SearchArchives for November 2008
27 November, 2008Spotlight turns on shining lights of PS
The best and brightest Public Servants in the State have been recognised and honoured in the 2008 Premier’s Awards.Minister for Public Sector Management, Jay Weatherill, said the important steps forward made in areas such as health, the environment and employment were down to the day-to-day work of the State’s public servants, and they should be acknowledged for their management of innovative community-based projects.
Mr Weatherill said the six award categories mirrored the State’s Strategic Plan objectives and included Growing Prosperity, Improving Wellbeing, Attaining Sustainability, Fostering Creativity and Innovation, Building Communities and Expanding Opportunity.
He said the Department of Premier and Cabinet’s ‘Thinker in Residence’ scheme won it the award for Fostering Creativity and Innovation and its program to help adults at risk of homelessness or on low incomes access affordable accommodation and social support services took out the Expanding Opportunity award.
He said DPC had hosted 14 internationally renowned experts as its ‘Thinkers’ and they had helped the State find solutions to policy challenges and position itself nationally and internationally as an “innovative and dynamic community for living, working, investing and doing business.”
He said the Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology and the Department of Health had also taken out top honours with projects to increase training and employment outcomes for Aboriginal people and research into improving dental services.
Mr Weatherill said the Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology’s project had helped over 800 Aboriginal people find jobs.
“This project won the Growing Prosperity award for the opportunities provided to Aboriginal people, including job training, work placement, recruitment, leadership training and apprenticeships.”
He said the Land Management Corporation and the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure took out the awards in the Building Communities and Attaining Sustainability categories.
He said the winning LMC project was awarded for helping transform Adelaide’s outer northern suburbs by delivering new and upgraded housing, schools and recreation and transport services, and the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure developed a sustainable travel behaviour change project in Adelaide’s western suburbs.
“Cutting dependence on cars in the western suburbs, linking thousands more people with dental care and assisting hundreds of Aboriginal people into employment were among the most notable achievements of our public servants,” he said.
Mr Weatherill said the Premier’s Awards were about highlighting work by Public Servants which had made lasting improvements for the State.
“This year’s winning initiatives have made a genuine difference to the community and I congratulate everybody involved in this outstanding work,” Mr Weatherill said.
He said over 65 submissions had been received by the judging panel.
27 November, 2008
Public Service News is a public service
Welcome to the first edition of the on-line Public Service news and information source ‘PS News’, the only independent website offering regular coverage of events, activities, policies and programs affecting State Public Servants in South Australia.PS News was launched at the national level in November 2005 to provide a one-stop drop-in shop for news and information about the Commonwealth Public Service and since then has expanded to cover the NSW, Victorian and Queensland Public Services and now South Australia as well
PS News is updated every Thursday and is the first news source of its type to focus solely on State Public Service issues and the stories and news of interest to State Government employees.
It has an unashamed pro-PS stance, choosing to report the good things about Public Service activity rather than the more usual PS-bashing that is a favourite game of the mainstay media.
Since its launch, this approach has proven popular with Public Servants across the States who are accessing its pages at an ever-increasing rate, scoring more than 3 million hits in October and growing the site at an average 31 per cent every month. The free PS News email subscription service already alerts over 32,800 subscribers of the main stories on the site and many thousands of additional keen readers visit it regularly without a reminder.
A key to the success of PS News is its independence of Government, union or political influence and its ability to deliver articles of interest and value to PS staff easily, professionally and regularly.
The founder of PS News, Frank Cassidy, has 20 years experience in the Federal Public Service (first joining in Melbourne in 1966) and developed the highly successful “Public Eye” newspaper in 1988 which was eventually bought by the Canberra Times and closed down.
Mr Cassidy brings many years of hands-on PS experience to the PS News editorial desk as well as a decade of news-gathering expertise as a journalist, columnist and Chief of Staff at the Canberra Times.
