PARLIAMENT’s Joint Public Accounts and Audit Committee (JCPAA) will examine the joint Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) and Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) Major Projects Report (MPR) 2013-14.

Today, the JCPAA opened an inquiry into the MPR 2013-14 following the report’s out-of-session tabling in the Australian Parliament.

Committee Chair, Dr Andrew Southcott MP, said that major Defence equipment acquisition projects remain the subject of considerable parliamentary and public interest, in view of their high cost, contribution to national security and the challenges involved in completing them within budget, on time and to the required level of capability.

“This is the seventh MPR produced by the ANAO and DMO and the Committee remains committed to seeing that, when it comes to Defence procurement, Australian tax-payers money is being spent wisely,” Dr Southcott said.

“The JCPAA’s on-going work has been very important in the MPR’s development.  Our efforts actively contribute to greater efficiencies in terms of current Defence projects as well as helping inform government on the best way to approach new Defence acquisitions, such as the Future Submarine project.”

Interested persons and organisations are invited to make submissions to the Committee’s inquiry by Friday, 13 February 2015.  Further information about the Committee’s inquiry, including details on how to lodge a submission, are available on the Committee’s website at: www.aph.gov.au/jcpaa.

A public hearing is expected be held on 27 February 2015.

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THE Australian Government will begin a nationwide voluntary site nomination process for a radioactive waste management facility. A call for expressions of interest from landowners will open in March 2015.

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

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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

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