THE House of Representatives Environment and Energy Committee is continuing its inquiry into modernising Australia’s electricity grid. As part of the inquiry, the Committee is encouraging members of the community to share their views on the electricity system via an online questionnaire.

The Chair of the Committee, Andrew Broad MP, said that input from individuals, households, and businesses is a valuable part of the inquiry.

“The Committee would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to complete the questionnaire. We have received thousands of responses to date and are looking forward to receiving more responses as the inquiry progresses,” Mr Broad said.

The Deputy Chair of the Committee, Mr Pat Conroy MP, said the Committee had received evidence about the important role for consumers in shaping the future of the electricity grid.

“New technology is changing the way in which consumers interact with the grid. It is important for the Committee to understand these changes, and how consumers’ expectations of the electricity system are likely to evolve into the future,” Mr Conroy said.

Further information is available on the inquiry website, at www.aph.gov.au/moderngrid.

Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website.

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TWO decisions of the Fair Work Commission take effect this weekend –  an immediate 3.3 percent increase in the minimum wage; and a staged variation in penalty rates under the Hospitality, Fast Food, Retail and Pharmacy Awards.

The decision does not apply to people employed under enterprise agreements or in other sectors for example nurses, police and paramedics.

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Kate Carnel said, "Small business operators will be paying more in wages to their employees from this weekend. The minimum wage increase is significantly higher than inflation and helps offset the initial reduction in Sunday penalty rates.

"Big business and unions have made deals in the past through enterprise agreements which traded penalty rates for union membership.

"Small businesses don’t have the capacity to negotiate enterprise agreements and continue to grapple with the most complex award system in the world.

"The Fair Work Commission decision is welcomed as a positive first step towards modernising the system," Ms Carnell said.

"It’s a shame that unions are running a scare campaign against the penalty rates decision of the independent umpire while accepting the higher minimum wage."

www.asbfeo.gov.au

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THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security has today presented a bipartisan report on the Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016.

The Bill introduces laws to manage national security risks of espionage, sabotage and foreign interference to Australia’s telecommunications networks and facilities.

The Committee recommends that the Bill be passed by the Parliament, and makes 12 further recommendations for improvements to the proposed framework.

“I am pleased to present a bipartisan report on this important piece of national security legislation”, the Chair of the Committee, Mr Andrew Hastie MP, said.

“The Committee recognises that protecting telecommunications infrastructure requires a joint partnership between Government and industry. Our recommendations will strengthen the proposed security framework by providing greater clarity and certainty for industry, encouraging information-sharing by the Government, and enhancing the transparency of the regime’s operation”, Mr Hastie added.

The Committee’s recommendations include:

• providing further clarity in guidelines to industry on the extent of the framework’s application in areas such as cloud computing and over-the-top services,
• ensuring effective and regular information-sharing between government and industry, in particular in relation to threat information,
• introducing a specific obligation for industry to notify government of any new or amended offshoring arrangements in relation to retained telecommunications data, and
• specifying annual reporting requirements in the legislation.

The Committee has also recommended that the framework be reviewed after three years to ensure it is operating effectively.

During its inquiry, the Committee received written submissions from industry, government and academia and held public hearings on the Bill. The inquiry followed several rounds of consultation with industry and the public since 2012.

The full report can be accessed via the Committee’s website.

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THE National Transport Commission (NTC) yesterday released the latest package of proposed amendments to the Australian Road Rules (ARRs) for public consultation.

Chief Executive of the NTC Paul Retter said the rules are periodically reviewed to ensure they remain consistent and contemporary.

“The proposed changes aim to harmonise the road rules across the states and territories to improve road user safety. For example, in November 2016 transport ministers agreed to pursue a national approach to motorcycle lane filtering which is included in this proposed amendment package,” Mr Retter said.

The changes take into account feedback from consultation with police and road agency representatives from each of the states and territories, as well as a Commonwealth representative.

Other key changes include:

• new load restraint requirements to improve clarity about legal obligations
• updating technology-based terminology for rules that govern the use of visual display units and mobile phones
• new rules that impose restrictions on drivers’ use of ‘bus only’ lanes.

