Research on food safety has been launched in Queensland by the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government (ACELG).

The report Food Safety: Maximising Impact by Understanding the Food Business Context explores current attitudes and beliefs concerning food safety within a diverse set of food business contexts.

The research includes a customisable food safety strategy template and guidelines to assist local governments implement a holistic approach to food safety.

"As a co-regulator in food safety, local government plays a significant role in ensuring the health and wellbeing of the community," ACELG Director Roberta Ryan said. 

The report was launched today by Melissa Gibbs, ACELG Deputy Director and Trevor Graham, Director Environmental Health Australia (Queensland) at a meeting of the South East Queensland Food Safety and Public Heath Working Group in Ipswich.

This ACELG Research Partnership Scheme project involved the Queensland University of Technology, Logan City Council, Redland City Council, Sunshine Coast Council, Ipswich City Council and Environmental Health Australia (Queensland).  Additional contributors to the project were Brisbane City Council and Gold Coast City Council.

Redland City Council’s Service Manager, Health and Environment Unit, Jen Gisler, said the Council was pleased to partner with ACELG on the research to gain a better understanding of food safety strategies that are more likely to be successful in ensuring that food produced in Redlands is done so safely.

"Interviews with food business operators and employees provide local governments with a unique local insight into what motivates people to maintain and improve food safety practices," Ms Gisler said.

"By obtaining a deeper understanding of these motivations and food businesses in general, local governments can tailor our approach in order to influence food safety outcomes, ultimately achieving our goal to improve food safety within our local communities."

ACELG and the project partners welcome feedback and encourage local governments across the country to consider using the Food Safety Strategy Template to develop and implement a food safety strategy for their community.

Download the report and resources at www.acelg.org.au/foodsafety

With Chinese investors spending almost $6 billion in Australia's real estate market last financial year, the Federal Parliament's House Economics Committee is examining the laws governing foreign investment.

Australia has become among the most popular property investment destinations for Chinese nationals, who are estimated by some financial institutions to be purchasing about 12 per cent of new homes.

Sydney and Melbourne attract the most interest, with some apartment blocks in those cities 100 per cent owned and occupied by Chinese nationals.

A Credit Suisse report estimated that 18 per cent of new homes in Sydney and 14 per cent in Melbourne are being bought by Chinese buyers, with up to $44 billion of investment expected in the seven years to 2020.

Liberal MP Kelly O'Dwyer is chairing the House Economics Committee and has told national media that occupancy will be a key issue for the investigation.

"I think what there's concern about is whether or not apartments are being occupied," she said.

"So whether or not it's fulfilling the original mandate to provide additional dwellings that can be purchased, in the end, by other Australian investors and home owners."

Most foreign buyers are limited to purchasing newly built dwellings, with the policy aimed at ensuring overseas money adds to Australia's housing stock and does not push up prices for locals.

However, if many of the new properties are left vacant, then that extra housing is not available on the market and therefore that foreign investment does not add to supply in the short term.

The Credit Suisse report also found that Chinese buyers are becoming the "marginal purchasers" - that is the people willing to pay more than most, thus pushing housing market price expectations upwards.

Ms O'Dwyer says the original mandate for foreign investment in residential real estate was to increase dwelling stocks and add jobs in the Australian construction industry, and the inquiry will determine whether those aims are still being achieved.

The Australian Parliament's Northern Australia Committee is holding the first public hearing for its inquiry into the development of Northern Australia on Friday, 21 March 2014, in Parliament House, Canberra.

The committee has been tasked to conduct a parallel inquiry process feeding into the Government's White Paper on the Development of Northern Australia.

Committee Chair Warren Entsch stated: "Evidence taken during the inquiry will assist the committee's formulation of practical recommendations for the Prime Minister's Northern Australia Taskforce and White Paper.

This public hearing will provide foundational evidence from key government departments and agencies on the regulatory frameworks, policies and programs important to the committee's inquiry."

The committee will hear from the following agencies:

• Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development
• National Water Commission
• Department of Defence
• The Treasury
• Department of Health
• Department of Agriculture
• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
• The Australian Federal Police
• Department of Migration and Border Protection

The Regional Australia Institute and the Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation, both  Canberra-based research co-operatives, and the Minerals Council of Australia will also provide evidence.

