THE Victoria Events Industry Council (VEIC) has welcomed the announcement of the inaugural Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race in the Geelong region.

“This exciting new event reinforces Victoria’s credentials as a global leader for sporting events and complements a rich calendar of activity already in place,” says VEIC Chief Executive Dianne Smith.

“The race will draw people to iconic, regional Victorian locations, which is consistent with VEIC's recommendations to grow the tourism and events sector.

“It will bring thousands of people to the route which includes Geelong, Evans’ home town of Barwon Heads, Thirteenth Beach, Torquay, Bells Beach, Moriac and finish on Geelong’s waterfront.”

Ms Smith’s comments come as cycling World Champion and Tour De France winner, Cadel Evans, joined Victorian Premier, the Hon. Dr Denis Napthine MP, today to announce the event in Geelong in 2015.

“Victoria will put this event on brilliantly!” says VEIC Chair Peter Jones.

“It will bring some of the world’s best cycling teams to Victoria and, with Cadel Evans' name, will certainly attract strong international media attention.”

The timing of the event ties into a strong summer of sport which includes South Australia’s Tour Down Under prior to the race and the ICC cricket world cup soon after.

“There will be significant flow-on benefits throughout the economy to hotels, restaurants and visitor attractions from the Victorian, interstate and international guests coming to enjoy the event and experience what our great state has to offer,” says Ms Smith.

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Established in December 2006, the Victoria Events Industry Council (VEIC) is the peak policy council representing Victoria’s $1.4 billion event industry.

www.vecci.org.au

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Resource industry employer group AMMA (Australian Mines and Metals Association) statement by Scott Barklamb - Executive Director Policy & Public Affairs:

AUSTRALIA’S resource industry congratulates the governments of Australia and Japan for the signing of the Japan Australia Economic Partnership Agreement (Free Trade Agreement).

In Canberra today, Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Prime Minister Shinzō Abe have created significant long-term bilateral economic opportunities for decades to come.

This historic agreement strengthens ties with one of Australia’s most valuable trade partners and is a significant milestone for our national resource industry, which currently contributes about 80% of total export goods to Japan.

Japanese demand for coal, iron ore and natural gas has been a strong driver of Australia’s export revenue and economic prosperity, with $36.2bn worth of trade in these commodities in the 2012-13 financial year alone.

Today’s Free Trade Agreement is perfectly timed with Australia emerging as a global powerhouse of LNG production and bullish economic growth likely to see Japanese energy demand increase exponentially.

It is vital that after a record decade of resource project investment that Australia positions itself to be a primary supplier of energy to the major economic powers of the Asia Pacific region.

We have the natural resources, the expertise, skills and technology.

To see new opportunities presented by this FTA come to market, we must capitalise on our competitive advantages while addressing those areas in which our nation has fallen behind.

This includes building a stable and globally competitive taxation system, having the courage to deliver meaningful, long-term workplace relations reform, and maximising the productive output of Australian industries and services.

www.amma.org.au

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THE Queensland Government is asking Queenslanders to nominate to host an event during 2014 Queensland Small Business Week.

The Queensland Government wants to position Queensland Small Business Week, from September 1-6, as a positive catalyst for business development on the annual business calendar.

Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games Jann Stuckey said the Queensland Government was looking for as many government, industry and community groups to get involved by hosting an event, as a way of “celebrating the commitment, efforts and passion of the largest group of employers in the state”.

“Queensland Small Business Week is a chance to celebrate the contribution small business (people) make and remind Queenslanders of the importance of buying locally,” Ms Stuckey said.

“This government is unashamedly pro-small business and committed to growing a strong and prosperous small business sector, cutting red tape by 20 percent by 2018.”

The week features a comprehensive calendar of events and activities such as seminars, workshops, webinars and networking events.

The events are hosted by business, industry and community groups across the state, with numbers expected to exceed the 4500 direct attendees last year.

All business is invited to take part in the week, whether as an attendee or as an event host, Ms Stuckey said.

Each event is promoted through the Queensland Government’s online business and industry portal and social media, providing an opportunity for businesses to showcase to people throughout the state.

“The events are designed to help people learn how to start or grow a small business, gain new ideas and inspiration, network with other businesses, or gain a better understanding of the support available,” Ms Stuckey said.

The statistics show the importance of small business to the Queensland economy. The 403,000 small businesses in Queensland employ about one million people and account for close to 95 percent of all Queensland business.

Organisations can nominate to host an event visit the 2014 Queensland Small Business Week through the website.

www.business.qld.gov.au/smallbusinessweek

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Queensland Resources Council Chief Executive Michael Roche has warned a meeting of gas industry professionals that their industry is under as much threat as their coal counterparts from activists trying to shut down the state’s resources sector.

Addressing a Queensland Petroleum Exploration Association (QUPEX) lunch in Brisbane today, Mr Roche said the campaign being waged against the coal industry had its roots in the perceived success of the anti-coal-seam gas movement.

