THE Queensland Resources Council has welcomed progress in establishing the Mackay Resources Centre of Excellence with the Palaszczuk Government announcing construction of the Centre is due to start early next year.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment of $3.6 million for the centre was a commitment in confidence in the sector, its development and adoption of cutting-edge technology as well as acknowledging the industry’s contribution to jobs, exports and the broader economy.

Mr Macfarlane, who will be attending the Queensland Mining Industry Awards in Mackay tonight, said the QRC and its members would continue to work with the Palaszczuk Government and the Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick on the development of the Centre to maximise its contribution to the resources industry and the Mackay region.

“The resources sector contributes more than $1 billion in wages alone to the Mackay region. Due to the strengthening of the mining sector, Mackay has the lowest unemployment rate in Queensland at 3.8 percent and there are currently more than 500 jobs advertised on-line in the mining, resources and energy sector in the Mackay region,” Mr Macfarlane said.

The centre will include an underground coal mine simulator which will be available for testing, demonstrating and filming new equipment and products operating in confined spaces.

It will also enable new emergency response procedures to be practiced and refined, and will allow tourists to experience what it is like working in an underground coal mine.

Link to QRC Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane video interview

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ENERGY Networks Australia has released a discussion paper that explores regulatory changes that could lead to better outcomes for both customers and businesses.  

Released yesterday at the ‘Power of collaboration’ seminar in Brisbane, the Why TOTEX paper considers a simplified approach to the way networks’ proposed expenditure is assessed by the Australian Energy Regulator.  

Energy Networks Australia chief executive officer Andrew Dillon said the proposed ‘TOTEX’ model could give network businesses greater flexibility in responding to customer needs.  

“Under the current system, operating expenditure and capital expenditure are assessed separately to derive the network business’ total revenue for a regulatory period,” Mr Dillon said. "It's a complex approach that can create incentives to favour one form of expenditure over another.

“This report proposes allocating total expenditure in one bucket to give networks a clear incentive to choose the most efficient and appropriate energy solutions for customers.

“The TOTEX approach doesn’t favour one form of spending over the other and is designed to encourage a flexible response by networks to the risks and opportunities created by the energy system transformation.” 

Mr Dillon said the need for more flexible regulation had been promoted in a range of reports, including the Energy Networks Australia-CSIRO Electricity Network Transformation Roadmap, the 2017 Finkel Review and most recently, the ACCC Retail Electricity Pricing Inquiry.

“Having a unified TOTEX allowance would reduce complexity and streamline incentive schemes that have characterised network regulation over the past decade,” he said.

“This conversation is about updating the tools, not removing protections. Any future framework would still hold networks accountable, with the regulator overseeing proposed costs and any price increases. Networks would still have to ensure business decisions align with customers’ needs.”     

Mr Dillon said the TOTEX model was being adopted internationally, where regulatory approaches were being modernised to improve customer outcomes at a time of rapid change.

“We recognise that there will be diverse views. Our goal is to consult and look at alternative regulatory frameworks to ensure governance of our energy system evolves to meet customers’ needs. Doing nothing at a time of such great transformation is not an option,” he said. 

www.energynetworks.com.au

Energy Networks Australia represents Australia’s electricity transmission and distribution networks and gas distribution networks. Members provide energy to virtually every household and business in Australia.

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WITH THE 2018 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards slowly approaching, retailers across the country have already started submitting their entries for what has been coined the biggest retail Awards event of the year.

As Naomi Simson, founding director of online experience retailer RedBalloon, has been announced as the Award’s keynote speaker, Russell Zimmerman, executive director of the ARA, said tickets to the Awards have been walking off the shelves.

“Having Naomi as our keynote speaker has definitely sparked interest amongst the industry, as tickets to these Awards have started selling themselves,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“We’ve also seen a big spike in our Awards submissions with small, medium and large retailers around the country already submitting their entries through our Awards platform.”

