Industry News

The Federal Government has approved the first Enterprise Migration Agreement (EMA), granting permission to the new iron ore mining Roy Hill to seek skilled overseas labour.

Minister for Immigration Chris Bowen said the EMA would allow Roy Hill to sponsor up to 1,715 workers for the three-year construction phase through the 457 visa program, where they cannot find Australians to fill the positions.

"With more than 8,000 workers required during the construction phase of the Roy Hill project, there simply aren't enough people in the local workforce to get the job done,” Mr Bowen said.

Mr Bowen said the agreement would also allow for future employment of Australian locals.

"As part of the EMA, Roy Hill will provide up to 2,000 training places for Australians. This includes places for more than 200 Australian apprentices and trainees, as well as preparing over 100 Indigenous Australians to work in the construction industry," Mr Bowen said.

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) slammed the decision, saying it panders to business interests while compromising on job security.

“Apart from the impact on local workers, the CFMEU is also very concerned that these workers owe their temporary visas to their employer, and are under constant threat of deportation if they stand up for their rights or complain about dangerous conditions,” CFMEU National Secretary Dave Noonan.

The Western Australian Government has announced a $57.14 million funding injection for Karratha’s new health campus.

State Health Minister Kim Hames said the injection now made the campus the largest investment in a single piece of health infrastructure in the state.

“The additional funds will allow the development of a ‘one stop shop’ for health care, bringing together in the one place services such as acute care, population health and community mental health and drug services on to a new site that will have capacity to support potential partnerships with other private and non-government health providers; human service agencies and retail providers,” Mr Hames said.

Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls said growth in the Pilbara triggered a review of services planning and the new health campus would be developed as an integrated district health service and support the smaller health services such as Roebourne, Wickham, Tom Price, Onslow and Paraburdoo.

“The intended design of the Karratha Health Campus will facilitate the delivery of seamless health care for the West Pilbara community through better integration and co-location of services and improved information technology,” Mr Grylls said.

The Western Australian Government has announced a $8.9 million funding package for regional airports across the state.

The funding is comprised of $6.9 million from the State Government’s Royalties for Regions scheme, with the remaining $2 million coming through the department of Transport’s Regional Airports Development Scheme.

“This year, 36 regional airports will share up to $8.9million for infrastructure upgrades, maintenance programs and infrastructure planning studies to provide improved air transport access for communities, safer emergency evacuations and greater tourism opportunities,” State Transport Minister Troy Buswell said.

The largest grant for the 2012-13 funding round was awarded to Fitzroy Crossing Airport ($1.8 million) to reconstruct the runway. This project is co-funded by the Federal Government’s Regional Aerodrome Upgrade Grant program.

Merredin Airport was awarded the second largest grant of $1 million to re-surface the runway and taxiway. These improvements will allow regular passenger transport flights to operate safely at Fitzroy Crossing and pilot training to continue at Merredin Airport.

Telstra’s new infrastructure-as-a-service cloud service platform has been independently certified as complaint to industry security standards.

The service is now ISO27001 certified, meaning the company’s dedicated cloud computing platforms, backup and recovery service, associated operation systems and tools have been assessed to the highest industry security standard.

Mark Pratley, Telstra General Manager of Cloud Computing, said the accreditation of Telstra’s  infrastructure-as-a-service platform is another part of the organisation’s ongoing investment in cloud.

“The cloud market, in particular infrastructure-as-a-service, represents a new approach to how IT is delivered for organisations and Telstra is very serious about making sure our cloud computing platform is not just secure but independently audited, giving our customers the confidence their data and applications are protected and safe,” Mr Pratley said.

“Receiving ISO27001 certification follows a strict independent audit of our infrastructure and security practices in connection with our infrastructure-as-a-service platform, which are in accordance with strict global standards,” Mr Pratley said,

The New South Wales Government has given planning approval for the construction on the new 50-bed mental health unit as part of the ongoing redevelopment of the wagga Wagga Base Hospital Redevelopment.

State Minister for Health, Jillian Skinner, said the new unit will considerably improve the region’s capacity to deal with community needs.

