Industry News

Infrastructure supply specialist UGL has announced it has secured $190 million in new orders to supply and maintain freight locomotives to a number of blue-chip Australian customers.

Under the new contracts, UGL will deliver 38 new locomotives to customers including:

• GE Evolution locomotives to support Rio Tinto’s Pilbara iron ore operations in Western Australia
• C44ACi locomotives to supplement Xstrata Coal Australia’s locomotive fleet operated by Freightliner Australia in the Hunter Valley. The order includes an eight year maintenance support program for these locomotives and associated wagons
• C44ACi locomotives to QR National
• C44ACi locomotives to PN Rail in Victoria.

“These significant new locomotive orders reflect UGL’s market leading position in the rail freight market and are testament to our capabilities in comprehensive rolling stock delivery and asset management,” UGL’s CEO and Managing Director Richard Leupen said.

“We continue to experience strong demand for locomotive rolling stock supported by resources related investment on both the East and West coasts of Australia. A large pipeline of locomotive supply and maintenance opportunities is visible and we expect to participate in a significant proportion of these new opportunities as they are awarded.”

The Australian Government will trial the participation of energy networks and major greenfield sites as part of the Energy Efficiency Opportunities (EEO) Program to assess the potential energy savings available to these sectors.

“Under the existing EEO Program industry participants have reported annual net cost savings in 2011 of over $800 million and it is important that we spread the benefits of this program to other sectors where it can be proven there is a net benefit,” Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson said.

The trials for energy transmission and distribution networks, major greenfield sites and expansion projects will be undertaken over the next 12 months and will include thorough consultation with industry throughout the process to ensure the development of an effective assessment and reporting framework.

“While the expansion of the EEO Program offers potential energy saving benefits to these sectors, the Government recognises the need to work collaboratively with industry to optimise outcomes for program participants,” Minister Ferguson said.

“During consultations undertaken earlier this year industry raised the need for more time to fully understand and appreciate how the application of the EEO Program will operate when applied to both energy networks and greenfield sites and the Government has taken this feedback on board.

“The trials will better inform how the program should be applied and the relative costs and benefits of program participation to these sectors.”

In addition, the Government will undertake a statutory review of the first five year cycle of the EEO program. This review will assess the effectiveness of the program in building energy management capability and identifying and implementing cost effective energy efficiency opportunities.

“In 2011, EEO Program participants reported that they have or will implement energy savings of almost 90 Petajoules of energy.  This represents 1.5 per cent of Australia’s total energy use and is the equivalent energy use of 1.8 million Australian households,” Minister Ferguson said.

“While these are good results, it is important that we look at how we can further streamline the EEO program with the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting requirements to reduce the regulatory burden on industry while still delivering energy savings to business.”

The necessary EEO regulatory amendments to facilitate this trial will be tabled by the Government in due course in preparation for participation of the networks and greenfield sectors. The Government will consider further regulatory changes as required following the outcome of the trials and following industry consultation and feedback.

The Department will soon release additional details on the timing of the program expansion, including industry consultation and any expressions of interest from industry to participate in the trials.

Further information about the EEO program is available at www.ret.gov.au

A new research facility located at Monash University will drive world-first research into the early detection of cardiac disease using ultra-sensitive biomedical imaging equipment supplied by Siemens.

Supported by a $7 million grant from the Victorian Government, the Monash Biomedical Imaging (MBI) centre was officially opened today by the Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business, Louise Asher.

The facility features state-of-the-art Siemens equipment, including pre-clinical and clinical scanners, which will be pivotal in assessing how imaging can detect plaque formation in the carotid arteries of elderly patients.

MBI Director, Professor Gary Egan said the facility's unique co-location with the Australian Synchrotron Imaging and Medical Beam Line, enabled advanced imaging techniques to predict cardiac function and disease onset in the elderly.

“The research at MBI could result in ground-breaking discoveries that may lead to the early detection of markers associated with the prevention of neurological and cardiovascular diseases including stroke," Professor Egan said.

Professor Egan said the facility would provide coordinated access and operational support to biomedical imaging infrastructure, as well as research training and advanced technological development in close collaboration with researchers and industry partners including Siemens.

