Australian farmers exporting overseas will be better off as tariffs are slashed or abolished under the Trans Pacific Partnership and the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA), said Minister for Agriculture, David Littleproud. “Tariffs on our farm produce going into China will be largely eliminated as of 1st January,” said David.

Key exports including wine, most fruit and vegetables, seafood and some dairy will no longer cop a tariff in China, which means our produce will be more affordable for Chinese consumers.

ChAFTA has contributed to significant growth in exports over the last 12 months. Beef exports increased 34.5 percent to $1 billion, wine exports increased 65.1 percent to $982.7 million, dairy exports increased 38 percent to $818.8 million and navel orange exports increased 57.5 percent to $87.2 million.

“Just some of the benefits are our farmers will sell more dairy into Canada through a new quota, more rice into Japan and no longer face tariffs on sheepmeat or pork into Mexico,” said David.

“We’re giving our farmers more options overseas so they can sell where they choose and not just to the supermarkets here in Australia.”

With the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) entering into force on 30th December 2018, exporters will receive two tariff reductions.

The first on 30th December—reductions associated with the entry into force of the agreement—followed by the annual tariff reduction rate on 1st January in those countries which ratified the CPTPP. Australia’s ratification of the CPTPP meant Australian exporters benefitted from immediate tariff cuts on entry into force of the CPTPP on 30th December 2018 for Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and Singapore, and further tariff cuts into Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and Singapore on 1st January (Japan’s second tariff cut will take effect on 1st April).

The moment many have been waiting for is finally here! The Midsummer Night’s Dream is the spectacular theme for the Evolution Mining BOSCARS Business Awards to be held at the Forbes Services Memorial Club on 8th February.

This year the Evolution Mining BOSCARS promises to be a wonderful gala awards presentation to the businesses of Forbes.

The committee is rolling out 11 award categories that culminate in the coveted Business of the Year.

“Tickets are selling fast and with a limited number of tickets available, I am urging businesses, sponsors and individuals to purchase their tickets as soon as possible,” said Michael Jelbart, BOSCARS Committee Chairman.

The People’s Choice Awards -Tradie of the Year and the Most Popular Business have been well supported with a staggering 22 nominations in each category.

Find a list of the finalists below:

Excellence in Small Business (under 20 employees), sponsored by the Business Enterprise Centre, finalists are The Forbes Phoenix, Life Pharmacy Forbes, Mid West Pest Management, Flannery’s Pharmacy, Roylance’s Auto One, Forbes Small Engine Specialists, BWR Accountants and Advisers and Eyewear Specs.

The categories below have one or two finalists:

• Excellence in Business (20 or more employees) sponsored by BWR Accountants

• Excellence in Social Enterprise sponsored by Matthews Williams

• Excellence in Innovation sponsored by Forbes Advocate

• Employer of Choice sponsored by Crowe Horwath

• Apprentice or Trainee of the Year sponsored by VERTO

• Business Leader of the Year sponsored by Forbes Shire Council

Employee of the Year sponsored by Agriwest CRT: Anita Westley: Forbes Veterinary Clinic, Allan Brockman: Acheson’s Home Timber and Hardware, Lauren Hutchinson: Eyewear Specs, Jayne Whitworth: News On Rankin, Robyn England: Power Tools Plus and Michelle Grace: Flannery’s Pharmacy.

Young Entrepreneur (Age-35) sponsored by Roylance Auto One: Monique Pointon: Sweet Three Vintage Van, Adam Chudleigh: McCarron Cullinane Chudleigh, Stevie Skene: Homies & Co, Nicolas Taylor: Nic’s Garage, Kristen Woods: Kristen’s Dance Studio and Kate Ralph: Elevate Dance Studio.

Start Up Superstar sponsored by Flannery’s Pharmacy: Elevate Dance Studio, Forbes Thai Massage Centre, Made Of Fridays and Sweet Three Vintage Van.

People’s Choice: Tradie of the Year sponsored by Forbes Business Chamber: Monique Pointon, Wes Finn, Mark Webb, Abe Duggan, Ahsley Acheson, Ben Godden, Rodney Buckman, Jamie Loomes, Jack Geppert, John Burton, Scott Burton, Matt Bull, Brad McMillan, Anita Westley, Corey Hurford, John Betland, Jamie Brown, John Butler, Tom Maitland, Brett Stace, Harry Jones and Jack Reid.

