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◦ WELCOME ◦
ECONOMIC OVERVIEW,
BUSINESS & INVESTMENT ◦
R&D
/ INNOVATION ◦ ◦ IT & TELECOM ◦
WATER
◦ ENERGY
/ ENVIRONMENT ◦ HEALTH ◦ SECURITY / DEFENCE ◦ |
► WELCOME
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Dear Friends & Colleagues, This edition of
Commercial News from Australia includes an outline of the recent
opportunities presented by the 2007-08 Australian federal budget, released
last month in May. Under each heading, you’ll find a summary outlining how
the budget affected allocations or opportunities for that particular
industry. The big winners to come from this year’s budget were the cleantech
industry; water, environment and energy, as well as investments in
infrastructure, education and health. We hope that these,
as well as other local conditions present opportunities that invite doing
business within and between Please do not
hesitate to contact us further to explore how you are best able to take
advantage of these opportunities to the benefit of your business.
Additionally, if you know of anyone else that may be interested in receiving
our periodic Commercial News from Australia updates, do not hesitate to
forward it on, or encourage them to get in touch and we’ll happily add them
to the sender list.
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ECONOMIC OVERVIEW, BUSINESS &
INVESTMENT
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2008-09 Economic Overview Budget Summary:
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► R&D / INNOVATION
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2008-09 R&D / Innovation Budget Summary: ·
The government will spend $251m over five years to establish 10
innovation centres (designed to give small and medium-sized businesses
advisory and diagnostic services to improve productivity and capacity for
innovation) ·
$535m in research fellowships and scholarships over four years. ·
$240 million over four years for new Clean Business Australia
initiatives ·
$500 million over five years commencing in 2011-12 for the Green Car
Innovation Fund Reforms to Improve Source: http://www.egovforum.com.au/content/view/137/45 Funding for Climate Change Technologies Funding of $75
million was allocated for the Climate Ready competitive grants program,
intended to encourage Australian businesses to develop and commercialise products,
processes and services that save energy and water, reduce pollution and use
waste products in innovative ways. Innovation supported by the Climate Ready
program could include new technologies for water recycling, waste recovery or
small-scale renewable energy; the development of green building materials to
make homes more energy-efficient and more comfortable; and innovations to
reduce the energy used by appliances, cutting emissions and household power
bills. Funding will commence for the program in July 2008. More information
on this program can be found at www.ausindustry.gov.au. Source: www.researchcentre.com.au/rndinfo/newsletter.php?issue=177 Monash plans $45m Nanotech Operation Source: www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,23579183-16123,00.html Venture Capital Guide reveals strong growth,
identifies $13 billion for investment The Australian
venture capital and private equity industry had access to a minimum of $13
billion in equity capital at the end of 2007 according to Australian Venture
Capital Guide 2008. According to the guide, Australian firms invested
about $6.5b in 2006/07, compared with about $4.5b in 2005/06. Source: www.researchcentre.com.au/rndinfo/newsletter.php?issue=119#8288;
http://tc106.metawerx.com.au/Rustreport/rustreport_may09_08.pdf |
► IT & TELECOM
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2008-09 R&D / Innovation Budget Summary: ·
An extra $200m will be spent covering the Rudd Government's election
commitment to give senior secondary students greater access to computers over
the next five years, taking the total commitment to $1.2b $4.7b Broadband Project Advancing THE Federal Government has taken a major step
toward building its promised $9.4 billion national broadband network, issuing
the request for proposals from potential bidders for the project, with the
deadline for submissions extended till October. The G9 consortium has made
its latest move to establish itself as a true competitor to Telstra in its
bid for the National Broadband Network, launching their new brand and
strapline: “Terria – Source: www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,23522597-16123,00.html;
www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,23608687-16123,00.html CommsDay
Weekly (23rd May 2008) 3G connection set to boost by 2011 Australian carriers are playing a significant role
in a regional shift towards off-portal 3G offerings, according to a new
report. The Ovum report, “Evolution of 3G Strategies in Asia-Pacific”, says
next-generation connections in Source: CommsDay Weekly (25th
April 2008) The e-readiness rankings compile a range of 100
separate data points including physical telecoms infrastructure, business
environment, social and cultural indicators conducive to “e-take-up”, legal
environment, government & business “e-adoption” and government policy. http://a330.g.akamai.net/7/330/25828/20080331202303/graphics.eiu.com/upload/ibm_ereadiness_2008.pdf. Source: CommsDay Weekly (9th
May 2008) $271m broadband
commitment for Australian Outback THE Rudd Government has bent to pressure
from rural communities and committed $271 million to broadband for people
living in the most remote parts of Source: www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,23693920-16123,00.html Broadband Internet Subscribers Soar Over Past Year THE number of
