A FEDERAL report into the system of taxpayer subsidies for green activists’ activities reveals the current governance of the system needs an urgent overhaul, according to the Queensland Resources Council.

The report, from the House of Representatives Inquiry into the Register of Environmental Organisations, was handed down today, after launching early last year. 

Queensland Resources Council Chief Executive Michael Roche, who appeared as a witness at one of the Australia-wide hearings last year, said it was high time the light was shone onto the questionable activities of some green activist groups.

‘The myriad of evidence uncovered as a result of the inquiry reveals that some green activists – not all – may have been breaching the rules of the tax system,’ Mr Roche said.

‘Our submission to the inquiry identified alleged breaches of the Tax Act under the rules governing those registered on the Register of Environmental Organisations, on which almost all of the green activist groups are registered.

‘The recommendations from the inquiry include, abolishing the Register of Environmental Organisations, and making all organisations that claim Deductible Gift Recipient Status, come under the Charities Act – a move the QRC strongly endorses.

‘Such changes would ensure any groups using taxpayer funds would have to operate under the Charities Act, which the QRC believes has much stricter governance and rules compared to the existing Register of Environmental Organisations.’

Mr Roche also welcomed the recommendation that each environmental deductible gift recipient organisation must spend at least 25 per cent of its income on actual environmental remediation work.

‘For too long some activist groups have been unfettered in diverting taxpayer subsidised donations to campaigns against sectors such as resources and to litigation to disrupt and delay resource projects,' Mr Roche said.

‘A perfect example is the Australian Conservation Foundation case against the Adani Carmichael coal mine that commenced this week in the Federal Court.’

www.qrc.org.au

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IN PASSING a government bill to end sand mining on North Stradbroke Island in 2019, the Queensland Parliament has delivered a trifecta of pain for the state’s resources sector, according to a statement from Queensland Resources Council (QRC).

"In a mere five weeks the Parliament has backed the Palaszczuk Government’s ill-conceived Chain of Responsibility law which has sent shockwaves through industry and it has created open slather for objections in the courts to mining projects, even allowing people or entities in foreign countries to object to a Queensland mining project," QRC chief executive Michael Roche said.

"To cap it off, the Parliament has backed the government’s bill to close sand mining operations with the loss of up to 153 full time jobs in Sibelco’s mineral sands business.

"There will also be a severe flow-on effect with hundreds more contractors and businesses that rely on the Sibelco mine on the island also greatly impacted. 

"Premature closure of the mine and an inadequate economic transition strategy will be a sure recipe for a social and economic disaster for the Stradbroke Island community.

"At a time when the mining sector is under extreme pressure and losing jobs, Queensland cannot afford the luxury of pandering to minority pressure group demands to shut down a mining operation that has proved to be one of the most responsible, productive and durable in the state.

"The reality is that the evidence from elsewhere in Australia proves that economic diversification and transition from an existing major industry in a community is a long-term process.

"It takes many years to be self-sustaining and requires a far bigger transition package than the proposed $20 million. QRC notes that in the state budget, only $2.5 million was allocated to this package before mid-2017.

"Mineral products from Stradbroke Island are exported around the world and are used for a wide range of everyday items with high quality silica used in glass for bottles and windscreens, plasma TV screens and solar panels."

www.qrc.org.au

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THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is concerned for the future of the retail industry after the Fair Work Commission has today awarded an unmanageable $15.80 a week increase in the minimum wage.

From 1 July 2016, the National Minimum Wage will increase to $672.70 a week, or $17.70 per hour.  For retailers it will see the rate for shop assistants increase by $17.30 per week to $738.80 per week, or $19.44 per hour.

Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said the ARA advocated before the tribunal a realistic and manageable minimum wage increase of no more than $7.90 per week for the retail sector.

“We are obviously concerned about the effects this decision will have on retailers.

“Retailers and young Australians have been reliant on pay rates to enable retail to bring on low-skilled young staff and increase their skill levels, reducing youth unemployment. Many small to medium enterprise retailers are reliant on a minimum wage workforce, and the announcement today to increase wages during this time of low consumer confidence and low growth will sadly result in further job losses and business closures – a very distressing truth for retailers.

“The minimum wage increase, coupled with weak trade figures and penalty rates, will only cause further damage to retailers who are struggling to keep their heads above water as it is. With nervousness during the election period, weakening retail trade figures and global economic concerns the retail industry cannot simply keep up with excessive wage increases.

“The ACTU and SDA aren’t about creating jobs and opportunity but they now continue a low productivity/high wages agenda which will only harm retailers and their employees,” Mr Zimmerman said.

"There appears to have been no if little consideration taken into account of the fragile economy, risk to jobs or low growth for sectors such as retail by the Commission."

About the Australian Retailers Association:

Founded in 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is the retail industry’s peak representative body representing Australia’s $300 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 5,000 independent and national retail members throughout Australia. For more information, visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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THE Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has heralded today’s launch by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry of its key federal election policy platform aimed at boosting Australia’s global competitiveness.

