Speaking at APCS in Brisbane, Tencent’s SY Lau predicts Internet Plus will enable and encourage the rise of smart cities

(Brisbane, Australia, July 7, 2015) SY Lau, Senior Executive Vice President of Tencent and President of its Online Media Group, spoke about the future of cities powered by Internet Plus today at the 2015 Asia Pacific Cities Summit (APCS) and Mayors' Forum.

Championed by Tencent, Internet Plus in a new concept in China describing the relationship between the Internet and society.

nternet Plus provides the backbone for administrations to create innovative way to develop smart cities. The ecosystem created through Internet Plus with online and offline activities can efficiently allocate resources, better connect people to private and public sectors, encourage entrepreneurship and improve lives.

“Internet Plus will create a new infrastructure, one that cleverly and efficiently allocates resources to meet the challenges today and in the future,” said Mr Lau. “Electricity is an essential utility – it’s an invisible force that’s easy to access. The Internet is emerging as a utility that is just as essential as electricity. It is up to us to utilize the Internet fully to enhance people’s lives and power sustainable cities.”

Internet Plus is not just a way to improve lives in urban areas. With technology, rural communities and towns are advancing down a new and different path.

Villagers communicate with WeChat (known as Weixin in China) and organize activities with Moments; they make purchases online, sell their products through an online retail platform and they spend leisure time playing QQ Games. Innovators of Internet Plus in urban areas can learn from the way villagers apply technology and the Internet to improve their lives and communities. Examples include:

• Chongqing, a western Chinese mega-city of almost 30 million people, became the first city to implement the Smart City concept powered by the technology of Tencent. Within 5 years, Chongqing will equip all traffic entry points with nearly 1,000 smart traffic monitors, linking the city’s transportation platform. Real-time monitoring and analysis will provide more efficient management of transportation.
• Didi Dache, a mobile taxi hailing app, informs taxi drivers of their potential customer’s destinations and of other customers nearby. Drivers can decide whether or not to accept the order and, if so, plan routes in advance, saving themselves and their customer’s time and resources.  

Tencent will be a facilitator and connector in the age of Internet Plus. There are already 40,000 Official Accounts in Tencent’s WeChat platform providing easy access to a wide selection of public services.

Connecting people, businesses and governments to each other and to technology is the first step. By the end of this year, Tencent will have 25 Innovation Centers across China, offering over 500,000 square meters of space for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Mr Lau concluded, “Brisbane is the second city in the world after New York to have a position of Chief Digital Officer. This beautiful city is at the forefront of leveraging technology to better serve the people here. We feel the energy and passion the city had and it is a truly valuable time to share our development experience with Brisbane.” 

To watch how technology is changing the people’s lives in rural areas in China, please watch https://youtu.be/aocsQkkNmFg 

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ON the agenda at the upcoming Vodafone National Small Business Summit on 16 and 17 July is a debate about the fairness and effectiveness of the government’s Competitive Policy Review, chaired by Professor Ian Harper, which sought to improve the Australian economy by ensuring a fair playing field in the interest of consumers.

Matthew Lobb, General Manager of Public Policy at Vodafone Australia; Jos de Bruin, Master Grocers Australia CEO; Simon Pryor, Executive Director Infrastructure and Regulation at Business Council Australia, and Danny Gilbert from Gilbert + Tobin, an independent corporate law firm, will go head-to-head with Su McCluskey, a member of the Competitive Policy Review Panel, to discuss whether the review helped or hindered small business and the consumer.

Master Grocers, the leading industry employer association for the independent grocery and liquor sector, takes a strong stance on the supermarket giant price war, which so far has seen Woolworths and Coles retain market share.

Jos de Bruin, CEO of Master Grocers said that for the last ten years his organisation has been advocating for changes to competition laws, to ensure a fair playing field.

“For the last ten years we’ve been advocating for changes to competition laws, to ensure a fair playing field and we welcome the Harper Competition Policy Review. The introduction of an effects test to section 46 of the Competition and Consumer Act would strengthen existing laws for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and allow for necessary action to be taken.

“We have the public’s support on this matter, on wanting fair competition to build and maintain a vibrant economy. Our recent survey revealed that 90% of people want stronger laws and proper resources, so that the ACCC can stop anti competitive behaviour and protect the interests of consumers. Furthermore, many small businesses have their lives invested into their companies, and are responsible not only for their own mortgages and families, but their employees too. They haven’t got shareholders and billions of dollars to come to their aid, so it’s important that there’s fairness to enable success,” said Jos de Bruin.

Likewise, in the business of telecommunications, Vodafone goes up against heavyweight, Telstra.

Matthew Lobb, General Manager of Public Policy at Vodafone Australia, said that he welcomed the renewed public policy focus on overcoming the roadblocks to effective competition.

