Covid-19: Federal Government Announces $17.6 Billion Economic Stimulus Package

The Government has announced a $17.6 billion economic plan as the world deals with the significant challenges posed by the spread of the coronavirus.

The targeted stimulus package is focused on keeping Australians in jobs and helping small and medium sized businesses to stay in business. 

The package has four parts:

• Supporting business investment

• Providing cash flow assistance to help small and medium sized business to stay in business and keep their employees in jobs

• Targeted support for the most severely affected sectors, regions and communities;

• Household stimulus payments that will benefit the wider economy

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said as part of the plan up to 6.5 million individuals and 3.5 million businesses would be directly supported by the package.

“Just as we have acted decisively to protect the health of the Australian people, based on the best evidence and medical advice, our support package responds to the economic challenges presented by this pandemic in a timely, proportionate and targeted way,” the Prime Minister said.

“Our plan will back Australian households with a stimulus payment to boost growth, bolster domestic confidence and consumption, reduce cash flow pressures for businesses and support new investments to lift productivity.

“Australia is not immune to the global coronavirus challenge but we have already taken steps to prepare for this looming international economic crisis.

“Our targeted stimulus package will focus on keeping Australians in jobs and keeping businesses in business so we can bounce back strongly.

Support for business investment

• $700 million to increase the instant asset write off threshold from $30,000 to $150,000 and expand access to include businesses with aggregated annual turnover of less than $500 million (up from $50 million) until 30 June 2020. For example, assets that may be able to be immediately written off are a concrete tank for a builder, a tractor for a farming business, and a truck for a delivery business.

• $3.2 billion to back business investment by providing a time limited 15 month investment incentive (through to 30 June 2021) to support business investment and economic growth over the short term, by accelerating depreciation deductions. Businesses with a turnover of less than $500 million will be able to deduct an additional 50 per cent of the asset cost in the year of purchase.

These measures will support over 3.5 million businesses (over 99 per cent of businesses) employing more than 9.7 million employees or 3 in every 4 workers. The measures are designed to support business sticking with investment they had planned, and encouraging them to bring investment forward to support economic growth over the short term.

Cash flow assistance for businesses

• $6.7 billion to Boost Cash Flow for Employers by up to $25,000 with a minimum payment of $2,000 for eligible small and medium-sized businesses. The payment will provide cash flow support to businesses with a turnover of less than $50 million that employ staff, between 1 January 2020 and 30 June 2020. The payment will be tax free. This measure will benefit around 690,000 businesses employing around 7.8 million people. Businesses will receive payments of 50 per cent of their Business Activity Statements or Instalment Activity Statement from 28 April with refunds to then be paid within 14 days.

• $1.3 billion to support small businesses to support the jobs of around 120,000 apprentices and trainees. Eligible employers can apply for a wage subsidy of 50 per cent of the apprentice’s or trainee’s wage for up to 9 months from 1 January 2020 to 30 September 2020. Where a small business is not able to retain an apprentice, the subsidy will be available to a new employer that employs that apprentice.

Stimulus payments to households to support growth

• $4.8 billion to provide a one-off $750 stimulus payment to pensioners, social security, veteran and other income support recipients and eligible concession card holders. Around half of those that will benefit are pensioners. The payment will be tax free and will not count as income for Social Security, Farm Household Allowance and Veteran payments. There will be one payment per eligible recipient. If a person qualifies for the one off payment in multiple ways, they will only receive one payment.

Payments will be from 31 March 2020 on a progressive basis, with over 90 per cent of payments expected to be made by mid-April.

Assistance for severely-affected regions

• $1 billion to support those sectors, regions and communities that have been disproportionately affected by the economic impacts of the Coronavirus, including those heavily reliant on industries such as tourism, agriculture and education. This will include the waiver of fees and charges for tourism businesses that operate in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and Commonwealth National Parks. It will also include additional assistance to help businesses identify alternative export markets or supply chains. Targeted measures will also be developed to further promote domestic tourism. Further plans and measures to support recovery will be designed and delivered in partnership with the affected industries and communities.

The Government is also offering administrative relief for certain tax obligations, including deferring tax payments up to four months. This is similar to relief provided following the bushfires for taxpayers affected by the coronavirus, on a case-by-case basis.  The ATO will set up a temporary shop front in Cairns within the next few weeks with dedicated staff specialising in assisting small business. In addition, the ATO will consider ways to enhance its presence in other significantly affected regions to make it easier for people to apply for relief, including considering further temporary shop fronts and face-to-face options.

Bushfire Recovery Event Funding

Snowy Valleys Council has partnered with Destination Riverina Murray to allocate event funding support to local communities as part of the bushfire recovery process. 

Council was awarded funding through the Bushfire Community Resilience and Economic Recovery Fund, from the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements to help deliver quick, flexible, small-scale support for locally led community and economic recovery events and activities. 

There are three categories of funding support available:

• Major Events

• Community Events

• Business Events

Major Events

Major events that will boost tourism and support local businesses are encouraged to seek support of between $5,000 and $10,000, for an event that will be held in the region before October 31, 2020.

Examples of ways the Major Events funding can be used include:

- Marketing support to promote the event to visitors living outside the Snowy Valleys Region

- Shuttle buses to and from the event from major centres including Wagga, Albury and Canberra.

