1. This week 10 years ago, the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) was drawing attention to a study by Essential Media showing community opinion firmly against cuts to public services. The survey revealed more than two-thirds of Australians would prefer to put off returning the Federal Budget to surplus if doing so meant cuts to services.
“Cuts to essential services might fill a short-term budget hole,” National Secretary of the CPSU, Nadine Flood said, “but Australians realise they’ll lead to long-term problems.
2. A new guide to help victims of natural disasters understand their insurance policies was welcomed this week by Assistant federal Treasurer, Bill Shorten and Attorney-General, Robert McClelland.
The self-help resource was developed by Legal Aid Queensland to assist Queenslanders in the aftermath of the devastating storms, cyclone and floods that impacted on the State earlier in the year.
“While it is Queensland specific, it will also be of assistance to people in other States facing similar circumstances,” Mr Shorten said.
3. The earliest surviving document printed in Australia was added this week to the United Nation’s Memory of the World Register. The eighteenth-century theatre playbill, held by the National Library of Australia in Canberra, advertises a theatrical performance in Sydney on Saturday, 30 July 1796 and was printed by George Hughes, who operated Australia’s first printing press.
“As the oldest known printed document in this country, it is important that the playbill be recognised in this way,” Director-General of the National Library, Anne-Marie Schwirtlich said.
4. Meanwhile, to help with modern conservation, the National Archives of Australia launched a new online tool for Departments and Agencies to assess the strength of their records and information management systems.
Check-up 2.0 was designed to help Agencies identify the strengths and weaknesses and areas of high risk in their information management practices.
“Records are an essential part of Public Sector accountability and it’s important to manage them properly,” Assistant Director-General of Government Information Management at the Archives, Margaret Chalker said. “After all, they are the basis of good decision-making and they protect the rights and entitlements of citizens.”
5. Staying on the historical theme, this week 10 years ago the Cottesloe home of wartime Prime Minister John Curtin was opened to the public after comprehensive conservation and interpretation works.
West Australian Premier, Colin Barnett said the home was a place of great cultural significance and an example of a commitment from both the Federal and the State governments to ensuring Australia’s national heritage was conserved.
“It … is one of only three former Prime Ministers’ homes in Australia accessible to the community,” Mr Barnett said.
6. And, finally, the Royal Australian Mint this week released Australia’s first coin commemorating the royal engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
The 50-cent coin, dated 2010 to mark the year of the couple’s engagement, was designed by the Queen’s goldsmith and jeweller, Stuart Devlin, who has also designed a number of Australia’s circulating coins.
The design featured on two products: a commemorative 50-cent coin in a card and a selectively gold-plated two-coin set.
