#mentalhealth Fwd: W Australian Parliament to debate changes to mandatory sentencing Bill for mentally impaired this Thursday

Parliament to debate changes to mandatory sentencing Bill for mentally impaired this Thursday

On Thursday, Parliament will begin debating the Greens’ proposed changes to mandatory sentencing legislation, which would once again give courts appropriate discretion when sentencing people with significant mental impairment.

Greens MLC Alison Xamon first introduced the Bill in June, which amends the Criminal Code to ensure that mandatory sentencing provisions for assault on a public officer do not apply to persons whose judgment or behaviour at the time of the offence was impaired to a significant extent by mental impairment.

“I hope the government has listened to public and expert opinion and now has the courage to change the current flawed legislation. The Law Society of WA, mental health advocates and peak bodies, and families and carers of the mentally ill all want these changes,” Ms Xamon, Greens Spokesperson for Mental Health said today.

“We should allow our courts to determine whether mental impairment played a central role in any offence against a public officer and then decide the appropriate punishment and outcome for the offender. It shouldn’t be left for police and prosecutors to decide whether a mentally ill person is imprisoned. At the moment, a mentally ill person’s fate is determined by the charges brought against them, not by the courts. That’s a frightening prospect for everyone involved.

“West Australians have a right to expect that our system will protect its most vulnerable members. Mandatory sentencing has removed this capacity from our courts. The threat of jail hangs over the heads of those who, without criminal intent or fully cognizant of the consequences of their actions, cause harm to a public officer.

“I hope the government doesn’t claim that there are checks and balances in place to prevent mentally ill people being sent to jail, because it’s not true. Not only are the mentally impaired continuing to get caught up in our criminal justice system, there are many families and carers of mentally ill people living in a state of fear about how mandatory sentencing could affect people they care for and love. I hope the Barnett/Grylls government can put party politics aside and support these changes before more injustices occur,” Ms Xamon added.

For further comment contact Alison

Hon Alison Xamon MLC

Member for the East Metropolitan Region

Office: 62 Eighth Ave Maylands WA 6051

Postal Address: PO Box 104 Maylands WA 6931

Phone: (08) 9272 1718

Fax: (08) 9272 1719

Portfolios: Water, Urban Bushland, Mental Health, Education, Training, Industrial Relations, Employment, Occupational Health & Safety, Disabilities, Women, Children & Youth, Public Service, Community Services,Electoral Affairs, Consumer Protection, Vet Affairs, Volunteering

MEDIA Greens move to introduce Container Deposit Legislation – 10c can change our recycling

Robin Chapple MLC

Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region

MEDIA RELEASE

Greens move to introduce Container Deposit Legislation – 10c can change our recycling

31 August 2011

Greens MLC Robin Chapple today gave notice in the Legislative Council of his intention to introduce legislation for a container deposit scheme. The scheme will put a 10c deposit on cans and bottles, to ensure that we maximise recycling.

“WA is the worst recycler in the country. The recent ABS report shows WA only diverts 28.2% of rubbish from landfill. Most other states are achieving over 40% diversion from landfill. The best performer is SA, who have had a container deposit scheme for 34 years, and this is reflected in their 66.3% recycling rates.

“Container deposit schemes are proven to increase recycling, reduce landfill, drastically reduce litter, and provide support for community organisations.

“South Australia and the Northern Territory have container deposit schemes.

Senator Scott Ludlam has legislation before the federal parliament – but the Federal government is very slow to move on this front. Greens MP Colleen Hartland has a bill progressing through the Victorian parliament.

“The community is calling for this across the country. Here in WA – the current legislation provides for the Minister to implement a scheme through regulation – but they simply aren’t doing it. So I’m moving to put it into law,” concluded Mr Chapple.

For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255

Kate Davis

Research Officer

Office of Robin Chapple MLC

Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region

PO Box 94, West Perth WA 6872

Direct line (08) 9486 9965 | Fax (08) 9486 8355 | Email kate.davis |

www.robinchapple.com

Western Australia heritage sold out to resource mates – Kimberley must not be surrendered for short term greed – Greens

31 August 2011

Kimberley must not be surrendered for short term greed

Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on the Kimberley says heritage listing announcement for the West Kimberley demonstrates why the area must not be given up to the short term greed of the resource boom.

“The heritage listing of such a large and significant area is a positive step and highlights the incredibly high conservation value of this region,” Senator Siewert said today.

“I reject comments that refer to heritage listing in the same breath as red tape and bureaucracy. Heritage listing is essential for ensuring important areas are treated with the care they deserve.

“It is good to see dinosaur tracks near James Price Point included but there is a wider disappointment with the whole heritage process that the James Price Point site was not considered.

“It is unfortunate that today’s announcement does nothing to protect the Kimberley from the construction of the proposed LNG factory at James Price Point.

“However as a result of this listing, those companies with views to mining and industrialisation of other parts of this region will need to give serious thoughts to the impact of their activities.

“The wider issues surrounding the James Price Point development are not going to disappear. The high level of concerns about the social and environmental impact of the project, the Native Title process undertaken and the longer term implications for the Kimberley must all still be dealt with.

“This heritage listing is further proof of the value of this region and the need to ensure it is not jeopardised by mindless development for the sake of a short term profit.

“The Kimberley deserves a long term, sustainable vision,” Senator Siewert concluded.

Media Enquiries – Chris Redman on 0418 401 180

Chris Redman

Media Advisor

Senator Rachel Siewert

Australian Greens Senator for WA

M: 0418 401 180 | P: 08 9228 3277 | greensmps.org.au

Australian ‘leaders’ want to be your Judge & Jury, did you vote for that? Fwd: Never Again

In the last 48 hours, David Hicks has given his first television interviews. As the nation focuses on his story, let’s ensure Australia is never again complicit in torture. Click here to email your MP to ask the Government to launch an inquiry into the torture and mistreatment of Australians in Guantanamo Bay.

Dear tony,

Australians are owed an explanation.

Recently David Hicks revealed that he was tortured while he was held prisoner at Guantanamo Bay over a period of five years – claims that are supported not only by his military lawyer Major Mori, but also by Brandon Neely, a former guard at Guantanamo Bay. How did our government allow this to happen?

Regardless of any personal opinion of David Hicks, there are some basic truths we can all agree on:

1) Torture is wrong and claims an Australian citizen has been tortured must be investigated.

2) If Australian officials are complicit in torture they must be held to account.

3) This must never happen again.

Five years ago, GetUp members fought to bring David Hicks home – not because we believed in his guilt or innocence, but because we believed in the standards of a free and fair society: including the right to a fair trial, freedom from torture and the principle of innocence until proven guilty. Five years later, we are still owed an explanation. Can you email your MP and ask the Government to find out what really happened, so we can ensure this never happens again?

http://www.getup.org.au/neveragain

Alexander Downer, Australia’s Foreign Minister at the time, recently said, “This guy was convicted in a court duly established by the US Congress, signed off by the President of the United States – and he was convicted, on his own evidence. He confessed his guilt.” But the reality is, it’s not that simple. The military commission that convicted David Hicks was later disbanded by President Obama for lack of legal legitimacy. The crime he was convicted of didn’t even exist when he was captured in Afghanistan. And David Hicks wrote in a recently-published letter to his father, “Know that if I make a deal, it will be against my will. I just couldn’t hold out any longer.”

An Australian was imprisoned for five years – without a fair trial, and allegedly tortured. This is not just about what happened in Afghanistan or Guantanamo, but what happened inside Canberra to allow this. Let’s demand the whole truth, finally.

Allegations in the David Hicks interviews raise a number of questions: were Australian officials aware that an Australian citizen was allegedly being tortured? If so, when did they find out, and what did they do about it? Is it true that the United States would have released David Hicks earlier, but the Howard Government required a conviction for political reasons? Why didn’t the Australian Government secure David Hicks’ transfer from Guantanamo Bay much sooner, as other countries did for their citizens?

As GetUp members said five years ago, no Australian should have to bargain with their liberty because their basic human rights have been abandoned. David Hicks’ story will once again fade from the headlines, but as citizens, it’s our right to find out the whole truth, and ensure this never happens again.

