Motivated by its vision to transform the trade industry, hipages Group has launched a new all-in-one lead and job management platform, ‘hipages tradiecore’, to help tradies build, grow and manage their businesses.

A game-changer for tradies, the Australian first platform is an end-to-end solution, combining job leads and management with admin tasks such as quoting, scheduling and invoicing, in one convenient app.

The launch follows new research revealing 84% of trade business decision-makers feel like they are spending more time on client communication and admin, than on the tools. The impact of this is a hit to both profitability and bottom lines, with two-thirds (66%) admitting to losing out on business due to time spent on the books.

Three-quarters of tradies (74%) spend up to five hours per project on admin tasks alone, which is equivalent to $500 of labour. The most time-consuming activities include quoting (77%), scheduling and diary management (69%), and invoicing (61%).

Despite this, tradies recognise the importance of streamlined business management. The majority (86%) say these tasks are essential to ensuring a job is done properly, while three-quarters (74%) say proper communication is essential to being hired again.

hipages Group CEO and Co-Founder, Roby-Sharon Zipser, said:

“hipages Group has been helping Australian tradies build their businesses for nearly 20 years by connecting them with homeowners to boost their job pipelines with more work. However, tradies have told us they want more streamlined communication between themselves and clients. 

“By offering an all-in-one business solution through hipages tradiecore, not only are we offering an easier way to do business, we are saving them time by offering the only platform in Australia that manages their workflow from lead generation through to payment and completion.”

Tradies wanting to find out more about hipages tradiecore can register their interest at www.hipages.com.au/registration.

The start of the year has proved rocky for Australia’s 1.5 million sole traders, with over a third (38%) experiencing a decline in revenue – the only financial quarter to record this in the last two years.

The latest Hnry Sole Trader Pulse – the only nationwide survey of self-employed people in Australia including consultants, freelancers, contract tradies and healthcare workers – reports revenue decline has outweighed growth (37%) for the first time since the pandemic. This bucks a two year trend where sole traders have consistently seen their turnover improve, rather than worsen.

Feeling the increasing pinch of inflation and rising costs, only 56% of sole traders in March 2024 feel secure in their jobs, falling from 61% in October last year.* This comes as one in five (19%) are looking to give up independent earning to work for someone else, with 48% of this group looking to improve their earnings and 47% seeking greater stability.

Karan Anand, Managing Director of Hnry Australia, said: “With 50,000 new sole traders expected to enter the sector this year, this group is an essential subsection of our workforce that signals the broader health of the economy. Our data shows us they’re doing it tough and feeling the lasting impact of inflation and back-to-back interest rate rises. 

“The good news is that as economic pressures promise to ease, overall sole trader optimism, whilst modest, is on the rise – with 35% feeling positive about the health of the economy in six months’ time, a jump from 23% in October 2023, and the highest since March 2022.”

However, not all sole traders are bearing the brunt equally. Understandably those that are new to sole trading are struggling to find their feet in a tough economic climate, with over half (52%) of sole trader businesses under two years old reporting falling revenue, in contrast to 30% of those aged 3-10 years, and 39% aged over 11 years. 

This data corresponds with independent earners aged under 34 feeling more impacted by stagnating turnover (49%) when compared with their 35-54 year old (38%) and 55+ year old (34%) counterparts. 

Some industries are also faring worse than others – less than half (46%) of freelance creatives including designers, photographers and marketing consultants, feel positive about their financial security. This comes despite the government’s multi-million dollar investment into the creative sector last year, with many businesses continuing to tighten the purse strings and take creative work in-house that would have previously been outsourced.**

By comparison, health and wellness professionals are feeling the most secure (67%), followed by consultants (64%) and contract tradies (63%). Where 42% of self-employed creatives have seen their income fall, only 28% of wellness workers reported the same, as consumers prioritise spending on self-care and wellbeing in 2024.***

Mr Anand continued: “Despite experiencing a challenging start to the year, the majority of sole traders are still continuing to reap the rewards of being their own boss. Positive feelings around work-life balance (65%) and wellbeing (58%) have remained unchanged since last October, while job satisfaction has improved from 62% to 66% – signalling the greater freedom and flexibility of self-employment continues to pay personal dividends.”

