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SearchArchives for March 2011
31 March, 2011
Rebuilding roadmap
to lead recovery
A comprehensive policy for recovery and reconstruction following the recent disasters has been unveiled under the name Operation Queenslander.
Premier Anna Bligh said the release of the report, produced by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA), was an important milestone in the State’s reconstruction effort.
Ms Bligh said Operation Queenslander was timed to the end of 2013 and outlined three phases.
She said phase one would end in June this year and include the establishment of the Authority itself; phase two would run to December 2012 and would see the reconstruction and enhancement of all flood and cyclone affected communities across the State; and phase three would extend to the end of 2013 and see the Authority hand back reconstruction responsibilities to State and Local Authorities.
Ms Bligh said the reconstruction would mean rebuilding billions of dollars worth of buildings and infrastructure.
“Operation Queenslander makes clear that the needs of our Queenslanders are central to the rebuilding efforts,” she said.
“We know that during the next two years we must rebuild lives as well as buildings.” The Premier said the QRA had identified six lines of reconstruction which included human and social, economic, environmental, building recovery, roads and transport and community liaison and communication.
According to the policy, the human and social reconstruction would restore local health, social, education and community services and provide counselling and specialised mental health services in disaster affected communities.
Economic and environmental reconstruction would include a “buy local” campaign and address issues such as contaminated land and the rehabilitation of parks and wildlife.
Finally, a more resilient approach to rebuilding and the repair of infrastructure and consultation with the community would be pursued.
The policy Operation Queenslander – Our Roadmap to Recovery can be downloaded at this PS News link.
31 March, 2011
Local purchasing
is aim of buy-law
New legislation to help ensure that Queensland companies get plenty of opportunities to win Government contracts has been announced by the Minister for Tourism, Manufacturing and Small Business, Jan Jarratt.
Ms Jarratt said the Queensland Industry Participation Policy Act 2010, improved on local industry policy developed a decade ago,
“The Queensland Industry Participation Policy Act 2010 requires Queensland Governments to have a local industry participation policy in place to provide local businesses with the chance to secure more opportunities in the long term,” Ms Jarratt said.
“The previous policy established provisions to give local businesses full, fair and reasonable opportunities to tender for work on major Government-funded projects.”
She said the new legislation enabled the State Government to formalise this policy and this should result in more business opportunities for local contractors.
She said Queensland Government Agencies would be required to register Local Industry Participation Policy Plans for all eligible projects.
“The Queensland Government has funded the Industry Capability Network (ICN) to provide fully subsidised services to help project proponents prepare their Local Industry Participation Plans and to match suitable local businesses to specific project opportunities,” she said.
“With the State Government spending $17 billion on building, infrastructure and operational projects this financial year there will be numerous opportunities for local businesses to secure work.”
Ms Jarratt said the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation and ICN would work with State Government Agencies to ensure they understood their obligations under the new legislation, including the reporting arrangements to Parliament.
31 March, 2011
Union tribute to
disaster staff
A Public Service Union branch newsletter has paid tribute to the work of Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) staff during the recent flood and cyclone disasters.
Editor of QPSU DERM Work Voices, Ross Buchanan said the disaster relief had involved the deployment of workers on a scale not seen before in Queensland and, he suspected, Australia.
He said DERM staff were part of both the official and unofficial responses.
“By ‘official’, I mean the response under the State Disaster Management Plan. By ‘unofficial’, I mean the hundreds of DERM volunteers who helped clean up houses and businesses - for staff, friends and complete strangers,” Mr Buchanan said in the Newsletter’s editorial.
“DERM was one of the very best organised groups of all those who took part in the official disaster management responses.”
He said at a field level, DERM sent scores of teams into flood-ravaged communities, using fire units to wash out houses, and were often the most organised, best equipped and most self-sufficient teams in the areas.
“DERM had the systems, procedures, personnel, equipment and expertise to serve Queensland in its time of greatest need,” Mr Buchanan said.
He said behind the scenes, DERM’s Executive Management Group, hydrographers, spatial services personnel, scientists and numerous others, were working non-stop on the emergency responses.
“One of the lessons of the crises is the value of maintaining the resourcing of Government Departments like DERM so that there is an effective emergency response when the next disaster occurs,” Mr Buchanan said.
“We don’t know when Queensland will again face a disaster of 2011 proportions, but in theory it could be as soon as next summer…”
“DERM needs to both recover from the crises and maintain its capacity in order to be able to respond to more crises in the future.”
General Secretary of the Queensland Public Sector Union (QPSU), Alex Scott said in another story that after floods in nearly every part of the State and a major cyclone in the north, all of Queensland’s communities owed a debt to State Government workers.
“We can’t say for sure what the future will bring and what other crises we may face,” Mr Scott said.
“But we can say for sure that the workers in DERM will be displaying every ounce of generosity and commitment to Queensland that they have already shown.”
The latest edition of QPSU DERM Work Voices can be accessed at this PS News link.
31 March, 2011
Ombudsman takes
disaster tour
The new Queensland Ombudsman, Phil Clarke is to visit disaster-stricken areas of the State next week.
Mr Clarke said he wanted to see first-hand how Cyclone Yasi and the recent flooding had affected Local Councils.
“My office may receive complaints from citizens about Councils in these areas, so it’s important that I understand the impact of the disaster and the level of recovery,” Mr Clarke said.
He said his office received more than 8,000 complaints each year, but evidence suggested regional and Indigenous Queenslanders were under-represented.
He said his visit would be part of the Ombudsman’s outreach program, which targeted regional and Indigenous communities across the State.
He planned to meet the mayors of Cairns, Yarrabah, Tablelands, Cassowary Coast, Hinchinbrook and Townsville.
“Complaints about Local Government form a large part of our work and we work closely with Councils to help them improve their decision-making and complaints management,” Mr Clarke said.
“If people have a problem with their Local Council or a Government Agency and aren’t sure how to resolve the issue, we may be able to help.”
He said his top priority was providing an independent and fair investigation service that improved services for all Queenslanders.
“The community expects Government Agencies to be fair and accountable,” Mr Clarke said.
“We ensure that public Agencies act fairly and make the right decisions.”
31 March, 2011
All stops out for
one-stop-shop
A new Government Service Centre providing a one-stop-shop for State Government services has opened in Cairns.
Minister for Government Services, Simon Finn said residents would be able to make all their enquiries in the one location without having to visit any individual State Government Department or Agency.
Mr Finn said visitors to the centre at William McCormack Place would be able to lodge documents, search for vehicle information and access housing and community services as well as a range of other Government services.
“The new centre also has a self-help kiosk and free phone line people can use to directly contact Government Agencies,” Mr Finn said.
Local MP, Desley Boyle said the new Queensland Government Service Centre was a win for the residents of Cairns.
“This is the smart way for Government to do business and it will make life that little bit easier for the people of Cairns,” Ms Boyle said.
“Local residents have already taken to the new service, which has already handled 270 transactions from 216 customers.”
She said the Cairns centre was only the second of its type in the State and the first in regional Queensland.
Mr Finn said Sunshine Coast residents would be next in line to benefit from a Queensland Government Service Centre.
“By mid-2011 Maroochydore will become the third location in Queensland, after Brisbane and Cairns, where residents can access State Government services through a one-stop-shop,” he said.
31 March, 2011
New green building
has 6-star quality
The Green Building Council of Australia has awarded the Maroochydore Government Office Building a Six-Star Green Star rating.
The $79.5 million building project has been formally recognised for world leadership in ecologically sustainable office building design.
Minister for Building Industry, Simon Finn said the Maroochydore project had received the rating in the Office Design v2 category, achieving 81 points out of 100.
“The new building is on track for completion by mid-2011 and it will provide 8,600 square metres of new Government office accommodation on the Sunshine Coast,” Mr Finn said.
“It’s been designed to maximise energy and water efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create a healthy indoor environment.”
He said the building had innovative air conditioning such as energy recovery, thermal storage and off–peak cooling.
“There are also personalised comfort-controlled work stations, chilled beam technology and ceiling fans,” he said.
“The building’s fresh air supply is 150 per cent above that required under Australian Standards.”
Mr Finn said other sustainable features in the building design included extensive sunlight and glare control, a thermally efficient façade and roof materials, and high ceilings.
“Water efficient appliances have been used throughout the building, which also has an integrated water management system in place,” he said.
The State Government’s Dandiiri Contact Centre in Zillmere and the William McCormick Place Stage 2 project in Cairns have also been awarded Six-Star green ratings.
31 March, 2011
Buses in drive for
real-time service
A futuristic bus service that delivers real-time information on bus locations, arrival and departure details direct to passengers is to be trialled for 12 months by Translink in Logan.
Minister for Transport, Annastacia Palaszczuk said the 12-month trial of the Customer First product would deliver real-time information on bus locations, arrival and departure information direct to customers.
“This $11.4 million pilot will let TransLink know exactly where a bus is and how far away it is away from a stop or busway station,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
She said the information could then be sent direct to customers via their mobile phones, website applications and also displayed on monitors at stations, terminals, stops and inside buses or ferries.
“The system will also operate on route 555 – Logan City to CBD – which is one of our busiest routes carrying more than 120,000 trips a month and includes our two state-of-the-art three-door Superbuses,” she said.
Chief Executive of Clarks Logan City Bus, Graham Davis said he was excited to be chosen to trial Customer First.
Ms Palaszczuk said the bus equipment will be designed and built in coming months and progressively installed on buses from November with customers being able to obtain the data during the first half of 2012.
She said Customer First would not only make travel easier by providing more reliable travel information for customers, but also allow TransLink to continue to build a better network.
31 March, 2011
Transport watchdogs
to get more teeth
New powers to enforce the proper use of transit lanes in South East Queensland are to be granted to Transport Inspectors.
The powers are normally only available to police.
Minister for Transport, Annastacia Palaszczuk said the first stage of a trial that started last year had yielded positive results with bus travel times improving by almost 20 per cent.
“Giving transport inspectors the power to fine motorists doing the wrong thing freed up police resources and meant high occupancy lanes remained open for vehicles carrying more than one person,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“This is about providing reliable, green, clean travel alternatives and making more efficient use of existing infrastructure.”
She said transport inspectors would be conducting bus and transit lane enforcement, in addition to their other duties of vehicle defect inspection and heavy vehicle safety inspections.
The Minister said T2 transit lanes could be used by buses, taxis, bicycles and cars carrying two or more people; T3 lanes are for cars carrying three or more people.
She said drivers who didn’t comply with the rules could be fined $100 with a maximum penalty of $2,000.
Ms Palaszczuk said a Transport Inspector could issue a defect notice on a vehicle for a range of safety related issues and a Prohibition Notice could be issued in circumstances where a person was driving on an invalid licence.
31 March, 2011
Shock risk flicked
in switch pitch
Queensland’s householders are being urged to test home safety switches regularly to lessen the risk of electrocution.
Minister for Industrial Relations, Cameron Dick, said safety switches were designed to prevent injury or death by automatically shutting off the electricity supply when current leaked from faulty switches, wiring or appliances.
He said about 80 per cent of Queensland’s 1.7 million homes were protected by safety switches of various designs and ages.
“Most switches are in good working order but nothing is fail-safe,” Mr Dick said.
“Just like a smoke detector, the only way to tell if a safety switch is in good working order is by testing it.”
“This simply involves pressing the test button, checking that the switch trips to the off position, and then resetting it.”
He said research by the Electrical Safety Office had found that regular testing of safety switches helped maintain their reliability.
“International studies reported a failure rate of safety switches, ranging from less than one per cent to as high as 11 per cent,” he said.
“Recent Electrical Safety Office research indicated a reliability rate of 99 per cent in Queensland when a safety switch was triggered by an electrical event.”
Mr Dick said Queensland law requires safety switches to be installed in all homes built since 1992.
31 March, 2011
Science partnership
signed with China
Research ties between Queensland and China have been reaffirmed by the signing of a new three-year science and technology partnership agreement.
Treasurer and Minister for State Development and Trade, Andrew Fraser said productive international science and technology relationships were worth their weight in gold in the global knowledge economy.
“With 38 million people working in the Chinese science and technology sector, China is our ideal scientific research partner,” Mr Fraser said.
“Since we first established research ties with China in 2008, our partnership has gone from strength to strength and we have together achieved a number of notable outcomes.”
He said the partnership with China would continue to focus on opportunities with clear public benefits or a strong potential for commercialisation.
“Through this partnership we initiated the Queensland China Climate Change Fellowship Program, the first reciprocal exchange between Australian and Chinese researchers to understand and find solutions to the problems posed by climate change,” he said.
“We also collaborated with China to establish two joint research centres – one in clean energy and the other in neuroscience - linking the University of Queensland with leading research institutes in China.”
Mr Fraser said the new agreement would cement the continuing commitment to work collaboratively in key areas such as climate change, clean energy, natural disaster mitigation, health and medicine.
31 March, 2011
Island branches out
for national park
A new national park has been declared over 20 per cent of North Stradbroke Island.
Premier Anna Bligh said 5,240 hectares had now been given the highest possible conservation protection.
Ms Bligh said traditional owners were invited to name and jointly manage the new national park which would be known as Naree Budjong Djara, meaning My Mother Earth.
She said the national park declaration followed the announcement that the end of sand mining on the island will be fast-tracked so that three quarters of its area could be protected within 10 years.
Ms Bligh said she wanted to see North Stradbroke transformed from a mining island to an island paradise.
“Today’s new national park announcement is just the first stage,” Ms Bligh said.
“By the end of 2011, half of the island will be permanently protected.
“For the first time, it will be opened up for us all to enjoy – whether it’s families fishing and having beach barbecues, bush walkers exploring, or campers taking time out to relax.”
Minister for the Environment, Kate Jones said while the island’s past had been associated with mining, its future would be about a world class national park – ultimately covering 80 per cent of the island – and thriving visitor activity.
She said the new area of national park included Freshwater Creek, the area around Swan Bay, Stingaree Island, and Eighteen Mile Swamp.
31 March, 2011
Drink drive laws
in for shake-up
New legislation to crackdown on drink driving has been introduced into Parliament.
Amendments to the Transport and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2011 form part of the Government’s response to the Drink Driving in Queensland Discussion Paper.
Minister for Transport, Annastacia Palaszczuk said that under the reforms police would be able to immediately suspend drivers with a Blood Alcohol Limit (BAC) of 0.10, down from the current limit of 0.15.
Ms Palaszczuk said an officer would also be able to perform an evidentiary breath analysis without the presence of a second officer as is currently required and the time limit for officers to get an evidentiary secondary blood or breath test is extended from two to three hours.
She said tough action was warranted because more than 700 people had lost their lives on Queensland roads in crashes involving drink drivers in the last nine years.
The Minister said the new measures would free up police officers to perform other duties and make it faster for regional police to identify and arrest drink drivers.
“A second officer is no longer required to corroborate evidence that a breath testing instrument was used correctly and this change brings us into line with other States,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“Extending the time limit for police to perform a secondary blood or breath test will provide those police required to cover greater distances in regional areas another hour in which to perform the test.”
