Archived News for Professionals in Federal Government
New online system for Medicare, Centrelink and Child Support
As part of the planned absorption of Medicare and Centrelink into the Department of Human Services, the federal budget has provided a total of $576.2 million over the next four years to upgrade and integrate the agencies’ information technology systems and websites.
Medicare and Centrelink will become part of the Department of Human Services from 1 July 2011, providing the Human Services Legislation Amendment Bill 2011 comes into effect.
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.
Review raises submarine construction policy concerns
The Australian Strategy Policy Institute has released its review of Australia's submarine construction policy, finding that very little progress had been made since the publishing of the Defence White Paper in 2009, which outlined the construction of twelve new, non-nuclear long range submarines 'built to perform a range of demanding tasks'.
Federal Opposition looking to enhance role of Infrastructure Australia
In a recent speech, Federal Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott expressed his support for Infrastructure Australia and said the Opposition would boost IA’s role and resources.
“The Coalition supports Infrastructure Australia (IA) and in government will strengthen its role, creating a more transparent, accountable and effective adviser on infrastructure projects,” Mr Abbott said.
Mr Abbott outlined a number of measures to boost IA’s capabilities and effectiveness:
- The Coalition will ensure that Infrastructure Australia has guaranteed ongoing funding. Funding for Infrastructure Australia expires at the end of this financial year. The Coalition’s commitment means that IA will be provided with the resources necessary for it to do its job properly.
- The Coalition will retain Sir Rod Eddington as the chairman of Infrastructure Australia.
- The Coalition will require that all Commonwealth-funded infrastructure projects worth more than $100 million have undergone a cost-benefit analysis by Infrastructure Australia.
- Infrastructure Australia will be required to publish justifications for its project recommendations, including the net present value of each recommended project.
- The Coalition will task Infrastructure Australia with developing a rolling 15-year infrastructure plan for Australia, with this plan being revised every five years. This will provide certainty for industry as to what infrastructure projects will be pursued by government and in what order. IA will be required to clearly specify infrastructure priorities at the national and state levels, based on a rigorous and transparent assessment of competing infrastructure projects proposed by the states.