Industry News

Melbourne Water has reported that Melbourne’s water storages have had a prosperous June, banking 90 billion litres of water and topping 70% capacity for the first time since January 1998.

The increase resulted from a combination of above-average rainfall and soaked catchments, and the legacy of almost two years of good rain and stream flow.

The Thomson Dam reaped the benefits of heavy rainfall across East Gippsland, increasing capacity by 6% (63.8 billion litres) in June. This is in contrast to the same time three years ago, when the Thomson had dropped to 16.2% of capacity.

Stream flow into Thomson in June was 65.7 billion litres, which is the highest since September 1993 (72.9 billion litres).

Melbourne Water Manager Water Supply, John Woodland, said the Thomson gain had been instrumental in the overall increase of Melbourne’s storages.

“The Thomson is by far our biggest dam, and represents the majority of our storage capacity,” said Mr Woodland.

“We’ve seen really heavy rain throughout June, a lot of which has fallen over the Thomson’s catchment. Coupled with the fact that catchments are already soaked from strong rainfall over the past 18 months, this means that most of the rain we’re getting is being converted into gains for our storages.”

Mr Woodland said that even though storages typically rose in June, this year’s performance had more than doubled the average monthly increase.

“Long-term averages tell us that storages usually rise by 2% per month in winter, but this month we’ve already seen a gain of 5%,” said Mr Woodland.

“That’s around three months of drinking water for Melbourne, which is a terrific result.”

Across the system, stream flow into the dams over the past month was 206% above-average, while rainfall was 82% above average.

Melbourne’s average total daily consumption (937 million litres) was only slightly higher than for the same time last year (927 million litres).

The National Water Commission has released a report on its work on the development and application of a nationally consistent method for measuring and reporting water stress in Australian catchments.

The report:

• defines ‘water stress’ as ground or surface water regime change from extractions, interception activities and/or artificial impediments, that potentially compromises environmental assets, ecosystem functions or the long-term sustainability of the resource
• describes a nationally consistent method for measuring water stress as an indicator of potentially overused surface water and groundwater systems
• highlights catchments and aquifers across Australia with high levels of water stress that may need more detailed investigation to assess potential overuse of water
• identifies whether systems with a high level of water stress have water management mechanisms in place to reduce the stress, if this is considered unacceptable.

The report shows that despite public focus on the Murray-Darling Basin, the causes of water stress are not confined to the impacts of irrigated agriculture. Some rivers and aquifers in and near capital cities and other urban areas are also stressed, as are some rivers used for hydropower generation and some aquifers where water is extracted for mining and oil/gas operations.

Fortunately, most of the systems that are highly stressed already have water plans in place or in development. The majority have clear environmental water goals and some pathways to achieve those goals.

The report reinforces the Commission’s call for transparent monitoring and assessment to increase our understanding of Australia’s water resources.

The report, Assessing water stress in Australian catchments and aquifers, can be downloaded here. 

NSW Trade and Investment has signed a $14.5 million, three-year agreement with German business software company SAP to use its ByDesign software, hosted on a German server, to run finance, human resources and payroll functions for 16 member agencies.  The agreement will eventually see ByDesign taken up by up to 8500 users, and SAP says it is the largest roll-out of ByDesign world-wide.

The agreement also covers the use by NSW Trade of SAP’s payroll and human resources application.

The Department is hoping to save up to $12.5 million annually as a result of the new system.

The Australian Government has tabled its response to the Senate Economics References Committee report The asset insurance arrangements of Australian state governments.

The Senate report makes four recommendations aimed at improving the States’ and Territories’ insurance arrangements and how the Commonwealth considers these arrangements.

These include:

• ensuring that the States’ and Territories’ captive insurance and reinsurance arrangements are reported transparently and comparably;
• that the Commonwealth Grants Commission take into consideration State and Territory government’s past insurance and reinsurance receipts for natural disaster insurance premiums when determining States’ and Territories’ GST share; and
• defining the term ‘cost-effective’ as it relates to the 2011 Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements Determination.

The Attorney-General Nicola Roxon said the Commonwealth Grants Commission is analysing the States’ and Territories’ premium payments and insurance receipts for the last four financial years and used this information to calculate the recommended GST distribution for 2012-13.

