Business supports protect local jobs - Premier of South Australia

The next round of the popular vouchers scheme, jointly funded by the Marshall Liberal Government and the City of Adelaide, is another key plank in the city-wide Adelaide Unleashed to activate the CBD in preparation for the upcoming Festival and Fringe.

Premier Steven Marshall said the $30 vouchers will help increase further activity throughout the CBD as restrictions continue to ease during the next stage of the State Government’s strong omicron response plan.

“We have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the hospitality sector through numerous support packages during the global pandemic and we will continue to do so as we further ease restrictions in a safe and controlled manner,” Premier Marshall said.

“It has been particularly tough for some businesses in the CBD and these vouchers mark another step forward in our strong omicron response plan to keep our state safe and our economy strong.

“I urge South Australians to tuck-in their napkins, roll up their sleeves and enjoy a hearty meal at any one of the fantastic participating businesses when they become eligible to apply for a voucher.”

Businesses should apply to register now to be a part of the program which follows previous successful city voucher programs. Diners will be able to apply for their vouchers next month.

Member for Adelaide Rachel Sanderson welcomed additional support for the city.

“We know many of our city traders are doing it tough right now and that’s why the Marshall Liberal Government is targeting support to this vital area of our great state through new and exciting initiatives including Welcome Back, #GoToTown and through cash grants,” said Minister Sanderson.

“I urge all South Australians to get on board the Welcome Back program, get yourself a voucher and support our wonderful city businesses - treat yourself and know you’re also helping jobs, business and our economy.”

Adelaide Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor encouraged all eligible businesses to register now to be part of the scheme which would help fill tables at breakfast, lunch and dinner in the weeks ahead.

“The State Government’s support of this and our many other initiatives will make a huge difference in helping Council in its efforts to reignite the CBD and North Adelaide in the weeks ahead,” said the Lord Mayor.

“We have much to look forward to this event season and the vouchers, business support and free public transport, along with Council’s free parking offers and other initiatives, will help the city thrive.”

Details:

• The vouchers are all about encouraging people to eat out in the city with the release of 25,000 x $30 vouchers to use at participating businesses.
• Vouchers can be redeemed for dine-in food (not valid for drinks) throughout the day: breakfast, lunch, dinner, or any time between.
• Redemption is likely to start in mid-March and concludes 31 May. The city dining voucher initiative is being managed by the Adelaide Economic Development Agency with support from the State Government.
• More info at https://www.experienceadelaide.com.au/register-business/
  • State Government also supporting the CBD with:
    $1 million for the City of Adelaide to deliver a city-wide activation program Adelaide Unleashed.
  • $250,000 for the City of Adelaide to at least double the number of grants on offer under its StreetSide Activation Grant Scheme. The scheme will provide grants of up to $5,000 in value for eligible businesses to activate the area immediately outside its premises in the CBD.
  • Free public transport to the CBD from midday Friday to midnight Sunday each week during Festival period (Friday 18 February and finishing on Sunday 20 March).
  • $150,000 to the City of Adelaide to expand its existing business advice and support program, provided in conjunction with Business SA. Provides access to the Business Advice Hotline three times a year, and other advisory services (Accounting, Statutory and Compliance Information, Tenants’ Landlord Advisory Service, Mental Health Support Services, Digital Capability Coaching and Grants and Tenders Support).

Businesses are required to have an active Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) listing to participate in the city dining voucher promotion.

Visit southaustralia.com and search for your business to check that your business has an active listing.  If the business listing requires an update, visit ATDW online update.

If the business does not have an active ATDW listing, please visit ATDW online to register.

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Business supports protect local jobs - Premier of South Australia
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Business supports protect local jobs - Premier of South Australia

Premier Steven Marshall said grants from the latest business support package for tourism / hospitality / gyms and business hardship, have now begun hitting bank accounts – providing the financial springboard local business need as we emerge stronger than ever from the omicron wave.

“While there have been challenges, there is no doubt the decisions made towards the latter end of last year have ensured our state is safe and our economy strong as we successfully navigated the inevitable omicron wave,” Premier Marshall said.

“The funds began hitting bank accounts from yesterday while our borders are open, restrictions are easing and case numbers are dropping. We have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with local business and local jobs since the first day of the global pandemic and will continue to do so.

