Industry News

The Victorian Government has launched its new Switch On campaign aimed at helping households reduce their power bills and ease the cost of living.

State Energy and Resources Minister Michael O’Brien said the campaign will focus on providing practical information to help Victorians manage rising energy bills.

"The Switch On campaign is designed to give households information and practical tools to help them manage their consumption and bills with advice on energy efficiency, shopping around for the best retail deal and how to access Coalition Government initiatives," Mr O'Brien said.

The new Switch On website features a range of energy saving tips and tools, including an energy calculator, an interactive energy efficient house and advice on shopping around for the best energy retailer.

For more information on the Switch On campaign visit the website www.switchon.vic.gov.au

Queensland Minister for Education, Training and Employment, John-Paul. Langbroek, has announced the finalists for the 51^st annual Queensland Training Awards.

“These awards are about recognising the state’s best employers, apprentices, trainees, teachers, trainers and vocational students for the work they do to take Queensland forward,” Mr Langbroek said.

“I’m thrilled to be able to acknowledge the people in our vocational education and training sector who are working hard to create a better Queensland for the future.” 

A total of 57 finalists across eleven categories will vie for awards at the state final presentation dinner in Brisbane on Friday 14 September 2012. 

Winners at the state level have the opportunity to progress to the Australian Training Awards held in Melbourne on Friday 16 November. 

2012 QUEENSLAND TRAINING AWARDS – STATE FINALISTS 

Harry Hauenschild Apprentice of the Year 

Alyssa-Marie Jones (Mt Louisa) 
Training Provider: TEC-NQ Limited 
Qualification: Certificate III in Electrotechnology 
Employer: Townsville City Council 

Brayden Smith (Eimeo) 
Training Provider: SkillsTech Australia 
Qualification: Certificate III in Engineering - Mechanical Trade 
Employer: Hastings Deering 

Dolores Morgan (Benowa) 
Training Provider: Baking Industry Training Australia Pty Ltd 
Qualification: Certificate III in Food Processing (Retail Baking-Combined) 
Employer: Brumby's Bakery 

Lauren Janson-Roberts (Toowoomba) 
Training Provider: Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE 
Qualification: Certificate III in Hairdressing 
Employer: Minx Contemporary Hair Boutique 

Luke Kennedy (Narangba) 
Training Provider: Southbank Institute of Technology 
Qualification: Certificate III in Printing and Graphic Arts 
Employer: Digital Screen Printing Australia 

Neil Muller (Yorkey’s Knob) 
Training Provider: Tropical North Queensland Institute of TAFE 
Qualification: Certificate III in Electrotechnology 
Employer: Systems Electrician FNQ Electrical Pty Ltd 
Group Training Organisation: Skill360 Australia 

Rachel Bacon (Newport) 
Training Provider: Aviation Australia Pty Ltd 
Qualification: Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Avionics) 
Employer: QANTAS Airways Limited 


Bob Marshman Trainee of the Year 

Amelia Holesgrove (Arundel) 
Training Provider: The Australian Academy of Business Pty Ltd 
Qualification: Certificate III in Business Administration 
Employer: Dayshelf Fire Systems 
Group Training Organisation: The Australian Academy of Business Pty Ltd 

Amy-Lea Hurtz (Frenchville) 
Training Provider: MRAEL Group,The Training Academy 
Qualification: Certificate III in Business 
Employer: Mrael Limited 

Christie Wiggins (Maroochydore) 
Training Provider: Sunshine Coast Institute of TAFE 
Qualification: Certificate III in Business Administration 
Employer: East Coast Apprenticeships 

Megan Emerton (Edmonton) 
Training Provider: Skill360 Australia 
Qualification: Certificate III in Business Administration 
Employer: Cairns Regional Council 

Robert Geebung (North Rockhampton) 
Training Provider: Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE 
Qualification: Certificate II in Horticulture 
Employer: Santos 
Group Training Organisation: Golden West Employment Solutions 

