QUEENSLAND Resources Council chief executive Ian Macfarlane has released the following comment on the Kevin's Corner coal mine in the Galilee Basin:

"TODAY the Land Court of Queensland recommended Minister Lynham grant the Mining Lease and the Environmental Authority be issued for the Kevin’s Corner coal mine in the Galilee Basin, subject to the original draft conditions.

"The GVK backed mine would inject billions of dollars into regional Queensland with 1,800 construction jobs, 1,600 operational and thousands more through indirect employment for the life of the mine.

"The findings clearly recognise that both the Queensland and Commonwealth impact assessment frameworks are rigorous and appropriate.

"It is very disappointing to see green activists, yet again, attempting to derail a job creating mine after it had already passed through processes administered by democratically elected state and federal governments.

"Coast and Country, through the taxpayer-funded Environmental Defenders Office, have repeatedly failed in their combined attempts to stop the coal industry and deny Queenslanders jobs.

"In its decision, the Land Court had demonstrated the court system is starting to identify where activists’ claims have little or no basis other than to delay or attempt to jeopardise the project.

"Once operational the mine would produce up to 30 million tonnes of coal which provides the government with an extra $168 million of royalties to the Budget annually or 2,600 extra nurses or 3,000 police officers or 3,100 teachers.

"The Queensland coal industry delivered $32.7 billion dollars to the state’s economy last financial year while employing directly and indirectly 183,000 people."

THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) said the positive trade figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) represent a better than expected trade in May with 3.82 percent total growth year-on-year.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said the May retail trade figures illustrate a positive outlook for the industry as retailers head into winter.

“Retail figures have improved from April across the board with the cold winter snap driving consumers indoors,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“Clothing Footwear and Personal Accessories figures have levelled out in May, showing a 3.76 percent increase year-on-year.”

Household Goods (5.11%), Electrical (5.80%) and Furniture (8.62%) have seen the strongest year-on-year growth with many new electronic products launched to the public in late April.

Mr Zimmerman said the late arrival of cold weather might have had a positive effect on retail sales but some retailers are still not getting the sales volume they need due to the considerable amount of discounting happening across Australia.

“Although liquor has slowed down considerably as we move away from Easter, Supermarkets, Cafés Restaurants and Takeaway Food remain strong.”

May trade figures remained steady across the board with all states showing a stable growth. Australian Capital Territory (5.68%), Victoria (5.19%), South Australia (4.90%) and Tasmania (4.53%) lead the pack with modest year-on-year growth.

While New South Wales (3.93%) and Queensland (3.07%) also show a moderate year-on-year increase. Both Western Australia (0.98%) and the Northern Territory (0.62%) might trail behind the other state still show fairly stable figures.

“As we enter the colder months we will see retail growth remain strong, giving retailers breathing room in the tough trading environment,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“We look forward to seeing consumers take advantage of the end of financial year sales in June giving retailers another boost in sales.” 

MONTHLY RETAIL GROWTH (April 2017– May 2017 seasonally adjusted) 

Household goods retailing (2.2%), Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (1.3%), Cafés, restaurants and takeaway food services (0.6%), Other retailing (0.6%), Food retailing (0.1%) and Department stores (-0.7%). 

New South Wales (1.3%), Victoria (1.2%), South Australia (0.8%), Western Australia (0.3%), Tasmania (1.2%), Australian Capital Territory (1.0%), Queensland (-1.1%) and the Northern Territory (-0.5%).

Total sales (0.6%).

YEAR-ON-YEAR RETAIL GROWTH (May 2016 – May 2017 seasonally adjusted)

Household goods retailing (5.11%), Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (3.76%), Cafés, restaurants and takeaway food services (5.26%), Other retailing (2.89%), Food retailing (3.75%) and Department stores (-0.32%). 

New South Wales (3.93%), Victoria (5.19%), South Australia (4.90%), Western Australia (0.98%), Tasmania (4.53%), Australian Capital Territory (5.68%), Queensland (3.07%) and the Northern Territory (0.62%). 

Total sales (3.82%).

About the Australian Retailers Association:

Founded in 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is the retail industry’s peak representative body representing Australia’s $310 billion sector, which employs more than 1.2 million people. The ARA works to ensure retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 7,000 independent and national retail members throughout Australia. For more information, visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) Executive Director Russell Zimmerman today joined Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to support young people entering the retail workforce with the assistance of the Government’s Youth Jobs PaTH (Prepare-Trial-Hire) program.