- Event infrastructure to increase capacity such as power, water stations, tables, chairs, food vendors, fencing.

- Infrastructure to allow a town or area to accommodate more people overnight.

- Securing a major artist, performer or keynote speaker that will attract a bigger audience.

- Event management and coordination to reduce the burden on communities and volunteers.

Community Events

Community events that will support community and neighborhood strengthening can apply for up to $2,500 in funding to support an event that will be held in the region before October 31, 2020. 

Examples of ways the Community Events funding can be used include:

- Venue hire and event infrastructure to increase capacity such as power, water stations, tables, chairs, food vendors, fencing.

- Securing a performer or keynote speaker, including covering travel and accommodation costs.

- Event management and coordination to reduce the burden on communities and volunteers.

Business Events

Business events that will support business development including attracting a keynote speaker or hosting a conference/workshop can apply for up to $5,000 in funding to support an event that will be held in the region before October 31, 2020.

Examples of ways the Business Events funding can be used include:

- Engaging a business development expert or organisation to curate and coordinate the event.

- Securing a keynote speaker that will attract a bigger audience, including covering travel and accommodation costs.

- Venue hire and event infrastructure to increase capacity such as power, water stations, tables, chairs, food vendors, fencing.

- Event management and coordination to reduce the burden on communities and volunteers.

How to Apply

Event owners/committees should contact either Destination Riverina Murray or the tourism and events team at Snowy Valleys Council to discuss their event and the proposal for funding support.

Events will then be encouraged to submit a short proposal along with any supporting documentation. The proposal will then be considered by the Snowy Valleys Tourism and Business

Bushfire sub-committee and a recommendation will then be made to the Snowy Valleys Council CEO regarding the funding.

The process is designed to be quick and easy, with an aim to assess and notify the event owner of the outcome within 14 days of making the submission. The step-by-step process is outlined in the following section.

Contact for Questions

Evan Saunders, Event Activation Officer, Snowy Valleys Council

E: esaunders@svc.nsw.gov.au

P: 0438 566 542

Richie Robinson, General Manager, Destination Riverina Murray

E: richie.robinson@destinationrm.com.au

P: 0418 439 202

Bridge Hub 2020 Water Challenge

Craig Shapiro, Co-CEO and Founder, The Bridge Hub

Identifying water problems the first step to finding solutions

●       Bridge Hub 2020 Water Challenge aims to solve water problems and help drought-proof Australia

●       Ambitious Challenge program starts with problem identification

●       Cash prizes for the most compelling problems – entries open now

While debate around water policy continues, Bridge Hub is working on finding practical solutions to water problems in Australia and around the world, and it is starting by calling on people across Australia to help decide where to focus first.

Bridge Hub is an agrifood tech innovation hub for the Australian and global agri-food tech industry with offices in Wagga Wagga, Sydney and Israel. It has deeply established relationships in the well-established Israeli innovation ecosystem as it seeks to create commercialisation pathways to bring great ideas and research to market.

It is about to launch the 2020 Water Challenge, which aims to identify and commercialise promising research and new technology that will allow the agriculture and food production sector to be smarter with its use of water.

Ahead of the 2020 Water Challenge, Bridge Hub is crowd-sourcing input on its problem statements, so that it can ensure the projects it supports will have real impact where it’s most needed.

 “We want to identify the problems that, if solved, will have a measurable and positive impact on drought proofing the Australian and global agrisystem,” Bridge Hub Co-CEO Craig Shapiro says.

“As the drought continues and following the devastation of the recent bushfires and floods, there is much discussion around water and how we make changes now that can ease the impact of future events.”

At the evokeAG conference in February Bridge Hub ran a challenge wall for delegates to submit their answers to the question ‘if you had access to the brightest minds in the world, what water problem would you ask them to solve?’

The number and depth of responses was described as ‘amazing’. Problems ranging from evaporation, water runoff and the lack of wastewater use to the energy costs to pump water were just a few of those put forward.

“We’re excited to see what other problems we can identify now we’ve broadened the call for problem submissions. Ensuring we get different perspectives is critical to making sure we’re solving the right problems,” Craig says.

Four prizes of A$1,000 each will be awarded for the submission of problems that, if solved, would have the greatest impact on the agrisystem.

Once the problem statements are decided, the Water Challenge will be officially launched in late March. Researchers, start-ups and students will have the opportunity to submit their solutions, with cash prizes, investment and funding for trials of at least A$150,000 to be awarded to the best applicants.

Problems can be submitted until March 15, when the challenge will move into the next phase of finding solutions.

“We’re excited to see what problems come from the people who live with water challenges every day. We know there are solutions out there – identifying the right problems to solve is just the start,” Craig says.

Sharing a problem is easy. Just visit https://thebridgehub.co/problem and complete a brief entry form.

Skills Shortage Survey to help region better plan for the future

Understanding the skills needs of employers and other issues they encounter when trying to find workers is vital to the prosperity of the region but, until now, quantitative data has been lacking. 

To better understand these issues, Regional Development Australia (RDA) Riverina in partnership with Charles Sturt University is this week embarking on research to identify skills shortages in the Riverina.