 “The government has also recently made regulations to establish the wording of a standard definition of ‘flood’ to be used in home building, home contents, small business and strata title insurance policies.

“The Australian Government will continue to work with States and Territories to help reduce the cost of future disasters for all Australians.”

A copy of the Commonwealth response to the Committee’s report can be found at www.ag.gov.au.

CERT Australia has launched a survey of Australian business to get a better picture of how cyber incidents affect business and the Australian economy.

The Cybercrime and Security Survey will target almost 500 organisations that work with CERT Australia including from the banking and finance, communications, energy, food, resources, transport and water, and other sectors that contribute to the economic prosperity and social wellbeing of Australia.

“Every day we hear reports of Australian businesses falling victim to cyber attacks, but it is important to assess the extent and full impact of these incidents on individual businesses and the broader economy,” Attorney-General Nicola Roxon said.

“Cyber security is an important issue so I will be writing to CERT Australia’s stakeholders to request their contribution to the survey.

 “The survey will help Government and CERT Australia planning and in turn ensure all Australians can continue to safely and securely enjoy the benefits of the digital economy.”

CERT Australia, our national Computer Emergency Response Team, works with Australian business and the international community on cyber security incidents impacting Australian systems.

Australian businesses are the victims of targeted and non-targeted cyber security threats such as ‘distributed denial of service attacks’ and socially-engineered emails.

The survey results are expected in the next few months and will be published by the Centre for Internet Safety within the University of Canberra, who are working in partnership with CERT Australia.

More information is here.

The Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Joe Ludwig, has released a rural R&D policy statement which aims to promote greater collaboration on research, efforts to increase investment, and a drive to improve the adoption of innovation across the sector.

“The current rural R&D model has proven results, with rural productivity in Australia increasing at more than twice the rate of other industries’ in this country in recent decades,” Mr Ludwig said.

“This policy statement builds on the strengths of the RDC model, including the strong partnership we have with industry in funding and setting priorities.”

The policy statement includes the government’s final response to the Productivity Commission’s inquiry report on Rural RDCs and the National Strategic Rural R&D Investment Plan.

Key changes include:

• measuring performance across the broader rural R&D system
• greater collaboration of RDCs on cross-sectoral research such as soils and climate change
• enabling RDCs to undertake marketing if requested by industry and funded by a dedicated levy
• matching government funding for private voluntary contributions where research findings are public; and
• moves to attract more private domestic and international investment.
•  

“This statement goes hand in hand with work we’re already doing as part of the National Food Plan green paper which asks whether the best way to increase innovation and productivity over the medium to long term is to increase investment in rural R&D,” Mr Ludwig said.

“Research and development underpins future productivity and innovation within our rural industries. It drives growth, maintains our competitiveness internationally, and means rural Australia can make the most of opportunities and respond to challenges.

                                                                                                                                                                    
The statement and more information is available on the DAFF website.

Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick, has released the Commission’s new research report, Encourage. Support. Act!: Bystander approaches to sexual harassment in the workplace, which examines the role bystanders can play in preventing and reducing the incidence of sexual harassment.

“This paper, written by Paula McDonald from QUT and Michael Flood from the University of Wollongong, is a comprehensive examination of the way bystander intervention can be applied to addressing sexual harassment in workplaces, drawn from the role it is playing in other areas such as whistle blowing, racial harassment, workplace bullying and anti-violence,” said Commissioner Broderick.

Sexual harassment is unwanted or unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that a reasonable person anticipates could make the targeted person feel offended, humiliated or intimidated. It is a form of sex discrimination and usually a manifestation of gender-based violence.

Bystanders are individuals who observe sexual harassment firsthand, or are subsequently informed of the incident.

“Bystander approaches focus on the ways in which individuals who are not the targets of the conduct can intervene in violence, harassment or other anti-social behaviour in order to prevent and reduce harm to others,” Commissioner Broderick said.

Ms Broderick said that organisations that are employers have a significant role to play in supporting such intervention.

“If we don’t support and encourage the targets of sexual harassment, and any bystanders, to take action, we run the risk of creating cultures that tolerate sexual harassment,” she said. “It is up to organisations to provide this support and encouragement, thereby making it clear that sexual harassment has no place in our workplaces or in our society.”

