Australian Government Media Releases

The Hon Martin Ferguson AM MP. The Energy White Paper is the first step to Australia realising its energy potential and preparing for the energy challenges of the future. The Energy White Paper, which I have championed as Minister for Resources and Energy, addresses these challenges.

Attorney-General Robert McClelland today launched the Administrative Review Council's 49th report, ` Administrative accountability in business areas subject to complex and specific regulation '. 'While the report focuses primarily on business regulation, it is clear that the Council's findings will also be relevant to other complex regulatory areas,' Mr McClelland said. Copies of the report may be obtained by calling the Council's Secretariat on 02 6250 5800 or on the Council's website at: .

Attorney-General Robert McClelland today announced the appointment of Justice Margaret White as Deputy President of the Defence Force Discipline Appeal Tribunal. The Defence Force Discipline Appeal Tribunal hears and determines appeals from courts martial and Defence Force magistrates in respect to service offences by Australian Defence Force personnel. Justice White has been a judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland since 1992.

DHA CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF HOUSING ADF MEMBERS. This year DHA celebrates two decades of providing high-quality housing and housing services to Australian Defence Force members and their families. DHA was established in 1988, at a time when Defence housing was of a lower standard.

It is my pleasure to be here as part of today's workshop session on Social Inclusion.' The session description raises many thoughtful questions that highlight the complexities of social inclusion. This is because social exclusion is a deeply complex phenomenon. The development of a mechanism such as a National Compact or agreement between the Government and the non-profit sector is a practical demonstration of our commitment to collaboration and partnership.

Australia's nursing homes and hostels will be asked to nominate a designated outbreak coordinator in charge of the protection of residents - in the event of an outbreak. Identify the signs and symptoms of a gastroenteritis outbreak Nominate an Outbreak Coordinator to oversee a potential outbreak Engage in infection control practices to prevent outbreaks and proper specimen collection and storage Develop an Outbreak Management Plan for gastroenteritis and influenza before an outbreak occurs Handle food during an outbreak and proper cleaning procedures Inform residents and families in the event of an outbreak and Notify relevant State or Territory health authorities. Earlier this year (July 15), the Australian Government - as part of its plan to strengthen infection control within aged care homes - pledged to develop a gastroenteritis awareness and prevention education kit to support nursing home and hostel staff.

The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, will today in Melbourne launch an innovative secondary school resource that will assist science teachers to teach nanotechnology in Australian schools. The Australian Office of Nanotechnology developed AccessNano following feedback from science teachers that children were asking to be taught about nanotechnology, but many teachers did not have the knowledge or resources to be able to teach the topic. Science teachers have since adapted Nanotechnology to fit in high school curriculums throughout Australia and it is one of the first such resources in the world to offer in-depth teaching modules about the study of nanosized technologies at a scale of one billionth of a metre.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, Senator Ursula Stephens, today said the Australian Government's commitment to social inclusion is only going to gain momentum in the face of the challenges facing us as a nation and as a global community. Senator Stephens also provided an update on the government's consultations with the non-profit sector on a national compact or similar mechanism. There is a level of passion and commitment to ensuring the success of a compact between the Government and the non-profit sector that holds much promise for our continued dialogue next year.

Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, Senator Ursula Stephens, this week met with a delegation of young carers and said their stories were an inspiration. The young carers were attending the Bring It! Young Carers Forum at Parliament House, Canberra. Senator Stephens said that this kind of input from young carers was invaluable.

Australian Disability Enterprises launched. Disability business services across the country will now come together under the name Australian Disability Enterprises. Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services, Bill Shorten, today launched the name and new logo at Waverley Industries, a Victorian disability business service.

MADONNA KING: The Senate's passed these new tax laws to help parents pay school costs like uniforms and books. MADONNA KING: Julia Gillard, thank you. MADONNA KING: That's the Education Minister, Julia Gillard, explaining how you need to start keeping those receipts for your child's school costs and remember also, the point she made is if it's at home, if you've got an internet connection at home, a printer at home, a fax at home or something that your child uses for their homework, that will be a taxable you'll be able to claim it on your tax on June 30 next year.

