Industry News

The 2012 L’Oreal Australia and New Zealand For Women in Science Fellowships recipients have been announced, with three remarkable young women scientists sharing in $75,000. 

The three recipients are:

Dr Suetonia Palmer – University of Otago

Dr Palmer has received the fellowship for her ongoing work in tackling chronic kidney disease. Her work in helping doctors and policy makers handle the growing problem of chronic disease has ensured sufferers increasingly have access to well informed and delivered treatment options.

“I believe we can do much more to help people with kidney disease feel better, get back to work, and give them control of their own treatment,” Dr Palmer said.

Dr Baohua Jia – Swinburne University of Technology

Swinburne’s Dr Jia’s substantial contribution to the world’s ongoing march towards developing high efficiency, low cost solar energy options has seen the young doctor take out the Fellowship for 2012.

Dr Jia’s work focuses on seeing conventional solar cells, which are efficient, but thick and expensive, become a low cost and easy alternative to modern energy generation methods.

Using her knowledge of nanotechnology, Dr Jia and her colleagues have already created thin-film solar cells that are more than 20 per cent efficient than her competitors.

Dr Kylie Mason – Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Research

Dr Mason’s pioneering work in developing new treatments for blood cancers has seen the young clinician receive this year’s fellowship.

Dr Mason’s work into better understanding as to why cancer cells ‘forget to die’ has contributed to a number of treatments for blood cancers, some of which are being clinically trialled in Melbourne.

Her own battle with leukaemia inspired her to throw herself into a career battling blood cancers, seeing her qualify as a doctor and in turn trained as a blood specialist.

Training at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and at the Austin Hospital I spent a lot of time looking after patients with various blood cancers,” she says. “While we could successfully treat most of the children, helping adults was harder. About half of the adults with acute leukaemia still die of their disease.”

New research led by a team from Monash University has revealed that a simple antibody could reverse the damage caused by trauma to the central nervous system.

After a severe neurotrauma event, such as a spinal cord injury, the body produces an inflammatory response that often leads to scarring, leading to permanent nerve damage.

Research led by the Monash University’s Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI) and the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) shows that a new antibody, created by the US therapeutic antibody company Lpath, effectively blocks the effects of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), which results in infflmation and nerve cell death in the immediate aftermath of a neurotrauma event.

The research team, led by Monash’s Dr Yona Goldsmit, found that by administering the antibody soon after the trauma, it was possible to preserve nerve damage and significantly reduce the amount of scarring, while substantially reducing the chance of losses in motor function.

"By blocking the effects of LPA, we can help nerve cells survive a traumatic injury and this will hopefully lead to better outcomes for patients in the future,” Dr Goldshmit said.

Dr Alice Pébay of CERA said that the study offered great hope for the future development of a pharmacological therapy for spinal cord injuries in humans.

“Perhaps this drug will one day be administered in the back of an ambulance, as the patient is being transported to hospital,” Dr Pébay said.  

Current trends in food production and consumption could lead to catastrophic water shortages, a report authored by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) has found.

Authored by dozens of international experts from SIWI, the Food and Agriculture Organizations of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), the report outlines how continuing current trends in food production could lead to increased shortage and intense competition for scarce water resources in many regions around the world.

The report found that agriculture, which accounts for around 70 per cent of the world’s fresh water usage, will leverage increasing demand on the world’s water supply as the global population grows by an estimated two billion people by 2050, placing greater pressure on available water and lasnd.

“Feeding everyone well is a primary challenge for this century. Overeating, undernourishment and waste are all on the rise and increased food production may face future constraints from water scarcity,” said report editor Dr. Anders Jägerskog.

“We will need a new recipe to feed the world in the future.”

The report outlines a number of essential and largely overlooked challenges where dedicated action and structured policy can assist in ensuring food security to a growing global population vying for a finite amount of water, including on-farm efficiency improvements, reductions in losses and waste in the food supply chain and enhanced response networks to early warning systems for agricultural emergencies.

The full report is available at www.siwi.org/publications

Tasmania could become the first state to legalise same sex marriage after it tabled legislation that seeks to remove traditional legal barriers.

Premier Lara Giddings and State Greens Leader, Nick McKim, co-sponsored the bill which is due for debate before parliament this week.

"I am committed to this reform because I fundamentally believe in ending discrimination wherever it exists," Ms Giddings said.

