About rowenadelarosayoon

Communications strategist encompassing a broad scope of print and online journalism, public relations, marketing, campaign and developmental writing, research, website planning, social media strategy, and all related areas.

Mining boom over, Rio Tinto announces job cuts

Posted on August 2, 2012 by rowenadelarosayoon

Barely two weeks after Deliotte Access Economics predicted the end of the mining boom by 2014 or so, Rio Tinto announced its massive job cuts in its Sydney and Melbourne offices Tuesday.

Sky News reported the Sydney office with 30 employees will shut down, while about 240 administrative staff in Melbourne will go. Of the estimated 200 workers at the technology and innovation research centre in the Melbourne suburb of Bundoora, not a significant number will be affected. Some roles will also be relocated to operating division hubs in Perth and Brisbane.

Rio Tinto Chief Executive Tom Albanese notified employees on cuts in jobs and services around the globe (Photo: Reuters)

Job cuts is the way to deal with falling commodity prices and soaring costs, a spokesperson said.

The warning came in June when Rio Tinto chief executive Tom Albanese and Australian boss David Peever emailed their staff about plans to cut support and service costs by 10 per cent around the globe. They said they are building resilience and controlling costs during a difficult time, which includes commodity price falls and Europe’s debt crisis.

“This includes a program of reductions in service and support costs across the organisation, which have been rising sharply in recent times….Miners are complaining about rising input costs, leading in to this month’s earnings season, including wages, equipment, energy and new taxes.”

Rio’s first half net profit is tipped to fall to about $US4.9 billion ($A4.69 billion) from $US7.78 billion ($A7.44 billion) last year.

Another mining giant, BHP Billiton, is also experiencing the pinch. Its earnings have been also forecast to drop, similar with the world’s biggest iron ore miner, Vale, which posted lower than expected second quarter earnings at two year lows in the recent weeks.

Deloitte Access Economics issued the sternest warning of troubled times ahead for the mining sector. It said the boom will end in two years or so.

Argyle Diamond Mine in Western Australia (AFP: Emmanuel Dunand)

Access’s Chris Richardson admitted the boom significantly boosted Australia’s economic growth, “but the peak of the project pipeline is already in sight.”

Investment in resources projects – the key driver of the boom – is looking “less certain the further out you look”, Richardson said.

Access, Australia’s leading private-sector economics advisory said, “Mining companies are making it clear the current spike in investment is due to decisions taken a while back, whereas we are getting few new mining mega-projects across the line.”

Blog Link: ASIAN CORRESPONDENT

Singapore: a new investment prospect for Australian mining tycoons

Posted on August 1, 2012 by rowenadelarosayoon

Australian mining billionnaires have got enough when it comes to exorbitant Government taxes. Now, they are looking for investment elsewhere.

Mining magnate Gina Rinehart is reportedly bought two condo units worth AU$43.8 million.

Gina Rinehart, owner of Hancock Prospecting Pty. Ltd. and known as the world’s richest woman, set her eyes on property investment in Singapore to avoid higher taxes on capital gains.

Fairfax Media said Rinehart purchased two condominium units costing $S57 million ($43.8 million) in the Seven Palms Sentosa Cove. One unit on the third floor of the four-storey complex costs about $S23.3 million while the top-floor unit fetches up to nearly $S33.9 million.

Mining magnate Gina Rinehart acquires the largest stake at Fairfax media. (Photo: Patrick Hamilton)

Along with Rinehart, coal magnate Nathan Tinkler of Whitehaven Coal Ltd. is also rumoured to have put off his plans for a $13 million beachfront home in Newcastle, New South Wales and “shipped his family off to Singapore.” Tinkler is said to have bought in the Santosa Cove area as this is the only area on the island nation where foreigners can buy property, Yahoo Singapore reported.

Live Trading News said Tinkler’s Sydney-based public relations firm confirmed the tycoon’s relocation to Singapore to enable Tinkler to be closer to his Asian partners. Although the main office remains in Brisbane, the Tinkler would allot his time 50 percent overseas, the report added.

According to Brisbane Times, his spokesman, Tim Allerton, said the principal place of residence would now be Singapore. “He just wants to be closer to the markets, to Asia.” Tinkler’s wife and their four school-age children left Newcastle to join him, Allerton said.

This beachfront property beckons wealthy expat elites. (Photo: SMH)

Located near Tanjong Beach, Seven Palms is a four-storey residential development that features just 41 units. Nearing completion, it is designed by Perth-born architect Kerry Hill. Its website flaunts, “Located on the tranquil eastern coast of Sentosa Island, Sentosa Cove is Singapore’s first and most exclusive marina residential community that offers tropical resort living just minutes from the hustle and bustle of city life in mainland Singapore.”

