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SearchArchives for April 2011
28 April, 2011
Plan consultation
continues online
Consultation on South Australia’s Strategic Plan is to continue with a live engagement website planned where people can continue to be involved in supporting its delivery.
Minister Assisting the Premier with the Plan, Tom Kenyon said the biggest community consultation exercise in the State’s history had helped update the Plan which would capture the aspirations of the more than 9,000 South Australians who took part.
“I want to assure all those who participated in this historic process that we have listened carefully and we have heard what they have to say,” Mr Kenyon said.
He said face-to-face meetings were held throughout South Australia, and these meetings together with the use of social media, had allowed people to share their hopes with the independent Community Engagement Board.
Mr Kenyon said an important theme emerged during the consultations about the importance of continuing to listen beyond this community engagement process.
“South Australians want the government to involve them in decision making and recognise the contribution diverse communities across our state can make in overcoming the challenges we face,” he said.
“In response to the Board’s recommendations we will be providing that ongoing opportunity for South Australians to have their say using a live engagement website – a place where you can continue to be involved in supporting the delivery of the South Australia’s Strategic Plan.”
Mr Kenyon said this online resource would improve the accessibility of consultations.
He said he was delighted with the visions and goals developed through the community process.
“When the updated Plan is launched later this year, it will continue to address areas such as housing, community safety, jobs, and the health of our environment,” he said.
“These core elements that improve the wellbeing of South Australians will be front and centre.”
Mr Kenyon said about 90 per cent of the current plan targets would remain, as consultations had shown that these existing targets supported the aspirations of the community.
The report South Australia’s Plan for the best … 2020 and beyond is available at this PS News link.
28 April, 2011
Water prices to
go with the flow
The Chair of the National Water Commission, Chloe Munro, has called for a rethink of the way water is priced in Australia.
Releasing four reports that examine options for water pricing and opportunities for greater competition, Ms Munro said the right approach would promote cost-effective services offering more customer choice, as well as encouraging innovation, efficient investment decisions and sustainable water use.
She said the benefits of pricing water to cover the true cost of the resource, capital assets and service delivery were recognised by all Governments under Australia’s blueprint for water reform, the National Water Initiative.
“While water bills should reflect the real costs of water supply, the Commission is well aware that significant investments in new infrastructure have meant that most Australians now face continuing price rises,” Ms Munro said.
“That’s why it is so important that governments and regulators give water service providers strong incentives to invest efficiently and deliver high-quality water services at the lowest possible cost.”
She said flexible pricing options would give customers more choice and better signal the value of our water.
“It is equally important that pricing is overseen by fully independent economic regulators,” Ms Munro said.
She said the National Water Commission’s Review of pricing reform in the Australian water sector report showed that approaches to pricing reforms had been patchy across States and Territories, and made nine recommendations on future water pricing reforms.
“The Commission commends moves by Tasmania and South Australia in undertaking institutional reform, including the establishment of independent price regulators,” Ms Munro said.
“These reforms are being supported by a range of practical measures such as the rollout of water meters in Tasmania.”
She said three additional Waterlines reports published by the Commission examined externality pricing, efficient water resource pricing, and competition in the urban water sector.
28 April, 2011
Protocols planned
for moving masses
A set of national protocols for dealing with large numbers of displaced persons moving from one jurisdiction to another and requiring emergency assistance is to be developed for the Community and Disability Services Ministers’ Conference.
Proposed by Minister for Disability, Jennifer Rankine, the protocols will provide a strategy for displaced people leaving one community and requiring help and support in another.
“A joint protocol between States, Territories and the Commonwealth will provide a strategy for displaced people leaving a community, requiring help and support in another jurisdiction,” Ms Rankine said.
“In September 2010, 90 people fled the Northern Territory and came to South Australia amid fears of violence in their community.”
She said in that situation, South Australia had limited time to prepare the necessary response to address the complex needs of those people.
“The proposed joint protocols aim to clearly establish the various roles and responsibilities of all jurisdictions when incidents like this, or other emergencies, occur,” Ms Rankine said.
“It would also ensure effective and timely communication between all parties.”
She said that the situation in South Australia last year had identified a range of issues that would have benefited from being embedded in a national protocol.
Ms Rankine said these issues included what responses could be applied in an incident of that nature; who would support the displaced persons in returning to their community; which jurisdiction would provide for the ongoing management of the situation; and arrangements with the non-government sector in how to respond to such a situation.
She said South Australia would lead an inter-jurisdictional working group to establish these protocols.
“While the South Australian Government made every effort to help the people fleeing violence last year, we would like to see the protocols established so in the event this happens again the Government can be more adequately prepared,” Ms Rankine said.
“South Australia has learnt from this experience and will bring this knowledge to its role in leading the inter-jurisdictional working group to establish the protocols.”
28 April, 2011
SA to play along
with adult games
A Federal Minister has called on South Australia to take the lead on gaining national agreement to the introduction of an R18+ video game classification scheme.
Minister for Justice, Brendan O’Connor said the next meeting of the Standing Committee of Attorney’s General, to be held in Adelaide in July, presented the State with the ideal chance to show the way forward.
“We want to provide better guidance for parents and remove unsuitable material from children and teenagers, and the introduction of an R18+ classification will help achieve that,” Mr O’Connor said.
“This is the right decision for Australian families and the right decision for parents who want to be able to make informed choices about the games their children play.”
He said there were dozens of games that were currently classified as MA15+ in Australia, but in other countries the gaming titles were restricted to adults only.
“If the new category is introduced, it could result in computer games that are currently classified MA15+ being reclassified R18+, providing a new level of protection for children,” Mr O’Connor said.
“Games that are currently refused classification and do not meet the standard required for R18+ classification will remain in the refused classification category.”
He said the July meeting of the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General would be decision time for the States and Territories, after years of inaction.
“With the next Standing Committee of Attorney’s General meeting in Adelaide on 21 and 22 July, South Australia has the chance to lead the way on this issue,” Mr O’Connor said.
“I hope the State Government will reflect the views of South Australian families by supporting this change in the interests of parents and their children.”
He said at present, an R18+ classification for computer games could only be introduced with the agreement of all Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers.
Mr O’Connor said a 2010 national telephone survey by Galaxy showed that 80 per cent of the 2,226 people contacted said they support the introduction of an R18+ classification for games.
28 April, 2011
Housing brochure
sets ground rules
The Land Management Corporation (LMC) has published a new brochure on medium density mixed-use development and what it would mean in the Adelaide context.
Chief Executive of LMC, Wayne Gibbings said the release of the State Government’s 30-year Plan for Greater Adelaide has provided a clear direction and strategy for accommodating Adelaide’s future urban growth – as well as prompting increased community involvement and debate about our city’s future.
Mr Gibbings said LMC was charged with the responsibility of facilitating the delivery of mixed-use walkable communities around a number of key transport corridors such as Bowden and Woodville.
He said LMC had developed the brochure entitled Growing up – Adelaide’s urban future in conjunction with Department of Planning and Local Government (DPLG), Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure (DTEI) and Integrated Design Commission SA.
He said delivering the 30-year plan, and achieving inspirational development outcomes, required an ongoing partnership and dialogue between all levels of government, the community and the development sector.
“The booklet identifies the need for Adelaide to develop new housing, shopping, services and employment along good, well-established transport routes,” Mr Gibbings said.
“At the same time, we need to provide new and innovative housing options to meet the changing needs of households and the challenges of sustainable growth.”
He said as the booklet explained, medium density development was about creating attractive, walkable, sustainable communities that would enable residents to have housing and transport choices, to live convenient, affordable, pleasant lives – and with space for children to play.
The brochure is available at this PS News link.
28 April, 2011
Management plans
plant forest seeds
New draft management plans for the Mount Gambier and Penola Forest Districts have been released by ForestrySA.
Highlighting ForestrySA’s integrated approach to sustainable forest management, the draft plans provide a set of management objectives for plantation and native forest in the districts and invite public comment.
ForestrySA Manager Policy and Projects, Jan Newport said the Mount Gambier Forest District covered more than 37,000ha, including 4,000ha of native vegetation, while the Penola Forest District spanned about 28,500ha and comprised 4,500ha of native vegetation.
Ms Newport said the management plans were developed within the framework of ForestrySA’s policies, guidelines and Forest Management System, and provided a summary of the natural, built and heritage values, community uses and issues impacting forest management.
Ms Newport said while ForestrySA was widely associated with the management of commercial plantations, the management plans illustrated the conditions and regulatory requirements under which ForestrySA must operate to retain certification as a sustainable forest manager and maintain a social licence.
“The economic, social and environmental values of the forest are highlighted in the plan, providing a landscape view of everything ForestrySA is involved in – not just the business of growing plantation,” she said.
Ms Newport said submissions would be accepted until 10 June, 2001 and could be made via email to forestrysa@forestrysa.com.au or in writing and mail to Manager Policy and Projects, ForestrySA, GPO Box 162, Mount Gambier 5290, or fax to (08) 8724 2870.
The draft Mount Gambier and Penola Forest Management Plans are available at this PS News link.
28 April, 2011
Superway underway
with work starting
Major work is now underway on the $812 million South Road Superway.
Billed as the “most complex road project in history” the project will feature a new 2.8km elevated roadway between Wing Street and Taminga Street on South Road; and a new service road with signalised intersections at major junctions.
The commencement of works was overseen by the Minister for Transport, Patrick Conlon and Federal MP for Port Adelaide, Mark Butler.
Mr Conlon said when completed, Adelaide motorists would have a non-stop route between Port River Expressway and Regency Road.
“This South Road Superway is the single biggest investment in a South Australian road project in the history of the State,” Mr Conlon said.
“In the context of the Federal Government’s Nation Building Program, this project is about enhancing key road networks, to reduce congestion and improve transport efficiency.”
He said the project would also substantially upgrade local roads to improve access, and improve and realign local drainage systems.
Mr Butler said the project would alleviate congestion and improve safety on the transport network in and around Adelaide.
“One issue facing the corridor is urban congestion, with road traffic expected to double by 2031,” he said.
“The Superway project will address this, while improving safety for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.”
Mr Butler said the South Road Superway project is estimated to cost $812 million, with the Federal Government providing $406 million and the South Australian Government providing $406 million.
“South Road is a key access route to the Port of Adelaide and to the regions north of Adelaide - it serves a significant industrial area,” he said.
28 April, 2011
Language program
is talk of the town
TAFE SA has been successful in winning contracts from the Federal Department of Immigration and Citizenship to deliver the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) in two South Australian regions.
The Department said service providers were selected after a rigorous evaluation process considering technical merit; relative risk; price; and financial viability of each tenderer.
It said those selected would begin providing services from 1 July, with contracts expiring on 30 June 2014.
The Department said the new AMEP business model would deliver key features such as a greater focus on settlement and on providing guidance to clients both during their participation in the program and as they exit the program.
It said greater benefits to clients as a result of changes included increased educational and vocational counselling; clearly delineated and flexible pathways to further English as a second language (ESL) courses; education; and employment/vocational training.
It said eligibility for the AMEP had been extended to 15- to 17-year-olds who had discontinued their schooling within the first year of arrival in Australia.
According to the Department, clients would continue to have access to free childcare for under school-aged children and multiple learning delivery modes including classroom tuition, home tutors and distance/e-learning.
It said a single national service provider would deliver distance/e-learning to AMEP clients.
The program is delivered in some 250 locations around Australia to more than 50 000 clients from 193 countries.
More information about the AMEP is available at this PS News link.
28 April, 2011
Consultants called
to join panel
The Essential Services Commission of South Australia has invited expressions of interest for experienced consultants to join its Panel of Consultants.
The Panel provides expert advice to the Commission on matters relating to the performance of its statutory functions as an independent economic regulator of essential services under the Essential Services Commission Act 2002.
Expressions will be accepted until 13 May.
The Commission is seeking consultants to provide advice in the areas of economics, financial modelling, regulatory (including regulatory-legal), technical advice, and energy efficiency; in relation to industries providing essential services (electricity, gas, water and sewerage, maritime and rail industries), as well as in relation to the Commission’s own operations.
Information regarding the Commission’s functions and objectives, including Commission publications, are available from the Commission’s website.
The Commission said the Panel contract will have an initial contract term of two years with ongoing annual extension options.
It said current consultants did not have to re-apply.
Closing date for tenders have been extended to 13 May 2011 due to the incorrect Contract Terms and Conditions being posted on the website.
The Commission said the correct information was now available and expressions should be made to tenders@escosa.sa.gov.au
28 April, 2011
ACC organises report
on organised crime
The Australian Crime Commission (ACC) has published a detailed report on organised crime in Australia defining its motivating force as greed.
Federal Minister for Home Affairs and Justice, Brendan O’Connor said Organised Crime in Australia provided government, industry and the public with the information they needed to better understand and respond to the threat of organised crime - now and into the future.
“Whether it’s amphetamine production, money laundering, online scams, corruption, fraud, identity crime or people smuggling – it’s all about the money for these criminal syndicates,” Mr O’Connor said.
“If there is an opportunity to make money, organised criminals will try to exploit it.”
He said the unclassified report was drawn from information gathered from the ACC’s Commonwealth, State and Territory partner agencies.
Mr O’Connor said the Commission had produced two other similar reports since 2008, but this edition was the most comprehensive profile of organised crime in Australia to date, and included the characteristics of those involved, what drives them and the activities they were involved in.
