JUDGING of the 2017 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards is now underway, with a list of Top 20 Retailers already announced ahead of the Awards breakfast on Thursday August 3, at the National Gallery of Victoria.

With the coveted 2017 Retailer of the Year Award one of the hardest awards to judge, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has re-imagined the selection process and worked with industry experts to determine what constitutes the ‘best in retail’ in the evolving sector.

This year, the ARA commissioned the Australian Consumer, Retail, and Services (ACRS) research unit within the Monash Business School to undertake the ARA’s Top 20 Retailers research project.

The ACRS research provided ARA with an overview of the Top 20 Retailers in Australia from a variety of secondary resources, including IBISWorld reports, annual reports, news articles, and company websites.

Russell Zimmerman, ARA Executive Director, said this revised methodology, coupled with mystery shopping initiatives and field agency surveys, ensures the highest-standard of credibility and integrity in awarding this prestigious award.

“This robust Retailer of the Year adjudication process is vital in deciding the winner of what we consider the greatest honour in the Australian retail industry,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“With the extraordinary calibre of leading Australian retailers in the field, this new meticulous awards process ensures that the impartial panel of judges are well-equipped to decide who is the most deserving of the 2017 Retailer of the Yearcrown.”

While a record number of entries were received by the ARA this year, the ARA’s Top 20 Retailers were determined by several essential factors including; company culture, fiscal performance, corporate responsibility, marketing initiatives and customer engagement strategies.

The 2017 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards: Top 20 Retailers

Tickets to the 2017 Awards Breakfast can be purchased at http://australianretailawards.com.au.

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 2017 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards breakfast will commence on Thursday 3 August at Melbourne’s National Gallery of Victoria.

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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TECHNOLOGYONE Ltd (ASX: TNE) has provided an update regarding its dispute with Brisbane City Council (BCC) in relation to the LGS Project Contract (Contract).

As disclosed in TechnologyOne’s ASX statement of 3 May 2017, BCC issued TechnologyOne with a Notice to Show Cause on 2 May 2017 (May Notice to Show Cause).

TechnologyOne provided BCC with its detailed response to this notice on 29 May 2017. On 20 June 2017, BCC informed TechnologyOne that they would not be terminating the Contract on the basis of the May Notice to Show Cause.

On 30 May 2017, TechnologyOne issued BCC with a Notice to Show Cause for failure to pay invoices for Milestones 7 and 8, which is a material breach of the Contract. Payment of $750,000 was received from BCC for these Milestones on 23 June 2017 which has remedied this breach.

On 26 June 2017, BCC issued TechnologyOne with a second Notice to Show Cause (June Notice to Show Cause). The June Notice to Show Cause covers many of the same issues in the May Notice to Show Cause that BCC did not act upon. This Notice also ignores TechnologyOne’s bona fide requests for extensions of time under the Contract due to BCC’s conduct.

TechnologyOne will again vigorously defend its position in its response to this notice.

TechnologyOne has recommended expedited arbitration to resolve issues. BCC has not accepted expedited arbitration which would allow these issues to be resolved and the project put back on track.

TechnologyOne Executive Chairman, Adrian Di Marco said: “Our attempts to resolve this dispute and reach a pragmatic and mutually beneficial arrangement with BCC continue. However, BCC appears to be committed to resolution by way of legal proceedings rather than commercial negotiation.

“As a legal tactic, BCC is now insisting that TechnologyOne configure a system for BCC strictly in accordance with the 2015 Contract that does not meet BCC’s current business requirements. BCC’s business processes have changed since 2015. In October 2016, BCC provided updated business process requirements that expanded the scope of the project. BCC have refused to issue a contract amendment and TechnologyOne is being asked to now configure a system for BCC that does not reflect BCC’s current business processes.

“This demonstrates that BCC is no longer genuinely committed to working with TechnologyOne to deliver this project. BCC is engineering a situation where TechnologyOne is unable to perform against the contract.

“Given these facts, attempted termination of the contract by BCC continues to be the most probable outcome.”

TechnologyOne remains confident of its legal and commercial position under the Contract.

