Invest In Australia News
Deregulation: Australia's effort to build a more productive economy
The COAG Reform Council’s 2010-11 Seamless National Economy Report on Performance, released today, has reported positively on the progress of COAG’s 27 deregulation priorities, with 15 having been completed, including one ahead of schedule.
In 2008, the Commonwealth, States and Territories agreed to implement regulation and competition reforms, including 27 deregulation priorities.
The deregulation priorities that have been completed include reform of consumer law, product safety, the health workforce, rail safety and consumer credit.Government backs Australians for jobs in the resources sector
Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills, Senator Chris Evans, has completed a tour of key resource projects run by Rio Tinto, Woodside and CITIC Pacific in the Pilbara town of Karratha looking at demand for skilled workers in the resource sector.
"Nowhere are skilled workers more in demand than in our burgeoning resources sector," Senator Evans.
Over the coming years the resource sector will create tens of thousands of high skilled, high paying jobs in Australia. The Government is focused on ensuring that Australians have the opportunity to get the skills they need to take advantage of these jobs.CEO Sought for First National Heavy Vehicle Regulator in Australia
A global search is underway for the first CEO of the new independent National Heavy Vehicle Regulator based in Queensland.
The successful candidate will be accountable for driving forward the national heavy vehicle reform package that paves the way for safer roads for trucks and buses and subsequently for all road users.
The Government has worked closely with all states and territories to forge the historic reform package, and was now seeking a CEO to implement the changes.
For the first time in Australia's history, state and territory governments have agreed to unify heavy vehicle legislation under one set of laws.$11 million investment in new Victorian medical school
Health Minister Tanya Plibersek today officially opened the University of Notre Dame Australia’s newly built Melbourne Clinical School at Werribee, Victoria.
Ms Plibersek said the Gillard Government had invested $11.2 million to construct the school, which will support the education, training and clinical placement of up to 80 medical students from the university.
“This is a cutting edge medical school, which includes teaching, training and research facilities that will play an important role in training our future medical workforce,” said Ms Plibersek.Australia helping PNG following the ferry disaster
The Australia Government has extended full assistance to Papua New Guinea following the sinking yesterday of the MV Rabaul Queen.
Over 240 people have now been rescued, but grave concerns are still held for many more, particularly with challenging weather conditions and the ship being lost in very deep water.
Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said Australia stands side-by-side with Papua New Guinea at this difficult time.
"The High Commission in Port Moresby has arranged for emergency supplies in Lae to be available for survivors," said Mr Rudd.
"Australia is working closely with local organisations, including the Lae ANGAU Memorial Hospital, PNG National Disaster Committee, Salvation Army and PNG Red Cross."Industry Alert: Travel grants for India's FICCI Frames Convention 2012
In conjunction with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Screen Australia is offering travel grants of up to $2,500 for producers with advanced projects to attend the upcoming Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Frames Convention in Mumbai, 14–16 March 2012.
Frames is a three-day event for broadcast, digital entertainment, animation and gaming with nearly 2,000 Indian and 800 foreign delegates expected to attend.Renmark responding to challenge of economic diversification
Regional Australia Minister Simon Crean will today meet with community leaders in Renmark to investigate proposed solutions that will diversify local skills and economies.
This follows Mr Crean's visit to Adelaide last week to meet with the two Regional Development Australia (RDA) committees in South Australia's Basin regions, and the appointment of consultants to work with communities to develop creative, long term solutions that have local buy-in and will diversify their skills and economy.GSK A$60 million Melbourne expansion
GlaxoSmithKline Pty Ltd (GSK) announced today that it will invest A$60 million to expand its manufacturing and new drug development activities in Victoria. The investment by one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies will create 58 new highly-skilled jobs by 2017.
GSK, a global research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare company is already a significant contributor to the Victorian economy in terms of employment, exports, manufacturing and local R&D investment. Each year the company spend on average more than A$30 million on R&D in Victoria and consistently export more than A$300 million per annum in pharmaceutical products from the state.Australian Foreign Minister to attend Munich Security Conference
Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd will depart today for Munich to attend the 48th Munich Security Conference (MSC).