He and the PS News team have designed the South Australian Public Service edition to be every bit as informative and interesting as its predecessors and are confident that over time it will come to play a valuable and useful role in the service-wide communications function.
Welcome to PS News – South Australian style.
27 November, 2008
Mum’s the word on extra family support
A program that supports families and positive parenting in the Adelaide metropolitan area is to be expanded across the State next year.Minister for Health, John Hill, announced that the Government Family Home Visiting program, which was introduced four years ago, would be widened to include Mount Gambier, Eyre Peninsula, Murraylands region, Mid North, Yorke Peninsula, the Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island next year.
Speaking on Universal Children’s Day, Mr Hill said the program would also continue to run across the Riverland Whyalla, Port Augusta, Mount Baker, Southern Hills and Port Lincoln regions.
“Expanding the program means more families will have the opportunity to receive extra support and experience the longer term benefits,” he said.
“This is an outstanding and incredibly valuable service for families with new babies who need a bit of extra support - it’s all about doing what we can to give our children the best possible start to life.”
Mr Hill said the program was part of the Government’s Every Chance for Every Child program, which ran side by side with the universal Home Visiting Program.
He said the Universal Home Visiting Program had been taken up by over 16,000 families with new babies in the year ending 30 June 2008 and gave them the chance to have a Child and Family Health Nurse conduct their child’s first health check and to help them with issues like feeding and settling.
Mr Hill said families could be referred to the Family Home Visiting Program by nurses who believed they needed extra support.
He said families in the program would receive up to 34 visits from a Child and Family Health Nurse in the first two years of the child’s life.
“We want to provide support to all families who could benefit – whether they’re in the city or the country,” Mr Hill said.
“In the 12 months to 30 June this year, 454 families completed the program, and another 1,291 were actively involved,” he said.
27 November, 2008
University receives degree of recognition
Flinders University has been recognised as a national leader in improving employment outcomes for Indigenous Australians.Federal Minister for Employment Participation, Brendan O’Connor, visited the University’s Yunggorendi First Nations Centre for Higher Education and Research recently and said it was emerging as a leader in employing Indigenous people in highly skilled jobs.
Mr O’Connor inspected the Structure Training and Employment Project (STEP), which had helped 13 of its 19 participants find employment with the university in highly sought after positions such as lecturers, research associates and academic advisors.
“With the help of an Australian Government STEP project, Flinders has appointed an Indigenous Employment Coordinator and been able to attract highly skilled Indigenous staff to highly skilled positions,” Mr O’Connor said.
He said the University had been a leader in many fields for years and had now developed an Employment Strategy for Indigenous Australians which “significantly improved the recruitment, participation and retention of Indigenous people at the University”.
He said providing better access to public and private sector jobs was crucial in securing economic independence for Indigenous Australians and the Australian Government was committed to halving the employment gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within 10 years by creating job opportunities and increasing skills and training.
“I look forward to Flinders University continuing to work with the Government to further explore opportunities for employment and other economic activities for Indigenous people in higher education,” he said.
He said the Commonwealth had provided the STEP with $152, 250 in funding.
27 November, 2008
Union mourns loss of Joy
The Community and Public Sector Union is mourning the loss of its former SA Branch Secretary and National President, Joy Palmer, who died from breast cancer last week. She was 59.In a tribute to Ms Palmer, the Union said she showed vision, leadership and courage over 40 years of activism and was instrumental in most of the major campaigns and achievements of the union and its members in that time.
“Her courage, tenacity and dignity were also evident in her battle against breast cancer,” it said.
“She will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by our union and our movement.”
After stepping down from her position as National President of the CPSU in 1994, Ms Palmer represented the Union and the Australian Council of Trade Unions on the Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme, Public Sector Superannuation Scheme and the Australian Reward Investment Alliance boards until last year.
Joy Palmer
Ms Palmer joined the Public Service in 1967 as a Clerical Assistant in the Postmaster-General’s Department (later Telecom) before fighting to convert temporary positions into permanent employment and becoming involved in a national pay campaign which saw trade unionists stand down or be sacked for the first time.
