NOMINATIONS are now open for the prestigious Melbourne Awards, recognising the positive contributions of individuals and organisations to the local community. 

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said this year's Melbourne Awards would mark 20 years of celebrating locals shaping the city for the better. 

“The Melbourne Awards are our city’s highest accolade, recognising the talented Melburnians who make extraordinary contributions to our community," Cr Capp said.

“Over the past two decades, we’ve been shining a light on the incredible work of so many Victorians who have gone above and beyond to drive innovation, create inclusive communities, ignite our creative sector and share ideas about the future of our city. 

“Our people make our city the great place that it is, and we want to showcase their efforts. If you know an inspirational Melburnian, nominate their work for a Melbourne Award.” 

There are eight categories for the 2022 Melbourne Awards: 

• Community – celebrating projects and activities that enhance the wellbeing of residents. 
• Knowledge and Innovation – recognising bold ideas shaping the city’s bright future. 
• Arts and Events – highlighting work to build Melbourne’s reputation as Australia’s cultural capital. 
• Urban Design – showcasing projects and organisations that are shaping the city’s skyline. 
• Hospitality – acknowledging the restaurants, bars and hospitality venues creating unforgettable experiences. 
• Sustainability – focusing on positive contributions to the environment and initiatives that educate, connect and inspire others. 
• Aboriginal Melbourne - Ganbu Guljin – promoting work that improves cultural understanding and supports the Aboriginal community. 
• LGBTIQ+ – shining a light on efforts to support and promote diversity, social connection and participation.

Previous Melbourne Award winners include the creators of compostable cling wrap, the developers of an app to support health care workers, and a program supporting Aboriginal art in prison. 

Applications for the 2022 Melbourne Awards are open from May 2 to June 30. For more information or to nominate someone, visit the Melbourne Awards website. 

Winners will be announced at the Melbourne Awards ceremony in November as part of a special televised broadcast on Channel 9. 

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THEE $220 million announcement by the Federal Government to support Aussie timber production, manufacturing and research is good news for builders, according to Master Builders Australia.

“Master Builders has been calling for this type of action to address timber shortages in the future and boost local industry capability,” Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn said.

“The acute shortage of timber and reliance on imports to meet excess demand has contributed to massive spikes in the price of timber.

“We do not have enough planation timber to supply housing needs in the future,” Ms Wawn said.  

“It’s in Australia’s national interest to secure our local timber supply by ensuring our timber plantation stock can meet future housing demand.

“A joint report released last year by Master Builders Australia (MBA)  and the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) shows Australia is headed towards a major cliff in timber framing production, concluding we will be 250,000 house frames short by 2035 – the equivalent of the cities of Newcastle and Geelong combined,” she said.

“In Australia, there is one company in WA manufacturing laminated veneer lumber (LVL) timber. We should have the local capability here in Australia to do more manufacturing of structural engineered wood products.

“More also needs to be done to address shortages, cost increases and delays causing the current cost and cashflow crunch being experiencd by the industry,” Ms Wawn said.

In response to trades and materials pressures facing the construction sector, Master Builders is seeking the following from government:

• · Incentives to improve sovereign capacity in product supply.
• · Better coordination with industry, states, and territories to facilitate greater investment in softwood plantations to meet long-term structural timber needs.
• · Government taking a more active role in enabling trade access arrangements for imported building products.
• · Investment in and boosting Australian building product manufacturing and product appraisal/traceability capabilities.

www.masterbuilders.com.au

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THE Smart Energy Council has slammed the Morrison Government’s announcement of $250 million to oil refineries as a “drop in the refinery in response to a fuel security crisis”.

“Providing $250 million to address a fuel security crisis is like putting $1 in the tank when you’re running out of petrol,” Smart Energy Council chief executive John Grimes said.

“After nine years of inaction from the Federal Government, Australia is facing a genuine fuel security crisis. If Australia’s supply routes are blocked, we have at most three weeks of supply before we run out of petrol and diesel.”

“Australia’s fuel security is an absolute disgrace. We desperately need a national fuel security policy and a national energy policy," he said.

“Scott Morrison’s gift to the oil companies and a short term drop in fuel excise is no substitute for a comprehensive plan.

“Australia needs to be investing in electric vehicles and zero emissions transport, renewable energy and renewable hydrogen, creating the jobs and industries of the future.

“We cannot dither any longer. We need national leadership on this critical issue.”

Emergency Fuel Security Summit, Sydney, April 21

The Smart Energy Council will be hosting an emergency Fuel Security Summit at the Hilton Hotel, Sydney, on April 21, to call for a national fuel security strategy. Keynote speakers include:

• Admiral Chris Barrie AC, Chief of Australian Defence Force 1998-2002;
• Professor Ross Garnaut AC, chairman Sunshot Zero Carbon Futures and director ZEN Energy;
• Zali Steggall MP, Member for Warringah;
• Cheryl Durrant, executive member, Australian Security Leader's Climate Group;
• Councillor, the Climate Council;
• Behyad Jafari, CEO Electric Vehicle Council;
• Richie Merzian, director Climate and Energy Program, The Australia Institute; and
• Allegra Spender, Independent candidate for Wentworth.

The Smart Energy Council is an independent peak body for the solar, energy storage and renewable energy industry.

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A 55-YEAR-OLD Melbourne former tax accountant was recently sentenced in the County Court to three years jail for tax fraud.

Immanuel Shmuel was convicted of attempting to obtain a financial advantage of more than $390,000 by amending his Business Activity Statements (BAS) to reduce his existing debt and receive a refund.

As the director, owner and authorised tax representative of E.C Services Pty Ltd (a bank franchisee), Mr Shmuel failed to lodge his BAS between July 2012 and June 2014. The ATO commenced an audit looking into the missing BAS, which resulted in almost $200,000 raised in outstanding debt and penalties.

When Mr Shmuel failed to pay the amount owing, the ATO applied to the Supreme Court to have the company wound up. But in the meantime, over a two day period, Mr Shmuel lodged 66 false BAS revisions, deliberately reducing the pay as you go (PAYG) withholding to nil.

Not only did this eliminate the debt, but it also created a purported credit of $144,538. Further investigations found the revisions were entirely fraudulent. Mr Shmuel subsequently requested a refund of the credit amount; however, the ATO did not pay out the refund.

Mr Shmuel’s tax practitioner registration was also terminated, and he has not lodged a new registration since.

ATO Assistant Commissioner Megan Croaker welcomed the sentence and said it reflected the serious nature of Mr Shmuel’s crimes.

“Tax professionals play an integral role in supporting the tax and super systems for all Australians," Ms Croaker said.

“We have a shared interest with registered agents, the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) and tax professional associations to protect the community and the integrity of Australia’s tax and super system.

“Those people who try to evade or cheat the system will get caught and firm action will be taken. We have systems in place to detect this type of behaviour and it will not be tolerated.

“We welcome the sentence and will continue to work with tax professionals to ensure the integrity of the system and to protect honest tax professionals and the community from these types of crimes,” Ms Croaker said.

This matter was prosecuted by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.

www.ato.gov.au

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