Commerce Ballarat News Bulletin 21 January - 27 January
"Let the word: Australian! Dignify the lowliest man."
ARTHUR BAYLDON
Upcoming Events
Lets Do Business in 2012
Date:17 Feb 2012
Members: $15.00pp includes beer and barby
Details: Mercure Ballarat, Main Road Ballarat
Begins at 1.30pm
A great opportunity to develop new relationships and strengthen current ones.
Members and Non-Members: REGISTER HERE
505 Club
Date: 23 February 2012
Non Members: $16.50
Members: Free
Details: Finding Futures, 30 Doveton Street North
5.30pm - 7.30pm
An evening of networking and fostering relationships to grow your business.
Members and Non-Members: REGISTER HERE
Ambrose Golf Day
Midlands Golf Course
Friday 2 March 2012
$330 (includes Golf, BBQ and drinks on course)
N.B Teams can only be hosted by Commerce members
Novelty holes and raffle to benefit CAFS
Limited teams
Members: REGISTER HERE
Items of Interest
Worksafe
If persons are requiring assistance with issues relating to workplace health and safety in Victoria, they can contact the WorkSafe Advisory Service by
calling 1800 136 089 or (03) 9641 1444 or email info@worksafe.vic.gov.au
The WorkSafe Advisory Service offers:
• answers to general occupational health and safety enquiries
• advice to workers of their WorkSafe rights, including health and safety and what to do if they are injured
• employer advice on WorkSafe premium and WorkSafe policy issues
• explaining return to work and rehabilitation rights and obligations
• help to resolve worker, employer and service provider concerns with the WorkSafe scheme.
• advice relating to Licence's to perform high risk work & Construction Induction
• order and enquire about WorkSafe publications
2012 Spirit of Community Leadership Award
Women & Leadership Australia would like to remind you that nominations for the 2012 Spirit of Community Leadership Award must be submitted by 8th February.
Through the award, regional and rural women from around the country enjoy the recognition that they truly deserve along with many benefits, including leadership development, new business and career opportunities, expansion of networks and positive promotion.
The Spirit of Community Leadership Award will be presented to a regional/rural woman who has made an outstanding and lasting contribution to her region/community. This contribution may take the form of an event or activity, an innovative business venture, a support network or group, fundraising or philanthropic activity, or dedication of personal time and skills. This woman will embody the true essence of what it means to be a driving force for positive change within the community.
Remember, only nominations that are submitted by Wednesday 8th February will be considered for the award.
To learn more about the Spirit of Community Leadership Award, or to nominate yourself or a friend, please visit www.wla.com.au/leadershipaward
Register your interest in the Clean Technology Programs!
The $1.2 billion Clean Technology Program is a part of the Australian Government’s Clean Energy Future Plan and will create incentives for business to reduce emissions and invest in clean energy through three components.
The $800 million Clean Technology Investment Program and the $200 million Clean Technology Food and Foundries Investment Program will provide grants to help manufacturing businesses to invest in energy efficient capital equipment and low emissions technologies, processes and products. These Programs are expected to be open to applications in early 2012.
The $200 million Clean Technology Innovation Program will provide grants to support business investment in R&D, proof of concept and early stage commercialisation activities that lead to the development of new clean technologies and associated services. This Program is expected to be open for applications in mid 2012.
Register for information with AusIndustry by phone, 13 28 24 or email, hotline@ausindustry.gov.au
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Articles
New year, new laws
Source My Business 24 January 2012
While you were ringing in the new year, governments were ringing in new laws. Here are three that you should know about.
Australian Consumer Law
On 1 January 2012, new laws came into force regulating consumer product warranties. This is related to the introduction of consumer guarantees under the ACL that came into force last year, replacing the warranties implied into consumer contracts under the old Trade Practices Act.
Product warranties must now include, word for word, the following statement amongst other things:
"Our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law. You are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure and compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage. You are also entitled to have the goods repaired or replaced if the goods fail to be of acceptable quality and the failure does not amount to a major failure."
Some recommendations:
You need to amend your consumer product warranty documents to include the above statement and to comply with a number of other specific requirements.
If your trading terms still refer to the Trade Practices Act, they need to be updated. Read More
Australian Bureau of Statistics
6457.0 International Trade Price Indexes, Australia, Dec 2011
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/6457.0?OpenDocument
6202.0 Labour Force, Australia, Dec 2011
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/6202.0?OpenDocument
8762.0 Engineering Construction Activity, Australia, Sep 2011
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/8762.0?OpenDocument
8782.0.65.001 Construction Activity: Chain Volume Measures, Australia, Sep 2011
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/8782.0.65.001?OpenDocument
Regional Industry Link
If you’re not on it, how are you going to know about it?
Register on www.regionalindustrylink.com.au
Click here for current opportunities