R[0]="2178"; T[0]="Ecommerce road shows in Victoria"; A[0]="By ... Editor"; Dn[0]="20030829"; Dt[0]="Friday 29 August 2003"; Acats[0]="a46a65"; B1[0]="      Small to medium businesses in Victoria s north-east can take advantage of two Victorian Government workshops to assist them in the use "; B2[0]="of eCommerce to boost their business success... "; B3[0]=" "; B4[0]=" "; B5[0]=" "; S1[0]="      Small to medium businesses in Victoria's north-east can take advantage of two Victorian Government workshops to assist them in the use of "; S2[0]=" eCommerce to boost their business success.
      Information and Communication Technology Minister, Marsha Thomson, said e-Commerce was revolutionising the way business was done "; S3[0]=" and the Government's e-Commerce Roadshow program was helping to spread the word.
      'The uptake of new technologies is crucial to the future "; S4[0]=" competitiveness of Victorian businesses,' Ms Thomson said.
      'These Roadshows seek to help business operators understand why they should get online and how "; S5[0]=" they can make it happen.
      'By offering e-Commerce workshops and seminars, the Roadshows will help Victorian businesses to understand the huge potential "; S6[0]=" ICT has to transform traditional businesses - making them more effective, efficient and competitive.' The Roadshows will be held at Oxley Hall, Wangaratta, from 6pm "; S7[0]=" to 9pm on Tuesday, 9 September, and at the High Country Motor Inn, Bright, from 6pm to 9pm on Wednesday, 10 September.
      "; S8[0]=" Ms Thomson said from Orbost to Ouyen, more than 1200 Victorian regional Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) had already attended the Roadshows, which target specific "; S9[0]=" industry sectors, including retail, manufacturing and agriculture.
      'The Bracks Government is taking the e-Commerce Roadshows across the State because we are determined "; S10[0]=" to help Victorian businesses to seize the opportunities presented by new technology,' she said.
      Under the e-Commerce Roadshow program, the Victorian Government "; S11[0]=" funds local business associations, councils and chambers of commerce to deliver free, practical and interactive eCommerce workshops and seminar.
      The Bracks Government "; S12[0]=" has already committed more than $400,000 to the program, which is delivered as part of the Connecting Victoria strategy.
      For roadshow details, "; S13[0]=" call Glenda Hall on 57216988 or the Victorian Business Line on 13 22 15... "; R[1]="2142"; T[1]="BigPond DIY web site a snap for digital photo storage"; A[1]="By ... Editor"; Dn[1]="20030822"; Dt[1]="Friday 22 August 2003"; Acats[1]="a46"; B1[1]="      BigPond has identified a strong new business opportunity with mass-market appeal with its new do-it-yourself (DIY) web sites for consumers.... "; B2[1]=" "; B3[1]=" "; B4[1]=" "; B5[1]=" "; S1[1]="      BigPond has identified a strong new business opportunity with mass-market appeal with its new do-it-yourself (DIY) web sites for consumers.
    "; S2[1]="   BigPond Managing Director, Mr Justin Milne, said BigPond customers could pay a minimal fee on top of their monthly Internet bill for a web "; S3[1]=" site that publishes their growing online digital photo files for access by families, friends and business colleagues.
      'We're talking about a web "; S4[1]=" hosting solution that doubles as a web site or online photo-album.
      We think it will be an extremely handy application for consumers "; S5[1]=" who want a ready-made personal web site at prices that start from just $2.95 each month,' he said.
      'Web hosting has been "; S6[1]=" seen as quite 'technical' and needs some impetus to really take off in the mass market.
      BigPond plans to do this with "; S7[1]=" entry-level solutions that could help a large number of BigPond customers to bolt a basic web hosting service on to their monthly Internet plan.' BigPond "; S8[1]=" is aiming to add thousands of low cost web-hosting customers by the end of year with cut-and-paste 'wizard' template plans that start from $2.95 per "; S9[1]=" month.
      Mr Milne said customers don't have to be web experts to make their own sites.
      'It's as easy "; S10[1]=" as downloading a small wizard that helps our customers to construct a simple site with just a few clicks.
      Customers then drag "; S11[1]=" and drop photos from their hard disk and they're instantly published on the web.
      Apart from the convenience factor, users can be "; S12[1]=" confident that their pictures are safe as they're stored on servers, which are backed up.
      If the user's hard disk crashes the "; S13[1]=" photos will not be lost,' he said.
      The basic hosting plans are central to BigPond's strategy to win a larger slice of "; S14[1]=" the shared web hosting market.
      The plans will be promoted to BigPond's customer base of 1.4 million customers in its monthly dial-up "; S15[1]=" Internet and broadband Ponderings newsletter.
      BigPond's push into the web hosting market came in June with hosting products for SMEs starting from "; S16[1]=" $38 a month.
      The number of small businesses with a web site rose over the past year from 34 per cent to "; S17[1]=" 36 per cent.
      A further 20 per cent said they intended to develop a web site in the next 12 months... "; R[2]="2048"; T[2]="Huge online job search site launched"; A[2]="By ... Editor"; Dn[2]="20030803"; Dt[2]="Sunday 3 August 2003"; Acats[2]="a06a46"; B1[2]="      News Limited will tomorrow launch its new employment network with more than 45,000 jobs for everyone from top executives to backpackers listed "; B2[2]="on its website www.careerone.com.au... "; B3[2]=" "; B4[2]=" "; B5[2]=" "; S1[2]="      News Limited will tomorrow launch its new employment network with more than 45,000 jobs for everyone from top executives to backpackers listed "; S2[2]=" on its website www.careerone.com.au.
      At the same time, the employment listings in more than 100 participating News Limited newspapers across Australia "; S3[2]=" will be rebranded CareerOne, making it the country's biggest cross-media jobs network.
      The jobs advertisements in all those papers will be "; S4[2]=" automatically listed online at no extra cost, together with thousands of website-only roles.
      Job advertisements include those from national newspaper The "; S5[2]=" Australian, metropolitan dailies around the country including The Courier-Mail, major regional newspapers and suburban titles.
      News Limited chief executive officer John "; S6[2]=" Hartigan said the network approach was designed to provide job seekers with 'choice, depth and unparalleled service'.
      'No other media in "; S7[2]=" Australia can offer the enormous range of jobs listed by CareerOne,' Mr Hartigan said.
      'The depth of coverage is unparalleled in "; S8[2]=" terms of the emphasis given to small and large employers, the parts of the country represented and the huge range of industries and job roles "; S9[2]=" listed.' Mr Hartigan said News Limited was spending more than $7 million to promote the network in a campaign that included television, newspapers, radio "; S10[2]=" and the web.
      He said anyone serious about looking for staff would be using CareerOne.
      'While Australia's major "; S11[2]=" employers and recruitment firms are represented on careerone.com.au, uploading jobs from our regional and suburban newspapers shows we are just as committed to small and "; S12[2]=" medium sized business operators both in and outside of the nation's cities,' Mr Hartigan said.
      At the time of going to "; S13[2]=" press there were more than 45,100 jobs on the CareerOne site - more than on any job site in Australia.
      Jobs ranged "; S14[2]=" from a managing director role based in Sydney to an in-house lawyer in Melbourne, head chef in Brisbane, driver in Darwin, mystery shopper in Cairns "; S15[2]=" and farm-hand holiday job in Tasmania.
      Job seekers can search careerone.com.au by newspaper title, geographic location, industry or all three and "; S16[2]=" use key words to further target their search.
      John Galloway, general manager of online classifieds said the network reflected what the "; S17[2]=" Australian worker faced today: 'Linking newspapers to the Net provides a job searching tool that is always relevant no matter what move a job seeker "; S18[2]=" is contemplating.'.. "; R[3]="2016"; T[3]="Australia to fight online fraud"; A[3]="By ... Editor"; Dn[3]="20030618"; Dt[3]="Wednesday 18 June 2003"; Acats[3]="a46"; B1[3]="      Australia will join other developed countries in fighting online fraud, pyramid and lottery schemes.... "; B2[3]=" "; B3[3]=" "; B4[3]=" "; B5[3]=" "; S1[3]="      Australia will join other developed countries in fighting online fraud, pyramid and lottery schemes.
      Parliamentary secretary to the treasurer "; S2[3]=" Ian Campbell said OECD members had agreed on a set of guidelines to help member nations enforce consumer protection laws.
      Modem "; S3[3]=" and web page hijacking, plus travel and credit-related schemes will be targeted under the new guidelines.
      Senator Campbell said the advent "; S4[3]=" of the internet had increased the opportunities for fraud operators to deceive ordinary citizens across the globe.
      'OECD members have recognised "; S5[3]=" that such practices harm not only consumers but also legitimate businesses, ultimately reducing consumer confidence in the global marketplace,' he said in a statement.
  "; S6[3]="     'Cross-border fraud operators can strike quickly, victimise thousands of consumers in a short period, then disappear with the proceeds of their frauds.
  "; S7[3]="     'These shady operators are able to escape prosecution in many cases because of the limited ability of law enforcement agencies to pursue "; S8[3]=" them across national borders or share evidence with other national agencies.'.. "; R[4]="1991"; T[4]="Vintage biscuit reviews online"; A[4]="By ... Editor"; Dn[4]="20030613"; Dt[4]="Friday 13 June 2003"; Acats[4]="a10a46"; B1[4]="      When Stuart Payne in Britain set up a website devoted to the gourmet pleasures of tea and biscuits, he should not have "; B2[4]="been surprised that it would become the McVitie s chocolate digestive of the internet... "; B3[4]=" "; B4[4]=" "; B5[4]=" "; S1[4]="      When Stuart Payne in Britain set up a website devoted to the gourmet pleasures of tea and biscuits, he should not have "; S2[4]=" been surprised that it would become the McVitie's chocolate digestive of the internet.
      Mr Payne, 40, an IT consultant from Cambridge, "; S3[4]=" started www.nicecupofteaandasitdown.com as something of a joke, with a simple the mission statement.
      'Well, I think we should all sit down "; S4[4]=" and have a nice cup of tea and some biscuits, nice ones mind you.
      Oh, and some cake would be nice as "; S5[4]=" well.' But he now takes his biscuits seriously, as does a nation which munched its way through 504,000 tonnes of them last year.
  "; S6[4]="     He reviews packets of biscuits as though they were fine wines, pits Old World favourites against New World imitators and has combed "; S7[4]=" the world for exotic accompaniments to a cup of PG Tips - which, in his view, should be made with one pyramid teabag to two "; S8[4]=" mugs.
      Dozens of brands have appeared in his 'biscuit of the week' feature, from Hobnobs to Jammie Dodgers.
      "; S9[4]=" McVitie's milk chocolate digestives, Britain's most popular biscuit, he regards as 'a figurehead for the entire chocolate biscuit world', while Tunnock's marshmallow teacakes are the "; S10[4]=" best of their kind despite having a consistency 'somewhere between shaving foam and bath sealant'.
      Among biscuit nibblers, the great dilemma "; S11[4]=" is whether to dunk or not to dunk.
      Rich Tea are the best for dunking, Mr Payne advises, but chocolate, on "; S12[4]=" the other hand, is 'disgusting when dunked'.
      There are those, he admits, who regard it as bad taste to dunk at "; S13[4]=" all.
      Friends send Mr Payne foreign biscuits for scrutiny on his website, which has had 250,000 visitors in two years.
  "; S14[4]="     He approves of Mikado, a French product which looks like a thin breadstick dipped in milk chocolate, but is less keen on "; S15[4]=" a Uruguayan biscuit which he describes as 'like some sort of inflatable vinyl burger'.
      Mr Payne confesses that his own favourite is "; S16[4]=" McVitie's Abbey Crunch, a groundbreaking biscuit in its day which led to the development of the Hobnob... "; R[5]="1982"; T[5]="Rural Queensland online"; A[5]="By ... Editor"; Dn[5]="20030612"; Dt[5]="Thursday 12 June 2003"; Acats[5]="a46a66"; B1[5]="      Rural Queenslanders are going online more than their city cousins - and the numbers are growing.... "; B2[5]=" "; B3[5]=" "; B4[5]=" "; B5[5]=" "; S1[5]="      Rural Queenslanders are going online more than their city cousins - and the numbers are growing.
      According to the "; S2[5]=" Department of Primary Industries (DPI), the results of a Nielsen/NetRatings survey demonstrated that the Internet was proving important for breaking down the communication barriers that "; S3[5]=" geographic isolation often creates.
      Dr Terry Gatfield from the DPI said the findings were not indicative of a decline in metropolitan use "; S4[5]=" of the Internet - instead, it is becoming a popular form of communication in rural areas.
      The survey revealed that the average "; S5[5]=" rural individual accessed the Internet 56 times during a three-month period in 2002, compared with 42 times for capital city dwellers.
      Rural "; S6[5]=" users were also logged on for longer, spending an average of 29 hours on the Internet compared to the metropolitan average of 24 hours.
  "; S7[5]="     'From a personal and commercial point of view, increasing Internet use is advantageous to rural communities who are able to overcome the communication "; S8[5]=" barrier that isolation often creates,' Dr Gatfield said.
      'By simply going online, people can engage in social interaction and entertainment, research, study, "; S9[5]=" general education, banking and making business decisions.
      'As a whole, rural Queensland is increasingly going online, yet comparisons between the regions show "; S10[5]=" substantial differences in use.' The survey found that north-west Queensland had the lowest level of computer usage in the State, recording 21 per cent less "; S11[5]=" than the State average in the 2001/2002 period.
      Brisbane's metropolitan suburbs rated the highest Internet use at seven per cent above the "; S12[5]=" State average, yet overall the study results found Internet use to be higher in regional areas than in capital cities.
      The general "; S13[5]=" increase in rural Internet use is linked to a growth in home computer purchases, with figures showing a significant rise in computer use in Queensland "; S14[5]=" from 49 per cent to 59 per cent in the last three years.
      Dr Gatfield said the results point to a steady "; S15[5]=" growth in people's perceptions of the role of the computers in their lives.
      'About 24 per cent of Queenslanders indicated that the "; S16[5]=" computer provided them with more control over their lives,' Dr Gatfield said... "; R[6]="1962"; T[6]="One in three homes online in Australia"; A[6]="By ... Editor"; Dn[6]="20030606"; Dt[6]="Friday 6 June 2003"; Acats[6]="a46a47a48a92"; B1[6]="      Australians have embraced the Internet at record rates in the past five years, with one in three households online - a nine-fold "; B2[6]="increase since 1996... "; B3[6]=" "; B4[6]=" "; B5[6]=" "; S1[6]="      Australians have embraced the Internet at record rates in the past five years, with one in three households online - a nine-fold "; S2[6]=" increase since 1996.
      While almost all home Internet users send e-mail, most spend their time just generally surfing the web or researching "; S3[6]=" assignments.
      Surveys conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that while children are the most likely to use a computer at "; S4[6]=" home, people aged between 18 and 34 are the most likely to access the Internet at home.
      While only 6 per cent "; S5[6]=" of people aged over 65 use the Internet, three-quarters of the Internet's elderly users primarily log on to send e-mail.
      Research for "; S6[6]=" the Australian Social Trends report also shows that household use of the Internet increases with income, with the nation's highest income earners three times as "; S7[6]=" likely to access the Internet from home than the nation's lowest income earners.
      But only 20 per cent of non-users blame the "; S8[6]=" cost.
      Computer and Internet use remains lower in remote areas than in the major cities - almost half the people living in "; S9[6]=" Australia's cities have used a computer and 32 per cent have accessed the Internet.
      By comparison, only 30 per cent of Australians "; S10[6]=" from remote areas have used a computer, and 18 per cent the Internet... "; R[7]="1961"; T[7]="Tassie Areas to Trial Broadband Access"; A[7]="By ... Editor"; Dn[7]="20030606"; Dt[7]="Friday 6 June 2003"; Acats[7]="a46a47"; B1[7]="      Two rural Tasmanian towns are to experience the practical benefits offered by the latest in information technology.
      Premier Jim "; B2[7]="Bacon said today a pilot project in Queenstown and Scottsdale is aimed at improving health and education services through delivering broadband access to these towns... "; B3[7]=" "; B4[7]=" "; B5[7]=" "; S1[7]="      Two rural Tasmanian towns are to experience the practical benefits offered by the latest in information technology.
