NEWS-HR

A major investigation into Victoria’s private drug and alcohol sector has been launched after a banned addiction counsellor was charged for allegedly continuing to practice. Victoria’s Health Complaints Commissioner Karen Cusack is set to probe claims of exploitative billing practices as well as concerns about unsafe or useless treatments in the state’s addiction counselling industry. The HCC has received almost 30 complaints about private drug and alcohol services in the past year, prompting the Andrews Government to commit $550,000 in extra funds to prove the sector.

Blue Cross Community Care Services Group Pty Ltd has a s.739 (Application to deal with a dispute) before Fair Work Commissioner Harper-Greenwell in Court 5 and Conference Room D – Level 6 in Melbourne (Lekay).

The former South Australian minister at the centre of the Oakden mental health facility scandal has announced she will not contest the March state election. In a letter to Premier Jay Weatherill on Thursday, Lisa Vlahos – formerly the state’s mental health minister – said the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption planned to release the findings of an investigation into abuse at the facility in the weeks before the election. “While I expect no adverse finding, I am concerned that the timing of the release of this report could mean that my candidature could become a distraction at this most important time,” she wrote.

MG Medical Group Pty Ltd is set to defend a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) before Fair Work Deputy president Dean in his Sydney chambers (Crowe).

A s.185 (Enterprise agreement) application by Autumn Lodge for its Autumn Lodge, NSWNMA and HSU NSW Enterprise Agreement 2017-2020 has been approved by Fair Work Commissioner Saunders in Newcastle on 14 February 2018.

Police have evacuated an area near Bacchus Marsh, north-west of Melbourne, after two people were injured in explosions believed to be caused by a ruptured gas pipe. A teenage boy has been taken to hospital in a serious condition with burns and a man has minor injuries, after the incident at Maddingley around 1:30pm. Police believe a gas pipe ruptured at a worksite, causing two explosions. The Bacchus Marsh Secondary College and Bacchus Marsh Grammar were evacuated, along with the Providence Catholic nursing home.

A s.185 (Enterprise agreement) application by The Trustee for Delmont Hospital Unit Trust T/A Delmont Private Hospital for the Delmont Private Hospital and Psychologists Enterprise Agreement 2017 has been granted by Fair Work Commissioner Johns in Sydney on 15 February 2018.

Elderly residents of a Kingston nursing home had to be evacuated late last night because of a power point fire, the Tasmania Fire Service says.