"The committee aims to be well acquainted with the relevant issues and policy context before it undertakes extensive consultations with stakeholders in northern Australia over coming months", Mr Entsch said.

"I look forward to meeting with local people, hearing their views and gathering expert opinion about what must be done, how it should be done and when so we can realise the vast economic potential of this rich, diverse yet underdeveloped part of Australia."

The committee's inquiry has received more than 200 submissions from regional communities and stakeholders from every sector, with many articulating sophisticated development proposals as well as identifying impediments to them.

The NSW Government has committed more than $75 million to regional infrastructure projects to support mining communities as part of the 2013-14 second and biggest-ever round of the Resources for Regions program.

Deputy Premier, Leader of the Nationals and Minister for Regional Infrastructure & Services Andrew Stoner said funding from Restart NSW has been allocated to 14 projects in the Cobar, Lithgow, Mid-Western, Muswellbrook, Narrabri, Newcastle and Singleton local government areas. Funded projects include:

• $10.1 million for a new Waste Water Treatment Plant in Lithgow;
• $2 million for developments at Mudgee Airport;
• $6.7 million to support the Cope Road project in the Mid Western LGA;
• $2.5 million to support upgrades to the regional airport runway at Cobar;
• $2.1 million for upgrades to Cobar’s sewerage system;
• $5 million to help replace twin pipelines from Cobar to Nyngan, to reduce water losses and lower the risk of pipeline failures;
• $3.5 million for safety and productivity upgrades to the Denman Intersection in Muswellbrook;
• $7.2 million to address safety risks and maintenance costs in Denman, Bylong & Muswellbrook as part of the Hunter’s Mine Affected Roads Package;
• $4 million for the Upper Hunter Tertiary Education Centre to help address skill needs in the coal industry;
• $5.6 million to support road works, shared pathways and cliff stabilisation at the Shortland Esplanade in Newcastle;
• $2.9 million towards the Ryan Avenue Pavement and Safety project in Singleton;
• $6 million for upgrades to the Regional Livestock Markets in Singleton;
• $12.3 million to support the Narrabri Water Supply Augmentation project; and
• $5.9 million to support upgrades and expansion at Narrabri Airport.

"Over the four years of the program we will deliver at least $160 million in infrastructure funding for communities experiencing unique direct and indirect pressures on their infrastructure and services as a result of mining activity," Mr Stoner said.

"Successful projects have been chosen by an independent panel for their capacity to support economic growth and productivity, ease infrastructure constraints, and support NSW communities affected by mining.

"These projects will deliver infrastructure to the regions in order to better service our communities, improve productivity and create jobs," he said.

Mr Stoner said that, in 2014-15, mining affected communities will have even more opportunity to state their case for NSW Government financial support with enhanced funding selection criteria.

"Two years into the program, we are now in a position to further expand the criteria to ensure all mining affected areas have the best possible opportunity to state their case for financial support.

"We will continue to listen to local communities to identify opportunities to refine and enhance the program," Mr Stoner said.

For more information on Resources for Regions, including details on the successful second round projects, click here.

Chair of the Western Melbourne Regional Development Australia (WMRDA) Committee, Bill Jaboor has congratulated all involved in the success of the Sustainable Employment and Economic Development (SEED) Employment Program.

The City of Moonee Valley has won the LGPro award for excellence in the community partnerships category.

SEED is a local government based employment program designed to help young, disadvantaged people into employment, training or further education.  It started as a pilot program at the City of Moonee Valley in 2009.

"WMRDA recognised that SEED could work as a program across the region and so contributed $75,000 towards a Western Region SEED in 2011," Mr Jaboor said.

Since the regional program commenced in November 2011, it has placed 71 young people into employment, 28 into paid work experience and 80 into training or further education.

"The SEED model is unique in that it is demand driven, guiding young people into areas of work and training where there is a demonstrated need and working in partnership with job service providers, trainers and employers," added Mr Jaboor.

Multiculturalism will be embraced by the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) and throughout councils during Cultural Diversity Week from 15-23 March.

Cultural Diversity Week is a chance for workplaces and communities to celebrate the many backgrounds Australians come from and learn more about our different cultural heritages.

