THE Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) is disappointed that the State Government is acting to remove the ability of the state to grant 99 year leases in Victoria’s national parks, saying it will discourage much needed tourism investment.

“Reducing the maximum lease period in national parks from 99 to 21 years will discourage appropriate investment by the tourism industry and limit the development of the significant projects that Victoria needs to broaden access to our wonderful park experiences,” said VTIC Chief Executive Dianne Smith.

Ms Smith’s comments come as the National Parks Amendment (No 99 Year Leases) Bill 2015, limiting leases in national parks to a maximum of 21 years, is tabled in Parliament by the Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water, the Hon Lisa Neville MP.

“Nature-based products enable Victoria to better showcase our diverse natural and cultural beauty and are vital for our state’s visitors. Many competitor destinations such as Canada, New Zealand and Tasmania have been successful in achieving development that is sensitive to the local environment in partnership with the private sector, with strict controls on use and impact to foster sustainable tourism growth,” said Ms Smith.

“However, reducing maximum lease terms to anything less than 50 years will stifle development as industry will walk away from investing in Victoria.

“We call on the Parliament of Victoria to ensure this amendment is not passed, encouraging business to continue partnering to support our state’s outstanding nature-based tourism opportunities.

“VTIC will continue to work with industry and government to boost tourism investment in Victoria.”

The Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) is the peak body for Victoria’s tourism and events industry, providing one united industry voice. Tourism and events are growth industries for Victoria and contribute $19.6 billion to the state economy each year and employ more than 200,000 people.

vtic.com.au

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COLLECTING and managing data is a key component of the infrastructure information revolution. How data is stored and accessed is a question that is vital to the productivity gains that smart infrastructure can bring.

Tomorrow, the Infrastructure and Communications Committee will meet with representatives of the National Archives of Australia.

In its submission, National Archives highlights how Smart ICT is transforming government and industry business models, resulting in the creation and collection of large volumes of data.

Smart ICT technologies include data analytics, optimisation, modelling and software systems, networked sensors, mobile device integration, and new ways of gathering data.

According to National Archives, “Data provides new insights into how infrastructure investments are made, how infrastructure is developed and deployed, maintained and used, what future infrastructure demands might be and where efficiencies might be gained. It also ensures the accountability of government and industry decision-making.”

Committee Chairman Jane Prentice MP (Ryan, Qld) said that collection, storage and accessibility of data have been identified as vital components in the development of smart infrastructure.

“The Committee’s role is to identify what government and industry can do to ensure data is collected and made available in forms that are useful and enduring, and that the data component of infrastructure lasts as long as the steel and concrete it supports,” Mrs Prentice said.

Hearing details

Date: Wednesday, 16 September 2015

Time: 8:00 am–9:00 am

Witness: National Archives of Australia

Venue: Committee Room 1R3, Parliament House, Canberra

The public hearing will be webcast live at http://www.aph.gov.au/live

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VECCI Chief Executive Mark Stone said VECCI congratulates the Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP on his election to leader of the Liberal Party and Prime Minister of Australia following the Liberal party room ballot last night.

"Victorian business looks to Mr Turnbull to provide strong, stable leadership and get on with the job of governing," Mr Stone said.

"It is positive that Mr Turnbull has pledged to prioritise Australia’s economic growth through measures that boost business confidence and build an agile, innovative and creative nation. This is in-keeping with VECCI’s recommendations for the future prosperity of Victorian business.

"Business urges Mr Turnbull to progress reforms to raise productivity and increase flexibility in Australia’s workplace relations system; work with the States to fix the federation and undertake critical tax reform; advance the cause of free trade; and provide federal funding for vital infrastructure projects, such as the Melbourne Metro Rail Project," Mr Stone said.

"This agenda must be progressed as a priority given its significance to the Victorian economy and wider business community.

"As part of the united chamber movement VECCI looks forward to continuing to work constructively with the Federal Government and supporting business to capitalise on opportunities for growth in 2015 and beyond."

The Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) is the most influential business organisation in Victoria, informing and servicing more than 15,000 members, customers and clients around the state.

vecci.org.au

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THE Northern Australia Committee will hold a public hearing in Canberra on Tuesday, 15 September as part of its inquiry into opportunities to expand the aquaculture industry in Northern Australia.

The CSIRO has identified 1.5 million hectares of land in Australia which is suitable for aquaculture — with almost 0.5 million hectares being in Queensland—and has commented that much of tropical Australia is suited to meeting the major requirements for aquaculture development: clean seawater and an abundance of suitable coastal land.

Committee Chair, the Hon Warren Entsch MP, said: ‘The CSIRO has a strong history of supporting aquaculture through developing feedstocks and researching the environmental impacts of aquaculture farm discharges. For example, this has resulted in the introduction of discharge treatment systems and compliance with strict discharge water quality standards that have enabled the Australian prawn industry to operate for 20 years with no adverse impacts on adjacent ecosystems.

 ‘The CSIRO has also suggested the development of a spatial planning framework which would provide a rigorous basis for establishing aquaculture zones along the Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australian coast similar to those operating in Tasmania and South Australia.

 ‘The Committee will examine how new aquaculture projects can coexist in areas of environmental significance, such as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, when the Department of the Environment appears at the public hearing,’ Mr Entsch said.

The Department of the Environment is responsible for administering the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 which is triggered when developments are proposed which could impact on the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Where: Committee Room 2R2, Parliament House, Canberra

When: Tuesday, 15 September 2015, 6.00 pm–9.00 pm

PROGRAM 

6.00 pm      Department of Agriculture

6.40 pm      Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

7.40 pm       Department of the Environment

8.20 pm      Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

Hearing programs are available at:www.aph.gov.au/jscna

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