News
December
09 Dec 2012
Australia joins Kyoto Protocol second commitment
World on track to 2015 Climate Change Agreement...
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06 Dec 2012
Agreement for full roll out of NDIS in NSW by July 2018
NDIS will provide care and support to around 140,000 NSW residents with significant disability...
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November
29 Nov 2012
Legislation for a National Disability Insurance Scheme
Introduction to Parliament of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Bill...
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28 Nov 2012
High quality education for every child
Inroduction to Parliament of the Australian Education Bill 2012...
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28 Nov 2012
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Peoples Recognition Bill
The Bill includes a statement of Parliament's commitment to pursuing constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples...
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22 Nov 2012
Government delivers historic water reform
Murray Darling Basin Plan...
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October
31 Oct 2012
Review of the FOI Act
Dr Allan Hawke AC will conduct an independent review of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 and the Australian Information Commissioner Act 2010....
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31 Oct 2012
Parliament locks in historic equal pay rises
Eligible workers will receive their first instalment in December, as scheduled....
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23 Oct 2012
Implementation of a national foreign ownership register for agricultural land
Register will provide the community with better information on foreign investment in agricultural land...
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22 Oct 2012
A sustainable family payment system
The Government is making changes to the Baby Bonus that maintains support for new parents with the upfront costs of having a baby, while ensuring the family payments system is sustainable into the future...
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September
13 Sep 2012
Our Paralympic heroes are the pride of Australia
Australia's 161-strong team excelled on the Paralympic stage, smashing an impressive 24 world and Paralympic records, and finishing 5th in the overall medal count...
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August
20 Aug 2012
Women of War recognised
Former members of the Australian Women's Land Army recognised on 70th anniversary of its foundation...
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July
06 Jul 2012
Multi Party Reference Group
The Reference Group will provide an important mechanism through which the independent expert panel can canvass the views of the Parliament in conducting its work....
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01 Jul 2012
Australia's Clean Energy Future
A carbon price will start transforming our economy to clean energy sources llike solar, wind, geothermal and natural gas...
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01 Jul 2012
NAIDOC Week 2012
The national theme of this year's NAIDOC celebrations is Spirit of the Tent Embassy: 40 years on...
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June
29 Jun 2012
Building Stronger Futures for Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory
Initiatives to improve children's school attendance, tackle alcohol abuse and strengthen food security are key elements of this legislation...
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25 Jun 2012
Australia's Paralympians ready for the London games
Athletes selected as part of the Australian team for the upcoming Paralympics Games in London announced today...
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19 Jun 2012
Payments for families with schoolkids start tomorrow
About 2.2 million kids will benefit from this new payment to help with expenses like uniforms, books, school excursions, stationery, and other costs...
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18 Jun 2012
Computer games legislation passes the Parliament
The reforms bring the classification categories for computer games into line with existing categories used to classify films...
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11 Jun 2012
Households receive $1billion in assistance
The Gillard Government is delivering household assistance to help people on low and middle incomes make ends meet...
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09 Jun 2012
Carbon pricing widespread in advanced economies
Australia will join more than three quarters of the world's advanced economies in tackling climate change when the Government's carbon price starts on 1 July...
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03 Jun 2012
Marking two decades of land rights and progress for Indigenous Australians
20th anniversary of historic High Court Mabo native title decision...
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01 Jun 2012
Australia's oldest public building to house Whitlam Institute
Female Orphan School at UWS will be restored to permanently house the Whitlam Institute and Margaret Whitlam art galleries...
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May
28 May 2012
Extra cash for pensioners
Across Australia a total of about $707 million in household assistance will be going out to pensioners before the carbon price starts on 1 July...
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27 May 2012
National Reconciliation Week begins
This year's theme is "Let's Talk Recognition", to encourage the conversation about reconciliation and constitutional recognition...
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26 May 2012
National Sorry Day
Held on 26 May each year, the anniversary of the tabling of the Bringing Them Home Report in Parliament...
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09 May 2012
Nation building extends to better, safer local roads
Government extends Roads to Recovery Program...
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08 May 2012
Investing in a quality training system to secure Australia's future
Government will continue its strong track record of supporting jobs and investing in skills, which has seen the creation of more than 750,000 jobs since 2007...
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08 May 2012
Helping households with the cost of living
The 2012-13 Budget puts in place a raft of measures to help people make ends meet...
