Developed in 2017 by the Wide Bay Burnett Regional Organisation of Councils’ Invasive Species Advisory Committee, the Wide Bay Burnett Regional Biosecurity Strategy (the Strategy) aims to provide an overarching framework to align invasive species (weed and pest animal) management goals across the Wide Bay Burnett region. The Strategy, which is now endorsed by all Wide Bay Burnett local governments, adopts a regional approach and recognises the importance of developing and maintaining strong regional partnerships. After its inaugural year of implementation, and after receiving funding from the Queensland Government, through the Better Partnerships Project,  the Invasive Species Advisory Committee is reviewing the Strategy.

To assist in the review process, the Invasive Species Advisory Committee is seeking input from regional stakeholders on the Strategy. Stakeholders can provide input by either attending a regional working group, or completing an online survey.

Regional working groups, which are open to all stakeholders, will be facilitated in all local government areas of the Wide Bay Burnett region. They will be used to identify and understand regional and local environmental, economic, social and cultural values/assets that the Wide Bay Burnett community want to protect from invasive species. The regional working groups provide an opportunity for stakeholders to participate in setting the direction for invasive species management across the Wide Bay Burnett, as well as providing an opportunity to engage with other like-minded stakeholders. Regional working groups will be held from 10am to 1pm at the following locations:

• Gayndah – 11 March 2019
  • North Burnett Regional Council Chambers, 34-36 Capper Street, Gayndah
• Bundaberg – 12 March 2019
  • Bundaberg Multiplex – 1 Civic St, Bundaberg
• Kingaroy – 21 March 2019
  • Kingaroy Town Common Hall, Oliver Bond Street, Kingaroy
• Gympie – 22 March 2019
  • The Pavilion Conference And Reception Centre - 77 Exhibition Rd, Southside
• Maryborough – 27 March 2019
  • Woccoo Community Hall – Woocoo Dr, Oakhurst

If you would like to attend a regional working groups, it is requested that you send an RSVP (for catering purposes) to Josh Dyke, either by email ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or by phone (0488 953 844).

If you are unable to attend a regional working group, but would like to contribute your thoughts to the Strategy, an online survey is also available. The survey will be open until 31 March 2019, with all completed surveys being incorporated into the review process. You can access the survey here - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MFJRMBT

For further information on the review of the Wide Bay Burnett Regional Biosecurity Strategy, or to discuss how you can be involved in future regional biosecurity management activities, please contact Josh Dyke, Regional Biosecurity Coordinator - Mob: 0488 953 844

The inaugural Maidenwell Country Muster will be held on Mother's Day weekend 11th & 12th May 2019 and will be held on the same week from there on in!

They are looking for volunteers to help us run the event, requiring 'staff' to work in most aspects of the event including: gate ticket sales, hosting sponsors, logistics, car parking / traffic, waitering, working in the cafe, looking after the performers, basic cafe cookery, kitchen hands, cleaning, etc etc and most other aspects of helping run an event National standards. Volunteers will receive an official 'staff' shirt & hat as well as free entry to the main concert (when they are not working) on Saturday 11th May.

If you feel that you have some students that would love to be part of the team, are reliable, well mannered, trustworthy & a great personality they would love to talk to you &/or them in a group format (if possible) to let everyone know what we are all about!

Also: looking for food & craft Vendors for our "Food Truck Alley".

They really would love to support our local traders and/or class groups 1st.

For further details contact - Nigel & John, Maidenwell Country Muster Management on 07 41646166

Employers who incorrectly classify employees as casual instead of full-time or part-time could be responsible for back paying various entitlements under the National Employment Standards (NES), following a recent Federal Court of Australia decision in Workpac v Skene [2018] FCAFC 131.

However, the Government has varied the Fair Work Regulations 2009 to clarify that employers, in certain circumstances, may claim that an employee's casual loading payments should be offset against certain NES entitlements owing to the employee.

This regulation came into effect on 18 December 2018.

How does the new regulation work?

The new regulation applies where all of the following criteria are met:

• An employee is employed by their employer on a casual basis
• The employee is paid a casual loading that is clearly identifiable as being an amount paid to compensate the person in lieu of entitlements that casual employees are not entitled to under the NES, such as personal or annual leave
• Despite being classified by the employer as a casual, the employee was in fact a full-time or part-time employee for some or all of their employment for the purposes of the NES
• The employee has made a claim to be paid for one or more of the NES entitlements (that casual employees do not have) that they didn't receive for all or some of the time that they were incorrectly classified as a casual.

If all of these points are satisfied, an employer can make a claim to have the casual loading payments made to the employee taken into account when working out the entitlements owing to the employee for the relevant NES entitlements.

The new regulation applies to employment periods that occurred before, or that occurred on or after, 18 December 2018.

Visit the Federal Register of Legislation to read the  Fair Work Amendment (Casual Loading Offset) Regulations 2018.

KCCI AGM & Meet & Greet was hosted be Bill Hull Car Centre on 28th November 2018.

