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PFAS in the environment - govt review

ON MONDAY February 10, the PFAS Sub-committee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade will begin the new parliamentary year with questions about government action on safety frameworks for PFAS in the environment.

The chair of the PFAS Sub-committee John McVeigh MP noted that the national regulatory framework for environmental management of PFAS —per- and poly- flouroalkyl substances— is under review.

“With safe levels for PFAS concentrations in soil and water being made more stringent, there will be new obligations for Government to focus on its PFAS remediation efforts," Dr McVeigh said.

Last year the committee’s first report, tabled out of session on December 20, 2019, documented Defence’s progress using new cleaning technologies to purge PFAS from soil and water at affected Defence sites around Australia.

At the hearing, representatives from the Environmental Protection Taskforce at the new Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment will brief the committee on the status of the PFAS National Environmental Management Plan, which is under review, and on other regulatory reforms limiting PFAS exposures.

Dr McVeigh said, “Environmental laws covering PFAS are managed at state and territory level. There is a need to ensure that Defence is working to a nationally consistent framework of safety standards and that environmental best practice is followed.”

The PFAS Sub-committee’s program of review will continue the following week with the Department of Health. Invitations seeking feedback on evidence to date will also be sought in the course of the year.

Public hearing details:

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

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

Greensill backs fair payment terms for small business

THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) Kate Carnell has welcomed the news that Greensill Capital will stop providing its supply chain finance services to big companies that do not offer fair payment terms.

The announcement from Greensill Capital comes immediately following the release of ASBFEO’s Supply Chain Financing Position Paper, which provides a suite of draft recommendations to be finalised before a full report is handed down at the end of March 2020.

“We are delighted to see that Greensill Capital will no longer provide their product to businesses with poor payment terms, that is, in excess of 30 days,” Ms Carnell said.

“A key recommendation of our position paper is that all businesses, regardless of their size, should be paid within 30 days.

“Where payment terms are 30 days or less, supply chain finance should be available to those small businesses that want to be paid faster," she said.

"We have a real problem when large businesses extend their payment terms from 30 days to 60, or even 90 days, and then offer a supply chain financing product to those small business suppliers who are forced to take a haircut to get paid on time. Today’s announcement by Greensill Capital makes it clear that supply chain financing businesses won’t be used as a whipping boy for the appalling treatment of small business by large businesses.

“It is great to see businesses like Greensill Capital, along with Telstra and Rio Tinto, show corporate leadership on this issue. We will continue to monitor Australia’s other corporate players and encourage them to follow the leadership of these companies.”

www.asbfeo.gov.au

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Cyber security resilience of government

THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit has commenced an inquiry to consider the cyber resilience of government entities prioritising information security. As part of this inquiry, the committee will examine two Auditor-General’s reports including:

No. 1 (2019–20) Cyber Resilience of Government Business Enterprises and Corporate Commonwealth Entities

No. 13 (2019­–20) Implementation of the My Health Record System

Lucy Wicks MP, chair of the committee, said, "The ability to design and maintain secure cyber networks is essential in modern governance. As such, it is a priority of the Committee to ensure that Government entities have the appropriate systems in place to protect information security."

Submissions from interested individuals and organisations are invited by Thursday, March 19, 2020. The preferred method of receiving submissions is by electronic format lodged online using a My Parliament account.

Further information about the inquiry is available on the committee's website.

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Call to help Australia grow by improving the Significant Investor Visa program

FUND manager Atlas Advisors Australia is urging the Australian Government to recognise the long-term benefits of foreign investors to the Australian economy by increasing incentives under the Significant Investor Visa scheme.

The call  comes as the February 14 deadline approaches for public consultation on the “Business Innovation and Investment Program: Getting a better deal for Australia”, including the settings for Investor visas and Significant Investor visas.

Executive chairman of Atlas Advisors Australia, Guy Hedley said the fund manager entirely supported the review and the Federal Government’s objectives to maximise the opportunities and benefits to Australia from the program. 

“The Significant Investor Visa program has brought in billions to the Australian economy, assisting the growth of Australian companies and startups, creating employment opportunities and increasing our exports,” Mr Hedley said.

“However the hard figures do not account for the longer-term economic and other benefits of the scheme.”

Mr Hedley said the economic impact of the SIV scheme was currently measured only across the four-year investment period of the visa. 

“This does not account for the impact super wealthy migrants have on the Australian economy for the years after they obtain permanent residency,” Mr Hedley said.

“These new migrants not only pour billions of dollars into our economy, they also bring skills, expertise and experience that is assisting Australia to enhance its competitiveness in global trade and build better links with international markets. These effects last for generations.”

