January 2000

The last WorkCover safety campaign?

At the same time as the Minister for WorkCover is launching WorkCover's latest workplace safety advertising campaign, the State Government is pressing on with its plans to strip the Victorian WorkCover Authority of its role in workplace safety, putting the future for these campaigns and the inspectorate in doubt, the Shadow Minister for WorkCover has said. (17 Jan)

New inspectors as WorkCover inspectorate in doubt

The Minister for WorkCover has said that by the end of January the number of inspectors in Victoria will have increased to 198, up from 150 a year ago, and that  9 new inspectors had started work on 17 January and 16 the previous week, with another 15 to start before the end of the month.  The Minister also launched an advertising campaign calling on all Victorians to play a role in reducing the workplace injury toll.   Another campaign on electrocutions will start in February. (17 Jan)

"First Responder" pilot extended

The pioneering "First Responder" pilot program established by the previous Government which allows qualified fire officers to administer life saving treatment to cardiac arrest victims has been renewed and extended by the new Government to cover the Melbourne metropolitan fire district for a further 12 month pilot period from February. (4 Jan)

For earlier news stories see our Archives.  For the latest New Releases from the Victorian Government's main media releases page, see All - By Date.

Page last changed Friday, 04-Jun-2004 05:29:39 EDT

(other news based on the Government's web site main media releases page, Opposition media releases and other sources)

The Attorney-General is seeking applicants for the magistracy from "a broad legal background", including women and persons with an indigenous or ethnic background. (31 Jan)

The Minister for Education says that preliminary reports from the majority of metropolitan primary schools reveal that the number of prep-grade two classes with more than 24 students had dropped from 64.5 per cent last year to 42 per cent at the start of the 2000 school year. (28 Jan)

The Government claims that an extra 1000 teachers and school support staff are commencing employment at the resumption of the school year as a result of funding announced last year. (27 Jan)

The Government has finalised negotiation of an adoption agreement with the Peoples Republic of China. (27 Jan)

The Government has released a report, A Framework: Improving Health Outcomes for People Experiencing Homelessness in Victoria, prepared by the Royal District Nursing Service Homeless Persons Program. (27 Jan)

The Government has announced the awarding by Land Victoria of a contract for maintenance and management services for Vicmap Digital (Roads and Topographic) to LANDINFO, the spatial division of consulting firm, Sinclair Knight Merz. (27 Jan)

The Attorney-General has announced the appointment of solicitor Felicity Broughton and barrister Jane Patrick as new Magistrates. (27 Jan)

The Minister for Transport has launched a strategy for the management and development of the Western Highway corridor. (25 Jan)

The Minister for WorkCover has asked the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC), to undertake a study into forklift safety. The project is being funded by WorkCover and is expected to start in March. (24 Jan)

The Government has released 1999 schools data by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, which show that 76.2% of all Victorian students remained from Year 7 to Year 12 in 1999 and that the government school retention rate dropped from 77.9% in 1992 to 69.8% in 1999. The Minister did not provide comparable interstate data. (21 Jan)

The Government is pursuing a reduction of at least 20 per cent in the road toll over the next five years, as part of the Government's Road Safety 2000 campaign, and will develop a "comprehensive action plan". (21 Jan)

The Government is establishing a Ministerial Advisory Committee on Gay and Lesbian Health, which will be asked to develop an "action plan" within a 12 month time frame. (21 Jan)

The independent Panel Report examining the proposed Goulburn Valley Highway bypass of Shepparton has been released today by the Planning Minister, but the Government has not accepted the Panel's recommendations at this stage, and has asked VicRoads and the Department of Infrastructure to investigate possible variations to the western route. (19 Jan)

The Government has announced that Victoria's statewide and specialist mental health services, including eating disorders and adult acute inpatient will be reviewed. (19 Jan)

The Government has urged schools to use the extra $12.2 million of funding for Year 2000 school budgets to prevent schoolyard bullying and harassment, and has ordered that a formal memorandum be sent to all schools to remind them that anti-bullying strategies are mandatory. (18 Jan)

The Government has announced increased funding and the formation of a taskforce to tackle the problem of syringes being left on bayside beaches. (17 Jan)

51,120 applicants will receive first round offers to study at university, TAFE or other providers. Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) has received more than 70,000 applications. (17 Jan)

The Minister for Environment and Conservation has appointed a three-person Independent Panel to adjudicate a decision to stop cattle grazing in an area of the Alpine National park for the 1999-2000 grazing season. (17 Jan)

Ten Victorian saleyards will benefit from a State Government grant of $150,000 to allow for the installation of electronic reading equipment based on the National Livestock Identification Scheme (NLIS). (17 Jan)

The Minister for Sport and Recreation has announced the launch of the grants program for the year 2000 to assist the development of community sport and recreation facilities. (17 Jan)

The Minister for Post Compulsory Education, Training and Employment has announced a review to address Victoria's alleged low education retention rates. (13 Jan)

The Premier has announced that the Government has approved a $300,000 contribution to Ballarat's St Patrick's Cathedral Restoration Appeal. (12 Jan)

The Premier has announced grants totalling almost $250,000 under the first round for 2000 of the Local History Grants Program initiated by the previous Government. (12 Jan)

The Government has released copies of the Hospital Services Report for the March and June 1999 quarters. (12 Jan)

Victorian Councils should start planning now in order to meet the renewal requirements of council infrastructure such as roads, drains, parks, buildings, bridges and footpaths the Minister for Local Government has said. (12 Jan)

The Acting Premier has expressed concern at Virgin Airlines' desire to use Essendon Airport as its short-term Melbourne base, saying the State Government will under no circumstances agree to such a plan. (12 Jan)

The Government has announced a Primary Care Partnerships policy in place of the Primary Health and Community Support policy of the previous Government , for primary care services including home nursing, physiotherapy, chiropody, dental services, home care givers, personal support for people with a mental illness and respite care for people with a disability. (4 Jan)

The Government has appointed Mr Bruce Esplin as the State's first Emergency Services Commissioner to "ensure the co-ordination" of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, the Country Fire Authority and the State Emergency Services. (4 Jan)

Phillip Island will continue to host the Australian round of the Superbike World Championships until at least 2006. (4 Jan)

The Minister for Environment and Conservation has called on the Commonwealth Government to consider funding the next stage of the Wimmera Mallee pipeline from sources other than the National Landcare Program. (4 Jan)

The Government has approved a limited extension to the current exemption allowing high containers to be transported on trucks to a loaded height of 4.6 metres. (4 Jan)

The Minister for Police and Emergency Services has approved the release by the Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board of documents, including an operational debrief, relating to a fire at the South Morang Hotel on the northern outskirts of Melbourne in March 1999 requested under Freedom of Information by the United Firefighters Union. (4 Jan)

The Premier has launched a campaign to develop a new slogan for Victoria to replace "Victoria on the Move". (4 Jan)

The Millennium Bug has not affected key infrastructure in Victoria. (4 Jan)