The AMA has recently released its new Position Statement on Combat Sport (2015), which supersedes and builds on the AMA Position Statement on Boxing (1997. Reaffirmed 2007).

AMA President, Professor Brian Owler, said that the AMA is a long-time opponent of boxing, and has now extended its concerns about the health of participants to include all so-called combat sports.

Professor Owler said the AMA is recommending the prohibition of all forms of combat sport for people under the age of 18.

Further, the AMA wants boxing banned from the Olympic Games and the Commonwealth Games.

“As medical practitioners, the AMA is concerned by any sports that involve displays of interpersonal violence, and where the goal is to injure the opponent to the point that they are unable to continue,” Professor Owler said.

“The fighters in boxing and other contact sports typically aim to hit their opponent in the head to cause a ‘knockout’. This is inherently dangerous, and sometimes the results are fatal.

“Even when fighters are not knocked unconscious, repeated blows to the head are inherently dangerous.

“Head injuries are essentially invisible, and can evolve over time. Even what may appear to be minor head injuries can turn serious very quickly.

“Along with head injuries, combat sports are associated with a range of other, often severe injuries, including dislocations and fractures, spine and neck injuries, and maxillofacial injuries.

“Despite the acknowledged harms, combat sports are growing in popularity, in terms of participation and with television and online audiences.

“It is important that we do not ‘normalise’ violence. Children and young people may be particularly vulnerable to the promotion of ‘sports’ that encourage interpersonal violence.

“Doctors witness the loss of life and quality of life as a result of injuries incurred in boxing and other combat sports. We must put an end to this senseless carnage.”

The AMA Position Statement on Combat Sport (2015) is at https://ama.com.au/position-statement/combat-sport-2015

For more information please contact: John Flannery (0419 494 761) or Odette Visser (0427 209 753). 

This media release was directly sourced from the Australian Medical Association website here. 

Dementia Awareness Month is held from 1 September to 30 September nationwide.

The theme for the month is Creating a Dementia-Friendly Nation.

The goal is to encourage Australians to become dementia-aware, have a better understanding of what it is like for a person to live with dementia, and ultimately be encouraged to create communities where people with dementia are supported to live a high quality of life with meaning, purpose and value.

To see a list of events around Australia during Dementia Awareness Month please click here. 

This information was directly sourced from the Alzheimer's Australia website here. 

This article was directly sourced from the Western Australian Cricket Association website here. 

The Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) announced on September 3 a landmark decision that will see the WACA Ground developed into a modern boutique stadium, sharing Test Matches with Perth Stadium, and remaining the home of cricket in WA.

WACA Vision 2030 highlights:

• Cricket in WA will be transformed by the new ‘WACA Vision 2030’ blueprint;
• WACA Ground to become a modern boutique stadium with a permanent capacity of up to 15,000 and a complementary partner to Perth Stadium;
• Proposed new stands and significantly more shade among the range of upgrades to be provided to spectators;
• New dedicated player facilities and high performance training facilities to play a fundamental role in the future development of cricket;
• Test Matches shared between the WACA Ground and Perth Stadium;
• The flexibility for co-location of the Western Australian Football Commission at the WACA Ground;
• Vision 2030 supported by Cricket Australia potentially resulting in more premium cricket content for Western Australia;
• The WACA will now prepare funding submissions to State and Federal Government to support the delivery of Vision 2030.

The decision was announced at the release of the Vision 2030 Report, the result of a wide-ranging investigation over 14 months by a special WACA Board appointed committee.

The committee headed by highly respected company director and businessman Michael Smith was charged with making recommendations on the future of the WACA Ground with associated funding options aimed primarily at benefiting cricket, WACA Members and the public.

Mr Gannon said that the development of the iconic WACA Ground, estimated to be between $150 million and $200 million depending on the final design, would transform cricket in WA and secure its future as a major participation and spectator sport.

To read the full article please click here. 

