ALL CANDIDATES vying for the marginal Federal electorate of Flynn should make their commitment to the resources sector clear before the May 18 election, Queensland Resources Council chief executive Ian Macfarlane said.
Mr Macfarlane said the resources sector contributed $6.3 billion to the gross regional product in the Flynn electorate, which includes the energy powerhouse of Gladstone.
“The resource sector’s contribution to the economy of Flynn equates to $17.2 million every day,” he said. “In Flynn, the resources sector supports 34,773 full-time equivalent jobs with a wage bill of $3.4 billion. That's an average salary of $100,000."
Mr Macfarlane said it was critical for the people of Flynn that there is support for the resources sector – coal, metals and gas - from all candidates.
He said it was also essential the Palaszczuk Labor Government restated its support for the resources sector.
“There is growing concern among employers and employees of the resources sector that instead of encouraging the resources sector the Palaszczuk Government is starting to target it. Undermining mining is undermining the Queensland economy and local communities like those in the Flynn Federal electorate,” he said.
THE Queensland Resources Council has welcomed the announcement of a May 18 Federal election by releasing the mining and petroleum industries’ $60 billion annual economic contribution across the state’s 30 Federal electorates.
QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the resources sector employed Queenslanders and supported local businesses in every electorate from Leichhardt in the north to McPherson in the south, Maranoa and Kennedy in the west.
Mr Macfarlane said winning Queensland electorates would be critical to who wins the election, and the most marginal seats – Capricornia, Herbert, Flynn and Dawson – were among the biggest beneficiaries of the resources sector.
“Every vote counts in every Federal electorate and resources contribute to each electorate and that contribution can be counted in jobs created, local businesses supported and economic growth for all Queenslanders,” he said.
Mr Macfarlane said the electorate of Brisbane, in the heart of South East Queensland, was the biggest beneficiary with 64,807 full-time equivalent (FTEs) jobs and an economic contribution of $13.8 billion.
“I am one of 316,000 Queenslanders who are employed thanks to the resources industry. We work and we vote,” he said.
“On behalf of those Queenslanders, the QRC urges every candidate to commit to working with resources for the benefit of all Queenslanders and particularly the electorates, communities, businesses and families they aspire to represent.
“By the time polling booths close at 6pm on May 18 in 36 days’ time, the resources sector will have created 934 jobs, exported more than $6 billion in commodities and generated more than $500 million in royalty taxes for the Palaszczuk Government in Queensland.”
A LEADING risk management and auditing organisation says the majority of disability service providers seeking registration with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission have been under-prepared, and lack knowledge of their regulatory obligations.
It is providing guidelines to Victorian, Queensland, NT, Tasmanian and ACT providers to help them expedite their registration before July 1.
SAI Global has audited more than 200 providers looking to meet their NDIS obligations since July 1 last year, with many more conducted to other State and Federal standards over the past 16 years. Since the new audit requirements commenced July 2018 in South Australia and NSW, more than 100 providers have been unaware of their requirements for NDIS compliance.
Nathan Temple, national human services programme manager at SAI Global, said, “Providers looking for registration this July need to prepare now, as many have already had to make improvements to their internal systems and documentation to obtain NDIS approval. Many are also looking to ‘purchase systems’ but don’t realise they need to have suitable implemented systems that suit the scale and size of their organisation.”
Mr Temple said the lack of clarity on what is required for registration has been challenging for many, and that greater transparency around the process is needed.
"Plenty of information is available – but the challenge for providers has been keeping up with the regulatory changes alongside running their operations," he said. "Partnering with a quality audit provider who can work closely with your team is the first step to understanding your obligations.
"Certification and verification has improved processes and procedures for numerous providers, which are improving outcomes for participants. We’re hoping our guidelines may clarify the steps involved for all providers seeking registration before 1 July.”
SAI Global has clarified the 10 steps disability service providers need to take to obtain NDIS registration this July:
Know when you can begin offering your services to NDIS participants. In a soon-to-be competitive market, most disability service providers will seek to offer their services to NDIS participants as soon as they can. Provided they are registered with the NDIS Commission, providers in NSW and South Australia could offer their services from 1 July last year; providers in Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, the ACT and NT can offer their services from 1 July this year; and West Australian providers can service NDIS participants from 1 July 2020.