      Premier Jim "; S2[7]=" Bacon said today a pilot project in Queenstown and Scottsdale is aimed at improving health and education services through delivering broadband access to these towns.
"; S3[7]="       'While there has been a lot of excitement about the benefits of broadband technology, many Tasmanians are yet to discover how it "; S4[7]=" can make a real difference to their lives.
      'The Broadband for Rural Tasmania Project will provide broadband telecommunications services and infrastructure to "; S5[7]=" key health and education institutions in rural towns.
      'This means people in those towns will have access to services locally that they "; S6[7]=" have never had before.
      'For instance, their educational opportunities will be expanded with access to on-line classes with specialist teachers, as well "; S7[7]=" as access to video conferencing for consultations from health specialists.
      'Broadband access means people in rural areas won't have the inconvenience of "; S8[7]=" travelling to cities to access services, which would be too costly to provide locally in a conventional way.' Mr Bacon said the district hospitals, rural "; S9[7]=" health teaching sites, libraries and schools in Queenstown and Scottsdale would be linked to broadband.
      The pilot will help determine which Tasmanian "; S10[7]=" towns will receive broadband access under the program, given factors such as the cost of delivering and sustaining the new service and the ability of "; S11[7]=" services to inter-operate with other networks.
      More than $6m is to be spent over the next five years on the project across "; S12[7]=" Tasmania, with $3m from the National Communications Fund at least matched by the State Government.
      Mr Bacon said providing broadband telecommunications services "; S13[7]=" to rural areas would enable: · Access to video-conferencing Telehealth consultations and services between health specialists and their rural clients; · Participation in on-line classes, "; S14[7]=" including access to specialist teachers and contemporary educational resources by students from kindergarten to Year 12; · Improved general access to on-line resources including the "; S15[7]=" Internet, providing the same level of access enjoyed by students in non-rural areas; · Access to TAFE's range of on-line training packages; and, · Improved "; S16[7]=" and flexible clinical teaching and learning opportunities at the University's various Rural Health teaching sites.
      Mr Bacon said the rollout of broadband "; S17[7]=" services to other towns was scheduled for early next year.
      The project supports a number of Tasmania Together goals and benchmarks relating "; S18[7]=" to improving service delivery and maximising opportunities from new information and communications technology... "; R[8]="1957"; T[8]="Online National Mines Atlas released"; A[8]="By ... Editor"; Dn[8]="20030603"; Dt[8]="Tuesday 3 June 2003"; Acats[8]="a41a46a92"; B1[8]="      Information about Australia s minerals industry has been opened up to the world, with the launch today of the online National Mines "; B2[8]="Atlas in Canberra... "; B3[8]=" "; B4[8]=" "; B5[8]=" "; S1[8]="      Information about Australia's minerals industry has been opened up to the world, with the launch today of the online National Mines Atlas "; S2[8]=" in Canberra.
      Industry, Tourism and Resources Parliamentary Secretary, Warren Entsch, launched the National Mines Atlas at the Minerals Council of Australia's Industry "; S3[8]=" Seminar in Old Parliament House, saying the Atlas is a product of the world class innovation and technology.
      'The Atlas provides an "; S4[8]=" online public 'window' on Australian minerals resources information and spatial data on mines and processing centres,' Mr Entsch said.
      'The best in "; S5[8]=" information as well as IT, scientific and industry skills were brought together in Geoscience Australia for the development of the Atlas website, making it a "; S6[8]=" great example of innovation in the provision of advice and services.
      'For anyone going online looking for Australian minerals industry information, the "; S7[8]=" search stops here at www.nationalminesatlas.gov.au .' Minerals Council of Australia Chief Executive, Mr Mitch Hooke said the Atlas provides a comprehensive portal to the Australian "; S8[8]=" minerals industry highlighting its rich geological assets, and exploration potential, its global position as a strategic location for minerals operations, as well as the industry's "; S9[8]=" substantial contribution to Australia's economy and rural and remote communities.
      Formally the National Atlas of Mineral Resources, Mines and Processing Centres, the "; S10[8]=" Atlas is a joint initiative of Geoscience Australia, the Regional Minerals Program administered by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources, and the Minerals Council "; S11[8]=" of Australia.
      Mr Entsch said the Atlas goes beyond the conventional understanding of a resources map, covering more than seven million square "; S12[8]=" kilometres...
      · with spatial information and cutting-edge technical capability, it provides search, query and online map-making for mines and mineral deposits; · "; S13[8]=" a mosaic of detailed satellite scenes for most of Australia; and · the ability to link mines, processing facilities and ports in Atlas maps to "; S14[8]=" other websites.
      'Users will be able to construct, from the ground up, a purpose-built map tailored to their own specifications,' Mr Entsch "; S15[8]=" said.
      'It will help to maintain and promote mineral exploration and development, and provide fact sheets for educational, public and industry use.
"; S16[8]="       And because the Atlas' information bases are dynamic, it will always be up-to-date.'.. "; R[9]="1949"; T[9]="Innovative Online Project for Councils"; A[9]="By ... Editor"; Dn[9]="20030603"; Dt[9]="Tuesday 3 June 2003"; Acats[9]="a46a48a51"; B1[9]="      The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) today announced a $25 million cost saving to Victorian councils as a result of its two-year "; B2[9]="innovative Local Government Online Service (LGOS) delivery project... "; B3[9]=" "; B4[9]=" "; B5[9]=" "; S1[9]="      The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) today announced a $25 million cost saving to Victorian councils as a result of its two-year "; S2[9]=" innovative Local Government Online Service (LGOS) delivery project.
      MAV President, Cr Brad Matheson said Stage One of the project had placed councils "; S3[9]=" across the state at the forefront of simple and efficient online service delivery that meets growing community demand.
      'The LGOS project was "; S4[9]=" Australia's, first 'whole of sector' initiative to enable Victorian local government to become more efficient and deliver 24 hour information and service access to local "; S5[9]=" communities.
      It featured a high degree of collaboration between councils in utilizing common standards and systems to achieve cost reductions.
    "; S6[9]="   'To date $25 million worth of benefits have been reported by participating councils.
      This represents more than a four-fold return on "; S7[9]=" the investment of $5.7 million received from the Commonwealth Government's Networking the Nation (NTN) program,' Cr Matheson said.
      Benefits for councils included "; S8[9]=" lower administration and service delivery costs as more people access an increased range of council information online.
      The economies of scale achieved "; S9[9]=" by this sector wide approach also delivered additional cost savings for councils through the provision of free IT security reviews, staff professional development, specialist technical "; S10[9]=" expertise, vendor and contract negotiations.
      'This is a particularly significant outcome for rural and regional councils who have historically experienced greater difficulty "; S11[9]=" in delivering offline information and services due to budget, infrastructure and skill limitations.
      'If you access the websites of Victoria's rural councils "; S12[9]=" today you will find a far greatet level of capability and sophistication than was the case two years ago,' Cr Matheson said.
      "; S13[9]=" Initiatives implemented during Stage One included new web and intranet facilities, webcasting of council meetings, cost-effective sector-wide solutions for council electronic payments and e- purchasing, "; S14[9]=" and advanced information management frameworks that would form the basis of 'e- government' in the future.
      Cr Matheson also announced that Stage "; S15[9]=" Two of the LGOS initiative would seek to establish greater integration with State and Federal Government initiatives as well as a national local government online "; S16[9]=" strategy.
      'These concepts and other ideas will be further explored at the third National Local Government Online Demonstration Conference, to be hosted "; S17[9]=" by the MAV in Melbourne on 11 September 2003.
      'The Conference will also showcase some of the award winning online e-services developed "; S18[9]=" through state and territory local government NTN online projects,' he said... "; R[10]="1872"; T[10]="IT innovation grants to assist agribusiness"; A[10]="By ... Editor"; Dn[10]="20030520"; Dt[10]="Tuesday 20 May 2003"; Acats[10]="a46a55"; B1[10]="      Information Communication Technology (ICT) funding for three e-business projects that target agriculture reflects the strong culture of innovation in our rural sector, "; B2[10]="the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Judith Troeth, said today... "; B3[10]=" "; B4[10]=" "; B5[10]=" "; S1[10]="      Information Communication Technology (ICT) funding for three e-business projects that target agriculture reflects the strong culture of innovation in our rural sector, "; S2[10]=" the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Judith Troeth, said today.
      These projects are among nine e-business "; S3[10]=" projects that will receive a total of almost $1.5 million under the Government's Information Technology Online (ITOL) program (Round-9), announced by the Minister for Communications, "; S4[10]=" Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Richard Alston, on Thursday.
      'The recipients, from sectors such as mango farming, sugar industry network and "; S5[10]=" kangaroo harvesting, join a strong field of other e-business projects to receive funding under the ITOL,' Senator Troeth said.
      'These projects encourage "; S6[10]=" collaboration, enabling businesses to combine their efforts to improve efficiencies, and reflects the Commonwealth Government's drive to encourage take-up of e-business across Australia.
    "; S7[10]="   ' The Senator said that one successful consortium, Hortilink Mango E-Solution, is a collaboration of 53 mango producers across Australia to generate a shared "; S8[10]=" supply chain system that will improve the productivity of all of the producers involved.
      'The ITOL program demonstrates the Government's commitment to "; S9[10]=" achieving profitable, competitive and sustainable industries through the adoption of innovative technologies,' Senator Troeth said.
      'However, this is just one part of "; S10[10]=" the Commonwealth Government's broader strategy to assist businesses to become more sustainable and competitive, particularly for rural and regional communities,' the Senator said.
    "; S11[10]="   'The Farm Innovation Program, part of the Agriculture Advancing Australia (AAA) package, recognises Australian rural business people who plan to adopt innovative technologies, products "; S12[10]=" and practices - as well as supporting them to achieve this outcome.
      ' Since the Farm Innovation Program commenced in July "; S13[10]=" 2000, the Commonwealth Government has provided $10.
      2 million to almost 100 projects, attracting a further $45 million in matching contributions from "; S14[10]=" the recipients.
      'Farm Innovation grants assist in stimulating economic and employment growth in Australia,' Senator Troeth said.
      'The "; S15[10]=" grants help Australian rural businesses improve profitability and sustainability.
      ' 'ITOL and AAA Farm Innovation projects demonstrate the Commonwealth Government's solid commitment "; S16[10]=" to assisting businesses succeed and remain competitive through innovation.
      Projects funded were: $121,000 - Hortilink Mango E-Solution This project will introduce "; S17[10]=" an electronic tracking solution into the fresh mango supply chain from the grower through the packinghouse and then to the market agent through to the "; S18[10]=" distributor.
      This will enable a grower product to be available to the market as soon as information on product quantities, quality, source "; S19[10]=" and price is uploaded to the web.
      $187,500 - The Sugar Industry Network This project will implement a spatial-based information exchange tool "; S20[10]=" that provides climatic, crop and forecasting information for sugar cane growers, harvesters, transporters and mills in North Queensland.
      Through the improved management "; S21[10]=" methodologies growers and the environment will benefit from decreased use of fertilisers and mills will be able to maximise yields by improving resource planning and "; S22[10]=" the coordination of harvesting operations.
      The proposed interactive on-line system will provide rapid access to agricultural monitoring information, including a climatic "; S23[10]=" analysis tools and yield mapping that will enable accurate forecasting via satellite imagery for farm and fields.
      $180,350 - Bar codes, "; S24[10]=" Data Loggers and Kangaroo Steaks This project will implement a system of electronic data transfer by mobile harvesters in the macropod and wild game industry "; S25[10]=" to regulatory bodies, dealers and processors.
      The system will allow regulatory bodies to review and analyse field data for quality assurance more "; S26[10]=" speedily and accurately to ensure product complies with regulations, inappropriately- harvested product is condemned and harvesters that need further training on regulatory compliance are identified... "; R[11]="1867"; T[11]="Tasmanian Government Funds On-Line Centres"; A[11]="By ... Editor"; Dn[11]="20030520"; Dt[11]="Tuesday 20 May 2003"; Acats[11]="a46a69"; B1[11]="      The State Government has secured the future of the State s Online Access Centres.... "; B2[11]=" "; B3[11]=" "; B4[11]=" "; B5[11]=" "; S1[11]="      The State Government has secured the future of the State's Online Access Centres.
      At the same time, it is "; S2[11]=" allocating $16.7 million over four years to support the provision of ICT in schools.
      The decisions were announced by Education Minister Paula "; S3[11]=" Wriedt today at the Sorell Online Access Centre - one of 64 centres located around the State, providing computer access for local communities.
    "; S4[11]="   'Both the Online Access Centre network and our school computer network were facing uncertainty when the Federal funding they relied upon came to an "; S5[11]=" end.
      But the State Government has recognized the importance of this technology to schools and to local communities and will now pick "; S6[11]=" up the financial responsibility for keeping them alive.
      ' Ms Wriedt said the network of Online Access Centres played an important role "; S7[11]=" in supporting local communities.
      'The decision to fund the Online Access Centres will cost the State $868,000, which we believe is money "; S8[11]=" very well spent in keeping communities together and in touch with the world.
      'This is in addition to the $905,000 currently provided "; S9[11]=" by the state for OACS bringing the total annual state funding commitment to $1.773 million.
      ' The funding will begin in the "; S10[11]=" 2003-04 State Budget and continue each year.
      Ms Wriedt said the decision came against the background of this week's government decision to "; S11[11]=" purchase the optic fibre cable.
      'The optic fibre cable will increase our information access and will mean the introduction of competition into "; S12[11]=" the Tasmanian marketplace.
      'The cost of computer online access is a considerable expense for government, with Tasmania's agencies spending $11 million in "; S13[11]=" 2002-03, nearly double what they spent four years ago.
      'The Education Department alone spends $4 million keeping schools, libraries and online access "; S14[11]=" centres connected.
      'Growth of demand in this area is far outstripping any price reductions and, without affective competition, Tasmania runs the risk "; S15[11]=" of being at the mercy of a single provider.
      ' Ms Wriedt said the Government took the clear view that regional and "; S16[11]=" rural communities deserved support, and partnerships such as these forge a stronger Tasmania.
      'Go to any centre and you will hear stories "; S17[11]=" of the people who owe newly-found livelihoods to the skills, confidence and connection that the Online Access Centres have given them.
      ' "; S18[11]=" 'Our network of Online Access Centres provide low-cost access to, and training in, the use of information and communication technology, including access to the "; S19[11]=" Internet, online government, and community information.
      'Almost 50,000 Tasmanians have used the centres since the program started in May 1998, and of "; S20[11]=" these users, almost 31,500 live outside the Greater Hobart area, use the service regularly.
      ' Ms Wriedt said Online Access Centres were "; S21[11]=" particularly important in Tasmania where home ownership of computers is below the national average.
      'Thirty eight per cent of Tasmanians own a "; S22[11]=" home computer compared to 42 per cent nationally so it is vital that Tasmanians have easy access to the latest technology.
      'This "; S23[11]=" certainty of funding I have announced today will give the Online Access Centres confidence for the future, and the security to explore new opportunities... "; R[12]="1860"; T[12]="Field days now On-line in New Zealand"; A[12]="By ... Editor"; Dn[12]="20030519"; Dt[12]="Monday 19 May 2003"; Acats[12]="a46"; B1[12]="      People looking for a Fieldays fix without getting their gumboots muddy will soon be able to log on to a virtual version "; B2[12]="of the annual event at Mystery Creek, near Hamilton... "; B3[12]=" "; B4[12]=" "; B5[12]=" "; S1[12]="      People looking for a Fieldays fix without getting their gumboots muddy will soon be able to log on to a virtual version "; S2[12]=" of the annual event at Mystery Creek, near Hamilton.
      Fieldays and Telecom have announced a $1 million sponsorship deal to fund and "; S3[12]=" jointly develop a Virtual Fieldays website.
      The site will be launched during the real event at Mystery Creek, from June 11 to "; S4[12]=" 14.
      The launch will be the first step in developing an online agricultural marketplace to allow suppliers to showcase products and buy "; S5[12]=" and sell all year round.
      The theme for Fieldays 2003 will be e-farming.
      'E-farming is going to be a "; S6[12]=" critical source of competitive advantage for New Zealand farmers over the next 10 years,' said Fieldays chief executive Barry Quayle.
      It was "; S7[12]=" vital for Telecom to be involved, he said.
      Telecom will run a version of the high-tech 'Shed' it built for the America's "; S8[12]=" Cup at the Fieldays.
