The executive director of the Australian Coal Association, Ralph Hillman, said governments were making serious investments in renewable and clean energy production.

“People are working on all these technologies because everyone can see climate change science is real and we are facing a carbon constrained future, “ he said.

Mr Hillman said coal industries were working towards methods to address carbon emissions and they have Coal21 Fund, which is dedicated to carbon capture and storage technologies.

“Coal is going to have to address its greenhouse gas emission via carbon capture and storage, which is central to a global solution to climate change,” he said.

Energy ‘boost’

Australian Conservation Foundation climate change campaigner Phil Freeman said the survey results released in September would hopefully spark renewed action to promote clean energy.

“What we need next is a boost for the emerging clean energy technologies like large-scale solar, geothermal hot rocks and tidal and wave power,” he said.

Urban and Regional Planning and Sustainability lecturer at Queensland University of Technology, Mellini Sloan, said it was significant the survey shows an overwhelming majority of people in both areas care.

“It’s a great challenge for young engineers and it certainly seems like it’s a direction that we are going in,” she said.

“It’s quite exciting”.

‘Expensive to perfect’

The Zero Carbon Australian 2020 Stationary Energy Plan said it was “technically feasible, practical and economically attractive” to have 100 per cent renewable energy in Australia in 10 years.

But Mr Hillman said both renewable energies and cleaner traditional methods would be essential to meeting future energy demands.

Mr Hillman said renewable technologies were expensive and took time to perfect and these costs would transfer to consumers.

However, Mr Freeman said electricity prices would continue to increase regardless of whether or not the energy was being produced by renewable or clean energy sources.

“[Electricity prices have] already doubled in the last 10 years and that’s got nothing to do with clean energy policies or putting a price on pollution,” he said.

The estimated increase outlined in the Zero Carbon Australia Stationary Energy Plan would be an “affordable” $8 per household each week.

But Mrs Sloan said whether homeowners would find this a reasonable amount they are willing to pay was still hard to tell.

“Eight dollars doesn’t sound like a lot but if you are strapped financially [it may be hard],” she said.

Queensland Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Stephen Robertson was not available for comment on the issue.

Energy efficient measures

However, Mr Freeman said there were many measures homeowners could take to reduce their energy usage and there energy bills.

“It’s a smart hip-pocket move to think beyond the next electricity bill, invest some time and money in smart technologies like solar hot-water and better insulation, that will reduce energy use,” he said.

The Queensland GreenHome Guide said the top five things to do to reduce energy were:

• switch to green power;
• install solar hot water system;
• heat and cool homes efficiently;
• have an energy efficient fridge;
• and do not leave appliances on stand-by.

Sustainable communities

Meanwhile, master plan communities, which offer shared lifestyle centres and self-contained communities, are taking great steps towards becoming more environmentally friendly.

Future master plan community, Rochedale Estates, south of Brisbane’s CBD, began construction this month and will have recycled water for gardening and flushing toilets and 5,000-litre water tanks standard in each home.

The homes are also designed with the housing orientation in relation to sun and wind patterns in mind, which Mrs Sloan said was sensible and could help reduce energy usage.

Brisbane Lord Major Campbell Newman said Rochedale Estates had made outstanding developments in water sensitive design and efficient use of power and water.

“This is a significant master plan community that’s finally on its way,” he said.

Peter Brown CEO of FKP, the property and investment group behind Rochedale Estates, said a great amount of environmental work was done because purchasers appreciated it.

“Within limits buyers are willing to pay a premium for [more sustainable housing],” he said.

Related Links:

• Queensland GreenHome Guide – Australian Conservation Foundation.
• Media Release Survey – Australian Conservation Foundation.
• Zero Carbon Australian 2020 Stationary Energy Plan.
• Ezy Green – Brisbane City Council and The Queensland Government

A survey found the number of applicants continues to drop, making it harder to find appropriate candidates. Photo: Tijana Jaksic

Some Australian recruiters say the way businesses handled the financial downturn is shaping jobseeker attitudes towards potential new employers.

