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The Australian Greens are announcing their policy to establish a Creativity Commission and bolster our local creative industries at this year’s Screen Forever conference.
“Our economy and our industries are rapidly changing. A creativity commission would give Australians the resources and the license to think about things differently to maximise success,” Greens arts spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“Creativity can be harnessed in everything we do, and the Arts should be at the centre of it. Our communities value the arts – it’s time to extend that across all parts of our society and economy.
“This $10 million fund will harness the soft-skills our economy will need into the future. By incorporating the Arts into STEM thinking our workforce can be both creative and competitive.
“If we are to truly adapt to a new way of working, not just locally, but globally, we must give space and funding to tap into our collective creativity.”
Senator Hanson-Young, a passionate advocate for Australian film and television, also announced the Greens’ policy to bolster local content creation.
“There is no limit to creativity in Australia, yet our producers, artists and talent are limited by the ebb and flow international markets and commercial broadcasters’ disinterest in good local content. We need consistent investment for people to get a foothold in creative industries and be able to stay there.
“If the big commercial broadcasters have their way, local content requirements for children’s television will be abolished and Australian-made drama will be cut, which would have a devastating ripple effect on the production sector.
“Australians deserve to have their stories told, and their communities reflected back to them on screen. Not only that, but it helps Australia engage with the rest of the world, while providing a lucrative export.
“A creative Australia is something our nation can be proud of at home and abroad. In this ever-increasingly globally connected world, the soft diplomacy great Australian content – and children’s content – can foster is a win-win.
“We export so much world-class content. We have huge names starring in major roles around the world. This is the time to invest in our creative industries to see just how far we could go.”

• Package to deliver high-tech fruit-fly management across Australia
• New technology to give growers advanced warnings of Queensland Fruit Fly movements
• Smart traps to be trialed giving growers instant alerts of fruit-fly detections​

Australian fruit and vegetable growers will be given a new edge in the fight against fruit fly, with new high-tech systems giving early warnings of fly movements.
Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud said a $16.9 million dollar package would assure our trading partners when produce comes from a fruit-fly free area.
“Fruit fly outbreaks cost the horticultural industry millions every year,” Minister Littleproud said.
“If we take control of fruit fly we’ll get access to more premium markets and boost farm gate prices.
“We’ve started a trial of smart-traps that’ll send farmers instant alerts if fruit fly is detected.
“Sensors detect fruit flies in the trap by the way they move and send mobile alerts to growers.
“This can provide farmers the best possible information so they can respond to an outbreak quicker.
“We’re also investing in a national mapping program, to track the movement of QFly in summer.
“The flies make their way south as it warms up and this will let growers know where they are and help us target where to release our sterile fruit flies.
“We’re putting extension officers on the ground to help growers use the latest science.
“They’ll help farmers work through the latest R&D and put it to work in their orchards.
“This package will help protect our $12 billion horticultural industry and reassure our trading partners of the systems we have in place.”
The program would address fruit fly management across Australia, such as medfly in the west and Qfly in the east. ​

The Department of Defence today commenced the first stage of the open market sale process for the Bulimba Barracks site in Brisbane, marking a significant step in the Government’s commitment to unlocking surplus Commonwealth land for housing.

This 20-hectare waterfront development opportunity will deliver housing, improved community amenity and waterfront access for the Bulimba community and the people of Brisbane.

Prior to selling the site on the open market in accordance with the Commonwealth Property Disposal Policy, Defence completed due diligence investigations including detailed environmental, Indigenous and historic heritage assessments.

The relevant due diligence reports will be available to prospective buyers to inform them of their obligations to protect heritage values once the site leaves Commonwealth ownership.

Defence has worked collaboratively with the Queensland Government, Brisbane City Council and local community groups to achieve the best possible planning outcomes in accordance with the Bulimba District Neighbourhood Plan.

Defence is consolidating and relocating ongoing Royal Australian Navy activities to HMAS Moreton, located adjacent to the Bulimba Barracks divestment site.