Vice-President of Siemens Healthcare, Richard Guest, said there was an increasing demand for collaborative treatments incorporating imaging and drug therapies to assist in the goal of advancing human health.

“There is a significant shift in medical research towards the use of highly advanced body imaging which literally provides clinicians with a virtual 3D replica of the cardiovascular system, to detect and prevent disease,” Richard Guest said.

“This partnership allows for Monash and Siemens to join forces to identify these key indicators. Using world-class technology increases the accuracy significantly and places Monash amongst the leading biomedical imaging research centres in the world,” Mr Guest said.

The opening of MBI marked the establishment of a new node of the Victorian Biomedical Imaging Capability (VBIC) – a collaboration between Monash University, Swinburne University, The University of Melbourne and the Florey Neuroscience Institute - which the State Government granted a further $8.5 million in support.

The Government also recently announced $26 million for a further four years of operational funding for the Australian Synchrotron facility at the Clayton campus.

The research into predictors of cardiac disease will be undertaken as a sub-study of the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly trial. 

The universe contains substantially more atomic hydrogen – the fuel that keeps stars burning – than previously thought according to new research conducted by the CSIRO.

CSIRO astronomer Dr Robert Braun conducted the first accurate measurement of the gas in galaxies close to our own.

The gas, which formed in the aftermath of the big bang, is responsible for the formation of galaxies and, if we get a better idea of what forms the gas, will provide a clearer picture of how the universe was formed.

The study also shows that the gas is distributed very differently from how it was in the past, with much less in the galaxies' outer suburbs than billions of years ago.

"This means that it's much harder for galaxies to pull the gas in and form new stars," Dr Braun said.

"It's why stars are forming 20 times more slowly now than in the past."

The new finding doesn’t help solve the problem of "Dark Matter" — lots of mass, detectable by its gravity, that we haven't yet identified.

"Even though there’s more atomic hydrogen than we thought, it's not a big enough percentage to solve the Dark Matter problem. If what we are missing had the weight of a large kangaroo, what we have found would have the weight of a small echidna," Dr Braun said.

Australia’s economic global competitiveness has slipped for a second consecutive year according to a report released by the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA). The report found Australia slipped from 9^th place to 15^th in world competiveness rankings.

In releasing Australia's 2012 World Competitiveness Yearbook results, CEDA Chief Executive, Professor the Hon Stephen Martin said key factors in Australia's poor ranking for labour market competitiveness included the high Australian dollar, skills shortages and the re-emergence of industrial relations as a key national issue, with a number of high profile disputes.

"The high Australian dollar and strong terms of trade have resulted in a drop in Australia's international trade competitiveness which has occurred at the same time as many other countries' economies have slowed," he said.

"With the exception of the mining sector, this has made Australian exports less competitive and negatively impacted industries such as tourism, retail and manufacturing.

"These industries were already struggling with rising global competition and a structural readjustment has been occurring in our economy as a result, with the strong Australian dollar further exacerbating this change.

Despite the slip in rankings, the committee warned against governmental interference with subsides, but rather urged a reduction in regulatory burdens placed on businesses, coupled with a targeted investment in skills and innovation.

"In two years Australia has slipped from five to 15 in global competitiveness rankings and if we are to help protect Australia from future declines we need to increase investment in business innovation and skills," Professor Martin said.

The rankings can be found here

A senate committee lead by former Federal Greens leader Senator Bob Brown has recommended the dropping of a bill that seeks to make a range of changes to planning requirements for mobile phone towers.

The laws surrounding the mobile phone tower construction have been a concern for local government bodies since their inception in 1997, with exemption of state and territory planning requirements causing particular concern amongst local government bodies.

The committee also heard that the bill may have a range of unintended consequences relating to the deployment and maintenance of telecommunications infrastructure, such as emergency communications facilities, simple maintenance and state and territory planning legislation.

The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) argued that the rollout of telecommunications infrastructure should be subject to planning and regulations that best serve the interest of the local community.