Her involvement in the campaigns helped her become the SA Assistant Branch Secretary of the Australian Public Service Association, a precursor to the CPSU, before becoming APS SA Branch Secretary and Deputy Federal President.
The CPSU said Ms Palmer had played a leading role in many campaigns leading to positive economic and social outcomes for Public Servants, particularly women.
The Union said Ms Palmer was an early advocate for equal opportunity policies and programs and was instrumental in securing recognition of prior service for women who left the Service due to the marriage bar, and then returned when the restrictions had been lifted.
27 November, 2008
Healthy outcomes for health awards
Two prominent leaders of the State public health system have been honoured for their contributions in the SA Great Awards.Professor John Hopwood from the Women’s and Children’s Hospital won the SA Great Award in the field of Science, and Professor Dick Ruffin from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital was honoured for his work in the field of Health.
Minister for Health, John Hill, said the professors were both worthy winners and highly respected in their field.
“Both of these men are inspiring and all South Australians should be grateful to have them working in our health system,” Mr Hill said.
“Professor Hopwood has done some remarkable work in the field of medical research at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, and is a beacon and inspiration in our push here in SA to build up the state as a health and medical research powerhouse.”
He said Professor Ruffin was Professor of Medicine at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and had worked extensively in the area of respiratory medicine, focusing on asthma and chronic disease.
“His work has helped many South Australians over the years, and he has shown a really strong commitment to providing the very best health care to the community through the public health system,” Mr Hill said.
“Professor Ruffin has also overseen major improvements to the training of junior doctors in SA though his chairmanship of the Post Graduate Medical Council of SA.”
These improvements have produced lasting benefits for the state and will continue to do so for generations to come.
27 November, 2008
Bell chimes in as new State Thinker
South Australia’s latest Thinker in Residence has been welcomed to the position by the Minister for Science and Information, Paul Caica.Mr Caica said Dr Genevieve Bell would focus on how SA residents used new technologies in their everyday lives and would help shed light on new opportunities for broadband and communication technologies.
He said Dr Bell would conduct research to identify opportunities, spaces and barriers for the increased uptake of technologies for economic and social development.
“She will take into consideration a cross-section of the population, and in line with this, Dr Bell will spend significant time working with regional and remote communities, Aboriginal people, and people from culturally diverse backgrounds.”
Mr Caica said Dr Bell had significant experience in rural South Australia, where she had conducted ethnographic fieldwork, and had close ties to the Ngarrindjeri population.
Dr Genevieve Bell
“She travels extensively observing people in their homes to find out how they use and what they want from technology.
Mr Caica said Dr Bell had an exceptional professional reputation and was able to observe people’s lifestyles and bring a human component into discussions about technology, passing on knowledge for the development of new technologies.
Dr Bell said she was “very excited to be returning to South Australia” and was looking forward to conducting her research and making a difference.
Dr Bell, who was born in Sydney but now lives in Oregon in the United States, began her residency in SA with an initial two-week visit and is to return for three months in the first half of 2009.
She is the Director of User Experience in Intel Corporation’s Digital Home Group, where she leads new product strategy and sets company technology directions, program definition and execution.
27 November, 2008
Feds in hard drive for computer sales
The Federal Government has invited local Councils to reduce the costs of their Information and Communications Technology equipment and services by taking part in the Commonwealth’s whole-of-Government procurement arrangements.Federal Minister for Finance, Lindsay Tanner said the Government’s ‘holistic’ approach, had already been partially adopted by some NSW Government Agencies and took full advantage of the public sector’s buying power.
Speaking at a meeting of the Australian Council of Local Government, Mr Tanner said he expected significant advantages would flow to Councils who accepted the invitation.
“There is no barrier in principle to Councils in a sense piggy-backing on our collective buying power and our ability to drive a good deal,” Mr Tanner said.
ICT Industry market researcher Intermedium said this was not a new position as Government Agencies have been able to buy off whole-of-Government contracts in place in other jurisdictions for some time.
