THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) Bruce Billson is set to visit Murwillumbah on Tuesday, February 15, to meet with flood and storm-impacted small businesses.

Mr Billson said he was keen to speak with small business owners that have had flood or storm damage at a feedback session to be held at Murwillumbah RSL Club (10 Wollumbin St, Murwillumbah) on Tuesday from 11.30am-12.30pm.

“We want to hear from small and family business owners who have lived experience of a natural disaster such as floods or storms and have ideas about how best the government can support them to prepare and remain resilient in the case of an unavoidable event,” Mr Billson said.

“What we learn from small businesses in this session, will help inform the work on our current Small Business Natural Disaster Preparedness and Resilience Inquiry, including recommendations to improve education and engagement programs to best target and assist small businesses in preparing for natural disasters.

“I encourage Murwillumbah small and family business owners to take part in this important discussion.”

Small business operators who are unable to make a feedback session can contribute their insights here.

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HESTA has urged Federal Parliament to progress important legislation currently languishing in the House of Representatives that would fix a loophole that sees those earning less than $450 a month from an employer miss out on super.

HESTA CEO Debby Blakey called on all sides of politics to take this opportunity to prioritise improving the financial security of some of Australia’s lowest paid casual and part-time workers.

“We have a small of window of opportunity to ensure that this basic equity measure is passed and implemented by 1 July, but Parliament must act now,” Ms Blakey said.

“This basic equity measure will make an important difference to our members who spend their entire working lives caring for others.

“Super is meant to be for all Australians, paid on every dollar earned. Ending this outdated measure will send a strong message to those working in casual or part-time positions for multiple employers that their work is valued.”

The government had previously flagged the legislation would be dealt with by both houses of Parliament today, but the legislation has seemingly not been prioritised. The change has bipartisan support and is expected to pass, if the government progresses the Bill.

Ms Blakey said If Parliament rises tomorrow without passing the Bill, many casual and part-time workers would continue to be unfairly excluded from the full benefits of super.

“The government should not miss the opportunity to make a difference to the financial security in retirement for those Australians who need it most,” Ms Blakey said.

Many HESTA members working in health and community services are low-income earners, working a small number of irregular shifts for a range of employers. This means they may not meet the $450 threshold with one or more employers, further reducing their super balances at retirement.

“We know that women experience a gender super gap that results in them having more than a third less super than men,” Ms Blakey said.

“Scrapping the $450 threshold is long overdue. Parliament must not miss this opportunity to make our super system fairer for women and the lower paid.”

The government committed in its 2021-22 Federal Budget to removing "this antiquated threshold" that sees around 300,000 working Australians – about two-thirds of whom are women – miss out on the full benefits of super.

"If it does not pass before Parliament rises tomorrow, it is unclear whether the legislation will pass before a Federal Election. HESTA has been advocating for this change for many years and will continue to urge politicians to ensure it becomes law as soon as possible."

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HESTA has welcomed the Federal Government progressing their legislation through the Parliament today, removing the $450 monthly wages threshold for payment of Super Guarantee contributions.

The threshold has unfairly disadvantaged the retirement savings of low paid casual and part-time workers for years, according to HESTA.

“The requirement to earn $450 per month with one employer before you get paid super has compounded financial insecurity for casual and part-time workers, who often have lower pay and are in insecure or precarious work,” HESTA CEO Debby Blakey said.

"More than 80 percent of our members are women. Women are more likely to work in multiple part-time or casual roles with different employers. The result is that they can totally miss out on the benefits of super, which leaves them more vulnerable to poverty as they age.”

Ms Blakey said HESTA had advocated for many years to scrap the $450 super threshold and congratulated the Federal Government on ending a super system inequity that disproportionately impacted women.

“Super is for all Australians and ending this outdated measure helps make our super system fairer for women and those on lower wages,” Ms Blakey said.

“Our members spend their working lives caring for others and the long overdue removal of this threshold will ensure that they’ve now got a better opportunity to enjoy a more financially secure retirement.

“The fact that super continues not to be paid on parental leave remains an obvious gap in our super system that needs to be addressed.”

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THE Australian Parliament’s Northern Australia Committee has tabled the report of its inquiry: The engagement of traditional owners in the economic development of northern Australia.

The report found that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were keen to participate in the economic development of northern Australia, both for their own communities and for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Committee Chair Warren Entsch MP said, "The challenge for traditional owners is to leverage the rights provided by native title and land rights for the economic and social advancement of their communities.

The bodies representing traditional owners have a very large burden of responsibilities and expectations placed upon them, but government funding and capacity-building support for them is insufficient. Secure, long-term funding is essential," Mr Entsch said.

"There are important new opportunities for traditional owners in emerging sectors of the economy. These include environmental protection initiatives such as savanna burning, land management, carbon abatement and renewable energy.

Opportunities like these have the special strengths of using traditional knowledge of country. They also support efforts to stay connected with country and to fulfill traditional obligations of custodianship."

Further information, including a copy of the report, can be obtained from the Inquiry website.