Randstad Recruitment Queensland manager for accounting, banking and finance, Tarnya Lowe, says the number one concern of candidates is the stability of companies.

“They want to know the size of the business, the turnover and whether they made staff redundant in the last 12 to 18 months,”  Ms  Lowe said.

“They think that if they’re last on, they’ll be first to go.

“We had some businesses who probably didn’t do a very good job with their redundancy packages and how they dealt with those employees.

“We’re certainly seeing candidates say they’re not interested in working with those types of companies based on their own research and what the media has said about those organisations.”

Big brands, no trust?

Adcorp account director Bryn Griffiths, a Brisbane-based communications agency, says employees want to be comfortable with the brand they work for.

“What we’ve seen by the research that we’ve done, is that you mention the big brands of the world now and there’s no trust at all,” Mr Griffiths said.

“To be able to position your brand as a place that’s enticing for employment and to engage your workforce is certainly a trend that a lot of clients are trying to achieve.”

Majer Recruitment director Suzie Majer says some candidates are “feeling a bit worn down and taken advantage of”.

“You still hear a lot of people saying ‘they’ve let people go and haven’t replaced them so now I’m doing the job of two or three people’,” Ms Majer said.

Businesses ‘worried’

Ms Majer says businesses are still worried about the state of the economy following the downturn.

“I’d say everyone is a little bit tentative,” she said.

“Over the last couple of months the temp and contract market has been quite strong.

“That’s for various reasons, but one would be that they’re tentative maybe and don’t have approval to add to the head count.

“It’s also good for the client I suppose, if things pick up, then they’ve already had the opportunity to work with a candidate.”

But some recruitment agencies also say while candidates seek stability, businesses want flexibility.

Ms Lowe says many clients are looking at both temporary and permanent options when hiring new staff.

“It’s in their benefit at the moment to have that flexible workforce so if there is another downturn then that’s an easy process to go through,” Ms Lowe said.

“A lot of companies went through a lot of redundancy processes last year and they’re very costly to a business so they’re probably a little bit concerned about going back there again.

“But we also have people coming to us straight saying they want a permanent person to build the team.

“Because a lot of the teams have been really affected morale wise – so by adding new people to their teams it’s actually bringing confidence back to the employees.”

Permanent places dropping

The latest Quarterly Business Survey conducted by the Recruitment and Consulting Services Association (RCSA) found that, as a proportion of total placements, permanent placements dropped by 6 per cent to 11 per cent, while on-hired and contractor placements increased 19 per cent to 87 per cent.

The survey also found the number of applicants for positions continues to drop, making it harder to find appropriate candidates.

Martin Turner, the director of the Turner Group, says there are “very few good candidates around at the moment that aren’t working”.

“Most people with jobs are hanging on to them and candidates are being snapped up quickly,” Mr Turner said.

Recruiters ‘nervous’

Mr Turner says a lot of recruiters are still very nervous.

“The squeeze on an employment agency has been not just from the work not coming in like it was, but the work you are doing, your payment isn’t coming in for a very long time,” he said.

“If your clients aren’t paying you for 30, 60, 90 days then it’s going to affect everybody.

“Agencies went under who were owed a lot of money by companies that went under, so cash flow is king at the moment.”

Tourism in Australia

The Advertiser reports while Australia has recovered from the disastrous effects of the recession and our dollar is stronger than ever, many generation X and Y members have decided now is the perfect time to party Europe style and bask in the european sun with fellow Europeans who have stopped travelling here due to our increasingly stronger dollar.  

Australia prides itself on being a tourist’s dream with clear blue water, native animals, beaches and sunshine, but with our economy on the rise and our dollar stronger than ever, it’s turning people away from our country.

Australia is calling international tourists. Source: Olivia Noakes.

This is the biggest gap in the number of tourists arriving in and leaving Australia on record.

The number of Australians holidaying overseas was up 16 per cent while the arrivals only grew by three per cent.

