Industry News

The South Australian Government has announced the appointment of Rick Persse as the new Chief Executive of the State’s Attorney-General’s Department.

With extensive experience in both the public and private sectors, Mr Persse comes to the Department from PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Attorney General, John Rau, said Mr Persse would bring a wealth of experience to the role, and is looking forward to working with him.

“Rick will provide AGD with great leadership at a very exciting time for the Department,” Mr Rau said.

“His specific experience in the delivery of reform projects across the justice sector and knowledge ofthe department will assist AGD in implementing significant reform and delivering on key projects".

“As AGD moves into a new era, he will help guide the Department to ensure that fostering justice, protecting people’s rights and strengthening communities remain at the centre of everything we do,”

Mr Rau said. Mr Persse will take up the role on 3 September 2012 , replacing Jerome Maguire, who became Chief Executive of the Motor Accident Commission in June.

The South Australian Government has announced the appointment of members to the Health Performance Council (HPC) for its second term.

Established in 2008, the HPC is a ministerial advisory body that provides independent advice to the Minister for Health and Ageing and Parliament, serving for four-year terms.

Every four years the council reviews the state’s health system’s performance, subsequently advising the Minister of its findings and recommendations.

Acting Health Minister John Rau said the HPC members were chosen for their collective skills, experience and expertise that will help identify areas of improvement in the state’s health system.

The Health Performance Council members are:

• Ms Anne Murren Dunn AM - Chairperson
• Ms Barbara Lydia Hartwig - Deputy Chairperson
• Mr Richard Oliver Callaghan
• Mr James Lionel Dellit
• Dr Stephen John Duckett
• Ms Mary Patetsos
• Professor Lisa Rae Jackson Pulver AM
• Professor David Murray Roder
• Dr Michael James Beckoff
• Dr Diane Joy Wickett

For more information about the Health Performance Council members please visit

www.hpcsa.com.au

The Tasmanian Parliamentary Labor Party (PLP) has announced full support for legislation aimed at ensuring marriage equality for same-sex couples in the state.

Premier Lara Giddings said the State Government had resolved to see the reform introduced within the current term.

"The PLP was proud to support the principle of same-sex marriage in Parliament last year but it has been agreed that the time has come to act decisively on this issue,” Ms Giddings said.

Legal advice received by the State Government found no major blockages to pursuing the state-based reforms.

"It is my hope that the Commonwealth Parliament will also act on this issue in the not too distant future, noting that there is support for same-sex unions on all sides of Federal politics,” Ms Giddings said.

"There is strong evidence that legislating for same sex marriage will provide a significant economic boost and create jobs for Tasmanians.”

Currently, eleven countries now support same sex marriage, including Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, South Africa and Sweden, with a number of other countries introducing state based reform.

"But just as we have responded to other forms of discrimination throughout history, there comes a time when no amount of excuses should stand in the way of doing what is right,” Ms Giddings said.

"If Parliaments of the past did not have the courage to respond to changing community values then Tasmania would still be a state where homosexuality is illegal, where women don't have the vote and no apology has been made to the Aboriginal stolen generations.”

Construction work of the 7.5 kilometre Footscray to Deer Park section of Victoria’s multi-billion dollar Regional Rail Link has commenced.

This multi-billion dollar project is building Melbourne's first new piece of passenger rail infrastructure since the Glen Waverley line was opened in 1930, more than 80 years ago," Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said.

"Since then the City's population has more than quadrupled to over four million residents and unlike our predecessors we recognise that the task of putting in place the modern infrastructure necessary to support such growth is too big for any one level of government.”

The Federal Government has committed $3.2 billion to the construction of the rail link, and forms one of the country’s largest public transport projects in generations.

Work is expected to commence on the 24 kilometre section from deer Park to West Werribee later this year. 

The Victorian Government has announced it will ask the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC) to investigate the circumstances under which low impact prospecting might be conducted in the state’s national parks.

State Minister for Energy and Resources, Michael O’Brien, said that any such prospecting undertaken in national parks would remain uninvasive, and that the State Government would ensure the continued protection of heritage and environmental values of the parks.

"It involves the use of hand tools only, the most common being metal detectors. Prospecting does not include commercial mining," Mr O'Brien said.

Mr O’Brien said that recreational prospecting was already allowed in several national parks and had not caused any environmental damage.

