THE Australian PGA Championship will remain in Queensland under a new long-term agreement that will see the tournament hosted on the Gold Coast until 2017.

Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games, Jann Stuckey, made the announcement to an enthusiastic crowd of golf fans.

“It is with great pleasure I announce the Australian PGA Championship will remain on the Gold Coast until 2017 under a new agreement between Tourism and Events Queensland and the PGA of Australia,” said Ms Stuckey.

“Australia’s oldest professional golf tournament, the Australian PGA Championship has quickly established itself as a must-see event on the Gold Coast event calendar.

“Destination Success, Queensland’s 20-year plan for tourism, recognises the importance of securing major events such as this which drive repeat visitation to Queensland’s destinations.

“The Australian PGA Championship will be promoted as part of It’s Live! highlighting the perfect union of world-class events in world-class destinations."

Ms Stuckey said the agreement will see Tourism and Events Queensland work in partnership with the PGA of Australia to offer visitors an expanded program of entertainment throughout the Australian PGA Championship.

“A live music concert program, expanded fan zones and a stadium experience around the 16th hole are all options being considered to create a unique and Famous for fun Australian PGA Championship experience,” she said.

“I look forward to welcoming the world’s golfing greats, their families and friends back to the Gold Coast for the 2015 Australian PGA Championship.”

PGA of Australia Chief Executive Officer, Brian Thorburn re-affirmed the statements of Minister Stuckey for the future of the tournament on the Gold Coast.

“The Australian PGA Championship has a long and proud history in Queensland, and we are excited for what the future holds. Not only does it provide great opportunity for growth and development, it also provides certainty for our flagship event and one of Australia’s major golf tournaments.”

“The event has always been a favourite for players on the PGA Tour of Australasia, and with the Gold Coast confirmed as the home of the Australian PGA Championship for a further three years we have the opportunity to deliver an even greater spectacle for players, visitors and the local community” added Thorburn.

The Australian PGA Championship is co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and OneAsia, and is Australia’s oldest professional golf tournament. Past winners include Peter Thomson, Greg Norman, Ian Baker-Finch, Wayne Grady and current world number three Adam Scott.

www.teq.queensland.com

ends

LORD MAYOR Graham Quirk has joined APSA chairman Michael Hawkins, APSA Academy president Dr Jack Thompson AM, jury members and finalists of the prestigious 8^th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA), ahead of the official awards ceremony to be held in City Hall tonight.

The Lord Mayor said the APSAs were the Asia Pacific region’s highest film accolades and were well respected in the international film community.

“In their 8^th year, the Asia Pacific Screen Awards signal the emergence of Brisbane as a major economic and cultural player, not only in the Asia Pacific region, but across the globe,” Cr Quirk said.

“Off the back of the G20 Summit, where Brisbane was the capital city of the world, the APSAs build on this momentum and Brisbane’s reputation as Australia’s New World City.”

Cr Quirk said the APSAs were the largest and most prestigious gathering of international filmmakers in Australia each year and were expected to be attended by over 1,200 film industry luminaries from the Asia Pacific region and beyond.

“The Asia Pacific Screen Awards are a unique testament to the vibrancy and incredible artistic prowess evident in this region,” he said.

“In 2014, 36 films from 21 Asia Pacific countries received award nominations, with the films displaying cinematic excellence and cultural diversity of the vast Asia Pacific Region,” Cr Quirk said.

“Brisbane residents will be able see some of cinemas biggest stars during the black carpet arrivals including, legendary Aboriginal actor David Gulpilil (Charlie's Country), screen legend and APSA Academy president Dr Jack Thompson AM, ceremony presenter and acclaimed Australian actor Aaron Pedersen (Mystery Road), and Oscar-winning Australian producer Emile Sherman (The King's Speech).”

APSA chairman Michael Hawkins said the 2014 APSA Nominees and International Juries would be welcomed into the APSA Academy at a special event this afternoon by APSA Academy president and Australian screen legend Jack Thompson.

“The Academy is a growing body of the most influential names in Asia Pacific cinema, and provides a range of networking, funding and development opportunities to its members,” Mr Hawkins said.

The Asia Pacific Screen Awards, proudly presented by Treasury Casino and Hotel, is supported by Brisbane City Council.