Thanks for all that you do,

The GetUp team

PS – In 2003, then Shadow Attorney General Robert McClelland said that the Howard Government should investigate allegations of the torture of Australian citizens in Guantanamo Bay. Now he’s resisting calls for him to do the same. Our local MPs have the power to pressure the Attorney General to live up to his words – but they’ll only do it at your request: http://www.getup.org.au/neveragain

#alert #safari users need to fix major s

#alert #safari users need to fix major security hole, pls see update at bottom to delete item – DigiNotar certificate security issue – Coriolis Systems Blog http://ht.ly/6gH5A

Very Interesting – early pics of famous in History…

VERY INTERESTING

What_happens_to_young_people_BL.pps

WA can do without Rio Tinto’s nuclear hallucinations

WA can do without Rio Tinto’s nuclear hallucinations

Media Release: Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam, Tuesday August 30th, 2011

Rio Tinto’s embarrassing foray into Western Australian energy policy is a striking example of why mining companies should stay out of politics, say the Australian Greens.

“A uranium mining company advocates nuclear power – hold the front page,” Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam said today. "This is commercial self-interest masquerading as energy policy.”

“Even the State Government recognises that the Western Australian electricity market is too small for nuclear generators, and Rio Tinto is silent on the real-world consequences of bringing nuclear energy to WA.

“Those calling for nuclear power ignore the reality of what is happening around the world: every year for the last 15 years the growth in renewable energy’s capacity has outstripped the growth in nuclear capacity, and last year investment in renewable energy over-took investment in nuclear and fossil-fuelled energy combined.

“Because Rio Tinto doesn’t own the sun, there’s an institutional blindness to any form of energy generation that doesn’t involve digging something up, selling it and burning it. History is moving on and so should Rio Tinto.

“In the United States of America – the world’s largest economy – the share of renewables in new capacity additions boomed from two percent in 2004 to 55 percent in 2009, with no new nuclear capacity whatsoever added in that time.

"Forget nuclear. We’re now in the century of renewable energy."

Media Contact: Giovanni Torre – 0417 174 302

Australia NFP news – Growing Disquiet At Government’s Draft NFP Tax Legislation – New Standard Chart of Accou nts Saves Victorian NFPs Millions – Review

Hello and welcome to the latest news update from Pro Bono Australia. This week an independent review QUT’s Standard Chart of Accounts implemented in Victoria has found that the model will save the Victorian Not for Profit sector $3.1million per year over the next 10 years. SANE Australia finds that most Australians with a mental illness receive little support at work, and PilchConnect and Melbourne University’s Law School join the growing disquiet about the Federal Government’s draft tax legislation for Not for Profits calling for the legislation to be delayed. Our news service is updated regularly online, so if you want to know what’s happening before your weekly update arrives in the inbox, just visit www.probonoaustralia.com.au/news Lina Caneva – Editor, Karen Mahlab – Founder Ryan Witcombe – Journalist New Standard Chart of Accounts Saves Victorian NFPs Millions – Review An independent review of the implementation of a Standard Chart of Accounts in Victoria has found that the model will save the Victorian Not for Profit sector in the order of $3.1million per year over the next 10 years. Lack of Workplace Support Costing Jobs: SANE Australia A new study by SANE Australia finds that most Australians with a mental illness receive little support at work, and more than half those surveyed did not believe their manager had an understanding of mental illness and its impact in the workplace. Growing Disquiet At Government’s Draft NFP Tax Legislation Specialist Not for Profit legal service, PilchConnect and Melbourne University’s Law School have joined the growing disquiet about the Federal Government’s draft tax legislation for Not for Profits and they have called for the legislation to be delayed. Harsh Restrictions on NFPs “Snuck” into Draft Tax Legislation New draft tax legislation puts additional harsh restrictions on all Not for Profits, according to a Melbourne taxation expert. London Riots – Blaming Young People is Not the Answer: Opinion The recent riots in London should be seen as a call to action on how Australia responds to the disenfranchised, the alienated, the excluded and the marginalised, according to Jan Owen, CEO of the Foundation for Young Australians. Charities Join Church in Offering to House Child Asylum Seekers Australian Not for Profit organisations have renewed their calls for child refugees to be allowed to stay in Australia as the High Court decides upon their fate. Can Not for Profits Set the Trend in Pay Equality? CBA Finance News | One of the best measures of wage inflation is the wage cost index which comes out quarterly and the data released last week showed wage growth remains subdued, according to the Commonwealth Bank Leaders Summit Floats Social Business Council A meeting of Australian co-operative and mutual business leaders in Canberra has found strong support for a representative body for the social business sector, which could occupy a similar position in the political landscape as the Business Council of Australia. Discussion Paper On Interactive Gambling calls for Community Comment The Gillard Government has released a discussion paper for the review of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 and called for the public to contribute to the review process. The Crunch is on Again for Social Entrepreneurs Social Traders has launched the latest round of the Crunch – a social enterprise development initiative that connects Victorian start-ups with business mentors and the chance to gain funding. Helping NSW Community Organisations Understand the Budget In the lead up to the release of the NSW state budget, NCOSS, the NSW Council of Social Services, has held the first of a series of budget briefing sessions. Cape York Welfare Reform Trial Extended The Cape York Welfare Reform trial – which includes controversial measures such as welfare quarantining – has been extended until the end of 2012 by the Federal and Queensland Governments.

Greens win funding boost for twenty-one childcare centres in Western Australia

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On 25 August 2011 13:45, tony serve <serve.tony> wrote:

Greens win funding boost for twenty-one childcare centres in

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Media Release: Senators for Western Australia Rachel Siewert and Scott Ludlam

Thursday August 25th, 2011

The Australian Greens have secured five million dollars to boost childcare services around the country, including 21 centres in Western Australia.

Greens Senator for Western Australia Rachel Siewert said grants of up to $5000 will be directed to services in areas of disadvantage.

“This will greatly benefit communities across the state – with grants for 21 centres throughout

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, Derby, Wyndham,

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,

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, Roebuck,

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, Newman,

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, Carnarvon, Northam and Collie,” she said. “We are determined to see greater access to better resourced childcare services in regional Western Australia.”

Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam said the funding would help services improve and adapt to the new National Quality Framework.

“The Australian Greens worked hard to get this extra funding that will see significant improvements to staff skills, workplace health and safety and new learning and play materials for children,” he said.

“We are 100 per cent committed to seeing our regional towns and communities get the quantity of services they need and the quality of service they deserve. This is a big win for Western Australia.”

Media Contact:

Chris Redman (Office of Senator Siewert) – 0418 401 180

Giovanni Torre (Office of Senator Ludlam) – 0417 174 302

Greens win funding boost for twenty-one childcare centres in Western Australia

Greens win funding boost for twenty-one childcare centres in

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Media Release: Senators for Western Australia Rachel Siewert and Scott Ludlam

Thursday August 25th, 2011

The Australian Greens have secured five million dollars to boost childcare services around the country, including 21 centres in Western Australia.

Greens Senator for Western Australia Rachel Siewert said grants of up to $5000 will be directed to services in areas of disadvantage.

“This will greatly benefit communities across the state – with grants for 21 centres throughout

View Larger Map

, Derby, Wyndham,

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,

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, Roebuck,

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, Newman,

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, Carnarvon, Northam and Collie,” she said. “We are determined to see greater access to better resourced childcare services in regional Western Australia.”

Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam said the funding would help services improve and adapt to the new National Quality Framework.

“The Australian Greens worked hard to get this extra funding that will see significant improvements to staff skills, workplace health and safety and new learning and play materials for children,” he said.

“We are 100 per cent committed to seeing our regional towns and communities get the quantity of services they need and the quality of service they deserve. This is a big win for Western Australia.”

Media Contact:

Chris Redman (Office of Senator Siewert) – 0418 401 180

Giovanni Torre (Office of Senator Ludlam) – 0417 174 302

Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Social Policy #indigenous #aboriginal #australia – Forum 12th Sept 2011

WACOSS CRIA Flyer Final.pdf

Katter: yes to gay marriage

Last week Independent MP Bob Katter said gay marriage ‘deserves to be laughed at’. Today, Bob’s brother Carl has his say.

He says it broke his heart to hear his brother’s hateful and homophobic comments last week because he thought of all the young gay people growing up feeling like they are alone, just as he once did.

Advocates against marriage equality just held a press conference at Parliament House — they claim to have 2,000 more signatures on their petition against marriage equality than ours for it.

