EMS Association Newsletter: January 2012

New EMSA Committee for 2012

We recently held the AGM and have a new team on board for 2012. Click here for details. We had a quiet year in 2011, but plan to revitalise the associaton in 2012. For more details read the 2011 Presidents report.

Change in focus for the Association

It was decided in the last general committee meeting in 2011 to broaden the focus of the Association to include all forms of management systems. This would flow through to all Association events, including the Conference. A name change is proposed to better encompass the many people working with integrated and single systems, not just EMS. The committee has some ideas, but is looking for more. Please email your thoughts and suggestions to president@ems.asn.au by 15 February.

Regulatory and Policy Barriers to Effective Climate Change Adaptation: issues paper

The Productivity Commission is currently developing an Inquiry into Regulatory and Policy Barriers to Effective Climate Change Adaptation.  An issues paper that identifies a range of matters about which information and comment are being sought has been developed to assist those who wish to provide input into the Inquiry. The issues paper is available for download from: http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/climate-change-adaptation.

Interested people and organisations are invited to make a written submission to the inquiry. Information on how to prepare and submit a submission (including a mandatory submission cover sheet) is available from: http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/climate-change-adaptation/make-submission

For further information about this inquiry, the following details are also useful:
Freecall number for regional areas: 1800 020 083 1800 020 083
Email: climate-adaptation@pc.gov.au
Webpage: http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/climate-change-adaptation

It has received 53 submissions to date. If there any EMSA members who wish to develop a submission please contact the President Genevieve Carruthers, at president@ems.asn.au as soon as possible in order to allow a coordinated response from the Association.

Conference Session: Globalisation of trade and production and (ecological) sustainability

Those of you who deal with green procurement, market chains and sustainability issues may be interested in an upcoming conference session to be held at 32nd International Geographical Congress in Cologne (26-30 August 2012; see https://igc2012.org/frontend/index.php). This session aims to discuss the manifold facets of sustainability related to globalised trade and production on regional, national and global levels, while taking into account social, institutional and environmental frameworks within which supply chains are embedded.

Green Universities in Australia

Want to know if your campus or alma mater has made it into the Top 10 for Australia Green Universities? Julie Hare reported in the Australian on December 7th, 2011 on a range of universities undertaking green initiatives.  The universities were judged on a variety of criteria, including the number of ‘green-related’ courses that they offer, and environmentally focused awards they have won. To see if you attended, or are attending a ‘green’ Uni, check out
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/australias-10-greenest-universities/story-e6frgcjx-1226215407489?from=hot-topics-he

Increased reporting of pollution obligations in NSW

NSW members should note that a bill introduced in the legislative assembly in October 2011 places increased obligations for reporting pollution incidents under the Protection of the Environment Legislation Amendment Act 2011 (NSW). Both houses assented to this Amendment in November 2011. The Amendment expands the list of Government authorities that must be reported to in the event of an incident, increases the obligations for the reporting of pollution incidents from "as soon as practicable" to "immediately”, where immediately means "promptly and without delay" and requires all holders of Environment Protection Licences under the POEO Act to prepare, test and implement Pollution Incident Response Management Plans. In addition, maximum penalties for failure to notify are doubled to A$2 million for corporations (in the case of a continuing offence, a further penalty of A$240,000 for each day that the offence continues) and A$500,000 for individuals (in the case of a continuing offence, a further penalty of A$120,000 for each day that the offence continues).  Pollution Incident Response Management Plans must be demonstrably tested and implemented, suggesting that actual ‘practice’ of these plans, associated with comprehensive record keeping will be important in demonstrating that this requirement is adequately met.

Expressions of interest called for a ‘Management Systems Master Class’

The Association is proposing to hold a “Master Class’ for experienced systems coordinators, administrators and developers. Expressions of interest in participating in these small group courses are being called for to assist in planning these events.  If you have at least two years experience with EMS, QA, OH&S, similar systems, or integrated management systems, and wish to learn with others of a similar level of experience, please contact president@ems.asn.au  to register your interest. Courses will be held in areas of most demand, and will require a component of pre-course work. Please remember to include a brief outline of your systems experience.
‘Introduction to Management Systems’ courses are also planned – these will be one-day courses and again, the location of the course will be determined by the areas of demand.  Let us know where and when you would like these courses scheduled.

Please keep us in the loop!

The Association is always interested in hearing from members who wish to promote systems-related events, conferences, courses, and products. If there is an event, course or product you feel would be of interest to members, please let us know (president@ems.asn.au). The Association is also receiving a growing number of job advertisements and notifications regarding funding opportunities. While we can make these available on an ad-hoc basis, we would prefer to give these items as much publicity as possible, so the earlier you let us know about them, the more likely the item is to end up in the newsletters! The next newsletter will be developed at the end of February, so please ensure that any submissions are received at president@ems.asn.au by 15 February.