Archived News for Industry Professionals

The Queensland Premier has revived a plan to spend billions for more rail access over the Brisbane River, but some residents wonder if it will be funded by money put aside for much-needed highway repairs.

Prison mine work plan sparks union ire

As reported earlier this week; a program in the Northern Territory has seen prisoners sign on as labourers in a salt mine – now union officials say the prisoners and local workers are being stitched-up by award rates.

Award from work-site injury, assault

A worker in the ACT has been awarded over $900,000 after he was injured, returned to work and was then assaulted by his supervisor.

Scientific supergroup sets sights on tomorrow

The issue of how to provide a comfortable retirement for Australia’s aging population will be tackled by a $9 million collaborative effort between top scientific agencies.

Big buy-out brings billions, some see more on horizon

Australian-based engineering consultant Sinclair Knight Merz has been bought out by Californian giant Jacobs Engineering for over a billion dollars.

Digital eyes watching drivers

A successful trial will see BHP roll out a high-tech new fatigue monitor on over a hundred of its massive trucks at an iron ore site in WA.

Dust laws solidified to stop drifting compliance

New regulations should bring about a healthy change in New South Wales mining operations, with adjustments to the state’s dust control protocols.

Gong given to Great Road

It is hard to imagine the trip from Melbourne to Geelong taking several days, but that was the case before the construction of a highway which has now been awarded for its contribution to Australian life.

Guidelines to advise roadside patch-ups

Getting out of the car on a highway is always risky business, made even more dangerous when the car is enormous and in need of roadside repair.

Incarceration no escape from mine work in NT

With hundreds of job losses in recent weeks at mine-sites around the country, it is difficult to imagine some projects are looking to prisons to fill out their workforce.

Looking for a way out of underground gold mine

The community surrounding a gold mine in Victoria have raised concerns about the operator’s plans to move from an underground dig to an open-cut project.

New blood to boost public transport tech

Victoria’s public transport network is set to undergo an overhaul of its IT systems, initiated by a newly-recruited chief information officer.

Push for pledge to patch killer highway hotspots

There has been no shortage of industry groups appealing for support from the newly-elected federal government, but few will be as used to campaigning as consistently as the RACQ in its quest to fix the Bruce Highway.

Race to relegate drivers to back seat

In a race that hopefully will not lead to cut-corners, car manufacturers are rushing to bring self-driving vehicles to the market with German maker Daimler leading the charge.

Toyota cries recall over defective luxury

Toyota has initiated a worldwide recall of 370,000 cars including 2500 from Australia, whose faulty electrics could mean the trip home becomes a crawling limp.

Transport body glad to see Abbott on top

Lobbyists and transport industry authorities are encouraged by the outcome of the weekend’s election, welcoming the new federal government and putting the word out that they are keen to work together.

Forging a deal for Roy Hill mine, roads and port

A recent agreement has secured WA jobs in many trades for a number of years, with one group scoring a billion dollar contract to build large parts of a massive mine.

Miners agonise as Glencore gives no quarter

Hundreds have lost their jobs and worry is widespread among workers at a currently closed mine site in north Queensland.

Nats MP stays green on CSG

A Nationals MP who has just been given a new job says he would be willing to go against the party line on coal seam gas.

Novel model shows real taste for resources

A study by the University of New South Wales, CSIRO, the University of Sydney, and the University of California has tallied the true material footprint of several nations, revealing that some are considerably more resource-hungry than previously reported.