Tasmanian Business Reporter May 2019

MAY 2019 

T A S M A N I A’ S L E A D I N G B U S I N E S S P U B L I C A T I O N . C I R C U L A T I O N 12,000 M O N T H LY 

Budget pledge 

While the Northern real estate market 

has improved, prices are lower than 

Hobart sales, generating less stamp 

duty. 

State spending to 

defy loss of GST, 

stamp duty 

S TAT E 

BUDGET 

BRIEFING 

By TOM O’MEARA 

SIGNIFICANT decreases in 

stamp duty and GST payments 

will challenge Tasmania’s Budget 

position but record spending 

will continue in health, education, 

housing and infrastructure. 

Treasurer Peter Gutwein is 

preparing to hand down his 

2019 Budget on May 23 and is 

expected to remain in surplus, 

despite admitting there will 

be significant challenges over 

the coming four to five years. 

Infrastructure development, 

including the bold 30-year infrastructure 

plan essential for 

forward planning, will be a highlight 

of this year’s document. 

Last year the Treasurer announced 

a record $2.6 billion 

spend on community infrastructure 

over four years. 

Roads and bridges were to 

receive $1.1 billion, hospitals 

and health got $475 million, human 

services and housing was 

promised $205 million while 

schools and education spending 

was worth $192.2 million. 

The rollout of that significant infrastructure 

spending will continue 

in this Budget with the essential 

$650 million redevelopment of the 

Royal Hobart Hospital completed 

this year and work still under way 

at Launceston General Hospital. 

There is no expectation that the 

Government will budge on its current 

wage offer to the Public Sector. 

Mr Gutwein will be stymied 

by GST receipt reductions 

and a drop in stamp duty. 

In a nutshell, the pool of the 

national GST is decreasing 

by an anticipated $11 billion. 

Mr Gutwein said there would 

be a $280 million write down in 

Tasmania over the next four years 

from the decreasing GST pool. 

It’s important to note that this 

decrease is not in any way related 

to a new GST agreement which 

will come into play in 2021. 

It was agreed that Tasmania 

won’t lose a cent when the GST 

formula will be altered slowly 

across six years to target a standard 

that removes the peaks and 

troughs created by economic 

shocks, such as the mining boom. 

Mr Gutwein will also write 

down $280 million of stamp 

duty over the next four years. 

Continued page 2 

FRIDAY 24 MAY ▼ HOBART 

▼ LAUNCESTON ▼ DEVONPORT 

PRESENTED BY TREASURER 

PETER GUTWEIN MP 

BOOK NOW 

tcci.com.au 1300 559 122


2 Tasmanian Business Reporter - MAY 2019 

NEWS 

Airport clear for takeoff 

INTERNATIONAL processing 

facilities will 

form part of a major expansion 

project that will 

double the size of Hobart 

Airport over the next decade. 

Stage one of the project, 

due for completion by 

December 2020, will cost 

about $100 million. 

The increased footprint 

is in response to the busiest 

year experienced at 

the facility, with more 

than 2.6 million passengers 

passing through the 

terminal. 

Hobart Airport CEO 

Sarah Renner said the 

Terminal Expansion Project 

would be completed 

in three stages. 

The initial stage involves 

the expansion of 

the existing departures 

lounge and facilities, 

improved airline lounges, 

enhanced passenger 

screening facilities, 

and the construction of 

a swing lounge concept, 

capable of providing for 

international processing 

facilities. 

“A mezzanine level 

will be constructed at the 

southern end of the terminal 

and will house the 

airline lounges and border 

agency support facilities,” 

Ms Renner said. 

“The final two stages 

are expected to start on 

completion of Stage 1 

and will be progressively 

completed by 2030. 

These stages will deliver 

increased baggage 

processing facilities and 

further retail and food and 

beverage offerings. 

“This is an exciting time 

for our airport and Tasmania 

and we are proud of the 

role we play in connecting 

our locals to communities 

across the globe.” 

More than four million 

passengers are expected to 

pass through the airport by 

2030. 

Public consultation will 

be open until June 10. 

For more information 

about community consultation 

sessions or to 

make a submission visit 

https://development. 

hobartairport.com.au. 

Hobart Airport is due to double in the next decade. 

Tender 

call for 

plan 

portal 

TENDERS have been 

called for a new $9 million 

Planning and Building 

Portal to streamline 

development in Tasmania. 

The online portal is 

set to deliver a single 

statewide system that 

integrates all planning, 

building and related approvals, 

incorporating 

features including online 

application lodgement 

The project, designed 

to save time and resources 

for anyone involved 

in the building and construction 

industry, is due 

for completion by 2021. 

Tenders close on May 

29. All enquiries should 

be directed to the Planning 

and Building Portal 

Project Manager, Robert 

Calandra on (03) 6166 

4650 or email: robert. 

calandra@justice.tas. 

gov.au 


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Budget surplus pledge 

From page 1 

The volume of real 

estate sales in Hobart 

has decreased and while 

the Northern real estate 

market has improved 

significantly, prices 

paid in the north are 

much lower than the 

Hobart sales, which 

means less stamp duty. 

Mainland states of 

NSW and Victoria 

have experienced massive 

drop for real estate 

prices - it has hit 

hard because both had 

previously used their 

stamp duty funds for a 

champagne approach to 

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massive infrastructure 

spending and Public 

Sector wage increases. 

Mr Gutwein has 

shared information with 

the Tasmanian Business 

Reporter from Victorian 

Treasurer Tim Pallas, 

who has warned 

that his state was facing 

a $2.4 billion writedown 

in stamp duty. 

Last year the Victorian 

Government was upbeat 

in its revenue forecasts 

predicting $7 billion in 

stamp duty flowing into 

the Treasury coffers. 

Mr Pallas should be 

prepared for “a Budget 

of hard choice” 

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Now incorporating 

THE CRAFT LIVES ON. 

and has already put 

an initial 2 per cent 

on the table as he begins 

negotiating Public 

Sector agreements. 

Tasmania is already 

on a 2 per 

cent wage increase. 

Mr Gutwein said 

the bright light is Tasmania’s 

strong export 

income in all sectors. 

“Except for the stamp 

duty, all other incomes 

are positive and some 

of exports are returning 

record figures,” 

Mr Gutwein said. 

New data shows 

Tasmania’s economy 

is the equal third 

strongest in the nation, 

news that’s expected 

to assist with a surplus 

Budget position across 

the Forward Estimates. 

“The budget is 

still in a good place 

and remember that 

the Budget is not the 

economy and the economy 

is not the Budget.” 

The Treasurer certainly 

has challenges 

and costs will be under 

the microscope but the 

priority is to continue 

supporting development 

opportunities and exports 

to cover the total 

$580 million write down 

over the next four years.

Tasmanian Business Reporter - MAY 2019 3 

NEWS 

Blue economy boost 

TCCI calls 

for project 

assurance 

A $329m research 

partnership will be 

based in Tasmania to 

transform Australia’s 

blue economy and 

generate more than $4 

billion for the national 

economy. 

The University 

of Tasmania will 

lead the largest ever 

Cooperative Research 

Centre, bringing 

together expertise in 

seafood, renewable 

energy and offshore 

engineering. 

Industry, Science and 

Technology Minister 

Karen Andrews said the Blue 

Economy CRC aimed to drive 

an evolution in marine- based 

industries. 

The project is a 10-year 

collaboration between 45 national 

and international partners 

from industry, research and 

government, underpinned by a 

$70 million cash investment from 

the Federal Government. 

The Tasmanian Government is 

also a supporting partner. 

Vice-Chancellor Professor 

Rufus Black said the project 

would build on our distinctive 

strengths in aquaculture and 

marine ecology, offshore 

engineering and marine renewable 

energy. 

“This is big, blue sky thinking 

fused with practical, impactful 

research to answer one of our 

planet’s most critical questions: 

how can we sustainably feed and 

power ourselves from the world’s 

oceans,” Professor Black said. 

“The Blue Economy CRC 

imagines a future where 

integrated seafood and renewable 

energy production systems 

operate offshore and where the 

community and industry have 

confidence they are safe, reliable, 

efficient and environmentally 

responsible. 

“This work will leave a 

compelling legacy of highimpact 

research, a competitive 

advantage for Australian industry, 

and innovation, collaboration and 

leadership on a global scale.” 

