Less than one-third of family businesses are seeking HR advice in the midst of one of the worst skills shortages the Australian economy has experienced, claims the Survey of family business needs 2007.
According to the survey, conducted by KPMG in conjunction with Family Business Australia and Deakin University, nearly half of the respondents also noted they do not have management development plans or mentoring programs for family members.
Only one-quarter said they have a formal succession plan, dropping from 29 per cent in last year's survey. Directors care a lot
An Australian-first report into how company directors rank stakeholders, shows that Australian directors prioritise shareholders only slightly over employees, a different situation to the US.
John Purcell, CPA Australia policy adviser - corporate regulation, says while the research highlights a clear consensus among directors that the law of directors' duties allows consideration of interests other than shareholders, CPA Australia believes that this does not necessarily translate to a positive obligation to consider wider stakeholder interests. The cost of slow response
Australia's future generations could live out their lives literally paying for delayed action on climate change, Australia's Climate Institute claims.
Generation X could lose up to $1300 in superannuation each year of retirement due to the potential impact of carbon pricing on share values. The claims were based on modelling conducted by the institute, in partnership with Goldman Sachs JBWere and AMP Capital.
Because share valuations are calculated on short-term value, the institute says, no one has looked ahead to measure how sudden action to combat climate change will affect the superannuation payments of thousands of Australians.