      The site will target farmers with the latest communications wizardry.
      Telecom joins ANZ Rural as "; S9[12]=" one of the event's two major sponsors... "; R[13]="1828"; T[13]="Tasmanian Businesses To Benefit From New Website"; A[13]="By ... Editor"; Dn[13]="20030513"; Dt[13]="Tuesday 13 May 2003"; Acats[13]="a46a69"; B1[13]="      A new national website will help Tasmanian businesses remain competitive by keeping them up to date with the latest national apprenticeship schemes "; B2[13]="and customised training packages available... "; B3[13]=" "; B4[13]=" "; B5[13]=" "; S1[13]="      A new national website will help Tasmanian businesses remain competitive by keeping them up to date with the latest national apprenticeship schemes "; S2[13]=" and customised training packages available.
      Speaking at the Tasmanian launch of the website, Education Minister Paula Wriedt said the new web portal "; S3[13]=" was an invaluable one-stop-shop for all Tasmanian businesses looking to increase the skill base of their staff.
      The www.training.com.au is a joint "; S4[13]=" initiative of Federal, State and Territory governments and was developed in consultation with businesses and registered vocational training organisations around Australia.
      'Tasmanian "; S5[13]=" businesses can gain an edge on their competitors by providing their staff with the best nationally recognised training available,'' Ms Wriedt said.
      "; S6[13]=" 'This web portal allows them to easily access the most reliable, up to date information about everything from traineeships to flexible packages that can be "; S7[13]=" tailored to their needs.'' In the past financial year, 53 per cent of Tasmanian businesses provided structured training for their staff, which was higher than "; S8[13]=" the national average of 41 per cent.
      A further 79 per cent provided unstructured training.
      'Tasmania needs to build "; S9[13]=" on its already impressive commitment to vocational training and this website is a great starting point,'' Ms Wriedt said... "; R[14]="1813"; T[14]="NT plan for free wireless internet access"; A[14]="By ... Editor"; Dn[14]="20030512"; Dt[14]="Monday 12 May 2003"; Acats[14]="a46"; B1[14]="      A group of computer buffs are offering Territorians the chance to piggyback their way to free Internet access - with a tin "; B2[14]="can... "; B3[14]=" "; B4[14]=" "; B5[14]=" "; S1[14]="      A group of computer buffs are offering Territorians the chance to piggyback their way to free Internet access - with a tin "; S2[14]=" can.
      In what is believed to be a Territory first, the community group is sharing Internet access via microwaves in the "; S3[14]=" air - bypassing the major communications companies.
      Darwin Wireless founder Aaron Rogerson, 27, of Anula in Darwin, said it worked through "; S4[14]=" a network of antennas.
      A central computer accessed the Internet through a regular commercial broadband Internet connection.
      "; S5[14]=" Using an antenna, other users could link into the network and access the Internet for free, he said.
      'Anything you can "; S6[14]=" do on the Internet you can do on the wireless,' he said.
      'You can video-conference, you can make telephone calls over "; S7[14]=" it, you can transfer files, you can play games.' And Mr Rogerson, a computer technician, said as long as the access was free, the "; S8[14]=" system was legal.
      He said users had to spend about $200 on a wireless network card and some cabling.
    "; S9[14]="   And the antenna could be made out of a tin can for less than $10.
      'We get a dog "; S10[14]=" food tin and put a small hole in it and then we put a little connecter in it,' he said.
      Mr "; S11[14]=" Rogerson said the 'cantennas' worked at a range of up to 4km - but more expensive antennas had a wider range.
      "; S12[14]=" He said there were six regular users in the Darwin wireless network - with more than 50 people interested.
      'The more "; S13[14]=" people we get involved the more potential sites we have got,' he said.
      The group is hoping to expand the network "; S14[14]=" from Darwin's northern suburbs into the city area and Palmerston soon.
      Mr Rogerson said the group formed to offer an alternative "; S15[14]=" to the big telecommunications companies.
      'It is just so people can have a little bit of choice,' he said.
    "; S16[14]="   'If we can spread the bandwidth out a bit it means that people don't have to spend so much money on getting access.' "; S17[14]=" For more information visit www.darwinwireless.com.. "; R[15]="1797"; T[15]="Families theme for The Country Web"; A[15]="By ... Editor"; Dn[15]="20030507"; Dt[15]="Wednesday 7 May 2003"; Acats[15]="a46a48a49a53"; B1[15]="      Family life - as seen through the eyes of a cross section of people living in rural NSW - is the main "; B2[15]="feature of the current edition of The Country Web, produced by NSW Agriculture s Rural Women s Network... "; B3[15]=" "; B4[15]=" "; B5[15]=" "; S1[15]="      Family life - as seen through the eyes of a cross section of people living in rural NSW - is the main "; S2[15]=" feature of the current edition of The Country Web, produced by NSW Agriculture's Rural Women's Network.
      The 31st edition of this popular "; S3[15]=" newsletter profiles a number of personal stories from a mix of family types and highlights serious issues like suicide, child abuse, drugs and child obesity "; S4[15]=" that can confront family members.
      The Country Web Editor, Sylvia Porss, said readers would find the stories of family life interesting because "; S5[15]=" they depicted how different families function and interact.
      'One of the people featured is June Birkett from Crystal Creek who was born "; S6[15]=" in the middle of World War II and together with her family, lived a tough life of poverty,' Ms Porss said.
      'Her "; S7[15]=" mother was a very individual English character, her father was dismissed from both wars for eye problems, and her sister was handicapped.
      "; S8[15]=" Although these family characteristics caused a great deal of discrimination from the community, it also created strong and resilient family bonds.
      'Margaret "; S9[15]=" Francis from Booral suddenly found herself a single parent with the tragic death of her husband from a farming accident.
      But Margaret's "; S10[15]=" positive attitude and great assistance from her in-laws allowed her to keep the farm going while bringing up her two sons.
      'Another "; S11[15]=" story tells of the grief Karen Hutchens from Armidale feels about losing her close relationship with her grandmother because of Alzheimer's Disease, while Yolanda Torrisi "; S12[15]=" from Orange looks back on her wonderful upbringing in a large extended Italian family.' With a readership of around 20,000, The Country Web is an "; S13[15]=" important communication avenue for rural communities, providing access to information and resources.
      The current edition also highlights drought-related Farm Family Gatherings; Contact "; S14[15]=" Inc.'s work with isolated families; and the 'Link Up' network bringing family members of the stolen generation together.
      It includes articles about "; S15[15]=" culturally diverse farming families; the TUFF program supporting parents and carers with young children; and the goodwill of Cobden town and Rotary in organising a "; S16[15]=" free excursion for drought-affected Walgett students.
      Showcased is a special section on 10 years of The Country Web with a look at "; S17[15]=" a decade of achievement from the Rural Women's Network, as well as a profile of the winners of the 2003 RIRDC Rural Women's Award.
  "; S18[15]="     Copies of the 31st edition and previous editions featuring themes of 'Meeting the Challenges' and 'Learning - the sky's the limit' are available "; S19[15]=" from Allison Windus at the Rural Women's Network on 6391 3620 or via the internet at www.agric.nsw.gov.au/rwn... "; R[16]="1753"; T[16]="World launch for Online Family Farm Program"; A[16]="By ... Editor"; Dn[16]="20030429"; Dt[16]="Tuesday 29 April 2003"; Acats[16]="a46a48a51"; B1[16]="      BEEF 2003 will host the April 30 launch of the world s first international online training program targeted to assist farm family "; B2[16]="businesses cope with the pressures of the 21st century... "; B3[16]=" "; B4[16]=" "; B5[16]=" "; S1[16]="      BEEF 2003 will host the April 30 launch of the world's first international online training program targeted to assist farm family businesses "; S2[16]=" cope with the pressures of the 21st century.
      Department of Primary Industries innovative rural management extension officer John Reeve, Rockhampton, who has "; S3[16]=" helped design the program, said six internationally acknowledged overseas speakers had accepted invitations to address the 8am - 12.30pm session to be held at the "; S4[16]=" Rockhampton State High School Assembly Hall.
      Mr Reeve said the launch of the 12-week course named 'Enterprising rural families making it work' "; S5[16]=" was using online technology to tap into a wealth of material coupled with personal consultation with international trainers.
      Mr Reeve said the "; S6[16]=" course would be coordinated through the University of Wyoming as it had the e-college infrastructure in place.
      Leading the team of experienced "; S7[16]=" educators would be Bill Taylor, a hands-on Wyoming-based educator who has worked with rural communities and in rural youth training programs for many years.
  "; S8[16]="     Mr Taylor and fellow University of Wyoming small business specialist Gail Gordon would address the Beef 2003 program launch.
      Mr "; S9[16]=" Reeve said that the online course was being offered at a cost of $US300 and the Queensland Government's FarmBis had agreed to subsidise the training "; S10[16]=" cost for Queensland primary producers.
      'This course will enable farming families worldwide to learn and share experiences.
      It will "; S11[16]=" better prepare families to appreciate the uniqueness of their family farm operations as opposed to corporate farm businesses.
      'In addition to having "; S12[16]=" online libraries, videos and bulletin boards, there will be access to live chat links to discuss production and marketing issues plus direct consultation with course "; S13[16]=" trainers,' Mr Reeve said.
      The Beef 2003 seminar session entitled 'The Beef Family Business in the 21st Century' was a fitting followup "; S14[16]=" to the successful Beef 2000 seminar that placed a national focus on the future farm family operations and the importance of family relationships.
    "; S15[16]="   Mr Reeve said the international guest speakers had experience in managing rural crises in the UK, US and Canada.
      These crises "; S16[16]=" were the result of weather, livestock disease and industry policy influenced by price protection and freight subsidy changes.
      'Invited speakers are here "; S17[16]=" to outline the role of services that were developed to assist farm families to manage adversity.
      Ken Imhoff has managed the Saskatchewan "; S18[16]=" Ag and Food Farm Stress Line in Canada for nine years, a confidential service designed specifically for farm families.
      'UK farmer, James "; S19[16]=" Morrish, works with the Rural Stress Information Network that supported the farming community through the recent Foot and Mouth Disease epidemic and Charles Griffin, director "; S20[16]=" of the Kansas Rural Family Helpline, has been active in crisis intervention and rural mental health programs.
      'Canadian farm management specialist Dr "; S21[16]=" Lorne Owen has expertise in managing multi-generational farms and has acted as mediator for large family farm enterprises,' Mr Reeve said.
      Mr "; S22[16]=" Reeve said there would be a $30 entry fee for the DPI-sponsored session... "; R[17]="1739"; T[17]="1500 communities connected in Victoria"; A[17]="By ... Editor"; Dn[17]="20030411"; Dt[17]="Friday 11 April 2003"; Acats[17]="a46"; B1[17]="      The Bracks Government s successful community Internet access and training programs continue to kick goals, with another program again reaching its target "; B2[17]="well ahead of schedule... "; B3[17]=" "; B4[17]=" "; B5[17]=" "; S1[17]="      The Bracks Government's successful community Internet access and training programs continue to kick goals, with another program again reaching its target well "; S2[17]=" ahead of schedule.
      Information and Communication Technology Minister, Marsha Thomson, said the My Connected Community program had reached its target of establishing "; S3[17]=" 1500 online communities three months ahead of schedule.
      This follows the success of the Skills.net program, which last August reached its target "; S4[17]=" of training 80,000 Victorians nine months ahead of schedule.
      'This is a great result and indicates Bracks Government programs are helping to "; S5[17]=" meet the high demand in Victoria for getting connected and IT skilled,' Ms Thomson said.
      'These programs are all about strengthening communities "; S6[17]=" and sharing the benefits of technology with all Victorians.
      'The Internet is now part of our everyday lives and the My Connected "; S7[17]=" Community program is about making the Internet more relevant and useful to more and more Victorians,' she said.
      'The My Connected Community "; S8[17]=" program allows Victorians with a mutual interest to get together online.
      'It provides Victorians with the training and support they need to "; S9[17]=" get online, stay in touch and build Internet skills and experience,' she said.
      Under the $3.5 million My Connected Community program, community "; S10[17]=" groups are provided with the support and tools to establish a website, publish online, network to members, extend their membership and activities, and communicate with "; S11[17]=" similar communities of interest elsewhere via the Internet.
      The program in particular targets individuals or groups that are socially, physically or geographically "; S12[17]=" isolated, as well as people from non-English speaking backgrounds, indigenous people, older Victorians and people with a low income.
      The program aimed "; S13[17]=" to help more than 1500 groups to establish online communities by June 2003.
      This target was reached was reached in late March.
"; S14[17]="       My Connected Community is one of several programs under the Government's Connecting Victoria strategy, which aims to deliver the benefits of technology "; S15[17]=" to all Victorians... "; R[18]="1732"; T[18]="E-Fraud - a growing problem"; A[18]="By ... Editor"; Dn[18]="20030410"; Dt[18]="Thursday 10 April 2003"; Acats[18]="a46"; B1[18]="      Do you do your banking or make electronic payments via the Internet? If so, you could be targeted by fraudsters who establish "; B2[18]="fake websites and send out fake emails, pretending to be your provider... "; B3[18]=" "; B4[18]=" "; B5[18]=" "; S1[18]="      Do you do your banking or make electronic payments via the Internet? If so, you could be targeted by fraudsters who establish "; S2[18]=" fake websites and send out fake emails, pretending to be your provider.
      It's all designed to trick you into revealing private details "; S3[18]=" like your account number or PIN, and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is warning people that scams like this are on the rise.
"; S4[18]="       'In the past few weeks, customers of well-known institutions like the Commonwealth Bank and AMP Banking have been targeted by people using "; S5[18]=" fake websites to mimic official sites', ASIC Director of Consumer Communication, Dr Michael Dunn said.
      Phoney websites and fraudulent emails can look "; S6[18]=" genuine by using: · the names of real people; · the right logos and branding; · links to pages on the real website; "; S7[18]=" · official-looking fine print; and · genuine pages copied to a new fake address.
      'Banking and making payments over "; S8[18]=" the internet can be convenient and safe so long as you take a few precautions.
      Use these six safety checks to protect "; S9[18]=" yourself from this scam', Dr Dunn said.
      1.
      Only use your PIN through the official login site offered "; S10[18]=" by your provider.
      Keep those sites in your 'favourites' folder and log in that way to cut down the risk of "; S11[18]=" mistakes or deception.
      That way you stay protected against fraud under Australia's Electronic Funds Transfer Code of Practice.
      "; S12[18]=" 2.
      Check official websites for announcements.
      No reputable online service provider would ask for your private account or "; S13[18]=" credit card details by email.
      If you have any doubt, contact the business through its official site or by phone.
    "; S14[18]="   3.
      Use only secure sites for keying in financial or personal information.
      Look for a padlock icon "; S15[18]=" at the bottom of your web browser.
      4.
      For Australian sites, look for the ' .au' domain such "; S16[18]=" as 'com.au' or 'net.au'.
      Australian Internet procedures require anyone registering an .au domain to show a link between the proposed URL "; S17[18]=" and an Australian trading entity.
      To date, ASIC has not come across a phoney .au site, although that doesn't guarantee it will "; S18[18]=" never happen.
      5.
      Take a few privacy precautions.
      Some authorities suggest avoiding personal transactions "; S19[18]=" at Internet cafes, community centres and libraries.
      In some places, criminals have loaded in software that records keystrokes.
      Also "; S20[18]=" check that nobody is looking over your shoulder and keep private information out of chat rooms or email.
      6.
    "; S21[18]="   Act quickly if you think you've been conned.
      If you send any details through an email or website you're a "; S22[18]=" bit worried about, contact your bank, credit card company or service provider straightaway.
      This helps to protect you.
      Although "; S23[18]=" Australian banking sites have been the latest targets, any popular financial or shopping Internet site could just as easily be the object of this kind "; S24[18]=" of fraud.
      'We're pleased to see that financial institutions have generally been active in alerting customers to these attempted frauds and "; S25[18]=" have adopted extra security procedures.
      We're also pleased when they alert ASIC as well', Dr Dunn said.
