, Anna Bligh thanked the Papua New Guinea Government for its $1 million donation and the Newcastle Region Trust, which gave $100,000.
   She also confirmed that 50 per cent of the profits from the Sydney half of the simultaneous Sydney-Melbourne bushfire concerts will be directed to the Flood Appeal as well.
   “The start of the year has been hard for Victorian fire victims and for those up here in the North and the North West, but it is refreshing to know fellow Queenslanders, other Aussies and our PNG neighbours are digging deep,” Ms Bligh said.

Landlines disconnected
Increased numbers of young Australians have chosen not to connect a fixed phone line when moving out of home, according to a report by the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
   The Australian household consumers’ take-up and use of voice communication services report found many youths aged 18 to 24 were abandoning the traditional phone, preferring to rely on mobile phone technology.
   Further information was available from www.acma.gov.au

Highway renamed
The name of one of Queensland’s early explorers and gold miners has been remembered in the renaming of a highway in Far North Queensland.
   Main Roads Minister, Warren Pitt and the MP for Cook, Jason O’Brien performed the ceremony which saw the Peninsula Developmental Road officially revert to its original name, the Mulligan Highway.
   Mr Pitt said the road, from Mareeba to Cooktown, was named after James Venture Mulligan, an explorer who discovered gold in the Palmer River goldfields.
   “Changing the name of the highway reflects the significant impact this legendary pioneer had on the Far North’s development,” Mr Pitt said.

Police Station opened
Described as a significant investment in the future of policing in Cloncurry, the $5.4 Million Cloncurry Police Station has been officially opened.
   The station includes two new interview rooms, three holding cells, duty officer accommodation, general duties area, foyer, reception, major incident room and charging area.   As well as general duties officers, its staff includes the Criminal Investigation Branch, Stock and Rural Crime Investigation Squad, the Traffic Branch and Police Liaison Officers.
   Police Minister Judy Spence said the station would receive support from Mount Isa and the Officer-in-Charge, Sergeant Ross Kirkpatrick had been working within the Mount Isa Police District since June 2001.

5 March, 2009

Election Commission ready to bite ballot

The Queensland Electoral Commission is fully prepared for the 21 March State election with Commissioner David Kerslake announcing that a full list of candidates was on the QEC website.
   Mr Kerslake said of the 398 candidates, about 30 per cent are women. They will be contesting Queensland’s 89 seats. A total of 2.66 million electors are eligible to vote in the election.
   He said about 80,000 young people will be voting in a State election for the first time while at the other end of the age spectrum there were 500 electors approaching or more than 100 years of age.
   “There are about 100,000 more female electors on the roll than male”, he said.
“Irrespective of age or gender, I encourage all Queenslanders to have their say in how
Queensland is governed.”
   The Commission will be writing to every Queensland elector telling them which electorate they are in, the location of polling booths and the options available to those electors who cannot make it to a polling booth on election day.
   Electors have already begun to lodge postal vote applications and pre-poll centres will open for business on Monday, 9 March at normal business hours. Electors in need of particular help, such as the elderly or people with disabilities, can arrange for an electoral official to visit their home to record their vote.
   For the first time in a Queensland election, blind electors will be able to vote using a Braille ballot paper, ensuring the secrecy of their vote.
   The Commission’s website and Voters’ Helpline have been receiving thousands of enquiries from electors each day.
   Information about voter assistance is available on the Commission’s website
www.ecq.qld.gov.au or by phoning 1300 881 665.

5 March, 2009

Archives classes to set records straight

Queensland State Archives is hosting two masterclasses this month to give representatives of public authorities the chance to train in contemporary industry-specific areas.
   The first, on 24 March will be the Recordkeeping Metadata Masterclass covering the basics of recordkeeping metadata; an introduction to the Queensland Recordkeeping Metadata Standard and Guideline; and how to implement recordkeeping metadata in public authorities.
   This class is open Records Managers and other public authority staff with an interest in Recordkeeping Metadata.
   On 25 March, QSA will conduct its Recordkeeping in Business Systems Masterclass covering the key challenges relating to recordkeeping in business systems, understanding the Guidelines and Functional Requirements for Records in Business Systems; and applying concepts from those Guidelines to Queensland public authorities.
   This class is open to Business Analysts, Records Managers and other staff in Queensland public authorities with responsibility for planning and implementing business systems.
   Spaces for this class are limited to 1-2 per Agency but QSA will accept expressions of interest for possible future classes.
   Both masterclasses will be conducted at Queensland State Archives, Compton Road, Runcorn and registration can be made on the Registration Forms on the QSA website www.archives.qld.gov.au