The ARA are committed to growing employment in the retail sector and have been working with the Federal Government to assist internships to young Australians looking to get into retail through the Youth Jobs PaTH program being run by Employment Minister Michaelia Cash.

Mr Zimmerman said retail is transforming from a stepping-stone industry into a long-term and professionally fulfilling career, with some of Australia’s most successful business people starting on the shop floor.

“We are very excited to be a part of the PaTH program. Our retailers are already major employers of young people and these PaTH internships will now provide another way that employers can give young people a fair go,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“With the diverse range of careers in the retail industry, we need our young staff to not only have basic vocational skills but also have a wide range of qualifications before they can start on the job.”

The ARA already support people entering the retail workforce through the Retail Institute’s Retail Ready Jobs Program and will now also be working with the Government’s PaTH program to place young people seeking work in the retail sector.

“It is great to see the Prime Minister today supporting young people looking for work in the retail sector as the industry can deliver a successful and diverse career,” Mr Zimmerman said.

Further information about Youth Jobs PaTH program, including internships, is available at jobactive.gov.au/path

About the Australian Retailers Association:

Founded in 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is the retail industry’s peak representative body representing Australia’s $310 billion sector, which employs more than 1.2 million people. The ARA 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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CELEBRATE the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at our national cultural institutions from July 2-9.

30 June 2017

Highlights include the National Gallery of Australia’s Defying Empire: 3^rd National Indigenous Art Triennial, which showcases a diverse range of works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. Featured artist Tony Albert is holding two workshops during NAIDOC week, which encourage the whole family to create art with playing cards and found objects.

The National Library of Australia is commemorating this year’s NAIDOC Week theme Our Languages Matter with a collection talk, presenting some of the earliest written records of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.

Get creative with Kalkadoon woman Ronnie Jordan as she shares her skills at the National Museum of Australia’s (NMA) traditional weaving workshop. There is also still time to see the NMA’s Evolution: Torres Strait Masks exhibition, which celebrates the rich and continuing tradition of mask making in Zenadh Kes (Torres Strait).

The National Film and Sound Archive, in association with the NMA, is presenting a screening of Mabo: Life of an Island Man, followed by a Q&A with director Trevor Graham and special guest Gail Mabo. The award winning documentary follows the life of Indigenous Australian land rights campaigner Eddie Koiki Mabo.

Below is the full list of events during NAIDOC Week:

Tuesday 4 July

NAIDOC Week Event: Collection Talk – National Library of Australia (Canberra, ACT)

Wednesday 5 July

Kids and family: Jasper Jones – National Film and Sound Archive (Canberra, ACT)

Mabo: Life of an Island Man – National Film and Sound Archive (Canberra, ACT)

Thursday 6 July

NAIDOC Collection Talk: Our Voice – National Library of Australia (Canberra, ACT)

Friday 7 July to Saturday 8 July

NAIDOC Week – Traditional Weaving Workshop – National Museum of Australia (Canberra, ACT)

Kids and family: Create space with Tony Albert – National Gallery of Australia (Canberra, ACT)

Ongoing

Defying Empire: 3^rd National Indigenous Art Triennial – National Gallery of Australia (Canberra, ACT)

A Change is Gonna Come – National Museum of Australia (Canberra, ACT)

Evolution: Torres Strait Masks – National Museum of Australia (Canberra, ACT)

First Australians – National Museum of Australia (Canberra, ACT)

Collection in Focus: Brook Andrew – National Portrait Gallery (Canberra, ACT)

Yes: The Ongoing Story of the 1967 Referendum – Museum of Australian Democracy (Canberra, ACT)

Lustre – Australian National Maritime Museum (Sydney, NSW)

Eora First People – Australian National Maritime Museum (Sydney, NSW)

For more information about NAIDOC Week celebrations around Australia, visit the NAIDOC website.

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WITH the changes to Sunday penalty rates due to take effect this weekend, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is conscious the minimum wage increase will counteract the impact of the first stage reduction in penalty rates.

ARA Executive Director, Russell Zimmerman, said while the first stage of penalty rates reduction will commence this weekend there will be little benefit to retailers with the recent minimum wage increase.

