THE Global Apprenticeship Network Australia (GAN Australia) today announced National Skills Week will kick off 26 August.

During the week, GAN Australia will showcase apprenticeships and the way they can not only help students find their ideal career, but also they can help to address Australia’s skills shortage.  The purpose of the week each year is to celebrate and inform students and the wider public of the diversity and career pathways available through Vocational Education and Training Sector (VET), with announcements of emerging trends and new growth drivers connecting skills training with job outcomes.  

The theme for National Skills Week 2019 is Real Skills for Real Careers.

Gary Workman, GAN Australia’s executive director, said, “This is a great time to celebrate our successes, but it’s also the perfect time to highlight how apprenticeships can help students identify areas where there are jobs.  

"More than 65 percent of our youth go straight into university from secondary school without understanding the employment and career pathway options that are available.  We know that the majority of college graduates will not find jobs in their area of study.  We also know that Australia is suffering with serious skills shortages.

“We are in the process of establishing a national steering committee that will meet on 19 September and we invite any interested businesses to join us.  The steering committee will tackle current issues and promote best practices for two key areas.  The first is to help businesses attract and retain staff in a tough, ever-challenging business environment.  And at the same time, address youth unemployment.  

"The national youth unemployment average is 11 percent, but it can be as high as 28 percent in pockets around Australia.  Apprenticeships can help to solve both of these issues."

GAN brings businesses together to identify skill shortages where the apprenticeship model can help young people fulfill these shortfalls.  The move supports Australian companies in offering apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities, which have been on the decline.  Commencement numbers have been falling for the past four years and completion rates remain stubbornly low at the same time as Australia’s need for targeted, skilled workers continues to grow.

Apprenticeship programmes are vital to fulfilling employers’ needs and lowering youth unemployment in the future, according to GAN:

• They ensure that trainings matches the needswithin a company or industry.
• The programmes keep employers and employees up-to-date with changesin technology, work practices, and market dynamics.
• They link classrooms and workplace training so that young people acquire relevant skills.
• They equip young people with critically important core skills, such as problem solving, teamwork, and communication.
• They offer young people an income and real work experience. 
• They help young people clear the hurdle of having no job experience, a barrier that prevents many other graduates from securing their first job.

About Apprenticeship Employee Network (AEN)

The Apprenticeship Employment Network (AEN) is the peak industry body representing not for profit group training companies across Victoria and is part of a national network of group training associations.  This national network employs over 25,000 apprentices and trainees, Australia’s largest employer of apprentices and trainees.

Within Victoria AEN through its members, employs over 6500 apprentices and trainees across all industry sectors, which is supported by a network of 10000+ host employers – small to medium size businesses. AEN provides support and leadership to its members in the areas of advocacy, negotiation and policy setting at both the State and National level. These functions are achieved by working with governments, industry, as well as individual enterprises.

The core activity of the members of AEN is the employment and vocational training of young people to the levels and in the method set out in the Australian Qualification Framework. AEN is unique in that it represents a network of companies which not only spans the state of Victoria but represents an integrated network that has developed in a planned and structured way. The enduring asset achieved as a result of this planned process is a well-developed and cohesive communication network. Since AEN’s inception this communication network has developed so that it can deal with both operational and policy issues, and can do this at all levels of group training operation.

In addition to supporting the needs of its constituent member companies, AEN provides a variety of support to small business and to schools. Over the past few years AEN has played a major role in the development of Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Schools and is an active promoter of school based apprenticeships.

About GAN Australia

The GAN is a business-driven alliance with the overarching goal of encouraging and linking business initiatives on skills and employment opportunities for youth - notably through apprenticeships. The GAN is a network where private sector companies, business federations and associations come together to share best practices,to advocate and to commit to action around youth employability and skills development. The initiative is driven by business leaders, who use this global platform to promote apprenticeship and internship programmes worldwide. They reach out in their respective countries and industries to mitigate the youth unemployment and skills mismatch crises. At the same time they strengthen their companies' competitive strategies by investing in their workforces.