"It was not that long ago that Tasmania was the laughing stock of the country, as the only state in Australia where intolerance against homosexual people was still enshrined in legislation.

Recent polling indicates that 61 per cent of Tasmanians back same-sex marriage, with 54 per cent of Tasmanians believing their state should go ahead with the legislation regardless of what the Federal Government does.

The announcement comes after the South Australian Premier, Jay Weatherill, publically voiced his support for legalising same-sex marriage.

The South Australian Government has announced the opening of a new Natural Resources Management Centre in the state’s South East region.

State Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Paul Caica, said the facility will provide local residents with access to advice on the management of natural resources and key environmental issued in the South East.

“The centre will provide in-person and telephone advice and support to the community on the management of natural resources and environmental issues. It will also connect the region’s residents to their NRM Board, and encourage involvement in decision-making about regional natural resources,” Mr Caica said.

“Making good decisions about the environment and the wise use of our natural resources will help ensure South Australia continues to be a great place to live.

“As a Government we want to make sure the community can access information on land and water use, and opening Natural Resources Centres around the state is one of the best ways of doing this.”

SENRM Board Presiding Member Mark Braes said the new centre would provide many benefits tot he community and would contribute to a more efficient way of managing the region’s natural resources.

“The new centre will enable us to provide an enhanced service to the community and increase the opportunity for community involvement in natural resource management,” Mr Braes said.

The Federal Government has announced that the new $7.5 million John Cade Fellowship in Mental Health Research is now open for applications.

“The new Fellowship will support up to two outstanding researchers with funding of $750,000 per annum for five years to drive innovative mental health research, especially in new and emerging areas,” Federal Minister for Mental Health Mark Butler said.

“The anticipated breakthrough approaches and treatments will benefit the one in five Australians who will suffer from mental illness at some stage in their lives.”

The fellowship is named in honour of Dr John Cade, who discovered the use of lithium to successfully treat bipolar disorder, marking the first effective medication to treat bipolar.

National Health and Medical Research Council CEO Professor Warwick Anderson said the Fellowship will help expand leadership in our nation’s mental health research and strengthen Australia’s capacity to respond to the many challenges in this area.

“In particular, the Fellowship will focus on researchers who are able to contribute to the translation of discoveries into improved mental health outcomes,” Mr Anderson said.

Applications for the John Cade Fellowship will close on 17 October 2012. Successful John Cade Fellows are likely to be announced mid-2013.

For more information, visit www.nhmrc.gov.au

The number of Victorian households with rainwater tanks increased to 707,000 in 2011 from 600,000 in 2009, according to a report released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

One in three Victorian households has a rainwater tank and around half of all households are using either greywater, recycled water or both.

There were 120,000 households with solar hot water systems in 2011. Solar hot water systems are installed in 1 in 18 households while 1 in 19 homes have solar photo voltaic panels for generating electricity.

One third of all households have front loading washing machines (34%). The proportion of front loading washing machines in 2009 was 28%.

Some household whitegoods have become more prevalent with 58% of Victorian households owning a dishwasher, up from 53% in 2009. Ownership of other items like clothes dryers (55%) remains steady.

The survey also found;

• Households in regional Victoria were more likely to use solar hot water systems and solar panels as a source of energy compared to households in Melbourne.
• One third of all households had a separate freezer.
• Melbourne had a larger proportion of households using mains gas as a source of energy (93%) compared to Balance of Victoria (56%)

Further details are located in Household Water and Energy Use (cat. no. 4602.2.00), available for free download fromwww.abs.gov.au.

Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Cobmet, and the European Commissioner for Climate Action, Connie Hedegaard, have announced that Australia and Europe will be linking their emissions trading systems.

The agreement will see a full two-way link by means of mutual recognition of carbon units between the two cap and trade systems, with the combined emissions trading system (ETS) starting no later than mid 2018.

Under the scheme, businesses will be able to use either Australian or European carbon credits to conduct their businesses.

"Linking the Australian and European Union systems reaffirms that carbon markets are the prime vehicle for tackling climate change and the most efficient means of achieving emissions reductions." Mr Combet said.

"The European Union is the first regional emissions trading system and spans the largest part of the European continent. We now look forward to the first full inter-continental linking of emission trading systems." Ms Hedegaard said.

"This would be a significant achievement for both Europe and Australia. It is further evidence of strong international cooperation on climate change and will build further momentum towards establishing a robust international carbon market."

To facilitate linking, the Australian Government will make two changes to the design of the Australian carbon price. These are that:

• the price floor will not be implemented.
• a new sub-limit will apply to the use of eligible Kyoto units. While liable entities in Australia will still be able to meet up to 50 per cent of their liabilities through purchasing eligible international units, only 12.5 per cent of their liabilities will be able to be met by Kyoto units.

"Starting today, Australian liable entities can purchase EU allowances for future compliance in Australia," Mr Combet said.

"These arrangements provide Australian businesses with access to a larger market for cost-effective emission reductions and provide European market participants with enhanced business opportunities.”

Mr Combet also said the arrangements would provide flexibility to businesses with operations in both Australia and Europe, which could reduce compliance costs.

The Federal Government has announced $8 million in funding under the NRM Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Research Grants Program, aimed at fostering research projects between institutions and region Natural resource Management (NRM) organisations.

“Understanding the impacts of a changing climate at a regional level is important to guide sustainable land management,” Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Mark Dreyfus said.

“Changes in temperature, rainfall and extreme weather events will affect water availability, water and soil quality, fire risk and the incidence of pests, weeds and disease.”

The $8 million will be sourced from carbon price revenue, and will be provided over four years to ensure NRM organisations are informed on climate change, its impacts and potential responses.

“This program will improve the capacity of regional organisations to plan for climate change and capitalise on the opportunities provided by the Government's Carbon Farming Initiative and the Biodiversity Fund,” Mr Dreyfus said.

The Impacts and Adaptation Grants Program is part of Stream 2 of the Regional NRM Planning for Climate Change Fund - part of the Government's Clean Energy Future package.

The Federal Government has promised to enhance the opportunities for small and medium sized enterprises to gain business from resources projects.

The announcement comes after the Government hosted a third Resources Sector Supplier Advisory Forum, which has authorised Melbourne Business School to develop training and education tools to help SMEs build their capabilities and access to major resource project supply chains.

"The Forum is part of the Government's Buy Australian at Home and Abroad initiative to maintain a strong and diverse economy, boost our manufacturing sector and share the benefits of the resources boom," Industry and Innovation Minister Greg Combet said.

"The Supplier Advocate will work with Government programs and agencies like Enterprise Connect, Austrade, AusIndustry, the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation and the Industry Capability Network (ICN) to share information to help SMEs secure work on major resource projects.

The forum comprises representatives from manufacturing, resources, mining technology and services and engineering and procurement firms, and unions, academia and industry associations. Two of the newly-appointed Resources Sector Supplier Advocates - Christian Larsen and Paul Johnson MBE - also attended the Forum.

Further information about the Forum, Envoy and Resources Supplier Advocates is provided atwww.innovation.gov.au/buyaustralian

The Western Australian Government has released its Strategic Energy Initiative blueprint, setting out the state’s long-term development of the state’s energy sector.

“The Strategic Energy Initiative, Energy2031 outlines a vision and strategic directions for our energy sector that will enable affordable, secure, reliable and cleaner energy for future generations of West Australians,” State Energy Minister Peter Collier said.

“Energy2031 aims to provide industry and the community with clarity about the sector’s direction and the future framework for State Government policy.

“The Western Australian economy, including the energy sector, will continue to operate in an evolving and more globally connected environment, and the ability to adapt to these changing circumstances is paramount.

“This, coupled with the unique characteristics of our State’s energy sector, drives the need for a more strategic approach in energy policy setting.”

The strategy outlines five key pathways:

• diverse and secure energy supply
• pro-active energy planning
• effective and efficient energy delivery
• informed and responsible energy use
• capacity building.

Copies of the Strategic Energy Initiative, Energy2031 Final Paper are available on the Department of Finance website at http://www.finance.wa.gov.au/energy2031.

A new report released by the Housing Industry Association (HIA) shows a disappointing start to the 2012/13 financial year for new home sales.

HIA’s New Home Sales report surveyed Australia’s largest volume builders, showing a 5.6 per cent decline in July, with a 5.5 per cent drop in detached housing and 6.4 per cent in the multi-unit market.

"New home building is the weakest sector of the Australian economy. Despite interest rate cuts in 2011/12, the two updates for this financial year – new home sales and the Australian Industry GroupHIA Performance of Construction Index - both point to deteriorating conditions in July," said HIA Chief Economist, Dr Harley Dale.

Despite the attractive market conditions, including lowe interest rates and easing pressure on skilled labour availability, Dr Dale said that consistently weak consumer and business confidence is weighing heavily on new housing development.

“Combine that low confidence with very tight credit conditions and excessive taxation, and you have the unpalatable  recipe for the recessionary conditions  facing new housing,” said Dr Dale.

In July 2012 the number of seasonally adjusted new detached house sales fell by 6.0 per cent in New South Wales, 4.6 per cent in Victoria,  8.9 per cent in South Australia, and 14.4 per cent in Western Australia. Queensland bucked the trend with a rise of 11.1 per cent in July

The Federal Government has launched Australia’s National Anti-Racism Strategy, with Attorney-General Nicola Roxon and Minister for Multicultural Affairs Senator Kate Lundy calling on all Australians to stand against racism.

The Racism, it stops with me strategy sets out a three year plan for Government to work with community partners to combat racism across schools and higher education, the media, government service providers, workplaces and the internet.

"It's not cool to laugh at a joke that just isn't funny - you can speak out for others," Ms Roxon said.

"Comments like 'I'm not racist, but...' aren't okay and we all need to step in and pull people up.

Senator Lundy said the strategy was a key initiative of our national multicultural policy, The People of Australia, and confirmed the government's continued commitment to a national partnership to combat racism.

"The new national strategy reaffirms the government's strong opposition to all forms of racism, discrimination, intolerance and prejudice," Senator Lundy said.

"Racism discounts people's contribution, locking them out of social and economic opportunities and entrenching disadvantage.

"The tagline: 'Racism. It stops with me' makes it absolutely clear that the strategy starts at a grassroots level and everyone in Australia can work to combat racism when they see or experience it.

Chevron Australia has announced it has reached an agreement to exchange its holdings in the Browse development for Shell Development’s interests in the Clio and Acme fields in the Carnarvon Basin.

Under the agreement, Chevron will exchange its 16.7 percent interest in the East Browse titles and 20 per cent interest in the West Browse for Shell’s 33.3 percent interests in the WA-205-P and WA-42-R blocks. This will give Chevron a 100 percent interest in WA-205-P and WA-42-R. Shell will also make a $450 million cash payment to Chevron.

“Acquiring the remaining interests in WA-205-P and WA-42-R fits strategically with our long-term plans to grow our Wheatstone area resource base, and create expansion opportunities for the Wheatstone Project,” George Kirkland, vice chairman, Chevron Corporation, said.

BHP Billiton has announced the sale of its wholly owned Yeelrrie uranium desposit in Western Australia to Cameco Corporation for US$430 million.

BHP Billiton Uranium President, Dean Dalla Valle, welcomed the announcement of the site, which is located 630 kkilometres north-east of Perth in the Northern Goldfields region of Western Australia. Uranium was first discovered at the site in 1972 by the Western Mining Corporation, which was in turn acquired by BHP Billiton in 2005.

“Cameco is one of the world’s largest publicly listed uranium producers and is highly respected in the industry. We believe they are well placed to carry this project forward in a responsible manner.”

The sale is subject to relevant approvals from the Australian Foreign Investment Review Board and the Government of Western Australia.

The NSW Business Chamber has accused the State Government’s rail transport plan of jeopodising the future prospects of a High Speed Rail network in a recently released report.

The Liveable Sydney: How would High-Speed Rail Change Sydney and NSW establishes six recommendations aimed at improving outcomes from the disparate planning mechanisms used by Federal and State Governments.

“Integrating High Speed Rail into Sydney’s existing rail network is the most cost effective option to reduce the significant construction costs of a High Speed Rail network linking Newcastle, Sydney and Canberra, and ultimately Melbourne and Brisbane,” said Stephen Cartwright, CEO of the NSW Business Chamber.
 
“We believe an integrated approach could cut the cost of High Speed Rail by between $10 to $15 billion dollars.”

The Chamber feels that the plans for a rapid transit system and a number of other planned rail works could ‘lock out’ the delivery of a High Speed Rail network through Sydney.

“This is not about being opposed to the North West Rail Link – far from it. It is about ensuring the right operating model is in place to cope with the growing demands of Sydney and its fringes,” Mr Cartwright said.

“This report shows that High Speed rail is not only about servicing intercity travellers – which of course remains a fundamental requirement of High-Speed Rail – but it can also help outer-suburban commuters more easily access Sydney’s employment areas, thereby improving travel times and minimising congestion.”