The draft amendments and a document explaining the proposed changes are available on the NTC website. Submissions are open until 5pm, Friday, 11 August 2017.

Feedback from this consultation will inform the amendment package that will be presented to the transport ministers for approval at the Transport and Infrastructure Council meeting in November 2017.

Once approved, each state and territory will move to adopt changes by passing legislation to amend local transport laws.

Introduced in 1999, the Australian Road Rules contain the basic road rules for motorists, motorcyclists, cyclists, pedestrians, passengers and other road users. They form the basis of the road rules adopted in legislation by each Australian state and territory. As model laws, they have no legal effect of their own.

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THE Joint Select Committee on Government Procurement today released its final report into the Australian Government’s procurement rules, including a range of recommendations for improving the rules on how the Government spends its money.

The Committee’s recommendations include:

• amending the rules to require all goods purchased by the Australian Government to comply with national standards;
• the introduction of policies to promote environmentally sustainable procurement and best practice terms and conditions for subcontractors;
• the appointment of an independent Industry Advocate to provide support for businesses to access Commonwealth contracts, to provide advice to government agencies, and to evaluate and monitor the economic benefit associated with government procurement; and
• the publication of comprehensive guidelines to inform officials’ application of the rules in a consistent, transparent and equitable manner.

Committee Chair Senator Nick Xenophon believes the new procurement rules, introduced in March, have the potential to deliver significant benefit to the Australian economy by providing important support to Australian industry.

“Implemented effectively, the new rules will enable a broader, more accurate consideration of value-for-money in procurement decision making,” Senator Xenophon said.

“However, their impact will be dampened unless the Australian Government act swiftly to address the implementation concerns identified in this report.

“A national Industry Advocate, cast on the highly successfully South Australian model, is urgently needed to overcome a current procurement culture focused on lowest cost rather than value for money, lacking in transparency and unaware of the benefits of engaging Australian businesses.”

Last financial year, more than $56.9 billion was spent by the Australian Government on the goods and services required to deliver its policy objectives. More than 10,000 businesses were contracted to deliver these items, including 9,595 small to medium businesses.

The Joint Select Committee on Government Procurement was formed to investigate the implementation of the new Commonwealth Procurement Rules, which came into effect on 1 March 2017. The Committee considered how the implementation of the new rules could be strengthened to increase the economic benefit procurement delivers to the Australian economy.

For further information about the Committee, or to view its final report, visit the Committee’s website.

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A PARLIAMENTARY committee today launched an inquiry examining the infrastructure assets and capability in Australia’s Antarctic Territory.

The Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories’ inquiry considers the adequacy of Australia’s infrastructure assets and capability in Antarctica with regard to:

• maintaining national interests;
• serving the scientific program into the future;
• international engagement, including collaboration and resource sharing with other countries;
• fostering economic opportunities consistent with the Antarctic Treaty System obligations; and
• environmental considerations.

Chair of the Committee, Ben Morton MP, said “The Committee’s inquiry is timely, with 2017 marking the 60th anniversary of Australia’s the Davis Research Station in Antarctica”.

Mr Morton noted that “The last time the Committee considered Australia’s role in Antarctica was in 2005. Significant advancement in scientific capability and technology since the Committee’s previous inquiry provides an opportunity for renewed focus on Australia’s Antarctic assets and capabilities into the future”.

The Committee is seeking submissions from individuals, organisations and government stakeholders addressing one or more of the inquiry’s terms of reference, until 11 August 2017.

Information about how to make a submission to an inquiry can be obtained from the Parliament of Australia webpage.

Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website. 

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JUDGING of the 2017 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards is now underway, with a list of Top 20 Retailers already announced ahead of the Awards breakfast on Thursday August 3, at the National Gallery of Victoria.

With the coveted 2017 Retailer of the Year Award one of the hardest awards to judge, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has re-imagined the selection process and worked with industry experts to determine what constitutes the ‘best in retail’ in the evolving sector.

This year, the ARA commissioned the Australian Consumer, Retail, and Services (ACRS) research unit within the Monash Business School to undertake the ARA’s Top 20 Retailers research project.

