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The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), as a national agency covering competition, consumer protection, public utilities and tax exploitation issues, has offices in all State and Territory capitals, as well as Townsville and Tamworth. This year, the following ACCC initiatives will begin to help improve the welfare of Australians in regional and rural communities.
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) in conjunction with other agencies such as Centrelink and the Department of Veterans' Affairs, is participating in a federally-funded initiative to provide access to services via video-conferencing facilities for people living in remote and rural areas. Business areas within the ATO are making a greater use of available technology to improve service delivery and access to information.
The Individuals Non-Business (INB) line has also introduced an internal question and answer service `E respond', and a range of assistance measures, such as telephone calls at local call cost, an Indigenous help line in Alice Springs, ATO staff attendance at country expos, seminar and visit programmes to assist tax practitioners.
The Business Entry Point (BEP) is an internet-based service, supported by a phone hotline, that provides free access for business to all spheres of government through a single entry point. Funding for the continuation and ongoing development of BEP in 2001-02 will be $8.2 million.
The BEP framework has been endorsed at the Federal Government, State, Territory, and local government levels, as well as by the business sector. Launched in July 1998, it is the on-line channel for businesses dealing with the Commonwealth. Through the BEP, businesses can access a vast number of business-related resources that cover all stages and aspects of a business's life. Enhancements are being developed to ensure the BEP continues to meet the needs of a large, diverse user community.
Business incubators are designed to help new and growing businesses to become established and profitable by providing premises, advice, services and support. In 2000-01, $5 million was allocated for incubator projects under the Small Business Incubator Programme, with a further $5 million to be provided in 2001-02.
Around 1,000 businesses have graduated from incubators funded under the programme. Small business incubators are located in all States and Territories, with 58 per cent of them in regional areas.
In 2001-02, a total of $32.6 million will be provided for the Regional Assistance Programme (RAP), including community based projects, Area Consultative Committee operations and national projects. The Regional Assistance Programme contributes to the achievement of national employment goals in regional Australia. It does this by encouraging business and communities to take action, in partnership with government, to build business growth and to stimulate sustainable employment.
Assistance to regions is provided through seed funding to not-for-profit organisations, and funded projects are developed in the context of the relevant Area Consultative Committee regional strategic plan.
There are 56 Area Consultative Committees (ACCs), which operate throughout Australia and are funded through the Regional Assistance Programme. Of these, 43 are located in regional, rural and remote areas. The ACCs comprise business and community representatives who work towards finding community-based solutions for jobs growth, skills development, regional growth and improved service delivery.
The Dairy Regional Assistance Programme (Dairy RAP) is part of the Federal Government's $1.78 billion Dairy Structural Adjustment Package, provided following the deregulation of the dairy industry by State Governments. Dairy RAP commenced on 1 July 2000 with funding of $45 million ($15 million per annum) over the next two years. An additional $20 million will be provided over the next three years, bringing the total amount for the programme to $65 million over three years.
Dairy RAP is specifically aimed at assisting dairy dependent communities to create employment opportunities and to address the social dislocation that may arise from the deregulation of the dairy industry by the States. Under the programme guidelines, both community not-for-profit organisations and private sector enterprises are eligible to apply for funds.
The Government is committed to ensuring that Australia benefits from international trade and investment flows. A major priority for the Government in 2001-02 is the continued reduction of barriers to the export of Australian goods and services. The 2001-02 Budget also includes a commitment by the Government to the extension of the Export Market Development Grants scheme (see below).
The Government will work to improve market access for our products in overseas markets through means such as negotiations in international trading forums, expanding links with key trading partners and lobbying individual governments to reduce barriers or eliminate impediments to Australian exports.
The Government is keenly aware of the importance of trade to regional Australia in terms of jobs and incomes, and the importance of regional Australia to the economy as a whole. In 2001-02 it will continue to run a number of programmes of interest to exporters and potential exporters in regional Australia.
The 2001-02 Budget provides funding of $150 million per annum for the Export Market Development Grants Scheme, which assists small to medium businesses that want to develop export markets. The Government remains committed to this scheme, and, in August 2000 announced its continuation for a further five years.
As part of the Government's new Exporting for the Future Initiative, Austrade will deliver a series of programmes which will highlight the benefits of trade and the services available to current and potential exporters. The initiative includes provision of curriculum material for secondary schools, a programme of regional business development seminars, greater participation by Austrade in regional agricultural shows and field days, and a regional radio campaign. It will also involve an active programme of visits and presentations to local businesses by Austrade's Regional Trade Commissioners and managers visiting from Austrade's overseas network.