Industry News

The City of Yarra has become Victoria’s first officially carbon neutral council under the federal Government’s National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS).

Parramatta City Council has become the first NSW Council to sign an Environmental Upgrade Agreement (EUA), after signing up for an environmental retrofit of for 10 Valentine Avenue.

The South Australian Government has finalised its road map to developing its unconventional gas resources, saying that it will chart the way for the State to tap into its ‘vast gas potential’.

The Queensland Government has announced that applications for the annual Step into Teaching scholarship program are now open.

The Federation of Community Legal Centres  has released a new report into council debt collection practices, which it says will help inform further work to guide how local government responds to people facing severe financial hardship.

The Victorian Government has promised action following a report into the governance and administration of the Victorian Building Commission.

The Federal Government has announced the CSIRO will lead a new $87 million solar research initiative aimed at significantly improving the viability of solar technology.

The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) has welcomed planned reform to the Victorian emergency management platform, saying it will set to better align with councils’ existing capacity and expertise.

The Western Australian Government has announced it has suspended the Shite of Ashburton for a six month period.

The Tasmanian Government has officially opened the new Entura Clean Energy and Water Institute, which it says will strengthen the state’s position as a leader in renewable energy.

The Tasmanian Government has approved the final government school term dates for the 2014/15 school years following the state’s move to a four term school year in 2013.

Preliminary findings of two research reports show that fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workers are increasingly dissatisfied with their employers; with the majority feeling their employers don’t care about their wellbeing.

The Western Australian Government has announced a suite of billing reforms it says will make it easier for customers to manage their water bills, including a new two-monthly billing and self-service customer website.

The latest figures on school education in maths, science and reading literacy confirms Australia’s school education performance is ‘flat lining’ according to Federal School Education Minister Peter Garrett.

Temporary workers are increasingly becoming a crucial part of long-term staffing solutions for Australia’s employers, according to a survey conducted by recruiting specialists Hays.

Over 100 of the nation’s top water managers and scientists are set to meet in Canberra in a bid to develop a new vision of how we can better measure outcomes from water initiatives from across Australia.

The Federal and Tasmanian Governments have announced a co-funded $102 million funding package to support the new Tasmanian Forests Agreement.

Australian researchers and scientists have achieved a major milestone in the Argo ocean-monitoring program after completing one million profiles of ocean observations in the program.

The University of Tasmania (UTAS) is set to develop cutting edge teaching facilities after the Federal Government announced a $37 million funding injection for the institution.

Federal Minister for Tertiary Education, Senator Chris Evans, said the funding would be delivered under the Regional Priorities Round of the Education Investment Fund (EIF).

The project involves the construction of a new six-storey building for the Academy of Creative Industries and Performing Arts, adjacent to the historic Theatre Royal, which a will also receive a major extension and upgrade.

The project will allow four new Bachelor courses to be introduced in Digital Audio Design, Audio Engineering, Music Education, and Marketing and Public Relations (Arts and Events).

The project's construction phase will create more than 450 jobs, including 140 apprentices and 310 builders and other tradespeople.

The Tasmanian Government has outlined its $24.5 million Tasmanian Jobs Package, which it says will support the creation of over 3300 jobs and leverage around $375 million in private investment.