Willard Estate

ISPM15 Taiwan

2008-12-30T16:54:00.002+11:00

Please be advised that Taiwan Authorities will adopt strictly the ISPM15 regulations,
since 01-Jan-2009 (Cargo Arrival Date). In case the relevant certificates are not obtained
prior to Customs declaration, it is possible for the goods not to be cleared, to be rejected
for entry by Customs or to result in extra charges. Attached announcement is for your
reference.

Importance of Bell Bay Infrastructure

2008-12-30T16:54:00.001+11:00

The proposed expansion of the Bell Bay Port was a vital step in ensuring Tasmania’s transport system met the challenges of the future
The project to increase the size of the working port through a 8.38 hectare deepwater reclamation, will remove an infrastructure bottleneck for Tasmania’s import and export dependent industries.
The Minister for Infrastructure, Graeme Sturges, said that the project was critical in ensuring that the State was able to deal with a forecast substantial increase in container transport, maximising the use of rail and easing pressure on other parts of the transport system.
The expanded area will be used as a as a staging and operational area for container traffic which is presently experiencing a 5.5 percent market increase each year. While growth is expected to slow, increases will continue with container traffic through the port forecast to double by 2023.
“This is well beyond the existing capacity of Tasmania’s Ports,” Mr Sturges said.
“The long term strategy is to consolidate container traffic at Devonport and Bell with the highest growth at Bell Bay. This in turn will free up space at Burnie Port for bulk exports particularly mining exports from the West Coast.”
Mr Sturges said the nomination of the project as one which was deserving of greater investigation reinforced the importance of taking a strategic approach to infrastructure development in the State.
“The focus of the State’s submission to Infrastructure Australia was on critical projects which would unlock constraints in its transport system to deliver real benefits in terms of national productivity,” Mr Sturges said
“That means addressing export limitations and improving freight efficiency along the key national supply chains of the North, South and West Coast of Tasmania
“The State Government understands the importance of infrastructure investment in the State and will continue to support its commitments, election promises and large-scale infrastructure projects.
“This reflects our commitment to doing what we have promised to do – and our desire to keep stimulating the local economy.
“We will continue to work closely with the Australian Government to provide further detailed analysis to allow this and the other priorities to be further assessed.
The Tasmanian Government’s submission to Infrastructure Australia is available at www.dier.tas.gov.au.

China issues new standards for freight forwarders

2008-12-30T16:52:00.002+11:00

CHINA has issued five sets of standards for the domestics freight forwarding industry governing service procedures, quality, terms and conditions, statistical survey conduction, freight forwarder qualifications and assessment criteria.
The standards were drafted by China International Freight Forwarders Association and approved by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. Sinotrans, China Shipping and Sinosteel Corporation participated in the drafting.
The standards are said to secure fast and healthy development of the domestic freight forwarding industry by providing guidelines for government's policy making and regulation.
Another five sets of standards are also on the way to be issued on manifest and documentation, documentation coding approach, information and data exchange and risk assessment. The drafting of these standards is expected to be done in next year and will facilitate the establishment of a public freight forwarding information portal.
The Ministry of Commerce has also given green light to the foundation of a committee that monitors implementation of these technical standards.

With Yangshan purchase, Shanghai poised to beat Singapore

2008-12-30T16:52:00.001+11:00

SHANGHAI International Port Group is buying part of the new Yangshan container dock and thus threatens Singapore's No 1 spot as the busiest container port in the world.
News of the acquisition from Tongsheng Investment Group, a one-third owner, pending approval from shareholders, came in a statement to the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and will add 1.15 million TEU capacity in 2009 and 1.3 million TEU in 2010.
The port operator is to sell CNY3.7 billion (US$540 million) in one-year bonds to fund the acquisition from Shanghai Tongsheng Investment, but the overall sale price is as yet undisclosed, reports Bloomberg News.
Such an acquisition is predicted to have Shanghai container volumes surpass Singapore's, with the addition of Phase 3 section likely to produce net income of CNY43 million over two years, said Shanghai Port in the report.
Shanghai growth, according to the municipal statistics bureau over the last 10 months, has dropped to 8.7 per cent, likely a 12 per cent growth overall, down from 20.5 per cent growth in the full year 2007 when throughput hit 23.9 million TEU.

Judge delays declaratory judgment on legality of clean trucks scheme

2008-12-30T16:50:00.002+11:00

A US JUDGE has declined to provide a declaratory judgment on the legality of the California ports' clean truck programme until hearing more arguments, thus leaving its provisions in place, reports Newark-based Traffic World.
"It's not an easy issue," said US District Judge Richard Leon. "There is a lot of complexity to it."
Judge Leon dashed hopes of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) that believes that the demands of the clean truck programme through Los Angeles and Long Beach unlawfully interfere with legal trade and, therefore are ultra vires.
The two ports affected have delayed collection of a US$35 per TEU tax from trucks built before 2007, but FMC attorney Benjamin Trogdon said truckers already are seeing the impact on competition and costs to shippers will rise.
"The shippers have begun to shift, to look for operators that have compliant trucks," he said. "There has been evidence of irreparable harm to the country" as shippers act to avoid coming fees.
Judge Leon has set December 17 as the date for lawyers to file responses to legal arguments made by FMC, rather than issuing or denying an immediate injunction.
The programme also denies access to owner-operators of trucks to the ports in favour of employee-drivers of certified motor carriers as the Teamsters union has demanded. The FMC case wants to scrap those provisions and stop subsidies for truck purchases as well as exemptions for some truckers at the ports.
But Port and City of Los Angeles lawyer Steven Rosenthal said there was no evidence of a change in the marketplace or in competition. "It's been two months and there have been no problems, no evidence of people going out of business, no parade of horribles. Life is proceeding normally." "And the environment is getting cleaner," the judge added in the report.

300,000 TEU laid up, more to follow in the New Year

2008-12-30T16:50:00.001+11:00

SOME 135 purpose-built containerships, totalling 300,000 TEU, are believed to be laid up, according to the latest Alphaliner count on December 8, up from around 270,000 TEU two weeks ago and 150,000 TEU six weeks ago.
This is 2.5 per cent of the world cellular fleet. Ninety of them are charter market vessels awaiting service with 16 in the 5,000-7,500 TEU class, 11 in the 3,000-4,000 TEU class, 20 in the 2,000-3,000 TEU class, 60 in the 1,000-2,000 TEU class and 30 ships in the 500-1,000 TEU class.
Laid up ship numbers will increase in coming weeks, as vessels are put at anchor or in semi-lay up as they terminate rotations, said Paris-based Alphaliner News.
With the closure of further services this month and next, the latest round of lay-ups to come has become known when Maersk announced the laying up of eight ships in the 6,500 TEU class.
Alphaliner also said most of the ships had been recently removed from the Far East-Mexico-Centram AC-2 service and replaced by 8,200-9,600 TEU ships, further to the merger of this service with the AC-1. The ships involved are in the enhanced 6,500 TEU class with a nominal intake of 7,250 TEU, four of which are idle in Hong Kong and Korea while two others are ending their rotations and likely head for lay up.

Los Angeles cargo volume to drop 20-30pc in first quarter: report

2008-12-30T16:49:00.002+11:00

THE US Port of Los Angeles cargo is expected to fall 20 to 30 per cent in the first quarter of 2009 based on feedback from customers, said the Cunningham Report which specialises in transport and maritime affairs.
It noted that business at one Los Angeles container terminal had fallen by 50 per cent compared to last year.
The bleak forecast follows recent announcements by Maersk Line, the port's greatest revenue earner, that it will scrap one of its services to Los Angeles due to a new vessel-sharing agreement with CMA-CGM that comes into effect in May. This is a blow for the port given that nearly its seven container terminals reportedly generate 80 per cent of its income.
As a result of the weak US economy, the report said the port will reduce spending in the current fiscal year by more than US$20.5 million.

Dutch boxship's speed foils rare pirate attack off Tanzania

2008-12-30T16:49:00.001+11:00

A CONTAINERSHIP suffered a rare pirate attack off the African coast, and put out a fire on board ignited by a rocket propelled grenade, but outran the pirates, as high-speed, high-decked boxships usually do, an International Maritime Bureau official told CNN.
The attack on the Dutch-operated ship was also rare because it happened far to the south, off the Tanzanian coast, 500 miles out to sea, well beyond the range of pirates preying on slower, lower tankers and bulk carriers in the Gulf of Aden as they steam to or from the Red Sea.
American Shipper said the attack is evidence that pirates are expanding their zone of operation, first off the East Coast of Somalia, and now south off Kenya and Tanzania.
Ironically, a Danish warship rescued seven suspected pirates adrift with a broken motor on their speedboat. The Danish crew provided provisions, confiscated their RPGs and AK-47s, and sank their speedboat after picking them up 90 miles off Yemen, but did not arrest them.
The Danish Navy said it did not make arrests because the men were not caught in an act of piracy. The Somali men were instead handed over to the Yemeni coast guard.

Guangdong delays stringent labour law, lets cities make rules

2008-12-30T16:48:00.000+11:00

FACTORIES in the Pearl Delta do not need to meet the rigorous demands of the new PRC Employment Contract Law after the Guangdong provincial government decided put off province-wide implementation, reports Hong Kong legal journal China Law & Practice.
Instead, provincial authorities will allow the cities facing the global economic downturn, Shenzhen and Dongguan among them, to issue their own labour rules in such a way as not to deter business or increase costs which have risen sharply.
After an unspecified trial period, Guangdong said it will consider issuing provincial regulations, said the legal journal. Guangdong manufacturers have welcomed the move because strict implementation risks higher costs, which if passed on, will discourage exports.
"By allowing cities to continue to apply existing rules, the Guangdong government aims to at least help enterprises to pass their critical economic difficulties," said, Fangda Partners attorney Jay Chen.
The national Implementing Regulations for the PRC Employment Contract Law were issued September 18. Thus far, only Guangdong has made an official announcement regarding implementation.

Top China researcher sees newbuilding orders fall 60pc in '09

2008-12-30T16:47:00.002+11:00

NEWBUILDING orders in China will fall 60 per cent in 2009 as prices drop 30 per cent from their 2010 high, says Beijing's China Shipbuilding Economy Research Centre's chief analyst Bao Zhangjing.
Mr Bao told the Asia Ship Finance and Leasing Forum in Shanghai that he saw a modest recovery in 2011 when shipyards would start to reload capacity, but said that would not start before 2012 when orders returned to a 100 million deadweight ton level. "Owners will not order as long as they believe prices will fall further," he said, adding that orders have already dropped 14 million tons in August to less than 1 million in November, and will again drop 60 per cent next year from this year's 150 million tons. He expected a continued decline in 2010 to 50 million tons.

Panama Canal Authority takes bids for dry excavation project

2008-12-30T16:47:00.001+11:00

THE Panama Canal Authority (ACP) says it has officially received a total of six bids for the third out of four dry excavation contracts to be awarded under its Canal Expansion Programme.
The next step now is to review the submissions with a view to determining a winner of the contract before the end of this month, in order to move ahead with the next phase of expansion works, which "remains on track," according to a statement issued by the ACP.
The scope of work for this latest dry excavation contract is said to encompass the excavation, removal and disposal of 8 million cubic metres of material, which will further reduce Paraiso (Paradise) Hill from 46 metres to 27.5 metres above sea level.
It also calls for the construction of approximately 2.5 kilometres of access and the clearing of 190 hectares of land bearing munitions and explosives of consideration (MEC), remnants from former US military training in Panama.
When all four of the dry excavation contracts are completed, the works would have created a "critical" access channel linking the new Pacific locks with the Canal's existing Gaillard Cut, which is the narrowest stretch of the Panama Canal.
Similar to the first and second dry excavation projects, the third contract will be awarded to the firm with the lowest-priced bid that meets all of the requirements stated in the request for proposals.
"With the prices offered today by the bidders for this contract, the Canal's expansion programme remains on-track and on-budget," said executive vice president of Engineering and Programme Management Jorge Quijano.
"The third dry excavation contract is an essential intermediate step in the creation of the Pacific access channel, and we are pleased with the interest shown by the competing companies. We look forward to reviewing the documentation of the winning bid and welcoming another partner to the Canal Expansion Programme."
Ultimately, the expansion project will build a new lane of traffic along the Panama Canal through the construction of a new set of locks to double capacity and allow access to more traffic and longer, wider ships.

MOL resumes independently-operated service to Southampton

2008-12-30T16:46:00.001+11:00

THE arrival of the 8,100-TEU MOL Cosmos at the UK Port of Southampton has marked a return of MOL-owned vessels calling at the port after a break of several months. In the interim period, MOL had been offering services into Southampton in partnership with The New World Alliance carriers.
The MOL Cosmos is currently operating on the Japanese shipping line's South China Express Service that also makes stops at the ports of Zeebrugge, Hamburg and Rotterdam before heading back to the Far East via the Suez Canal, as the vessel is too large to transit the Panama Canal.
"We are delighted to welcome the captain and crew of the MOL Cosmos on her maiden call to DP World Southampton. As one of our oldest customers, I am especially pleased to welcome MOL back to the terminal and we look forward to servicing MOL ships in Southampton for many years to come," said Campbell Mason, managing director of DP World Southampton, in a company statement from the terminal operator.

Long Beach and LA ports give green light to projects

2008-12-30T16:43:00.000+11:00

LA and Long Beach port officials are giving the green light to US$2 billion plus valued-projects in the belief that it will result in economic stimulus despite cargo slowdown and unemployment increases, reports Los Angeles Times.
"After years of robust growth, we have a chance to take a breath and concentrate on some infrastructure projects," said Richard Steinke, executive director of the Port of Long Beach. "We can stimulate economic growth, put people back to work and position ourselves for the turnaround."
There is high resistance to Geraldine Knatz the executive director of the Port of LA's plan for a new cruise terminal at its Outer Harbour said to create 7,300 direct jobs and 17,700 indirect construction-related ones, and 438 permanent jobs over the five to seven year building period.
With union dockworkers scrabbling about for work as many cargo ships go idle and more join the unemployment queue the timing is a point of contention. Latest figures for eleven months of 2008 show a drop of 5 per cent to 7.3 million TEU at Port of LA, and 6 million TEU at Long Beach, a 10 per cent decrease. Rate cuts to less than $600 per FEU from highs of $3,400 in 2007 shows a picture of an industry in retrenchment.
The tourist sector say that the location of the 1960s facility makes for entrance only in reverse and an unglamorous arrival with its view of an industrial port scene and its attendant grime and fumes. Latest figures from Cruise Lines International Association rank Los Angeles fourth with a meek 6 per cent in cruise embarkations share.
"People have this image of how their ship will arrive in port, the wind in your hair, streamers flying, maybe a bottle of champagne, and here in Los Angeles you arrive creeping along in reverse. It's pretty hard to put your best face forward that way," said Judy Parker, VP for Worldview Travel, a travel agency based in California, Florida and New York.
Long Beach plan to combine its two existing terminals in a 10 year, US$750-million investment plan with green initiatives to combat the pollution problems by electric grids for vessels and a switch-off rule for diesel engines.
Port officials long term vision is in light of the ports ability to be prepared for an upturn and to avoid a 2004 'boom' situation when vessels were queuing up and unable to unload cargo, added the report.

