Business

DOES YOUR BUSINESS WEBSITE HAVE A DOMAIN NAME THAT INCLUDES .AU?

Options for web addresses are expanding - you may have priority access to a shorter, simpler domain name. For example, if you own www.yoursmallbiz.com. au, you may claim www. yoursmallbiz.au.

But you’ll need to act before 21 September 2022 at 9:59am AEST.

If you want a shorter domain name, you can register the .au match of your web domain.

You have until 21 September to apply for the exact .au match through auDA’s Priority Allocation Process.

What if I don’t do anything?

Your existing domain names (e.g. www. yoursmallbiz.com.au) will continue to operate as normal.

If you do not apply for the .au match of your web domain, it will be available to the general public on 4 October at 8am AEDT. This means somebody else can register the .au version of your domain.

If your website is important to your business, you may want to register the .au match of your existing domain name.

For more information about the .au launch and registration instructions, visit auDA .au direct.

About auDA

.au Domain Administration Limited (auDA) are a not-forproft organisation that develops and administers the rules for web addresses and domain names including .au. auDA launched the Priority Allocation Process on 24 March 2022. It will continue to consider applications and allocate .au domain names under this process until 21 September 2022.

Awareness is growing among Australian business Aussie businesses explore halal export opportunities

Australia is hosting Asia’s largest gathering of halal business leaders in Melbourne tomorrow – the frst time the World Halal Business Conference has been held outside Malaysia.

Over twodays Australian businesses will explore growing halal export opportunities across food, health and beauty as well as fnancial service sectors.

Austrade and Global Victoria have partnered with Malaysia’s Halal Development Corporation under the Ministry of International Trade and Industry to host the conference themed, “Halal Opportunities in a Borderless World.”

The halal economy is one of the fastest growing sectors globally and is expected to reach $7.3 trillion by 2030. With over 240 million Muslims, Southeast Asia is a key region where halal-certifed products offer growing opportunities for Australian businesses.

The event brings together government, industry bodies and businesses to network and discuss the development of halal industries across Australia, Malaysia and the Southeast Asia.

Chief Executive Offcer of Malaysia’s Halal Development Corporation, Hairol Ariffein Sahari, said, “the World Halal Business Conference Circuit in Australia will focus on strategic business initiatives comprising of three main pillars, which include investment promotion, trade negotiations and Halal skilled talents.”

“We will deliberate prevailing issues faced by the industry, with a view to inspire wealth creation, as well as promote Halal business opportunities amongst industry players.”

Austrade Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to Malaysia & Brunei, Paul Sanda, said the Malaysian government’s decision to host the conference in Australia is a sign of the growing importance of Australian exports to Southeast Asian markets.

“From ice cream to vitamins and supplements and even fntech services, halal certifcation is opening new markets for Australian exporters in Southeast Asia and beyond. The World Halal Business Conference Circuit provides a unique opportunity for the Australian businesses to learn more about the diverse opportunities for collaboration with Malaysian businesses to beneft both our nations, but also more broadly within the global halal economy.”

“While halal-certifed food products attract strong attention, awareness is growing among Australian business about the opportunities in diverse sectors, like pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, fashion, fnance and tourism.”

Halal certifcation has implications for the entire supply chain of a consumer product, such as ingredient sourcing, slaughtering, and food packing, which need to adhere to Islamic practices if the endproduct is to be certifed as halal.

Demand for halalcertifed nutraceuticals,

from vitamins to health supplements, is growing steadily across Asia. Health and wellness brand, Swisse, currently exports a halal-certifed vitamins and supplements in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, and recently launched a range of halal multivitamins in Brunei. Speaking at the conference, Nick Mann, Regional CEO, Australia, New Zealand and Asia for H&H Group, Swisse’s parent company, will highlight how tailored halal export strategies can work across different Asian markets. “We recognise the importance halalcertifcation has to unlock opportunities in Southeast Asia markets and with other markets across the globe. We prioritise halal-certifed ingredients within our supply chain, and our partnerships with halal manufacturing facilities to ensure our products are accessible to everyone.”

TWO BUSINESSES FINED $1.05 MILLION OVER

WORKPLACE FATAL ELECTROCUTION

The courts have sent a strong message to the building industry about the importance of workplace safety after a construction company and a roofng company pleaded guilty and were fned $600,000 and $450,000 following a fatal electrocution incident in 2019.

SafeWork Executive Director Compliance & Dispute Resolution Matthew Press said falls from heights were the leading cause of traumatic injuries and fatalities in the NSW construction industry, closely followed by contact with electricity.

“On the 11 February 2019, two labourers were removing steel handrails from the roof of a warehouse in Moorebank when a metal handrail contacted high voltage power lines nearby,” Mr Press said.

“The 25-year-old man holding the handrail fell onto his back and his workmate ran to his aid and tried to kick the handrail out of his hands.

“The 25-year-old sadly died on the roof and the other worker suffered serious burns to his legs.

“Yesterday, 14 September 2022, Riverwall Constructions Pty Ltd received a $600,000 fne and on 15 July 2022, Perry’s Roofng Pty Ltd received a $450,000 fne. Both were convicted in the District Court for failing to comply with their Work Health and Safety duty.

“This case is a reminder to all businesses involved in this type of work to identify hazards and manage risks to health and safety in accordance with the provisions of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017, and the Codes of Practice for Construction Work and Work near overhead powerlines.

“Each year SafeWork NSW responds to many incidents where workers come into contact with to overhead power lines or are observed working too close to them.

“Businesses must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that no person, plant or thing at the workplace comes within an unsafe distance of an overhead power line. To avoid these types of incidents, consult with the electricity supply authority to have the power isolated. They can assess the site and advise of appropriate controls that you should adhere to. If you can’t avoid working near overhead power lines, you need to properly assess and control the risks to workers.”

Small business owners and sole traders are reminded they can apply for a NSW Government rebate of up to $1,000 to make their workplaces safer with $1 million recently added to the Small Business Rebate Program. Further information about the Small Business Rebate Program can be found here https://www. nsw.gov.au/grantsand-funding/1000safework-smallbusiness-rebate.

Further information about workplace safety can be found on the SafeWork website here https://www. safework.nsw.gov.au/ home.

Riverwall Constructions Pty Ltd was engaged to replace the damaged roof on which the workers were working. Riverwall oversaw the project at the site and subcontracted Perry’s Roofng Pty Ltd to replace the roof.

The two court judgements regarding the case can be found here and here. They have a right to appeal the sentence.