Property investment speculators claim Singapore is Asia’s new Switzerland– a major financial hub with strict banking secrecy laws– besides it is increasingly styling itself as an exclusive place to live. Non-Singaporean nationals can purchase properties on a 99-year lease program in the area under strict provisions that the property is owner-occupied and never rented out.

Singapore is the world’s lowest in personal taxes rate with a cap of 20 percent, compared to an atrocious 46.5 percent top tax rate in Australia.

Sentosa Cove to match a luxury lifestyle (Photo: SMH)

Whether facing the majestic South China Sea, the spectacular verdant fairways of the Tanjong golf course, or the calm serenity of the waterways, each generously-portioned land parcel represents a blank canvas upon which to design and build your dream residence.

Come and be among the discerning few to experience the epitome of luxury resort living at Sentosa Cove, Singapore’s most exclusive real estate.

Nathan Tinkler of Whitehaven Coal Ltd has moved to Singapore from Brisbane with wife and family. (Photo: Live Trading News)

Blog Link : ASIAN CORRESPONDENT

Carbon tax gaining public support, poll says

Posted on July 25, 2012 by rowenadelarosayoon

Right-winged politicians continue to employ scaremongering tactics to thwart public support for the carbon tax which took effect on July 1. The public has also feared the new tax would hurt households.

However, the Climate Institute Chief John Connor said the misunderstanding is caused mainly by ineffective communication strategy implemented by the Government. Although advertising and promotional campaigns were put up, “the message hasn’t got through,” the Herald Sun reported.

According to new report by the Institute, the carbon tax gained more public support after the compensation package was explained more clearly.

In a poll conducted this week by Ipsos Social Research, the Institute released a report that shows an improved support for the carbon tax package— almost doubled after the compensation package is explained.

Earlier surveys showed that out of 1131 people, a significant 52 per cent opposed the carbon tax with only 28 per cent supporting it. But when it was explained the money raised goes to low and middle income households, businesses, and towards renewable energy, support jumps to 47 per cent while those opposing it tumbles to 29 per cent.

Other findings include:

67 percent wants the Government to take a lead role in fighting climate change while 11 percent wants the Government out;

61 percent were fearful the new tax would hurt the economy, but 43 percent believes it would dirve investment in renewable energy;

36 per cent believe their households will be much worse off and 29 per cent say they will be a little worse off. One in five say they will be about the same and 10 per cent think they will be better off.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott vowed a “blood pledge” to scrap the law if elected in 2013, but only 44 percent believe Abbott and the Coalition would repeal it.

The Government says about four million households will be better off, two million will come out even and three million will be worse off.
Anti-carbon tax protesters march to show their opposition to the tax in Sydney, July 1 (Photo: AAP)

Meanwhile, Gujji Muthuswamy, adjunct lecturer and faculty of Business and Economics at Monash University said the carbon tax continues to create confusion because it has not been explained in “plain language.” The Conversation carries Muthuswamy’s mock letter addressed to Prime Minister Julia Gillard explaining to the Australian public what the tax is all about.

Blog Link: Asian Correspondent

Tasmanian senator visits Sarawak to support illegal logging?

Posted on July 24, 2012 by rowenadelarosayoon

It has been a quiet winter for Green advocacy, but here’s a media release from the Huon Valley Environment Centre (HVEC):

Penan man standing next to a Shin Yang Timber passing truck loaded with logs. (Photo: Greenpeace)

The HVEC has released a statement by Penan people in Sarawak, who names Ta Ann as the company leasing their land for logging without prior consent or knowledge by the indigenous Sarawakians.

The group has also exposed that Liberal Senator Eric Abetz has visited Sarawak in the past weeks, and travelled to the contested area with Ta Ann.

“Our organisation has released a letter fingerprinted by Penan peoples tating they want Ta Ann off their land, this is an unprecedented show ofopposition to Ta Ann logging of their land, after the company has leased theland without the knowledge and consent by the indigenous Sarawakians,” spokesperson Jenny Weber said.

The letter from the Penan people states; “This area should not be re-logged as it wasbeing logged in the past which have made our livelihood difficult especially our food resources. We with one voice that we don’t accept any type of loggingto take place within our Native Customary Rights Land,”

Miranda Gibson, a Green activist, holds a banner to warn Ta Ann’s Japanese wood buyers. (Photo: taan.net)

“Senator Abetz has vigorously backed Ta Ann in the past and Huon ValleyEnvironment Centre is concerned about the intention of his visit to Sarawak. We are concerned Senator Abetz is not in Sarawak looking after theinterests of the Penan people, instead he is looking after big businessinterests of Ta Ann,” Weber said.