As the Australian dollar remains strong our tourism sector weakens as more people are heading overseas with cheap airfares from an ever-growing number of competing carriers.

The Sunshine Coast

Queensland Tourism promotes the Sunshine Coast as a popular holiday destination for domestic and overseas travellers, with Noosa being one of its star attractions.

With the recent financial woes driving people overseas, Councillor Russel Green says it’s time to campaign energetically.

“Our own domestic market has certainly dropped,” Cr Green said.

“The tourism industry in Noosa is an $800m industry and many of our small businesses rely on the influx of tourists at peak season.

“We are still showing growth overall in our tourism figures over the last 12 months yet there were some segments struggling in comparison with the rest of Australia and our main competitors the Asia Pacific Rim,” he said.

In order to combat this, Tourism Noosa has created a new campaign with the aim to revitalise Noosa’s tourist brand.

The objective is to generate $1 billion in visitor spending by 2020 through luring Generation X and Y into relaxation mode.  Tourism Noosa CEO Steve Cooper said the campaign encourages thinking of the best holiday experiences and then tacks onto them – BY NOOSA.

“The world is changing but so is business and so are the many customer types that are emerging of that change,” Mr Cooper said.

“The key to this is recognising that the Generation X and Y are a different breed of cat.

“The way they seek information, the way they enjoy holiday experiences and the length of that experience they are looking for is continually evolving,” he said.

China: Driving the Australian economy

The ABS discovered the fourth largest number of tourists arriving in Australia in the last year was from China.

Financial Advisor Michael Goodwin said East Asia’s withdrawal from the international recession in 2009 was earlier and more vigorous than in other parts of the world.

He believes China is leading the global recuperation in industrial production and is helping Australia’s economy. 

He praises China’s trade relations and the boom of the mining industry for keeping our economy thriving.

“Australia coped quite well leading into the GFC due to previous strong government surpluses and strong mining exports to China therefore making it less volatile than other developed countries,” Mr Goodwin said.

“China is driving our country.

“If China got into trouble we would fall apart due to the mining industry and the exporting we are doing to China,” he said.

The Global Financial Crisis

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) said the financial crisis was triggered by a liquidity deficit in the United States banking scheme; it has resulted in the failure of sizeable pecuniary institutions, the rescue of banks by national governments and downturns in supply markets worldwide. 

The ABS said the world economy is rising from the throes of a historically profound and synchronised recession aggravated by the convulsive worldwide monetary bubble. 

The consequences of the original bubble and the resultant disaster have been felt in almost every market whether or not it participated directly in the perilous behaviours that precipitated the boom-and-bust cycle.

The European Union

Financialmirror.com said the European Union (EU) had suffered most significantly including Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain (PIIGS). 

In early 2010, suspicions of a sovereign debt crisis developed concerning these countries. 

Stockbroker Rob Foote said this led to a crisis of confidence as well as the widening of bond yield spreads and risk insurance on credit default swaps between these countries and other EU members, most significantly Germany.

He said Greece is at the forefront of this crisis and the state of Greece’s public finances is a test not only for the country’s policymakers but also for other members of the European Union, particularly Germany whose economy is booming.

Mr Foote believes Germany should bail Greece out of debt as they are both members of the union.

“The european economy as a whole has reported quite strong growth figures in the second quarter of this year because of exports mainly from Germany due to the weak euro making their exports more attractive; the PIIGS have been growing at a much slower rate,” Mr Foote said.

“Greece doesn’t have many options and can only rely on the strength of the rest of Europe.

“They have had 20 years or longer of mismanagement of the economy and it’s not a recent problem and therefore Germany should be assisting Greece as they are all part of the European Union,” he said.

Could this mark the beginning of the end of the euro-era?

According to statistics published on the International Strategic Analysis website last year, Greece’s budget deficit reached 12.7 per cent of GDP.

Rob Foote said there were reported worries over whether the Greeks would act to cut their spending and deficits and this has caused paroxysms in the bond markets.

