It is clear that Taiwan shares much in common with Australia. It is an island in the Pacific with a population of 23 million people, a population of indigenous people with a long history, and a country with a complex relationship with China and the United States.

However, little is known about Taiwan among many Australians. Taiwan is most often referred to as a security risk or “flashpoint” in world affairs. This is especially so in Australia, where Taiwan is seen through the prism of our relationship with China and what relations between these two countries mean for regional stability.

However, continued references to Taiwan in this way only serve to diminish and obfuscate the important relationship Australia actually has with Taiwan.

Taiwan as a partner in the Asia-Pacific region

Taiwan’s successful political model, functioning inside a culturally Chinese society, is proof that Chinese culture and democracy are compatible.

Australia and Taiwan do not have official diplomatic relations. Australia recognises the government of the PRC (the People’s Republic of China, as opposed to the Taiwanese Republic of China) as the sole legal government of China.

However, according to DFAT’s brief on Taiwan, Australia does support the development of economic and cultural contacts – on an unofficial basis – between Australia and Taiwan.

Australia is often told it punches above its weight in world affairs. Taiwan, as the world’s 19th largest economy, could equally be said to be the same. However, it is internationally recognised only for its fragile political status.

The renewed debate about Australia’s balancing act between China and the United States runs the risk of clouding our relationship with Taiwan.

As Australia starts to enter the Asian Century, Australia’s future will be increasingly centred in Asia, and forming enduring social and cultural ties is essential to ensure Australia maintains good relations with its neighbours in the future.

Business Relations with Taiwan 

From an economic point of view, Taiwan and Australia are much closer than many would expect. According to DFAT, Taiwan was Australia’s sixth largest merchandise export market in 2011, increasing by 9% from the previous year – with coal, iron ore, and aluminium being the main products being imported.

Taiwan is also a global economic player. It has 42 companies in the Forbes Global 2000 Leading Companies, compared to Australia’s 44. Moreover, Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, is ranked in the top 25 metropolitan areas with the most Global 500 companies. No Australian city is included in the top 25.

Taiwan is a hub for exports and trade

Australian businesses should look for new markets in Southeast Asia as the Chinese economy is slowing down. Taiwan can act as a launching pad to enter other South Asian markets. 

Taiwan has also been able to preserve much of its history and is now a bastion of Chinese culture and history.

As Asia becomes more and more important, and China in particular. It will be increasingly important to understand the cultural and historical paradigms shaping these societies.

While Australia is already a large destination for Taiwanese students, Taiwan is still very much overlooked by Australian students. Yet the Taiwanese government offers generous scholarships to Australians via its Huayu Scholarship program to learn Chinese and get to know Taiwan.

Taiwan as a “Tech Giant”

Many Taiwanese companies are making significant contributions to the global economic environment with companies such as HTC and Acer, while Taiwanese companies are major suppliers of parts which make up Apple products.

One of the original four “Asian Tigers,” Taiwan is often overlooked, dwarfed by the economic success stories of China and India. Yet, Taiwan is a relatively free place to do business and has a strong history and tradition of welcoming foreign direct investment (FDI).

In Countering The Growing Chinese Dominance 

As everyone is aware, China has an expansionist mentality and won’t stop till Taiwan. From a security perspective, Taiwan is equally crucial for both Australia and south-east Asia to counter the growing influence of China in the region.

If Taiwan is overlooked economically, then perhaps it is best known for its fragile political relationship with China.

In 1949, following the Chinese civil war, the Communist forces took full control of mainland China and founded the People’s Republic of China (PRC). As a consequence, the Republic of China (ROC) reset its government to Taiwan.

Following the lifting of martial law in 1987, Taiwan made a transition from authoritarian rule to democratic rule, with direct presidential elections held for the first time in 1996.

Taiwan’s current president, Ma Ying-jeou has improved the relationship with China since he took office, mainly marked by a trade agreement known as the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA). Relations across the strait have never been better since Taiwan and China split in 1949.

However, tensions still exist. In 2005, China passed the “Taiwan Anti-Secession Law”, whereby China commits to a military response if Taiwan declares independence or if peaceful reunification efforts fail. 

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Australia is blessed with lovely sunny weather, spectacular natural landscapes, good wine, and a friendly, laid-back population. It is also well known for its unique flora and peculiar creatures, many of which are unique to Australia, like bioluminescent glow worms.

