Archived News for Professionals in State Government
The Victorian Government has announced the opening of the Advanced Manufacturing Precinct at RMIT University with an aim to assist Victorian companies develop sustainable products.
The precinct, supported by a $7 million Government investment, will support manufacturing in the automative, aerospace, machinery and tooling and medical instrumentation sectors.
RMIT Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Margaret Gardner AO, said the university was delighted with the Victorian Coalition Government's $7 million contribution toward the $13.6 million refurbishment of Building 55 to create leading-edge infrastructure in support of practical training in advanced manufacturing.
WA government contributes to supercomputing centre
The Western Australian Government is providing $15.8 million over four years to iVEC’s Pawsey Supercomputing Centre, headquartered at Technology Park, Bentley.
Investment attraction strategy launched for Geelong
Victorian Parliamentary Secretary for Regional and Rural Development Damian Drum has launched an investment strategy aimed at attracting over 10,000 jobs in Geelong.
SA scraps public sector entitlement cuts, but further jobs cuts likely
The South Australian Government has announced it will cancel its planned $53 million in public sector worker entitlement cuts after a protracted dispute with unions.
Tasmania plans interim greenhouse gas emissions targets
The Tasmanian Government is planning to request the state’s Climate Action Council to review Tasmania’s current legislated target for Greenhouse Gas emissions, with a view to introducing interim targets.
Currently, the Tasmanian Government has committed to reducing Greenhouse gas emissions by 60 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050.
Announcing the planned review, the Minister for Climate Change, Cassy O’Connor, undertook to work with the Council and Tasmania’s Climate Change Office to develop an interim emissions reduction target for 2020.
“Policy shifts like those in the UK and the ACT show that we can both pursue economic growth while we cut our emissions.”
Ms O’Connor said that with the Commonwealth preparing to introduce a carbon tax, Tasmanians needed to work together to secure a sustainable future for the environment, the economy and local communities.
“As the Minister for Climate Change, I look forward to working with my Cabinet colleagues and fellow MPs on the establishment of an interim target for Tasmania so that we can show leadership on climate change mitigation and adaptation.”
The Climate Change Action Council’s advice on the setting of interim emission reduction targets is on the Tasmanian Climate Change Office’s website at www.climatechange.tas.gov.au
New appointments to SA advisory bodies
New appointments have been made to two advisory councils to the South Australian Government, the Premier’s Climate Change Council and the RenewablesSA Board.
Campaign to promote Sydney as a digital centre
The NSW Government has launched 'Digital Sydney', a new campaign promoting NSW as the Asia Pacific’s leading digital economy location.
Digital Sydney will market NSW as a hub for digital companies, promote digital collaborations between the ICT and creative sectors, and help expand the digital marketplace in NSW.
NSW will be promoted as the Asia Pacific's leading digital business and investment location, with Sydney its epicentre and supported by NSW's innovative regions.
The campaign will brand the City of Sydney as 'smart and sophisticated', helping to enable, facilitate and support activities that can create and sustain digital economy jobs.
It will also target new investment and the uptake of new technology.
Surry Hills agency Ascender Design was the winner of a $10,000 public design competition to develop the logo for Digital Sydney - a multi-coloured pixelated ribbon.
Digital Sydney Advisory Team leader Hael Kobayashi said a Digital Sydney website - www.digitalsydney.com - has been promoted virally through social media to encourage the digital and creative communities to participate.
"The website will highlight NSW strengths by profiling successful entrepreneurs, leaders, innovators and artists who have chosen this State as their base, promoting digital industry events, and serving as a platform to build new business collaborations across our creative and ICT sectors.
The Digital Sydney website includes an interactive map that geographically plots Sydney’s digital business hot-spots to raise awareness and encourage cluster investment.
A Digital Sydney showreel will showcase NSW digital strengths at local and international expos.
New chair appointed to WA's technology and industry council
Mr Alan Bansemer, formerly the Western Australian Health Commissioner and deputy secretary to the Federal Department of Human Services and Health, has been appointed as the new chair of the Western Australian Technology and Industry Advisory Council (TIAC).
WA announces skilled migration forums
The Western Australian Government has announced a series of state-wide forums on skilled migration to discuss the state’s burgeoning skill shortages in the mining sector.
WA announces $75 million 'Royalties for Regions' scheme
The Western Australian State Government has called for applications for its $75 million Royalties for Regions scheme.
New Victorian manufacturing precinct launched
The Victorian Government has officially opened the Advanced Manufacturing Precinct at RMIT University which will to assist Victorian companies to develop sustainable products.
Queensland damage bill tops $6.8 billion
The Queensland State Government has announced that the state’s damage bill will top $6.8 billion after the spate of natural disasters that hit the state earlier in the year.
NSW caves to solar tariff pressure
The New South Wales Government has scrapped its plan to reduce the solar rebate tariff after household and business stakeholders conducted a month-long campaign against the planned cuts.
Auditor slams Frankston bypass
Victorian Auditor-General, Des Pearson, has published a scathing review of the planned $2 billion Peninsula Link and Western Ring Road upgrades, questioning whether sufficient demand exists for their construction.
NSW Government announces local government reform agenda
The New South Wales Minister for Local Government, Don Page, has outlined the state’s plan for local government reforms, including planned legislation to allow councils to conduct their own local government elections, rather than depend on the centralized NSW Electoral Commission.
VicRoads accused of using faulty data
Victoria’s Auditor-General has found that the state’s road agency, VicRoads, has failed to accurately predict the increase of traffic congestion and use accurate data.
National Water Commission releases water reform options report
A new report that sets out three reform options for Australia's water sector has been released by the National Water Commission.
Embattled NSW IR reform takes another blow
An independent review into the wages of NSW’s public servants conducted by the University of Sydney’s Workplace Research Centre has found that the sector’s employees are not overpaid, casting further doubt over Premier Barry O’Farrell’s planned overhaul of the public IR systems.
New body for possible Victorian port
The Victorian Government has announced legislation to create a new Port of Hastings Development Authority that would be responsible for overseeing the development of the proposed new container port.
Local government employees' wages safe in NSW
The New South Wales Premier, Barry O'Farrell, has stated that local government workers in the state will not be affected the new public sector wage policy.