“There’s no doubt that many businesses in the CBD and beyond have been doing it tough, particularly over the last month. This eighth business support package is acknowledgement of those challenges faced by industries disproportionately hit by the pandemic.”

Last week, the additional cash grants of up to $22,000 together with more Great State vouchers, and CBD dining out vouchers were announced as key features of the latest State Government funded business support package for hospitality and tourism businesses, gyms and other businesses impacted by restrictions.

The cash grants are being automatically paid to recipients of the Tourism, Hospitality and Gym Grant – turnover based payment – December 2021 and the Business Hardship Grant – December 2021, paid by Government from January 2022, bringing the total available from the last two rounds for a business up to $44,000.

Payments so far processed and arriving in business accounts from yesterday include:

• Around 2100 Tourism and Hospitality payments totalling nearly $14 million
• Around 2000 Business Hardship payments totalling $9 million
• In total over 4000 businesses receiving $23 million

Further automatic payments will be made each week.

Applications remain open for businesses to apply for businesses impacted by restrictions in the period 27 December 2021 to 9 January 2022.

Applications for the COVID-19 Additional Support rounds for businesses not eligible for an automatic payment will open in the week commencing 14 February 2022.

Applications for both rounds close on 31 March 2022. More details are available at www.treasury.sa.gov.au/Growing-South-Australia/COVID-19

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New FinTech Aust chief on priorities and helping local firms grow - https://ift.tt/kA7TNHf

FinTech Australia has appointed investor and finance executive Andrew Porter as its new chief executive. Mr Porter, a 20-year industry veteran who advises several local FinTech’s boards, said reconnecting the industry and international markets will be a priority.

The industry body representing hundreds of Australian FinTech startups announced Mr Porter’s appointment on Monday. He replaces Rebecca Schot-Guppy, who left in November for large insurer IAG after more than two years as FinTech Australia chief executive.

Mr Porter joins the group representing companies like Wise, tic:toc and Volt Bank in the lead up to an election and federal budget, and will be looking at potential reforms that address areas like new payments technology, cryptocurrency and blockchain.

New FinTech Australia boss Andrew Porter eyes reforms and more support for firms to expand overseas. Image: supplied

“I’m keen to see the continuation of our work to really place Australia as a leading FinTech hub, and a place for building amazing businesses that we can take out to the world and grow as we’ve seen happen numerous times over the last few years,” Mr Porter told InnovationAus in his first interview in the role.

It is clear the pandemic restrictions have had an impact on the local sector’s ability to share advice and support, Mr Porter said, flagging more face to face events as a priority where possible.

“When you can really touch base with other participants who have gone through the same issues, it’s a really great way of finding answers to problems or meeting people that can come in and really help you in your business, be it at any stage, or any issue in terms of building – founding, scaling, or growing internationally.”

Mr Porter spent seven years as Australian managing director of WorldFirst, a UK payments company that was later acquired by Chinese giant Ant Financial. He went on to investment executive roles and holds personal stakes in several local FinTechs.

He is currently a board advisor to and investor in CryptoSpend, a Sydney based payments startup that facilitates cryptocurrency transactions.

The rise of decentralised finance and in particular blockchain technologies presents very real challenges and opportunities to Australian FinTechs, Mr Porter said.

“There’s going to be some great challenges for some of the businesses in terms of what they do going forward and how they adopt that innovation or whether they do or not,” he said.

‘Debanking’ also remains a significant issue for the local sector, Mr Porter said, and will be another focus after being raised with lawmakers last year.

Government senator and chair of last year’s FinTech inquiry Andrew Bragg flagged a “Liberal solution” for debanking, which he said had become “rampant”.

Mr Porter said he has firsthand experience of being debanked, the practice where typically a bank cuts off banking services to a FinTech, sometimes without clear reasons.

“I’ve been there. I’ve had those meetings, had those rejections and I think there’s certainly got to be work done … Senator Bragg has done some fantastic work in highlighting that and really bringing it to the fore. Hopefully, something beneficial can come out that will help drive some change in that area because I think it’s long overdue.”

Talent, networking and education are also a challenge for the local FinTech industry, with borders largely shut for two years and a long-standing lack of career pathways training for financial technology, Mr Porter said.

