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Launch of national campaign to promote social distancing on building sites

A NATIONAL advertising campaign has been launched to promote social distancing and strict hygiene on the nation’s building sites.

Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Australia said the campaign would run for the next four weeks and was targeted to everyone working in the building and construction sector because everyone has a responsibility to ensure that social distancing and good hygiene are being practiced.

“Business owners, employers, construction workers, subcontractors, site managers – everyone must be accountable for social distancing and strict hygiene not only on building sites but also off site when on breaks and before and after shifts,” Ms Wawn said.

“As an essential industry it’s vital to the community and the economy that in this extraordinarily difficult time we can continue building and construction work to provide the livelihoods of 1 in 10 Australians and to support the viability of nearly 400,000 small businesses.

“It’s important that the health and wellbeing of everyone in our industry and community remains our top priority which is why the industry is continuing to embed social distancing and strict hygiene practices on site. It’s also why we have joined forces with the CFMEU and the AWU to promote an even stronger safety culture as our industry and our community faces the Covid-19 crisis,” Ms Wawn said.

“However, we do recognise the substantial cultural change that we are asking everyone in our industry to make. Everyone including workers, subcontractors and management are used to completing building projects as efficiently as possible.

"Social distancing is slowing work down, but slower work is better than no work and that is why we are asking everyone in our industry to step up and be accountable for doing the right thing to keep each other and the community safe,” she said.

“There are 1.2 million people and nearly 400,000 small businesses in communities around Australia that go to work every day in our industry which provides the most full time jobs and is made up of the most SMEs than any other sector in the economy. That is why we have launched this campaign,” Ms Wawn said.

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QRC statement on COVID-19 new border restrictions

THE Queensland Resources Council has been working with the Queensland Government as it seeks to tighten border restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19, which were first introduced from March 26, 2020.

"Our sector is committed to a ‘people first’ response and is strictly following the advice from Queensland Health and has introduced additional measures to protect the communities in which we operate," QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said.

Today the Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young released further directions on border restrictions to apply from 11.59 pm on Saturday, April 4, 2020 until the end of the declared public health emergency.

The requirement is for anyone entering Queensland from anyone State or Territory, who is not an exempt person, to self-quarantine for 14 days. Critical interstate fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) mine workers will be exempt  from the new restrictions.

During these turbulent times the resources sector is considered an essential service by both the federal and state governments to fast-track the economy to recovery.

The direction states that “an employee of a resources sector company or service provider is only an exempt person if they are a critical resources sector employee”.

Critical resources sector employee means a person that:

  • is required to be appointed under the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999; the Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999; or the Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004 and the position is mentioned in the list published on the Queensland Health website; or
  • has been approved by the Chief Health Officer as a critical resources sector employee

"The new measures do not affect drive-in, drive-out (DIDO) and FIFO workers travelling from within Queensland," Mr Macfarlane said.

Directions issued:

https://www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/legislation/cho-public-health-directions-under-expanded-public-health-act-powers/border-restrictions

https://www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/legislation/cho-public-health-directions-under-expanded-public-health-act-powers/border-restrictions/critical-resources-sector-employees

www.qrc.org.au

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Industry welcomes payment to keep tourism jobs

THE Federal Government’s announcement of wage support through the ‘JobKeeper' payment is a lifeline for Australia’s tourism industry.

"The Prime Minister’s program to ‘get us to the other side’ won't protect every tourism job, but it will help support some of the businesses who can get our export industry back on its feet,” Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) managing director Peter Shelley said.

“This is about keeping the knowledge and skills of our industry connected and we welcome the wage subsidy the Federal Government has put forth today. 

“Australia’s $45 billion export tourism industry has already been battered by January's bushfires which were closely followed by the closure of our China inbound market - two setbacks which hit the tourism industry long before the broader economy shutdown of recent weeks.

“Tourism employs one in 13 Australians and export tourism accounted for around 10 percent of our exports last year, so tourism's ability to get back on its feet quickly will help to drive our economic recovery."

Mr Shelley said the next step would be to look at how those tourism employees can be productive and turn their energy toward helping to build their businesses and take full advantage of the downtime.

“This remains a terribly challenging time for tourism businesses across Australia and sadly not all will be able to take advantage of this package, but the support for those businesses who can retain their employees will be welcomed.”

www.tourismdrivesgrowth.com.au

About ATEC

Australian Tourism Export Council is the peak industry body representing Australia's $45 billion tourism export sector.

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Indigenous opportunity inquiry is on hold

BY UNANIMOUS resolution of the Standing Committee on Indigenous Affairs, the current inquiry by into Pathways and participation opportunities for Indigenous Australians in employment and business has been temporarily suspended.

Committee Chair Julian Leeser MP said, "iin light of the continuing and evolving public health and economic challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee has decided to suspend its activities until further notice. The Committee greatly appreciates the contributions made to this inquiry so far."

Written evidence to the inquiry will continue to be accepted and instructions on making a submission can be accessed by visiting the committee’s webpage.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and business owners can also interact with the inquiry without having to prepare a written submission by completing an online survey. This survey can be completed anonymously if desired and can be accessed here.

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JobKeeper scheme a lifesaver say CPAs

THE Australian Government’s third tranche of stimulus and safety net measures will go a very long way to ameliorate the dramatic impact that the COVID-19 crisis is having on businesses, workers and their families, and the economy, according to accounting body CPA Australia.

The new JobKeeper scheme announced today – offering $1,500 per employee per fortnight and backdated to 1 March 2020 will, according to CPA Australia general manager for external affairs, Paul Drum:

  • Be of significant financial benefit to workers and their families;
  • Help businesses to stay open during the crisis where and when permitted;
  • Keep employers and employees engaged during this period of unprecedented uncertainty;
  • Speed up the business and economic recovery as we come out of the crisis period.

"The cost of this measure – an additional $130 billion over and above what has already been committed to by governments at all levels is breathtaking – but indicative of the magnitude of the health and economic challenges Australia is facing now and in the future," Mr Drum said.

“CPA Australia will continue to work with governments and the relevant government agencies to help ensure this package of relief gets to those who qualify as expeditiously as possible.

www.cpaaustralia.com.au

About CPA Australia

CPA Australia is one of the world's largest accounting bodies, with more than 165,000 members working in 100 countries and regions and supported by 19 offices globally. Core services to members include education, training, technical support and advocacy. Employees and members work together with local and international bodies to represent the views and concerns of the profession to governments, regulators, industries, academia and the community.

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