As RDA Riverina CEO and Director of Regional Development Rachel Whiting explains, a skills shortage happens when demand for workers with particular skills or training outstrips the supply of qualified workers available to fill those job vacancies.

“RDA Riverina and Charles Sturt have put together a survey to collect crucial data into skills shortages in the Riverina and we are inviting business owners and recruitment managers across the region to complete the survey.

“This research will provide much needed data into the current and future skills shortages in our region and will help educational institutions, businesses, organisations and government plan for our region’s future, so it’s important that businesses complete this survey so we get a robust data set.”

For the purposes of this research, the Riverina is the region represented by RDA Riverina and includes the following local government areas: Bland Shire Council, Carrathool Shire Council, Coolamon Shire Council, Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council, Griffith City Council, Hay Shire Council, Junee Shire Council, Leeton Shire Council, Lockhart Shire Council, Murrumbidgee Council, Narrandera Shire Council, Snowy Valleys Council, Temora Shire Council and Wagga Wagga City Council.

Initiated by RDA Riverina, this research is co-funded by RDA Riverina and Charles Sturt University through the AgriPark Seed Fund. The survey is open until Friday April 3rd.

FIAL announces $500,000 Black Summer Innovation Fund

FIAL announces $500,000 fund to support food and agribusiness innovation

Food Innovation Australia Limited (FIAL) has announced its Black Summer Innovation Fund - providing $500,000 to support innovation in Australian food and agribusinesses impacted by recent events. 

The Black Summer Innovation Fund aims to encourage food and agribusinesses to think differently about their challenges, using innovation to supercharge their business.

Businesses will be provided with up to $25,000, and the opportunity to partner with technical experts and researchers, to unlock commercially relevant innovation opportunities. 

Find out more. 

Australian Regional Development Conference invites applications from speakers

The Australian Regional Development Conference is seeking applications from industry professionals who are interested in presenting.

Share your insight on projects, developments or lessons learned in growing your regional area and facilitate connections to continue advancing your community.

Applying is easy: Here’s what you need to do:

1. Access the submission portal: Click here

2. Provide your presentation title (10-word limit)  

3. Select your topic and presentation style (as listed on the website)

4. Provide a 300-word abstract/presentation brief

5. Include a 100-word biography

6. Specify 3 x key learnings delegates would take away from your presentation

7. Include any past speaking experience

Presenter submissions close Friday 24th April.

For full details visit the website here. 

Call for EOIs to host 2021 NSW Rural Women's Gathering

Expressions of interest to host the 2021 NSW Rural Women’s Gathering are now open!

If your rural or regional community has:

• a group of committed women

• the capacity to host such an event

• can demonstrate community support

This could be a fantastic opportunity to meet with other women who may share similar issues, interests, goals and dreams.

About the NSW Rural Women’s Gathering

Women’s Gathering weekends are organised by the host community for all rural women across the state supported by guidance and training from the NSW DPI’s Rural Women’s Network. Local committees make key decisions; develop a theme and the weekend program to reflect the culture, industry, tourism and environment unique to their community.

Who are they for

Women’s Gatherings are for ALL rural women including farming women; Aboriginal women, women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; mining women, women in the fishing industry, women who live in regional cities, towns and villages and coastal women.

Support from the Rural Women’s Network

The RWN will provide the successful Gathering Committee with a comprehensive event kit and face-to-face committee/governance training to help you plan a successful event. We are also available to assist with any issues or concerns that may arise during the planning of a Gathering and can provide advice, support and information and contacts from past gathering committees.

Submissions to host the 2021 Gathering close 30 April 2020. For more information contact Rural Women’s Network on 02 6391 3620, email: rural.women@dpi.nsw.gov.au or see: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/rwn

The 2020 Rural Women's Gathering will be hosted by the community of Forbes from 23-25 October.

Smash the start-up journey: free masterclass

Masterclass Presenter, Ben Grozier, Founder/CEO ClassCover app

Charles Sturt University Innovations Hubs proudly presents:

'Smash the startup journey: A free Masterclass Series for COEs (Chiefs of Everything)!'

If you're an entrepreneur, launching a startup or running your own business, these workshops will take you and your business to the next level.

Charles Sturt University Innovation Hubs is excited to be kicking off the 2020 pop-up regional tour: Smash the startup journey: A free Masterclass Series for COEs (Chiefs of Everything)!

The first of four workshops will be hosted by Founder of ClassCover app, Ben Grozier, in Wagga Wagga.

Masterclass #1: 'Set for success - Develop your mindset to get where you want to go' will be held on Tuesday March 31st 2020.  One-on-one mentoring is also available (limited places).

For more information and to register: https://bit.ly/2uz9ZFY

All Wagga Masterclasses for 2020:

  *   Masterclass 1: Set for success

Develop your mindset to get where you want to go (registrations now open --> https://bit.ly/2uz9ZFY ) Tuesday 31st March, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga campus

  *   Masterclass 2: Outside of the Square - Strategic Ideation.  Learning to think differently and innovate to smash your business goals. (registrations opening soon)

Wednesday 6th May, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga campus

  *   Masterclass 3: Make it fly!  Become the COE (Chief of Everything): how to wear all those hats (registrations opening soon)

Tuesday 4th August, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga campus

  *   Masterclass 4: Know Who You Are for Startup Success: the power of your personality, emotional intelligence and mindful leadership defines your success. (registrations opening soon)

Wednesday 14th October, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga campus

Sign up to get notified about all the Founder Masterclasses in Wagga Wagga - go here —> https://bit.ly/2wriByN

Bushfire Recovery Information for Small Business: Bushfire Regional Roadshow in the Snowy Valleys

Small businesses affected by the bushfires in regional NSW are invited to attend an information session as part of the NSW Government's Bushfire Regional Roadshow. Government agencies will come together to share information on the kind of support available such as eligibility criteria for grants and disaster assistance for directly and indirectly affected businesses.

