THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has welcomed a $50,000 contribution by New Hope Group to the drought relief organisation Aussie Helpers to help support farming communities affected by the drought.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said resources and agriculture had a long and proud history of working together.

“The resources sector has played its part by building infrastructure which farmers use to service their farms and farmers have swapped the Akubra for a hard hat to work in mines delivering a skills boost to the sector,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“All droughts bring extreme hardship and the impact flows through to the local butcher, barber and supermarket. Everyone feels the economic pain when the farms are in trouble.

“I strongly encourage everyone if they can to dig deep and donate what they can.

“I congratulate New Hope Group for its contribution along with Shell Australia $100,000, Rio Tinto $100,000 and Santos ($75,000 + $41,000 in cattle sales at the Ekka) which contributed funds to the Queensland Drought Appeal.”

Arrow Energy provided lunch for 550 farmers for Beef Week, along with $10,000 towards feed for livestock during the Ekka.

www.qrc.org.au

www.newhopegroup.com.au

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THE ACCC is seeking feedback about a potential ‘class exemption’ to allow small businesses, agribusinesses and franchisees to negotiate collectively with their customers or suppliers, including franchisors.

The ACCC discussion paper published last week sets out how a collective bargaining class exemption could operate, who would qualify, and what conditions would apply. Collective bargaining by a group of businesses is currently not allowed under Australian competition law, unless the group first obtains formal approval from the ACCC.

A collective bargaining class exemption would provide a ‘safe harbour’, so businesses that qualify can collectively bargain without the risk of breaching competition law.

“Businesses can sometimes be better off negotiating with their customers or suppliers as a group. Working together, they may be able to negotiate more efficiently with larger businesses to achieve better terms and conditions than they can on their own,” ACCC deputy chair Mick Keogh said. “Businesses can already seek case-by-case legal protection to collectively bargain through an ACCC ‘authorisation’ or ‘notification’, but this requires the group to submit an application with supporting information and pay a lodgement fee.

"These processes are public and can take a number of months to finalise,” Mr Keogh said. “In contrast, once a collective bargaining class exemption is in place, eligible businesses would automatically get an exemption. This would allow those businesses to gain easier access to the benefits of collective bargaining and begin negotiating sooner.

"Over the years the ACCC has considered many collective bargaining arrangements. Most come from groups of primary producers or other small businesses wanting to collectively bargain with a larger business; for example, farmers wanting to bargain with the company who buys their produce.

“This has given us a good evidence base about the types of collective bargaining that produce public benefits and are unlikely to harm competition, and are therefore likely to be suitable for this exemption,” said Mr Keogh.

The discussion paper is available at: Collective bargaining class exemption

The ACCC is inviting feedback on these issues by 21 September 2018.

Background

From 6 November 2017, the ACCC has the power to make ‘class exemptions’ for specific types of business conduct. This new power is in addition the ACCC’s existing authorisation and notification processes that allow businesses to seek legal protection for arrangements that risk breaching competition law. Collective bargaining is the first type of class exemption the ACCC is considering under this new power.

www.accc.gov.au

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MASTER BUILDERS Australia has congratulated Scott Morrison on becoming the 30^th Prime Minister of Australia and the announcement of his Ministry.

“The Prime Minister’s recognition of the importance of industrial relations to a strong economy is important and Master Builders looks forward working with the Kelly O’Dwyer in her new role as the Minister for Jobs, Industrial Relations and Women,” Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Australia said. 

“Small business and vocational skills are a major focus for Master Builders. There are more small businesses in building and construction than any other sector of the economy and our industry trains more apprentices than any other.

"We look forward to the strong focus that Senator Michaelia Cash will bring to the Small and Family Business and Vocational Skills portfolio,” she said.

“It’s particularly welcome that these portfolios have been returned to Cabinet,” Ms Wawn said. 

“Master Builders also congratulates the Alan Tudge as Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and population. We know the importance of this portfolio for the productivity and livability of our cities and for important issues such as housing affordability and we look forward to working closely with him,” she said. 

“Finally, Master Builders thanks former Prime Minister Hon Malcolm Turnbull for this service to the nation. His achievement in legislating the return of the ABCC is greatly appreciated by our industry,” Denita Wawn said. 

www.masterbuilders.com.au

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MINISTER for Defence Industry, Leader of the House and Federal Member for Sturt, christopher Pyne, has paid tribute to former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at the conclusion of a tumultuous day for the Liberal Party.

"Today we farewell one of the great Prime Ministers in modern Australian history," Mr Pyne said.

"Malcolm chose to leave an extremely successful career in business to serve the Australian people through our Parliament.  In doing so he brought his sharp intellect, vision, and compassion to deliver for the country.

"He leaves the Prime Minister’s office with Australia experiencing a strong economy and strong jobs growth further boosted through significant tax reductions for Australian wage earners and small and medium businesses.

"I thank Malcolm for the opportunity to serve alongside him in his Government. This has been the most rewarding part of my 25-year political career so far.

"I have worked with Malcolm to better secure our nation in uncertain times through the largest build up of Australia’s military capability in our peace time history. 

"The Government's $200 billion commitment is being utilised to not just ensure the men and women of our defence forces are best equipped to defend us, but to also transform our strategic industrial base and generate Australian jobs in a way that has never been done before.

"Malcolm was Australia’s first Prime Minister with real experience in the innovation sector which showed during my time in the Industry, Innovation and Science portfolio. This led to us launching the National innovation and Science Agenda, designed to unlock the innovation potential of the economy.

"Malcolm is a mentor, an inspiration and a friend. Australia is stronger and richer for his service and dedication."

www.defence.gov.au

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