ROUND four of the Queensland Government's Small Business Entrepreneur Grants Program is now open for applications, closing December 13, 2018.

The program helps new small businesses get off to a better start with access to planning, coaching and training.

Grants of up to $5,000, matched by participants, are available to help small businesses engage a consultant, advisor or business coach for up to three months, and businesses can choose their own consultant or advisor to work with.

https://www.business.qld.gov.au/starting-business/advice-support/grants/entrepreneur-grants

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THE ACCC will not oppose the proposed acquisition of Austrak by Vossloh Australia.Vossloh and Austrak are suppliers of rail track components.

Vossloh supplies rail fastening components and switch systems including turnouts, while Austrak supplies concrete sleepers and bearers.

“There is no horizontal overlap between the products manufactured and supplied by Vossloh and Austrak in Australia. There are vertical links, however, and this is what the ACCC’s investigation focussed on,” ACCC Commissioner Roger Featherston said.

The concrete sleepers that Austrak manufactures and supplies are manufactured to fit specific fastening systems, potentially including those manufactured by Vossloh. In addition, Austrak supplies concrete bearers to turnout manufacturers such as Vossloh for use in the production of turnouts. 

“The ACCC considered whether the proposed acquisition could enable the combined Vossloh-Austrak to lessen competition in either turnouts or fastenings by foreclosing its rivals,” Mr Featherston said.

The ACCC’s inquiries indicate there are alternative manufacturers of sleepers and bearers in Australia and some imports.

“After speaking with a range of industry participants, we consider that existing manufacturers of sleepers and bearers could expand their offerings, including by increasing production or expanding their geographic presence,” Mr Featherston said.

In relation to fastening components, industry participants also indicated that there was a very strong competing supplier, whose products are approved for use in most rail tracks, and is likely to continue to constrain Vossloh post acquisition.The ACCC also considered concerns raised about the possible disclosure of confidential turnout and fastening information to the combined Vossloh-Austrak, but did not consider that it would cause a substantial lessening of competition.

Austrak is a wholly owned subsidiary of Laing O’Rourke, and is the largest concrete sleeper manufacturer and supplier to the rail industry in Australia.Sleepers are rectangular supports that support the rails and uniformly transfer and distribute loads to the underlying ballast.Fastening components are used to connect rails to railway sleepers. \

Turnouts enable trains to move from one track to another. Bearers are similar to sleepers, but lie underneath turnouts instead of straight track and are specifically designed for each turnout.Austrak has concrete sleeper manufacturing facilities in four states (Qld, NSW, WA, Vic).

Vossloh is a subsidiary of Vossloh AG, a German rail technology company which manufactures and supplies rail infrastructure. In Australia, Vossloh supplies rail fastenings and switch systems, including turnouts which enable trains to move from one track to another. 

Vossloh does not manufacture or supply sleepers in Australia. It supplies fastenings in Australia for use with slab track and does not currently supply fastenings for use in ballasted track, although it has the ability to do so.

More information is available at Vossloh Australia Pty Ltd - proposed acquisition of Austrak Pty Ltd.

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Based on current trends, Australia's population is projected to reach 30 million people between 2029 and 2033, according to the latest figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). 

Population projections are based on assumptions of future levels of fertility, life expectancy and migration, which are guided by recent population trends.

Anthony Grubb, Director of Demography at the ABS, said: "The projected time for the nation to grow by 5 million people on current indications will be similar, if not a little shorter, than the 14 years it took to grow from 20 million to 25 million.

"Looking further ahead, based on the medium of our three main projection assumption series, Australia could add a further 10 million to our current 25 million by the year 2043. 

"However under our higher range of fertility, mortality and migration assumptions the population would reach 35 million 5 years earlier in 2038. Conversely, under lower assumptions the population would only reach 35 million a decade later in 2053."



