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SearchArchives for February 2011
23 February, 2011
PS awards reward
public service
The Institute of Public Administration Australia (Victoria) has presented its awards for leadership in the Victorian public sector, honouring innovative projects that offer school students a say in developing school policies, help prevent people leaving jail from re-offending and cut down the key causes of workplace injury, among others.
Presented by the Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Helen Silver at Parliament House, the 15 awards also recognise an Indigenous Employment Program, the risk management of emails and the need for generational renewal in the public sector.
“These Award winning initiatives show how the public sector can create innovative and practical solutions to the challenges that our community faces,” Ms Silver said.
She said the winning entries came from 40 nominations submitted by State Government Agencies and Local Councils.
President of IPAA Victoria, Fran Thorn, was impressed by the quality of the entries saying they showed a combination of innovation and practicality.
“Making workplaces safer, increasing workplace diversity and building effective leadership programs are challenges for any large public and private organisation,” Ms Thorn said.
“These Awards also recognise solutions to workforce challenges often unique to the public sector”.
According to the Chair of the IPAA Victoria Awards Committee, Peter Allen, the nominations included major projects that delivered across levels of government; smaller tailored solutions that addressed very local issues; whole-of-organisation programs; and collective projects that shape the way the public sector thinks and works.
“We have also linked these Awards to IPAA’s ongoing Indigenous Initiative through the reintroduction of the Young Indigenous Leader Scholarship,” Mr Allen said.
“ As usual, the high standard of nominations created a challenge for our judging panels. As Chair of the Awards Committee, I again extend my thanks to our judges for providing their time and expertise.”
As well as the Victorian awards, two VPS staff members were also honoured nationally in the Institute of Public Administration Australia’s Public Sector Leader Awards.
Brodie Woodland from the Department of Transport and Jonathan Spear from the Department of Premier and Cabinet shared the honour with Stuart Clarke from Western Australia.
Mr Allen also thanked the Award sponsors WorkSafe, the State Services Authority, Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority.
A full list of winners can be found at this PS News link.
23 February, 2011
Ruler to be run over
rules and regulations
The Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission has released a draft report into the State’s system of Government rules and regulations which the chair of VCEC says is in need of a “significant upgrade”.
Part 1 of the draft report Strengthening Foundations for the Next Decade: An Inquiry into Victoria’s Regulatory Framework has been issued for public comment.
VCEC Chair Matthew Butlin said Victoria’s regulatory management system was well regarded by independent experts but needed a significant upgrade to support future productivity and liveability.
Mr Butlin said a survey of 1000 businesses and not-for-profit organisations was prepared for the Commission and asked about the impacts of State regulation.
He said that more than half of the organisations surveyed believed that State regulation had become more costly in the last three years while more than 40 per cent also stated that they thought these regulations had become more complex.
He said around 60 per cent and nearly half of not-for-profit organisations had dealt with Victorian regulation they thought was unnecessarily burdensome.
Mr Butlin said the five areas mentioned most often in the survey were administration of State taxes and charges, occupational health and safety laws, planning and land use regulations, road and transport regulations, and building and construction laws.
He said regulation was one of the Government’s three key policy tools and the State’s regulatory framework was the system that supported the development, implementation, management and enforcement and review of regulations.
Mr Butlin said a key draft recommendation was that responsibility for improving all parts of Victoria’s regulatory management system be brought together under one Minister.
He said the Commission had concluded that this system could make a more effective and focused contribution to the State’s competitiveness, productivity growth and liveability.
He said other draft recommendations included more emphasis on improving the performance of regulators, investing more in understanding what regulations work and what don’t work, improving implementation of new and changed regulation, and reducing the regulatory burden on business and other sectors.
Treasurer Kim Wells said the draft report indicated some of the challenges ahead.
“This reinforces the need for regulatory reform and firm efforts to cut red tape,” Mr Wells said.
Mr Wells encouraged all interested Victorians to make submissions.
The Commission will release a separate draft report in March presenting its research and recommendations on the priority areas for regulatory reform.
Further information is available from this PS News link.
23 February, 2011
Call to toughen
tender terms
The Australian Institute of Criminology has called for tougher requirements in Government tenders to help cut down the incidence of cybercrime.
The AIC also suggests Departments and Agencies should play a greater role in helping IT companies design more security-protected products.
Senior research analyst with the Commission, Raymond Choo was quoted in ZD Net as saying there was a need to “cultivate a culture of security” within Government procurement services.
“[Government should] create an environment conducive for ICT service or content providers to achieve marketing and competitive advantages if they offer products and services with higher levels and more innovative types of security,” Mr Choo said.
“There will never be enough policing resources to investigate all cybercrime.”
Mr Choo said a “one-stop 24/7 reporting website” could be established to help feed better cybercrime statistics to law enforcement agencies.
He said this would also enable coordinated action by Government and law enforcement agencies and the private sectors to have a better understanding of the frequency and extent of cybercrime incidents.
He said the difficulties in prosecuting individuals for online crime stem from a lack of consistency of legal frameworks across countries.
In order for a conviction to be successful, alleged misconduct must constitute an offence in both the country seeking prosecution and that in which the alleged offence was made.
Mr Choo said countries should establish laws to outlaw the creation of networks used for illegal purposes to crackdown on botnets and distributed denial-of-service attacks,.
He said Australia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and United States have a relatively comprehensive legislative framework in place to deal with cybercrime.
Mr Choo said tougher measures should also be enforced to reduce abuse of the domain name system, including the creation of a stricter domain name registration regime, and ensuring domain names and IP addresses suspected of being used for cyber criminal activities were revoked.
23 February, 2011
Pay offer doesn’t
add up for union
The Community and Public Sector Union has responded less than enthusiastically to a Government wage offer of 2.5 per cent for the Public Service, saying the proposed increase would be less than inflation.
Community and Public Sector Union State Secretary, Karen Batt said she had hoped for a better offer.
“A Reserve Bank analysis of the situation regarding the economic growth for the year 2011 is projecting that by the end of the year it will be 4.5 per cent,” Ms Batt said.
She said 2.5 per cent would not meet the living needs of Victorian public servants and their families.
“There is no way we could agree to enter into an enterprise agreement that is actually a real wages cut for the public service,” Ms Batt said.
She said the Government’s pledge to cut spending by $1.6 billion would lead to a huge loss of public service jobs.
“Agencies will cut jobs or struggle to pay to retain existing staff,” Ms Batt said.
“Cash strapped service delivery agencies will be forced to cut services to survive if the decision to cap the centrally funded pay component goes ahead.”
She said WorkCover and the Public Records Office were already restructuring to off-load positions.
She said all public sector Agreements covering 200,000 government employees expired in the next 12 months.
“I call on the new government to bargain in good faith and adequately fund public services,” Ms Batt said.
“Victoria’s population has grown 20% in the last ten years and the voters demand quality services.”
Finance Minister Robert Clark said increases above 2.5 per cent would be approved only if cash or productivity savings could be found.
He said the 2.5 per cent guideline was put in place by the previous Labor government.
23 February, 2011
MPs stand up for
higher standards
New guidelines demanding strict standards of integrity and accountability are to be introduced for Victorian Government Ministers and Members of Parliament.
Announced by Premier Ted Baillieu, the package of measures includes codes of conduct and legislation.
Mr Baillieu said the new measures would include a new code of conduct for members of Parliament, a new code of conduct for staff, a new code for government members in relation to fundraising arrangements, and new guidelines on hospitality and travel.
“I am committed to transparency and accountability and a new code will address the acceptance of hospitality by ministers and MPs, and will also include the appropriateness of fundraising events,” Mr Baillieu said.
He said the code would address all appropriate aspects of fundraising, including the involvement of all members of government and ministers.
Mr Baillieu said all future State Government fundraising events would be required to comply with the new code.
He said the Government would also make the code available to the Opposition and other parties, asking them to adopt the provisions of the code and apply them to all fundraising and hospitality activities.
“This new package of integrity measures will be available publicly and will provide a clear set of guidelines for conduct for everyone in government, and members will be required to comply with it,” Mr Baillieu said.
“I promised Victorians that I would set standards of integrity when we achieved office and I will deliver on that promise.
“MPs – including myself – are accountable to Victorians and I want to ensure that a clear set of guidelines are in place,” Mr Baillieu said.
He said the package of integrity measures currently under preparation would be brought to Cabinet for approval.
23 February, 2011
Recruiting drive for
child protectors
A $3.8 million recruitment drive for front-line child protection workers has been launched by the Minister for Community Services, Mary Wooldridge.
Ms Wooldridge said the package would include a targeted online and print campaign, graduate courses in child and family practice, and one-on-one coaching for team leaders, as well as locally developed retention initiatives based on feedback from staff on the ground.
“Over recent years there has been a crisis in child protection, with children being placed in harm’s way and workers leaving in droves,” Ms Wooldridge said.
She said the State Government was also undertaking a comprehensive inquiry into child protection.
“There are a number of initiatives which are to commence immediately, including this initiative to better recruit and retain workers,” Ms Wooldridge said.
She said the centrepiece of the package was a targeted attraction campaign that aimed to identify people who were most likely to stay in a role once recruited.
She said the campaign would be delivered through a central recruitment website that allows people to register their interest in child protection work and to watch clips that explain what the work is really like.
“The campaign tagline, Rewrite tomorrow, one child at a time, goes to the heart of why people take on this incredibly rewarding job,” Ms Wooldridge said.
“Last year, on average, we recruited 25 new frontline workers each month, but at the same time 21 frontline workers were leaving child protection services.”
She said a new expanded workforce to meet the challenges of complex families could not be achieved with such dramatic departure rates.
“This package also includes enhanced training for 90 practitioners through a graduate certificate or diploma in Child and Family Practice and professional coaching for approximately 300 team leaders to strengthen the oversight and support they provide to frontline workers,” Ms Wooldridge said.
She encouraged anyone interested in working in child protection to visit this PS News link.
23 February, 2011
Single Department to
run Capital Territory
A review of the Australian Capital Territory’s 20,000-strong Public Service has recommended its nine Departments be amalgamated into one and then divided into “Directorates”.
The independent study by former senior Commonwealth officer Allan Hawke, said the single-Department structure would better reflect the city-state nature of the ACT and allow greater coordination between the many areas of the bureaucracy.
ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said the Government accepted the wisdom of the report in its totality and would immediately establish a high-level implementation taskforce within the ACT Public Service to work through each of the specific recommendations, advise on necessary legislative changes, timing and funding implications.
“I stressed at the outset that this review was about effectiveness, not about efficiency, and to that end I do not expect that there will be job cuts associated with the restructure,” Mr Stanhope said.
He said Dr Hawke had delivered a thoughtful and robust analysis of the structure of the ACT Public Service, which the Territory inherited from the Commonwealth at the time of Self-Government and which had remained much the same ever since.
“Dr Hawke’s review has found that while the ACT Public Service is in many respects a leader in its field, we would be better served - as a Government and as a community - by a public service designed to meet our own particular needs, taking into account the range of services provided to the community, and the kinds of challenges our city will face in the coming decades,” Mr Stanhope said.
He said the review came at a perfect time in the life of Canberra and was part of a suite of work by the ACT Government that included plans for a thorough review of the ACT Self-Government Act, the first comprehensive review of Territory taxes since Self-Government, and major improvements to methods of community consultation and feedback.
The Hawke review can be found in its entirety at this PS News link.
23 February, 2011
Degree of concern for
higher education
Victoria must improve its higher education record in regional areas if it is to drive economic growth and meet the needs of industry, according to the Minister for Higher Education, Peter Hall.
Mr Hall said more needed to be done to make it easier for regional Victorians to participate in education and to develop their skills, following the release of the report Deferring a University Offer in Regional Victoria.
“This report allows us to better understand the particular barriers to participation in educational opportunities in regional areas and how we can best respond to these,” Mr Hall said.
He said the report showed a disproportionate number of people in regional areas deferred skills development.
Mr Hall said work had already begun on initiatives aimed at addressing regional deferral rates and increasing the number of regional Victorians accessing higher education.
“One of the biggest barriers to regional students accessing higher education is the cost of living away from home while studying or training,” Mr Hall said.
He said the Regional Partnerships Facilitation Fund aimed to address some of the costs and provide regional students with greater flexibility, options and choice.
Mr Hall said the initiative aimed to increase alliances between TAFE institutes and universities to deliver a greater range of higher education programs in regional centres, giving more students the option to study in their hometown.
He said the report involved contributions from 14 Victorian Local Learning and Employment Networks.
He said funding for the research into the deferral of university offers would continue until 2013.
To view the report visit this PS News link.
23 February, 2011
Collecting staff to
come to Census
The Australian Bureau of Statistics is recruiting staff to help run the 2011 Census, the 100th anniversary of the national count.
Assistant Treasurer, Bill Shorten said while Census night was not being held until 9 August 2011, the ABS had started recruiting for the more than 43,000 Census jobs that would be created.
He said those jobs ranged from Area Supervisors, to collectors, to back office staff.
Mr Shorten said the 3,500 casual jobs being recruited now were Area Supervisor positions, who would oversee the distribution and collection of Census forms to Australia’s 9.8 million households.
