26 November, 2009

Salary survey
shows PS on top

Public sector wages have outpaced the private sector, according to the latest average weekly earnings figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
   Economists said the Public Sector had experienced its fastest wage growth in five years at 4.6 per cent, while private sector wage growth was at its slowest in seven years at 3.2 per cent for the year to September.
   The increases for the quarter were 3.2 per cent for the Public Service and 0.7 per cent in the private sector.
   The ABS figures showed average weekly earnings for August in the Public Sector were $1,320.10 (full-time adult total earnings, which includes overtime), a 5.4 per cent increase from the same time last year.
   In the private sector, average weekly earnings for the month were $1,228.30, representing a 4.4 per cent increase from the same period in 2008.
   The national average full-time adult total earnings rose by 5.2 per cent for males and 4.2 per cent for females in the 12 months to August.
   Economist with the Commonwealth Bank, James McIntyre was reported in the media as saying the Public Sector wage increases could be inflationary.
   “It would seem surprising that in an environment of rising unemployment and deteriorating fiscal positions that Public Sector wage rises have not eased back somewhat,” Mr McIntyre told Australian Associated Press.
   “This would suggest a lack of flexibility in Public Sector wage setting.”

26 November, 2009

All go for new
green building

A building designed by the Department of Public Works and the Queensland Police Service has received the highest Green Star design rating ever given to an office building in Australia.
   The $44.5 million Zillmere Joint Contact Centre was awarded the 6 Star Green Star – Office Design v2 rating by the Green Building Council of Australia.
   Minister for Public Works, Robert Schwarten said the score exceeded any other project in Australia, making the Centre the nation’s most ecologically sustainable office building.
   “Construction is currently underway by Glenzeil Pty Ltd at Cambewarra Street, Zillmere, with the completed project providing 24-hour, seven-day, and contact centre facilities for Smart Service Queensland and Queensland Police,” Mr Schwarten said.
   He said Green Star ratings included 4 Star, 5 Star and 6 Star categories, with the 6 Star category representing world leadership in building design.
   “The Green Building Council awarded the project an extremely high 92 points out of 105, including four innovation points out of a maximum five,” Mr Schwarten said.
   Minister for Police, Neil Roberts said the Joint Contact Centre would provide additional services to the community and allow the public to report non-urgent incidents through the Policelink service.
   “Community members will have the choice of contacting Policelink 24/7 at the new Joint Contact Centre or contacting their local police station directly for non-urgent assistance,” Mr Roberts said.
   “This will reduce the call burden in existing business units, free up operational police officers and improve client service provided to the community.”
   He said training of Policelink Client Service Officers and Team Leaders had begun and would continue until operations began next year.
   Construction is due for completion in April and the Department of Public Works will then target six star ratings for its fit-out.

26 November, 2009

Preamble a fit
for Constitution

A Bill aimed at establishing a preamble to the State’s constitution has been introduced into Parliament in a bid to recognise the multicultural diversity of Queensland.
   Premier, Anna Bligh said the Constitution (Preamble) Amendment Bill 2009 was of particular significance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, as it would formally acknowledge their role in Queensland’s history.
   “As we celebrate our State’s 150th Birthday this year, and we consider our past, our present and our future, this preamble provides a new perspective for the Queensland of tomorrow,” Ms Bligh said.
   “It recognises the great diversity of our State, and the many backgrounds of our forebears.”
   Describing the Bill as a positive step in leading the way to reconciliation, Ms Bligh said the preamble modernised the constitution and provided a vision for the kind of State Queenslanders believed in – a society based on democracy, freedom and peace.
   The suggestion to develop a preamble to the existing constitution was made during the 2020 Ideas to Action Summit last year, with the Government referring the matter to the Parliamentary Law, Justice and Safety Committee.
   “Hundreds of Queenslanders took part in the community consultation process involved in drafting the preamble,” Ms Bligh said.
   “The Parliamentary Law, Justice and Safety Committee has done an excellent job of reflecting the views of the community, to deliver a statement that is representative of the Queensland of today – our aspirations as free and equal citizens of Australia.”
   The Committee worked closely with Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council to acknowledge the role of Indigenous Queenslanders in the State’s heritage, and their historic connection to the land.
   “A key aspect of this preamble is the acknowledgement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians, and indeed the First Queenslanders,” Ms Bligh said.

26 November, 2009

Seniors’ study for
age-old problem

The Department of Communities has released a cross-Government study looking at the social isolation of Queensland’s senior citizens.
   Minister for Housing and Communities, Karen Struthers said the study, Queensland Cross-Government Project to Reduce Social Isolation of Older People,included community consultation, evaluation of trial programs and the distribution of the project’s findings in a bid to bring about change in communities.
   Ms Struthers said social isolation was an issue facing many older people regardless of whether they lived in cities or regional areas.
   “Studies have linked social isolation to depression and even suicide - that’s why we’re looking at this study and that’s why we’re in the middle of calling for ideas to help us shape a new seniors’ strategy and action plan due for release in the first half of next year,” Ms Struthers said.
   She said the study showed while most older people were socially connected, experiences such as leaving the workforce, physical disability, ill health, loss of relationships and transport contributed to a sense of loneliness.
   “Encouraging volunteering, strong social networks and buddy systems among older people were found to be particularly effective in increasing social engagement,” Ms Struthers said.
   “We need to ensure we are at the forefront of developing programs and solutions that prevent social isolation for a range of age groups, particularly in Queensland where people over 65 make up the fastest growing age group.”
   People most vulnerable to social isolation included older men, residents of aged care facilities and those with low self-esteem or mental illness.
   The project was led by the Department of Communities’ Office for Seniors with input from a range of Government Agencies, the Queensland Seniors Council and the Australasian Centre on Ageing at the University of Queensland, with funding from Queensland Health and the Australian Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
   Ms Struthers also called for submissions from seniors to the Positively Ageless Discussion Paper which aims to develop new strategies to address the needs of seniors.
   The Paper includes topics such as protecting seniors’ rights, health, housing and transport.
   The paper is open to consultation until 4 December, with further information available from www.seniors.qld.gov.au

26 November, 2009

Archives on record
for half century

The Queensland State Archives is holding an exhibition to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
   The exhibition, For the record – celebrating 50, tells the story of the Archives’ evolution since 1959.
   Minister for Public Works, Robert Schwarten said the display did not just cover the Archives in terms of buildings and documents, but also how its role had changed and expanded over the past 50 years.
   “In 1959, the historic Commissariat Store building in Brisbane first housed our documentary heritage,” Ms Schwarten said.
   “Later moves to Dutton Park and then Runcorn are captured, along with the significant contributions of successive State Archivists.”
   He said there was a special feature on records relating to Indigenous people, for whom a research service operates at Runcorn through the Department of Communities.
   Mr Schwarten said the exhibition reflected the State Archives’ increased role in Government information management planning.
   “In recent times this has been driven by Queensland’s Right to Information reforms, which recognise the need for a whole-of-Government information management policy,” he said.
   “It is the Archives’ responsibility to research and provide policy advice on a wide range of record-keeping issues associated with Government activities.
   “It works closely with public authorities to improve record-keeping practices within a whole-of-Government framework.”
   The exhibition is in the foyer of State Archives’ facility in Compton Road, Runcorn, which is open between 9am and 4.30pm from Monday to Friday and at these times on the second Saturday of every month.

26 November, 2009

Babies no bonus in
career planning

A recently released survey has found most women believe falling pregnant will hurt their career progression.
   The research by employment agency CareerOne revealed almost two thirds of female respondents thought becoming pregnant would have a negative impact on their career, while three quarters believed it was difficult to be in a highly paid executive role and raise a family.
   In contrast, the majority of men (73 per cent) did not think parenthood would have any impact on their chance for promotion.
   Conducted by CoreData for the company, the research also found 48 per cent of women believed they had been overlooked for job opportunities/promotions because of their gender.
   When asked why there were more men in senior ranks than women, most respondents said it was because women weren’t perceived as “tough” enough for a senior role, and women were more likely to value assertiveness training than men.
   In other findings, more than half the women surveyed said they wished they had a mentor compared to only 29 percent of men.
   CareerOne’s Kate Southam said the results were a message for employers who did not value family friendly policies, urging them to do more.
   “Some of Australia’s biggest employers are striving for that female-friendly tag yet the perception amongst employees is that parenting is career poison for women,” Ms Southam said.
   “Employers also need to look at their workplace culture to ensure it is not biased towards male success.
   “Nearly half our female respondents believed they were passed over for promotion because of their gender.
“That might not be the case but perception is everything when it comes to developing a strong employer brand.”
   She said a positive message from the survey was that more female employees were willing to develop new skills through training and mentoring compared to men.
   “In our rapidly changing world of work it appears from the survey women are most open to developing new skills – another reason for employers to look at their family policies if they want to retain their female employees,” Ms Southam said.
   “For women, the message is also clear: develop skills around positioning yourself for promotion. It is up to each individual to make career development a priority.”

26 November, 2009

Environment police
join DERM landscape

The Department of Environment and Resource Management has released a compliance program to crack down on business and industries that fail to adhere to their environmental obligations.
   Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Kate Jones said 15 additional officers had been appointed across Queensland to beef up monitoring and enforcement relating to environmental breaches.
   Ms Jones said the new officers were in addition to 50 that were appointed two years ago.
   “They will carry out investigations and monitoring of environmental activities across the board, and apply enforcement action where appropriate,” Ms Jones said.
   “They will be located at Emerald, Mackay, Gladstone, Maryborough, Maroochydore, Robina, Toowoomba (2), Roma, Mt Isa (3), Townsville and Brisbane (2).”
   She said the first positions were expected to be filled in early December.
   “Businesses need to remember that if they blatantly drop the ball on their environmental responsibilities, the State Government will take action,” Ms Jones said.
   “Under the Environmental Protection Act 1994, fines of more than $2 million or even jail time can be handed out for the most serious offences.”
   She said mine water management and vegetation clearing were at the top of the list of activities set to be scrutinised over the next 12 months.
   “The extraordinary rainfall in north-west Queensland earlier this year made it clear that mining operating conditions, including the design of wastewater dams, need closer attention from authorities,” Ms Jones said.
   “Action will be taken against any mine owners and operators found to have breached their operating conditions.”
   She said the community also needed to be mindful that national parks and protected areas existed to protect native fauna and flora, and warned that staff would be on the lookout for illegal use of quad bikes, 4WD and trail bikes.
   “Bike riders who deliberately ignore designated trails face an on-the-spot fine of $100 and anyone who constructs an illegal track or jump faces a fine of up to $1,000,” Ms Jones said.

26 November, 2009

OFT’s advice is in
anyone’s language

The Office of Fair Trading has updated its website to make it more user-friendly for non-English speakers.
   Minister for Fair Trading, Peter Lawlor said information about how Fair Trading could help consumers had been translated into 15 languages.
   “Unfortunately people who don’t speak English fluently may be more vulnerable to scams, might not understand their buyer rights, or if in business, might not be fully aware of their responsibilities,” Mr Lawlor said.
   “The language barrier can also make it harder to know where to go for help when things go wrong or need checking, so we want to give as many people as possible information that can help protect them.”
   He said the Fair Trading site now had information in Arabic, Bosnian, Dari (Persian), Dinka (Sudanese), Greek, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Samoan, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese and Swahili.
   Mr Lawlor said the web page included an overview of the services offered by Fair Trading, including information about consumer rights when buying goods and services, resolving consumer complaints, and scams.
   “It also tells people about a resource where you can check for debts before buying second-hand vehicles,” he said.
   “And there’s a number for a special phone interpretation service to help non-English speakers get further fair trading information in any of the languages.”
   Mr Lawlor said ensuring all Queenslanders had access to services and programs regardless of their cultural, linguistic and religious backgrounds was a key part of the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation’s Multicultural Action Plan 2009-12.

26 November, 2009

Water strategy added
to SEQ mix

A revised draft of the South East Queensland Water Strategy has been released for public consultation.
   Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, Stephen Robertson said that during the four month consultation phase, a residential consumption target of 200 litres per person per day would apply across South East Queensland.
   Mr Robertson said if residents could stick to the target, the construction of new desalination plants could be put back by at least five years.
   He said the Government wanted to know whether the 200 litres target suited residents, and urged South East Queenslanders to have their say.
   Mr Robertson said it was essential to maintain a cautious approach to water conservation following the Federal Government’s decision to disallow the Traveston Crossing Dam.
   “In light of this decision, the people of South East Queensland have a right to be consulted about how we manage long term water supply for a growing region,” he said.
   “The revised draft of the SEQ Water Strategy asks for people’s views on moving to a permanent maximum water use target of 230 litres per person per day.”
   Mr Robertson said based on usage patterns across South East Queensland, high population growth predictions and allowances for climate change, the opening of at least one desalination plant would be required by around 2017.
   “However, if South East Queenslanders tell us they want to aim for Target 200, this could delay the need for more desalination plants until 2022,” he said.
   “The Water Strategy is a living document and will be revised every five years in line with rainfall, population, consumption levels and their predictions.”
   Mr Robertson said permanent water conservation measures would also be introduced on 1 December to allow people to use water-efficient equipment in their gardens.
   He said the water usage target and permanent water conservation measures applied to the Gold Coast, Redlands and Sunshine Coast Councils and would continue until the end of March.

