zilongwang/ReadingBank huggingface dataset:
the Commission addresses whether its previous review findings into the efficiency of the system remain relevant. Super system is not uniform - segments must be examined to gauge efficiency and ensure consumer protection We welcome the wider view of competition throughout the Issues Paper, and especially the overview encapsulated in Figure 3 of the Issues Paper. While the review relates to the system as a whole, it is important to recognise that the superannuation industry is not uniform, but rather is characterised by distinct segments. The segmentation of the superannuation industry was considered and consulted upon by APRA in 2015. APRA found that segmentation illustrated below to be effective in that it improves understanding, investigation and importantly benchmarking of the industry. Figure 1 Source: APRA, Segmentation of superannuation entities, Issued 19 February 2015, p 2 The primary segmentation between for-profit and not-for-profit RSEs has proved particularly significant in APRA’s analysis in relation to the key metrics of net returns for members, the of conflicts of interest, and the inefficiencies in the use of related parties. The segmentation in Figure 3 of the Issues Paper should be enhanced to identify the segments which operate on a not-for-profit basis and a for-profit basis, and be informed by the existing evidence of inefficiencies within for-profit vertically integrated structures where principal-agent relationships have been found to not align with superannuation fund members’ best interests (this research will be described in detail in the relevant sections below). All segments must be taken into account when assessing inefficiencies AIST recommends that the Commission avoids accepting untested assumptions about the superannuation industry or accepting the narrative handed to it by preceding inquiries – especially the Financial System Inquiry and the Government’s response to it. We take special issue with the undue focus on the default system as a cause of inefficiencies, with the rationale of disengagement and limited pressure on fees. We argue that disengagement exists across the whole of superannuation – including those members in Choice options and SMSFs. Consumers in all segments of super system must be protected Current default system protects members The default system is a fundamental protection for superannuation consumers, designed in recognition of widespread member disengagement.
measures implemented. This will generally require the use of modelling tools which are now becoming commonplace. This is illustrated diagrammatically below. Although not always unrecognised, the original intent of the NWQMS was to provide for integrated water resource planning and management. It encompasses the protection of a wide range of values, environmental as well as other ‘public benefit’ outcomes (e.g. drinking water supply, recreation, cultural and spiritual). Although its primary focus was on water quality management one of the core documents, ‘The Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality’ provides limited guidance on flow management (see Sn. 8.2.3.7). Recommendation Progress revision of the NWI ‘Policy Guidelines for Water Planning and Management’ (endorsed by COAG in 2012) to reflect an integrated approach to water planning, by inclusion of other stressors such as water quality. This is similar to the recommended action to explore whether: the preparation of a module to the NWI Policy Guidelines for Water Planning and Management is required to assist in the integration of water quality and water quantity planning and management. (Sn. 4.2, ‘Next Steps in National Water Reform: Preparation for the Future’). Other issues There are a number of other issues some of which may fall outside the terms of reference for the review, but can have a dramatic impact on the uptake and implementation of water reform. The current paradigm is that water for environmental purposes is ‘held’ as an entitlement similar to other entitlements. This has resulted in the need for a bureaucracy (‘environmental water holder’) and somewhat convoluted decision making processes (subject to political pressure) on how best to use this environmental water. It would be preferable, and more consistent with objective planning if licences gained for environmental purposes were surrendered and converted into appropriate conditions in the water resource plan (‘planned environmental water’). The description of water resource planning in the glossary fails to recognise the requirement in the Murray Darling Basin for the water resource plan to incorporate a ‘water quality management plan’, providing limited alignment between water quantity and quality planning. The current modelled baseline for ‘natural’ flows is misleading. Fundamentally, it is based on the removal of infrastructure; it does not model flow under the natural vegetated condition of the catchment. This approach has contributed to the view that ‘interception’ by
In our members’ experience, the Australian Taxation Office (“ATO”) is often slow to take action with businesses that fail to meet their tax obligations, to the detriment of other creditors. The ATO will enter into repayments arrangements with businesses that are close to, or already, insolvent – unfairly extending a business’ operation to the detriment of its other creditors. This is particularly unfair as the ATO would be privy to information that the general trade creditor would not and thus other creditors are making uniformed decisions about continuing to offer credit during this extension of operations. In our submission we have consistently stated that it is important that companies demonstrate good corporate governance, and this includes compliance with their taxation obligations. There needs to be appropriate balance between the ATO allowing viable businesses an opportunity to repay their debt by