Areas subject to the VEAC investigation may include Alpine, Baw Baw, Croajingolong, Errinundra, Lake Eildon, Lind, Mitchell River and Yarra Ranges National Parks as well as Lerderderg State Park.

Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith said VEAC's independent investigation process would ensure consultation across government and with stakeholders, including key conservation groups.

The Government will seek public comment as part of the VEAC investigation.

VEAC is due to report on the completed investigation by 30 April 2013.

The New South Wales Government has announced 82 infrastructure projects across the state worth around $430 million under the State Government’s Local Infrastructure Renewal Scheme (LIRS).

The scheme allows for councils to borrow funds from the State Government with a four per cent interest subsidy for up to 10 years to pay for backlog infrastructure projects, such as roads, bridges, water facilities and airports.

The subsidies were granted in the first round of the scheme, which, when complete, will have unlocked $1 billion in funding for shovel-ready projects across the State.

“With the first round of subsidies complete, $60 million still remains for further applications of the scheme for other vital infrastructure projects,” State Minister for Local Government Don Page said.

The largest project rolled out under the scheme was for a $42.5 million water treatment facility in Wagga Wagga. Other projects included a $14.6 million bridge over the Hastings River at Port Macquarie; $20 million to upgrade community infrastructure in Parramatta; $7.3 million to strengthen Ballina Byron Gateway Airport’s runway; $3 million for roads in Shellharbour and a $1.8 million facelift for Earlwood’s town centre.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has likened the surging costs of household power bills to petrol prices in her address to the Energy Policy Institute of Australia (EPIA).

Ms Gillard accepted that prices of energy had increased at unprecedented levels, and acknowledged that the runaway power bills often seemed ‘beyond our control.’

But Ms Gillard assured her audience that the Government was in a better place to counter growing energy costs as it prepares for the release of its new Energy White Paper, as well as introducing price determinations next year.

Ms Gillard also outlined planned COAG reform that would see action before the end of the year.

The Prime Minister failed to resist taking a swipe at the NSW and Queensland Governments, who’s publically owned utility companies are continuing to reap growing profits.

“Meanwhile, some states, like New South Wales and Queensland, are doing very well out of this financially and their revenue from some electricity assets is growing much faster than in the private sector,” Ms Gillard said.

“So it is also very clear that the States can, and should, do more to cut future price rises.”

Ms Gillard also acknowledged that reforming the sector would take a herculean effort, and that the mixed public/private nature of the sector would make reform complex and diffuclt to deliver.

"And of course, there’s the pragmatic, patchwork design of National Electricity Market itself – a complex mix of co-ordination and competition, public and private ownership, national and state regulation,” Ms Gillard said.

“But, recognising that complexity, appreciating the conflicting objectives and incentives, and taking into account the long-term factors at play, I want to say very clearly: the last four years’ price rises cannot continue.”

 The Clean Energy Council (CEC) has called for extensive reform to the country’s consumer energy market in the wake of the Prime Minister speech on energy reform.

Clean Energy Council Chief Executive David Green said consumers currently had very little control over their energy bills, and that needed to change.

“Electricity prices are a difficult issue which require governments to put aside politics and act in the public interest. The Prime Minister’s speech today has helped to move the discussion in the right direction, calling for urgent action by state governments to enact reforms to stop the run of power price rises,” Mr Green said.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has left the country’s official cash rate unchanged at 3.5 per cent, citing softening global growth rates and contracting commodity prices.

In his statement., RBA Governor Glenn Stevens said that these factors where serving to keep inflation in check and will provide other country’s with scope to ease interest rates.

Mr Stevens also stated that increased global uncertainty stemming from the faltering European economies had contributed to the decision, while close to trend domestic growth had given the central bank some slack to leave the rate unchanged.

“Inflation remains low, with underlying measures near 2 per cent over the year to June, and headline CPI inflation lower than that. The effects of the price on carbon will start to affect these measures over the next couple of quarters,” Mr Stevens said.

Leighton subsidiary Visionstream has announced it has signed a contract with Telstra for the provision of national Wideband and Dedicated Digital Network (DDN) works, worth an estimated $120 million over the three year life of the deal.

The contract comes with an option two year extension andwill see Visionstream integrate various Wideband, wireless LAN and DDN associated technologies within Telstra’s Australian network.

Allan Bradford, Visionstream General Manager, said “Visionstream has a long and successful relationship with Telstra and we are very pleased to be able to continue delivering high-quality service and expertise through this contract renewal.” 

