BRISBANE has attracted academy-award winning film producer and education, digital and trade leader Lord David Puttnam to speak next month at the Brisbane Global Café.

Finance and Economic Development Chairman Councillor Julian Simmonds said the Brisbane Global Café is a first for a G20 host city and aimed to capitalise on the city’s status as the ‘capital of the world’ when we host the 2014 G20 Leaders Summit.

“The Brisbane Global Café is a two-day event at Brisbane City Hall on 12-13 November leading into the G20 Leaders Summit on 15 & 16 November, featuring speakers, workshops, and media conferences, as well as a series of events those involving the visit by Lord Puttnam,” Cr Simmonds said.

“Lord Puttnam is a legend of the film industry - His visit will be a coup for the city and the Brisbane Global Café.

“Lord Puttnam will speak a public seminar at Griffith University on Monday, 6 October as part of its ‘Cinema of Hope: Producing for Screen and Society in the 21^st Century’, and the following day, he will present at ‘A Conversation with Lord David Puttnam’ luncheon at Room Three Sixty, QUT Gardens Point Campus.”

Cr Simmonds said Lord Puttnam had produced films including Chariots of Fire,The Killing Fields, Midnight Express, The Mission and Local Hero. In 2010 he was President of the International Jury for the Asia Pacific Screen Awards.

“Lord Puttnam is a legend of the industry. His films have won 10 Oscars, including Best Picture for Chariots of Fire, as well as 25 BAFTAs and the Palme D’Or at Cannes,” Cr Simmonds said.

“He retired from film production in 1998 to focus on his work in public policy but retains a strong and active interest in national and global policy for film and the wider creative and communications industries. He is now the chair of Atticus Education, an online education company based in Ireland.

“The former Chancellor of the Open University UK and Sunderland University, he is the UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Burma, as well as the Irish Government’s ‘Digital Champion’.”

To book tickets to lunch with Lord Puttnam on Tuesday 7 October, go to http://wired.ivvy.com/event/FMC010 or to book tickets to Lord Puttnam’s Griffith University lecture on Monday 6 October, go towww.griffith.edu.au/puttnam-series

For more information on the Brisbane Global Cafe visit globalcafe.com.au

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THE REEF 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan launched today by the Australian and Queensland governments charts the course to progressively restore the health of the Great Barrier Reef over the coming decades. 

Queensland Resources Council Chief Executive Michael Roche said the action plan identifies the vital steps that must be taken in the next five years and beyond to protect the reef for future generations.

‘The Queensland Resources Council has been proud to be representing the resources sector in helping to develop this landmark Reef 2050 plan that will set a new course for turning around the health of our majestic reef,’ Mr Roche said. 

‘Achieving this ambition for the Reef cannot rely on governments alone. It will only be achievable with significant leadership and involvement from industry and all sectors of the community,’ Mr Roche said.

Reef 2050 is a comprehensive action plan that has been put together under the leadership of the Australian and Queensland governments, working with a Partnership Group comprising stakeholder representatives from the resources, ports, tourism, fishing, agriculture, Indigenous, local government, research and conservation sectors, Mr Roche said.

‘The contribution of the resources sector and its partner the ports sector, to the Reef 2050 actions and commitments is a substantial one, encompassing actions involving water quality monitoring and reporting, port development and dredging management strategies and commitments to using ships and ship crews that have been independently vetted for their quality,’ Mr Roche said.

‘In addition to these Reef 2050 actions, the resources industry expects to spend $250 million over the next 5 years on Reef-related environmental programs. 

‘We are part of a team that is working together to help turn around the health of the reef and I am pleased to say that many of the activities to improve the reef’s resilience are already well underway and achieving measurable gains,’ Mr Roche said.

www.qrc.org.au

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THE Council of Small Business Australia (COSBOA) has congratulated Professor Ian Harper and the Review Board on the draft recommendations from the competition review released yesterday, but has also warned Australians to watch out for a campaign led by big business aimed at maintaining their dominance.

Peter Strong, Chief Executive of COSBOA said, “The draft shows that Minister for Small Business, Bruce Billson got the terms of reference right and we applaud him, Professor Harper and his team for all their work so far.

“We’re pleased to see the review has looked at urban planning and its impact on competition and that the effects test has also remained, although it’s still early days and we are yet to seek clarification on what it will actually mean to small business.

“We are concerned, however, about the reaction of big business to the proposed effects test. They have over-reacted, and unless there’s some underlying issue around their need to dominate through the suppression of competition, we don’t understand their panic," said Mr Stong.

The pharmacy industry is another area of big concern adds Mr Strong; “Allowing Coles and Woolworths to enter the pharmaceutical market would turn the provision of medicines into a profit making exercise instead of a health service.

“Pharmacists offer good service and build a relationship with their local community in order to make a living from their business. Coles and Woollies are only interested in profits, not people.

“Healthy competition should benefit consumers, economic productivity and our culture,” Mr Strong concluded.

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

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KEY insights into the future of mining at a national and global level will be presented by Australia’s national science agency – CSIRO –  at the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC 2014) in Melbourne next week (September 22-26).

