The popular Young Mannheim Symphonists program took place at the Santa Sabina College in Strathfield. After four days of workshops, tutorials and orchestral rehearsals, they performed a celebratory concert of Mozart, Beethoven and Mayer, in front of an enthusiastic audience at Hills Grammar School in Kenthurst.
After 70 years of operation at its Dandenong plant in Melbourne, IVECO Australia closed the doors on its local full line production yesterday.
It is unclear how many employees have lost their jobs as a result.
In an emailed statement to Big Rigs last week, an IVECO spokesperson stressed the company continues to “focus on supporting our people.”
“This people first approach means we are supporting manufacturing employees to transition beyond IVECO,” the spokesperson said.
“We recently held a ‘jobs fair’ which saw 14 employers involved in similar industries attend IVECO, to meet with employees impacted by the manufacturing sundown and explore new employment options with them. This was an opportunity to link great jobs with great people.”
In a short post on its Facebook page IVECO Australia marked the end of 70 years of production by wishing employees well.
“It was with mixed emotions that we farewelled our manufacturing team, and excitement that we look towards IVECO ANZ with a new Customisation & Innovation Centre.
“We thank the team again for their hard work and dedication, and wish them the very best with their transition.”
In a statement last year, the company said that the decision to fully import its heavy duty range will allow IVECO Trucks Australia to more closely align model year introduction timings with that of its parent company in Europe.
As part of the transformation process, IVECO also announced the launch of the Customisation and Innovation Centre (CIC).
The CIC is a business unit that IVECO said will further leverage its local engineering and manufacturing expertise, transforming the company’s focus towards the customisation and innovation of its vehicles for local markets.
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Local artist's work adorns Moruya Blue Mountains Gazette
Public housing in Kununurra has received a boost with the completion of three new homes.
The three two-bedroom, one-bathroom social homes were constructed by Kullari Building, an Indigenous building company located in Broome and owned by Nirrumbuk Aboriginal Corporation.
Construction of the three properties took eight months from building permit approval and the homes will soon be allocated to people on the public housing waitlist.
There are 17 new properties at various stages of planning and construction in the East Kimberley, including 10 in Kununurra, four in Wyndham and three in Halls Creek.
The State Government is investing $2.4 billion into social housing and homelessness measures in the coming four years, which includes funding from the record investment of $875 million as part of the 2021-22 State Budget. This is the single largest one-off investment into social housing in the State's history.
Through this investment, 3,300 new social housing properties will be delivered, and refurbishment and maintenance work will be carried out to many thousands more.
The maintenance and refurbishment program will be critical to ensuring these homes remain part of our State's social housing stock for many years to come.
Comments attributed to Housing Minister John Carey:
"These new homes will provide a critical to boost to the public housing stock in Kununurra, particularly for couples and singles who don't require a larger family home.
"The homes have been built in just eight months by local Indigenous building company Kullarri Building, who specialise in construction and refurbishment projects.
"Where possible, we want to make sure local businesses are employed to deliver these projects to ensure we're creating local employment opportunities.
"Our Government will be investing around $2.4 billion over the next four years on social housing and homelessness measures. I am seeking to deliver that investment as fast as possible and the Kimberley region will continue to be a key focus.
"We currently face a very challenging and heated construction market due to a range of factors, including supply chain and skilled labour shortages, but we continue to look at a wide range of options to accelerate delivery."
Comments attributed to Kimberley MLA Divina D'Anna:
"It's fantastic to see another three social homes completed in Kununurra, and that we continue to see projects like this driving local employment and training opportunities for people in the Kimberley.
"Our Government is investing record amounts to boost the amount of new social housing across Western Australia, and I will continue to advocate for more investment in our region, and ensure local businesses realise the benefits of those investments."
A regional Victorian council has voted to refer one of its councillors to the Local Government Inspectorate over allegations she could have broken the law.
Horsham Rural City will ask the inspectorate to investigate if Councillor Di Bell failed to declare a conflict of interest, related to the Australian Services Union (ASU), during a confidential council meeting last month.
Councillor Les Power on Monday tabled a motion — passed four votes to three with support from Mayor Robyn Gulline — asking that Ms Bell be investigated for engaging in a misuse of position.
Ms Bell has denied the allegations and said she had always operated with integrity.
Ms Gulline told the meeting on Monday night that Ms Bell had already admitted failing to declare a conflict of interest.
"You wrote on May 11 that you had a conflict of interest but failed to declare it, so the motion is that I ask the inspector to determine whether you have failed to," Ms Gulline said.