“The number of mental health beds will total 50, after an increase of 30 overall and will include a 20-bed sub-acute unit,” Mrs Skinner said.

“The unit will provide a modern environment for the care and treatment of 50 residential patients,” she said.

The Member for Wagga Wagga, Daryl Maguire, said the new facility will include a direct link into the new acute hospital and is expected to be operational by 2013.

“The new mental health unit is the first phase of the Wagga Wagga Base Hospital redevelopment, which will be built in progressive phases to allow the hospital to continue operation during construction,” Mr Maguire said.

“Phase 2, which includes new facilities for emergency services, operating theatre and inpatient unit, will start immediately after the occupation of the mental health building,” he said.

The project is jointly funded by the NSW and Commonwealth governments.

Bulk billing rates have reached a record high in the March quarter, with 81.2 of HP services being bulk billed.

“While bulk billing rates can fluctuate, the Government is pleased to see they have been trending up for some years and are now at record highs,” Health Minister Tanya Plibersek said.

Ms Plibersek said in the March quarter bulk billing records were also set for pathology (88%), diagnostic imaging (74.1%), and radiation therapy (54.8%).

Ms Plibersek said $4.3 billion was paid out in Medicare benefits in the quarter, up from $3.9 billion in the 2011 March quarter, an increase of 9.8%. This was in respect to 83.1 million services.

A report published by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has found that Australian children’s oral health as ‘improved markedly’ over the last 30 years.

The Child Dental Health Survey Australia 2007: 30-year trends in child oral health report describes the overall oral health status of Australian children examined by school dental staff in 2007, compared with that in 1977.

‘The good news is that between 1977 and the mid-1990s, the average number of deciduous (baby) teeth affected by caries halved in children aged 6,’ said Professor Kaye Roberts‑Thomson of the AIHW’s Dental Statistics and Research Unit.

Caries in the permanent teeth of children aged 12 declined even more dramatically—in 1993, children aged 12 had less than one-quarter the number of teeth affected by caries than in 1977.

‘However, in both age groups, the average number of caries has increased slightly since the mid-1990s,’ Professor Roberts-Thomson said.

The report found that just under half (46 per cent) of children examined had a history of decay in their baby teeth. In contrast, one-tenth of children aged 6 with the most extensive history of tooth decay had almost 10 baby teeth affected—over 5 times the national average.

‘Among older children, 39% and 60% of children aged 12 and 15 respectively had some history of decay in their permanent teeth. The average number of teeth affected was one for 12 year olds and two for those aged 15. Again, the one-tenth of 12–15 year olds with the most extensive history of tooth decay had much higher numbers of teeth affected, with between 5.2 and 8.6 permanent teeth affected. This was more than 4 times the national average for those age groups,’ Professor Roberts-Thomson said.

The report can be found here

A new Australian study has confirmed the accuracy of a modern non-invasive cardiac output monitor that can replace a 40-year-old standard in this field.

The collaborative paper by researchers at The University of Queensland School of Medicine, the Florey Neuroscience Institute and the University of Melbourne compared the current accepted method of measuring cardiac output with a non-invasive accurate ultrasound monitor called USCOM.

The current gold standard cardiac monitor is the Pulmonary Artery Catheter (PAC), which involves insertion of a catheter into a patient's neck or groin.

The catheter is then positioned in their arteries through the heart before heating or cooling the blood.

Alternatively, the newer USCOM method simply involves placing a small ultrasound probe on the chest.

Professor Malcolm West, a Professor of Medicine at The University of Queensland School of Medicine and a paper co-author said: “The USCOM device is a simple method for accurately and non-invasively measuring central circulation a goal of cardiology for many years.

“To be non-invasive is a great advantage over the PAC.

“To be non-invasive and more accurate, means the device has the potential to change the way we approach management of many cardiovascular diseases including sepsis, heart failure and hypertension.”

Lead author, UQ School of Medicine PhD student Rob Phillips said the new study added to the growing global body of independent evidence which demonstrated that the USCOM device offered critical care clinicians a new gold standard for cardiovascular monitoring which could replace costly and dangerous catheter-based technologies.

