FACILITIES are required at RAAF Base Amberley to operate and maintain 10 new C-27J Battlefield Airlifter aircraft. This light tactical aircraft boasts greater speed, range and payload capabilities than the previous fleet of aircraft.

The Department of Defence told the committee that works will include constructing new training and operational facilities. Additionally, integrating the new aircraft will mean relocating some existing facilities. 

The project is expected to cost $370.4 million (excluding GST). Full details on the project are available on the Committee’s website: www.aph.gov.au/pwc

Public Hearing Venue: Metro Hotel Ipswich International
Date: Tuesday, 3 November 2015
Time: 2.30 – 3.30 pm

Members of the public are welcome to attend.

NB the Public Works Committee is neither involved in the tendering process nor the awarding of contracts. Enquiries on those matters should be addressed to the Department of Defence.

For further information, including how to make a submission, the public hearing times, and copies of submissions when they become available, please visit the committee website http://www.aph.gov.au/pwc or contact the Committee Secretariat on (02) 6277 4636.

ENDS

THE continued decline in the number of Australians who choose to be trade union members must prompt further efforts from our national policy makers to reform our outdated employment laws to better reflect the choices employees are making in their workplaces.

That is the view of the national resources employer group, the Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA).

The ABS’ Characteristics of Employment report, published today, shows that as of August 2014 trade union membership had declined significantly over the preceding 12 months – continuing a downward trend since the mid-1980s.

Mining industry trade union membership declined from around 16% twelve months earlier to 12% in the most recent figures. Coal mining union membership, which was previously at around 40%, has since declined to around 28%.

“Not only is union membership in the mining industry at an all-time low, but across the board in both the private and public sectors we are seeing a continued decline in people choosing to be members of a union,” says AMMA chief executive Steve Knott.

“This is despite the fact that since 2009, Australia has had a workplace relations system that provides unions with a primacy in workplace bargaining that is more suited to a 1980s industrial environment.

“Australians are no longer working in an economy where one-in-two people belong to a trade union. The longer our workplace relations system ignores this fact, the longer it remains a barrier to employment and economic growth in this country.

“In the iron ore mining sector, for instance, only one in every 15 employees is a member of a trade union. Yet the architects of the Fair Work Act were so obsessed with propping up the influence of unions that the laws basically pushed the unions’ conditions on all iron ore employees.”

AMMA continues to advocate for a more flexible workplace relations system that contains a range of agreement-making options including individual and collective agreement making options both with and without trade unions involvement.

“Greater options for agreement making would better reflect the diversity of Australian workplaces,” Mr Knott says.

“This should include statutory individual agreement making, subject to a no-disadvantage test, similar to those that provided value for both employees and employers during the Howard-era.

“Our new PM is all about innovation and change. Australia needs to change from a workplace system suited to the horse and buggy era to one that represents today’s workplace environment.”

Click here to read AMMA’s recent reply to the Productivity Commission’s Review of Australia’s Workplace Relations Framework, and learn more about the organisation’s proposed reforms.

www.amma.org.au

ends

THE Government’s response to the Financial System Inquiry has put the spotlight on ethical investment according to the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA).

In its response, Improving Australia’s financial system, the Government has stated that they ‘will examine how best to foster growth of impact investment in Australia to support private and for-profit investment funds being directed to projects with a social or environmental purpose’.

“The concept of social conscience investment is an area that we should all be making an effort to embrace; it creates win-win opportunities for investors and society,” said IPA chief executive officer, Andrew Conway.

“If investors can attain a relatively healthy return on their investments, why not do so in projects that deliver greater social outcomes.

“The Government’s announcement to develop legislative amendments to provide greater certainty for private ancillary funds wishing to invest in social impact bonds is to be commended.

“Consumer demand and superior financial performance have driven a huge growth in ethical investment around the world, including Australia,” said Mr Conway.

Also known as responsible investment and by other names, this sector is experiencing rapid growth around the world. In the US, for example, there was a 76% growth rate between 2012 and 2014, which means that 18% of the US$36.8 trillion in total assets under management is involved in ‘Sustainable and Responsible Investment’. 

Polling released by the Responsible Investment Association Australasia 2015 benchmark report found that 69% of Australians believe it is important that super funds make responsible investments and avoid harmful investments.

www.publicaccountants.org.au

ends 

VECCI Chief Executive Mark Stone said last week his organisation "called on the Andrews Government to embrace our ideas to create meaningful and sustainable employment in Victoria by bolstering the Back to Work scheme". The move has borne fruit.
 