The data also reveals that tax and financial admin continues to be a significant drain on productivity, robbing the average sole trader of an hour per day, while a day per week is lost to tracking business expenses alone. 

“An empowered workforce is a productive one. Ensuring that sole traders have the tools and resources they need to build thriving businesses is vital not only for the sector’s longevity – but for the nation’s economic success,” Mr Anand concluded. 

The Hnry Sole Trader Pulse is Australia’s only regular, comprehensive snapshot of the sentiment of self-employed people in Australia. For more information, visit hnry.com.au/au/soletraderpulse. 

Latest apprenticeship and trainee data reaffirms building and construction industry concerns that we are facing a critical labour shortage in the midst of a housing crisis said Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn.

“Over the year to September 2023, a total of 42,333 new apprentices started in the building and construction industry. This represents an appalling 25 per cent reduction on the previous 12-month period.

“The number of apprentices in training in building and construction has decreased since September 2022, when there were 124,120 apprentices in training, to 120,881 in September 2023 (-3 per cent).

“Over the year to September 2023, a total of 21,814 construction apprentices completed their training. This represents a sharp reduction (-7.9 per cent) on a year earlier.

“We need more apprentices starting and completing their training in trades,” Ms Wawn said.

Despite this reduction, building and construction remains by far the largest employer of apprentices of any industry.

“Latest figures show that 120,881 building and construction apprentices were in training at the end of September 2023 – representing 33 per cent of all Australian apprentices.

Ms Wawn added: “VET is central to skills and knowledge development in the building and construction industry.

“More than 600,000 of the 1.3 million workers in building and construction have a VET qualification.

“Construction is the backbone of the Australian economy, employing approximately 1.3 million people, providing infrastructure, commercial and community buildings, and homes for the growing population.

“But the building and construction industry workforce is ageing and has a typical exit rate of 8 per cent a year. Master Builders estimates we need half a million new entrants over the next three years.

“We are not doing enough to plug this gap. There are not enough new entrants to the industry to meet building and construction targets, including 1.2 million new dwellings under the Housing Accord, or the transition to net zero by 2050.

“Vocational education and training has been seen as the second-class citizen to universities for far too long.

“Master Builders has long advocated for the bias that leads people away from the VET system to be dissolved.

“We need to change people’s perceptions of working and needing a vocational education to look at trades as a pathway into a vibrant, well-paid and very large industry.

“Making VET more attractive plays a crucial role in strengthening our domestic workforce capabilities.

“The recently released report on the inquiry into VET perceptions has rightfully made recommendations to putting VET and higher education on equal footing, investing significantly in careers education from an early age, supporting careers advisers to help young people make informed choices, promoting pathways to VET-based careers for women and delivering national campaigns to promote VET pathways.

“We know what needs to be done, and federal, state and territory governments have an enormous task of unwinding decades of neglect, so it’s time for rubber to hit the road.

“Addressing the immediate labour shortage requires a multifaceted approach. While efforts to strengthen domestic apprenticeships are vital, it’s evident that domestic sources alone cannot fill the workforce gaps in the short term.

“Skilled migration and better utilising the skilled migrants already in the country but who are not currently working in the industry are vital pieces of the puzzle,” Ms Wawn said.

Earlier this week, Master Builders Australia released its Finding Australia’s missing tradies: Harnessing our skilled migrant workforce supplementary Budget submission to help migrants already in Australia better navigate complex and unnecessary barriers to work in the industry.

“When seeking to attract more skilled trades into Australia, it is important to look to migrants who are already in the country,” Ms Wawn said.

“This is an underutilised cohort of potential workers who could fill workforce gaps in the short term.

“There are a number of skilled migrants already in Australia who are working in roles below or unrelated to their qualifications or work experience in their home country.

