All welcome at The Old Butter Factory Café, Doepel St, Bellingen.

The Chamber is proud to bring you these 2 Important presentations!

Is Your Business FloodSafe?
Be wise, Be clever and Be Prepared!

Does your business know what to do if flooding is  predicted?

Flooding causes an average of $128 million damage in NSW each year.

A business in the Bellingen area is more likely to suffer damage from a flood than a fire.

At this business breakfast you will hear from Bellingen SES and Bellingen Shire Council about the impact of local floods, the role of SES during floods, and what steps your business can take to be better prepared. At the end of the session you can take a free copy of the SES Business FloodSafe Toolkit.

Don’t be a victim of Crime – Prevention is better than cure!!

Inspector Brendan Gorman from the Coffs Clarence Local Area Command will be talking to business owners about crime prevention. He will be passing on tips and strategies to minimise the risk to your business of crime. Inspector Gorman joined the police in 1990, graduating in 1991. He has spent most of his working life policing in Western Sydney until his promotion to Inspector with Coffs/Clarence LAC in December 2011.

Everyone welcome for breakfast and networking!

Bookings essential by midday Wed 30^th May Registration 7am for 7.30 start.

Chamber members and their guests – $20,   Non members – $25.   Please pay on the day.

RSVP to Andrew – coordinator@bellingenchamber.com.au

Ph 0447 647 828 or web – www.bellingenchamber.com.au

Get the flyer and tell your friends

business, how the process can be undertaken and who is available to support the

process is critical, especially in times of great economic change and uncertainty.

INNOVATION! WHY? HOW? WHO? is a forum presenting the opportunities, process and

networks available to businesses which adopt research, development and innovation as a

potential business growth strategy hosted by Manufacture Coffs Coast Inc.

To be held at Bonville Golf Resort Thursday 24th May from 3:30pm, this is a rare

opportunity to meet a targeted network of professionals and organisations which work with

businesses of all sizes to bring about innovation in the areas of business strategy,

product development and intellectual property. Learn not only what Federal Government

grants, services and tax incentives are available from AusIndustry and Enterprise

Connect, but how to apply and what you can claim. You may be able to claim some

current business activities under the R&D Tax Incentive, don’t miss out!

Read all about it

• Start Up Business Development Program, sees new business owners mentored by more experienced business people.

• Key Business Development Program provides assistance to existing business managers/owners.

Both programs use mentors that come with a wide diversity of business and industry experiences, not necessarily from the same industry or sector, but experienced in business in general.

The programs are operated through the Edmund Barton Centre, a not-for-profit organisation sponsored by the NSW Business Chamber with funding support from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

The initiative which has been successfully piloted in Port Macquarie for 3 years has helped over 180 businesses and generated 140 sustainable jobs.

The initiative is now being extended to the Nambucca – Bellingen and is coordinated by Client Manager, Rod Leane.

“Too often new and existing businesses fail, not so much because of financial circumstances, but by poor management decisions” said Mr Leane. “The idea here is to use the knowledge and experience of the mentors to guide the business owners, and further improve our business communities” he added.

15 May, 2012

NBN Co announces plans for fixed wireless broadband on the North and Mid North Coast

The company building Australia’s national broadband network, NBN Co, today unveiled the locations in the Taree, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour regions, which are scheduled to receive high-speed fixed wireless broadband.

The fixed-wireless network will deliver high-speed broadband to homes and businesses at wholesale speeds up to 150 times faster than dial-up and up to eight times faster than ADSL*.

“For decades, rural and regional Australia has been left behind when it comes to telecommunications,” NBN Co General Manger of External Relations Trent Williams said today.

“NBN Co’s plan to deliver high speed broadband to every Australian using one of three technologies – fibre, fixed wireless and satellite – aims to change that.

Read the full list of sites here

Tonight the Federal Government has delivered a long awaited balanced Budget for 2012-13, but the path to surplus has been paved with additional cost burdens on Australian business.

This is a Budget that returns to surplus on the back of hard working Australian businesspeople. The Government has imposed significant additional costs on businesses, costs that will be particularly difficult to bear given the current weakness in the economic outlook.

