NOMINATIONS are now open for the City of Melbourne’s prestigious Melbourne Awards, which recognise community groups and corporations who have made a positive and valuable contribution to the world’s most liveable city.

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the awards, now in their 15th year, highlight the achievements and service of many dedicated and inspirational Melburnians.

“The Melbourne Awards are our city’s highest accolade,” the Lord Mayor said.

“They celebrate the inspirational achievements of those who devote their time, energy and passion to make Melbourne the great city that it is; the world’s most liveable city.

“If you know a worthy recipient, please nominate them today: I know we have no shortage of contenders.”

The Lord Mayor will bestow the title of Melburnian of the Year on one outstanding individual.

“You only have to look at the calibre of the past winners to appreciate the magnitude of this award. Neale Daniher AM is the current Melburnian of the Year: his courage and drive galvanised an entire community to join him in the fight against Motor Neurone Disease.

“Other recent winners include Bryan Lipmann AM, the founder of Wintringham Specialist Aged Care, Major Brendan Nottle of the Salvation Army and music pioneer Michael Gudinksi AM.”

In addition to the Melburnian of the Year, the awards will recognise four community organisations and four corporations for their outstanding contribution to the community, environmental sustainability, multiculturalism and strengthening Melbourne’s profile.

An independent judging panel of industry leaders and Melbourne personalities will decide this year’s Melbourne Award recipients. Winners will be announced at a gala ceremony at Melbourne Town Hall on Saturday 18 November.

Nominations for the 2017 Melbourne are open until Monday 5 June.

For information or to nominate, please visit www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/melbourneawards or call 9658 9658.

ends

MINISTER for Defence Industry, Christopher Pyne MP, has welcomed awards to recognise and reward Australian companies and individuals at the forefront of naval and commercial maritime innovation.

Nominations are open for the Maritime Australia Industry Innovation Awards, which will be awarded at the 2017 Pacific International Maritime Exposition in October.

“There are so many small-to-medium enterprises that have developed world-leading products that have not only met Australia’s defence needs but achieved success internationally,” Minister Pyne said.

“These awards are about celebrating, recognising and rewarding the skills and expertise that exists within Australia.

“I strongly encourage companies and individuals to put their nominations forward.”

Innovation is at the forefront of the Government’s principal defence industry and innovation initiatives, a key driver to generate new defence capability.

The Next Generation Technologies Fund will invest around $730 million over the decade in technologies that have the potential to deliver game-changing capabilities for the ‘future force after next’.

The Defence Innovation Hub is investing around $640 million over the decade into maturing and developing technologies that have moved from the early science stages into the engineering and development stages.

“Innovation in defence capability is fundamentally important to maintaining a warfighting advantage and capability edge,” Mr Pyne said.

"The front door for doing business with Defence, the Centre for Defence Industry Capability, is available to provide practical advice and assistance needed to working with Defence."

The awards have been developed by the national not-for-profit foundation Industry Defence and Security Australia Limited.

o enquire about the awards and for more information, visit http://www.pacific2017.com.au/innovation-awards/index.asp or contact Gregor Ferguson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 0414 803 717.

For more information about the Centre for Defence Industry Capability visit business.gov.au/cdic

ends

THE Federal Government has released a discussion paper for public consultation as part of the 2017 review of climate change policies.

The discussion paper follows the Government’s commitment to review its climate change policies when it set Australia’s target to reduce emissions by 26 to 28 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030.

The discussion paper can be accessed via: www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/review-climate-change-policies

The Government invites submissions on the discussion paper by 5 May 2017.

ends

SMALL businesses around Australia need to make the most of the $20,000 instant asset write-off while it’s still there, according to the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA).

“The IPA had long advocated for the write-off initiative but unless the time limit is extended in the upcoming Federal Budget, the door will close on 30 June 2017 and the limit will revert back to $1,000,” said IPA chief executive officer, Andrew Conway.

“The increase in the accelerated depreciation write off threshold to $20,000 has been a great assistance to small business cash flow.

“This initiative is bringing forward the tax deduction that would have been deductible over a number of years.

“Entities with turnover up to $10 million can now also avail themselves of this initiative if the amended Enterprise Tax Plan is passed by Parliament when it next sits.

“If this initiative reverts back to $1,000, there will be negative impact on the broader economy as the incentive for small businesses to reinvest in their future will be taken away; restricting potential growth, employment and prosperity.

“We are urging the Government to keep this forward thinking initiative alive come Budget night,” said Mr Conway.

publicaccountants.org.au

ends