entering into repayment arrangements, and taking action to wind up unviable businesses in a timely manner. We note that the ATO states that it performs viability assessments before entering into payment arrangements. However, the large number of recoveries of preferential payments made by liquidators from the ATO would indicate that payment arrangements are occurring while the company or debtor is insolvent. We note from the Inspector General in Taxation’s (IGT) website that the ATO’s approach to debt collection will be being considered as part of the IGT’s 2014 work program.Question 38 – Are there any other potential or existing barriers to business closure? ARITA refers the Commission to our Policy Positions Paper at Appendix A and to our precursor discussion paper “A Platform for Recovery 2014”. Question 39 – Given that governments use support and subsidies to meet particular policy objectives, what processes could be used to examine less distortionary alternatives? Are there approaches that could apply greater transparency to the use of government support and subsidies and their broader costs and benefits? ARITA does not have knowledge in this area and is unable to comment on the matters raised in the issues paper. Attitudes to risk and innovation Key Point 7A: Entrepreneurism should not be at the expense of good corporate governance and good lending practices
If there are particular areas of the Australian economy that are regarded as so important so as to the exclude the operation of the relevant legislation (and I argue that there can be very few if any that should be given that special treatment) then it is more appropriate for the legislation to clearly indicate why that particular area should be excluded from the operation of legislation. In that context, the Government should be asked to provide compelling reasons as to why the legislation is necessary. In my view there should be no reason why the relevant State /Territory government should be given that power in relation to matters that come within the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth. A competition/public interest impact statement must be prepared. In the event that this argument is not acceptable, the legislation should be amended to make it mandatory for the relevant Minister in wishing to override the relevant decision taken by the Council, the Tribunal (or whoever is relevant) to set out in detail why that decision has been taken. Regrettably the proposition that legislation when proposed should be supported by what is in effect a compelling cost benefit analyses and reasons for the legislation is given lip service to in Australia. A similar approach in my view should be taken if the relevant Minister wishes to override any decision taken by the relevant body. Governments will always reserve to themselves the power to introduce legislation in extreme situations; it is unlikely that we should see such extreme situations arising in the context of the access regime. Furthermore, the failure to require proper reasons being given for the veto power being exercised makes mockery of the principles behind the philosophy underpinning the current legislation.
Raisbeck P., Duffied C. and Xu M., 2010, Comparative performance of PPPs and traditional procurement in Australia, Construction Management and Economics 28(4), 345-359. Regan, M., Smith, J and Love, P., 2011, Impact of the capital market collapse on public-private partnership infrastructure projects, Journal of Construction Engineering and Management 137, 6-16. Regan, M., Smith, J and Love, P., 2011, Infrastructure procurement: learning from private-public partnership experiences ‘down under’, Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy 29, 363-378. Stanley, J. and Hensher, D., 2004, Melbourne’s Public Transport Franchising: Lessons for PPPs, Australian Accounting Review 14(2), 42-50. van Wee, B., 2007, Large Infrastructure Projects: A Review of the Quality of Demand Forecasts and Cost Estimations, Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design 34(4), 611-625. Vecchi, V., Hellowell, M. and Gatti, S., 2013, Does the private sector receive an excessive returns from investments in health care infrastructure projects? Evidence from the UK, Health Policy 110(2-3), 243-270. Wilson, T. and Rowe, F., 2011, The Forecast Accuracy of Local Government Area Population Projections: A Case Study of Queensland, Australasian Journal of Regional Studies 17(2), 204-243.
Hard copy correspondence to Julie McClure, Secretary AFA, Kallara Station, Tilpa, NSW 2840. Email: Terry Korn PSM, President AFA, ausfloodplain@bigpond.com, Submission by the Australian Floodplain Association – April 2018 Productivity Commission Review of the Murray Darling Basin Plan The Australian Floodplain Association (AFA) arose from a conference held in Dubbo in 2005 to address the plight of rivers, floodplains, wetlands and communities dependent on those systems in both the Lake Eyre and Murray Darling Basins. It was formally constituted in 2006 with the aim of benefiting communities and land managers whose livelihoods depend on healthy, sustainably managed river systems and associated floodplains. Its membership consists of floodplain graziers, community groups, shire councils and individuals from both urban and rural areas. All understand that healthy rivers mean healthy communities. The AFA is pleased that it has the opportunity to contribute to the Productivity Commission Review into the Murray Darling Basin Plan and it looks forward to contributing to the working group you have established for the review. The AFA has addressed request numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. Terry Korn PSM President Australian Floodplain Association 19 April 2018 Information Request 2 SDL Adjustment Projects Most of the SDL projects do not meet the criteria according to a comprehensive report by the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists.