It said NSW schools and not-for-profit organisations, amongst others, bought from a wide range of Period Contracts (also known as Standing Offer Arrangements) and that a large number of Government and non-Government organisations could purchase from the contracts, including:
- Government trading authorities
- Public sector agencies of the Commonwealth or any other State or Territory Agencies
- Local Government bodies
- Schools, colleges and universities – public or private
- Hospitals – public or private
- Other approved users such as community-based non-profit organisations or charities.
27 November, 2008
Campaign raises glass to dangers of alcohol
An advertising campaign warning of the dangers of alcohol has been launched in time for the party season.Consumer Affairs Minister, Gail Gago, said the new campaign, entitled That next drink could cost more than you think, was targeted at people who saw themselves as moderate drinkers.
Ms Gago said the campaign, which was being run by the Office of Liquor and Gambling Commissioner and the SA Police, would remind people of the dangers alcohol could pose to all activities, not just driving.
“This festive season we’re appealing to people who consider themselves moderate drinkers – people who don’t see themselves as high-risk binge drinkers,” she said.
“Driving, working, recreational activities and even watching the kids becomes riskier.”
Ms Gago said the initiative would remind people that the effects of alcohol could “creep up” if they were not careful, with some costly results.
“The holiday period is a time when we can let down our hair, and it can be easy for someone to have that extra drink, putting themselves and others at risk,” she said.
“It’s so important to remember what the possible consequences of drinking too much can be – we want people to enjoy their celebrations, have a great Christmas but be mindful of the importance of keeping track of your drinks.”
Radio commercials began airing over last weekend while pamphlets are to be distributed to drivers by Random Breath Test units and to sporting clubs by the Office of Liquor and Gambling Commissioner.
Ms Gago suggested people remember a few tips over the holiday season, such as setting drinking limits, drinking non-alcoholic drinks, keeping an eye on their drink to ensure it was not tampered with or filled up, eating enough food and arranging alternate transport.
She reminded workplaces to define an acceptable standard of behaviour for parties including no tolerance of sexual harassment, bullying, drunkenness or drink driving.
Further information on the campaign was available from www.olgc.sa.gov.au
27 November, 2008
Seaside conservation to be beachy keen
The State Government was looking at buying private properties between Streaky Bay and Venus Bay to use as conservation areas for rare and endangered wildlife such as the white-bellied sea eagle, osprey and Australian sea lion.Minister for Environment and Conservation, Jay Weatherill, announced the plan at the same time as he released the CoastLinks report into the protection of coastal land.
Mr Weatherill said the area between the two bays was widely recognised for its “spectacular coastline and unique biodiversity”.
“It’s important that we protect this area, not only for the sake of the rare and endangered wildlife that call it home, but also for our children and grandchildren to be able to enjoy the outstanding scenic qualities of the region,” he said.
Mr Weatherill said residential development, industry, tourism and recreation activities were placing pressure on the sensitive environment and that some people were believed to be deliberately trying to harm wildlife.
“Two white-bellied sea eagles and one juvenile osprey recently were found dead or dying and a fourth bird also is believed to have been killed,” he said.
“The CoastLinks report is a major step towards providing greater protection for these birds, by adding critical areas of habitat to the parks and reserves system.”
Mr Weatherill said as well as purchasing private property, the proposal suggesting adding unallotted Crown land to the conservation estate over the next two years.
He said land on the western coastline of Calca Peninsula, and surrounding Baird Bay and land north-west of Venus Bay Conservation Park would be added to the conservation estate.
Mr Weatherill said the Department of Environment and Heritage (DEH) would now consult with local landholders and communities and work with Councils, and the Department of Planning and Local Government would commence promoting appropriate coastal development and sustainable tourism.
“DEH also will be looking at opportunities for private land conservation to complement conservation on Government land to increase habitat for the region’s wildlife,” he said.