The phrase “our land abounds in nature’s gifts of beauty, rich and rare” from Australia’s national anthem describes the picture. Wildlife enthrals those who adore the outdoors. With millions of visitors each year, an increasing number of local and foreign visitors direct their animal senses toward some of the most well-known Australian wildlife areas. Numerous of these famous locations are also among Australia’s most attractive places to visit.

Endangered wildlife abounds, including the well-known koala and the vicious Tasmanian devil, as well as less well-known species like the echidna, bandicoot, quoll, and fairy penguin. But how can you even start to see Australian creatures in the wild in such a big country?

Whales and sharks Whether you like dolphins, penguins, camels, or horses as your favourite wildlife species, we have found the most incredible locations and unforgettable experiences for the greatest Australia wildlife holidays for animal lovers.

The Great Barrier Reef

This enormous structure, which is visible from space, is situated not far from Queensland’s shore. The reef, which stretches over 2300 kilometres, is home to numerous fascinating and endangered species. These seas are home to a wide variety of marine life, including clownfish, mantis shrimp, dugong, humpback whales, whale sharks, green turtles, blanket octopuses, and many others. You should have no trouble visiting this World Heritage Site if you want to dive, snorkel, or swim in the Great Barrier Reef and get up close and personal with some of the animals that dwell here because it is reachable by land, sea, and air.

More than 500 varieties of coral, more than 100 shark and ray species, six species of marine turtles, more than 30 species of marine mammals, and more than 215 bird species can all be found on the Great Barrier Reef.

You can cruise Michaelmas Cay, fly over Heart Coral, cruise Agincourt Reef, stay on Herron Island directly on the reef, or take a seaplane over Agincourt Reef to experience this astounding richness of species. A variety of lodging options are available that provide access to the Great Barrier Reef’s stunning wonders.

Ningaloo Reef and Exmouth

The finest wildlife location in Australia to see whale sharks is here. Additionally, visible are manta rays and, of course, all the other reef dwellers. You want to go to Ningaloo Reef when you eventually find yourself in Western Australia. You will have the chance to go diving among some of the most beautiful marine life in existence at this World Heritage Site. For instance, Ningaloo Reef is home to the whale shark, the largest fish in the world. They are harmless, but they will undoubtedly make you gasp for air. Turtles, manta rays, and a variety of tropical fish live on the bordering coral reef.

Marine life loves Ningaloo Reef, which is their paradise. Every year, from April to July, whale sharks gather in enormous numbers in this one location alone, close to the beach. Information on the various trip choices for seeing these marine giants is available from the Exmouth Visitor Center.

In addition to the whale sharks, the reef is also home to six different kinds of sea turtles and manta rays. On their annual migrations between their breeding grounds in the warm tropical waters and their feeding sites in Antarctica, humpback whales stop at Ningaloo Reef.

The biodiversity at Daintree Rainforest, Queensland

The Daintree Rainforest in northern Queensland is the oldest rainforest on Earth and is home to a wide variety of unique plants and animals. It’s one of the best sites in Australia to watch animals because of this. Cassowaries, bandicoots, musky rat-kangaroos, rufous owls, sugar gliders, huge tree frogs, and many other animals can be found in this 180 million year old jungle.

BirdLife International has designated the Daintree Rainforest as an Important Bird Area (IBA), primarily due to the presence of a population of southern cassowaries there. Two endemic species of bowerbirds, gorgeous fairywrens, fernwrens, owls, kingfishers, and several other bird species all have habitat thanks to it.

 It serves as a reminder of Australia’s hot, muggy past, which occurred millions of years ago, before the continent’s climate started to get drier and hotter. Choose a guided tour so that your knowledgeable guide can locate and point out the local fauna. Alternatively, maybe a river cruise through the mangroves is more your style.

Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island is a fantastic location to find wildlife in Australia where you may see animals and is home to kangaroos, birds, seals, sea lions, koalas, and many more.

It’s home to a variety of animals. This island is home to a variety of natural animals, including the Kangaroo Island kangaroo, the southern brown bandicoot, the short-beaked echidna, and six different types of bat and frog. Visit Hanson Bat Wildlife Sanctuary to observe koalas, wallabies, kangaroos, and more than 40 different bird species. Seal Bay is the place for you if sea lions are more your style. Kangaroo Island is easily accessible by ferry from Adelaide, and more than a third of it is protected as national parkland.