He said late last month the yield on ten-year Greek government bonds vaulted to 7.1 per cent, the highest since the country joined the euro area and about four percentage points more than on German bonds, the euro zone’s safest investment.

So what happens now? 

It’s hard to predict whether the European economy will remain slow to recover. 

Mr Foote said the financial sector is an abundance of questions and unknowns.

He said as the Australian dollar grows stronger, it could create a double-edged sword; Europeans will continue to stay home while Australians will travel. 

If Mr Goodwin’s views on China are correct one thing remains certain; this engine room of the world must not slow markedly as it would affect other world economies and leave the global financial market in limbo.

This will place the value of the Top 50 Australian Stock Exchange Company between $6.1 billion and $7.3 billion.

Queensland Rail National is Australia's largest freight operator. Photo: Olivia Noakes.

The float is at the forefront of the State Government’s controversial $15 billion sell-off of five key assets, aimed at fixing the state’s budgetary problems and restoring its triple A credit rating.

Opposition leader John Paul Langbroek says this is not a smart move on behalf of the Bligh government.

“Anna Bligh is saying ‘be part of something’. We think this is part of Labor’s big lie, all to pay off Labor’s big debt and it’s all being done by mean of Labor’s big fire sale, ” Mr Langbroek said.

“The risk is that we’re losing control of something that we currently own and we think that Queenslanders want to own it, 80 per cent say that we shouldn’t be selling our assets in a fire sale simply because Labor went broke in a boom,” he said.

Like the privatisation of Telstra a decade ago, the QR National shares are aimed at Australian ‘mum and dad’ investors.

Financial Advisor Chris Jones believes with a diverse portfolio, investing in QR National may provide a profitable return.

“QR National are the largest freight operator in country, they don’t have a lot of direct competition and it is coming off the back of a resource boom which is still going to continue for some time; in short it looks good and it should help the state dramatically,” Mr Jones said.

By contrast, stockbroker Warwick Foot warns investing in QR National is not without its risks.

“Predominantly the risks relate around the volume of coal shipped across their below rail assets so essentially they miss out on contract renewals with the big mining companies that would have a detrimental effect over the next few years,” Mr Foot said.

The retail price, institutional price and the basis of allocation will be announced on November 22.

During September, major department store David Jones started to stock Christmas-related goods, such as decorations, cards and gift wrapping, and food.

David Jones has been selling Christmas-related goods since September. Source: ourbrisbane.com

David Jones has referred to this move as keeping up with international retail trends.

The Queensland Consumers’ Association’s president, Cherie Dalley, said “department stores view Christmas – and many other festive events – as a simple way to increase profits.”

“Christmas should be a time for celebrating,” added Ms Dalley.

“Even if you are not religious, it should be about celebrating relationships with family and friends, not just spending money.”

Religious meaning

The Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane spokesperson, Adrian Taylor, believes “There is not enough tinsel in the world to detract from the true meaning of Christmas.”

Mr Taylor described Christmas as an “amazing phenomenon”, and one which commercial giants, such as Myer and David Jones, have claimed for their “special moment for business”.

Despite what many shoppers would consider as a money-making venture, Mr Taylor said department stores are not the only ones preparing for Christmas months ahead of its celebration date.

“Each and every parish across the country has a liturgy preparation team beginning their work just as early,” said Mr Taylor.

“In schools, ‘Carols by Candlelight’ events and the telling of the Christmas story occur three to four weeks before the church holds [these types of events],” added Mr Taylor.

In Mr Taylor’s opinion, Christmas has not turned into a money-making venture.

However, he does believe there has been a societal shift in the celebration process.

“Christmas does not need to be ‘funded’; it needs to be celebrated with the true meaning as the focus of the celebrations.”

“This does not need to include turkey, treats and tinsel,” said Mr Taylor.

Of those from a Christian-based faith – Roman Catholics, Protestants and members of the Orthodox Church – Christmas is viewed not as a single day, but as a whole season.

“Christmas festivities are a time to remember Christ’s birth and celebrate his presence among us,” said Mr Taylor.

