THE Victoria Events Industry Council (VEIC) has welcomed the announcement of the inaugural Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race in the Geelong region.

“This exciting new event reinforces Victoria’s credentials as a global leader for sporting events and complements a rich calendar of activity already in place,” says VEIC Chief Executive Dianne Smith.

“The race will draw people to iconic, regional Victorian locations, which is consistent with VEIC's recommendations to grow the tourism and events sector.

“It will bring thousands of people to the route which includes Geelong, Evans’ home town of Barwon Heads, Thirteenth Beach, Torquay, Bells Beach, Moriac and finish on Geelong’s waterfront.”

Ms Smith’s comments come as cycling World Champion and Tour De France winner, Cadel Evans, joined Victorian Premier, the Hon. Dr Denis Napthine MP, today to announce the event in Geelong in 2015.

“Victoria will put this event on brilliantly!” says VEIC Chair Peter Jones.

“It will bring some of the world’s best cycling teams to Victoria and, with Cadel Evans' name, will certainly attract strong international media attention.”

The timing of the event ties into a strong summer of sport which includes South Australia’s Tour Down Under prior to the race and the ICC cricket world cup soon after.

“There will be significant flow-on benefits throughout the economy to hotels, restaurants and visitor attractions from the Victorian, interstate and international guests coming to enjoy the event and experience what our great state has to offer,” says Ms Smith.

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Established in December 2006, the Victoria Events Industry Council (VEIC) is the peak policy council representing Victoria’s $1.4 billion event industry.

www.vecci.org.au

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PRESENTED by the Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC), in association with Tourism Victoria.

Where: The Pier Precinct, 10 Western Beach Foreshore, Geelong

When: 14-15 July, 2014

Why: Showcases a diverse program of local, national and international speakers with a focus on building profitable and sustainable businesses and a resilient tourism industry.

What: Guests will be exposed to industry experts and peers, information on the latest trends and practical workshops to enhance skills relevant to growing a business in the sector.

Attendees: Over 330 tourism industry professionals.

Speakers:

Dianne Smith, Chief Executive, VTIC on the need for industry and governments of all levels to work together to drive sector growth.

The Hon. Dr Denis Napthine MP, Premier of Victoria on the importance of tourism to the state’s prosperity.

The Hon. Louise Asher MP, Minister for Tourism and Major Events on the strategy to drive growth in the sector. 

Anna Pollock (Conscious Travel UK): consultant, strategist, international speaker, change agent and a recipient of The Visionary of the Year Award from the Canadian tourism industry.

John O’Sullivan (Managing Director, Tourism Australia): former executive with Fox Sports, Events Queensland, Football Federation Australia and member of the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Organising Committee.

Dr Jason Fox: motivation strategy and design expert who shows forward thinking leaders how to influence work culture, drive progress and build for the future.

Michael Gudinski, Chairman, The Mushroom Group of Companies: rock guru, music mogul, mushroom man and widely recognised as one of the most important figures in the history of the Australian music industry.

Full program and schedule http://victourismconference.com.au/programs/

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.

www.vtic.com.au

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THE Queensland Government is asking Queenslanders to nominate to host an event during 2014 Queensland Small Business Week.

The Queensland Government wants to position Queensland Small Business Week, from September 1-6, as a positive catalyst for business development on the annual business calendar.

Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games Jann Stuckey said the Queensland Government was looking for as many government, industry and community groups to get involved by hosting an event, as a way of “celebrating the commitment, efforts and passion of the largest group of employers in the state”.

“Queensland Small Business Week is a chance to celebrate the contribution small business (people) make and remind Queenslanders of the importance of buying locally,” Ms Stuckey said.

“This government is unashamedly pro-small business and committed to growing a strong and prosperous small business sector, cutting red tape by 20 percent by 2018.”

The week features a comprehensive calendar of events and activities such as seminars, workshops, webinars and networking events.

The events are hosted by business, industry and community groups across the state, with numbers expected to exceed the 4500 direct attendees last year.

All business is invited to take part in the week, whether as an attendee or as an event host, Ms Stuckey said.

Each event is promoted through the Queensland Government’s online business and industry portal and social media, providing an opportunity for businesses to showcase to people throughout the state.

“The events are designed to help people learn how to start or grow a small business, gain new ideas and inspiration, network with other businesses, or gain a better understanding of the support available,” Ms Stuckey said.

The statistics show the importance of small business to the Queensland economy. The 403,000 small businesses in Queensland employ about one million people and account for close to 95 percent of all Queensland business.

Organisations can nominate to host an event visit the 2014 Queensland Small Business Week through the website.

www.business.qld.gov.au/smallbusinessweek

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BOTH major parties should be concentrating on generating jobs for Victorians in the lead up to the November election following today’s disappointing unemployment figures, according to Victoria's most influential employers’ group.

With another 15,000 Victorians looking for work as unemployment jumps from 6.2 per cent to 6.5 per cent (seasonally adjusted), both parties should be looking for initiatives to encourage employment.

The chief executive of the Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) Mark Stone said that lifting the threshold at which a business starts paying payroll tax to $850,000 would bring payroll relief to 40,000 Victorian businesses.

"It would generate jobs almost instantly,” said Mr Stone.

"Employers across the state have told me that payroll tax is a major disincentive to employing more staff.

"It must be lifted from the current threshold of $550,000 to $850,000.

“These figures show that youth unemployment is a major concern, especially with a 20 per cent drop in apprenticeships in the past 12 months."

Mr Stone said the figures highlight the need to progress job-creating infrastructure projects throughout Victoria, such as East West Link Stages 1 and 2 and regional projects such as Ballarat Railway Station and Geelong’s Yarra Street Pier redevelopment.

These projects will create significant direct and indirect employment, benefit metropolitan and regional business and have an apprenticeship and traineeship element which will boost youth employment.

Mr Stone has spoken to leaders of both major parties in recent days about these issues, urging them to adopt VECCI’s recommendations.

"Victoria has a solid economic base but our potential will not be realised without policies that drive greater investment and business activity,” said Mr Stone.

www.vecci.org.au  

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