December 1998

Mid-year budget review revises growth estimates

The 1998-99 Victorian Mid-Year Budget Review shows that the State has enjoyed strong economic activity since the April Budget, but growth was expected to slow over the next two years compared with previous estimates mainly due to the continued effects from the Asian downturn.

1999 Community Business Employment program launched

The 1999 State Government Community Business Employment (CBE) program has been launched by the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Mark Birrell.

Latest parent survey results on schools

The latest Education Department Parent Opinion Survey figures show that 89.1 per cent of primary school parents and 82 per cent of secondary parents are satisfied with their schools.

New advertisements for problem gambling services

Problem gambling advertisements are to installed in the toilet areas of gaming venues around Victoria.

SES Computer Network - First in Australia

The Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Bill McGrath, has announced special funding for the Victoria State Emergency Service (SES) to link all volunteer Units by computer.

Extra 100 Taxi Licences to Cut Waiting Times

The Victorian Government has announced an extra 100 taxi licences for high occupancy vehicles.

Victoria's Summer Fire Strategy

The Victorian Emergency Management Council has finalised the integrated fire season planning between a range of Government and non-Government fire fighting agencies.

Establishment of National Car Theft Strategy

The Police and Emergency Services Minister, Bill McGrath, and the Chairman of the National Anti Crime Strategy, the Hon. Trevor Griffin, Attorney General of South Australia, have announced the establishment of the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council, which will pursue a five-year plan to curb motor vehicle theft.

Victoria Rates Highly in National Workplace Safety Report

The first report comparing Australian workers' compensation schemes was released on December 16 by the Federal Employment Minister, Mr. Reith.

National Gallery Loans for Country Victoria

Four regional Victorian art galleries are to display some of the State’s foremost artworks during the period of the National Gallery's refurbishment program, which will require the temporary closure of the Gallery for a brief time next year.

No Privatisation of Victorian Water

The Treasurer, Mr. Stockdale, has restated State Government policy to retain Government ownership of the water industry, in responding to attempts to link improved valuation of water assets to privatisation.

Strong growth in Victorian Economy

Figures released on 11 December by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that in seasonally adjusted terms, State Final Demand (SFD) in Victoria is now 6.1 per cent higher over the year, the highest growth of any State and well ahead of Australia's growth of 5 per cent over the year.

New Food Hygiene Strategy

The Food Act 1984 has been amended to introduce new registration regulations and hygiene standards for all Victorian food businesses.

November unemployment steady at 7.8 percent

Victoria's unemployment rate remained steady at 7.8 percent in November in seasonally adjusted terms, while Australia's unemployment rate rose from 7.7 per cent to 8.0 per cent.

International student numbers grow in Victoria

Victoria's universities have defied predictions of a downturn in overseas student numbers, registering a 19.8 per cent increase over the last 12 months.

Victorian taxes fall

Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show Victoria was the only State to reduce taxes during 1997-98 and that its taxes are now well below the level of New South Wales.

New food hygiene training program

The Minister for Training, Phil Honeywood, has launched a new national training program in food hygiene which has been developed by the University of Ballarat (TAFE Division) and Australia's largest food wholesaler, Davids Limited.

Victorian Tourism Figures, 1997/98

Victoria attracted more than 990,000 visitors for the year ending June 1998 - a two per cent increase on the previous year. Victoria's international tourism market continues to expand at a time when New South Wales and Queensland - our main competitors - experienced drops of eight and four per cent respectively.

New Computer Networking Course at Box Hill TAFE

Students of Box Hill TAFE will be the first in Australia to benefit from a new training course in computer networking.

Draft data protection legislation unveiled

The State Government has unveiled the exposure drafts of the Data Protection Bill and Electronic Commerce Framework Bill, which will be the first such legislation of its kind in Australia.

First birthday of 'Maxi' service

Take-up of the Victorian Government's maxi online transaction network has exceeded expectations in its first year.

$7 million upgrade for Melbourne Zoo

The Premier, Mr. Kennett, has announced a $7 million funding package from the Community Support Fund for major new facilities at Melbourne Zoo.

