30 January, 2007
Rights Watchdog Pats DIAC For Detention
Centre Turnaround
Human Rights Commissioner, Graeme Innes has welcomed improved staff attitudes to detainees in mainland immigration detention centres, but repeated the call for Australia’s mandatory detention laws to be repealed.
Releasing a Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission report following mainland detention centre inspections in October and November 2006, Commissioner Innes said that unlike visits in previous years, most detainees had no complaints about staff attitudes or the way they were treated.
He said it was clear that the Department of Immigration and Citizenship had gone to great lengths to improve the approach and attitude of staff towards detainees in immigration detention centres over the past year.
“There have been substantial efforts to improve the physical environment, reduce the tension levels, enhance the programs and activities available to detainees and improve mental health services," Commissioner Innes said.
"DIMA (now DIAC) and the detention services provider (GSL) also seem more open to requests, suggestions and concerns voiced by detainees.”
He said, however, that the fundamental problems with immigration detention had not changed – the length of detention and the uncertainty about how much longer that detention will last.
“Detainees are still held in detention for too long,” he said.
"We would like to see (the Department) put more effort into transferring people out of detention into residential housing centres, alternative detention in the community and residence determinations for most, if not all people detained over three months."
The report also identified a range of areas in which improvements could be made within detention facilities, especially the well-known mental health impact of detention.
"Mental health remains a priority for those in detention, even those who’ve been locked-up for a short while," Commissioner Innes said.
He said the Commission had monitored conditions in detention centres from a human rights perspective for many years.
The report can seen at www.humanrights.gov.au/human_rights/idc/
Commissioner Innes said detainees could make complaints to the Commission under the HREOC Act if they believed their human rights have been breached.
30 January, 2007
PS Chimes in For Gongs
on Honours List
Distinguished Public Servants once again featured prominently in the Queen’s Australia Day Honours list.
A summary of those who were rewarded for their public service, including officers to receive the Public Service Medal, are listed below.
PS News congratulates each on on their awards:
COMPANION IN THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (AC)
Dr Kenneth Ross HENRY AC
Bungendore, NSW
For service to the development and implementation of economic and taxation policy, to the finance sector through a range of banking and regulatory bodies, and to the community in the area of welfare and care of native wildlife.
Dr Henry has been Secretary of the Treasury since 2001;
Dr Peter Roger SHERGOLD AC,
Barton ACT
For service to the community as a significant leader of changes and innovation in the public sector, particularly through the development and implementation of a whole-of-government approach to policy development and program delivery.
Dr Shergold has been Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, since 2003.
MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (AM)
Annmaree O'KEEFFE, AM Farrer ACT
For service to international relations, particularly through the Australian Agency for International Development, and in the areas of HIV/AIDS policy and program development.
Ms O'Keeffe is Deputy Director General of AusAID and has been an Ambassador for HIV/AIDS, since May 2006;
OFFICER IN THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (AO)
Dr Peter John BOXALL AO
Griffith ACT
For service to economic and financial policy development and reform in the areas of accrual budgeting, taxation, and workplace relations.
Dr Boxall has been Secretary, Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, since 2002;
Michael Gerard L'ESTRANGE AO
Barton ACT
For service to the development and implementation of public policy in Australia, particularly national security and foreign policy, and to international relations through fostering diplomatic, trade and cultural interests, including strengthening Australia's relationship with the United Kingdom. Mr L’Estrange has been Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, since 2005.
Brigadier Paul Bruce SYMON AO,
ACT
For distinguished service as the Commander Joint Task Force 633 on Operations CATALYST and SLIPPER.
PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL (PSM)
Margaret Jane BARROW PSM
Nyngan, NSW
For outstanding public service in the provision of home care to the Western Plains community.
Christian Henry BARWICK PSM
Ararat, Victoria
For outstanding public service, particularly to young people within the Ararat community.
John Leonard BASKERVILLE PSM
lice Springs, NT
For outstanding public service to the Central Australian community.
Peter Noel BERRY PSM
Mount Riverview , NSW
For outstanding public service in the development and implementation of Government policies and strategies for consumer protection in strata schemes and residential parks.
Roderick Charles BEST PSM
Beecroft, NSW
For outstanding public service in the provision of legal services within the New South Wales Department of Community Services.
Shiela Margaret BIRD PSM
Wanniassa, ACT
For outstanding public service in the development and implementation of reforms to child support policy and administration.
Colin Francis BLACK PSM
The Gap, QLD
For outstanding public service in the field of public housing.
Neil Duncan BLACK PSM
Port Macquarie, NSW
For outstanding public service to education in New South Wales.
Christopher David BLANCH PSM
Charleville, QLD
For outstanding public service to the towns and communities of western Queensland.
Martin BREUKER PSM
Port Lincoln, SA
For outstanding public service, particularly to the Eyre Peninsula community.
Neville John BRYAN PSM
Campbell, ACT
For outstanding public service in the monitoring and review of the Australian intelligence community.
Martin Leslie CHARMAN PSM
Port Lincoln, SA
For outstanding public service, particularly for his contribution to the development of emergency management arrangements for the Eyre Peninsula.
Ian Herbert COUSINS PSM
Canberra, ACT
For outstanding public service in the delivery of Australia's security policy framework and critical infrastructure protection initiatives.
Elaine Gai CUNNINGHAM PSM
Bilinga, QLD
For outstanding public service to education, particularly to the community of the Tweed River region.
Robert John DELANE PSM
Doubleview, WA
For outstanding public service to the agriculture industries and the community of Western Australia.
Gary Robert DOWLING PSM
Seymour, VIC
For outstanding public service in the management of the Department of Defence's warehousing and maintenance outsourcing program at Puckapunyal.
Mark DUCKWORTH PSM
Coburg, VIC
For outstanding public service to the development of the national counter-terrorism policy and response arrangements.
Kym Francis DUGGAN PSM
Campbell, ACT
For outstanding public service in the development and implementation of major reforms to the family law system.
Terrence Leo GALLAGHER PSM
Kambah, ACT
For outstanding public service in the development and implementation of bankruptcy law reform.
Margaret Ruth GODING PSM
Fitzroy North, VIC
For outstanding public service in the provision of public mental health to the Victoria community.
Rodney Maxwell GOWANS PSM
Rosanna, VIC
For outstanding public service to the conservation of biodiversity and to the management of national parks.
Robert George HARVEY PSM
Pearce, ACT
For outstanding public service in implementing reforms to the Community Development Employment Projects program for Indigenous Australians.
Colin John HEGARTY PSM
Wakerley, QLD
For outstanding public service in the field of ICT procurement and contracting.
Allan Douglas HENDERSON PSM
Neutral Bay, NSW
For outstanding public service to Sydney Water, particularly in the field of construction project management.
Alastair Hamilton HOWARD PSM
Castle Hill, NSW
For outstanding public service to Forests New South Wales.
Barry David INGLIS PSM
Lane Cove, NSW
For outstanding public service in the field of measurement science, particularly his leadership role in the establishment of the National Measurement Institute.
Burton Frank JOHNSON PSM
Atherton, QLD
For outstanding public service in the field of civil construction and commitment to the environment.
Lynnita Mary MADDOCK PSM
Sydney, NSW
For outstanding public service to the communications sector, particularly in the regulation of telecommunications, broadcasting, radio communications and online content.
John Francis MAHER PSM
Turramurra, NSW
For outstanding public service to the construction industry, in particular the development of the Sydney transport infrastructure.
Alan McCORMACK PSM
Parkes, NSW
For outstanding public service to the communities of Parkes and surrounding areas.
Ian Bruce MUNRO PSM
Nutfield, VIC
For outstanding public service, particularly in the provision of an investment facilitation model and in the continued economic development of Victoria.
Peter John NEVILLE PSM
Burleigh Waters, QLD
For outstanding public service and contribution to primary industries, especially fisheries.
Mirah NURYATI PSM
Not available
For outstanding public service in the development of collaborative agricultural research projects between Australia and Indonesia.
James Edmond PASCAL PSM
Bunbartha, VIC
For outstanding public service in the development and delivery of 'English as a Second Language' programs and refugee settlement in rural and regional Victoria.
Robert William PECK PSM
Lyons, ACT
For outstanding public service in improving medication outcomes for the Australian veteran community.
Anthony John PRESSLAND PSM
Kenmore, QLD
For outstanding public service in the field of sustainable management of natural resources in Queensland.
Jan Louise REDFERN PSM
Sydney, NSW
For outstanding public service in the field of corporate and financial services regulation and enforcement.
Rose Siew Kim RHODES PSM
Larrakeyah, NT
For outstanding public service within the Department of Health and Community Services, Northern Territory.
Suzanne Marie RYAN PSM
Monash, ACT
For outstanding public service, particularly to the younger community in the Australian Capital Territory.
Roderick Richard SMITH PSM
Barton, ACT
For outstanding public service in leading Australia's consular service.
Paul Anthony TALONI PSM
Canberra, ACT
For outstanding public service as Deputy Director of the Defence Intelligence Organisation.
John Purvis THOMPSON PSM
Toowoomba, QLD
For outstanding public service in the field of agricultural research and contribution to the grain industry.
Thomas james THOROGOOD PSM
Allawah, NSW
For outstanding public service as a driver within the New South Wales Premier's Department.
Roger Samuel TURNER PSM
Dubbo, NSW
For outstanding public service in leading significant cultural and operational changes in the Australian meat export industry.
