B2B Magazine issue 110 November 2015

110 NOVEMBER 2015 B2BMAGAZINE.COM.AU

$4.95 inc. GST

ISSN 1833-8232

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TAKING A GAP YEAR AT 50? Carol Mitchell packs up and heads to Bali

MARRIAGE, DIVORCE OR SOMETHING IN BETWEEN? What effect does it have on your will?

VOICES IN THE FOREST Last chance to get your tickets

United under the one global brand

SAVE ENERGY COSTS IN YOUR BUSINESS

ACT EXPORT AWARDSWINNERS ANNOUNCED

LOCAL PIANIST WINS TRIFECTAMichael Dooley achieves recognition

PROFILE: Theo EfkarpidisFocused on the future

WHO SAYSYOU CAN’TDO ITDIFFERENTLY?

PUBLISHER'S NOTE

GOOD TIMES AHEADEveryone is feeling good about the change of prime minister from Abbott to Turnbull. The weather is improving, the grass is growing and the birds are chirping. We are on the the downhill run into Christmas and a well deserved break with family, friends

and relatives. But has anything really changed politically, or is Prime Minister Turnbull just better at the spin. I suppose the answer is yes, he is a far better communicator and, well, it really depends on your politics as to whether the government needed to change its policies anyway … Ok then, so why are we all feeling so good about the change? It is an interesting phenomenon that the colour of a tie, the way hands are shook or three word slogans can end a political career. Not only has Mr Turnbull been able to reverse 30 consecutive losing polls for Mr Abbot to a potentially decisive win for his government, but he has also been able to switch the coalitions negative focus on refugees, security and counter terrorism, to that of the ‘there’s never been a better time to be an Australian’ ten-word agenda. Also the language of his foot soldiers (ministers) has also changed dramatically. They are being positive about their portfolios, they are embracing the approach of Mr Turnbull’s ten-word slogan. And why wouldn’t they, our whole economy is basically built on confi dence. If we all feel confi dent in our leaders and our economy, then we go out there and borrow, invest, employ, spend etc. Confi dence is what primes our economy and makes us the wealthy country that we know and love. A lack of confi dence does the exact opposite. No borrowing, building, employing, spending etc. Funny how a gut feeling can have such fl ow on in the economy and our lives. Of course there are other major factors that impact on the Australian economy such as China and our reliance on digging stuff up and shipping it off … but that is fodder for another note. I personally think that the Australian economy is in for good times under a Turnbull led government. Let’s hope they are spread around a bit.

Congratulations RSM on their global rebrand. This issues features RSM in Canberra and many of their senior staff. RSM in Canberra has also moved into new premises in Deakin after 15 years on Northbourne Avenue. B2B congratulates Frank Lo Pilato, and his 110 staff, on their move.

Send all comments to: [email protected]

TIM BENSONPublisher

C O N T E N T S

Photos by Andrew Sikorski

11 COVER STORY WHO SAYS YOU CAN’T DO IT DIFFERENTLY?RSM: UNITED UNDER THE ONE GLOBAL BRAND

PUBLISHER'S NOTE

GOOD TIMES AHEADEveryone is feeling good about the change of prime minister from Abbott to Turnbull. The weather is improving, the grass is growing and the birds are chirping. We are on the the downhill run into Christmas and a well deserved break with family, friends

and relatives. But has anything really changed politically, or is Prime Minister Turnbull just better at the spin. I suppose the answer is yes, he is a far better communicator and, well, it really depends on your politics as to whether the government needed to change its policies anyway … Ok then, so why are we all feeling so good about the change? It is an interesting phenomenon that the colour of a tie, the way hands are shook or three word slogans can end a political career. Not only has Mr Turnbull been able to reverse 30 consecutive losing polls for Mr Abbot to a potentially decisive win for his government, but he has also been able to switch the coalitions negative focus on refugees, security and counter terrorism, to that of the ‘there’s never been a better time to be an Australian’ ten-word agenda. Also the language of his foot soldiers (ministers) has also changed dramatically. They are being positive about their portfolios, they are embracing the approach of Mr Turnbull’s ten-word slogan. And why wouldn’t they, our whole economy is basically built on confi dence. If we all feel confi dent in our leaders and our economy, then we go out there and borrow, invest, employ, spend etc. Confi dence is what primes our economy and makes us the wealthy country that we know and love. A lack of confi dence does the exact opposite. No borrowing, building, employing, spending etc. Funny how a gut feeling can have such fl ow on in the economy and our lives. Of course there are other major factors that impact on the Australian economy such as China and our reliance on digging stuff up and shipping it off … but that is fodder for another note. I personally think that the Australian economy is in for good times under a Turnbull led government. Let’s hope they are spread around a bit.

Congratulations RSM on their global rebrand. This issues features RSM in Canberra and many of their senior staff. RSM in Canberra has also moved into new premises in Deakin after 15 years on Northbourne Avenue. B2B congratulates Frank Lo Pilato, and his 110 staff, on their move.

Send all comments to: [email protected]

TIM BENSONPublisher

C O N T E N T S

Photos by Andrew Sikorski

11 COVER STORY WHO SAYS YOU CAN’T DO IT DIFFERENTLY?RSM: UNITED UNDER THE ONE GLOBAL BRAND

C O N T E N T S

LEGAL NOTICEMan Bites Dog Public Relations (‘MBD’) owns the copyright in this publication. Except for any fair dealing as permitted by the Copyright Act 1968 (Cwth), no part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior written permission of MBD. MBD has been careful in preparing this publication, however: it is not able to, and does not warrant that the publication is free from errors and omissions; and it is not able to verify, and has not verifi ed the accuracy of the information and opinions contained or expressed in, or which may be conveyed to readers by any advertisement or other publication content. MBD advises that it accepts all contributed material and advertisements contained in this publication in good faith, and relies on various warranties and permissions provided to it by the persons who contribute material and/or place advertisements. Those warranties and permissions include that neither the material and/or advertisements are misleading, deceptive or defamatory, and that their use, adaptation or publication does not infringe the rights of any third party, or any relevant laws. Further, MBD notifi es readers that it does not, nor should it be understood to endorse, adopt, approve or otherwise associate MBD with any representations made in contributions and/or advertisements contained in the publication. MBD makes no representation or warranty as to the qualifi cations of any contributor or advertiser or persons associated with them, and advises readers that they must rely solely on their own enquiries in relation to such qualifi cations, and be satisfi ed from those enquiries that persons with whom they deal as a result of reading any material or advertisement have the necessary licences and professional qualifi cations relating to the goods and services offered. To the maximum extent permitted by law, MBD excludes all liabilities in contract, tort (including negligence) and/or statute for loss, damage, costs and expenses of any kind to any person arising directly or indirectly from any material or advertisement contained in this publication, whether arising from an error, omission, misrepresentation or any other cause.

ISSN 1833-8232

EDITOR / PUBLISHERTim [email protected] 900 40202 6112 8176

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTTermeh [email protected] 6112 8176

PUBLISHED BYMan Bites Dog Public Relations ABN 30 932 483 322PO Box 4106 Ainslie ACT 2602 b2bmagazine.com.au

PHOTOGRAPHYAndrew Sikorski: Art Atelierart-atelier.com.au

ADVERTISINGB2B [email protected] 900 40202 6112 8176

DESIGNKasra Yousefi kasra.com.au

06

07

18

11

FEATURE

06 Profi le: Theo Efkarpidis: A man on the way up by Tim Benson07 Local pianist wins trifecta Michael Dooley achieves recognition by Tim Benson08 Take the guess work out of recruitment by Chris Hansen09 Marriage, divorce or something in between: What effect does it have on my will? by Dobinson Davey Clifford Simpson Lawyers18 Taking a gap year at 50 Carol Mitchell packs up and heads to Bali by Tim Benson20 Aubade & Nocturne Music of Sally Greenaway by Ian McLeanCOVER STORY

11 Who says you can’t do it differently?RSM: United under the one global brand

ADVICE FROM THE EXPERTS

23 ACCOUNTINGMaximising super on the sale of your businessby RSM

23 STRATA MANAGEMENT Welcome to a $1,000,000,000,000 industry by Vantage Strata

24 BOOKKEEPINGEssential tasks at end of calendar year and the challenge of holiday moodby Tailored Accounts

24 BUSINESS LAWEvergreen: Christmas comes early for contract renewalsby Bradley Allen Love Lawyers

25 BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITYIt’s easy to save energy costs in your businessby Actsmart Business recycling. energy. water.

26 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE Good governance driving performance by Australian Institute of Company Directors

26 ENTERTAINMENTIt is not too lateby Peter Funnell Entertainment

28 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTYPrivacy law updateby Arete Group

28 FAMILY LAW The risks of informal property settlements by Dobinson Davey Clifford Simpson Lawyers

29 RECRUITMENT Jobseekers, it’s not okay to connect with your interviewer on LinkedIn by Hays Recruiting experts worldwide

29 SPORT Social media and sport: A winning mix by YABBA.guru

30 WEBSITES Forget clicks - Attention is the new currency by SYNAPSE Worldwide

A2B: ASSOCIATIONS TO BUSINESS

32 CANBERRA BUSINESS CHAMBER Export award winners demonstrate

ACT’s international business success

G2B: GOVERNMENT TO BUSINESS

34 CHIEF MINISTER'S MESSAGE Public private partnerships in the ACT

BUSINESS NETWORKING

36 B2B @ Dragonfl y Financial Services 10th Anniversary at The Boat House by the Lake

37 B2B @ Marque Melbourne Cup event at Albert Hall

38 B2B @ ACT Chief Minister's Export Awardsat National Arboretum

38 B2B @ OPC IT 30th anniversary celebrationat National Press Club

�inking about your business is a big part of ours.

RSM Bird Cameron is now called RSM.

Together with our fellow RSM firms, we have united under one name – RSM.

730 offices. 110 countries. 1 network. 1 name.

Experience the power of being understood. Experience RSM.

rsm.com.au

C O N T E N T S

LEGAL NOTICEMan Bites Dog Public Relations (‘MBD’) owns the copyright in this publication. Except for any fair dealing as permitted by the Copyright Act 1968 (Cwth), no part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior written permission of MBD. MBD has been careful in preparing this publication, however: it is not able to, and does not warrant that the publication is free from errors and omissions; and it is not able to verify, and has not verifi ed the accuracy of the information and opinions contained or expressed in, or which may be conveyed to readers by any advertisement or other publication content. MBD advises that it accepts all contributed material and advertisements contained in this publication in good faith, and relies on various warranties and permissions provided to it by the persons who contribute material and/or place advertisements. Those warranties and permissions include that neither the material and/or advertisements are misleading, deceptive or defamatory, and that their use, adaptation or publication does not infringe the rights of any third party, or any relevant laws. Further, MBD notifi es readers that it does not, nor should it be understood to endorse, adopt, approve or otherwise associate MBD with any representations made in contributions and/or advertisements contained in the publication. MBD makes no representation or warranty as to the qualifi cations of any contributor or advertiser or persons associated with them, and advises readers that they must rely solely on their own enquiries in relation to such qualifi cations, and be satisfi ed from those enquiries that persons with whom they deal as a result of reading any material or advertisement have the necessary licences and professional qualifi cations relating to the goods and services offered. To the maximum extent permitted by law, MBD excludes all liabilities in contract, tort (including negligence) and/or statute for loss, damage, costs and expenses of any kind to any person arising directly or indirectly from any material or advertisement contained in this publication, whether arising from an error, omission, misrepresentation or any other cause.

ISSN 1833-8232

EDITOR / PUBLISHERTim [email protected] 900 40202 6112 8176

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTTermeh [email protected] 6112 8176

PUBLISHED BYMan Bites Dog Public Relations ABN 30 932 483 322PO Box 4106 Ainslie ACT 2602 b2bmagazine.com.au

PHOTOGRAPHYAndrew Sikorski: Art Atelierart-atelier.com.au

ADVERTISINGB2B [email protected] 900 40202 6112 8176

DESIGNKasra Yousefi kasra.com.au

06

07

18

11

FEATURE

06 Profi le: Theo Efkarpidis: A man on the way up by Tim Benson07 Local pianist wins trifecta Michael Dooley achieves recognition by Tim Benson08 Take the guess work out of recruitment by Chris Hansen09 Marriage, divorce or something in between: What effect does it have on my will? by Dobinson Davey Clifford Simpson Lawyers18 Taking a gap year at 50 Carol Mitchell packs up and heads to Bali by Tim Benson20 Aubade & Nocturne Music of Sally Greenaway by Ian McLeanCOVER STORY

11 Who says you can’t do it differently?RSM: United under the one global brand

ADVICE FROM THE EXPERTS

23 ACCOUNTINGMaximising super on the sale of your businessby RSM

23 STRATA MANAGEMENT Welcome to a $1,000,000,000,000 industry by Vantage Strata

24 BOOKKEEPINGEssential tasks at end of calendar year and the challenge of holiday moodby Tailored Accounts

24 BUSINESS LAWEvergreen: Christmas comes early for contract renewalsby Bradley Allen Love Lawyers

25 BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITYIt’s easy to save energy costs in your businessby Actsmart Business recycling. energy. water.