5 March, 2009

Premier warms to pay freeze plan

Premier Anna Bligh has promised to freeze the salaries of MPs and Ministers during the economic crisis.
   She said that while people were losing their jobs and families wondering how they were going to make ends meet, the time was not right for public representatives to be receiving pay rises.
   Ms Bligh said the vast majority of MPs from both sides of the party divide agreed with her initiative.
   The pay freeze will take effect from 1 July, assuming the Government is re-elected.
   “I will review my decision once a year during the next term and there will be no pay rises until the economic conditions improve,” Ms Bligh said.
   She said Members of the Legislative Assembly are paid through the Parliament of Queensland Act 2001 which says that the annual rate of salary for State MPs should be $500 less than the annual salary to which an MP in the Federal Parliament is entitled.
   The Federal Parliament’s levels of pay are set by the Remuneration Tribunal which sets a recommended rise once a year.
   “Prime Minister Kevin Rudd froze pay for Federal MPs last July meaning that Queensland MPs did not get a pay rise last year,” the Premier said.
   “Regardless of what happens in Canberra in July, there will be no politician pay rises in the Queensland Parliament this year.”
   Ms Bligh said she had been distressed by recent job losses in Queensland and there were more tough times ahead for the State.
   “Not too many workers across Queensland this year will be getting big pay rises – most people will be happy to hold on to their jobs,” she said.
   “Politicians understand the pressures facing the people they represent and that’s why I will be putting this freeze on wages.”

5 March, 2009

Councils fill skills pothole

A Local Government skills forum has identified the aging population, global economic crisis and new ways of doing business as key drivers in the way Local Councils address their skills needs over the next five to 10 years.
   President of the Local Government Managers Association (LGMA) Ray Pincombe said that whilst many of the initiatives promoted by the National Skills Shortage Strategy were validated, there was a significant need for long-term reform of how business is done in Local Government.
   “Local Government must urgently improve the way it approaches workforce planning and development to ensure our sector’s capacity and ability to deliver on existing and new community needs,” Mr Pincombe said.
   "Greater emphasis needs to be placed on regional groupings of Councils doing more with automation and consolidation of back office operations. This would reduce demand on skills and achieve greater economies of scale.”
   He said pressure needed to be removed on some of the roles performed by Local Government including planning and engineering.
   This could be done by enabling councils to use more para-professional, project management, administrative and financial support staff, he said.
   “A coordinated and collaborative approach is also needed on employment and training, particularly with mature-age workers.”
   Mr Pincombe also identified the lack of employment data in the sector as being critical to growth and sustainability.
   “Workforce planning and development is non-existent,” he said.
   “Our sector does not have the necessary employment data to analyse and forecast trends.
   “Had this information been available, we may have been in a better position to identify our emerging skills requirements.”
   The forum, facilitated by the LGMA in Melbourne, was attended by 50 representatives from Local Government professional peak bodies, associations, relevant education and training bodies and industry skills councils together with Commonwealth and State Departments responsible for Local Government.
   An outcomes document is being prepared by LGMA for consideration by the National Local Government Skills Shortage Steering Committee.
   Mr Pincombe said the document would outline the sector’s response to its future skills needs.

5 March, 2009

No complaints over Ombudsman’s move

The Queensland Ombudsman's Office is to share a new office building with other State complaint agencies and the Commonwealth Ombudsman’s Queensland Office at 53 Albert Street, Brisbane.
   The move will improve business efficiencies through the sharing of a reception area, training facilities and meetings rooms.
   Incorporated in the A-grade office tower, which was completed in 2008, are a lobby, services and secure loading area. The refurbished car park has room for 531 cars.
   The other agencies sharing the facilities are the Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland, the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian and the
Health Quality and Complaints Commission.
   These agencies will move in progressively over the next two months.
   The Ombudsman’s Office will be closed for business on Monday 16 March to allow the move to occur from its current premises in Edward Street. It will still be contactable by email, through the website, where an online complaint can be placed, or by leaving a voicemail message on (07) 3005 7000.
   The new office will have all operations functioning as normal from 8.30am on Tuesday 17 March.
   The new physical address will be Level 17, 53 Albert Street, Brisbane Qld 4000
(Please phone first for an appointment).
   Postal details, telephone and fax numbers will remain the same: GPO Box 3314, Brisbane Qld 4001. Telephone 07 3005 7000; Toll Free: 1800 068 908; Fax: 07 3005 7067
TTY: 07 3006 8174; Email: ombudsman@ombudsman.qld.gov.au