“Revealing these details for the first time is about being open with the Australian people and sharing what we’ve learned about organised crime operations in Australia,” Mr O’Connor said.
“We can all play a part in making life harder for criminals who want to suck money from the pockets of every Australian, and we can start by being well informed of the risks.”
Chief Executive of the Commission, John Lawler said it was important that Australians understood the threat of organised crime.
“If there was a ‘how to’ manual on waging war against organised crime, this report would comprise the first chapter,” Mr Lawler said.
“This is essential reading for Australian businesses and communities, so they can make informed decisions about risk and help make life difficult for organised criminals.”
Organised Crime in Australia is available at this PS News link.
28 April, 2011
Water study taps into
Northern and Yorke
A process to account for water demands and supplies in the Northern and Yorke region has commenced in an effort to ensure the area’s long-term water security.
Executive Director, Policy and Urban Water with the Department for Water, Julia Grant said the Regional Demand and Supply Statement would set a baseline of regional water resources and the demands upon it.
She said it would take stock of all water resources for drinking and non-drinking purposes, the current and projected future demands on these resources, and the likely timing of any possible future demand-supply imbalance.
Ms Grant said upon completion, the Northern and Yorke Regional Demand and Supply Statement would be used to inform a long-term approach to the region’s water supply.
“The Statement will provide us with a thorough understanding of the state of the local resources, the demand for them, and any likely future pressures,” Ms Grant said.
“It will allow for an integrated approach to water planning by including information to inform water allocation plans and SA Water’s Long Term Plans.”
She said the Statement would also be informed by local knowledge with the Department for Water beginning the process after presenting at the Mid North and Yorke Regional Combined Planning and Priority Review on 1 April in Clare.
“The Department has commenced engagement with key regional stakeholders to incorporate their input during the development of the Northern and Yorke Demand and Supply Statement,” Ms Grant said.
“The Northern and Yorke Demand and Supply Statement will also be reviewed annually and comprehensively updated on a five-yearly basis.”
She said the Statement was part of the Government’s commitment to ensuring South Australia’s water supplies were secure, safe, diverse and reliable, through Water for Good, which is South Australia’s water security plan to 2050.
Information about Regional Demand and Supply Statements and Water Planning in South Australia is available online at this PS News link.
28 April, 2011
Historic sites
make history
Forty-four projects to protect historic sites around Australia are to be supported with funding in the first year of the Commonwealth’s National Historic Sites program.
Federal Minister for Heritage, Tony Burke said the funding would help in areas such as building restoration, management planning, landscaping and interpretive signage, which would be of great benefit to the public’s understanding of these special places.
He said projects in every State, the ACT and Norfolk Island had received funding, allowing managers of significant heritage places across the country to start on essential works.
“Heritage is about the places and events that tell the story of Australia,” Mr Burke said.
“Protecting and conserving our heritage places build our sense of community and identity, it helps inform who we are, where we have come from and our development as a nation.”
He said projects to be funded under the first round of the National Historic Sites program included redevelopment and refurbishment of the Quorn Railway Station building for use as a visitor information centre at Pichi Richi Railway in South Australia; boiler restoration and drainage works at the Goulburn NSW Historic Waterworks; and the conservation and refurbishment of the former Rockhampton Supreme Court (QLD).
The Australian Academy of Science Shine Dome in the ACT would also receive funding to improve lighting and install interpretive signage; as would the Chapel of the Guardian Angel (WA), for restoration of the chapel, and the New Military Barracks (Norfolk Island), for the replacement of roof tiles and repair of defective roof timbers.
In Tasmania, the heritage gardens at Brickendon Historic Gardens will undergo a refurbishment.
Mr Burke said the National Historic Sites program would provide more than $17 million over four years for owners and managers of nationally significant historic sites to undertake vital work to preserve their properties for future generations.
Visit this PS News link for more information about the National Historic Sites program.
28 April, 2011
Medal tribunal to
pin down honours
The Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal is to inquire into the recognition of acts of bravery and valour to see if any of 13 Australian servicemen deserve the highest honour, the Victoria Cross.
The Commonwealth’s Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Senator David Feeney, said there had been numerous acts of gallantry and valour by Australian naval and military servicemen since World War I, and he was pleased that the independent Tribunal is to inquire into recognition for thirteen naval and military personnel.
He said the 13 servicemen were: Midshipman Robert Davies from Greenwich in Sydney; Lieutenant Commander Robert William Rankin from Cobar, NSW; Lieutenant Commander Francis Edward Smith from Lismore, NSW; Gunner Neale Cleary from East Geelong in Victoria; Leading Cook Francis Emms from Launceston, Tasmania; Lieutenant David Hamer of Melbourne; Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick from County Durham, UK;; Able Seaman Dalmorton Joseph Owendale Rudd (Unknown); Ordinary Seaman Edward Sheean from Devonport, Tasmania; Leading Aircrewman Noel Ervin Shipp from Julia Creek in Queensland; Lieutenant Commander Henry Hugh Gordon Dacre Stoker (Unknown); Leading Seaman Ronald Taylor (Unknown); and Captain Hector Macdonald Laws Waller, also unknown.
“A number of people have raised the issue of a Victoria Cross for former Defence Force personnel with the Government,” Senator Feeney said.
“Through the Terms of Reference, I have directed the Tribunal to make recommendations on the eligibility of the listed naval and military members to receive the Victoria Cross, the Victoria Cross for Australia or other forms of recognition for their service.”
He said as part of the Inquiry, the Tribunal would also receive submissions from interested members of the public for other Defence Force members who might also be worthy of appropriate recognition for an act of gallantry or valour.
Senator Feeney said these submissions must be supported by appropriate documentation, not just anecdotal evidence.
He said all submissions would be recorded, acknowledged, analysed and referred to the Government for decision concerning possible future action.
The Inquiry will be headed by the Chair of the Tribunal, Emeritus Professor Dennis Pearce and submissions would close on 30 June 2011.
The full terms of reference for the inquiry and guidance on how to make a submission are available from this PS News link.
28 April, 2011
Seed funding to grow
young farmers
Funds from the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry will enable the Murray Mallee Local Area Planning Association (LAP) to run a new program to equip young farmers with the skills and knowledge they need to become the regions’ new leaders.
The Mallee Mentors Program aims to link each mentee or young famer with an experienced farmer as mentor, to share information and be a source of support and leadership.
The Department said one of the planned outcomes was for strong relationships to be formed as a result of participating in this program.
It said the task was not onerous as mentors only needed to join their mentee in social aspects of the program and to be available to answer farming related questions on a casual basis.
According to the Department, other benefits of the program included a three-day trip to Eyre Peninsula to attend Grain and Graze presentations with participants staying with local farming families.
It said this provided an opportunity to develop ongoing relationships between the Murray Mallee and Eyre Peninsula farmers.
The Department said time had also been allocated for a fishing trip on a charter boat, weather permitting.
Mentees would also participate in three workshops, tailored to the groups’ needs with a focus on finance; risk management and planning for succession.
According to the Department, there had already been some responses to an earlier call last year and these people would be contacted soon to confirm their ongoing interest.
The Department urged others who were interested, or those who would like to nominate someone (eligible mentees aged between 18 and 30, mentors no age limit) to contact Merri Tothill, Rural Solutions SA, Murray Bridge on 8535 6407 or 0428 104 867.
28 April, 2011
Wallabies thrive in
Innes National Park
A survey conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Zoos SA has found the number of tammar wallabies in Innes National Park has more than doubled since 2009.
DENR Northern and Yorke District Ranger, Caroline Paterson said the population of wallabies, once thought to be extinct, were battling the odds for survival after travelling across the Tasman Sea from New Zealand to reside in Innes National Park.
Ms Paterson said land clearances and foxes caused tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii), native to mainland South Australia, to become extinct in the 1930s.
“In the 1990s a feral population of tammar wallabies was discovered in New Zealand,” Miss Paterson said.
“New Zealand authorities were considering a feral wallaby control program, so returning them to South Australia became a priority before the mainland tammar wallaby was lost forever.”
She said Innes National Park, on the southern Yorke Peninsula, was chosen as the most suitable reintroduction site, and an intensive fox control program was established in 2003 before 125 tammar wallabies were released in the park between 2004 and 2008.
“The wallabies that survived past the first month have gone on to live long lives, but survival following each release was relatively low, with the wallabies battling foxes, prolonged spells of cold, wet weather and disease,” Ms Paterson said.
“Surveys conducted in 2009 revealed only 26 of the 125 wallabies had survived, however those that had survived were known to be breeding, so all hope was not lost.”
She said surveys conducted in February 2011 provided a more positive result, with the number increasing since 2009 to 80 tammar wallabies.
Ms Paterson said the Fox Baiting for Biodiversity program had contributed to this success.
28 April, 2011
Water buyback in
river wash-up
The Federal Government is to call two new tenders for the buyback purchase of water in the Murray Darling river system in South Australia and Victoria.
Minister for Water, Tony Burke said the tenders for water purchases in the southern-connected system would open in Victoria and South Australia on May 2 and June 6 as part of the Government’s approach to having smaller rounds of ‘rolling’ tenders for buybacks in the Murray Darling Basin.
Mr Burke said each water purchase tender would be open for two weeks, following on from similar tenders conducted in February and March.
“I am determined to achieve a plan for the Murray Darling Basin that delivers healthy rivers, strong communities and continued food production,” he said.
Mr Burke said the scheme was part of the federal Government’s new approach to recovering water for the environment through smaller, more consistent tenders.
“We’ve seen the devastating impact of drought on farmers and regional communities,” he said.
“I am determined to make sure that these effects are not repeated the next time drought hits the Murray Darling Basin.”
He said this could be achieved by investing in infrastructure upgrades and improving the efficiency and productivity of the irrigation industry, while also recovering water for the rivers.
“These smaller, more regular water buyback tenders are aimed at giving communities confidence in a steady, measured pace of water purchasing,” Mr Burke said.
“The rolling tender approach provides irrigators with the opportunity to sell their water, with the added reassurance that more rounds will be available soon if their circumstances change or if their sell offer is not accepted.”
He said water purchases made under the buybacks would count towards any reduction in diversions needed to meet the final sustainable diversion limits under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and complements the Government’s substantial investments in more efficient irrigation water delivery and use.
Guidelines and the application forms for each tender round will be available from 2 May and 6 June by calling 1800 218 478 or visiting this PS News link.
28 April, 2011
Revamp for wildlife park
The public are invited to visit Cleland Wildlife Park and help re-vamp its wildlife enclosures and park gardens.
A free sausage sizzle lunch will be provided, and people will have the chance to meet some of the Park’s wildlife.
The Park will be open on 7 May, from 8.30am until 1.30pm.
Registrations are essential on 8130 9008 or email susan.mackenzie@sa.gov.au
Minister steps down
The Minister for Industrial Relations, Bernard Finnigan has resigned from Cabinet and Executive Council.
The portfolios of Industrial Relations and State/Local Government Relations have been allocated to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Patrick Conlon and Gambling has gone to the Minister for Regional Development, Gail Gago.
Premier Mike Rann said he didn’t intend filling the vacancy.
Pay offer rejected
Staff of the ACT Government have voted to reject a pay offer of 2.5 per cent over three years.
More than 10,000 of the territory’s public servants voted to reject the offer, with the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) demanding a pay rise of between 3.5 per cent and 4 per cent.
The CPSU aired fears that the current pay offer would make it difficult for the ACT public service to attract employees to replace the ranks of its rapidly ageing workforce.
The Chief Minister’s Department will now consult with cabinet regarding the pay offer, and will meet again with the CPSU early next month.
21 April, 2011
Executive charter
open for comment
The deadline for comment on a draft Charter for the South Australian Executive Service is fast approaching.
Developed by the Public Sector Performance Commission to guide the State’s PS leaders in their professionalism, performance and collaboration, the Charter will be open for public comment until 30 April.
The Commission said all feedback received would be considered as a part of the final document which would be presented to the Premier for endorsement.
It said the Charter had been developed in consultation with a small group of human resources representatives from across the public sector and addressed the purpose of the SAES; the roles of SAES members; eligibility requirements; performance management and development
It also looks at mandatory contractual requirements; structure and remuneration; and mobility arrangements.
The Commission said once published, the Charter would enshrine all the guiding values of the public sector’s senior leadership cohort and, as required by the Public Sector Act 2009, would apply to executives across the public sector.
According to the draft Charter, the purpose of the SAES is to maximise the performance of South Australian PS executives through strategic, targeted development and performance assessment; and develop a ‘whole-of-Government’ public sector identity and culture.
It says SAES members play a key role in leading and driving the core functions of the SA public sector, and had principal accountability for the output of their agencies.
The Charter says a hallmark of the SAES was that its members provide the highest level of executive performance to meet service and delivery needs, both at the agency and whole-of Government levels.
It says minimum standards for performance assessment would apply, including a formal performance assessment process to be undertaken at least annually with the assessments measured against the SAES Competency Framework and used to establish and monitor an individually tailored development plan.
According to the draft Charter, Chief Executives are to provide SAES members with at least two significant development or learning opportunities during the term of a 5-year contract and all new SAES members would undergo an induction program within the first year of appointment.
The draft Charter can be accessed at this PS News link.
21 April, 2011
Health draws line
on local networks
South Australia is to be divided into five Local Health Networks to manage public hospital and health services from 1 July.
