The House of Representatives Agriculture and Industry Committee will conduct a public hearing tomorrow, Thursday, 26 March 2015, for the inquiry into circumvention of anti-dumping laws.

Appearing at the hearing for the inquiry will be representatives from the Anti-Dumping Commission and the Department of Industry.

The hearing will be held in Committee Room 1R1, Parliament House, Canberra:
Thursday, 26 March 2015
12.15 pm Anti-Dumping Commission & Department of Industry
1.30 pm Close

The public hearing will be webcast live at: http://www.aph.gov.au/News_and_Events/Watch_Parliament

Further details about the inquiry, including submissions received and the terms of reference, can be obtained from the Committee’s website at: www.aph.gov.au/agind

For further information please contact the secretariat on (02) 6277 4500, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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The Department of Industry and Science will outline its role in supporting Australian trade with countries of the Middle East at a public hearing in Canberra today.

In its submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade inquiry into trade and investment with the Middle East, the Department highlighted the importance of developing new export markets in the Middle East as a driver of growth for the Australian food industry.

As more Middle Eastern people look to shop at supermarkets, the Department sees opportunities for Australian food processors to provide high-value convenience foods, including ready-to-eat, chilled, canned, preserved, frozen and baked foodstuffs. The growth in supermarkets and Western-style restaurants, especially in the Gulf States, is also pushing demand for premium cuts of beef and lamb from Australia.

According to the Department, Australian food processing is at its most competitive against other international exporters in markets where Middle East consumers are willing to pay a premium for quality Australian-grown food. With more than 350 million people to feed, future food security, including meeting demand for imported higher-value products that Australian food producers can provide, dominates the economic planning of Middle Eastern governments.

The Trade Sub-Committee may also explore the future role of the Australian automotive industry - in particular, its car parts export business beyond the closure of local car manufacturing in 2017. Australia exported $1.47 billion in vehicles and parts to the Middle East in 2013 and providing parts for these vehicles, such as the Toyota Camry, may be important for an Australian car parts industry in transition. 

Public hearing
Date/Time  Wednesday 25 March 2015, 11:05 am
Location  Committee Room 1R3, Parliament House, Canberra
Organisations Department of Industry and Science

Live audio broadcast will be available at www.aph.gov.au/live

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THE Business Innovation and Investment Programme (the Programme) should undergo a comprehensive examination by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, according to a new report.

Federal Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Migration last night tabled the report for its inquiry into the Programme, which aims to attract investors and company owners who have demonstrated a history of success in investment, innovation and management of a business, to work and live in Australia.

The Programme offers various opportunities to help contribute to the Australian economy. Committee Chair, Mrs Louise Markus MP, said that it is important that Australia’s migration programme meet Australia’s business and economic needs.

“In order to compete in the global market and stimulate our economy, Australia needs programmes like this that encourage the creation of genuine and sustainable business opportunities,” Mrs Markus said.

“It is vitally important that the Business Innovation and Investment Programme is effective and meets its objectives. The committee has therefore recommended that the Department of Immigration and Border Protection examine the Programme with a focus on the suitability and attainability of the Programme’s objectives, the role states and territories have in administering the Programme, and how to best collect, disseminate and evaluate data on the Programme.”

The committee also recommended that the examination focus on: the promotion and marketing of the Programme; application processing and service standards; English language requirements; innovation points test; and attracting investment in regional Australia, graduates, early-stage entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists.

The full report can be found at the committee’s website: http://www.aph.gov.au/mig

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THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) said retailers are relieved to hear that penalty rates in South Australia (SA) will be abolished on Saturdays and halved on Sundays in exchange for a higher base rate of pay and other improved conditions for employees.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said the ARA has been leading the penalty rates case for a long time and was open to working with the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA) as part of its case to Fair Work to facilitate this agreement and broaden it across the country.

“It is very encouraging to see that the SDA has recognised that the current Sunday penalty rate is too high.

“The ARA welcomes any move that better aligns penalty rates with the modern retail industry. Changes like this allow businesses to respond to their customers needs, rather than having to try to fit their allocation of labour to an antiquated system.

“There is a real opportunity here to support the struggling retail sector and stimulate jobs growth. In order to create more employment opportunities for Australians, retail wages need to be flexible.

“We are hopeful that this agreement has a flow-on effect across Australia,” 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.

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