Archived News for Professionals in State Government - GovernmentCareer

The New South Wales Government has released draft Industry Action Plans for the manufacturing, professional services, international education and research and digital economy sectors for final consultations.

The Industry Taskforces – four of six established by the NSW Government, with Creative Industries and Visitor Economy to report separately – have identified high-level strategic needs common across sectors, including actions to reduce business costs; improve government procurement processes; and raise the global profile of Sydney and NSW.

The International Education and Research Taskforce has developed draft recommendations to address the substance of what NSW has to offer international students as well as how NSW can better market and promote our offerings. In particular the recommendations address those key factors which influence international students’ decisions to study in NSW: the quality of teaching and research, the reputation of our teaching and research institutions and the quality of the international student experience in NSW.

Queensland to wind waste levy back

The Queensland Government has announced plans to wind back the state waste levy in a bid to reduce living costs.

$40 million to restructure Point Henry smelter

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.

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.

Murray ministers meet in Canberra

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 14^th 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."