Douglas John VICKERS PSM
Bairnsdale, VIC
For outstanding public service, particularly to the Indigenous community and children with special needs.
Michael David WALLWORK PSM
Claremont, WA
Citation: For outstanding public service, particularly in the development of the road network within Western Australia.
Richard Howard WHERRITT PSM
Tamworth, NSW
For outstanding public service, particularly in the field of construction project management.
Roger Barrington WICKES PSM
Murray Bridge, SA
For outstanding public service, particularly for his contribution in the field of natural resource management.
30 January, 2007
30 January, 2007
Aussie Moon Man
Shines
at NASA
A former Officer-in-Charge at CSIRO's Parkes telescope has been honoured for his role in the 1969 Moon landing.
David Cooke, of Parkes, was the senior receiver engineer at the telescope during the Apollo 11 landing in July 1969.
He received one of the inaugural Stars of Australia awards at an Australia Day Gala event at the Hotel Derek in Houston, Texas. The award was presented by Captain Eugene Cernan, Commander of Apollo 17.
Mr Cooke was Officer-in-Charge of the Parkes Observatory from 1988 to 13 and in 1969 looked after the radio receivers capturing signals as they came in from space. He installed the receivers on the telescope, tested and monitored their performance while the spacecraft approached the moon and landed.
“When the tracking was over, I went outside and looked up at the moon, and thought, wow, are there really people up there?,” Mr Cooke said.
The awards are an initiative of the Australian American Chamber of Commerce, Houston and the Western Australian Trade and Investment Office. They celebrate Australians and Americans whose notable achievements had arisen from the long connection between the two countries.
The Australian-American collaboration during NASA’s space program in the 1960s and 70s used several Australian radio telescopes and tracking stations - Carnarvon, Muchea, Woomera, Parkes, Honeysuckle Creek and Tidbinbilla.
Others receiving Star of Australia awards were Thomas Reid, a former director of NASA tracking stations in Australia; Ed Fendell, Head of Communications for the Apollo missions; and Ernest Randall, Network Controller for the Gemini and Apollo Programs.
30 January, 2007
Canberra Makes Waves in
Stoush of Representatives
Canberra-based Senator Gary Humphries has described the relationship between the Commonwealth and ACT Governments as at a “low ebb”.
Senator Humphries has called on the ACT Government to rethink its approach to dealings with the Commonwealth.
The poor relationship between the two Governments reached new levels last week when the Commonwealth pulled out of a deal to transfer ownership of the ACT’s main water reservoir into Territory ownership.
The Googong Dam in NSW, was commissioned by the Commonwealth to be the ACT’s main water source over 20 years ago but a legal hitch held up its intended transfer to the ACT.
Senator Humphries described ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope’s response to the decision an “over reaction.”
"Of all the State and Territory Governments, the ACT Government probably has the worst relationship with the Commonwealth,” Senator Humphries said.
“At a time when a national approach is sought for so many issues - including water - I would welcome a better relationship between the Chief Minister and the Prime Minister."
The Liberal Senator accused the Labor Chief Minister of being an outspoken critic of the Federal Government, often on matters unrelated to the core business of the Territory.
“Jon Stanhope doesn't disguise his contempt for the Prime Minister and his policies (and) I sometimes wonder if this approach benefits ordinary Canberrans.”
Senator Humphries said the ACT Government had benefited substantially from the Federal Government's policies.
“Surely the Chief Minister privately realises that the ACT economic boom he takes credit for is largely the making of the Howard Government,” he said.
He should know that a better relationship between the Chief Minister and the Federal Government can only benefit Canberra.”
30 January, 2007
Motorists Give Vote
of
Tanks to ACCC
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has acted to rein in petrol prices which spiked in January when oil companies deviated from a customary pricing standard.
Intervention of the ACCC saw prices fall, in keeping with movements in Singapore 95 unleaded international benchmark against which Australian oil companies have traditionally based prices.
ACCC Chairman, Graeme Samuel said the Commission monitored international price movements and average Australian retail prices closely and had noticed a disparity from the first week in January.
"While there is usually a time lag of between seven and 10 days between movement in the Singapore price and Australian prices, that time lag had stretched out," Mr Samuel said.
"Over the past week there has been a significant fall in petrol prices so that they now reflect more closely the Singapore international benchmark. We expect that average petrol prices will continue to move in line with this benchmark."
Mr Samuel said the ACCC averaged prices over a seven-day period, publishing information on its website and encouraging consumers to learn about the cycles.
He said regular price cycles occurred in the five major metropolitan markets – Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth – overwhelmingly tending to peak on Thursdays and trough on Tuesdays.
Some cycles occurred in Canberra, but were not regular, while regular price cycles were not usually seen in Darwin, Hobart or in country areas.
Mr Samuel said that data on petrol sales volumes showed that on average, around 60 per cent of petrol was sold at prices below the average of the price cycle, which suggested consumers were taking advantage of the cycle.
He said country prices were generally higher than city prices because of local factors, with price movements lagging behind cities.
The ACCC also monitored petrol discount schemes, including suggestions that these schemes had resulted in higher petrol board prices by the supermarket chains.
ACCC analysis showed however that petrol prices advertised by the retail chains were broadly in line with the market average.
30 January, 2007
PS Goes Medal
as Anything on
Australia Day
The National Australia Day Council provides Australia Day Achievement Medallions to Commonwealth Government departments and agencies for presentation around Australia day each year.
The medallions are presented to staff who have made a "noteworthy contribution to the work of their Department during the past year, or given "outstanding service over a number of years.”
The selection of the award recipient is at the discretion of the Head of Department or Agency.
Recipients of Australia day medals for 2007 were:
Administrative Appeals Tribunal
Megan Cassidy
Greg Gade
Chris Shead
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Jennifer Dixon
Mark Heathcote
Rebecca Luxford
Mike Raine
Tulsi Ram
Frederick J Wensing
Australian Customs
Team Awards
Integrated Analysis Tool Project:
Misty De Vries
Ben Finlay
Melissa Gavel
David Mackay
Sarah Nicholson
"Townsville District office, District Manager and Staff"
Individual Awards
Martin Dunnington (TAS)
Sonia Dutton (NT)
Duncan Faulds (WA)
Michael Jackson (VIC)
Jeff Roberts (VIC)
Colin Rozman (SA)
Australian Electoral Commission
Ruth Avery
Barry Barons
John Bryson
James Carroll
Ann Cass
Doug Clarke
Matthew Colley
Michelle DeBritt
Margaret Evans
Kaye Forster
David Gallard
Sharon Gilshenen
Bruce Goodwin
Therese Hollier
Vicki Holman
Karen Houston
Jo-anne Johnson
Peter Langdon
Micharl Lynch
Lorna Maguire
Michael Lynch
Sam Malfitana
Peter Manley
Rosemary Matheson
Leanne May
Jenny Morrissey
Rosemary O'Hare
Frank Petrocco
Jenny Pettigrove
Mario Racomelara
Phil Reeve
Terry Rushton
Pat Satie
Paul Shields
Bronya Smythe
Ian Stringall
Cate Thompson
Leigh Thurgood
Dianne Tizard
Gordon Webster
Australian Hearing
Individual Achievement
Linda Forsythe
Amanda Millar
Outstanding Public Service
Belinda Lesina
Australian Hearing Employee Achievement of the Year Award
Louise Downe
Team Achievement
Peter Bartlett
Rebecca Bartlett
Cathy Bishop
Anthony Bolger
Louise Clarke
Elizabeth Gaffy
Mary-Anne Giovanetti
Kim Holmes
Russell Kesby
Lyn Latham
Robyn Locke
Michael Maciejczyk
Tamra McLean
Julie McMaster
Helen Morgan
Katrina Nicholls
Vicky Powell
Amanda Ross
Stephanie Ruddy
Dimitria Saint
Lee-Anne Sargeant
Melinda Smith
Melani Thomson
Cheryl Vawdrey
Anne Watkins
Lisa Winter
Suzanne Zwaan
Australian Institute of Criminology
Maria Borzycki
Peter Levan
Sylvia MacKellar
Jason Payne
Rosa Ruiz
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
Neil Anderson
Mike Balsdon
Linda Berryman
Stephen Cross
Mary Dean
Dave Jeffkins
Kate Linley
Alan Lloyd
Paul Nelson
Mike O'Reilly
Rebbecca Shee
Kirsty Steger
Reza Vind
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