Minister for Health, John Hill said the new structure would have three metropolitan networks; Northern, Central and Southern, along with two state-wide LHNs; one for Country and one for Children’s, Youth and Women’s services.
Mr Hill said the new structure put South Australia in line with the national process of development, following recent agreements by the Council of Australian Governments on national health and hospital reform.
“People will continue to receive care from public hospitals and community health services as usual, and for the vast majority of clinicians and staff, there will be little or no change to the way they work,” Mr Hill said.
“These changes will both save money and strengthen the involvement of clinicians in the management of the health system.”
He said the dissolution of the Adelaide Health Service would result in savings of about $1.5 million and a cut in the number of senior managers, but there would be no reduction in front line staff providing health services.
Mr Hill said the LHNs would manage the delivery of public hospital services and community based health services as determined by the State Government.
He said each LHN would have a Chief Executive Officer (CEO),and a governing council and members would ideally include at least one doctor, nurse and patient representative as well as people with other relevant skills and knowledge, including business and/or financial management.
Mr Hill said the new CEOs would be appointed for the three metropolitan LHNs when they were established on 1 July and SA Health would advertise for nominations for members of the governing councils.
21 April, 2011
Single safety law
the safest way
The Chair of Safe Work Australia, Tom Phillips has defended the national harmonisation of work health and safety (WHS) laws saying the process was not designed to reduce the size of WHS regulation but to ensure uniform safety standards were in place across the country.
Mr Phillips said the initiative was consistent with the requirements of the Inter-Governmental Agreement for Regulatory and Operational Reform in Occupational Health and Safety.
“This exercise is about harmonisation and putting everyone on the same page, it is not rationalisation or reform,” Mr Phillips said.
He said the content of the draft WHS Regulations was based on existing Work Health and Safety Regulations in each of the nine Australian jurisdictions, all of which were varied in length and content.
He said chapters of the draft WHS Regulations addressed hazards such as noise, confined spaces and falls, or specific industries such as construction, major hazard facilities or driving.
Mr Phillips said for national businesses, familiarity with only one set of work health and safety regulations would be easier than needing to know the nine sets that currently existed.
For these businesses, thousands of pages of regulations and rules would be replaced by the draft WHS Regulations which were about 580 pages.
“The model WHS Regulations needed to ensure effective safety standards and protections for all Australian workers without being overly prescriptive,” he said.
“It is not the number of pages or size that is important, but whether the model WHS Regulations will contain sufficient guidance to duty holders to ensure the health and safety of Australian workers.”
During a recent public comment process, submissions were made regarding concerns about the length and level of prescription in the draft regulations.
Mr Phillips said however that Safe Work Australia had already identified a number of ways the draft WHS Regulations could be reduced in size without compromising important policy objectives.
21 April, 2011
Services expand
at Clare centre
An upgraded centre for Government services has opened in Clare, offering a wider range of registration and licensing services to the local community.
Clare’s Service SA Rural Service Agent will enable members of the local community to order replacement or special number plates and replace or renew drivers’ licences and learners’ permits.
Minister for Government Enterprises and Regional Development, Gail Gago said the Government was committed to expanding the range of government information and services available in regional communities.
“The expansion of Service SA’s rural services will transform some existing Rural Agents into Service Agents and provide a greater number of popular registration and licensing services to regional communities,” Ms Gago said.
She said the additional services would be on top of those already available such as vehicle registration renewals and learner driver theory tests.
“The Clare community has sought this improved accessibility to registration and licensing transactions and the State Government has responded to this and has chosen Clare to be the pilot site for its new Service Agent program,” Ms Gago said.
“Service SA staff will be training the Country North Community Services staff in the additional range of services and transactions so the local community is able to access up to date information.”
For more information about the services and locations of Service SA Rural Agents and the new Clare Service Agent, call Service SA on 13 23 24 or visit this PS News link.
21 April, 2011
Disability makes
strong case
Statistics collected by the Department for Families and Communities are still showing a significant level of unmet demand for disability services in South Australia despite a slight decline in demand over the past 6 months.
Minister for Disability, Jennifer Rankine said that demand for disability services across Australia had intensified as the prevalence of some disabilities increased due to medical science improvements resulting in people living longer.
“Over the past five years, the number of South Australians receiving government funded disability services has increased by more than 30 per cent, from 15,081 in 2003-04 to 20,145” Ms Rankine said.
“Since the Rann Government came to office in 2002, spending on disability has increased by more than 93 per cent.”
She said the Department for Families and Communities’ Disability Services recorded any unmet or only partially met need among people eligible for disability services.
She said South Australia was the only State to publish such comprehensive unmet need data and from June that data would be made available each month to ensure the most up to date information was accessible.
“Since the figures were first published in December 2008, unmet need in South Australia had generally increased, however the latest December 2010 figures showed an overall reduction since June 2010 from 2,716 people to 2,602,” she said.
“Data for the past 6 months suggests that the level of overall unmet need may be stabilising.
“This might be explained by work on projects like our $73.8 million commitment for new disability housing for 379 people gradually coming online.”
Ms Rankine said while this was welcome news, the data showed that more needed to be done, and it was well recognised that across Australia, unmet need had been increasing.
21 April, 2011
Water statement
makes a splash
The Department for Water’s first Demand and Supply Statement has been issued for the Eyre Peninsula region.
Executive Director of Policy and Urban Water at the Department, Julia Grant said the State’s first Demand and Supply Statement was a step toward determining the availability of sufficient water supplies for a sustainable lifestyle, economy and environment in the region.
“The Statement provides a thorough understanding of the state of the local resources, the demand for them, and any likely future pressures,” Ms Grant said.
“It will help to inform a long-term approach to water supply for the Eyre Peninsula.”
She said the statement outlined the state and condition of all water resources for drinking and non-drinking purposes; the major demands on those resources; and likely timeframes for any possible future demand-supply imbalance.
“The statement identifies that there will be a need to augment the drinking quality water supply, or implement further demand management measures, by as early as 2017-18 under a ‘worst case scenario’ of population growth and climate change impacts, and by 2022-23 under a ‘best case scenario’,” Ms Grant said.
She said to address any identified gap in demand and supply, an Independent Planning Process would be established to assess demand management and supply augmentation options.
Ms Grant said this process would be independent of any existing Government processes, and would have local community representation.
“Following a cost-benefit analysis, recommendations will be made on how to address the shortfall in supply, including the possible role of Government, funding options and opportunities to engage the private sector in the delivery of the recommended approach,” she said.
“Under the Eyre Peninsula projections, the Independent Planning Process will not be required to be initiated until 2012-13 under a ‘worst case scenario’.”
To see the Eyre Peninsula Regional Demand and Supply Statement visit this PS News link.
21 April, 2011
Women’s program
in the pink
A new program to support women in the Defence and resources industries develop their knowledge and skills has been unveiled by the Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Jack Snelling.
Mr Snelling said the Women Influencing the Defence and Resources Industries Program was a joint initiative under the Industry Partnership Program, in collaboration with the Defence Teaming Centre and the Resources and Engineering Skills Alliance, and would support 60 women who were currently working in South Australia’s Defence and resources industries.
“The State Government is committed to growing and sustaining South Australia’s Defence and resources industries,” Mr Snelling said.
“We have a key target to increase the state’s Defence industry workforce to 28,000 by 2013, and we’re making good progress towards this target,” he said, “but if we are to maintain this growth, we’ll need to increase the number of women in the workforce.”
Mr Snelling said the resources industry currently employed more than 7,000 employees, but less than 10 per cent of those were female.
He said it was essential that the pool of very talented women in the sectors was developed and supported, particularly in the executive ranks, to influence workplace culture and improve equity and diversity.
“The Women Influencing the Defence and Resources Industries Program will develop these 60 women to influence decision making and business performance by supporting their roles and responsibilities as managers, directors, mentors and industry advocates,” he said.
“Over the course of the 11-month program, the women will participate in leadership and mentoring workshops and networking opportunities.”
Mr Snelling said participants would also have the opportunity to act as ambassadors for their industries in programs within the broader community.
He said the State Government had committed $100,000 to the project which would be matched by $100,000 from industry.
21 April, 2011
Alcohol campaign
worth drinking to
A new advertising campaign aimed at those who drink too much alcohol has been launched by Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia (DASSA).
Minister for Health and Substance Abuse, John Hill said the new campaign built on the previous ‘Drink too much, it gets ugly’ message.
“Excessive drinking can lead to serious injuries and illness, violence and relationship problems,” Mr Hill said.
“We really want young people to know that they are putting themselves and others at risk when they get drunk and that just four standard drinks double your risk of alcohol-related injury.”
Mr Hill said that in Australia, about a third of all falls and drownings were attributable to alcohol and every year in South Australia there were about 7,000 hospitalisations and 300 deaths associated with the drug.
He said the new campaign was targeted at the people most likely to take part in risky drinking behaviour – men aged 18 to 39 and women aged 18-29.
He said new commercials depicted three very real scenarios: two young men arrested after a booze-fuelled assault on another person; a young woman receiving attention from paramedics for alcohol poisoning; and rumours being spread about a woman who collapsed in a toilet after drinking too much.
“We have no qualms about the graphic nature of these commercials, because what they show is no different to what actually happens far too often,” Mr Hill said.
“What people don’t always think about though is the long-term repercussions of these incidents.
“An arrest for assault could seriously affect job prospects, alcohol poisoning can be fatal and public humiliation can be devastating.”
He said the campaign also addressed the question ‘How much is too much?’ which was asked by focus groups during its development.
21 April, 2011
Food warning not
to be scoffed at
SA Health has issued a warning to holidaymakers to be careful about food safety over the Easter break to avoid the dangers of food poisoning.
Director of Food Policy and Programs at SA Health, Dr Fay Jenkins said it was important that people took the time to prepare, store and transport their food safely.
“Nobody wants to spend their holidays’ sick with food poisoning,” Dr Jenkins said.
“The Easter weekend is a great time to relax and many of us go on short holidays or have picnics or barbeques with family and friends.”
She said these types of activities usually involved taking food in the car and if it was kept out of the fridge for several hours it could quickly reach temperatures that were ideal for bacteria to multiply.
She said there were a number of simple things people could do to avoid food poisoning.
“The most important thing is to keep food chilled for as long as possible before serving,” Dr Jenkins said.
“If you’re travelling by car, put your food in an esky with lots of ice and keep it in the air conditioned areas, rather than in the boot.”
She said people should avoid taking too much food that may go off and if possible, purchase food at the holiday destination, especially foods such as pre-prepared salads, dips, soft cheeses and deli meats.
Dr Jenkins said when cooking a barbeque, don’t put cooked meat or chicken back on the plate you used for the raw meat and be sure to cook sausages, patties and chicken right through so that juices run clear and there was no pink meat.
She said other useful Easter food safety tips were to clean chopping boards, knives and bench tops thoroughly to remove contamination between uses and if food had been out of the fridge for 4 hours or more – throw it out.
21 April, 2011
SA Health hammers
handyman warning
Do-it-Yourself enthusiasts have been urged to take proper precautions this Easter when working around the house to avoid getting hurt.
SA Health’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paddy Phillips said it was important that people put their safety first, especially when doing activities where they could fall and injure themselves.
“There were almost 10,000 admissions to public hospitals in SA last year as a result of accidents around home and more than 5,500 of these were the result of falls,” Professor Phillips said.
“A number of these accidents were caused by people falling while doing DIY activities.”
He said last year 175 people were admitted to hospitals after a fall from a ladder at home, and of those almost 62 per cent were males aged 50 years or over.
“While falls can happen to anyone, they are more common and more significant as we get older because we are more likely to injure ourselves and take longer to recover,” Professor Phillips said.
“You don’t have to fall far to be seriously injured - one to two metres can be enough to cause damage.”
He said the most common injuries caused by ladder accidents were broken bones and severe head injuries, including spinal injuries.
Professor Phillips said people often used the Easter long weekend as a time to tackle chores such as cleaning out gutters, painting, gardening or doing repairs that needed a ladder to reach high spaces.
He said people tackling these tasks needed to make sure they prepared properly by always using a safe ladder to reach high spaces; making sure that the ladder was positioned securely and was the right height so that they did not have to stretch or lean too far and always wear enclosed and slip resistant footwear.
He said more information about Falls Prevention and safety was available at this PS News link.
21 April, 2011
No flies on fruit
fly warning
Biosecurity SA has called on travellers from interstate not to bring fruit or vegetables into South Australia and for South Australian residents crossing the border not to bring it back when they return.
Manager of Plant and Food Standards for Biosecurity SA, Geoff Raven said that with the Easter break, Anzac Day and school holidays all falling concurrently there was an increased danger of fruit fly being brought into South Australia.
“South Australia is the only mainland state to be free of fruit fly and we need everyone’s help to keep it that way,” Mr Raven said.
He said before hitting the road, travellers should thoroughly check their vehicles, glove boxes, caravans and luggage for any fruit and vegetables before entering South Australia as complacency could be costly.
“We’re urging people to ‘Eat it, Bin it or Declare’ any fruit or vegetables before crossing the border into South Australia,” Mr Raven said.
“If you have friends or relatives visiting from interstate, remind them of our strict quarantine requirements.”
He said the fine for illegally bringing fruit into South Australia was $315, plus a $30 victim of crime levy; but there was no penalty if people voluntarily disposed of fruit in quarantine bins.
