The new museum design includes a dramatic building that integrates with the heritage-listed buildings on the site. It will deliver a world-class museum with exhibition galleries, multipurpose spaces for public programs and community use, as well as lifelong learning studios, and retail and cafe spaces. It is expected to attract about 800,000 visitors in its first year and will be a major tourism drawcard for the State. Comments attributed to Premier Mark McGowan: "The McGowan Labor Government recognises the important role played by the cultural industries sector in supporting WA's economy by creating jobs, attracting tourists and promoting a vibrant and cohesive community. "The development of a world-class destination that provides excellent visitor experiences and learning opportunities for children and adults will be a great resource for all Western Australians, particularly families. "Importantly it is expected to create 3,300 jobs during the construction phase, 1,800 being in the construction sector." Comments attributed to Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman: "Western Australians deserve a world-class museum that shares the stories of our State in innovative and exciting ways. "The new museum will showcase the State's extraordinary history, biodiversity, people and places. It will be a museum for all Western Australians and will feature Aboriginal culture as well as the stories of the many people of our multicultural State. "It will draw people from across WA and around the world to our capital city and be a gateway to exploring the many and varied wonders of WA."
The first round of the 2017 McGowan Labor Government's Community Grants Scheme was announced today by Environment Minister Stephen Dawson. Projects funded include the ReFood mobile phone app, several initiatives aimed at reducing the use of plastics and plastic bags, and waste minimisation and recycling workshops. Nearly $13,000 is being provided to the Edith Cowan University (ECU) ReFood Group to develop its app, which will connect community organisations that redistribute food with local shops and cafes that wish to donate excess food. Perth City Farm's new community recycling hub - opened today by Perth MLA John Carey - is another example of a project funded by the scheme. The hub is a drop-off location for certain hazardous household items and a key part of the farm's education programs. The scheme is administered by the Waste Authority and funded through the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Account. For more information on applying for grants, visit: http://www.wasteauthority.wa.gov.au/programs/grants Comments attributed to Environment Minister Stephen Dawson: "The commitment shown by all grant recipients should be commended. "These projects are run by dedicated groups that are committed to reducing waste, boosting recycling and protecting the environment. "Food waste is a significant issue for WA and its reduction is key to helping deliver the waste diversion targets in the Western Australian Waste Strategy. "Initiatives like these help increase awareness and education around our understanding of the benefits of waste avoidance, reuse and recycling. "Supporting these communities-focused projects will help the McGowan Labor Government achieve the Western Australian Waste Strategy targets of diverting 65 per cent of municipal solid waste in the Perth metropolitan region and 50 per cent in major regional centres from landfill by 2020." Minister's office - 6552 5800 Community Grants Scheme First Round 2017 Recipients Reduce your Use and Recycle (Northern Agricultural Catchments Council) - $20,000 to build on the successful Skip the Plastic community recycling program trialled in Geraldton in 2016, including the introduction of 10 new recycling drop-off points, permanent signage and inspiring community engagement activities; Think.Eat.Save (OzHarvest) - $15,000 to hold a community event in the Perth CBD promoting food waste minimisation. Local chefs, politicians and celebrities will cook 'rescued' fresh food that would otherwise end up in landfill and will serve members of the public a delicious free hot meal on the day; Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover and Renew: Waste Management in the WA Club Industry (Clubs WA) - $15,900 to hold a 'think tank' event in early 2018, which will bring the State's metropolitan and regional clubs together to examine current waste management strategies, and workshop ways to develop and improve them for the future. A Waste Reduction Award will also be launched at the 2018 Western Australian Club Industry Awards; Bag the Bags: Spreading the Word about Plastic in our Environment (Mount Barker Community Garden) - $13,167 for educational presentations and workshops to engage the community to keep plastics out of waterways and promote the 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle' message; ReFood: The Food Sharing Network (ECU ReFood Group) - $12,798 to develop a mobile phone application that connects community organisations which