4 July 2024

In this newsletter - DON KR receives funds to cut emissions, find out about changes impacting businesses from July 1, show your support during NAIDOC week and learn about grants to support Agriculture Tech.

DON KR Castlemaine is set to receive $242,924 in funding for a feasibility study focused on identifying opportunities to lower energy costs and reduce emissions at its facility in Castlemaine. 

The Federal Government's National Industrial Transformation program is providing a total of $440 million to assist businesses reduce industrial emissions. Industries eligible to apply include agriculture, forestry, electricity, gas, water, waste, manufacturing, mining and transport.

Changes for businesses from 1 July

The national minimum wage has increased by 3.75%. This means the new national minimum wage is $24.10 per hour, or $915.90 per week.

The superannuation guarantee has risen from 11% to 11.5%.

There are multiple changes to casual employment:

• A new casual employee definition has been introduced to the Fair Work Act.  An employee can only be a casual if they are entitled to a casual loading or specific casual pay rate, and there isn’t a firm advance commitment to continuing and indefinite work.
• A new pathway has been introduced for eligible employees to change from casual to permanent employment if they want to. This will replace the current rules for changing to permanent employment.
• Right to disconnect means that eligible employees will have the right to refuse employer or third-party contact outside of working hours. This change starts on 26 August 2024 for non-small business employers (15 staff or more) and 26 August 2025 for small business employers (fewer than 15 staff).

Read up on these, and other, changes by clicking on the link below.

NAIDOC Week 7 - 14 July 2024

Are you keen to support or promote NAIDOC Week? 

Celebrations will be held across Australia next week to recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

For guidelines on how the brand should be used for events, social media, communications, promotions, and other activities head to the link below.  You can also access the digital and print logos and poster.

LaunchVic AgTech Grants Program

Did you know Victoria is Australia's largest agricultural producer? Despite this, the Agricultural Technology (AgTech) sector is still small and undeveloped, and it's essential for the future, as it provides the agricultural industry with the tools, data and knowledge to make more informed, timely on-farm decisions and improve productivity and sustainability. 

The AgTech program provides $50,000 grants to early-stage startups, providing working capital to help build capability and move to the next stage of growth.  

You can watch the grants information session here.

Closing date: 30 June 2025

The Mount Alexander Shire Business Support Desk can help you grow your business.
Email: business@mountalexander.vic.gov.au 
Phone: 5471 1745

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Mount Alexander Shire Council
email: business@mountalexander.vic.gov.au  web: www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au

Mount Alexander Shire Council acknowledges that the traditional custodians of this
land, the Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung peoples, proudly survive. We acknowledge their continued practice of custom and their close cultural, spiritual, physical, social, historical and economic relationship with the land and waters that make up
their country, which includes Mount Alexander Shire.