Government News

The Western Australian Government has released a comprehensive plan to address traffic congestion in and around Perth’s CBD in the wake of the Perth Waterfront Development and Perth city Link.

State Transport Minister Troy Buswell and Treasurer Christian Porter announced the $47.6 million 2012-13 Budget package to ensure the city had a sustainable transport network to accommodate major city projects and a growing population.

“The Perth Waterfront Development, Perth City Link and Riverside projects are under way or are about to start, and are integral components to the transformation of Perth into a vibrant and modern city,” Mr Buswell said.

“These projects will clearly impact on the flow of traffic in and around the city, and the CBD Transport Plan outlines how this impact will be managed and how we can better meet the needs of drivers, users of public transport, pedestrians and cyclists.”

The Minister said $47.6 million from the Perth Parking Management Account would be used to introduce active traffic management, which uses CCTV cameras to provide information to road users and to incident response crews which remove broken-down vehicles.

“Active traffic management will increase road safety and traffic capacity by minimising disruption from crashes and breakdowns on the Graham Farmer Freeway and the inner-city sections of the Mitchell and Kwinana freeways, as well as blockages from illegal clearway parking in the CBD,” he said.

“It will also involve real time management of traffic signals, so where incidents occur or roadworks are impeding traffic flow, Main Roads will modify traffic signal timings to maximise traffic flow, particularly during peak periods.”

CommSec has released this quarters State of the States report, providing an in depth analyses of the country’s states using eight key indicators: economic growth retail spending requipment investment unemployment construction work done population growth housing finance and dwelling commencements.

Western Australia was clearly found to be the country’s best performing economy, outperforming all states in economic growth, construction work, unemployment, retail trade and equipment investment.

While lagging behind in equipment investment, Victoria maintained strong housing indicators and good retail spending, with the ACT also recording similar growth.

Queensland is continuing its forward momentum in all performance rankings, with the state benefitting from rebuilding work and coming in second place on economic growth.

New South Wales was found to be lagging behind in economic growth, while its population is providing an ample amount of skilled labor and floating housing finance.

Tasmania has slipped further down in economic performance rankings, lacking momentum in key areas, while recording strong dwelling commencement.

The report found the Northern Territory to be enjoying low unemployment and strong retail spending, while lagging behind in housing indicators and population growth.

The full report can be found here 

From July 2012, Australia will have a new, independent National Airline Customer Advocate to give passengers the extra help and protection they need in getting their complaints resolved.

Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar Airways, Regional Express and Tiger Airways will participate in and jointly fund the position in response to the Government's call in the National Aviation White Paper.

The advocate's main role will be to act as a facilitator and work with the major airlines to address the complaints of any customer who has been unable to resolve them directly.

The office of the National Airline Customer Advocate will be based in a major city at a location unconnected with the offices of the participating airlines.

Flying is today five times more affordable than it was 20 years ago, thanks to greater competition, the rise of low-cost airlines and the availability of different types of fares, classes and service levels.

But cheap fares shouldn't mean cheap treatment.

Passengers are entitled to be treated fairly and decently by airlines.  And part of that service means having their complaints dealt with properly and on time.

Airline customers already have a range of rights under Australian Consumer Law. The National Airline Customer Advocate will complement existing laws and act as a link between passengers and airlines to get complaints resolved.

The advocate will also monitor and report on the major areas where airlines may be letting their customers down, including the number of complaints received and the major reasons for complaints to each participating airline.

As this is an Australian-first, the Gillard Government recognises it will need ongoing review and fine-tuning by airlines, consumer groups and the Government.

The Queensland Government has announced a proposed $500 million coking coal mine has been declared a ‘Significant Project’ by the state’s Coordinator-General. 

State Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Jeff Seeny said the project could generate up to 250 construction jobs.

“This project has the potential to operate for at least 30 years and could export 1.5 million tonnes of coking coal per year,” Mr Seeney said.

 
“The proposed mine site is freehold land owned by the Kalpowar Aboriginal Land Trust established under the Aboriginal Land Act 1991,” Mr Seeney said. 

“The project site is a partly-cleared cattle station and contains cultural heritage sites, a nature reserve and a fish habitat area. 

“Proposed exploration activities would be constrained within one kilometre of national parks and within 500 metres of the fish habitat area,” The Deputy-Premier added.

 
State Coordinator-General Barry Broe said a significant project declaration was not an indication of approval for a project but a reflection of the state and regional significance of the project and the start of a comprehensive environmental assessment process. 

