LEADING WEALTH manager Atlas Advisors Australia has taken a joint stake in key domestic tourism asset, Hunter Valley Zoo at Nulkaba, NSW.

Atlas Advisors Australia is the sole co-investor in ASX-listed Elanor Investors Group’s Elanor Wildlife Park Fund which purchased the property, bringing the total value of the fund to $60 million.

Atlas Advisors Australia is also joint shareholder in Elanor Wildlife Park Fund’s two other iconic wildlife park assets, Featherdale Wildlife Park, in Western Sydney and Mogo Zoo at Batemans Bay on the NSW South Coast.

Atlas Advisors Australia executive chairman, Guy Hedley said Atlas Advisors Australia Hunter Valley Zoo was a prime tourism and real estate asset that would thrive in the long-term.

Nature-based and eco-tourism is a rapidly growing sub-sector of the tourism industry in Australia and around the world, he said. Hunter Valley Zoo boasts an amazing diversity of native and exotic wildlife including koalas, kangaroos, lions, giraffes, meerkats, monkeys and reptiles.

“Wildlife parks and zoos have remained resilient and profitable despite COVID-19 posing the greatest challenges the Australian tourism sector has ever faced,” Mr Hedley said.

“Individuals and families are keen for outdoor adventures that connect them with nature and our unique environment while also providing life-long educational experiences.”

Atlas Advisors Australia would continue to leverage its valuable relationship with property experts Elanor Investors Group to expand its tourism and tourist-property assets.

“We are looking forward to taking on more opportunities in this thriving tourism subsector while also expanding our asset portfolio to include nature retreats, luxury resorts and high-quality hotels,” Mr Hedley said.

Mr Hedley said it was also notwithstanding that Australia’s borders would remain closed until mid-2022.

About Atlas Advisors Australia

Atlas Advisors Australia is a leading funds manager, operating between China and Australia. With operations in Sydney and Melbourne in Australia and Hong Kong, Atlas is able to support investors in all China and Australia locations.

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A NEW parliamentary committee has been appointed to investigate how to reduce trauma and deaths on Australian roads.

The Joint Select Committee on Road Safety will build on the work of the previous committee and will investigate and identify opportunities to improve road safety programs and policy; embed road trauma prevention across agencies; and reduce road trauma in the workplace.

Committee Chair, Pat Conaghan MP, said over 1000 people die on our roads every year while tens of thousands are hospitalised.

"This inquiry will focus on the practical and immediate steps that can be taken to reduce trauma and deaths on our roads," Mr Conaghan said.

"The committee will be focusing on what can be done in the short to medium term to achieve real and tangible results. We need to focus on action and cooperation in the prevention of further trauma and deaths on our road networks. We will also focus attention on ensuring the Federal Government’s 2021-22 Budget commitment of $3 billion over three years to the Road Safety Program continues to be effective."

For many Australians, particularly those living in rural and regional Australia, our roads are an essential and unavoidable means of travel. Rural and regional Australians are disproportionately impacted by road trauma, with two‑thirds of deaths on Australian roads in 2019 occurring in regional or remote areas.

Vehicles and our roads are also a workplace for many Australians. More than half of all worker fatalities in Australia are related to vehicles.

"We always have to remember that these are people not just statistics. They are mums and dads picking the kids up from school; truck drivers keeping our supermarkets stocked; cyclists and pedestrians heading to work; farmers driving into town to re-supply; and gig‑economy delivery workers," Mr Conaghan said.

He said it was important that Australia explored options to meet its road safety targets.

"We must all work together towards zero deaths and serious injuries on Australian roads by 2050. Everyone deserves to feel safe on our roads," Mr Conaghan said.

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THE NSW Government must intervene to force its contractor, Downer, to allow Opera House workers to take sick leave while they self-isolate for 14 days due to a COVID outbreak, according to the Electrical Trades Union (ETU).

About 20 ETU members are isolating as close contacts after a construction worker on site tested positive for COVID-19 and have been told they must use their annual leave.

Meantime, other staff including Opera House performers, have been allowed to take sick leave as they follow NSW Government health orders.

ETU organiser Fred Barbin has condemned Downer and is urging the NSW Government to take action.

“In the middle of an unprecedented outbreak in NSW, we should be doing all we can to encourage workers to comply with the health orders and keep our community safe,” Mr Barbin said.

“Denying workers sick leave and forcing them to dig into their annual leave or RDOs is the exact opposite. Through no fault of their own, these construction workers will have to cancel holidays because they have exhausted their leave.

“At the same time, Opera Australia is doing the right thing by paying pandemic leave to hundreds of performers who are isolating due to the same COVID-19 incident.

“Downer’s actions punishes workers who were sent home on the orders of NSW Health for the protection of the community," Mr Barbin said.

“Our Downer members are long-term employees who should be able to access their accumulated sick leave in this health emergency.

“Instead the company is using the COVID crisis to claw back annual leave that will be lost to workers and their families.

“What a cynical and heartless move by a major contractor on a government-funded contract.

“The NSW Government must take a stand and ensure Downer sets the right example for all companies across NSW."

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THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has welcomed the banks’ ongoing efforts to support small businesses impacted by COVID-19 lockdowns.

The Australian Banking Association said banks would defer loan repayments for small businesses affected by lockdowns throughout Australia for three months.

“This is a positive initiative that will help many struggling small businesses stay afloat in these challenging times,” Mr Billson said.

“The banks’ commitment to support small businesses through this period is highly valued and is the kind of a key support element that could be incorporated into an agreed predictable and known national framework of support. 

“Such a framework, involving both government and private sector elements, step up as COVID-inspired economic constraints and introduced, up-levelled or extended that small and family businesses can count on when seeking to navigate these challenging and uncertain times

“I would encourage all small businesses owners who are experiencing financial difficulties to call their banks now to make the necessary arrangements," Mr Billson said.

“Home loan support, including deferrals on a month-by-month basis, is also available to small business customers.

“Banks are promising to support small businesses if they need it - so long as the loan is in good standing with repayments up-to-date or there’s a payment program in place.

“It’s encouraging to see our banks taking this proactive approach and leading by example.

“This consistency from the banks will help small businesses navigate and adapt to periods of uncertainty such as this.”  

www.asbfeo.gov.au

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