Industry News
The Federal Government has opened the detailed modeling tool used by the Gonski Review of School Funding to state and territory governments, non-government schools and school education unions.
School Education Minister Peter Garrett said the education community would benefit the use of extensive and up-to-date data and allow them to test the School Resource Standard (SRS) model.
Mr Garrett said sharing the modelling tool used by the review panel in developing its recommendations will allow school authorities to trial how an SRS could work in practice for schools and school systems. Representatives from state governments, non-government schools and unions will also be given separate technical briefings of the Gonski modelling over the next few days.
“As Mr Gonski and the review panel made clear, there is still a lot of work to do to test and refine the various elements of their proposed funding model. This includes testing the proposed funding amount per student, and examining whether the loadings for disadvantage are set at the right levels,” Mr Garrett said.
“We are asking everyone involved in school funding to carry out these tests and come back and share the results with the various working groups we’ve established, as well as the Ministerial Reference Group.
“This will allow us to see where the SRS model might need refining and tweaking, how it might impact on schools and systems, and also gain a better understanding of any financial implications.”
Study shows NSW sex worker's health on the rise
NSW is able to enjoy one of the healthiest sex industries ever documented due to the decriminalisation of sex work in NSW combined with a free market approach, according to a report into NSW Health.
International authorities regard the NSW regulatory framework as best practice – the result of decades of partnership by government, community organisations, health workers and researchers, according to the report, The Sex Industry in New South Wales.
The report was launched by Mr Peter Collins, Minister for Health in the Greiner Government 1988-91 and the Coalition representative on the ground-breaking NSW Parliament Select Committee on Prostitution that reported in 1986.
Decriminalisation of the industry in 1995 led to a dramatic reduction in police corruption and sex worker exploitation.
There is still room for improvement. Many local councils routinely refused development applications for brothels, resulting in some brothels masquerading as massage parlours with poor occupational health and safety standards.
Lance Schema, Executive Director of the lead sex worker agency in NSW for HIV, STI and Hepatitis C education and prevention, Sex Workers Outreach Project said, “This report provides clear evidence to inform policy development. We commend the Kirby Institute for pulling together this report that will and should assist governments in developing future policies relating to the sex industry.”
More information can be found here.
Mindax appoints Loh Kgai Mun as new director
Mining exploration company Mindax has announced the appointment of Loh Kgai Mun as the company’s new director.
Mr Loh has been appointed with immediate effect and will offer himself for election at the companty’s next annual general meeting.
Mr Loh is the Executive Director of Lion Asiapac Limited, a company listed on the Singapore Exchange, since August 2008.
Mr Loh has extensive experience in wealth management, including companies with multi-national operations.
Prior to 2008, he was the Group General Manager of Lion Asiapac Limited and oversaw operational, financial, and management matters of the Lion Asiapac group.
Jetstar announces new CEO
Jetstar has announced the appointment of Barathan Pasupathi as the new Chief Executive Officer of the company’s Asia brand.
Mr Pasupathi brings 16 years of experience in senior roles, including in the energy, aviation and finance sectors. Mr Pasupathi previously served as Jetstar Asia’s first Chief Financial Officer.
Chairman of Newstar (holding company of Jetstar Asia) Mr Dennis Choo said Mr Pasupathi, a Singapore national, would lead Jetstar Asia and Valuair as their networks expand into some of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world.
“We are very pleased to have an executive of Mr Pasupathi’s calibre to lead Jetstar Asia into the next phase of its development,” Mr Choo said.
“As one of the founding executives of Jetstar Asia, Mr Pasupathi has a first-hand understanding of our business as well as the aviation sector overall.
“His 10 years’ experience in oil and gas industry has equipped him with detailed knowledge of the leading cost driver in aviation, namely fuel, and his familiarity with supply chain management gives him a sharp sense of process optimisation,” Mr Choo added.
Paul Daff will continue as acting Chief Executive Officer of Jetstar Asia until Mr Pasupathi starts in his new role on 2 July 2012.
NZ to launch fracking investigation
The New Zealand Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Jan Wright, has announced a broad investigation into hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.
Dr Wright announced that the initial scoping work would be stepped up into an official investigation, saying that preliminary work indicated a need for close examination of the issue.
“The work that has been done by my office thus far shows a substantive case for an official investigation under the Environment Act,” Dr Wright said.
“Over the next few months my staff and I will conduct this investigation and produce a report to Parliament.
“I realise this is a hugely contentious issue and I would hope to have a report tabled in the House before the end of this year.”