Consumers want brand clarity

2008-12-30T16:42:00.000+11:00

By Adam Stephen

Organic consumers want a simple labelling system for produce.Currently there's no uniform label for organic produce, and consumers are confronted with different labels depending on which company certified the product.An Organic Federation of Australia commissioned Newspoll survey found over 70 per cent of regular buyers just want to see the words 'certified organic' on the produce.OFA chairman André Leu says the industry needs to take on the advice. "Everywhere where it's been put in, for instance when Germany did it, organic sales skyrocketed. In the USA they just have one logo and the same thing has happened there. What happens is, when consumers know one logo, it makes it very easy for them to have confidence in the product that this product is a genuine certified organic product."
In this report: OFA chairman André Leu

Transport industry tax to hit farmers and possibly consumers

2008-12-30T16:41:00.000+11:00

By Mary Goode

Any extra money farmers are saving with cheaper fuel could be eroded by a new trucking tax.It's called the Interstate Road Transport Charge Amendment Bill .It's passed through Parliament, and will mean truck owners will pay an extra one-point-three cents a litre, or around 15-thousand dollars a year. It's effectively a tax increase from 19 cents to 21 cents a litre.And while it doesn't sound much, with the large amount of kilometres truckies do, those extra cents soon add up.Luke Fraser from the Australian Livestock Transporters Association says it's a good tax - because it'll mean better roads and more efficient travel.He says the pay day has come for our regional and rural roads.Mr Fraser says while this will mean more money for roads - the costs will be passed on to the customers - which in rural areas will mostly be farmers.But the question is - will producers be stuck with those costs or can they pass them on to the consumer?Greg Brown from the Cattle Council of Australia says farmers won't be able to pass on the costs, because farmers are price takers and not price setters.He says it's not in farmers' power to change that.John Cummings is chairman of the National Association of Retail Grocers of Australia .He says the tax must be passed on, because farmers can't be expected to foot another bill. Mr Cummings believes it could help push meat prices up 10 to 15 per cent, that's including the price hikes that farmers are already experiencing."No doubt, there is no doubt that in Australia, the producer is the least who can afford any increase in costs," he says."So we would assume that these must in the end be passed on to consumers."
In this report: Luke Fraser, Australian Livestock Transporters Association; Greg Brown, Cattle Council of Australia; John Cummings, National Association of Retail Grocers of Australia

Extended research effort for Tasmania's wine

2008-12-30T16:40:00.000+11:00

By Cameron Wilson

Making Tasmania's sparkling wine and Pinot Noir even better will be the aim of the newly established Tasmanian base for the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI).It's an exciting time for the local industry, with Tasmania chosen above other Australian regions for the first expansion of the South Australian based AWRI.Dr Bob Dambergs has relocated to oversee the new research projects including dry red table wines, the viticulture and wine making of sparkling wines, engineering design for new spray technology and cheaper alternatives to oak maturation.Tasmania is already renowned as a premium producer of sparkling and Pinot Noir, but Bob Dambergs says the research will build on those strengths."There is a bit of a grape glut on the mainland at the moment but the sort of wines that are produced in Tasmania are still in demand, and Tasmania really specialises in Pinot Noir and sparkling wines, and that's really the focus of the research projects we'll be undertaking here.""My vision would be to see Tasmania as the Australian equivalent of Champagne in France for sparkling wines, and the equivalent of Burgundy for dry red Pinot Noir."
In this report: Dr Bob Dambergs, Australian Wine Research Institute.

ABARE downgrades export earning forecasts

2008-12-30T16:39:00.000+11:00

Monday, 15/12/2008
Australia's earnings from commodity exports will take a hit in 2009, thanks to the global financial crisis.In its latest estimate, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics says earnings will be around $192 billion.That's $22 billion less than in September.ABARE chief commodity analyst Jammie Penm said export earnings are now forecast to be $192 billion for the next financial year."This is a downward revision from what we forecast in September this year. The forecast then was $214 billion, but naturally due to the global financial crisis it's been revised down," he said.Crop earnings are forecast to increase by 18 per cent to $15 billion. However, export earnings from livestock and livestock products will decline by 3 per cent to $14 billion.Minerals and energy exports have also been revised downwards. From the $180 billion figure in September, ABARE now estimates earnings will be $159 billion.
In this report: ABARE chief commodity analyst Jammie Penm

AQIS and Biosecurity to merge

2008-12-30T16:38:00.000+11:00

By Mary Goode
Thursday, 18/12/2008
AQIS and Biosecurity Australia will merge as part of a major overhaul to Australia's biosecurity system.It's one of 84 recommendations from the Beale review of Australia's quarantine system, released by the Federal Government.As well, a council of experts will be set up and a new position will be created with the power to investigate whether the department is working well enough.It also recommends replacing the Quarantine Act of 1908 with a new Biosecurity Act.Federal agriculture minister Tony Burke says despite concern from the apple and pear industry a national authority will work well. "Ah what there would be though, and this what the apple and pear industry would want to bear in mind, import risk assessments will be dealt with by a seperate organisation that will be the Biosecurity Standards Commission," he says.The report says Australia's biosecurity agencies are under-funded and suggests the government spend $260m per year, funded by tax payers and business. As well as $225m to upgrade information technology and business systems.Mr Burke says an increase in biosecurity measures will see farmers contribute a bit to that."The cost recovery guidelines would result in that, that's true," he says."It will also result in a bigger contribution from the Commonwealth as well."The NFF says it supports most of the recommendations, but further consultation with industry is vital.The opposition says the overhaul will see exporters stung by an extra $144million over four years.
In this report: Tony Burke, federal agriculture minister.

Nickel slump causes mine closure

2008-12-30T16:37:00.000+11:00

Nickel slump causes mine closure
By Sarah Bester

The Avebury Nickel Mine on Tasmania's West Coast is to be closed indefinitely, resulting in the loss of 189 jobs.Oz Minerals has decided to place the mine near Zeehan on "care and maintenance".The closure is due to a drastic drop in the price of nickel of 68 per cent over the past nine months.Terry Long from the Tasmanian Minerals Council says it is a serious blow to the state's industry."It's very significant, it's a new nickel mine with a couple of hundred employees, if anything it was regarded as being the jewel in the crown of the Tasmanian mining industry."So to see it go on to care and maintenance in a disastrous metals climate is quite sobering."
In this report: Terry Long, Tasmanian Minerals Council

Large but late grain harvest

2008-12-30T16:35:00.000+11:00

Report: Sally Dakis
The cooler than usual summer has pushed back the start of Tasmania's grain harvest, which despite the devastating October frost, looks like being one of the states bigger harvests.Headers usually start to harvest in the Christmas week, but it's now not due to start for another fortnight.Manager of Ruralco's stock feed, seed and grain division Frank de Bruyn says they are making some contingency plans for additional grain storage in the eventuality of a large crop."There are silo bags used across the country and what we have done is secure access to the silo bag equipment at fairly short notice if we have to, and we could probably utilise the bunker site at Powranna if we have to."A drop in global demand, combined with larger supplies of grain downgraded to feed quality after rain on mainland Australia has depressed prices."Looking at the current pricing on the mainland, we are seeing real reluctance from growers to actually sell their grain, and a lot of grain across the mainland has been warehoused, so they retain ownership of that.That's a fairly uncommon thing in Tasmania, but we are looking at options for that as well for growers."

Business spending up

2008-12-02T13:30:00.000+11:00

The Treasurer, Michael Aird, said private new capital expenditure data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics was another indication that Tasmania’s long‑term economic fundamentals are sound.
Private new capital expenditure in Tasmania increased by 36.7 per cent in the year to September 2008, to $1.17 billion.
“The Tasmanian increase in private new capital expenditure compares to a national increase of 12.5 per cent over the same period,” Mr Aird said.
“In the year to September 2008, expenditure on buildings and structures increased by $6 million (or 1.9 per cent).
“Expenditure on equipment, plant and machinery increased by $305 million (or 56.5 per cent) over the same period.
“This comes on the back of data released yesterday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, which showed that the total value of construction work done in Tasmania during the year to September 2008 was a record high $2.06 billion, 5.3 per cent above the level of the previous year.
“Tasmania is not immune to global economic conditions and there will be economic and Budget impacts,” he said.
“But recent data clearly shows the underlying strength of Tasmania’s economy.
“We are well placed to weather the storm

Bunker Reductions

2008-12-02T13:29:00.000+11:00

Bunker Surcharge
North East Asia - Import & Export

The regular review of bunker costs has been completed and the decreasing costs of bunker fuel are reflected in the following new levels of Bunker Surcharge to be applied to cargo to and from North East Asia.

Area

20’
40’
Effective date
North East Asia
Import
US$325
US$650
5 December 2008
Taiwan
Import
US$325
US$650
20 December 2008
North East Asia
Export
US$325
US$650
5 December 2008
Taiwan
Export
US$325
US$650
20 December 2008

Yours sincerely,
OOCL (Australia) Pty Ltd.

David Ball
The Environment: We take it personally

New Ta Ann Mill For Tasmania

2008-12-02T13:28:00.000+11:00

The Premier, David Bartlett, today officially opened Ta Ann Tasmania’s new mill at Smithton, the second of its rotary peeled veneer mills to be built in Tasmania.
“Timber mills and the families that rely on them for jobs, have been a part of the landscape up here for generations,” Mr Bartlett said.
“It’s an industry that has helped to build the characteristics of the people here – the resilience, the sense of humour, and the strong sense of community.
“A mill is so much more than an economic entity that churns out timber products. It’s a place that provides jobs for Tasmanians.
“It gives new opportunities for people to stay living in their local area to build a career and provides flow-on economic benefits to shops and restaurants and services right around Circular Head. The mill becomes a part of the community.”
The mill will process 150,000 tonnes of eucalypt logs per year, supplied from regrowth forests and plantations in north west Tasmania. Forestry Tasmania has built on the resource security offered by the Regional Forest Agreement, and has signed a twenty-year agreement for log supply.
The two mills cost $75 million to build and have resulted directly in 138 new jobs. They will produce 145,000 cubic metres a year of dried veneer, worth about $35 million per year.
The Premier said that the State Government would continue to support economic growth and investment in value-adding industries in Tasmania.
“Just yesterday, I was pleased to launch the Tasmanian Skills Strategy – a ten-year plan to make sure that Tasmanians have the skills needed to build a decent future for themselves and their families.
“The forest and timber industry is a great example of where the level of skill needed as an employee has grown enormously.
“The Tasmanian forest industry in 2008 is a sophisticated, technologically advanced place in which to work.
“What the Tasmanian Skills Strategy will do is make sure that young Tasmanians in particular are given the tools that will make them attractive to employers like Ta Ann into the future.
“In times of global economic uncertainty and challenge – it’s more important than ever that we encourage investment in Tasmania.
“I welcome Ta Ann’s further investment in the kind of clever, value-added products that will come to dominate Tasmania’s economic future; the jobs that this mill will support here, and the injection it will provide to Tasmania’s broader economy,” Mr Bartlett said.
Further information:
Tasmanian Government Communications UnitPhone: (03) 6233 6573

Christmas Function

2008-12-02T13:27:00.001+11:00

Ian Martin and Leaha Dent from

THE LAUNCESTON EXPORT HUB

Invite you to a

Christmas networking night on Wednesday 3 December 5.30 - 7pm

at the Export Hub, Old Launceston Post Office, 68 Cameron St

Tristram Travers, State Manager of Austrade, is back from 3 months in Singapore

and will discuss his experiences of opportunities for exportersin Singapore

RSVP by Nov 28 by return email or by phoning 6331 4183

Warships deploy in the Gulf of Aden as NATO makes war on piracy

2008-12-02T13:25:00.000+11:00

THE North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) has ordered its naval forces to suppress piracy in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia, said its secretary-general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.
The announcement came as the world shipping industry officials pressed the United Nations to provide a resolution that would give international forces the power of arrest, convict and punish pirates, reported Lloyd's List.
"I believe that NATO can and must be a force for stability at sea as we have been on land," said Mr Scheffer.
The move will form part of wider push by the military alliance to re-establish maritime security as one of the core functions of NATO.
NATO will introduce a sophisticated intelligence network to work with the flotilla of frigates already deploying in the Gulf.
Existing naval operations in the Gulf are made up of destroyers from Italy and the United States, frigates from Germany, Greece, Turkey and Britain, and a German auxiliary vessel. The force is afflicted with differing and enervating rules of engagement that have limited their effectiveness.
Mr Scheffer still sees problems facing the new NATO fleet. "Who for instance will pay the price? But given the urgency of preventing lawlessness on the high seas and the need to ensure oil and gas deliveries there is clearly a role for NATO to play," he said.
But the NATO fleet will have a clearer command structure, and Mr Scheffer felt that the new maritime intelligence network would prove useful in tracking pirates using the latest technology.
"It will also allow us to share much more data with our navies and the national authorities in coastal areas," he said.
NATO and the UN's International Maritime Organisation (IMO) are attempting to establish language of the mandate that would establish a legal jurisdiction to arrest and convict and punish pirates.
Lloyd's chairman Lord Peter Levene also met UK's Ministry of Defence officials to discuss the recent piracy surge, which is understood to have cost over US$100 million in ransom payments.
"We hope that the combination of EU and NATO action here can mirror the success of the Malacca Strait, which proved the value of international co-operation," Lord Levene said.

India proposes rail freight service for Bangladesh boxes

2008-12-02T13:23:00.000+11:00

INDIA is proposing to launch a rail freight service to Bangladesh for container cargo, just months after the two nations recommenced a direct passenger train service, after suspending the Dhaka-Calcutta route for 43 years.
According to media reports from India, the nation is proposing to operate rail freight service for containers on the Uttar Pradesh-Dhaka route to help reduce transportation costs and reduce transit times, reported the New Age newspaper, quoting the Bangladesh Railway's director general Belayet Hossain.
The proposal is expected to be raised during a two-day meeting of railway officials from both sides in New Delhi in November.
According to comments by unidentified railway officials, India is proposing to send 30 containers per trip from Uttar Pradesh to the inland container depot of Dhaka, and to operate four such trips every month, The Hindu newspaper reported.
Mr Hossain said that Dhaka had already asked New Delhi to provide the design and capacity of the container trains and excess load for the consideration of local engineers.
The officials said New Delhi is proposing that the rail freight service be operated using the same track as the Gede-Darshana route that is currently use by the Maitree Express passenger train between the West Bengal capital and Dhaka.

US regulator takes LA-Beach to court over clean truck tax

2008-12-02T13:22:00.002+11:00

THE US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) and the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will be appearing in the US District Court in Washington on December 5.
This comes after the FMC filed a motion for injunctive relief with the court in a bid to prevent a number of "objectionable" provisions of the ports' clean trucks programme from being implemented.
Collection of the clean-truck fee was originally slated to begin on November 17, however, the imposition of the levy on importers and exporters has been delayed for an undetermined period by the ports amid the row with the FMC, reports the Journal of Commerce Online.
It said the FMC is seeking a preliminary injunction from the court against portions of the clean-truck concession plans that the commission believes will restrict trucking competition and result in an unreasonable increase in freight rates.
In its filing, the FMC is asking the court to block the Port of Los Angeles from taking further action on its requirement that only licensed motor carriers with employee drivers be allowed to operate at the port. Long Beach does not have an employee driver mandate, the report noted.
The commission is also requesting that the court enjoin both ports from establishing truck purchase incentives and subsidies for some motor carriers but not for certain classes of operators.
Similarly the FMC is seeking to prevent the ports from charging clean-truck fees for some operators while also allowing other operators to be exempt from paying these fees.
In response to the FMC's move, the Port of Los Angeles was quoted as saying in the report: "This action further demonstrates the FMC's fundamental misunderstanding of the ports' clean-trucks programme and underscores the inappropriateness of the FMC's attempts to intervene and block programmes that are outside of its expertise or jurisdiction."

Port of Hamburg's box volumes slows to single-digit growth

2008-12-02T13:22:00.001+11:00

CONTAINER traffic remains important to the German Port of Hamburg, says its CEO Walter Schulze-Freyburg, in spite of box volume growth slowing to single digit percentages.
Mr Schultze-Freyburg was cited as saying that he hoped the end of the Port's seven straight years of double-digit growth did not mean the port was now about to experience seven lean years, reports outsourced-logistics.com.
The port had benefited in recent years from the fall of the Iron Curtain and Poland's entry to the European Union, as the removal of the Customs border between Germany and Poland had enabled goods to flow more easily between the two traditional trading partners and further east into Russia, the Ukraine and other states within the former eastern Bloc, which had been undergoing rapid economic development until the global financial crisis hit, the report noted.

