Issue 14 – 2006
From all of us please have a happy and safe Easter
1. Quarterly Function
We have had a great response for Terry McCrann’s talk next Wednesday night at Kooyong, commencing at 6.00 pm. But the more the merrier - if you can join us, please let Elaine know. We can still accommodate a few more, but hurry.
2. Government Annual Report Anti-Print Stance Under Fire
Printing Industries has slammed the Federal Government's support of a plan to remove the legal obligation for corporations to produce printed annual reports. "This is nothing more than a cynical exercise in shifting the print costs away from corporations and onto consumers," Printing Industries National President, Mr Peter Lane said. "Shareholders and the public will now lose their legal right to automatically receive important public information in its original printed format," he said.
Once again Print is under attack and PIAA is leading the fightback- for more info go to Printnet.
3. Regulation Review Taskforce Report
The Report of the Taskforce on Reducing Regulatory Burdens on Business (chaired by Gary Banks, Chairman of the Productivity Commission) was released by the Government, along with an interim response. The report made a significant number of tax recommendations, including:
· Increase the FBT reporting threshold from $1,000 to $2,000. The Government accepted this recommendation.
· Increase the FBT minor benefits threshold from $100 to $300. The Government accepted this recommendation.
· The ATO should review the definitions of irregular and infrequent for FBT, and reduce the compliance costs for FBT on road tolls. The ATO is already undertaking work on these issues.
· Allow the option of group FBT returns and lodgement extensions.
· Increase the GST registration threshold to $75,000.
· Increase the PAYG withholding threshold to $40,000.
· Rationalise tax definitions and administrations across taxes, including with state taxes.
· States should abolish all taxes included in the 1999 GST agreement.
If you need assistance with any of these matters or would like to make a comment, please contact Hagop Tchamkertenian in our Sydney office.
4. Labour Force
The unemployment rate fell to 5.0 percent in March 2006, from 5.2 percent in February. The number employed increased by 27,000 to 10,085,300 and unemployed fell 19,200 to 533,900. The participation rate remained at 64.4 percent.
5.
Sustainable companies perform better, climate economics revealed
Australia's most sustainable
companies have outperformed average company growth, up 20.8% over the last 12
months, which is 0.7 percentage points ahead of the ASX 200 average. The
Australian SAM Sustainability Index (AuSSI) was launched in February last year. SAM Indexes MD
Alexander Barkawi is "delighted that the AuSSI had a solid start".
"Integrating sustainability issues into business strategy provides companies
with an opportunity to lead their peers in shareholder value creation," he
said.
6. UK Printer Wants to Come to Australia
We have been contacted by a UK Printer who would like to work in Australia. He has experience in the following presses:
Sheet-fed
presses
Single Colour Oliver12, Oliver 52, Oliver 66,
2 Colour Falcon,
Envelope
Presses
2 & 4 Colour Haln Jet Press
2 Colour Diamond
2 Colour Winkler Dunbar
If you would like to make contact with this printer, please contact Michelle Eeles
7. Training Courses
OH&S 5 Day - Workcover
Approved
May 8, 9, 10, 18, 19
High Performing Teams June 7, 8
Costing and Estimating for Printers July 10, 11
Print Sales July 20, 21, August 3, 4
New Manager/Supervisor October 4, 5, 6
Go to Printnet or contact Michelle for a complete list of our upcoming training courses.
8. What’s On
To find out What’s on in the world of print go to What’s On
And Finally
ed has her head up and is smiling, but can’t manage too much this week.
The ed only managed 74km from Jells Park to Worri Yallock for Oxfam. The weather beat us all, and it was unsafe to proceed further. Thanks to those of you who sent through a donation; donations are still possible. If any of you would like to support Oxfam, go to www.team-m4.info. Donations can be made online and are tax deductible.
The Team at Printing Industries Association of Australia
18-20 Queens Avenue
Hawthorn Vic 3122
Ph 03 9291 5333
Fx 03 9819 6292
michelle@printnet.com.au
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