QUEENSLAND resources companies are putting their hands up to help roll out Covid-19 vaccinations in regional communities once vaccine supplies increase to a sufficient level.

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has been working with the Queensland and Australian governments, OQVOC (Office of the Queensland Vaccine Operations Coordinator), Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) and the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) to determine how members can help with transport, logistics, facilities and medical staff to fast-track a regional vaccination program.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said any regional vaccination program must offer Covid-19 vaccinations to people living in resources communities, and not just resources workers.

“The QRC said from the outset the resources sector will support government in any way we can to get people in regional areas vaccinated, whether they live in a regional area or work for a resources company,” he said.

“We’re all in this together, and we’ll get through this together.

“Our companies want everyone to be able to access vaccinations as soon as possible, whether it’s through local towns, vaccination hubs or on-site programs.”

Mr Macfarlane said the QRC had been gathering information from individual companies about how they could support the roll-out in practical terms once more vaccines become available.

“We will continue working with the State Government, Queensland Health’s Primary Health Networks and Hospitals, OQVOC, state-based vaccine delivery authorities and local councils to give regional Queenslanders faster access to vaccinations,” he said.

“Right through the Covid crisis, the health and safety of our employees and the regional communities in which we operate has always been our top priority.

“If we can go a step further to safeguard regional Queenslanders by supporting a regional vaccination roll-out, resources companies will do what they can to help out.”

About the QRC

The QRC is Queensland’s peak body for coal, metal and gas explorers, producers and suppliers across the resources sector. It contributes $1 in every $5 dollars to the state economy, supports one in six Queensland jobs, supports more than 15,000 businesses and contributes to more than 1,200 community organisations – all from 0.1 percent of Queensland’s land mass.

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THE independent review of the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) and the Tax Agent Services Act 2009 (TASA) recommended a new governance forum to consult tax practitioners on significant legislative changes, including the Code of Professional Conduct. The Federal Government supported this recommendation in its response to the review.

To implement this recommendation, the Tax Practitioner Governance and Standards Forum (TPGSF) was recently established. The TPGSF is co-chaired by the TPB Chair and CPA Australia, and includes representatives from professional associations, the TPB, the Australian Taxation Office and the Professional Standards Council.

The TPB chair, Ian Klug said, "The establishment of this forum is an important step in implementing the various TPB and TASA reforms supported by the government.

"This forum is a new platform for the TPB to hear from practitioners and associations about the impact of new policy and standards upon their industry and we look forward to working with our co-chair and other members of the forum."

The TPGSF held its inaugural meeting on July 6, 2021.

Commenting on the inaugural meeting, co-chair Elinor Kasapidis from CPA Australia said, "The inaugural meeting went well with representatives expressing their keen interest to be involved early in the consultation phase of any legislative changes and implementation of administrative measures of the TASA and TPB reforms. The members also endorsed the TPGSF Charter and discussed the key priorities of the forum at this meeting."

A summary of key messages from this inaugural meeting is now available on the TPB website. 

About the Tax Practitioners Board

The Tax Practitioners Board regulates tax practitioners in order to protect consumers. The TPB aims to assure the community that tax practitioners meet appropriate standards of professional and ethical conduct. Twitter @TPB_gov_au, Facebook and LinkedIn

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AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS should work together to establish a 10-year national strategy on homelessness, according to a report of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs released today.

In its report, the Committee makes 35 recommendations which propose a renewed approach to preventing and addressing homelessness in Australia.

The committee’s recommendations include a stronger focus on prevention and early intervention, wider adoption of the ‘Housing First’ principle — which would see housing made available to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness as an immediate priority — and new approaches to increase investment in social and affordable housing.

The committee’s recommendations also include more crisis, emergency and transitional accommodation, improvements to data collection and reporting, and a new funding model to ensure that housing and homelessness services are provided to those most in need.

Chair of the committee, Andrew Wallace MP, highlighted that a coordinated national approach is needed to bring down the number of people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Mr Wallace said, "This week marks National Homelessness Week, which is a reminder that homelessness is all too common in Australia. Each night, tens of thousands of Australians are without a place to call home, while many others are at risk of becoming homeless. We know that the impacts of homelessness can be profound and long-lasting.

"While the states and territories are responsible for housing and homelessness, a clear and consistent message to the committee was that there is a need for a national approach. A national strategy would lead to better coordination, more accountability and a stronger focus on the policies that work—prevention and early intervention, providing housing as a priority, and encouraging more investment in social and affordable housing."

Mr Wallace said, "There is no quick fix to end homelessness in Australia, but the committee’s recommendations set out a way forward for all levels of government to work together, alongside community organisations and the private sector, to achieve a real reduction in the number of people who are homeless or at risk."

