New workplace regulator for the construction industry
01 June, 2012Fair Work Building and Construction (FWBC), the new regulator of workplace laws in the building and construction industry, begins operations today. FWBC was created by the Fair Work (Building) Act 2012 (FW Building Act). The agency is headed by the Acting Chief Executive, Leigh Johns, who was appointed by Bill Shorten MP, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, on 30 May 2012.
Price reform and smart metering required for electric vehicle charging, says ENA
01 June, 2012The Energy Networks Association (ENA) has said electricity pricing reform and investment in smart metering will be required for a smooth transition to electric vehicles.
NECA finds new placements for Hastie Group apprentices
31 May, 2012The National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) has found new placements for 60 out of 80 apprentices that had been placed with the Hastie Group.
Research breakthrough improves solar panel technology 30%
31 May, 2012Researchers have discovered a breakthrough in solar panel technology using dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSCs) that improves the panels’ efficiency by at least 30%.
Clean Energy Council pushes for CEFC establishment
29 May, 2012The Clean Energy Council has called on the Australian Parliament to establish the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) “as soon as possible”. The peak body for Australia’s renewable energy industry urged the government to pass laws establishing the $10 billion CEFC so new clean energy technologies can access support.
ETU urges FWA to reverse standdown of Watters Electrical workers
29 May, 2012The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) Victorian Branch has urged Fair Work Australia to reverse the standdown of electrical workers by Watters Electrical, part of the Hastie Group that recently entered into voluntary administration.
Master Electricians shocked by ACTU’s Better Bargaining policy
24 May, 2012 by Malcolm Richards CEO, Master Electricians Australia | Supplied by: Master Electricians AustraliaAs an employer group, Master Electricians Australia is extremely concerned with the Australian Council of Trade Union’s (ACTU) recently proposed Better Bargaining policy which will see a return to the unproductive central wage fixation practices of the past. The ACTU’s proposal demonstrates the Labor Party want to control business in every aspect of management including social and corporate responsibility. In our view, the policy exposes Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten’s stance on bargaining, at the enterprise level, as rhetoric compared to the faceless men’s real objectives. Can you imagine employers being subject to lawful industrial action just because a company may not support the union’s own social issue?
Preparing for the carbon tax
23 May, 2012 by Greg Mills*, CEO, Cincom Systems of Australia | Supplied by: Cincom Systems of Australia Pty LtdWe have all been told that the carbon tax has been designed to help restructure the economy with the aim of using less energy and lowering the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) generated. However, as the July 2012 deadline looms, recent surveys show that less than 50% of Australian companies are actually prepared for its introduction and this percentage is even lower if we only look at small to medium enterprises.
Schneider and Krohne collaborate on automation and instrumentation solution
22 May, 2012 | Supplied by: Schneider ElectricSchneider Electric has announced a partnership with Krohne that the companies say will provide customers with a complete automation and instrumentation solution, which will include Schneider’s PlantStruxure process automation architecture and Krohne’s instrumentation offer.
Finepoint’s Circuit Breaker Test & Maintenance Training Conference
21 May, 2012Finepoint’s 19th Annual Circuit Breaker Test & Maintenance Training Conference will be held over 1-5 October in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
CEDIA Award winners announced
18 May, 2012The winners of the CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles Awards were announced in Brisbane on Wednesday 9 May in front of 300 industry professionals. This year's awards had 77 project entries from 28 companies and from five countries: Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand and Taiwan. The winners of the CEDIA Electronic Lifestyles Awards were announced in Brisbane on Wednesday 9 May in front of 300 industry professionals. This year's awards had 77 project entries from 28 companies and from five countries: Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand and Taiwan.
Australia has a "skills opportunity", not skills shortage, claims Chris Evans
18 May, 2012In a speech at a Mainstream Maintenance and Reliability Networking Conference in Perth, Senator Chris Evans said that, rather than a skills shortage, Australia is facing a "skills opportunity".
Small and medium businesses receive $20m worth of energy-efficiency grants
18 May, 2012The federal government has pledged over $20 million in grants to help small and medium businesses and community groups improve energy efficiency.
Industry welcomes Tasmanian government’s decision to reform electricity market
17 May, 2012The Tasmanian government’s decision to reform its electricity market has been welcomed by the Energy Retailers Association of Australia (ERAA) following an expert panel review of the market. The decision will see the government introduce changes such as selling Aurora Energy’s customer base and introducing full retail competition (FRC) for the state by February next year.
Schneider Electric IT appoints State managers for ACT and WA
17 May, 2012Schneider Electric IT has announced the regional appointments of Olaf Moon as State Manager, ACT and Federal Government and Graeme Ridler as State Manager, WA.