Commissioner Broderick said Encourage. Support. Act! recommends a number of strategies to encourage bystander intervention, which she believes have real potential to increase reporting and reduce the incidence of sexual harassment in Australia.

“Development of training programs, grievance procedures, multiple complaints channels and incentives for bystanders to make valid reports of sexual harassment are some of the suggestions,” said Ms Broderick. “Assuring bystanders of anonymity and immunity from legal action and victimisation are others.”

Encourage. Support. Act! Is available on the Australian Human Rights Commission website at:
www.humanrights.gov.au/sexualharassment/bystander

The impact of workplace harm on workers and their families will be considered in a review of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRC Act) announced by Minister for Workplace Relations Bill Shorten.

Mr Shorten said the aim of the review was to modernise the federal workers’ compensation scheme to ensure injured workers are given every opportunity to return to health, independence and work as quickly as possible.

“The SRC Act provides rehabilitation and compensation support to injured Australian Government workers. It also covers employees of a small number of private corporations who self-insure under the Commonwealth scheme, and employees of the ACT Government.”

Noting that a legislative review was a key aspect of Comcare’s 2015 strategic plan, Mr Shorten emphasised that the Gillard Government believes that the scheme should be best practice in scheme design and service delivery.  

“It is vital that the Comcare scheme strives to return injured workers to health and independence. We must ensure that the compensation system does not create needless disability”.

The review will be undertaken by Mr Peter Hanks QC and Dr Allan Hawke AC, supported by a Secretariat in the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, and will consider three key aspects:

• updating the legislation and the operation of the scheme, including any legislative anomalies and updates that need to be addressed
• the performance of the Comcare scheme and ways to improve its operation
• the financial and governance framework of the Comcare scheme.

Mr Hanks will review the legislative provisions of the SRC Act, while Dr Hawke will review the performance and financial framework of the Comcare scheme.

It is expected that the review will report to the Government in February 2013. Dr Hawke’s work will be completed later this year so that its outcomes can be considered by Mr Hanks in his final report.

The review will not consider any reduction in the existing benefits afforded to workers covered under the scheme, but will seek to further improve it to achieve fair and equitable outcomes for injured workers with a strong focus on rehabilitation.

The Terms of Reference for the review are as follows:

The Australian Government aims to build a stronger, fairer Australia through improved productivity, national security, increased social inclusion and building community resilience.

The impact of workplace harm on workers and their families is significant. For this reason, the Government is committed to ensuring that the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRC Act) provides fair and appropriate workers’ compensation arrangements for all workers covered by that legislation.

The Government believes that the Comcare scheme should be exemplary in its scheme-design as well as in its service delivery. To ensure the federal workers’ compensation arrangements reflect contemporary social models and best practice, the review will take into account arrangements within Australian and overseas accident compensation schemes. Issues such as the national disability reforms and reducing red tape will also be considered.

The review will inquire and report on:

1.  Any legislative anomalies and updates that need to be addressed, including:

• identifying and resolving anomalies in the legislation and in the operation of the scheme
• the framework to achieve the objectives of providing an equitable and cost-effective compensation system, with a particular emphasis on the improved rehabilitation of injured workers
• ensuring fair and equitable financial, medical and rehabilitation support for injured workers and their families
• a framework to resolve disputes quickly, fairly and at a low cost
• ensuring the application of workers’ compensation legislation does not disadvantage workers over the age of 65 and there is no gap between the workers’ compensation age limit and the foreshadowed increase to the age pension eligibility age to 67 by 2023.

        2.  The performance of the Comcare scheme and ways to improve its
             operation, including:

• an examination of the different outcomes achieved by private and public sector employers concerning the recovery and return to work of injured workers
• improved delivery of recovery and support services by Comcare.

        3. The financial framework of the Comcare scheme, including:

• the financial sustainability of the scheme
• a premium framework that improves and rewards scheme performance
• the governance arrangements for Comcare
• ensuring that the financial framework is consistent with contemporary prudential management practice.
•  

The review will be finalised by 1 February 2013. It is the Government’s intention that the review will not consider any reduction in existing benefits afforded to workers covered by the Comcare scheme.