Further information about the open market sale process is available at:
http://www.defence.gov.au/id/propertydisposals/Bulimba.asp

NBN Co Limited’s (NBN Co’s) 2018-19 first quarter financial year results show strong performance and growth in activations and revenue with the company powering ahead to connect all Australians to fast broadband by 2020.
Shareholder Ministers’ welcomed the results which confirm the company’s solid performance across all metrics and are the first since NBN Co’s 2019 Corporate Plan.
In the three months to 30 September 2018, NBN Co’s revenue reached $620 million. This is a 53% increase compared to 30 September 2017.
NBN Co continued its solid progress in connecting customers with over 338,000 activations taking the total to 4.4 million active customers nationwide – a 48% increase from September 2017. By the end of the September quarter, almost two‑thirds of homes and businesses could order NBN services and the network build was just under three‑quarters complete.
The results confirm an increased take up of higher speed tiers with over 50% of all NBN connected premises now on 50 Mbps plans or higher, increasing from 500,000 to 2.4 million premises in the 12 months since October 2017.
With thousands signing up to the NBN every day, the extensive work over the past year to improve consumer experience on the network has delivered real benefits for consumers.
Ninety three per cent of homes and businesses now have their equipment installed right the first time, up from 85% in October last year. Average network congestion has also plummeted from 5 hours in October 2017 to just 34 minutes a week.
For more information about the NBN rollout visit: www.nbnco.com.au(link is external)

More than 70 people a day are being caught rorting the welfare system by falsely claiming to be single in order to qualify for higher Centrelink payments.
During the 2017-18 financial year, 26,346 individuals failed to declare that they were in a relationship, resulting in more than $61 million in overpayments that now have to be repaid to the Commonwealth.
While some cases involved genuine mistakes or oversights, many were deliberate acts of fraud that were detected by members of the Department of Human Services’ specialist fraud and compliance teams.
Since July 1, 2016, operations run by the teams have helped generate more than $2.1 billion in savings for taxpayers.
Human Services and Digital Transformation Minister Michael Keenan said the figures should serve as a warning to anyone thinking of defrauding the system that the risks of getting caught were very high.
“Stealing from the welfare system is not a victimless crime,” Mr Keenan said. “You are stealing directly from pockets of Australian taxpayers and robbing the wider community of much needed funds that could be spent on other essential services such as roads, schools and hospitals.
“You also need to know that if we catch you, you will be made to pay the money back and you could also end up with a criminal record, or worse, in jail.”
Just last month, a 76-year-old woman was sentenced to almost three years behind bars after a Victorian court convicted her of fraudulently claiming $287,000 in benefits. The woman claimed she was single in order to receive a higher rate of the age pension while in a relationship with a man who was worth millions.
People failing to declare that they are in a relationship is one of the main ways that welfare recipients end up with debts, along with failing to properly declare their income.
“Australia has a strong welfare system that ensures those who genuinely need our help can get a fair go,” Mr Keenan said.
“But those who fund the system – taxpayers – also have a right to a fair go, which is why we will continue to take strong action against those who are doing the wrong thing.”
The best way to avoid getting into debt is to alert Centrelink immediately to any changes to your personal circumstances that could affect your eligibility for payment.
For more information, or to report someone you suspect is committing welfare fraud, go to humanservices.gov.au/fraud or call the Fraud Tip-Off Line on 131 524.

ABC, Screen Australia and Keshet International (KI) are thrilled to announce that Rachel Griffiths and Deborah Mailman will star in the upcoming drama series Black B*tch(working title). Made by Blackfella Films (Redfern Now) the captivating six-part drama Black B*tch (W/T) is a story of high stakes ambition, betrayal and treachery, playing out in the nation’s capital.

When Alex Irving (Deborah Mailman), a charismatic and contradictory Indigenous woman, is thrust into the national limelight after a horrific event, Australia’s embattled Prime Minister Rachel Anderson (Rachel Griffiths), sees a publicity goldmine for her party. In a bold power play, she handpicks Alex for the Senate. But Alex wants to be more than just a political stunt: she wants to make a difference. So, when the Prime Minister’s cynical calculations betray her, Alex sets out for revenge that will send the political establishment into meltdown.
“Following on from our previous successes Redfern Now and Cleverman, ABC Indigenous continues its strategy to redefine how Indigenous people see themselves on the screen, with the impressive Black B*tch (W/T). We look forward to working alongside the talented team at Blackfella Films to produce this invigorating series for our audience.” Says ABC Head of Indigenous Kelrick Martin.
Darren Dale from Blackfella Films and Executive Producer Rachel Griffiths says “This story is one that united us in our shared passion to tell stories about contemporary women and the challenges of leaning in and finding their voice in our times.  Our exceptional writing team has created a thrilling story of two complex and gutsy female leads who vie for power in a male dominated world and we cannot wait to take it to a global audience.”
“Black B*tch (W/T) promises to be a ground-breaking series and as such has received a significant funding investment,” said Penny Smallacombe, Head of Indigenous at Screen Australia. “For us this program represents not only an incredible story, but one that will be authentically told with Indigenous talent represented across writing, producing, directing and of course on-screen.”
Atar Dekel, Head of Global Content for KI adds, “Black B*tch (W/T) is a strong local story with the potential to resonate and connect with audiences around the world, which is why it immediately stood out to us. This investment not only demonstrates our belief in the team behind this compelling story of power, loyalty and betrayal, it also reinforces our commitment to bring more high-end dramas to global audiences via the KI Content Fund.”
Black B*tch (W/T) will film in Canberra, Queensland and Sydney and air on ABC in 2019.
Production Credit: Blackfella Films production for the ABC. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with the ABC. Financed with support from Create NSW with Screen Queensland and Screen Canberra. Director Rachel Perkins. Producers Darren Dale and Miranda Dear. Executive Producer Rachel Griffiths. Script Producer Stuart Page. ABC Executive Producers Kelrick Martin and Sally Riley. International Distributor is Keshet International, working alongside Endeavor Content in the US.

Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), and other agencies which form part of the Joint Counter Terrorism Team have conducted an operation in Melbourne.
Operation Donabate resulted in the arrest of three men and the execution of four warrants in the North West Metro Region this morning.
Three men remain in custody.

• A 30-year-old man from Dallas
• A 26-year-old man from Campbellfield
• A 21-year-old man from Greenvale

A fourth property was searched in Coolaroo.
It will be alleged the three men arrested were involved in undertaking preparations for planning a terrorist act in Melbourne.
The operation is ongoing and further information will be made available at the appropriate time.
Victoria Police would like to reassure the community that the threat has been contained and there is no on-going threat.

The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) has conducted the first real-world seismic experiment to determine the effects of marine noise on fish and pearl oysters.
The experiment, using the seismic vessel the BGP Explorer, surveyed two sites off the northwest of Western Australia over ten days. The experiment, which has taken the collaborative efforts of more than 100 people 12 months to design and co-ordinate, could help to clarify some of the issues around marine noise.
AIMS Project Science Leader Dr Mark Meekan said the experiment was unique.
“It is the first time anyone has had a dedicated seismic vessel to look at the effects of seismic energy on pearl oysters and on fish,” Dr Meekan said.
“This is an enormous piece of research, the answers are not going to apply just to Australia, they’ll be important internationally.”
Seismic surveys are used to produce images of the various geological layers and their location beneath the earth’s surface. The seismic vessel tows an array of air guns that use compressed air to produce acoustic energy. Sound waves penetrate the seabed and, depending on the depth and characteristics of the geological layers, are reflected back at different time intervals and intensity.
The reflected sounds are captured by a series of very sensitive hydrophones (underwater microphones) towed behind the seismic vessel. Analysing the time of arrival and characteristics of the reflected sound waves provides valuable information about the geological layers.
The study is looking specifically at pearl oysters (Pinctada maxima) and red emperor, which are a commercially important indicator species for other demersal fish.
The researchers tagged 390 red emperor and are tracking the fish via an array of 96 acoustic receivers as well as using BRUVS© (Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems) to document their movements before, during and after exposure to the seismic sound.
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development acting regional manager Ellen Smith said looking into the effect of seismic activities on demersal fish was important because their abundance and biodiversity is an indicator of the health of an ecosystem.
“We want to find out if fish change their behaviour and leave the area, stop spawning, hide or return to normal,” Ms Smith said. “If we know how demersal fish react we can manage our fisheries appropriately to ensure long-term sustainability.”
With the support of the Pearl Producers Association and the Paspaley Pearl Company the AIMS study also set out more than 10,000 pearl oysters in groups of about 1200 at different distances of up to 6 kilometres from the seismic vessel operation.
“This experiment is important because we need to understand the nature of the risks associated with seismic testing and pearl oysters at Eighty Mile Beach,” Pearl Producers Association chief executive Aaron Irving said.
More information on the project can be found at: www.aims.gov.au/nw-shoals-to-shore

