sustainability

The Victorian Government’s worker transfer scheme has helped its first 25 former Hazelwood power station workers secure new jobs at other Latrobe Valley power stations. Minister for Industry and Employment Wade Noonan today met the group who recently commenced work at the AGL Loy Yang A power station. “We promised to support former Hazelwood workers … Continue reading New beginnings for former Hazelwood workers →

Bosch has announced last week that it has launched a digital vehicle access system which would turn the smartphone into a car key. With this system, smartphones are identified by the on-board sensors in a car as drivers approach them. If verified, the car will then unlock automatically. With this new application, Bosch says that … Continue reading Bosch announces digital keyless access system for cars →

ANZ’s Stateometer report that was released earlier this week has indicated that Victoria is the only state economy in Australia that has grown above trend for two consecutive years. According to a media release by the Victorian government, housing, the labour market and trade were all positive contributors to the index in the quarter. The report … Continue reading ANZ Stateometer: Victoria the only state to have grown “above trend” →

The construction of more than 500 megawatts (MW) of hydro and solar is one step closer after an agreement was signed last Friday between Powerlink and Genex Power Limited to progress Stage 2 of the Kidston Hydro-Solar Project, that combined with stage one will support up to 500 construction jobs. Minister Assisting the Premier on … Continue reading North QLD hydro and solar project that will support jobs moves forward →

Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro today The NSW government announced the opening of the Growing Local Economies Fund, which will use an innovative new funding model to target $500 million in investments in business-boosting infrastructure across regional NSW. Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the investment, which is part … Continue reading $500 million to grow NSW economies →

Andrew Donald Design Engineering (ADDE) has developed the first end-of-line automated palletising system for Australian standard pallets, which incorporates Universal Robots’ UR10 robot to create a collaborative and flexible palletiser.  With most packing operations still finishing with an operator loading a carton onto a pallet manually, ADDE saw an industry need to find a solution … Continue reading ADDE launches Australia’s first automated, collaborative palletising system →

The Victorian government has released a report  by an independent panel investigating Victoria’s gas and electricity retail markets. The panel has recommended a range of measures to drive down power prices, protect consumers and put people first. Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate change, Lily D’Amrosio welcomed the release of the independent review into the … Continue reading Independent panel recommends methods to drive down Victoria’s energy prices →

The Queensland government has reportedly invited 29 startups under the second round of the Queensland Government’s Advance Queensland Hot DesQ initiative. Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy Leeanne Enoch said the entrepreneurial teams were selected from more than 180 interstate and international applications. “The number (of applications) indicates a real appetite for startups wanting to … Continue reading Advance Queensland initiative attracts new wave of global entrepreneurs →

Claroty, an innovator in Operational Technology (OT) network protection, and Schneider Electric have announced that they are partnering to address safety and cybersecurity challenges for the world’s industrial infrastructure. Under the terms of the agreement, Claroty will market its real-time OT/ICS network monitoring and detection solution to Schneider Electric’s customers through the company’s Collaborative Automation Partner … Continue reading Claroty and Schneider partner to bolster safety and cybersecurity →

Australian graphene applications company, Imagine Intelligent Materials, has been awarded a $100,000 grant by road transport infrastructure provider, Transurban, to fund continuing development of scalable, graphene-based sensors that will lead to motorways becoming “smart”. The grant will be used by Imagine IM over a nine-month project to build prototype sensors that will be able to … Continue reading Imagine IM receives research grant from Transurban to develop “smart” roads →

The need for an Australian-owned builder for the $89 billion 12-submarine and nine-frigate program was emphasised in State Parliament in a statement  last week by South Australian Defence Industries Minister Hamilton-Smith. The Minister said that indications coming from Canberra are that the French Government-owned Naval Group (formerly DCNS) having been chosen as the architect and … Continue reading Australians must build future submarines and frigates: SA Defence →

GE Renewable Energy is set to enter an agreement with Engie in Australia to supply and install 32 wind turbines at the Willogoleche wind farm in South Australia, 160km north of Adelaide. Upon completion in mid-2018, the 119 MW wind farm project will generate enough energy to power the equivalent of 80,000 South Australian homes. … Continue reading GE, Engie partner for SA wind farm →

Two weeks ago, the Queensland Government released the 2017 update of the State Infrastructure Plan (part B program) which underpins economic growth and supports jobs. Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure Jackie Trad said the State Infrastructure Plan (SIP) provides confidence and certainty to industry, local government and the community. “This update to the SIP … Continue reading Update of QLD’s SIP program to boost economy and support jobs →

National Energy Resources Australia (NERA) has announced that more than $15 million is now available to collaborative projects that they say will help Australia’s energy resources sector become more innovative and globally competitive . Announcing a new round of its Project Fund, NERA encourages resource sector partners to submit collaborative, industry-led, innovative energy resources projects for … Continue reading NERA project fund goes live →

Last month, the Queensland Productivity Commission released its draft report, targeting costs, productivity and government programs – essentially putting forward a plan of action to make the state’s manufacturing sector more  productive and competitive. Principal Commissioner Kim Wood said the Queensland Government had asked him for policies that would support the strong and diverse manufacturing … Continue reading Action plan to ramp up productivity and competition for QLD manufacturing →

Last week, the Victorian State Government has announced that its Boosting Business Productivity program will now include large businesses thanks to an increase in funding. The announcement is the latest in a suite of programs to help businesses affected by rising energy costs. Victorian businesses will now benefit from additional funding of $2.5 million to help … Continue reading Vic Government funding to alleviate businesses’ electric bills →

Last week, Australia’s manufacturing sector received a boost with the formal launch of the Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC).  The IMCRC collaborates with manufacturing businesses, research organisations, industry associations and government, investing significantly in partnerships that support innovation to ensure Australian industry can meet the challenges and opportunities of the global economy. The Minister … Continue reading IMCRC launch to boost Australian manufacturing →

In a news release earlier this week, the Andrews Labor Government is creating thousands of local jobs and using Victorian businesses to build the biggest public transport project in Victorian history – the Metro Tunnel. This was announced when Premier Daniel Andrews visited Spotswood’s Rail Centre to meet with apprentices and workers to announce the jobs … Continue reading Melbourne Metro Tunnel to see creation of 7000 jobs →

GE has announced that Clarke Energy, GE’s distributor and service partner, will provide 11 of GE’s Jenbacher J624 gas engines to Australian energy infrastructure business, APA Group, for its new 45-megawatt (MW) Yamarna Power Station in Western Australia, which is being constructed to supply power to the Gruyere Gold Project. Clarke Energy will engineer, procure and … Continue reading APA chooses Clarke Energy for Gruyere Gold Project →

Swinburne researchers have joined forces with the Federal government to help determine the future of Smart Cities in Australia after Minister for Environment and Energy, Josh Frydenberg, toured the University’s newly-launched Smart Cities’ Research Institute. Mr Frydenberg joined Assistant Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation, Angus Taylor, in taking part in a discussion with Institute leaders … Continue reading Collaboration for the future of Smart Cities →