Lucas takes on Local Government

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has unveiled her new Cabinet, following the recent resignation of two senior ministers. The reshaped Cabinet included portfolio responsibilities for three new ministers as well as changes to portfolios. Deputy Prime Minister Paul Lucas was handed responsibility for the local government portfolio, while the Premier took on Minister for Reconstruction. Ms Bligh […]

Local Government Minister quits cabinet

Queensland Local Government Minister and Cairns MP, Desley Boyle, has resigned from her post. Ms Boyle announced on Thursday she would retire from the frontbench. She said she would not contest the next election, which is due to be held in March 2012 “I assure the people of Cairns that I will represent their interests […]

Public Works on frontline of recovery effort

Around 90 QBuild workers from Brisbane have been deployed to cyclone-affected communities, Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten has announced. The workers will join 160 local QBuild field staff working in devastated communities from Cairns to Townsville. Mr Schwarten said this included “ground zero” communities, such as Innisfail, Silkwood, Mission Beach, Tully and Cardwell. "They are […]

Contingency plans for flood-affected schools

Queensland Education and Training Minister, Geoff Wilson said Milton State School, Rocklea State School and Milpera State High School, had sustained extensive damage after being inundated by floodwaters.   “Despite the best efforts of their P&C’s and school communities, countless volunteers, Department of Education and Training staff and Department of Public Works staff the buildings […]

Public building reaches for the stars

By Katrina Ganin William McCormack Place, a six-star rated government building in Cairns, North Queensland, was fully completed in July last year. Created in a two-stage process the building is a demonstration of how effective a new construction can be in terms of simultaneously saving money, meeting accomodation needs and remaining 'green'. Stage one of […]

New grants for rural community buildings

Local governments in Queensland are invited to apply for their share of the State Government’s $2 million rural capacity building fund. Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland Tim Mulherin announced on Tuesday that round one of the $2 million Building Rural Communities Fund was now open. The fund will provide […]

Local impacts from big projects

By Penny Langfield Discussions about super-sized mining projects dominated the Major Projects Conference 2010 in Brisbane last week but small communities were not forgotten. Mining companies used the event, organised by the Queensland Department of Infrastructure and Planning, to outline their ideas for investing in local communities and councils. Project leaders and government representatives addressed […]

Qld Premier chairs cabinet meeting via video

Premier Anna Bligh has kicked off her week of running the state from North Queensland with a historic Cabinet meeting.   While ministers gather at the executive building in Brisbane the Premier chaired the Cabinet meeting via videoconference from Townsville.   The Premier said it's believed to be the first time in Queensland a Premier […]

Indigenous councils tackle asset management

By Angela Dorizas Finance managers and chief executive officers from Queensland’s Indigenous councils met in Cairns today for an asset management masterclass. Local Government Minister Desley Boyle said the workshop was organised following consultations with the Indigenous Councils Finance Managers Network. She said the Government was providing support for all councils in Queensland to help […]

Queensland public service to recycle used mobiles

The Queensland public service is rolling out a trial mobile phone recycling program, which is expected to recycle up to 25,000 business and private mobile phones. Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten said there were an estimated two million surplus mobile phones across the state at risk of ending up in landfill. The trial program has already begun […]

LGAQ lauds improved state-local relationship

By Angela Dorizas Queensland’s local government body has welcomed the creation of a better working relationship with the State Government. More than 600 local government delegates have gathered in Mackay for the annual conference of the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ). LGAQ president Paul Bell credited Premier Anna Bligh and Local Government Minister Desley […]

Queensland’s new office of local government

The Queensland Department of Infrastructure and Planning has announced the opening of the Office of Local Government. Following the recent changes at the Department of Infrastructure and Planning and the establishment of Growth Management Queensland, the Local Government Services division within the former Local Government and Planning group of the department has now been established […]

Qld mothers receive paid breastfeeding breaks

By Angela Dorizas The Queensland Government has introduced a new breastfeeding policy for its public service, providing paid lactation breaks and a private, clean breastfeeding space for working mothers. Premier Anna Bligh said the new policy, developed in conjunction with Queensland Health and the Public Service Commission, would apply to all government employees. “This policy […]

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