Submission on carbon pricing framework
In our recent submission to the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency on the proposed carbon pricing framework, the TTNA declined to make specific comment on the planned carbon pricing mechanism given the scant information available on the likely impacts to manufacturing.  However, the TTNA maintains that ameliorating our carbon reduction responsibility through policy that actively encourages manufacturing to be relocated in low labour cost countries, is unreasonable and irrational. Amongst the ten principles within our submission, the TTNA called for the Government to guarantee that industry will not be financially worse off from putting a price on carbon and that it should provide textile industry specific, adequate and effective transitional assistance, preferably a variant of the TCF Strategic Investment Program.  A copy of TTNA’s submission can be found at this link.

Big Green Conference held on 7th April - report
A celebration of the growing sophistication in sustainable thinking and practices that will open up new creative business opportunities and inspire green and lean supply chains the Big Green conference was deemed a resounding success. A copy of the conference report and photos can found at this link.

Strong dollar bad for manufacturers with decline in December
Increased competition from cheaper imports - a result of the high Australian dollar - affected the textiles sub-sector, in particular during the month of December according to a survey done by the Australian Industry Group and PriceWaterhouse Coopers. A link to the AIG media release can be found here and the recent article in the Herald Sun can be found here.

TSF Commercial Enterprises divesting to simplify operations
Late in 2010, the Board of The Smith Family announced a decision to explore the divestment of its Nonwoven operations as a going concern while retaining and continuing to run the clothing recycling business. A copy of the media release can be found at this link.

A Smart Textile Cap!
The term using your head has never been more relevant. The recently developed SmartCap combats operator/driver fatigue which is responsible for significant injuries and losses in a number of industries throughout the world. An overview on this Aussie ingenuity can be found at this link.

Cotton prices to skyrocket
The world cotton price more than doubled last year - heading for the biggest annual gain since 1973. Even before the recent floods, Queensland Cotton chief executive officer Richard Haire estimates cotton losses could total $150 million across the state. The losses in Theodore and parts of the Darling Downs total 10 to 15 per cent of the national crop. For some it is the second crop wipeout in less than a year. The article in the Courier Mail can be found at this link.

Last updated 28.4.2010

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