26 November, 2009

Fresh advice
on fisheries

A single Queensland Fisheries Advisory Committee is to replace seven fishery-specific Management Advisory Committees.
   Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland, Tim Mulherin said the Government had accepted the recommendation made in independent review into Government bodies to reform and streamline the Management Advisory Committees (MACs).
   “This is an excellent opportunity to establish a single, open, transparent committee with a strong strategic focus on the management of all aspects of Queensland’s fisheries,” Mr Mulherin said.
   The new Council’s objective will be to provide advice on fisheries matters to be considered by Fisheries Queensland and the Government.
   Nominations to the committee were expected to come from a broad range of Queensland fisheries resource users and other community stakeholders.
   “This committee will allow the Government to make well-informed decisions on how fisheries issues should be managed now and into the future,” Mr Mulherin said.
   “We are looking for people who can demonstrate a good knowledge or experience of a relevant community sector and who can reflect the views of those they represent.”
   Applications from individuals, associations and organisations have been invited.
   Membership applications close on 8 January 2010, and selected members will be appointed for a three-year term.
   There will be a maximum of 12 members including one Fisheries Queensland staff member.
   Applications were available from www.dpi.qld.gov.au

26 November, 2009

Asbestos website is
breath of fresh air

Registers containing information on the management of asbestos in all Queensland schools are now available online.
   Minister for Education and Training, Geoff Wilson said the registers had always been available at schools for parents to view, but had now been placed online to increase transparency and availability.
   “We have rigorous processes in place to manage asbestos in our schools, and these registers will help inform parents, staff and the public about what’s being done in their local area.” Mr Wilson said.
   He said the information would be updated quarterly.
   Mr Wilson said any asbestos material classified as being in poor condition was made safe in accordance with industry standards and independently verified safe practices before longer term plans, including removal, were developed.
   “Any asbestos removal work is carried out at times when staff and students are not present – such as weekends and school holidays.”
   Mr Wilson said the management of asbestos, including identification and removal, was a continuing process that would be part of the Department’s capital works projects and school maintenance.
   “QBuild is currently undertaking sample testing to see how widespread its use is and will begin the process of auditing schools over the holidays,” he said.
   Minister for Public Works and Information Communication Technology, Robert Schwarten said the Department of Public Works was developing a whole of Government response to the issue.
   “Schools are not the only buildings that potentially contain this product, and the Department of Public Works is coordinating a strategy to identify these materials in public buildings,” Mr Schwarten said.
   The school register was available from www.education.qld.gov.au

26 November, 2009

Warm welcome for
migrant report

The Office of Economic and Statistical Research has released a report showing international migrants made up almost half of all people moving to Queensland in 2008.
   Treasurer and Minister for Employment and Economic Development, Andrew Fraser said interstate migrants, mainly from Victoria and NSW, had traditionally made up the bulk of people moving to Queensland.
   Mr Fraser said overseas migration accounted for nearly 47 per cent of population growth in 2008, at around 50,000 people.
   He said 33 per cent of population growth was due to natural increases (births and deaths) and 20 per cent to interstate migration.
   Mr Fraser said the change in population growth trends required a change in the services necessary to accommodate the growing numbers.
   “Skilled workers on official migration programs account for the majority of migrants,” he said.
   “The report also documents significant growth in the State’s education sector, with record numbers of overseas students enrolling, largely from Europe and North East Asia.”
   Mr Fraser said that in the year to June 2009, numbers of overseas students increased by around 25 per cent on the previous year to 72,500.
   “In addition, the vast majority of these international migrants chose to live in South East Queensland,” he said.
“This poses significant pressure on our infrastructure and services – not only on jobs, schools and universities, but also on our transport system, on our housing sector, and on our hospitals.”
   Mr Fraser said while population growth was inevitable, growth at rates like those currently being experienced would not be easily sustained.
   The report on Overseas Migration to Queensland could be accessed at www.oesr.qld.gov.au

26 November, 2009

Transport plan digs
deep for underground

A plan to modernise and upgrade Brisbane’s public transport network has been announced by Premier, Anna Bligh.
   Speaking at a Leadership Queensland conference in Brisbane, Ms Bligh said the plans would include an underground rail network to be built over the next 20 years.
   Ms Bligh said it was essential for plans to be fast-tracked as Queensland faces a population boom that could double the number of people living in the State over the next 50 years.
   She said the underground network would be similar to the London Tube and the Paris Metro.
   Ms Bligh said the critical short-term step in the new public transport plan was delivering the first $8 billion stage of Brisbane’s Cross River Rail.
   She said the first stage was a “vital piece” of infrastructure that would unlock suburban heavy rail expansion.
   “Every single train from Brisbane’s south must cross the Merivale Bridge to enter the city,” Ms Bligh said.
   “Without a second river crossing, not a single extra service from Beenleigh, the Gold Coast, Cleveland or future cities like Springfield will be able to enter the city.”
   She said Cross River Rail was about “increasing capacity at the heart of the network to break what will be a bottleneck.”
   Ms Bligh said the feasibility study into Cross River Rail was well underway.
   “Next year, we will release the proposed route for consultation and an Environmental Impact Statement,” she said.
   Ms Bligh said that over the next 25 years, the population in the inner ring – the five kilometre area surrounding the central business district – was expected to grow by about 50 per cent, or an extra 90,000 residents.
   At the same time, the number of workers who would need to enter the city each day would double from 200,000 to 400,000.
   “It’s almost impossible to build more road capacity into the CBD, so we must look at other options - the future of rail planning for the centre of the city is underground,” Ms Bligh said.
   “That’s why along with plans to boost to heavy rail capacity, we also need to start planning for an underground metro system, linking Toowong, West End, the City, Newstead, Bowen Hills, Bulimba and Hamilton North Shore.”

26 November, 2009

Super apple
has appeal

Researchers at Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries have produced an apple that remains crisp and sweet after eight months in cold storage.
   Minister for Primary Industries, Tim Mulherin said 20 years of work had gone into the new apple variety which is known simply as RS103-130.
   “This new apple boasts a number of attributes including sweetness and the ability to remain crispy after months in cold storage,” Mr Mulherin said.
   “When it becomes available to the public, consumers will be able to stick it in a fruit bowl at home and it will retain its firmness, texture and crispness for up to 14 days.”
   The data from tastings will be collated and analysed to understand how the RS103-130 performs in terms of consumer acceptability compared to other varieties.
   “The new apple will be officially named once arrangements are finalised with a commercial partner,” Mr Mulherin said.
   Apple Physiologist at Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries, Dr Simon Middleton said one of this apple’s key points of difference was its disease resistance.
   Dr Middleton said variety had a number of disease resistance properties and would require few if any fungicides.
   “This variety is unique in that it is naturally resistant to apple scab, also called black spot, a disease that costs the Australian apple industry $10 million annually,” he said.
   “There is a huge demand from growers to find a disease-resistant variety that requires few or no fungicides and today we have this disease-resistant variety that is cost-effective for growers to produce, high yielding, excellent eating quality, and is good looking.”

26 November, 2009

Action plan to
rein in the arts

An action plan for the arts in regional Queensland will see an Arts and Cultural Policy Officer based with the Local Government Association.
   Premier and Minister for Arts, Anna Bligh said the move would strengthen the relationship between State and Local Government in the arts area.
   Ms Bligh said the action plan, artbeat: Regional Arts and Culture Strategy 2010-2014 committed the Government to working with regional communities, partners in Local and Federal Government and with arts organisations to achieve common goals.
   “These goals include using arts and culture to build stronger communities and to give opportunities for people to take part in arts and culture,” she said.
   “We listened to people in the regions to understand their needs, and they indicated a clear need for more professional development opportunities.”
   Ms Bligh said artbeat would provide professional development opportunities the Ignite Regional Professional Development Program and the new Regional Arts and Culture awards.
   She said events such as the recent Regional Arts and Culture Conference, artspeak 2009, were a great opportunity for people to network and learn.
   “I applaud the success of artspeak 2009 in bringing together nearly 200 attendees from across Queensland, and congratulate Arts Queensland and Scenic Rim Council for working together on this,” Ms Bligh said.
   The Premier said artspeak built on the Government’s investment in the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF), with 55 regional Councils receiving $2.26 million in 2009-10.

26 November, 2009

Zero tolerance is new
limit for drivers

A zero alcohol tolerance policy for learners, P-plate drivers and novice motorcycle riders is set to come into force in February.
   Premier, Anna Bligh said changes to the State’s driving laws would make it illegal for these road users to drive with any alcohol in their systems regardless of their age.
   Current laws limit the zero tolerance policy to L and P-platers aged 25 and under.
   The move is expected to affect 65,731 Queenslanders aged over 25 who hold a learner or provisional licence and who have been allowed to drive with a blood alcohol content below 0.05 per cent.
   Premier, Anna Bligh said the new laws were aimed at reducing the number of alcohol related crashes for P-plate drivers and increasing the safety of novice motorcycle riders.
   “Motorcycle riders are vulnerable – they are 30 times more likely to be killed in a crash than other road users and more fatal crashes occur in the first 12 months of holding a motorcycle licence,” Ms Bligh said.
   “The risks are also there for older people learning to ride a motorcycle.
   “Data shows that between 2002 and 2006, 36 per cent of fatal crashes involved novice riders aged between 30 and 49 years of age.”
   She said the no alcohol restriction would reinforce the message that novice drivers and riders were still developing their driving skills.
   Ms Bligh said the changes supported a raft of other measures introduced to improve road safety.

26 November, 2009

Rural women bring
concerns to town

The 2009 Rural Women’s Symposium has been conducted by the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation’s Rural and Regional Queensland Unit and the Department of Communities’ Office for Women.
   Minister for Women, Karen Struthers said women from rural and remote areas gathered at Mt Isa to have their say on shaping the future for themselves and their communities.
   The symposium was an initiative of the Blueprint for the Bush strategy and built on discussions about the lives of rural Queensland women that were explored at last year’s inaugural symposium in Roma.
   Ms Struthers was joined at the symposium by the Minister for Rural and Regional Queensland, Tim Mulherin and Member for Mount Isa, Betty Kiernan.
   Ms Struthers said rural women were often the cornerstones of their communities.
“As the Minister for Women, I was keen to hear their perspectives and ideas about current and emerging issues they face in their communities,” she said.
   “It’s important to be able to fully understand the issues they face and identify solutions.
   “Then, we can develop relevant programs to deliver real and lasting benefits for women in rural and remote areas.”
   Mrs Kiernan said the symposium had been a great opportunity for the State’s key decision-makers on rural women’s issues to sit down with women from rural and remote regions to listen and learn about their concerns.
   “This is a great example of how we, as a Government, can work in partnership with women from rural and remote areas to improve their quality of life, the lives of their families and local communities,” Mrs Kiernan said.

26 November, 2009
News milestone reached
PS News marks its 100th edition in Queensland this week as the only online newspaper serving the QPS.
   From its first edition in November 2007, PS News Queensland has grown to serve 3,900 subscribers with the subscription list growing every week.
   In the past year alone, 13,400 unique visitors have logged onto PS News Queensland, recording 4.1 million hits and opening 56,800 pages.
   Editor, Frank Cassidy thanked the many committed readers and supporters of PS News for their loyalty over the first 100 editions and promised more and better in the months and years ahead.

Push to win Defence contract
A $1 billion Australian Defence Force contract could generate more than 250 jobs in Toowoomba.
   Treasurer, Andrew Fraser voiced strong support for a Queensland company, Protected Transport Systems (PTS), which is bidding to build new light armoured vehicles for the ADF.
   Executive Chairman of PTS, Derek Andrews said the new vehicles would be manufactured under contract by Great Western Manufacturing at its Toowoomba manufacturing plant.

Meetings on pool safety
Free, public information sessions on new Queensland building laws around sustainable housing and swimming pool safety are to be held between Cairns and the Gold Coast.
   Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, Stirling Hinchliffe said the sessions would detail new swimming pool safety laws which come into effect on 1 December and highlight green housing requirements in place from 1 January.
   Information on seminar dates and locations was available by phoning (07) 3239 6369.

New theatres operating
New surgical theatres at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital have been officially opened.
   The two new high-tech operating rooms, costing $5.1 million in Commonwealth funding, will provide enhanced capacity to treat complex surgical patients at the hospital.
   One of the new operating theatres will serve as a dedicated “hybrid” theatre to be used for vascular surgery and trauma patients requiring dedicated imaging while the second will be used as a laparoscopic surgery theatre.

Tourism workshop
A workshop being run by Tourism Queensland in December will help Sunshine Coast tourism operators prepare for severe weather.
   The Weatherproof Your Business workshop aims to show how operators can plan for events that may affect their ability to drum up business, and how to recover quickly once the event has passed.
   The workshop, which will cover staff and customer safety and getting back to work as soon as possible, runs for three hours, with more information available from www.tq.com.au

Bunk bed safety
Community input is being sought on whether safety regulations for bunk beds need to be extended to cover short term rental accommodation.
   The Office of Fair Trading has invited feedback on a Regulatory Impact Statement aimed at reducing the risk of childhood injury associated with bunk beds.
   A 2002 a mandatory safety standard for bunk beds does not cover beds currently in use in short term rental accommodation such as holiday units and holiday camps.
   The Statement was available from www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au

Campaign a success
A four-week Tourism Queensland-led domestic campaign for tropical North Queensland has generated almost 7,800 room nights and an estimated $5 million in visitor expenditure for the region.
   The campaign, Spend More Time, Not More Money was held during October and resulted in a 100 per cent increase on the 3,895 room nights booked at the same time last year.

New station for Nambour
Firefighters and staff at Nambour are moving into their new $3.06 million Nambour Fire Station Nambour, which was completed on 19 November.
   The new station is a modern state-of-the-art building and has replaced a 50-year-old facility.
   It will be crewed with a permanent staff of four Station Officers, 15 firefighters and seven Auxiliary firefighters.

