A CHARLES Darwin University (CDU) researcher in Alice Springs has warned that urgent action needs to be taken to minimise the environmental threat posed by thousands of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels that will be decommissioned in the next few years.

CDU’s Northern Institute Research Fellow Dr Deepika Mathur said, "The End-of-Life Management of Solar PV Panels project was the first attempt to address the waste management issue in remote Australia, where vast distances and the absence of economies of scale added complexity to finding solutions.

“There’s a perception that everything made can be recycled, but it’s just not that easy. Solar panels were not made to be unmade,” Dr Mathur said.

“As the oldest panels are already reaching their end-of-life, there is a critical need to start planning for the dismantling, removal, collection and recycling phases of management.”

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THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell has welcomed changes to the JobKeeper eligibility criteria that will support more Victorian small businesses impacted by tighter restrictions.

Under the new eligibility test, small businesses are only required to demonstrate a significant reduction in turnover in the September quarter, compared to the same quarter last year.

“The adjustments to the eligibility criteria will be a necessary lifeline, particularly to those small businesses in Victoria that were able to re-open when restrictions eased after the first wave, but are now impacted by tighter restrictions in response to the second wave,” Ms Carnell said.

“The changes also allow struggling small businesses to get JobKeeper payments for new staff who have been employed since 1 July.”

While the changes to JobKeeper apply nation-wide, Victorian small businesses are expected to take up 80% of the additional $15 billion allocated to the program.

“There’s no doubt the latest round of restrictions has been devastating for Victorian small businesses and the broader economy,” Ms Carnell said.

“The Federal Government’s commitment ‘to keep Australians in jobs and businesses in business’ will give small businesses a much-needed confidence boost at this very difficult time.

“Small businesses will be reassured by the government’s pledge to continue to back them so they can get to the other side of this crisis.

“In light of the restrictions imposed on small businesses in Melbourne and surrounds, the government should delay its plans to taper JobKeeper payments from the end of next month," she said.

“The reality is that these small businesses won’t be back on their feet by 28 September, when payments will be reduced and commercial rent deferrals are scheduled to expire.”

www.asbfeo.gov.au

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VICTORIA’s sole traders face dire circumstances due to current Stage 4 Lockdowns according to Fitness Australia CEO, Barrie Elvish, whose organiSation represents approximately 3,500 fitness industry sole traders across the state.

He is calling on the Victorian Government to provide more financial support and assistance to this business sector, saying not enough is being done with the current $534 million Business Support Package to ensure they can survive the current shutdowns.

“In Victoria, there are more than 604,000 small businesses, many of whom are sole traders and it appears to date the Government has provided no means of financial support to these hard-working Australians,” Mr Elvish said.

“The current $534 million Business Support Package extended by the Andrews Government earlier this month fails to recognise or support sole traders that have no employees; they have essentially been forgotten in the grant program. Those employed in the fitness sector have effectively been in some form of shut down since March.”

A recent survey conducted by Fitness Australia on the impact of COVID-19 closures on fitness businesses, sole traders and exercise professionals found:

In addition to advocating for more financial support for sole traders, Fitness Australia is also urging the Government to consider fitness and exercise programs conducted by qualified professionals an essential service.

“Exercise is imperative to our mental health and wellbeing – fitness and exercise needs to be considered an essential service to allow people to continue their regular physical activity; particularly when community anxiety is significantly heightened,” Mr Elvish said.

“This especially applies to Personal Trainers who often work with clients presenting with special needs and/or mental health issues. Protecting and managing mental health during this uncertain and concerning time is essential.

“With the strict hygiene, health and safety measures in place, exercise can be enjoyed in a COVID-safe environment. We have an industry willing to do whatever is required to reopen safety for the benefit of the whole community.”

Fitness Industry Impacts of COVID-19  and JobKeeper Report - Victorian Sole Trader Statistics

• 42.5% have lost more than 80% of clients
• A further 47.5% have lost between 40% - 80% of clients
• 18% state their revenue is down 100%
• A further 76% stated it is down between 40% - 99%
• 40% would last less than 4 weeks without government financial support.

www.fitness.org.au

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ENDS

AS PART of a Federal Parliament inquiry into the destruction of the Indigenous heritage sites at Juukan Gorge, the Northern Australia Committee is tomorrow holding a public hearing by teleconference with key stakeholders including Rio Tinto, the Australian Government and the Government of Western Australia.

Committee Chair, Warren Entsch, said it was important to find out what happened at Juukan Gorge and find ways to prevent such incidents occurring again.

"We will be holding extensive consultations with Indigenous stakeholders during the course of the inquiry, and expect to visit the affected sites. To open the inquiry, however, we will be talking to the government and industry stakeholders most concerned with what happened at Juukan Gorge," Mr Entsch said.

In its submission, Rio Tinto acknowledged that "the destruction of the Juukan rockshelters should not have occurred". Looking at the need for legislative change, the company observed:

"In considering possible changes that should be made to legislative frameworks, contractual agreements and new standards and ways of working, there is a critical and ongoing balance to be struck. On the one hand, it is essential to find more effective and flexible means to escalate and manage concerns regarding the preservation of the unique cultural heritage of Indigenous Australians. On the other, there needs to be a clear and predictable framework to enable long-term investment in, and the efficient operation of, mining projects that contribute so significantly to Australia. In meeting that challenge, governments, as well as the mining industry, Traditional Owners and the wider community all have a vital contribution to make."

The Government of Western Australia said, "The recent destruction of the rock shelters in the Juukan Gorge of the Pilbara region is devastating for all parties involved and was clearly avoidable."

Its submission focussed on the shortcomings of the current Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (WA) and the proposed reforms to that Act currently being developed.

"In order to achieve protection, conservation and management of Aboriginal cultural heritage in Western Australia, and to provide a clear framework that enables land users to manage Aboriginal heritage, a fundamental shift away from the current Act is required," The WA Government said.

Programs are available on the Committee’s website.

Public hearing details

Date: Friday, 7 August 2020
Time: 9am to 2pm AEDT
Location: By teleconference 

The hearings will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

Further details of the inquiry, including terms of reference, can be found on the Committee’s website.

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