The Rural Health Alliance, which represents many health professional groups, is pushing for the move as part of a strategy to prevent Foetal Alcohol Spetrum Disorder (FASD).

ABC [read this story]

Barry Haase MHR

Local member Barry Haase is worried about the impact of new Occupational Health and Safety laws on volunteers.

“Under these new laws even foster carers are regarded as ‘workers’ and their homes classified as ‘workplaces’, exposing carers to potentially enormous OH and S penalties,” he said.

You can read his statement here:

2012 is upon us and aside from our typical cyclonic activity and the very extensive Gascoyne bush fires the year appears to have arrived in a much less catastrophic way, weather wise, than 2011. The natural disasters that occurred right across Australia during 2011 brought devastation and heartbreak to tens of thousands of Australians. We saw fires and floods and yet we saw the true Aussie spirit shine.

Armies of volunteers, made up of neighbours’, friends, extended family members and total strangers fought the floods and fires and then mopped up after the events.

2011 was, ironically, the Ten Year Anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers and as Australians regardless of class or creed, we rolled up our sleeves and gave a hand to those in need.

2011 may now be remembered as the last year of the traditional Australian volunteerism as we know it. Labor’s new Occupational Health and Safety (OH and S) laws have converted volunteers into virtual employees. As a result local sporting clubs, scout groups and community organisations will be burdened with strict regulations accompanied by harsh punishments for non‐compliance.

Under these new laws even foster carers are regarded as ‘workers’ and their homes classified as ‘workplaces’, exposing carers to potentially enormous OH and S penalties. For example a Meals on Wheels volunteer could be fined up to $300,000 or jailed for five years due to non‐compliance with Labor regulation in their voluntary work.

According to reports the Scout Association have issued a memo, stating all scout games are going to have to be reviewed. They will now have to have documented safety procedures for existing games and put compliant procedures in place.

Throwing the volunteer sector into chaos with red tape is ludicrous and will cost Australians more than money, it will cost us our way of life, helping those less fortunate will no longer be the norm.

The Australian [read this story]

A Gouldian finch - courtesy Wikimedia

Indigenous rangers have confirmed Gouldian Finches are still present and breeding on the Dampier Peninsula.

The rangers observed the birds while carrying out weed control on monsoon vine thickets.

You can read a statement from Environs Kimberley, The World Wildlife Fund, Kimberley Land Council and the Bardi Jawi Rangers here:

MEDIA RELEASE

Rare Gouldian finch found on Dampier Peninsula

19 January 2012

A breeding population of the rare Gouldian finch, one of Australia’s most endangered birds, has been found north of Broome by Indigenous rangers and environment groups.

In an exciting find for local conservation, the Bardi Jawi and Bard Jawi Oorany Rangers working with WWF-Australia and Environs Kimberley recently discovered several Gouldian finch populations on the Dampier Peninsula, highlighting the importance of continued conservation efforts in the rich, diverse region.

“We sighted the Gouldian finches a couple of weeks ago whilst undertaking weed control and decided we needed to have a concerted look in areas that we knew they had been seen before by our old people,” said Bardi Jawi ranger Trevor Sampi. “It was great to find more of them. We always knew they were there.”

The striking, vibrantly coloured species is now threatened across its entire range and less than 2,500 adult birds currently survive in the wild. The species also has very specific habitat requirements, both in terms of the plants it feeds on and the areas in which it breeds, making conservation of suitable habitats for the colourful, iconic finch vital.

“Now that we know this species is breeding on the Peninsula, we need to find out where they are breeding and whether there is anything we can do to halt the species’ decline,” said Dr Alexander Watson, WWF-Australia’s Kimberley Program Manager.

“It’s exciting to be working with rangers and to find a breeding population of Gouldian finches utilising refuges such as monsoon vine thickets and un-burnt woodland. It shows how important it is to continue to care for land and improve fire management on the Dampier Peninsula,” said Louise Beames, Environs Kimberley Projects Coordinator.

Previously there have been few sightings on the Gouldian finch on the Dampier Peninsula, however, the recent field work by the Indigenous rangers revealed juvenile birds were among the population, marking it as a breeding ground.

Flocks of thousands of Gouldian finches have disappeared over the past 50 years. The reason for the decline is not known, although scientists hypothesise that altered fire regimes, cattle, and throat parasites are contributing factors. A large pet trade that captured and sold wild birds is also thought to have had a significant impact on finch numbers although it was banned in the mid-1980s.

Traditional knowledge and skills are playing an essential role in sustainable land management in the Kimberly. The Bardi Jawi Rangers continue to work on habitat conservation projects in the area with WWF-Australia and Environs Kimberly. This partnership utilises local knowledge and cultural heritage to appropriately monitor and manage this striking endangered species.

Allegations have been made about management practices and use of funds.

ABC [read this story]

The Murdoch Press says the league wishes to sponsor a Kimberley Aboriginal team to compete in the national under-16s competition.

Adelaide Now [read this story]

He says he broke down near Timber Creek in the Northern Territory, and his automobile club had him towed 300 kilometres back to Katherine rather than 150 kilometres to Kununurra.

Adelaide Now [read this story]

ABC [read this story]

The Australian Wildlife Conservancy will be running Artesian Range, which is part of Charnley River Station, as a refuge for wildlife.

Sydney Morning Herald [read this story]

Brett Claudius said the 18-year-old from Billiluna had not been given a proper preparation for the draft, and had not been sufficiently coached as to what to expect and what the requirements were.

The West Australian [read this story]