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THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) Bruce Billson is set to visit natural disaster-hit areas across the country seeking vital on-the-ground feedback from impacted small businesses.

Throughout the sessions, the Ombudsman will gather insights from small business operators all the way from Northern Queensland to Kangaroo Island and Tasmania, to help inform the Small Business Natural Disaster Preparedness and Resilience Inquiry.

Mr Billson said small businesses were encouraged to take part in the ASBFEO-hosted feedback sessions, which kick off in Townsville and Rockhampton on Monday, February 14.

“We want to hear from small and family business owners who have lived experience of a natural disaster and have ideas about how best the government can support them to prepare and remain resilient in the case of an unavoidable event,” Mr Billson said.

“What we learn from small businesses on this tour, will help inform our recommendations to improve education and engagement programs to best target and assist small businesses in preparing for natural disasters such as fires, floods and drought.

“We know the impacts of natural disasters on small businesses can be devastating. It can mean damaged and destroyed assets, reduced production and revenue streams, and sadly, a business-ending event in some cases that can have devastating personal impacts.

“Recovery can be lengthy - taking a heavy toll on small business owners, their staff and the broader community, but can be greatly assisted by good preparedness.

“The cost of natural disasters and the time it takes for small businesses to get back on their feet could be reduced by being better prepared, taking sensible risk and impact mitigation action and bolstering resilience," Mr Billson said.

“Over the coming weeks, we will be visiting more than 20 areas across six states and territories that have been impacted by fires, floods and cyclones. I encourage small and family business owners to take part in this important discussion.”

Small business operators who are unable to make a feedback session can contribute their insights here.

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THE Indigenous Affairs Committee inquiry into fostering better engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers will hear from the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) at a public hearing this Thursday.

Committee Chair Julian Leeser MP said, "NAAJA had expertise on many of the issues currently faced by Indigenous consumers and the gaps that continue to exist in the corporate sector’s understanding of meaningful Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander engagement.

"The committee looks forward to NAAJA’s insights and to having a productive discussion," Mr Leeser said.

Public hearing details

Date: Thursday, 10 February 2022 (AEDT)
11.35am    North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency

A live audio stream of the hearing will be accessible at https://www.aph.gov.au/Watch_Read_Listen.

For more information about this inquiry, including its terms of reference, details of upcoming public hearings, and instructions on making a submission, please visit the Inquiry webpage. 

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THE Australian Parliament’s Agriculture and Water Resources Committee has tabled the report of its inquiry into the Australian aquaculture sector: Supporting a strong future for Australian aquaculture.

The report found that Australian aquaculture was a growing industry with a strong positive outlook. Australia’s aquaculture already has a reputation for producing premium product and further improvements will strengthen its market position. The report noted that unlocking the full potential of the industry would require the removal of some barriers to growth.

Committee Chair Rick Wilson MP said, "There are many exciting opportunities for the growth of Australian aquaculture. The growth of the industry will help meet domestic demand for seafood, boost exports and provide thousands of additional jobs, especially in regional areas.

"Aquaculture, like all industries, has its share of challenges and potential barriers to growth. The committee has made a number of recommendations with the aim of overcoming these barriers," Mr Wilson said.

Mr Wilson noted the confusion caused by current rules around the country of origin labelling of seafood.

"Consumers are unable to know whether they are buying imported or Australian fish at their local fish and chip shop.," Mr Wilson said.

"Consumers have the right to know where the seafood they buy originates from. It is nonsensical that there are no country of origin labelling rules for the food service industry, and this must be addressed."

For further information, visit the inquiry website.

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THE House Economics Committee will be holding a public hearing via videoconference on February 10, focusing on the impact of recent amendments made to the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993.

This public hearing is part of the committee’s ongoing Review of the Four Major Banks and other Financial Institutions, with the committee to hear from Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Treasury, and Professor Scott Donald.

Committee Chair Jason Falinski MP said, Amendments to Section 56 of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1996 were made as part of the government’s response to the Hayne Royal Commission to protect the funds of members by preventing trustees from using these funds to pay for fines incurred by their own actions. However, there have been wide reports of superannuation funds seeking judicial opinions to contravene this provision.

"The committee deserves an explanation from APRA, ASIC and Treasury as to how they are interpreting these new provisions, and what actions they will take to ensure that the decisions made by Parliament are not easily and carelessly overturned. The committee would like to know how superannuation trustees could fund their penalties, and ways to do so that do not put member’s funds at risk or increase their fees."

The committee will also hear from UNSW Associate Professor Scott Donald, who specialises in governance within the superannuation sector.

Mr Falinski said, "Throughout this inquiry, the committee has remained concerned about consumers’ best financial interests. While the regulators will be an important focus of the committee at this hearing, we also look forward to hearing from Professor Donald and his perspective on recent events."

For more information about the hearings, or to read transcripts from previous hearings, visit the committee’s website.

Public hearing details

Date: Thursday 10 February 2022
Time: 9.15am to 11.30am
Witnesses: Professor Scott Donald, APRA, ASIC and Treasury

The hearing will be webcast at aph.gov.au/live.\

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