Archive for June, 2009
Australia Country Guide
With 1100 pages and 204 maps, Australia Lonely Planet Country Guide is Australia’s best selling guide to Australia.
Cruise the world’s longest road; get tips for driving across this magnificent country.
Find out where Lonely Planet’s favorite Australians would rather be.
Seek refuge in Cape Tribulation’s Wet Tropics where the rainforest greets the sea.
Join the dots; hear about Aboriginal culture from Australia’s first people.
Get it from Fishpond.com.au:
Fines for those who Underpay Migrant Staff.
A $30 000 fine has been imposed on the former owner of a Canberra restaurant for underpaying a Chinese chef.
The Federal Court in Canberra fined Greenstone Australia Pty Ltd $30 000 and imposed a $4000 fine on director Peisan Guan after an investigation by the Workplace Ombudsman found the chef had been underpaid by $47 000.
Greenstone and Peisan Guan previously ran the Four Rivers Sichuan Chinese Restaurant and had employed the chef on a temporary skilled migration (subclass 457) visa.
Workplace inspectors discovered that the restaurant’s owners had failed to pay the chef penalty rates he was entitled to over a 12 month period in 2007.
‘The Rudd Government will not tolerate rogue employers and this penalty should send a strong signal that exploitation of migrant workers is unacceptable,’ Senator Evans said.
‘The vast majority of employers do the right thing but when foreign workers employed on subclass 457 visas are underpaid, it undermines confidence in the program.’
Senator Evans said the number of overseas workers coming to Australia on subclass 457 visas has fallen significantly in 2009 as a result of the slowing economy and reduced demand in the labour market.
New worker protection laws that come into effect in September 2009 will strengthen the integrity of the temporary skilled working visa program by ensuring overseas workers are not exploited.
In addition, changes announced to the subclass 457 visa program in April will ensure that temporary skilled overseas workers are not employed ahead of local workers or used to undermine Australian wages and conditions.
The seven key reform measures are:
- introducing market salary rates to replace minimum salary levels from September 2009
- increasing the minimum salary level for visa holders by 4.1 per cent from 1 July 2009
- increasing the English language skills requirements for all chefs and lower skilled occupations
- introducing formal trade assessments from 1 July 2009 for all trades and chefs from countries that are not considered low-risk countries
a requirement that employers attest to a strong record of employing local labour and non-discriminatory employment practices - developing formal training benchmarks for sponsors
- requiring ASCO 5-7 (lower skilled) occupations to have labour agreements.
Active Winters with Brisbane City Council.
The change in weather has brought with it new energy and plenty of winter active programmes around the neighbourhood.
Here are Brisbane City Council’s new range of free or low cost Active and Healthy activities:
Sailing lessons, fire twirling, African drumming and sustainable gardening workshops are just some of the citywide programs available to children, students, families and seniors plus everyone in between from 1 July.
Family and Community Services Chair Councillor Geraldine Knapp said the three month Active Parks, Gonewalking, Chill Out and RAW (Real Adventurous Women) programs encouraged residents to make the most of Brisbane’s green outdoor spaces.
“Winter is a great time to exercise outdoors as the cool weather is a little kinder to our body temperature,” Cr Knapp said.
“There are more than 50 Gonewalking walks on offer, plus new Chill Out activities for school students such as sustainable gardening and natural weaving workshops at Northey Street Community Farm.
“It’s a great way for kids to get outdoors and learn more about where fruit and vegetables come from.
“People can also experience cultures from around the world at the ‘Come and Try Multicultural Day’ in West End, which includes activities like Kumihimo Japanese braiding, create your own miniature zen garden and African drumming.”
To make participation easy, Active Parks activities are grouped by zone – north, east, south and west.
What’s On: Fire! Try your hand at fire twirling and fire-eating in a fun, safe and supportive environment. Brisbane Powerhouse, New FarmThursday 31 July 6.30pm – 9.30pm Cost: $35.00Book by calling Vulcana Womens Circus on 3358 1888 or emailadmin@vulcana.org.au
Half-day sailing course Never set foot on a yacht before? This is the course for you. Learn to steer the yacht, work the sails and winches while sailing around Moreton Bay. Light refreshments provided.Meet at office, East Coast Marina, Royal Esplanade, ManlySun 27 Jul 8am – 12noon or 1pm – 5pmCost: $70.00Book by phoning 3396 4100 or email sailing@southerncrossyachting@.com.au
Come and try multicultural day Come and experience cultures from around the world.All ages Free Sat 26 Jul 1-3pm Playground opposite Morry Street, Orleigh Park in West End
Build a no-dig garden Learn how to grow fresh vegetables without having to pick up a shovel or spade.Windsor Tuesday 1 July to Thursday 3 Jul OR Tuesday 8 to Thursday 10 JulyNorthey Street City Farm9am-12 noon $2.00 Northey Street City FarmPhone Council on (07) 3403 8470 to book
Manhood
Manhood: An Action Plan for Changing Men’s lives, by Steve Biddulph an Australian author, is a really great book.
