Employees who work on Christmas and New Year’s Day this summer will be entitled to penalty rates as a result of new laws passed by State Parliament.
The Holidays Amendment Act 2010 ensured that workers would receive fair compensation for having to sacrifice special time with family and friends this Christmas.
While many workers enjoy public holidays over the Christmas-New Year period, some occupations are required to work through this period.
For the inconvenience of being separated from their families, particularly on Christmas Day, workers are usually eligible to receive extra financial reward through penalty rates.
But in the past, this benefit has been denied to workers when Christmas Day and New Year’s Day have fallen on a Saturday.
The legislation that has been passed by the Bligh Government now means workers will get some financial reward for sacrificing special time with their families and friends.
Actual penalty rates will depend on the applicable awards and agreements, but public holidays typically attract payment at double time and a half.
The new provisions will benefit employees in a range of services and industries, including health, emergency services, hospitality, accommodation, tourism, retail and mining.
Have your say on the revised wild dog strategy
I urge the community to contribute their views to Queensland’s revised wild dog strategy.
Wild dogs cost the grazing industry and regional economies as much as $67 million every year through lost production.
This new strategy will promote an all-encompassing approach to managing wild dogs throughout the region.  The revised strategy was in response to recommendations from the 2008 Kenny Report and was done in consultation with the Queensland Wild Dog Offensive Group (QDOG).
The strategy has a series of actions:
·    Zero tolerance of wild dogs inside the Wild Dog Barrier Fence
·    Effective control of wild dogs elsewhere in the state
·    Reduction of wild dog impacts in the coastal, semi-urban and rural residential management zones
·    Ensuring the community is informed and committed to wild dog management and has access to the most current control methods and management techniques
·    Conservation of dingo populations in Queensland
The local community has until 12 November 2010 to comment on the strategy.
If any residents have been affected by wild dogs, or seen wild dogs on their property, they should have their say on the strategy at www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au or by calling 13 25 23.
Watch out for scammers posing as Fair Trading officers
Queenslanders are being warned about scammers posing as government representatives saying they can get back money for overcharged bank fees.
There have been reports of Queenslanders receiving calls from people saying they were from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) or other government regulatory bodies and offering a reimbursement on bank charges.
To engage the consumer, the scammers make reference to a possible class action suit against a bank.
If you are unsure you are speaking with an officer of the OFT, hang up and call the official number on 13 GOV (13 74 68).
Since 1 January 2010, OFT has logged 71 complaints about people representing themselves as officers of the OFT offering refunds or payments.
Impersonating a Fair Trading officer is a serious matter and carries a maximum penalty of $10,000.
If you are called by these people, you should hang up immediately – do not give out your bank details, do not send them money.
For more information about scams visit www.SCAMwatch.gov.au or to lodge a complaint visit www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or call 13 74 68.
Grants for Community Groups to help protect the environment
The Queensland Government is inviting community groups across Queensland to apply for grants to develop innovative and educational projects that effectively engage the community on natural resources issues.
The Department of Natural Resources and Management are seeking innovative community ideas for new projects and activities that help to promote and celebrate the contribution of youth and volunteers in the natural resources sector.
Community groups across Queensland could apply for funding for up to $10,000 to highlight the value of the environment and the need to protect it.
As we approach the tenth anniversary of the International Year of Volunteers, it is fitting that the theme for these grants is focused on volunteers.
Grants of up to $5000 are available to groups such as Landcare and environmental groups, schools and volunteer groups, and up to $10,000 will be considered for projects where there is a genuine collaboration between two or more organisations.
For more information, grant guidelines and application forms for the Natural Resources Awareness Grants visit www.derm.qld.gov.au .
Until next time