      Log "; S26[18]=" on to ASIC's consumer website at www.fido.asic.gov.au for more tips and safety checks to protect your self against scammers... "; R[19]="1622"; T[19]="Fishing Licences On The Net"; A[19]="By ... Editor"; Dn[19]="20030319"; Dt[19]="Wednesday 19 March 2003"; Acats[19]="a34a46"; B1[19]="      Anglers will soon be able to buy their fishing licence 24 hours a day, seven days a week, over the Internet, in "; B2[19]="a trial program that is an Australian first... "; B3[19]=" "; B4[19]=" "; B5[19]=" "; S1[19]="      Anglers will soon be able to buy their fishing licence 24 hours a day, seven days a week, over the Internet, in "; S2[19]=" a trial program that is an Australian first.
      The Minister for Primary Industries, Water and Environment, Bryan Green, said the online service "; S3[19]=" would have enormous benefits for marketing Tasmania's recreational fishery, particularly for targeting people in remote areas in Tasmania, as well as expanding the market to "; S4[19]=" interstate and overseas fishers.
      'Fishing brings more than $40 million into the State each year and the fishOnline site is a valuable "; S5[19]=" source of information for tourists,' Mr Green said.
      'The site, which contains a range of information from all levels of government, covering "; S6[19]=" all areas of recreational fishing, will be of particular benefit to tourists in pre-planning their stay in Tasmania and will help promote the State's tourism "; S7[19]=" industry.
      'An interstate family or fishing tour will have the ability to buy their licence, check the weather conditions, boat ramp availability "; S8[19]=" etc, from their home and either fly in and hire a car, or board the Spirit of Tasmania ferries with their equipment, then drive directly "; S9[19]=" to their chosen destination,' Mr Green said.
      The Inland Fisheries Service has been working as a partner with other State and Commonwealth "; S10[19]=" Government agencies under the TIGERS Program (Trials of Innovative Government Electronic Regional Services), which aims to use new and innovative technology to improve the business "; S11[19]=" capacity of Australian governments - at all levels and in all jurisdictions.
      The fishOnline site is the first of the online service "; S12[19]=" packs released by TIGERS, and presents a vast range of government services and information relating to recreational fishing in Tasmania in one website.
    "; S13[19]="   'This is the first time a licence has been issued over the Internet, and the initiative is likely to be taken up by other "; S14[19]=" government agencies throughout Australia.
      'Another feature of the new system being trialled in Tasmania is access to electronic information on licences by "; S15[19]=" Inland Fisheries inspectors in the field.
      'All inspectors will be issued with a Palm Pilot with the licence database on it, allowing "; S16[19]=" them to check licence details regardless of their location and access to phones,' Mr Green said... "; R[20]="1560"; T[20]="Mount Beauty goes online"; A[20]="By ... Editor"; Dn[20]="20030310"; Dt[20]="Monday 10 March 2003"; Acats[20]="a44a46a65"; B1[20]="      The fire-ravaged community of Mt Beauty received a welcome boost today with the launch of a Victorian Government program to help rebuild "; B2[20]="tourism and market businesses... "; B3[20]=" "; B4[20]=" "; B5[20]=" "; S1[20]="      The fire-ravaged community of Mt Beauty received a welcome boost today with the launch of a Victorian Government program to help rebuild "; S2[20]=" tourism and market businesses.
      The Minister for Small Business, Marsha Thomson launched the project whilst visiting the region to meet with local "; S3[20]=" small businesses.
      The Mount Beauty Business and Community Website will be professionally developed and built, using a $10,000 Victorian Government StreetLife grant "; S4[20]=" to the Mount Beauty and District Chamber of Commerce.
      'The Mt Beauty Business and Community Website project is vital to promoting the "; S5[20]=" Kiewa Valley and rebuilding tourism and business within this fire-affected region,' Ms Thomson said.
      'This community has shown tremendous strength and determination "; S6[20]=" after Victoria's devastating bushfires, and this website will further help to bring businesses, the tourism industry and the community together.
      Ms Thomson "; S7[20]=" said the existing Mt Beauty project had been changed to meet the new needs of the local area following the effects of the bushfires.
  "; S8[20]="     Progress to date on the two-year project includes the appointment of a web developer, the launch of a marketing campaign and a pilot "; S9[20]=" of businesses and community groups listed on the online site.
      'StreetLife is a $1 million Victorian Government program that has already helped "; S10[20]=" over 150 organisations in more than 600 Victorian communities.' Ms Thomson also visited the staff and participants involved in the running the Mt Beauty Enhancing "; S11[20]=" Community Skills - Skills.net Internet access and training program.
      Ms Thomson she Mt Beauty residents without Internet access are taking advantage of "; S12[20]=" a highly successful Victorian Government Internet access and training program 'The team here at the Mt Beauty Neighbourhood Centre has done a marvellous job to "; S13[20]=" ensure the Skills.net program has been a great success,' Ms Thomson said.
      'They are very close to reaching their target in half "; S14[20]=" the time expected.
      This is a great result, and indicative of the overall success of this program.' The $10,000 Victorian Government-funded Skills.net "; S15[20]=" project opened in March last year with the aim of training 120 Victorians within two years.
      In one year only, the centre "; S16[20]=" has trained more than 100 members.
      Ms Thomson also congratulated the centre on recently being awarded funding under the Victorian Government's My "; S17[20]=" Connected Community program, which provides Victorians with the support and tools needed to build an online community.
      The centre was successful in "; S18[20]=" gaining funding of $20,000 to establish 15 online community groups including low income and unemployed people, youth groups and self-help groups.
      It "; S19[20]=" was one of 16 peak bodies and community groups that shared in $520,000 in the third and final round of the My Connected Community program, "; S20[20]=" announced last month... "; R[21]="1541"; T[21]="StockPlan Struts its Stuff"; A[21]="By ... Editor"; Dn[21]="20030305"; Dt[21]="Wednesday 5 March 2003"; Acats[21]="a02a46a92"; B1[21]="      Operators of distinctly different farms on the Southern Tablelands of NSW say they benefited from using NSW Agriculture s StockPlan computer program.... "; B2[21]=" "; B3[21]=" "; B4[21]=" "; B5[21]=" "; S1[21]="      Operators of distinctly different farms on the Southern Tablelands of NSW say they benefited from using NSW Agriculture's StockPlan computer program.
  "; S2[21]="     They have determined the cross-over point where feeding stock is the best short-term option before selling becomes less costly.
      They "; S3[21]=" have also developed strategies for de-stocking and herd rebuilding, considering the implications on cost structures and cash flow five to ten years from now.
  "; S4[21]="     Michael Griffin and Jill Middleton at Majors Creek near Braidwood are devotees of the system.
      Before drought became a concern, "; S5[21]=" the, optimum stocking rate on the purpose-built 850 hectare property, with 40 dams and soaks and 13 troughs in 50 paddocks, was 12,000 head (6000 "; S6[21]=" superfine wool sheep and 400 Angus breeder cattle).
      Now they're running 4,100 sheep and 300 mainly Angus breeders and aim to retain "; S7[21]=" all these.
      'StockPlan's capacity to calculate feed consumption and accurately plan the amount of working capital required over medium and longer terms "; S8[21]=" were the most beneficial features of the package,' says Michael.
      'We thought we had enough feed for a whole season but used "; S9[21]=" it in four months.
      We were supplementary feeding until two months ago and have been full feeding since.' Jill says 'if worst "; S10[21]=" comes to worst, the breeding cattle will go; the sheep will stay because they give a quicker and more consistent return.
      "; S11[21]=" We'd restock and start again with the cattle.
      'We'd need two and a half, three seasons to build back again.' They will "; S12[21]=" probably not join their ewes but 'if we get a wool clip in September we can come through securely.' NSW Agriculture Livestock Officers who were "; S13[21]=" driving forces behind the development of the computer program offer support for its use and help users to apply it effectively... "; R[22]="1498"; T[22]="Exporters using the net more and more"; A[22]="By ... Editor"; Dn[22]="20030221"; Dt[22]="Friday 21 February 2003"; Acats[22]="a08a46"; B1[22]="      Exporters are widely using the Internet to increase global exposure and to do business.
      An Australian Bureau of Statistics "; B2[22]="report released yesterday showed 31,450 companies began to export in the past year - a massive increase of 33 per cent on the year before... "; B3[22]=" "; B4[22]=" "; B5[22]=" "; S1[22]="      Exporters are widely using the Internet to increase global exposure and to do business.
      An Australian Bureau of Statistics "; S2[22]=" report released yesterday showed 31,450 companies began to export in the past year - a massive increase of 33 per cent on the year before.
"; S3[22]="       But the study found exporters were mainly smaller companies which failed to generate any substantial level of revenue.
      "; S4[22]=" Of the total, only 4187 businesses sold goods worth $1 million to $100 million while a substantially higher number, 16,642 companies, exported goods in "; S5[22]=" the $10,000 to $100,000 range.
      However, the study found, in comparison, the number of Australian-based importers far outweighed exporters.
    "; S6[22]="   More than 55,350 businesses imported goods during the last financial year.
      The bulk of that came from the manufacturing "; S7[22]=" sector which accounted for 93 per cent or $40.4 billion.
      Tim Harcourt, chief economist of Austrade, said a previously weakened dollar "; S8[22]=" and the Internet's expansive coverage would have contributed to the rise in the number of exporters.
      Figures, he said, showed 70 "; S9[22]=" per cent of exporters used the world wide web to market their product, compared with just 28 per cent of retailers who targeted the domestic "; S10[22]=" market.
      'With the Internet, a small business operating in Australia can set up a website and bang, can start taking orders "; S11[22]=" from overseas almost immediately,' Mr Harcourt said.
      'If you're on the Net then your chances of getting an export sale are "; S12[22]=" greater.' Ian Singer, export sales manager of Brisbane's Sam's Seafoods, said selling offshore was vital for smaller organisations to succeed.
      "; S13[22]=" The company, founded by Sam Noutsatos, has recently opened a London sales office and is developing a website for overseas consumers.
      "; S14[22]=" It also has a new $4.5 million cold storage facility in Brisbane.
      'The philosophy we have is there are 20 million "; S15[22]=" people in Australia.
      In just one district in California there are 22 million people.
      Therefore for a company to "; S16[22]=" really have growth you have to be in the export market,' he said.
      'If you put your economist hat on you "; S17[22]=" have to work out how far you can grow when you only have only so many people in your market.
      'You "; S18[22]=" have to look at the world market with its enormous customer base.' Another listed Brisbane company, Global Seafoods, also has a growing export business... "; R[23]="1443"; T[23]="Faster Internet access for Victorian government schools"; A[23]="By ... Editor"; Dn[23]="20030214"; Dt[23]="Friday 14 February 2003"; Acats[23]="a46a65"; B1[23]="      Hundreds of Victorian government schools will have faster Internet access this year thanks to new broadband technology being implemented by the Bracks "; B2[23]="Government... "; B3[23]=" "; B4[23]=" "; B5[23]=" "; S1[23]="      Hundreds of Victorian government schools will have faster Internet access this year thanks to new broadband technology being implemented by the Bracks "; S2[23]=" Government.
      Education Services Minister Jacinta Allan today announced that more than 800 schools would benefit from an initial rollout of the new "; S3[23]=" technology, during the first half of this year.
      The new Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), available to schools at no extra cost, "; S4[23]=" allows a fixed, high-speed digital connection to the existing VicOne network to run on an analogue phone line.
      'This $1.1 million upgrade "; S5[23]=" is part of the Bracks Government's commitment to improving the bandwidth in Victorian state school computer systems,' Ms Allan said.
      'The expanded "; S6[23]=" bandwidth delivered by ADSL will improve schools' internet response times and allow easier access to a greater volume of internet content.' Ms Allan said the "; S7[23]=" new service would continue to position Victoria as a world leader in information technology in schools.
      'Victorian schools are leading the way "; S8[23]=" in IT, with more than 187,000 computers and an average computer-to-student ratio of one computer to every 3.93 students,' Ms Allan said.
      "; S9[23]=" 'The Bracks Government will further strengthen IT resources this year by, among other things, updating teacher and principal notebooks and will also provide an additional "; S10[23]=" $3 million enhancing computer networks in schools.' Ms Allan said schools not able to access the enhanced technology would be in line for upgrading under "; S11[23]=" the Bracks Government's Telecommunications Purchasing and Management Strategy due to come into operation later this year... "; R[24]="1428"; T[24]="Victorian Communities get online boost"; A[24]="By ... Editor"; Dn[24]="20030212"; Dt[24]="Wednesday 12 February 2003"; Acats[24]="a46a65"; B1[24]="      Communities from Mildura to Mansfield can better connect with one another following the announcement of the successful applicants to the Bracks Government "; B2[24]="online program, My Connected Community... "; B3[24]=" "; B4[24]=" "; B5[24]=" "; S1[24]="      Communities from Mildura to Mansfield can better connect with one another following the announcement of the successful applicants to the Bracks Government "; S2[24]=" online program, My Connected Community.
      The Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Marsha Thomson, today announced 16 peak bodies and community groups "; S3[24]=" that will share in $520,000 in the third and final round of the My Connected Community program.
      'The My Connected Community program "; S4[24]=" allows Victorians with a mutual interest to share and engage with each other,' she said.
      'Through peak bodies and community groups, the "; S5[24]=" My Connected Community program provides Victorians with the training and support they need to get online, stay in touch and build Internet skills and experience.' "; S6[24]=" 'The Internet is now part of our everyday lives and the My Connected Community program is about making the Internet more relevant and useful to "; S7[24]=" more and more Victorians.' Ms Thomson said she was particularly pleased that the 16 organisations represented a broad cross-section of the Victorian community.
    "; S8[24]="   'Rural communities, senior Victorians, Indigenous Victorians, those from a non-English speaking background, low income earners, women's groups and the disabled would all benefit from "; S9[24]=" the program,' she said.
      Since its launch in March 2001, the $3.5 million My Connected Community program has helped more than 1200 "; S10[24]=" community groups to connect online across Victoria.
      The program aims to create 1600 online communities by 30 June 2003.
      "; S11[24]=" 'My Connected Community is one of several programs under the Government's Connecting Victoria strategy, which aims to deliver the benefits of technology to all Victorians,' "; S12[24]=" she said.
      'It's an excellent example of how the Bracks Government is working hard to ensure all Victorians are able to access "; S13[24]=" the benefits of technology.' The 16 successful applicants are: Hobsons Bay City Council (Altona) OPEN Channel Cooperative Limited (Fitzroy) Royal Historical Society of Victoria Inc "; S14[24]=" (Melbourne) University of Ballarat (Ballarat) Country Education Project (Kyabram) Sustainable Living Foundation Inc (East Melbourne) Moreland Adult Education Association Inc (Coburg) Epilepsy Association (Melbourne) Murrindindi "; S15[24]=" Shire Council (Alexandra) Mt Beauty Neighbourhood Centre Inc (Mt Beauty) Buloke Learning Towns (Wycheproof) Riding for the Disabled (North Caulfield) Grampians Pyrenees Primary Care Partnership "; S16[24]=" (Ararat) Mansfield Adult Continuing Education (Mansfield) Sunraysia Mallee Flexible Learning Network (Mildura) Horsham Learning Centre (Horsham).. "; R[25]="1400"; T[25]="New online data warehouse for Australian rural women"; A[25]="By ... Editor"; Dn[25]="20030207"; Dt[25]="Friday 7 February 2003"; Acats[25]="a46a49"; B1[25]="      Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Senator Judith Troeth has welcomed the launch yesterday (5 February) by Senator Amanda Vanstone of "; B2[25]="Window on Women, an innovative, online data service... "; B3[25]=" "; B4[25]=" "; B5[25]=" "; S1[25]="      Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Senator Judith Troeth has welcomed the launch yesterday (5 February) by Senator Amanda Vanstone of "; S2[25]=" Window on Women, an innovative, online data service.
      Senator Troeth said Window on Women provides free and easy access to a variety "; S3[25]=" of information on Australian women, including those in rural and regional areas.
      It allows users to create customised tables and charts for "; S4[25]=" specific projects, as well as providing statistical reports, data and informational papers.
      'I'm delighted that Window on Women includes detailed information on "; S5[25]=" rural women,' the Senator said.
      ' As Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry I know first-hand the tremendous contribution rural women "; S6[25]=" make to communities and industries in rural and regional Australia.
      'By being featured in this innovative web site, the wider Australian community "; S7[25]=" can now find out for itself how rural women are at the forefront of new business and farming ventures and a wide range of other "; S8[25]=" community and industry activities.
      'As an on-line service, Window on Women should prove a boon to women in rural and regional communities "; S9[25]=" who are undertaking research projects or just seeking the latest statistical information.