MOL quits Pacific agreements

2008-12-02T13:20:00.002+11:00

Janet Porter, Mike Grinter and Sandra Tsui - Wednesday 29 October 2008
JAPANESE line MOL is quitting two discussion agreements covering the Pacific trades rather than risk legal challenges following the end of conferences in Europe. Mitsui OSK Lines president: Akimitsu Ashida said the company would resign from the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement and the Canada Transpacific Stabilization at the end of November. “With the European Union’s abolition of liner antitrust immunity, it has become extremely difficult to align the business processes of our entire organisation when its regional divisions must operate to differing standards,” Mr Ashida continued. The TSA and CTSA differ from price-setting conferences by not having a common tariff, although they will issue recommended rate increases. Fifteen ocean carriers are members of the TSA which describes itself as research and discussion forum for major container shipping lines serving the trade from Asia to ports and inland points in the US. Almost all the top lines currently belong, with the exception of Maersk that left some time ago and reaffirmed recently that it saw “no value” in membership that was “very time consuming”. Neptune Orient Lines chief executive Ron Widdows is current chairman of the TSA, but is likely to hand over to another senior executive before the end of the year. Some lawyers have warned that membership of the TSA could potentially create legal problems for lines that also serve Europe where conferences were formally outlawed earlier this month, should there be any suspicion that discussions had broadened beyond the Pacific trades. “Having done a thorough analysis of marketplace dynamics and the roles of TSA/CTSA relative to our unique ability to differentiate, we concluded MOL and its customers would be better served by conducting business independently from transpacific liner agreements,” said Masakazu Yakushiji, executive vice president of MOL. MOL has been a member of TSA and CTSA since they were formed 1989, but resigned from the westbound discussion agreements in June 2005. Hiroki Tsujii, manager of strategic planning at MOL, told Lloyd’s List: “At a staff level we are concerned that our Asian based sales team should adhere to one standard. Currently the sales staff in Asia conduct business on trade from Asia to the US and Europe. If they are allowed to consult with other shipping lines when it comes to business to the US the temptation may be there to talk to the same shipping companies over business to Europe.” Some legal experts have warned in the past that even though the TSA covers a trade lane on the other side of the world from Europe, that would not necessarily protect it from scrutiny by Brussels. European Union law applies to any agreement that could be regarded as anti-competitive. TSA lines, all of which have a presence in Europe-Asia and transatlantic trades as well, could find themselves under investigation if information they acquired during the course of a routine meeting about the transpacific trades had a subsequent bearing on behaviour elsewhere in the world. Capacity could be shifted from one route to another, for example, due to what is learned about conditions on the Pacific. A large number of ships have been moved from Pacific to Asia-Europe routes over the past year as one trade lane weakened before the other.
Several other members of the TSA, including Yang Ming Marine, China Shipping, Cosco and Evergreen all told Lloyd’s List that they have no plans to withdraw from TSA at present.

NOL axes 1,000 jobs on grim outlook

2008-12-02T13:20:00.001+11:00

By Marcus Hand in Jakarta - Wednesday 19 November 2008
NEPTUNE Orient Lines is axing close to one tenth of its workforce as it describes the outlook for 2009 as “grim” with a prolonged downturn expected.Singapore-headquartered NOL said that in an effort to save costs it was cutting 1,000 jobs, mainly in North America, out of a total global workforce of around 11,000.The company said that the largest impact would be in North America where its cost base is highest. NOL also plans to shift its regional headquarters in North America from Oakland, California, “to a more cost effective location elsewhere in the United States.”It said that the new location and the planned move would be announced in December.There will also be staff cuts in Europe and Asia with around 50 staff losing their jobs at its Singapore headquarters.Most of the lay-offs will be made in what were described “as non-customer facing positions”.“The negative conditions we are seeing in the market place are unprecedented in our industry’s history. This necessitates these very difficult decisions,” said Ron Widdows, NOL president and chief executive.The company described the prospects for profitability in 2009 as “grim” and believes that the sharp market downturn seen over the last 12 months could last for several years.In October NOL announced it was reducing its containership capacity by up to 25% on some trades, laying-up vessels and returning ships to charterers, in an effort to save $200m in operating costs. At the time it also said there would be redundancies but gave no details.“Last month, we initiated capacity reductions which will significantly reduce our vessel network and operating costs. Now, in view of the deteriorating market conditions, we take these additional steps.“This reflects our considered view that what we are seeing goes beyond a normal cyclical downturn,” Mr Widdows said.The move will result in a $33m restructuring charge on NOL’s fourth quarter results and it expects to make further charges in 2009.Last month NOL reported a third quarter net profit of $35m, 82% lower than the corresponding period last year, and warned that it expected an operating loss in the fourth quarter, its first since the fourth quarter of 2002.“Our aim is to ensure a viable future, to shape the company to handle the turbulence ahead and to be positioned for success when the global economy recovers,” Mr Widdows explained.Earlier this month AP Moller-Maersk announced it was cutting 700 jobs in China by mid-2009, closing down two customer service centres.

Suez Canal transits hold up but decline is predicted

2008-12-02T13:17:00.000+11:00

By David Osler - Thursday 27 November 2008

Egypt depends on the canal as its third-largest owner of foreign exchange after tourism and remittances from overseas workers.VESSEL numbers through the Suez Canal seem to be holding up well, despite highly publicised decisions by some shipowners to re-route round the Cape of Good Hope, one of Egypt’s leading shipping agents has confirmed. Dan Delaney, manager at the Alexandria office of local Lloyd’s agency network affiliate Marine Technical Services, said that numbers of ships in convoys continued to fluctuate around normal levels. However, he did predict an eventual decrease, probably within the next few weeks. One way or the other, the outcome is of vital economic importance to Egypt, which depends on the canal as its third-largest owner of foreign exchange after tourism and remittances from overseas workers. AP Moller-Maersk, Svitzer, Odfjell and Pacific Carriers are among the companies that have taken the decision to re-route in some circumstances, and a number of shipping industry household names have said that they are considering their position. “You can get one day 18-20 vessels, the next day 45-50. There’s no appreciable difference, and we are going to have to wait at least a few more weeks before we notice a trend,” Mr Delaney commented. “I know some owners are going around the Cape now, and I don’t blame them. I think we will see a drop, but at the moment there is no drop we are noticing sufficient to say yes, this is now a trend.” The picture should be clearer towards the middle or even the end of next month, Mr Delaney suggested. Officials of the Suez Canal Authority have told the media that they are fearful of the impact of continued Somali piracy on canal business. Adel Lami, chairman of Port Said Navigation Chamber, a shipping trade organisation, told Associated Press: “One or two more piracy attacks will just send an alarm, and we will find ourselves with a big problem.”

Worries over GM canola hay

2008-12-02T13:16:00.002+11:00

By Will Ockenden
When the first genetically modified canola crops were planted earlier this year in Victoria and New South Wales, farmers would have been hoping for a good crop.But when the rains didn't come, both GM and conventional canola crops failed.Some farmers were forced to bale their crops, turning what was left into hay or silage to recoup losses.There are worries some of that hay, used locally or sent interstate, will contain GM canola seeds that will escape and grow.Alex Schaap is the General Manager of Tasmanian Biosecurity. He says he's surprised the problem started in the first season."If hay is exported, that hay may carry viable seeds. It would cause problems for maintaining GM freedom," he says."It's a bit early to say how much of a problem it will be, but it's something extra for us to look out for at the quarantine barrier."The company responsible for a variety of GM canola is Monsanto. It recently sent a letter to farmers growing GM canola. It said farmers should inform buyers the hay or silage includes GM material.The seller then has to give Monsanto the details of the buyer, including phone number and address. A spokeswoman at Monsanto said buyer details are needed to track the goods in case anything goes wrong.Scott Kinnear is from Biological Farmers Australia. He says even if Monsanto is tracking sales, it doesn't go far enough and GM segregation has broken down. "There's a lot of fodder that is traded. Fodder merchants move hay interstate. There's no way to know where the bales of hay will end up," he said."Monsanto's tracking system is commercial in confidence; it's not on the public record. Secondly merchants wouldn't be required to pass on the details of the buyers they sell their hay to. The tracking system won't add anything to the possible leakage of GM canola seeds right across the state of Victoria and possibly interstate."
In this report: Biological Farmers Australia spokesperson Scott Kinnear;General Manager of Tasmanian Biosecurity Alex Schaap

Abalone industry remains 'on alert'

2008-12-02T13:16:00.001+11:00

By Sally Dakis

The Tasmanian abalone industry is breathing a sigh of relief, with news that many restrictions on abalone movement have been lifted.Controls on the movement of the fish were introduced as a means of limiting any potential spread of the deadly ganglio neuritis virus, which had been discovered in 3 fish in an abalone processing plant, and one fish in the wild.Since then, no futher positive detections have been found in any of the 1600 tests taken.Restrictions on the movement of abalone from parts of the D'Entrecasteaux Channel will remain, as will a ban on imported abalone, and the feeding of abalone guts as bait.Chairman of Tasmania's Abalone Council Dean Lisson says it's good news that there's no evidence of the disease in the wild, but the industry remains on high alert."We haven't covered every single bay or reef around Tasmania's 5,000 km coastline so there is still a small chance there could be a population of abalone, somewhere, that have been affected by this."Mr Lisson expects further changes to abalone fishing and farming management in Tasmania, including effluent treatment, in the future. "One of the things we will have to address is the issue of outfall pipes from processing facilities from farms" he said."A disease in a farm or indeed if it ever happened in a processing facility that empties directly into the ocean is a very effective way to spread it, and it's one of the high areas of risk that we've identified that needs to be addressed."
In this report: Dean Lisson, Tasmania's Abalone Council

Salmon farms under attack

2008-12-02T13:14:00.002+11:00

By Kathy Cogo

Scientists, tourist operators and environmentalists in the Northern Hemisphere have got it in for salmon farms. They're sending the United Nations a declaration against the practice saying it's unsustainable.It's another attack on sea cage aquaculture - an industry that's struggled for widespread acceptance.Critics say industrial net pen salmon farming started in Norway and has spread to the rest of the world.They want to see salmon farmed in closed tanks to stop disease spreading to wild fish and waters being polluted.But surely Australia's salmon farms, which are predominantly in Tasmania, are immune from such criticisms. Not says Craig Bohm from the Australian Marine Conservation Society. He says there are inherent problems with caged aquaculture. One problem is the effluent. "It's a bit like having raw sewage going straight into the sea from the coast without a sewerage treatment plant being in the way to filter out pollution. Other concerns we have are escapes. In one year in 2004 for example the low level escapes was 135,000 fish escapes."Mr Bohm also has concerns about farming exotic fish that have the potential to upset the ecosystem if they adapted to the environment. If the AMCS is opposed to this type of fish farming, what are the alternatives? Mr Bohm says there are sustainable ways to farm fish. "We say that landbased, closed system, well regulated, pollution managed aquaculture systems are the way to go." Simon Bennison from the National Aquaculture Council says salmon farming in Australia is oceans apart from the problems in the Northern Hemisphere because farms are highly regulated.He says, "And that has specific criteria that limits the industry being able to overload in certain areas. It's very tightly regulated. It's very compliant. You know it's quite a different situation to what's happened in other parts of the world." Is he worried that the reputation of salmon will suffer as a result of the declaration to the UN? Mr Bennison says, "I can't speak internationally about the salmon industry but the credentials of fish farming in Australia in particular are very good and we don't have any quarms about demonstrating the sustainability of the industry. Internationally the implications are difficult to assess. This is nothing new. A number of these groups have been jumping up and down making noises about various industries, not just ours." Tasmanian salmon farmer Mark Ryan agrees and says there haven't been any escapees from salmon farms in Australia for years. He doesn't see any connection between the problems experienced overseas and Australian farms.
In this report: Craig Bohm, Australian Marine Conservation SocietySimon Bennison, National Aquaculture Council

Infrastructure money flows to Tasmania

2008-12-02T13:14:00.001+11:00

Tasmanian councils are $8 million better off, after yesterday's Federal Government handout in Canberra.The money was allocated to Australia's 500 or so municipalities as a part of the Commonwealth's financial stimulus package, to be spent on what they call 'quality of life infrastructure' projects.Mayor of the Glamorgan Spring Bay Council on the East Coast Bertrand Cadart says the council will receive $100,000, which is likely to spent on health, aged care and tourism infrastructure. The good news, he said was that Prime Minister indicated that there will be more next year.
In this report: Bertrand Cadart, mayor of the Glamorgan Spring Bay Council.

Japanese recession won't hit ag exports

2008-12-02T13:13:00.000+11:00

Australia's food exports to Japan could increase, even though that country is slipping into recession.The Asian nation is the biggest buyer of Australian agriculture, with beef, dairy, grain and seafood the main exports.But with Japan only producing 40 per cent of its own food - it's reliant on imports - and therefore needs to keep buying food for its nation.The interesting thing about Japan is that while its economy has slipped into recession, it's still home to some of the wealthiest people in the world.And when you're wealthy you can choose what you want to buy.AusTrade's Tokyo-based senior trade commissioner Elizabeth Masamune says that's good news for Australian food producers during a Japanese recession.She says historically, Australia's exports have continued to expand even when Japan's economy has been in much deeper trouble.She says food safety is very important to Japanese consumers, and with recent scares from China, importers are looking for more from Australia because of its strong food safety record.Ms Masamune expects Australian beef to increase its share of the market, but the dairy industry might not benefit because its products are considered expensive. "But for other products, a lot of it will again stem back to that issue of traceability and safety," she says."They feel very comfortable with Australian foods and I think it's a matter of how we position them and get them to the right price point."Ms Masamune says the lower Australian dollar is keeping demand strong, with importers coming back into the market in recent months.The four biggest Australian food exports to Japan are meat, dairy, grains and then seafood.Meanwhile, manager of international trade development at Dairy Australia, Phill Goode, says dairy exports are looking strong. "Basically we have a world shortage of dairy products," he says."So when we see an adjustment in the market that really doesn't change the basic fundamentals, which is that demand around the world is growing particularly in south east Asia and the middle east, while at the same time supply isn't growing."Opposition minister for trade Warren Truss isn't so optimistic about the situation.He's criticised the government's decision to scale back talks on a Japanese and Australia free trade agreement.
In this report: Elizabeth Masamune, Tokyo-based senior trade commissioner, AusTrade; Phill Goode, manager of international trade and development, Dairy Australia; Warren Truss, opposition minister for Trade.

Poppy growers celebrating a multi-million dollar rain

2008-12-02T13:12:00.000+11:00

The Easterly rain pattern that began late last week is estimated to have added millions of dollars to the farming community.The head of Tasmania's poppy growers, Lyndley Chopping says the rain has saved many crops from imminent failure, and he's predicting the rain is worth up to $10 million for his industry alone.Many poppy crops are now on the point of flowering, and the rain will not only carry them through to harvest, but Lyndley Chopping says the rain will also boost the pharmaceutical quality of the crop."Some crops will now make it."There's been quite a few that haven't and there are some that were right in the balance and this will make them make the grade now, and we're absolutely delighted about that."Mr Chopping says while the financial benefit will flow through rural towns, it's impossible to value the boost to morale."Tails are up, it's turned things around about 180 degrees."
In this report: Lyndley Chopping, president of the Tasmanian Poppy Growers

Extended GM moratorium aims to give Tasmania a marketing edge

2008-12-02T13:11:00.000+11:00

The Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association (TFGA) is calling on the State Government to put up $10 million to help market the state's GM-free status, after the Labor Governmnet voted to keep the existing moratorium.State cabinet agreed to keep the moratorium on commercially grown genetically modified crops until at least 2014.The decision is based on the belief that a GM-free status will allow Tasmania to tap into growing demand for non-GM foods around the world, which the Minister for Primary Industries, David Llewellyn, describes as a premium market.The State Government has committed to working with Brand Tasmania to develop a marketing strategy, but president of the TFGA Roger Swain says that's not enough."What we need to see is a financial commitment to make sure that all happens, that's the only way this can be justified, beyond that it just becomes a simple ideological decision not based on proper science."But tapping into demand for GM-free food is not as simple as just labelling produce as conventionally grown, according to a food industry analyst. Martin Kneebone from Freshlogic says shoppers who are willing to pay a premium for their food are interested in the entire production process."If you look at the precedents around the world we think that probably the strongest option would be to look at the whole category of ethical food benefits."
In this report: Roger Swain, president TFGA; Martin Kneebone, Freshlogic

Beekeepers to submit new funding request

2008-12-02T13:10:00.000+11:00

The group that represents Australia's bee keepers is preparing a fresh case for more federal funds since its latest bid for more money was rejected.The Australian Honey Bee Industry Council has been lobbying hard for funding for baited hives installed near all ports to trap any bees arriving on ships and planes as well as a range of other measures.Council chairman, Lindsay Bourke says his latest meeting with the Federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke in Canberra only secured $300,000 of the $50 million his Council was asking for."I'm a little bit disappointed that we found out that we're not going to get the $50 million. He made it quite clear there isn't money for that, but he would take on board the things that had most priority and one of them was the sentinel and bait hive program which is quarantine for out ports that is most important."
In this report: Lindsay Bourke, chairman of the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council

Minister explains GM ban

2008-12-02T13:08:00.000+11:00

By Cameron Wilson
Earlier this week the state government voted to keep Tasmanian's ben on commercially grown Genetically Modified (GM) crops for at least another five years. It's a decision that has been applauded by some groups, while others such as the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association and some canola growers have questioned the benefits.The Primary Industries Minister David Llewellyn says the ban will give Tasmanian a unique opportunity access the premium GM-free market."We'll be looking to the Brand Tasmania council, which will be developing a more aggressive marketing campaign to maximise the business opportunities flowing from the extension of the GM ban."There is a very high level and sensitive market, I believe, in some countries overseas, particularly our major marketing country Japan for non-GM products."The Minister says the ban will not effect research by the poppy industry, and it's unlikely the moratorium on commercial plantings will have any impact on growers."I've had discussions with both (poppy) companies and they both agree that there's nothing really on the horizon so far as GM poppies are concerned.
In this report: David Llewellyn, Minister for Primary Industries

