WITH Australia taking a lead role in providing aid to the regions devastated by the tsunamis caused by a major earthquake off Indonesia on Boxing Day, some Western Australian businesses have also thrown their weight behind it.
Many of the State’s largest companies, such as Wesfarmers, have made donations to aid agencies working in the affected region.
However, some other businesses and local aid groups, have taken their own steps to providing aid.
Perhaps the largest effort came from Manana Exports, which gave space on a cattle ship that was sailing to an Indonesian port near the regions hardest hit by the waves.
Retailer Jim Kidd Sports is donating more than $100,000 in clothing and footwear to those affected by the tsunami.
It is also calling on Western Australians to drop in any "near-new pre-loved" sporting goods into Jim Kidd stores.
Those goods will be distributed to families who lost everything in the disaster thanks to Father Brian’s Crisis Care.
Father Brian’s Crisis Care, led by Perth priest Father Brian Morrison, also held an appeal at Belmont Park on January 9.
All gate takings from the day’s racing went to the appeal.
While much of the aid is aimed at Indonesia, Perth business Solco is going ahead with plans to install its prototype solar-powered water purification system in the Maldives.
Solco executive director Anthony Maslin said the company had been asked to go ahead with its installation of the system on the planned date of January 15.
The company was planning to use the prototype to see if a business case could be made for its technology in water purification.
However, with the Maldives few aquifers all understood to be contaminated after the waves hit, the water purification system becomes much more important.
Charity fund raising relief clarified
AN updated policy statement has been released to provide further clarification and guidance to not for profit organisations.
The policy statement sets out the relief from the fundraising, managed investment, debenture and licensing provisions of the Corporations Act that ASIC may give to charities for the offer an operation of certain investment schemes.
The licensing relief for charitable investment schemes covers core activities of the charity associated with the scheme.
That relief only applies to interest in managed investment schemes and debentures offered by a charity.
In general, ASIC will only give relief that is directly required to facilitate investment in such a financial product.
ASIC director of regulator policy Mark Adams said: “The relief recognises that full compliance with the act by a charity is not necessary in cases were an investor in a charitable scheme seeks to support the charitable purpose and profit is not the primary consideration for investing”.
Carers given say
WESTERN Australia’s carers will have input into the implementation of the State’s new Carer’s Recognition Act with the formation of a new Carers Advisory Council.
Nominations are being sought for membership on the council, which will ensure carers are consulted and included in policy planning as required under the WA Carers Charter. The council will consist of up to 10 people with knowledge of, and experience in, matters relating to carers.
For more information phone 9220 1111.
WACOSS given utility role
THE Western Australian Council of Social Service has been given $200,000 by the WA Government to set up a telephone hotline, website and support services for consumers and community advocates who need information about the State’s utilities providers.
WACOSS president Rae Walter said the grant would be used in various ways to inform and support consumers and small business. The Government introduced safeguards to protect WA electricity consumers from January 1.
