THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has welcomed the Queensland Government’s announcement of prescribed project status for the planned $470 million Multicom Resources Limited Saint Elmo vanadium project near Julia Creek.

“The resources sector underpins the Queensland economy and supports more than 372,000 jobs. To ensure ongoing jobs for decades to come, it is essential that investments are made now in new projects and new mines,” QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said.

“This planned mine is in the North West Minerals Province which has been identified as one of the growth areas of the future including for new and emerging commodity markets.

“Queensland has a leading role to play in the development of the critical minerals industry. These new critical minerals projects will deliver new jobs in regional Queensland, and will play a strategic role for Australia in terms of defence industries, manufacturing, trade and regional development.

“Vanadium is just one of the critical minerals the Queensland resources industry can mine and process.

“Queensland has globally-significant reserves of copper, nickel, zinc, graphite, and molybdenum and major deposits of cobalt, rhenium, scandium, tantalum, niobium and lithium," Mr Macfarlane said.

“Investments in new critical minerals projects will add to the coal, gas and minerals industries which already underpin the Queensland economy.

“It’s important that Queensland has the right policies in place to attract the investment to translate our opportunities in critical minerals into a reality.”

The Saint Elmo vanadium project also received Major Project Status from the Australian Government in December last year.

Mr Macfarlane said clear timelines for assessments for both state and federal approvals were essential to attract new investments in the resources sector.

www.qrc.org.au

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The PFAS Sub-committee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (JSCFADT) will today ask the Department of Health about PFAS and its potential impacts on human health.

Chair of the PFAS Sub-committee the Hon Dr John McVeigh MP noted that the 2018 report of the JSCFADT had called on the Department to issue an updated health opinion, as research overseas progressed.

‘We learned last Parliament that communities affected by PFAS had concerns about the Expert Health Panel’s opinion that there was ‘no evidence’ of human health impacts from PFAS,’ Dr McVeigh said.

IN THE CURRENT review, the Australian National University’s PFAS Health Study reported progress in its research to clarify this health advice. The research is funded by the Department of Health with the results to be finalised at the end of this year.

At today’s hearing, the Office of Health Protection’s principal medical adviser Dr Gary Lum briefed the sub-committee about the department’s current thinking on PFAS and its health opinion, as the regulatory framework for PFAS evolves. 

"We will want to know how the Department of Health is capturing knowledge on PFAS impacts," sub-committee chair John McVeigh said.

"That includes by supporting research and whether this work is informing its engagement with the Department of Defence and people in affected communities."

The PFAS sub-committee’s program of review will continue over the course of the Parliament with a further report to be presented later this year.

Public hearing details:

Date: Monday 24 February 2020
Time: ~4:10pm to 5:00pm
Location: Committee Room IR4, Parliament House, Canberra.

The hearing will be audio streamed live at aph.gov.au/live.

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THE Australian Dental Association (ADA) is calling on the Federal Government to support calls by  Senator Stirling Griff to work with state governments to provide more Medicare-funded dental care for all children, pensioners and welfare recipients.

“The ADA applauds the senator for his motion due to be tabled today (Monday, February 24), seeking  to increase publicly-funded dental care and improve ‘shocking rates of preventable oral health disease and hospital admissions,’” ADA president Carmelo Bonanno said.

The motion adds to the growing chorus of voices urging Canberra to do more to ensure a higher number of Australians have access to dental services.

“Senator Griff has rightly identified that many Australians are desperate for dental care and are unable to access care even if they’re eligible for public dental services," Dr Bonanno said.

“It’s time that all levels of government and the dental profession work together on more sustainable funding models. Currently states are unsure whether there will be even Commonwealth funding for public dental waiting lists past June 2020.

“We need a commitment to extend the current National Partnership on public dental funding while other options are considered.”

Dr Bonanno said the idea that oral health should be funded differently to the rest of the body "is a nonsense".

“We have a successful model in the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, it’s now time to extend this model to other groups in the community such as the elderly and those on low incomes," Dr Bonanno said.