31 March, 2011
Fair Work to home
in on real estate
A new education and compliance campaign by the Fair Work Ombudsman is to focus on Queensland’s real estate industry.
Executive Director of the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Office, Michael Campbell said Fair Work inspectors would audit 125 employers to ensure they had lodged written agreements for their staff with the Queensland Property Industry Registry (QPIR).
Mr Campbell said it was a requirement under the Real Estate Industry Award 2010 for employers to lodge written agreements with the QPIR for all staff classified as property/strata management or property sales employees.
He said the agreements must state how the employees were to be paid - commission-only, part-commission or in accordance with the rates listed in the award.
He said the campaign would focus on real estate agents, business and hotel brokers, strata and community title management businesses, stock and station agents, buyer’s agencies and real estate valuation agents.
Employers will be selected at random and inspectors will be sensitive to the special needs of businesses suffering as a result of recent extreme weather events.
“The real estate industry is receiving attention because it often generates complaints and employs a significant number of workers.” Mr Campbell said.
“In cases where inspectors identify agreements have not been lodged, they will assist the employer to understand its obligations and ask that they voluntarily rectify any underpayment of employee entitlements.”
He said Fair Work inspectors would audit employers throughout Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast and in regional areas including Cairns, Tully, Port Douglas, Mount Isa, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Hervey Bay, Gympie, Gatton, Toowoomba, Stanthorpe and Goondiwindi.
31 March, 2011
Drinksafe precincts
spill into Townsville
Trials of Drink Safe Precincts in Townsville, Surfers Paradise and Fortitude Valley are to be the subject of an online survey.
Minister Responsible for Liquor Licensing, Paul Lucas said the Drink Safe Precinct trials had been up and running for three months and he wanted to know what people thought and what ideas they might have for further improvements.
“I’d especially encourage young people who regularly use these precincts and work at venues within their boundaries to log on and let us know their thoughts,” Mr Lucas said.
He said the two-year trial began in December following recommendations by the Law, Justice and Safety Committee’s inquiry into alcohol-related violence.
“The Committee felt Drink Safe Precincts would provide a safe place for people to unwind and enjoy the nightlife these areas have to offer.
“Everyone wants to be able to go out, have a good time, and return home safely that’s why the Government provided $4.5 million for the first year of the trials.”
Minister for Police, Neil Roberts said the trials were part of a range of measures to reduce alcohol-related violence including increased police presence during peak times, the establishment of ‘safe zones’, better transport options and better on-the-ground coordination between community groups, security, police and licensees.
“The survey asks patrons about their experience in these precincts, perceptions of safety, attitudes and experiences of violence in these areas as well as their opinions on public amenities and the provision of public transport,” Mr Roberts said.
“The information gathered will help us continue to improve safety in Drink Safe Precincts so people can safely enjoy our vibrant nightlife,” he said.
31 March, 2011
Energy survey finds
power with the people
A new survey of energy use in households across the State has found that 74 per cent of South East Queensland homes now have air-conditioning.
Minister for Energy, Stephen Robertson said this was up by around two per cent in the past year to around 1.6 million domestic air-conditioning systems in the region.
“That means three out of every four Queensland homes now have air-conditioning,” Mr Robertson said.
“Air-conditioning and the wider use of other energy intensive equipment like big screen TVs, gaming devices and computers, puts an enormous load on peak electricity demand.”
He said the Government-owned energy companies, Ergon Energy, Energex and Powerlink Queensland, had recently completed the second edition of the Queensland Household Energy Survey.
“Around 3,500 home owners were interviewed to obtain a snapshot of their household electricity use and energy-saving attitudes and awareness.”
He said the findings also included that 75 per cent of all Queenslanders believed it was important to reduce energy consumption; homeowners were embracing energy efficient light bulbs, water efficient shower heads and home insulation; an increasing number of homeowners regularly switched off appliances at the wall and a growing number of Queenslanders now understood the importance of buying energy-efficient appliances.
Mr Robertson said to help ease demand, the Government had launched a number of energy-saving initiatives and education programs including the ClimateSmart Home Service which can result in savings of up to $325 on the average annual electricity costs.
31 March, 2011
Loopholes closed in
crime crackdown
A number of legal loopholes have been closed with the passing of the Criminal Code and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 through Parliament.
The loopholes related to the partial defence of provocation, the prosecution of graveyard vandals and the use of ‘ratchet’ clauses in shop leases.
Attorney-General, Paul Lucas said the new Bill illustrated the need to continually monitor and, where necessary, amend Queensland’s criminal laws in line with community views and expectations.
“There are many serious and sad cases that led to these amendments, including the Sebo case which involved 16-year-old girl Taryn Jessica Hunt who was bashed to death with a steering wheel lock by her older boyfriend,” Mr Lucas said.
He said Taryn’s attacker relied upon the partial defence of provocation to have his murder charge reduced to a conviction of manslaughter.
“We’ve reversed the onus of proof on the partial defence so that any accused trying to claim provocation will have to prove it rather than the prosecution.
Mr Lucas said people who willfully damaged and destroyed headstones, cemeteries, places of worship and war memorials would face tough new penalties.
“Cemeteries have enormous religious, cultural and historical significance and they represent a place of real personal connection between deceased loved ones and their surviving family,” Mr Lucas said.
He said the new provisions increased the maximum penalty for graveyard vandals to seven years’ imprisonment and also introduced a new summary offence of interfering with a grave or similar property for occasions where the desecration does not cause physical damage.
He said another amendment would protect businesses from rental rorts such as contractual ‘ratchet’ clauses.
“The amendment of the Retail Shop Leases Act 1994 will ensure the use of ratchet clauses in shop leases are banned,” Mr Lucas said.
31 March, 2011
Research projects to
make waves for reef
Funding for 18 new research projects to protect the Great Barrier Reef from harmful pollutants, including run off from agricultural land during extreme weather events, is to be made available by the Federal Government.
Commonwealth Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Tony Burke said significant flood events were a natural phenomenon and could move vast quantities of sediment, nutrients and pesticides from agricultural land into the Reef’s lagoon.
“Most of the pollution entering the Reef is stored in the catchments,” Mr Burke said.
“These pollutants can leave the Reef vulnerable to both short and long term impacts such as coral mortality and increased algal blooms.
“The Great Barrier Reef is one of Australia’s most unique ecosystems and the Government’s investment in safeguarding the Reef will be of benefit to future generations.”
Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Joe Ludwig, said the timing of the research would enable authorities to monitor and understand the impacts of real flood events on the Reef’s lagoon.
“Many farmers are already engaged in activities that aim to protect the Reef,” Senator Ludwig said.
“This important research will lead to a better understanding of land management practices that will help farmers reduce runoff of nutrients, chemicals and sediments across the Reef catchments.”
He said the funding built on the Commonwealth’s commitments through its Reef Guardians initiative and the $200 million Caring for Our Country Reef rescue program which were accelerating the adoption of improved land management practices.
Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Mike Kelly said the 18 research projects aimed to reduce runoff by 25 per cent by 2013.
“The 18 projects are complementary and together will improve understanding of the link between farm practices and the quality of water entering the Reef,” Dr Kelly said.
31 March, 2011
Payroll overpayments
Queensland Health has advised unions it will soon be starting the process of recovering overpayments that have been made since the start of payroll problems last year.
Around 48 000 overpayments have been made and a team of 30 workers will manage the recovery process.
The Queensland Public Sector Union is pushing for the waiving of overpayments of $250 or less.
Committees formed
Consultative committees have been formed for the Court Services and Crown Law areas of the Department of Justice and Attorney Generals.
The Queensland Public Sector Union is seeking three representatives for each committee.
If there are more nominees than places, ballots will be held.
Any nominations should be emailed to afb@qpsu.org.au before the 30 March 2011.
Water buyback
A tender has been called for water purchases in the Queensland Lower Balonne catchment.
The tender, which opened on 28 March, is part of the Government’s approach to having smaller and more regular tenders for buybacks in the Murray Darling Basin.
Water purchases made under the buybacks will count towards any reduction in diversions needed to meet the final sustainable diversion limits under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
Road crossings safer
Up to 40 supervisors will be employed on 15 new supervised road crossings at 14 Queensland schools by June 30.
There are now 353 supervised crossings at 205 schools and this is expected to rise to 1,196 crossings employing approximately 1,900 supervisors at 646 schools.
Supervised crossings are established when potential risks intensify, such as increased pedestrian and vehicle traffic.
Media tour the biggest
The largest single, simultaneous media familiarisation tour in Australian history, organised by Tourism Australia and Tourism Queensland, will involve almost 200 international and domestic media representatives
The initiative is one of the innovative recovery initiatives stemming from the joint Federal and State Government’s $10 million global tourism recovery strategy under the banner of Nothing Beats Queensland.
The party will include 122 journalists from 22 countries.
Literary awards open
Nominations are open for the 2011 Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards.
The awards offer $230,000 in prize money offered across 14 categories and are funded by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Arts Queensland.
Entries close on Friday 6 May
More information can be found at this PS News link.
Railway back on track
The Western railway line has reopened three months earlier than originally forecast, with the first coal train passing through Toowoomba.
More than 260 individual sites required repairs in the Toowoomba Range alone, including sections of track that had to be entirely rebuilt.
Approximately 250 Queensland Rail and Thiess employees worked on the restoration project.
Police recruits
The Queensland Police Service has admitted 54 new officers to its ranks.
They will be stationed in Rockhampton, Cairns, Gladstone, Mackay, Whitsunday, Innisfail, Mareeba, Mount Isa and Townsville.
The new constables come from a variety of backgrounds including the defence forces, trades, hospitality, teaching and professional occupations.
Fire trucks replaced
Fire vehicles lost in the floods at Murphys Creek have been replaced.
The three new vehicles restore fire services to the area, among the hardest hit by the 2011 floods.
The original vehicles, based at brigade headquarters on School Road, were filled with water and rendered unusable for operational duties.
Train contract awarded
A $20 million contract to overhaul 10 commuter trains has been awarded to EDI Rail – Bombardier Transportation Pty Ltd by Queensland Rail.
The work will be carried out at the company’s facility in Maryborough.
The 12-month contract will directly provide work for up to 38 workers at the facility.
24 March, 2011
Changes at the top
of PS leadership
Major changes at senior levels of the QPS will see new leadership across the Departments of the Premier and Cabinet, Local Government and Planning, and Public Works.
Premier, Anna Bligh announced that the Director General of Premier and Cabinet, Ken Smith would be leaving to become Queensland’s Agent General and Trade Commissioner for Europe and Africa, based in London.
“Ken Smith was previously appointed to this position in September 2006 by former Premier, Peter Beattie but at that time was unable to take up the role and was appointed Coordinator General and Director General of the Department of Infrastructure,” Ms Bligh said.
“Ken has served the Queensland community in a number of senior management positions over the past two decades,” she said.
“For more than 16 years he has been a Director General of Agencies as diverse as Housing, Employment and Training, Education, The Arts, Infrastructure and Planning and of course most recently in my own Department of the Premier and Cabinet.”
She said Mr Smith had also been a Chair and member of numerous Boards and Statutory Authorities both in Queensland and nationally.
“He has made a major contribution to public administration in Queensland and further afield and I thank him for his long and dedicated service in Government,” Ms Bligh said.
She said a recruitment firm had been engaged to search for Mr Smith’s replacement and a shortlist would be finalised within weeks.
In other moves, the Premier announced that Jack Noye had been appointed acting Director-General of the Department of Local Government and Planning and Natalie MacDonald Director-General of the Department of Public Works.
Mr Noye, the current Acting Associate Director-General of the Department of Transport and Main Roads, has had a long career in executive roles in both the Federal and State public sectors
Current DG at Public Works, Mal Grierson had decided to take extended leave as of 18 April, returning in June to assist in implementing the recommendations of the Shared Services Review as Chief Information Officer.
Ms MacDonald was previously Director General of the Department of Housing and has over 20 years’ experience in the Commonwealth and State public sectors.
24 March, 2011
Housing reforms raise
roof on affordability
Ten recommendations to improve housing affordability have been delivered by the independent Infrastructure Charges Taskforce.
The reforms are aimed at simplifying and streamlining infrastructure charges for new developments.
Minister for Planning, Paul Lucas said the report recommended a range of short and long term measures to make the infrastructure charging system simpler and more transparent and should help drive down development costs.
“Infrastructure charges can add up to $40,000 or more to the cost of a new home, and the aim of this sweeping review is to give developers and the community more confidence that the charges are fair and reasonable,” Mr Lucas said.
“The flexibility that Local Governments have in terms of choosing whether to subsidise infrastructure charging to stimulate construction or even charge lower than the maximum amounts will be a central element of this reform package.”
He called on both Councils and developers to consider the recommendations in a constructive light.
“With this report, the State Government is seeking to resolve seemingly irreconcilable differences between Councils and developers,” he said.
“Most State Governments levy significant infrastructure charges, but here in Queensland there is only the relatively modest Local Function Charge in some Local Government areas. Overwhelmingly charges are levied by Councils.”
Even so, the State Government was committed to sorting out the issue and would weigh up all the recommendations carefully before releasing a response.
24 March, 2011
Governance paper sets
course for the future
The Institute of Public Administration Australia has produced a new policy paper addressing some of the fundamental questions about issues and challenges facing governments around Australia and proposing principles and recommendations to guide their responses.
Prepared by the IPAA’s Submissions Standing Committee under the leadership of
Martin Stewart-Weeks, the paper The Future Course of Modern Government recognises the need for some fundamental rethinking but not at the expense of replacing existing systems and proven practices.
According to the paper, some of these systems and practices are bound to disappear over time but there were certain underlying issues of public administration that were perennial challenges which any new public governance and management frameworks would need to accommodate.
It says these include the need to balance complex and often contested notions of the public good; the ability to adjudicate between different and sometimes clashing interests and values; and the need to ensure systems of public management were always open, equitable, fair and transparent.
The paper says it tries to capture the sense that something important and potentially very exciting was happening to Australia’s systems of public management, without eroding the legitimacy of the larger frames of theory and good practice to which they represented an important and valuable contribution.
It includes discussion of the convergence between reforms under first the eGovernment and the Government 2.0 banners and larger programs of public sector reform.
The paper says some necessary changes will confront politicians and bureaucrats with uncomfortable implications for a new culture, but it heralds transitions with considerable opportunity for a more robust model of participation for better services, better and more effective policy and a capacity to repair the bonds of trust between citizens and governments.
Some of the recommendations and highlights in the paper include agreeing with the UK Public Services 2020 Commission that a combination of long-term demand, fiscal constraint and outcome failures had brought public services to a critical moment; that the next wave of public sector reforms would be formed around distributed systems, rather than centralised structures; and promoting participation in service design and delivery would be the heart of a new agenda.
It also says that improving public services would balance earlier models of contestability and competition with the use of social media which could unleash more powerful assessments of public service failures; and more and more public services should be designed, delivered and evaluated with an open invitation for appropriate participation by those experiencing or delivering the service.
