INDIAN NEWS QUEENSLAND
Queensland marks 100 days without community transmission Brisbane, Dec 24: It’s now been 100 days since Queensland last recorded a case of COVID-19 acquired in the Queensland community. Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Yvette D’Ath said the hard work of Queenslanders has helped to ensure Queensland continues to be in a strong position against COVID-19. “Since 15 September 2020, we haven’t had a single case of COVID-19 acquired in the Queensland community,” Minister D’Ath said.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Yvette D’Ath
“This is a remarkable achievement, and Queenslanders and visitors to Queensland should be very proud of the personal efforts they have made towards this milestone in the pandemic response.
“I don’t want to see that happen in Queensland, and that’s why it’s so important to practice social distancing when you’re out and about over the festive season so everyone can enjoy their Christmas and New Year.
“We are all in this together, and everyone has a role to play to limit the spread of COVID-19,” she said.
“I continue to encourage you to get tested if you experience any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, and make sure any family and friends visiting from interstate know they can get tested too at any of our testing clinics.
Minister D’Ath said since the start of the pandemic, Queensland has responded strongly. “We’ve had to implement some tough measures throughout 2020, but they have been essential to save lives and protect the health of Queenslanders,” she said. “While we still have some restrictions in place, we are slowly and steadily lifting restrictions in a sensible and balanced way. “Now we are able to travel within the state and interstate, enjoy private gatherings in outdoor public spaces up to 100 people, have up to 200 people at a wedding, indoor and outdoor dancing is allowed, and venues with ticketed, allocated seating can have up to 100 per cent capacity,” she said. Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said Queenslanders still needed to careful, especially over the festive season as family and friends get together for gatherings and more interstate visitors come to Queensland. “While COVID-19 remains a threat around the globe, we still need to be careful and make sure we don’t undo all our hard work,” Dr Young said. “As we’ve seen in Sydney, clusters can appear almost overnight and it may mean restrictions and even
lockdowns have to be reinstated.
“We want to do everything we possibly can to make sure that we do not get any community transmission here in Queensland,” she said. Hospitality venues such as pubs, nightclubs, restaurants, cafes and other venues that serve food and drink are reminded they should now be recording and storing contact details of patrons, guests and staff electronically following changes to the Restrictions on Businesses, Activities and Undertakings Direction (No.12). People have been encouraged to use a QR code when checking in to a venue if it is available. If a venue does not have a QR code or you don’t have a smart phone, speak to venue staff so they can record your details in an electronic form. Contact details must be kept electronically so data can be accessed quickly and efficiently to support contact tracing efforts, and to ensure all information is legible at the time of collection. Compliance officers will work with businesses in coming weeks to ensure they understand their responsibilities and comply with Queensland Chief Health Officer Directions.
Jan 1-15, 2021 - Vol 4, Issue 2
Queensland government to support future interpreters Brisbane, Dec 23: Queenslanders who rely on interpreters to access essential services will soon have greater assistance with the Palaszczuk Government providing $740,000 over three years to boost the number of Interpreters who are certified by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI).
Training and Skills Dianne Farmer said the funding had the potential to kickstart vital careers.
Working in collaboration with NAATI, an Interpreter Training Boost Program will be launched in 2021 to support people who speak in-demand languages by assisting with their interpreter training and NAATI certification fees.
Multicultural Affairs Minister Leanne Linard said there were more than 180 overseas languages spoken in Queensland and the COVID-19 pandemic had shown an urgent need for interpreters in some languages to help Queenslanders access essential
Minister for Employment,
The Queensland Government has secured a conditional agreement with property group Mirvac for the proposed $670 million
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redevelopment of 200 Turbot Street.
The $2.1 billion Waterfront Brisbane development of the Eagle Street Pier and Waterfront Place precinct has also received development approval from Brisbane City Council. Deputy Premier and Minister for
“We are providing opportunities for up to 100 Queenslanders to gain jobs in the interpreting industry and this investment will ensure Queenslanders have the skills they need to set up employment pathways for the future,” Farmer said.
services in the event of future disasters. “Qualified interpreters are a life-line for those who may find it difficult communicating in English, as we found during the pandemic, and we need more of them, across a wide range of languages,” she said. “They play a vital role in some of life’s most important and sometimes stressful moments – like visiting the doctor and getting a COVID-19 test, obtaining assistance during hailstorms, bushfires and cyclones. Their work is also crucial for English speaking professionals seeking to provide best care and services.”
Queensland government reforms to support public transport operators Brisbane, Dec 22: The Palaszczuk Government has announced it will slash the regulatory burden for bus and other public transport operators, to support the industry as part of Queensland’s plan for economic recovery. In a move expected to save operators more than $1.5 million each year and generate business for local automotive shops, Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said from mid-2021, inspections would move to an annual basis and light public transport vehicles would have the option to be inspected at local approved inspection stations. For operators in remote areas, the
reforms will allow both heavy and light public passenger transport vehicles to be inspected at a local station instead of TMR inspection centres. The reforms bring the industry into line with personalised transport services like taxis, limousine and booked hire vehicles. “This move adds to our record $26.9 billion road and transport investment program, as well as support measures introduced during COVID-19 as part of a $54.5 million essential transport stimulus package,” Mr Bailey said. To ensure high safety standards are maintained continued onroad enforcement and targeted
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey operations will be used to monitor the condition of the public passenger transport fleet, anytime and anywhere.
Queensland agribusiness a story of resilience in trying times Brisbane, Dec 21: Queensland’s agribusiness and food sector is holding firm in the face of COVID-19 with new data showing the 2020-21 forecast value of primary industries commodities to be $18.4 billion, which is just one per cent lower than for 201920. Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said this was remarkable after years of drought and sector wide disruption from the pandemic.
“The impact of the pandemic on Queensland’s primary industries is expected to be a decrease of $87 million at the farm gate in 202021,” Furner said. “But it could have been much worse and some sectors have actually thrived. In 2020-21, Queensland’s bulk commodities and exports of high value products are expected to continue, while nursery sales have surged due to strong interest in home gardening.
seafood producers have had to redirect produce, move into value added products, offer wage incentives such as bonuses and payments above the award rate, and adjust planting decisions. Fruit and vegetables, cut flowers, forestry and fisheries will be the most affected, with a decrease of $179 million. More than half of this is expected to be offset by increased output in production nurseries.
“However, horticulture and
“Looking ahead, forecast rainfall over the Queensland summer holds the promise of good news for the major cropping regions and grazing lands,” Furner said.
State Development Steven Miles said plans for a proposed $670 million redevelopment of 200 Turbot Street in Brisbane’s CBD are one step closer.
“Following a competitive bidding process, the Queensland Government is pleased to have secured a conditional agreement with property group Mirvac for the redevelopment of 200 Turbot Street.
“Redevelopment of the site is conditional on Mirvac securing arrangements that will ensure the site becomes a vital part of Queensland’s commercial sector and stimulates construction activity.
“Queensland is getting on with our economic recovery by supporting job-generating projects,” Miles said.
“The major redevelopment is estimated to support about 360 jobs per year over a proposed three-year construction phase.
Member for McConnell Grace Grace said both projects were a major win for Brisbane’s CBD.
Brisbane CBD set for billion-dollar boost Brisbane, Dec 21: Two redevelopments worth almost $3 billion collectively and set to transform Brisbane city reached significant milestones recently.
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