THE Queensland Resources Council has welcomed a $100,000 contribution by Shell Australia and a $75,000 contribution by Santos to the Queensland Drought Appeal to help support regional communities affected by the drought. 

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the drought was causing extreme hardship on farmers which flows right through the community. 

“As a former farmer I know how devasting a drought is to people’s livelihoods and the pain has a direct impact on the local shops and suppliers. If the farms aren’t doing well everyone suffers in town,” Mr Macfarlane said.

"As two primary industries, resources and agriculture have a long and proud history of working together. In particular, the CSG industry has formed co-existence agreements with landholders delivering around $400 million in payments. 

“Today we saw another example of that longstanding relationship with the sales proceeds from a Santos cattle auction at the Ekka paid into the fund.” 

The Queensland Drought Appeal was launched by the Queensland Government at the Ekka and will provide all money raised to the Queensland Country Womens Association (QCWA). 

“I congratulate Shell, Santos and also Premier Palaszczuk for contributing a total of $277,000 into the fund in the last 24 hours and I strongly encourage everyone if they can to dig deep and donate what they can,” Mr Macfarlane said. 

“It’s importance for the resources sector to help out regional communities with many of our own projects operating nearby.” 

Yesterday, Arrow Energy provided lunch for 550 farmers for Beef Week, along with $10,000 towards feed for livestock during the Ekka.

The appeal will remain open for at least three months with all donations of $2 or more to the appeal tax deductible - online donations can be made at www.qlddroughtappeal.com.au.

www.qrc.org.au

ends

THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) are calling for retailers who truly master customer experience within the Retail Realm at this year’s ARA Retail Awards.

The 2018 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards are the nation’s longest running and most prestigious retail event, showcasing the most influential retail leaders and employees within the Australian retail industry.

Russell Zimmerman, executive director of the ARA, said this industry leading event is a crucial platform where the industry can not only recognise Australia’s retail pioneers, but also showcase those retail leaders who exceed customer expectations.

“Customer fulfillment is a crucial aspect of any retail business, and this year’s Awards will pay special tribute to those retailers creating the right process, model and atmosphere to enhance the consumer experience at every step of the customer’s shopping journey,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“With this year’s Awards encompassing three retail categories, the Excellence in Customer Experience category will search for exceptional retailers offering innovative marketing strategies, fit-outs and customer experiences.”

The 2018 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards themed, The Retail Realm: thinking outside the shop, will touch on every element in the retail sphere including customer experience, technology, payments, sustainability, supply chain, growth, employee development and corporate social responsibility.

Naomi Simson, founding director of online experience retailer RedBalloon, will be this year’s Awards keynote speaker, addressing 500 Australian retailers at the iconic Mural Hall in Melbourne on the 18 October.

“It will be great to see so many retailers in one room thinking beyond their shopfront and discussing how we, as an industry, can turn our market challenges into triumphs,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“It is retail forums like our annual Awards breakfast, that retailers across the country can learn from, and gain insights into, how they can grow their business and build further opportunities for the retail industry as a whole.”

As the submission deadline is just around the corner, the ARA encourage retailers of all sizes to submit an entry before Friday 10 August.

“With 13 awards up for grabs across three retail categories, there may be more than one category your business can submit an entry to,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“It’s just about identifying the key strengths and attributes of your retail business and then sharing your success stories with us.”

The ARA believe knowledge is power and the more stories shared across the industry will only provide further opportunities to the retail sector and the Australian economy as a whole.

The 2018 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards will be held on Thursday 18 October at the Myer Mural Hall in Melbourne. Submit your entry today via the 2018 eftpos ARA Retail Awards platform.

To secure your seat for the 2018 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards head to The Retail Realm to purchase your tickets today.

About the eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards:

First held in the 1970s, the eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards are the nation’s longest running and most prestigious retail event, recognising and rewarding outstanding retail businesses, innovations, and individuals across all sectors of retail. Relaunched in 2008, the annual 2018 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards breakfast will commence on Thursday 18 October at the Myer Mural Hall in Melbourne. 

About the Australian Retailers Association:

Founded in 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is Australia’s largest retail association, representing the country’s $310 billion sector, which employs more than 1.2 million people. As Australia’s leading retail peak industry body, the ARA is a strong pro-active advocate for Australian retail and works to ensure retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 7,500 independent and national retail members throughout Australia. For more information, visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

ends

THE HOUSE of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics will hold a public hearing in Canberra for its inquiry into impediments to business investment in Australia.

The Chair of the committee, Sarah Henderson MP, said, "The committee is examining how government at all levels can encourage more businesses to invest in Australia."

"At the recent hearings in Sydney and Melbourne, the committee heard that the combination of multiple layers of regulation and high corporate tax rates makes it difficult for Australian companies to compete in the global marketplace. Similarly, these factors can deter foreign investment in Australia. As a net importer of capital, Australia needs to be more competitive."

