Archived News for Professionals in Federal Government - April, 2012
The Private Health Insurance Ombudsman (PHIO) has launched its new consumer bulletin, Health Insurance Insider, as part of its ongoing consumer awareness campaign.
Private Health Insurance Ombudsman, Samantha Gavel said Health Insurance Insider was another one of the consumer information tools provided by her office to demystify the complexity of private health insurance.
“Consumers can only make the best decisions about private health insurance through access to the best quality information.
ACTU oppose Coalition's proposal to cut support programs.
Vulnerable people would be left without a safety net and the longstanding Australian tradition of egalitarianism and a fair go would be ditched under a Coalition plan to help the wealthy at the expense of the poor.
ACTU President Ged Kearney said Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey’s proposal to cut support programs for Australia’s most vulnerable people shows the Liberal Party is completely out of touch and clueless when it comes to social and economic justice.
“The Liberal Party’s Dickensian 19th century approach to social justice is in complete contrast to community sentiment,” Ms Kearney said.
“Unlike Tony Abbott’s Liberal Party, most Australians recognise that many in our community need greater support in order to overcome unemployment and be able to contribute to the nation’s economy. Many welfare payments in Australia, including the Newstart allowance, are barely enough to survive on.”
Ms Kearney said Mr Hockey was either wilfully misleading or ignorant about the true state of Australian public social spending.
“At 16% of GDP, Australian public social spending is lower than the vast majority of OECD countries, including the United States,” Ms Kearney said.
“The biggest component of our social spending is on health, so if Joe Hockey wants to significantly reduce Australian social spending, this would have to involve large cuts to Medicare and pensions.
“We know the Liberal Party is champing at the bit to take away workers’ rights and now we have evidence it is also gearing up to take away the rights of those who are not fortunate enough to even be in the workforce.
“Smart leaders know that there are real and complex reasons why people are on welfare and that cutting the support and telling them to ‘go it alone’ is no solution.
“All that will do is further grow the divide and entrench generational poverty among those who are capable of turning their lives around, as long as they have support to do so.”
CEFC Expert Panel releases report
The independent Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) Expert Panel has released its final report, with the Federal Government supporting all of the recommendations.
Government announces Pacific Highway contracts
The Federal Government has announced the Parsons Brinkerhoff and ARUP joint venture as the winning bidder for the work to upgrade the duplication of the Pacific Highway between Woolgoolga and Glenugie.
Government releases National Greenhouse Accounts
The Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency has released the National Greenhouse Accounts for the latest emission trends for the December Quarter 2011.
Government to promote senior employment
The Federal Government has announced its initial response to the Final Report of the Advisory Panel on the Economic Potential of Senior Australians (EPSA).
IPART backs carbon price
The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of NSW (IPART) has released findings that show households will be better off under the the Federal Government’s carbon pricing scheme, with the planned compensation associated with the legislation more than covering any potential price increases.
Victoria hits out at OH&S harmonisation
Victoria has lashed out at the proposed Commonwealth OH&S harmonisation laws, saying that the legislation could cost the state more than $3.4 billion over the next five years.
$1.75 billion for skills
The Federal and State governments have announced $1.75 billion in skills spending at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) held last week.
Australia signs infrastructure MoU with China
The Australian and Chinese governments have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening cooperation on delivering infrastructure projects.
BAF to see off red tape
The Business Advisory Forum (BAF) has agreed to reform that will expedite environmental approvals and assessments at its inaugural meeting.
Storm brews over NER reform
Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, Michael O’Brien, has warned that his government may have no other choice but to reconsider its support of COAG’s National Energy Retail (NER) Law Bill if the Federal Government does not provide assurances that the Australian Energy Regulator will be sufficiently funded.
Xenephon pushes for FWA review
Independent Senator Nick Xenaphon has reiterated his push for a review of Fair Work Australia in the wake of the investigation into the Health Services Union (HSU).
AI Group pushes for skills prioritisation
The Australian Industry Group (AI Group) has urged the Federal and State Governments to place a greater priority on skills and training at the upcoming Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting, saying the adaption of a national approach to training is a necessity.
Government acts on Job Forum advice
The Federal Government has announced it has accepted all 21 proposals and recommendations of October's Jobs Forum, saying it will introduce stronger Australian Industry Participation rules for the country’s major private sector and government-funded projects.
Unemployment steady at 5.2 per cent
Australia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was steady at 5.2 per cent in March, as announced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today.
Commissions release trans-Tasman integration paper
The Australian and New Zealand Productivity Commissions have released a joint issues paper for their inaugural study on options to further enhance integration between the Australian and New Zealand economies.
MyUniversity goes live
The Federal Government has launched MyUniversity, the first online service that allows potential students to compare and contrast different universities and the courses they offer.
$21 million to boost autism awareness
Parliamentary Secretary for School Education, Senator Jacinta Collins, launched the second phase of the Gillard Government’s Positive Partnerships to provide classroom and family support for students with autism.
Australia pushes for link with EU trading scheme
The Federal Government and the European Union have confirmed their ‘strong commitment’ to working towards linking their respective Emissions Trading Schemes (ETS), during bilateral talks in Brussels.
Australian Government works to reform attitudes towards education in the Northern Territory
The Australian Government’s Stronger Futures package will provide children in the Northern Territory a $583 million investment over 10 years after Aboriginal people telling the Government that education is a priority.