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06 May 2012
Blitz on dental waiting lists to benefit low income Australians
Additional funding will be directed to treating patients on waiting lists, boosting public dental service workforce, and improving access to dental service in regional, rural and remote areas...
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06 May 2012
Schoolkids bonus to help families make ends meet
Each year eligible families will receive $410 for each child in primary school, and $820 for each child in high school...
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04 May 2012
More community mental health funding will help thousands
Funding boost for personal helpers and mentors program, which provides practical support to people with mental illness...
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April
30 Apr 2012
National Disability Insurance Scheme to launch in 2013
The first stage of an NDIS will be launched in up to four locations across Australia...
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24 Apr 2012
ANZAC Centenary program announced
One of the most significant commemorations in our nation's history, the Anzac Centenary will run from 2014 to 2018...
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20 Apr 2012
More choice, easier access and better care for older Australians
Government announces 10 year plan to reshape aged care, beginning 1 July 2012...
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11 Apr 2012
Therapy services to help older Australians to age well
More than 70,000 older Australians will continue to receive subsidised physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and podiatry services for the next 3 years...
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11 Apr 2012
Boosting opportunities for Australian industry
Government will introduce stronger Australian Industry Participation rules for the country's major private sector and government-funded projects...
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01 Apr 2012
Vale Senator Judith Adams
...
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01 Apr 2012
Farewell the Honourable Lionel Frost Bowen AC
Mr Bowen was a legend of Australian politics, who served with distinction in public life for 42 years...
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March
20 Mar 2012
Government passes ABCC legislation
The Australian Building and Construction Commission will be abolished...
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20 Mar 2012
Spreading the benefits of the mining boom
Minerals Resource Rent Tax (MRRT) legislation passed by the Senate...
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19 Mar 2012
Vale Margaret Whitlam AO, 1919-2012
Margaret Whitlam was a woman of great intellect, wit and integrity; a true servant of the Australian people...
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15 Mar 2012
Disaster assistance extended to another three NSW communites
Lithgow, Shellharbour and Wentworth local government areas to receive natural disaster assistance...
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13 Mar 2012
Extra disaster assistance for New South Wales floods
Assistance will be extended to Bombala, Central Darling, Hay, Leeton, Murray, Murrumbidgee and Upper Hunter local government areas of NSW...
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07 Mar 2012
Clean Energy Finance Corporation in Sydney
Sydney's strong clean energy sector and network of financial, legal and professional services will ensure smooth set up and operation of the Corporation...
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07 Mar 2012
NSW signs up to Coal Seam Gas Agreement
New Independent Expert Scientific Committee will be established to provide expert scientific advice on likely impact of CSG and and large coal mining developments...
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February
20 Feb 2012
Towards a new school funding system
The Review of Funding for Schooling was undertaken by a panel of eminent Australians chaired by David Gonski AC...
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19 Feb 2012
First national commemoration for the bombing of Darwin
70th anniversary of "the gravest hour in our history", as described by Prime Minister Curtin at that time...
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13 Feb 2012
Launch of the Stolen Generations' testimonies website to mark fourth Anniversary of the National Apology
The website has recorded the lives and experiences of more than 30 Stolen Generation members...
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07 Feb 2012
Black Saturday Anniversary: a time for reflection and recovery
Three years on, communities devastated by the 2009 Victorian bushfires continue the process of recovery...
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07 Feb 2012
Further assistance for flood affected communities in NSW
Clean-up and recovery grants of up to $15,000 will be provided to communities in New South Wales inundated by recent floods....
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06 Feb 2012
Additional disaster assistance for Queensland and Northern NSW
Government today activated direct payments of additional disaster assistance for communities in Queensland and Northern NSW hit by flooding...
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01 Feb 2012
Historic Fair Pay decision for low paid workers
This is the first ever successful pay equity claim in the national system, and a significant advance for equal pay for women...
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January
31 Jan 2012
Federal Government assistance for Northern NSW after floods
Natural disaster assistance will be provided to the Northern NSW communities hit by heavy rainfall and flooding in January 2012...
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03 Jan 2012
Federal and State Govt's honour SCG's 100th Test with $186m upgrade
Includes upgrade of the Noble, Bradman and Messenger stands, while preserving the history of the Members and Ladies stands...
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