Industry News

The Victorian Government has announced a $36 million spending package for the state's early childhood services sector. The announcement follows $40 million in capital works to be shared between 100 kindergartens.

State Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development Wendy Lovell said the new $36 million capital grants round would help children's services to build new early learning facilities, upgrade existing facilities and develop integrated children's services hubs.

"We have made a record $80 million investment in the Children's Capital Program, and this is the latest funding fro

m that commitment to be open for application," Ms Lovell said.

The $80 million Children's Facilities Capital Program is a combination of state funds and funds prioritised from the National Partnership on Early Childhood Education.

This latest grants round includes three grant types available to eligible organisations: an Integrated Children's Centre grant of up to $1.5 million, a New Early Learning Facility grant of up to $600,000 and an Early Learning Facility Upgrade grant of up to $300,000.

The Victorian Government has announced it has started work on the formation of a new ICT strategy after a report by the state's Auditor General found systemic obsolescence throughout frontline services.

State Assistant Treasurer Gordon Rich-Phillips announced the formation of the Victorian Information and Communications Technology Advisory Committee (VICTAC) earlier this month to prepare for the formation of a new strategy.

Mr Rich-Phillips took the opportunity to take a swipe at his Labor predecessors, accusing them of waste and negligence in the critical ICT field.

"The previous Labor Government adopted a piecemeal approach to ICT that saw at least $1.44 billion of taxpayers' money wasted in cost blowouts on projects like HealthSMART, myki and the LEAP database," Mr Rich-Phillips said.

"The money that Labor frittered away by mismanaging ICT projects could have funded the development of vital infrastructure like schools, hospitals and roads."

Mr Rich-Phillips said VICTAC, which includes both industry and government representatives, was being chaired by former South Australian Chief Information Officer Grantly Mailes.

"The committee will provide a practical, forward-looking approach to the development and use of ICT by government," Mr Rich-Phillips said.

The report by the Auditor General can be found here

Optus has announced it has successfully completed its purchase of the Vividwireless Group from Seven Group Holdings, giving control of the 98MHz 4G bandwidth to the country’s second largest telco.

Having gained access to up to 98MHz of spectrum in the 2.3GHz band across key population areas, Optus will soon have the highest capacity 4G network in Australia offering customers a fast and consistent 4G experience.

”The successful completion of the Vividwireless deal reinforces our commitment to being a leader in 4G and in providing Australians with a range of high speed mobile services. This is an important step in our vision to lead the industry in customer experience by delivering relevant content and applications anywhere, on any device,” Kevin Russell, CEO, Consumer Australia said.

Optus has received ACCC and FIRB approval for the acquisition and has been advised by the ACMA of its willingness to reissue key Vividwireless licences in accordance with the Radiocommunications (Spectrum Access Charges) Direction 2012.

The National Broadband Network Co (NBN Co) has announced it has awarded $183 million in contracts over 19 months to Visionstream and Service Stream to provide additional rollout capacity and support a new approach to rollout of fibre in new estates.

Visionstream has been awarded a $102 million contract for the construction of fibre in new developments in Victoria and Queensland, while Service Stream has been awarded $81 million for contracted works in NSW, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

NBN Co CEO Mike Quigley said the appointments were made to expedite the construction of the local network through the streets in new estates.

“There is no doubt that the fibre rollout in new developments is a massive undertaking and one of the biggest challenges for NBN Co. We have received requests from developers for works covering 123,000 lots in almost 2400 locations since we assumed responsibility as the provider of last resort less than 18 month ago,” Mr Quigley said.

“We have been working closely with developers to ensure they are well informed about our progress in working to meet their needs. We are pleased with the high level of support they have shown for the rollout, particularly the way they see the NBN as a means of promoting their estates as getting ready for the technology people will need for the future.”

Obsolescence in frontline ICT hardware, software and supporting network infrastructure is sesemic in the Victorian public service according to a review conducted by the state’s Auditor General.

The audit investigated the state of ICT assets in a number of key departments in the state, including the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority, Victoria Police and the Department of Treasury and Finance.

The Auditor General concluded that the obsolescence of frontline ICT assets is not given adequate recognition, despite their pivotal place in delivering frontline service delivery.

“Inadequate management of the inevitable obsolescence of frontline ICT assets could, at best, lead to poor or degraded service delivery by public sector agencies. At worst, it could lead to widespread equipment failure and extended outages of critical public services,” the report found.

The Auditor General concluded that a complete overhaul of the existing management model is needed to better reflect both the importance and the rapid ageing of ICT assets in the public service.