“The Wideband Project has been delivering telecommunications services nationally for Telstra’s government, business and wholesale customers since 2004,” Mr Bradford said.

The products delivered comprise all types of technologies with bandwidths commencing at two megabits per second, up to many gigabits per second. These products facilitate ISDN voice and data, and a range of other high-speed data applications. The technologies can utilise different communication protocols, such as SDH, PDH and IP to connect the customer’s services to the greater telecommunications network.

The Western Australian Government has moved to assist five dryland agricultural local government areas generate extra emergency water to supplement farming and community supplies during periods of low rainfall.

State Water Minister Bill Marmion said the $233,633 in funding was part of the Department of Water’s managed Community Supply Program for dryland areas.

“These funds will support the investment of time and money by local government and community groups to plan and participate in the development of off-farm, fit-for-purpose community water supplies,” Mr Marmion said.

“All the projects demonstrate innovation in efficiency, storage and harvesting. For example, the Shire of Woodanilling in the Great Southern will receive $26,593 to complete a major stormwater harvesting project capable of capturing and storing two dry seasons worth of water.

“Rainfall harvested from the townsite will be pumped into a large collection dam for use as emergency livestock water, as well as irrigation for the town’s public open spaces and sports oval.”

Similar plans in the Wheatbelt Shire of Trayning have received $15,000 initially with a further $85,000 available pending geotechnical assessment on pumping water from a planned sump to a storage dam.

The Shire of Chapman Valley will use a grant of $85,000 to build two new bores, equip an existing bore and establish two storage tanks to supply water for emergency livestock, fire fighting and town drinking water at two locations.

The Shire of Cranbrook has received $7,000 towards establishing emergency water supplies at two sites (a dam and a soak) to take pressure off the Water Corporation standpipe used for emergency livestock water.

An engineering assessment of a plan to replace the roof of the Berringbooding Tank to maintain water quality and prevent evaporation at a key emergency water supply in the Shire of Mukinbudin has received $15,000.

The construction sector is struggling to cope with continued poor demand and subdued workloads, according to the Australian Industry Group’s (AI Group) Australian Performance of Construction Index.

Published in conjunction with the Housing Industry Association (HIA), the index was 2.2 points weaker, finishing 32.6 points for the month (readings below 50 indicate a contraction in the industry with the distance from 50 indicative of the strength of the decline).

July marked the 26th straight month that the sector has been in the red. A positive development was the marked slowing in the rate of decline in apartment construction activity consistent with the recent lift in multi-unit approvals. However, commercial construction continued to exhibit substantial weakness, while the lower interest rate environment has yet to translate into an improvement in house building activity.

"A slower rate of contraction in apartment building in July is a positive sign, but the reality is that it still means yet another month in which activity has declined,” HIA’s Senior Economist Andrew Harvey said.

Australian PCI® Key Findings for July:

• The Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Construction Index (Australian PCI®), in conjunction with the Housing Industry Association was 32.6 in July - 2.2 points weaker than the previous month (readings below 50 indicate a contraction in activity with the distance from 50 indicative of the strength of the decrease).
• July's reading is the lowest since last September. The index has now been contracting for more than two years.
• All four sub-sectors remained in the red in July: House building (28.0), commercial construction (26.1), apartment building (32.9), and engineering construction (39.5).
• Apartment building recorded a marked reduction in contraction in July - reflecting a boost in multi-unit approvals.
• The new-orders sub-index was broadly unchanged - up slightly to 33.9.
• Employment contracted further in July.

Download the full July 2012 Australian PCI®

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has found that the number of dwellings approved fell by 2.5 per cent in June, despite the 2.7 per cent boom the previous month.

Dwelling approvals decreased by 14.6 per cent in June in Victoria, but increased by 28.9 per cent in Western Australia, and 18.0 per cent. All other states recorded growth.

In seasonally adjusted terms, approvals for private sector houses fell 1.1 per cent in June. Private sector house approvals fell in New South Wales (-4.5 per cent) and Victoria (-3.3 per cent) but rose in Queensland (5.3 per cent), Western Australia (4.4 per cent) and South Australia (0.4 per cent).

The value of total building approved fell 9.8 per cent in June, in seasonally adjusted terms, after rising for 2 months. The value of residential building rose 0.2 per cent while non-residential building fell 22.3 per cent.

Further information is available in Building Approvals, Australia (cat no. 8731.0) on the ABS website at www.abs.gov.au

The Federal Government has poured $7.4 million into funding three separate mental health research centres.