The NSW Office of Water's revised aquifer interference draft policy has been criticised as bowing to pressure from the mining industry and exempting major projects from its controls.

The revised draft policy was released to farmers, irrigators and mining and environment groups last week, setting out  measures to control impacts of mining, including coal seam gas extraction, construction, injection and other activities with the potential to contaminate groundwater.

The draft policy proposes to allow economically significant coal and CSG mining projects to proceed even if they are found to have a negative effect on the water table.

It also looks at  ways of disposing of waste from coal seam gas mining projects, suggesting that alternative disposal options might include “reinjection to an aquifer, discharge to a river, on-selling to a nearby industry, agricultural development or potable water supply”.

The NSW Farmers Association, NSW Irrigators' Council and a community lobby group called Lock The Gate Alliance have all criticized the policy setting up controls which are rendered ineffective by exemptions.

The NSW Irrigators Council said that the draft policy would “effectively apply to nobody”.

Council Chief Executive Officer Andrew Gregson says that the draft set out good Rules, but is characterised by exemptions.

"Interference with an aquifer will require a permit under the Policy - unless you happen to qualify for exemptions. Those exemptions are so wide that they render the Policy ineffective.

"If your development is on 'strategic agricultural land', you're exempt from having to comply with the Aquifer Interference Policy. Instead, you go through an independent 'Gateway Panel' that can ignore the Water Minister's advice using such things as a cost benefit analysis. In practice, the dollar value of a mine can overrule the damage it can cause to water resources.

"The other major exemption is for State Significant Developments. If a project qualifies as an SSD, it's again exempt from Aquifer Interference requirements.

"Under the current State Environmental Planning Policy, SSDs are 'Development for the purpose of mining' and 'Development for the purpose of petroleum production' - which is coal seam gas.

"In essence, then, the Aquifer Interference Policy designed to protect water resources from mining and coal seam gas won't apply to mining and coal seam gas operations.

"We're quite reasonably asking the Government to fix this. They need to get rid of the exemptions. They need to make the requirements of the Aquifer Interference Policy binding on all development."

The Tasmanian Minister for Health, Michelle O'Byrne, has announced that a new lead clinicians group and a community advisory body would be formed to help ensure Tasmania's health system responded to the needs of the community.

Ms O'Byrne said with national reforms now underway and the Tasmanian Health Organisations in place, these bodies would play a vital role in health care delivery.

"There are significant reforms underway in how health is delivered, leading to greater local control and local decision making.

"Tasmanians now have more information, more involvement and more control over how health is delivered than ever before.

"We will engage directly with clinicians and consumers to ensure we are taking all perspectives into account as we deliver health services.

Ms O'Byrne said she had also discussed potential membership and scope of the Federal Commission into the Tasmanian Delivery of Health Services with the Federal Health Minister, Tanya Plibersek, this week.

"The lead clinicians group will inform the work of the commission agreed to under the Federal Government's $325 million health funding package.

"The Tasmanian Health Plan has delivered much for our health system during the past five years, and these groups will engage with the review of the plan as we work together to respond to the changing nature of our health system under national reforms," Ms O'Byrne said.

The Tasmanian Premier, Lara Giddings, has put a positive spin on prospects for Tasmania outlined in the latest Access Economics Business Outlook and CommSec State and States reports.

Ms Giddings said that while Access Economics is forecasting Tasmania's economic growth to remain below the national rate, it was predicting further jobs growth, a lower unemployment rate and recovery in retail spending.

"Neither of the reports back-up the Liberal's destructive claims that we are in recession," she said.

"Indeed Access states that 'there's no need to panic' and the economy is still growing, with a forecast for private commercial construction to grow by 8.5 per cent this year driven by major public works like the redevelopment of the Royal Hobart Hospital, the new acute medical unit at Launceston Hospital, the redevelopment of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, the new health facility at Glenorchy and the new security block at Risdon Prison.

"Similarly CommSec reports that Tasmania's strong levels of private equipment investment could give our economy the spark it needs."

Ms Giddings said jobs remain the Government's number one priority.

"It is particularly encouraging that we have now secured 1000 jobs at Bell Bay for the long term which provides confidence that we have good foundations to grow from.

"The Government has an economic development plan that is enabling us to see the doubling of our dairy and aquaculture industries.