“Ultimately, we hope to link all the region’s parks and reserves together by expanding the parks and reserves, purchasing some private properties and entering into agreements with private landholders to restore and maintain natural habitat.”
Mr Weatherill thanked the Friends of Sceale Bay for their support in the development of the report.
27 November, 2008
WA gropes at savings by cutting back PS
The Western Australian Treasurer has set up a committee to slow the growth of the State’s Public Service which he said was increasing by 5,000 new Public Servants a year.Treasurer, Troy Buswell, said the new Economic Audit Committee had been established to identify ways to cut recurrent expenditure in the PS.
He would not say if it was a ‘razor gang’ or not.
“We can't continue to employ 20 full-time equivalent staff every working day,” Mr Buswell said.
He would not confirm whether Public Servants would face job losses or if Agencies would be closed, but said he would wait until the Committee released their report in March next year before commenting.
“For too long now the Public Sector of WA has effectively been gathering moss,” he said.
“It's time to take a serious look at how public services are delivered in WA.”
Mr Buswell said the committee would help conduct a four-month review of finances and the processes of Government.
“It's important we act now so we don't find our State in three or four years time in the situation that States like New South Wales are in today,” he said.
“It's about doing the responsible thing, no matter how hard, and taking the steps necessary to keep our heads above water in difficult times ahead.”
Mr Buswell said initial State Government cuts of 3 per cent across the Public Service were “belt-tightening”.
“There will need to be subsequent rounds of belt-tightening to help Western Australia deal with the financial issues which currently confront the State,” he said.
Opposition leader, Eric Ripper, said Mr Buswell had inherited one of the “strongest set of finances that any incoming Government had inherited in the past”, and needed to do his job to ensure money was spent wisely.
27 November, 2008
Inquiry pays out on problem gamblers
A public inquiry into barring arrangements in the South Australian gambling sector has been announced by the Minister for Gambling, Carmel Zollo.Ms Zollo said the Independent Gambling Authority (IGA) would conduct the inquiry and would review the efficiency and effectiveness of existing voluntary and non-voluntary barring provisions.
“We are seeking feedback and advice about whether we need to consider any legislative changes to make the current barring arrangements simpler and more consistent,” she said.
“There’s a perception that the current system in SA is unnecessarily complicated, reducing its effectiveness as a support mechanism for problem gamblers and creating avoidable administrative problems.”
Ms Zollo said as the number of barring mechanisms had increased and changed over time, the need to review the different schemes and how effective they were grew.
She said the inquiry would include an examination of barring mechanisms operating in other Australian States and New Zealand.
“Other aspects will include reviewing the work of the Responsible Gambling Working Party on player tracking and pre-commitment, as well as the operation of the Problem Gambling Family Protection Orders Act 2004,” Ms Zollo said.
“The inquiry’s Terms of Reference will also take into account training of licensees and their employees in recognising and dealing with patrons that might benefit from a barring order.”
Ms Zollo said the review would also examine the accessibility of support services and how they approached treatment of barred self-barred people.
Submissions to the inquiry would be accepted until 2 February next year, with the IGA expected to report back to the Government by 31 October 2009.
27 November, 2008
Land law review to be made of rights stuff
A review has been ordered into the State’s land rights legislation.Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Jay Weatherill, announced the review, saying it would ensure Aboriginal land would be used to benefit SA’s Aboriginal residents.
Mr Weatherill said the review of the Aboriginal Lands Trust Act 1966, the oldest land rights legislation in the country, would look at how the land was managed, administered and used for the benefit of South Australia’s Aboriginal population.
“The Act has served Aboriginal people well, but over the years has not kept pace with developments in land management principles or the responsibilities and aspirations of residential communities and the wider Aboriginal population of South Australia,” he said.
Mr Weatherill said the review would also focus on how Aboriginal communities were governed, due to the connection between the well-being of people living in communities on, or connected to, Aboriginal Lands Trust (ALT) land and the management of that land.