John Craig
Raymond Warner
Australian Securities and Investments Commission
Individual Awards
Sydney
Megan Chalmers
Oliver Harvey
Alison McFadyen
Grant Moodie
Dirk Morel
Louise Mourikis
Bryan Netto
Greg Oatley
Lyn Simpson
Dinh Tran
Michael Woods
Melbourne
Al DeRoza
Richard Harrison
Pino Mucilli
James Poulos
Brisbane
Trevor Clarke
Mark Egan
Germaine Kee
Rachelle Keyworth
Jennifer McIntosh
Mel Radulovic
Joe Woods
Nicole Wren
Traralgon
Kevin Bourke
Tanya MacKintosh
Faye Somerville
Perth
Jenny Cutri
Katrina McHarg
Stefan Pfeifle
Canberra
Bruce Pittard
Adelaide
Ralph Holmes
Hobart
Mark Wilkinson
Team Awards
Sydney
Zoran Babic
Gavin Berry
Jonathan Betts
Joanna Cass
Lucy Chadszinow
Mary Chan
Shirley Chan
Andrew Crain
Cheryl Cutmore
Anthony Davies
Paul Fenwick
Tracy Irving
Neil Johnson
Belisa Jong
Lisa Koczberski
Jennifer Lewis
Rome Martin
Gerald Morris
Chris Priest
Helen Tot
Nathan Tyson
Melbourne
Michael Adkins
Gabrielle Bafkas
Warren Day
Sue Huston
Andrew Molnar
Andrew Tregear
Brisbane
Joe Woods
Traralgon
Denise Ball
Debra Barlett
Jaqui Bingham
Kevin Bourke
Chris Carstairs-Prott
AnnMarree Dormer
Darren Enzinger
Michael Enzinger
Carla Hoffman
Denise Neave
Jan Norris
Robyn Payne
Dorothy Stanlake
Tanya Thorton
Gloria Tyas
Lynette Woodbridge
Perth
Jill Rudeforth
Adelaide
Michael Long
Darwin
Hannah Roe
Australian Sports Commission
Ruth Anderson
Warwick Forbes
Nicole Goodman
Dianne McNeill
Gavin Reynolds
Rosanna Stanimirovic
Australian Taxation Office
Jim Amanasco
Danya Driessen
Philip East
Tony Hewett
Jason Orchard
Phil Russo
Graham Williams
Bureau of Meteorology
Rod Evans
John Hetherington
Comcare
Individual Awards
Susannah Hiron
Warwick Peluso
Section Awards
Hazardous Material Policy and Services Section
Self Insurance Section
Department of Defence
CPL D J Abboud
SGT J C Adams
Ms J M Allison
AB M T Anderson
CAPT J A Andrew
Ms S M Andrijich
SGT N F Anstey
CPL J R Baker
Mr N D Banks
Mrs K A Bareja
SGT P J Barrett
PTE N K Barton
SQNLDR R D Barton
Mr K J Beare
LS A J Beattie
SGT J C Belgrave
Mr J A Berry
Mr W A Bicket
CAPT R L Biele
CAPT M Billingsby
CPO D T Bottrill
Mr C S Bowes
CPO I P Bradley
SGT L E T Brandon
WOFF M A Breeze
SGT M L Bright
SGT R M Brown
LCPL T Brown
PTE M W Brown
Mr L R Brown
MAJ C W Byrne
PTE M J Callender
Ms J M Carroll
LS A P Cartledge
FLTLT B P Casey
PTE B B Chambers
CPL A E Chaplin
LCDR L E Choate
Mrs D J Christophersen
Mr W G Clarke
CPL H Coldwell
CAPT L R Collie
SGT N Y Collins
LCPL D G J Collison-Bryant
LS A C Coney
CAPT T J Conn
CPL J Constantino
PTE P J Corlis
PTE B A Corrigan
LEUT D S Craig
Ms P Creek
CPL D J Crossley
CPL M P Dabinet
LAC T P Dall-Amico
AB C L Dalliston
WO2 L M Daly
Mr E J D'Amico
SSGT J M Dane
CPL T G Dellaway
WO2 M P Dickson
CPL A G Dishington
FLTLT C M Dockett
WO S D Downey
Mr A Duberal
PO P J Durnan
CPO P W Ensor
CPL D L Evans
Mrs F G Felsman
LCDR K D Ferguson
SGT M G Fisher
SGT R Forsyth
CPL M C Gale
Mr S J Gallagher
Miss J E Galleymore
Mr P E Garner
Mr P V Gavin
LEUT D W Gayford
PTE D R Geurts
PO A D Gibson
Mr G J Gibson
WO2 D Gillespie
Mr W R Gleadell
WO2 M Godfrey
SQNLDR D J Goldie
Mr B C Golway
SGT M D Gordon
SGT J R Goss
CPL J R Goss
Mrs J K Gould
CPL J Grech
Mrs R M Grogan
CPL N J Grumley
LT D A Halford
Mr N J Hallett
Mr S M Halpin
Mr D A Halse
Mr C N Hanger
FSGT D J Hannant
CPL R J Hawley
PTE I J Heames
Mr P K Henrick
FSGT J A Higgs
AB C Hite
CPO M J Hogan
CPL J P Hogg
Mr M A Horan
Mr A Horn
CPO M I Hosgood
Mrs L J Howard
CPL G S Hughes
PO J K O Humphreys
CPL A J Jackson
LS T A James
Mrs S M Jamieson
CPL T F Jennings
WO2 M Johnstone
PTE L D Jones
Mr R C Jones
Mr G R Jones
Mr G R Joyce
Mr M Kaarma
CPL E L Kane
FSGT T S Kerr
SPR D J Kirkhope
Capt D G Knight
AB R L Kuipers
LCPL M P Kyle
LS S Labouchardiere
Mr M S Lamey
Mr R Y Langdon
PTE J G Lawrence
Ms D P Lawson
FSGT K P Leahy
SGT C J Leggett
PTE M Lindfield-Seager
SGT S Logan
Ms J Luke
FSGT A M Mackenzie
Mr A B Mackinnon
PTE B J Magin
Mr P A Mahieu
CPL B J Mainella
Mr B A Makin
LT C R Mansfield
Mr A J Mason
Mrs V A Matthews
Mr T M Matthews
Mr J M McCann
LS J C McCoubrie
CPO J D McEwan
LS M P McEwen
Mr G J McFarlane
Mr P McGee
LS S A McGreal
WO2 D G McInerney
WO1 I G McKay
SGT C J McKinna
PTE N L McManua
CPL M J McMillan
LTCOL T A McQuinlan
Mr R J E Medwell
PTE T G Merchant
FLTLT K Metcalfe
MAJ P J Miles
LCPL L G Millar
PTE G J Miller
SGT S M Moffitt
WO2 P A Moon
PTE N L Moralee
PTE M J Morgan
CAPT M J Morrissey
CPL T K Muehlberg
Mr A K Muir
CPO S W Mullin
Ms J E Murdock
CAPT N J Murnane
Mr B S Nancarrow
Mr P M Nancarrow
Mrs M Narayan
PO A H Nelson
Mrs J M Nicolson
CPL L F Ninness
Pte W D Oakley
Mr J J O'Farrell
MAJ N J O'Toole
Mr S G Paniker
CPL S M Pawlowski
CAPT A Pay
Mrs D M Penfold
Mr J A Perry
PTE S T Perry
LS D A Phelan
Ms B M Pini
Mr K W Pippard
Mr W Pollock
Mr I G Powlesland
FSGT S T Prucha
LAC D R Puleston
Mr K R Radnidge
Ms J A Reason
Mrs L M Rees
Mrs M Reid
Mr E S Reksmiss
Mr D J Richards
CAPT A B Richter
Mr S B Ridley
LS D S Roberts
Mrs C E Robinson
FLTLT J T Robinson
AB K Rogers
PTE J P B Rooks
CMDR W J Rosier
AB J M Rowlands
Ms C J Rudnicki
Mr A J Russell
CPL R G Ryan
PO J M Ryan
PO P Sadler
SGT G R Sampson
WO S A Savy
MAJ K D Schildberger
LS J E Schluter
CPL N E Schulze
CAPT S E Seefeld
Miss L A Sharp
Dr V K Shettigara
PO A G Shimmen
LCPL J Smart
LAC B G Smith
SGT J L Spadaro
Mr D R Stanton
Ms L Sumner
PO J M Swann
PTE D M Taylor
SGT C G Telford
CPL S K Thompson
PTE M I Thompson
Ms B D Thorpe
Miss S J Turner
CPL R E Turner
Mrs A J UGO
SQNLDR G A Van Leeuwen
Ms M J Varley
Ms M A Vella
Mr L Vicencio
CPL M R Walsh
PTE C C Walton
Mrs S D Ward
LT T J Wark
WO2 G E Watkin
SGT A G Watt
CAPT S A W Webb
Mr G A Weber
Mr E Wegner
CPL P D Weir
Mrs A M Weldon
PTE J A Wheatley
WO1 A White
Ms S L Whitehead
LCDR T J Widdison
Mr T A Williams
PTE A J Williamson
CPL M C Willsher
Mr P J Wilson
SSGT V Wright
CAPT K W Wylie
Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources
Individual Recipients
Liz Van Leeuwen
Donna Valenti
Chris Paterson
Dr Kirrily Peters
Jill McCarthy
Team Recipients
New Building Project Team (Corporate/eBusiness Divisions)
Robyn Foster
Rick Phillips
Steve Commons
Neil Mackenzie
Dirk Van Graver
Blake Parson
Greg Jones
Jim Cullen
Piers Smith
Peter Dudok
Michael Nash
Andrea Benton
Stem Cell Policy Team (Innovation Division)
Dr Cathy Hummel
Dr Kate Le Strange
Mic Doble
Dr Patrick Dessi
Evan Holley
Alistair Taylor
Low Emissions Technology Demonstration Fund (AusIndustry/Energy & Environment Divisions/Department of Environment & Heritage)
Wendy Launder
Gary James
Mark Bonner
Margaret Frisch
Lou Rizzello
Andrew Wynberg
Sandra Ryan
Susan Millett
Joseph Pryor
David Baussmann
Tony Sheehan
Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development & Climate 2006 (Energy & Environment Division)
Dr Gino Grassia
Shane Bush
Adrian Dransfield
Dr Ailsa McManus
Ross Lum
Catherine Kesteven
Serena Ritchie
Kay Ward
Uranium Mining Processing & Nuclear Energy Review Task Force (Energy & Environment/Resources Divisions)
Dr John Soderbaum
Adrian Dransfield
Carolyn Barton
Frances Outteridge
Department of The Prime Minister and Cabinet
Angelo Anagnostis
Susan Ball
Sally Basser
Selina Cann
Richard Clarke
Nicholas Coppel
Judy Costello
Greig Cumming
Craig Daly
Dominic English
Henry Hilhorst
Carmen Hinkley
Greta Jones
Mark Laduzko
Bernadette McDonald
Gerard Martin
Jon Merrill
Jenny Millett
Leonie Smith
Pip Spence
Sean Starmer
Isi Unikowski
Karen Wilson
Department of Transport and Regional Services
Andrew Byrne
Kevin Rheese
Melanie Sherrin
Department of Veterans' Affairs
Julie Bennett
Angela Burke
Aileen Cameron
Trevor Carles
Mark Cruse
Maria Cruz
Brendon Dale
Joan Duffy
Zanna Evans
Geoff Francis
Barry Gilbert (ICT RFT Team)
John Hall
Wendy Hall
Stephen Harkin
Dot Jacks
Scott Mashford
Trina McConnell
Marika McKenzie
Tony Newport
Tos Parkinson
Anna Positano
Christine Ransley
Maureen Schultz
Yvette Steele
Maria Sutherland
Malcolm Thomas (Office 2003 Team)
Melita Tiainen
Le Trac
Doris Wong
Federal Magistrates Court of Australia
Sharon Brant
Maria-Luisa Rodriguez
Venkatesh Sithavan
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Andrew Chin
Karin Gerhardt
Randall Owens
Maureen Ryan
Hilary Skeat
John Tapim
Insolvency & Trustee Service Service Australia
Darren Ayres
Elizabeth Bastounis
Tracey Blackam
Glenn Cooper
Paul Eric
Vanessa Goodey
Jeff Hanley
Jo Kuschel
Rafi Landicho
Cate Lane-Handley
John Maloney
Gwyn Ogunyanwo
Julie Padgett
Meisha Robins
Roslyn Smith
Michael Sorrensen
Fraser Thomson
IP Australia (Dept Industry Tourism & Resources)
Rob Bollard
Jennifer Bowen-Smith
Tim Debenham
Loretta Hollands
Edwina Lewis
Geoff Sadlier
Pru Sloan
Susanna Taylor
National Childcare Accreditation Council
Merise Bickley
Eric Randall
Karen Swift
Denise Taylor
Information provided by the National Australia Day Council
30 January, 2007
Museum Staff Exhibit
Concerns
Staff at the Australian National Maritime Museum went on strike for the first time ever in January, citing 15 month delays in negotiations over working conditions.