CSIRO Chief Executive Megan Clark will provide IMARC delegates with a glimpse of mining in 2025 by describing the innovations, megatrends and technologies that will reshape the mining sector as part of an ‘incoming revolution’ (Tues 23 September).

The future of mining in Chile in the context of these global megatrends will be discussed at IMARC (Thursday 25 Sept) by Executive Director of CSIRO Chile Dr Orlando Jimenez.

CSIRO will release national citizen survey reports and data portals for Australia and Chile which will provide new insights into how the mining industry is perceived in each nation and what steps may be needed to sustain community support, acceptance and the ‘social licence to operate’ into the future (Tuesday 26 September).

IMARC participants will have the opportunity to hear from CSIRO’s Mineral Resources Flagship Director Jonathan Law about the key role of innovation in driving much-needed improvements in mining, mineral exploration and processing productivity.

Proving the point that ‘money does grow on trees’, CSIRO research geochemist Dr Mel Lintern will showcase the scientific method used to find gold in gum trees and now being applied for prospecting  in an area of Western Australian Mulga country the size of Greece. (Monday 22 September).

The trade exhibition at IMARC will include further information about a wide range of CSIRO productivity innovations and solutions across the value chain.

Highlights:

Gold in gum leaves and Mulga country – Dr Mel Lintern – Monday 22 September.
Attitudes to mining report release – Dr Kieren Moffat – Tuesday 23 September.
Innovation to drive productivity – Jonathan Law - Wednesday 24-Thursday 25 September.
Future of mining in Chile – Dr Orlando Jimenez - Thursday 25 September.

www.csiro.au

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THE Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) has criticised the State Government for failing to include many of Melbourne’s centrally located tourist attractions in its Free Tram Zone.

“The tourism industry is disappointed that this latest announcement regarding the Free Tram Zone once again excludes many key attractions that are vital to our visitor economy,” said VTIC Chief Executive Dianne Smith.

“VTIC supports the Free Tram Zone initiative, but we have recommended to the State Government that the zone must be expanded and we will continue to advocate for this change for the good of the tourism industry.”

Excluded sites include:

- Melbourne Museum

- Melbourne Cricket Ground

- Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

- Southbank precinct including Eureka Skydeck and the Crown Complex

- Victoria Arts Centre

- National Gallery of Victoria 

“Public transport in Melbourne plays a key role in facilitating tourism, supporting visitation to key venues and providing a smooth travel experience within our city. This is a golden opportunity to significantly improve the visitor experience and grow the tourism economy, so we will continue to urge the State Government to commit to making this change,” said Ms Smith.

Ms Smith’s comments come as the State Government unveils the signage that will be used to alert passengers that they are within the transport zone where they can travel on trams free of charge.

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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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PEAK retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) today welcomed the Harper Competition Review Draft Report.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said that this is the first comprehensive review of Australia’s competition law, policy and institutional framework in 20 years.

“The ARA is hopeful that this review will help identify ways to build the economy and promote investment, growth, job creation and durable benefits to consumers and retailers alike.

“We certainly welcome the panel’s view that there is a need to reinvigorate Australia’s competition policy, and ensure that competition policy evolves.

“We were pleased to see the issue of trading hours brought to attention - as long as retailers are not forced to open by landlords if not profitable.

“It was also pleasing to see commentary about the effects test and the ARA will be putting forward a submission in relation to these areas before November to the Competition Policy Review committee,” Mr Zimmerman said.

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 peak tourism body is calling on both major parties to commit to recommendations to grow tourism jobs in the state, as Melbourne Airport reports significant passenger growth for the past year.

Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) chief executive Dianne Smith said that with the appropriate policy, the tourism industry could create nearly 9,000 additional jobs for Victoria over the next two years.

Ms Smith’s comments come in the wake of Melbourne Airport reporting its total passenger numbers grew by 4 per cent during 2013/14 to 31 million passengers. International passengers increased by 9 per cent to 7.75 million; while domestic passengers grew by 2 per cent to 23.3 million.

"Both major parties must commit to our priorities if Victoria is to maximise the benefits of increased visitor numbers and drive further growth,” said Ms Smith.

VTIC recommendations include:

- Increase marketing efforts to attract more Asian visitors: targeted communications campaigns and funding to make Victoria’s key tourist attractions more appealing to this group are needed. 

- Commit funding to the expansion of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre: the centre is currently turning away around 17% of booking requests due to lack of capacity, so this is vital to ensuring Melbourne retains the significant economic benefit from being Australia’s business events capital. 

"VTIC strongly supports the Airport Rail Link project for the benefit it will bring to guests coming to Victoria for both recreational and business purposes and we hope this project progresses as a priority,” said Ms Smith.

“We echo Melbourne Airport CEO Chris Woodruff’s sentiments on the need to secure better outcomes for international air service agreements for Melbourne. We must also remember that Melbourne Airport’s curfew-free status gives Victoria a distinct advantage over other states and we must ensure that this is preserved well into the future.

“The airport experience is often an international visitor’s first impression of Melbourne, if not Australia, so the major works and improvements that Melbourne Airport outlined in their Annual Stakeholder Report are a great investment for Victorian tourism and the visitor experience.”

For more information on VTIC’s recommendations please visit www.vtic.com.au.

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