Highlights CEO: James Pearson

Transcription

1 Activities & Achievements Highlights CEO: James Pearson During the quarter the Australian Chamber campaigned on issues vital to business including rising energy costs, migration and tax cuts. We released our Pre-Budget Submission calling for government to ensure expenditure is efficient, strategic and futureproofs employment, trade and investment. We worked to ensure changes to migration rules consider the impact on business and funding certainty with the Skilling Australians Fund. We successfully opposed attempts to reverse penalty rate reform. We launched our member s Advocacy Committee to bring a diverse wealth of skills and experience to the Chamber s advocacy efforts. Prime Minster Malcolm Turnbull MP at the Small Business Roundtable Lunch in Canberra We held the 2017 Business Leaders Summit, which was opened by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Julie Bishop MP and featured 30 panellists from business, government and the media. More than 150 members and politicians attended this important annual event sponsored by Google. CPA Australia joined as an Industry Association member, bringing our number of of industry associations to 70. We welcomed Procurement Australia, The iq Group Global, Australian Eggs, Intelledox, Angus Knight, Academies Australasia, Energy Industries Superannuation Scheme, The GEO Group, Sensis and City Tattersalls Club to the Business Leaders Council, bringing its membership to 59. Leader of the Opposition the Hon Bill Shorten MP at an Australian Chamber Major Lunch The Chamber hosted a major business event with the Hon Bill Shorten MP in Sydney, a roundtable lunch with the Prime Minister and members in Canberra and the Treasurer at our annual Business Leaders Dinner, sponsored by MYOB, CareSuper, the Australian Made Campaign and 3 Degrees Marketing. We were pleased to welcome new staff Magdalena Kaczmarska (Policy Adviser, Economics and Industry), Krithika Gururaj (Policy Adviser, Employment, Education and Training and Tourism), Keith Black (National Policy Adviser, Workplace Relations) and Stephen Schmidt (Director, Corporate Services, Finance and Company Secretary). We farewelled several staff including Rozanne Crawford, who retired after 35 years at the Chamber. info@acci.asn.au Working for business. Working for Australia

2 Sustainability, Economics and Industry Policy Director: Adam Carr Chairs: Deidre Willmott and Mark Stone The Economics, Industry and Sustainability unit had a busy quarter. We held a joint sitting of the Economics and Sustainability Committees to discuss the issue of high energy costs. Resolutions from this meeting were taken to General Council and passed. Still on energy, the unit participated in COAG s stakeholder roundtable and facilitated a panel discussion on energy prices with the Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. We also held a meeting with Audrey Zibelman, CEO, Australian Energy Market Operator. We worked with stakeholders to finalise a report into the National Electricity Market and engaged consultants Aurecon for this purpose. We are calling on federal, state and territory governments to put the national interest first and urgently take action to bring down energy costs in the short-term. Adam Carr, Chief Economist We participated in a panel arranged by the Department of Industry to talk about small business, regulation and other issues of importance to the business community. We participated in NAB s Small Business Customer Advisory Council, met with the Commonwealth Treasurer s Office to discuss a number of economic issues, the Commonwealth Treasury to discuss Small Business Issues and conducted our usual liaison with the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman. We completed our Pre-Budget Submission, a submission to the Greater Sydney Commission s Greater Sydney Regional Plan and a submission to the NSW Department of Planning on Regulatory reform. Employment, Education and Training Director: Jenny Lambert Chair: Trevor Cairney The quarter saw us continue our active engagement with the Assistant Minister and Department of Education and Training on the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF). We also made submissions to the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee on Migration Amendment (Skilling Australians Fund) Bill 2017 to highlight the Chamber s concerns about the impact of the training levy on businesses, ongoing concerns about labour market testing, and the lack of certainty for funding apprentices under the SAF. The [apprenticeship] numbers are continuing to fall, unchecked by any recent action. This is concerning, particularly for young people seeking that all-important first job. The system is in crisis. Jenny Lambert, Director - Employment, Education and Training We met with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection to discuss the potential of industry using Designated Area Migration Agreements and Labour Agreements to limit the negative impact of 457 visa changes. We worked with the Department of Jobs and Small Business (Employment) to achieve changes to the skilled migration occupation lists, labour market testing and made a submission to their occupational list review. We met with Minister Michael McCormack s office to highlight the need for a major review of List of Occupations (ANZSCO) to be undertaken by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. We provided input into the Pre-Budget and the Digital Economy Submissions and met with the Department of Education and Training to discuss the progress of a minimum standard for literacy and numeracy in schools and alternate benchmarking for minimum standards. This quarter we continued our involvement in the Disability Employment Services Transition Reference Group; Industry Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment; the VET Student Loans Advisory Group (as Chair); the Career Education Working Group; and joined the Board of Manufacturing Skills Australia. Trade and International Affairs Director: Bryan Clark Chair: Peter Hood Key achievement for the quarter was assisting the launch of the ALP s trade policy at an Australian Chamber event in Sydney with the Hon Jason Clare MP, with the ALP embracing much of our trade policy. We helped the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet with plans for the Prime Minister s ASEAN Special Summit being held in March 2018 in Sydney which features a program dedicated to developing business opportunities in the region. We joined the advisory group at the National Measurement Institute dealing with Legal Metrology. This is important work as everything sold in Australia and globally by measure of volume is covered by Legal Metrology. info@acci.asn.au Working for business. Working for Australia