The Blue Economy CRC 

head office will be hosted at 

the University of Tasmania’s 

Launceston campus, supporting a 

Blue Economy 

CRC Research 

Director, Australian 

Maritime College 

Associate 

Professor Irene 

Penesis, left, with 

Industry, Science 

and Technology 

Minister Karen 

Andrews and 

Institute for Marine 

and Antarctic 

Studies Professor 

Stewart Frusher. 

research community of 50 PhD 

students and 50 postdoctoral 

research fellows throughout 

Tasmania and with partner 

organisations nationally and 

internationally. 

Blue Economy CRC Research 

Director, Australian Maritime 

College Associate Professor Irene 

Penesis said the program was 

unique. 

“Australia has the world’s third 

largest exclusive economic zone 

and is positioned adjacent to the 

largest markets for seafood and 

energy,” Associate Professor 

Penesis said. 

“But with over 80 per cent 

classified as offshore, industries 

must be enabled to move from 

the coast zone into more exposed 

operating environments before we 

can secure this opportunity.” 

By TOM 

O’MEARA 

THE TCCI is lobbying 

political parties to ensure 

major projects such as the 

second Bass Strait electricity 

link and freight 

equalisation scheme are 

locked in before the May 

18 Federal election. 

Tasmania is enjoying 

unprecedented growth 

and the TCCI board has 

agreed on six significant 

projects and policies to 

retain the confidence of 

the business sector. 

TCCI Chairman Susan 

Parr said it was imperative 

for both Labor and 

the Liberal/National parties 

to show support for 

Tasmania. 

At a time when construction 

is receding 

across Australia, Tasmania 

has enjoyed the highest 

growth rate but policy 

ahead of polling day was 

needed to support future 

development, Ms Parr 

said. 

The TCCI’s priority 

areas for political focus 

in the last weeks of campaigning 

revolve around 

retaining agreed assistance 

and infrastructure 

projects to continue job 

creation. 

Project Marinus, a second 

Bass Strait electricity 

interconnector, would 

play a major role to meet 

the growing energy needs 

across the country, Ms 

Parr said. 

“The second link will 

provide environmentally 

sustainable and economically 

viable Hydro electricity,” 

she said. 

“It is critical that generation 

via Hydro electricity 

and pumped Hydro 

is maximised to support 

a stable and reliable system.” 

TCCI chair Susan 

Parr. 

While the Coalition 

has committed $56 million 

for feasibility assessments 

for Marinus Link 

and pumped Hydro cost 

modelling, the TCCI is 

pushing for support from 

all parties. 

They must understand 

that the project is of national 

importance, connecting 

mainland Australia 

to low cost, secure, 

reliable and clean energy. 

“During the last very 

hot summer more than 

200,000 homes in Victoria 

were without power 

because the system failed 

and energy wasn’t available,” 

Ms Parr said. 

The Tasmanian Freight 

Equalisation Scheme is 

also high on the list with 

aspects of the agreement 

due for review by the Productivity 

Commission. 

“History shows the 

Commission is not a great 

supporter of the TFES 

and recommended the 

closure of the scheme before 

the Coalition Government 

agreed to keep 

it in perpetuity,” she said. 

“The TFES has been 

a lifeline for Tasmanian 

businesses since 1975 

providing financial assistance 

for shipping costs 

from Tasmania to the 

mainland.” 

Tasmania exported 

a record $3.8 billion in 

goods and produce in the 

year to February 2019 

and any change in the 

program would negatively 

impact this stunning result, 

she said. 

Ms Parr confirmed the 

TCCI was also prepared 

to take on a contentious 

decision to create a twowage 

agreement with 

higher payments to Sydney 

and Melbourne compared 

to Tasmania and regional 

businesses around 

the nation. 

“The cost of living in 

Melbourne and Sydney 

is significantly more than 

most parts of Tasmania 

particularly when you 

consider wage increases 

for Scottsdale and Smithton 

equal to Melbourne 

and Sydney,” she said. 

“Regional chambers 

around Australia are supporting 

the change.” 

Uni plans Hobart city campus 

A MASTER plan and 

building design will be 

developed for a new 

$600 million Hobart city 

campus of the University 

of Tasmania. 

The University Council 

has agreed to the total 

move from its Sandy Bay 

roots to facilitate a more 

modern campus in the 

CBD over the next 10 to 

15 years. 

The new development 

will run from the original 

home of the University at 

the Domain along Melville 

St. 

The campus will be 

anchored with a central 

library and public square 

– the heart of the University 

– on the former Web- 

K&D Hobart 

ster building and carpark. 

University Chancellor 

Michael Field said the 

long-term strategic direction 

would build on and 

consolidate on its recent 

move of some facilities 

into the city. 

“This will be a long, 

thorough and deliberative 

process,” Mr Field 

said. “We will consult 

carefully along the way 

to produce a campus 

which is a source of great 

pride for our University 

community and the people 

of greater Hobart.” 

He said the university 

would act as steward for 

the existing Sandy Bay 

campus land into the future. 

The entity would be responsible 

for managing 

the existing campus land 

“in line with institutional 

values and mindful of the 

amenity of Sandy Bay 

and Taroona”. 

The university said it 

would make a compact 

with the City of Hobart 

to deliver the equivalent 

(or more) of the general 

rate on its inner-city 

buildings for the next decade. 

The university has 

also recently purchased 

the K&D site to develop 

student accommodation, 

adding capacity to the 

existing 446-bed Hobart 

City Apartments (at the 

corner of Elizabeth and 

Melville streets) and a 

second 420-bed complex 

being built adjacent 

those, due for completion 

at the start of 2021.



THOUGHT LEADERSHIP 

Marinus tops 

wishlist for 

election 2019 

www.tcci.com.au 

Growing Vietnam market 

on the Aussie trade radar 

Michael 

Bailey 

TCCI Chief Executive 

THE federal election has 

finally been called for 

May 18. 

Some are already complaining 

about election 

campaign overload, as the 

major parties have been 

on the “trail” for some 

time, waiting for Prime 

Minister Scott Morrison 

to visit the Governor General. 

In general terms, the 

Coalition Government 

will campaign on its economic 

record and whether 

Labor can be trusted on 

the Treasury benches. 

Labor will campaign 

on its new policies around 

franking credits, negative 

gearing, wealth and 

capital gains taxes to 

raise funds for hospitals, 

schools and other public 

benefits. 

The Liberal-National 

Government will also 

have concerns about the 

long-term effects of axing 

former prime minister 

Malcolm Turnbull, via 

Peter Dutton’s failed challenge. 

As well, the Government 

will lose key 

members – Julie Bishop, 

Christopher Pyne, Kelly 

O’Dwyer among them. 

The polls still point to 

a Labor victory, although 

Mr Morrison remains the 

preferred PM over Labor 

Leader Bill Shorten. 

The election will also 

be fought on several local 

fronts, state by state, 

with the Liberals seeking 

to shore up seats in 

Queensland and Victoria. 

Already, Braddon on 

the North West Coast 

has seen multiple visits 

by Federal politicians of 

each hue, as the Liberals’ 

Gavin Pearce comes up 

against sitting member 

Justine Keay. 

In Bass, Labor’s sitting 

member Ross Hart will be 

up against popular George 

Town Mayor Bridget Archer. 

Again, the polls would 

indicate that Andrew 

Wilkie (independent, 

Clarke/Denison), Julie 

Collins (Labor, Franklin) 

and Brian Mitchell (Labor, 

Lyons) appear safe. 

As we do for every 

election, state or federal, 

the TCCI has put together 

a wishlist which will 

we prosecute across the 

board with both major 

parties. 

Wishlist 2019 

1 Marinus Project. For 

the TCCI, this is the project 

that will guarantee Tasmania’s 

long-term energy production, 

economic development 

and overall future 

for the next 20-50 years. 

When completed Marinus 

will connect Tasmania 

and the mainland via a second 

interconnector allowing 

Hydro Tasmania’s major 

“pumped hydro” plans 

to proceed. 

That, alongside the existing 

hydro-electric generation 

system, will provide 

thousands of jobs and billions 

of dollars of investment. 

2 GST Support. We 

have recently seen how 

certain states can make 

calls on the Federal Government 

to boost their GST 

revenue at the expense of 

Tasmania. 

