1. This week 10 years ago, an international report by the United Nations was released at the Australian National University (ANU).
It revealed that production processes around the world would have to be significantly overhauled if poverty was to be eliminated and environmental issues facing the planet overcome. ANU PhD scholar Imran Habib Ahmad said major investments would be needed worldwide in areas such as the development and scaling up of clean energy technologies, sustainable farming and forestry techniques, and the climate-proofing of infrastructure.
“This report will be a very helpful contribution to the ongoing national policy discussions on climate change and green economy developments in both developed and developing countries,” Mr Ahmad said.
2. A report from the Centre for Policy Development (CPD) revealed the Australian Public Service (APS) was the same size in 2011 as it was in 1991.
CPD Public Service program Research Director, Dr Andrew Whelan said the APS would need an extra 50,000 staff to maintain its relative size against the increase in Australia’s population. He said the research revealed that attacks on the public sector were not supported by the community.
“Almost … two-thirds [of Australians] support maintaining or increasing public sector spending,” Dr Whelan said. “There’s a strong preference for services to be provided by the public sector: twice as many people support public over private provision of health and education, for example.”
3. In New South Wales, a new service offering telephone coaching to people with chronic illnesses as a way of keeping them healthier and out of hospital was launched.
The service was to be run by registered nurses and allied health professionals to help chronically ill patients better manage medication regimes, adhere to GP care plans, or make behavioural changes related to nutrition, smoking and exercise.
Healthways Australia’s Telephonic Health Care Centre, based in North Ryde, was awarded the NSW Health contract for the program, and hoped to treat more than 59,000 people in the next four years across the State.
4. Victoria’s Child Safety Commissioner, Bernie Geary gave the thumbs up to a children’s beauty pageant after attending at the request of the Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development, Wendy Lovell.
Ms Lovell had asked the Commissioner to monitor the event in light of Government and community concern about children’s safety and wellbeing. After attending the pageant, Mr Geary said he didn’t see anything sinister, unsafe or degrading during his visit.
“In my opinion, we should be vigilant around children’s pageants, simply because they are based on a perception of competitive beauty and personal appearance,” Mr Geary said.
5. Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh said her Government’s response to the interim report of the Floods Commission of Inquiry would be to put all possible measures in place before the next cyclone season.
“To help improve household disaster preparedness, we will launch the Get Ready Queensland campaign, which will include sending more than two million Queensland households guides about steps we can all take to get ready for the upcoming storm season,” Ms Bligh said.
She said there would also be an advertising campaign about the dangers of driving into floodwaters and a storm and cyclone campaign using the theme “Can You Survive for Three Days?”.
6. And in Western Australia a decade ago, a review of the Fire and Emergency Service Authority (FESA) following the February Perth Hills Bushfire, in which 71 homes were destroyed, recommended reorganisation and a change of culture.
Premier, Colin Barnett said one of the key recommendations was that FESA be restructured to become a Government Department.
“The report urges cultural and organisational change at FESA,” Mr Barnett said. “The Government accepts that new leadership is required to achieve this.”
The Premier said the Government would also consider appointing a Fire Commissioner.
