Edition 33, May 2006

At the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting on 10 February 2006, the Commonwealth, states and territories agreed to work together to achieve a more national, flexible and responsive training system. This story outlines the key initiatives agreed at the meeting... read more

Compulsory drug and alcohol testing is to be implemented for safety-sensitive personnel in the Australian aviation sector in an effort to minimise the safety risks associated with alcohol and drug consumption... read more

A new licensing system for the refrigeration and air conditioning industry provides a single set of nationally consistent licensing requirements. The system has implications for workers in the maritime sector... read more

An overview of the key organisations and bodies that make up the new training system in Australia and the role each plays... read more

The National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) is reviewing its Existing Chemicals assessment program and would like to hear from people with an interest in the manufacture, use or disposal of industrial chemicals in Australia... read more

New licence requirements will soon apply to the removal of ten square metres or more of bonded asbestos in Queensland... read more

Western Australia is pushing ahead with new liquor laws that are intended to safeguard against alcohol related harm and reduce bureaucratic red tape for licensees... read more

Initiatives to combat binge drinking in Queensland include advertising restrictions at licensed premises and the compulsory provision of water... read more

Victoria's online liquor licence register now allows users to better tailor searches according to their needs... read more

Reforms introduced in Victoria to decrease tobacco related harm have implications for licensed premises that sell tobacco, contain a cigarette vending machine or host underage music or dance events... read more

In the wake of allegations that a Brisbane teacher fraudulently purchased explosives, Acting Premier the Hon. Anna Bligh MP is proposing that tighter restrictions be applied to the purchase, supply and use of explosives nationally... read more

Holders of equipment operating licences that were issued by WorkCover New South Wales before 1996 are reminded to convert them to National Certificates of Competency before 30 June 2006... read more

The recently released Electrical Safety Amendment Regulation (No. 1) 2006 makes changes to the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 to create a more targeted regulatory framework for electrical safety... read more

The Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council is conducting a research project to examine licensing and regulatory structures and qualifications in the Health and Community Services training packages (HLT02 and CHC02)... read more

Crowd controllers, their employers and venue operators in Victoria will soon have an opportunity to have their say on how to make the industry safer... read more

A world-first DNA database can now be used by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries to prevent overfishing in the Great Barrier Reef... read more

Two new qualifications and five new units of competency in Environmental Management Systems were recently added to the Seafood Industry Training Package... read more

Three crowd controllers in South Australia have had their security licences suspended under new laws which authorise the Commissioner to suspend a licence following an assault conviction... read more

The South Australian Office of Consumer and Business Affairs has taken action against an electrician and a builder for repeatedly performing unlicensed work despite multiple warnings... read more

Complaints from unhappy consumers in Western Australia triggered investigations into finance broker arrangements and resulted in brokers being disciplined... read more

All new licences issued under the South Australian Environment Protection Act 1993 will now have a default timeframe of five years and applicants may have the opportunity to apply for a licence period for up to ten years... read more

Queensland's Counter Disaster and Rescue Services has been rebranded as Emergency Management Queensland to enhance the public image of the state's disaster preparation and response capability... read more

The Queensland Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water has declared an amnesty to allow Motor Fuel Installers and Gas Installer (Advanced) licence holders who have not yet upgraded their licence to a gas work authorisation to do so without penalty until 30 June 2006... read more

The National Registered Assessors Association is hosting an information session in Melbourne on 1 June for stakeholders with an interest in the new national standards to apply to training and assessment under the Australian Quality Training Framework... read more