5 March, 2009

Schools find it’s easy being green

Queensland’s schoolchildren are being urged to take a key role in creating a smarter, greener State.
   Launching the 2009 Keep Australia Beautiful Queensland Green and Healthy Schools Awards Program, the Minister for Education and Training, Rod Welford said the program was an important part of the Toward Q2 vision.
   “We have set an ambitious target to cut Queensland’s carbon footprint by one-third through reduced car and electricity use by 2020,” he said, “and this initiative will help us to achieve that goal.”
   He said schools recognised through the Green and Healthy Awards Program addressed issues such as environmental sustainability, nutrition, waste minimisation, energy usage, litter reduction and recycling.
   The eventual winner must be motivated, have a strong sense of community and best represent all aspects of the Green and Healthy Schools competition.
   Mr Welford said last year’s winner was Crows Nest State School.
   “The Crows Nest State School community was rewarded for its wonderful achievements including frog pond and fern house projects, cockatoo-friendly gardens, wildlife surveys, recycling, Waterwise and Junior Landcare involvement and the ‘Run Around Australia’ program conducted on the school’s oval,” he said.
   “In 2008, more than 145,000 students and their teachers from 594 schools – one in three Queensland schools – took part in the program.
   The Minister said it was encouraging to see young people tackling challenges such as climate change and water shortages.

5 March, 2009

Tourist campaign to shake Shaky Isles

A campaign involving the Tourism Boards and Air New Zealand has the aim of making potential New Zealand tourists more aware of what Queensland has to offer.
   The $463,000 campaign is a partnership between Tourism Queensland, Tourism Tropical North Queensland, Tourism Australia and Air New Zealand and is funded by the Federal Government under the Tourism Assistance Package.
   Queensland’s Tourism Minister, Desley Boyle said one of the principal aims of the campaign was to reinvigorate Tropical North Queensland in the eyes of New Zealanders.
   “Given the global downturn in long haul travel, short haul markets such as New Zealand are vital in ensuring we continue to maintain tourist numbers over the short term,” Ms Boyle said.
   “The print and online campaign creative concepts were based on extensive consumer research recently undertaken in New Zealand by Tourism Queensland and Tourism Tropical North Queensland.
   Ms Boyle said the research established that Queensland needed to reposition itself and highlight the sophisticated range of resort style accommodation and associated activities available.
   There had been an increase in marketing activity by South Pacific islands in New Zealand in recent months and it was critical that Queensland was seen as a sophisticated holiday destination but with a diverse range of experiences and quality accommodation.
   “Actively promoting the direct tri-weekly air services into Tropical North Queensland from Auckland via Air New Zealand is also our priority,” she said.
   The campaign will run from until 30 June and will feature in major lifestyle publications as well as online via Tourism Queensland’s website – www.queenslandholidays.co.nz/TNQ

5 March, 2009

Crime Commission throws book at crooks

The Australian Crime Commission has published a new report outlining the real extent of organised crime in Australia and its impact on business and communities.
   Entitled Organised Crime in Australia 2009 the publication includes current issues and future trends and explores the efforts of law enforcement to disrupt and dismantle organised crime groups.
   Chief Executive Officer of the ACC, Alastair Milroy, said changes in the Australian and global environment affected organised crime.
   “The dynamics of the Australian economy and advances in technology continue to create opportunities for exploitation by organised crime,” Mr Milroy said.
   He said the publication found although drugs were likely to remain the primary source of criminal proceeds for many organised crime groups, new sectors and activities were becoming more appealing or profitable.
   “New technologies and changes to drug markets present opportunities for organised crime groups,” Mr Milroy said.
   “More and more organised crime groups are becoming involved in money laundering.
   “While the global financial crisis is creating a more cautious investor market, it also presents opportunities for organised crime to exploit the financial sector.”
   Mr Milroy said organised crime operated within and alongside legitimate business, making industry and the public potential targets.
   “Awareness and understanding of the threats of organised criminal activity continues to be a key component in the fight against organised crime in Australia,” he said.
   Mr Milroy said other illicit markets outlined in the report included environmental crime, firearms trafficking and intellectual property crime and that understanding the nature of high-threat organised crime groups was essential for law enforcement agencies.
   He said the ACC worked with Commonwealth, State and Territory Agencies to collect and share information about the criminal environment.
   Mr Milroy said while the strategies and methods organised crime groups used to carry out serious crime were largely consistent, their ability to adapt presented a major challenge.
   “Knowledge of these changes in the social and criminal environments assists law enforcement and Governments to determine future planning and operational activity,” he said.
   “Collaboration between law enforcement and Government is vital, but so is collaboration with industry and between sectors.
   “These partnerships will offer the tools and knowledge needed to improve crime fighting capabilities”.