19 November, 2009

Watchdog unleashes
annual report

The Queensland Ombudsman reported a 16 per cent increase in complaints and enquiries in 2008-09, taking the number of issues dealt with in his office to more than 17,700 for the year.
   The Ombudsman, David Bevan said despite this increase, his office still managed to deal with more than 80 per cent of complaints within 30 days.
   Mr Bevan said his 2008-09 Annual Report included details of the training Public Servants within his office had undertaken and highlighted the need for reform of the Queensland whistleblowing system.
   “Whistleblowing is an integral element of ensuring a transparent and accountable Public Service where Public Sector officers can expose wrongdoing without fear of reprisal; where support and feedback are provided and where cases are investigated in a thorough and
timely manner,” Mr Bevan said.
   The Ombudsman said another important initiative for 2008-09 had been the project to help Agencies improve the way they handled public complaints.
   “This year we audited the complaints procedures of State Agencies and made more than 300 recommendations for improvements to their complaint systems,” he said.
   Mr Bevan said three major investigations related to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet’s contracting process and Queensland Corrective Services’ process for the classification, movement and transfer of prisoners and their management of breaches of discipline by prisoners.
   He said his office helped improve public administration by recommending changes to procedures and practices based on the outcomes of its investigations.
   “Many of these recommendations lead not only to improvements in the ways Government Agencies carry out their functions but also to improved services for members of the community,” Mr Bevan said.
   During the 2008-09 year the Ombudsman’s Office made 184 recommendations to State and Local Governments and delivered 106 training sessions on good decision-making to 1,798 Public Servants throughout Queensland.
   Mr Bevan said he was particularly pleased the Government had implemented two of the key recommendations in his June 2008 report to Parliament regarding the regulation of mine safety and whistleblower protection in the mining industry.
   The report was available from www.ombudsman.qld.gov.au

19 November, 2009

Directive directs
pay-out packages

A new Directive specifying the conditions and entitlements that apply to Public Servants who take an early retirement, redundancy or retrenchment package has been released by the Public Sector Industrial and Employee Relations Division
   The Early Retirement, Redundancy and Retrenchment Directive (17/09) replaces Directive 10/05, Retrenchment, and Directive 11/05, Voluntary Early Retirement from 16 November 2009.
   Releasing the new Directive, PSIER said it provided Agencies with a head of power to meet the basic requirements for a genuine redundancy payment or early retirement arrangement.
   The Directive provides definitions of key words such as ‘redundancy’ and ‘early retirement’ and specifies the conditions under which each package may be offered to employees.
   It outlines Departmental responsibilities relating to relocating staff if workplace changes result in redundancies and says Agencies must “explore the options” for placing affected staff elsewhere.
   It says Chief Executive Officers now have the authority to approve retrenchments, early retirements and redundancies, except in exceptional circumstances.
   According to the Directive, each Agency must include the number and total financial value of packages paid out in their annual report.
   It says Agencies must also establish a register identifying certain information about employees who accept a package, including their name, date of birth and employment status.
   With regard to redundancy payments, the Directive says payment packages can only be paid following an employee’s termination, the employee must be dismissed from employment and the dismissal must be caused by a genuine position redundancy
   “Provided that the components listed above are complied with, tax concessions can be applied to genuine redundancy payments,” it says.
   The Directive strengthens existing requirements that early retirees only be offered a package if the Commissioner for Taxation approves.
   The Directive was published in an Extraordinary Gazette of 16 November 2009 and is available from www.psier.qld.gov.au

19 November, 2009

Auditor brings
audits to book

The first audit report containing the results of financial and compliance audits of Consolidated Whole of Government Financial Statements and State entities has been released.
   Auditor General, Glenn Poole said his audit looked at the results of audits of 351 Agencies with a 30 June balance date.
   Mr Poole qualified his opinion on the Consolidated Whole of Government Financial Statements because many Departments valued certain property, plant and equipment assets
at cost instead of fair value as required by new accounting standards, thereby recording inaccurate depreciation figures and inhibiting inter-year comparisons.
   He offered an unqualified audit opinion on the General Government Sector Financial Statement and the Consolidated Fund Financial Report.
   Mr Poole reported that 88 per cent of the audited Departments, Statutory Authorities and Government-owned corporations met the statutory deadline of 31 August for their audit opinions and for companies, 94 per cent met the deadline of 31 October.
   He raised concerns over how Agencies were ensuring they complied with new financial accountability legislation that came into effect on 1 July 2009.
   He said he would write to Agencies affected by the legislation to ensure compliance.
   “The recent introduction of new financial accountability and audit legislation represents a significant change from the previous framework,” the Auditor General said.
   “Challenges for Departments and statutory bodies in implementing this framework include reviewing existing practices, documenting decisions and training key staff.”
   Mr Poole looked at the funding provided to Queensland under the Federal Government’s stimulus package and concluded that a lack of documentation had been identified within the governance and reporting processes.
   He said if Departments decided to adopt an alternative method instead of current approved procedures they should clearly identify and document their reasons.
   He said the procurement processes of three major infrastructure projects had been audited with each found to be capable of improving the documentation, transparency, probity and accountability of decisions made.
   The Auditor General said the value of land under roads in Queensland had been recognised for the first time in 2008-09 and had been estimated at $40.37 billion by the Department of Environment and Resource Management.
   “Although there has been much debate about whether land under roads can be reliably measured and the factors that should be taken into account when determining any fair value, the value of land under roads disclosed in the 2008-09 financial report of the Department of Environment and Resource Management was adequately evidenced,” he said.
   The full report was available from www.qao.qld.gov.au

19 November, 2009

Leadership programs
lead way for leaders

A series of leadership programs specifically tailored for the Queensland Public Service have been developed by the Public Service Commission in partnership with Public Service leaders and organisations.
   The Inspiring Leadership series includes four programs designed to provide Public Service leaders with the opportunity to realise their leadership potential.
   Inspiring Executive Leadership is the first of the four programs and was developed by the PSC, the University of Queensland and the Institute of Public Administration of Australia (IPAA) Queensland.
   The series is for senior officers and newly appointed SES officers and aims to equip them with skills to take on the challenges of a senior executive role.
   Programs two and three are yet to be named, but were developed in partnership with QUT and the Australian Institute of Management (AIM) respectively.
   Program two was designed for newly appointed SOs to help them undertake senior leadership roles and is expected to commence in February 2010.
   Program 3 is for new managers or people who have recently been appointed to leadership roles and is expected to be launched in early 2010.
   The final program, Inspired Coaching, was created in partnership with Chandler MacLeod and is for any leader across the Public Service who is looking for one-on-one professional development to help achieve excellence.

19 November, 2009

Uni course to tame
‘wicked problems’

The University of Western Australia is offering courses in a new field – Integrated Human Studies – which will have particular relevance to public service.
   Professor Neville Bruce from the University developed the courses due to his dissatisfaction with the way tertiary institutions were responding to the world’s problems.
   Professor Bruce said Integrated Human Studies directly addressed 21st century challenges.
   He said he believed science and technology had contributed rapidly to human development in the 20th century, but that their effects had ruinous consequences.
   “Massive, complex problems like resource depletion, climate change, poverty and inequity threaten the very survival of humans and the planet – and many universities continue to deliver the same old discipline-based or vocationally focused education,” Professor Bruce said.
   Professor Graeme Martin, also of UWA, said Integrated Human Studies delivered a transdisciplinary perspective and methodologies that drew on science, the arts, humanities, law and economics.
   “We get some of the brightest minds in the country, and they come in wanting to change the world – and we teach them maths,” Professor Martin said.
   “Of course the world needs mathematicians, but if you want to change the world and address complex problems, you need broad understandings, and a sense of how your disciplinary specialty fits in with others.”
   He said the new course drew on a range of subject areas to consider local and global issues and “wicked problems” that defied narrow analysis.
   Professor Bruce said the course’s starting point was the idea that in order to consider human futures, it was necessary to understand human nature and culture, evolutionary and historical origins and value and belief systems.
   He said it was also imperative to understand the current status of humans on
Earth.
   “Australia needs to formulate policies relating to immigration, welfare, housing, land management and more,” he said.
   “Policy makers need to understand the global issues and pressures, and leaders and voters all need to make informed decisions.”
   ProfessorGreen light for red tape review A sweeping review of all legislation imposing requirements on Local Councils is to be conducted by the State Government. Overseen by a committee led by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet, the review was expected to lead to improved savings and greater Council efficiency. Minister for Local Government, Desley Boyle said consultation on the old Local Government Act 1993 had revealed some Councils were having trouble working across the numerous pieces of legislation relating to their business. Study to relieve burden on Councils “They also noted that at times, they had trouble working with different definitions and other legislative requirements covered in different statutes,” Ms Boyle said. “For example, there are different rules governing the right of entry onto properties, different notice times, fines and penalties.” She said the review would simplify the regulatory system and establish a balance between improving accountability and cutting red tape. “This will undoubtedly lead to significant administrative savings for Councils, ratepayers and businesses,” Ms Boyle said. She said the review would assess the currency of existing statutes applying to Local Government, reduce unnecessary and excessive legislative requirements and streamline administrative and procurement processes. “This review’s practical outcomes will be the repeal of duplicated, redundant and irrelevant provisions and rationalisation of similar provisions across Acts,” Ms Boyle said. “We are driving legislative reform, increasing transparency and accountability in Local Government and ensuring there is sustainability through better performance management and reporting.” The review is expected to be completed by the end of 2011.as “wicked problems.”
   He said former Australian Public Service Commissioner Lynelle Briggs said wicked problems “require thinking that is capable of grasping the big picture, including the interrelationships among the full range of causal factors underlying them.”
   Ms Briggs said they often required broader, more collaborative and innovative approaches.
   Professor Bruce said the curriculum design team at UWA’s Centre for Integrated Human Studies had built these skills into their course content and delivery.
   More information about the course could be accessed at www.ihs.uwa.edu.au

19 November, 2009

Green light for
red tape review

A sweeping review of all legislation imposing requirements on Local Councils is to be conducted by the State Government.
   Overseen by a committee led by Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet, the review was expected to lead to improved savings and greater Council efficiency.
   Minister for Local Government, Desley Boyle said consultation on the old Local Government Act 1993 had revealed some Councils were having trouble working across the numerous pieces of legislation relating to their business.
   “They also noted that at times, they had trouble working with different definitions and other legislative requirements covered in different statutes,” Ms Boyle said.
   “For example, there are different rules governing the right of entry onto properties, different notice times, fines and penalties.”
   She said the review would simplify the regulatory system and establish a balance between improving accountability and cutting red tape.
   “This will undoubtedly lead to significant administrative savings for Councils, ratepayers and businesses,” Ms Boyle said.
   She said the review would assess the currency of existing statutes applying to Local Government, reduce unnecessary and excessive legislative requirements and streamline administrative and procurement processes.
   “This review’s practical outcomes will be the repeal of duplicated, redundant and irrelevant provisions and rationalisation of similar provisions across Acts,” Ms Boyle said.
   “We are driving legislative reform, increasing transparency and accountability in Local Government and ensuring there is sustainability through better performance management and reporting.”
   The review is expected to be completed by the end of 2011.

19 November, 2009

Hospitals survive
pandemic pain

The latest performance report of public hospitals reveals the State’s health facilities coped well with the pressures of the Human Swine Flu pandemic and the flu season.
   Deputy Premier and Minister for Health, Paul Lucas said the Quarterly Public Hospitals Performance Report for September showed more than 24,700 patients had attended Queensland Emergency Departments with flu or flu-like symptoms in the September Quarter.
   This was an overall increase of 3.4 per cent on attendances compared to last year’s flu season.
   “In total, that’s 404,589 patients treated in our major Emergency Departments in just three months,” Mr Lucas said.
   “Despite this, our Emergency Department performance continued to improve across four of the five treatment categories.”
   He said the excellent performance had been largely due to the Winter Bed Management Strategy implemented by Queensland Health and Emergency Department Clinicians to manage demand during the flu season.
   “Despite record admissions, and despite a record number of people in intensive care units as a result of Human Swine Flu, our statewide access block figures have improved on last year’s flu season,” Mr Lucas said.
   Sixty-four per cent of patients requiring admission to a hospital bed from an Emergency Department were admitted within eight hours, with the average time being 6.20 hours.
   Mr Lucas said this was up from last year’s flu season.
   He said emergency admissions, the first priority of the hospital system, were increasing in excess of population growth and had resulted in some elective cases being delayed.
   During the first two months of 2009/10 there was a 1.2 per cent increase in the number of emergency admissions.
   Mr Lucas said despite the influx of emergency admissions Queensland Hospitals were making inroads into elective surgery.
   He said the total number of ‘long wait’ patients had decreased by 15.3 per cent and an additional 1,095 patients (a 3.4 per cent increase) received their elective surgery compared with the September Quarter 2008.
   The report was available from www.health.qld.gov.au

19 November, 2009

Energy overhaul for
office buildings

A national scheme to boost the energy efficiency of commercial and Government-owned office buildings has been announced by the Federal Minister for the Environment, Peter Garrett.
   Mr Garrett said from the second half of 2010 building owners would be required to provide up-to-date energy efficiency information when selling or leasing space covering over 2,000 square metres.
   “This means all parties - the building owner and potential buyers or tenants - will have access to consistent, credible and meaningful information about a building’s energy efficiency and make informed decisions when they buy or rent office space,” he said.
   “Greener offices are not only more comfortable to work in, they can also boost productivity, bring down sick leave, support green building industry jobs and have the potential to deliver savings of 20 to 40 percent on energy bills.”
   Mr Garrett said the disclosure scheme would encourage building owners to invest in energy efficient upgrades.
   He said the scheme would require owners to disclose a valid Building Energy Efficiency Certificate, including a National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) Energy base building star rating.
   He said an assessment of the lighting energy efficiency of tenancies and some suggestions on how to improve the building’s energy efficiency would also be included.
   He said owners who did not comply would risk a fine or prosecution.
   “If you are planning on selling or leasing office space, the first NABERS Energy base building star rating can take time,” Mr Garrett said.
   “I encourage building owners to start now to prepare for the introduction of this measure.”
   Ministers for Energy at the Federal, State and Territory levels recently approved the parameters of the new scheme and Commonwealth legislation was currently being developed.
   Mr Garrett said businesses would be informed about the new rules through upcoming seminars to be hosted by the Department of the Environment and the Property Council of Australia.
   More information was available from www.environment.gov.au

19 November, 2009

Toy safety checks
are Christmas gift

Product safety inspectors from the Office of Fair Trading have begun checking on toy retailers and importers to ensure more than 4,000 toys going on sale this Christmas are safe.
   Minister for Fair Trading, Peter Lawlor said some presents for children could be dangerous if they were not accompanied by safety gear and appropriate product use guidance.
   “I warn parents about buying ‘half a present’ this Christmas,” Mr Lawlor said.
   “If a product is designed to be used with safety equipment or protective clothing, make sure you buy and give this as part of your present.
   “This will help reduce the number of product-related injuries suffered by children, and keep the holidays happy and safe.”
   He said examples of products that should be purchased with accompanying safety equipment included bikes (with helmets); skateboards, skates and scooters (helmets and protective clothing); and trampolines (safety pads to cover the springs, hooks and frame).
   “Research shows that wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of brain injury following head injuries from cycling accidents by up to 90 per cent,” Mr Lawlor said.
   He said it was also important for consumers buying toys to keep the age of the child in mind.
   “For instance, children aged up to four years are most at risk from toy injury, as they tend to put everything in their mouth,” Mr Lawlor said.
   Don’t buy toys for children this age if they have parts that could easily break off and be swallowed.”
   He advised parents to check the labels and age recommendations on toys before buying them to make sure they are safe for young children.
   “Adopt a ‘smaller the child the bigger the toy’ policy and remember - the best way to guard against injury is to ensure there is constant adult supervision,” Mr Lawlor said.