In response, Ms Bell said she sought legal advice that informed her actions.
She told the meeting that her daughter, who works for the council, had not been a union member nor participated in any "discussions".
The full context is unclear because the allegations relate to a confidential motion.
Last month, the ASU accused the council of prioritising damage control over investigating complaints that staff were being bullied in the workplace.
Councillors Ian Ross and Claudia Haenel told Monday's public meeting the call to investigate Ms Bell was itself a form of bullying and evidence of a "toxic culture" at the council.
Ms Gulline told the meeting she had sought legal advice on Mr Power's motion before the meeting and that it was valid.
The Mayor also denied Mr Ross's allegation that she had a meeting with three other councillors.
"They each independently contacted me concerned about the behaviour they had witnessed through the emails that had come to them," she said.
In a statement yesterday, Ms Bell said she was not told of the allegations until they were raised at Monday's public meeting.
"I take my responsibility and requirements under the Act, code of conduct and governance rules very seriously.
"I operate with integrity and to the best of my ability at all times, and I seek further [legal] advice when unsure, as I did in this case at my own cost."
Ms Bell said conflicts of interest needed to be assessed on a case-by-case basis and that she did not need to declare it in relation to the confidential May 23 motion.
She added that she had "no idea" what Mr Power was referring to with regards to the misuse-of-position component of the allegations.
Speaking to ABC Wimmera Breakfast yesterday, Ms Gulline said she became aware of Mr Power's notice of motion several minutes before he moved it.
She also said she did not notify Ms Bell of the motion prior to the meeting because "it wasn't my place, it wasn't my motion".
Ms Bell argued the allegations against her could have been raised in private and that she had not been given procedural fairness.
"Reporting [a] matter that may be a breach does not have to be public, and indeed during my very challenging journey as a councillor, there have been serious matters which I have experienced but chosen not to make public," she said.
"I feel that has occurred based on what I experienced [Monday] night."
Ms Bell added that she looked forward to the Local Government Inspectorate matter "being resolved quickly".
The ABC contacted the inspectorate and the other five Horsham councillors for comment. Mr Power declined this request.
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Shoalhaven Council to focus on upgrading local parks 2STA Halls Head business has made the list of Australia Post’s Local Business Heroes for 2022.
The competition receives hundreds of entries each year and is designed to help celebrate and support Australian businesses.
A total of 57 local business heroes were chosen from nearly 1000 entries this year. Each recipient will receive a ‘Heroes Package’ worth up to $5000 from Australia Post.
Halls Head business Australian Silo Art Trail is among the business heroes.
“It’s great to be acknowledged by Australia Post that recognises what we are doing is worthwhile and making a difference,” co-founder Annette Green said.
“My hobby of curating the silo art while travelling around Australia quickly turned into a passion. Turning that passion into a small profitable business has enabled us to continue travelling four to six months of the year.”
The Australian Silo Art Trail kickstarted in 2015 when FORM, a WA not-for-profit cultural organisation, decided to paint the CBH grain silos in Northam.
Five other silos were painted in Ravensthorpe, Merredin, Albany, Newdegate and Pingrup to officially complete the trail in WA.
While travelling around Australia in 2018, couple Anette and Eric Green realised tracking down the nation’s silo artworks wasn’t easy so they decided to start a Facebook page to assist fellow travellers.
It proved so popular that it prompted Ms Green to launch the Australian Silo Art Trail website in 2019.
The Silo Art Calendar then followed, which received permission from the artists and silo owners to publish the artwork on the basis that half of the profits were put back into the communities that are featured.
The business has donated more than $130,000 to regional communities from its 2021 and 2022 calendars.
Australia Post executive general manager customer and commercial Gary Starr said the program, now in its second year, played an important role in supporting local businesses’ growth.
“We know small and medium businesses are the backbone of Australian communities and we’re committed to helping them succeed,” he said.
“I look forward to seeing each of the Local Business Heroes feature across our network and connecting them with even more customers.”
The full list of Local Business Heroes is available on the Australia Post website.
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Large amount of cash taken from local pub Bay 93.9The Palaszczuk Government will invest $530 million to deliver a major expansion of the Townsville University Hospital, as part of the largest investment in new hospitals and new beds in Queensland’s history.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the expansion would deliver around 143 additional beds as well as other upgrades to critical infrastructure.
“Our $530 million investment for a major expansion of the Townsville University Hospital will deliver the extra hospital beds the region needs for the future,” the Minister said.
“This major expansion of the Townsville University Hospital will deliver around 143 extra beds to the region by 2026, creating around 1,276 constructions jobs.