The ALGA also supported a greater emphasis on heath and safety concerns relating to electromagnetic radiation, welcoming Senator Brown's intention to mandate the precautionary principle and on placing a greater emphasis on addressing health and safety concerns.

Legislation to establish an independent expert scientific committee to provide advice on impacts of coal seam gas and large coal mining proposals on our water resources has passed the House of Representatives.

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke said the legislation would allow for more rigorous scientific assessment of coal seam gas and large coal mining proposals, in particular how these proposals will affect underground water resources and our rivers.

"I know that there is significant community concern about the impact of coal seam gas and coal mining developments on our water resources," Mr Burke said.

"That's why the Gillard Government has acted to create The Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development.

"We want to make sure that decisions by governments in relation to coal and coal seam gas developments are informed by the most rigorous scientific evidence available, in particular where those developments are likely to have a significant impact on water.

"The Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development will play a vital role in ensuring that independent scientific advice is available to all governments when they consider applications for these types of developments.

"In this way, we have established the independent committee and we have funded it.

"It will provide local communities and other stakeholders with accessible and reliable information as well as giving the coal seam gas and mining industries greater guidance on the sustainable management of water resources in areas where they propose developments."

An interim committee was set up in January pending formal establishment of the Independent Expert Scientific Committee. The interim committee has already provided valuable independent advice to the Australian Government and will continue until it hands over to the new committee from 1 July, 2012.

The legislation, which amends the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to set up the committee, will now be introduced into the Senate.

Mr Burke said the committee would provide advice on research priorities that address critical gaps in scientific understanding, and oversee research commissioned by myself in line with those research priorities.

"When requested, the committee will provide further evidence to inform regulatory decisions made by governments," Mr Burke said.

"It will provide advice on options for increasing the quality and accessibility of knowledge available on the impacts to water resources from coal seam gas and large coal mining developments, for example, in the collection of data.

"The committee's work will be supported by a national partnership agreement with relevant state and territory governments that will require them to seek and take account of the committee's advice when considering approvals for coal seam gas and large coal mining developments.

"So far Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia have signed the agreement – negotiations with Victoria and the Northern Territory are continuing."

Mr Burke said the committee would also provide advice on the priority areas for bioregional assessments and oversee their delivery. The interim committee has started work on the first five bioregional assessments in regions facing significant levels of coal seam gas and coal mining developments, such as the Galilee, Gunnedah, Gloucester and Clarence-Moreton basins.

The Australian Government has provided $200 million to establish the new Independent Expert Scientific Committee and assist states that are parties to the national partnership agreement to introduce the necessary reforms to seek the committee's advice when deciding on coal seam gas and coal mining applications.

For more information visit www.environment.gov.au/coal-seam-gas-mining.

RMIT University has led an international consortium of universities and the CSIRO in a research breakthrough that improves a solar panel technology's efficiency by at least 30 per cent.

Researchers used dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSCs) rather than the traditional silicon. This dye adsorbs light energy and produces a current that is transferred into a metal oxide, niobia. Niobia is an inexpensive, chemically stable and environmentally friendly material.

The work at RMIT was conducted by PhD student Jian Zhen Ou and supervised by Associate Professor Kourosh Kalantar-zadeh from the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

The four other universities involved were the US Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); University of California, Los Angeles, (UCLA); the University of New South Wales and the Korean Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology.

Mr Ou has received multiple awards during his PhD program including the 2011 Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Student Abroad.

Associate Professor Kalantar-zadeh said that for the first time, using niobia, they obtained a high conversion efficiency at least 30 per cent higher than those of the traditional DSSCs which had mainly used the metal oxide, titania.

"The key to this huge success lies in structuring niobia into our desired nano-architecture by using a simple, highly-controllable and large-scale producible technique," he said.

"Interestingly, this so-called anodisation technique is widely used as a conventional method in various industries for generating hard coatings and glazed surfaces, but rarely in nano-niobia production.

"Our work suggests that niobia can be used as the star material in DSSCs and provides a viable solution to boost the conversion efficiency to the values that far exceed that of silicon-based solar cells."

The findings were published in the journal ACS Nano.

