VENTIA has been notified by the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) that the Australian Government has no objection to Ventia’s proposed acquisition of Broadspectrum.

Under the terms of the agreement with Ferrovial, completion of the acquisition is expected to occur on June 30, 2020.

Ventia chairman David Moffatt, said, “We look forward to an exciting future for our combined organisation. Our two businesses are highly complementary, and together, we will provide a broader, deeper and more compelling infrastructure services offering to our clients across Australia and New Zealand.”

Broadspectrum (formerly Transfield Services) was founded in Australia in 1956, while Ventia combines more than 30 years of industry knowledge and was created by the merger of Leighton Contractors Services, Thiess Services and Visionstream in 2015.

The transaction, financed through existing funding and acquisition debt finance, was announced on December 23, 2019.

The combined group is expected to generate revenue in excess of A$5 billion. 

QUEENDSLAND Resources Council has congratulated ConocoPhillips and its Australia Pacific LNG joint venture on shipping its 500th cargo of liquified natural gas from APLNG’s Curtis Island plant near Gladstone.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the state’s gas industry was continuing to deliver exports and support jobs to help with the post COVID-19 economic recovery.

“The gas industry has had to adapt to COVID-19. We have worked within the restrictions to slow the spread and keep as many of the 37,000 Queenslanders who rely on us for their work and pay on the job,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“This cargo demonstrates the world needs more than ever what we have.

“Our LNG exports pay royalty taxes to the State Government which can be used to build schools, roads and other vital infrastructure.

“In total the gas industry contributes $8 billion to the Queensland economy and invests $2.7 billion with local businesses.

APLNG’s joint partners are ConocoPhillips, Origin and Sinopec.

www.qrc.org.au

TECHNOLOGY and design tertiary institution RMIT University, law firm Dentons and community support agency Advance Diversity Services are among this year’s top employers and service providers for LGBTQ inclusion in Australia.

At a preliminary awards announcement for the 2020 Australian LGBTQ Inclusion Awards held online earlier today, RMIT was named Employer of the Year – for the second year in a row – while Dentons was announced Small Employer of the Year. Advance Diversity Services, which provide support services to culturally and linguistically diverse communities, was named Service Provider of the Year.

Other top honours went to Commonwealth Bank, PwC Australia and University of Western Australia, which all received the highest tiered ranking for LGBTQ inclusion.

Engineering group John Holland was named Most Improved.

The 2020 Australian LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transsexual and queer) Inclusion Awards is Australia’s leading annual celebration of LGBTQ workplace inclusion.

It is hosted by ACON’s Pride Inclusion Programs, the national not-for-profit LGBTQ inclusion support program for employers, sporting organisations and service providers. Usually held in May, this year’s event is being held on October 19, 2020 at the Hyatt Regency in Sydney.

The awards are based on the results of the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) – which is now in its 10th year – and the second Health and Wellbeing Equality Index (HWEI). The AWEI and HWEI are rigorous and evidence-based benchmarking tools that annually assesses workplaces in the progress and impact of LGBTQ inclusion initiatives.

Dawn Hough, director of ACON’s Pride Inclusion Programs, said she was excited to have been able to share the initial results of the indices and the wonderful achievements of various organisations in LGBTQ inclusion.

“This year marks an important milestone for the AWEI, as it celebrates its 10th anniversary," Ms Hough said. "Over the past decade, we have seen incredible advancements in workplace diversity and inclusion.

"As we progress further, it remains critical that not only efforts are acknowledged and congratulated, but pressure continues to be applied to maintain and build upon what has been achieved,” Ms Hough said.

“Once again, we have record numbers of employers across all sectors and states participating in the indices. The employee survey that accompanied the AWEI elicited an incredible response, which underscores the importance of LGBTQ inclusion in the workplace.

“Congratulations to all the recipients of the tiered awards announced today, including those the received bronze, silver, gold and platinum status, as well as those that received organisational awards. I commend all of them on their significant achievements and for showing great leadership in LGBTQ inclusion.”