redistribute food with local shops and cafes. Food can be advertised through the app, then 'claimed' and collected; Show UR Green (Bindoon and Districts Agricultural Society Inc) - $11,745 to assist in implementing recycling at the Bindoon Agricultural Show. This initiative will help raise community awareness of the benefits of avoidance, reuse, recycling and responsible disposal through interactive performance artists, bin monitors, educational displays and promotion; Wake Up to Plastics (Dongara Placemaking Group) - $8,115 to create awareness and reduce the number of plastic bags by distributing jute bags and holding workshops and information sessions on recycling; Leading by Example (Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service) - $6,700 to purchase a mobile incinerator for medical waste for the Jigalong remote community near Newman; Plastic Free July events, information and education (Peel Preservation Group Inc) - $5,610 to challenge the community on its use of single-use plastics all year round at events and presentations, including for primary schools and through social and other media; Great Southern Soft Plastics Project: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle (Albany Community Environment Centre) - $4,208 to launch soft plastic recycling bins, demonstrations and hands-on activities aimed at reducing single-use plastic usage; Bridgetown Boomerang Bags Bounce Back (Blackwood Youth Action Inc) - $3,200 for a community initiative that will create shopping bags for people to borrow on entering a local store instead of using plastic bags. At a later time they can return the bag/s to the depot for reuse by other shoppers; Mobile Waste Education Station (MWES) (Denmark Arts) - $2,504 to create a mobile waste education station for use at community events in Denmark; and Good Poo for You (RDA - Peel Group) - $845 to build a manure composting system for waste generated by equine clubs and educate horse owners about manure composting.
The Local Government Amendment (Auditing) Bill 2017 will raise the standard of accountability for local governments to a level more consistent with public sector departments and agencies and other jurisdictions. The legislation follows recent Corruption and Crime Commission investigations into a number of local governments for allegations of serious misconduct and corruption. It also responds to recommendations made by the Legislative Assembly Public Accounts Committee. Ratepayers will have improved access to an independent assessment of their council's financial position as local governments will be required to publish their annual reports including audit report on their website. The legislation also introduces a new category of audits known as performance audits that will examine the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of programs and organisations, including compliance with legislative provisions and internal policies. Comments attributed to Local Government Minister David Templeman: "This legislation is long overdue and will address issues concerning the lack of accountability and transparency in some local governments. "There is absolutely no reason why local governments should not have the same accountability standards as State Government departments and agencies. This legislation brings them in line with the rest of the public service and other jurisdictions. "It will enable ratepayers to hold their councils to greater account and better protect community interests and funds. "This Bill is an example of the McGowan Government leading the way and taking action to restore public confidence in the local government sector and ensuring the Western Australian community benefits from local governments which are accountable, transparent and responsible."
The company's plans include expansion of its farming, milling and processing volumes to meet increasing local demand. A new feed mill will be built at Muchea over the next three years and a hatchery will also be built at a site yet to be finalised. The plans are expected to create an extra 400 permanent jobs and an estimated 1,000 indirect jobs. Dozens of additional jobs will also be created during the construction phase. The McGowan Labor Government is committed to delivering local jobs and expanding agriculture will be key to this plan. Comments attributed to Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan: "Ingham's decision to keep investing in WA signals the serious business interest in our local agriculture and food industries. "WA Labor started discussions with Ingham's last year and committed to facilitating this relocation and expansion - now we have fulfilled that commitment. "Growing exports is important, but there are real opportunities in expanding our agriculture sector to meet increasing local demand. "We can ensure the best quality products end up on Western Australian plates and, at the same time, reduce our reliance on imports from the Eastern States. "I congratulate Ingham's on taking this step that will get more Western Australians into work."
