Archived News for Professionals in Federal Government
The Federal budget has provided a record $9.3 billion for science and research across all portfolios, up from $8.9 billion last year.
Health and medical research has avoided anticipated losses with funding to the National Health and Medical Research Council increasing to $850 million from $786 million last year. Funding for the Australian Research Council has increased by $101.5 million to $801.2 million.
Programs that have seen reductions include the Cooperative Research Centre program, which has been cut by a further $7.4 million to $165.2 million for 2011-12, continuing a declining trend in funding since 2007-08 when funding for the program peaked at $211.9 million. This year’s budget provides for a total funding cut over four years of $33.4 million.
CSIRO funding steady
CSIRO has been allocated $3 billion in a new new Quadrennial Funding Agreement that will operate over the four years from 2011.
New online system for Medicare, Centrelink and Child Support
New online system for Medicare, Centrelink and Child Support
Mixed results for environment programs in Budget
The Federal Budget has axed a number of failing green initiatives in the country’s 2011-12 Budget.
$181.4 million for National Urban Policy
The Federal Government has announced the formation of a new National Urban Policy, providing $181.4 million designed to ‘progress a range of practical measures which will promote more productive, sustainable and liveable cities.’
Public service jobs steady after Budget
Although the Federal Budget has seen an overall increase in jobs in the Australian Public Service, a temporary rise in the public sector efficiency dividend from 1.25 per cent to 1.5 per cent from July for the next two years is expected to result in some job losses across the Service.
CSIRO staff to vote on Enterprise Agreement
CSIRO and the CSIRO Staff Association are nearing agreement on the new Enterprise Agreement, following months of negotiations and stop work meetings.
Senate Committee calls for end to federal control of territory laws
The Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs has recommended that legislation introduced by the Australian Greens to end federal control over territory laws be passed by the Senate.
$30 million to build Indigenous shire employment
The Federal and Northern Territory Governments have announced a $30 million package to provide sustained employment for up to 530 Indigenous Australians.
CPSU warns of budget job losses
The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) is calling for the Federal Government to stick to its promise not to increase the efficiency dividend as a way of balancing the budget.
Transparency for Federal Government agencies
Australian Government agencies will be required to publish increased amounts of information on their websites under a number of alterations to existing freedom of information laws.
Road Reform Plan Funding and Implementation paper released
The COAG Road Reform Plan (CRRP) has released a new paper to initiate discussion on funding and implementation issues.
Exemption of taxes, fees and charges from the GST - Exposure Draft Regulations
The Assistant Treasurer, Bill Shorten, is proposing new regulations to specify which taxes, fees and charges will still be subject to the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Defence boosts internet services
The Department Defence has signed an industry contract with Verizon Business to provide high level and high speed internet services to industry, government, service personnel, employees and the public.
Government agency efficiency report released
The Government has also released the Review of the Measures of Agency Efficiency report, the central recommendation of which- to apply the efficiency dividend at portfolio level – will be adopted by the Government.
Government lifts efficiency dividend to meet surplus target
The Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Senator Penny Wong, has that Australia's 'efficiency dividend' -- the ratio of agencies' reduction of running costs to budget – will be lifted from 1.25 percent to 1.5 percent for two years in 2011/12 and 2012/13, before it is returned to 1.25 per cent for 2013-14 and 2014-15.
Draft e-health records plan released
A national blueprint has been released for public consultation for the development of personally controlled e-health records (PCEHR) for their 1 July 2012 launch.
Australia lags in global network readiness index
Australia has been ranked number one in the world for the time it takes to start a business, although it has been marked down for its approach to ICT and the availability of new technologies.
Strategic ICT Vision for Federal Government released
The Federal Department of Finance and Deregulation has published the draft of Strategic Vision for the Australian Government’s use of information and communications technology.
National Water Commission chair calls for water pricing rethink
Chair of the National Water Commission Chloe Munro has called for a rethink of the way water is priced in Australia.
Skills shortage growing in engineering and construction
Australia’s growing skills shortage is most pronounced in the Construction, Building and Engineering categories, across Professional, Associate Professional and Trades occupations, according to the latest analysis by the recruitment agency, Clarius Group.