“It confirms that the growing worldwide USCOM user base has the very best tool available to guide lifesaving cardiovascular treatments and improve the management of critical and widespread diseases,” Mr Phillips said.

The peer-reviewed paper was published recently in the Critical Care Research and Practice journal.

The researchers surgically implanted accurate measurement devices onto the great cardiac arteries, and then monitored their cardiac output using USCOM and PAC at rest and as medications were introduced.

They found that USCOM had a 1 per cent error compared with the surgical device, while the PAC error was 17 per cent, and that USCOM was six to eight times more accurate than the PAC for detecting changes associated with the common drugs used in cardiovascular management.

USCOM's non-invasive system uses external ultrasound similar to that used in pregnancy.

The ultrasound signal bounces off the red blood cells as they flow across the cardiac valves, the site of true cardiac output, and producing a unique echo from which the device then counts the cell echoes with extremely high accuracy allowing high fidelity cardiac output measurement.

Because of its accuracy the USCOM monitor is most useful for diagnosing circulatory abnormalities and guiding the standard interventions of fluid inotropes and vaso-active therapies.

The USCOM monitor has many clinical applications ranging from paediatrics, critical care, anaesthesia and emergency medicine.

New USCOM research is now being focused on improved understanding the great global healthcare challenges of sepsis, heart failure and hypertension, and their treatment.

Watch how it works: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOUr8WOfxrc&feature=player_embedded

Download paper - http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ccrp/2012/621496/

Patients given a clot-busting drug within six hours of a stroke are more likely to make a better recovery than those who do not receive the treatment, new research has found.

The trial was set up in 2000 by the University of Sydney's Professor Richard Lindley, while he was employed at the University of Edinburgh.

The study of more than 3000 patients is the world's largest trial of the drug rt-PA and was coordinated at the University of Edinburgh. Since coming to Sydney Medical School in 2003, Professor Lindley has continued as the co-principal investigator of the research.

The findings of the study are published today in  The Lancet alongside an analysis of all other trials of the drug carried out in the past 20 years.

The trial found that following treatment with the drug rt-PA, which is given intravenously to patients who have suffered an acute ischaemic stroke, more patients were able to look after themselves.

"The trial results, together with the updated review, mean that rt-PA can now be offered to a much wider group of patients presenting with stroke", Professor Lindley said.

A patient's chances of making a complete recovery within six months of a stroke were also increased.

An ischaemic stroke happens when the brain's blood supply is interrupted by a blood clot. The damage caused can be permanent or fatal.

Researchers now know that for every 1000 patients given rt-PA within three hours of stroke, 80 more will survive and live without help from others than if they had not been given the drug.

The benefits of using rt-PA do come at a price, say researchers. Patients are at risk of death within seven days of treatment because the drug can cause a secondary bleed in the brain. The research team concluded that the benefits were seen in a wide variety of patients, despite the risks.

Stroke experts stress that these mortality figures need to be viewed in the context of deaths from stroke. Without treatment, one third of people who suffer a stroke die, with another third left permanently dependent and disabled.

Researchers say the threat of death and disability means many stroke patients are prepared to take the early risks of being treated with rt-PA to avoid being disabled.

The authors conclude that for those who do not experience bleeding, the drug improves patients' longer term recovery.

About half of those who took part in the trial were over 80.

"The trial underlines the benefits of treating patients with the drug as soon as possible and provides the first reliable evidence that treatment is effective for those aged 80 and over," Professor Lindley said.

The study also found no reason to restrict use of rt-PA - also known as alteplase - on the basis of how severe a patient's stroke has been.

Chief investigator Professor Peter Sandercock of the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences said: "Our trial shows that it is crucial that treatment is given as fast as possible to all suitable patients."

The trial was supported by the NHMRC and the Heart Foundation in Australia.

The University of Adelaide has established a new $50m endowment fund to support in perpetuity capital works and research in agriculture.

The fund has been set up following the purchase of the remaining 1614 ha of Martindale Farm at Mintaro by a local farmer.

The combination of Martindale Farm (4143ha), Munduney Station at Spalding (7513ha) and Moralana Station, north of Hawker (61,817ha) has realised gross proceeds of more than $50 million.