5 March, 2009

Tellers told in ATM reforms

A range of reforms to Australia’s automatic teller system come into effect this week.
   Ordered by the Reserve Bank of Australia, the reforms include greater disclosure and transparency between the ATM provider and users, incentives to expand the network and promote competition between financial institutions.
   According to the RBA, the reforms will make the cost of cash withdrawals more transparent by ensuring banks display any costs to the customer for using an ATM not belonging to their bank on the screen before the transaction is finalised.
   The RBA Board has called for foreign fees to be abolished, saying they were unjustified and “against the spirit of the reforms”, particularly as most banks already charged a monthly account-keeping fee and it did not cost banks much when their customers used another institution’s ATM.
   It said most banks did not charge customers to use their own ATMs and that many smaller financial institutions had entered into agreements with larger networks to provide fee-free access to ATMs for their customers.
   Chief Executive of the Australian Bankers’ Association, David Bell, has advised customers to locate free ATMs before the changes commence.
   Mr Bell said customers could minimise fees by using ATMs which belonged to their bank or a fee-free network, by using eftpos or getting cash out with a purchase.
   “If customers use an ATM which belongs to another financial institution or company and is not in a network arrangement with their bank, then the customer will pay a fee charged directly by the ATM operator,” he said.
   “Depending on which bank they use, they could also face a foreign ATM fee.”
   Mr Bell said the best way to find free ATMs was to visit online bank sites or use the SMS locator tools offered by some banks.
   “If you do use an ATM which does not belong to your bank or is not in a networked arrangement, then the ATM operator must disclose on the screen the amount it will cost the customer to use the machine,” he said.
   “If the customer decides it is too high, the customer can cancel the transaction at no cost.”
   The RBA’s final Access Regime is similar to the one released for consultation in December 2008 and sets a cap on the connect cost that could be charged to new entrants to the ATM system and prohibits interchange fees except in specific circumstances.
   In response to the consultation process, the Access Regime also includes a prohibition on charging fees for establishing direct clearing/settlement arrangements and allows the Bank to exempt certain arrangements from compliance where it was in the public interest.
   The RBA will monitor developments in foreign fees and direct charges over the next few months and will report publicly on their movements.

5 March, 2009

Scammers scamper from scam campaign

The Office of Fair Trading, as a member of the Australian Consumer Fraud Taskforce, is to coordinate a campaign to make sure people have a greater awareness and understanding of the many scams against consumers.
   Fraud Week (this week) aims to raise awareness about the serious threat to personal identity and financial security caused by scams.
   The Office of Fair Trading said it received 1368 complaints about scams last year, 362 of them coming from Brisbane.
   Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Kerry Shine said one in 20 Australians falls victim to scams every year.
   “Scams target anyone and can come from anywhere - the internet, email, post, over the phone and door-to-door,” he said
   “Unfortunately victims of scams often don’t report it because they feel humiliated when they realise they have been duped, and they’d rather bear the amount of money they have lost out of fear of embarrassment.”
   The top scams reported in Queensland in the past year were fake overseas lotteries, ‘Nigerian Scams’, chain letters and gambling schemes and systems.
   “Scammers are manipulative and make a living from lying to consumers by promising easy money, great prizes and offering a way out of financial hardship,” Mr Shine said.
   “They make the offer look like the real thing and use professional looking websites, letters, brochures, emails and leaflets to dupe consumers into providing their personal details like their credit card number or password.
   He said the best protection was to know the warning signs and be able to identify when a product or offer didn’t seem quite right.
   For more information on protection from scams, visit www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or www.scamwatch.gov.au

