In Brief

Metallurgical coal demand drives Qld economy

IT IS A GREAT TIME to be a Queenslander, thanks to the Sunshine State being Australia’s largest producer of metallurgical coal, the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) said today.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the latest Resources and Energy Quarterly report, released by the Federal Government today, showed metallurgical or ‘coking’ coal would continue to deliver record national export earnings and remain Queensland’s most valuable export.

Australia’s resources and energy exports are forecast to earn a record $349 billion for 2021-22, up from $310 billion in 2020-21, largely driven by a strong recovery in metallurgical coal prices. 

Mr Macfarlane said surging demand for Australian coking coal from major steel-producing nations, such as Japan and South Korea, had helped negate the impact from China’s decision last year to ban Australian imports.

“We’re very fortunate that Queensland’s resources sector has been able to keep operating, earning and employing people throughout the pandemic,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“I hate to think what the Queensland economy would look like right now without the strength of the resources sector behind it. In 2019-20,our sector contributed $82.6 billion to the state economy and supported the jobs of more than 420,000 people, which is something every Queenslander can feel good about.

“Our industry has gone from strength to strength because we have the traditional and emerging commodities and raw materials the world needs to transition to a lower emissions economy, as well as the operational expertise to run what is Queensland’s largest export industry.”

Other highlights of the report were:

  • South Korean demand for Australian metallurgical coal rose by 56 percent, and Japan was up by 65 percent, between January and June 2021.
  • Higher demand from India is expected to add further to pressure on Australian coking coal exports, with buyers in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan expressing interest in greater supply in the December quarter;
  • The Chief Economist expects thermal coal imports to South East and South Asia will increase by around 20 million tonnes to 2023, with the region providing the strongest growth in coal-fired power relative to other regions.
  • The Galilee Basin is considered an area for potential growth for thermal coal if mooted projects such as GVK Group/Hancock’s Alpha and Kevin’s Corner projects, Waratah Coal’s Alpha North and Galilee projects, and AMCI’s South Galilee Coal Project proceed;
  • Australia’s LNG exports to China is forecast to increase to 74 million tonnes in 2021, making China the world’s largest LNG importer. Its demand for gas is expected to rise by about 20 percent over the September quarter, driven by the industrial and residential sectors and ongoing gas-to-coal switching. According to Gladstone Ports Corporation, more than two thirds of Queensland’s LNG was exported to China in 2020-21, so Queensland is well positioned to benefit from this uptake in demand.
  • The Asia-Pacific region remains the key driver of import growth for LNG, with a 12 percent year-on-year expansion in the first half of 2021. In this period Pakistan’s LNG imports rose by 7.3 percent year-on-year, and Bangladesh’s by 10 percent. The region, including India, is forecast to import 84 million tonnes of LNG by 2023, which is 44 percent higher than 2020 volumes.
  • There is good news for Queensland’s copper, zinc and aluminium industries, with base metal prices more than recovering from COVID-19 losses thanks to the global economic rebound. Supply concerns have also kept the pressure on some prices, with copper hitting record highs. Base metal demand should continue to rise, as world industrial activity recovers and the global energy transition accelerates.
  • Copper prices in particular have surged in 2021 and are expected to retain most of this gain in the years ahead, thanks to demand supported by economic recovery and the expanding use of copper in low-emissions technology.

The QRC has also welcomed today’s announcement by Federal Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister, Angus Taylor of a $250 million grant program to accelerate the development of carbon capture and storage technology to help reduce industry emissions.

Mr Macfarlane said the resources sector is investing in and embracing low emission technology at an unprecedented rate to meet the challenges of climate change.

“Resources companies are moving as fast as they can to lower emissions, decarbonise their operations and embrace new sources of green energy,” he said.

“Carbon capture and storage technology is an important part of this response and Queensland’s resources sector fully supports government investment in this area.”

www.qrc.org.au

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Just Cuts stylists call on clients to get vaccinated, sort out 'at-home hair'

WITH THE NSW Government roadmap to re-opening including some welcome changes for hairdressers across the state, 85 percent of Just Cuts stylists have had at least one vaccine dose as they prepare to welcome clients back into salons.

