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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT 
Welcome to 2009, I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas and New Year
Doom and Gloom or
Opportunity
Open up any newspaper, listen to any radio station or watch any news report on television and the major stories will be reports of the financial melt down being experienced throughout the world. World leaders continue to provide billions of dollars to prop up the financial markets hoping at the same time to provide the necessary stimulus for consumers to keep spending.
Unfortunately, despite the government’s actions, consumers continue to be cautious in their willingness to spend as they consider the impacts of rising unemployment, property market reductions, volatility within the stock market, lower superannuation returns, and gloomy small business outlook.
With all this doom and gloom going on, it was refreshing when I recently read an article from Auswild & Co, which included extracts from an article entitled “Small Business: Pull up your Pants” by Rhonda Abrams.
I include an extract from that article which I hope may inspire you to maintain a positive outlook and some helpful information that you can utilize in your business to survive this downturn.
Well, to paraphrase US President–elect Barack Obama – “It’s time to pull up your pants!”
In an MTV interview during the recent election campaign, Mr. Obama made news by admonishing young men wearing underwear-showing baggy jeans to “Pull up their Pants.” Although he was speaking literally, his directive was interpreted figuratively as well by many commentators – along the lines of; “Stop complaining, pull up your pants, and make something of yourself.”
It is time we took these words to heart. Small business owners are the perfect example of people who have pulled up their own pants and made something of themselves. You, as a small business owner, have already proved you know how to create something from nothing, to create an income for yourself and create jobs for others. You have got the skills. You have the experience. You just need to regain the can-do attitude that led you to start your business in the first place.
Many of today’s great companies were started during recessions – in fact some of Australia’s family business dynasties arose from those tough times. Those companies that continue to market during downturns come out of the tough times with a larger market share. What this means is that there are opportunities out there for you right now. You can either recognize that the glass is half full or half empty.
Here are some ways to pull up your pants, roll up your sleeves, survive, and even thrive during 2009:
- Adopt a positive attitude. It all starts with you. Adopt a positive attitude and instill that same attitude in all your staff. Your customers will be more receptive to happy, positive people too!
- Sit down and plan. Get over being discouraged by coming up with a thoughtful plan of action. Bring your employees together, look for where you can cut costs, increase sales, find new markets, and retain your current customers. Set clear, realistic goals for the number of customers, sales and profit levels. No employees? Talk to your customers, advisors, fellow business people, peer and colleagues.
- Look for new markets and new customers. What new markets and/or customers can you tap into? Look for potential market segments that are countercyclical – meaning what segments do well in down economies? What customers of weakened competitors could you go after?
- Work on looking after and retaining your current customers. Put particular emphasis on customer service and working with current customers. It’s cheaper to retain an existing customer than it is to get a new one.
- Position yourself as the less-expensive alternative. Go after prospects who currently use more expensive solutions or who spend a lot of money with your competitors. They’ll be more receptive to you now.
- Look for digital solutions. You’re likely to find ways to save money and marketing costs by looking for digital or online solutions.
Remember when you first started your business, how hungry you were? Like most business owners, you probably had a massive bank loan that needed servicing. You worked damn hard to not only make those repayments but to put food on your table as well. Well, get hungry again!
Most importantly, make up your mind:
Are you going to be one of the fatalities or one of the survivors?
Are you going to let these tough times overwhelm you or are you going to learn to change with the times?
If you want to be one of the winners instead of one of the losers, it is time to roll up your sleeves, “pull up your pants” and get hungry again!
MTAA SUPERANNUATION 
What if you, or your mate, are feeling stressed?
We all have tough times in our lives when things feel as though they are getting on top of us. That’s a normal part of life. However, for some people being down and emotionally out of sorts can start to take its toll and becomes a more serious problem. Sometimes problems never seem to go away and it feels as if you’re losing control.
You may recognise that this is happening to someone you are close to or may have felt this way yourself. It could be tempting to ignore the situation and hope the problems will go away. Sadly this is not often the case. The sooner you or your mate gets help the better it is. Problems like these often get worse over time. During these times it is important to know that help is out there and you don’t have to face problems on your own. The best road to recovery is getting help quickly.
About 1 in 5 people will experience a mental health problem that requires professional treatment at some time in their life. Many more will experience times of crisis, stress, anxiety or depression and the road to recovery is not always easy. It’s important to know that you don’t have to face these problems by yourself.
