THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics will hold public hearings in Sydney on Tuesday, 31 July 2018 and Melbourne on Wednesday, 1 August 2018 for its inquiry into impediments to business investment.

The chair of the committee, Sarah Henderson MP, said the committee will examine how government at all levels can better support business investment in Australia.

Ms Henderson said,"The committee will hear from a range of stakeholders and industry sectors about how the Government can remove impediments to business investment, foster innovation and create jobs."

Public hearing details

Sydney: Tuesday, 31 July 2018, Macquarie Room, NSW Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney

9.15am: KPMG

10am: Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

10.45am: Australian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association Limited

11.30am: Break

11:40am: Consult Australia

12.10pm: Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals

12.40pm: NSW Business Chamber

1.10pm: Lunch break

1.30pm: Australian Dental Industry Association

2pm: The Tax Institute

2.30pm: Public Interest Advocacy Centre

3pm: Insurance Council of Australia

3.30pm: Finish

Melbourne: Wednesday, 1 August 2018, Room G3, Parliament of Victoria Committee Rooms, 55 St Andrews Place, East Melbourne

9.30am: Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association

10.15am: National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority

11am: Australian Retailers Association

11.45am: Break

12pm: CSL and Cochlear

12.45pm: Minerals Council of Australia

1.30pm: Institute of Public Affairs

2pm: Finish

The hearings will be streamed live in audio format at aph.gov.au/live

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QUEENSLAND Resources Council chief executive Ian Macfarlane has welcomed action from the Federal Government to encourage new investment from Japan in advanced coal-fired power stations in Australia.

“It’s common sense to make full use of our vast energy resources, including high-quality coal to run high-efficiency low-emissions (HELE) power stations,” Mr Macfarlane said. “And Queensland is the ideal place to build one.

“We have access to the best energy resources for a diverse energy mix that is affordable and reliable.

“Queensland’s high-quality coal is already being exported to other countries in our region for use in advanced coal-fired power stations including Japan, China and Korea.

“It makes economic sense to use those resources here in Australia too.”

Thousands of HELE units are already in use or under construction around the world, he said.

“Queensland is Australia’s energy super power, with our extensive reserves of high quality coal, gas and renewable resources,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“Our gas resources are already keeping the lights on in the southern states, including in Victoria where gas development is banned. And we export electricity from our fleet of coal-fired power stations to NSW and Victoria to help power the national grid.

“Building a new HELE coal-fired power station in Queensland makes sense to further strengthen energy security for all Australians.

“We encourage the Commonwealth and all states and territories to finalise the National Energy Guarantee, which is technology neutral and will provide investment certainty for all types of power generation.”

www.qrc.org.au

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WITH THE AUSTRALIAN retail industry having experienced a complete shake up over the past 12 months, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) will be seeking to crown the 2018 National Retailer of the Year at the 2018 ARA Retail Awards this October.

The 2018 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards are the nation’s longest running and most prestigious retail event, showcasing the most influential retail leaders and employees within the Australian retail industry.

This year’s awards,  themed The Retail Realm: thinking outside the shop, will touch on every element in the retail sphere including customer experience, technology, payments, sustainability, supply chain, growth, employee development and corporate social responsibility.

With Naomi Simson, founding director of online experience retailer RedBalloon, addressing this year’s Awards, retailers across the country have been submitting their entries to demonstrate how their small, medium, large or franchise business thinks ‘outside the shop’.

Russell Zimmerman, executive director of the ARA, said thinking beyond the shopfront is a crucial element in today’s retail marketplace with various external factors transforming the traditional course of retail.

“The Australian retail industry has undergone some serious changes over the last 12 months, and as a result, retailers have had to change their thinking to adapt to the new retail realm,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“This year’s Awards will highlight and identify those progressive retailers who have revolutionised their business model and transformed to accommodate the new 24/7 retail landscape."

With 13 awards up for grabs across three retail categories, the Retailer of the Year category will surely be one of hardest to critique, and an impressive amount of extraordinary retailers have already submitted their entries on the ARA’s Awards platform.

“This Award category is huge, containing awards for independent, small, medium, large, online and retail franchisees,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“I’m certainly glad I’m not judging this year’s Awards as the sheer amount of entries we’ve received over the past few weeks will be no mean feat for our exceptional panel of judges."

The 2018 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards judging panel includes Warwick Ponder, head of Corporate Affairs and Communications at eftpos Australia, Bernie Brookes AM, adjunct industry fellow at Swinburne University of Technology, Camille Reed, founder of Australian Circular Fashion (ACF), Rupert Deans, founder of augmented reality platform Plattar, and Radinck van Vollenhoen, country manager of Stocard, Australia’s leading mobile wallet app.

With only two weeks left to enter, the ARA recommend retailers get their submissions in quickly as entries close Friday, August 10.

“After submissions close, the judges will have two weeks to review each submission before finalists are announced on the 20th of September,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“So, if you want to be recognised in the Retail Realm, and acknowledged as a leading retailer in your field, you have to act fast – because just like the retail industry these Awards present endless opportunities.”

The 2018 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards will be held on Thursday 18 October at the Myer Mural Hall in Melbourne. The ARA encourage retailers of all sizes to submit an entry by nominating an influential leader or instrumental employee before Friday 10 August via the 2018 eftpos ARA Retail Awards platform.

To secure your seat for the 2018 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards head to The Retail Realm.

About the eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards:

First held in the 1970s, the eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards are the nation’s longest running and most prestigious retail event, recognising and rewarding outstanding retail businesses, innovations, and individuals across all sectors of retail. Relaunched in 2008, the annual 2018 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards breakfast will commence on Thursday 18 October at the Myer Mural Hall in Melbourne. For more information regarding the 2018 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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FROM TOMORROW, the fee to do an onlinePersonal Property Securities Register (PPSR) check will be only $2 — a reduction from $3.40.

Australians use the Personal Property Securities Register to check whether the second hand car they’re looking at buying doesn’t have any money owing on it.

A PPSR check will also tell potential buyers whether the car’s been reported as stolen or written off.

"Enter the details and with just one click, a quick motor vehicle search of the PPSR provides real time information that helps consumers make informed decisions before they buy," said Hamish McCormick, chief executive of the Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA).

The PPSR is also used by businesses to register their interest in goods they provide until they receive final payment. Businesses can also use the PPSR to obtain credit — by using their goods and assets as collateral.

Registrations fees have also been reduced, with seven year registration to cost $6 instead of $6.80, $25 for a seven – 25 year registration (down from $34) and $115 for a registration with no end date (down from $119.)

Earlier this year, AFSA reviewed the PPSR fees and charges and proposed a reduction in most fees.

"AFSA has worked closely with stakeholders and users of the PPSR to propose these new fees. This is good news for Australian consumers and businesses, making the PPSR even more affordable,” Mr McCormick said.

www.ppsr.gov.au.

PPSR Background

The PPSR is the single, national online noticeboard of security interests in personal property in Australia. Personal property generally includes all forms of property other than land, buildings and fixtures.

Individuals or businesses can search the PPSR to check whether the valuable goods they want to buy are free from existing financed debt and safe from possible repossession.

Individuals or businesses can make a registration on the PPSR to show that they have a security interest in the goods they are supplying. If the customer doesn’t pay or becomes insolvent, they are in the best position to get their goods, or their value, back.

The PPSR can also be used by businesses to raise finance, using their goods and assets as collateral.

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