“A regulatory framework that is constantly working to deliver a level competitive playing field is crucial for Australia’s future. For example, greater focus on overcoming the roadblocks to effective competition in the telecommunications sector will help Vodafone and other challenger telco’s deliver substantial benefits to small business and the Australian economy,” said Mr Lobb.

The Summit, spearheaded by Council of Small Business of Australia (COSBOA), the peak body and the leading voice of small businesses, is the annual event where key leaders, policy influencers and government meet to exchange knowledge on how to influence and make change that will contribute to the growth of small businesses in Australia.

Peter Strong, CEO of Council of Small Business of Australia (COSBOA) said small businesses are the lifeblood of Australian culture; it represents the essence of our entrepreneurial spirit to allow everyone a ‘fair go’.

“Small businesses are essential to the stabilisation of the Australian economy. COSBOA stands beside small businesses to bolster them against the inequalities in the marketplace, which occur across all sectors. These inequalities ultimately have a knock on effect on employment, culture and our communities,” said Mr Strong.

Registrations are open for the Vodafone National Small Business Summit. For more information please visit www.nationalsmallbusinesssummit.com.au

http://www.cosboa.org.au/

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THE Australian Competition and Consumer Commission welcomes the Federal Government’s decision to provide increased resources to boost its engagement with rural and regional industries, small businesses and consumers.

The Government has indicated its plans to implement policy outlined in the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper, including allocating $11.4 million over four years to establish an Agricultural Enforcement and Engagement Unit with additional staff to conduct investigations and engagement in rural and regional areas.

"The ACCC will prioritise detecting, deterring and taking action against conduct that breaches the Competition and Consumer Act (2010) (CCA) that affects farmers and small businesses in rural and regional areas, particularly cartels, misuse of market power, and misleading or unconscionable conduct,” Acting Chair Delia Rickard said.

“The ACCC will strengthen its engagement with agricultural industries to understand factors effecting competition in rural and regional markets. This will also enable the ACCC to better explain its decisions to farmers and regional small businesses.”

Through the collective bargaining authorisation process, the ACCC has a long record of strengthening the position of growers and processors across a range of sectors including dairy, poultry, vegetables and seafood.

AUSTRALIAN producers will gain better access to premium overseas markets, with $30.8 million in new funding to help us tackle technical barriers to trade and grow as well as maintain markets through the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper.

Minister for Agriculture, Barnaby Joyce, said the funding would help producers realise the opportunities and benefits of free trade agreements (FTAs) recently finalised with three of Australia's largest agricultural trading partners, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

"About two thirds of all Australia's agricultural production, or more than $40 billion a year, is exported overseas each year," Minister Joyce said.

"This export focus underlines agriculture's contribution to our economy—and it is something we want to maintain as well as build to provide greater profits back to the farmgate and to the nation.

"While producers will gain significant benefits from the recently finalised FTAs the white paper consultation underlined that achieving improved market access by negotiating FTAs alone was not enough.

"The $30.8 million will go toward reducing technical barriers to trade in key markets, and to provide five new agriculture counsellors in overseas markets, promoting our products and the robustness of our assurance systems, and helping us to understand what our international customers want.

"Key to enhancing profitability of the sector is negotiating health protocols and treatment regimes to access and maintain markets that do not place unnecessary burden on our producers."

Minister Joyce said the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper was a blueprint for the future of agriculture.

"The Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper fulfils our election commitment to undertake a process that listens to the realities and challenges of life on the land.
 
"I'm encouraged by the level of engagement this has generated and pleased to be delivering a once in a generation plan for agriculture to the Australian community."

The White Paper was informed by comprehensive stakeholder consultation—more than 1000 submissions were received and the government talked face-to-face with more than 1100 people across the country in developing this document.

The White Paper is available at agwhitepaper.agriculture.gov.au.

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THE Australian Government has acted on concerns raised by farmers about supply chain transparency during the consultation phase of the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper.

Minister for Agriculture, Barnaby Joyce, said the white paper would commit $11.4 million to establish an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Commissioner dedicated to agriculture as well as supporting capability at the ACCC concerned with agriculture supply chain issues.

"Many stakeholders were concerned with the lack of transparency in supply chains and the anti competitive distortions that can result—all too often to the detriment of our farmers," Minister Joyce said.

"The new Commissioner, combined with the new dedicated agricultural-focus of the ACCC, will give the ACCC additional agricultural skills and knowledge to address the concerns of farmers.

"These new resources will enable ACCC staff to attend the saleyards or visit farmers to see the market in action and gather necessary evidence.

"On top of these measures the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper will deliver $13.8 million to arm farmers with knowledge and materials on alternative business models like cooperatives and collective bargaining.

"Knowledge is power. A strong supply chain advocate, proactive ACCC investigations and information on alternative business structures will go a long way to reducing farmers' vulnerability to the market power that can be wielded by large processors or retail chains.

