Business News Releases

Retailers hoping for a balanced till this Budget

THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and its members are hoping next week’s Federal Budget announcement will bring relief to the industry through tax reform, smart infrastructure investment and additional skills funding.

Russell Zimmerman, Executive Director of the ARA said the retail industry have been looking to both the Government and the Opposition to employ a fairer tax system to improve international competitiveness for retailers and stimulate economic growth.

“Retailers continue to face significant cost pressures in the Australian market, and reducing corporate taxes across the board will help businesses stay viable in a difficult operating environment,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“We are committed to reducing the overall tax burden to individuals and businesses to build consumer confidence, put more money back in consumer’s pockets and encourage productive investment.”

The ARA will also look for the Federal Budget to include sensible infrastructure investment to lift productivity and efficiency across both urban and regional Australia.

“There is an urgent need to improve retail supply chain operations to remain competitive in the international market,” Mr Zimmerman said, “and enhancing transport links to key retail hubs for both consumers and businesses will improve Australia’s business performance and achieve economic growth.”

The ARA believe developing the western suburbs of Sydney will create smoother efficiencies for Australian businesses, increase retail tourism and improve supply chain logistics.

“The substantial investment in both Badgerys Creek Airport and the inland rail link between Melbourne and Brisbane will not only boost the economy, but better connect us to global markets,” Mr Zimmerman said.

The ARA also welcome additional skills funding in the 2017 Budget and encourage the Government to maintain funding in education and training programs.

“Although the Government has already announced significant changes to 457 Visas, the ARA urge the Government to work with retailers to identify skills shortages across the retail sector and make necessary changes to address high-end skills into the country,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“As Australia’s biggest private employer, promoting retail as a viable and exciting career choice for young people is critical.”

“The ARA are working with its members to ensure employers are supported in upskilling their staff with specific skills needed within the industry, and will look to the Government for their support in next week’s Budget,” Mr Zimmerman said.

About the Australian Retailers Association:

Founded in 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is the retail industry’s peak representative body representing Australia’s $310 billion sector, which employs more than 1.2 million people. The ARA 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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UNWTO Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism : Call for applications

APPLICATIONS for the 14th edition of the UNWTO Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism by the World Tourism Organization are now being accepted.

Winners will be announced in January 2018 on the occasion of the UNWTO Awards Ceremony, to be held at the International Tourism Fair in Spain (FITUR).

Applications for the UNWTO Awards span four categories: Public Policy and Governance; Enterprises; Non-Governmental Organizations, and Research and Technology.

Since their creation in 2003, the UNWTO Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism recognize the work of organizations and individuals around the world that contribute to foster innovation in tourism and build a more sustainable and responsible sector.

Interested parties are encouraged to apply before 30 September 2017.

Additional information and application documents can be found at: http://know.unwto.org/14th-unwto-awards-apply

Relevant dates:

3 May 2017

Call for applications

30 September 2017

Deadline for reception of applications

First week of November       

Announcement of Awardees

15 January 2018

14th UNWTO Awards Forum

17 January 2018

14th UNWTO Awards Ceremony & Gala Dinner

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ASBFEO calls for Budget policies to drive investment and transparency in small business dealings with big business and banks

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) has proposed key policies for the 2017-18 Federal Budget to kick-start small businesses growth, create more jobs and promote more transparent and fairer relationships with banks and big businesses.

ASBFEO Kate Carnell said the Australian Government should consider a range of policies to boost small business, which accounts for 33 per cent of Australia’s GDP and employs about 50 per cent per cent of the workforce.

“We want the Australian Government to consider these measures as part of its Budget on 9 May because a healthy small business sector is a prerequisite for a growing economy with high employment opportunities. In every sense, small business counts,” she said.

The ASBFEO is calling for a range of measures in the Budget, including:

•               Extend the instant asset write-off scheme and consider lifting the threshold above $20,000

The ASBFEO says that the $20,000 instant asset write-off should be extended past June 30 this year when it is scheduled to end. Also, consideration should be given to lifting the threshold because for capital-intensive businesses it is too low. For example, if you’re a farmer and you want to buy an asset like a tractor, you’re not going to get one for anywhere near the $20,000 threshold.

The instant asset write-off program allows small businesses to immediately deduct assets costing less than $20,000 instead of claiming deductions over a number of years. It is on a per asset basis allowing several assets costing less than $20,000 to be deducted.

•               Mandatory code of banking practice

The Ombudsman has also called for legislation to implement a mandatory code of banking practice with compliance a condition for a banking licence. The code would be overseen and enforced by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC).

This is to restore confidence among small businesses, improve banks’ small business lending practices and provide a safeguard against misconduct. This would include establishing an ASIC Small Business Commissioner with powers to monitor compliance with the code, investigate and take action against breaches of the code.

The ASBFEO also calls for banks to be prohibited from applying non-monetary default terms on small business loans of up to $5 million that are financially compliant. It also urges the Government to implement the recommendations of the ASBFEO’s recent Small Business Loans Inquiry.

•               National Payments Transparency Register

The Ombudsman also calls for the establishment of a National Payment Transparency Register to monitor independently payment times and practices. This follows the ASBFEO’s recent Inquiry into Payment Times and Practices, which found widespread evidence of small businesses being squeezed by multinationals’ late and extended payment practices.

The Register would require the top 100 ASX companies and multinationals to report on their payment times and terms to small business and encourage other businesses to register. This would increase transparency around business behaviour and expose bad practice. 