26 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE Good governance driving performance by Australian Institute of Company Directors

26 ENTERTAINMENTIt is not too lateby Peter Funnell Entertainment

28 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTYPrivacy law updateby Arete Group

28 FAMILY LAW The risks of informal property settlements by Dobinson Davey Clifford Simpson Lawyers

29 RECRUITMENT Jobseekers, it’s not okay to connect with your interviewer on LinkedIn by Hays Recruiting experts worldwide

29 SPORT Social media and sport: A winning mix by YABBA.guru

30 WEBSITES Forget clicks - Attention is the new currency by SYNAPSE Worldwide

A2B: ASSOCIATIONS TO BUSINESS

32 CANBERRA BUSINESS CHAMBER Export award winners demonstrate

ACT’s international business success

G2B: GOVERNMENT TO BUSINESS

34 CHIEF MINISTER'S MESSAGE Public private partnerships in the ACT

BUSINESS NETWORKING

36 B2B @ Dragonfl y Financial Services 10th Anniversary at The Boat House by the Lake

37 B2B @ Marque Melbourne Cup event at Albert Hall

38 B2B @ ACT Chief Minister's Export Awardsat National Arboretum

38 B2B @ OPC IT 30th anniversary celebrationat National Press Club

Theo Efkarpidis is from one of Canberra’s great business families. But his life journey so far hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Halfway

through year 12 at Daramalan College, Theo was politely asked to leave the school. In Theo’s own words he wasn’t exactly an ‘A grade student with the best attendance record’. This happened at a difficult time in Theo’s life. “Around this time I lost two important people in my life. My Papou (Grandfather) and Nonna (Grandmother) on either side of the family,” Theo reflected. Theo was named after his Papou and they were very close, going on fishing trips together and both had a great love for soccer. “I had a really strong bond with my Papou. He was very close because he really understood

me and would listen to me. He could calm me down and help me make sense of things,” Theo explained. Theo’s parents were upset and disappointed that he was expelled from school, “Mum freaked out. Dad was a little more understanding.” Theo took the remainder of the year off and worked casually, cooking, serving and waiting, at the Karabar Takeaway. “This really improved my people skills. I learnt how to start a conversation and make people feel comfortable.

I also learnt how to deal with good and bad feedback, and how to read people.”

In 2009, aged 17 and still working part-time, Theo got a full-time job as a labourer in the construction industry. Six months later he started working full-time at Chris’ Café in Belconnen.

“I really wasn’t enjoying the labouring. At Chris’ I did a couple of barista courses and was the main barista there. I was there for two years and really enjoyed it,” Theo reminisced, “I can see myself doing something in hospitality in the future - but as an owner not a worker.”

Another important thing happed in 2011 – Theo enrolled at the CIT to complete his Year 12 Certificate. “Working at Chris’ Café for 70 hours per week I realised that there were probably better opportunities out there for me,” Theo laughed.

“I was very excited to go back to study and really wanted to knuckle down and get it done and show

myself and others that I could do it.” After completing his Year 12 Certificate, Theo enrolled for university in a Bachelor Degree in Building Construction Management.

“In the back of my mind I knew the family business is in the building industry and my father always thought it would be good to have a qualified builder in the family and in the office,” Theo said.

Whilst still at CIT Theo had also prepared a business

plan, presented it to his father,

P R O F I L E

Theo Efkarpidis:a man on the way upBy Tim Benson

and started a business called Eurotag, an electrical testing and tagging business. “I set up and built Eurotag from scratch. As a sole trader I was able to live a comfortable life from my business. I also expanded into office and commercial cleaning and building maintenance,” Theo said proudly.Theo said that he wanted to prove to himself, and those around him, that he could start a business and create his own path without relying on the family. Now in his final year at university, Theo has cut back to a few select clients. “I really have enjoyed university. After a couple of years, I thought I needed to have some hands-on experience in the building industry, so I approached Capcorp Group and applied for a position,” Theo Explained. He started with Capcorp as building cadet. Then after 12 months he was promoted to the position of project administrator, running his own projects. Theo will complete his degree at the end of the year and would like to stay with Capcorp for next 3 – 5 years. “Capcorp is going through some exciting times and is picking up some great jobs. I enjoy the people that I am working with. They put a lot of time into teaching us about the industry,” Theo said.

So what does the future hold for Theo Efkarpidis?

“Long term, I am looking to join the family business. I want to bring new, perspective, experience and knowledge, into the business. I want to continue to improve, and grow, the business - I also see, as part of the future, that the business could expand into building and construction. As an adult, I can really appreciate the work my family have put into building their business, and hope that the skills that I am developing, through my university education and work at Capcorp, can contribute to the business in coming years,” Theo concluded.

Theo Efkarpidis has found his passion and is focused on the future.

Photo by Andrew Sikorski

B 2 B M A G A Z I N E .C O M . A U B 2 B I S S U E 1106

7B 2 B M A G A Z I N E .C O M . A U B 2 B I S S U E 110

Well not quite … but local pianist and composer, Michael Dooley, will be recognised in three ways this

November – his own personal trifecta. Returning to Canberra, five years ago, after

30 years humanitarian work overseas, Michael has been working away in his Canberra studio composing some amazing music.

This November Michael will be recognised in three ways:

First: Michael has been nominated for the prestigious APRA (Australian Performing Rights Association)/AGSC(Australian Guild of screen composers) screen music award for his work on the music score for an animated children’s feature produced by a U.S. company. The ceremony will take place in Melbourne on November 12th. Michael was gratified also to receive an Arts ACT out-of-round grant for travel expenses to the ceremony.

Second: On November 14 a new work commissioned by Theme and Variations, the

company that imports Steinway grand pianos, will be premiered in Sydney. The work, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the company, is written for 6 pianos, and will be performed on Steinway grands by some of Australia’s leading pianists.

Third: On November 28th, Dooley will hold a concert of his own piano compositions in Canberra. The concert is entitled ‘Anachronisms—A composer’s journey through time’, and features 11 pieces newly composed in the styles of various classical periods.

“It was a fascinating journey composing these pieces that range from the more formal and understated Baroque and classical forms, to the flamboyance and emotion of the romantic period,” Micahel said.

The virtuoso highlight of the concert, says Dooley, is his homage to The Flight of the Bumblebee, an etude entitled In Pursuit of a Mouse. “It’s fun, fiery, but fiendishly difficult,” he says. “But I’m honoured that one of Canberra’s finest pianists, James Huntingford,

P R O F I L E

Local pianist wins trifecta By Tim Benson

has taken on the challenge!”Joining Huntingford on the bill are:

nationally acclaimed, multi-award winning pianist/composer Sally Greenaway; Andrew Rumsey, graduate of the ANU school of music and well known in Canberra musical circles; Emily Leong, student of distinguished Australian pianist, Stephen McIntyre; and award winning pianist Aaron Chew, who is currently studying for a masters degree in performance at the ANU School of Music.

“The journey ends with a bit of fun actually,” says Dooley, “A slightly tongue in cheek Tango that will be performed by all 6 pianists on one piano.”

Photo by Patrick Gallagher

Anachronisms—a composer’s journey through time All Saints Church, Ainslie

8 p.m. 28th November 2015Tickets $25/$15 concession. including refreshments.

Available at the door or atwww.trybooking.com/165741

To contact Mike Dooley, visit:http://www.mikedooleymusic.com

In 2015 Canberra has a healthy population 390,000. In just over 100 years Canberra has gone from a ‘government outpost’ to Australia’s largest inland city, equally

reliant on the private and public sectors to drive growth in the economy.

Historically, in the 1880’s, the land Canberra occupies was sheep paddocks. The 1828 census showed 21 non-indigenous inhabitants living in ‘Canberra’. Nearly 200 years later Canberra’s population has grown to almost 390,000.

Today, Canberra, a planned city, recently celebrates 100 years as Australian Capital. It’s the home of the federal parliament, many of Australia’s cultural institutions and more tertiary institutions per capita than any other Australian city.

These tertiary institutions are the Australian National University (ANU),

University of Canberra, Australian Catholic University, University of NSW and Charles Sturt University. Impressively, the Australian National University is ranked 20th in the world.

The education sector being the largest non-government employer has 13,000 students enrolled at ‘The University of Canberra.’ The prestigious ‘Australian National University’ has enrolled 21,113 students.

Presently the employment participation rate is 70.4% in June 30th 2015 with the population grown by 389,700 people.

Unemployment rate has dropped to 5.1 per cent, However the ACT unemployment rate still ranks second lowest compared to national average of 6.2%.

According to the Bureau of Statistics in 2015 the average full-time weekly income was $1707 dollars, leading in the highest income in Australia.

B2B editor, Tim Benson, said there is a special relationship between the public and private sectors in Canberra.

“The public and private sectors have a symbiotic relationship. Earlier on, the private sector relied on the public sector to survive. These days with mass outsourcing the relationship is far more equal,” Tim said.

Tim also believes the future is bright for Canberra.

“Canberra has benefited from self government and positive and progressive governments of all persuasions. Canberra will also benefit from major local and regional infrastructure projects. Such as the Light Rail and City to Lake and a commitment from the Federal Government to fund a new Convention Centre and Light rail to Sydney,” Tim stated.

Likeajob.com.au takes the guess work out of recruiting the right person for the right job by using ‘dating site’ technology to match employers to job seekers based on location, qualifications, skills and experience.

Having launched in early 2015, Likeajob is quickly becoming the platform of choice for Canberra’s Gen Y job seekers who literally live through their mobile phones.

Job seekers simply create a free profile and list their last 3 places of employment, areas of specialty and highest level of education. They can then view their job matches and ‘like’ any to send their profile directly to the employer.

“They can apply for 5 jobs in 5 seconds and there’s no middle man. They can also advise if they are available now or just ‘open to offers’, Managing Director, Chris Hansen said.

It’s free for employers to post as many jobs as they like and the best matched candidates rise to the top of the list.

But it’s better than a job board. Employers can effectively ‘head hunt’ by ‘liking’ any profile to send the job description to the job seeker. If the job seeker also ‘likes’ the job, the employer can get in touch from as little as $9.90 a pop,” Chris said.

Recruiting for a role is a lengthy, time consuming and expensive process. It’s important to open the lines of communication, or risk your chance of hiring the wrong person.

U P F R O N T

Take the guess work out of recruitment

Government and business driving the Canberra economy

“At Likeajob, our custom built algorithm - the ‘Like-O-Meter’ - provides a percentage match to users, allowing employers to see how well the candidates stack up to a job. You only pay for results, not to post the ad,” Mr Hansen explained.

According to Mr Hansen Likeajob is working beautifully in the hospitality, construction, administration and child care sectors.

“With nearly 8000 job seekers registered on the site, why not post a free job ad for your business today and see who’s out there that you like?” Mr Hansen concluded.

Phot

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Chris HansenManaging Director

Likeajob.com.au0412514588

By Emma Dowling, B2B intern



Marriage, divorce or something in between:What effect does it have on my will?By Rehana Richard

A change in your relationship status can have a serious impact on your Will. If you have married, registered a civil union or civil partnership,

entered into a de facto relationship or are going through a separation or divorce, then it is important to make sure your Will is still valid and appropriate in the circumstances.

MarriageMany people are unaware that marriage

automatically revokes an earlier Will. Similarly, registering a civil union or civil partnership also has the effect of revoking a Will. Couples who have, for example, made a Will while in a de facto relationship and who later decide to marry, register a civil union or civil partnership, may have inadvertently revoked their Will. The only exception is if the earlier Will was expressly made “in contemplation of” that particular marriage, civil union or civil partnership.

Revocation of a Will means that the person is ‘intestate’. The rules of intestacy will determine how that person’s estate will be divided upon death, which can have harsh and unintended consequences.

SeparationAlthough reviewing your Will might not be

on your mind during a separation or divorce, it is critical that this change in your circumstances is reflected by a change to your Will.

Unlike divorce, separation does not have an effect on your Will. That period of separation before a divorce is finalised is one of the most critical times to ensure your Will is updated. If you separate and then die before updating

your Will, your spouse would still inherit any property you gifted to them under your Will. Likewise, if you have named your spouse as the executor of your Will, that appointment still stands even if it is contrary to your wishes. Even if you have finalised a property settlement with your spouse, but not formally divorced, that of itself is not enough to revoke an earlier Will and you should make a new Will.

DivorceThe law which covers the effect of divorce

on a Will differs between each state and territory in Australia. In the ACT, divorce only revokes parts of your Will which benefit your former spouse, for example if you appointed your spouse an executor or left to them a gift of your estate (but note there are some exceptions to this). The law treats that gift as if your spouse had died before you. Depending on how your Will was initially drafted, this may have unusual outcomes or even result in intestacy.

De facto relationshipEntering a de facto relationship does not

have the same effect on your Will as marriage. But as time goes on, your de facto partner may develop certain rights in respect of your property, which might conflict with the terms of your Will. In addition, if you fail to update your Will to reflect the change in your relationship status, you place your estate at risk of your de facto partner making a claim after your death for further provision out of your estate.