Mr Raven said one piece of maggot-infested fruit had the potential for making a huge impact on South Australia’s $480 million horticulture industry, as well as home-grown fruit.
He said that with the support of the Mid Murray Council and the Truro and Districts Community Association, an electronic, variable message sign would operate in the township of Truro over the Easter period.
He said until 27 April the sign would warn travellers to the Riverland not to traffic fruit or fruiting vegetables into the region, unless they had an itemised receipt or a Plant Health certificate for the produce.
21 April, 2011
Teacher standards
to pass the test
New national standards for teacher training have been welcomed by the Minister for Education, Jay Weatherill.
Mr Weatherill said under the new standards, students seeking to gain entry to teacher training would be required to possess literacy and numeracy skills equivalent to those of the top 30 per cent of the State’s young people.
He said training institutions would be obliged to provide extra support for aspiring student teachers who did not meet the requirements to give them the necessary skills when they graduated.
“We know that the quality of teaching is the single most important factor in schools affecting students’ learning,” Mr Weatherill said.
“Therefore, ensuring high standards for entry into the profession is crucial.”
He said there would also be new national standards governing teacher training courses, including the improvement of student teachers’ practical placements in schools.
Mr Weatherill said the new standards would take effect in 2013.
“The South Australian Government has been clear about its desire to improve both teacher quality and the status of the teaching profession,” the Minister said.
“The initiatives outlined in our Supporting our Teachers policy paper and the recently-launched Teaching Is Inspiring campaign are all directed at this aim.”
He said adoption of the new standards for the training of teachers would be a major contributor to those goals.
“It also is another important step in the work national education ministers are doing to raise the educational outcomes of all children,” Mr Weatherill said.
He said this latest decision complemented the work done by the Government and University of Adelaide, Flinders University and the University of South Australia on the teacher education taskforce.
21 April, 2011
Speed & alcohol drive
road safety failures
A new report on road safety from the Federal Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) reveals that speed, alcohol and drugs remain the major causes of fatalities on Australia’s roads.
Entitled Fatal Road crashes in Australia 1990s and 2000s: Crash types and major factors, the BITRE report was officially launched by the Commonwealth’s Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Transport, Catherine King.
Ms King said the report reinforced the intent of the draft National Road Safety Strategy 2011–2020.
“These statistics are alarming,” Ms King said.
“While we have been successful in reducing the road toll in the past 10 to 20 years, some realities have not changed at all and we really need to continue to drive home the messages.”
She said that as well as highlighting ongoing problems, the report identified new trends including an increase in motorcycle road deaths, an increase in fatal road crashes involving vehicles with one occupant and an increase in fatal crashes involving vehicles running off the road.
Ms King said drivers needed to recognise that many aspects of road use had changed over time and those changes must be accounted for.
“We have been working closely with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) to record any changes in patterns in serious injury and death from road crashes,” Ms King said.
“Its latest report shows significant increases in life-threatening injury in the 2000s.
“As we move to finalise the strategy I urge all road users to take responsibility for their actions and their lives, and the lives of others.”
The BITRE report can be accessed at this PS News link and the AIHW report Trends in serious injury due to land transport accidents, Australia 2000-01 to 2007-08 is available from this PS News link.
21 April, 2011
New aircraft for
Flying Doctor
A new aircraft for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) is soon to take to the skies following joint funding by the State and Federal Government and the RFDS itself.
Federal Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler said the aircraft was fitted out with the latest in aviation, communication and medical technology, and was capable of delivering health care services to three patients at a time.
“Such successful fundraising indicates the strength of public respect and appreciation for the RFDS, which has patient contact with some 276,000 Australians every year, and medically transports around 38,000 patients,” Mr Butler said.
“Its 21 bases support 60 aircraft flying around 25 million kilometres a year.”
He said in South Australia, the RFDS made contact with a patient every 20 minutes across more than 2.3 million square kilometres of land.
He said operating from bases in Adelaide, Port Augusta and Alice Springs, the RFDS Central Operations provided services across the State and into the Northern Territory south of Tennant Creek.
Mr Butler said the RFDS also played an important role in delivering mental health services as part of the Commonwealth’s Mental Health Services in Rural and Remote Areas Program.
He said the program was part of the Australian Government’s commitment to improving health infrastructure in rural Australia, and recognised that the RFDS was a high-quality and essential support for the future health care of regional and rural communities.
Mr Butler said the Commonwealth was providing up to $247 million to the RFDS over four years for the provision of traditional services such as health care clinics; primary aero-medical evacuations; and medical chests and remote consultations in rural and remote communities in South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
“We will soon finalise the next four-year agreement, to start in July this year, to help the RFDS keep residents of regional Australia healthy and safe, and to provide a rapid response for people who are injured or ill,” Mr Butler said.
21 April, 2011
Body image plan
looking good
A 2011 Body Image Summit has been held at Parliament House in Adelaide.
Minister for Youth, Grace Portolesi said the Summit followed findings from an Office for Youth report that poor body image, weight and obesity were significant concerns for young South Australians.
The report was entitled SA’s Young People: emerging issues and priorities.
“We know from research that there are many serious health risks associated with poor body image, including depression, low self-esteem and the development of eating disorders,” Ms Portolesi said.
“We need to hear from young people themselves what their concerns are and we’re giving them the opportunity to work with their peers to develop ideas on how best to tackle the problem.”
She said the participants in the Summit, almost 80 young South Australians, were nominated by a wide range of organisations concerned with youth and body image.
Ms Portolesi said their talks were informed by the result of a pre-Summit survey, conducted by the Office for Youth, of about 330 South Australians.
“This survey has given us lots of important insights into how our young people are feeling about how they look and how they think others see them - from children aged 9 through to young adults in their 20s,” she said.
“Participants also gave us their thoughts on what they believe could best help them feel better about their appearance.”
Ms Portolesi said the participants represented a great pool of personal experience and they came away with a lot of great ideas after the full-day workshop.
She said the Body Image Summit was a key action in
youthconnect, SA’s Youth Strategy 2010-14; and its outcomes would be presented at a forum in May to contribute to the Statewide Project Plan on Eating Disorders.
21 April, 2011
Firefighters heat up
winter warning
The Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) and Country Fire Service (CFS) have warned South Australian householders to ensure their chimneys and flues are clean and safe before winter, or face the possible threat of a fire.
District Officer of Community Safety with MFS, Allan Foster said the service responded to about 40 chimney and flue fires last year, many of which caused thousands of dollars in damage.
Mr Foster said chimney and flue fires could spread to the ceiling of a home if there were loose bricks, splits or cracks in the chimney, or if the flue was blocked with a build up of soot, ash or residue that might ignite.
“It’s important for people to have their chimneys and flues cleaned and checked ahead of winter to prevent the potential for fire to spread to the rest of your home,” Mr Foster said.
Manager for Prevention Services at CFS, Leigh Miller said it was also important for people to place a fire screen in front of a fireplace when in use to prevent fire or sparks from spreading to combustibles such as carpets or furniture.
“It’s especially important if you have an open fire which you can’t extinguish that you have a fire screen around it when you go to bed at night, as that’s when we are most vulnerable to house fires,” Mr Miller said.
He said fire screens were also an essential safety item for all combustion heaters and open fires to protect children from being burnt.
Mr Miller said people who planned to use a combustion heater or open fire this winter should follow basic safety measures, including having flues and chimneys inspected for damage and cleaned by a professional ahead of winter; any combustibles kept at least 2m from a fire place; hot ashes never to be placed in household or council bins; and matches and lighters to be kept well out of reach of children.
21 April, 2011
Cockatoo help is
cracker of a call
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is calling for community support once again to ensure the survival of Kangaroo Island’s Glossy Black Cockatoo.
Project Officer for the Glossy Black Cockatoo Project at DENR, Mike Barth said the 2011 nesting season was in full swing with more than 30 active nests recorded to date.
Mr Barth said volunteers would be required for Drooping Sheoak tree plantings in June/July and the annual census in October.
He said Kangaroo Island was the only place in South Australia where the Glossy Black Cockatoo now lived.
“The Glossy Black Cockatoo in South Australia is endangered due to habitat loss and nest predation, so we need to act now to ensure these precious birds are around for future generations,” he said.
“Volunteers of the Glossy Black Cockatoo Recovery Program, which began in 1995, have contributed greatly to the success of the recovery effort, with Island residents and visitors assisting with activities such as nest searching and monitoring, habitat restoration and the annual census.”
He said the volunteers’ efforts had contributed to a steady increase in the population from less than 200 birds in the mid 1990s to an estimated 320 birds today.
Mr Barth said, in 2010, more than 50 volunteers dedicated more than 250 hours of their time assisting with activities such as nest watching and habitat restoration.
“Evenings were spent monitoring active nests and recording behaviours to provide crucial information that determines whether nesting attempts are successful,” he said.
“A total of 8,000 Drooping Sheoak trees were also planted on Kangaroo Island in 2010 to provide more food for Glossies.”
The Glossy Black Cockatoo Recovery Program is managed by DENR with Government funding administered through the Kangaroo Island Natural Resources Management Board.
Anyone interested in volunteering or reporting sightings can contact DENR’s Mike Barth on 8553 4444 or email: michael.barth@sa.gov.au
21 April, 2011
Fruit fly found
A fruit fly outbreak has been declared at Port Augusta following detection of 16 male Mediterranean fruit flies in a trap at Port Augusta West.
A 1.5km quarantine area has been declared around the detection site and will last until at least mid November, but may be extended if additional “wild” flies or infestations are found or if weather conditions affect the program.
The quarantine area, near where the Eyre and Stuart Highways intersect, is bounded by Baluch Road, Caroona Road, Stuart and Eyre Highways Madland Street, Slade Road, Eyre Highway, and Kittel Street.
Any maggots found in fruit or vegetables can be reported to the 24-hour Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010.
Police popular on Facebook
Following the launch of SA Police News on Facebook eight weeks ago, the SAPOL site has surpassed 10,000 fans.
Facebook has proven to be a very effective means to relay police news to the public in real time.
SAPOL said it was extremely pleased with the results and the constant feedback provided by all its fans.
To become a SA Police News fan go to this PS News link.
New station for Roxby Downs
A new $7.9 million police station has been unveiled at Roxby Downs.
The state-of-the art facility will better cater for the needs of the expanding population in the region and will provide police with the most up-to-date working environment and resources.
The new police station will cater for 30 sworn officers and two administrative staff, and will feature an expanded patrol base; specialist areas for Criminal Investigation Branch, Crime Scene Investigation, Forensic Services and Criminal Justice Service; a new cell complex; storage facilities and nine covered car parking spaces for SAPOL patrol and operational vehicles; and enclosed forensic vehicle inspection bay and additional car parks.
Public space grants
More than $3.7 million is to be provided to Local Government to improve public spaces throughout South Australia.
The funding through the Open Space and People for Places grants will support 16 projects from Victor Harbor to Wilmington.
The projects include significant funding to the Adelaide City Council to develop the Adelaide Parklands Trail and new recreation facilities in Bonython Park.
The development of the Adelaide Parklands Trail will establish vital cycling and walking linkages to connect adjacent developments including the new Royal Adelaide Hospital, the tramline and nearby train station, the Bowden Village and the redevelopment of the Torrens Riverbank Precinct.
Bowls trophy to Australia
Australia has won a trophy at the 53rd Australian Police Bowls Championships, held at Holdfast Bay Bowling Club.
Victoria won the Sides Championship, which saw more than 160 players from police forces around Australia and the Hong Kong police Lawn Bowling Club compete.
The week-long program featured a festival atmosphere of entertainment, fine foods, fashion parades and daily social bowls.
Winning teams were presented with their awards at a gala presentation night.
14 April, 2011
SA plays it safe on
work safety laws
South Australia is the first State in the nation to begin the process of harmonising Australia’s workplace safety laws.
Minister for Industrial Relations, Bernard Finnigan has tabled in Parliament the first Bill containing the proposed new model legislation.
Mr Finnigan said the Work Health and Safety Bill 2011 was an important moment in the history of workplace safety in South Australia.
“South Australia has been at the forefront of harmonisation since the process began,” Mr Finnigan said.
“We have been working cooperatively with South Australian employer and employee groups, the local SafeWork SA Advisory Committee, Safe Work Australia and the other States and Territories to reach this point.”
He said the Model Work Health and Safety Act had been agreed to nationally and endorsed by the Workplace Relations Ministers’ Council and Safe Work Australia.
He said each jurisdiction would enact legislation that mirrored the Model Act by January 1, 2012 – the nominated date for the legislation to take effect across Australia.
“Harmonised work health and safety laws will slash red tape for business operators while maintaining a high level of protection for employees,” Mr Finnigan said.
“It will also provide for greater labour mobility, with training and licences recognised across states and territories.”
Mr Finnigan said organisations would have to comply with just one set of laws regardless of the number of States or Territories in which they operated, thereby reducing their compliance costs.
He said the legislation was generally consistent with current laws, however penalties would rise for a number of serious offences, up to $3 million for a body corporate.
14 April, 2011
Schools Officers
go up a grade
More permanent positions have been announced for School Services Officers and Early Childhood Workers in South Australian schools.
Minister for Education, Jay Weatherill said about 800 temporary school staff had been given permanent full-time and permanent part-time positions in the latest Government initiative to provide job security in the education workforce.