3 We continued negotiations for free trade agreements and in particular the Business Partnership Group for the Indonesian Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) where we initiated an idea for a digital Special Economic Zone in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. We maintained our engagement in the Indian Ocean Rim, attending the first meeting of the South African leadership in Durban where our efforts on Women s Economic Empowerment were officially recognised. Australian Chamber - Tourism Director: Jenny Lambert Executive Chair: John Hart The quarter was one with strong engagement on a number of fronts. The Friends of Tourism Reception at Parliament House was a success with the Tourism Works campaign taking centre stage. The event was attended by ministers, politicians, business leaders and member CEOs. Our work championing trade facilitation improvements was recognised in our invitation to present to the APEC Rules of Origin workshop in Vietnam and efforts in our participation in the National Committee for Trade Facilitation and the Anti-Dumping Commissions Trade Remedies Advisory Group. Trade policy is about international competition to encourage domestic reforms and drive business growth and productivity. This is what sustains and creates jobs for all Australians. Bryan Clark, Director - Trade and International Affairs We presented at the Indonesia Australia Business Summit in Adelaide, and at workshops at the Melbourne University Economic Law School and University of South Australia s Asian Centre. We co-sponsored with long-standing partners Austrade the annual National Export Awards where over 100 nominees from many sectors across the nation celebrated their efforts in building successful export focussed businesses. We also began plans for the second ICC Asia-Pacific Commercial Mediation Competition being held in Melbourne on July Top: Martin Ferguson, Tourism Accommodation Australia Below: Greg Bicknell, CEO, Chamber of Commerce NT and Robyn Hedry CEO, Canberra Business Chamber at the Friends of Tourism Reception We worked with Austrade and Tourism Australia on the Data 61 project. We also held meetings with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection and the Department of Jobs and Small Business (Employment) in conjunction with the EET unit on migration. We continue to push for a Tourism Industry Growth Centre with the Department of Industry. We advocated for investment in regional tourism infrastructure and a new events bid fund in the Tourism Pre- Budget Submission to the Treasury. James Pearson with Steve Rowe, CEO, SRA Information Technology, recipient of the 2017 Environmental Solutions Award at the 55th Annual Export Awards Australian Chamber - Tourism s Executive Chair, John Hart, has been appointed to the Ministerial Advisory Committee overseeing the Beyond 2020 Tourism info@acci.asn.au Working for business. Working for Australia