We’re presenting our petition to Parliament in just a few hours

Australia: Labor and Coalition pass flawed cybercrime bill despite report from their own committee

Labor and Coalition pass flawed cybercrime bill despite report from their own committee

Media release: Senator Scott Ludlam, Wednesday August 24th, 2011

The Australian Greens have questioned the decision of the Government and Opposition to pass the Cybercrime Bill unchanged through the House of Representatives despite recommendations by their own members of parliament to fix serious flaws.

The Greens communications spokesperson, Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam, said the Cyber Safety Committee had tabled a highly critical unanimous report on the bill, proposing a series of amendments and requests for clarification which were not addressed in the House.

“The cross-party committee identified a series of flaws in the bill, yet in the House of Representatives Labor and the Coalition alike seemed entirely untroubled by this.

“The Attorney General said today he was considering the report before the debate in the Senate. The Australian Greens look forward to working with both parties to fix this fundamentally flawed bill in the Senate, but we are greatly troubled by the fact that both the Labor Party and Coalition gave no indication in the House that they believed any of the flaws needed fixing. On the contrary, they had nothing but praise for the bill.

“We all want to see enhanced collaboration between law enforcement agencies fighting serious crime, but the proposed law goes well beyond the already controversial European convention on which it is based and will encroach on civil liberties.

“The European Treaty doesn’t require ongoing collection and retention of communications, but this bill does. Under the Convention police are not required to pass on data if it relates to a political offence or if passing on the data is inconsistent with human rights standards, but this bill contains no such exemption. These are disturbing flaws that must be fixed, but the Government and Opposition have passed this bill through the House with no acknowledgement of that.”

The unanimous multi-party Report:

http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jscc/cybercrime_bill/report.htm

The Australian Greens additional comments:

http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jscc/cybercrime_bill/report/additional_comments.pdf

Media Contact: Giovanni Torre – 0417 174 302

Social Services W.Australia info,resources,jobs,training: Fwd: WACOSS eNews 19th August 2011

#auspol Full story of war in #Afghanistan must be told – West #Australia Senator

Full story of war in Afghanistan must be told – WA Senator

Media Release; Senator Scott Ludlam, Monday August 22nd, 2011

The Australian Greens today called on the Federal Government to commit to revealing the actual numbers of wounded and injured Australian soldiers in Afghanistan, successfully securing the promise of a review in the way in which casualties are reported.

Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam said the Australian people are entitled to know the full cost of the war without needing to use Freedom of Information laws to secure the truth.

“Documents released under FOI revealed that the government’s publicly stated figure of 184 wounded Australians in Afghanistan does not tell even half the story. More than 920 wounded and injured Australian soldiers in Afghanistan have received compensation for amputated limbs, severe burns, bullets still lodged in flesh and major depression.

“The public has the right to form an informed view of this nation’s role in the Afghanistan war – and can’t do that without a clear picture of the cost of the war.”

Senator Ludlam asked the government in the Senate chamber if they would commit to regular reporting of the numbers of wounded and injured troops in Afghanistan, and to releasing more information about the nature of the wounds and injuries, and the types of treatment and support offered to soldiers returning from Afghanistan.

Following the recent revelation that two female ADF personnel were wounded by a rocket attack in Kandahar in March 2007, Senator Ludlam also asked if the Government would continue the practice of concealing the gender of the wounded and injured soldiers.

In response Senator Chris Evans, representing Minister for Defence Stephen Smith, said the government has a policy of concealing the gender of reported casualties but committed to reviewing the reporting of wounds and injuries and associated treatment and compensation.

Media Contact: Giovanni Torre – 0417 174 302

West Australians to march 1000km in protest against #uranium #mining

West Australians to march 1000km in protest against uranium mining

Media Release: Senator Scott Ludlam – Tuesday August 16th, 2011

Western Australians will begin a one thousand-kilometre protest march against uranium mining this Sunday 21 August.

Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam will join the ‘Walk Away From Uranium Mining’ on Sunday as it begins the long journey from Wiluna to Perth.

“This is an extraordinary moment for our state and for the future. The nuclear industry is in decline around the world and public awareness of the dangers of uranium mining and nuclear power is growing.

“This march is a powerful statement from Western Australians who do not want uranium mining in WA and who do not want their state to support the nuclear industry in any way.

“Uranium mining has a horrendous environmental, health and safety record in this country, and it provides the fuel for the toxic, dangerous and unnecessary nuclear power industry – and for nuclear weapons.

“The people walking from Wiluna to Perth are in step with the growing list of countries around the world – including Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Portugal, Greece and Ireland – who are officially walking away from nuclear power.”

The march begins in Wiluna, which has been targeted by Toro Energy for a proposed uranium mine, and will go through Yeelirrie (another potential uranium mine site), Leonora, Kalgoorlie and Southern Cross and will arrive in Perth on 27 October, followed by three days of events in the city.

The Walk Away From Uranium Mining is organised by Footprints for Peace and supported by the Conservation Council of Western Australia Inc., Western Australian Nuclear Free Alliance, Ban Uranium Mining Permanently, People for Nuclear Disarmament and the Anti-Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia.

Details and itinerary:

http://footprints.footprintsforpeace.net/nffcampaign/upload/files/Australian_Flyer_2.pdf

Media Contact: Giovanni Torre – 0417 174 302

BlackDogRide wheels for wellness ;o) August Update 2 #mentalhealth #depression

The Ride Begins Hi Tony This Sunday I begin my third national Black Dog Ride. With hundreds of motorbike riders from around the country we are heading for Glen Helen Resort in the Red Centre of Australia . It all began 3 years ago following the tragic, shock death by suicide of my best mate’s wife. Some years earlier I had found my Mum dead, she had also taken her own life. What causes someone to end their life so abruptly, leaving loved ones and friends devastated, confused, hurt and often carrying guilt? Depression! It’s an illness reaching almost epidemic levels in our community. It’s not a sexy subject and it’s not something we like to talk about because it’s still surrounded by a perception of stigma. Our Black Dog Ride sets out at grass roots level to raise people’s awareness of the illness and to help break down the barrier of stigma which still prevents over 50 % of sufferers from seeking help. The other vital part of our Ride is fundraising for the Black Dog Institute . The money we raise goes directly to helping the national roll out of their Community Education Programs. During this year’s Ride we will be conducting 12 BDI Presentations and another 30 Community events all around the country. By making a donation now you will be making a difference and hopefully help save the life of some you know or love. Thank you….Steve Help spread the word Black Dog Ride P.O. Box 524 Claremont 6910 steve | Twitter

#australia #freespeech #internet Fwd: Flaws in Cybercrime Bill could undermine civil liberties, WA Senator warns

Flaws in Cybercrime Bill could undermine civil liberties, WA Senator warns

Media Release: Senator Scott Ludlam – Thursday August 18th, 2011

The Australian Greens have put the Government on notice to fix serious flaws in the proposed Cybercrime Bill before presenting it for debate.

The Greens communications spokesperson, Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam, applauded the tabling of a unanimous and highly critical report by the Cyber Safety Committee, which has proposed a series of amendments to the bill.

“We all want to see enhanced collaboration by law enforcement agencies fighting serious crime, but the proposed law goes well beyond the already controversial European convention on which it is based and could encroach on civil liberties. No explanation was provided for this overreach.

“The European Treaty doesn’t require ongoing collection and retention of communications, but the Australian Bill does. The bill also leaves the door open for Australia to assist in prosecutions which could lead to the death penalty overseas. These flaws must be addressed before the bill proceeds,” said Senator Ludlam.

“We have recommended a number of improvements to the bill including fixing these flaws and clarifying the Ombudsman’s powers to inspect and audit compliance with the preservation regime.”

Senator Ludlam said the Greens were concerned the process had been rushed.

“A disturbing pattern of behaviour has emerged – with the Attorney General’s Department repeatedly seeking to fast track legislation which extends well beyond its nominal purpose and encroaches upon on the civil liberties of Australians in the name of security.”

The Australian Greens additional comments:

http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jscc/cybercrime_bill/report/additional_comments.pdf

The Report:

http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jscc/cybercrime_bill/report.htm

Media Contact: Giovanni Torre – 0417 174 302

8 year old boy raped while in state care Fwd: Successive West Australian Govt inaction on declared places causing untold damage: Greens

Successive Government inaction on declared places causing untold damage: Greens

17 August 2011

Years of failure to establish ‘declared places’ for mentally impaired adults and juveniles who are alleged to have engaged in criminal conduct is having painful and distressing consequences for innocent people, according to Greens MLC Alison Xamon.