Sharine Milne (Townsville) 
Training Provider: Motor Trades Association Queensland 
Qualification: Diploma of Management 
Employer: R.H.D. Classic Supplies & Services 
Group Training Organisation: Motor Trades Association Queensland 

Tahnee Hatfield (Aspley) 
Training Provider: GoodStart Training College 
Qualification: Certificate III in Children's Services 
Employer: GoodStart Early Learning 


School-based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year 

Ashley De Campo 
Training Provider: Barrier Reef Institute of TAFE 
Qualification: Certificate III in Aged Care 
Employer: Blue Care - Blue Haven Lodge Ingham 
School: Ingham State High School 

Brady Nemeth 
Training Provider: Axial Training Pty Ltd 
Qualification: Certificate III in Meat Processing (Meat Retailing) 
Employer: Swain Family Meats 
School: Siena Catholic College (Sunshine Coast) 

Hannah Brumley 
Training Provider: Club Training Australia 
Qualification: Certificate III in Hospitality 
Employer: The Royal Mail Hotel 
School: Balmoral State High School 

Lachlan Brand 
Training Provider: Central Queensland Institute of TAFE 
Qualification: Certificate III in Engineering (Mechanical) 
Employer: Hastings Deering 
School: Pioneer State High School (Mackay) 

Levi Von Nida 
Training Provider: SkillsTech Australia 
Qualification: Certificate III in Engineering - Mechanical Trade 
Employer: RLM Machining and Fabrication 
School: Marsden State High School 

Natasha Adams 
Training Provider: Skill360 Australia 
Qualification: Certificate III in Business Administration 
Employer: PS Complete 
School: St Mary's Catholic College (Cairns) 

Stacey-Lee Kelly 
Training Provider: HB Recruitment and Training 
Qualification: Certificate III in Business 
Employer: Golden West Employment Solutions 
School: Pittsworth State High School 


Vocational Student of the Year 

Bonnie Sargood (Paddington) 
Training Provider: Academy of Makeup 
Qualification: Diploma of Specialist Makeup Services 

Bruce Bradford (Mooloolah) 
Training Provider: TTS Civil Training 
Qualification: Certificate III in Road Construction and Maintenance 

Darren Blackman (Nambour) 
Training Provider: Tropical North Queensland Institute of TAFE 
Qualification: Certificate IV in Training and Assessment 

Emilia Aleksiejczuk (Nerang) 
Training Provider: Aurora Training Institute 
Qualification: Diploma of Human Resources Management 

Joshuah Tindale (Kirwan) 
Training Provider: PGA of Australia 
Qualification: Diploma of Sport Coaching 

Lillian Garrett (North Ipswich) 
Training Provider: The Bremer Institute of TAFE 
Qualification: Certificate IV in Community Services Work 

Peter Titlow (Paget) 
Training Provider: Central Queensland Institute of TAFE 
Qualification: Diploma of Management 


Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year 

Aaron Bond (Weipa) 
Training Provider: Tropical North Queensland Institute of TAFE 
Qualification: Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade 
Employer: Rio Tinto Alcan Weipa 
Group Training Organisation: Skill360 Australia 

Dallas Robinson (Hivesville) 
Training Provider: Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE 
Qualification: Certificate III in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Healthcare 
Group Training Organisation: Queensland Health 

Dylan Mann (North Rockhampton) 
Training Provider: Franklyn Scholar 
Qualification: Certificate II in Business 
Employer: Commonwealth Bank of Australia 
Group Training Organisation: Aboriginal Employment Strategy 

Lucy-Jean Bell (Wacol) 
Training Provider: Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE 
Qualification: Certificate III in Companion Animal Services 
Employer: RSPCA Qld 

Luke Kennedy (Narangba) 
Training Provider: Southbank Institute of Technology 
Qualification: Certificate III in Printing and Graphic Arts 
Employer: Digital Screen Printing Australia 

Neil Williams (Wondai) 
Training Provider: Central Queensland Institute of TAFE 
Qualification: Certificate II in Metaliferous Mining Operations 
Employer: Evolution Mining 
Group Training Organisation: GAGAL - Biloela 