Community and Public Sector Union National Secretary, Stephen Jones said the members' decision to take industrial action was not entered into lightly.
"Going on strike is the last resort for these workers," Mr Jones said.
A previous industrial agreement had expired in June 2006.
"It's been over 18 months since they have had a pay rise," he said. "How are they supposed to keep up with the rising cost of food, petrol and interest rates?"
Mr Jones said a majority of workers voted to take industrial action to support claims including family friendly conditions and a four per cent pay rise.
He claimed Museum management was under pressure from the Government to reduce conditions and hoped to force staff to sign Australian Workplace Agreements by stalling on negotiations.
He said Museum staff were professionals who worked hard to present world standard collections for the public. "If this can happen to these people, it can happen to anyone," Mr Jones said.
30 January, 2007
Electoral Office Launches
Chart Attack
The Australian Electoral Commission has attempted to strike a chord with young people by targeting the radio station Triple J and Big Day Out concerts in an innovative campaign to encourage electoral enrolments.
“Rock Enrol” was a feature64 of Big Day Out concerts, with Australian bands endorsing the message.
Roving Rock Enrol teams moved through crowds at the Gold Coast Big Day Out, explaining the steps to enrolling and Rock Enrol wristbands were handed out to all those aged 18 or more at the events.
The AEC emailed information to those providing their contact details, giving them internet links to enrolment forms.
According to Phil Diak of the Electoral Commission, the campaign reached a youth audience of more than 180,000 across Australia, many of whom will be first time voters at the federal election later this year.
Mr Diak said too many young Australians who were eligible to vote were not on the electoral roll.
“If you have turned 18 years of age since the 2004 federal election, or were eligible to enrol before then and are still unenrolled, there is no better way to start the new year than to enrol," Mr Diak said.
"It is such a simple thing to do, and it will ensure you make your vote count in future state and federal elections.”
He said around one in two 18 year-olds were on the electoral roll.
30 January, 2007
Many Happy Returns for
Taxation Commissioner
Taxation Commissioner, Michael D’Ascenzo has marked his first year in the job saying he was proud of the many achievements made by the Tax Office in 2006.
In a written report on the past year, Mr D’Ascenzo said the ATO collected $236 billion to pay for Government activity, processed 13.4 million income tax returns, made 18.1 million payments and expected 90 per cent of Australian taxpayers to lodge their tax returns over the internet in 2006-07.
“2006 was a big year for the Tax Office,” Mr D’Ascenzo said. “One that marked a number of important achievements with the business community, tax agents and individual taxpayers.”
He said confidence in the tax system was at an “all-time high” with surveys showing 85 per cent of businesses and 73 per cent of the wider community believing the ATO was doing a good job.
He said the Office implemented 100 new legislative measures and collaborated with other Government Departments and Agencies to counter tax fraud last year.
“We look forward to collaborating with other Government Agencies on future investigations and initiatives,” He said.
Mr D’Ascenzo warned against complacency saying it was not enough to simply reflect on past achievements.
“We have to continue to learn from our experiences, and make positive changes that will benefit the community.”
He said promoting good governance would be on top of the ATO agenda in the year ahead with large companies being helped to manage their risk profiles.
He was excited about the opportunities presented by technology to help people meet their taxation obligations.
“Exploring other opportunities to make filling out tax returns easier will remain a focus this year,” he said.
“For example, allowing people to access data held by other organisations, such as data from share registries and banks, is something we are looking in to.”
He said the skills and knowledge of the ATO’s people would continue to be important in the year ahead.
“Last year 2,700 people were trained as part of the rollout of our new client relationship management system, and 14,000 on our workflow and case management systems.
“It looks like an exciting and challenging road ahead,” Mr D’Ascenzo said.
“I know 2007 will bring its own rewards, challenges and opportunities, and I look forward to it – with a view to laying the platform for improvements in tax administration as we near 2010, our centenary year.”
Mr D’Ascenzo expressed his personal thanks for the high level of support he received from both inside and outside the Tax Office.
30 January, 2007
Immigration Detains
Unisys on Four
Year
Contract
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship has signed a contract with Unisys for a range of selected IT services including service desk, secure gateway and end user computing services.
Deputy Secretary at DIAC, Bob Correll said the contract was worth about $140 million over four years, with two one-year extension options.
He said a priority would be establishing a single-point-of-contact service desk for all IT inquiries, issues and incidents.
"The service desk will also support the Systems for People program, which is a complete business transformation program that will change the way the department delivers services to its clients," Mr Correll said.
Unisys Vice-president for Outsourcing and Infrastructure Services in the Asia-Pacific, Tony Henshaw, said the company would provide services allowing departmental staff to work quickly and effectively and in a way that remained accountable.
Unisys was selected as the preferred tenderer last September and undertook to perform preliminary work during the contract negotiation phase to ensure it could meet deadlines for the Systems for People portal deployment in April.
Mr Henshaw said an intense transition program had begun which should see Unisys providing the full range of services by July 1, 2007.
30 January, 2007
Scientists Win From New
Funding Formula
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is to receive more than $2.5 billion in funding over the next four years.
Up to now, the Organisation had been funded on a three-year cycle.
Minister for Science, Julie Bishop announced the new funding arrangement saying it marked a significant change in Government funding for CSIRO, providing it with an even more stable financial environment that would enhance resource planning and multi-year research programs.
“CSIRO is not only recognised as Australia’s premier research organisation but also as one of the world’s largest and most diverse scientific research organizations,” Ms Bishop said.
“This funding will ensure their valuable work continues."
She said CSIRO played a very significant role in Australia’s national innovation system and would continue to do so.
"It carries out scientific research in areas including energy, information technology, health, minerals, agriculture, the environment and natural resources and ranks in the top one per cent of world scientific institutions in 12 of 22 research fields.”
Ms Bishop said the Government had increased funding for CSIRO every year since 16.
In 2006-07, the annual CSIRO budget would reach a record $607.2 million, she said.
30 January, 2007
Boats and All on New
Vessels Register
The Australian National Maritime Museum has developed the nation’s first Australian Register of Historic Vessels.
According to museum director, Mary-Louise Williams, the initial aim of the Register was to assemble a broad picture of Australia's historic boats and ships, indicating types, numbers, distribution, uses and condition.
She said the register included a wealth of background information on designers and builders, classes and types, and events in which the vessels had taken part
Individual vessels would be selected for a national heritage list, flagging the need for conservation for the benefit of future generations.
Ms Williams said the register was developed by the Museum in association with the Sydney Heritage Fleet and would foster community interest in Australia's maritime heritage and help owners conserve their vessels.
"It's very much a work in progress," Ms Williams said.
"We're looking to the community for a stream of additional listings, and more historical and technical information. In time we expect the register will provide a fascinating web of information linking boats to their communities."
Ms Williams said museums, traditionally known as collectors and exhibitors of historical items in set locations, were developing new skills, with outreach programs taking exhibitions and other services out to the community.