“Some are waiting on skills assessments or qualifications recognition, which, according to the Parkinson Migration Review, could cost nearly $10,000 and take up to 18 months.

“For many, it is simply too hard to have their professional capacity recognised to work in a trade in Australia, and they are instead in roles that present fewer hurdles to obtain.”

D-Link ANZ has launched its new AQUILA PRO AI M30 AX3000 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Router / Add-on unit to expand coverage. This cutting-edge Mesh Router can be used as a standalone high-speed AX3000 Mesh Router or can integrate seamlessly with the recently launched Aquila Pro M30 2-Pack and 3-Pack systems, significantly increasing signal coverage and usability. In short, this new M30 single unit represents true “Scale-as-you-need Mesh” enabling you to futureproof your network and easily expand your coverage by adding as many AQUILA PRO AI devices as you need to create a whole home Mesh Wi-Fi network to cater for even the very largest of homes.

In the same fashion as the Aquila Pro M30 2-Pack and 3-Pack, this single unit employs cutting-edge, MIT (Made in Taiwan) quality-assured technology featuring built-in AI algorithms and accommodates five internal antennas, providing enhanced three-dimensional 360-degree coverage, whilst its unique design makes the single or multiple M30s attractive additions to any smart home. 

The M30 AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Smart Mesh Router uses a unique antenna array design to extend a stronger Wi-Fi signal, boosting spherical coverage and eliminating dead zones.

This single unit can provide coverage of up to 260 square metres, whilst the 2-Pack M30 Wi-Fi- Mesh System covers a home up to 465 square metres and the 3-Pack M30 Wi-Fi Mesh System covers up to 650 square metres.

Other significant highlights include the facts that the AQUILA PRO AI M30 is powered by Wi-Fi 6 technology and in every configuration delivers extreme speeds of up to 3Gbps, along with a Gigabit Internet WAN port and four Gigabit LAN ports supporting wired devices such as smart TVs, gaming consoles and PCs.

The D-Link AQUILA PRO AI M30 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Router / Add-on unit

The AQUILA PRO AI M30 Router / Add-on unit employs innovative AI technology, including an AI Wi-Fi Optimiser, AI Mesh Optimiser and AI Traffic Optimiser to ensure seamless and superior Wi-Fi performance for all your devices. The AI Traffic Optimiser alone guarantees uninterrupted 4K/8K video streaming and video calling which, together with AI-based QoS technology, ensures an excellent Wi-Fi experience.

The AQUILA PRO AI M30 single unit also boasts the latest WPA3 encryption and ETSI EN 303 645 standards and offers parental controls and separate guest networks to ensure the security of all your home Wi-Fi devices.

As with all D-Link solutions the AQUILA PRO AI M30 Router / Add-on unit is designed so it is easy to set up a Wi-Fi network and even easier to manage it with the intuitive AQUILA PRO AI App. The AI Assistant monitors network performance and provides weekly reports on demand, making it particularly convenient.

Finally, the single unit along with all other AQUILA PRO AI M30 mesh systems are compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice control, just to make life that extra little bit easier.

M30 AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Systems key features

• Eco-friendly Design: With a housing made from post-consumer recycled materials and delivered in sustainable packaging, the M30 was designed to reduce its environmental impact

• Refined Aesthetics: Boasting an eagle-inspired form and a unique feather-patterned ventilation design, the M30 seamlessly complements any home décor

• Rapid Connectivity: Revel in speeds up to 3Gbps with an extra antenna on the faster 5GHz band, assuring seamless video streaming, video conferencing, and smooth gaming

• Uninterrupted Wi-Fi Everywhere: Enjoy robust 360° spherical coverage courtesy of a sophisticated antenna design and advanced AI technology, ensuring fast and consistent Wi-Fi in every corner of your home

• Scale-as-you-need Mesh: Futureproof your network and easily expand your coverage by adding more AQUILA PRO AI devices to create a whole home Mesh Wi-Fi network