trading terms and, perhaps most significantly, broad investment in a large range of books for every reader, from commercial mainstream fiction to specialist niche titles. LIKELY OUTCOME OF THE REMOVAL OF PARALLEL IMPORTATION RESTRICTIONS: REDUCED EFFICIENCY AND ACCESSIBILITY Fewer Australian bookshops will lead to fewer Australian books – less EFFECTIVE and less EFFICIENT Hachette Australia’s view is that, in light of economies of scale, smaller Australian retailers will probably only risk buying the top 10 to 20 Hachette Australia books a year from overseas suppliers. This is because purchase from overseas is highly likely only to be possible on a ‘firm sale’ basis, rather than on the ‘sale or return’ basis that operates between most Australian publishers and bookstores. The top 10 to 20 Hachette Australia books are the cream of its lists, and account for up to 19% of its turnover per year. Losing 19% of turnover a year from the sales of our top titles because large retailers and discount chains can bring in cheap stock from overseas would have a substantial impact on Hachette Australia’s business, particularly insofar as the range of titles it supports. Australian retailers buying books from overseas on a firm sale basis would, in turn, force Hachette Australia to also move to a firm-sale business model. This is because, in an open market, the larger bookselling concerns would quite likely place an initial firm sale order from an overseas wholesaler or publisher and then draw on local ‘sale or return’ stock to top up.
Support across Australia for an equalised National Sea Highway was substantial and the subject of a bidding war between Prime Minister’s Keating and Howard. Because of its impact on key marginal seats, it possibly gave John Howard government. NOTE: Government response came too late for proper investigation In the case of the recent Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme ‘TFES’ and BSPVES Productivity Commission review, the Federal Government’s response relating to the question raised by the PC as to the purpose of the BSPVES, came too late for it to be dealt with effectively by the PC, the ACCC or by the PC’s respondents. Regardless of this, the Productivity Commission should have an ongoing role in revisiting findings subsequently proven to be inappropriate, ineffective or inconsistent with sound democratic processes and proper fiscal redistribution. Peter Brohier was chairman of the former Committee for Bass Strait Transport Equality and the former National Sea Highway Committee, the catalysts behind the introduction of the BSPVES.
ORGANISATIONAL MEMBERS AS AT JUNE 30, 2016 2508+Disconnected Aadmi Co Able Australia Achieve Australia Adult Learning Australia Australia Institute (The) Australian Communication Exchange Australian Council of Social Service Australian Federation of Deaf Societies Australian Federation of Disability Organisations Australian Pensioners and Superannuants Federation Australian Privacy Foundation Australian Regional Business Development Specialists Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association Better Hearing Australia Better Internet for Rural, Regional & Remote Australia Blind Citizens Australia Broadband for the Bush Alliance Broadband Today Alliance CARE Inc Central Land Council Centre for Appropriate Technology Centre for eCommerce & Communications CHOICE CICADA QLD CITIES - Centre for Indigenous Technology Information and Engineering Solutions City of Greater Geelong Collective of Self Help Groups Combined Pensioners & Superannuants Assoc. of Victoria Communication Rights Australia Communications Law Centre Community Broadcasting Association of Australia Community Legal Centres NSW Consumer Action Law Centre Consumer Credit Legal Service WA Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre Consumers' Association of South Australia Consumers' Federation of Australia Copper Development Centre, Australia Ltd Council on the Ageing (WA) Inc. Council on the Ageing Australia Country Women's Association of Australia Cyberspace Law and Policy Centre Deaf Australia Deaf Children Australia Deaf NT Deaf Society of NSW Deafness Forum of Australia Desert Knowledge Australia Differently Abled People Association Inc. Digital Tasmania Diversicare Electronic Frontiers Australia Ethnic Communities Council of WA Evidence Technology Holdings Pty Ltd Family Drug Support Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia Financial Counselling Australia Financial Counsellors Association of Queensland Financial Rights Legal Centre Footscray Community Legal Centre Health Consumers of Rural & Remote Australia Helplines Australia Homelessness Australia Inc. IDEAS NSW Illawarra Legal Centre Inc Inclusive UX Pty Ltd Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network Ltd Indigenous Remote Communications Association Inner Sydney Regional Council for Social Development Internet Australia IP Neighborhood Isolated Children's Parents Association Australia Isolated Children's Parents' Association NT Isolated Children's Parents' Association of NSW Isolated Children’s Parents Association Queensland Isolated Children's Parents' Association WA itControl Kingsford Legal Centre Macarthur Legal Centre Media Access Australia
2 What is the scope of the study? Major project DAA processes The terms of reference are explicit that the study should cover major projects: across a broad range of development categories in urban and regional areas in Australia and in ‘comparable international systems’ and ‘alternative investment destinations’. However, ‘major project’ is not defined in the terms of reference, and there is no widelyaccepted definition of a major project within Australia. Individual jurisdictions and government agencies use a range of criteria to determine whether a development proposal attains major project status (box 1). The Commission considers that ‘major projects’ — for the purposes of this study — should include largescale private and public sector initiated projects and is interested in projects across a range of industry sectors, including resources, infrastructure and large commercial developments. The Commission, however, does not consider it practical to propose a threshold capital expenditure value, as the impacts of a development also depend on the nature of the project (for example, location or the type of development).