Topics include:

• Small Business Bushfire Recovery Grant

• Disaster assistance

• Volunteer Firefighter Payment

• NSW Bushfire Clean Up

• Upskilling your business

• Part qualification funding

• Business Connect

• Workplace Mental Health

The workshops will take place in the following Snowy Valleys locations:

Adelong

Monday 24th February 6pm

Adelong Services and Citizens Club Ltd, Adelong

Tickets

Tumut

Tuesday 25th February 6pm

Club Tumut, Tumut

Tickets

Batlow

Wednesday 26th February 6pm

Batlow RSL Club, Batlow

Tickets

Tumbarumba

Thursday 27th February 6pm

Tumbarumba Bowls, Tumbarumba

Tickets

NSW Bushfire Clean-Up Program

Project Details

The NSW Government has appointed Laing O’Rourke to coordinate the clean-up of fire damaged residential and eligible commercial properties. This includes both insured and uninsured properties.

The clean-up of bushfire-impacted properties may include:

• Removal of known hazardous materials, including asbestos

• Removal of materials destroyed by bush fire and hazardous trees

• With consent of building owners, removal of concrete slab foundations. 

Laing O'Rourke will work with local subcontractors and regional small businesses to ensure they are engaged in the delivery of the clean-up process – providing much-needed stimulus to local economies.

A number of offices, including two regional hubs in Northern and Southern NSW, will be established. Regional satellite offices will be located across the State, with project teams who will interact with property owners, the community and the local supply chain to manage the works on the ground. Work will be progressively undertaken on the North Coast, South Coast, Snowy Monaro, Snowy Valleys and other impacted communities across the State.

Laing O’Rourke is looking to engage local suppliers and subcontractors and would like to hear from anyone that may have capability and capacity to provide goods and/or services in affected regions. Through the duration of these works, Laing O’Rourke will be undertaking a number of information sessions with the local supply chain and communities to continue to provide updates about the program.

How to register an Expression of Interest

• This is an initial, general EOI submission and work packages currently available to submit an EOI for are listed below.

• Shortlisted SMEs will be invited to tender work packages.

• To submit an initial EOI for the Work Scopes, companies must have an ICN Gateway company profile. Information on how to register your company on ICN Gateway is detailed below.

ICN Gateway Company Registration

• Click here to register your FREE company profile on ICN Gateway.

• Support and assistance is available through the attached Gateway guide.

• Your company summary and company description are used to assess your ability to complete projects when you lodge an EOI- please ensure that your company invests the time and energy required to represent your company in the most effective manner possible.

Rates relief for bushfire-affected communities

The NSW Government will cover the full cost of council rates for people who lost their homes and small businesses in the bushfires.

The full cost of council rates will be covered for the next six months, which includes the third and fourth quarters of the 2019-20 financial year.

To have the payment covered, residents and small business owners will need to take their council rates notice to their local Service NSW centre(external link). Anyone who has already paid their rates will receive a refund.

More than 2400 homes have been lost during the recent bushfires in NSW.

Find out about the financial assistance available for bushfire-affected communities

Local financial advice the key to recovery

The state’s peak business organisation, the NSW Business Chamber, says the long term survival of many small businesses devastated by the bushfire crisis is reliant on local knowledge and tailored advice.
 

“That’s why the Chamber is calling on the Federal and NSW Governments, and the official charities, to direct some of its already committed funding toward the provision of vouchers so that small businesses can get financial advice from their local accountant on the best way to recover and rebuild,” said NSW Business Chamber Chief Executive Stephen Cartwright.

“While business owners and their employees are grateful for everything the Governments have been able to provide to date, what they desperately need is tailored advice from local advisors that are already familiar with their circumstances, and not a generic anonymous call centre,” Mr Cartwright said.

“Recent estimates suggest around 26,000 businesses in NSW have suffered direct or indirect impacts from the bushfires, and providing them with a voucher to spend with their existing financial adviser or accountant will not only keep the money in their community, but ensure a localised recovery.

“These business owners have been through incredible trauma and right now they need to be dealing with familiar and trusted faces, and not getting advice on the future of their business from someone hundreds of kilometres away with no feel for the business or their local community.

“There are multiple advantages about using local knowledge to help these businesses get back on their feet as quickly as possible, but the primary reason is that the local advisors know what is possible for each of the businesses and they can advise accordingly, with a full understanding of the business owner’s circumstances, as well as the local economy, demography and consumer sentiment.

“A $500 voucher for each of the impacted businesses to spend with their existing financial adviser on their recovery plan would provide enormous relief to these business owners who don’t know where to start rebuilding their business and continuing to employ members of their community. The local financial advisers can also assist the small business owners to access the right information to apply for any loans or grants that might be available to them.