The full IPAA paper can be accessed at this PS News link.
24 March, 2011
New website for
personal finance
The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) has launched a new website to help people manage their personal finances.
ASIC Chairman Tony D’Aloisio said the website, MoneySmart, helped people make good financial decisions by providing free, independent and unbiased information, tools and motivation.
He said the website included 26 calculators and tools, some for use on mobile phones, to help people take simple steps to get quick answers to their questions about money, and covered not only the basics such as budgeting, saving, credit cards and loans, but also more complicated issues such as superannuation contributions, margin loans and income tax.
Assistant Federal Treasurer Bill Shorten said the Government had a broad and comprehensive reform agenda to improve the financial services sector and the financial wellbeing of all Australians.
“Simple, unbiased tools that increase the financial literacy of Australians such as MoneySmart.gov.au are an important part of this,” Mr Shorten said.
He said MoneySmart.gov.au had independent information, guidance and tools for all age groups about planning for retirement.
“The ‘retirement planner’ on MoneySmart.gov.au estimates what your income will be after you retire and what you can do now to boost it,” Mr Shorten said.
“It demonstrates how increasing employer contributions would give a big boost to people’s income in retirement.”
Mr D’Aloisio said the website and the underpinning strategy to improve the financial literacy of Australians was the result of a combined contribution and teamwork between the Financial Literacy Board, the Government, ASIC and industry and community groups.
The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) welcomed the initiative by ASIC to provide consumers with constructive financial information about their budgeting options and who could help them manage their debts.
Chief Financial Ombudsman, Colin Neave, said FOS has seen a significant increase in people in financial difficulty in recent times.
“We are very supportive of the life stage and life event approach that ASIC has taken,” Mr Neave said.
“Our experience with complaints about financial problems confirms people need to meet different financial challenges at different stages.”
24 March, 2011
Gateway welcomes
building award
Brisbane’s Gateway Upgrade Project has been judged the country’s best for its “iconic status, its engineering brilliance and sheer scale” by Infrastructure Partnerships Australia (IPA).
The award is considered the most prestigious for infrastructure projects in Australia.
Chairman of IPA, Mark Birrell said the $2.5 billion Gateway Upgrade was also Australia’s biggest road and bridge project.
Minister for Main Roads, Craig Wallace said the project had boosted road capacity, slashed travel times and brought the motorway up to world class standard.
“The Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges and the more than 20 kilometres of new and upgraded motorway have been like a shot in the arm for the economy, and also created over 5,000 full time jobs during construction,” Mr Wallace said.
Queensland Motorway Limited estimated the project has added more than $600 million to Gross Regional Product (GRP), including more than $400 million to employment.
Acting Chief Executive of Queensland Motorways, John Gardiner said the project had been delivered quickly and without major impacts.
“Queensland Motorways and our construction partners have maintained the existing network capacity throughout construction, rebuilding the Gateway Motorway day and night, to ensure that this vital artery continued to flow every day,” Mr Gardiner said.
“We forged strong working relationships with the State Government and contractor, Leighton for Abigroup Joint Venture, to get the job done.”
Finalists in the IPA’s Project of the Year were: Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group Project; South Australia’s Northern Expressway Project and Sydney Airport’s Runway 25.
The Gateway Upgrade Project was also a finalist in the Contractor Excellence Award Category.
In other awards on the night, Gold Coast Rapid Transit was a finalist in the Government Partnership Excellence Award and the Advisory Excellence Award, and the Centre for Sustainable Design, University of Queensland took out the Smart Infrastructure Grant category.
24 March, 2011
Long-serving police
pin down medals
Awards have been presented to former and serving Queensland Police Service (QPS) members in recognition of their outstanding service to the community.
They included the Commissioner’s Certificate of Notable Action, the Commissioner’s Certificate of Appreciation, the National Medal and the Queensland Police Service Medal.
In addition, clasps for long-serving members were presented in recognition of diligent and ethical service.
Minister for Police, Neil Roberts said the awards were an opportunity to publicly recognise and thank dedicated Queensland police officers for their enormous contribution to the safety and security of communities all over the State.
“These officers and staff members showcase the diverse range of talents, skills and attributes displayed daily by the people in the Service,” Mr Roberts said.
Constable Bernard Nyhan was awarded the Commissioner’s Certificate of Notable Action for performing a significant act as a result of being placed in a potentially hazardous situation beyond that of normal policing requirements.
Benjamin Carroll, a Queensland Ambulance Service Officer, received the Commissioner’s Certificate of Appreciation for providing substantial assistance to the Service.
Constable Nyhan and Mr Carroll attended a call to service in Brisbane City and risked their safety by entering the Brisbane River near the William Jolly Bridge to assist in the rescue of a man on Australia Day 2010.
“The awards presented today acknowledge the incredibly brave actions of these two people, who entered a major waterway that has currents running through it as well as significant marine traffic,” Mr Roberts said.
“Constable Nyhan and Mr Carroll risked their personal safety to save the life of a member of the public, which highlights their dedication to the community that we serve.”
Thirty-six officers received National Medals and Clasps during the ceremony, and 13 officers and staff members received their Queensland Police Service medals and clasps.
24 March, 2011
Project holds breath
for air quality probe
The Department of Environment and Resource Management is undertaking a monitoring program of dust levels at Brisbane’s Northern Busway project.
The program will check for particle levels of crystalline silica to ensure these are being appropriately managed to prevent any environmental or health risks.
The Department has introduced the program after a number of residents expressed concern about air quality at the site.
If during the three-month testing program any evidence is found of a potential health risk, Queensland Health will be notified immediately.
Queensland’s Chief Health Officer, Jeannette Young has advised that silica is a common, naturally occurring substance which is generally not harmful to human health unless it is breathed in for many years at very high levels.
“That, of course, is the same for any dust,” Dr Young said.
“Short-term exposure to silica in the community - such as over the life of a construction project - is very unlikely to cause anyone any long-term health problems.”
However, Queensland Health recognised the legitimate concerns of residents for their health and that of their families and would ensure tests were completed to everyone’s satisfaction.
At the conclusion of this monitoring program, the test results and Queensland Health’s analysis of any impacts will be provided to the community.
24 March, 2011
Arts in the frame
for flood relief
The Government will cover touring costs for eight performing arts productions this year as a special gift to disaster-recovering Queensland.
The saving for local venues amounts to $135,000 and will see shows sent free-of-charge to venues and theatres in up to 52 towns across the State.
Minister for the Arts, Rachel Nolan said families, young people and their communities would have every opportunity to enjoy a show or take part in an arts event.
Each community could decide how to pass on the benefit.
“Some communities might choose to offer tickets to special volunteers as a way of saying thank you. Communities could also offer discount tickets,” Ms Nolan said.
ArTour is a $1.9 million State-funded touring program. Now in its second year, it enables communities to select some of the best arts experiences available to tour their region or town.
This year’s touring program includes dance, comedy, music and theatre.
“The touring program is dynamic, with Flamenco Fire - a performance of flamenco dance - that includes workshops in dance, guitar and singing,” Ms Nolan said.
“Then there’s Celtic Crossings Tour which is a five-piece Celtic roots band, and Fresh&Funky which features stand-up Indigenous comedian and storyteller Sean Choolburra who brought the house down last year in his Mount Isa performances.”
Statespeare was another highlight and engaged audiences young and old with the world of Shakespeare with a modern twist.
24 March, 2011
Birthday celebration
for child protection
The first annual report on the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009-2020 has been released.
It brings together data that the Council of Australian Governments will use to measure progress in protecting Australia’s children.
Queensland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, Elizabeth Fraser said the national framework complements existing State-level work across prevention, early intervention and tertiary system service delivery.
“We know that more can be done to help children stay safe and well within their own families and are seeing progress in Queensland as a result of State-based initiatives,” Ms Fraser said.
“It is hoped that the introduction and reporting on a national framework will further boost these efforts and shed additional light on challenging areas of need and service responses.”
However, she cautioned that while the increased attention on prevention and early intervention was welcome, it should not come at a cost to the service systems supporting children already in out-of-home care.
“The new National Standards for Out of Home Care require jurisdictions to account consistently on the performance of their child protection systems and a key element of this monitoring work will be the independent survey of children in care,” Ms Fraser said.
“I have been very pleased to date with the Commonwealth’s level of interest in, and alignment with, our existing Key Outcome Indicator framework for the child protection system.”
24 March, 2011
Paper does number
on phone numbers
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has issued its third consultation paper on the future allocation of telephone numbers.
ACMA said telephone numbers had historically been planned and managed as a scarce public resource and were mainly allocated against detailed rules set out in the Numbering Plan.
It said this contrasted with the way other electronic addresses such as Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and internet domain names were managed, and the approach to number allocation in other jurisdictions.
The Authority said the paper, Allocation and charging of numbers, examined these assumptions, and explored emerging trends and alternative approaches.
It said among the paper’s findings was that there were more than 430 million telephone numbers still available for allocation under the current Telephone Numbering Plan, and for most number types, less than 10 per cent of the numbers were in use.
The ACMA said the paper also noted that technology was likely both to complement and substitute telephone numbers as IP-based services became more prevalent.
It said this included the shift to internet-based voice, video and data services, and the roll out of both fixed and wireless next generation networks.
Against this background, the Authority said the consultation paper examined current allocation arrangements and explored issues such as: Was the scarcity of numbers likely to remain a useful assumption on which to structure allocation arrangements or would simpler allocation and charging arrangements deliver a more efficient outcome? Were detailed prescriptive rules likely to remain appropriate for managing the numbering resource?
Could changes to methods of allocation allow more efficient use of numbers?
The ACMA is seeking submissions in response to the consultation paper by 13 April.
For more information on this paper and the first two papers in the four part series, visit this PS News link.
The final paper, due for release in a few weeks, will focus on the role that numbers play in delivering outcomes for consumers.
24 March, 2011
Public transport
just the ticket
More people are using buses and trains, the latest public transport data shows.
An edition of TransLink’s Tracker, covering October to December 2010, showed train patronage increased by six per cent, or 825,000 trips, to nearly 14.5 million.
Bus patronage increased by nearly 600,000 trips, or more than two per cent, to over 29 million trips.
Minister for Transport, Annastacia Palasczcuk said the latest data was encouraging.
“Last year more than 300,000 seats per week were added to the transport network and we plan to add another 300,000 seats this year to meet the demands of a growing population,” Ms Palasczcuk said.
“A $200 million station upgrade program is underway and a new timetable to provide more frequent and reliable services will be in place by the middle of the year.”
Ms Palasczcuk said Tracker data also showed go card use increased to 64.2 per cent of trips for the quarter.
“go card use continues to climb and is expected to increase even further following the latest fare change in January which continues to ensure go card remains the cheapest travel option on the TransLink network,” she said.
Other data from Tracker included: On-time running during the peak period for both train and bus remained above the respective benchmarks set by TransLink; customer satisfaction levels across all 12 categories for bus and train customers remained relatively steady, while ferry customer satisfaction levels fell across all categories.
Ferry patronage dropped in the quarter largely due to a three-day service disruption caused by floating debris and upgrade of CityGlider bus services between Teneriffe and West End, and University of Queensland and the central business district.
24 March, 2011
Toddlers get their
place in the sun
More than 160 kindergartens in Queensland are to be switched over to solar power.
The $5.76 million Solar Kindergarten Installation Program will result in 166 members of the Crèche and Kindergarten Association (C&K) being retro-fitted with solar-power units from next month.
Eventually, more than 400 kindergartens across Queensland would be solar powered.
Minister for Education, Cameron Dick said kindergartens played an important role in a child’s development and the program would help make them more sustainable over time, both financially and environmentally.
“As well as reducing the amount of greenhouse gases produced by each kindergarten, these solar panels will help reduce the service’s annual electricity bills by up to $400,” Mr Dick said.
“This is good news for parents and kindergarten operators who will be able to use the savings for more resources for children.”
As well as providing solar power to the C&K sites, the Government would also install 1.5 kilowatt solar panels at up to 240 new kindergarten services provided as part of the Government’s commitment to ensure every Queensland child of kindergarten age would have access to an Early Years program delivered by a qualified teacher.
“These solar installations will generate enough energy to power 125 Queensland homes and save 877 tonnes of carbon emissions every year, equivalent to taking almost 200 cars off the road,” Mr Dick said.
“This program builds on the Government’s Solar Schools program, which has resulted in solar panels being installed in 1,164, or more than 94 per cent, of all State schools in the past three years.”
24 March, 2011
Fine results achieved
for workplace crimes
The Fair Work Ombudsman has revealed that legal action taken against five Queensland employers has resulted in fines totalling $447,800 for breaches of workplace laws.
Executive Director for the Fair Work Ombudsman, Michael Campbell said court penalties served as a warning to others to ensure they understood and complied with national workplace relations laws.
He said that since July 2010, courts had finalised 25 penalty matters for the Fair Work Ombudsman and imposed penalties totalling almost $1.5 million nationally.
Since March 2006, Fair Work Ombudsman litigations had resulted in 187 court-imposed penalties totalling around $6.8 million.
“The courts are taking a pretty dim view of employers and unions who ignore the rules, dishing out some severe penalties both as a specific deterrent and to discourage similar conduct by others,” Mr Campbell said.
“We recognise that accidental breaches can and do occur and our approach is fair and flexible but, as one Federal magistrate noted recently, compliance with all aspects of the law is not optional, it is essential.”
The Agency has also recovered more than $117 million for 87,000 workers around the country who had been underpaid.
Court penalties in Queensland so far this financial year mostly involved underpaying employees, but in one case a company had been fined $214,500 both for underpaying 116 employs and for sham contracting.
For more information visit this PS News link.
24 March, 2011
Fishers hook up
for catch survey
Feedback on fish catches and catch rates will be provided by more than 3,600 recreational fishers over the next 12 months.
The fishers have signed up to take part in a 12-month diary survey to provide up-to-date data which would help in managing fish stocks sustainably.
Minister for Fisheries, Craig Wallace said that while 11,000 households had been contacted in the first phase of the survey, there was wide interest for continuing involvement in the second phase diary survey.
“Response rates for the first phase were very good, with 88 per cent of households contacted answering questions relating to fishing activity and boat ownership,” Mr Wallace said.
“From here, recreational fishers who have signed up for future involvement in the diary survey will be contacted over the next year and asked to provide data about their recent fishing activity.”
Senior Scientist at Fisheries Queensland, Steve Taylor said the very high response rate would ensure that a full spectrum of recreational fishers would be included in the diary survey.
“Participants range from those that go fishing come rain or shine, and those that only go once or twice a year,” Dr Taylor said.
“As of October 2010, all of the participants’ fishing activities are being recorded by skilled telephone interviewers,” he said.
“This part of the survey will run until the end of September.”
The data obtained would assist in building a better understanding of the recreational fishing sector, helping Fisheries Queensland in the management of fish stocks for present and future generations.
A full report on the diary survey will be produced in mid-2012.
24 March, 2011
New travel prize is
won for the money
An international promotion, titled Million Dollar Memo, has been launched by Tourism Queensland.