Ms Henderson said the committee looks forward to hearing from a range of stakeholders and interested parties in Canberra to gain a deeper understanding of impediments to business investment.

Public hearing details: Tuesday, 7 August 2018, Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra

9.15am: Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman

10am: Department of Industry, Innovation and Science 

10.45am: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Australian Trade and Investment Commission

11.30am: Break

11.45am: Clean Energy Council (via teleconference) 

12.30pm: Master Builders Australia

1pm: Lunch break

1.30pm: Red Meat Advisory Council

2pm: Australian Trucking Association

2.30pm: Finish

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

ends

QUEENSLAND'S resources sector is powering jobs growth across the State with mines re-opening, exploration surging and exports rising said the Queensland Resources Council (QRC).

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the state’s most valuable export is delivering more than 3500 jobs across Queensland in 2018 after a sustained uplift in the global economy.

“Resources account for about 80 percent of Queensland’s exports and over the last two years the sector has benefitted from elevated prices and a strong tailwind from larger volumes,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“With confidence returning, new projects are emerging, old mines are being extended and mothballed mines are coming back online. We’re seeing strong investment in new gas fields and all this activity is leading to highly skilled and highly paid jobs.

"Seek has more than 1,400 vacancies in mining, resources and energy in Queensland with more than half paying $100,000 or more," Mr Macfarlane said.

“For every direct job in the resources sector across Queensland another six full time jobs are supported indirectly.

“Santos and its GLNG partners will invest $400 million into its Arcadia gas project near Injune establishing up to 300 construction jobs, and a further $900 million in gas developments in the Maranoa, Western Downs, Central Highlands and Banana regions. While Senex will produce gas for the domestic market from the company’s Project Atlas in the Surat Basin creating 150 jobs.

“In this year alone, we’ve had two new entrants to the state’s coal sector with South32 scooping up a 50 percent stake in the greenfield Eagle Downs and Bengal Coal’s new coking coal mine near Dysart attaining State Government approval. Meanwhile, Japan’s Sojitz has acquired BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance’s (BMA) Gregory Crinum mine leading to 300 jobs.

“Stanmore expects first coal in August from its new Isaac Plains East, Bounty Mining’s recommissioned Cook Colliery mine exported coal in June, Metro Mining’s Bauxite Hills project commenced in April with contracts to China, MMG is producing zinc at its Dugald River mine and Peabody secured over 230 jobs by extending its North Goonyella mine," he said.

“Underpinning this growth is exploration with the Palaszczuk Government releasing more than 44,000 square kilometres of land following a 39 percent increase in greenfield exploration.”

The resources sector now provides one in every six dollars in the Queensland economy, sustains one in eight Queensland jobs, and supports more than 16,400 businesses across the State - all from 0.1 percent of Queensland’s land mass, according to the QRC.

www.qrc.org.au

Where 3,506 resources jobs came from in 2018:

• Bounty Mining Cook Colliery 260 jobs
• Metro Mining Bauxite Hills 200 jobs
• Stanmore’s Isaac Plains East 210 jobs
• Peabody North Goonyella 230 jobs
• Sojitz acquires BMA’s Gregory Crinum $100m 300 jobs
• Senex & Jemena $140m Wallumbilla pipeline 200 jobs
• Santos GLNG $400m Arcadia project 300 jobs
• Senex Project Atlas 150 jobs
• Bengal Coal Dysart East Underground 200 jobs
• New Century Resources and Santos gas supply deal 240 jobs
• BMA apprentices start work in central Queensland 40 jobs
• Hastings Deering apprentices 50 jobs
• Batchfire Callide 450 jobs
• Metallica Minerals Bauxite Project 26 jobs
• MMG Dugald River Zinc 400 jobs
• Glencore’s Lady Loretta 250 jobs
• Santos GLNG $900m in gas developments across Maranoa, Western Downs, Central Highlands and Banana
• South32 buys 50 percent of Eagle Downs $100m

ends

DEFENCE is seeking applications from the cyber community across Australia to develop cyber solutions of high relevance to the country's national security.

Applications close August 15.

Cyber is a priority theme of the Next Generation Technologies Fund, aimed at realising the potential game changing cyber capabilities afforded by research and development in Australia. Defence recognises the need to respond to this technology opportunity, and that technological advances in the cyber domain are likely to lead to the introduction of new capabilities in our region.

Defence is seeking to leverage the vibrant cyber science, technology and innovation capability across Australia to develop technology solutions of high relevance to the country's national security.

Through partnerships with Data61, academia and industry, Defence aims to understand the potential of cyber technologies, create prototype systems, and demonstrate the practical application of systems to Defence problems.