“These new beds will tackle the ever-growing demand for health services we’re seeing throughout the region and across the entire State.
“Our crucial investment in local health services is another sign of the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to funding world class health care for Queenslanders.”
Member for Mundingburra Les Walker said that this investment was needed to maintain pace with population increases.
“We know the region needs a sustainable health system to keep up with the growth in demand expected over coming years,” Mr Walker said.
“The expansion will include a significant boost to beds for rehabilitation and surgical patients, additional day-procedure spaces, and the relocation of the helicopter landing pad to the roof, freeing up that space for a new clinical building.
“This project alone will boost the local economy with around 1,276 jobs created during construction and is due to be completed in the second half of 2026.”
Minister for Resources and Member for Townsville Scott Stewart said the record budget for the Townsville Hospital and Health Service of $1.2 billion funding in 2022-23 would assist Townsville in addressing the nationwide trend of increased demand for hospital services.
“This year’s budget also funds a Rapid Access Clinic, which will assist patients with chronic conditions in getting more streamlined care, without having to present to an emergency department,” Minister Stewart said.
“These investments will make a real difference and ensure that people can access to quality care, close to home.”
Member for Thuringowa Aaron Harper said the additional investments in the local Townsville health network addressed issues raised during the Inquiry into the provision of primary, allied and private health care, aged care and NDIS care services and its impact on the Queensland public health system.
“As Chair of the Inquiry, we heard that Townsville University Hospital had the equivalent of two wards worth of patients awaiting either aged or disability care place,” Mr Harper said.
“It’s important that as a government we have embedded funding for Queensland Health’s ‘Long Stay Rapid Response’ team which focuses on getting aged and disability care patients into more appropriate care settings.
“And in my local community, I am heartened by the funding provided for the Kirwan Health Campus project that will provide so much value to my local community and was an important election commitment to the people of Thuringowa.”
ENDS
Media contact: Martin Philip 0407 675 008
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Inflation could push English councils into bankruptcy, say leaders The Guardian[unable to retrieve full-text content]
Tell us about your local green spaces and how they're used The Guardian
Earnings before interest and tax jumped 17.7 per cent to $472 million in the year ended April 30 from the year-earlier period, Metcash told the ASX on Monday. Net profit climbed 2.7 per cent to $245.4 million when one-offs were included.
Metcash lifted its final dividend to 11¢ per share, to be paid on August 10. Total dividends for the 12 months rose 23 per cent on a year ago. Metcash shares rose 5 per cent to $4.35 in early trading on Monday.
Food inflation is on the rise across the industry.
The two big supermarket rivals have reported a jump in inflation, with Woolworths revealing in May inflation of 2.7 per cent for the March quarter, while Coles said inflation was running at 3.3 per cent for the same period.
In the second half of the Metcash financial year, inflation was up 1.9 per cent, Mr Jones, adding inflation was at its highest in April, when it was 5.3 per cent on a measure used by the group for when products left the distribution warehouse and before discounts were applied. That then fell to 4.5 per cent in May.
He said IGA prices for shoppers in stores were highly competitive. “We have a very healthy price match program,” he said.
About 60 per cent of the supplier base had asked for price increases in the second half, and some were returning for a second bout. “We are seeing suppliers that are coming back for a second increase,” Mr Jones said.
The group also said it would build a new 115,000 square metre distribution centre with Goodman Group at Truganina in outer Melbourne to service the Victorian market. Metcash will pay $70 million for fit-out and set-up costs in a long-term lease, with the new distribution centre up and running by mid-2024.
As well as supplying the IGA supermarkets and other independent players such as Foodworks, Metcash also operates the Independent Hardware Group, which owns the Mitre 10 and Home Timber & Hardware brands and also has an 85 per cent stake in the Total Tools chain.
Earnings in the hardware operations rose 41 per cent to $191 million in the year ended April 30. Mr Jones said Total Tools now had 100 outlets and was in a strong position to withstand competition in the power tools market from rivals such as Bunnings, which is rolling out a new brand called Tool Kit Depot, built upon the framework of the Adelaide Tools business it acquired in 2020.
Former chief executive Jeff Adams surprised investors in October by stepping down to make way for Mr Jones, who was CEO and senior vice-president of South Africa’s Massmart Wholesale. Mr Jones paid tribute to Mr Adams on Monday for putting in place the cornerstones of the success which Metcash is having.
MST Marquee analyst Craig Woolford said it was a strong result from Metcash, which showed that the IGA network was holding on to the gains in market share made early in the pandemic.