Please click on the link below for SB Online article for more information.

https://southburnett.com.au/news2/2018/11/28/kcci-re-elects-executive-team-2/

From Minister for Housing and Public Works, Minister for Digital Technology and Minister for Sport
The Honourable Mick de Brenni

Whether it’s beef from Rockhampton, olives from Toowoomba, or craft beer from Brisbane there will soon be more on offer at Queensland Government events with the launch of the ‘Buy Queensland First Food and Beverage Directory’ today.

Minister for Housing and Public Works Mick de Brenni said that the Palaszczuk Government was ‘putting its money where is its mouth is’ by setting up a Queensland food, beverage and catering supplier directory for government departments.

“When we’re showcasing Queensland to the rest of the world, we want to make sure Queensland grown and manufactured food and beverage is front and centre,” Mr de Brenni said.

Establishing this directory means that  next time you’re at a Queensland Government function you’ll be eating and drinking more Queensland produce thanks to the Palaszczuk Government’s Buy Queensland First strategy.”

“The Queensland Government unashamedly gives preference to Queensland businesses in its dealings through our Buy Queensland first initiative.

”Our Buy Queensland policy aims to ensure that wherever possible, every dollar that the government spends is backing Queensland jobs.

“More local food and drink on Queensland tables means more jobs for Queenslanders, especially in the regions,” he said.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said registering for the directory was a simple process and would reward businesses which had a firm Queensland focus, boosting employment throughout the state.

“Last year the Palaszczuk Government announced it was flipping procurement on its head to prioritise Queenslanders for jobs in our state, one year on we are extending that to support local food and beverage businesses,” Mr Furner said.

“I’m calling on all Queensland-based producers to sign up today be included in the Buy Queensland First Food and Beverage Directory, whether you’re a grower, manufacturer or brewer.

“Our new Food and Beverage Supplier Directory, which will go live next year, will ensure government agencies and organisations acting on their behalf approach suppliers listed on the directory to seek quotes for individual events and corporate functions.

To be listed in the directory, suppliers must complete an online application process at www.qld.gov.au/buyqueensland showing they usually grow, make or produce the majority of their goods in Queensland.

“Suppliers will also need to demonstrate their workforce is drawn from Queensland.”

Minister de Brenni said the directory had multiple categories and suppliers can nominate which ones apply to their business.

“If approved, they can promote their products as either ‘Grown in Queensland’, ‘Made in Queensland’ or ‘Produced in Queensland’,” he said.

An industry Advisory Group ratifies registrations on the directory, and the Queensland Procurement Policy Compliance Unit will conduct random audits of suppliers, as well as investigate complaints.

The Fair Work Commission has finalised the model term for requests for flexible working arrangements.  The model term will be inserted into all modern awards as part of the 4-yearly review of modern awards, which will take effect on 1 December 2018.

The term will apply when an employee has made a request for a change in working arrangements under the National Employment Standards (NES).

There is no obligation under the NES to deal with the requesting employee about the request.  However, the new model term will require the employer, before responding to the request to:

• discuss the request with the employee; and
• genuinely try to reach agreement on a change in working arrangements that will reasonably accommodate the employee’s circumstances, having regard to:
  • the needs of the employee arising from their circumstances;
  • the consequences for the employee if changes in working arrangements are not made; and
  • any reasonable business grounds for refusing the request.

The NES requires that if the employer refuses the request, the written response must include details of the reasons for the refusal.  The Award model term goes further and requires that the reasons for refusal include:

• the business ground or other grounds relied upon by the employer for the refusal;
• how the ground or grounds apply;
• if the employer and employee could not agree on a change in working arrangements, whether or not there are any changes in working arrangements that the employer can offer the employee so as to better accommodate the employee’s circumstances; and
• if the employer can offer the employee such changes in working arrangements, details of those changes in working arrangements.

Under the Award model term, if the employer and the employee reached an agreement on a change in working arrangements that differs from that initially requested by the employee, the employer must provide the employee with a written response to their request setting out the agreed change(s) in working arrangements.

Given the NES requires the employer to give the requesting employee a written response to the request within 21 days of receiving the request, employers will need to develop procedures to ensure these discussions are convened within the first 10 days of receipt and that compliant notices to employees and documentation of flexible work agreements are developed.

Advice for Employers

Employers affected by the recent decision should make every effort to comply with their obligations to ensure employees are covered by the correct Award and receive the applicable entitlements.
For all questions on any employment matters please contact the Employer Assistance Helpline on 1300 731 988.

Updated - 7/1/2019

Wendy Stark is the senior remote training co-ordinator for NESA, (National Employment Services Association).

Dept of PM&C have now funded NESA to deliver 15 Building Strong Minds (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health First Aid) training workshops across Cherbourg.

This training will be free of charge and open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as well as any non-Indigenous people who work with the Aboriginal community.

You will note the first 3 workshops this side of xmas and the remaining will be scheduled for January/February 2019.

If you would like to discuss this further please contact Wendy Stark on 0402 494 670 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Click here for 2019 training workshop dates

Click here for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Mental Health First Aid Brochure