• Ultra-Fast Gigabit Wired Connections: 1 × Gigabit WAN port plus 4 × Gigabit LAN ports allow you to make fast and reliable connections to wired devices like smart TVs, gaming PCs and more

• Help Protect Your Home Network: Help keep your family safer online with our premium home network security features like Advanced Parental Controls, ETSI EN 303 645 cybersecurity certification and WPA3 encryption

• Simplified Setup and Management: The intuitive AQUILA PRO AI app helps guide you through setup and monitors your network to help you keep it running at peak performance

The AQUILA PRO AI M30 Wi-Fi Mesh Systems are available in Australia now from www.dlink.com.au as either a stand-alone Router / Add-on unit (RRP AUD$279.95), as a 2-Pack (RRP AUD$399.95), or as a 3-Pack (RRP AUD$549.95and from all authorised D-Link partners and retailers.

Employment Hero’s latest SME Index, which draws from an expansive dataset of over 1.5 million employees and  150,000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs), has uncovered a concerning trend: Australians are working more for less pay, with small businesses bearing the brunt of the economic downturn. 

The report paints a vivid picture of the challenges and disparities across different sectors and business sizes in Australia.

Australians working more hours, for less pay

Despite a modest monthly increase in median hours worked (1.0 per cent) and an annual rise (2.3 per cent), wages have seen a downturn, dipping by -1.3 per cent in February. This decline contrasts sharply with a 7.5 per cent annual wage growth, suggesting median wages may be undergoing the early stages of market correction after a year of elevated operating costs that have placed strain on businesses. 

Small businesses showing signs of struggle

The strain is most acute among small businesses (between 1 and 19 employees), with the Index data indicating this cohort is not only seeing slowed employee growth of 0.3 per cent MoM and 5.6 per cent annually, (compared to medium businesses at 1 per cent and 15.3 per cent, then large businesses at 0.9 per cent and 18.4 per cent respectively), but also suggests small businesses are coping with economic pressure by reducing employee work hours. This data, supports figures from ASIC earlier last week highlighting that monthly business insolvencies are at a nine year high. Slowing employee growth among smaller businesses signals a potential crisis among a group of employers  that form the backbone of the Australian economy. 

Wages down across the country, especially for tech sector

February’s wage trends further underscore a drop in wages across the country, with all Australian states experiencing a downturn in wages (most severely felt in NT at -2.4 per cent while WA fared best at -1.0 per cent), despite moderate YoY wage growth for all states (lowest growth in NT at +4.5 per cent, while ACT and QLD employees topped the Index at to +8.7 per cent).

The technology sector, once booming, now shows signs of cooling, marked by the Index’s lowest employee growth and a significant month-on-month median hourly wage drop of -4.8 per cent to $57.12, as well as an annual decrease of -0.2 per cent, compared to all other sectors that saw annual wage growth.

Retirement delayed as Boomers pick up more hours than Gen Z

The report also highlights an intriguing generational divide in the workforce. While most age groups saw a decrease in median hours worked, those aged 65+ bucked the trend, possibly indicating a necessity-driven increase (+10.4 per cent MoM) in working hours amidst economic uncertainties. Annually, individuals under 18 saw a -5.1 per cent decrease in hours worked while other age groups saw an increase between +1.1 per cent (25-64 year olds) and +2.9 per cent (65+ year olds).

Ben Thompson, CEO and Co-Founder of Employment Hero “The latest Index findings point out the dichotomy between overall employee growth and the challenges faced by small businesses. Just as our data has revealed, many businesses are experiencing overall employee growth, in line with February’s ABS unemployment rate which dropped 0.4 per cent from 4.1 to 3.7 per cent. However, glaring issues remain for small businesses that are not only experiencing stagnant growth, but are at risk of insolvency and being forced to make hard decisions.

“As such, small business owners are looking to cut down on expenses and reduce workers’ hours, while their employees are having to navigate job instability, underemployment and consequential financial strain; making them likely to seek another job to make ends meet.

