LAST YEAR’s national trade figures are out – and it is great news for resource-rich Queensland.

According to the latest ABS data, in 2021 national resources and energy exports were up almost 30 percent on the previous year, setting a new Australian record of $348.9 billion.

Queensland Resources Council (QRC) chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the data showed national coal exports in the December quarter alone were valued at $23.8 billion, up almost 160 percent on the same quarter in 2020.

“LNG is a similar story, with exports in the December quarter valued at $18.3 billion, which is almost 150 percent higher than the same quarter the previous year,” he said.

Mr Macfarlane said the Queensland economy was the major beneficiary of a buoyant resources sector.

"Queensland Treasury figures show the total value of state exports rose by almost $16 billion last year to reach more than $79 billion,” he said.

“Around 80 percent (or $63 billion) of that amount comes directly from Queensland’s resources exports. Much of this growth was driven by coal, which is Queensland’s number one export and experienced a 45 percent (or $10.4 billion) increase in value over the past 12 months.

“That’s why it’s so important for our sector to get our response to climate change right - our industry supports the jobs of more than 420,000 people and 15,000-plus businesses around the state.

”We support our industry achieving net zero by 2050, and will be doing everything we can to lower our emissions and become more sustainable in the long-term using the best available technology.”

Mr Macfarlane said resources is by far Australia’s largest export earner, and the global outlook for coal, gas and metals is particularly strong.

“The latest forecasts estimate Australia's resources and energy exports will reach almost $380 billion this financial year, which will be another record result if that happens,” he said.

"The good news for Queensland is that a draft Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan is now in its final consultation phase, and once released will guide our industry’s transition over the next 30 years to a sustainable and prosperous future.

“The QRC and other industry groups have been consulting with the State Government on this plan over the past 12 months, to work out how to support responsible growth in the resources sector and set our state up for environmentally sustainable prosperity.

“This includes supporting our current strengths like coal, gas, aluminium and copper, as well as the emerging export markets for hydrogen, ammonia and battery and new economy minerals which are also a key part of Queensland’s future.”

www.qrc.org.au

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THE $1 billion support package announced for businesses in New South Wales will offer some help for employers who have been struggling to stay open over the summer period, but for others it could be too little, too late according to an Employsure evaluation.

Business owners with a turnover of less than $50 million and who can prove a 40 percent turnover decline in January will be given a payment of 20 per cent of their weekly payroll from mid-February when applications open -- capping out at $5000 a week.

Employsure, Australia’s largest workplace relations advisor, has heard the hardships business owners have faced over the past several months. In January alone Employsure has received thousands of calls to its employer advice line from its 31,000-plus client base, as COVID continues to cause disruptions across the country.

“Although there have been support packages in the past, for most employers they are still walking a fine line financially as they struggle to sustain their business,” said Employsure business partner Emma Dawson.

“One of the toughest trends we’ve seen over the summer period has been temporary closure due to a COVID infection in the workplace. With too many employees off sick, businesses have been forced to close and miss out on crucial revenue. To add to that stress, employers must then navigate the minefield of figuring out what leave employees are entitled to and how much they must pay accordingly.

“Rapid antigen tests have been hard and expensive to come by to potentially enable these employees to come back into the workplace sooner, so it is welcome news this package will support with the purchasing of them.

“Any assistance for business, particularly small business, is welcome and will indeed take the strain off thousands of employers across the state. However, for some, the damage has already been done and permanent closure could be an inevitable result of these disruptions,” Ms Dawson said.

www.employsure.com.au

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PEAK industry body, the Accommodation Association, today welcomed the Victorian Government Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme (CTRS) extension and new regulations and is encouraging all States and Territories to provide similar support.
 
Accommodation providers in Victoria are facing numerous challenges due to COVID-19. The latest outbreak has provided an additional challenge to the industry’s fledgeling recovery so this announcement provides much needed relief for hoteliers in the face of already weak consumer confidence.
 
Originally announced by Small Business Minister Jaala Pulford in July 2021, the Commercial Tenancy Relief Bill 2021 provided support to small and medium businesses. The extended scheme which will now run until March 15, 2022 will be available to businesses with turnover of less than $10 million and who have also suffered a decline of at least 30 percent in turnover.
 
This effectively gives small and medium businesses an additional two months of rent relief and protection.
 
The Victorian Small Business Commission (VSBC) will continue to provide mediation support to tenants and landlords if parties cannot reach a satisfactory agreement. 
 
Accommodation Association national general manager for advocacy, Bassel Tallal said, “This decision effectively grants our many accommodation providers the comfort and confidence to keep the lights on and the doors open whilst withstanding the challenges of the latest Omicron outbreak. With the unenviable combination of reduced consumer confidence, diminished foot traffic and staffing shortages, this extension is warmly welcomed.
 