There are 756 Just Cuts Stylists across NSW, and 55 percent of Just Cuts stylists surveyed are fully vaccinated and 30 percent have had one dose. 

About 11 percent are still waiting for their first appointment, which includes many stylists from regional NSW. About 4 percent of Stylists are unable to get the vaccine for medical or personal reasons.

Just Cuts CEO Amber Manning said teams across the state continued to do everything in their power to welcome clients back into their salons as soon as possible.

“As a close contact personal service we’ve always understood and appreciated the severity of the pandemic, which is why we’re seeing such high vaccination rates within our network,” Ms Manning said. 

“We know from all the conversations our stylists have with their clients that there is still vaccine hesitancy in the community, when you sit in one of our salons no topic is off-limits.”

“So that’s why Just Cuts Stylists are cutting out the misinformation and getting vaccinated.”

Once NSW reaches the 70 percent double vaccination target, the NSW roadmap to reopening states hairdressing salons can open with one person per 4sqm, capped at five clients per premises.

Unvaccinated people will continue to only be able to access critical retail, and Ms Manning hopes clients understand the extra burden this will place on salons, many of which have been shut since June.

“Our salons are no appointments, just walk in, so the five clients rule means there will be some wait times – I encourage everyone to download the Just Cuts app for contactless check in," she said.

“Some of our stylists are also concerned about how assessing the vaccination status of clients will work, as that remains unclear.

“While these measures represent a first step on our road to reopening, there is still more work to do around securing COVID rent relief from commercial landlords for our small business owners.”

Ms Manning said Just Cuts encourages everyone that is eligible to book their first available vaccine dose.

“At the moment we have so many stylists from regional NSW salons who are in the difficult situation of having to wait until November for their vaccination appointments,” Ms Manning said. “And as our Victorian salons know only too well, at any time hairdressers in particular areas may again be subject to harsher restrictions if COVID case numbers increase.

“So I encourage everyone to take the first available opportunity you have to get vaccinated, so we can see you again as soon as possible in our salons and fix up your at-home hair," she said.

“Vaccination is the best and fastest way to get you looking and feeling your very best again.”

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Ombudsman applauds cancellation and suspension of some Australian credit licences

AUSTRALIAN Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has welcomed ASIC’s announcement that they have cancelled or suspended Australian credit licences for failing to be a member of the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA).

Australian credit licence holders are required by law to join AFCA, which has been set up to sort out complaints between financial firms that are members and their small business and consumer customers that can’t resolve matters themselves.

In the period January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021, 24 licences were cancelled.  

“AFCA provides free, fast and binding dispute resolution to small businesses, saving them time and money by significantly reducing the need for litigation,” Mr Billson said.

“Small businesses do not have the time or the money to hire lawyers and challenge banks and other financial institutions through the court system to get a fair outcome to a financial complaint.

“If a finance provider that is an AFCA member can’t resolve a complaint directly with a customer, including a small business customer, AFCA decides what a fair and appropriate outcome is and the decision is binding on the financial firm.

“This is a really important service as finance is the oxygen of enterprise, yet too often small and family businesses feel powerless in sorting out complaints they may have with finance providers," Mr Billson said.  

“This move by ASIC serves as a timely and critical reminder to small businesses to ensure the lender or financier they are considering dealing with is an AFCA member.

“Small business borrowers can only access AFCA’s free and independent dispute resolution ‘umpire’ process for their financial complaints if their lender is an AFCA member.

“Not all lenders are AFCA members – in fact many are not – and small businesses need to be aware of the risks and inability to reach out to AFCA to decide a matter.

“My office regularly hears from small businesses that have taken out a loan or some kind of financing deal with a non-AFCA member, and end up in a dispute they are not able to resolve," he said.

“My office can and does help with seeking to facilitate a resolution via mediation, but can’t determine and impose a fair outcome like AFCA can when the finance provider is an AFCA member.