      The provision of this information in an on-line format demonstrates "; S10[25]=" the Commonwealth Government's ongoing commitment rural and regional Australia,' Senator Troeth said.
      'By simply logging on to www.windowonwomen.gov.au, users will have "; S11[25]=" access to a 'data warehouse' containing a wide range of statistical information on the lives of Australian women.
      'The web site also "; S12[25]=" provides free access to various information papers including: Then and Now: Australian Women over 100 years, Rural Women in Australia and Indigenous Women in Australia,' "; S13[25]=" the Senator said.
      Senator Troeth said the main users of the web site are likely to be students, academics, NGO representatives and "; S14[25]=" government policy makers.
      The number and range of statistics available are being expanded to meet the needs of this broad group of "; S15[25]=" users.
      The women's data warehouse is a major component of the $5.5 million Informed Choices for Australian Women Budget initiative announced by "; S16[25]=" the Commonwealth Government in 2001-2.
      Other innovations from the program include the forthcoming Australian WomenSpeak 2003 in March, as well as the "; S17[25]=" whole-of-government women's portal (www.women.gov.au), which will be launched at the conference... "; R[26]="1369"; T[26]="Launceston s E-Health Breakthrough"; A[26]="By ... Editor"; Dn[26]="20030130"; Dt[26]="Thursday 30 January 2003"; Acats[26]="a09a46"; B1[26]="      Health and Human Services Minister David Llewellyn today welcomed Launceston’s selection to field test a major national electronic health initiative.... "; B2[26]=" "; B3[26]=" "; B4[26]=" "; B5[26]=" "; S1[26]="      Health and Human Services Minister David Llewellyn today welcomed Launceston’s selection to field test a major national electronic health initiative.
    "; S2[26]="   Mr Llewellyn said Launceston was one of only two sites selected to field test MediConnect, a new national electronic record system designed to "; S3[26]=" reduce problems associated with the use of medicines.
      “Launceston’s selection is recognition of the high level of professionalism, cooperation and support "; S4[26]=" provided by the Tasmanian Divisions of General Practice, GP North, the Pharmacy Guild and the general community.
      “The trials could not "; S5[26]=" go ahead without the significant community infrastructure offered by these groups.
      “The decision to stage the field tests in Launceston puts "; S6[26]=" the city at the forefront of this exciting national initiative and it’s a big step forward for the Tasmanian IT industry into the rapidly-expanding e-health "; S7[26]=" market.
      “It is the third major e-health initiative in Tasmania after Health Connect and GPlinkED, which links GPs and departments of "; S8[26]=" emergency medicine.
      “The initiative demonstrates the importance of the links, between DHHS, GPs and other key players in the health IT "; S9[26]=" field.
      “It is also a very significant achievement for Trials Tasmania – an initiative of the Tasmanian IT Industry Council and "; S10[26]=" the Department of Economic Development - which is working hard to attract more e-health trials and e-health application development to Tasmania, as well as promoting "; S11[26]=" the State’s IT industry to national and international markets.” Mr Llewellyn said an estimated 400,000 GP consultations and 140,000 hospital admissions in Australia each "; S12[26]=" year were associated with allergic or adverse reactions to medicines.
      The cost to hospitals alone is around $380 million.
      "; S13[26]=" “MediConnect is a very important trial which will ‘field test’ the use of information technology to improve quality and safety in prescribing, dispensing and "; S14[26]=" using medicines.
      “It will work by drawing together, with the consent of participating individuals, personal medication records currently held by different "; S15[26]=" doctors, pharmacies and hospitals.
      There will be provision to include over-the-counter medicines as well as prescription drugs.
      “The "; S16[26]=" system will be secure, it will be totally voluntary, and it will be free of charge.
      “Participants will be able to "; S17[26]=" get a printed copy of their MediConnect record from HIC, including participating Medicare offices or from participating doctors and chemists, and they will retain the "; S18[26]=" right to withdraw whenever they want to.” Mr Llewellyn said the system offered real benefits to both patients and health professionals.
      "; S19[26]=" “For health professionals, provided they have the consent of the patient, the system will provide a more complete record of the medicines people are "; S20[26]=" using – as well as any reaction they may have had to them.
      “This will certainly be a help in emergency "; S21[26]=" situations where people may not be in a condition to speak.
      “For individuals, particularly those with chronic conditions, it will save "; S22[26]=" having to remember details of everything they’re taking when they visit a doctor or a chemist.
      “It also will help to "; S23[26]=" ensure they are not prescribed medicines to which they are allergic or have had an adverse reaction.” Mr Llewellyn said Launceston had been chosen "; S24[26]=" for the MediConnect field test particularly on the basis of its strong links between health care professionals and consumer groups.
      “The "; S25[26]=" field test is expected to begin in March and last for nine months.
      “It will start with one doctors’ surgery, one pharmacy "; S26[26]=" and a small number of consumers, but the numbers will increase as the field test progresses.
      “The second phase involves extending "; S27[26]=" MediConnect to the hospital emergency department.”.. "; R[27]="1364"; T[27]="Tasmanian E-Learning Expertise"; A[27]="By ... Editor"; Dn[27]="20030129"; Dt[27]="Wednesday 29 January 2003"; Acats[27]="a46a53a69"; B1[27]="      Premier Jim Bacon has begun a busy three-week overseas promotional mission, today visiting the giant UK publisher Cambridge University Press (CUP) to "; B2[27]="discuss plans for an e-learning research and development centre in Launceston creating 20 jobs in its first year of operation... "; B3[27]=" "; B4[27]=" "; B5[27]=" "; S1[27]="      Premier Jim Bacon has begun a busy three-week overseas promotional mission, today visiting the giant UK publisher Cambridge University Press (CUP) to "; S2[27]=" discuss plans for an e-learning research and development centre in Launceston creating 20 jobs in its first year of operation.
      CUP, one "; S3[27]=" of the world’s largest and most prestigious publishing houses, is negotiating the establishment of the centre with Launceston-based company EduArt Multimedia Pty Ltd.
    "; S4[27]="   Mr Bacon said a draft heads of agreement will be signed in the near future forming a draft arrangement between EDUart and CUP.
  "; S5[27]="     “When it happens, the agreement will be a significant achievement for EduArt and the Tasmanian e-learning industry.” EduArt was founded in 1997 and "; S6[27]=" produces e-learning materials, having produced and distributed more than 40 CD-ROM learning products.
      The company currently employs eight people.
      "; S7[27]=" “Under the planned agreement, Cambridge University Press will provide education products from its vast repository to EduArt for conversion to digital format,” Mr Bacon said.
"; S8[27]="       “The initial target market is the UK e-learning education market, which has a known budget of 50 million pounds each year for "; S9[27]=" the next five years.
      “It is expected that a minimum of 20 new technical jobs will be created in the first year, "; S10[27]=" but it is anticipated that there will be further direct and flow-on positions.
      “This relationship between EduArt and Cambridge University Press will "; S11[27]=" be the catalyst to creating a major e-learning industry in Tasmania.
      “It will give the State immediate entry into the European and "; S12[27]=" Asian markets through Cambridge University Press’s global distribution system.
      “Cambridge University Press will utilise EduArt’s network of affiliated companies, including UniTas, which "; S13[27]=" will conduct research in the field of e-learning as part of the arrangement.” Mr Bacon said that CUP would also work to establish government-to-government education "; S14[27]=" department contacts between Tasmania and the UK, and had already sent senior executives to Tasmania to discuss the proposal.
      Cambridge Press’s Education "; S15[27]=" director, John Tuttle, said that while Tasmania may not seem the obvious place to produce software for the UK, it offered a very close fit.
"; S16[27]="       “There is a very high level of technical expertise, experience gained over several years of producing electronic materials for schools in Australia "; S17[27]=" and therefore, a deep understanding of the needs of education for this new medium.
      “We can benefit from our Tasmanian colleagues’ experience "; S18[27]=" in this field, and also trial materials in classrooms during their terms, which gives us a head-start on trialling in the UK,” Mr Tuttle said.
"; S19[27]="       During the visit, Mr Bacon met CUP Chief Executive Officer Stephen Bourne and tonight attended a formal dinner in the candle-lit university "; S20[27]=" hall at Cambridge... "; R[28]="1089"; T[28]="Telstra sale conditional on maintaing bush services"; A[28]="By ... Editor"; Dn[28]="20021108"; Dt[28]="Friday 8 November 2002"; Acats[28]="a46"; B1[28]="      A privatised Telstra would be forced to maintain unprofitable services to the bush through special licence conditions, as part of a series "; B2[28]="of recommendations included in a high-level report to the Federal Government... "; B3[28]=" "; B4[28]=" "; B5[28]=" "; S1[28]="      A privatised Telstra would be forced to maintain unprofitable services to the bush through special licence conditions, as part of a series "; S2[28]=" of recommendations included in a high-level report to the Federal Government.
      The Australian has learned the 200-page report, by Moree cotton farmer "; S3[28]=" Dick Estens, also calls for major upgrades in existing consumer safeguards and cautions that Telstra has a long way to go in providing state-of-the-art services "; S4[28]=" to regional areas.
      On the eve of the report's release, Communications Minister Richard Alston defended his actions amid recent allegations he "; S5[28]=" had sought to interfere in a police phone-tapping investigation.
      Senator Alston released advice from his own department that cleared him of "; S6[28]=" any wrongdoing while suggesting Telstra may have a case to answer against claims the corporation tapped troublesome customers' phones.
      The Estens "; S7[28]=" report, which is expected to be released today, is crucial to the Government's hopes of privatising Telstra.
      Its release will trigger a "; S8[28]=" robust debate on the $30 billion full sale, with the Government hopeful of securing Senate support as early as Christmas.
      But last "; S9[28]=" night, a key independent senator, Tasmanian Brian Harradine, predicted the Government was likely to fail.
      'The last time I counted the "; S10[28]=" numbers in the Senate, they weren't there,' said Senator Harradine, who supported the Government's partial privatisation of Telstra.
      Other independent senators, "; S11[28]=" who offer the Government a lifeline to securing the necessary four votes in the Senate, also are hardening their opposition to any further sale.
  "; S12[28]="     The three-person Estens inquiry was established to report on earlier government initiatives designed to win over regional support for the full sale "; S13[28]=" of Telstra and recommend on what further measures were necessary.
      Well-placed sources said the report, which runs to nine chapters, finds "; S14[28]=" the Government's earlier upgrades have improved the quality of mobile phone and broadband internet services across regional areas.
      But the committee "; S15[28]=" warns much more needs to be done to ensure regional communities receive equality of services with city-based phone users.
      Telstra's Country Wide "; S16[28]=" business has made a good start in improving services but there is a long way to go, the report finds.
      The "; S17[28]=" company, which is desperate for privatisation, is expected to react coolly to elements of the report, particularly recommendations for additional licence conditions that will increase "; S18[28]=" its costs of doing business in the bush, at a time when its financial performance has come under heavy scrutiny and criticism by the markets... "; R[29]="937"; T[29]="Internet monitoring for seed and plant sales"; A[29]="By ... Editor"; Dn[29]="20020912"; Dt[29]="Thursday 12 September 2002"; Acats[29]="a33a46"; B1[29]="      Internet technology is being used to find websites and consumers who buy and sell seeds and plants illegally around the world.... "; B2[29]=" "; B3[29]=" "; B4[29]=" "; B5[29]=" "; S1[29]="      Internet technology is being used to find websites and consumers who buy and sell seeds and plants illegally around the world.
  "; S2[29]="     The surveillance software is known as the Agricultural Internet Monitoring System (AIMS) and is the result of a collaborative effort of the Department "; S3[29]=" of Agriculture, Western Australia, the US Department of Agriculture and the NFS Centre for Integrated Pest Management in North Carolina.
      Weed scientist "; S4[29]=" Sandy Lloyd at the Department of Agriculture, WA said the software arose out of an urgent need to identify, contact and prohibit Internet source from "; S5[29]=" shipping invasive plants into biosensitive areas.
      'The software is a web crawler.
      It has a seek and find function "; S6[29]=" that works its way through the world wide web to track, download, index and track the sale of these plants,' Ms Lloyd said.
    "; S7[29]="   In WA, weed control costs in agriculture are estimated at 20 percent of the cost of production and invasive plants are considered to be "; S8[29]=" a significant threat to natural ecosystems.
      A search this year by the Department of Agriculture, WA found 21 sites selling a range "; S9[29]=" of plants that are declared noxious weeds in WA.
      Ms Lloyd said most sellers are unaware they are selling potentially noxious plants "; S10[29]=" and the search results will be used to educate site regulators such as auction sites about the sale and shipments of noxious weeds.
    "; S11[29]="   'In the US a warning appears upon the sale of plants, warning consumers about noxious weeds and the need to check with local authorities "; S12[29]=" about the status of plants,' said Ms Lloyd.
      'Those warnings are not yet in place in Australia and the rapidly expanding global "; S13[29]=" nature of trade and communication have contributed to the to the mixing of native and non-native species across bio-geographical boundaries,' she said 'Once established some "; S14[29]=" invasive species have the ability to displace or replace native plant and animal species, disrupt nutrient plant fire cycles and cause changes in the pattern "; S15[29]=" of plant succession.
      'Unfortunately introduced species are only often identified after they have become established and prevention remains the most cost-effective method "; S16[29]=" of control.' Many seed and plant companies have large databases of product available on the Internet and many web sites allow the sale or trade "; S17[29]=" of potentially destructive plants.
      The software has been designed to enable collaborative work between countries to target specific problem plants.
    "; S18[29]="   Ms Lloyd said the technology is the best of its kind currently available.
      While many organisations sell search tools to gather "; S19[29]=" intellectual property for enterprise and government, no software currently on the market can perform the type of data mining services and tracking achieved by AIMS.
"; S20[29]="       AIMS uses spidering software like an intelligent robot that scans the Internet for key words and connector words in order to filter "; S21[29]=" information and identify target sites.
      In addition, the software maintains full historical information on the regulatory actions taken, including dates, actions taken, "; S22[29]=" and copies of any communications with the website owners... "; R[30]="923"; T[30]="Funding available to develop online communities"; A[30]="By ... Editor"; Dn[30]="20020910"; Dt[30]="Tuesday 10 September 2002"; Acats[30]="a46"; B1[30]="      The Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Marsha Thomson today invited community organisations to apply for up to $50,000 funding to establish "; B2[30]="and support online communities... "; B3[30]=" "; B4[30]=" "; B5[30]=" "; S1[30]="      The Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Marsha Thomson today invited community organisations to apply for up to $50,000 funding to establish "; S2[30]=" and support online communities.
      Ms Thomson said this was the third and final round of funding from the $3.5 million My Connected "; S3[30]=" Community program.
      'The program provides community groups with the training and support they need to communicate online,' Ms Thomson said 'The My "; S4[30]=" Connected Community program assists Victorians to get online, stay in touch and build Internet skills and experience.
      'The Internet is part of "; S5[30]=" our everyday life and the My Connected Community program is all about making the Internet more relevant and useful to more and more Victorians.
  "; S6[30]="     'The third round of My Connected Community funding will provide community organisations with up to $50,000 to establish and support online communities,' she "; S7[30]=" said.
      Since its launch in March 2002, the My Connected Community program has already helped more than 900 community groups to connect "; S8[30]=" online across Victoria.
      The program aims to create 1500 online community groups by 30 June 2003.
      Ms Thomson has "; S9[30]=" invited all community organisations to apply for funding, particularly those supporting hard to reach Victorians including people from non-English speaking or Indigenous backgrounds, people with "; S10[30]=" disabilities and low income earners.
      'My Connected Community is one of several programs under the Government's Connecting Victoria strategy, which aims to "; S11[30]=" deliver the benefits of technology to all Victorians,' she said.
      Applications for funding close at 5pm on 4 October 2002.
    "; S12[30]="   For information on how to apply visit the My Connected Community website http://mc2.vicnet.net.au/ or contact VICNET on 1800 629 835... "; R[31]="879"; T[31]="New study claims mobiles are safe: at least for mice"; A[31]="By ... Editor"; Dn[31]="20020830"; Dt[31]="Friday 30 August 2002"; Acats[31]="a46a47"; B1[31]="      Radiation from mobile phones does not increase the likelihood of cancer, according to the largest and most rigorous animal study undertaken into "; B2[31]="the controversial question... "; B3[31]=" "; B4[31]=" "; B5[31]=" "; S1[31]="      Radiation from mobile phones does not increase the likelihood of cancer, according to the largest and most rigorous animal study undertaken into "; S2[31]=" the controversial question.