Large families Another major barrier is the size of some of the families. A number of our African Australian families number over 8 people so even if applying for a four bedroom house it is unlikely they will be successful if they are competing against smaller families. This can be compounded by the sponsoring process where a family assists other family members or complete families to come to Australia. Sometimes more than one family is housed together. ILLUSTRATION To comply with the tenancy agreements some families are forced to rent two houses. A number of our families and extended families live in two or three houses in the community. They try to stay within a suburb, but in the current housing shortage this may not be possible. Suggestion The Government needs to build large family based houses for African Australians (and other larger newly arrived families), that take in consideration cultural requirements. The model can be like that used for Indigenous communities where the communities were consulted and the government has designed and built places that address the cultural needs identified. Discrimination ILLUSTRATION One of the African families I work with received legal notice to leave the house as required by the landlord. The official reason was the end of the lease period. The unofficial reasons (not stated in the legal notice) were that they had damaged the house and more people than those listed on the lease were living in the house. Regarding the first argument, the agent made reference to a new stove which was not working two weeks after the family started using it. A notification for repair was made to the Real Estate but nobody came to fix it. After the required date for leaving the house, as the family had found no other place to move, the Real Estate eventually sent somebody for repair and it was found that an electrical failure (manufacture defect) was preventing the stove from working and there was not link between the family use of the stove and the defect. Consequently the Real Estate softened its position and allowed the family to stay in the house (without starting a judicial process) until they eventually find a new place to live. On the second count, the family was receiving daily visits from friends or relatives which made the house quite crowded during the day, but these persons were not living in the house and were out by the evening. No evidence has ever been provided by the Real Estate to substantiate their allegations. Relates to Q 4.10 In the story above, the family benefited as one of the family members has good English, is well-educated about the tenant’s rights and knows how to seek legal support. Consequently he stood up to the Real
The South Australian Government’s response to land use concerns such as those listed in the Issues Paper is to comprehensively re-shape the regulatory landscape. Two initiatives being progressed in South Australia are: Changes to the South Australian Planning System as proposed in the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Bill 2015. Character Preservation Laws to protect two distinct districts, the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale, from urban encroachment. Planning, Development and Infrastructure Bill 2015 The Planning, Development and Infrastructure Bill 2015, which was introduced in the South Australian Parliament in September 2015, sets a new framework and structure for South Australia’s planning system. A major reform in the Bill is the creation of a new ‘Planning and Design Code’. This will require a completely new approach to the drafting, presentation and interpretation of zoning rules. The Code will set out a comprehensive suite of planning rules for development assessment purposes. The Code will function as the single point of reference for development assessment in South Australia. It will include a new ‘use of class’ concept that will not trigger the requirement to obtain an approval for minor ‘change of use’ matters such as prescribed changes in crops. The Bill also introduces streamlined assessment pathways that will better tailor effort to match the scale, impact and risk of a proposed development. A major element of the new planning system will be the delivery of planning information and services through online platforms including a central planning website – to be known as the ‘SA planning portal’. Members of the public will be able to lawfully rely on information published on the portal. This will enable users to produce site specific or area wide maps, including zoning maps. The Bill provides for the State to be divided into ‘planning regions’. The main purpose of a planning region is to define the area for regional plans over which collaborative arrangements may be established for planning and other relevant service delivery or program areas. The Bill proposes one or more ‘environment and food production areas’ within the Greater Adelaide region in order to: protect rural, landscape and environmental areas from urban encroachment encourage consolidation within the existing urban footprint and renewal of existing urban areas ensure that any expansion of the urban footprint is made transparently and based on agreed evidence This reflects the statutory character preservation protections already in place for the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale discussed below. Further information can be found at
[INSERT AUTHORISED SIGNATORY’S NAME] for and on behalf of [INSERT SUBCONTRACTOR’S NAME] ………………………………………………… Title ………………………………………………… Date