One of the goals of cyber technologies research is to inform Defence of the potential benefits and practical limitations of cyber technologies through studies and demonstrator systems within a three to five-year timeframe.

DST is seeking submissions from academia, and other research agencies, detailing how they propose to contribute to research in the following areas:

• Trustworthy Machine Learning
• Symbolic Execution for Rapid Threat Analysis
• Formal verification of Network Control Protocols
• Data Security and Privacy of Inference Models
• Detecting and Analysing Vulnerabilities in Concurrent Software
• Resilient Cyber Systems
• Depicting human vulnerabilities towards cyber threats via trust analytics
• Privacy-Preserving distributed Edge Computing
• Policy-Defined Networking
• SDN Data Plane Security and extensions to Software Defined Clouds
• Formal Mathematical Modelling Environment
• FPGA Security
• Assisted System Decomposition for Vulnerability Assessment
• Cyber-Enabled Information Warfare

Proposals will be assessed against the following criteria:

• Alignment to Defence strategy and the project priorities articulated in this document
• Future science criticality
• Collaboration depth (e.g. Collaboration with DST staff, Data61 staff, other universities, an industry partner, etc.)
• Delivery of outcomes (e.g. the ability of the proposal to deliver the agreed outcomes and milestones).
• Game changing potential to Defence

For more informaiton visit the Next Generation Technologies Fund - Cyber page.

ends

ASIC has approved the Australian Banking Association’s (ABA’s) new Banking Code of Practice (the Code).

ASIC’s approval of the Code follows extensive engagement with the ABA, following a comprehensive independent review and extensive stakeholder consultation. The ABA made additional significant changes to the Code in order to satisfy ASIC that it met our criteria for approval.

This is the first comprehensive broad-based industry code ASIC has approved under its relevant powers.

The Code will commence operation from 1 July 2019.

SIGNIFICANT NEW PROTECTIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESS

The new Code provides for improved protections for small business borrowers and expands the reach and impact of legal protections against unfair contract terms.

For small businesses who borrow up to $3 million, the Code provides that lending contracts should not contain a range of potentially unfair and one-sided terms. Unfair contract terms protections in the law apply to businesses who borrow up to $1 million.

At its current setting of applying to small businesses who borrow up to $3 million, the Code will cover the considerable majority – between 92-97 percent – of businesses in Australia. 

To ensure the settings in the Code provide a high level of coverage of the small business sector, ASIC’s approval is conditional on an independent review of the definition of small business within 18 months of the Code’s commencement. This targeted review will test the adequacy and application of the Code’s small business coverage in practice, and will occur well before the Code’s comprehensive review, due three years after its commencement.

At the same time, ASIC will collect quarterly data from banks and the Australian Financial Complaints Authority to monitor the extent of the Code’s coverage of small business. ASIC will ensure that this data is made public every six months. This will provide the public with ongoing transparency about the coverage of the Code.

EXPANDED PROTECTION FOR CONSUMERS

The Code has built on and enhanced the existing protections for consumers in the 2013 Code.

The new Code includes:

• provisions for inclusive and accessible banking, including for vulnerable customers, customers on low incomes and Indigenous customers;

• protections relating to the sale of consumer credit insurance (CCI) including a deferred sales period of four days for CCI for credit cards and personal loans sold in branches and over the phone;

• protections for guarantors of loans, for instance, giving prospective guarantors generally three days to consider information about a guarantee and requiring banks to only enforce a guarantee once they have taken action against the borrower;

• rules requiring credit card customers to receive reminders about balance transfer promotional periods ending, as well as more consistent treatment about how repayments are applied; and

• enhanced processes for assisting customers in financial difficulty and processes for resolving complaints.

MONITORING AND ENFORCEABILITY

All ABA member banks will be required to subscribe to the Code as a condition of their ABA membership and the relevant protections in the Code will form part of the banks’ contractual relationships with their banking customers.

The Code will be administered and enforced by an independent monitoring body, the Banking Code Compliance Committee (BCCC). Any person will be able to report a breach of the Code to the BCCC, and consumers and small businesses with disputes about the Code protections will be able to have those disputes heard by the new Australian Financial Complaints Authority.

ASIC notes the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry may make findings relevant to the Code. ASIC may review its approval of the Code in light of the Royal Commission findings.

BACKGROUND

ASIC has provided guidance on its approach to approving codes, including how to obtain and retain approval in Regulatory Guide 183 Approval of financial services sector codes of conduct (RG 183).

 In approving the Code, ASIC considered that:

• the rules in the Code are binding on the ABA’s members and form part of the contracts between banks and their customers;

• the Code was developed and reviewed in a transparent way, which involved significant consultation with relevant stakeholders including consumer and small business groups; and

• the Code is supported by effective administration and compliance mechanisms. The BCCC will have oversight on banks’ Code compliance, tools to require banks’ cooperation with their monitoring and investigations, and a range of sanctions for non-compliance with Code provisions.

www.asic.gov.au

ends

A $4 MILLION joint funding program aimed at growing South Australia's forest and forest products industry is officially open for applications. ​

Federal Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Senator Anne Ruston and South Australian Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Tim Whetstone have today released guidelines for the Mount Gambier National Institute for Forest Products Innovation fund.