      The study exposed 1600 genetically modified and 'wild type' mice to differing levels of mobile phone radiation for an "; S3[31]=" hour each day over two years.
      It found no increase in their rate of lymphoma even though the transgenic mice were bred "; S4[31]=" with a 'hair trigger' tendency to develop the tumour in response to cancer-promoting changes in their environment.
      The research, carried out in "; S5[31]=" Adelaide with a $1.2 million grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council, is a centrepiece of Australia's $4.5 million contribution to international efforts "; S6[31]=" to determine whether mobile phones could be harmful.
      Though the animal results cannot be translated directly to humans, such experiments look for "; S7[31]=" inherent cancer-causing effects, which are likely to apply across species.
      The study is especially significant because it debunks an earlier Adelaide study "; S8[31]=" in which the same type of transgenic mice developed double the number of cancers when exposed to 900 MHz mobile phone radiation.
      "; S9[31]=" That study, led by Michael Repacholi, provoked concern worldwide, because it was the first reputable research to point to a strong and positive link between "; S10[31]=" mobiles and cancer.
      The new study, led by Tim Kuchel from Adelaide's Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, was designed to repeat "; S11[31]=" Dr Repacholi's work to establish whether or not the same results could be produced on another occasion - with more mice and stricter control over "; S12[31]=" how they were exposed to the radio-frequency energy.
      The study is published this week in the international journal Radiation Research.
    "; S13[31]="   Testing the Repacholi hypothesis is a priority set by the World Health Organisation for mobile-phone health research.
      An Italian group is "; S14[31]=" also conducting a similar trial, but its results are believed to be more than a year away.
      Dr Repacholi is now coordinator "; S15[31]=" of radiation and environmental health for WHO, based in Geneva.
      Yesterday he said he was personally 'disappointed that my results were not "; S16[31]=" replicated' but Dr Kuchel's work had improved on his original research - a pilot study not intended as definitive.
      'While this latest "; S17[31]=" study is welcome from a WHO perspective, there is a need to complete the (Italian) study before definite conclusions can be made .
    "; S18[31]="   .
      .
      there is a need to replicate important results before they can be accepted into the body "; S19[31]=" of scientific literature from which health risk assessments can be made,' Dr Repacholi said.
      WHO's consumer advice states there is no need "; S20[31]=" for special caution in using mobile phones, but, 'if individuals are concerned they might choose to limit their own or their children's radio-frequency exposure by "; S21[31]=" limiting the length of calls, or using hands-free devices to keep mobile phones away from the head and body.' The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association, which "; S22[31]=" represents phone manufacturers, greeted the new results enthusiastically.
      'Mobile phone users can put these results into perspective,' said spokesman Kelly Parkinson... "; R[32]="859"; T[32]="Rural network s YARN online"; A[32]="By ... Editor"; Dn[32]="20020828"; Dt[32]="Wednesday 28 August 2002"; Acats[32]="a46a48a53"; B1[32]="      Federal Agriculture Minister Warren Truss today added a cyber dimension to the traditional Australian concept of a good YARN, when he launched "; B2[32]="the Young Australian Rural Network (YARN) in Canberra... "; B3[32]=" "; B4[32]=" "; B5[32]=" "; S1[32]="      Federal Agriculture Minister Warren Truss today added a cyber dimension to the traditional Australian concept of a good YARN, when he launched "; S2[32]=" the Young Australian Rural Network (YARN) in Canberra.
      Yarn.gov.au is an interactive web site for young people working in rural industries and "; S3[32]=" fulfils a commitment made during the last Federal election.
      'This web site will allow participants in the Commonwealth's Young People in Rural "; S4[32]=" Industries Program, and all 18-35s working in rural industries, to network, share information, promote events and advertise their own networks,' Mr Truss said.
    "; S5[32]="   'The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Australia (AFFA) will support the web site, but young people will create the content using several "; S6[32]=" interactive features, making it their web site and their online community.
      'YARN will feature their achievements and, in time, become the main "; S7[32]=" hub for events and information of importance to Australia's young rural people.
      'It also establishes a new medium through which AFFA can "; S8[32]=" consult young people in rural industries about their views on the future of their industries.
      AFFA created the web site in consultation "; S9[32]=" with graduates of the Young People in Rural Industries Program.' 'Access to the Internet is improving all the time in rural Australia and young people "; S10[32]=" are keen to use the medium,' Mr Truss said.
      'YARN offers young people's networks and groups without their own web site the "; S11[32]=" chance to promote their activities and attract new members through their own mini-web page.
      'The site also features an events calendar, news, "; S12[32]=" discussion forum and information about the achievements of the participants of the Young People in Rural Industries Program.
      'Through yarn.gov.au, and other "; S13[32]=" programs, the Coalition Government is ensuring young people can continue contributing to the future of Australia's rural industries, wherever they live.
      I "; S14[32]=" strongly urge young, rural Australians to visit the site and I extend the same invitation to organisations that value the views and enthusiasm these young "; S15[32]=" people bring to their industries.' For more information about the website, visit www.yarn.gov.au or call Ms Emily Downie on (02) 6272 5545.
      "; S16[32]=" AFFA's website www.affa.gov.au/industryleadership will provide more information about the Young People in Rural Industry Program... "; R[33]="854"; T[33]="Rural Information Specialist on the Job"; A[33]="By ... Editor"; Dn[33]="20020828"; Dt[33]="Wednesday 28 August 2002"; Acats[33]="a46a66"; B1[33]="      She s a big city-born, science-trained, self-taught Internet guru who travels around North Queensland helping rural communities improve their business using the "; B2[33]="World Wide Web... "; B3[33]=" "; B4[33]=" "; B5[33]=" "; S1[33]="      She's a big city-born, science-trained, self-taught Internet guru who travels around North Queensland helping rural communities improve their business using the World "; S2[33]=" Wide Web.
      With a job officially titled 'Rural Information Specialist' for the Department of Primary Industries in North Queensland, JoAnn Resing is "; S3[33]=" a welcome sight for many North Queenslanders struggling to come to grips with the information age.
      Perhaps her job is best described "; S4[33]=" as 'Internet Interpreter'.
      'My job is about helping people with their information needs,' JoAnn explains, 'Twenty years ago, information came through newsletters, "; S5[33]=" field days, mail-outs and the like, but now the Internet is one of the cheapest and quickest ways to send and receive a range of "; S6[33]=" information.' 'What I want to do is introduce people in rural and regional Queensland to the many advantages this form of communication and information can "; S7[33]=" have.
      I also like to tell the stories of the many people around Queensland who are using the Internet with success.
  "; S8[33]="     JoAnn claims that she witnesses on a daily basis why Queensland now has the 'Smart State' moniker.
      'Primary producers and "; S9[33]=" people living in rural and remote areas are some of the quickest to embrace technology - which debunks a lot of myths about the bush,' "; S10[33]=" JoAnn says.
      'When I started training it set out as an exploration of the web as an information tool, but what I've "; S11[33]=" found has blown me away - just how smart people in regional communities are about embracing this technology and using it to their advantage.' She "; S12[33]=" sites the example of a grower wanting to diversify into jojoba that she came across while at the Queensland Rural Women's Conference - who didn't "; S13[33]=" even own a computer.
      'She went to her local library and used the Internet to find out about the plant, how to "; S14[33]=" grow it, how to harvest and manufacture the oil,' JoAnn says.
      'She then used the internet to find information about processing.
  "; S15[33]="     She evens buy the packaging she uses over the Internet.' The Internet can also deliver information on issues that impact the health and "; S16[33]=" well being of Queenslanders in the bush.
      'Prostate cancer is a very real health issue for many men, not just rural men.
"; S17[33]="       But for some people in more remote areas, a visit to a health professional is not as simple as a drive across "; S18[33]=" town.
      'There are a lot of good health sites that cover these types of issues, which sufferers and their families can access.' "; S19[33]=" While she admits to a passion for the Internet (which is just as well, since she edits the Queensland RuralIT magazine and presents internet radio "; S20[33]=" segments on the ABC across North and Far North Queensland), JoAnn does not conduct in-depth training sessions.
      'My philosophy is that when "; S21[33]=" you are ready to learn, you will find a teacher - not the other way around.
      'Courses I run are like what "; S22[33]=" a travel agent does for the tourist - helps them book the journey, but doesn't actually do the exploring with them.' An alternative point of "; S23[33]=" view also assists JoAnn in her interactions with rural and regional North Queenslanders.
      'My background is as the ultimate consumer - I "; S24[33]=" was born in one of the largest cities in the United States, I'm not from a farming background, so I can offer producers in the "; S25[33]=" bush the consumer angle, which I think is essential to consider when running a business - where your product is ending up.' While Internet access "; S26[33]=" and speed cause some frustration for Internet users in the bush, JoAnn predicts that this will improve.
      'But this is one of "; S27[33]=" the main areas of concern for a lot of Internet users.'.. "; R[34]="850"; T[34]="WA releases new web guidelines"; A[34]="By ... Editor"; Dn[34]="20020828"; Dt[34]="Wednesday 28 August 2002"; Acats[34]="a46a67"; B1[34]="      The Western Australian Government has released a set of new guidelines aimed at ensuring all government websites deliver consistent, easy-to-use and accessible "; B2[34]="online services... "; B3[34]=" "; B4[34]=" "; B5[34]=" "; S1[34]="      The Western Australian Government has released a set of new guidelines aimed at ensuring all government websites deliver consistent, easy-to-use and accessible "; S2[34]=" online services.
      Acting Department of Industry and Technology head Paul Schapper said the guidelines would apply to all public sector websites, but "; S3[34]=" would also be of interest to commercial web developers and the wider IT industry.
      In developing the guidelines, the department had worked "; S4[34]=" with government agencies as well as industry and key interest groups.
      'The measure of interest in the guidelines can be gauged from "; S5[34]=" the fact that almost 1500 copies of the draft document were downloaded from the department's website during the public comment period,' Dr Schapper said.
  "; S6[34]="     Many different groups would benefit from the development and application of the guidelines.
      'For example, minor design changes can assist "; S7[34]=" regional users on slow telecommunications networks download information at improved speeds,' he said.
      'At the same time, specific sections .
    "; S8[34]="   .
      .
      will also benefit people with sight impairments or other disabilities.'.. "; R[35]="810"; T[35]="WA communities to have their say on volunteering"; A[35]="By ... Editor"; Dn[35]="20020821"; Dt[35]="Wednesday 21 August 2002"; Acats[35]="a46a48a51a67"; B1[35]="      The Minister with responsibility for Volunteering, Sheila McHale, has urged people in rural and remote areas to participate in a live broadcast "; B2[35]="on the Future of Volunteering on Thursday (Aug 22)... "; B3[35]=" "; B4[35]=" "; B5[35]=" "; S1[35]="      The Minister with responsibility for Volunteering, Sheila McHale, has urged people in rural and remote areas to participate in a live broadcast "; S2[35]=" on the 'Future of Volunteering' on Thursday (Aug 22).
      Ms McHale said the broadcast at 4pm had the potential to be picked "; S3[35]=" up by 180 sites, including 93 Telecentres, and was a great opportunity for people in rural and remote localities to be actively involved.
    "; S4[35]="   'Western Australia has the highest volunteer rate in Australia for volunteers outside metropolitan regions (44.6 per cent) and the Government recognises that many services "; S5[35]=" and activities would not be possible without their support,' she said.
      'We want to ensure those volunteers and volunteering organisations have an "; S6[35]=" opportunity to contribute to the development of the Volunteering Compact, which aims to support and value volunteering in WA.
      'Participants in the "; S7[35]=" broadcast will be able to phone through their comments on various aspects of the Volunteering Compact during the presentations.' The Westlink broadcast will include presentations "; S8[35]=" from Ms McHale; chair of the WA Volunteering Reference Group, David Templeman MLA; and Trish Langdon, member of the WA Volunteering Reference Group, representing the "; S9[35]=" WA Council for Social Service.
      People interested in viewing the broadcast should register their attendance with their local Westlink site.
    "; S10[35]="   For your closest site, visit http://www.dlgrd.wa.gov.au/westlink Ms McHale said the broadcast was in addition to regional consultations held throughout the State to ensure maximum "; S11[35]=" community participation in the development of the compact.
      'The first consultation meeting was held in Geraldton in July, with a further six "; S12[35]=" consultations in country and remote communities as well as two in Perth,' she said.
      'The final meeting will take place in Dowerin "; S13[35]=" on Friday, September 6.
      'People can also comment on the compact via the Internet (http://www.volunteering.communitydevelopment.wa.gov.au which is particularly useful for people living "; S14[35]=" in outer areas who have access to the Internet.' For copies of the draft compact or further information about the Westlink broadcast and the Dowerin "; S15[35]=" meeting, contact Cal Wellings, Volunteering Secretariat, on 9220 1151 or 1800 671 233 (country callers)... "; R[36]="805"; T[36]="Internet Delivery of Short Courses for Farmers"; A[36]="By ... Editor"; Dn[36]="20020820"; Dt[36]="Tuesday 20 August 2002"; Acats[36]="a46a53"; B1[36]="      The Internet is changing the way society accesses and processes information.... "; B2[36]=" "; B3[36]=" "; B4[36]=" "; B5[36]=" "; S1[36]="      The Internet is changing the way society accesses and processes information.
      Farmers now have access to a wide range "; S2[36]=" of information about many aspects of their farming systems, but it is often thought by scientists and extension specialists that many lack the skills necessary "; S3[36]=" to use that information to improve their farm profitability and sustainability through technical innovation.
      A RIRDC (Rural Research and Development Corporation) funded "; S4[36]=" project aimed to test whether it was possible to use an Internet-based short course on an aspect of a complex new technology which would be "; S5[36]=" of interest to farmers and would lead to an improvement of their farming skills.
      There are two aspects to the study.
  "; S6[36]="     Firstly, the course had to be technically feasible i.e.
      the information had to be capable of being put into a "; S7[36]=" form where it could be delivered over the Internet, and secondly, there had to be demand for such a course by farmers looking to improve "; S8[36]=" their profitability and sustainability.
      The technical innovation chosen was 'Precision Agriculture' - the use of spatial information gathered from the global positioning "; S9[36]=" system created by the US Navy and using a series of 26 satellites in near earth orbit to measure position on the earth's surface to "; S10[36]=" sub-metre accuracy.
      When combined with measuring devices in the harvester and spray unit, these allow the operator to both measure and control "; S11[36]=" farming operations such as harvest, seeding, fertiliser spreading and spraying within the paddock to take account of spatial variability caused by variations in soil, topography "; S12[36]=" or paddock history.
      This technology is commercially available, and is being used by some of the more innovative farmers, but with variable "; S13[36]=" results.
      The course was developed using standard software, and made available continuously using a username and password via a server in the "; S14[36]=" Department of Agricultural Sciences at La Trobe University.
      Phone and email access to a course tutor was also provided.
      "; S15[36]=" The next stage was to get students.
      Firstly, the course was trialled by the 4th year Agricultural Science class at La Trobe "; S16[36]=" University in 2000, and their comments and suggestions taken into account.
      The course was then advertised in local newspapers in the grain-growing "; S17[36]=" areas of Victoria, then in a statewide agricultural weekly.
      This produced few enquiries, so I attended the Wimmera Machinery field days at "; S18[36]=" Horsham.
      While getting some enquiries, there was only one enrolment.
      The course was then advertised on various Internet sites, "; S19[36]=" mainly those offering agricultural information.
      When this also failed to produce many enrolments, the course was advertised in more specialist magazines produced "; S20[36]=" by GRDC and the Kondinin Group.
      The response to the advertisements was extremely poor, and came mostly from others in the education "; S21[36]=" sector.
      This was true also for the advertising on the web, and was reflected in the server logs of people accessing the "; S22[36]=" introductory page for the course.
      There seems to be interest from the providers, but much less from the potential students.
    "; S23[36]="   Implications It is widely thought that farmers are conservative in their farming methods and require considerable persuasion to change their farming methods.
    "; S24[36]="   Some earlier research by the author (Bell, 1997b) suggested that this may not be true, and that farmers easily accept new practices, but only "; S25[36]=" if they come from a limited range of trusted sources of information (Lewis, 1996; Almonte, 1997).