“My tip is to always check out your financing options with an AFCA member for your own piece of mind.”

Small businesses engaged in a dispute with a financial institution are encouraged to contact ASBFEO for assistance on 1300 650 460 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For complaints involving an AFCA member, call 1800 931 768 or lodge a complaint online via www.afca.org.au

 

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CPAs call for post-lockdown business support strategy to avoid 'hard landing

THE  Federal Government can avoid a 'hard landing' in the recovery phases from the COVID pandemic by developing a post-lockdown business support strategy, according to professional accounting body, CPA Australia.

“New national arrangements on COVID-19 business supports are a positive development,” CPA Australia CEO Andrew Hunter said.

“The missing piece is what happens once a lockdown ends. The impact on businesses doesn’t stop the moment a government calls time on a lockdown. If support is withdrawn immediately, many businesses may experience a damaging hard landing. 

“By tapering business support for a couple of weeks post-lockdown, the government can soften the negative effects of withdrawing support.”

CPA Australia is calling for a national post-lockdown business support strategy, involving a combination of Commonwealth and state or territory supports for small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs).

“We’ve participated in hundreds of discussions with governments, industry and members since the pandemic began," Mr Hunter said. "We’ve heard countless stories of lockdown hardship from business owners.

“Based on our experience, a coordinated national approach, including direct and indirect supports, makes a big difference to businesses’ success after an extended lockdown.

Our view is that a successful strategy will involve five elements delivered in the period immediately post-lockdown."

Mr Hunter named the five strategies as: Tapered support for SMEs with eligibility based on decline in turnover; Deferral of Commonwealth and state or territory SME revenue collection; A moratorium on Commonwealth and state or territory compliance activity, such as ATO debt collection; Consumer incentives, such as dining, travel and accommodation vouchers; and Financial assistance for businesses to seek professional advice.

"We urge the Federal Government to discuss a post-lockdown business support strategy at the next National Cabinet meeting," Mr Hunter said.

“If the government takes the initiative immediately, we could have a strategy in place for when current lockdowns end, and for any future lockdowns.

“We acknowledge that this will require a high level of coordination between different levels of government, but we don’t think that’s too much for Australians to expect.”

www.cpaaustralia.com.au

 

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Ombudsman praises women as 'key drivers of business growth' on World MSME Day  

THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has recognised the rise of ‘womenpreneurs’ and the key role women will play in driving future business growth on World MSME Day (Sunday June 27).

World MSME Day 2021, declared by the UN, has identified the evolution of womenpreneurs as one of the Top 10 Trends of the year.

Mr Billson said this was also an emerging trend in Australia, with women-owned women-led enterprises increasing at a faster rate than male-owned businesses. 

“On World MSME Day I want to thank all small and family businesses for their vital contribution to Australia’s prosperity, wellbeing and community,” Mr Billson said. 

“Female entrepreneurs have been acknowledged on World MSME Day as being a crucial part of the global SME ecosystem who are looking for new growth opportunities.  

“In Australia, about 38 percent of small businesses are owned by women and we are likely to see that number continue to grow.

“In the decade to 2019, of the 171,000 newly established businesses in Australia, two-thirds were led by women.

“Research has found the economic opportunity for Australia by boosting the number of female entrepreneurs to parity with men would be worth between $71 billion and $135 billion to the nation’s economy.”

Resilience has also been listed as one of the Top 10 Trends of 2021 as part of World MSME Day.

“The past 18 months has been incredibly challenging for small businesses, but I have been inspired by the courage and agility shown by our small business community,” Mr Billson said.

“Our Small Business Counts report noted ABS data revealing 40 percent of small businesses have changed the way they provided products and services as a result of the pandemic.

“More than ever we have seen the deep personal commitment it takes to run a small business and I thank Australian small and family businesses for their fighting spirit, hard work and determination.”

www.asbfeo.gov.au

View ASBFEO’s World MSME Day video here.