People’s Choice: Most popular Business sponsored by WIN Television: Sweet Three Vintage Van, Little Extras Lifestyle, Roylance’s Auto One, News On Rankin, Forbes Services Memorial Club, Forbes Veterinary Clinic, Harry Jones Painting, Life Pharmacy Forbes, Sweet Treats, Bright Beginnings Early Learning Centre, Forbes Family Dentists, Loomzys Fish and Fix, Forbes Toyota, Made Of Fridays, Forbes Railway Arts and Tourist Centre, Forbes Bake House, Homie and Co, Forbes Small Engines, Sugar Riot Events Forbes, Eyewear Specs, Blush Organic Beauty and Matt Bull Concreting.

Business of the Year sponsored by Evolution Mining: The BOSCARS Business of the Year is awarded to the most outstanding business which has demonstrated excellence across all areas of operation. The winner is selected from the winners of all categories.

“We are really excited with the response the awards have received this year. I believe we have received the highest number of entries in the awards history,” said Michael.

Tickets are available at https://www.123tix.com.au/events/2549/the-boscars

With official statistics showing that almost 40% of marriages end in divorce, or at least in a property settlement, a marriage break up is a horrendous issue for partners in a small business. Instead of concentrating on cash flow, tax matters, business generation and expansion, all goes out the window when the specter of divorce enters.

If both parties to a marriage work within the business, the strains are greatly magnified.

Julia Cambridge, the national executive director of Family Business Australia, recently said: “We know of cases where the relationship has broken down, and it has caused the business to fail. Any sort of conflict takes your eye off the game, diverts your attention away from what you are supposed to be doing, and impacts upon the business bottom line.”

Lawyers are increasingly looking at ways to exit a spouse from a business partnership by apportioning income streams or separating parties from discretionary trusts, superannuation, or taxation matters.

If a business is reasonably well run and profitable, it can manage. If, however, it is trading at the margin, the divorce can tip the business over. Binding financial arrangements or shareholder agreements prepared to come into effect in the event of a dispute are helpful, but the Family Court can override any such agreement in many, but not all, circumstances.

This is a complex legal field. If we at Matthews Williams can assist you on this or any other legal matter, feel free to phone me or one of our solicitors or call into our office for an appointment.

By Mark Olson.

If, by bad luck, you are involved in a motor vehicle accident, there are things you must do, and things you should do.

Things you must do:
• Stop as soon as you have the accident.
• Give your name, address and car registration details to the driver of the other car, to any person injured, and to the owner of any property damaged.
• Give the name and address of the car owner if it is not you.
• Give assistance to any injured person.
• Notify the police if someone is killed or injured, a driver did not stop and give their details to the other driver or drivers, any driver appears to be affected by alcohol or drugs, or any vehicle has to be towed away. In this latter case, and if the police do not come to the accident scene, you must report the accident to the nearest police station within 24 hours.
Things you should do:
• Make notes about the accident.
• Draw a plan of the scene and location of the cars.
• Take photos of the scene and location of each car.
• Take the names and addresses of any witnesses.
• Get the details of the other car, its owner, and its insurers.
• Notify your comprehensive insurance company immediately, and, if any person is injured, notify your green slip insurers.

If you have been injured, consult your solicitor as there are strict time limits for making an insurance claim.

If we at Matthews Williams can assist you on this or any other legal matter, feel free to phone me or one of our solicitors or call into our office for an appointment.

By Mark Olson

Hordes of people flocked to Templar and Rankin Streets last Friday to enjoy the Christmas Carnival and some late-night shopping that was topped off with ideal weather.

There was much to see and do for the young and the young at heart, such as rides on the tea cups, jumping castles and Hector, the bucking bull. Artistic talents were on show with the Street Art and kids got involved in exciting games.

Showcasing 30 market stalls with lots of variety. Some of the stalls included plants, children’s clothes, honey, cherries, adult clothing, handmade jewellery, natural oils, candles, signs and slime. There were also some wonderful food and drink stalls around.

Forbes Business Chamber Chairperson, Marg Duggan expressed her gratitude to everyone that assisted with the event and congratulated the draw winners of the Find It In Forbes Christmas Promotion.

“Congratulations to all of our winners! We would also like to thank the community for their support, especially to those businesses that loaned equipment and the wonderful volunteers that assisted with set-up and pack-up. They are absolutely amazing and made the job so much easier,” said Marg.