4 Workplace Relations Director: Scott Barklamb Chair: Stephen Cartwright Policy and legislative developments During the final parliamentary sittings for 2017, the Australian Chamber and members successfully opposed attempts to reverse penalty rate reform in retail and hospitality Industry awards. The Chamber responded to consultations on Modern Slavery reporting, emphasising the need to phase in and minimise impacts on small businesses. Submissions were also made to a review of greenfields agreement making. It is time for all sides of politics to accept the [penalty rates] decision and allow employers to get on with creating jobs. James Pearson, CEO Fair Work Commission The Chamber led opposition to the ACTU s family friendly working hours claim that would give employees a right to unilaterally reduce working hours. Work Health and Safety and Workers Compensation Associate Director: Jennifer Low Chair: Agu Kantsler The WHS&WC Committee in November prepared for the 2018 model WHS Legislation review, development of a Mental Health in the workplace Position Statement, Safe Work Australia strategy, ASEA engagement and the ILO Violence agenda. In response to the NSW Governments announced mental health summit in November, the Australian Chamber and NSWBC (as summit attendees) wrote to SafeWork NSW articulating member concerns with the pre-summit Discussion Paper with the approach being adopted by Summit organisers. The Chamber released a media statement urging businesses not to jump the gun by preparing for or adopting the draft international safety management system ISO The article was picked up by many media outlets with Standards Australia releasing a supportive statement. For National Safe Work Month the Australian Chamber coordinated a safety month campaign for members based on the theme Sharing safety knowledge and experience benefits everyone. Social media platforms were used to promote the Chamber and Members commitment to safety. We finalised an unpaid domestic violence leave award clause (having successfully opposed paid leave). The Chamber intervened in various test case matters, addressing: -- The operation of the better off overall test (BOOT) for approving enterprise agreements including loaded rates of pay. The Chamber sought principles to guide the future practical application of the BOOT. -- Access of fixed term employees to unfair dismissal. -- When car allowances should take employees above the high income threshold for making unfair dismissal claims. Workplace Policy Committee Brendan O Connor, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, met with the Chamber s Workplace Policy Committee in December, giving members the opportunity to discuss concerns and inform ALP policy development. Murray Furlong, Executive Director, Tribunal Services Branch with the Fair Work Commission, engaged with members on agreement approval processes, providing tips to avoid delays, and allowing members to share experiences and suggest improvements. The Australian Retailers Association and other members participated in our social media campaign for National Safe Work Month Through our Biz Better Together initiative we partnered with Safe Work Australia and Smart Company to explore issues SMEs face when dealing with workers compensation systems. We met with the Federal Department of Education and Training to discuss our concerns with the PwC review of the WHS VET qualifications. As a result of our efforts, the review process was overhauled. Members were invited to a further industry consultation workshop and PwC was tasked with re-writing the recommendations report and developing a revised roadmap with clear future timelines and project outputs. The project will continue into info@acci.asn.au Working for business. Working for Australia