He said in April a further 29,000 collector positions would be advertised nationally.
“This is the 16th Census and marks 100 years of national Census taking in Australia by the Federal Government,” Mr Shorten said.
He said Area Supervisor positions had been created in every region of Australia to ensure that Australia was accurately counted on Census night.
“More than ever, Area Supervisors are essential to the success of the Census,” Mr Shorten said.
“They help inform planning for future resources and infrastructure and ensure other community needs are placed in their towns.”
He said this had never been more important in those communities that had suffered the devastating effects of the recent natural disasters.
Mr Shorten said Area Supervisors would receive between $4,300 and $7,500 for the part-time position and would be employed from 18 April until 7 October.
He said more information was available at this PS News link.
23 February, 2011
Safety campaign
has kids to heart
A new water safety campaign aimed at saving the lives of toddlers has been launched by the Department of Justice in partnership with Life Saving Victoria.
Life Saving Victoria Chief Executive Officer Nigel Taylor said the new campaign would focus on the slogans “Twenty seconds is all it takes for a toddler to drown” and “never take your eyes off children around water”.
He said The Play it Safe by the Water campaign would target parents and carers of toddlers between 0-4 years of age, with television advertisements currently being broadcast around Victoria.
Mr Taylor said there had been 44 fatal toddler drownings over the past 10 years, with seven deaths reported over the period 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010.
He said many of these deaths had occurred in a home pool or spa, with deaths involving water in dams, buckets and bathtubs on the increase.
Mr Taylor said most deaths occurred while a parent or carer was distracted.
“At the end of the day, no fence or barrier can be a substitute for proper adult supervision of a toddler around water,” Mr Taylor said.
He said fences and child-resistant gates were important for keeping youngsters away from water, with advertisements emphasizing the need for adults to be vigilant.
He said the Play it Safe by the Water campaign was one of three key strategies in reducing drownings in the state.
Mr Taylor said the campaign would be run in conjunction with community and school education programs, including Water Safety Week and students learning water safety skills in open water environments.
He said lifesaving services, including support for paid lifeguards, club administration and training of lifesavers would also be a focus in reducing the number of drownings in Victoria.
For more information visit this PS News link.
23 February, 2011
Fruit fly season
leaves sour taste
The Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Peter Walsh, has warned that Victoria is facing one of the worst seasons for fruit fly outbreaks since records began in 1947.
Mr Walsh said Queensland fruit fly outbreaks had been declared in most of Victoria’s key fruit-producing regions.
“There are now almost 60 outbreaks either declared or being declared across the state, many of which are in Victoria’s premium fruit-growing regions,” Mr Walsh said.
“The widespread warm, humid conditions across Victoria in recent weeks have been ideal for fruit fly activity and make it one of the worst seasons for outbreaks in more than 60 years.”
Mr Walsh said the State Government was working closely with industry groups to minimise the threat posed by Queensland fruit fly, but that the co-operation of all Victorians was also crucial.
“The threat posed by Queensland fruit fly is yet another challenge confronting our food producers after years of drought followed by devastating floods and a serious locust plague,” Mr Walsh said.
“Queensland fruit fly has the ability to disrupt some domestic and international markets and impose significant additional treatment costs on fruit producers.”
He said local communities had a key role to play in minimising the impact of the pest by vigilantly monitoring their backyard fruit trees and notifying the Department of Primary Industries immediately if they found any signs of fruit fly.
Mr Walsh said the current outbreaks were mainly in Sunraysia, the Goulburn Valley and North East Victoria, but that there were also some in East Gippsland.
“These regions include most of our high-value fruit production and DPI is undertaking a major response to manage outbreaks and protect these industries,” Mr Walsh said.
“Travellers must remember that it’s illegal to carry fruit fly host produce into these areas, and significant fines are applicable because of the risk to our fruit industries.”
For further information contact the DPI Queensland Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 135 559 or visit this PS News link.
23 February, 2011
Aboriginal review to
draw line in the sand
A new Parliamentary Inquiry into the effectiveness of Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAPs) and their management of cultural heritage has been announced by the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Jeanette Powell.
Mrs Powell said a key responsibility of RAPS was the management and protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage in accordance with the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006.
She said the Act, which aims to give Traditional Owners greater control over cultural heritage in their country, was scheduled for review by May 2012.
“The Parliamentary Inquiry will provide information that will help in the review of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006,” Mrs Powell said.
“It is important to examine whether the RAPS system is working well for Indigenous Victorians, to ensure any amendments to the Act reflect the needs and aspirations of the community.”
Mrs Powell said the Environment and Natural Resources Committee of Parliament would conduct the inquiry and consider all input to understand what has been working well and what improvements could continue to be made.
“The Environment and Natural Resources Committee will meet to establish the process for public submissions and will make announcements via the Parliament of Victoria website,” Mrs Powell said.
Mrs Powell said there were three considerations that make up the terms of reference for the Parliamentary Inquiry including Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council policies in relation to the appointment of RAPS, the support available to the Council in making decisions about the appointments, and the effectiveness of the established RAPS to perform their duties under the Act.
She said findings from the inquiry and associated recommendations would be tabled in Parliament before 30 September.
For more information about Parliamentary inquiries visit this PS News link.
23 February, 2011
No mixed welcome for
multicultural policy
A new multicultural policy developed by the Federal Government has been welcomed by the Victorian Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Nicholas Kotsiras.
Mr Kotsiras said the People of Australia policy makes commitments to a range of initiatives including establishing an independent champion for multiculturalism through the Australian Multicultural Council (AMC); strengthening the access and equity strategy including enabling the AMC to take on the lead role of monitoring and reporting on access and equity; and providing the AMC with a research advisory role around multicultural policy.
He said other initiatives included supporting cultural diversity celebrations and Harmony Day activities, and policies to combat racism.
“I would like to commend the Australian Multicultural Advisory Council’s work in making its recommendations in April 2010, and the Federal Government in supporting, or supporting in principle, the Council’s original 10 recommendations,” Mr Kotsiras said.
He said Victoria had been enriched by its cultural diversity.
“Victoria’s multicultural society is and will remain one of our state’s greatest assets and strengths,” Mr Kotsiras said.
“We will continue to support our cultural, linguistic and religious diversity within the context of a shared commitment to Australia, its democratic institutions and the rule of law.”
“While Victoria leads the rest of the nation in multicultural affairs, it is heartening to see the Federal Government is dedicated to a country where all people are treated equally regardless of their cultural or religious background,” Mr Kotsiras said.
23 February, 2011
City near top or
liveability ranks
A “liveable city ranking” that places Melbourne second in the world behind Vancouver has been welcomed by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Councillor Robert Doyle.
Cr Doyle said the ranking conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) revealed Melbourne had moved from third to second spot, bumping Vienna back to third.
“It is a great honour to be named the second most liveable city in the world,” Cr Doyle said.
“In reality there is not much room between the top five cities and it is an incredibly tight contest,” he said.
“We have held both the number one and number two spots in previous years, and while we will keep aiming for that number one spot – it’s good to be in such esteemed company at the top end of the list,” Cr Doyle said.
Cr Doyle said the EIU ranking was the world’s most widely accepted rankings of liveability, comparing 140 of the world’s major cities.
He said the cities were assessed on five broad categories including stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.
“What we have been recognised for is our combination of liveability which includes our trees, our parks and gardens, our city safety, the events in our city, our retail, our arts and culture and the very substance of our city,” Cr Doyle said.
“All in all we are a pretty cool city and I think that has been recognised in our latest survey.”
He said Melbourne was acknowledged as being home to a number of globally recognised events such as the Australian Tennis Open.
He said Melbourne’s milder weather and lower crime rate were some of the factors that gave it the edge over Sydney which came in at seventh spot as the most liveable city.
23 February, 2011
Climate change
goes to the dogs
A series of animations designed to inform farmers about changes in the weather and climate has been developed by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI).
Entitled Climate Dogs, the 90-second messages were launched before year seven students at the Sungold Field Days at Allansford by the Minister for Agriculture, Peter Walsh.
“While we can’t control the weather, we have developed tools which can give food producers a better idea of what the season may hold,” Mr Walsh said.
He said the short animated videos used iconic Australian cattle dogs to represent the key determinants of Victoria’s weather patterns.
Mr Walsh said this season had already seen Indy, representing the Indian Ocean Dipole, and Enso, the El Nino Southern Oscillation, working together to produce a wet start to the season.
“Sam is also an important Climatedog, influencing the strength and frequency of cold fronts over Victoria,” Mr Walsh said.
“While Sam often herds cold fronts up from the Southern Ocean, like some farm dogs, he is unreliable and can change behaviour in a matter of weeks.”
He said the fourth dog, Ridgy, spends most of his time from November until April chasing away cold fronts around southern Australia, but as winter sets in, he heads north and the cloud fronts find it much easier to reach Victoria and deliver rain.
To learn more about the Climatedogs visit this PS News link.
23 February, 2011
Business workshops
doing the business
The 2011 program of workshops and seminars for small business has been announced by the Minister for Small Business, Louise Asher.
Ms Asher said 282 workshops and seminars would provide businesses and prospective business owners with the facts and advice they needed to make informed decisions and create a platform for ongoing success.
Ms Asher said Small Business Victoria would deliver the program in metropolitan and regional areas including the Southern Grampians, Yarriambiack, Campaspe, Wangaratta and South Gippsland.
She said the workshops and seminars were grouped into five themes: Getting Started, Growing Your Business, Getting & Keeping the Right Staff, Achieving Financial Success, and Moving On.
“We are committed to encouraging small businesses to get started, to prosper and to grow with business support and advice services for those who work hard, save, invest and create employment,” Ms Asher said.
Ms Asher said the workshops and seminars were offered at a low cost to participants and delivered by private sector specialists who were well-qualified and experienced in small business.
She said the Small Business Workshop and Seminar Program started on 15 February and anticipated more than 3,000 small businesses would participate in the workshops and seminars.
Further information is available from this PS News link.
23 February, 2011
Port report reports
on port of call
A study of container movements through the Port of Melbourne and Dynon rail terminals has been hailed as the most comprehensive analysis undertaken to date.
Conducted by the Port of Melbourne Corporation, the study tracks more than 75,000 container movements and will enable the State Government to better understand the changing logistics environment.
Minister for Ports Denis Napthine said findings from the Container Logistics Chain Study would assist Victorian industries and business reduce distribution and transport costs.
“Information regarding the routes and destinations of container transport to and from the Port of Melbourne is vital in developing the Government’s freight transport policies and strategies,” Dr Napthine said.
He said the study found 87 per cent of full containers imported through the Port of Melbourne were destined for a location within metropolitan Melbourne while 71 per cent of imports were staged at a transport depot.
Dr Napthine said the two regions from which export containers mostly originated were the western suburbs with 26 per cent and regional Victoria with 23 per cent.
He said 90 per cent of imported containers taken by road travelled less than 50 kilometres to their initial destination while 89 per cent of imported containers taken by rail or a combination of road and rail travelled more than 600 kilometres from the port.
“The fact that 87 per cent of containers had an origin or destination in the metropolitan area has important implications for Melbourne’s freight flows and freight transport planning,” Dr Napthine said.
23 February, 2011
Electricity concessions
Year-round discounts on electricity bills have been introduced for Victorians who hold pensioner concession cards, health care cards or Veterans’ gold cards.
More than 815,000 Victorians will benefit from the year-round reduction of 17.5 per cent on their electricity bills from 1 March.
The Victorian Government had scheduled the introduction for the start of the 2011/12 financial year but brought the concession forward to deliver card holders paying an electricity bill of $1,500 per year an extra saving of $44.
Refugee boost
A project to assist African refugees and migrants settle in to life in Australia has received a funding boost from the Australian Government.
The Horn Afrik Project has been running since July 2007 and provides employment assistance and support to men from the Horn of Africa, who are living, studying or working in Carlton and surrounding suburbs.
The program, which is run by the Carlton Neighbourhood Learning Centre, will receive $143,000 over two years to help African men participate in their community.
Board members sought
Expressions of interest are being sought for membership of the Harness Racing Victoria and Greyhound Racing Victoria boards.
Harness Racing Victoria is seeking qualified individuals with experience in country racing, breeding, sporting administration, business, government or public relations.
Greyhound Racing Victoria requires individuals with expertise and experience in the greyhound racing industry, business and marketing.
The Harness Racing board comprises up to seven members while the Greyhound board has five.
Members are appointed for up to three years and expressions of interest for both Boards close on 18 March.
16 February, 2011
Flood response to
be reviewed
A comprehensive review of flood warnings and emergency response efforts has been ordered following the recent severe floods across Victoria.
Premier Ted Baillieu said the State Government would continue to support flood-affected communities in their clean-up efforts.
He said the review would examine every aspect of flood mitigation management and recovery and aimed to identify the best way to manage major flood events in the future.
“This review will seek advice from experts in the field of flood management and will involve extensive community consultation, especially with regard to emergency warnings and evacuations,” Mr Baillieu said.
Mr Baillieu said the review would be led by Neil Comrie, the former Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police and current Bushfires Royal Commission Interim Report Implementation Monitor.