“Small and medium businesses are the heartbeat of our economy, accounting for almost 70 per cent of employment in Australia. While larger businesses show signs of resilience and recovery, this report’s stark revelation shows small businesses are at a very real risk of going under. This demands immediate attention to safeguard these crucial contributors to our economy.”

Eddie Kolwalski, Senior Insights Manager at Employment Hero, added, “The dramatic shifts in working hours, especially among the eldest and youngest in the workforce, reflect broader economic pressures and the uneven impact on different demographic groups.

“The trend among the younger demographic can be attributed to the higher likelihood of underemployment, with many in this age group often finding themselves in hospitality or retail positions. On the other hand, the increase in hours for those aged 65 and above suggests a necessity-driven choice. While we have seen recently that Australia’s unemployment rate has dropped, this data represents the very real concern of underemployment. 

“There’s not much to celebrate when people are in jobs but not making enough to live off it.”

As Australia navigates this challenging economic landscape, Employment Hero’s SME Index serves as a crucial barometer for understanding the evolving dynamics of work, wages, and the wellbeing of SMEs.

Employees want perks that complement their lifestyle rather than just a good-looking salary, workforce trends show. Small businesses can attract and retain talent through novated leases.

Australian employers are facing a competitive talent market, meaning that demand for skilled and qualified workers is high, but the supply of talented workers is low.

Employers seeking to attract and retain high-quality talent must therefore adapt to the changing needs of employees’ expectations by offering modern benefits on top of attractive remuneration.

Novated leases can help do just that, offering huge savings for employees by reducing their taxable income and therefore helping them strengthen and grow their wealth.

Put simply, a novated lease is a form of salary sacrifice that allows drivers to pay for their car and on-road running costs out of their pre-tax income.

It reduces an employee’s taxable income, meaning they are effectively paying for their car with their taxes, saving them tens of thousands of dollars over the course of their lease.

But there are even more benefits for employees and employers alike.

Creates an attractive remuneration package at no additional cost through novated leases

Novated leases give employees a boost to their disposable income and increase the total size of their remuneration package, all from just using their pre-tax income to lease a car.

Given the savings, in a way, novated leasing is like being able to give staff members a significant pay rise without spending a cent.

In competitive markets, this extra boost could be the deciding factor in attracting talent and building a strong team for your business.

This financial and lifestyle benefit can also help employees feel valued and rewarded at work, increasing overall satisfaction.

Promotes holistic and financial wellbeing for employees

Many engagement incentives focus only on physical and mental health. But what about the importance of one’s financial wellbeing?

Because novated leases save employees tens of thousands of dollars, they can make a real difference to an employee’s financial health.

Providing novated leases can also help address the uncertainty and budgetary challenges associated with car ownership.

How do you set up a novated lease?

With the right provider, the process is easy. There should be minimum paperwork, just a one-page novation agreement which states that you agree to make payments on your employee’s behalf while they are employed with you.

Your novated lease provider will then provide the pre-tax and post-tax deductions to enter into your payroll system.

Payments to the novated lease provider can then be set up.

While novated leases are risk-free to employers, there are a few things you should keep in mind:

• Hidden management fees and costs – if an initial quote seems too good to be true, it probably is. Make sure what you see is what you get.
• Personalised pricing and tax incomes – a good provider will help employees understand the impact of leasing on their overall financial health. Once it’s decided that they are a good fit, the provider should align the initial budget with expected usage and spend. Be aware of providers who use cookie-cutter approaches.
• Access to fleet pricing – providers can often give access to fleet pricing, meaning employees save even more through a novated lease.
• Reporting and visibility – as a financial product, high-quality reporting is a must-have for any business offering novated leases. Ensure your provider offers regular reporting, including those that demonstrate a $0 Fringe Benefits Tax liability.
• Onboarding and account experience – because novated leases are a complex financial product, you want to work with a provider aligned with the values of your business, ensuring a seamless customer journey over the long-term.

