21 December 2009

The 2008 Child and Adolescent Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey collected information on physical activity participation, dietary intake and body measurements from WA students across a range of ages. 

Students were from all school sectors and 1,827 students took part. The survey was a follow-up from one conducted in 2003.

Key findings from the survey were:

* less than half of WA children interviewed met the recommended physical activity guidelines

* secondary school girls were least active with only 10% meeting recommended physical activity guidelines

* the majority of children reported participating in more than two hours of screen-based recreation on one or more days of the previous week

* boys reported playing movement-based video games as their most common physical activity

* the proportion of secondary school students using active transport home from school has increased since 2003

* 2 in 5 primary school students usually consume the recommended amount of vegetables, and 3 in 5 usually consume the recommended amount of fruit for their age

* 1 in 4 secondary school students usually consume the recommended amount of fruit for their age. A similar proportion usually consume the recommended amount of vegetables

* overall consumption of fruit has increased since 2003, both in the proportion consuming and the amount consumed.

The survey is overseen by the Physical Activity Taskforce and the report from the survey can be found at http://www.beactive.wa.gov.au/resources_research_capans.asp.

The average efficiency of public and private hospitals is about 20% below best practice after adjusting for differences in what hospitals do and who they treat, according to a Research Report released by the Productivity Commission.

However, the Commission also found that the private sector tends to be slightly more efficient among large hospitals, while the public sector tends to be more efficient among small hospitals.

The Report responds to a request by the Australian Government to examine three aspects of the health care system — the relative performance of public and private hospitals; rates of informed financial consent for privately-insured patients; and the most appropriate indexation factor for the Medicare Levy Surcharge income thresholds.

Comparing the relative performance of hospitals has been challenging for the Commission. There are major differences within and between public and private hospital systems that make like-for-like comparisons difficult. There were also data limitations, which the Commission sought to address. Future comparisons will be assisted by enhanced data collections for public hospitals already foreshadowed by governments and would be further improved by expanded reporting for private hospitals.

Based on available data, the Commission also found that:

• public and private hospitals have similar overall costs, but there are differences in the composition of costs - medical and diagnostics, and prostheses are more costly in private hospitals while general hospital costs and capital costs are higher in public hospitals; 
• private hospitals appear to have lower infection rates than public hospitals (but private hospitals generally treat patients who have a lower risk of infection); 
• private hospitals have higher labour productivity and shorter lengths of stay than public hospitals (partly due to differences between the sectors in what they do and who they treat).

The report is available at http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/study/hospitals/report.

The Minister for Employment Participation, Mark Arbib, recently announced the successful organisations for the Australian Government’s new $1.2 billion Disability Employment Service.

The new service, to begin operation on 1 March 2010, is a significant improvement in services for people with disability, their families and carers, and employers and is expected to increase the participation of people with disability in employment. The Government has removed the cap on the number of people who can access help.

Disability Employment Services was developed with a strong focus on social inclusion through more than 12 months of engagement and consultation. There is an emphasis on skills development, education and training, particularly in areas of local skills shortages. 

There will be 66 organisations from more than 1100 sites delivering Disability Employment Services Program A. Program A is for job seekers with disability, injury or health condition who require the assistance of a Disability Employment Service but are not expected to need long-term support in the workplace.

The organisations include Government-owned provider CRS Australia and a range of small and large private sector and community-based organisations.  

Another 209 organisations which currently deliver Disability Employment Network services will deliver Disability Employment Services Program B from about 1150 sites. Disability Employment Services Program B is for job seekers with a permanent disability and with an assessed need for more long-term regular ongoing support in the workplace.

There will be additional services to support people with disability access employment, including contracts to provide national coverage for the National Disability Recruitment Coordinator and a JobAccess information and advice service which delivers workplace solutions for people with disability and mental health conditions. 

A full list of successful organisations by Employment Service Areas is available at http://www.workplace.gov.au.

By choosing gifts this year that are made or grown in Australia, you’ll not only be giving gifts that are of good quality and great value, but you will also be supporting Australian businesses, workers and families.

The famous Australian Made, Australian Grown (AMAG) logo, featuring the stylised gold kangaroo in the green triangle makes purchasing Australian made products easy. Consumers can be assured that what they are buying is genuine Australian because every product carrying the logo adheres to the Trade Practices Act strict country of origin criteria.