"These measures, combined with work this government already has in train through our forthcoming response to the Competition Policy Review; the current review of the Horticulture Code of Conduct; and the establishment of the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, show we are serious about ensuring our farmers get a fair deal for their efforts.

"I am proud to deliver measures that go to one of the core themes we heard throughout the 18 month consultation that attracted 1000 submissions and involved face–to–face meetings with 1100 people."

The White Paper is available at agwhitepaper.agriculture.gov.au.

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CONTINUED growth in Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) May 2015 retail trade figures released today indicate the strength of Australian retail, according to the Australian Retailers Association (ARA), with year on year sales growing 4.6 percent to $24.1 billion.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman attributes the growth to a more palatable Federal Budget in May 2015, compared to 2014.

“Consumers appear to have been more confident with the Government’s more conservative budget, and that has played out in the pleasing boost to May 2015 retail trade figures,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“In addition to the more appealing spending conditions, many states have seen an earlier winter in 2015, driving more shoppers into stores for winter essentials such as heating appliances and winter fashions.”

Mr Zimmerman’s observations are backed up by the annual growth of household goods retailing at 9.5 percent, and clothing, personal accessory and footwear retailing, up 8.8 percent.

This is most evident in Canberra, which produced the most buoyant growth for May 2015 of all the states and territories of seven percent. The Northern Territory was the only state to see a decline in annual sales of 1.4 per cent.

“It’s important for retailers to be aware of the annual growth of their industry as opposed to monthly growth, as this is the figure most retail businesses use in their own reporting. Year on year figures provide the most accurate measure of the sector’s performance,” said Mr Zimmerman.

Month on month sales for May 2015 grew by 0.3 percent.

MONTHLY RETAIL GROWTH (April 2015 – May 2015 seasonally adjusted)

Household goods retailing (0.9%), Food retailing (0.7%), Other retailing (0.3%), Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (-0.2%), Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (-0.8%), and Department stores (-1.4%). Total sales (0.3%).

Australian Capital Territory (0.9%), New South Wales (0.7%), Tasmania (0.6%), Western Australia (0.2%), Queensland (0.2%), South Australia (0%), Northern Territory (0%) and Victoria (-0.1%).Total sales (0.3%).

YEAR-ON-YEAR RETAIL GROWTH (May 2014 – May 2015 seasonally adjusted)

Household goods retailing (9.5%), Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (8.8%), Food retailing (4%), Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (3.2%), Department stores (1.6%) and Other retailing (1.4%). Total sales (4.6%).

Australian Capital Territory (7%), New South Wales (6%), South Australia (5.5%), Victoria (5%), Western Australia (3.2%), Tasmania (3.3%), Queensland (3%) and Northern Territory (-1.4%). Total sales (4.6%).

Since 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body representing Australia’s $265 billion retail sector, which employs over 1.2 million people. The ARA ensures retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 5,000 independent and national retail members throughout Australia.

Visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.
 
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VICTORIA'S tourism sector is disappointed that a compromise was not reached to continue with an innovative project in Mornington Peninsula’s Point Nepean site, following the State Government’s decision to walk away from an agreement with the private sector.

“The plan centred on the Quarantine Station part of this National Park and entailed a sustainable development that was sensitive to the local environment. Its focus was to preserve the integrity of the site’s natural and cultural heritage and to create more access for people to experience this wonderful place. However the failure to reach a compromise means the state is delayed in realising the benefits of sustainable tourism,” said Victoria Tourism Industry Council Chief Executive Dianne Smith.

“Public private partnerships are vital to the growth and prosperity of our sector. Point Nepean is a significant cultural and heritage site and the private sector was positive about working with government on a great project for Victoria.

“The State Government has turned its back on this Point Nepean development, which has the potential to diminish private sector confidence in investing in Victorian tourism projects.

“Our industry saw this as a litmus test for future developments and there is now concern regarding investment in innovative, job creating new tourism projects in Victoria.” 

The Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) is the peak body for Victoria’s tourism and events industry, providing one united industry voice.

Tourism and events are growth industries for Victoria and contribute $19.6 billion to the state economy each year and employ more than 200,000 people.

vtic.com.au

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VECCI Chief Executive Mark Stone has welcomed the Federal Government’s changes to the taxation of employee share schemes which come into effect today and support start-up businesses to attract talent and grow.

The changes mean that employees who are issued with options will generally be able to defer tax until they convert the options to shares. Previously, employees were obligated to pay tax when those options vest.

"Also, under the changes eligible start-ups can issue options or shares to their employees at a discount, and have that discount exempt (for shares) or further deferred (for options) from income tax," Mr Stone said.

"These measures were called for by VECCI’s Small Business Taskforce in its report, Small business. Big opportunities. They will encourage innovation and productivity which are key to keeping small business competitive."

The Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) 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

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