BRISBANE employers looking to boost worker productivity should consider using more of one of the world’s oldest and most sustainable materials in their office fit-outs: wood.

Associate Professor Jacki Schirmer of the University of Canberra – who will be speaking at the Green Building Day conference in Brisbane today – said that was a key take-out from a recent survey of 1000 indoor Australian workers.

The research provides fresh evidence to underpin the business case for biophilia – the principle that exposure to nature increases human wellbeing, she said.

The study found that the more natural looking wooden surfaces workers could see from their workstation, the higher their workplace satisfaction and wellbeing – affording significant potential benefits to productivity.

However, the research paints a bleak picture of workers’ current access to nature at work with less than half (47%) enjoying access to natural light, only two in five (38%) being able to see indoor plants, a quarter (26%) unable to see any natural looking wooden surfaces and almost half (46%) spending less than an hour outdoors on work days.

Dr Schirmer said the results of the survey by strategic market research firm Pollinate held true even after rigorous analysis that controlled for factors known to impact on the wellbeing of workers such as age, income, gender and workplace culture.

“We are always looking for ways to improve health and wellbeing, and this research points to ways we can achieve that in the places many people spend a lot of their time – the workplace," Dr Schirmer said.

“The work has implications for businesses, because a large body of research has shown that workers who are more satisfied with their work and have higher wellbeing have better work productivity, and reduced rates of absenteeism – which means improving worker wellbeing has real benefits for businesses.”

Over 80 percent of workers (82%) exposed to eight or more wooden surfaces in their workplace reported being ‘satisfied or very satisfied’ with work, compared to over two thirds (69%) exposed to five to seven wooden surfaces and half (53%) with no wooden surfaces.

Employees working in offices with natural wooden surfaces on average also reported higher personal productivity, mood, concentration, clarity, confidence and optimism.

The effect on wellbeing was greatest when wood was used in combination with other natural elements such as plants, water features and natural light.

Dr Schirmer said: “We know it’s good for us to spend time outdoors interacting with nature, but with people spending so much time indoors, there’s increasing recognition of the potential benefits of bringing nature into the workplace and the home.

“The academic world is becoming increasingly switched on to biophilia as an area warranting real research and attention, and some engineering degrees are starting to include it as a subject.

“Importantly, wood is a particularly useful tool for bringing nature into the workplace in situations where it is not feasible to retro-fit other changes, such as increased natural light.”

Time and location of talk:

Associate Professor Jacki Schirmer will discuss the findings at the Green Building Day in Brisbane at Green Building Day at Aurecon Level 14, 32 Turbot St, Brisbane.

About the study:

A representative sample of 1000 Australian indoor workers participated in the research.

Survey participants were asked about the natural elements they could see from their workspace, including the number and type of natural wooden-looking objects they could see. They were also asked about the presence of other things that affect the wellbeing of workers, including noise levels, access to natural light, and their workplace culture. Finally, they were asked to self-rate their wellbeing, workplace satisfaction and personal distress using validated measures that are used worldwide to assess wellbeing, health and mental health disorders.

Over two thirds of indoor workers surveyed were in an office, with the remainder split between shops and factories/warehouses.

The study was funded by Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA), which had no input on the structure of the study.

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QUEENSLAND'S coal industry is making a record contribution to the State Budget to deliver funding for Queensland infrastructure and vital services, like health and education, Queensland Resources Council chief executive Ian Macfarlane said. 
 
Mr Macfarlane said the resources sector was delivering for Treasurer Jackie Trad’s first Budget with coal royalties a record $3.768 billion for 2017-18 and overall royalties including minerals and LNG climbing to $4.327 billion. The Budget forecasts total royalties to increase to $4.458 billion in 2018-19 with a boost in royalties expected from petroleum and minerals. Coal royalties are projected to contribute $3.522 billion in 2018-19.
 
The 2018-19 Budget royalties windfall for the Palaszczuk Government is much greater than the Budget handed down last year, which projected coal royalties to be $2.432 billion and a total royalties of $2.989 billion.
 
“I’m pleased to say those high-vis workers are the highlights in the Budget.  The 280,000 men and women working in the resources sector are delivering for five million Queenslanders,” he said.
 