"The ADA has been asking successive federal governments for years to consider the Australian Dental Health Plan as a blueprint for action.

“Senator Griff’s motion is a welcome boost to our ongoing campaign we’ve been fighting on many fronts in order to bring about this change in thinking in Canberra. Targeted funding that supports those people that are often least likely to attend a dentist regularly is sorely needed if we’re to improve Australians’ oral health.”

The ADA’s Australian Dental Health Plan is available at www.ada.org.au/ADHP

ADA facts on the issue:

• The National Oral Health Plan 2015-24 identified that more than 90 percent of adults and 40 percent of young children have experienced tooth decay.
• Only four out of every 10 have a favourable visiting pattern (to a dentist) and there are many Australians who require specific strategies to improve access to treatment..
• Poor oral health is a significant contributor to poor overall health where patients who live with long- term pain suffer severe and often catastrophic consequences.
• More than 72,000 Australians are hospitalised annually due to preventable oral health conditions.  
• The cost to all Australians through preventable hospitalisation is significant however the cost to individuals is so much higher.
• More than three times as many Australians put off going to the dentist when compared with visiting the doctor.

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RSL QUEENSLAND will continue to honour indigenous veterans, as it does for all who have served this country, at its many commemorative services.

RSL Queensland President Tony Ferris said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service people had served in every war and conflict since the Boer War, and their contribution must not be forgotten.

“Although they fought and sometimes died shoulder to shoulder with their fellow Australians, they returned home to a country that still refused to acknowledge them as citizens,” Mr Ferris said.

“This is why RSL Queensland acknowledges the invaluable contribution our indigenous service people have made – and continue to make – to the defence of our nation.”

While ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day honour all who have served, since 2006 RSL Queensland has also hosted an Indigenous Veterans’ Ceremony, held in Brisbane’s ANZAC Square during National Reconciliation Week. This specifically recognises the service of thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service people who have served in all wars and conflicts. This year it will be held on May 30.

Members of the public are invited to attend the annual ceremony and pay their respects to indigenous service people, both past and present, who have served and sacrificed for their country.

THE Queensland Resources Council has welcomed the opening of Alexandra Hills State High School’s Centre for Excellence in Automation and Robotics which will operate in partnership with the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA).

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the centre would be among the best equipped in the State to tap into the careers of the future.

“I congratulate the Queensland Government on the completion of the centre which comes at a time when we are facing critical shortages of skilled people, despite the enormous opportunities from investment in the sector,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“Investments in projects like this, and through the work of the QMEA, are helping students learn about the opportunities for a skilled, well paid and long-term career with the resources sector.

“Alexandra Hills is one of the 75 schools which have partnered with our education arm the QMEA and this Centre will give teachers and industry professionals the space to showcase how technology is changing the workplace.

“QMEA delivers hands-on events alongside people from industry to help students understand the link between classrooms and workplaces. Whether that’s through science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) or trades such as welding," he said.

“The establishment of this $4.7 million centre reinforces the importance of investing in skills for the long-term future of the resources sector and for regional Queensland. Our sector continues to make new investments in technology and innovation to ensure we remain globally competitive.

“QMEA students participate in a range of activities ranging from data-modelling, to using drones and robotics, to using 3D printing to apply to real-life scenarios relating to the minerals and energy sector," Mr Macfarlane said.

“The latest data shows that almost 22 percent of QMEA students who finished school in 2018 and went to university began studies in engineering and related technologies last year, compared with 15 percent of students in non-QMEA schools.”

The QMEA is a partnership between the QRC and the Queensland Government under its Gateway to Industry Schools program.

www.qrc.org.au

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THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell is encouraging small businesses to have their say on a draft law requiring big businesses to be more transparent about their payment times.

The Federal Government has today opened consultation on the draft Payment Times Reporting Framework legislation that will require businesses with turnover of more than $100 million to publish information about their payment policies.

“Cash flow is king for small businesses and we welcome the Federal Government’s continued efforts to ensure they are paid on time,” Ms Carnell said.

“This framework will require big businesses to be upfront and honest about the time it takes to pay small businesses, to help small businesses choose who they supply.