We remain the state, unfortunately, 

with the most 

people per capita on federal 

and state welfare benefits. 

We need Liberal and 

Labor to guarantee Tasmania’s 

GST share forever. 

3 Freight Equalisation 

Scheme. The TCCI wants 

this scheme to be maintained 

and guaranteed by 

both parties. 

It is the key to Tasmania’s 

export industries, 

both to the mainland and 

internationally. 

4 Workplace Productivity. 

The TCCI wants 

both major parties to develop 

and deliver policies 

to increase productivity 

and participation for regional 

Australia and Tasmania. 

We also want them to 

ensure their policies enable 

wages are affordable 

in regional Australia and 

Tasmania. 

I AM writing this 

column from Vietnam 

where half the 

population of more than 

93 million people own 

scooters 

In Ho Chi Minh City 

(the locals still refer 

to it as Saigon) they 

account for 37 per cent of the air 

pollution. 

Crossing the street is an art 

and not one for the faint-hearted. 

The country has experienced 

an average GDP growth of six 

per cent over the last 20 years 

and is projected to grow by 6.8 

per cent in 2019. 

Certainly a market close to 

Australia to keep on the radar. 

Domestic demand is in part 

driving growth with, like other 

Asian economies, a growing 

middle class. The median age 

is 30. 

Opportunities exist in the 

agribusiness, food and beverage, 

aviation and aerospace, defence, 

Scooters are the prefered mode of transport throughout Vietnam. 

Sally 

Chandler 

Tradestart Adviser 

health care, mining, oil and gas, 

ICT, energy, transport and water 

management sectors. 

Vietnam is covered by two 

Free Trade Agreements with 

Australia, the ASEAN Australia- 

New Zealand Free Trade 

Agreement (AANZFTA) and the 

Comprehensive and Progressive 

Agreement for Trans-Pacific 

Partnership (CPTPP). 

Australia’s major exports 

to Vietnam include coal, 

cotton, wheat, iron ores and 

concentrates. 

Australia’s major imports 

from Vietnam include telecom 

equipment and parts, crude 

petroleum, footwear, and 

monitors, projectors 

and televisions. 

Australia ranks 12th 

on Vietnam’s principal 

import sources. 

From Tasmania, 

major exports to 

Vietnam are currently 

zinc and associated 

products, aluminium and 

associated products, abalone 

(where most would find their 

way to China) and cherries. 

Vietnam has a long coastline 

to the South China Sea. Its land 

borders are with Cambodia, 

China and Laos. 

I am benefiting very much 

from my time in Vietnam with 

Austrade, attending the Food and 

Hotel Vietnam trade show and 

researching sales opportunities 

for Tasmanian goods and 

services with Austrade’s 

Business Development Managers 

in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. 

I will report further in the June 

issue of TBR. 

For international trade and investment assistance contact the TCCI’s TradeStart Adviser, Sally 

Chandler, at sally.chandler@tcci.com.au or phone 1300 559 122. 

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Watch out for lurking winter lurgies 

IF THE recent weather is 

anything to go by we are 

starting once again to get 

into cold and flu season 

which means of course 

the precarious issue of 

staff being ill. 

The TCCI often gets 

questions about personal 

leave and what employers 

can and can’t ask for. 

As set out in the Fair 

Work Act 2009 s107 employees 

have notice and 

evidence requirements 

they must adhere to on 

personal leave being: 

Abbey 

George 

Workplace Relations 

• giving the employer 

notice of the leave 

as soon as practicable 

(which may be a time after 

the leave has started); 

• advising the employer 

of the period, or 

expected period, of the 

leave; and 

• if requested, provide 

the employer evidence 

that would satisfy a reasonable 

person. 

What evidence this is 

will depend on each particular 

circumstance, for 

The TCCI often gets 

questions about personal 

leave and what employers 

can and can’t ask for. 

example: 

• is it before/after a 

weekend, leave etc? 

• Is there a history of 

the taking of personal 

leave? 

• Are there policies or 

procedures or an Enterprise 

Agreement in place 

that addresses when evidence 

is required and 

what form it takes? 

• What is the common 

practice? For example 

in the past has any leave 

greater than two consecutive 

days required evidence? 

• Are statutory declarations 

generally accepted 

or do you only accept 

medical certificates? 

• What other information 

do you have? 

If you would like 

assistant with the 

drafting of a policy 

or procedure, or 

are unsure about 

personal leave, or 

employment matters 

generally, please 

contact either the 

TCCI helpline on 

1300 765 123, the 

TCC office on 1300 

559 122 or workplace 

relations at 

workplacerelations@ 

tcci.com.au 

Challenge in using capacity 

Brett 

Charlton 

Agility Logistics 

A SENATE inquiry is 

something new that happened 

for me recently – 

my words are inked in 

Hansard for eternity. 

The Tasmanian Logistics 

Committee was 

called to Melbourne to 

present at the senate inquiry 

into policy, regulatory, 

taxation, administrative 

and funding 

priorities for Australian 

shipping. 

The inquiry allowed 

the TLC to provide the 

point of view of the majority 

of Tasmanian industry 

that our coastal 

shipping task is already 

in place and essential to 

our trading community 

– on the back of the 

fact that we are an island 

(despite one Senator 

bringing up that dreaded 

“bridge” concept that 

anyone with any concept 

of Bass Strait staples as a 

chapter of the flat earth 

policy). 

The position presented 

was that our current Bass 

Strait service providers 

have invested significantly 

in new vessels and 

infrastructure and that 

any threat to these by international 

shipping lines 

being allowed to carry 

domestic cargoes could 

bite us in the bum should 

Brett Charlton, left, with Senators Alex Gallacher, Barry O’Sullivan and 

Glenn Sterle at the shipping senate inquiry. 

they erode the viability 

of our current services. 

The worst case scenario 

being that we lose 

one or more of our current 

service providers to 

an international calling 

vessel that a year later 

sees something shiny in 

another part of the planet 

and disappears. We said 

Tasmania needed to be 

viewed as unique as an 

island trading state but 

by all means consider 

options for the big island 

– coastal shipping seems 

to make sense there. 

Although, one of the 

comments made before 

us by another party at the 

senate inquiry raised my 

eyebrows: “Our infrastructure 

is not ready for 

coastal shipping”. 

Well, we have certainly 

lived that phrase in 

Tasmania over the last 

six months. 

Speak to any transport 

company at the moment 

and there is an underlying 

tension in the air. 

Behind the scenes at 

the moment there is some 

significant disruption in 

Tasmania with the freight 

task. 

Readers of this column 

may recall previous 

statements about “the future 

is so bright” due to 

new capacity in the market. 

The capacity has arrived 

but there have been 

challenges in being able 

to manage and work the 

new capacity. 

There is frustration in 

the ability to secure domestic 

dry cargo northbound 

space ex-Tasmania 

as the mojo of 

working larger vessels 

and balancing cargo 

volumes has not been 

as smooth as everyone 

would have liked. 

Stories of full depots 

of empty and full equipment, 

delays for export 

containers, redirection of 

trucks at the last minute, 

short shipments of trailers 

are common presently. 

The TLC is engaged 

in this issue and have assurances 

that the mojo is 

being refined – “quickly 

please” is the message 

we are giving. 

Chance to cure ailing Northern healthcare 

Paul 

Lupo 

CEO, StLukesHealth 

TASMANIA is facing a 

once-in-a-generation opportunity 

to fundamentally 

change the way hospital 

and health services 

are delivered in Northern 

Tasmania after the 

commitment by Calvary 

Health Care to invest 

$100 million in a new 

private hospital co-located 

with the Launceston 

General Hospital. 

It is vital we use this investment 

to not just simply 

relocate the ageing St 

Vincent’s and St Luke’s 

hospital campuses, but 

that we also see it as an 

opportunity to undertake 

a full investigation into 

future health services 

and needs, including different 

models of care, to 

ensure the delivery of the 

highest quality and most 

affordable healthcare for 

both public and private 

patients. 

Following Calvary’s 

unsolicited bid proposal 

to the Office of the Coordinator-General 

in 2017, 

the project has now progressed 

to the next phase. 