‘The activists’ 2012 campaign manual – Stopping the Australian Coal Export Boom – praises what it describes as Lock the Gate’s ‘phenomenal community backlash’ against coal-seam gas,’ Mr Roche said.

‘The document goes on to credit Lock the Gate with creating ‘unprecedented political opportunities for coal activists around the country.’

‘As we know the scare campaigns against the coal and gas industries are continuing and supported by other strategies including litigation to ‘disrupt and delay’ key projects, changing the economic narrative via bogus economic reports and denying all reputable forecasts with claims that fossil fuel demand is declining,’ Mr Roche said.

‘The campaign is sophisticated, well-funded and aimed directly at the heart of the Queensland economy.

‘The people running these campaigns are promoting ideology over reality without regard to the 400,000 Queenslanders whose livelihoods rely on their resources sector.’

Following on the release of an anti-coal activist checklist in March, the QRC has published an anti-gas scorecard that compares the progress of their campaign against strategies revealed in Stopping the Australian Coal Export Boom.

www.qrc.org.au

PRESENTED by the Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC), in association with Tourism Victoria.

Where: The Pier Precinct, 10 Western Beach Foreshore, Geelong

When: 14-15 July, 2014

Why: Showcases a diverse program of local, national and international speakers with a focus on building profitable and sustainable businesses and a resilient tourism industry.

What: Guests will be exposed to industry experts and peers, information on the latest trends and practical workshops to enhance skills relevant to growing a business in the sector.

Attendees: Over 330 tourism industry professionals.

Speakers:

Dianne Smith, Chief Executive, VTIC on the need for industry and governments of all levels to work together to drive sector growth.

The Hon. Dr Denis Napthine MP, Premier of Victoria on the importance of tourism to the state’s prosperity.

The Hon. Louise Asher MP, Minister for Tourism and Major Events on the strategy to drive growth in the sector. 

Anna Pollock (Conscious Travel UK): consultant, strategist, international speaker, change agent and a recipient of The Visionary of the Year Award from the Canadian tourism industry.

John O’Sullivan (Managing Director, Tourism Australia): former executive with Fox Sports, Events Queensland, Football Federation Australia and member of the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Organising Committee.

Dr Jason Fox: motivation strategy and design expert who shows forward thinking leaders how to influence work culture, drive progress and build for the future.

Michael Gudinski, Chairman, The Mushroom Group of Companies: rock guru, music mogul, mushroom man and widely recognised as one of the most important figures in the history of the Australian music industry.

Full program and schedule http://victourismconference.com.au/programs/

The Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) is the peak body for Victoria’s tourism and events industry, providing one united industry voice.

Tourism and events are growth industries for Victoria and contribute $19.6 billion to the state economy each year and employ more than 200,000 people.

www.vtic.com.au

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PEAK retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) said the seasonally adjusted fall (-0.5 percent) in monthly retail trade figures (month-on-month) reported by the ABS followed a 0.2 percent rise in April 2014.

Year on year retail growth fell 4.6% in May 2014, seasonally adjusted, compared to May 2013.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said May trade results -0.5% were disappointing for retailers. Retailers have been enduring struggles with the unexpected change in weather and while sudden winter weather showed glimpse of hope for winter stock, this was not sufficient as resulted by the buying behaviours of consumers.

“Retailers were hoping that Mothers Day in May would lift buying behaviours and although this did lift some sales, it did not compete with the unseasonably warm weather which caused consumers to hold off purchasing winter products.

“Department stores experienced a tough month during May (fall of -2.6%) and clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (fall of -2.3%). The unseasonably warm weather in May caused consumers to hold off on purchasing their winter goods. Retailers particularly in fashion experienced major struggles due to this.

“The effects of the Federal Budget announcement has obviously slowed down retail trade and lowered consumer confidence. The Federal Government must act quickly to ensure that retail trade does not suffer as we gear up toward the Spring Summer racing season and as retailers start looking towards stocking up for Christmas.

“According to the Australian Retail Index (delivered by BDO and Retail Express), retail sales for the month of June are very patchy and this would indicate that consumers have not returned to their former spending patterns from before the budget. This does not auger well for the next few months.

“With the added on costs that retailers have taken a hit on in July, (Minimum  wage increase the last transition of the Modern award for penalty rates, and 20 year olds being paid as adults after six months employment) retailers will need to review their costs such as labour and look to reducing costs wherever possible.

“Turnover fell in Victoria (-1.1%), followed by New South Wales (-0.5%), Western Australia (-0.3%), Queensland (-0.1%), the Australian Capital Territory (-0.3%) and Tasmania (-0.2%). These falls were partially offset by rises in South Australia (0.2%) and the Northern Territory (0.4%).

“After this week’s interest rates remaining stagnant, it is clear that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)  must  assist and stimulate the economy by reducing interest rates at its meeting in August as slow retail trade being endured by retailers is doing little to assist retailers making a profit and the SME sector will feel this the most.