“School services officers and early childhood workers are unsung heroes in our schools and preschools,” Mr Weatherill said.
“Their day-to-day work includes dealing with parental inquiries, providing office and IT administration, supporting students with disabilities and helping run classes and laboratories.”
He said the Department of Education and Children’s Services reviewed the employment arrangements of temporary school support staff after the release of the South Australian Education Staff Enterprise Bargaining Award in 2010.
Mr Weatherill said most temporary employees who worked more than 15 hours a week for the past two years were offered permanent positions.
He said the Department had also opened up a review process so that other long-term School Services Officers, with the support of their schools, could seek to be made permanent even if they did not quite meet the eligibility criteria.
He said this would include long-term casual employees, and employees who may have worked for 15 hours a week for all but a few weeks in the two-year period.
Mr Weatherill said the recruitment initiative followed the announcement last month of the new Teacher Recruitment Policy, which aimed to move more teachers from contract positions to permanent positions.
He said extra School Services Officers had been provided for disability support to ensure that any special class – whether in a special school, special unit or special class within a school, had at least one SSO.
The Minister said the initiative came on top of funding in the Budget to ensure more SSOs were in schools.
14 April, 2011
Wills have a way
for law reformers
The first references to the new Law Reform Institute are reviews of the laws governing wills and estates and the impact of new technology on evidence presented to Courts.
Attorney-General John Rau announced the references saying they were decided at the first meeting of the Institute last week.
Mr Rau said the references showed the value of reinstating a body to examine law reforms, more than 20 years after the Law Reform Commission was disbanded in the late 1980s.
He said the Institute, which is a collaboration between the Attorney-General’s Department, the Law Society and the University of Adelaide, would play a key role in improving the administration of justice in South Australia.
“The Institute will help modernise, simplify and consolidate laws and the administration of the justice system,” Mr Rau said.
“The first references reflect this role.”
He said the Institute’s first duties would be to review parts of the Evidence Act to make sure it reflected modern communication technology, such as text messages as well as laws relating to “succession” meaning wills, family provision and the administration of estates.
“The (Evidence) Act still refers to “telegraphic messages that have been sent by electric telegraph”, Mr Rau said.
He said the ‘succession’ reference would see the Institute look at options to modernise laws relating to such issues as Power of Attorney; inconsistency across Australian jurisdictions; how estates were treated for people who died without leaving a will; and people who passed away and left property interstate.
Director of the Institute and Dean of Law at the University of Adelaide, Professor John Williams, said the Institute’s work had exciting possibilities.
“The Institute will place South Australia at the forefront of law reform in Australia,” Professor Williams said.
14 April, 2011
All roads lead to new
rural address scheme
A new system for addressing properties in rural areas is being implemented across the State to make it easier to find people and places.
A joint initiative of the State and Local Governments, the new addressing system, which complies with national Australian standards, would see every rural property identified by a number based on the distance of its entrance along the road, the name of the road and the locality and postcode of the property.
Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Bernard Finnigan said more than 50,000 properties across rural South Australia would receive an official rural address.
“The new system will make it easier for service providers to find properties in rural areas,” Mr Finnigan said.
“It will provide certainty of location, which will also enhance safety in potential emergency situations.”
He said an official name would be required for every occupied road in rural South Australia, thereby reducing confusion among emergency services and general service providers.
“Many properties are located on previously unnamed roads, so emergency services personnel and other service providers have relied on local knowledge to find them,” Mr Finnigan said.
“The new property addressing system will mean faster identification for a range of services including Australia Post, vets, livestock officers and representatives from water, telephone and power utilities.”
He said the Government had been working with councils and the community to determine suitable names for rural roads.
“Every effort has been made to recognise the names in common use locally,” Mr Finnigan said.
“A number of roads have been given traditional indigenous names or names that honour persons who have contributed to the history and development of the district.”
He said rural addressing and signage would first be rolled out by Councils in the Adelaide Hills, Riverland, Mallee, South East and Lower Eyre Peninsula.
It is expected that rural addresses would be allocated State-wide during 2011.
For up-to-date road maps visit this PS News link.
14 April, 2011
Chief Scientist has
formula for success
Adjunct Professor Don Bursill has been appointed South Australia’s new Chief Scientist.
Premier Mike Rann announced the appointment saying Professor Bursill would bring a wealth of experience in water science to the role, reflecting the significance of science in key areas of industry expansion and sustainability in South Australia.
“Having been at the forefront of the most important developments and decisions regarding potable water in Australia for the past 40 years, Professor Bursill has outstanding credentials to lead South Australia forward,” Mr Rann said.
He said as SA’s Chief Scientist, Professor Bursill would help raise the State’s Research and Development profile and ensure our research and development capabilities supported important and emerging industry sectors such as health, resources, defence and agriculture.
“He will continue the fine efforts of his predecessor, Dr Ian Chessell, in enhancing the links established between government, academia and industry and to ensure that South Australia strongly benefits from the practical application of research,” Mr Rann said.
“Among a range of senior appointments, Professor Bursill has been a member of the Board of the Global Water Research Coalition, Water Advisory Committee of the National Health and Medical Research Council, and the Premier’s Climate Change Council.”
He said Professor Bursill would also Co-Chair the Premier’s Science and Research Council.
“In this capacity, Professor Bursill’s experience in networks in government and applied research, his ability to communicate effectively with scientists and non scientists and his broad knowledge of both research and administration, will prove invaluable,” Mr Rann said.
Minister for Science and Information Economy, Jay Weatherill welcomed the appointment.
“Professor Bursill’s attitudes to innovation excellence, combined with his experience through a long and successful career as an eminent research leader in South Australia, make him ideally placed to provide thoughtful, credible and independent advice to the Government,” Mr Weatherill said.
14 April, 2011
Health falls into
falls campaign
SA Health has joined a national push to raise awareness about falls and fall-related injuries by getting behind April as Falls Prevention Month.
Chief Public Health Officer with SA Health, Dr Stephen Christley said the impact of falls on the State’s health system was significant.
“Last year, there were approximately 13,000 admissions into SA’s public hospitals, relating to injuries sustained from falls,” Dr Christley said.
“Almost 60 per cent of these were people aged 65 years and over.”
He said falls could happen to anyone, but they were more common and more significant as people became older, because they were more likely to injure themselves.
“Older people sustain injuries from a fall almost four times more often than the whole population,” Dr Christley said.
He said one reason for this was conditions such as osteoporosis, which older people could have but sometimes be unaware of until they had a bone fracture as the result of a fall.
“It is important that people of all ages are aware about the potential risks of falling and how they can try to avoid getting injured,” Dr Christley said.
He said there were a number of reasons that people fell, including muscle and joint weakness and pain, dizziness or unsteady balance, some medications, poor eyesight, and hazards in the home.
“Activities such as strength and balance exercises in daily routines, having glasses and medication checked and removing potential hazards from the home, can all help reduce the risk of falling and getting injured,” Dr Christley said.
“It is important that people discuss any fall with their doctor or health professional, so they can help to identify any risks and suggest ways to manage them.”
He said there were a number of easy to understand and helpful booklets and fact sheets available, which provided information on how to stay healthy, prevent falls and what to do if you do fell.
14 April, 2011
Facebook to drive
MyLicence page
The road safety resource MyLicence is to set up a presence on Facebook as a way of presenting its messages to young drivers.
Minister for Road Safety, Tom Kenyon said the social networking site was being used to encourage young drivers to stay in touch with the latest road safety news and videos.
“Despite steady falls in South Australia’s road toll during the past decade, young drivers continue to be over-represented in road crashes,” Mr Kenyon said.
“To combat this deadly toll, it is essential our road safety messages reach young people in a way in which they can relate and access regularly.”
Mr Kenyon said the MyLicence group on Facebook was an interactive page that provided important driving and road safety advice and regular updates on rules affecting L and P drivers.
“This fantastic initiative reaches out to young drivers in particular, with valuable advice and tips to drive safely on our roads and easy to access information.”
Mr Kenyon said the group contained links to the MyLicence website for more information about the licence stages and rules, links to the online learner theory practice test and hazard perception test as well as broadcasting regular road safety video clips sent to MyLicence e-newsletter subscribers.
He said this included advice and tips about a wide range of road safety issues affecting young drivers, including driving at dusk, leaving a safe braking distance and how to buy a safe car.
Director Road Safety, at the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure, Martin Small said it was easy to join the MyLicence group.
“If you are already signed up to Facebook, go to www.mylicence.sa.gov.au and click the ‘like’ button at the bottom of the page,” Mr Small said.
“Young drivers and their parents are both encouraged to get online to take advantage of the MyLicence Facebook group,” he said.
14 April, 2011
Smoking program a
kick in the butt
An SMS-based support program to help people quit smoking has signed up almost 1,200 users in its first six months.
Minister for Health, John Hill said more than two thirds of the people who had registered with the free text message service had never enrolled in a Quit program before.
“Quit SA is branching out to reach smokers with tailored support when and how they need it,” Mr Hill said.
“Giving up cigarettes is tough and the SMS service is effective and unique because your phone is always with you and so are the positive messages of support and encouragement.”
He said the greatest demand for the text message service has been among 30 to 44 year-olds (42 per cent of registrations) and people living in metropolitan areas (69 per cent).
Mr Hill said the start of Quit SA’s 12-month Quit onQ trial in August last year coincided with an increase in Government funding for advertising promoting the quit message.
He said people who registered with Quit onQ were able to set the number of text messages they wanted to receive each day and when they wanted to receive their first and last messages.
He said and smokers could also get extra help if they experienced cravings by texting TEMPT’ or ‘SOCIAL’ or ‘STRESS’ and receive a rapid response text message to help them through.
Mr Hill said if a client wanted to speak with a Quitline counsellor he or she could text ‘QUITLINE’ and receive a free call to help work through the challenge.
Participants could also stop and then reactivate the program at any time.
The Quit onQ program was developed by the Cancer Council Victoria and is being used first by Quit SA.
Smokers can register for Quit onQ at this PS News link, or by calling the Quitline 13 7848.
14 April, 2011
Young men at odds
with gambling
Young men with a gambling problem are the targets of a new advertising campaign launched jointly by the Department for Families and Communities and members of the gambling industry.
Minister for Families and Communities, Jennifer Rankine, said the campaign would target men aged 18-34 at risk of developing – or who already had – a gambling problem.
“This campaign targets an audience who are at risk of developing a gambling problem, but who can be difficult to reach with general awareness campaigns,” Ms Rankine said.
“It highlights the fact that in many cases, what gamblers stand to ‘win’ is actually things they have already lost through compulsive gambling, such as relationships and employment.”
She said the advertisements encouraged young men to visit a new website www.winbackyourlife.com.au where they could answer a series of questions about gambling that would provide more information about where to get help if they needed it.
“Dealing with problem gambling at the early stages can prevent the problem from getting worse to the point where the gambler loses everything,” Ms Rankine said.
She said the campaign aimed to raise awareness about the signs of problem gambling and the help services available.
Minister for Gambling, Bernard Finnigan said the campaign reflected the commitment of the Government and industry to prevent problem gambling.
“Young men can be particularly vulnerable to developing a gambling problem,” Mr Finnigan said.
Ms Rankine said the campaign would include advertising on radio, bus shelters, online and ATM screens, and would run throughout April and June this year.
“The new campaign is simply asking young males to check their gambling habits and to seek help if they think their gambling is getting out of control,” she said.
The campaign has been funded through the Gamblers Rehabilitation Fund – a joint initiative of the Department for Families and Communities, the Australian Hotels Association, Licensed Clubs’ Association and Adelaide Casino.
14 April, 2011
Election boundaries
on the edge
The South Australian public has been invited to offer its ideas and suggestions on redistributing the 11 Federal electoral boundaries in the State.
The Australian Electoral Commission(AEC) has called for written suggestions and comments from interested individuals and organisations.
Electoral Commissioner Ed Killesteyn said written submissions must be received by the Redistribution Committee by Friday, 6 May, 2011 to allow them to be considered.
Mr Killesteyn said that when making its proposal for revised electoral boundaries, the Committee must ensure that the number of electors in each division met strict numerical criteria.
“In addition, the Committee will consider communities of interest, means of communications and travel, and the physical features and area of the proposed divisions,” Mr Killesteyn said.
“The boundaries of existing divisions in South Australia will also be taken into account.”
He said the independent Redistribution Committee was made up of the Electoral Commissioner, the Surveyor-General for South Australia, the Auditor-General for South Australia, and the Australian Electoral Office’s State Manager for South Australia.
Mr Killesteyn said individuals and organisations intending to submit suggestions about the boundaries or names of the electoral divisions should visit the AEC website for further information about the redistribution process.
He said suggestions and comments could be lodged with the Redistribution Committee in person at the 9th floor, 1 King William Street, Adelaide, by mail to GPO Box 344, Adelaide, SA, 5001, fax to (08) 8237 6584; or email to saredistribution@aec.gov.au
He said the Committee would continue its consultation process by making all suggestions received available for public inspection at the AEC’s Adelaide Office and on the AEC website from Monday, 9 May 2011.
The public will then have until 6pm on 20 May to lodge any written comments they may have on the suggestions.
14 April, 2011
Nightshift decision
saves the day
A decision to abandon nightshifts for roadblocks at Yamba and Ceduna has been rejected by the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Michael O’Brien, who said they would be retained in light of recent fruit fly outbreaks.