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

Page last changed Friday, 04-Jun-2004 05:22:50 EDT

(other news from the Government's web site main media releases page and other releases)

The Government has announced changes to eradicate alleged abuse of payroll tax and WorkCover exemptions offered for apprentices and trainees. (31 Dec)

New gas prices, including real price reductions and a seasonal tariff for the off-peak period, come into effect on 1 January 1999. (30 Dec)

The State Government has granted planning approval to  the University of Melbourne's $250 million Melbourne University Private scheme as a project of State significance. (30 Dec)

Recent additions to system capacity, including a 200-megawatt unit at the Hazelwood plant, an interconnector with New South Wales providing an extra 400 megawatts from January, and recent work improving the flexibility of the Newport gas-fired electricity plant will ensure adequate electricity supplies for peak demand, the Treasurer has stated.  Victoria used a record 7265 megawatts on December 11 without any supply-related interruptions. (23 Dec)

The Premier has announced details of four projects to obtain funding under the 1998 Victoria Commissions program, which supports major new contemporary works of art created for public presentation and permanent siting in Victoria. (23 Dec)

The New Zealand Government will use the Victorian Government's monitoring process to combat the Millennium Bug (Y2K). (23 Dec)

Mr Robert Crompton has resigned as Executive Director of Multimedia Victoria. (23 Dec)

Multimedia businesswoman Lyndsey Cattermole and popular television identity Rob Sitch have joined the Board of Cinemedia.  A new Ministerial Advisory Group has also been established, comprising key film and television industry members, to discuss key industry issues with the Minister and other Government representatives. (22 Dec)

The State and Commonwealth Governments have announced $780,000 funding for 80 coastal and marine protection projects throughout Victoria, through the joint Coastcare/Coast Action program. (22 Dec)

The Government has welcomed the announcement that Duke Energy International planned to build the $450 million Eastern Gas Pipeline, connecting the Bass Strait gasfields with Sydney. The 800-kilometre pipeline will provide a capability for gas to be backhauled from NSW into Victoria, will encourage gas competition and will create more than 1000 jobs during construction.  (22 Dec)

Victoria's privatised electricity industry has agreed to provide monthly reports to the State Government on its compliance progress combatting the Millennium Bug (Y2K) (22 Dec)

The State Government is seeking expressions of interest for the purchase of Generation Victoria, trading as Ecogen Energy, which owns gas-fired power generators at Newport in Melbourne's west and Jeeralang, south of Morwell. (20 Dec)

The Premier, Mr Kennett has opened state-of-the-art operating theatres at the Sandringham Hospital for which the Victorian Government has provided nearly $3 million. (17 Dec)

The Minister for Women's Affairs, Jan Wade, has launched Women's Web, an Internet training and access program for country women which is a joint initiative of the Office of Women's Affairs and the Government's Skills.net program. (16 Dec)

Bendigo Art Gallery's $5.3 million refurbishment and extensions have been officially opened by the Premier, Mr Kennett. (15 Dec)

Apollo Bay has a new $318,000 Ecotourism Centre which will allow visitors and locals to gain a greater understanding and appreciation of the Otway forests and Great Ocean Road environments(15 Dec)

The Minister for Fair Trading, Mrs Jan Wade, has announced a new three year funding program for agencies dedicated to providing advice for consumers, traders, tenants and landlords. (11 Dec)

The Victorian Attorney-General, Jan Wade,  has renewed her call for the proposed Federal Government plans to establish a federal magistracy to be scrapped,  on the grounds that they are an unnecessary duplication of existing services and waste of resources which would be better channelled into providing additional funds for legal aid. (10 Dec)

The new Knox Hospital will have an expanded range of services more quickly than originally planned, following a decision that the two developmental stages of the hospital will be rolled into one. (9 Dec)

Young Australian of the Year, Tan Le, will present the fifth annual Victoria Women's Council Annette Bear-Crawford Lecture to be held in Melbourne on 3 March 1999. (9 Dec)

Community and academic experts will help the Government plan a new senior youth training centre to house the State's increasing number of young male offenders in custody, which will ensure that 'low risk' youths between the ages of 17 and 20 are kept out of the adult prison system.  This will include investigation of the benefits of private and non-government sector involvement. (8 Dec)

The State Government on has granted planning approval for a 560 metre, 120 storey building as part of the Grollo group proposal for the Batman's Hill Precinct in Docklands. (7 Dec)

Fifteen grants were announced to schools and TAFE colleges on 7 December under the State Government's Victorian Alumni Program, which aims to build on the relationships between Victoria and those who were educated here.

The Premier, Mr Kennett, announced on 1 December the winners of the 1998 Metropolitan and Rural Taxi Driver of the Year Awards and that the State Government has made a special offer to the two winners to take up a special taxi licence at the value of $65,000 with the conditions that the owner cannot sell, transfer or lease the licence for ten years and must put on a new vehicle in the yellow livery.

The Victorian Government has committed $13.1 million to prepare frontline firefighting teams for this years' bushfire season.

The Office of Fair Trading and Business Affairs is warning consumers to be on alert for Christmas tree-related hazards, such as fires caused by faulty Christmas lights or an overload of power points.

Victoria firms have won five of the nine awards at the 1998 National Export Awards, including Exporter of the Year,  Small to Medium Manufacturer,   Arts and Entertainment category,  Education and Emerging.

The new Victorian Government Business Office in Chicago officially opened for business on 1 December.