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30pc tax offset a game-changer for Australian industry says Ombudsman

THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson has welcomed the Australian Government’s $1.2 billion investment in the nation’s digital future, including the 30percent tax offset for the video game industry.

Mr Billson said the investment would encourage greater digital adoption by small and family businesses, to ensure they are globally competitive.

“This significant investment will support small business growth and go some way to unlocking the commercial gains that can be made through digitisation,” Mr Billson said..

“Many small businesses have adopted better use of mobile and internet technologies as a result of the COVID crisis and these announced support measures will help that trend continue. Being digitally engaged has been very important for businesses, particularly in regional and rural areas, to continue delighting customers at a time of pandemic-related disruptions.

“In reality, digitisation is now vital to being truly competitive. That means everything from having a website, to being e-commerce enabled, using apps to improve business efficiency and targeting customers through social media platforms," he said.

“SMEs with advanced levels of digital engagement are 50 percent more likely to grow revenue and earn 60 percent more revenue per person, according to MYOB research.

“We welcome the Australian Government’s commitment to help SMEs build their digital capacity and drive business up-take of e-invoicing.

“With 1.2 billion invoices exchanged in Australia every year, making the switch to e-invoicing would add an estimated $28 billion to the Australian economy over 10 years. For SMEs, we know e-invoicing streamlines productivity and improves cash flow with reduced admin and faster payments.”

Mr Billson particularly welcomed the support provided to the Australian video game industry, which is comprised of many high growth potential small businesses and start-ups.

“My office has been a vocal supporter of the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) which estimates Australia could create a $1 billion industry in game development, providing export revenue and employing an additional 10,000 full time workers with the right support,” Mr Billson said.

“This 30percent tax offset is an excellent support measure to help Australian video game producers take a greater share of the $250 billion global game development market.

“Ultimately this investment, which forms part of the Australian Government’s Digital Economy Strategy, will help make Australia the best place to start and grow a business.” 

www.asbfeo.gov.au

 

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Resources and agriculture sectors welcome Qld Govt promise to intervene if extended COVID laws ‘unfairly’ lift council rates

THREE peak bodies have joined forces to welcome an assurance by the Queensland Government it can use existing powers under the Local Government Act to defend their industries from ‘unfair and inequitable’ council rate increases.

An increase in rates could potentially be levied under a proposed amendment to new COVID-19 laws introduced last year, which are due to be debated in Parliament this week.

Queensland Resources Council (QRC), Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) and AgForce representatives appeared before the government’s Economics and Governance Committee inquiry into new COVID-19 legislation over the past month, providing a joint submission to speak against a draft provision to extend councils’ ability to increase rates outside the standard, annual budgetary process.  

In its submission, the groups had sought an assurance Local Government Minister Steven Miles would intervene if a ratings decision breached rate setting principles and misaligned with local government’s Guideline on equity and fairness in rating.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said all three bodies fully appreciated the impact COVID had inflicted on regions, but industries like resources and agriculture were facing their own challenges and could not be expected to soak up further unpredictable and unjustified costs. 

“The draft provision in the legislation could make the already unpredictable local government rating system more unstable at a time sectors like resources, which contributed $200 million in local government rates and charges in the past financial year, need to remain competitive to help Queensland recover economically from COVID-19,” Mr Macfarlane said.

QFF chief executive officer Georgina Davis said there was already no statutory constraint on the power of local government to determine rates and the visibility of council budgets was limited.

“The existing framework has created an unsustainable system that lacks transparency and provides local government with unfettered powers and the ability to effectively plug budget gaps by raising rating revenue on selected industries without clear justification,” Dr Davis said.

"The additional powers proposed in this draft provision exacerbate that.”

AgForce chief executive officer Michael Guerin said industry sectors understood regions needed to be financially sustainable, but this could be achieved through a predictable rate system that fostered industry growth.

“Our sectors are jointly advocating for greater transparency and accountability in local government budgets and rate setting, and we are very keen to work with the State and local governments to improve the fairness of the system,” Mr Guerin said.

www.qrc.org.au

www.qff.org.au

www.agforceqld.org.au

 

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