Issues and Opportunities The Commission should: Consider an independent body to commission, conduct, report on and promote rigorous evaluations of school programs in the form of a ‘what works’ centre similar to those emerging in other countries. Consider requiring programs seeking government funding to submit themselves to an independent evaluation which is then published and freely available, thereby supporting a culture and standard of transparent, non-partisan evidence generation. Recognise the need for investment in knowledge translation and mobilisation through support for ‘implementation science’ and ‘improvement science’ models and subject proposed approaches to equally rigorous evaluations of impact and outcomes. Institutions, data governance and prioritising reform The Commission should: Give priority to those reforms that are expected to have the highest impact on the quality of teaching in the classroom Make recommendations to fill the research gap of experimental evidence on the learning impact of programs and approaches being used in schools Make recommendations to fill the ‘research use’ gap of evidence engagement and adoption by frontline professionals Introduction The importance of this Inquiry Social Ventures Australia welcomes this Inquiry and the opportunity it creates for a comprehensive review of how Australia can “create a more robust national education evidence base for effective policy and program development to meet our national education objectives and lift our national productivity.” We are also encouraged that the terms of reference recognises the importance of identifying “opportunities to collectively invest further, and how we can improve the effectiveness of our investment through a more streamlined, comprehensive and collaborative national approach”. Australia has had clear objectives for educational outcomes for a considerable length of time, including the Melbourne Declaration Goals that have been in place since 2008. These goals have been supported by annual national testing of school students under the NAP program, with national, state and territory NAPLAN results reported publicly through My School website since 2008. And this has been supplemented by international testing through PISA, TIMSS and PIRLS since 2000. Over this same period of time Australia has considerably increased the total funding made available to school education to achieve our educational goals. Despite this focus and increased funding support, the data on student outcomes suggests that Australian students’ academic performance has not improved significantly. On the whole, NAPLAN data has been
EDOA strongly supports government investment in mapping tools to improve spatial data and enhance the accuracy of desktop analyses. Such mapping will be critical to ensure habitats are correctly identified and adequately protected. However, until such mapping is developed, and in the absence of clear contrary evidence as to the classification of particular vegetation, it is appropriate for regulators to adopt a precautionary approach to restrictions on land clearing. In summary, regulation of land clearing is necessary, proportionate and critical to the long-term viability of agricultural productivity in Australia. Native vegetation laws have a demonstrated public benefit – not only for carbon sequestration, but also for ensuring soil and water quality, reducing salinity etc. While it is important for cooperative approaches to be adopted wherever possible, the government must enforce the necessary protections where cooperation and collaboration has failed to achieve an appropriate outcome. As stated at the outset, we hope that the Productivity Commission’s Discussion Paper will include a strong statement supporting the implementation of rigorous environmental regulation as a mechanism to secure long-term competitiveness and productivity of Australian agriculture. Agricultural chemicals In July 2014, the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Legislation (Removing Re-approval and Re-registration) Amendment Act 2014 gave effect to the government’s commitment to remove the requirement for agricultural chemicals to be periodically re-approved and re-registered. At the time, EDOA (then ANEDO) raised a number of concerns regarding the change. The re-approval and re-registration conditions were introduced in 2013 in response to community concern regarding the proper regulation of chemical constituents and chemical products. The reversal of those conditions after less than 12 months was not supported by any evidence that the conditions imposed an unreasonable burden on the agricultural sector. EDOA recommended not only the retention of the new conditions, but strengthening them to require the best available, peer-reviewed data on environmental impacts to be assessed as part of any re-approval determination. EDOA maintains this position. For more details, read our . Feral animal and invasive species control EDOA recognises that the costs of controlling invasive species, weeds and feral animals can present difficulties for farmers. Environmental regulation of such species is an essential and cost effective measure to maintain and improve agricultural productivity. The Commonwealth Government has estimated that weeds cost Australian farmers around $1.5 billion a year in weed control activities and a further $2.5 billion a year in lost agricultural production, with similar costs to the environment.
