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The Millennium Droughts and Australian Agriculture

Climate change has its effects on countries all over the world. For Australia, its effects begin at the depletion of the ozone layer which in turn is making ground and soil dryer over time. The 2019-2020 deadly wildfires were fueled by extreme heat and prolonged drought. This lead to over 2 million acres falling victim to the brush fires. But what other ways will agriculture feel the effects of droughts? In the new article “The Millennium Droughts and Australian Agricultural Productivity Performance: A Nonparametric Analysis” in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics, authors, Yu Sheng from CCAP-PKU, Robert Chambers from the University of Maryland, and Simone Pieralli from Massey University New Zealand, dive in deeper on what role climatic factors played in affecting the observed slowdown in Australian agricultural total factor productivity growth at the turn of the 21st century. The results show that the productivity slowdown was not associated with a slowdown in technological innovation but with possibly climate-related changes in the diffusion of technological advances. Sheng says, “Our analysis incorporates climate-related factors directly into the productivity accounting exercise that allows us to decompose productivity growth changes into four components: technological advance, scale effects, efficiency (diffusion) effects, and weather-related effects… Successful adaptation to climate change will require improved diffusion of available technological advances and innovations. The drought-relief policies should focus more on improving farmers’ ability to adopt technological innovations in the regions struggling the most to adapt to.”

4 things government can do to help small business

So much for the v-shaped recovery. Australia is set to record its biggest quarterly fall in GDP in history this week. The federal government will extend its JobKeeper wage subsidy program by six months. About 1.75 million workers, including about 1 million Victorians, are expected to rely on it till March. But there’s more to be done, particularly to help the small and medium-sized businesses taking the brunt of the COVID-19 economic impacts. Small and medium enterprises employ about two-thirds of the workforce. They are crucial to the prosperity of local communities. A full third are pessimistic about making it through the next three months, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ most recent survey of COVID-19 business impacts. By comparison only 18% of large companies (those employing more than 200 employees) expect difficulties in meeting their financial obligations. Even at the best of times many small businesses struggle. Yet our research on 223 Australian business owners highlights failure (or success) isn’t just the result of individual entrepreneurs’ personal resources and capabilities. The local business environment plays a significant role. As Malcolm Gladwell puts it in his book Outliers: The Story of Success: The tallest oak in the forest is the tallest not just because it grew from the hardiest acorn, it is the tallest also because no other trees blocked its sunlight, the soil around it was deep and rich, no rabbit chewed through its bark as a sapling, and no lumberjack cut it down before it matured. The same is true for businesses. Even the most resourceful business owners struggle to get ahead when the environment stifles their efforts. This is a thorny problem for governments as they turn from emergency measures to chart longer-term recovery policies. There will, no doubt, be much debate over the usual areas – of subsidies and grants, tax breaks, red tape […]

What manufacturers can do to prepare for the upturn

By Rob Stummer, Asia Pacific CEO, SYSPRO This is an incredibly difficult time for everyone and manufacturing companies have had to lay off staff or shutdown during the Covid-19 pandemic. Coronavirus has already caused shifts and a reduction in “wants” goods and an increase in “needs” goods as this crisis evolves, and consumers batten down the hatches into a conservative mode, and some businesses have been agile enough to switch production quickly to high demand products like ventilators, masks, hand sanitiser or home consumables. As we stem the spread of the virus, what is certain is that there will be an upturn and demand will recover, we just don’t know when. When the inevitable recovery does happen though, the manufacturing companies that have maintained a level of business continuity and are ready to jump back into full production are the ones that will survive this Covid-19 crisis. The real question is how quickly will that demand come back and how will manufacturers be able to respond to their biggest challenge to date? Increasing operational efficiencies In an increasingly interconnected world, maintaining the efficiency of supply chains is of the utmost importance to the Australasian economy if we are to jump back into action once the constraints of the coronavirus crisis have reduced. The good news is technology is allowing manufacturers to minimise disruptions by using real-time reporting to manage their inventory to ensure there are no issues with under or oversupply of goods. A frictionless, real-time, data-driven and interconnected supply chain can only benefit the economy in the short and the long-term. Manufacturing businesses should be doing everything they can to survive this by preserving cash and by optimising their operational efficiencies using real-time process feedback. Their Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) will ensure that quality and efficiency are built into […]