Dry spring cuts crop forecasts

2008-11-05T12:21:00.000+11:00

A lack of spring rainfall across Victoria, South Australia and southern New South Wales has resulted in a marked deterioration in the major winter crops. “These developments have prompted ABARE to revise down its forecasts for Australian wheat, barley and canola production in 2008-09,” Mr Philip Glyde, Executive Director of ABARE said today.
“Australian wheat production in 2008-09 is now forecast to be 19.9 million tonnes, some 11 per cent less than forecast in September,” Mr Glyde said. Mr Glyde added that, ”despite the poor spring in some areas total wheat production is forecast to be around 7 million tonnes above last year’s drought affected harvest”.
Rainfall in the critical September and October months was well below average in Victoria, resulting in widespread crop failures. Wheat production in Victoria is now forecast to be 1.4 million tonnes in 2008-09, compared with ABARE’s September forecast of 2.7 million tonnes and last season’s harvest of 1.9 million tonnes.
Mr Glyde noted that, “rainfall in parts of South Australia was also below average in September and October”. While winter crop prospects have deteriorated in South Australia there is extreme variability in yield potential across the state. Wheat production is forecast to be 2.3 million tonnes in 2008-09, 1.1 million tonnes below the September forecast and similar to last year’s harvest.
The condition of winter crops in New South Wales varies considerably across the state. Mr Glyde noted ”the north of the state and most of the central west are expecting average to above average yields, whereas crops in western areas of the state and much of the south are in poor condition”. Mr Glyde added that, “as a result, New South Wales’ wheat production is forecast to be similar to the September figure of around 6.6 million tonnes, with the effect of poor conditions in the south being offset by better conditions in the north and central west”.
Late frost across parts of the Western Australia grains belt may affect grain quality and has resulted in some crop losses. Despite this setback, a forecast wheat crop of around 7.8 million tonnes is 1.7 million tonnes better than last year’s outcome. Harvest has commenced in Queensland and the quality and quantity of grain is better than originally anticipated. Australian barley production is forecast to be 6.3 million tonnes in 2008-09, a 20 per cent decline from ABARE’s September forecast. Canola production is forecast to be 1.3 million tonnes in 2008-09, a decline of nearly 320 000 tonnes from the September forecast.

Trade Finance: Servicing an Evolving Global Economy

2008-10-28T10:31:00.000+11:00

27 October 2008 - From Bob's Guide
Trade financing is evolving due to changing global trade patterns as well as shifts in supply and demand. The emergence of Asia and growth prospects in Latin America and Africa have had a significant impact on banks' trade financing techniques.In a new report, Trade Finance: Servicing an Evolving Global Economy , Celent provides in-depth analysis of new international trade patterns. In the first half of 2008, world trade growth decelerated to 4.5 percent, down from 5 percent in the third quarter of 2007. It is likely to be even lower by the end of 2008. In developed economies, business and consumer demand have continued to fall, and industrial production has weakened. In contrast, the growth rate in developing countries is currently around 7 percent, contributing more than 40 percent to global output growth in 2007.South-South trade, the trade between developing countries, is playing an increasingly important role. Asia is the world's most important trade hub, with intra-Asian trade accounting for about 90 percent of total South-South trade. As of 2008, developing countries have a 40 percent share of world exports. The 2030 estimate is that 45 percent of international trade will be by developing countries, while higher income countries' share will fall by 13 percent to 55 percent.Latin America is another emerging trade hub. Demand for agro-products from Latin America is increasing, driven by the rapid expansion of the middle class in China and India. This demand has been heightened by Latin America's use of alternative energy sources.Trade financing techniques are changing as credit availability becomes more limited and risk capital requirements are on the rise. Open accounts seem to be the preferred choice for trading firms and more and more clients want their banks to enhance their supply chains.Intra-firm trade comprises 45 percent of international trade and is a major driver of open account transactions. Another trend is the ever increasing contributions of small and medium enterprises to merchandise trade, which range from 20 percent to as high as 60 percent in some countries."There is a strong belief that we are just one major crisis away from returning to traditional products, but in the aftermath of subprime crisis, we have not seen a return of the L/Cs," says Axel Pierron , Senior Vice President at Celent and coauthor of the report."Basel II will limit the trade financing activities of banks through higher allocation of risk capital," says Sreekrishna Sankar. "With the securitization market experiencing turmoil, international trade financing will attract other sources of funding such as hedge funds."This report examines emerging trade flow patterns and the new opportunities trade finance represents for banks. It looks at how banks should adapt their business models based on trends in trade and tighter credit controls. The report concludes with key points for banks on refocusing and repositioning themselves in order to remain competitive in this new trade climate.

Lift for export prices as shipping prices plunge

2008-10-28T10:30:00.000+11:00

MATT CAWOOD
23/10/2008 6:16:00 PM
Australia can now ship its agricultural commodities a lot more cheaply, thanks to the global economic downturn, which has seen the costs of ocean shipping plunge in past months.
Faced with a rapid downturn in shipping, and credit challenges of their own, shipowners large and small are now mothballing or even scrapping ships and waiting for a turnaround—if circumstances allow.
“Shipping is an entrepreneurial game, and there are people losing their shirts at the moment,” executive director of the Australian Shipowners Association, Teresa Hatch, says.
“But it might be the bust that we had to have.
"Shipyards have been so far behind on meeting demand, people have been waiting up to four years for a ship.”
Manager of ABB’s Barley Marketing Operations, Rob Green, says getting a 60,000 tonne bulk shipment of grain to Saudi Arabia three months ago cost US$90-$100 per tonne.
Now, that's down to US$25-$30 a tonne — a rate that hasn’t been seen for at least five years.
Mr Green says the downturn has been so steep that there is now the threat that older ships will be scrapped, creating another cargo shortage if economic conditions pick up again.
“While there will be an impact, no-one is talking about panicking,” he says.
Ms Hatch agreed, saying that there are now likely to be a lot of small bulk carriers vying for contracts to ship grain.
But like the financial meltdown itself, it’s difficult to see what the ultimate consequences of the shipping downturn will be.
Whole shipping lines have frozen up, according to a Business Spectator report on Tuesday, because shipowners don’t want to take the risk of carting cargo for clients who may not be able to pay because of the credit crisis.
“Like many of the other clogged arteries of global finance, letters of credit and therefore global shipping could presumably unclog fairly quickly if the interbank credit market got moving again,” wrote the article’s author, Alan Kohler.
“But a big fall in shipping rates, as measured by the key price indicator, the Baltic Dry Index, is always a harbinger of a downturn in trade and therefore economic activity.”
The Baltic Dry Index of bulk shipping rates has collapsed 89pc since May, from 12,000 to 1355.

Melbourne moves to ease congestionBy

2008-10-28T10:29:00.000+11:00

Ian Jarrett Perth
Port of Melbourne is clearing the way for more efficient use of its container berths, but while dredging of the port's shipping channels continues on schedule, congestion on the wharves is restricting movement of containers.The congestion has forced Australia's shipping industry body to make a fresh call for improvements to container clearing facilities at Australia's largest container port.Shipping Australia Ltd (SAL) chief executive Llew Russell said his members warned the Port of Melbourne Corporation long ago that with the continued growth of containers, existing facilities would be put under severe pressure."Our fears have come to pass," he said. "Our members using the DP World container terminal at Swanson Dock in Melbourne have complained that they have been unable to ship out all the empty containers they need to, due to yard congestion."One member had to cancel 3,000 planned exports of empties over the past two months.'' The SAL chief acknowledged that more vessels were falling outside their berthing windows due to international trading conditions, "but this has to be expected and should be capable of being handled''.Russell called for an investigation into the potential for metropolitan intermodal terminals to relieve the pressure.Shipping Australia recently agreed to a trial organised by Tradegate called PortBis in Sydney to explore the advantages for all parties in community-based data systems. A trial is also being conducted in Melbourne under the Freight Connect umbrella and the results of the Sydney trial will provide a comparison for shipping lines.Russell said these types of systems were now in place in more than 25 ports worldwide. "Eventually we will need to standardise on basically one type of system nationally if all the potential benefits of these types of systems are to be realised," he said.

Maritime industry offered a life raft

2008-10-28T10:27:00.000+11:00

October 24, 2008 - 10:18AM
Australia's struggling shipping industry may have a lifeline thanks to new recommendations from a parliamentary committee.
There are only about 40 commercial ships left flying the Australian flag.
The number has been in free fall for a decade and without government intervention the decline appears terminal. But recommendations from a parliamentary committee this week could provide salvation.
Following the brutal waterside fight between former prime minister John Howard, his industrial relations minister Peter Reith and the unions, the shipping industry was left to die.
With Labor back in town the industry is looking for a kickstart.
It has been given one by the committee's report which recommends major legislative changes to the way shipping is taxed and the creation of a National Maritime Training Authority.
While Transport Minister Anthony Albanese has not committed the government to adopting any of the committee's recommendations, Labor's intentions are clear.
Earlier this year Albanese called for the profile of the industry to be raised.
"The government's aim is for a viable coastal shipping industry in a competitive domestic transport sector," he said in a speech to industry leaders in June.
Albanese was more guarded following the committee's findings.
"The government will now consider the report's recommendations in detail and respond to each of them during 2009," he said.
One of those recommendations is for the introduction of a tonnage tax.
The tax would be optional, but likely popular because it would allow companies to calculate tax on their tonnage rather than their profit.
"Recently, ships have been highly profitable, so a tonnage tax regime is considered to be of particular economic benefit," the committee wrote.
Similar taxes are in place in Britain, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Norway and Denmark.
Committee chair and Labor backbencher Catherine King said the chief inspiration had come from the UK, where the tax was successful in increasing the number of British registered ships.
The tax has support across the industry. Both the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and the Australian Shipowners Association (ASA) back the plan.
There is just one catch for companies who want to take advantage of the flat tax rate - they have to train new staff.
"The (staff) shortage has been described as reaching a critical point and is undoubtedly the biggest issue facing the industry today," the committee found.
Just one per cent of local seafarers are 21 or under and by 2010 the ASA says the industry will be 2,000 staff short, further adding to bulging capacity constraints across the wider transport sector.
Paddy Crumlin is the national secretary of the MUA and sees the committee's findings as a lifeline for both an industry and a way of life.
"If intelligently developed and implemented the policies and regulatory proposals in the report provide the basis for Australia to become a regional centre for maritime trade and training in the Asia Pacific region," Crumlin said.
The union veteran may just get his way.

Oil prices slip on demand risks

2008-10-28T10:26:00.000+11:00

Brian Baskin October 28, 2008
CRUDE oil futures settled near a 17-month low as concerns about falling demand outweighed talk of a second OPEC production cut.Light, sweet crude for December delivery settled down US93 cents, or 1.5 per cent, at $US63.22 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the lowest settlement price since May 29, 2007. December Brent crude on the ICE futures exchange settled down US64c, or 1 per cent, at $US61.41 a barrel. Oil prices remain locked in a downward spiral based on expectations that global demand growth will be drastically lower in 2009 as economies cool worldwide. While little new happened to deepen demand worries, the market failed to receive any sign that it had hit bottom, either. Futures rallied briefly on comments by Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries secretary general Abdalla Salem el-Badri that the group could hold a second emergency meeting before its regular session in December. Mr El-Badri raised the prospect of another production cut, on top of the 1.5 million-barrels-a-day reduction announced last Friday, at OPEC's first emergency meeting. "OPEC is just going to address the supply side," said Darin Newsom, senior analyst with DTN, a market information service. "Adjustments to supply are not having the desired effect on the market, and they probably won't." Market participants have also raised doubts that OPEC members will fully comply with cuts. The US is moving toward an oversupply of crude, with analysts anticipating a 1.6-million-barrel build in crude stocks in weekly data due later this week from the US Energy Information Administration. Oil inventories are already above the five-year average, as refiners hold down runs in response to weak demand. "Refiners aren't in a real hurry to start making a lot of product that they're not selling much of," said Phil Flynn, an analyst with Alaron Trading. "Crude should continue to build for a while." Analysts surveyed by Dow Jones also gave an average forecast of a 1.8-million-barrel build in petrol inventories and a 500,000-barrel build in distillate stocks, which include heating oil and diesel.

Australian Dollar Falls, RBA Intervenes; N.Z. Currency Advances

2008-10-28T10:24:00.002+11:00

By Candice Zachariahs
Oct. 28 (Bloomberg) -- The Australian dollar plunged to a five-year low against the greenback, as concern over a global recession led investors to buy the U.S. dollar as a safe haven. New Zealand's currency gained.
The Reserve Bank of Australia bought its own currency for the third day as it came close to dropping below 60 U.S. cents for the first time since April 2003. Australia's currency slid against the yen for a sixth session as U.S. stocks declined after the Standard & Poor's 500 Index swung between gains and loses at least 20 times during the day.
Carry-trades and commodities ``have previously been big supporting factors for the Aussie,'' said Joseph Capurso, a currency strategist in Sydney at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. ``They're being pared back in the global margin call that we're seeing being unwound now. We see more downside pressure to the Aussie,'' he said referring to the currency by its nickname.
The Australian dollar fell for a sixth day, dropping to 60.09 U.S. cents, the weakest since April 2003, before trading at 60.14 U.S. cents as of 8:04 a.m. in Sydney from 60.58 cents late in Asia yesterday. It fell 0.7 percent to 55.71 yen from 56.11 yen yesterday.
New Zealand's dollar gained 0.3 percent to 54.19 cents from 54.01 in Asian trading yesterday. It bought 50.14 yen from 50 yen.
Australia's dollar has lost 37 percent against the yen in the past month and New Zealand's is 31 percent weaker as investors bought back Japan's currency borrowed in so-called carry trades used to purchase the South Pacific nations' assets.
RBA Intervention
The central bank intervened in the market, a spokesman for the Sydney-based RBA said today by phone. He declined to be identified. The intervention came amid similar circumstances to those yesterday and on Oct. 24, when the bank ``provided liquidity,'' according to the spokesman.
Australia's currency is the worst-performer of the world's 16 most-active currencies against the dollar and yen in the past month as investors have dumped equities amid widespread concern that the global economy will fall into recession.
The currency rallied briefly yesterday after the Group of Seven expressed concern over the ``recent excessive volatility'' in the exchange rate of the yen.
``We expect any bounce to be quite temporary'' as a result of intervention, said David Forrester, a currency economist at Barclays Capital, in Singapore yesterday. ``There's no quick fix that policy makers can undertake to alleviate the problems which currently are impacting on foreign-exchange markets.''
Benchmark interest rates are 6 percent in Australia and 6.5 percent in New Zealand, compared with 0.5 percent in Japan and 1.5 percent in the U.S. The differences in yield have attracted investors to the South Pacific nations' assets. The risk in such trades is that currency market moves will erase profits.
To contact the reporter on this story: Candice Zachariahs in Sydney at czachariahs2@bloomberg.net

Asian enquires rise for Australian dairy

2008-10-28T10:24:00.001+11:00

By James Nunez
Tuesday, 07/10/2008
The milk powder contaminations in China, which killed four babies, and caused tens of thousands of children to become sick, has boosted export demand for Australian dairy products.The Murray Goulburn Dairy Co-operative is reporting a 20 to 30 per cent increase in inquiries from Asian markets.Most Murray Goulburn products are produced in Victoria, but the processor plays an important role in setting the price Australian dairy farmers get paid for their milk. General Manager of International Sales for Murray Goulburn, Mal Beniston, says the contamination has caused consumers to think twice about Chinese milk products."So my guess is yes, there'll be a short-term increase in demand for products particularly from Australia, New Zealand and Europe. But ultimately there's a lot of milk in China which I'm sure will get right eventually."
In this report: Mal Beniston, general manager of international sales, Murray Goulburn.