“The ALT was established 42 years ago to preserve for Aboriginal people the mission land that many Aboriginal people lived on at the time,” he said.
“But a lot has occurred in that time.
“We want the ALT Act to enable rather than impede Aboriginal people to make a future for themselves.”
Mr Weatherill said the review would clarify the roles and responsibilities of the ALT, the Minister, residential communities and Aboriginal South Australians to create modern land management, greater accountability and certainty of Aboriginal ownership.
He said consultation would commence soon, following the recent release of a Discussion Paper.
Mr Weatherill said a Reference Group had been established to report to him about proposed reforms.
He said further information on the review and how to make a submission was available from www.premcab.sa.gov.au
27 November, 2008
Conservation scheme gets green light
Plans have been released for the first of five large-scale conservation corridors being set aside to give the State’s plants, animals and ecosystems the best chance at adapting to climate change.Minister for Environment and Conservation, Jay Weatherill launched the East meets West NatureLink Plan which he said was a critical step in setting up the corridor to link isolated areas of habitat in the State’s west.
Mr Weatherill said the NatureLink Plan was led by the Department for Environment and Heritage, the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation, and the Department of Primary Industries and Resources SA.
He said the first corridor covered around 21 million hectares from central Eyre Peninsula to the Western Australian Border and included the Nullarbor Plain and Great Australian Bight.
Four other corridors located in the Flinders-Olary Ranges, Cape Borda to Barossa, River Murray Coorong and Arid Lands would be developed over the next two years.
“This represents a major shift in the way we approach conservation,” Mr Weatherill said, “conserving our plants and animals on a massive landscape scale that will address some of the issues associated with climate change.
“In the past, conservation efforts usually have focused on individual species in particular locations or individual habitat areas.
“But East meets West focuses on managing and restoring broad areas of habitat, and entire communities of plants and animals.”
He said a healthy and diverse environment was crucial to SA’s social and economic wellbeing, particularly as many plant and animal species were endangered due to loss or degradation of their habitats.
Mr Weatherill said such large scale habitat restoration would take many years, and had been allocated $1.4 million in funding for 2008/09.
He said climate change had added to the threat of extinction by reducing suitable habitats, and increasing the risk of fire and drought.
“We know that with climate change some species will struggle to survive in areas where they currently live, so we need to ensure we have corridors of habitat for animals to move through,” he said.
“Ongoing conservation management and the restoration of large areas of habitat within the NatureLinks corridors will help native animals and plants withstand and adapt to these environmental changes.”
Mr Weatherill said the biodiversity corridors would have three elements – core areas of protected habitats; areas that linked remnant and restored habitats; and buffer zones to protect the areas.
He said the Government would work with conservation organisations, landholders and local communities to establish the corridors by involving them in grazing management, revegetation, pest control, captive breeding, animal re-introduction, education and private conservation.
He said the project was based on the Wild Country research by the Wilderness Society of SA and more information about NatureLinks was available at www.naturelinks.sa.gov.au
27 November, 2008
Emergency awards are in safe hands
Thirty-two South Australians have been recognised for outstanding community service and dedication to Emergency Services at a ceremony conducted by the Minister for Emergency Services, Michael Wright.Mr Wright awarded 14 South Australians with Emergency Service Medals while 18 received Ministerial Commendations.
He said the recipients were awarded for their commitment to the Country Fire Service, Metropolitan Fire Service, State Emergency Service, Volunteer Marine Rescue, Surf Life Saving SA and the SA Ambulance Service.
Mr Wright said recipients were recognised for their extraordinary efforts at incidents such as the 2008 Willunga fire, the ETSA Utilities sub-station fire, the Whyalla Airlines crash, a cliff rescue at Hallett Cove in 2007, and the rescue of a swimmer by a 16-year-old surf life saver.
He said the awards reflected the exceptional acts of bravery and service that volunteers and staff had made to the Emergency Services Sector and to community safety.
“While each and every member of the Emergency Services organisations deserves recognition for their contribution, these medals and commendations recognise those who have gone that extra mile in service to the community,” Mr Wright said.