When we recognise that people we are close to, such as our mates, are going through tough times, we want to do what we can to help. The best way to support someone is to start with listening. While we may want to find the solution to help straight away, we need to start by providing the time and opportunity to listen to what the problems are and how the person is feeling. Listening can help the person to feel that they are not alone.
When you feel that listening may not be enough, the next step is in supporting your mate in reaching out and seeking help. It is important to know that there is a range of services and professionals who can provide expert care and treatment. You could suggest that your mate talk with:
• a General Practitioner,
• a community health worker,
• a psychologist
• a counsellor, or
• call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
General Practitioners are usually the first port of call, particularly in rural areas where there are usually less options. Your GP may look for physical causes or provide treatment including medication. GP’s can also refer to other health professionals.
Community Health workers often work in local community health centres and may be social workers, occupational therapists or mental health nurses. Community health workers can help with a wide range of issues.
Psychologists are trained to help people with a range of emotional or mental health problems through a range of non medical treatments. Psychiatrists are specialist medical doctors with extra training in dealing with clinical mental health problems. Appointments with psychologists can now be claimed on Medicare.
Counsellors and psychotherapists are trained to work with a broad range of problems. They provide support and work with you to deal with problems. Different counsellors and psychotherapists use different approaches so it may be important for you or your mate to find out about the approach the counsellor will use, to find one that suits best.
Lifeline provides Australia-wide 24 hour phone counselling where you or your mate can talk things over with a trained volunteer counsellor who can provide help with problems. Lifeline can also help you find out where to get more information.
There is lots of help out there!
For more information on what help is available, or how you can help a mate, visit www.readthesigns.com.au.
Readthesigns is a joint help-seeking and suicide prevention initiative of MTAA Super and Lifeline Australia.
REFUND OF LUXURY CAR TAX
Following the approval of regulations on 28 November 2008, primary producers and tourist operators can now claim refunds of luxury car tax on certain luxury cars.
From 1 July 2008, luxury car tax of 33% applies to most vehicles over the luxury car tax threshold of $57,180 which applies for the 2008-09 financial year.
The regulations allow primary producers to claim a refund of up to $3000 for one eligible car per financial year, and tourism operators to claim up to $3,000 for each eligible car.
Those eligible can claim a refund by completing an Application for luxury car tax refund – for primary producers and tourism operators form available from the Tax Office website. Refunds can’t be claimed on activity statements.
More information on eligibility requirements and how primary producers and tourism operators can claim refunds is available from the Tax Office website www.ato.gov.au
EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS UPDATE
EMPLOYEE WHO QUERIED PAY COSTLY FOR EMPLOYER
A recent Federal Court decision had significant cost implications for an employer who was found to have dismissed an employee who queried their wage rate. The employer was found to have not paid the employee penalty rates and annual leave loading.
The employee had checked their entitlements and raised concerns with the employer. The employer had first put the employee on annual leave and later terminated the employee by letter while on annual leave. As a result of the intervention by the Workplace Ombudsman, the employer made good the underpayment claim of $7823.32. However, the employer was taken before the Federal Court for the unlawful dismissal of the employee. The Court decided that the financial loss to the employee was a result of the dismissal was $12,581.70 and that the employer should pay a fine of $19,800.00. These costs do not include legal and other costs that the employer would be up for. A costly result that could have beeen avoided.
While the employer may have had legitimate concerns about the employee's behaviour for other reasons, dismissal of an employee for querying their wage rates and entitlements is unlawful under the Workplace Relations Act 1996
OH&S REMINDER -DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU
$100,000.00 was the recent fine personally given to a managing director of a company for not taking proactive measures in his companies OH&S affairs.
In August 2006, Frank Grime, an exhaust pipe manufacturing worker was working underneath some equipment when a co worker inadvertently started the machine Mr. Grime was working under. Mr. Grime died as a result. The court accepted the managing directors guilty plea and partly for that reason only fined him $100,000.00 for failing to ensure a safe working environment, systems, and practices. On a further note the company itself was also fined an additional $100,000.00 for the same offence.
This case is a timely reminder that if a workplace incident occurs:
- Not having proactive systems already in place will cost you more
- Courts are continually focusing on those responsible when imposing penalties rather than the company entity
- Ignorance of the law is not only a poor excuse in the eyes of the law but often regarded as gross recklessness and/or indifference in an employers legal and moral responsibilities to their staff
- Having an OH&S system in your workplace does cost time and money, but it’s the law.
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