THE Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works yesterday announced that it is inquiring into three new proposals from the Department of Defence. These projects continue the busy work program of the Public Works Committee and include two projects based in Darwin and one in Sydney with the total value of all the projects being scrutinised being $782.1 million.

It is anticipated that the Committee will conduct public and in-camera hearings for the inquiries in May or June 2018.

Details of the projects can be found below:

• Facilities to Support Naval Operations in the North – $272.6 million - Darwin, NT
• Larrakeyah Barracks Redevelopment - $223.0 million – Darwin, NT
• Garden Island (East) Critical Infrastructure Recovery Project - $286.5 million – Sydney, NSW

The Committee would like to hear from all individuals or organisations interested in the inquiries. Submissions will be accepted until 27 April 2018.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works is neither involved in the tendering process nor the awarding of contracts. Enquiries on those matters should be addressed to the Department of Defence.

Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website.

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CREATIVE Partnerships Australia has  extended nominations for the 2018 Creative Partnerships Awards until 5pm AEST Friday, April 6.

There is now an extra week to nominate a leader in arts, philanthropy or business who drives and inspires giving to the arts.

Creative Paetnerships has provided a video link to last year's winners here.

 www.creativepartnershipsaustralia.org.au

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THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics has commenced an inquiry into the impediments to business investment in Australia and is calling for submissions.

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

Ms Henderson said, ‘it is vital that regulatory frameworks and government policies at the Commonwealth and state levels foster an environment that encourages business investment. Empowering businesses to invest in new productive capacity supports innovation and helps create jobs.’

The Intergovernmental Review of Business Investment (September 2017) revealed a complex mix of structural and cyclical factors as well as institutional and policy factors that are influencing business investment in Australia.

The terms of reference asks the Standing Committee on Economics to inquire into and report on:

• the interaction between regulatory frameworks across all levels of Government and how the cumulative regulatory burden can be reduced to support greater business investment;
• the impact of innovation policies, at the Commonwealth and State government levels, on business investment and the role of innovation policies in encouraging greater business investment, having regard to approaches taken in other countries;
• the role that taxation policy, at the Commonwealth and State government levels, can have on the encouragement of new business investment;
• the role that energy policies, at the Commonwealth and State government levels, can have on the encouragement of new business investment; and
• the impact of supplier payment times, including by governments, on business investment for small to medium enterprises.

Submissions are being sought by Friday, 11 May 2018. Submissions can be made online or by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For information about the inquiry visit the committee’s webpage at: www.aph.gov.au/economics

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THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has released its submission to the Productivity Commission (PC) Inquiry into Competition in the Financial System Draft Report. The ARA isadvocating for payments reform to promote a more competitive, lower cost payments system to assist innovation across the industry.

Russell Zimmerman, Executive Director of the ARA, said low-cost routing for tap-and-go payments, online card fraud and better regulation were all key issues for retailers already struggling with high costs affecting the viability of the sector.

The ARA’s submission highlighted the need for low-cost routing for tap-and-go transactions, which represent more than two-thirds of card payments in Australia.

“The findings of the PC’s draft report show that retail merchants are struggling to manage the high costs associated with Australia’s current payments system,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“As customers expect retailers to adopt innovative, seamless and efficient payment options, retailers are left with little choice but to bear the cost burden.”

While the ARA believes online card fraud is also a key issue for retailers trying to compete in the e-commerce space, the costs of fraud mitigation technology are often too high for retailers to adopt.

“Retailers are facing considerable losses from online fraud, which has grown significantly with the rise of e-commerce, and with other countries cracking down on cyber criminals, Australia will become a bigger target,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“We are calling for an industry-backed, mandatory solution which will provide consistency, lower costs for retailers and most importantly, reduce online card fraud for Australian retailers.”

Although the PC recommended removing interchange fees, the ARA are concerned that these costs to merchants will merely be shifted elsewhere.

“We are not advocating for the total removal of interchange fees, instead we believe better interchange regulation is needed to limit the high costs of accepting international card payments from schemes like American Express and China UnionPay,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“Eftpos, Mastercard and Visa transactions are subject to interchange regulation and it's past time for the international schemes to be regulated as well.”

The PC is set to report its findings in July. To read the ARA’s full submission to the PC, click here.

About the Australian Retailers Association:

Founded in 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is Australia’s largest retail association, representing the country’s $310 billion sector, which employs more than 1.2 million people. As Australia’s leading retail peak body industry, the ARA is a strong pro-active advocate for Australian retail and works to ensure retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 7,500 independent and national retail members throughout Australia. For more information, visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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