30 June, 2011

WorkCover review
a work in progress

The final report on the 2011 WorkCover Review has been published.
   Conducted by Bill Cossey and Chris Latham, the Review reported on the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation (Scheme Review) Amendment Act 2008.
   It commenced on 24 January 2011 and assessed the impact of the 2008 amendments on injured workers and return to work rates; employer levies; and the financial health of the Workers Compensation Fund.
   The review team received 34 submissions.
   The review found that legal challenges to several of the key new provisions (particularly relating to the authority of medical panels) and which are yet to be finalised through the courts have created considerable uncertainty.
   It also found that implementation of the 2008 amendments was incomplete and as a result it was not possible to draw any firm conclusions on their long-term impact.
   The reviewers said they had attempted throughout the report to assess whether there were emerging trends but warned that they were based on limited experience, limited data and may or may not prevail in the longer term.
   “The amendments have had little or no impact on the approximately 60 per cent of injured workers who are able to return to work reasonably quickly,” the review said.
   It found there had been a small reduction in the percentages of injured workers continuing to receive weekly payments after 52 weeks, but it was not possible yet to assess if that trend would be sustained.
   “The 2008 amendments, through provisional liability and rebates for employers lodging claims more quickly, have laid the foundation for the system to operate with a sense of urgency in assisting injured workers to return to work,” the review said.
   “Those particular provisions appear to have had moderate success although it is not yet apparent that the sense of urgency has flowed beyond the initial notification stages.”
   The report determined that no firm conclusions could be drawn at this time, and recommended that Parliament or the Government consider a further review at an appropriate time in the future.
   To view the full report visit this PS News link.

30 June, 2011

Violence campaign
takes swipe at pubs

A new campaign has been launched to tackle violence against women in hotels, bars and clubs.
   Minister for the Status of Women, Gail Gago said Yarrow Place Rape and Sexual Assault Service had been granted $98,000 to work with the hotel industry to develop an industry-specific program as part of the Don’t Cross the Line community education campaign.
   “The hotel industry is one of the largest employers in South Australia with more than 24,000 people working in our State’s pubs and thousands of patrons attending single venues on a standard weekend,” Ms Gago said.
   “This new extension of the Don’t Cross the Line campaign will promote anti-violence against women messages across South Australia’s licensed hotels, pubs and bars, as well as educate and train the industry’s workforce.”
   Ms Gago said Yarrow Place would work with the Australian Hotels Association SA, United Voice and the Office for Women to develop strategies tailored to the hospitality industry to increase awareness of rape, sexual assault and other forms of violence against women.
   She said Yarrow Place was the lead public health agency responding to adult rape and sexual assault in South Australia and was an accredited training provider.
   Acting Manager of Yarrow Place, Katrina Dee welcomed the opportunity to work with the hotel industry, saying it could play a key role in conveying messages that could assist in preventing violence against women.
   “Many people work and socialise within hotels making it an ideal industry to target a range of people, including young people, with messages that support creating safe and respectful attitudes and behaviours towards women,” Ms Dee said.
   “This initiative will support the industry to enhance safety for people working or socialising in licensed venues.”
   Ms Dee said the project would run for 12 months and establish long-term plans and responsibility for the prevention of violence against women within the hotel industry.

30 June, 2011

Suburbs tap into
recycled water

The completion of a $62.6 million Southern Urban Reuse Project will see residents in Adelaide’s south use high-quality recycled water in and around their properties.
   Minister for Water, Paul Caica, said the innovative project had the capacity to provide up to 1.6 billion litres of recycled water each year to about 8,000 new homes in the southern suburbs.
   Mr Caica said the use of recycled water in new homes for toilet flushing and irrigation would reduce reliance on mains water and utilise an alternate water source.
   “The completion of the Southern Urban Reuse Project will help to increase Adelaide’s water security by conserving drinking water supplies and using a water source which would have otherwise been treated and discharged to the sea,” Mr Caica said.
   “Years of drought conditions have taught us that we need to value every drop of water and this project is one way we can do just that.”
   Mr Caica said SA Water recycled about 30 per cent of wastewater, compared to the national average of about 17 per cent.
   Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water, Senator Don Farrell, said Seaford Meadows would be the first residential development supplied with recycled water, as part of the Southern Urban Reuse Project, and its benefits would include helping householders keep their gardens green, even during hot, dry summers.
   “Recycled water projects such as this are beneficial to our community, State and the environment,” Senator Farrell said.
   He said the project, which began in April 2009, included upgrades to existing infrastructure and construction of new infrastructure at SA Water’s Christies Beach and Aldinga wastewater treatment plants to enable Seaford Meadows properties to access recycled water.

30 June, 2011

South Australians
heading east

South Australians continue to migrate to the Eastern States according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
   The ABS released the data as part of its June edition of SA Stats and found Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales were the top three interstate migration destinations for people from South Australia.
   The ABS found that more residents were moving from South Australia interstate than were arriving, with a net loss of 3,000 people between June 2009 and June 2010.
   The Bureau found that the highest number of people leaving South Australia were in the 25-29 year age group, with a net loss of 700, followed by the 20-24 year age group with a net loss of 500.
   The SA Stats article said South Australia was one of four States and Territories to experience net interstate loss in 2009-10, along with New South Wales, Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.
   It said Queensland recorded the highest net interstate migration gain with an extra 9,600 people choosing to call Queensland home during the year.
   The ABS reported that despite a net loss of interstate migration, the estimated resident population (ERP) of South Australia grew by 20,100 (1.2 per cent) to 1,644,600 between June 2009 and June 2010.
   It said this population growth was driven primarily by net overseas migration of 15,400 people, with the remainder of the growth of 7,700 people due to natural increase (births minus deaths).
   More information about these statistics is available from the Bureau’s website this PS News link.

30 June, 2011

Bus shelters in
from the cold

A new partnership between the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure (DTEI) and local Councils is to see 700 new bus shelters installed.
   Minister for Transport, Patrick Conlon said The Bus Shelter Funding Program was part of a major upgrade to public transport.
   Mr Conlon said $5.2 million had been allocated over the next four years to upgrade or build about 700 new bus shelters in both regional and metropolitan areas.
   He said the shelters would complement the 100 new buses and faster, greener, more frequent bus network with passengers able to wait for and board buses easier, safer and more comfortably.
   He said the project would provide more comfortable and functional shelters for all bus passengers, particularly those who were aged or suffered from disabilities.
   Mr Conlon said Councils could submit nominations for new shelters or funding to upgrade an existing shelter.
   Councils would be required to co-contribute by providing the required ground works and footpath connections to boarding points, including tactile ground surface indicators, to ensure bus shelters were fully accessible and complied with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
   Chief Executive of the Local Government Association, Wendy Campana, said the program enabled Councils to work with the State Government to respond to community needs for improved passenger transport services.
   “The real benefits are, of course, to bus passengers, who can enjoy new or updated bus shelters, but particularly to passengers with disabilities who will have facilities that should better meet their needs,” Ms Campana said.
   “Councils, through the provision of site works and meeting DDA compliance, will match the State Government funding and will also carry the cost of the ongoing day to day maintenance of shelters.”
   Ms Campana said the program focus for the first year would be on the metropolitan area.

30 June, 2011

Flooded creek ferry
floated again

The Cooper Creek ferry is to be relaunched for the second consecutive year after floodwaters from Queensland closed the Birdsville Track.
   Minister for Transport Patrick Conlon said the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure (DTEI) had extended the ferry hull approximately two metres, making it 9.8 metres long, to provide additional room for both the local community and visitors to the region.
   Mr Conlon said modifications to the Ferry would ensure the local community retained access along the Birdsville Track once floodwaters forced the closure of the causeway across the Cooper Creek.
   “The ferry service will operate during daylight hours only, seven days per week, granted the weather is favourable,” Mr Conlon said.
   He said the ferry was powered by two 15hp outboard motors fitted on either side of the vessel and guided by cables between the banks and could carry up to 10 tonnes.
   “The ferry provides a service for the Birdsville Track community as well as Birdsville itself,” Mr Conlon said.
   He said operational restrictions would be in place with signage erected at both Marree and Birdsville to advise potential travellers of the arrangements once the ferry was reinstated.
   He said during normal conditions, the Birdsville Track carried approximately 40 vehicles a day.
   For further information visit at this PS News link.

30 June, 2011

Healthy citation for
hospital design

The Glenside Hospital redevelopment has been awarded a High Commendation in an international health design competition.
   Minister for Health, John Hill said the Glenside plan was also short-listed for Overall Winner in the Future Health Project category of the Design and Health International Academy Awards 2011.
   “I am delighted that our new world-class facilities have been recognised for integrating health services within a public community setting,” Mr Hill said.
   “We set out to create a peaceful, safe and inclusive setting where people with mental health or substance abuse issues can be treated and cared for.”
   Mr Hill said the architects designed an environment that integrated mental health and substance abuse services with supported accommodation, a shopping complex and nine hectares of public open space.
   He said the concept aimed to provide privacy and security for patients within a modern structure.
   Mr Hill said the buildings were arranged in a 129-bed facility in a ‘village’ configuration with groups of separate buildings arranged around a central garden, shared by patients and the public.
   He said the architects also used sustainable design and construction techniques such as waterless landscaping, renewable power generation and recycling and reuse of construction waste.
   Mr Hill said the $130 million Glenside redevelopment was competing in the Future Health Project category for a building that recognised the changing role of the hospital within the wider health system and the community to be served, addressing the socio-economic challenges of the future.
   He said construction of the world-class Glenside facilities would be completed in late 2012 and the winners of the design awards would be announced at a ceremony in Boston in the United States on 9 July 2011.

30 June, 2011

Councils rate in
LGA awards

South Australian Councils and Shires were high on the winners list in the 25th National Awards for Excellence in Local Government announced in Canberra recently.
   Local Governments received awards in the categories of Engaging and Strengthening Indigenous Communities, Climate Change Actions and Regional Collaborations.
   Federal Minister for Local Government, Simon Crean said more than 100 Councils from across Australia participated in the awards and submitted 152 entries in a total of 10 categories.
   Mr Crean announced the winners at the 2011 National General Assembly of the Australian Local Government Association earlier this month.
   He said national winners included a women’s mentoring and training program run by Mid-Western Regional Council in NSW and a shopping discount card for students in Frankston, Victoria.
   Mr Crean said the Asset and Financial Management award for Small Councils (under 15,000 ratepayers) was won by Kangaroo Island Council for its Asset Management Plans and the City of Tea Tree Gully’s Water Security program won the Innovative Infrastructure Development award.
   Mr Crean said that recognising the innovative ways that Councils approached challenges and their capacity to find unique local solutions was good for the regions and good for the nation.
   “The National Awards for Local Government are an important component of the partnership between the Australian and Local Governments as they recognise, reward and promote the work of Local Governments across Australia,” Mr Crean said.
   “This year marks the 25th anniversary of these national awards that showcase the resourcefulness and resilience of Australia’s hard working councils in improving services to their communities.”
   More information is available from this PS News link.

30 June, 2011

Police dog unit
gets more bite

South Australia Police’s Dog Operations Unit has welcomed two new recruits.
   Two German Shepherds have been welcomed to the unit by Assistant Commissioner Tony Harrison who said they were the first to come from the Queensland Police Dog Breeding Program.
   Assistant Commissioner Harrison said the brothers Koby and Kraze were now 18 months old and trained in various searching techniques, tracking, obedience and criminal apprehension.
   He said the dogs had successfully completed the 14-week General Purpose Dog Course and would be deployed in operational dog teams.
   In welcoming the new recruits Assistant Commissioner Harrison said police dogs could be a highly effective arm of law-enforcement.
   He said the police dogs were also trained to detect odours both for locating people, stolen and lost property and each dog would live at the home of his police dog handler and become a member of their family.
   He said in the past, SAPOL had relied on donated dogs from members of the public but the Queensland Police Dog Breeding Program had around 87 per cent success rate in producing dogs that were suitable for training in the police environment.
   SAPOL has employed the use of specially trained dogs as part of their operations since 1974.

30 June, 2011

New GP clinic is
right medicine

The new GP Plus Health Care Centre and Inner South Community Mental Health Centre at Marion have been officially opened.
   Premier Mike Rann, who performed the honours with Minister for Health, John Hill, said the new hub, which forms part of a complex alongside the new South Australian Aquatic and Leisure Centre, provides a significant new health facility for residents of the inner southern suburbs.
   “This state-of-the-art facility houses over 270 allied and mental health professionals, dentists and community health workers under one roof, providing primary health and dental services for adults and children and helping people to manage long-term chronic conditions to stay healthy and out of hospital,” Mr Rann said.
   “All of these services are provided free of charge, apart from a small co-payment for dental services.”
   Mr Rann said the new Inner South Community Mental Health Centre was the first of six such centres being developed across metropolitan Adelaide.
   He said the services provided at the mental health facility include Child Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), counselling and the full range of adult community mental health services.
   “Like GP Plus centres, community mental health centres are about offering non-emergency treatment and health care in locations that are more appropriate than hospitals,” Mr Rann said.
   Minister for Health John Hill said the facility would improve access to high quality health services for people in the southern suburbs.
   “We are already seeing the benefits of how this new model of health care delivery is benefitting local communities,” Mr Hill said.
   “So far we have built centres at Aldinga, Woodville and Elizabeth, and in conjunction with the Commonwealth Government, we are also building GP Plus Super Clinics at Modbury and Noarlunga and in the country we are building GP Plus Centres in Port Pirie and Ceduna.”
   Mr Hill said the projected number of appointments at all of the GP Plus health care centres was expected to top 205,000.

30 June, 2011

Fruit fly eradicators
abuzz with success

Biosecurity SA has completed its fruit fly bait spotting eradication program at Port Augusta West.
   Minister for Agriculture, Michael O’Brien said the program to eradicate Mediterranean fruit fly at Port Augusta West had been very successful but restrictions on the movement of fruit within the quarantine zone would continue until November as an additional safety measure.
   Mr O’Brien said no flies had been discovered since 25 April, but continued vigilance was essential.
   “Local residents have been excellent during the eradication program,” Mr O’Brien said.
   “However, Mediterranean mature fruit fly maggots have the ability to shelter in soil or in fruit over winter, pupate and then emerge as flies in spring.”
   “For that reason we must keep in place the quarantine restrictions, preventing any movement of fruit or fruiting vegetables in or out of the quarantine zone, until November to be on the safe side.”
   Mr O’Brien said that if no more wild flies were detected over winter and early spring, residents in the restricted zone would be updated on when the quarantine could be lifted.
   “In the meantime, there are several ways in which residents can assist us to make sure we stay fruit fly free in that exclusion zone,” Mr O’Brien said.
   Mr O’Brien said residents should not give away or move any fruit, leave fruit or fruiting vegetables on the ground, or compost any fruit.
   He said residents should also report any maggots found in fruit or fruiting vegetables immediately to the Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010.
   “The community’s cooperation has been vital to get the upper hand on this outbreak of fruit fly and I’m confident that support will continue through to November,” Mr O’Brien said.

30 June, 2011

Regional committee
to go the distance

A new Ministerial Advisory Council is to be established to advise the Federal Minister for Regional Australia on issues affecting country communities.
   The Minister, Simon Crean said the new Council would give regional communities even stronger backing at the highest level of government.
   Mr Crean said $4.3 billion was budgeted for key investments in regional communities including health and hospitals, skills, higher education and infrastructure.
   He said the Government hadstrengthened the role of the nation’s 55 Regional Development Australia Committees and was driving a new place-based approach to help deliver local solutions to local issues.
   “We are determined to make sure regional communities can meet the challenge of an economy in transition and reach their full potential,” Mr Crean said.
   He said 11 Australians had been appointed to the new Ministerial Advisory Council on Regional Australia.
   “Each member of the Council has been chosen because of their longstanding commitment to regional Australia,” Mr Crean said.
   “Together, they have a shared interest in the wellbeing of regional communities and the part Australia’s regions play in the growth of the nation.”
   He said new Council would be chaired by former unionist Bill Kelty and provide independent advice on emerging regional priorities and how best to grow regional economies.
   Other members of the Council would be Professor Ian Chubb; Lindsay Fox; Professor Sandra Harding; Collene Longmore; Rob Kerin; Elizabeth McGregor; Mal Peters; Ian Sinclair; Professor Jonathan West; and Christian Zahra.
   “I am delighted to be working with such a committed group of people who will help to shape and inform our response to issues affecting regional Australia,” Mr Crean said.

