OPINION By John Gertsakis Diverting end-of-life televisions from landfill remains a key objective for Product Stewardship Australia, a not-for-profit organisation, established by television manufacturers to design and deliver a national collection, recycling and community education program. The timing is right given the growing appetite Australian consumers have for ensuring e-waste is recycled in an environmentally […]
14 February, 2011
The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) this week urged the Federal Government to address Indigenous pay gaps in the Australian Public Service (APS). CPSU national secretary Nadine Flood said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander agencies were under-funded and staff received lower pay rates than colleagues in other APS agencies working at the same level. “The […]
10 February, 2011
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 […]
8 February, 2011
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 […]
20 January, 2011
Commonwealth public servants and government contractors can expect to receive a single security clearance recognised by all agencies. The Gillard Government has announced the launch of the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) – a centralised agency for all Commonwealth security checks. The new arrangements were announced by Minister for Defence, Stephen Smith, Attorney-General, Robert […]
1 October, 2010
By Craig Donaldson Huge changes have been touted for airport security in Australia, but technology alone will not plug all of the holes. In 2005 the landmark Wheeler Report issued a damning assessment of security at Australian airports. It found that there were serious flaws in airport security policices and practices: security systems were “typically […]
11 March, 2010
By Angela Dorizas The Federal Government has unveiled its $30.9 billion overhaul of Australia’s health system, which is the most significant reform to the federation in its history. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced the establishment of a National Health and Hospitals Network to be funded nationally and run locally. The national health and hospitals […]
3 March, 2010
By Rob O’Brien An annual report by the Commonwealth Ombudsman has found a marked increase in people complaining about the services of government agencies. The Commonwealth Ombudsman 2008-2009 Annual Report tabled in Parliament found that complaints to government agencies were up 14 per cent on the year before. The majority (79 per cent) of complaints […]
19 October, 2009
By Staff Writer Commonwealth investment in local government will need to be increased as the country heads into recession, the Australian Local Government Association has said. Despite an investment of $800 million in local infrastructure and stimulus funding ALGA president Cr Geoff Lake said Commonwealth spending was well short of what was required. “There is a need, […]
24 April, 2009
By Staff Writer The Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP) is calling on Commonwealth governments to have a fundamental rethink of policies and approach to managing urbanisation before it is too late. “We have 10, maybe 15 years, to get on to a new track,” said CAP president Christine Platt. A planner who works in South […]
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