THREE science agreements that will enhance opportunities for scientific cooperation and Australian innovation have been supported by federal parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Treaties.

Report 174, tabled in the Parliament today recommends support for arrangements to increase Australia’s scientific cooperation with the USA, New Zealand and Israel.

Committee Chair, Stuart Robert MP, said “the three science agreements will enhance opportunities for scientific cooperation and commercialisation for Australian innovation entrepreneurs. In the current global world, innovation and technology are driving productivity and these types of agreements provide important benefits for Australian businesses,” he said

The committee has also thrown its support behind the renewal of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) arrangements to borrow from Australia. The IMF relies on arrangements to temporarily borrow funds from some of its members to top up its resources. Australia has been one of those members since 1997.  

Mr Robert, said the renewal was for a period of five years, from November 2017 to 2022. “The IMF plays an important role in maintaining international financial and monetary stability and Australia takes its ongoing support for the organisation seriously,” the chair said.

Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website.

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THE GSMA today offered the following comment on the status of Mobile World Congress 2018:

The GSMA has an agreement in place with the Barcelona City Partners making Barcelona the Mobile World Capital and host city of the GSMA Mobile World Congress through 2023.

The 2018 edition of Mobile World Congress will take place in Barcelona from February 26 to March 1, 2018.

The GSMA continues to monitor developments in Spain and Catalonia and assess any potential impact for the Mobile World Capital and Mobile World Congress.

About the GSMA

The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting nearly 800 operators with more than 300 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also produces industry-leading events such as Mobile World Congress, Mobile World Congress Shanghai, Mobile World Congress Americas and the Mobile 360 Series of conferences.

www.gsma.com. @GSMA.

IT IS ESTIMATED that for every 100,000 Australians who choose to live in regional centres rather than state capitals, an additional $50 million will be released into the national economy over the next 30 years.

Throughout its inquiry into the development of cities, the Committee on Infrastructure, Transport and Cities has heard much about the potential benefits of rebalancing Australian population settlement across cities and regional centres. It will now discuss practical strategies to redirect settlement with the Regional Australian Institute at a public hearing in Canberra tomorrow.

Committee Chair, John Alexander OAM MP, said it may be possible to achieve a polycentric model of settlement in Australia, where regions are home to a network of larger and smaller social and economic centres.

“Most Australian already live near an urban centre, whether it’s a state capital like Sydney or a regional centre like Albury-Wodonga,” Mr Alexander said.

“Increasing connectivity between communities large and small and leveraging regional centres for future growth will benefit us all.”

The Regional Australia Institute said that substantially shifting “patterns of urbanisation in Australia will require coordinated policy change across land use planning and development, taxation arrangements, infrastructure, investment and migration”.

“Currently our migration policies and urban development arrangements promote sprawling, high population growth major cities and low to moderate growth in surrounding regions.”

Public hearing details: 

 5.00 pm – 6.30 pm, Tuesday, 17 October 2017 
Committee Room 1R3, Parliament House, Canberra

5.00 pm: Regional Australia Institute
6.30 pm: Close

The proceedings will be broadcast live (audio only) at aph.gov.au/live.

Further information on the inquiry, including the full terms of reference, is available on the Committee website.

Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website.

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THE8^th Annual Australian Microcap Investment Conference is  being held in Melbourne over two days on Tuesday 17 October and Wednesday 18 October 2017 at Sofitel Melbourne on Collins in the ‘Arthur Streeton Auditorium’.

The conference is Australia’s largest and most comprehensive emerging company investment event, showcasing the services, products, strategies and people driving today’s growth companies.

The event will provide investors with an opportunity to hear firsthand from the CEOs of 25 of Australia’s leading and dynamic microcap companies, from a varied range of sectors, as they showcase their companies, strategies and people.

Microcap companies provide access to many niche industry sectors, as well as emerging technologies and business areas that are sometimes overlooked by larger companies.  