broadband internet users in Source: http://www.egovforum.com.au/content/view/140/45 $16 billion ICT Review Finance Minister
Lindsay Tanner, who has previously flagged a shake-up of IT procurement, has
appointed Sir Peter to examine the ‘haphazard and fragmented’ systems used by
federal departments and agencies. He will review the federal
government's management of its $10 billion IT and communications assets, and
the annual $6 billion spend on new projects, signalling a shift to
“co-ordinated” purchasing. The review will focus on options to improve the
efficiency and effectiveness of government ICT operations, and work out ways
of agencies sharing or connecting that will save money and deliver better
services, as part of federal Government's broader savings reform agenda. Source: www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,23539441-16123,00.html;
www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,23522182-16123,00.html |
► WATER
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2008-09 Energy / Environment Budget Summary: ·
$12.9 billion 10-year program to improve water management [+] ·
Government purchase of water
rights to save stressed rivers (spending roughly 1/5 of the $3.1b promised
for buybacks over a decade in the next 2 years), increasing its spending on
buybacks to $170m in 2008-09 and then $482.7m in 2009-10 Australian Government to invest
$12.9 billion in water
The 2008/09 Budget
will deliver on the Rudd Government’s election commitments in water and
establish a $12.9 billion water investment program over ten years, creating a
Water for the Future plan. This
includes $1.5 billion in new urban water investment to help secure water
supplies for Australian households and businesses. The plan provides funding
for three key election commitments, including: o
$1 billion for the National Urban Water and Desalination Plan [+] o
$254.8 million for the National Water Security Plan for Cities and
Towns [+] o
$250 million for the National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative [+] Source: www.environment.gov.au/minister/wong/2008/pubs/mr20080429.pdf $1 Billion for the National Urban Water and Desalination Plan
The Australian Government will provide $1 billion
over six years to help secure water supplies for working families and
businesses through desalination, recycling and stormwater harvesting. Cities
and towns of 50,000 people or more will be eligible for funding under the
plan. The private sector, water utilities as well as state, territory and
local governments will be able to apply for funds, which will be provided through
grants and tax offsets. Source: www.environment.gov.au/minister/wong/2008/pubs/budmr20080513a.pdf $254.8 Million for the National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns
The Australian Government will invest $254.8
million to increase the security of water supplies in cities and towns, in an
effort to help communities improve water efficiency and develop new sources
of water. The plan is designed to help smaller communities make their
existing water infrastructure more efficient or find new sources of water
supply, as well as assist local water authorities to minimise the loss of
valuable water resources by providing funding for practical projects that
save water. Funding would be provided over five years for
projects including upgrades to treatment plants and infrastructure,
stormwater re-use, and providing recycled water. The Government will first commit
$104.5 million to 20 projects outlined in Labor’s 2007 election commitments.
Details of the second stage of funding will be developed in consultation with
the states and territories through the Council of Australian Governments. The
plan will also provide $8.8 million for the three-year Green Precincts
Fund which will
support at least 10 high-profile demonstration projects that deliver water
and energy savings. Source: www.environment.gov.au/wong/2008/pubs/budmr20080513d.pdf $250 Million for the National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative
The Australian will provide $250 million to help
working families and surf lifesaving clubs save precious drinking water by
installing rainwater tanks and greywater systems. Up to 500,000 households over
six years will receive support of up to $500 towards the cost of installing
rainwater tanks and greywater products which will reduce their use of
drinking water. Grants of up to $10,000 each will also be available for 300
surf life saving clubs to become water efficient. Source: www.environment.gov.au/minister/wong/2008/pubs/budmr20080513c.pdf Australian Government
Deliver Massive Funding for Individual Australian States Formal funding of $34.5 million for Waterproofing the South project was
announced in May. The Christies Beach facility is being upgraded to produce
high quality recycled water for industry and for watering gardens and playing
fields, to remove complete reliance on rainfall. The project would also see
expanded piping infrastructure provide more recycled water for local
wineries. Source: www.environment.gov.au/minister/wong/2008/pubs/mr20080417.pdf The Australian Government has provided urgent funds
to help secure water supplies in Source: http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/wong/2008/pubs/budmr20080513f.pdf The Australian Government will provide funding
support to Tasmanian irrigation projects that will increase employment in
regional areas, as well as delivering on key election commitments in the Huon
Valley and Derwent River that would be funded under the five-year $254.8