Councils across Victoria have been abuzz participating and hosting a range of cultural events including harmony festivals, cultural music performances, food sharing and storytelling.

The MAV President Cr Bill McArthur said a total of 32 Harmony Day events had been registered among councils in Victoria.

"The MAV staff has participated in a number of Cultural Diversity Week events including Harmony Day. We will be tantalising our tastebuds when we bring delicious dishes from our cultural backgrounds to share with colleagues for A Taste of Harmony lunch.

"Our communities welcome and embrace different cultures and this week is a great time to celebrate just that. Cultural Diversity Week creates a space for communities from different parts of the world to showcase their heritage and celebrate with friends and family.

"As Australians we pride ourselves on mateship and acceptance. We know Victoria is a melting pot of cultures, the 2011 Census showed that 30 per cent of Australia’s population was born in another country. It also showed that 38 per cent of Victorians had both parents born overseas.

"In November last year, along with 11 Victorian councils, the MAV signed up as a proud supporter of the Racism. It Stops with Me! campaign, which is a great opportunity to show support for ending racism within communities."

For more information, go to: www.tasteofharmony.org.au or  www.harmony.gov.au

Australians born overseas were more likely to live in major urban areas, with half of all migrants living in Sydney or Melbourne according to the latest Australian Social Trends (AST) article released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) this week.

With one in four Australians born overseas, the AST article looks at the 2011 Census of Population and Housing to see where people live by country of birth.

ABS Assistant Director of Social and Progress Reporting, Guinevere Hunt, said that in all capital cities except for Hobart and Darwin, more than half the CBD residents were born overseas.

"We found that the suburbs with the highest proportion of people born overseas included Haymarket in Sydney, Clayton in Melbourne, Robertson in Brisbane, Regency Park in Adelaide, and Northbridge in Perth."

"Suburbs near universities also have high proportions of migrants," Ms Hunt said.

The largest migrant group in Australia are people born in the United Kingdom (UK), followed by people born in New Zealand, China and India.  This has changed from 2001 when the largest migrant groups were from UK, New Zealand, Italy and Vietnam.

"In Sydney, two in five residents of Harris Park were born in India, and Hurstville had the highest proportion of people born in China. In Melbourne, one in four people living in Sunshine North was born in Vietnam, and in Perth, two in five residents of Jindalee were born in the UK," Ms Hunt said.

AST articles are freely available online at www.abs.gov.au/socialtrends

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Services, Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, this week announced the Australian Government's ongoing commitment for Humanitarian Settlement Services (HSS) until 2017, at a cost of close to $275 million.

The Australian Government has extended the contracts of 15 service providers to continue to deliver HSS around Australia.

"This funding signifies the Government’s continuing support for the delivery of services equipping newly arrived entrants with the skills and knowledge to contribute to the economic and social life of Australia," Senator Fierravanti-Wells said.

HSS is the Commonwealth’s key programme for the delivery of settlement support services to humanitarian entrants.

"Under these arrangements, service organisations work with new arrivals to assess settlement needs and provide them with a tailored package of services.

"This may include assistance with accommodation and employment, orientation to life in Australia and help with independently accessing services such as English classes, education and health care.

"These services will empower our new arrivals with the skills and confidence to contribute to Australia's economic and social life, as soon as possible.

"We are committed to providing a world-class settlement service and we are well placed to support our Humanitarian Program."

A process to procure the services of an additional service provider in the Northern Perth and Western Australia region was advertised on the Government's procurement website, AusTender, on 30 January 2014 and closed on 25 February 2014.

A new inquiry will investigate challenges facing women and girls of the Indian Ocean - Asia Pacific region to improve their human rights.

The Human Rights Sub-Committee will conduct the inquiry and is keen to hear the perspectives of women from across the region so it can make practical policy recommendations that will make a real contribution to women's empowerment and gender equality.

Sub-Committee chair Luke Simpkins said a focus on women and girls was vital to the advancement of human rights, economic development and peace and stability in Australia's region.

Mr Simpkins said the reasons for this are complex and range across several areas including education, health, economic opportunity, family violence and even culture.

"Women make up the majority of the world's poor," he said.

"One third of women will experience physical violence in their lifetimes, and some are trapped in conflicts where rape is perpetrated as a weapon of war.