The new FinTech Australia chief executive also wants to draw on his experience of bringing FinTechs to new markets to support local companies expansions into leading markets like Singapore and the UK.

“I’ll be putting a lot of focus in building strong partnerships between similar organisations overseas, as well as governments and regulatory bodies overseas by having those discussions to try and make it easier for Aussie businesses to expand.

“I know what it’s like, trying to piece it all together and doing it yourself can be very hard.”

FinTech Australia chair Simone Joyce welcomed the new chief executive, saying it marked the industry body’s next phase in guiding FinTech growth.

“Andrew’s long-running expertise in startups, fintech, and also cryptocurrency made him an ideal candidate to take up the reins and lead the organisation into the future,” Ms Joyce said.

Do you know more? Contact James Riley via Email.

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Local Romantic Makes A Few Lifestyle Changes After Learning Girlfriend Is Into Sickly String-beans — The Betoota Advocate - The Betoota Advocate

EFFIE BATEMAN | Lifestyle | Contact

A local bloke has had his whole worldview turned on its head after finding out that his girlfriend isn’t into muscly men, or really any man that he would deem attractive by his conventional beauty standards.

This startling realisation is said to have occurred when Anthony made an offhand remark about finding the Pete Davidson and Kim Kardashian coupling odd, with Georgie quickly informing him that Pete was actually quite the hottie and she got it completely – earning a rather puzzled look from Anthony, as he tried to digest this new information.

“You’re not serious are you?” asks Anthony, pulling up a picture of Pete on his phone, “this guy?”

“He looks like he’s never eaten a green vegetable in his life.”

“He’s fucking anaemic?”

Thinking it may have just been an anomaly, Anthony was ready to move on when the subject came up again, this time while they were watching the latest episode of Euphoria.

“I know he’s an asshole but he’s so hot”, says Georgie, “like he’s so manipulative but you can’t deny he’s got some moves.”

Thinking she was talking about the poster boy for sheer male perfection, Jacob Elordi, Anthony was about to agree when Georgie added that it’s a shame he’s probably going to die, given his association with Rue.

“Wait, Elliot? Are you for real?”

“His arms are skinnier than yours?”

Looking at his girlfriend like she was a mad woman, Anthony had asked for an explanation when he was hit with some hard facts – prompting him to completely reconsider if pumping iron and smashing calories was even worth it.

“It’s because they’re charming, funny and have that big dick energy”, says Georgie, “you know you could have a good conversation with them because they’ve worked on it. They’re kind of like the cool, funny kids from school.”

“Like yes, Jason Mamoa is objectively hot but he’d be so full of himself, and you’d always worry about his attention straying.”

“Super hot people are boring.”

“Give me a malnourished funny man any day.”

More to come.

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Tyler Wright loses Pipeline semi-final as local Moana Jones Wong claims title - ABC News

Australian Tyler Wright's Pipeline run has ended in a frustrating semi-final loss to local wildcard Moana Jones Wong, who progressed to win a historic title in Hawaii.

Key points:

• Tyler Wright's brother, Owen, suffered a serious head injury at Pipeline in 2016
• This was the first time women competed in the season opener at the Hawaiian break
• Local wildcard Moana Jones Wong claimed victory over reigning champ Carissa Moore

Wright took more than 30 minutes to catch her first wave, scoring a heat-best 8.83-point back-door barrel at the dangerous North Shore break.

But the Australian couldn't find anything else of substance to overtake Jones Wong, slapping the water in disgust when she lost priority with three minutes to go by paddling into a monster wave she eventually passed up.

Wright, whose brother Owen suffered a serious head injury on a wave in 2016, admitted it took a bulk of her heat for the fear to subside.

"I was out too far, then in too far but by the end of the heat I was in-sync, knowing what I was in for," Wright said.

"I got that back door, missed a right, then that left at the end of the heat - that's a broken body or a 10-point ride.

"I have to surf in five days (at the Hurley Pro Sunset Beach); I chose to play it a little bit safe."

Local hope Jones Wong (14 points) was far busier and at home on the intimidating break, pairing 7.67 and 6.33-point waves to oust Wright (9.76).

The wildcard entrant - touted as the Queen of Pipeline - then delivered again in the final against reigning world champion Carissa Moore.