Contributed by Alex Davis, Co-Founder and Sales Director at leaselab

New data reveals that five suburbs in Melbourne will be among the biggest drivers of online shopping through this year to December. Melbourne CBD, Pakenham, Berwick, Point Cook and Sunbury are on the list of the top eight suburbs where online shoppers are expected to reign supreme. Even so, NSW is predicted to be the number one State for online shopping top suburbs volume.

The findings come from CouriersPlease, which often examines historical data on parcel volumes to forecast the top suburbs for online shopping in Australia and each State. As Australia’s fastest-growing franchised courier and parcel delivery service, CouriersPlease has 1200 couriers Australia-wide, and is the trusted courier partner for Australia’s leading retailers. It recently won the NORA (National Online Retailers Association) Solution Partners Best Carrier Award in 2023.

Top States for online shopping

Based on its parcel deliveries, CouriersPlease compiled its ranking of parcel deliveries by State for 2024. NSW claimed the State crown for most deliveries last year – receiving 21 per cent more deliveries than Victoria – and CouriersPlease predicts NSW will keep its top ranking this year, even though Victoria’s population is expected to grow 1.5 per cent compared with 1 per cent for NSW^[1]. 

Online shopping top suburbs by State

Drawing on the same data, CouriersPlease is forecasting that Melbourne suburbs are predicted to claim this year’s online shopping crown after the capital’s CBD and outer suburbs topped a national suburb list for most packages delivered last year, with five out of the top eight spots dominated by the southern city. 

Melbourne is tipped as the parcel delivery favourite, with Melbourne CBD receiving almost double the amount of deliveries than Australia’s third-ranked suburb, Sydney CBD. Melbourne’s Berwick, Point Cook and Sunbury made the top eight, with the three pockets all located more than 20km from the Melbourne CBD. Berwick, which sits 41km from the city, added almost 3000 residents according to ABS census data for 2016 and 2021^[2][3] and doesn’t have its own major shopping centre – a fact that may have fuelled rising online retail appetite. Point Cook added a whopping 16,852 people to its population according to the latest census^[4] data, which now sits at 66,781. The suburb, which lies 22km from the CBD, is also sans major shopping centres. Adelaide was the fifth city for parcel deliveries while Sydney’s Epping came in eighth. 

CouriersPlease’s analysis further revealed the top suburbs in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia that are likely to shop the most this year. It expects Melbourne CBD, Sydney CBD and Adelaide CBD to be the top suburbs in their states, pointing to an upswing of workers in city offices last year. Figures from last year^[5] showed the nation’s CBD occupancy rate rose to 71 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, compared with 54 per cent in 2022. Sydney’s rose to 75 per cent, Melbourne’s to 56 per cent and Adelaide’s to 85 per cent.

CEO Richard Thame says: “A returning workforce to the capital city CBDs had likely fuelled the 2023 figures, as employees choose to receive parcels at work, where permitted. Figures from 2023^[6] showed Victoria, NSW and South Australia recorded some of the highest number of office days compared with remote-working days last year. We expect parcel delivery volumes to CBDs to grow further this year as employers continue to increase the proportion of office-based days for hybrid workers.”

In NSW, Sydney’s Hills district (its north-west) is expected to continue dominating the ranking of parcel deliveries by suburb. Epping, Baulkham Hills, Castle Hill and Blacktown will take out top spots this year. Sydney’s north-west is the city’s fastest-growing region^[7].

Coffs Harbour, which saw a whopping 9.2 per cent growth from 2016-2021^[8], according to the most recent census data, could again this year be the only non-Sydney suburb making the NSW ranking.

In Queensland, northern Brisbane suburb Caboolture topped the rankings for parcel deliveries, followed by the Gold Coast’s Southport and Moreton Bay’s Morayfield. Both suburbs collected substantial population growth in recent years^[9][10], with Richard predicting they’ll again top the package delivery list for 2024. 

