E News September 2015 Issue 16

Mailing Address: PO Box 595 Charters Towers QLD 4820 Email: admin@charterstowerschamber.com.au Website:

www.charterstowerschamber.com.au

People working

together for a

strong community

Chamber News

CONGRATULATION TO THE NEW 2015/2016 MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Executive Committee:

Wayne Miller ~ President

Phil Hill-Warner ~ Vice President

Kellie Battle ~ Treasurer

Dominique Everard-Shepley ~ Secretary

Committee:

Aliaster Gordon

Denis Beahan

Fergus Tait

Jodie Collins

Ken Hudson

Our Mission

To continually strive to achieve the best possible business environment for

our members through advocacy at local, state and federal levels. To see

small businesses operating independently, with confidence, to ensure

sustainable commercial growth, create employment opportunities and

contribute to the economic development of the Charters Towers region.

We are the essential business partner for our members because we

provide the information that powers their potential to be successful in their

chosen field.

Our Vision

To be the active representational body for businesses in Charters Towers

To be a vibrant, relevant and engaged membership movement for

business

To become the essential partner for business

Wayne Miller—President

2015/ 2016

EXECUTIVE

President: Wayne Miller

Vice President: Phil Hill-Warner

Treasurer: Kellie Battle

Secretary: Dominique Everard-Shepley

Management

Committee: FERGUS TAIT

JODIE COLINS

DENIS BEAHAN

ALIASTER GORDON

KEN HUDSON

Chamber Meetings Dates 2015

We are only as strong as the voices that speak.

Come and have your say at our

monthly meetings!

General Meeting

Gold and Beef Rooms - Thursday 6.00pm

08 October – Forum

12 November

10 December

People working in partnership to build a stronger

future

mailto:admin@charterstowerschamber.com.auhttp://www.charterstowerschamber.com.au

Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) President Brett Moller will

step down from the role next month after two highly successful years.

Mr Moller, a Cairns lawyer, who joined the Gordonvale Chamber of Commerce in

1993, leaves CCIQ having achieved much for Far North Queensland region and for

small businesses right across the State. “My role as President has enabled me to

help some of the state’s 400,000 small to medium sized businesses in one form or

another. Lobbying and advocating on their behalf – all the way from Cook Town to

Canberra – is one of the achievements I am most proud of. I am pleased to be

involved of in an organisation such as CCIQ, which every day goes to bat for the

400,000 small businesses across the state, which employs more than one million

Queenslanders. It is also about helping create a better business environment and

to provide products, tools and services to assist business during their whole life

cycle.”

CCIQ is apolitical—it seeks to work with all sides of politics, at all levels of

government, to improve the legislative and regulatory environment for businesses

and to collaborate with other sectors and industries for the benefit of our members.

They have achieved a great deal of success at CCIQ in the past year, punching well

above our weight, and gained recognition for our work on the pages of the

esteemed Wall Street Journal, and reached an audience of about 70 million via

newspaper, television, radio and internet coverage. Some of our notable

achievements under Mr Moller’s terms at CCIQ have included:

• Launched public campaign to restore fairness in the Queensland Workers’

Compensation Scheme.

•State Budget – positively influenced framing of the State Budget, calling on the

State Government to reduce spending and pay down debt.

• Urged the State Government to develop a State Infrastructure Plan to invest in

infrastructure that delivers highest productivity gain and increased private sector

involvement.

•CCIQ appointed to Queensland Small Business Roundtable. Progressively lifting

payroll tax exemption threshold to $1.6 million.

•Launched ‘Target Red Tape’ campaign with commitment from both sides of

politics to reduce red tape. CCIQ is a member of the Advisory Council

•Advocated for business energy usage and costs

•Released a Workplace Relations Vision and Action Plan setting out

recommendations for a framework that meets the Fair Work Act

•CCIQ continues to appear before the Fair Work Commission to argue for wage

restraint under the Annual Wage Review process

•Continue to argue for employer-focused VET policies and stronger employer

incentives to hire trainees and apprentices.

Chamber organised a “Streetscape meeting” ~ where business in Gill and Mosman

Street and interested community members were invited to attend and have a say.

Thank you to Ramon Jayo, The Northern Miner, Pepper’s Café & Catering, The

Carvery & Salad Bar, Mr Brumby, Frank Beveridge, Jodie Collins, Dominique

Everard-Shepley and Wayne Miller. Various issues were discussed:

Bench seating—the style and number

Bins—the style

Cigarette bins

The state of the sidewalks—dirt/vomit/chewing gum etc.