30 June, 2011

New funding for
heritage projects

Funding to protect 36 Indigenous heritage projects has been announced by the Commonwealth Minister for Heritage, Tony Burke.
   Mr Burke said the funding would be used to help identify, protect and share Australia’s Indigenous heritage.
   He said more than $2.7 million had been allocated for Indigenous heritage projects that would help community groups and individuals conserve and promote the heritage values of places important to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
   “Indigenous history and heritage occupies a special place in our country’s identity, and it is important that we protect these cultural sites for future generations,” Mr Burke said.
   He said projects that had received funding included the Apara Springs Fencing Project to construct a fence to protect the Apara Springs in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands from damage by feral animals.
   He said other projects to receive funding included the Baiame’s Ngunnhu Heritage Project (NSW) to install bilingual interpretive signage and implement a Conservation Heritage Management Plan for the National Heritage Listed fish traps at Brewarrina and the Sacred Sea Places of the Groote Archipelago project (NT) to identify and record sacred sites relating to four dreaming track stories and nine totemic figures.
   Mr Burke said the Wongatha Keeping Place (WA) would also receive funding to enable Wongatha elders to establish a keeping place for sacred objects at Morapoi Station in the Goldfields Region of WA.
   “This funding is an important step to help us protect, preserve and promote Indigenous heritage,” Mr Burke said.

30 June, 2011

Railway partnership
steaming ahead

A partnership between three State Governments and the Commonwealth is expected to lead to a new ‘roadmap’ for the rail manufacturing industry.
   According to the Federal Minister for Innovation, Senator Kim Carr the Rail Manufacturing Technology Roadmap would “help put the rail industry on the right track” for a successful future by matching its capabilities to domestic and international opportunities.
   Senator Carr said it was important Government understood the rail industry’s technology and manufacturing capabilities in order to identify development opportunities and ensure the industry continued to contribute significantly to the national economy.
   “The Roadmap will build a vision for the rail industry and provide direction for the next 30 years,” Senator Carr said.
   “It will identify pathways and areas for industry focus and investment, boosting capability and encouraging innovation.”
   He said Australia’s rail industry extended from signalling, communications and track; to rail components and building and maintaining rolling stock.
   He said the Roadmap would be developed over the next 12 months by ANU Edge and the Cooperative Research Centre for Rail Innovation and the University of Cambridge Institute for Manufacturing and Strategic Connections Group.
   Senator Carr said rail industry stakeholders and interested parties were encouraged to put forward their views through the various workshops, interviews and surveys that would be organised.
   He said the Roadmap project was jointly funded by the Australian Government; industry (through the Australasian Railway Association); and the Victorian, Queensland and New South Wales State Governments.
   For more information on the Roadmap and other Rail Supplier Advocate initiatives, visit this PS News link.

30 June, 2011

High penalties for
banned drugs

Tough new penalties are to apply for possession, sale and manufacture of synthetic marijuana in South Australia.
   Attorney-General, John Rau said the active ingredients of synthetic ‘marijuana’ had now been added to the list of controlled drugs.
   Mr Rau said the sale or possession of the products had already been banned with immediate maximum penalties of two years’ imprisonment or a $10,000 fine.
   He said the interim measure was put in place earlier this month to immediately ban synthetic cannabinoids and discourage users from stockpiling the previously legal substances.
   He said following that decision, the Controlled Substances Advisory Council recommended that synthetic cannabinoids should be added to the list of controlled drugs under the Controlled Substances Act.
   He said these substances were now subject to the full range of offences and penalties covered by the Act.
   Mr Rau said manufacturing or trafficking a large quantity of the drug would now attract maximum penalties of $500,000 or life imprisonment, while sale or possession of synthetic cannabinoids would attract penalties of up to $50,000 or 10 years’ imprisonment or both, and possession a maximum of two years’ imprisonment or $2,000 or both.
   He said stiffer penalties would also apply for selling synthetic cannabinoids to children or within a school zone, with both offences attracting up to a $1 million fine or life imprisonment.
   “Synthetic marijuana, previously sold under names such as Kronic, is a dangerous drug that requires strict control,” Mr Rau said.
   “The scope of these offences and penalties sends an unambiguous message,” he said.

30 June, 2011

Centrelink warns on
scammer in the works

Consumers have been warned to beware of a new bank transfer scam asking people to send money to someone claiming to be a Centrelink employee.
   Federal Minister for Human Services, Tanya Plibersek said several recent reports had been received of Centrelink clients being asked to transfer several hundred dollars to an account in India in order to facilitate a substantial return payment.
   “We have received several reports of people making phone calls claiming customers will receive a large Centrelink payment when they transfer several hundred dollars to a designated bank account,” Ms Plibersek said.
   “People should be aware that claims made by callers of large sums of money being available in exchange for payments are a scam and they should not cooperate.
   “Centrelink never asks its customers to transfer funds and I urge people not to send money to anyone they don’t know.”
   Ms Plibersek said in recent months reports of people being targeted by scammers purporting to be Centrelink workers had emerged in South Australia as well as Western Australia, Tasmania and Queensland.
   She said the most recent report of the scam occurred in WA where a man was asked to transfer $300 to India in return for $3,000.
   Ms Plibersek said in another recent call an elderly Queensland resident was asked to send $800 through Western Union in return for $3,000.
   She said the scam was similar to the so-called “Nigerian 419 scam” where people were contacted by email or letter and asked to transfer money to assist in the release of funds for a substantial “reward.”
   “Unscrupulous people who perpetrate scams often target the most vulnerable in the community such as the elderly and people from non-English speaking backgrounds,” Ms Plibersek said.
   “I urge anyone who suspects they have received a scam phone call to make a note of the details including the time and date of the call, the gender and accent of the caller and what the caller said.”
   Ms Plibersek said people who received such calls should report them to the Australian Government’s fraud tip-off line on 13 15 24.
   She said information about scams could also be found at this PS News link.

30 June, 2011

And in Other News...

PS Awards open
Nominations are now open for the 2012 Australia Day Awards.
   The Public Service Medal is awarded as part of the national system of Australian Honours and Awards.
   Nominations close Friday 5 August.
   For further information visit this PS News link.

Leave cuts extended
Long Service Leave reductions for Public Sector employees have been finalised.
   Employees with 15 years service have had their accrual rates reduced from 15 calendar days to nine with effect from 1 July 2011.
   The reduction has now been extended to WorkCover employees.
   The Public Service Association is to include the extension in its campaign opposing the changes.

Northgate project opened
A new community housing project at Northgate for people living with a disability has been opened.
   The new Lightsview facility is part of a $10 million Bedford Homes for 100 Project, a joint initiative between the State Government and Bedford Foundation.
   Lightsview is the 27th home completed as part of the joint project.

Film festival for kids
The Adelaide Festival Centre will host Little Big Shots, International Film Festival for Kids.
   The Festival is in its fifth year and will take place in the July school holidays from 21-23 July in the Space Theatre.
   Little Big Shots includes around 80 films from over 20 countries and is ideal for children aged 2–15 years.
   Three South Australian-made films feature in this year’s program.
   For more information visit this PS News link.

23 June, 2011

Teacher recruit plan
makes the grade

The Australian Education Union has voted to support a new teacher recruitment policy that is expected to create more than 700 permanent jobs in public schools.
   The AEU gave the thumbs up to the policy after detailed negotiations, following the release of a draft for public consultation in March.
   Minister for Education, Jay Weatherill said that planned changes to the teaching sector would take effect immediately, now that agreement between the Government and education sector had been reached.
   Mr Weatherill said the policy would create more permanent positions for longer-serving contract teachers, complementing the Teacher Renewal Program.
   “This is the most far-reaching shake-up in decades of the way teachers are appointed to schools,” Mr Weatherill said.
   “It will give greater job security to teachers, more flexibility to schools and will contribute to better results for students.”
   He said the Government was in the midst of a massive program of reform in the education system.
   “We can now implement major reforms to ensure schools can start the 2012 school year under a revitalised system and teachers can look forward to more job security,” he said.
   He said the changes, which were among a raft of measures to reform the teaching profession, were expected to abolish the rule that made teachers move schools after 10 years, allow schools to select their own teachers based on suitability, and guarantee placement in the city for permanent teachers returning from the country.
   Mr Weatherill acknowledged the work of the AEU and of the Principals’ Association.
   “As a result of the negotiations we have improved on the draft policy significantly,” he said.

23 June, 2011

Flood of recognition
for tsunami support

The State Emergency Centre (SEC) has been recognised by the Australian and Samoan Governments for the medical assistance it provided following the 2009 tsunami.
   Prime Minister of Samoa, Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi met with Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard and South Australia’s Minister for Health, John Hill at a luncheon in Canberra to congratulate the medical team which was led by State Controller of the SEC, Dr Bill Griggs.
   Dr. Griggs and other medical specialists who assisted in Samoa were the Prime Minister’s guests at the luncheon which was in Mr Malielegaoi’s honour.
   Mr Hill said Dr Griggs assembled his team of 12 medical professionals in less than 90 minutes to fly to Samoa to help the victims of the tsunami.
   “The team paired up with Queensland’s response team to perform surgeries, help manage the emergency departments, assist with search and rescue in the field and facilitate evacuations in the first five days after the disaster,” Mr Hill said.
   “Dr Griggs’ experience in International and National trauma relief and his calm and steady professionalism are a boon to South Australia.
   “We are proud that his expertise and selfless dedication have also been recognised abroad and we applaud him for his work.”
   Mr Hill said Dr. Griggs had taken his team on one of the first flights to Samoa following the tsunami on 29 September 2009.
   He said the flight included other medical personnel, staff from the Australian aid agency AusAid, and police and was the first foreign support to arrive in Samoa after the disaster.
   He said Dr. Griggs was an expert in trauma medicine and also worked in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, in the immediate aftermath of the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004.

23 June, 2011

Annual awards for
Annual Reports

SA Lotteries has won a Bronze Award and was named as a finalist in a special award category at the 2011 Australasian Reporting Awards presented in Melbourne recently.
   As a finalist in the Communication Reporting Award - Public Sector category, the SA Lotteries Annual Report joined that of many other public sector agencies to be recognised for excellence at the Awards this year.
   Now in their 61st year, the Awards are primarily a benchmarking activity - not a competition – with Reports judged against criteria to receive a Gold, Silver or Bronze Award.
   Chairman of the ARA, Tim Sheehy said the 2011 Awards were highlighted by very high standards of reporting, despite the difficult economic times experience by many organisations during the reporting period.
   “The record number of Gold Awards shows that many organisations in Australia and New Zealand are very concerned about improving the quality of their annual reports, and further, that the quality of the best reports entered in these Awards is very high by world standards,” Mr Sheehy said.
   “It also indicates the ARA and its strong supporters, which include the professional associations CPA Australia and Chartered Secretaries Australia, have been very effective in both promoting the need for high quality reporting, and in helping organisations improve their performance.”
   He said the ARA also presented Special Awards for reporting in areas critical to the performance and accountability of an organisation; including awards for best reporting on Governance, Sustainability, and Occupational Health and Safety; and for Communication and Online Reporting.
   The Overall Report of the Year Award 2011 went to The City of Boorondara from Victoria.

23 June, 2011

Council panel to
rate change

The establishment of an expert panel to recommend ways of recognising local Government in the Australian Constitution has been welcomed by the South Australian Local Government Association.
   Federal Minister for Local Government, Simon Crean announced the panel’s establishment, along with its Chair, former NSW Chief Justice Jim Spigelman at the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA)’s National General Assembly in Canberra.
   Mr Crean said that if bi-partisan support could be maintained it was possible a change to the Constitution could succeed.
   Acting President of the Local Government Association of South Australia, Mayor James Maitland said polling showed clear community support for Local Government to be included in the Constitution, so the challenge was now for politicians to get the process right.
   “Communities are telling us that they are concerned about Commonwealth funding for Councils,” Mayor Maitland said.
   “They see road works, sporting facility projects, library projects, stormwater harvesting and community amenities and they know much of the work would not happen without Federal grants.”
   He said communities did not understand complex inter-Government and Constitutional issues but they did know the value of grants given to their Councils.
   He said two previous attempts to write Local Government into the Constitution had not been driven by Councils and had not enjoyed bi-partisan support.
   “We want the proposed referendum to reflect what communities want,” he said.
   President of the Australian Local Government Association, Mayor Genia McCaffery said the ALGA proposed a simple and pragmatic change to the Constitution to secure the continuation of direct Federal funding for communities through Councils.
   She said such funding was currently provided through the Roads to Recovery and other programs, which should be able to continue.

23 June, 2011

Medicare claims
its first ‘Local’

Adelaide’s first ‘Medicare Local’ has been announced by the Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon.
   Ms Roxon said the new integrated medical service would be one of the first of its kind in the country, and a local ‘engine room’ supporting GP and other health professionals working together and filling treatment gaps in a locally relevant way.
   “The Central Adelaide and Hills Medicare Local will have a key focus on chronic disease, aged care, mental health and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health”, Ms Roxon said, “as well as a plan to establish a totally integrated after hours GP service for the whole of the Medicare Local catchment.”
   She said Medicare Locals would be the “glue” that made the different parts of the reformed health system stick together.
   Federal MP for Port Adelaide, Mark Butler said Medicare Locals would play a key role in ensuring new mental health services were properly linked with other services.
   “It’s critical that consumers are at the heart of our mental health system,” he said.
   “Medicare Locals are going to play a key role in facilitating and coordinating care and support, particularly for patients with severe mental illness.”
   Ms Roxon said the first series of Medicare Locals would comprise 19 organisations across urban and rural Australia, an increase on the 15 originally proposed.
   Said the Adelaide Western General Practice Network Inc and Adelaide Hills Division of General Practice had been selected as the Central Adelaide and Hills Medicare Local from 1 July 2011.

23 June, 2011

Paper covers land
protection plans

A discussion paper proposing more options for private land conservation in South Australia has been released for public comment.
   Developed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in consultation with industry peak bodies, the paper proposes establishing protected areas such as national parks on private land, to protect critical biodiversity values.
   Executive Director, Policy with DENR, Greg Leaman said the paper was about supporting landholders to manage their own land as a protected area if they wanted to, ensuring mechanisms were in place for them to do so.
   “Some of the State’s most valuable natural landscapes are on private land,” Mr Leaman said.
   “Many landholders are already making a significant contribution to restoring and conserving such landscapes by establishing and maintaining a Heritage Agreement or Sanctuary.”
   He said protected areas were at the centre of efforts to conserve South Australia’s unique flora, fauna and ecosystems, with protected areas covering almost 26 per cent of the State.
   “It is not about the Government taking over private land and turning it into a park,” he said.
   “Protected areas on private land provide critical support to South Australia’s public reserves system, and both underpin efforts to ensure our natural environment remains healthy and sustainable for future generations.”
   Mr Leaman said that once comments were received, the Government would develop necessary policy and legislation so that the right conservation management options were available for landholders.
   The discussion paper will be available for comment for four weeks, with submissions closing on 12 July.
   It can be accessed at this PS News link.

23 June, 2011

Kinship DVD keeps
it all in the family

A new DVD promoting the role of relative and kinship care has been released.
   Minister for Families and Communities, Jennifer Rankine last week launched the DVD, which will form part of the support and information offered to people caring for a child who can no longer live with their birth parents.
   Ms Rankine said relative and kinship care was a growing part of the alternative care sector.
   “Children who cannot live with their birth parents, but can still live with family, kin or significant people in their lives, have a better chance of maintaining a meaningful relationship with the extended family,” Ms Rankine said.
   “Building these relationships allows the child to grow up with a better understanding of their own place in the family.”
   Ms Rankine said relative and kinship care provided a sense of continuity, cultural connection and identity for children.
   “They can enjoy a safe and stable home which will allow them to grow and reach their full potential,” she said.
   Ms Rankine said the DVD introduced a number of carers who shared their story and told how the children in their care had benefitted.
   She said the DVD also featured a young girl in care who composed and sang a song about her mother titled Simple Goodbye.
   “Hearing other people’s stories about how they dealt with similar situations can really help other people in the same position,” Ms Rankine said.
   She said the Families SA Relative and Kinship Care program provided support to 1,042 Carers and 950 children.
   Copies of the DVD and an accompanying information package can be obtained by calling Families SA on (08) 8413 9069.

23 June, 2011

Water wars
dry up

The State Government has settled its Constitutional challenge against Victoria’s water trading rules.
   In a joint statement with the Victorian Minister for Water the Government said a combination of new actions by Victoria and changed circumstances in water availability in the Murray-Darling Basin had led the States to the mutually agreed settlement.
   The statement said the agreement gave South Australia the right to purchase water from Victoria to meet any potential shortfall in critical human needs.
   It said the States had also agreed that Victoria would immediately sign the relevant schedules under the Murray-Darling Basin agreement, providing South Australia with permanent rights to store water in upstream storages such as the Hume and Dartmouth dams.
   Federal Minister for Water, Tony Burke welcomed the agreement saying it showed how the two States had worked through their respective challenges to reach an outcome that was ‘good news’ for communities in the Basin.
   “I also welcome that the agreement provides access to water storages in Victoria for South Australian water users, which will be of assistance to South Australia in developing carry-over rules,” Mr Burke said.
   “The commitment shown by Victoria and South Australia to work together will help achieve reform in the Murray Darling Basin.”
   He said the commitment to totally remove trade restrictions by mid 2014 would advance the capacity to bridge the gap between current diversion limits and those that were required under the Murray Darling Basin Plan when it was finalised.
   “An efficient and fair water market is essential in delivering reform across the Murray Darling Basin,” Mr Burke said.
   He said during this water year, some South Australian irrigators received less than their full water allocation due to challenges in carrying forward water.
   He said the agreement would help to prevent such a situation occurring in the future.