“This declaration is recognition of the significant complexity of the project, the substantial economic and social benefits it may bring and the need to carefully assess its impacts and how they could be mitigated if the project is approved,” Mr Broe said.
 

Regional Australia Minister Simon Crean has called on local leaders to work cooperatively in the Latrobe Valley to help identify new opportunities to assist the area transitioning to a clean energy future.

Mr Crean’s calls come after he joined Victorian Regional and Rural Development Minister Peter Ryan and regional leaders at a roundtable discussion to hear industry perspectives about the future challenges and opportunities in the Latrobe Valley.

The meeting was the final in a series of forums jointly hosted by Regional Development Australia Gippsland, Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Australian Industry Group.

Mr Crean emphasised the Federal Government remains committed to assisting the area in dealing with its transition.

"Despite political differences over carbon pricing, we are taking a bipartisan approach to building jobs and skills for the Latrobe Valley as it moves to a clean energy future," Mr Crean said.

"Gippsland will continue as an energy region, but community and business leaders agree that the region must move to a cleaner form of energy generation, value-add traditional industries and diversify its economic base.

"Today local leaders have presented practical solutions to support the region through this economic transition, including in the areas of infrastructure investment, workforce development and innovation.

The Federal Government has announced it is seeking comment after the release of a standardised Deed of Access for exploration in the Woomera Prohibited Area (WPA).

The release of the Interim Access Arrangements will allow companies to access the WPA under the contractural Deeds of Access while preserving the security of Defence activities in the area.

“Industry engagement is critical to ensuring the interim arrangements are both practical for the resource industry and effective in protecting the security of Defence activities,” Defence Minister Stephen Smith said.

Comments on the Deed of Access can be submitted to the WPA Coordination Office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 15 June 2012 to ensure they are considered.

Interested parties may also choose to attend a WPA Coordination Office workshop on the Deed of Access in Adelaide on 3 May 2012.

Once the Deed of Access and supporting processes are finalised, Government will be in a position to mark the end of the current moratorium phase of implementation. Companies will then be allowed to apply for access to the WPA based on the coexistence framework, supported by the Deed of Access.

The draft Deed of Access, registration details for the workshop in Adelaide and background information on the Review are available at the WPA Coordination Office’s website at www.defence.gov.au/woomera/.

Questions may be directed to the WPACO Coordination Office by phone at 1300 727 420 or by email toThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The federal and state health ministers have opened the new children’s cancer centre at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.


The new haematology and oncology centre is one element of a three-storey redevelopment on top of the existing Gilbert Building. This work has also created space for a new 20-bed medical ward, a lung disease centre and a gene therapy laboratory.


The extensive redevelopment has been funded in partnership between the Commonwealth and State Governments, with generous support from the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Little Heroes Foundation.


The new haematology and oncology facilities are named after the respected paediatric oncologist, Dr Michael Rice, who has been associated with the hospital for more than 50 years.


Minister Plibersek said, “The Michael Rice Centre brings together a place where children and teenagers with blood disorders or cancer can be treated.”


Minister Hill said, “The facilities include a special lead-lined room for children undergoing radiotherapy with a video link to a parents’ room. This physically isolates them to reduce the risk of radiation exposure for other patients and staff while still keeping them in close contact with their families.


“There are also two ‘negative pressure’ areas which allow for infectious patients to be nursed in isolation.”


The new floors on the Gilbert building also house the Breathing Space service which will assess patients with respiratory and lung illnesses as well as the new Allan Scott laboratory where research will continue into an airway gene therapy to treat or even cure the lung diseases associated with cystic fybrosis.

The Gilbert Building Redevelopment Project has been made possible with $15 million Federal Government funding, $4.4m from the State Government, $2.6m from the WCH Foundation towards the Breathing Space and $2m from the Little Heroes Foundation towards the Michael Rice Centre.

The Private Health Insurance Ombudsman (PHIO) has launched its new consumer bulletin, Health Insurance Insider, as part of its ongoing consumer awareness campaign.

Private Health Insurance Ombudsman, Samantha Gavel said Health Insurance Insider was another one of the consumer information tools provided by her office to demystify the complexity of private health insurance.

“Consumers can only make the best decisions about private health insurance through access to the best quality information.