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THE Palaszczuk Government’s first Royalty Deferral and Repayment Agreement to support the development of New Century Zinc Mine should be a model for other projects to attract more investment and create more jobs, Queensland Resources Council (QRC) chief executive Ian Macfarlane said.

Mr Macfarlane said the agreement was under the State Government’s 2017 Resources Regional Development Framework for new developments in the North-West Minerals Province and Galilee and Surat basins and QRC welcomed the government’s acknowledgement it would “provide a precedent for similar arrangements in the future”.

“The resources sector is projected to pay more than $5.4 billion – or more than $100 million every week - in royalty taxes to the Queensland Government this financial year,” he said.

“Royalties paid to the Queensland Government have more than doubled over the last five years, up from $2 billion in 2014-15.

“The agreement means royalties will be paid in full and with interest, but it also recognises the role of flexibility in application of a stable royalty policy can support the development of new projects, generating new investment, new exports and new jobs for Queensland.”

Mr Macfarlane said projects can also support the development of common-user infrastructure, such as with the New Century Zinc project the continued dredging of the Port of Karumba, making the Port available for other commercial users including the cattle industry.

Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Partnerships Jackie Trad said New Century was a great example of what the RRDF can achieve.

www.qrc.org.au

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NOW is a great time to make your tax-time appointment with your tax agent, according to CPA Australia’s head of external affairs, Paul Drum.

“This year’s tax time has been a little different from previous years, with the rollout of Single Touch Payroll for employers, and the introduction of income statements for employees – instead of the more familiar payment summaries or group certificates,” he said.

“The ATO has reported that 98 percent of all payroll records are now finalised, and that dividend and interest data should be ready by the end of this month. All private health insurance data has also now been matched, which is welcome news in the first year that statements are not required to be sent to policy holders.

“With income statements now ‘tax ready’ and tax time pre-fill information nearly fully available, CPA Australia encourages you to make your tax agent appointment now.

“More than 70 percent of Australian individuals lodge via a tax agent each year, and a good tax agent will help ensure that you claim everything to which you are legally entitled, while keeping you on the right side of the ATO.

“With an increased ATO focus on work-related expense claims, it has never been more important to get it right,” Mr Drum said.

“The ATO has advised it is checking many more tax returns this year, and their most recent list of dodgy deductions includes Lego, weddings, family trips and school fees. The ATO has also warned that it may seek information from your employer to check if you’ve been reimbursed for your claims, and taxpayers have been denied tax deductions for items that are not allowable.

“Life is busy enough without thinking about tax all the time, and for many of us convenience is key - and a tax agent can provide this,” he said. “An added benefit of using a tax agent is that they will have all your pre-fill data on their systems - meaning that unlike self-preparers, you don’t need to worry about going through your myGov account.

“If you use the ATO’s myDeductions app, you can even upload all your information into the ATO’s system for your tax agent to include in your tax return.

“Tax agents help you navigate our complex tax system and guide you on keeping the right records. They can help you calculate capital gains tax on your cryptocurrency holdings, or determine whether that income from your side gigs is assessable. Hint: earning $15,000 in sponsorship and benefits from your Instagram account is most likely to come with some income tax consequences,” Mr Drum said.

Mr Drum also warned that those who have lodged early to claim the low and middle income tax offset may find that the ATO gets in touch with them if their tax return doesn’t match the information they hold. Alternatively, a visit to a tax agent may uncover some additional deductions that should have been included.

“So get in touch with your tax agent now to arrange a time to talk tax, and check out CPA Australia’s tax tips to help you through Tax Time 2019. If you haven’t got a tax agent, find a CPA now.”

QUEENSLAND'S mine workers along with union and government representatives have vowed to share with all their colleagues the new and proven health and safety techniques learnt from this year’s Queensland Mining Industry Health and Safety Conference on the Gold Coast, which finishes today, August 21).

Conference chair and CFMEU safety representative Greg Dalliston said the most important part of all the work that goes into the four-day conference is that all parties implement the necessary changes to improve health and safety.