Commercialisation?

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) ‘A Statistical look at Christmas’ media release, shopping for the festive season peaks in December.

In 2009, Australians spent 58 million dollars on Christmas-related goods. Source: Andrew Dernie

In 2009, Australians imported 58 million dollars worth of Christmas-related goods, and spent another 10 million dollars on Christmas lights.

 “People are influenced by advertising and they tend to believe you can show your affection by giving gifts,” said Ms Dalley.

The ABS reported retail spending increased by 26 per cent during December last year, with a noticeable 64 per cent increase in department store bought goods.

Ms Dalley believes: “People’s attitudes are changed by department stores’ policies.

“We seem to go from one festive event to another with no respite.

“Advertising occasions such as Christmas well ahead of time is obviously extending the profit making period.”

Fees will be spent on student amenities Photo by m00by www.flickr.com

The government wants to pass legislation making tertiary students pay up to $250 towards university amenities.

Students are able to apply to defer the fee through HECS, if they are unable to pay it up-front.

Labor says the extra funding will help more services such as health, education, recreation and to upgrade campus facilities.

Queensland’s Shadow Minister for Education Dr Bruce Flegg dismisses Labor’s gesture saying it is a ploy to force students to join a union.

“I understand the argument that by making compulsory student unions they are able to raise more money more cheaply,” he said.

“However, I think the issue of forcing people to join an organisation for those who don’t wish to as part of their enrolment is really an unacceptable principle.”

Voluntary student unionism

VSU was first introduced by the Howard Government in 2005 and
National Union of Students Victorian President Jesse Marshall says students have since missed out on essential services.

“NUS have witnessed student services across the country at campuses decline significantly since VSU was introduced,” he said.

Mr Marshall says the fee will not support unionism behaviour; instead it will be spent on services such as education.

“All the money universities are spending in the post-VSU environment…is all coming out of teaching funds,” he said.

“What this student services amenities fee will allow to happen is that universities will be able to spend the money that they need to on teaching and learning.”

He says NUS has been lobbying to elect an independent student body who would oversee how the funds would be spent.

“NUS believe that students best know what students want,” he said.

But Dr Flegg says university services have not decreased as first predicted.

“Currently health and counselling services are quite accessible to people,” he said.

“The people who predicted the sky would fall in when fees became non-compulsory, their fears haven’t really been realised.

“It’s important that we make sure they remain accessible and people are not excluded because they can’t afford it.”

Regional universities to benefit

The University of the Sunshine Coast is one of the youngest campuses in Queensland and despite the growth in enrolments, student amenities have suffered since the funding lapse.

University of the USC Vice Chancellor Professor Greg Hill says groups opposing the proposal need to realise the funds will directly benefit the students.

“Under the proposed legislation the money wouldn’t be handed over to the student guild or guilds or unions as was the case previously,” he said.

Professor Hill says a levy is needed.

University of the Sunshine Coast. Photo by Kevin Soulacroup www.flickr.com

“There are things that just aren’t going to be provided because they can’t afford them, unless there is some independent funding stream,” he said.

He says since VSU was introduced,  the  USC Guild has been unable to provide any extra services.

“It had absolutely no income sources other than that money coming in,” he said.

Professor Hill says more health and recreational services help to build a community.

“I think it’s a bit sad because today’s students… most of them don’t realise what things were like and what was available beforehand,” he said.

From left: Cameron Scott and Calum Shand, Bonvoy Apparel designers. Photo: Calum Shand

Sunshine Coast young designers, Calum Shand and Cameron Scott have chosen to launch their clothing label, Bonvoy Apparel, purely online in effort to reach their technology savvy target market.

A recent Roy Morgan survey shows four in 10 Australians bought a product or service online in the year ending June 2009, a significant increase of 800,000 shoppers from the previous year.

According to Mr Scott, the internet is the most effective and economic catapult for Bonvoy Apparel, which is marketed at 17 to 27-year-olds.