Mr O’Brien said the original decision to consider closing the nightshift was based on advice that risks had been significantly reduced through the success of various measures, however, recent fruit fly outbreaks in the eastern States suggested South Australia needed to increase its vigilance.
“The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority is also considering whether to remove from sale the two major insecticides used to combat this pest, a decision that would also have an enormous bearing on our fruit fly program,” Mr O’Brien said.
He said South Australia’s quarantine roadblocks currently operated 24-hours a day at Ceduna on the West Coast and Yamba in the Riverland; and roadblocks at Pinnaroo and Oodla Wirra operated seasonally.
He said as well as 24-hour roadblocks, the Riverland was also protected from fruit fly through random roadblocks and quarantine disposal bins at entry points to the region.
He said a decision to end the nightshift for the fruit fly road back was deferred last year until June 2011 to enable industry to be consulted on potential cost-sharing options.
“The South Australian Government through PIRSA will continue to discuss options for covering the budget shortfall caused by the decision to retain the nightshifts at Yamba and Ceduna,” Mr O’Brien said.
“I also plan to talk to the West Australian Minister for Agriculture next week about the potential to combine our Nullarbor roadblock operations rather than have separate stations either side of the border.”
Minister O’Brien stressed that South Australia’s fruit fly program had a strong track record of protecting the local citrus and stone fruit growing industries.
14 April, 2011
Pet owners warned
on pest control
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has issued a warning to pet owners not to release unwanted animals into public areas.
It also warned against removing native animals from their natural habitats.
DENR’s Manager of Animal Welfare, Deb Kelly said there had been a number of recent cases of native parrots suffering from infectious diseases thought to have been caused by unwanted pet birds released into the wild.
“There have also been reports of unwanted pet turtles that have been released into natural and man-made wetlands and other water bodies being taken by people fishing,” Ms Kelly said.
“Unwanted pets can pose a serious threat to native animals, and dumped pets can carry diseases from captive situations into the wild population.”
She said anyone who had a pet that had outgrown its tank, had become too noisy, or simply was no longer wanted had the responsibility to find the animal a new and suitable home, rather than dumping it in the wild.
“Owners of pets have a responsibility to manage and care for them appropriately whether they are native animals, or dogs and cats,” Ms Kelly said.
“This obligation applies even if they can no longer care for the animal for any reason.”
She said unwanted pets were unlikely to cope in the wild because they were not used to recognising wild foods, and had not learnt skills like hunting and finding shelter, and they would usually die soon after being released.
“Those that do survive compete with the animals that lived in the area before the pet was released, reducing their likelihood of survival,” Ms Kelly said.
She said native animals should never be taken out of the wild, and catching or trapping native animals might constitute an offence which was punishable by fines and even a jail term.
She said a number of organisations could assist with relocating unwanted pets, including the RSPCA and wildlife rescue organisations.
14 April, 2011
Medical centre has
healthy birthday
The Flinders Medical Centre has been congratulated on its 35th anniversary.
Minister for Health, John Hill said FMC was the first medical school and teaching hospital in Australia to be planned and built as one institution.
“I would like to congratulate past and present staff and volunteers of FMC for contributing to its international reputation for outstanding patient care, teaching and research,” Mr Hill said.
He said FMC employed about 4,000 staff and was supported by more than 600 volunteers, who provided services to people across Australia, from Darwin in the Northern Territory to Mount Gambier in South Australia’s south east.
Mr Hill said FMC provided a valuable service to people of southern Adelaide in combination with Repatriation General Hospital and Noarlunga Hospital, with approximately 60,000 Emergency Department presentations and 350,000 outpatient consultations each year.
FMC was also home to the South Australian Eye Bank and the South Australian and Northern Territory Liver Transplant Unit.
Mr Hill said some of FMC’s achievements since it opened in 1976 included South Australia’s first IVF baby in 1982; the first cochlear implant in Australia in 1986; South Australia’s first helipad for emergency patients in 1990; and in 1994 it became the first hospital in Australia to become a member of the World Health Organisation Health Promoting Hospital Network.
He said in 1997 FMC was also the first hospital in South Australia to create a major Arts in Health program; in 2005 it launched a campaign to build Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer; and, earlier this year the new Acute Medical Unit opened.
Mr Hill said the FMC redevelopment project, which included an expansion of the Emergency Department and operating theatres would secure the future of first-class services for people in the southern suburbs.
14 April, 2011
Protection layered
on for strata titles
New laws that offer extra protection to the owners of community and strata titled properties have been introduced into Parliament by the Attorney-General, John Rau.
Mr Rau said the Statutes Amendment (Community and Strata Titles) Bill 2011 required body corporate managers to hold professional indemnity insurance to protect community and strata corporations from negligence by managers.
He said the legislation would coincide with the start of a new, free information service to owners of community and strata titled properties.
“This can be a difficult area of law,” Mr Rau said.
“For this reason, I’m sure many people will welcome a new specialist telephone service, to be run by the Legal Services Commission, to provide expert information and legal advice on community and strata titles.”
He said extra protection provided by the legislation would include giving community and strata corporations the right to end a contract with their body corporate manager, and to change managers at any time.
Mr Rau said it would also allow unit owners to revoke proxy nominations at any time and to attend meetings and vote if they wanted to, even if they had previously nominated a person to act as their proxy. It would also introduce a penalty notice system to help community and strata corporations enforce their by-laws.
Mr Rau said that for new developments, protections to purchasers off-the-plan would be increased by making it clear that developers must act in the best interests of the community corporation that would run the new complex.
“For example, developers must not enter into long-term agreements with body corporate managers or others that benefit the developer at the expense of the purchasers,” he said.
“This package of legislative changes, coupled with the new advice service, is a landmark reform which significantly strengthens the protection offered to community and strata corporations,” Mr Rau said.
14 April, 2011
Channel regulators
out of their depth
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has asked the Commonwealth to extend its deadline for removing the regulators in the Goolwa Channel to protect the environment.
Chief Executive of the DENR, Allan Holmes said the Clayton regulator would be removed as soon as possible after funding was secured.
“The regulators - near Clayton and in the Currency Creek - were built in 2009 as an emergency measure to avert large-scale acidification in the region by keeping water levels above critical acidification triggers,” Mr Holmes said.
“Approval for the construction of the regulators was granted by the Commonwealth under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.”
He said DENR had applied to the Commonwealth for the removal date to be extended to June 2012 for the Clayton regulator, and March 2013 for the Currency Creek regulator.
“This timeframe is a worst case scenario, and it remains the State Government’s intention to fully remove the Goolwa Channel regulators as soon as possible after funding has been secured,” Mr Holmes said.
He said increased flows enabled the Clayton regulator to be partially removed last year, and the reconnection of the Goolwa Channel with Lake Alexandrina had led to significant water quality improvements and averted the risk of acidification.
He said removal work could not begin until a funding agreement was in place.
“A formal proposal to remove the Clayton regulator is being finalised, and work will begin soon after a funding agreement,” he said.
“However, removing the Currency Creek regulator is more complex and further investigations need to be undertaken before a formal funding proposal can be made to the Commonwealth and the Murray Darling Basin Authority.”
Mr Holmes said the fact that the Currency Creek regulator was underwater, and connectivity in the system had returned, meant more time could be taken to plan its removal so that environmental impacts were minimised.
14 April, 2011
Watchdog sinks teeth
into fast food outlets
A random crackdown on fast food outlets in South Australia by the Fair Work Ombudsman has found almost 70 per cent complying with Federal workplace laws.
Fair Work inspectors checked the books of 87 fast food outlets in Adelaide, Mount Barker, Murray Bridge, Nuriootpa, Port Augusta, Goolwa and Victor Harbor.
Executive Director of the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Office, Michael Campbell said the inspectors found 60 businesses (69 per cent) were compliant, while 27 (31 per cent) had ‘contraventions’.
He said 11 fast food outlets in Croydon, Dernancourt, Edwardstown, Fulham, Gawler, Port Adelaide and West Beach were found to have underpaid a total of 53 staff almost $13,400.
Mr Campbell said all businesses co-operated with inspectors and voluntarily reimbursed all employees their outstanding entitlements without the need for further action.
He said other contraventions identified by inspectors related mainly to payslips and record-keeping.
Mr Campbell said fast food outlets were targeted for attention because of the large number of vulnerable workers they employed, including young people and migrant workers.
He said key stakeholders were advised ahead of the audits, including the National Retailers Association, Shop Distributive & Allied Employees Association, Business SA and master franchisors of popular fast food franchises.
Mr Campbell said the campaign identified a number of employers who were failing to increase pay rates for junior employees on their birthday.
“In a number of instances, employers had not registered trainee contracts with Traineeship and Apprenticeship Services,” Mr Campbell said.
“Our preference is always to work with employers to educate them and help them voluntary rectify any non-compliance issues.”
The Fair Work Ombudsman has provided a ‘fast food’ page on its website at this PS News link to provide employers with industry-specific resources.
14 April, 2011
War memorials
not forgotten
Twelve projects worth $24,671 have been announced for South Australia as part of the Federal Government’s Saluting Their Service grants to honour Australia’s wartime heritage.
Federal Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Warren Snowdon said overall funding worth $224,165 would be provided for 93 new projects, which would commemorate those who served, and continue to serve, Australia in wars, conflicts and peace operations.
He said Saluting Their Service provided funds to help communities build and maintain memorials, capture the wartime history of their towns, and preserve memorabilia for future generations.
“This funding will support an array of initiatives across Australia, including veterans’ reunions, unit histories, new places of remembrance and enhancements to existing memorials, school initiatives, and preservation and display of Australian wartime memorabilia,” Mr Snowdon said.
Mr Snowdon said local community and ex-service organisations interested in applying for funding should visit www.dva.gov.au/grants, or call their nearest DVA office on 133 254 (for metropolitan callers) or 1800 555 254 (for non-metropolitan callers).
The South Australian recipients included Bowhill Lutheran Church, to help replace the flagpole at the Bowhill Anzac Memorial; Clare RSL Sub-branch, to help upgrade the Clare Second World War Memorial; Cowell RSL Sub-branch, to help preserve, restore and display wartime memorabilia at the Cowell RSL Sub-branch and purchase three mannequins to display service uniforms; Keith RSL Sub-branch, to help produce a photographic inventory of memorabilia at the Keith RSL Subbranch and record the story behind the memorabilia; and Royal Australian Regiment Association South Australia Branch Inc, Linden Park; to help print a unit history titled A Potted History of the Royal Australian Regiment in the Korean War 1950-1953, copies of the booklet will be printed and presented to veterans at the service on 20 April 2011 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Kapyong and the Korean War.
14 April, 2011
Disability education
Young people with disabilities are set to benefit from $50,000 in “Don’t Cross the Line” community education funding.
The campaign aims to demonstrate what is and isn’t acceptable behaviour in relationships and seeks to reduce violence in South Australian families.
This round of grants targets communities and organisations that will educate young people with a disability about respectful relationships and violence against women.
Successful grant recipients include Tutti Ensemble, which will raise awareness around sexual assault, rape and domestic violence in Adelaide’s communities with disabilities, and Yarredi Services, which will be working with 18-to-25-year-olds with a disability to produce a DVD about respectful relationships.
Rebate scheme for alerts
A rebate scheme to help older South Australians buy and maintain personal alert systems has been launched.
The rebate will provide eligible South Australians with a one-off payment of up to $380 for purchase and installation of personal alert systems, and up to $250 a year to help pay for ongoing monitoring services.
To be eligible during the first phase of the rebate, people will need to: be aged 85 years or older; have a Centrelink Pensioner Concessions Card or Department of Veterans’ Affairs Pensioner Concession Card; be living alone, be alone for most of the day or night, or have a carer who is unable to provide assistance in case of an emergency; be at high risk of falls, or suffer from a medical condition that requires an immediate and urgent response in an emergency; and, have a referral from an appropriate health professional.
Market goes solar
A solar energy system for the Adelaide Central Market has been launched as part of the Federal Government’s Solar City Program.
Federal MP for Adelaide, Kate Ellis said the project showed how state-of-the-art solar technology could be successfully integrated into a historic building.
The 50 kilowatt system includes 288 panels covering 1,000 square metres.
Belair open house
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is hosting an “open house” information session to give the community the chance to learn more about work to upgrade the Belair National Park.
The work includes new and restored shelters, new barbecue facilities, new toilet facilities, improved car parking and improved safety.
The information sessions at the Belair National Park Information Office, Upper Sturt Road will take place on Thursday, 14 April at 10am until noon and Saturday, 16 April from noon until 2pm.
For more information visit this PS News link.
7 April, 2011
Best of the best take
Premier’s Awards
Six South Australian public sector organisations and one individual have been honoured with a Premier’s Award for contributions to the State.
Minister for Public Sector Management, Gail Gago said the 2011 Premier’s Awards: Showcasing excellence in the public sector, received a high number of impressive applications from many Agencies.
“I’m pleased there is so much enthusiasm and dedication across the public sector to providing the very best services to the South Australian community,” Ms Gago said.
“This year’s winners have truly shown what can be achieved if you are committed to continuous improvement and positive change.”
She said the Premier’s Awards recognised workgroups that had made a significant contribution towards achieving South Australia’s Strategic Plan objectives.
“The winning initiatives are exciting examples of a responsive public sector that has worked with the community to identify a need and gone on to produce a solution,” Ms Gago said.