"Ours is a national museum and we are proud to be launching the Australian Register of Historic Vessels - an innovative program which will apply right across Australia," she said..
The new register is available free online from www.anmm.gov.au/arhv with the initial listing including 100 vessels ranging from an early Australian surfboard, indigenous one-person fishing raft, Murray River paddle steamer, Newcastle collier and a former Royal Australian Navy destroyer.
Any ship or boat owner wanting to nominate a vessel for inclusion on the register can find assessment criteria, information and a nomination form on the ANMM web site.
30 January, 2007
New Stats Annual Report
Plays it By Year
Governor-General, Michael Jeffrey has launched the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ 2007 Year Book Australia at the North Bondi Surf Club in Sydney.
The Year Book provides a comprehensive and detailed annual statistical review about Australia and the 2007 edition pays tribute to surf lifesavers in their centenary year and also looks at the prominent role played by Australians in Antarctic exploration.
Australian surf lifesavers have rescued more than 500,000 people in the 80 years since records had been kept, with the number of rescues each season in recent years fluctuating between 8,000 and 10,000.
Major-General Jeffrey said one of the most spectacular rescues took place at Bondi Beach on 6 February 1938, when five lives were lost in treacherous conditions, but lifesavers rescued hundreds more, resuscitating dozens on the beach.
An independent economic study conducted for Surf Life Saving Australia in 2005 concluded that if not for the presence of surf lifesavers, 485 people would drown each year and 313 would be permanently incapacitated as a result of accidents in the surf.
Looking at Antarctica, an article by the Australian National University's Dr Tom Griffiths explained that about 90 per cent of the world’s land ice and 70 per cent of its fresh water was locked up in that icy great south land of Antarctica.
"There is so much ice down there … that it distorts the globe into a slight pear shape," Dr Griffiths said. "It took people a long time to realise that Antarctica was much colder than the Arctic, and that it constantly affects the climate of the rest of the world."
In its findings about Australia, the 2007 Year Book reports that Australia’s population grew by 1.2 per cent to 20.3 million in the year to June 2005, making it the 52nd biggest country in the world.
It showed there were 97,000 more women than men in Australia with more than 2.7 million people over 65.
It says Australians live longer than the citizens of most other countries, the life expectancy of 78.1 for males bettered only by Hong Kong and Iceland and its expectation for women of 83, surpassed only by Hong Kong and Japan.
The Year Book reports that more than 4.8 million Australians were born overseas, with another 3.5 million who were born in Australia, having at least one overseas-born parent.
It shows that while the rate of participation in the workforce by women increased from 47 per cent to 57 per cent in the 20 years to 2005, men were more likely to work longer hours, 30 per cent putting in 45 hours a week or more compared to 11 per cent of women.
It found that 34 per cent of people who retired did so because they reached retirement age but more than a quarter were forced to retire due to health problems.
It also found that the typical Australian household held assets worth $537,000 but was paying off debts of $69,400 and 70 per cent of households owned or were paying off the house with the average home value $355,000.
More information about the 2007 Yearbook can be obtained from www.abs.gov.au.
30 January, 2007
Telstra Aims High When
Courting for Business
Telstra has taken the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to the High Court in an effort to have the laws governing competition in the telecommunications industry complying with what it sees as the constitutional rights of all Australians.
Telstra took the action after the ACCC reduced its wholesale broadband prices, despite Telstra's believing its evidence showed that costs for delivering services had increased.
"The ACCC has set wholesale broadband prices at record new lows that are far beneath the company's actual costs, meaning the subsidies funded by Telstra's shareholders will have to rise yet again," said Phil Burgess, Telstra’s Group Managing Director of Public Policy and Communications.
"Telstra has a legal and ethical duty to challenge this in the High Court, because the Australian Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to fair compensation when their property is compulsorily acquired, as is happening in this case."
Dr Burgess said the ACCC price decisions were invalid because they failed to comply with clause 51 (xxxi) of the Australian Constitution. That clause guarantees compensation when property is compulsorily acquired.
"The most recent decision of the ACCC, announced in the days before Christmas, allows Telstra's competitors to buy broadband infrastructure for just $3.20 per month, and then resell it for around ten times that amount, forcing our shareholders to pay money from their back pockets to fund largely foreign-owned competitors," Dr Burgess said.
"Telstra has reached the point where it simply has to stand up to policies that pillage our shareholders, vandalise the nation's broadband future, undermine its economic prospects and defy the rights guaranteed to every citizen under the Australian Constitution," he said.
Telstra had written to its wholesale customers telling them that existing prices will remain in force while the case proceeds
30 January, 2007
ADFA Officer Recruits
Bold as Brass
A new generation of Australian Defence Force recruits have been welcomed into the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra.
More than 300 young men and women have signed up to study for a degree through the University of New South Wales at ADFA with Midshipman and Officer Cadets taking three or four years of military and academic study programs leading to degrees in business, science, arts and engineering.
.In welcoming the recruits at a ceremony in Melbourne, Assistant Minister for Defence, Bruce Billson, labelled the new starters a “new generation of talented people” for the ADF family.
After completing their studies, the new officers would join either the Australian Navy, Army or Air Force.
Mr Billson said the appointment ceremony was a proud moment for both the cadets and their families as successful candidates began their service life.
ADFA is an education and training institution offering a military career as an officer after completing a degree through UNSW.
More information about the new Defence Force is available at www.defencejobs.gov.au or on the phone at 13 19 01.
30 January, 2007
SBS News Comes
with Add-Ons
SBS Television has expanded its prime nightly news service to a one-hour bulletin, creating the first program on the Government-owned broadcaster to carry advertising throughout.
The new 6.30pm SBS World News Australia, is being co-hosted by Mary Kostakidis and Stan Grant weeknights, and offers more in-depth coverage of national and international news as well as analysis and sport.
It also offers three 90-second advertising breaks.
Head of news and current affairs at SBS, Paul Cutler told media magazine B&T that a strengthened news team would produce more national news for SBS than in the past with viewers seeing more stories that were “positively and distinctively SBS.”
Head of Commercial Affairs, Richard Finlayson said interest from advertisers hoping to take up commercials in the news bulletin had already been strong with all spots sold and interest in other programs positive.
“Our sales performance is significantly ahead compared to the same period last year,” Mr Finalyson said. “We’re looking forward to a strong performance in the second half of the financial year.”
Advertising had appeared on SBS for many years but has been limited to breaks between programs. The Service announced in June last year however that it intended expanding its advertising programming to break programs as a means of increasing revenue.
.Weekend news bulletins, also at 6:30pm, would also be expanded to an hour featuring newsreaders Lee Lin Chin and Amrita Cheema.
The half-hour SBS World News Australia, presented by Anton Enus at 9.30pm weeknights, would continue unaffected by the changes.
23 January, 2007
Movers and Shakers
Moved and Shaken
In Reshuffle
The Prime Minister has announced a Ministerial shakeup, promoting two Ministers to Cabinet, appointing three to the outer Ministry and naming two new Parliamentary Secretaries.
Top of the list is the creation of a Ministry for the Environment and Water Resources under Sydney MP Malcolm Turnbull and the elevation of Human Services to Cabinet under former Environment and Heritage Minister, Senator Ian Campbell.
Also in Cabinet, Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews becomes Minister for the renamed Department of Immigration and Citizenship and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations goes to Joe Hockey, the outgoing Minister for Human Services.
Prime Minister, John Howard said both Mr Turnbull and Mr Hockey had performed very strongly in their portfolios and were ready to take on important new responsibilities.
In the outer Ministry, Andrew Robb will be appointed Minister for Vocational and Further Education; the new Minister for Arts and Sport will be Queensland Senator George Brandis and the Northern Territory's Senator Nigel Scullion will become Minister for Community Services, replacing John Cobb.
The two new Parliamentary Secretaries are Peter Lindsay who becomes Parliamentary Secretary for Defence and Tony Smith, who has been elevated to Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister.
In other changes involving Parliamentary Secretaries, the Prime Minister announced that Greg Hunt would move to Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Teresa Gambaro would become Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Citizenship.
The Prime Minister said the current number of 12 Parliamentary Secretaries would remain but two would be designated Assistant Ministers in recognition of the responsibilities they will have and their relative seniority. Those would be John Cobb as Assistant Minister for the Environment and Water Resources and Chris Pyne, Assistant Minister for Health.
Those leaving the Ministry include Immigration Minister, Senator Amanda Vanstone; the Minister for Vocational and Technical Education, Gary Hardgrave, Sports Minister Rod Kemp; and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Senator Sandy Macdonald.
Mr Howard thanked his outgoing colleagues saying Senator Vanstone had served capably as a Minister since 16, Mr Hardgrave would bounce back and both Senators Kemp and Macdonald had agreed to step down as they would not be contesting the next election.
The new Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries are to be sworn in in Canberra next Tuesday, 30 January 2007.
23 January, 2007
CSA Goes Public on
Private Arrangements
The Child Support Agency has set the record straight following recent media coverage of a child support case involving Victorian man Liam Magill, who had discovered he was not the father of two of his wife’s three children. Mr Magill had unsuccessfully sued his former wife for falsely claiming the children were his.
General Manager of the Child Support Agency, Matt Miller wrote to the media explaining that Mr Magill had paid “absolutely no child support” for the two children found not to be his.
"When the Family Court made its paternity decision in 2000, CSA adjusted Mr Magill's child support assessments to completely remove the two children who were not his from the assessment," Mr Miller wrote.