D-Link adds two new intelligent AI-based camera solutions to mydlink portfolio

D-Link A/NZ has launched two new mydlink cameras, the DCS-8526LH Full HD Pan/Tilt Pro Wi-Fi Camera and the DCS-8630LH Full HD Outdoor Wi-Fi Spotlight Camera. Both feature edge-based person detection with AI technology, allowing for more intelligent surveillance capabilities and personal automation options for every smart home. The DCS-8630LH also has an integrated spotlight to literally help you see in the dark. Not only are the cameras interoperable with other devices in the mydlink ecosystem, but they also work with the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, as well as conform to the ONVIF standard, allowing seamless recording to external devices such as a NAS or NVR. Additionally, both cameras feature built-in Bluetooth for fast and easy setup, both cloud and local recording options, and support remote viewing and management via the free mydlink app. The enhanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) used by the cameras cleverly identifies human motion, ensuring they will not be triggered by the likes of a pet, bird or passing car that may come into the viewing area. Edge-based technology also processes information on the device locally so there’s no need to send video to the cloud for processing, speeding up alert response times and ensuring you receive alerts only when a real person is detected. A passive infrared (PIR) sensor further reduces false triggers so you only see what you want and need to see. One of the biggest concerns with IoT devices and Wi-Fi networks these days is privacy. To combat those concerns both these new mydlink cameras feature the latest and most secure industry-standard 128-bit encryption ensuring greater privacy throughout users’ devices and networks. Another clever and useful feature involves the camera’s built-in microphone and speaker, providing a 2-way audio service for you to both speak and listen to delivery drivers, children and other people and pets that are within earshot […]

Signet modernises warehouse operations with Zebra’s wearable technology

Zebra Technologies Corporation, an innovator at the front line of business with solutions and partners that deliver a performance edge, has announced Signet’s deployment of Zebra’s WT6000 wearable computer and RS4000 1D corded ring scanner to help modernise its warehouse operations. Signet is one of Australia’s leading distributors of warehouse consumables, packaging, safety and cleaning supplies, with six distribution centres across the country. Signet dispatches over 6,000 orders for businesses every day. Its customers benefit from low prices, bulk buy discounts and the convenience of products always being in stock and delivered on time. Signet’s warehouse workers were previously using handheld mobile computers to pick and scan cartons, which at times resulted in picking errors and manual handling strain through repetitive tasks and the picking of heavy items. After deploying Zebra’s easy-to-use wearables, Signet’s warehouse workers’ productivity increased by up to 40% through reducing their overall picking time, thereby resulting in significant operational cost savings. “Zebra’s wearable devices have significantly improved our warehouse staff’s efficiency, time spent on picking orders and overall accuracy. The solution has allowed our staff to free up both their hands while picking orders, which reduces the risk of manual handling incidents. Ultimately, Zebra’s solution helped our operations save a significant amount of time and cost,” said Allen Notley, Warehouse Manager (QLD), Signet. “Further, thanks to the familiar Android user interface, our warehouse staff have quickly adapted to using Zebra’s wearable computers, greatly reducing training time and maximising our return on investment.” As Signet’s previous handheld mobile computers were running on the Windows Operating System (OS), their previous devices were exposed to potential data security risks because the extended support of Windows Embedded and Mobile OS is no longer available. The switch to the Android-powered Zebra mobile computers has helped to mitigate these risks. “According to […]