5 March, 2009

Advance fee scam is fraud with danger

Queensland Police are concerned that a particular class of scam was having a big effect on Queenslanders, both financially and emotionally.
   The Advance Fee Fraud where people being contacted and asked to pay money for access to a business opportunity or to release an inheritance was costing Queenslanders more than $700,000 a month, police said.
   Detective Inspector Jason Saunders of the State Crime Operations Command Fraud and Corporate Crime Group said his group was constantly being contacted by people who had sent thousands of dollars overseas only to discover they had been scammed.
   “This past year alone, in excess of $8.5 million has been sent to countries such as Nigeria and Ghana in addition to syndicate members based and operating out of Europe,” Detective Inspector Saunders said.
   He said the relationship usually began with an offender contacting a victim and engaging them in a friendship or relationship.
   After some time the offender will disclose they have a problem and ask that money be sent to them or a third party to resolve it.
   Detective Inspector Saunders said the scams have evolved over time and recently there had been examples of Advance Fee Fraud using online dating and romance sites.
   He said victims become emotionally involved in their relationship and believe that sending money to the other party will strengthen their relationship.
   Recently Queensland Police investigated victims of Advance Fee Fraud who were now defrauding further victims after exhausting their own funds. Often they continue to send money overseas to the fraudsters.
   Inspector Saunders said the scams were based on the same premise – victims being lured into the promise of fast or easy money.
   “We are constantly telling these victims or potential victims that if it sounds too good to be true, then it generally is,” he said.
   Queensland Police have set up a web-based reporting system at www.police.qld.gov.au and members of the public could also report information directly to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

5 March, 2009

Ambulance stretcher fears put to bed

The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) has recorded a drop in WorkCover claims since the introduction of the new Stryker stretchers.
   QAS Commissioner David Melville said newspaper reports that the stretchers had led to an increase in WorkCover claims was inaccurate.
   “The number of claims dropped from 328 in the period 1 July 2007 to 31 January 2008 to 248 in the corresponding period 12 months later, a reduction of around 25 per cent,” he said.
   When comparing the value of WorkCover claims for the two periods, there had been a reduction of more than $28,000.
   Deputy Commissioner Russell Bowles said the new stretchers had been in use in Queensland for the past 18 months after a comprehensive assessment.
   “The QAS’s State Equipment and Vehicle Committee, which comprises five active paramedics as well as a patient transport officer, union representation, an occupational health and safety officer and technical advisers compared five different stretcher models before deciding on the Stryker,” he said.
   Deputy Commissioner Bowles said the Stryker was chosen because it could be operated and manoeuvred at a number of different heights and were used by a number of Ambulance Services across the world including Germany, Switzerland, New Zealand, The United States, Italy and the United Kingdom.
   “These stretchers are state-of-the-art technology and will greatly assist the QAS to make patient transport safer and more comfortable,” Deputy Commissioner Bowles said.

5 March, 2009

Whitsunday Airport gets off the ground

The Department of Infrastructure and Planning has received a tender from the Laguna Whitsunday Brisbane Airport Corporation to build the new Whitsunday Airport.
   Two other shortlisted consortia dropped out due to the economic conditions.
   The Department will now begin the evaluation process which Deputy Premier, Paul Lucas said would be rigorous, despite the lack of choice. He expected it to be completed by May.
   “I would have liked to see more tenders,” Mr Lucas said, “but this is no surprise in the midst of a global economic crisis.”
   “But I don't care if it’s one bid or a hundred, it will go through the most rigorous assessment to make sure we get the best outcome for the Whitsundays.
   “Like any tender, if it doesn’t stack up it will be rejected. If it stacks up, and delivers for the community, it will be accepted.”
   He said the aim is to ensure the Whitsundays gets the world-class regional airport it deserves to really boost the tourism dollars coming in and get the jobs flowing.
   However, he was optimistic the bid would meet the criteria
   “Not only does Brisbane Airport Corporation run one of Australia’s prime airports, its ultimate shareholders include Amsterdam Airport Schiphol – one of the greatest airports in the world.”
   The tender requirements include the immediate short-term upgrade of the Whitsunday Coast Airport, starting in the first quarter of 2010 and finishing that same year.
   Construction of a new airport is to start in mid-2010 and finish by the end of 2011.

