Work safety for a moment
National Safe Work Month in October has been launched with the theme “A Moment is all it Takes”.
Chief Executive of Safe Work Australia, Michelle Baxter said that while a safety incident can happen in a moment and in any workplace, a moment’s forethought can prevent harm.
“Taking a safety moment can be as simple as spending five minutes every morning talking with your team about the hazards and risks in your workplace, and how to prevent harm,” Ms Baxter said.
“Over the coming months, we will publish a range of resources on the National Safe Work Month website to help workplaces take a safety moment this October.”
Probe into National Intelligence Office
An inquiry into proposed legislation to establish the new Office of National Intelligence (ONI) has been launched by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.
The new laws set up ONI as an independent Statutory Agency within the Prime Minister’s portfolio to lead the national intelligence community.
The Committee will consider whether the new laws reflect the recommendations of an independent intelligence review.
It will accept written submissions until 30 July and is expected to report by 10 September.
ABC’s The Checkout checks out
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has announced that its consumer affairs TV show The Checkout will not be returning for a seventh season.
Declaring the move a ‘hiatus’, the ABC said its programming slate regularly changed for any number of reasons, including the need to strike a balance between new and returning programs.
“Putting The Checkout on hiatus does not preclude the program from returning in the future,” it said.
Feedback called on code costs
Food Standards Australia New Zealand is seeking comments on a revised approach to cost recovery arrangements.
The arrangements have been changed to better reflect the administrative costs associated with certain applications to amend the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.
The revised costing model takes into account the different levels of work required throughout the application process.
The deadline for submissions is 2 August.
A 23-page paper on the cost recovery plan can be accessed at this PS News link.
Right royal stamp for new prince
The birth of Prince Louis of Cambridge has been marked with the release of a new commemorative stamp from Australia Post.
The stamp features the royal new-born as he was introduced to the world by his parents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, on the steps of St Mary’s Hospital in London.
The design is similar in style to the stamps used to commemorate the birth of his siblings, Prince George in 2013 and Princess Charlotte in 2015.
New app harvests data for farmers
Australian farmers can now forecast grain yields using a new smartphone app developed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
The app, known as Graincast, allows growers to estimate yields ranging from a single paddock to their entire farm.
The app is easy to use, and growers need to input just three pieces of information: the paddock they want analysed, the crop grown in the previous season and the crop they plan to grow or are growing in the current season.
Australia to host disaster conference
Australia will be the venue for the 2020 Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction.
In April, the Government established the National Resilience Taskforce within the Department of Home Affairs to lead nationwide reforms to reduce the impact and financial burden of disasters.
The 2020 Conference will bring together Government, business, researchers and communities to discuss action on reducing the humanitarian, economic and environmental costs of disasters in the region.
CASA cuts pilot red tape
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has overhauled its private pilot medical procedures to allow pilots to obtain essential medical certificates from their own doctors.
CEO of CASA Shane Carmody said the change was evidence the Agency was working to reduce the regulatory burden on the aviation community.
Mr Carmody said the reforms to the medical certification system maintained appropriate safety standards.