“Just like carrying the conference bag back with them to work we want all of the delegates to carry with them the critical information about new ways to foster proactive health and safety policies to their respective mine sites. We need everyone to encourage workers to stand up and raise safety issues without fear or retribution,” Mr Dalliston said.

“Tragically we have lost four mine workers and two quarry workers in the past 12 months and it is paramount we work together by exchanging information to make mine sites fatality free.”

The conference, now in its 31st year, heard a panel discussion with Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham, Queensland Resources Council’s chief executive Ian Macfarlane, CFMEU’s district president Stephen Smyth, Commissioner for Mine Safety and Health Kate du Preez and vice-president of the Australian Workers’ Union Mark Raguse on how industry is resolving issues and implementing new policies to safeguard workers.

Mr Macfarlane said industry had already completed half of the safety resets after Minister Lynham called for action across the state.

“Minister Lynham said industry needed to organise two-way conversations with every mine worker on every site with management to complete the state-wide safety reset. Today, we’ve seen Minister Lynham tell Parliament that more than 23,000 workers have done just that,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“That’s more than half and we’re working with the other companies to have the safety reset completed by the end of August.”

A new record of 975 delegates, including from the world’s largest mining companies attended the conference this year with a theme of ‘Working to the Future’. Delegates heard from Brant North who survived a mine accident and has represented Australia at the Paralympics, advocate for countering violent extremism Gill Hicks and big wave surfer and Red Bull Athlete Mark Matthews.

Conference sessions included incident reporting and analysis; dust impacts and controls; cultural improvement and fitness for work.

Sponsors of the conference, held at The Star, included principal sponsor Anglo American, Glencore, Yancoal, Uvex, Peabody and the CFMEU.

www.qrc.org.au

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THE IMPENDING roll out of major government-led transport infrastructure will be good news for thousands of small construction businesses across Australia, according to newly-released forecasts from Master Builders Australia. 

Shane Garrett, Master Builders chief economist said, “Our Master Builders Australia Forecasts: 2019/20 to 2023/24 report released today indicates that engineering and civil construction activity is set to expand strongly until 2021/22, notching up its strongest performance since the mining investment boom at the beginning of the decade.

“As a result of record activity in natural resources investment, the volume of engineering construction had peaked at $142.8 billion in 2012/13. The subsequent slump was heavy, involving a 38.6 percent reduction in activity,” he said. 

“While latest data indicate that engineering construction activity has still been battling tough conditions, the eventual roll out of government-led infrastructure projects will see growth return in the near future,” Mr Garrett said. 

“We forecast that the volume of engineering construction work will expand by 12.5 percent by 2021/22 compared with 2018/19. Thereafter, activity will ease back at the pipeline of infrastructure work comes to an end.

“Both road and railway construction work will see big gains over this period, while the completion of the NBN means that telecommunications related activity will slip back,” Mr Garrett said. 

“At the moment, the actual volume of construction work underway is smaller than it was this time last year. While our forecasts do envisage growth returning, government can help by getting things moving on the ground with more urgency. There is particularly strong scope for this when it comes to small and medium-sized infrastructure projects,” he said. 

“As well as benefiting thousands of small building and construction businesses across Australia, a speedier roll out of infrastructure projects by government would give the wider public real and visible evidence that our economy continues to move forward."

www.masterbuilders.com.au

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THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) said it was disappointing to see reports that engineering firm Aurecon would end its business relationship with Adani "based on ill-informed bullying from anti-resources activists".

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said regional Queenslanders would be the ones who missed out on jobs as a result.

“All businesses and CEOs should stand up to defend the opportunities in our resources sector,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“The resources sector is one of Queensland’s biggest employers. It supports more than 315,000 jobs, and over 262,000 of those jobs are in associated businesses and industries.

“The majority of those supporting jobs are in regional Queensland.

“So it’s disappointing to see any business give in to bullying tactics from activists, many of who are acting illegally to disrupt lives and businesses," Mr Macfarlane said.

“Ultimately every company can make its own business decisions. But it’s local workers who will miss out through the lost opportunities of working on new investments and new resources projects.“

The resources sector creates one in every eight jobs in Queensland and generates one in every five dollars, according to QRC figures.