19 November, 2009

Health’s heat warning
is cool advice

Queensland Health has issued a warning against people “soldiering on” if they feel affected by hot weather.
   Chief Health Officer, Dr Jeannette Young said anyone experiencing severe symptoms such as heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, nausea, weakness, dizziness and faintness should seek medical attention.
   Dr Young said it was best to take precautions rather than risking serious health problems such as heat exhaustion.
   “Heat exhaustion can develop over several days of extreme hot weather,” Dr Young said.
   “It is the body’s response to gradual depletion of fluid and salt due to sweating.
   “Those most prone to heat exhaustion are elderly people, people exercising or working in a hot environment, or people with high blood pressure as well as infants, nursing mothers and pregnant women.”
   She said if heat stroke was suspected, medical help would be required immediately, it was life threatening.
   “Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness and it can be fatal,” Dr Young said.
   “It occurs when the body temperature rises rapidly, because the body loses its ability to sweat and is unable to cool down.
   She said warning signs included an extremely high body temperature (above 39°C); red, hot, dry skin, although in some cases sweating may still be evident; rapid strong pulse; throbbing headache; dizziness and nausea.
   Dr Young said anyone exhibiting symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat stroke should be cooled with a shower, bath, or sponge; moved to an air-conditioned environment; and have their temperature checked.
   She said if the person was able to drink, a non-alcoholic drink should be provided.
   Dr Young said some effective ways of preventing heat stress included drinking plenty of fluids, pacing yourself, staying out of the sun, monitoring people at risk and wearing light, loose fitting clothes.

19 November, 2009

Penalty dodgers
tread fine line

Tougher powers to clamp the cars, seize the property and suspend the driver licences of serial fine defaulters have been approved by State Parliament and will come into force on 1 January on a 12-month trial.
   Attorney-General, Cameron Dick said the new laws targeted chronic, long-term fine dodgers.
   “This sends a strong message to those who continue to shirk their legal and moral obligations to the community – if you don’t pay your debts, you will pay the price,” Mr Dick said.
   “These new powers are critical to preserving public confidence in the justice system and maintaining the integrity of fines as a deterrent.”
   He said the laws focused on people whose fines were referred to the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) as they were given plenty of opportunities to work with authorities to repay their debts.
   “The system offers a range of repayment options – including instalment plans for low-income earners or community service – so there is no excuse for failing to pay a fine,” Mr Dick said.
   He said Queenslanders expected people who broke the law and received a fine to pay their debt in full.
   “They also expect the Government to take appropriate action against long-term fine bludgers with significant debts who simply refuse to do the right thing,” Mr Dick said.
   He said the new laws gave enforcement officers the power to clamp vehicles in public places, at debtors’ residences, the debtors’ places of business or any other location with the occupier’s consent, provided it did not create a traffic or safety hazard.
   “SPER has also been given additional authority to suspend driver licences for any unpaid fine, not just those imposed for motor vehicle offences,” Mr Dick said.
   “Appropriate safeguards have been built into the new arrangements, including an assessment of whether enforcement actions such as clamping would cause severe and unusual hardship to the debtor, their family or an innocent third party.”
   The expansion of driver licence suspensions will apply to all debtors who refused to enter into compliance arrangements, but the power to clamp vehicles will be limited to those who owed $5,000 or more.
   “The new provisions also authorise the use of SMS technology to send messages to fine defaulters via their mobile phones, without requiring consent,” Mr Dick said.
   “This will allow SPER to send reminders and warnings to debtors in appropriate circumstances, such as when their installment plans are in default or enforcement action is imminent.”

19 November, 2009

Childcare logs to
build new system

Child care services across the State will soon be required to maintain and display a compliance log book, under new regulations being drawn up by the State Government.
   Minister for Education and Training, Geoff Wilson said the regulations would ensure parents had easy access to information about centres, staff and safety issues.
   “Parents are entrusting their children to the care of these services, and they want to be confident their children will be safe and well looked after,” Mr Wilson said.
   “These log books will be required to contain information about breach notices that the service receives from the Office for Early Childhood Education and Care.”
   Under the proposed legislation, all services would have a log book on display from July 2010.
   “This is another step in our major reform of early childhood education and care designed to improve the quality of care and boost safety,” Mr Wilson said.
   He said it was also critical child care remained affordable for parents.
   “That’s why we are working closely with Childcare Queensland to ensure we find that balance,” Mr Wilson said.
   He said quality early childhood education played a key role in helping children succeed at school and in life.
   Mr Wilson said the Government was committed to providing universal access to a kindergarten program by 2014 to enhance the potential of future success for all children.
   “Queensland has one of the lowest kindergarten participation rates in the country at around 29 per cent - we want to lift this to 95 per cent within the next four years,” he said.
   “That’s why we’re building up to 240 additional kindergarten services in demand areas and why we’re subsidising long day care services to provide quality kindergarten programs.”

19 November, 2009

Building code to
sark it and see

Moves to strengthen the Building Code to include stronger storm-proofing measures for new buildings have been proposed by the Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, Stirling Hinchliffe.
   Mr Hinchliffe proposed the Building Code of Australia (BCA) be amended from 1 May 2011 to require all tiled roofs on new buildings be ‘sarked’, a form of waterproofing that includes laying sheet material under roof tiles to prevent wind-blown rain from entering the roof space.
   “One year ago today a storm cell unleashed winds of up to 150km/h at The Gap, Keperra and Enoggera, resulting in significant damage to many homes and structures,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
   “Following the storm, the James Cook University Cyclone Testing Station carried out a study of the damage to identify its causes and to see what building safety issues needed to be addressed.”
   He said while much of the damage was caused by the freak winds bringing down whole trees and branches, the study also found water entered buildings through undamaged, unsarked tiled roofs was a major cause of damage.
   “The BCA currently requires a waterproof sarking membrane to be placed under some tiled roofs, depending on their pitch,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
   “The university study found that there was merit in amending the building code to require all new tiled roofs to be sarked.”
   He said the BCA already recognised sarking was a cost-effective way of insulating buildings to meet energy efficiency requirements and that there should not be significant extra costs involved in requiring all new roofed tiles to be sarked.
   Mr Hinchliffe said his Department would discuss the amendment with the Australian Building Codes Board at its next meeting in March 2010, to see if it could be adopted nationally or as a Queensland variation.

19 November, 2009

Crocodiles rocked
by ranger count

The first detailed survey of the numbers and distribution of crocodiles in the northern half of Queensland is currently being carried out.
   Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Kate Jones said undertaking the survey was a huge task.
   “This is a massive exercise, taking in more than 40 river systems from the Burdekin River catchment in the south to the Gulf of Carpentaria and Cape York Peninsula in the north,” Ms Jones said.
   “We obviously can’t count all the crocodiles in Queensland but this survey will give us a clear picture of how our crocs are doing, in all areas of crocodile country.”
   She said the Government would now commission major surveys of crocodile numbers every three years to inform future management practices.
   Ms Jones said Rangers would use spotlights at night during the dry season and at low tide when crocodiles could most easily be seen on the river banks.
   “All navigable regions of the selected waterways will be surveyed, including the non-tidal sections where possible,” she said.
   The territory where crocodiles were most prevalent has been divided into eight geographic regions for the survey.
   “Seven major rivers and creeks between Cape Melville and Ayr have so far been surveyed, with two areas from Cooktown to Gladstone expected to be surveyed between mid and late November,” Ms Jones said.
   “The final surveys will be conducted at the end of the wet season in around March-April 2010.”
   She said regular, comprehensive surveys were the best way to monitor the wild crocodile population, so future management plans could be based on the best information available.
   Although most commonly seen in tidal reaches of rivers, crocodiles also habitat beaches and offshore islands in the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait, and in freshwater lagoons, rivers, and swamps.
   In some parts of Northern Queensland they can be found more than 100 kilometers inland.

19 November, 2009

Electricians switch
on to safety scheme

A pilot program that raises safety awareness among apprentice electricians is to be expanded next year.
   Minister for Industrial Relations, Cameron Dick said safety in the workplace was of “paramount importance” and that the successful program would be extended to ensure core safety messages hit home.
   Mr Dick said the pilot training program highlighted the work of the Electrical Safety Office in ensuring safety messages were delivered to new electrical workers.
   “There have been 28 serious incidents involving electrical workers in Queensland in the last two years, including two fatalities,” he said.
   Mr Dick said the 12-week program had involved apprentices working with inspectors to help with process audits, electrical installation verification and some safety investigations.
   “The apprentices have received invaluable experience working alongside electrical safety inspectors,” he said.
   “The program, which has industry support, aims to help improve the apprentices’ knowledge and awareness of electrical safety and promote the role of the Electrical Safety Office, while offering secure work placements.”
   Mr Dick said a recent fatality involved an electrical tradesperson who was only nine months out of his apprenticeship.
   “The fatality and other serious incidents involving licensed electrical workers prompted the Queensland Government to develop this project targeting those still completing their apprenticeships,” he said.
   “The Electrical Safety Office is planning on expanding the program next year, and will host a total of nine fourth-year apprentices for 12 weeks each.”

19 November, 2009

Workplace watchdog
warns new starters

The Commonwealth’s Fair Work Ombudsman has encouraged school-leavers to be aware of their workplace rights if they decide to take jobs over the summer holidays.
The Ombudsman, Nicholas Wilson, said knowledge was the best defence to ensure young workers were not ripped off.
   “When you’ve just left school, every dollar counts,” Mr Wilson said.
   “Often the excitement of the first pay packet and a lack of understanding of the laws that protect them can leave young workers vulnerable to unacceptable workplace practices.”
   He said there were several facts young workers should be aware of, for instance that every worker should receive a payslip and unpaid trial work was generally against the law.
   He said having money deducted from wages if the cash register was short was also against the law.
   “Entering the workforce should be a positive experience, and we’re here to help empower young people to ensure that is the case,” Mr Wilson said.
   “It’s as simple as picking up the phone and calling our national Infoline on 13 13 94 to speak with one of our Fair Work advisers.”
   He suggested keeping a work diary to record shifts and pay, noting the start and finishing time, meal breaks and the names of supervisors.
   “A record of events such as this can be extremely helpful in resolving issues that may arise down the track,” Mr Wilson said.
   He said over the next month his office would distribute tens of thousands of post-cards to areas populated by young people, including cafés, cinemas and shopping centres, alerting students to their workplace rights.
   Last year the Fair Work Ombudsman audited 400 businesses primarily employing young workers and recouped $634,000 for 1,700 underpaid young employees.
   Further information for school-leavers was available from www.fairwork.gov.au

19 November, 2009
QPSU in election mode
The Electoral Commission is calling for nominations in the biennial election of the Queensland Public Sector Union.
   Positions to be filled include: General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary, President, Senior Vice President, Junior Vice President (three positions), Honorary Treasurer
and Assistant Honorary Treasurer.
   Also required are delegates to the PSU Council representing six Regional Organising Committees and 318 delegates representing sub-divisions.

State signs up for IR law
New industrial relations laws that will allow the State to join a national industrial relations system have been passed by Parliament.
   Proponents say the legislation gives private sector employees and employers access to a fair, balanced and equitable system of industrial relations, overseen by an independent umpire.
Public Sector and Local Government workers in Queensland will remain under the State industrial relations system.

New Memorial at Bowen
A new memorial to the World War II Battle of the Coral Sea has been unveiled at Bowen in the State’s north.
   The memorial marks the site of the wartime Catalina airbase and forms part of the Whitsunday Regional Council’s Port Denison Foreshore Redevelopment Project.
   The State contributed $25,000 to the project through the Community Memorials Restoration Program.

Futures TaskForce continues
The Community Futures Taskforce will continue to provide property buyback assistance to Mary Valley residents until June 2010, following the Federal Government’s decision to block construction of the Traveston Crossing Dam.
   The Taskforce will help facilitate property buyback and plan for the future of the community.
   It will also offer business and economic development support through the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, and agribusiness development support through Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries.

Fisherfolk fined
People fishing in closed waters in the Brisbane Valley have received over $10,000 in fines.
   Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland, Tim Mulherin said it was disappointing people continued to ignore the rules.
   “Closed waters are in place to protect fish at a vulnerable stage in their lifecycle or species that may be subject to over-fishing,” Mr Mulherin said.
   “If you are caught fishing in these areas you may face a $400 on-the-spot fine.”

Probation office opened
Queensland’s largest probation and parole office has been officially opened in Cairns.
   The 815 square metre office is located in a building that achieved a national green star rating for its modern environmental design.
   The building includes safety features such as secure reception and waiting areas and five interview rooms featuring closed-circuit monitoring and dual access doors.
   Queensland Corrective Services Cairns Probation and Parole Service staff moved into the $1.1 million facility earlier this year.

Call for election funding
A call for State elections to be publicly funded has been made by the Queensland Public Sector Union.
   General Secretary of the QPSU, Alex Scott said public funding would properly protect the community’s rights to be informed about the policies of all political candidates, regardless of party affiliation, before voters go to the ballot box.
   “Our community needs elections where the real issues affecting all of us are debated freely and frankly at election time, where parties aren’t simply splurging oceans of cash to further their own political agendas,’ Mr Scott said.