The Federal Government has announced ‘reward’ funding of more than $147 million for States and Territories for their progress in literacy and numeracy targets.

The funding will be distributed as follows:

• Victoria: $48 million
• Queensland: $41.2 million
• Western Australia: $27.4 million
• New South Wales: $12.9 million   
• South Australia: $6.4 million
• Northern Territory: $ 5.7 million
• Tasmania: $3.5 million
• ACT: $2.2 million

 A report by the COAG Reform Council (CRC), released by School Education Minister Peter Garrett, confirmed that the  Literacy and Numeracy National Partnership was helping to lift achievement standards in 1200 schools.

“The CRC report found that schools participating in the partnership generally improved their performance in literacy and numeracy. The results for indigenous students were particularly pleasing – for example, indigenous students in Year 7 in Western Australia recorded a 16.9 per cent improvement in reading, while Year 3 reading in the Northern Territory improved by 16.1 per cent,”  School Education Minister Peter Garrett said.

“The majority of states and territories have either met or are making good progress towards most of their targets, which is reflected in the reward funding the Gillard Government will allocate.”

The CRC report highlighted that states and territories either made good progress towards, or fully achieved, 83.8 per cent of their agreed NAPLAN targets and 76.1 per cent of local measure targets to improve literacy and numeracy.

Mr Garrett said $147.3 million of the $211.5 million available in reward funding has been allocated this year.

He said that of the unallocated funding, $40 million would be directed towards boosting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education in around 200 schools through the ‘Focus Schools’ program.

“This means that all 900 schools identified in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Action plan will receive extra funding ….to boost literacy and numeracy results, engagement and attendance among indigenous students.”

Under the Literacy and Numeracy National Partnership, schools received funding to develop and trial a range of programs to help improve reading, writing and maths. Schools have been able to hire literacy and numeracy coaches; develop individual learning plans for students who need extra help; and purchase resources to assist students struggling with core skills.

“Around half a million students across the country are benefiting from funding provided through this partnership.  Since 2008, many participating schools have improved the proportion of students performing above national minimum standards,” Mr Garrett said.

“We’ve also made available an additional $243 million over the next 18 months to advance the work that has already taken place.”

For more information on the Smarter Schools National Partnerships, visit www.smarterschools.gov.au.

Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Mark Dreyfus, has introduced the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS) legislation to Parliament following agreement between the Gillard Government, the New Zealand Government and states and territories.

The GEMS legislation will regulate energy efficiency and labelling standards for appliances and other products. It will also give effect to commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to adopt national policies and measures to mitigate climate change and limit Australia’s anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases, and to promote the development and application of technologies and practices that control anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases.

The Bill establishes a national framework for regulating the energy efficiency of products supplied or used within Australia and permits the Australian Government to set mandatory minimum efficiency requirements for products, to drive greater energy efficiency for regulated products. The Bill also allows the Australian Government to set nationally-consistent labelling requirements, to increase Australians’ awareness of options to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption, energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.  The national framework will replace seven state and territory legislative frameworks, harmonising Australia’s equipment energy efficiency regulations. 

GEMS will incorporate the Equipment Energy Efficiency Program (E3) that set has minimum energy performance standards for more than 20 years to remove inefficient products from the market. The E3 Program has proven so successful that in 2005, 83% of all Australian consumers surveyed reported referring to the Program’s Energy Rating Labels when purchasing major household appliances. In 2010, the energy savings arising from the more efficient air conditioners and refrigerators required by the E3 Program was calculated at 6.6 terawatt hours, a benefit valued at over $1 billion.

The GEMS legislation expands and addresses inconsistencies in the E3 Program.

The Australian Government committed $37.1 million over four years in the 2012-2013 Budget to fund the Australian Government’s share of the cooperative E3 Program. This funding will be supported by contributions from New Zealand and Australian state and territory jurisdictions that participate in the E3 Program.

The GEMS legislation is available at: www.aph.gov.au/bills.

Additional information about the background to the GEMS legislation can be found at: www.climatechange.gov.au/

A report released by the mental health advocacy group Inspire Foundation has found that mental illnesses in young men is costing the Australian economy $3 billon each year.

