Round 10 of the Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program ready for takeoff

The Australian Government has today opened applications for Round 10 of the Remote Airstrip Upgrade (RAU) Program to enhance the safety and accessibility of airstrips in remote and very remote areas of Australia.

The tenth round of the program will provide up to $12 million in grant funding for sites in remote areas nationwide, with projects set to be delivered between 2024 and 2026

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Sara Johnston
Driving EV charging into regional tourism hot spots

Residents and tourists in regional NSW can now drive their electric vehicles with greater confidence as the NSW government delivers more EV chargers through the Destination Charging Program. Applications are now open for small to medium regional tourism businesses and councils to install EV charging infrastructure. Successful applicants will receive 75 per cent of the cost of purchasing and installing up to four charge points at each site.

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Sara Johnston
Major changes to small business procurement

The NSW Government has delivered on its commitment to boost government procurement of goods and services from small and medium businesses with a major change to government procurement.

A direction has been signed today, increasing the level at which government departments and agencies can purchase goods and services directly from small and medium businesses from $150,000 to $250,000.

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Sara Johnston
Apply now for RDA Committee Chair Positions

Applications are now open for 6 RDA Committee Chair positions commencing 1 January 2024.

RDA Committee Chair positions are currently available for: RDA Southern NSW and ACT (NSW);RDA Illawarra Shoalhaven (NSW); RDA Barwon South West (VIC); RDA Gippsland (VIC); RDA Greater Whitsundays (QLD); and RDA Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast (QLD).

Applications close at 5pm AEDT on Monday 13 November 2023. 

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Sara Johnston
ANZSCO comprehensive review - consultation round 3

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) continues its comprehensive review of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) with a third round of public consultation. This is an opportunity for you to make a significant impact by providing feedback on selected occupations, helping shape the quality of Australia’s future occupation and labour market information.

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Sara Johnston
Federal Government launches consultation to modernise the Universal Service Obligation

The Federal Government has opened a broad consultation with industry and the community on the delivery of a modern and more fit-for-purpose Universal Service Obligation (USO).
 
The USO is a longstanding telecommunications safeguard that ensures all Australians can access fixed phone services and payphones, regardless of where they live. The USO is currently delivered by Telstra, and relies on ageing copper wire that is increasingly expensive to maintain.
 

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Sara Johnston
New password technology making online transactions more secure

The NSW Government is taking even more steps to help residents stay protected against cyber breaches with a new feature that informs people if their login credentials may have been compromised. 

With new enhancements to credential technology, holders of a MyServiceNSW account will be automatically notified if their email address and password are found in a third-party breach. They will then be encouraged to update their password and enable multifactor authentication.

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Sara Johnston
ENGIE’s Community Information Hub Opens

ENGIE is excited to launch its new Community Hub in Hay - a central space for people meet with the team and learn more about the project with displays, factsheets, photo-montages, and a new interactive map. There’s also an educational hub for kids and local school groups to learn more about renewable energy

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Sara Johnston
NSW Regional Development Advisory Council established

The NSW Government has delivered the mechanism to establish the new Regional Development Advisory Council, announced during the State Budget, which is a critical step to mobilising the new $350 million Regional Development Trust Fund investment program for regional communities.

The regulation enabling the establishment of the Advisory Council and its objectives was approved by the State’s Executive Council on Wednesday 18 October 2023.

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Sara Johnston
Recommendations to support greater digital inclusion for First Nations Australians

The Federal Government has released the initial report of the First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group (FNDIAG) that outlines positive steps towards narrowing the digital divide for First Nations Australians.
 
The report recommends practical measures to support greater digital inclusion in line with Target 17 in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. It aims to ensure First Nations people have access to information and services that enable participation in decision-making on matters that affect their own lives.

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Sara Johnston
Government to scope emergency mobile roaming capability during natural disasters

The Albanese Government will work with industry to scope an emergency mobile roaming capability to keep Australians connected during natural disasters, following a new report from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) released today.
 
The ACCC’s Regional Mobile Infrastructure Inquiry final report outlines key challenges when it comes to providing reliable, accessible and resilience communications in regional Australia.

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Sara Johnston
Simple steps for small businesses to stay cyber secure

The NSW Government is marking Cyber Security Awareness Month and Small Business Month this October with a new resource for small businesses to help them prevent identity theft and data breaches.

There is a growing need for businesses to better understand their risks online and to be proactive against scams, email attacks, and malicious software.

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Sara Johnston