It will see workplaces from around the world go head-to-head for a $1 million Queensland travel package to reward their staff.
Businesses of all sizes must submit a 60 second video explaining what makes them great and why they should win.
The Minister for Tourism, Jan Jarratt said Tourism Queensland would help the winner design the package.
“What better way to reward the hard work and dedication of staff than with a trip to incredible Queensland,” Ms Jarratt said.
She said the promotion could not have come at a more important time.
“Our tourism industry was hit hard during the recent floods and cyclone that affected much of the state,” she said.
“But we want to send the message to the world that Queensland is back.”
Ms Jarratt said Tourism Queensland’s last campaign, Best Job in the World, had put the State on the world stage in a big way.
“In light of the natural disasters, Million Dollar Memo will tell the world that we are well and truly open for business and help secure a slice of the lucrative billion dollar incentive travel market,” she said.
Workplaces have until 1 May to submit their video entries and the public can vote for their favourite clips in a People’s Choice.
Representatives from companies who make the final 20 list will come to Queensland to compete in incentive challenges at locations throughout the State.
24 March, 2011
Business register to
open for business
Queensland-based businesses that also trade in other States and Territories are expected to benefit from draft national laws to standardise the registration of business names across Australia.
Under the proposed legislation, which is now out for public comment, businesses will pay only one fee in the order of $70 to register their business name nationally for three years.
Federal Minister Assisting on Deregulation, Senator Nick Sherry said the reform was a key component of the Council of Australian Government’s agenda to deliver a seamless national economy, to cut red tape and make it easier to do business.
“It’s estimated to produce benefits in excess of $1.5 billion over eight years to business, Government and consumers, most of which will flow to business,” Senator Sherry said.
“Five per cent of all Australian businesses trade in more than one State or Territory jurisdiction,” he said.
“Businesses operating in every State and Territory currently face a cost of more than $1,000 to register their business name nationally for three years.”
He said the reforms would also introduce a Government online service to deliver tailored information to businesses about their regulatory requirements – licences, registrations and permits – known as the Australian Business Licence Information Service or ABLIS.
An online account, the Australian Business Account would improve online interaction between Government and business.
“These initiatives are part of our reform processes aimed at cutting away the layers of overlapping and inconsistent regulations that have long dogged a national approach to business administration,” Senator Sherry said.
24 March, 2011
Dam report released
The Department of Environment and Resource Management has released Seqwater’s report on the operation of North Pine Dam in January.
The Department has provided the report to the Commission of Inquiry into the Queensland Floods as it directly related to the inquiry’s terms of reference, as it had with the report into the operation of Wivenhoe and Somerset Dams.
The report found the dam operated in accordance with the operating manual for flood mitigation.
The report can be found at this PS News link.
Abuse rejected
Comments by the President of the Queensland Council of Civil Liberties that “being sworn at is part of the job for police” have appalled the Minister for Police and Emergency Services.
Neil Roberts said no worker in any occupation should be expected to accept verbal abuse as part of their job.
He called on the Council of Civil Liberties to repudiate the reported comments and apologise.
$40M for Gap repairs
At least $40 million has been set aside for repairs at the Gap - eight damaged hotspots along a seven-kilometre stretch of highway including Fig Tree Gully, Clayton’s Gully and the top of the Gap.
It represents the largest reconstruction job in the area’s history.
Two locations have already been completed as part of emergency works bringing the total number of hotspots targeted at the Gap to 10.
Indigenous scholarships
More than $1 million in scholarships to help hundreds of Indigenous students complete their senior studies has been announced.
The scholarships, supported by the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation, will help 315 students at around 40 schools across the State.
They are aimed at closing the gap on Indigenous disadvantage by increasing the proportion of Indigenous young people to achieve a Queensland Certificate of Education.
Industry steering group
The Mining Safety and Health Directorate has established an industry steering group to develop new coal mine blasting guidelines
The aim is to further minimise the risk to workers by enhancing existing safeguards such as one kilometre exclusion zones during blasting operations.
The Explosives Inspectorate has also issued a safety alert to explosives suppliers and all mines engaged in open-cut blasting operations outlining measures to be taken to prevent and manage post-blast fume events.
Boost to teacher training
Teacher training standards are to be enhanced by the establishment of four new centres of excellence.
The centres are part of the Government’s plan to improve teaching standards and give students a flying start to learning and life.
The locations are: Morayfield East State School, Mount Stuart cluster of schools, Aspley State Special School, Benowa State High School and State School.
Hospital expands
Additional Federal funding towards the upgrade of Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee (QEII) Hospital means the emergency department will double in size.
The boost to the QEII emergency department is part of a $675 million package to assist Queensland meet tough new hospital performance targets to treat patients in clinically appropriate times.
The new emergency department will open in 2013 with 11 fast tracked treatment spaces – eight more than exist at present.
17 March, 2011
Union report juggles
work-life balance
A survey of female Public Servants by the national Community and Public Sector Union has found that many are failing to achieve the right work-life balance.
The CPSU’s annual What Women Want, surveyed almost 10,000 women in Public Service positions and found two in five believed accessing flexible hours or taking leave for family reasons would disadvantage their career.
According to the survey, one in two said juggling work and family life wasn’t easy and one in five respondents said that they were dissatisfied with their work-life balance.
National Secretary of the union, Nadine Flood said however the survey also found that six in 10 women had the option of improving their work-life balance under current work entitlements.
She said among the reasons given for not accessing the leave they were entitled to, respondents said they were too busy; current staff levels would not cover their absence; or they had unsupportive supervisors.
Ms Flood said women in the PS were under increasing pressure both at work and at home.
“Women in the public sector have fought for and won some reasonable flexible working conditions in their agreements,” Ms Flood said.
“However, our survey shows clearly that having a technical right to access leave does not always mean women will get to use it.”
She said the survey also revealed a dramatic increase in the number of women being contacted by their employers outside work hours, increasing from 35 per cent of women in 2008 to 44 per cent last year.
She said the issues around access to flexible working conditions were complex, but it was clear that women were being squeezed at work and home.
Ms Flood said the What Women Want survey also found that nearly one in five full-time women was working an additional 10 or more hours each week; and one in three women said they had little or no influence over whether they worked additional hours.
17 March, 2011
Females fired up to
be firefighters
The number of permanent female firefighters in the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) is to be increased.
The increase is to remedy a deficiency in the QFRS which has only 44 permanent female firefighters, and raise that number to 150 by 2015.
Minister for Emergency Services, Neil Roberts said female firefighters currently in the QFRS came from a variety of backgrounds including ex-Defence Force personnel and ex-police officers as well as mothers and grandmothers.
“Greater diversity can have a positive impact on any workplace, and seeing more women becoming part of the firefighting culture is a priority for me and QFRS Commissioner Lee Johnson,” Mr Roberts said.
He said quality female applicants would be supported by QFRS, without compromising its stringent selection process.
“A firefighter’s role is challenging, demanding physical strength as well as a sharp mind, a commitment to teamwork and an uncompromised dedication to safety,” he said.
“It is a job which carries significant risk, but also the potential for great reward. I recognise we must maintain the high standards currently required to become a firefighter.”
He said all females would have to meet the same qualifying standards as their male counterparts, including physical, mechanical, and psychological testing.
“Women who are interested in applying will be able to access case management, assistance and advice to assist with preparation throughout the application process,” Mr Roberts said.
More information is available from this PS News link.
17 March, 2011
Electricity merger
is power play
A new corporate structure for Queensland’s power stations has been announced.
The changes are expected to maximise the life of the state’s electricity generation assets.
Minister for Finance, Rachel Nolan said the revised structure would see the three Government-owned generation companies – CS Energy, Stanwell Corporation and Tarong Energy Corporation – merged to form two new companies from 1 July.
“The restructure will be achieved by the reallocation of assets to the existing CS Energy and Stanwell corporate entities, using the provisions of the Government Owned Corporations Act,” Ms Nolan said.
“After feedback from the consultation process, the Government has altered the draft generator allocations to place the small hydro power stations and Mackay Gas Turbine within the Stanwell-Tarong portfolio.”
She said the Government had also decided to combine ownership of the Glen Wilga coal resource in the Surat Basin, currently held by Tarong Energy, with the adjacent Kogan coal mine.
Otherwise, the reallocation of portfolio assets was unchanged from the preferred structure announced on 25 November 2010
“The changes to the allocation of Queensland’s electricity generation corporations strengthen these entities for the future,” Ms Nolan said.
“The restructure will keep the generators in public ownership, and allow them to meet the challenges of both a competitive national electricity market and to transition in a future where climate change must be addressed.”
Ms Nolan said that ensuring the employees and unions had the opportunity to comment on the reallocation of assets was crucial to the success of the implementation of the review.
17 March, 2011
DEEDI workshops to
avoid tender traps
Businesses in the Mackay and Whitsunday areas have been urged to learn more about their goods and services selling to Government.
Special workshops, Tendering for Government Business, are to be held on 24 March at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre and the following day at the Ocean International, Mackay.
Minister for Tourism and Small Business, Jan Jarratt said she believed many local businesses were capable of delivering on Government contracts, but needed assistance to understand project requirements.
“The Queensland Government is spending $17 billion on building, infrastructure and operational projects this financial year and this provides great opportunities for local businesses to win work,” Ms Jarratt said.
“The Tendering for Government Business workshops will help Mackay and Whitsunday businesses get their piece of this pie by teaching participants practical skills to help them submit successful tenders.”
She said the half-day workshops were being offered by the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation and would help businesses understand the tendering process.
She said the sessions would be held in locations across the State and provide practical information on how to complete tender documents used by the Queensland Government.
“The workshops also show suppliers where to find the opportunities, how to make sure their business is in the best position to respond and what support is available to help them tender for Government work,” she said.
“Many local suppliers have products or services at competitive prices which ideally meet buyers’ needs, but they miss out on the contract because of simple mistakes including not answering all the questions or not following the required formats.”
17 March, 2011
Partnership delivers
on disaster funds
The Queensland and Commonwealth Governments have signed a National Partnership for Natural Disaster Reconstruction and Recovery.
The agreement is in response to the December and January floods and the impacts of Cyclone Yasi.
Premier, Anna Bligh said the agreement paved the way for the advance payment of $400 million to Local Councils that had previously been announced.
“This National Partnership also includes an additional upfront payment of $50 million from the Commonwealth to facilitate the recovery process in North Queensland following Cyclone Yasi,” she said.
Acting Prime Minister and Treasurer, Wayne Swan said the agreement meant $2 billion in Commonwealth funding could now be distributed to the Queensland communities that needed it.
Mr Swan said the key elements of the agreement included strong reporting and auditing requirements to ensure that taxpayer money was spent appropriately.
He said the Reconstruction Inspectorate, led by former NSW premier and Federal MP, John Fahey which will oversee reconstruction activity, would be responsible for providing assurance that value for money was being achieved in the disaster response.
Ms Bligh said the funding would be welcome news, especially in Queensland’s tropical north where reconstruction efforts had been hampered by continuing heavy rains, with some communities once again cut off though flooding and wash-outs on roads
Residents of some communities have complained about being abandoned by authorities struggling to cope with the scale of the disaster.
17 March, 2011
Mental health is
front of mind
Mental health support services for Queenslanders in disaster-affected areas are to be boosted by more than $1 million.
Minister for Mental Health, Curtis Pitt said that since the floods, his Department had been working closely with Red Cross and Lifeline, providing counselling and support.
“We want to make sure anyone having trouble during the recovery phase knows that help is available,” Mr Pitt said.
“These funds will help build on people’s resilience after the disasters and deliver extra support services for people with a mental illness, their family and carers.”
Mr Pitt said $230,000 would be used to establish a South West Queensland Mental Health Carers’ Support Hub.
“The hub will provide social and psychological help, counselling, information and referral services to carers and family members of people with a mental illness,” he said.
A further $500,000 would be used to promote mental health awareness and resources in regional areas.
The Minister encouraged people to look out for each other and to check on their neighbours and friends with a disability or mental illness.
“The floods may have created new challenges or anxieties for them,” he said.
“Stay connected. It may be as simple as dropping in and saying hello, or offering to drive them to a friend’s place or to their local club or shopping centre.”
He said Queenslanders had shown great endurance, sacrifice and generosity amid the devastation.
“Let’s not forget the more vulnerable in our community,” he said.
17 March, 2011
Recycled assets
to be peddled
The environment is to benefit through the recycling and sale of electricity poles and power lines damaged during the January floods.
The money gained will help fund an initiative that rewards South East Queensland groups helping to create a sustainable future.
Minister for Energy and Water Utilities, Stephen Robertson said the new $150,000 a year Energex Sustainability and Environment Fund (ESEF) would use money raised from selling replaced scrap metal and other products to benefit the broader community.
Mr Robertson said in its last financial year, some 3,317 tonnes of metal and 14,824 metres of timber were recycled by Energex.
Mr Robertson said the first round of funding of $50,000 to be announced in May was now open to environmental groups, organisations and schools.
“The funds generated from recycling the flood debris will be announced later in the year once it has been recycled and sold,” Mr Robertson said.
“Through the new scheme, Energex is looking for applications from groups that share their vision of creating positive change in local communities, whether that is rehabilitating local areas or educating young minds about sustainability or other environmental initiatives.”
General Manager of Customer Services at Energex, Peter Weaver said Energex had a strong commitment to sustainability with initiatives ranging from offsetting vehicle fleet emissions and recycling programs to a six-star-green-star rated corporate headquarters.
“We have long supported groups such as Junior Landcare and SEQ Catchments, and the new fund will allow us to help more local groups achieve their environmental initiatives,” Mr Weaver said.
Submissions can be made online at this PS News link and the first round of ESEF nominations should be submitted by 31 March.
17 March, 2011
Healthy report on
PS medical claims
A report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has revealed that the number of new medical claims lodged by Public Service workers across Australia in 2007-08 was significantly less than in earlier years.
The report said that although the 1,300 or so claims lodged that year were similar in number to 2006-07, they represented a drop of about a third on the previous three years.
Jenny Hargreaves of the Institute’s Hospitals and Performance Group said Public Sector claims were examined in the report Australia’s public sector medical indemnity claims 2007-2008.
Ms Hargreaves said the report examined data on the number, nature, incidence and costs of medical indemnity claims in the public sector during the financial year from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008.
She said it was released alongside another report, Public and private sector medical indemnity claims in Australia 2007-08, which was the first time the Institute had been able to present the total number of medical indemnity claims across Australia.
She said the Public Sector report described the allegations of harm that gave rise to claims, the alleged physical and mental effects on claim subjects, the specialties of clinicians involved, and the size, duration and outcomes of the medical indemnity claims.
Ms Hargreaves said the report was the sixth in the series on public sector medical indemnity claims, presenting data on claims open during the 2007-08 financial year and updated claim characteristics over the period 2003-04 to 2006-07.
The report showed there were 1,292 new claims opened at some time in 2007-08.
According to the report, the number of new claims was similar to 2006-07 (1,306) but less than approximately 2,000 claims each year between 2003-04 and 2005-06.