“The whole purpose of Health Insurance Insider is to provide consumers with regular updates on private health insurance issues so they can make the best choices for themselves and their families. This first edition focuses on the importance of consumers regularly reviewing their policy and keeping it up-to-date.”

Ms Gavel said there were four things every Australian with private health insurance could do straight away to ensure they had right cover to meet their needs:

• keep their personal details up-to-date;
• review their policy;
• keep premium payments up-to-date; and
• be aware of fund rule changes and notifications.

“As with all things in life, circumstances may change from time to time, so it’s important that consumers are diligent on their own behalf and review their health insurance policy regularly to make sure it still meets their health needs.

“If consumers have any questions about changes to their policy or want to upgrade their policy, they should contact their fund as soon as possible.

Further information is available at  www.phio.org.au

Vulnerable people would be left without a safety net and the longstanding Australian tradition of egalitarianism and a fair go would be ditched under a Coalition plan to help the wealthy at the expense of the poor.

ACTU President Ged Kearney said Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey’s proposal to cut support programs for Australia’s most vulnerable people shows the Liberal Party is completely out of touch and clueless when it comes to social and economic justice.

“The Liberal Party’s Dickensian 19th century approach to social justice is in complete contrast to community sentiment,” Ms Kearney said.

“Unlike Tony Abbott’s Liberal Party, most Australians recognise that many in our community need greater support in order to overcome unemployment and be able to contribute to the nation’s economy. Many welfare payments in Australia, including the Newstart allowance, are barely enough to survive on.”

Ms Kearney said Mr Hockey was either wilfully misleading or ignorant about the true state of Australian public social spending.

“At 16% of GDP, Australian public social spending is lower than the vast majority of OECD countries, including the United States,” Ms Kearney said.

“The biggest component of our social spending is on health, so if Joe Hockey wants to significantly reduce Australian social spending, this would have to involve large cuts to Medicare and pensions.

“We know the Liberal Party is champing at the bit to take away workers’ rights and now we have evidence it is also gearing up to take away the rights of those who are not fortunate enough to even be in the workforce.

“Smart leaders know that there are real and complex reasons why people are on welfare and that cutting the support and telling them to ‘go it alone’ is no solution.

“All that will do is further grow the divide and entrench generational poverty among those who are capable of turning their lives around, as long as they have support to do so.”

Are your remuneration levels on the money?

McArthur has recently released the 2011/2012 edition of their National Remuneration Survey for Local Government.

Over recent years, salary and remuneration surveys have become increasingly important benchmarking and workforce planning tools for the local government sector.  Colin Britten, Marketing & Communications Manager at McArthur, points out, “With local government now competing aggressively for commercial and private sector talent, the need to ensure competitive remuneration and benefits strategies are in place is more critical than ever.” 

The new McArthur survey again represents their most comprehensive overview to date.  With 160 participating councils from around Australia providing feedback, the survey represents a wide cross section and gives a truly national overview. Reported data covers nearly 6000 specific positions across 4 key levels and 4 comprehensive job family groupings, including an in-depth CEO salary category.

Britten goes on to point out, “The aim of the survey is to provide the key insights and business critical information that CEO’s, Directors, Management, Councillors and HR departments need to make informed decisions. We have always viewed the survey as a continuous work in progress, and we are confident of reaching 200+ participating councils next year, bringing even more depth and accuracy of insight.”

A copy of the survey is free to participating councils and $500.00 per copy for non-participants.

For Further Details on the National Remuneration Survey for Local Government Contact:
Mark O’Brien, National Manager – Client Relations
(03) 9828 6502; 0411 748 023
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For Further Media Information Contact :

Colin Britten, Marketing & Communications Manager
(03) 9828 6565; 0437 255 103
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

With over 40 years' experience, McArthur are one of Australia's largest and most respected privately-owned recruitment specialists.  Employing over 110 highly experienced professionals across a national network of offices located in 4 capital cities, McArthur delivers Best People Fit solutions across a wide range of vertical markets including 35+ years' focus on government.

The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) has a red tape reduction task force in the wake of the recent state election.

The taskforce, due to hold its first meeting in May, will publish a report in July into burdensome bureaucratic practices and other areas where savings should be made.

LGAQ Greg Hallam said the taskforce won't be pulling any punches when it publishes the report, saying that it will investigate both local and council matters.

The taskforce is made up of both local government professionals and planning, building, licensing and environmental health experts. 

