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Have your say on sugar code of conduct

THE sugar industry and community stakeholders are being encouraged to have their say as part of the Federal Government's review of the Sugar Code of Conduct from today.

Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud said it was logical to review whether the Code of Conduct was providing certainty and stability for the sugar industry.

"I understand there are a range of views on the effect the Code has had on the industry," Minister Littleproud said.

"We want to hear from all players along the supply chain to get a clear picture of how the Code is working."

Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry said those interested in making a written submission have six weeks to do so.

"It's important everyone gets their say on this important reform, so they need to get in and do it before it's too late.

"Face-to-face meetings will also take place and I really encourage as many cane growers, millers and marketers as possible to have their say," Ms Landry said.

Member for Dawson George Christensen said the Code was put in place in 2017 to regulate the conduct of growers, mill owners and marketers.

"We introduced the code to make sure that our canegrowers would be able to negotiate contracts with mills and marketers in a fair environment and to give growers choice in marketers," Mr Christensen said.

"The Coalition introduced the Code to take a stand for hard-working canegrowers and to make sure they are guarded against the power imbalances in the sugar supply chain."

The review will examine the Code in accordance with its terms of reference and provide advice to the government before the end of the year. Submissions close 5pm (AEST) Wednesday 22 August 2018.

For more information about the Code review visit https://haveyoursay.agriculture.gov.au/sugar-code-of-conduct-review.

Fast Facts:

  • The terms of reference released for public consultation week of 1 July 2018
  • Submissions open the week of 1 July 2018 and close 22 August 2018
  • Targeted consultation will be undertaken in September 2018
  • The final report will be delivered to government by the end of 2018​

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Applications still open for Defence tech support program ON Prime

POWERED by CSIRO and delivered in partnership with DST under the Next Generation Technologies Fund, ON Prime5 will be run nationally starting September 2018.

Applications are open until July 13, 2018.

ON Prime Defence is a part-time pre-accelerator experience which gives researchers a unique opportunity to fast-track their science or technology proposition with expert guidance from those who've been there and done it before.

Participants will be integrated with their local ON Prime cohort, in their closest capital city hub, as well as invited to attend an exclusive national session, expressly designed for all ON Prime Defence participants from across the country.

All prospective participants need to do is indicate that they are on a research team working on a Defence technology on the ON application form. 

It is  free to participate and all intellactual property (IP) and equity remains the property of the participating team or their sponsoring institute. 

All ON accelerator experiences are open to teams with at least one research employee from CSIRO, Australian universities or Australia's publicly funded research agencies (PFRA). The research employee may be full time, part-time or a casual employee of a PFRA.

ON Prime Defence offers a unique opportunity to apply  science or tech research to Australia's national security and defence.

For more information visit the ON Prime: Defence web page.  

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Telecommunications: Consultations are open on the first stage of the Consumer Safeguards Review

THE Federal Government is calling for submissions into the Review that will help prepare the consumer protections framework for the future telecommunications market.

The telecommunications landscape has changed significantly since the existing protections were put in place.

The discussion paper for Part A of the Review proposes recommendations and reforms to ensure that customers have access to effective redress and complaints handling mechanisms.

The proposals in the discussion paper build on the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s (ACMA’s) Complaints-Handling Standard by reinforcing the requirement for providers to have robust processes and systems for managing and escalating consumer complaints.

The paper also recommends the establishment of an independent external dispute resolution body for complex complaints that cannot be resolved directly between the customer and their provider.

Public consultation on this part of the Review will be open until 13 July 2018. Discussion papers for Part B covering reliability of services and Part C covering choice and fairness will be released for comment shortly.

The review will report to Government by the end of 2018.

www.communications.gov.au

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Food Standards call for comment on draft cost recovery arrangements

FOOD Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) today called for comment on a revised approach to cost recovery arrangements.

Acting FSANZ CEO Peter May said the arrangements had been revised to better reflect the administrative costs associated with certain applications to amend the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code).

“We have consulted with industry and developed a costing model that takes into account the different levels of work required throughout the application process. This will give applicants a more accurate estimate of the actual charge,” Mr May said.

Less than two percent of FSANZ's total revenue is generated through cost recovery and only a small number of applications to amend the Code incur costs.

The deadline for submissions is 6pm (Canberra time) 2 August 2018.

www.foodstandards.gov.au

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Congratulations to 282,000 Queensland resource sector workers — you are export record breakers, says QRC

INCREASED COAL, LNG and mineral sales have helped Queensland post a record export result of $73.7 billion for the 12 months until the end of May, according to the latest trade data released by the State Government.

Queensland Resources Council chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the resources sector contributed almost $60 billion - or 80 percent - of the result.

“For every 10 dollars Queensland earns through exports, the resources sector contributes eight of those 10 dollars,” he said.

“This is a tribute to the more than 280,000 Queenslanders working directly and indirectly in the resources sector. To those men and women, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, in the regions and the south-east – please accept the congratulations on behalf of all Queenslanders.”

Over the last 12 months:

  • Coal exports increased by $5 billion or 18% to $32.8 billion;
  • Mineral exports increased by $634.2 million or 9.3% to $7.4 billion; and
  • LNG, alumina and semi-soft coking metallurgical coal to $20.9 billion of exports classified as confidential. This category of exports increased by $3.8 billion or 22%.


Mr Macfarlane said Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was correct to highlight the increase in coal exports was due to a recovery from the devastating impact of Tropical Cyclone Debbie in March and April 2017.

“What the Premier, the coal industry and Queenslanders do not know is how monopoly rail operator Aurizon will apply its threat to stop up to 20 million tonnes of coal reaching export ports in central Queensland. If Aurizon follows through with its threat, we estimate a $4 billion cut in coal exports,” he said.

Mr Macfarlane said the Palaszczuk Government last year set itself the target for Queensland to be the source of 22 percent of national exports annually until 2022.

“The latest trade figures put Queensland at 23 percent, ahead of its target. Without resources sector exports, Queensland would provide only 4.4 percent of the nation’s overseas trade. Without coal exports, it would be only 13 percent,” he said.

Link to Queensland Treasury trade data http://www.qgso.qld.gov.au/products/reports/exports-qld-goods-overseas/exports-qld-goods-overseas-201805.pdf

Link to the Premier’s statement on trade results http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2018/7/4/queensland-exports-continue-to-soar-to-new-heights

www.qrc.org.au

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