Leak lays bare Newman referendum support

By Julian Bajkowski A leaked letter from Queensland Premier Campbell Newman to Prime Minister Julia Gillard reveals that the state government is behind the proposed wording of a Constitutional amendment pivotal to a referendum and does not believe the change will erode state powers over local government. A copy of the letter obtained by Government […]

QLD Premier breaks ranks over referendum

By Julian Bajkowski Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has thrown down the gauntlet to other Australian state and territory leaders to back the ‘yes’ case in a proposed referendum on financial recognition of local governments or risk losing billions of dollars of direct Commonwealth funding for council projects and services. In a dramatic escalation of pressure […]

Comcare hunts for compo fraud snoops

By Julian Bajkowski and Paul Hemsley Comcare, the federal government agency responsible for workplace safety, rehabilitation and compensation is on the lookout for experienced insurance investigators to detect fraudsters trying to rort the compensation system. The agency’s Fraud Response Unit (FRU) has issued a detailed tender notice for prospective private eyes as part of efforts […]

Cloud shopping catalogue by November

By Julian Bajkowski The federal government has moved one step closer to allowing agencies to access cloud computing services after the Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO) issued an invitation to industry to sign up to a panel of suppliers. In a post to its official blog, AGIMO first assistant secretary agency services, John Sheridan, […]

Submissions closing for NBN inquiry

The House of Representatives Infrastructure and Communications Committee has sought submissions from government, the private sector and the public on the role and potential of the National Broadband Network (NBN). The parliamentary inquiry examined the capacity of the NBN to deliver a range of government services and programs. The Committee has called for public feedback , with […]

Flannery to head Climate Commission

By Angela Dorizas The Federal Government has established an independent Climate Commission, chaired by leading environmentalist and author, Professor Tim Flannery. Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, today announced the creation of the new Commission and the appointment of former Australian of the Year, Professor Flannery as Chief Commissioner. Mr Combet said […]

New centre of excellence for public policy

By Angela Dorizas The Australian National Institute for Public Policy was launched this week at the Australian National University. Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr said the Institute would strengthen public policy capabilities across the Australian Public Service. “We have set ambitious goals for a richer, fairer and greener Australia and we cannot deliver them without […]

Committee recommends review of Auditor-General powers

The Public Accounts and Audit Committee has advised the Commonwealth to re-examine the role and powers of the Auditor-General. Committee chair, Rob Oakeshott, said it was “timely for the role and powers of the Auditor-General to be re-examined” to ensure they were adequate in the “modern public sector environment”. The Committee made 13 recommendations, including […]

Crean tours Queensland

Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, Simon Crean, this week toured flood-affected towns across the state. During a visit to Maryborough on the Fraser Coast, Mr Crean reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to assisting local government in the recovery effort. He said additional funding had been provided to councils and shires under the […]

Surge in hiring intentions

Government departments are well and truly out of caretaker mode and are preparing to increase staff levels, according to a new report by recruitment firm Hudson. The results of the latest Hudson Report found that ACT hiring intentions have rebounded strongly. The results of the Australia-wide survey of 4709 employers from the public and private […]

Government workers experience information rage

By Jane Dargaville Administrative workers employed by local and other governments around Australia are feeling, as much as those in any other sector, the enormous pressure of being increasingly bombarded with information. A recent survey has confirmed something desk workers have known for ages: many Australian professionals are feeling so demoralised by the sheer volume […]

Feedback sought on sustainable population strategy

Minster for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Tony Burke, released on Thursday an issues paper on the Government’s sustainable population strategy and invited feedback from the community. The issues paper brought together the major issues identified in reports by the three independent Sustainable Population Strategy Advisory Panels, which focused on demographic change, liveability, productivity, prosperity and […]

New tools to map sea-level rise

Coastal municipalities will be able to identify future impacts of climate change and sea level rise using new maps launched today by the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (DCCEE). Developed in partnership with the Co-operative Research Centre for Spatial Information, the maps use the highest resolution elevation data currently available. The new tool […]

Chief water bureaucrat resigns

In a press statement released on Tuesday, Mr Taylor announced that he had written to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Tony Burke, the problematic development of the Muray-Darling Basin Plan. Mr Taylor said balancing social and economic impacts of the plan against the Water Act 2007 posed a “significant challenge”. However, […]

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