“There’s been a lot of talk about using local trade workers in the rebuilding of towns, and this is a move that the NSW Business Chamber totally supports, but it is just as important that the small businesses which support these local economies can have speedy access to their local professional services providers so that they can develop their own tailored recovery plan,” Mr Cartwright said.

Now’s The Time To Love NSW – $10 million tourism recovery package to rebuild NSW

NSW tourism will receive a welcome boost through a Tourism Recovery package to encourage visitation to NSW, fund new local events and assist tourism businesses to develop, promote and sell their tourism products.

The first phase of the plan launches with a new community-driven campaign – Now’s The Time To Love NSW – urging travellers to book a getaway which gives back.

Minister for Jobs, Investment and Tourism Stuart Ayres said the new campaign, developed by the state’s tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, taps into the outpouring of public support in the wake of the bushfires.

“The prolonged drought and unprecedented bushfires have broken our hearts and had a devastating impact on thousands of tourism operators in our beautiful state,” Mr Ayres said.

“That’s why now’s the time to love NSW – we need to show the world that our many spectacular sights and experiences are in great shape, and they’re welcoming visitors right now.”

To kickstart the campaign, people are being invited to take a #RecoveryWeekend in NSW, stay and spend locally, take photos showcasing NSW featuring hands in the shape of a heart and share them on social media with the tag #LoveNSW generating authentic, real-time imagery of NSW’s many holiday destinations.

The recovery package was informed by input from the tourism industry, tourism associations and the Destination Networks and will target domestic and international markets.

“Recovery will take time and the NSW Government is here for the long haul. This $10 million will provide immediate help and set up long-term support for the industry to help businesses get back on their feet,” Minister Ayres said.

Federal Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham said with one in 13 Australians relying on tourism and hospitality for their jobs, it was important to holiday here this year and help the industry get back on its feet.

“Australia’s tourism industry has taken a massive hit. Right across Australia tourism businesses, including in NSW are feeling the pressure as tourists delay or cancel their travel plans, even in many areas that haven’t been affected,” Minister Birmingham said.

“That’s why we’re backing this campaign through our $20 million domestic tourism commitment to get Aussies into fire-affected communities as they open up again, as well into unaffected tourism towns that are also feeling the pinch.

“I urge Australians to support our tourism businesses and save local jobs by booking a trip in NSW this year.”

In addition to Now’s The Time To Love NSW marketing campaign, the package includes trade partner conversion campaigns with Qantas Airways, Accor, Webjet, TripAdvisor and Tigerair and a $1 million regional events program to support flagship events and a new stream of micro events.

Now’s The Time To Love NSW builds on and complements Tourism Australia’s recently launched Holiday Here This Year domestic tourism campaign and is funded by both State and Federal investments.

Learn how to take your skills to a new career in supply chain

Supply Chain Fundamentals Course

Deakin University's Centre for Supply Chain and Logistics (CSCL) in conjunction with Wayfinder, and supported by Regional Development Australia Riverina, is offering a complimentary and practical half-day course in Supply Chain Fundamentals. 

This course is aimed at many people including school leavers, university graduates, people considering a career change, migrants, unemployed people, and parents/carers returning to work. 

Courses will be held in the following locations:

Wagga Wagga
18th March 2020
9am - 1pm
Register


Griffith
19th March 2020
9am - 1pm
Register

Course Overview
Organised into six key themes, the Supply Chain Fundamentals session has been designed to be informative, engaging and interactive. It covers the most important supply chain concepts and presents key ideas that will help you understand what this field is all about.

Key Outcomes
You will learn about the exciting career opportunities and advancement pathways in this crucial and growing sector. By the end of this course, you will have gained an understanding of key concepts and developments in supply chain management, and why they matter for businesses and society.

COURSE OUTLINE
This half-day program starts by explaining what a supply chain is and how it makes our modern lives possible. It takes you through the basic functions and flows of a supply chain, and a discussion of why managing real-life supply chains can be a complex, challenging but crucial task. Additional topics covered include the basic trade-offs in supply chain management, modern ethics considerations, and an overview of the emerging technologies that promise to underpin the supply chains of tomorrow.
Duration: 4 hours

KEY TOPICS
• What is a supply chain, and why it matters
• Basic flows and trade-offs in a supply chain
• A taste of supply chain theory
• What makes managing a supply chain difficult
• Do no harm: the ethics of supply chain management
• The new frontier: emerging technologies
• Growing demand for skills across a wide range of disciplines
• Transferable skills that can pave the way to a supply chain career

NSW Business Chamber launches #BackingTheBush campaign

The NSW Business Chamber has launched its new campaign to help communities suffering from the impacts of bushfire and drought.

The campaign, Backing The Bush is a website where companies of all sizes can pledge their promise to hold a board, management or staff meeting in one of the impacted areas between now and the end of 2020.

The support from corporate Australia to the bushfire and drought relief efforts has been outstanding, and this initiative is the next step to sustain small businesses, and their staff, in these areas - especially during what is their quiet time.

While cash donations have been received with great thanks, the next practical move is for companies to hold meetings normally scheduled for Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong or interstate in one of these impacted towns.

