Australian Government Media Releases

Noogoora burr ( Xanthium occidentale ) is one of our nastiest invasive plants. 'None of the extra strains would infect Australian Noogoora burr. Dr Morin said the team developed a molecular method to distinguish between exotic and Australian strains and collaborators from the Northern Territory Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts and the Western Australia Department of Agriculture and Food have monitored Noogoora burr along three rivers in the Northern Territory and northern Western Australia.

The Intelligent Grid Cluster - officially launched in Sydney today by Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research - is a major collaborative research venture between the CSIRO and the university sector under the CSIRO Energy Transformed Flagship. The Intelligent Grid is a transformed electricity transmission and distribution network - or `grid' - that combines distributed energy resources with `intelligent' communications and control technology to upgrade the current electric power grid. 'Through nine separate research projects, the Intelligent Grid Cluster will model the market benefits of large scale deployment of distributed energy in the national electricity market and fully value the economic contribution of the intelligent grid compared to conventional energy technologies.'.

It's good to be back in New Zealand. I want to see Australia and New Zealand working more closely together. When Australia and New Zealand work together, we can achieve more than the sum of our parts.

Subject(s): Meeting with Helen Clark Climate Change Fiji withdrawal from Pacific Island Leaders Forum Square Kilometre Array radio telescope Pakistan Alcopops. Apart from that we've touched on a number of issues that our Governments work on and there is an announcement that I have to make today on behalf of the New Zealand Government and that is that following representations from Australia over a number of months, firstly from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to me in the discussion of the level of (inaudible) New Zealand has decided that it will formally and publicly support and campaign for Australia's bid to host the world's largest radio telescope project. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister Clark have you been able to confirm to Prime Minister Rudd that have you have the numbers to pass the emissions trading scheme (Inaudible).

50 th Skilling agreement signed. Greg Combet, the Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Procurement, today announced that H I Fraser Pty Ltd is set to benefit from the signing of the 50th Agreement under the Skilling Australias Defence Industry (SADI) Program. To date, the Australian Government has committed over $30 million from program funds in order to address the unique character of many defence-relevant skills and the rising demand associated with the ongoing modernisation and expansion of the Australian Defence Forces capability.

COMBET OUTLINES IMPORTANCE OF US ALLIANCE. Greg Combet, the Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Procurement, today outlined the importance of the US Alliance to the Toronto RSL Sub Branch. I am also monitoring the progress of the Defence Trade Cooperation Treaty between Australian and the United States.

INFRARED IMAGING WINS DSTO EUREKA PRIZE. The University of Western Australia has won the inaugural Eureka Prize for Outstanding Science in support of Defence or National Security sponsored by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO). The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Hon.

HARBOUR SECURITY A PRIORITY FOR NEW DEFENCE RESEARCH FACILITY. Safeguarding Australias harbours and port facilities from terrorist threats will be the focus of new research by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) in Sydney, the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. To mark the opening of DSTO Sydney Mr Snowdon launched a book on the history of defence science ( A Century of Australian Defence Science ) and a companion volume on DSTOs Top Ten Science & Technology Reports..

INDIA SWEEPS UP AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY. The Australian Minesweeping System, developed by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), has scored another export success with India being the latest to acquire the innovative system that protects ships from underwater mines. Defence has now received over $3 million in royalties for the worldwide sale of the Australian Minesweeping System while a significant number of jobs have been created for Australian workers, Mr Snowdon said.

DEFENCE OFFERS SCIENCE CADETSHIPS FOR INDIGENOUS STUDENTS. Defence will fund three cadetships worth more than $300,000 over five years for Indigenous students to undertake full-time tertiary studies in science, the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Hon. The shortage of science skills is not good for Defence or for the Australian economy.

SENATOR THE HON PENNY WONG Minister for Climate Change and Water Asia Pacific Forest Industries Climate Change Conference 19 August 2008 Forests in a Climate Change World Unlocking their potential Check against delivery Thank you for the invitation to speak to you today. There has been much discussion in Australia in recent months about both the challenges and opportunities involved in addressing climate change. I have defined the Government's climate change strategy as a responsibility agenda. The Rudd Government is taking responsibility for the serious challenges that climate change presents.