23 June, 2011

Kangaroo Island
fire plan put out

A draft Fire Management Plan for Kangaroo Island’s Cape Gantheaume has been released by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for public comment.
   The draft plan covers 37,500 hectares of reserves and adjacent Crown land and was developed to address risks to life, property and the environment.
   Regional Fire Management Officer with DENR, Rob Ellis said the plan was an important part of developing bushfire management strategies for DENR-managed land on Kangaroo Island.
   “Fire management plans not only identify areas at risk of bushfire, they also guide on-ground strategies and activities to reduce the impact on life, property and the environment during a bushfire event,” Mr Ellis said.
   “Strategies are also included to protect and enhance the habitat of threatened plant and animal species.”
   He said the draft plan covered the southern and central reserves of Kangaroo Island, including Cape Gantheaume, Seal Bay, Vivonne Bay, Nepean Bay and Beyeria Conservation Parks, and the Cape Gantheaume Wilderness Protection Area.
   Submissions to the Fire Plan close on Friday 15 July and can be made via letter, email or facsimile, and addressed to the Senior Fire Planner: DENR Fire Management Branch, GPO Box 1047, Adelaide SA, 5001.
   They can also be emailed to gran

sa.gov.au or faxed to (08) 8124 4913.
The plan can be downloaded at the DENR website at this PS News link, or a hard copy can be collected from DENR offices at 37 Dauncey Street, Kingscote, or 1 Richmond Road, Keswick.

23 June, 2011

Leave campaign goes
for a holiday

The latest stage in the national TV campaign No Leave No Life calls on hard working Australians to nominate themselves or a friend for an all expenses paid holiday.
   Federal Minister for Tourism, Martin Ferguson said the move was part of Tourism Australia’s “ramping up” of the campaign.
   “The amount of leave owed to Australians is enormous,” Mr Ferguson said, “123 million days of accumulated annual leave worth $33 billion in wages.
   “Australians have a reputation for being hard working and whilst they know the value of taking time off this is becoming more difficult as they juggle busy schedules and cluttered lifestyles.”
   He said more than a million Australians were directly and indirectly employed in the tourism industry and many of them worked in rural and regional areas.
   He said their jobs depended on customers - both from within Australia and from overseas.
   “The $34 billion Australian tourism industry needs to aggressively compete for the discretionary dollar to encourage more Australians to holiday at home by offering quality tourism experiences,” he said.
   “Tourism Australia is working with the industry to assist it to compete through its long term investment in the popular No Leave, No Life and Nothing Like Australia tourism marketing campaigns as well as the introduction of the TQUAL mark – an accreditation symbol to mark quality tourism products and services.”
   Mr Ferguson said the new No Leave No Life reality TV series was open to nominations from the general public for the first time.
   He said people could nominate themselves or someone they think deserved a well-earned break.
   “The No Leave No Life campaign sends a clear message to employers about the importance of reducing the leave on their books by encouraging workers to take a break,” Mr Ferguson said.
   “And we all know there’s nothing like Australia for a well earned holiday.”
   Mr Ferguson said the second No Leave No Life reality TV series had a reach of 6.38 million with an average 912,000 Australians tuning in each week.
   He said it was the number two program in its timeslot.
   Nominations for the free holiday are open until 29 June 2011 at this PS News link.

23 June, 2011

Report muscles in
on fitness figures

South Australians are more active than ever according to a report released jointly by the Department of Recreation, Sport and Racing and the Australian Sports Commission.
   The 2010 Exercise Recreation and Sport Survey Annual Report (ERASS) found the number of South Australians participating in physical activity had increased by 21 per cent to 1.080 million in the 10 years since 2001.
   Minister for Recreation and Sport, Tom Kenyon said it was encouraging to see that the ‘be active’ message appeared to be getting through and the benefits of leading a healthy and active lifestyle were being realised.
   “In 2001, only one-third of South Australians participated three-or-more times per week, but in the 10 years since then it’s risen to nearly 50 per cent,” Mr Kenyon said.
   “That means there’s an extra 250,000 South Australians out there taking part in physical activities at least three times per week.”
   Mr Kenyon said that while some of the increase had been due to population growth, the underlying trend was very positive, with the SA participation rate equal to the national average (82.3 per cent).
   “These figures are encouraging, but there are still major challenges for all levels of Government to encourage Australians to not only get up and moving, but to live and breathe the ‘be active’ message and make exercise a permanent part of their lifestyles,” he said.
   Mr Kenyon said it was also important to look at the types of activities people were engaging in to ensure the Government had the right facilities and people skills in place.
   “While it’s clear that much of the growth in participation is in non-organised activities, the demand for involvement in organised activities has remained steady since 2001, at approximately 40 per cent of the population,” he said.
   The report found that 49 per cent of South Australians aged 15 years and over had participated in physical activity an average of at least three times per week in 2010, compared with 33 per cent in 2001.
   It also found that women were more likely to exercise more regularly than men, while men were more likely to undertake physical activities in an organised environment when compared to women (45 and 37 per cent respectively).
   The report also indicated that in 2010, the most popular physical activities in terms of total participation rate were walking, aerobics/fitness, cycling, swimming, running, tennis, netball, golf, Australian Rules football and bush walking.

23 June, 2011

Fun fishers catch
new bag limits

Possession limits for recreational fishers have been introduced.
   Minister for Fisheries, Michael O’Brien said possession limits would restrict the number of fish people could freeze and transport, bringing South Australia into line with other States.
   He said many recreational fishers and community leaders had expressed concern that fish stocks were being depleted by those who froze their daily bag limits and departed with commercial quantities.
   “It’s been put to me that interstate fishermen are coming to South Australia and plundering our stocks because Victoria and New South Wales have possession limits and we don’t,” Mr O’Brien said.
   “We welcome interstate visitors, but it’s important to ensure the sustainability of our marine environment.”
   Mr O’Brien said the Department of Fisheries would consult interested parties over the next two months and make recommendations, for him, as minister, to consider.
   “I’m determined to keep it simple and to not impede responsible recreational fishing,” he said.
   “The possession limit may well end up being a multiple of the daily bag limit.”

23 June, 2011

Incensed attorney
bans smoke drugs

Synthetic ‘marijuana’ is to be banned.
   Attorney General, John Rau has announced the ban saying it would target products containing synthetic cannabinoids added to herbal mixtures in products such as Kronic, Spice and Northern Lights.
   Mr Rau said the ban would impose penalties of up to $10,000 or two years’ imprisonment for possession or sale.
   “I am not only concerned about the harmful health effects of these products, but also the possibility that users are driving under the influence, posing a serious danger to themselves and others,” he said.
   “For this reason, the Government will be banning the active ingredients of synthetic cannabis.”
   Mr Rau said the harmful effects of synthetic cannabis are very similar to those of marijuana.
   “There have been reports of users experiencing paranoia, anxiety, racing thoughts and irritability, hallucinations, tremors, convulsions, slurred speech, dilated pupils, elevated blood pressure, vomiting and chest pain,” he said.
   Mr Rau said there had also been a report of withdrawal effects and dependence associated with the use of the product Spice Gold.
   He said products containing synthetic cannabinoids had been available for purchase online.
   He said Northern Lights Herbal Incense, manufactured in New Zealand, had been sold in a retail outlet in Whyalla and there had also been a report of a person being treated at Whyalla Hospital as a result of its consumption.

23 June, 2011

Young reading plan
tells a good story

The Smith Family’s under-fives reading program has received a $365,000 Government boost.
   Minister for Education, Jay Weatherill announced the extra funding saying it would expand the Let’s Read program to child care centres across the State over the next three years.
   Mr Weatherill said the program developed reading skills in children from babies’ age to five years old by encouraging families to enjoy spending time reading with them.
   “This additional funding will go towards training staff at children’s centres about how the program works and how they can best support families in the important task of inspiring a love of reading,” Mr Weatherill said.
   “We now know just how important the early years are to children’s development – and reading with children is an essential part of setting them on track for a bright future.”
   Mr Weatherill said that under the program, families would be given a starter pack with a book, suggested book list and a DVD showing ways to read and have fun with books.
   “If we are going to make a difference and help children develop as confident young people with the skills they need for a better future, we must start early,” he said.
   General Manager of The Smith Family, Graham Jaeschke said extra funding would allow access to Let’s Read by thousands more children who would therefore be better placed to learn to read when they reached school.
   “Research has shown that children who have not developed early literacy skills by the time they start school are unlikely to catch up with their peers,” Mr Jaeschke said.
   “That’s why it is so important to give our children the best start with their education.”
   He said Let’s Read was developed by the Smith Family and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute’s Centre for Community Child Health.
   He said the program was delivered in partnership with community groups, to provide parents and carers with the skills, resources and support they needed to encourage them to read out loud regularly with their children.

23 June, 2011

Rare earths policy
is down to earth

Guidelines for an Environment Impact Study (EIS) proposed for the Whyalla Rare Earths Complex have been released.
   Minister for Urban Development and Planning, John Rau made the announcement after the complex, proposed by Arafura Resources, was assessed as a Major Development last year.
   Mr Rau said that following consideration of the proposal, the Development Assessment Commission determined the proposal would be subject to the processes and procedures of an EIS.
   He said the EIS would describe what the proponent wanted to do, what the environmental effects would be and how the proponent planned to manage the project.
   “The EIS will investigate the magnitude of the development, the hazards associated with a large chemical processing plant, climate change implications, sensitivity to the Gulf environment, and infrastructure, service and transport requirements and implications.”
   Mr Rau said the Arafura proposal had the potential to deliver substantial economic and social benefits to Whyalla, the Eyre Peninsula and the State.
   “Up to 1,000 jobs could be created during construction, with an ongoing operational workforce of 250 – 300 permanent employees,” Mr Rau said.
   “As with all Major Developments, this project will be scrutinised at the highest level available under South Australia’s development laws.”
   Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Tom Koutsantonis said if the project went ahead it could be a catalyst for other SA miners to extract rare earths for sale to Arafura for processing.
   “This Whyalla rare earth processing plant will be the first of its kind in Australia and one of a few in the world outside China,” he said.
   “The processing plant is expected to supply about 10 per cent of the world’s demand for the elements, producing 20,000 tonnes a year if it begins production.”
   Mr Rau said Arafura’s proposal included chemical processing plants and associated infrastructure, including storage areas for mineral concentrate and raw materials, a desalination plant and water storage and evaporation ponds.
   He said following the preparation of the EIS, it would be released formally for consultation by the community and Government Agencies, during which time a public meeting would be held in Whyalla.

23 June, 2011

Website connects with
connection service

A new website and a national ‘Find and Connect’ service have been announced as part of a program to support the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants to reconnect with their families.
   Federal Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin said more than $3 million was being provided for the first phase of the national Find and Connect service to help Forgotten Australians access professional counselling services, trace their personal and family histories and reunite with family members where possible.
   Ms Macklin said the Find and Connect service was part of a commitment made at the 2009 National Apology to the more than 500,000 Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants - many of whom suffered abuse and neglect while in out-of-home care last century.
   She said the funding would support a national Find and Connect website and database of records to help care leavers find records held by past care provider organisations and Government Agencies, including counselling support.
   Ms Macklin said her Department would work with community agencies, the States and Territories, including Victoria, to encourage timely access and the supported release of historical records to care leavers.
   She said the Department would also include care leavers, State and Territory Governments and other stakeholders in the next implementation phase of national Find and Connect services from November 2011.
   “We know that for many Forgotten Australians and child migrants who grew up in institutional and foster care, the feelings of loss and abandonment have remained with them throughout their lives,” Ms Macklin said.
   “Providing services to help them reconnect with their identity and with their families where this is possible is one way the Government can help heal the legacy of the trauma and loneliness of lost childhoods,” she said.

23 June, 2011

Students team up for
habitat program

And in Other News...

Volunteers for Island
Hundreds of volunteers attending The Kangaroo Island Planting Festival are hoping to plant up to120,000 seedlings to help protect the island’s habitat.
Around 500 people are expected to attend the three-day family event, which will run between 8 and 10 July.
Enquiries can be directed to Heiri Klein on 8553 2381 or
hein

sa.gov.au

Super clinic opens
The Federal Minister for Health, Nicola Roxon has announced the opening of a GP Super Clinic at Playford North.
   She said the centre was currently bulk billing for a variety of health services and was open weekdays and Saturday mornings.
   Ms Roxon said the clinic was the 11th to be officially opened with 31 now either open, providing early services or under construction.

Food awards open
Entries for the 2011 SA Premier’s Food Industry Awards have opened.
   In its 14th year, the Awards celebrate businesses and individuals who have demonstrated a level of excellence in the South Australian food industry.
   Entries will close on 29 July and winners are expected to be announced at a gala dinner on 25 November at the Adelaide Convention Centre, which will be open to the public.

16 June, 2011

Budget adds up
to PS job cuts

Another 400 jobs are to be cut from the South Australian Public Service over the next two years in addition to the 3,750 announced last year.
   The cuts were included in the 2011-12 State Budget handed down last week by Treasurer, Jack Snelling.
   Public Sector unions have condemned the job cuts as unnecessary.
   Mr Snelling said the 400 PS positions would go by 2014, saving $31 million per year.
   “We’ve got a very tight budget,” Mr Snelling said.
   “We have really kept the lid on new government spending.”
   He said about half the job cuts announced last year had already been achieved.
   General Secretary of the Public Service Association, Jan McMahon, said the public service was being cut to the bone.
   “We are appalled and disappointed by a further 400 public sector jobs to go,” Ms McMahon said.
   “This will impact on South Australian families.”
   She said the PSA would protest when the job cuts were made and would consider taking industrial action as well as working with the community to restore the jobs.
   “We will continue to campaign against the job cuts, because they quite frankly just equal service cuts,” Ms McMahon said.
   She said the new combined job cut level of 4,150 was unacceptable.
   Secretary of SA Unions, Janet Giles said despite the job cuts, reversing other measures affecting the PS were positive.
   Ms Giles said the government had a long way to go to repair relationships with workers and the community but the Budget was a small step in the right direction.
   “It goes some way of putting working South Australians first,” Ms Giles said.
   She said the unions would keep campaigning to get the jobs restored.

16 June, 2011

Queen pins honours
on starring staff

Public sector staff appeared prominently in the 2011 Queens’ Birthday Honours list with the following personnel singled out for awards for excellence, commitment and ability.
The new awards are:

MEMBER IN THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (AM)

Professor Susan RICHARDSON AM
Flinders university
For service to the social sciences, particularly in the field of labour market economics as an academic and researcher, and through contributions to the development of socially inclusive public policy.

MEDAL OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (OAM)

John Hamilton ELLIOTT AFSM OAM
South Australian Metropolitan Fires Service
For service to fire and emergency service organisations in Mount Gambier.

PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL PSM

Philippa Anne ASTON PSM
Housing SA
For outstanding public service in the area of housing for people with special needs.

Ms Aston is committed to assisting homeless people and finding creative ways to getting people off the street and into assisted accommodation. Ms Aston has always inspired her staff with her passion, energy and vision, and her outstanding leadership qualities.

Susan Carol IRELAND PSM
SA Health
For outstanding public service in the area of health services.

For over 10 years Ms Ireland has served the South Australian public through her tireless efforts to progress reforms, improve services and foster relations between sectors in the areas of blood and blood products supply and management, and in organ and tissue donation. She has continuously performed exceptionally in these areas.

Professor Paddy Andrew PHILLIPS PSM
SA Health
For outstanding public service in the area of health services.

Since being appointed Chief Medical Officer for SA Health in 2007, Professor Phillips has provided outstanding leadership, particularly in the areas of medical training and education. His distinguished career has been marked by talent, energy, ceaseless work, outstanding leadership, strategic thinking and policy and devotion to public service.

AUSTRALIAN POLICE MEDAL (APM)

Detective Senior Sergeant Michael John EICHNER APM
Detective Senior Sergeant Eichner joined SAPOL in 1968 and for the past 17 years has been posted to the Major Crime Investigation Section (MCIS). He has excelled in the criminal investigation field, both in an investigatory and supervisory role, in some of South Australia’s most serious and complicated murder investigations.

Superintendent Peter John HARVEY APM
Superintendent Harvey joined SAPOL in 1978 and is highly regarded for his commitment within the covert investigation field, being instrumental in the creation and establishment of the Covert Investigation Section. As an undercover operative and undercover controller, Superintendent Harvey was recognised as an expert in this field.

Chief Superintendent Linda WILLIAMS APM
Chief Superintendent Williams joined SAPOL in 1980 and was involved in the development of the first stalking legislation aimed at enhancing the safety of victims of domestic violence. In 2008, she set up the State Crime Prevention Branch, with significant responsibilities in the areas of drugs and alcohol, youth, victims, crime prevention, volunteers and Watch SA.

AUSTRALIAN FIRE SERVICE MEDAL (AFSM)

Jeffrey Raymond (Jeff) CLARK AFSM
Mr Clark joined the SA Country Fire Service (CFS), then known as the Emergency Fire Service, as a cadet in 1973 with the Smithfield Brigade and 1979 he was elected Brigade Lieutenant. Mr Clark has served the CFS and the community of South Australia with distinction over many years.