The 2010-11 Flood Warnings and Response review will examine the adequacy of flood predictions and modelling; the timeliness and effectiveness of warnings and public information; emergency services command and control arrangements; and the adequacy of evacuations of people most at-risk, including those in health and aged-care facilities.
Mr Baillieu said the review would also look at the adequacy of clean-up and recovery efforts; the adequacy of service delivery by federal, state and local governments; and the adequacy of funding provided by state and federal governments for emergency grants.
Mr Baillieu said the findings of the review would help guide the State Government’s response and planning to ensure Victoria was better equipped to deal with similarly severe flooding events in the future.
An interim report will be submitted to the Premier by 30 June and a final report is due on 1 December.
16 February, 2011
Auditor brings
audits to account
The Auditor-General has assured Parliament it can have confidence in the financial reports, standard statements and performance statements prepared by over 400 entities with 30 June 2010 balance dates.
In his Acquittal Report: Results of the 2009–10 Audits, Auditor-General, Des Pearson provides an overall opinion on the financial results for 445 entities, including portfolio Departments and associated entities, Local Government, public hospitals and water entities.
He also comments on the quality of financial reporting and financial sustainability.
The audit found that the average time taken by the entities to finalise their financial statements substantially improved by one to three weeks while the timeliness of local government financial reporting remained consistent at around 11 weeks.
Mr Pearson said that short-term challenges existed for self funded state entities, public hospitals and water entities, however there had been improvement in the financial sustainability of councils.
“Of the 445 entities included in this report, clear audit opinions were issued on the financial reports of 443 entities,” Mr Pearson said.
Mr Pearson said clear audit opinions were also issued on the standard statement of all 79 local councils and on the performance statements prepared by all 15 water entities.
He said that only 77 of the 79 local councils were issued clear audit opinions.
Mr Pearson said the Alpine Shire Council did not receiving a clear opinion because it failed to prepare a performance statement, while the City of Greater Dandenong excluded $37.83 million of items that were part of normal council operations.
He said clear opinions could not be issued for the Public Transport Ticketing Authority because it was not possible to form an opinion on the completeness and accuracy of myki revenue collections for the 2009-10 financial year, while the performance statement of the Yarra Ranges Shire Council did not comply with the Local Government Act 1989 as the reported performance targets and measures were not set in the council’s original budget.
He said entities should have the capacity to meet current and future expenditure and used four core indicators to assess this including underlying result, liquidity, self financing and capital replacement.
“Our financial sustainability assessment is that 10 of the 46 self-funded entities have an overall high-risk rating,” Mr Pearson said.
He said the portfolios of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development, and Planning and Community Development had three and two entities respectively due to large underlying deficits, while three entities in the Transport portfolio had an overall high-risk rating due to insufficient liquidity.
Mr Pearson said 23 of the 46 self-funded entities had an overall medium-risk rating
The full audit report can be viewed at this PS News link.
16 February, 2011
New water council
awash with experts
A new Ministerial Advisory Council has been appointed to produce a “roadmap” for the Government’s new urban water strategy - Living Melbourne, Living Victoria.
Minister for Water Peter Walsh said four leading experts in the water sector and related fields, including urban planning and development, environment, energy, urban design and local government had been appointed to the council.
“The industry knowledge and experience of council members is proving to be a valuable asset as they undertake the development of the Living Victoria roadmap,” Mr Walsh said.
He said community and environmental groups, water industry members, local government and key government agencies were also playing a vital role in the roadmap development.
Mr Walsh said the council would deliver recommendations to guide the establishment of Melbourne as a world leader in integrated water cycle management and sustainability to make its urban landscape more amenable and liveable.
“Living Victoria will drive change in how Melbourne uses stormwater, rainwater and wastewater to green our city and meet the challenges of a changing climate,” Mr Walsh said.
He said more than 500 billion litres of water runs off Melbourne’s impervious surfaces into Port Philip and Westernport bays each year, while another 300 billion litres of wastewater was pumped from the Eastern Treatment Plant at Gunnamatta and Western Treatment Plant at Werribee out to sea.
“I have asked the council to deliver a set of recommendations which will drive changes to planning, regulation, pricing, and government management to deliver a new set of minimum standards to make best practice management of water mandatory.”
Living Victoria Ministerial Advisory Council chair Mike Waller said the council would look at a range of options for change and experimentation, including harvesting and reusing rain from roofs and stormwater from hard surfaces in the urban environment using on-site storage, rain gardens and roof gardens, and wetlands to collect and filter the water for use by industry, local government and households.
“Rather than pumping wastewater long distances only to dispose of it, we will be examining how wastewater can best be treated and re-used for non-potable purposes such as flushing toilets and watering gardens,” Mr Waller said.
The Ministerial Advisory Council will deliver a report to the Minister by 11 March.
16 February, 2011
Specialist Officers
to lead recovery
Thirteen new flood recovery officers are to be appointed across 16 Local Councils in need of assistance getting back on their feet.
The Victorian Government will provide $1.26 million for the appointments following the September and December floods.
Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan said the officers would help communities develop and implement long-term recovery plans.
“The Flood Recovery Cabinet Taskforce met again in January and agreed priority assistance was needed for 16 councils, given the extent of the flood impact,” Mr Ryan said.
He said the councils of Horsham, Pyrenees, Yarriambiack, Campaspe, Central Goldfields, Gannawarra, Loddon, Corangamite, Moyne, Mount Alexander and Swan Hill were in the process of being allocated flood recovery officers.
“It was also decided that the current officers engaged at Buloke, Hepburn and Northern Grampians would be extended for a further six months,” Mr Ryan said.
Mr Ryan said the designated flood recovery officer for the Pyrenees would provide support for Ararat Rural City, as would the Yarriambiack officer for the Hindmarsh Shire.
“Regional Development Victoria (RDV) is successfully co-ordinating the roll-out of flood recovery officers in the hardest-hit flood-affected communities,” Mr Ryan said.
“Flood recovery officers play a crucial role in helping these communities get back on their feet again, and work hand-in-hand with families, groups and agencies to restore both the infrastructure and the spirit of these communities,” he said.
“These officers also play an important role in arranging appropriate support and counselling, which includes business support, and they facilitate access to initiatives and projects.”
Mr Ryan said the funding would be provided through the Flood Recovery Community Infrastructure Fund, which was part of a $10.4 million interim flood package.
16 February, 2011
Flood of advice for
flood victims
Consumer Affairs Victoria has been busy visiting flood affected communities over the past couple of weeks, providing on-the-spot advice and information relating to consumer and tenancy rights as well as legal and other entitlements.
Consumer Affairs Victoria Grampians Regional Manager Mark Sultana said mobile flood advice service had travelled to 19 towns where CAV officers delivered information sessions on tenancy and building matters, damaged vehicles, travel bookings, scams and price rip-offs, and coping with financial hardship.
More than 250 people including business owners, tradesmen, renters and landlords were given the opportunity to ask questions and get vital information to help them through the recovery process.
“We’ve had an overwhelming response from consumers and traders who were pleased to see us and get the advice they needed,” Mr Sultana said.
He said CAV and the Business Licensing Authority were also assisting business owners who had lost paperwork in the floods or needed an extension to pay fees.
“If anyone missed seeing us, our regular mobile service will be able to help them as we visit Ararat, Horsham and Stawell regularly,” Mr Sultana said.
Further information about how to deal with flood-related matters is available by calling 1300 55 81 81 or visit this PS News link.
16 February, 2011
Storm brews over
flood relief
The State Government has called on the Commonwealth to fast-track its second round of financial assistance grants to Local Councils as a result of the extreme floods experienced earlier this month.
Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell said the recent deluge across Victoria had caused already flood-affected communities to suffer further damage.
“Successive flooding has caused significant damage to services and infrastructure in towns across the state,” Mrs Powell said.
“The most recent flood event has also affected councils in Melbourne and in areas such as Mildura and Wodonga.”
Mrs Powell said the Commonwealth had already fast-tracked its February round of financial assistance grant payments to flood-affected councils at the Victorian Government’s request.
“As the Local Government Minister I have again written to the Commonwealth in light of the recent flood events, requesting grants due to be paid in May are also brought forward,” Mrs Powell said.
“These payments provide significant short-term financial relief for flood-affected councils by improving their cash-flow positions as they assist local families recovering from these events.”
“Many communities have been affected by flooding several times over so the State and Federal Government need to stand alongside councils to help them recover and rebuild.”
Mrs Powell said her request for Commonwealth assistance was in addition to the Victorian Government’s $5 million Local Government Clean Up Fund, which was established to help councils resource recovery and relief operations.
“The first payments of $100,000 from this fund were made to flood-affected councils within a week of the January crisis and we will continue to assess the damage to determine the allocation of the remaining funding,” Mrs Powell said.
“In the wake of these devastating events the Victorian Government will continue to work with councils to monitor the needs of our communities and will take all necessary steps to ensure help is provided efficiently,” Mrs Powell said.
16 February, 2011
City pipes in clear
after drain strain
Melbourne Water has announced that the city’s drainage system has survived its biggest tests on record, with some parts of the network experiencing a 1-in-500 year rainfall intensity on 4-5 February.
General Manager of Asset Planning, Paul Pretto, said Melbourne Water’s system had coped well with the millions of litres dumped on the city in a matter of hours.
“Many of our flood-monitoring rain gauges recorded at least double their February average within a 24-hour period, and most of it came in just two to four hours,” Dr Pretto said.
“Melbourne’s capacity to deal with flash floods comes not just from concrete stormwater drains but also the open space around suburban waterways and sportsgrounds, which are designed to fill with water running off our streets and protect the city.”
He said people may have noticed their local park, sports field or riverside path was completely flooded, which is exactly what they were supposed to do under those circumstances.
“There are over 200 Melbourne Water retarding basins around the city with many of them doubling as sports fields, designed to hold onto floodwater and release it slowly into the drainage system to minimise flooding,” Dr Pretto said.
Dr Pretto said local council and Melbourne Water drainage systems were designed to national standards but that no urban drainage system in the world could have reasonably swallowed the intense rainfall that Melbourne experienced on 4-5 February.
“While the system performed well the sheer intensity of this event meant that not everyone got through unscathed,” Dr Pretto said.
“We’re very conscious that a lot of property has been affected and we’ll be working with councils to see what improvements can be made.”
Dr Pretto said Melbourne Water invested $17 million a year in maintaining its drainage system and committed about $50 million to expanding and upgrading the system.
16 February, 2011
Threat to pull plug
on water plan
The Minister for Water, Peter Walsh has threatened to pull Victoria out of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan if the Commonwealth carries through on a plan to compulsorily acquire water.
Mr Walsh said if the rules were changed to allow compulsory acquisition, Victoria would be targeted by the Commonwealth because of the high reliability of the state’s water shares.
“Although Victoria gets accused of failing to contribute its share, we are already doing most of the heavy lifting,” Mr Walsh said.
“Based on average allocations over the past five years, the water secured by the Commonwealth from Victoria would have delivered more than twice as much water as the water secured in New South Wales for the southern Murray-Darling Basin.”
Mr Walsh said at 31 October 2010 the Commonwealth had secured 286,363 megalitres in entitlements from Victoria which, based on the past five years, would have delivered 173,831 megalitres of water.
He said in contrast the Commonwealth secured 301,329 megalitres in entitlements from NSW, which would have delivered just 65,976 megalitres of water.
“It’s clear the Commonwealth is targeting high value water in Victoria and low value water in NSW,” Mr Walsh said.
Mr Walsh said the Commonwealth’s decision to raise the possibility of compulsorily acquiring water had injected more misapprehension and fear into the debate over water reform.
“If the Commonwealth looks to strip water from food producers, Victoria will reconsider its willingness to participate,” Mr Walsh said.
“Our participation in this process is on the basis that water buybacks are voluntary.”
Federal Water Minister Tony Burke flagged the idea of compulsory acquisition in Question Time after the Federal Opposition suggested water buybacks should be deferred for another year.
Mr Walsh said Victoria had stated very clearly in its submission to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority that the Basin process should verify and recognise existing rights and entitlements.
“Under the Water Act neither the Commonwealth nor the Authority has a mandate to compulsorily acquire water,” Mr Walsh said.
16 February, 2011
Police caught out in
Ombudsman probe
An Ombudsman’s investigation into claims that Victoria Police failed to notify the Department of Human Services that registered sex offenders were having unsupervised contact with children has found the allegations proven.
The Ombudsman, George Brouwer said the failure left the children exposed to unacceptable risk.
In his report Whistleblowers Protection Act 2001 – Investigation into the failure of agencies to manage registered sex offenders, Mr Brouwer said the problem was caused by an administrative error but once discovered, the Police and DHS promptly put measures in place to overcome it.
The report investigated an allegation that Victoria Police had failed to inform DHS of more than 300 registered sex offenders who were living with, or had unsupervised contact with children.
Mr Brouwer said as a consequence of the inaction by Victoria Police, hundreds of children may have been exposed to registered sex offenders without any investigation being undertaken to ensure their safety.
The report found that from the commencement of the Sex Offenders Register in October 2004 until March 2010, 899 registered sex offenders reported to Victoria Police that they had contact with at least one child.
