Tennessee launches on-line pest service: The Department of Agriculture in the US state of Tennessee has launched an on-line service for people involved in the pesticide industry. Pesticide dealers and manufacturers who visit the state's Web site, Tennessee.gov, can renew licences, register pesticide products, upload sales records and pay fees on-line. The service is available to Tennessee's more than 1,300 pesticide dealers and manufacturers. Fees can be paid at the site using a credit card, or users can opt for a regular billing service. Dealers who sell "restricted-use" pesticides, which require special certification, can renew or obtain restricted-use licences via the Web site, pay registration fees or change their product listings, among other services. In addition, consumers can verify that a pest control company has a valid charter and licence via a special section on the Web site. "The on-line service for the pesticide industry is the first step toward better serving these regulated industries while increasing efficiencies and cost effectiveness of our programs," said State Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens.
US e-filing service increasingly popular: The US government is enjoying continued success with its electronic tax filing system. The Internal Revenue Service has announced that, as at 27 February, the number of returns filed electronically was 9 percent ahead of last year, with a number of weeks to go until the 15 April filing deadline. So far this tax year, over 33.5 million returns have been e-filed by phone, computer or through tax professionals. Almost 7.7 million taxpayers have filed returns via PC, up 23 percent from last year, while tax professionals have submitted more than 23 million returns electronically, a 7.2 percent rise from the previous year. The IRS has also received more than 1.9 million returns through its Free File program, a service introduced last year whereby certain tax software companies offer free e-filing services to eligible taxpayers.
W. Australia creates recruitment Web site: The government of Western Australia has set up a Web site to advertise state job vacancies. The recruitment Web site, www.jobs.wa.gov.au, will "provide a central location for all agencies and departments to advertise their vacancies," said the Minister Assisting the Minister for Public Sector Management, John Kobelke. The minister also noted that the state government is Western Australia's largest single employer, with nearly 100,000 staff. The site is expected to generate savings for the taxpayer through reduced advertising costs. Transparency in the job application procedure will also be improved, as vacancies will no longer be advertised in the public sector magazine, Intersector. "By advertising jobs at a central location accessible to both the general public and existing employees, we are breaking down the perception that government is a closed shop where only public servants are considered for new jobs," said Kobelke.
NZ's Mapp authenticates disabled parking users: Local authorities in Auckland, New Zealand, are using a new system to validate disabled parking space users in real time, reports ComputerWorld. The Mapp (mobility accessible parking portal) system was devised by Auckland-based software developer Augen for CCS, an association that helps people with disabilities. In order to qualify for a disabled parking disc, users must have a doctor's certificate and must register with CCS. Replacing the older system, which required many phone calls, Mapp enables parking wardens to radio back to council offices to check on the legitimacy of a car parked in a disabled space, which can then be checked against a continually updated on-line database. Augen director Mitchell Pham said the company is also examining the possibility of introducing wireless capabilities to the system, so that parking wardens could check up on cars using wireless devices.
Belgium deploys ID management system: The Belgian government has announced that it is deploying an identity management system from Oblix, as part of its e-government rollout. The US-based company, which develops identity-based security solutions, will supply the government with its COREid solution for the administration's e-government portal. Government staff across more than 30 agencies will be able to securely access key applications via the portal, simplifying cross-agency collaboration. Once the solution is deployed, more than 5,000 civil servants will have password-protected access to certain government services. "Government organisations in both Europe and North America are realising that a solid identity management strategy must be at the heart of their initiatives to unify disparate audiences and resources via the Web," said Ken Sims, vice president of marketing and business development, Oblix.
Quelle: Electric News Net, 10.03.2004
