Impressive news from the Victorian Public Advocate in the past week that a new reform agenda has been developed to ensure Australia’s four million citizens with disability, including prisoners, have their human rights protected.
Good news indeed!
According to the Victorian Public Advocate, the report “Decision Time: Activating the rights of adults with cognitive disability aims to ensure Australia fully meets its United Nations obligations for people with disability within five years.
The Advocate adds that the report was “one of most significant reports ever released” by her office, “setting out what all Australian governments need to do to ensure people with disability receive their legal entitlements.”
PS-sssst! is sure all Australia’s other Governments will be so pleased someone is doing their job for them and be particularly grateful for the 25 recommendations made on their behalf so they can lift their games.
“It is hoped that the policy suggestions and recommendations contained within will assist all Australian states and territories and the Commonwealth Government to improve their laws and practices,” the Victorian Advocate summarised generously.
For all the non-Victorian Public Advocates amongst us, Victoria’s 136-page report on how it’s done properly can be accessed at this PS News link.
Travel to drink?
To the Australian Capital (ACT) now where planning is being advanced on a public transport exchange project in the busy town centre of the capital’s Woden Valley.
Unsure whether to welcome the changes or not, the progressively unprogressive denizens of the valley have been vocal in their lack of support for the project which, the local Minister will announced last week would also lay the groundwork for a new bus interchange and a light rail station for a light rail service yet to be approved.
Aware of the need to move forward with great care, the local Minister released a suitably careful invitation to the community to share their views about the project for possible consideration as the planning progresses.
One small hiccup accompanied the Minister’s public invitation for comments when he gave out the address of the consultation website thus: ‘www.planning.act.gov.au/development-applications/pubnote’.
‘Pubnote?’
PS-sssst! will drink to that!
Giveaway walk away
To giveaway central now where Rama ‘the Greathearted’ Gaind has another generous round of giveaways for PS News readers keen to add a classy new book to their classy old book collection.
The prize this week is a copy of Anthony Sharwood’s one-man book From Snow to Ash recounting the writer’s walk along the country’s toughest hiking trail, the Australian Alps Walking Track (AAWT).
To join the winners, all we had to do was tell Rama the length of the AAWT and then be one of the two entrants whose correct answer clambered out of the PS News Barrel of Booty.
The correct answer was 660km and the lucky acrobatic answerers were Nathan J from the National Faster Rail Agency and Simone C from Services Australia.
Congratulations to Nathan and Simone and thanks to all who took part. The prize book will be hiking its way to its new owners very shortly.
And for another chance to enhance to our book or DVD collections, Rama’s giveaway of the DVD Absence of Malice Can be won at this PS News link and her other DVD Sunday Too Far Away at this link.
Good luck to everyone who takes up the challenge.
Looking back
And finally, another visit to the PS past as we revisit the PS News of the week commencing 8 March 2021.
THE PS and its PaSt – this week 10 years ago:
A new Gender Panel was established for the Australian Public Service to ensure its policies and programs benefited women and men equally.
Minister for the Status of Women, Kate Ellis said the Panel of 38 organisations and individuals would work to improve gender expertise across all Departments and Agencies, by providing a range of services, including research, training, policy advice and the development of educational materials.
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In NSW, the Minister for Environment, Frank Sartor released the Reducing Waste: Implementation Strategy 2011–2015, which aimed to remove noncompostable plastic bags from food outlets and supermarkets.
Mr Sartor said the Strategy also proposed removing soiled nappies from the mixed-waste stream and establishing a network of free drop-off centres for problem wastes such as lead acid batteries, paints and gas bottles.
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Also in NSW, health authorities were warning residents and visitors in the west of the State to protect themselves against mosquito bites following the detection of Murray Valley Encephalitis (MVE).
The rare disease causes symptoms from fever, headache and nausea to delirium, neurological problems and coma.
NSW Health urged people to cover themselves up as much as possible and cover all windows, doors and other entrances with insect screens.
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In Victoria, the Ombudsman, George Brouwer warned Public Servants, police and politicians of the dangers of joining exclusive or secretive organisations.
Mr Brouwer said he had received information from a whistleblower that an all-male group calling itself ‘The Brotherhood’ met in Melbourne regularly and traded information and requests for favours from other members who included police and Public Servants.
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Over at the national Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, a partnership was entered with the Australian Federal Police to uncover fraudulent activity related to the Home Insulation Program.
Minister for Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet said 35 search warrants were executed across NSW, Queensland and Victoria as the result of a comprehensive forensic audit undertaken by the accounting firm KPMG.
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Meanwhile in Perth, Australia’s first child advocacy centre opened, providing a variety of health, child protection, family care, police and support services to children who have suffered abuse.
Premier, Colin Barnett said the George Jones Child Advocacy Centre would strive to protect, care and advocate for the most vulnerable and abused children and youth. “It will also provide a therapeutic environment that will assist recovery,” Mr Barnett said.
Till next time….
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