“The strength of the result was across all divisions with improving second-half sales trends and a stronger margin result in food,” he said.
Black Head residents say more testing must be done for the local lagoon to be deemed safe, after a sewage spill last week.
But MidCoast Council says there’s nothing to worry about, putting the cause to a common household item.
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Lending to Aussie manufacturers at the big four bank has risen by 15 per cent in the last year, as demand has shot up for local goods.
A recent consumer sentiment survey from NAB has found Australians have become more cost-conscious in their shopping, with more demand for local and sustainable brands.
Almost half (44 per cent) of consumers in the June quarter were more mindful of where they spent their money, while around 35 per cent said they were more conscious of buying Australian-made, rather than an overseas product.
A third (34 per cent) said they were more mindful of supporting local businesses in their area.
As such, NAB executive for small business, Ana Marinkovic, said the trends would likely endure beyond the pandemic.
“Since the onset of the pandemic, more customers are choosing to support local businesses and buy Australian made. This is reflected in our lending to local manufacturers over the past 12 months,” Ms Marinkovic said.
“Lending to the industry is up 15 per cent to $7.6 billion in the last year – a strong sign that customers are becoming more demanding when it comes to where and how the products they are purchasing are sourced.”
She added that with ongoing pressure on global supply chains, NAB had observed more business owners look to where they could source products and materials locally, to reduce their reliance on international suppliers.
The NAB survey noted 27 per cent of customers had researched brand and product choices before buying, while 24 per cent made purchases because of deals.
There had been a decline in consumers buying products based on delivery times and cost (11 per cent), purchasing online to avoid going into a store (11 per cent), buying products due to convenience (8 per cent) and buying online and picking up in-store (3 per cent).
The NAB Consumer Stress Index increased for the second consecutive quarter to 56.4 points over the three months to June, from 55.7 points in the previous quarter.
Higher stress had been largely associated with rising concerns over costs of living, which jumped by a further 2.3 points during the quarter to 67 points – the highest read since the December quarter, 2018.
But consumer stress was down year-on-year, from 57.8 points, and well below the survey average of 58.7 points.
The consumer sentiment report from NAB also mentioned recent research finding that mortgages had been the largest contributor to cost-of-living pressures for around 12 per cent of Australians.
Perceptions of rising mortgage costs had jumped sharply over the June quarter, up to 41 per cent, from the previous 21 per cent who agreed in the three months to March.
NSW and Victorian residents were more likely to say their home loans had added the most to their costs of living than other states.
Home loan costs also had a larger impact on consumers in capital and regional cities, compared to rural areas.
By Emilia Saiz, Secretary General of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)
In a time of unprecedented challenges, global governance needs a transformation capable of reconciling us with the planet and fostering caring for each other. To do this, the municipalist movement, to which the author belongs, calls for a greater political voice for local and regional governments.
Our world is at a moment that we could define as foundational. The number of overlapping crises, their universal nature, and their degree of interconnection places us in front of an unprecedented scenario. The scope of some of these challenges is palpable in our daily lives, while the repercussions of others are more difficult to measure, even still to identify.
We see the dreams broken, the lives lost in armed conflicts, the dinghies reaching the shores, the persecution of the Tigray people in Ethiopia, the deaths, destruction, and displacement in the cities of Ukraine. The impacts of conflicts reverberate at a global and local level, affecting everyday needs such as food and energy.
These challenges seem more visible today, but they have long been suffered by the most vulnerable people in our communities, finding their roots in systemic emergencies such as climate change, or the pandemic and its consequent economic crisis. This scenario represents an important wake-up call to transform, all together, our systems and ways of life.
Local and regional governments know this well. The global has a local impact and the local determines the global. It is in times when we feel most vulnerable and unprotected that the capacity, values and limits of our communities are tested. And it has been under these circumstances that local and regional governments have been, and continue to be, at the forefront of efforts to break through together, guaranteeing the provision of public services, guaranteeing rights, and promoting ways of living that are inclusive, supportive, equal and fair.
It is at times like these that we must reevaluate our priorities and make sure what we have experienced, what we have gone through, serves to transform how we interact with each other, with our environment and with our institutions.
Towards the Pact for people, planet and government
The World Organization of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), building on the legacy of the centenary international municipal movement, is convinced that these transformations will only be possible if local and regional governments play a fundamental role as political actors, with the responsibility of the level of government closer to the people and going beyond the competencies or resources at their disposal today.
