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Latest media releases

This is a list of the latest media releases from Australian Government websites arranged under their portfolios. It is generated daily from new media releases collected overnight. This list was generated on Thursday, Feb 09 2012.

Portfolios

Attorney-General's

8 February 2012 - Whole-of-government focus on family violence - ALRC report launched

Protecting the safety of Australians experiencing family violence is the driving force behind a report released today on the treatment of family violence in laws relating to child support and family assistance immigration employment social security and superannuation.. The Australian Government takes a very strong stance on family violence and child abuse and is committed to improving Commonwealth laws to respond to this issue, Attorney-General Nicola Roxon said. Family Violence and Commonwealth Laws Improving Legal Frameworks is available on the Commission's website,.

http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/media-releases/pages/2012/first%20quarter/8-fe...

8 February 2012 - ALRC spotlight on age discrimination in the workforce

The Hon Susan Ryan AO will shine a spotlight on age discrimination as part of an Australian Law Reform Commission review of Commonwealth legislation and policies that create barriers for older people participating in the workforce or other productive work. make her eminently qualified to advise the Government on how best to promote and protect the participation of older Australians in the workforce. From 1975 to 1988, Commissioner Ryan served in senior portfolios in the Hawke Government as Minister for Education and Youth Affairs, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Status of Women and Special Minister of State As Education Minister, she pioneered extensive anti-discrimination and equal opportunity legislation, including the landmark Sex Discrimination Act 1984 and the Affirmative Action Act 1986.

http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/media-releases/pages/2012/first%20quarter/8-fe...

8 Feburary 2012 - Anti-corruption commissioner appointment to be extended

Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Justice Jason Clare today announced the Government would move to allow the term of any Law Enforcement Integrity Commissioner to be extended for two years. The role of ACLEI is to detect, disrupt and deter potential corruption in Federal law enforcement agencies including:. The current Integrity Commissioner is Mr Philip Moss.

http://www.ministerhomeaffairs.gov.au/mediareleases/pages/2012/first%20quarter/8...

Age Discrimination Commissioner Susan Ryan appointed as Part-time Commissioner for the Barriers to Mature-Aged Workplace Participation Inquiry | ALRC

Australian Law Reform Commission President, Professor Rosalind Croucher, today welcomed the appointment by the Attorney-General, the Hon Nicola Roxon MP, of the Hon Susan Ryan AO as a part-time Commissioner for the ALRC's inquiry into barriers to work for older persons. Susan Ryan's appointment to the ALRC follows her appointment as Australia's first Age Discrimination Commissioner on 30 July 2011. From 1975 to 1988, Ms Ryan was Senator for the ACT, in 1983 becoming the first woman to hold a Cabinet post in a federal Labor Government.

http://www.alrc.gov.au/news-media/media-release/age-discrimination-commissioner-...

8 February 2012 - Professor McKeough to conduct ALRC copyright review

University of Technology Sydney Dean of Law, Professor Jill McKeough will lead an Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) review into the operation of copyright in the digital environment. I'm delighted to announce the appointment of Professor McKeough to lead this inquiry and provide advice to government on the effectiveness of our copyright laws. Professor McKeough was appointed Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) in 2005 and is also currently Chair of the Council of Australian Law Deans (2011).

http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/media-releases/pages/2012/first%20quarter/8-fe...

8 February 2012 - High Court defence filed

The Attorney-General, Nicola Roxon, announced the Commonwealth Government has now filed and served its initial formal response to tobacco companies' statements of claim in the High Court. The defence filed in the High Court sets out the Commonwealth's legal position. The tobacco companies involved are British American Tobacco Australia, Phillip Morris, Imperial Tobacco Australia and Japan Tobacco International.

http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/media-releases/pages/2012/first%20quarter/8-fe...

Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy

Satellites to deliver high-speed broadband to the regions | Senator Stephen Conroy | Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy

Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate. » Satellites to deliver high-speed broadband to the regions. Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.

http://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/media_releases/2012/011

Defence

Defence Ministers » Minister for Defence - Release of the Inquiry into Allegations of Inappropriate Vetting Practices in the Defence Security Authority by the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith today released the Inquiry by the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security into allegations of inappropriate vetting practices in the Defence Security Authority (DSA) and related matters. The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security found that incorrect data had been inserted into the security clearance process which was then provided to the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and was used in completing security assessments. The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security does however note that ASIO security assessment is only one element of a broader assessment of a person's suitability to hold a security clearance.

http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/2012/02/08/minister-for-defence-release-of-th...

Defence Ministers » Parliamentary Secretary for Defence - Parliamentarians on the Front' with the Australian Defence Force

Senator David Feeney, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence and Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Air Marshal Mark Binskin, today launched the 2012 Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program (ADFPP). ADFPP is a Defence initiative that gives all Australian Senators and Members of Parliament the opportunity to experience first hand what it is like to serve in the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Be it on the front line with the crew of an ANZAC frigate intercepting smugglers in the Gulf of Aden, in the trenches with Army's latest recruits at Kapooka, or on the flight deck of a giant C 17 Globemaster transport aircraft, all parliamentarians can see first hand the important work of all three services.

http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/2012/02/08/parliamentary-secretary-for-defenc...