Women will be the major beneficiaries of a major funding boost for family law services and initiatives to help women establish economic security after ending a relationship as part of the Coalition Government’s Women’s Economic Security Package, announced today.
“Women are more likely than men to experience financial hardship after separation, especially those women who have experienced family violence and they may not have the financial or other means to access services, lawyers, and the courts to resolve their family law disputes,” Minister for Women, Kelly O’Dwyer said.
“The Coalition Government is delivering practical measures to help give women greater choices about their lives and to build financial security for themselves and their families. But we must particularly ensure that we assist those women and their children who may be experiencing family and domestic violence.”
“This package of measures will assist and encourage women, including victims of family violence, to pursue safer, faster, and fairer parenting arrangements and property settlements after separation and will assist them to obtain economic security for themselves and their children,” Attorney-General, Christian Porter said.
“Without appropriate supports and assistance, women may be more likely to agree to inequitable settlements to avoid the stress and cost of going to court, or to abandon their property claims altogether.”
Victims of family violence will benefit from new ongoing funding for Legal Aid Commissions to support the ban on direct cross-examination by perpetrators of family violence. The funding, initially $7 million over three years, establishes the new Family Violence and Cross-examination of Parties Scheme.
Under this Scheme, Legal Aid Commissions will be funded to provide legal representation to parties subject to the ban on direct cross-examination in the Government’s Family Law Amendment (Family Violence and Cross-examination of Parties) Bill 2018, which is currently before the Senate.
The Bill will protect victims of family violence in family law proceedings by banning direct cross-examination in certain circumstances, requiring that cross-examination be conducted by a legal representative.
Legal representation under the Scheme will be available to all parties who are subject to the ban on direct cross-examination – the usual legal aid means and merits tests will not apply.
“The Family Violence and Cross-Examination of Parties Scheme provides funding certainty for victims of family violence and ensures that their perpetrators will never be able to directly cross-examine them in future,” the Attorney-General said.
The Government has worked closely with and thanks National Legal Aid for its important assistance to accurately cost the Scheme and has followed the information and advice from Legal Aid to ensure that it is well designed for victims of family violence and fully funded.
The number of cases and parties likely to utilise the Scheme was informed by recent research conducted the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS).
The AIFS research indicates that the Scheme would apply to up to an average of 134 matters per annum in the Family Court of Australia, the Federal Circuit Court of Australia and the Family Court of Western Australia.
The Government has allowed for a 20 per cent increase on these AIFS figures, to account for a possible increase in the number of victims of family violence willing to proceed to trial once the Scheme is in place.
As required under the Bill, the legislation will be reviewed after two years and will include an analysis of the costs of providing legal representation under the Scheme to inform its ongoing funding requirements.
As a result of this funding, the Government looks forward to Bill being considered and passed in the Senate in the final sitting fortnight this year to provide certainty to victims of family violence that their perpetrator will never be able to directly cross-examine them in Court.
Further measures being funded from 2019-20 under the Package include:

• $31.8 million in ongoing funding to existing Commonwealth-funded specialist Domestic Violence Units and Health Justice Partnerships across Australia, with an expansion of these services to include financial advice, counselling and literacy services. This will ensure that these important and effective services can continue to provide legal and social support services to victims of family violence.
• $50.4 million in new funding for family law property mediation services:
  • $13 million each year will be provided to the 65 Family Relationship Centres (FRCs) across Australia, on an ongoing basis, to help families reach agreement about splitting their property after separation and keep them out of court.
  • $10.3 million will be provided to Legal Aid Commissions for a two year trial of lawyer-assisted mediation in each state and territory. Using a more relaxed means and merit test, the trial will support families with asset pools of up to $500,000 (excluding debt) to resolve their property disputes with the help of experienced legal aid lawyers.
• $5.9 million in new funding for the federal family courts to conduct a two year trial of simpler and faster court processes for resolving family law property cases with an asset pool of up to $500,000 (excluding debt). Additional court Registrars will be appointed to help separated couples prepare consent orders to be lodged with the court, and a short-form process will be used if the case needs to be decided by a judge.

An estimated 31,850 couples across Australia are expected to benefit from access to property mediation through FRCs and Legal Aid Commissions each year. The Government has been funding FRCs to support families to resolve disputes about children since 2006. This additional funding will allow FRCs to expand their mediation services to include property disputes as well.
“Property cases make up more than half of all new cases filed in the Family Court, and over a third of all new family law cases filed in the Federal Circuit Court, each year,” Ms O’Dwyer said.
“Faster resolution of disputes through mediation and streamlined court processes will reduce the backlog of cases and delays for women and families.”
Currently the same process applies whether the property pool in dispute is worth $10,000 or $100,000. This one-size-fits-all approach is adding to the time, cost and stress of many separating couples. The streamlined process being trialled under the Package will reduce legal fees, leaving more in the property pool to be distributed between the parties, and free up court time to deal with more complex family law matters.
By facilitating faster decisions for families, this new funding supports the Government’s proposed structural reform of the family law courts.
The measures respond to recommendations of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs’ report: A Better family law system to support and protect those affected by family violence, and proposals under consideration by the Australian Law Reform Commission’s (ALRC) Review of the Family Law System.​​