This will help businesses of all sizes; from accommodation venues, to caterers, cleaners, newsagents and local restaurants and cafes – everyone in the town benefits.

Since the idea was floated among corporate Australia last week, dozens of companies such as QANTAS, KPMG, Deloitte, the National Rugby League, BlueScope and the University of Sydney have already signed the pledge.
 
Accordingly, the Board of the NSW Business Chamber has pledged to hold their May State Council meeting on the NSW South Coast – a two day event for more than 60 people.

Many in business have watched the crises unfold, feeling at times helpless, but now there is a practical and real way to assist these communities.
 
To help raise awareness of this campaign and to increase the business opportunities for the communities affected, the NSW Business Chamber is actively encouraging its members to support the campaign by taking the pledge; using  #BackingTheBush across social channels when pledging, and also when meetings are held.

State Government 'One-stop Shop' for bushfire affected communities

Bushfire affected families can now access all available assistance in one place with the NSW Government creating a ‘one stop shop’ for local, State and Federal support.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the new Bushfire Customer Care Program, delivered by Service NSW, will simplify the application process for those impacted by bushfires.

“These bushfires have devastated communities and livelihoods. People’s lives are already stressful enough, which is why we have created this new service to cut through red tape and help people get the support they need as quickly as possible,” Ms Cooke said.

“Once a specialist has identified eligible assistance across all layers of government, they will then do the heavy lifting to make it happen.

“This service will also meet another emerging need, by matching people with the many charities which have raised money from generous Australians.”

Service NSW is working in partnership with fellow state agencies, local government and the Australian Government.

The Customer Care specialists will operate like case managers and connect bushfire affected customers with services and support information including:

·         Accommodation advice;

·         Relevant charitable services;

·         Mental health and wellbeing services;

·         Support for businesses;

·         Clean-up services;

·         Financial assistance;

·         Insurance and legal support;

·         Replacing lost ID; and

·         Volunteer RFS and SES payments.

Ms Cooke said the specialists will also assist business owners who have been hit hard.

“Businesses are often the lifeblood of a community and we are here to help owners and operators get back on their feet,” Ms Cooke said.

To connect with a Customer Care specialist call Service NSW between 7am and 7pm on 13 77 88. The Contact Centre hours have been extended to include weekends while communities recover.

Information about the Customer Care service is also available in Service NSW Centres, NSW Recovery Centres and Mobile Service Centres in affected regions.

Further information is available at www.service.nsw.gov.au.

Applications Open: Agrifutures Honey Bee and Pollination Program Advisory Panel

AgriFutures Australia is seeking applications from suitably qualified individuals for an advisory panel member to join the AgriFutures™ Honey Bee & Pollination Program Advisory Panel.

The Advisory Panel consists of people with a range of skills and experience in the research, farming and processing sectors of the honey bee and pollination industry, together with a representative from AgriFutures Australia.  The Advisory Panel, in partnership with AgriFutures Australia, provides recommendations on the allocation of research, development and extension funding for the AgriFutures™ Honey Bee and Pollination Program. Advisory Panel members will be expected to prioritise and attend four panel meetings each calendar year. These are held in varying locations at the discretion of the program manager and the advisory panel.

Advisory Panel Member roles / responsibilities

The key functions of the AgriFutures Australia Honey Bee & Pollination Advisory Panel is to:

• Advise AgriFutures Australia on the current state of the industry, and its RD&E requirements

• Provide recommendations on short-listed research applications consistent with the research priorities identified in the AgriFutures™ Honey Bee & Pollination Five Year RD&E Plan

• Advise on and assist with the dissemination, adoption and commercialisation of R&D

• Encourage industry voluntary contributions and co-investment by other stakeholders to support industry RD&E.

As part of the application process applicants will be required to outline relevant experience in the Australian agricultural sector and expected contribution to the Advisory Panel. Applicants are also required to provide details of two referees.

Submissions close 12 noon (AEDT), Wednesday, 12 February 2020

Apply now

Rebuilding Australian Tourism

Tourism businesses and fire-affected communities around the country will receive much needed support from the Morrison Government’s National Bushfire Recovery Fund today through an initial $76 million tourism recovery package to protect jobs, small businesses and local economies by helping get tourists travelling across Australia again.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Government was throwing its support behind the country’s $152 billion tourism industry as part of an initial push to help the sector recover after a devastating blow from unprecedented bushfires.

“Our federal response to these devastating bushfires is comprehensive and unprecedented,” the Prime Minister said.

“More than 6000 defence boots on the ground, more than $50 million in emergency payments already in hand and more to come, $76 million in new mental health support to first responders and local communities, $50 million to support wildlife recovery and habitat restoration, $75,000 grants to our farmers to help them rebuild, and now surging our support for our all-important tourism industry. It’s all part of a clear plan to lead our response to the recovery driven by our National Bushfire Recovery Agency.

“Australian tourism is facing its biggest challenge in living memory.

“One in thirteen Australian jobs rely on tourism and hospitality so our $76 million investment is an urgent injection to help all those hotels, restaurants and cafes and tour operators get back on their feet.

“This is make or break for many businesses and tourist hot spots and not just in those areas directly hit by the bushfires.