"Following a subsequent meeting with Tim Pallas, Treasurer of Victoria, I now applaud the Andrews Government for listening to business and taking quick and decisive action to strengthen the scheme," Mr Stone said.

"In addition to increasing the incentive for employers to take on new workers, today’s announcement to enhance employee skills will provide a much needed and lasting boost to Victorian business."
 
Mr Stone said the scheme will be strengthened by:

• Increasing payment amounts available to employers: Payments will be increased from $750 - $2,000 to $5,000 - $12,000. Plus an additional $2,000 - $4,000 towards accredited training for new employees in any eligible category.
• Broadening eligibility criteria: The definition of long term unemployed will be halved from 52 weeks to 26 weeks. A range of additional groups will also be included such as Aboriginal unemployed persons, disability pensioners and drought-affected farm households.
• Broadening eligibility for subsidised training: Participants who already have higher level qualifications will now be eligible for subsidised training at a lower level qualification than already held and will also be eligible for targeted fee relief.
• Reconnect Pilot Program: This program will specifically target assistance to young early school leavers helping them take the first steps to further education and into the workforce. 

"I again commend the Treasurer and the Hon Steve Herbert MP, Minister for Training and Skills, on their willingness to engage with business," Mr Stone said.

"VECCI looks forward to continuing to work with government and business to get more people into work sooner and reduce Victoria’s unemployment rate."

The Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI), 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.

vecci.org.au

ends

THE Australian Government is calling on organisations that are well connected in their community to tender to deliver services especially designed to get young early school leavers into jobs.

Minister for Employment, Senator Michaelia Cash today released the Request for Proposal for Transition to Work 2016-2020. The Transition to Work service will target those aged 15 to 21 who are out of work and not engaged in education.

"The Government is committed to ensuring that every Australian who can work is able to find work," Minister Cash said.

"The best form of welfare is work.

"This is particularly the case with young Australians – they are the future of the nation, our businesses and our economy, however they are over represented in the unemployment figures.

"The Australian Government is not prepared to stand by while a generation of young Australians remain without gainful employment.

"Early intervention can mean the difference between a young person taking their first steps into productive and happy working lives – or entering a life of welfare dependency.

"That’s why we’re investing $322 million in the Transition to Work service, to find the best organisations to deliver results for both young people and taxpayers," Minister Cash said.

The Government has taken on board feedback received on the Transition to Work Service Exposure Draft to support greater flexibility for service providers and young people looking to access the service.

The Transition to Work service will provide intensive, pre-employment support to improve the work readiness of young people and to help them into work (including Apprenticeships and Traineeships) or education.

The service will be rolled out between January and April 2016 and it is expected that providers will leverage off their existing knowledge and experience in the youth sector to enable young people to become more work-ready.

"A recent survey by the Department of Employment of 3,000 Australian employers found many young people require support to acquire the core skills that employers require," Minister Cash said.

"This includes improving literacy and numeracy skills, engaging in the workplace and understanding the value of working in a team situation."

"Employers also mentioned that young people need to better tailor their application to the position for which they are applying."

To address these issues organisations will be expected to deliver individually tailored services for young people to help them move into work or further education.

Providers will be required to have regular contact with participants and assist them with a range of services including:

• developing a Job Plan setting out the types of services the participant will receive and the activities the job seeker will undertake to improve their work readiness
• assistance with vocational skills development, for example support to address language and literacy issues, to undertake training relating to a specific job, as well as practical skills such as gaining a driver’s licence
• help to improve foundation skills such as the ability to work in a team, communication skills, motivation, reliability and willingness to work
• assistance in career advice, preparing a résumé and developing job applications and
• coaching in interview techniques and personal presentation.

Providers will also be expected to work closely with employers and will be able to offer an Australian Government wage subsidy of up to $6500 over 12 months to assist employers with the costs of hiring and training an eligible young person.

Information sessions for interested organisations will be held in Perth and Sydney (26 October), Adelaide (27 October), Hobart (28 October), Melbourne (29 October), Brisbane (30 October) and Canberra (2 November).

Tenders close at 5.00 pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT), 1 December 2015.