To achieve these transformations, UCLG is developing a Pact for the Future of People, the Planet and the Government that includes the shared principles, values and aspirations of our communities to renew the social contract from the bottom-up. From our cities, towns and territories.
The Pact recognizes this foundational moment. It aims to be honest with the challenges, assume responsibilities and build on the collective knowledge that we have been able to coin – the starting point towards a more sustainable future, with gender equality and social justice as essential pillars of any creative, resilient, empowered and committed community. The Pact does so by putting people at the center, deepening the needs of current generations and expanding the rights of future ones. Guaranteeing public services and the commons, developing a harmonious relationship with nature, and renewing the relationship between spheres of government to improve people’s trust and representativeness.
Throughout history, our territories have thrived thanks to the creativity of our people. The Pact for the Future seeks to preserve and promote local, empathetic and supportive societies that enhance the capacities of their individuals through culture and the right to the city. To favor that our territories have tools to put an end to the housing crisis, transform our production and consumption habits, and build bridges between citizens and institutions based on an innovative, sustainable, and inclusive provision of services. In short, to create spaces where the ideas that lead to the transformations we need can flourish.
From April to October, mayors and governors from among our members elect their peers to represent them in the World Council of our organization. There are 341 seats distributed among the five continents. It is an unparalleled democratic exercise in local multilateralism, which began at Africities, the largest meeting of local and regional governments on the African continent, where the vibrant energy of the municipal movement was intensely present, conveying the empowerment of local voices and the strength of diversity.
The democratic exercise of Kisumu will provide the 45 seats corresponding to Africa in the UCLG World Council, and will be replicated throughout the rest of the regions of our planet. Those elected representatives will present motions to promote concrete actions that take the Pact to the streets and budgets of our territories. The results will be adopted on October 14 in Daejeon, at the most representative summit of local and regional governments and one of the largest democratic gatherings on the planet. The roadmap of the municipal movement will thus be defined and will largely define the local and territorial contribution to the United Nations Summit for the Future.
In a context where national governments arm themselves to protect sovereignties and access to resources, local and regional governments show themselves to be the greatest allies in defining a care agenda that contributes to rebuilding the foundations of the multilateral system towards a model of development that is universal, sustainable, and inclusive.
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About 75 NASA personnel are in Arnhem Land for the launch, which is the agency's first in Australia in 27 years and first-ever from a commercial spaceport outside the US.
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"We want our young people to see and take up the jobs and business opportunities that come from the growth of the Arnhem Space Centre over time," he said in a statement.
Senior Gumatj leader of the Yolngu people Djawa Yunupingu says the space industry in the Northern Territory can provide job opportunities for young people. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
"Working with the Gumatj people in launching the rockets into space combines one of the oldest cultures in the world with some of the most advanced technology ever."
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About 75 NASA personnel are in Arnhem Land for the launch, which is the agency's first in Australia in 27 years and first-ever from a commercial spaceport outside the US.
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"We want our young people to see and take up the jobs and business opportunities that come from the growth of the Arnhem Space Centre over time," he said in a statement.
Senior Gumatj leader of the Yolngu people Djawa Yunupingu says the space industry in the Northern Territory can provide job opportunities for young people. Source: AAP / MICK TSIKAS/AAPIMAGE
"Working with the Gumatj people in launching the rockets into space combines one of the oldest cultures in the world with some of the most advanced technology ever."
‘Miss Lade Not Lost, a history of Enoggera and surrounding suburbs including Keperra, Mitchelton, Alderley and Newmarket, will be officially launched later this month.
The book has been compiled by Diana Hacker of the Enoggera & Districts Historical Society. It will be released at the Society Open Day on Sunday, 31 July at the Enoggera Memorial Hall, access via Trundle Street. The event will run from 10am to 3pm, with formalities at approx. 11.30am.
Entry fee is just a gold coin donation. Stalls, displays and refreshments will be on offer on the day, along with special guests making appearances.
‘Miss Lade Not Lost’ will be officially launched by local identity Allan Pickering. YES! – of Pickering Street fame.
The book will be on sale for $25. For any enquiries about purchase, please phone 3355 4714.
The Society warmly welcomes the local community to attend its Open Day on 31 July.
Take care, everyone.
Andrew McMicking, President
President of the Australian Local Government Association Linda Scott and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at Parliament House. Photo: Facebook.
@ClrLindaScott gives the closing statement for this year’s #NGA22 pic.twitter.com/lbO8PzCi6v
— ALGA (@ALGAcomms) June 22, 2022
The Sharks invite under-13’s players registered with local Cronulla-Sutherland Junior League clubs to apply to take part in a skills combine during the upcoming school holidays.