      Hence, if they trust the source, "; S26[36]=" they are quite willing to take up an innovation in their farming methods.
      This would account for the success of 'over-the-fence' methods "; S27[36]=" of extension, where farmers are usually quite keen to try something they see their neighbour doing.
      This is the principle of the "; S28[36]=" diffusion method of extension, but of course will be quite a slow process.
      This course came from an unknown (and hence not "; S29[36]=" trusted) source, and was offered without faceto- face contact.
      It is perhaps not surprising that it was ignored if farmers are not "; S30[36]=" willing to trust unknown sources of information and could see no obvious benefit for spending the time and money.
      Precision farming is "; R[37]="767"; T[37]="Technology companies set for boost from Government Initiatives"; A[37]="By ... Editor"; Dn[37]="20020814"; Dt[37]="Wednesday 14 August 2002"; Acats[37]="a46a92"; B1[37]="      Technology suppliers across Australia are gearing up for a feeding frenzy on the $14.6billion Federal Government market as the business sector curbs "; B2[37]="its spending on information technology... "; B3[37]=" "; B4[37]=" "; B5[37]=" "; S1[37]="      Technology suppliers across Australia are gearing up for a feeding frenzy on the $14.6billion Federal Government market as the business sector curbs "; S2[37]=" its spending on information technology.
      Governments are spending heavily on telecommunications and information technology, boosting their outlays by an average 9.2 per "; S3[37]=" cent each year over the past seven years, according to figures from research consultancy East and Partners.
      Now that growth appears set "; S4[37]=" to accelerate.
      'Rather than 9.2 per cent, we're looking at 12 per cent, and we think that's quite a conservative number,' the "; S5[37]=" firm's principal analyst, Paul Dowling, told the Australian Financial Review.
      'There's a fair bit of pent-up demand and a number of IT&T "; S6[37]=" projects that have been in the melting pot for some time will be coming to market.' Technology providers such as global group Accenture are moving "; S7[37]=" to take advantage of this year's $16.4billion of Federal Government spending on IT&T, which is based on a growth rate of 12 per cent.
  "; S8[37]="     Accenture is moving two of its most senior government partners to Canberra full time, while Deloitte is experiencing healthy activity in the sector.
"; S9[37]="       Meanwhile, countless software vendors are scrambling to tender for government contracts, many outlaying thousands of dollars in the hope of getting a "; S10[37]=" look-in on what is fast proving Australia's most lucrative sector in these lean times.
      'It is certainly one of the areas that "; S11[37]=" has held up well in these times of economic uncertainty, when the rest of our marketplace is being affected by the downturn,' said Accenture government "; S12[37]=" managing partner Australia & New Zealand Jack Percy, who recently relocated from Wellington to Canberra to spearhead Accenture's push into the government sector.
    "; S13[37]="   'Governments don't generally go out of business ...
      you won't find one filing for Chapter 11.' Mr Percy said global revenue "; S14[37]=" from Accenture's government operation group grew 26 per cent to $US1million ($1.86million) for the 2001 financial year.
      While the operating group was "; S15[37]=" still one of the firm's smallest, it was the fastest growing, he told the Australian Financial Review.
      Results for the June quarter "; S16[37]=" tell a similar story.
      While Accenture's government group grew 19 per cent globally year-on-year, its financial services operating group fell 16 per "; S17[37]=" cent.
      One of Accenture's competitors, consulting firm Deloitte, had a comparable experience.
      Its public sector industry leader, Australia and "; S18[37]=" New Zealand, Matthew Hitch, said the government sector had been 'quietly percolating along,' rather than peaking and troughing like other sectors.
      With "; S19[37]=" a potential $16.4billion up for grabs over the next 12 months, not only is the government sector a market too significant to ignore, it's one "; S20[37]=" too tempting not to target.
      Already, servicing the government sector is paying handsome dividends for some companies.
      Business at "; S21[37]=" Canberra-based IT security software and services firm 90East, for example, has doubled in 12 months.
      Federal manager Andrew Bewick said 90East, which "; S22[37]=" sourced the bulk of its revenue from the government sector, had been growing quarter on quarter for the past three years... "; R[38]="717"; T[38]="New player in rural broadband delivery"; A[38]="By ... Editor"; Dn[38]="20020806"; Dt[38]="Tuesday 6 August 2002"; Acats[38]="a46a47"; B1[38]="      Regional Australia will benefit from new competitive high-speed broadband services as part of an historic spectrum sharing deal between Telstra Wholesale and "; B2[38]="Agile Communications... "; B3[38]=" "; B4[38]=" "; B5[38]=" "; S1[38]="      Regional Australia will benefit from new competitive high-speed broadband services as part of an historic spectrum sharing deal between Telstra "; S2[38]=" Wholesale and Agile Communications.
      South Australia-based Agile is the first regional carrier to agree to acquire Telstra Wholesale's new Spectrum "; S3[38]=" Sharing service in order to provide broadband services to regional Australia.
      Telstra Wholesale's Spectrum Sharing service provides other telecommunications companies "; S4[38]=" with a new way of accessing Telstra's local loop for high-speed internet services by allowing two different providers to offer simultaneous voice and "; S5[38]=" ADSL data services over a single phone line.
      Agile Technical Director, Mr Simon Hackett, said the deal with Telstra Wholesale "; S6[38]=" would open up competition in some towns, while others will receive a high speed DSL internet service for the first time.
    "; S7[38]="   Agile will offer business voice and data services using its DSL infrastructure, linked back to Adelaide over its own long haul broadband "; S8[38]=" network.
      'Agile operates its own high speed infrastructure, based on long haul microwave network links, linking the rural SA towns of "; S9[38]=" Mengingie, Tintinara, Tailem Bend and Murray Bridge back to Adelaide.
      This independently owned and operated network brings broadband access "; S10[38]=" into the Agile point of presence in each town, but until now we've lacked a 'last mile' solution to deliver broadband access to "; S11[38]=" our customers,' Mr Hackett said.
      'The towns of Meningie, Tintinara and Tailem Bend have no ADSL services available to them today "; S12[38]=" - this deployment will mark the first time that an alternative ADSL broadband service is delivered to a rural Australian community, using Spectrum "; S13[38]=" Sharing access to deliver broadband services over the existing copper telephone lines,' he said.
      Telstra Wholesale's Chief of Commercial "; S14[38]=" Operations, Ms Deena Shiff said the Agile deal was a good example of how the new Telstra Wholesale Spectrum Sharing Service would help "; S15[38]=" drive broadband competition and investment throughout Australia.
      'Telstra is one of the first, if not the only, telecommunications company "; S16[38]=" in the world to voluntarily offer its 'last mile' infrastructure to other service providers via spectrum sharing on commercial terms, without the need "; S17[38]=" for intervention from the regulator,' Ms Shiff said.
      In this case, the flexibility of commercial negotiations have allowed us "; S18[38]=" to meet quickly the specific needs of a regional service provider.' Mr Hackett said the initial test deployments of Agile's new services "; S19[38]=" were scheduled to take place by the end of 2002, with production deployment of DSL services expected to occur in the first quarter "; S20[38]=" of 2003.
      While other telecommunications companies have reached similar agreements with Telstra Wholesale to utilize its commercial Spectrum Sharing service, "; S21[38]=" their focus has been on CBD and metropolitan areas... "; R[39]="699"; T[39]="Information system to improve Rangelands Management in WA"; A[39]="By ... Editor"; Dn[39]="20020802"; Dt[39]="Friday 2 August 2002"; Acats[39]="a37a46a67a90"; B1[39]="      A new information system has been developed by the Department of Agriculture to improve service delivery through the State s rangelands.... "; B2[39]=" "; B3[39]=" "; B4[39]=" "; B5[39]=" "; S1[39]="      A new information system has been developed by the Department of Agriculture to improve service delivery through the State's rangelands.
    "; S2[39]="   The Rangelands Reporting Interface (RRI) is designed to sit within the Department's existing Client and Resource Information System (CRIS).
      Manager of "; S3[39]=" the Department's Client and Resource Information Unit, Greg Beeston said the RRI could provide a wide range of information about the Pastoral Region of Western "; S4[39]=" Australia.
      'Data sets within the rangelands interface include information on land tenure, infrastructure, natural resources and rangeland monitoring,' Mr Beeston said.
  "; S5[39]="     'This information is then linked to the knowledge currently stored in the Client and Resource Information System for properties in the rangelands and "; S6[39]=" outputs data relating to control programs, animal diseases and the field reporting system used by Department officers.' The Department is undertaking a four year plan "; S7[39]=" to integrate existing data into a central data warehouse which will improve knowledge sharing within the organisation and ensure continued relevant resource allocations.
    "; S8[39]="   The CRIS project includes a range of web based, user friendly interfaces that can be used to retrieve information about clients, properties and events "; S9[39]=" on a local, regional or state-wide basis... "; R[40]="694"; T[40]="Seafood marketing from Ocean to Plate"; A[40]="By ... Editor"; Dn[40]="20020801"; Dt[40]="Thursday 1 August 2002"; Acats[40]="a08a34a46a88"; B1[40]="      The Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Marsha Thomson, today visited Moyston Court Fisheries, one of Australia s fastest growing seafood companies, "; B2[40]="to view first hand its innovative use of e-commerce... "; B3[40]=" "; B4[40]=" "; B5[40]=" "; S1[40]="      The Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Marsha Thomson, today visited Moyston Court Fisheries, one of Australia's fastest growing seafood companies, to "; S2[40]=" view first hand its innovative use of e-commerce.
      A $50,000 Bracks Government grant has enabled Moyston Court Fisheries to transform its business "; S3[40]=" by developing an 'ocean to plate' concept through an e-commerce system.
      'This e-commerce system allows fishing trawler operators to better organise the "; S4[40]=" catch needed on any trip by linking them to markets through palm pilot technology,' Ms Thomson said.
      'It will result in improved "; S5[40]=" productivity in transport, including travel times, unloading and loading times, decreased spoilage of product and will lessen the landing time for the catch by an "; S6[40]=" average of three days.
      'Not only will the project improve the company's supply chain, it will also generate valuable data that can "; S7[40]=" be used to manage Victoria's fish stocks.' Moyston Court Fisheries is one of more than 100 Victorian companies in the past year to benefit from "; S8[40]=" a Bracks Government E-Commerce Exhibition Projects Program, which has allocated more $600,000 to 13 building, construction, seafood, confectionery, hazardous waste and retail projects across the "; S9[40]=" State.
      'The work being done by Moyston Court Fisheries and software solutions provider Icon Global Link is a great example of what "; S10[40]=" can be achieved by Victorian companies embracing e-commerce,' Ms Thomson said.
      'The use of computers and new technology, especially by small business, "; S11[40]=" is vital to increase efficiency and growth.
      The potential benefits are even greater for regional businesses.' 'The Moyston Court Fisheries project is "; S12[40]=" a working demonstration of the benefits of e-commerce that can be use to encourage other local businesses to take up e-commerce,' she said... "; R[41]="652"; T[41]="Women in IT now in Townsville"; A[41]="By ... Editor"; Dn[41]="20020724"; Dt[41]="Wednesday 24 July 2002"; Acats[41]="a46a49"; B1[41]="      Department of Innovation & Information Economy Minister, Paul Lucas, will officially launch the new Townsville branch of Women in Information Technology (WIT) "; B2[41]="on 25 July, 2002... "; B3[41]=" "; B4[41]=" "; B5[41]=" "; S1[41]="      Department of Innovation & Information Economy Minister, Paul Lucas, will officially launch the new Townsville branch of Women in Information Technology (WIT) "; S2[41]=" on 25 July, 2002.
      The launch precedes WIT's Exploring I.T.
      breakfast function from 7.15am at the Southbank Hotel & "; S3[41]=" Convention Centre.
      As Queensland's premier IT industry association for women, WIT is inviting Townsville women who are working, studying or pursuing a "; S4[41]=" career in the information and communications technology industries (ICT), to attend the networking breakfast.
      'It's great to see that women working in "; S5[41]=" and using ICT in Townsville finally have a voice and the chance to network to improve their opportunities,' said Minister Lucas.
      The "; S6[41]=" President of WIT, Ms Melinda Horton, who will also attend the launch, said 'WIT's goal has always been to support women in the industry regionally "; S7[41]=" and even nationally - but it needed local energetic women to take the initiative to start an active branch in Townsville'.
      Ms "; S8[41]=" Kerrie Carthew, convenor of WIT Townsville said 'WIT offers its members the opportunity to network, share experiences and gain access to current information, as well "; S9[41]=" as mentoring and role modelling.
      We also believe that there will be significant benefits in interacting with Brisbane women in this industry "; S10[41]=" and also getting to know our neighbours in WIT Cairns'.
      WIT strives to communicate the attractions of a career in ICT for "; S11[41]=" women including; better pay achieved earlier than virtually any other job; globally recognised and valued skills; the enormous variety of exciting and rewarding roles available; "; S12[41]=" an industry that values creativity and teamwork and it's tendency to reward performance regardless of gender or background.
      WIT is well known "; S13[41]=" for its Queensland wide annual scholarship awards program for women working in ICT or undertaking studies in the field.
      The 2002 program "; S14[41]=" offered more than $100,000 in prizes in the form of funds for education expenses, computer equipment as well as work experience and active mentoring... "; R[42]="631"; T[42]="Corn-based plastics for Laptops"; A[42]="By ... Editor"; Dn[42]="20020719"; Dt[42]="Friday 19 July 2002"; Acats[42]="a46a55a74"; B1[42]="      Fujitsu and Sony have devised a way of using biodegradable plastics in their high-tech gear.
      According to the New "; B2[42]="York Times, Sony are set to reintroduce the Walkman tape player, with 90 percent of its casing made from vegetable-based plastic... "; B3[42]=" "; B4[42]=" "; B5[42]=" "; S1[42]="      Fujitsu and Sony have devised a way of using biodegradable plastics in their high-tech gear.
      According to the New "; S2[42]=" York Times, Sony are set to reintroduce the Walkman tape player, with 90 percent of its casing made from vegetable-based plastic.
      Fujitsu "; S3[42]=" plans to use the same plastic in the shell of its Biblo laptop computers starting in 2004.
      The green ingredient in this "; S4[42]=" plastic is polylactic acid, a corn-based polymer.
      Fujitsu experimented with the substance in industrial tape in 1996 but could not produce it "; S5[42]=" cheaply.
      Two years ago, Cargill Dow, a joint venture of the Dow Chemical Company and the commodities processor Cargill Inc., came up "; S6[42]=" with a cheaper version that is as strong as the plastic in most consumer electronics.
      The plastic disintegrates in just a few "; S7[42]=" months, with the speed depending on the soil composition, temperature and the extent to which the plastics are exposed to air.
      Fujitsu "; S8[42]=" has begun using the corn-based plastic in bits of its laptop computers but says more flammability tests will be needed before it can become the "; S9[42]=" chief material.
      The degradable plastic is produced with less petroleum, and emits no dioxin when it is burned or buried.
    "; S10[42]="   Ultimately it is expected to make up the entire housing, making sorting and disassembling the machine easier.
      That is an important "; S11[42]=" cost savings for Fujitsu, which under Japanese law must collect and recycle its computers.
      The computer's environmentally friendly imprimatur may also win "; S12[42]=" it more contracts from Japan's government, which has a mandate to buy environmentally friendly products... "; R[43]="600"; T[43]="Diabetes sufferers trial new E-Health System"; A[43]="By ... Editor"; Dn[43]="20020717"; Dt[43]="Wednesday 17 July 2002"; Acats[43]="a09a46"; B1[43]="      Diabetes sufferers in Tasmania are to be among the first beneficiaries of the proposed new electronic health information network for Australia, known "; B2[43]="as HealthConnect ... "; B3[43]=" "; B4[43]=" "; B5[43]=" "; S1[43]="      Diabetes sufferers in Tasmania are to be among the first beneficiaries of the proposed new electronic health information network for Australia, known "; S2[43]=" as 'HealthConnect'.
      Launching Diabetes Week in Hobart today, Health and Human Services Minister Judy Jackson announced that Tasmania had been chosen to "; S3[43]=" host one of the two initial HealthConnect trials.
      The Tasmanian trial will assess the benefits to consumers and providers of safe and "; S4[43]=" secure shared electronic health records, testing the feasibility and usefulness of the HealthConnect concept on the ground.