Victorian Chamber Chief Executive Mark Stone said the Victorian Chamber had worked closely with the Australian Chamber in developing the Top 10 in 10: Ten steps towards a more competitive Australia platform.

“Victorian business plays an important role in Australia’s economy and stands to benefit enormously from the policy priorities outlined by the Australian Chamber today,” said Mr Stone.

“Top 10 in 10 outlines recommendations to increase Australia’s global competitiveness through practical measures that encourage innovation, lower business costs, reduce red tape and deliver world class infrastructure.”

“Over the past decade, Australia has fallen from 10th to 21st on the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index, affecting not only our business and economic growth, but also our liveability.”

“We want to see Australia return to the top ten and are seeking a commitment from all political parties to implement reforms that will help us to become more competitive,” said Mr Stone.

The key recommendations outlined in the Top 10 in 10: Ten steps towards a more competitive Australia are: 

1. Give young people a chance to succeed by making it easier for employers to take on apprentices and trainees
2. Ensure government spending is sustainable by reducing it to less than 25% of GDP
3. Help industries grow through workplace regulation that better responds to their needs
4. Let entrepreneurs get on with growing their businesses by reducing government red tape each year
5. Create jobs by allowing employers and employees to negotiate workplace arrangements that best meet their needs
6. Boost incomes by cutting the company tax rate to 25% within ten years through annual reductions
7. Build the transport, communications and energy facilities we need by backing the independent plan of Infrastructure Australia
8. Lower building costs by bringing back the Australian Building and Construction Commission
9. Encourage innovation and value for money by facilitating greater competition in government-funded education, health and aged care services
10. Welcome more international visitors by making visas cheaper and easier to obtain 

For further information visit: www.top10in10.com.au

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, established in 1851, is the most influential business organisation in Victoria, informing and servicing more than 15,000 members, customers and clients around the state.

victorianchamber.com.au

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AUSTRALIAN small business owners have reacted positively to key measures introduced in the recent Federal Budget, new research from MYOB reveals.

Over half (56 percent) of small businesses believe that lowering the company tax rate to 27.5 percent for businesses with up to $10 million in revenue will  have a positive impact.

The latest SME Snapshot also found that SMEs support increasing the instant tax write-off eligibility to include businesses generating up to $10 million in revenue. The survey found that 50 percent of small businesses believe this eligibility increase would benefit their business.

“While this year’s budget has come under fire for favouring big business, the results show that the majority of Australian SMEs believe that lowering the company tax rate is an important reform and will encourage growth.  For every dollar a small business spends with a big business, big businesses spend $2 with small businesses – it is an ecosystem and we need to make sure all parts are healthy,” said Tim Reed, CEO of MYOB.

The survey also revealed that 72 per cent of SMEs agreed growth would be encouraged through widening the definition of a small business. Tim Reed believes this move will result in SMEs feeling less restrained when it comes to planning for business success.

“It’s encouraging to see these barriers to growth removed. The previous system discouraged SMEs to grow beyond $2 million in revenue because they lose the benefits of being a small business. Small businesses often rely on bigger businesses as customers – without stimulating investment in bigger business, small businesses won’t receive the positive flow on effect,” said Mr Reed.

In this month’s survey, small businesses were also asked if they were in favour of the reduction in GST codes from seven to three as part of the government’s BAS simplification trial. Not surprisingly, almost half of the businesses surveyed (47 per cent) were in favour of the new measure.

Youth Jobs PaTH – Prepare, Trial, Hire

SMEs were also asked how likely they would be to employ someone under the age of 25 years through the Federal Government’s new PaTH initiative. Encouragingly, almost a third of SMEs (31 percent) confirmed they were likely or very likely to consider hiring a job seeker through this program. Younger business owners, aged under 40 years, were more likely (58 per cent) to use the program to hire young people.

“I believe we all should be very encouraged by these results. If just a small portion of Australia’s 2M SMEs took part in this new initiative and consider hiring a young Australian it will be a big success. There are nearly a quarter of a million young Australians out of work, so it is great to see SMEs becoming part of the solution to youth unemployment.

“With millennials set to define the future of the Australian workforce, we encourage small businesses to be a part of this internship program, and do what they can to create opportunities for the younger generation,” said Mr Reed.

www.myob.com

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AUSTRALIA’S resource industry employer group, AMMA, strongly encourages Queensland MPs to today vote down proposed legislation that would prematurely end sand mining on North Stradbroke Island in 2019.

“All eyes will be on the Palaszczuk Government today and whether they are truly about ‘delivering jobs now and jobs for the future’, or whether that is just empty rhetoric,” says AMMA executive director Scott Barklamb.

“The transition away from sand mining will impact on the livelihood of hundreds of the island’s best paid employees, both sand miners and those that indirectly rely on the industry.