94% of Australians recognise the logo and 85% of Australians trust it over other country of origin identifiers such as flags, maps, pictures of animals and even the words ‘made in Australia’ (Roy Morgan research, 2009).

When it comes to shopping habits, Australians are a patriotic bunch: 65% of those surveyed about making a conscious choice to buy Australian made, said they do so ‘often’ or ‘whenever possible’.

AMAG chief executive Ian Harrison urged consumers to log on to the australianmade.com.au website for information on official AMAG licensees and to find some Christmas gift inspiration.

“The AMAG website is a great resource for consumers looking for unique and genuine Australian gifts this Christmas, and with the enormous range of products on offer, there really is something for everyone,” he said.

The release of the final report of the Economic Audit Committee is a blueprint to improve how government is run in Western Australia.

The Economic Audit Committee, made up of respected business leaders and senior public servants, has outlined its vision for how Government and the public service can better meet the needs of business and households in Western Australia.

The report is an important body of work, containing a number of recommendations on how to ensure taxpayers get value for money, and better standards of service, from their public service.

The peak organisation representing local business, CCI, believes that as the State gears up for a new wave of economic growth and prosperity, reform of the public sector is urgently needed.

CCI shares the Committee’s vision for a modern, accountable and service orientated public sector that is amongst the best in the Nation.

However, the local business community is disappointed the Committee has missed an opportunity to recommend structural changes to the public sector, including reducing the number of departments and agencies.

The ball is now in the Government’s court. The WA business community expects the Government to deliver.

The State Government’s commitment to redevelop the Perth foreshore is an important infrastructure project that will help Perth become an even better place to live and work.

CCI has for many years been calling on successive State Governments to transform the city foreshore into an area we can all be proud of.

The foreshore redevelopment will see a 2.8 hectare water inlet surrounded by landscaped terraces, boardwalks and promenades, and fringed by shops, cafes, restaurants, bars and other activities.

The removal of a section of Riverside Drive will transform the area into a pedestrian friendly destination with excellent access to public trains, buses and water transport.

The Perth foreshore redevelopment and Northbridge link will redefine the axis of the city by increasing the importance of William Street.

Given the numerous reiterations of designs for the foreshore, it will be critical for the State Government to ensure this project moves out of the design phase and towards statutory approvals and funding commitments.

The unveiling of a new plan for the redevelopment of the Perth foreshore is welcome. It comes at a time when local employers are expressing growing concern about the State’s ability to attract and retain the workers needed to grow the local economy, and facilitate new investment.

With Western Australian businesses finding it increasingly difficult to attract and retain staff, the need for Perth to become a modern, dynamic and vibrant international city has never been greater.

There is increasing recognition that WA has the opportunity to become globally significant, by taking full advantage of its economic, environmental and geographic advantages.

But to do so, Perth must position itself as an attractive and desirable place to live and work. Otherwise the city will not be able to attract and retain the people it needs to fully benefit from the economic opportunities that stand before the State.

CCI calculates WA will need an extra 400,000 workers over the next decade if the State’s economic growth and prosperity are to be sustained. On current trends we will have a shortfall of 150,000 workers.

It’s a challenge not unique to Western Australia. With a growing number of cities vying to lure the best and brightest to meet their growing labour needs, it is essential that Perth do all it can to be regarded as one of the most attractive places in the world in which to live and work.

The WA business community looks to work with all stakeholders to ensure this plan succeeds when so many others haven’t.

To comment or for more information please contact CCI's Sharon Dignard on (08) 9365 7531 or sharon.dignard@cciwa.com.

A record number of Australian residents departed from Australia permanently in 2008-09.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s latest publication, Emigration 2008-09, shows that a record 81,018 Australian residents permanently departed Australia in 2008-09, up 5.3 per cent from 2007–08.

Of the total permanent departures some 48 per cent were skilled workers and around 45 per cent fell in the age cohort of 25 to 44 years.

With the increased global mobility of skilled workers, Australia as part of a global labour market faces strong international competition for skills.

The latest exodus comes at time when Australia still in need of a targeted skilled migration program to meet critical skills shortages in areas such as healthcare, engineering and information technology.

Of the states, the largest exodus was from New South Wales (40 per cent) followed by Victoria (21 per cent) and Queensland (21 per cent). Western Australia, on the other hand, accounted for a comparatively modest 10 per cent of total permanent departures.

