Industry News

The Federal Government has announced $99.1 million over two years to ensure training placement numbers are maintained.

The funding, announced by Training and Workforce Development Minister Peter Collier, comes as the State faces a looming skills shortage of up to 76,000 workers by 2015.

“The Government’s primary priority to address looming skills shortages is training West Australians. In 2012-13 we will roll out a range of initiatives to ensure West Australians continue to have the opportunity to benefit from the State’s ongoing economic growth,” Mr Collier said.

Mr Collier also announced an additional $10million would be provided to upgrade metropolitan State Training Provider campuses to provide essential upgrades to electrical, mechanical and hydraulic services as well as building improvements.

The State Government has also instigated a series of complementary initiatives to address skills shortages, including:

• changes to market testing requirements for the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme, making it easier for employers to fill persistent job vacancies through streamlined migration arrangements 
• setting up a dedicated web portal promoting WA as a destination of choice for potential skilled migrants and their families
• establishing Aboriginal Workforce Development Centres in Broome, Geraldton, Bunbury, Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Perth.

The Federal Government has announced it will hold bilateral meetings with the United States to develop a ‘prioritised’ work program’ to further cyber security cooporation.

“The new and emerging challenges of a digital economy were the subject of recent talks in Canberra between myself and Secretary Napolitano. And yesterday in Washington we built upon those discussions,” Attorney-General Nicola Roxon said.

“Countries everywhere are increasingly reliant on critical infrastructure such as telecommunications, which enables ‘online’ activities that contribute to global commerce and trade and play an increasingly important role in national security.

“Both Australia and United States recognise the considerable benefits delivered by these activities, but also the challenges of managing cyber security and resilience to counter malicious activity.

“This statement will lead to increased collaboration between the two countries on critical infrastructure, particularly digital control systems.”

Ms Roxon outlined the following initiatives and objectives:

• Enhanced situational awareness and information sharing on operational cyber security issues between, and among national cyber incident response teams.
• Collaborating and exchanging cyber security best practices for information technology and industrial control systems.
• The creation of opportunities for training and education, and further cooperation in cyber exercises.

The Federal Government has announced that seven Regional Development Australia (RDA) committees have received funding to assist in the development of strategies for the rollout of the National Broadband Network (NBN) in their communities.

$200,000 has been awarded to the committees for Stage One and Stage Two of the rollout to conduct development and implementation strategy studies.

"One of the greatest enablers of regional economic diversification, growth and service delivery is the NBN," Regional Development Australia Minister Simon Crean said.

"It will transform the way regional businesses operate, how health services are delivered and how regional students access educational and career opportunities.

"That is why when I visit the regions, people aren't asking why we're investing in the NBN - they're asking when and how they can access it."

The seven RDA committees to be awarded funding are:

• RDA Mid West Gascoyne (WA) - $30,000 to develop a regional digital plan and connected implementation strategies and projects.
• RDA Sydney (NSW) - $17,500 to conduct a Community e-Care Workshop.
• RDA Northern Inland (NSW) - $33,000 to conduct regional information sessions, and develop stakeholder implementation strategies and an integrated digital regional plan.
• RDA Northern Melbourne (VIC) - $33,500 to conduct a project on the present use of ICT by small-to-medium sized businesses.
• RDA Darling Downs and South West (QLD) - $31,000 to establish a local NBN demonstration booth and develop a local government NBN awareness and preparedness project.
• RDA Ipswich and West Moreton (QLD) - $30,000 to support a regional digital economy forum and the development of a 10 year digital economy strategy.
• RDA Brisbane City (QLD) - $25,000 to conduct a survey of not-for-profit organisations, organise a digital expo and publish findings.

The Northern Territory Government has announced construction has started on the $34 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.

Expected to create over 4,000 jobs, the project is the combined effort of Japanese company INPEX and French energy giant Total.