Quantum devices successfully built for qubit control

Archer Materials Limited has successfully built the quantum devices required for initial qubit control measurements as part of a significant phase in its technology development related to the operation of the 12CQ room-temperature quantum computing qubit processor. Commenting on the Company’s 12CQ chip development, Archer CEO Dr Mohammad Choucair said: “We commenced our technology development related to qubit control a few weeks ago and now the first devices have been built to perform the initial [qubit control] measurements related to Archer’s 12CQ chip operation. We have remained on track in our development since we first commenced the [12CQ chip] project in April 2019.” “Qubit control is explicitly our next big technological milestone. Over the coming months, Company shareholders will expect to see a series of results that will be released to ASX by Archer that relate to qubit control – a key requirement of quantum computing processors. When successful, the work would be major validation, at a relatively early-stage of the overall development of a quantum computing processor, of the commercial viability of the 12CQ chip”. The Archer team has built and begun testing prototype qubit control devices (“ESR devices”) in Sydney with collaborating institutes. The initial prototyped ESR device has the primary benefit of providing the magnetic ultra-sensitivity to establish quantitative measurements (i.e. characterisation) of the quantum information residing on very few qubit material components. The initial ESR device design is intended to allow for qubit control measurements only at low temperatures to maximise the Primary Benefit, with the associated operation temperatures unrelated to Archer’s qubits’ demonstrated potential to operate at room temperature. The ESR device assembly is unique and unoptimised, subject to changing functional configurations. Archer CEO Dr Mohammad Choucair concluded: “The control measurements on the qubit material related to the 12CQ chip fabrication are a world-first, in […]

Hydraulink goes on the road to foster business and jobs around new Sydney Airport

Hydraulink team members on the big yellow bus to business and jobs generation in Western Sydney. From left as they prepare to take their unmistakable message to local markets, are Hydraulink Campbelltown Franchise Owner Jeff McCoskery, Service Technician Hayden Wilton, Managing Director Denis Matulin, NSW State Manager Mark Andrews, National Franchise Manager Wayne Abbott, and General Manager Michael Popovic Australasian hydraulics service leader Hydraulink goes spectacularly on the road to foster business and jobs around new Sydney Airport One of Australasia’s leading hydraulic hose supply and service organisations, Hydraulink, is launching a major expansion programme to provide business and employment opportunities around the rapid growth area surrounding the new second airport being built in Western Sydney. The company – which has more than 400 service points throughout Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands – is targeting the establishment of multiple new franchises and the simultaneous creation of new skilled job opportunities in the South West Sydney area around Badgerys creek, where youth unemployment, in particular, exceeds 12.4%. “The new airport is expected to generate as many as 45,000 new jobs over coming years, with major investment initially in the engineering, civil and construction sectors, followed by ongoing growth worth billions of dollars in aviation, transport, logistics and infrastructure. These are all major areas of focus of the Hydraulink hydraulic hose and fitting business, where we can create quality businesses and skilled long-term jobs” said Hydraulink Australia Managing Director Mr Denis Matulin, at a function in Smithfield to launch the expansion programme. Service by the busload – the interior of the mobile service centre The event got under way in spectacular fashion with an inspection of the latest addition to Hydraulink’s South-Western Sydney service fleet – a vivid yellow 12.5 metre Hydraulink service bus fitted out by Hydraulink Campbelltown franchise […]

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Small businesses being starved of funds

-Isaac Gross, Lecturer in Economics, Monash University The government has widely touted its support for small businesses – most notably the provision of loans subsidised by the Reserve Bank. In its economic update on Friday the Reserve Bank talked up its low-cost Term Funding Facility. Take-up was “increasing steadily”. The scheme gives banks ultra low-interest money (0.25% per year for three years) on the understanding they will lend it to households and businesses that need it. The first allocation was a proportion of each lenders’ loan book. The second was conditional on the the lender expanding lending to business. For every extra dollar the bank extended to large business, it would get one extra dollar of funding from the Reserve Bank. For every extra dollar it lent to a small or medium size business it would get an extra five dollars. Yet the official figures suggest that the overwhelming bulk of the new money has gone to big businesses, those with turnovers of more than A$50 million per year. Medium-sized businesses have barely got a look-in. Lending to small businesses has actually gone backwards. Outstanding credit to businesses Loans outstanding for big businesses are 7.4% higher than at the start of the year, loans outstanding for medium-sized businesses are just 1.3% higher, and loans outstanding for small businesses are down 0.6%. Not only have banks channelled the overwhelming bulk of their new lending to large businesses, they have also done so at lower interest rates. Credit spread reductions for businesses Why have small businesses missed out? One explanation might be that they are not interested in borrowing. However, ask any economist, and she will tell you that demand for a good is usually a function of its price. This ought to be also be true for business credit. The Reserve Bank says small […]