MLDRIN requests a dedicated joint workshop to work through the Akwé: Kon Guidelines with State, MDBA and other Indigenous representatives. This is required because of the detailed nature of the guidelines. Their application in particular contexts therefore needs to be discussed and understood by all parties. National Water Initiative Module: Engaging Indigenous Peoples in Water Planning and Management The National Water Initiative (NWI) sets out a number of requirements that all jurisdictions need to achieve, including requirements covering Indigenous participation in water planning and management. These are important procedural requirements for jurisdictions to consider. The Module is intended to: ‘further assist jurisdictions in developing and implementing inclusive water planning and management processes that support Indigenous social, spiritual and customary objectives.’ It includes guidance on appropriate engagement approaches and methodologies for incorporating Indigenous values into water planning. Basin Plan Requirements Basin Plan: Chapter 10, Part 14 specifies a number of matters in relation to which Aboriginal people’s and organisations’ knowledge or opinion needs to be sought or incorporated into planning. The scope of these matters is open to some interpretation. The MDBA’s Yarns Woven report provides an in-depth analysis of the meaning and application of some of these terms. MLDRIN recognises that an understanding of ‘objectives’, ‘outcomes’, ‘values’ and ‘uses’, and how they interrelate is important to guiding good engagement. The following summaries taken from Yarns Woven offer a suggested interpretation of these terms as they relate to water resource planning: Objectives: aspirations, goals, often expressed as a broad concept or wish. Outcomes: practical results on Country, the practical results of realising the objective. Outcomes allow values and uses to be safeguarded and enhanced.
Ms. Smiley -Plans for English 9H & 10H Monday, October 7, 2013 English 9H English 10H 2nd Block & 4th Block Bell-Ringer: SSR- Read The Glass Castle for 20 minutes. Write 1 sentence in your notebooks that summarizes what you read in class today. Classwork: Complete (answer) The Glass Castle: Content Questions 1-17 (the first set of questions/top half of the worksheet). Write your answers on NB paper and turn it in to the substitute. Complete the Quotation Scavenger Hunt Activity. For each item (1-9) try to find a specific example within the text. Homework: Journal Response- Jeannette Walls has said, “We didn’t have food, but at the same time, we were luckier than other kids.” In what ways do you think they were “luckier”? Do you think if you were Jeannette, you would be able to say the same thing? Explain in great detail. Writing requirement- 1 paragraph. Collect and bring in your empty boxes to class[ shoe boxes, cereal boxes, etc.] 3rd Block Bell-Ringer: Journal Writing Read the Connect to your Life box on page 84 in your textbook. Complete the “Lonely Times” Journal. (5-8 sentences). Read & take notes on the Build Background information on page 84 (keep your notes in your notebooks). Classwork: Today you will create a Dialectical Journal for two pieces of literature. You must create 3 entries for each selection [ 6 total]. Read from The Seafarer pgs. (Dialectical Journal requirement- 3 for this one). Read The Wife’s Lament pgs. (Dialectical Journal requirement- 3 for this one). Create a chart that includes any of the words that represent the concept of lonely times, emptiness, and desolation within both literary selections [be sure to include line numbers & page numbers]. Homework: Study for your Unit 1 Test (Wed. 10/9/2013). Make sure to finish your Vocab. Lists 3/4 flash cards (due 10/9/2013).
managing Australia’s aid program, with its strategic focus on promoting economic development in the Indo-Pacific region, aid for trade, private sector engagement and innovation. Beyond these specific functions, Australia’s engagement on international intellectual property issues is typically led by either IP Australia (which has policy responsibility for industrial property issues such as trade marks, patents and designs) or the Department of Communications and the Arts (which has policy responsibility for copyright). Other departments and agencies can also play an important role, such as the Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture, depending on the issue at hand. D. The international economic context and the pervasiveness of intellectual property Australia’s future prosperity will be closely linked to our capacity to participate in the global trade and investment system, particularly in the IndoPacific region given its prospects for robust economic growth. Trade has played a major role in our ability to sustain our economic growth record. In the past three years, net exports have contributed over half of Australia’s 7.4 per cent real GDP growth. Over the years, the ratio of exports to Australia’s GDP has grown in trend terms – from around 15 per cent at the end of the 1970s to around 20 per cent today. The long term health of our economy beyond the mining boom will depend to a large extent on how successful we are in continuing to internationalise the economy. Given our cost structures, developing our knowledge-based and innovation industries will be a central element in ensuring that Australia is able to compete in the global marketplace. Appropriate intellectual property settings and enforcement mechanisms are important in positioning Australia in the global context as having a policy and economic environment that is conducive to innovation and open to trade, investment and capital movement. These settings need to be considered in the context of transformative economic changes over recent decades that have dramatically increased the reach and significance of intellectual property to economies and to trade and investment. Key changes include: the increasing importance of knowledge-based assets and industries to economies total research and development spending in Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries grew 2.7 per cent in real terms to reach US$1.1 trillion in 2013 (OECD 2015a);