“This is about getting more visitors to help keep local businesses alive and protect local jobs right across the country and especially in those areas so directly devastated such as Kangaroo Island and the Adelaide Hills, the Blue Mountains and right along the NSW Coast and East Gippsland in Victoria.

“We’ve heard directly from local operators, industry leaders, communities and the states and territories. Their message is to act now and that is exactly what we are doing. And we’ll be working closely with them all to deliver on our recovery plan to get these regions back up and running.”

The Government’s initial tourism recovery package responds directly to calls from the tourism sector and includes $20 million for a nationally coordinated domestic marketing initiative and $25 million for a global marketing campaign to drive international visitation.

A further $10 million will be provided for a regional tourism events initiative across bushfire affected areas, $9.5 million for an international media and travel trade hosting initiative, $6.5 million to support tourism business’ attendance at the largest annual tourism trade event, the Australian Tourism Exchange, and $5 million for our diplomatic network to educate that our tourism, international education and export sectors are open for business.

Federal Minister for Tourism Simon Birmingham said the funding boost would help get tourists back into areas that need it most but also make it clear that Australia is very much open for business.

“Tourism is the lifeblood of so many communities around Australia and it’s absolutely critical that we help to get people back visiting those communities that rely on tourism,” Minister Birmingham said.

“These bushfires have dealt the biggest reputational blow to our tourism industry that it has ever faced internationally. Losses caused by cancellations and collapsing booking numbers stretch well beyond those communities directly affected by fire into the many Australian towns that rely on international visitors to sustain tourism jobs.

“My message to anyone thinking about a holiday – from here or overseas – is that Australia’s towns and our incredible parks and beaches are open for business and they need your help.

“Just as it will be a long and challenging process for communities as they rebuild from fires, it will also take time and sustained effort to recover from the saturation media coverage and mistruths told online that have scared potential visitors away, including from parts of Australia that remain completely unaffected by fire.

“We will break from the practice of Tourism Australia exclusively focusing on international visitors and urgently kick off a local campaign because Australians are best placed to immediately understand that most of our country remains as safe to visit as ever.

“Tourism Australia will work with all states to upscale their existing and planned efforts to increase tourism visitation. This will include support for efforts in both bushfire affected regions and elsewhere. We understand acutely that regions that neighbour bushfire affected regions as well as the broader national tourism sector have been impacted by this crisis.

“Australians have shown enormous compassion towards fire affected communities and donated in record sums. For those who can, the next best way to help fire affected and other tourism dependent towns is to make a booking for a short break, visiting these towns and helping to sustain their small businesses and local jobs.

“Our international marketing campaign and extensive hosting of international media or travel trade partners will demonstrate to the world that Australia is very much open for business, that we maintain incredible tourism experiences in every state and territory and explain the regeneration that the Australian bush goes through after bushfires.

“I assure Australia’s tourism industry that we will work with them through this tough time to ensure visitors once again flow into our nation, supporting jobs for hundreds of thousands of Australians.”

This initiative forms part of the Morrison Government’s initial $2 billion National Bushfire Recovery Fund.

Further information

Domestic marketing campaign

The Government will provide $20 million for a domestic tourism marketing campaign to tap into the Australian desire to contribute to the recovery effort by encouraging Aussies to holiday in Australia and provide support to affected communities and regions. Tourism Australia will work with the states, territories and industry partners to maximise coordination and impact.

International marketing campaign

In addition to redeploying Tourism Australia’s existing marketing budget and campaigns, an initial $25 million will be provided for an international tourism marketing campaign to reinforce to global audiences that Australia is safe and open for business. The campaign will partner with industry to encourage direct bookings to Australian travel destinations. We will also be working extensively with international travel partners and providers to rebuild visitation or bookings lost over recent month.

Regional tourism events initiative

$10 million in funding will be provided for bespoke events, concerts, festivals and/or other permanent visitor attractions (such as art installations and tourists walks etc.) in fire affected regions to assist the recovery effort. The aim is to create new attractions in fire affected areas that celebrate what’s unique about that local community that not only gives visitors a reason to come back, but provides the community with a positive focus and opportunity to strengthen its identity in the wake of the fire. Funding will be provided to the worst affected areas, which will be informed by consultation with the National Bushfire Recovery Agency. It will provide grants of up to $1 million per project, with the aim of supporting around 10 projects across the worst affected areas.

International Media Hosting

Through Tourism Australia’s International Media Hosting Program, the government will also provide $9.5 million to bring international media outlets, leading international television shows and print media to Australia, and conduct industry familiarisation visits to experience firsthand the fact that most of Australia is unaffected by fires and open for business, and create urgency among Australia’s key markets to visit Australia now. 

Australian Tourism Exchange

Tourism Australia will receive $6.5 million to get more businesses and buyers to the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) in 2020 by discounting fees and creating new incentive structures. Run by Tourism Australia, ATE is Australia’s largest annual travel and tourism business-to-business event. ATE brings together Australian tourism businesses and tourism wholesalers and retailers from around the world through a combination of scheduled business appointments and networking events. It also provides international travel buyers with the opportunity to experience Australia’s tourism offering first-hand through pre and post event familiarisations. ATE delivers between $5.5 - $8.5 billion in international sales to the Australia’s tourism industry across 30 countries.

