Procedures for approving the use of new health technology in Australia will be examined to make it easier for new devices and services to be adopted, while maintaining patient safety. The Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, and the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Lindsay Tanner, today announced today that a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Review would be undertaken as a joint exercise between their portfolios. The review will consider processes for:.

The Rudd Government today released the report Interacting with Government: Australians' Use and Satisfaction with e-Government Services - 2008 which shows that in 2008 the internet has replaced contact in person and by telephone as the most common way people had made their last contact with government. Results show that older Australians are using the internet more, and Australians of all ages are using it to contact government. Lindsay Tanner said: 'Research such as the Interacting with Government study highlights the opportunities we have to improve government services by applying new technologies, providing secure and trusted environments and making the ways of interacting with government simple, convenient and easy to use.'.

Golden finish for Aussie champ Kurt Fearnley in marathon. Kurt Fearnley's thrilling win in the marathon today topped off a golden night at the 2008 Paralympic Games for Australia. Fearnley also won bronze in the in the 1500 metre final last night, for a personal total of four medals.