"We are seeing record levels of mining exploration at the same time as driving a plan to quadruple our wine industry."

Ms Giddings acknowledged that the analysis does show that Tasmania is in the slow lane of the two speed national economy.

"It is no surprise that the reports confirm both forestry and manufacturing are struggling in the current economic climate.

"Access outlines further evidence of the change occurring in forestry with competitors such as Indonesia taking advantage of the high exchange rate to squeeze Australian forest product suppliers.

"Weaker demand nationally for new housing has also reduced the market for structural timber products.

"Both of these factors are clear evidence that we cannot do nothing as the Liberals are advocating - we must confront changing market conditions to give Tasmania's forest industry a long term future."

Ms Giddings said despite the pressure on traditional sectors of the economy it was important to maintain balance and acknowledge Tasmania's strengths.

A new salary census for Tasmania's community sector workers will help gauge the implications of Fair Work Australia's landmark Equal Remuneration Order.

The Minister for Human Services, Cassy O'Connor, said the census, which is now underway, would be a crucial part of planning how the Government supports the historic pay increases for community sector workers within Tasmanian Government funded services.

"Achieving a fair pay level is not only the right thing for workers, but will strengthen the sustainability of our community sector and provide greater long-term certainty for people with disability," she said.

"And the Tasmanian Government is fully supportive of the implementation of fair pay for community sector workers," she said.

"A total of $3 million has been allocated in the 2012-2013 Budget and the next step is to understand how this can flow to community sector organisations to fund their workers' pay increases.

"A further $3 million per annum has been allocated up to 2015-16, taking the State's total extra   contribution to $12 million in that year," Ms O'Connor said.

Ms O'Connor said the census has been developed in consultation with the community sector, and would be sent to all organisations that receive Tasmanian Government funding to deliver services in the community sector.

"The collaboration of the community sector through this process has been exceptional, and now it is very important that organisations take the time to complete the census as accurately as possible," she said.

The CEO of the Tasmanian Council of Social Service, Tony Reidy, said today that the community sector was an enthusiastic participant in the Salary Census project, and through its Sector Peaks' Network had been working closely with the State Government to develop the Census instrument so that accurate information could be obtained on the need for funding supplements.

"Organisations in the sector provide essential support to some of the most disadvantaged people in our community, and it is vital that the work of their dedicated employees is properly recognised through this wage decision and the additional support that must be provided to meet the costs of the Equal Remuneration Order.

Mr Reidy said that TasCOSS welcomed the State Government's commitment to the sector through the allocation of additional funds for the years during which the wage increases will be phased in.

"It is only through the detailed information gained in the Salary Census that the actual cost of Fair Work Australia's decision will be known, allowing the Government and the community sector to continue to collaborate in determining the quantum of funding required in order to support the salary increase that sector organisations are required to provide to workers," he said.

The census will run for two weeks from 23 July - 8 August 2012, with community sector organisations encouraged to attend local information sessions.

More information is available from the Department of Health and Human Services website at www.dhhs.tas.gov.au

The Tasmanian Attorney-General, Brian Wightman, has announced the appointment of Diane Merryfull as the CEO of the Integrity Commission.

Mr Wightman said the Integrity Commission was an important part of Tasmania's accountability and integrity framework and Ms Merryfull had extensive experience in a range of roles.

"She holds a Bachelor of Arts and A Bachelor of Law from the University of New South Wales and is currently Senior Assistant Ombudsman in the Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman.

"Ms Merryfull has been in the Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman since 2008 and her time there includes a secondment in 2011 to the Office of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security.

 "In her most recent roles she has managed complex and sensitive investigations. Prior to taking up her present role Ms Merryfull held senior roles in the Defence Material Organisation and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations."

Mr Wightman said an executive search firm, EWK International, assisted the Department of Justice in the search for the CEO.

"The selection panel included the Chief Commissioner of the Integrity Commission, the Hon Murray Kellam AO and Ms Julie Kinross the Queensland Information Commissioner," he said.

Ms Merryfull will take up duty in Tasmania on the 20th of August.

The South Australian Employment, Higher Education and Skills Minister, Tom Kenyonhas announced that 26  STEM field courses identified as priorities for the State are now fee-free for the first time under the Skills for All reform of vocational education and training. 