"It delivers for every Queenslander through more than $5.2 billion in royalty taxes and making up 80 percent of Queensland’s export earnings," Mr Macfarlane said.

“It provides jobs and opportunities in every town and city in Queensland. All Queenslanders should be proud of our resources industry and the incredible things it helps build. 

“We should stand up against the bullying tactics of anti-resources activists, most of who rely on the very industry they demonise for their everyday lives.

“The QRC backs our resources workers and we hope to see everyone in our great industry do the same.”

www.qrc.org.au

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THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has welcomed the Palaszczuk Government’s announcement of new powers to crack down on extremist activists who are risking their own lives and the lives of others with their reckless tactics.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the new offence to prevent dangerous devices being used to shut down public thoroughfares and infrastructure was an important measure to protect everyday citizens simply going about their lives and doing their jobs.

“QRC supports the right of every Queenslander to protest peacefully.  But by locking on to rail lines or blocking trains, activists clearly cross the line to becoming a danger to themselves, to the safety of train drivers and a menace to the wellbeing of the entire community,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“There have been too many near misses from reckless activists who disregard safety by blocking railway lines or roads.

“Safety is the number one priority for everyone who works in or with the resources industry," he said.

“The careless actions of protestors who disrupt rail lines make a mockery of those safety standards.  But hypocritically at the same time those reckless activists are relying on the strict safety environment and skilled staff who work on the rail network to prevent a tragedy.

“Protestors cannot be allowed to flout the law at their own choosing and to continually disrupt lawful business and people going about their day-to-day lives.

“This new power is an important step, but there is more to be done to address the range of disruptive and dangerous tactics activists are using on rail, roads and other infrastructure," Mr Macfarlane said.

“The QRC calls on the entire Parliament to support the Criminal Code (Trespass Offences) Amendment Bill put forward by the LNP to crack down on activists who take part in illegal trespass.”

www.qrc.org.au

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LEGISLATION to close a loophole that lets employers rip off workers who try and do the right thing by contributing to their super through salary sacrifice is welcome, but doesn’t go far enough according to Industry Super Australia.

Industry Super Australia (ISA) has published its submission to the Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Integrity and Other Measures No 1.) Bill 2019, which seeks to close a loophole that has seen employers able to count a worker’s salary sacrifice contribution to their super as the employer’s own contribution.

ISA analysis of 2016-17 ATO data revealed that more than 370,000 Australian workers are currently missing out on $1.5 billion in super entitlements each year because of this loophole.

Despite the previous Parliament considering legislation to close this loophole, for some reason it was never brought on for debate in the Senate, meaning workers are continuing to miss out on their retirement savings, according to ISA chief executive Bernie Dean.

ISA has called on the Federal Government to address the bigger issue of unpaid super, "with one in three workers currently missing out on close to $6 billion in super because dodgy bosses are holding on to the money for themselves, rather than paying it into their employees super account".

"This happens because under the current law, employers are only required to pay super into a workers account quarterly, making it easy for them to hang on to the money and put it back into their business, or only pay a proportion of what the worker is entitled to," Mr Dean said.

"While the salary sacrifice loophole is a serious issue and must be fixed, the proportion of workers impacted by this loophole is around 17 percent of the total number of workers who are not being paid their legal super entitlements.

"In other words, the government’s Bill only fixes 17 percent of the problem."

ISA is calling on the Federal Government to take action on the bigger problem of unpaid super, by committing to change the law and make super payable on pay day.

"Federal politicians currently receive their super on pay day, it’s time there was one rule for everyone," Mr Dean said.

“More than 370,000 workers who think they’re doing the right thing and contributing to their own super are actually being double-crossed by their employers because of this loophole.

“This is one part of a much bigger problem. One in three workers are not getting paid super because dodgy bosses are hanging on to it and keeping it inside their business. It’s daylight robbery," Mr Dean said.

“The government needs to fix the whole problem – not just part of it. The government needs to go further and stop unpaid super once and for all by making super payable on pay day.”

ISA’s submission can be accessed here.

www.industrysuper.com

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