Leigh Rodney MILLER AFSM
As Manager Prevention Services within the SA Country Fire Service (CFS), Mr Miller has provided outstanding service to the South Australian community in the identification and implementation of strategies for the prevention and management of bushfire risk and community education.

AMBULANCE SERVICE MEDAL ASM

Christopher Tilney (Chris) COTTON ASM
Mr Cotton joined the SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) in 1989 and has been a communications officer, paramedic and intensive care paramedic. It is his outstanding contribution to the development and service of his peers as an OHS representative, volunteer ambulance officer course lecturer, manual handling instructor and driving instructor that is noteworthy.

Patricia Ann KAKOSCHKE ASM
Mrs Kakoschke joined the SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) at Mallala in 1965. She has also been an active Foundation Member of the Mallala Combined Ambulance Division combining first aid and ambulance duties and in 2000 was appointed to her current position of Volunteer Team Leader.

EMERGENCY SERVICES MEDAL (ESM)

Ross Charles JOHNSTON ESM
Mr Johnston joined the (then) Prospect Civil Defence as a volunteer in 1970 and rose up the ranks to Rescue Officer, a position he held until he resigned in June 1985. Rejoining in 1988, Mr Johnston was re-appointed Rescue Officer, a position he still holds.

Paul Douglas ORTMANN ESM
Mr Ortmann joined the South Australian State Emergency Service (SES) in 1981 as a volunteer cadet with the (then) Mitcham Unit, now known as the Metro South Unit. He has held many leadership positions, ranging from Deputy Team Leader, Team Leader and Transport Officer to Deputy Unit Manager. He is the unit’s current Team Leader.

16 June, 2011

Number’s up for
SA Lotteries

SA Lotteries is to be sold off.
   Treasurer, Jack Snelling announced the move as part of the 2011-12 Budget saying a private operator would be licensed to run the business.
   Mr Snelling said competition from other forms of gambling, particularly the increase in on-line gambling, were behind the decision to sell out of the money-making venture.
   “It is therefore time for the Government to become a regulator and not an operator within the gambling market,” Mr Snelling said.
   “The SA Lotteries organisation needs to be free of Government control so they can meet the ongoing challenges caused by increasing competition and that can best be done with a private operator taking over.”
   He said the SA Lotteries brand would continue and remain under Government control.
   “The scope and competition of the gambling market has changed considerably since the 1960s when SA Lotteries and the TAB were the main players in the gambling industry,” Mr Snelling said.
   “This is a move that has already happened in many other States and the Government will continue to collect the gambling taxes that make up three-quarters of the revenue that is collected from SA Lotteries.”
   He said gambling revenue would still continue to be directed into hospital and recreation and sport funding and the Government would work with agencies that relied on SA Lotteries for their income to ensure they continue to operate as they do at the moment.
   “Agency fees will be kept stable at current SA Lotteries rates, contracts for all agencies will be re-set to five years from the date of any transfer to a private operator and there will be an opportunity to extend licence contracts and current commissions will be maintained,” Mr Snelling said.
   He said the expected income to be generated from the sale could not be revealed in order to protect commercial interests but a reserve price had been set.

16 June, 2011

Corruption watchdog
thrown first bone

Running costs of $11.4 million for the State’s proposed new independent anti-corruption body have been included in the Budget for 2011-12 although it would not be needed until 2012-13.
   Treasurer Jack Snelling said the Government was considering submissions from the public which flagged options for establishing an independent Commissioner for Public Integrity in South Australia, and community views would help shape its legislation.
   “It is proposed the anti-corruption body will open its doors from 1 July 2012, with legislation to be introduced to Parliament this year,” Mr Snelling said.
   In other law-enforcing measures, he said South Australia’s forensic services, which provide crucial support to SA Police and the Coroner, would be boosted with an additional $2.1 million from the State Budget over the next four years.
   He said the increased funding for Forensic Science SA (FSSA) followed significant additional resources provided to the service in recent years.
   “Funding provided in previous Budgets has reduced backlogs in DNA testing and Coronial post-mortem reports by 45 per cent over two years,” Mr Snelling said.
   “The funding has also allowed increased drug testing of drivers, with more than 20,000 drivers tested for drugs since 2006.”
   Mr Snelling said the State’s court infrastructure would receive a $4.8 million investment which included $1 million to upgrade court facilities at Murray Bridge, and $1.7 million over three years to upgrade the Sir Samuel Way Building.
   A further $2.1 million over two years would be used to replace security systems at the Supreme Court, and the Port Adelaide, Adelaide and Elizabeth Magistrates’ Courts.
   Mr Snelling said the State Budget also provided $3.8 million to complete further upgrades of the State’s prison system with $2 million for the Adelaide Remand Centre kitchen and $1.8 million for security infrastructure at prisons across South Australia.
   “There continues to be a lot of work going on in the State’s prison system and the upgrade at the ARC is just the latest in a long line of capital investment into our prison system,” Mr Snelling said.
   “The security upgrade will include purchasing a biometric identification system, a drug and explosives detector and an x-ray machine for the ARC,” he said.

16 June, 2011

Fees and charges
get Budget boost

Government fees and charges are to increase by an average of 2.9 per cent following Treasurer Jack Snelling’s first Budget handed down last week.
   Mr Snelling said the rises reflected the average increase in the cost of providing the relevant services and would take effect on 1 July 2011.
   He said the increase would see Metroticket fares go up from $4.60 to $4.70 for an adult peak single trip with adult peak multi-trip tickets rising from $30.00 to $30.90.
   He said light motor vehicle registration fees would also increase by around one percentage point above the annual indexation factor.
   “This will help fund a four-year program of additional road resurfacing and rehabilitation works to improve the condition of regional road networks in South Australia,” Mr Snelling said, “and Kangaroo Island will be the first beneficiary of this measure.”
   “This will see the registration fee for a motor vehicle with four cylinders or less rise from $102 to $106, five or six cylinders will rise from $208 to $217 while seven or more cylinder registration prices will increase from $302 to $314.”
   The Treasurer said compulsory third party premiums would rise by an average 2.4 per cent, one-third the average percentage increase of the previous year.
   “The increase will see the premium of a Class 1 vehicle (the average family car) rise from $476 per year to $489 per year for a vehicle registered in District 1 (Adelaide and surrounds),” Mr Snelling said.
   “Premiums for passenger vehicles in District 1 (Adelaide and surrounds) entitled to an input tax credit will not be subject to an increase, remaining at the current annual charge of $518.”
   He said above average indexation increases in fees for drivers licence renewals and speeding fines – as announced in the 2010-11 State Budget – would come into effect from 1 July 2011.

16 June, 2011

Radiation database a
glowing initiative

The Federal Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism has launched a new database to track the radiation dose histories of employees in the uranium mining and milling industries.
   To be managed by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), the centralised database will allow workers to move across jobs and across jurisdictions and have their exposure histories follow them.
   Commonwealth Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson, said around 6,000 Australians employed in the uranium industry would benefit from the new Australian National Radiation Dose Register.
   “The health and safety of workers is always our first priority,” Mr Ferguson said.
   “The national dose register is integral to ensuring we have a world class regulatory regime in place for uranium mining in Australia.”
   He said under the new scheme, data on radiation doses would be sent to the central register and workers could then access their personal records collected over a lifetime.
   The new service would be provided free of charge.
   OHS Consultant and editor of SafetyAtWorkBlog, Kevin Jones said the initiative announced did not improve safety for uranium workers, but instead collated evidence of harm in preparation for compensation.
   “It is a common criticism of modern corporations that communications follow the “silo” structures of the companies rather than using more thematic pathways, such as safety,” Mr Jones said.
   “The silos of human resources and safety management continue to exist.”
   “But in government there are silos within silos where Government Departments and Authorities do not talk with each other as much as is necessary to progress.”

16 June, 2011

Breakfast factsheets
snap and crackle

A series of health factsheets have been developed to help schools deliver successful breakfast programs.
   Produced jointly by SA Health, the Department of Education and Children’s Services (DECS) and the Australian Red Cross (SA Division), the eight factsheets provide information and advice for schools looking to introduce or improve a breakfast program.
   Health Promotion Director with SA Health, Michele Herriot, said it was important that children started the day by eating a nutritious breakfast.
   “Research shows that children and teenagers who regularly eat breakfast have a more nutritious diet than those who do not,” Ms Herriot said.
   She said children who had breakfast were also able to concentrate better and were more receptive to learning at school than those who skipped it.
   “The fact sheets will assist schools to decide whether a breakfast program is required at their school, and also provide information about funding, volunteer training and how to source healthy breakfast foods,” Ms Herriot said.
   She said SA Health commissioned the Australian Red Cross (SA Division) to compile a report on the number, nature and role of breakfast programs in SA schools.
   She said in 2009, there were 249 active breakfast programs in Government schools across the State, varying in frequency from once a week to every day.
   “Breakfast programs are one way to meet the needs of children who arrive at school without having eaten breakfast,” Ms Herriot said
   She said providing broader education programs to help parents and children understand the importance of a healthy breakfast, nutritious meals and snacks allowed them to take action to change their eating habits.
   Ms Herriot said the Right Bite Food and Drink Supply Strategy for South Australian Schools and Preschools, was a key initiative supporting the provision of healthy food.
   She said for more information on the fact sheets readers could visit this PS News link.

16 June, 2011

Wetlands awash with
environmental water

Millions of litres of water has been released into the wetlands along NSW’s Murrumbidgee River and are expected to flow into the River Murray and end up in the Lower Lakes and Coorong.
   The flows were announced by the Federal Minister for Water, Tony Burke who said they consisted of water recovered by the Commonwealth from the environment.
   Mr Burke said the environmental flows included more than 100 gigalitres of Commonwealth water and were filling hundreds of small wetlands.
   “Restoring the health of the River Murray is one of the biggest environmental challenges of our generation,” Mr Burke said.
   “This water will improve the river’s health and replenish river red gums and wetlands.”
   Mr Burke said this one event was the equivalent of releasing the water from 75,000 Olympic size swimming pools.
   “Because we have had a wet year in 2010-11 this is a real opportunity to build on good flows and carry over water in dams for future use,” Mr Burke said.
   “In effect this means that there is improved insurance for the environment when drier times return.”
   He said environmental water would build on the benefits from recent river flows in spring 2010, which filled many wetlands for the first time in 10 years.
   Mr Burke said watering the wetlands now meant they would stay full through winter and spring providing vegetation with their best chance to flourish.
   He said the flow into the Murrumbidgee River was being delivered through releases from Burrinjuck and Blowering Dams over approximately 10 days and commenced on 14 June.

16 June, 2011

Public transport
on the right bus

Public transport was a winner in the recently announced State Budget with Treasurer Jack Snelling announcing better roads, new buses and increased safety provisions and infrastructure to make trains run faster and more efficiently.
   Mr Snelling said the 2011-12 Budget featured spending designed to improve the day-to-day commute of South Australians.
   “South Australians deserve a modern, flexible and responsive transport system that is designed to cope with our State’s growth,” Mr Snelling said.
   “Faster, more efficient public transport and better, safer roads will continue to roll out the largest transport infrastructure program in South Australian history.”
   Mr Snelling said the 2011-12 Budget included the re-profiling of the Rail Revitalisation project providing additional support for the electrification infrastructure on the Noarlunga and Gawler lines.
   He said the Rail Revitalisation project would see $12 million spent on the construction of a turnback facility for trains at Elizabeth Station.
   He said this would allow for increased frequency of train services between Elizabeth and the city with the capacity for a frequency of just seven-and-a-half minutes in peak periods.
   “This will address passenger demand at Elizabeth Station, which is currently the fourth busiest train station on the metropolitan network but is expected to become the second busiest,” Mr Snelling said.
   He said key transport initiatives in the 2011-12 Budget included upgrading pathways, platforms, information displays and shelters at rail and bus interchanges to support improved accessibility.
   He said the State Government would forge ahead with the $445.5 million duplication of the Southern Expressway and a range of other projects to allow Adelaide’s transport network to run smoothly into the future.
   “As part of the push towards electrification of the rail system, $2 million will be invested in a detailed planning study for a redesign of the rail line and road network at Oaklands Park,” Mr Snelling said.
   “The Government has deferred the proposed upgrade of the junctions of Diagonal Rd, Prunus St and Morphett Rd in order to enable the project to be re-scoped in order to achieve the best long-term outcome for road users and commuters.”
   He said the Budget also included funds for planning and detailed designs for future road works in Gawler and Mt Barker, reflecting the anticipated growth in those expanding towns.

16 June, 2011

Gap closing on
school progress

South Australia is one of only three States and Territories reaching its targets for closing the gap on Indigenous literacy and numeracy.
   The Council of Australian Government’s COAG Reform Council has warned the others that in just the second year of a 10-year program, all but SA, Victoria and the ACT were already off the pace.
   Chairman of the Reform Council, Paul McClintock said the Council was concerned with the progress the governments had made so far in important areas of the target.
   “It’s worrying to see that early on in this 10-year agreement governments are not on track, in some key areas, to meet their target of halving the gap for Indigenous students in literacy and numeracy,” Mr McClintock said.
   “We are particularly concerned to find that five governments are falling behind in Year 9 Reading, with only Victoria, South Australia and the ACT on track against their progress points in this area.”
   He said for Year 9 Reading, the 2010 results for NSW, Western Australia and Tasmania were significantly below their 2008 results.
   He said however the Council was pleased to report good progress against the target in most areas.
   Mr McClintock said there were significant improvements in Year 3 Reading nationally, with the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students decreasing by more than 20 per cent.
   “Progress under this target is vital to ensure that all Australian children are equipped with the necessary skills to enter the workforce and participate in society,” Mr McClintock said.
   He said the second year performance report on the National Indigenous Reform Agreement found there were significant improvements in the Northern Territory in Year 3 Reading and in South Australia in Year 7 Reading.
   The report also found there were no significant improvements in numeracy in any jurisdictions.
   The report can be downloaded from this PS News link.

16 June, 2011

Funding points to
point-to-point

An expansion of the point-to-point safety camera system has been included in Budget measures for road safety in 2011-12 despite the first units yet to become operational.
   Treasurer Jack Snelling said the State Government would spend $3.9 million on the installation of four new sets of point-to-point safety cameras on major arterial roads.
   “The point-to point system determines whether a vehicle has exceeded the speed limit by using two fixed cameras to record and calculate a driver or rider’s average speed between the two locations,” Mr Snelling said.
   “The first point-to-point safety cameras have already been installed on the Port Wakefield Road between Two Wells and Port Wakefield and are due to become operational later this year.”
   Mr Snelling said the proposed locations of the new camera sites were along the Adelaide to Victor Harbor Road; Princes Highway; Sturt Highway; and the Northern Expressway.
   He said the Budget also allocated $1.2 million over four years for the installation of additional red light and safety cameras at eight high-risk school crossings on arterial roads.
   He said the cameras would be installed at two locations each year with the first two proposed at existing school pedestrian crossings on Portrush Road (Trinity Gardens) and South Road (Blackforest).
   “These sites have been targeted with a focus on the safety of pedestrians, schoolchildren in particular, because of their high traffic volumes and recent crash histories,” Mr Snelling said.
   He said the Government would spend $2.2 million over the next four years to install eight more mid-block safety cameras at new locations across Adelaide with a history of crashes or speeding.
   He said an extra $25.3 million would be spent over three years for the state’s shoulder sealing program.
   “Road shoulder treatments are a key road safety initiative targeting single vehicle run-off crashes which account for nearly two thirds of fatalities and serious crash injuries in the State’s rural areas,” Mr Snelling said.
   “This new funding will see a further 300 kilometres of sealed shoulders added to our road system on top of the 1,100 kilometres already installed under the program.”
   “Shoulder sealing will occur on high-priority rural roads identified because of their traffic volumes and crash histories.”

16 June, 2011

Child protection
comes of age

The South Australian child protection system is to receive a welcome funding boost over the next four years with the 2011-12 Budget earmarking an extra $69.1 million to keep families together longer.
   Treasurer Jack Snelling said the Budget had a strong focus on protecting the most vulnerable in the community, including a significant increase in spending to meet the growing number of children needing State care.
   “Much of this investment will be aimed at keeping siblings in State care together and re-unifying them with their families sooner,” Mr Snelling said.
   “We need to be supporting our children in State care and make sure we have the right services in place and that is why the Government will be allocating an extra $41.7 million over four years to meet the home based, residential and emergency care costs of children in need of alternative care.”
   Mr Snelling said $8.4 million would fund six new residential care homes, which would help provide a stable, secure and homely environment for children in State care.
   Minister for Families and Communities, Jennifer Rankine said the new residential care arrangements would see the homes in clusters of three, drawing on the successes of two other residential care facilities funded in the 2008-09 Budget.
   “Each cluster will be home to up to 12 children at a time, living across the three homes and they will be cared for by Families SA staff and supported by social workers,” Ms Rankine said.
   “These new homes will focus on keeping sibling groups together, while working towards reunifying them with their parents when it is appropriate.”
   She said the new facilities would also help achieve the goal of having no children in motel style accommodation.
   “We know that living in motel style accommodation is not ideal and this extra funding will ensure there is a safe, homely and supportive place for children to stay if they enter State care,” Ms Rankine said.
   Mr Snelling said the Government was also allocating an additional $19 million over the next four years to increase services to support the re-unification of children in State care with their families.