5 The Australian Chamber will continue to work with Standards Australia, business and Government to ensure any changes to safety management standards in Australia are genuinely needed, relevant to the Australian context and not overly burdensome to business. Jennifer Low, Associate Director - Workplace Health & Safety and Workers Compensation We made a submission on the proposed amendments (Helium) to the Poisons Standard to the Joint ACCS/ACMS meetings in support of our Chemical industry members. Media and Campaigns Director: Michael Smith While MP citizenship and same sex marriage occupied the front pages for the quarter, the Chamber shaped public understanding of issues vital to business including energy, apprenticeships and tax reform. We released the December quarter results of the Australian Chamber- Westpac Survey of Industrial Trends which was picked up across the country in metropolitan, business and regional outlets. We also published the 2017 Annual Report and Business Review. Biz Better Together Senior Manager: Sarah McGregor The Biz Better Together team, as part of our Australian Chamber October Safe Work Month activities, partnered with Safe Work Australia and SmartCompany to present a webinar on best practice workers compensation. The webinar is focused on providing small businesses with first-hand information from multiple stakeholders within the scheme, information on resources, and clarification of roles and responsibilities. It s available to view via the Biz Better Together YouTube channel. Chamber staff undertook more than 110 broadcast interviews and news bulletins across a range of issues. Outlets included ABC TV and radio, Channel 10, 7 and 9. We also achieved more than 115 print and online mentions including The Australian, Australian Financial Review and Sky News Australia. The Australian Chamber issued more than 30 media releases. Online, we achieved more than 204,000 impressions and have 4,661 followers (increase by 297) on Twitter, close to 100,000 website page views and reached nearly 40,000 people via Facebook. Workers Compensation Panel: Spencer McCabe (State Insurance Regulatory Authority); Liz Greenwood (Policy Manager, Workers Compensation, WHS and Regulation at NSW Business Chamber); Peter Meighan (Manager, Policy Services at icare NSW); Olivia McDonnell (SmartCompany) James Pearson with David Speers on Sky News commenting on the Cabinet reshuffle and the government s Climate Change Review Biz Better Together is working on a new major event series, NextGen in Business, with events scheduled in Brisbane (22 May), Sydney (23 May) and Melbourne (24 May). We have secured two international keynote speakers. Patty McCord (USA) is a leadership and culture consultant, who was instrumental in creating Netflix s globally recognised Culture Deck. Tom Goodwin (USA) is an author and advisor on leadership and organisational change. We have also confirmed Australian social researcher, author and generational engagement expert Claire Madden. The NextGen event series will be launched in mid-january 2018, with a special pre-sale for Australian Chamber members and their networks. Watch out for more details. About the Australian Chamber The Australian Chamber represents over 300,000 businesses in every state and territory and across all industries. Ranging from the top 100 companies to small and medium businesses, our network employs more than 4 million people. The Australian Chamber membership list can be viewed online at info@acci.asn.au Working for business. Working for Australia

6 Business Leaders Council Events Director: Paul Nicolaou November 8 Breakfast with the Hon John Barilaro MP, Deputy Premier, Minister for Regional New South Wales, Minister for Skills, and Minister for Small Business hosted by Commonwealth Bank in Sydney. October 20 Boardroom luncheon with the Hon Christian Porter MP, formerly Minister for Social Services, hosted by MinterEllison in Sydney. The Hon John Barilaro MP and Gordana Smith, Citrus Group November 8 Reception and Energy Market discussion with Rod Sims, Chairman, ACCC, hosted by ACIL Allen Consulting in Sydney. The Hon Christian Porter MP, formerly Minister for Social Services October 30 Boardroom Luncheon with the Hon Jason Clare MP, Shadow Minister for Trade and Investment; Shadow Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, hosted by Corrs Chambers Westgarth in Sydney. Adam Carr, Australian Chamber, Andrew Macaulay, Printing Industries Association of Australia, Stephen Ferguson, Australian Hotels Association, Dominique Lamb, National Retail Association and Rod Sims, ACCC November 13 Greek Investment Roadshow, Forum and Luncheon in conjunction with Enterprise Greece and the Consulate General of Greece in Sydney, hosted by NAB. Natalie Cope, Australia China Business Council (NSW), the Hon Warwick Smith AM, Australia China Council, the Hon Jason Clare MP, the Hon Dr Craig Emerson, Craig Emerson Economics and Bryan Clark, Australian Chamber The Hon David Elliott MP, NSW Minister, Prof Dimitri Papadimitriou, Minister of Economy & Development of Greece and Dr Stavros Kyrimis, Consul- General of Greece in Sydney info@acci.asn.au Working for business. Working for Australia

7 November 14 Major Luncheon with the Hon Bill Shorten MP, Leader of the Opposition, Hyatt Regency Sydney. December 8 Christmas Luncheon with the Hon Kelly O Dwyer MP, Minister for Revenue and Financial Services, hosted by Corrs Chambers Westgarth in Melbourne. The Hon Bill Shorten MP, Leader of the Opposition November 15 Book Reception with Warren Mundine AO and Ray Hadley OAM, to mark the release of the book Warren Mundine in Black and White hosted by City Tattersalls Club, Sydney. Ray Hadley OAM, Gillian Stapleton, Direct Selling Australia and Warren Mundine AO The Hon Kelly O Dwyer MP, James Pearson, Australian Chamber and Wendy Machin, Customer Owned Banking Association November 27 Book Reception with Professor the Hon Gareth Evans AC QC to mark the release of his book Incorrigible Optimist hosted by VACC in Melbourne. November 8 Christmas Breakfast with Senator the Hon Marise Payne, Minister for Defence, hosted by Corrs Chambers Westgarth in Sydney. Nikki Brouwers, The Interact Group and Prof the Hon Gareth Evans AC QC Senator the Hon Marise Payne and James Pearson, Australian Chamber info@acci.asn.au Working for business. Working for Australia

