Heavy Vehicle Rest Area projects hitting the road

Truck drivers will have more options to take a break when travelling across Australia’s regions, with state, territory and local governments now able to apply for funding under the Australian Government’s Heavy Vehicle Rest Area grant funding opportunity.

Through the Heavy Vehicle Rest Area, the Australian Government has committed $140 million over 10 years for the construction of new and upgraded heavy vehicle rest areas. The initiative will be delivered through the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program (HVSPP).

A survey has also been developed for truck drivers and interested road users to provide input on the location and condition of existing rest areas and to provide advice on where additional rest areas may be required.

• Complete: HVRA survey

• Help: HVSPP@infrastructure.gov.au

Consultation opens on new laws to protect Australians online

Public consultation has commenced on a new framework to empower the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to hold digital platforms to account for harmful misinformation and disinformation online. These proposed powers will bring greater transparency to efforts by digital platforms to respond to misinformation and disinformation on their services, while balancing freedom of expression.

 Public consultation is now open with legislation to be introduced into Parliament later this year.

Closes: Sunday 6 August 2023

Submit: have your say or integrity@infrastructure.gov.au

Learn: new laws to tackle misinformation

https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/have-your-say/new-acma-powers-combat-misinformation-and-disinformation

Industry roundtable brings heavy vehicle priorities to light

Media Release from The Hon Carol Brown MP, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport

MEDIA RELEASE | Wednesday 12 July 2023

Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Carol Brown has today held an industry roundtable to discuss critical heavy vehicle priorities for Australia, including the sustainability of the sector as well as the transition to net zero and new technologies.

More than 20 industry representatives joined the roundtable, which also held productive discussions on how government can better engage the industry, as well as workforce challenges and opportunities such as in workplace health and safety and skills development.

The discussions brought together representatives that directly support, work and hire within the sector, including government transport associations, peak body and industry groups, and transport operators.

The roundtable forms part of the Government’s commitment to listening to the priorities and experiences of the heavy vehicle industry, recognising how vital the industry is to our way of life.

It also provided the opportunity for Government to update the industry on a number of ongoing initiatives to bolster heavy vehicle safety and productivity, including the roll out of the Heavy Vehicle Rest Area initiative, reforms to the Heavy Vehicle National Law, and trialling new approaches to road user charging.

Australia and the United Kingdom jetting towards net zero

Media Release from The Hon Catherine King MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government

MEDIA RELEASE | Wednesday 19 July 2023

Australia and the United Kingdom have highlighted shared ambitions for decarbonising aviation including though the work of our respective Jet Zero Councils.

Like the UK, the Albanese Government supports the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from international aviation without constraining while still facilitating growth in the industry. 

ICAO’s initiatives include the adoption of a long-term aspirational goal for international aviation of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and the implementation of the Carbon Offsetting Reduction Scheme for International Aviation.

In meetings this week with UK ministers, including Baroness Vere of Norbiton, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Aviation, Maritime and Security), we have discussed shared ambitions and initial progress in decarbonising aviation, as well as the UK’s experience so far in encouraging an industry-government partnership approach through its Jet Zero Council.

Just last month I announced the Australian Jet Zero Council, which is due to meet for the first time in August, bringing together stakeholders from across our aviation industry and its fuel supply chain to identify opportunities to decarbonise the sector.

The Council will support Australia’s aviation industry and government to collaborate in achieving emissions reductions on the path to net zero, including through increased use of sustainable aviation fuels, adoption of emerging technologies and making operations more efficient.

I look forward to continuing to work across government, with industry and with international partners to drive the decarbonisation of aviation and secure a greener, more sustainable future. 

$750 million for councils local road and infrastructure priorities

Joint Media Release from The Hon Catherine King MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government and The Hon Kristy McBain MP, Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories

MEDIA RELEASE | Monday 03 July 2023

The next funding phase of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program, totalling $750 million, is now available for councils across Australia to nominate projects. Phase 4 funding allocations include an additional $250 million targeted to improve rural, regional and outer urban roads. Projects funded under Phase 4 are expected to be completed by 30 June 2025.

The Australian Government has committed $3.25 billion to the LRCI program over four phases. Every local government is allocated and able to nominate projects for LRCI funding. The LRCI program works in partnership with councils to provide them flexibility to deliver priority local road and community infrastructure projects relevant to their region, creating jobs and long-lasting benefits for communities.