To register for an information session or to obtain the tender documents visit https://www.ivvy.com/event/TTWRFP/

ends

THE Chairman and other Executive Members of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) will appear before the House Economics Committee on Friday 23 October in Parliament House, Canberra.

The Chair of the committee, Craig Laundy MP said ‘that the ongoing scrutiny of APRA is an important part of the committee’s oversight role. Some of the issues that will be examined include APRA’s new reporting standards for the superannuation industry, the increased capital requirements for Australian residential mortgage exposures by authorised deposit taking institutions (ADIs), and the new disclosure requirements for ADIs under the Basel III framework.’

On 9 December 2014 APRA issued advice to all ADIs outlining measures to reinforce residential mortgage lending practices. The committee will scrutinise APRA on the effectiveness of these measures.

APRA noted that ‘given the currently very strong growth in investor lending, supervisors will be particularly alert to plans for rapid growth in this part of the portfolio. For example, annual investor credit growth materially above a benchmark of 10 per cent will be an important risk indicator that supervisors will take into account when reviewing ADIs’ residential mortgage risk profile and considering supervisory actions.’

The committee will seek an update on how this particular measure is working to curb investor lending.

Public Hearing Details:

Committee: House of Representatives Economics Committee
Venue: Committee Room 1R3, Parliament House, Canberra
Date: Friday, 23 October 2015.
Time: 9.30am to 12.30pm
Webcast: The hearing will be webcast live on www.aph.gov.au/live

ends

NATIONAL resource industry employer group, AMMA, congratulates the Australian Government and Opposition on reaching an agreement that will underpin the rapid commencement and full implementation of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA), to deliver growth and jobs.

“Australia’s resource industry is pleased the Government and Opposition have reached an agreement on implementing ChAFTA. This free trade deal is vital for the future of 23 million Australians,” say AMMA chief executive Steve Knott.

“The ChAFTA will come into force at a time when Australia’s resource industry must up the ante on its international competitiveness and grasp opportunities that would otherwise go to emerging resource destinations.

“As the global resource marketplace becomes even more competitive, this deal will bring the Australian and Chinese economies closer together, resulting in greater investment, growth and job opportunities for Australians.

“Tangible benefits will be felt through the abolishing and phasing out of tariffs on resource commodities vital to building our economy over the coming decades, including coal, liquefied natural gas, iron ore and gold.

“Securing preferred trading status with our largest trading partner, a country that represents 32% of all global GDP growth and about 30% of global capital expenditures, is good for resource exporters and also for Australia’s world-leading resource technologies and service providers.”

Once ratified, the ChAFTA will mark the third deal secured by the Australian Government with a significant Asian trading nation over the past 12 months, and follows the Trans Pacific Partnership recently reached with 11 other countries.

“We congratulate trade minister Andrew Robb for his leadership in achieving the trifecta for free trade with Australia's key partners in Japan, South Korea and now China,” Mr Knott says.

“Coupled with the Trans Pacific Partnership, these exciting arrangements will open new doors for Australia's economic growth and drive our national prosperity into the future.”

www.amma.org.au

ends

THE Government’s positive response to the Financial System Inquiry’s (FSI) recommendation (11) requiring superannuation trustees to pre-select a comprehensive income product for members’ retirement, has been welcomed by the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA).

“There is extensive legislation that regulates how much and the manner in which Australians contribute to superannuation, but limited rules relating to how they can withdraw superannuation,” said IPA chief executive officer, Andrew Conway.

“Many retirees take either a partial or total lump sum, with a high percentage of these using a lump sum to pay off a mortgage or purchasing other non-income supporting assets.  A smaller percentage of retirees are investing in a pension product such as an annuity or life pension, or an income earning product such as a bank account.

“While the IPA supports choice in superannuation, the current use of retirement funds is not always appropriate and does little to diminish the future pension burden faced by a shrinking workforce and aging population.

“The IPA therefore believes there should be suitable incentives which encourage retirees to invest in income streams such as pension and annuity products.

“Annuities may be the missing link in people’s thinking between drawing down from their existing superannuation and finding sustainable income streams that support their retirement.

“This would mean that people need to opt out in order to receive a lump sum payment, which is the more common method of withdrawing super currently.

“Annuities support the policy intentions of the superannuation system and will generally better provide for the longer term needs of retirees and protect against cost of living risks,” said Mr Conway.

www.publicaccountants.org.au

ends