The 2018 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards will encompass three Award categories including customer experience, people in retail and outstanding retailers in their field. The People in Retail category has seen a lot of traction with individual’s nominating their employers and retailers putting forward their staff to win an award in this category.

“One of the most desired Awards across the Australian retail industry is the ARA’s Retail Leader of the Year Award,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“This sought-after award, in the People in Retail category, recognises a Senior Executive or CEO of a retail organisation that is paving the future of Australian retail.”

The other Awards in this category include The Retail Employer of the Year Award and The Young Retailer of the Year Award. With this year’s 2018 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards themed around the Retail Realm and focusing on retailers who think outside the shop, the ARA’s People in Retail category will surely be a hard one to judge.

“As the Australian retail industry has seen some considerable changes in the market this year, our panel of judges will certainly have their work cut out for them,” Mr Zimmerman said.

"In this category, each individual will be judged on their submission and the finalists will be announced on the 20th of September.”

The 2018 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards will be held on Thursday 18 October at the Myer Mural Hall in Melbourne. The ARA encourage retailers of all sizes to submit an entry by nominating an influential leader or instrumental employee before Friday 10 August via the 2018 eftpos ARA Retail Awards platform.

To secure your seat for the 2018 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards head to The Retail Realm to purchase your tickets today.

About the eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards:

First held in the 1970s, the eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards are the nation’s longest running and most prestigious retail event, recognising and rewarding outstanding retail businesses, innovations, and individuals across all sectors of retail. Relaunched in 2008, the annual 2018 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards breakfast will commence on Thursday 18 October at the Myer Mural Hall in Melbourne. For more information regarding the 2018 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

About the Australian Retailers Association:

Founded in 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is Australia’s largest retail association, representing the country’s $310 billion sector, which employs more than 1.2 million people. As Australia’s leading retail peak industry body, the ARA is a strong pro-active advocate for Australian retail and works to ensure retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 7,500 independent and national retail members throughout Australia. For more information, visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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BRISBANE will be a hub for the latest research and debate on world politics and governance with more than 2400 political science experts gathering for a five-day congress.

In an Australian first, Brisbane will host the 25^th IPSA World Congress of Political Science from July 21-25 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC), delivering an economic boost of $7.7 million for the local economy.

The congress was secured through a competitive Team Brisbane bid involving Tourism and Events Queensland, BCEC and the city’s economic development board Brisbane Marketing, in partnership with local and national universities, and professional conference organiser ICMS Australasia.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the congress had attracted nearly 1,000 more delegates than projected, with 80 percent of delegates visiting from international destinations.

“Hosting a congress of this scale demonstrates Brisbane’s appeal as a business, research and leisure destination, and contributes to employment and economic benefits across our accommodation, venue, tourism and service sectors,” Cr Quirk said.

The Queensland Government said it was proud to support the IPSA World Congress of Political Science through Tourism and Events Queensland as part of the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.

BCEC general manager Bob O’Keefe said the centre was honoured to be selected as the venue for the world’s most prestigious international meeting for political science scholars. Such events, he said, demonstrated the world-class capabilities and expertise of BCEC.

“Securing conferences of this nature reflects the close collegiate relationship the Centre shares with Brisbane’s universities and academic community,” Mr O’Keefe said.

The impact of information technologies on global borders, the future of human rights and the rise of global populism are a few of the topics to be explored under the congress theme ‘borders and margins’.

Guy Lachapelle, International Political Science Association (IPSA) secretary general and professor of political science at Canada’s Concordia University, said the 25^th IPSA World Congress would bring together over 2400 delegates from 85 countries.

“An IPSA World Congress is always a moment to look over the state of our discipline but also to look upon what IPSA has accomplished after 25 IPSA World Congresses. Today, our Association is certainly stronger, the collective membership has increased since 1949 (from four to 57) and has become a reference for debating world issues,” Mr Lachapelle said.

www.brisbanemarketing.com.au

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