Ms Hough said she looked forward to unveiling the recipients of the individual awards at the luncheon in October, which will hosted by SBS World News presenter Ricardo Gonçalves, feature The Voice 2016 winner Alfie Arcuri and be attended by business leaders, diversity advocates and HR professionals representing a wide variety of industries, sectors and employer sizes.

“Today’s announcement of the finalists of the individual awards gives us an insight into the amazing breadth of work being done by so many in making organisations across Australia more inclusive of LGBTQ people and communities. I look forward to celebrating their achievements at the 2020 Australian LGBTQ Inclusion Awards,” Ms Hough said.

www.prideinclusionprograms.com.au

PRELIMINARY AWARD RECIPIENTS

Australian Workplace Equality Index

Employer of the year

• RMIT University

Most Improved

• John Holland

Platinum Employers

• Commonwealth Bank
• PwC
• UWA

Gold Employers 

Silver Employers

Bronze Employers 

Small Employer of the Year

• Dentons

Achievement Award for Most Improved Small Employer

• ADSSI Limited

Gold Small Employers

• ADSSI
• Boston Consulting Group
• Clifford Chance
• Dentons
• McCullough Robertson Lawyers
• Oliver Wyman
• PageGroup

Small Silver employers

• Deutsche Bank
• Gilead Sciences

Small Bronze employers

• Allen & Overy
• Pinsent Masons
• Russell Kennedy Lawyers

Health + Wellbeing Index

Service Provider of the Year

• Advance Diversity Services

Most Improved of the Year

• ADSSI Ltd

Gold employers

• Advance Diversity Services
• Medibank
• Uniting NSW/ACT

Silver employers

• Flourish Australia
• NADA: Network of Alcohol and Other Drugs Agencies
• UnitingCare Qld

Bronze employer

• ADSSI Ltd

AWARDS FINALISTS - WINNERS TO BE ANNOUNCED  AT THE 2020 AUSTRALIAN LGBTQ INCLUSION AWARDS

Australian Workplace Equality Index

Sally Webster Ally Award Finalists:

• Belinda Young, AGL Energy
• Hannah Wright, EnergyAustralia
• Genevieve Hawkins, Coles

Network Leader of the Year Award Finalists:

• Nathan Eastwood, Clifford Chance
• Ben Brown, QBE
• Mark Sangiuliano, CBRE

Out Role Model Award Finalists:

• Dwayne Mullins, BHP
• Steph Sands, Capgemini
• Cathy Grassick, Australian Federal Police

Executive Leadership Award Finalists:

• Glenn Morgan, Deutsche Bank
• Alicia Albury, Maddocks
• Gordon Williams, MinterEllison

Inclusion of Trans and Gender Diverse Employees Award Finalists:

• RMIT University
• NAB
• Deakin University

Network of the Year Award Finalists:

• P. Morgan
• CBRE
• PwC
• QBE
• RMIT University

Sapphire Inspire Award Finalists:

• Amelia Kondilios PwC
• Alix Sampson, AGL
• Meri Machin-Roberts, KPMG

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THE House Standing Committee on Agriculture and Water Resources has launched an inquiry into timber supply chain constraints in the Australian plantation sector.

Australia’s forest products manufacturing sector is worth more than $23 billion per year. Currently, Australian plantations are unable to fully meet the sector’s demand for timber, resulting in more than 900 million cubic metres of sawn softwood being imported each year.

Rick Wilson MP, Chair of the Agriculture and Water Resources Committee, said, "More than 50,000 people are directly employed in the forestry sector in Australia, with the bulk of those working in wood product manufacturing.

"It is therefore critical for regional economies across Australia that the timber supply chain is operating effectively. The committee will be examining domestic softwood producers current and future demand for wood, the ability of the plantation sector to meet this demand, and any constraints in the supply chain reducing the plantation sector’s ability to meet demand," Mr Wilson said.

The committee is accepting submissions to the inquiry until Monday, August 17, 2020.

For further information on making a submission visit the inquiry website.

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