The report said the proportion of new claims related to the clinical service context of Obstetrics remained relatively steady over the five year period (14-16 per cent) and Accident and Emergency fluctuated between 15 per cent and 21 per cent.
It said new claims relating to General surgery made up 12 per cent of claims in 2007-08 and in 2003-04, however there was a peak of 30 per cent in 2005-06.
According to the report, the increased proportion of new claims that year was affected by claims against one general surgeon in one State.
The report showed claims that were closed between 2003-04 and 2007-08 varied between about 1,600 and 2,200 each year.
The full report can be accessed at this PS News link.
17 March, 2011
Agency reshuffle to
open gates for fences
A new entity is to be established to manage the rabbit fence and the wild dog barrier fence.
Announced by the Minister for Agriculture and Regional Economies, Tim Mulherin, the move is to create greater efficiencies and would address recommendations made in the 2008 Webbe-Weller Review.
Mr Mulherin said the changes did not mean the abandonment of the structures.
“As part of the 2008 Webbe-Weller Review it was recommended that the Darling Downs Moreton Rabbit Board (DDMRB) need no longer operate as a statutory body,” Mr Mulherin said.
“We are establishing a new entity which addresses the recommendations of Webbe-Weller and will effectively deliver on our commitment to the retention of the wild dog fence and the rabbit fence.”
He said the new entity wouldn’t begin operations until July 2013.
“The length of time to implement the single entity has been extended due to recent natural disasters, in particular flooding,” he said.
“We are conscious of the fact that we do not want to divert local authorities’ attention away from important recovery activities to establish the single entity.”
Mr Mulherin said the Chairs of both the DDMRB and the Wild Dog Barrier Fence Panel (WDBFP) were supportive of the time frame and had indicated they would have more confidence in the proposed solution with a longer lead time.
He said the DDMRB and the WDBFP would work closely together over the next two years.
17 March, 2011
Safety Officers join
transport network
Safety on Brisbane’s public transport network has been boosted by an additional 14 Senior Network Officers.
The offices will target customer protection and fare evasion.
Minister for Transport, Annastacia Palaszczuk said the new Officers were authorised to use extended powers to detain and frisk when dealing with some of the more serious issues on the public transport network.
“There are now 22 Senior Network Officers working in conjunction with Queensland Police Service’s Rail Squad and TransLink Transit Officers to provide a safer, fairer public transport system for all South East Queenslanders,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
She said a total of 47 train stations across the city network would also undergo security upgrades under a $3.3 million digital video recording rollout.
“The upgrades will provide improved image quality, enhanced recording and retention, and result in better monitoring of railway stations.
“These images will be passed on to police when necessary.”
She said other recent initiatives included 11 mobile security dog patrols, a new police outpost at Robina and a commitment to provide an extra 10 police officers to be assigned to the Railway Squad.
Ms Palaszczuk said despite patronage on the network increasing to a record 94.2 million trips in the six months to 31 December 2010, crime was decreasing.
“This is a credit to the staff and the substantial investments we’ve made in the security of our public transport network,” the Minister said.
17 March, 2011
Standards unearthed
for mining industry
New safety standards for the Queensland mining industry will now require all workers on mine sites to work under the site’s safety management plan.
Previously, contractors were able to work under their own safety management plans.
Minister for Employment, Skills and Mining, Stirling Hinchliffe said the new laws would ensure all mine operators, including contractors, were working under the same safety health management system.
“The changes have been made as a result of coroner’s findings and industry feedback that there were a number of safety management plans being followed in some instances,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
“This means contractors who are carrying out jobs like road works or building works on mine sites will be required to follow the same safety management plan as everyone else.”
Mr Hinchliffe said the legislation also made it a requirement for people operating machinery on mine and quarry sites to be 16 or older.
“Children and heavy machinery in places like mining sites and quarries don’t mix,” he said.
“Children can’t serve alcohol in a pub. They can’t drive a Hyundai Getz on the road. It makes perfect sense that they shouldn’t operate a 30-tonne excavator in a dangerous environment like a quarry.
He said the new laws would also stop children from operating equipment like a drilling rig on a petroleum lease.
17 March, 2011
Consumer law sparks
electrical checks
New legislation aimed at improving the safety of electrical equipment for consumers will also minimise the cost to industry.
Minister for Industrial Relations, Cameron Dick said the new laws, a first for Australia, would ensure that electrical equipment sold by retailers complied with the relevant safety standards and that any unsafe electrical equipment that did reach the market was readily detected and reported.
“It will also ensure unsafe electrical equipment is removed from the market quickly and effectively.” Mr Dick said.
“Suppliers of electrical equipment will be responsible for ensuring products meet national safety standards and for placing those products on a national register.”
He said registered products would carry a Regulatory Compliance Mark and consumers would be able to search the register to determine whether electrical equipment had met the relevant standards and complied with the law.
“The legislation will also help eliminate some of the inconsistencies between electrical equipment safety systems across Australia,” he said.
“Queensland’s Electrical Safety Office has taken the lead and consulted with industry and other jurisdictions and developed model legislation for other States to consider.”
Mr Dick said Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, the ACT, Tasmania and the Northern Territory were expected to adopt the Queensland legislation while New Zealand had expressed its support
The legislation is expected to pass through Parliament by mid-year.
17 March, 2011
More bite for
animal laws
Tough new laws to protect animals will more than triple the penalties for people who inflict severe pain or suffering on them.
Premier, Anna Bligh, announced the changes saying a new offence of serious animal cruelty would be created with a maximum penalty of seven years’ jail.
She said the new law would apply to anyone who inflicted severe pain or suffering on an animal where there was deliberate intent.
The crackdown has been prompted by a series of attacks on wild, domestic and farm animals including a koala joey that was shot, a puppy whose eyes were glued shut, and a North Queensland mare beaten so badly that she had to be put down.
Ms Bligh said most cases were currently prosecuted under the Animal Care and Protection Act, which provided a maximum penalty of $100,000 or two years’ imprisonment.
“The new provision will be inserted into the Criminal Code with a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment to better reflect the gravity of serious animal cruelty offences,” she said.
“A civilised society has an obligation to protect animals from those who take pleasure in inflicting pain on domestic pets, commercial livestock and native fauna.
“The new offence will send a very clear message that a conviction for serious animal cruelty deserves and demands appropriate punishment.”
Attorney General, Paul Lucas said the Criminal Code already provided for up to three years in jail for a person who unlawfully killed, maimed or wounded an animal ‘capable of being stolen’, and up to seven years where the death or injury was inflicted on commercial livestock.
“The problem with this provision is that it’s included under damage to property offences, which are of limited relevance to many animal cruelty cases,” Mr Lucas said.
“It doesn’t apply to wild animals at all, because they aren’t legally owned by anyone and consequently can’t be stolen at law. Nor does it apply to domestic pets or farm livestock where the suffering is inflicted by the animal’s owner.”
He said the new law would plug that gap in the Criminal Code.
17 March, 2011
Train tenderer
off the rails
The train building company Downer-Edi has announced it would not use its Maryborough plant to take on a giant contract for Queensland Rail.
The contract for 200 three-car sets is being advertised internationally and believed to be valued at up to $2 billion.
Minister for Tourism, Manufacturing and Small Business, Jan Jarratt described the company’s announcement as “both devastating and disappointing”.
“Downer-EDi has long provided manufacturing capacity for rolling stock in Queensland,” Ms Jarratt said.
“This company received the backing of the State with the award of the $189 million tilt train contract to ensure it could maintain its workforce and retain a strong position in order to compete for the Queensland Rail rolling stock contract.
“Unfortunately it has decided not to back its own workforce – and to back out.’’
She said Queensland Rail’s procurement for the new generation passenger cars is subject to the Government’s Local Industry Policy which provides for a full, fair and reasonable opportunity for competitive local industry to tender for the work.
Ms Jarratt said there were currently three tenderers for the contract, and Downer EDI was involved with Canadian company Bombardier in formulating one of them.
However, Downer EDI sent out an email to its employees in which it claimed that proceeding with the contract would cost it $10 million out of a total tendering cost of $20 million.
“The terms and conditions of the Probity Deed relating to the bid and the terms and conditions of the contract itself are too onerous,” the company’s email said, “and the risks borne by the contractor are too great to proceed with the bid and incur tender costs in excess of $10 million.”
Ms Jarratt said the decision not to proceed would be a big blow to Maryborough, where the factory has been the biggest employer for many years.
The decision could cost the jobs of 200 of the 500 staff there.
17 March, 2011
Breakthrough for
domestic violence
A new national scheme for registering domestic and family violence orders has been agreed to by all the States and Territories.
Federal Attorney-General, Robert McClelland and Commonwealth Minister for the Status of Women, Kate Ellis said the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General had agreed to implement a national scheme in order to improve protection for victims of domestic violence.
Mr McClelland said the proposed scheme would allow a domestic or family violence order (DVO) issued by a Court in one jurisdiction, such as Queensland, to be automatically recognised in other jurisdictions.
“Under current arrangements, if a protected person wants to have their DVO recognised in another jurisdiction they have to ‘register’ the order with a Court in that jurisdiction – putting the onus entirely on the victim,” Mr McClelland said.
“Many people fleeing domestic violence may not be aware of the requirement to register the order if moving interstate.”
He said some protected people were also too fearful for their safety to approach a Court.
“Under the national scheme, victims of domestic violence will be able to travel or move to another State and Territory and be automatically protected by their DVO,” Mr McClelland said.
“Allowing Court-issued domestic and family violence orders to be valid and enforceable across State and Territory borders is an important improvement in the protection of victims of domestic violence.”
Ms Ellis said the national DVO scheme was a key commitment in the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their children 2010 – 2022.
“The National Plan, launched last month, is a single unified strategy that brings together efforts across Governments to reduce violence against women,” Ms Ellis said.
“The Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments are committed to reducing domestic violence, and strengthening family violence laws is an important part of this priority.”
States and Territories will now work together to draft legislation to give effect to the agreement.
17 March, 2011
Snapper fees
scaled back
A proposal to charge recreational fishers a fee for catching snapper has been scrapped.
Minister for Fisheries, Craig Wallace, said recreational fishers had expressed strong concerns about the proposal and it was feared that excessive focus on the issue was preventing wider discussion about managing Queensland’s snapper fishery effectively.
Mr Wallace said the Government had heard what the recreational fishing community was saying on the subject.
“We will still continue our consultation about the best way to protect the snapper fishery in Queensland but without a proposal to charge a fee for a recreational fishing permit,” he said.
“This option is off the drawing board and there is no other preferred option – we want to hear the views of the fishing community.”
He said like many people in the community, the Government wanted a plan for the sustainable management of snapper but it must be acceptable to those who fish them.
The snapper fee proposal was contained in a Regulatory Impact Statement for the Rocky Reef Fin Fish Fishery which was currently the subject of public consultation.
“The end result of our consultation may be a combination of the remaining proposals in the Regulatory Impact Statement or it may be none of those proposals and something entirely different,” Mr Wallace said.
17 March, 2011
99% of State in need
The joint State and Federal Government natural disaster relief and recovery arrangements are now active in 99 per cent of Queensland.
Aurukun Shire Council in Cape York is the only Local Government area in the State that is not currently activated for assistance.
Local Councils and disaster management groups are now in full operation as the clean-up and restoration work continues.
Rail line back in action
The flood-damaged Toowoomba rail line is on track to reopen on 28 March, three months earlier than originally forecast.
The $30 million worth of repairs involved more than 260 sites in the Toowoomba Range, including a 25-metre deep washout near the historical Spring Bluff station.
More than 150 Queensland Rail workers and more than 100 Thiess employees have worked day and night on the repairs since 10 January.
Courthouse reopens
The Toowoomba Courthouse has been officially reopened following a $10.4 million refurbishment.
The refurbishment includes a complete refit and refurbishment of the Children’s Court, two Magistrates Courts, a jury courtroom and associated chambers with new joinery.
The project also includes the installation of two prisoner lifts, construction and extension of a fire stair and a fire services upgrade.
Fire ant prosecution
The first successful prosecution for breaching fire ant movement restrictions has taken place.
A bulk haulage company was recently fined $12,500 for moving soil outside a restricted area.
The defendant was charged with transporting 388 tonnes of soil from a property in Runcorn to North Tivoli.
French art on the way
A French surrealist art collection is to be staged by Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art.
The collection has been loaned from the Paris Centre Pompidou and opens mid-year.
It will feature more than 180 paintings, sculptures, photographs, works on paper and films by more than 56 artists, dating from 1913 through to the late 1970s.
Defence training grants
Training grants for Australia’s Defence industry are now open for applicants.
Funding can be used to help pay for trade apprenticeships support, university courses, short technical courses, TAFE courses and Original Equipment Manufacturer training.
Up to $14 million is available to support up to 5,000 workers.
Applications close on 6 April.
Flagstone wins approvals
Approval has been granted for 132 new homes (126 lots) in Flagstone, one of South East Queensland’s new communities.
Construction is expected to begin in mid-April and marketing of Stage One (51 lots) will begin in May.
When fully developed over the next 30 to 40 years, Flagstone will provide approximately 50,000 homes for a population of around 120,000 people.
Station for Agnes Water
The new Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Station at Agnes Water has been officially opened.
The station will be home to Urban (Auxiliary) and Rural firefighters and is designed to accommodate the current and future appliances needed to serve the region.
It incorporates a training area and two offices as well as a staff amenities area.
River talks extended
Consultation time for the Cooper Creek Basin Wild Rivers proposal has been extended.
Recent heavy rainfall and flooding means that many people within the property declaration area have not had time to properly consider the proposal.
The deadline for comment is now 30 June.
Students win scholarships
University study scholarships worth between $1,000 and $10,000 have been awarded to 13 high-achieving Queensland students.
The TJ Ryan Memorial Medals and Scholarships are named after the Premier in Queensland’s first majority ALP Government which took office after the 1915 election.
From 1927 to 1970, the TJ Ryan Award was presented to the top student in Queensland’s Scholarship Examination. When that examination was discontinued, the award was presented to the top student at the Junior Examination. The Award was reintroduced in 1993 by the Goss Labor Government.
10 March, 2011
Unions stand up for
women’s issues
Public sector unions joined forces on International Women’s Day to highlight the differences between male and female workers in Queensland.
Assistant General Secretary of the Queensland Public Sector Union (QPSU), Kate Flanders teamed up with the Secretary of the Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union, Central and Southern Queensland (AMACSU) Julie Bignell to commit their organisations to continuing the fight for equality in the workplace.
According to Ms Bignell, the unions’ joint focus on International Women’s Day was the future of Queensland’s women workers: “a future where a woman worker checks her wages on her lunch break and sees fair, equal pay.”
“It’s time to roll up our sleeves and ensure all women feel empowered to let their true light shine,” Ms Bignell said.
“We must do everything possible to ensure women make their own life choices without fear of persecution or interference.”
Ms Flanders said more must be done to close the gap for Aboriginal women as well as Torres Strait Islander women.
