CollabIT Launch

Billed as a program to “create a supportive environment to accelerate the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) throughout the ACT region”, CollabIT was launched last night by Chief Minister Jon Stanhope at Regatta Point.

Emerging from the highly successful Canberra.NET program, the Australian Information Industry Association has developed CollabIT to bring SMEs and large commercial organisations together to develop products and solutions for public and private sector clients. The program received funding support in this year’s ACT Budget.

And already there have been a number of success stories, building innovative partnerships that are helping drive economic growth in the Territory.

Further info is available at the Australian Information Industry Association website while my presentation from the event last night is available here: CollabIT Launch Slides.

Review of Supermarket Competition Policy

The ACT Government has appointed formed ACCC Commissioner John Martin to review supermaket competition policy in the ACT. The terms of references for the review are:

• the extent of competition in the ACT supermarket grocery sector in the light of the findings of the 2008 ACCC Inquiry into the competitiveness of retail prices for standard groceries;
• likely future trends in the structure of the ACT and Australian supermarket grocery sector;
• how the ACT Government can support effective and sustainable competition in the grocery sector;
• policies that might be applied on a site by site basis to ensure site allocation supports the ACT Government’s longer term policy objectives to promote competition and diversification; and
• any other additional measures that might be considered by the ACT Government to support a diverse and competitive retail grocery sector over the medium to longer term.

It’s critical we have healthy competition in the supermaket sector here in Canberra, with room for majors, independents and locally run stores.

There will be a series of community consultations on the review next week at the following locations:

• Tuggeranong
  Date: 13 July 2009
  Time: 12.30–2.30 pm
  Venue: The Vikings Town Centre
  Cnr Athlon Drive & Rowland Rees Crescent Greenway ACT 2900
• Woden
  Date: 13 July 2009
  Time: 6.30–8.30 pm
  Venue: Canberra Southern Cross Club
  92–96 Corinna Street Woden ACT 2606
• Gungahlin
  Date: 14 July 2009
  Time: 12.30–2.30 pm
  Venue: Gungahlin Lakes Golf Club
  Cnr Gungahlin Drive & Gundaroo Road Nicholls ACT 2913
  
• Belconnen
  Date: 14 July 2009
  Time: 6.30–8.30 pm
  Venue: West Belconnen Leagues Club
  Hardwick Crescent Kippax ACT 2615
• Civic
  Date: 16 July 2009
  Time: 5–7 pm
  Venue: The ACT Legislative Assembly Building
  London Circuit, Canberra ACT 2601

Written submissions will also be accepted up to Friday 24 July. The email address for these and to RSVP for the public forums is supermarketreview@act.gov.au

ACT Solar Power Facility Public Consultation

The first round of public consultations for the ACT solar power facility finished last week. I’ve attached a PDF of the slideshow for info:

Solar_Facility_Powerpoint_Presentation_June_2009

The criteria listed for selection of the site are:

• Cleared land with no significant shading
• Level land with a gentle gradient, preferably north-facing
• Land suitable for access roads
• Located near a connection point to a high voltage transmission network
• Access to a suitable gas supply
• Assess to a water supply and waste water disposal
• Separation from domestic residences
• Not overlooked by significant population centres
• Located way from major plumes or sources of dust; and
• Appropriate zoning and environmental considerations

To my untrained eye, the site at Ingledene Forest would appear to be more appropriate than Kowen Forest. The Ingledene area looks like this:

Whereas, Kowen is more heavily wooded:

(Oh, and one minor Gov2.0 gripe, why have a jpg of Ingledene and a pdf of Kowen, both nearly half a meg in size? Doesn’t make them quickly viewable or comparable for most people… I’ve converted the Kowen pdf to jpg and compressed it so it’s more easily read on this page).

Local ICT Market gets the wobbles

It’s a tough time in the Canberra ICT market at the moment. Darwin-based CSG is one of many organisations to shed local jobs over the past couple of months. CSG acquired the Commander/Volante business a while back and have struggled to retain existing federal government contracts such as the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry (DAFF), which has been awarded to EDS.

This along with other “downsizing”, the euphemistically named “right-sizing”, and the Gershon Review into federal ICT spending, has meant the ICT jobs market has freed up remarkably over the past 6 months. Whereas before people were effectively able to name their salary, it’s now much tougher to get a good gig in a quality organisation.

In the private sector, it is those companies that have long term strategic plans, a focus on customer outcomes and the ability to provide flexible working conditions that are managing their way through the downturn and still attracting quality people. It’s something we should be encouraging across government and business alike.

ACT InnovationConnect Grants announced

The Chief has announced the latest InnovationConnect grants. Winners of the dollar-for-dollar funding are:

• GPT Designs, a high-tech Canberra manufacturer of audio equipment for the hearing impaired, received $40,000 to develop a system to help the hearing impaired in large venues such as stadiums and concert halls;
• Ingenate was awarded $25,000 to develop a solution to treat grease trap waste, using a combination of algae and bacteria;
• Q-Motive received $15,000 towards the development of a prototype rally car seat.

ACT business confidence remains high

The latest ACT & Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Quarterly Business Expectations Survey shows business confidence remains high in the ACT.

