Archived News for Professionals in State Government - July, 2015
Rowena Allen has been appointed Victoria’s first Gender and Sexuality Commissioner, and is set to champion the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse and intersex (LGBTI) Victorians within the Government.
Slow wage talks push specialists to strike
Public servants at Murray Darling-Basin Authority have voted to strike over their ongoing pay and conditions battle.
Tassie paramedics pushed to brink
Tasmania’s Opposition is sounding an alarm about the conditions imposed on the state’s paramedics.
WA prison figures on road to reform
The WA Opposition wants an inquiry into growing incarceration rates, as workers are put at risk by state prisons bulging at the seams.
Politicians claim Murray plan not to blame
There is disagreement between green groups and government bodies as to whether rising water prices in the Murray River system are the result of the basin plan.
Resilience review rolls to NT rivers
Researchers in the Northern Territory will assess the resilience of freshwater fish in the region’s rivers.
Experts check cost of congestion
The WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) will work with the Royal Automobile Club of WA (RAC) on an investigation of the true cost of traffic congestion in Perth.
QLD towie takes public support to court
A sacked Queensland tow-truck driver is taking on the RACQ, after winning the support of his union and the general public.
Barrett Centre closure to face commission
A commission of inquiry will investigate the former Queensland LNP government's closure of the Barrett Adolescent Centre in Brisbane, and the subsequent deaths of three high-risk teenagers.
Federal cabinet shifts Shenhua concerns
The stoush in the Federal Government over the approval of a massive coal mine in New South Wales continues, and it appears no one wants to take responsibility for granting the green light.
Footy boss to help tackle SA unemployment
The chairman of the Adelaide Crows AFL team will lead a $15 million investment fund to attract businesses to South Australia.
Pond-jumping tech boss to take next steps in ACT
The ACT Government is expanding its quest to upgrade the territory’s tech credentials, hiring a top New Zealand public sector CIO.
Joyce and Hunt tussle over huge mine approval
Environment Minister Greg Hunt has approved the huge – and hugely contentious – Shenhua Watermark coal mine in New South Wales, sparking outrage from his colleague Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce.
Labor says Tassie workers left short
Tasmania's Auditor-General will look into claims that hundreds of departing public servants are being short-changed.
Help in dry times creates state divide
With rainfall totals at their lowest on record in parts of western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia, weather forecasters say conditions are getting worse.
Lazarus goes deep to push Abbott on gas
Independent Queensland Senator Glenn Lazarus has threatened to grab the Prime Minister Tony Abbott's genitals if he does not limit coal seam gas (CSG) exploration.
Transport fraud trials continue
Nine men accused of running a multi-million-dollar public transport fraud ring in Victoria have been granted bail.
NSW change could see social/enviro costs counted
The NSW Government wants to change planning laws to remove a rule that made the economic benefits of a proposed coal mine the main consideration when assessing for approval.
Teacher stress levels could lead to greater danger
A new report has investigated the health and safety concerns of Australian educators.
ACT's out-of-state wind build begins
Building has begun on a $50 million wind farm in Victoria that will supply renewable energy for the ACT, almost 700 kilometres away.
Big dam plan to set new regional path
The Federal Government finally released its long-awaited Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper over the weekend, which includes hundreds of millions of dollar set aside for new dams, roads and other infrastructure.