“Our thoughts are also with the many thousands of women in Australia and New Zealand who are still battling the impact of recent tragic disasters,” Ms Flanders said.
“Many of these women have lost their jobs or cannot yet return to work.”
She said the unions also used the Day to remember the “heavy lifting” done by strong and resilient women union activists such as Emma Miller, who stood up for the women’s vote and made a real difference for women workers in Queensland.
“There have been great advancements made for women workers since International Women’s Day was instigated a hundred years ago,” Ms Flanders said.
“And for these steps forward, AMACSU and QPSU thank all the champions of women both here at home in Queensland as well as across the globe.”
10 March, 2011
Health’s payroll
changes pay off
Queensland Health’s new payroll system has marked its first birthday with the promise of more improvements to come.
Minister for Health, Geoff Wilson said staff had been through a difficult time but he wanted to reassure them that 2011 would be different.
“That’s why we will not rest until we have an efficient and effective payroll system in place for our staff,” Mr Wilson said.
“In June 2010, the Auditor-General delivered a comprehensive report into the payroll system, and the Government immediately committed to implementing all seven recommendations, as well as taking up additional measures.”
These had included the introduction of a localised payroll model, a review of the one-size-fits-all shared service approach and a review of payroll software.
Queensland Health was continuing a rollout of improvements that are delivering better accountability and efficiency within the payroll system.
Staff payroll inquiries had now come down by more than 80 per cent since the system went live last March, to fewer than 500 calls from 80,000 staff; the number of staff seeking interim payments who received an incorrect pay was down by more than 90 per cent to 243 in January and the total number of staff reporting no pay was down to a fraction of one per cent.
The payroll system had gone into meltdown in early 2010, with a large number of Queensland Health staff receiving little or no pay for some pay periods.
The SAP-based platform, built with the assistance of IBM, serves the Department’s staff every fortnight, with the total payroll amount being about $210 million.
10 March, 2011
Cyclone grants
get second wind
A second round of funding from the Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal for Queenslanders affected by the floods and Cyclone Yasi has been announced.
More than 16,400 applications for the first round of funding have been processed and more than $34 million in funds distributed.
The second round will specifically address owner-occupied homes that were uninhabitable and would go directly to those hardest hit.
Premier, Anna Bligh said the round would provide some certainty for those whose homes had been destroyed and who were rebuilding their lives.
A generous income test would be applied to determine eligibility for assistance and the amount of assistance received.
“Owner occupied households with a combined income of up to $150,000 per annum will be eligible for payments from the fund,” Ms Bligh said.
“Those who are eligible will receive an initial payment of $10,000 towards their rehousing or rebuilding needs.”
Under this funding round, assistance would be available where an applicant’s home was totally destroyed, was unable to be repaired or had be demolished; the damaged residence was owned by the applicant and was their principal place of residence at the time of the flooding or Tropical Cyclone Yasi; and the applicant would not be able to rebuild or re-establish a new home without significant financial assistance.
Insurance payments and any assistance provided under the Structural Assistance Grants available through the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements would be taken into account when deciding the actual level of assistance.
The Department of Communities would accept and assess applications on behalf of the Government.
10 March, 2011
Insurance decision
declared bad policy
Acting Premier Paul Lucas has criticised the Federal Government for requiring States and Territories to insure against infrastructure damage caused by natural disasters.
The decision to cave in to independent South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon’s demands will force taxpayers and Local Councils to fork out billions of dollars to multi-national insurance companies, Mr Lucas said.
“We have yet to fully analyse the deal between the Federal Government and Nick Xenophon, but at first glance it will come as a major kick in the guts to the taxpayers and ratepayers of Queensland, and a major win to overseas insurance companies,” Mr Lucas said.
“Make no mistake, insurance of this type – if you can get it – is not delivered by local insurers over the counter,” he said.
“It is delivered by international insurance conglomerates that do it to make a profit.”
Some Council areas – like Dalby, Emerald and Gympie – flooded so regularly that the premiums for their ratepayers would be astronomical.
“If some of our smallest Councils, who are so often the hardest hit, can’t afford it, does that mean the Federal Government won’t support them in the case of a future natural disaster?” Mr Lucas asked.
“The Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements, of which every State and Territory is a signatory, have been good enough for both sides of politics for the last 30 years.”
10 March, 2011
Recovery Officers
storm in to NQ
A team of 12 Industry Recovery Officers is on the ground in North Queensland.
The officers, part of the Operation Clean Up Queensland program, will help primary producers and small businesses clean up the devastation left by Tropical Cyclone Yasi.
They will work with local industry and business to assist in making priorities on debris clearing and helping landholders determine their recovery needs.
Minister for Regional Economies, Tim Mulherin said the $1.7 million joint Government-industry program would employ the officers for nine months.
“They will be targeting the severely impacted areas of the Cassowary Coast, Hinchinbrook and parts of the Tablelands, Charters Towers, Etheridge and Flinders,” Mr Mulherin said.
“By providing direct, face-to-face help on the ground they will help to get these areas back in business as soon as possible.”
He said the team was employed under arrangements with the Queensland Farmers Federation (QFF), other industry bodies and the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation.
Chief Executive of the QFF, Dan Galligan said a similar program was used immediately following Cyclone Larry in 2006 and it proved itself as one of the most effective ways for getting farmers and communities on the path to recovery.
Operation Clean Up Queensland will run until the end of 2011 to allow time for the removal of debris from cane fields during harvest, and other replanting and production cycles in the recovery effort.
10 March, 2011
Weather Bureau under
cloud in flood lead-up
The Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) has released SeqWater’s report on its operation of Wivenhoe and Somerset dams in the days leading up to the Brisbane floods.
The report, which will be considered by a Commission of Inquiry, blamed weather forecasters.
SeqWater said it operated Wivenhoe in accordance with the manual that applies during flood events.
It said six out of eight three-day forecasts between 6 and 9 January dramatically underestimated rainfall.
“These underestimated rainfall forecasts did not support an increase in flood releases above that undertaken,” the report stated.
Resource Management Director-General at DERM, John Bradley said people could draw their own conclusions from the report.
It was up to the inquiry to determine if more water should have been released earlier, and whether the manual that governs dam operations needed revision, Mr Bradley said.
The operating manual was last updated in 2009, and SeqWater had identified five areas where changes might be justified, although more analysis was needed.
Premier Anna Bligh said the matter was not something for her to judge.
“But I look forward to seeing what the Commission of Inquiry, with all the technical expertise available to it, can determine in the circumstances.”
A Bureau of Meteorology spokesman said it would make a submission to the Commission of Inquiry.
“The Bureau has consistently stated that it believes the independent Commission of Inquiry is the appropriate forum for any public examination of the issues around the Queensland floods of January 2011 and this remains the Bureau’s position,” the spokesman said.
The Commission of Inquiry will deliver its interim report in August.
10 March, 2011
Second wave rescuers
hit Christchurch
Queensland has sent a second team of 16 firefighters and paramedics to Christchurch to help in the aftermath of the devastating New Zealand earthquake.
They have joined the NSW-led, 70-strong taskforce to continue the work of teams returning to Brisbane.
Two Queensland Ambulance Service special response team paramedics have been deployed at the Tactical Medical Centre situated at Cowles Stadium which has seen large numbers of patients passing through.
Minister for Emergency Services, Neil Roberts said that support during the search and response phase of their recovery was vital.
“As long as they need it and our capabilities allow it, we will continue to assist,” Mr Roberts said.
Fire Commissioner, Lee Johnson said the second deployment had been drawn from across the State and had been hand-picked based on areas of expertise.
“These are firefighters who have seen their own communities ravaged by floods and cyclones and yet they are keen and enthusiastic to use their highly specialised skills and experience to help in New Zealand,” Commissioner Johnson said
Ambulance Commissioner, David Melville said the efforts of all the paramedics on the ground had been remarkable.
“They have been working very long hours, firstly to set up the Tactical Medical Centre which houses a number of medical staff including doctors and nurses and many specialist physicians and then applying their skills to patients,” Commissioner Melville said.
10 March, 2011
PS to meet
in Mackay
A Public Sector Conference is to be held in Mackay in May in the lead-up to State Parliament sitting in the city later that month.
Hosted by the Queensland Parliamentary Service, the one-day conference will inform Public Service officers on Parliamentary and Government processes.
Conference Convenor, Graeme Kinnear said presenters will include the Speaker of the Parliament, senior Members of Parliament, the Clerk of the Parliament and other senior officers from the Parliamentary and Public Services.
Clerk of the Parliament, Neil Laurie encouraged public sector officers, especially from the Mackay region, to attend the conference.
“The aim of the conference is to provide public sector officers with a detailed knowledge and understanding of the role and functions of the Queensland Parliament and its relationship with the Executive,” Mr Laurie said.
Conference sessions will cover the following topics: The legislative, scrutiny and financial functions of the Parliament; the relationship between the Parliament and the Executive; the roles of Members of Parliament and their interaction with the Public Service and Public Service responsibilities in relation to the processes and practices of Parliament.
The venue is the Mackay Grande Suites, 9 Gregory Street, Mackay and the cost is $250. Registrations are required by 15 April.
For further information visit this PS News link.
10 March, 2011
New Safety laws
in good hands
Queenslanders have been urged to have their say on new national workplace health and safety laws.
The aim is to harmonise legislation across Australia, replacing individual State and Territory laws.
Minister for Industrial Relations, Cameron Dick said Safe Work Australia had released draft model regulations along with priority codes of practice, an issues paper and a regulatory impact statement for public comment.
“I encourage people to look at the material on the Safe Work Australia website and have their say,” Mr Dick said.
“The current consultation phase is an important part of getting a consistent approach across the country,” he said.
“Changes to workplace health and safety laws will have a direct effect on employers and workers, so it is important for Queensland businesses and interested parties to make their views known.”
Mr Dick said the Government, along with other the States and Territories, provided extensive input into the draft laws, which will include changes for the electrical and mining industries.
While Queensland would incorporate these changes, electrical safety, mining safety and workplace health and safety would remain separate pieces of legislation.
“The new laws are expected to begin across all jurisdictions from 1 January 2012,” Mr Dick said.
The documents are available at this PS News link and submissions close on 4 April.
10 March, 2011
Minister warns on
MySchool data
Parents have been warned to use caution interpreting the Commonwealth’s revised MySchool website.
Minister for Education, Cameron Dick, issued the warning saying that while Queensland supports the publication of information about schooling, it continues to hold concerns about the potential for unfair comparisons given the complexity of the information.
“For example, total school funding and the level of funding per student will vary from one school to another because every school community is unique,” Mr Dick said.
“Funding is affected by location, school programs, age and size of facilities, staffing, overall enrolment and the number of Indigenous, international, non-English speaking students and students with disabilities.”
It was also affected by money coming in to the school from parents for activities such as excursions, trips and international programs, as well as other sources such as tuck-shop funds.
“For these reasons schools, even within the same system in the same State, cannot be directly and fairly compared,” he said
Mr Dick said the Queensland Government was continuing to lobby the Federal Government to address these concerns and to make MySchool as helpful as possible for parents.
“Each State and Territory has its own funding model influenced by geography, history, industrial agreements, pay scales and special programs,” he said.
“As a result, schools with similar size enrolments can have varying recurrent incomes per student.”
The MySchool website contains a warning about the limitations of the data when attempting to compare schools.
“We continue to support the further development and refinement of the MySchool Website as a useful resource for parents and the community,” Mr Dick said.
10 March, 2011
UQ gets OK in
non-US survey
The University of Queensland (UQ) has been rated among the top five best places in the world (outside the United States) for post-doctoral work in life sciences.
UQ was the only institution outside the Northern Hemisphere to make it into the top 10 International Institutions list in a survey by The Scientist magazine.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and International) at UQ, Alan Lawson said the survey reflected the increased recognition of UQ as a leading global research institution.
“The Australian Government’s recent Excellence in Research for Australia study showed that more researchers at UQ are working in research fields that have been assessed above world standard than at any other Australian university,” Professor Lawson said.
“UQ is already playing a leading role in research on the world stage, and it continues to make significant progress in its 20-year goal of shifting the university’s focus even more strongly towards discovery.”
A separate study in The Scientist on the best place to work in academia in 2010, named UQ as the best international academic institution outside the US.
Associate Editor of The Scientist, Jef Akst said the latest survey drew 2,881 web-based responses from readers who identified themselves as non-tenured life scientists working in academia, industry, or non-commercial research institutions.
“The postdoctoral years are critical in any budding scientist’s career, and this year’s survey showed that striking the fine balance between independence and guidance is important to a successful postdoc experience,” Ms Akst said.
10 March, 2011
Fraud Week warning
the real deal
The message being delivered during Consumer Fraud Week is Fraud – It’s Personal.
Minister Responsible for Fair Trading, Paul Lucas said criminals were ready to call at home, hack into computers, steal mail or rifle through household rubbish in their attempt to get their hands on people’s money or identity.
“While many people see it as something that will happen to someone else, we know that one in 20 Queenslanders will be scammed this year,” Mr Lucas said.
The Office of Fair Trading received 3,745 complaints in 2010, up from 2,173 in 2009.
“Historically a lot of scams go unreported because people are embarrassed to admit they’ve been duped,” Mr Lucas said.
“But reporting scams is vitally important so we can get an accurate picture about scam activity in Queensland and develop strategies to combat it,’’ he said.
Scams and scammers came in many disguises and did not discriminate when it came to their victims.
“Scam victims come from all walks of life and all age groups. It’s wrong to assume that because you’re older and wiser you won’t fall for scammers’ tricks or that because you’re young with few assets you have nothing to steal,” Mr Lucas said.
“With the wealth of information to be found online, in your mailbox and in your rubbish, criminals can very quickly build a profile of you good enough to convince you that they’re calling from your bank or a Government Agency, or even to take out loans or credit cards in your name.”
10 March, 2011
Transport gets heavy
with careless trucks
Causing damage to road tunnels and rail bridges will cost truck drivers four times the previous financial penalty and lose them an extra demerit point.
Legislation has been changed so penalties for drivers who disregard clearance height signs and hit a bridge or tunnel will increase from $100 and three demerit points to $400 and four demerit points.
Minister for Transport, Annastacia Palaszczuk said protecting public infrastructure had become more important than ever, especially in light of recent floods.
“These increases will act as a further encouragement for truck drivers to plan ahead to avoid carelessly damaging tunnels and rail bridges,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“In the past eight years, rail bridges have been struck 340 times by over-height vehicles on the South East Queensland network.”
When a truck hit a tunnel, or in particular a rail bridge, there was immediate disruption to the road and rail network.
“The bridge must be checked to ensure that there is no structural damage before trains can travel over it again which can mean public transport services have to be delayed or cancelled,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
The Government had also installed new height gauges on the approach to some of the most struck bridges to minimise bridge and tunnel damage.
“The gauges chime loudly when an over-height vehicle hits them, providing a clear warning to the driver that there is a low-level bridge ahead,” she said.
The new penalties will come into effect on 31 March.