12 November, 2009

PSC delivers on
delivery principles

The Public Service Commission has released its Service Delivery Principles to assist Departments and Agencies develop policies and programs to deliver quality services to the public.
   The PSC said that when applying the principles, Agencies would need to consider competing issues such as resource availability, high demand, level of need and complexity of responses.
   The first of the six principles looks at ensuring outcomes are aligned to the strategic priorities of the Department and the Government.
   The second principle, Citizen-centric, states program and service delivery should be driven by the needs of citizens; flexible; based on demand and demographics; responsive to changes in needs; and delivered in an ethical and equitable manner.
   The third principle stresses service delivery should be simple and accessible, with clear information provided to the public on where and how to access the service.
   The principles state an integrated, measured and sustainable approach should be taken to planning and delivery of services and programs.
   “The value of a service should be measured and monitored equally from financial and non-financial perspectives,” the principles said.
   “There should be a culture of review and evaluation of service delivery and where indicated, an ability to adapt the service delivery to address changing needs.”
   The fifth principle focuses on creating strong partnerships between Agencies and all other sectors to provide integrated services.
   “This includes sharing information to enhance the seamless delivery of services,” the principles said.
   The final principle looks at balance and adaptability of regional and rural services, as well as efficiencies in community employment and regional boundaries.
   The principles could be accessed at www.psc.qld.gov.au

12 November, 2009

Fatter pay packets
are Christmas gift

Promised pay rises for core Department staff are to be delivered before Christmas according to the Minister for Industrial Relations, Cameron Dick.
   Mr Dick said all staff covered by the State Government Departments Certified Agreement (Core Agreement) would receive early payments and back-pay for their 4.5 per cent wage increase.
   “This early payment includes back-pay to 1 August 2009 and will be processed no later than the pay period ending 18 December to ensure Public Servants receive a deserved boost to their pay packets before Christmas,” he said.
   General Secretary of the Queensland Public Sector Union, Alex Scott welcomed the news, saying the Union had written to the Government requesting the pay rise be implemented before the end of the year.
   “I am pleased to report that in response the Premier has agreed to apply the first pay rise administratively, sooner rather than later,” Mr Scott said.
   He said the Government’s original announcement that Public Servants would have to wait until March or April 2010 to receive their pay rise was unfair.
   Mr Scott said the delay had been related to legal uncertainties over coverage of the proposed agreement within the new Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR).
   He said finalising the legal proceedings relating to DTMR workers’ conditions was important but would not be prejudiced by the administrative pay rise.
   Mr Dick said the Government decided to make the early payment to avoid delaying it until 2010.
   “The Public Sector unions have agreed to this early payment,” he said.
   “This is a good outcome for Queensland’s valued and hard working Public Servants and their families, in the lead up to the Christmas break.”
   The Core Agreement covers 39 Agencies, approximately 59,000 employees and 21 unions.

12 November, 2009

Appeals Directive
is appealing

A new Directive outlining the ins and outs of the appeals process has been released by the Public Service Commission and supersedes five previous directives.
   Directive 15/09 consolidates Directives 11/96, 4/97, 16/97, 6/03 and 6/08 and explains updates to the application of the appeals provisions under the Public Service Act 2008.
   The Directive says that any officer wishing to appeal against a promotion decision must have applied for the vacancy before the closing date and must appeal to the Chief Executive of the Public Service Commission (PSC) within 21 days of the promotion being published in the Gazette.
   Appeals cannot be made against the appointment of people to jobs in Ministerial offices or against base-grade level jobs.
   Appeals will not be accepted against officers whose jobs have had their salary, duties or designation modified by an industrial determination or positions above AO8 or equivalent.
   The Directive said its references to the Gazette would also include any other publication used to notify the promotion.
   If an appeal is successful the Chief Executive of the PSC will decide how the Agency should proceed.
   The Commission can direct the Agency to re-commence or continue the recruitment process or form a new selection committee. The outcome of the appeal must appear in the Gazette within a month of the decision.
   The Directive says that when an appeal is successful, the officer affected should go back to his or her previous job if it is still vacant, or continue to be employed by the original Agency at a salary no less than their previous wage.
   According to the Directive, staff cannot appeal to the PSC against a decision about the classification level of employment except under certain circumstances.
   The Directive also outlines actions to take to appeal against a disciplinary decision rule and the mandatory fair treatment of Public Service staff.
   Directive 15/09 could be downloaded from www.psc.qld.gov.au

12 November, 2009

Window opened on
transparency reforms

Sweeping reforms to Government integrity standards now before Parliament promise to make Queensland the most transparent and accountable of all State Governments.
   Under the proposed legislation success fees will be outlawed, the role of the State’s Integrity Commission will be expanded, the Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) will be able to investigate Government-owned Corporations and the public will have direct on-line access to Government Ministers.
   Introducing the Integrity Bill 2009, Premier, Anna Bligh said it would make Queensland’s system of accountability and integrity the strongest in the nation.
   Ms Bligh said a two-tiered approach to integrity reform would see the new laws in place by the end of the year with further significant reforms due for completion by mid-2010.
   “When our Government issued its green paper on integrity and accountability in August, I indicated that even though reform has been an on-going, continual process over the past two decades it was time for new, stronger reforms that would put Queensland out in front of the rest of the nation,” Ms Bligh said.
   “We have listened to the concerns of everyone who submitted a response to the Green Paper and our Government has made good with wide-ranging reforms that not only deliver on some of the key commitments I made, but take them a significant step forward.”
   She said the legislation would provide Queenslanders with a robust integrity and accountability framework encompassing strong rules, a strong culture, strong scrutiny and strong enforcement.
   “The message could not be clearer – our Government expects and requires the highest standard of integrity and accountability from everyone in public office,” she said.
   She also announced an online innovation, People’s Question Time, which would use the internet to give the public regular and direct online access to herself and Government Ministers.
   “This is about using technology to open the Government’s doors and offer Queenslanders the opportunity to ask questions of myself and Ministers directly,” The Premier said.
   She said on-line web forums held as part of the integrity and accountability process in September, attracted a broad range of questions on a broad range of topics .
   “It’s clear Queenslanders want the chance to put direct questions to their Government,” she said.
   In addition to the main measures newly appointed Public Service officers and Ministerial staff will be required to disclose whether they have worked as lobbyists in the past two years.
   Ms Bligh said there would also be an overhaul of political donations and campaign funding by introducing a cap of $1,000 on political donations and the Whistleblowers Protection Act will be reformed and an Ethical Standards Branch established within the Public Service Commission to assist all Queensland Public Service employees - including Senior Executive staff and Agency heads - by providing independent advice on PS ethics issues.
   Ms Bligh said in addition to these measures, further reforms would be unveiled within the next 12 months.

12 November, 2009

Ombudsman reports
without complaint

The Ombudsman’s Office has released a report to help Regulatory Departments and Agencies deal with their responsibilities.
   Tips and Traps for Regulators (Second Edition) explains the principles of good regulatory practice from a Public Service perspective, illustrating them through case studies taken from Ombudsman investigations.
   The first edition of Tips and Traps for Regulators was published in 2007.
   The second edition includes additional case studies and commentary gleaned from the Ombudsman’s June 2008 public report, The Regulation of Mine Safety in Queensland, and other recent investigations.
   The newest publication comprises 14 chapters which explain the role of the Ombudsman and provide advice and guidance to regulatory Agencies.
   The report includes advice such as ensuring effective recruitment practices and ongoing training for enforcement officers and using discretion when taking actions against potential breaches.
   Tips and Traps for Regulators looks at the impact of poor investigative planning, effective regulation systems, overlapping regulatory responsibilities and the importance of communication with the public.
   A chapter on regulatory schemes defines the components of a good regulatory scheme while a chapter on regulatory independence deals with issues of independence where a regulator receives notification that another regulator is a potential offender.
   Other topics addressed are recordkeeping, electronic data capture, complaint management processes and auditing.
   The report is available from www.ombudsman.qld.gov.au

12 November, 2009

New guidelines
on probation

Guidelines to help Agencies manage probation for new starters have been released by the Public Sector Industrial and Employee Relations (PSIER) Division of the Department of Justice and Attorney-General.
   The Probation Guidelines clarify what needs to be considered when drafting Agency policy on probation and suggest a six step process for monitoring an employee’s probationary period.
   According to the guidelines, the aim of a probationary period is to “provide for training and induction and to allow an assessment to be made of the employee’s aptitude and capacity to perform the work.”
   Under the Public Service Act 2008 the probationary period is set at three months, however the guidelines provide advice on what is considered to be a “reasonable period” and whether three months is suitable for all staff.
   They outline examples and considerations for assessing the “nature of the job” to determine what period is reasonable.
   “The following factors should be taken into account...the size, location and mode of operation of the employer and the personal characteristics and circumstances of the employee,” they say.
   “A probation period may be shorter for an experienced employee as their capacity to perform their duties may be assessed more quickly.
   “A junior/unskilled position should not have a long probation period.”
   The six step process is shown in the guidelines as an example of how a probationary employee could be assessed.
   “Agencies should still comply with their own performance management policies when assessing the performance of and providing support to probationary employees,” the guidelines say.
   The process includes appropriate induction and performance planning; providing ongoing performance feedback to employees; assessing performance against benchmarked standards; deciding whether to confirm employment, decisions to extend the probation period or dismiss the employee; processes for extending probation; and what to do if dismissal is chosen.
   The guidelines could be accessed at www.psier.qld.gov.au

12 November, 2009

Database deal builds
on infrastructure

Infrastructure projects across Queensland are expected to benefit from a new shared supplier database being adopted by the Departments of Public Works and Infrastructure and Planning.
   Minister for Public Works, Robert Schwarten said building industry consultants and contractors registered on the Department of Public Works prequalification database would be able to bid for Department of Infrastructure and Planning tenders.
   “This is a commonsense approach to help with the rollout of the record $18.2 billion infrastructure program in Queensland,” Mr Schwarten said.
   “The pre-qualification database has been successfully used by Government Departments to attract suitable suppliers and contractors for capital works building projects for more than 10 years.”
   The Minister said this system had been an essential tool in the business that the Department of Public Works conducted on a daily basis.
   “It’s a valuable piece of computer technology that will help the Department of Infrastructure and Planning manage its professional and technical contract services database more efficiently, as my Department can testify,” he said.
   Extensive consultations by key members of both Departments resulted in a positive outcome for the future business requirements of the Department of Infrastructure and Planning.
   “Through the single centralised system, building industry consultants who are already registered as preferred suppliers with the Department of Public Works will now also be able to pre-qualify for a Preferred Supplier Arrangement (PSA) with the Department of Infrastructure and Planning,” Mr Schwarten said.
   “Potential new suppliers will be assessed on qualifications and experience as well as technical and managerial capabilities.”
   Suppliers who successfully prequalify would then be able to bid for contracts that were specific to each of their business operations.
   The pre-qualification system was established to provide consistent performance requirements and guidelines when selecting building industry service providers for Queensland Government building projects.
   The combined database will be in full operation from January 1.

12 November, 2009

Train troubles
prompt apology

A series of difficulties affecting the Citytrain network have prompted a public apology from the Minister for Transport, Rachel Nolan.
   Ms Nolan pointed out that until recently the overall performance of the train network had been good with 91.74 per cent running on time in the last financial year, improving to 94.3 per cent in the September quarter this year.
   “However, in the last couple of weeks, the performance of the rail network has been poor,” Ms Nolan said.
   In October, 4.8 per cent of trains were delayed due to track issues, and last week this was 8.5 per cent - this is not good enough.
   “I apologise to commuters for this recent and unacceptably poor run.”
   Ms Nolan said she had demanded answers from Queensland Rail, which was taking steps to improve performance.
   “My advice from Queensland Rail is that the recent performance is the result of a series of unfortunate incidents at critical locations, and is not indicative of a systemic maintenance issue,” she said.
   “In the last week, for instance, one major delay occurred on the Cleveland line because a storm disrupted power.
   “Another unacceptable delay occurred when a worker severed an optical fibre at South Brisbane, and a third resulted from a police incident.”
   There was no evidence to indicate an overall deterioration of the network, she said.
   Queensland Rail conducted visual inspections three times a week and regular track audits using computer technology.
   “That auditing indicates that the ‘overall track condition index’, a technical measure of track quality, has been constant for the last five years, notwithstanding an increase in services,” Ms Nolan said.

12 November, 2009

Queensland chalks up
new teaching institute

A new national institute to boost teaching standards across Australia is to be hosted jointly by the Queensland and Victorian Governments.
   The Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) has been set up by Australia’s Education Ministers and will work from premises in both Brisbane and Melbourne.
   Minister for Education and Training, Geoff Wilson said this was a major achievement for Queensland and recognition of the State’s expertise in education leadership and professional development.
   “I’m pleased our joint bid has been successful and the Government looks forward to working with Victoria to improve the status of the teaching profession,” Mr Wilson said.
   AITSL would closely collaborate with the new Queensland Education Leadership Institute (QELI) and Victoria’s Bastow Institute for Educational Leadership.
   “QELI was launched as part of the Masters Review of Queensland’s education system, confirming our commitment to improving education standards,” Mr Wilson said.
   “A good school starts with good leadership and these institutes will play a key role in developing the leadership skills of our workforce.”
   AITSL would work with the Catholic and Independent school sectors, the Stronger Smarter Institute for Indigenous Leadership, teacher unions, professional associations, teachers and school leaders to develop programs and standards to help educators improve student results.
   “The institute will support all teachers and school leaders to strengthen the quality of teaching in every classroom, every day,” Mr Wilson said.
   “Our innovative strategies in Indigenous education and leadership, small and rural and remote schools, the delivery of professional development via ICT, low socio-economic status schools, and teacher registration and standards are already cutting edge – we strive to be even better.”

12 November, 2009

Super Clinic is just
what doctor ordered

An agreement between the University of Queensland and the Commonwealth Government is expected to see a $7.5 million GP super clinic open in the Brisbane Southside region.
   The university, in collaboration with Mater Health Services and Medihealth Meadowbrook, will establish the super clinic under a ‘hub-and-spoke’ model.
   Two super clinic hubs will be established at Annerley and Logan with two complementary satellite sites still being negotiated for the broader Brisbane Southside region.
   The super clinic will provide integrated, team-based health care tailored to the needs of the local community. It will have a strong focus on supporting the future primary care workforce with student clinics incorporated as it develops.
   Signing of the agreement occurred at the Mater Hospital in Brisbane, where Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd and Federal Minister for Health and Aging, Nicola Roxon met local medical practitioners and discussed the recommendations of the National Health and Hospital Reform Commission (NHHRC).
   The NHHRC report made recommendations for system-wide changes to Australian health care and as part of the Government’s health reforms to date, $275 million has been allocated over five years, from 2007-08, to establish 36 GP Super Clinics around the nation.
The first super clinic began operations in Ballan, Victoria, in mid-September and early services have begun at five locations - Southern Lake Macquarie-Morisset, Palmerston, Devonport, Blue Mountains and Warnervale.