Microcap success stories that have previously presented at the conference include Vocus Communications (market cap of $1.4 billion), Blue Sky Alternative Investments (current market cap of $755m), Infigen Energy ($725m), Clean TeQ ($601m) and Integrated Research ($590m).

At last year’s conference 25 listed companies presented. Five of the companies that presented at last year’s conference achieved returns of over 30 percent in the year to 30 September 2017. These companies include Australian Ethical Investment (38%), Race Oncology (44%), Melbourne IT (45%), HUB24 (54%), and Gage Roads Brewing (86%).

Leaf Resources and Quickstep return for the fifth year, Advanced Braking Technology for the fourth year and Australian Ethical Investment, HUB24 and Greatcell Power for the third year.

The companies presenting at this year’s conference include financial services groups (Australian Ethical Investments, HUB24, the National Stock Exchange and Money3 Corporation) resources companies (Mustang Resources, Thunderlarra and White Rock Minerals), a security specialist (XTEK), technology solutions providers (Empired, ServeTech Global, stargroup and Vivid Technology), biotech’s (Actinogen and Cyclopharm) and a manufacturer of carbon fibre composites for the aerospace industry (Quickstep Holdings).

Bourse Communications and Vasco have partnered with The City of Melbourne, marketing communications group Motivo and corporate advisory firm D. H. Flinders to present the conference in conjunction with association partners the Association of Financial Advisers, Stockbrokers and Financial Advisers Association of Australia and the UNSW Business School.

The Australian Microcap Investment Conference aims to act as a conduit and facilitate the sometimes challenging communication process between a company and its stakeholders, which may include shareholders, stockbrokers, fund managers, analysts, institutions, private investors and the business media.

Commenting on Australia’s largest microcap event, Craig Dunstan, Managing Director of Vasco Investment Managers said:

“We are delighted to have secured 25 outstanding ASX listed companies to present as well as key note presentations from Michael Glennon of Glennon Small Companies Limited and Matt Joass  from Motley Fool.

“This year we have over 400 professional investors, stockbrokers and financial advisers registered to attend. The microcap sector is generating greater interest each year as investors realise the gains to be made by investing in smaller companies.”

The microcap universe comprises over 1800 companies with a market capitalisation of under $300 million presenting many opportunities for investors.

Australia’s leading group of emerging ASX listed companies to showcase at this year’s Conference are:

Capital Goods

• Quickstep Holdings Limited (QHL) Mark Burgess, Managing Director
• Southern Cross Electrical Engineering Limited (SXE) Graeme Dunn, Chief Executive Officer
• Vivid Technology Limited (VIV) Samuel Marks, Managing Director
• XTEK Limited (XTE) Philippe Odouard, Managing Director

Diversified Financials

• Australian Ethical Investment Limited (AEF) Phillip Vernon, Managing Director
• HUB24 Limited (HUB) Andrew Alcock, Managing Director
• Money3 Corporation Limited (MNY) Scott Baldwin, Managing Director
• National Stock Exchange Of Australia (NSX) Ann Bowering, Managing Director

Materials

• Leaf Resources Limited (LER) Ken Richards, Managing Director

(a)    Mustang Resources Limited (MUS) Christiaan Jordaan, Managing Director

(b)    Thundelarra Limited (THX) Tony Lofthouse, Chief Executive Officer

(c)    White Rock Minerals Limited (WRM) Matt Gill, Managing Director

(d)    NOVONIX Limited (NVX) Philip St Baker, Managing Director

(e)    Altech Chemicals Limited (ATC) Iggy Tan, Managing Director

Utilities

• Genex Power Limited (GNX) Simon Kidston, Executive Director

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment

• Greatcell Solar Limited (GSL)  Richard Caldwell, Managing Director

Commercial & Professional Services

• Croplogic Limited (CLI) James Cooper-Jones, Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary
• Phoslock Water Solutions Limited (PHK) Robert Schuitema, Managing Director

