THE CHANGES to Right of Entry (ROE) regulations announced on March 26 are a positive step towards achieving a stronger and fairer approach to rules about union officials entering workplaces, according to Master builders Australia.

Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Australia said, “It is important to ensure worker representatives can access work sites, but it is equally important that the Right of Entry system is strong and rigorous, to make sure it is not abused by union officials who try and get on site to bully and harass small businesses.

“The building and construction industry is plagued by a history of unions breaching ROE rules, with the list of court cases and penalty decisions growing longer every day,” she said.

Since 2015, there have been breaches of ROE rules on construction sites, Ms Wawn outlined:

• By 58 individual CFMEU officials.
• At least 189 times.
• Resulting in penalties of almost $3 million, with three further penalty hearings already set for 2019. 

“Master Builders is pleased that the Government has heard the voice of the building industry, small business, and sub-contractors. Something has needed to be done for a long time to protect workers on sites who, day in day out, face the threat of bullying and abuse by construction union officials.” Ms Wawn said.

“However, more needs to be done and we will be asking both major parties to ensure they close the remaining loopholes that building unions regularly exploit, Denita Wawn said.

www.masterbuilders.com.au

ends

THE Queensland Resources Council wants the upcoming Federal Government’s Budget and the Opposition’s Budget Reply to commit to reinvesting back into Queensland the extra $1 billion in company tax that will flow into Canberra due to higher metallurgical coal prices. 

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said based on Federal Treasury’s calculations, the higher than projected metallurgical coal price would provide an extra $1.2 billion for the balance of this financial year and next financial year (2019-20).

Mr Macfarlane said he urged Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to ensure they committed the extra $1 billion to a Maroon Fund.

“Queensland produces the lion’s share of Australia’s metallurgical coal. Queenslanders deserve this billion-dollar unbudgeted windfall reinvested back into their State, where the coal was produced and exported from,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“For every Queenslander, that extra $1 billion counts. Indeed, that extra revenue is the equivalent of $200 for every man, woman and child living in Queensland.”

Prior to Christmas last year, Mr Macfarlane said Federal Treasury projected: “If the metallurgical coal price remained elevated for two quarters longer than currently assumed, before falling immediately to US$120 per tonne FOB, nominal GDP could be around $2.5 billion higher than forecast in 2018-19 and $3.5 billion higher in 2019-20. This would have a flow on impact to company tax receipts estimated at around $0.2 billion in 2018-19 and $1.0 billion in 2019-20.”*

The average metallurgical coal price this year has been US$204 per tonne.

“I am urging community groups, charities, local councils and other industries to nominate their project and cause for the Maroon Fund,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“The continuing drought and recent flooding rains have demonstrated the steely resolve of Queenslanders, but it has created a lot of need.  That should be a priority for the Maroon Fund.

“So should important services such as health and education to support the work in our hospitals and in our classrooms.”

Mr Macfarlane said QRC would forward all Maroon Fund funding requests received by Budget Day on April 2 to both Mr Morrison and Mr Shorten.

“QRC will have no role in their selection, but we will ensure both leaders have these funding requests.  I’m sure Queenslanders will be interested before the upcoming Federal election to know where the $1 billion goes,” he said.

“Perhaps the Palaszczuk Government will fill out a form," Mr Macfarlane said. "This $1B would be on top of the more than $5 billion the Qld Government collects from royalty taxes from the resources sector this financial year.”

The Maroon Fund initiative form can be downloaded at https://www.qrc.org.au/nominations/maroon-fund/ 

Mr Macfarlane said the resources sector was already doing its bit to keep Queensland strong – making a contribution of more than $62 billion to the State’s economy or one in five dollars, supporting more than 316,000 full-time equivalent jobs or one in eight jobs in the Queensland workforce, generating more than 80 percent of the State’s record $80 billion annual export sales and working with 1260 community organisations.

www.qrc.org.au

*See page 33 of Link to the 2018-19  Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook https://budget.gov.au/2018-19/myefo/myefo_2018-19.pdf

ends

THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Kate Carnell today welcomed the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman’s (TIO) announcement that it will form a Small Business Team.

“From April 1, 2019, small businesses who are in dispute with their telephone, mobile or internet services provider will have a specific team to contact,” Ms Carnell said.

“Connectivity is key to a business’ success. With 95 percent of small businesses online, a disruption or complete lack of connection can affect their sales, marketing, ordering and invoicing processes.

“It’s not acceptable for small businesses to lose customers due to problems with phone or internet connections, which is why this new small business team within TIO is needed.

“For example, we recently helped a Canberra-based chemist whose phone line had been disconnected for 59 days. The telecommunications provider had cut the lines while redirecting to the NBN. The chemist then had their fax line disconnected which caused, among other issues, critical concerns regarding doctors being unable to fax prescriptions for palliative care medication.

“Once my Assistance team stepped in, the telecommunications provider reconnected both the phone and fax lines.

“We will continue to support measures that assist small businesses to maintain and grow their digital connectivity,” Ms Carnell said.

www.asbfeo.gov.au

ends

THE Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman has announced the formation of a Small Business Team, commencing April 1, 2019.

In 2017/18, complaints from small businesses increased 8.7 percent to 20,433. This increase was largely driven by issues including no action or delayed action by their service provider to resolve their phone or internet issue, followed by complaints about disputed charges for a service or equipment.

In announcing the Small Business Team, Ombudsman Judi Jones said, “Small businesses are relying more than ever before on phone and internet services to be accessible, be informed, and to do business. It is critical they are able to rely on the phone and internet services they sign up for, and to have access to a free, independent, and effective complaint resolution service when their complaint is unresolved.”

Assistant Ombudsman of Dispute Resolution Jillian Brewer is looking forward to the delivery of this specialised service.

"Resolving small business complaints can involve complex phone, internet and equipment setups, and an understanding of how these issues impact business loss," Ms Brewer said. "The Small Business Team will deliver a dispute resolution service that is responsive to the high impact phone and internet problems can have on the day to day operations of small businesses.”

About the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman

The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman provides a free and independent dispute service for small business and residential consumers who have an unresolved complaint about their telephone or internet service in Australia. Residential consumers and small businesses should contact www.tio.com.au or 1800 062 058.

The Telecommunications Industry Sector

The Telecommunications industry regulators are the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA),http://www.acma.gov.au  and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) https://www.accc.gov.au.

Government and the regulators set policy and regulations for the telecommunications sector. Communications Alliance is the peak body for Australian communications industry http://www.commsalliance.com.au

ends