Aside from the SIV investment requirements, many applicants make additional investments to improve their knowledge of the business environment and build stronger connections to Australian communities.

“They also donate to charities to help people in need in and to help us better protect our environment,” Mr Hedley said.

With more than $1.7 billion of funds under management, Atlas Advisors Australia manages the investments of many of the highest net worth Chinese investors into Australia.

Mr Hedley urged the Australian Government to remain committed to the SIV program and to strengthen incentives for applicants.

“The Federal Government’s recognition of the value and contribution that our new migrants make is critical to encouraging ongoing investment in Australia.”

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QRC welcomes appointment of Resources Minister Keith Pitt

THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has welcomed the appointment of Keith Pitt as the Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said it was good news for the resources sector to see another Queenslander taking on the important economic portfolio.

“The resources sector is at the heart of the Australian economy, and that is especially so in Queensland where it supports one in every seven jobs and generates one in every five dollars,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“Keith Pitt has a reputation for straight-talking and as a regional Queenslander he knows first-hand about the importance of the resources sector to create jobs and investment in regional communities.

“He also has a strong understanding of the policy issues that relate to the resources sector, in particular the need for affordable and reliable energy," he said.

“QRC looks forward to the new Minister building on the substantial policy work of his predecessor Senator Matt Canavan, especially in the areas of maintaining Queensland’s role as a resources powerhouse through our coal, gas and minerals sectors. 

“We are also keen to see the ongoing development of the critical minerals strategy where Queensland has an important role to play in the development of renewable energy minerals such as cobalt, nickel, rare earths, vanadium and manganese, and advanced technology minerals such as rare earths, scandium, tungsten and molybdenum.

“Queensland has led the way in the development of sustainable investment, especially in our gas industry which powers the East Coast gas market. 

“QRC looks forward to meeting with the incoming Minister to further discuss the policy developments that can encourage new and future investment and create new jobs.”

www.qrc.org.au

 

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Agriculture Committee in Wagga Wagga

THE Agriculture and Water Resources Committee will be travelling to Wagga Wagga on Friday, February 7, as part of its Inquiry into growing Australian agriculture to $100 billion by 2030.

The Committee will be inspecting the research facilities at Charles Sturt University and then holding a public hearing at the university.

The Committee chair, Rick Wilson MP, said, “Charles Sturt University has a strong focus on partnering with industry to develop new precision agriculture techniques and technologies. The Committee looks forward to discussing with Charles Sturt the outcomes of this research and how to ensure Australian farmers have the opportunity to become early adopters of innovative technologies.”

Public hearing details

Date: Friday, 7 February 2020
Time: 12.30pm to 4.45pm
Location: Convention Centre, Building 230, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga

The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

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QRC chief Macfarlane focuses on mining safety reviews

QUEENSLAND Resources Council (QRC) chief executive Ian Macfarlane has release a statment on the currnet on mining safety reviews.

"QRC has welcomed the release of the Brady Review into Mining and Quarrying fatalities and two University of Queensland expert legal assessments of coal mining and mining and quarrying legislation," Mr Macfarlane said.

"These reports represent a wealth of information that the resources industry can use to further enhance safety. Last July, QRC committed to working with Minister (Paul) Lynham on the outcomes of these reviews. We restate that commitment now and congratulate the Minister on initiating these important reviews.

"QRC endorses all of the recommendations of the Brady Review.  The report represents a detailed analysis of the fatalities, serious accidents and high potential incidents that have occurred in the Queensland mining and quarrying industries over the last 20 years. 

"It contains information that industry as a whole can use, as well as being a resource that individual operations can use to help them better manage hazards at their own sites. We thank Dr Sean Brady for his detailed work," Mr Macfarlane said.

The Brady Report identified: “The six fatalities that occurred between July 2018 and July 2019 have been described by some in the industry as evidence of an industry in crisis, but a bleaker assessment is that this is an industry resetting itself to its normal fatality rate.”

Mr MacFarlane said, "This is a very sobering assessment that the industry takes seriously. QRC commits to redoubling efforts to do everything possible to maintain vigilance and remain safe.

"QRC fully accepts that while the mining industry has inherent risk we must always improve the focus on the practical actions that can keep our workers safe. QRC will now undertake further detailed review of Dr Brady’s findings as a matter of urgency.

"We also acknowledge the imminent passage of the Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) Bill, which arose out of the CWP inquiry," he said.

"QRC looks forward to working with the Minister, the resources safety inspectorate and worker representatives during the creation of RSHQ.

"QRC is also coordinating work with experts and companies to identify practical programs to implement safety principles identified in Dr Brady’s report.

"The Queensland resources industry is determined to remain a leader in safety, and the industry commits to using the findings of Dr Brady’s report to identify new ways to improve safety for all workers.