The completion of the Inland Rail Business Case brings this major logistics project one step closer to fruition and is welcomed by the Australian Logistics Council as a transformative project for generations to come.

“Inland rail is critical to Australia’s freight future given the expectations of the growth in the freight task,” said Michael Kilgariff, ALC Managing Director.

“We welcome finalisation of the business case handed to the Commonwealth Government today, and note it found an investment in inland rail has positive net economic benefits.

“I congratulate members of the Implementation Group, and its Chairman John Anderson, on their work to provide high level advice to Government on how Inland Rail can proceed.

“I also acknowledge the significant work of the Australian Rail Track Corporation to undertake a rigorous and extensive business case, which can now go to Infrastructure Australia for further analysis.

“This project is now developing a high level of industry interest as evidenced by the fact alternative consortia have also sought to have proposals considered. In the context of developing its 15 year Infrastructure Plan, IA has an important role to play in providing advice to government on these plans.

“The momentum gathering behind this project is exciting now that we have robust information on how the iconic inland rail project can be delivered.

“The funding requirements for inland rail need to be seen against the backdrop of the significant economic opportunities the project can deliver and enormous freight growth expected in Australia over the next 30 years.

“ALC research has shown that a 1% improvement in logistics productivity would have a $2 billion a year benefit to the national economy – inland rail is one such way industry and government can work towards achieving this economic dividend,” he said.

Mr Kilgariff said the business case confirmed economy-wide modelling that indicates the Inland Rail Programme will increase gross domestic product by $16 billion over the 10 year construction period and 50 years of operation.

“Australia’s freight task is also expected to almost triple by 2050, and rail needs to make a greater contribution to meet growing demand, particularly on the north - south corridor,” he said.

“Inland rail would complement the road and rail links already connecting Australia’s three largest cities along Australia’s east coast and reduce pressure on our road infrastructure, particularly in Sydney which often acts as a freight bottleneck because passenger rail is afforded priority.

“Inland rail would also reduce train transit times and transport costs between Melbourne and Brisbane, which would have a positive effect on transport companies, exporters and ultimately Australian consumers.

“The effective completion of this project would see the connection of our major mainland cities with a world class rail network providing the backbone for moving goods across the country safely, reliably and efficiently.

“From an economic perspective, not only will this project improve the global competitiveness of our key exports through providing a reliable rail transport alternative for agricultural and mining freight, it will also create thousands of jobs during and after construction, many in rural and regional areas.

“ALC, along with industry, strongly supports the project and we eagerly encourage Government’s continued commitment to the project to ensure its long awaited delivery.

To view ALC’s Inland Rail Video visit http://austlogistics.com.au/media-centre/videos/

This media release was directly sourced from the Australian Logistics Council website here. For further information, contact Duncan Sheppard on 0412 340 934. 

As the Syrian refugee crisis continues to unfold, the national charity regulator is urging the public to donate to established humanitarian charities.

Commissioner of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), Susan Pascoe AM, said the Australian public’s response to the refugee crisis has been extraordinary.

“The Australian public are inherently caring and generous, and are often willing to give their time or money to support those facing a crisis,” Ms Pascoe said.

“I know that many Australians have been deeply impacted by the heart-wrenching images and stories we have seen and heard recently.

“To ensure that their valuable contributions are used to full effect, I encourage the public to donate to established humanitarian aid charities that are registered with the ACNC.

“Those seeking to donate can find registered charities on the ACNC Charity Register at  acnc.gov.au/findacharity.” Ms Pascoe also warned the public about scams.

“During tragic events we tend to see an increase in scams, so I would like to encourage the public to remain vigilant and ensure they are giving to legitimate charities.”

The ACNC encourages the public to take these steps to ensure they are confident giving to legitimate charities:

• Always ask for identification from door to door and street fundraising collectors.
  
• If you haven’t heard of an organisation, look them up on the ACNC Charity Register to see if they are registered.
  