GM - A national perspective

2008-10-28T10:23:00.000+11:00

By Cameron Wilson
Friday, 10/10/2008
With the heads of each state farmers group in Hobart, The Country Hour took the chance to discuss the different approach three states are taking to GM policy.President of the West Australian Farmers Federation Mike Norton explained how the change of state government is leading to a re-think of the planned moratorium and the expectation that regulated commercial planting of GM crops will go ahead.President of the New South Wales Farmers Association Jock Laurie explained the licensing system that is regulating GM crop production in NSW and the focus of segregating the GM industry from conventional growers.President of the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association Roger Swain gave his thought on the different state approaches and the implications for Tasmania.
In this report: Mike Norton, president of the West Australian Farmers Federation; Jock Laurie, president of the New South Wales Farmers Association; Roger Swain, president TFGA

Call for urgent bee biosecurity

2008-10-28T10:22:00.000+11:00

By Rosemary Grant
Monday, 13/10/2008
The Australian Honey Bee Industry Council wants immediate action to reduce the risk of pests and diseases, and it's calling for a national incursion simulation to see where weaknesses are.The Council also wants baited hives installed near all ports to trap any bees arriving on ships and planes.Council chairman, Lindsay Bourke says vegetable and fruit industry groups are also joining them to pressure the Government to implement recommendations from a Senate inquiry into the future development of the industry."All the people who use our services have got together in the Pollination Australia industry alliance and they are putting real money in where their mouth is to fight incursions and all the things that will affect our honey bee industry. We've got $430,000 to spend on that," he said.
In this report: Lindsay Bourke, chairman of the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council

Tasmanian farm machinery exports a winner

2008-10-28T10:21:00.001+11:00

By Eliza Wood
Monday, 13/10/2008
The global credit crisis was no doubt on the minds of those at the Tasmanian Export Awards on Friday night in Hobart.The head of one of the winning companies, Philip Dobson from Dobson's Vegetable Machinery, says it's a real concern in his line of work.The Ulverstone-based business, in its 25th year, took home the Regional Exporter Award.Philip Dobson says they strive to be different in order to compete."We obviously have to compete with a lot of international companies, major European and American manufacturers. We aim to have alternate products because we could never compete head on with some of the major manufacturers," he said.
In this report: Philip Dobson, Dobson's Vegetable Machinery.

Tasmanian farm machinery exports a winner

2008-10-28T10:21:00.000+11:00

Farmers pin hopes on GE grass

2008-10-28T10:20:00.002+11:00

By Kathy Cogo
Tuesday, 14/10/2008
Would you buy milk labelled as having a genetically engineered product?Farmers are considering growing a genetically engineered grass in future which reduces the amount of methane a cow produces. A collaboration between Australian scientists and a New Zealand stock and station company is researching a grass which is hoped to maintain production levels at the same time as reducing greenhouse gas emissions.Researchers have found that the amount of methane a cow produces depends on what they eat.Lachlan McKenzie from Federated Farmers of New Zealand explains why scientists are developing a high sugar grass. "Methane is the bi-product of protein, the break down of protein and so if you have a higher sugar content in your pasture relative to the protein then the animal can use that protein rather than having to break it down for energy use." Mr McKenzie says as a result the grass should produce a more productive cow. He says they might have little choice but to grow GE grass in future. "Politicians in their wisdom have certainly indicated on both sides of the Tasman that they want to decrease the emissions of greenhouse gases from agricultural land ... so that's why the pressure's on for the researchers to actually come up with solutions for the regulations that are coming in." Are they worried about trying to sell milk that derives from genetically engineered grass? No. Mr McKenzie thinks consumers are more pragmatic and accepting in their attitudes towards GE food.
In this report: Lachlan McKenzie, dairy representative, Federated Farmers of New Zealand

Lowering trade barriers will ease world hunger

2008-10-28T10:20:00.001+11:00

By Will Ockenden
Thursday, 16/10/2008
Australian farm groups say lowering international trade barriers is the best way to ensure global food security.Today's World Food Day, an annual event promoted by the United Nation's Food and Agriculture organisation. The focus this year is global food security. As financial turmoil becomes the major focus for politicians, there are warnings that food security remains an critical issue.Earlier this year, there were riots in Indonesia, Haiti and the Philippines as wheat and rice prices more than doubled. Mick Keogh, from the Australian Farm Institute, said there'd be a lot fewer hungry people in the world if agricultural trade was opened up. "The balance between demand and supply is tipping back towards increased demand, which hasn't been the case for the last 50 years," he said. "I think that's going to put pressure on governments to recognise the need to free up agricultural trade, and in that way to increase the flow of food and food supplies globally."At a busy inner-city Melbourne supermarket shoppers are buying food for dinner. Shopper Cameron Wolf said while food prices in Australia have increased, at least it's available. "I think it's one of the things we take for granted. It's hard to say weather we appreciate what we've got or the fact that the country we live in runs itself to provide markets for food."Shortages of rice are now common in many parts of the world, but that only hit home in Australia when supermarkets put limits on how much rice could be bought per person.Dr Beth Woods chairs the International Rice Research Institute. She said the rising price of food has caused the most pain for poor people in third world countries. "Some countries have provided additional payments to poor people, others have released government stores of food. Some of those are measures you wouldn't want to see in the long term, but in the short term governments should see it as a number one priority to ensure their people have food."
In this report: Director of the Australian Farm Institute Mick Keogh;Chair of the International Rice Research Institute Dr Beth WoodsSupermarket shopper Cameron Wolf

Financial crisis hits dairy markets

2008-10-28T10:19:00.001+11:00

By Sally Dakis
Friday, 17/10/2008
Dairyfarmers have been warned to expect more volatility in dairy prices as a result of the global financial crisis.Dairy commodities have been cut by 20 per cent over the past few months, and Dairy Australia is predicting more uncertainty in the market.Dairy Australia's manager of Strategy and Knowledge Joanne Bills says the crisis is having an impact on some of Australia's key dairy export markets in Asia."Already over the last couple of months commodity prices have dropped quite sharply, around 20 per cent on average, in particular milk powders have been under a fair bit of pressure" she said."We're probably expecting that those prices will continue to be volatile, it's a very tight supply and demand situation still, but we are seeing some signs of demand softening and the possibility that we will have more supply to the world market. So perhaps a bit more weakness in those commodity prices to come".But Ms Bills says Dairy Australia is unable to quantify the magnitude of further falls."It is really difficult to predict at this stage, they have fallen very sharply in the last couple of months, we hope we don't continue to experience falls like that. We feel that there might be some more downward pressure on milk powders because of the activity of the US and the European Union, and the supply that's coming on stream from South America and New Zealand.""We think that butter and cheese has probably got a bit more resilience in terms of pricing for those commodities."In spite of this outlook though, Joanne Bills says dairy farmer confidence in the industry remains strong, with historically high farm gate prices, and farmers adopting a medium to long term outlook in the industry.
In this report: Joanne Bills, Dairy Australia's manager of Strategy and Knowledge

Frost losses at 40 per cent for some growers

2008-10-28T10:18:00.000+11:00

By Cameron Wilson
Friday, 24/10/2008
Frost has destroyed up to 40 per cent of fruit crops for some growers worst hit by the drop in temperature earlier in the week.Temperatures dropped to well below zero in the Midlands, Derwent Valley, Coal River Valley and Huon Valley on Wednesday night and Thursday morning this week, at a time when cherries, apples, apricots and wine grapes are highly vulnerable to frost damage.After initial assessment it was thought that most growers has escaped serious damage, but Ken Bell from fruit marketers TopQual says those orchards that have been hit are now reporting extensive damage."The Derwent Valley is probably showing on some orchards there, (but) not all orchards, some growers had some fairly extensive frost protection in place and have been able to minimise the damage but on some other orchards there cold be up to 40 per cent (crop loss)."Around the Richmond area seems to be a little bit more damaged than other areas in the Coal River, Richmond is showing around about 40 per cent damage as well and there could be some damage even in the apricots out there."
In this report: Ken Bell, managing director TopQual

Nickel market tarnished by credit crunch

2008-10-28T10:17:00.000+11:00

Report: Babs McHugh
A year ago, it was being called the 'new gold', but now the price of nickel has plummeted so low, it's costing more to produce than it's worth.Nickel is used in quality stainless steel.From a high of US$50,000 a tonne 18 months ago, it's now worth one fifth of that.Carey Smith, from Alto Capital, says nickel is another casualty of the global credit turmoil."Nickel's been caught up in the whole commodity cycle, and if you look at all the coppers and the zincs and the leads, they've fallen just as much basically, but nickel's fallen a bit further than most," he says."With the credit crisis in the US, in Europe and the UK, people just need money. They'll sell anything at any price."

Grain growers counting cost of recent frost

2008-10-28T10:16:00.000+11:00

By Cameron Wilson
Monday, 27/10/2008
As midday temperatures peak today in the mid 20's, spare a thought for midlands grain growers who're taking stock of barley and canola crops that have been badly hit by frost.The extent of the frost damage to broad acre cereals and oilseeds is only now emerging, after last Thursday's cold snap.Rural reporter Rosemary Grant says for some farmers this will now be the third years of failed crops."I've talked to one consultant this morning who's travelled from Tunbridge through (Cambell Town) and north as far as Evandale and into the Fingal Valley."Certainly in the low lying areas it's pretty extensive."I spoke to one farmer today who estimated that they've probably lost $1 million worth of crops just in their area."
In this report: Rose Grant, rural reporter

Scientists push for GM labelling

2008-10-28T10:15:00.000+11:00

By Jane Bardon
Monday, 27/10/2008
State and Federal food regulation meeting recently in Adelaide are facing renewed calls for all genetically modified food to be labelled.Fifteen Australian and international scientists have written an open letter to the ministers, saying independent studies are raising more concerns about GM food.And the scientists want testing of GM food to be done in Australia.At the moment only GM food with altered protein, for example foods containing GM soy, have to be labelled in Australia.Other foods containing highly processed GM like canola oil, cottonseed oil and corn, and even GM potatoes don't have to be labelled.Professor Jack Heineman is a molecular biologist at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, and he says that has to change so consumers can choose."There is a growing number of independently derived studies that indicate the plausibility of harms that may have been overlooked, and certainly, could currently be overlooked using the types of studies that are available to our regulators now."Independent Australian food nutritionist Dr Rosemary Stanton says labelling is also needed because if health problems do arise with GM foods in future, nutritionists and scientists won't know where the problems have come from because they won't know which foods people have been eating contain Gm material.But the Chief Scientist at the national food regulator Food Standards Australia New Zealand Dr Paul Brent says the state and federal food ministers don't need to change labelling laws.In their letter to the food ministers, the scientists are also calling for an independent review of the safety assessment procedure for GM food.Rosemary Stanton agrees with them it's unacceptable that Food Standards doesn't do its own safety testing.It relies on tests done by the GM companies and peer reviews of that by food authorities in other countries.Paul Brent from Food Standards says its okay to rely on GM company data and international assessments of that."The US FDA and the Health Canada Food Directorate and the Japanese, and the European Food Safety Authority have all looked at the same data, and have all come up with the same independent conclusions that these GM foods are safe."The standard procedure all over the world for chemical and drugs and for foods is for industry to supply the data. This idea that it has to be independently tested is a furphy."The regulator also says in its recent consumer attitudes survey only one on percent of people were worried about eating GM.But Rosemary Stanton says if state and federal governments don't change the law and demand GM food testing by the regulator farmers will suffer.She thinks once the new GM canola crops being grown for the first time in some states start to enter the food chain consumers might start avoiding eating any canola to try not to eat GM.A spokeswoman for the Federal Government Parliamentary secretary for health, Jan McLucas says Australia's processes for assessing and labelling food are based on worlds best practice, and Food Standards is taking a very cautious approach.But GM labelling may be discussed at the meeting.
In this report: Professor Jack Heineman molecular biologist at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, Dr Paul Brent Chief Scientist Food Standards Australia New Zealand; Dr Rosemary Stanton nutritionist

Tasmania says no to GM seeds

2008-09-26T10:05:00.001+10:00

By Sally Dakis
Monday, 15/09/2008
A seed company has elected to withdraw it's canola seed from sale in Tasmania in the light of the State's zero tolerance for Genetic Modification (GM). Manager of Roberts Seeds at Carrick, Rob Winter, says companies are worried about their potential legal exposure with the State's decision to set a nil tolerance for GM in any seed material under it's GM moratorium.Across the globe different tolerance levels for GM have been established, from Tasmania's nil tolerance, to 0.5 per cent in other states, and up to 5 per cent by some buyers.Mr Winter is concerned that other seed companies may follow suit, denying the state access to the best seed varieties."Seed companies from around the world are looking to the latest technology as a major part of their breeding programs," he said. "In fact it's estimated that 80 per cent of new seed lines have some sort of genetically modified component in them so even if full segregation was possible, we might only have the older varieties or less economically viable varieties available to us which is still not a good situation."
In this report: Rob Winter, Manager of Roberts Seeds.

Tasmania organics make the history books

2008-09-26T10:04:00.000+10:00

By Eliza Wood
Wednesday, 17/09/2008
The history of the organics movement in Tasmania is about to be made into a book, and the writer is looking for your stories. The Organic Farming and Gardening Society had fourteen branches in Tasmania starting in the 1970s, and after more than 30 years, the society will hold its last meeting next June.Organics enthusiast Graeme Stevenson has been commissioned to write the history and says while it's sad the society is folding, there is an upside."They've done their job, because look how many organic veg you can buy in Woolies and Coles now. They stirred, they pushed, they ran field days, had festivals, and printed magazines that went across Australia. Whoever was interested adopted it, so they've done their job," he said.
In this report: Graeme Stevenson, Organic Farming and Gardening Society.

Closed loop abalone processing a radical suggestion

2008-09-26T10:02:00.000+10:00

By Jayne Landsberg
Wednesday, 17/09/2008
Introducing a closed loop system for Tasmanian abalone farmers has been described as a radical proposal that could cost millions of dollars.The call for closed loop and effluent recycling for Tasmanian abalone farms has been made in the light of the discovery of ganglioneuritis in four Tasmanian abalone.The concern is that if a virus is found in a farm, the disease could be magnified and spread to the wild through effluent.Nick Savva from Australian Ocean Biotechnology, farms abalone at Clarence Point on the Tamar River and thinks it's likely that closed loop effluent systems could only be mandatory for abalone processors in the long term. "It would be a radical proposal for farms to go to complete recirc without any effluent or without complete sterilisation of effluent. As far as I'm aware there's no abalone farm in the world that works that way," he said."Mistakes can always happen and just guarding against the possibility of having a virus enter the farm in the first place is the best way to manage that."
In this report: Nick Savva, abalone farmer Clarence Point.

Calls for additional shipping service to Flinders Island

2008-09-26T10:01:00.000+10:00

By Rosemary Grant
Thursday, 25/09/2008
Some Flinders Island residents are considering investing in a local co-operative shipping service to overcome problems in getting livestock off the island.According to Flinders Island beef cattle producer, Peter Scollard, it's the ideal way to overcome the problem he's experienced getting cattle to market.There have been significant delays getting stock off the island since Southern Shipping replaced it's roll-on roll-off ferry, the Matthew Flinders, with a general freight carrier which is not purpose built for shipping livestock.Yesterday Southern Shipping told a special Flinders Island shipping committee meeting The Matthew Flinders will be back in service next week.But Peter Scollard told says he's frustrated with the lack of transport competition, and is suggeting a community based co operative model to run a second service."I looked on the internet this morning and I saw a vessel in the Mediterranean which is a livestock carrier which can carry 550 head of cattle at 500 kilo's each and that's for sale for US$500,000."Mr Scollard said if the community were to buy a vessel it could potentially be serviced and operated by the Maritime College with some state government backing and with expertise from the TT Line.
In this report: Peter Scollard, cattle producer

Call for national shipping rules

2008-09-26T09:59:00.000+10:00

By Rosemary Grant
Thursday, 25/09/2008
It's World Maritime Day (Thursday 25th September) and it comes with a call for all Australian states to agree to a new set of maritime standards for coastal shipping.Every state and the northern Territory has it's own rules and legislation. Some have been in place since federation. However, this month a series of consultative forums have been held right around the country with the Commonwealth to see how this can be reformed and the national framework of maritime standards can be implemented more widely.Chief executive of Marine and Safety Tasmania, Colin Finch says Tasmania is leading the change."The standards that we use now, there are builders in Tasmania, there are builders that are building vessels that are sold overseas that are using these Australian standards. We've got vessels that are going to Tanzania, there are vessels that are going across the Pacific to New Zealand. They are using these current Australian standards because they are best practice in the world," he said. "The issue isn't about the standards, the issue is about how we implement them into legislation. In Tasmania we've achieved that and so we think we are a leader in that regard, and we just hope the rest of Australia can also implement these standards."
In this report: Colin Finch, chief executive of Marine and Safety Tasmania

Surcharges for Dubai Port Congestion

2008-09-26T09:58:00.000+10:00

Effective from Sept 1st, 2008, there will additional surcharges from the shipping line for Regional Cost
Recovery (RCR) and Dubai Port Congestion Surcharge
Pls note, the additional charges incurred will be passed on to the local customers at Dubai for local cargo
And will be debited as RCR and Port Congestion charges @ US$ 6.00 W/M to the local customers at on forwarding
Destination.
India Pakistan Iran Iraq KSA (dammam/Riyadh/Jeddah)Kuwait Bahrain UAE Oman

Important - USA OFAC ruling on Iran Shipping Lines

2008-09-26T09:55:00.001+10:00

The US Government, through the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), has recently included the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL), related IRISL companies, and a large number of Iranian vessels on its list of blocked persons. A link to these recent developments appears below:
http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/actions/20080910.shtml You can access the full OFAC list of blocked persons through the link below: http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/sdn/index.shtml The effect of these developments is that Willard Estate will not support any new transaction involving IRISL, related IRISL companies, or listed vessels irrespective of the currency of the transaction. Where Willard Estate agrees to a transaction, and is subsequently provided with documents indicating the involvement of these parties or vessels, Willard Estate will withdraw from the transaction.
For the avoidance of any issues of this nature, Willard Estate requests that you ensure, among other things, that your dealings do not involve any parties or vessels that appear on OFAC's list of blocked persons.