THE HON PETER GARRETT AM MP MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, HERITAGE AND THE ARTS Speech to the Responsible Investment Association Australasia Sydney Tuesday 19 August 2008 [CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY] Thank you, Louise. It gives me great pleasure to join this stakeholder consultation forum today. I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Cadigal people, and pay my respects to their elders past and present. Your association will mark its 10th anniversary next year, and its membership now spans fund managers large and small, financial advisers, charities, businesses and others.

THE HON PETER GARRETT AM MP MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, HERITAGE AND THE ARTS TRANSCRIPT E&OE TRANSCRIPT DOORSTOP INTERVIEW EVERTON PARK STATE SCHOOL, BRISBANE 18 AUGUST 2008 SUBJECTS: National Solar Schools Program Solar Homes and Communities Plan the Centaur Murray River water buy-backs GARRETT: The National Solar Schools Program is off to a flying start with incredible numbers of applications showing a great enthusiasm for Australian schools to get solar panels on their roofs, water tanks next to their gardens, lighting energy efficiency the whole range of things that are really important to dealing with climate change but which in schools, also provide a fantastic education focus for the kinds of technologies that all Australian's can put in their homes as well.

MEDIA RELEASE The Hon Peter Garrett MP Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts PG /121 19 August 2008 MACFARLANE CONTINUES PUSH FOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANT PLAN REINCARNATION Shadow Trade Minister Ian MacFarlane is the latest Liberal frontbencher to defy his leader and call for the reincarnation of the Liberal Party's plan to build nuclear power plants across Australia. Mr MacFarlane is reported today saying Australia 'must get real' on nuclear: 'it's a black and white answer. Or Should I say black and yellow answer.

MEDIA RELEASE The Hon Peter Garrett MP Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts PG /122 19 August 2008 COMMUNITY TO BENEFIT FROM EXTRA FUNDING At least $2 million will be spent on community benefits in addition to a comprehensive range of offsets as a condition of environmental approval for a freight line in Sydney's south west, Environment Minister Peter Garrett said today Mr Garrett gave the Australian Rail Track Corporation proposal his approval on the condition that works include benefits for local residents and councils living along the proposed rail corridor.

Presented by ABARE, the conference features 12 local and ABARE speakers across four sessions. The conference begins with the session and the opening address by Senator Anne McEwen, Senator for South Australia, then presentations from Don Gunasekera, ABARE on the road ahead and Tony Pearson, ANZ on a banker's perspective on interest rates, and where to from here?. Contact: Angela Ellerman, ABARE on mobile 0408 487 825.

Conferences for people with disability receive $320,000 funding boost. Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services, Bill Shorten, announced the conference funding today while speaking at the Young People in Nursing Homes Alliance's Shaping the Future Today conference in Melbourne. This funding helps maximise participation of people with disability, their families and carers in disability conferences held within Australia, Mr Shorten said.

The Australian Government this week calls for tenders to develop new workforce training to help Indigenous people working in aged and community care in the Northern Territory (NT). 'This project is focused on the training needs of community care workers looking after remote, rural and urban people in the Northern Territory with the objective to improve home and community care for frail and older indigenous Australians,' Mrs Elliot said. 'The Australian Government will provide funds of up to $1 million for the project to support and assist in job opportunities for Indigenous people in the health and aged care sector.' Mrs Elliot said.

Tuesday, 19 August 2008. Six men are facing Australian courts for allegedly downloading child abuse images following a four-month investigation involving the Australian Federal Police (AFP), and state and international law enforcement agencies. Those charged include three men from Victoria, two from Western Australia and one from South Australia.

Special flight safety checks are being carried out at Williamtown aerodrome this week. A twin-engine Cessna Conquest aircraft will be used to conduct the safety checks within an area up to 35 kilometres from Williamtown aerodrome on Wednesday 20 August 2008. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority requires these checks to be carried out to maintain a high level of air safety at Williamtown airport.

