Author: media

Hear one of Australia’s most influential financial leaders, Ian Narev, talk of how trust and gut instinct has guided his journey to becoming Commonwealth Bank Group general manager and CEO. Mr Narev, who holds Masters degrees in Law and International Relations, will outline the critical challenges for the CBA, particularly the disruptive technology threats from global players and the calls for more competition in the banking sector. He will also outline his vision for growth and the leadership strategies that he believes are essential to a dynamic, innovative and customer-centric organisation. Hosted by journalist and QUT Alumna Ellen Fanning.

Tickets on sale January 13, here.

The QUT Business Leaders’ Forum is recognised as the pre-eminent business leadership event in Brisbane. For over a decade it has developed an international reputation for attracting dynamic world-class leaders in a dialogue on today’s leadership challenges. The Forum informs, challenges and inspires audiences on leadership, business excellence, corporate social responsibility, sustainability and related public policy.

Queensland’s business and political community hear prominent speakers explore trends, issues and ideas shaping the economy and politics of the nation. The Forum is also the city’s premier event for high-level networking.

Each forum features a speaker’s presentation, followed by an informal interview and questions from the audience. Each event is moderated by one of Australia’s most respected journalists, Kerry O’Brien.

I welcome the announcement of a date for the Griffith by-election.

The people of Griffith deserve an elected federal representative working for them full-time again.

Unfortunately Kevin Rudd let the people of Griffith down by resigning so soon after last year’s election. The people of Griffith deserved better from Labor.

This by-election will give the voters of Griffith the opportunity to choose a strong voice in the Australian Government with the experience to get more done for our community.

As a long-term local resident, a dad, a local doctor, a small business owner and community volunteer with the disadvantaged, I’ve been involved in the Griffith community and its issues for a long time.

I’ve also had the privilege, while president of the AMA, to work with both sides of politics to deliver better health services for all Australians – regardless of their circumstances. I want to use my experience of working with people from across the community to be a strong and effective voice for the people of Griffith in the federal parliament.

I’m standing for election in Griffith to make a real and positive difference for the Griffith community in the federal parliament. I’ll be a strong and experienced voice that local people can rely on.

Some of my priorities are:

• Improving frontline health services, and delivering on our commitment to establish Hummingbird House, a children’s respite and hospice facility at Kangaroo Point;
• Abolishing the Carbon Tax, saving average families $550 next year alone;
• Creating more local jobs by reducing taxes and regulations on small business and increasing their ability to compete – which will be helped by the Government’s new competition review;
• A stronger, safer community through more CCTVs, and support for sporting and community groups.

I ask the people of Griffith for their support to give our community a strong voice in the Australian Government who will get more things done locally.

The Newman Government is refocusing Tourism and Events Queensland’s (TEQ) international operations.

Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games, Jann Stuckey said these changes will see the agency focus on key growth markets, to assist the doubling of annual visitor expenditure from $15 billion to $30 billion by 2020.

“These changes include increasing TEQ’s presence in key growth markets of China, Singapore, India and Indonesia while maintaining a balanced effort in traditional markets,” she said.

“The Newman Government has made it a priority to reinvigorate this pillar of the Queensland economy.

“In December last year we combined the resources and expertise of the former Tourism Queensland and Events Queensland into the new Tourism and Events Queensland to  focus on driving growth in Queensland’s tourism and event industries.

“In the year to June 2013, Queensland outperformed national growth across all of these international markets with visitor numbers increasing from China (24%), Singapore (41%), India (20%) and Indonesia (32%).

“Visitors from these emerging markets represent more than 20 per cent of all international travellers and visitor expenditure to Queensland, collectively contributing more than $783 million to the state during the past financial year.”

These changes meant that, Tourism and Events Queensland will:

• Increase its presence in China with the addition of a Beijing representative to target the northern China market and a specialist digital marketing resource in Shanghai.
•  Establish a market presence in Indonesia by appointing a Jakarta based representative.
• Develop a South East Asia hub based in Singapore recognising its importance as a vital transit hub. The office will also oversee and expand representation in India.
• Appoint an in-market representative in the Americas to capitalise on emerging opportunities in South America as well as continuing to grow the USA and Canada markets.

Minister Stuckey said the organisation had undertaken a review of its international operations with a view to ensure Queensland maintains a presence across a balanced portfolio of international markets.

“This action is further evidence of how the Newman Government is delivering its commitment to grow a four pillar economy.”

Think twice before you throw away your business waste.

The New Year is often a time for companies to sweep out their cupboards – out with the old and in with the new! But what happens to all of the valuable and useful materials that get thrown out?

Reverse Garbage is helping to keep these materials out of Brisbane landfills and encouraging businesses to think twice before wasting valuable resources.

Companies having new year clear outs can now do the right thing by the environment, and help to reduce their waste disposal costs by using the services of Reverse Garbage – for free!