University of Adelaide Vice-President, Services and Resources Mr Paul Duldig said investing the proceeds of the three properties into a dedicated endowment fund demonstrates the University's firm commitment to research and education in agriculture and animal sciences in keeping with the wishes of its benefactors.

"Teaching and research are our business, not operating commercial farms. We have been able to turn these assets into serious investment in the future of agriculture and animal sciences," Mr Duldig said. "This is through expanded infrastructure for research and teaching and increased research capacity at both our Waite and Roseworthy campuses."

"Agriculture remains one of the cornerstones of education and research at the University of Adelaide and this endowment fund will help us maintain our position among the world's leading researchers in this area, tackling some of the major issues facing the sector."

Mr Duldig said the University was very pleased to be establishing such a major endowment fund. "These properties came to the University through generous bequests and we are delighted that the realisation of these bequests has allowed us to invest so significantly in the future of South Australian agriculture and animal sciences, just as they wished," he said.

"All properties have gone to South Australian owners for the benefit of local communities, and the results achieved reflected the high quality of facilities built and property maintenance over the years."

In May 2010, existing property user BTG Australasia bought the first part of Martindale Farm (1564ha) ensuring the continuation of the South Australian pharmaceutical operation.

The Standing Council on Transport and Infrastructure (SCOTI) has announced a set of new principles for land-use planning aimed at protecting airports and communities from ‘inappropriate’ off-airport developments.

The agreement will attempt to balance interests of local communities and airports and maintain the social, economic and environmental needs of both groups.

Specifically, SCOTI has agreed to adopt the principles underpinning the National Airport Safety Framework along with a series of technical guidelines, which include:

• Guideline B - management of the risk of building generated windshear and turbulence at airports;
• Guideline C - management of wildlife hazards near airports such as land fill sites and bird attracting wetlands;
• Guideline D - wind turbine farms which might pose a hazard to aviation operations or create electromagnetic interference with navigation equipment;
• Guideline E - lighting which might act as a distraction to pilots; and
• Guideline F - processes to assess penetration of tall buildings into protected airspace around airports.

The Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Trustee Obligations and Prudential Standards) Bill 2012 has passed through the House of Representatives, introducing measures recommended by the Cooper review into the governance, efficiency, structure and operation of Australia's superannuation system.

The Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation Bill Shorten said the Bill helps to close a regulatory gap by giving APRA standards-making power in superannuation.

"I flagged these reforms as early as December 2010. Today, this Government passed legislation through the lower house that gives the regulator and members new powers to go after rogue superfund directors,"  he said.

The Bill:

• requires a trustee to put the interests of members of funds first at all times;
• clearly identifies the duties that apply to directors of superannuation funds, including acting honestly and in the best interests of members; and
• includes a power for APRA to make prudential standards for superannuation.

The Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Stronger Super) Bill 2012 and Superannuation Supervisory Levy Imposition Amendment Bill 2012 have been referred to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services

The Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Stronger Super) Bill 2012:

• bans entry fees and sets criteria for the charging of other fees in superannuation, including rules for the charging of financial advice;
• requires all superannuation funds to provide life and TPD insurance to members (excluding defined benefit members) on an opt-out basis;
• enables APRA to collect information on a look-through basis;
• requires the disclosure and publication of key information in relation to superannuation funds;
• allows only MySuper funds to be eligible as default funds in modern awards and enterprise agreements;
• allows exceptions for members of defined benefit funds;
• requires trustees to transfer certain existing balances of members to MySuper; and
• provides rules in relation to ERFs.

The closing date for submissions has not yet been set.

More information is here

The New South Wales Government has announced the formation of a new Mental Health Line to ensure that people with a mental health problem, their families and carers have access to a 24-hour support service.

The service will provide a telephone triage assessment and referral service staffed by mental health clinicians, who will direct callers to the most appropriate care.

The Mental Health Line will also be used to provide advice about clinical symptoms, the urgency of the need for care and local treatment options for service providers, such as general practitioners, police and ambulance officers.