“The legislation will apply to about 2,500 large Australian businesses, including foreign companies and government entities. Late payments by large businesses to small businesses account for 53 percent of all invoices, according to data from Xero.

“That’s $7 billion of working capital that Australian small businesses are missing out on every year - money they could be using to grow their business," Ms Carnell said.

“Small businesses can now provide their feedback on this proposed reform which is designed to drive cultural change in business payment performance across the economy.”

Consultation on the draft legislation is open until March 6 via https://consult.industry.gov.au

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ACCOR, a world-leading hospitality group, and Visa, one of the world's leaders in digital payments, have announced a global partnership to bring new payment experiences to ALL-Accor Live Limitless loyalty members.

The partnership will bring together Accor’s loyalty program and Visa’s global payment capabilities to create the new ALL Visa card. Members who apply for the new Visa card will be able to use it for everyday purchases everywhere Visa is accepted. Accor will be collaborating with Visa partner financial institutions and banks in key markets across Europe, North and South America, Middle East and Asia Pacific to issue the new ALL Visa card. It will offer members tailored rewards based on customer preferences and the ability to earn more loyalty points when staying at an Accor property or when making purchases.

Accor boasts a portfolio of strong and iconic brands across all segments in the most promising markets around the globe. Through strategic acquisitions and partnerships with prestigious luxury and lifestyle brands such as Raffles, Fairmont, Sofitel, Banyan Tree, Mondrian and Delano, the group offers unique experiences through its 39 hotel brands, in more than 5,000 hotels and residences across 110 destinations.

Through the partnership with Visa, Accor is enhancing the benefits of its recently launched loyalty program, ALL–Accor Live Limitless, to its 64 million loyal member base and more than 250 million customers globally. The introduction of the ALL Visa card will enable the Accor Group to engage customers beyond their stay, via an industry leading loyalty program, offering ALL members the ability to earn points, enjoy new experiences and even more hotel nights.

The introduction of ALL Visa payment cards aims to leverage Accor’s augmented hospitality ecosystem to engage customers beyond their stay via industry-leading benefits and innovative digital, mobile-first experiences.

The cobranded payment cards will generate additional customer engagement in hotels and new member recruitment opportunities for ALL as well as spend uplift.

Accor chairman and chief executive officer, Sébastien Bazin said, "Partnering with Visa will be a huge boost to Accor as we embark on the shared journey to develop an innovative co-branded payment card. This new initiative will provide unmatched benefits to our members and reinforce the success of our ALL loyalty program by increasing our member base driving additional engagement and giving each member incentives to stay with us more frequently and easily.

"The development of ALL is a major milestone for us, and in Visa we are very pleased to have found a partner which shares our passion for delivering everyday rewards and recognition.”
 
Al Kelly, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Visa chairman and chief executive officer Al Kelly said, "We are delighted to partner with Accor and support the introduction of a new customer loyalty program. Today’s digitally-savvy consumers expect rewards that are tailored to their needs and offer new and unique experiences.

"I am extremely excited about the power of Accor’s expertise in hospitality coming together with Visa’s global network and digital capabilities. This combination will translate into attractive loyalty and payment products that will be at the forefront of the hospitality market.”

ABOUT ACCOR
Accor is a world-leading augmented hospitality group offering unique experiences in more than 5,000 hotels and residences across 110 destinations. The Group has been acquiring hospitality expertise for more than 50 years, resulting in an unrivalled portfolio of 39 hotel brands, from luxury to economy, supported by one of the most attractive loyalty programs in the world. ALL, Accor Live Limitless is a daily lifestyle companion that integrates rewards, services and experiences bringing value to everyday life inventing a completely new aspirational way to live limitless. Accor is deeply committed to sustainable value creation and plays an active role in giving back to planet and community via its Planet 21 – Acting Here program and the Accor Solidarity endowment fund, which gives disadvantaged groups access to employment through professional training.
Accor SA is publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACRFY) in the United States. www.accor.com

ABOUT ALL
ALL - Accor Live Limitless is a new daily lifestyle companion. ALL offers benefits, rewards and unique experiences to its most engaged members throughout the world, whether they're at work or play. A host of new services will make the everyday lives of the programme's members more rewarding, not least in terms of entertainment, well-being, sport, coworking and mobility. With ALL, Accor offers more than a mere hotel stay, delivering new services and new ways of laying on bespoke experiences, bringing the Group's augmented hospitality strategy to life by increasing points of contact with its customers through a network of nearly 5,000 hotels and 50 brands. 
 