Sharine Milne (Townsville) 
Training Provider: Motor Trades Association Queensland 
Qualification: Diploma of Management 
Employer: R.H.D. Classic Supplies & Services 
Group Training Organisation: Motor Trades Association Queensland 


VET Teacher or Trainer of the Year 

Allan Payne (Gatton) 
Registered Training Provider: Serco Australia Pty Ltd, Southern Queensland Correctional Centre 

Bradley Clark (Airlie Beach) 
Registered Training Provider: Barrier Reef Institute of TAFE 

Danny Platt (Acacia Ridge) 
Registered Training Provider: SkillsTech Australia, Acacia Ridge Training Centre 

Jennifer Walker (Eagle Farm) 
Registered Training Provider: Brisbane North Institute of TAFE, Caboolture Campus 

Mark Oliver (Wurtulla) 
Registered Training Provider: LMC Training Far North Queensland 

Marnie Parker (Wellington Point) 
Registered Training Provider: Redlands College 

Tash Fee (Calliope) 
Registered Training Provider: TNT Training Solutions 


Small Employer of the Year 

DMC Electrical and Air Cooling, Condon 
www.dmctownsville.com.au 

Flowtech Air Conditioning, Meadowbrook 
www.flowtechac.com.au 

Sevenstones Restaurant, Enoggera 
www.sevenstonesrestaurant.com.au 


Employer of the Year 

G & S Engineering Services, Mackay 
www.g-s.com.au 

Ostwald Bros. Pty Ltd, Dalby 
www.ostwaldbros.com.au 

Sea Swift, Portsmith 
www.seaswift.com.au 


Small Training Provider of the Year 

Baking Industry Training Australia 
www.nbia.org.au 

Club Training Australia 
www.clubtraining.com.au 

Help Enterprises 
www.helpenterprises.com.au 


Large Training Provider of the Year 

Blue Dog Training 
www.bluedogtraining.com.au 

Sunshine Coast Institute of TAFE 
www.sunshinecoast.tafe.qld.gov.au 

Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE 
www.sqit.tafe.qld.gov.au 


Premier’s Industry Collaboration Award 

SkillsTech Australia and Santos 
GLNG for Coal Seam Gas and Gas Transmissions Pipeline Operations Training Centre 
www.skillstech.tafe.qld.gov.au / www.santos.com 

Gold Coast Institute of TAFE 
Hospitality Pre-Employment Short Courses 
www.gcit.edu.au 

Training Connections Australia 
Murray Island Pathways Collaboration 
www.trainingca.com.auText 

The South Australian Government has announced an initiative to streamline building and construction projects that are in the pipeline and valued over $20 million.

Premier Jay Weatherill announced the initiative, which will aim to intensively case manage projects to fruition in a bid to support the state’s construction industry through the ongoing slump in the sector.

Mr Weatherill asked the Economic Development Board, Urban Renewal Authority and the Department of Planning to provide a list of ‘shovel ready’ projects that are valued over $20 million that are currently seeking approval.

“Where additional work is required for approval to be granted, we will appoint a case manager for each project to help expedite the relevant approvals,” Mr Weatherill said.

Mr Weatherill was quick to assure that the proposed changes would not compromise the state’s environmental, planning and safety approval framework.

“But there is a sense of urgency about the circumstances of the building and construction sector,” Mr Weatherill said.

“That’s why we are taking this extraordinary step to ensure that our construction industry is supported.”

With resource exploration and mining being a key focus of the world's biggest geological congress currently underway in Brisbane, Queensland University of Technology (QUT) will showcase in-house developed software that helps better understand how subsurface groundwater systems behave.

QUT Science and Engineering Faculty Professor Malcolm Cox and his team have developed GVS (Groundwater Visualisation System), which has been specifically designed to represent groundwater systems and associated data, including drillholes water chemistry and surface connections.

"Aquifers can be very complex systems that are traditionally represented using 2D maps," Professor Cox said.

