PM&C security reports in
The Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C), Martin Parkinson (pictured) has announced that has received reports on the review into unauthorised disclosure of Commonwealth documents and PM&C’s security practices, procedures and culture, conducted by former Defence Secretary Ric Smith.
“I am considering carefully both reports and in the coming weeks I will provide a detailed statement in response to the findings,” Dr Parkinson said.
“This is an important issue for my Department and it has broader implications for the APS.”
DHS to expand call centres
The Department of Human Services (DHS) is to expand Centrelink’s call centre by 1,000 operators in an effort reduce call waiting times for clients.
Minister for Human Services, Michael Keenan said the extra workers would be contracted to a private company under a service delivery agreement, following a trial of 250 that began in October last year.
The move was criticised by the Community and Public Sector Union which called for the positions to be added to the DHS workforce to offset some of the 5,000 jobs cut from the Department in recent years.
Chinese top tourist numbers
Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show China has overtaken New Zealand to become Australia’s largest inbound visitor market for the first time.
ABS data shows there were 1.39 million Chinese visitors in the year ending February 2018, an increase of 13.2 per cent.
New Zealand remained a strong market, with 1.36 million visitors over the year.
DAWR reinstates abattoir
The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has announced that issues surrounding the Qatar abattoir at the centre of recent animal cruelty claims have been resolved and the supply of livestock has been resumed.
The Department said that all staff at the abattoir — including those identified in video footage provided by Animals Australia — have received further training in effective animal handling.
Animals Australia provided the footage earlier this month, alleging breaches of the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System in Qatar.
New media agency
The Department of Finance has announced that Universal McCann (UM) has been appointed the Australian Government’s new Master Media Agency for a three-year period from 1 July.
The appointment follows a competitive open tender process undertaken by the Department of Finance, and replaces the current arrangement with dentsu X.
The Department is working with UM, dentsu X, and clients to ensure a smooth transition and will provide clients with information on transition preparation in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, clients should continue to contact dentsu X for any advertising requirements up to and including 30 June.
DHS to chase debtors
The Department of Human Services (DHS) is to crack down on former welfare recipients who have yet to repay debts.
Minister for Human Services, Michael Keenan said the former recipients would be “hit with interest charges” unless they signed up to a repayment plan.
He said the DHS had begun contacting about 170,000 people to notify them of the potential charge, urging them to take action to avoid falling deeper into debt.
“All those being contacted no longer receive a benefit, but previously received payments they were not entitled to and have made no effort — in some cases for over a decade — to repay what they owe,” Mr Keenan said.
Cable link to Solomon Islands
Australia has made a commitment to deliver a high-speed undersea telecommunication cable between Australia and Solomon Islands.
The project will be part of a cable system that will connect both the Solomon Island capital of Honiara and the Papua New Guinea capital of Port Moresby to Australia and should be completed by the end of 2019.
The joint project will be a first for Solomon Islands, which is wholly reliant on satellite technology to access the internet.
F-III headed for War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial (AWM) will add an F-111 aircraft to its collection.
The RF-111C aircraft, currently at the South Australian Aviation Museum, once flew over East Timor for the Royal Australian Air Force.
Aircraft A8-134 is the sole surviving RF-111C that participated in missions over East Timor.
The transfer will be completed by mid-2019 and, after restoration, the aircraft will be considered for future display in the AWM’s galleries.