According to DIAC, the main countries of intended residence for all permanent departures were New Zealand (17.7 per cent), the United Kingdom (17 per cent), the United States of America (9.3 per cent), Hong Kong (7.3 per cent) and Singapore (6.7 per cent).

A copy of the Emigration 2008–09 report is available here (INSERT emigration-2009 PDF HERE).

For further information, contact CCI Migration Services (MARN 0318589) on (08) 9365 7521 or email migration@cciwa.com.

Small and medium sized businesses will have greater access to Australian Government business assistance with the extension of Enterprise Connect’s Innovative Regions Centre operations into eight more regions.

The national centre, based in Geelong, develops region-specific strategies to encourage business growth.

Innovation Minister, Senator Kim Carr said the placement of facilitators attached to the Innovative Regions Centre was already operating well in Geelong and North Adelaide and would now help boost the productivity of eight more key regions.

Eight new placements will be made in:

• NSW: three placements, in the Wollongong, Central Coast and Lithgow regions; 
• QLD: two placements, in North Brisbane and Central Queensland; 
• WA: one placement covering the Kwinana, Mandurah and Fremantle areas;
• VIC: one placement covering the Victorian Central Goldfields; and
• TAS: one placement covering Northern Tasmania.

“The facilitators will collaborate with state and local governments, business organisations and individual businesses on regional innovation strategies to help business grow. Specific focus will be given to projects that develop partnerships, networks and alliances,” Senator Carr said.

The strategic work being done by the Innovative Regions Centre complements other services offered by Enterprise Connect. These include free, onsite business reviews to eligible businesses plus access to a range of business improvement grants.

For more information on Enterprise Connect please contact contact John Clegg on 0411 592 342 or Vic Susinetti on 0434 915 930.

Western Australia remained third behind New South Wales and Victoria as the state of intended residence of skilled migrant arrivals in 2008-09.

According to the latest release of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship's Settler Arrivals 2008-09 publication, WA accounted for some 19 per cent of skilled migrant arrivals behind NSW and VIC which accounted for around 28 per cent and 27 per cent respectively of skilled migrant arrivals in 2008-09. Queensland, on the other hand, accounted for only around 15 per cent of skilled migrant arrivals.

Marked increases were evident in the skill migrant arrivals in Australia in 2008-09 particularly in the areas of employer sponsored permanent migration which rose by nearly 22 per cent and business skills migration which was up 36 per cent.

Overall there was a total of 69,456 skilled migrant arrivals in 2008-09, a modest 6 per cent increase from 2007-08.

A copy of DIAC's Settler Arrivals 2008-09 which includes statistics on skilled, family and humanitarian settlers by state and birth is available here (Insert link to settlers_arrivals PDF).

For further information, contact CCI Migration Services (MARN 0318589) on (08) 9365 7521 or email migration@cciwa.com.

The federal government has heeded the calls of employer groups, granting Fair Work Australia (FWA) an additional period of time to deal with modern award variations.

The Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) completed the process of making modern awards on 4 December 2009 with the release of the stage four awards. Modern awards will commence operation on 1 January 2010.

However, the AIRC has received a large number of applications to vary modern awards and concerns have been held over the fate of these applications, following the termination of the AIRC on 31 December 2009.

On 16 December 2009 the government announced an amendment to Schedule 5 of the Fair Work (Transitional and Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2009. The amendment allows more time to deal with modern award variation applications.

• FWA will be granted a temporary power to vary modern awards after their commencement where this is necessary to give effect to the award modernisation request.
• The power is available for only a three month period from 1 January 2010 (the commencement date of modern awards) until 31 March 2010.
• Further, FWA’s power to vary a modern award may only be exercised where an application for variation has been made to the AIRC before 31 December 2009 and the application has not been dealt with; or, on FWA’s own initiative.

It is important to note that this variation does not alter the start date for modern awards.

The amendment will allow FWA to vary modern awards following their commencement. As a result, although awards will come into effect on 1 January 2010, some may be varied shortly afterwards. 

Following the 31 March 2010 variations to modern awards may only be made in more limited circumstances:

1. as part of a four yearly review; or

2. if FWA is satisfied that making a determination to vary, make or terminate a modern award, is necessary to achieve the modern awards objective.