12 November, 2009

Accident exercise
plays it safe

Five teams of road accident rescue specialists converged on Ipswich last week to show off their life saving skills.
   Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services, Neil Roberts said the event had been a great opportunity for Queenslanders to develop an appreciation for how emergency services personnel operate and the equipment and skills required at road crash scenes.
   Mr Roberts said the South Eastern Region Road Crash Rescue Challenge involved firefighters and paramedics from Lowood, Laidley, Jimboomba, Tamborine Mountain, and Kooralbyn.
   “This event allowed the public to see first-hand the exceptionally high standard of personnel across the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) and Queensland Ambulance Service, and their commitment to serving the local community with the utmost professionalism,” he said.
   “The event also provided Emergency Services staff and volunteers with the opportunity to practice and refine their life saving skills while giving QFRS personnel a safe learning environment to be able to perform new extrication techniques.”
   Each team competed against the clock in three scenario-based events where the aim was to rescue people in the safest way possible from the wreckage of a vehicle after a traffic collision.
   Assistant Commissioner for QFRS South Eastern Region, Peter Beauchamp said the concept of the Road Crash Rescue Challenge was first introduced in 1995.
   “This event was instigated in order to further up-skill individuals and teams right across the State in various road crash scenarios and encourage camaraderie between Road Crash Rescue crews from various stations and Agencies in a friendly, competitive atmosphere,” Assistant Commissioner Beauchamp said.
   “It provides a platform for gaining and sharing new knowledge, experience and ideas.”

12 November, 2009

Soccer program
is kicking goals

A new program taking soccer into the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre has been hailed as a world first and holds the promise of helping young offenders turn their lives around.
   Minister for Community Services, Karen Struthers said the program, named after English Premier League club Arsenal, already ran projects in eight communities across Queensland and 20 countries globally.
   Ms Struthers said it was the first the coaching program had been taken into a detention centre.
   “It’s really about helping young people believe in themselves, respect themselves and each other,” she said.
   “Teaching soccer is secondary.”
   Ms Struthers said if the pilot project went well the program could expanded to the Cleveland Youth Detention Centre in Townsville and to some Indigenous communities in remote areas.
   Director of Football Pathways Australia and the Arsenal Soccer School Australia Program, Aston Bell said sport was a great vehicle for social change.
   “The program has always been very community focused and the opportunity to be involved with the youth offenders is a world-first for us,” Mr Bell said.
   “We want to help instill confidence, belief and self esteem back into these young people so they can have a more fulfilling life once they leave the centre.”
   He said it had been a humbling experience for himself and his staff to see a real difference in the kids already.

12 November, 2009

Tourist push plots
German invasion

Tourism Queensland has launched an online marketing campaign to give European explorers the opportunity to win the “Best Holiday in the World.”
   Minister for Tourism, Peter Lawlor said the campaign took the form of a game promoting the natural beauty and idyllic holiday experiences available in Queensland.
   Mr Lawlor said the campaign targeted German-speaking Europeans.
   “In the game, players will travel ‘virtually’ to destinations throughout Queensland with the aid of maps, pictures and text, while dodging obstacles along the way,” he said.
   “Successful online explorers will then be eligible to enter a competition to win the Best Holiday in the World, a 14-day round-trip throughout Queensland.”
   The campaign is being run in partnership with Emirates Airlines, Dertour, Tourism Australia and Hamilton Island.
   Mr Lawlor said the latest International Visitor Survey for the year ending June 2009 reported strong growth in visitor numbers out of Continental Europe.
   “Visitors from Germany increased by eight per cent in the last financial year to 80,000, French visitors increased 15 per cent to 38,000 and Italian visitors increased 17 per cent to 27,000,” he said.
   “Expenditure also increased out of these markets by 21, 22 and 14 per cent respectively in the year ending June 2009.”
   Mr Lawlor said the UK market was also being targeted with a range of VIP Queensland experiences being offered to Britons who booked a holiday in Queensland.
   “The campaign will see Flight Centre and Gold Medal customers in the UK automatically entered into a prize draw for the chance to win a range of VIP Queensland experiences when they book return flights and accommodation in Queensland,” he said.
   Mr Lawlor said the competitions followed other ‘Best’ initiatives in the UK such as the “Best Adventure in the World” campaign which was designed to educate travellers about Queensland’s adventurous side.
   “The campaign runs until the end of January and is supported by two unique competitions - to become a travel writer for the Independent on location in Queensland, and the chance to become an adventure documentary maker in Queensland,” he said.
   Acting Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Queensland, Steve McRoberts said the series of ‘Best’ initiatives were being rolled out to help convert the awareness generated for Queensland through the Best Job in the World into sales for Queensland tourism operators.

12 November, 2009

Green light for
car emissions

A new voluntary program allowing motorists to offset the greenhouse gas emissions from their cars has been unveiled by the Ministers for Climate Change and Sustainability, Kate Jones and Transport, Rachel Nolan.
   Ms Jones said the $4.5 million Reverse the Effect program involved the State Government providing matching dollar-for-dollar contributions so that motorists needed only to pay half the amount to fully offset their vehicles.
   “We’re giving Queenslanders a helping hand to offset all manner of motorised vehicles from mopeds to large trucks,” Ms Jones said.
   “They are all weighted differently in the amount of carbon they emit each year so a moped will cost only $8 a year to offset while a light commercial-style van will cost $120 and low-emission hybrid cars will have an offset price of $28 with the State Government’s co-contribution.”
   She believed there would be a lot of Queenslanders who wanted to do the right thing by the environment, including the offsetting of the carbon they emit during their vehicle journeys.
   Ms Nolan said the initiative had the support of Queensland’s motoring group, RACQ and the potential to help fully offset more than 76,000 family sedan vehicles.
   “With just a few mouse clicks, motorists will be able to offset on-line at www.reversetheeffect.com.au” Ms Nolan said.
   “A tax-deductible donation can be made online using a credit card that will contribute towards expanding our protected natural landscapes, including forestry projects.
   The Government would accelerate the program with $4.5 million of funding allocated over the next five years to match motorists’ donations.

12 November, 2009

Disaster deal
is no accident

An agreement between Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital and Darwin’s National Clinical Care and Trauma Response Centre to cooperate on disaster recovery promises to ensure a better response to national incidents causing significant numbers of injuries.
   The agreement, which involves the Queensland, Northern Territory and Federal Governments, means that in an emergency, Princess Alexandra Hospital will be able to deploy up to 40 additional skilled clinical employees to the Northern Territory Centre, which is located at the Royal Darwin Hospital.
   These Queensland health professionals will be available for deployment at short notice and will have the skills and training necessary to provide immediate support to help assess and treat a wide range of critical injuries requiring emergency, surgical and critical care.
   Princess Alexandra Hospital will also provide a vital link to the Centre at all times by sharing information, research, and best practice on national emergency health care.
   Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon said the agreement would further strengthen Australia’s preparedness for a national incident involving a large number of injured people.
   Ms Roxon said the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre was Australia’s northern emergency coordination point during a national incident.
   She said since it was established in 2005, it had been activated four times to assist injured Australians and citizens in the Pacific region.
   She said the centre worked closely with the Australian Government, the Australian Defence Force, the Northern Territory Government, and other Government and non-Government agencies.

12 November, 2009

War veterans targeted
in Aboriginal service

An annual remembrance ceremony that pays tribute to the Indigenous men and women who served to defend Australia has been held on the Gold Coast.
   Minister for Local Government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Desley Boyle said the ceremony was growing in numbers each year.
   “This is an important day to pay respect to the thousands of Indigenous men and women who had chosen to defend Australia and its interests,” Ms Boyle said.
   “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders have served this country in conflicts since the Boer war, and many have died protecting Australia and the values we hold dear.”
   She said even when Indigenous Australians were not recognised as citizens, had no right to vote and could not buy property or even enter a public bar, they still volunteered in droves to serve in the Australian Armed Forces.
   “It’s important that we make sure the sacrifices of these Indigenous Australians are not forgotten,” Ms Boyle said.
   “All Australians remain forever in debt to Indigenous service personnel and we owe them our respect and gratitude.”
   She said the sacrifices of Indigenous personnel in the Armed Forces contributed greatly to the development of Queensland and the nation as a whole.

12 November, 2009
PSC offers innovation ideas
Suggestions on how to develop innovation in the Public Service have been released by the Public Service Commission.
   The Principles for Developing Innovation in a Work Environment include 10 points on nurturing staff input, leadership, seeking new ideas, transparency, decision-making and partnership.
   The principles are available from www.psc.qld.gov.au

Pensioner rent break
A recent $32-a-week pension increase will not be countered by an increase in rent for social housing, according to the Government.
   The increase, granted in the last Federal Budget, applies to single pensioners, about 25,000 of whom live in social housing.
   Rent for social housing is usually set at 25 per cent of a person’s income, however the increase will not be counted income to avoid a rent increase.

Toll transition complete
The transition to free-flow tolling has been made with the completion of all road works on the Gateway and Logan motorways.
   Minister for Main Roads, Craig Wallace said motorists had quickly adjusted to the new free-flow tolling system.
   “Since the introduction of free-flow tolling, traffic incidents around the toll points have reduced by as much as 80 per cent, as cars no longer have to weave and merge in and out of toll plazas,” Mr Wallace said.

More family facilities
Ten new Children and Family Centres have been announced for Queensland under a $75.18 million Federal Government investment.
   The centres are planned for Mt Isa, Cairns, Mareeba, Ipswich, Mackay, Rockhampton, Mornington Island, Doomadgee, Marsden and Palm Island.
   The centres will have an emphasis on the needs of Indigenous families and their young children, but all families will be able to use them.
   They are expected to open over the next four years, with Mt Isa first in mid-2010; Cairns, Mareeba and Ipswich will follow in early 2011; Mackay, Rockhampton, Mornington Island and Doomadgee from early 2012 and Marsden and Palm Island in mid-2012.

Seniors meet on strategy
A State-wide consultation on the State’s new seniors’ strategy has moved a step further with Indigenous Elders from Brisbane meeting with the Minister for Community Services, Karen Struthers.
   The forum is one of a number being held after the launch of the discussion paper ‘Positively Ageless’.
   Ms Struthers said she “wants action on seniors” and to hear first-hand about their priorities, their changing needs and their views on Government policies for seniors.
   The paper was available from www.seniors.qld.gov.au

Tourism summit
A Jobs Summit aimed at completing the Government’s three-year plan for tourism spending, industry job creation, and tourism infrastructure development is to be held on 25 November.
   Announcing the summit, Premier, Anna Bligh said it was vital to ensure Queensland’s tourism industry continued to grow and that new ideas and innovative strategies were generated.
   Ms Bligh invited industry experts to attend the summit.

Life Savers win helicopter
Surf Life Saving Queensland has received a $6 million twin-engine helicopter to help the organisation offer increased flying hours and rescue capabilities.
   Minister for Emergency Services, Neil Roberts said the hand-over of the EC135 helicopter was fulfilling an election commitment.
   “Surf Life Saving Queensland does a marvelous job protecting Queenslanders and tourists alike on our beaches and I am confident the addition of this helicopter to its fleet will further enhance the protection it offers,” Mr Roberts said.

Caboolture EIS OK
Coordinator-General, Colin Jensen has given conditional approval to an Environmental Impact Statement on a $628 million business, marine and residential precinct near Caboolture.
   The proposal to develop a 769-hectare ex-pine plantation riverfront site has the potential to create up to 13,600 direct jobs and homes for 5,500 permanent residents.
   The Coordinator-General’s final report is to be forwarded to the Federal Department of the Environment to be assessed.
   The report was available from www.dip.qld.gov.au

5 November, 2009

Union pays out
on pay delay

The Queensland Public Sector Union has called on the State Government to pay staff in the core Departments a promised pay rise before Christmas.
   General Secretary of the QPSU, Alex Scott, said all parties have agreed to the increase and the funds have been budgeted for so the Government should pay its staff without delay.
   “Do it now,” Mr Scott said.
   He said after delays in the certification process for the proposed enterprise bargaining agreement, the Government has announced that back-pay will not come through until March or April 2010.
   He said members of the QPSU had already overwhelmingly endorsed certification of the agreement through their poll but the Government had yet to hold its own ballot, holding up the process.
   Mr Scott said both parties had agreed in principle to the terms of the agreement and the Government has repeatedly committed itself to the wage increases of 4.5 per cent, 4.0 per cent, and 4.0 per cent contained within the agreement, most recently in the 2009-10 State Budget.
   "Everyone has agreed to the wage increases in the agreement,” Mr Scott said.
   “The wage rises have been budgeted for by the Government and clearly endorsed by employees.
   “The increase for 2009 needs to get to members before the end of the year, and there's no reason that can't happen.”
   He said the Government's delay in holding a ballot of employees was related to legal uncertainties over coverage of the proposed agreement within the new Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR).
   Mr Scott said finalising the legal proceedings relating to DTMR workers' conditions was important, however it would not be prejudiced by an administrative pay rise that was only fair.
   “If the Government postpones its ballot of employees until next year, it's likely workers won't see their pay increases for 2009 until April or May", he said.
   "It's only fair that a pay increase scheduled for 2009 is delivered to workers before the 2009 Christmas holidays.”

5 November, 2009

Code buys time for
sale affected workers

A Code of Practice protecting the jobs of Public Service workers in Government-owned businesses earmarked for sale has been tabled in Parliament.
   Treasurer, Andrew Fraser said the Forestry Plantations Queensland – Workforce Transition Code of Practice was the first of a series of steps the Government would take to protect the workers involved in its assets sales process.
   Mr Fraser said the Code would ensure the employment protection of more than 400 Forestry Plantations Queensland (FPQ) workers for three years beyond the date of the sale of the business.
   “This is an important step and reflects a State Government that’s committed to jobs and workers and their entitlements,” Mr Fraser said.
   Ensuring the protection of each business’s workforce was of the highest priority, he said.
   “The Code of Practice is the result of several months of negotiations between Government, Forestry Management and unions.
   “I want to explicitly acknowledge that there is continued opposition to our decision to put FPQ to the market, but equally acknowledge the work in securing an agreement on these critical issues in such a timely manner.”
   Mr Fraser said the Code would also provide a range of other employee entitlements, including the transfer of all current Enterprise Bargaining Agreement terms and conditions to the new business; the retention of all existing accrued entitlements such as holiday and sick leave; the maintenance of existing superannuation arrangements and no forced relocations for 12 months after the date of sale.