Some of the must-see locations are Seal Bay, where you can see sea lions, Admiral’s Arch, where you can see fur seals, Flinders Chase National Park, where you can see echidnas, platypus, and Cape Barren geese, American River, where you can see sea colonies, and Little Sahara, an island-wide area with dunes.

On Kangaroo Island, you can book accommodations where the amazing animals can be viewed out your window or even just outside your door. For information on the top animal locations on Kangaroo Island, go to this trip report.

Kakadu National Park

Kakadu National Park, which is situated in the Northern Territory, is a place with a unique ecosystem and biological population that you should not skip visiting. This protected national park has a great concentration of animals due to its four river systems, six primary landforms, including estuaries, lowlands, and stone country. For instance, Kakadu is home to 280 bird species, 117 reptile species, and about 70 mammal species, many of which are uncommon and endangered. The biodiversity of this area is simply breathtaking, with species like the Australian darter, the red goshawk, the distinctive frill-necked lizard, and the nimble wallaby.

You might not be able to see all the animals you were hoping to observe due to the sometimes harsh weather conditions and the fact that many of the species are nocturnal. There are no commercial flights to the national park, so the only way to get there is to travel to Darwin or Alice Springs and then drive from there. Everything from camping to hotels and cabins is accessible in terms of lodging.

There are 90- and 120-minute cruises along the Yellow Water Billabong offered by Yellow Water Cruises. Numerous species of wildlife are present throughout the vast marshes. Kakadu is, therefore, the place to go if you enjoy a daring trip close to crocodiles that eat flesh.

The Penguin Parade on Phillip Island

The Phillip Island Circuit attracts a lot of motorcycle and auto fans, but this southern Victorian coastal location is best known for its Summerland Beach sunset penguin parade. The Seal Rocks outcrop, which is home to a sizable colony of Australian fur seals, may be seen from the Nobbies outcrop. You won’t ever be too far from all the tourist action and fantastic family attractions in Phillip Island thanks to the abundance of lodging options.

One of the best spots in the world to get a close-up look at penguins is Phillip Island, which is 90 minutes from Melbourne and not too far from anywhere else. After a challenging day in the ocean, the small creatures waddle along the beach to their burrow while grooming and interacting with one another. Additionally, the Koala Conservation Center is located on this island, allowing you to snap pictures of these adorable little creatures as well. As previously indicated, Phillip Island is accessible by day trip from Victoria’s city centre.

Dingoes in Queen’s Fraser Island

One of the best spots to find wildlife in Australia is K’gari(Fraser Island). You will be able to see dingos, which are typically elusive. While camping, you may encounter several marsupials at night. Along with its neighbour, Hervey Bay, Fraser Island is the nation of Australia’s whale-watching capital and the largest sand island in the world, measuring more than 120 kilometres. This eco-tourism location also offers plenty of animal viewing possibilities, including the chance to witness local dingoes, as well as swimming options at beautiful beaches and on Lake McKenzie. On Fraser Island, in the tranquil natural surroundings, there are reasonably priced resorts.

Although the most well-known dogs in Australia may be seen all over the country, Fraser Island in Queensland is one of the best spots to watch them. The dingoes roam freely along the beaches of Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world. Since Fraser Island dingoes have not interbred with feral dogs as frequently as other mainland populations, they are thought to be the purest strain of dingo in Australia and are therefore legally protected. Do keep in mind that dingoes are wild animals that, despite belonging to the canine family, can be violent toward humans. Watch them from a safe distance, please!

The island state of Tasmania

Tasmania is the only location where Tasmanian devils can be found in the wild. To conserve their dwindling population, 28 healthy Tasmanian devils were sent to Maria Island in 2013 for a captive breeding operation. Currently, the island is home to roughly 100 of these tiny carnivorous marsupials.

At the entrance to Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain National Park, which is a World Heritage Site, is a conservation sanctuary. Visitors have the option of exploring the refuge at their own pace or signing up for a private guided tour that guarantees a close encounter with a Tasmanian Devil. Your visit will give you a glimpse into how a working facility for animal conservation runs daily and your admission charge will go toward the Tasmanian Devil’s preservation.

A road trip to Tasmania will undoubtedly include plenty of wildlife sightings. Sometimes more than you anticipated because it makes driving a stressful activity. Some of the best locations to find wildlife in Australia to witness animals like wombats and echidnas include Maria Island and Cradle Mountain.