Simply having a Will may be of little benefit if it no longer reflects your wishes or life circumstances. As you can see there are a variety of ways in which significant changes to your relationship status can affect your Will. It is worth having your lawyer review the status of your Will following any significant changes in your life such as marriage, divorce or something in between.

Rehana Richard is a lawyer at Dobinson Davey Clifford Simpson, 18 Kendall Lane, New Acton, Canberra City ACT 2601 and can be contacted on (02) 6212 7600 or via email:[email protected].

F E AT U R E

THE LAW WHICH COVERS THE EFFECT OF DIVORCE ON A WILL DIFFERS BETWEEN EACH STATE AND TERRITORY IN AUSTRALIA.

6212 7600 www.ddcslawyers.com.au Kendall Lane, NewActon

YOUR LIFE will be F U L L O F C H A L L E N G E S . T H E R E ’ S N O A V O I D I N G I T .

But for every significantP E R S O N A L C H A L L E N G E Y O U F A C E ,

W E C A N H E L P Y O U navigateY O U R w a y T H R O U G H T O A C H I E V E

AN OUTCOME THAT I S B E S T F O R Y O U .

You only live once.B U T W I T H T H E H E L P O F A D V I C E f r o m

YOUR LAWYERS,O N C E I S E N O U G H .

WHO SAYSYOU CAN’TDO ITDIFFERENTLY?

United under the one global brand

C O V E R S T O R Y

The end of 2015 promises to be an exciting time for national accounting

and advisory firm RSM. With a rebrand from RSM Bird Cameron, a name they have held in one form or another for over 90 years, and a Canberra office relocation, it is full steam ahead for the growing firm.

The RSM International network is the world’s seventh largest audit, tax and consulting network and on Monday, 26th

October each of the member firms adopted the one global brand of ‘RSM’ worldwide.

The adoption of a unified brand reinforces the global network’s position as the adviser of choice to entrepreneurial, growth-focused organisations worldwide. It unifies the 29 offices in Australia, with the 730 offices worldwide, across 110 countries under the one network.

Frank Lo Pilato, Managing Partner of the Canberra office, Photos by Andrew Sikorski



C O V E R S T O R Y

says, “The business world is evolving rapidly and our clients are becoming ever more global as they seize new opportunities for growth. Leaders of entrepreneurial, growing organisations, want advisers that take the time to really understand and care about their business and its drivers, both locally and globally.”

“They want the highest level of service, a trusted relationship built on ideas and insight that really adds value to their business. This is what we have been providing to clients already but we see huge opportunity for the development of our client offering even more through moving to RSM as our one global brand.”

So what does this mean for the Canberra market?

“We have always felt that client success comes from developing strong relationships based on a deep understanding of what matters most to our clients. Our adviser will now have even stronger local and global knowledge and resources to assist our clients achieve their strategies and aspirations,” Frank outlined.

While the global rebrand benefits multinational clients who are looking to operate or expand overseas, RSM prides itself on being intrinsically linked to the business community at a grass roots level.

“We still pride ourselves on offering a first tier service with a personal approach for everyone in the business community, from small to medium sized businesses, through to Commonwealth and Territory Government agencies, not for profits, registered clubs etc,” Frank explained.

RSM has also had some changes to their service lines. Our Turnaround & Insolvency division is now known Restructuring & Recovery.

This change came about in order to more accurately reflect the work this division does with troubled companies and their stakeholders, including financiers, unsecured creditors and shareholders.

RSM’s Canberra Restructuring & Recovery team service clients throughout the ACT and surrounding regions and these specialist practitioners are relied on for their ability to deliver pragmatic, timely and decisive results.

“Our Business Advisory division has also gone under a bit of a rebrand.

With the increasing uptake of Cloud technologies we have been finding more and more often we are able to provide more strategic business advice to our clients, Rather than simply processing their accounts.

This is an exciting space for us to be in as it allows us to foster those strong, collaborative relationships with our clients that helps to drive their success,” Frank said proudly.

Tell me about your new office?

After 15 years on Northbourne Avenue RSM are very excited to be moving to the Equinox Business Park in Deakin. This move means they are able to have all of their 110 staff on the one floor and will mean an increase in office space from 1300sqm to 2000sqm which

also allows for future growth.The new contemporary fit-out will

include custom finishes and large open plan workspaces. We have focused on utilising natural light with glass office walls to take advantage of the impressive westerly views of Mount Stromlo and the Brindabellas.


C O V E R S T O R Y

“We’ve also got a great breakout area for staff, complete with an outdoor walkway for easy access, and the most important thing a commercial style coffee station,” Frank said enthusiastically, “The move to the new premises also allows us to offer a modern, functional and stylish space to host our visitors and clients.”

“We will miss our Northbourne address though, and would like to thank Tony Hedley of Hamib Pty Ltd, who has been our landlord for the last 15 years.”

RSM also acknowledges the great work that has been done by Daryl Jackson Alastair Swayn, the architects responsible for their fabulous new office design and fit-out.

Frank and his team at RSM are very

proud this year to have their firms Learning and Development team win the category of Professional Development Program of the Year as part of the Australian Accounting Awards.

“This shows the dedication this team has demonstrated in developing the highest quality professional development and Leadership and Management programs to continue to nurture our talented staff,” Frank said.

“Along with an award winning training and development programs, we believe that providing a productive and positive working environment with a healthy work-life-balance for our staff is critical in attracting and retaining the right people,” Frank concluded.

From a single employee over a fish shop

in Braddon 30 years ago, growing to 110 employees on Northbourne Avenue and now a global brand of RSM at new offices in Deakin – RSM is powering on in Canberra.

As their new branding states succinctly: Experience the power of being understood. Experience RSM.

02 6217 0300www.rsm.com.au

C O V E R S T O R Y

says, “The business world is evolving rapidly and our clients are becoming ever more global as they seize new opportunities for growth. Leaders of entrepreneurial, growing organisations, want advisers that take the time to really understand and care about their business and its drivers, both locally and globally.”

“They want the highest level of service, a trusted relationship built on ideas and insight that really adds value to their business. This is what we have been providing to clients already but we see huge opportunity for the development of our client offering even more through moving to RSM as our one global brand.”

So what does this mean for the Canberra market?

“We have always felt that client success comes from developing strong relationships based on a deep understanding of what matters most to our clients. Our adviser will now have even stronger local and global knowledge and resources to assist our clients achieve their strategies and aspirations,” Frank outlined.

While the global rebrand benefits multinational clients who are looking to operate or expand overseas, RSM prides itself on being intrinsically linked to the business community at a grass roots level.

“We still pride ourselves on offering a first tier service with a personal approach for everyone in the business community, from small to medium sized businesses, through to Commonwealth and Territory Government agencies, not for profits, registered clubs etc,” Frank explained.

RSM has also had some changes to their service lines. Our Turnaround & Insolvency division is now known Restructuring & Recovery.

This change came about in order to more accurately reflect the work this division does with troubled companies and their stakeholders, including financiers, unsecured creditors and shareholders.

RSM’s Canberra Restructuring & Recovery team service clients throughout the ACT and surrounding regions and these specialist practitioners are relied on for their ability to deliver pragmatic, timely and decisive results.

“Our Business Advisory division has also gone under a bit of a rebrand.

With the increasing uptake of Cloud technologies we have been finding more and more often we are able to provide more strategic business advice to our clients, Rather than simply processing their accounts.

This is an exciting space for us to be in as it allows us to foster those strong, collaborative relationships with our clients that helps to drive their success,” Frank said proudly.

Tell me about your new office?

After 15 years on Northbourne Avenue RSM are very excited to be moving to the Equinox Business Park in Deakin. This move means they are able to have all of their 110 staff on the one floor and will mean an increase in office space from 1300sqm to 2000sqm which

also allows for future growth.The new contemporary fit-out will

include custom finishes and large open plan workspaces. We have focused on utilising natural light with glass office walls to take advantage of the impressive westerly views of Mount Stromlo and the Brindabellas.


With over 15 years in business (accounting, tax and financial management) and a passion for property, its often said that I don’t fit into the conventional accountant “mould”.

I wear bold colours, I don’t talk too much accountant tech talk, I’m a little louder than most accountants, I laugh out loud a lot.

I aim to understand not only your business goals but your personal goals and how they interlink. My network will be your network to share. I'm

proactive and understand that the most rewarding relationships are built on trust, rapport, and understanding. You can trust that I will be truthful, even if that truth is at times hard to hear or experience. It’s important that you always know where you stand in our business relationship.

My commitment to my clients stems from the care that I promise to give at all times.

Billy is a specialist in providing business advice in areas of financial management, costing, and business/transition planning. Lately, Billy has been working closely with the ACT community sector, and has assisted dozens of disability service providers with their transition into the NDIS. Billy and his team have recently been acknowledged for their work in this area by being named as one of three organisations (along with ACTCOSS and with National

Disability Services) to take part in the 4Ready program designed to provide a suite of support to organisations providing community services in the ACT. He is known for building strong client relationships and the box of chocolate he keeps on his desk.

When he is not putting together business solutions, he can be found at local fishing holes, trying to catch the biggest yellowbelly in the water.

James runs a portfolio which is geared towards the medical and property industries and has done this in Canberra for the last 13 years.

James understands a key need for his clients is to be financially secure by transitioning their business from personal goodwill to organisational goodwill. His passion is working with his clients as a team to deliver outstanding results.

When not at work most of his time is taken by his lovely

wife and three kids.His other passion in life

is rugby, be that playing, watching, or forcing his children into the sport.

The green light has been given to a return to the rugby pitch this year (although, in a very social capacity).

Anybody who knows James, knows that he can’t make it through the day without coffee, his one vice.

C O V E R S T O R Y

NATALIE SAMMONSSenior Manager, Business Advisory

JAMES CAMPBELLSenior Manager, Business Advisory

BILLY KANGSenior Manager, Business Advisory

Daniel is a skilled consultant who leverages his international experience to advise industry and government on areas such as process improvement, cost reduction, program management and increasing efficiencies. Last year he took his young family on an Australian adventure. Through this adventure Daniel’s own personal journey continued as he built many strong connections that have driven his own personal future goals. In addition to his professional career with RSM, Daniel is driven by his contribution

to the local community. Daniel is on the Executive Committee for St Benedicts and led the establishment of the Queanbeyan Safer Shelter. He really appreciates the opportunity to contribute to building a connected, happy, healthy and compassionate community. Daniel enjoys working with RSM clients to help them define and achieve their goals and is delighted to be a part of highly skilled and friendly team of professionals at RSM.

Emily specialises in providing Risk Assurance and Internal Audit Services with RSM, primarily working with the government sector. For Emily, honesty is the essential ingredients to a successful working relationship. She believes that sharing experiences and regular, authentic communication is needed in order to develop a deep level of understanding and a trusted relationship with her clients. Emily wants to be known for bringing

the right people at the right time to each engagement, providing not only the best value for money but highest quality service delivery. Emily grew up in central west NSW. She understands it takes persistence, tenacity and maybe a bit of luck to get where you want to be. Emily is passionate about providing the same opportunities to others when she can, particularly to other young women and country kids.

DANIEL KILLALYManager, Assurance & Advisory

EMILY BOWDSenior Manager, Assurance & Advisory

When providing External Audit services, Tracey works closely with her clients, usually onsite, in order to gain a thorough understanding of how they operate and how best she can advise them.

Her aim is to work out what makes them tick and then provide tailored ideas and insights based on this understanding.

She is passionate about developing relationships with customers across a range

of industries and portfolios, growing the capability of the RSM practice and helping staff achieve their best. Tracey is a real team player and is always striving for excellence through the week, and on the weekend can be found in a pair of boots working the family farm.

Tracey lives on a farm with her partner and small daughter.

C O V E R S T O R Y

TRACEY LINEHAMSenior Manager, Assurance & Advisory


Daniel is a skilled consultant who leverages his international experience to advise industry and government on areas such as process improvement, cost reduction, program management and increasing efficiencies. Last year he took his young family on an Australian adventure. Through this adventure Daniel’s own personal journey continued as he built many strong connections that have driven his own personal future goals. In addition to his professional career with RSM, Daniel is driven by his contribution

to the local community. Daniel is on the Executive Committee for St Benedicts and led the establishment of the Queanbeyan Safer Shelter. He really appreciates the opportunity to contribute to building a connected, happy, healthy and compassionate community. Daniel enjoys working with RSM clients to help them define and achieve their goals and is delighted to be a part of highly skilled and friendly team of professionals at RSM.

Emily specialises in providing Risk Assurance and Internal Audit Services with RSM, primarily working with the government sector. For Emily, honesty is the essential ingredients to a successful working relationship. She believes that sharing experiences and regular, authentic communication is needed in order to develop a deep level of understanding and a trusted relationship with her clients. Emily wants to be known for bringing

the right people at the right time to each engagement, providing not only the best value for money but highest quality service delivery. Emily grew up in central west NSW. She understands it takes persistence, tenacity and maybe a bit of luck to get where you want to be. Emily is passionate about providing the same opportunities to others when she can, particularly to other young women and country kids.

DANIEL KILLALYManager, Assurance & Advisory

EMILY BOWDSenior Manager, Assurance & Advisory

When providing External Audit services, Tracey works closely with her clients, usually onsite, in order to gain a thorough understanding of how they operate and how best she can advise them.