If members have any questions, please contact the Employee Relations Advice Centre on (08) 9365 7660 or email advice@cciwa.com.

On 15 December, CCI hosted the Federal Minister for Tourism Martin Ferguson’s launch of the National Long Term Tourism Strategy.

Tourism development is a whole of government responsibility as multiple government agencies at all levels of Government impact the tourism sector in some way.

CCI industry policy senior adviser Sharon Dignard was pleased the Tourism Ministers’ Council, which included all state and federal tourism ministers, endorsed the Strategy and will work together to strengthen the supply of tourism product across Australia.

“CCI members, and the wider WA business community, have raised growing concerns about a return of labour shortages experienced in WA only 18 months ago,” she said.

“A number of the solutions for the tourism sector are dependant on Federal Government recognition and support.”

The Strategy identified labour and skills development to be one of nine issues where all levels of government should focus their attention.

Mr Ferguson said the new Strategy was not about marketing campaigns.

“It’s about making sure Australia can meet the demand and the expectations created by our marketing,” he said.

“It is about ensuring we have the new product, the tourism infrastructure, and the skilled workforce we require.

“If you consider that the majority of Australia’s three and four star properties were built between 1965 and 1980, then you can see why this investment is needed.

“Tourism is a $40 billion industry in Australia which generates more than 10% of total Australian exports and directly employs around half a million people.

“Yet Australia’s share of global tourism has declined 13% since the mid 1990s and if we are to reverse this trend we need a tourism industry with the expertise, infrastructure and innovation to satisfy both our visitors and a new generation of investors.”

Mr Ferguson also announced the 70 recipients of the Australian Government’s TQUAL Grants program, totalling almost $8.3 million.

“This funding will boost the quality and diversity of Australia’s tourism industry,” Minister Ferguson said. 

WA Tourism Minister Elizabeth Constable said tourism was an important contributor to the WA economy, generating 82,000 jobs and injecting $7.3 billion into the State, of which more than $2 billion was spent in the regions.

“The development of this strategy will help us work better with other states and territories to drive WA and national tourism,” she said. 

“WA will continue to be closely involved in the implementation of the strategy to complement the work the State Government is already engaged in to create a sustainable and robust tourism industry here.”

In the short term, a working group on labour and skills development will work towards integrating the tourism sector’s labour needs into the migration program, something CCI has been advocating for some time.

An increased focus on investment and regulatory reform is also a significant priority in the strategy. Initial outputs expected by this reform, due in April 2010, include the identification of impediments to investment such as development regulations, taxation and depreciation rates.

Other issues include:

• destination management planning
• tourism access
• industry resilience
• quality assurance and accreditation
• indigenous tourism development
• distribution of quality Australian product 
• research

“CCI looks forward to working with both the Federal and State Government to implement these strategies,” Ms Dignard said.

A copy of the Strategy and the forward work-plan can be found by clicking here.

For more information about the tourism sector please contact Sharon Dignard on (08) 9365 7531 or sharon.dignard@cciwa.com.

Riding your bicycle around the neighbourhood with your mates is a happy part of childhood that most people remember fondly, but for 9-year-old Perth boy Josiah, this was just a dream until recently. 

Josiah was born with no arms so riding a traditional bicycle was impossible. Late in 2008, Josiah’s mum Marika called Dreamfit Foundation CEO Darren Lomman for help. Marika wanted to know if there was anything that Dreamfit’s volunteer engineers could do to make Josiah’s dream of riding a bicycle a reality.

A group of students were set to work on the job, coming up with engineering solutions. At the Westcare International Day of Disability breakfast on 3 December, sponsored by CCI, Josiah was finally given the opportunity to choose the winning bike from six prototypes.

The remaining bikes will be donated to Ride Aid in Cambodia to go to children with similar disabilities to Josiah.

CCI congratulates Dreamfit and the winning team on the success of the project and hopes Josiah enjoys his new found freedom.

Individual:

Corporate Table: 

State Supply Commission tender advertising policy has changed.  From 1 December 2009 it is no longer mandatory for government agencies to advertise tenders over $150,000 in The West Australian newspaper.

A list of recently issued tenders will be published in The West Australian, with details provided online at Tenders WA. Agencies can choose which other media they advertise tenders through. 

