The Victorian Government has unveiled its long-term strategy to help guide the Latrobe Valley through future changes and challenges being imposed by the Federal Government’s carbon tax.

"The Roadmap, which delivers on a key election commitment, showcases the region's competitive strengths and advantages and provides a long term plan for industry and employment growth in the Latrobe Valley," State Minister for Regional and Rural Development Pater Ryan said.

The Roadmap outlines the following initiatives:

  • An expanded Latrobe Valley Industry and Infrastructure Fund (LVIIF) - An extra $5 million is being provided to expand the LVIIF to $15 million to support business and deliver greater employment outcomes. The Fund will also be redesigned to be more flexible and responsive to business needs;
  • Industry Planning – Funding is being provided to develop growth plans for energy, food, aviation and tourism in the Latrobe Valley. This includes $80,000 towards a new Gippsland aviation industry plan and $80,000 provided to Destination Gippsland Inc to develop a new tourism industry plan;
  • Investment prospectus - $400,000 has been allocated to support the development of a marketing and investment prospectus highlighting key competitive attributes and opportunities and attract new investors to the Latrobe Valley
  • Accelerated business growth program – $300,000 is being allocated to target high performing firms to expand their potential and look at strengthening supply chains across the region;
  • Small business support – An additional $225,000 will be provided to the region's local governments to provide business advice, broker support and unlock further potential in the small business sector;
  • Competitive advantages from brown coal - The Victorian Government believes that brown coal can, and should play a key role in our energy future. The Victorian Government is encouraging companies developing low emission coal upgrading technologies in the Latrobe Valley and is progressing a new coal allocation framework to open up new reserves of coal.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced Brisbane as the host city for the G20 Leaders Summit in 2014, the premier forum for global economic co-operation and decision making.

Commonwealth, State and Territory ministers responsible for regional development have attended the inaugural meeting of the COAG Standing Council on Regional Australia to discuss the ‘ambitious cooperative agenda’ to deliver real and lasting growth across regional Australia.

The Federal and Northern Territory governments have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that cements a partnership approach to investment in Regional Development (RDA) NT.

The New South Wales Government has released its long awaited Destination 2036 Action Plan, outlining the ‘new direction’ for local government in NSW and setting out how councils will deliver services to their communities in the future.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese, has attended the unveiling of the Mount Isa to Townsville Economic Zone: 50 Year Freight Infrastructure Plan, an ambitious long-term blueprint aimed at expanding the economic activity within the region almost six-fold to $84 billion within five years.

The South Australian Government has submitted its formal response as part of the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council’s feedback on the revised draft Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

The South Australian Government has released the full set of proposed zones for the state’s 19 marine parks.

The Queensland Government has announced the appointment of new directors for four of the state’s Government Owned Corporations (GOC).

Queensland Minister for Local Government David Crisafulli has urged the state’s councils to find new ways to fund community infrastructure and services as the state grapples with its ‘crippling debt.’

The Queensland Government has announced it will intervene in the ongoing High Court Challenge to the Mineral Resources Rent Tax (MRRT) lodged by Fortescue Metals.

The South Australian Government has announced it has granted final approval for the construction of the state’s largest windfarm.

The Western Australian Government has launched a scheme that ‘embodies the key elements of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).’

James Cook University researchers have produced a study into the ecological consequences and social inequities of conservation agreements offered by state governments.

The Victorian Planning Minister, Matthew Guy, has met with local councils to discuss the next phase of consultation on the direction of Melbourne's planning future. 

The Federal Government has announced $27.8 million in funding for seven projects throughout South Australia as part of the second round of the Regional Development Australia Fund.

Public education in Tasmania is continuing to show steady improvement over the past five years, according to a new report released earlier this week.

The Queensland Government has terminated its $75 million funding deed to the 250 megawatt Solar Dawn project in Chinchilla and the future of the project is now uncertain.  

The Latrobe Valley Transition Committee (LVTC) has released a report that aims to guide the ongoing diversification of Victoria’s Latrobe Valley economy.

The Queensland Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Jarrod Bleijie has announced new appointees to the boards of WorkCover Queensland and Q-COMP.

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WorkCover Queensland is a statutory body that provides and manages workers compensation insurance in Queensland. It is funded by industry and operates as an independent commercial enterprise that is owned by the State Government.

 

Q-COMP is also an independent statutory authority primarily funded through contributions from insurers. Its role is to oversee and regulate the functions of WorkCover Queensland.

 

Mr Bleijie confirmed the WorkCover Queensland board would be chaired by former Law Council of Australia President Glenn Ferguson, while the Q-COMP board would be led by Telstra legal counsel Flavia Gobbo.

 

The new board members are:

WorkCover Queensland

·Mr Glenn Ferguson – Chairperson
·Mr Justin O’Connor – Deputy Chairperson
·Mr Ian Winterburn – Director
·Mr John Crittall – Director
·Mr Ian Leavers – Director
·Mr Barry Leahy – Director
·Ms Melinda Bailey – Director

 

Q-COMP

·Ms Flavia Gobbo – Chairperson
·Mr Peter Dowling – Deputy Chairperson
·Dr Beres Wenck – Director
·Mr Stephen Tait – Director
·Mr David Harrison – Director
·Dr Simon Blackwood - Director

 The Victorian Government has appointed Dr Pradeep Philip as the Secretary of the Department of Health.

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