THE Australian Government will begin a nationwide voluntary site nomination process for a radioactive waste management facility. A call for expressions of interest from landowners will open in March 2015.

THE Australian PGA Championship will remain in Queensland under a new long-term agreement that will see the tournament hosted on the Gold Coast until 2017.

Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games, Jann Stuckey, made the announcement to an enthusiastic crowd of golf fans.

“It is with great pleasure I announce the Australian PGA Championship will remain on the Gold Coast until 2017 under a new agreement between Tourism and Events Queensland and the PGA of Australia,” said Ms Stuckey.

“Australia’s oldest professional golf tournament, the Australian PGA Championship has quickly established itself as a must-see event on the Gold Coast event calendar.

“Destination Success, Queensland’s 20-year plan for tourism, recognises the importance of securing major events such as this which drive repeat visitation to Queensland’s destinations.

“The Australian PGA Championship will be promoted as part of It’s Live! highlighting the perfect union of world-class events in world-class destinations."

Ms Stuckey said the agreement will see Tourism and Events Queensland work in partnership with the PGA of Australia to offer visitors an expanded program of entertainment throughout the Australian PGA Championship.

“A live music concert program, expanded fan zones and a stadium experience around the 16th hole are all options being considered to create a unique and Famous for fun Australian PGA Championship experience,” she said.

“I look forward to welcoming the world’s golfing greats, their families and friends back to the Gold Coast for the 2015 Australian PGA Championship.”

PGA of Australia Chief Executive Officer, Brian Thorburn re-affirmed the statements of Minister Stuckey for the future of the tournament on the Gold Coast.

“The Australian PGA Championship has a long and proud history in Queensland, and we are excited for what the future holds. Not only does it provide great opportunity for growth and development, it also provides certainty for our flagship event and one of Australia’s major golf tournaments.”

“The event has always been a favourite for players on the PGA Tour of Australasia, and with the Gold Coast confirmed as the home of the Australian PGA Championship for a further three years we have the opportunity to deliver an even greater spectacle for players, visitors and the local community” added Thorburn.

The Australian PGA Championship is co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and OneAsia, and is Australia’s oldest professional golf tournament. Past winners include Peter Thomson, Greg Norman, Ian Baker-Finch, Wayne Grady and current world number three Adam Scott.

www.teq.queensland.com

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RETAILERS are predicting the next seven days to be the biggest of the year as shoppers move their Christmas preparations into top gear, according to weekly Christmas spending projections released by the Australian National Retailers’ Association (ANRA) today.

“Despite consumer confidence readings suggesting a cautious community, more people have returned to retail in the last 12 months and delivered growth to the sector and the economy more broadly. This incremental growth will assist the sector in contributing a little more than four per cent to Australia’s GDP this year,” ANRA CEO Anna McPhee said.

Ms McPhee said more than $8.3 billion is expected to be spent nationally this week with the average family anticipated to spend about $1,060 on Christmas preparations including gifts, food, liquor and dining.

“Consumer spending is important for the national economy and it is encouraging that retail sales are expected to surge by around 10 per cent compared to last week with Australian shoppers anticipated to spend about $750 million more than the previous week.

“To prepare for the Christmas rush, the retail sector has employed approximately 39,000 additional staff this December as well as providing existing staff with extra shifts to support demand throughout this busy period.  The retail sector employs over 1.2 million Australians.

"Many retailers will offer extended trading hours over the next 10 days to meet heightened customer demand across the peak period. The extension of trading hours in the lead up to Christmas has been particularly successful in previous years and highlights how consumer expectations are changing.  Consumers want to be able to shop at times that are convenient,” she said.

ANRA’s survey of Christmas shoppers looked at Christmas shopping tactics between men and women and found differences in their approaches.

“Twice as many men than women expect to do most of their Christmas shopping between now and Christmas – with just under one in four men admitting they’ll probably do most of their shopping quite close to Christmas.

“Our survey showed women take a much more structured approach to Christmas shopping with one in four shopping throughout the year – compared to just 16 per cent of men. Women are also around twice as likely to buy fun things like toys (15% vs 8%) and more-so experiences (6% vs 2%).

“Christmas shoppers told us they will be shopping primarily for immediate family (81%). While 18 per cent admitted to buying a gift for themselves and 15 per cent said a gift for the family pet was also on the Christmas to-do list,” said Ms McPhee.