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Vapers in NZ now have a reason to rejoice with the country officially legalising vaping. 

The decision comes after no less than five years of constant pushing and pulling by the regulators and finally saw the light of the day with the Parliament passing legislation. 

So, what all is new with this vaping law? How does it affect individuals and business owners with nicotine salt vape products? 

Sure, there are a whole lot of questions in the air that need answering and in this post, we are going to answer all of them.

Read on to find out more. 

Classification for Specialist Nicotine Vape Stores

With the new vaping laws in place, all retailers are now required to meet no less than the 70% sales threshold for their products which thereby would classify their store as a “Specialist Vape Store”. 

So, what does this do for your business? 

Well, for starters it means now you are officially free to sell all types of vaping products in a  range of flavours.
Plus, the new vaping laws also stress the fact that a vapor shop online should also exist as a brick and mortar establishment to be called a specialist vape store. 

Product Safety Standards, Age And Other Restrictions 

The new vaping laws in NZ require all vape retailers, existing and newbies alike, to abide by similar safety guidelines. In other words, it means in terms of availability, there will be no change to the stuff that one sells or purchases online from a physical store. 

Also, in terms of age restrictions, the government has now made it clear that no customer under the age of 18 years will have access to vape juice with nicotine of any kind. Besides, a banning order has also been issued for nicotine pouches of all kinds. For a general nicotine vape store failing to meet the specialist threshold that is applicable, there will be restrictions on the flavours that they can sell and will be limited to the kinds like menthol, mint, and tobacco alone. 

No Advertising is Allowed 

With the new bill on vaping coming into effect, display ads across the country for vaping products will undergo changes. For instance, the in-store display ads will continue, but no forms of advertising will be allowed anymore across other platforms like TV, radio and online channels. By all means, it is a welcome step by the Ministry of Health keeping in mind how such ads can affect young minds as well. 

How signing up with a 360-degree vape wholesaler can kickstart your business

For any Aussie lad who wants to make an impact with his vape retailing dreams, the newly imposed laws can be a tad bit difficult to tackle. 

One must not forget that the vape industry, a lot like the products, borders on volatility. Hence, it is imperative that you need someone to do a little bit of hand-holding when starting out for the very first time. 

At Momentum Vape NZ, we have helped several newbie retailers gain a competitive edge in the market with our finest supply of wholesale vape products. As one of the leading names in the business, Momentum Vape has constantly made it possible to bring innovation onboard, source quality unflavoured nicotine as well as nicotine vape liquid in a slew of eclectic flavours, keeping in terms with the market demand and above all promise ultimate satisfaction. Besides, our extensive experience in logistics has also made it possible for a retailer to easily source and ship products to keep their inventory going strong. 

If that sounds like something that can give your vape retailing dreams a flying start, then don’t wait up. 

For more info, visit https://momentumvapeco.co.nz/

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Looking to register a brand name in Australia can be a lot like the first time in the woods. Trademarking and patent laws are not really super easy to understand and comprehend, especially, for young and first-time business owners.

Fret not! We’ve got your back.

In this post, we talk about how to register a brand name, the stringent differences between a patent and a trademark, and everything else in between.

Knowing the basics right 

Before we go ahead with trademarking your business, you will need to form a comprehensive idea about the things at hand. Simply put, a trademark is nothing but a particular word, image or phrase which can be used as a symbol to recognize the goods and services that you produce, manufacture, or deal with. 

On the other hand, a patent is an accreditation granted to the very investor in order to pursue his manufacturing goals, use or sell out his invention. In this respect, trademarking lawyers can be of great help. 

Now, it’s essential to understand that any idea, for that matter, doesn’t fructify unless it gets converted into something meaningful when you register a trademark in Australia. In essence, it stands as a symbol of an artistic creation representing a symbol for a particular design or product. In time, a trademark transforms into intellectual property and holds value. 

These are a handful of basic understandings that very new business owners looking to trademark their brand needs to know and understand before taking a step forward. 

Trademark Vs Patent 

Now that one has a fair bit of understanding regarding patents and trademarks, it’s time you sort out the differences between them to make life easy. 

Here are some stringent points of difference between patent and trademark:

• A trademark uniquely helps identify the product or services from other traders operating in the market. A patent, on the other hand, works as a monopoly coming from the government for a pre-set period to help cater to the attributes of a new invention.

