Archived News for Professionals in Federal Government
Budget allocations in the Transport and Infrastsructure portfolio have included funding to continue evaluation of the High Speed Rail project and support for National Transport Regulator reforms.
The Government will provide $20.0 million over four years to improve national transport planning, with a particular focus on the High Speed Rail Unit to continue to evaluate a High Speed Rail project on the Eastern seaboard of Australia.
$37.9 million will be provided over three years to establish national transport regulators for heavy vehicles, rail safety and maritime safety.
Funding redirected from Darwin Port Expansion to NT roads
The Federal Budget has withdrawn the Australian Government’s 2009-10 Budget commitment to provide $50.0 million from the Building Australia Fund to the proposed Darwin Port Expansion project, redirecting the funds for road projects in the Northern Territory.
Budget delivers on key programs
The Federal Government has delivered on its promise to bring the Budget back to black, delivering a $1.5 billion surplus.
COAG agrees to national approach to climate change
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Select Council on Climate Change has reached a bipartisan agreement for a national approach to reforming climate change policies and programs.
Defence White Paper brought forward to 2013
The Federal Government has announced it will start work on a new Defence White Paper, to be delivered in the first half of 2013.
$7.1 million invested in CBEAS
The Gillard Government will provide $7.1 million over four years to ensure five Community Based Employment Advice Services (CBEAS) can continue to assist thousands of Australia’s most vulnerable workers.
Government invests $490 million into teen dental plan
The Federal Government ihas announced it will provide $490 million over five years for the Medicare Teen Dental Plan.
Tasmanian Greens appoint new senator
Economist, business-owner and environmentalist, Peter Whish-Wilson has been selected by the Tasmanian Greens to replace Bob Brown in the Senate.
Australia has potential to become food superpower: PM
Prime Minister Julia Gillard says Australia has the potential to become a future food superpower in an address to the Global Foundation in Melbourne.
Australian Clean Technologies Competion now open
Parliamentary Secretary for Industry and Innovation, Mark Dreyfus, announced the 2012 Australian Clean Technologies Competition open for nominations.
"This year's Australian Clean Technologies Competition is a unique opportunity for Australian clean technology firms to develop their capabilities and gain market exposure for their innovations."
Through the Competition, entrants will link with business mentors, access training opportunities and showcase their capabilities to potential customers, investors and the media.
Competition finalists are given access to the Cleantech Business Accelerator Program through which they are provided with mentoring on commercialisation pathways, business modelling, funding solutions and successful techniques for pitch delivery.
2011 Competition winner, SMAC Technologies, with its innovative air-conditioning technology that reduces energy consumption, represented Australia at the International Global Ideas Competition in the USA.
For further information on how you can participate in the Australian Clean Technologies Competition visit www.cleantechopen.com.au
Dept of Health and Aging appoints new National Manager
The Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) has appointed Dr John Skerritt as the new National Manager of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) which is responsible for regulating therapeutic goods including medicines, medical devices, blood and blood products.
In making the announcement today, the Secretary of the DoHA, Professor Jane Halton, said Dr John Skerritt, who has a PhD in Pharmacology and is an adjunct Professor at the University of Queensland, is currently the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Primary Industries in the Victorian Government and will come to the TGA with extensive experience in medical, agricultural and environmental policy, regulation, research, research management, technology application and commercialisation.
Dr Skerritt is the former Deputy CEO of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (a commonwealth statutory authority) and a two term Ministerial appointee on the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee (Office of Gene Technology Regulator). He has experience on Boards of international and national organisations and more than 25 years experience in negotiating, leading major technical and commercial collaborations with OECD and Asia-Pacific countries.
Early Development Index 2012-2014 launched
Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth Peter Garrett visited the Mount Rogers Early Links to Learning Playgroup in Canberra to launch the second data collection for the Australian Early Development Index (AEDI).
Government warns of hidden costs in satellite phones
The Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy is aware of satellite phone carriers promoting zero up-front payment schemes for satellite phones in Australia.
Ministers to give tourism a push
Australia’s tourism ministers have pushed ahead with efforts to streamline regulation in order to stimulate investment and future growth in tourism.
ALRC releases mature aged workers issues paper
The Australian Law Reform Council (ALRC) has released an Issues Paper for its inquiry into the legal barriers to mature aged participation in the workforce.
Government forms expert groups to help form NDIS
The Federal Government has announced the formation of three expert groups to help inform the design of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Privacy reform to target credit reporting
Attorney-General Nicola Roxon has announced the Federal Government’s intentions to reform the country’s privacy laws, with an aim to simplify credit reporting arrangements, give new enforcement powers to the Privacy Commissioner and better protect people’s personal information.
We're a nation of spendthrifts: report
Australian households are better off than they have ever been before, but our lifestyle aspirations are compromising our disposable income, according to the latest AMP.NATSEM Income and Wealth Report.
CHF hits out at 'horrifying' dental crisis
The Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF) has stressed the Federal Government to take action to avert an imminent dental health catastrophe after it released figures that show the public waiting list for dental health services has stretched out to 650,000 across the nation.
Funding announced for WA wave plant
The Federal Government has announced $10 million in funding for Western Australia’s Carnegie Wave Energy’s Perth Wave Energy Project on Garden Island near Fremantle.
Government boasts university boom
The Federal Government has released its report of the demand driven university placement reform, with Minister for Tertiary Education, Senator Chris Evans, saying the Government’s work will allow for an unprecedented skills boom to meet increased demand for a variety of labour.