The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) today launched ePIF™, the first element under the AFGC Authorised Food Data System® initiative that is harnessing digital disruption to empower companies to better source and manage information on their products.
AFGC CEO Ms Tanya Barden said that ePIF™ provides a technological asset for industry to meet the increasing costs of operating in a highly regulated industry by enabling companies to track product information across its entire value chain.
“AFGC’s ePIF™ is a tool developed by the $126 billion food industry in Australia and New Zealand to obtain and share information needed to meet obligations under regulatory requirements and industry codes in regard to food ingredients and finished products in a consistent and standardised manner,” said Ms Barden. “ePIF™, which is version 6.0 of the PIF™, builds on a decade of industry knowledge. ePIF™ features updated content on issues like origin labelling and health star ratings and is being translated into a range of business-to-business software solutions.”
In delivering these solutions, the AFGC is partnering with established food industry software providers such as Hamilton Grant, Bizcaps Software and Oak Barrel Software. The AFGC also is engaged with GS1 Australia to align data standards to promote interoperability, ensuring the one set of data can be used for multiple solutions.
“This initiative has been developed to streamline the process of recording and reporting product information via the secure online portals, making it easier, faster and more flexible to use.”
“ePIF™, as the first part of the AFGC Approved Food Data System®, will be a valuable asset for industry at a time of increased demand by regulators for increased access to information regarding all aspects of the supply chain.”
“The AFGC has invested considerable resources to bring ePIF™ to life and we will continue to support its implementation and development as a resource to industry in Australia and abroad,” concluded Ms Barden.
| An AFGC release || July 19, 2017 |||
Firms in the finance sector, regulators, and other authorities all have a part to play in managing cyber security risks while still benefiting from the opportunities of new financial technology. “The dynamic cyber environment means organisations have to be nimble in their approach to cyber security - focused on outcomes, rather than prescriptive compliance exercises,” Reserve Bank Head of Prudential Supervision, Toby Fiennes, said in a speech delivered today to the Future of Financial Services conference, in Auckland. He said that cyber-attack poses a significant threat to the global financial system, as shown by the ‘WannaCry’ ransom-ware attack that affected more than 200,000 systems around the world and the more recent ‘Notpetya’ attack. “The nature and incidence of cyber risk is unique, meaning that typical approaches to risk management and disaster recovery planning may not be appropriate. While cyber vulnerabilities can be mitigated, the potential sources of cyber threats and the attack footprint are just too broad, so they can never be eliminated,” Mr Fiennes said. The Reserve Bank had thought about whether to introduce more prescriptive requirements but decided not to at this stage. “We doubt that prescriptive regulations would appreciably improve the outcome, when the technology and threat landscape are both changing so rapidly. We will, however, review this policy stance from time-to-time to ensure that it remains appropriate,” Mr Fiennes said. “The Reserve Bank is closely watching the emerging wave of ‘digital disruption’ affecting the financial sector as firms react to customer demand for a more online experience. In the short term, digital disruption may result in new risks and increased instability in the financial system but in the long term, digital disruption of the banking sector may improve the efficiency of the financial system. The long-term impact on financial system soundness is less clear. “We’re working with other agencies, such as the FMA and Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, to ensure that New Zealand presents an environment where digital financial innovation can flourish, provided it is done safely. In our view, New Zealand’s financial market regulatory settings support innovation and industry-based solutions and we see no need to actively steer potential solutions from industry by providing a concessionary environment for new entrants. “As the prudential regulator, we’re looking at whether financial institutions appear to be taking cyber risks sufficiently seriously. We look to self-discipline and market discipline to provide the defences, agility and crisis preparedness that are required,” Mr Fiennes said. More information· Speech: The Reserve Bank, cyber security and the regulatory framework· Audio: listen to excerpts of the speech on Soundcloud
| A RBNZ release || July 19, 2017 |||
End of car manufacturing in AustraliaHilco Industrial Acquisitions BV (www.hilcoglobal.com) has announced that it will lead the ‘disposition process’ for a massive machinery and equipment asset sale that will effectively shut down automotive manufacturing in Australia.
