Archived News for Engineering Professionals
The Federal Government has released a public consultation paper to enable small and medium sized companies and other stakeholders to contribute to the design of the R&D Tax Incentive quarterly credits initiative.
The new R&D quarterly credits initiative will provide more timely access to tax incentives for small and medium sized businesses undertaking eligible research and development.
R&D quarterly credits will be an opt-in element of the Government's R&D Tax Incentive, which will further improve company cash flow and enhance incentives to invest in R&D activities.
Quarterly credits will be available to small and medium sized companies eligible for the R&D refundable tax offset.
Rather than waiting until an income tax return is assessed by the ATO, companies can choose to obtain the benefit of the offset on a quarterly basis during an income year.
Providing benefits to smaller companies sooner will be a better way to help them invest in their own future success, and in doing so, the Government is also investing in Australia's long-term economic future.
The R&D Tax Incentive is part of the Government's ambitious innovation agenda to create more business opportunities, growth and jobs for the future. It will help make our businesses more innovative and, across the nation, will assist to increase Australia's productivity and competitiveness.
Quarterly credits will be accessible for each quarter commencing on or after 1 January 2014.
The Government encourages comment and feedback on the paper as part of the consultation process to help ensure that the design of quarterly credits works for business.
The consultation paper can be found at www.treasury.gov.au. Consultation on the paper will close on 31 August 2012.
New Chief Executive of CSIRO Information Sciences
Dr David Williams, former Chief Executive of the United Kingdom Space Agency and Chairman of the European Space Agency, has been appointed as CSIRO Group Executive, Information Sciences.
WA outlines road spend
The Western Australian Government has confirmed $161 million will be spent on local roads across the State, an increase of $16 million from last financial years.
Call for NSW Science and Engineering Awards
For further details on the NSW Scientist of the Year and NSW Science and Engineering Awards 2012, including entry requirements, are here.
Materials breakthrough opens innovation opportunities
A research team from UOW’s Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials (ISEM) and the Faculty of Engineering’s Australian Institute for Innovative Materials has undertaken breakthrough research into a new class of materials called topological insulators.
Mining outlook loses sheen as investment flattens
This year’s Mining Business Outlook Report by Newport Consulting has found that mining leaders are ‘more bearish’ in their economic outlook for 2012–13 compared to the previous financial year.
Green light for Nyrstar subject to new technology
The South Australian EPA has issued environmental guidelines for Nyrstar’s Port Pirielead smelter setting out finalised variations to the licence conditions.
Green light for WA's $152m Spoilbank Marina Precinct
The Western Australian Government and Town of Port Hedland have given the green light for the $152million Spoilbank Marina Precinct development in north-west WA.
Queensland dumps Connors River Dam project
The SunWater Board has decided not to proceed with the Connors River Dam and Pipelines (CRDP) project in Central Queensland because it is not financially viable.
Report outlines Upper Spencer Gulf as mining hub
A major study highlighting how the Upper Spencer Gulf region in South Australia can boost regional development opportunities from the growing resources and energy sectors has been released.
Chairman appointed to Australian Energy Research Institute
The Australian Energy Research Institute (AERI) at UNSW has appointed George Maltabarow – an energy specialist who previously headed up Ausgrid, Australia’s largest electricity network - as its inaugural Chairman.
COAG to investigate construction industry
COAG has agreed to establish an independent review panel to conduct a broad ranging investigation into cost, competitiveness and productivity challenges in the commercial, civil and large scale residential construction industry.
Fee-free science and technology courses to boost South Australian innovation
The South Australian Employment, Higher Education and Skills Minister, Tom Kenyonhas announced that 26 STEM field courses identified as priorities for the State are now fee-free for the first time under the Skills for All reform of vocational education and training.
Ansaldo STS wins Rio driverless train contract
Ansaldo STS Australia has been awarded two contracts worth A$362 million under the Rio Tinto Iron Ore – Ansaldo STS Framework Agreement (RAFA) established in 2010.
Reed awards Meekatharra gold contracts
Emerging gold producer Reed Resources Ltd has awarded two key contracts for its Meekatharra Gold Project.
East West Link briefing held
Victorian Roads Minister Terry Mulder has opened an industry briefing attended by over 100 financiers and construction representatives to gain input into the development of a business case for Melbourne’s East West Link.
Infrastructure yearbook shows growth in transport investment
The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese, has released the latest Australian Infrastructure Statistics Yearbook, showing that infrastructure investment is up 42 per cent in real terms since 2006-07 (the last full year of the Howard Government) and is double what it was a decade ago.
NSW receives unsolicited F3 to M2 link proposal
The New South Wales Government has received an unsolicited proposal from private motorway operator Transurban for the construction of a possible F3 to M2 Motorway Tunnel link underneath Pennant Hills Road.
$70 million program to support coal mining abatement technology
The Federal Government’s $70 million Coal Mining Abatement Technology Support Package has been launched, providing funding to accelerate the development of abatement technologies and processes for the Australian coal mining industry.
Australian Innovation Challenge open for entries
Innovative individuals and projects across seven fields have an opportunity to secure cash prizes and national recognition as part of the Australian Innovation Challenge, an initiative of The Australian newspaper in association with Shell Australia.
Exemplar Health wins Kawana contract
The Exemplar Health consortium, lead by development giant Lend Lease, has been announced by Queensland Health as the successful proponent to deliver the new tertiary hospital at Kawana on the Sunshine Coast.