Jul172017

Partnership working’ key to business and careers support says Cabinet Secretary

Welsh Government

In a speech in Wrexham on Friday the Economy Secretary said partnership working between the two organisations could improve the advice and support given to both businesses and individuals seeking careers and training advice. 

At present the Welsh Government provides support and guidance for businesses and entrepreneurs through business Wales and funds the provision of independent careers advice and guidance for people of all ages through Careers Wales. The Economy Secretary said there is growing recognition that the challenges that businesses and individuals face are interlinked. 

Speaking following a business breakfast event in Wrexham, Ken Skates said: 

“Talking to businesses and individuals over the last few months it is clear that Business Wales and Careers Wales do an important job in supporting Welsh firms and those looking for training.

“I’m keen that we look to build on that work and explore where stronger collaboration between the two organisations could strengthen services delivered by Business Wales and Careers Wales. 

“We know that businesses need the right staff and the right skills to maintain and grow their operations. We also know that individuals need up to date information on what future skills are needed in their local economy or advice to help them set up their own business. These issues are very closely linked and very often overlap. 

“With the business and career support both funded by Welsh Government, it is important we explore the potential for closer alignment  between those bodies with a view to better connecting the delivery of business support and employer-engagement with the economy and skills systems. 

“I believe closer alignment  and integration could deliver a more streamlined and effective approach for businesses and individuals and ultimately improve the level of service we provide. This would also have a tangible and positive impact on our economy and our communities too.”

Minister for Skills and Science Julie James said:

“The Welsh Government will now look at options for greater alignment between Business Wales and Careers Wales and consider what benefits could be gained out of greater collaboration.

“I want this to be very much an open process and in doing so meaningfully engage with both organisations, their staff and all the key stakeholders that work with them. We want to encourage every good idea to come forward and be heard.”

An initial review of the options for taking this initiative forward is expected to be completed by the Autumn.

Jul172017

Health Secretary kicks off construction of Gwent’s new £350m critical care hospital

Welsh Government

The Health Secretary announced that the new hospital, which has been known as the Specialist and Critical Care Centre, would be known as The Grange University Hospital.

Welsh Government funding for the new 470 bed hospital was confirmed in October 2016. Aneurin Bevan University Health Board expect the hospital will open to patients in the Spring of 2021.

The Grange University Hospital forms a key part of the ambitious Clinical Futures strategy, launched in 2004, to modernise health services in Gwent. When built, the facility will treat patients who need complex and acute emergency care in the Gwent region and will include a 24 hour specialist assessment facility, intensive care, comprehensive diagnostics, inpatient beds for major emergencies and complex surgery, and theatres.

While the hospital will play an integral part of the delivery of services in Gwent, the Welsh Government expects it to have a strong regional role in south Wales, becoming part of the major acute hospitals network providing safe and sustainable specialised services which deliver the best possible outcomes for patients.

Vaughan Gething said: 

“I’m really pleased to be here today to mark the construction process of what will become a state-of-the-art hospital in Gwent. I am pleased to announce that the hospital will be known as The Grange University Hospital. It will bring together complex and more acute services onto one site and improve the quality of care for the very sickest patients.”

Judith Paget, Chief Executive of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, said: 

“The Grange University Hospital is a major part of our Clinical Futures Strategy and everybody associated with the Health Board is extremely excited that work has now started on this state-of-the-art facility. It will help us to create a much improved care environment, timely access to emergency care, and ensure patients get the best outcomes from their care.

“We have received fantastic support from local people living in the Health Board area as they understand the benefits this hospital and a new 21st Century model of healthcare will bring.

“I would like to thank our staff for their hard work in getting us to this point and we will continue to work closely with our staff, our local communities, and with Gleeds and Laing O’Rourke to ensure this new hospital is one we can all be proud of.”

Jul172017

Remarks to the Indigenous Referendum Council

Australia

PRIME MINISTER:

Thank you very much.