National Geographic’s Photo of July

Posted on July 18, 2012 by rowenadelarosayoon

To photography enthusiasts: Here’s National Geographic’s Photo of the Month photographed by Carsten Peter.

A cloud-to-ground lightning strike severs the sky near Los Lunas, New Mexico. Tim Samaras and his crew chased the slow-moving storm cell until they ran out of road, and now can only watch as it moves on. New Mexico’s sparse road system makes lightning chasing difficult. Far easier to navigate are the tight grids of farm roads crisscrossing the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles.

Access and Equity Policy for a Multicultural Australia

Posted on July 18, 2012 by rowenadelarosayoon

From the Priority List inbox:

The Race Discrimination Commissioner of the Australian Human Rights Commission has welcomed the report and recommendations of the independent Access and Equity Inquiry Panel.

The Access and Equity policy has been an important policy that defines Government services obligations to culturally diverse communities. The review of this policy arises from the recommendations of the Australian Multicultural Advisory Council, which recommended the formation of the Australian Multicultural Council and ‘The People of Australia’ policy.

Dr Helen Szoke said, “The Access and Equity policy is an important focus for government departments in all interactions with Australia’s culturally and linguistically diverse population. A focus on cultural responsiveness is an investment in ensuring that all people in Australia can participate equally in the community and receive the services and responses that they need to be part of the broader Australian community.”

The Panel’s recommendations call for the strengthening of this policy, through identifying clearer and more specific obligations that departments and agencies are required to meet. There is also an expectation that the principles of Access and Equity will influence all Government social policy areas.

The Panel has proposed some important core minimum obligations for Australian Government departments and agencies in relation to the Access and Equity policy, with an emphasis on a whole-of-government approach to better engage with the country’s increasingly diverse community. The recommendations, if adopted, will encourage better participation of people from different backgrounds in Australian community life.

The Australian Human Rights Commission’s research conducted with African Australian and Arab and Muslim Australian communities has identified that often members of these communities are reluctant to report on negative experiences when dealing with programs and services due to a lack of knowledge about the law and complaints processes, or the perceived difficulty in making complaints.

Dr Szoke said, “The panel’s recommendation to review the accessibility of complaints mechanisms, in consultation with communities, will help to address some of these barriers and make the process of providing feedback both easier and more effective.”

“I look forward to the Australian Government’s response to the report and in particular, to learning what mechanisms will be identified to enhance the governance, accountability and implementation of the policy,” Dr Szoke said.

The full report of the Access & Equity Inquiry is available at www.immi.gov.au/living-in-australia/a-multicultural-australia/government-approach/government-services/AandEreport.pdf

Tent Embassy’s 40th year highlights Aboriginal struggles

Posted on July 2, 2012 by rowenadelarosayoon

The official poster of NAODIC Week 2012

The National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) observes the spirit of Aboriginal struggles this week since the founding of the Tent Embassy 40 years ago.

Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda said NAIDOC Week should be a reminder that despite inroads made to date, there’s still a long journey ahead to ensure equality between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and non-Indigenous Australians,

Speaking ahead of the start of NAIDOC Week with the theme, Spirit of the Tent Embassy: 40 years on, Commissioner Gooda said it was an opportune time to refocus energies and pursue the dream of a fair and equal Australia.

“The Tent Embassy has maintained a presence in Canberra over the past 40 years and remains a powerful symbol for advocacy in Indigenous affairs,” Commissioner Gooda said.

“It provides a constant reminder to us to keep the challenges faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the forefront of our leaders’ minds and adds much needed visibility for our struggle for equality and justice.

“It is crucial that we acknowledge the legitimacy of the discrimination, disempowerment and frustration experienced by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and focus our efforts and our energies on securing the equal enjoyment of rights for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.”

The Tent Embassy was established on 26 January 1972 when four men placed a beach umbrella into the lawn of Parliament House in Canberra in an iconic protest against the refusal to acknowledge Aboriginal land rights.

This act represented for many a symbol of strength and defiance against injustice. The Tent Embassy’s protest on government policy, along with the Wave Hill walk off by the Gurindji people and the Gove land rights case of 1971, have been cornerstones in the history of the land rights movement in Australia.