• While a trademark usually applies to symbols, signs, images, and designs, a patent offers protection to the general goodwill which is associated with the trust mark, which is the brand logo itself.

• A trademark works to offer individuality to a product while a patent is generally awarded to an individual or company for a novel invention.

• Also, a trademark helps protect your brand logo that can closely resemble other logos used by other companies of similar business. In comparison, a patent works towards preventing others from using or selling a particular patented product. 

• Lastly, the registration for a trademark is all the way discretionary, which means it is up to a business owner to decide whether he wants to trademark his brand. However, in comparison, the registration of patents is a mandate.

• Lastly, the duration of registration of a trademark is typically ten years compared to a patent being valid for twenty years.

So, you see, knowing the stringent differences between trademark and patent will put you on the right track for your business. As a bonus, it will also safeguard your intellectual interests and keep you protected from legal hassles.

The post Brand Name Registration in Australia: Trademarks vs Patents appeared first on TheAussieway.

The Victorian Government has worked closely with the industry on a plan for reopening based on the recommendations of the public health team.

In order to work onsite, all workers will need to keep in mind the covid rules to follow and carry an Authorised Worker Permit and have had at least one vaccine dose. Every construction site in Victoria must also have a designated fully trained COVID Marshal to ensure agreement with the Chief Health Officer’s directions.

Construction workers’ vaccination mandate, a key factor behind last week’s violent protests that are believed to have sparked the union office outbreak, has not been removed and proof of having received at least one dose will be a prerequisite for entry at worksites through the method of enforcement remains unclear.

Prior to reopening, operators will be required to attest that they have implemented the CHO directions and every site will need to have an up-to-date vaccination register available for compliance checks at all times.

In order to make this process as easy as possible, an online portal will soon be available on the Service Victoria website so these documents are accessible for both the operator and compliance teams.

Storehouse facilities may be used for the consumption of food and drink with strict density requirements and additional ventilation. Up to five construction workers and a supervisor will be able to work onsite for small-scale construction projects, and large-scale sites can have up to 25% of workers on site.

If crib rooms meet best practices and the entire workforce is fully vaccinated, large-scale construction sites can have up to 50% of workers on site. Projects on the State Critical Infrastructure list will operate at 100 percent as long as crib rooms follow best practice guidelines.

The shutdown came on the back of rising case numbers and non-compliance with regulations, particularly among small and medium-sized builders. It sparked several days of protests across Melbourne that led to takeovers of the West Gate Bridge and Shrine of Remembrance.

Subject to continued high levels of compliance by the Australian construction industry, workforce caps will progressively increase. At Victoria’s seventy percent double dose milestone, large-scale construction can return to 100 percent of its workforce.

Caps will be removed when Victoria reaches its 80% target, and in addition, all onsite workers must be fully vaccinated by 13 November. Fully vaccinated workers can travel between metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria in order to work onsite.

Workers on state critical projects or large-scale construction can also travel between metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria if they have had a single dose, take an initial test before their first travel, then test twice per week until fully vaccinated.

To allow all sites to remobilize, workers who have had at least one vaccination dose will be able to enter a site prior to fifth October in order to undertake storehouse facility improvements or receive deliveries. As part of the re-opening, the Victorian Government expects the construction industry to comply with directions in full.

Teams of authorised workers will conduct checks to enforce directions, and penalties will be in place for builders and site operators that do not comply – including site shutdowns for significant or repeated breaches.

All sites will be required to demonstrate compliance with Chief Health Officer Directions prior to reopening including the requirement for workers to show evidence to their employer of having had one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine before they return to the site on 5 October.

Movement of construction building union workers between metropolitan Melbourne, the City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire and Mitchell Shire, and regional Victoria is only permitted for fully exempt workers supporting safety and essential maintenance works at public infrastructure sites.

For example, this means, a contractor residing in Melbourne might not attend a worksite in Shepparton except in supporting safety and essential maintenance works at public infrastructure sites. Regular testing and wastewater surveillance might also be used, with discussions ongoing and some details yet to be finalised.

An announcement about the reopening is expected later this week and companies might be allowed to have people on-site on Monday to prepare for work to resume on Tuesday.

Source:  https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-01/victoria-construction-industry-reopens-to-new-covid-rules/100507488

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