"QRC also supports in principle the recommendations of the UQ Legislative Effectiveness Review and looks forward to a full analysis of the respective reviews by the Ministerial Advisory Committees."

www.wrc.org.au

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Thousands of small businesses to be paid faster by Rio Tinto

THOUSANDS of small businesses will see the benefits of faster payment times after Rio Tinto moved to 20-day payment terms for 90 percent of its suppliers.

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) Kate Carnell said this was excellent news for small businesses that trade with Rio Tinto.

“Rio Tinto is showing corporate leadership by changing its payment terms to within 20 days of receipt of invoice, and we are encouraging other big businesses to do the same,” Ms Carnell said.

“We welcome Rio’s new policy, which expands the definition of small business from being those who supply up to $1 million of goods and services to the miner, to also include businesses with annual turnover of up to $10 million. This is a positive move that the small business community will welcome.

“Rio Tinto is demonstrating it understands the needs of Australian small businesses," Ms Carnell said. “Cash flow is always king for small businesses and we know that by paying small businesses on time, the whole economy benefits.

““Both our Payment Times Inquiry and our Insolvency Practices Inquiry show that cash flow is the leading cause of insolvency.

“Overall, Rio Tinto is setting an example on payment times and this should be the benchmark for all big businesses in Australia.”

www.asbfeo.gov.au

 

Administration of government grants public hearing

THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit will hold its first public hearing in Canberra on Friday, 7 February 2020 as part of the Inquiry into the Administration of Government Grants of a number of Government programs and initiatives.

The hearing relates to two Auditor-General’s Reports: Report No. 5 (2019-20), on the topic of the Australian Research Council’s Administration of the National Competitive Grants Program; and Report No. 12 (2019–20), on the topic of the awarding of Funding Under the Regional Jobs and Investment Packages

The public hearing program and further information about the inquiry is available on the Committee’s website.

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The final frontier for Australia's exports

THE House of Representatives Trade and Investment Growth Committee will boldly go where no committee has gone before this week, with a hearing on Friday looking to the stars.

Committee chair George Christensen said the hearing is part of a broader inquiry to seek out and explore the challenges and opportunities faced by Australia’s exporters.

"One of the issues we’ll be looking at on Friday is the potential impact of future export and investment opportunities, including emerging sectors such as Australia’s space industry," Mr Christensen said.

"Australia has an opportunity to be a big part of the growing space industry, which will generate innovation, new technologies and jobs for the future."

The committee will also hear from witnesses in the medicines and health, agriculture and advanced manufacturing industries, as well as small business representatives.

"We know that small businesses are underrepresented in export markets, and often don’t have the significant resources needed to move into exports," Mr Christensen said.

"We are looking forward to hearing about how Australian small businesses can be supported to succeed internationally."

More information about the inquiry, including a full program for Friday’s public hearing, is available on the Committee’s webpage.

Public hearing details 

Date: Friday, 7 February 2020
Time: 9am to 2.30pm
Location: Committee Room 1R4, Parliament House, Canberra

The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

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Pearl Abyss donates 100 million won to assist disaster victims in Australia and Turkey

PEARL ABYSS has announced that donations amounting to a total of 100 million won (about US $84,000) will be made through a Black Desert and Black Desert Mobile in-game event. The donation will be made to assist victims of the unprecedented wildfires in Australia and devastating earthquake in Turkey.

The donation event is running globally until February 19, which encourages both Black Desert and Black Desert Mobile users to make donations to support Australia and Turkey.

During the event, users can purchase special tokens with silver to make a contribution that will go towards relief efforts. Pearl Abyss will be able to donate 100 million won when the number of tokens sold reaches 5 million in total. The donation will be delivered to local aid organizations, with 50 million won going to Australia and another 50 million won going to Turkey. 

"We have prepared a love-sharing event to encourage our Adventurers from around the world in Black Desert and Black Desert Mobile to participate in the in-game donation," Pearl Abyss CEO Robin Jung said. "We hope that the restoration in Australia and Turkey will be quick, and the victims can return to their daily life as soon as possible."

Last April, Pearl Abyss donated 100 million won through the Korea Disaster Relief Association to help victims recover from wildfires in Gangwon-do, Korea. The donation was used to support relief efforts. A donation was also made to Doctors Without Borders in December through an in-game event with the help and support of Black Desert users from around the world. 

About Pearl Abyss

Established in 2010, Pearl Abyss has developed the MMORPG franchise Black Desert for PC, mobile, and console. All their games are built on their proprietary engine and are renowned for their cutting-edge graphics. With multiple projects in the works, they are poised to continue their growth through 2020 and beyond to maintain their position as a leading developer in the game industry. www.pearlabyss.com

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