The three Centres of Research Excellence will conduct research into suicide prevention, substance abuse and better mental health planning and will be based at the University of New South Wales and the University of Queensland.

“I am delighted to announce the funding of these research centres, which are part of our Budget commitment of $26.2 million for strategic investment in mental health research priorities through the National Health and Medical Research Council,” Federal Minister for Mental Health Mark Butler said.

Professor Helen Christensen will lead the work at the University of New South Wales to determine the best way to deliver interventions to those at risk of suicide.

Also at the University of New South Wales, a Centre headed by Professor Maree Teesson will address prevention and treatment for people with both mental and substance abuse disorders.

And Professor Harvey Whiteford of the University of Queensland is the lead investigator looking at the best available scientific evidence to determine the right mix of mental health prevention and treatment policies and services for Australia.

Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister, Scott Emerson, has introduced the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) Bill before State Parliament.

The passage of the COAG sponsored reform through parliament will allow for the formation and full establishment of the National Heavy Vehicle Register (NHVR) as a corporate entity, allowing for the formal appointment of a Board and CEO.

The passage of the law will see a national regulator for all heavy vehicles over 4.5 tonnes and ensure the Regulator, hosted in Queensland, will begin operations as planned on 1January next year.

A second bill is also due to be introduced into the Queensland Parliament later in 2012 and once this is passed, it will pave the way for other states and territories to enact the law in their parliaments. Australia’s heavy vehicle industry can then ‘do business’ with the Regulator on a national scale.

“The regulations will make it easier for business to operate as there will be a one-stop-shop for accreditation, access permits, log book queries, and a host of other services,” Mr Emerson said.

The Federal Government has announced funds from the newly implemented Mining and Minerals Resource Rent Tax (MRRT) will be partially used to construct vital infrastructure to unlock the ‘vast natural wealth’, which is ripe for the picking in South Australia.

The Federal Government has announced funding will be used to provide world-class water, energy and transport infrastructure to cater for the billions of dollars worth of projects in the state.

“That’s why we will provide $1.5 million to develop plans covering three distinct geographical regions of the State: the Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula-Braemar and the Upper North,” Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese said.

Recommended by both the Resources and Energy Sector Infrastructure Council (RESIC) and Infrastructure Australia, this planning work will take stock of each region’s existing infrastructure capacity and constraints as well as identify solutions to prevent or alleviate future bottlenecks.

WorkCover NSW is currently touring western NSW to provide work health and safety advice to local businesses and workers.

The aptly named Safety Bus will be travelling (presumably 5 k’s under the speed limit, just to be on the safe side) in its visit to Forbes, Parkes and Condobolin during this week to provide advice on the new work health and safety laws, changes to high-risk work licences and WorkCover’s Small Business Rebate Program.

“The tour is part of WorkCover’s comprehensive efforts to support NSW business and will provide an opportunity for local businesses and workers to ask questions and learn more about the new laws and licensing changes,” Director of Operations for WorkCover’s Work Health and Safety Division Peter Dunphy said.

WorkCover Safety Bus Tour dates and locations:
9.30am – 11am, Tuesday, 7 August, Harold Street, Forbes (adjacent to the Town Hall)
9.30am – 11am, Wednesday 8 August, Bathurst & McDonnell St, Condobolin
9.30am – 11am, Thursday, 9 August, Clarinda Street, Parkes (Central Business District)

Further information on the new laws, licensing changes and WorkCover’s Small Business Rebate is available from www.workcover.nsw.gov.au or by calling 13 10 50.

The Education and Employment Committee has announced it will be taking its workplace bullying inquiry onto the road once more, visiting Adelaide and Perth on August 7 and 8 respectively.

The Committee will hear from industry groups, representatives of unions, organisational psychologists, workplace consultants, academic experts and the broader community, including the victims of workplace bullying.

“The Committee continues to receive a strong response to its call for written submissions, particularly from individuals recounting their personal experiences, and is seeking to explore issues associated with workplace bullying in greater detail,” Committee Chair Amanda Rishworth said.

“Bullying has serious consequences for individuals and the wider community. Every Australian has a right to feel safe and respected at work. While it is not the role of the Committee to intervene in or consider individual cases, we welcome submissions from employers, employees and their representative organisations regarding proposals and suggestions for securing workplaces against bullying at a national level.”