TechnologyOne (ASX:TNE) is Australia’s largest enterprise software company and one of Australia’s top 200 ASX-listed companies, with offices across six countries. 

www.TechnologyOneCorp.com 

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THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, Kate Carnell, has welcomed United Nations recognition of small business as a driver of employment and economic development.

Ms Carnell said June 27 has been designated Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day.

A resolution was adopted unanimously at the UN General Assembly in April.

The assembly noted that more than 95 per cent of enterprises in the world are micro, small and medium-sized and they account for about 60 per cent of international private sector employment.

In Australia, Ms Carnell said small businesses employ almost half of all workers and create a substantial proportion of new jobs.

“Small business contribution to the Australian economy is higher than the OECD average,” she said.

“According to the OECD, small businesses account for 44 percent of employment in Australia and we rank eighth out of 32 OECD countries on this measure.

“The number of small businesses which are exporting continues to increase.

“The tax contribution of small and medium enterprises is also significant and growing faster than big business.”

Ms Carnell has urged everyone to reflect on the importance of small business and make a gesture to show their support for the sector.

“If you’re buying goods or services on Tuesday, June 27, think about small business and if you can support one with your purchase, please do,” she said.

“Just about everybody knows somebody in small business. A word of thanks or acknowledgement to your local hairdresser, coffee shop or pharmacist would be warmly welcomed.”

Ms Carnell said she hopes the international day will become more widely recognised.

“It’s the first year, and I sincerely hope that governments, business organisations and communities will get behind it,” she said.

AT A GLANCE:

•  2,116,708 small businesses at June 2016*
• employing more than 4.7 million people (44 per cent of total employment at June 2016)
• small business accounts for 35 per cent of Australia’s industry contribution to economic activity (as at 2015–16)
• in 2013-14 there were 19,965 small business exporters, representing 44% of all business exporters, up from 38% in 2008-09
•  in 2012-13, small and medium enterprises accounted for 35% of company tax revenue, up from 32% in 2010-11.

* (based on ABS definition of 0-19 employees).

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PALIAMENT’s Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia will return to North Queensland on Monday 3 July, Tuesday 4 July, Wednesday 5 July, and Thursday 6 July 2017 to hold public hearings at Port Douglas, Cairns, Townsville, and Brisbane as part of its inquiry into Opportunities and Methods for Stimulating the Tourism Industry in Northern Australia.

While the Great Barrier Reef is the most well-known tourist drawcard on the Queensland coast, the region offers a wealth of other tourist experiences. The Committee will receive evidence from a range of tourism operators, covering ecotourism, adventure tourism, scenic railways, and cableways in the North and Far North Queensland regions.

The Committee Chair, Warren Entsch said: “Broadening tourist experiences increases the strength of the local tourist market by encouraging visitors to stay longer in the area, and also attracts a broader range of tourists not just those wishing to visit the Great Barrier Reef.”

The Committee will also receive evidence from groups supporting major highway developments and other tourism gateways, including airport and seaport operators.

“Improved access through the tourism gateways of major roads, airports, and seaports is important to boost tourist numbers and improve ease of movement between tourist attractions,” Mr Entsch said.

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

The hearing program and further information about the Committee’s inquiry, including submissions and the terms of reference, is available on the Committee’s website: www.aph.gov.au/jscna.

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

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THE Foreign Affairs and Aid Sub-Committee of the Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade will hear from a range of key organisations and businesses at a public hearing on Friday 23 June 2017 for its inquiry into establishing a Modern Slavery Act in Australia, launched in February 2017.

The Sub-Committee is investigating whether elements of the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 could be introduced in Australia, particularly the UK requirement for businesses and organisations to report on how they ensure their global supply chains are free of slavery and human trafficking.

Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Aid Sub‑Committee, Chris Crewther MP, said the sub-committee welcomed the opportunity to meet with a range of organisations involved in combatting modern slavery in Australia and around the world, including the Walk Free Foundation, Anti-Slavery Australia and the Salvation Army.

“The Sub-Committee looks forward to hearing about the important work undertaken by these organisations to combat modern slavery, and to investigate how Australian businesses are currently addressing the risks of slavery and trafficking in their global supply chains,” Mr Crewther said.

