Archived News for Professionals in State Government - June, 2012
The Australian and Victorian Government has announced a $40 million investment package to assist in the restructure of Alcoa’s Point Henry aluminium smelter in Geelong to ensure its long term economic sustainability and support over 500 local jobs.
Alcoa will use the funding to improve efficiency of the Point Henry works, including boosting workforce skills and training, capital expenditure such as maintenance and repairs while boosting competitiveness of the smelter.
Minister for Industry and Innovation, Greg Combet, said the $40 million in Federal funding recognised the challenges to the aluminium sector from the high Australian dollar and low world aluminium prices.
Housing affordability continues to hit the poorest the hardest
A recent report published by the Council of Australian Government’s Reform Council (COAG) shows that over three in every five of the nation’s lowest income earning households continue to pay more than 30 per cent of their income on rent.
Indigenous child health rises as education stalls
A new report released by the COAG Reform Council shows that under the National Indigenous Reform Agreement, which sets six targets for governments to improve health, education and employment for Indigenous Australians, only the Northern Territory is on track to make significant improvements by 2031.
New body to drive Queensland infrastructure growth
The Queensland Government has announced the formation of a new standalone unit aimed at fostering investment partnerships that deliver positive infrastructure outcomes across the state has been set up in the Department of treasury and Trade.
Pacific Aluminium reconfirms Tasmanian connection
Smelting giant Pacific Aluminium has reaffirmed its long-term commitment to maintaining operations in its Bell Bay smelter following a successful renegotiation of power contracts with Hydro Tasmania.
Queensland announces Public Sector Renewal Program
The Queensland Government has announced the formation of a new review group within the state’s public service that will be responsible for identifying reform options to create a ‘renewed, refocused and more efficient public service, realise significant savings for all agencies and drive cultural change.’
SA demands unity to save Murray
The South Australian Government has called on all users of the Murray-Darling River Basin to support the sustainable use of the water system, with State Water Minister Paul Caica saying that the time for resolving the over-allocation is fast approaching.
TFA given more time
The Federal and Tasmanian Governments have agreed to requests by the Tasmanian Forestry Agreement Signatories for additional time through to 23 July.
WA to proceed with container port search
The Western Australian Government has announced it is proceeding with a comprehensive assessment of the planning, environmental, transport and community issues associated with container port options in the coastal area from Naval Base to James Point.
WA unveils new cabinet
Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett has revealed the State Government’s new Cabinet, announcing three new ministers and three new parliamentary secretaries to take the Government to the next election.
Auditor General to head public sector research centre advisory board
The Auditor General of Victoria, Des Pearson will chair the Advisory Board for La Trobe University’s Centre for Public Sector Governance, Accountability and Performance (CPSGAP).
Economic development architect to drive SenseT project
The University of Tasmania has appointed Ms Ros Harvey to lead the SenseT project, one of the biggest coordinated investments in knowledge infrastructure in Tasmania’s history.
SenseT is a $42 million program which will use data from sensors to deliver real-time information to help industry and government make better decisions. It is expected to deliver significant productivity gains for the state’s economy as well as supporting improved management of Tasmania’s resources and the environment.
Initial practical projects will focus in agriculture and food production, emerging carbon markets, smart infrastructure and logistics, as well as catchment and flood management.
SenseT was launched by the Premier and the Minister for Regional Australia, Simon Crean, on 14th June.
Ms Harvey, the architect of the state’s economic development plan, is currently Deputy Secretary of the Department of Economic Development Tourism and the Arts. She returned to Tasmania in 2010 after 15 years abroad.
Ms Harvey was the founding Director of the Better Work program – a partnership between the World Bank group and the UN’s International Labour Organisation based in Geneva. Better Work is globally recognised as a landmark program in the field of corporate social responsibility, global supply chains and pro-poor development.
NSW Land and Water Commissioner to oversee CSG exploration
“We acknowledge the many responses to the draft Strategic Regional Land Use policy and will continue to refine the policy over the next few months to ensure NSW has the strongest regulation of mining and gas extraction in Australia, if not the world."
Victoria releases mapping data for local planners
The Victorian Government has released detailed mapping of the state’s coastline to assist local decision makers and developers.
$12 million for Melbourne rail
The Victorian Government has announced a $12 million blitz to upgrade rail infrastructure on Melbourne’s Glen Waverly line.
Koorie schools review handed in
The National Curriculum Services has handed an independent review of the performance of Victoria’s four indigenous Koorie Pathways Schools, suggesting that the performance and effectiveness of them be examined.
WA invests $12.7 million in low emissions tech
The Western Australian Government has announced a $12.7 million investment package in new low emission energy projects in Perth, the Mid-West and the Wheatbelt.
SEQ water bureaucracies to merge
The Queensland Government has announced it will slash the number of water supply bureaucracies servicing South East Queensland from four to one.
$50 million for Hobart Waterfront
The Federal Government has announced a $50 million agreement with the Tasmanian Government for the rejuvenation of the Macquarie Point Railyards in Hobart.
New local government agreement for Queensland reconstruction
The Federal and Queensland Governments have reached a new cost-saving agreement that will enable councils to choose the option of using their own workforce to complete disaster reconstruction projects.