5 November, 2009

Prison practices
found guilty

An Ombudsman’s investigation into the management of prisoners held by Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) has uncovered shortcomings and deficiencies in management practices and has called for sweeping reforms across the prison system.
   Justice on the Inside is Ombudsman David Bevan’s second report to Parliament in three months into the management of prisoners by QCS.
   It follows a 12-month investigation on the Ombudsman’s own initiative into the way QCS deals with breaches of discipline by prisoners and included a review of 200 minor and major breach proceedings at three correctional centres.
   The Ombudsman said QCS was responsible for managing Queensland’s 11 publicly run and two private correctional centres, which incorporate a variety of high and low security facilities.
   He said until 26 March, QCS was a Department of the Queensland Government. On that date it became part of the Department of Community Safety.
   The Ombudsman said the reason for conducting the investigation was that breach decisions could have a significant impact on prisoners’ access to privileges and progression through the prison system. However, prisoners had limited access to independent reviews of those decisions.
   “I reviewed the adequacy of QCS’ disciplinary procedures, the level of compliance by
Corrections Officers with the procedures and with the Corrective Services Act 2006 and the level of consistency in decision-making,” Mr Bevan said.
   “My investigation revealed systemic deficiencies in QCS’ management of the disciplinary system, including non-compliance with the Act and procedures as well as significant inconsistencies in decision-making.”
   He cited the example of one centre where every breach he audited had been dealt with as a major breach for which more severe penalties might have been imposed.
   At another centre, more than half of the videotapes of major breach proceedings had been erased or recorded over.
   The investigation also revealed that in a significant number of cases disciplinary action was taken against prisoners without complying with the requirement in the Corrective Services Act to hold a hearing; privileges were withdrawn from prisoners without any formal breach proceedings; insufficient details of the alleged misconduct were provided to prisoners; inconsistent penalties were imposed for similar breaches; officers failed to record adequate reasons for breach decisions and there were unexplained interruptions in the videotaping of major breach proceedings.
   Mr Bevan said that in none of the 200 cases reviewed had adequate reasons been recorded for the preliminary decision to classify the alleged misconduct as a minor or major breach.
   He also found that QCS’s administrative processes for breach proceedings were unnecessarily complex and made 39 recommendations to help improve QCS’s management of the discipline system.
   Of the recommendations, many related to amending the disciplinary procedures, providing additional training for corrections officers, and implementing systems for monitoring officers’ compliance with the procedures and the Corrective Services Act.
   “I have also recommended that the Chief Inspector undertake a review, by 31 March
2011, to assess the extent of compliance by officers with the disciplinary procedures and the relevant requirements of the Corrective Services Act,” Mr Bevan said.
   QCS had cooperated throughout the Ombudsman’s investigation and had begun to implement the recommendations.

5 November, 2009

New police website
very arresting

The Queensland Police Service has launched a new website it hopes will be a valuable resource for members of the public.
   Minister for Police, Neil Roberts said the easy-to-use website would give Queenslanders, and people all around the world, the ability to obtain useful information about the Queensland Police Service at the click of a mouse.
   “It will allow QPS to highlight specific targeted campaigns for public awareness, such as drink driving and One Punch Can Kill,” Mr Roberts said.
   “In addition, media releases issued by the Media and Public Affairs Branch will be added to the home page to make the latest QPS news more accessible to the general public.”
   Mr Roberts said the new user-friendly design would be more visually appealing, with extra images and interactive components to make it easier to navigate.
   “This is another example of our commitment to ensuring an open and accountable police service in Queensland,” he said.
   Assistant Commissioner for Information and Communications Technology at QPS, Paul Stewart said the new website was professional and easy to use.
   “It will enhance the Service’s online presence within the community and provide more accessible information on the front page to interest visitors,” Assistant Commissioner Stewart said.
   “Everyone who worked on this new design has done a fantastic job and I am impressed with the finished product.”
   Mr Roberts said the QPS also had a new Twitter account which people could subscribe to and receive public safety announcements and traffic updates.
   The new site can be accessed at police.qld.gov.au and the twitter account www.twitter.com/QPSmedia

5 November, 2009

Health into bat with
bat-handling warning

Queensland Health has issued a public warning to people not to handle bats.
   The warning coincides with the bat birthing season which has seen a recent surge in the number of notifications of bites and scratches requiring treatment to prevent potential Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABL) infection.
   Senior Director of Communicable Diseases at Queensland Health, Frank Beard said only vaccinated people who have been trained in the care of bats should handle them.
   “If someone comes across an injured or sick bat, they should not touch it but contact the Department of Environment and Resource Management (Phone 1300 130 372),” Dr Beard said.
   “More than 100 cases of potential exposure to ABL through people being scratched or bitten by bats are reported each year.
   “Prompt treatment following a bat scratch or bite can prevent a serious disease and possibly death.”
   Dr Beard said two people had died as a result of ABL exposure since 1996 following bites or scratches from bats.
   He said there was no significant risk exposure from living, playing or walking near bat roosting areas.
   “A bat bite, scratch or mucous membrane exposure to bat saliva is necessary to transmit the virus,” he said.
   “Usually bats do not approach humans. More commonly bat scratches or bites occur if someone is trying to ‘rescue’ an injured, sick or distressed bat.”

5 November, 2009

Healthy result for PS
doctors’ work hours

The Queensland Public Sector Union has reported that doctors in the public sector have voted in favour of a new collective agreement they believe will improve their wages and hours of work.
   General Secretary of the QPSU, Alex Scott said the Medical Officers’ Collective Agreement would reduce the maximum hours that resident medical officers had to work to 12 hours in a day.
   “This agreement delivers better hours of work for resident medical officers and senior medical officers and begins to deliver better lives for doctors, who shouldn’t have to put up with the pain of 16-hour working days at Queensland Health facilities,” Mr Scott said.
   “Doctors are human and no doubt many of them must be sick of being regarded as medical machines that don’t have lives,” he said.
   “Just imagine what it would be like seeing your umpteenth patient with a terrible injury or illness as you rack up hour 16 on a shift – is it any wonder doctors are backing the new agreement?”
   Mr Scott said the union’s medical officer members had worked hard to ensure an improved collective agreement.
   “The endorsing vote by doctors shows resident medical officers are absolutely serious when they say they should not have to endure the stress of unreasonably exhausting 16-hour days, especially when they are legally bound to meet exacting health care standards,” he said.
   Under the Agreement Public sector junior doctors’ shifts will be incrementally reduced to a maximum of 12 hours within two years of it being registered by the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission.
   “We have already made it very clear to Queensland Health that we will be seeking further and better improvements for doctors in future agreements but this collective agreement is an important step forward,” Mr Scott said.
   “We remain focused on building better lives for all public sector doctors and health practitioners
   “Fair hours and reasonable workloads are central to that, just as they are important to every other Queenslander.”

5 November, 2009

Parliament stands
up for reforms

A range of Parliamentary procedural changes aimed at improving transparency and the behaviour of politicians has been approved by the Legislative Assembly.
   The changes include extra powers for the Speaker to put badly-behaved politicians out of the Chamber for one hour.
   This involves a “time out” provision which gives the Speaker the right to direct MPs to leave the Chamber for up to one hour rather than the existing rule that only allows for a Member to be directed to leave for the reminder of the day.
   There is also a requirement that petitions be responded to within 30 days – at the moment there is no requirement to respond.
   Another change is to the long-standing rule that Appropriation Bills cannot be discussed until they are debated. Questions can now be asked during question time and Ministerial statements made about the Budget Bills during Budget week.
   Premier Anna Bligh said the changes were needed to force Parliament to respond to community expectations.
   “It’s no secret that sometimes standards of behaviour can be improved,” Ms Bligh said.
   “Having a special time out provision which gives the Speaker greater flexibility aims to address this. Effectively, it’s like sending badly-behaved politicians to the naughty corner,” Ms Bligh said.
   “On top of that, there is no excuse not to respond to petitions lodged by concerned Queenslanders, and politicians will be able to scrutinise Budget bills immediately after they are introduced – currently there is a rule that prohibits discussion until the actual debate of the Bill.”
   The Leader of the House, Judy Spence, moved the motion to bring on the changes and Ms Bligh was a member of the committee which approved them.

5 November, 2009

Swine flu needled
by vaccination

The Director-General of Queensland Health, Michael Reid, is the 200,000th Queenslander to be immunised against Pandemic H1N1, the human swine flu.
   Mr Reid and Chief Health Officer, Dr Jeannette Young received their shots together and urged everyone 10 years and over to see their doctor about being vaccinated.
   “While initially we targeted specific groups such as those vulnerable to severe complications including Indigenous people and pregnant women, there is now capacity for everyone to join the 200,000 vaccinated to date in Queensland,” Dr Young said.
   Of those vaccinated, 160,700 have been by private providers including GPs and the remainder, including 18,700 health care workers, at Queensland Health facilities.
   “Children under 10 years are not being offered vaccine yet until data from the trials on younger children is finalised and evaluated, which is expected soon,” Dr Young said.
   “While flu is not normally on our minds at this time of year with summer around the corner, the facts are that this virus continues to circulate in Australia, and we still have people in hospital being treated for complications.”
   Mr Reid said Queensland Health had met the challenge presented by the pandemic over the past six months with professionalism and dedication.
   “Queensland Health staff have been congratulated on their vigilance and commitment in carrying out precautions to minimise the spread of flu,” Mr Reid said.
   “Their overall rate of sick leave this winter was lower than expected.
   “As well they have dealt with an unprecedented number of people presenting at emergency departments and flu clinics with cold and flu symptoms – at around 40,000, nearly double the number in 2008.
   Mr Reid said the private sector, including GPs throughout Queensland, had also been kept busy meeting the challenge and were continuing to do so through the vaccination program.
   He said the total number of deaths related to the swine flu pandemic notified in Queensland remained unchanged at 41 of 187 nationally. The last reported death in Queensland was on 1 October.
   Mr Reid said Queensland had 1,243 hospitalisations of 4,904 nationally and as of last week, 18 people were hospitalised including two in intensive care.

5 November, 2009

Campaign to collar
wild dog problem

A new ‘think tank’ has been set up to bring together some of Queensland’s most experienced pest experts and representatives of the sheep and cattle industries in a bid to combat one of the State’s most destructive problems: wild dogs.
   Premier Anna Bligh said the formation of the Queensland Dog Offensive Group (QDOG) was in response to recommendations from the 2008 Kenny Report, an independent review of the Queensland Wild Dog Strategy.
   “Wild dogs are a Class 2 pest animal costing the grazing industry many millions of dollars every year through lost production,” Ms Bligh said.
   “With QDOG we now have experts from industry, the local community, and all levels of Government rolling up their sleeves to take on this issue together.”
   She said the Chair of the nine-member group would be the President of the AgForce Sheep and Wool group, Brent Finlay.
   Ms Bligh said that as well as providing leadership for wild dog management across the state, QDOG would oversee the implementation of the Wild Dog Strategy, a one-stop-shop for everything to do with management of wild dogs across Queensland.
   “The strategy is also about outlining the responsibilities of people involved in wild dog management, which is why Biosecurity Queensland is currently working with these parties to refresh the existing document,” she said.
   “There is no quick fix, but the establishment of QDOG is an important step forward in finding new and better ways to tackle the wild dog problem.”
   General Manager of Biosecurity Queensland and a member of the QDOG Committee, Bruce Wilson said working with all the partners was a critical part of improving pest management.
   “The formation of QDOG is a great opportunity for Biosecurity Queensland to work on reducing the impact of this major pest with the parties who will also be involved in taking action,” Dr Wilson said.

5 November, 2009

Computer whiz wins
whirlwind trip

An information technology graduate working with the Department of Justice and Attorney-General has been chosen to take a two-month trip around the world to visit some of the leading ICT companies and organisations on the planet.
   Travis Malone won the honour when he was given the Australian Information and Industry Association’s Award of Excellence as the top graduate in the Government’s ICT Career Graduate Development Program.
   The program is coordinated by the Queensland Government Chief Information Office within the Department of Public Works
   Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Robert Schwarten said Mr Malone, who completed the two-year program earlier this year, was a worthy recipient.
   “As part of his trip, Travis will visit world-leading information technology companies around the world, including Microsoft, IBM, SAP, Cisco and Oracle,” Mr Schwarten said.
   He is a member of the Australian Computer Society (ACS) and Young IT Executive Committee member of the Queensland Branch.
   Mr Schwarten said Mr Malone was selected to join the inaugural intake of the program in 2007 after completing a Bachelor of Information Technology degree from the Queensland University of Technology.
   He took on a role as an Enterprise Architect at the Queensland Government Chief Information Office, and has since joined the Department of Justice and Attorney-General.
   “The program has been running for three successful intakes and, to date has seen 117 graduates begin ICT careers in the Queensland Government,” Mr Schwarten said.
   “The retention rates for the program are high. Approximately 77 per cent of Travis’s cohorts remained in Government after two years.”

5 November, 2009

Drink drive scheme
is toast of awards

A rehabilitation program for drink drivers developed by Queensland University of Technology’s Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety (CARRS-Q) has been recognised in the 2009 Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards (ACPVA).
   The Under the Limit Drink Driving Education and Rehabilitation Program (UTL) is an 11-week course offered in association with a probation order through the Queensland Magistrates Courts. It aims to rehabilitate drink driving offenders, reduce alcohol-related crashes and trauma and the crime of drink driving.
   Under the Limit began as a trial program in Central Queensland in 1993. By 1998, the success of the program led to it being made available throughout the State.
   Deputy Director of CARRS-Q, Jeremy Davey, said the program had delivered a 55 per cent reduction in subsequent drink driving behaviour by serious repeat offenders.
   “We anticipate that the positive effects of the program will increase over time, reducing alcohol-related crashes and trauma, the incidence of drink driving, and the social and financial costs associated with this crime,” Professor Davey said.
   The program is delivered through TAFE colleges and the cost is met by offenders, 8,500 of whom have so far been through the program. It is also delivered via distance education, providing State-wide access to the program for drink driving offenders.
   “The program not only has an impact on the offender, but indirectly affects potential victims of drink driving crashes by rehabilitating these high risk and serious offenders, thereby reducing the number of crashes and associated fatalities,” Professor Davey said.
   The ACVPA is a joint initiative of the Australian, State and Territory Governments which rewards outstanding community-based projects that prevent or reduce crime and violence.