10 March, 2011
Water Minister calls
for tide to turn
The Minister for Water, Stephen Robertson, has launched a stinging attack on the Gold Coast City Council for profiting from its water supply.
He said the Council could rebate $100 to each household to help pay water bills and would still have more than $70 million left over from the profits of their water business AllConnex.
Far from a rebate, ratepayers have seen their latest AllConnex water and sewerage bills soar by more than 20 per cent.
Mr Robertson urged Gold Coast residents to launch their own Campaign 100 to ensure Mayor, Ron Clarke honoured his promise and returned some of the Council’s water profits to ratepayers.
The Minister said a $100 water rebate for Gold Coast households was totally justified after Chief Executive of Allconnex, Kim Wood said the Gold Coast City Council’s profits from the Council-owned water business would be higher than expected this year.
“There’s around about 220,000 residences on the Gold Coast. If the Gold Coast Mayor approved a $100 rebate to each of those residences, that would cost the Council no more than $25 million,” Mr Robertson said.
“That would still leave them with more than $70 million in profits they could put to other services.”
He said Moreton Bay Regional Council had given a water rebate to its ratepayers last year and there was no reason why Gold Coast and other SEQ councils couldn’t do the same.
10 March, 2011
Trainers in training
for training awards
Nominations are open in 11 categories for the Queensland Training Awards.
The awards recognise the outstanding achievements of teachers, trainers and students.
Minister for Employment, Stirling Hinchliffe said the awards supported the Government’s goal of making sure enough skilled workers were around to meet current and future industry needs.
“Boosting the qualifications and skills of Queensland workers means we all enjoy better services, healthier local economies and greater opportunities to succeed in the future,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
Staying competitive across the State’s traditional and emerging industries was vitally important.
“The Government’s Toward Q2 strategy supports flexible post-school learning opportunities and aims for three in every four Queenslanders to hold a trade, training or tertiary qualification by 2020,” he said.
“To make that happen, we need quality teachers and trainers and students who give their best. That’s what these awards are about.”
Regional finals will be held throughout Queensland during July, culminating in the State final in Brisbane on 2 September.
State winners will then compete in the Australian Training Awards in Brisbane in November.
Last year’s Queensland Training Awards attracted more than 590 nominations from across the State.
The deadline for nominations for the awards is 25 March. Entry details and a full list of categories can be found at this PS News link.
10 March, 2011
Railway cameras
focus on danger
Pictures taken by Queensland Rail cameras have highlighted the dangers of crossing busy rail tracks.
The pictures showed a male youth at East Ipswich station in January just scrambling out of the way of an oncoming train.
Minister for Transport, Annastacia Palaszczuk said the youth’s actions were beyond comprehension and should send a clear message to everyone that jumping on to train tracks was not only illegal but could be fatal.
“This incident could easily have ended in tragedy, not only for the young man but his family, friends and, of course, the train driver,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“This is certainly the most disturbing near miss footage I have ever seen, the difference between this youth surviving and losing his life is less than the blink of an eye.”
Queensland Rail has also released footage of the moments when a truck and an express train nearly collided at Strathpine.
Ms Palaszczuk said the footage had been released to highlight the dangers around moving trains at stations and crossings.
“The difference between life and death for this truck driver was literally one second, not to mention the lives of the train crew,” she said.
“It’s difficult to fathom the mind set of people who take risks in front of our trains.
“Amazingly, no one was seriously injured in these incidents,” she said.
“It is only luck that has saved these lives but ultimately luck runs out.”
Chief Executive of Queensland Rail, Paul Scurrah said footage of both incidents had been released to police.
10 March, 2011
Part-time workers
in full-time need
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has revealed a big pool of under-employed Australians who are looking for more work.
Almost three quarters of a million (733,900) part-time workers stated they did not have enough paid employment in September 2010.
This represents 22 per cent of all part-time workers. Over half (55 per cent) of all under-employed part-time workers said they wanted to work full-time, which is classed at 35 hours a week or more.
One in two under-employed part-time workers said they were actively looking for more hours of work.
The most common steps taken to find extra employment were to ask their current employer (62 per cent), contact a prospective employer (53 per cent), or search the internet (51 per cent).
More than half (59 per cent) of all under-employed part-time workers preferred to work more hours with their current employer.
Older workers tended to experience longer periods of under-employment. One in two (49 per cent) under-employed part-time workers aged 45-54 years, and 52 per cent of those aged 55 years and over, had been under-employed for one year or more.
In comparison, just 25 per cent of underemployed workers aged 15-19 years had been under-employed for one year or more.
Further information is available in Underemployed Workers, Australia, September 2010, which can be downloaded at this PS News link.
10 March, 2011
Drop in disabilities
Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that Queensland’s disability rate had fallen from 22 per cent to 17.0 per cent in the six years to 2009 – the largest reduction of any State.
Disability caused by physical conditions dropped from 18.3 per cent to 14.7 per cent including significant decreases in disability caused by arthritis (dropping from 3.2 per cent to 2.3 per cent), asthma (0.7per cent to 0.4 per cent and back problems (3.4 per cent to 2.8 per cent.
Disability caused by mental and behavioural disorders also dropped, from 3.8 per cent to 3.1 per cent.
Four million Australians (18.5 per cent) had a disability in 2009.
School milestone
Fortitude Valley State School has marked its 150th anniversary.
Founded only 15 months after Queensland separated from NSW, at one point it comprised a boys’ school, girls’ school, infants’ school and opportunity school with more than 10 times the number of students attending than today.
Notable Queenslanders, including former Australian wicketkeeper, Wally Grout, former captain of the Australian hockey team, Doug Siggs, pioneering water-colourist, Jesse Hilder and Major General Thomas Dodds were students there.
Bundaberg port dredged
A dredging operation has removed a massive build up of silt in the Port of Bundaberg following the recent flooding disaster.
Vessels up to 140 metres will now be able to enter the port which is the major outlet for the sugar export industry.
Maritime Safety Queensland has checked navigational aids and ensured all relevant surveying work has been undertaken.
Mine project significant
The Coordinator-General has declared the proposed Byerwen coal mine a “significant project”.
The decision allows JFE Steel and QCoal to start work on the project’s Environmental Impact Statement.
The proposed $1.5 billion project is expected to produce up to 10 million tonnes per annum of high-quality, metallurgical coking coal primarily for the Japanese and Asian export market over a lifespan of 50 years.
Gladstone project
The first stage of a dredging project that will see Gladstone Port become one of the world’s major Liquid Natural Gas exporters has been announced.
The $1.3 billion Western Basin Dredging and Disposal Project is the largest dredging project undertaken in Australia and will ensure the economic future of the Port and of Gladstone.
It incorporates the deepening and widening of existing channels and swing basins and the creation of new channels and swing basins over a 20-year period.
3 March, 2011
Premier pays out
on payout delays
Delays in processing applications for assistance from the Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal have prompted Premier Anna Bligh to demand the system be streamlined.
Ms Bligh said that while about 100 people were working on processing applications, if more resources were needed they would be made available.
She was concerned and disappointed that some Queenslanders in the worst-affected flood regions had still not received payment from the fund weeks after the event.
“The Communities Department will now verify inundation within 48 hours of receipt of applications from Centrelink,” Ms Bligh said.
“Centrelink will then pay claims within 24 hours of that confirmation and this should dramatically speed up the payment process,” she said.
“We’ve experienced dual natural disasters beyond the magnitude of anything we have experienced in history and were administering our largest-ever disaster fund to many thousands of victims and clearly to date we have not got it right. My job now is to fix it,” she said.
Chairman of the appeal fund’s distribution committee, David Hamill said he welcomed new procedures to fast track payments.
He would follow Ms Bligh’s instruction to verify claims within two days of them being received with Centrelink processing payments within 24 hours of that confirmation.
“I appreciate the concerns that people have had with accessing payments and we have undertaken steps to ensure that people’s claims are processed quickly,” Mr Hamill said.
3 March, 2011
Emergency help for
NZ earthquake
Emergency search and rescue teams as well as Queensland police have been sent to New Zealand to help with the Christchurch earthquake disaster.
The 70-strong contingent includes Queensland Fire Service technical rescue officers and six paramedics.
Queensland Health also has an emergency medical team on standby consisting of emergency physicians, orthopaedic surgeons, general surgeons, burns specialists, anaesthetists and nurses.
Premier, Anna Bligh said the Government would act on the advice of the Federal Government and deploy the team as required.
“As soon as Queensland authorities heard about this tragedy, immediate offers of assistance were made by the Queensland Government to New Zealand to provide specialist Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) officers to assist in the response,” Ms Bligh said.
“The USAR team will be on a 10-day deployment and will carry 22 tonnes of equipment.”
Meanwhile, four Queensland Police Service disaster victim identification specialists are assisting their New Zealand counterparts in the examination and formal identification of bodies recovered from various sites around Christchurch.
Ms Bligh said that with many people still missing, the officers would be able to help identify bodies pulled from the rubble and hopefully give the victims’ families some closure.
Staff from Queensland Health, the Department of Communities and the Australian Red Cross are assisting around 60 people who have arrived in Brisbane from Christchurch.
Ms Bligh said the Brisbane Reception Plan, an Emergency Management Australia strategy to repatriate at-risk Australian citizens to Brisbane, had been activated as part of continuing rescue and recovery efforts in New Zealand.
3 March, 2011
100 apprentices
build PS careers
A hundred new QBuild apprentices about to begin their trade careers have been given a reception at Parliament House in Brisbane.
Minister for the Building Industry, Simon Finn said that after the recent flooding and cyclone events, Queensland was embarking on a massive rebuilding effort.
“QBuild is out on the ground helping with the recovery and this is a great opportunity for up-and-coming trades people to learn from some of the best in the business,” Mr Finn said.
It was one of the biggest employers of construction and engineering industry apprentices in the State.
The QBuild 2011 apprentice intake includes 77 full-time apprenticeships, 10 school-based apprenticeships and 13 construction worker trainees.
The apprenticeships are in different trade categories including carpentry, plumbing, painting, shop fitting, electrical mechanics, refrigeration and air-conditioning, fitting, horticulture and construction.
Apprentices and trainees, who include 11 women, will be based on project sites around the State from the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast to Thursday Island, Roma, St George, Innisfail, Warwick, Mt Isa, Cairns, Charters Towers and Palm Island and many other centres.
Since 1998, QBuild has employed 1,439 apprentices and trainees including the current intake.
“The 2011 apprentice intake will join together with the existing 294 apprentices and field trainees currently working hard throughout Queensland,” Mr Finn said.
3 March, 2011
Corrections program
could be corrected
An audit of the Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) program for managing offenders serving community-based supervision orders has found opportunities for the program to be delivered more effectively, efficiently and economically.
In his first report to Parliament for 2011 entitled Management of Offenders Subject to Supervision in the Community, Auditor General Glenn Poole examined the systems used by QCS, which is a Division of the Department of Community Safety.
Mr Poole said supervising offenders in the community was promoted as a cost- effective and efficient alternative to prison, but was often little understood.
He said the daily cost of community based supervision was $9.51 per offender, compared to the daily cost for custodial operations of $171.79 per day per prisoner.
Mr Poole initiated the Performance Management Systems (PMS) audit with the object of determining whether the Department of Community Safety had appropriate systems in place to assess whether the management of offenders subject to supervision in the community was being achieved.
The audit found that the Department had good systems and practices in place and was efficient at measuring effectiveness at very high levels but was less efficient at measuring effectiveness at lower operational levels.
“I have identified opportunities for the Department to continue to build its capacity and enable it to deliver services more effectively, efficiently and economically,” Mr Poole said.
He said these included completion of the accreditation, evaluation and reporting of offender intervention programs; greater alignment of public reporting; more relevant public reporting performance measures; evaluation of external program providers; earlier completion of basic formal training and the provision of formal training for higher-level duties.
Mr Poole found that key performance measures reported publicly in the Department’s Annual Report, the Service Delivery Statement and the Report on Government Services, were not aligned.
“For example, the key performance measures relevant to reoffending are only reported in the Report on Government Services and not in the Department’s Annual Report or Service Delivery Statement,” he said.
“Many of the performance measures that are reported provide limited value in assessing effectiveness, efficiency or economy of offender management systems.”
Minister for Emergency Services, Neil Roberts welcomed the audit report saying it reaffirmed that the Department of Community Safety had put in place good systems and practices to manage offenders subject to supervision in the community.
He said the report provided an opportunity for the Government to look into how QCS could further develop and improve offender management practices.
“All of the Auditor General’s findings have been taken on board, and QCS Management will ensure each of the seven recommendations made in the report are implemented as efficiently and as effectively as possible,” Mr Roberts said.
3 March, 2011
Cyclone stirs up new
health service plan
The Health Service Plan for the Cairns region is to be reviewed in the light of the experience of Cyclone Yasi.
Queensland Health has begun work on a Health Service Plan for the entire region outlining what services the community needs, where and when they will need them.
It will ensure that adequate consideration is given to disaster planning.
Premier, Anna Bligh said the redevelopment of the Cairns Base Hospital would meet the needs of the Cairns community until 2016, with additional capacity made available to meet health needs beyond that date.
“When the redevelopment is completed, all medical and clinical services will be provided in buildings constructed to adequate cyclone standards which will help protect against the need for evacuations in the future,” Ms Bligh said.
“This review will give certainty to the people of Cairns about what is needed on that site and when.”
Ms Bligh said this was likely to include a health precinct initially, providing important primary health care, community and out-of-hospital services like physio appointments and ante-natal checks.
“And in the future, this health precinct would grow to a second supporting hospital for the region,” she said.
One of the lessons from the cyclone was the need for back-up medical services including operating theatres.
Minister for Health, Geoff Wilson said detailed planning would be undertaken to ensure all future health needs of the Cairns community were appropriately considered.
“The plan will take into account population demographics and projections, the best clinical and public health advice and future advances in the way health care is provided,” Mr Wilson said.
“Detailed work has now started and the new plan is expected to be finalised by the end of the year,” he said.
3 March, 2011
Online record of
flood wash-up
The Queensland Reconstruction Authority has released an online record of the devastation caused by the floods and cyclone Yasi in a series of aerial images collected from across the State.
The result of a partnership with the Australian Defence Force and private aerial imaging providers, the images cover more than 100 suburbs and towns with more to be released progressively in coming weeks.
Baralaba, Brisbane suburbs, Bundaberg, Condamine, Emerald, Goondiwindi, Ipswich suburbs, Jandowae, St George, Surat, Talwood, Thallon and Theodore are included in the first round of aerial imagery and maps.
Aerial images showing Yasi’s destructive force are also now available for Cardwell and Dunk Island with images for Mission Beach, Tully and surrounding areas to follow in the next few days.
The maps can be found at this PS News link.
Premier, Anna Bligh said the interactive website contained images of the damage caused by these natural disasters both from the air and on the ground.
“This is a first,” Ms Bligh said.
“In past flood events, such as Brisbane’s 1974 floods and other major flood events in the State, mapping of flood lines has been done by measuring the water gauge heights and then relying on available land contours to make an educated guess on where the water went.