In March, the Government extended project construction timelines for Phases 1–3 of the program. Councils across Australia now have until 30 June 2024 to complete works, giving them a much-needed extra year on the LRCI construction timeframes for all three phases.

Inland Rail | Supplier Capability Development Program

The ARTC Inland Rail Skills Academy is partnering with Deborah Wilson Consulting Services to facilitate a ‘Pathways to Opportunities’ capability building program for businesses along the Albury to Parkes section of Inland Rail in Southern New South Wales (NSW). The program, which will run over a nine month period, will help regional businesses understand how to engage with buyers, prepare compliant tender submissions, and manage contracts for work on major projects and within regional supply chains.

Applications close on 10 July 2023.

Upgrades to safeguard transmission sites during natural disasters

Media Release from The Hon Michelle Rowland MP, Minister for Communications

The Albanese Government will improve the resilience of 107 ABC radio sites used for emergency broadcasting which are at a higher risk of service failure due to natural disasters.

The $20 million Broadcasting Resilience Program (BRP) will keep communities in rural and regional Australia informed and connected during natural disasters by increasing the resilience of ABC broadcast sites across the country.

The national backbone of rural and regional broadcasting is provided by BAI Communications who will deliver the work program over the next three years to:

• establish 55 new emergency power systems (e.g. battery and diesel backup) at ABC Local Radio sites;

• deliver backup program inputs (e.g. satellite input) for 77 ABC Local Radio sites to quickly re-establish broadcast services;

• deliver civil and infrastructure upgrades to 10 ABC AM sites in areas susceptible to flooding; and

• supply five rapid recovery assets that can be rapidly deployed anywhere in Australia during a natural disaster or other significant event.

The upgrades on these sites – including multiple types of upgrade on a single site – will also have a wide range of additional benefits to other service providers who are co-located on many BAI sites including commercial broadcasters, telecommunications providers and state and territory emergency services.

This announcement is in addition to the $50 million Telecommunications Disaster Resilience Innovation (TDRI) program and the $15 million Mobile Network Hardening Program previously announced by the Albanese Government. Both programs are part of the Albanese Government’s $656 million Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia funded in the October 2022 Budget.

The 2020 Royal Commission on National Natural Disaster Arrangements Final Report acknowledged the important role played by broadcast media in the coverage of emergency warnings and information to the community during the 2019-20 bushfire season and identified disruptions to power supply as a significant vulnerability. The BRP ultimately aims to improve the preparedness of these sites and infrastructure on it against increasing natural disasters.

The Liberal National Coalition had years to act on proposals to harden broadcast transmissions sites to improve safety for communities in rural and regional Australia, but did nothing.

For more information on the Better Connectivity Plan visit https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/media-communications-arts/better-connectivity-plan-regional-and-rural-australia

Multicultural NSW Settlement Strategy

The NSW Settlement Strategy brings together existing and new NSW Government initiatives to improve settlement outcomes for people from refugee and refugee-like backgrounds living in NSW.

The NSW Settlement Strategy provides a framework for the NSW Government to:

• have a shared understanding of what successful settlement means

• continue to deliver services and programs that are working well

• collaboratively address areas for attention

• evaluate and apply learnings to improve settlement outcomes in NSW.

The NSW Settlement Strategy will be implemented by the NSW Government from February 2023 to June 2025. The Action Plan will complement and strengthen programs and initiatives underway in NSW that are led by the Commonwealth Government and non-government sector.

The full strategy is available in english here.

The NSW Settlement Strategy Summary is available in 17 languages here.

Sustainable aviation fuels set for take-off

Media Release from The Hon Catherine King MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government

A homegrown sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry could help decarbonise the hard-to-abate aviation sector and create thousands of regional jobs, with grants backed by the Albanese Government. 

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) will invest $30 million to support development of domestic SAF production from agricultural feedstocks.

The global air transport industry is committed to net-zero by 2050, but low SAF production and high prices are standing in the way.

ARENA’s 2021 Bioenergy Roadmap found a local bioenergy industry could contribute around $10 billion in extra GDP by 2030, supporting more than 26,000 new jobs.

Grants for engineering studies or pilot programmes across the supply chain, from agricultural feedstock supply to final fuel production, will fast track development of a local industry in regional Australia.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said SAF presented a huge opportunity for Australia.