Mobilising the global network

The government will also immediately provide a $5 million boost to ensure Australia’s diplomatic network has the resources to reassure our international partners that our tourism, international education and export sectors are open for business. This support will include the mobilisation of specialists in priority locations, additional communications materials (including translation costs) and an expanded public diplomacy effort. The government will keep this support under review and provide additional resources if necessary.

Immediate Small Business support for bushfire affected communities

In response to the devastating bushfires, the Morrison Government has today announced a comprehensive suite of measures to immediately support impacted small businesses. 

This initial package responds to the needs expressed by small businesses on the ground and at the small business roundtable last week which saw chambers of commerce from fire affected regions, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia come together with the Government to discuss the impacts of this natural disaster on small business. 

This comprehensive package will make it easier for those who have suffered direct fire damage, or have been indirectly economically impacted following the bushfires, to get back on their feet.

This package deals with the challenges we know small businesses in these areas are facing, and will continue to face. Our immediate priorities for small businesses include grant funding, concessional loans, tax relief, a dedicated and single contact point to help them access the support that is available, and financial counselling services that are targeted to help small and family business owners deal with the emotional and financial challenges they face.

Grant funding

To build on the disaster recovery grants put in place by state governments, the Federal Government will provide top-up grants to eligible small businesses and non-profit organisations under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. 

This program is uncapped and means that businesses and organisations that have sustained damage as a result of the fires can access up to $50,000 in grant funding (tax free). 

Concessional loans 

As well as extra support announced already for families and communities to help keep spending in local stores, the Federal Government wants to ensure small businesses have cashflow to run their operations.

The Federal Government will boost the value and concessions for small business loans, also on offer to farmers, primary producers and non-profit organisations, under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

To provide maximum flexibility for eligible businesses, loans of up to $500,000 will be offered for businesses that have suffered significant asset loss or a significant loss of revenue. The loan would be for up to 10 years and used for the purposes of restoring or replacing damaged assets and for working capital.

The loans will be available with a repayment holiday of up to two years, with no interest accruing during this period. The subsequent interest rate would be set at 50 per cent of the ten-year Commonwealth government bond rate (currently around 0.6%). 

The Government will be seeking the agreement of the states to provide these loans under harmonised, consistent terms and eligibility criteria.

Dedicated, single contact point 

The Government will deliver $3.5 million to establish the Small Business Bushfire Financial Support Line as well as to fund 10 additional financial counsellors with the ability to provide advice to around 100 small businesses a day.

We want to ensure small businesses have access to the information that they need, when they need it. The Support Line will be staffed by small business specialist financial counsellors who will be able to provide information on the assistance and support available to small businesses in bushfire affected regions. 

The Support Line, which will be staffed by trained financial counsellors, will provide information on the assistance and support available to small businesses in bushfire affected regions.

While the specialist Support Line is being established, businesses can visit www.business.gov.au or call 13 28 46.

The Commonwealth will also provide support as required to Recovery Centres that are being established by the states in fire-impacted regions. These Centres will be a one-stop-shop for small business owners and operators to ensure they have access to immediate expert support.

Local economic development plans

The Federal Government will work with local and state governments, business groups and other community organisations to develop Local Economic Recovery Plans. 

These plans will be locally developed and locally-led to ensure the focus in each community is on the infrastructure and assets they need to rebuild.

Tax relief

The Commissioner of Taxation has agreed to provide a range of assistance measures to businesses in identified bushfire-impacted postcodes to help to alleviate cash flow pressures and assist these businesses with their recovery efforts. 

In particular, taxpayers in impacted postcodes will now have until 28 May 2020 to lodge and pay business activity statements and income tax returns. Impacted businesses that pay their Pay-As-You-Go Instalments quarterly are also allowed to vary these instalments to zero for the December 2019 quarter and claim a refund for any instalments made in the September 2019 quarter. 

These measures will assist small businesses with much-needed cashflow support during this difficult time.

ABC Heywire Competition Winners Announced

Zoe McLaren from Temora, winner of Heywire

image from abc.net.au

What is Heywire?

Heywire puts young Australians at the centre of the conversations that shape their communities.

The ABC has run the annual regional youth project in partnership with the Australian Government since 1998.

The ABC Heywire Competition

The annual Heywire cycle begins with a storytelling competition - open to people aged 16-22, living in regional or rural Australia. Heywire encourages young people to tell stories about their life outside the major cities in text, photo, video or audio format. Over the past 17 years more than 9,000 young Australians have taken part.

More About The Heywire Competition

Young Regional Australians on the ABC

Each year, every ABC regional station selects a winning Heywire Competition entry to represent their part of Australia. The young winners work with ABC staff to produce their story to be featured on ABC Radio and abc.net.au. Heywire stories are renowned for their honesty and for giving us a window on the lives of young people in regional Australia.

This year Zoe McLaren from Temora is a winner from our region. Congratulations Zoe!

See Zoe’s story here

The Heywire Regional Youth Summit

Competition winners also score an all-expenses-paid trip to the Heywire Summit, designed to ensure their voices are heard in Canberra and around the nation. Over the week participants undertake leadership workshops and meet with members of parliament, government departments and community leaders. The 'Heywirers' work together in teams to develop ideas aimed at improving the lives of young people in regional Australia. The ideas are presented at Parliament House in front of an esteemed panel.

More about the summit