16 June, 2011

Whalewatchers told
to hold back

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has warned whale-watchers to keep a safe distance from the animals they are watching.
   Animal Welfare Manager at DENR, Deborah Kelly, said people were encouraged to take part in whale watching but were reminded to observe them from a distance so they remained relaxed in their environment.
   “Whales may be disturbed by humans or vessels, such as boats, surfboards or aircraft, and this can be stressful for the animal,” Dr Kelly said.
   She said if conducted responsibly, water based activities such as fishing and surfing could continue to take place in areas where whales were visiting.
   “We want to ensure that whales return to our waters each year, so it is important that we provide them with a secure and safe environment,” Dr Kelly said.
   “This means respecting their space and avoid getting too close to any whales that are present.”
   She said if a person unexpectedly found him or herself too close to a whale they should either cut their motor or move away.
   Manager of DENR’s Great Australian Bight Marine Park, Saras Kumar, said whale numbers along the South Australian coastline were increasing and most were coming closer to shore during the winter period.
   Ms Kumar said whale watchers were being asked to report sightings of entangled whales and other marine animals to DENR or FISHWATCH.
   “As whales migrate closer to shore there is a risk some may become tangled in netting and debris, and unfortunately in 2001 a Southern Right whale died in the Great Australian Bight Marine Park due to an entanglement,” Ms Kumar said.
   “It can be dangerous for members of the public to attempt to disentangle a whale as it is most likely stressed and could inflict serious injury.”
   Ms Kumar said when reporting an entangled marine mammal, information such as the location and direction the whale was moving, were important facts to provide to trained officers.
   For further information about whale watching visit this PS News link.

16 June, 2011

Minister kicks goal
with sports policy

South Australia has welcomed a new national initiative to stamp out match fixing in sport.
   Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing, Tom Kenyon said match fixing posed the greatest threat to the integrity of Australian sport since drugs in sport.
   “Match fixing is insidious by nature and sports fans are being ripped-off wherever it exists,” Mr Kenyon said.
   “We simply can’t allow it to infiltrate our major sporting codes or diminish in any way our reputation as a great sporting nation.”
   He said a Working Group, chaired by the Commonwealth, would report back to the Sport and Recreation Ministerial Council within three months to develop an implementation plan.
   “Supporting the new policy is a no-brainer and I’m pleased that all of my State and Territory colleagues signed up,” Mr Kenyon said.
   “It sends the strongest possible message to any would-be match fixers and shows how committed we are right across the nation to rub it out before it gains any sort of foothold.”
   He said the Federal Minister for Sport, Senator Mark Arbib, had floated the idea of up to 10-year jail terms for perpetrators of match fixing.
   “I’m supportive of strong measures like that,” Mr Kenyon said.
   “This policy will provide the platform for action against match fixing underpinned by legislation, regulation, codes of conduct and industry standards.”
   He said the policy represented a commitment by the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments to work together in addressing the issue of inappropriate and fraudulent sports betting and match-fixing activities.
   “We have well-established traditions to uphold and respect,” Mr Kenyon said.
   “We can’t let it become part of our sporting landscape as has occurred overseas.”
   Mr Kenyon said the Council was also seeking to ensure there was better information sharing between betting agencies and sporting organisations so that any suspicious activity was swiftly identified.

16 June, 2011

Water measurements
come on stream

The Department for Water (DFW) is to install new high-tech infrastructure across the South East to monitor the region’s groundwater resources better.
   Funded by the Bureau of Meteorology, 13 water level data loggers are to be installed and 34 groundwater monitoring wells deepened to enable faster and more efficient monitoring of groundwater.
   Resource Allocation Manager - South East, with DFW, Drew Laslett said the new infrastructure would lead to a more robust and modern water monitoring system.
   “Groundwater is the primary source of our water in the South East and landholders rely on this resource to conduct their businesses,” Mr Laslett said, “so the continuous capture of up-to-date information on water levels and salinity is essential.
   “We have seen declining water levels in our groundwater systems over the past few years due to below-average rainfall, changes in land use and water extraction.
   “This had led to a need to deepen local monitoring wells so we can keep collecting information.”
   Mr Laslett said the grant allowed a drilling program to begin to deepen and refurbish groundwater monitoring wells in the region that were nearing the end of their life due to groundwater decline.
   “We will also be installing new groundwater level sensors and loggers to continuously record and log groundwater information - particularly for rainfall recharge to groundwater as it occurs, and changes in salinity during the season or as a response to rainfall or extraction.
   “With this information, we can inform landholders of the latest water and salinity levels for their area, and provide this information to the Bureau of Meteorology for their use.”
   Mr Laslett said DFW currently managed and maintained approximately 922 monitoring wells for the South East’s unconfined aquifer, and 120 wells for the confined aquifer.
   “Once the installation of loggers is complete, we anticipate a number of sites will be equipped in the future with telemetry capacity so we can view data in near real-time – which will help to vastly improve our understanding of the resource and recharge over time,” Mr Laslett said.
   He said after installation was completed the Department hoped to enable landholders to view the information on their new WaterConnect portal at this PS News link.

16 June, 2011

Mouse bait a trap
says Biosecurity

Biosecurity SA has issued a warning about the dangers of mouse bait, saying careless use could lead to the poisoning of other animals.
   Rural Chemicals Operations Manager with Biosecurity SA, Michael McManus, said the danger of accidental poisoning was as real in suburban homes as it was on farms.
   “Householders may be looking for fast, effective response to current mice problems, but they need to take particular care when using baits to avoid accidental poisoning of pets or wildlife that may be in their gardens or homes,” Mr McManus said.
   “Label instructions should be followed to the letter to minimise risks of poisoning non-target animals like dogs, cats or birds.”
   He said some common instructions on domestic mouse bait labels included: This bait is hazardous to pigs, cats, dogs, poultry, birds and wildlife; DO NOT place bait stations in the open; DO NOT place or store baits in locations which are accessible to domestic animals, livestock, birds or other animals.
   “Remember too that mouse bait or dead mice present a potential risk to dogs and other animals so it’s recommended that farmers restrain working dogs and pets during the baiting program to prevent accidental poisoning,” Mr McManus said.
   “Zinc phosphide and strychnine mouse baits are prohibited from use around homes and gardens to minimise harm to humans and off-target animals.”
   Mr McManus said both types of baits were Schedule 7 poison products and users in approved rural situations must have prescribed qualifications.
   He said any animals suspected of ingesting baits should immediately be taken to a vet.
   “A number of mouse bait products are approved for use around houses, farm buildings, sheds and broadacre crops,” Mr McManus said.
   “Users should carefully read the product label to decide if the bait is suitable for their situation.”
   He said people using unregistered mouse bait in rural areas could be fined up to $35,000.
   “Home made baits have the potential to cause serious harm, even death to users, let alone harm to wildlife, domestic animals and pets,” Mr McManus said.
   He said further information was available from this PS News link.

16 June, 2011

Students team up for
habitat program

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has welcomed two teams of international students to join its South East Threatened Species and Habitat Recovery program.
   DENR’s community support officer with the Threatened Species and Habitat Recovery Team, Becky McCann, said the two crews would assist with a variety of projects aimed to protect local biodiversity and habitat, continuing work undertaken by local volunteers, landholders, schools and community groups.
   Ms McCann said DENR staff would work together with the International Student Volunteer groups and local volunteers to remove invasive weeds and garden escapees such as polygala, coastal wattle and gazanias from coastal reserves between the Piccaninnie Ponds and Robe, where rare and threatened orchids are found.
   “Further weed control will happen throughout other conservation parks and reserves across the region, including Mundulla, which has some of the most intact grey-box grassy woodland left in the South East,” Ms McCann said.
   “Volunteers will assist in planting more than 4,000 seedlings of endangered buloke woodland plants, which are vital as a food source for the endangered South East red-tail black-cockatoo and provides habitat for the bush stone-curlew.”
   Ms McCann said the student volunteers would also assist a local farmer in revegetating two of Australia’s most critically endangered plants on his farm, providing ‘insurance’ populations of the avenue cassinia and the clustered daisy-bush, whose current populations were relatively insecure and unknown.
   Ms McCann said she was excited about having young people come from the other side of the world and volunteer their summer holidays to help make a difference to the South East with local volunteers.
   “It is not just about the on-ground outcomes that will occur,” Ms McCann said, “the ISV team will also gain valuable learning experiences with local volunteers, school students and community members as they work together.”
   She said now was a “great time” for locals to become involved with local community environmental projects in a fun, relaxed atmosphere, to see their patch in a different way, learn new skills and meet the groups who volunteer their time to help manage sites that benefit the wider community.
   More information about ISV can be obtained from this PS News link.

16 June, 2011
High Court to hear PSA case
The High Court has agreed to hear the Public Service Association’s case for its grievances to be heard.
   Following the Supreme Court’s ruling that it couldn’t hear the Association’s claim that the Industrial Relations Commission should rule on its dispute with the Government, the PSA had no option that to take its case to the highest court in the land.
   Should the High Court rule in the PSA’s favour the matter will be referred back to the Supreme Court for determination.

Energy concessions doubled
South Australians suffering from a medical condition affected by extreme hot or cold weather will benefit from the introduction of a Medical Heating and Cooling Concession.
   The Medical Heating and Cooling Concession would double the current energy concessions to up to $316 per year from 2011-12.
   The concession will give extra financial support to people on a low or fixed income.
   The new rebate would be accepted from 1 January 2012 but be backdated from the beginning of the 2011-12 financial year.

Health to get $4.7B
The State Government is to spend $4.7 billion on health in 2011-12.
   The support for health was a four per cent ($181 million) increase on last year.
   A record $498 million has been allocated for capital works, including redevelopments at Glenside, Lyell McEwin, Modbury, Queen Elizabeth (Stage 2), the Repatriation, Whyalla and the Women and Children’s Hospital.
   The capital investment also includes expanding mental health facilities at James Nash House, building new community facilities for older people and expanding the network of Intermediate Care Centres.

Tax relief for business
Tax relief measures to reduce the burden on business have been announced in the 2011-12 State Budget.
   The Government is to spend $170.7 million over the next four years in tax relief from indexing land tax brackets from 1 July 2011, in line with average site value increases, and abolish stamp duty on non-real property transfers and non-quoted marketable securities from 1 July 2012, providing an estimated $131.2 million in tax relief to 2014-15.
   New initiatives to support South Australian business and industry include $5.3 million over five years from 2010-11 for a refurbishment and upgrade of Technology Park to improve the levels of tenant occupancy and lease returns.

9 June, 2011

Leave loadings
reloaded

Government plans to abolish leave loadings in the Public Service and introduce forced redundancies have been reversed by the Treasurer, Jack Snelling.
   The move has been welcomed by the Public Service Association although its campaign against other measures is to continue.
   Announcing the Government’s change of heart, Mr Snelling said that he and Gail Gago, the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, had been in on-going discussions with union representatives during the past months about workers’ entitlements.
   “I believe that those representatives recognised the tight fiscal position the state was in and we have a better understanding of the impact of some of the decisions from last year’s Budget on workers,” Mr Snelling said.
   “Following the discussions, I appreciate last year’s Budget savings measure to remove the recreation leave loading and replace it with an extra two days leave hit hardest some of the State’s lowest paid employees.”
   Mr Snelling said as a result of this decision, the Government would also create a central redeployment unit; honour its pledge of a no-forced redundancy policy; but would proceed with the removal of the extra six days long service leave for long-serving public sector workers.
   He said the restoration of recreation leave loading entitlements was expected to cost the Government $66.9 million between now and 2014-15.
   The Public Service Association welcomed the budget win.
   The PSA said its campaign had resulted in the Government’s decision to restore the leave loading and honour its commitment to job security for the life of the Parliament (March 2014).
   The PSA said it would continue its High Court case.
   “While recognising that some progress has been made, Long Service Leave or a suitable equivalent value replacement remains a key issue,” it said on its website.
   “The PSA campaign against job and services cuts is continuing, as no announcement to reverse these cuts has been made by Government.”

9 June, 2011

Teachers promoted in
recruitment drive

The recruitment process for 100 permanent teaching jobs in South Australia’s public schools has begun as part of the Teacher Renewal Program.
   The program encourages permanent teachers to leave the profession to make way for others on contract who wish to stay on.
   Minister for Education, Jay Weatherill said payments of $50,000 would be provided to long-serving teachers wanting to leave the profession.
   Mr Weatherill said the resultant positions would then be available to graduates and early career teachers who did not have permanent placements.
   “This initiative is about making teaching an attractive career for our best and brightest and providing better job security to our teaching workforce,” Mr Weatherill said.
   “Too many teachers have been stuck on short-term contracts - they don’t know where they will be working from year to year or even term to term and have problems with things like getting a mortgage or planning their own childcare arrangements.”
   Mr Weatherill said the program was self-funding as teachers on higher wages were replaced by early career teachers.
   “The idea was to allow some more experienced teachers - whose enthusiasm or energy after long careers in the classroom has waned – to leave the teaching profession and free up some permanent positions,” Mr Weatherill said.
   He said after a successful application process, 103 older teachers had been offered the option and the positions freed up by these incentives were being advertised to graduates and early career teachers.
   “By giving these teachers job security we can support the development of a strong, balanced workforce of new and experienced teachers who can make a difference in our classrooms,” Mr Weatherill said.
   The permanent positions can be viewed at this PS News link.

9 June, 2011

Bus tickets added to
salary packages

Staff of the ACT Public Service are to be eligible to ‘salary package’ bus travel on the local network in a new arrangement announced by the ACT Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher.
   From 1 June 2011 the ACT Government will provide its Public Service employees access to salary packaging for bus fares on the ACT Internal Omnibus Network (ACTION).
   “I am very pleased to announce this important initiative which will see ACT Public Service employees save up to between $300 and $400 a year on the cost of public transport for travel between home and work,” Ms Gallagher said.
   “As the second biggest employer in Canberra with a workforce of nearly 20,000 this is a significant commitment to our employees and the community.”
   The Chief Minister said the initiative aimed to provide savings to ACT Public Servants and their families as well as see a greater patronage on buses, which would in turn diminish the carbon footprint of the Territory.
   “A commitment to initiate arrangements was made in the ACTPS 2010-2011 enterprise bargaining agreements to introduce salary packaging of public transport costs for ACT Government employees,” she said.
   “The benefit applies to all Public Service employees including part-time workers, and also applies to family members for their travel between home and work or school on ACTION buses under a private ruling obtained from the Australian Taxation Office.”

9 June, 2011

River health to go
with the flow

A major new Federal initiative to improve the health of the Murray River has been welcomed by the State Minister for the Environment, Paul Caica.
   Mr Caica said $86.7 million had been allocated for the Riverine Recovery Project, with major works to begin this winter.
   “The riverine environment is a significant element of the river system but has been degraded by river regulation, the over-allocation and extraction of water and reduced flows during drought,’’ Mr Caica said.
   “This project will allow some areas to undergo a more natural wetting and drying cycle which will promote regeneration of native wetland species.”
   He said the project was also expected to improve both the health of the river and water security by providing for more efficient and flexible management of the system.
   He said areas to benefit under the project included floodplains; wetlands; enhanced river operations; and information management to support decision making.
   He said the Federal Government had signed off on $78 million towards the project, while the State Government would commit an additional $8.7 million.
   Mr Caica said the latest funding was in addition to $9.2 million announced by both governments in March for early works activities.
   Federal Minister for Water and the Environment, Tony Burke said the new project would improve the river’s health and resilience of its wetlands and floodplains from the Victorian border to Wellington.
   Mr Burke said the project would improve efficiency of environmental water use by reducing evaporative losses and boost the ecological health for floodplains and wetlands.
   “Restoring the health of the River Murray is one of the biggest environmental challenges of our generation,” Mr Burke said.
   “While recent rain means there is water in the system now, the reform must continue,” he said.

9 June, 2011

MAC to drive home
road safety message

The Motor Accident Commission has launched its first regional road safety campaign designed to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on country roads.
   Minister for Road Safety, Tom Kenyon said the provocative new campaign featuring people from regional communities across the State was headlined by a new road safety term – “Matemorphosis”.
   “Basically this means your mate has ‘morphed’ into a person who risks losing their life by ‘creeping’ over the speed limit, hooning, not wearing a seatbelt, drink driving, or driving while on drugs or fatigued,” Mr Kenyon said.
   He said many young men found it difficult to speak about road safety in their peer groups.
   “The irreverent nature of the campaign empowers them to speak up when their mates are showing signs of Matemorphosis, as it just may save their life,” Mr Kenyon said.
   “So many crashes are avoidable, the result of bad decisions by drivers, and the new term is meant to describe human action – a contributing factor in most of our road crashes.”
   Mr Kenyon said the success of the campaign would depend largely on the willingness of community members to support the attitude changes needed, and to accept their share of responsibility in improving road safety.
   “This requires a community effort and all road users share a responsibility to help make our roads safer,” Mr Kenyon said.
   “Our community will not tolerate knobs, roosters or wankers, behind the wheel.”
   General Manager of Corporate Affairs at MAC, Ben Tuffnell said less than one third of the population lived in rural areas, yet 60 per cent of fatalities and 50 per cent of serious injuries were on rural roads.
   “The high fatality rate is largely caused by young males,” Mr Tuffnell said.
   “Country roads are unpredictable and, therefore, present far more challenges to drivers.”
   The Matemorphosis campaign includes TV, press, radio, online, outdoor billboards and promotional material in regional pubs.
   For more information visit this PS News link.