Public hearing details: 9:15 am to 5:00 pm, Friday 23 June, Jubilee Room, NSW Parliament House, 6 Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW

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

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

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THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit has tabled its report on Commonwealth Infrastructure Spending based on the Auditor-General’s reports No. 14 (2015–16) Approval and Administration of Commonwealth Funding for the East West Link Project and No. 38 (2016–17) Approval and Administration of Commonwealth Funding for the WestConnex Project.

The inquiry highlighted the important role Infrastructure Australia plays in assessing infrastructure projects and determined that departing from full assessments of the East West Link and WestConnex projects reduced the evidence bases for decision-making, including full business cases.

The Committee concluded this approach is best avoided given the scale of public funding and the risks involved in infrastructure projects.

The Commonwealth contributed $1.5 billion in payments to both the East West Link and WestConnex projects as well as providing a $2 billion concessional loan for WestConnex.

The Committee noted the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development provided advice to the Government on various matters in the lead-up to funding decisions but was concerned at the Department’s lack of consideration of some issues in designing and negotiating the WestConnex loan.

The Committee was also concerned about the Department’s project payments and management of milestones.

Committee Chair Senator Dean Smith said the Department needed to give greater consideration to each of the concessions and risks involved in designing Commonwealth concessional loans and include this in its advice to decision-makers.

“The Department needs to better protect the Commonwealth’s interests when managing milestones to provide genuine incentives for funding recipients to progress projects and reduce the likelihood of payments being made too far in advance of need and delivery,” Senator Smith said.

The report makes five recommendations to the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development, including:

• providing clear advice to Ministers on whether the requirements of land transport legislation have been met;
• only making significant payments when they are required by a project and meet agreed milestones, and advising Ministers of any interest charges, other costs and risks arising from advance payment proposals;
• requiring loan proponents to identify alternative funding strategies and justify why a Commonwealth loan would be the best funding option;
• reviewing the Department’s approach to drafting project approval instruments to identify relevant risks and incorporate mitigations; and
• reviewing the Department’s infrastructure IT system to improve its recording of milestones, the quality of data it receives from project delivery agencies and capturing more specific expenditure data.

Two further recommendations made by the Committee include:

• the Auditor-General consider a follow-up audit of the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development’s administration of a concessional loan to the Sunshine Coast Airport expansion project; and
• Treasury review the funding recovery provision in the Federal Financial Relations Act 2009 to consider the suitability of the current discretion applied to recover funding as well as the current inability to recover interest earned on unspent National Partnership payments.

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

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THE anti-gas green activist campaign has hobbled development in the southern states and is a significant factor in pushing electricity prices up, Queensland Resources Council (QRC) chief executive Ian Macfarlane has claimed.

"Yesterday the federal government made the extraordinary announcement that it would intervene in the free market due to a shortage of gas in the east coast market, which has led to skyrocketing power bills for households and businesses," Mr Macfarlane said.

Mr Macfarlane said it was mind-boggling that foreign- funded green activists had influenced energy policy in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory, leading to gas shortages, blackouts and electricity prices going through the roof.

“New South Wales has excellent gas deposits that haven’t been developed because state politicians have buckled in the face of the relentless anti-gas green activist campaign,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“Short-sighted NSW only produces about 5 percent of the gas supply it needs, which means it relies on other states like Queensland for its supply so households and businesses can keep this lights on.

“While NSW is in a state of gas panic, they expect Queensland to keep sending our maroon gas molecules south to keep their lights on at ANZ stadium tonight.

“But NSW is not alone, Victoria has a moratorium on all onshore gas, the South Australian Liberal opposition has pledged a gas ban, and the Northern Territory has a temporary moratorium.”

It is important to remember the gas export hub at Gladstone was approved because there was an expectation that NSW would go ahead and develop its own gas, but due to extreme green activist campaigns, NSW gas has been left in the ground, leaving the east coast in a state of panic over out-of-control prices for electricity and gas, Mr Macfarlane said.

www.qrc.org.au

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THE House Agriculture and Water Resources Committee will hold a public hearing in Canberra on Thursday, 22 June for its inquiry into water use efficiency in Australian agriculture.

The Committee will hear from the National Irrigators’ Council.

Public hearing details: 12:15pm - 1:30pm, Thursday 22 June, Committee Room 1R2, Parliament House, Canberra

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

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

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