ABOUT VISA
Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) is one of the world’s leaders in digital payments. Visa's mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable and secure payment network - enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. The advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. The company’s relentless focus on innovation is a catalyst for the rapid growth of digital commerce on any device, for everyone, everywhere.  As the world moves from analog to digital, Visa is applying its brand, products, people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce. www.visa.com/blog and @VisaNews. 

MEDIBANK'S management is to blame for its “failure to save for a rainy day”, not its customers seeking to use their health insurance to access the best and latest medical devices, Medical Technology Association of Australia Ian Burgess said today.

Mr Burgess said Medibank’s attempts today to blame medical device usage for its alleged profit downturn flies in the face of APRA data released Tuesday, showing insurer net profit after tax (NPAT) was up 21 percent in the December 2019 Quarter from $1.19 billion to $1.44 billion.

Medibank also failed to declare today the upwards of $400 million in direct medical device savings Health Minister Greg Hunt had already delivered private health insurers since 2017.

“It’s comments like these from Medibank today that are destroying consumer and investor confidence in their own products and performance, as well as the broader sector. No wonder they’re in a self-proclaimed ‘death spiral’,” Mr Burgess said.

“Private health insurers haven’t paid one extra cent for medical devices over the past two premium years, despite raising premiums twice-inflation and banking nearly $1 billion in profits between the big corporate health funds, including Medibank.

“It’s not the role of medical devices to keep propping up Medibank’s managerial inaction and incompetence, while they continue to feather their nest with taxpayer handouts and corporate bailouts,” Mr Burgess said.

“Medibank’s management seems to routinely fail to understand that timely access to the best and latest medical devices is exactly why their customers put up with years of premium pain. Reducing access will only reduce customers. 

“Medibank’s customers have clearly had enough of their premiums increasing faster than house prices with no matching increase in benefits and are finally cashing in their chips before they’re forced out altogether.

“If Medibank can still afford to pay a dividend to its shareholders, it can afford to drop its prices for its customers.”

Mr Burgess also questioned why there was no mention in Medibank’s statement today of the benefits that were about to flow through from recent price cuts on February 1, 2020 to over 7000 medical technologies like pacemakers, insulin pumps, eye lenses, hip and knee replacements and more.

“Medical device manufactures have cut their prices upwards of 40 percent in the past three years as a result of the direct lobbying of insurers like Medibank to help reduce premiums and increase access,” Mr Burgess said.

“It’s a safe bet that the first private health insurer whose premium increases go below zero will increase their market share overnight.

“The number of Australians dropping out of private health insurance is quickly snowballing into an avalanche and it’s time for government to step in and save private health from itself.”

Recent research from YouGov-Galaxy show over 2 million Australians dumped their private health insurance in the last five years.

Yesterday’s APRA figures confirmed this trend was continuing, with only 44 percent of the country now covered.

About MTAA

The Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA) is the national association representing companies in the medical technology industry. MTAA aims to ensure the benefits of modern, innovative and reliable medical technology are delivered effectively to provide better health outcomes to the Australian community. MTAA represents manufacturers and suppliers of medical technology used in the diagnosis, prevention, treatment and management of disease and disability. The range of medical technology is diverse with products ranging from familiar items such as syringes and wound dressings, through to high-technology implanted devices such as pacemakers, defibrillators, hip and other orthopaedic implants. Products also include hospital and diagnostic imaging equipment such as ultrasounds and magnetic resonance imaging machines. MTAA members distribute the majority of the non-pharmaceutical products used in the diagnosis and treatment of disease and disability in Australia. 

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