• Do not provide your personal, credit card or online account details unless you know it is a trusted source.
  
• Do not open suspicious or unsolicited emails - delete them.
  
• If you think that there is something wrong, contact the charity directly and alert them of your concerns.
  

Marc Purcell, the Executive Director of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), the peak body for Australia’s aid organisations, reiterated ACNC Commissioner Pascoe’s comments about the need for the public to donate wisely.

“Australians are very generous in their responses to humanitarian appeals and it is important to make every dollar count. So there are three things the public should consider before donating,” Mr Purcell said.

“Firstly, it is important to donate to organisations who have a track record of working on the ground where humanitarian situations arise. ACFID members have been at the forefront of assisting refugees from Syria since the conflict began and have established channels and relationships that can direct aid to those who need it most.

“Secondly, it is important to donate to organisations that are not only registered with the ACNC but abide by the ACFID Code of Conduct that ensures their fundraising efforts are transparent and accountable.

“Finally, we encourage Australians and Australian companies to donate cash, not goods, as sending goods in kind to remote overseas locations is usually costly, complex and can sometimes lead to unintended consequences.”

ACFID members with appeals can be found at acfid.asn.au/aid-issues/humanitarian-response/syria-crisis.

The ACNC Charity Register is available at acnc.gov.au/findacharity. 

This media release was directly sourced from the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission website here. 

Good news for not-for-profit public sector entities. They will not need to make certain fair value disclosures about property, plant and equipment held for their current service potential. The amendments to AASB 13 Fair Value Measurement may be early adopted to apply for 30 June 2015 year ends.

Kris Peach, Chair of the AASB noted “The AASB wanted this relief to be available for preparation of 30 June 2015 general purpose financial statements. Disclosures of quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs used in fair value measurements and the sensitivity of certain fair value measurements to changes in unobservable inputs will no longer be required.”

The disclosures specified by AASB 13 had posed challenges and costs for the not-for-profit public sector where fair value measurement is prevalent and property, plant and equipment is held primarily to meet public service objectives. The AASB concluded that the concerns raised were more than transitional in nature, and that it was appropriate, in this instance, to depart from the requirements of the equivalent international pronouncement.

Ms Peach also observed that the Board’s research and discussions on this and similar other recent projects may have bearing on the Board’s active projects on the Australian Reporting Framework and the Reduced Disclosure Requirements (Tier 2) regime.

The amendments to AASB 13 are made by AASB 2015-7 Amendments to Australian Accounting Standards – Fair Value Disclosures of Not-for-Profit Public Sector Entities. AASB 13 and AASB 2015-7 are available on the AASB website. 

This media release was directly sourced from the Australian Accounting Standards Board website here. 

Want more members? We can help

Bidding for an international conference sounds like hard work. And for what purpose? Well, retaining and recruiting members for your organisation, for one. Bringing thought leaders and innovators in your sector to New Zealand and building networks for future knowledge exchange, for another. Add to that increased profile for your organisation, and the benefits of hosting an international conference are huge. Tourism New Zealand knows this and is here to help. Its Conference Assistance Programme provides strategic financial and marketing support to help you bid for an international conference and reap the benefits.

Will you be our champion?

The team at Tourism New Zealand knows AuSAE’s membership is full of dedicated and passionate leaders working for the good of your organisations. They also know that you are extremely busy people, which is why they are here to help. Tourism New Zealand are looking for key decision makers and influencers who want to showcase the world-leading research and development taking place in their sector in New Zealand. They want people with the foresight to reach out to other leading associations, research institutes and academic facilities around the world to build relationships and collaborate for joint research, innovation or investment. They want leaders who want to future-proof their organisations, attracting new talent and new ideas. They want ‘conference champions’, people who want to bid to hold an international conference in New Zealand.