This year ANRA estimates $32.6 billion will be spent on gifts, food, liquor and dining. Shopping with Australian retailers online and in store supports Australian businesses, jobs and local communities. 

The below table provides a breakdown by state for the 30 days to Christmas (24-Nov to 24-Dec) and spending in the fourth week (15-Dec to 21-Dec):

www.anra.com.au

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LORD MAYOR Graham Quirk has joined APSA chairman Michael Hawkins, APSA Academy president Dr Jack Thompson AM, jury members and finalists of the prestigious 8^th Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA), ahead of the official awards ceremony to be held in City Hall tonight.

The Lord Mayor said the APSAs were the Asia Pacific region’s highest film accolades and were well respected in the international film community.

“In their 8^th year, the Asia Pacific Screen Awards signal the emergence of Brisbane as a major economic and cultural player, not only in the Asia Pacific region, but across the globe,” Cr Quirk said.

“Off the back of the G20 Summit, where Brisbane was the capital city of the world, the APSAs build on this momentum and Brisbane’s reputation as Australia’s New World City.”

Cr Quirk said the APSAs were the largest and most prestigious gathering of international filmmakers in Australia each year and were expected to be attended by over 1,200 film industry luminaries from the Asia Pacific region and beyond.

“The Asia Pacific Screen Awards are a unique testament to the vibrancy and incredible artistic prowess evident in this region,” he said.

“In 2014, 36 films from 21 Asia Pacific countries received award nominations, with the films displaying cinematic excellence and cultural diversity of the vast Asia Pacific Region,” Cr Quirk said.

“Brisbane residents will be able see some of cinemas biggest stars during the black carpet arrivals including, legendary Aboriginal actor David Gulpilil (Charlie's Country), screen legend and APSA Academy president Dr Jack Thompson AM, ceremony presenter and acclaimed Australian actor Aaron Pedersen (Mystery Road), and Oscar-winning Australian producer Emile Sherman (The King's Speech).”

APSA chairman Michael Hawkins said the 2014 APSA Nominees and International Juries would be welcomed into the APSA Academy at a special event this afternoon by APSA Academy president and Australian screen legend Jack Thompson.

“The Academy is a growing body of the most influential names in Asia Pacific cinema, and provides a range of networking, funding and development opportunities to its members,” Mr Hawkins said.

The Asia Pacific Screen Awards, proudly presented by Treasury Casino and Hotel, is supported by Brisbane City Council.

APSA is managed by economic development board Brisbane Marketing in a unique collaboration with Paris-based UNESCO and FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producers Associations, recognising and promoting cinematic excellence and cultural diversity of the world’s fastest-growing film region, comprising 70 countries and areas, 4.5 billion people, and responsible for half of the world’s film output.

Watch the ceremony webcast live on Thursday, 11 December 2014 from 19.00 (AEST) at: http://www.asiapacificscreenacademy.com/the-awards/the-ceremony/

Black carpet arrivals: From 5.30pm Thursday, 11 December in King George Square, Brisbane City Hall.

To view 2013, highlights, trailers from nominated films and images visit

To view a full list of 2014 APSA nominations visit http://www.asiapacificscreenacademy.com/the-awards/2014-nominees/

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THE Australian Retailers Association congratulates the New South Wales (NSW) Government’s decision to allow eligible retailers to trade 24-hours-a-day in the two weeks before Christmas.

Starting today, retailers and local shopping centres can offer shoppers more flexibility by extending their trading hours without requiring specific planning approval.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said the industry strongly supported the changes, provided retailers who didn't want to open for extended hours during the Christmas shopping period were not forced to do so.

“This is a first for NSW and a great opportunity for retailers. The ARA would like to thank Minister for Planning Pru Goward and Minister for Small Business John Barilaro for supporting this initiative which will no doubt give local retailers a much-needed boost during the crucial shopping season.

“This move should help NSW in continuing to be the growth engine for the Australian economy while other states are going through structural adjustments.

“With only 14 days until Christmas, we’re confident that this move will also support the ARA’s predicted pre-Christmas sales figure of $45 billion to go through retail tills before 24 December 2014.

“The ARA now calls on state Labor and the NSW Upper House independents to support the government and allow Boxing Day trade for all retailers who want to open - not just the current restricted areas which kill trade for small and large businesses on the busiest trading day of the year,” Mr Zimmerman said.

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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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VICTORIA's peak tourism industry body today called on the Federal Government to ensure the tax incurred by visitors leaving Australia is not increased, as the additional cost would be a disincentive for international visitors.