"After making that adjustment, Mr Magill's child support was in arrears as he had not paid enough child support to cover his biological child."
Mr Miller said it was important families were fully aware of their options and the support available to them where paternity is disputed.
"The law is very clear about who has to pay child support," he said.
A person is considered the child's parent and therefore required to pay child support if they:
* are named on the child's birth certificate, were married to the child's mother when the child was born, cohabited with the mother (including during the presumed period of conception);
* legally adopted the child, had a statutory declaration acknowledging they are the parent or a court order which states they are the parent.
"If one of the criteria is met and the person being asked to pay believes they are not the father, they can apply to the Family Court, or the Federal Magistrates Court of any State or Local Court exercising Family Law jurisdiction for a paternity decision.
"The Court can also make a decision about any child support that has already been paid."
Mr Miller noted decisions about paternity were made by a Court, not the Child Support Agency.
He said if a Court determined a man was not the biological father and made an order that child support should not have been paid by that man for those children the CSA would adjust the child support assessment to remove those children from the assessment.
"The court may also order past payments be refunded by the mother, where the amounts paid are in excess of what should properly have been paid," he said.
23 January, 2007
Firefighting RAAF a
Runway Success
The Royal Australian Air Force Base in East Sale, was pressed into service of a different kind this month as Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock approved its use as a staging post for relief firefighters battling the southern State’s devastating bushfire emergency.
The RAAF base has the only long runway in the area that could handle the commercial charter flights bringing New South Wales firefighters in to relieve their Victorian colleagues in the Great Divide region.
Mr Ruddock said the runway at the Sale airport was too short for chartered planes.
"The request I have approved is for access to the RAAF base at East Sale and fuel support to ensure fire-fighter crew changeovers are completed," Mr Ruddock said.
Flights came from Sydney, Nowra and Canberra, carrying around 30 firefighters each trip.
Emergency Management Australia, which is part of the Attorney-General's Department, had activated the Commonwealth Disaster Plan which provides a framework for Federal assistance to State and Territory Governments when resources were limited.
EMA was monitoring the situation through the National Emergency Management Coordination Centre in Canberra.
Mr Ruddock played down the unusual nature of bringing the RAAF base on line for civilian purposes.
"The Government is ready to help any of the States that need extra resources or support to fight bushfires," he said.
23 January, 2007
SBS News Comes
with Add-Ons
SBS Television has expanded its prime nightly news service to a one-hour bulletin, creating the first program on the Government-owned broadcaster to carry advertising throughout.
The new 6.30pm SBS World News Australia, is being co-hosted by Mary Kostakidis and Stan Grant weeknights, and offers more in-depth coverage of national and international news as well as analysis and sport.
It also offers three 90-second advertising breaks.
Head of news and current affairs at SBS, Paul Cutler told media magazine B&T that a strengthened news team would produce more national news for SBS than in the past with viewers seeing more stories that were “positively and distinctively SBS.”
Head of Commercial Affairs, Richard Finlayson said interest from advertisers hoping to take up commercials in the news bulletin had already been strong with all spots sold and interest in other programs positive.
“Our sales performance is significantly ahead compared to the same period last year,” Mr Finalyson said. “We’re looking forward to a strong performance in the second half of the financial year.”
Advertising had appeared on SBS for many years but has been limited to breaks between programs. The Service announced in June last year however that it intended expanding its advertising programming to break programs as a means of increasing revenue.
.Weekend news bulletins, also at 6:30pm, would also be expanded to an hour featuring newsreaders Lee Lin Chin and Amrita Cheema.
The half-hour SBS World News Australia, presented by Anton Enus at 9.30pm weeknights, would continue unaffected by the changes.
23 January, 2007
Nuclear Weather Expert
Tests the Water
Climate change and the water crisis are high on the agenda for the new head of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation’s Institute for Environmental Research, Professor John Dodson.
According to Professor Dodson, advanced civilisations like the Mayans and Harappans perished due to climate change because they did not understand how to act in time.
“This will happen to parts of our society if we wait too long," Professor Dodson said.
Professor Dodson is Chair of the International Year of Planet Earth Climate Change focus group. Prior to joining ANSTO, he headed the Institute for the Environment, Brunel University, London and before that, he was based at the University of Western Australia.
He said waiting for the climate to revert back to what it was to provide rain to fill dams and irrigate farms may not be the answer because we are probably into a new climate phase. Proven solutions like recycling must be embraced before it is too late and waterways are empty.
“Science can help us to understand how we are affecting the environment when using up precious resources such as ground water,” Professor Dodson said.
“It’s all very well to use up ground water, but do we know what a growing city is actually putting back into these systems when the ground, like a sponge, soaks up waste from general living and industrial activities?
He said ANSTO had the tools to understand how water moved and what it was composed of.
“This must be fully exploited," he said.
2007 is the International Year of the Planet Earth – a joint initiative by UNESCO and the International Union of Geological Sciences
23 January, 2007
Tourism Show
to
Yank ‘Em In
Australia has been flavour of the month in the United States this month, as Tourism Australia hosted its million-dollar promotion G'Day USA: Australia Week.
It was the biggest single promotional event showcasing Australia in the US – a market worth $1.9 billion to Australia, according to Tourism Minister, Fran Bailey.
Ms Bailey visited Los Angeles to take part in the promotion and encourage tourism to Australia.
“G'Day USA encourages Americans to act on their dream of visiting Australia one day to actually booking a holiday," Ms Bailiey said.
"It's a showcase for all things Australian from tourism to our food and wine, our unique Indigenous culture, to films, arts, lifestyle, trade and investment."
She said the program had been expanded this year to include events in both Los Angeles and New York, including performances by Bindi and Terri Irwin and the Crocmen, The Wiggles, and Australia Zoo’s Wes Mannion.
More than 450,000 American tourists visited Australia in the 12 months to September 2006, spending on average $4161 each.
Ms Bailey said tourism was a $75 billion industry, creating jobs for more than half a million Australians, and earning the country more than $19 billion in exports.
G’Day USA: Australia Week is a collaboration of the Australian Government, Tourism Australia, Qantas Airways and Austrade.
23 January, 2007
Review to Chew Over
Food Regulations
An independent review of Australia’s food regulations is aimed at streamlining processes and making them more nationally consistent.
Agriculture Minister, Peter McGauran and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing, Christopher Pyne, said the review had been recommended by the Taskforce on Reducing Regulatory Burdens on Business, the Banks Report.
They said it was in line with the National Reform Agenda agreed to by the Council of Australian Governments in February 2006.
According to Mr McGauran and Mr Pyne the Banks Report highlighted a number of issues with the food regulatory system, including inconsistencies in applying standards across States and Territories, lack of enforcement of some elements of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code and inconsistencies between state Food Acts and the Food Code.
Another issues was the complexity associated with developing or amending food standards.
Mr McGauran said he was aware of many instances where companies faced lengthy delays in having applications to use particular food ingredients assessed and finalised.
“It took more than four years for the regulatory system to allow phytosterols, a cholesterol-lowering compound, to be added to a range of foods," he said.
"Similarly, when a company applied for permission to add calcium to fruit juices expecting it to be a straightforward request, it had to wait four years before getting approval.
He said such delays were “simply too long” and impacted directly on the food companies’ ability to compete in the marketplace.
The review is to be undertaken by Mark Bethwaite, a former Chief Executive Officer of Australian Business Ltd.
Mr Pyne said it was important that the high levels of public health protection, and consumer confidence provided by Australia’s food regulation system were maintained.
“We need to strike the right balance to make sure the food we produce and consume is safe, without placing any unnecessary regulatory burden on Australia’s food industry,” he said.
23 January, 2007
Plan Surfaces For Ex-
Submarine Base
A former Sydney submarine base could be developed into a site for public spaces, community sports facilities, studios and waterfront walking paths.
Minister for Human Services and local MP for the area, Joe Hockey, said options for reclaiming the base were canvassed in a draft plan for the former HMAS Platypus site at Neutral Bay.
The plan was unveiled by Mr Hockey and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Greg Hunt. They said it was an historic opportunity for the community to have a say on the blueprint for the future of the prime 1.8 hectare harbourside site.
Mr Hockey said the plan aimed to create a vibrant waterfront precinct.
“It demonstrates the Australian Government’s commitment to improving the access to foreshore areas of our much-loved harbour,” he said.
Among the proposed outcomes for HMAS Platypus included in the plan were converting existing buildings and facilities to house waterfront dining, studios, rehearsal space, office space, training facilities and boat storage. There could be terraces, streets, squares and gardens and pedestrian links to other open spaces and existing harbour paths
Mr Hockey said that since the Government announced the handover of the site, the community had been widely consulted.
“I want to particularly thank all of those members of the community who have contributed to the development of this plan and the campaign to save Platypus – it has been a long fight to ensure that this site didn’t become another development site,” he said.
The draft plan is on public exhibition until 16 March 2007 and more information can be obtained from www.harbourtrust.gov.au.
23 January, 2007
Antarctic Outpost
Reaches
Cold Age
Australia’s busiest Antarctic station, Davis Station, has celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Environment Minister, Senator Ian Campbell congratulated past and present expeditioners on the milestone saying their contributions and pioneering work had advanced the world’s scientific knowledge of the fragile area.
“Davis Station is now Australia’s busiest station in Antarctica and conducts groundbreaking work into the biology, geology and glaciology of the Lambert Glacier/Amery Ice Shelf region,” Senator Campbell said.