Can I just add to Linda’s remarks before we get on to the business of the meeting, that we are here on Gadigal country as Linda said – and we thank you for that beautiful Acknowledgement of Country.

And of course we have just a few kilometres from us what is now called La Perouse. Continuous Aboriginal settlement. Extraordinary. The Aboriginal community of La Perouse, resilient in the middle of the biggest city in Australia. Their ancestors saw the ships come, saw Captain Cook, Captain Phillip, and through all of those, the oppression and the injustice, have maintained that extraordinary spirit.

It is I think emblematic of the extraordinary resilience of the First Australians so that is I think a positive note of resilience and optimism that we should bear in mind here, as you acknowledged Linda, on Gadigal country.

Thank you Pat and Mark and all of the Council for the report. We are very pleased to receive it after 18 months of your work.

We’re not here of course to make a decision. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss with you the recommendation that you’ve made.

As you know, it follows a proposal, many proposals – but in particular the most recent lineage, it follows a proposal of Prime Minister Howard in 2007 that we should recognise our first Australians in the Constitution.

This report that you’ve presented us with is the fourth major report on the issue.

There was the 2012 expert panel report that was commissioned by Prime Minister Gillard, the 2014 Act of Recognition Review Panel and of course the 2015 Joint Select Committee Report provided to Prime Minister Abbott.

Of course many of you were on one or more of those panels.

The fact that Bill and I are here today demonstrates the bipartisan spirit with which the Parliament, each Parliament has approached this issue and which I hope will continue as we examine the recommendations.

It is wonderful that we are here together with First Australians who are Members of the Parliament, Malarndirri and Pat and Ken and Linda of course, who gave the acknowledgement right at the beginning.

You four are of course are indeed powerful voices in the Parliament of Australia and I thank you for the guidance you’ve offered us.

This also shows that the discussion about recognition has been going on for some time and that’s not just because we like talking about these big issues, but because it’s very complex.

We started the process with five options and we note that your advice has not provided a shortlist and it has, in fact, while it has considered the work of the Expert Panel and the Select Committee, very thorough work, it has essentially rejected the recommendations that those two groups and other groups has made.

Its simply recommended one constitutional change which on any view is a relatively new concept in the Australian debate about recognition. It is a latecomer in that respect.

So what we’re being presented with in your report, and indeed all Australians will be presented with, if this was to go to a referendum, would be one option which is a constitutionally entrenched advisory body – a Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice to the Australian Parliament.

It is clearly, as we know, its Parliament’s duty and Parliament’s duty alone to propose changes to the Constitution but the Constitution cannot be changed by Parliament. Only the Australian people can do that.

There’s no political deal, no cross-party compromise, no leader’s handshake, even between leaders as amicable as Bill and myself, can deliver constitutional change. To do that a constitutionally conservative nation has to be persuaded that the amendments respect the fundamental values of the Constitution and will deliver precise changes clearly understood that would benefit all Australians.

And we do not want to embark – I’m sure none of us do – in some sort of exercise in heroic failure. I have some considerable experience in trying to change the Constitution and know better than most how hard it is.

We need to ensure that any changes that are proposed are ones that meet both the expectations of First Australians but also will bring together all Australians because this is a vote of all Australians.

We are looking forward to having a frank discussion about that now, and to understand how you’ve reached your conclusions. In particular, to understand why the recommendations of the previous panels and committees that you were asked to consider where set to one side in favour of the new proposal. And also I’ll just add finally that we acknowledge the recommendation related to a Declaration of Recognition, which would be enacted by legislation as a symbolic statement bringing together historic recognition of our First Australians, our British institutions on which modem Australia was founded and of course our, today, 21st century multicultural nation.

We look forward to discussing all of that as well.

Thank you very much for your work.

It is very short on detail, couldn’t be shorter on detail in fact, but it is a very big idea. It is a very big new idea, so it’s worthy of considerable discussion here today.

[ENDS]