“This would assist agencies to better plan and provide for ICT obsolescence costs across the life of their ICT asset base. Funding arrangements for frontline ICT assets should take into account all the costs involved in sustaining the existing capacity of essential services,” the report said.

The full report can be found here

Business advocacy group Business SA has announced it has appointed Nigel McBride as the group’s new CEO following an extensive search process.

Mr McBride, the former state Managing Partner of law firm Minter Elison, Mc McBride will commence his position at the start of July after long serving CEO Peter Vaughan steps down.

Business SA President Vincent Termaine thanked Mr Vaughan for his 13 years of service.

“Peter will leave having doubled membership during his time at the helm, with the organisation in a robust financial position and its influence in the State stronger than ever,” Mr Tremaine said.

Nigel McBride was selected from a field of 66 applicants including 7 from overseas and 21 from interstate.

“Nigel was chosen by the Business SA Board from a very impressive short list, because of his obvious intelligence, understanding of State issues, genuine enthusiasm for the success of the State and strong personal presence,” Mr Tremaine added.

“He will be taking Business SA into a new era that will include modernised governance, increased consultation and enhanced member engagement.”

Air New Zealand has announced the appointment of Christopher Luxon as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer, replacing Rob Fyfe who departs at the end of December.

Mr Luxon is currently Group General Manager International Airline at Air NZ, a position he has held since mid last year. 

Chairman John Palmer welcomed the decision to shift Mr Luxon to the role, saying he brings a wealth of international business experience, having held a number of management and executive positions at Unilever.

"Christopher has world class strategic, commercial, leadership and stakeholder management capabilities proven across multiple markets. These have been highly evident to the Air New Zealand Board in the year that he has been with the company and we have seen him affect positive commercial outcomes in our toughest operating division," Mr Palmer said.

Christopher Luxon joined Air New Zealand in May 2011 from Unilever where he was President and CEO of Unilever Canada since December 2008. In this role he was responsible for leading Unilever's US$1.4 billion business & 1,500 employees in Canada. Christopher led Unilever Canada on a major change programme that resulted in record growth, improved profitability and enhanced customer service.

BRW Magazine and the Australian arm of the Great Place to Work Institute have published the list of Australia’s top 50 employers of 2012, with Melbourne based IT services group OBS taking the top gong. The award recognises companies for their outstanding culture, workplace ethos and treatment of their employees.

With over 200 staff across the country, OBS company has consistently placed in the top 10 over the last few years, but took out the top place thanks to what BRW calls “openness and razor sharp focus on its customers.”

“The core principles are the framework to how everything is done at OBS, from how new employees are hired and welcomed into the company to how communication is delivered and how employees are thanked for their contribution,” OBS managing director Andy Neumann told BRW.

“People like knowing they are part of a team, and knowing what that team and the organisation it belongs to is achieving,” the owner of the Australian arm of the Great Place to Work Institute’s global franchise, Zrinka Lovrencic told BRW magazine.

ICT companies dominated this year’s list, with NetApp snagging second place and 2011 winner Google taking 3^rd.

The full list can be found here

Westpac banking group has announced that Carolyn Hewson will be stepping down from the Board at the end of the month following an eight-year tenure with the bank.

During her time in the position, Ms Hewson served on numerous committees, including Risk Management, Audit and Nominations Committees.

On behalf of the company and her Board colleagues, I would like to thank Carolyn for her significant contribution. Her industry and focus on risk management and governance have been invaluable, particularly through her Chairmanship of the Board Risk Management Committee during rhe global financial crisis and its aftermath,” Westpac Chairman Lindsay Maxsted said.

Firefighters have staged a walk off in New South Wales for the first time since 1956 in response to the State Government’s move to reform the state’s workers compensation agreements.

“The Bill, which was only released Tuesday afternoon, goes well beyond the sham Inquiry recommendations released last week. It is far, far worse than anyone expected and will severely impact upon FRNSW firefighters,” the Fire Brigade Employees’ Union said in a statement.

The stand down comes after firefighters met in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong to vote, resulting in the shut down of an estimated 240 fire stations around the state.

Members were ordered to stand down and not respond to any incident, with the exception of severe emergencies. 

The Federal Government has announced plans to begin the rollout of the National Broadband Network’s fixed wireless services in Far North Queensland. Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, said the Government plans to connect more communities around the Cairns area in the coming months.

People in communities across the Aurukun Shire Council, Cairns Regional Council, Cook Shire Council, Tablelands Regional Council and Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council areas will have access to fast, affordable, and reliable broadband, with up to 5,000 homes and businesses expected to be switched on in stages starting mid 2013.

