Victoria boosts fire fighting resources

Deputy Premier and Minister for Bushfires Response, Peter Ryan, today announced an increase in the number of full time, permanent firefighters. An additional 123 firefighters will be put to work in fuel reduction activities. "We have increased the number of permanent fire-fighting staff throughout the state to ensure important work such as planned burning, slashing […]

Recruitment drive for child protection

Victorian Minister for Community Services Mary Wooldridge announced on Monday a $3.8 million package to recruit and retain frontline child protection staff. Ms Wooldridge said the funding package included a targeted online and print campaign, graduate courses for 90 practitioners in child and family practice and professional, one-on-one coaching for around 300 team leaders. Funding […]

MAV welcomes new Premier

By Angela Dorizas The election of Ted Baillieu as the new Premier of Victoria has been welcomed by the state's peak local government body. Former premier John Brumby yesterday conceded that Labor had lost government. Mr Baillieu and his new cabinet will be sworn in within the coming days. He is expected to recall Parliament […]

Brumby to boost living libraries

By Angela Dorizas Libraries across Victoria can expect to receive facility upgrades under a $25 million extension of the State Government’s Living Libraries program. In an address to the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) Annual Conference on Thursday, Premier John Brumby announced that a re-elected Labor Government would increase funding to complete 30 local library […]

MAV seeks election commitment on funding arrangements

By Angela Dorizas Councils in Victoria have delivered their list of demands to major political parties in the lead up to the November 27 state election. The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) released on Monday a document outlining its 46 priority policy commitments sought by local government. MAV president Bill McArthur said top of the […]

Victoria proposes Parliamentary Integrity Commissioner

The Victorian Government has released draft plans for a Parliamentary Integrity Commissioner for public comment and feedback. The establishment of a Parliamentary Integrity Commission extends the State’s integrity and anti-corruption system to include MPs, Ministers and ministerial staff. Deputy Premier Rob Hulls said the Commissioner would be a “unique, specialist integrity body” empowered to receive […]

Councils advised on social procurement

The Victorian Government has released a new guide to help councils incorporate social procurement into their purchasing and tendering practices. It was released by Minister for Local Government Richard Wynne at the Abbotsford Convent, an arts and cultural precinct in Melbourne, which is a leader in social procurement. “Social procurement is about achieving positive social […]

Victorian communities give green light to street upgrades

Councils in Victoria have presented the Premier and Opposition Leader with community petitions in support of energy efficient street lighting upgrades. The petitions were delivered by the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) ahead of the Premier’s Local Government Climate Change Summit on Friday. MAV president Bill McArthur said more than 3500 people signed the online […]

Brumby to bring 100 government jobs to Bendigo

The Victorian Government has unveiled plans to bring 100 public sector jobs to Bendigo with the opening of a new call centre. Premier John Brumby said the creation of the new Bendigo-based government call centre was part of a broader strategy to drive economic growth in regional and rural Victoria through decentralisation of government jobs. “We have a […]

Electric cars hit Victorian streets

Victoria is powering towards an 'electric vehicle future' with the trial of electric cars on its streets.   Premier John Brumby has launched Victoria’s Electric Vehicle Trial, with 50 organisations and 180 households across the State to participating in the five-year trial.   About 60 vehicles will be used in the trial and they have […]

Bar None exhibition tours Victoria

Geelong resident and Bar None participant, Nicci Wall, has worked for Harley Davidson for three years and lives with a bipolar condition. By Angela Dorizas A photographic exhibition exploring the working lives of Victorians with a disability has demonstrated that impairment is no barrier to employment. The Victorian Government’s 'Bar None' exhibition is touring to […]

Aged care overhaul a ‘recipe for disaster’: MAV

By Angela Dorizas Victoria's peak local government body has joined with Premier John Brumby in resisting the Commonwealth overhaul of aged care, threatening a withdrawal of local government funding for the aged care sector if the reforms go ahead. Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) president Bill McArthur said the Prime Minister’s proposal reneged on a 2008 COAG […]

Helen Silver appointed Secretary of the Department of P&C

Helen Silver has been appointed Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet effective from April. The former National Australia Bank Government Business, general manager, Ms Silver has served in a range of senior positions in the Victorian and Commonwealth public service through her career. Prior to that Ms Silver was Deputy Secretary, Policy and […]

Price check on public transport

By Kim Powell Only 20 to 30 per cent of the costs of running public transport are recouped through fares, so given how little revenue it raises, would more people use public transport if it was free? Daniel Bowen, president of lobby group Public Transport Users Association in Victoria, says the “number one reason more […]

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