Lawyer Sam Vandongen and legal firm HHG Legal Group have been named this year's individual and organisational winners respectively. Mr Vandongen's work included acting entirely pro bono as lead counsel for Pintupi man Gene Gibson, wrongly convicted of the manslaughter of Josh Warneke in 2010. In the organisational category, the winning company, HHG Legal Group, has a long history of involvement in the local community, dating back to the early years of last century. Comments attributed to Attorney General John Quigley: "The pro bono contributions made by each winner are impressive and represent a significant amount of time and effort in helping the less fortunate in our community. "Mr Vandongen willingly donated countless hours of his time to assist Mr Gibson, demonstrating his commitment to using his substantial legal skills to benefit our most vulnerable. "Mr Gibson was subsequently released from prison, which was due in no small part to Mr Vandongen's efforts. "HHG Legal Group's strong commitment to pro bono work includes providing free legal advice to hundreds of people living with cancer through the Cancer Council of WA. "The company also offers free community legal clinics in three locations, open to any member of the community on a limited basis. "I congratulate both winners on their profound contribution and unwavering commitment to the WA community."
Housing Minister Peter Tinley said that the new Y-Shac, which was officially opened today (May 15) by Her Excellency the Honourable Kerry Sanderson AC, Governor of Western Australia, was built by the Housing Authority on State Government land at a total cost of $1.73 million. The new property in Jecks Street, Rockingham, replaces an older facility that has helped hundreds of young people since the 1980s. It offers seven bedrooms and two transitional units as well as administrative offices, kitchens, bathrooms and living areas. The facility is conveniently located in the heart of the Rockingham community, close to public transport and employment and educational opportunities. Construction commenced in April 2015 and the facility has been operating since August 2016. Child Protection Minister Simone McGurk said the Department for Child Protection and Family Support and the Mental Health Commission provided annual funding of more than $1 million to Anglicare WA to fund the Y-Shac program. Comments attributed to Housing Minister Peter Tinley: "Y-Shac supports young people aged 15-20, experiencing or at risk of homelessness, with crisis accommodation and young people aged 16-25 in transitional housing. "These young people may be escaping an unstable home life, family or relationship breakdown, eviction, exposure to crime, drugs and violence or dealing with complex mental health issues. "They are greatly in need of a safe space that provides them with stability, guidance and access to agencies that can provide a range of support services." Comment attributed to Child Protection Minister Simone McGurk: "The new Y-Shac is an exceptional facility where young people receive the guidance they need to reach their potential in life and help break the homelessness cycle."
Towards 2020 covers all legislation administered by the Department of Mines and Petroleum's primary safety regulator - the Resources Safety Division. The department is encouraging industry to work proactively to prevent accidents and fatalities from occurring, and to promote a positive work culture. Towards 2020 describes the goals, focus areas and measures of success for safety and health initiatives undertaken by the regulator. It is the first of a series of high-level, three-year rolling strategies to raise awareness and maintain compliance in the resources sector, and goes beyond the traditional day-to-day inspectorate activities. The strategies are presented as a live online resource that is easily accessible, and can be updated as emerging issues and trends are identified. The department's three key goals are world-leading regulation, smarter systems and a well-informed industry. For more information, visit http://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/towards2020 Comments attributed to Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston: "The safety and health of workers is a high priority of the McGowan Labor Government. "Towards 2020 will foster a shared safety and health vision, and how it can be achieved. "It will help Resources Safety effectively engage with all of its stakeholders, and share important information on health and safety."