Her aim is to work out what makes them tick and then provide tailored ideas and insights based on this understanding.

She is passionate about developing relationships with customers across a range

of industries and portfolios, growing the capability of the RSM practice and helping staff achieve their best. Tracey is a real team player and is always striving for excellence through the week, and on the weekend can be found in a pair of boots working the family farm.

Tracey lives on a farm with her partner and small daughter.

C O V E R S T O R Y

TRACEY LINEHAMSenior Manager, Assurance & Advisory


A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Trish is the ACT’s most experienced female insolvency practitioner and is a Registered Liquidator.

She has practiced as an insolvency practitioner for the majority of her career since moving to the ACT for university in 1986 from West Wyalong.

With diverse experience in both corporate and personal insolvency matters, Trish is passionate about

assisting clients and finds it very rewarding to aid in providing sensible financial solutions to clients in times of financial distress.

When Trish isn’t working, she can usually be found pottering in her garden, and catching up with friends and family.

C O V E R S T O R Y

NATHAN NASHFinancial Planner, Financial Services

TRISH CASSIDYSenior Manager, Restructuring & Recovery

After working in the insolvency industry for nearly 15 years, Dan has developed specialist turnaround and restructuring skills which have been applied and fine-tuned in a variety of industries and markets all around Australia.

Dan’s career has allowed him to explore formal and informal insolvency engagements, change management, investigations and forensics, as well as

general consulting roles. Work in the restructuring and recovery industry can be complex, challenging and full of never ending problems that need solutions, and that’s what draws Dan to it.

With a passion for the work and growing expertise, Dan is consistently producing quality outcomes for stakeholders, particularly those impacted by insolvency or financial distress.

DAN BONDSenior Manager, Restructuring & Recovery

With 15 years’ experience in the investment and financial services industry Nathan has seen his share of positive returns, market corrections and legislative changes. But his main focus through all of these stages is his clients – their needs, their goals and their security are his highest priority. Nathan is committed to providing a professional and bespoke service that delivers the best possible outcomes for his clients.

He specialises in advising retirees, wealth accumulators and small businesses with a range of solutions that best suit their circumstances. Nathan derives a huge amount of pleasure seeing how his role can positively impact the lives of others. As a long time sports tragic and retired Rugby League player, on most weekends you can now find Nathan on the sidelines cheering on one of his daughters in their sporting pursuits.


Most people spend their whole life not doing what makes them happy.

Carol Mitchell on the other hand, at 50, has pulled up stumps, rented her luxury apartment in Canberra, and moved to Bali to live for a year … or three … or maybe more.

Whilst there she is going to write another book, titled ‘Taking a Gap Year at 50’ (Carol is also the author of The Force of Divorce – A Survivors Story and has collated the Divorce Survival Kit, but more about that later).

“My new book will be about my experiences in Bali. It will be about doing exactly what you want and exploring the things that lead to happiness,” Carol said.

According to Carol you can live quite a privileged life in Bali. For example, she has three staff (maid, gardener and pool man). But she says that you have to remember that you are still living in a third world country.

“Many people in Indonesia, including Bali live in third world conditions – but there are a lot of positives including the weather, food, people, and culture,” Carol explained.

Seven years ago Carol went to Bali to write her fist book The Force of Divorce. Since then she has lived in Bali every January and July/August.

Carol fell in love with the ‘island of the gods’.“I went to unwind and to paint and get

inspiration for design and creativity. From the first time I visited I thought I would either retire, or spend significant time, in Bali,” Carol stated.

The Force of Divorce – is a book about surviving any traumatic experience and Carol candidly tells her story while offering advice regarding the stages experienced while dealing with such difficulties.

The Divorce Survival Kit is $120 and represent expert advice from the following ten experts involved in the divorce process: psychologist / life & business coach, solicitor, careers advisor,

F E AT U R E

To contact Carol Mitchell in relation to her books, artwork – or even to rent a room in her Balinese villa, visit the following website:www.carolmitchell.com.au

Taking a gap year at 50By Tim Benson

financial planner, mortgage broker, insurance broker, real estate agent, lifeline Canberra, remedial and relaxation therapist and an image consultant.

Carol is serious about this ‘gap year’ and has sold most of her possessions and her networking business, ENERGY Networking.

ENERGY Networking is an interactive business forum that provides the opportunity for personal and professional development in a genuine and supportive environment.

“I have sold ENERGY Networking to Michelle Kroll the Photographer in the group. I highly recommend anyone interested in networking to join this inspiring group of business people. ENERGY Networking is a great way to grow your business, build confidence and develop networking skills,” Carol said.

Carol is also an established artist. Carol Mitchell originals are in homes all over the world. She has been commissioned to paint for people as close as Perth and as far away as Germany. Carol’s variety of work is vast and depicts her colourful lifestyle. There is something for everyone.

BESPOKE Gallery in Phillip displays many of Carol’s paintings. And Carol is offering her all her paintings displayed at BESPOKE at 1/2 price until Christmas. Great time to buy original art for the office or home.

If you would like a beautiful original artwork from a Canberra artist, for a very reasonable price then go to www.carolmitchell.com.au and have a look at some the works.

So, back to the book: ‘Taking a Gap Year at 50’“It will be about the things that happen to me in

Bali. This book, while still being inspiring, will be a lot of fun. My adventures have already been interesting to say the least. I am looking forward to writing the rest over the next year,” Carol outlined.

According to Carol it will be a story encouraging people to do what makes them

happy, discouraging them from putting things off, and mostly importantly a big fat reminder that life ‘is too short to waste’.

“I love Canberra’s seasons, and I believe it is the perfect place to bring up children, but Bali is calling me and I don’t know why – read the book,” Carol concluded.


F E AT U R E

Aubade & Noct� neMusic of

Sally Greenaway

What a hidden treasure is Canberra’s outstanding young composer Sally Greenaway! She is an ANU School of Music graduate and

recipient of a scholarship to study composition at the Royal College of Music in London. She is a winner of the APRA JazzGroove Mothership Orchestra National Big Band Composition Competition, has secured the Canberra International Music Festival Young Composer Award and was a finalist in the Seattle Woman’s Jazz Orchestra Composition Contest. She has just been granted a residency at the Melbourne Recital Centre thanks to the Myer Foundation where her commission in 2016 will see a new 30 minute work come to fruition.

Her CD release, Aubade and Nocturne, is amazingly beautiful in every respect and supplies a wonderful chronology of the current works of this gifted writer. The CD package itself is a quality work of art with its embossed hard cover, magnificent photographs by 6 talented artists and 24 glossy pages of informative and interesting background including poetry which provided musical inspiration.

The music contained within is sublime with 16 stylistically varied tracks capturing atmosphere and imagery in a gentle, peaceful and always pleasing manner. Many of Canberra’s finest professional musicians are featured with the musical combinations utilised to realise Sally’s works ranging from solo harp or piano through duets and chamber groups to symphony and wind orchestras. The playing throughout, in all musical combinations, is superb, with excellent balance, faultless intonation, precise technical control and masterful understanding and interpretation of style. For this recording Sally was meticulous in engaging a wide range of players, each carefully selected for their individual ability to “not be slaves or servants to her score but to be creative partners”. She requested all players to take ownership of their parts and, perhaps due to her jazz background, to “improvise within boundaries”

Aurora Musis Amica, played by a 20 piece wind orchestra, sets the scene for much of the album with a reflective aural interpretation of dawn. Balloons float peacefully in the early morning sky and the flutes of Vernon Hill and

Teresa Rabe conjure images of little birds flying quietly alongside the balloons. It is very easy to drift away with the gentle sound. The work was commissioned by the combined Canberra Grammar Schools and demonstrates a clever ability to write for available instrumental resources yet be challenging both musically and in an education sense.

A haunting oboe from London’s Royal College of Music Symphony Orchestra introduces The Blue Mountains with a lovely melody interpreting more early morning imagery before lush full orchestral writing creates a beautiful picture of quiet mountains reaching into a cloudy sky.

Three lyrical, rather than spoken, pieces are Poems where recitation is delivered by the cello of Gillian Pereira who maintains the serene atmosphere during the short movements with Sally herself providing sympathetic piano accompaniment. There is an urgent rising of musical emotion during the second poem before calmness returns, whilst the third piece has a simplistic beauty reminiscent of The Swan. It is interesting to note that study, discussion and analysis of Poems is currently part of the curriculum for 3rd year Australian Music Unit students at Monash University. Sally ultimately aims to enhance the available study material by completing a set of up to 100 musical poems.

Sally’s ability to paint a vivid musical picture is particularly evident as a 17 piece Canberra chamber orchestra explores sounds in a forest in Elk Branches. Shimmering strings seem to alert an elk as undergrowth starts to rustle then fear and tension pervade as an intruder seemingly approaches via heaving brass and percussion. Tension fades and tranquillity soon returns.

Sally wrote lyrics and music for Stay Awhile, a work for chamber choir. It features a gorgeous flowing melodic line with tight harmonic accompaniment and is sung particularly well by the 8 piece Luminescence Chamber Choir, another fine group of talented Canberra musicians. Her inspiration came from a member of Canberra’s Rhythm Syndicate who was devastated when illness overtook her parents. Sally decided to compose, as a healing gift, an Australian - like You Raise Me Up. It was ultimately premiered by the Woden Valley Youth Choir and is now regularly by performed by many community choirs at eisteddfod competition throughout Australia.

Three solo works, Dawn of Evening, Etude in F Minor and Liena, follow. All are quite

contrasting in style but maintain the established feeling of peaceful serenity. An interesting story surrounds Dawn of Evening, the first piece written by Sally after the purchase of a grand piano. Her bedroom in her parent’s home was too small to house both bed and piano but Sally was desperate to advance her performance standard to the next level so out went the bed and Sally slept for a year on a mattress under her beloved piano. The Etude was written for the Chopin International Piano Competition at the ANU School of Music. The competition did not proceed due to the sad restructure at the School at that time but outstanding pianist Anthony Smith has ensured preservation of the work. Liena was written for, and is performed by, Liena Lacey. It is a study in jazz style, a rare commodity in repertoire for the harp!

The chamber choir returns for Skylark, not the well known jazz standard, but a delightful setting to lyrics from the mid 19th Century. Sally’s recent film scoring background (she has composed over 20 soundtracks) is evident in an excerpt from Fantasia, a piece for clarinet quartet

and piano which was written in 2011 specifically for four outstandingly gifted clarinet students at Canberra Boys Grammar School. It cheekily hints at Pirates of the Caribbean, Dr Who and Mozart’s famed Clarinet Concert. Of interest, all of those original players have progressed into professional music

careers. The Feud Suite was indeed originally commissioned for a film and was written while Sally was studying in London. It was adapted to a concert version for this CD and features Louise Page as both soprano soloist and narrator along with a string quartet and piano. Both works are performed wonderfully well with adventure into exciting driving rhythms temporarily replacing serenity.

The album ends with three jazz tracks which demonstrate that musical imagery is certainly as possible in jazz style as it is in the classical genre. Flywheel is delicate, yet most inventive, for the instruments of a jazz piano trio whilst the Latin influenced At the Start of the Day is rhythmically fascinating as it builds through an extended piano solo. Sally plays a subtle melodic line in Encore de Lirico, originally one of her guitar works, to bring the album to a most satisfying close.

This CD is a marvellous collection of very good music written by a talented Canberra composer and played with sensitivity and surety by a wonderful array of primarily Canberra musicians. It deserves to be a prized item for fine music collectors and is highly recommended.

Aubade and Nocturne, is

amazingly beautiful in every respect ...

Reviewed by Ian McLean

F E AT U R E

Painting: Anne HindPhoto: Ivor Hind

Contact Sally Greenaway:0402 955 [email protected]

F E AT U R E

Painting: Anne HindPhoto: Ivor Hind

Contact Sally Greenaway:0402 955 [email protected]



A lot of business owners when asked what they think of superannuation will remark ‘my business is my super fund’. However what happens when their business is sold?

When a business is sold, generally there will be a substantial lump sum that the vendor may need advice on. If the intent is to retire, you are over 55 and certain criteria are met, you may be able to reduce or eliminate any Capital Gains Tax arising from the business sale.

There are certain tests and criteria a small business owner must meet to enable a gain from the sale of a business asset to be CGT free. These need to be worked through with your accountant and once this has been determined, a financial planner can assist with your investment decisions and what ownership structure may provide the best benefit.

Superannuation is a clear choice with potentially no tax payable once a pension has been established. However careful planning is required to maximise the amount of money that can be contributed tax free into the superannuation environment. Most individuals can contribute up to $180,000 in any one financial year to a complying super fund or if under age 65, they might take advantage of the ‘bring forward rule’ and contribute up to $540,000 in a given financial year.

However clients may ask – can I contribute more to superannuation from the sale of my business?

In some cases small business owners may be able to contribute up to $1,395,000 to super, for example, where the sale of an asset qualifies for the 15 year exemption rule. What is often little known is that when using this cap the funds do not have to be eligible capital gains from the sale of a business. Monies contributed simply can be sale proceeds from a business whether there is CGT associated with the sale or not (including pre CGT assets). Usually any asset sold that is inherently connected with the running of the business will qualify and you should rely on your accountant to provide specific advice in this area.