Friends of Maritime College

2008-09-26T09:53:00.001+10:00

Tasmania's Exciting Infrastructure Future

2008-09-26T09:52:00.000+10:00

The Minister for Infrastructure, Graeme Sturges, today spoke to the annual state conference of The Australian Workers Union about Tasmania’s infrastructure developments.
“In terms of economic development, Tasmania has seen something of a sea change in the past decade with a Labor Government,” Mr Sturges said.
“We have gone from the essentially ad hoc approach of the Liberals to a strategic approach designed to achieve the best cost-effective outcomes for the taxpayers’ dollars.
“Developing and maintaining major infrastructure such as roads, bridges, rail and energy networks is expensive. And because it’s with us for a long time, we need to get it right.
“Over the past 10 years, the Tasmanian Government has developed a transport strategy that delivers a safe, efficient and equitable transport system for Tasmania.
“There has probably never been a time when so much major infrastructure development is either being planned or under way. The scale and complexity of this undertaking is unprecedented.
“We are creating the infrastructure needed to ensure that we maintain a strong and growing economy so that we remain competitive on the national and international stage.
“There are certainly some formidable challenges in the years ahead – including a steadily growing freight task and the continued expansion of industry and tourism – all of which are placing pressure on Tasmania’s transport network and infrastructure assets.
“The national freight task is forecast to double by 2020 with trends for Tasmania indicating even higher growth over the same period.
“Recently, I joined the Mayor of Brighton to announce the preferred site for the vital $79 million Brighton Transport Hub facility.
“Closely related are the Brighton Bypass, the refurbishment of the Bridgewater Bridge and the upgrade of the Midland/Lyell Highways junction.
“While we will be faced by many challenges in delivering such a large program of work, there are many opportunities as well.”
Mr Sturges said that the State Government was committed to developing business in Tasmania.
“We have an open and transparent procurement system in place, which encourages Tasmanian companies to tender for key infrastructure projects.
“We are also working hard with all our stakeholders to ensure that our rail network is maintained as a viable alternative to road transport in the carriage of freight.”
Mr Sturges said that the Government was committed to working with a new above-rail operator for a viable rail system in Tasmania.
“The aim of the $122 million rail rescue package – jointly funded by the Tasmanian and Australian Government – is to upgrade the track across the rail network.
“The Australian Government has also allocated further funding for rail upgrade projects in Tasmania, totalling another $130 million.
“The Tasmanian Government is committed to upholding the principles of Occupational Health and Safety for all workers and our contractors to ensure work is undertaken safely while also producing the best outcomes.
“To this end, we have established a position within my Department to ensure that work on roads and other State infrastructure is carried out in accordance with the best OH&S principles and practice.
“I look forward to the major contribution which infrastructure projects such as those I have mentioned are making and will continue to make to Tasmania’s continuing prosperity.
“I am delighted to be Tasmania’s Minister for Infrastructure at such an exciting and crucial time in the development of these major infrastructure projects,” Mr Sturges said.

Walk and Ride to Work

2008-09-26T09:51:00.000+10:00

Active Launceston is a community project supported by the Launceston Chamber of Commerce. The chamber is supportive of any initiative that benefits the health of employees.

In October Active Launceston will coordinate a Walk and Ride to Work from the Inveresk Park and Walk carpark.

Please find attached an Active Transport Kit. This kit includes information about Walk and Ride to Work Days and the Inveresk Park and Walk flyer and a CBD bike rack map.

Walk to Work Day is on Friday, 3rd October.
Ride to Work Day is on Wednesday 15th October

Both promotions include FREE healthy breakfasts in the Quadrant Mall.

http://www.activelaunceston.com.au

NB: The Inveresk Park and Walk Car Park will be closed for the Launceston Show between the 4th and 14th of October.

Rail Upgrade Contract Awarded

2008-09-26T09:50:00.000+10:00

At last, theres movement at the station...

A multi-million dollar contract for a major upgrading of the Tasmanian rail network has been awarded.
The Minister for Infrastructure, Graeme Sturges, said today that the contract, worth more than $30 million, would cover the replacement of 20 kilometres of rail and 140,000 sleepers.
“The successful contractor, Queensland Rail (QR Ltd), will team with Tasmanian-based contractor, Van Ek Contracting, to complete this contract,” Mr Sturges said.
“The planning work will get underway within two weeks with site works expected to get under way in November.
“The bulk of the site works will be completed by the latter half of 2009 in a 12-month contract.”
Mr Sturges said that the contract was tangible evidence of the Government’s determination to ensure that rail freight remained a viable option in Tasmania.
“The contract also offers significant value-adding in re-establishing rail skilled workers in Tasmania for the future.
“The contract is part of the capital works program funded by the Australian Government under the rail rescue package. All expenditure of funding under the package is administered by the State Government.
“The Government remains committed to the $122 million rail rescue package to upgrade rail infrastructure in Tasmania because we believe there is a positive future for rail transport in this State,” Mr Sturges said.

High Security Seals USA Mandatory

2008-09-26T09:48:00.000+10:00

The Government of the United States of America, have enacted laws that will be enforced by US Customs and Border Protection Agency, that all freight containers inbound to the USA by ship are required to have afixed:

High Security Seals
Meeting ISO PAS 17712 Standards

Effective October 15, 2008

This requirement includes all cargo bound for the USA, no matter whether the cargo is for USA final destination or the cargo is in transit to other countries.

As a participating carrier in the US Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program (C-TPAT), OOCL’s high security seal policy has already been in place for many years for all US-inbound containers. Although this is not a new practice, we would like to remind you that the practice is now mandatory under C-TPAT.

This security initiative is aimed at improving cargo protection and increasing supply chain security. After securely stuffing and sealing your container, please ensure the seal number is provided on the shipping instructions forwarded to OOCL.

If a container is not affixed with a high security seal, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may issue a penalty. There is also a possibility US Coast Guard may detain the vessel. However, CBP recognizes that there are types of containers that cannot be readily secured by use of a high security seal, such as tanks, non-standard containers (for example open top containers), or containers that simply cannot accommodate such a seal. These types of containers are not subject to the statutory requirement.

Shippers, consignees, and cargo owners are responsible for ensuring their containers are sealed according to regulations, and if not, are liable for all costs incurred in case of any breach.

Willard Estate Logistics hold a stock of OOCL High Security Seals - please contact us if you require any.

China National Holiday

2008-09-26T09:47:00.000+10:00

Advice received from China Agents

China National Holiday from 29 Sep (Monday) to 5 Oct (Sunday) for China National Day Holiday and will resume working on 6 Oct (Monday).

Somalian pirates allow Sinotrans captives to phone home

2008-09-26T09:44:00.001+10:00

THE master of the Hong Kong-flagged Great Creation, with 25 people on board when it was hijacked off Somalia last Thursday, has called to report that the crew were being "well treated," according to a source close to the situation, reports Lloyd's List.
It said that after being attacked by seven or eight pirates in the Gulf of Aden, a security signal was sent from the 27,383-ton bulk carrier on the same day stating that the people on board, including 23 Chinese seamen and a Sri Lankan master, were "in safe condition."
The ship was heading for Pipavav in northwest India when it was seized by pirates. Another ship the Greek-owned, 12,812-ton Centauri, was also hijacked last Thursday off Somalia with 25 crew and 17,000 tonnes of bulk salt on board.
It is reported that a turbine technician from Hong Kong on board the Great Creation, owned by Sinotrans Shipping Limited, also called his family using his mobile phone after the attack, but details of the conversation could not be revealed, although Sinotrans confirmed the phone call took place.

US Customs 10+2 security filing 'days or weeks' away

2008-09-26T09:43:00.000+10:00

US Deputy Commissioner Jayson Ahern says the publication of Customs and Border Protection's importer security filing rule known as 10+2 is "a matter of days or weeks".
Mr Ahern has turned down a proposal to launch a pilot test for the Import Security Filing (ISF), according to a report in The Journal of Commerce. This idea, said the report, was supported by some trade groups amid concerns about the capacity and viability of channels to handle the volume of data that the new security rules will require.
"I'm not interested in any pilot that's going to delay implementation," said Mr Ahern.
Mr Ahern said that customs will offer a 60-day grace period for importers after the 10+2 rule is introduced, and it will take a further year before customs begin to sanction importers for non-compliance with the new legislation.
Mr Ahern is now encouraging more importers to get involved with the Advanced Trade Data Initiative, a test bed by which participating importers can transmit the types of data that ISF will require along different communications channels, such as the Automated Broker Interface.
The report said that US Customs have processed 55,000 ATDI transactions from 200 importers, and Mr Ahern believes that with greater participation by the trade, customs will have greater experience to handle the upcoming launch of 10+2.

Dollar Rises to One-Year High Against Euro on Global Outlook

2008-09-12T09:23:00.000+10:00

By Ye Xie and Agnes Lovasz
Sept. 11 (Bloomberg) -- The dollar rose to a one-year high against the euro on signs global growth is slowing, and the yen strengthened on speculation investors will sell higher-yielding assets funded by loans in Japan.
The yen appreciated to the highest level against the euro since August 2006 as concern Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. will collapse encouraged investors to pare carry trades. New Zealand's currency dropped to two-year lows against the dollar and the yen as the Reserve Bank reduced borrowing costs more than most economists forecast.
``Perception of risk has expanded globally,'' said Robert Sinche, head of global currency strategy at Bank of America Corp. in New York. ``Longer-term investors are unwinding their short-dollar positions. The dollar has momentum with it as the capitulation goes on.'' A short position is a bet that a currency will decline.
The U.S. currency climbed 0.3 percent to $1.3956 per euro at 4 p.m. in New York, from $1.3998 yesterday, after touching $1.3882, the strongest level since Sept. 18, 2007. The yen advanced 0.8 percent to 149.58 per euro, from 150.75, after touching 147.54, the strongest in more than two years. The yen gained 0.5 percent to 107.16 per dollar, from 107.70.
The ICE's Dollar Index touched 80.375 today, the highest level since September 2007, when the Federal Reserve began cutting its target lending rate from 5.25 percent to 2 percent to stave off a recession. The index, a gauge measuring the dollar against the currencies of six U.S. trading partners, reached a low of 70.698 on March 17.
Weaker Kiwi
New Zealand's dollar, known as the kiwi, fell as much as 2.7 percent to 64.38 U.S. cents, the lowest level since September 2006, and 4 percent to 68.55 yen, the weakest since May 2006. The Reserve Bank cut its official cash rate by a half- percentage point to 7.5 percent, saying the economy is in a recession and inflation will slow.
The U.S. currency strengthened beyond 1.80 versus the Brazilian real for the first time since January and reached $1.7447 against the pound, the strongest level since April 2006.
``The global slowdown has dimmed the allure of higher yields abroad,'' wrote Benedikt Germanier, a currency strategist at UBS AG in Stamford, Connecticut, in a research note to clients today. ``Dollar demand sparked by U.S. investors' repatriation flows in early August has reached the point of feeding on itself.''
The U.S. dollar advanced even as people familiar with Lehman said it had entered into talks with potential buyers after Moody's Investors Service said the Wall Street firm must find a ``strong financial buyer.'' Lehman, whose shares tumbled 42 percent, declined to comment.
Trading Shift
In March, when the Fed orchestrated the sale of Bear Stearns Cos. to JPMorgan Chase & Co. and cut the discount rate, the dollar fell to record lows versus the euro.
``This marks a substantial departure from one of the key trading patterns of the last six months, namely the positive correlation between the dollar and risky assets,'' wrote Themos Fiotakis, a market strategist at Goldman Sachs Group Inc., in a research note today. ``The drivers of risk sentiment have now shifted. Non-U.S. growth concerns are now key.''
The dollar is ``on course to test'' $1.3840, a 50 percent retracement of the euro's rise from the November 2005 low of $1.1640 to the all-time high of $1.6038 set in July, based on a series of numbers known as the Fibonacci sequence, currency strategists led by Ray Farris at Credit Suisse Group AG wrote in a note today. If the dollar breaks that level, it may strengthen to $1.34, the strategists wrote.
Stronger Yen
Japan's currency rose 2.5 percent to 58.77 versus the Brazilian real and 0.8 percent to 13.02 against the South African rand on speculation investors will reduce trades in which they get funds in a country with low borrowing costs and buy assets where returns are higher. Japan's target lending rate of 0.5 percent compares with 13.75 percent in Brazil and 12 percent in South Africa.
``We're in a situation where we're likely to see the current environment of slower global growth, lower interest rates, more risk reduction and deleveraging,'' said Shaun Osborne, chief currency strategist at TD Securities Inc. in Toronto. ``All suggest to me this process of unwinding the carry trades is going to continue.''
The euro has fallen 13 percent from its all-time high as the European economy slowed and crude oil dropped more than 30 percent to $101.06 a barrel from its peak of $147.27.
``The commodity bubble is popping,'' said Dustin Reid, a senior currency strategist at ABN Amro Bank NV in Chicago. ``Oil exporters have less dollars to recycle. The pace of diversification has slowed down. The dollar will remain bid.''
Industrial output in the 15 nations that use the euro probably fell 0.2 percent in July after a drop of the same amount in the previous month, according to the median forecast of 31 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. The report from the European Union's statistics office is due tomorrow.

Abalone diesase update

2008-09-12T09:21:00.000+10:00

The southern Tasmanian seafood processor at the centre of an abalone disease scare says it is co-operating with authorities.
Abalone from tanks at Tas Live Abalone in Hobart tested positive this week to Ganglio Neuritis.
The positive tests have sent the world's largest abalone industry into a spin.
Divers are continuing to search wild fisheries for signs of infection and more test results could be available today.
Howard Johnson from Tas Live Abalone says he is working with the department to find the source.
"I think if anything the company has acted responsibly, has acted in good faith and will continue to do so," Mr Johnson said.
Dean Lisson from the Abalone Council says the industry has systems in place to deal with an outbreak.
"Even if it is found in the wild, we will be able to deal with it effectively.
Biosecurity Tasmania says it could be weeks before Tasmanian waters are given the all clear.

Australia-India FTA Joint Feasibility Study

2008-09-10T10:03:00.000+10:00

This message has been sent to all companies/individuals who have either sent in written submissions to the Australia-India FTA study, or have attended industry consultations in state/territory capitals.

The feasibility study is proceeding well. The joint feasibility study group (JSG) has met twice in New Delhi (17 April and 11-12 August 2008) and in Melbourne on 21 May 2008. The JSG is due to meet again in Canberra in early October.

The Minister for Trade, Mr Crean, and the Indian Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr Nath, agreed at the 11th Joint Ministerial Commission, held in Melbourne in May, that completion of the study should be brought forward to the end of 2008, reflecting the priority attached by both governments to enhancing the economic relationship. We remain on track to achieve this timeframe, though intensive work will be required to finalise the text of the study report.

We have now completed face-to-face consultations with industry and state/territory governments in all states/territories, and appreciate the valuable input offered at these meetings.

Almost 50 written submissions have also been received. We are still able to receive submissions but time is running out if the advice is to be reflected in the study report.

The study team is happy to field any queries about the study, either by email (india.ftastudy@dfat.gov.au) or telephone (Carol Robertson 02 6261 9693).