80% of businesses surveyed report improved or stable business conditions with a similar number expecting to increase or maintain staffing levels.

I can bear these results out, with the ICT consulting services business I co-own and run showing long term sustainable growth. We have recently put on additional permanent staff and expect to continue growing the team over the coming months.

A lot of people have asked what impact the change of Federal Government has had on business. I’d have to say if anything, it’s been a positive change. No savage cuts to the federal public service, a refocusing of programs to reflect the Rudd Government’s agenda, and a move away from programs that were high on ideology and low on value to the community.

Add to this the Stanhope Government’s 20% increase in Payroll Tax Threshold to $1.5m, a $1 billion investment in infrastructure over the next four years and $51m for initiatives that address the skills shortage and you can see why business confidence in the ACT will continue to remain high in the foreseeable future.

Solar Option for Data Centre

The proposed ActewAGL data centre and power generator south of the Mugga Lane landfill area presents a great opportunity to examine the use of a sustainable and cost-effective solar generation system.

This is a superb project for the ACT and I support it strongly. While gas fired power generation is a big step toward sustainability in energy supply, ActewAGL should use the extended consultation period to take the next step and assess the viability of an alternative solar option. This would help allay the concerns of residents close to the site and would place the ACT at the forefront of sustainable infrastructure development.

Canberra is a smart city with a wide range of home grown businesses that punch well above their weight nationally and internationally. We have a world-class University sector with some of the best and brightest minds living and working in the ACT.

The recent announcement that ActewAGL and the ACT Government will undertake a feasibility study into a Solar Power Plant that can power 10,000 homes demonstrates that this technology is viable. The ACT can and should be a world-leader in solar technology and the data centre can be the next example of our ability to apply that technology.

Should I be elected to represent the people of Molonglo I will be arguing for exactly this type of enhancement to the industrial and economic base of the ACT – a green alternative that offers new employment opportunities while reducing greenhouse gases and our reliance on fossil fuels.

Innovation Critical to Canberra’s Future

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope has launched a report on the Study of the ACT Innovation System. The study, conducted by Howard Partners in Deakin, provides an analysis of the innovation “industry” in the ACT, compares our system with studies of similar systems in other areas, and provides recommendations on best practice approaches.

Innovation, and in particular, the drawing together of the ACT’s research institutions with our technology and creative industries, is critical to Canberra’s future.

As the Chief Minister puts it:

“As the home to internationally renowned research and education institutions, and a large pool of highly skilled and talented labour force, the ACT’s credentials as a leading knowledge capital and centre of innovation are indisputable. However, in the face of increased competition the ACT Government has taken this opportunity to take stock of the current situation in order to better harness its R&D and creative innovation capabilities to ensure that the Territory remains competitive in the global economy.”

The study will be a key document at the Canberra 2020 Forum to be held at the Convention Centre on 5 April.

Solar Power Plant Feasibility Study

The announcement today of a joint-funded feasibility study into a Solar Power Plant in the ACT is exciting news for the Territory.

ActewAGL and the ACT Government will explore options for a large-scale reduction in our greenhouse emissions through the building of a facility capable of supplying power to thousands of ACT homes.

The terms of reference for the feasibility study will include (but not be limited to):

• Assess options for suitable location/s for such a facility, having regard to land availability, grid connectivity, environmental considerations and access for students and visitors;
• Determine the optimum size of the solar facility in terms of initial capacity and the potential for future expansion, and identify the environmental benefits flowing from the proposed solar facility in terms of emissions reductions;
• Assess current solar technologies and determine the optimum proven technology for large-scale generation, having regard to cost efficiency and the environmental impact of proven technology, and the ability to expand output using emerging new technology;
• Determine the cost of constructing and operating the solar facility and the level of indirect or direct subsidy, if any, that might be required to make the investment commercially viable, with consideration to regulatory and electricity pricing implications;
• Undertake a full cost-benefit analysis of the solar facility proposal, having regard to net environmental impact, cost efficiency, social equity, public safety and Federal and ACT Government greenhouse gas policy;
• Compare the cost efficiency of the proposed solar facility withy mainstream electricity generation and any other local green energy generation alternatives that might be viable;
• Identify and consider all planning and statutory requirements relating to the proposal; and
• Provide a report to the joint parties by 1 July 2008.

Payroll Tax Reform

The Stanhope Government’s announcement this week of reform to the payroll tax legislation is good news for Canberra businesses.

The new legislation makes amendments in the following areas:

• Exempts businesses from payroll tax for wages paid in the ACT for employees who work in another country for a continuous period of six months or more

• Adopts exemption rates for motor vehicle allowances and accommodation allowances linked with those set annually by the Australian Tax Office for income deduction purposes

• Adopts a single gross-up factor for the purpose of calculating the amount to be taken as wages for payroll tax purposes of benefits that attract a Fringe Benefits Tax liability; and

• Adopts the NSW and Victorian grouping provisions.

This means it will be easier for businesses to operate across State and Territory borders and will help streamline administration and reduce compliance costs.

The legislation completes the Government’s commitment to harmonising payroll tax provisions across the country as agreed last year by State and Territory Treasurers.