Industry News

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has praised the Federal Government’s Energy Efficiency Opportunities (EEIO Program, describing it as a successful example of how government policy can work with industry to reduce energy use.

The IEA’s  Energy Management Programmes for Industry: Gaining through Savings report identifies the policy framework as global best practice in reduce energy consumption.

“The IEA considers energy efficiency as the most cost effective option in the short to medium term to reduce global emissions,” IAE Executive Director, Maria van der Hoeven said.

“Australia’s EEO Program provides a leading-edge example of how best to reduce energy use and improve energy management systems.”

The IEA estimated that the program reduced the country’s total greenhouse-gas emissions by an estimated 11.2 Mt/year, or 2 per cent, per year. The scheme is estimated to save an estimated $1.2 billion per year for the involved companies.

The full report can be found here

Committed investment to increase the capacity of Australia’s mining industry at the end of April 2012 was a record $260.8 billion, an increase of 12 per cent from October 2011 according to the Mining Industry Major Projects - April 2012, released by the Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics (BREE).

“The continued growth in committed capital expenditure will result in significant increases in Australia's supply capacity of LNG, iron ore and coal” said Professor Quentin Grafton, BREE Executive Director and Chief Economist. 

The $260.8 billion consists of a 98 projects at an advanced stage of development (committed or under construction) including 39 minerals projects, 38 energy projects, 19 infrastructure projects and two mineral processing projects.  

Oil and gas, iron ore and coal and associated infrastructure accounted for around 95 per cent of the total committed capital expenditure.  

Of the $260.8 billion of committed capital expenditure, over 60 per cent is accounted for by seven LNG projects. When the seven projects are complete and operating at full capacity, in the second half of this decade, Australia will be one of the world’s leading exporters of LNG. 

"The majority of the investment to expand the world's LNG supply capacity is taking place in Australia because of our relatively large gas reserves and proximity to the Asian markets" said Professor Grafton.  

In the six months to April 2012 there were 25 projects completed at a record value of $23.6 billion, almost double the previous record value when $12.5 billion worth of projects was completed in the six months to April 2008.  

The record value of completed projects was underpinned by the completion of the Pluto LNG project at a capital cost of almost $15 billion, as well as the $3.4 billion expansion to the Worsley alumina refinery.  

The report is available here.

The Federal Government has warned against the ‘savage’ cuts announced in Victoria’s State Budget. Federal Minister for Skills, Senator Chris Evans, convened an emergency meeting with the state’s TAFE directors to discuss the cuts.

Senator Evans told the meeting at William Angliss Institute in Melbourne that the Federal Government had serious concerns that the cuts would eat away at the training effort by jeopardising the viability of TAFE courses and campuses.

"TAFE directors have confirmed today that the Victorian Government's budget cuts will see $300 million ripped out of the TAFE system in Victoria - that decision means campuses will close, they will be unable to operate a whole range of critical courses and a number of jobs will be cut," Senator Evans said.

"TAFEs are a quality training provider and play an important role, particularly in regional, rural and suburban Victoria, with 263,000 student enrolments across the State last year alone.

"We have a skills shortage in Australia - we need to be providing training to more Victorians so they have the opportunity to access the high-skilled jobs of the future, and making severe cuts to the TAFE sector, the biggest training provider in the State, undermines that effort.

Senator Evans wrote to his Victorian counterpart, Peter Hall, asking him to explain how the cuts will effect the state’s COAG obligations. Under the COAG agreement reached with the States in April, the Commonwealth has offered Victoria $435 million to support reforms to the VET system to improve quality and transparency.

ASIC has issued its first annual report into its supervision of registered liquidators using it to highlight its areas of focus.

ASIC Deputy Chairman Belinda Gibson said, if a company experiences financial difficulty and goes into external administration, creditors are entitled to expect the business is wound up in an orderly and fair way so they can secure the maximum return of their money possible.

‘The role of registered liquidators in this process cannot be overstated,’ Ms Gibson said. ‘Liquidators are entrusted with creditors’ funds and have considerable discretionary power over assets earmarked for creditors.’

