LLOYDS Bushfire Relief Auctions will be online this week with all proceeds going directly to fire affected communities, fire-fighters and volunteers with the first auction online now featuring a 2010 AFL Premiership Medal of the Collingwood Magpies, owned by Dayne Beams.

“In less than 24 hours since going live, our phones have been ringing off the hook, we are astounded with the amount of support from the public, companies and celebrities donating items to support fellow Australians in need,” Lloyds Auctions chief operations officer Lee Hames said.

“There will be zero costs and zero fees with 100 percent of funds donated to charities and fire services including the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Wires and the RFS,” he said.

“We anticipate to now hold a series of auctions in this next week which could raise millions of dollars due to the huge response from people wanting to donate whatever they can, whether it be an item, service or experience,” Mr Hames said.

“We will be continuing to publish hundreds of lots in the coming days so we encourage the public wanting to get involved to keep checking the website for updates where I can say we have some very exciting and popular items up for grabs.

“Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and NSW Rural Fire Services have stated that cash is critical as charities struggle to sort through donated goods, so this is a perfect way of turning donated items into cash for these communities,” Mr Hames said.

“As these unprecedented bushfires tear through Australia, we want to help as many fire-affected lives as possible.”

To assist, contact www.lloydsauctions.com.au/donatenow.

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THE CLIMATE COUNCIL has welcomed the Federal Government announcement of $2 billion for bushfire recovery, but warns effective recovery must build in resilience to a rapidly changing climate.

“The unprecedented and horrific bushfires show us clearly that Australia is unprepared for worsening extreme weather, ” Climate Council CEO, Amanda McKenzie said.

“As we come to terms with the impact of these fires we must also understand that the Australian climate has changed forever. The southeast is hotter and fire conditions are more dangerous than they were in the past,” she said. 

“The process of rebuilding must carefully assess how the climate has changed and is likely to continue to become more extreme in the future. This means there will be hard decisions to make in terms of how we rebuild.

“The good news is we can rebuild in a way that both tackles climate change and builds greater resilience for communities. For instance, decentralised renewable energy can provide power to communities that may otherwise have been cut off, while also reducing reliance on fossil fuels,” Ms McKenzie said. 

Money for recovery without a coherent climate policy will be wasted.

“The government’s focus on continuing Australia’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels means that extreme weather will worsen dramatically over the next decades. We cannot afford it,” Ms McKenzie said. 

“The government must use these fires as an opportunity to fundamentally change their approach. For over six years the Federal Government has had no credible climate policy. Today the economic, personal and environmental costs of failing to tackle climate change are staring us all in the face,” she said. 

“Despite the warnings, the Federal Government has been flatfooted in its response to this disaster, partly because they failed to accept the fact that the climate has changed. This cannot happen again,” Ms McKenzie said. 

climatecouncil.org.au

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THE Australian Taxpayers' Alliance, which claims to be the nation’s largest grassroots advocacy group representing taxpayers, today announced they are accepting donations through bitcoin in a move to give their supporters more financial privacy.

“The world is naturally moving away from traditional cash transactions and the government has threatened to begin restricting the use of cash. But Australians still have a right to privacy, something big banks don’t afford their customers,” ATA policy director, Emilie Dye said.

“Many don’t want the government, their banks, and their friends knowing how they spend, and how they give their hard earned money. We are giving our supporters another option to feel more secure.

“In the modern social-media driven world, data is one of the most precious commodities we hold. Banks shouldn’t get information about your spending habits without anything in return. Bitcoin, like cash, competes with big banks and credit card companies forcing them to do better," Ms Dye said.

“Many have begun to worry Australia will see negative interest rates. Aussies should have have a variety of viable saving and spending options instead of relying on corporate banks which are notorious for charging high fees.

“The tide is moving in the direction of cryptocurrency. We are getting on board by offer our supporters the option to use bitcoin when they donate.”

www.taxpayers.org.au

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THE Australian Export Tourism Council (ATEC) has welcomed Tourism Australia’s innovative new campaign targeting UK visitors which draws on the strengths of one of the country's 'national treasures': actor and singer Kylie Minogue.

“Australia has had a long and strong connection with visitors from the UK and the new ‘Matesong’ campaign will help to strengthen that bond,” ATEC managing director Peter Shelley said.

“Putting Australia in front of the British audience at a time when everyone is watching is a masterstroke in timing that will provide great exposure for our destination.

“We have so many assets -- from our beaches to our wildlife, our food and wine -- and TA’s latest campaign featuring the much loved Kylie Minogue uses one of our great human assets to remind Brits of our strong connection," Mr Shelley said.

“The UK remains one of our largest spending markets and despite a softening which has coincided with the Brexit uncertainty, it will continue to be a valuable source for our industry in the coming decade.
 
“This campaign will remind Brits they can retreat from the cold of the English winter and the turmoil of political uncertainty to our ‘sun drenched’ destination where they are always warmly welcomed.”

www.tourismdrivesgrowth.com.au

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