Jones Wong notched the six best rides of the decider to dominate 14.34 points to 3.73.

Wright won at Pipeline last year after the Maui Pro event was moved at the midway point after a shark attack.

It is the first time the women have surfed at the Hawaiian North Shore break from the outset in Championship Tour competition.

"I can't believe it, I'm losing it, this is the best moment of my life," Jones Wong said from the beach, a day after Kelly Slater's emotional men's victory.

"I never thought I was ever going to accomplish this ... Carissa is my favourite surfer, my hero."

Wright said the historic move for the women to the break traditionally reserved for men's competition was a non-negotiable.

"There's so many young girls on the sand, I'm sure every woman is losing their minds (watching)," she said.

"We do deserve to be out there, have competition in this line up.

"Moana is leading that charge; give us a few years to get in sync, get our pins (best locations to catch a wave) down.

"I know me personally I hope I'll be able to make the most of every wave that comes through out there."

AAP/ABC

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Sales spike for Geraldton butcher after supermarket meat shortage leaves shelves bare - ABC News

A Geraldton butcher says he has seen a significant spike in sales as supermarket meat shortages leave consumers turning to local suppliers. 

Key points:

• Major supermarket shortages are driving Geraldton consumers to small suppliers
• It follows growing demand for locally produced meat
• The industry says staff shortages are an ongoing concern

Mick Davey Butchers owner Rod O'Bree said his business had seen a 15 to 20 per cent increase in sales over the past month and many new customers.

"Definitely had a number of clients coming in saying they haven't been able to get stock and they're repeat sales now," he said.

Mr O'Bree said the bump in sales came after a steady increase in business over the past year, which he put down to promoting local suppliers and regenerative agricultural practices.

"We've doubled on last year's October, November and December [sales]. Basically, it just keeps rising," he said.

Mick Davey Butchers owner Rod O'Bree has seen a growing increase in demand for local meat products.(ABC Midwest and Wheatbelt: Bridget Herrmann)

"The support has been fantastic."

Mr O'Bree said other local butchers were also seeing strong demand.

"Even the local supermarket, Rigters, the boys are trying to push out as much product as they can," he said.

Labour shortages hit industry hard

Mr O'Bree said the region's widespread labour shortages were "quite tough".

"We've all got challenges ahead of us going forward. The next three months I think are going to be a bit messy," he said.

"Everybody's been struggling a little bit. There are bandaids at the moment. I think the big test will come when all of a sudden two or three [workers] are sick.

"Then food supply and a lot of other things are going to become very stretched.

"The biggest issue is going to be staff for abattoirs or butchers to process the stock. That's where it will come into question."

The director-general of Emergency Management Australia Joe Buffone said empty shelves in stores were the result of staff shortages, not food supplies.

Mr Buffone says there are no food shortages.(Supplied: CFA)

"There are no food shortages, as we speak right now … it's about the staffing levels," Mr Buffone said.

Emergency Management Australia is part of a national task force that is setting up new COVID testing arrangements for the industry.

"One of the biggest challenges at the moment is the workforce because that's obviously impacting on both distribution centres, freight and also … at the retail outlet," Mr Buffone said.

"These policies and procedures will limit the amount of staff that need to be furloughed. In other words, that will need to stay home.

"So, it's about getting them back into their workplace as quickly as possible, but also as safely as possible."

Last month the Australian Meat Industry Council welcomed the easing of isolation rules for meat processing workers.

Find more local news

Vaccine mandate affects staff

Mr O'Bree said the COVID vaccinate mandate for meat industry workers had also created a challenge.

"[It was] a little bit of a struggle when we got to that vaccination period for butchers. Unfortunately three of the boys chose not to," he said.

"I hope we get them back sooner or later because they were critical to what's going on."

Mr O'Bree said while staff resources could end up stretched, local meat supplies would not be.

"There's enough cattle in this region to support Geraldton and the mid-west," he said.

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Sales spike for Geraldton butcher after supermarket meat shortage leaves shelves bare - ABC News
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The White Handkerchief review – Bloody Sunday powerfully relived by a local cast - The Guardian

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The White Handkerchief review – Bloody Sunday powerfully relived by a local cast  The Guardian
The White Handkerchief review – Bloody Sunday powerfully relived by a local cast - The Guardian
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