A full copy of the committee’s report can be found on the inquiry’s website.

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WEALTH manager Atlas Advisors Australia has taken a significant stake in a key health asset, Broadway Medical Centre at Ellenbrook, Western Australia.

Atlas Advisors Australia is a co-investor in ASX-listed Elanor Investors Group’s Elanor Healthcare Real Estate Fund which purchased the property 150 Coolamon Boulevard, growing the portfolio to more than $201 million.

It is the fifth acquisition since the fund was established in March 2020.

Atlas Advisors Australia is a major shareholder in Elanor’s Burke Street Health Care Real Estate class which is comprised of two fully occupied A-grade premises including the Princess Alexandra Hospital Burke Street Centre, in Brisbane, Queensland.

It also manages two other healthcare real estates in the Elanor Healthcare Real Estate Fund – a multi-tenanted medical office and day surgery at Spring Hill, Brisbane and multi-tenanted medical office and day surgery at Pacific Private, Southport, Gold Coast.

Executive chairman of Atlas Advisors Australia, Guy Hedley said Broadway Medical Centre was another high-quality commercial healthcare acquisition with secure tenancies in an important health district.

The 1596sqm building which houses the Broadway Medical Centre is fully leased with nine tenancies. Ellenbrook is about 30km north of Perth.

“Demand for private healthcare facilities including day and short-stay hospitals is increasing with more elective surgery shifting outside public hospital settings,” Mr Hedley said.

“Along with strong growth prospects, these assets also present further opportunities for expansion and development.”

Mr Hedley said healthcare was the at core of Atlas Advisors Australia commercial property interests.

“We are looking forward to further expanding into healthcare in partnership with expert fund managers Elanor Investors Group,” Mr Hedley said.

About Atlas Advisors Australia

Atlas Advisors Australia is a leading funds manager operating between China and Australia. With operations in Sydney and Melbourne in Australia and Hong Kong, Atlas is able to support investors in all China and Australia locations.

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THE RESOURCES sector will continue to follow strict Covid-19 protocols in the wake of the lockdown of 11 LGA’s in Queensland to protect employees and regional communities from the virus.

Queensland Resources Council (QRC) chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the safety of employees and resources communities had been the sector’s highest priority since the Covid pandemic began last year.

“Our industry is in regular consultation with the Queensland Premier, Chief Health Officer (CHO) Queensland Health and the Department of Resources to make sure everything possible is being done to keep resource industry workers and the communities they live and work in safe,” he said.

“Our sector has gone above and beyond expectations by implementing even stricter guidelines and protocols than requested by the CHO, an effort which has been recognised by the Premier and the CHO.

“We’re extremely grateful that so far, we’ve not had a single case of Covid transmission at a Queensland resource industry site, but we will continue to be vigilant.”

Measures underway in the resources sector to protect the community from Covid-19 include:

• Companies are only moving FIFO workers from the 11 locked down LGAs where it is essential to keep operations working.
• Companies are carrying out health checks and temperature testing staff at the QRC’s facility at Brisbane Airport prior to workers flying to regional areas, and before entering workcamps and worksites. In some situations, rapid testing (RDT) is being deployed as an extra measure.
• All workers who have left SEQ since 1am Friday are observing lockdown protocols at their destinations and are isolating in their accommodation when not at the worksite.
• Face masks are being worn at all times when travelling, and on the worksite where it is not unsafe to do so. Social distancing is practised in the workplace wherever it is practical to do so.
• Wherever possible FIFO work teams are being separated from local workforces in the workplace.
• The resources industry is deemed an essential industry and employees are going to work with full permission of the Qld Government, CHO, Qld Health and the Department of Resources.
• The industry is in regular consultation with the CHO, Government and its departments and travel to and from worksites is performed under a strict set of protocols which exceed those required by the Qld Chief Health Officer.

All on-site cleaning is performed in accordance with the protocols laid down by the CHO. Companies have COVID Safety Plans which cover these processes and comply with directions and protocols.

www.qec.org.au

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IN PARTNERSHIP with Global Power Generation, a subsidiary of the multinational power company Naturgy Group, Vestas has secured a 58 MW deal for Crookwell 3 Wind Farm in New South Wales, Australia.

the project will feature 16 V126-3.45MW wind turbines in 3.6MW operating mode which Vestas will supply and install. Upon completion, Vestas will also deliver a 15-year Active Output Management 5000 (AOM 5000) service agreement. This agreement will optimise energy production while also providing long-term business case certainty.

"As the largest installer and maintainer of wind turbines, both globally and nationally, we are pleased that customers like Global Power Generation (Naturgy Group) continue to choose our leading technology, market experience and broad service solutions," Vestas Asia Pacific president Purvin Patel said.