“To prepare for future events we need to do better than educated guesses and this website can help make Queenslanders more prepared than ever before.”
Ms Bligh said the work had involved hundreds of hours of painstakingly flying back and forth over towns and cities in pre-determined patterns capturing footage with ultra-high resolution, digital imaging equipment.
“Queensland Government mapping officers have progressively been working through the imagery, going house-by-house, street-by-street, literally hand drawing the high water mark or flood line by plotting the debris and mud lines,” she said.
3 March, 2011
Full steam ahead for
clean up register
Farms and businesses still struggling to clean up their properties after Cyclone Yasi have been urged to register for help under the Operation Clean Up Queensland program.
Properties and small businesses between Ingham and Innisfail, west into Charters Towers, Etheridge and Flinders and parts of the Atherton Tablelands, were virtually paralysed because of the huge amount of debris preventing them from recovering and operating normally.
Minister for Regional Economy, Tim Mulherin said all affected businesses in these regions should contact Operation Clean Up Queensland on 13 25 23 to determine their eligibility for assistance.
“Help is on the way to remove debris from properties and get vital agricultural and tourism industries back on their feet,” Mr Mulherin said.
“High priority will be given in emergency cases where human safety and animal welfare are a concern,” he said.
Manager of Operation Clean Up Queensland, Russell Gilmour said his organisation would be working with industry recovery officers, Local Governments and natural resource management groups to prioritise clean-up jobs over the next six months.
“Our work teams are mobilising now. They will work with professional contractors to clear debris from land and waterways, and to provide urgent temporary relief measures such as generator hire for those businesses without access to mains power for an extended period,” Mr Gilmour said.
3 March, 2011
Tourism campaign
rises from disasters
A national tourism campaign aimed at tempting visitors back to Tropical North Queensland after the recent natural disasters has been announced.
The campaign, in partnership with Jetstar and supported by Tourism Tropical North Queensland, will target Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane from mid-March.
Premier, Anna Bligh said it would focus on short-term sales and regaining visitor confidence.
“This campaign launches Tropical North Queensland’s new brand Adventurous By Nature and reminds holidaymakers the tropics are the perfect place for their next getaway,” Ms Bligh said.
Minister for Tourism, Jan Jarratt said there was no doubt the recent wild weather had impacted the tourism industry.
“Even if businesses weren’t directly affected by floods and cyclones, there has been a ripple effect felt with travellers rethinking or cancelling their holiday bookings,” Ms Jarratt said.
“We need to turn that perception around and encourage people to return. That’s why our Government, together with the Federal Government, has committed $10 million in emergency funding for the tourism industry – to spread the message that Queensland is open for business and ready to welcome visitors.”
Tourism in Tropical North Queensland directly employs 18,700 Queenslanders and contributes $1.3 billion to the economy.
Tropical North Queensland received more than 1.3 million domestic overnight visitors in the year ending September 2010.
They spent approximately $1.6 billion on their trips to the region.
3 March, 2011
PS scholarship is
won for the money
Suzanne Ford, the Manager of Audit Implementation at the Queensland Ambulance Service, has been awarded a Public Sector Scholarship from Chartered Secretaries Australia (CSA).
Offered for the first time this year, the scholarships were made available to talented PS staff making a difference in public sector Agencies and Departments across Australia.
Chief Executive of CSA, Tim Sheehy said scholarship winners were judged to have the best grasp of the importance of good governance and risk management practices in the sector, from their submitted essay and a reasoned case for being awarded the scholarship.
“We were extremely pleased to receive a number of outstanding applications from across the country and from a diverse range of Departments and Government Agencies,” Mr Sheehy said.
“These included Health, Indigenous Affairs, Education and Training, Police and Infrastructure to name a few,” he said.
Valued at more than $12,000, the national scholarship award incorporates studying CSA’s higher education accredited Graduate Diploma of Applied Governance, which includes public sector specific subjects in Applied Administrative Law and Public Sector Accountability and Transparency.
“CSA recognises the growing importance and promotion of good governance and risk management within the public sector and has developed sector tailored offerings over the past few years,” Mr Sheehy said.
“As leaders in governance, we see the public sector scholarship as an integral part of our ongoing strategy to provide tailored education, training and professional development to those with governance and risk management responsibilities in the public sector,” he said.
“As we are offering two scholarships per State per year, we look forward to opening the invitation for entries for Semester Two very soon.”
3 March, 2011
Councillors rated
in awards scheme
The 2011 National Awards for Local Government are open for nominations.
There are 10 award categories including those for Regional Australia, Women in Local Government, Innovative Infrastructure and Youth Engagement.
Federal Minister for Local Government, Simon Crean, said the awards were an opportunity to highlight the important work of Local Government’s contribution to the community.
“The Australian Government recognises the critical role Local Governments play in making our communities more productive, liveable and sustainable,” Mr Crean said.
“I encourage all elected Councils to examine the award categories and submit entries that showcase their local initiatives.”
Mr Crean said he looked forward to learning about the creative solutions to local and national challenges that were being found at the local level.
A full list of the categories is as follows: Leading Community Climate Change Action; Youth Engagement; Promoting Reconciliation; Engaging and Strengthening Indigenous Communities; Excellence in Alcohol Management; Inspired Cities; Asset and Financial Management; Innovative Infrastructure Development; Regional Collaborations and Women in Local Government.
Award entries will close on 23 March and national winners will be judged by an independent panel and announced in June. The awards are now in their 26th year.
For more information, contact the Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government on free call 1800 065 113, or visit this PS News link.
3 March, 2011
Cancer conqueror
rides for others
John Caloiero, a senior Workcover Claims Administrative Officer with the Department of Education and Training, will be taking part in the Ride to Conquer Cancer in August.
A cancer survivor himself, Mr Caloiero will be raising money for the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR), a world leader in cancer research and discovery and one of the largest research institutes in the Southern Hemisphere.
“I’ll be cycling over 200 kilometres, from Brisbane to Wivenhoe and back, along with many other riders,” Mr Caloiero said.
“The only difference for me is I will be riding a hand cycle. All the pedalling is done by the upper body.”
In order to participate he has agreed to raise at least $2,500.
“But I would like to raise as much as possible to assist QIMR in their quest to conquer cancer,” he said.
Mr Caloiero is asking for donations – “big or small it’s all very much appreciated and in the end it all adds up”, he said.
“Unfortunately we all know, or know of someone, that has suffered from or lost their battle with cancer,” Mr Caloiero said.
“I am dedicating this ride to them and their families and most of all to my late father who lost his battle with this terrible disease.”
To donate go to www.conquercancer.org.au; click on “donate”; search for the name John Caloiero; click on the name; click on “donate online now” in green on the top left; follow the steps to donate the amount you want.
3 March, 2011
Police sick of
virus scams
A scam targeting computer users has been detected by the Queensland Police Service (QPS).
In a warning to the State’s residents the QPS said the scam involved people taking a call from a person claiming to be working at a foreign call centre, known as The Windows Service Centre.
The offender claimed to belong to a software support company that has been requested by Microsoft to fix problems on the victim’s computer and informed the victim their PC was infected with viruses and needed to be fixed urgently or it would be destroyed.
The offender would then direct the victim through a process on their computer ultimately giving the offender remote access to the computer to download viruses or gain access to personal information.
Once the offender had gained access, they would then give or sell the victim software in order to prevent the problem in the future.
The victim, instead of downloading anti-virus software, might well be installing a virus which could be used to gather credit card and identity data.
Detective Superintendent Brian Hay of the State Crime Operations Command Fraud and Corporate Crime Group said this scam was just another example of offenders preying on the vulnerabilities of victims.
“We have seen this scam work, as the victim may let down their guard when told by the offender they have specific knowledge of error messages on their system,” Detective Superintendent Hay said.
“This gives the victim confidence in the caller, which in turn opens the door to fraud,” he said.
“Giving someone you don’t know remote access to your computer is basically the same as handing your credit card details over to them.”
3 March, 2011
Second round in
bullying battle
The second series of Statewide anti-bullying seminars has been launched.
Led by leading child and adolescent psychologist, Michael Carr-Gregg, the Working Together Against Bullying seminars give parents, school leaders and staff further practical and effective advice on preventing bullying.
Minister for Education, Cameron Dick said the seminars would build on last year’s successful series with a focus on promoting self-esteem and resilience in students as well as providing practical strategies for dealing with bullies.
Parents, school leaders and staff will be invited to attend the seminars.
“There will be 33 seminars in 11 locations across Queensland with workshops for school leaders and staff as well as parents from State, Catholic and independent schools,” Mr Dick said.
“I also urge Queenslanders to get behind the inaugural National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence on 18 March.”
He said the Day of Action would showcase the positive work Governments, schools and students throughout Australia were doing to combat bullying and violence.
Member for Southport, Peter Lawlor said it was a unique opportunity for parents, teachers and school leaders.
“It is a fantastic chance for people to listen to Queensland’s anti-bullying expert, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg,” Mr Lawlor said.
For information on the Working Together Against Bullying toolkit and seminar locations visit this PS News link.
For information on the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence visit this PS News link.
3 March, 2011
Big ticket items
on tourism list
Funding has been announced for an investigation and development of three new Gold Coast tourism projects.
A total of $62,196 has been set aside for proposals associated with the Gold Coast Tourism Corporation, Stephen Ross Landscaping and Connecting Southern Gold Coast.
Minister for Tourism, Jan Jarrat said additional tourism announcements would be made on the Gold Coast in coming days.
“I have approved $30,000 towards Gold Coast Tourism Corporation’s Experience Development Strategy Study that will identify ways to develop and promote Australia’s world class Green Cauldron landscape in the Gold Coast hinterland to domestic and international visitors,” Ms Jarrat said.
“I have also approved funding of $17,196 for Stephen Ross Landscaping to assist in the preparation of a feasibility study to develop boutique accommodation, conferencing and wellness retreat facilities in a property adjacent to Lamington National Park.”
The third project would involve Connecting Southern Gold Coast receiving $15,000 to identify tourism options for the precinct around Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.
“These three projects align with tourism objectives outlined in the Gold Coast and Hinterland Tourism Opportunity Plan and have the potential to increase tourist numbers and improve visitor experiences in the region,” Ms Jarrat said.
Funding came from the Tourism Projects Pre-feasibility Grants program which provided funding of up to $30,000 to cover up to 50 per cent of the cost of project planning or initiation.
“These grants will enable the commencement of project planning and feasibility studies for potential new tourism projects,” Ms Jarratt said.
3 March, 2011
Island development
lands approval
Plans to develop a new $950 million tourist and residential community on Hummock Hill Island, south east of Gladstone, have been given conditional approval by the Coordinator-General.
Minister for State Development, Andrew Fraser said that after more than four years of environmental investigations, 57 conditions have been imposed to help mitigate project impacts.
“The Coordinator-General’s report will now be sent to the Federal Government for approval on matters of national environmental significance under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and to Gladstone Regional Council recommending the project’s approval under the Sustainable Planning Act,” Mr Fraser said.
“Over a period of 17 years the proponent, Eaton Place, proposes to transform this former grazing farm into a master-planned community and regional tourism drawcard.”
The proposal included a new bridge, airfield, golf course, sporting facilities, community centre, public boat ramps, shops, medical centre, cycle paths, surf life saving club and other social infrastructure.
Coordinator-General, Keith Davies said he was satisfied that the project could satisfy State laws once all conditions and recommendations were met.
“Among the conditions is that Eaton Place maintains tourism accommodation at 70 per cent of the dwelling total of 2,715 and fully funds all new infrastructure like roads, water supply, electricity and other services,” Mr Davies said.
“They will also have to enter into an operation and maintenance agreement with Gladstone Regional Council to maintain service infrastructure for an extended period.”
Mr Davies recommended that the undeveloped parts of the island be protected under a conservation tenure.
3 March, 2011
Google Earth Puts
reef on the map
The Great Barrier Reef catchment regions have been chosen by the Australian Bureau of Statistics to demonstrate a new graphic-based information product.
Users can “fly over” the Great Barrier Reef catchment regions and explore data on boundaries, population, business counts, rateable land values, land use, land cover as well as fire, temperature and rainfall information.
According to the Director of the Bureau’s Land and Industry Statistics, Mark Lound, the product is an “exciting new way of viewing statistical data”.
“The most exciting feature of this collection is how closely we can now zoom in to the Great Barrier Reef catchments,” Mr Lound said.
“We can inform planning decisions for small spatial areas, rather than relying on more general information at aggregate levels.”
Mr Lound said information from the Land Account could be used to inform debate and decision-making on a wide range of issues including population settlement, land management, measuring the health of the environment and the sustainable production of goods and services.
Data illustrating the changes in land cover from pre-European settlement in 1750 to the present day is also included.
“This one-stop-shop is a result of a massive collaborative effort from several government agencies to provide a range of information on land use, land value and land cover,” Mr Lound said.
He said the ESRI Geodatabase and Mapinfo versions can be downloaded from the ABS website and used as a socio-economic layer in a GIS system.
To access the new product, visit this PS News link.
3 March, 2011
Flyover open
The Brisbane Airport flyover is fully open with all four lanes now carrying traffic.
The flyover is a major part of the $327 million Airport Roundabout Upgrade project.
The airport-bound lanes were opened a year ahead of schedule and now the westbound lanes have opened nine months early.
Jobs book out
Dr Ann Villiers has published the fifth edition of her book How to Write and Talk to Selection Criteria.
Written specifically with the public sector in mind the, book is available online from
this PS News link or at most bookstores.
Funding for tourism
Research funding has been announced for five new projects in Tropical North Queensland.
They are a World Heritage Gateway Centre in Cairns; bringing back the historic Barron Gorge tramway; a visitor centre and restaurant in Mareeba; a swimming lagoon at Port Douglas and future development of the Family Islands, including Dunk and Bedarra.
It is expected that the research will encourage investment and lead to new tourism products.
Aged care boost
A $47 million boost to aged care services in Queensland has been announced.
The funding comes from the Home and Community Care program - a joint initiative of the Federal and State Governments.
The program is a major provider of essential community care services to frail aged people and younger people with disabilities and their carers, with the main objective of promoting and enhancing the independence of people in these groups.
Vaccination program expanded
The whooping cough vaccination program has been expanded in Queensland.
The free program now includes parents, foster parents, adoptive parents, and grandparents of babies under six months of age and anyone living in a household with a baby under six months of age.
The expansion means the number of people eligible for vaccinations across the State will more than double.
Fees waiver extended
Excess mass and dimension permit fees for heavy vehicles being used in the disaster recovery effort will be waived until Friday, 4 March.
Normal permit operations will begin again after that date.
Freight operators can call a 1300 105 647 hotline to get specific information on alternative routes, temporary load limits and special access in cases of emergencies.
Port buoys trucked in
Ten temporary navigation buoys, essential for the reopening of the Port of Bundaberg, are being put in place.
The buoys, worth a total $140,000, were trucked on special consignment from Melbourne.
The original navigation piles were swept away by two flood events in December and January and their replacement will be a long-term project.
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