 “The first contract awarded by JKC went to locally based companies Macmahon and John Holland - the $340 million site development civil works contract is the biggest contract awarded in the Territory’s history to date,” Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson said.

“From this massive contract alone, the greatest proportion of work by Macmahon and John Holland will be undertaken through their local supply chain - this means opportunities for smaller local business and more jobs for Territorians.”

“The project will help establish Darwin as the gas capital of northern Australia - we offer investors unique opportunities including our Marine Supply Base, proximity to Asia, deep sea port, our skilled and flexible workforce and capital city facilities.”

Optus has announced it has signed a $15 million five-year contract with the New South Wales Government’s Department of Education and Communities to deliver an enhanced satellite service to improve long distance learning for the state’s most remote students.

The service will provide improved internet access and support a range of new services, such as two-way video conferencing and interactive media applications.

As part of the deal, Optus will significantly upgrade the existing satellite technology to double the amount of satellite bandwidth available to remote schools.

“The introduction of the enhanced satellite service will provide our most isolated schools and students with opportunities to connect and collaborate like never before. It will give them a chance to share in the educational benefits of contemporary web-based tools and give us a chance to close the gap that currently exists between the city and the bush,” NSW Minister for Education, Adrian Piccoli said.

Paul Sheridan, Director of Optus Satellite said, “We’re proud of our role in helping to make a difference to the learning experience of students in the most remote communities across Australia via our satellite capabilities.

The Federal Government has released its Mid-term Review into the first two years of operations of the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN).

“We are pleased with the feedback from the Government, regulators, industry and non-government groups that we are a well-regarded organisation that is effective in representing the interests of Australian telecommunications consumers,” ACCAN Chief Executive Teresa Corbin said.

The report found that ACCAN has successfully integrated itself into the sector, and that its actions as a advocacy group not only assists in helping consumers voice their problems, but also allows more targeted reform of the sector.

“It is clear from this review that, in the two years of its operation, ACCAN has established itself as a well-regarded and effective organisation in representing the interests of consumers in the telecommunications sector,” the report found.

All submissions to the review supported the continuation of ACCAN, which the report describes as a ‘considerable achievement.’

The report made three major recommendations for ACCAN:

• undertakes steps to increase small business representation both in ACCAN’s membership and in its policy and advocacy work
• develops an industry engagement framework to formalise consultation processes with industry, and
• revise its standing advisory committees to enhance their operations and more properly reflect ACCAN’s membership base

The full report can be found here (PDF)

The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has warned the that the housing industry is facing a looming recession if government bodies fail to act in support of the industry.

“If the current conditions continue housing starts will fall below 130,000 for the year. To put this in perspective, that’s about 30,000 dwellings below what is needed just to meet underlying demand for homes,” HIA Managing Director Shane Goodwin said.

“The industry has suffered 8 years of declining new housing activity, which combined with current low levels of activity places us on the brink of recession.”

Mr Goodwin urged the three tiers of government to act collectively to halt the looming crisis by increasing expenditure on infrastructure that supports the industry, introducing financial incentives to stimulate new housing construction and reducing red tape.

“As well, the housing industry is bearing a disproportionate amount of the nation’s taxation burden, with for example, over 40% of the price of a new house and land package being taxes and charges,” Mr Goodwin said.

“What the Australian economy needs now is a revitalisation of the housing industry through tax relief and an injection of investment and funding into the new housing sector. Such an injection will provide a profound economic dividend to the broader economy.”

The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has published the 2012 electricity performance report for the Victorian distribution network service providers (DNSPs).

The report examines the financial and service quality performance of the state’s five electricity DNSPs. Including:

• CitiPower
• Jemena Electricity Networks
• Powercor
• SP AusNet
• United Energy Distribution.

The report found that overall, Victorian DNSPs reported improved supply reliability when compared to 2009, with sharp falls in unplanned minutes-off-supply and unplanned interruptions.

The report found that unplanned minutes-off-supply fell by 27 per cent, whule there was a 16 per cent decrease in the number of unplanned interruptions.