The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) and the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency will convene the inaugural Carbon Price and Landfill National Forum on the 23 – 24^th April, to help local government bodies better understand and meet their obligations under the Federal Government’s Carbon Price Mechanism.

Key note addresses will be provided by Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Mark Dreyfus and Chloe Munro, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Clean Energy Regulator.  The Clean Energy Regulator is part of the Climate Change portfolio and administers the carbon pricing mechanism; the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) scheme; the Carbon Farming Initiative; and the Renewable Energy Target.

Concurrent sessions will provide participants with the opportunity to talk to Ross Carter, First Assistance Secretary at the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, and staff of the Australian Clean Energy Regulator, about emissions measurement and the National Greenhouse Energy Reporting Scheme (NGERS).  Representatives from financial services organisation Ernst and Young and legal firm Norton Rose will also be available to discuss the management of carbon liabilities and legal issues.

More information can be found here

The Western Australian Government has introduced legislation that aims to allow local communities to have a greater say in neighbourhood development and long term strategic planning.

The integrated strategic planning framework, including community strategic plans, has been introduced as a legislative requirement with Local Governments.

Western Australian Local Government Association President Mayor Troy Pickard said Local Governments fully supported the planning framework, with its genesis in the sector’s own reform process through their Systemic Sustainability Study.

“Councils’ integrated strategic planning includes a thorough community engagement process to establish a community strategic plan for a 10 to 20 year horizon,” Mayor Pickard said.

“It lays out the needs and priorities of the community, from which shorter-term corporate business plans are constructed; articulating asset management, financial and workforce plans for the organisation including resourcing requirements.

“This process is constructed around a deep community engagement process that seeks genuine input from the community and the long range planning will assist Councils in their annual budgeting and day-to day operations.”

Mayor Pickard said many Local Governments were already advanced in introducing the process, and were using a number of methods to gather input from local communities.

“From conducting surveys and public meetings to communicating through social media, newsletters, local newspapers and direct with Elected Members, Local Governments are getting in touch with their communities and engaging with them in meaningful and purposeful way as they prepare their long term strategic plans,” Mayor Pickard said.

“This demonstrates how Local Governments are driving sector reform in a practical manner and engaging communities in local decision making. 

“I’m not aware of any other sphere of government or agency that is undertaking similar long term strategic planning or engaging with the Western Australian community to such an extent.”

The Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) has praised the rapid turnaround in the quality of the state’s planning approvals systems, saying it has gone from one of the country’s worst to one of the best in a matter of years.

WALGA President Mayor Troy Pickard said the turnaround was the result of councils assisting and implementing State Government reforms.

“Local Governments have been actively working with the State to deliver on key strategies such as the Directions 2031 framework, the preparation of new R-Codes for multiple dwellings and through engagement on the new waterfront development,” Mayor Pickard said.

“There are, however a number of areas in which they continue to be impacted by delays and inefficiencies from external agencies.”

Mayor Pickard said many Local Governments were already achieving greater efficiencies in planning and development processes, with these gains to be shared with the entire sector through the preparation of a Local Government Planning Improvement Program.

The New South Wales Government has announced the three members of the independent expert panel that will be responsible for examining the structural arrangements of councils in the context of improving the financial sustainability and future viability of the NSW local government sector.

State Local Government Minister Don Page announced that the panel will be chaired by Professor Graham Sansom, who will be joined by panel members Jude Munro and Glenn Inglis.

“I am pleased to announce that Professor Graham Sansom, whom I announced as the chair of the Panel last month, will be joined by fellow local government experts Jude Munro AO and Glenn Inglis,” Mr Page said.

“Both Jude and Glenn will offer invaluable experience and insight into the Panel process, which ultimately is seeking to improve the future prosperity of the NSW local government sector.

“It is a big job, but I am confident we have the right people for that job.”

Mr Page said the Panel is the first initiative to be announced out of the Destination 2036 Action Plan, which is nearing completion.

“The Panel was created after the presidents of the Local Government and Shires Associations, Keith Rhoades and Ray Donald, wrote to me requesting the NSW Government explore ways to review certain aspects of the local government sector,” Mr Page said.

“The Review Panel will take into consideration councils’ ability to support the needs of their communities, ability to deliver services and infrastructure efficiently, ability to provide local representation and decision making, the financial sustainability of each council area, and any barriers that inhibit, or incentives that could encourage, voluntary boundary changes.”

The New South Wales Government has passed legislation through Parliament that will ban the holding of dual roles of State MPs and local mayors and local councillors.