“Visitors to Australia pay one of the highest departure taxes in the world. Any increase will particularly negatively impact the price-sensitive leisure travel market, which has been one of the biggest growth sectors for international visitation to Victoria. We don’t want to see this promising trend reversed because of a tax hike,” said VTIC Chief Executive Dianne Smith.

Ms Smith’s comments come amid the Federal Government’s review of the $55 per person Passenger Movement Charge (PMC) incurred by travellers when leaving Australia.

“Australia is already an expensive holiday destination by international standards. The focus must be on reducing taxes to drive greater visitation and encourage guests to spend money at our cafes, restaurants and tourist attractions to support job creation,” said Ms Smith.

VTIC’s announcement echoes those made by the Australian Tourism Export Council, Tourism and Transport Forum and National Tourism Alliance in calling on the Federal Government to honour its pre-election promise to ensure the charge remains unchanged.

“At $55 the PMC is a substantial proportion of the airfare from popular destinations such as New Zealand,” said Ms Smith.

"The Federal Government has identified tourism as a key growth sector and any increase to the PMC will hamper industry growth.”

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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.

vtic.com.au

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THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) said retailers support the recommendation made by the Federal Government’s Financial Systems Inquiry (FSI) Murray Report to ensure credit card payment schemes fall under the same guidance as the two major card schemes for co-branded cards.

ARA Executive Director, and chair of Australian Merchant Payments Forum (AMPF), Russell Zimmerman said the three party schemes (where banks issue co-branded cards allowing systems like Diners and AMEX to avoid rules) are significantly hitting retailers’ bottom lines and this recommendation will benefit retailers and consumers.

The ARA also supports the tiered surcharging proposal where low cost payment systems, which could include three party credit card schemes will see surcharging removed but still allows a price indicator for higher cost schemes allowing retailers and consumers choice.

"The ARA and AMPF firmly believes that there is currently an unequal playing field with some card systems able to decide their own pricing model and choose if they wish to allow surcharging by the merchant. However, both Visa and MasterCard are regulated to ensure that merchants are rightfully not charged more than a reasonable Merchant Service Fee.

"As pointed out in the report proposals for surcharging standards should make surcharging standards simpler and more accurate, while encouraging system providers that are not subject to interchange fee standards to reduce their cost.

“All participants in the payments system must be treated fairly and equally. Regulations need to be broadened to include both three-party schemes (AMEX and Diners) alongside the currently-regulated four-party schemes (Visa and MasterCard).

“In principle, retailers do not believe in surcharging and in the vast majority of cases they don’t for the regulated low-cost two major card schemes. Where they do need to surcharge is on the unregulated high-cost schemes which then gives the consumer the choice of whether they use a high-cost unregulated surcharged card or a no-cost regulated card,” Mr Zimmerman said.

The ARA is pleased to see that many of our submission recommendations have been included in the report and that both the small and large retailers who put input into this process have been listened to.
 
Key points in the ARA’s FSI submission:

• Rule changes are required in relation to co-branded or companion cards issued by financial institutions and must include both three and four party schemes.

• Merchants should have the choice of routing for all payment transactions including, but not limited to, AMEX, scheme debit and contactless transactions, allowing the lowest transaction costs possible.

• As internet transactions increase (currently at 6 percent of total retail – expected to grow to 12 percent of retail sales by 2020) and technology changes rapidly from cards to mobile devices to new POS equipment, merchants will need to invest heavily in new technology. Merchants must be consulted as changes to the payment system occur as merchants are an integral part of the payments system.

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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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THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) today welcomes the announcement of the new Victorian Government Ministry.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said the ARA has had a long and close working relationship with the Victorian Government and welcomes the opportunity to work with the new Labor Government as closely as previous Labor Governments.

“The ARA has welcomed commitments to fix Vocational Education Training (VET) and looks forward to working alongside the new Premier Daniel Andrews to make sure Victoria’s largest private employer, the retail sector and its skills are looked after.

“The ARA has met with all key Ministers in their opposition roles and believes the new government is committed to growing the Victorian economy and retail investment.

“With most major Australian and international retailers looking to base their operations in Victoria, the government will be looked on kindly as they keep business friendly policies in place and fix those such as VET which have been causing problems for the sector.

“The ARA will be seeking to meet new Ministers over the coming months on issues ranging from planning, small business support, tax and skills to infrastructure and red tape,” Mr Zimmerman said.

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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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