AER chairman Andrew Reeves said that the improved reliability performance was principally due to less extreme weather in 2010.  

"While all businesses improved reliability in 2010, Jemena Electricity Networks was the only business which met the performance target set by the previous regulator, for unplanned minutes-off-supply." 

Mr Reeves said the AER has increased the financial penalties and bonuses for performance from 2011 to strengthen the incentives for the businesses to provide better services for customers. 

"The financial returns for these businesses over the period 2006 to 2010, were consistently higher than forecast. This is due to sales being above and costs being below the amounts forecast in 2005," Mr Reeves said.
  

The report can be found here

The Western Australian Government has announced $58.5 million in child health spending to provide free health checks and increase access to school-based health services.

Treasurer Christian Porter said the funding forms the centrepiece of the State’s $6.76 billion health budget, and will contribute to the major expansion of community child health services across WA.

“Community child health services play a vital role in preventing chronic disease, so this is a targeted project to address real issues facing families in accessing health care,” Mr Porter said.

“We have listened to the people of WA and have already made real changes by investing $49.7million over four years to recruit more than 50 community allied health staff in physiotherapy, speech pathology and occupational therapy.  As a result, wait times for these services have dropped by more than 50 per cent.”

The State’s health budget includes work starting on:

• $360.2 million Midland Health Campus - completion 2015
• $117.9 million Busselton Health Campus - completion 2014
• $22.2 million Remote Indigenous Health Clinic Project - completion 2014
• Work will continue on the:
• $1.2 billion New Children’s Hospital - completion 2015
• $1.7 billion Fiona Stanley Hospital - completion 2013
• $239.0 million on the new State rehabilitation service - completion 2013
• $325.3 million Southern Inland Health Initiative capital works
• $229.8 million Joondalup Health Campus expansion - completion 2013
• $55.8 million Kalgoorlie Health Campus redevelopment - completion late 2013

Planning will continue on the:

• RPH redevelopment - $22 million for preliminary works
• Karratha Health Campus - $207.2million
• Construction will be completed in 2012-13:
• $55.6 million for a new PathWest Centre at the QEII Medical Centre
• $47.9 million for Cancer Centre Stage 2 at the QEII Medical Centre
• $170.4 million new Albany Health Campus

The Victorian Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business Louise Asher has called for applications for the 2012 Victoria Prize for Science and Innovation, and the 2012 Victoria Fellowships.

Ms Asher said the Victoria Prize for Science and Innovation will recognise two outstanding scientists this year for their lifelong commitment and achievements. Two individual awards of $50,000 each will be presented – one for work in life sciences and one for work in physical sciences.

As part of the Victoria Fellowships, the Government will provide $18,000 to up to twelve outstanding early-career researchers and innovators to enhance their careers with international study missions.

Applications close on Friday 29 June 2012. Application forms are available at www.business.vic.gov.au/vicprize or www.business.vic.gov.au/vicfellows 

Health Minister Tanya Plibersek has announced that $50 million over two years will be made available to Medicare Locals – networks that support frontline health providers – to assist GPs and other health care providers to adopt and use the Gillard Government’s new eHealth records system.

Ms Plibersek said the funding was part of a package to support doctors and other health professionals to help rollout the new system.

“Family doctors co-ordinate healthcare for most patients, so we know they have an important role to play in the eHealth records system,” Ms Plibersek said.

“eHealth records will ensure doctors can access a patient’s medical information in one convenient online location, reducing errors and making diagnosis and treatment quicker and easier.”

Ms Plibersek said the funding for Medicare Locals will enable them to provide practical training to GP practices and other health care providers and to drive awareness and consumer literacy of the potential of eHealth records at a regional level.

“The practical training will include how to get the practice ready for the eHealth record including how to achieve data quality, the registration process for eHealth records, engagement and support of the practice’s patients.”