“Small and medium accommodation providers can once again breathe easy with this extension and our members can now continue to focus on rebuilding their business and supporting their staff.
 
“The Accommodation Association believes the new regulations of this scheme represents the right balance as outlined by Minister Pulford.
 
“We sincerely thank the Victorian Government and Minister Pulford for extending the scheme, proactively consulting with industry and providing small and medium businesses with further relief and protection until mid-March.” 

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THE Financial Services Council (FSC) has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement to regulate proxy advice.

The FSC said it supported the government’s aim of ensuring that the provision of proxy advice to superannuation funds and fund managers was transparent and independent.

Acting CEO of the FSC, Blake Briggs, said, “We are pleased the government has responded to industry feedback on the initial Treasury consultation paper and improved on the original proposals.

“Superannuation funds manage almost $3.5 trillion on behalf of Australians, so it is critical that proxy voting arrangements are transparent so consumers can be confident that trustees and fund managers are exercising their voting power according to members’ best financial interests," he said.

“The government’s reforms align with existing industry best practice, reflected in the FSC's enforceable Standards for our members on proxy voting and asset stewardship.”

The Federal Government has also taken on board the industry’s concerns that the proposed timeframes, which would have required proxy advisers to provide information to subject companies prior to clients, were unworkable.

“Aligning the dates that proxy advisers will be required to share information with their clients and the subject companies is a sensible compromise by the government that will facilitate compliance for proxy advisers, superannuation funds and fund managers during the busy AGM season,” Mr Briggs said.

The FSC also supported the provision of proxy advice being covered by an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL). This would mean that the provision of proxy advice would be subject to the general obligations under the Corporations Act and appropriate regulatory oversight.

www.fsc.org.au

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AUSTRALIAN Workers’ Union national secretary Daniel Walton has told a Senate Committee his union would not bow to demands from the
Federal Government to cease speaking to ambassadors and the community about the "dangers of the new Agriculture Visa and the culture of exploitation that exists within the farming industry".

Mr Walton appeared alongside fruit picker and Chinese national Kate Hsu before the Senate Select Committee on Job Security this morning.

"Unfortunately, exploitation is now a core part of many farmers’ business model," Mr Walton  told the committee.

"A huge number of temporary visa places have been provided over the years for backpackers and seasonal workers, with barely any rules and inadequate monitoring, compliance, and enforcement. Since 2016, 11 different pieces of research have investigated exploitation of horticulture workers… and they have all come back with the same findings: underpayment, mistreatment, shocking conditions and exploitation are systemic.

"This is not just a few bad eggs. The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated hundreds of employers over five years in its Harvest Trail inquiry; more than half of its investigations found a breach of workplace laws. Three-quarters of these breaches involved underpayment. Poor pay and conditions have been justified on the basis of ‘labour shortages’ – that there are too few Australians willing to take up the work.

"But every day, Australians, including thousands of AWU members, get up to work in jobs that are just as tough and arduous as fruit picking. The difference is they have access to Australian standards of pay and Australian working rights."

Mr Walton told the senators the situation would only be exacerbated by the government’s proposed new Agricultural Visa. The AWU has being repeatedly attacked by Agriculture Minister David Littleproud for speaking about the dangers of the new visa with ambassadors to Australia, but Mr Walton vowed to continue speaking out frankly.

"So far, all of the potential agriculture visa partners have seen right through this. Legislation to establish the visa was passed in October, yet not one country has signed up to join the program," Mr Walton said.

"Only Indonesia has been willing to publicly express an interest in the program, yet after an expensive trip last week, Minister Littleproud came back with no deal on the ag visa. Why didn’t Indonesia sign up? Because they understand that worker exploitation is rife in Australia.

"[Mr Littleproud has] told every regional newspaper and radio station that will listen to him that the AWU hates Australia, hates farmers, that we’re disgraceful, that we’re getting in the way. Yet, since the visa announcement in June last year, we reached out several times to discuss how we can deal with labour concerns in the horticulture sector. He’s still yet to take a meeting with us.

"We are still opposed to the ag visa, because the government hasn’t done enough to protect the workers already here, whether they’ve come from the working holidaymaker program like Kate or they’re hear under the Pacific programs. Instead of threatening and intimidating workers and their representatives we should be encouraging workers who are getting shafted to speak out, reach out so that we can find you a better workplace."

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HEALTH vigilance in the workplace has never been more important now that Australia has switched from trying to eliminate COVID-19 to living with it.

Cases have exploded in the weeks since most of the country relaxed domestic borders and COVID restrictions. Many of these cases are being identified in businesses with employees who work indoors or in tight spaces. One of the main questions business owners are asking as a result, is what steps must be taken if a suspected, or confirmed case is identified in the workplace?