A further benefit for small business owners who are over age of 65 is that they can still make use of their lifetime CGT cap and elect to contribute to superannuation (where they have met the work test) and this does not count towards their non concessional $180,000 limit. Hence they might be able to contribute up to $1,395,000 from their sale proceeds to superannuation tax free and once they commence a pension also receive a regular tax free income stream.

With appropriate advice from your accountant and financial planner, this strategy can potentially deliver a more successful move into retirement with full access to your funds via a tax free pension or lump sum. If this is the case, you may be able to truly say that your ‘business still is your super fund’.

This article has been prepared by RSM Financial Services Australia Pty Ltd ABN 22 009 176 354, AFS Licence No. 238282. This article does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. You should assess whether the information is appropriate for you and consider talking to a financial adviser before making an investment decision.

ACCOUNTING

For further information, please contact Lindsay Walker CFP®, RSM Financial Services Australia P/L on 02 6217 0337 or email [email protected].

by Lindsay Walker

Maximising super on the sale of your business

Welcome to a $1,000,000,000,000 industry

STRATA MANAGEMENT

For further information, please contact Chris Miller, General Manager M 0400 376 208F 02 6239 5711 The Griffin, Corner Giles & Jardine Streets, Kingston PO Box 5044, Kingston ACT 2604.

I am pleased to commence contributing a column on strata management for B2B magazine. However, before jumping in, it is important that we all address the elephant in the room – the fact that far too many people in Canberra have had poor experiences with their strata managers.

During my 10 years as a professional within the property industry, spanning strata management, commercial sales, leasing and consulting, I have always maintained a strong link to my strata roots.

I have long held the view that the strata industry has only itself to blame for its current reputation, and I have made no secret of my belief that there is a better way to deliver high quality strata management services to a market, which is screaming out for it. Finally, the time has come for me to put my money where my mouth is.

Vantage Strata is the result of a long collaboration over many years between Paul Powderly & Rupert Cullen (Colliers), Peter Maloney (Maloney’s Real Estate) and myself. At various points we have all shared in the same frustrations in relation to the state of strata management in Canberra, however more importantly we also shared the same optimism about the potential for the future of strata in our national capital (and beyond).

It is this optimism which has brought us together and I do not speak with hyperbole when I say that our mission is to do nothing short of re writing the book on strata and building management in Canberra.

Over the coming months I will be sharing with readers of B2B many insights into the often misunderstood landscape of strata. The aim is to pull down the curtain shades and articulate just why strata is one of the most dynamic and exciting industries in property, presenting almost limitless opportunities for all who participate. Hopefully in the process I can also shed some light on how our industry needs to forge ahead to shake off the shackles of past (and current) perceptions.

I recently presented at the Strata Community Australia (ACT) Annual Awards. Preparing for this event gave me pause to reflect on some salient facts about the strata industry. For example, in the not too distant future strata titled properties will account for 50% of all residential dwellings.

As of the current day strata assets in Australia top $1,000,000,000,000 (one trillion dollars). No matter how many times I read or hear some of these statistics I am simply blown away, and it becomes easy to understand the depth of opportunity that this presents for professionals across many sectors.

As a new contributor to this publication I am excited to share my passion and hopefully win a few of you over along the way.

By Chris Miller

In the not too distant future strata titled properties will account for 50% of all residential dwellings.

ADVICE

ACCOUNTING 23 Maximising super on the sale of your businessby Lindsay Walker, RSM

STRATA MANAGEMENT 23 Welcome to a $1,000,000,000,000 industryby Chris Miller, Vantage Strata

BOOKKEEPING 24Essential tasks at end of calendar year and the challenge of holiday moodby Harry Hoang, Tailored Accounts

BUSINESS LAW 24 Evergreen: Christmas comes early for contract renewalsby Mark Love, Bradley Allen Love Lawyers

BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY 25 It’s easy to save energy costs in your businessBy Andrew Bell, Actsmart business recycling. energy. water

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 26 Good governance driving performanceby Phil Butler, Australian Institute of Company Directors

ENTERTAINMENT 26 It is not too lateby Peter Funnell, Peter Funnell Entertainment

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 28 Privacy law updateby Shaun Creighton, Arete Group

FAMILY LAW 28 The risks of informal property settlementsby Juliet Behrens, Dobinson Davey Clifford Simpson Lawyers

RECRUITMENT 29Jobseekers, it’s not okay to connect with your interviewer on LinkedInby Jim Roy, Hays Recruitment experts worldwide

SPORT 29Social media and sport:A winning mixby Paul Smith, YABBA.guru

WEBSITES 30 Forget clicks - Attention is the new currencyby Sam Gupta, Synapse Worldwide


A lot of business owners when asked what they think of superannuation will remark ‘my business is my super fund’. However what happens when their business is sold?

When a business is sold, generally there will be a substantial lump sum that the vendor may need advice on. If the intent is to retire, you are over 55 and certain criteria are met, you may be able to reduce or eliminate any Capital Gains Tax arising from the business sale.

There are certain tests and criteria a small business owner must meet to enable a gain from the sale of a business asset to be CGT free. These need to be worked through with your accountant and once this has been determined, a financial planner can assist with your investment decisions and what ownership structure may provide the best benefit.

Superannuation is a clear choice with potentially no tax payable once a pension has been established. However careful planning is required to maximise the amount of money that can be contributed tax free into the superannuation environment. Most individuals can contribute up to $180,000 in any one financial year to a complying super fund or if under age 65, they might take advantage of the ‘bring forward rule’ and contribute up to $540,000 in a given financial year.

However clients may ask – can I contribute more to superannuation from the sale of my business?

In some cases small business owners may be able to contribute up to $1,395,000 to super, for example, where the sale of an asset qualifies for the 15 year exemption rule. What is often little known is that when using this cap the funds do not have to be eligible capital gains from the sale of a business. Monies contributed simply can be sale proceeds from a business whether there is CGT associated with the sale or not (including pre CGT assets). Usually any asset sold that is inherently connected with the running of the business will qualify and you should rely on your accountant to provide specific advice in this area.

A further benefit for small business owners who are over age of 65 is that they can still make use of their lifetime CGT cap and elect to contribute to superannuation (where they have met the work test) and this does not count towards their non concessional $180,000 limit. Hence they might be able to contribute up to $1,395,000 from their sale proceeds to superannuation tax free and once they commence a pension also receive a regular tax free income stream.

With appropriate advice from your accountant and financial planner, this strategy can potentially deliver a more successful move into retirement with full access to your funds via a tax free pension or lump sum. If this is the case, you may be able to truly say that your ‘business still is your super fund’.

This article has been prepared by RSM Financial Services Australia Pty Ltd ABN 22 009 176 354, AFS Licence No. 238282. This article does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. You should assess whether the information is appropriate for you and consider talking to a financial adviser before making an investment decision.

ACCOUNTING

For further information, please contact Lindsay Walker CFP®, RSM Financial Services Australia P/L on 02 6217 0337 or email [email protected].

by Lindsay Walker

Maximising super on the sale of your business

Welcome to a $1,000,000,000,000 industry

STRATA MANAGEMENT

For further information, please contact Chris Miller, General Manager M 0400 376 208F 02 6239 5711 The Griffin, Corner Giles & Jardine Streets, Kingston PO Box 5044, Kingston ACT 2604.

I am pleased to commence contributing a column on strata management for B2B magazine. However, before jumping in, it is important that we all address the elephant in the room – the fact that far too many people in Canberra have had poor experiences with their strata managers.

During my 10 years as a professional within the property industry, spanning strata management, commercial sales, leasing and consulting, I have always maintained a strong link to my strata roots.

I have long held the view that the strata industry has only itself to blame for its current reputation, and I have made no secret of my belief that there is a better way to deliver high quality strata management services to a market, which is screaming out for it. Finally, the time has come for me to put my money where my mouth is.

Vantage Strata is the result of a long collaboration over many years between Paul Powderly & Rupert Cullen (Colliers), Peter Maloney (Maloney’s Real Estate) and myself. At various points we have all shared in the same frustrations in relation to the state of strata management in Canberra, however more importantly we also shared the same optimism about the potential for the future of strata in our national capital (and beyond).

It is this optimism which has brought us together and I do not speak with hyperbole when I say that our mission is to do nothing short of re writing the book on strata and building management in Canberra.

Over the coming months I will be sharing with readers of B2B many insights into the often misunderstood landscape of strata. The aim is to pull down the curtain shades and articulate just why strata is one of the most dynamic and exciting industries in property, presenting almost limitless opportunities for all who participate. Hopefully in the process I can also shed some light on how our industry needs to forge ahead to shake off the shackles of past (and current) perceptions.

I recently presented at the Strata Community Australia (ACT) Annual Awards. Preparing for this event gave me pause to reflect on some salient facts about the strata industry. For example, in the not too distant future strata titled properties will account for 50% of all residential dwellings.

As of the current day strata assets in Australia top $1,000,000,000,000 (one trillion dollars). No matter how many times I read or hear some of these statistics I am simply blown away, and it becomes easy to understand the depth of opportunity that this presents for professionals across many sectors.

As a new contributor to this publication I am excited to share my passion and hopefully win a few of you over along the way.

By Chris Miller

In the not too distant future strata titled properties will account for 50% of all residential dwellings.


Essential tasks at end of calendar year and the challenge of holiday mood

By Harry Hoang

Harry Hoang is Tailored Accounts Executive DirectorM3 Building, Level 1, Suite 127, 24 Lonsdale Street, Braddon ACT 2612 AustraliaT: 02 6169 5196 | M: 0434 196 607 E: [email protected] | www.tailoredaccounts.com.au

Here are a few tips to get all bookkeeping tasks lined up for the year-end festive season:1. Payroll: Payroll mistakes are most common during holiday seasons as

some business owners are left to process payroll manually when their bookkeepers or accountants have gone away. To avoid payroll mistakes:

• Get your staff to apply for leave in advance, so you can get your bookkeeper to make scheduled payments when they go away;

• Prepare a payment schedule leading up to the festive period. If something happens, you can still log in to your account and adjust the payment;

• For unusual transactions, consult your payroll expert to avoid unnecessary legal involvement.

2. Accounts receivable: If you don’t manage your cash flow well during the festive season, you may find yourself having insufficient funds in your bank account. To avoid such a situation:

• Don’t send invoices on 31st December as they will not be paid by 28th February, especially if you have recurring income. Issue your invoices by 10th December and attach a personal letter with the invoices to explain that you are trying to help organise payments;

• If your clients have debt that is 60+ days overdue, advise them to pay off the debt using credit card (waive credit card surcharge) or offer them a 5% discount for the amount of outstanding debt;

• Make sure your cash reserve is sufficient to cover your employees’ salaries for at least two months.

3. Accounts payable: The relationships you build with your suppliers are key to your business’ success. To keep your suppliers happy:

• Send a polite letter to all your suppliers and request them to send you bills before 10th December. All bills received after 10th December will be paid after the festive season. This practice also assists your bookkeeper to plan ahead for creditor payments;

• Don’t pay 20 days before the payment due date, use the automated scheduled payment function instead;

• Negotiate with your key suppliers a payment plan, such as paying through credit card to hold your cash for an extra 30 days;

• Prepare for large payments right after the holiday period, make sure you have those items in your cash flow forecasts.

You want to start the new year with lots of positive energy and confidence to have a smooth year ahead. Here at Tailored Accounts, our team of experienced bookkeepers and accountants can step in to provide support when your bookkeepers or accountants are away. Call us at 02 6169 5196 for more information.

BOOKKEEPING

Evergreen: Christmas comes early for contract renewals

BUSINESS LAW

Evergreen contracts; often called automatic renewal clauses, they operate to automatically extend existing contracts for additional time, with silence or inaction deemed to be consent. Often appearing in the service industry, what once seemed a convenience can turn into a hidden liability for small businesses when they look to negotiate a new contract or terminate their existing agreement.

So how do they work? An example of an evergreen contract clause would be:

This agreement will automatically renew at the end of each Term for a subsequent period of the same length unless either party gives the other written notice of the termination not less than 30 days prior to expiration of the then-current Term.

Renewal clauses can have advantages; they provide continuity and reduce the administrative burden associated with contract renewals and negotiations. That said, the risks can often outweigh the positives.

If the appropriate termination notice is not given within the required period, which is easily overlooked, then you are locked into the contract for another term, possibly a year or more. This can be a powerful deterrent against contract parties shopping around for a better offer or more competitive services, in circumstances where attempts at early termination could put them in.

Unlike in the United States, there is currently nothing in the Australian legal framework to prevent the enforcement of automatic renewal clauses. However, the recent passage of the treasury Legislation Amendment (Small Business and Unfair Contract Terms) Bill 2015 through the Senate signals a change. The Bill extends existing consumer protections against unfair contract terms to small businesses with under 20 employees, where the standard form contract and value thresholds are met. The Bill, slated to take effect in early in 2016, could offer some statutory protection against evergreen clauses.