Vestas Australia and New Zealand head, Peter Cowling said, "Global Power Generation (Naturgy Group) is a globally valued customer to Vestas.  "We look forward to championing their ambitious vision of sustainability in Australia through the successful delivery of Crookwell 3 Wind Farm, and our remaining projects which are currently in progress".

Pedro Serrano, chief business development officer of , Global Power Generation (Naturgy Group) said, "Once again, Global Power Generation is very pleased to partner with Vestas as OEM and long-term maintenance provider for Crookwell 3 Wind Farm."

Delivery of the wind turbines is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2022, with commissioning to commence in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Crookwell 3 Wind Farm is set to power approximately 40,000 homes and create around 95 jobs during its construction. 

This project is located in the proximity of Crookwell 1 which was the first wind farm to be established in New South Wales when commissioned in 1998. Successfully operating today, the 5MW project features eight of Vestas' V44-600kW wind turbines.

About Vestas

Vestas is the energy industry's global partner on sustainable energy solutions. The group designs, manufactures, installs, and service onshore and offshore wind turbines across the globe, and with more than 136GW of wind turbines in 84 countries, Vestas has installed more wind power than anyone else. Vestas has more than 29,000 employees bringing the world sustainable energy solutions.

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THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics is commencing a new inquiry into the implications of capital concentration and common ownership in Australia.

Committee Chair, Tim Wilson MP, said,"This inquiry is urgent -- there is already high concentration of ownership of ASX listed companies by an increasingly small number of ‘mega funds’ and that trajectory will increase.

"The House Economics Committee has been asking regulators about these risks for nearly a year. Recently the chair of the ACCC informed the committee common ownership posed threats to competition when it hits 10 percent, yet some have already hit 30 percent’.

"We don’t want a stock exchange where a hand full of ‘mega funds’ make all the decisions, and ordinary investors are locked out and higher costs are paid by Australians. Some ‘mega funds’ have already said that as their ownership increases they’d de-list public companies," Mr Wilson said.

"Common ownership’s flow-on risks higher prices and collusion, corporates imposing public policy agendas while bypassing democracy, and disempowering ordinary investors. The law shouldn’t empower capital over citizens and that’s what we’ll be inquiring into."

Common ownership refers to when a fund or collaborative funds simultaneously own shares in competing firms. The committee will investigate the impact of common ownership by institutional investors (such as banks, super funds, investment funds, hedge funds and others).

"This inquiry will shine a bright light ‘under the hood’ of the ownership of the ASX today, and ensure that we update the law, regulations and regulators to address the challenges of the future so we empower citizens, not organised capital," Mr Wilson said.

The committee is inviting submissions from stakeholders and interested parties. The full terms of reference are available on the committee’s website.

Submissions are being sought by Monday, September 13, 2021. Submissions can be made online or by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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THE local government union has warned the Central Coast community that the council’s review into local water and sewerage operations "could open the door to the sell-off of these vital community services by the cash-strapped council".

The United Services Union (USU) has also foreshadowed a relentless campaign to protect the jobs and services of this current council operation to prevent any moves to privatise it.

Central Coast Council has announced an independent review into how water and sewer operations are managed, which will examine options including the full privatisation of the services, a transition to a council-owned corporation, and a joint service with Hunter Water.

The USU said the publicly-owned water and sewer infrastructure — which the council says is worth nearly $4 billion dollars — not only provides an essential community service, but also generates ongoing income for the council.

“The privatisation of water and server services would be catastrophic for the Central Coast community,” USU organiser Luke Hutchinson said.

“We are strongly opposed to any sell-off and will be engaging in a wide ranging and relentless campaign to protect local jobs and essential services for the Central Coast community.

“These services not only provide a reliable, affordable, essential service, they generate ongoing income, making their retention in public hands vital to turning around the financial crisis that saw Central Coast Council placed into administration. Privatisation simply does not make any sense.

“A sale of these assets — which have been entirely paid for by the local community — would see them run for the profit of their new owners, rather than in the best interest of the Central Coast community.

“The Central Coast is already struggling with the effects of the COVID pandemic and ongoing lockdowns, the last thing they need is for their water and sewerage assets to be sold off to private interests," Mr Hutchinson said.

“If water and sewerage assets are sold off, it will lead to higher water bills, lower service, and the loss of good local jobs.

“The threat of privatisation is also causing extreme hardship for Central Coast Council workers who have already faced 10 months of uncertainty due to the current financial crisis, including the loss of 287 jobs.

“The Central Coast community needs to send a clear message to the council and the administrator that the sell-off of local essential services is not an acceptable way to address council’s financial mess.

“The USU has a very strong and proud record of protecting jobs and community assets and is committed to leading vigorous and continuous opposition to any moves to sell these community assets.”

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