GWA Group, the leading supplier of bathroom and kitchen products in Australia to the commercial construction and home building/renovation sectors, has strongly endorsed Federal Government initiatives to boost new home and renovation construction as part of the coronavirus recovery plan.

With the two main household priority areas for renovation being kitchens and bathrooms, where multiple trades are employed, government stimulus will be particularly effective in boosting employment in key construction trades.

According to GWA estimates, each 10 percent increase in residential renovation activity alone will, in an average month, create an incremental 140,000 to 150,000 direct on-site trade jobs plus significant further upstream local jobs in trades such as brickmaking, window construction, concreting and more.

GWA also recommended  the Federal Government should link any incentives for new home and renovation projects where householders receive cash grants from the Federal Government to the mandatory installation of water efficient, highest rated WELS toilets, taps and showers.

“Australia is the driest continent on earth and with water scarcity continuing to be a major issue, we urge the Government to mandate water efficient sustainable solutions to preserve precious water resources for future generations of Australians,” GWA managing director, Tim Salt said.

GWA has a proven commitment to develop sustainable products which are highly water efficient. These technologies have been supported by government initiatives to conserve Australia’s water resources and energy. GWA was the first company to develop the two-button dual flush toilet system in 1982, which now saves the equivalent of a Sydney Harbour of water (c 500GL) every year in Australia.

GWA’s latest innovation, Caroma Smart Command, offers a hygienic touchless bathroom solution for commercial buildings that can reduce a building’s water consumption by 25 percent.

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BUDDING entrepreneurs at Queensland high schools have an opportunity to turn their enterprising ideas into a bonafide business with a new competition being launched by Brisbane-based RTO, Binnacle Training (RTO Code 31319).

Binnacle wants to empower students with a knack for business with their new Binnacle Boss initiative which requires students to present a 2-3 minute video pitch of their start-up business idea.

Binnacle is tipping that isolation may have inspired some original business ideas and even new video skills courtesy of TikTok which was a surprise lockdown hit for bored teenagers.

The young entrepreneur competition is open to all Queensland secondary school students from Grade 7-12. Students can enter individually or in teams of up to four and have multiple submissions over the course of the competition.

Video pitches will be judged on their creativity, impact, and innovation by an expert panel of successful business owners. These include Leanne Kemp, Queensland’s Chief Entrepreneur, and Taj Pabari who’s renowned for his transition from suspended schoolboy to teenage entrepreneur and was awarded Queensland’s Young Australian of the Year in 2017.

Boss prizes are up for grabs for the top three videos, as well as an Audience Prize winner. The haul includes Business Start-up Packages worth over $5,000, with mentoring and financing sessions, marketing collateral, podcast exposure, work experience, and access to potential investors to get businesses off the ground.

“One common theme we know from working with teachers is that students have incredible ideas but lack the resources and confidence to turn their vision into a reality,” Binnacle Training CEO Aaron Bulow said.

“Our goal is to provide a springboard for students who have ideas but don’t know how to action them,” he said.

Students, start brainstorming now to become the inaugural Binnacle Boss! The competition is open from now until August 31, with winners to be announced on September 18.

To view the entire list of judges click here.

Click here for the Binnacle Boss Resource Hub 
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/binnacleboss/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/binnacleboss/

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THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Procedure is holding a public hearing as part of its inquiry examining the practices and procedures relating to question time in the House.

Chair of the committee, Ross Vasta said the committee would hold a public hearing by teleconference tomorrow, June 4.

“This is the first of the committee’s public hearings into this inquiry,” Mr Vasta said.

“I’m really looking forward to the feedback and looking into ways we can make it easier for people to engage with question time and be part of the process.”

Deputy chair of the committee Milton Dick said the committee would hear from a range of witnesses about how question time could be improved.

The committee has received more than 40 submissions and has conducted surveys to seek suggestions from the public and from Members on the rules and conventions around question time and opportunities for change.

At the conclusion of its inquiry, the committee will make recommendations to the House for its consideration. Further information about the inquiry is available on the committee’s website.

Public hearing details

Date: Thursday, June 4, 2020
Time: 11am to 3.45pm
Location: Teleconference

Indicative times:
11am – 12 noon: Mr Harry Jenkins
1pm – 2pm: Ms Anna Burke
2pm –2.45pm: Professor Colleen Lewis
3pm–3.45pm: Accountability Roundtable
3.45pm: Close

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

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THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics will hear from ME Bank, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) at an urgent public hearing by videoconference on June 3, 2020.

This hearing is part of the committee’s ongoing review of the four major banks and other financial institutions.

The Chair of the committee, Tim Wilson MP, said, "Australians who take out a banking product expect it to be available when they need it, not nabbed in the middle of the night without notification."

On May 14, 2020 the committee scrutinised ME Bank on its actions earlier this year in restricting customers’ access to redraw facilities. Since ME Bank’s appearance, the committee has sought information from APRA and ASIC on ME Bank’s conduct and engagement with the regulators on this issue.

"The discrepancy between ME Bank’s evidence to the committee and advice from ASIC is deeply concerning and requires further scrutiny," Mr Wilson said.

Public hearing details

Date: Wednesday, 3 June 2020
Time: 12pm to 1pm
Location: Videoconference

12pm – ME Bank
     ASIC
     APRA
 1pm – Finish

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

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