"We have now developed 3D visualisation formats to display these systems, and also a representation of a fourth dimension - time, using animation.

"The system has been applied to a wide range of land types from sand islands to irrigated catchment-wide systems and regional sedimentary basins hosting coal seam gas resources.

"GVS can be used to visualise any existing geological and hydrogeological data and analyse the processes that are going on.  This greatly improves our understanding of groundwater systems and how they function.

"With this technology we are able to show which aquifers individual drillholes are accessing, plus any variations in water levels and relations to surface conditions."

Professor Cox said the GVS could show how measurements and water levels behaved or changed over time and could be related to climatic variations and land use.

He said the information the technology could provide would benefit various resource managers, farmers and communities as well as governments.

The GVS was developed using open-source software and more information can be found at http://www.isr.qut.edu.au/gsr/gvs/index.jsp

The Federal Government has announced the appointment of two new directors to the board of Australia Post. Susan Bitter and Talal Yassine have both been appointed for three years.

"I congratulate Ms Bitter and Mr Yassine on their appointments. They both bring a wealth of experience, knowledge and skills to the board that will ensure the continued high-quality operation of one of Australia's most important and valued corporations," Federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and Telecommunications Senator Stephen Conroy said.

Ms Bitter is currently the Chief Operating Officer of Corrs Chambers Westgarth, a Director of the Medical Indemnity Protection Society Limited and of the Industry Superannuation Property Trust, where she is Chair of the Audit Compliance Committee.

"Ms Bitter's demonstrated capacity and previous experience as a director mean she will make an excellent addition to the Australia Post board," Minister Wong said.

Mr Yassine OAM is the founder and Managing Director of Crescent Wealth and was previously the Chief Commercial Officer and co-founder of Better Place Australia, a leading global provider of electric vehicle services.

The newly upgraded Bowmans Intermodal between Port Wakefield and Balaklava has commenced operations, with Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport describing the move as a key step to improving South Australia.

The facility is able to handle twice the volume of freight as before, with projections finding that the facility will mean up to 17,000 fewer truck journeys  to the Port of Adelaide.

South Australian Transport Minister Patrick Conlon said the project involved the construction of a new 10,000m² hardstand floor and the upgrade of the existing one so that heavy freight containers can be stored and stacked.

“The project also involved the installation of five two-stand outlets to keep refrigerated containers cold while on site, as well as the provision of new lighting and pedestrian walkways,” said Mr Conlon.

The Queensland Government has announced the appointment of mining industry veteran Barry Golding as a facilitator to test coal companies’ appetite to proceed with the new coal handing facilities at the Port of Abbot Point.

Mr Golding will meet with local companies to discuss their immediate and longer term plans and port capacity requirements to gauge overall demand for the new facilities.

After consultation with industry, Mr Golding will report to the Government later in the year on options about how to proceed with the expansion at Abbot Point.

The appointment of Mr Golding comes after the newly elected Newman Government scrapped previous plans for the construction of a nine coal terminal and 12-berth Multi-Cargo Facility.

The Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Jeff Seeney, said the Government considered the proposals unviable and unworkable.

“The significant scale, complexity and potential impacts of the proposed development and infrastructure were extensive and given current information it would have been many years before the planned capacity would be realistically warranted,” Mr Seeney said.

“For this reason the State Government last May scrapped any further support for the proposed development of Terminals 4 to 9 and the Multi Cargo Facility.

“The focus now will shift to the incremental expansion of port capacity to meet any future demand and Government will be indicating its preference for multi-user terminals as a way to meet short to medium term development.

The Queensland Government has proposed a $100 million, four-year Floodplain Security System (FSS), which it says could save billions of dollars in future disaster damage.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Jeff Seeney, has called on the Federal Government to match the State Government’s spending on the program, which would seek to flood-proof large parts of the state.

Mr Seeney has written to the Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Nicola Roxon, to seek Federal support for the plan. Mr Seeney has said the State Government will commit $40 million for the plan, while expecting Federal and local Governments to make up the rest.