The courses range from Certificate III level up to Advanced Diploma level.

“Our State’s future prosperity will rely on nurturing a culture of innovation and this means investing in skills which lead to jobs in the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) fields,” Mr Kenyon said.

“STEM skills are critical in reaping the benefits of our emerging industries and digital economy. It’s critical that our two strategies, Skills for All and STEM, align with our public and private investment in research and development to support our knowledge-intensive advanced manufacturing and services sector.

“The 26 fee free courses include a Certificate III in Telecommunications – vital to ensuring the successful roll out of the National Broadband Network throughout South Australia – and an Advanced Diploma of Computer Systems Technology – critical for jobs in our growing defence industry.

“The importance of our advanced manufacturing industry is also supported by a Diploma of Electrical Engineering,” Mr Kenyon said.

“Our vision is one where our next generation is highly skilled, embraces technology, and where our businesses prosper and grow in a globally competitive environment through innovation and an increase in productivity.

“This culture of learning, innovation and productivity will need to permeate through our community and industries across South Australia if we are to realise its full potential,” Mr Kenyon said.

More information is at www.skills.sa.gov.au

NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell has announced that 210 government services will be available at 18 new one-stop shops across the State.

Combined with a new 24-hour phone service and a new internet portal, the one-stop shops are touted as saving businesses $4.8 billion a year in lost productivity.

Mr O’Farrell also announced that Mike Pratt would be the State’s first Customer Service Commissioner. Mr Pratt, a career banker who has held senior roles at Westpac, NAB and the Bank of New Zealand, will oversee service reforms across the NSW public sector.

Mr Pratt said: “Increasingly, private sector organisations are moving to deliver their products and services across a range of distribution channels such as contact centres, internet, and branches to make it more efficient for consumers and to improve the customer experience.

“The citizens of NSW rightly expect their Government to do likewise, and it is pleasing to see the Government moving to deliver services in a much-improved and integrated manner.”

The ServiceNSW centres will be open from 7am until 7pm during the week and from 9am to 3pm on Saturday. The 18 centres will be operational in about a year, and will be the first of around 100.

NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay and Treasurer Mike Baird has announced plans to abolish the requirement for NSW-based transport operators to pay stamp duty on the purchase of new truck trailers.

“In the upcoming Spring Session of Parliament, the Government will be seeking support from all political parties to amend the Duties Act 1997 to allow stamp duty to be waived on the purchase of new truck trailers in NSW,” Minister Gay said.

“I’ve had an absolute gutful of seeing the vast majority of truck trailers being hauled on NSW roads displaying Queensland or Victorian number plates. In many cases, it means transport operators are buying and/or registering new trailers in other states with NSW forfeiting vital business and associated revenue.

“Transport operators – many of whom run interstate operations – aren’t stupid; they establish businesses and depots in other states to gain access to competitive pricing. Frankly, I don’t blame them; trucking companies run on tight margins at the best of times.”

Treasurer Baird said the reform will help send a strong pricing signal to the road freight industry that the O’Farrell Government is determined to reduce the cost of running freight businesses in NSW.

“Along with rail, road transport plays a crucial role in moving more than $40 billion worth of freight around NSW each year. Whether its building materials, household appliances, groceries, furniture or fuel, chances are some of it spent time travelling by truck.

“The abolition of stamp duty on the purchase of new truck trailers will be an important step in the process of levelling the competitive playing field and will help to get NSW back into the game.”

The proposed stamp duty reform is part of a broader suite of government measures to help ease the financial pressure on road freight operators in NSW brought about by increases in national registration charges.

The National Transport Commission (NTC) recently advised state governments that an increase in registration charges for heavy vehicles was needed to ensure the industry continued to pay its share of the cost of providing and maintaining the road network.  The full report is available from the National Transport Commission website. 

The report by Richard Chesterman QC into a whistle blower’s allegations of medical malpractice within the Queensland health system has been tabled in the Queensland Parliament.

Health Minister Lawrence Springborg said the report highlighted the need for changes to administrative structures that oversee the handling of complaints and the enforcement of standards in Queensland health facilities.