“It is also the home of the major atmospheric physics program using laser technology to investigate the Antarctic stratosphere."
Expeditioners marked the date with an anniversary group photo at the front of the original hut – similar to what the original expeditioners did before most of them departed for Australia in 1954.
A highlight of the celebrations was a telephone hook-up between Davis Station and the Antarctic Division’s first director, Dr Phillip Law, now aged 94 and Tasmanian Bob Dingle who was one of the small group of six men who spent most of 1955 at the station.
Senator Campbell said that in the spirit of international friendship in Antarctica, the leaders of the nearby Russian station, Progress 2 and China’s Zhong Zhan, each around 120km from Davis, were invited to the party.
Dr Law and his 24 companions arrived on what was to become Davis Station on 12 January 1957 on board the ship, Kista Dan. Building on the station began immediately and it was officially opened a day later on 13 January 1957 in a small ceremony.
The station was named for Captain John King Davis, a master of many historic Antarctic ships including Douglas Mawson’s 1911-14 Australasian Antarctic Expedition ship Aurora.
It is the base for Australia’s two support aircraft that ferry personnel and equipment to remote field and coastal locations and between other Australian stations, Casey and Mawson.
Senator Campbell said the beginning of regular flights to Antarctica later this year would create a permanent link between the two continents.
23 January, 2007
Fun in the Sun for
Solar Scientists
Scientists from Geoscience Australia expect to be busier than normal in the next few years as changes in sunspot activity impact on the Earth's magnetic field.
Evidence is mounting that the sun is beginning its next 11 year cycle of sunspot activity.
According to GA, the last "sunspot maximum" occurred in 2000 and scientists were seeing signs it may peak again around 2011.
To keep an eye on the impacts, GA is gearing up to record increased activity in the magnetic filed at geomagnetic monitoring stations at Kakadu and Alice Springs in the Northern Territory; Learmonth and Gnangara in Western Australia; Charters Towers in Queensland; in Canberra; and at Casey and Mawson stations and Macquarie Island in Antarctica.
The scientists say that changes to the Earth’s magnetic field caused by sunspots could affect satellite communications such as GPS and phones as well as powerlines and long pipelines.
Geophysicists who monitor the magnetic field work closely with GA geodesists who manage GPS base stations, swapping advice on whether the accuracy of GPS positioning has been affected by the sunspot activity.
The scientists point to another consequence of increased solar activity - Auroras.
They say the colourful displays are caused by charged particles from the sun entering the Earth's magnetic field and colliding with gas particles in the atmosphere. Auroras occur more commonly in polar regions, however, they expect to see them nearer the equator during periods of intense magnetic activity.
A giant flare detected in December 2006 affected high-frequency radio communications and led to reductions in the precision of GPS services. It also caused disruptions to magnetic surveying operations and impacted on electrical currents in satellite circuits, power lines and pipelines.
The scientists say that incident was a forerunner of what can be expected over the next few years.
For more information on sunspots and solar flares visit www.ips.gov.au or www.ga.gov.au/geomag
23 January, 2007
Oz Council Funding Paints
Pretty Picture
The Australia Council for the Arts has received a funding injection of more than $418 million.
Arts Minister, Senator Rod Kemp, announced the extra funding, saying it would help give the wider Australian community more opportunities to experience arts events and activities.
“In the last year alone, eight million Australians attended arts events supported by the Australia Council," Senator Kemp said.
The arts were delivering significant cultural, social and economic benefits, particularly in regional and remote Australia, he said.
“Arts activities are generating important employment and economic activities in a significant number of communities and in many instances making them more attractive destinations for tourists."
He said Australia Council activities extended to Australians generally and also promoted excellence in the arts across all mediums.
The funding continued the triennial basis on which the Australia Council had been funded since 15.
Chair of the Australia Council, James Strong, welcomed the announcement, saying it maintained current funding levels.
He said he hoped that the renewal of base funding augured well for further funding initiatives for the arts over the coming months.
"We eagerly await the outcomes of the 2007-08 Budget delivering more excellent funding outcomes for Australian artists," Mr Strong said.
23 January, 2007
Sports Commission Kicks
Goals in South Africa
Leading South African sports researchers have visited the Australian Sports Commission to report on the progress of an ASC community sport project in southern Africa.
Professors Cora Burnett and Wim Hollander from the University of Johannesburg came to Canberra to discuss the success of the ASC’s Active Community Clubs initiative.
The initiative is part of the Australian Sports Outreach Program managed by the ASC and funded by AusAID.
The researchers discussed the unique approach to monitoring and measuring the impact, benefits and effectiveness of the Active Community Clubs initiative.
The approach includes indicators on how sport for development programs impacted on the health, development, well being and social cohesion of the broader community in South Africa. They form part of an impact assessment tool that the ASC and the University hope to use for other sport development programs around the world.
The Australian Sports Outreach Program targets sports participation and increased physical activity in Southern Africa while also providing an effective vehicle for addressing community issues such as HIV/AIDS, youth leadership and personal development.
Director of National Sports Programs with the ASC, Greg Nance said the Commission was committed to sharing knowledge and expertise in the delivery of sports development opportunities.
"The Active Community Clubs initiative is a shining example of how Australian sport expertise is improving sports participation and increasing levels of physical activity in southern Africa," Mr Nance said.
"This sport for development program is also proving to have a positive effect on the social and health aspects of the communities providing particularly young people with opportunities and resources that previously were very limited in poorer areas."
He said Active Community Clubs provides a range of programs including volunteer training, sports administration, life skills training and HIV/AIDs awareness.
23 January, 2007
iPodders for iPlodders
in Melbourne
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has launched an iPod service promoting guided walking tours of Melbourne.
With the aid of tour guides Red Symons, Myf Warhurst, Derek Guille, Stephanie Alexander and Jon Faine the new service is being billed PodTiurs, the new fun way to explore the streets of Melbourne.
The celebrity tour guides promise to lead listeners through Melbourne's streets and alleyways and reveal both the wonderful and sinister secrets of the city.
The free guides have been developed by 774 ABC Melbourne, with the University of Melbourne's Department of History and ABC New Media and Digital Services, who describe them as a cross between an audio guide and a guided walking tour.
They can be downloaded from the ABC website and visitors can also print out an accompanying map.
Three tours have been created so far - Showbiz, Sexy Spectacles and Sideshows; Eat, Drink, Melbourne and Dirt, Death and Disease. All the tours start at the Melbourne Visitors Centre at Federation Square and take about an hour.
According to the ABC, each PodTour is full of fascinating facts and anecdotes, carefully researched by students of University of Melbourne's Department of History.
Melbourne's familiar landmarks will take on a new complexion, like the banks of the Yarra where Prince Alfred's feast descended into a riot. Or the city's alleys where politicians carried the parliamentary mace to a local brothel for mock lower chamber performances.
Showbiz, Sexy Spectacles and Sideshows is presented by Red Symons and Myf Warhurst. It reveals where Houdini defied death by jumping into the Yarra chained and padlocked, Kung Fu master Jackie Chan threw a baddie through a Swanston Street shop window and the site of the decadent 19th century brothels of Madame Brussels.
Eat, Drink, Melbourne is presented by Derek Guille and Stephanie Alexander. It includes advice on how to pick a good cheese or cut of meat and the story of Australian icons such as Vegemite, Freddo Frogs and Dim Sims, which were all invented in Melbourne.
Dirt, Death and Disease is presented by Jon Faine and covers the story of the Gun Alley murder, early sewers and public toilets, the decapitated head on display where Federation Square is now and how coroners use maggots to work out how long corpses have been dead.
23 January, 2007
Freedom Filers Set
Near FOI Record
Requests under Freedom of Information laws reached near record levels in 2005-06 according to that latest report from the Attorney-General.
In his annual report on FOI tabled in Parliament earlier this month, the Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, revealed agencies received 41,430 requests last financial year, a 5.5 per cent increase on the year before.
The highest number of requests received was in 2003-04 when the tally reached 42,627.
Mr Ruddock said 38,987 of the requests received last year were determined in the reporting period with 94 per cent granted in full or in part.
“The Freedom of Information Act 1982 continues to work well,” he said.
According to the report, the majority of requests were directed to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (14,627), Centrelink (13,817) and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (8,330).
Mr Ruddock said 85 per cent of requests were for personal information, the remaining 15 per cent for assorted documents relating to policy development, Government decision-making and other matters.
“As far as possible, (the FOI Act) gives the Australian community access to information held by the Australian Government and facilitates access to personal information”, Mr Ruddock said.
He said the Government spent $24.9 million processing FOI requests but collected only $502,500 in fees and charges. With each request costing on average $601 to process, the recovery rate was just 2 per cent of the cost of the scheme.
“FOI fees and charges have not increased since November 1986 when the Opposition was in government,’’ Mr Ruddock said.
He said the Government remained committed to openness and accountability and the provision of access to information in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act.
The full report on the FOI scheme in 2005-06 and previous years is available at www.ag.gov.au/foi.
23 January, 2007
AFP Claims Criticism
is Unfair Cop
The Australian Federal Police has leapt to the defence of the embattled Commissioner of the Solomon Islands Police Force, Shane Castles, an AFP Officer on secondment.
The AFDP has rejected claims of misconduct by representatives of the Solomon Islands Government against Commissioner Castles who was appointed to head up the Islands’ police force for two years from April 2005.
AFP International Deployment Group National Manager, Assistant Commissioner Paul Jevtovic, said the allegations were factually incorrect and without foundation.