ASIC has undertaken significant work in recent years to sharpen its focus on the insolvency industry in order to promote confidence in the market. This includes ensuring creditors have confidence in the administration of insolvent companies and in ASIC’s supervision of the insolvency practitioner industry. ‘Creditors need to believe that they will get the maximum return possible,’ Ms Gibson said. ‘Clearly, there will be costs in winding up a business but the charges need to be reasonable and reported in a way which allows creditors to make an informed decision to approve or not approve.’

Ms Gibson said the community expects liquidators to execute their professional duties with honesty and integrity, and in accordance with the law. ‘Registered liquidators must be competent and efficient. They cannot use the opportunity to put their interests ahead of their creditors’ interests. They must bring an independent mind to their task,’ Ms Gibson said.

ASIC will continue to draw on its insolvency practitioner dedicated staff, supported by expert resources in other parts of ASIC, with the aim of better regulating practitioners and providing greater communication and monitoring power to creditors.

‘Moving forward, ASIC will focus on lifting our surveillance intensity as we have the extra resources to do so; enforcement outcomes where surveillance identifies unacceptable conduct; providing guidance to the industry about our expectations; and directing creditors toward more “self-help” assistance to ensure they understand and exercise their rights and powers to oversee the liquidation process to best protect their own interests,’ Ms Gibson said.

‘These principles underpin ASIC’s supervision of the sector.’

Ms Gibson’s comments follow ASIC releasing its first annual report into its supervision of the registered liquidators insolvency industry, detailing surveillance and enforcement outcomes in 2011. Issues of competence, independence and inappropriate self gain underpinned ASIC’s supervisory activity.

For the calendar year 2011, ASIC opened eight new formal investigations into registered liquidators, resulting in ASIC cancelling the registration as an official liquidator of John Lord (refer: 11-184MR) and reaching agreement with Peter Ngan that he would not practice as a registered liquidator for two-and-a-half years (refer: 12-04MR). Further, ASIC obtained an undertaking from Atle Crowe-Maxwell (refer: 11-184MR) to ensure compliance with independence requirements when consenting to act as official liquidator.

In June 2011, the Companies Auditors and Liquidators Disciplinary Board (CALDB) cancelled the registration of David Mark Anderson for failing to lodge annual returns with ASIC.

Also, the case against Stuart Ariff concluded in 2011, with the former liquidator jailed for six years following his conviction on 19 criminal charges brought by ASIC (refer: 11-308MR).

Ms Gibson said: ‘Deterrence is one regulatory tool available to ASIC in pursuing our priorities and holding gatekeepers to account.'

At the end of 2011, ASIC was conducting 10 investigations into registered liquidators.

Report 287 ASIC regulation of registered liquidators: January to December 2011 ( REP 287) also shows ASIC completed more than 200 reviews examining issues including practitioner independence, competence and remuneration.

ASIC has a program of compliance visits for registered liquidators based on risk assessment and market intelligence. This includes complaints and information from the public and the profession itself.

ASIC also conducted project work, including checking compliance with independence declarations, remuneration disclosure and insurance requirements.

‘We have built resources in our insolvency practitioners group allowing us to increase surveillance of practitioners,’ Ms Gibson said.

‘Where practitioners do not meet their obligations, we will not hesitate to take action.’

In 2011, ASIC received 426 reports of alleged misconduct concerning registered liquidators, in some instances about the same external administration. Many of these reports (51%) required educative outcomes for the complainants due to, for example, creditors not fully appreciating a liquidator's duties and obligations or the insolvency process.

Key statistics from REP 287:

• ASIC opened eight formal investigations into registered liquidators. At year end it had 10 open investigations.
• ASIC received and analysed 426 reports of alleged misconduct concerning registered liquidators.
• Reports of alleged misconduct and enquiries against registered liquidators average 3.5% of the total 75,951 reports and enquiries ASIC received across all its areas over the five and a half years to 31 December 2011.
• ASIC completed more than 200 reviews examining issues including practitioner independence, competence and remuneration.