It is a Budget that fails to reward Australian businesses for driving the world’s most resilient economy by stripping away the promise of a modest company tax cut and instead imposes an even greater burden through the start of the world’s biggest carbon tax from 1 July.

Budget key points:

• A forecast $1.5 billion surplus in 2012/13;

• Economic growth forecast next year at 3.25%;

• Abandonment of the promised company tax cut (was to reduce from 30% rate to 29% as part of mining tax);

• New small business loss carry back scheme;

• Other tax imposts (not proceeding with standard deduction promise, reduced living away from home concessions, reducing some higher income concessional caps for superannuation, reduced tax concessions on termination pay);

• Spending cuts (including to defence, foreign aid, tightening access to some traineeship payments and extra GST compliance);

• New spending on families, on disability scheme, aged care and dental care;

• Modest new investment in skills (including mature aged workforce participation, and upskilling trades persons to operate own businesses – an ACCI proposal); and

• The carbon tax remains from 1st July.

NSW Business Chamber has analysed tonight’s Budget and has provided our judgement on the impact it will have on our members.

A full copy of the NSW Business Chamber’s media release is available on our website.

NSW Business Chamber would warmly welcome the sharing of your views on this Federal Budget.

You can share your views with us on NSW Business Chamber’s Twitter account or through our Facebook page.

P.S. TELL THE FEDERAL TREASURER WHAT YOU THINK OF THE BUDGET

NSW Business Chamber will be hosting the Federal Treasurer, Wayne Swan, for his annual post-Budget Luncheon address to the NSW business community on Tuesday 15 May.

This event is your opportunity to tell the Federal Treasurer what you think of the Federal Budget and share your views on the direction Australian business is heading.

Please join us for this important business briefing.

Further details including registration are available on the NSW Business Chamber website.

Yours sincerely

Stephen Cartwright

Chief Executive Officer

NSW Business Chamber

GOVERNMENT’S ‘FAIR GO’ BUDGET COMES AT COST TO BUSINESS

While the Government has delivered a long awaited balanced Budget in 2012-13, the path to surplus has been paved with additional cost burdens on Australian business according to NSW’s peak business organisation, the NSW Business Chamber.

“This is a Budget that returns to surplus on the back of hard working Australian businesspeople. The Government has imposed significant additional costs on businesses, costs that will be particularly difficult to bear given the current weakness in the economic outlook,” said Kellon Beard, Regional Manager of the Mid North Coast NSW Business Chamber.

“It’s a Budget that fails to reward Australian businesses for driving the world’s most resilient economy by stripping away the promise of a modest company tax cut and instead imposes an even greater burden through the start of the world’s biggest carbon tax from 1 July.

RETURN TO SURPLUS

“The Prime Minister and Treasurer had made a public commitment to return the budget to surplus and this budget does indeed deliver on that promise.

“A strong sense of fiscal responsibility and a determination to balance the nation’s finances should be applauded when compared to other nations which are facing up to the reality of painful austerity measures due to lax spending restraint.

“Returning the Budget to surplus will help to take pressure off interest rates and exchange rates, both of which are hurting Australian businesses.

SMALL BUSINESS TAX CUT / TAX LOSS CARRY BACK

“The Government’s decision to dump their promise to cut company tax to 29% is a blow to small and medium enterprises across the country, especially those who are not getting any benefit of the mining boom.

“Instead, the Government has chosen to redirect this funding to household support, despite households already receiving generous support for the impact of the carbon tax in previous packages.

“One of the few initiatives left from the original Henry Review is the mining tax, and it is disappointing that the Government has not even adopted an aspirational long-term goal of reducing the company tax rate to 25% or eliminating payroll tax, both of which were recommendations from the Henry Review.

“The loss carry back scheme and the increase in the small business instant asset write off scheme are both welcome but are not an appropriate replacement for a cut in the company tax rate. The scheme is estimated to only contribute about a sixth of the value a cut in the company tax rate would have provided to business.

DEFENCE

“The decision to reduce defence spending by $5.4 billion will be felt heavily by the defence industry.

“Defence is not an industry that can be turned off and on at will. Our defence capabilities are easy to lose but very costly and difficult to redevelop if we cut the wrong programs or cancel the wrong orders.