He said Commissioner Castles was accountable to the Solomon Islands Government at all times and committed to serving the Solomon Islands Government and people by rebuilding its police force.
“He has, at all times, acted constitutionally to uphold the law of the Solomon Islands," Assistant Commissioner Jevtovic said.
He said the appointment was totally in accordance with the Constitution of the Solomon Islands and Commissioner Castles was committed to finishing the remaining four months of his term and had never sought a 20-month extension as suggested by the Solomon Islands Government.
"Contrary to allegations made, Commissioner Castles is not exempt from constitutional or legal obligations," Assistant Commissioner Jevtovic said.
He had indemnity against civil proceedings in courts and tribunals brought against him as a result of any operation involving his role as Commissioner, but no immunity regarding criminal proceedings or other civil matters before a court or tribunal.
Assistant Commissioner Jevtovic defended Commissioner Castles’s conduct during the Honiara riots and the execution of a search warrant on offices of the Solomon Islands Prime Minister.
“The AFP regards Commissioner Castles’ leadership of the SIPF response to last year’s Honiara riots to have been more than appropriate in the circumstances,” Assistant Commissioner Jevtovic said.
He said the search warrants on offices associated with the Prime Minister had been sought by the Director of Public Prosecutions and issued by an independent Magistrate, who authorised the police action. The process complied with the laws of the Solomon Islands.
Assistant Commissioner Jevtovic said Commissioner Castles had made significant achievements with the SI police force, referring to more than 200 recruits graduating from the Solomon Islands Police Academy and the many SIPF officers who completed Leadership Development Program courses conducted by the Australian Institute of Police Management.
23 January, 2007
Spotlight on Bright
Students at Nuclear
Agency
A Graduate Recruitment Program has been announced for the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.
Education Minister Julie Bishop announced the program saying it would provide 15 places for graduates each year from 2008 and was designed to attract and retain key talent to alleviate identified skill shortages.
She said the four-year career development program would be a unique opportunity to develop a solid career in the growing nuclear industry.
The program will focus on science, engineering and information technology and included opportunities for overseas secondments and further professional development.
“For nuclear science and technology education, the initiative is very exciting and will further increase Australia’s expertise in this field," Ms Bishop said.
“On completion of the program, the applicant will have the skills necessary to either continue work at ANSTO or find work in the nuclear industry overseas or in related industries.
“The program has a strong mentoring aspect and the successful candidates will get an opportunity to work in a variety of areas across the ANSTO site," she said.
ANSTO is Australia’s national nuclear research and development organization and uses nuclear tools to conduct research into the environment, materials, nuclear imaging and other health care products. It provides 70 per cent of all radioisotopes used in Australian nuclear medicine
16 January 2007
Freedom Filers Set
Near FOI Record
Requests under Freedom of Information laws reached near record levels in 2005-06 according to that latest report from the Attorney-General.
In his annual report on FOI tabled in Parliament earlier this month, the Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, revealed agencies received 41,430 requests last financial year, a 5.5 per cent increase on the year before.
The highest number of requests received was in 2003-04 when the tally reached 42,627.
Mr Ruddock said 38,987 of the requests received last year were determined in the reporting period with 94 per cent granted in full or in part.
“The Freedom of Information Act 1982 continues to work well,” he said.
According to the report, the majority of requests were directed to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (14,627), Centrelink (13,817) and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (8,330).
Mr Ruddock said 85 per cent of requests were for personal information, the remaining 15 per cent for assorted documents relating to policy development, Government decision-making and other matters.
“As far as possible, (the FOI Act) gives the Australian community access to information held by the Australian Government and facilitates access to personal information”, Mr Ruddock said.
He said the Government spent $24.9 million processing FOI requests but collected only $502,500 in fees and charges. With each request costing on average $601 to process, the recovery rate was just 2 per cent of the cost of the scheme.
“FOI fees and charges have not increased since November 1986 when the Opposition was in government,’’ Mr Ruddock said.
He said the Government remained committed to openness and accountability and the provision of access to information in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act.
The full report on the FOI scheme in 2005-06 and previous years is available at www.ag.gov.au/foi.
16 January 2007
AFP Claims Criticism
is Unfair Cop
The Australian Federal Police has leapt to the defence of the embattled Commissioner of the Solomon Islands Police Force, Shane Castles, an AFP Officer on secondment.
The AFDP has rejected claims of misconduct by representatives of the Solomon Islands Government against Commissioner Castles who was appointed to head up the Islands’ police force for two years from April 2005.
AFP International Deployment Group National Manager, Assistant Commissioner Paul Jevtovic, said the allegations were factually incorrect and without foundation.
He said Commissioner Castles was accountable to the Solomon Islands Government at all times and committed to serving the Solomon Islands Government and people by rebuilding its police force.
“He has, at all times, acted constitutionally to uphold the law of the Solomon Islands," Assistant Commissioner Jevtovic said.
He said the appointment was totally in accordance with the Constitution of the Solomon Islands and Commissioner Castles was committed to finishing the remaining four months of his term and had never sought a 20-month extension as suggested by the Solomon Islands Government.
"Contrary to allegations made, Commissioner Castles is not exempt from constitutional or legal obligations," Assistant Commissioner Jevtovic said.
He had indemnity against civil proceedings in courts and tribunals brought against him as a result of any operation involving his role as Commissioner, but no immunity regarding criminal proceedings or other civil matters before a court or tribunal.
Assistant Commissioner Jevtovic defended Commissioner Castles’s conduct during the Honiara riots and the execution of a search warrant on offices of the Solomon Islands Prime Minister.
“The AFP regards Commissioner Castles’ leadership of the SIPF response to last year’s Honiara riots to have been more than appropriate in the circumstances,” Assistant Commissioner Jevtovic said.
He said the search warrants on offices associated with the Prime Minister had been sought by the Director of Public Prosecutions and issued by an independent Magistrate, who authorised the police action. The process complied with the laws of the Solomon Islands.
Assistant Commissioner Jevtovic said Commissioner Castles had made significant achievements with the SI police force, referring to more than 200 recruits graduating from the Solomon Islands Police Academy and the many SIPF officers who completed Leadership Development Program courses conducted by the Australian Institute of Police Management.
16 January 2007
Spotlight on Bright
Students at Nuclear
Agency
A Graduate Recruitment Program has been announced for the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.
Education Minister Julie Bishop announced the program saying it would provide 15 places for graduates each year from 2008 and was designed to attract and retain key talent to alleviate identified skill shortages.
She said the four-year career development program would be a unique opportunity to develop a solid career in the growing nuclear industry.
The program will focus on science, engineering and information technology and included opportunities for overseas secondments and further professional development.
“For nuclear science and technology education, the initiative is very exciting and will further increase Australia’s expertise in this field," Ms Bishop said.
“On completion of the program, the applicant will have the skills necessary to either continue work at ANSTO or find work in the nuclear industry overseas or in related industries.
“The program has a strong mentoring aspect and the successful candidates will get an opportunity to work in a variety of areas across the ANSTO site," she said.
ANSTO is Australia’s national nuclear research and development organization and uses nuclear tools to conduct research into the environment, materials, nuclear imaging and other health care products. It provides 70 per cent of all radioisotopes used in Australian nuclear medicine.
16 January 2007
Canberra Conference
a Capital Idea
A conference in Canberra this month is to look at Australia's capital and the burden of national identity.
The Capitals Alliance Conference on 22/23 January at Parliament House, Canberra, will cover the breadth of issues that cities face now and in the future and stems from an alliance entered in 2001 between Ottawa, Washington, Brasilia and Canberra aimed at sharing ideas about building and promoting national capitals.
A busy program of discussions and talks includes a session in which five of Australia’s State and Territory Government architects will gather to explore design excellence in Government architecture and urban design.
Victoria’s John Denton , Western Australia’s Professor Geoffrey London,
New South Wales’s Peter Mould, Queensland’s Wayne Petrie and Bob Nation from the Northern Territory will deliver presentations to the conference in a session chaired by the National President of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, Carey Lyon.
Among the issues to be discussed will be the challenges of rapid growth facing cities across Australia and the development and sustainability of our urban communities.
Also on the conference agenda is a paper from Professor Graeme Davidson which describes Canberra as a product of a national ideal rather than a showcase for national identity.
Professor Davidson will explore how this has changed with increased tourism and Australian’s growing preoccupation with questions of national self-definition.
More than 35 local and international speakers will address the conference which will be followed by two days of discussion between the Capitals Alliance members and representatives of other invited national capitals.
The Alliance is in its fifth year and more information about the conference can be obtained from http://ca2007.nationalcapital.gov.au.
16 January 2007
Budget Shines on
Weather Bureau
The Bureau of Meteorology is to receive an extra $33.7 million to improve weather forecasting services.
Environment Minister, Senator Ian Campbell, announced the funding injection saying Australia’s current unpredictable weather patterns meant it was essential the Bureau’s services were of a world class standard.
“Our weather surveillance, forecasting and warning services operate around the clock, demanding high-quality, reliable systems for collecting weather and climate data," Senator Campbell said.
“This additional funding will help maintain the national observational and monitoring networks which are critical to the Bureau’s weather, climate, hydrological and oceanographic services.”
He said it would also advance forecasting across timescales, ranging from a few hours –nowcasting – to seasonal climate predictions.
The money would alos be used to support weather services in rural areas and marine weather forecasting and information services.
Senator Campbell said it would improve climate monitoring, prediction and advisory services, including increased relia