About us Consult Australia is the industry association that represents the business interests of consulting firms operating in the built and natural environment. Our member firms’ services include design, architecture, technology, engineering, surveying, legal and management solutions. We represent an industry comprising some 48,000 firms across Australia, ranging from sole practitioners through to some of Australia’s top 500 firms. Collectively, our industry is estimated to employ over 240,000 people, and generate combined revenue exceeding $40 billion a year. Consult Australia is a proud member of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Australian National Engineering Taskforce (ANET), the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC), the Australian Construction Industry Forum (ACIF), and is a host organisation for the annual Built Environment Meets Parliament summit (BEMP). Our member firms include: Contact To discuss the contents of this submission further contact: Jonathan Cartledge, Director of Policy & Government Relations: Context – The demand for engineering skills Of large consulting companies in the built and natural environment, 75 per cent describe themselves as providing mainly engineering design and consulting services. Workforce development for the engineering profession is therefore of great concern to Consult Australia members. Skills shortages are often cyclical, and that has been the case for engineering. However, they are now exacerbated by systemic issues. Privatisation of public services since the 1990s has led to a loss of public sector engineering expertise, which has had a negative impact on the efficiency of public sector procurement. Importantly, the transfer of training responsibility from the public sector agencies to private sector engineering providers has not been fully acknowledged by government, nor allowed for in procurement practices. This has led to an under-development of skills over the past two decades. In light of the recent easing in demand for engineers and related professionals, it is important to note that the skills in question take a long time to develop. An engineer, for example, must study for four
30 November 2015 Intellectual Property Arrangements Productivity Commission GPO Box 1428 Canberra City ACT 2601 intellectual.property@pc.gov.au BY EMAIL Dear Sir/Madam Initial submission in relation to the inquiry into Australia’s intellectual property arrangements The Australian Grape and Wine Authority (AGWA) welcomes the opportunity to make this initial submission to the Productivity Commission in relation to its inquiry into Australia’s intellectual property arrangements. In particular, we note that, in its Issues Paper, the Commission welcomes submissions on: how effective and efficient Geographical Indications (GIs) are in terms of protecting IP, including on a firm’s branding and reputation; and how GIs may help or hinder competition and consumer outcomes. Geographical Indications Framework – overview AGWA is established under section 6 of the Australian Grape and Wine Authority Act 2013 (AGWA Act). Part VIB of the AGWA Act is devoted to the protection of geographical indications and other terms. The AGWA Act establishes a Geographical Indications Committee (GIC) who receive and assess applications for the determination of new GIs, having regard to the criteria for determining GIs and the requisite features of GI ‘regions’ and ‘subregions’ set out in the Australian Grape and Wine Authority Regulations 1981 (Cth) (AGWA Regulations). The process mandates a period during which the public can object to a proposed determination which occurs via the Registrar of Trade marks. It is an offence under the AGWA Act to import, sell or export a wine with an incorrect GI. A maximum penalty of 2 years imprisonment applies. In determining Geographical Indications, the GIC must have regard to the criteria set out in Part 5 of the AGWA Regulations. The system satisfies Australia’s obligations under the EU-Australia Wine Trade Agreement (Wine Agreement). These obligations include: the protection of protected terms (geographical indications, traditional expressions and quality terms)—through preventing:
9 December 2015 Penguin Random House response to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Intellectual Property Arrangements We are pleased to submit our response to the Productivity Commission Issues Paper, October 2015 (the Issues Paper). We understand that the Australian Government has made some preliminary recommendations in its response to the Harper review regarding the retention or otherwise of parallel importation restrictions in Australia. Prior to the Australian Government committing any such decisions to legislation we ask that the Commission highlight the issues raised in this submission with the Australian Government. We provide this submission in response to the specific question: Do existing restrictions on parallel imports still fulfil their intended goals in the digital era? We frame our response adopting the framework outlined in the Issues Paper, namely through a consideration of effectiveness, efficiency, adaptability and accountability. We acknowledge and support the draft submissions of Oxford University Press, the Australian Copyright Council and the Australian Publishers Association in response to other matters raised in the Issues Paper. The publishing industry- innovation, investment and creativity We support the Australian Government’s stated policy aims as outlined in the Issues Paper of wanting to ensure that the intellectual property system provides appropriate incentives for innovation, investment and the production of creative works while ensuring it does not unreasonably impede further innovation, competition, investment and access to goods and services. The Australian publishing industry has a long history of fostering diversity and the long term interests of consumers, the encouragement of efficient investment, innovation and entrepreneurship. We want to ensure that Australian consumers receive access to the best possible content at the best possible prices. In any review of governmental policy, a holistic approach must be adopted to enable any perceived benefits of change to be properly analysed to ensure their likelihood of success. In the area of intellectual property, a review must take into account the entire value chain, market structure, opportunities for innovation, and production and logistics realities in order for perceived consumer benefits to be realised. In 2009, the Productivity Commission conducted a complete and thorough review of parallel importation through the Parallel Importation of Books Study, to which Penguin Random House (then Random House and Penguin) provided full and lengthy