MONTHLY RETAIL GROWTH (April 2014 – May 2014 seasonally adjusted)

Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (0.1%), Food retailing (0.1%), Other retailing (-0.4%), Household goods retailing (-0.9%), Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (-2.3%) and Department stores (-2.6%).  Total sales (-0.5%).

New South Wales (-0.5%), Northern Territory (0.4%), South Australia (0.2%), Queensland (-0.1%), Tasmania (-0.2), Western Australia (-0.3%), Australian Capital Territory (-0.3%) and Victoria (-1.1%), and Total sales (-0.5%).

YEAR-ON-YEAR RETAIL GROWTH (May 2013 – May 2014 seasonally adjusted)

Cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (11.6%), , Food retailing (5.2%), Household goods retailing (3.8%), Clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (2.7%), Other retailing (1.5%) and Department stores (-1.9%). Total sales (4.6%).

Tasmania (8.7%), New South Wales (7.3%), Victoria (5.4%), Queensland (3.4%), South Australia (2.5%), Western Australia (-0.7%), Australian Capital Territory (-0.8%) and Northern Territory (7.4%). Total sales (4.6%).

Since 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body representing Australia’s $265 billion retail sector, which employs over 1.2 million people. The ARA ensures retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 5,000 independent and national retail members throughout Australia.

Visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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BOTH major parties should be concentrating on generating jobs for Victorians in the lead up to the November election following today’s disappointing unemployment figures, according to Victoria's most influential employers’ group.

With another 15,000 Victorians looking for work as unemployment jumps from 6.2 per cent to 6.5 per cent (seasonally adjusted), both parties should be looking for initiatives to encourage employment.

The chief executive of the Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) Mark Stone said that lifting the threshold at which a business starts paying payroll tax to $850,000 would bring payroll relief to 40,000 Victorian businesses.

"It would generate jobs almost instantly,” said Mr Stone.

"Employers across the state have told me that payroll tax is a major disincentive to employing more staff.

"It must be lifted from the current threshold of $550,000 to $850,000.

“These figures show that youth unemployment is a major concern, especially with a 20 per cent drop in apprenticeships in the past 12 months."

Mr Stone said the figures highlight the need to progress job-creating infrastructure projects throughout Victoria, such as East West Link Stages 1 and 2 and regional projects such as Ballarat Railway Station and Geelong’s Yarra Street Pier redevelopment.

These projects will create significant direct and indirect employment, benefit metropolitan and regional business and have an apprenticeship and traineeship element which will boost youth employment.

Mr Stone has spoken to leaders of both major parties in recent days about these issues, urging them to adopt VECCI’s recommendations.

"Victoria has a solid economic base but our potential will not be realised without policies that drive greater investment and business activity,” said Mr Stone.

www.vecci.org.au  

ENDS

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) welcomed the June release of the State Government’s Ports Strategy, which shows an environmentally responsible and sustainable approach to future development, and in particular alongside the iconic Great Barrier Reef.

The strategy is the Queensland Government's blueprint for managing and improving the efficiency and environmental management of the state's port network over the next decade. 

QRC Chief Executive Michael Roche said the strategy’s focus on driving economic growth through five long-established Priority Port Development Areas (PPDAs) recognised the export sector’s proud record of working responsibly alongside the Great Barrier Reef for many decades.

"The Queensland Ports Strategy is supported by the resources industry and restricts new port development adjacent to the reef, and containing development to the long-running existing ports of Abbot Point; Gladstone; Hay Point and Mackay; and Townsville," Mr Roche said.

"The incremental expansion of these ports has been fundamental to Queensland’s economic and social progress over more than a century.

"Their continuing operation under the scrutiny of state, federal and international environmental agencies is fundamental to Queensland’s global trade in coal, minerals, gas, sugar and grain."

Exports through ports adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef were worth $40 billion in 2012-13.

The latest benchmark for responsible port development quashes the false claims put forward by the WWF in its latest reef scare campaign.

"Once again the anti-resources activists have been caught out in their latest scaremongering campaign that features old re-runs of Bob Irwin’s Fight for the Reef TV advertisements," Mr Roche said.

"All of the false claims put forward in the ad – which we have seen before – are wrong, including the number of coal ships that will export from the ports and claims of fast-tracking mega industrial ports.

"The WWF ads have Mr Irwin claiming that 7,000 coal ships will be 'crossing the reef'.

"No coal ships cross the reef - they in fact travel through designated naturally occurring shipping channels.

"The official forecast from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority is that by 2020 some 2,450 coal ships will be using the coal ports in the reef zone.

"The Ports Strategy also sends a clear message that UNESCO should be in no doubt over the commitment of the Queensland Government and industry to deliver the twin goals of economic growth and environmental protection," Mr Roche said.

"In this day and age, we don’t have to sacrifice one for the other, as many decades of productive co-existence have demonstrated."

www.qrc.org.au

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