“To assist providers link up to the system, Medicare Locals also will work with other health care providers – allied health, nursing, and community based specialists – as well as with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, non-government organisations, professional associations and hospitals.”

The $50 million is the final piece of a support package for doctors to help rollout the new eHealth records system and is in addition to the Government’s $233.7 million investment announced in the Budget.

It complements the three other initiatives already announced, which are:

• From February 2013, up to $50,000 in Practice Incentive Program payments for each practice that shows it is capable of: (1) secure messaging, (2) integrating healthcare identifiers into electronic practice records, (3) using data records and clinical coding of diagnoses, (4) the capability to upload Shared Health Summaries and Event Summaries using compliant eHealth record software, and (5) electronic transfer of prescriptions to a prescription exchange service. Further consultation with the profession and professional associations will occur in the coming weeks about how the criteria will apply in practice.
• The ability for GPs to use longer consultations (Medicare Benefit Scheme general attendance items B, C and D) when creating or adding to a shared health summary on an eHealth record which involves taking a patient’s medical history as part of a consultation.
• The continuation of the Practice Nurse Incentive Program which provides up to $125,000 per year to eligible general practices towards the cost of a practice nurse. Practices can choose to have their practice nurse talk to patients about the eHealth record, and help patients set up their record.

From 1 July 2012, interested Australians will be able to register to create their own eHealth record.

The Western Australian Government approved the construction of a new $443 million transmission line for the state’s Mid-West region.

“The 330kV transmission line will enable the connection of new mining projects at Three Springs, facilitate the connection of new sources of electricity generation in the Mid-West and secure power supplies for the people of the region,” State Energy Minister Peter Collier said.

“The construction of this transmission line and associated works is due to commence in June and will utilise up to 300 construction workers over a two-year period.

“The Mid West Energy Project will provide more than 500MW of additional capacity for the Mid-West region. This is equivalent to supplying 500 large supermarkets with typical peak power demand.”

The 189km transmission line will run from Neerabup (north of Perth) to Eneabba. It then connects with the 70km line between Eneabba and Three Springs, being constructed by Karara Mining Limited. This line will ultimately be purchased as a part of the Mid West Energy Project and will service both the Karara mine site and the broader region through the Three Springs Terminal substation.

Between Neerabup and Eneabba, more than 2,000 wooden power poles will be removed and replaced with 387 transmission towers, weighing a total of 10,000 tonnes.

Planning has started on Stage 2 of the project to extend the 330kV line a further 160km north to Geraldton (Moonyoonooka).

When combined with Stage 1, the project will facilitate the construction and operation of several other major Mid-West infrastructure developments, including Oakajee Port and Rail, and the proposed Oakajee Industrial Estate adjoining the port.

Karara Mining Limited is developing a magnetite mine 100km east of Three Springs and is currently constructing a double circuit 330kV transmission line between Eneabba and its mine site.

The Tasmanian Government has announced $195 million in spending on the state’s road and rail network in 2012/13.

Comprised of $64 million from the Federal Government and $130 million from the State, the spend will be targeted at key infrastructure throughout the state.

The funding secures the $90 million Community Roads Program and the $21 million spend on the Murchison Highway.

Australian computing researcher, Dr André Carvalho, from the ARC Centre for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology and the Research School of Physics and Engineering, part of the ANU College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, has worked with collaborators from Brazil and Spain to come up with a new proposal for quantum computers.

In his research, Dr Carvalho showed that disturbance – or noise – that prevents a quantum computer from operating accurately could become the very thing that makes it work.

“Most people have experienced some kind of computer error in their life – a file that doesn’t open, a CD that can’t be read – but we have ways to correct them. We also know how to correct errors in a quantum computer but we need to keep the noise level really, really low to do that,” he said.

“That’s been a problem, because to build a quantum computer you have to go down to atomic scales and deal with microscopic systems, which are extremely sensitive to noise.”

Surprisingly, the researchers found that the solution was to add even more noise to the system.