To be held in two sessions on Tuesday, July 12, the training session will introduce young local players to a Sharks elite training environment, with drills, skills and game scrimmages to be run by Sharks junior development staff, winter academy coaches and Sharks Development and Pathways Manager Glenn Brailey.
The Sharks U13s Skills Combine is a new initiative to engage our U13s age group, with the players to be put through a series of tests throughout the day while running through the skill training drills.
The session will run for around 90 minutes, with players to bring boots, mouth guards, suitable training attire, waiver form (see link below or available at ground) and drink bottle and to come ready to train. If strapping is required that will need to be done prior to arrival or before the start of the training session.
Applications close July 8, with the sessions to be conducted at PointsBet Stadium.
CLICK HERE to register, with applicants to ensure all details provided are correct, with further information regarding the Skills Combine to be communicated via email.
CLICK HERE to access waiver form (also available on the day, preference being for players to bring signed and filled out)
This week we celebrate Refugee Week.
Refugee Week is an opportunity to celebrate the positive contributions made by refugees in our community.
It’s also an opportunity to learn about the ways we can support refugees in our community.
The 2022 theme is healing, which serves as a reminder of the importance of human connections.
Mainstream and refugee communities alike can draw upon shared hardship to heal wounds, to learn from each other and to move forward.
Healing can occur through storytelling, community and realisation of our intrinsic interconnectedness as individuals.
We sat down with Gop Gai, Regional Manager of the Australian Red Cross Humanitarian Settlement Program to learn how the Red Cross supports refugees in our community.
Australian Red Cross plays a critical role in building safe, fair, welcoming, and inclusive communities for migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum by ensuring they are protected from harm, can meet their humanitarian needs and have pathways to safe and dignified work.
As a trusted humanitarian organisation, we also support local communities and businesses to meaningfully welcome migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum across the country. We
We also engage with schools, communities, and workplaces across Australia to build their capacities to welcome newly arrived migrants and refugees through a range of initiatives and programs.
Australian Red Cross is contracted by the Department of Home Affairs to deliver the Australian Government’s Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP) in the ACT.
We support newly arrived refugees and humanitarian entrants to integrate into life in Canberra.
Red Cross does this by helping them build the skills and knowledge they need to become self-reliant and active members of the community.
Red Cross case managers, volunteers and bilingual staff provide settlement support to refugees. This might include
We also support refugees to gain employment and to access education and training.
We work closely with other service providers to provide coordinated support to enable a successful settlement journey for newly arrived refugees.
Currently, we are supporting refugees from Myanmar, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Iran, Democratic Republic of Congo and those deemed Stateless.
Due to the current housing affordability crisis, it is taking much longer to source long term housing for our families.
We are calling on members of the public to help us find suitable housing for our families to call home.
If you are a private landlord or real estate agent, please contact us by emailing Housing_Canberra@redcross.org.au
As the cost of living continues to increase, the impact is great on our families, to help alleviate these financial pressures we are asking for food donations. Donations can be dropped off at our office, Red Cross House, Level 1, 3 Dann Close in Garran.
We also accept gift card donations through GIVIT.
All donations are provided directly to impacted families.
We also strongly encourage financial donations to help us provide the essentials newly arrived refugees need to get back on their feet.
If you would like to donate you can head to Australian Red Cross website
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Page updated: 22 Jun 2022
“From that perspective, for investors like ourselves, it gives us the opportunity to invest at improved pricing.”
There are strong signals already for the direct property market coming from listed real estate investment trusts, which have given up about 25 per cent, and bond yields are nudging 4 per cent.
“Everyone is taking a bit of a step back and thinking ‘OK, what is the look ahead for the market?’” Ms McNally said.
“Most people are being cautious. We are already seeing that bit of a drift out in yields and repricing. Investors, like ourselves, will need to think carefully about where the growth is going to come from out of the portfolio in terms of rentals.”
The new platform already has a $1.5 billion property portfolio of industrial, office and residential assets across Australia. A big feature of Aware’s property book is its build-to-rent developments – including essential worker affordable housing – in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Canberra. Logistics assets in Sydney’s west, such as the First Estate industrial park in Erskine Park, feature heavily too.
A refreshed strategy for the platform will be hammered out over the next few months by Ms McNally and her team.
Aware Real Estate is being set up in partnership with Altis Property Partners, which has worked with the superannuation fund for more than a decade, tracking down and developing projects.
