The Australian Government has announced the appointment of the independent expert panel that will investigate the reforms required to ensure that Australia's sporting system remains prepared for the challenges of the future. The expert panel will look at sport at both the elite level and at the grassroots community level, as part of a top-to-bottom examination of Australian sport and will leave no stone unturned in the search for better ways to run, promote and manage sport in Australia. An addendum to the submission was provided to the Panel on 6 February 2009, which can also be downloaded below.

Lindsay Tanner, Minister for Finance and Deregulation, today released the . The annual Productivity Commission reviews help us to identify red tape in specific sectors of the economy.'. Of the 61 Productivity Commission responses, the Government has accepted 36 and accepted a further 13 in principle.

Lindsay Tanner, Minister for Finance and Deregulation today announced that the Comcover Member Services Contract for the delivery of insurance and risk management services to Australian Government Departments and agencies has been awarded to a consortium led by Gallagher Bassett Services Pty Ltd. The Gallagher Consortium consists of Gallagher Bassett Services Pty Ltd, Gallagher Broking Services and RiskTech Pty Ltd. Comcover Member Services is responsible for delivering a range of insurance and risk management services to more than 160 Australian Government Departments and agencies.

$m 67,324 35,957 103,281 313,250 70,018 27,179 97,197 303,624 Net operating balance -2,694 8,778 6,084 9,626 Net capital investment 266 181 447 3,784 -2,960 8,579 5,637 5,842 -5,324 5,558 234 5,365 -3,804 5,454 1,650 7,078 269,802 8,092 277,894 295,563 205,649 2,676 208,325 225,547 64,153 5,415 69,569 70,016 -34,229 -3,531 -37,761 -47,181. (a) Net worth is calculated as total assets minus total liabilities. (b) Net financial worth equals total financial assets minus total liabilities.

Wednesday, 29 October 2008. A 38-year-old Ghanaian man will face Perth Central Court today charged with possessing a false passport. The man's visa was cancelled and he was charged with possessing a document knowing that it was a false foreign travel document contrary to section 21(2) of the Foreign Passports (Law Enforcement and Security) Act 2005.

The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, has paid tribute to teachers who work in government, Catholic and independent schools as school students, parents and communities from across Australia prepare to celebrate World Teachers' Day. The Minister encourages everyone to get involved in World Teachers' Day and show our great appreciation for the work teachers do and the important role they play in our community. For further information about World Teachers' Day 2008 please visit .

The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, today welcomed the release of the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) report Participation in Science, Mathematics and Technology in Australian Education. As part of its Education Revolution, the Government is investing in a range of initiatives to invigorate science and maths education in schools and to lift enrolments. It is vital more students go on to study science and maths after school, so Australia can meet the demand for these skills, which are critical to Australia's future.

Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. An Australian recruitment firm will fund a new scholarship program at Swan TAFE as part of an on-hire labour agreement for the recruitment of overseas skilled workers, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans said today. Senator Evans said Interstaff Recruitment will provide annual funding for a range of scholarships for Australian apprentices and trainees and include dedicated scholarships for Indigenous and financially disadvantaged apprentices.

You are here: &raquo Media releases. Environment Minister Peter Garrett today said he had accepted the Director of National Parks recommendation to reinstate park use fees at Kakadu National Park from 1 April 2010, with a full exemption for Territorians. 'The previous Government's decision to abolish park fees created a $4 million black hole that taxpayers then had to fill by supplementing the Kakadu budget so that park operations did not falter and the park's traditional owners were not disadvantaged.

Media release 30 October 2008 $7.7 million in research grants welcomed ANSTO* has welcomed the recent announcement of nine scientific research grants worth $7.7 million from the Australian Research Council (ARC) and National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for the work it is involved in. The most significant grant - at $1.8 million - was from the NHMRC to a team led by the University of Queensland with whom ANSTO's Dr Suzanne Smith is investigating the toxicology of nanomaterials, a subject currently under public scrutiny.