Archived News for Professionals in State Government
The Federal Government has warned ‘the clock is now ticking’ on up to 2000 Victorian jobs after the Victorian Government announced its plans to cut $300 million from the state’s training organisations.
The frank warning from Federal Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills Senator Chris Evans comes as a recent analysis shows that up to 550 Victorian jobs will be lost by July this year as a result from the State Government cuts.
Projections indicate that a further 1320 positions are ‘on the line’ by early next year, with 400 positions likely to be shed from regional TAFE providers and a further 950 at metropolitan and dual sector providers.
WA announces non-government teacher salary boost
The Western Australian Government has announced teachers working in the state’s non-government sector will flow-on benefits from the State Government’s recent Enterprise Bargaining Agreement with public school teachers.
WA announces SuperTown funding
The Western Australian Government has announced nearly $80 million in funding for the state’s nine ‘SuperTowns’ through the Royalties for Regions scheme. The funding will see the towns receive funding grants to upgrade community facilities, undertake environmental works and develop new investment opportunities.
SA announces lean budget
The South Australian Government has handed down its Budget for 2012-13, with Treasurer Jack Snelling announcing broad cuts to the public service as his Government aims to restore surplus in 2015-16.
SA announces super agency
The South Australian Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department for Water will form a single agency after the State Government handed down its 2012-13 Budget.
SA budget cuts public sector
The South Australian Government has announced it will cut 1000 full time equivalent positions from its public sector over the next three years, while setting greater efficiency targets.
Victoria seeks community input on future water plans
The Victorian Government is urging the public to submit their comments on the future of the state’s water management fter a number of the sate’s water aurthorities released consultation papers on their draft water plans.
$147m to States and Territories for literacy and numeracy progress
The Federal Government has announced ‘reward’ funding of more than $147 million for States and Territories for their progress in literacy and numeracy targets.
Victoria appoints Supreme Court judge and VCAT president
The Victorian Government has appointed Greg Garde QC as a judge of the Supreme Court and President of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
Attorney-General Robert Clark said Mr Garde's extensive legal background and wide experience made him an ideal candidate both to serve on the Supreme Court and to lead a large and diverse tribunal.
"Mr Garde has 37 years' experience at the Bar, practising in a broad range of commercial law areas as well as planning, environmental and local government law, and being appointed as Queen's Counsel in 1989," Mr Clark said.
"Mr Garde has also lectured in constitutional and administrative law and served as Chairman of the Environmental, Planning and Local Government Law Section of the Commercial Bar Association.
"In addition, Mr Garde has more than four decades of distinguished military service. He initially enlisted in the Melbourne University Regiment in 1967 and has undertaken a wide range of responsible and demanding roles, as well as service to veterans and their families," Mr Clark said.
Mr Garde rose to the rank of Major General and from 2001 to 2004 served as Chief of Reserves and Head of Reserve Policy, the highest position for a reserve officer in the Australian Defence Force.
Mr Garde was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1995 for exceptional service to the Army Reserve, and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2005 for distinguished service to the Australian Defence Force Reserves.
Mr Garde's appointment to the Supreme Court takes effect immediately. His appointment as President of VCAT will take effect from Friday 1 June.
Mr Clark also thanked Judge John Bowman for his contribution as the acting President of VCAT during the past three months.
$170 million for teacher rewards
The Federal Government has announced it will provide over $170 million in funding to state and territory governments in reward payments for their progress in national teacher quality reforms. The funding forms part of the $550 million Smarter Schools National Partnership for Improving Teacher Quality.
Government announces $147 million in education reward funding
The Federal Government has announced $47 million in reward funding under the National Partnership on Youth Attainment and Transitions.
Queensland announces green tape blitz
The Queensland Government has announced plans to significantly cut the state’s green tape, saying that the surrounding bureaucracy has ‘suffocated small business and cost taxpayers millions of dollars.”
SA announces Advanced Manufacturing Strategy
The South Australian Government has announced $8.3 million over four years for the implementation of an Advanced Manufacturing Strategy. The State Government announced the move after recommendations were made in the Manufacturing into the future report compiled by Thinker-in-Residence Professor Göran Roos.
SA releases regional health plans
The South Australian Government has released five regional implementation plans that map out the state’s long-term priorities for health services in regional and rural South Australia. The five plans outline the first three years of action on the recommendations of individual Health Advisory Councils across the state.
Victoria opens biodiesel facility
The Victorian Government has officially opened the state’s new $4.8 million biodiesel at Shell’s Newport Terminal.
Alpha Coal gets the green light
The Queensland Government has given conditional approval for the $6.4 billion Alpha Coal Project in Queensland’s Galilee Basin, the first mine in the region.
Tasmania locks in new iron ore mine
The Tasmanian Government has granted a mining lease for the long awaited Livingstone project near Tullah, in the state’s north-west.
MDBA releases updated draft plan
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) has released changes to its Basin Plan to ministers as part of the Authority’s process of developing the finalised plan.
$20 million boost for Tasmanian exporters
The Federal Government has announced a one-off $20 million funding boost to assist Tasmania’s exporters reach international markets.
Victoria announces planning reforms
The Victorian Government has announced it has chosen a preferred framework for development contribution plans.
Queensland green lights Cape York extension
The Queensland Coordinator-General has announced the approval of Rio Tinto’s planned $1.45 billion South of the Embley bauxite mining extension on Cape York. The project is expected to enxtend the life of the bauxite mining operations for another 40 years.