In the meantime, there are some strategies you can take to limit the effect of existing or proposed evergreen clauses:• put in place arrangements to remind you of any looming notice periods,

so you don’t miss an opportunity to terminate;• consider whether you can insert a shorter renewal term into the

contract, or it can be varied by agreement to a fixed-term arrangement; • insert additional clauses making the automatic renewal clause

contingent on your service provider giving you written notification of the upcoming termination window.Pending statutory protections, it’s important for small business to

keep an eye out for these clauses in order to avoid getting locked into contracts they don’t need. Similarly, providers relying on these clauses in their customer arrangements should revisit their terms as legislative change looms large, to ensure they don’t fall foul of the new restrictions.

by Mark Love

Mark Love, Legal Director, Business Law9th Floor, Canberra House, 40 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra ACT 2601 E: [email protected]: 02 6274 0810 | www.bradleyallenlove.com.au

It’s easy to save energy costs in your business

For more information contact Actsmart onPhone: 13 22 81 or Email: [email protected] 2 North, Dame Pattie Menzies House,16 Challis Street Dickson ACT 2602

BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY

Saving money by reducing energy use in your business has never been easier, with free assistance available from the ACT Government’s Actsmart Business Energy and Water program.

Experienced Actsmart assessors can identify opportunities for savings that could otherwise be missed, including large savings with short payback times. A visit by an Actsmart staff member to your business makes the process simple, as many Canberra small businesses have found out. The program is available to eligible ACT businesses and includes a rebate to assist with upgrade costs to more energy or water efficient fittings.

Here are just a few examples of what some businesses have achieved:

• Through upgrading old lighting fittings to new LED lights, Dymocks Belconnen have saved a massive 45% off electricity bills since June 2014. Business co-owner Andrew Whittley said, “Not only have our bills come down by almost half, the light quality is so much better and provides our customers with a better in-store experience.” With the Actsmart Business Program rebate of $5000, the payback time for the upgrade is less than 18 months.

• When renovating, the Cheeky Chicken Early Learning Centre approached the Actsmart Business team for advice on how they could reduce their energy and water consumption. Actsmart staff identified replacing the old heating systems with modern heat pump (reverse cycle) units, upgrading the hot water unit with a heat pump hot water system, and swapping out poor quality bathroom fittings with efficient water fittings. Implementing the recommendations has led to fantastic savings on energy and water usage, and won two award categories at the 2015 Actsmart Business Sustainability Awards.

• After years of maintaining their cafe kitchen refrigeration compressor “just to keep it running”, Cockington Green upgraded their compressor with a new efficient system, with the Actsmart Business Program rebating half the cost. General Manager Mark Sarah said, “With the reliability that comes with a new unit we now have confidence the cool room will perform over the hot summer months. We save over $600 per year in electricity consumption, with more savings from eliminating repair callout fees. It has given us great peace of mind coming into the busy summer period.”

• See many more success stories about ACT businesses reducing their energy and water usage at the Actsmart sustainability hub actsmart.act.gov.au You can also find us on Facebook at Actsmart – Canberra or follow

us on Twitter @SustainableCBR for information on programs and resources available for your business.

Actsmart – helping your business make the change for a sustainable future.

By Andrew Bell

Contact:0403 317 [email protected]

att Farrah, Simon Rees and Ant Moore, three mates from

the University of Canberra, dream to make the best Marlborough New Zealand wines for the Canberra market has been achieved. With legendary winemaker Ant Moore at the helm, his unconventional winemaking techniques have brought out unique characters of the fruit and terroir, on 100 acres in Marlborough, to make Pear Tree crafted wines.

From the plains of

Marlborough to your next special event.

If you are in a liquor outlet

looking for a great Marlborough wine, try a Pear Tree and help support local

wine business Rogue Wines.

P E A R T R E E

kasr

a.co

m.a

u 01

26

Essential tasks at end of calendar year and the challenge of holiday mood

By Harry Hoang

Harry Hoang is Tailored Accounts Executive DirectorM3 Building, Level 1, Suite 127, 24 Lonsdale Street, Braddon ACT 2612 AustraliaT: 02 6169 5196 | M: 0434 196 607 E: [email protected] | www.tailoredaccounts.com.au

Here are a few tips to get all bookkeeping tasks lined up for the year-end festive season:1. Payroll: Payroll mistakes are most common during holiday seasons as

some business owners are left to process payroll manually when their bookkeepers or accountants have gone away. To avoid payroll mistakes:

• Get your staff to apply for leave in advance, so you can get your bookkeeper to make scheduled payments when they go away;

• Prepare a payment schedule leading up to the festive period. If something happens, you can still log in to your account and adjust the payment;

• For unusual transactions, consult your payroll expert to avoid unnecessary legal involvement.

2. Accounts receivable: If you don’t manage your cash flow well during the festive season, you may find yourself having insufficient funds in your bank account. To avoid such a situation:

• Don’t send invoices on 31st December as they will not be paid by 28th February, especially if you have recurring income. Issue your invoices by 10th December and attach a personal letter with the invoices to explain that you are trying to help organise payments;

• If your clients have debt that is 60+ days overdue, advise them to pay off the debt using credit card (waive credit card surcharge) or offer them a 5% discount for the amount of outstanding debt;

• Make sure your cash reserve is sufficient to cover your employees’ salaries for at least two months.

3. Accounts payable: The relationships you build with your suppliers are key to your business’ success. To keep your suppliers happy:

• Send a polite letter to all your suppliers and request them to send you bills before 10th December. All bills received after 10th December will be paid after the festive season. This practice also assists your bookkeeper to plan ahead for creditor payments;

• Don’t pay 20 days before the payment due date, use the automated scheduled payment function instead;

• Negotiate with your key suppliers a payment plan, such as paying through credit card to hold your cash for an extra 30 days;

• Prepare for large payments right after the holiday period, make sure you have those items in your cash flow forecasts.

You want to start the new year with lots of positive energy and confidence to have a smooth year ahead. Here at Tailored Accounts, our team of experienced bookkeepers and accountants can step in to provide support when your bookkeepers or accountants are away. Call us at 02 6169 5196 for more information.

BOOKKEEPING

Evergreen: Christmas comes early for contract renewals

BUSINESS LAW

Evergreen contracts; often called automatic renewal clauses, they operate to automatically extend existing contracts for additional time, with silence or inaction deemed to be consent. Often appearing in the service industry, what once seemed a convenience can turn into a hidden liability for small businesses when they look to negotiate a new contract or terminate their existing agreement.

So how do they work? An example of an evergreen contract clause would be:

This agreement will automatically renew at the end of each Term for a subsequent period of the same length unless either party gives the other written notice of the termination not less than 30 days prior to expiration of the then-current Term.

Renewal clauses can have advantages; they provide continuity and reduce the administrative burden associated with contract renewals and negotiations. That said, the risks can often outweigh the positives.

If the appropriate termination notice is not given within the required period, which is easily overlooked, then you are locked into the contract for another term, possibly a year or more. This can be a powerful deterrent against contract parties shopping around for a better offer or more competitive services, in circumstances where attempts at early termination could put them in.

Unlike in the United States, there is currently nothing in the Australian legal framework to prevent the enforcement of automatic renewal clauses. However, the recent passage of the treasury Legislation Amendment (Small Business and Unfair Contract Terms) Bill 2015 through the Senate signals a change. The Bill extends existing consumer protections against unfair contract terms to small businesses with under 20 employees, where the standard form contract and value thresholds are met. The Bill, slated to take effect in early in 2016, could offer some statutory protection against evergreen clauses.

In the meantime, there are some strategies you can take to limit the effect of existing or proposed evergreen clauses:• put in place arrangements to remind you of any looming notice periods,

so you don’t miss an opportunity to terminate;• consider whether you can insert a shorter renewal term into the

contract, or it can be varied by agreement to a fixed-term arrangement; • insert additional clauses making the automatic renewal clause

contingent on your service provider giving you written notification of the upcoming termination window.Pending statutory protections, it’s important for small business to

keep an eye out for these clauses in order to avoid getting locked into contracts they don’t need. Similarly, providers relying on these clauses in their customer arrangements should revisit their terms as legislative change looms large, to ensure they don’t fall foul of the new restrictions.

by Mark Love

Mark Love, Legal Director, Business Law9th Floor, Canberra House, 40 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra ACT 2601 E: [email protected]: 02 6274 0810 | www.bradleyallenlove.com.au


It is not too late

ENTERTAINMENT

Christmas and New Years Eve are times for celebration but who will be your entertainment to make your party the most memorable?

A band, a comedian, magician or solo performer?

Smooth Ops are one of the regions most popular bands with a repertoire of modern covers and golden oldies, guaranteed to have your guests dancing in the isles.

Tuchasoul have been impressing audiences all over the country with their brand of acoustic soul. Their versatility covers different genres including Jazz, Rock, Pop, Classical and R’n’B.

by Peter Funnell

Peter Funnell’s knowledge and experience in servicing the Canberra region has no peer.Corporate and government events, conventions, seminars, outdoor festivals, private functions, and entertainment to meet your requirements perfectly.

Go to www.funnellentertainment.com.au | Email: [email protected] Phone: 02 6251 5452 | Mobile: 0412 620 310

Tony Haley

SOCIALITES, are a new band to the Canberra music scene. SOCIALITES are the band you want when you desire a complete professional and above all, entertaining act.

For something different, we recommend Phillip Bevan. One of Australia’s most versatile and entertaining roving magicians.

Another option is the fabulously entertaining Tony Haley, with his smooth professional style, this one man band will be the life of your next party.

Our office will assist you with the right entertainment for your needs and budget.

Every performer is personally auditioned to ensure they are of a quality worthy of your event.

Don’t allow your special event to be the one everybody is talking about for all the wrong reasons.

Make your Christmas or NYE Party the talk of the town and call us today.

Good governance driving performance

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

by Phil Butler

Over the years I have written many columns for B2B on how good corporate governance can greatly improve an organisation’s performance. So often, however, this is viewed as being for the big end of town, however, a recent article, on the AICD’s Business Owner portal, was a timely reminder of how governance can assist businesses of all types and sizes.

The article focuses on the family business which operates the Beerenberg brand of sauces, chutneys and relishes etc. the company turns over about $20 million per year and has 60 full time staff. Anthony Paech, who along with his siblings, operates the business reflects that:

“In family businesses, it’s important that you all get along and have systems in place to manage the various generations,” he says. “You have to be able to separate ownership from management. A lot of families don’t do that very well. They also don’t deal very well with succession. I did the Company Directors Course three years ago and it really opened up a whole world of governance. It made me realise how important governance was and that we needed to improve.”

Beerenberg’s family board, consisting of Paech, his mother and siblings, and usually conducts its board meetings informally around the kitchen table. But it plans to set up an advisory board later this year.

“As a managing director, you need an independent bunch of people who can give you a reality check on your thinking and a chairman to motivate you to think bigger and to be like a coach. You cannot coach yourself to success.”

On expanding the business, Paech says, “We realised that to grow we need to innovate and to bring new products to market. So when you go to a customer, you don’t go empty-handed. You take two new products and give the buyer a reason to have the conversation. We aim to have four new products each year.”

On the next part of his governance journey, Paech says, “Growing a business from small to medium-size is difficult. There are structures that need to be put in place which add to overheads and don’t feel like they have any immediate benefit.

Corporate governance is a critical part of growth, particularly in a family-owned business. You have to find a balance between the growth of bureaucratic procedures and the freedom to create and experiment.”

This is a great insight into corporate governance helping a family business grow and prosper. For further details including a full transcript of the article go to aicd.com.au.

Phil Butler is Manager - NFP, Public Sector & ACT at the Australian Institute of Company Directors.Level 3 54 Marcus Clarke Street CanberraT: 02 6132 3200 | www.companydirectors.com.au

“As a managing director, you need an independent bunch of people who can give you a reality check on your thinking and a chairman to motivate you to think bigger and to be like a coach. You cannot coach yourself to success.”

SE ASON 2016

Chief Conductor and Artistic Director Nicholas Milton celebrating his

tenth year with the CSO.

The ActewAGL Llewellyn Series exemplifies the breadth of human emotion and experience, while the Saturday Series

features diverse programs with popular appeal.

