EBA option for shopkeepers

Tuesday, 25 June, 2002 - 22:00
EBA option for shopkeepers

MORE than 5,000 small retailers around Perth could soon be getting information on a new enterprise bargaining agreement to cover their industry. WA Retailers Association chief executive officer Martin Dempsey, and Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association of WA secretary Joe Bullock have been in negotiations regarding the agreement for the past week.

Full report, Page 3.



Vine dream withers

VITICULTURAL Asset Management has received another setback to its dream of developing a vineyard in Manjimup after failing in a bid to raise almost $20 million. It is the second time the company, controlled by Mike Calneggia, has failed to get backing to develop the planned 290-hectare Gnangara Vineyard Project. Full report, Page 4.



WA resource push lifts awards representation

THE Australia Business Arts Foundation (AbaF) Business Arts Partnerships Awards have attracted 28 entries from the local industry, an increase of more than 250 per cent on last year. The State’s strong resource sector is one of the industries leading the way. Full report, Page 5.



Act may catch lawyers unaware

LAWYERS may not be exempt from the new provisions outlined in the Financial Services Reform Act, which came into force on March 11. The Law Society of Western Australia has issued a warning that lawyers may be caught up in the new regime because of the ambiguity of the new provisions. The new laws require anyone offering financial advice or products to hold a licence covering the financial services they provide. They also must meet various conduct and disclosure obligations, unless an exemption applies.

Full report, Page 13.



Questions raised over taskforce

QUESTIONS are being raised about the effectiveness of the national taskforce mooted at the Royal Commission into the Building and Construction Industry. In his opening address to the commission’s Sydney hearings, Counsel Assisting Nicholas Green QC indicated that such a taskforce could be needed to enforce law in the building and construction industry. Industry figures believe the national taskforce will be too eastern-centric, too bureaucratic and too backward looking. Full report, Page 14.



Resource sector welcomes report on mining approvals

THE WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy has welcomed the findings of a report by the Auditor General into the administration of the mineral titles system, but believes the report should have taken a wider approach on the bureaucratic hold-ups facing miners. Chamber director Greg Johannes said Auditor General Des Pearson’s criticism of the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources was not completely warranted, however. Full report, Page 15.