5 November, 2009

New shark campaign
to have bite

A new project to track the movements of some of Queensland’s most dangerous sharks has been announced by the Premier, Anna Bligh.
   The program, which will start in early 2010, followed recent publicity about a great white shark caught on drum lines off Stradbroke Island.
   “These are magnificent creatures and it is sad to see that one was caught on the drum lines, but bather safety must be our number one priority in Queensland,” Ms Bligh said.
   “For that reason our shark control program - which features nets and drum lines - will remain in place, but the Government will invest $125,000 over five years in a new research project to track the movement of some of the State’s most dangerous species.”
   Ms Bligh said the project will focus on the three most dangerous species - bulls, tigers and whites - to monitor their activity in and around the coastal region.
   Under the program, live sharks will be caught and fitted with acoustic tags. The movement of these tagged sharks will then be tracked through acoustic listening stations along the Queensland Coast.
   “Initially we will tag 60 sharks but expect to have tagged around 150 within three years,” the Premier said.
   “This information will give us a better understanding of the behaviour of dangerous shark species allowing us to further improve our shark control program to better protect our beaches.
   She said tagging research had been undertaken elsewhere in Australia.
   “We expect that in addition to our own tagging, we may be able to pick up additional data from migrating sharks that have been tagged elsewhere,” Ms Bligh said
   “In addition to this project, the Government is also investing in new acoustic alarms designed to alert whales and dolphins to the presence of nets.”

5 November, 2009

Multicultural paper
has world at its feet

A discussion paper on Government multicultural policy has been issued for public comment by the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Annastacia Palaszczuk.
   The discussion paper, A Multicultural Future: For All of Us, is part of the Government’s multicultural policy review.
   “This is an opportunity for all Queenslanders to have their say on shaping multiculturalism in our State,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
   “We want to hear from people how they think we can improve our multicultural policies for the benefit of all Queenslanders.
   “The economic and cultural benefits of multiculturalism are felt right across Queensland, from small rural communities to large urban centres.”
   Ms Palaszczuk said the Government invested more than $20 million a year on a wide range of programs in health, education and recreation targeted at people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
   “We’re looking for new ways to promote cultural diversity and strengthen community relations in Queensland,” the Minister said.
   She said the Statewide consultation process would run until March 2010 and would include online forums, stakeholder meetings and community workshops across Queensland.
   “They’ll be held in Brisbane, Townsville, Cairns, Mackay, Logan, Toowoomba, Caboolture and Hervey Bay,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
   “Queenslanders have embraced multiculturalism and we’re encouraging people to come up with new ideas on how we can build a stronger multicultural future for us all,” she said.

5 November, 2009

New flood program
to build bridges

A new project to help local Councils identify inland areas prone to flooding has been launched by the Premier, Anna Bligh and Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Kate Jones.
   Under the plan, the Government would work with the Local Government Association of Queensland to improve Queensland’s resilience to changing flood conditions caused by climate change.
   Ms Bligh said the State Government would inject more than $300,000 in the project, with Councils being assisted by Officers from the Department of Environment and Resource Management and the Department of Infrastructure and Planning.
   “Climate change means weather patterns are changing in the severity and frequency of extreme weather events and this joint project will give our Councils the tools to better manage flood risk,” Ms Bligh said.
   “Flooding cost State and Local Government about $234 million in damage to infrastructure following heavy rain across North West Queensland to Mackay this year.”
   She said other heavy rain events had wreaked havoc in Emerald and other areas in Central Queensland and the Central West last year.
   “In the past, traditional Queensland houses were built off the ground on stumps to manage flood risks. Now houses are being built on slabs on ground and, as a consequence, there is more damage when flooding occurs,” the Premier said.
   “One of the things this study will do is provide advice on appropriate building guidance in flood-prone areas to reduce the risk of damage to property.”
   Ms Jones said the study was expected to finish next year and would also help Councils factor in the impact of climate change on flood risk.
   Ms Bligh Queenslanders built on average 35,000 dwellings a year.
   “It is therefore important that Local Councils put them in places where the risk of flood damage is minimised or build them to withstand future flood events,” she said.
   The joint project will take account of the latest climate change science and involve climate change experts from Australia and the Walker Institute in the United Kingdom - an institution that is renowned as an international leader in the field of climate change.

5 November, 2009

Police follow dots
to beat crime

A new high-tech tool in the fight against crime has been launched by the Minister for Police, Neil Roberts, and Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police, Katarina Carroll.
   Mr Roberts said the state-of-the-art ‘microdot’ technology was a huge step forward in crime prevention for police and members of the community.
   “Microdots are an easy and modern way of marking property for identification,” Mr Roberts said.
   “The actual microdots are about the size of a grain of sand and are laser etched with a unique identifying code which is invisible to the naked eye,” he said.
   Following a successful trial in the Metropolitan North Region, the Queensland Police Service has now distributed microdot technology detection equipment to all police districts across the State.
   Mr Roberts said the initiative was being launched as part of Crime Prevention Month 2009, which aimed to promote crime prevention measures to help protect community safety in Queensland.
   Acting Assistant Commissioner Carroll said it was important for crime prevention methods to evolve with new resources to ensure it met the needs of communities throughout the State.
   “Marking property not only helps to deter theft but provides proof of ownership to assist police to identify and return stolen property to the rightful owner,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Carroll said.
   “Today’s launch demonstrates the latest technologies in crime prevention which has been designed to keep us one step ahead of property theft.”
   She said households and businesses could purchase microdot kits from a range of suppliers and apply the invisible product to the surface of valuables, including plants, CDs, antiques and tools.
   Kits also contain warning stickers advising that property is marked for police identification.

5 November, 2009

Koala protection
branches out

A new plan to save koalas in South-East Queensland is to see tree clearing banned, some residential areas needing special design and the Government purchasing key habitats.
   An immediate ban on all habitat-clearing development in priority areas has also been announced which will be in force until new planning instruments are finalised.
   Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Kate Jones and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, Stirling Hinchliffe said the new measures represented an unprecedented level of koala protection.
   Ms Jones said the State Government would provide $15 million as a down payment to purchase key habitat, targeting the Koala Coast and Pine Rivers.
   “The new package of measures will provide the greatest protection of koalas ever seen in South East Queensland (SEQ),” Ms Jones said.
   “The State Government has needed to step in because for too long past Councils dropped the ball on their own planning schemes and development approvals.”
   She said the tough measures were needed to halt the decline in koala numbers across South East Queensland.
   “This new planning and development assessment framework will be introduced by the end of the year to help conserve koalas and their habitat,” Ms Jones said.
   “The regime will demand all new development in identified habitat areas adopt koala-friendly design, require development in the highest priority areas to retain a set amount of koala habitat and also ban clearing of high priority bushland habitat.”
   Mr Hinchliffe said consultation with seven Councils (Brisbane, Redland, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Moreton, Ipswich, Logan) would begin on the new planning regime.
   “A draft State Planning Policy is being finalised and we’ve released an exposure draft of the State Planning Regulatory Provisions to work through with SEQ Councils,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
   “When the draft regulatory provisions are released they will come into immediate effect, much like the draft SEQ Regional Plan,” he said.

5 November, 2009

Farmers land
safety DVD

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has released a new DVD alerting farmers to the dangers of their workplaces and urging them to keep safety at the forefront of their minds when working on the land.
   Minister for Industrial Relations, Cameron Dick said the DVD, launched as part of Safe Work Australia Week, reinforced that the most important reason for working safely was simply to return home at the end of each day to family and friends.
   The DVD, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, outlines the story of farmer Garry Nichols, who lost a leg after an horrific tractor accident that nearly claimed his life.
   The Innisfail farmer and father speaks of his own mistakes on the DVD.
   “The message is simple,” Mr Dick said.
   “Think about your family. Think about the grief and hardship for them if you are killed or seriously injured.”
   “This story is not just about Garry and what happened to him, but the heavy emotional and financial toll of the accident on his wife, Marlene and their daughter, Crystal.”
   Mr Dick said workers’ compensation claims showed the rural sector had the highest fatality rate of all industry sectors at 12.2 deaths per 100,000 workers.
   “That is almost three times the fatality rate for workers in all Queensland industries. The traumatic injury rate is also above average at 9.4 per 1,000 workers,” he said.
   The most common cause of fatalities was vehicle accidents (motorcycles, all terrain vehicles, tractors) and the major injury causes are sprains and strains; slips, trips and falls; and hitting or being hit by a moving object such as a vehicle or a falling object.
   “Garry’s story reminds us why we all need to be fully committed to safety at work – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,” he said.
   “That is especially the case for families living and working on the land, which can be a very high-risk environment for the unwary. Farm safety is about protecting yourself, your loved ones and your future.”

5 November, 2009
Tourism campaigns succeed
The Hey, Hey this is Queensland, and quick sales campaigns for the Whitsundays and Gold Coast, have reaped rewards, Minister for Tourism, Peter Lawlor said.
   The 10-month Hey, Hey this is Queensland television, print, radio and online campaign features four of the Best Job in the World candidates and is set to the theme song of ‘60s band, The Monkees.
   “Tourism Queensland recently launched the Get Some Gold Coast Sun Sale campaign, which has shown some great results,” Mr Lawlor said.
   “In addition, the recent Whitsundays 74 Islands Out of the Blue 74-Hour Sale recorded over 19,700 visits to its campaign website.”

More land protected
More than 172,000 hectares across Queensland has gained extra protection through the signing of 14 new voluntary conservation agreements with landholders.
   One of the new agreements is the Toko Range Nature Refuge, south west of Mount Isa, spanning more than 160,000 hectares.
   Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Kate Jones said the new agreements brought the State’s total of land covered under nature refuges to more than 900,000 hectares.

State joins national IR scheme
Queensland will be able to join a seamless national industrial relations system that better protects the rights of workers when legislation, introduced into Parliament, is passed.
   Minister for Industrial Relations, Cameron Dick said the legislation, was another step in the process of dismantling the Work Choices scheme.
   “The new scheme, outlined in the Fair Work (Commonwealth Powers) and Other Provisions Bill, will apply to private sector employees. Public sector and Local Government workers in Queensland will remain under the State industrial relations system,” Mr Dick said.

Mobile Office moves in
The Australian Government Mobile Office, designed to improve access to Commonwealth Government services for people living in rural communities by bringing together many services and payments offered through Centrelink and Medicare Australia, is to visit the Gold Coast.
   Mobile Office Trip Leader, Kathy Sack said it visited many communities across Australia, particularly those that did not have easy access to a Centrelink or Medicare Australia office.
   The Centrelink Rural Services Officers, Rural Social Workers and Psychologists, and Medicare Australia staff on board would assist with a wide range of services.

Ombudsman advises on tax complaints
The Commonwealth Ombudsman has advised taxpayers not to despair if they run into problems with the Tax Office at tax time.
   Commonwealth Ombudsman and Taxation Ombudsman, Professor John McMillan said the ATO would inevitably make some mistakes - especially given that it would have to process millions of tax returns.
   Professor McMillan said complaints that could not be resolved with the ATO could be passed on to his office, with further information available from www.ombudsman.gov.au

Sports workshop on Gold Coast
A review team from the Department of Communities is to hold a workshop on the Gold Coast to gather opinions on how sport funding should be spent.
   Minister for Sport, Phil Reeves said the workshop was part of a Statewide program.   “People who can’t attend the workshop will still have the opportunity to have their voice heard by completing an online survey,” Mr Reeves said.
   “The Queensland Government continues to invest heavily in community sport and recreation and funds everything from the development of major infrastructure like regional tennis centres through to support for local club administrators and state representative bodies.
   Mr Reeves said the review would assess how well the current sport and recreation funding mix can meet its priorities.

Housing plan called in
A Mackay housing development has been called in by the Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, Stirling Hinchliffe.
   Mr Hinchliffe said the land was zoned rural and had not previously been considered for this kind of intense urban development. To do so was “a big leap”.
   “This call-in is not an approval or a refusal, it is a reassessment of the development application,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

Christmas stamps of approval
With only weeks until Christmas, Australia Post has released its traditional Christmas stamp series.
   This year’s Christmas stamps will feature three themes: iconic figures from the Nativity, familiar symbols of the Christmas season and creatures from Christmas Island.   Designed by Mike Heine, the Nativity issue features the Virgin Mary cradling her newborn son and the the three Wise Men offering gifts to the baby Jesus.
   Other stamps feature Christmas candles, a Christmas tree, presents, Christmas baubles and bell, candy canes and the endemic Christmas Island Frigatebird.

Fire fighters join forces
Airservices aviation fire fighters have been deployed in support of bushfire fighting efforts nationally over the past week.
   Stations at Rockhampton, Broome and Mackay have assisted local brigades deal with off-airport emergencies in their regions.
   Crews from Rockhampton worked on fire containment when fire threatened suburban homes and a primary school, Broome crews worked alongside the local brigade as fires threatened homes and in Mackay crews responded to a cane field fire next to the airport.

Salary survey shows PS on top

All go for new green building

Preamble a fit for Constitution

Seniors’ study for age-old problem

Archives on record for half century

Babies no bonus in career planning

Environment police join DERM landscape

OFT’s advice is in anyone’s language

Water strategy added to SEQ mix

Fresh advice on fisheries

Asbestos website is breath of fresh air

Warm welcome for migrant report

Transport plan digs deep for underground

Super apple has appeal

Action plan to rein in the arts

Zero tolerance is new limit for drivers

Rural women bring concerns to town

Watchdog unleashes annual report

Directive directs pay-out packages

Auditor brings audits to book

Leadership programs lead way for leaders

Uni course to tame ‘wicked problems’

Green light for red tape review

Hospitals survive pandemic pain

Energy overhaul for office buildings

Toy safety checks are Christmas gift

Health’s heat warning is cool advice

Penalty dodgers tread fine line

Childcare logs to build new system

Building code to sark it and see

Crocodiles rocked by ranger count

Electricians switch on to safety scheme

Workplace watchdog warns new starters

PSC delivers on delivery principles

Fatter pay packets are Christmas gift

Appeals Directive is appealing

Window opened on transparency reforms

Ombudsman reports without complaint

New guidelines on probation

Database deal builds on infrastructure

Train troubles prompt apology

Queensland chalks up new teaching institute

Super Clinic is just what doctor ordered

Accident exercise plays it safe

Soccer program is kicking goals

Tourist push plots German invasion

Green light for car emissions

Disaster deal is no accident

War veterans targeted in Aboriginal service

Union pays out on pay delay

Code buys time for sale affected workers

Prison practices found guilty

New police website very arresting

Health into bat with bat-handling warning

Healthy result for PS doctors’ work hours

Parliament stands up for reforms

Swine flu needled by vaccination

Campaign to collar wild dog problem

Computer whiz wins whirlwind trip

Drink drive scheme is toast of awards

New shark campaign to have bite

Multicultural paper has world at its feet

New flood program to build bridges

Police follow dots to beat crime

Koala protection branches out

Farmers land safety DVD