Ms Xamon’s comments were made after it was revealed a 15-year-old boy already facing child rape allegations was accused of raping an 8-year-old child while under the care of the Department for Child Protection.

“It’s bad enough that WA doesn’t have declared places for adults, but this is a new low. The 8-year-old who was allegedly raped was also in the care of the DCP. He wasn’t being protected properly because the government has been too slow setting up declared places for accused juveniles with mental impairment issues,” Ms Xamon, Greens WA Spokesperson on Mental Health, Disabilities and Child Protection said today.

“There were questions about the mental capacity of this particular accused juvenile and whether he was fit to stand trial. If that’s the case, why was he placed with young children? Presumably because there was nowhere else to send him with jail being the only other option which is really no place to be sending our disabled. So really he is a victim of the system too.”

Under the Criminal Law (Mentally Impaired Accused) Act 1996, people considered unfit to plead can be sent to a ‘declared place’ to receive appropriate care and treatment. However, 15 years later, a declared place has still not been created.

“This government, and successive state governments, are culpable in this tragedy because they have failed to set up appropriate forensic mental health facilities for both adults and juveniles.

“This obviously needs to happen as a matter of utmost urgency so we don’t see a repeat of this tragedy.

“Again and again I plead with this government to address problems that occur when mental impairment issues collide with our criminal justice system. Now that this Government has such tragic evidence that innocent children are being affected by this government’s inaction, I hope that excuses will be put aside and urgent moves to establish declared places for adults and juveniles begin,” Ms Xamon concluded.

For additional comment contact Alison

Hon Alison Xamon MLC

Member for the East Metropolitan Region

Office: 62 Eighth Ave Maylands WA 6051

Postal Address: PO Box 104 Maylands WA 6931

Phone: (08) 9272 1718

Fax: (08) 9272 1719

Portfolios: Water, Urban Bushland, Mental Health, Education, Training, Industrial Relations, Employment, Occupational Health & Safety, Disabilities, Women, Children & Youth, Public Service, Community Services,Electoral Affairs, Consumer Protection, Vet Affairs, Volunteering

West Australians need affordable housing, not high-risk debt

West Australians need affordable housing, not high-risk debt

Media Release: Senator Scott Ludlam, Lynn MacLaren MLC, Wednesday August 17th, 2011

Western Australian Senator Scott Ludlam warned today that a new loan deal enabling first home buyers to borrow with only a three per cent deposit, rather than the usual 20 per cent, would exacerbate debt problems and do little to solve the affordable housing crisis.

Senator Ludlam, the Australian Greens housing spokesperson, said Western Australians need more affordable housing, not risky debt.

“Bankwest is proposing home loans for 97 per cent of the property value. While they claim this will reduce the average saving time for first homebuyers from four years to six months, it will also see a significant increase in the size of mortgages.

“WA Housing Minister Troy Buswell describes this as a ‘new weapon in the housing affordability battle’ – I have to say this weapon is way off target.

“There are many measures that would increase the amount of affordable housing available to people – expanding the National Rental Affordability Scheme, reforming the tax system, introducing the Greens’ Convert To Rent program, and building more public housing. Allowing people to take on bigger debts, after apparently saving for only six months, is not the answer – We can and must do better than this.”

Lynn MacLaren MLC, Greens WA spokesperson for housing, said Minister Buswell was misguided in comparing the proposed loans to the State Government’s Keystart program.

“The Keystart Home Loan scheme is a much more responsible way to help lower income earners. It requires a minimum four per cent deposit and has a strict maximum loan and property value limit. It also has a relatively small default rate compared to traditional loans.

“The Keystart Shared Equity scheme is even better – the State Government basically shares the loan and equity with the borrower, with the borrower only taking on 70 per cent of the debt, and the government retaining 30 per cent of the equity.

“In the case of the proposed Bankwest loans, the debt – 97 per cent of the property’s price – will be on the head of the borrower alone.”

Media Contact: Giovanni Torre – 0417 174 302

change.org on greed – Fwd: #Verizon strike

Tell Verizon: With record profits, don’t demand $1 billion in cuts from your workers Dear tony, Verizon made billions in profits in just the last four years — but right now, the telecom giant is demanding $1 billion from its own workers in pay and benefit cuts. Worse, rather than negotiate fairly with their employees, Verizon representatives cut off all negotiations and are refusing to talk. So more than 45,000 Verizon workers went on strike demanding that Verizon stop its attack on the middle class. If Verizon sees the public and its customers behind the striking workers, the company can be forced back into good faith negotiations. Sign the Change.org petition by the Communications Workers of America asking Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam to restart negotiations and stop Verizon’s attack on the middle class. If $1 billion in cuts is hard to grasp, consider this: Verizon is demanding each of its employees forfeit $20,000 in wages and benefits every year. Verizon’s executives aren’t forced into outrageous cuts with their workers. In the last four years, Verizon’s top five executives were paid more than a quarter-billion dollars. While Verizon makes record profits, its workers shouldn’t be made to suffer. Let Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam know you stand with workers against the company’s refusal to bargain. Click here to add your name to the workers’ petition on Change.org: Thanks for being a change-maker, - Jess and the Change.org team

Five Facebook Page Upgrades You May Not know About; 15 Extraordinary Nonprofit Social Media Campaigns; Sparked.com!

Resource Spotlight: Sparked.com

Sparked.com is an online portal of volunteers that have signed up to offer small amounts of time to complete Web-based projects requested by nonprofits. Known as micro-volunteers, these individuals offer one or two hours a week to complete "Challenges" in the areas of technology, design, research, etc. Free for nonprofits, it’s an easy way to tap into a skilled volunteer network without committing a lot time to volunteer management.

News You Can Use

15 Extraordinary Nonprofit Social Media Campaigns
[INFOGRAPHIC] The Rise of the Mobile Workforce

Twitter Adds an Activity Stream
StumbleUpon Launches Program to Help Nonprofits

[STUDY] 14 Million U.S. Adults Used QR Codes in June

Recent Posts from Nonprofit Tech 2.0

Five Recent Upgrades to Facebook Pages Your Nonprofit May Not Know About
Three Ways Social Media Has Negatively Affected the Nonprofit Sector (and What We Can Do About It)

11 Nonprofit Blogs Designed for the Social Web
Google+ Best Practices for Nonprofits
11 Nonprofit Websites Designed for the Social Web

Upcoming Webinars for Nonprofits

Tuesday, August 16: Facebook and Facebook Apps: Beginner/Intermediate

Thursday, August 18: Facebook and Facebook Apps: Advanced

Tuesday, August 23: Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Webinar for Nonprofits Free!

Tuesday, August 30: Twitter and LinkedIn

Tuesday, September 6: YouTube and Flickr

Tuesday, September 13: Mobile Websites, Group Text Messaging and Text-to-Give Technology
Thursday, September 15: Mobile Social Networking and Location-Based Communities

Tuesday, September 20: Blogging on WordPress

Tuesday, October 4: Online Fundraising and e-Newsletters

Webinar Special: 2 for $95, 3 for $140, 4 for $180, 5 for $220, 6 for $260, 7 for $280, or all 8 for $300

One-Time Only! Webinars for Nonprofits in New Zealand, Australia, and East Asia

Thursday, August 25: Twitter and LinkedIn

Thursday, September 8: YouTube and Flickr

Free Webinar for Nonprofits in Europe, Africa, Middle East, and India!