Mr Brouwer said that in relation to 376 of these offenders, Victoria Police failed to pass the information on to DHS.
Mr Brouwer said a combination of factors had led to the systematic breakdown in the management of registered sex offenders including inadequate commitment to the Sex Offenders Register by Victoria Police, lack of a shared understanding between Victoria Police and DHS, and failure of the key agencies to share responsibilities.
Mr Brouwer said the lack of collaboration between key agencies also involved Corrections Victoria.
The report documents a joint response from Victoria Police, DHA and Corrections Victoria that claimed the release of information without obtaining consent from an offender could undermine the participation and engagement of the offender.
Mr Brouwer dismissed that rationale and said it was unacceptable that the safety and protection of children was caught up in bureaucratic procedures that prolonged the process of providing critical information.
The State Government has taken swift, decisive action and will now establish high level Ministerial oversight of the implementation of all the Ombudsman’s recommendations.
Victoria Police said while it deeply regrets the failures, no additional funding was provided to them for the management of the program when the Sex Offenders Registration Act was passed in October 2004.
Victoria Police claimed that funding was sought from the Government in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 and on each occasion the requests were turned down.
The report can be downloaded at this PS News link.
16 February, 2011
Victim support has
case to answer
An audit into the effectiveness of support programs for victims of crime has found that while the Victims Support Agency (VSA) has developed its services along sound lines, it does not have established objectives or key performance indicators to measure whether its services are delivered as intended.
In his report Effectiveness of Victims of Crime Programs, Auditor-General Des Pearson found that despite these shortcomings, support services to victims of crime were being delivered as intended.
Mr Pearson said that being a victim of crime could affect a person’s health, relationships and quality of life and the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) 2004 Justice Statement obliged the justice system to assist the victim of an offence to recover from its effects.
He said that victims were more likely to act as witnesses if they were supported and said the VSA was established in 2004 specifically to support victims of crime.
He said the VSA administered a range of services including the Victims of Crime Helpline, the Victims Register, and the Victims Assistance and Counselling Program (VACP).
Mr Pearson said the VSA was also responsible for implementing the Victims’ Charter and funded nine not-for-profit community agencies to deliver VACP in eight DOJ regions covering 31 locations across Victoria.
The audit examined whether victim support services managed by VSA helped victims recover from the effects of crime, and whether VSA and the VACP providers had treated victims in accordance with the Victims’ Charter.
The audit found there were areas that need to improve, including complaints management, data security, and guidance to VACP providers on victim management processes.
The audit found deficiencies in record keeping by case workers and a lack of sufficiently detailed instructions on how to document key processes meant there was less assurance available regarding service quality.
Mr Pearson said there were several cases where victims had long waiting times and their immediate needs were not met at one VACP provider.
He said there was no data on the time it took to resolve complaints.
“While VSA prepares quarterly reports about its own performance, these are not consistently completed and do not provide sufficient information on performance or quality of service delivery,” Mr Pearson said.
Mr Pearson recommended the Department should provide more guidance to VACP providers, improve the complaints management process, develop objectives, refine the current performance measure, improve performance reporting, increase the coverage of quarterly data reporting and conduct quality assurance activities.
The full audit report can be viewed at this PS News link.
16 February, 2011
Pre-trial negotiations
thrown out of court
Moves to simplify Court procedures to cut down delays and unnecessary pre-trial negotiations have been announced by the Attorney-General, Robert Clark.
Mr Clark said the Civil Procedure Rules would be amended to ensure parties to a dispute are not disadvantaged by delay or obstructive tactics.
He said a Bill to amend the Civil Procedure Act 2010 would remove the obligation on parties to follow mandatory pre-litigation requirements before pursuing their civil claims in court.
“The Government recognises the benefit of people trying to resolve their legal disputes without the cost and complexity associated with going to court, but people shouldn’t be forced into such negotiations by heavy-handed mandatory requirements,” Mr Clark said.
“The Act at present requires parties to engage in pre-litigation procedures whether or not they are likely to be useful in a particular case.”
Mr Clark said the view of many in the legal profession was that forcing parties to follow a broad, heavy-handed approach would simply add to the complexity, expense and delay of bringing legal proceedings.
He said the changes to the law would be a relief for small to medium-sized businesses attempting to recover legitimate debts through the courts.
“Where a debtor simply won’t pay up or even reply to repeated requests for payment, creditors should be entitled to go to court to recover debts without the need to comply with pre-litigation requirements that will almost certainly be fruitless,” Mr Clark said.
He said the courts would retain the power to take action against parties who act unreasonably in not seeking to resolve their dispute, but would achieve this without burdening all parties with unnecessary procedural requirements.
The Bill also amends the Legal Profession Act 2004, to allow lawyers to make declarations over the internet when applying for or renewing their practising certificates online.
Mr Clark said this change removed the need for lawyers to complete a paper-based statutory declaration, thus opening the way for a streamlined, online lodgement process that the Legal Services Board planned to introduce later this year.
16 February, 2011
Speed campaign
revved up again
The Transport Accident Commission is to revive its Everybody Hurts campaign for five weeks in the lead-up to the first anniversary of 19-year-old Luke Robinson’s death in a road crash.
TAC Head of Community Relations, Phil Reed said that the campaign would help increase community awareness of the tragic ripple effect that can be caused by speeding.
“When it comes to speeding, our research shows that there is still a way to go before we reach the same levels of social unacceptability that we see with drink driving and drug driving,” Mr Reed said.
“Attitude change is a long-term process so we hope that by showing the Everybody Hurts campaign, we might get closer to making speeding socially unacceptable.”
Mr Reed said the campaign was originally launched in July 2010, less than four months after Luke died on Anakie Road, just outside Geelong.
He said the campaign explored the pain caused by Luke’s death in an attempt to discourage other drivers from speeding.
Mr Reed said personal stories of Luke’s family, friends, emergency workers, work colleagues, survivors of the crash, eyewitnesses, and others affected by the tragedy formed the basis of the campaign.
Mr Reed said TAC analysis showed that speed was implicated in 30 per cent of fatal crashes in Victoria and was the biggest killer on the state’s roads.
He said in 2010, excessive or inappropriate speed was identified as a contributing factor in 85 of the 287 deaths recorded.
He said the Everybody Hurts campaign would run from Monday 14 February until Sunday 20 March.
Mr Reed said when the campaign first aired in 2010 it reached an estimated audience of over 2.9 million viewers in Victoria with an 83 per cent recall rate.
For more information visit this PS News link.
16 February, 2011
Consumer information
to be delivered free
Consumer Affairs Victoria is to host a series of free information sessions to educate consumers about their rights and entitlements.
Consumer Affairs Director Dr Claire Noone said the topics would cover consumer rights, information for landlords and retirement villages.
“Everyone who attends a session will learn something,” Dr Noone said.
“Whether it’s how to manage property as a landlord, your rights as a consumer wanting to return an item without a receipt, or considering moving into a retirement village, attendees will come away informed and confident of their rights.”
She said consumers suffering from shopper’s remorse or who had a gift voucher past its use-by date should attend the consumer rights information session at Mulgrave Community House on Thursday 24 February.
“When you’re out shopping you don’t always know what your rights as a consumer are,” Dr Noone said.
“Consumers have rights even if they do not have a warranty or extended warranty or even if they purchase goods on sale.”
She said a new national consumer law came into effect on 1 January so now consumers had the same rights wherever they were in the country.
She said the retirement village information session at Koonung Cottage Community House on Friday 25 February would cover a range of issues for both current residents or anyone considering moving into a retirement facility.
She said people could find out the difference between a retirement village and a residential care facility, and learn why a retirement village is not an investment to make money, and what your rights are once you move in.
She said the landlord information session provided information about the rights and obligations as a landlord including renting tips and advice on how to avoid problems.
For more information contact Consumer Affairs Victoria on 1300 55 81 81.
16 February, 2011
Indigenous training
to spearhead jobs
A new Indigenous training program developed by the Department of Sustainability and Environment has been launched at Mt Eccles in the west of the State.
DSE Land and Fire Area Manager South West, Laurie Dwyer said the Bright Kooris Rising program was a significant project for the South West Land and Fire Area.
“DSE is building the natural resource management and other skills of Indigenous people so they have real options for embarking on life-long careers that they can be passionate about,” Mr Dwyer said.
“We hope this training program will become a model for other areas around the state, one which will increase indigenous employment and participation across DSE.”
He said the launch was attended by families and children of the trainees along with representatives from Indigenous community organisations Gundit Mirring Traditional Owner Corporation and Wind Mara Aboriginal Cooperative.
Manager of DSE’s Indigenous Partnership, Brett Ahmat said that capacity building was crucial for Aboriginal people to contribute as equal stakeholders.
DSE Chief Fire Officer, Ewan Waller said he believed two specific aspects were highly valuable to people on a career journey – one was a role model, the other a combination of education and training.
“For me it has a three-fold benefit - it gives Aboriginal people a first, or most importantly, a second chance at the career of their dreams,” Mr Waller said.
“It gives the Department the high quality Aboriginal candidates that they want and have difficulty finding and it gives DSE a more diverse work force that better reflects the communities it serves,” he said.
“We’ve had tremendous successes with retention, training and employment outcomes in previous projects.”
Mr Waller said the Bright Kooris Rising initiative would run in Horsham and Heywood until July.
16 February, 2011
Concierge trial
to open doors
A new city concierge desk is being trialled in front of the Melbourne Town Hall this month as a way of making shoppers more comfortable during the Great Melbourne Treasure Hunt campaign.
Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the city concierge desk would operate from 11am to 7pm daily during the treasure hunt which runs from 12 to 26 February.
He said it was a novel way of making shoppers feel more comfortable during their time in the city.
“We have created a central location for shoppers to drop their bags off so they are free to participate in our treasure hunt, dine without having to carry their bags around, or simply continue their shopping in the city,” Mr Doyle said.
“This is the first time we have run a city concierge desk and if it’s successful during our Great Melbourne Treasure Hunt we will look at continuing the service during other peak shopping periods, including Christmas.”
Mr Doyle said the treasure hunt would draw people to the city during February and clues lead participants to the grand prize of a luxury VIP Treasure Trove package made up of shopping, dining and pampering experiences valued at up to $25,000.
Deputy Lord Mayor Susan Riley said the city concierge was also a place where people could go to pick up a treasure hunt map and find out everything they needed to know about the hunt or anything else going on in the city.
“The city concierge is a bright, smartly-designed desk located in the heart of the city that will be run by staff who have a wealth of knowledge and are ready to assist treasure hunters and shoppers with all their questions and needs.” Ms Riley said.
16 February, 2011
Program plants seed
to protect vegetation
A new program to manage and protect native vegetation on country properties is seeking to sign up participants.
The BushTender program provides payments to landholders and has been extended to another four regions across Victoria.
Department of Sustainability’s Director of Ecosystem Services, Dr Kim Lowe said BushTender targeted parts of Central Victoria, North-East Victoria, sections of the Murray River and an area stretching between the Mallee and Wimmera regions.
He said up to $5 million was available to landholders through the program.
“BushTender helps to enhance the biodiversity on private land and to provide an additional income stream for private landholders,” Dr Lowe said.
“Protecting and enhancing native vegetation is vital to preventing a decline in the quality and extent of native vegetation across the entire landscape.”
Dr Lowe said a competitive tendering process would be used to assess bids that offered the best biodiversity value for money.
“BushTender allows landholders to determine the actions that will most effectively protect and enhance biodiversity on their land,” Dr Lowe said.
“Whether it be planting natives to enhance remnant vegetation, fencing off vegetation for more sustainable grazing, or weed control, the landholder has the power to choose what work will best enhance or protect the natural values of their property.”
He said interested landholders in the project areas should register their expression of interest before 25 February.
Further information is available from this PS News link.
16 February, 2011
Health extends deadline
The deadline for applications to part-time board chair and director positions of public health services, Ambulance Victoria, and rural public hospitals has been extended.
Victorian Health Minister David Davis extended the closing date until Wednesday 2 March after devastating floods that affected the state.
There are 18 public health services and 64 local hospitals in Victoria.
Application forms and terms and conditions of appointment are available from this PS News link.
Mixed success on rider safety
An audit has examined how successful road safety agencies VicRoads, Victoria Police and the Transport Accident Commission have been in improving the safety of riders and passengers travelling on motorcycles and scooters.
The Motorcycle and Scooter Safety Programs audit found the road safety agencies have had mixed success in reducing motorcycle rider and passenger fatalities and serious injuries.
The audit acknowledged that achieving reductions was very challenging as motorcycle use had risen rapidly over the last decade and continues to rise.
The audit also found that insufficient attention had been paid to unreported and off-road crashes.
Consumer warning
Consumer Affairs Victoria has warned consumers to avoid buying rainwater tanks from Columbus Sales Group Pty Ltd, Aqua Conscious Pty Ltd and company representative Christopher Bruce Smith.
The NSW Office of Fair Trading first issued the public warning, and is leading an investigation into the companies’ marketing of rainwater tanks in Victoria, NSW and Queensland.
More than 90 complaints from consumers were made to NSW Fair Trading after they paid for tanks that were not delivered.