5 March, 2009

Road steers clear of heritage house

The Department of Main Roads will begin public consultation on an option for the Southport-Nerang Road upgrade that will steer away from a 120-year-old Surrey House on the Gold Coast.
   An earlier option would that have directly impacted on the historic building has been ruled out.
   The landmark Surrey House property, situated on top of the hill at 159 Nerang Street Southport, is one of the few remaining ‘Old Queenslander’ style homes in the region and is believed to be the oldest surviving residence in Southport.
   Today it is a private residence, which accommodates a specialist medical practice, and has been restored by its current owners.
   Minister for Main Roads, Warren Pitt and MP for Southport, Peter Lawlor confirmed the historic home will remain untouched.
   Mr Pitt said the Southport-Nerang Road will be widened and realigned to transform into a modern, efficient route, which supported the growth of public transport in the area.
   “This important project, a commitment under the Government’s South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program (SEQIPP), will help deal with burgeoning traffic growth in this part of the Gold Coast,” Mr Pitt said.
   He said the Government is helping to manage the growth by continuing to invest in a roads program that would maintain jobs and keep the Queensland economy moving.
   Mr Lawlor warmly welcomed the announcement.
   “Surrey House is an extremely important part of the history of the Gold Coast. It is a beautiful reminder of the life and character of the colonial days of Southport and our wonderful region,” he said.
   The Southport-Nerang road upgrade involves widening a section of the road between Falconer Street and Queens Street.
   The upgraded road will provide four general lanes of traffic with on-road cycle lanes.
Extended turning lanes at controlled intersections will improve traffic flow and closure of the median between sets of lights will improve road safety.

5 March, 2009

Australia Post wants letters posted

Australia Post is launching a campaign urging the public to find letters that tell stories of their families’ lives and of the nation’s past.
   Managing Director, Graeme John said the project, part of Australia Post’s 200th birthday celebrations, will capture the history of Australia through the medium of letters.
   “Over 200 years, letters have been the link between the home front and foreign shores during wartime,” Mr John said.
   “They tell the stories of newly arrived immigrants beginning a new life, of sporting triumphs, political upheavals and artistic triumphs.”
   He said letters will be uploaded to a dedicated website which will become an educational resource for everyone to access as well as preserving the documents for future generations.
   A judging panel, including writer Les Carlyon, historian Geoffrey Bolton and
political scientist James Jupp amongst others, will select the top 200 which will be added to the National Archives of Australia collection.
   Archives Director-General, Ross Gibbs said the project had the potential to unearth letters that will touch and inform everyone.
   Entries in the Letters of a Nation project close on 25 September 2009 and to enter visit www.auspost.com.au/200years or get an entry form from participating Australia Post outlets.
   Mr John said copies of letters only need be submitted. Originals were not required.

5 March, 2009

Pen beats sword in fight against crime

Police and members of the Oxley community are combining to produce regular local crime bulletins, the 15th district in Queensland to do so.
   Oxley Police District Crime Bulletins are now distributed electronically to more than 200,000 people.
   Police Minister Judy Spence said the Crime Bulletin includes information about crime prevention and details of offences police are seeking information about.
   “This is a great initiative for the community, who are now able to stay informed and connected at the click of a mouse,” she said.
   Ms Spence said she expects the crime bulletins, which will replace Neighbourhood Watch newsletters, will lead to greater community involvement in crime prevention activities.
   Her call was echoed by the MP for Inala, Anastacia Palaszczuk, who urged people in the Inala community to get involved in crime prevention.
   “Our police do an excellent job of fighting crime in our community,” Ms Palaszczuk said, “but they rely on the support of members of the public to protect themselves against crime and provide vital information to help solve crimes.”
   She said the Oxley Crime Bulletin would cover Oxley, Inala, Calamvale, Stretton, Acacia Ridge, Sunnybank, Mount Ommaney, Sherwood and Moorooka.
   To subscribe to the Crime Bulletin email the Oxley District Crime Prevention Coordinators at: DPCP.Oxley@police.qld.gov.au

5 March, 2009
Best job applicants down to 50
Three Queenslanders have made the shortlist of 50 in Tourism Queensland’s international search for candidates for Best Job in the World.
   Tourism Minister, Desley Boyle said the shortlisted candidates came from 22 countries across the globe. Candidates seeking the post of Islands of the Great Barrier Reef caretaker had to produce a video stating why they should be chosen for the job.
   The top 50 videos are now online on the campaign website: www.islandreefjob.com
   Ms Boyle said the Top 50 would now be narrowed down to a final 11, 10 of whom will be chosen by Tourism Queensland, and an 11th ‘wild card’ applicant chosen by popular vote.
   They will then be flown to Hamilton Island in early May to take part in the final selection process with the successful candidate announced on 6 May.