/canberrasymphonyorchestracso.org.au

ACTEWAGL LLEWELLYN SERIES

6 & 7 April/01 MOZARTBenjamin Northey Conductor Virginia Taylor Flute MOZART: Symphony No. 31 in D major—ParisJONATHAN DOVE: The Magic Flute Dances—Concerto for Flute and Orchestra NIGEL WESTLAKE: Out of the BlueTCHAIKOVSKY: Suite No. 4 in G major—Mozartiana

11 & 12 May /02 BEETHOVEN Stephen Mould Conductor Soloists from Opera Australia NIGEL WESTLAKE: Cudmirrah FanfareSCHUBERT: Symphony No. 7 in B minor—UnfinishedBEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 9 in D minor

17 & 18 August /03 DVOŘÁKNicholas Milton Conductor Artistic patronage ActewAGL

Indira Koch Violin Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt Cello

WEBER Der Freischütz—OvertureBRAHMS Double Concerto for Violin and Cello in A minor DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 7 in D minor

2 & 3 November /04 TCHAIKOVSKYNicholas Milton Conductor Artistic patronage ActewAGL

Kristian Chong Piano NIGEL WESTLAKE Shimmering BlueRACHMANINOV Rhapsody on a Theme of PaganiniTCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4 in F minor

SATURDAY SERIES

Saturday 20 February /01 SHELL PROM PICNIC CONCERT With support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

5.00pm, Grounds of Government House. Gates open at 3.45pmMarc Taddei Conductor Alan Vivian Clarinet

Saturday 2 July/02 ICON WATER OPERA GALAIn collaboration with Opera Australia

7.30pm, Llewellyn Hall, ANUStanley Dodds Conductor Soloists from Opera Australia

Saturday 8 October/03 CANBERRA WEEKLY MATINEE MAGIC BEATLES IN SYMPHONY Saturday 8 October2.00pm, Llewellyn Hall, ANUGuy Noble Conductor

@cbr_symphonyCSO Direct (ticketing) 6262 6772

B2B_2016_FA.indd 1 6/11/2015 11:26 am


The risks of informal property settlements

Privacy law update

FAMILY LAWINTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

It may be tempting when you separate simply to sell up and divide what you have. Sometimes people enter into what we refer to as an interim (temporary) agreement to divide some of what they have (for example, the proceeds of sale of a matrimonial home) and deal with other matters (for example, superannuation) later.

There are risks of both final and interim informal arrangements.

Final settlementsThe risks of entering into informal final settlements (that is, without

Consent Orders or a Binding Financial Agreement (BFA) properly entered into under the Family Law Act) are:1. An agreement which is not properly formalised is not binding, and

cannot be enforced.2. Your former partner may make a claim under the Act later. There are

limitation periods but a former partner can apply for leave out of time. We have dealt with cases where leave has been granted to start proceedings 12 years or more after the limitation period has expired.

3. The assets and liabilities which you build up following separation will be taken into account in later proceedings.

4. You cannot split superannuation informally.5. Duties and taxes may be payable unless transfers are done under Orders

or a BFA.

Interim settlementsWhile the risks above are relatively well understood, people are generally

less aware that there are also risks of interim settlements:1. If you distribute funds (for example, the proceeds of sale of a home),

it may be difficult to get your former partner to engage in further negotiations (for example, to divide superannuation). You may end up having to start Court proceedings to get a fair outcome.

2. Your former partner may spend some or all of what they receive, and this will not necessarily be taken into account in the final property settlement.

3. You may divide assets between you in a way which does not reflect a fair outcome and it may be harder to achieve a better outcome if you have an informal “agreement”.When you separate both of you will usually need some funds until you

are able to reach a property settlement. Decisions to release and share significant funds on an interim basis should be made carefully, and legal advice is recommended. If a house is to be sold prior to a formal property settlement then it is usually recommended that the proceeds be held in a secure way until the final property settlement is formalised.

The Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) became part of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act) on 12 March 2014.

The APPs generally apply to governmental agencies, individuals, and companies that are not a small business operators or registered political parties. The small business operator exception applies where annual turnover for the previous F/Y (or current for new businesses) was $3 million or less. In this article, we provide a summary of recent cases which may be of interest..

Access to personal information: Ben Grubb and Telstra Corporation Limited [2015] AICmr 35

When requested, Telstra refused access to ‘metadata’ collected in relation to the individual’s Telstra mobile phone service including cell tower logs, usage details, duration of usage, and websites visited. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OIAC) found Telstra breached their obligation to provide access to personal information held about the individual unless an exception applied and was ordered to provide the information requested at no cost within 30 days, except for information which unreasonably impacted the privacy of others (inbound call numbers). Metadata that companies collect, including statistical information (Google Adwords or Analytics) must generally be available to individuals upon request, unless an exception applies.

Inadvertent disclosure: ‘EQ’ and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority [2015] AICmr 11

A government agency inadvertently included the name of an individual being investigated, the type of activity and other details of the case that led to a journalist researching and identifying significant personal information about the individual involved.

The government agency inadvertently breached its obligations in respect of the use and disclosure of personal information, resulting in a written apology, review of internal process and a $5,000 payment to the individual for non-economic loss being ordered.

Protecting personal information from misuse, loss or unauthorised disclosure: ‘CM’ and Corporation of the Synod of the Diocese of Brisbane [2014] AICmr 86

The disclosure and use of personal information within a company needs to be related to the ‘primary purpose’ for which it was collected. Disclosure and use must also account for the possibility of the information being misused, lost or disclosed without consent of the individual concerned.Where information is collected for a specified purpose, the disclosure of the collected information to other persons is not automatically reasonable even where the disclosure is related to the specific purpose for which it was collected.

Privacy obligations require consideration of proper handling, confidentiality and disclosure processes such that if functions can occur without the disclosure of the complainant’s personal information, the information should not be disclosed. Failure to comply with this requirement may incur fines, damages and reputation loss. At ARETE Group we have expertise and experience in drafting or reviewing privacy policies, assisting in the implementation of processes complaint with the APPs and reviewing / advising on potential breaches of the Privacy Act.

by Juliet Behrensby Shaun Creighton

Dr Juliet Behrens is a Senior Associate of the firm 18 Kendall Lane, New ActonCanberra City ACT 2601T: (02) 6212 7600E: [email protected]

For further information or if we can assist, visit our website at www.aretegroup.com.au or email [email protected] for an obligation free assessment of your legal issues.


Social media and sport:A winning mix

For more information, contact Paul Smith,Secretary and Chief Financial Officer of Yabba.Guru on 0401 400 779 or go to www.yabba.guru

SPORT

Not sure whether social media is relevant to your business success?Ask Barack Obama who raised more money for his Presidential

campaign than his competitors by using social media. Ask Proctor and Gamble who invigorated their ‘Old Spice’ brand by engaging with their customers in real time or even ask an Islamic state supporter why they constantly use Twitter.

Think about your business. Do you use social media effectively? Do you have an online presence in most forms of emerging social media such as Facebook, Twitter Instagram etc. Do you personalise your message or just blast it out there? Do you use social media to target the people that use your service or buy your goods?

If ‘yes’ congratulations. If ’no’ you probably need to become more digitally savvy.

One area of business using social media well is the business of sports. Coinciding with the slow death of traditional newspapers and magazines, social media has become the go-to information resource for fans seeking photos, gossip and the latest information about players and teams.

Social media has another huge advantage. It allows personal interaction.

Personal interactions connect sports with fans and strengthen identification with teams and players. Through the communicative capabilities of social media, fans can provide direct feedback and feel more engaged with their team, thus strengthening the brand relationship.

Social media combined with sports marketing can be a valuable marketing investment – with sporting celebrities engaging with brands in an active sense, providing endorsement throughout their community of followers.

By way of example, the famous FC Barcelona soccer club found there was an extraordinary amount of value their shirt sponsor was receiving from social media which had not previously been factored into the sponsorship deal.

Other advantages of using social media are that it is usually inexpensive and businesses can personalise the message they want to send rather than using a generic theme over and over again.

All good. The big problem is that you must understand social media and the implications of using it.

An ill-advised post on Twitter or Facebook from a sports star can have a horror outcome.

An ill-advised tweet or a poorly constructed campaign can be similarly detrimental to a company’s brand.

So how does a company using sport create the benefits and positive outcomes from social media? Catch us next month for some answers.

by Paul Smith

Jobseekers, it’s not okay to connect with your interviewer on LinkedIn

RECRUITMENT

You want to stand out and make a good impression in your next job interview, but sending a LinkedIn connection or Facebook friend request to your interviewer is not the way to do it.

Social media is an important networking and researching tool, but there are boundaries and jobseekers need to be aware of the appropriate way to utilise social media before and after a job interview.

It makes sense to look at publicly available information on social media as part of your pre-interview research. But there is a difference between researching in order to prepare for your interview and crossing the line from an enthusiastic candidate to a pushy one.

That line definitely gets crossed if you send a request to your interviewer before or immediately after an interview to connect on LinkedIn. If you get the job by all means connect, but until then it can make you seem presumptuous as you are implying a level of familiarity that doesn't exist.

The same rule applies to all social media – so do not send a Facebook friend request to your interviewer. It is not appropriate and more than anything points to your inexperience when it comes to professional business conduct.

So what can you do? It is perfectly acceptable to research your interviewer on social media, provided you focus on:

• Determining how her or his role relates to the role you have applied for – this can give you a better idea of how to focus your answers, for example on the technical aspects or on the

implementation process. • The culture of the organisation – you can get a feel for the type of

person who is likely to excel in the organisation.• Projects and clients – you can go into your interview understanding the

type of projects or clients the organisation works on and with.• 1st degree connections in common – you can check if you have any

former work colleagues in common. If you do, ask if they can tell you anything more about the company.

• Published blogs or articles – read any published blogs or articles written by your interviewer. It’ll give you an insight into his or her point of view on current industry trends.

• Comments – you can comment on one or two of her or his industry-related blog posts. If you make an insightful comment your interviewer may recognise your name when it comes time for your interview, but don’t overdo it.

Jim Roy, Regional Director5th Floor, 54 Marcus Clarke Street, CanberraT 02 6112 7663 | F 02 6257 6377 E [email protected]

by Jim Roy

Personal interactions connect sports with fans and strengthen identifi cation with teams and players.

Social media is an important networking and researching tool, but there are boundaries and jobseekers need to be aware of the appropriate way to utilise social media before and after a job interview.

The risks of informal property settlements

Privacy law update

FAMILY LAWINTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

It may be tempting when you separate simply to sell up and divide what you have. Sometimes people enter into what we refer to as an interim (temporary) agreement to divide some of what they have (for example, the proceeds of sale of a matrimonial home) and deal with other matters (for example, superannuation) later.

There are risks of both final and interim informal arrangements.

Final settlementsThe risks of entering into informal final settlements (that is, without

Consent Orders or a Binding Financial Agreement (BFA) properly entered into under the Family Law Act) are:1. An agreement which is not properly formalised is not binding, and

cannot be enforced.2. Your former partner may make a claim under the Act later. There are

limitation periods but a former partner can apply for leave out of time. We have dealt with cases where leave has been granted to start proceedings 12 years or more after the limitation period has expired.

3. The assets and liabilities which you build up following separation will be taken into account in later proceedings.

4. You cannot split superannuation informally.5. Duties and taxes may be payable unless transfers are done under Orders

or a BFA.

Interim settlementsWhile the risks above are relatively well understood, people are generally

less aware that there are also risks of interim settlements:1. If you distribute funds (for example, the proceeds of sale of a home),

it may be difficult to get your former partner to engage in further negotiations (for example, to divide superannuation). You may end up having to start Court proceedings to get a fair outcome.

2. Your former partner may spend some or all of what they receive, and this will not necessarily be taken into account in the final property settlement.

3. You may divide assets between you in a way which does not reflect a fair outcome and it may be harder to achieve a better outcome if you have an informal “agreement”.When you separate both of you will usually need some funds until you

are able to reach a property settlement. Decisions to release and share significant funds on an interim basis should be made carefully, and legal advice is recommended. If a house is to be sold prior to a formal property settlement then it is usually recommended that the proceeds be held in a secure way until the final property settlement is formalised.

The Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) became part of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act) on 12 March 2014.

The APPs generally apply to governmental agencies, individuals, and companies that are not a small business operators or registered political parties. The small business operator exception applies where annual turnover for the previous F/Y (or current for new businesses) was $3 million or less. In this article, we provide a summary of recent cases which may be of interest..

Access to personal information: Ben Grubb and Telstra Corporation Limited [2015] AICmr 35

When requested, Telstra refused access to ‘metadata’ collected in relation to the individual’s Telstra mobile phone service including cell tower logs, usage details, duration of usage, and websites visited. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OIAC) found Telstra breached their obligation to provide access to personal information held about the individual unless an exception applied and was ordered to provide the information requested at no cost within 30 days, except for information which unreasonably impacted the privacy of others (inbound call numbers). Metadata that companies collect, including statistical information (Google Adwords or Analytics) must generally be available to individuals upon request, unless an exception applies.

Inadvertent disclosure: ‘EQ’ and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority [2015] AICmr 11

A government agency inadvertently included the name of an individual being investigated, the type of activity and other details of the case that led to a journalist researching and identifying significant personal information about the individual involved.

The government agency inadvertently breached its obligations in respect of the use and disclosure of personal information, resulting in a written apology, review of internal process and a $5,000 payment to the individual for non-economic loss being ordered.

Protecting personal information from misuse, loss or unauthorised disclosure: ‘CM’ and Corporation of the Synod of the Diocese of Brisbane [2014] AICmr 86

The disclosure and use of personal information within a company needs to be related to the ‘primary purpose’ for which it was collected. Disclosure and use must also account for the possibility of the information being misused, lost or disclosed without consent of the individual concerned.Where information is collected for a specified purpose, the disclosure of the collected information to other persons is not automatically reasonable even where the disclosure is related to the specific purpose for which it was collected.