“The Tent Embassy has helped to make self-determination an overriding factor in the thinking about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs. However, of most significance is the place of the Embassy in the collective understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander recent history,” Mr Gooda said.

“It is a symbol of struggle, of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders’ power as a people to protest for positive change and to reclaim the pride undermined by centuries of dispossession and discrimination.

A series of events was held to mark the 40th founding year of the tent embassy earlier this year.

“It also reminds us of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s ability to unite to campaign for better outcomes, bringing concerns and the struggles for equality to the forefront of public attention and political debate.”

Source: Australian Human Rights Commission

Australia finds no deal to help asylum seekers

Posted on June 30, 2012 by rowenadelarosayoon

The Senate upheld a High Court’s decision to scrap an extra-territorial solution to people smuggled by boat into Australia in a dramatic vote, 39 against 29.

This is a nail in the coffin of Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s benchmark policy to solve human smuggling. It also puts to rest Gillard’s “Malaysian Solution”—a deal that allows Australia to take in 4,000 genuine refugees from Malaysia in exchange for the deportation and processing of 800 boat arrivals within four years.

The High Court ruled out the deal in August last year on the grounds that Malaysia has no legal obligation to protect asylum seekers, a requirement under Australia’s Migration Act.

Refugee coalition groups in Australia also noted Malaysia rejected any responsibility in the protection of refugees and asylum seekers.

In Malaysia, the Lawyers for Liberty based in Selangor earlier supported a memorandum endorsed by various organisations against Australia’s “misguided refugee outsourcing deal.”

We, the undersigned civil society organizations, wish to express our opposition to the proposed Australia-Malaysia bilateral agreement, in principle, to transfer the next 800 asylum seekers seeking asylum in Australia to Malaysia.

Although the terms of the joint agreement remain vague, we are of the view that the Australian Government is making a mistake in arranging this joint agreement with the Malaysian Government which is not a signatory to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (“Refugee Convention”). This proposed exchange is a misguided approach in dealing with a complex issue that will cause serious ramifications as Malaysia has a long record of abuse and mistreatment of people seeking protection. This arrangement, if implemented, may lead to the violation of the rights of transferred individuals to Malaysia.

Two boatloads of asylum seekers arrived on Christmas Island, north off Australia in just 10 days. Media reports counted about 130 people were rescued, one body was recovered and three people went down with the vessel. Wednesday’s incident came just days after another boat capsized, with 110 people saved but an estimated 90 killed.

Toddlers are among the latest boat arrivals. (Photo: Danile Wilkins)

The twin tragedies alerted the Federal government. The Lower House convened and passed a bill on Wednesday to allow offshore processing of asylum seekers. However, the breakthrough was immediately dashed off by the Senate on Thursday. Heated debates lasted up to the wee hours of Friday morning.

The bill authored by Independent Rob Oakeshott is called the Migration Legislation Amendment (The Bali Process) Bill 2012. It allows Australia to send asylum seekers to Malaysia and the island of Nauru in the South Pacific for processing.

The Opposition reached a compromise, but the Australian Greens were against the proposed deal and therefore voted against the bill in both houses.

The Parliament will go into a winter recess while more boats are expected to arrive within the next few weeks.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen pronounced a macabre prediction that more boat people are expected to die while politicians are having a 6-week holiday break, the SBS reported.

A boatload of people is spotted approaching Christmas Island. (Photo: Express MV Bison)

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie also said parliamentarians should not be going into recess when such an important matter remained unresolved.

“We should be sitting today, we should have continued sitting last night, we should sit next week, we should sit until we get a solution,” he told state broadcaster ABC.

“I think there is every chance in the world that more people will die during this six-week recess,” he said.

Gilliard earlier blamed the High Court for Australia’s failure to deal with human smugglers. She said the High Court-Senate is sending a message to people smugglers to load more people to come to Australia.

Amid prolonged parliamentary processes, Gillard announced the formation of a panel composed of “experts” such as former defence chief Angus Houston, former top diplomat Michael L’Estrange and refugee advocate Paris Aristotle. She said the panel will assess all asylum policy options. The “Multi Reference Group of MPs” will also work in consultation with the panel.

Since 1976, more than 27,000 people have risked their lives on boats in a desperate bid to arrive in Australia, a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention.

Blog Link: Asian Correspondent

Lower House passes offshore asylum processing

Posted on June 28, 2012 by rowenadelarosayoon

Risky arrivals of boat people are non-stop–usually with a tragic end. (Photo: AAP)

Human smuggling is unstoppable. Two incidents of capsized vessels near the Christmas Island are reported this week. Rescue operations have been dispatched to look for survivors.

