1. This week 10 years ago, the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) released its revised guidance for APS employees making public comments and taking part in social media.
In a circular, the Commission said APS employees had the same right to freedom of expression as other members of the community — “subject to legitimate public interests”.
“APS employees must still uphold the APS Values and Code of Conduct even when material is posted anonymously, or using an ‘alias’ or pseudonym, and should bear in mind that even if they do not identify themselves online as an APS employee or an employee of their Agency, they could nonetheless be recognised as such,” the APSC circular said.
2. The Minister for the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy announced the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy would hold a National Telework Week later in the year to promote the benefits and advantages of working from home.
Senator Conroy said the opportunities presented by increased telework were exciting for both employers and employees.
“An increase in telework can lead to benefits across the economy and community, from big business through to individual workers and families as well as the environment,” Senator Conroy said.
“These benefits include cost savings and productivity gains, increased workforce flexibility … reduced stress from traffic congestion and increased time available to spend with family and the community,” he said.
3. The Governments of New South Wales and Victoria established a new partnership to drive joint reforms to improve the efficiency of their economies.
NSW Premier, Barry O’Farrell and Victorian Premier, Ted Baillieu said they had established the Interstate Reform Partnership to accelerate economy-boosting cooperative policies, especially in the areas of energy efficiency and skills.
Mr O’Farrell said the reforms were significant as the two States accounted for 57 per cent of Australia’s population and 54 per cent of the nation’s gross domestic product, and both Governments had resolved to align their respective energy efficiency schemes.
4. NSW Minister for the Environment, Robyn Parker announced the start of construction of a new native seedbank at the Australian Botanic Garden at Mount Annan. She said the $19.8 million PlantBank would be vital for the future of Australian biodiversity and the goal was to collect and store seeds or live tissue from all Australia’s 25,000 plant species.
“Millions of living seeds will be collected and deposited to preserve Australia’s biodiversity and establish a hub for research into the survival needs and life-giving properties of our plants,” Ms Parker said.
“When we lose species, we lose threads in the web of life and untold potential for human health and wellbeing.”
5. Meanwhile, a decade ago in Queensland, Minister for Industrial Relations, Cameron Dick released a report proposing stronger new dive and snorkelling laws to enhance Queensland’s reputation as a safe diving destination.
The report of the Recreational Dive and Snorkelling Industry Reference Group made 12 recommendations to improve safety.
Mr Dick said the main recommendations included requiring all diving and snorkelling operators to conduct at least two head-counting systems to avoid people being left behind; amending the code of practice to include information on how to determine the most appropriate emergency signalling equipment; and mandatory medical tests for entry-level dive course candidates who were overweight, aged over 45 or had high-risk medical conditions.
6. Also in Queensland, the Minister for Police, Neil Roberts said a new squad to tackle illegal firearms would be formed within the Queensland Police Service’s State Crime Operations Command.
The squad would focus on crime involving the use of firearms and the unlawful firearms trade throughout the State.
Mr Roberts said the Illegal Firearms Squad would target the main sources of illegal firearms — namely, gun theft in Queensland and around Australia; the illegal importation of firearms; firearms that were not surrendered in the gun buy-back that followed the Port Arthur massacre; and illegally manufactured weapons.