“When we started off we were particularly looking at a business on the internet, purely because of the benefits from it,” Mr Scott said.

“It’s cheaper to run as you don’t have the upfront cost and running costs.

“I don’t think that you can have a fashion label these days and not have it online.

“It’s kind of the expected especially with the target audience that we go for, we have to be online.”

Mr Shand said to start an online business requires attractive marketing and smart accounting, in addition to commitment.

“You need to be able to have a website, have nice graphics that will attract the people to the products initially, and behind that the profits and the accountancy,” he said.

“I think that’s all you really need, and obviously some inspiration and dedication.”

Bonvoy Apparel vows to always remain online but the young designers have a few tricks up their sleeves in grabbing attention at markets and in stores.

“We’re looking at setting up old school and quirky tables [at markets], with Bonvoy beach balls to draw attention,” Mr Shand said.

“We’re also getting the beach balls for festivals and letting them loose,” Mr Scott said.

Bonvoy Apparel models. Photo: Calum Shand

“It’s all about getting the stores to know us before we go in and pitch to them.

“We have A3 posters going out soon, approximately 200 all over the Sunshine Coast.

“It’s even down to the small things like getting our friends to walk into stores and ask for Bonvoy Apparel, before we actually walk in ourselves.”

Security of online websites

Chief Technical Officer of Stratsec Nick Ellsmore, a cyber security consultant, said Internet security is a key issue for many online businesses, however many do not fully understand the complexities.

“Application security has become a significant area of investment for many firms seeking to improve the security of their online presence, but on the other hand, many developers still do not fully appreciate what is required to develop a secure web application,” Mr Ellsmore said.

Mr Ellsmore said Paypal and alike services have allowed online merchants to improve the security of their payment options.

“Certainly PayPal, and other services like it, have helped to improve the security of many web applications, through removing the need for the developers of those applications to build in custom payment processing facilities,” he said.

Starting an online business

Small business advisor and author of Five Pillars to Business Success, Dr Greg Chapman said online businesses are no different to those offline, and a website should merely be seen as a marketing tool.

“It doesn’t matter whether it is an online or offline business, same principles apply as before the internet,” he said

“I think a lot of people, especially clothing designers, get caught up with the notion of setting up a visual website and no one comes along.

“A website is a marketing tool, rather than a business itself.”

Establishing credibility with the market audience and the media is important to succeed online according to Dr Chapman.

“Google ads are not the most credible method in creating traffic as anyone can post them,” he said

“It is more credible to get offsite publicity such as through newspapers or magazines.

“I think all businesses these days need a website, they seem less credible if they don’t have a website.”

Dr Chapman says an online business can save money in designing its own website, but its professional appearance is crucial as it also reflects the site’s security levels.

“You can save money by doing their own online development, but if you chose to go on the cheap a lot of the time it will look cheap,” he said.

“For online payments the site needs to look and be reputable, and it needs to have a security certificate and the little lock in the corner of the browser.

“Not everyone will know these things, but most people can smell a non-reputable site.”

Dr Chapman believes it is more difficult to start a clothing business online than a music business as people can try what they are buying with music samples.

“There are some businesses harder to run online rather than offline, such as clothing businesses where people want to try on the clothes or shoes,” he said.

“A good strategy to have is to have a website in addition to a store, so that people can try on your clothes and get their size.

“CDs and music on the other hand may be easier to sell online as people know who their favourite artist is.”

Roy Morgan research shows 12 per cent of all CD, DVD and HiFi sales were made online in the 12 months to July 2010, ahead of 11 per cent of all book sales.

Path for online success

Entrepreneur and founder of RedBalloon, Naomi Simson started her online business nine years ago with little knowledge of the Internet.

“I had a marketing background and I started [RedBalloon] with no experience of online businesses,” Ms Simson said.

“Nine years ago when we didn’t really know much about the Internet, we didn’t know exactly what we were doing, we just had to try everything.”

Starting a small business depends more on personality of the entrepreneurs than their skills and experience according to Ms Simson.

