Latest news with #SECNewgate
Daily Telegraph
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Telegraph
Revealed: Stark divide in city vs bush cost of living struggle
Don't miss out on the headlines from Bush Summit. Followed categories will be added to My News. The cost of living crisis is hitting harder in the bush than it is in the city, with two out of five regional residents struggling to make ends meet and barely one in 10 feeling comfortable with their finances. Regional Australians love their quality of life – 77 per cent rate it as excellent, very good or good. But according to the Mood of the Bush survey, this has fallen since last year, and city slickers are now marginally more likely to be happier. The survey – conducted by SEC Newgate for News Corp Australia – found 69 per cent of regional Australians named the cost of living as the issue of most concern to them, which was overwhelmingly ahead of housing affordability, crime and healthcare. Nationally, three-quarters of those surveyed said reducing cost increases for household bills and other essential expenses was their top priority, with 41 per cent of those in the regions having difficulty paying their bills compared to 35 per cent in metro areas. Emma and Andrew Sheridan run a camp drafting property because they believe traditional farming is no longer viable under a net zero agenda. Picture: Jonathan Ng In regional New South Wales, 74 per cent of residents rated reducing cost increases for household bills and other essential expenses as 'extremely important', followed by investing more to ensure quality affordable healthcare at 64 per cent. Residents of regional and metro NSW indicated they were facing a similar struggle to make ends meet. Asked about their mood in recent weeks, 57 per cent of those in regional NSW selected more negative rather than positive emotions such as 'anxious' and 'stressed'.\ Overall, 78 per cent of regional NSW residents rated their quality of life as being at least good – lower than those in the state's metropolitan areas at 82 per cent but just ahead of the average across the rest of regional Australia. Andrew and Emma Sheridan run a camp drafting property in Wallendbeen, southern NSW. They say cost of living concerns are a 'day to day worry' for their young family, which is why they have chosen camp drafting - a fast growing sport with tremendous business potential - over traditional farming. 'We are worried for our kids and the direction Australia is heading,' Emma said. 'It's unsustainable. Our kids will be paying for the mismanagement of the country for decades to come if government spending is not reined in quickly. 'Rural Australia is being completely neglected and this whole net zero agenda is going to have a serious impact on where Australia fits into the world.' Foodbank Australia chief executive Brianna Casey said regional families and single-parent households that were 'just getting by' were now slipping through the cracks. Brianna Casey, chief executive of the Foodbank charity, says regional families and single-parent households that were 'just getting by' are now slipping through the cracks. 'We warned at the beginning of the cost-of-living crisis that low-income households were always going to suffer first, worst and for the longest,' she said. 'But what we're also seeing is single-parent families and those in regional communities that were just getting by, now reaching their limits and making unimaginable choices.' SEC Newgate research director Peter Collingridge said that while the cost of living was still a 'major concern', the level of stress recorded had declined slightly from last year's result, which could signal a 'turning point'. 'It's obviously the highest concern that's mentioned by people in both regional Australia, more broadly, but it's just come off the boil, just a fraction,' he said. 'Last year, it was 74 per cent around the same time … Potentially with interest rates on the way down, there's a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel for people.' Ms Casey said challenges with mobility and travel seemed to be a key contributor to the inability for families to afford enough food, according to separate Foodbank research. Last year, 20 per cent of regional Australians struggling with food insecurity cited 'limited access/ability to travel and get food' as a contributor, while only 14 per cent of metropolitan residents pointed to the same issue. Respondents said there was often not enough money for food after bills, car repairs, medical costs and insurance.