“It is the Queensland Government’s view that the FSS, part of the Royalties for Regions program, should be funded on a 2:2:1 basis with the Commonwealth and State Governments providing $2 million for every $1 million provided by local government,” Mr Seeney said. 

The South Australian Government has earmarked $200,000 in funding for the Port Pirie Regional Council to help strategic studies into the city’s long term economic development.

State Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy Tom Koutsantonis said the funding will help the council determine how to best position itself as a gateway to the state’s mining boom.

ìThese studies will assist us to continue to work with the Member for Frome Geoff Brock and other community leaders in Port Pirie to ensure that the city benefits from the growth of mining activity in the Upper Spencer Gulf,” Mr Koutsantonis said.

The funding will enable studies to examine long-term strategies including:

• Creating a more effective port by maximising the loading facilities and improving access so as to provide a more economic port option for mining projects;
•  Facilitating improved facilities and capability at the council-operated Port Pirie Airport to unlock opportunities as a Fly In Fly Out (FIFO) destination for mining companies;
•  Duplicating or expanding the natural gas pipeline from Whyte Yarcowie leading to Port Pirie and;
• Expanding skills training within Port Pirie to provide a skilled work force for the mineral resources and mining services sector, in particular looking at the feasibility of creating a mining school in Port Pirie

The Western Australian Government has confirmed $161 million will be spent on local roads across the State, an increase of $16 million from last financial years.

The funding for the Local Roads program will see continued support for the upgrading and maintenance of local roads.

“This funding for local government is provided through a five-year agreement signed last year between the State and the Western Australian Local Government Association.  Under the agreement, 27 per cent of all vehicle registration fee collections are provided to local government to assist in maintaining and improving their road network,” State Transport Minister Troy Buswell said.

The Minister said the Local Roads program provided funding to important areas including:

• Road Project Grants ($78.582million) - for specific road improvements, provision of new roads and major preservation works such as resealing to maintain the road asset
• Direct Grants ($17.147million) - for council road preservation or capital works at local government’s discretion
• Traffic management and road safety initiatives ($34.332million) - for the installation and maintenance of road signage, pavement  markings and other infrastructure
• State initiatives on local roads ($22.555million) - supporting local road projects that provide a wider community benefit
• Bridges ($4.549million) - for improvements and maintenance of bridges on local roads
• Aboriginal community access ($1.496million) - for maintaining access roads serving Aboriginal communities.

The Federal Government has announced Cairns as the host city for the G20 Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors’ meeting in 2014.

The meeting will bring together leaders, Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors from major developing and advanced economies to address the critical economic and financial challenges facing the world’s economy.

“This is an important and complex meeting to organise and it is critical for the Commonwealth, State and local governments to work together, and that is exactly what we plan to do to deliver a successful meeting,” Prime Minister Julia Gillard said in a statement.

“We will announce shortly the location for a second Finance Ministers' and Central Bank Governors' meeting. The dates for these meetings are still to be finalised.”

The Federal Government has released the report of the independent review of the Fair Work Act, finding that the current framework is operating as intended and in accordance with legislation.

After evaluating over 250 written submissions from employers, employees and unions, the independent panel provided 53 recommendations to the Federal Government.

Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten thanked the Panel for their work, while ensuring that the Government would consult with the community and stakeholders on the provided recommendations.

“The Government wants to hear the voices of opinion that reach far beyond those found in the written submissions. We want to know what the community at large thinks about the Panel’s recommendations so we can assess the merits of the report,” Mr Shorten said.

“I urge stakeholders to use this opportunity to work constructively with the Government utilising the contributions of the report."

Master Builders Australia (MBA) has lashed out at the conclusions, saying that Panel has ‘sidestepped’ the issues being faced by industry.

“Apart from the recognition that the Fair Work Act is stopping the timely introduction of Greenfields agreements, the report fails to address a number of stark realities faced by builders every day,” MBA CEO Wilhelm Harnisch said.