A total of 23 radio-collared rock wallabies from three Wheatbelt populations were translocated by Department of Parks and Wildlife staff and volunteers, with assistance from WWF Australia. Black-flanked rock wallabies were considered extinct from the park for 20 years, until two wallabies were filmed in a gorge in 2015. The sighting was later confirmed by Parks and Wildlife camera monitoring. To date, 46 radio-collared rock wallabies have been released into the park from the Wheatbelt, with 23 introduced last year. Monitoring has shown only one animal from last year's translocation is known to have died and the remainder of the wallabies are doing well. Parks and Wildlife have been culling goats in the park since 2006, with goats having caused the initial decline of the species as they competed for food and pushed the wallabies out of the protected gorge areas where they were vulnerable to fox and cat predation. Under the Western Shield wildlife conservation program, Parks and Wildlife have carried out fox baiting in the park since 1996, and implementing Eradicat® cat baiting, which is supported by $1.7 million in Australian Government funding for further cat control in WA. The nearest known population of black-flanked rock wallabies is more than 450 kilometres away in the Wheatbelt, and there are some scattered populations much further north in the Pilbara. Comments attributed to Environment Minister Stephen Dawson: "The McGowan Government is working towards establishing a healthy population of black- flanked rock wallabies in the Kalbarri National Park once again. "Managing the threat of goats, foxes and feral cats is key to the long-term prosperity of the species in the park, and this will benefit other mammal, bird and reptile species in the area. "Remote sensing cameras have been deployed throughout the park, and this is helping us learn more about the species' behaviour so we can better protect them in the future, as well as monitoring predator levels."
The annual event, now in its 10th year in Perth, raises awareness and funds to fight breast cancer. Last year, it attracted more than 105,000 participants and raised more than $3.1 million nationally. In 2017, Mother's Day Classic events will be held in nine major cities and 81 regional locations across Australia. Western Australia's regional events will be held in Bunbury, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Karratha, Newman, Pannawonica, Port Hedland and Wickham. The Mother's Day Classic started in Melbourne and Sydney in 1998 and has since raised $30.4 million nationally. This year's event is organised by Women in Super, with ME bank the major sponsor. For more information on the event, visit http://www.mothersdayclassic.com.au Comments attributed to Women's Interests Minister Simone McGurk: "This Sunday morning, Langley Park will be blanketed in pink as thousands of people pay tribute to loved ones who have been lost to, or are currently fighting, breast cancer. "It is also an opportunity to celebrate the life of survivors of breast cancer - an illness that affects one in eight of Australian women. "I am proud to say, I have participated in all 10 events held in Perth since 2007. "The event raises much-needed funds for breast cancer research, and is run by a large team of committed volunteers. "I'd like to thank the event organiser Women in Super, their small dedicated team of staff and their committed volunteers who go the extra mile to support a cause that affects so many lives."
In an effort to save $518 million, the existing wages policy of a 1.5 per cent per year increase has been overhauled, with the new policy providing a $19.20 per week increase, for a 38-hour week, or $1,000 per year for public sector employees. The $1,000 limit will be pro rata for part time and casual employees. All new and replacement public sector industrial agreements will be subject to the new policy from today (May 12). The terms of existing enterprise agreements will be honoured. In addition, a tightening of the existing framework for employment reclassifications will be implemented to prevent the prospect of bypassing the new wages policy. The McGowan Government will also implement a wage freeze for all positions determined by the Salaries and Allowances Tribunal for the next four years. Legislation will be introduced to implement the freeze. Comments attributed to Premier Mark McGowan: "Everyone across the community needs to share the load of repairing the damage to the State's finances left behind by the Liberal National Government. "Our new policy ensures everyone in the public sector is treated fairly and is a reasonable response given the current economic and financial circumstances. "The State's highest paid employees, including Members of Parliament, need to accept that they need to do some of the heavy lifting and lead by example. "I'll also be writing to Government Trading Enterprises indicating that the State Government expects all comparable positions to those covered by the Salaries and Allowances Tribunal will have a wage freeze imposed for four years." Comments attributed to Treasurer Ben Wyatt: "We have inherited the worst set of books in history and difficult decisions need to be made. "Salary expenses are at unsustainable levels. Efforts by the previous government to reign it in were too little, too late and that's why we have had to make this decision. "The State Government is taking a considered approach acknowledging the reality of our economic situation, with inflation and wages growth at unprecedented lows." Comments attributed to Commerce and Industrial Relations Minister Bill Johnston: "The new public sector wages policy reflects the reality of WA's economic circumstances, with real wages actually going backwards in the private sector. "The new policy provides fairness across the whole public sector. "Under the policy, formal offers made under the previous wages policy will be honoured." |
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