Important state approval deadline for Queensland providers. Queensland disability service providers seeking to work with NDIS participants under the current Human Services Quality Framework (HSQF) had until 1 April 2019 to register for this process. If their application for HSQF assessment and approval was not submitted by this date, they will need to revisit the process via the NDIS Commission, detailed below.[1]
Important state approval deadline for Victorian providers. Victorian disability service providers seeking to work with NDIS participants under the current Victorian Department of Human Services (DHSS) will not be able to gain State approval, if they didn’t commence the registration process before 1 March. Instead, they will need to begin a new application with the NDIS Commission from 1 July.[2]
Know how to register with the NDIS. Service providers can register with the NDIS Commission by completing and submitting the application form on its website (www.ndiscommission.gov.au/providers/application-form). A provider’s self-assessment forms part of this application process, and will help to advise what kind of audit the provider will need: verification or certification.
Know whether you will need verification only, or certification. All providers seeking registration will need to be audited, to ensure they meet the regulatory obligations set by the NDIS Commission. Sole traders and partnership organisations need a verification audit only, as they provide services that are considered in the lower risk registration groups. A verification audit – required once every three years – is a desktop audit of the provider’s documents and records, including the provider’s police checks, Working With Children checks, processes and procedures. Companies and incorporated associations (and any provider of higher-risk services) will need a certification audit. This includes a Stage 1 audit to ensure systems and processes are in place, a Stage 2 Certification Audit which includes a review of system documentation, a review of records to ensure systems are implemented, site visits (for multi-site organisations), staff records, participant interviews and file reviews. Certified organisations will require annual surveillance audits and a re-certification audit every three years.
Engage an approved quality auditor. The audit will need to be conducted by an NDIS-Approved Quality Auditor. Providers should ensure that the auditing organisation has appropriately qualified auditors in their State to minimise travel expenses and ensure they are confident in their knowledge and audit approach.
Prepare for your audit. The audit will identify any service gaps that might comprise the best interests of NDIS participants, or any lack of understanding of the new regulations. It’s best that providers have conducted a thorough self-assessment of their policies, procedures and processes before their audits, and that they commence their audit at least three months prior to their registration expiry date (if registered). This will give them the time to put the necessary measures in place before going to market. It’s best that Victorian and Queensland providers seeking to offer their services from 1 July organise their audit now.
Allocate resources and time to make improvements after the audits. The majority of audits by SAI Global have required the provider to make improvements to their documents, processes or procedures before they are verified or certified as an NDIS provider. To ensure a smooth process, it is best that the provider allocate the people and the time to make improvements before registration.
Expect 1-2 weeks for the Commission to approve the registration. The auditor will make the certification recommendation to the NDIS Commission, which will then make the decision to approve the provider’s registration. The audit is just one key component of its decision.
Receive your certificate of registration. Providers will receive their certificate of registration from the NDIS Commission, after which they can begin offering their services, provided it is from the deadline set for providers in their State by the Commission. The certificate of registration will include details such as the range of supports and services the provider is registered to provide, and certain conditions to follow.
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER Michael McCormack MP is launching the countdown to the Sustainable Economic Growth for Regional Australia (SEGRA) Conference from 10am at the Barooga Sports Club in Barooga, NSW today.
SEGRA has been speaking out for regional Australia for 23 years. It is a critical forum where regional development practitioners, industry, researchers and government bring together their combined knowledge and ideas on regional futures from across Australia.
“SEGRA is Australia’s most credible independent voice on issues affecting regional Australia," SEGRA conference convenor Kate Charters said.
“It is a wonderful opportunity for Barooga and surrounds to showcase the region's diverse beauty and its business initiatives to a national audience but also for people from the region to access the national and international speakers on regional economic development."
"SEGRA would like to thank the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, Berrigan and Moira Shires, RDAs Murray and Hume, Barooga Sporties, Cobram Barooga Business and Tourism for their support of the conference," Ms Charters said.
SEGRA will be held at Barooga on August 20-22 and its theme this year is Rivers of Opportunity: Activating Your Potential.
AUSTRALIAN residential consumers and small businesses made 60,998 complaints to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman in the last six months of 2018 (July 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018). In this period, complaints about landline, mobile and internet services, decreased by 27.7 percent compared with the same six month period in 2017.
Publishing the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman’s Six Month Update today, Ombudsman Judi Jones said, “While I am pleased complaints decreased in the period, this report is a snapshot in a much more complex story. The final quarter of this reporting period showed a slight increase in complaints about internet services against the general downward trend. \
"This shows the telecommunications sector must continue to focus on meeting the needs of the residential consumers and small businesses that are increasingly reliant on being connected to phone and internet services," Ms Jones said.
“Complaints about services delivered over the National Broadband Network have decreased compared to the same six month period in 2017. While this decrease is encouraging we continue to work with phone and internet service providers, the telco industry, and regulators to address issues as they arise and to improve the customer experience.”
