DIVERSITY Council Australia welcomes the Prime Minister’s announcement that the Government would shelve the expanded Paid Parental Leave scheme in favour of reforms focusing on improving access to and affordability of childcare.

Lisa Annese, DCA’s CEO, said one of the biggest factors affecting the participation of female employees in organisations is childcare.

“In a survey of our employer member organisations in 2014, nearly 95% of employers said access to and availability of affordable childcare presented difficulties for their employees," Ms Annese said.

"There is no doubt that this is a major disincentive to women participating more fully in the workforce.”

Paid Parental Leave (PPL) is important but childcare is a bigger issue for employers, according to Ms Annese.

“The existing government funded PPL scheme provides a very important safety net for new parents," she said.

"However, as suggested by the Productivity Commission and in line with feedback from our members, we support the Government’s plan to direct funds allocated for the expanded PPL scheme towards improving accessibility and affordability of childcare as this is likely to have a greater positive impact on the workforce participation of women,” said Ms Annese.

Access to flexible working and careers is also critical to women’s workforce participation, added Ms Annese.

“DCA encourages the Government to ensure that an emphasis on workplace flexibility is promoted and supported as a critical part of maintaining progress on workplace gender equity and supporting parents – especially those with younger children – to remain in paid work. Clearly, more needs to be done to support the cultural shift in Australian business necessary to mainstream flexibility to the benefit of Australian parents."

www.dca.org.au

ends

THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) said the Consumer Price Index (CPI) released today showed inflation of 0.2 percent in the 2014 December quarter which followed a rise of 0.5 percent in the September quarter providing explanation of reduced pricing during the 2014 Christmas period.

The CPI rose 1.7 percent in the year to the December quarter compared with a rise of 2.3 percent in the September quarter showing a slow yet steady pace in the lead up to Christmas 2014 sales.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said retailers kept prices low through discounting over the Christmas period and the ARA was hopeful competition in the supermarket sector would also continue to put pressure on prices.

“Competition on everyday prices in the supermarket sector has shown benefits in the latest CPI figures and the ARA calls for the government to increase that competition in its current competition review process.

“There is no doubt lower fuel costs will flow through the supply chain which will further reduce costs, leaving more cash in consumer pockets to drive retail sales,” Mr Zimmerman said.

While there has been some pressure from the higher Australian dollar on imports, all indications show lower fuel costs and fierce competition to drive costs lower.

The Australian Retailers Association now looks towards the release of the December retail trade figures to confirm its pre-Christmas predictions of $45 billion which is expected to be an influence of today’s CPI December quarter figures.

*

Since 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body representing Australia’s $265 billion retail sector, which employs over 1.2 million people. The ARA ensures retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 5,000 independent and national retail members throughout Australia.

Visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

QUEENSLAND will stage Australia’s only Baroque festival under a new three-year agreement, reinforcing the state’s reputation as a cultural mecca.

Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) CEO, Leanne Coddington, said the popular festival, previously hosted in Hobart, would see a series of exclusive cultural events staged in Brisbane in April.

“The nine-day Brisbane Baroque, artistically directed by art impresario Leo Schofield AM, is the only one of its kind dedicated to this art form in Australia,” Ms Coddington said.

“Cultural tourism is a significant contributor to the economy and vibrant events such as Brisbane Baroque are an important lure in attracting more visitors to Queensland. 

“We anticipate that this event will generate more than 36,000 visitor nights and $9 million in visitor spending through until 2017. 

Brisbane Baroque is a cultural celebration of late 17th and early 18th century music, which will be staged at venues such as the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), Brisbane City Hall, the Queensland Conservatorium Theatre, and select churches throughout Brisbane.

Brisbane Baroque will feature an exclusive Australian-first production of Faramondo, a rare opera by George Frideric Handel, one of the most prolific composers of the Baroque era.  

“With continued growth, TEQ expects the event to compete globally with other major international Baroque festivals such as the Valletta International Baroque in Malta, the Boston Early Music Festival in the USA, and the Göttingen International Handel Festival in Germany,” Ms Coddington said.

“Brisbane Baroque will be promoted as part of It’s Live! In Queensland, an initiative which highlights the perfect union of world-class events and destinations.” 

Brisbane Baroque Artistic Director, Leo Schofield, said he was delighted the event was making its way to Queensland’s capital city in 2015.

“This city aspires to be the cultural capital of Australia and in recent years has made huge strides towards that goal,” said Mr Schofield.

“Queenslanders certainly understand the value of cultural tourism which is why a unique festival of early music has such appeal.” 

Executive Director, Jarrod Carland, said Brisbane provides the perfect backdrop for locals and visitors to experience unique cultural offerings.

“Not only will Brisbane Baroque feature leading overseas artists, it will also provide an opportunity to showcase the talents of young Australian and Queensland musicians,” Mr Carland said.  

[ENDS]    

PARLIAMENT’s Intelligence and Security Committee will hold public hearings this Thursday and Friday for its inquiry into the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment (Data Retention) Bill 2014.

A wide range of government and non-government organisations will be represented at the hearings, including telecommunications companies, IT industry bodies, legal experts, media and consumer organisations.

The Committee will also hear from state and federal police forces, as well as independent statutory authorities including the Commonwealth Ombudsman, the Australian Privacy Commissioner, the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security and the Australian Human Rights Commission.

The Data Retention Bill seeks to implement a mandatory telecommunications data retention regime. It contains measures to require telecommunications suppliers in Australia to retain certain data for two years.

The data would not include a person's web-browsing history, or the content of a communication, email or social media post. The Bill would also limit those able to access telecommunications and stored data to enforcement agencies with a demonstrated need and with appropriate internal procedures to protect privacy.

The Chair of the Committee, Mr Dan Tehan MP, said “While the Committee’s first hearing in December focused on the nature of the proposed data set and the utility of that data for law enforcement and security agencies, at this week’s hearings we expect to discuss a very broad range of issues.

“We will be considering the appropriateness of the data retention regime proposed in this Bill and its application to the investigation and prosecution of serious criminal offences and to countering threats to national security. Safeguards and oversight will be a key focus for the Committee.”

Details of the hearings are as follows:

Thursday, 29 January 2015 – 8.30am to 6.20pm
Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra

Friday, 30 January 2015 – 8.00am to 1.30pm
Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra

The committee has received nearly 200 written submissions to date from a broad range of sources. The due date for submissions passed on 19 January, and the Committee intends to report by 27 February 2015.

Further information about the inquiry, including programs for the two hearings and copies of submissions, can be accessed via the Committee’s website at http://www.aph.gov.au/pjcis.

The Bill and Explanatory Memorandum can be accessed via http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation.

ends