Project to explore localised warnings on killer heatwaves

Research showing that Melbourne and Adelaide have been hardest hit by severe heatwaves is turning now to a local government area analysis.

20 August, 2018

When the threat recedes: helping communities recover

Government News meets the individuals working to determine how government can best support communities affected by disaster.

6 August, 2018

Sydney’s new resilience strategy identifies key threats

Managing the impacts of population growth, terrorism threats and natural disasters are among the issues raised in the City of Sydney’s first-ever resilience strategy.

26 July, 2018

Crackdown on councils’ contracting of security services

Fair Work Ombudsman warns local governments could be liable if their contractors breach workplace laws after finding non-compliance in the supply chains of nearly two thirds of surveyed councils.

28 June, 2018

Agencies need better training on terrorism: police commander

Few police or emergency services are adequately preparing their staff to respond to major terrorist incidents, an Australian Federal Police commander has warned.

8 May, 2018

Victorian budget: Infrastructure, regions the big winners

Local government, transport and health groups have welcomed the Andrews Government’s record investment in infrastructure and community services.  

4 May, 2018

Cities globally ‘need to talk’ about their issues

Metropolitan Australia isn’t alone in facing challenges like population growth and climate change and could learn from other cities, an international expert tells Government News.

22 March, 2018

Extreme Weather conference extremely timely

Extreme weather events are becoming more common. Heatwaves, floods bushfires and cyclones are more prevalent than ever, with Australia on the sharp end. Government News is a partner with the first Xtreme Weather Australia Conference, being held at Brisbane’s Sofitel Hotel on 20 March 2018. Join Australia’s leading experts and communicators for the full day […]

6 February, 2018

PC Report on Government Services – Health

The Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services (RoGS) has a large section on Health. The  sector is broken into public hospitals, primary and community health, ambulance services, and mental health management. Total government expenditure across Australia in 2016-17 for health services was estimated to be over $96.7 billion in 2015-16, around 43.2 per cent of […]

29 January, 2018

PC Report on Government Services – Emergency Management

The Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services (RoGS) has a section on Emergency Management. These are categorised as Fire and State and Territory Emergency Services (STES). Ambulance services are covered separately in the Health section of the report. Total government expenditure across Australia in 2016-17 for fire and STES services was $4.3 billion, around 1.9 […]

24 January, 2018

Productivity Commission Report on Government Services – Overview

The Productivity Commission has begun releasing its 23rd annual Report on Government Services (RoGS). It is major exercise, with separate chapters released in seven parts over the next week on all areas of government service delivery. Government News will examine each report in depth. Our special Australia Day newsletter will highlight all sections released by […]

22 January, 2018

Extreme weather conference to target government users

The impact of climate change on infrastructure and government will be one of the key themes of Australia’s first Xtreme Weather Conference, to be held at the Sofitel Brisbane on 20 March 2018. The conference brings together climate change experts with local government planners, academics and emergency services to share information on climate change and […]

4 December, 2017

Demountable classrooms here to stay in NSW

More than 10 percent of the classrooms in New South Wales public schools are demountables, built and maintained by the state’s growing prison population. Despite the Government saying they are a temporary fix, its own numbers show the numbers are rising and that there is no clear policy to replace them with permanent buildings. Indeed, […]

29 October, 2017

ACCC, ADA, Ambulances concerned about health cover and hospitals

Whilst an ACCC report blasts the health insurers, dentist and ambulance paramedics say more needs to be done.

21 July, 2017