“A lot of people with no experience start successful businesses,” she said.

“It depends more on personality.

“How tenacious they are, how interested they are, how committed they are, how good can they make the customer experience.”

Like Dr Chapman, Ms Simson believes the Internet is a marketing tool and a well-established business plan is essential for success.

“An online business is like any other business,” she said.

“The Internet is just a facilitation, you still need the infrastructure.”

Bonvoy Apparel model. Photo: Calum Shand

Designers hard at work during the Innovation Camp. Photo Courtesy of City Studios.

Technical and creative IT designers were at Brisbane’s City Studios on the weekend to showcase their entrepreneurship and creative flair in the city’s first Innovation Camp.

Camp organiser Chris Hood said it was a great success.

“The camp was fantastic,” he said.

“We were aiming to promote design thinking in the form of a commercially viable product that’s beneficial for society.

“The effort the participants showed was amazing.”

The camp began last Friday night, with participants arriving at the Burnett Lane studios.

They broke into two groups, each with technical and graphical members.

Sleep was given a low priority as the groups then worked hard over the next two days to brainstorm ideas for an innovative product to be launched on Sunday afternoon.

HfreeO project

One of the projects, HfreeO, is a smartphone application that directs the user to nearby sources of clean, free water.

In some cases it eliminates the need to buy bottled water.

Tim Smith, one of five HfreeO team members said his group would be looking to take the idea into production.

“The next step involves getting the group back together to sit down and see where we’re at,” he said.

The team that designed HfreeO is made up of technical people to write the code and ensure the program functions, while the marketing team is in charge of press releases into the creative side of the product.

“It was a real challenge to work under such time constraints,” Mr Smith said.

Mr Smith said the group will face difficulties, including how to present the information without promoting poor quality drinking water.

However, he is still enthusiastic about the possibilities ahead.

“The plan is to go global eventually, I couldn’t be sure of a time frame to get (HfreeO) up and running, that’s one of the things we’ll discuss,” Mr Smith said.

“I’d have no hesitation participating in another Innovation Camp.”

Smokefree idea

Smokefree, a tool to help the user quit smoking, was another idea for a smartphone application to come from the weekend.

Essentially an aid to a person’s willpower, the program aims to use positive reinforcement and incentives to help the user increase the time they can last without smoking.

Blake Jakopovic was part of the team behind the brainchild.

“The initial concept uses game mechanics, points and a leader board to help quitting become a competition; either against yourself, a friend or smokers at a similar stage,” Mr Jakopovic said.

The Smokefree application is not currently online.

“The project started at one o’clock on the morning of the presentation, so at this stage it’s very crude,” Mr Jakopovic said.

Mr Jakopovic started on Smokefree after originally working on a website idea, Fun2help.

The website connects volunteers with event organisers and was on track to get developed, with time to spare.

Mr Jakopovic, with the help of some others, then decided put his energy towards Smokefree.

“The idea had a lot of interest after the presentation, several other participants said they’d be keen to take it further,” Mr Jakopovic said.

“We’ll be meeting with them soon to discuss thoughts, visions and what’s next.”

The three-man judging panel, made up of industry professionals, commended all three projects for being socially beneficial as well as great business ideas.

Organisers say another Innovation Camp is being planned.

Echoing sentiments it’s one of the best places to live, the chamber says it’s one of the worst places to do business.

Mr Goodwin said the Sunshine Coast is now one of the worst performing regions in Queensland.

Division 2 Councillor Tim Dwyer is responsible for growing areas including Caloundra  and agrees with the views held by Mr Goodwin.

“We here on the Sunshine Coast are not sending out the right message,” Cr Dwyer said.

“I think we’ve got some great long-term vision but you want to work in the short term to get action,” he said.

Cr Dwyer said the regional council must form a partnership with business owners in order to bring the coast forward.

“We have to think more about how we can work with our partners here on the Sunshine Coast being small business large business, the development industry, the tourism industry and start treating them like partners not as if they’re just another entity here on the coast working in isolation from us,” Cr Dwyer said.