Under all assumptions, the population of New South Wales is projected to remain as the largest state with a population of between approximately 9 and 9.3 million. Victoria is projected to experience the largest and fastest increase in population; possibly reaching between 7 and 8 million by 2027. 

Queensland is projected to continue growing over the projection period, increasing to 6 million people in 2027. Western Australia is projected to increase to 3 million by 2027, while South Australia is projected to have slower growth, increasing to 2 million. 

The population of the Australian Capital Territory is projected to increase to between 479,000 and 510,000 people closing the gap on Tasmania's population which is projected to reach between 545,000 and 573,000 people in 2027. The Northern Territory is projected to increase to between 270,000 and 284,000 people in 2027.

Projected population, States and territories, at 30 June
		Series A (a)		Series B (b)		Series C (c)
	2027	2066	2027	2066	2027	2066
	'000	'000	'000	'000	'000	'000
New South Wales	9 285	14 796	9 152	13 088	9 022	11 754
Victoria	7 908	14 525	7 694	12 030	7 497	10 091
Queensland	5 931	10 469	5 789	8 718	5 676	7 507
South Australia	1 866	2 437	1 853	2 214	1 838	2 040
Western Australia	2 935	4 926	2 941	4 760	2 928	4 493
Tasmania	573	744	559	581	545	453
Northern Territory	270	386	277	439	284	490
Australian Capital Territory	510	939	495	775	479	612
Australia (d)	29 284	49 226	28 766	42 608	28 274	37 444
(a) Higher assumptions of fertility, life expectancy, overseas and interstate migration flows.
(b) Medium assumptions of fertility, life expectancy, overseas and interstate migration flows.
(c) Lower assumptions of fertility, overseas and interstate migration flows, and a medium assumption of life expectancy.
(d) Includes Other Territories.

Selected population milestones, Australia, Series A, B and C
Population Milestone	Series A (a)	Series B (b)	Series C (c)
30 Million	2028/29	2030/31	2032/33
35 Million	2038/39	2043/44	2053/54
40 Million	2048/49	2058/59	. .
45 Million	2058/59	. .	. .
(a) Higher assumptions of fertility, life expectancy and overseas migration flows.
(b) Medium assumptions of fertility, life expectancy and overseas migration flows.
(c) Lower assumptions of fertility and overseas migration flows, and a medium assumption of life expectancy.

Further information is available in Population Projections, Australia, 2017 (base) to 2066 (cat. no. 3222.0) available for free download from the ABS website.

THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has welcomed the Coordinator General’s decision to approve MacMines Austasia’s $6.7 billion China Stone coal mine in the Galilee Basin.

“Every new investment in the resources sector is good news for Queensland,” QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said.

“The resources industry adds $62.9 billion to the Queensland economy and supports 316,000 direct and indirect jobs.

“Our resources sector puts money in the bank for every Queenslander, from the Cape to the Gold Coast.

“It pays more than $4 billion in royalty taxes, which are used to build roads, schools and hospitals, and to pay the wages of hard-working teachers, nurses and police officers.

“The Queensland resources sector works hand-in-hand with regional communities and has a long history of co-existing alongside other important industries including agriculture and tourism.

“The economic value from the resources sector is created using just 0.1 per cent of Queensland’s land area, and our resources sector is committed to sustainable land use and rehabilitation.”

In the report on the MacMines project the Coordinator General said: "I conclude that there are significant local, regional and state benefits to be derived from the China Stone Coal project, and that environmental impacts can be acceptably managed, minimised or offset, through the implementation of the measures and proponent commitments outlined in the EIS."

Mr Macfarlane said new projects in the Galilee Basin would further strengthen the long-term outlook for the resources sector and provide direct benefits to nearby regions.

“That means more high-paying jobs for regional Queenslanders, especially in places like Mackay, Townsville and Rockhampton.

“There are up to six mines that could open in the Galilee Basin. That’s just the shot in the arm that regional towns need.”

www.qrc.org.au

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