“We found that with the additional noise you can actually perform all the steps of the computation, provided that you measure the system, keep a close eye on it and intervene,” Dr Carvalho said.

“Because we have no control on the outcomes of the measurement – they are totally random – if we just passively wait it would take an infinite amount of time to extract even a very simple computation.

“It’s like the idea that if you let a monkey type randomly on a typewriter, eventually a Shakespearean play could come out. In principle, that can happen, but it is so unlikely that you’d have to wait forever.

“However, imagine that whenever the monkey types the right character in a particular position, you protect that position, so that any other typing there will not affect the desired character. This is sort of what we do in our scheme. By choosing smart ways to detect the random events, we can drive the system to implement any desired computation in the system in a finite time.”

Dr Carvalho said quantum information processing has the potential to revolutionise the way we perform computation tasks.

“If a quantum computer existed now, we could solve problems that are exceptionally difficult on current computers, such as cracking codes underlying Internet transactions.”

The research has been published in the journal Physical Review Letters.

The Queensland Government has announced broad cuts to the Queensland Association for Healthy Communities (QAHC), the state’s only LGBT health and wellbeing organisation.

Previously, QAHC had held major contracts with Queensland Health for HIV prevention work with gay men and reduction in alcohol, tobacco and other drugs work with the broader LGBT community.

“We are shocked at the announcement made by Minister Springborg today.  There has been no warning, discussion or negotiation with us about our current service agreements with Queensland Health, nor has there been any previous question about the quality or focus of our work” QAHC’s Executive Director Paul R Martin said.

“We understand that the Government is looking to find savings, and we are more than willing to work with them on that.  But to cut the only HIV prevention service for gay men and the only LGBT health service is astonishing.”

The association has received funding from consecutive Queensland Governments since 1988 for the delivery of HIV prevention services in the LGBT community.

The Western Australian Government has announced $5 million over two years for the formation of a new Mental Health Court Division Program, that will cater for adults and children with mental illness facing criminal charges at Perth’s Magistrates’ Court and Children’s Court.

The division will be headed by a full-time magistrate and supported by a dedicated team of professionals giving assessments, individualised treatment and liaison to community mental health services, the program will aim to reduce re-offending rates by people with moderate or severe mental health illness and divert them away from the prison system.

In addition to the $5 million, $1.7 million will be spent over two years for the placement of mental health experts at Perth’s Children’s Court for an early intervention pilot program to provide timely assessments, referrals and treatment.

Mental Health Minister Helen Morton said it was essential to identify young offenders early and get them essential services for their illness.

“Too often these people are inappropriately and expensively caught up in the criminal justice system, when they should be receiving effective mental health care,” Mrs Morton said.

“Traditional methods of sentencing have little impact on people with mental illness and often fail to address the cause of the offending behaviours.”

Attorney General Christian Porter said several diversion options existed within the courts, however the mental health diversion and support program was the first of its kind in WA.

“About 3,600 adults who come before the metropolitan magistrates’ courts have a serious mental illness. This program will complement existing services and fill a gap that is not currently met,” Mr Porter said.

 Eighteen local government councils have been awarded funding under the Federal Government’s $20 million Liveable Cities program, which aims to help make Australia's 18 major cities more productive, sustainable and liveable.

The largest grants of $3,750,000 each were awarded to the City of Parramatta and the City of Sydney. 

The City of  Parramatta will build a separate cycling and walking link between the University of Western Sydney, housing developments in the area and key employment precincts of the Parramatta city centre. 

Funds allocated to the City of Sydney will contribute to the Green Square Town Centre Trigeneration, Australia's first large scale low carbon trigeneration energy network that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around 40,000 tonnes a year and help the City of Sydney reach its target of a 70 percent reduction in emissions by 2030.

Other councils which were awarded funding include the Melton Shire Council, the Wyndham City Council, Logan City Council, City of Cockburn, City of Melville, Campbelltown City Council, City of Port Adelaide, Maitland City Council, Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Hobart City Council, Kingborough Council, Townsville City Council, Darwin City Council, Launceston City Council, Albury City Council and Whittlesea City Council.

