THE ACCC has expressed preliminary concerns about the proposed merger of Siemens A.G.’s (Siemens) Mobility Division with Alstom S.A. (Alstom), which are detailed in a Statement of Issues published today.

“A combined Siemens-Alstom would be by far the largest supplier of heavy rail signalling in Australia,” ACCC chair Rod Sims said.

The ACCC’s review has focussed on signalling systems for heavy rail passenger networks, particularly train interlocking systems and automatic train protection (ATP) systems. Signalling systems provide safety and traffic management controls on rail networks.

Interlockings are the core of a signalling system; they set routes for the safe movement of trains across railway lines. Train protection systems ensure that trains comply with movement authorities issued by the interlockings.

“The ACCC’s preliminary view is that the proposed merger may substantially lessen competition in the supply of heavy rail signalling systems for passenger rail networks in Australia, in particular interlocking systems and ATP systems. The loss of competition could result in increased prices for customers, or lower levels of service, quality, or innovation,” Mr Sims said.

“We have heard from many industry participants who have expressed competition concerns with the merger. We will continue to evaluate the competitive options available to passenger rail networks in Australia."

The proposed merger is also being reviewed by overseas competition regulators, including the European Commission.

“The ACCC is liaising closely with overseas competition regulators, as some of these potential competition issues may also arise in other countries,” Mr Sims said.

The ACCC invites further submissions from interested parties in response to the Statement of Issues by 20 September 2018. The ACCC’s final decision is due on 29 November 2018.

The Statement of Issues is available on the public register: Siemens A.G and Alstom S.A propose to combine Siemen's mobility business with Alstom.

THE POTENTIAL has grown for more Queensland jobs, exports and royalties from the State’s critical resources sector, with a 22 percent increase in exploration spending for minerals and petroleum over the last 12 months.

Queensland Resources Council chief executive Ian Macfarlane said total investment in exploration for minerals and petroleum was $442.1 million last financial year – an $80 million or 22 percent increase – compared with 2016-17.

“An increased investment is an increased investment in future jobs, future exports and future royalties for Queenslanders,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“The Queensland Resources Council is working with the Government to ensure we have stable and predictable policy for the sustainable, competitive and stable development of the State’s resources for the benefit of all Queenslanders.”

Mr Macfarlane said the resources sector was already performing well on jobs by creating a new role every hour, on exports by delivering $1 billion in overseas sales every week, and on royalties delivering almost $100 million to the Palaszczuk Government every week.

“The increase in exploration spending has been across commodities and reflects the role the resources sector plays in supporting new infrastructure, the expansion of renewable energy, the growth in electric vehicles and battery storage,” he said.

“The strongest growth was in base metals - copper, silver, lead, zinc, nickel and cobalt with exploration increasing by 53% over the 2017-18 financial year from $57.6 million to $88 million.”

During 2017-18, the growth included:

• gold exploration up 21% from $51 million in 2016-17 to $61.7 million in 2017-18;
• copper exploration increased by 41% over the 2017-18 financial year, from $38.2 million to 53.8 million; and
• petroleum exploration increased by 5% over the 2017-18 financial year from $154.9 million to $162.6 million. Up 22% over the quarter.

Queensland Exploration Council chair Brad John said the increased exploration investment reflected not only confidence in the sector and its future, but it also highlighted the importance of the Palaszczuk Government’s Collaborative Exploration Initiative and its commitment to release more land for exploration.

The Government has been seeking expressions of interest from explorers for:

• 44,000 square kilometres for gas and coal
• 1107 square kilometres in the North West Minerals Province
• authorities to prospect for petroleum and gas over 17,245 square kilometres
• 540 square kilometres for coal exploration

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COLLABORATIVE, diverse and inclusive company culture as well as access to networking and mentorship are critical to support career progression and retention of Women in STEM, according to Women in the STEM Workforce 18 keynote speaker and CSL Data Science head, Milica Ng.

Speaking at today’s Women in the STEM Workforce event and webinar (from 1.30pm-5pm AEST today, September 4) hosted by the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute’s (AMSI) APR.Intern program in Melbourne, Dr Ng said she was proof women could have career success later and career changes and breaks were not a full stop to advancement.