This involves the assessment 

panel and Calvary 

working together 

to finalise the appropriate 

location for the new 

hospital and defining exactly 

what is required to 

ensure the co-location 

ultimately increases and 

improves services and 

health outcomes for all 

Northern Tasmanians. 

I certainly don’t profess 

to have all the answers, 

but as Tasmania’s 

largest not-for-profit 

health insurer which invests 

all its earnings and 

resources back into the 

communities we serve, 

St.LukesHealth is an important 

contributor in the 

north and has a role to 

play in improving health 

service outcomes for 

both our members and 

the wider community. 

To ensure the best possible 

outcome for Northern 

Tasmania through 

Calvary’s proposed investment, 

we believe it 

would be beneficial for 

the Government to consider 

the following: 

• ensuring LGH and 

Calvary work together to 

develop a strategy to recruit 

new and retain current 

specialists in regional 

Tasmania; 

• allowing specialists 

to provide services in the 

A co-location is planned with the Launceston General Hospital 

public and private hospitals 

without restriction, 

and ensuring enough 

support between both 

hospitals to provide specialists 

with an attractive 

work-life balance; 

• ensuring Launceston 

is an attractive prospect 

for specialists by allowing 

time for specialists to 

undertake research, with 

a view to improving patient 

outcomes; 

• eradicating the duplication 

of services to ensure 

funding allocated to 

health is spent efficiently; 

and 

• ensuring the Calvary 

project is incorporated as 

part of the larger Launceston 

Health Precinct 

strategy for increased 

and improved health service 

delivery. 

The $260 million 

UTAS relocation, plus 

the $20 million Launceston 

City Heart project 

and the $100 million Calvary 

co-location all happening 

at the same time 

gives us an incredible 

opportunity to collaborate, 

innovate and deliver 

an example of how a 

regional city can become 

a nation leading example 

in regional health delivery. 

With all these projects 

on the drawing board, the 

State Government also 

has the ideal opportunity 

to bring together northern 

health stakeholders to 

create a better system for 

health services for northern 

Tasmanians. 

Let’s all get on board 

and not waste this once 

in a lifetime opportunity 

to make a real difference 

to the health of our local 

community.



Understanding 

franking credits 

By WAYNE 

DAVEY,CEO 

Tasplan Super 

THERE have been a 

lot of claims and counter-claims 

lately about 

Federal Labor’s policy, 

if elected, to end cash 

repayments for franking 

credits on dividend imputation. 

But what exactly is it, 

and what does it mean? 

In simple terms, dividend 

imputation is designed to 

avoid double-taxation, 

and works like this. 

Let’s say you own 

shares in a listed company, 

for example a major 

bank. 

As a shareholder, 

you’re effectively a 

part-owner of that bank. 

If that bank makes a 

profit it will pay tax on 

that profit at the corporate 

tax rate (which is 

currently 30 per cent). 

Let’s say that after 

paying tax on its profit, 

the bank returns some of 

the remaining profits to 

its shareholders. 

That’s often referred 

to as a dividend, but is 

technically known as a 

“fully-franked (taxed) 

dividend”. 

That is, the tax on that 

dividend has already 

been paid. 

However, on your tax 

return you’ll have to say 

that you received a dividend 

as a result of owning 

shares and declare 

the income. 

If there weren’t measures 

in place, you may 

end up paying tax on 

your dividend income 

twice – once when the 

bank’s profits are taxed 

and again when you declare 

the dividend income 

on your tax return 

and pay income tax. 

Under the tax system 

you receive a credit equal 

to the amount of tax 

that’s already been paid, 

which is offset against 

the tax you pay on your 

tax return. 

That’s called a “franking 

credit”. 

In addition to that, if 

you have a tax bill of 

zero for the year, your 

franking credits will be 

given to you as a cash 

refund. 

Each year, around $6 

billion is paid by the government 

to shareholders 

– either directly, or 

through their super funds 

– as cash refunds. 

According to the Federal 

Treasury, the largest 

portion, $2.6 billion, 

went to self-managed 

super funds, followed 

by $2.3 billion to individuals, 

$700 million to 

tax-exempt entities, and 

$300 million to regulated 

super funds. 

If elected, Labor says, 

you’ll still be able to offset 

your franking credits 

against your tax bill, but 

you won’t be able to get 

a refund if your total tax 

bill is zero. 

Effectively, their view 

is that if you own shares 

but you’re not paying 

any income tax, you’re 

not being taxed twice and 

therefore there’s no need 

to pay out the franking 

credit as a cash refund. 

This policy would also 

exempt pensioners who 

own shares. 

It’s certainly a complicated 

policy and political 

area and I don’t want to 

make any judgement on 

the relative merit of the 

proposal or arguments, 

other than to point out 

the facts and encourage 

you to carefully consider 

them and how it may or 

may not impact you, and 

encourage you to draw 

your own conclusions. 

Tasplan Super, a 

Tasmanian based 

profit-for-members 

super fund which has 

grown to be the state’s 

largest and only locally-based 

super provider, 

with some $9 billion 

under management 

and 133,000 members 

which makes up about 

50 per cent of the Tasmanian 

workforce. 


Steps to mitigate 

effects of gravity 

ABOUT 2000 people per year 

are hospitalised due to falls that 

occur in the workplace. 

Although about 17 per 

cent of these occurred in the 

construction industry the 

remainder have taken place 

in factories, shops, cafes, 

hotels, schools, offices in fact any 

workplace. 

WHS regulations 

Regulation 34-38: In order 

to manage risk under the WHS 

Regulations, a duty holder must: 

• identify reasonably foreseeable 

hazards that could give rise to the 

risk; 

• eliminate the risk so far as is 

reasonably practicable; 

• if it is not reasonably practicable 

to eliminate the risk – minimise 

the risk so far as is reasonably 

practicable by implementing control 

measures in accordance with the 

hierarchy of control; and 

• maintain the implemented 

control measure so that it remains 

effective review, and if necessary 

revise, risk control measures so as 

to maintain, so far as is reasonably 

practicable, a work environment that 

is without risks to health and safety. 

Code of Practice 

The first step in the process is 

identifying the fall hazards. This can 

be achieved by the following. 

Craig 

Hortle 

Workplace Health & Safety 

You must identify all locations 

and tasks that could cause injury due 

to a fall. Tasks that need particular 

attention are those carried out: 

• on any structure or plant being 

constructed or installed, demolished 

or dismantled, inspected, tested, 

repaired or cleaned; 

• on a fragile surface (for 

example, cement sheeting roofs, 

rusty metal roofs, fibreglass sheeting 

roofs and skylights); 

• on a potentially unstable surface 

(for example, areas where there is 

potential for ground collapse); 

• using equipment to work at the 

elevated level (for example, when 

using elevating work platforms or 

portable ladders); 

• on a sloping or slippery surface 

where it is difficult for people to 

maintain their balance (for example, 

on glazed tiles); 

• near an unprotected open edge 

(for example, near incomplete 

stairwells); 

• near a hole, shaft or pit into which 

a worker could fall (for example, 

trenches, lift shafts or service pits). 

You’re our 

number 1 

Thank you for voting us 

Australia’s number 1 

in customer satisfaction 

3 YEARS IN A ROW!* 

ROY MORGAN RESEARCH 

Customer Satisfaction Awards 

Contact us today to join, switch, or have a cover comparison. 

We can come to you, just ask us how! It’s Easy! 

stlukes.com.au 1300 651 988 

* #1 Roy Morgan Customer Satisfaction Awards: Private Health Insurer of the Year – 2016, 2017 & 2018. St.LukesHealth ABN 81 009 479 618

Switch your pension 

to a local, trusted, 

not-for-profit super fund. 

tasplan.com.au 1800 005 166 

Issued by Tasplan Pty Ltd. For further information in relation to 

whether to acquire or hold the products referred to, please read the 

Pension guide available at tasplan.com.au. The trustee of Tasplan Super 

(ABN 14 602 032 302) is Tasplan Pty Ltd (ABN 13 009 563 062). 

AFSL 235391. © 2019 Tasplan Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.

*Source: ABS 8155.0 

Authorised by M.Bailey, CEO, TCCI, 309 Liverpool St, Hobart




Nurturing the arts economy 

Elise 

Archer 

Arts Minister 

TASMANIA is now recognised 

nationally and 

internationally for its 

cultural and creative industries, 

which attracts 

visitors, enhances our 

lifestyle, and creates employment. 