Taser takes off
Up to 1200 Queensland Police officers have now been trained in the use of the Taser crime-fighting tool.
   Deputy Commissioner (Regional Operations) Kathy Rynders said the Tasers, which were used to bring dangerous or aggressive criminals under control in confrontational situations, were proving to be a valuable tool for first response officers to resolve dangerous situations which would otherwise almost certainly result in injury to officers, offenders or the general public.
   “In the two months since the rollout started, Tasers have been deployed on 80 occasions by frontline police,” Deputy Commissioner Rynders said.
   “Of those 80 deployments, just showing the Taser was enough to allow police to take control and diffuse the situation in 63 occasions,” she said.
   “Tasers had to be activated just 17 times.”

New memorials for Canberra
Two national memorials to honour the Australian service men and women who served in the First and Second World Wars are to be designed by competition winners, Brisbane-based firm, Richard Kirk Architects Pty Ltd.
   The memorials will be built on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra and will be symbolic of the spirit, sacrifice and commitment of Australians during the wars.
   The Government has encouraged the public to make a donation to finance the construction of the memorials, with more information available from www.mdc.org.au

Tas cuts denied
The Premier of Tasmania, David Bartlett, has denied media reports that up to 2,000 Public Service jobs could be cut by the State Government.
   Mr Bartlett said there would be no wholesale redundancies but that he would meet with unions to look at phased in retirements, wage restraints and asking workers to take leave without pay.
   He has quarantined funding for schools, hospitals, police and infrastructure projects and closed the Premier’s office in Canberra in a bid to cut back on spending.

Accommodation opened
A new $2.2 million staff accommodation complex for workers from Cloncurry Hospital has been funded from Queensland Health’s $91 million Regional Accommodation Program.
   Performing the opening Health Minister, Stephen Robertson said the 14-bed Brisbane Street complex was providing quality accommodation for staff working at the nearby hospital.
   Assisting in the opening, the Member for Mount Isa, Betty Kiernan said the complex would benefit not only hospital staff but Cloncurry residents who rely on their services.
   Mr Robertson also opened a new 40-bed staff accommodation complex at Roma Hospital. He said it was part of the Government’s plan to improve rural and remote health services and would make the hospital more attractive to health professionals.

Bundaberg gets $250,000
A sum of $250,000 will immediately be directed to Bundaberg Hospital, following an independent review of the functions and management systems of the Emergency Department.
   The review, by Victorian doctor and senior health executive, Dr Peter Brennan, made a number of recommendations following allegations raised about the Bundaberg Hospital Emergency Department last month.
   Health Minister, Stephen Robertson said the money would go towards modifying the Emergency Department’s waiting area and would include a dedicated paediatrics area.
   On-site security would also be made more visible.

Partnerships for health
The Community Partnerships Program is awarding $3.3 million to sporting organisations, community groups, local governments and educational institutions to help Queenslanders get active, eat better and lead healthier lifestyles.
   Sport Minister, Judy Spence announced that 114 applicants had successfully obtained funding under the ‘Eat Well Be Active’Community Partnerships Program 2008.
   “The Community Partnerships Program is all about providing funding at the grassroots level to support the development and delivery of healthy lifestyle programs,” the Minister said.
   “The successful applications cover a range of areas including nutrition, physical activity, sport, recreation and healthy lifestyle choices.”

Gap police better off
A $1 million refurbishment of The Gap Police Station, which will bolster policing services in Brisbane’s western suburbs, has been completed.
   The new facility will ensure police in this area are well resourced to do their job protecting the community and fighting crime.
   Performing the opening in association with MP for Ashgrove, Kate Jones, Police Minister Judy Spence said the upgrade was part of a four-year $260 Million Queensland Police infrastructure plan.

Distress over beacons
People who replace their superseded 121.5 MHz personal distress beacons needed to ensure they disposed of them correctly according to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and Queensland Police.
   Townsville District Inspector, Damian Irvine said police and rescue authorities had had to respond to beacon activations because they had not been disposed of properly or someone had found one and activated it illegally.
   Owners of old beacons can take them into any Battery World store where they will be disposed of correctly at no cost.
   For more information access the AMSA website: www.amsa.gov.au