If you are a man or plan to become one, this book might just be what you’ve been longing for… and will most certainly influence your view on modern society.
Houses that Move.
Have you ever seen a house move?
If you bought a plot of land with a wooden house and liked the location but wanted to build a new house on the block, you don’t necessarily need to knock the old house down – You could have the house removed.
You may only get $5-15′000 for the house itself. House removal/relocation companies come, prepare the house for relocation and take it to a new location or to a storage site. These houses are then resold, depending on the condition.
Swine Flu Reaches 1000.
Australia has had a big week with Swine Flu. More than 1000 cases have been confirmed with the highest numbers being in Victoria.
Budget 2009-10 Migration Program.
Source: Press Release: http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/media-releases/2009/ce02-budget-09.htm
The Australian Government has further cut the permanent skilled migrant intake to 108 100 places for the 2009–10 Migration Program, in response to the continued economic slowdown, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, said today.
In March, the Government cut the 2008–09 permanent skilled migration intake by 14 per cent from 133 500 to 115 000. This reduction to 108 100 places represents an overall drop of almost 20 per cent on previous planning levels.
‘The Government remains committed to a strong migration program but unemployment in Australia is expected to increase as the economy slows,’ Senator Evans said.
‘The migration intake in the coming year reflects the economic climate while ensuring employers can gain access to skilled professionals in industries still experiencing skills shortages.
‘The reduction is being achieved through a cutback in places for the general skilled category rather than in the high-demand employer-sponsored category or in areas in which Australia has critical skills shortages.’
In addition to the cutback in places, the Government will be increasing the English language level required for trades-related occupations and introduce a targeted skills-testing regime to ensure that migrants have both the language and skills needed to participate in the labour market.
The Government’s reform measures are aimed at ensuring an appropriate balance between providing skills needed in the economy now (demand-driven employer-sponsored), in the future (independent skilled pathway) and in the regions (government-sponsored pathway).
‘The Government has begun the task of constructing a long-term planning framework for migration as a key component of the current reform agenda,’ Senator Evans said.
The Government will provide more opportunities for family reunions with an increase of 3800 places in the family component of the Migration Program, to 60 300. The increase includes an additional 2500 places for partners, 1000 places for contributory parents and 300 for child visas.
‘We are recognising the importance of family through this boost which will benefit Australians who seek to have their parents, partners or children join them to live here permanently,’ the minister said.
Overall, the Migration Program will total 168 700 for 2009–10, which comprises the 60 300 family places, 108 100 skilled places and a further 300 places for special eligibility.
Overseas Worker Numbers Falling.
Source: Press Release www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/media-releases/2009/ce09043.htm
The number of overseas workers coming to Australia on temporary 457 visas has continued to fall in response to the slowing economy and changes implemented by the Rudd Government to protect local jobs.
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, said that the number of applications for subclass 457 visas lodged in April 2009 was the lowest rate in four years.
The number of temporary skilled migration visas granted in April 2009 was almost 23 per cent lower than in March and 64 per cent lower than in September last year, when the global financial crisis hit.
‘The subclass 457 visa program is showing that it is responding to the economic conditions and reduced demand in the labour market,’ Senator Evans said.
‘While the number of workers coming to Australia under the scheme has slowed considerably, there will continue to be demand for skills in some sectors, such as healthcare, so there will still be a need for employers to access skilled overseas workers.’
Senator Evans said changes announced to the subclass 457 visa program last month will ensure that temporary skilled overseas workers are not employed ahead of local workers or used to undermine Australian wages and conditions.
The seven key reform measures are:
- introducing market salary rates to replace minimum salary level from September 2009 to ensure that overseas workers are paid at least the same as Australian workers.
- increasing the minimum salary level for visa holders by 4.1 per cent from July 1 to ensure that the overseas workers do not fall below Australian conditions.
- increasing the English language skills to for all trades and chefs and lower skilled occupations from 14 April 2009.
- introducing formal trade assessments from July 1 for all trades and chefs from countries that are not low risk countries (ie: countries that do not have access to Electronic Travel Authorities)
- a requirement that employers attest to a strong record of employing local labour and non discriminatory employment practices
developing formal training benchmarks for sponsors
requiring ASCO 5-7 (lower skilled) occupations to have labour agreements.
The Rudd Government’s worker protection laws come into effect in September 2009 which strengthens the integrity of the temporary skilled working visa program by ensuring overseas workers are not exploited or used to undermine local wages and conditions.
What’s Hot in Brisbane’s Winter.
For the latest fashion, winter hair trends, the art scene and cultural activities check out this resource website: www.ourbrisbane.com/winter
We’re just coming into some cooler weather which is the great time of year to be outdoors ~ no more hot and humid! When I say cooler it means a little chilly in the mornings and evenings, so a jumper may be needed.
Days are still sunny and dry.
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