•               The Australian Government introduce 15-day business payment time

The Australian Government can set an example with faster payment times to suppliers by adopting a 15 business day payment time requiring its head contractors to adopt the payment times through its supply chain.

The Australian Government would procure from businesses that have supply chain payment times and practices equal to or better than its practices.

The United Kingdom and United States governments have implemented fast payment requirements with demonstrated economic benefit by freeing-up cash flow and stimulating jobs, investment and growth.

www.asbfeo.gov.au

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Australia’s next generation technology innovations go head-to-head at CeBIT PitchFest

SOME of Australia’s most promising technology start-up companies have been announced as finalists in CeBIT Australia’s PitchFest, a competition allowing entrepreneurs to give a creative pitch to a panel of successful business owners and technology experts.

Held on day three of Asia Pacific’s largest business technology conference and exhibition at ICC Sydney on 25 May 2017, CeBIT PitchFest offers entrepreneurs practical real-world pitching experience, and the chance to receive feedback from world leading entrepreneurial experts and key influencers, including senior representatives from TiE Sydney.

The coveted start-up organisations have the ability to transform how we live and do business; the CeBIT PitchFest 2017 finalists are:

  • Inkerz: bringing the internet of things to education, Inkerz utilises cutting-edge technology to bridge the gap between a notepad and the computer to increase the effectiveness of online learning
  • ​Look Who's Charging: simplifies the search to find which company has charged your credit card, set to reduce  the hours customers spend on the phone to banks making enquiries
  • Rivuu: changing how social media content is created, approved and scheduled, Rivuu streamlines social media work processes for faster turnaround times for agencies and businesses
  • Sound Scouts: a game designed to test the hearing of children, especially around the time they start school
  • Share with Oscar: dubbed the ‘Airbnb for parking’, this is Australia’s first real time, on-demand, parking application that facilitates the rental of private parking spots
  • Hosonto Middleware: an end-to-end development platform for web and mobile applications that utilise patent pending Automated Model View (AMV) framework to allow developers to focus on user interface and business logic
  • KeyHub: key storage facilities that allow short rental accommodation hosts to safely store and swap keys with guests in a secure and convenient location
  • ​Arludo:a gamification app that combines augmented reality and play to empower teachers to teach STEM subjects and encourage students to engage and learn
  • Ontoto: an advanced water monitoring solution to measure water level and temperature, designed and made in Australia
  • ​Smart Grid Energy: a unique solar power metering system developed by Enopte to address the rising costs of power. The system is free to access and can save users up to 30% on costs with access to demand management controls and detailed information on energy consumption and generation

NSW Minister for Industry, Niall Blair, congratulated the finalists noting eight of the ten finalists hail from NSW.  

"Congratulations and best of luck to these 10 ground-breaking Aussie companies which demonstrate the breadth and excellence of our start-up community.

"Eight of the 10 companies are based right here in NSW, including a great regional company Ontoto from Moss Vale which is a leader in water monitoring technology.

"Our dominance at PitchFest shows that NSW remains the nation's leader in start-up activity with over 40 percent of start-up founders in Australia coming from this great state.

"The NSW Government's support for CeBIT Australia and for our start-up industry will continue to grow our state's global reputation as a technology industry leader," said Mr Blair.

Harvey Stockbridge, Managing Director of Hannover Fairs - organiser of CeBIT Australia, commented on the importance of creating opportunities for entrepreneurs, allowing them to showcase their innovations and ensure the competitiveness of our industries, services and skills on an international stage.

“CeBIT PitchFest has a proud history of unearthing and supporting Australia’s leading technology start-up companies including ingogo, Mathspace and NetHealth. In 2017 the competition is stronger than ever before, reflecting the strength of Australia’s entrepreneurial community.

“It is inspiring to think how the innovations developed right here in Australia, have the potential to transform how the next generation of Australian’s live,” said Mr Stockbridge.

Previous winners of CeBIT PitchFest have gone onto become multi-million dollar, multi-national companies. Previous winners include ingogo, which can now be seen installed in thousands of taxis across Australia, Mathspace which has grown phenomenally in just a few short years to be available in over 20 countries and NetHealth which has grown over 150 percent since winning PitchFest in 2016.

www.cebit.com.au/startup/

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QRC backs new base load power in the North

THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) welcomes the state government’s proposal to increase base load power in North Queensland with the potential expansion of Burdekin Falls Dam.

QRC Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said all options need to be on the table to secure the state’s future energy mix.
 
“The establishment of a small hydroelectric power station at the state’s largest dam will add much needed supply into the east coast electricity market,” Mr Macfarlane said.

Mr Macfarlane also urged the Queensland Government to consider the development of the Tully Millstream Hydro project to provide even more base load power in North Queensland.
 
“Once again Queensland is setting an example for southern states on how to run a balanced energy policy by considering all options - coal, gas, renewables – to deliver affordable, reliable energy,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“But if we are to be agnostic in terms of the sources of energy the government should also support the addition of a modern high efficiency, low emission (HELE) power plant in Townsville, using some of the highest quality, low emission coal in the world right here in Queensland.
 
“If this region is to generate jobs and develop to its full potential it must have its own stable power generation including both hydroelectricity and coal-fired power supply,” Mr Macfarlane said.
 
The state government's Burdekin plan is to generate up to 150 gigawatt hours, lift the dam’s capacity and is seeking federal funding for the project through the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF).

“The federal government has plenty of business cases for new Queensland infrastructure with Burdekin Falls Dam and the proposal for new gas pipelines from the Bowen and Galilee Basins,” Mr Macfarlane said.

www.qrc.org.au

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