Easter trading settled
All Victorian businesses will be able trade on Easter Sunday after the introduction of the Shop Trading Reform Amendment (Easter Sunday) Bill 2011.
Trading restrictions that prohibited some shops from trading on Easter Sunday have been removed from the legislation.
All businesses regardless of size will be able to legally trade on Easter Sunday.
Christmas Day, Good Friday and the morning of Anzac Day will remain non-trading days.|
9 February, 2011
Bushfires spark
Recovery Unit
A new Fire Recovery Unit is to be set up within Regional Development Victoria to provide ongoing assistance and support to people and communities affected by the 2009 bushfires.
Premier Ted Baillieu said dedicated resources would support the longer-term needs of the fire-affected communities who were still struggling two years after Black Saturday.
“Services established in the aftermath of one of Australia’s worst natural disasters need to adapt to the changing needs of the people and communities affected,” Mr Baillieu said.
Minister for Bushfire Response Peter Ryan said a new Fire Recovery Unit within Regional Development Victoria would operate from 1 July after the wind-down of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority (VBRRA).
Mr Ryan said the new Unit would serve as a one-stop-shop for those needing assistance to recover and rebuild after the 2009 fires.
“The Fire Recovery Unit will provide a clear point of contact in government for fire-affected individuals, communities and councils and work closely with other agencies leading bushfire recovery projects,” Mr Ryan said.
“The unit will monitor existing recovery and reconstruction programs and work closely with the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund to distribute funding set aside for the medium to long term community recovery.”
He said the Unit would also provide leadership in developing new opportunities in fire-affected communities, particularly those across the Shire of Murrindindi.
Mr Ryan said other initiatives to support the longer-term recovery of communities would include a new Bushfire Community Support Program, the continuation of three Community Engagement Coordinators until December 2012, and a new Council Capacity Development Program.
He said the Rebuilding Advisory Service would continue to support individuals rebuilding their homes into 2011.
Mr Baillieu said the new support package came on top of a number of health and counselling services that would continue to be provided in partnership with local councils and community organisations.
9 February, 2011
Probe ordered into
child protection
An inquiry into Victoria’s child protection system has been announced by the Premier, Ted Baillieu.
The inquiry Protecting Victoria’s Vulnerable Children will comprehensively investigate systemic problems in Victoria’s child protection system and make recommendations to strengthen and improve the protection and support of vulnerable young Victorians.
Mr Baillieu said the review panel would be chaired by Philip Cummins and also include Bill Scales and Professor Dorothy Scott.
He said the panel would investigate how to reduce child abuse and strengthen the protection of Victorian children who are at risk of, or who have experienced, neglect or abuse.
“We have a duty of care to protect our most vulnerable – to ensure they are safe from harm – and we are establishing this inquiry to identify the system’s weaknesses and provide practical recommendations to develop a strong support system for those in need,” Mr Baillieu said.
Minister for Community Services Mary Wooldridge said the inquiry would widely seek submissions, including from families and children who had been part of the child protection and out-of-home care system, to listen to their experiences and suggestions for improvement.
“The inquiry has broad terms of reference and will involve extensive consultation across the Victorian community,” Ms Wooldridge said.
“To make long-term, meaningful improvements to the way we support children and families, we need to fully understand the range of complex issues influencing the system – what’s not working and what we need to do to address them.”
Ms Wooldridge said the terms of reference would include the factors that increase the risk of abuse or neglect occurring, and effective prevention strategies; the interaction of departments and agencies, the courts and service providers and how they can better work together to support at-risk families and children; and strategies to enhance early identification of, and intervention targeted at, children and families at risk including the role of adult, universal and primary services.
She said the panel would consult with relevant experts, service providers, front line workers and managers, families and children who have personally experienced child protection and out-of-home care services, foster and kinship carers, police and courts, and a broad range of government services.
Ms Wooldridge said the inquiry would be supported by the Department of Premier and Cabinet and would provide a report with recommendations to the Minister for Community Services by 4 November.
She said the report would be tabled in Parliament.
9 February, 2011
Driver licence access
drives privacy fears
The Victorian Privacy Commissioner has expressed her concern at the disclosure of licensing and other information about motorists held by the traffic registration agency VicRoads.
In a submission to VicRoads’ review of the Road Safety Act 1986, the Commissioner, Helen Versey, said she was particularly concerned at the growing practice of organisations demanding to see, copy and keep the information on a person’s driver licence.
She warned that widespread access to the information could lead to identity theft.
She said that VicRoads had the most comprehensive, single source of information about Victorians in its driver licensing and vehicle registration database.
“The comprehensive nature of the information means that it has become highly sought after for other purposes – both legitimate and illegitimate,” Ms Versey said.
She said the driver licence had become a primary form of “evidence of identity” as it contained an individual’s name, address, dates of birth and photograph.
“I am concerned at the ever increasing phenomenon of organisations demanding – or, alarmingly, copying or scanning – driver licences for trivial transactions,” Ms Versey said.
She suggested the most serious illegitimate purpose of seeking access to information held by VicRoads was for committing “identity theft”.
She said fraudulent driver licences were also often used by under-age persons to gain entry to licensed premises or by persons who wish to drive when their actual licence has been suspended or cancelled.
“The misuse of false or stolen identities underpins criminal activity,” Ms Versey said.
“Victims of identity theft bear significant financial and emotional costs in regaining their identity and credit ratings.”
She said more than 180 organisations currently had access to information held by VicRoads.
She said while VicRoads was implementing initiatives to enhance identity management including the use of facial recognition technology, such improvements would further add to the significance of information held by VicRoads.
9 February, 2011
Principal powers to
head school reform
Government School Principals are to be given stronger powers to deal with students bringing weapons and other harmful items to school.
Minister for Education Martin Dixon introduced a State Parliamentary Bill amending the Education and Training Reform Act 2006, providing and clarifying powers for government school principals in relation to weapons and other harmful items found in possession of students.
He said the Bill was introduced in the first sitting week of Parliament and would be debated when Parliament resumed in February.
He said the Bill aimed to improve safety in government schools and reduce the effects of antisocial and violent behaviour in Victorian schools.
“Put simply, violent behaviour in the school yard will not be tolerated,” Mr Dixon said.
“These powers will ensure that principals and teachers now have clear legislative authority to maintain order and safety in schools.”
Mr Dixon said the amendments would provide clarity for principals and ensure a flexible approach in terms of conducting searches.
He said under existing legislation it was illegal for persons to possess weapons in public places including government schools without an exemption or lawful excuse.
Mr Dixon said the Bill would not override these existing laws but would operate alongside them to make government schools safer places for students in which to study.
He said under the amended legislation students may be asked to turn out his or her pockets and to unlock any locked bag, locker or space being used for storage.
“These new powers will allow principals to take a pro-active and common-sense approach to making their schools safer for staff and students,” Mr Dixon said.
9 February, 2011
New world of power
for multicultural body
The Victorian Multicultural Commission is to be given new responsibilities to provide genuine assistance to Victorians and provide frank and honest advice to the government.
The strengthened role was announced by the Minister for Multicultural Affairs Nicholas Kotsiras.
Mr Kotsiras said the existing VMC would be replaced with a new, more independent public entity. As a consequence of establishing a more independent Commission, the policy and administrative functions formerly located within the VMC would be transferred into an Office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship (OMAC), to be established within the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
He said the new Commission would take on additional powers to research, advise and report to the Minister on any matter relating to its objectives either initiated by itself or requested by the Minister.
He said membership of the Commission would remain at 12 members and include a youth representative and a representative from a peak community organisation.
Mr Kotsiras said eight Regional Advisory Councils would be established to work in partnership with the VMC and local communities, operating as important conduits for information on regional settlement and service delivery.
He said the State Government would also establish a Ministerial Inter-departmental Multicultural Services Advisory Committee to co-ordinate a whole-of-government approach to multiculturalism and citizenship.
He said the Committee would be chaired by the Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship and would provide an important additional link between the OMAC, VMC and government departments.
“Victoria will continue to lead the rest of the nation in multicultural affairs,” Mr Kotsiras said.
“These initiatives will ensure Victorians learn from each other and together help forge a more inclusive and harmonious society.”
9 February, 2011
Powerline taskforce
given an extension
The terms of reference of the Powerline Bushfire Safety Taskforce have been extended, as has its report date from 30 June to 30 September.
Minister for Energy Michael O’Brien said the Government had decided to extend the Taskforce’s terms of reference to ensure that better information could be provided to the Government to assist with implementing the recommendations of the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission.
“The Government wants the Taskforce to explore options for how best to implement the Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission’s recommendations relating to powerlines because the previous terms of reference were too narrow,” Mr O’Brien said.
He said the previous terms of reference did not reflect a commitment to provide $50 million in direct funding to commence the process of upgrading distribution assets in the areas of highest bushfire risk,” he said.
“I have asked the Taskforce to consider options for the efficient and prudent allocation of this funding and advise the Government.”
Mr O’Brien said the Taskforce had also been asked to analyse a broad range of options to reduce the risks of bushfires associated with electricity assets, including replacement of single wire earth return (SWER) and 22 kV lines, including an explanation of the objective of each option; a graduation of options with associated cost profiles reported on an NPV basis; an explanation of the level of fire risk addressed by each option and the residual risk following implementation of the proposed options; and an analysis of the avoided cost of under-grounding powerlines.
“Due to the significant changes made to the terms of reference, I have advised the Taskforce that an interim report is not necessary,” Mr O’Brien said.
He said there would be an opportunity for further community and stakeholder consultation.
9 February, 2011
Warm reception for
bushfire house
New bushfire compliant homes developed as part of a joint project between the Department of Human Services, Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority and the Office of the Victorian Government Architect have been opened for public inspection.
Deputy Premier Peter Ryan and Minister for Housing Wendy Lovell opened a three-bedroom bushfire compliant (BAL 40) demonstration house at Kinglake.
Mr Ryan said the high quality home ticked all the boxes of bushfire compliance, energy efficiency and affordability.
“Two home designs have been developed, each with a distinctive design approach and construction that offers choice to members of the community preparing to build a new home,” Mr Ryan said.
He said a second bushfire compliant house had been constructed at Marysville and is also now open for inspection.
“Both houses are six-star energy efficient homes, with a BAL 40 rating, so they meet some of the most rigorous bushfire safety compliance standards and will reduce energy bills for families,” Mr Ryan said.
Housing Minister Wendy Lovell said the bushfire compliant and energy efficient homes would provide an affordable option for families who lost so much in the Black Saturday bushfires and were now looking to rebuild.
“These houses have a fixed construction price of $150,000 for any contracts entered into before the end of May this year,” Ms Lovell said.
She said the offer would be available for any residents rebuilding on their own land and the price covered construction of the house, but not external services, consulting or other site works that may be needed.
She said the demonstration homes were open for public inspection until May and were located at 58 Falls Road, Marysville and 3256 Healesville-Kinglake Road, Kinglake.
9 February, 2011
Water bombers
turn on trial
A 12-week trial of Convair water bombers is under way with the Canadian fire-fighting aircraft successfully completing their first test drops.
Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said the two Convair CV580 fire-fighting aircraft were on a 12-week lease from Canada.
They departed Avalon Airport before flying over nearby grassland to drop 8000 litre loads of water and retardant.
Mr Lapsley said a series of trial drops would test the aircraft’s capability over a variety of terrains, including forested areas.
“The Convair trial is an Australian-first and the retardant drops will help demonstrate the aircraft’s capabilities, and ultimately help determine if they meet Victoria’s fire-fighting needs long term,” Mr Lapsley said.
“These aircraft have typically been used in North America for first-attack and for laying retardant lines in forest and grass fires.”
He said the water bombers had a flight speed of approximately 500 kilometres per hour and could access any part of the state from their base at Avalon in well under an hour.
Mr Lapsley said despite significant rain and flooding, the threat of serious fire remained, particularly in grassland areas within the state, and the Otways and Gippsland.
“While we have had several months of above-average rain, this only goes a small way towards truly catching up on our longer term rainfall deficits,” Mr Lapsley said.
“The recent rainfall has also stimulated the growth of grass and pasture throughout the state and fire, particularly grassfire, remains a real risk across much of Victoria.”
He said the $4 million Convair trial was being conducted by researchers from the Bushfire CRC.
9 February, 2011
Speed camera list is
snapshot of locations
Transport Accident Commission (TAC) Head of Community Relations Phil Reed joined the Minister for Police Peter Ryan in Fitzroy this week to unveil the latest list of locations to be targeted by mobile speed cameras across the State.
Mr Ryan said 69 people were injured in car crashes on a one-kilometre section of Brunswick Street between 2005 and 2009.
“Brunswick Street is just one location among the hundreds that will be targeted across the state this week in an effort to make drivers slow down and improve road safety,” Mr Ryan said.
“Cameras save lives, and mobile speed cameras play a crucial role in making our roads safer.”
Mr Ryan said the decision to publish mobile speed camera locations on a weekly basis was made to help restore the community’s confidence and offer a new level of transparency and public accountability.
Mr Reed said speeding accounted for around 30 per cent of trauma on Victorian roads and just small changes in speed could make a big difference.
