BRISBANE'S iconic heritage-listed picture palace, The Regent, re-opens its doors to the public today as it becomes the new home of the Brisbane Visitor Information and Booking Centre.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the relocation of the visitor information centre a short distance from its free-standing structure in the Queen Street Mall to The Regent would breathe new life into the building.

“Dating back 85 years, The Regent is a much-loved historic icon of Brisbane, being characteristic of a classic 1920s picture palace which at the time marked the development of Queen Street as a cultural precinct,” Cr Quirk said.

“It even has some mysteries including a bullet hole in the ceiling which has been the source of many stories over the years.

“Our visitor information centre plays a vital role growing leisure tourism in Brisbane, providing around 1800 people per day with events and entertainment information, itinerary planning, brochures and maps, public transport advice, general tourist advice and tour and accommodation bookings on behalf of our operators.

“The move to The Regent has provided the centre with more space, the opportunity to install new technology, extended areas for travel bookings and improved tourist information facilities.”

The information centre will operate concurrently in both The Regent and its free-standing mall premises during the busy holiday season, until the mall structure is demolished in the quieter February/March 2015 period, increasing space for pedestrians and improving the layout of the mall for visitors.

The new information centre was designed and fitted out by The Regent building owners ISPT, one of Australia’s leading property fund managers, at no cost to the city.

ISPT Development Services General Manager Chris McCluskey said ISPT was delighted to be hosting the centre in The Regent.

“It is a prime opportunity to reactivate the building’s ornate Grand Foyer into a wonderful space for residents and visitors, with public areas and seating designed to fully engage with its significant heritage qualities.”

Cr Quirk said the information centre’s relocation to The Regent would be complemented by new resources designed to help raise the profile of and direct visitors to Brisbane’s tourism attractions and experiences.

“Brisbane Marketing has just launched its latest Brisbane Visitor Guide, which is the definitive go-to publication covering tourism attractions, events, food and drink, fashion and shopping arts and culture as well as sport and recreation,” he said.

“The new-and-improved visitor guide highlights our diverse city precincts and focuses on the wonderful attractions and experiences in our surrounding local government areas.

“The 50-page visitor guide will also be distributed to visitor information centres regionally and further afield and will be updated every six months.

“Additionally, Brisbane Marketing has produced a new Brisbane map, providing visitors with an easy-to-read guide to get around the city, including information about our varied precincts, must-see experiences and attractions and public transport.”

Cr Quirk said Brisbane Marketing was also improving its services to the tourism industry by launching a new online Industry Toolbox to keep operators up to date with its activities.

“The Industry Toolbox offers tourism operators a one-stop-shop of Brisbane Marketing’s campaigns, event calendars, images, itineraries and a host of useful destination content for operators to pass on to visitors,” he said.

“These initiatives follow the launch of the revamped VisitBrisbane website at visitbrisbane.com.au earlier this year.

“The comprehensive and interactive site for visitors and locals alike allows residents to sign up and register their own special events and helps travellers experience the region like a local.

“VisitBrisbane attracted more than 214,000 unique visitors and 806,000 page views last month and is fully adaptable to mobile phones, tablets and PCs.”

For more information on the Industry Toolbox, go to www.visitbrisbane.com.au/Information/Industry-Toolbox

WWW.BRISBANEMARKETING.COM.AU

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VECCI Chief Executive Mark Stone said VECCI has welcomed today's announcement by the State Government of a $50 million commitment to widen the Tullamarine Freeway from Melrose Drive to Melbourne Airport.

"This follows Victorian Labor's pledge to proceed with the project if elected to government, so the bipartisan support for this vital infrastructure project is a win for our state," Mr Stone said.

"This project will create 200 construction jobs and improve reliability and cut travel times for residents and businesses who rely on this crucial road.

"We also welcome the Federal Government's $200 million contribution to the project.

"The bipartisan support is an acknowledgement of the importance of Melbourne Airport to our state, for Victorians, as well as for business and recreational travellers.

"VECCI is pleased another of our Taking Care of Business state election agenda priorities has been adopted by both major parties for the good of our state."

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The Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) is the most influential body for employers in Victoria, informing and servicing more than 15,000 members, customers and clients around the state.

vecci.org.au  

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AMMA, the Australian Mines and Metals Association, welcomes a decision by the full bench of the Fair Work Commission (FWC) to stop a union from trying to undo important workplace safety measures regarding employer drug and alcohol testing policies, specifically the employer’s use of both urine and oral/saliva testing procedures.

In the full bench appeal of DP World Brisbane and Others vs Maritime Union of Australia, the FWC has clarified that:

• Employers have, as they must always have, capacity to determine the form of testing (urine, oral or a mix of both) that will best manage safety risks in their individual workplaces.
• Deputy President Anna Booth fell into ‘significant error’ in her earlier decision trying to limit the use of urine testing on the basis that it is ‘unjust and unreasonable’.

The decision is significant for all mining, construction and other resource related workplaces that have responsibly used breath, oral and urine testing for more than 30 years to minimise potential harm to employees and others, in addition to removing a known safety risk.

“Resource industry employers take an uncompromising, professional and rigorous approach to managing occupational health and safety risks in their workplaces,” says AMMA chief executive Steve Knott.

“Workplace safety relies on vigilance and clarity on the duties and obligations of both employers and employees. Today’s decision is a positive development for safer workplaces throughout Australia.

“Mining, oil and gas employers have long been at the very forefront of managing health and safety risks, and reducing fatalities and injuries globally. Countless safe work initiatives benefitting millions of people have been developed through our industry.

“The industry is very proud of what employers and employees do every day to make our workplaces safer and makes no apologies for not compromising on taking the best possible approaches to potential safety risks.”

AMMA’s longstanding view is that the Fair Work Commission should not have the power to diminish any organisation’s capacity to meet their OHS obligations and how, based on professional advice and expertise, they manage safety.

This critical point will be pursued by AMMA in its advocacy on much needed future workplace relation reforms designed to ensure employers’ rights to manage effectively are not eroded by erroneous claims by third parties.

www.amma.org.au

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