Monday, September 26: Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Webinar for Nonprofits

Register Now! Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Training for Nonprofits

Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Guide for Nonprofits will launch in conjunction with a 5-hour social media and mobile technology training and book tour that will also serve as a fundraiser for numerous partner nonprofits. That said, early registrations are greatly appreciated! Logistically, it makes organizing the tour a lot easier for me and the partner nonprofits. Thank you. Confirmed dates and locations thus far are:

September 22: Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Training for Nonprofits, Collingswood, NJ/Philadelphia, PA
September 29: Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Training for Nonprofits, New York, NY

October 13: Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Training for Nonprofits, Ottawa, ON

October 27: Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Training for Nonprofits, Chapel Hill, NC

November 8: Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Training for Nonprofits, San Diego, CA

November 10: Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Training for Nonprofits, Los Angeles, CA

December 1: Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Training for Nonprofits, Miami, OK/Joplin, MO

January 19: Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Training for Nonprofits, Washington, DC

February 9: Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Training for Nonprofits, Tampa, FL

March 15: Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Training for Nonprofits, Memphis, TN

April 24-25: Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Training for Kenyan Nonprofits, Nairobi, Kenya
View: All Speaking Engagements and Trainings

Now Available for Pre-Order! Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Guide for Nonprofits

Based on more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit communications and 15,000+ hours spent utilizing social and mobile media, Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Guide for Nonprofits is a 256-page hardcover packed with more than 100 best practices covering Web 1.0, Web 2.0, and Web 3.0 nonprofit communications and fundraising. From building your e-newsletter list to finding your “Twitter voice” to launching a mobile website and texting campaign on a small budget, this guide presents a step-by-step strategic plan for launching and maintaining successful social media and mobile marketing campaigns. That said, you can pre-order the book from Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Thanks very much!

Thank you,

Heather Mansfield
Web: diosacommunications.com
Blog: nonprofitorgsblog.org

Mobile: nonprofitorgs.mobi

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/heathermansfield
Google+: gplus.to/heathermansfield

Using Social Media to Aid Recovery (via idisaster 2.0)

Post by: Kim Stephens The Social Media and Emergency Management chat last Friday, July 29 focused on SM and recovery and was moderated by Pascal Schuback, an emergency manager from a large county in Washington State. The transcript is 31 pages long–we were chatty. My favorite question:  "Recovery is always a challenge to work prior to an event? How are we prep … Read More

via idisaster 2.0

Australia call for action on energy from the Greens WA Fwd: MEDIA – Electricity sector reform must ensure effective transition to renewable energy

Robin Chapple MLC

Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region

MEDIA RELEASE

Greens: Electricity sector reform must ensure effective transition to renewable energy

13 August 2011

The ERA Wholesale Electricity Market report clearly identifies the key issue for the electricity sector is the lack of clear government policy.

“Electricity is an essential public good. The sector is facing critical challenges right now – an aging distribution network, growing demand, and the pressing need to shift from carbon intensive electricity to renewable electricity.

“Now is the time that we need strong government policy to set the framework for the transition to renewable power – so the sector can deliver it.

“Criticism that spending on renewables is pushing up prices is largely unjustified. The major increase in household power prices is to fund the maintenance of our aging electricity infrastructure, and to meet the very high peak demand times.

“I am pleased to see that the ERA recognizes the importance of a price on carbon.

“It is critical in setting electricity policy that government focuses, not just on efficiency in the sector, but on the shift from carbon polluting electricity to renewable energy.

“The State Government has massive subsidies in support of the fossil fuel industry – $ $124,383,000 on the gas hub at James Price Point, which is projected to emit from 7.1 mtpa CO2 to 32 mtpa CO2 at full production.$8,548,000is committed for Anketell North – projected to emit 10-15 mtpa once it hits production of 25 mtpa of LNG.

“State Government spending on fossil fuel electricity vastly renewables spending.

“Verve has an allocation of $225.5 million over the forward estimates on it’s fossil fuel portfolio – including $88.9 million for Muja power station, where our state is reopening the oldest dirtiest most carbon intensive parts of this power station. In comparison – Verve has $21.3 million on renewables – completing one windfarm.

For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 9486 8255

Robin Chapple MLC

Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region

PO Box 94, West Perth WA 6872

41 Havelock Street, West Perth. WA 6005

Phone: Robin.Chapple | Freecall: 1800 138 610

#australia has a right to know about plans to use Western Australia as #US military base

Public has right to know about plans to use Western Australia as US military base

Media Release: Scott Ludlam, Senator for Western Australia – Friday August 12th, 2011

Western Australians have the right to know more about plans to use the state as a base for the US military, the Australian Greens said today.

Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam said the Australian American Leadership Dialogue currently underway in Perth reportedly includes talks on US warships and other military hardware being based in WA.

“Defence Minister Stephen Smith and senior US defence officials are reportedly holding discussions on using our state as a military base for the United States. The Western Australian public has the right to know the details of these plans and has the right to be consulted,” said Senator Ludlam.

“All US aircraft carriers and submarines are nuclear-powered. Will nuclear warships be based in Western Australia? Nuclear weapons in the US Navy would be deployed through ballistic missile submarines and airborne capabilities. Would submarines or strike aircraft for deploying nuclear weapons be based in Western Australia? These questions need to be answered. Do we want nuclear warships and nuclear weapons in our state?”

Contact: Giovanni Torre – 0417 174 302

Australia – if you want better media you’ll need to speak up NOW – Fwd: Exciting new organisation!

Dear tony,

In the wake of the recent Murdoch scandals in the UK, many of us think it’s time to take a look at our media here at home, and consider how we can support quality journalism. However, transforming our media is going to take a sustained, strategic, long-term commitment.

So, I’d like to introduce you to our friends at NewsStand, a new organisation working for a fair and diverse media. They are hitting the ground running with a petition for a parliamentary inquiry, so we can start the conversation about what changes are needed right now.

The latest intelligence from Canberra is that Cabinet will discuss whether or not to hold a media inquiry as early as Monday next week. NewsStand have arranged to deliver their petition that very day. Sign the petition on their new website here or check our their email below.

Thanks for all you do,
Simon, for the team at GetUp!

— email from NewsStand.org.au—

Dear friends,

Right now, Canberra is debating whether to launch a full-scale inquiry into the Australian media industry. Following the News of the World phone hacking scandal, it’s the best shot we’ve ever had to publicly scrutinise the media landscape as a whole: what’s working, what’s not and what we can do change things for the better.

But politicians are jumpy. Without public pressure this inquiry will never make it off the ground.

Click the link to join the public call for a Parliamentary inquiry: http://www.NewsStand.org.au

Recent polling shows that our trust in the media is at an all time low. We deserve better. It’s time to call editors out for not sticking to their own standards. It’s time to ensure individual journalists are allowed to do their jobs – instead of having to shape their writing to match the opinions of their editorial boards. And it’s time to make sure that there’s a healthy, competitive marketplace for news, rather than just a few people and corporations having a stranglehold over the flow of information.

Most of us rely on mainstream media for our news — and if we don’t like what we see, there’s been little we can do besides pen an angry letter to the editor, or switch off altogether.

That’s why we’ve started NewsStand. Part media watch, part advocacy group, together we will expose the bad and highlight the good. We believe that, armed with facts and determination, a movement of informed, empowered people can change the Australian media for the better.

We don’t have all the answers yet — but that’s precisely why we need this government inquiry. It would allow us, as a country, to hold an open and honest conversation between journalists, elected officials, and citizens. This is not about silencing voices or letting politicians tell the media what to write. A healthy democracy is one where we have a diversity of voices and that requires a fair and diverse media.

Sign the petition for an inquiry now – and forward this email to all your friends and family so that they can, too:

http://www.NewsStand.org.au

Sincerely,
Kate, Erika, Taren, and the NewsStand team

Slater & Gordon to provide legal advice to grain farmers following GM canola spill

August 11, 2011

Slater & Gordon to provide legal advice to grain farmers following GM canola spill

National law firm Slater & Gordon has today confirmed that it has been retained to provide legal advice and support to the grain farmers whose properties may have been endangered by a truck fire and spillage of genetically modified (GM) canola in Western Australia yesterday.

Slater & Gordon, Practice Group Leader, Mark Walter said the Safe Food Foundation had retained the law firm to provide legal advice and support to the GM free grain growers whose properties may be affected by the spillage.

“Our firm will be looking at the legal issues around this case and who is legally responsible for what happened,” Mr Walter said.

“We are concerned that the present laws and regulations do not adequately cover the myriad of situations that we seeing in Australia from the introduction of genetically modified food and crops.”

“It is not fair that a group of farmers, who are wishing to grow their grain GM free, have their livelihoods and crops endangered through no fault of their own.”

This legal work follows Slater & Gordon’s announcement on July 28 that it would lodge a claim on behalf of Kojonup farmer Steve Marsh. In that case, the claim will allege that Mr Marsh’s suffered loss as a result of GM contamination, causing him to lose his organic farming status.