The MSC is a preeminent security policy forum. For almost half a century it has brought together the world's leading thinkers and decision-makers on security policy — from Prime Ministers, Defence Ministers and Foreign Ministers, to business, think-tanks and academia.
Mr Rudd will participate in a discussion panel on 'America, Europe and the Rise of Asia,' chaired by former US Secretary of State, Dr Henry Kissinger. The panel's theme reflects the increasing focus of the MSC on Asia and its security challenges. It is important that Australia helps to shape thinking and responses to these challenges.Investment and localism sparks regional education enrolment boom in Australia
Regional Australia Minister Simon Crean today said the Gillard Government's strong investment in higher education and the focus of regional providers to meet local training needs has paved the way for a boost in enrolments at satellite campuses.
A report in The Australian newspaper today - "Regions rolling in new students" - details the strong enrolment growth at regional higher education campuses in the past year.
Mr Crean said a strong higher education sector was vital to regional development and the long-term sustainability of the regions.$30 million wetlands project to water-proof the South Adelaide
Work is underway on a $30 million wetlands project in Adelaide's South that will capture 2.8 billion litres of stormwater each year.
Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water, Senator Don Farrell, South Australian Minister for Water and the River Murray, Paul Caica, and Federal Member for Kingston, Amanda Rishworth, today inspected the project, which forms the second stage of the Water Proofing the South initiative.
Senator Farrell said the project would reduce reliance on mains water and provide a more sustainable water source for irrigating local parks, reserves and sports fields.New Business Unit to Help Indigenous Australians Capitalise on Resource Development Communities
More Indigenous Australians can capitalise on opportunities arising from the development of our natural resource wealth with the establishment of the Martu Business Development Unit in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
Officially launching the Unit in Newman today, the Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson AM MP, said it was an outstanding example of the economic and social benefits partnerships with the resources industry can offer Australia’s Indigenous communities.
“Newcrest and Cameco have partnered with the Western Desert Lands Aboriginal Corporation on this project, including an initial commitment of $5 million,” Minister Ferguson said.Gillard Government to provide a better deal for thousands of vocational students
Thousands of vocational students would no longer have to pay expensive upfront fees, and others would be guaranteed a subsidised training place worth up to $7800, in sweeping reforms to the Australian vocational education system to be proposed by the Gillard Government to the States and Territories.
This would mean thousands of Australians would finally be able to afford to get the skills they need to get a job or a promotion and improve their job security.
As a result of reforms the Commonwealth will work to negotiate with the States:Rehabilitation Work on Sydney-Melbourne Line Fast-Tracked
As part of the largest modernisation of the Interstate Rail Network in generations, the upgrade of the ballast and drainage systems along the main North South rail line connecting Sydney to Melbourne has been accelerated.
Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said the $134 million Ballast Rehabilitation Program is now underway, with the majority of the work expected to be completed within 18 months.
“The added urgency has been brought about by the adverse impact the change in weather since mid 2010 has had on the line, with the region now experiencing well-above average rainfall after almost a decade of drought,” said Mr Albanese.Australia welcomes UNHCR visit
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, today announced the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, will visit Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane from 12–15 February.
During his official visit, Mr Guterres will meet with Mr Bowen, as well as government officials, non-governmental organisations and community groups, to discuss a range of issues affecting refugees and asylum seekers.
The visit is a valuable opportunity for Australia to showcase its world leading refugee settlement services and humanitarian program, Mr Bowen said.2012 Australian Government ICT Awards open for nominations
Nominations were called today for three prestigious Australian Government awards in Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
Special Minister of State Gary Gray said the awards will recognise the most outstanding initiatives in eGovernment, across a number of ICT disciplines and promote excellence in the use of ICT in all spheres of government.
They are open to all Federal, State, Territory and local government projects and employees.
The awards are ‘Excellence in eGovernment Awards’, the ‘Government 2.0 Innovator Award’ and the ‘ICT Professional of the Year Award’.