      People with diabetes, who are "; S5[43]=" over the age of 18 and live in the Clarence area in the South of the State, will be invited to take part in the "; S6[43]=" trial.
      A range of health care professionals involved in the care and management of people with diabetes will also be involved, including: "; S7[43]=" GPs, pathologists, Department of Emergency Medicine specialists, hospital clinicians and nurses, endocrinologists and diabetes educators.
      'HealthConnect will face its first test in "; S8[43]=" a 'live' setting in September this year, when it will focus on adults with diabetes,' Ms Jackson said.
      'It is appropriate that "; S9[43]=" people who have this disease have been selected, because recent research indicates that Tasmania has the highest prevalence of diabetes of any State in Australia.
"; S10[43]="       'The Tasmanian HealthConnect trial is an excellent example of innovation in diabetes management.
      'It aims to deliver improved care "; S11[43]=" for diabetes patients by enabling more complete, appropriate and timely sharing of information - electronically - among health care providers and consumers.' Ms Jackson said "; S12[43]=" it was exciting that Tasmania had been chosen as the site for one of the trials as it recognised that the State was an excellent "; S13[43]=" testing ground for high-quality health and IT research.
      'This recognition is further borne out by the Commonwealth's contribution of $1.5 million to "; S14[43]=" the Tasmanian trial, adding to the $400,000 put in by the State Government,' she said.
      'While the trial will not seek to "; S15[43]=" test the entire HealthConnect system in operation, it will test the concept of collection, storage and exchange of health information, as well as important components "; S16[43]=" such as consent, privacy, storage and participation.
      'These are all matters that will be critical in determining the viability of implementing the "; S17[43]=" network nationally.
      'Importantly, they will also be vital in helping us to work together to improve services for the estimated 25,000 people "; S18[43]=" in Tasmania who have diabetes.'.. "; R[44]="598"; T[44]="Dairy farmers get Milkline software"; A[44]="By ... Editor"; Dn[44]="20020717"; Dt[44]="Wednesday 17 July 2002"; Acats[44]="a02a26a46"; B1[44]="      The Internet Arrives on Farm Dairy Farmers, the one hundred per cent Australian-owned dairy Co-operative, today launched a new Internet based on-farm "; B2[44]="management tool for its farmer/members... "; B3[44]=" "; B4[44]=" "; B5[44]=" "; S1[44]="      The Internet Arrives on Farm Dairy Farmers, the one hundred per cent Australian-owned dairy Co-operative, today launched a new Internet based on-farm "; S2[44]=" management tool for its farmer/members.
      'Dairy Farmers Milkline' is an exciting new era of technology released exclusively to Dairy Farmers farmer/members.
  "; S3[44]="     Part of Dairy Farmers comprehensive eCommerce initiatives, 'Dairy Farmers Milkline'enables farmer/members to: o access daily milk quality laboratory test results in real time; "; S4[44]=" o graph and chart these results,- o access pay statements- and o access a range of information resources and tools each designed to improve the "; S5[44]=" Co-operative's supply chain efficiency.
      'Dairy Farmers Milkline' was developed by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu/Eclipse Group in collaboration with farmers and is available on-farm "; S6[44]=" through routine Internet capabilities to which most Australian farms now have access.
      For those farms with limited or no access to the "; S7[44]=" internet, Dairy Farmers is currently negotiating with Telstra Corporation to design a scheme to assist farmer/members obtain price-effective access.
      Protection of the "; S8[44]=" discrete information through 'Dairy Farmers Milkline' has been addressed by the use of sophisticated security software, unique Ids and authentication processes.
      Launching "; S9[44]=" the service Managing Director, Alan Tooth, said that the development of 'Dairy Farmers Milkline' had taken months of intense, cutting-edge IT activity.
      "; S10[44]=" 'The release of 'Dairy Farmers Milkline' is consistent with Dairy Farmers mission to pursue value-adding innovations.
      'We recognise the importance of the "; S11[44]=" internet to make business faster, more accessible and ultimately more efficient for our business partners.
      'That is precisely what Dairy Farmers has "; S12[44]=" achieved here and we are certain our members will find the service an essential part of their daily farm management tools', Mr Tooth added.
  "; S13[44]="     Dairy Farmers farmer/members will be advised individually of their ID numbers by post with their July pay statements and can begin accessing their "; S14[44]=" discrete information as soon as they have established their secure links.
      Dairy Farmers also wishes to announce the availability of its public "; S15[44]=" Internet website at www.dairyfarmers.com.au.
      The website was designed as a first step to provide relevant information about Dairy Farmers to its various "; S16[44]=" external stakeholders.
      The Dairy Farmers Group is Australia's largest fresh dairy business and is the business name of Australian Co-operative Foods Limited.
"; S17[44]="       Dairy Farmers is a co- operative, proudly one hundred per cent Australian owned, and was first established in New South Wales in "; S18[44]=" 1900.
      Dairy Farmers has revenues of $1.4 billion per annum, employs 2,700 people and has around 4,500 farmer- members.
      "; S19[44]=" Dairy Farmer's manufactures milk and dairy products including market leading brands such as Daliy Farmers, Lite White, Farmers'Best, Shape, Coon, Cracker Barrel, Moove, Oak and "; S20[44]=" Chill.
      Ski and Danone are produced under licence... "; R[45]="582"; T[45]="Online Book Project An Australian First"; A[45]="By ... Editor"; Dn[45]="20020713"; Dt[45]="Saturday 13 July 2002"; Acats[45]="a46a48a53"; B1[45]="      In an Australian first, Tasmanian school students will work online with a local author to write and publish a new children s "; B2[45]="novel... "; B3[45]=" "; B4[45]=" "; B5[45]=" "; S1[45]="      In an Australian first, Tasmanian school students will work online with a local author to write and publish a new children's novel.
"; S2[45]="       Education Minister Paula Wriedt said today that the project, being led by popular Tasmanian children's author Damian Morgan, was another example of "; S3[45]=" how the State was leading the way nationally in online education.
      'This is a unique opportunity for Tasmanian students to participate directly "; S4[45]=" in every stage of the production of a novel, from story development through to editing and publishing,' Ms Wriedt said.
      'Damian Morgan, "; S5[45]=" who has had 35 published books to his credit, started writing Billy Bathtub this term.
      'Damian will work with a group of "; S6[45]=" Clarence High School students and other students around Tasmania will be able to communicate with him through the online services provided by the Department of "; S7[45]=" Education's Discover website.
      'Importantly, there has been a huge response from schools all over the State.
      'They will be "; S8[45]=" able to participate in online chats with Damian and invite him to their school, offer suggestions on what happens next in the story and take "; S9[45]=" part in online forums about the novel.
      'In addition, Erica Wagner from the book publishers Allen and Unwin, will edit the book "; S10[45]=" online from her office in Melbourne and students will be able to see this process take place as part of the project.' Ms Wriedt said "; S11[45]=" the book would be written day by day and would be accessible by students and teachers through the Education Department's Discover website at http://www.discover.tased.edu.au/billybathtub... "; R[46]="503"; T[46]="E-commerce benefits on show in Victoria"; A[46]="By ... Editor"; Dn[46]="20020625"; Dt[46]="Tuesday 25 June 2002"; Acats[46]="a46a65"; B1[46]="      A Victorian Government roadshow highlighting the business benefits of using e-commerce is to visit Bendigo, the Minister for Information and Communication Technology, "; B2[46]="Marsha Thomson, announced today... "; B3[46]=" "; B4[46]=" "; B5[46]=" "; S1[46]="      A Victorian Government roadshow highlighting the business benefits of using e-commerce is to visit Bendigo, the Minister for Information and Communication Technology, "; S2[46]=" Marsha Thomson, announced today.
      'Electronic commerce (e-commerce) is providing fantastic opportunities for Victorian companies to expand into new markets and make their "; S3[46]=" operations more efficient,' Ms Thomson said.
      'The Victorian Government's E-commerce Roadshow will provide practical, relevant e-commerce information to Bendigo's businesses who are "; S4[46]=" keen to make the most of new technologies.
      'The Bracks Government is strongly committed to helping all small to medium enterprises to "; S5[46]=" use e-commerce, particularly those in rural and regional Victoria, such as in Bendigo.' Ms Thomson said the E-commerce Roadshow visited Bendigo on Thursday, 20 June, "; S6[46]=" had been coordinated by the E-Commerce Association of Central Victoria.
      'Bendigo's host partners chose a range of seminars and workshop materials tailored "; S7[46]=" to meet the specific needs of the Bendigo area,' Ms Thomson said.
      'A series of workshops and seminars will help participants decided "; S8[46]=" how e-commerce can work for them, and provide practical advice on developing an implementation plan for making it happen and avoiding common pitfalls.' Ms Thomson "; S9[46]=" said the Victorian Government had provided up to $5000 to host the E-commerce Roadshow in Bendigo, one of five to be held throughout Victoria during "; S10[46]=" June.
      'The E-commerce Roadshow is an initiative under the Bracks Government's Victoria's E-commerce Advantage strategy to help businesses grow through the use "; S11[46]=" of e-commerce,' Ms Thomson said.
      'Victoria's E-Commerce Advantage is the first e-commerce policy ever produced by a Victorian Government, and builds on "; S12[46]=" our Connecting Victoria policy, which aims to deliver the benefits of technology to all Victorians.'.. "; R[47]="493"; T[47]="New website for Australian Native Food Industry"; A[47]="By ... Editor"; Dn[47]="20020621"; Dt[47]="Friday 21 June 2002"; Acats[47]="a46a78"; B1[47]="      A new website that supports the development of the Australian Native Food Industry has recently been launched.... "; B2[47]=" "; B3[47]=" "; B4[47]=" "; B5[47]=" "; S1[47]="      A new website that supports the development of the Australian Native Food Industry has recently been launched.
      Developed with "; S2[47]=" the backing of the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), the site (www.nativecrops.com.au/industry) aims to support industry efforts at forming a National representative organisation "; S3[47]=" by 2003.
      Currently, the Native Food Industry is organised into regional and crop-specific associations and commercial networks, however the Industry does not "; S4[47]=" yet have a national or umbrella organization to represent the sector as a whole.
      In the past, several unsuccessful attempts have been "; S5[47]=" made by Federal and State government agencies and Industry associations to foster the development of a body that is broadly representative of the Australian Native "; S6[47]=" Food Industry.
      A roundtable discussion of Industry representatives in Canberra in March 2001, sponsored by RIRDC, identified a lack of information flow "; S7[47]=" and consensus as the major barriers to the development of such a body.
      The meeting determined that implementing an Internet-based forum should "; S8[47]=" be the first step in addressing Industry information issues, with the aim of developing internally-generated consensus on the need, form, structure, role and formation of "; S9[47]=" an Industry-wide body.
      Following a proposal by Australian Native Crop Development Services and with funding by the RIRDC, a website designed to "; S10[47]=" meet these objectives was established in February this year.
      The website is produced for, about, and by the Australian Native Plant Food "; S11[47]=" Industry and is the Industry's national forum for development issues and an information resource for all those interested in the Native Food Industry.
    "; S12[47]="   The site provides a profile of the Industry, covering the main crops and production regions, as well as the associations and cooperatives; processors and "; S13[47]=" marketers; and support services active in the Industry.
      Industry development is specifically supported by the website through the provision of topical articles "; S14[47]=" and publications; by information on and links to research and development plans, reports and news; an activities section for the announcement of conferences, field days, "; S15[47]=" etc.; and a forum area for the discussion of industry development issues.
      The forum, which operates as a moderated email list, allows "; S16[47]=" any industry member with an Internet connection to initiate, participate in or simply monitor industry discussions and deliberations and represents a unique opportunity for broad "; S17[47]=" participation in the development process... "; R[48]="489"; T[48]="High-tech tools make an impact on agriculture"; A[48]="By ... Editor"; Dn[48]="20020607"; Dt[48]="Friday 7 June 2002"; Acats[48]="a02a46a92"; B1[48]="      A visiting scientist believes that a long established technology has the potential to make new and significant impacts on agriculture in Australia "; B2[48]="and overseas... "; B3[48]=" "; B4[48]=" "; B5[48]=" "; S1[48]="      A visiting scientist believes that a long established technology has the potential to make new and significant impacts on agriculture in Australia "; S2[48]=" and overseas.
      He is Professor Fred McClure, an eminent agricultural engineer who has been working with near infrared technology for 40 years.
"; S3[48]="       Professor McClure's Queensland visit was made at the request of the Department of Primary Industries to promote the more widespread use of "; S4[48]=" farm applications of NIR.
      NIR uses emissions from the infrared spectrum to excite molecules.
      The readings can be used "; S5[48]=" for sorting, measuring quality and other purposes.
      Professor McClure told a meeting in Toowoomba that one of his visions for a future "; S6[48]=" use of NIR was in a pen-sized device that would provide a reading of the nutritional status of individual plants.
      He said "; S7[48]=" such a device was technically feasible but had not yet been developed.
      Professor McClure said NIR, first discovered in the 1800s, had "; S8[48]=" been widely used throughout the world for many years but the development of powerful computers and microchip technology had opened a range of new uses.
"; S9[48]="       One of the more innovative ideas was to use NIR to enable computers to automatically count sheep in a paddock from an "; S10[48]=" aerial image.
      He said NIR had great potential in developing countries for increasing the production of high quality food with minimum impact "; S11[48]=" on the environment.
      Tailoring fertiliser applications to plant needs and sorting food according to quality would achieve this.
      He "; S12[48]=" said NIR was increasingly being used in packing sheds in Australia and overseas to automatically sort fruit according to quality, reducing the labour costs previously "; S13[48]=" required.
      Professor McClure is one of the four founders of the use of NIR in agriculture.
      He holds several "; S14[48]=" patents, has written three books and published more than 100 refereed papers on NIR.
      His promotional tour included Cairns, Rockhampton, Brisbane and "; S15[48]=" Toowoomba.
      Research scientist at the DPI Leslie Research Centre in Toowoomba, Glen Fox, said while DPI had applied NIR technology for many "; S16[48]=" years to measure grain quality in cereal and pulse breeding programs, there had been some exciting recent developments with the technology.
      These "; S17[48]=" included measuring crop yield, grain quality and the nutritional and agronomic health of plants from aerial photographs, real-time measurement of grain protein and moisture in-line "; S18[48]=" on grain harvesters, and also as an aid to implementing QA programs in a range of industries.
      He said the DPI has "; S19[48]=" embraced this 'black box' technology to help deliver quality food products to Queenslanders through its crop improvement programs... "; R[49]="312"; T[49]="New safe search engine: BBC"; A[49]="By ... Editor"; Dn[49]="20020501"; Dt[49]="Wednesday 1 May 2002"; Acats[49]="a46"; B1[49]="      The British Broadcasting Corp.... "; B2[49]=" "; B3[49]=" "; B4[49]=" "; B5[49]=" "; S1[49]="      The British Broadcasting Corp.
      has launched a search engine that it says will allow discerning surfers to avoid the "; S2[49]=" crass, commercial side of the Internet.
      The BBCi search engine, which went online Thursday, is 'free from commercial pressures and safe from "; S3[49]=" undesirable sites,' contains no advertising and uses screening technology to weed out pornography, racist material and other offensive sites, the BBC said.
      "; S4[49]=" The corporation said research it commissioned suggested Internet users were frustrated with some commercial search engines that allow advertisers to pay for a high ranking "; S5[49]=" in the search results.
      The BBC is funded from license fees paid by television owners and does not rely on advertising.
  "; S6[49]="     'The majority of search engines have pay for placement, and many users of the Web, especially new users, are baffled by that,' a "; S7[49]=" BBC spokesman said on customary condition of anonymity.
      The BBC also said 64 percent of respondents to its survey felt frustrated by "; S8[49]=" the preponderance of American content on the Net.
      The BBC engine finds sites from around the world, but gives preferential ranking to "; S9[49]=" British ones.
      It relies on technology from Google Inc.
      - whose search engine is widely regarded as providing the "; S10[49]=" fastest, most objective results on the Net - along with in-house technology developed by the BBC.
      For the BBC survey, polling firm "; S11[49]=" NOP interviewed almost 500 people between April 12 and 14 and weighted the sample to reflect the national demographic profile.
      No margin "; S12[49]=" of error was available... ";