Tenders WA is the central online resource for all tender information and advertisements.  An easy to use system, Tenders WA gives you the option to personalise your account so you can receive automatic email notifications of tenders that may be of interest to your company.

Click here to register or for more information

Planning Minister John Day has released an industrial land strategy for public comment to ensure the necessary planning was in place to meet the industrial land needs of the Perth and Peel regions for the next 20 years.

The strategy focuses on general and light industry needs. Forty sites have been identified that have the potential to be developed for industrial land uses, including sites which are extensions to existing industrial areas; and six sites, comprising more than 4,000 hectares, have been short-listed as priorities for detailed feasibility assessment.

Public comment on the Industrial Land Strategy 2009 Perth and Peel is invited until Friday 12 March 2010. See http://www.planning.wa.gov.au/comment.

The Department of Agriculture and Food has been participating in the study and aims to further build on the ILS findings by identifying sites suitable for the agri-food sector based on sector specific criteria and feedback from industry.

DAFWA will jointly hold an information session with the Department of Planning on the Perth and Peel Industrial Land Strategy for the food industry sector in early February 2010.

Contact Department Agriculture and Food senior industrial planner Trina Anderson on (08) 9368 3640 or trina.anderson@agric.wa.gov.au to provide food industry sector comments.

For more information contact CCI's Warren Barbetti on (08) 9365 7720 or email warren.barbetti@cciwa.com.

With Australia’s competitive advantage and expertise, the ExxonMobil PNG development could enhance the significance of the region as a reliable global supplier of energy.

LNG is increasingly in demand as the requirement for cleaner sources of energy grows and Australian exporters have been identified as preferred tenderers for $1.3 billion in contracts. 

With the announcement of the ExxonMobil project going ahead there is up to $3.3 billion of project-related contracts which are potentially available for Australian exporters.

The project is vital and will provide a boost to PNG’s economic well being, which according to the Trade Minister Simon Crean, will potentially put PNG on a more sustainable economic growth, in as much as the Australian Government has offered a loan of up to $547 million in order to support Australian participation in the development of the project.

Australian companies Oil Search and Santos hold over 40% equity in the project. The loan is to be provided to the project sponsors through Australia’s Export Finance and Insurance Corporation.

In addition to Australia’s EFIC, debt financing for the project is being provided largely by export credit agencies, which include the United States, Japan, China and Italy.

22% of exporters responding to the Gloom or Boom: The Outlook for Australian Exporters in 2010 survey reported that export sales remained about the same. A further 20% reported an increase in sales of 25%, with the same number experiencing a decrease of 25% or more.

60% of the respondents were expecting an increase in export sales in 2010, whilst a further 22% are predicting an increase of more than 25%.  Only 7% were forecasting a decline in their export sales which amounts to a very positive outlook in the eye of the exporter for 2010.

Over the next 12 months exports to Asia including all destinations, bar the Northeast, showed 40% of respondents were expecting significantly better conditions.  

 With exports to North America and Europe respondents were more cautious with only 30% predicting somewhat worse conditions. A further 30% looking for conditions to remain the same. 

Threats were more widely perceived than opportunities by most of the respondents. Economic conditions in offshore markets and impacting demands is thought to be a significant threat by 39% of respondents, only 40% are expecting continuing fluctuations in the value of the Australian dollar to be a minor threat over the coming year.

NB: Due to rounding of decimal points, values may not sum to exactly 100%.

Trade figures are showing continuing effects of the global recession. Falls in exports have caused a rise in the trade deficit for the month of October 2009.

Australia recorded a trade deficit of $2.4 billion in October 2009, an increase of 29% ($534 million) on the revised deficit in September 2009 of $1.8 billion.

Trade Minister Simon Crean described it as a sign of the ongoing impact of the global recession.

This is another reminder that Australia is not immune from the global economic downturn. But Australia has weathered the economic storm better than almost any other advanced economy.

Figures released earlier this week confirmed Australia had the highest growth in trade volumes in 2008-09. This was against a 9% fall in the OECD average for trade volumes over the same period.

The Australian services sector continues to hold up against the economic downturn with services exports rising 1% to $4.7 billion driven by growth in manufacturing services.

Merchandise exports continue to grow in key markets such as Japan, India and ASEAN.

The increase in the October deficit was driven by a fall in goods exports for the month, which outweighed the decrease in imports of goods and services for the month.