Automobiles & Components

• Advanced Braking Technology Limited (ABV) Peter Hildebrandt, Chief Executive Officer

Health Care Equipment & Services

(f)     Cyclopharm Limited (CYC) James McBrayer, Managing Director

• LifeHealthcare Group Limited (LHC) Matt Muscio, Chief Executive Officer

Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology

• Actinogen Medical Limited (ACW) Dr Bill Ketelbey, Managing Director

Software & Services

• Empired Limited (EPD) Russell Baskerville, Managing Director
• ServTech Global Holdings Limited (SVT) Brett Quinn, Chief Executive Officer

Technology, Hardware & Equipment

• Stargroup Limited (STL) Todd Zani, Executive Chairman

 www.boursecommunications.com.au

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THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman has expressed dismay that politicians continue to argue over energy policy while small businesses suffer.

Ombudsman Kate Carnell said the latest East & Partners SME survey* of 1280 businesses showed 70 percent would reduce investment in capital expenditure because of higher energy prices.

The survey shows that:

• 39.5 percent of SMEs would scale back in the short term (long-term capex unchanged);
• 20.8 percent would scale back in the long term (short-term capex unchanged); and
• 9.9 percent would scale back capital expenditure in the short and long term.

Ms Carnell said that despite evidence of spiralling energy costs and reduced business confidence, politicians had not provided investment certainty.

In particular, she criticised State Governments for failing to agree with a national approach.

“The ACCC has revealed the impact of gas exploration bans on supply and distribution in Victoria and New South Wales, but these governments continue to shift the blame elsewhere,” she said.

“The Labor states talk about going alone on a clean energy target, which is putting politics ahead of the national interest.

“Meanwhile, businesses in South Australia may have to use dirty diesel generators to keep the lights on over summer.

“The Finkel Report provided a roadmap to repair the long-term damage of failed policies.

“All parties and all governments should endorse the report, remove bans on gas exploration and adopt a bipartisan approach to provide investment certainty.

“The danger with continued political bickering is that businesses will go to the wall, jobs will move offshore and be lost and consumers will feel even greater pain.”

www.asbfeo.gov.au

* The energy question was asked as part of the East & Partners SME Transaction Banking survey, which examines and forecasts demand for transaction banking product lines and service offerings within Australia’s Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) segment (A$1-20 million turnover per annum).

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COULD Australia’s solar expertise be key to helping tropical countries that have little or no access to energy?

The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties will hold a public hearing on Monday to discuss Australia’s membership of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

The alliance aims to strengthen cooperation on solar research and development and encourage the diffusion of solar technology amongst countries in the tropics. The ISA is seen as an opportunity to promote Australia’s expertise in the solar and energy sectors.  

Committee Chair, Stuart Robert MP, said  joining the ISA could provide opportunities for Australian businesses and research institutions.

“Large sections of the population in many of these tropical countries have little or no access to energy, including many of our neighbours in the Indo-Pacific region. Membership of the ISA will support Australia’s engagement in the region,” the Chair said.

The committee will also discuss three air service agreements that Australia has with Israel, Hungary and Mauritius at the public hearing. These model agreements ensure international safety regulations and security measures are adhered to.

Public hearing details: 

11.30am – 1.00pm, Monday 16 October
Committee Room, 1R2, Parliament House, Canberra.

11.30am: Department of Energy and the Environment
                  Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

12.15pm: Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development

1.00pm: Close

The proceedings will be broadcast live (audio only) at aph.gov.au/live. 

ENDS

AUSTRALIANS throw out between $8-$10 billion of food every year[1]. This is an exorbitant amount, considering an estimated 1.9 million Australians go without food because they can’t afford it[2] and nearly 3 million people are living in poverty, one quarter being children[3].

With World Food Day approaching on Monday, Managing Director of online office catering leader Order-In, Jonathan Rowley explains how offices can put more thought in how they can reduce their food wastage.