The Treasurer Wayne Swan has welcomed the OECD Economic Outlook which predicts that the Australian economy will significantly outperform OECD economies as a whole over this year and next.

In a statement Mr Swan said that Australia’s economic fundamentals remain strong, with the economy expected to grow more strongly than every other major advanced economy over the next two years.  The OECD forecasts our growth to be 3.1 per cent in 2012 and 3.7 per cent in 2013.

“By contrast the OECD expects a muted and fragile recovery in many other advanced economies, largely due to the lingering effects of past global turmoil and very challenging economic conditions facing Europe.

“The European sovereign debt crisis continues to be the most significant risk to the global outlook, with recent political developments in Greece resulting in greater financial market volatility.

“Against this backdrop, the OECD expects growth across OECD economies to remain at 1.6 per cent in 2012 before picking up to 2.2 per cent in 2013.

“However, the OECD expects that emerging economies particularly in our own region will continue to grow strongly.

“The OECD expects that China’s economy will grow at 8.2 per cent in 2012, before picking up to 9.3 per cent in 2013. India’s economy is expected to grow at 7.1 per cent in 2012 and 7.7 per cent in 2013.

“The OECD also expects that Australia’s unemployment rate will remain substantially lower than the 7.9 per cent unemployment rate expected for the OECD as a whole in 2013, and around half of the 11.1 per cent forecast for the euro area in that year.

“The OECD has applauded the Government’s commitment to return to surplus, stating that:

restoring fiscal leeway while macroeconomic conditions are still favourable, and the terms of trade high, is welcome.

“Despite the structural transitions underway in the Australian economy, our economic fundamentals remain strong, with solid economic growth, low unemployment, contained inflation, strong public finances and a record pipeline of business investment.”

Mr Swan said that the 2012-13 Budget ensures that the Australian economy remains amongst the strongest in the developed world, by delivering four years of surpluses and delivering financial relief for millions of low and middle income households and businesses which aren’t in the fast lane of the mining boom. 

The Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation, Senator Kate Lundy, has announced the appointment of an independent expert committee to help Innovation Australia deliver the $1 billion Clean Technology Investment programs.

The seven-member committee will assess applications by businesses for funding under the two Clean Technology Investment programs.

The new committee will be chaired by Ms Fiona Pak-Poy and includes Dr Michele Allan, Mr Nixon Apple, Dr Bruce Godfrey, Dr Bruce Whan, Ms Sylvia Tulloch and Mr Bruce Grey.

"We have seen a huge amount of interest from the manufacturing sector in these programs and this committee of experts will play a vital role in assessing the merit of applications," Senator Lundy said.

"Collectively, the new appointments have a broad range of experience in business and clean technology and I am very pleased that we have been able to appoint a committee of this calibre. Their manufacturing experience and expertise will enable them to help deliver the important Clean Technology Investment programs to ensure the sector invests in clean energy and remains competitive."

The $1 billion in Clean Technology Investment funding has two programs: the $800 million Clean Technology Investment Program and the $200 million Clean Technology Food and Foundries Investment Program. Both programs encourage manufacturers to invest in energy efficient capital equipment and low-pollution technologies.

A new inquiry by a Parliamentary Committee will investigate how and why the tender for the Australia Network was botched, weeks after a Commonwealth audit found serious flaws in the process.

Handled by the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, the inquiry will further examine the Australian National Audit Office report that found that the tender process was systemically mishandled when it was given to the ABC, despite recommendations for it to be given to Sky.  

Both Sky and the ABC bided for the tender, which was announced last year. Despite two key recommendations that the tender be given to Sky, the Federal Government awarded the tender to the ABC. Prompting Sky to sue for damages, resulting in the company receiving $2 million in compensation. 

The Queensland Government has begun its ‘comprehensive audit’ into information and communication technology systems used by the state’s public service in an attempt to identify savings and efficiencies.