“Every Queenslander – regardless of where they call home – shares in the wealth of the sector through royalties paid to the Government. These royalties go to schools, hospitals and roads in the south-east of Queensland.
 
“On top of the billions of dollars in royalties paid by the sector, resources jobs continue to be a mainstay of employment and economic growth in Queensland, ensuring that every Queenslander benefits from this great industry.
 
“If the sector is to continue to deliver for Queenslanders it needs certainty and I thank the Treasurer for her commitment to not change royalty rates in this Budget and call on Ms Trad for an ongoing commitment to royalty stability."
 
Mr Macfarlane said the Queensland resources sector "now provided one in every $6 dollars in the Queensland economy, sustains one in eight Queensland jobs, and supports more than 16,400 businesses across the State – with almost 7000 businesses in the Greater Brisbane region – all from 0.1 percent of Queensland’s land mass".

www.qrc.org.au

THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has teamed up with various retail associations including the Australian Lottery and Newsagents’ Association (ALNA), Master Grocers Australia (MGA Independent Retailers) and the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) to identify the growing problem of tobacco-related organised crime across Australia.

Russell Zimmerman, executive director of the ARA, said KPMG LLP’s Illicit Tobacco in Australia 2017 Full Year Report has shown a significant increase in the proportion of illicit tobacco consumption in the last year.

“According to the recent report, total illicit tobacco consumption rose from 14.3 percent in 2016 to 15 percent in 2017, costing the government $1.91 billion in excise,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“This rise in illicit tobacco consumption means almost $2 billion a year goes to criminals and gangs, instead of the vital government services which could improve our community and overall economy.”

The ARA, ALNA, MGA Independent Retailers and AACS have teamed up to support their workers in the industry and reduce the effects illicit tobacco is having on retailers across the country and the community as a whole.

“KPMG LLP’s report is further evidence that organised tobacco crime is at crisis point in Australia and the government must intervene,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“The increase in illicit tobacco consumption means there are more and more crime gangs in the tobacco market and it is becoming a growing and dangerous trade in Australia.”

With the retail industry employing over 1.2 million retail workers in Australia, Mr Zimmerman said frontline workers face the most danger as they are often left most vulnerable to crime and abuse.

“This is an enormous problem for businesses, and a serious issue for retail workers as we are seeing more and more break-ins from criminals who want to get their hands on tobacco products and sell them on the Black Market.”

Some gangs are also importing illicit tobacco from overseas, which can be more harmful than the actual product, and selling them on the streets to anyone who wants them, including young people,” Mr Zimmerman said.

Jos de Bruin, chief executive officer of MGA Independent Retailers agrees with the ARA, stating this new report highlights the significant impact illicit tobacco is having on independent retail.

“We estimate the growing crime epidemic is causing independent retailers across Australia a loss in sales of $200 million plus,”  Mr de Bruin said.

Therefore, the ARA iscalling on governments across Australia to step up their efforts in countering organised tobacco crime.

“Although the Federal Government has recently introduced a series of legislation to tackle his issue before Parliament, we believe Australia needs a coordinated national strategy, so all arms of governments are working together.

“All sides of government must take preventative measures and pass this legislation to ensure harsh penalties and eliminate this plague on the community once and for all,” Mr Zimmerman said.

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.

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A PROJECT to restart gas processing facilities in South West Queensland will get a $2 million boost from the Australian Government’s $26 million Gas Acceleration Program, increasing gas supply to the East Coast market.

Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Matt Canavan said the funding would allow Australian Gasfields Limited to bring forward by a year the refurbishment and restarting of the Eromanga and Gilmore Gas Plants, adding a combined gas capacity of 8.7 petajoules a year.

“This adds to the $24 million investment in four projects announced in March that will supply an additional 12.4 petajoules of new gas by 30 June 2020, and an extra 27.6 petajoules over five years,” Mr Canavan said.

"The Eromanga facility will provide additional regional infrastructure to help unlock third-party stranded gas resources.

“The Australian Government is taking action to ensure a secure, reliable and affordable gas supply for the East Coast, to support Australian businesses and Australian jobs.

“The GAP is a significant component of the Australian Government’s $90 million investment in gas security, reliability and affordability for Australian gas users.