“It is important women are supported with the flexibility to manage their careers and progression in a way that acknowledges their future potential and present needs,” Dr Ng said.. 

Dr Ng, who said she experienced her renaissance in her 40s when she was hungry for new challenges, believed women should not feel pressured to reach their career peak early or made to feel they need to accelerate their careers during time out or slowing of professional development. It is possible for women to have it all, but not all at the same time.

“To me, career pathways are more like a game of snakes and ladders rather than a straight ladder, the journey includes pauses and changes of direction, these are not full stops and shouldn’t be barriers to progression,” she said.

Women currently account for only 16 percent of the STEM workforce, with family pressures, isolation in male-dominated industries and lack of confidence –Tabcorp’s Advancing the STEM Conversation report (published in June 2017) revealed they are 55 percent more likely to doubt their capability than men – as key contributors. 

Dr Ng is an APR.Intern success story. Having been originally placed at CSL through its PhD internship program, she now supervises interns herself to help drive her team’s research. The program provided an ideal platform to kick-start her career.

“Through the internship I found my way into CSL, which offered a supportive environment with ample opportunities for learning, growth and advancement. Access to industry, gave me a pathway to build experience and a professional support network to accelerate my career,” Dr Ng said.

APR.Intern has been running for over a decade – initially as AMSIIntern – to place emerging specialist research talent at the frontline of industry. Over that period, AMSI director, Geoff Prince, said that while the program had increased the number of female placements, 67 percent have been male. 

“We are seeing slow increases but overall women are severely underrepresented across all areas of STEM," Professor Prices said. "APR.Intern is just one of the programs AMSI delivers to tackle gender equity across the pipeline."

Today’s event marks the first in a series planned by APR.Intern to identify and address barriers such as flexibility in the workplace, unconscious bias and lack of confidence, contributing to the low representation of women in the sector.  

Dr Ng was one of two keynotes at today’s event, with Chief Executive Women president, Kathryn Fagg also addressing 120 attendees and national viewers of the livestream event. 

With a focus on identifying and existing initiatives and new opportunities to address barriers for women in STEM, the event also included two powerful Q&A sessions featuring thought leaders and industry champions. Speakers included representatives from Westpac, Telstra, Alcoa, STA Superstar of STEM, IMNIS, Australian Academy of Science, Australian Research Council, Engineers Australia and SAGE Athena Swan.

“APR.Intern is committed to giving a voice to women in STEM and providing a platform to tackle systemic issues surrounding their engagement and career success," Prof. Prince said. "This is essential to building Australia’s ongoing STEM capability to support future innovation."

Women in the STEM Workforce 2018 is being live streamed across the country. The event will still be viewable online after the event on https://aprintern.org.au/women-in-stem-webinar/

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QUEENSLAND’s resources sector is lifting the State’s prosperity by creating one job every hour and investing close to $1 million every hour, says the Queensland Resources Council (QRC).

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the latest ABS data confirms the sustained commodity price recovery and larger production volumes were underpinning the State’s economy.

“In 2017-18 capex by resource companies in Queensland was $8.6 billion (up 4%) or $23.6 million every day and the sector created more than 8400 extra jobs in 12 months – the equivalent of one new job every hour,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“Our sector accounts for 35 percent of all private capital expenditure in Queensland ($24.6b) and it’s the first year we’ve seen an increase in mining capital expenditure since 2013-14.

“Resource companies are committed to spending locally with Rio Tinto spending over $1.5 billion on goods and services with Queensland suppliers at its Amrun bauxite project near Weipa.

“From Toowoomba in the South to Weipa in the North resource companies are employing Queenslanders, investing in Queensland businesses and channelling billions in royalties to the Government. 

“The challenge ahead for the sector will be to find the right people with the right skills and QRC member companies invest $1 million annually into our education arm the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) to teach students STEM subjects and trade skills.” 

The Queensland resources sector now provides one in every six dollars in the Queensland economy, sustains one in eight Queensland jobs, and supports more than 16,400 businesses across the State – with almost 7000 businesses in the Greater Brisbane region – all from 0.1 percent of Queensland’s land mass.

www.qrc.org.au

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