“The world’s climate emergency is Australia’s jobs opportunity, and this is true for the aviation industry which is looking to reduce emissions - a homegrown sustainable aviation fuels industry could create more than 7,400 jobs by 2030, most of them in regional areas,” Minister Bowen said.

“Australia’s strong agricultural sector means we could be a global leader by scaling up domestic production of renewable fuel for exports, which could help reduce global aviation emissions significantly.

“This investment means the beginning of airlines being able to source their fuel from a variety of sources and decrease our dependence on importing fuels from overseas.

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said Australia both had the need and resources to support a SAF industry.

“With our population spread across an entire continent, aviation is often the only viable option for freight and passenger transport, and a domestic SAF industry can help transition the domestic industry,” Minister King said.

“And with enormous volumes of tallow and canola oil currently shipped offshore due to attractive incentives offered by other governments, there is huge potential for Australia to become a sustainable fuels powerhouse.

“The outcomes of the ARENA-backed projects could have huge implications for regional Australia, and we will be closely following them as a government.”

ARENA will open applications for grants by mid-July.

Consultation opens on new laws to tackle online misinformation and disinformation

Media Release from The Hon Michelle Rowland MP, Minister for Communications

Public consultation has commenced on a new framework to empower the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to hold digital platforms to account for harmful misinformation and disinformation online.
 
These proposed powers will bring greater transparency to efforts by digital platforms to respond to misinformation and disinformation on their services, while balancing freedom of expression which is at the heart of democracy.
 
The release of exposure draft legislation gives industry and the community the opportunity to review proposed ACMA information-gathering, record-keeping, code registration and standard-making powers to compel digital platforms to do more to protect Australians from the threat of online misinformation and disinformation.
 
The draft framework focuses on systemic issues which pose a risk of harm on digital platforms. It does not empower the ACMA to determine what is true or false or to remove individual content or posts. The code and standard-making powers will not apply to professional news content or authorised electoral content.
 
Platforms will continue to be responsible for the content they host and promote to users. If platforms fail to act to combat misinformation and disinformation over time, the ACMA would be able to draw on its reserve powers to register enforceable industry codes with significant penalties for non-compliance, or create a standard requiring platforms to lift the bar on their efforts.

Codes or standards could include measures such as stronger tools to empower users to identify and report misinformation and disinformation, ensure more robust complaints handling, and enable more extensive use of fact checkers.

The proposed powers implement the key recommendations in the ACMA’s June 2021 report to government on the adequacy of digital platforms’ disinformation and news quality measures. The powers build upon and are intended to strengthen and support the voluntary code developed by the Digital Industry Group Inc. (DIGI).
 
Public consultation will close on Sunday, 6 August, with legislation to be introduced into Parliament later this year.
 
To find out more and have your say, visit www.infrastructure.gov.au/have-your-say

ACCC looking for fixed wireless customers to take part in Australia's leading study on internet performance

Help regional consumers choose the best broadband services

Since 2018, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has run the Measuring Broadband Australia program which enables consumers, industry and policymakers to better understand how Australians are experiencing internet performance, including download speeds and reliability, in their homes.

The ACCC are looking for customers on fixed wireless plans to sign up to be part of Australia's leading study on internet performance.

Using global internet performance monitoring platform, SamKnows, the ACCC are collecting and analysing broadband data to help consumers all over Australia understand drivers of variable network performance and empowering informed discussions with internet providers.

The ACCC would like to understand how your fixed wireless household streams, games, surfs and searches to help us better measure internet performance in regional Australia.

To participate in Australia's leading study on internet performance you can:

• Sign up

• If selected, receive your SamKnows Whitebox in the mail

• Plug the Whitebox into your router

• Sit back and let the Whitebox measure your internet performance.

Tests are run when you’re not using your connection, so that it doesn’t disrupt your service. Your internet usage is not monitored by the Whitebox.

Not only will you be helping to monitor Australian broadband performance, but the SamKnows Whitebox allows you to track the performance of your service.

SamKnows will even send a handy summary of your internet performance each month and let you know if anything needs your attention.

Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) welcomes new forest partnership

The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) welcomes Agriculture Minister Murray Watt’s announcement establishing a new Strategic Forest and Renewable Materials Partnership to work with the Albanese Government on issues facing the forest products sector, Chief Executive Officer of AFPA Joel Fitzgibbon said recently.