“The government’s plan to end sand mining in 2019 is highly premature and its failure to undertake a proper regulatory impact statement does not instil a great deal of confidence.

“Any timetable for ending sand mining on North Stradbroke must be supported by a thorough regulatory impact statement and a realistic economic transition plan that supports the island’s residents and community.”

Earlier this month, a Queensland Parliamentary Committee concluded that closing the mine in 2019, instead of the current legislated closure date of 2035, would cripple the island’s economy and community.

Further, Deloitte Access Economics has calculated that ending sand mining on North Stradbroke Island in 2019 (opposed to 2035) would cost the regional economy up to $1 billion.

“A 2019 closure to sand mining risks massively and unnecessarily harming the island’s economic and community well-being,” Mr Barklamb continues.

“This includes significant job losses for the local Indigenous community, which will also lose considerable revenue under an Indigenous Land Use Agreement when sand mining exports from the island come to an end.

“The sand mining employees that can transition to become waiters, baristas or take up other hospitality jobs are going to face a wait before tourism develops to replace mining, and their pay will fall considerably, if they are lucky enough to find a job.

“This is a $1 billion decision that the community of North Stradbroke Island cannot afford for their parliamentary representatives to get wrong.

“AMMA urges state MPs from all sides to today vote down these bills and instead commit to gradually wind-down sand mining over a more sensible timeframe – preferably 2035 but certainly no earlier than 2027.”

www.amma.org.au

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Statement from Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive Mark Stone
 
The Victorian Chamber welcomes the release of the Victorian Auditor-General’s Report on reducing the burden of red tape, which was tabled in Parliament this week.
 
The Victorian Chamber has long championed the cause of red tape reduction, most recently in our 2016-17 State Budget Submission.
 
The Auditor General’s recommendations echo the calls of the Victorian Chamber to increase the level of public reporting on red tape reduction initiatives and to engage with businesses and the community to identify red tape priorities.
 
The report notes that a number of positive practices are being demonstrated by regulators and government agencies, including a sustained focus on red tape reduction; more rigorous assessments of the impact of red tape cuts and improvements in consultation.
 
However, the report also found that more needs to be done to understand how the red tape burden is changing in response to Victoria’s evolving economy, better assess whether past reforms have delivered on their objectives and engage more widely on red tape initiatives across government.
 
The Victorian Chamber will continue to work with the Government, the Red Tape Commissioner and the Commissioner for Better Regulation to reduce the burden of regulation on Victorian business.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, established in 1851, is the most influential business organisation in Victoria, informing and servicing more than 15,000 members, customers and clients around the state.

victorianchamber.com.au

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SILICON DRAGON is bringing its well-known venture and tech forum series to Sydney, to focus on fintech innovations and fast-rising startups in Australia . This founder and investor forum will be held ON May 31 FROM 4PM TO 8PM.

The program will assess the future of disruptive fintech startups and emerging companies that are having an impact in Australia , in Asia and beyond. Speakers include leaders drawn from investors, accelerators and entrepreneurs in the fintech space including Alex Scandurra of Stone & Chalk, Ben Heap of H2Ventures, Andrew Corbett-Jones of Tyro Fintech Hub and James Mabbott of KPMG Innovate. The panelists will explore how Sydney fares as the region's startup hub.

Five Australian founders who were named as winners in the recent Forbes Asia issue, 30 under 30, will take the stage to tell how they are getting ahead in today's competitive marketplace with disruptive technologies and business models.  

The Silicon Dragon Sydney 2016 conference comes at a pivotal time for Asia's rise in technology innovation, and Australia's place in this region's emergence. Welcome remarks will be made by Duncan Challen, Executive Director of the NSW Department of Industry.

Now in its 6th year, Silicon Dragon is led by founder Rebecca Fannin , an expert on global innovation trends, a Forbes contributor, and author of two well-received books - Silicon Dragon (McGraw-Hill, 2008) and Startup Asia (Wiley, 2011), plus co-author of Innovation in Emerging Markets (Palgrave Macmillan, 2016) .

The Silicon Dragon conference brings together business leaders, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, angel investors and leaders of the startup ecosystem for discussions on what's next in Australia's emerging tech and venture markets. Participants will gain insights on how to raise financing and develop strategies to succeed in the region and in leading innovation hotspots such as Silicon Valley.

Main Sponsors

KPMG
NSW Department of Industry
UniSA Center of Business Growth 

To register online and to obtain full program details, visit www.silicondragonventures.com. For questions, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

About Silicon Dragon

Silicon Dragon runs a series of tech innovation and venture investment forums in Asia , the U.S. and Europe , publishes the  e-newsletter Silicon Dragon News , provides consulting and research services, and develops thought leadership reports. Formed in 2010 by author and Forbes contributor Rebecca Fannin , Silicon Dragon has locations in San Francisco , New York and Hong Kong , and reaches 25,000 business and tech professionals globally. 

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