The Award winners were:
Growing Prosperity:
Winner: The Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology (Science and Information Economy Directorate) for:
For: Adammax – shining the light on broadband blackspots.
Providing households and small business in the Adelaide metropolitan area with access to the most common broadband technology – ADSL.
Improving Wellbeing:
Winner: SA Health (Children, Youth and Women’s Health Service and Blood, Organ and Tissue Programs)
For: Bloodsafe e-Learning.
An interactive, multimedia-based, online educational program for all health professionals involved in blood transfusion therapy.
Attaining Sustainability:
Winner: Department for Water (Science, Monitoring and Information Division)
For: Safeguarding South Australia’s water supply through the management of River Murray salinity
Ensuring that all Murray Darling Basin jurisdictions are accountable for the management of salt levels due to an innovative approach to monitoring and modelling salt loads.
Fostering Creativity and Innovation:
Winner: Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure (Office of the Chief Information Officer)
For: Statenet regional broadband program.
Establishing a modern, online infrastructure in regional SA, allowing businesses and communities to participate in the ‘on-line economy’ and linking regional centres and adjacent rural areas to State, National and global information sources and markets.
Building Communities:
Winner: Primary Industries and Resources SA (Sustainable Systems)
For: SA drought support program.
Building the resilience and capacity of regional farming communities to respond to severe seasonal conditions.
Expanding Opportunity:
Winner: Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology (Science and Information Directorate)
For: Remote indigenous public internet access initiative – Oodnadatta
Expanding opportunities for participation in the digital economy for remotely located Aboriginal communities through providing free public computer and internet access and training programs.
Individual Award Winner:
Luke Mosley
Environment Protection Authority (Water Quality Branch)
Assessing and managing water quality risks in the lower River Murray and lakes during extreme drought delivered several complex scientific assessments of water quality throughout the drought and enabled decisive action to be taken to greatly minimise the risks and impacts on the environment and communities.
7 April, 2011
Health injected with
new leadership
SA Health has a new Chief Executive in David Swan.
The announcement was made by Minister for Health, John Hill who said Mr Swan had been with SA Health for more than 10 years and Acting Chief Executive for the past three months.
“He has a clear understanding of the demands and complexities of health care provision as well as the myriad issues that affect an organisation as large and critical as the State’s health department,” Mr Hill said.
“David has proven financial and management skills and a dedication to the service and I value his calm and clear-headed advice to me as Minister.”
He said Mr Swan had demonstrated, during his time as Acting Chief Executive and in his former roles in SA Health, that he cared deeply about the patients who were treated in the State’s hospitals as well as the nearly 30,000 people who worked within the SA health system.
“The health service in South Australia has already undergone massive reform and renewal and there is more still to do,” Mr Hill said.
“We are rebuilding or expanding every single metropolitan hospital and investing record amounts in country health and primary health measures to keep people well and out of hospital.”
He said the State’s mental health system was also undergoing important reform and the Government was building a new hospital at Glenside based on an entirely new model of care for people with mental illness.
“I am confident that David Swan has the leadership skills to guide SA Health and its employees through this important time,” Mr Hill said.
He said Mr Swan’s background was in banking and finance, and he had more than 25 years’ experience of managing frontline health services in public and private hospitals throughout country and metropolitan areas, both in South Australia and interstate.
As Executive Director of Operations at SA Health, Mr Swan oversaw the State-wide reform of pathology and emergency retrieval services.
7 April, 2011
2011 fire season
declared a fizzer
ForestrySA has declared 2010-11 to be one of the mildest fire seasons on record.
Throughout the season, which closed across all fire districts of South Australia on 31 March, fire crews attended just nine fires which accounted for less than 0.1ha of plantation burnt during 2010-11.
State Fire Manager, Dave Stevens said ForestrySA had recorded higher than average rainfall and cooler than average temperatures across all forest areas for most of the season, a stark contrast to the severe fire season experienced during 2006-07.
Mr Stevens said significant fire weather with Forest Fire Danger ratings of Very High and above occurred on 56 days during 2006-07, while conditions exceeded these ratings were recorded on just five days in the Green Triangle and 14 days in the Mount Lofty Ranges this fire season.
He said the 2010-11 fire season had effectively ended a significant period of drought and resultant severe fire weather.
“Both the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons were very hot and dry with much reduced rainfall from autumn 2005,” Mr Stevens said.
“The season for ForestrySA has been particularly mild with cool and wet weather predominating in all forest areas for most of the season and this has made a huge difference to the severity of the fire danger season.”
Despite the early fire season close and continued mild conditions, regulations under the Forestry Act 1950 continue to prohibit the lighting of any fires on ForestrySA Forest Reserves from 1 November to 30 April without lawful authority.
7 April, 2011
Tax review to probe
GST distribution
A review of how revenue collected from the Goods and Services Tax is distributed to the States and Territories has been announced by the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard.
Ms Gillard said the review would be conducted by former NSW Premier Nick Greiner, ex-Victorian Premier John Brumby as well as businessman Bruce Carter and would lead to a simpler, fairer, more predictable and more efficient distribution of the GST to States and Territories.
She said instead of the States facing penalties for economic growth and rewards for economic underperformance, the GST distribution process should encourage economic reform and better delivery of services, and provide States with certainty.
She said this would build a stronger Australian economy and make for better, more efficient delivery of essential services like schools and hospitals.
Ms Gillard said under any changes that might be considered by the Government, it would ensure that smaller States continued to receive a fair share of GST revenue, and that States with larger economies were not unfairly penalised for success.
The Prime Minister said there were currently a number of elements of the distribution arrangements that could be improved, including not enough incentive for reform which meant underperformance in service delivery and economic growth could be rewarded; a need for more certainty and predictability so States would not be hit with unexpected shocks to their finances; and the potential for greater simplicity.
Ms Gillard said the Review would be advised by a Heads of Treasuries Advisory Committee comprising representatives from all States and Territories, and would seek submissions from the public.
It would be supported by a secretariat within the Commonwealth Treasury, with representation from the States and Territories as well as other agencies as appropriate.
She said the Review would provide an interim report to the Treasurer by February 2012 and a final report by September 2012.
Ms Gillard said the Review would not affect the distribution of the GST revenue in 2011-12 or 2012-13.
7 April, 2011
Joint effort fires
up bushfire plan
A plan for bushfire risk management across the South Para district is the aim of a collaborative project from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, SA Water, ForestrySA and the SA Country Fire Service.
Convenor of the Mount Lofty Ranges (MLR) Fire Cooperative, James Crocker said the South Para Collaborative Fire Management Plan would be developed over 2011 and 2012 to manage approximately 20,900ha of public land in the MLR.
“The MLR is a bushfire prone area, containing a variety of high value assets and values requiring protection from bushfire,” Mr Crocker said.
“The MLR is one of 15 National Biodiversity Hotspots and is home to many species of conservation significance.”
He said the planning area was significant because it contained a large area of continuous native vegetation, commercial plantation forest, key infrastructure and drinking water catchment.
Mr Crocker said the plan would cover Government-managed land in the Mount Lofty Ranges and include commercial pine plantations.
“We would like to invite the public to tell us their views on how fire should be managed in the South Para district,” Mr Crocker said.
“A questionnaire has been developed so the community can provide advice on potential fire threats, fire management priorities, and values requiring special fire protection within the South Para district.”
Mr Crocker said the public can provide input to the draft South Para Collaborative Fire Management Plan, download a questionnaire or nominate to receive notification when the draft plan was ready for review in early 2012.
This can be done by visiting the DENR Fire webpage at this PS News link, contacting DENR fire on 8124 4833 or emailing southparaFMP@sa.gov.au
7 April, 2011
Health in a stew
over mushrooms
SA Health has issued a public warning to take care picking and eating wild mushrooms with Death Cap mushrooms found in the Adelaide Hills recently.
SA Health’s Director of Public Health, Dr Kevin Buckett said people should not eat any unidentified wild mushrooms.
“The recent weather conditions have provided the ideal growing conditions for wild mushrooms and we are already beginning to see some appear in areas such as parks, back yards, road-sides, farm paddocks and nature reserves,” Dr Buckett said.
“This includes reports of the Death Cap mushrooms (Amanita phalloides), which are extremely poisonous and should not be eaten.”
He said there was no reliable way to determine if a mushroom was edible unless you were an expert, so if you were unsure, don’t eat it.
“Some species of mushrooms may look edible but can contain a range of toxins, making them poisonous,” Dr Buckett said.
“Eating a poisonous mushroom can cause severe abdominal pains, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea and in the more severe cases, can cause liver damage and kidney failure.”
He said it was best to buy your mushrooms from your local green-grocer or supermarket, as these were safe and healthy to eat.
“Anyone who becomes ill after eating mushrooms is advised to seek urgent medical attention,” Dr Buckett said.
“If possible, you should take a whole mushroom with you, to help experts identify what it is and how they can best treat you.”
7 April, 2011
Censorship review
to reveal all
The Australian Law Reform Commission is to review the Australian censorship and classification system.
Federal Attorney-General, Robert McClelland said the final terms of reference for the review of the National Classification Scheme had been released following community consultation.
Mr McClelland said the review would consider issues such as existing Commonwealth, State and Territory classification laws; the current classification categories contained in the Classification Act, Code and Guidelines; the rapid pace of technological change; the need to improve classification information available to the community; the effect of media on children; and the desirability of a strong content and distribution industry in Australia.
Mr McClelland said the ALRC last reviewed classification standards 20 years ago.
“Given the advances in technology and media we’ve seen since then, it is timely this work is undertaken,” he said.
“I’ve asked the ALRC to develop options for ensuring the system of classification in Australia is able to accommodate developments in technology in light of media convergence and the global availability of media content.”
The Commonwealth Minister responsible for classification, Brendan O’Connor said technology was fast moving and the review would examine how the classification system could cater for advances into the future.
“A lot has changed in recent years,” Mr O’Connor said.
“Australians now access content through the Internet and mobile phones and that poses challenges for the existing classification scheme.
“We’re also seeing the convergence of different technology platforms and the worldwide accessibility of some content, which also creates new concerns.”
He said the appointment of a new ALRC Commissioner to work on the review would be announced shortly.
Mr O’Connor said the ALRC had been asked to provide its final report by 30 January 2012 and the terms of reference and further information were available from this PS News link.
He said the Commission would identify and consult with relevant stakeholders, including the community and industry, through widespread public consultation.
7 April, 2011
Road safety school
at the crossroads
The South Australia Police Road Safety School is to move to make way for the new Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Assistant Commissioner Tony Harrison said the School would be moved to a new, and much improved, home in the parkland, possibly open for business in about six months.
He said since opening on 4 March, 1964, the School had provided an invaluable experience to more than 500,000 South Australian children, who had pedalled around the miniature dual lane roadway, stopping at the railway, school crossings and pedestrian operated traffic lights.
“It’s encouraging to know that while the new facility is being built, Senior Constable First Class Ian Gregor, who has been at the School’s helm since 1992, and his team will take to the road with their training,” Mr Harrison said.
“They will be visiting schools to ensure that children continue to still receive those valuable safety messages, because education remains a cornerstone of SAPOL’s commitment to road safety.”
He said the presence of road safety messages in early childhood could help young children learn permanent life saving skills.
Senior Constable First Class Gregor said it was a bitter sweet moment for the school.
“The school has served its purpose well over the past 46 years, but it’s now time to start a new and exciting era with a new, updated ‘Road Safety Centre’ to be built in the near future,” Mr Gregor said.
“I have enjoyed all of my time here at the school, teaching children how to be safe on the roads, and hopefully prevented many from being involved in serious crashes that could have resulted in death or serious injury.”
Mr Harrison said police will be visiting schools in the meantime and will ensure education remains a cornerstone of SAPOL’s commitment to road safety.
7 April, 2011
Water levels
ease pressure
The best flows of water in the River Murray since 1993 are delivering significant environmental benefits to the wildlife and flora populations along its length.
Department for Water Team Leader, Murray-Darling Policy and Reform, Heather Hill said significant flows along the entire River Murray and into the wetlands of Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert have led to the lakes re-filling, while flows through the barrages to the Coorong were providing a much-needed freshening event.
She said the high flows over the past few months had led to encouraging signs of renewed life.
“There have been fish, frog and bird numbers not seen in the Coorong and Lower Lakes region for some years, which is very exciting,” Ms Hill said.
“While one year of good flows is not enough to address the issues caused by the extended drought, these early signs are heartening.”
Ms Hill said fish monitoring had been undertaken at the barrages by Adelaide University, South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) and SA Water with funding from the SA Drought Fund, River Murray Futures and the Murray-Darling Basin Authority Living Murray initiative.
“More fish were caught in the first two weeks of the monitoring program at the barrages than were caught in the previous three years of monitoring combined,” she said.
Environmental Water Project Manager for the Department for Water, Tony Herbert said ecologists had identified eleven native species using the habitat on the Chowilla and Katarapko floodplains created by inundation of temporary floodplain and wetlands as a result of the high flows.
He said high or flooding flows are vital for the successful breeding of many native fish, and initial surveys had found many juvenile fish using these temporary flooded habitats.
“The native species discovered include Callop (Macquaria ambigua ambigua) and Freshwater Catfish (Tandanus tandanus),” Mr Herbert said.