Reverse Garbage collects an infinite array of clean discards that include pre-consumer waste materials (eg. factory offcuts), used items from retailers (eg. mannequins and shop displays), outdated stock (eg. fabric sample books), mis-prints (eg. vinyl banners), packaging (eg. foam) and more.

“We get a great response from local manufacturers, retailers and businesses” says Director Louise Gillard.

“Most people know that the materials they throw out are too good to be wasted but they are just not sure what else to do with them and this is where Reverse Garbage can help” Louise says.

Reverse Garbage diverts approximately three tonnes of waste from going to landfill every week and collects from approximately 300 businesses in the greater Brisbane area. This includes both regular and one-off collections.

Louise explains that “business owners are happy to know that their offcuts are being used by schools, childcare centres, artists, students and home renovators.”

“What makes it even more appealing is that the service we offer is free so it saves businesses from paying disposal fees, while also helping them to reduce their environmental impact” Louise says.

Business owners with clean waste materials can check out the Reverse Garbage website for more information on this service and to contact Reverse Garbage.

What – Reverse Garbage Discards Collection Service

When – All year round

Where – Reverse Garbage, 20 Burke St, Woolloongabba

Cost – The service is free of charge

Contact – (E) info@reversegarbage.com.au or discards@reversegarbage.com.au

(P) 07 3891 9744

(W) www.reversegarbage.com.au/discards-collection

Healthy Waterways hosts Brisbane launch of ‘Talking Trash Tour’

Healthy Waterways has bid farewell for the launch of Talking Trash Tour on its ocean voyage from Brisbane to Sydney.

Healthy Waterways, in partnership with Tim Silverwood (from Take 3) and Canadian adventurer Adrian Midwood (from Ocean Ambassadors), launched the S.V. Moana catamaran on its ocean voyage to raise awareness about the impacts of plastic pollution on our oceans and wildlife.

The Talking Trash Tour aims to profile solutions to this growing problem and inspire local communities to take action.

Julie McLellan, CEO of Healthy Waterways, said that plastic never biodegrades, it breaks up into smaller and smaller pieces, gradually turning our waterways and oceans into a ‘plastic soup’.

“Healthy Waterways is calling on the general public to join our Plastic Pollution Revolution on Facebook and pledge an action to reduce their plastic footprint,” Ms McLellan said.

“Every person who makes a pledge will not only help to reduce the harmful impact of plastic on turtles and other wildlife, they will also go in the draw to win a family holiday to Tangalooma Island Resort,” Ms McLellan said.

“Healthy Waterways joined forces with Take 3, Ocean Ambassadors and local residents to raise awareness about the damaging impacts of plastics in our oceans, and to showcase the innovative technologies that are being developed to help turn this waste product into a valued resource” Ms McLellan said.

Adrian Midwood, Founder of Ocean Ambassadors said that he is excited to be in Australia visiting communities along the east coast of Australia with his vessel S.V. Moana.

“It is evident that plastic pollution is a big problem globally, so it’s great to be in Brisbane advocating real solutions to the community,” he said.

“The S.V. Moana is the flagship of the Ocean Ambassadors, and serves as a demonstration vessel equipped with the latest technology in the fight against plastics, including Japanese Blest technology that converts plastic waste into oil,” he said.

Tim Silverwood, Director of Take 3, said that in every square kilometre of Australia’s coastline there is over 4,000 pieces of plastic rubbish.

“The Talking Trash Tour is about visiting coastal communities and igniting conversation about plastic pollution and illustrating how we can all make a positive difference. We want people to come to our events, learn more about the problem, discover exciting solutions and walk away feeling like they can contribute,” he said.

Healthy Waterways is a non government, not-for-profit organisation working to protect and improve waterway health in South East Queensland.

More info: www.healthywaterways.org

I welcome the announcement today that the by-election for the seat of Griffith will be on February 8 2014. Terri Butler – ALP candidate for Griffith

This will be a hard fought campaign and it’s a fight I am ready for. The people of Griffith deserve a strong voice.

The question for the people of Griffith is a simple one: do you want to give Mr Abbott’s LNP government a tick of approval?

Tony Abbott, Campbell Newman and the LNP have repeatedly let down the people of Griffith: the NBN has been scrapped for an outdated system that is 40 times slower; health funding has been cut and funding for childcare has been cut.

People are rightly concerned about the reported GP fees – really, a health tax. It’s a proposal that has been strongly criticised by the AMA. And it’s an attack on Medicare and Australians’ access to healthcare. Mr Abbott and his government have conspicuously failed to rule out this new tax, even though they made no mention of it before the recent federal election.

The people of Griffith are looking for a strong voice for our local community – they are looking for someone to stand up to Tony Abbott and to fight for the issues that matter to them. That’s why I’ll be fighting for access to fast broadband and affordable childcare for Griffith.
This by-election is an opportunity for the people of Brisbane’s Southside to send Tony Abbott a message that we deserve better.