TONY EASTLEY: The Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, told Kirrin McKechnie the Government will now spend about $2000 for every school computer. KIRRIN MCKECHNIE: And Julia Gillard, there's more money on the table for health tomorrow?. TONY EASTLEY: The Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard speaking there with Kirrin McKechnie.

Help for victims of the Mumbai attacks. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the Minister for Community Services, Jenny Macklin, today approved the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment to provide assistance to victims of the attacks. The payments will provide immediate financial support to people who have been seriously injured or who suffer psychological trauma as a result of the Mumbai terror attacks.

You are here: » Media releases. The Rudd Government will provide new funding of $500,000 for elite classical music training to assist the transition to a new performance and training organisation in partnership with the University of Melbourne. To ensure we achieve a world class training program, a Planning Advisory Board has been established, comprised of distinguished musicians and music educators including - Professor Peter Roennfeldt, Director of the Queensland Conservatorium of Music Trevor Green, Managing Director of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Richard Gill, Artistic Director of Opera Victoria Dr Gretchen Amussen, Deputy Director of the Paris Conservatoire de Musique and Dame Janet Ritterman, former Principal of the Royal College of Music.

You are here: » Media releases. Specific targets for Caring for our Country in 2009-10 include:. 'The Business Plan for 2009-10 is a first.

You are here: » Media releases. The Rudd Government is calling for proposals to establish two Centres of Excellence to lead the way in building the knowledge and technology required to secure Australia's water supplies. 'These Centres of Excellence will generate the new knowledge and technology we need to secure the future water supplies for our towns and cities - a key aim of the Government's Water for the Future plan,' Senator Wong said.

BRINGING TOGETHER MILITARY AND CIVILIAN MARINERS. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) have agreed to recognise equivalent qualifications, providing a wider range of career opportunities for both RAN Seaman officers and their civilian counterparts. Conversely, the qualifications of civilian mariners would be more easily recognised by Navy, providing career opportunities in the service of their country.

Subject(s): Mumbai, Afghanistan, COAG, Tilt Train Crash, Water. What I've indicated through the Indian High Commissioner here in Canberra, and separately the Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has indicated to his counterpart Foreign Minister Mukherjee in India, is that any form of police and/or security assistance that our Indian friends would want we would be willing to provide. KING: You are listening to 612 ABC Brisbane, the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

Subject(s): Mumbai Terror Attacks, Afghanistan, GST, Global Financial Crisis, COAG, Men's Health Ambassadors, Movember, Computers in Schools, Travel. The Foreign Minister Stephen Smith spoke to his counterpart, Foreign Minister Mukherjee, or External Affairs Minister Mukherjee last night, offering the Indians any form of practical police or security assistance that they would need at a time like this. Round two of the fund closed recently and a total of 1,420 schools across Australia applied - 793 Government, 342 Independent, 285 Catholic - and by the end of the year, all of these non government schools will be receiving funding for their computers as well.

Subject(s): Mumbai Terror Attacks, Afghanistan. We have also reinforced that in a conversation had overnight between our Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, who is in London, with the External Affairs Minister of India, Minister Mukherjee. DON: Don Burke here Prime Minister.

Subject(s): Mumbai Terror Attacks, Afghanistan. PM: The Australian High Commissioner and we have about a dozen staff on the ground now in Mumbai - as of yesterday from our embassy or our High Commission in New Delhi the consulate general in Mumbai - have been working very closely with the hotel authorities and also with the Indian authorities to establish lists, essentially, who was registered in which hotel, to ensure that we have some corroboration of that as well, to corroborate that in turn with people we've subsequently identified and to work out who we have yet to establish contact with. PM: Well firstly what I would say Karl was, let us today mourn the loss of another son of Australia.