It has became all-too-ordinary when people are crammed into a boat and sail on treacherous waters with high hopes of reaching Australia— then the boat sinks before it reaches the northern shores.

The Parliament convened this afternoon and grappled with a long-awaited solution. The Lower House finally passed a bill to allow the offshore processing of asylum seekers, a move the Julia Gillard’s Labor Party has been pushing for.

Authored by Independent Rob Oakeshott, the legislation passed 74 votes to 72 following a heated and emotional debate that lasted for almost six hours. Even crossbenchers are reported to have sided with the Government.

Independent MPs Andrew Wilkie, Rob Oakeshott, and Tony Windsor listen during the bill deliberation. (Photo: Alex Allinghausen)

Gillard said a law is needed for the border protection and to assure the legal certainly of offshore processing of asylum seekers.

She told the Parliament it would an act of destruction not to pass laws removing the legal uncertainty over offshore processing of asylum seekers. ”We are on the verge of getting the laws we need….It would be tremendous act of destruction and tremendous denial of the national interest … to conduct yourself in a way which means there are no laws, ” the Age reported.

The bill is aimed at bridging the government’s proposed changes to the Migration Act to allow offshore processing in Malaysia against opposition demands for humanitarian safeguards.

It will allow an immigration minister to designate any nation as an ”offshore assessment country” as long as it was party to the Bali Process, which includes Malaysia.

The coalition had wanted to ensure refugees were only sent to countries which had signed the UN refugee convention, which would exclude Malaysia.

The Australian Greens, however, are not amenable with the proposed legislation. Media reports say they will block the bill in the Senate, and want all parties to take part in a committee to find a long-term solution that respects human rights.

Greens MP Adam Bandt said he would not support the bill ” [because] it rips up the Refugee Convention”.

The bill is now scheduled to face the Senate.

Blog Link: Asian Correspondent

Australia’s new Fairfax media to promote mining agenda?

Posted on June 18, 2012 by rowenadelarosayoon

Following Gina Rinehart’s massive share buy outs last week, Fairfax announced its long-overdue plan to go digital via paid subscription— scrapping outdated print versions of Australia’s major broadsheets, namely the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

Mining billionaire Gina Rinehart is now one of Australia’s most powerful women (Photo: AAP)

The media company is set to shut down the printing presses of the two papers located in Chullora in Sydney’s south-west and Tullamarine in north-west Melbourne, respectively, the ABC reported.

About 1,900 jobs have to go in the next three years shocking workers at the presses.

Andrew Jaspan, former editor-in-chief of The Age and a current editor of The Conversation, also said about about 20 percent of the editorial staff, about 150- 200, are also poised to lost their jobs. He added that the media company can still produce a “premium print” edition using a few journalists.

He said the media company has been mismanaged by people who do not have direct experience in the media industry.

Fairfax announced massive job cuts (Photo: Julian Smith)

The print editions, he said, are outdated formats invented 155 years ago noting that the Internet has radically changed the nature and the way news are distributed. He said “rivers of gold” generated by advertising have been dried up.

One by one Fairfax was stripped of its classified advertising “rivers of gold”. The jobs went to Seek.com.au, Cars to Carsales.co.au, homes to Realestate.com.au.

He proposed the digitalisation of Fairfax way back in 2007 when the company’s market value was $5 billion. After five years, the value dipped to as low as $1 billion. The shareprices also collapsed from $5 per share to 60 cents which predators like Rinehart has taken advantage of, he added.

The former Fairfax editor said Rinehart will not run the media like an investor but instead she will use the media to sway public opinion.

Back in 2010 she and her fellow mining barons spent $22m to get rid of Kevin Rudd’s proposed mining tax….. And so successful was the campaign that they got rid of Rudd and saved themselves an estimated $20bn in taxes.

Rinehart’s appointment of Australia’s leading climate change sceptic, Ian Plimer, as an advisor to her mining companies is simply a taste of what’s to come. As one senior Fairfax editor remarked, expect this kind of front page once Rinehart gets control. “Exclusive: Climate Change is a Hoax”.

Activists group, GetUp, tell supporters to exposed the “truth” behind Rinehart’s Fairfax raid. (Photo: GetUp)

Rinehart grabbed nearly 19 percent of the total shareholding of Fairfax Media in two separate buy outs last week. Her company, Hancock Prospecting ,confirmed she has increased her stake at the company from 13 percent, a status which already made her the majority shareholder. She cannot hold more than 20 percent unless she bid for a takeover as stipulated under Corporations Act, the ABC said.