million National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns. The Rudd
Government will provide $12 million for the Huon Valley Water Scheme to
improve water quality for households. A further $10.5 million will be
provided to support water recycling and reuse in irrigation in South East
Tasmania, with the added benefit of reducing wastewater discharge into the
Derwent river system. Source: www.environment.gov.au/minister/wong/2008/pubs/budmr20080513g.pdf $400 Million Brought Forward To
Act On Murray-Darling The Australian Government has brought forward $400
million in funding to accelerate water purchase and infrastructure projects
in the The Government will bring forward $177.2 million
for water buybacks under the Restoring the Balance in the Murray-Darling
Basin program. This will take the total allocation for this program to
$170.1 million in 2008-09 and $482.7 million in 2009-10. A further $222.8
million has been brought forward for the Sustainable Rural Water Use and
Infrastructure program to fund urgent infrastructure projects in the Source: www.environment.gov.au/minister/wong/2008/pubs/budmr20080513e.pdf |
► ENERGY / ENVIRONMENT
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2008-09 Energy / Environment Budget Summary: ·
$2.3b of measures to address climate change. Includes: o $500m to expand and accelerate the
development, commercialisation and deployment of a range of renewable
technologies o $500m to develop and manufacture
low-emission cars over four years o Clean coal and low interest loans
for households to make energy savings refurbishments o $150m investment over four years
for energy innovation, including $100m allocated towards solar thermal and
photovoltaic R&D, and remainder committed towards research into clean
energy technologies o $300m towards a green loans
program over five years, allowing households to apply for low-interest loans
to help pay for changes such as installing water tanks, insulation and solar
hot water. o $150m to encourage landlords to
install insulation in rental properties o $90m over four years to subsidise
half the costs of retro-fitting commercial office buildings to improve their
energy efficiency o $14m towards a scheme to help
consumers identify energy-efficiency appliances. o 6000 homes able to apply for
rebates for rooftop solar energy panels with a total of $26m available for
the rebates next year $3 Billion Set Aside for Sustainable Environmental
Measures in Federal Budget Source: www.environment.gov.au/minister/garrett/2008/pubs/budmr20080513a.pdf ‘Green’ Loans for Aussie Homes Up to 200,000 working families will be eligible for
Green Loans over five years to improve the energy and water efficiency of
their homes. Low-interest Green Loans of up to $10,000 will be made available
to home owners specifically for the installation of solar, water and energy
efficient products in their homes. Under this program, households will be
provided with a Green Renovation Pack and receive a household sustainability
assessment report. The Loans initiative is expected to generate up to $2
billion worth of green inspired investment in the economy, and benefit the
small business sector. Some of the items households will be able to purchase
under this plan include: Solar panels, rainwater tanks and grey water
recycling systems, Insulation and shading devices, Solar, heat-pump and
high-efficiency gas hot water heaters, as well as Energy-efficient lighting.
Green Loans are expected to be available by early 2009. Source: www.environment.gov.au/minister/garrett/2008/pubs/budmr20080513b.pdf Increased Funding
for Solar Rebates The Rudd Labor Government will bring forward $25.6
million in funding under the Solar Homes and Communities Plan in 2008-09. The
increased funding for rebates in 2008-09 is in response to a substantial
increase in solar power installations across the country. The rebates of up
to $8000 bring the program into alignment with the Solar Hot Water Rebate,
and in addition to the $10,000 Green Loans which will help 200,000 families
with the upfront costs to improve the energy and water efficiency of their
homes, including through installing solar power systems. As well as the Solar Homes and Communities Plan the
government is boosting the solar power industry by making every Australian
school a solar school. The National Solar Schools Program will provide up to
$50,000 to more than 9,000 Australian schools to install solar power systems
and other measures to improve energy and water efficiency http://www.environment.gov.au/garrett/2008/pubs/budmr20080513f.pdf Energy cost savings for renters Renters will save money on energy costs and
landlords will be entitled to a rebate of up to $500 to install insulation
under a new program announced today by the Federal Minister for the
Environment. It is estimated that good insulation can slash more than $300
off annual energy bills. In Source: www.environment.gov.au/minister/garrett/2008/pubs/budmr20080513c.pdf $2.3 Billion To Tackle Climate
Change The Rudd Government has delivered $2.3 billion in
funding to tackle climate change through initiatives across government over
the four years of this Budget. Senator Wong said the Government has provided
$59 million to establish the Department of Climate Change to deliver on
commitments including a national renewable energy target and an emissions
trading scheme. Rudd Government initiatives on climate change
include: o
$1 billion to help Australians make their homes and their communities
more energy and water-efficient o
$260 million to Australian businesses to reduce their impact on the
environment o
$1.7 billion to support Source: www.alp.org.au/media/0508/msccw140.php |