The audit is the first of its kind in the state, with the Minister for Information Technology, Ros Bates, saying she will seek to remove all duplication and waste from the sector.

“On the patchy information we do have it appears Queensland taxpayers are paying for many out-dated and duplicate systems and many more licences than are necessary,” Ms Bates said.

“We are also sure that every Department was buying the same few products at a higher price than they would if Government-wide purchases had been made.” 

Cabinet has designated the Queensland Government Chief Information Office to lead the ICT audit which will focus on identifying opportunities to: 
• reduce duplicate ICT investments; 
• consider how the government’s buying power could be better used; and 
• simplify telecommunications to deliver savings. 

The audit will be completed by the end of October 2012, and will identify wasteful processes and high-risk initiatives requiring proactive intervention. 

A group of disability advocates, local government representatives and experts have met in Canberra to develop guidelines for building all-abilities playgrounds.

The Touched by Olivia Playgrounds Initiative Workshop was opened by the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, Senator Jan McLucas.

The Touched by Olivia Foundation established the first all-abilities playground in memory of a young New South Wales girl whose life ended at the age of 8 months from a rare illness. They aim to have inclusive playgrounds located in every community across Australia within 10 years.

 The National Inclusive Playground Design Guidelines will aim to provide a clear set of guidelines to all communities across Australia, enabling them to develop and build inclusive play environments.

“This is more than ramps and soft-fall surfaces; it’s about tapping into the psychology of a child with disability and designing playgrounds that support their development,” Senator McLucas said.

“For example, Touched by Olivia have done research that shows children with autism sometimes respond differently to playground equipment and interacting with other children. Understanding their anxieties about playing with other children in certain contexts is really important in designing playgrounds that are not intimidating for these children.

“Playgrounds can help to build social skills, develop a child’s personality, improve language and motor skills, and of course to have fun.”

Founding Director of Touched by Olivia Foundation, John Perkins said he was thrilled with the opportunity to be bringing together the leading academics, practitioners, disability groups and government organisations to enable a nationally accepted guideline for Inclusive Play to become a reality.

“The guidelines will help inspire and guide communities around Australia in constructing Inclusive Playgrounds where all children can play side by side, regardless of ability,” said Mr Perkins.

The Australian Government investing $50,000 to help the Touched By Olivia Foundation continue its work and develop guidelines to extend inclusive playgrounds across Australia.

The Foundation so far has built and opened three playgrounds in New South Wales and one in Queensland, with another 16 under development, and 42 planned for communities across Australia.

The Queensland Government and Sunshine Coast City Council have committed to a new working relationship after Attorney General Jarrod Bleijie and Mayor Mark Jamieson announced plans for a new era of cooperation.

“The Newman Government believes local councils know what’s right for their communities and we will empower the Sunshine Coast Council to provide solutions to local issues,” Mr Bleijie said.

“We will ensure the level of government which serves the people at the grass roots is given the tools, resources and authority to do its job.

The first National Indigenous Youth Parliament has been opened in Canberra.

The Youth Parliament brings together future Indigenous leaders aged up to 25 years from across Australia to learn how the parliamentary system works, and to debate issues affecting them and their communities.

All the participants have been selected because of their leadership in their community, and their strong interest in the parliamentary system.

The six-day program is being run by the Australian Electoral Commission in partnership with the YMCA, and the Australian Government has provided $220,000 to support the event.

Participants will receive expert training in how laws are made, advocacy, public speaking and speaking with the media.

At the end of the week, they will debate legislation addressing issues their communities have identified as being important.

The Bills passed by the Youth Parliament will then be presented to Government representatives for consideration in developing policies.

The participants will also be discussing constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians, including the referendum process and work underway to help build public awareness and community support for change.

Constitutional recognition is an important step towards recognising the unique and special place of our first peoples.

The Australian Government is working to lay the necessary foundations for a successful referendum, including through a $10 million investment to build public awareness and community support for recognising Indigenous Australians in the Constitution.