Richard adds: “What’s interesting is Melbourne’s Pakenham climbed to the second spot in our ranking of package deliveries, overtaking Sydney CBD for the first time. The population there climbed to just over 54,000 in 2021^[11], compared with 46,400 in 2016^[12], and it was named as one of the fastest growing regions in Australia^[13].

The CouriersPlease data showed that Adelaide CBD collected almost as many deliveries as Sydney last year, and is likely to do so this year. Adelaide clocked some of the biggest property price growth among the Australian capitals last year, suggesting strong interstate migration boosting the population.^[14]”

Richard says credit card spend isn’t the only barometer of online spending. Parcel delivery volumes are also directly related to online shopping volumes and the nation’s burgeoning population growth areas. “We can already see how housing affordability is driving growth in areas such as Caboolture and Pakenham. In South Australia, Adelaide topped the list, but Mount Barker was second and this suburb is one of the city’s fastest growing areas^[15].”

Online shopping top suburbs ranked

There is a building boom in the Australian state of NSW as the pressure mounts to produce more homes for a growing population. At the same time, asbestos is being detected every day in mulch in a growing number of public areas such as parks, hospitals, and schools, as well as some residential sites in Sydney, the ACT and now in Queensland.

A leading Australian expert on asbestos management, John Batty, Managing Director of EDP Consultants, part of the RSK Group, has called for community vigilance to stop asbestos at the source. This action will prevent it getting into the supply chain and end up in mulch at public sites, potentially harming lives. John is also a member of the Asbestos Education Committee of the Australian National Asbestos Awareness Campaign and is a founding member and former president of the Asbestos and Hazardous Materials Consultants’ Association. 

Regarding this current issue, John says the community and businesses must be vigilant about how asbestos is being allowed to enter the supply chain through uncontrolled demolition and disposal practices ending up in mulch and potentially other recycled products. John, who has 18 years’ experience in asbestos and hazardous materials management in Australia, the UK, Europe, and North Africa, points out that collective action can stop it at the source. 

“When construction companies, builders, and mum-and-dad renovators demolish old structures, if an asbestos survey isn’t undertaken, there is a risk that the demolition may impact directly on unidentified asbestos-containing materials. This may inadvertently contaminate the building rubble with asbestos being mixed in with bricks, tiles, and timber. This can then lead to asbestos entering the recycling supply chain where items such as timber are being mulched up to be used as part of garden mulch. As asbestos fragments may be small, there is a risk that they bypass the quality control system and end up in garden mulch. Even a small amount of asbestos presents a risk as the hazard is being reintroduced into the community,” says John. 

“Homeowners, especially, need to be aware that one in three Australian homes contain some form of asbestos, especially those constructed before 1990. Australia had a true love affair with asbestos, with over 3,000 different products found to contain asbestos. That is why it is so important to identify the type and location of any asbestos-containing material within a property before any refurbishment or demolition work is undertaken.”  

John also cautions homeowners to be asbestos aware, particularly when undertaking any maintenance on or cleaning asbestos-containing materials.  

“EDP was recently called out to resolve an asbestos issue in Sydney where a homeowner engaged a handyperson to pressure wash their corrugated asbestos cement roof. This caused delamination of the cement, causing harmful asbestos fibres to spread throughout the area. It contaminated the house, garden, boundary fence, the neighbour’s house, and parked cars on the street. This posed a serious risk of asbestos exposure to not only the handyperson, but to the property owner, neighbours and public. 

“The neighbour called SafeWork NSW to complain, the property owner was hit with a clean-up notice and the handyperson did a runner. The final clean-up bill was more than $100,000, as all areas had to be cleaned. This included grass, garden beds and even trees having to be removed as asbestos waste,” says John. 

John said there is a way forward through this crisis if we all treat asbestos with respect and ensure we follow current regulations to identify, remove and certify the removal of asbestos. This will ensure we keep asbestos out of the mulch supply chain and in licensed landfill where it belongs.