Friday, 28 November 2008. The Panel today published the reasons for its decision on an application dated 10 November 2008 from MYOB Limited in relation to its affairs. The sitting Panel for the proceedings was Michael Ashforth (sitting President), Paula Dwyer and Marie McDonald.

Deliberations on the names and boundaries for the five federal electoral divisions for Tasmania have concluded. The proposal, as changed, stands as the proposed redistribution of Tasmania of the augmented Electoral Commission which it will determine as the redistribution of Tasmania by notice to be published in the Gazette. In the present circumstances, the augmented Commission considers it is important not to disturb a familiar and long accepted divisional name, given there is an absence of the kind of trigger contemplated by the Guidelines for the Naming of Electoral Divisions The augmented Commission agreed with the Committee's finding that the West Coast LGA shares a strong community of interests with its neighbouring councils to the north.

AUSTRALIAN MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS. British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, David Miliband, British Secretary of State for Defence John Hutton, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith, and Australian Minister for Defence Joel Fitzgibbon met in Leeds today for the second Australia- UK Ministerial Dialogue. These talks come at a time of unprecedented bilateral cooperation across the range of foreign and defence issues.

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP. Minister for Infrastructure, Transport,. Minister for Defence Science and Personnel.

Despite tougher global economic conditions the popularity of air travel continues to grow, with more people than ever before flying domestically as well as into and out of Australia. During 2007/08, an extra 1.1 million passengers flew into and out of Australia while an additional 3.4 million passengers caught domestic flights. All up, 23.3 million international and 49.3 million domestic passengers passed through the nation's airports last financial year.

Speech to Hanover Welfare Services Annual General Meeting. The Government is exploring new ways to develop a stronger relationship with the not-for-profit sector. This is an agreement between the Government and the not-for-profit sector - outlining how we will work together, now and into the future.

Disability business services across the country will now come together under the name Australian Disability Enterprises. Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services, Bill Shorten, today launched the name and new logo at Waverley Industries, a Victorian disability business service. Revised Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines, which take effect on 1 December 2008, will provide an exemption and flexibility for Australian Government Departments and agencies looking to undertake simple procurement processes from disability Australian Disability Enterprises, Mr Shorten said.

Speech to Government Land Organisations Conference. But we recognise this is just a start. This is terrific stuff.

Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese and Minister for Defence Science and Personnel Warren Snowdon, today announced a landmark agreement which will enable easier transfer between the civilian and military life at sea. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) have agreed to recognise equivalent qualifications, providing a wider range of career opportunities for both RAN Seaman officers and their civilian counterparts. 'This initiative not only enhances the desirability of being a RAN Seaman officer, but it potentially creates a greater pool of mariners who may like to sample life on a patrol boat or frigate, even as reservists.'.

PERSONAL DETAILS OF SOLDIER KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN. Michael died while serving his nation and his sacrifice will never be forgotten. This loss is felt heavily by the wider Defence Community, and particularly by members of the Australian Army, Lieutenant General Gillespie said. A photo of Lieutenant Fussell will be available at.

AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER WOUNDED IN ROADSIDE BOMB ATTACK. An Australian Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle (PMV) serving with the Mentoring Reconstruction Task Force (MRTF) was struck by a road-side bomb in Oruzgan province in the early hours of Saturday morning. The blast wounded one Australian soldier and a civilian employed by the ADF who was travelling in the same vehicle.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma has been awarded the 2008 Man of Inspiration award in GQ Australia Magazine's 2008 Man of the Year awards. Photo 2008 darren leigh roberts for GQ Australia.

Strong and passionate leadership from all sectors of society is needed to chart a new and more inclusive course for Australian society, President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Catherine Branson QC, said today foreshadowing the 2008 Don Dunstan Foundation Oration she is delivering tonight at the University of Adelaide. Im not proud that we had a White Australia Policy and Im not proud of the 17-year life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

The resources are designed to introduce Australian students to human rights concepts in an engaging, relevant way and are available online at:. The Human Rights Day education resources are available online at:.