Media contact:
Angela Bell
National Media & Communications Manager
SLATER & GORDON LAWYERS
485 La Trobe Street Melbourne Victoria 3001
T (03) 9602 6845 | F (03) 9600 0290

angela.bell | www.slatergordon.com.au

________________________________
Slater & Gordon Lawyers – http://www.slatergordon.com.au

110811 CPL WA GM Spillage.pdf

Australia – The best online source of Australian policy information, news, research , video, jobsFwd: APO Weekly Briefing – 11 August 2011

A partnership of the Australian National Institute for Public Policy and the Institute for Social Research

.

WIN TICKETS TO SMART GOVERNMENT WORLD AUSTRALIA 2011 CONFERENCE!

How is your department or agency moving to embrace Gov 2.0? What changes are needed to achieve a more open and responsive government? Attend Smart Government Australia 2011 and find out…

APO is pleased to be giving away 2 conference passes (valued at $3,185 each) to attend Smart Government World Australia 2011 on 6-8 September in Canberra. To be in the running, send an email to admin with ‘Smart Government 2011’ as your subject line by Tuesday 16 August. For more information on the event visit www.terrapinn.com/smartgov

New commentary

Deliberate dismantling of our diminished ABC continues

08 August, 2011 | The latest cut hurts, says Quentin Dempster in the Sydney Morning Herald, but it’s not the deepest in an already de-skilled ABC.

Spare a dollar for the maker, music doesn’t play itself

10 August, 2011 | Dodgy preconceptions make it harder to earn a living in the live music business, writes Kim Salmon in The Age.

Structural shenanigans in the Australian economy

10 August, 2011 | What does the resources boom mean for the future of the Australian economy? Tom Conley looks at the medium term prospects in this paper for APO

The myth – homelessness halved in South Australia

11 August, 2011 | Misleading reports cloud the real homelessness numbers and the issues for homeless people and service providers argues Alice Clark.

Policy on ageing bursts into life

05 August, 2011 | We have an historic opportunity to re-assess our views and policies, writes the Brotherhood of St Laurence’s 
Simon Biggs

Gillard’s iron fist on boats clings to office

08 August, 2011 | The Gillard government and the Abbott opposition have performed an astonishing identity switch with each other over illegal immigrant boatpeople, says Greg Sheridan in The Australian.

What next for young people in nursing homes?

08 August, 2011 | The five-year program which aimed to reduce the number of young people with disability living in aged care nursing homes, concluded in June 2011 writes Di Winkler.

New research

Creative & Digital

Urban informatics, ubiquitous computing and social media for healthy cities

Marcus Foth | Queensland University of Technology
10 August, 2011 | This paper discusses the relationship between modern digital technology and the urban environment.

The economic, social and cultural contribution of venue based live music in Victoria

Deloitte Access Economics
10 August, 2011 | This report provides a quantified estimate of the economic contribution of live music in Victorian venues as well as a qualitative discussion of the social and cultural values that are accruing.

Research and innovation systems in the production of digital content

Stuart Cunningham, Terry Cutler, Mark David Ryan, Greg Hearn, Michael Keane | Report for the National Office for the Information Economy
10 August, 2011 | This 2003 report on the nature of R&D and innovation within the creative and content industries has been a key document in the development of theories around creative industries in Australia. It has now been added to the APO archive.

Beyond the box office: understanding audiences in a multi-screen world

Screen Australia
10 August, 2011 | This report analyses patterns of screen media consumption in Australia, helping to understand shifts in media penetration and offering insights into consumption of DVD/Blu-ray and online video.

Mapping the Australian networked public sphere

Axel Bruns | Social Science Computer Review
10 August, 2011 | This article reports on a research program that has developed new methodologies for mapping the Australian blogosphere and tracking how information is disseminated across it.

Economics

Australia – 2011 article IV consultation concluding statement

International Monetary Fund
10 August, 2011 | This report describes Australia’s economic outlook and stability.

Australia and the great recession

Chris Barrett | Per Capita
10 August, 2011 | This report examines Australia’s economic performance during and after the "Great Recession" of 2008-09

Education

Completion and attrition rates for apprentices and trainees 2010

The National Centre for Vocational Education Research
08 August, 2011 | This publication presents completion and attrition rates for apprentices.

Programs and schools catering for young people at risk of not completing their education

Roger Holdsworth | Dusseldorp Skills Forum
05 August, 2011 | Dusseldorp Skills Forum carried out an on-line survey of alternative education programs and approaches in early 2011. This summary presents and comments on survey results and also includes suggestions for survey Follow-Up.

Tween here and there, transitioning from the early years to the middle years

Lisbeth Kitson | Literacy Learning: the Middle Years
11 August, 2011 | This article considers the experiences of students as they make their transition from the early foundational years of primary school into the first stage of the middle phase of learning within a multiliterate environment.

E-assessment guidelines for the VET sector

Australian Flexible Learning Framework
11 August, 2011 | The use of e-assessment is increasing rapidly in the vocational education and training (VET) sector in Australia with over forty per cent of Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and more than sixty per cent of teachers and trainers are using some form of e-assessment.

Environment & Planning

Metropolitan Melbourne investigation

Victorian Environmental Assessment Council
08 August, 2011 | This investigation provides for the first time a stocktake of public land across most of metropolitan Melbourne and an inventory of open space on both public land and land owned by local councils.

Low carbon growth plan for Australia

ClimateWorks Australia | ClimateWorks Australia
10 August, 2011 | This report finds that the amount of domestic greenhouse gas emissions cut by the Government’s carbon price package could be double that predicted by Treasury.

Towards a new development model for housing regeneration in greyfield precincts

Peter Newton | Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute
08 August, 2011 | An Investigative Panel details the processes required for delivering more affordable and sustainable medium density housing by regenerating greyfield precincts in Australia’s capital cities.

Health

2010 National drug strategy household survey report

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
08 August, 2011 | This 2010 National Drug Strategy Household Survey report shows: positive and significant reductions since 2007 in daily tobacco smoking; mixed findings on alcohol consumption and risk; and a small overall rise in illicit drug use.

Shaping up: trends and statistics in funding health and medical research

Research Australia
05 August, 2011 | This analysis of the available economic data shows that health research activity is steadily growing, investment in universities, research institutes and hospitals is increasing, and activity within the biotechnology and medical devices industries continues to grow.

Predictive risk modelling in health: options for New Zealand and Australia

Laura E. Panattoni | Australian Health Review
08 August, 2011 | This article reviews the current knowledge about predictive risk models (PRMs) and explores some of the issues surrounding the potential introduction of a PRM to a public health system.

Dental decay among Australian children

Diep Ha | Dental Statistics and Research Unit
08 August, 2011 | The Child Dental Health Survey 2005-06 provides information on the oral health of children attending school dental services in Australia, and shows that decay is relatively common in Australian children.

Precarious housing and health inequalities: what are the links?

Shelley Mallett | Hanover Welfare Services
08 August, 2011 | This report presents summary research findings from the quantitative and qualitative components of the VicHealth funded study that explored the relationship between precarious housing and health.

Indigenous

Aboriginal peoples’ right to traditional homelands in the Northern Territory

Amnesty International
10 August, 2011 | This report highlights the struggle of Aboriginal Peoples to remain on their homelands in the face of policies that have the effect of drawing them away from their ancestral lands into larger communities and urban areas.

Health literacy and Australian Indigenous peoples: an analysis of the role of language and worldview

Alice Mitchell, Yurranydjil Dhurrkay, Alyssa Vass | Health Promotion Journal of Australia
08 August, 2011 | The burden of disease experienced by Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory (NT) is more than three times that of their non-Indigenous national counterparts.

Urban social housing for Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders: respecting culture and adapting services

Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute
11 August, 2011 | This study sought to understand appropriate models of service provision in social housing for Indigenous Australians.

International

Antarctica: assessing and protecting Australia’s national interests

Ellie Fogarty | Lowy Institute
08 August, 2011 | In this policy brief from the Lowy Institute’s inaugural National Security Fellow, Ellie Fogarty identifies long-term threats to Australia’s dormant claim to 42 per cent of Antarctica.

US debt ceiling and national security

Carl Ungerer | Australian Strategic Policy Institute
08 August, 2011 | After months of political debate, the US Congress reached a cautious agreement last week on raising the US debt ceiling and cutting government expenditure.

Pirates of the ISPs: tactics for turning online crooks into international pariahs

Noah Shachtman | Brookings Institute
09 August, 2011 | Cybercrime today seems like a nearly insoluble problem, much like piracy was centuries ago. There are steps, however, that can be taken to curb cybercrime’s growth—and perhaps begin to marginalize the people behind it.