APSA is managed by economic development board Brisbane Marketing in a unique collaboration with Paris-based UNESCO and FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producers Associations, recognising and promoting cinematic excellence and cultural diversity of the world’s fastest-growing film region, comprising 70 countries and areas, 4.5 billion people, and responsible for half of the world’s film output.

Watch the ceremony webcast live on Thursday, 11 December 2014 from 19.00 (AEST) at: http://www.asiapacificscreenacademy.com/the-awards/the-ceremony/

Black carpet arrivals: From 5.30pm Thursday, 11 December in King George Square, Brisbane City Hall.

To view 2013, highlights, trailers from nominated films and images visit

To view a full list of 2014 APSA nominations visit http://www.asiapacificscreenacademy.com/the-awards/2014-nominees/

[Ends] 

RETAILERS are predicting the next seven days to be the biggest of the year as shoppers move their Christmas preparations into top gear, according to weekly Christmas spending projections released by the Australian National Retailers’ Association (ANRA) today.

“Despite consumer confidence readings suggesting a cautious community, more people have returned to retail in the last 12 months and delivered growth to the sector and the economy more broadly. This incremental growth will assist the sector in contributing a little more than four per cent to Australia’s GDP this year,” ANRA CEO Anna McPhee said.

Ms McPhee said more than $8.3 billion is expected to be spent nationally this week with the average family anticipated to spend about $1,060 on Christmas preparations including gifts, food, liquor and dining.

“Consumer spending is important for the national economy and it is encouraging that retail sales are expected to surge by around 10 per cent compared to last week with Australian shoppers anticipated to spend about $750 million more than the previous week.

“To prepare for the Christmas rush, the retail sector has employed approximately 39,000 additional staff this December as well as providing existing staff with extra shifts to support demand throughout this busy period.  The retail sector employs over 1.2 million Australians.

"Many retailers will offer extended trading hours over the next 10 days to meet heightened customer demand across the peak period. The extension of trading hours in the lead up to Christmas has been particularly successful in previous years and highlights how consumer expectations are changing.  Consumers want to be able to shop at times that are convenient,” she said.

ANRA’s survey of Christmas shoppers looked at Christmas shopping tactics between men and women and found differences in their approaches.

“Twice as many men than women expect to do most of their Christmas shopping between now and Christmas – with just under one in four men admitting they’ll probably do most of their shopping quite close to Christmas.

“Our survey showed women take a much more structured approach to Christmas shopping with one in four shopping throughout the year – compared to just 16 per cent of men. Women are also around twice as likely to buy fun things like toys (15% vs 8%) and more-so experiences (6% vs 2%).

“Christmas shoppers told us they will be shopping primarily for immediate family (81%). While 18 per cent admitted to buying a gift for themselves and 15 per cent said a gift for the family pet was also on the Christmas to-do list,” said Ms McPhee.

This year ANRA estimates $32.6 billion will be spent on gifts, food, liquor and dining. Shopping with Australian retailers online and in store supports Australian businesses, jobs and local communities. 

The below table provides a breakdown by state for the 30 days to Christmas (24-Nov to 24-Dec) and spending in the fourth week (15-Dec to 21-Dec):

www.anra.com.au

ends

THE Australian Retailers Association congratulates the New South Wales (NSW) Government’s decision to allow eligible retailers to trade 24-hours-a-day in the two weeks before Christmas.

Starting today, retailers and local shopping centres can offer shoppers more flexibility by extending their trading hours without requiring specific planning approval.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said the industry strongly supported the changes, provided retailers who didn't want to open for extended hours during the Christmas shopping period were not forced to do so.

“This is a first for NSW and a great opportunity for retailers. The ARA would like to thank Minister for Planning Pru Goward and Minister for Small Business John Barilaro for supporting this initiative which will no doubt give local retailers a much-needed boost during the crucial shopping season.

“This move should help NSW in continuing to be the growth engine for the Australian economy while other states are going through structural adjustments.

“With only 14 days until Christmas, we’re confident that this move will also support the ARA’s predicted pre-Christmas sales figure of $45 billion to go through retail tills before 24 December 2014.

“The ARA now calls on state Labor and the NSW Upper House independents to support the government and allow Boxing Day trade for all retailers who want to open - not just the current restricted areas which kill trade for small and large businesses on the busiest trading day of the year,” Mr Zimmerman said.

*

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.

ends