The 1800 011 511 Mental Health Line is now fully operational. 

Monash University Council has extended the term of the current Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Edward Byrne until the end of 2017.

University Chancellor, and Chair of the Monash University Council, Dr Alan Finkel said that since commencing in mid-2009 Professor Byrne had introduced and led a range of significant initiatives and strategies that had strengthened and advanced Monash University both nationally and internationally.

“Perhaps the most recent example of his record of success is the establishment of the Southeast University-Monash University Joint Graduate School in Suzhou, China. The finalisation of the agreement with the Chinese Government in April marked the first time an Australian university has been granted a licence to operate in China.”

Under Professor Byrne’s guidance the University cemented in February a first-of-its-kind alliance with the University of Warwick. The partnership aims to produce global graduates, and will allow the universities to jointly undertake research that will address problems that have proved too big for any one institution to address.

Professor Byrne was a founding director of the Melbourne Neuromuscular Research Unit and the Centre for Neuroscience in 1993. He was made Professor of Experimental Neurology at the University of Melbourne in 2001. He first came to Monash University as the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, a role he held from 2003 until 2007.

Professor Byrne was then appointed the Vice Provost (Health) at University College London. He held that position until he became Monash University’s eighth Vice-Chancellor in 2009.

The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) has announced it will canvass over 100,000 students to survey their experiences with TAFE institutes, private training providers or adult and community education providers.

The annual Student Outcomes Survey provides information on the standard of vocational education and training levels, while also gathering valuable information on employment outcomes.

Ms Sandra Pattison, General Manager, Statistics, NCVER, said that it is important for students to have their say because their feedback helps improve the sector for future students.

“It’s a good opportunity for students to give valuable information about how relevant their training was, what they got out of it, and how satisfied they were”, said Ms Pattison.

“We know people are busy, so we’ve made sure the survey will only take about ten minutes to complete. And, the earlier students do this, the greater their chances of winning one of the cash prizes on offer”.

The Student Outcomes Survey is conducted on behalf of the Australian, state and territory governments. Results from this survey will be available on the NCVER website in late 2012.

Copies of the 2011 survey results are available from www.ncver.edu.au/publications/2442.html

For further information on the survey visit www.ncver.edu.au/sos/faq.html  

A new investigation into the treatment of depression is underway at the Griffith Health Institute, with a focus on depression in the workplace.

About 60 percent of Australians who are depressed are employed, and many fail to seek or receive treatment.

Researchers at Griffith University's School of Applied Psychology have developed an online program called Finding the Balance to help people who are employed improve their emotional wellbeing and prevent future problems.

"The study aims to give people a better understanding of themselves in relation to their work and personal life by investigating if their emotional wellbeing can be improved using the web as a source of help," researcher Shannon Moule says.

"We expect to prove that those who complete the Finding the Balance program will show significant improvement in mood and worker productivity."

The participants, whose identification and details remain confidential, will learn new strategies to help improve their mood and increase their quality of work. A total of 40 people, living in Brisbane, are required to take part in the research.

"A diagnosis of depression is not necessary for participants. If they feel their mood is low and it is starting to affect their functioning with work and life in general, they can undergo a screening process to determine if the study program is suitable for their needs."

Ms Moule says the researchers at the Mt Gravatt campus are aware of previous positive results.

"We know of employees whose depressive symptoms decreased and whose work performance increased after undergoing quality treatment," she said.

"Research shows that online treatments are successful in treating depression and can be an extremely attractive option for people who may find it too difficult to attend traditional face-to-face treatments.

"The key issue about facing depression in the workplace is the need for cost-effective, accessible, and anonymous treatments that encourage employers to implement them and make employees comfortable about engaging with treatment."

Finding the Balance offers a range of behavioural strategies through an eight-module online program.

"Participation will incur a small, negotiable fee to cover the costs of running the study," Ms Moule said.

More information is at  www.findingthebalance.com.au

The Victorian Government has announced it has chosen a preferred framework for development contribution plans.

Following consultation with industry representatives and stakeholders, Victorian Planning Minister Matthew Guy said his government has formed a new, straight forward and easy-to-understand system.