"In many countries, women and girls are often denied access to education and excluded from political processes.  Fewer than one in five parliamentarians globally are women."

The Sub-Committee will inquire into and report on:

• barriers and impediments to enhancing the human rights of women and girls, especially regarding the impact of family and sexual violence, women’s leadership and economic opportunities;
• achievements to date in advancing human rights in these key areas;
• implications for economic and social development in the region of promoting women and girls’ human rights; and
• the effectiveness of Australian programs to support efforts to improve human rights of women and girls in the Indian Ocean - Asia Pacific region.

Currently, around half of Australia's aid budget is spent on initiatives, policies and programs that have a significant focus on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

The Sub-Committee invites public submissions addressing the terms of reference for this inquiry.

The closing date for submission's will be Friday 22 May 2014.  The Sub-Committee encourages the lodgement of electronic submissions from anyone with an interest in the issues raised by these terms of reference.

Further information on the inquiry, including how to lodge a submission, is available on the committee's website.

NSW Minister for the Arts, George Souris, this week announced the 13 NSW artists with disability that will share in a total of $120,202 for professional development opportunities.

Mr Souris said the artists would also participate in a forum at Accessible Arts which will help them to make the most out of their chosen professional development activity.

He said the NSW Government is providing the funding through its Amplify your art program administered by Accessible Arts.

"The Amplify your art program supports artists with disability to live creative lives and to fulfil their artistic aspirations," Mr Souris said.

"The funding is part of the NSW Government's two-year, $1.5 million funding commitment to boost access to arts and cultural activities for people with disability across NSW.

"This funding will support a range of professional development opportunities for the artists including mentoring, residencies and training in new skills."

The Amplify your art grant recipients are:

• Writer Christine Johnson (Rozelle) will receive $8,385 to undertake an editorial mentorship on the draft of her first novel, The Chinaman's Horse, with a professional editor through the NSW Writers' Centre.
• Tenor, Richard Lane (Moss Vale) will receive $10,000 for an opera singing professional development opportunity to work with singing coaches and teachers in the UK on his voice development.
• Dancer and champion pole dancer, Deb Roach (Seven Hills) will receive $10,000 undertake a Limbitless Potential circus residency with Greentop Circus and Bendy (UK), to develop her skills as a circus performer.
• Performer and artist, Kevin Meagher (Willoughby) will receive $10,000 for Curatio Viscus: An Artist Exchange, mentored by David Capra in multimedia arts
• Theatre practitioner, Goldele Rayment (Neutral Bay) will receive $8,653 to be mentored by leading theatre artists through Milk Crate Theatre to develop her skills as a director.
• Songwriter and musician, David Mason (Potts Point) will receive $10,000 to work with mentors Paul Mac and Mic Guchy, to develop his editing, production and post-production skills.
• Emerging dancer and theatre artist, Chris Bunton (St Clair) will receive $10,000 to undertake dance and theatre training programs and work experience with Kay Armstrong at Connect Studios, Parramatta.
• Musician and music teacher, Charlie McMahon (Faulconbridge) will receive $6,900 to train in hard disc recording and digital media.
• Emerging performance artist, Karli Munn (Marrickville) will receive $7,964 to mentored by Frances Barrett and undertake a professional development program at Bundanon and with Pacitti Company in UK.
• Musician, Liz Martin (Erskineville) will receive $10,000 to collaborate with, and be mentored by Eric Chapus (Endorphin) to develop advanced music production skills.
• Zine author, Greg Sindel (Hornsby) will receive $8,300 to learn claymation and film making skills with artist/mentor, Leigh Rigozzi, for his project, Shooting Moby Dick.
• Emerging visual artist, Eugenie Lee (Pyrmont) will receive $10,000 to undertake professional development, focusing on the link between art and medicine in relation to pain, with Professor Lorimer Moseley at the University of South Australia.
• Emerging dance artist and film maker, Daniel Monks (Woollahra) will receive $10,000 to undertake a mentorship with choreographer, Philip Channells, and attend a dance masterclass series.

The Amplify your art Program is part of the NSW Arts and Disability Partnership between Arts NSW and the NSW Department of Family and Community Services, to promote inclusion in the arts and cultural sector for people with disability.