“This first stage of the penalty rates transition will only see a five percent reduction in Sunday penalty rates, meaning retailers and the wider industry will not be able to see the immediate benefits to employment and growth within the sector,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“The four-stage transitional arrangement is a much slower approach to what the industry hoped for, and now with the high increase to minimum wage taking affect on July 1, retailers won’t be able to reap the benefits from the penalty rate cuts for a number of years.”

The ARA was hoping for a faster transitional arrangement, allowing retailers to increase trading hours, ramp up employment and offer additional hours to employees.

“Retail employees are the heart and soul of the industry, and we need to ensure both employers and employees are being looked after,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“With the current pressures already affecting the retail market, retailers need to invest in their customer service and staff.”

Mr Zimmerman said the unions have been broadcasting outlandish statements about the penalty rate reduction and they should instead get behind the reduction to improve employment across the nation.

“Retail is the largest private employer in Australia and we want to ensure employees working within the sector are supported, and to do that we must first address the issues their employers are facing in the current retail environment.”

About the Australian Retailers Association:

Founded in 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is the retail industry’s peak representative body representing Australia’s $310 billion sector, which employs more than 1.2 million people. The ARA 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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THE House of Representatives Environment and Energy Committee is continuing its inquiry into modernising Australia’s electricity grid. As part of the inquiry, the Committee is encouraging members of the community to share their views on the electricity system via an online questionnaire.

The Chair of the Committee, Andrew Broad MP, said that input from individuals, households, and businesses is a valuable part of the inquiry.

“The Committee would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to complete the questionnaire. We have received thousands of responses to date and are looking forward to receiving more responses as the inquiry progresses,” Mr Broad said.

The Deputy Chair of the Committee, Mr Pat Conroy MP, said the Committee had received evidence about the important role for consumers in shaping the future of the electricity grid.

“New technology is changing the way in which consumers interact with the grid. It is important for the Committee to understand these changes, and how consumers’ expectations of the electricity system are likely to evolve into the future,” Mr Conroy said.

Further information is available on the inquiry website, at www.aph.gov.au/moderngrid.

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

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TWO decisions of the Fair Work Commission take effect this weekend –  an immediate 3.3 percent increase in the minimum wage; and a staged variation in penalty rates under the Hospitality, Fast Food, Retail and Pharmacy Awards.

The decision does not apply to people employed under enterprise agreements or in other sectors for example nurses, police and paramedics.

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Kate Carnel said, "Small business operators will be paying more in wages to their employees from this weekend. The minimum wage increase is significantly higher than inflation and helps offset the initial reduction in Sunday penalty rates.

"Big business and unions have made deals in the past through enterprise agreements which traded penalty rates for union membership.

"Small businesses don’t have the capacity to negotiate enterprise agreements and continue to grapple with the most complex award system in the world.

"The Fair Work Commission decision is welcomed as a positive first step towards modernising the system," Ms Carnell said.

"It’s a shame that unions are running a scare campaign against the penalty rates decision of the independent umpire while accepting the higher minimum wage."

www.asbfeo.gov.au

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THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security has today presented a bipartisan report on the Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016.

The Bill introduces laws to manage national security risks of espionage, sabotage and foreign interference to Australia’s telecommunications networks and facilities.

The Committee recommends that the Bill be passed by the Parliament, and makes 12 further recommendations for improvements to the proposed framework.

“I am pleased to present a bipartisan report on this important piece of national security legislation”, the Chair of the Committee, Mr Andrew Hastie MP, said.

“The Committee recognises that protecting telecommunications infrastructure requires a joint partnership between Government and industry. Our recommendations will strengthen the proposed security framework by providing greater clarity and certainty for industry, encouraging information-sharing by the Government, and enhancing the transparency of the regime’s operation”, Mr Hastie added.

The Committee’s recommendations include:

• providing further clarity in guidelines to industry on the extent of the framework’s application in areas such as cloud computing and over-the-top services,
• ensuring effective and regular information-sharing between government and industry, in particular in relation to threat information,
• introducing a specific obligation for industry to notify government of any new or amended offshoring arrangements in relation to retained telecommunications data, and
• specifying annual reporting requirements in the legislation.

The Committee has also recommended that the framework be reviewed after three years to ensure it is operating effectively.

During its inquiry, the Committee received written submissions from industry, government and academia and held public hearings on the Bill. The inquiry followed several rounds of consultation with industry and the public since 2012.

The full report can be accessed via the Committee’s website.

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