Supporting this vibrant 

sector creates jobs and 

opportunities and also 

contributes to the growth 

of the economy through 

hospitality, retail and 

tourism. 

The Liberal Government’s 

vision for Tasmania 

is to be world-leading 

in the cultural and 

creative industries, we 

have a long-term plan 

to nurture and expand 

the sector; to flourish in 

reputation and develop 

collaborative arts partnerships. 

Since 2014, the Hodgman 

Government has 

made great strides in 

meeting its goals to grow 

our reputation as an attractive 

and vibrant community 

in which to live; 

attract talent to support 

population growth; and 

support the visitor economy, 

and initiate improved 

governance and 

legislative frameworks 

for the arts and cultural 

sector. 

To assist with achieving 

these goals, a new 

Ministerial Arts and Cultural 

Advisory Council 

has been formed. 

The purpose of this 

council is to have open 

and frank discussions 

with the sector about opportunities 

and challenges 

that the Government 

may consider in framing 

its future arts policy and 

activities. 

As Arts Minister my 

door will remain open to 

those wanting to engage 

directly. 

Arts and culture play a 

vital role in the pulse of 

any community. 

It binds together people 

with purpose, pleasure 

and passion, as well 

as building relationships 

across many aspects of 

the community. 

Tasmania has a long 

history of cultural activity. 

The nationally renowned 

Salamanca Arts 

Centre is one of the oldest 

multi-arts studio and 

presentation facilities in 

the country. 

More recently, the development 

of the internationally-renowned 

Museum 

of Old and New Art 

has led to changes in expectations 

of audiences, 

visitors and creators as 

to the quality of cultural 

facilities that can be provided 

in Tasmania. 

Tasmania’s cultural 

pursuits operate across 

all dimensions of creativ- 

Speigeltent on Hobart’s waterfront is a popular annual event space. 

ity, be it screen, the visual 

and performing arts, 

design, literature, community 

and cultural practice, 

just to name a few. 

In recent years, the 

growth of our screen sector 

has surpassed many 

people’s expectations. 

Much of this development 

has happened on a 

case by case basis and 

there is an opportunity 

to drive greater value in 

cultural asset development 

through adopting a 

co-ordinated approach. 

Tasmania’s brand attributes 

and our unique 

sense of place enable 

and strengthen cultural 

events and activities in 

the state. 

These include festivals, 

events and activities 

that activate intimate and 

flexible spaces including 

warehouses, farmland, 

sheds, barns, alleyways, 

heritage buildings and 

the Tasmanian wilderness. 

This year marked the 

10th anniversary of the 

biennial Ten Days on the 

Island Festival, a strong 

example of the growth, 

and also the adaptability 

of the Tasmanian arts and 

cultural sector. 

In 2019 the festival 

moved to a new model 

where events were 

scheduled over three 

weekends at more than 

50 locations throughout 

the North West, North 

East and South of Tasmania. 

This model encouraged 

increased tourism 

and local spend, and the 

opportunity for people 

to discover what our regional 

areas have to offer. 

To secure Tasmania’s 

reputation as a cultural 

and creative hub, the 

Government is investigating 

the current and 

future needs for cultural 

infrastructure. This work 

will assist in guiding the 

implementation of the 

Hobart City Deal and 

inform the realisation of 

Macquarie Point as a cultural 

and arts precinct. 

Tax reform aims at online gambling 

TASMANIAN Labor is 

committed to meaningful 

economic reforms. 

That is why Labor will 

introduce online wagering 

(point of consumption tax) 

legislation if the measure 

is not included in the upcoming 

State Budget. 

The Revised Estimates 

Report shows that Tasmania 

is headed for $343 

million in net debt and this 

was before the Treasurer 

flagged a massive $560 

million body blow to the 

budget over the forward 

estimates early in April 

More needs to be done 

to improve the state’s bot- 

Scott 

Bacon 

Shadow Treasurer 

tom line yet it is a matter 

of fact that there has not 

been one economic reform 

put in place by the Government 

since coming to 

power in 2014. 

Labor is committed to 

working constructively 

and that’s why we will 

move a reform that will 

improve Tasmania’s Budget 

position by up to $11 

million in the first year 

with every indication that 

this would grow going forward. 

A point of consumption 

tax on online bookmakers 

would make 

sure Tasmania gets a 

fair return of revenue 

from online gambling 

companies that are invariably 

based on the 

mainland. 

It is projected that the 

levy would generate between 

$5-$11 million in 

extra revenue for Tasmania. 

All mainland states 

have introduced a point of 

consumption tax on online 

bookmakers. 

Labor first called for a 

point of consumption tax 

on online gambling in November 

2017. 

The measure would 

only apply to gambling 

companies and not punters. 

It would not change the 

odds offered to punters – 

currently Tasmanian punters 

do not get better odds 

than those in mainland 

states which have a point 

of consumption tax. 

Importantly, Labor’s 

policy includes a tax-free 

threshold of $150,000 to 

make sure small bookmakers 

are protected. 

Tasmania’s Budget is 

in a weakening position 

and it is incumbent on all 

representatives to be constructive, 

and that’s what 

the Labor Party is doing. 

www.tasmanianbusinessreporter.com.au 

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• gil@thetrustedmediaco.com


FOCUS ON BUSINESS 

Long service rules explained 

TASMANIAN employers operating 

in building, construction and 

civil industry sectors need to be 

aware that their obligation to make 

contributions for portable long service 

may extend to the contractors 

they employ. 

Where employers engage contractors 

who are sole traders wholly 

or principally for their labour 

they are required to make contributions 

into the fund as required 

by the Rules of the Construction 

Industry Long Service Fund (the 

Rules). 

This type of worker engagement 

is confusing due to the amount of 

legislation that may apply in this 

area: the Superannuation Guarantee 

Act, Alienation of Personal 

Services Income and even the 

Common Law. 

Each has their own test and measures 

that muddy the interpretative 

waters in this area. 

TasBuild’s own rules do not interact 

with these other tests or measures. 

TasBuild’s rules are a standalone 

requirement that only apply to the 

Construction Industry (Long Service) 

Act and the Rules. 

Where an Employer employs another 

person in “Relevant Employment”, 

and that other person is contracted 

to provide, or principally 

provide, their labour, then that per- 

son is an employee for the purposes 

of the Rules. 

This applies where the person employed 

is an individual or sole trader. 

Where the contract is with a partnership 

or an incorporated organisation, 

the contract is unlikely to meet 

the “labour of the person” (i.e. a single 

specific person) requirement, unless 

specified in the contract. 

Where the Employer does contract 

an individual or sole trader, for the 

provision of their labour, then the 

Employer will be required to register 

that employee and pay long service 

contributions into the Fund. 

The employee will then accrue 

service towards a long service entitlement 

while they are so employed. 

What TasBuild 

considers? 

In applying the “wholly or principally 

for labour” component of 

the definition, TasBuild will consider 

the following questions: 

• Did the contract allow the 

worker to engage others to do 

the work? 

• Did the worker provide materials 

of a significant value, as 

part of the contract? 

• Did the worker provide tools 

and/or plant or equipment (other 

than that normally expected to 

be provided by a worker doing 

TasBuild CEO Chris Atkins, left, with Mark Millhouse from Vos, one 

of the many partnerships across Tasmania. 

the type of work for which they 

were engaged) of a significant 

value as part of the contract? 

• Did the worker need to apply 

skills at a higher level than 

would normally be expected 

from a worker of their classification? 

Contracts 

The best form of contractual agreement 

in these circumstances is a 

written contract. 

Where both parties have freely 

signed the contract, it provides evidence 

of their agreement and corroborates 

both party’s agreement, as to 

conditions. 

It will also be a part of valuable 

evidence for TasBuild’s assessment. 

Where the contract is verbal, evidence 

of the actual conditions agreed 

to is more difficult to prove. 

Having said that, where both parties 

confirm the conditions, that is 

quite acceptable. 

In such circumstances, TasBuild 

will review all the available information 

and make a decision based on 

the evidence provided by each party. 

Online tool 

To help employers and workers 

work out their position, TasBuild has 

developed an online assessment tool. 