“Speeding is dangerous and in 2011 the TAC’s goal is to make speeding as socially unacceptable as other dangerous behaviour such as drink driving,” Mr Reed said.
“Changing the attitudes of people is a long-term process and we welcome any opportunity reinforce the facts about the dangers of speeding.”
He said the recent changes to the traffic camera system included appointing a Road Safety Camera Commissioner, an Australian first.
He said mobile speed camera locations for the forthcoming week would be published every Monday morning at www.justice.vic.gov.au/camerascutcrashes.
9 February, 2011
Gallery in frame
for birthday bash
Two new exhibition spaces, a weekend of partying, an online competition and a specially designed postage stamp are just a few of the events and activities announced by the National Gallery of Victoria to mark its 150th anniversary this year.
Arts Minister Ted Baillieu said philanthropist Loti Smorgon had donated a selection of works from her collection to mark the anniversary, including bronze sculptures by Pablo Picasso and Mario Marini, works by John Perceval and Alexander Calder and some key examples of Post-War New York School art.
“I encourage everyone to join the NGV 150 celebrations this year and come and see these wonderful works of art donated by Loti, which are now a part of the NGV’s magnificent collection,” Mr Baillieu said.
He said other supporters of the gallery would also add to the collection across the year with works by Ron Mueck, Bill Viola and Sean Scully and 16th century Renaissance artist Francesco.
Mr Baillieu said the NGV opened on 24 May 1861 and was originally housed in one room in the State Library of Victoria building on Swanston Street.
He said other celebrations to mark the 150-year celebration included the launch of two new gallery spaces dedicated to contemporary and children’s art, and a specially designed postage stamp series featuring works from the NGV collection.
Mr Baillieu said a major online competition, My Top Ten, would allow the public to vote for their top 10 works from the gallery collection, which will form a special self-guided trail on the festival weekend from 28-29 May.
Voting for My Top Ten closes on Sunday 17 April.
9 February, 2011
Ombudsman in
to bat for bowl
The Victorian Ombudsman has been asked to investigate the Northern Victoria Irrigation Renewal Project and Goulburn-Murray Water over water saving programs in the region, including the Food Bowl Modernisation Project.
Minister for Water Peter Walsh said the investigation would focus on the development and implementation of the water saving projects.
Mr Walsh told the Victorian Rural Press Club that some of the projects had not been delivered in an open, transparent or accountable manner.
“The Coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to investigate the probity of key water savings projects including the Food Bowl Modernisation Project,” he said.
“The Auditor-General has previously produced two reports which were critical of the Food Bowl Modernisation Project,” Mr Walsh said.
“With the majority of the project yet to be delivered, I believe it is prudent to put the concerns about these projects behind us and determine what can be done to improve their future delivery,” he said.
Mr Walsh said he had formally written to the Ombudsman asking him to consider investigating Northern Victoria Irrigation Renewal Project and Goulburn-Murray Water over their handling of the project.
“The Ombudsman has stated that he will investigate the matter,” Mr Walsh said.
“He will set his own terms of reference for the inquiry and I am confident that, with powers similar to a Royal Commission, he will give advice as to how the Coalition can best deliver the remainder of these projects.”
“The Ombudsman will focus on the effectiveness of the project’s management, oversight and governance and the rigour of the methodology for estimating, verifying and allocating water savings,” Mr Walsh said.
Mr Walsh said delivery of the project would continue while the Ombudsman conducted his inquiry.
“The inquiry is an invaluable opportunity to improve the outcome of these projects, to minimise risk and ensure Victorian taxpayers, food producers and the Commonwealth receive value for money,” Mr Walsh said.
“At the completion of these projects we must ensure that northern Victoria is left with a vibrant and viable irrigation community.”
9 February, 2011
Snake alert for
hot weather
Hot weather expected for the last month of summer has prompted the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) to remind people to beware of snakes.
The warning follows a spate of snake bites in recent weeks.
Senior Scientist for Threatened Fauna from DSE’s Arthur Rylah Institute, Nick Clemann, said Victorians should keep their distance if faced with a snake.
“Snakes are active during the warmer months, so it is more likely that residents will encounter them, including in their backyards, at this time of year,” Mr Clemann said.
“There are definitely snakes about, including close to Melbourne, and the last thing we want to see is unqualified people trying to catch them or, worse still, attack them.”
He said snakes were protected by law under the Wildlife Act 1975, and attempts to catch or kill them often ended in a person being bitten.
“The snakes you are most likely to see near residential areas in southern Victoria are all venomous, so it’s important to remind people to keep away from them if they appear,” Mr Clemann said.
He said the most frequently encountered snakes in Greater Melbourne were Tiger Snakes and Lowland Copperheads.
He said in drier areas the most common were Eastern Brown Snakes and occasionally the Red-bellied Black Snake.
He said while all four species were dangerously venomous, it was rare for them to bite people.
Mr Clemann reminded people to undertake or update their first aid training and ensure their first aid kit contained several compression bandages.
He also urged people to keep calm and try to move away from any snake they encountered.
He said there were a number of ways people could reduce the chance of snakes coming onto their property and to make them more visible, including cleaning up around the house, cutting lawns regularly, and reducing the number of pests such as rats and mice which provide food for snakes.
9 February, 2011
No more hang-ups
on phone locations
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has changed its rules to allow telephone companies to tell police, fire brigade and ambulance services the location of a mobile phone used to call the Triple Zero emergency number.
Acting Chairman of ACMA, Richard Bean said the rules required mobile carriers to provide emergency service organisations with the most precise mobile phone location information available for emergency calls made from mobile phones, in situations where a Triple Zero caller was unable to verbally report their location.
“Locating callers quickly and with confidence is clearly a crucial element of the Triple Zero emergency call service,” Mr Bean said.
“The ACMA’s new rules enable emergency service organisations to access the most precise location information that is currently available on the mobile networks and also to automatically capture the benefits from any future developments in location-based services offered by the mobile carriers.”
He said mobile phones accounted for about 63 per cent of calls made to Triple Zero but unlike fixed landline phones did not automatically give emergency service organisations accurate details about a caller’s whereabouts.
Mr Bean said this was not an issue for the vast majority of mobile calls where the caller could tell the emergency operator where they were located, but there were times when people were too distressed or unfamiliar with their environment to report their location.
Mr Bean said the new Determination required mobile carriers to: provide the most precise location information they had available on request from an emergency service organisation; resolve emergency call location queries with the highest possible priority; ensure emergency service organisations were provided with a designated contact point and telephone number for location queries, or have a dedicated process for location queries; and assist an emergency service organisation to identify the relevant mobile network carrying the emergency call.
Mr Bean said the Telecommunications (Emergency Call Service) Amendment Determination 2011 (No. 1) would commence on 20 April.
9 February, 2011
Port of call in call
for new members
Expressions of interest are invited from potential new members of the Victorian Regional Channels Authority (VRCA).
Minister for Ports Denis Napthine said the VRCA’s key task was to provide strategic direction for the management of Victoria’s regional shipping channels.
“Victoria’s regional commercial ports are essential to the state’s economic growth and prosperity,” Dr Napthine said.
“They are engines for regional growth, generating thousands of jobs and business activity for regional cities.”
He said the VRCA managed the port waters and navigation channels at the Port of Geelong and oversees management of the port waters at the Port of Portland and Westernport.
“The VRCA plays an important role in ensuring safe and efficient access to Victoria’s regional ports, while also providing strategic direction to ensure maritime infrastructure can meet the needs of Victoria’s growing economy into the future,” Dr Napthine said.
Dr Napthine said prospective board members should demonstrate skills including strategic planning, organisational governance and business and financial management.
He said experience and knowledge in port management, port-related industries and regional economic development would be a further advantage.
He said appointments were for a three-year period and were part-time positions.
Expressions of interest close on 11 February. Further information is available from this PS News link.
9 February, 2011
National curriculum
making the grade
Development of Australia’s first National Curriculum has taken another step with the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) releasing Geography and Languages papers.
Federal Minister for School Education, Peter Garrett said the Shape of the Australian Curriculum: Geography paper would be used to guide expert curriculum writers in the drafting of the Australian Curriculum for Geography, while the draft Languages paper would be available for comment until 7 April.
“Our diverse, multicultural community has shown lots of interest in a broad variety of commonly used languages being represented in the National Curriculum,” Mr Garrett said.
“ACARA’s draft shape paper on languages covers a comprehensive list of significant community languages for development in the National Curriculum, including Modern Greek, Chinese, Italian, Arabic and Vietnamese.”
He said ACARA had developed the papers following public consultation on the draft geography shape paper in mid 2010 and national forums on the Australian Curriculum – Languages and Geography.
“The years to which the study of geography should be compulsory is among a number of significant issues that will be determined by Australia’s education ministers in light of the feedback received to the geography shape paper,” Mr Garrett said.
“I encourage everyone, whether they’re a teacher, academic or parent, to use this opportunity to have their say on the curriculum and the development of the languages curriculum.”
He said the papers had been developed by ACARA, in consultation with education authorities and curriculum experts as well as teachers, principals and subject area experts.
“The release of these papers for geography and languages marks the historic next step in the development of the Australian Curriculum following on from the education ministers’ endorsement of the curriculum for English, mathematics, science and history in December last year,” Mr Garrett said.
He said the shape papers for geography and languages are available at www.acara.edu.au/curriculum/curriculum.html.
9 February, 2011
New tourism profile
just the ticket
The Victorian tourism industry now has access to the latest regional market intelligence published in the Regional Tourism Profiles 2009/10.
Federal Minister Assisting on Tourism, Senator Nick Sherry said the profiles had been developed as a tool for business in 81 regions throughout Australia to give local tourism businesses the information they needed to drive investment and tourism development in their communities.
He said the profiles provided detailed tourism data on all 21 tourism regions in Victoria including the number of arrivals, tourism’s contribution to local economies, consumer profiles and a breakdown of reasons for travel.
“People who visit Victoria for work, major events like the Australian Open, to study or to take a holiday are important to the state economy,” Senator Sherry said.
“Collectively they spent $16.2 billion in 2009/10, up from $15.9 billion in 2008/09.”
He said Victorian business could use the data to better target their investments, spending money where they were more confident of getting the best return.
Senator Sherry encouraged tourism businesses and investors to use the profiles as the first stop for information when planning future investments and marketing initiatives.
“The Australian Government developed the profiles after the National Long-Term Tourism Strategy and Jackson Report identified the need for more accurate regional data to assist both government and the private sector with future planning,” Senator Sherry said.
He said the profiles incorporated data from Tourism Research Australia’s National Visitor Survey and International Visitor Survey as well as data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The Victorian Regional Tourism Profiles 2009/10 can be downloaded at this PS News link.
9 February, 2011
Green awards up for grabs
Schools, tertiary institutions and government agencies are invited to enter the Premier’s Sustainability Awards for 2011.
The eight award categories include one for local government, state government and tertiary education.
Entries are now open and submissions close on 1 April.
Australia Day Awards
Australia Day Achievement Medallions for 2011 have been presented to seven staff members of the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council.
Administered by the National Australia Day Council, the medallions are normally presented at special Australia Day functions or events.
Almost 1,000 medallions were presented to Public Servants across Australia this year.
Those honoured by the Council were Colin Blythe, Julie Dewberry, Leigh Eustace, Barry Irving, Cindy Last, Jenny Prentice and Esther Revens.
Women’s Day celebrations
The Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) will celebrate International Women’s Day on 2 March.
Last year’s celebrations attracted more than 1,200 public sector professionals.
The Event celebrates the contribution, leadership and achievements of women working in the public sector in Victoria.
Presenters include Department of Heath Secretary Fran Thorn, Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner Dr Helen Szoke and Soprano Deborah Cheetham.
The event will take place at the Melbourne Town Hall from 4.30pm.
Push on Internet safety
Child Safety and Privacy Commissioners have launched a privacy campaign for young people to mark Safer Internet Day.
Victorian Child Safety Commissioner, Bernie Geary, launched the information campaign that will include the distribution of postcards throughout secondary schools and tertiary campuses.
The key message It’s your privacy. Don’t ignore it! will also be promoted online.
Further information is available from this PS News link.
Plan applications up
Planning permit applications increased by three per cent in 2009-10.
A total of 55,874 planning applications were lodged in Victoria, including 42,273 new planning applications, 8,499 applications to amend an existing permit and 91 combined permit applications.
Between 1 July 2009 and 30 June 2010 there were 49,360 planning applications decided.
The estimated cost of works for all development applications in Victoria in 2009-10 was $17.94 billion.
Transport hub for Ringwood
The Ringwood Railway Station and bus interchange will be transformed into a modern transport hub that will include ramps and lifts.
The current contract for construction of a bus interchange will be cancelled, and the construction of a bus lane through the memorial park will not proceed.
The new transport precinct will integrate with other development plans for Ringwood including the planned expansion of Eastland Shopping Centre.
Wind farm called-in
Planning Minister Matthew Guy has called-in a wind farm permit application west of Ballarat.
The application was subject to a VCAT appeal after Pyrenees Shire Council failed to determine the application within the required time frame.
