1. This week 10 years ago, Attorney-General, Nicola Roxon announced Australians planning a same-sex marriage overseas could now apply for a Certificate of No Impediment, meaning they would be considered married according to the laws of the country where the ceremony took place.
Some countries require foreign nationals to present such a certificate before they can legally marry.
Ms Roxon said the certificates confirmed there was no impediment to a person taking part in a marriage ceremony overseas.
“This change means the certificates, which were previously only available to heterosexual couples, will now also be available to same-sex couples,” Ms Roxon said.
2. The Minister for the Environment, Tony Burke vetoed plans by the Victorian State Government to use cattle grazing as a means of reducing bushfire risks in the State’s Alpine National Park, saying the plan was “clearly unacceptable under national environmental law”.
Mr Burke said Victoria had submitted a proposal to reintroduce up to 400 cattle to graze in the park for up to five months a year for five years, as a research trial.
“There is irrefutable evidence that cattle grazing would damage the sensitive natural environment, disturb the remote and wild character of the area, detract from aesthetic values, and erode its heritage values,” Mr Burke said.
3. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) joined forces with the National Rugby League and the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police to launch a new program aimed at improving cyber safety in the Pacific Islands.
The Cyber Safety Pasifika program equipped police with the knowledge and resources to educate their communities, including young people, teachers, and parents, in all aspects of cyber safety.
Manager of Cyber Crime Operations with the AFP, Commander Grant Edwards said while the growth of internet use across Pacific Island communities presented opportunities, users needed to be informed how to minimise risks online.
4. According to Queensland Information Commissioner, Julie Kinross, reforms to the public’s Right to Information (RTI) had led to fewer negative media reports about official secrecy and an increased focus on the topic being reported, which she said were encouraging measures of the effectiveness of the reforms.
“There are fewer reports where government secrecy has become the story and more reports where the substance of the issue is able to be scrutinised,” Ms Kinross said.
“This contributes to government accountability and public discourse.”
5. Also in Queensland a decade ago, Premier, Anna Bligh announced background vetting of applicants for jobs in the Queensland Public Service would include checks from New Zealand in an Australian-first trial.
Ms Bligh said the six-month pilot had been agreed at a meeting between the Australian and New Zealand Prime Ministers.
The tougher Trans-Tasman criminal checks would mean Queensland Police were the first in the country to access New Zealand criminal histories at the touch of a button, via CrimTrac.
“This will allow Police to apply tougher checks of any prospective public servant, including those who, as part of their duties, would deal with vulnerable Queenslanders … or large sums of money,” Ms Bligh said.
6. In Western Australia, a new memorial wall was unveiled at Perth’s Karrakatta Cemetery commemorating Indigenous servicemen killed in conflict and buried overseas during World Wars I and II.
Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Peter Collier said the wall was an important step in recognising the role Indigenous people played in these conflicts, and the ultimate sacrifice they made for Australia.
“In some small way, it also provides an opportunity to return their spirits to Western Australia,” Mr Collier said.
“Aboriginal people have a unique and strong connection to country, and the families of those killed in action now have a place to pay their respects despite the remains of their relatives lying in graves overseas.”