Aware’s newly minted local platform parallels similar ventures in offshore markets where the super fund has invested, including partnering with Dutch pension fund APG on a serviced apartment enterprise in Europe and on a multi-family platform in Spain.
The super fund has close to a half stake in Lendlease’s $2 billion retirement village portfolio. It has invested in a number of Lendlease’s urban regeneration projects in the US which are delivering BTR housing: in Chicago, Boston, New York and Los Angeles.
Overall, about 16 to 18 per cent of Aware’s $155 billion portfolio is allocated to real assets, with roughly half of that in real estate.
That pool of funds could rise to $250 billion by 2025, by which time Aware hopes as much as half will be run in-house, according to Damien Webb, Aware’s deputy chief investment officer and head of real assets.
“For us to control the portfolio and control competitive fees, it’s imperative that we continue with our journey towards internalising management of a large portion of portfolio.
“That is across the board: from listed equities, through to infrastructure and property as well as cash and credit.”
Mr Webb also sees volatility in markets as an opportunity as much as a challenge.
“Right now it is going to be a more difficult market for investing than it has been in the last five to 10 years where it’s been pretty much a flow of cheap money. Now it will be discerning and high-quality sponsors like ourselves will be able to take opportunities as they are presented in the marketplace.”
With restrictions lifted and vaccination rates increasing, the Malinauskas Labor Government is backing-in small businesses with a campaign highlighting just how critical they are to our economy, and how important it is for each and every one of us to support them.
The Support Small Business campaign highlights that spending local allows your dollar to go further because these businesses support workers, suppliers and families across South Australia.
Small businesses represent 98 per cent of all businesses in the state and almost 40 per cent of our workforce. As we emerge from the pandemic, these same small businesses will play a critical factor in ensuring our economy remains resilient and South Australians stay in jobs.
Many small businesses are also family operations, providing work to generations of South Australians and producing a range of iconic goods and services. These businesses are integral to the engine room that is our state’s economy, but the pandemic has markedly changed consumer habits, for example with more of us shopping online and fewer eating out than before COVID.
The government is urging South Australians to prioritise shopping in store at the local gift shop rather than ordering from online and overseas, head out for a freshly brewed coffee, take a long lunch or book an experience.
Small but important decisions by all South Australians will help deliver big results for these businesses and will help the state bounce back.
More than 145,000 small businesses play a critical role in South Australia’s economy and our society – creating jobs, supporting families and contributing to local communities.
Having been raised within a family business, and as a former small business owner myself, I’m no stranger to the joys, challenges and sheer hard work that goes into operating a business.
I know how tough the last couple of years have been on small and family businesses across the State, due to the impacts of COVID and the increased costs of doing business – which continue to make it tough on business owners and their teams.
That’s why we’ve launched this campaign to highlight the importance of local small businesses and encourage all of us to keep this in mind when making choices on where we spend our hard-earned money.
So, please go out and support small business.
Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Minister for Water
The Honourable Glenn Butcher
The Palaszczuk Labor Government is bolstering the ability of Queensland manufacturers to create more good jobs and better services by investing $50 million to continue two major grants programs that focus on building skill and capability.
Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing Glenn Butcher said this year’s budget has allocated more funding for the Made in Queensland and the Manufacturing Hubs Grant Programs, over the next two years.
“These funding programs not only support Queensland manufacturers, they also drive up the number of good, secure jobs created, and stimulate economic growth right across Queensland,” Mr Butcher said.
“Made in Queensland is receiving $40 million for two more rounds, over the next two years, to continue helping small and medium manufacturers to increase international competitiveness through adopting new technologies.
“This has been a highly successful program with more than 105 advanced manufacturing projects supported across the state and more than $140 million in private sector investment.
“On top of that, I’m excited to say the Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program will receive $10 million over the next two years, to continue supporting regional manufacturers through special services that help them scale their business and take advantage of growth opportunities,” he said.
“Already these two programs have seen more than 5800 jobs created and supported to date, with more on the cards for the future.
“This investment is a win for manufacturers and a win for the regions.
“The Palaszczuk Labor Government is building good jobs and better services to continue giving Queenslanders the way of life we know everyone loves about this state.”
The Manufacturing Hub Grant funding is in addition to the $17.7 million announced, earlier this year, which locks in Queensland’s Manufacturing Hubs for the long-term.
“These hubs provide a place for local manufacturing businesses to receive expert advice and support for transition into advanced manufacturing,” Mr Butcher said.
Mr Butcher said $5 million has been allocated to support the development of the Queensland Government’s Battery Industry Strategy.
“This is part of our government’s implementation of the Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan to grow and diversify the industry,” he said.
