Minister's Message

The Gillard Government will invest $63 million to bring production of Toyota's next-generation, four-cylinder engine for the Camry and Hybrid Camry to Australia. The grant, from the Green Car Innovation Fund, will be used to install cutting-edge plant and equipment. It will lead to expansion and renewal of capacity at Toyota's engine plant in Altona, Victoria.

- Senator the Hon Kim Carr
Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research

Get online to improve your bottom line

Find out how four Australian small businesses used the Australian Government's Small Business Online program to help get an online advantage. Only 44 per cent of metropolitan and 35 per cent of regional Australian business owners report having a website according to the April 2010 MYOB Business Monitor. Which makes programs such as Queensland's E-Nable so exciting to small business people looking to make their web presence felt. The E-Nable project is the result of a $452,000 grant under the Small Business Online program. 

ATS gearing up with information sessions

AusIndustry is holding information sessions in Melbourne (October 25), Adelaide (October 26), Sydney (October 27) and Brisbane (October 28) for the $3.4 billion Automotive Transformation Scheme (ATS) for 2011. The information sessions will also focus on the key administrative elements of the Scheme.The ATS is an integral component of the Government's New Car Plan For A Greener Future. The ATS comes into effect on 1 January 2011, replacing Stage 3 of the Automotive and Competitiveness and Investment Scheme (ACIS). The information sessions will be valuable for representatives of companies that are registered in ACIS and seeking to transition into the ATS, industry participants not currently registered for ACIS and industry advisers.

Importing and exporting assistance

Are you importing and exporting? Want to improve cash flow? You may be entitled to an up-front exemption from customs duty and GST - exemptions which are available through the Tradex Scheme. Cake Lingerie designs, manufactures and distributes fashion maternity and nursing lingerie to department and speciality stores in more than 25 countries. "Tradex support is vital in our decision to maintain an Australian central hub for world-wide distribution," Cake Lingerie's Keith Hyams says. "The Tradex experience has been pleasing and a lot easier than we thought."

Scram scammers!

Scammers are calling Australians offering fake grants from a fake government department. The scammers claim you have received a government grant and then request a fee of $199 to release the grant funds to you. They may also request $4000 to 'contribute to charities to pay off government debt'. The scammers claim to be representing the fictitious "Australian Government Grants Department" and may fool you into believing they are legitimate as they may already have your personal details. Report scams via SCAMwatch or 1300 795 995.

R&D pays off

Australian firms are increasing their investment in research and development according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures. Business expenditure on research and experimental development reached $16.9 billion in 2008-09, an increase of 13 per cent in current price terms on the previous year. This growth lifted Australia from 14th to 11th among the 30 OECD countries.

Big help for small business

As part of the Small Business Assistance Program, the ATO offers free business assistance visits to all small business owners. Experienced tax officers can visit business owners to discuss a range of topics, including employer obligations, superannuation and other services, including the Business Portal, on-line support tools and a range of publications and guides. You can register for an assistance visit online at any time, or phone 13 28 66 between 8am-6pm weekdays to arrange for one of our officers to contact you to make an appointment.

The Gillard Government is providing total funding of $500,000 to organisations and individuals to run science events and activities as part of the 2011 National Science Week. Grant applications close on Friday 22 October 2010. National Science Week 2011 will run from August 13-21.