Minister may, by written determination, provide either or both of the following: (a) that the trustee is not required to provide the information about the interest mentioned in one or more of subregulations (2) and (3); (b) that the trustee must provide other information, as specified in the determination, about the interest. The construct of this Subregulation is that ‘if’ under regulation 43A, the Minister has approved a method or factors, then the Minister may make a written determination. Given the fact Reg 43A does not apply to these benefits, the determination cannot be applied. The Determination 2016 was a direct response to the Campbell case and was constructed before the Judicial process had concluded. This raises questions of procedural fairness. Final submissions were given to the SCT one day before the CSC ‘advised’ the SCT about the legislative change, which they were just handed by the Attorney General’s office, and which they suggested knew nothing about. A response to the failings of the Determination is provided below. The for the Determination 2016, states: The ‘default’ methods contained in the Regulations for valuing superannuation interests are not appropriate for some superannuation interests. As such, regulations 38 and 43A provide that the may approve, in writing, alternative valuation methods. The Family Law (Superannuation) (Methods and Factors for Valuing Particular Superannuation Interests) Approval 2003 (the Approval) has been made for this purpose. It contains methods and factors for determining the value of superannuation interests in more than 30 superannuation schemes. The Approval is a legislative instrument and has been registered on the Federal Register of Legislation. The method and factors approved for MSBS superannuation interests are set out in Part 4 of Schedule 1 of the Approval. Response: The mentioned above rely on Reg 43A which does not apply to these benefits. This instrument responds to uncertainty that may exist following a judgment of the Federal Court of Australia in Campbell v Superannuation Complaints Tribunal [2016] FCA 808 on 15 July 2016 as to whether the existing Determination applies to MSBS invalidity pension interests (which are a subset of MSBS pension interests). In
on relief and reconstruction (RAI, 2013 p. 21). Policy and funding frameworks need to be rethought with a much longer-term focus. “Building a resilient community requires thoughtful and strategic long-term investments in multiple aspects of the physical and social fabric of communities that contribute to resilience. … disaster recovery is an integral part of that process because the ability of communities to recover after a disaster, and the way that they recover, is closely tied to becoming more resilient to subsequent trauma.” (National Academy of Sciences, 2012. p 191). Despite good intentions and because of the focus on relief and reconstruction activities, positive outcomes from the recovery experience are often not realised. Recovery needs to be an adaptive process between the experiences of the community, their evolving vision for their future and their ability to translate this vision into reality. Authorities have often ignored the importance of planning the community renewal processes and of the need to adapt to the “new normal”. The diagram below illustrates the concept of the different stages, timings and relationships in the recovery process. Source: RAI, 2013. p 9 The theme of the “From Disaster to Renewal” report is that business recovery is central to community recovery and that the overarching objective of recovery should be to assist communities to adapt to their new social and economic environments post-disaster. (RAI, 2013. pp 4-7)
for flood prevention / mitigation versus generous funding of relief and recovery about the long term cost effectiveness of Preventative approaches, coupled with short parliamentary terms of office: responsible spending is unlikely to receive due credit Political gains in the short term from a well-coordinated emergency response; negative media coverage if efforts are insufficient. prevention, particularly for: flood information risk assessment improved development planning relocation of those most at risk and reassignment of land to flood compatible uses ecosystem approaches Strong promotion to the public about the benefits of prevention and actions governments are undertaking. Establish relevance to all Australians, not just those in flood prone areas (i.e. higher tax and insurance premiums for all) government, particularly the federal level through the NSDR Non-mandatory consideration of flood risk in development legislation and processes Conflicting policy objectives Short term versus long term gains Lack of flood mapping Length of time before key instruments are due for revision and complex processes for regular update and inclusion of flood information Consistent policy, legislation and planning processes to ensure that future flood risks are assessed and addressed Mandatory inclusion of flood controls in local planning schemes Nationwide investment in cost-effective, basic flood mapping, such as QRA maps Processes to facilitate prompt inclusion of new flood information into local planning schemes State government is responsible for policy, legislation, processes. Investment in large scale mapping exercises may need federal funding support. Local government responsible for inclusion of flood risk in planning schemes. Federal government needs to ensure its own development projects consider flood risk.