New Zealand is a fantastic destination for international conferences. Our stunning landscapes and unique culture make New Zealand an attractive draw for visitors, increasing conference attendance. Our creative, innovative people have the reputation and drive to create conference agendas bursting with the best in knowledge and networking opportunities. Our conference and accommodation infrastructure provides the framework for an excellent event, with off-site options that are easily accessible, wonderfully diverse and instantly memorable.

What are the benefits for you? You and your colleagues can network with and learn from the world’s foremost experts in your respective field. Your event can act as a catalyst for professional development and education for your local community. You can create a legacy for your organisation by sourcing and recruiting new members as well as impressing and retaining your existing ones. And it is your time to shine: An international conference will raise the profile of your organisation and industry sector, not only amongst your peers, but locally and internationally.

So how can Tourism New Zealand help you? The Conference Assistance Programme is a fund available to national and international organisations that wish to bid to host an international conference in New Zealand. Events with a minimum of 200 international delegates are eligible to apply.

Assistance includes: facilitating a financial feasibility study for the conference; developing attractive bid documents and presentations; covering travel costs to support the delivery of the bid, and producing bespoke marketing materials designed to both win the bid, and later, to achieve your delegate attendance objectives.

Moreover, our experienced Business Events Team can support you through the bid process, arming you with a toolkit of resources, from fact sheets to itineraries, professional images and videos, to the Essential NZ App. Tourism New Zealand loves conferences and is happy to offer advice, experience and help every step of the way, so you can hold the best event possible.

It’s a win-win situation. Contact Tourism New Zealand, and start organising an international conference that goes Beyond Convention.

www.businessevents.newzealand.com

Two Directors of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) are required to retire by rotation at each Annual General Meeting. This year Matthew Goodson (Chairman) and John Stace step down and both are eligible to stand for reappointment.

Matthew Goodson announced on 11 June 2015 that he would not be seeking re-election for a further three-year term and will retire from the NZTR Board at the conclusion of the AGM to be held in Christchurch on 6 November 2015.

A meeting of the Members’ Council was held on 10 August 2015 at which it was agreed to appoint Dr Alan Jackson and Mr John Stace to the two vacant seats on the NZTR Board from the conclusion of the AGM.

Wayne Guppy, Chairman of the Council, stated: “The Council reviewed a very strong group of applications and unanimously agreed to appoint Dr Alan Jackson to the vacant seat on the Board and retain the skills of Mr John Stace, the current NZTR director retiring by rotation.”

“Alan will bring enormous racing knowledge and experience to the Board. He has had over 30 years of business experience across a wide spectrum of industries and disciplines including public and listed companies and racing bodies in three countries.”

His current governance roles include independent directorships of Fletcher Building, Fletcher Finance Limited and Delegat Group.

He was a founding Director of the New Zealand Racing Board between 2003 and 2006 and again in 2012-13 including serving as Chairman.

Alan served as Chairman of the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Australasia between 2003 and 2009 after holding the positions of Senior Vice President and Managing Director. He has also chaired the Housing Corporation of New Zealand.

He is an owner and breeder in New Zealand and Australia and a member of the New Zealand

Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners’ Federation and Australian Racehorse Owners’ Association; Auckland Racing Club and Taupo Racing Club (part of the TRAC Group).

Wayne Guppy added: “The Council followed a thorough process and I thank all members of the Council for their meticulous approach to this governance role.”

“We look forward to working with Alan and John, and the other four members of the NZTR Board to

continue the progress they have made in ensuring a sustainable model for thoroughbred racing.”

This media release was directly sourced from  the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing website here and was written by Simon Cooper. 

The Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors (PAQS) 2016 Congress will take place 20–24 May 2016, in Christchurch. It is expected to attract 200 overseas delegates from Australia, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Brunei, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Canada, South Africa, Europe and the USA, alongside 150 delegates from New Zealand.

Marilyn Moffatt, Executive Director, New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NZIQS), says post-earthquake Christchurch is a particularly relevant host for the conference theme ‘Building For the Future - A Global Dilemma’.