8 AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER MEMBERS: BUSINESS SA CANBERRA BUSINESS CHAMBER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY WESTERN AUSTRALIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NORTHERN TERRITORY NSW BUSINESS CHAMBER TASMANIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY VICTORIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY MEMBER NATIONAL INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS: ACCORD HYGIENE, COSMETIC AND SPECIALTY PRODUCTS INDUSTRY AIR CONDITIONING & MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION ANIMAL MEDICINES AUSTRALIA ASSOCIATION OF FINANCIAL ADVISERS ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS OF NSW AUSTRALIA ARAB CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AUSTRALIAN AUTOMOTIVE DEALER ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIAN BEVERAGES COUNCIL AUSTRALIAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIAN DENTAL INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION OF EMPLOYERS & INDUSTRIES AUSTRALIAN GIFT & HOMEWARES ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIAN HOTELS ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF CREDIT MANAGEMENT AUSTRALIAN MADE CAMPAIGN AUSTRALIAN MEAT PROCESSOR CORPORATION AUSTRALIAN MINES AND METALS ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIAN MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIAN PAINT MANUFACTURERS FEDERATION AUSTRALIAN RECORDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIAN RESTRUCTURING INSOLVENCY & TURNAROUND ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIAN RETAILERS ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIAN SELF MEDICATION INDUSTRY AUSTRALIAN STEEL INSTITUTE AUSTRALIAN TOURISM INDUSTRY COUNCIL AUSTRALIAN VETERINARY ASSOCIATION BOATING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION BUS INDUSTRY CONFEDERATION BUSINESS COUNCIL OF CO-OPERATIVES AND MUTUALS CARAVAN INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA CEMENT CONCRETE & AGGREGATES AUSTRALIA CHEMISTRY AUSTRALIA CHIROPRACTORS ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA CONCRETE MASONRY ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA CONSULT AUSTRALIA COUNCIL OF PRIVATE HIGHER EDUCATION CPA AUSTRALIA CRUISE LINES INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION AUSTRALASIA CUSTOMER OWNED BANKING ASSOCIATION DIRECT SELLING AUSTRALIA EXHIBITION & EVENT ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALASIA FINANCIAL PLANNING ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA FITNESS AUSTRALIA FRANCHISEE FEDERATION AUSTRALIA HOUSING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION LARGE FORMAT RETAIL ASSOCIATION LIVE PERFORMANCE AUSTRALIA MASTER BUILDERS AUSTRALIA MASTER PLUMBERS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA MEDICINES AUSTRALIA NATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE LEASING & SALARY PACKAGING ASSOCIATION NATIONAL DISABILITY SERVICES NATIONAL ELECTRICAL AND COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE ASSOCIATION NATIONAL FIRE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION NATIONAL RETAIL ASSOCIATION NATIONAL ROADS AND MOTORISTS ASSOCIATION NORA NSW HIRE CAR ASSOCIATION NSW TAXI COUNCIL OUTDOOR MEDIA ASSOCIATION PHARMACY GUILD OF AUSTRALIA PHONOGRAPHIC PERFORMANCE COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA PRINTING INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA RECRUITMENT, CONSULTING AND STAFFING ASSOCIATION RESTAURANT & CATERING AUSTRALIA ROOFING TILE ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA SCREEN PRODUCERS AUSTRALIA THE TAX INSTITUTE THINK BRICK AUSTRALIA VICTORIAN AUTOMOBILE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE