Industry News

The Western Australian Government has released the latest State Priority Occupation List, showing that engineers, nurses and childcare workers are among the most sought-after employees.

“Of the 339 occupations identified, more than 70 per cent are managers, professionals, technicians and trade workers, underscoring the need for high-level skills and training in the WA workforce,” State Minister for Training and Workforce Development Murray Cowper said.

“Each occupation is ranked as a State Priority 1, State Priority 2 or an Industry Training Council-identified priority, with nurses, engineers and childcare workers among those jobs currently experiencing peak demand.”

The list was developed through input with industry stakeholders via the State Training Council network, combined with data assembled using key economic and labour market indicators.

Assessment for inclusion on the State Priority Occupation List follows a range of criteria, such as the skill level required to perform the job, educational pathways available for training, as well as the impact of the occupation upon industry or the State economy.

The Minister said it was critical that the State Government planned for the future to ensure employment and training opportunities were maximised and future skills shortages minimised.

“With billions of dollars in projects either under way or under consideration, it is essential the Government has up-to-date information to guide its workforce planning decisions,” he said. 

“The State Priority Occupation List helps us maximise training and employment opportunities for all West Australians so we have the right skills, at the right time, now and into the future.”

The full list is available here

The Victorian Government has announced $10.6 million in funding to boost research that will accelerate productivity growth in the grains industry by developing superior varieties and management practices best suited for local conditions.

State Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Peter Walsh, said the Government will commit the funding from this year’s State Budget over a four year period.

"As a result of this funding commitment, the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) will undertake new research, development and an extension to significantly enhance the productivity of the grains sector," Mr Walsh said.

"Our researchers will develop new grains germplasm to underpin the breeding of varieties better suited to local conditions, superior agronomic packages for cereals, oilseeds and pulses and new soil management options for local production systems.

"DPI research to improve soil resilience will deliver tools to help make soils more conducive to sustainable productivity growth.

"DPI will also focus research on production in high rainfall zones and develop new extension, training and network programs to build the capacity of growers across the state."

The new research targeting productivity in the grains sector is a key element in the Growing Food and Fibre initiative – the Coalition Government's $61.4 million commitment to agriculture.

The Western Australian Government has launched a new initiative that will offer engineering program for school students that will be housed at the $63 million Governor Stirling Senior High School in Midland from 2013.

The Approved Specialist Program in Engineering partners Governor Stirling Senior High School with Leighton Contractors to deliver a five-year sponsorship agreement.

The agreement will provide student scholarships and ensure ready access to industry knowledge and opportunities for practical experience.

State Minister for Education Peter Collier said with more than 30,000* new jobs forecast over the next three years in the mining, construction, professional and technical services sectors, secondary schools played a vital role in getting young people ready for industry.

“The scholarships provided by Leighton Contractors as part of this sponsorship will help students with their studies and target high academic achievers, girls and indigenous students wanting to pursue university qualifications and careers in engineering,” he said.

“There will also be traineeships for students wanting to pursue vocational and trade pathways, which is an area I want to ensure more secondary schools are preparing students for.

“I believe our schools should be preparing all students with a qualification on graduation, not simply focusing on being a pathway to university for those who want to pursue tertiary studies.”

The school has also teamed up with The University of Western Australia to access academic and curriculum expertise.

“The Approved Specialist Program in Engineering has all the right ingredients for success - the backing and support of a major construction company, the expertise of one of the world’s top 100 universities and a state-of-the-art public school campus.”

The Queensland Government has called for more community-based environmental groups to apply for grants available to rehabilitate their local environment.

State Environment and Heritage Protection Minister, Andrew Powell, urged more groups that supply for the first round of the Everyone’s Environment grants.

The State Government will provide $12 million over the next three years for groups to tackle local conservation issues, with the second and third rounds of grants being made available in 2013 and 2014.

“Only weeks remain until applications close for the first round of these grants on 28 September.

“Individual grants between $2,000 and $100,000 are available for projects like tree-planting and restoring land, water quality improvement, land and waterway clean-ups, and monitoring pollutants in streams,” Mr Powell said.

Mr Powell said grants were open to community service organisations such as parents and citizens’ groups, Landcare, Coastcare, Bushcare, Rivercare and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups.

The Federal Government has announced the launch of the Australian Medicare Local Alliance, the body charged with ensuring a more effective and cohesive network of Medicare Locals.

Federal Minister for Health, Tanya Plibersek, said that the alliance will play a key role in ensuring Medicare Locals function effectively and efficiently.

“Medicare Locals will improve the coordination and integration of primary health care in local communities, addressing service gaps and making it easier for patients to navigate their local healthcare system,” she said.

“As the body responsible for supporting Medicare Locals at the national level, the new Australian Medicare Local Alliance will assume a key leadership role in primary health care.” 

Nationally, 61 Medicare Locals have been established to identify gaps in primary health care services at the local level, especially for high need and underserviced groups, and to better target services to respond to those gaps. 

The Australian Government has committed a total of $493 million from 2010-11 to 2012-14 for the establishment and operation of Medicare Locals. It will also be the primary funder of the Australian Medicare Local Alliance. 

The Federal Government has released the Ten of the Best Research Projects 2012 paper, showcasing the work of some of the finest medical researchers in the country.

“From new and  innovative approaches to helping bridge the gap between the health of older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their non-Indigenous counterparts or new ways of better caring for premature babies, Australian researchers are involved in groundbreaking  research that is improving  the health of our community,”  Federal Minister for Health Tanya Plibersek said.

“Ten of the Best Research Projects 2012 features NHMRC-funded researchers who are leading the way in finding innovative solutions to some of our nation’s greatest health challenges.

The ten projects range from Professor Glenn Marshall and his team’s work on new treatments for childhood cancers, including the deadly neuroblastoma, to the extensive contributions made by Professor Keryn Williams and her team in the area of corneal grafts – effectively, giving the gift of sight.

“These projects were picked for Ten of the Best on the basis of the strength of the science and significance of outcomes,” NHMRC CEO Professor Anderson said.

“Four of the ten research teams have had their work translated into new health policy and practice that is improving the lives of Australians and people around the world.”

NHMRC Ten of the Best (2012) Research Summaries

Research Institution:
Murdoch Childrens Research Institute
Researcher:
Professor Katrina Allen
Grant type:
NHMRC Career Development Fellowship
Funding amount:
$274,961 (2006 – 2010)

The research conducted by Professor Allen and her team has broken new ground on more accurate ways of identifying food allergies in children. In applying these new methods, the true prevalence of child food allergies has been revealed.

Research Institution:
University of Melbourne
Researcher:
Professor Lorena Brown
Grant type:
NHMRC Project Grant
Funding amount:
$513,717 (2008 – 2010)

Professor Brown and her team’s research into the H5N1 influenza virus uncovered a flu inhibitor in saliva that prevents the virus from travelling to the lungs and having potentially fatal effects. This research, conducted in animal models, will now be tested in humans.

Research Institution:
Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute
Researcher:
Professor Mark Febbraio
Grant type:
NHMRC Project Grant
Funding amount:
$467,720 (2008 – 2010)

This research is showing promising applications in the form of a new treatment for Type 2 diabetes and another for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The answer, which Professor Febbraio and his team are exploring, appears to lie in the activation of a particular heat stress protein in muscle tissue.

Research Institution:
Monash University
Researcher:
Professor Richard Harding
Grant type:
NHMRC Program Grant
Funding amount:
$8,381,821 (2006 – 2010)

Professor Harding and his team are working to improve the health outcomes of preterm babies. In particular, they are interested in how best to support the function of preterm babies’ lungs. The team have already found that lowering levels of oxygen administered enables gas pressure to be maintained in the lungs while reducing unwanted side effects associated with higher levels.

Research Institution:
University of Melbourne
Researcher:
Professor Marshall Lightowlers
Grant type:
NHMRC Research Fellowship
Funding amount:
$739,574 (2006 – 2010)
 
Professor Lightowlers and his team have produced vaccines for two potentially fatal parasitic diseases: neurocysticercosis and hydatid. The team are now working to improve one of the vaccines so it can be delivered in one dose instead of two – an important goal given these diseases affects some of the poorest countries in the world.

Research Institution:
Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Park Campus
Western Australian Centre for Health and Ageing
Researcher:
Dr Dina LoGiudice
Grant type:
NHMRC Strategic Award
Funding amount:
$1,081,062 (2007 – 2010)

This research has produced a culturally appropriate tool for assessing dementia in older Indigenous Australians. The next steps for Dr LoGiudice and her team include developing appropriate models of care for this cohort, living in remote Indigenous communities, and ways of preventing the disease.

Research Institution:
Children's Cancer Institute Australia
Sydney Children's Hospital
Researcher:
Professor Glenn Marshall
Grant type:
NHMRC Program Grant
Funding amount:
$5,029,092 (2006 – 2010)

Professor Marshall and his team have been working together for 20 years on improving treatments for childhood cancer. Focusing specifically on a deadly embryonal cancer, neuroblastoma, they have already identified a number of different strategies that are now undergoing clinical trials.

Research Institution:
Deakin University
Researcher:
Professor Richard Osborne
Grant type:
NHMRC Career Development Fellowship
Funding amount:
$462,290 (2006 – 2010)

Addressing inequalities in the health care system is what drives Professor Osborne and his team. They developed a new model that better prioritises those on waiting lists for hip and joint replacements which has been implemented in all Victorian public hospitals – with the rest of Australia to come.

Research Institution:
Institute for Molecular Bioscience
Researcher:
Professor Brandon Wainwright
Grant type:
NHMRC Project Grant
Funding amount:
$521,961 (2008 – 2010)

Research by Professor Wainwright and his team indicates that by manipulating a genetic pathway that is behind skin cancer, skin cells can either be replenished or become cancerous. Next steps include proving that the cells generated through this manipulation are true stem cells and can repair and regenerate skin.

Research Institution:
Flinders University
Researcher:
Professor Keryn Williams
Grant type:
NHMRC Research Fellowship
Funding amount:
$739,574 (2006 – 2010)

For nearly 30 years, Professor Williams and her team have been helping to give the gift of sight to thousands of Australians. The team discovered that immunological rejection was the most common cause of corneal graft failure. Separately, their work has led to a dramatic cut in waiting times for a corneal graft.

The Federal Government has welcomed Colin Neave’s formal appointment as the Commonwealth Ombudsman, following months of having the position vacant following Allan Asher’s resignation late last year.

Federal Minister for the Public Service and Integrity Gary Gray welcomed Mr Neave’s appointment, saying his ‘impeccable record in senior leadership’ will ensure continual improvement in the public sector.

“The Office of Ombudsman is a critical part of our system of government accountability,” Mr Gray said.

“It plays a key role in ensuring that Australians receive the public service that they deserve.”

Mr Neave is currently President of the Administrative Review Council, Vice Chair of the Australian Press Council, Chairperson of the Legal Services Board of Victoria and Chairman of the Commonwealth Consumer Affairs Advisory Council. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in June 2005 for service to public administration and to the banking and finance industry, particularly through dispute resolution.

Mr Neave’s appointment is for a period of five years commencing on 17 September 2012.

The New South Wales Government has announced its intention to revamp the state’s ICT procurement policy following the release of the long-awaited Commission of Audit.

Despite only a handful of the 132 key recommendations of the report relating to the ICT sector, it found that its expenditure in procurement, which hit $993 last year, significantly outweighs its related revenue.

The Commission argued that the current in-house management of ICT is ‘very dated’ in the face of rapidly changing technology and service availability.

The report found that in excess of $100 million in savings a year could be made through reforming the procurement process in areas of projects and services, computer procurement and telecommunications.

The Commission concluded that moving to a commercial procurement model and developing a ‘more mature environment that offers better services’ could significantly reduce procurement costs.

The mining sector’s continual growth is producing significant flow-on benefits for the country’s information and communication technology sector, according to a new report released by IDC.

According to the Resources ICT Market Forecast and Analysis 2011 to 2015 report, resource sector spending on ICT topped $2.51 billion in the 2011-12 financial year, representing 6 per cent of the ICT sector’s total activity.

"The resource industry has been growing rapidly over the past few years and, despite the uncertain global outlook, it looks set to continue its growth. However, this brings new challenges, such as escalating costs, which companies are increasingly looking to technology to offset," says Emilie Ditton, research manager, Vertical Markets.

And the future looks bright for the ICT sector’s profitability in the resources sector, with Ms Ditton saying that related profits are only expected to increase.

"IDC predicts Australian resources spending on ICT will increase from A$2,421.7 million in 2010 to A$2,911.5 million, realising an above-average CAGR of 3.8% between 2010 and 2015. Opportunities for IT vendors in the resource sector will be in supporting the drive for productivity and organisational effectiveness, and specifically on the deployment of mobile applications, remote application delivery, business intelligence/predictive analytics, and cloud computing."

The full report can be bought here

The Victorian Government has outlined more funding under its flagship $55 million infrastructure investment aimed at reducing road trauma on the state’s roads.

Premier Ted Baillieu announced more funding upgrades throughout the state, brining the total number of funded projects to 80 as part of the Transport Accident Commission’s Safer Roads Infrastructure Program (SRIP).

“In recent weeks, Victorians may have seen a number of road safety projects announced in their community. These projects are part of a $55 million investment state-wide," Mr Baillieu said.

"Approximately $31 million has been allocated to improve intersection safety, while $24 million will be spent on works to reduce the incidence and severity of head-on and run-off-road crashes."

The $55 million SRIP program will also benefit dozens of roads across Victoria, including a major boost to improving safety in Melbourne's western suburbs.

Major works include a $5.8 million upgrade of Derrimut/Hopkins Road between Tarneit and Rockbank, a $5.5 million run-off-road project on the Melton Highway, and $1.3 million of safety improvements for Somerton Road, Greenvale.

Australian mobile app platform biNu has secured a $2 million funding round from Google Chairman Eric Smith’s venture company as well as other key investors from both the US and Australia.

Since launching early last year, biNu has attracted four million monthly users for its system, which brings iPhone-like experiences to low-end smartphones and feature phones.

biNu’s system provides fast and affordable access to apps for users across the world, particularly targeting emerging markets where phones often represent the only internet enabled device, and frequently represent the user’s first access to the internet.

“As publishers, content owners and social companies race into emerging markets looking for growth, mobile devices and mobile networks simply can’t keep up. biNu set out to give the 4 or 5 billion people who don’t have top end smartphones or reliable high bandwidth cellular networks a great mobile internet experience,” biNu co-founder and CEO Gour Lentell said.

A new report released by the Australia Institute has warned that the country risks significantly underestimating its contribution to global climate change if it fails to adequately measure fugitive emissions from coal seam gas wellheads.

The institute found that while concerns have been raised about the direct environmental impact of CSG practices, particularly that of fracking on the water supply, little research had been done into the broad effects of CSG extraction.

Gas is increasingly being seen by some as a 'bridging fuel' in the fight against climate change, yet because we don't accurately measure the amount of leakage at wellheads we have no way of knowing if we're actually reducing our emissions by switching from coal to coal seam gas,” Australia Institute’s Senior Economist Matt Grudnoff said.

"What's worse is that we could inadvertently be making it harder for the world to limit the warming effect of climate change below the environmental tipping point of two degrees."

The report recommends allocating funding from the $200 million the government has put aside from the Minerals Resource Rent Tax towards measuring fugitive emissions.

Another consequence of underestimating fugitive emissions from CSG is that it blunts the impact of the carbon price as firms will not be paying the tax on all of their emissions. An extra 62 million tonnes over three years is equivalent to giving CSG companies more than $1.5 billion the report found.

"If emissions from coal seam gas are significantly lower than actual emissions then there is no incentive for CSG producers to introduce world's best practice. This means Australian taxpayers are effectively subsidising this industry to be inefficient," said Mr Grudnoff.

The report can be found here 

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has announced it has commenced the largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health survey in its history, aimed at improving knowledge of the health issues affecting this group of Australians.

This survey will expand on the 2004-05 survey by increasing the number of participants by 30%, collecting new information on exercise, diet (including bush foods) and measures of cholesterol, blood glucose and iron. 

For the first time, the ABS will directly measure obesity and blood pressure levels, as well as nutritional status and chronic disease. By combining the self-reported information together with the biomedical samples, a more complete picture of the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will be available. Importantly this will give us some information about the level of undiagnosed conditions, such as diabetes. 

While the biomedical component of the survey is voluntary, our survey champion Cathy Freeman encourages people to get involved as: ‘you will be helping your family, your community, and future generations to live longer healthier lives’.

The survey will be conducted over 2012-13 across the country in cities and remote communities to create evidence to measure progress in improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and contributing to Closing the Gap in life expectancy. 

The first survey results will be released in September 2013 and will be used by a wide range of Aboriginal organisations, health researchers, public health advocates, government, clinicians and community health organisations. 

Gas giant Santos has confirmed that the planned Moomba 191 dedicated shale well is commercially viable and will soon begin production of the country’s first dedicated shale well.

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill welcomed the announcement, describing it as a major milestone for the unconventional gas industry in the state.

“Unconventional gas has always been regarded as something that would happen in the future but this discovery will lead to unconventional gas being used in households around the state as early as next year,” Mr Weatherill said.

“This discovery adds momentum for unconventional gas exploration and development in the South Australian Cooper Basin.

“Through the Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy, South Australia has been leading the nation in this field for a long time and we are now well-positioned to capitalize on the huge potential of this resource.

“This is just the sort of outcome contemplated by South Australia’s Roadmap for Unconventional Gas Projects.”

State Minister for Resources and Energy, Tom Koutsantonis, said the announcement was the first step to delivering hundreds of millions, and possible billions, of investment dollars to the State.

The Queensland Government has announced applications for $60 million in funding under the first round of the Royalties for Regions program will open in September.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Jeff Seeney, said that the 14 eligible councils have until early October to lodge their Expression of Interest applications.

“Of the $495 million being invested across the State over the next four years, $60 million will be available in 2012/13,” Mr Seeney said. 

“This is about reinvesting a share of royalties to help build new and improved community, road and floodplain security infrastructure and the first round of funding will focus on critical or urgent infrastructure projects,” he said. 

“The Royalties for the Regions program will also help local government and communities manage the impacts of rapid growth in the resource sector”

The Royalties for the Regions framework is made up of three funding streams: 

• Resource Community Building Fund – to deliver improved community infrastructure such as education and health facilities, community centres and sporting facilities ($170 million over four years)
• Roads to Resources – to enhance the safety, connectivity and capacity of roads servicing resource communities ($285 million over four years) 
• Floodplain Security Scheme – to build levees, flood bypasses, flood mitigation dams, flood retention basins and other key projects to protect Queensland communities from flooding. ($40 million over four years, with $40 million funding to be sought from the Commonwealth and $20 million from local governments) 

Funding applications will go through a two-stage competitive assessment process. Eligible regional councils will submit an Expression of Interest (stage one), with successful Expressions of Interest proceeding to a full business case (stage two). 

Mr Seeney said eligible councils would be notified of successful projects in February 2013. 

A team of researchers from Queensland’s James Cook University is undertaking research to determine if venom from funnel web spiders and tarantulas can be used to kill breast cancer cells.

State Science Minister Ros Bates admitted that while the research was unorthodox, it could yield impressive results for suffers of a variety of cancers.

“Spiders are often treated with fear; they have a complex mix of venom molecules that kill prey and predators. Researchers have found that their venom may offer an untapped suite of natural molecules to fight breast cancer cells,” Ms Bates said.

“With more than 40,000 species of spiders it’s estimated there are more than four million different toxins in spider venom. Those toxins will now be screened, to look at their potential to treat cancer in humans.”

JCU’s Professor Norelle Daly said the team was also investigating the potential anti-carcinogenic properties of the little known Gac fruit.

“The Gac fruit has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for more than 1,200 years. Clinical research at the University of Hanoi in Vietnam found oil from the pulp and seeds were effective in the treatment of liver cancer,” Professor Daly said.

“Our research team set about investigating what it was about the fruit that seemed to give it anti-cancer properties.

“We found Gac had the ability to block a particular enzyme associated with the development of cancer. Scientists were able to isolate the fruit’s anti-cancer properties, which had the potential to inhibit the growth of cancer cells- in the lab at least.”

The next stage of the research is to design a more targeted drug to help treat breast, skin and prostate cancers.

WorkSafe Victoria has announced a team of inspectors will be visiting housing construction sites across the state as part of the 12-month Operation SafeSite campaign.

State Assistant treasurer Gordon Rich-Phillips said the campaign was launched after data showed that accidents on housing construction sites cost the industry $17 million in medical costs, lost wages and other expenses.

“Site visits will focus on basic safety planning, site supervision, prevention of falls from heights, electrical safety, site housekeeping and onsite worker facilities,” Mr Rich-Phillips said.

“Safety on a fast-paced construction site doesn’t just happen. It requires good planning, effective supervision and constant attention by everyone on the site.

“WorkCover is there to help, but ultimately a safe site is the responsibility of the people who work there,” Mr Rich-Phillips said.

The campaign will start in Melbourne’s south-east with estates in the region around the City of Casey the first to be visited in late August.

WorkSafe Victoria inspectors are increasingly finding high risk construction work being performed on sites without a suitable safety plan.

Inspectors have found an average of 20 sites per week completing high risk work without a plan, most of which are being done unsafely.

WorkSafe Victoria recently conducted a three month review of construction site inspections, finding that 226 sites where work had to stop because requisite plans were absent, inadequate or not being followed.

In response to the findings, WorkSafe has launched a state-wide ‘Back to Basics’ campaign focusing on safety planning for high risk construction sites.

”We will impress on builders and their sub-contractors that high risk construction work – like working at height, use of mobile plant and working near electrical installations - requires good planning and effective supervision,” WorkSafe’s Construction Manage Alan Beacom said.

“Safe Work Methods (SWMS) were introduced in 2007 and became a legal requirement a year later. If they’re not in place or being followed builders and sub-contractors should not permit work to start or continue.

“Unfortunately, even after five years some builders and sub-contractors have not fully implemented SWMS into their businesses. It’s putting their workers and businesses at risk.”

Information on a range of construction industry health and safety issues including high risk construction work, SWMS and a detailed ‘Back to basics’ checklist can be found at www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/construction.

Steel giant BlueScope Steel is remaining positive despite announcing a $1 billion loss after tax this financial year.

While the company announced there would be no final dividend for the financial year, Managing Director and CEO, Paul O’Malley, said that the company had reached a transformational point and was now well poised for strong growth.

 “FY2012 was a transforming year, we delivered what we promised. Net debt is lower than forecast. Our Australian businesses are expected to be EBITDA positive in FY2013, and globally we are now well positioned for growth,” Mr O’Malley said.

Mr O’Malley said that the substantial restructuring of the company into four main businesses would allow for a strong diversification and to make inroads into new market areas.

“Our Global Building Solutions business is well placed to capture opportunities in the world’s largest and fastest growing non-residential construction markets with the potential to double current revenue of $1.45 billion within three years,” the company said in an announcement.

The Federal Government has welcomed the release of the long awaited Manufacturing Taskforce Report, which has found that the sector can continue to prosper and grow if it takes advantage of key emerging opportunities in the Asian region.

The Smart Manufacturing for a Smart Australia report, released by the Prime Minister’s Manufacturing Taskforce, concluded that the sector is a crucial part of the broader economy with significant links to other key industries, including construction, agriculture, utilities and services.

Despite its key importance, the report concluded the sector faces challenges such as the high Australian dollar, the strength of the resources boom in terms of capital and labour, more intensive global and regional competition and the continuing fallout from the global financial crisis.

The report made 40 key recommendations in an effort to map out ‘a power vision for the future of Australian manufacturing’ aimed at strengthening the local firms as they adapt to the changing economic environment.

The Federal Government has given in principle support to most of the recommendations, but has stopped short of supporting the call to further investigate a Sovereign Wealth Fund and a domestic reservation policy for gas.

The Federal Government has announced is has accepted the Taskforce’s recommendation to convene a Manufacturing Leaders Group to implement the its responses to the report.

The Federal Government has also announced it will bring together  Industry Capability Network, the Buy Australian at Home and Abroad Supply Advocates, AusIndustry and Enterprise Connect to share information on opportunities for Australian manufacturers in large domestic investment projects, with a particular focus on the resources sector.