Morrison warns against ‘solely transactional’ trade approach in address to US audience

Scott Morrison says the Covid-19 crisis has created new opportunities for “like-minded economies” to work together – but warned against “solely transactional” trade approaches undermining these relationships. In a Wednesday keynote speech to the US Aspen Security Forum, delivered virtually, Morrison says expanding the scope and scale of co-operation by like-minded economies must be done “thoughtfully”. “Security and trade policy approaches must be well integrated, not at odds with each other,” he says in the address, released ahead of delivery. Although Morrison is unspecific about which countries he has in mind on the trade front, his remarks will be read as a reference to the United States. President Trump’s America First policy, with its aggressive transactional approach and emphasis on “deals” has come with costs for a number of like-minded economies. Morrison says: “A solely transactional approach to trading relationships can undo some gains made in other parts of relationships with like-minded partners. Australia’s foreign policy is not simply transactional.” “As we build the network of like-minded economies, we need to build a greater sense of unity across all elements of our engagement. “That means taking a more pragmatic and rounded approach to our global and regional relationships,” he says. “The sense of unity necessary among like-minded partners can be undermined if positive political and security relationships are accompanied by abrasive or confrontational trade relationships. “We should avoid cases where we build closer strategic co-operation, only to see the cohesiveness of those relationships undermined by trade disputes.” Morrison says he is not suggesting seeking to constrain “the national instinct of our business people and exporters to compete in global markets”. Nor should we “turn a blind eye to unfair trading measures imposed by our friends”. Morrison’s speech continues his recent assertiveness about Australia’s foreign policy and defence stance. Saying that […]

D-Link A/NZ extends COVR Wi-Fi Certified EasyMesh System series

D-Link ANZ has extended its ground-breaking COVR AC1200 Seamless Mesh Wi-Fi System range, one of the world’s first Wi-Fi Certified EasyMesh™ home and home office mesh systems, to now offer a three unit pack (COVR-1103), as well as a single add-on unit (COVR-1100). Adding these new options now truly gives any user the flexibility to cover any home or home office with D-Link’s unique COVR mesh Wi-Fi solution. With high-speed AC1200 Dual-Band Wi-Fi and 11ac Wave 2 with MU-MIMO, the COVR-1100 and COVR-1103 like the COVR-1102 before them are fast enough to support multiple devices undertaking everyday data-intensive tasks like HD streaming and video chats simultaneously. The COVR-1100 is perfect if you’re just starting out in whole home networking or have a smaller space. The COVR-1102 two-pack gives you more reach and coverage up to 325 square metres and the COVR-1103 three-pack truly blankets any home with up to 464 square metres of seamless Wi-Fi. The COVR industry-standard mesh networking technology allows for device flexibility and ease of use, as users can now easily expand any existing COVR mesh Wi-Fi network by adding additional single unit COVR-1100 points as required. That said, if you have a larger space or perhaps a townhouse over multiple levels then the COVR-1103’s three COVR points and optional wired Ethernet backhaul is the system for you. All three COVR systems work with the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa and all have profile-based Parental Controls for setting boundaries online. They are super simple to set-up with the D-Link Wi-Fi App and Quick VPN capabilities allows you securely connect to a remote network. COVR’s Quality of Service (QoS) prioritises network traffic to minimise the impact of limited bandwidth and its Triple Play VLAN support allows ISPs to provide multiple services with just one router. COVR-1100, COVR-1102 and COVR-1103 […]

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