The Counting the Cost: The Impact of Young Men’s Mental Health on the Australian Economy builds on previous research conducted in 2010 and aims to better understand the mental health help-seeking attitudes and patterns in young men.

The report found that mental illnesses in young men aged between 12 and 25 cost the Australian economy $387,000 every hour and results in over nine million working days lost per year. The Federal Government covers 31 per cent on these costs via direct health costs, disability welfare payments, unemployment support and direct costs associated with imprisonment, with the private sector accounting for the rest of the costs.

“For the first time we are starting to understand that there are productivity opportunities and risks associated with the mental health of young men. The failure to act presents a serious threat to Australia’s future productivity and to the individual prosperity of young men affected by poor mental health,” Inspire Foundation CEO Jonathan Nicholas.

“Until such impacts are made clear, the mental health of young men would continue to be seen as primarily a health issue for the attention of the government and community sectors. Helping young men with mental illness with education and training opportunities will assist higher wages and productivity for the economy.”

Federal Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, said more must be done to ensure the problem does not further escalate.

“Two thirds of mental illness emerges before the age of 21. If that illness is left untreated, it can impact on a person’s education, and later in life on their future career prospects and financial security,” Mr Butler said.

“The clear message from Counting the Cost is that we must intervene early and invest smarter to reduce the cost and impacts associated with young men’s mental illness. We stand to gain from both a happier, healthier population and increased productivity.” 

The report makes three main recommendations, including:

• improving educational outcomes for young boys and adolescents;
• improving employers’ understanding of mental health and reducing the stigma that some workers with mental health difficulties face in their jobs; and
• improving understanding around Government investments in mental health

The full report can be found here

Mowbray College, a large private school in Melbourne’s outer west, has been put into voluntary liquidation after its $18 million debt dragged the school under. The college, with a student population of over 1,200, is unlikely to open its doors after the end of the current school term. 

In an attempt to keep the school operational for the coming weeks, the Victorian Government has brought forward a $400,00 grant to ensure it completes the school term.

Unpaid school fees are rumored to be in excess of $2 million.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has released key construction findings for the March quarter, which show that engineering work has lead a modest growth in the construction sector.

Despite overall building, residential and non-residential all recording drops, engineering recorded a healthy 5.4 per cent increase from the previous quarter, and a 32.9 per cent increase from the same time last year.

Building work done slumped 2.2 per cent, while residential fell 1.5 per cent. Non-residential work done recorded the biggest slump, posting a 3.1 per cent contraction.

Seasonally adjusted, engineering work done rose 13.3 per cent to $23,849.6 million in the March quarter.

The Liverpool City Council is continuing to campaign against the Federal Government’s proposed $587 million Moorebank Intermodal Terminal project, calling for community representatives for its No Intermodal Working Party.

The working party has been established to undertake the following:

• To develop a centralised and collaborative approach to coordinate Council's response to the Moorebank freight intermodal proposals.
• To assess detailed information and studies relating to the proposed applications for the intermodal facilities.
• To investigate and act upon opportunities to lobby Federal and State Ministers and Departments.
• To initiate and develop partnerships with relevant stakeholders, environmental groups, and key organisations.
• To make recommendations to Council regarding the utilisation of resources to best effect.

The Federal Government is pushing ahead with its planned terminal, planning to have the facility operational by 2017. When operational, the terminal would house one-and-a-half million shipping containers on site.

The council fears that the massive increase in freight movement will equate to a substantial increase of trucks on the surrounding roads.

The City of Melbourne has secured its 11^th consecutive AAA/A-1+ rating from ratings agency Standard & Poor’s, the highest possible level.

In a statement, Standard and Poor’s said that the City of Melbourne displays excellent financial management and has a strong balance sheet, a predictable and supportive institutional framework, and strong budgetary flexibility and performance.

“The ratings affirmation reflects our opinion of the council’s strong management team and very strong financial position which provides it with flexibility to withstand adverse economic conditions.