9 June, 2011

Councils rating
Budget plans

Budget plans for Adelaide’s 19 metropolitan Councils are being developed this week following assessments of community consultations.
   Chief executive of the Local Government Association, Wendy Campana said metropolitan Councils would now begin setting next financial year’s budgets.
   Ms Campana said draft annual business plans used for consultation showed an ongoing commitment to the basics of roads and footpaths, waste management, sporting facilities and libraries.
   “We’re also seeing significant ongoing commitment to recycling, stormwater harvesting and initiatives related to climate change and reducing carbon emissions,” Ms Campana said.
   “However maintenance and renewal of local infrastructure is the biggest challenge for Councils with depreciation of assets accounting for almost one quarter of Council operating expenses.”
   She said expenditure areas for 2011/12 were proposed for roads and footpaths, recreational facilities, parks and reserves, stormwater drainage, urban development and community services, water conservation and environmental programs.
   Proposed projects ranged from investment in Victoria Square and Rundle Mall, affordable housing and projects to reduce energy use and carbon emissions, infrastructure maintenance to repair recent storm damage, work on the Brighton to Kingston Park Coastal Park, and $8 million for roadworks in Onkaparinga.
   Ms Campana said Councils were required to consult communities on their annual business plans before they finalised and adopted their budgets.
   She said the draft annual business plans, used for consultation with communities over the past two months, included average rates increases of about 5.96% or less than $1.30 a week.
   “Communities could be assured that Councils continued to work hard to ensure efficiencies and best value outcomes,” Ms Campana said.
   Shesaid projected budgets would see an increasing number of metropolitan Councils delivering surpluses.
   “Councils are facing major financial challenges and are walking a tight line in maintaining standards of living, limiting rates rises as far as possible, and avoiding pushing repair work on infrastructure onto the next generation,” Ms Campana said.

9 June, 2011

Breast is best for
extra funding

Extra funding has been announced for BreastScreen SA to expand the service’s digital screening program.
   Treasurer Jack Snelling said the Government would spend $19.3 million on the service over the next four years.
   “We expect this technology to increase the total number of women screened to rise from 73,000 this year to more than 96,000 by June 2015,” Mr Snelling said.
   “That’s more than 23,000 additional women screened and a projected detection of an additional 340 potentially life-threatening cancers.”
   Mr Snelling said in the first three years, all eight analogue screening units currently in use would be replaced with digital mammography equipment, a new archive and communication system would be set up and a third mobile unit would be replaced.
   Health Minister John Hill said BreastScreen SA did an amazing job offering free screening for women aged 50 to 69 across the State, but it was time to update the analogue equipment.
   “Digital mammography technology was first announced in South Australia in September 2010 with two mobile units visiting 26 different rural and remote locations every year as well as the Elizabeth GP Plus Centre and they have proven to be a great success,” Mr Hill said.
   “Breast screening with digital equipment however is much faster, which means that more women can be screened and more cancers detected and treated simply and successfully.”
   Mr Hill said the Commonwealth Government was also investing $19.3 million to increase and support digital screening services at BreastScreen SA.
   SA General Manager of BreastScreen, Lou Williamson said a mammogram was a simple X-ray that could detect cancers before they were large enough to feel, and potentially before they spread.
   “Women who have regular screening mammograms reduce their risk of dying from breast cancer by up to 41 per cent,” Ms Williamson said.
   “Early detection allows women to be treated with less invasive, simpler procedures, and also reduces the need for them to be cared for in hospital.”

9 June, 2011

Bus interchanges on
time for upgrades

Interchanges along Adelaide’s O-Bahn are to be improved under a $17.1 million upgrade program unveiled by the Treasurer, Jack Snelling.
   Mr Snelling said the money would boost car parking at the Klemzig and Tea Tree Plaza Park n Ride facilities as well as improve safety and amenities at the interchanges.
   “The O-Bahn is our most popular public transport route, which has led to a need for extra Park n Ride facilities,” Mr Snelling said.
   “The investment will increase the number of car parks at Klemzig Interchange from 215 to approximately 435 while the number of car parks at the Tea Tree Plaza Interchange will increase from 400 to approximately 720.”
   Mr Snelling said there would also be more covered shelters and seating at bus stops, extra security in the form of cameras and lighting as well as improvements to accessibility for walking and cycling paths.
   The announcement was welcomed by the MP for Florey, Frances Bedford who said the improvements would support the more than 28,000 people who boarded a bus on the O-Bahn route every day.
   “This improvement recognises the popularity of Park n Ride facilities and delivers on the government’s continuing commitment to public transport,” Ms Bedford said.
   “Increasing the number of car parks at the Tea Tree Plaza Interchange by more than 300 extra car parks will make it easier to find a park and ease congestion on surrounding streets.”
   MP for Torrens, Robyn Geraghty was pleased that car-parking facilities at Klemzig would more than double.
   “I am also pleased to see additional security in the form of cameras and lighting that will hopefully deter vandalism,” Ms Geraghty said.
   She said the redevelopment would also improve travel times by catering for increased curb space for buses and increased loading capacity.

9 June, 2011

Pest warning for
weekend travellers

Long weekend travellers have been warned not to carry fruit into fruit fly exclusion zones.
   Agriculture Minister Michael O’Brien said an outbreak of fruit fly in the Riverland could have devastating consequences for the state’s multi-million dollar fruit and vegetable industry and exports.
   “It’s simply not worth the risk of taking fruit into the Riverland,” Mr O’Brien said.
   “We’ve recently seen that carrying fruit into the region, if detected, can be a very expensive mistake, even if there is no fruit fly in the consignment.”
   Mr O’Brien said last month a Riverland man was convicted and fined $5,000 in the Berri Magistrates Court for bringing unlabelled produce into the fruit fly exclusion zone.
   “Inspectors will redouble their efforts between now and over the long weekend to discover any fruit that comes through our roadblocks,” Mr O’Brien said.
   “We also will be conducting random roadblocks of the kind that secured the recent conviction.”
   Biosecurity SA’s manager plant and food standards, Geoff Raven, said the outbreak of Mediterranean fruit fly in Port Augusta West just before the Easter-Anzac holiday weekend was a timely warning that constant vigilance was necessary to protect the State’s producers.
   “Fortunately, no more wild flies have been discovered in the traps that were immediately established around that particular quarantine zone since 25 April,” Mr Raven said.
   “Information now available leads us to believe the Port Augusta West outbreak may have begun following visitors arriving from Western Australia.”
   Mr O’Brien said travellers into South Australia’s fruit fly exclusion zone could expect random roadblocks in the lead up to, and following, the holiday weekend of June 11-13.

9 June, 2011

Door opens on
parole reforms

Major reforms to the State’s parole laws have been announced by the Minister for Correctional Services, Tom Koutsantonis.
   Describing the reforms as the “biggest shake-up” in nearly 30 years, Mr Koutsantonis said the 21 principle amendments to the Correctional Services Act 1982 and Correctional Services Regulations 2001, would give every police patrol unprecedented power to act as a “mini parole board”.
   “These are the most significant and comprehensive changes to the State’s parole laws since the Act was administered in 1982 and will give authorities greater powers, more information and the ability to act at the first signs of trouble,” Mr Koutsantonis said.
   “It is impossible to predict if a parolee is going to re-offend and the way the laws are now, it is very hard for authorities to respond straight away to pre-empt a parolee re-offending.
   “These reforms are aimed at fixing that.”
   Mr Koutsantonis said the laws were finalised after extensive consultation with SAPOL, the Parole Board and interest groups.
   “Parole is a privilege and not a right, and we are changing the laws to reflect that,” Mr Koutsantonis said.
   He said the proposed laws would give police more information about parolees on their release as well as the power to arrest a parolee who they suspected to have breached parole without a warrant.
   He said the new laws would give the Chief Executive of the Department for Correctional Services the authority to issue a warrant, in addition to the Parole Board, if a parolee breached their conditions; compel Departments to share information about parolees to ensure a rapid response; prevent parolees interacting with prisoners; and impose stricter protocols for people visiting sex offenders.
   “If a person is breaching parole and causing danger to the public, the police and the Department will be able to act straight away and prevent an offence,” Mr Koutsantonis said.
   He said one of the most important changes was the rescinding of the maximum six-month jail term for re-offenders, which was a suggestion from the head of the Parole Board, Frances Nelson.
   “I think this is the most important reform Corrections has seen in decades and it really is all about giving authorities the ability to act at the first sign of trouble to keep the community safe,” Mr Koutsantonis said.

9 June, 2011

Seaweed farming a
kelp to growers

A three-year project to test the viability of seaweed farming in South Australia has been announced by the Minister for Fisheries, Michael O’Brien.
   Mr O’Brien said the farming of seaweed in association with existing ocean based pens used for tuna and yellowtail kingfish could deliver an enormous boost to South Australia’s fishing and aquaculture industries.
   “The overall aim is to farm seaweed alongside finfish, where waste products and dissolved nutrients from finfish can be utilised by seaweed for growth,” Mr O’Brien said.
   “Potential outcomes include reducing the environmental footprint of finfish and tuna aquaculture production, while at the same time supporting sustainable growth in production and value for these sectors.”
   He said additional benefits would also accrue from greater diversification and less reliance on imported products.
   The $1.1 million three-year project, with contributions from SARDI, Adelaide University, commercial participants and the Federal Government, aimed to grow seaweed using some of the nutrient by-products from aquaculture farms.
   Mr O’Brien said a close check was kept on the levels of nutrient by-products generated by finfish farming.
   “Industry-wide environmental monitoring programs are mandatory for tuna and kingfish farms as part of their licensing obligations under the South Australian Aquaculture Act,” Mr O’Brien said.
   “SARDI researchers conduct, on behalf of the industry sectors, annual DNA-based tests to assess the health of seafloor organisms to ensure the farming is sustainable.”
   Mr O’Brien said there was currently very little commercial production of seaweed in Australia, which provided South Australia with a huge potential to supply a niche market both in Australia and possibly even export to Asia.
   “Australia currently imports almost $20 million worth of seaweed each year for use in Asian cooking, pharmaceuticals and alternative medicine,” Mr O’Brien said.

9 June, 2011

Funds smoked out
for firefighting

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is to be funded to employ an extra 13 on-going and 43 seasonal fire-fighters following an injection of funds for the coming year.
   Announced by Treasurer Jack Snelling, the new funds will help protect the State against the on-going risk of bushfire.
   Mr Snelling said an additional $23.1 million had been allocated over the next four years including $1 million a year to buy fire-fighting equipment including appliances and bulk water carriers.
   “The devastating bushfires that swept though Victoria in 2009 and the Ash Wednesday bushfires in 1983 remind us that living in Australia means we are at the mercy of the elements,” Mr Snelling said.
   “It is essential we have the ability to prepare and respond to them.”
   Minister for Environment and Conservation, Paul Caica said the Government was committed to increasing prescribed burns on public land following a key recommendation of the Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission.
   “The program will focus on high risk areas including the Mount Lofty Ranges, the Lower Eyre Peninsula, Southern Flinders Ranges, the South East and Kangaroo Island,” Mr Caica said.
   “By making the funding available, we are giving the support that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources requires to help in the work it does in mitigating the impact of bushfires on South Australian communities.”
   Mr Snelling said the Government would also provide additional support to both the Country Fire Service and the State Emergency Services to assist in the work they do supporting and protecting South Australians in times of emergencies.
   He said an extra $2.1 million would be provided to both services over the next four years.
   “This will mean improved training, improved accreditation levels and further enable volunteers to be able to provide valuable responses to emergencies,” Mr Snelling said.
   He said $2.5 million would also be provided over the next four years for additional support and capability of the State Emergency Information Call Centre for it to continue delivering crucial emergency information to the community during and after emergency incidents.

9 June, 2011

Land plans land
discussion paper

A discussion paper on the preservation of up to 180,000 hectares of land in the McLaren Vale and the Barossa has been released for public comment.
   Acting Premier and Minister for Urban Development and Planning, John Rau, said the proposed protection would cover an area considerably larger than the entire Adelaide urban area, even after the growth projected in the 30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide.
   “The Barossa and McLaren Vale are unique areas and the State Government will protect their working landscapes, heritage and scenic beauty with legislation,” Mr Rau said.
   He said maps of the proposed protection areas were also released for community consultation, contained in a discussion paper about the protection areas and what they aimed to achieve.
   Mr Rau urged the community to read the discussion paper, examine the maps, and provide feedback to the Government.
   “I want to hear from the community about how we should best protect these districts, while encouraging a healthy economic future that includes productive agriculture, viticulture and tourism,” Mr Rau said.
   He said the proposed boundaries in the maps were indicative and would be finalised after the public consultation process, before being enshrined in legislation.
   “We’re asking people to consider such things as whether the boundaries for these districts are in the right place, and what sorts of developments should be allowed, right down to the sort of activities that should or should not be allowed,” Mr Rau said.
   The deadline for submissions is Friday 22 July 2011.
   Copies of the discussion paper and details about the submission process can be found at this PS News link.

9 June, 2011

Cops on the run for
Olympic glory

Over 130 police officers have taken part in a four-kilometre run through the city to mark the countdown to the Special Olympics to be held next month.
   Police Commissioner Mal Hyde led the run in near-perfect running conditions.
   Commissioner Hyde said around 200 runners carried the ‘Flame of Hope’ torch, the symbol of the Special Olympics on the run.
   He said the run was SAPOL’s contribution to the Law Enforcement Torch Run, a world-wide charity organised by law enforcement officers who aimed to raise awareness and funding for the Special Olympics movement.
   Commissioner Hyde said many police were involved in the run, including officers from the Australian Federal Police.
   “We’ve also covered the whole spectrum of the South Australia police and it’s good to see many of the South Australia police senior executives here,” Commissioner Hyde said.
   He said more than 130 police officers, including Deputy Police Commissioner Gary Burns and Assistant Police Commissioners Graeme Barton, Bryan Fahy and Tony Harrison, participated in the run with around 40 Special Olympic athletes.
   He said seven South Australian athletes would be representing Australia next month in Athens in the World Special Olympic Games, the world’s largest sports event for people with intellectual disabilities.
   The Commissioner presented the seven Athens-bound athletes with their Special Olympics uniforms at the cauldron lighting ceremony in Victoria Square after the run.
   “It’s great to see them here and I’m sure they’ll do us proud,” Commissioner Hyde said.

9 June, 2011

Transport peddles
cycling app

A new mobile phone and tablet PC application has been launched to help cyclists find their way around Adelaide.
   Minister for Transport, Patrick Conlon said the new Cycle Instead Journey Planner Mobile phone app – now available for use - gave people all the information they needed at their fingertips.
   “It so easy to start a riding habit and live a healthier lifestyle and now this phone app makes it even easier,” Mr Conlon said.
   He said last year South Australia was the first State to introduce a Cycle Instead Journey Planner website which allows riders to map a cycling route which best suits their needs in terms of off-road tracks as well as fastest and flattest routes.
   “We are happy to expand this very popular new service as the first Department of Transport Energy and Infrastructure mobile phone app to be put into operation,” Mr Conlon said.
   “The new Cycle Instead Journey Planner Mobile app is one of the most innovative and easily used apps around and does everything that the popular online web-based tool does, and more.”
   Mr Conlon said the app had been specifically designed for many different smart phone models and operating systems and also made use of the location capabilities of a mobile, like GPS, wi-fi and cell towers to detect a rider’s current location.
   “This enables the app to suggest the best cycling route for your destination of choice based upon your personal riding preferences and you can also have the map displaying such that it will follow your location as you ride along, making it even easier to follow a route to find your way around Adelaide by bike,” Mr Conlon said.
   He said more information about Cycle Instead Journey Planner was available from this PS News link.

