25 January 2010

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has welcomed the announcement by Federal Minister for Employment Participation Senator Mark Arbib of the success of the Apprentice Kickstart initiative and reiterated its earlier calls for employers to consider taking on an apprentice.

“Young Australians are particularly vulnerable to the impact of unemployment. I encourage employers planning their workforce needs for 2010, to think about what a job opportunity could mean for a young person. There has never been a better time than right now to give a young Australian a go,” said ACCI director of employment, education and training Mary Hicks.

Under the program, employers hiring apprentices before 28 February are eligible to receive $2,350 when they employ a 15 to 19 year old apprentice in an eligible trade, and a further $2,500 after they complete nine months of training. The program will support up to 21,000 young Australians entering traditional trades this summer.

After a period of nine months employers will be eligible for a further $2500 payment.  Traditional trades include occupations such as carpenters, welders, cooks, electricians, joiners, and hairdressers and form part of the National Skills Needs List and are in constant skill shortage. 

“Increasing the uptake of apprentices and trainees will help to strengthen the economy as we emerge from the global financial crisis and reduce the occurrence of future skills shortages,” Ms Hicks said.

Disruptive events such as flooding, power outage, strikes, fire, IT failure and disease outbreak could lead to prolonged interruption to your business. Unless you are prepared for such a\ crisis, the potential consequences to your business could be severe.

Business continuity management (BCM) is about preparing your business to respond and recover effectively from unexpected interruptions and to minimise business loss and reputational impacts.

Attend a free half-day symposium Resilience Over Uncertainty on 22 March 2010 plus options of three follow-up workshops to learn how you can better prepare for a crisis and improve the resilience of your business.

Key speakers include:

Dr Andrew Robertson, Director, Disaster Management, Regulation and Planning, Public Health Division, WA Department of Health

Mick Doyle, Senior Risk Analyst, WA Treasury Corporation

Peter Janus, Risk Manager, Alcoa Worldwide Alumina - Australia

Nat Forbes, President of Asia Council, International Association of Emergency Managers

This event is held in conjunction with Business Continuity Awareness Week 2010 and the official launch of the WA Business Continuity Institute Forum in Perth.

To download a copy of the event brochure and registration form, click here

For further information on the Business Continuity Institute, go to http://www.thebci.org.au.

The State’s peak organisation representing local business, CCI, is concerned that the ongoing difficulty universities face in attracting nursing students will have a negative impact on the standard of health care into the future.

Nurses play an integral role in a modern health care system. They not only provide essential bedside care in hospitals across the State, but are also required to perform highly complex tasks, often using state of the art technology.

The next generation of nurses must be highly educated, properly trained, and valued as a profession.

Business believes it is important that the health system operate at the highest standard so that a company’s most precious resource, its people and the broader community, are healthy.

CCI looks to work with the State’s training providers to ensure these standards are met and maintained.

The European Union has granted Australia market access to its new EU Tariff Quota for high quality beef.

The duty-free quota, which first became available in August last year, provides for an additional global supply of 20,000 tonnes of high quality beef into the EU each year.

“The high Australian dollar has put pressure on our beef exports, and this improvement in market access is a win for Australian farmers at a critical time,” Australia’s Minister for Trade Simon Crean and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke said in a joint statement.

Mr Crean welcomed the increased market access for Australian beef and said the EU is an important market for Australia.

“It provides a considerable opportunity for the Australian beef industry to develop its presence in the European Union market with a particular focus on high quality Australian product.”

“Currently our high quality beef exports face a 20% duty in Europe – but under this new market access Australian beef will enter duty free.”

High quality beef is a niche product, requiring cattle to be fed on a strict diet. The United States is the only other country to have been granted access to the quota. Australia’s current total beef exports to the EU exceed $136 million or about 11,000 tonnes annually. Australian exports of high quality beef under the quota are expected to begin in the first quarter of this year.

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship has released the latest bi-annual edition of Immigration Update for 2008-09 which provides a summary of current immigration statistics including permanent additions, settler arrivals, permanent departures, visitors, students and business data.

Permanent additions consist of persons who while already in Australia on a temporary basis and are granted permanent residence status and persons who arrive from overseas and are entitled to stay permanently in Australia.

According to this latest report:

- The number of permanent additions was 224,619, a 9.1% increase over the previous year attributable largely to an increase in onshore grants.

- Of these there were 175,125 permanent additions under the Migration Program with the Skill Stream accounting for 118,415 of these permanent additions.

- Permanent additions under the Migration (non-Humanitarian) Program therefore rose by 10.6% compared to 2007-08.

- In addition, there were 14,854 permanent additions under the Humanitarian Program.

- Permanent additions under the Humanitarian Program therefore increased by 26.6%.

Overall, New South Wales remained the most popular destination with 30.1% of permanent additions intending to settle there, followed by Victoria (24.4%) and Queensland (19.7%).

Western Australia accounted for 16.3% or a 36,585 permanent additions of which 22,686 permanent additions came from the Skill Stream.