“These recommendations reflect concerns I have raised since my appointment,” the Minister said. “Mr Chesterman has highlighted the need for stronger legal participation in the review of complaints about medical cases and I agree with the thrust of his suggestions.”

The Minister said he would seek further advice about each of the four recommendations.

“I take particular note of the need for legal scrutiny of cases processed by these agencies over the past five years and for a review of cases in which there was a conflicting response by the agencies concerned,” Mr Springborg said. “These are necessary steps to build public confidence.”

The Minister thanked Queensland Health employees for their ready support of the inquiry.

He said the operation of several departmental agencies, including the Health Quality Complaints Commission and the Ethical Standards Unit was examined by Mr Chesterman. The actions of the nationwide Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and its Queensland medical board were also considered as part of the process.

“The report will require the clarification of roles between agencies reporting at the state and federal levels,” he said. “I will be writing to the Federal Minister to seek her support.”

Members of Low Carbon Australia's Carbon Neutral Program have been praised for avoiding more than 1 million tonnes of greenhouse gas pollution.

Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Mark Dreyfus acknowledged the milestone at the Sydney Market Outlook - the property industry's event which brings together 500 representatives of Australia's largest commercial building owners and occupiers.

Companies including CBRE, ANZ, QANTAS, Virgin, National Australia Bank and Sensis have voluntarily joined the Carbon Neutral Program, which provides recognition of their efforts to reduce and offset their carbon pollution.

Low Carbon Australia provides financial solutions to Australian business, government and the wider community to encourage action on energy efficiency, cost-effective carbon reductions, and accreditation for carbon neutral products and organisations.

Since commencing operations, Low Carbon Australia has contracted investments in excess of $35 million, generating a flow of new financing and markets which has made available more than $115 million in new finance for energy efficiency and uptake of low carbon technologies in the marketplace.

Low Carbon Australia has financed a range of individual energy efficiency projects, and significant investment partnerships with National Australia Bank & Eureka Funds Management, Alleasing, Origin, Macquarie Bank, FlexiGroup, Melbourne City Council and City of Sydney.

More information about Low Carbon Australia is at www.lowcarbonaustralia.com.au

A new online mental health tool, myCompass, designed to support people living with a mental health issue has been launched.

Developed by a team of health professionals at the Black Dog Institute, and funded by the Australian Government, myCompass is an online tool that assesses user symptoms, then provides a personalised support program.

The interactive program includes online psychological tools, round-the-clock monitoring of moods and behaviours and motivational tips via email and SMS.

The tool is part of the Government’s recently launched e-mental health strategy.


myCompass developer Associate Professor Judy Proudfoot said the tool was evidence based and complimented traditional health services.

“myCompass has been designed to support people that may not seek help because of lack of time, lack of access to face-to-face, services or a fear of stigma,” said A/Prof Proudfoot.

“It provides a suite of simple strategies that will educate people to self-monitor and self-manage unhelpful thoughts and behaviour. It’s easy to access and simple to understand so you can improve your long-term mental health while you’re waiting for the bus or having lunch.

“Most importantly of all, clinical evidence shows that it works.”

The June quarter Business outlook from Deloitte Access Economics released today tips the Territory economy to be the fastest growing in Australia over the next five years, with the strongest employment growth over the period.

Treasurer, Delia Lawrie, said the result confirmed the  of major projects secured by the Henderson government.

“The Territory’s economy is forecast to lead the nation, growing at an of average 4.8% per annum over the next five years, while employment growth will also be Australia's strongest at 2.3%, placing us ahead of all jurisdictions including boom state WA,” Ms Lawrie said.

“These forecasts demonstrate the the Northern Territory is headed in the right direction and are a testament to the Henderson Government’s track record of attracting and delivering major projects to build the prosperity of the Territory.

“In other economic data released today, the Commonwealth Bank’s ‘State of the States’ report, which ranks jurisdictions against a ten year average over eight key indicators, shows the Territory surging up the ladder from seventh to third through strong economic growth, retail spending and employment.

“Commsec reports the Northern Territory to now have the fastest annual state final demand growth rate in the nation at a ‘stunning’ 10.4 per cent, leading annual growth rates on equipment investment (up 39.9 per cent) and construction work (up 80.9 per cent) and second in retail spending behind WA", Ms Lawrie said.