Co-chaired by AFPA Chair Diana Gibbs and CFMEU Manufacturing Secretary Michael O’Connor, the Partnership aims to help the Government achieve its own goals around climate, the environment, and sovereign capability through engagement with all relevant stakeholders.

A total of 15 representatives from across industry, unions, indigenous, environmental and other stakeholder groups will sit on the Strategic Partnership to advise, consult and cooperate with the Government on plans to ensure the sector realises its full potential and to further enhance its role in addressing climate change and building sovereign capability in the resourcing and manufacture of sustainable and renewable timber and wood fibre products.

“Today I thank the Government and Minister Watt for fulfilling a key pre-election commitment by announcing this new Strategic Partnership. With the right strategy and government guidance, the forest products sector can employ more people, make a larger contribution to the economy, make more things here and play an even greater role in addressing the climate change,” Joel Fitzgibbon said on May 24th.

AFPA Chair Diana Gibbs also welcomed the collaboration the Strategic Partnership will provide.

“This is an exciting opportunity for all voices to support the important role of the forest products sector in Australia’s future. Not just of course for the climate and achieving sovereign capability, but also in providing employment and value-adding in the regions,” Diana Gibbs said.

“I truly believe we have a key role providing sustainable products to replace plastics and carbon intensive building materials and it will be exciting to get the Partnership operating to help achieve the outcomes we all need,” Diana Gibbs concluded.

Regional Australia Institute releases The Big Skills Challenge report

Regional job vacancies grew three times faster than metropolitan Australia at the end of 2022, with supply struggling to keep up with demand.

The RAI’s latest report, Regional Jobs 2022: The Big Skills Challenge, identifies the biggest gaps in critical roles. Regional vacancies for Medical Practitioners and Nurses represent almost half of the total national vacancies for this occupation grouping, despite regional Australia representing only one-third of the national population.

Regional Jobs 2022: The Big Skills Challenge, identifies the top four most in-demand online advertised roles across regional Australia for December. These include:

• Medical Practitioners and Nurses – 6,166

• General Inquiry Clerks, Call Centre Workers and Receptionists – 5,941

• Carers and Aides – 5,416

• Sales Assistants and Salespersons – 4,527

Regional Australia to benefit from uncapped satellite broadband

Media release from The Hon Michelle Rowland MP, Minister for Communications

Thousands of Australians living in regional and rural Australia can order uncapped satellite broadband services from today, following a successful trial of NBN Co’s new Sky Muster Plus product to boost internet speeds in the bush.
 
The new Sky Muster Plus Premium service will provide customers with unmetered data 24 hours a day and faster speeds of up to 100 Mbps.
 
The service responds to increasing demand for more data and faster speeds from satellite users caused by the growing use of video streaming, and people working and studying from home.
 
The product launch follows a trial over 10,000 Sky Muster Plus customers earlier this year that reported greater user satisfaction when customers could access increased evening speeds and uncapped data.
 
The unmetered service has been enabled by the Albanese Government’s $480 million investment to upgrade NBN Fixed Wireless services that is moving around 120,0000 premises from satellite to fixed wireless, freeing up capacity on Sky Muster.
 
The launch of the new product complements the Albanese Government’s commitments to improving NBN technologies in regional areas, including by investing $2.4 billion to expand full-fibre NBN to an additional 1.5 million premises – 660,000 of which will be in regional areas.
 
Further information about the new product is available at www.nbn.com.au/skymusterplus.

Free online forums for regional, rural and remote allied health professionals

Charles Sturt University’s Three Rivers Department of Rural Health is offering a series of free online forums for regional, rural and remote allied health professionals.

These free online forums are blue-sky thinking on how to transform allied health education to meet the current and future workforce and service needs of regional, rural and remote government, not-for-profit, and private organisations.

The forums are for allied health professionals, from new graduates to very experienced, and their managers who provide services to people living in regional, rural and remote areas.

These one-hour online forums are facilitated by staff in the Charles Sturt University School of Allied Health, Exercise and Sports Sciences and funded by the Three Rivers Department of Rural Health.

These forums will explore your perspective on:

• Changes needed in allied health education to meet contemporary and future needs

• How government, not-for-profit and private agencies can collaborate in the education of allied health students

• How agencies and universities can collaborate, e.g. continuing professional development, research, conjoint positions

• Providing students with high-quality practice experiences that will also benefit the agencies and communities.