The tool will be available shortly 

on our web page at www.tasbuild. 

com.au 

If you need any further 

information, please contact 

TasBuild on 03 6294 0807. 

There are workers in the construction 

industry who are eligible for TasBuild’s 

portable long service leave, but are 

missing out. 

Are they employed 

for labour? 

Are materials supplied? 

Do they invoice the boss? 

Are they getting long 

service leave? 

Take the 2 minute worker test on 

our website to see where your 

business stands. 

www.tasbuild.com.au



Uni courses target health 

By DR CAROLYN 

KING 

Associate Degree in 

Applied Health and 

Community Support 

course coordinator. 

ONE in every five new jobs in 

Australia is in the health care, 

community development and 

social assistance sectors. 

In Tasmania, 30,000 people 

are employed in paid work in 

this industry, with thousands 

more in informal or voluntary 

roles. 

The three service types with 

the highest current net growth 

are community development, 

ageing and carer services and 

disability services. 

Given that two of these 

three areas of growth are currently 

engaged in Royal Commissions, 

it is an imperative 

that we seek new approaches 

for educating people within 

these roles. 

In response to the recognised 

need in terms of both 

workforce and education, the 

University College at the University 

of Tasmania has developed 

a two-year Associate 

Degree in Applied Health and 

Community Support which 

was offered for the first time 

in February this year. 

The curriculum was developed 

following extensive 

consultation with peak bodies, 

organisations and individuals 

within the health, social and 

community service sectors, 

who indicated that they were 

grappling with the effects of 

significant changes in community 

needs, service models 

and consumer expectations, as 

well as increases in role complexity 

and projected workforce 

demands. 

In order to support a growing 

workforce through change 

and complexity, a number of 

critical areas of education and 

skill development were identified. 

The first was the need to foster 

a broad skill base, with the 

agility and flexibility to cross 

traditional sectoral boundaries 

between for example, health, 

disability, mental health, aged 

care, and social and community 

services, while ensuring 

that sector-specific requirements 

were not lost. 

The second was to promote 

and strengthen self-determination 

and consumer-led approaches, 

and increase the 

The health care, community development and social assistance sectors are growing. 

focus on health promotion, 

prevention and community 

capacity-building. 

The third involved the explicit 

inclusion of transferrable 

or “enterprise skills” 

such as critical thinking, reflective 

and evidence-based 

practice, health and digital 

literacy, as well as planning, 

evaluation and quality improvement. 

It was determined that supporting 

employees to achieve 

a balance between providing 

quality services and working 

within a successful and 

sustainable business environment, 

required a curriculum 

with streams that were people-focused, 

examining for 

example, the principles of 

ethics, inclusivity, diversity, 

cultural competence and compassion; 

as well as providing 

an understanding of the principles 

and practices of community 

development, business 

enterprise, leadership, management 

and communication. 

In its first offering, the 

course has attracted 50 students 

from a range of backgrounds, 

who are studying at 

campuses in Hobart, Launceston 

and the Cradle Coast. 

Some students have expressed 

an interest in upskilling 

in their current roles, others 

are looking for a career 

change, while school leavers 

have seen the course as a way 

of fast-tracking themselves 

into a growing workforce and 

a rewarding career. 

The diversity of student 

backgrounds and life experiences 

has contributed to deep 

and rich learning opportunities, 

while the diversity of 

input from industry experts 

promises to keep the course 

content contemporary, relevant 

and rewarding for both 

graduates and employers. 

It is hoped that this type 

of dynamic collaboration between 

industry and the University 

of Tasmania’s University 

College can build 

confidence and sustainability 

in an industry currently dealing 

with significant change 

and challenges, and effectively 

support and empower the 

workforce. 

APPLY 

NOW! 

TERM 3 starts 

July 22 

Study an Associate Degree and 

advance your career 

Whether you’re looking to up-skill, need a formal qualification to take the next step in your career or trying to break 

into a new industry, UC has the right Associate degree for you. Our courses offer full-time and part-time options, 

so you can find the right balance between work, life and study. 

Your path to progress starts with a single step. Visit our website or call 1800 788 244 to speak with a course advisor. 

utas.edu.au/college



Spotlight on mental health 

THE WorkCover Tasmania Board 

together with WorkSafe Tasmania 

has launched a new Mental Health 

Awareness Campaign raising awareness 

around mental health hazards 

that exist at work 

The campaign is titled “Safety is 

everything” with the major feature 

being a series of attention-grabbing 

television advertisements. 

They ask viewers to spot the person 

who is not safe, acknowledging 

that we are used to looking out 

for traditional safety hazards in the 

workplace, but are not familiar spotting 

mental health hazards. 

The “Safety is everything” message 

highlights that our mental 

health is just as important as our 

physical health. 

The long-term goal is to break 

down the stigma associated with 

mental health conditions and create 

workplaces where it is OK to speak 

up and seek help. 

And this starts with creating workplace 

cultures where mental health is 

supported and discussed as openly as 

physical health. 

Tasmania’s statistics reveal the total 

number of workplace injuries has 

been steadily declining, alarmingly 

though, the number of mental disease 

injuries has increased. 

In 2018, mental disease injuries 

made up 8.5 per cent of all workplace 

injuries reported, almost doubling 

the 2008 numbers. 

These results highlight why more 

Workplace bullying has been identified as a common cause of mental injury. 

awareness and continual improvement 

is still needed and why Work- 

Safe have identified mental health as 

a priority condition in the 2018-23 

WorkSafe Tasmania Strategic Plan. 

Mental health is identified in the 

Strategic Plan as a priority condition 

based on the severity of consequences 

of harm(s), the number of 

people estimated to be affected and 

the existence of known prevention 

options. 

The most common causes of 

mental disease injuries in 2018 

were work pressure and work related 

harassment and/or workplace 

bullying. 

Mental disease injuries can impact 

on workplaces in a number of 

ways including but not limited to; 

• increased staff turnover; 

• reduced productivity for example 

through presenteeism and absenteeism; 

• increased number of workplace 

injuries (claims); and 

• increasing workers compensation 

premiums. 

WorkSafe is continuing to develop 

and promote a number of strategies 

to deliver its promise to the 

Tasmanian community of being 

‘Safe and Well, Every Day’. 

These strategies include a focus 

on targeted harm reduction and 

building culture and capability. 

Ensuring Tasmanians are safe and 

healthy at work is also one of the 

Tasmanian Government’s key commitments 

and the Government has 

set itself the goal of making Tasmania 

the healthiest population in Australia 

by 2025. 

The Tasmanian Population Health 

Survey conducted in 2016 surveyed 

6300 Tasmanians. 

Thirty per cent of those interviewed 

sought help for current mental 

health issues showing an increase 

in previous years. 

Sadly these results are above the 

Australian Bureau of Statistics’ 

2017-18 National Health Survey results 

which indicated 20.1 per cent 

of Australians reported experiencing 

mental and behavioural conditions. 

With mental health affecting so 

many Tasmanians regardless, Work- 

Safe is committed to improving 

awareness around mental health, 

particularly around mental health 

hazards at work. 

The television advertisements 

aired for the first time on Saturday, 

April 28, instilling the message - 

“Safety is Everything”. 

Dedicated WorkSafe Mental 

Health Awareness webpage 

campaign information and support 

materials can be found at 

www.worksafe.tas.gov.au 

Can you spot 

the people who 

aren’t safe? 

Find out who they are at worksafe.tas.gov.au 

Have a close look. Workplace hazards are 

often hard to spot, and not all of them are 

about physical safety. We keep our bodies 

safe at work. Let’s keep our minds safe too. 

Safety is 

everything.


NEWS 

Lift in poppy crop area and returns 

Poppy Grower, Jason Cresswell, from Deloraine, left, 

and Tasmanian Alkaloids’ Field Operations Manager, 

Noel Beven, 

Customer-owned 

banks hail reform 

TASMANIAN Alkaloids has announced a 65 

percent increase to the 2019/2020 poppy crop 

and increased payments to growers. 

The number of hectares required for the 

2019/2020 poppy crop has increased to more 

than 8000 hectares. The company has also 

announced price increases for two of the four 

poppy varieties currently grown, at 12 per cent 

and 15 per cent. 

About 400 growers statewide will cultivate 

the crop to fulfil the company’s forecast sales to 

international pharmaceutical manufacturers. 