Mr Guy said that his department would work closely with the proponent, council and interested parties to ensure the timely consideration of the called-in application.
He said experienced senior officers from the Department of Planning and Community Development would convene a hearing to consider the evidence.
Teacher numbers up
Victorian Schools will benefit from an increase in the number of graduate teachers in the State.
There were 4,200 graduate teachers registered in 2010, which was an increase of nearly 400 on the previous year.
There are now more than 40,300 teachers in Victorian Government Schools.
Fruit fly outbreaks
Three new outbreaks of fruit fly have been detected in north-west Victoria.
The Queensland fruit fly has been detected at Boundary Bend (south-east of Robinvale), Wood Wood (north-west of Swan Hill) and Nichols Point (east of Mildura).
A 15-kilometre suspension zone extending over both sides of the Murray River will be declared around the outbreak detection sites.
Sunraysia residents can help to minimise the risk of further outbreaks by reporting any fruit fly sightings in their backyards.
Premier’s Health awards
Applications are open for the 2011 Premier’s Award for Health and Medical Research.
The Award celebrates the important contribution early career researchers make to Victoria.
Nominations are open until Wednesday 16 March at 5pm.
The winner and commendees will be announced during Medical Research Week in early June.
2 February, 2011
Review called for
State finances
An independent review of Victoria’s finances has been announced by the State Treasurer, Kim Wells.
Mr Wells said the review would be chaired by Dr Michael Vertigan and include other public finance experts Don Challen and Professor Ian Harper.
He said the review was the first root and branch analysis of Victoria’s finances for more than a decade.
“This review will be conducted by three of Australia’s most respected finance experts,” Mr Wells said.
He said Dr Vertigan was a former Secretary of the Departments of Treasury and Finance in Victoria and Tasmania, and had a proven track record of conducting reviews of government practices at both State and Federal level.
He said the review would aim to develop a comprehensive financial management plan for the state’s finances and look at the impacts of future demographic change on Victoria’s bottom line.
He said the terms of reference would also include: developing short and long-term financial objectives for the state; examining the outlook for the Victorian budget beyond forward estimates; possible actions to maximise competition for tenders, reduce cost for projects and increase transparency; and reforms or improvements to the efficiency, effectiveness, financial operation and other performance and accountability of government departments and bodies.
The review will deliver an interim report in April 2011 and a final report in February 2012.
2 February, 2011
Traffic commissioner
gets green light
Sweeping changes to the State’s traffic camera system have been announced to provide greater transparency, integrity and public accountability.
Among the changes is Australia’s first Independent Road Safety Camera Commissioner.
Minister for Police, Peter Ryan announced the new measures saying they would include public access to mobile speed camera locations every week.
“Today’s announcement is the first step in giving Victorians much greater access to information about speed and red-light cameras, which play a crucial role in making our roads safer,” Mr Ryan said.
“Victorians need to have confidence that the state’s traffic camera network is accurate and has proper oversight.”
He said the Victorian Auditor-General would conduct an extensive investigation of the technology behind speed and red light camera operations, and the way they are maintained and assessed.
Mr Ryan said the overhaul included expanding the use of roadside signs to promote road safety, publishing a weekly list of mobile speed camera locations by street and suburb, and launching a new website before Easter.
He said the website Cameras Save Lives would be regularly updated and include location maps, infringement and operational information, and statistics on the highest earning cameras in the state.
Mr Ryan said the independent Road Safety Camera Commissioner would monitor all aspects of the traffic camera system, including site selection, technologies and investigations.
“The Commissioner will be responsible for quality assurance and reporting and complaints management, as well as investigations and reviews,” Mr Ryan said.
“All of these functions will serve to restore public confidence in the traffic camera system which plays such a vital role in preventing death and serious injury on our roads.”
He said a weekly list of speed camera locations would be published on the Department of Justice’s Cameras Cut Crashes website, then on the Cameras Save Lives website when it was established.
2 February, 2011
Report hits out at
response to violence
The Public Advocate has called for major changes to the way alleged instances of violence against people with mental illness are dealt with.
The Advocate, Colleen Pearce, has issued a report after examining 86 cases of violence, including sexual assault, committed at the hands of parents, partners of parents, intimate partners, staff at their accommodation, and strangers.
Ms Pearce said the purpose of the report was to highlight the difficulties in substantiating abuse against people with disabilities.
She said the report was based on evidence from guardians employed by the Office of the Public Advocate and related to events that had occurred in the last 10 years, most in the last four years.
“This is a snapshot of the problem,” Ms Pearce said.
She said the report outlined cases of violence against 66 female and 20 male victims including 33 cases involving abuse by a person in a care-giving role.
Ms Pearce said the report also documented disturbing case studies where disclosures of sexual abuse, family violence, over-medication and violence were not dealt with appropriately.
She said people with a disability, especially those with a cognitive disability or a mental illness, were vulnerable and often voiceless.
“People with disabilities are more likely than others to be the victims of interpersonal violence and less likely than others to receive proper assistance to deal with it and prevent its reoccurrence,” Ms Pearce said.
Minister for Community Services, Mary Wooldridge welcomed the report.
“I have repeatedly heard from people with disabilities and their families that when they have experienced violence, their views are ignored and they don’t get justice,” Ms Wooldridge said.
She said the Victorian Government was determined to ensure people with disabilities had a voice.
“We need a justice system that better supports people with disabilities, services that respond quickly to alleged abuse and a change of approach that ensures services work together,” Ms Wooldridge said.
Ms Wooldridge said a forum was planned for March that would involve all relevant agencies and the Office of the Public Advocate to ensure Victorians with disabilities get access to support.
2 February, 2011
Queen recognises
more for excellence
The Queen’s Australia Day Honours List recognised the dedication and commitment of a number of people in public service in Victoria over and above those named last week as recipients of the Public Service Medal, Australian Police Medal, Ambulance Service Medal and Emergency Services Medal.
Governor-General, Quentin Bryce announced that the following had been awarded honours in the Order of Australia awards.
OFFICER IN THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (AO)
Allan William McDONALD AO
Albert Park
For distinguished service to the law and to the judiciary, particularly the implementation of mediation initiatives and administrative reforms, and as a mentor, to medical research ethics, and to a range of sporting organisations.
Justice McDonald was a Judge of the Supreme Court from 1988 to 2002 and is now Chair of Forensicare.
He has been a member of the Human Research Ethics Committee at Royal Melbourne Hospital since 2003 and a member of the Court of Arbitration for Sport since 2004.
MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (AM)
Professor Anthony John (Tony) d'APICE AM
For service to medical research, particularly in the fields of nephrology and immunology, through leadership roles in the development of organ transplantation science, and as an academic and author.
Professor d’Apice has been Director of Immunology Research at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne since 1992.
He has been Chairperson of the Caroline Chisholm Centre for Health Ethics since 2000 and is a Professorial Fellow at the University of Melbourne’s Department of Medicine.
Professor Louise Kathryn NEWMAN AM
Monash Medical Centre
For service to medicine in the fields of perinatal, child and adolescent mental health, to education, and as an advocate for refugees and asylum seekers.
Professor Newman is Director of the Monash University Centre for Development Psychiatry and Psychology.
She is Chair of the Mental Health Sub-Group of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s Detention Health Advisory Group and has been a lecturer at the University of Sydney since 1994.
Dr James Alastair ROBERTSON AM
Altona North
For service to dentistry, and to international humanitarian aid through the delivery of dental health programs in Asia.
Dr Robertson has been a Lecturer/Clinical Demonstrator in the History of Dentistry at the University of Melbourne’s Dental School since 1986.
He was involved in the establishment of a Dental Clinic at the Port Phillip Specialist School.
Professor Hatem SALEM AM
Melbourne
For service to medicine in the field of haematology as a clinician, educator and researcher and through the establishment of the Australian Centre for Blood Diseases.
Professor Salem has been Director of Clinical Haematology and Co-Head of the Central Clinical School of Medicine at the Alfred Hospital since 2005/6.
He is currently President of the Asia-Pacific Society of Haemostasis and Thrombosis.
Dr Gerard Ronald VAUGHAN AM
Ivanhoe East
For service to the arts, particularly as the Director of the National Gallery of Victoria through administration, promotion and development of programs, as a scholar and educator, and as a fundraiser.
Dr Vaughan has been Director of the National Gallery of Victoria since 1999.
In this time he has overseen a redevelopment program; numerous exhibitions; the launch of the ‘Masterpieces for Melbourne’ endowment campaign; and visitation rates reaching 10 million since 2002/2003.
MEDAL OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (OAM)
Professor Gregory Ian SNELL OAM
Camberwell
For service to medicine in the field of respiratory science, to education, and to professional organisations.
Professor Snell has been Head of the Lung Transplant Service, at the Alfred Hospital’s Department of Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine since 2000.
He is a member of the Australian Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Authority’s Expert Advisory Council on Transplantation.
Professor David Leon COPOLOV OAM
Malvern East
For service to medical research, to professional organisations, and to higher education.
Professor Copolov has been Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Melbourne since 1992 and was Executive Director of the Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria from1985 to 2004 during which the Institute made major contributions to the study of schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease.
He is also a Director of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.
Dr Ian James MITCHELL OAM
Ferny Creek
For service to education
Dr Mitchell is a co-founder and leader of PEEL (Project for Enhancing Effective Learning), a network of volunteer teacher groups using their classrooms to develop teaching approaches that stimulate independent, purposeful and reflective learning.
He has been a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Education, Monash University, since 1998.
Dr John Francis OSWALD OAM
Ballarat West
For service to medicine as an anaesthetist, and to the community.
Dr Oswald has been Deputy Director of Anaesthesia at the Ballarat Base Hospital since 2004.
He was recently involved in the establishment of an ultrasound database for regional anaesthesia.
2 February, 2011
Police put foot down
on speeding drivers
Motorists have been reminded to respect speed limits near schools as the State’s schoolchildren return to their classrooms this week.
VicRoads Director Road User Safety, James Holgate said reduced speed limits were in place to protect children as they travel to and from school.
“We understand people are concerned about safety on our roads, which is why VicRoads is taking action to improve community safety and drive down the road toll,” Mr Holgate said.
“Victorian motorists need to remember that school speed zones are now applicable, with lower speed limits on school days in the morning from 8am to 9.30am and in the afternoon between 2.30pm and 4pm.”
He said research had shown that even small reductions in speed have huge road safety benefits.
“Since the introduction of school speed zones in 2003, the number of casualty crashes around schools has fallen by 29 per cent at the end of 2008,” Mr Holgate said.
He said parents also needed to obey all stopping restrictions.
“Road safety is a shared responsibility and we are calling on parents and other road users to set a good example for children. Slowing down and parking legally in school speed zones is not a big ask when it comes to protecting the safety of children,” Mr Holgate said.
Southern Metro Road Policing Inspector, Greg Parr said police would target motorists through a number of operations.
“While the majority of students are not due back into the classroom until later this week, schools will be well and truly open with teachers and staff busily preparing for the year ahead,” Mr Parr said.
“These speed zones are in place to save children’s lives and police will be out ensuring all motorists comply.”
He said speed limits on roads near schools was reduced to either 40km/h or 60km/h depending on the road’s open speed limit.
2 February, 2011
DPI staff cropping
up on farms
The Department of Primary Industries has been calling on flood-affected farmers to help them identify their immediate needs and assess their losses.
Minister for Agriculture, Peter Walsh said the Department had started calling landholders and hoped to contact more than 3000 farmers.
He said early estimates suggested the total cost to the Victorian agricultural sector could be as high as $1.5 to $2 billion in lost production, damage to infrastructure and stock losses.
“So far more than 400,000 hectares or 58 per cent of the area inundated by floods has been surveyed,” Mr Walsh said.
“There has been a terrible impact on livestock with 6106 sheep reported as dead and a further 1822 missing or injured.”
He said almost 2000 kilometres of fencing has been destroyed, 83,000 tonnes of hay and silage, more than 51,000 hectares of pasture and 41,000 hectares of field crops.
“These floods have directly affected a third of the state and have had a devastating impact on scores of farm enterprises,” Mr Walsh said.
He said the Victorian Government had increased clean-up and restoration grants for primary producers and small businesses to $25,000, while food and fibre producers had access to low interest loans of up to $200,000 through Rural Finance.
Mr Walsh said his Government would also meet the cost of transporting donated fodder as part of an emergency fodder drive organised by the Bendigo Stock and Station Agents Association in collaboration with the Victorian Farmers Federation.
He urged landholders with immediate needs to contact the Department on 136 186.
2 February, 2011
Super advice for
flood affected
The Board of superannuation fund ESSSuper has published advice on services that may be available to its members who may have been affected by the floods.
The Board extends it sympathies to all affected by the floods and sets out information on the early release of benefits to help pay for the recovery and the availability of financial advice.
The Board said members impacted by the floods could access applications for early release of superannuation benefits on compassionate or severe financial hardship grounds.
ESSSuper staff can discuss making applications to allow early access to superannuation entitlements if such financial assistance could prevent foreclosure of a mortgage on your principal place of residence, or to cover medical treatment and associated transport costs for a member or dependant.
