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Flood assistance for business |
Natural disaster assistance is available to eligible small businesses and primary producers in areas that have been declared natural disaster zones by the Minister for Emergency Services. Full details of the assistance available, along with contact numbers, guidelines and application forms, are available from the Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority (QRAA) website or by contacting QRAA on 1800 623 946.
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Tax obligations for businesses affected by floods |
The ATO has announced that it can assist taxpayers who are affected by the recent floods in Queensland by:
- fast tracking refunds;
- giving extra time to pay debts – without interest charges;
- giving more time to meet BAS and other lodgement obligations – without penalties; and
- helping reconstruct tax records where documents have been destroyed.
Further information is available from the ATO website.
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Easier tax compliance for small business |
The ATO has announced a number of changes to make it easier for small business to comply with tax laws.
These changes include:
- a new look income tax 'notice of assessment' with improved layout and information - showing all income tax, FBT, penalty and interest information;
- a new business portal in 2009;
- a simplified digital certificate process;
- a more personal approach – including the small business assistance program, where tax officers visit new and established businesses, on request, to help them with their tax obligations; and
- access to new online tools for employers, such as a decision tool to help employers work out if their employees are contractors or employees, and calculators to help employers work out the correct amount of superannuation guarantee for their employees.
For further information visit the ATO website.
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Commerce Queensland meets with Minister for Small Business |
As part of our ongoing commitment to foster good working relationships with all levels of government, Commerce Queensland has met with Craig Emerson, Federal Minister for Small Business, Independent Contractors and the Service Economy.
Topics discussed at the meeting included skills, infrastructure, taxation and Industrial Relations. The Minister advised Commerce Queensland of his intention to convene a small business advisory group to deal with the proposed changes to unfair dismissal legislation.
For further information regarding this meeting contact Paul Bidwell, General Manager Policy & Membership, on (07) 3842 2237 or email pbidwell@commerceqld.com.au.
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Inflation hits 3 per cent for year to December |
The latest inflation figures show that prices increased by three per cent in the year to December. Underlying inflation, which is a more representative measure of price pressures, increased by 3.6 per cent over the year. This is also the inflation measure that the Reserve Bank (RBA) takes greater notice of.
The most significant contributors to the increase this quarter were automotive fuel (up 7.3 per cent), deposit and loan facilities (up 2.7 per cent), house purchase (up 1.3 per cent), rents (up 1.6 per cent), domestic holiday travel and accommodation (up 3.7 per cent) and other financial services (up 1.9 per cent).
For further information view the full report on the ABS website.
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Government strategy to fight inflation
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Prime Minister Rudd has indicated that inflation is a key risk to the economy and announced a five point plan to reduce inflationary pressures. The plan includes the following measures:
- Embarking on a hardline approach to fiscal discipline - delivering a budget surplus of at least 1.5 per cent of GDP in 2008-09, provided growth prospects remain as currently anticipated;
- Examining all options to provide real incentive to encourage private savings;
- Tackling chronic skill shortages in the economy;
- Providing national leadership to tackle infrastructure bottlenecks; and
- Providing practical ways of helping people re-enter the workforce.
A copy of Prime Minister Rudd's speech is available from the Prime Minister's website.
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State Purchasing Policy changes come into effect
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The Queensland Government's recent changes to the State Purchasing Policy came into effect on 1 January 2008. While Commerce Queensland supports some of the changes, we have concerns about the Government's attempts to use procurement policy to influence the lawful employment relationships within private businesses through the application of a yet-to-be-developed 'Fair Treatment Protocol'.
Under the proposal, suppliers tendering for government contracts will be subject to a 'no disadvantage' test. The test will require suppliers to demonstrate that staff and contractors employed on AWAs suffer no financial disadvantage when compared to pre-WorkChoices agreements.
For further information or to provide feedback on the proposed changes to the State Purchasing Policy contact Sarah Kearney, Senior Policy Advisor, on (07) 3842 2253 or email skearney@commerceqld.com.au.
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Workplace Relations Transitional Bill - Stage 1 |
The Rudd government proposes to introduce legislation amending workplace relations laws as soon as parliament commences its new sittings on 12 February. This first Bill will be a Transition Bill, the first stage of the Rudd government's new workplace relations system.
The government intends to take progressive steps in amending legislation, introducing changes over a two year period with the intention that its full changes to workplace laws are operative by January 2010. The first of these Transition Bills is intended to abolish the Australian Workplace Agreement system, introduce a transitional individual agreement making system, commence the process of award modernisation and simplification, and repeal the obligation on employers to issue the workplace relations fact sheet.
A Bill is currently being drafted, and is not yet available. For more information contact Nick Behrens, State Manager Policy, on (07) 3842 2279 or email nbehrens@commerceqld.com.au.
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National Employment Standards – Exposure Draft Bill Stage 2 |
The Rudd government proposes to release early in 2008 an exposure draft of a Bill to introduce the government's proposed ten new national employment standards. This exposure draft is to be released for consultation prior to its introduction into the parliament.
This will be a very important piece of legislation for employers to scrutinise, from both a policy and technical perspective. Commerce Queensland will be providing feedback to ACCI regarding the key issues arising from the proposed ten new employment standards as set out in the government's Forward with Fairness industrial relations policy.
For further information contact Stephen Nance, State Manager Workplace Relations, on (07) 3842 2236 or email snance@commerceqld.com.au.
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Federal Government plans to fast-track Skills Australia |
The Federal Government has announced its plan to fast track legislation to establish Skills Australia as the coordinating body responsible for skilling the Australian workforce. As part of the fast track plans, 20,000 of the additional 450 000 training places will be available by April.
The media release and further information is available from the Prime Minister's website.
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Unemployment falls in December |
In December, the unemployment rate fell to 4.3 per cent, down from 4.5 per cent in November.
A drop in the rate of female unemployment from 4.9 to 4.4 per cent was the catalyst for the latest drop. The male unemployment rate remained steady at 4.2 per cent.
The number of people unemployed decreased by 24,900 to 473,900 with 20,100 new employment positions filled. Full-time employment increased by 6,300 to 7,598,500 and part-time employment increased by 13,800 to 3,004,100. The participation rate decreased by 0.1 per cent to 65.2 per cent.
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Climate Change & Carbon Trading: Managing the risk in the finance sector |
The latest discussion paper from the Garnaut Review entitled 'Financial Services for Managing Risk: Climate Change and Carbon Trading' has been released.
This is the second in a series of papers on key issues to be covered by the Review and includes a summary of climate change issues relating to the financial and insurance sectors.
The paper intends to raise, explore and seek input on some of the key issues facing Australian financial and insurance services as a result of climate change, including:
- implications of climate change for insurance;
- roles and responsibilities in climate change risk management;
- building effective carbon trading markets; and
- positioning Australia as a regional hub in the Asia Pacific Carbon Markets.
The discussion paper can be downloaded from Garnaut Review website. For further information on carbon trading or business energy efficiency contact Justin Albin, State Manager Business Efficiency, on (07) 3842 2248 or email jalbin@commerceqld.com.au.
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