“Australia’s defence industrial capability has been progressively eroded over time with reductions in sustainment and a developing emphasis on off-the-shelf purchases, and a significant reduction in the defence budget will exacerbate this trend.

THE CARBON TAX

“This is the budget that includes the world’s biggest carbon tax on a nation that emits about 1.5% of the world’s carbon emissions. The business community remains sceptical about the benefits of the Federal Government’s ‘go it alone’ approach to reducing global carbon emissions.

“This budget confirms the Federal Government’s policy of turning a blind eye to the impact of the carbon tax on Australia’s international economic competitiveness. This budget provides practically no support for the millions of small businesses who will be hit with higher running costs as the cost of the carbon tax flows through electricity prices and goods and services used by business.

“What little the Federal Government appears to be giving Australia’s struggling business community with one hand, it is taking far more with the other.

“Businesses do not have an unlimited capacity to absorb additional Government imposed costs. These challenges are only compounded by the current weakness in the economic outlook, which is particularly difficult for NSW businesses given that so few of them are able to tap into the fast lane of the mining sector.

PACIFIC HIGHWAY

“The promise of more funding for the Pacific Highway upgrade is welcome but business is sick of the politics that surrounds this project. Both the Federal and NSW Governments need to come to an agreement on finishing this long overdue project by 2016,” Mr Beard said.

Kellon Beard

Regional Manager | Membership Services | NSW Business Chamber

“Finally one of the big banks has recognised the necessity to give their small business customers some much needed interest rate relief by passing on the RBA’s 50 basis point cut in full,” said Kellon Beard, Mid North Coast NSW Business Chamber Regional Manager.

Mr Beard said small businesses had got the short end of the stick on cuts to borrowing rates during the GFC while residential borrowers got a much better deal in comparison.

“Westpac’s decision to cut their business loans by the full 0.5% is a step in the right direction to bringing small business borrowing rates back in line with pre-GFC levels.

“The question now is, if Westpac can do it, why can’t they all?”

Kellon Beard

Regional Manager | Membership Services | NSW Business Chamber

Read Newsletter

Beverley Jackson from WorkCover, who was to be our next breakfast speaker but couldn’t make it, has kindly provided some information and web links (below). Thanks to Ruth for liaising with Beverley.

Also, Australian Business Training Solutions (ABTS), which is the training arm for the NSW Business Chamber, is delivering a wide range of safety and business training. See this link:

http://view.email.nswbc.com.au/?j=fe571576766d037a7711&m=fef91d70726501&ls=fdf110737d6c047974117870&l=fef616747c650d&s=fe2913787465027d751378&jb=ffcf14&ju=fe33167175620574741478&r=0

Pete Bennetts

UMCC

02-6655.5001

1. Understanding the new Work Health and Safety Act – A practical guide.

2. Information on the 2012 Work Health and Safety legislation at http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/newlegislation2012/Pages/default.aspx, with a number of subheadings with more detailed information on specific topics.

3. A small business website is at http://smallbusiness.workcover.nsw.gov.au/Pages/Home.aspx , with a number of links to guidance material, tools and documents for small businesses.

4. There are a number of pre-recorded webinars on the 2012 legislation at http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/newlegislation2012/assistance-and-support/Pages/whs-webinars.aspx. Some of the webinars offered in the past will eventually go up as pre-recorded webinars, so it is worth keeping an eye on the page over the coming weeks.

5. There are a number of trainer resources at http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/lawpolicy/Policiesreasearchgrants/grants/Pages/default.aspx, which may be useful.

6. The $500 rebate program for small businesses has been revamped, with different criteria. Info and application form at http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/newlegislation2012/assistance-and-support/small-business-rebate/Pages/default.aspx.

[WorkCover don’t have any public workshops scheduled. However, if there is sufficient interest from Chamber members, WorkCover provided a request form for Chamber to request a workshop, presentation or information session.]

Beverley Jackson

Business Advisory Officer | Business Assistance Branch

WorkCover NSW

Suite 33, Jetty Village Shopping Centre, 361 Harbour Drive COFFS HARBOUR 2450

Phone: (02) 6659 1706

Mobile: 0428 105 261

Fax: (02) 9287 4456

Email: beverley.jackson@workcover.nsw.gov.au

WORK SAFE4HOME SAFE