The Board said other reasons for applications could include death, funeral or burial expenses of a dependant, modifications to premises or vehicle to accommodate a disability, and for palliative care.
The Board said members could also be eligible for free financial advice through its financial planning partner Industry Fund Financial Planning.
The Board said assistance could include financial counselling, and full financial advice as necessary.
ESSSuper members can make an enquiry or application for early release of superannuation benefits or make a booking with a financial adviser on 1300 650 161 (for emergency services members) and 1300 655 476 (for state super members).
2 February, 2011
School’s not in for
some flood areas
Parents of schoolchildren in flood-affected areas have been urged to contact their school if in doubt about its state of repair for the beginning of the school year.
Minister for Education, Martin Dixon said flood-affected schools would make every effort to contact parents if back-to-school dates were changed.
“The flood situation is still evolving, particularly in the Swan Hill region where the Murray River is not expected to peak until next week, so it’s crucial parents and schools stay in touch with each other to ensure they are clear about start dates and readiness,” Mr Dixon said.
He said some schools in heavily affected areas remained isolated and damage to buildings had yet to be assessed.
“Due to the magnitude of these moving flood waters, some schools will not open and students will begin the school year at an alternative campus but we are working around the clock to ensure as many schools as possible are open,” Mr Dixon said.
Mr Dixon said the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development was also working closely with the Department of Transport, VicRoads and emergency services to determine where road access to schools had been affected.
“Road damage or flooding may require buses to re-route or could lead to cancellations and some staff will be unable to attend their school, which could lead to shortages or revised teaching programs,” Mr Dixon said.
He said the State Schools’ Relief fund would offer assistance to students from families that may have lost uniforms and school supplies in flood-affected areas.
2 February, 2011
Fire Brigade smiles
for high-tech camera
The Metropolitan Fire Brigade has unveiled its latest weapon in the war against fires with a demonstration of its remote-controlled aerial camera platform.
MFB Acting CEO Shane Wright said the hi-tech CyberQuad camera was capable of hovering above fires, detecting hotspots, and sending real-time vision back to a central control area.
“MFB is very open to innovative ways of using new technology to help manage emergencies,” Mr Wright said.
“CyberQuad is another example of that philosophy. It will undergo significant testing, not just at incidents, but also in how we deploy it, before it goes into service.”
He said CyberQuad had huge potential for delivering information from difficult incidents where an aerial perspective would greatly help manage and coordinate the emergency effort.
Mr Wright said the MFB had purchased two units – one model has a high definition camera and the other has a standard definition camera as well as a thermal imaging camera which allows hot spots to be identified.
He said the MFB is currently training staff to be CyberQuad pilots and expects to determine training and deployment protocols in the next few months.
“This year we mark 100 years since the start of professional firefighting in Melbourne and we are seeing real advances in how we identify and manage risk,” Mr Wright said.
“MFB firefighters are taking a proactive approach to prevention, preparation and management of emergencies to ensure community safety and resilience looking ahead to the next 100 years.”
A video of CyberQuad in action is available at this PS News link.
2 February, 2011
Planning report off
the drawing board
The Department of Planning and Community development has published its annual Planning Permit Activity Report for 2009-10.
The Report provides updated information about planning applications lodged with Victorian Local Councils over the 2009-10 financial year.
The Report provides information on matters that require planning approval, differences between metropolitan and rural areas, and permit workload volumes for each Council and planning area in Victoria.
The Report is the seventh annual report published and provides summary information about planning activity across Victoria and includes comparative information about the value of works and fees and the timeliness of decisions.
The Report is also vital for informing planning decisions, measuring outcomes and improving services.
The Report indicated that 55,874 planning applications were lodged in Victoria for the financial year, which comprised 47,273 new planning applications, 8,499 applications to amend an existing permit, and 91 combined permit applications, where there is an associated planning scheme amendment.
The Report confirmed a three per cent increase in the total number of applications lodged and the estimated cost of works for all development applications in Victoria in 2009-10 was $17.94 billion.
The Report also said of the 49,360 planning applications decided, 96 per cent were issued.
The reporting system has also been used to capture a register of planning permits and consents for the replacement of buildings damaged or destroyed during the Victorian bushfires of February 2009.
There have been 1223 applications lodged and 1190 applications decided for bushfire affected properties since 1 January 2009.
The Report is available from this PS News link.
2 February, 2011
Gym users urged
to exercise care
Consumer Affairs Victoria has cautioned the users of gyms and fitness centres to exercise care signing up for membership and other contracts.
Consumer Affairs said potential members should consider their fitness goals and budget before committing to a fitness contract.
The consumer affairs regulator said people should ask the gym a series of questions including the terms of any introductory offer or “free” trial, the renewal process, termination options and the conditions of direct debit payments.
The regulator also encouraged people to enquire about how to suspend their gym membership and find out what happens if the fitness company goes out of business.
Consumer Affairs said monthly gym contracts were a safer option and warned members to avoid paying large amounts upfront or signing long-term contracts.
The regulator encouraged those thinking about a gym membership to take their time looking at several fitness centres and to tour the gym at times they planned to use it.
Consumer Affairs said a “pay-as-you-go” option could help potential members determine if the fitness centre met their needs and fits their lifestyle.
Consumer Affairs also encouraged people to carefully read any contracts they sign and keep all correspondence with the gym in writing, as this record would be important if you are in dispute.
2 February, 2011
Fruit fly warning has
sting in the tail
Sunraysia residents have been reminded to remain vigilant in the fight against Queensland fruit fly.
Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Peter Walsh visited Robinvale following an outbreak of fruit fly in the region in January.
“Residents play a vital role in protecting valuable local horticultural industries from pests such as fruit fly, which have the potential to jeopardise key export markets,” Mr Walsh said.
He said a home gardener discovered and reported the fruit fly.
Mr Walsh said many Sunraysia communities were built around local fruit and vegetable production.
“The sooner the community reacts, the sooner an outbreak can be contained and eradicated,” Mr Walsh said.
“If the pest had gone unreported or the report had been delayed, there is a strong possibility it could have spread and caused greater damage to local horticultural industries.”
Mr Walsh said residents could further assist by reminding visitors to the region not to bring fruit with them.
“It is illegal to carry fruit fly host produce into the protected fruit production areas,” Mr Walsh said.
“Since fresh fruit and vegetables are readily available in Sunraysia, it doesn’t make sense to place our industries in danger or to risk significant fines by bringing host fruits into the region.”
He said most fruits, including pears and apples, are hosts of Queensland fruit fly.
More information is available from this PS News link or this PS News link.
2 February, 2011
Collaboration sparks
bushfire home guide
The Building Commission and the Country Fire Authority have joined forces to produce a new guide to help Victorian homeowners retrofit their homes.
The guide was launched by the Minister for Bushfire Response, Peter Ryan who described it as “an extremely useful tool” for people wanting greater protection from bushfires.
He said the Commission had consulted with the CFA and other fire specialists in developing the guide to meet the new bushfire risk categories, known as Bushfire Attack Level (BAL).
“The guide contains simple and easy steps for home owners to modify their home to help increase its chances of surviving a fire,” Mr Ryan said.
“The new retrofit guide provides an extensive list of building recommendations for owners to retrofit their home to withstand a bushfire up to and including BAL-29.”
Mr Ryan said the retrofit guide was not suitable for homes deemed to be in BAL-40 and BAL FZ categories, which required design support from experienced professionals and the use of appropriate building materials.
“Some bushfire survivors are having difficulties rebuilding in areas with these BAL categories and we are committed to working with bushfire-prone communities and industry to provide support where possible,” Mr Ryan said.
Mr Ryan said while retrofitting could not guarantee a house would survive a bushfire it increased a home’s resilience to bushfire attack.
He said a retrofit also increased a home’s environmental rating and reduced heating and cooling costs.
“Retrofitting is highly recommended for homes where new renovations, which comply with current building legislation, have been undertaken but older sections have not been built to the current building code,” Mr Ryan said.
More information is available from this PS News link.
2 February, 2011
Disabled grants to
enable Councils
Local Councils have been urged to apply for grants under the Commonwealth’s new Accessible Communities program which offers up to $100,000 to make communities more accessible for people with disability.
The small infrastructure grants, which are open to individual Councils or consortia of Councils, will improve the accessibility of public buildings and facilities for people with disability.
This includes making improvements such as access ramps, lifts, hoists and accessible public toilets, as well as community infrastructure such as playgrounds, swimming pools, libraries and town halls.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Secretary for Disability and Carers, Senator Jan McLucas said people with disability and their carers deserved the same opportunities as other Australians in their local community.
“These grants will give Local Councils financial assistance to upgrade their public buildings and facilities so people with disability and their carers can participate in the local community,” Senator McLucas said
The Accessible Communities program is part of an $11 million accessibility package to support the Government’s National Disability Strategy.
The Strategy will set a 10-year reform plan for all Governments to address the barriers faced by Australians with disability and encourage greater social inclusion.
Applications for grants close on 25 February. The grants must be matched by applicants with an equal or greater amount of funding.
2 February, 2011
Sports Institute
scores big 3-0
The Australian Institute of Sport turned 30 years of age on Australia Day and is celebrating with a special display at the National Sports Museum in Melbourne.
AIS Director, Professor Peter Fricker said 2011 marked an important milestone in the history of the AIS, which is a major division of the Australian Sports Commission.
“Across the last 30 years the AIS has positioned itself at the forefront of sport, not just in Australia, but across the world,” Professor Fricker said.
“The AIS has a history of producing world champion athletes, and as we push further into the 21st century our goals remain the same.”
Professor Fricker said the display was just one of the activities planned this year to celebrate the anniversary.
He said the display recognised and highlighted some of the achievements of AIS athletes and staff during the last three decades.
Professor Fricker said contents of the display included the recently banned LZR Speedo suit that saw many swimming world records tumble, the first print of the AIS logo, the first letters to the original AIS scholarship holders, and the gold medal won by track and field athlete Russell Short, which was the first individual gold medal won by an AIS athlete at Olympic and Paralympic level.
He said other celebrations this year would include inducting five more athletes into the AIS Best of the Best, which already includes champion athletes Robert de Castella, Alisa Camplin, Michael Milton, Clint Robinson and Lauren Jackson.
2 February, 2011
Library books
bright new look
The North Melbourne Library has reopened after a $570,000 refurbishment.
Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said it had been 14 years since the library was last refurbished, and was thrilled to now be able to offer its member new facilities, better spaces and a fresh new look.
“Around 15,000 people visit the North Melbourne Library every month and it is important that we meet the changing needs of our community,” Mr Doyle said.
He said the refurbishment included three new meeting spaces, a new area for teenagers, dedicated children’s computers and better access to the local history collection.
Future Melbourne (People and Creative City) Chair, Councillor Jennifer Kanis said the new-look North Melbourne Library addressed the needs of the library’s different age groups.
“Adults, teenagers and children use the library in different ways so we have made sure to include a space for teenagers, zones for both quiet and noisy activities and computers just for children which will be up and running in a few weeks’ time,” Councillor Kanis said.
“This refurbishment and redesign not only improves the way the library looks, but gives our members greater flexibility in the way they use the space – whether it’s for meetings, to study or for computer use.”
She said the latest refurbishment was the second stage of a bigger project which began in 2008 with the installation of a lift in the North Melbourne Library.
She said the City of Melbourne has spent close to $370,000 on the two stages, and the State Government also provided the library with a $200,000 Living Libraries Grant for the second stage.
She said future improvement were planned for 2011-12 and included replacing the air-conditioning system, implementing an improved wireless internet service, installing better lighting, and opening up even more space on the first floor for community use.
2 February, 2011
Arts Centre collecting donations
The Arts Centre has been collecting audience donations in response to the flood crisis in parts of Queensland and Victoria.
The Centre raised more than $102,159 during January and thanked those who made contributions.
Upgrade plan on show
VicRoads’ plans for the Western Highway upgrade between Ballarat and Beaufort are on public exhibition at local shire offices and community venues.
VicRoads encouraged people to come along, view the plans and have their say on the preferred alignment.
Plans can be viewed for one month from Thursday, 27 January until Monday, 28 February at the Vicroads Western Highway Project office in Wendouree, the Ballarat Town Hall, the Pyrenees Shire office at Beaufort, and the Central Highlands Regional Library in Ballarat.
Documents can also be viewed at this PS News link.
EPA compliance blitz
The Environment Protection Authority is to conduct a February compliance blitz of sites in south-west Victoria.
EPA’s south-west manager, Gavan Mathieson said a team of 20 EPA officers would visit sites in Geelong, Ballarat, Warrnambool, Port Campbell and Hamilton to check they were complying with EPA licence conditions.
Industries to be targeted include former landfills, composters, chemical operations and brickworks.
EPA officers will also inspect waste containment and treatment systems, stormwater protection and litter control and environmental management practices.
New Regulator for Billabong
A new regulator at Kings Billabong near Mildura will be built to deliver benefits for both the environment and local irrigators.
The Victorian Government will contribute $320,000 to the project, which aims to help improve water quality and fish populations in the billabong and improve irrigators’ access to water.
The environmental regulator would be built across the Psyche Channel which flows into Kings Billabong, downstream of Lower Murray Water’s central pump station.
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