The Australian Industry Group echoed the Mr Harnisch’s sentiments, saying the changes fall short of what is required.

"The biggest problem with the Fair Work Act Review report is that in virtually all of the key areas, the recommended changes fall short of what is necessary to address the big problems with the Act. It is vital that the Government not make the same mistake when it releases its response to the report," Australian Industry Group Chief Executive Innes Willox said today.

More information is available here

http://www.deewr.gov.au/WorkplaceRelations/Policies/FairWorkActReview/Pages/Home.aspx

A new $90 million partnership between the Federal and Victorian Governments will aim to ensure a ‘bright future’ for the state’s Latrobe Valley coal industries in a future low emissions economy, according to Federal Minister for Resources and Energy Martin Ferguson.

Mr Ferguson joined his Victorian counterpart Michael O’Brien in launching the Advanced Lignite Demonstration Program, which will fund development and deployment of emerging technologies to improve the economic recovery of brown coal and reduce emissions from coal-fired electricity generation.

“The Program will ensure continued opportunities for economic growth, employment in the Latrobe Valley region and a sustainable source of energy for Victorian industries and households,” Mr Ferguson said.

“There is also potential for brown coal to develop into a valuable export, which would not be possible without the technological innovation that may also assist in meeting the Government’s emissions reductions targets of five per cent fewer emissions than 2000 levels by 2020.”

The new program will pursue development of more efficient and less emissions-intensive coal upgrading technologies including direct conversion, drying or dewatering of coal and conversion to higher value energy products.

Applications will be assessed by an Independent Assessment Panel with shortlisted projects to be invited to submit a Request for Proposal in December 2012.

Funds will typically be provided over a four-year period, with the first funded projects scheduled to commence construction during the 2013-14 financial year.

Further information on the Advanced Lignite Demonstration Program is available at: www.ret.gov.au and www.dpi.vic.gov.au/etis.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has released its House Price Indexes: Eight Capital Cities report, finding that housing prices are continuing to decrease.

The report found that in the year ending in December 2011,  the new Experimental Other Dwellings Price Index fell in all capital cities with an average fall of 3.0%. In comparison, the price of established houses for the eight capitals fell by 4.4% over the same period .  

The ABS found that apartments, unites and semi-detached townhouses experienced a smaller drop in prices in 2011.

In Canberra, apartment, unit and townhouse prices fell 0.6% - the lowest annual fall out of all the capital cities. In comparison, established houses fell in price by 1.8%. 

Brisbane and Adelaide showed falls of 1.2% and 1.7% for apartments, units and townhouses, compared to falls of 5.4% and 4.5% for houses. This trend also continued in Sydney (–2.1% for apartments, units and townhouses; –3.2% for houses) and Melbourne (–4.6% for apartments, units and townhouses; –5.6% for houses). 

Overall, the weighted average cost of housing in the eight capital cities had increased 0.5 per cent in the March to June Quarter, while remaining 2.1 per cent lower than the same time last year.

The full data set can be found here

The National Centre for Vocational Education Research has published new data that reveals that attrition rates are declining for trainees, while remaining stable for apprentices.

The Completion and attrition rates for apprentices and trainees 2011 report shows that attrition rates for trainees had fallen from 38.3 per cent to a projected 33.0 per cent between 2008 and 2011. 

By contrast, attrition rates for apprentices had remained largely stable, increasing only slightly from 50.3 per cent to 50.8 per cent over the same period.

“We know completion rates vary by industry and there are many reasons why apprentices and trainees do not finish their apprenticeships,” said Ms Sandra Pattison, General Manager, Statistics, NCVER.

“Apprentice completion rates can be influenced by the employer’s economic circumstances and the apprentice’s individual personal circumstances and choices.”

Looking at individual completion rates, which take into account apprentices and trainees moving between employers, there is no difference between trainees and trade apprentices, with completion rates around 55% for both groups for 2007 commencements.

Copies of Completion and attrition rates for apprentices and trainees 2011 are available from 
www.ncver.edu.au/publications/2506.html.