The ACRS research provided ARA with an overview of the Top 20 Retailers in Australia from a variety of secondary resources, including IBISWorld reports, annual reports, news articles, and company websites.

Russell Zimmerman, ARA Executive Director, said this revised methodology, coupled with mystery shopping initiatives and field agency surveys, ensures the highest-standard of credibility and integrity in awarding this prestigious award.

“This robust Retailer of the Year adjudication process is vital in deciding the winner of what we consider the greatest honour in the Australian retail industry,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“With the extraordinary calibre of leading Australian retailers in the field, this new meticulous awards process ensures that the impartial panel of judges are well-equipped to decide who is the most deserving of the 2017 Retailer of the Yearcrown.”

While a record number of entries were received by the ARA this year, the ARA’s Top 20 Retailers were determined by several essential factors including; company culture, fiscal performance, corporate responsibility, marketing initiatives and customer engagement strategies.

The 2017 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards: Top 20 Retailers

Tickets to the 2017 Awards Breakfast can be purchased at http://australianretailawards.com.au.

About the eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards:

First held in the 1970s, the eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards are the nation’s longest running and most prestigious retail event, recognising and rewarding outstanding retail businesses, innovations, and individuals across all sectors of retail. Relaunched in 2008, the annual 2017 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards breakfast will commence on Thursday 3 August at Melbourne’s National Gallery of Victoria.

About the Australian Retailers Association:

Founded in 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is the retail industry’s peak representative body representing Australia’s $310 billion sector, which employs more than 1.2 million people. The ARA works to ensure retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 7,500 independent and national retail members throughout Australia. For more information, visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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TECHNOLOGYONE Ltd (ASX: TNE) has provided an update regarding its dispute with Brisbane City Council (BCC) in relation to the LGS Project Contract (Contract).

As disclosed in TechnologyOne’s ASX statement of 3 May 2017, BCC issued TechnologyOne with a Notice to Show Cause on 2 May 2017 (May Notice to Show Cause).

TechnologyOne provided BCC with its detailed response to this notice on 29 May 2017. On 20 June 2017, BCC informed TechnologyOne that they would not be terminating the Contract on the basis of the May Notice to Show Cause.

On 30 May 2017, TechnologyOne issued BCC with a Notice to Show Cause for failure to pay invoices for Milestones 7 and 8, which is a material breach of the Contract. Payment of $750,000 was received from BCC for these Milestones on 23 June 2017 which has remedied this breach.

On 26 June 2017, BCC issued TechnologyOne with a second Notice to Show Cause (June Notice to Show Cause). The June Notice to Show Cause covers many of the same issues in the May Notice to Show Cause that BCC did not act upon. This Notice also ignores TechnologyOne’s bona fide requests for extensions of time under the Contract due to BCC’s conduct.

TechnologyOne will again vigorously defend its position in its response to this notice.

TechnologyOne has recommended expedited arbitration to resolve issues. BCC has not accepted expedited arbitration which would allow these issues to be resolved and the project put back on track.

TechnologyOne Executive Chairman, Adrian Di Marco said: “Our attempts to resolve this dispute and reach a pragmatic and mutually beneficial arrangement with BCC continue. However, BCC appears to be committed to resolution by way of legal proceedings rather than commercial negotiation.

“As a legal tactic, BCC is now insisting that TechnologyOne configure a system for BCC strictly in accordance with the 2015 Contract that does not meet BCC’s current business requirements. BCC’s business processes have changed since 2015. In October 2016, BCC provided updated business process requirements that expanded the scope of the project. BCC have refused to issue a contract amendment and TechnologyOne is being asked to now configure a system for BCC that does not reflect BCC’s current business processes.

“This demonstrates that BCC is no longer genuinely committed to working with TechnologyOne to deliver this project. BCC is engineering a situation where TechnologyOne is unable to perform against the contract.

“Given these facts, attempted termination of the contract by BCC continues to be the most probable outcome.”

TechnologyOne remains confident of its legal and commercial position under the Contract.

TechnologyOne (ASX:TNE) is Australia’s largest enterprise software company and one of Australia’s top 200 ASX-listed companies, with offices across six countries. 

www.TechnologyOneCorp.com 

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