Participants will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic changes that gave Indigenous Australians equal rights to vote and discuss the importance and value of voting in a democracy. In 1962, the Commonwealth Electoral Act was amended to give Indigenous people the right to enrol and vote in Federal elections.

The Australian Government is investing $13.2 million to support the electoral participation of Indigenous Australians so they can have a say on the issues that are affecting their communities.

Legislation to establish a National Children’s Commissioner within the Australian Human Rights Commission has been introduced into the Australian Parliament.

The Australian Human Rights Commission Amendment (National Children’s Commissioner) Bill 2012 provides for the Children’s Commissioner to take a broad advocacy role to promote public awareness of issues affecting children, conduct research and education programs, consult directly with children and representative organisations as well as monitor Commonwealth legislation, policies and programs that relate to children’s rights, wellbeing and development.

Attorney-General Nicola Roxon said the National Children’s Commissioner would have the  task of promoting the rights, wellbeing and development of children and young people in Australia.

“For the first time, Australia’s kids will have a voice at the national level looking out for their interests. The Children’s Commissioner will ensure children and young people, particularly the most vulnerable, are heard in the development of Commonwealth legislation, policies and programs.

“Crucially, the Commissioner will consult directly with children and young people to ensure their voices are heard and their needs pursued."

The Government will call for expressions of interest for the position shortly with the new Commissioner expected to take office by the end of 2012.

Adelaide City Council has signed a revised National Sorry Day Acknowledgement in recognition of the past dispossession of Aboriginal people at a ceremony in Victoria Square/ Tarndanyangga.

Yvonne Agius and Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood , both Chairs of Council’s Reconciliation Committee, along with John Browne, Chairperson of the Journey of Healing SA, signed the acknowledgement.

“Signing this acknowledgement will help to forge relationships with the City Council and the local Aboriginal community, and I give credit to the Council and Lord Mayor for taking this important step,” said John Browne, Chairperson of the Journey of Healing SA.

National Sorry Day is a national event that takes place each year on the 26th May.

The first Sorry Day was held in 1998 following the national inquiry into the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. The Bringing Them Home Report revealed the extent of forced removal policies.

Yvonne Agius, dual chair of Council’s Reconciliation Committee said, “We’re very pleased that the Lord Mayor will sign this document and we value his continued support of reconciliation and the Aboriginal community”.

Council was a leader in reconciliation when it signed the National Sorry Day Acknowledgement in 1998, which also provides the guiding principles for its Reconciliation Action Plan.

The acknowledgement was revised earlier this year to ensure ongoing relevancy, to further enhance Council’s commitment to reconciliation and to respond to the national apology to the Stolen Generation delivered in 2008 by then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood said this was another step toward healing the effects of past actions.

“Signing this document is about acknowledging the hurt and harm that was caused by the forced removal of children from their families,” Stephen said.

As part of its commitment to the process of reconciliation, Council has an ongoing relationship of consultation in partnership with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

This includes projects such as community education through the Kaurna cultural walking tours, Kaurna dual naming of Park Lands and City Squares and maintaining the Reconciliation Committee to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives and aspirations are represented.

It also involves supporting initiatives through grant funding that improve community services to Aboriginal people in the city such as the Mobile Assistance Patrol.

The signing ceremony was part of the National Sorry Day event on Thursday 24th May in Victoria Square / Tarndanyangga.

The Victorian Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell has urged the community to further contribute to the Tomorrow’s Library review of the state’s public libraries.

Submissions to Tomorrow's Library close on Thursday 31 May and will inform a comprehensive report due to be released later this year.

"This consultation is an opportunity for the community to contribute to the development of a future-focused and forward-thinking plan for Victorian public libraries," Mrs Powell said.

"Public libraries are vital resources within our community and provide invaluable access to knowledge, the latest information technology and a wide range of community services.