“Whether it involves rescuing someone from a bushfire, a cliff face or treacherous seas, or coming up with new and improved ways to better service and protect the community, these 32 individuals and groups have helped to build community resilience and make South Australia a safer place.”
The awards have been running for the last eight years and are administered by the South Australian Emergency Services Commission.
Recipients of the 2008 Emergency Services Medals, which recognised distinguished and meritorious service of the highest order, were:
Country Fire Service
Wayne Maxwell Atkins
Richard Giles Mould Jnr
Ian Robert Taverner
SA Ambulance Service
Dean H Clarke
SA Metropolitan Fire Service
Dean Annandale James
Ramon Phillip Kruger
Alexandra Prodanovski
Michael Colin Scott
State Emergency Service
Jennifer Maree Vincent
Surf Life Saving SA
Christopher Alagich
Simon James
Peter Marshman
Volunteer Marine Rescue
Don McCulloch
Albert James Puxley
Ministerial Commendations were awarded to:
SA Ambulance Service
Christopher Cotton
Janice McEvoy
SA Metropolitan Fire Service
John Cameron McNaughton
Shaun Jeffrey Ruxton
SA Fire and Emergency Services Commission
Trevor Pearce
Peter John James Nygaard
State Emergency Service
John Edge
Lynette Jean Little
Shane Leedham
Surf Life Saving SA
Alex Carr
Elaine Farmer
Volunteer Marine Rescue
Dean Andrew
Anthony Johnstone
27 November, 2008
New knife laws to cut through red tape
New laws to reduce the rate of knife-related violence have been proposed by the Premier and the Attorney-General.Premier, Mike Rann, said the new laws would look at preventing knife crime rather than punishing the offence after it occurred.
“It’s already illegal to have a knife in a public place without good reason,” Mr Rann said.
“We’re looking at restricting the supply of knives to young people and giving police more powers to detect knives and remove them from the streets.”
Mr Rann and Attorney-General, Michael Atkinson, said they would prepare a submission for Cabinet within the next few weeks, citing the recent stabbing of 14-year-old Daniel Awak as a reason to act as soon as possible to prevent knife crime.
“The recent city tragedy demonstrated the devastation that knives can do to young people, their families and the community,” Mr Atkinson said.
“We’re taking action now to prevent similar tragedies in future.”
Mr Atkinson said the submission would propose selling a knife to a person under 16 become illegal, with fines up to $20,000 and that police be given the authority to scan people for knives with hand-held metal detectors.
Mr Rann and Mr Atkinson said they would also suggest jail time, a fine of $10,000 or both be given to anyone who supplied someone with a knife if they knew it would be used to commit an offence.
Mr Atkinson suggested if the offence was carried out, the maximum penalty for the person who supplied the knife be half the jail time for the offence.
“That means that if the crime of aggravated act to endanger life is carried out, the supplier of the knife would face up to 9 years jail (the maximum penalty for this offence is 18 years),” he said.
Mr Atkinson said they would also look at making people charged with having an offensive weapon provide their excuse for having it prior to their trial.
“By curbing access to knives and removing them from public places we aim to limit the number of knife-related crimes,” he said.
“I have also informed Cabinet that this is an initial step and a more comprehensive review of the State’s knife-related laws will be undertaken.”
Further information on the submission, or actions that are already illegal regarding offensive weapons and knives, can be accessed at www.ministers.sa.gov.au
27 November, 2008
Business planner to do the business
Action plans for the development of Indigenous-owned businesses in the Port Lincoln and Lower Eyre Peninsula areas are to receive a boost with the appointment of a Business Development Officer.Federal Minister for Employment Participation, Brendan O’Connor, said the officer would develop an action plan to expand five Indigenous-owned businesses in the region.
Mr O’Connor said the businesses being supported represented a number of industries including aquaculture, landscaping, recycling, sustainable forestry and property development.