Insects

General upkeep of buildings

A further meeting will be schedule with the hope more people will attend. Minutes

can be provided on request.

Regional Business

News

FOUR major exploration projects have been kick-started as a result of a

recent million-dollar injection by the Queensland Government.

The Minister for State Development and Minister for Natural Resources and

Mines announced $1.035 million would be granted to geoscientific

proposals which the department believes will significantly improve success

in the field of mining and exploration.

These projects will focus on developing new exploration techniques and

geoscientific information to help mineral and energy-related explorers

attract investment and better target exploration opportunities. Hopefully it

will help attract exploration investment back to Queensland, and support

ongoing resource sector growth.

Three of the four projects are based in the Cloncurry region, which

separately focus on developing detection methods for deep ore bodies,

creating a new suite of geophysical tools and using advanced simulation to

predict new mineralisation in north-west Queensland.

The fourth at Surat Basin will use leading-edge mapping technology to

better understand the region, while simultaneously ensuring sustainable

gas extraction and managing contamination risks.

The West

Chamber is looking for support in sponsorship to continue to give a high

level of services to the local businesses. We would like to hold various

workshops of value to the Businesses in the Community as well as bring

speakers to the town to help improve the running of business so that we

continue to grow and keep up with the current economic environment. If you

are interested in supporting the Charters Towers Chamber please contact:

Wayne Miller on 0448 871 588

Mount Isa City Council is considering applying to the Federal

Government to develop a radioactive waste management facility

in the region.

Earlier this year, the Department of Science and Industry invited states and

territories to nominate land for a facility to safely store Australia's

radioactive waste.

Mt Isa Mayor Tony McGrady said the creation of a waste facility could help

secure future jobs and stimulate the local economy. The reality is that while

mining is the mainstay of this economy here, and will be for many years to

come, we have a duty to look after ... or to look out for alternative forms of

employment for our people and quite honestly if we allowed this

opportunity to go by without at least investigating the possibilities we

shouldn't be in public life," he said.

He said it was timely given recent job cuts at Glencore’s 2 north-west zinc

mines, we are looking for another industry it's my responsibility to chase

that industry, get as much information as possible, consult with the local

community and, at the end of the day, if we believe it's going to be

beneficial to the economy of this area then we have a duty to go after it and

that's what I intend to do."

Chamber is proudly supported & sponsored by

Chamber is Committed to assisting the local business community.

The Charters Towers Regional Council Community Grants Programme proudly supports local sport,

art and culture.

Contact Council for more details.

AACCI calls for Australia to fast-track trade with Saudi Arabia

THE Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AACCI) urge the

Australian Government to commence negotiations with Saudi Arabia on a

Double Taxation Agreement.

“Bilateral investment between Saudi Arabia and Australia, particularly

infrastructure, real estate and agriculture, is encumbered because the

effective corporate tax rate is up to 50 percent (20% in Saudi Arabia plus up

to 30% in Australia)” the AACCI CEO, Suzannah Moss-Wright said.

Part of the Government’s on-going efforts to improve international

competitiveness in Australian business, the Australian Government needs to

commence negotiations on a double taxation agreement between the two

countries. Australian business would benefit from diversified funding

sources. Saudi Arabia is abundant with private financial wealth in excess of

US$1 trillion, and growing at a projected rate of 9.3 percent a year between

2014 and 2019, according to the Boston Consulting Group

www.charterstowers.qld.gov.au

A FACT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW According to Einstein's Special Theory of

Relativity, it is possible to go slower than light and faster than light, but it is

impossible to go the speed of light. Also, there is a particle called tackyon,

which is supposed to go faster than light. This means if you fire a tackyon

beam, it travels before you fire it.

Would you like to show case your business to other businesses?

How about holding a Meet & Greet? They are a useful way of getting to know

other Chamber Members and are wonderful for networking.

We are looking for interested businesses to come on board to contact

Chamber for details at admin@charterstowerschamber.com

Yeah for the month goes to The Northern Miner for helping Chamber get information out to the community—very much appreciated.

October is National Indigenous Business Month OCTOBER has been declared National Indigenous Business Month as a

result of efforts by Indigenous entrepreneurs who completed the MURRA

Indigenous Business Masterclass program at Melbourne Business School

earlier this year.