Archived News for Professionals in Federal Government

The Federal Government has reaffirmed it’s ‘unequivocal support’ for penalty rates in modern awards, specifically over weekends and public holidays.

Reform now or pay the cost warns MCA

The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) has published a new report that warns Australia’s attractiveness as an investment destination is rapidly deteriorating.

Government grants new offshore exploration leases

The Federal Government has announced the grant of seven new offshore petroleum permits as part of the second round of the 2011 Exploration Acreage Release.

Government moves to break down Indigenous education barriers

The Federal Government has released a report outlining a comprehensive roadmap aimed at breaking down the barriers faced by Indigenous students to a university education and creating a new generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander professionals.

Government pledges Murray water

The Federal Government has announced Murray-Darling Basin rivers and wetlands will receive as much as 1,449 gigalitres of Commonwealth environmental water in 2013.

Rail safety regulator bill passes Parliament

The Federal Government has passed legislation through Parliament that will establish the country’s first rail safety investigator.

Report to help build in a changing climate

The Federal Government has released a suite of new reports aimed at helping stakeholders make informed decisions about how to build in a changing climate.

Review of national fisheries management

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Joe Ludwig, has announced a major review of Australian fisheries policy and legislation.

New Senate inquiry into school teaching and learning

The Senate Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Committees is to undertake an inquiry into ‘Teaching and learning - maximising our investment in Australian schools.

Report on enterprise agreements released

The Minister for Workplace Relations Bill Shorten has released Trends in Enterprise Bargaining Report for the June quarter 2012 which shows that more than 20,500 enterprise agreements covering 2.62 million employees have been made since the agreement making provisions of the Fair Work Act began on 1 July 2009.

New CEO of Airservices Australia

One of the most senior officers in the Australian Defence Force, Air Vice-Marshal Margaret Staib, has been appointed as the new CEO of Airservices Australia.

As Commander Joint Logistics, Air Vice-Marshal Staib planned, coordinated and delivered logistics support for Australian Defence Force operations and exercises overseas and in Australia. She also played a key role in developing and implementing the $2.4 billion logistics reform program, an initiative of the 2009 Defence White Paper.

A posting to the United States Air Force at the Pentagon furthered her experience in logistics and procurement. For her work on logistics transformation, Air Vice-Marshal Staib was awarded the United States Meritorious Service Medal.

In January 2009, Air Vice-Marshal Staib was appointed as a Member in the Military Division of the Order of Australia.

Air Vice-Marshal Staib will take up her position on 15 October.

Airservices Australia is a wholly government-owned statutory authority which manages around 11 per cent of the world’s airspace through which more than three million flights carrying 75 million passengers travel each year.

As well as providing air-traffic control services, the organisation also delivers rescue and fire fighting services at the nation's major passenger airports.

More information about Airservices Australia and its current Board Members is available at: www.airservicesaustralia.com.

ATO to publish findings of external scrutiny

The Australian Taxation Office has announced it will publish all findings made by its external scrutineers and the outcomes and improvements from implementing suggested recommendations.

Dirty electricity compensation plan abandoned

The Australian Government has abandoned its Contract for Closure Program, announcing that it will not be offering financial support to close emissions intensive power stations under the Program and ceasing negotiations with the electricity generators involved.

New national office to oversee asbestos management

A new organisation with a central coordinating role will pave the way for a national approach to asbestos awareness and management in Australia.

Productivity Commission reports on regulatory impact analysis

The Productivity Commission has released its draft report on the efficiency and quality of Commonwealth, state and territory and Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) processes.

Vertessy appointed to lead BOM

Renowned water scientist Dr Rob Vertessy has been appointed director of Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology.

Dr Vertessy, who was appointed Deputy Director of the Bureau (Climate and Water) in 2007, has been acting as Director since December last year.

After a career spanning more than 20 years as a senior water scientist and leading researcher, Dr Vertessy joined the Bureau in 2007 and led the expansion of the Bureau’s role in providing the hydrological information central to the delivery of national water reform.

Government agencies advance on FOI reforms

Research released by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) confirms that Australian Government agencies are moving closer to an open access and proactive disclosure culture.