Archived News for Professionals in State Government

The Queensland budget has announced around 10,600 redundancies in 2012-13, with total job losses amounting to around 14,000, taking into account discontinuing temporary positions and not filling vacant positions.

NSW progress on plans to sell electricity plants

The NSW Government’s plans to sell the State’s electricity generators are being developed and the sale or lease of the Cobbora coal mine development is well underway, according to the Treasurer Mike Baird.

NSW takes knife to education

The NSW Government has released a statement outlining spending cuts to the education portfolio totalling $1.7 billion over the next four years. Staff numbers within the Department of Education and Communities will be cut by around 1,800.

NSW Treasurer takes on Industrial Relations

NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell has announced that Treasurer Mike Baird has had industrial relations added to his portfolio responsibilities.

Tasmania plans to separate commercial and non-commercial forestry

The Tasmanian Government is proposing to establish an independent statutory body to manage commercial forests as part of the restructure of Forestry Tasmania.

Tourism NT to be relocated to Alice Springs

The Northern Territory Minister for Tourism Matt Conlan has announced the creation of a new Northern Territory Tourism Commission and the relocation of Tourism NT to Alice Springs as part of plans to revitalise tourism in the Northern Territory.

Call for comment on Tasmanian draft science sector research strategy

The Director of Antarctic Tasmania and Science Research Development, Denzil Miller has called for comment on a draft of the Tasmanian science research sector development strategy.

New Housing and Infrastructure Delivery Office for NSW

Queensland budget to boost health spend

The Queensland budget has allocated an extra $816 million to Queensland Health this year, with the majority of the additional funding earmarked for the newly created Hospital and Health Services.

New SA centre to fund innovation solutions to unemployment

A partnership between the University of Adelaide, the City of Playford and the South Australian Government has received Federal funding of $11.3 million to support the establishment of the $15.3 million Stretton Centre.

Applications open for Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity grants

The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese, has called for applications for funding under Round Three of the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program over 2012-13 and 2013-14.

Board appointed to review NT finances

Chief Minister, Terry Mills, has released details of the Government’s planned review of the Territory’s finances.

NSW releases Long-term Transport Master Plan

The NSW Government has released its 20-year vision for the state’s public transport, roads and freight network, incorporating all modes of public transport, roads, freight, cycling and walking.

NT public service overhauled

Northern Territory Chief Minister, Terry Mills, has announced new appointments to key positions in the Northern Territory Public Service.

Victoria opens access to government data

The Victorian Government has announced two new policies, the DataVic Access and Intellectual Property policies, that will enable unprecedented access to the state's data.

Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Technology Gordon Rich-Phillips, who announced the new policies at the 8th Annual Victorian Spatial Excellence Awards, said that Victorian Government data was one of the state's most important public assets.

"Each year the Victorian Coalition Government invests millions of dollars in producing and acquiring high-quality data about our state", Mr Rich-Phillips said.

"Giving recurrent and reliable access to this data is a long overdue stimulus that Victorian businesses and the community will be able to finally harness in developing innovative applications that create new services or improve existing ones.

"These new, comprehensive policies place Victoria at the head of the pack in Australia on mandating access to state government data.

"In driving the release of useable, high-quality data, these new policies will stimulate significant innovation and economic activity, creating a platform on which to develop new technologies, new services and ultimately, new jobs."

"Under the Victorian Coalition Government's DataVic Access and IP Policies, it will be significantly easier to identify Victorian Government data and to access it, in most cases, at no cost," Mr Rich-Phillips said.

Mr Rich-Phillips said access to certain types of data would be restricted on the grounds of privacy, public safety, security and law enforcement, public health, pre-existing contractual arrangements or to comply with other laws.

Data will be available to users online through the re-developed Victorian Government data directory at www.data.vic.gov.au

WA boosts funding for coastal management

The Western Australian Government has increased its funding for the Coastal Protection Program by $4 million for the 2013-14 round.

WA Premier outlines plans for light rail

The Western Australian Premier, Colin Barnett has unveiled details of the proposed route for a new light rail system to be called Metro Area Express or MAX.

ACT Labor promises to set up Industrial Magistrate's Court

ACT Labor has undertaken to establish a an Industrial Magistrate’s Court and appoint Industrial Magistrates to oversee work safety law in the ACT if it is re-elected in October.

Freeze on NT public service recruitment

The Chief Minister of the new Northern Territory Government, Terry Mills, has announced a freeze on public service recruitment to provide Departmental executives with an opportunity to re-prioritise staffing structures to focus on frontline service delivery.