Regards

India FTA Study Team
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Canberra

A Far Wine Country

2008-09-10T09:28:00.000+10:00

Visiting the Vineyards of Tasmania
By MARLOWE HOODSeptember 5, 2008
There's one problem with Tasmania's cool-clime wines: What little there is tends to get drunk very close to home.
So the question for wine lovers is, are Tassie wines worth a trip?
Though Australia's southernmost inhabited outpost is a long, costly distance from almost anywhere, those who are as enchanted by landscapes and artisans as by the wines they produce should certainly consider heading south.
Mitro Hood
Frogmore Creek's Tony Scherer
Tasmania's wine industry is new even by Australian standards. In the 1970s, Andrew Pirie, armed with a degree in soil science from the University of Sydney, had a light-bulb moment during a year-long tour of France's wine regions. "I noticed that the most expensive wines were grown in the cooler regions -- Burgundy, Alsace, Champagne," he recalled.
At the time, Australia's wine focus was on warmer areas, but Mr. Pirie returned home determined to find the best microclimates for Europe's signature cool-clime varietals: Pinot Noir in red, and Chardonnay and Riesling in white.
His search unexpectedly led to Tasmania's Tamar Valley, where he and his brother put his ideas to the test. Tasmania's handful of producers mostly followed suit -- giving up on Cabernet, Merlot and Shiraz, ill-suited to an island where the daily high temperature during the warmest months averages 24 degrees Celsius.
The Piries were joined by a steady trickle of newcomers. But Tasmania still accounts for only about one quarter of 1% of Australia's wine production, and only about 15% of that tiny sliver finds its way abroad. Hence the travel imperative. So here's a quick guide to what's notable in Tasmania's three major wine regions.
Greater Hobart
The area surrounding the state capital has at least half a dozen vineyards and wineries worth visiting.
With vineyards cascading toward the Derwent River, Stefano "Steve" Lubiano was one of a handful of winemakers working in Tasmania through the 1990s. The family's grape-growing roots go back to his grandfather, who ran two wineries in Trieste, Italy, before emigrating to Australia in the early 1950s.
It's all good at the Lubiano spread, but the 2005 vintage of his top Pinot -- while a bit pricey by local standards -- could humiliate any number of Grand Cru Burgundies costing twice as much. Even a recorked bottle of "Sasso" that knocked about the trunk of a rental car for three days (sorry, Steve) was pure spice and cherries when finally drunk.
Native Tasmanian Fred Peacock, who began his career in the late '70s running experimental grape plots for the state, now owns the picture-postcard Bream Creek vineyards, which overlook Marion Bay on Tasmania's east coast. Its wines are available at an utterly charming countryside bed-and-breakfast called Potter's Croft, and in Hobart. Maybe it's because Mr. Peacock sweet-talks his vines, but grapes they produce make wines that sing in near-perfect harmony, with a dark cherry-and-spice 2005 Pinot and a citrusy 2007 Sauvignon blanc leading the choir.
Other wineries nearby merit a detour. Home Hill's award-winning wines include a 2005 Pinot dripping with red fruit, and an even more intense 2006, both available in the winery's stunning "in-the-vines" restaurant. Tony Scherer's organic Frogmore Creek and his recently acquired Hood Wines in the Coal Valley are a must, both for the man and his wines. Show-stoppers include both a sweet and a dry 2006 Reisling, and a 2005 Chardonnay that balances power and finesse. You probably won't get it, but ask Tony for a bottle of his "wild yeast" 2006 Pinot -- a truly great wine produced by an act of defiance; using wild yeast is controversial, both because it can fail and because it can spread to other batches of fermenting grape juice. Moorilla, gambling millionaire David Walsh's $50 million fantasy-in-progress, isn't just a winery -- it's a brewery, ultra-trendy restaurant and a private museum. After a slow, decade-long slide, Tasmania's oldest active winery is also once again making top-flight wines.
East Coast
This ravishingly beautiful region has a handful of notable wineries. Freycinet Vineyard's Claudio Radenti and Lindy Bull produce a haunting Chardonnay, full of delicate and elegant fruit, on 10 hectares nestled in a narrow valley a couple of kilometers from the sea. A few kilometers up the road is the family-run Spring Vale Vineyards, where sheep and grain are giving way to rows of vines. A big-bodied Pinot and a rose-petal and lychee Gewurztraminer headline the list.
But a little farther north, in the tiny fishing town of Bicheno, is arguably the single best reason for a wine lover to go to Tasmania: Brian Franklin's Apsley Gorge winery, tucked away in a former fish-processing plant battered by sea. (If you have come this far, you must try the fresh Tassie lobster and oysters, served with butter and a baguette.)
Mr. Franklin and his wines, a Pinot Noir and a Chardonnay, are off the grid -- not in the guide books, absent from competitions. But they could just be the best that Tasmania has to offer. In his late 40s, Mr. Franklin looks like what he was -- an abalone diver who hauled up as much as 1,500 kilos a day for export to Japan and China. That was after the degree in architecture, and before the start of his love affair with Burgundy.
"I was brought up on big Shiraz and BBQ," he says. But over the course of annual pilgrimages since 2000 to Burgundy, where he helps his good friend Philippe Charlopin select the grapes for Mr. Charlopin's $200 wines, Mr. Franklin has become an ardent champion of terroir and French methods, giving up the standard procedures of New World winemaking. "I am the extreme in Tasmania," he says. "I have stopped using fertilizer and irrigating, to force the roots deep into the rocky soil; I don't use any artificial yeasts, added tannins or enzymes."
Greater Launceston
Plans by timber company Gunns Ltd. to build a pulp mill along the Tamar River estuary have most of Tasmania's winemakers concerned. Those in the area fret about its impact on their immediate environment, and others worry about its impact on Tassie's "clean, green" image. Gunns is a winery powerhouse itself, having recently bought several, including Tamar Ridge Estates, which pulls together vineyards and wineries accounting for nearly 40% of the island's production. Indeed, the controversy has engulfed the pioneering Mr. Pirie too -- now Tamar Ridge's CEO, he has staked his reputation on promises that the mill will be environmentally neutral.
In the meantime, as head winemaker for Tamar Ridge, Mr. Pirie has some excellent bottles in his portfolio, including the eponymous Pirie Estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnays. Among many noteworthy wineries grouped in a horseshoe around Launceston are Providence (a standout Chardonnay) and Brook Eden Vineyard (a great Pinot).
Along a valley just a few minutes drive to the east, Tasmania yields some of Australia's best sparkling wines, with the same mix of varietals that makes France's Champagne the bubbly benchmark. Half the Champagne-style bottles on Australian wine guru James Halliday's short-list of the country's finest come from here. Start with Arras, from Bay of Fires Winery -- owned by Hardy's, the Australian division of giant Constellation Brands. But don't stop there: nearby Clover Hill and Jansz make outstanding fizzy too.
--Marlowe Hood is a Paris-based writer.

$106 million boost for Tasmania's food supply chain

2008-09-10T09:27:00.000+10:00

The Tasmanian grocery sector is set to receive a boost with the development of a $106 million retail distribution centre.
The 60,000-square metre development in Launceston has been proposed by Statewide Independent Wholesalers (SIW), a partnership of Tasmanian Independent Retailers and Woolworths. Premier David Bartlett has welcomed the proposal, saying it represented a strong vote of confidence in the Tasmanian food supply network. “I welcome what is a major investment in Tasmania. This will be a new, state-of-the-art distribution centre that will serve Tasmania well into the future,” Mr Bartlett said. “SIW will be introducing the latest supply chain technology in the state, comparable with the best facilities elsewhere in Australia and worldwide.”The new centre will supply the state’s 28 Woolworths stores plus 208 independent grocers, replacing Woolworths’ Hobart and Devonport facilities. Chairman of SIW Michael Kent said the centre would utilise modern truck-loading facilities and warehousing technology to improve supply chain efficiency. Mr Bartlett said with the latest technology, the centre would enable the major retailer to easily manage its distribution from interstate.“It will revolutionise the food supply chain in Tasmania and help to restrain prices in a climate of rising costs which is good news for consumers,” he said.

Tasmania Represented at Asia Fruit Logistica, Hong Kong

2008-09-10T09:26:00.000+10:00

Fruit Growers Tasmania will exhibit at Asia’s largest fruit trade show in Hong Kong from September 10th to 12th.
The Minister for Primary Industries and Water, David Llewellyn, said today that this would greatly enhance Tasmania’s fruit export industry.
“Asia is seen as increasingly important to Tasmanian producers due to rising affluence in many countries, economies of freight, increasing market access and the increasing prevalence of the modern supermarket and improved cold chain,” Mr Llewellyn said.
“Asia Fruit Logistica is expected to attract over 5000 trade visitors from over 50 different countries.
“To have Fruit Growers Tasmania there exhibiting and actively promoting Tasmanian apples, cherries and stonefruit is sure to lift our industry’s profile.
“Tasmania’s cherry and stonefruit exports have increased over the last five years.
“However, with increasing production it is important that our export markets expand at a similar rate to production, in order to relieve pressure on the domestic market.”
This is only the second time the trade show has been held in Asia. It has already seen a 70% increase in exhibitors from last year’s event in Bangkok.
Fruit Growers Tasmania are attending Asia Fruit Logistica for the first time as an exhibitor, as part of a commitment to expand exports significantly over the next five years.
Lucy Gregg, Business Development Manager of FGT, believes that Tasmania’s pristine environment and modern production techniques ideally place us to sell fruit in an increasingly food safety conscious market.
“Tasmania’s climate allows it to be an attractive new player in Asia’s cherry and stonefruit market,” Ms Gregg said.
Ms Gregg can be contacted on 0408 977 725.

Big Bang II to start in Switzerland today

2008-09-10T09:17:00.001+10:00

Big Bang II to start in Switzerland today
The world's biggest and most sophisticated science experiment begins in Switzerland later today when scientists attempt to test the Big Bang theory.
Engineers will attempt to circulate a beam of particles around the 27-kilometre-long underground tunnel that houses the Large Hadron Collider at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN).
The $10 billion machine is designed to smash particles together with cataclysmic force, recreating conditions in the Universe moments after the Big Bang.
Scientists have spent three decades building the tunnel and the project has been hit by cost overruns, equipment trouble and construction problems.
The experiment has triggered a number of wild theories, with speculation that it could create a black hole of intense gravity which could suck in Europe and perhaps the whole planet.
Others have claimed that it could allow beings from another universe to invade through a hole in the space-time continuum.
Scientists vehemently reject those claims.

No commercial trials of GM poppies

2008-09-10T09:16:00.002+10:00

By Sally Dakis
Monday, 01/09/2008
The head of Tasmanian poppy growers association says he's disappointed by plans to extend the states GM moratorium.Last week a joint parliamentary committee recommend Tasmania's ban on GM food crops continue for an additional 5 years.President of the Tasmanian Poppy Growers Association Lyndley Chopping describes the recommendation as a convenient one for the government, and he isn't giving up hope that one day Tasmania will grow commercial crops of gm poppies."I believe at the end of the five year period when it will be re-examined it has been recommended the next panel be experts, an independent panel rather than politicians only and so I think that would give a much rounder view of the re-examination" Mr Chopping said.
In this report: Lyndley Chopping, president Tasmanian Poppy Growers Association.

2008-09-10T09:16:00.001+10:00

By Rosemary Grant
Tuesday, 02/09/2008
A new strain of a serious bee disease has just been identified in Tasmania, and beekeepers believe it's too late to eradicate it.The disease is called nosema, and Tasmania already has the European strain, nosema apis, that affects queens, drones and workers, causing dysentery.But this week a more serious form, the asian strain, nosema ceranae, has been confirmed in Tasmania, with three positive test results from 40 samples that have been analysed to date. President of the Tasmanian Beekeepers Association, Julian Woolfhagen, says nosema is a type of protozoa that can cause whole hives to collapse in the space of a week."It gives them diarrhoea, that's a physical symptom but nosema's been, amongst the congnisenty at least, well understood as one of the most severe diseases in its impact on the viability or the production of hives, therefore this nosema apis costs the beekeeping industry far more than any of its other diseases," he said.Mr Woolfhagen says more tests will be needed to establish the extent of the disease in Tasmania, but the information from Tasmania's chief vet suggests the new 'ceranae' strain can't be eradicated."It's impossible, I think at this stage. It may well have been here for some period of time, in which case it may well have gotten into the feral bee population. It might be more widespread. At this stage we're only through 30 per cent of the testing, so it's too early to tell, but I suspect in a practical sense to control it and eliminate it would be beyond any reasonable chance of success."
In this report: Julain Woolfhagen is president of the Tasmanian Beekeepers Association

Fuel supply crisis sparks renewable debate

2008-09-10T09:14:00.000+10:00

By Rosemary Grant
Thursday, 04/09/2008
The Premier's Fuel Summit is on as we speak, with about 120 participants at the talkfest in Launceston.Amongst them is renewable fuels advocate, Bob Gordon, who's flown in from Canberra today to put the case for better planning for what he believes is the inevitable decline of petrol and diesel and the rise of biofuels and other renewables.However, Bob Gordon says it's time to acknowledge that fuel supply is in crisis, there are already major implications for primary industry, and future fuel shocks are almost certain.Bob Gordon says Australia has the capacity to match the deficit in oil with renewable fuels."We have a significant capacity in Australia to produce gaseous alternatives fuels, LPG, and biofuels, ethanol and biodiesel, sustainable without making them a risk to food sources so we have time up our sleeve, but we don't know how much time, so it's in our interest to take these steps as quickly as we possibly can."Bob Gordon says the only way of deploying alternative fuels in the short-term will be via government mandates."It requires governments, state and federal and the oil companies and the alternative fuels industry sitting around the table, bashing heads if necessary, to come together with what's in the national interest. Now is that too much to ask for?"
In this report: Bob Gordon, executive director of Renewable Fuels Australia

TFGA demands holistic government approach to drought

2008-09-10T09:13:00.000+10:00

By Sally Dakis
Tuesday, 09/09/2008
The Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association (TFGA) has released its drought strategy, demanding a holistic approach from the State Government. The plan is the culmination of a drought forum the lobby group held in northern Tasmania a few weeks ago.Manager Chris Oldfield said at the top of the agenda is the State Government's approach to the drought situation. "We believe the government's approach to drought in this state has been somewhat unco-ordinated," Mr Oldfield said. "It doesn't mean people have been doing wrong things, it means 'adhockery' ruling and what we want to see is a co-ordinated approach." Mr Oldfield said drought is more than plants and animals and it's important there's a whole of government approach taken to drought management, managed through the Department of Premier and Cabinet and not through Primary Industries."It's all the other social issues that come along with drought like education and mental health that can't be managed through Primary Industries.""We're suggesting the appointment of a drought secretariat and establishing regional committees because of the variability of weather and conditions throughout the state." Ideally the TFGA would like the proposed single drought management to be similar to the existing state Emergency Services plan.
In this report: Chris Oldfield, manager Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association.

Deadly abalone virus alarm

2008-09-10T09:12:00.000+10:00

Article from:

MERYL NAIDOO
September 10, 2008 12:00am
THE deadly abalone virus that devastated Victoria's abalone industry has been found in Tasmania.Abalone at a processing plant in the state's South-East showed signs of the disease Abalone Viral Ganglioneuritis, authorities said yesterday. Tasmanian Abalone Council president Greg Woodham said two abalone had tested positive for the virus. The Department of Primary Industries and Water called Mr Woodham to a meeting yesterday for a briefing on the situation. He said the industry could not afford to panic and would wait on more results. Samples of the diseased tissue have been sent from Tasmania to the Australian Animal Health Laboratory in Geelong for further analysis. Tasmania's wild abalone fishery is the biggest in the world, with about 25 per cent of the global annual harvest. It also supports a very active recreational fishery, involving about 12,500 people. Mr Woodham said he suspected Tasmania's situation might be different from Victoria's. "We are not seeing signs of contamination within the live holding facility that held the two that tested positive," he said. Chief Veterinary Officer Rod Andrewartha said further work was being done to confirm the diagnosis at the local processing plant. The result will be known today. The investigation was triggered when the processor reported suspect signs in abalone as part of Tasmania's abalone disease surveillance program. The virus has been spreading slowly off the Victorian coast and the Tasmanian Government put measures in place to try to stop it spreading to the state's wild fisheries. Dr Andrewartha said the big concern was whether the disease was present in any of the these fisheries. "Our current activities are aimed at trying to determine the location and extent of any disease in the wild so we can develop appropriate control measures," he said. Dr Andrewartha said intensive monitoring over recent months had found no signs of the disease in the wild. Divers from the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute collected samples near Southport yesterday with no obvious disease signs. The infectious herpes-like virus affects the nervous tissue of abalone and kills them in less than a week. A website providing updates is at www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/abalonedisease.Commercial and recreational abalone fishers are urged to check it for the latest findings.