A copy of the full report is available here (Insert link to update-jun09.pdf).

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

Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC) is providing a loan of up to US$500 million as part of a syndicate providing financing to the ExxonMobil led LNG project in Papua New Guinea.

EFIC will provide a loan of US$100 million on its Commercial Account with a further amount of up to US$400 million on the Australian Government’s National Interest Account.

ASX-listed companies Oil Search (29.0%) and Santos (13.5%) are major investors in the project to develop, own and operate the first phase of an integrated LNG facility in the Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea including a gas gathering and conditioning plant, overland and subsea pipeline and a LNG export terminal near Port Moresby.

“We’re proud to be involved in this exciting project which will see benefits for the communities of Papua New Guinea and Australian business supplying services and support to the project,” said EFIC managing director and CEO Angus Armour.

“Not only does EFIC’s support assist Oil Search and Santos to realise their investment plans in PNG  but, importantly, has already seen Australian exporters identified as preferred tenderers and suppliers for contracts worth more than US$1.2 billion for the construction phase of the project with significant further opportunities available. ”

As Australia’s export credit agency, EFIC joins the lead consortium of export credit agencies providing financing for the PNG LNG Project. 

The Business Climate Indicator for the euro area (the 16 EU member states that use the euro as their official currency unit) improved further in December, its ninth consecutive monthly increase.

The Economic Sentiment Indicator rose once again in December to 92.0 (up 4.1 points) in the EU and to 91.3 (up 2.5) in the euro area. It has improved in both areas for nine consecutive months since its trough in March 2009, though it still remains below its long-term average.

The annual inflation rate in the euro area was 0.9% in December 2009, up from 0.5% in November

In October 2009 the euro area industrial new orders index fell by 2.2% compared with September 2009. In September the index rose by 1.7%. In the EU 27 (all 27 member states of the EU), new orders declined by 1.6% in October 2009, after an increase of 1.4% in September.

In November 2009 the industrial producer price index rose by 0.1% in the euro area and by 0.2% in the EU 27 compared with October 2009. In October, prices increased by 0.3% and 0.6% respectively. In November 2009 compared with November 2008, industrial producer prices dropped by 4.4% in the euro area and by 3.2% in the EU 27.

The euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate increased to 10.0% in November 2009 from 9.9% in October 2009 and 8.0% in November 2008. The EU 27 unemployment rate increased slightly to 9.5% in November 2009, up from 9.4% in October. It was 7.5% in November 2008. For the euro area this is the highest rate since August 1998 and for the EU 27 since the start of the series in January 2000.

Euro area GDP increased by 0.4% and EU 27 GDP by 0.3% during the third quarter of 2009, compared with the previous quarter, according to second estimates from Eurostat.

In the second quarter of 2009, growth rates were -0.1% in the euro area and - 0.3% in the EU 27. In comparison with the same quarter of the previous year, seasonally adjusted GDP declined in the third quarter of 2009 by 4.0% in the euro area and by 4.3% in the EU 27, after - 4.8% and - 5.0% respectively in the previous quarter.  

Commercial law firm DLA Phillips Fox, supported by The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade), has published Doing Business in Australia, a practical guide for foreign investors on how to establish or expand a business in Australia.
 
The electronic publication provides an overview of Australia and Australian laws and regulations, and also provides information specific to the infrastructure and construction industries. DLA Phillips Fox chief executive Tony Crawford said there were significant opportunities for foreign investment in these two sectors. 
 
“There are a limited number of construction and infrastructure players operating in the Australian market, and this, coupled with an increase in major infrastructure projects, means that opportunities abound for international providers,” he said.
 
Austrade national manager, investment Nicola Watkinson said the Australian Government welcomed foreign direct investment.

“Government programs and policies currently target investment in clean energy, financial services, business services and infrastructure as particular areas of opportunity and focus. This guide – Doing Business in Australia – provides a wealth of practical advice on establishing or expanding a business in this country,” she said.
 
Doing Business in Australia is accessible from www.dlaphillipsfox.com.

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has issued a statement calling on governments to review their approach to the taxation of international takeovers, reorganisations and mergers.

The policy statement highlights concerns about a view put forward by a number of governments that it is appropriate to tax international transactions occurring entirely outside their jurisdictions, where part of the transactional value stems from underlying assets in that state.

The peak global business organisation – which represents companies in over 120 countries around the world – noted the potential adverse effect of such tax polices on international trade and investment. It drew particular attention to concerns about the use of retrospective changes in law to implement such an approach.

Chairman of the ICC Commission on Taxation Robert Couzin said the ICC encouraged governments to avoid unnecessary fiscal impediments to international mergers and reorganisations. Consistency and clarity for business was especially important during a time of economic stress.

The ICC statement noted that if this approach were widely adopted, the acquisition of a global corporation with extensive international operations could be subject to taxes in numerous countries with which the transaction had no direct business link. Such a situation would create confusion and a significant impediment to international trade, merger and acquisition activity, as well as foreign direct investment flows.