“Through the NBN, the government is also delivering uniform national wholesale pricing. This means people living in and around Cairns will pay the same prices for NBN services as people in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne,” Senator Conroy said.

The following councils are expected to receive planning proposals for fixed wireless:

• Aurukun Shire Council
• Cairns Regional Council
• Cook Shire Council
• Tablelands Regional Council
• Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council

The Federal Government will commit $1.5 million to the expansion of water efficiency projects in communities in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.

Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water, Senator Don Farrell, approved the expansions of Integrated Water Efficiency Projects in the East Pilbara and West Pilbara regions.

“Saving an additional 1.15 billion litres of water, which is the equivalent of about 460 Olympic swimming pools, through the expansion of these projects will play an extremely important role in addressing water scarcity in the Pilbara,” Senator Farrell said.

The expansions involve installing 5700 smart water meters in the East Pilbara townships of Port Hedland and South Hedland, and 7400 smart water meters in the West Pilbara townships of Karratha, Roebourne, Point Sampson and Wickham.

The Federal Government has ruled that plans to raise the existing Mains Creek tailings dam wall at the Savage River Iron Ore Mine in Tasmania can proceed without further environmental assessment.

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke said the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities had found that the proposal was likely to have no impact on threatened species or other matters protected under Federal environment law.

"Mining has been occurring at this site in Savage River for decades,'' Mr Burke said.

"Raising the dam wall will not impact on threatened species. Adequately containing tailings is important in protecting the downstream environment.

"I have a number of proposals in the Tarkine region coming before me and each of those decisions will be made on its individual merits.

The Federal Government has announced $4 million in funding to support projects at a number of Australian universities to improve teaching and learning outcomes in higher education.

Federal Minister for Tertiary Education, Senator Chris Evans, said the funding was directed to 10 Office of Learning and Teaching (OLT) fellowships valued at $1.4 million and 21 OLT grants worth $2.7 million.

"The OLT fellowships and grants will support projects that improve the quality of our teaching across a range of important disciplines, including areas where education shortages have been identified such as science, maths and advanced nursing education,” Senator Evans said.

"This year, the introduction of seed grants will allow smaller scale projects at universities to explore ideas that have the potential to make a big impact on learning and teaching, with the view to expanding the models to be adopted sector-wide."

Grant and fellowship recipients this year include projects to foster national engagement in science and maths learning and teaching, identify at risk students in their first year to enhance their learning outcomes and investigate how regional higher education campuses can better collaborate with TAFE.

The OLT offers a range of grants, awards and fellowships each year to assist in the promotion of excellence in learning and teaching in higher education.

A further round of grants will be considered later this year, taking expenditure on the program to $6 million in 2012.

The funding provided for these grants and fellowships is part of the Government's $38.8 billion commitment for teaching and learning over the next four financial years to support the increasing number of students attending university as a result of its higher education reforms.

A complete list of fellowship and grant recipients can be found at: www.olt.gov.au/grantsandprojects

Lismore City Council has won the 2012 Excellence in Road Safety Award for their innovative Drive to Conditions Project at the National Awards for Local Government.

The Department of Infrastructure and Transport supported the Excellence in Road Safetycategory award, which was sponsored by the National Road Safety Council.  The National Award winners were announced at the Australian Local Government Association's conference dinner at Parliament House last night, 19 June 2012.

Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Transport Catherine King, and Federal Member for Page Janelle Saffin, today congratulated Lismore City Council's win in the road safety award category which recognises innovative and unique initiatives that improve road safety in local communities.

Lismore City Council's Drive to Conditions Project addressed major crash problems on the local road network through a range of measures, including complementary enforcement and education initiatives, targeted road improvements and removal of roadside hazards.

Further information on the awards can be found on the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport website: www.regional.gov.au/local/awards/.

The Federal Government has announced $24 million over four years to be invested into alcohol and drug research, with a particular focus on areas such as reducing harm from alcohol, Indigenous substance misuse and workforce development.

Minister for Mental Health Mark Butler said the funding will be provided to Australia’s internationally recognised drug and alcohol research and data collection under the National Drug Strategy.

“This investment will mean a new collaborative network can be built across three National Research Centres of Excellence to enable better coordination of research,” Mr Butler said. 

“It will also mean the continuation of key data projects, which give insights into trends in drug and alcohol use in Australia.

The three centres include the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), the National Drug Research Institute, and the National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction. 

The funding means that NDARC will continue its annual collection of Australia’s drug trends through the Illicit Drug Reporting System and the Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System.