The sale is the result of Toyota Australia closing all its manufacturing operations — the last remaining automotive production facilities in the country.
This “unprecedented auto equipment sale” will include all the key production shops and vendors that have been part of car manufacturing in Australia for over 60 years.
All the equipment will be offered for sale via private treaty from the factory floors; it includes aluminium casting furnaces, engine line machine tools, assembly lines, robotic automation, presses, extruders, plastic injection moulding machines, welding lines and plant services.
Certain key machinery and equipment items will be offered for sale via an on-line auction, including maintenance workshops and general equipment.
The auction will be conducted by Grays Online, a joint-venture partner of Hilco Industrial Acquisitions.
| A MachineryMarket release || July 19, 2017 |||
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Murphy Development Company (MDC) has signed a lease with Mainfreight to occupy 24,050 square feet in its recently completed 121,970-square-foot speculative Building 18 at the 2.1 million-square-foot Siempre Viva Business Park (SVBP) in Otay Mesa. Lusardi Construction Company completed the building in late 2016. It was the first speculative building completed in Otay Mesa since 2006.
Mainfreight signs lease for 24,050 sq. ft. at Siempre Viva Business Park on Otay Mesa from Murphy Development.
The concrete tilt-up Building 18 is located at 2600 Melksee Street. The building features a 32-foot minimum clear height, 8,000 amps of 277/480 volt power, manufacturing sewer and water capacity, concrete truck courts, wide column spacing and high dock door ratios. Lusardi Construction Company will also be handling the tenant improvements for Mainfreight’s space, including a new office area, warehouse lights, and dock equipment.
Mainfreight is a logistics company based in New Zealand with over 240 locations globally. The company was represented by Garrett Fena with Voit Real Estate Services. Murphy represented itself in the lease transaction.
MDC will start construction on the final Class A industrial Building 17 at SVBP, a 79,050-square-foot spec building at 8500 Kerns Street this summer. Building 17 will also include state-of-the-art industrial features, making it ideal for manufacturing and distribution companies. Construction on the building will take approximately six months with completion of the building anticipated by the end of this year. Both buildings are divisible, offering suites as small as 24,000 square feet.
ABOUT MURPHY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
San Diego-based Murphy Development Company (MDC) has master planned and developed more than 10 million square feet of multi-phase corporate industrial and technology parks in San Diego. MDC acquires land and develops best-in-class corporate parks with the goal of leasing buildings or completing build-to-suits for sale or lease to Fortune 500 companies. Murphy Development is currently marketing 31 acres at the Scripps Ranch Technology Park and 60 acres of land in Otay Mesa within its Brown Field Technology Park, Siempre Viva Business Park, and The Campus at San Diego Business Park. Plans for these projects include more than 2 million square feet of corporate headquarters, office and industrial facilities. www.MurphyDev.com
| Businesswre release || July 19, 2017 |||
In another airline inducement for customers to book directly online, Tigerair Australia has decided to let customers freeze their fares – holding a fare price for 48 hours – for a small fee.
The offer is valid only for customers who book online and applies only to routes nominated by Tigerair.
Some other airlines, notably Air New Zealand, offer similar services, although they charge more it than Tigerair will.
For AUD 3 per person per sector, Tigerair customers can put a freeze on an attractive airfare they are viewing. Tierair says this will give them extra time to confirm their travel plans with family and friends or free up funds without worrying about the price increasing.http://travelindustryexpo.com.au/?utm_source=Global%20Travel%20Media&utm_medium=Banners
Fare Freeze applies only to fares that are available more than 27 days from date of departure and have the ‘Fare Freeze’ symbol displayed at the bottom of the online booking page.
Customers will proceed through the booking process as per usual with a AUD 3 fee due at the end to confirm the fare freeze.
Once the customer is ready to purchase their fare, they must return to the Manage My Booking page within 48 hours to finalise their booking. If the customer chooses not to purchase their held flights within 48 hours, the booking will be automatically cancelled.
Tigerair Australia commercial director Andrew Maister says Fare Freeze provides more value and choice for consumers.
“Like many airlines worldwide, our fares are dynamic, and increase as demand increases, closer to the travel date. That’s why we recommend customers plan ahead and book early to secure the best value deals.
