THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Bruce Billson, has extended the deadline for a survey of women who own and lead businesses.

“There has been a tremendous response so far - it is clear there is an appetite to engage, and we want to give more women business owners and leaders the chance to be heard,” Mr Billson said.

The survey launched earlier this month and is aimed at identifying any unique challenges and opportunities faced by women who own and lead businesses. It will now remain open until October 29. 

“A lot of business entrepreneurs that are women are those who have solved a problem in their life, shared that with their friends who thought, ‘Yes, you can do the same thing for me,’ and then that turns into, you know, a side hustle and then on to a business,” Mr Billson said in an interview on Bathurst radio.

“And, frankly, with COVID, there’s been more problems to solve than ordinarily has been the case and we think if we can energise women’s entrepreneurship that will be fantastic in terms of women’s economic empowerment but really fab for the economy and livelihoods more generally.

“The survey’s trying to say to women business leaders and entrepreneurs, what kind of roadblock’s have you run into? Have there been needless headwinds that have stood between you and your business ambition?”

The confidential survey can be accessed by visiting the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman website at www.asbfeo.gov.au or directly at: WOWL survey

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NEWLY sworn-in Federal Government Science Minister Melissa Price will give her first major speech at the Collaborate Innovate 2021 conference today (October 19, 1.20 to 1.30pm).

Ms Price will outline the government’s vision for Cooperative Research Centres, and how industry-led research can spawn new innovations and commercialised technologies for Australia.

Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation Ed Husic will speak on Wednesday (Oct 20, 9:30-10am).

Conference Speakers include:

• Professor Bronwyn Fox, Chief Scientist CSIRO
• Jeff Connolly, CEO Siemens Australia
• Victoria Treadell, British High Commissioner
• Edwin Chow, Assistant CEO Enterprise Singapore
• Professor Mariana Mazzucato, professor in the Economics of Innovation and Public Value at University College London (UCL)
• Dr Katherine Woodthorpe AO (2021 Ralph Slatyer Address)
• Dr Cathy Foley, Chief Scientist of Australia
• Professor Caroline McMillan, Chief Scientist of South Australia
• Professor Hugh Possingham, Queensland Chief Scientist

https://collaborateinnovate.com.au/program/

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POTENTIAL for expanding the aquaculture industry in Australia has been a frequent theme among contributors to a federal parliamentary committee inquiry.

The House Agriculture and Water Resources Committee will hear evidence from the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centrethis week as part of its current inquiry into Australia’s aquaculture sector.  

The Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre, based in Tasmania, brings together industry, government and research partners with expertise in aquaculture, marine renewable energy and maritime engineering. It delivers targeted training and research to support innovation in commercially-viable and sustainable offshore developments.

Committee Chair, Rick Wilson MP, noted that the topic of offshore aquaculture production and its potential for expanding the aquaculture industry in Australia has been a frequent theme among submitters and witnesses to this inquiry.

"This hearing is an opportunity for the committee to learn more about the significant research and development currently being undertaken by the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre to support new and innovative approaches to aquaculture production in Australian waters," Mr Wilson said.

For further information, please visit the inquiry website.

Public hearing details

Date: Thursday, 21 October 2021
Time: 10.15am to 10:55am AEST

A live audio stream of the hearing will be accessible at: www.aph.gov.au/live

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THE Northern Australia Committee has tabled the final report of its Inquiry into the destruction of 46,000 year old caves at the Juukan Gorge in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. 

The report follows on from the work of the committee’s interim report Never Again tabled on the December 9, 2020. Despite the impact of Covid-19 the committee has produced a complete examination of the issues brought to light throughout the inquiry.

The final report titled, A Way Forward, emphasises that what happened at Juukan Gorge is not unique. It is an extreme example of the destruction of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage which continues to happen in this country.

Importantly, the report highlights the need for legislative change at Commonwealth, State and Territory levels to ensure the protection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage.

Upon tabling the final report today, committee chair Warren Entsch said, "The destruction of the caves was a disaster beyond reckoning for the Puutu Kunti Kurrama People and Pinikura people, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage as a whole.

"This disaster was a wakeup call that there are serious deficiencies in the protection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage. What is needed now is a way forward, for both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and industry."

During the inquiry, the committee heard a great number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage protection issues. Each incident of heritage destruction or threat that was discussed compounded the clear need for change.

Mr Entsch discussed that, from the significant volume of evidence received by the committee, it was clear that extensive changes were required to ensure the protection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples cultural heritage.

"Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been let down by the Commonwealth, State and Territory governments as well as industry," Mr Entsch said.

"In making these recommendations today, the committee and I want to bring about meaningful change. Failures to protect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage must stop here."

The report makes eight recommendations focusing on legislative change that will enhance Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s cultural heritage protections.

Among other things, the committee found:

• There is a need for an overarching Commonwealth legislative framework which should be developed through a process of co-design with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Administration responsibility of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 and the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 should be transferred to the Minister for Indigenous Australians.
• There should be an Australian Government review of the Native Title Act 1993.
• The Australian Government should endorse and commit to implementing Dhawura Ngilan: A Vision for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage in Australia.
• There is a need for the development of a model for cultural heritage truth telling.
• There is a need to establish an independent fund to administer funding of prescribed body corporates under the Native Title Act 1993.

"I am very proud of the hard work of the committee that went into the development of this report. I am very pleased with the recommendations that have been made to tackle the problem of inadequate cultural heritage protection for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples," Mr Entsch said.

"In tabling this report it is the committee's desire that we will Never Again see an event such as Juukan Gorge and that as a country we now have A Way Forward to protect the world’s oldest living culture."

A copy of the report can be obtained from the Committee’s website or from the secretariat on (02) 6277 4162.

Further details of the inquiry, including terms of reference, can be found on the Committee’s website.

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