1. This week 10 years ago, Attorney-General, Robert McClelland provided police forces around the nation with a new weapon in the fight against firebugs.
The new National Arson Notification Capability allowed arson warning flags, including references to known and suspected arsonists, to be added to criminal record information held on the National Police Reference System.
“As we head into another bushfire season, this new capability will arm police with another tool to protect Australian communities from the threat of arsonists,” Mr McClelland said.
He said it was a sad fact that up to half of the estimated 54,000 bushfires in Australia each year were either deliberately lit or started in suspicious circumstances.
2. NSW Premier, Barry O’Farrell asked his Department to review the entitlements of former Premiers, Ministers and other office holders, saying the cost of providing cars, offices, staff and other benefits to former Premiers and MPs was around $1.3 million a year.
“Under the current scheme, some former office holders can receive everything from cars and drivers to free rail travel, air travel, postage stamps and free phone use,” Mr O’Farrell said.
“I want to make sure that taxpayers get value for money from this scheme and this review will make recommendations on what entitlements should be provided in future,” he said.
3. NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson opened the new, $1 million National Wine and Grape Industry Centre in Wagga Wagga to increase research and market opportunities for the State’s wine industry.
Ms Hodgkinson said the purpose-built facility would help vignerons increase their production efficiency and wine quality.
“The facility includes two high-tech temperature-controlled plant glasshouses and a bird-proof micro vineyard and will enhance the centre’s capacity to conduct world-leading research on grapevine adaptation to climate under controlled conditions,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
4. Victoria’s State Government moved to establish an Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) to deal with corruption in the public sector, and an independent Inspectorate to oversee the Commission.
The Minister responsible, Andrew McIntosh said new laws would establish IBAC with prevention functions and powers.
“IBAC will also be able to begin the critical work of educating about corruption and its negative effects,” Mr McIntosh said.
“Education and prevention are recognised by experts as key components of an effective anti-corruption system and will best position IBAC for long-term success and service to the Victorian community,” he said.
5. In Western Australia this week a decade ago, then Premier Colin Barnett announced the State’s beaches would receive better protection with the start of seven day a week aerial shark patrols.
Mr Barnett said three fatal shark attacks in the previous two months and an increase in the number of sharks spotted had highlighted the need for extra patrols to increase public safety.
He said an additional $1 million funding would allow the patrols to operate for an average of four hours per day, every day until the end of April 2012, delivering an additional 77 flying days.
“It’s important the Western Australian public feel safe when enjoying WA’s beautiful beaches,” Mr Barnett said.
“But the State Government can only do so much and that’s why we are urging individuals to do their bit to minimise the risk,” he said.
6. And a new smartphone app released in New South Wales and South Australia gave doctors and nurses fast and easy access to a clinical handover tool on their iPhones or iPads.
The Introduction, Situation, Background, Assessment and Recommendation (ISBAR) app was developed collaboratively by NSW Health and SA Health.
Clinical Director of Training and Standards with the SA health services agency MedStar, Dr Andrew Pearce said the ISBAR app would allow health professionals, especially young doctors and interns, to have an on-hand memory prompt to help guide clinical handover.
“The app provides clinicians with a reminder of the list of items that need to be discussed during a handover,” Dr Pearce said.