“The Standard & Poor’s rating is an independent measure that affirms the City of Melbourne’s strong financial position and underlines Council’s economic responsibility,” Melbourne’s Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said.

“It is this economic management that allowed council to propose a record $481 million draft 2012/13 budget that will deliver vital infrastructure and services for a growing population.”

The Queensland Government has announced plans to significantly cut the state’s green tape, saying that the surrounding bureaucracy has ‘suffocated small business and cost taxpayers millions of dollars.”

“After consulting with industry in the lead up to and after the March 2012 election, it is evident that businesses need certainty to invest and flexibility to allow for growth. The amendments I have introduced this week will deliver just that,” State Minister for Environment Andrew Powell said.

“The Newman government has a mandate to cut regulation and red tape by 20 per cent, and the changes I’m announcing today will go a long way towards that.”

The State Government has proposed a move away from the ‘one size fits all’ environmental approval system.

“These changes to legislation will offer three ways to apply for approval of environmentally relevant activities (ERAs) – including an automatic approval process - depending on the size and environmental risk posed by business activities,” Mr Powell said.

“The Bill will cut 90 pages from reduction in the Environmental Protection Act, replacing duplicated provisions with a single clear process.”

Despite the cuts, Mr Powell stressed his government remains committed to pursuing high standards of environmental protection.

“Let me be clear, this is in no way a weakening of environmental protection laws or environmental conditions. Rather, this Bill is aimed at streamlining administrative process without reducing or removing any environmental standards that businesses are required to meet,” Mr Powell said.

The Queensland Greens have hit out at the move, saying it sends the wrong message to the state’s business and could undermine environmental protection.

“The Greens support streamlining bureaucratic duplication and reducing time frames for compliance. However, if automatic application processes mean turning a blind eye to rigorous assessment of mining and gas approvals and the effect of other industries on the environment, the Minister's proposals are irresponsible,” Greens Spokesman Dr Jim McDonald said. 

The Victorian Government has appointed Greg Garde QC as a judge of the Supreme Court and President of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

Attorney-General Robert Clark said Mr Garde's extensive legal background and wide experience made him an ideal candidate both to serve on the Supreme Court and to lead a large and diverse tribunal.

"Mr Garde has 37 years' experience at the Bar, practising in a broad range of commercial law areas as well as planning, environmental and local government law, and being appointed as Queen's Counsel in 1989," Mr Clark said.

"Mr Garde has also lectured in constitutional and administrative law and served as Chairman of the Environmental, Planning and Local Government Law Section of the Commercial Bar Association.

"In addition, Mr Garde has more than four decades of distinguished military service. He initially enlisted in the Melbourne University Regiment in 1967 and has undertaken a wide range of responsible and demanding roles, as well as service to veterans and their families," Mr Clark said.

Mr Garde rose to the rank of Major General and from 2001 to 2004 served as Chief of Reserves and Head of Reserve Policy, the highest position for a reserve officer in the Australian Defence Force.

Mr Garde was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1995 for exceptional service to the Army Reserve, and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2005 for distinguished service to the Australian Defence Force Reserves.

Mr Garde's appointment to the Supreme Court takes effect immediately. His appointment as President of VCAT will take effect from Friday 1 June.

Mr Clark also thanked Judge John Bowman for his contribution as the acting President of VCAT during the past three months.

The Federal Government has announced it will provide over $170 million in funding to state and territory governments in reward payments for their progress in national teacher quality reforms. The funding forms part of the $550 million Smarter Schools National Partnership for Improving Teacher Quality.

“This funding recognises and rewards the effort of governments and schools to improve the quality of our nation’s teachers and school leaders,”  Federal School Education Minister Peter Garrett.

The reward funding comes after the COAG Reform Council  (CRC) released its findings into the progress being made by states and territories in meeting the National Partnership Goals.

“The COAG report makes it clear the reforms are being implemented, with 96 per cent of agreed milestones achieved and significant progress made towards achieving the remaining four per cent,” Mr Garrett said.

Under the partnership, governments are delivering nationally significant and long-lasting reforms targeting key points in the teacher ‘lifecycle’ to attract, train, place, develop and retain quality teachers and leaders in our schools and classrooms.