Why bring this event to New Zealand?

“Our people are involved in the construction industry and there’s a lot happening in Christchurch for visiting delegates to see in terms of site visits. It’s the opportunity for people to see a new city being built. I think it goes back to how New Zealanders work in general - there’s a lot of innovation in our industry, a lot of that forced by what has happened in Christchurch. Attendees can discuss and discover the new building structures and techniques being used in the construction community.

“At NZIQS we like to think of ourselves as leaders in the Pacific. Some conferences tend to be a little more academic-focused, whereas our conference is looking at speakers that will add value to people working in the sector, it’s a more practical approach. We’re well regarded for technical knowledge. ”

What are the benefits of holding a conference in New Zealand for your organisation?

“Membership is voluntary for our organisation. Hosting this event is about leadership - they can see we are taking a leading role internationally in this sector and that adds excitement. The media attention will also lift our profile within the industry in New Zealand.

“People really enjoy the opportunity to network with delegates from overseas. We will also have more resources for this conference, so we can bring more international speakers across. It raises the engagement and excitement about our industry and makes more people want to belong to it, so that’s a plus in retaining and recruiting members and generating interest in NZIQS.”

What support did you get to help bring the conference to New Zealand?

Tourism New Zealand has been fantastic and offered us guidance in applying for the Conference Assistance Programme (CAP), which gave us funding for a feasibility study, and paid towards attending the 2014 PAQS congress in Hong Kong to bid for the 2016 event. It also included producing high quality bid documents and presentation material that the delegates were very impressed with.

This year we received further CAP funding to promote our conference at the 2015 PAQS conference in Yokohama. We got together a Maori concert party of people based in Japan and at the conference handover they came on stage and performed some songs. That went down really well, it was a bit different. TNZ is really open to different ideas - we made the suggestion and they made it happen.

One of the biggest attractions of our stand this year was the traditional Kiwi lollies we had - Minties and Pineapple Lumps. We had people coming over saying they had been waiting for us! That really helped with engagement. TNZ had also provided promotional material and banners which generated a high level of interest from delegates about coming to the conference and talking about what they can do in NZ beyond the event itself. New Zealand is on a lot of people’s wish list to visit, so they are planning to come, bring their families and take the opportunity to travel.

“I think the interest levels are much higher than usual because people are really excited about coming to New Zealand. Part of it is the attraction of Christchurch and wanting to see the development there; part of the draw card is that New Zealand is somewhere they have always wanted to go to.”

How easy was it to plan an event in Christchurch?

“It was easier to plan an event there than we had thought. We were really surprised at the conference infrastructure that is in place post-earthquake; we got a lot of help from Tourism New Zealand and Christchurch & Canterbury Convention Bureau. They made it very easy for us, we couldn’t have done it without them.

“Meetings will take place at the Novotel Christchurch, and the Congress itself at Wigram Air Force Base. We did some early site inspections and what gave us confidence was the number of large international conferences that have already successfully taken place there. Wigram Airforce Base isn’t a purpose-built convention facility but they were able to show it set up for a conference. We didn't want to rely on what was going to be built, but on our visits we could see the number of beds available at different types of accommodation already, and that was more than enough.”

Recent changes to the Charities Act 2005 create statutory audit and review requirements for medium and large Registered Charities from 1 April 2015.  

Who will be affected?

If a charity’s total operating expenditure for each of the previous two accounting periods was:

• over $500,000 (medium) –  financial statements must be either audited or reviewed by a qualified auditor; or
  
• over $1 million (large) – financial statements must be audited by a qualified auditor.
  

Registered Charities with total operating expenditure of less than $500,000 are not required by law to have an audit or review. However, they may be required by their rules (e.g. trust deed, constitution, or charter) or as a condition of receiving a grant to have their financial statements audited or reviewed.

For more information on these changes please visit the Charities Services website here. This information was sourced directly from the Charities Services website.