Justice

Prescription drug use among detainees: prevalence, sources and links to crime

Jenny Fleming, Natalie Gately, Catherine McGregor | Australian Institute of Criminology
10 August, 2011 | Concern regarding the diversion and non-medical use of prescription pharmaceuticals continues to grow as anecdotal evidence and other research points to a sizeable increase in the illegal market for such drugs.

Postcode justice – rural and regional disadvantage in the administration of the law in Victoria

Centre for Rural Regional Law and Justice
10 August, 2011 | Are regional communities disadvantaged in the administration of the law, compared with their metropolitan counterparts?

Politics

The Henry review of Australia’s future tax system: Implications for local government

John Passant, John McLaren | Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government
11 August, 2011 | Making suggestions for future action to be undertaken by local government, this paper highlights opportunities for the sector to influence the debate about the future shape of the Australian taxation and tax transfer system.

Youth federal election voting intentions

Ron Brooker | Witlam Institute
11 August, 2011 | Exploring the question of community engagement and political participation by younger Australians, this project analyses fifteen years of Newspoll surveys.

Social Policy

Evidence for improving access to homelessness services

Christine Black, Hellene Gronda | Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute
08 August, 2011 | This report details evidence about current access to homelessness services, the several barries faced by the destitute and an overview of approaches used to improve access to alleviating services.

A comparison of the lifetime economic prospects of women informal carers and non‑carers, Australia, 2007

Binod Nepal | Australian Journal of Social Issues
08 August, 2011 | This study provides an updated comparison of the financial wellbeing of female primary carers and non-carers.

The Millennium Development Goals report 2011

United Nations
09 August, 2011 | More than 10 years have passed since world leaders established goals and targets to free humanity from extreme poverty, hunger, illiteracy and disease. While more work lies ahead, the world has cause to celebrate.

Young people in nursing homes

Dianne Winkler | Summer Foundation Ltd
08 August, 2011 | This paper summarises recent research regarding the social inclusion of young people in nursing homes, and further outlines the policy and practical challenges related to this issue.

Caring for older Australians

The Productivity Commission
08 August, 2011 | Older Australians generally want to remain independent and in control of how and where they live; to stay connected and relevant to their families and communities; and be able to exercise some measure of choice over their care.

New audio

Design, sustainability and the urmadic university

09 August, 2011 | The Urmadic university is a university without a place, it isn’t located anywhere, it is nomadic, it can move. This podcast features interviews with design academics and professionals exploring the university of the future and the future of sustainable design.

The Future of Wind Energy in Australia

10 August, 2011 | This podcast explores wind market trends in Australia and internationally.

The caretakers

08 August, 2011 | With an elderly population boom on the horizon, aged care in Australia is under urgent review. But what does "aged care" actually involve – and why isn’t it more widely discussed in the community?

Gender and leadership

08 August, 2011 | This program asks why issues of gender equality and discrimination still exists after decades of the Feminist social movement.

New video

Beyond the box office: understanding audiences in a multi-screen world

10 August, 2011 | Full presentations from an industry forum held to discuss Screen Australia’s research into the size and shape of Australian screen audiences.

Precision-strike weapons and US strategy

05 August, 2011 | Dr Mahnken spoke on the growth and spread of precision weaponry, and the resulting implications for American operations and the US-Australian alliance. Other states and non-state actors are acquiring precision weaponry, and also developing countermeasures against precision weaponry. They are also acquiring the vital supporting capabilities needed to wage precision warfare such as satellite imagery and precision navigation. Dr Mahnken outlines a number of options for the US to maintain leverage in this potentially challenging environment.

New jobs

Research Officer- Family & Community Development Committee

Parliament of Victoria 04 August, 2011 | DEPARTMENT OF LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

Senior Research and Strategy Officer

WA Department of Transport 10 August, 2011 | Position No: IRC23017

The Department of Transport’s vision is to be recognised for excellence in customer service in providing world class transport services and solutions.

Senior Researcher

Parliamentary Library Law and Bills Digest Section 10 August, 2011 |

Research Associates

Grattan Institute 05 August, 2011 | Independent, rigorous and practical think tank Research Associate – multiple positions Generalists or economists Ideal career step for exceptionally talented individuals We have exciting opportunities to join Grattan Institute, working with some of Australia’s leading public policy thinkers.

Research Officer- Law Reform Committee

Parliament of Victoria 04 August, 2011 | Department of the Legislative Council

New events

Life cycle Assessment Roundtable for Mining and Minerals Sector

LOCATION:	Ian Wark Lecture Theatre, CSIRO, Bayview Avenue, Clayton VIC 3168 (Central Reception)
ORGANISED BY:	Australian Life Cycle Assessment Society and CSIRO

12 August, 2011 | Life cycle Assessment Roundtable for Mining and Minerals Sector,

National Digital Inclusion Summit

LOCATION:	Parliament House Canberra
ORGANISED BY:	Huawei Australia

17 August, 2011 | Huawei Australia is hosting a National Digital Inclusion Summit in an effort to ensure no-one gets left behind in Australia’s burgeoning digital economy.

Rationalism, Pluralism, and Hayek’s History of Liberal Thought

LOCATION:	The Centre for Independent Studies
ORGANISED BY:	The Centre for Independent Studies

17 August, 2011 | The classical liberal economist F.A.

Brotherhood of St Laurence lunchtime seminar – Colonisation and the Indigenous ‘gap’: fact or fiction?

LOCATION:	67 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, Fr Tucker’s room
ORGANISED BY:	Associate Professor Jane Freemantle, Principle Research Fellow, Centre for Health & Society, and Onemda VicHealth Koori Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population Health, The University of Melbourne

18 August, 2011 | British colonizers landed in Australia in 1788. They were greeted by Australia’s First People and history reports that tumultuous times followed for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is well argued that the sequelae of colonization is still being experienced by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of Australia today and are evident in the reported ‘gap’ in the measure of antecedents to increased morbidity and premature mortality among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Creative Commons free public seminar

LOCATION:	Rover Thomas Arena, Australia Council for the Arts, 372 Elizabeth Street (cnr Cooper Street), Surry Hills
ORGANISED BY:	Creative Commons

18 August, 2011 | Professor Anne Fitzgerald and Neale Hooper of the ccAustralia team will explain the CC licences and how CC may be utilised by creators, educators, researchers, government officers and the general community to use and reuse open data and cultural materials. Thursday, 18 August 2011, 5.00pm-6.00pm Rover Thomas Arena, Australia Council for the Arts, 372 Elizabeth Street (cnr Cooper Street), Surry Hills, NSW 2010.

Making Sense of the Middle East Upheavals

LOCATION:	The Centre for Independent Studies
ORGANISED BY:	The Centre for Independent Studies

23 August, 2011 |

Creative Commons free public seminar

LOCATION:	James Cook University, Central Lecture Theatre (CLT), Building DA5, Room 001
ORGANISED BY:	Creative Commons

24 August, 2011 | Professor Anne Fitzgerald and Neale Hooper of the ccAustralia team will explain the CC licences and how CC may be utilised by creators, educators, researchers, government officers and the general community to use and reuse open data and cultural materials. Wednesday, 24 August 2011, 4.30pm-6.00pm James Cook University, Central Lecture Theatre (CLT), Building DA5, Room 001. Free admission

Whose extinction? – environment, population, and solutions

LOCATION:	Adelaide Town Hall
ORGANISED BY:	The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, UniSA

24 August, 2011 | With Dermot O’Gorman, CEO, WWF-AustraliaLocal respondent: Adelaide’s Lord Mayor, Stephen YarwoodFor 50 years, bodies like WWF have been at the forefront of global efforts to conserve vulnerable species. Yet the planet’s plants and animals still face an extinction crisis. Research shows that unique species are dwindling, and since 1970, 30 per cent have vanished entirely.

Trans-Atlantic Fiscal Follies: The Sequel

LOCATION:	The Centre for Independent Studies
ORGANISED BY:	The Centre for Independent Studies

30 August, 2011 | The GFC is back. What started as the US subprime crisis became the global financial crisis, which has now developed into the Trans-Atlantic sovereign debt crisis.