Reforms include:

• introducing the first ever National Standards for both principals and teachers
• improved reward structures for teachers and leaders who work in disadvantaged Indigenous, rural/remote and hard-to-staff schools
• increased school-based decision-making about recruitment, staffing mix and budget
• improving the quality of teacher training in partnership with universities
• improved in-school support for teachers and leaders, particularly in disadvantaged Indigenous, rural/remote and hard-to-staff schools. 

“The CRC has acknowledged that much work has been done by states and territories to improve teacher quality through the facilitation phase of the partnership,” Mr Garrett said.

The Federal Government has announced $47 million in reward funding under the National Partnership on Youth Attainment and Transitions.

Federal School Education Minister Peter Garrett announced the funding after a report released by the COAG Reform Council confirmed that most states and territories have made ‘excellent progress’ in reaching targets outlined by the partnership in increasing the number of young people attaining Year 12 or vocation education and training qualifications.

“The $46.7 million I announce today rewards those states and territories that have increased the number of young Australians participating in senior secondary education or VET.”

Mr Garrett said that due to the extra challenges the Northern Territory faces it did not achieve its target and therefore did not receive reward funding.

“Recognising the unique challenges in the Northern Territory we are investing $583 million over ten years as part of the Australian Government’s Stronger Futures package,” Mr Garrett said.

The Northern Territory’s unallocated reward funding will be made available for achievement of its 2012 attainment target.

For more information on the National Partnership and state and territory implementation plans and targets visit http://www.deewr.gov.au/youth/youthattainmentandtransitions/pages/nationalpartnership.aspx

A new class of biosensor that can detect exceptionally small traces of contaminants in liquids in just 40 minutes has been developed by a UNSW-led team of researchers.

Known as a biochemiresistor, it meets a long-standing challenge to create a sensor that is not only super-sensitive to the presence of chemical compounds but responds quickly. The technology has potential uses for detecting drugs, toxins and pesticides for biomedical or environmental analysis.

In a paper published in the prestigious chemistry journal Angewandte Chemie the researchers describe how they successfully tested the new sensor by detecting tiny traces in milk of the veterinary antibiotic enrofloxacin. The journal has singled out the study for attention as a “Very Important Paper”. Only 5% of papers published by the journal are so designated.

“Enrofloxacin is an antibiotic used in the agricultural industry that can be transferred to the food chain,” notes co-author Scientia Professor Justin Gooding of the UNSW School of Chemistry and the Australian Centre for Nanomedicine.

“Our biochemiresistor was able to detect enrofloxacin in neat milk in 40 minutes, at level as low as one nanogram in a litre of milk. To put that number in perspective, a nanogram is a billionth of a gram and is the mass of a single cell.

“While that is impressive enough, the sensor is a general concept that can be widely applied across many different fields.” 

A biosensor is a portable analytical device that uses biological molecules to detect selectively just one compound within a mix of many others. Small biosensors are already in daily use testing the safety of drinking water, for checking diabetic blood-sugar levels and for pregnancy tests.

The biochemiresistor uses gold-coated magnetic nanoparticles modified with antibodies that are selective for the chemical constituent – or analyte - of interest. The nanoparticles are dispersed into the sample for analysis and if the analyte is present some of the antibodies detach from the nanoparticles.

Using a magnet, the nanoparticles are then assembled into a film between two electrodes and the electrical resistance is measured. The more analyte is present, the more antibodies leave the nanoparticles and the lower the resistance in the nanoparticle film.

“This new type of biosensor is rapid in response because the magnetic nanoparticle biosensors go and get the analyte rather than the usual approach of waiting for the analyte to find the sensing surface,” says Gooding.

“The biochemiresistor is also more sensitive than the usual biosensor because, as the nanoparticles are dispersed throughout the sample, the entire sample is analysed, not just a small portion of the solution.”

The study’s lead author is Leo M.H. Lai. The team included other researchers from the Australian Centre for NanoMedicine and the former ARC Centre of Excellence for Functional Nanomaterials at UNSW.