Today we had a call from the ABC’s Q&A show where federal politicians take questions from the Australian public. This is a great opportunity for our community of businesswomen to be represented and to have an opportunity to raise the issues that impact your small business. I’ll post details on how and when to apply to be in the audience as soon as I get them. 

19 January 2009

ninemsn online news reports that a leading economic forecaster has warned its clients to batten down the hatches for the sharpest deceleration Australia’s economy has ever experienced.  But Australia is in a better position than almost any other rich nation heading into recession, Access Economics says. And not everyone - especially those who have no reason to fear losing their job - will be impacted adversely by the dramatic slowdown this year.  “Really big and bad news is headed our way,” Access said in its Business Outlook for December 2008, released on Monday.   “Conditions are worsening very rapidly. This is not just a recession, it will be the sharpest deceleration Australia’s economy has ever seen.” 

Access is predicting a cautious recovery after late 2009, dependent on housing prices - forecast to soften by between five per cent to 8 per cent - and unemployment.  The news is not so good for the federal government’s budget which will take a king hit from falling company tax payments, and for the nation’s current account deficit which Access tips to rise from $65 billion this financial year to $100 billion in 2009-10.    

It warns the Rudd government will not have sufficient money to finance its reform agenda for education, infrastructure, climate change and water management. 

For the full story, including a list of Access Economics’ forecasts for 2009, click here to visit  ninemsn online news.

The Australian Fair Pay Commission is inviting written submissions from interested groups and individuals in the lead-up to the July 2009 Minimum Wage Decision.

The Commission is interested in receiving a wide range of views on issues relevant to minimum wages. Submissions need not be lengthy and can address some or all of the following criteria:

• the capacity for the unemployed and low paid to obtain and remain in employment
• employment and competitiveness across the economy
• providing a safety net for the low paid
• minimum wages for junior employees, employees to whom training arrangements apply and employees with disabilities that ensure those employees are competitive in the labour market.

The 2009 Minimum Wage Review will also include consideration of the impact of the Commission’s previous Minimum Wage Decision, as announced in July 2008.

The closing date for submissions is Friday, 20 March 2009.

Further details regarding the 2009 Minimum Wage Review and how to make a submission can be found at www.fairpay.gov.au or by calling 1300 139 699.

Please click here for more information about the Federal Minimum Wage and to access pay scale summaries.

The Australian Government has allocated $240 million over four years to establish Clean Business Australia a partnership with Australian business and industry for tackling climate change. Clean Business Australia will support a range of activities aimed at improving our energy and water efficiency and increasing sustainability, with a focus on productivity and innovation.

There are three elements to Clean Business Australia:

1. Climate Ready which supports small and medium sized Australian businesses to undertake research and development, proof of concept and early stage commercialisation projects, in order to develop new technologies and services responding to climate change.
2. Re-tooling for Climate Change which supports small and medium sized Australian manufacturers to reduce their environmental footprint, by improving the energy and/or water efficiency of one or more production processes.
3. Green Building Fund which supports owners of existing commercial office buildings to reduce their energy consumption and green house gas emissions. Support is also available for relevant industry organisations to develop industry capability in order to reduce emissions.

For each program, applicants compete for limited grant funds, based on the merit of their application.

Further information is available from Clean Business Australia .