He said the Government had provided funding under the Emerging Indigenous Entrepreneurs Initiative, which aimed to boost economic development, business skills and financial literacy skills of Indigenous Australians.
“It’s great to see Indigenous-owned businesses operating in South Australia,” Mr O’Connor said.
“And with the right guidance and support these businesses will continue to grow and provide employment opportunities in communities in the Port Lincoln and Lower Eyre Peninsula regions.”
Mr O’Connor said the officer would work with the Port Lincoln Aboriginal Community Council Board to drive business development and job creation.
He said he wanted to see the employment gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians halved by 2018.
“The development of business skills is an important part of creating economic opportunities for Indigenous Australians,” Mr O’Connor said.
27 November, 2008
PS staff accept offer
Members of the Public Service Association in Payroll and Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable sections earmarked for transfer to Shared Services SA have accepted the Government’s offer of 20 November with a number of conditions.
After securing agreement to a three-year FBT transitional period for staff salary sacrificing and independent assessment of classifications, the members agreed to the offer as long as the assessors were approved by the PSA, that ex-Health employees be permitted to fill vacant positions in their old Department if they arose and that staff who accelerated their salary sacrifice arrangement would be covered by the revised offer.
The PSA said all bans and limitations would be lifted when the Government agreed to those conditions.
Sports Institute presents awards
The 2008 South Australian Sports Institute Awards have been presented to athletes and coaches from the Institute for their outstanding achievements in sport.
SASI Male Athlete of the Year was Paralympic swimming champion Matthew Cowdrey, who won five gold and three silver medals at the Beijing Paralympics earlier this year.
Female Athlete of the Year was named as equestrian Megan Jones, the first Olympian medalist to ride a homebred and self-trained horse.
Other award winners included Matthew Benson, Isobel Bishop, Peter Bishop, Jack Bobridge, Alex Bubner, Joseph Costa, Adrian David, Hannah Davis, Chris Doyle, Annette Edmonson, Holly Evans, Angela Fimmano, Chris Morgan, Arial Minear, Sean O’Hara, Olivia Orchard, Mark Ormrod, James Paterson, Luke Saville, Kate Shimmin, Hayden Stoeckel, Tom Sullivan, Hayley Taeuber, Ben Wilden and Sam Willoughby.
Energy scheme calls for comment
The Essential Services Commission has called for comments on its draft Residential Energy Efficiency Scheme Code.
The REES code outlines requirements on energy retailers in relations to REES obligations imposed under energy retail licences.
These requirements include achieving allocated energy audit targets, record-keeping obligations, reduction targets and compliance management.
Further information on how to make a submission or access the draft Code was available from www.escosa.sa.gov.au
Funding offered by vegetation council
The Native Vegetation Council has encouraged organisations who conserved, restored or managed native vegetation to apply for funding.
The NVC said their new initiative, the Significant Environmental Benefit (SEB) Grants scheme allowed them to provide financial assistance to implement landscape scale biodiversity projects.
Applications could be lodged at anytime, and would be considered twice annually.
Further information was available from www.dwlbc.sa.gov.au or by phoning (08) 8124 4753.
Sexual assault laws toughened
New laws to remove ambiguities surrounding rape and sexual assault laws have come into effect.
Attorney-General, Michael Atkinson and Minister for the Status of Women, Gail Gago, announced the changes, saying they would protect victims of sex crimes better and ensure offenders faced “the full force of the law”.
They said the laws would clearly define what constitutes consent to sexual activity and would tighten the net on sexual exploitation of children.
Skin cancer guide sees light of day
The Australian Safety and Compensation Council and the Cancer Council Australia’s National Skin Cancer Committee have released a guide on how to protect workers from ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
The Guidance Note for the Protection of Workers from the Ultraviolet Radiation in Sunlight provides employers with practical advice on how to minimise exposure to UV radiation at work.
The guide suggested measures such as staying in the shade and wearing appropriate clothing, hats sunglasses and sunscreen.