Sydney Leadership 2012 – Information Session #1

LOCATION:	Stockland Learning Centre, Level 2, 133 Castlereagh Street, Sydney
ORGANISED BY:	Social Leadership Australia

06 September, 2011 | CHALLENGE YOURSELF. CHANGE YOUR WORLD.Come and find out about Social Leadership Australia’s flagship, award-winning leadership development program, Sydney Leadership, which is now open for applications for 2012.Unleash your true potential to lead change and create lasting social impact, in your organisation and in the world.

Smart Government World Australia 2011

LOCATION:	Hotel Realm
ORGANISED BY:	Terrapinn

06 September, 2011 | How is your department or agency moving to embrace Gov 2.0? What changes are needed to achieve a more open and responsive government? Your best action will be to attend Smart Government Australia 2011.You’ll be inspired by all the leaders of Australia’s move to open and collaborative government. And you’ll discover what you need to do to instigate change.Register your team now to discover:

Australian Fusion: Imagining our Eurasian Future

LOCATION:	Her Majesty’s Theatre, Grote Street
ORGANISED BY:	Presented by The Adelaide Festival Centre’s OzAsia Festival and The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre at UniSA

08 September, 2011 | To be delivered by Jason Yat Sen LiInternational entrepreneur and Vice-Chair of the Australia-China Chamber of Commerce in BeijingMany describe the 21st century as the Asian Century.

Excellence in Research for Australia: Lessons learnt and next steps forward for the HASS disciplines and clusters

LOCATION:	Institute for Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI) Queensland University of Technology, Q Block, IHBI Seminar Room Level 4, 60 Musk Avenue Kelvin Grove. Brisbane
ORGANISED BY:	CHASS

07 October, 2011 | The outcomes of the 2010 round of the Excellence in Research for Australia initiative have revealed mixed results from research undertaken in the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences disciplines.

Copyright Law & Practice

LOCATION:	Australian National Maritime Museum
ORGANISED BY:	Australian Copyright Council

13 October, 2011 |

Australia’s premier copyright event – the biennial Copyright Law & Practice Symposium – returns to Sydney on October 13 -14.

7th Australian Media Traditions Conference (AMT2011): Trends, Traditions and Transformations

LOCATION:	Swinburne University Hawthorn campus
ORGANISED BY:	Institute for Social Research, Swinburne University

21 November, 2011 |

Held every second year since 1999, the conference includes keynote addresses, themed panels and individual academic papers that offer some depth of historical perspective about media.

New course

PhD Scholarships (4) with the Brotherhood of St Laurence-University of Melbourne

05 August, 2011 | This joint initiative between the Brotherhood of St Laurence and the School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Melbourne, will provide four PhD students with the opportunity to inform and promote a national social dialogue for the renewal of Australian social policy.Following thirty years of welfare state development post World War Two, economic globalisation resulted in a dislocation of economic and social policy in the advanced economies. Australia saw the breakup of what had been a distinctive Australian social policy system created at Federation.

New notices

Cultivating arts and disability

08 August, 2011 | Cultivate is a new professional development fund for Australian artists with disability. Cultivate will provide seed funding to artists who want to further develop their professional artistic practice with the aim of being better placed to pursue a professional artistic career and to compete for funding in general arts funding programs. Grants of up to $8,000 are available for the costs associated with developing your professional practice as an artist. This could include specific skills or professional development opportunities including mentoring.

New websites

Where is the Art?

10 August, 2011 | Where is the Art? (WITA) is an online visual arts directory dedicated to locating artists, art galleries & exhibition spaces, art suppliers and art exhibitions in the Orana and Central West regions of NSW.

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Australian Policy Online is a partnership of the Australian National Institute for Public Policy at ANU and the Institute for Social Research at Swinburne University.

Please feel free to share this email and any of its contents with anyone who might be interested.

Important #Perth forum on meds & health – please share and take part Fwd: Fw: Community forum on high medicine costs – could you help me please?

Please share this with your online and offline networks – thanks lots – tony )

Dear all,

As you can see from the email below, my wonderful daughter is hosting a Community forum on the cost of prescription medication and it’s effects on people with low incomes. Please distribute this through your networks.

Kind regards,

Vivien Kemp (BA hons)
Senior Research Officer
Community, Culture & Mental Health Unit
UWA School of Psychiatry & Clinical Neurosciences
Fremantle Hospital
W Block, L6, 1 Alma Street,
Fremantle, Western Australia 6160
tel 08 9431 3438
fax 08 9431 3407
Mail # 704
http://www.psychiatry.uwa.edu.au/research/community-culture/healthright

From: Anna Kemp
Sent: Tuesday, 9 August 2011 3:19 PM
Subject: Community forum on high medicine costs – could you help me please?

Hi all,

I wonder if you could help me to promote a Community Forum I’m running in a few weeks’ time. I’m looking for people who have faced difficulties in affording their prescription medicines. If you know anyone in this situation, could you please pass the attached flyer on to them.

As you probably know I have been working on a research project for the last few years looking at the impact of prescription medicine cost increases on medicines use. There have been some major changes to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in the last 6 years or so, and patient out-of-pocket costs have risen substantially. Our research suggests that many people have cut down or even stopped using important medicines because they are struggling to afford these cost increases.

We are at the stage of our research where we would like to share the results with the community and are having a Community Forum to do this. We really want some feedback from people about how they are coping with rising medicine costs and what policy makers could do to reduce the cost burden.

The Forum is being held at UWA and will feature presentations by the State’s Chief Pharmacist, as well as a lovely talk by myself J. The Forum will be on the 1st September from 9.30am-2.00pm. We will be providing all attendees with morning tea and lunch and will provide a payment to assist with their travel costs.

I’d really love to have a good turnout of community members with different circumstances, including aged pensioners, families with children, young adults etc. If you know anyone who might have faced difficulties affording their medicines and might be able to attend a weekday event, please pass this on to them.

Any help you could give me to promote this event would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,
Anna

Dr Anna Kemp
Research Associate
Centre for Health Services Research
School of Population Health
The University of Western Australia
p + 61 8 6488 1281 |f + 61 8 6488 1188
e anna.kemp
a35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley WA 6009

Health Issues Group Community Forum

Is it difficult for you to afford prescription medicines?

The Australian government subsidises the cost of prescription medicines through Pharmaceutical Medicines Scheme (PBS). Over the past few years patient out-of-pocket costs for PBS medicines have increased substantially, and many people are now struggling to pay for their prescriptions. The Health Consumer’s Council and The University of Western Australia are hosting a community discussion about the cost of prescription medicines. We want to know how community members are coping with PBS medicine costs, and what changes to the PBS would help to reduce the burden of medicine costs.

Flyer for Consumer Forum on Medicines.doc

Aussie Doco maker has success with cultural comedy – BMB Session Times from this Thursday onwards

From esteemed documentary maker ( and friend ) Franco Di Chiera…

Dear all

Below are the revised sessions times and locations for Big Mamma’s Boy from this Thursday through to Wednesday next week. If you are keen to see the film, please check it now!

4 stars out of 5: "Indulge in this Aussie laugh-fest"

OK Magazine (27/7/11)

8 out of 10: "Laughed a lot…quirky in an Aussie way… fantastic"

720 ABC Radio (6/8/11)

“Big Mamma’s Boy is simply good fun – get yourself a big bowl of it.”

RAW: Film (27/7/2011)

“Warm and whimsical… breezy and appealing…with a retro-styled look and appropriately nostalgic soundtrack.”
Melbourne Weekly (19/7/11)

“A fun romp with a great soundtrack of Italian pop songs…the performances are all good”
MovieReview (22/7/11)

HOYTS NORTHLAND VIC – 2 day & 2 eve sessions
HOYTS HIGHPOINT NSW – 1 day & 1 eve session
HOYTS CHADSTONE VIC – 1 day & 1 eve session (wk days only)
READING EPPING VIC – 2 day & 1 eve session
VILLAGE KNOX VIC – 1 day & 1 eve session
VILLAGE SUNSHINE VIC – 2 day & 2 eve sessions
VILLAGE SOUTHLAND VIC – 1 day session
VILLAGE WERRIBEE VIC – 1 day session
GU BURWOOD NSW – 2 day & 1 eve session
HOYTS WETHERILL PARK NSW – 1 day session
EVENT INNALOO W/A – 1 day session
EVENT MARION S/A – 1 day session