Researchers with projects to grow Australia's forest and forest products industry are encouraged to apply for funding between $50,000 and $500,000.

Minister Ruston is encouraging innovative applications to continue growing the plantation forest and forest products industry.

"The National Institute for Forest Products Innovation fund is aimed to seize upon opportunities to harness the potential of our forestry assets, and maximise the contribution of the industry to our regional and national economies," said Minister Ruston.

"The fact that one of the National Institute for Forest Products Innovation hubs is located in Mount Gambier demonstrates the importance of South Australia and the Green Triangle to Australia's forest and forest products industry."

Minister Whetstone said the fund will provide important opportunities to boost research and development in the forest and forest products industry.

"The forest and forest products industry is a significant contributor to the state's economy and an important employer in our regions. The industry in South Australia generates over $2 billion in revenue annually," said Minister Whetstone.

"This research funding will play an important role in exploring and facilitating innovation in areas such as forest management, timber processing, wood fibre recovery and value adding, advanced manufacturing and the bio-economy.

"Priority areas for funding in the plantation forest and forest products industry include the development of new products, innovative, safe and efficient workplaces, and precision management; as well as tree growing, and robotics, automation and artificial intelligence."

Applications for the National Institute for Forest Products Innovation fund close on September 7, 2018. For more information and funding guidelines visit www.nifpi.org.au.

ends

THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) believes June trade figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) represent a fair trade for the end of financial year, with a 2.87 percent total growth year-on-year.

Russell Zimmerman, executive director of the ARA, said this positive growth is mostly due to the strong trade in Clothing, footwear and personal accessories and Food retailing.

“Winter finally hit in June as we saw the Clothing, footwear and personal accessories category grow by 5.26 percent year-on-year,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“Food retailing also saw a yummy result, growing 4.31 percent in June with supermarkets making a tasty comeback by having their strongest growth since June last year.”

With the new financial year in mind, consumers increased their spend in the Specialised food (6.05%) and Liquor (4.72%) sub-categories, which showed solid growth for the month.

Department stores (1.77%) saw a second-consecutive monthly rise in year-on-year sales, while weakness in the Household goods category (0.60%) dragged down the overall result for the industry.

“We have seen the housing market come off the boil of late in several states, which explains the flat results for Hardware and building and more significantly, Furniture, which was down by 2.55 percent,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“People don’t renovate when the housing market is down.”

Across the country, Victoria (5.77%) and the Australian Capital Territory (4.30%) showed the strongest growth in June, closely followed by Tasmania (3.87%) and New South Wales (3.05%). South Australia (2.53%) and Northern Territory (2.39%) remained steady, while Queensland (0.62%) and Western Australia (-0.46%) remained flat.

June saw the key retail categories posting healthy results, which is linked to the business confidence increase Roy Morgan has reported for the month.

“Business confidence often falls after the Federal Budget; however, this increase shows greater strength in the market, giving retailers much-needed assurance to invest in their businesses and execute product strategies,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“We believe this would grow further with the Federal Government’s company tax cuts coming into play again in the Senate in a few weeks’ time.”

Monthly retail growth (May 2018 – June 2018 seasonally adjusted) 

Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (1.71%), Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (0.86%), Household goods retailing (0.45%), Food retailing (0.39%), Other retailing (0%) and Department stores (-1.23%).

Australian Capital Territory (1.24%), Victoria (1.11%), Tasmania (0.91%), New South Wales (0.42%), Western Australia (0.22%), South Australia (-0.04%), Queensland (-0.33%) and Northern Territory (2.58%).

Total sales (0.41%).

Year-on-year retail growth (June 2017 – June 2018 seasonally adjusted)

Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (5.26%), Food retailing (4.31%), Cafés, restaurants and takeaway food services (2.36%), Department stores (1.77%), Other retailing (1.32%) and Household goods retailing (0.60%).

Victoria (5.77%), Australian Capital Territory (4.30%), Tasmania (3.87%), New South Wales (3.05%), South Australia (2.53%), Northern Territory (2.39%), Queensland (0.62%) and Western Australia (-0.46%).

Total sales (2.87%).

About the Australian Retailers Association:

Founded in 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is Australia’s largest retail association, representing the country’s $310 billion sector, which employs more than 1.2 million people. As Australia’s leading retail peak industry body, the ARA is a strong pro-active advocate for Australian retail and works to ensure retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 7,500 independent and national retail members throughout Australia. For more information, visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

ends