The South Australian Government has launched an independent analysis of industry and community views on infrastructure required to support the growing mining and energy sector in the state.

State Minister Tom Koutsantonis says the report, prepared by Rural Solutions SA, provides a detailed analysis of response to the recommendations to government arising from the 2011 Infrastructure Demand Study.

“The State Government is now considering the findings of this report in tandem with the recommendations from the Resources & Energy Sector Infrastructure Council,” Mr Koutsantonis said.

“Taking this feedback into account will help the Government make the most appropriate decisions for the long-term benefit of South Australia.”

Key feedback arising from the community consultation on those recommendations included:

• suggestions to maximise the use of existing infrastructure and support for a long term planning approach which considers both industry and community needs
• the need for a thorough planning process to develop road and rail links and deepwater ports
• recognition of the need for port developments and views on their location
• the critical importance of power-related infrastructure to meet current and future needs in regional areas
• the need for infrastructure to secure water supplies and water sustainability in regional areas and views on the site for proposed desalination plants, and
• support for government taking the lead role in investment attraction and the importance of productive public/private sector partnerships in harnessing private capital.

About 140 community and industry leaders attended public meetings during the consultation period and a further 35 written submissions were received online. Copies of the report and discussion paper are now available online at: www.dmitre.sa.gov.au/resicconsultation

Adelaide has been named the successful bidder of the 2013 Health Informatics Society annual conference in July next year.

The conference will bring an estimated 900 delegates to the state over the four-day conference that will cover e-health and health information systems conference and is expected to deliver an economic impact to the State of more than $2 million.

“This conference has a strong relevance to our work preparing South Australia to enter a new digital era of health care,” Mr Hill said.

“This conference will allow us to showcase our work in e-health to Australia, and the world. SA Health looks forward to working with the Society to make this event a success.”

Adelaide last hosted the Health Informatics Conference in 2000. It has been held in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Canberra since then. The 2013 conference will be held from 15-18 July

Scientists have taken a quantum leap forward towards future computing after discovering that ‘background interference’ in quantum-level measurements, may be the very thing they need to unlock the potential of quantum computing.

In a paper published in  Nature Physics, researchers from The Australian National University, The National University of Singapore (NUS) and The University of Queensland, suggest that this interference – quantum discord – may be what will make a future quantum computer tick.

“Up until a few years ago, researchers thought that realising quantum technologies would mean harnessing the most difficult-to-tame properties of the quantum world – the phenomenon known as ‘entanglement’.

“But in the past few years, scientists have discovered examples of technologies that seem to work without entanglement, which has left us with the puzzle of where the quantum power comes from,” said Professor Ping Koy Lam of the ANU College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.

“Our research has identified that quantum discord, a more robust and easy-to-access phenomenon than entanglement, can also deliver quantum advantage,” said Mile Gu, a Research Fellow at the Centre for Quantum Technologies at NUS.

The team in Singapore discovered a direct link between quantum power and quantum discord.

“We’ve shown that quantum discord is a resource that we can tap with the right quantum tools,” said Dr Gu.

The ANU team encoded information onto laser light to demonstrate the unlocking of this quantum resource.

Quantum discord has previously been shown to be present in many systems, and might previously have been characterised as unwanted noise.

“This has made some scientists sceptical that it could be useful, but these results show that discord has potential that can be unlocked for quantum technologies,” said Professor Lam.

The research team are now looking for other tasks that may be enhanced by the inclusion of some quantum discord, and hope that discord could prove an easier path to future quantum technologies than entanglement.

The Queensland Government has announced sweeping changes to the way in which ambulances and hospitals treat emergency patients.

State Health Minister Lawrence Springborg released the Metropolitan Emergency Department Access Initiative report, confirming that the Government would adopt all 15 recommendations to improve the flow of patients through the Emergency Departments of the state’s hospitals.

The report’s recommendations will be implemented by Queensland Health, and Minister Springborg indicated he had written to the Chair of each Hospital and Health Board to confirm the Government’s commitment to addressing the issues raised by the report. 