9 June, 2011

Green light given to
environmental flows

A report that finds benefits to South Australia from a range of water recovery scenarios in the Murray-Darling Basin has been welcomed by the Minister for the River Murray, Paul Caica.
   Mr Caica said the report, by the Goyder Institute for Water Research, examined the implications of three environmental water recovery scenarios of 3000 GL, 3500 GL and 4000 GL proposed by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.
   “The review found there are environmental, social and economic benefits for South Australia under the Guide’s three proposed scenarios,” Mr Caica said.
   “Key environmental assets would benefit from increased flows under all three scenarios most of the time, and South Australians may avoid the costs and impacts of extreme low water levels, such as those experienced over the past decade.”
   He said water recovery scenarios of 3500 GL and 4000 GL were most likely to achieve the desirable objectives for two key environmental assets in the Basin, the Riverland-Chowilla floodplain and the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth.
   “Below 3500 GL the achievement of those objectives becomes more problematic,” Mr Caica said.
   “All scenarios could support a permanent fresh water future for the Lower Lakes, improve the health of the Coorong and keep the Murray Mouth open more often than it currently is.”
   Mr Caica said to achieve this outcome, environmental water would need to be delivered to the site in low flow years.
   “The science review highlights that there are existing physical and operational constraints which at times prevent the delivery of environmental water at the required frequency, timing and duration for these key environmental assets,” Mr Caica said.
   “Some of these constraints could be overcome through changes to river operations and investment in infrastructure, works and measures.”
   He said a significant amount of water had been purchased from South Australian irrigators as part of the Commonwealth Government buyback program, which would reduce the impacts of any future scenarios.
   “South Australia is also undertaking critical work to improve environmental river management under the Riverine Recovery Project, which will improve ecological outcomes for floodplains and wetlands and deliver environmental water savings to the Commonwealth,” Mr Caica said.
   He said the report was available from this PS News link.

9 June, 2011
Irrigators get 100%
River Murray irrigators will begin the water year with 100 per cent allocation for the first time in almost a decade.
   From 1 July allocations will be 100 per cent, giving irrigators and other water users the certainty they need to make business decisions for the coming year.
   Improvements in the Murray-Darling system mean South Australians no longer need the annually reviewed drought water allocation decision frameworks that were implemented between 2006-07 and this water year, and can return to the arrangements that existed before the drought.

Mid-north strategy out
A new planning strategy will guide future development in the State’s Mid North.
   The plan sets out land use arrangements that aim to ensure sustainable growth integrated with infrastructure planning.
   The plan aims to ensure that the growth of industries is managed in a way that protects the region’s natural assets.
   For a copy of the Mid North Region Plan visit this PS News link.

SA still popular
South Australia has attracted more international visitors who stayed longer and spent more, according to the latest International Visitor Survey for the year ending March 2011.
   International expenditure in SA has grown by more than 10 per cent, compared to a national average of three per cent.
   Nights spent in SA have also grown by 5 per cent.

2 June, 2011

Technology leads way
for health in regions

State of the art video-conferencing technology promises people in regional areas better access to mental health services according to the Minister for Mental Health, John Hill and his Federal counterpart, Mark Butler.
   Mr Butler said 15 country locations including Berri, Mount Gambier, Port Lincoln and Whyalla now had high-quality facilities for telepsychiatry, which links patients to psychiatrists, physicians and other healthcare professionals through video-conferencing.
   He said the Federal Government was spending $14.4 million through this year’s Budget in a new online portal and virtual clinic and a further $5 million to provide high quality television cameras, screens and improvements to bandwidth.
   “This is a significant investment in country mental health services to enable high quality assessments to be made in regional and remote areas,” Mr Butler said.
   “It will help deliver more services including diagnosis and assessment, medication management, and individual and group therapy.”
   He said telepsychiatry was part of the South Australian Telehealth Network project to which State and Federal Government have each contributed $2,480,000.
   He thought the project would be particularly beneficial to the one third of South Australians living in rural and remote areas as they could receive treatment while staying close to family and friends.
   Mr Hill said the provision of high quality clinical assessments via video conferencing would complement the face to face psychiatric assessments visiting and resident psychiatrists already carried out regularly in country areas.
   “This reduces stress, inconvenience and disruption for patients who would otherwise have to travel long distances for the same assessment with the same psychiatrist,” Mr Hill said.
   He said the initial rollout of telepsychiatry services had begun at the four future Country Health SA General Hospitals in Berri, Mount Gambier, Port Lincoln and Whyalla. He said a further 12 sites would follow, including APY Lands, which will be linked to the Telehealth Network for the first time.
   Mr Hill said the new video-conferencing facilities had been rolled out at the Glenside Campus in Adelaide and in Country Health SA’s city office for Adelaide-based psychiatrists to conduct the remote reviews.

2 June, 2011

Tasmanian PS to sack
underperformers

New laws have been introduced in Tasmania to allow the State Government to sack underperforming Public Servants.
   The new powers were announced by Premier Lara Giddings, who said they were needed because the Tasmanian PS was “too big” and “changes were needed” to improve its efficiency.
   Ms Giddings said mass redundancies would not be offered but employees in programs identified by Departmental heads as no longer required would be laid off.
   She said she would introduce changes to ensure workers deemed “surplus to requirement” would be given six months and help to find a new job before they were made redundant.
   Details of who would be affected and the size of redundancy packages offered were yet to be revealed, however the plan is to cut the equivalent of more than 2,000 public sector jobs over three years.
   Minister for Police, David O’Byrne said under the plan, police officers were being offered $20,000 to retire early, and the same offer was being made across several Government Departments as part of Budget savings measures.
   Minister for Education, Nick McKim, also said up to 150 teachers and other education staff may choose to retire under the latest round of the retirement incentive scheme.
   Public sector unions in Tasmania have criticised the plan to trim the Public Service, saying it was creating more uncertainty within the sector.
   Ms Gidding said Public Servants would have a wait of at least three weeks before they found out if their managers had deemed their jobs no longer necessary.
   The Premier said a wide-ranging investigation into the productivity of the public Service had also been commissioned.
   The Premier’s plan comes three weeks before the state Budget is due to be handed down.

2 June, 2011

Trial to speed up
road safety test

An Australian-first trial of short range communications technology in cars that could herald a breakthrough for road safety is to be conducted in Adelaide.
   Road Safety Minister Tom Kenyon said the technology - known as Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) – could dramatically reduce the national road toll and potentially reduce casualty crashes by as much as 35 per cent.
   He said the technology, developed by the South Australian-based company Cohda Wireless, was capable of providing in-vehicle warnings to drivers of potential intersection crashes, rear-end collisions and lane drift.
   Chief Executive of Cohda Wireless, Paul Gray said DSRC technology combined GPS and wireless communication similar to Wi-Fi.
   “Each vehicle can communicate with nearby vehicles, as a well as being capable of monitoring the status of traffic lights, variable speed signs, location of road works and school zones,” Mr Gray said.
   “DSRC technology also enables traffic flow management and the best route selection for drivers, reducing the cost of traffic congestion and greenhouse emissions.”
   He said the technology was being trialled in Europe, the United States and Japan as well as South Australia, where the trial would involve “the first use of the 5.9 GHz frequency for intelligent transport in Australia”.
   “The Australian Communications and Media Authority have granted a scientific frequency licence while they consider allocation of the 5.9 band to intelligent transport systems,” Mr Gray said.
   Mr Kenyon said the Motor Accident Commission (MAC), the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure, and the University of South Australia, were to conduct the trial of DSRC technology “as quickly as possible”.
   “Initially a fleet of 10 DSRC equipped vehicles will collect data in normal daily driving conditions during the trial with the information uploaded via roadside equipment located at the Norwood Traffic Management Centre,” Mr Kenyon said
   General Manager of Corporate Affairs at MAC, Ben Tuffnell said DSRC “essentially equips vehicles with 360 degree awareness enabling them to predict and avoid dangerous situations”.
   Mr Tuffnell said however, the possibility of “more intelligent forms of road transport” did not take responsibility away from the road user.
   “While advanced technology is fundamentally important as one way to reduce trauma, all road users still need to have smart and safe attitudes,” he said.
   A video demonstrating the DSRC technology can be viewed at this PS News link.

2 June, 2011

Uni degree sets
new course

The University of South Australia has unveiled a new Degree Course to educate graduates to work in the State’s priority areas such as the mining, water, energy and health sectors.
   The new course, to be launched next year, would be a multi-disciplinary three-year Bachelor of Science (Advanced Materials) Degree based at UniSA’s new $72 million M² Building due to open at Mawson Lakes in 2012.
   The Pro Vice Chancellor and Vice President of UniSA’s Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment, Professor Andrew Parfitt, described the new course as `deliberately South Australia-centric”.
   Professor Parfitt said the course was specifically designed for priority areas within key SA industry sectors such as mining, water, energy and health.
   He said graduates would be “highly sought by mining and minerals companies, photonics companies, high tech defence companies, government and private research laboratories, water utilities, engineering firms, hospitals and the health care system, and radiation protection and environment protection agencies.”
   He said the new program, which would follow on from the introduction of materials engineering to UniSA in 2009, would bring together UniSA’s Ian Wark Research Institute, the Mawson Institute and the Centre for Environmental Risk Assessment and Remediation.
   Associate Director of Nanomedicine at the Ian Wark Institute, Professor Clive Prestidge, said the program would result in a “research-teaching nexus” that would bring researchers, students and industry together under one roof.
   He said the course would appeal to school leavers as well as people currently working in the relevant sectors without tertiary qualifications.
   “The Bachelor of Science (Advanced Materials) at UniSA allows students to take an interdisciplinary approach to best prepare them for their future careers,” Professor Prestidge said, “and is the only course in the State that focuses on Advanced Materials.
   “There are also facilities for a number of industry people to spend time educating and mentoring the undergraduates who will study there, helping students to build links with industry and see the practical application of their studies.”

2 June, 2011

SA has dig at
WA mining

The Western Australian Government’s decision to raise mining royalties should prompt investors and mining companies to look to South Australia for cheaper and viable alternatives according to the Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Tom Koutsantonis.
   Mr Koutsantonis said the State Government had launched a targeted advertising campaign in WA to “let the mining industry know South Australia is the most prospective, profitable and best place to mine”.
   “We in SA understand the inherent risk mining companies face in the initial stages of exploration which is why we have a concessional royalty rate of two per cent for new mines for the first five years,” Mr Koutsantonis said.
   “If it is less profitable for companies to mine in Western Australia then we will make sure investors and companies know South Australia is an easier, more lucrative option.”
   He said the advertising campaign would spell out South Australia’s new mines policy system and seek to capitalise on the mining exploration and information-gathering scheme PACE 2020, which had already seen more than one million metres of drilling work approved throughout South Australia.
   Mr Koutsantonis said it was “an exciting time for the mining industry in South Australia” with the proposed Olympic Dam expansion set to become Australia’s largest mine and also a chunk of the Woomera Protected Area, the size of England, open for exploration.
   “I want to let people know that there is ample opportunity for companies in this State,” Mr Koutsantonis said.
   He said South Australia, while still a young State in terms of its mining industry, had “come a long way” since 2002.
   “We have come from four mines to 16, we have unlocked part of the Woomera Protected Area which is known to hold vast amounts of resources and we have the best mining jurisdictions and processes in the country as rated by the Fraser Institute,” he said
   “I am hoping that companies in the west may shift their focus to SA, where we don’t take mining for granted,” he said.

2 June, 2011

Firefighters heat up
heater warnings

The Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) has warned of an increased risk of household fires involving heaters.
   Marking the beginning of winter this week, Fire Investigator with MFS, Shaun Ruxton said fire fighters typically dealt with about 30 heater related fires over the colder months.
   “Each winter we see lives put at risk and homes destroyed by heater related fires,” District Officer Ruxton said.
   “The MFS is urging people to take some simple steps to keep themselves and their families safe over winter.”
   He said some common causes of fires were combustible items being placed too close to a heater, or children or pets accidentally starting a fire when left unsupervised with a heater.
   He said that last month, firefighters responded to a house fire at Mount Gambier accidentally started by young children playing with cushions near a heater.
   “The MFS recommends keeping combustibles at least two metres away from heaters,” District Officer Ruxton said.
   He said Fire Investigators often spoke to people who had noticed a fault or problem with their heater in the days or weeks before the fire.
   They also investigated fires where home owners had performed their own repairs on a heater.
   “This is a highly dangerous thing to do,” District Officer Ruxton said.
   “The safest thing you can do if you suspect your heater is faulty, is to contact an approved repairer to have it fixed or replaced.”
   He said other safety precautions householders could take to decrease the risk of household fires included arranging for a qualified tradesperson to install heating equipment and follow the manufacturers’ instructions regarding maintenance.
   District Officer Ruxton said portable electric heaters should be kept away from wet areas to avoid the possibility of electric shock, and all heater models should be turned off when leaving the house.
   He urged householders to combine the safety tips on the MFS website with reliable, working smoke alarms that were less than 10 years old and a home escape plan.
   The MFS website could be accessed at this PS News link.

2 June, 2011

Advisory Council
asked to advise

The Aboriginal Advisory Council has been asked to advise the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Grace Portolesi, on practical strategies that could be adopted to stamp out racism in South Australia.
   Ms Portolesi requested the advice at a Breakfast in the National Wine Centre last Friday to kick off Reconciliation Week.
   “Racism has a very damaging impact on the lives of Aboriginal people,” Ms Portolesi said.
   “Research from across the world shows that racism affects people’s mental and physical health and we know that racial discrimination can significantly reduce people’s opportunities.”
   She said racism was “profoundly experienced” by Aboriginal people and the community had a responsibility to “face up to racism and actively tackle it”.
   “Aboriginal people tell us about the discrimination and prejudice they experience in their daily lives and research bears this out,” Ms Portolesi said.
   She said more than a quarter of Australians polled in a national study by the University of Western Sydney expressed anti-Aboriginal sentiments while one in five Aboriginal people said they were often treated with disrespect and mistrust.
   “I believe we, as a community, will continue to struggle with closing the gap of Aboriginal disadvantage until we acknowledge that Aboriginal people are confronted with racism and its consequences on a daily basis,” Ms Portolesi said.
   She said the SA Aboriginal Advisory Committee had welcomed the opportunity to develop strategies to tackle the problem and indicated they would make it a priority in their current term.
   “We should not underestimate the importance of small but practical steps such as this,” Ms Portolesi said.
   She said despite legislative reform against discrimination since Don Dunstan’s pioneering legislation of the 1960s, racism had persisted in South Australia and “we need to publicly recognise it and consider practical action.”

2 June, 2011

Call for overhaul of
water management

The National Water Commission has called for a fresh look at the rules and regulations governing water management in Australia.
   In a report released by National Water Commissioner Chris Davis, three options for reform are set out to ensure the nation’s water sector maintains its record of delivering safe drinking water to towns and cities.
   Mr Davis said given the complex changes affecting urban water supplies and associated implications for ensuring water quality, it was time to look at improving regulatory approaches.
   “The good news is that Australians continue to benefit from high standards of water quality management,” Mr Davis said.
   “The urban water sector has in place a solid regulatory platform for managing the risks to our existing supplies, coupled with an enviable record in protecting public health and safety and caring for the environment.”
   He said however the report found recent advances in science and technology and today’s more diversified water sources were presenting new challenges to water quality regulation and management.
   Mr Davis said according to the report, some decisions were being made without a full appreciation of the longer-term risks and costs, and in other instances, existing regulation was stifling innovation.
   “For example, current regulatory and decision-making arrangements for stormwater management lack clarity,” he said.
   “This stands in the way of a more integrated approach to urban water management.”
   Mr Davis said the National Water Commission called for a fresh look at the arrangements for safeguarding urban water quality and they needed to be sufficiently flexible to keep pace with new technologies.
   He said the Commission also called for more collaboration to take into account the broader spectrum of water quality, water quantity, energy and land-use planning interests.
   The Commission also argued that policy-makers should focus on achieving greater consistency and more efficient management in regulating urban water quality.
   The report can be accessed at this PS News link.

2 June, 2011

Rubbish projects
to tighten waste

Two new infrastructure projects that will reduce further the amount of waste being sent to landfill have been supported by the Government to the tune of $225,000.
   Minister for Environment and Conservation Paul Caica said the larger of the two grants - $175,000 - would go to Peats Soils and Garden Supplies for screening equipment to remove contaminants from kerbside-collected organic waste which is processed into compost.
   “As a result of the funding, more contaminants such as metals and plastics will be removed and the compost produced will have a more consistent and reliable quality,” Mr Caica said.
   “Peats Soil process more than 30 per cent of the kerbside-collected garden organics in metropolitan Adelaide and employs 75 people.”
   He said a second grant of $50,000 would go to Foodbank SA, a not-for-profit organisation that collected surplus food and groceries from manufacturers and retailers and distributed them to welfare agencies and community groups.
   The funding would enable the organisation to expand its warehouse at Edwardston and deal with ongoing storage issues.
   “This funding will allow extra storage for around 400 pallets of groceries or the additional capacity for about 350 tonnes of storage,” Mr Caica said.
   “Foodbank acts as a central agency for the collection of this surplus food, much of which would otherwise end up in landfill.”
   He said Foodbank would have captured and redistributed an estimated 1.3 million kilograms of food by the end of the financial year.