State Local Government Minister Don Page said the Local Government Amendment (Members of Parliament) Act 2012 brings NSW into line with other mainland states.

“This legislation ensures that one person serves in one elected position in State or local government, dedicating their effort to one role in the NSW political system,” Mr Page said.

“It eliminates the problem of elected MPs who are also councillors or mayors trying to be in two places at once.

“This issue was raised here in NSW after last year’s election, when it became known that 29 MPs in the new NSW Parliament were serving as councillors or mayors on a council – and once it was discovered that that practice was prohibited in all other mainland States, which have clear separation between State and local government.

The Victorian Government has announced it will not place an order from the Wonthaggi desalination plant for the coming financial year.

Water Minister Peter Walsh said solid rainfalls had left water storages at healthy levels and would not need to be bolstered by the plant.

"Melbourne's dams are holding almost 1200Gl and we are coming into the winter/spring filling season with wet catchments," Mr Walsh said.

"It's also clear that the plant will not be fully completed by the original completion date of 30 June 2012.

"AquaSure has advised the plant is not expected to be fully completed and have passed all reliability tests until February 2013, well into the financial year, although the plant will produce water until reliability testing is complete," Mr Walsh said.

"Given we don't need the water and we are already contractually obliged to pay for water produced during commissioning, we believe the most responsible course of action is to save this money."

Water orders are determined based on a range of factors including the cost to customers and the need to manage water security through the analysis of supply and demand, water storage levels and management, and a range of future weather scenarios.

The Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency has released the National Greenhouse Accounts for the latest emission trends for the December Quarter 2011.

The accounts factor in the Kyoto Target and are used to meet the country’s reporting commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and track progress against the country’s target under the Protocol.

The accounts found emissions increased in the December Quarter, with trend emissions rising by 0.3 per cent and seasonally adjusted and weather normalized emissions increasing 0.1 per cent.

The reort found that trend increases were  largely driven by increases in emissions from fugitive emissions as a result of increased coal mining.

However, the coal emissions were offset by a decrease in emissions from the electricity and industrial processes sectors.

Annual emissions, excluding LULUCF, for the year to December 2011 are estimated to be 546.3 Mt CO₂–e. This represents an increase of 0.6 per cent compared to the year to December 2010 despite a drop in emissions from electricity generation (the single largest source of emissions in the national inventory).

The full report can be found here 

The Federal Government has announced the Parsons Brinkerhoff and ARUP joint venture as the winning bidder for the work to upgrade the duplication of the Pacific Highway between Woolgoolga and Glenugie.

“The rebuilding of the Pacific Highway is the biggest, most complex road construction project ever undertaken in Australia. This multi-billion nation building endeavour will reduce road deaths, slash travel times between our largest and third largest city as well as lift national productivity,” Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said.

The Woolgoolga to Glenugie Upgrade is scheduled to be completed by late 2016 and will duplicate 31 kilometres of highway, install a new interchange at Range Road, erect bridges across Corindi Creek and the nearby flood plain, and build new overpasses at Sherwood Creek and Kangaroo Trail roads.

NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay also confirmed today that contracts have been awarded for the geotechnical investigations which will assess the physical properties of the soil and rock beneath the route of the new Pacific Highway.

“I’m pleased to announce that Robert Carr and Associates will perform the work on the Woolgoolga to Glenugie section, Coffey and GHD has won the contract for the Glenugie to Devils Pulpit section, and Golder Associates and ARUP will be responsible for the section between Devils Pulpit and Ballina,” said Mr Gay.

“Given the terrain and flood prone nature of this part of the State, the work now being undertaken by these geotechnical engineers and geologists is vital to making sure the new Pacific Highway is built on solid foundations and able to withstand even the most extreme of weather events.

All up, the upgraded Pacific Highway between Woolgoolga and Ballina—a distance of some 155 kilometres—will boast ten major interchanges, new bridges across the Clarence and Richmond rivers and strategically located wildlife crossings.

The independent Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) Expert Panel has released its final report, with the Federal Government supporting all of the recommendations.

The Review Panel, chaired by Killian Broadbent, was appointed to advise on the design of the $10 billion CEFC, which will be responsible for driving investment in renewable energy, low-emissions and energy efficient technology.

The report suggests that the CEFC be given a broad mandate, but the Federal Government should steer clear of making specific investment decisions.

The full report can be found here