News.com.au
a day ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Bush Summit: Cost of living biting deeper among rural Victorians than those in cities
The cost of living crisis is hitting harder in the bush than it is in the city, with two out of five regional residents struggling to make ends meet and barely one in ten feeling comfortable with their finances. Regional Australians love their quality of life – 77 per cent rate it as excellent, very good or good. But according to the Mood of the Bush survey, this has fallen since last year, and city slickers are now marginally more likely to be happier. The survey – conducted by SEC Newgate for the Bush Summit series – found 69 per cent of regional Australians named the cost of living as the issue of most concern to them, which was overwhelmingly ahead of housing affordability, crime and healthcare. Nationally, three-quarters of those surveyed said reducing cost increases for household bills and other essential expenses was their top priority, with 41 per cent of those in the regions having difficulty paying their bills compared to 35 per cent in metro areas. In regional Victoria, 45 per cent of those surveyed said they were currently experiencing financial difficulties, compared to 31 per cent in the state's metropolitan areas. The survey found 73 per cent of regional Victorians considered reducing cost increases for household bills and other essential expenses to be 'extremely important', while 66 per cent said the same for investing more to ensure quality affordable healthcare. The mood in regional Victoria was also considerably more pessimistic compared to the national result, with 62 per cent saying they were currently feeling negative emotions including 'anxious' and 'stressed' compared to 56 per cent nationwide. Quality of life for those in regional Victoria has also gone backwards, with the proportion of those rating it as at least good dropping from 82 per cent last year to 75 per cent now. That figure is the lowest for any regional area around the country. Foodbank Australia chief executive Brianna Casey said regional families and single-parent households that were 'just getting by' were now slipping through the cracks. 'We warned at the beginning of the cost of living crisis that low-income households were always going to suffer first, worst and for the longest,' she said. 'But what we're also seeing is single-parent families and those in regional communities that were just getting by, now reaching their limits and making unimaginable choices.' SEC Newgate research director Peter Collingridge said that while the cost of living was still a 'major concern', the level of stress recorded had declined slightly from last year's result, which could signal a 'turning point'. 'It's obviously the highest concern that's mentioned by people in both regional Australia, more broadly, but it's just come off the boil, just a fraction,' he said. 'Last year, it was 74 per cent around the same time … Potentially with interest rates on the way down, there's a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel for people.' Ms Casey said challenges with mobility and travel seemed to be a key contributor to the inability for families to afford enough food, according to separate Foodbank research. Last year, 20 per cent of regional Australians struggling with food insecurity cited 'limited access/ability to travel and get food' as a contributor, while only 14 per cent of metropolitan residents pointed to the same issue. Respondents said there was often not enough money for food after bills, car repairs, medical costs and insurance. Lauren never dreams of a life beyond the bush, but there are downsides Numurkah resident Lauren Jackson grew up in the country and wouldn't want any different for her kids – yet she admits rural living has its downsides. Originally from Gippsland, Ms Jackson moved seven years ago with her husband Zac to a cattle depot in Numurkah, 35km north of Shepparton. Now their kids Shari and Rayner are growing up learning what it means to live in a country town: hard work, looking after animals and getting to know their neighbours. 'They learn a lot from living on a farm,' Ms Jackson said. 'We're horse people, so they have learned to look after their animals. 'They socialise a lot and know how to talk with adults, we've got a really good community around here – everyone knows everyone.' While she has never dreamt of life beyond the bush, Ms Jackson still concedes there are some drawbacks. 'Childcare is probably an issue — it's a little limited here,' she said. 'A lot of people have difficulty getting their kids into childcare. 'The roads are also quite bad, there has not been much care for them … Especially between Shepparton and Seymour, the roads are really bad.' Even still, Ms Jackson and her husband can't think of a better setting to raise their children. 'We believe this is the best sort of upbringing for our kids,' she said. 'The thought of moving closer (to the city) has never crossed our minds.'