He believes the council should act now instead of thinking long-term in order for the Sunshine Coast to economically bounce back.

“The vision we’ve got is for long-term outcomes and I think we’ve dropped the ball with regards to making sure we look to things to drive our economy as we look towards our ultimate vision which is to be the most sustainable region in Australia,” Cr Dwyer said.

Fellow Sunshine Coast Councillor Jenny Mckay disagrees with her colleague saying the council is doing all they can to restore the business sector.

“Council has committed and is committed to planning sustainably for our future together with our community and our community’s aspirations,” Cr Mckay said.

“We are looking at inviting any business in and across the region that would like to do business here.

Alexandra Headlands: Part of the 'third world economy' on the Sunshine Coast. Source: Olivia Noakes.

“I don’t believe we are a third world economy but if we don’t keep pursuing every opportunity well any economy can continue to spiral down,” she said.

Mr Goodwin said although Australia escaped recession during the Global Financial Crisis, Queensland  had experienced five successive quarters of negative economic growth.

Struggling business owners on the Sunshine Coast like copy printer Martin Bushell are demanding council step in before developers take their business elsewhere.

“The council has the final decision and I do think some of the councillors don’t understand the reality of business and would like to live in an ideal world rather than the real world,” Mr Bushell said.

“Business people just won’t wait. They’ll go to Ipswich, Gold Coast or Brisbane or somewhere else if they can’t get into the Sunshine Coast and if it’s their preferred model; then the council should be bending over backwards.

“You can’t just stagnate business and think it’s all good and it’s going to look nice and green and lovely; you’ve got to have some business to make the economy work otherwise we’ll end up as one large retirement village,” he said.

The business community has raised their voices in unity in order to be heard by the council.

While this is good news for importers and those heading on an overseas holiday, other Australians are positioned to lose money.

A stronger exchange rate could cause the cost of exports rise, hurting farmers and other commodities sellers.

The Aussie dollar looks set to match the US dollar. Image: Marnie Gerrard.

The tourism industry is also feeling the effects of the high dollar, as international holidaymakers deem travel in Australia too expensive.

Economist Professor John Quiggin says South East Queensland’s tourism will suffer twofold.

“Both with Australians taking overseas holidays because they’re cheap, and overseas visitors not wanting to come here,” Professor Quiggin said.

Sunshine Coast travel agents report an increased interest in overseas holidays.

“It is a good time to travel and the people that have the budget to do so are defiantly taking advantage of it,” said Natalie Owens.

Generally, a strong Australian dollar means the cost of imported goods fall, which is good for consumers in the lead-up to the Christmas trading period.

Cheaper imports should keep competition high and the price of electrical goods, clothing and business equipment low.

The purchasing manager of Unique Health Products, the Sunshine Coast’s largest health product distributor, said the savings and profits created by a strong Aussie dollar would be passed on to consumers.

“When you’re importing millions of products from the United States, even a cent increase in the exchange rate makes a huge difference,” Bhima Parkes said.

“We can then pass these savings on to our customers through specials and lower prices.”

In an interview with ABC’s Insiders program, Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Wayne Swan said Australians should celebrate the strength of the Aussie dollar.

“It reflects our low unemployment rate,” he said.

“It reflects strong investment in the Australian economy and therefore strong growth.”

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported Thursday a 49,500 rise in the number of employed, leaving unemployment at 5.1 per cent and causing the dollar to jump.

Professor Quiggin says low unemployment figures keep interest rates high, strengthening the dollar.

“We have high interest rates which means interest bearing deposits in Australia are attractive and we have a strong export of minerals, they’re the two primary causes,” he said.

Market watchers are expecting the currency to reach parity with the greenback over the coming weeks.

The Australian dollar has rallied 10 per cent since the start of September against the US dollar, and hit a 25-year peak against the British pound.

“It is also a reflection of the weakness of the US dollar but really our dollar is the strongest it’s been against other currencies for a long time,” Professor Quiggin said.