The review is being conducted by the bipartisan Ministerial Advisory Council on Public Libraries (MAC) re-established by Minister Powell. The members of the MAC include:

• Chair, David Morris MP – Member for Mornington and Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government
• Deputy Chair, Joanne Duncan MP – Member for Macedon
• Peter Crisp MP – Member for Mildura
• Cr Rod Fyffe – Municipal Association of Victoria
• Dennis Hovenden – Local Government Professionals
• John Murrell – Public Libraries Victoria Network
• Anne Holmes – Public Libraries Victoria Network
• Sue Hamilton – Chief Executive Officer State Library of Victoria
• John Bennie – City of Greater Dandenong
• Cr Sharon Ellis – Whitehorse City Council
• Cr Judith O'Farrell – Campaspe Shire Council
• Patti Manolis – Geelong Regional Library Corporation
• Mr Colin Morrison – Department of Planning and Community Development
• Mr Dan Harper – MAC Executive Officer

Submissions and community contributions can be made at www.tomorrowslibrary.com.au, www.facebook.com/tomorrowslibrary andwww.twitter.com/2morrowslibrary 

South Australian unions are throwing their support behind a Greens' plan to make sure older workers over 65 are covered by workers' compensation.

SA Unions State Secretary, Janet Giles says that as the retirement age grows, there will be a group of people caught out in the gap between when they can claim WorkCover benefits for any injury and when they can officially retire.

"Under the existing rules, people can only claim WorkCover benefits up until the age of 65 but the pensionable age will rise to 67 in 2017."

Ms Giles says that while WorkCover does a major overhaul, it is important that this small change is passed to make sure older south Australians are protected.

"Our first preference is always that people are not injured in the first place, but we need to have decent support systems in place if they are."

"This is a sensible amendment and I urge all Members of Parliament to support it."

The amendment will change s.35 of the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1986, so that there is a gradual increase in the relevant age to match the incremental increase in the qualifying age for the age pension."

The Queensland Coordinator-General has announced the approval of Rio Tinto’s planned $1.45 billion South of the Embley bauxite mining extension on Cape York. The project is expected to enxtend the life of the bauxite mining operations for another 40 years.

The proposal will see the mining operations expanded with a new open-cut bauxite mine, processing facilities, barge and ferry terminals and a new port and stockpile facility near Boyd Point.

Queensland Minister for State Development, Jeff Seeney, said the project will provide 950 jobs during construction and up to 1,275 ongoing operational jobs with initial production of 22.5 million tonnes, with a potential to increase to 50 million tonnes.

Queensland Coordinator-General Barry Broe said his conditional approval of the project came after more than three years of rigorous environmental assessments and public consultation. 

“I have imposed conditions which establish clear principles and procedures on matters including post-mining land use and rehabilitation, local and indigenous employment, training and skills development and mitigation of potential social impacts of the mine.
 

The Coordinator-General’s report can be accessed at: 
www.deedi.qld.gov.au/cg/south-of-the-embley-project.html

The Chief Scientist Professor Ian Chubb has released his Health of Australian Science report, providing an overview of Australia's science system in schools and universities, through to research sectors and industry.

Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra, Professor Chubb said that said that overall, ours was a healthy and robust system, but that some identified challenges would lead to long term issues for Australia if no action is taken.

“We should be proud of what our scientists, our engineers and our mathematicians achieve. We are well represented in the international arena; our researchers are some of the most productive in the world,” Professor Chubb said.

“But the future prosperity of Australia is dependent on having a strong supply of graduates in the right areas coming through the education system. There are some areas of expertise that are crucial to our national interest which are lacking what they need to prosper,” he said.

Agricultural sciences, physics, mathematics and chemistry are highlighted in the report as being vulnerable and all are crucial forAustralia’s future. The total numbers in Engineering don’t meet demand and there are shifts between disciplines.

Professor Chubb noted areas of concern in his Foreword to the report.

“Much of our discipline profile is heavily dependent on undergraduate study choices—more students mean more funding, more staff and a greater mass in a discipline. Whether this outcome is in our medium- to long-term strategic interest as a nation is debatable. The options available to address the issue may well be the focus of future work. Indeed, I hope that this report will encourage more specific analysis and recommendations for Government in such areas.”

