THE Queensland Government is asking Queenslanders to nominate to host an event during 2014 Queensland Small Business Week.

The Queensland Government wants to position Queensland Small Business Week, from September 1-6, as a positive catalyst for business development on the annual business calendar.

Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games Jann Stuckey said the Queensland Government was looking for as many government, industry and community groups to get involved by hosting an event, as a way of “celebrating the commitment, efforts and passion of the largest group of employers in the state”.

“Queensland Small Business Week is a chance to celebrate the contribution small business (people) make and remind Queenslanders of the importance of buying locally,” Ms Stuckey said.

“This government is unashamedly pro-small business and committed to growing a strong and prosperous small business sector, cutting red tape by 20 percent by 2018.”

The week features a comprehensive calendar of events and activities such as seminars, workshops, webinars and networking events.

The events are hosted by business, industry and community groups across the state, with numbers expected to exceed the 4500 direct attendees last year.

All business is invited to take part in the week, whether as an attendee or as an event host, Ms Stuckey said.

Each event is promoted through the Queensland Government’s online business and industry portal and social media, providing an opportunity for businesses to showcase to people throughout the state.

“The events are designed to help people learn how to start or grow a small business, gain new ideas and inspiration, network with other businesses, or gain a better understanding of the support available,” Ms Stuckey said.

The statistics show the importance of small business to the Queensland economy. The 403,000 small businesses in Queensland employ about one million people and account for close to 95 percent of all Queensland business.

Organisations can nominate to host an event visit the 2014 Queensland Small Business Week through the website.

www.business.qld.gov.au/smallbusinessweek

ends

BOTH major parties should be concentrating on generating jobs for Victorians in the lead up to the November election following today’s disappointing unemployment figures, according to Victoria's most influential employers’ group.

With another 15,000 Victorians looking for work as unemployment jumps from 6.2 per cent to 6.5 per cent (seasonally adjusted), both parties should be looking for initiatives to encourage employment.

The chief executive of the Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) Mark Stone said that lifting the threshold at which a business starts paying payroll tax to $850,000 would bring payroll relief to 40,000 Victorian businesses.

"It would generate jobs almost instantly,” said Mr Stone.

"Employers across the state have told me that payroll tax is a major disincentive to employing more staff.

"It must be lifted from the current threshold of $550,000 to $850,000.

“These figures show that youth unemployment is a major concern, especially with a 20 per cent drop in apprenticeships in the past 12 months."

Mr Stone said the figures highlight the need to progress job-creating infrastructure projects throughout Victoria, such as East West Link Stages 1 and 2 and regional projects such as Ballarat Railway Station and Geelong’s Yarra Street Pier redevelopment.

These projects will create significant direct and indirect employment, benefit metropolitan and regional business and have an apprenticeship and traineeship element which will boost youth employment.

Mr Stone has spoken to leaders of both major parties in recent days about these issues, urging them to adopt VECCI’s recommendations.

"Victoria has a solid economic base but our potential will not be realised without policies that drive greater investment and business activity,” said Mr Stone.

www.vecci.org.au  

ENDS

PRESENTED by the Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC), in association with Tourism Victoria.

Where: The Pier Precinct, 10 Western Beach Foreshore, Geelong

When: 14-15 July, 2014

Why: Showcases a diverse program of local, national and international speakers with a focus on building profitable and sustainable businesses and a resilient tourism industry.

What: Guests will be exposed to industry experts and peers, information on the latest trends and practical workshops to enhance skills relevant to growing a business in the sector.

Attendees: Over 330 tourism industry professionals.

Speakers:

Dianne Smith, Chief Executive, VTIC on the need for industry and governments of all levels to work together to drive sector growth.

The Hon. Dr Denis Napthine MP, Premier of Victoria on the importance of tourism to the state’s prosperity.

The Hon. Louise Asher MP, Minister for Tourism and Major Events on the strategy to drive growth in the sector. 

Anna Pollock (Conscious Travel UK): consultant, strategist, international speaker, change agent and a recipient of The Visionary of the Year Award from the Canadian tourism industry.

John O’Sullivan (Managing Director, Tourism Australia): former executive with Fox Sports, Events Queensland, Football Federation Australia and member of the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Organising Committee.

Dr Jason Fox: motivation strategy and design expert who shows forward thinking leaders how to influence work culture, drive progress and build for the future.

Michael Gudinski, Chairman, The Mushroom Group of Companies: rock guru, music mogul, mushroom man and widely recognised as one of the most important figures in the history of the Australian music industry.

Full program and schedule http://victourismconference.com.au/programs/

The Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) is the peak body for Victoria’s tourism and events industry, providing one united industry voice.

Tourism and events are growth industries for Victoria and contribute $19.6 billion to the state economy each year and employ more than 200,000 people.

www.vtic.com.au

ends

Resource industry employer group AMMA (Australian Mines and Metals Association) statement by Scott Barklamb - Executive Director Policy & Public Affairs:

AUSTRALIA’S resource industry congratulates the governments of Australia and Japan for the signing of the Japan Australia Economic Partnership Agreement (Free Trade Agreement).

In Canberra today, Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Prime Minister Shinzō Abe have created significant long-term bilateral economic opportunities for decades to come.

This historic agreement strengthens ties with one of Australia’s most valuable trade partners and is a significant milestone for our national resource industry, which currently contributes about 80% of total export goods to Japan.

Japanese demand for coal, iron ore and natural gas has been a strong driver of Australia’s export revenue and economic prosperity, with $36.2bn worth of trade in these commodities in the 2012-13 financial year alone.

Today’s Free Trade Agreement is perfectly timed with Australia emerging as a global powerhouse of LNG production and bullish economic growth likely to see Japanese energy demand increase exponentially.

It is vital that after a record decade of resource project investment that Australia positions itself to be a primary supplier of energy to the major economic powers of the Asia Pacific region.

We have the natural resources, the expertise, skills and technology.

To see new opportunities presented by this FTA come to market, we must capitalise on our competitive advantages while addressing those areas in which our nation has fallen behind.

This includes building a stable and globally competitive taxation system, having the courage to deliver meaningful, long-term workplace relations reform, and maximising the productive output of Australian industries and services.

www.amma.org.au

ends