About half of the world’s legal opiate crop is 

grown in Tasmania and processed by Tasmanian 

Alkaloids. 

Tasmanian Alkaloids’ Director of Alkaloid 

Raw Material Business, Peta Dolan, said the 

industry was positive of its future despite recent 

challenges. 

“While the international regulatory 

environment continues to evolve, and 

the industry adjusts accordingly, health 

professionals acknowledge that appropriately 

managed and administered opiate-based 

medications remain one of the best options to 

treat acute pain; including pain associated with 

palliative care, post-operative care, and massive 

trauma. 

“More than three million Australians alone 

live with chronic pain,” Ms Dolan said. 

“The alkaloid raw material grown in 

Tasmania and processed by Tasmanian 

Alkaloids is used to manufacture active 

pharmaceutical ingredients that offer effective 

pain management solutions to patients. 

“This is a huge responsibility and one our 

growers and Tasmanian Alkaloids takes very 

seriously.” 

Free range 

‘eggspection’ 

Paul 

Ranson 

CEO, Bank of us 

IN THE week leading up 

to the announcement of 

the Federal election, Parliament 

passed the Treasury 

Laws Amendment 

(Mutual Reforms) Bill 

2019. 

This important Bill includes 

several reforms 

that will lower barriers 

to capital raising by mutual 

companies and help 

customer-owned banking 

institutions, like Bank of 

us, be more competitive. 

The customer-owned 

banking sector has been 

advocating for a more 

level playing field across 

the Australian banking 

industry for some time 

now. 

Back in 2016, I wrote 

about how the sector was 

in an enviable position. 

As a sector, we’ve 

continued to perform 

strongly – delivering better 

pricing, choice, innovation 

and service for 

customers and we have 

seen an increasing trend 

of new customers voting 

with their feet and join 

us. 

There is a real opportunity 

for the customer-owned 

banking sector 

to be a bigger player in 

the Australian banking 

sector but it relies on 

having access to affordable 

high quality capital 

to support our growth. 

To date the customer-owned 

banking sector 

has been restricted to relying 

on its profits as the 

principal source of capital 

generation. 

With the sector typically 

operating on a lower 

level of profitability 

due to their desire to pass 

on real value to customers 

in the form of lower 

priced products this has 

meant that growth potential 

over the long run can 

only be modest unless 

Customer-owned banks pass on value through lower priced products. 

there is the opportunity 

to generate new forms of 

capital. 

The passing of Mutual 

Reforms Bill is crucial 

as it amends the Corporations 

Act to implement 

the following key reforms: 

• defining a mutual entity 

as a legitimate business 

model; 

• reforming the demutualization 

rules to only 

be triggered in an intended 

demutualization; and 

• creating a mutual-specific 

Mutual Capital 

Instrument (MCI). 

Ultimately, the new 

legislation will give Australia’s 

customer-owned 

banking sector another 

option for raising capital. 

The Bill was drafted 

in response to recommendations 

in the Senate 

Economics References 

Committee report 

into cooperatives, mutuals 

and member-owned 

firms, released in March 

2018. 

The report acknowledged 

that the customer-owned 

model has not 

had a fair go in regulatory 

frameworks that are 

set up to deal with listed 

companies. 

The passing of this Bill 

shows both sides of Parliament 

support the customer-owned 

banking 

sector and can see how 

these reforms will help 

provide greater choice 

for customers and with 

greater choice comes 

better outcomes for customers. 

The customer-owned 

banking sector has a long 

history of putting customers 

first. With continued 

action towards a 

more level playing field, 

we will be positioned to 

do this on a sustainable, 

long-term basis. 

Anna Yip from Off the table with farm manager 

John Sattler at Pure Foods Eggs Longford. 

TASMANIA’S largest 

free range egg farm has 

launched on-farm experiences 

that lets consumers 

go behind-the-scenes. 

Tens of thousands of 

eggs are laid, washed, 

quality checked and sold 

all around Tasmania, every 

day of the year - with 

many consumers unaware 

of the process involved. 

Pure Foods Eggs has 

opened up its state-of-the 

art facilities at Longford 

to showcase the technology 

it uses to keep its 

hens happy. 

Farmer John Sattler 

said the business had 

designed its farming 

systems around bird behaviour. 

An agritourism marketplace 

that enables 

food producers to access 

tourism through on 

farm food experiences, 

Off the table, has 

launched “eggspection” 

tours in conjunction with 

Pure Foods Eggs, with 

consumers now able to 

walk through the facility. 

“It’s incredibly clean, 

high-tech and fun” says 

Off the table founder 

Anna Yip. 

Pure Foods Eggs supply 

well-known brands 

such as Valleybrook, Aberfeldy, 

Country Farmhouse 

and Save the Tasmanian 

Devil Program 

Appeal and are sold in 

Coles, Woolworths, selected 

IGA supermarkets, 

Hills Street Grocers and 

Salamanca Fresh.



NEWS 

Red flags out 

for workplace 

mental health 

TASMANIA’S business 

community made a commitment 

to support mental 

health research during 

a recent International 

Women’s Day luncheon. 

Business leaders and 

Parliamentary representatives 

started to publicly 

challenge each other to 

battle it out in The Mind 

Games. 

The Mind Games - 

Race for Research - is 

being held in October 

this year. 

Teams will come together 

in a series of fun 

challenges, with the aim 

of raising the profile 

of mental health in the 

RETIRED Australian 

Rear Admiral and former 

Deputy Chief of Navy, 

Michael van Balen, has 

been announced as the 

new Principal of the 

Australian Maritime 

College. 

Mr van Balen, pictured, 

will start in the 

role on May 13. 

He has had a more 

than 38 year career in 

the Navy. 

After joining the Navy 

as a cadet in the late 

1970s, Mr Van Balen 

has held several key positions 

including Principal 

Warfare Officer, 

Commanding Officer of 

HMAS Sydney, Chief of 

Defence Force Liaison 

Officer to United States 

Central Command, Deputy 

Chief of Navy and 

Head Navy Personnel, 

Training and Resources. 

workplace and raising 

money for the Menzies 

Institute for Medical Research. 

“It was really encouraging 

to hear so many 

people in the room say 

this issue resonates with 

them, and how keen they 

were to support workplace 

mental health research” 

said Larissa 

Bartlett, mental health 

researcher at Menzies. 

The Mind Games will 

have teams competing in 

a series of challenges that 

will encourage working 

together and having fun. 

“Unfortunately I’m 

seeing it more and more 

Navy man at AMC helm 

He was appointed as 

an Officer of the Order 

of Australia (AO) in January 

2015. 

Mr van Balen will 

oversee the development 

of a new strategic plan 

that captures the role of 

AMC nationally and in- 

in the work that I do” 

said Sherri Ring, of Energy 

Health. 

“People are more anxious, 

stressed and depressed 

than ever,” she 

said. 

“We want The Mind 

Games to remind people 

to look after both 

their physical and mental 

health, and at the same 

time raise money for 

Menzies to undertake its 

research.” 

The Mind Games will 

be held on October 18. 

For more information 

and to register your 

business go to www.themindgames.com.au 

ternationally and defines 

its role and priorities. 

College of Sciences 

and Engineering Executive 

Dean, Professor Brian 

Yates, welcomed the 

appointment. 

“As the national institute 

for maritime education, 

training and research, 

AMC has a remit 

which will be of great 

importance as Australia 

seeks to achieve sovereign 

capability in the 

National Naval Shipbuilding 

Enterprise,” 

Professor Yates said. 

“At the same time, 

AMC will work closely 

with the state as part of 

the state’s defence strategy, 

the development of 

the defence network and 

the proposal for the Maritime 

Defence Innovation 

and Design Precinct 

at Newnham.” 

WANTED 


movers and 

shakers 



• Awards 


success 


with the 


business 

community 

Cripps CEO Paul Gadomski challenges local business leaders and politicians, incuding Labor 

MLC Sarah Lovell, to raise a red flag for mental health. 

Assesors reduce risk 

WORKFORCE Health 

Assessors has celebrated 

its 15th anniversary and 

will open its first international 

office this year to 

celebrate. 

The business has 

grown in leaps and 

bounds since it first 

started operating out of 

a shearing shed at Cambridge. 