Special flight safety checks are being carried out at Illawarra airport this week. A twin-engine Cessna Conquest aircraft will be used to conduct the safety checks within an area up to 35 kilometres from Illawarra aerodrome on Wednesday 20 August 2008. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority requires these checks to be carried out to maintain a high level of air safety at Illawarra airport.

I have noted Commodore Bainimarama's decision not to attend the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' Meeting in Niue. Commodore Bainimarama had the opportunity, through his attendance at the Forum, to explain this decision in person to Pacific leaders. There is no reason why Commodore Bainimarama should not attend for those discussions, as he did last year.

THE HON PETER GARRETT AM MP MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, HERITAGE AND THE ARTS TRANSCRIPT E&OE TRANSCRIPT DOORSTOP INTERVIEW ANNOUNCEMENT OF PERTH SOLAR CITY MIDDLE SWAN, PERTH 11 AUGUST 2008 SUBJECTS: Perth Solar City announcement NT and WA elections Inpex and Kimberley strategic assessment GARRETT: It is a great day for Perth because we're delivering on our promise to make Perth a Solar City and the announcement today is an election promise fulfilled. It is also a sign about what is going to happen into the future as we provide councils, households, industry and the energy efficiency sector of your state and right around Australia, with the opportunity to start bringing in measures which reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce energy costs and build greatly on our effort to tackle dangerous climate change.

AUSTRALIAN MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS. Political instability in Pakistan is not in the interests of Pakistan nor the regional or international community. What is now required is political stability.

Lynelle Briggs is the Public Service Commissioner. In essence, I think it is important that we continue to encourage a more open (and effective) information disclosure environment, which hopefully will facilitate a more open culture within government. I am also urging the media to think more about their role and how it can be better used for good policy debate. I dont profess to have the answers, and I certainly dont agree that there should be open slather with all material released immediately, but I do want to see a pro-disclosure culture within the public service..

A 30-year-old man will face Cairns Magistrates Court today following a detection of child pornography at Cairns International Airport. Customs officers stopped the Chinese man when he arrived on a flight from Hong Kong on Sunday (17 August). Customs Media (02) 6275 6793.

Mullah Akhtar Mohammed and his armed protection party were observed by SOTG troops in a remote area of Oruzgan province last Tuesday morning. Mullah Akhtar Mohammed was a senior Taliban extremist commander within Oruzgan province who controlled a large force of insurgents and directed a strong campaign of intimidation and violence within his area of responsibility.

The Commanding Officer of HMAS Tobruk, Commander Peter Thompson, will be available for interview today. Images of HMAS Tobruk at RIMPAC are available for download at:.

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP. 'The Australian Government is working with the NSW Government to plan for and deliver on infrastructure projects that will help drive economic growth across the New England region,' Mr Albanese said. Once complete, this project will improve road safety and reduce crashes on this section of the New England Highway.

The Australian Government is providing $320,000 to help people with disability attend 27 conferences throughout Australia. Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services, Bill Shorten, announced the conference funding today while speaking at the Young People in Nursing Homes Alliance's Shaping the Future Today conference in Melbourne. This funding helps maximise participation of people with disability, their families and carers in disability conferences held within Australia, Mr Shorten said.

Australia's strong ties with its near neighbours will be reaffirmed during a visit by Minister for. Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke to Papua New Guinea and Indonesia this week. Papua New Guinea - Australia is Papua New Guinea's largest source of imports and exports.

The Rudd Government today announced it will extend assistance for 32 drought-declared areas in NSW, Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke said the Government had accepted the advice of the National Rural Advisory Council which reviewed areas due to expire on 30 September 2008. 'The Government has accepted the advice of the independent National Rural Advisory Council on all 36 areas,' Mr Burke said.

The Rudd Government today announced $2.3 million to help developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region reduce greenhouse gas emissions by tackling deforestation and forest degradation. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke announced the funding following a meeting with Papua New Guinea's Minister for Forests, the Hon. The Minister will meet Indonesian Forestry Minister the Hon.