The effectiveness of the bills of quantities in Australia

The research aimed to explore if the information in the Australian Bill of Quantities (BOQ) was presented in a manner that could be utilized effectively by the end user. Populations surveyed; contractor, subcontractor and quantity surveyor, agree that the BOQ is a document that should be retained and would be used if produced. The adequacy of information was found to be in question by the users of the BOQ. The locational information is not adequate for its purpose. The quantities are neither located in the structure nor broken down into zones so useful for material ordering, daily work production management and cost management tasks. This information provided was requested to be supplemented by the inclusion of drawings, drawing  numbers and the zonal breakdown of quantities in a smaller number of BOQ items. End users concluded that the current information contained within the BOQ is efficient but not effective. Not one participant — quantity surveyors, contractors and subcontractors — believed they were adequately consulted or represented in production of the latest StandardMethod of Measurement (SMM). It is concluded that there is a need for end-users such as contractors and subcontractors to have greater input into the design, development and implementation of the Australian SMM. The resultant “consensus document” could then be an effective communication tool that is used for estimating, planning, purchasing and site management.

Multi-jurisdictional merger review procedures - a better way

Corporate mergers whose effects transcend national borders have faced increasing regulation over the past few decades as more jurisdictions have developed merger laws and imposed pre-merger notification requirements. The level of regulatory response to multi-jurisdictional mergers is likely to continue to increase as even more jurisdictions contemplate the introduction of competition laws. This level of regulation now goes beyond that required to protect national economies from potentially harmful mergers and has seen burgeoning costs to business, regulators and, ultimately, the public. In recognition of this, the relatively newly formed International Competition Network has placed merger regulation at the forefront of its agenda for greater harmonisation and cooperation in competition law. This has seen, over the past three years, the development of a set of guiding principles and recommended practices for merger notification procedures designed to reduce the regulatory burden. This article evaluates these recommendations and discusses areas for further reform.

Solar adsorption refrigeration : an alternative/auxiliary way for thermal storage for air conditioning

This paper presents an idea of using solar powered adsorption ice making system as an alternative or an auxiliary way for the traditional ice storage air conditioning systems. A simple solar adsorption refrigeration system runs in intermittent cycle. It makes cooling effect at night, and the cooling effect can be stored for the day use. It fits in well with the cycle of the existing off-peak ice storage air conditioning system. On the top of green effect of the solar powered ice making system, the idea is specifically beneficial for places where the price of the off-peak electricity is not significantly lower than peak price. Based on our many years experience on the solar ice making systems, the paper discusses the technical feature of the solar ice making technology and the solutions we are working on to attack the problems which may have potential damage to application of the solar ice making system for air conditioning purposes.

From the comforts of print to the possibilities of digital media: leading the way in teaching political leadership in a faculty of arts

Since it inception, Deakin University has been committed to the delivery of innovative, high quality course materials to its off campus students. Until recently these packages were predominantly print based, although augmented with audio-visual materials delivered in cassette format. Ironically, with the advent of information and communications technologies (ICT), and some select computer assisted learning and multimedia packages, there was an overall decline in the use of audio and video as important means of enhancing learning. Like many other universities, Deakin has moved to a strong, centralised approach to the provision of its digital and online corporate technology environment. With investment in these technologies has come a renewed interest in the ways in which text and audio-visual materials in digital form can enhance students' learning experiences. Moreover, the ways in which a variety of digital media supported by online developments can create new models and approaches to teaching/learning has figured prominently. This paper presents a case study of how this challenge has been taken up in a unit, Political Leadership, in the Faculty of Arts. The academic teacher's intentions in moving to a completely digital approach are examined along with students' experiences of learning in the subject. Issues are considered from the experience.

Jogging all the way to choir: changes in Australian leisure and culture

This paper presents definitions of leisure in Australian society, discusses various forms of leisure and its importance to the individual, community and nation. Recent observed changes to the nature of leisure are presented. It appears as though a shift from individual consumption to collective production of leisure is occurring; for example, "jogging all the way to choir".

Charges over book debts in the United Kingdom and Australia : the way forward

Is it possible to create a fixed charge over book debts? This question was recently decided by the House of Lords in National Westminster Bank plc v. Spectrum Plus Limited & Ors [2005] UKHL 41 where the full House was against the idea of a fixed charge on book debts and insisted that only a
floating charge had been created. The law in this area is still vague and uncertain in Australia. This article argues that the financiers and the companies should be given the freedom to decide how they wish to structure their charge documents. The article sets out to argue that it is possible to create a sustained workable fixed charge or even a multiple combination of fixed and floating charge over book debts and argues that this would be the only way for both the financiers and the companies to do business together, in respect to the use of book debts as security for a loan. The author explains how this could be possible and how the proposed model would not deny the statutory priority rights of the preferential creditors.

The structural events approach- A "better" way to understand long-term change in trade union structure: the Australian story (1986-96)

Traditional studies of long-term change in trade union structure have predominantly focused on aggregate trends in union merger activity in constructing explanations of change. Using the Australian trade union movement as an example, this article argues that our understanding of the long-term change in the external structure of trade unions would be better served by a structural events approach (Waddington, 1995) that examines the incidence of union formations, dissolutions, and breakaways, in addition to that of union mergers. In doing so, this article presents new data on structural change in the Australian trade union movement between 1986 and 1996, and explains the additional contribution made by union dissolutions and union formations to the reductionist effects of the merger wave that dominated these years.

Transmitting music through culture: a way forward to harmonise a discordant world

This paper situates itself in an Australian society that has become increasingly globalised and cosmopolitan. It is concerned with the implementation programs and policies that reflect a context of diversity as one that promotes respect for a multicultural society and one that promotes respect for diversity across the community. Considering the contradictory and ambivalent understandings that underpin these discussions and their implications for the conceptual and material conditions that structure the debate, the authors explore the use of teaching African music at tertiary level as a pathway for change. The authors further reflect whether such a diffusion of intercultural dialogue through music can promote cultural tolerance and diversity in our changing world.

Being normal is the only way to be : adolescent perspectives on gender and school

A book for teachers and parents of adolescents. Draws on the writings of teenage boys and girls and uses these to build specific knowledge about what it means to be an adolescent at school, what it means to be Cool and Normal, and the effects of these social constructions on learning and relationships.

Extending studies of collaborative cognition by way of care giving situations

Care giving situations contain several features that offer opportunities for expanding the way that collaborative cognition is conceptualised and explored. These features are the presence of several possible contributors, more than one kind of change in participation, distinctions drawn among parts of a task, and differences in understanding based on interests. All represent departures from the traditional focus on dyads, tasks that emphasise one kind of change only, single problems, and differences in competence or expertise. All are also features likely to be found in everyday problem solving. Study 1 focuses on family contributions, based on reports by care givers about their current situation and their preferences for the involvement of other family members. Study 2 presents a standard family scenario and focuses on the views held by care givers, older adults, and community nurses about the reasonableness of various changes in participation. Results are discussed in terms of the ways situations such as care giving can help build a richer picture of collaborative cognition, one that is applicable to a variety of tasks and to all parts of the life span.