“If a worker receives a positive test result while in the workplace, the first step an employer must take is to isolate the person from others and provide them with a mask, should a mandate requiring one be worn not already be in place,” said Larry Drewsen, health and safety manager at Employsure, one of Australia’s largest workplace relations advisors.

“Next, the employer should call the national COVID-19 hotline and follow the advice of health officials. Removing the infected employee from the workplace and ensuring the employee has transport to their home will be crucial. Workers assisting the positive employee must be provided with the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves and a mask, and follow hand hygiene procedures.

“Consideration is required as to whether the employer should notify their Health and Safety Regulator. In most jurisdictions, a notification to the relevant state or territory Health and Safety Regulator is usually required.

“Cleaning the area where the infected employee has been working should be a priority, and PPE should be worn when doing so. Those who have worked with the infected employee should be identified and all necessary state or territory health authority advice followed, and their workspaces also cleaned," Mr Drewsen said.

“The employer should also use this time to look at their existing infection control policies, and review if any changes need to be made, such as shifting employees to working from home if applicable. Any changes should be communicated with employees to keep them up to date on what is happening.”

Employers must understand the privacy and confidentiality of the person who tested positive for COVID-19 must always be maintained, Mr Drewsen said.

Employers may also be faced with the scenario of an employee testing positive to COVID-19 when they are not in the workplace. However, if that employee has still recently been in the workplace, the same steps of identifying those who have worked with the employee, cleaning workspaces and common areas, and reviewing infection control policies should still occur.

Due to Australia’s high vaccination rate, it is no longer a requirement to completely close down an entire workplace for deep cleaning, especially if an infected employee has only worked in part of the building.

Nevertheless, Mr Drewsen said, employers should continue to enforce the wearing of masks (that fit securely to the face and cover the nose and mouth) if there is a health direction to do so, and ensure routine environmental cleaning and disinfecting takes place regularly, and that employees follow all personal hygiene guidelines.

"Implementing the right strategies can be hard, particularly for those in high-risk settings, but if it isn’t done right it can cost lives," Mr Drewsen said. "Ensuring a safe workplace is a year-long commitment and employers must get it correct. If they have doubts on how to best manage their health and safety obligations, they should refer to government health advice or contact Employsure."

www.employsure.com.au

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THE Australian Workers' Union is now counting down the days until April 28 when the new hourly minimum rate for fruit pickers will come into force

Last November, the AWU secured an historic industrial win for fruit pickers by successfully arguing the Horticulture Award should be altered to ensure every worker is entitled to take home the minimum casual rate of pay, currently $25.41.

The Fair Work Commission has now announced the guaranteed hourly rate will come into force on April 28 and will be calculated daily as recommended by the AWU, and not per pay period as advocated by the farmers' lobby.

"It's fantastic that from April 28 fruit pickers will get some certainty about how much they should be legally paid for their labour — the union is counting the days," AWU national secretary Daniel Walton said.

"For too long the farmers' lobby has seen fruit pickers as somehow beneath the usual standards offered to Australian workers. But the hard work of pickers deserves the same minimum wage dignity afforded to everyone else.

"We are grateful the Commission has ruled hourly rate earnings must be calculated daily. One of the great advantages of last year's historic ruling was the clarity it provided. Fruit pickers — who often have limited English and information about Australian laws – will now find it easy to assess if they are being ripped off by their employer.

"Now at the end of each day every picker should be assured that their work netted at least $25.41 an hour. If not, their employer is stealing from them and breaking the law.

“It is deeply disappointing that the farmers’ lobby saw fit to try and obfuscate the simplicity of the system by arguing that the calculation should be made per pay period. We are glad they were not successful.

"This ruling is a huge advance for this industry and for all the farmers who are already doing the right thing."

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SOCIAL MEDIA and technology industry giants Google, Meta, TikTok and Twitter will be appearing at public hearings examining online safety matters with the House of Representatives Select Committee on Social Media and Online Safety.

These hearings will be held on Thursday, January 20, And Friday, January 21, 2022.

Committee Chair Lucy Wicks MP said these hearings would enable the committee to scrutinise the industry’s response to online harms and abuse faced by everyday Australians.

"The committee’s early hearings received powerful evidence from people who have experienced different types of online harm, and in these hearings the committee can examine how the industry intends to move forward and protect its users," Ms Wicks said.

Other witnesses across the two days include further stakeholders from the technology sector, including the Digital Industry Group (DIGI), Reset Australia and the Centre for Digital Wellbeing. The committee will also hear evidence from academics and researchers, mental health organisations and government agencies.

Programs for both hearings can be found on the committee’s website.

The committee will hold further hearings in coming weeks. Submissions have closed, and the committee is reviewing evidence received in from the community in addition to evidence gathered in the public hearings. The committee anticipates tabling its final report in the Parliament by February 15, 2022.

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