Privacy obligations require consideration of proper handling, confidentiality and disclosure processes such that if functions can occur without the disclosure of the complainant’s personal information, the information should not be disclosed. Failure to comply with this requirement may incur fines, damages and reputation loss. At ARETE Group we have expertise and experience in drafting or reviewing privacy policies, assisting in the implementation of processes complaint with the APPs and reviewing / advising on potential breaches of the Privacy Act.

by Juliet Behrensby Shaun Creighton

Dr Juliet Behrens is a Senior Associate of the firm 18 Kendall Lane, New ActonCanberra City ACT 2601T: (02) 6212 7600E: [email protected]

For further information or if we can assist, visit our website at www.aretegroup.com.au or email [email protected] for an obligation free assessment of your legal issues.


2 line HeadingONLYForget clicks - Attention is the new currency

Sam Gupta is the managing director of Synapse Worldwide. Sam would love to hear your thoughts on this advice column. Tel: 1300 785 230 Email: [email protected]: www.synapseworldwide.com.

WEBSITES

Yup, if you are still measuring your digital success with the number of clicks, you are doing it wrong. Our (human beings) average attention span is about 8 seconds, which is shorter than that of a goldfish. An average page visit lasts less than a minute. On a mobile device, it’s even less. We are being continuously overloaded with information and attention is now a scarce commodity. Welcome to the age of Attention Economy!

Simply put, if you can’t keep someone’s attention on your website for more than 8 seconds, you have lost them, possibly to a competitor.

The digital and social media wave has changed the traditional marketing landscape significantly. There is a lot of noise out there. Many businesses are competing for the same audience. Our job is to cut through the noise and grab the audience’s attention.

Just getting attention is not enough though. The problem with Attention is that it’s not a very measurable activity. If someone says they are paying attention, doesn’t actually mean that they are paying a full attention. So, attention can only be measured by the next action taken by a user; which could be as simple as a decision to stay on a webpage and read what it has to offer. This is why attention is only the first step; the second piece of the puzzle is Engagement.

Attention and engagement go hand in hand. After successfully getting someone’s attention, you then need to keep them engaged to really make it worthwhile. Out of the millions of hours of free videos available online, the average length watched is only around 2.7 minutes. How long can you keep your users engaged?

After doing all that work, the battle is not yet won. The third piece in the puzzle is Retention. Once you have grabbed the attention and engaged them with your message, you must repeat this a few times before they buy from you. Traditionally, it use to take a minimum of 7 contacts for someone to buy your product or service. This number is more like 12 or 15 now a days depending upon the market you are in. The problem is most businesses give up after the 2nd or 3rd contact with their prospective audience and then they are back to square one.

If you would like to know about how you can use various digital strategies to grow your business, give me a call and we can discuss it over a coffee.

Prepare your business to stand out from the crowd. Learn to catch attention of your audience. The more attention you get, the richer your business will get. Good thing is, not many people are doing it. So this is the time. Don’t wait. Be awesome!

by Sam Gupta


and under-resourced environments. In 2014-15, its export revenue grew by 73 per cent. Information and Communication Technology: DAMsmart

Since its inception in 2007, DAMsmart has developed into one of the APAC region’s largest and most experienced specialist content digitisation and preservation agencies.Manufacturing: Frameskin

Frameskin’s custom-shaped frame protection for the bicycle industry has been sold in 30 countries.Online Sales: mHITS

mHITS began as Australia’s first and only mobile money service allowing payments to be sent and received by SMS text message. It has since evolved to focus on low value cross-border mobile money transfers specifically to emerging markets for those people who do not have a bank account.Small Business: IE Asia Pacific

Established in 2009, IE Asia Pacific provides products, services and solutions to increase revenue, improve detection and safety, and reduce costs for civil and defence air traffic management sectors in Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Germany.ACT Exporter of the Year

Aspen Medical, which recently led Australia’s response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, was named ACT Exporter of the Year with special mention for iSimulate and WildBear.

Congratulations to all our winners and good luck to everyone competing in the 2015 Australian Export Awards.

70 per cent of its total wine production as export sales. It is focused on Asia and its main markets include China and Singapore. It is continuing to expand its markets to include Japan and India. Emerging Exporter Category:Red Robot and Cogito Group

Two Canberra businesses were recognised under this category. ICT company Cogito Group is a cyber security expert that is working to expand its global reach. Since 2011, Red Robot has grown from a small domestic supplier into the largest manufacturer and exporter of photo booths in the southern hemisphere.

In the national categories the winners were:Agribusiness: Inland Trading

Inland Trading is a Canberra based wine export company whose collection of premium Australia wine includes some of the best labels in the world. In 2014-15, it exported more than 360,000 cases of wine to 53 world markets. It recently became a major Australian supplier of the third biggest supermarket operation in the world and has won three contracts to supply Singapore Airlines.Business Services: Noetic Group

This award-winning international consulting firm provides professional services to a range of government and private sectors in Australia and overseas. It has worked on all continents, but is particularly focused on opportunities in the Middle East, PNG and Timor Leste and the United States where it has experienced substantial growth over the last year.Creative Industries: WildBear

WildBear Entertainment experienced a five-fold growth in export revenue in 2014-15, demonstrating strong international demand for its films and television productions.Education and Training: iSimulate

During the 2015 financial year, iSimulate’s export sales of its health/medical simulation technology doubled. It currently has customers in 31 countries.Health and Biotechnology: Aspen Medical

Aspen Medical exports Australian-standard healthcare to remote, challenging

A 2 B A S S O C I AT I O N S T O B U S I N E S S

Export award winners demonstrate ACT’s international business success

I recently had the privilege of travelling to the United States with a contingent of local businesses on a trade mission. For me, this trip further highlighted

the international competitiveness of ACT businesses and the ongoing potential for Canberra companies to become global exporters.

The exceptional quality of goods produced in the ACT has resulted in worldwide sales; while innovative ACT businesses have captured markets with niche products and services that meet a demand here and overseas.

At the ACT Chief Minister’s Export Awards Ceremony held on 22 October 2015, we got to honour some of our local success stories.

The Export Awards recognise outstanding businesses in both ACT and national categories. Winners in the national categories will go on to compete at the Australian Export Awards later this month.

The following businesses took out a top prize in the ACT categories:Exporting Government Solutions:Royal Australian Mint

The Royal Australian Mint has been exporting since 2011 and developed new markets and products last year that helped grow its export revenue by 53 per cent.Exporting to Asia: ONTHEGO Sports

Founded in 2010, ONTHEGO offers high quality custom sportswear at a revolutionary price and service, while leading the way for socially conscious businesses. For every product sold, one child in a developing part of Australia and the Pacific is engaged into sport for one year through its community arm. Capital District Exporter: Shaw Vineyards

A family owned wine producer of cool climate wines, Shaw Vineyards is targeting

Join us at the Canberra Business Chamber Annual Gala Dinner.Date: 18 November 2015Time: 7 pmLocation: QT CanberraFor more information or to book a seat, visitwww.canberrabusiness.com/events

R O B Y NH E N D R YCEO CANBERRA BUSINESS CHAMBER


The Attorney-General and I recently announced that Juris Partnership is the preferred proponent to deliver the ACT’s first Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for the new ACT Courts Facility.

The new ACT Courts Facility, which will create around 350 jobs during construction, is an important pathfinder for the territory’s future PPPs and has been designed to attract industry and to showcase the evolving, collaborative approach that the government is taking to deliver Canberra’s future infrastructure needs. The ACT started this journey in December 2013 when we launched The Partnerships Framework and announced that the Courts Facility would be our first PPP project.

Why PPPs in the ACT though? What makes them a good idea for Canberra, and why is the new ACT Courts Facility the right project for the Government to start using PPPs as a delivery model?

From the outset, it is important to acknowledge that all governments partner with the private sector to deliver infrastructure projects for the community. PPPs are particularly suitable for complex infrastructure projects and bring with them benefits that have been proven time and time again in other states and territories who have successfully taken advantage of PPPs for decades.

PPPs help deliver major infrastructure projects and ensure they are completed on time and on budget, as well as providing a boost to the local economy. They provide governments with a fully integrated and whole-of-life infrastructure package, including the design, construction, maintenance, operations and financing of a project. Studies have shown that for the right type of project, a PPP can deliver savings of around 11 per cent compared with traditional models of delivery.

But PPPs are not without risk, and they are definitely not for every project. I think it can be stated very clearly that before contemplating a

PPP model, it is important for the Government to evaluate the commercial drivers for a project. This has certainly been the government’s approach in undertaking the courts project through a PPP model. We have also drawn on the ‘lessons learned’ from other PPP projects across the country throughout our own process.

The interest in the ACT’s PPP projects has been strong. With other courts projects around the country, like the Perth CBD Courts and the County Court of Victoria having been delivered successfully by PPP, we received six responses for the ACT Law Courts PPP at the Expression of Interest stage. This demonstrates the confidence the market has in the ACT Government’s Partnerships Framework.

By undertaking the courts project through a PPP model, the government is planning for the longer term to meet the community’s needs for the next 50 years. The new ACT Courts Facility will be a high functioning, durable and architecturally appropriate building for the administration of justice in the territory, and we have worked closely with Juris through the interactive tender process – a unique feature of PPPs – to respect and celebrate the heritage of the existing Supreme Court building in the design. We have also been able to produce innovative design solutions, allowing the courts to continue operating during the construction period.

PPPs can and will deliver real benefits to the ACT community in the delivery of major infrastructure projects. They will help drive new private investment for our economy, delivering long-term solutions for complex major projects and ensuring Canberra remains a modern, vibrant and growing city.

CHIEF MINISTERTREASURERMINISTER FOR URBAN RENEWALMINISTER FOR TOURISM AND EVENTS

Public Private Partnershipsin the ACT

G 2 B C H I E F M I N I S T E R ’ S M E S S A G E

A N D R E WB A R R

For more information on Confident and Business Ready: Building on Our Strengths visit

www.business.act.gov.au/strategy

Photo Kasra Yousefi

I clicked a page & I bounced it…

Bounce rate is one of the biggest thieves of your marketing dollars. A high bounce rate means you could be sending customers to a competitor.

Improving bounce rate means more customers for you. A dollar saved is TEN dollars earned. Don't let your website's bounce rate affect your business.

G R O W Y O U R B U S I N E S S O N L I N E

We can help.

1300 785 230synapseworldwide.com

The Attorney-General and I recently announced that Juris Partnership is the preferred proponent to deliver the ACT’s first Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for the new ACT Courts Facility.

The new ACT Courts Facility, which will create around 350 jobs during construction, is an important pathfinder for the territory’s future PPPs and has been designed to attract industry and to showcase the evolving, collaborative approach that the government is taking to deliver Canberra’s future infrastructure needs. The ACT started this journey in December 2013 when we launched The Partnerships Framework and announced that the Courts Facility would be our first PPP project.

Why PPPs in the ACT though? What makes them a good idea for Canberra, and why is the new ACT Courts Facility the right project for the Government to start using PPPs as a delivery model?

From the outset, it is important to acknowledge that all governments partner with the private sector to deliver infrastructure projects for the community. PPPs are particularly suitable for complex infrastructure projects and bring with them benefits that have been proven time and time again in other states and territories who have successfully taken advantage of PPPs for decades.

PPPs help deliver major infrastructure projects and ensure they are completed on time and on budget, as well as providing a boost to the local economy. They provide governments with a fully integrated and whole-of-life infrastructure package, including the design, construction, maintenance, operations and financing of a project. Studies have shown that for the right type of project, a PPP can deliver savings of around 11 per cent compared with traditional models of delivery.

But PPPs are not without risk, and they are definitely not for every project. I think it can be stated very clearly that before contemplating a

PPP model, it is important for the Government to evaluate the commercial drivers for a project. This has certainly been the government’s approach in undertaking the courts project through a PPP model. We have also drawn on the ‘lessons learned’ from other PPP projects across the country throughout our own process.

The interest in the ACT’s PPP projects has been strong. With other courts projects around the country, like the Perth CBD Courts and the County Court of Victoria having been delivered successfully by PPP, we received six responses for the ACT Law Courts PPP at the Expression of Interest stage. This demonstrates the confidence the market has in the ACT Government’s Partnerships Framework.

By undertaking the courts project through a PPP model, the government is planning for the longer term to meet the community’s needs for the next 50 years. The new ACT Courts Facility will be a high functioning, durable and architecturally appropriate building for the administration of justice in the territory, and we have worked closely with Juris through the interactive tender process – a unique feature of PPPs – to respect and celebrate the heritage of the existing Supreme Court building in the design. We have also been able to produce innovative design solutions, allowing the courts to continue operating during the construction period.

PPPs can and will deliver real benefits to the ACT community in the delivery of major infrastructure projects. They will help drive new private investment for our economy, delivering long-term solutions for complex major projects and ensuring Canberra remains a modern, vibrant and growing city.

CHIEF MINISTERTREASURERMINISTER FOR URBAN RENEWALMINISTER FOR TOURISM AND EVENTS

Public Private Partnershipsin the ACT

G 2 B C H I E F M I N I S T E R ’ S M E S S A G E

A N D R E WB A R R

For more information on Confident and Business Ready: Building on Our Strengths visit

www.business.act.gov.au/strategy

Photo Kasra Yousefi BOOK NOW FOR CHRISTMAS

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B2B Magazine issue 110 November 2015