“We recognise there are often a number of factors involved when sitting down to book your next holiday and it’s not always as simple as being able to purchase the first airfare you see. Fare Freeze means you can now put a hold on that great value airfare you’ve just spotted for a period of 48 hours, while you lock in your travel plans with family or friends or juggle your finances without the worry of the price changing.”
The Fare Freeze fee of AUD 3 is non-refundable and not a deposit for the booking. It must be paid for using a valid MasterCard or Visa Credit Card, Mastercard, Visa Debit Card or POLi. Fare Freeze is not available on special sale fares.
| A GlobalTravel Media release || July 19, 2017 |||
Foreign Minister Gerry Brownlee has announced diplomat Jonathan Schwass as High Commissioner to Vanuatu.
“New Zealand and Vanuatu have close and long-standing ties,” Mr Brownlee says.
“In the last year, more than 4,000 Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers from Vanuatu were in New Zealand – representing about 40 per cent of the total workers in the scheme.
“The RSE scheme has been an enormous success over the last decade and, at an estimated $20 million a year for those 4,000 workers, the earnings have a significant effect on livelihoods in Vanuatu.
“Mr Schwass will lead the delivery of New Zealand’s Official Development Programme in Vanuatu, helping to oversee $82 million of investment over three years with a focus on tourism, agriculture, renewable energy and education,” Mr Brownlee says.
Mr Schwass is currently Unit Manager of the South East Asia Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was previously Ambassador to Timor-Leste.
| A Beehive release || July 18, 2017 |||
Corrections Minister Louise Upston says an initiative between Corrections and Horticulture New Zealand is proving beneficial to the department’s goal of turning offenders’ lives around.
Following the successful first year of a pilot programme in Hawke’s Bay that was established to help ex-prisoners and community-based offenders find sustainable employment in the horticulture industry, Corrections and Horticulture New Zealand are now looking to expand the initiative into the Bay of Plenty.
The agreement supports training packages that help prisoners become work-ready for employers and offer permanent career opportunities in horticulture to prisoners once released.
“This initiative has been a win-win and Corrections is appreciative of the support and leadership provided by the horticulture sector, which is helping change the lives of offenders and providing renewed hope for their families,” Ms Upston says.
“The pilot provides practical training for eligible prisoners who want a career in horticulture and will stay within the Hawke’s Bay area upon release. It allows prisoners to leave prison with meaningful skills and qualifications, it provides the industry with trained and qualified employees that will help fill continued labour shortages which will in turn benefit the community.
“Three ex-offenders have found employment through this partnership in the horticulture industry to date. While the number of placements appears small, new individual employer partnership agreements have been signed with four other large horticulture employers who want to support this initiative,” Ms Upston says.
Horticulture is New Zealand’s fourth largest export industry with a turnover of $5 billion. The industry has set itself a target of achieving an industry value of $10 billion by the year 2020. To achieve this target, the industry will need to attract a significant number of trained and qualified horticultural staff to fill a recognised shortage in permanent roles across the country, but especially around the East Coast, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Northland, Manawatu, Nelson/ Marlborough, and Central Otago.
| A Beehive release || July 19, 2017 |||
A test for Callaghan Innovation - how will this one play out . . .
Garry Collings joins Coretex as head of ANZ operations
Otago Polytechnic Engineering students fly into study
Patangata Station shortens supply chain and buys own butchery
Reserve Bank outlines stance on cyber issues
Cowboy tradesmen being coralled
South Canterbury factories struggle to find skilled staff
Corrections and Horticulture NZ turning offenders’ lives around.
Single Use Plastic Bags to be Ditched by Largest Australian Supermarkets
Palace of the Alhambra, Spain
By: Charles Nathaniel Worsley (1862-1923)
From the collection of Sir Heaton Rhodes
Oil on canvas - 118cm x 162cm
Valued $12,000 - $18,000
Offers invited over $9,000
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242
Mount Egmont with Lake
By: John Philemon Backhouse (1845-1908)
Oil on Sea Shell - 13cm x 14cm
Valued $2,000-$3,000
Offers invited over $1,500
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242