MASTER BUILDERS Australia is calling for an extension of the Federal Government’s HomeBuilder grants scheme in its Pre-Budget Submission. 

“We want to see the Federal Government extend what has been the most effective government stimulus measure in a decade for an additional 12 months,” Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Australia said. 

“Despite the undeniable success of HomeBuilder so far, we have downgraded our forecast for the housing sector by 25 percent for 2020/21 so that we are now predicting a 27 percent fall in homebuilding activity compared to 2019/20.

“This will be calamitous for many of the nearly 370,000 home building businesses that are vital to local economies and communities throughout Australia unless the Government steps in with extension of HomeBuilder and other stimulus measures,” Ms Wawn said. 

“Our modelling shows that, based on the Government’s estimate that HomeBuilder Mark I will cost $680 million, that a one year extension, or HomeBuilder Mark II, will require an investment of $1.3 billion, return a boost to GDP of up to $4.5 billion, create more than 4,500 additional new jobs and result in the construction of more than 6,000 new homes in addition to those created in HomeBuilder Mark I.

“The Federal Government showed its commitment to builders and tradies when it announced HomeBuilder Mark I and they must be given credit for that. They should now double down to secure to further jobs by including HomeBuilder Mark II in the October Budget,” Ms Wawn said. 

www.masterbuilders.com.au

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THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has applauded QCoal’s Indigenous participation rates at the company’s Byerwen Coal mine in Central Queensland.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said QCoal’s Indigenous representation at its Bowen Basin mine was 12 percent which was three times the industry average.

“Indigenous people comprise 4 percent of the state’s workforce in resources and Queensland’s Indigenous population is 4 percent. We are one of only two sectors with a true representation of Indigenous people in our workforce," Mr Macfarlane said. 

“Another milestone is Indigenous women in resources who represent 24 percent of the Indigenous workforce, which is close to twice the non-Indigenous rate.

“QCoal has a resolute commitment to playing its part in creating economic opportunities for Indigenous Australians at its Byerwen Coal mine."

In consultation with the Traditional Owners of the area, the Jangga People, two key programs have been developed and implemented. A pre-vocational work readiness program: Thida Bullaroo, or 'step-by-step' in local language, and a trainee operator program, Yila Yina Mundu, or 'Turn Around from Here'.

“QCoal has implemented a comprehensive Indigenous participation strategy across the business and were joint winners in the Best Company Indigenous Employment and Training Initiative category at the 2019 QRC Indigenous Awards,” Mr Macfarlane said. 

“Across all of its operations the QCoal Group’s Indigenous representation is 7 percent which is incredibly high compared to the industry average and other sectors."

www.qrc.org.au

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THE World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Sommet Education are calling on career climbers and switchers, entrepreneurs and innovators to put themselves forward for the joint 'Hospitality Challenge'.

The initiative, which closes at the end of the month, will grant 30 scholarships for world class education programmes that will allow winners to develop themselves and their projects and so help drive tourism's recovery.

Around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought tourism to a standstill. Now, as the sector restarts, UNWTO is welcoming applications from individuals with ideas capable of accelerating recovery while promoting inclusivity and sustainability.

With the competition closing on August 30, the United Nations specialised agency has issued a final call for applications from both established tourism professionals and those new to the sector.  

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said, “The tourism sector is a source of employment for many millions. Jobs in tourism provide opportunity, empowerment, and equality, including for women, youth and people living in rural communities.

"As we restart tourism, the time is right to rethink hospitality, and to identify and implement new ideas to make the sector more inclusive and sustainable. The UNWTO Hospitality Challenge will do just this.”

Sustainability and scalability are key priorities for UNWTO.

"As we restart tourism, the time is right to rethink hospitality, and to identify and implement new ideas to make the sector more inclusive and sustainable," Mr Pololikashvili said.

Selection criteria include the degree of disruptiveness, project maturity and potential for implementation, as well as viability, scalability, digitalization, sustainability, and the potential to attract the interest of investors.

The competition will focus on four different categories:

• Luxury travels, good and service.

• Hotels and hotel related operations: small to medium sized properties, family businesses.

• Food and beverage: restaurants, catering, delivery services and retail.

• Smart real estate: small to medium sized properties and family businesses.

Sommet Education chief executive, Benoit-Etienne Domenget said, “Education is the foundation of a more hospitable world. Offering scholarships is a contribution to the recovery of the hospitality economy, by accelerating the personal development of talented people with creative views and to support their vision to revamp hospitality.”

The competition is open now and will close at the end of August. A Selection Committee made up of an international network of investors, entrepreneurs and experts from UNWTO Member, Affiliate Members and strategic allies, as well as from representatives of Sommet Education, will then choose 30 finalists.

The finalists will be eligible for full scholarships in 15 different programmes in Hospitality, Culinary and Pastry Arts Management, (Bachelors, Masters, MBAs) offered in the world-class academic institutions of Sommet Education: Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland and London, Les Roches Crans-Montana in Switzerland, Les Roches Marbella in Spain and École Ducasse in France.

Among the 30 winners, the top three most innovative entrepreneurial projects will be granted funding to support their initial development from Eurazeo.

www.unwto.org

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THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell said the majority of small business disputes dealt with by her office are resolved at mediation or before.

Releasing a short video today outlining the benefits of mediation and ASBFEO’s free dispute resolution support services, Ms Carnell said small businesses should only consider taking legal action as a last resort.

“We want to keep small businesses out of the courts, where let’s face it, the only winners are lawyers,” Ms Carnell said.

“Since my office opened four years ago, we have provided free assistance to more than 20,000 small businesses nation-wide. Two-out-three of those disputes were successfully resolved at mediation or prior to that through contact with our assistance team.

“Our assistance team can often help the small business resolve their dispute without any need for mediation.

“But when a dispute is referred to mediation, it is faster and far more cost-effective than seeking a resolution through the courts.

“We know small and family businesses that get swept up in legal proceedings can spend thousands of dollars seeking a resolution and are often left feeling the process was a waste of time and money," Ms Carnell said.

“Even if the small business has $100,000 owing – which is a huge amount for them – that can be eaten up quite quickly by legal fees and may take a long time to get a resolution.

"The ASBFEO assistance team can help small businesses with a range of issues including everything from intellectual property, disputes with the ATO and payment disputes.

"We can also provide assistance with disputes that fall under a number of industry Codes including Franchising, Dairy, Horticulture and Oil.

“At the end of the day, we want to help small businesses resolve a dispute as quickly as possible so they can get on with what they do best – running their business,” Ms Carnell said.

Small businesses that need help with resolving a dispute can visit www.asbfeo.gov.au or call the hotline 1300 650 460.

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