Welcome to Tweed Shire

Since the1960s, new technologies have helped police to keep up with advances in the way that crime is committed. The increased mobility of criminals has been matched by the patrol car and radio communication; analysis of crime and anti social behaviour hot spots allows response teams to see where they should be targeted.

But whilst technology has enabled the police to keep up with new types of crime and criminal, the ongoing centralisation of the police can lead to disconnect from the communities police are here to serve.

The social network phenomenon continues to expand across the world. Yet the challenges facing law enforcement have seen most agencies dabble at the edges of the social networks rather than truly engage the same.

The NSW Police Force uses facebook, Twitter and YouTube to provide information about policing activities and general information. It also uses these networking sites to assist in trying to identify suspects for criminal offences by publishing images. Such use of modern media technologies is replicated all over the world by police agencies. Yet all police agencies have yet to harness the power of the internet and social networking to truly engage our communities.

NSWPF has developed a new strategic direction and platform for the delivery of information to the community of NSW. Utilising facebook as the network tool, NSWPF have created neighbourhood watch communities, organised into precincts. In addition the NSWPF will supply information in real time, including crime figures, issues affecting the community, keep a look out for information via Local Area Command facebook open pages.

The Project “eyewatch” aim is to engage the community to participate in law enforcement at a level never seen before under specific governance.

Tweed/Byron LAC Facebook page

ACCC Small Business Information Network (SBIN)

If you are a repairer or accept goods for repair you should take note of new Australian Consumer Law Regulations that commenced on 1 July 2011. These regulations will apply to you if you accept goods for repair, where:

• the goods being repaired are capable of retaining user-generated data (any data that is stored on goods, for example files stored on a computer, mobile phone, portable music player or other similar electronic goods); or
• it is your practice to supply refurbished goods rather than repair a defective good, or to use refurbished parts in the repair of defective goods.

You can access further information on repair notices at http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/996739. It provides information material relating to the repair notices requirements for businesses.

The ACCC invites you to pass this information on to anyone else you think needs to know this information. We also encourage you to include it in any periodicals you may provide to members. If you would like additional information for inclusion in periodicals, please let us know.

The regulations are intended to make consumers aware that if they take goods to be repaired that are capable of storing user-generated data they may lose that data in the repair process. Repairers must therefore give consumers a written repair notice before they accept such goods for repair – a suggested set of words is provided in the information material.

The regulations also intend to ensure that where a repairer uses refurbished goods or parts in their repairs that consumers are made aware of this. The repair notice in this instance must also include a specific set of words – this wording is outlined in the information material.

For further information visit the ACCC website or contact the ACCC Infocentre on 1300 302 502.

If you need more help or advice on this issue call the ACCC Small business helpline on 1300 302 021 or contact your local ACCC Education and Engagement Manager listed below.

The Hon Greg Pearce MLC

Minister for Finance and Services

Minister for the Illawarra

MEDIA RELEASE

Tuesday 5 July 2011

RETURNING TO WORK MADE EASIER

NSW Minister for Finance and Services, Greg Pearce announced today that the NSW Government had introduced a raft of new initiatives to help injured workers return to work.

“The NSW Government is committed to ensuring both employers and employees are provided with incentives and assistance to ensure longer-term injured workers can re-join the workforce,” Mr Pearce said.

“It is vital that injured workers are provided with the tools and programs to assist them to get back into the workplace,” he said.

“Starting this week are new improvements to WorkCover’s Vocational Rehabilitation Programs that simplify the process for employers that want to place an injured worker in a new job and provides services to assist injured workers to re-enter the workplace.

“For employers we have reformed the WorkCover JobCover Placement Program making it easier to hire an injured worker seeking new employment.

“This includes cutting red tape by enabling the agent managing the worker’s claim to manage the program, pay the wage subsidy to the JobCover employer retrospectively and certify eligibility for premium protection.

“We have also increased the wage subsidy with a new employer from $3,600 over 12 weeks to $27,400 over the first year.

“For injured workers we have enhanced rehabilitation programs to allow more scope and flexibility in meeting their needs to return to sustainable employment and overcome barriers that might have previously hindered a worker obtaining a new job.

“The transition to work payment is a new program that allows up to $5,000 for employment placements to overcome significant barriers to joining the workforce like travel or childcare.

“We have extended the work trial period beyond the current 12 week period allowing for extensions of several weeks if it leads to a more secure employment.

“Being injured and unable to work is an anxious time for any worker and their family and these initiatives will make a real difference to the lives of injured workers in NSW,” Mr Pearce said.

NEW OPTIONS FOR INJURED WORKERS

• Transition-to-work payment: A new program that allows up to $5,000 for employment placements where the costs of items such as travel, clothing, relocation or childcare are a significant barrier to commencing a job.
• Equipment funding: Extended to include tools required for a job search. For example tools for a maintenance worker, commercial cooking knives for a cook and a security belt for a security guard.
• Extension of the work trial period: Allowing the work trial period to be extended several weeks beyond current 12 week limit if it will secure employment.

NEW OPTIONS FOR EMPLOYERS

• Updated JobCover Placement Program helping injured workers to secure a job with a new employer:
• Increasing the wage subsidy with a new employer from $3,600 over 12 weeks to $27,400 over the first year;
• Increasing from one to two years the period that an injured worker’s wages are exempt from being included in the employer’s workers compensation premium calculation;
• Increasing the protection period against further costs associated with an existing injury from one to two years; and
• Reducing red tape by enabling the agent managing the worker’s claim to manage the program, pay the wage subsidy to the JobCover employer retrospectively and certify eligibility for premium protection.

Further information on WorkCover’s vocational rehabilitation programs is available from www.workcover.nsw.gov.au or by calling 131 050.