Adelaide program

Date:                       Tuesday, 7 August

Venue:                    Terrace Room (second floor), South Australian Parliament

Time:                      8:15 am      Chair’s opening statement

                                8:20 am     Youth Affairs Council of South Australia

                                8:55 am     SA Government (Safe Work SA and Office of the Employee Ombudsman)

                                9:30 am     Australian Lawyers’ Alliance

                                10:00 am   Unions – SDA, AMWU and ASU SA and NT Branch

                                10:35 am        Break

                                10:50 am        Thompson’s Lawyers and Dr Moira Jenkins

                                11:25 am     SA Unions and Young Worker’s Legal Service

                                12 noon        Short break

                                12:05 pm     Impact Statements

                                1:00 pm       close

Perth program

Date:                       Wednesday, 8 August

Venue:                    Legislative Council Committee Office, Committee Room 1, Parliament of Western Australia, Ground Flood, 18-32 Parliament Place, West Per

Time                        8:30 am   Chair’s opening statement

                                8:35 am       Law Society of Western Australia and Prof. Omari

                                9:10 am       Chamber of Commerce and Industry Western Australia

                                9:45 am       Unions WA and affiliates

                                10:30 am     Break

                                10:45 am     Equal Opportunity Commission Western Australia

                                11:20 am     Sally JEtson and Associates

                                11:55 am     Short Break

                                12 noon       Impact Statements

                                1:00 pm       Close

Live on http://www.aph.gov.au/News_and_Events/Watch_Parliament (audio only). Please note that Impact statements will not be broadcast.

NT WorkSafe has announced the Work Health and Safety Advisory Council will be held in Alice Springs on 13 August.

The Council comprises the Regulator, employer organisations, unions and representative from various NT industries including:

• Construction
• Transport
• Health and Community Services
• Resources
• Agriculture.

Anyone wishing to discuss matters with the Council are invited to attend an open forum.

Date: Monday 13 August 2012
Time: 6.00pm till 7.00pm
Venue: Ellery Room A, Alice Springs Convention Centre, 93 Barrett Drive.

Council members will be in attendance and welcome your comments and feedback. Please RSVP to the details below by COB Friday 10 August 2012.

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: 8999 5066

South Australians who undertake high risk work are reminded that there is now less than one month remaining until the deadline for second year conversions to the new national Licence to Perform High Risk Work.

The new licence applies to all those who work with forklifts, hoists, cranes, scaffolding and pressure equipment, as well as those who engage in rigging or dogging work.

The new licence will replace all previously issued ‘tickets’ and qualifications in South Australia and is being rolled out over a five-year transition period through to September 2015.

“We are currently in the second year of the five-year conversion schedule,” said SafeWork SA Executive Director, Bryan Russell.

“This means that anyone who holds an OHS Certification Australia Card or a Notice of Satisfactory Assessment (NSA) for forklift operation issued between  4 April 1995 and 31 December 1998 must convert their qualifications before 1 September 2012,” he said.

“The conversion process takes several weeks from application, so people should not leave this until the last minute or they may not be licensed to work from 1 September.”

The Licence provides photo identification and lists all of the classes of high risk work that the Licence holder is authorised to perform. It can be used in any state or territory in Australia, no matter where in Australia it has been issued.

Anyone with these qualifications that fall within the date range should call the  High Risk Work Conversion Line on 1300 975 909.

The Australian Logistics Council has launched a bid to tackle long-running pallet issues faced by the logistics industry.

The council has received support from the country’s two largest pallet providers, Chep and Loscam, and has formed a working group to address issues and form a process guideline for dispute resolution for pallet transactions across the supply chain.

The move to establish the council comes after industry groups, including the Victorian Transport Association (VTA), have conducted long-term efforts to seek reform on pallet demurrage regimes. Critics have long called for reform on the basis that pallet charges have become a revenue stream for larger companies, including major retailers, under which transport operators bear the financial cost.

“I certainly don’t underestimate the magnitude of the task we’ve taken on but, if we didn’t do it, who would?” ALC Managing Director Michael Kilgariff says, adding that, “to some degree, the hardest step in this journey will be the first one.”

Loscam and Chep have voiced their support for the initiative, with Chep Australia & NZ President Phillip Austin looking for “a best practice model to bring increased clarity and efficiency to the pallet hire process” and Loscam Regional Director Daniel Bunnett hoping the working group will “will help drive greater collaboration and transparency across the industry and also deliver greater standardisation and understanding along the entire supply chain”.