Mr Rowley said, “As an organisation, we are very aware of this issue, which is why we are long-term supporters of OzHarvest. We have looked at the reduction habits of hundreds of our customers and found that the best practices to prevent food wastage at work, many of which can also translate to the home, are very easily implemented.” 

At work:

• Donate, don’t discard: There are many charities or organisations that will happily collect your unused produce and reallocate to places or people in need. This is perfect for when you’ve ordered too much food or if a meeting has been cancelled at the last minute. This will not only benefit those in need but it will also reduce the increasing amount of food that ends up in landfill, as currently 4 million tonnes of food ends up in landfill every year[4].
• Purchase in-season food: In order to make educated decisions, you should familiarise yourself with current in-season produce. Seasonal food will most likely be locally produced, meaning you will be supporting our farmers and growers. The produce will also be fresher, taste better and won’t perish as fast.
• Care for the environment: At your next corporate event or working lunch, you should look to use reusable or disposal plates, serve ware, utensils and glasses. When choosing these items, ensure they are bio-degradable or can be composted and recycled.

At home:

• Plan before you shop: The saying is true for grocery shopping, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. At the beginning of the week, plan each meal so you don’t buy unnecessary items, check what you already have at home and construct a list to save time and money. And lastly, don’t get sucked into the world of impulse buying! Stick to the plan. 
• First in, first out (FIFO): No we aren’t referring to the accounting method but a helpful way to unpack your groceries. You should move the older products to the front of your fridge or pantry and then put the newer products towards the back. Australians waste up to 20% of the food they purchase, which is equivalent to 1 out of 5 bags of groceries purchased[5], so this method will dramatically decrease your food wastage as you utilise the older stuff before it expires.
• Maximise it: Several foods will have more than one use. Vegetables, bones and meat scraps can be used to make stocks as the base of many meals. Overripe fruit will also make tasty smoothies, muffins or even cakes. Although wilted vegetables may seem unappetising, they can be used in soups or health juices. If you have a surplus of perfectly fine fruit, why not freeze them, make jam or marmalade, or even pickle them. Get creative!

“We all have to do our bit and at Order-In, we actively encourage all of our corporate catering clients to notify OzHarvest when they have a surplus of food that is perfectly edible.  We urge all households and offices to do the same." Mr Rowley said.

“We also offer our clients the option to make a $1 donation each time they place an order, which goes directly to OzHarvest. It might seem like a small contribution but over the length of our partnership, we have matched this dollar for dollar and have raised close to $8,000, which has provided more than 16,000 meals to disadvantaged and vulnerable men, women and children over that time frame. World Food Day is a good reminder of how fortunate we are and how we can all do our little bit to make it count.”

https://www.orderin.com.au

THE INTRODUCTION of Single Touch Payroll (STP) is in line with the Government’s digitisation agenda and should be supported, but there are still small businesses out there that will feel the compliance burden that it entails, according to the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA).

By July 1, 2019, businesses with less than 19 employees are expected to have implemented STP.

"While initially STP delivers little benefit to small business, we acknowledge that other benefits exist such as transparency over superannuation guarantee payments,” IPA chief executive officer, Andrew Conway said.

“Employees will be able to log on and make sure they are being paid the correct amount for their superannuation contributions so this level of transparency is most welcome.

“Our concern is for the 70,000 small businesses that have been identified that will struggle to implement STP without help and support. Many of these businesses are not digitised and will require adoption of technology and education.

“For small and micro businesses employing less than five people to implement STP before July 1 2019, will take considerable incentive and support.

“We support the notion of a phased and targeted incentive approach as proposed by the government.

“Hence, we are pleased to note that the government is considering a partial offset of costs and other incentives. However, we would like much more detail to ensure small businesses are not adversely impacted by the implementation of STP.

“There is also a reliance on strong internet connections which would disadvantage many working in more remote areas of Australia,” Mr Conway said.

publicaccountants.org.au

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