“These awards are now in their seventh year and continue to attract nominations from all spheres of government,” Mr Gray said.Historic decision leads Australia a step closer to making equal remuneration for women a reality
Elizabeth Broderick, Sex Discrimination Commissioner, has welcomed the decision by Fair Work Australia to award more than 200,000 social and community services sector workers, pay-rises of between 19 and 41 per cent.
Commissioner Broderick said: “This historic decision will make a real difference to these workers and their families. The first ever successful claim for an equal remuneration order in the national system also means a significant advance for equal pay for women.”Asian Century drives record $313 billion in exports for Australia
Australia recorded its 10th consecutive trade surplus in December, capping a year in which dynamic Asian demand helped drive a record $313 billion in exports.
The annual export figure was 10 per cent higher than the 2010 total, with growth driven by minerals and rural goods.
Last year was the first calendar year in which exports topped $300 billion. The trade surplus of $19.2 billion was also the largest ever for a calendar year.
Demand from fast-growing Asian economies drove the robust performance: total merchandise exports to North Asia rose 18 per cent for the year, with exports to China up 24 per cent.
Merchandise exports to ASEAN, meanwhile, climbed 23 per cent.Gold Coast billion dollar surf industry rides high on wave of support
The Gold Coast Surf Industry Taskforce's 2012 campaign is giving the region's multi-billion dollar surf industry a strong platform to maintain its position as a global industry leader.
Cheap Asian imports and a strong Australian dollar are forcing Gold Coast surfboard makers to adapt or close down, presenting huge challenges to surf businesses based in the region.
The Gold Coast Surf Industry Taskforce (GCSITF) is an industry-led initiative to help grow and support the multi-billion dollar surf industry on the Gold Coast.Fast export growth continues to break records in South Australia
Minister for Manufacturing, Innovation and Trade Tom Koutsantonis said today South Australia’s exports have set a record for the ninth consecutive month, again outpacing all other State’s growth.
Figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show the value of goods exported overseas by South Australia in 2011 totalled a record $12 billion.
South Australia also recorded the fastest pace of export growth of all the other states in 2011 compared with the previous 12 months, the ABS data shows.
“This is the seventh straight month that South Australia has experienced the fastest-paced growth of any State in Australia,” Mr Koutsantonis says.$500,000 in R&D vouchers on offer for NSW small business
Small and medium businesses in NSW are being encouraged to apply for up to $15,000 worth of access to research equipment and technical expertise to help them become more innovative and competitive.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Stoner today announced that eligible small and medium businesses can now apply for the second round of the NSW Government’s TechVouchers, with a pool of $500,000 available.
“The TechVouchers pilot program develops commercialisation pathways by establishing connections between industry and research organisations,” Mr Stoner said.Five Australian digital projects nominated for prestigious SXSW Interactive Awards
In a significant international acknowledgment for Australia’s digital sector, five Australian projects have been selected as finalists for the SXSW Interactive Awards 2012. Founded in 1997, the SXSW Interactive Awards identify the best new digital works from around the world, from mobile and tablet apps to websites, kiosks and installations, while celebrating those who are building tomorrow’s online trends.
Minister Welcomes ABS Small Business Count Figures
Minister for Small Business Mark Arbib today welcomed the release of the Australian Bureau of Statistics Counts of Australian Businesses, including Entries and Exits June 2007 to June 2011 publication which showed an increase in new business registrations as well as a decline in the exit rate of businesses.
The ABS recorded a 3.6 per cent increase in the number of actively trading businesses in Australia in 2009-10 as well as a 0.4 per cent increase in 2010-11.
Senator Arbib said while the growth over the past two years resulted in an increase of more than 83,000 small businesses operating, the government was aware of the challenges facing small businesses.ACT leads Australia in secondary school participation
The Productivity Commission’s 2012 Report on Government Services underscores the high level of student participation within ACT schools.
The completion rate for students across the ACT was 78 per cent compared to a national completion rate for all students of 66 percent. This is backed by the high rates of overall attendance in the critical 14 to 19 age group, where the ACT again outperformed all other jurisdictions.
The ACT also features the highest retention rate for secondary students in public schools from Year 10 to Year 12 with large numbers of students continuing on into final year.