Herald Sun
a day ago
- Business
- Herald Sun
Revealed: The shocking gap between city and bush cost of living pressures
Don't miss out on the headlines from Bush Summit. Followed categories will be added to My News. The cost of living crisis is hitting harder in the bush than it is in the city, with two out of five regional residents struggling to make ends meet and barely one in ten feeling comfortable with their finances. Regional Australians love their quality of life – 77 per cent rate it as excellent, very good or good. But according to the Mood of the Bush survey, this has fallen since last year, and city slickers are now marginally more likely to be happier. The survey – conducted by SEC Newgate for the Bush Summit series – found 69 per cent of regional Australians named the cost of living as the issue of most concern to them, which was overwhelmingly ahead of housing affordability, crime and healthcare. Nationally, three-quarters of those surveyed said reducing cost increases for household bills and other essential expenses was their top priority, with 41 per cent of those in the regions having difficulty paying their bills compared to 35 per cent in metro areas. Lauren and Zac Jackson, with kids Shari, 4 and Rayner 2, love living in the bush but there are challenges. Picture: Jake Nowakowski In regional Victoria, 45 per cent of those surveyed said they were currently experiencing financial difficulties, compared to 31 per cent in the state's metropolitan areas. The survey found 73 per cent of regional Victorians considered reducing cost increases for household bills and other essential expenses to be 'extremely important', while 66 per cent said the same for investing more to ensure quality affordable healthcare. The mood in regional Victoria was also considerably more pessimistic compared to the national result, with 62 per cent saying they were currently feeling negative emotions including 'anxious' and 'stressed' compared to 56 per cent nationwide. Quality of life for those in regional Victoria has also gone backwards, with the proportion of those rating it as at least good dropping from 82 per cent last year to 75 per cent now. That figure is the lowest for any regional area around the country. Foodbank Australia chief executive Brianna Casey said regional families and single-parent households that were 'just getting by' were now slipping through the cracks. 'We warned at the beginning of the cost of living crisis that low-income households were always going to suffer first, worst and for the longest,' she said. 'But what we're also seeing is single-parent families and those in regional communities that were just getting by, now reaching their limits and making unimaginable choices.' Foodbank Australia chief Brianna Casey said regional families are slipping through the cracks. Picture: Supplied SEC Newgate research director Peter Collingridge said that while the cost of living was still a 'major concern', the level of stress recorded had declined slightly from last year's result, which could signal a 'turning point'. 'It's obviously the highest concern that's mentioned by people in both regional Australia, more broadly, but it's just come off the boil, just a fraction,' he said. 'Last year, it was 74 per cent around the same time … Potentially with interest rates on the way down, there's a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel for people.' Ms Casey said challenges with mobility and travel seemed to be a key contributor to the inability for families to afford enough food, according to separate Foodbank research. Last year, 20 per cent of regional Australians struggling with food insecurity cited 'limited access/ability to travel and get food' as a contributor, while only 14 per cent of metropolitan residents pointed to the same issue. Respondents said there was often not enough money for food after bills, car repairs, medical costs and insurance. Lauren never dreams of a life beyond the bush, but there are downsides Numurkah resident Lauren Jackson grew up in the country and wouldn't want any different for her kids – yet she admits rural living has its downsides. Originally from Gippsland, Ms Jackson moved seven years ago with her husband Zac to a cattle depot in Numurkah, 35km north of Shepparton. Zac and Lauren Jackson with daughters Shari and Rayner and dog Bobby. Picture: Jake Nowakowski Now their kids Shari and Rayner are growing up learning what it means to live in a country town: hard work, looking after animals and getting to know their neighbours. 'They learn a lot from living on a farm,' Ms Jackson said. 'We're horse people, so they have learned to look after their animals. 'They socialise a lot and know how to talk with adults, we've got a really good community around here – everyone knows everyone.' While she has never dreamt of life beyond the bush, Ms Jackson still concedes there are some drawbacks. 'Childcare is probably an issue — it's a little limited here,' she said. 'A lot of people have difficulty getting their kids into childcare. 'The roads are also quite bad, there has not been much care for them … Especially between Shepparton and Seymour, the roads are really bad.' Even still, Ms Jackson and her husband can't think of a better setting to raise their children. 'We believe this is the best sort of upbringing for our kids,' she said. 'The thought of moving closer (to the city) has never crossed our minds.'