Builders, homeowners, renovators, and tradesmen should engage a licensed asbestos assessor or competent person to undertake an intrusive and destructive asbestos assessment prior to any works to ensure asbestos is appropriately identified. It should be safely removed by a licensed asbestos removal contractor and be given a final clearance certification to note the area is safe to reoccupy and the remaining structure is safe to demolish. 

He added: “Don’t wait until the demolition has started. Asbestos is not a ‘do-it-yourself’ job. Similar to engaging an electrician or plumber, ensure you engage an asbestos professional at the start. That way, we’re limiting the community’s exposure and creating a safer environment for everyone.”  

Samsung Electronics Australia has once again been recognised for its excellence in customer satisfaction, winning the Most Satisfied Customers award for Smartwatches and Fitness Trackers by Canstar Blue, Australia’s most trusted consumer comparison website, for the Samsung Galaxy Watch range. This award comes off the back of two other recent Canstar Blue wins for products in Samsung’s Mobile eXperience division, Most Satisfied Customers for Smartphones and Most Satisfied Customers for Tablets.

Canstar Blue surveyed Australians who had purchased a smartwatch or fitness tracker in the last 3 years to find out which brands provided the best experience[1]. Samsung received top marks and was the only brand surveyed to achieve a perfect rating of five out of five stars, across all categories – design, battery & charging performance, value for money, durability, and user friendliness.

Kylie Mason, Head of Wearables and Accessories at Samsung Electronics Australia said, “We are thrilled to receive this recognition from Canstar Blue and our customers. We understand that consumers today expect a lot of their smartwatches and we’re always innovating to meet and exceed these expectations. Whether it’s the introduction of new ways to understand your health, improve your sleep and wellness, or much-loved design features like our rotating bezel, our focus is always on enhancing user experience.”

Commenting on the win, Tara Donnelly, Canstar Blue’s Utilities Editor said, “Canstar Blue’s customer satisfaction research in the Smartwatches & Fitness trackers category found that buyers consider Samsung’s signature Galaxy Watch range to be a great mix of style and functionality.

The Galaxy Watch series offers advanced health tracking that rivals more fitness-focused brands, along with convenient communications and safety features. The range is also competitively priced when compared to other high-end wearables, so it’s no surprise that Aussies rate Samsung number one for smartwatch value.”

Recognising the consumer benefit of wearables to build healthier habits, stay up-to-date on notifications, and understand their wellbeing better, Samsung took its first steps into the smartwatch world over 10 years ago. Innovating on each iteration, its most recent releases, Galaxy Watch6 and Galaxy Watch6 Classic, pack a wealth of holistic health offerings and powerful performance in a refined and sleek design. Created to help consumers more easily reach their wellness goals through features like personalised sleep and fitness coaching, the series solidifies the real consumer benefit offered by Samsung smartwatches.

The Canstar Blue Smartwatches and Fitness Trackers Most Satisfied Customers win comes soon after Samsung was also awarded Canstar Blue’s 2024 Most Satisfied Customers Award for Smartphones, announced the day before Galaxy Unpacked 2024 in January. A key moment for the company, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S24 series which comes equipped with its ground breaking Galaxy AI[2] features. Marking a new era for smartphones, AI enriches nearly every experience on the Galaxy S24 series by enabling barrier-free communication, unlocking creativity with its ProVisual Engine, and setting a new standard for search.

Looking to the future, Samsung is excited to bring a new wearable health form factor to Australians with the Galaxy Ring. Set to simplify everyday wellness and support smarter and healthier living, the Galaxy Ring will provide greater options for users seeking to better understand their health and wellbeing.

To find out more about the Galaxy Watch6 and Galaxy Watch6 Classic series as well as other Galaxy devices, please visit: Samsung.com.au.

[1] Canstar Blue surveyed more than 3,000 Australians, with over 500 confirming they had purchased a smartwatch or fitness tracker in the last three years.

[2] Fees may apply for AI features at the end of 2025. Samsung does not make any promises, assurances or guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of the output provided by AI features. Samsung Account login may be required to use certain Samsung AI features.