The Victorian Government has introduced the Local Government Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill aimed at addressing a number of shortcomings in the existing legislation and provide better governance for local government.

The Bill deals with, amongst other things, differential rates, election campaign donations, processes regarding complaints about council Chief Executive Officers and council costs in VCAT hearings into councillor misconduct.

The State Government has announced it will develop guidelines for the appropriate use of differential rates by councils with an aim to empower the Minister to seek an Order in Council to stop councils from breaking with rates guidelines.

There will be a six month public consultation process regarding the new guidelines before councils determine their budget for 2013.

"There is considerable variation in the application of differential rates between councils with 14 councils levying no differential rate, 39 councils having four or more differential rates and six councils have at least 10,” State Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell said.

"Some differential rates are only applied to a small number of properties. 36 councils have differential rates that apply to less than 30 properties.”

"Under the changes a council will only be liable for a councillors costs when the council is the applicant in VCAT or has requested to become a party.

"A council will not be liable for costs when an individual councillor has applied for the matter to go to VCAT instead of a Councillor Conduct Panel.

"Councillor Conduct Panels are the appropriate forum to deal with most councillor misconduct matters, as they specialise in councillor conduct matters and involve less cost to ratepayers," Mrs Powell said.

With the World Health Organization categorising diesel fumes as carcinogenic a Queensland University of Technology (QUT) scientist has proposed that fumes should have a stronger smell to make them easier to avoid.

QUT Public Health Associate Professor Adrian Barnett said most exhaust gasses were odourless and invisible as were some other very dangerous pollutants such as carbon monoxide, particulate matter and ozone.

"It is possible to give traffic pollution a smell and this has been demonstrated by some alternative fuels, such as chip fat," he said.

"Standard fuels could be given a smell by using an additive, such as methanol or butanol that smells after combustion.

"If traffic pollution smelled it might encourage policy changes to reduce exposure."

He said one easily fixable example was drive-throughs, where staff spend long hours next to idling engines, and often in enclosed spaces.

"The staff and their employers are probably unaware of their high exposure to traffic pollution. Adding a smell would change that and a simple solution would be for drivers to turn off idling engines.

"Turning off idling engines would also be beneficial in school pick-up zones, where lines of children, whose lungs are particularly vulnerable to traffic pollution, stand next to idling engines.

"If children, parents and schools were made aware of the problem of traffic pollution via a smell, many parents would turn off their engines."

Professor Barnett said knowing the dirtiest times and places would enable people to avoid exposure which was a key recommendation of an expert review on reducing the harms of traffic pollution.

"Exposure could be avoided by taking a different route to work, or jogging at a different time of the day."

He said a public that was more aware of the health effects of traffic pollution may be in favour of policy changes such as the development of pedestrian city centres and make them more wary of the planned locations of new roads.

"Many recently added or expanded roads in Brisbane are right next to hospitals and schools, two places where increasing traffic pollution will have a strong negative impact on health," he said.

"While the petrol and automotive industries are likely to argue that money would be better spent improving fuel and vehicle technology to reduce traffic pollution, the reality is that a completely clean vehicle fleet is 20 to 40 years away."

He said bold policy decisions such as banning smoking in pubs and proven successful in the past and such decisions were called for in relation to vehicle emissions.

The Senate Economics Legislation Committee has a new inquiry into the Clean Energy Finance Corporation Bill 2012.

The bill:

• establishes the Clean Energy Finance Corporation as a body corporate;
• establishes the Clean Energy Finance Corporation Special Account and appropriates funds to that account;
• establishes the board of the corporation responsible for decision making and managing the corporation’s investments;
• requires responsible ministers to issue an investment mandate to the board about the performance of its functions;
• requires the board to formulate and publish policies relating to the investment strategy for the corporation, benchmarks and standards for assessing the performance of the corporation and risk management strategy;
• provides for the corporation to share information with certain organisations;
• and provides for a review of the operation of the Act and other related matters to be undertaken as soon as practicable after 1 July 2016.

Submissions should be received by 21 June 2012. The reporting date is 25 June 2012.

More information is here.

The Senate Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Legislation Committee has a new inquiry into the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment Bill 2012.

The Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment Bill 2012 would amend the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 to:

• require that the rules of all registered organisations deal with disclosure of remuneration, pecuniary and financial interests;  
• increase civil penalties;
• strengthen the investigative powers of Fair Work Australia; and  
• require education and training to be provided to officials of registered organisations about their governance and accounting obligations.

Submissions should be received by 22 June 2012. The reporting date is 25 June 2012.

More information is here.