The report was commissioned by Queensland Health and prepared by Dr David Rosengren, the Director of Emergency Medicine at Greenslopes Private Hospital and a Senior Staff Specialist Emergency Physician at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. 

The Queensland Ambulance Service, numerous other clinicians with emergency medicine expertise, paramedics, unions and agency representatives – at both senior executive and operational levels – also had input into the report. 

The report’s major recommendations are:

• RECOMMENDATION 1 - Each Hospital and Health Service provide a 24-hour single point of non-ED Executive Director level (or higher) contact for the QAS on ED access issues. 
• RECOMMENDATION 2 - Queensland Health includes a key performance indicator relating to Patient off-Stretcher Time (POST) in future Service Level Agreements for Hospital and Health Services.
• RECOMMENDATION 3 - Queensland Health reviews the current hospital capacity escalation framework and mandate implementation by 1 January 2013. 
• RECOMMENDATION 4 - Queensland Health review the role of the Emergency Capacity Hospital Overview (ECHO) and internal ED capacity (SAPhTE) scores. 
• RECOMMENDATION 5 - Patient flow and bed management strategies are implemented into all Queensland public hospitals and each Hospital and Health Service must demonstrate active use of same. 
• RECOMMENDATION 6 – As at 1 January 2012 no hospital will have the authority to divert ambulances (activate ambulance bypass) to another hospital. 
• RECOMMENDATION 7 - QAS is responsible for ambulance load share into emergency departments. 
• RECOMMENDATION 8 - Triage must occur on arrival. 
• RECOMMENDATION 9 – The introduction of senior level Clinical Initiative Nurses to the waiting room of all major EDs. 
• RECOMMENDATION 10 – Patients are not to return to the back of an ambulance post triage. 
• RECOMMENDATION 11 - Queensland Health and QAS introduce formal education modules into respective mandatory training ensure QAS paramedics and Queensland Health triage staff have a clear understanding of each other’s role and scope of practice. 
• RECOMMENDATION 12 - That a Patient off Stretcher Time (POST) Policy directed at ensuring the time from arrival to clinical handover from QAS to the hospital is less than 30 minutes, be reviewed and implemented as a mandatory directive from Queensland Health by 1 January 2013. 
• RECOMMENDATION 13 - QAS review the role of the QAS Hospital Liaison Officer (HLO), to optimise its contribution in the environment created by implementation of these recommendations. 
• RECOMMENDATION 14 – Development of an Inter-hospital transfer Directive whereby patients not requiring specialist emergency medical care do not transit through the ED. 
• RECOMMENDATION 15 - Establishment of a high-level Emergency Services Management Committee (ESMC) to provide policy advice to the Minister on issues affecting consumer access to (and delivery of) public hospital emergency and monitor implementation of the MEDAI recommendations. 

The full report can be found here (.pdf)

The Queensland Government has introduced legislation before State Parliament that will aim to significantly cut red tape and streamline regulatory approval in the resources sector.

State Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Andrew Cripps, introduced the Mines Legislation (Streamlining) Amendment Bill 2012 with an aim to achieve a ‘less cumbersome and more efficient regulatory framework.’

“Industry leaders have said the Queensland resources sector is currently 'plagued by process' and our international investment reputation is suffering as a result,” Mr Cripps said. 

“That's why reducing red tape is an essential element of the government's commitment to reform mining and resource tenure management and approvals.” 

Mr Cripps said the bill is a significant first step to modernising and streamlining the state’s regulatory framework.

The bill proposes to:

• modernise the tenure administration system and reduce the time taken for each tenure decision under the Streamlining Approvals Project; 
• clarify legislation so that resource activities (such as exploration) and development activities (such as transport and infrastructure development) can coexist; 
• clarify an application of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 to hazardous chemicals and major hazard facilities; and 
• support the delivery of coal seam gas to liquefied natural gas, or CSG-to-LNG, projects in Queensland.