Previously operating 

as National Strategic 

Occupational Services, 

WHA is a provider of a 

variety of occupational 

health services, including 

pre-employment and 

ongoing medicals, drug 

and alcohol testing, hearing 

tests and health and 

wellness programs. 

WHA began when 

Managing Director and 

Co-Founder, Jason Unwin, 

and his three business 

partners, recognised 

a gap in the market, formulating 

a plan to revolutionise 

the way medical 

assessments were 

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business offering an exceptional range of ergonomic furniture to 

home offices and businesses across Tasmania. We work closely with 

occupational therapists and focus primarily on alternative seating 

and height adjustable desks to fulfil the needs of our clients. 

A free measure and quote for every client is all part of our service. 

Everyone here at Flair Office Furniture is committed to making your 

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2 

CELEBRATING 

E S T 

. 

YEARS 

WHA Managing Director Jason Unwin, right, and staff members. 

2 0 0 4 

conducted and reported. 

“Competitors were 

looking to off-the-shelf 

and off-shore solutions,” 

Mr Unwin recalled. 

The business developed 

game-changing 

proprietary software and 

technology, to provide 

clients with the ability to 

book, track and receive 

reports within a 24-hour 

time frame. 

Mr Unwin said WHA’s 

software went live in August 

2005 and it was an 

industry first—the only 

truly digital pre-employment 

medical online 

software system. 

“The software we’ve 

created helps reduce 

workplace risk. It ensures 

the safety of the employee 

in question, and the 

workers around them— 

helping to provide a safer 

working environment, 

but also ultimately improving 

an organisation’s 

bottom-line,” Mr Unwin 

said. 

WHA has more than 

40 facilities across Australia 

and is set to open 

its first offices in New 

Zealand later this year. 

It has also recently upgraded 

its four Tasmanian 

offices in Hobart, 

Launceston, Devonport 

and Burnie. 

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Electric Height 

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from 

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Delivered and installed 





fontpr.com.au


EVENTS 

Tony Fox of WIN 

TV, left, and 

Brad Nowland 

of 

Font PR. 

Saigon District owner Cuong Nguyen, left, 

William Neale and Debi Marshall. 

What: 

Saigon District Kitchen 

and Bar grand opening. 

Where: 

Saigon District, Elizabeth Street, 

North Hobart. 

When: 

Thursday, April 18. 

Tom Coyle and Andrea Wright. 

Amy McKenzie, left, and Kathy Tria. 

Emma Devlin 

and Jake 

Smith, both 

of Macq01. 

Attorney General 

Elise Archer, Brad 

Stansfield of Font 

PR and Priscilla 

Stansfield. 

Varuni Kulasekera, left, Brian Ritchie, Griff Jones, 

Damian Mather. 

Kate Fox, left, Adam Reibel, Dave Flower and 

Trish Lewis.


PROPERTY MATTERS 

Confidence in sight for retail 

Scott Newton 

Property Matters with 

Knight Frank 

In this month’s editorial, Matthew Wright, 

our Retail Sales and Leasing specialist, 

gives an update on Hobart’s retail sector 

of the property market. 

DESPITE the recent media 

surrounding the decline of 

the general retail market, to 

date the 2018/2019 financial 

year has proved to be another 

growth year for the retail sector 

in Tasmania. 

Since mid 2013, retail turnover 

has shown consistent 

levels of growth. 

The Australian Bureau of 

Statistics (March 2019) reported 

that retail sales figures 

were strong and reflected a 

4.5 per cent increase in the 

last 12 months. 

The Commonwealth Bank 

State of the States’ January 

2019 outlines Tasmania’s retail 

spending increased 13.7 

per cent on the decade average 

spend, which increased 

Tasmania up two spots to 

fourth in Australia. 

The Hobart market has 

seen change throughout the 

past three to four years with a 

host of new leading national 

tenants coming to the fold. 

The past 12 months have 

seen further national tenants 

join the Hobart CBD – Angus 

& Coote, Silk Laser Clinic, 

Seed Child and Oscar Wylee. 

Hobart’s growing reputation 

as one of the world’s best 

restaurant and produce scenes 

has been further enhanced 

during this period with a 

number of new restaurants 

opening as well as leading 

bars. The Den, Botanica and 

Evolve opening in the last 12 

months. 

The long-awaited Parliament 

Square development is 

forecast to open towards the 

end of 2019- early 2020 and 

Knight Frank is the exclusive 

leasing agent. 

There are many exciting retailers/food 

and beverage operators 

that will compliment 

Australia’s first Luxury Collection 

hotel by the Marriot 

group. 

The flow of investment 

activity into the Hobart retail 

market has been strong 

in recent years, aided by an 

increasing number of buyers 

becoming priced out of the 

mainland capital cities. 

In turn, more investors are 

moving up the risk curve by 

investing in Hobart where 

yield metrics are move elevated. 

The past 12 months have 

seen the freehold market for 

retail sales transactions reduce 

in number of transactions 

due to a large number 

of strip retail offerings being 

sold in the previous 12-24 

months prior. 

The longawaited 

Parliament 

Square 

development 

that is 

forecast 

to open 

towards the 

end of 2019, 

early 2020. 

Buyer confidence remains 

very strong in greater Tasmania 

for retail assets with either 

strong single lease covenants, 

development opportunities or 

mixed use/multiple tenancies 

seeing multiple bidding parties 

competing on these retail 

offerings that have been put 

to the market in the past 12 

months. 

Key assets that have sold 

are 119 Collins Street, Hobart 

(Former Country Road), 

116 and 112 Liverpool Street, 

Hobart, 164 Liverpool, 105- 

109 Campbell Street, Hobart 

(Officeworks), 179 Macquarie 

Street, Hobart (Former 

Myer), 345 Elizabeth Street, 

North Hobart (Nandos). 

Hobart’s CBD has experienced 

significant development 

in recent years and looks set to 

continue as Hobart transitions 

into a more modern city. 

PROPERTY VIEW 

May 2019 

Heritage CBD Offices. 

111-119 Cameron Street, Launceston. 

For Sale by Expressions of Interest. 

“Argyle Central” . 

36 Argyle Street, Hobart. 

For Lease by Negotiation. 

Net rent 

$540,292 pa* 

Land holding 

2,433 sqm* 

GLA 2,866 sqm* 

Premium 

CBD location 

Anticipated 5 

star NABERS 

Available est’d 

late 2019 

“Esk View Terraces” and “Barrett Terrace”, arguably the most 

appealing commercial offering for a long time. Refurbished 

modern offices with long leases to the State Government 

and a highly recognized CBD heritage streetscape, this 

offering is simply stunning. 

Charles Black 0409 317 607 

Rob Dixon 0408 134 025 

A Healthy Investment. 

118 Liverpool Street, Hobart. 


*Approx 

Be part of Hobart’s newest, and most exciting mixed-use 

commercial development, “Argyle Central” with up to 3,100 

sqm of commercial accommodation available over four 

contiguous levels. Floor plates ranging in size from 717 sqm* 

to 818 sqm* with potential for smaller tenancies. 

Scott Newton 0409 186 261 

Richard Steedman 0408 559 046 

Occupy, Invest, Develop. 

4 Watchorn Street, Hobart. 


*Approx 

Net income: 

$110,093 pa* 

Lettable area: 

554 sqm* 

100% leased 

to Liv-Eat 

Site Area: 

247 sqm* 

Lettable area: 

398 sqm* 

Owner occupy 

or invest 

Four level commercial building that is fully leased to 

established operator Liv-Eat. Situated on Hobart’s central 

retail block with a high level of passing traffic. Surrounded by 

an abundance of leading national tenants. 

Richard Steedman 0408 559 046 

Matthew Wright 0458 290 588 

*Approx 

Knight Frank has the exclusive opportunity to offer for sale 

this virtually stand-alone office building in a rapidly developing 

corner of Hobarts CBD. The property has been utilised as 

solicitor’s offices for many years and this is the first time it has 

been offered to the market in over 30 years. 

Scott Newton 0409 186 261 

Hayden Peck 0412 766 395 

5 Victoria Street, Hobart 54 Cameron Street, Launceston 48-54 Oldaker Street, Devonport 

P: 03 6220 6999 P: 03 6333 7888 P: 03 6424 3568 

*Approx

Tasmanian Business Reporter May 2019

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