Finance and Deregulation

Abbott Sides with Robb and Walks Away From Surplus

Minister for Finance and Deregulation. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has this morning refused to say if or when the Opposition will deliver a surplus, siding with his Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb that a budget surplus `just depends.'. With a record like that, no wonder Tony Abbott can't commit to a reaching a budget surplus.

http://www.financeminister.gov.au/media/2012/mr_feb_2012_13.html

Foreign Affairs and Trade

Getting results from Australian international agricultural research, media release, 8 February 2012, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs

The Australia Government is working to deliver more for every dollar it invests in international agricultural research. The Framework confirms that Australia is a leader in international agricultural research, but while the current program was achieving impressive results, it found greater effort should be made to bring together the public and private sectors in the financing, management and conduct of agricultural research. It also found a more coordinated and collaborative approach of Australian institutions involved in international agricultural research would improve effectiveness.

http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2012/kr_mr_120208.html

Health and Ageing

Half of all young people in juvenile detention are unsentenced (AIHW)

About 1,000 young people are in juvenile detention on an average night in Australia and almost half of these young people are unsentenced, according to a report released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). The report, Juvenile detention population in Australia 2011, provides information on the number of young people in detention in 2011 and describes recent trends in the detention population. On an average night in the June quarter in 2011, an Indigenous young person aged 1017 was 20 times as likely to be in unsentenced detention and 26 times as likely to be in sentenced detention as a non-Indigenous young person aged 1017.

http://www.aihw.gov.au/media-release-detail/?id=10737421322

Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education

Mathematical Sciences Essential For Australian Prosperity

High quality maths and science graduates are vital to Australia's future productivity and competitiveness in the global knowledge economy, Minister for Science and Research, Senator Chris Evans, said today. Young Australians need to see the great benefits associated with a maths and science qualification, Senator Evans said. Jobs on projects like the SKA are possible with a maths and science degree.

http://minister.innovation.gov.au/chrisevans/mediareleases/pages/mathematicalsci...

Reforms Open More University Opportunities For Sa School Leavers

New data released by the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre shows the Gillard Government's reforms are delivering increased opportunities for young Australians to attend university. Skills Australia has forecast that by 2025 a third of all jobs will require a minimum of a bachelor degree qualification. A printable version of the [PDF 98KB] is available.

http://minister.innovation.gov.au/chrisevans/mediareleases/pages/reformsopenmore...

Prime Minister and Cabinet

Transcript of joint press conference, Canberra | Prime Minister of Australia

PM: I'm here with Ministers Crean and Conroy and can I start by apologising for the delay in starting today's press conference, I was delayed and then we've been a bit chatting too about the announcement today. What we will see if he's Prime Minister is the ripping out of the fibre out of the ground and Australia falling behind the standards of the world on this technology. We can't guarantee every job.

http://www.pm.gov.au/press-office/transcript-press-conference-canberra-23

Satellites to deliver high speed broadband to the regions | Prime Minister of Australia

Australians in rural and remote areas are a step closer to fast and affordable broadband services with the announcement today of a $620 million agreement to design and build two satellites to deliver high speed broadband. This will ensure high speed broadband is delivered to Australia's remotest towns, such as Calvert in the Northern Territory and Bandya in Western Australia. This will deliver a step-change in performance for satellite users, both in terms of speed and reliability, compared with existing satellite services.

http://www.pm.gov.au/press-office/satellites-deliver-high-speed-broadband-region...

Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities

Caring for our Country to support 43 projects across Australia - media release 8 February 2012

Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. 43 groups from across Australia will benefit from increased support from the Gillard Government under Caring for our Country. Through Caring for our Country the Gillard Government is investing in a healthy, better protected and more resilient environment, Minister Burke said.

http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/burke/2012/mr20120208.html

Treasury

Australian Securities and Investments Commission - 12-19MR Federal Court finds loan brokers engaged in unconscionable conduct

Wednesday 8 February 2012. The Federal Court of Australia has found two Sydney finance broking companies that brokered business loans for borrowers seeking personal loans have engaged in unconscionable and misleading conduct. The court also found that the company that made the loan, AMR Investments Pty Ltd (AMR) - a company also owned and controlled by Mr Riotto - also engaged in unconscionable conduct and that Mr Riotto was knowingly involved in the broker and AMR's contraventions.

http://www.asic.gov.au/asic/asic.nsf/byheadline/12-19MR+Federal+Court+finds+loan...

Australian Securities and Investments Commission - 12-18MR ASIC warns about secured debt products

Wednesday 8 February 2012. ASIC today announced measures to help ensure issuers of debt products such as debentures and notes provide investors and financial consumers with the information they need to make informed decisions about investing in these products. ASIC will now permit issuers of debt to name its product a secured note if there is a first ranked security over some assets, so long as conditions about describing the security are met.

http://www.asic.gov.au/asic/asic.nsf/byheadline/12-18MR+ASIC+warns+about+secured...

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