Seven further awards were made to state government agencies.

The funding will be used for a range of urban planning projects, infrastructure projects, civic facilities and public transport  improvements.

More information about the program is here.

http://www.nationbuildingprogram.gov.au/funding/liveablecities/index.aspx

The Western Australian Government has released the first vision for the $1 billion Gateway WA Project Master Plan.

Aimed at expediting the movement of people and freight through Perth Airport, the project is comprised of $686.4 million in Federal funding, while the State Government will contribute $276.5 million and forms one of the largest infrastructure projects in the state’s history.  

The project has been divided into two separate packages to ensure minimal disruption to users, residents and industry.

The first package, due to be completed in early 2014, includes:

• a major freeway to freeway interchange at Tonkin Highway/Leach Highway, including a new primary access road to the consolidated airport terminals
• new interchange at Tonkin Highway/Horrie Miller Drive/Kewdale Road
• new interchange at Leach Highway/Abernethy Road
• upgrading Leach Highway between Orrong Road and Tonkin Highway to an expressway standard and associated upgrades to roads and intersections in the Kewdale Freight precinct
• a principal shared path along Tonkin and Leach highways.

The second package, expected to be completed in 2017, includes:

• upgrading of the existing Tonkin Highway/Roe Highway interchange to a partial freeway to freeway interchange
• upgrading Tonkin Highway between Great Eastern Highway and Roe Highway to six lanes
• a new interchange at Boud Avenue.

The Western Australian Government has announced it a $77.6 million funding injection to implement the Skills Training Initiative and to develop training infrastructure throughout the state.

Funding for the initiative will be sourced from the state’s Royalties for Regions program, and will last from 2011-12 to 2014-15.

State Training and Workforce development Minister Peter Collier said the increased demand for training places meant that the need for quality training facilities and infrastructure is crucial for the state to counter the emerging skills shortage.

“The Skills Training Initiative will enable refurbishments and upgrades for regional training facilities; the development of dedicated regional training centres to meet industry and community needs; and the replacement of out-dated and failing IT infrastructure across the State Training Provider network,” Mr Collier said.

The Budget outlines continuation of major works at:

• Challenger Institute of Technology’s Rockingham Campus redevelopment ($28.6 million)
• South West Institute of Technology’s Bunbury Campus Heavy Duty Automotive projects complex ($16 million)
• C.Y. O’Connor  Institute Narrogin Campus upgrade ($2.3 million).

The funding outlines the commencement of planning for:

• Challenger Institute of Technology’s Murdoch Campus ($42 million)
• Great Southern Institute of Technology Mt Barker Campus ($4.4 million)
• Kimberley Training Institute’s West Kimberley Campus ($5.5 million)
• South West Institute of Technology Busselton Campus upgrade ($2 million).

The Western Australian Government has outlined a $3.9 billion spend on new and ongoing transport projects in the state’s 2012-13 Budget.

State Transport Minister Troy Buswell announced a $105 million initiative to ensure the creation of a sustainable transport network in major city projects.

The Budget also provides $5.15 million over two years for detailed project planning to assist in informing investment decision on Perth’s light rail project.

Mr Buswell said the State would also invest $276.5 million in the Gateway WA project over the forward estimates. The $1 billion project comprised Federal Government funds of $686.4 million and State Government funds of $317.5 million.

“The $1 billion Gateway WA project will deliver a safe, efficient and welcoming road and bridge network to the new Perth Airport precinct, the surrounding businesses, residential areas and the State of WA,” Mr Buswell said.

Additional major works include:

• $609 million public transport component of the Perth City Link project
• $241 million Joondalup railway line extension to Butler
• $267.3 million upgrade of Great Eastern Highway from Kooyong Road to Tonkin Highway. (Federal and State government funds.)