The forums will be held online between Tuesday 13th June and Friday 23rd June at various times.

Business Connect offers Free Business Health Checks

Enterprise Plus, through the NSW Government funded Business Connect program, in conjunction with local and regional stakeholders, is offering small business owners the opportunity of a Free Business Health Check! June is the perfect time to commit to making positive changes to improve the performance of your business next financial year. Engage with a professional and experienced business advisor and fine tune your strategic priorities!

Business Health Checks start in Hay on the 7th June and finish in Nowra on the 29th August.

Expressions of Interest open for connected machinery suppliers to participate in On Farm Connectivity Program

Media Release from the Hon Michelle Rowland MP, Minister for Communications

Organisations which supply connected machinery and connectivity equipment for primary producers are encouraged to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to participate in the Albanese Government’s new On Farm Connectivity Program (OFCP).
 
The $30 million OFCP, which was funded through the October 2022-23 Federal Budget, will enable primary producers in agriculture, forestry and fisheries to extend connectivity further onto their properties, and take advantage of connected machinery and sensor technology to make the sector more efficient.”
 
The EOI process will create a list of suppliers who will participate in the program. These suppliers will be eligible for a rebate of between $3,000 and $30,000, offsetting 50 per cent of the cost of equipment purchased by primary producers.
 
Rebates will be available for a wide range of technology including external antennas, repeaters, boosters, sensors, automated tank systems and pump controllers, animal movement tags and relevant installation and training costs.
 
Rebates to fund connected machinery upgrades will provide a significant boost to these producers and will help drive growth in the sector.
           
The OFCP is part of the Albanese Government’s $656 million Better Connectivity Plan for Regional and Rural Australia. The Plan is funding additional rounds of the Regional Connectivity Program, the Mobile Black Spots Program, and extending eligibility for Peri Urban Mobile Program.
 
The Expression of Interest is available from the Department’s website at www.infrastructure.gov.au/media-communications-arts/better-connectivity-plan-regional-and-rural-australia. Expressions of Interest will be open for four weeks, and close on 5 July 2023.

Tourism Research Australia releases State of the Industry 2022 Report

TRA has now published the State of the industry 2022 report. This annual report presents a snapshot of Australia’s visitor economy in 2022. 

The pandemic had a major impact on the visitor economy. In 2022, the recovery gained momentum and broadened across a wider range of segments. International visitation increased strongly, off an extremely low level. Domestic travel demand also improved, and domestic visitor spend rose above its pre-pandemic level. 

RDA Riverina and NSW Government promote the Riverina to Western Sydney migrants

RDA Riverina, in collaboration with the NSW Government Growing Regions of Welcome pilot program, has produced a flyer highlighting the benefits of moving to the Riverina.

The flyer is targeted at migrants currently living in Western Sydney.

The flyer highlights the job opportunities, lifestyle benefits, welcoming communities and assistance available through the pilot program, operating in the Leeton Shire Council and Temora Shire Council areas.

For more information about the pilot program, contact Jay, our NSW GROW Riverina Backbone Coordinator, at coordinator@rdariverina.org.au.

Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) welcomes China's decision to lift ban on log trade

Media Release from AFPA 23rd May 2023

The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) welcomes China’s decision to lift its quarantine ban on timber logs that has been in place for more than two years, Chief Executive Officer of AFPA Joel Fitzgibbon said today.

“We welcome the news of China’s decision to lift its quarantine ban that will allow the export trade of timber logs to resume. China has been and will continue to be an important market for Australian timber and wood fibre export products. When the ban came into effect more than two years ago it caused a great deal of upheaval and uncertainty for many timber exporters and the broader forest sector and this resolution is welcomed,” Joel Fitzgibbon said.

“AFPA and log exporters have worked closely with the Albanese Government, especially Trade Minister Don Farrell, and the former Coalition Government on this issue, and we thank them for their efforts helping to resolve the quarantine issues that China faced importing logs from Australia.”

China voiced phytosanitary concerns and the Commonwealth worked on a range of measures including increased inspections of log consignments, monitoring during fumigation, re-inspections after fumigation and increased audits for all log exporters.

“I look forward to normalisation of trade relations with regards to the timber log trade and AFPA will work closely with our impacted members, other stakeholders and the Commonwealth to ensure a smooth transition back to normal trade following today’s decision,” Joel Fitzgibbon concluded.