The winners of the 10 x $500 ‘Why Leave Town’ draws were as follows:
• Draw 1: Kaye Neville (ticket from Brons Hair/sponsored by Forbes Shire Council)
• Draw 2: Roz Dukes (ticket from Loomzys Fish and Fix/sponsored by Forbes Services Memorial Club)
• Draw 3: Dianne King (ticket from Bernardis/ sponsored by Terry Bros Carpet Court)
• Draw 4: Susan Steward (ticket From Painted Daisies/sponsored by Forbes Services Memorial Club)
• Draw 5: Denise Palmer (ticket From Cahills Footwear/sponsored by Forbes Shire Council)
• Draw 6: Roz House (ticket from Bernardis/ sponsored by Terry Bros Carpet Court)
• Draw 7: Jenny Bray (ticket from Pantry Cafe and Catering/sponsored by Forbes Services Memorial Club)
• Draw 8: Rod Ridley (ticket from News On Rankin/sponsored by Little Extras)
• Draw 9: Donna Fitzgerald (ticket from Undercover Sleepwear/sponsored by Bernardis)
• Draw 10: Brian Dwyer (ticket from Allure On Main/sponsored by Central West Diesel)

The winners of the 2 x $100 ‘Why Leave Town’ draws for the social media competition were:
• Draw 1: Larissa Moore
• Draw 2: Alex Hutchings

The major draws will be held on 24th December on the corner of Battye and Rankin Streets from 11:30am. Tim Redfern from Lachlan Readymix will load the tickets at approximately 11am into the concrete mixer.

The draws are made up of 5 x $1,000, 1 x $2,000, 1 x $3,000 and 1 x $5,000. All of the prizes will be awarded in loaded ‘Why Leave Town’ cards.

When shopping at the participating businesses remember to ask for your tickets to go into the draw. The participating businesses are: Agriwest; Allure on Main; Bernardi’s; Better Home Living; Blue Sky Outdoors Experts; Blush Organic Beauty; Bowns Sports Power; Brons Hair Design; C&D floorcoverings; Cahills Footwear; Chapter 2; Country Bakehouse; Eye Wear Specs; Flannerys Pharmacy; Forbes Family Dentists; Forbes Inn; Forbes Small Engines; Gottaluvit; Gunns Mensland; Helloworld Travel; Hozpots; Julianna Kneebone Solicitors; Ladybird Boutique; Life Pharmacy; Little Extra’s; Loomsys Fish & Fix; Made Of Fridays; News On Rankin; Painted Daisies; Pantry Cafe and Catering; Phillip Wells Optometrist; Robbs Jewellers; Roylances Auto One; Terry Bros Carpet Court; Turners Furniture One; Undercover Sleepwear; Vandenberg Hotel and Walkers Ag N Vet.

“A huge thank you goes to the Naming Rights Sponsor Forbes Shire Council, Gold Sponsor Forbes Services Memorial Club, Silver Sponsor Terry Bros Carpet Court and Bronze Sponsors Little Extras, Bernardis and Central West Diesel for the amazing Find It In Forbes Promotion.”

“We would also like to thank the supporters for the Find It In Forbes Promotion which are Forbes Livestock, Forbes Toyota, Hazel and Field Accountants, Hughes and Co, Kevin Miller, Whitty Lennon & Co, MCC Forbes, MidPro Engineering, Midwest Pest and WA Knights,” said Marg.

With their schooling year complete, Year 12 students at Forbes High School are now able to celebrate their results that they have achieved in their Higher School Certificate (HSC) and can all look forward to a positive future ahead.

The HSC class of 2018 at Forbes High School have reached just one of the many milestones in their life by attaining the HSC and Forbes High School are extremely proud of all of them and their achievements to date. The HSC should never define a person, we expect all of our students to achieve more and more as life continues. We are proud that Forbes High School delivers on this sentiment.

A message from Forbes High School Principal, Safija Bristina: “Forbes High School would like to congratulate the Year 12 Class of 2018. We wish you all the best in your future endeavours. You are equipped with the skills to be positive contributors in the community and make a difference in the world.”

Forbes High School acknowledges the outgoing leadership team Chelsea Turner (Captain), Mitchell Ashcroft (Captain), Claire Maslin (Vice-Captain) and Konnor Ryan (Vice-Captain). They have led the school with determination, diligence and dedication to school and community.

Year 12 achievements were recognised at a farewell assembly at the school. Among honours listed that day Chelsea Turner was named Dux of the school for 2018.

The Forbes High School community wishes all of our Year 12 students the very best in their future endeavours and hope they continue on a lifelong path of learning.