Complaint highlights for the period 1 July 2018 to 31 December 2018 include:
60,998 total complaints received, a decrease of 27.7 percent against the same period in 2017
The October to December quarter showed a slight increase in internet service complaints from 9,002 in July to September to 9,648 in October to December.
The proportion of complaints from small businesses increased from to 11.7 percent during July to December 2017 to 15.2 percent.
Complaints from small businesses decreased 6.4 percent from 9,901 in 2017 to 9,270 in 2018.
Complaints from residential consumers decreased 30.5 percent from 74,238 in 2017 to 51,560 in 2018.
4,217 complaints were recorded about connections or changing providers for a service delivered over the National Broadband Network. Complaints about connections or changing providers per 1,000 premises added to the Network decreased from 9.2 to 6.7 compared to the July to December 2017 period.
9,666 complaints were recorded between July and December 2018 about service quality on the National Broadband Network. Complaints about service quality per 1,000 premises on the Network decreased from 4.1 to 2.1 July to December 2017 period.
Complaints about landline, mobile, internet, multiple services* and property*
Complaints about service types in the six month period fell compared to the high levels of 2017.
However, between October and December 2018 the overall decline slowed and internet service complaints and small business complaints about landline services increased.
7,709 complaints (12.6 percent) were recorded about landline phone services, a decrease of 18 percent.
19,936 complaints (32.7 percent) were recorded about mobile phone services, a decrease of 19 percent.
18,650 complaints (30.6 percent) were recorded about internet services, a decrease of 21 percent.
14,223 complaints (23.3 percent) were recorded about multiple services*, a decrease of 45 percent.
480 complaints (0.8 percent) were recorded about property*, a decrease of 24 percent.
The top five complaint issues for the period were:
18,845 complaints were about no action or delayed action by the service provider.
18,324 complaints were about disputed charges for a service or equipment.
8,025 complaints were about no working phone or internet service.
7,202 complaints were about delays with connections or changing providers.
6,387 complaints were about intermittent service or dropouts.
Complaints from residential consumers
Complaints from residential consumers decreased 30.5 percent to 51,560 compared with the same period in 2017.
The proportion of complaints from residential consumers decreased to 84.5 percent of total complaints, compared to 88 per cent during July to December 2017.
Complaints about landline, mobile, internet, multiple and property decreased.
Residential consumers complained about lack of action by the service provider to resolve their complaint, issues with disputed charges for services or equipment, no service delivery, and delay in establishing a service.
Complaints from small businesses
Overall complaints from small businesses decreased 6.4 percent from 9,901 to 9,270.
The proportion of complaints from small businesses increased from 11.7 percent during July to December 2017 to 15.2 percent.
Complaints about landline phone services increased 18.6 percent to 2,562 compared to the same period in 2017.
Small businesses complained about no action or delayed action by the service provider to resolve their complaint, disputed charges for services or equipment, no service delivery, and delay in establishing a service.
Complaints by State
All states and territories in Australia saw an overall decline in complaints in the last six months of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017.
Complaints by state (in alphabetical order) were:
Australian Capital Territory made 911 complaints, a decrease of 22.8 percent.
New South Wales made 19,321 complaints, a decrease of 27.9 percent.
Northern Territory made 339 complaints, a decrease of 35.9 percent.
Queensland made 11,585 complaints, a decrease of 29.1 percent.
South Australia made 4,615 complaints, a decrease of 29.2 percent.
Tasmania made 994 complaints, a decrease of 38 percent.
Victoria made 17,639 complaints, a decrease of 26.1 percent.
Western Australia made 5,580 complaints, a decrease of 25 percent.
*From 1 July 2017, the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman changed the categorisation of service types and issues about complaints received from residential consumers and small businesses. The new categorisation has improved data collection, provided opportunities for better analysis of complaints, and improved reporting to the telecommunications industry, Government, and residential and small business consumers.
About the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman
The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman provides a free and independent dispute service for small business and residential consumers who have an unresolved complaint about their telephone or internet service in Australia. Residential consumers and small businesses should contact www.tio.com.au or 1800 062 058.
The Telecommunications Industry Sector
The Telecommunications industry regulators are the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) http://www.acma.gov.au Media enquiries to 02 9334 7719, 0434 652 063 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) https://www.accc.gov.au Media enquiries to 1300 138 917, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Government and the regulators set policy and regulations for the telecommunications sector. Communications Alliance is the peak body for Australian communications industry http://www.commsalliance.com.au