New Port Charges

2008-09-02T13:11:00.000+10:00

Notice to Customers

Bell Pay Port Service Charge Changes

Following notification of the newly increased charges by Tasmanian service providers, the Port Service Charges for imports and exports to and from Bell Bay have been reviewed. Consequently the new port service charges in the table below will be implemented from 13th September 2008.

Bell Bay
Export
General Cargo
A$77/20’
A$146/40’
13th September 2008
Export
Reefer Cargo
A$64/20’
A$129/20’
13th September 2008
Import
General Cargo
A$130/20’ *
A$270/40’ *
13th September 2008
Import
Reefer Cargo
A$101/20’ *
A$202/40’ *
13th September 2008
* plus 10% GST

For further information please contact your local OOCL office in your area.

The State Government has announced its preferred site for the $80 million Brighton Transport Hub.

2008-09-02T13:08:00.000+10:00

Last year the government announced it would fund a road-rail facility and freight distribution hub at Brighton to improve the efficiency of freight movement in and out of southern Tasmania.
The Infrastructure Department has been examining two locations for the hub.
The Minister Graeme Struges says the preferred site is an area of about 50 hectares to the west of the exisiting industrial estate.
Mr Sturges said the eastern site had aboriginal heritage issues which could not be easily overcome.
Construction is expected to begin in the first half of next year.

Tasmania looks to extend GM ban

2008-09-02T13:06:00.002+10:00

By Cameron Wilson
Thursday, 28/08/2008
The prospect of Tasmania extending its moratorium on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for another five years has drawn a mixed reaction from farmers.A parliamentary Joint Select Committee examining Tasmania's GMO policy has recommended, "the state's prohibition on the release of GM food crops to the Tasmanian environment for commercial purposes be extended and reviewed after five years".The Committee also recommended a ban on the importation of animal feed containing "viable GMOs".The recommendation has been criticised by Tasmanian farmer Ian McKinnon."It's fairy short sighted. I think to lock things down for five years is ridiculous. "Australia's agriculture, not just Tasmania's, needs all the available tools to be successful in international markets and compete with our competitors overseas who have access to these technologies."The decision was welcomed be meat processors Greenham & Sons, a company that exports beef to a number of Asian countries.Peter Greenham jnr says it's the type of recommendation he had been hoping for."The whole time [we've been] saying, we've been GM free, what has changed recently, we are really now starting to see markets emerging and saying there's a lot more GMO in the world and people are starting to wake up and say 'is this good for us'?"
In this report: Peter Greenham jnr, Greenham & Sons Pty Ltd; Ian McKinnon, canola grower

King Island water on global menu

2008-09-02T13:06:00.001+10:00

By Eliza Wood
Wednesday, 27/08/2008
Rainwater from Tasmania's King Island has made it into the fridge of the top restaurant in the world.King Island Cloud Juice, as it's branded, is on the water list in Spain's El Bulli - a restaurant that has nearly one chef per guest and a three year waiting list.Cloud Juice founder Duncan McFie says water appreciation is becoming trendy."Twenty years ago you'd go to a restaurant and you could get red or white wine. Today you go into any restaurant and you get a wine list. Now you go into a restaurant and most restaurants are going to have sparkling or still water. More and more restaurants are starting to get a water menu," he said.Mr McFie says he's honoured to have his water on the menu of El Bulli."I got to have dinner there and it was mind-blowing. I was getting chills from some of this food. At one stage I had tears because I could not believe how this food could be doing what it was doing."
In this report: Duncan McFie, founder, King Island Cloud Juice.

Planning for agricultural carbon trading

2008-09-02T12:54:00.000+10:00

By Cameron Wilson
Thursday, 07/08/2008
An international expert on carbon emissions says Australian farmers should start preparing now to be ready for a carbon trading scheme.Australia will introduce a carbon reduction scheme in 2010 but farmers will not be included until 2015 at the earliest.Bill Kaye-Blake from New Zealand's Lincoln University has developed one of the world's only systems to help farmers calculate the emissions from their farms.He says after working with New Zealand farmers it's clear that cutting carbon emissions can take a long time."Seven years should be a good time for them to make some good changes, with a carbon calculator like this one, or one specific to their region if Australian researchers can come up with one, then they can look at some snapshots over time and look at how those emissions change."
In this report: Senior researcher at Lincoln University Bill Kaye-Blake.

2008-09-02T12:53:00.000+10:00

By Jane Bardon
Friday, 01/08/2008
Consumer groups are renewing calls for all genetically modified food to be labelled.It's been considered too hard and too expensive in the past.But that could be changing.The labels on our food are providing us with a plethora of new information.We've recently added Country of Origin, and soon we'll get unit pricing.But all of the food containing GM ingredients still doesn't have to be labelled.Claire Hughes from consumer group Choice says it's time for that to change:"Consumers might want to avoid GM foods, not just because of any potential health impacts, but also because of concerns about the impact of GM on the environment or because GM crops are controlled by a small number of powerful multinational organisations, who would then gain increasing control over the food supply."Lydia Buchtmann from Food Standards Australia New Zealand says we're now eating several genetically modified foods including corn, soy, potatoes, cottonseed, canola and sugar beet."But the federal and state governments decided eight years ago it would be too difficult and too expensive for all refined GM food to be labelled because there was no test to check for very processed GM material.Lydia Buchtmann from Food Standards says there was concern the high cost of checking instead by tracing GM through the food processing chain would be passed onto consumers.So because there's no cheap test to check for refined GM, we can see if there's GM cornflour in our bread, but not if our biscuits are baked with GM oil.But Lydia Buchtmann says that could change."One possibility is that slowly testing is becoming very accurate, that even low levels of GM could be found in highly refined oils and starches, and of course you set the standard, so that if they do turn up of course they would have to be labelled," she says."But apart from that, it's a political decision."Federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke says he doesn't think the rules should be changed now.The federal Labor Party changed its policy on wanting clear labelling of all GM food before the election.But Tony Burke says he might change his view if the circumstances change."The prime concern is always to make sure you've got your food safety principals looked after, and I'm comfortable about how rigorous we are on that."The second issue is how you get the balance right on making sure consumers get information and knowing that everything you add to food labelling adds an extra layer of bureaucracy and cost. I'm comfortable with where the balance is at the moment, but you never stop reassessing that balance."

Tassie trucks keep rolling

2008-07-30T09:37:00.000+10:00

By Cameron Wilson
Tuesday, 29/07/2008
The Tasmanian Transport Association says all fright movement sin and out of the state are unaffected after a protest by truck drivers was a "flop". Yesterday truck drivers around Australia stopped work to protest against high fuel prices, logbook changes, and the rising cost of truck registration.Organisers predicted up to 80 per cent of Australia's truckies would stop work, lead by long haul drivers on the mainland.But executive director of the Tasmanian Transport Association Robin Phillips says from what he has heard not many drivers went on strike."It was a bit of a flop actually, the few small rebel groups that were actually trying to get it all together basically didn't gain any support."All I can say is that it has had absolutely no impact on any freight coming into Tasmania and doesn't look as though it will do."

Economic vision for Tasmania

2008-07-30T09:30:00.001+10:00

Premier David Bartlett has told the Tasmanian business community it is time to draw a line over the stellar economic growth of the past 10 years and start planning and acting for the next decade.
“If the last 10 years was about getting the fundamentals right, the next 10 needs to be about connecting Tasmania to a modern 21st Century global economy.
“Such an economy will be characterised by innovation within existing and emerging sectors, by skills and by much higher levels of educational standards.
“We know from OECD figures that for every year we add to the average level of school attainment for Tasmanian youth, we will add 8 per cent to productivity and up to 2 per cent of Gross State Product,” Mr Bartlett said.
The Premier acknowledged there would be key challenges to overcome such as climate and demographic change.
“The challenge for business and Government is to respond, adapt and innovate.”
The Government is looking to work with the Tasmanian business community and cabinet over the coming weeks and months to develop three key strategies aimed at securing Tasmania’s economic future.
“The Government is already working with the business community on a Tasmanian Skills Strategy which will be released later this year.
“The framework has been built around three primary drivers operating in all economies - population, participation and productivity.
“I am also committed to creating a comprehensive Innovation Strategy.
"Such a strategy would identify opportunities available to us through an increased investment in innovation in both traditional sectors of economic strength and emerging sectors.
“A Ten Year Infrastructure Strategy is the third piece of the puzzle. For Tasmania to realise its full potential there needs to be billions of dollars invested in new infrastructures.
“I see the development of a competitive broadband market as central to the future of the Tasmanian economy as hydro industrialisation has been to our past.
“It is also crucial we invest in new irrigation and water storage systems to make the most of our natural advantages.
“Development of low emission flexible transport systems must also feature prominently,” Mr Bartlett said.
“These three key strategies in skills, innovation and infrastructure will underpin our economic direction for the next decade.
“What we have is an exciting challenge that will determine the quality of life of future generations of Tasmanians. It’s a challenge this Government is ready, able and willing to take on. ”

Shipping Company Announcements BAF/PSS

2008-07-29T13:06:00.000+10:00

The following announcements have been made by various shipping lines as to BAF changes to be effective 1st September 2008.

Southbound
South East Asia

20’ GP 40’GP
US$930.00 US$1860.00

Also, effective 25th August 2008, many lines have announced the introduction of Peak Season Surcharges ex South East Asia.

Southbound
South East Asia

20’ GP 40’ GP
US$250.00 US$500.00

California clamps down on ships' sulphur - July 28, 2008

2008-07-29T03:50:00.000+10:00

New California laws will force ships to use low-sulphur fuel, saving lives and reducing pollution on land according to the state’s Air Resources Board. The laws also open the door to a major legal brawl.
In steps beginning in 2009 ocean-going vessels within 24 nautical miles of California's coast will have to use lower-sulphur (or low-sulfur as they would say) fuels in their engines and boilers, in place of heavy and dirty bunker oil. The board says around 2,000 vessels will be subject to the rules, which will be the strictest in the world (press release).
“This regulation will save lives,” says board chairman Mary Nichols. “At ports and all along the California coast we will see cleaner air and better health.”
If the rules stand up to legal scrutiny they will have an impact across the whole of the United States. As the LA Times points out about 40% of all marine freight into the US comes through ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Whether it will stand up to legal scrutiny remains to be seen.
“International ships running in international waters under international treaties should be handled under international laws,” says T.L. Garrett, vice president of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association. “We know it's the right thing to do. The question is, who should be telling us to do it?”
The Association believes California’s maximum jurisdiction is three nautical miles out (San Diego Union-Tribune).
This isn’t the first time the state has tried to get tough with shipping, as the NY Times notes:
Earlier this year, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit overturned a California rule that sought to regulate the engines that ships use to make electricity. The court ruled that under the Clean Air Act, only the federal government could impose such a regulation.

AMC launches Big Idea

2008-07-29T03:47:00.000+10:00

21/07/2008 12:00:00 AM
THE Australian Maritime College's Big Idea Competition 2008 is off and running following an official launch last Thursday.
AMC national centre for ports and shipping director Capt.
John Lloyd told 60 guests that the competition was a great opportunity for those involved to work with students from across all areas of the AMC and the broader community.
Now in its fourth year, the Big Idea business plan competition is open to teams who take an idea through development stages to a completed business plan.
Teams must have at least one AMC student as a member. The entrants are helped on their way with three seminars hosted by Derek LeMarchant, of the Department of Economic Development, and Brett Charlton, of Williard Estate Logistics.
AMC department of maritime and logistics management head Stephen Cahoon said that the competition gave students invaluable experience in a specialised field.
"This competition really encourages the development of entrepreneurial businesses and more importantly it fosters a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation among students," Dr Cahoon said.
Applications close on July 30 and final submissions must be in on September 29. A panel of academic and industry experts will judge entries and choose a winner for the first prize of $1500 and $500 second prize.
Past entries have included a plan to buy the Nanaimo Harbour City Marina in Vancouver, Canada, a plan to develop an outdoor adventure business in Northern Tasmania and a plan to set up a travel company specialising in group travel packages for people interested in cultural tours of Malaysia.

Truck drivers stage strike

2008-07-29T03:44:00.002+10:00

Dewi Cooke
July 29, 2008
SUPERMARKET chains have altered delivery schedules to buffer the impact of a truck drivers' strike in Queensland.
Both Coles and Woolworths said they had "contingency plans" for the two-week shutdown announced by independent truck drivers.
Coles said it brought forward some weekend deliveries and Woolworths said it had moved some stock to regional distribution centres as a precaution.
The Long Distance Owners and Drivers Association and other groups want an increased base wage, improved safety and removal of the fuel excise.
Peter Schuback, a Hervey Bay-based transport operator, said the strike had the potential to stop food supplies within three days and fuel supplies within four.
The drivers have vowed to prevent distribution of diesel. A spokeswoman for Shell, which has a refinery at Geelong, said the company was monitoring the situation but had not experienced disruption.
Queensland police said a convoy of 43 trucks and 13 cars drove through central Brisbane yesterday. In Western Australia a similar protest drew 50 drivers, who voted to call off the shutdown. In Victoria, about 20 drivers reportedly met in Dandenong and then drove on to Geelong, while 70 drivers met in Adelaide. Six of these drivers have since been sacked, ABC online reported. The drivers' action is not supported by the Transport Workers Union.
Philip Lovell, chief executive of the Victorian Transport Association, representing transport employers, condemned the protest.
"The industry is going through some of the toughest times ever," he said. "The last thing you need to do is not work."
Australian Retailers Association executive director Richard Evans said shops that relied heavily on a quick turnover of stock could be hit hard.
Prices of some goods could also rise, he said. "Any disruption to the supply chain would have an impact upon price and that's to be expected."

Port businesses at last have their say

2008-07-29T03:44:00.001+10:00

PENNY McLEOD
July 28, 2008 12:00am
TASPORTS chief executive Robert Barnes will today meet local waterfront businesses to discuss their concerns about plans for the development of the waterfront and a new Royal Hobart Hospital.About 10 people representing shipping, stevedoring and supply companies based at the Hobart port will attend the meeting. They are seeking an open and candid dialogue with the government-owned port authority. "TasPorts have been pretty quiet," Tasmanian Maritime Network's Richard Fader said. "It's been a bit reactionary (to media reports) in letting port users know what's going on. "Hopefully this time they can sit down with the interested people and tell them what they have in the pipeline and about their interaction with the other authorities." Mr Fader said the recent submission made by TasPorts to the New Royal Project team, outlining TasPorts' concerns about the new hospital and assurances it was committed to the port, were welcome. But waterfront businesses needed reassurance from the chief himself, he said. "We want to make sure the port users' views are incorporated into the master plan, and our best bet for that is through TasPorts," he said. Meanwhile, Tasmanian Opposition Leader Will Hodgman said news the Government's master plan for waterfront development could be completed within about 12 months was not good enough. "It seems inconceivable that you wouldn't sit down and say where do we see Hobart's waterfront in five, 10, 15 years' time and indeed into the longer term," Mr Hodgman said. "The fact that it hasn't been done has now left David Bartlett in the very awkward position of having to put the cart well and truly before the horse." Premier David Bartlett said the Government was progressing a review of the model for planning and development of a master plan. "Mr Hodgman is asking for a sensible development but in the same breath wants to rush what is a complex master plan which must take into consideration the needs of all stakeholders," Mr Bartlett said. He said the timeframe would be subject to the "scope of the work to be undertaken". Mr Bartlett said the heads of DPAC, Treasury and Justice would report to him in six weeks.

Bass straight reopened to abalone fishermen

2008-07-29T03:42:00.000+10:00

By Cameron Wilson
Monday, 07/07/2008
Tasmania's abalone council says new biosecurity measures will make it safe for the resumption of commercial fishing in northern Bass Straight.The smallest of Tasmania's five abalone fishing zones has been closed for about two years due to a threat from the abalone virus ganglioneuritis.President of the Tasmanian Abalone Council Greg Woodham says commercial fishing will start again this week, and the strict regulations for cleaning equipment and notifying the state government before fishing, will reduce the risk."It is near the Victorian coastal waters, but the area isn't near the virus front."Even though we've taken a stance that there is a high level of risk, we believe that our planning in these biosecurity matters will put us in a high level of risk management that will mitigate any risk of the disease making its way to Tasmania."
In this report: Greg Woodham, president of the Tasmanian Abalone Council.