NEW exports and imported food legislation designed to implement fairer, more equitable funding arrangements for users of export certification and biosecurity systems passed the Senate last week. 

Minister for Agriculture, Barnaby Joyce, said the new legislation does not amend current fees and charges but it will now allow the Australian Government to progress the redesign of export certification and biosecurity cost recovery arrangements with industry and stakeholders. 

"Improving the performance and efficiency and reducing unnecessary red tape in export certification was a commitment made by the Coalition prior to the last election and I am pleased that this legislation has passed, enabling us to continue this work. 

"It is important that our exporters and importers pay a reasonable price that recovers the real cost of the services they receive from government," Minister Joyce said. 

"It's also very important that those charges do not unfairly discriminate against new or small exporters. 

"At the same time, we need to make sure our biosecurity and export certification systems remain world leading as Australia's $53 billion agricultural sector relies on it. 

"This legislation lays the foundation to work with industry to determine the best way to implement fees and charges that are fair, efficient and reduce the impact on small exporters and businesses." 

The department has been consulting with government-industry consultative committees about the redesign of the cost recovery arrangements since mid-last year. In July and August, the department will seek broader stakeholder feedback on the redesign that has been worked through with these committees. 

"We continue to listen to industry and work with clients, government-industry consultative committees and peak bodies," Minister Joyce said. 

"This engagement will continue as we design appropriate fees and charges that underpin each of the arrangements." 

Further information on draft cost recovery implementation statements, including proposed fees and charges, will be published on the department's website in July 2015. Information will also be available on how interested stakeholders can provide feedback and attend information forums that will held by the department. 

agriculture.gov.au/costrecoveryreview.

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THE Public Works Committee is conducting an inquiry into the proposed refurbishment of the Perth Air Traffic Services Centre (ATSC).

The ATSC at Perth Airport provides military and civilian control services. These services are managed by two separate systems, both of which require upgrading. Consequently, Airservices Australia and the Department of Defence have partnered to develop a single aviation communication and management system, OneSKY.

Airservices Australia told the committee that refurbishment of the ATSC in Perth is planned such that it will allow the current system and the new OneSKY systems to operate in parallel over a four year period, before OneSKY is fully functional. The refurbishment will extend the life of the building for a further 20 years.

Subject to parliamentary approval the work is due to commence in 2015 and be completed in early-2016. It is estimated to cost $23.05 million (excluding GST).

The Committee Chair, Senator Dean Smith, said the Committee will conduct public and in-camera hearings for the inquiry in Perth in August 2015.

Full details on the project are available on the committee’s website: www.aph.gov.au/pwc

Submissions to the inquiry close on 22 July 2015.

Full details of the public hearing will be available soon.

NB the Public Works Committee is neither involved in the tendering process nor the awarding of contracts. Enquiries on those matters should be addressed to Airservices Australia.

For further information, including how to make a submission, the public hearing times, and copies of submissions when they become available, please visit the Committee website http://www.aph.gov.au/pwc or contact the Committee Secretariat on (02) 6277 4636.

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VECCI Chief Executive Mark Stone has welcomed the introduction of legislation to Federal Parliament that will extend unfair contract term protections to small business.

"This legislation will see the consumer unfair contract terms protections extended to cover contracts, fitting the prescribed criteria, entered into by small business," Mr Stone said.

"It will give a court the power to strike out a term of a small business contract that it considers unfair.

"The protections will apply to small business contracts where at least one party has fewer than 20 employees and the contract value is below the prescribed threshold of $100,000, or $250,000 for a multi-year contract.

"VECCI’s Small Business Taskforce report, Small business. Big opportunities, released in April this year, urged the Federal Government to commit to implementing the protections detailed in this legislation.

"Prior to this, leading-up to the 2013 federal election, VECCI, as part of the united chamber movement led by ACCI, ran the Small Business. Too Big to Ignore campaign in support of small business.

"The campaign highlighted the fact that there are over 2 million small businesses in Australia, employing more than 7 million Australians, which need government support to grow jobs and remain competitive.

"Today’s announcement demonstrates a commitment to help small business grow and we commend the Federal Government for this action."

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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Australian Mines and Metals Association statement by Chief Executive, Steve Knott

AUSTRALIA’S national resource industry employer group, AMMA, congratulates the Coalition government and ALP for negotiating an agreed reduction in the Renewable Energy Target (RET) that has passed through the Senate with bipartisan support.

In principle, AMMA does not agree that legislated targets are the most effective mechanism to encourage investment in renewable energies. Our position is that there is a need for both renewables and non-renewables, and that the market remains the best determinant of the value and viability of various energy sources.

However, given political circumstances and various community views about a RET, we welcome the government providing certainty for all energy users and the reduction in the target from 41,000 gigawatt hours to 33,000GWh - aligned with changing energy demands.

Resource industry employers in particular are facing enormous global competitive pressures and are highly dependent on certainty and stability in energy cost and supply. This is especially critical when making long-term investment decisions that bring projects, jobs and economic benefits to our country.

AMMA also welcomes the agreement to exempt aluminium smelting from the RET. This represents sound political decision making that will support the ongoing competitiveness of this sector and ensure the significant employment it provides in Australia is not lost offshore.

After months of speculation and uncertainty, we are pleased to see this issue resolved through a cooperative, bipartisan process and hope such an approach can be applied to other policy issues of national significance.

www.amma.org.au

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