Jean Rozwadowski, ICC Secretary General added: “The suggestion that countries have jurisdiction to tax takeover transactions, to which they have no direct legal link, is an issue of major concern for international business. There is a real risk that these policies will complicate and hamper international trade and investment flows – contrary to the commendable efforts of many governments to attract businesses by expanding investment opportunities.”

Western Australia continues to perform strongly and remains Australia’s leading export earner, newly released trade figures show.

The new figures show that all of Australia’s states and territories except South Australia and Tasmania increased the value of their exports in 2008-09 despite the impact of the global downturn.

In releasing the figures, Federal Trade Minister Simon Crean said that in the last financial year the value of Australian exports rose 22.6% to $283.8 billion from $231.5 billion in 2007-08.

“Strong commodity prices, demand from China and Australia’s diversified trade base were factors in the resilient performance of the nation’s exporters in the face of the global economic crisis,” Mr Crean said.

The trade analysis shows that Western Australia was again the nation’s leading export earner with exports rising almost 25% to $92.1 billion on the back of high prices for iron ore and gold. Queensland recorded the steepest rise in exports of 48%, overtaking NSW as Australia’s second-largest exporting state with exports totalling $65.5 billion. All states and territories except Tasmania and South Australia recorded increases in exports compared with the previous year. The value of exports from Queensland has surged mainly on the back of higher coal prices and an increase in beef exports. New South Wales continued to perform strongly with the value of exports rising by 20%. New South Wales is the nation’s leading services exporter.

The figures are contained in Australia’s Trade by State and Territory 2008-09, which provides a complete statistical guide to exports and imports of goods and services for every state and territory on a financial year basis. It is available free at www.dfat.gov.au.

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A new code of practice, applicable to all workplaces in WA, including mines, has been released by WorkSafe WA and the Department of Mines and Petroleum. This code of practice will assist designers, manufacturers, installers, employers and employees to understand the hazards and risks associated with machinery and plant.

Insufficient guarding of machinery and plant in workplaces causes serious work place injuries. These still remain a noteable cause of injuries in the work place and WorkSafe WA and the Department of Minerals and Petroleum have released a new edition of the Code of Practice – Safeguarding of Machinery and Plant.

The code applies to to those wh

• design plant
• manufacture plant
• import plant
• supply plant
• install plant 
• employers and employees who use plant

All of these parties are involved in the development, implementation and use of machinery and plant and therefore have a responsibility to minimise or eliminate the risk of injuries.

The code of practice outlines a range of hazards that are associated with common machinery and plant as well as the associated risks. This code is not meant to identify all hazards and risks and therefore a risk assessment of each machinery and plant should be undertaken.

Perth is looking set to excel by becoming host to a range of internationally recognised events including; the recent One Movement for Music Festival, CHOGM 2011 and the upcoming international social media conference, Media140.

An innovative and independent global movement, Media140 creates unique events to explore the future of the real-time web. These events examine all of the real-time platforms that are affecting business: to foster discourse, collaboration and innovation within journalism, media, advertising, entertainment, branding, marketing, PR and technology industries.

Media140 Perth will focus on the effect of social media on branding, marketing and communications and through its unique format will bring together the local conference attendees with an interactive, international audience through real time web tools. Two women actively supporting the fight to change the world’s perception of WA are Kelly Maclean and Vanessa Baech, presenters at Media140 Perth.

Kelly Maclean, the executive marketing director of Tourism WA, is directly responsible for their domestic and international marketing activities; which includes managing their social media presence and communicating the diverse opportunities WA has on offer to a global market.  Vanessa Baech is the community manager for Lonely Planet and is responsible for managing their online community of 800,000+ travellers and for shaping and executing the social vision for the globally recognised brand.

Both of these fantastic women are presenting at Media140 Perth bringing with them case studies to highlight the use of social media in customer engagement, destination marketing, global branding and the professional pitfalls and ethical dilemmas these tools can present.

Ande Gregson, Founder of Media140, believes that Kelly and Vanessa will bring great depth to the conference by contributing cutting edge case studies detailing their exploration of the impact of real-time social media on international branding, on the tourism, travel industry; and of how they have been able to adapt to these changes, enabling them to maintain and build upon their respective globally recognised brands.

Other confirmed speakers for this event include:

• Carolyn Hall Founder of ChatterBlock 
• Genevieve Robey Editor of Wotnews.com.au
• Brett McCarthy Editor, The West Australian
• Bronwen Clune ex-journo; new media consultant
• Markus Hafner Founder, Happener 
• Richard Giles Social Media Specialist - CPSU/CSA
• Gemma Tognini Director of gtmedia
• Brett Sandler, Digital Client Manager, Nova 93.7
• Dena Vassallo, National Digital Strategist, PPR
• Jared Woods, Communications Manager, SKM

For further information visit http://www.media140.com/perth.