“Queensland has a unique opportunity to extend the local supply chain for new economy minerals, particularly the development of battery chemicals and possibly battery manufacturing.
“We want to equip our manufacturers to take advantage of emerging opportunities and that includes value adding here in Queensland.
“Our Battery Industry Strategy will support the development of the battery manufacturing industry in Queensland.
“Manufacturing is a multibillion-dollar sector and vital to Queensland’s economy,” Mr Butcher said.
“These announcements reaffirm the Palaszczuk Government is serious about growing this industry by creating good jobs and even better services.”
For more information about the State Budget visit budget.qld.gov.au.
ENDS
Media contact: Emilia Hutchinson 0437 060 435
Tuesday, 21 June 2022
Councils across the State will benefit from key measures in the 2022-23 NSW Budget, including continued support for local government areas affected by this year’s devastating floods.
Minister for Local Government Wendy Tuckerman said the NSW Government’s support for the State’s 128 councils would enable them to focus on delivering services for residents and ratepayers.
“Councils have a key role in delivering infrastructure, facilities and services for their residents and ratepayers,” Mrs Tuckerman said.
“They are at the coalface of community services, such as the flood recovery under way across the state, long-term coastal and estuary management and animal welfare management, so it is critical that we continue to support them.
Highlights of the 2022-23 Budget for local government include:
MEDIA: Damien Bolte | Minister Tuckerman | 0498 359 624
The desire by people in richer countries for a diverse range of out-of-season produce imported from overseas is driving up global greenhouse gas emissions, our new research has found.
It reveals how transporting food across and between countries generates almost one-fifth of greenhouse gas emissions from the food sector – and affluent countries make a disproportionately large contribution to the problem.
Although carbon emissions associated with food production are well documented, this is the most detailed study of its kind. We estimated the carbon footprint of the global trade of food, tracking a range of food commodities along millions of supply chains.
Since 1995, worldwide agricultural and food trade has more than doubled and internationally traded food provides 19% of calories consumed globally. It’s never been clearer that eating local produce is a powerful way to take action on climate change.
The concept of “food miles” is used to measure the distance a food item travels from where it’s produced to where it’s consumed. From that, we can assess the associated environmental impact or “carbon footprint”.
Globally, food is responsible for about 16 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year – or about 30% of total human-produced carbon emissions. The sources of food emissions include transport, land-use change (such as cutting down trees) and the production process.
Our study used an accounting framework we devised in an innovative platform called the FoodLab. It involved an unprecedented level of detail, spanning:
We found global food miles emissions were about 3 billion tonnes each year, or 19% of total food emissions. This is up to 7.5 times higher than previous estimates.
Some 36% of food transport emissions were caused by the global freight of fruit and vegetables – almost twice the emissions released during their production. Vegetables and fruit require temperature-controlled transport which pushes their food miles emissions higher.
Overall, high-income countries were disproportionate contributors to food miles emissions. They constitute 12.5% of the world’s population yet generate 46% of international food miles emissions.
A number of large and emerging economies dominate the world food trade. China, Japan, the United States and Eastern Europe are large net importers of food miles and emissions – showing food demand there is noticeably higher than what’s produced domestically.
The largest net exporter of food miles was Brazil, followed by Australia, India and Argentina. Australia is a primary producer of a range of fruits and vegetables that are exported to the rest of the world.
In contrast, low-income countries with about half the global population cause only 20% of food transport emissions.
To date, sustainable food research has largely focused on the emissions associated with meat and other animal-derived foods compared with plant-based foods. But our results indicate that eating food grown and produced locally is also important for mitigating emissions associated with food transport.
Eating locally is generally taken to mean eating food grown within a 161km radius of one’s home.
We acknowledge that some parts of the world cannot be self-sufficient in food supply. International trade can play an important role in providing access to nutritious food and mitigating food insecurity for vulnerable people in low-income countries.
Read more: How Australia can boost the production of grains, while lowering its carbon footprint
And food miles should not be considered the only indicator of environmental impact. For example, an imported food produced sustainably may have a lower environmental impact than an emissions-intensive local food.
But there is much scope to reduce food transport emissions, especially in richer countries. Potential measures include:
Consumers also have the power to reduce food transport emissions by adopting a more sustainable diet. For instance, next time you go to buy fruit out of season – which may have been grown overseas or on the other side of the country – perhaps consider whether a local alternative might do.
The problem of food transport emissions will only worsen as the global population grows. Governments, corporations and everyday people must work together to ensure the production and consumption of food does not make climate change worse.
