Road Transport Reform (Dangerous Goods) Repeal Bill 2009

www.aph.gov.au/Library/pubs/bd/2009-10/10bd001.pdf
Purpose: To repeal the Road Transport Reform (Dangerous Goods) Act 1995 so that the ACT government can implement the updated Australian Dangerous Goods Code to govern the transport of dangerous goods by road and rail in the ACT.

Source: Australian Parliamentary Library

Tax - creating a sustainable arts industry

http://apo.org.au/research/tax-creating-sustainable-arts-industry
This is the third report in a series commissioned by Arts Queensland to discuss the taxation issues effecting the Arts industry in Australia.

Source: Australian Policy Online

Geospatial Information and Geographic Information Systems (GIS): Current Issues and Future Challenges

http://www.docuticker.com/?p=26888
The US government has recognized the need to organize and coordinate the collection and management of geospatial data since at least 1990, when the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) established the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) to promote the coordinated use, sharing, and dissemination of geospatial data nationwide. OMB also called for development of a national digital spatial information resource to enable the sharing and transfer of spatial data between users and producers, linked by criteria and standards. The high-level leadership and broad membership of the FGDC—10 cabinet-level departments and 9 other federal agencies—suggest that geospatial information is a highly regarded asset of the federal government.

Source: Docuticker

Web 2.0 collaboration tools for the next generation of public service

Web 2.0 technologies and services have spread around the world at an amazing pace and are used by millions of people every day. Many public service organizations are also adopting Web 2.0 applications as a means of improving their ability to collaborate and serve citizens more effectively.

Source: Australian Policy Online

Strategy for Australia's National Reserve System 2009-2030

Australia’s National Reserve System Strategy 2009-2030 has been developed by the Commonwealth, states and territories, who have all agreed to work towards clear targets to secure long-term protection for our terrestrial biodiversity. One of our most effective tools in securing this natural life support system is Australia’s National Reserve System (NRS) – the nation-wide network of parks, reserves and private protected areas. - Media Release Peter Garrett 2 Jun 2009.
http://environment.gov.au/parks/publications/nrs/nrsstrat.html

Source: Caring for our Country, National Reserve System.

Australian Climate Change Regulatory Authority Bill 2009

The Australian Climate Change Regulatory Authority Bill 2009 (‘the Bill’) is part of a suite of bills that provide for the establishment and administration of the government’s proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS). Extensive discussion of the CPRS is contained in the relevant Bills Digest.

Source: Parliamentary Library, Canberra

EPA Releases third National Assessment of Toxic Air Pollutants

EPA has released the latest version of a state-of-the-science tool that estimates health risks from breathing air toxics in the United States. The National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA), based on 2002 air emissions data, helps federal, state, local and tribal governments identify areas and specific pollutants for further evaluation to better understand risks they may pose.

Source: Docuticker

U.S. EPA’s Environmental Justice Resource Guide available to the public

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Justice Resource Guide, a handbook for community organizers and decision-makers, is now available from the EPA’s Pacific Southwest Environmental Justice Office. http://epa.gov/region09/ej/

Source: Docuticker

Arts content for the digital era

Developed in response to the current and anticipated future impact of digital technologies on the arts sector, artists and arts audiences, this is the Australia Council’s blueprint for supporting arts content and its creators in the digital era.

Source: Australian Policy Online

National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Amendment Bill 2009

The Bill proposes minor amendments to the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 (the Act)

Source: National Parliamentary Library

Less time to prepare for bushfires

The window of time to prepare for bushfires using prescribed burning will shrink due to climate change, according to a new Australian study. Dr Stuart Matthews of CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems will present the findings at the International Wildfire Management Conference in Sydney

Source: ABC news in Science

WHO — Pedestrians, cyclists among main road traffic crash victims

The Global status report on road safety published today provides the first worldwide analysis of how well countries are implementing a number of effective road safety measures. While progress has been made towards protecting people in cars, the needs of pedestrians and cyclists are not being met.

Source: Docuticker

Broader native title settlements and the meaning of the term 'traditional owners'

This paper summarise the various meanings which have been applied to the notion of traditional ownership, based on a review of the published literature on the subject.

Source: Australian Policy Online

U.S. Nuclear Waste Law and Policy: Fixing a Bankrupt System

This article first provides a brief overview of nuclear wastes and a summary history of federal nuclear waste law and policy to date. It then diagnoses the major failures in the current design and proposes a suite of new measures to launch a comprehensive new approach, including a reconsideration of the ethical principles underlying the drive for immediate waste burial; the creation of a high-level National Waste Management Commission; the creation of two new federal entities to manage nuclear wastes and to site waste storage facilities and repositories; the elimination of Environmental Protection Agency regulatory authority over these activities; the adoption of a thoroughgoing risk-based approach to waste regulation and management; and the adoption of new, more flexible and adaptable strategies for siting storage and disposal facilities.

Source: Docuticker

Designing climate mitigation policy

This US paper provides an exhaustive review of critical issues in the design of climate mitigation policy by pulling together key findings and controversies from diverse literatures on mitigation costs, damage valuation, policy instrument choice, technological innovation, and international climate policy.

Source: Australian Policy Online