Campaign ME
19-05-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
ESG communications clarity: Building trust in a polarised world
We live in an increasingly polarised world, a world where crucial ESG issues are hijacked for political talking points, greenwashing abounds, and profit almost always trumps people and the planet. Against this backdrop, it's no surprise that people feel disengaged, distrustful, and disinterested in companies' ESG pledges and promises. From supply chain slavery coverups and fossil fuel fashion people have been misled, tricked, and conned for years. Winning back their trust won't be easy. But, this is not an excuse for companies to draw back into the shadows and stay silent – a practice known as greenhushing. And the research shows that consumers don't want this either. In fact, recent research from SEC Newgate found that of the 14,352 people it surveyed across 14 countries and territories, including the UAE, close to three in four people want companies to communicate more clearly about what they are doing to improve their performance on ESG issues. In the UAE, the figure rose to 84 per cent. 'Beyond hurting brand reputation, damaging consumer trust, and putting off potential talent, global greenwashing regulations are emerging left, right, and centre, and while there remain plenty of loopholes, the crackdown has begun.' Clear ESG communications begin with good data. Without robust data collection and verification processes, companies are left scrambling in the dark. Utilising this data and evidencing your progress—and room for improvement—provides a foundation of transparency, and when it comes to consumers, this goes a long way. One 2018 survey of US consumers by Social media management and analytics software company SproutSocial found that 89 per cent of people said a business could regain their trust by admitting to a mistake and being transparent about the steps taken to resolve it. Meanwhile, 85 per cent were more likely to stick with a brand during crises. But lesson one of company anti-greenwashing class 101 is: Act before you speak. There are a myriad of severe consequences if companies decide to take the opposite direction. Beyond hurting brand reputation, damaging consumer trust, and putting off potential talent, global greenwashing regulations are emerging left, right, and centre, and while there remain plenty of loopholes, the crackdown has begun. And then, companies must continue to walk the talk. As a result, it's essential to provide evidence that ESG isn't just a once-a-year activity but, instead, embedded into overall corporate strategy as part of your DNA. ESG is a journey, a process of business transformation, so communicate this with consumers and let the actions you're taking be demonstrated authentically, with a particular focus on their impact. But just as ESG is a company journey, for consumers, it's also a learning process. While companies might be making significant headway on their pledges and promises, it won't reach the right ears without the right action. So, it's crucial to discuss ESG data in an accessible way. For those in the ESG bubble, where Scope 3 and double materiality are part of their daily lives, keeping things complex and corporate might be something that's difficult to break free from. But it's essential for better consumer engagement. Cut the jargon and explain complex terms in a way that democratises ESG knowledge without patronising consumers. Finally, collaboration is the cornerstone to success. If companies lack the internal skills and experience to create a transparent, engaging and impactful ESG communications strategy, bringing in the experts will be a gamechanger. As the climate crisis intensifies, one abundantly clear message is that collaborative action is vital to climate change mitigation and adaptation – and the same goes in business. Knowledge-sharing is fundamental to solving the ESG comms in crisis, preventing missteps, mistakes and miscommunication. By Sal Jafar, CEO, ESG MENA
Reuters
19-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
UK-EU summit live: Starmer and EU leaders set to agree post-Brexit reset deal
FILE PHOTO: Starmer and von der Leyen in New York, September 25, 2024. Leon Neal/Pool via REUTERS The economic benefit of any deal will be limited by Starmer's promise to not rejoin the EU's single market or customs union. But he has instead sought to negotiate better market access in some areas - a difficult task when the EU opposes so-called "cherry picking" of EU benefits without the obligations of membership. Removing red tape on food trade will require Britain to accept EU oversight on standards, but Starmer is likely to argue that it is worth it to help lower the cost of food, and grow the sluggish economy. One trade expert who has advised politicians in both London and Brussels said the government needed to "break the taboo" on accepting EU rules, and doing so to help farmers and small businesses was smart. Trade experts also said Britain benefited from the greater focus on defence, making the deal look more reciprocal, and said improved ties made sense in a more volatile world. When "trade disruption is so visible and considerable" anything that reduced trade friction with a country's biggest trading partner made sense, said Allie Renison, a former UK government trade official at consultancy SEC Newgate.