The six recommendations of the report are:

1. A single transport vision for Sydney out to 2061 should be developed by the NSW and Federal Governments.
2. The Federal and NSW Governments should integrate high-speed rail services with the Sydney suburban rail network as the initial solution until separate high-speed rail infrastructure can be economically justified.
3. The NSW Government should revise its recent rail plan, Sydney’s Rail Future, to ensure it does not prevent high-speed rail from travelling through the Sydney CBD as a result of limiting the second harbour crossing and North West Rail Link to rapid transit rail.
4. The NSW Government needs to shift the focus of land use and transport planning from measuring proximity to a transport service to measuring total journey time, to better reflect ‘liveability’.
5. The NSW Government should include high-speed rail as part of its Sydney Metropolitan Plan, Long Term Transport Master Plan and State Infrastructure Strategy to help address housing affordability and journey time issues.
6. The NSW and Federal Governments should form a joint steering committee charged with determining the design and operation of high-speed rail through Sydney to feed into the Federal Government’s feasibility study on high-speed rail. 

The full report can be downloaded here (.pdf)

Logistics giant Linfox has announced the opening of its new Perth ‘super site’, with Premier Colin Barnett officially opening the new facility.

The new $70 million site is designed to support the state’s booming resources sector, and will directly employ over 130 staff.

Chairman Peter Fox said the investment will bring a ‘new level of sophistication’ in service for the resources industry and broader economy.

“Key mining projects will benefit from our commitment to cutting edge technology and skilled employment,” said Mr Fox. 

“Hazelmere features high tech systems that guarantee accurate management of a vast range of essential needs for remote resource projects.”

The Queensland Government has passed legislation establishing Australia’s first National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, which is now due to commence operations at the beginning of January next year.

The legislation will mean long haul operators will no longer need to meet individual state and territory laws that regulate log books, driving hours and maximum loads.

The passage of the NHVR law coincides with the Federal Government passing legislation that will establish the first National Marine Safety Regulatory, which will aim to lift maritime safety standards, reduce red tape and better protect the marine environment.

The passing of the two pieces of legislation follows the establishment of the National Rail Safety Regulator, which will see the country’s rail system brought under a single, streamlined regulator effective from January next year.

The Federal Government estimates the combined savings from the establishment of the three regulators to be in excess of $30 billion in direct and flow-on benefits over the coming 20 years. 

Engineering and construction group URS Australia has announced the appointment of Geoff Pereira as the new Director of Capital Projects, with responsibility for overseeing mining and mine infrastructure projects for the company’s Western Australian operations.

Mr Pereira will also be charged with overseeing the company’s leadership role on the Pilbara EPCM JV, where URS, in Joint Venture with Lycopodium, is currently executing Nammuldi and Silvergrass mine development projects for Rio Tinto.

Prior to joining the URS team, Mr Pereira held a number of senior management positions including a role as Global Director for their Iron Ore business with KBR, in which he oversaw major expansions in a number of large scale projects.

The Western Australian Government has allocated $17 million in funding to the Waste Authority to start improving the state’s recycling and waste diversion record from 30 per cent to in excess of 50 per cent over the next five years.

State Environment Minister Bill Marmion approved the Waste Authority’s five-year business plan to achieve the improvement targets, which will receive $17.2 million in funding for the first year.

“The State’s first waste strategy, Creating the Right Environment, was launched in March 2012, outlining ambitious but achievable targets to reduce waste going to landfill,” Mr Marmion said.

“The authority will immediately initiate action on all the strategy’s five targeted objectives.”

Some key initiatives to be rolled out before the end of the year include:

• community education campaign to address improper dumping of rubbish at charity collection centres
• targeted collections of household hazardous waste managed through the existing local government collection system
• establishing additional mattress recycling options within the metropolitan area
• increased support for e-waste collections in non-metropolitan centres while the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme is rolled out across Australia
• trialling the processing of commercial waste through resource recovery facilities designed to cater for municipal solid waste
• commencement of a best-practice implementation incentive scheme for local government to drive increased recovery of resources from urbanised areas
• launching a round of the Strategic Waste Initiatives Scheme to support the development of additional waste processing infrastructure in the State.

Mr Marmion said the Government would await the outcome of the Landfill Regulatory Review, being undertaken by DEC, with the assistance of the Waste Authority, and the statutory review of the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2007, before considering any changes to the landfill levy.