Mr Guy said the Government would now move to finalise a model of a new standardised levy system based on five infrastructure categories:

• Community facilities;
• Open space facilities;
• Transport infrastructure;
• Drainage infrastructure; and
• Public land.

Under the preferred framework a different levy will be set for different development settings such as greenfield development, metropolitan infill development and regional and rural development, as well as a levy for residential and non-residential development.

Mr Guy said an Advisory Committee would be appointed to set the new levy amounts.

"The intention of the new framework is to cut red tape, reduce delays and provide clarity to the delivery of precinct structure plans in Melbourne and in growth areas in rural and regional Victoria," Mr Guy said.

The new levies will contribute to funding new infrastructure, the upgrade or extension of existing infrastructure or replacement of infrastructure that is required to support new communities.

The Advisory Committee will be required to report to the Minister by the end of 2012.

Origin Energy has announced that Australia Pacific LNG Pty Limited has signed agreements with a syndicate of domestic and international commercial banks and export credit agencies for an US$8.5 billion project finance facility. Participants in the facility include the Export-Import Bank of the United States (US EXIM), The Export-Import Bank of China (China EXIM) and a syndicate of domestic and international commercial banks.

The project finance facility provides funding for the downstream parts of the project, including the liquefaction facilities on Curtis Island near Gladstone in Queensland, and will underpin the development of Australia Pacific LNG's CSG to LNG project. The facility is subject to a final investment decision (FID) being taken on the second phase of the Australia Pacific LNG project.

The commercial banks and US EXIM have signed the definitive project finance documentation with Australia Pacific LNG for 16 and 17 year terms respectively. China EXIM has signed a commitment letter agreeing to the key terms of the project finance facility, with its signing of the definitive documentation expected to occur shortly. Draw down under the project finance facility, which is subject to customary conditions precedent, including certain government approvals, will be made progressively over the construction phase of the project.

Origin Managing Director, Mr Grant King said the agreements paved the way for development of one of Australia's largest LNG export projects.

"Australia Pacific LNG's ability to secure US$8.5 billion in project finance from Australian and international lenders evidences the strength and quality of the project.

"Substantial progress continues to be made by Australia Pacific LNG across all areas of the CSG to LNG project and we remain on track to take a final investment decision on the second phase of the project by mid-2012.

"Given the timing of Australia Pacific LNG's phase one FID, we believe our project schedules and budgets were based on a solid understanding of current regulatory requirements and the cost environment. We remain confident that the project remains on schedule and budget to deliver first gas in 2015, as expected," Mr King said.

The Victorian Government has announced a new $20 million research initiative aimed at better understanding the effects of road trauma.

The Institute for Safety, Compensation and Recovery Research (ISCRR), an initiative of Monash University, the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and WorkSafe, will manage the funding.

Funding will be delivered to the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), and will focus on improving lifetime care and disability support for those affected by road accident survivors.

"Last year the TAC managed almost 3,000 neuro-trauma claims from road trauma survivors including 232 cases of paraplegia, 205 cases of quadriplegia and 1,273 cases of severe traumatic brain injury," Victorian Assistant Treasurer Gordon Rich-Phillips said.

To be conducted over the next three years, the research will prioritise the development of new models of lifetime care, the improvement of rehabilitation and disability management approaches, the translation of research to the clinic and building neurotrauma research capacity.

ISCRR plans to involve Victorian neurotrauma researchers from the Spinal Research Institute (Austin Health) and the Centre of Excellence in Traumatic Brain Injury Research, (NTRI) Monash University in the rollout of research projects.

The Federal Government has announced a suite of new measures aimed at cracking down on organised crime at docks around the country.

Under the planned legislation, police will be given sweeping new powers to suspend a person’s right to work on the waterfront if they have reasonable cause for suspicion that they may have connections to criminal activity.

Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare said the move comes after a joint Federal and NSW operation seized over 12 tonnes of illicit substances entering Sydney’s docks over the last two years.

Mr Clare said the move comes as organised criminals have been able to infiltrate private companies at ports, allowing tracking and forwarding of illegal goods.

Legislation will be introduced later this year.