“It complements other measures that have helped to address domestic gas supply in the short term, like the Australian Domestic Gas Security Mechanism and the Prime Minister’s agreement with the East Coast LNG exporters in October 2017.

“However, the only way to safeguard gas security into the future is by increasing the supply of gas through new exploration and production.  It’s good news that the Northern Territory has lifted it ban on gas development, but other states must do more of the heavy lifting too.”

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THE PANEL for the Independent Review of the Australian Public Service has called for public submissions.

Minister for Defence Industry, Christopher Pyne said that partnering with Austrade will capitalise on whole-of-government expertise and knowledge of foreign markets to assist Australian defence industry to access greater export opportunities.

"Cooperation between Austrade and the Defence Export Office is one of a range of initiatives being delivered under the Defence Export Strategy, to drive a more competitive defence industry to support Australian Defence Force capability," Mr Pyne said.

"A strong, internationally competitive and sustainable defence industry is key to meeting Australia's current and future defence capability needs."

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Steven Ciobo said local industry experts, working closely with the Defence Export Office, will provide advice and support for Australian defence businesses using Austrade's established international networks to assist in navigating foreign markets.

"The MOU is another step in supporting the Defence Export Strategy and employing industry experts across several overseas Austrade offices will assist exporters in navigating foreign markets to grow their business," Mr Ciobo said.

"Growing the defence export sector will boost the Australian economy and build upon the Turnbull Coalition Government's strong record of job creation."

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed following last month's inaugural Defence Export Forum. The Forum, which aims to provide an integrated national approach to Defence exports, included representatives from Commonwealth agencies, state and territory governments and industry peak bodies.

Austrade and the Defence Export Office will work closely to support targeted multi-year campaigns and deliver integrated support for defence exporters. 

For more information, the Australian Defence Export Office can be contacted at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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AUSTRALIAN researchers and businesses can now apply for up to $50,000 to help expand their work overseas, under the latest round of Global Connections Fund Bridging Grants.

The third round of Bridging Grants opens for applications today, with between $25,000 and $50,000 on offer to help viable Australian projects to grow in scope and scale, and to test commercialisation.

The Bridging Grants help Australian researchers build strong relationships with international partners, leading to the translation of knowledge and intellectual property into market-ready products and services.

They also help existing small-to-medium Australian businesses work with researchers overseas, leveraging their academic expertise to help them compete internationally.

Minister for Jobs and Innovation, Michaelia Cash said it is vital Australian researchers and businesses are given the opportunity to collaborate and share knowledge with counterparts in key global economies.

“Through initiatives such as the Global Connections Fund, the Turnbull Government is helping Australian businesses and researchers collaborate with global partners on projects that build our economy and create job opportunities.

“The Government’s Bridging Grants give our top innovators the support they need to grow their great ideas into viable businesses,” Minister Cash said.

The Global Connections Fund is one of the key internationally-focused measures of the Global Innovation Strategy, part of the Government’s $1.1 billion National Innovation and Science Agenda.

Extraordinary technological change is transforming how we live, work and communicate. Innovation is important to every sector of the economy. Innovation keeps us competitive. It keeps us at the cutting edge. It creates jobs. And it will keep our standard of living high.

Through the National Innovation and Science Agenda, the Turnbull Government is embracing new ideas to deliver the next age of economic prosperity to all Australians.

Applications close 14 June 2018. For more information visit https://globalconnectionsfund.org.au/bridge-grants/

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THE FEDERAL Parliament is currently considering changes to Australia’s copyright laws to extend the safe harbour scheme to the education, cultural and disability sector.

The changes aim to ensure these sectors are protected from legal liability where they can demonstrate they have taken reasonable steps to deal with copyright infringement by users of their online platforms.

To ensure the new sectors can comply with the scheme, the Parliament is seeking views on the Copyright Amendment (Service Providers) Regulations 2018.

The amendments aim to ensure the current safe harbour procedures and forms are fit for purpose for the new sectors.

The changes aim to compliment the Copyright Amendment (Service Providers) Bill by not seeking to deviate substantially from how the scheme currently operates.

Comments are being sought on whether the amendments will help the applicable institutions comply with the safe harbour scheme.

Submissions close on June 29, 2018 at 5pm AEDT.

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