2 June, 2011

Vitamin study finds
‘D’ in short supply

A study of office workers conducted by the University of Sydney has found that 42 per cent have a Vitamin D deficiency.
   Invited by the confectionery company Nestlé to study its head office employees in Sydney, the university researchers found one on three of the workers remained Vitamin D deficient even in the summer months.
   The study by the University was the first of its kind in Australia and found workers who were Vitamin D deficient were at greater risk of osteoporosis, poor muscle function and other health problems.
   The study examined the vitamin D levels of 104 male and female employees.
   World expert in Vitamin D and leader of the university’s study, Professor Rebecca Mason, said she was concerned at the results.
   “In a relatively young and healthy population you don’t expect these results,” Professor Mason said.
   “What’s really alarming is that some of the women in the study were of childbearing age and vitamin D is important for the healthy development of a foetus as well as beneficial to the health of the mum.”
   She said the study also revealed that people who ate fish had higher levels of vitamin D compared with those who didn’t while 90 per cent of people with dark skin were deficient by the end of winter.
   “We also found that those who wear sunscreen had higher levels of Vitamin D than those who didn’t use sunscreen so it’s vital we still follow the safe sun messages but get out in the sunshine for short periods of time during the day – all year round,” Professor Mason said.
   She said people should get 10 minutes of sunshine mid morning or afternoon in summer every day and up to 30 minutes around midday during winter, depending on how far south people live.

2 June, 2011

Minister has handle
on motorbike gear

Road Safety Minister, Tom Kenyon has stressed the importance of wearing appropriate gear and being aware of road risks following an increase in motorcycle-related fatalities.
   Of the 51 overall road fatalities reported in South Australia this year, Mr Kenyon said the motorcycle figure represented around 20 per cent of the 2011 road toll.
   “We’ve already had 10 so far this year – two more than at the same time last year,” Mr Kenyon said.
   He said this was “too high, and an area of concern compared to last year’s overall total of 16 motorcycle related deaths.
   “The latest available serious injury figures indicate there’ve also been 37 riders motorcycle and scooter riders seriously injured.”
   He said while 13 per cent of fatalities and 12 per cent of serious injuries involved motorcyclists, they accounted for less than 1 per cent of the total kilometres travelled on South Australia’s roads.
   “There are an estimated 40,000 licensed motorcycle and scooter riders in SA,’ he said.
   “The research tells us they’re 30 times more likely to be killed on our roads than a motorist because they’re fully exposed to all the elements and are also particularly vulnerable to injury if they’re involved in a crash.”
   Mr Kenyon said it was vital for motorcyclists to wear the right protective clothing, particularly during the winter months, and take responsibility for their own safety.
   “Appropriate gloves, jackets, trousers and footwear can often mean the difference between a nasty fall and injuries preventing motorcyclists from ever riding again,” Mr Kenyon said.
   He also urged motorcycle riders to contribute to the Road Safety Advisory Council’s draft road safety strategy Towards Zero Together, which will be open for public comment until 10 June.

2 June, 2011

Possum warning
is pet project

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has issued a reminder to householders with possums in their roofs that the animals are a protected species and a permit is required to keep them.
   DENR regional ecologist for the Adelaide region, Jason van Weenen, said a permit was also required to trap possums, which he described as “great property inspectors”.
   “If you have a hole leading into your roof, they will find it and maybe even set up home,” Mr van Weenan said.
   “There’s no point trying to chase the possums away, as if you don’t fix the hole, another individual is likely to move in.”
   He said everyone had a responsibility to deal with any possum issues in an appropriate manner.
   “Possums are one of the few native animals found in the Adelaide region that have survived and adapted to European settlement.”
   He said there were two types of possums found in Adelaide - the Common Brushtail Possum and the Common Ringtail Possum - and human settlements were providing both with good quality shelter and food resources, each of which was becoming increasingly difficult for possums to find elsewhere, even in “natural areas”.
   “For Common Brushtail Possums, finding shelter from the elements and enough food are their biggest challenges, and they’ve adapted by using artificial shelter such as building roofs and watered gardens for their food,” Mr van Weenan said.
   He said many land owners became aware of possums during the autumn and spring breeding seasons, which can “spark squabbles between individuals “.
   “This is when they are most vocal,” Mr van Weenan said.
   He said the DENR website provided practical advice or home owners who might be playing host to a family of possums in their roof.
   The website could be contacted at this PS News link.

2 June, 2011

Scientist travels to
spread the word

A scientist from the University of Adelaide has been chosen to spread the word internationally about new Australian science that promises to allow humans to probe our world in ways that have never before been possible.
   Professor Tanya Monro is both the Director of the University’s Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS) and its Centre of Expertise in Photonics (CoEP) and is embarking on a tour of Asia, Europe and North America as part of the Australian Academy of Science Speaker Series.
   The program is a joint initiative of the Academy and the Federal Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (DIISR).
   Dr Monro will be one of three Australian scientists chosen to share Australian research and innovation with their international counterparts.
   She will speak next week at Ireland’s National Centre for Sensor Research, the Spanish Institute of Photonic Sciences in Barcelona, the Technical University of Denmark, the Institute of Photonic Technology at Jena in Germany, and at Italy’s University of Trento.
   “I’m thrilled to be able to visit so many great centres in Europe and share the great work that’s going on in Australia and enhance our linkages with some of the world’s leading groups,” Professor Monro said.
   She said her research had implications for applications in medicine, Defence, the environment, agriculture and many other areas of science and engineering.
   “A lot of the challenges we come up against in solving pressing problems in these critical areas simply cannot be solved using existing sensing technologies,” Professor Monro said.
   A means of measuring an embryo’s response to its environment as it develops was one emerging technology Professor Monro and her team were working on.
   “This emerging technology will allow us, for the first time, to ‘listen’ to the embryo and assess how it responds to its environment,” she said.
   “This will ultimately lead to improved agricultural practices, increase the success rate of IVF treatment and improve our knowledge of fundamental reproductive biology.”
   Professor Monro and her team are working with Australia’s Defence scientists to develop smart optical fibres that can be embedded within aircraft or buildings to detect corrosion as it happens.

2 June, 2011

SARDI shells out
for new prawn net

A redesigned prawn trawling net that allows small fish and juvenile prawns to swim through has been developed at the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) by scientist, Dr Shane Roberts.
   Dr Roberts said prawn fishermen in the Gulf St Vincent Fishery had responded enthusiastically to the new design, which took two years to develop with collaboration and financial support from industry.
   He said the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) and the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resource Management Board also contributed funding to ensure the net project’s success.
   Dr Roberts said the project was one of various initiatives the South Australian prawn industry had supported over the past decade to improve its ecological sustainability, and that the idea had come from SA commercial fisherman Jim Raptis of the fishing vessel Anna Pearl.
   According to Dr Roberts, Mr Raptis had been using the T90 design “with great success” when trawling for fish in the Great Australian Bight and suggested that it could be adapted for use in an Australian prawn fishery.
   “Combined with Jim’s knowledge of fishing, we developed the new net for prawn fishing and tested the new net design on his commercial prawn boat during the March fishing run this year,” Dr Roberts said.
   He said the trial was a “great success”, and anticipated that the rest of the SA prawn fishing industry would follow Mr Raptis’ lead and adopt the new T90 design, where the mesh was orientated 90 degrees to the body of the net.
   Dr Roberts said the different configuration, together with a new knot and thicker twine, allowed the holes of the mesh to remain fully open even during large catches.

2 June, 2011

Reconciliation tram
making tracks

The popular success of an art-covered metro tram during Reconciliation Week last year has led to a similar exercise being undertaken this year.
   Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Grace Portolesi said a tram wrapped in Aboriginal art has been rolled out from Glenelg.
   “Last year the Aboriginal Tram Wrap, funded from agencies across Government, had a very positive impact, receiving over 600 requests via Facebook for it to be repeated again this year,” Ms Portolesi said.
   “As a result, one of Adelaide’s trams is being adorned in the art for nine weeks this year, encompassing National Sorry Day, Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee) Week.”
   She said the design celebrated the spirit of reconciliation and the importance of Aboriginal art and culture, while acknowledging all 39 Aboriginal language groups whose country was either fully or partly located within South Australia.
   Ms Portolesi said other features of the artwork included concentric circles representing the varying tram stop meeting places along the route from Glenelg to the Entertainment Centre; and images of ‘Kari the Emu’ meandering across the Adelaide landscape, with the emu being the main totem animal for the Kaurna people.
   Ms Portolesi said the art had been designed by the 2010 NAIDOC SA ‘Artist of the Year’, Paul Herzich, a Landscape Architect with the Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure (DTEI).
   She said the tram wrap, coordinated by the DTEI, was a collaborative venture between the SA NAIDOC Committee and State Government agencies.
   She said other events coming up during the nine weeks included: reconciliation Week, held from May 27 to June 3, which would feature activities in communities, schools, local council areas and workplaces; and National Sorry Day, today (May 26) commemorating the Stolen Generations.
   Ms Portolesi said NAIDOC celebrations were held around Australia in July each year to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and more information was available from this PS News link.

2 June, 2011

Gateway plan opens
way to wineries

Amendments to a development plan for Seaford Heights have been approved with conditions by the Minister for Urban Development and Planning, John Rau.
   Mr Rau approved the plan with a significantly increased buffer zone to improve its visual appeal as the gateway to McLaren Vale.
   The zone, between Victor Harbour Road, South Road and the new Seaford Heights development, had been increased by about four hectares – or more than 50 per cent – which would push any future housing development out of sight of Victor Harbour Road.
   Mr Rau said the Government would also provide $100,000 from the Planning and Development Fund for Indigenous trees and shrubs to vegetate the buffer.
   He said a further $100,000 would be provided through the South Australian Tourism Commission to create a “green gateway” to the McLaren Vale wine district.
   Mr Rau said he approved the Seaford Heights Development Plan Amendment with changes that reflected feedback from the community, Council and industry, including preventing any future commercial development along South Road.
   He said the changes also realised the objectives of the 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide and “delivered a solution that ensures that the character of the region is retained”.
   “The community told me that a key issue was the visual effect of commercial and residential development along the major roads around the proposed development and that this was at odds with the adjacent wine growing area of McLaren Vale,” Mr Rau said.
   “Seaford Heights has been zoned residential since 1989, and I believe the solution we have developed will be a win-win for everyone involved.”
   Mr Rau said the buffers along Main South Road and Victor Harbour Road would provide scope for the Council, community and industry to consider how to use the land as an on-going asset to promote the region.

2 June, 2011
Techport to relieve Defence pressure
More construction work for the $8 billion Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Project will be relocated to Adelaide’s Techport Australia.
   Premier Mike Rann welcomed Federal Defence Minister Stephen Smith’s announcement that up to 13 steel blocks from the first two AWDs would be reallocated to “relieve pressure” on the BAE Systems’ shipyard in Williamstown, Victoria, which had been experiencing schedule issues.
   Mr Rann also said he would be “in there fighting for SA” while the Federal Government considered whether to reallocate blocks from a third AWD.

UniSA move years away
Flagged closures to University of South Australia (UniSA) programs at its Magill Campus are “at least five or six years away”.
   According to a UniSA statement, the university’s goal was to relocate “many programs now delivered at Magill” to “state of the art teaching spaces at our city campus” by 2020.
   However, these longer-term plans would not cause any changes to UniSA’s programs “for the next few years”.

Lobster season clams up
Fisheries Officers will conduct patrols in West Coast waters during the closure of the Northern Zone Rock Lobster season from 6pm on Tuesday 31 May until 1 November 2011.
   The owners of any pots located still in the water during the closure of the season run the risk of being fined or having their pots confiscated, as do people pulling the pots of others.
   Anyone wishing to report suspected illegal fishing activity can do so by calling FISHWATCH on 1800 065 522 or by contacting the Port Lincoln Fisheries Office on (08) 8688 3484. Callers can choose to remain anonymous.

Veterans honoured
Aboriginal war veterans were honoured at the fifth annual Aboriginal Veterans Commemorative Service held at the South Australian National War Memorial as part of Reconciliation Week.
   Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Minister Grace Portolesi said Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders in the armed forces had served in every conflict involving Australia over the past century, from the Boer War and Gallipoli to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Conservation funding available
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is offering funding for large scale conservation and restoration projects through the Native Vegetation Council (NVC).
   The funding is available to groups and individuals to support broad environmental and biodiversity projects within a Natural Resources Management region at a landscape scale.
   Applications will be taken until the end of June and more information is available from this PS News link or email to nvc@sa.gov.au

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WorkCover review a work in progress

Violence campaign takes swipe at pubs

Suburbs tap into recycled water

South Australians heading east

Bus shelters in from the cold

Flooded creek ferry floated again

Healthy citation for hospital design

Councils rate in LGA awards

Police dog unit gets more bite

New GP clinic is right medicine

Fruit fly eradicators abuzz with success

Regional committee to go the distance

New funding for heritage projects

Railway partnership steaming ahead

High penalties for banned drugs

Centrelink warns on scammer in the works

And in Other News...

Teacher recruit plan makes the grade

Flood of recognition for tsunami support

Annual awards for Annual Reports

Council panel to rate change

Medicare claims its first ‘Local’

Paper covers land protection plans

Kinship DVD keeps it all in the family

Water wars dry up

Kangaroo Island fire plan put out

Leave campaign goes for a holiday

Report muscles in on fitness figures

Fun fishers catch new bag limits

Incensed attorney bans smoke drugs

Young reading plan tells a good story

Rare earths policy is down to earth

Website connects with connection service

Students team up for habitat program

And in Other News...

Budget adds up to PS job cuts

Queen pins honours on starring staff

Number’s up for SA Lotteries

Corruption watchdog thrown first bone

Fees and charges get Budget boost

Radiation database a glowing initiative

Breakfast factsheets snap and crackle

Wetlands awash with environmental water

Public transport on the right bus

Gap closing on school progress

Funding points to point-to-point

Child protection comes of age

Whalewatchers told to hold back

Minister kicks goal with sports policy

Water measurements come on stream

Mouse bait a trap says Biosecurity

Students team up for habitat program

Leave loadings reloaded

Teachers promoted in recruitment drive

Bus tickets added to salary packages

River health to go with the flow

MAC to drive home road safety message

Councils rating Budget plans

Breast is best for extra funding

Bus interchanges on time for upgrades

Pest warning for weekend travellers

Door opens on parole reforms

Seaweed farming a kelp to growers

Funds smoked out for firefighting

Land plans land discussion paper

Cops on the run for Olympic glory

Transport peddles cycling app

Green light given to environmental flows

Technology leads way for health in regions

Tasmanian PS to sack underperformers

Trial to speed up road safety test

Uni degree sets new course

SA has dig at WA mining

Firefighters heat up heater warnings

Advisory Council asked to advise

Call for overhaul of water management

Rubbish projects to tighten waste

Vitamin study finds ‘D’ in short supply

Minister has handle on motorbike gear

Possum warning is pet project

WorkCover review
a work in progress

Violence campaign
takes swipe at pubs

Suburbs tap into
recycled water

South Australians
heading east

Bus shelters in
from the cold

Flooded creek ferry
floated again

Healthy citation for
hospital design

Councils rate in
LGA awards

Police dog unit
gets more bite

New GP clinic is
right medicine

Fruit fly eradicators
abuzz with success

Regional committee
to go the distance

New funding for
heritage projects

Railway partnership
steaming ahead

High penalties for
banned drugs

Centrelink warns on
scammer in the works

Teacher recruit plan
makes the grade

Flood of recognition
for tsunami support

Annual awards for
Annual Reports

Council panel to
rate change

Medicare claims
its first ‘Local’

Paper covers land
protection plans

Kinship DVD keeps
it all in the family

Water wars
dry up

Kangaroo Island
fire plan put out

Leave campaign goes
for a holiday

Report muscles in
on fitness figures

Fun fishers catch
new bag limits

Incensed attorney
bans smoke drugs

Young reading plan
tells a good story

Rare earths policy
is down to earth

Website connects with
connection service

Students team up for
habitat program

Budget adds up
to PS job cuts

Queen pins honours
on starring staff

Number’s up for
SA Lotteries

Corruption watchdog
thrown first bone

Fees and charges
get Budget boost

Radiation database a
glowing initiative

Breakfast factsheets
snap and crackle

Wetlands awash with
environmental water

Public transport
on the right bus

Gap closing on
school progress

Funding points to
point-to-point

Child protection
comes of age

Whalewatchers told
to hold back

Minister kicks goal
with sports policy

Water measurements
come on stream

Mouse bait a trap
says Biosecurity

Students team up for
habitat program

Leave loadings
reloaded

Teachers promoted in
recruitment drive

Bus tickets added to
salary packages

River health to go
with the flow

MAC to drive home
road safety message

Councils rating
Budget plans

Breast is best for
extra funding

Bus interchanges on
time for upgrades

Pest warning for
weekend travellers

Door opens on
parole reforms

Seaweed farming a
kelp to growers

Funds smoked out
for firefighting

Land plans land
discussion paper

Cops on the run for
Olympic glory

Transport peddles
cycling app

Green light given to
environmental flows

Technology leads way
for health in regions

Tasmanian PS to sack
underperformers

Trial to speed up
road safety test

Uni degree sets
new course

SA has dig at
WA mining

Firefighters heat up
heater warnings

Advisory Council
asked to advise

Call for overhaul of
water management

Rubbish projects
to tighten waste

Vitamin study finds
‘D’ in short supply

Minister has handle
on motorbike gear

Possum warning
is pet project

Scientist travels to
spread the word

SARDI shells out
for new prawn net