Opportunities outlined in the report include developing a more strategic funding system and improving the relationships between science and industry.

The Chief Scientist also remarked that we need to develop a culture that appreciates a science education, both the students and the teachers of it.

“The science degree prepares students for a lifetime of critical thinking, a drive to find evidence and an understanding of how our society fits into the broader picture of the world, all of which are invaluable for the development of a prosperousAustralia,” he said.

Professor Chubb said the release of the report provides the trigger for careful preparation and planning.

“The report should lead us to a position where any gaps in our capability will be by design and not the unintended consequence of a failure to notice. “

“The Health of Australian Science Report is not a story about rebuilding after a train wreck.  We do not have a train wreck.  But the Report is a signal: it encourages us to be alert; to be prudent while willing to take bold action when we need to.”

The Health of Australian Science Report is here.

Global business execution software specialist SuccessFactors has revealed its new data centre in Sydney. Forming part of the company’s expansion into the Asia Pacific region, the centre is set to service the Australian cloud computing market.

The centre will host the full SuccessFactors Business Execution (BizX) suite and will be delivered locally in the Australian cloud to clients throughout the Asia Pacific region.

"The new data centre opening comes at a perfect time as it is designed to meet the rapidly growing hosting demands of the Australian government and local businesses customers," said Murray Sargant, SuccessFactors vice president, Asia Pacific.

We have a very strong presence in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane, so many of our customers will find it helpful to have access to a data centre which offers premium support and optimal reliability in the country. We are committed to advancing Australia as a cloud computing hub for the region and we are very excited about the growth potential the data centre will bring to the APAC market."

One of the Victorian Water industry’s most experienced and well-regarded leaders has been appointed Managing Director of Western Water, Board Chairman Terry Larkins has announced.

Mr Larkins said Neil Brennan, current Managing Director at Central Highlands Water, will commence in the role on 9 July.

Mr Brennan will lead Western Water as it delivers the infrastructure, customer service and innovation to meet the demands of one of the fastest growing areas of Victoria.   His appointment follows a highly competitive national recruitment process.

“Mr Brennan is already well-known in the Western Water region as he is a local resident and was also Western Water’s original Chief Executive Officer when the organisation was created in 1995 following the amalgamation of local water boards,” Mr Larkins said.

“Since that time Western Water’s customer base has more than doubled and over the next 20 years it is expected to double again.”

“Meeting the demands of the growth in the area will require substantial major project, stakeholder relations and industry experience, as well as commitment to the strong customer focus we pride ourselves on at Western Water.  Mr Brennan’s impressive background and experience will ensure these needs are met for our community,” Mr Larkins said.

The appointment of Mr Brennan is due to the retirement of long serving and highly respected Managing Director, John Wilkinson, who has had the role since 2002. 

Mr Larkins thanked Mr Wilkinson for his hard work, dedication and leadership over the past 10 years and for his contribution to the water industry throughout his career.

Mr Brennan said he was delighted to be returning to Western Water and said he was committed to ensuring Western Water’s strong focus on customer service excellence continued.

“Western Water is well regarded in the water industry and in the local community and I am looking forward to leading the team as they continue the great work already undertaken by the organisation,” Mr Brennan said.

New South Wales’ Independent Local Government Review Panel has held its inaugural meeting, holding a meeting with the NSW Minister for Local Government Don Page.

Built on the Destination 2036 partnership between State and local governments, the review is tasked with identifying how councils can best govern and be structured to support the future prosperity of the state.

The Panel is chaired by Professor Graham Sansom, who currently heads up the Australian Centre for Excellence in Local Government, and also consists of Ms Jude Munro AO, former CEO of Brisbane City Council, and Mr Glenn Inglis, former General Manager of Tamworth Regional Council.

The Panel will begin its wide ranging consultation with a background paper to be published by early July. This will be followed by a series of regional meetings with councils, the community and other key stakeholders to understand the issues facing local and regional areas and to shape principles for reform.

The Panel is due to report back to the State Government in July 2013.