“Other important native fish found during the surveys include Dwarf Flat Head Gudgeon (Philynodon macrostomus), Un-specked Hardyhead (Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum) and Murray Darling Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia fluviatilis).”
Ecologists will continue to survey both floodplain sites as floodwaters recede.
7 April, 2011
Consumers hung up
on phone contracts
Research conducted by the Australian Communications and Media Authority has found that some consumers find it difficult to provide “fully informed consent” when signing up to telecommunications contracts.
Community research on informed consent was commissioned to inform ACMA of community attitudes towards the way consent was currently sought and ways it could be improved for a better consumer experience.
Chairman of ACMA, Chris Chapman said the research highlighted a “core principle” of informed consent from a consumer’s perspective - full information must be offered in an accessible manner and at the time of agreement.
He said the report indicated that people wanted to take responsibility for protecting themselves, particularly where substantial finances were involved; where detailed information was required of the individual; and where the brand or the company was not well known.
Mr Chapman said consumers identified appropriate and inappropriate ways to handle consent in a number of situations.
He said contracts with telecommunication providers were the most commonly cited example of where consumers were called on to provide consent.
“Australians are aware of the potential risks of providing their consent online, on the phone or face-to-face and, interestingly but reassuringly, do feel a responsibility to be properly informed prior to giving their consent,” Mr Chapman said.
“However, they admitted they do not always take the time or make a proper assessment to fully inform themselves prior to giving their consent.”
He said overall, expectations with regard to actually providing informed consent for telecommunications contracts were very low.
The survey also examined consumer awareness and attitudes towards how personal information was used by third parties; towards consenting online; consenting over the phone and face-to-face; consent involving minors; and the length of time consent was valid for.
Mr Chapman said the findings were intended to provide ACMA with an understanding when considering informed consent issues in the future and when providing advice to industry and other stakeholders on consumer expectations.
The report Community research on informed consent can be found on the ACMA website this PS News link.
7 April, 2011
Rail car contract
on the right track
A new contract to provide state-of-the-art electric rail cars is expected to make Adelaide’s train system the newest and safest in Australia.
Minister for Transport, Patrick Conlon said the A-City, the first rail vehicle in Australia to meet stringent new international crash specifications, would be on the rails in less than two years.
“The Government is delivering 66 new rail cars that will be specifically designed and purpose built for our fully upgraded and electrified metropolitan rail network,” Mr Conlon said.
“Through our unprecedented, multi-billion dollar investment in public transport generally and rail specifically, the goal has always been to present the best public transport network in the country, and with the addition of the A-City trains we take another huge step toward reaching that goal.”
He said the A-City would be the first railcar in Australia to use an advanced best practise crash protection system now in use in Europe, and would be a wide body train providing more room for passengers and a host of features designed to optimise the journey experience.
Mr Conlon said the 22 three-car trains would seat about 240 passengers with standing room for another 300.
Other features included: enhanced CCTV covering the rear, front and interior of the trains; customised air conditioning and disability compliance; double leaf saloon doors; Passenger Emergency Intercom (at each doorway); ?maximum speed of 110 kph supported by energy monitoring technology; and fully fitted and integrated smartcard ticketing system.
Mr Conlon said the rail cars would be complemented by the State Government’s on-going program to fully refurbish 70 vehicles within the existing 3000/3100 class fleet while converting 54 to electric propulsion.
He said the first delivery of A-City trains will be made in late 2012 under a supply and maintenance deal with Bombardier Transportation that includes options for purchase of additional rail cars.
7 April, 2011
Smokers smoked out
in tobacco campaign
A new national advertising campaign urging Indigenous Australians to quit smoking has been launched by the Federal Ministers for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon and Indigenous Affairs, Warren Snowdon.
Ms Roxon said the campaign depicted a young Indigenous woman reflecting on her own experience of having lost family and friends to smoking-related diseases and how she didn’t want her own children to think dying early from smoking related diseases was normal.
“This campaign addresses the harsh reality that 1 in 2 Indigenous Australians smoke, and 1 in 5 will die from smoking-related diseases,” Ms Roxon said.
“The statistics are alarming, but the message is simple: break the chain and give up a habit that will kill you.”
Mr Snowdon said smoking accounted for around 20 per cent of all Indigenous deaths, and it was the number one cause of chronic conditions and diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“Our Government is committed to halving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smoking rates by 2018,” Mr Snowdon said.
“This campaign will complement our new tobacco health workforce which has already been rolled out across the first 20 of 57 regions around Australia.”
He said it was also significant because it was the first Indigenous-specific television commercial as part of a national health campaign.
National Coordinator for Tackling Indigenous Smoking, Tom Calma welcomed the campaign saying it reflected the life circumstances confronting the majority of Indigenous Australians.
“One in two of our people smoke and one in five die from smoking related diseases,” Dr Calma said.
“This anti-smoking campaign is providing information and support to help our people make informed choices to give up smoking and address unhealthy behaviours.
He said for help to quit smoking, people should consult their doctor or pharmacist, call the Quitline on 13 78 48 or visit the Quit Now website at this PS News link.
7 April, 2011
Fraud warning is
the real thing
South Australia Police have issued a warning for consumers to beware of fraud and scams due to the impact the offences can have on people and their families.
According to the Officer in Charge of SAPOL’s Commercial and Electronic Crime Branch, Detective Superintendent Jim Jeffery being caught up in a scam can have a lasting impact on victims as well as their families and the wider community.
“The personal impact on the lives of many scam victims and their relatives and friends should not be underestimated,” Detective Superintendent Jeffery said.
“Some victims have had to return to work after retirement as they have been scammed of equity from their property and /or superannuation.”
He said other victims have experienced marriage or relationship breakdowns and serious illness.
Detective Superintendent Jeffery said comprehensive information on scams could be obtained from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) website www.scamwatch.gov.au
He said since 2008, SAPOL’s Major Fraud Investigation Section had investigated offshore boiler room scams where losses from across Australia now exceed $67 million.
Detective Superintendent Jeffery said more than 100 victims had been affected, and the chances of offshore criminals being brought to justice were minimal as they had used the internet to conduct their scams, making it almost impossible to identify them.
He said boiler room scams usually emanated from offshore, and victim’s were initially contacted by phone and then referred to well designed bogus websites to lure the victim into thinking that the proposed investment was legitimate.
Detective Superintendent Jeffery said the public were advised to check the legitimacy of offshore investment companies by ensuring that they were operating with an Australian Financial Services Licence.
He said the Australian Security and Investment Commission website www.fido.gov.au lists all licensed companies and contains a list of blacklisted (banned) operators.
For more information on scams visit this PS News link.
7 April, 2011
Park 4WD track
back in top gear
A popular 4WD Border Track has been reopened in the Ngarkat Conservation Park by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
According to the Department, the track, which is only open during the cooler months outside the fire danger season, traverses the lofty sand dunes, which mark the eastern boundary of the park.
Located 34km south of Pinnaroo, Ngarkat Conservation Park, is home to abundant wildlife such as western grey kangaroos, echidnas, pygmy possums, dunnarts and emus, along with 120 bird species, including the rare Malleefowl.
Before embarking on a Border Track adventure, the Department said there were a few things to know about the journey ahead.
It said the Border Track took about four hours to complete and was one-way-only for 29km in a north-south direction, meaning people should start their journey from the north-east corner of Ngarkat Conservation Park if they wanted to drive the entire track.
According to the DENR, driving the Border Track was a remote and challenging experience, and it was important to let someone know where you were going and when you were likely to return and it is recommended for people to travel in a group.
The Department said there was no phone coverage on the track and no recovery service, so all vehicles must be self sufficient in the event of an emergency or getting bogged, and people should carry plenty of water, spare tyres, recovery gear and first aid supplies.
For more details, including maps, track conditions and current weather reports, call DENR on 8576 3690 or check online at this PS News link.
7 April, 2011
Work Expo works
way to APY lands
An expo that shows off opportunities for education, training and employment is making a return visit to the APY lands this month for the second year in a row.
The Anangu Work Expo is being staged this week in six APY communities and is sponsored by the Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology, the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, and FaHCSIA.
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Grace Portolesi said the Anangu Work Expo, to be held from 4 to 8 April, would link some of our State’s most remote communities, living about 1,200km from Adelaide, with education, training and employment opportunities.
“The Expo aims to establish vital links between education, business and the communities,” Ms Portolesi said.
“It gives community members the chance to speak directly to training providers and employers who, in turn, gain valuable information about the needs of potential students and employees.”
She said TAFE SA was one of the main organisers and it aimed to bring the community together in a positive, uplifting environment, with the Expo being run as a family fun event, including a free barbeque and performances by local musicians.
The Expo travelled to Pipalyatjara on Monday 4 April, and Amata, Tuesday 5 April.
It is also scheduled to travel to Ernabella, Wednesday 6 April, 11am-2pm; Fregon, Thursday 7 April, 11am-2pm; Mimili, Friday April 8, 10am-2pm; and Indulkana, Friday 8 April, 4pm-6pm.
For more information contact 1800 882 661 or visit this PS News link.
7 April, 2011
Mt Gambier ahead
in mental health
The provision of a community-based intermediate care service for mental health patients in Mount Gambier is a first for any country area in South Australia.
Minister for Mental Health, John Hill said the community-based Intermediate Care service would provide home-based therapeutic support for up to three patients at a time with another four places to come later this year.
“Intermediate Care provides a ‘step down’ service, supporting people who are improving after receiving care in an acute unit, but who no longer need such a high level of care,” Mr Hill said.
“Mental health clinicians will visit patients in their own homes several times a day as necessary to monitor their progress and help them regain their independent living skills.”
He said this was a new type of care for mental health consumers in Mount Gambier which would complement the range of existing services provided by the Local Mental Health team.
“We want consumers to return home with support and treatment as soon as they are ready and ultimately to prevent their readmission to acute care in Adelaide,” Mr Hill said.
“Intermediate Care has been developed in response to the Social Inclusion Board’s Stepping Up report and Mount Gambier is the first location in country SA to offer this service.”
Executive Director of Mental Health for Country Health SA, Rebecca Graham said the remaining places in the community-based part of the intermediate care service would be rolled out across the year.
She said the Intermediate Care Service would also include a further three facility-based beds.
“These new intermediate care services will also be complemented by the new 10-bed Community Rehabilitation Centre to be built in Mount Gambier,” Ms Graham said.
“Coupled with existing services, the Intermediate Care Service and the Community Rehabilitation Centre will ensure that mental health consumers can ‘step up’ or ‘step down’ into the appropriate level of care in the most suitable setting,” she said.
7 April, 2011
PSA researches staff cuts
The Public Service Association has commissioned a research project to show the impacts of proposed job cuts in the South Australian PS.
The survey, conducted by the University of Adelaide’s Australian Institute for Social Research identifies rising concerns about the negative effects of the budget on meeting client and community needs.
A trend across all portfolios indicates agencies were already inadequately resourced prior to the budget cuts earmarked for 2010/11, and disturbingly, in many cases, work had been reallocated to existing staff.
The full survey is available at this PS News link.
Fire restrictions put out
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources wishes to announce that all seasonal fire restrictions ceased on 31 March, 2011.
In response to the Country Fire Service’s decision to bring forward the end of the Fire Danger Season across South Australia, DENR seasonal fire restrictions that apply to South Australian National Parks, Wildlife Reserves and Wilderness Protection Areas will also cease up to a month early.
People who visit or travel through South Australia’s parks should make themselves familiar with the restrictions as some parks and reserves prohibit fires throughout the year.
For more information about restrictions visit this PS News link or contact your local DENR office.
Forestry fire warning
The Fire Season may have come to a close on 31 March, but regulations under the Forestry Act 1950 continue to prohibit the lighting of any fires on ForestrySA Forest Reserves from 1 November to 30 April without lawful authority.
However, taking in to consideration this year’s mild season, ForestrySA will consider individual requests, and these may be given lawful authority and approval for April 2011 only.
Requests will be examined on an individual basis, taking into consideration factors such as weather conditions, location and event type.
Request can be made to ForestrySA at Mount Crawford on (08) 8521 1700; Kuitpo (08) 8391 8800; Wirrabara (08) 8668 4163 or Green Triangle (08) 8724 2876.
Weed ID day
ForestrySA will host an autumn forestry weed identification field day in the Green Triangle on 20 April.
The day, supported by PIRSA Forestry, will provide an opportunity for plantation and natural resource managers to access the latest scientific knowledge on plantation-specific weeds.
The aim of the field day is to provide plantation and natural resource managers with hands-on weed identification skills to assist them formulate weed control programs in the forest environment.
The field day will leave from the ForestrySA Head Office car park, Jubilee Highway East, Mount Gambier at 9am on Wednesday, April 20.
To attend, contact 8724 2882 or email richardson.wayne1@forestrysa.com.au by 13 April, 2011.
Children’s Centres open
Three new Children’s Centres in Parafield Gardens, Port Lincoln and Murray Bridge will provide families in the areas with easier access to preschool, childcare, health and parenting services.
Parafield Gardens Children’s Centre has a range of programs for parents and children from diverse cultural backgrounds
The Kirton Point Centre at Port Lincoln offers programs to help families overcome social isolation and the Children’s Centre at Murray Bridge South Primary School will have special programs for children with disabilities.
The new Children’s Centre includes large play areas, private consulting rooms and indoor spaces for group activities and parenting sessions.
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