Activities & s Achievements. Major Activities

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1 Activities & s Achievements em Major Activities CEO: James Pearson and Jenny Lambert (acting) This quarter we welcomed James Pearson as our new Chief Executive Officer. James has previously served as a senior executive at Shell Australia and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Western Australia, and has also gained experience at Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. We welcomed as new industry association members the Australasian Pizza Association, the Australian Gift and Homewares Association, the Boating Industry Association, the Council of Private Higher Education and Think Brick Australia, bringing our industry association membership to 63. We welcomed as new Business Leaders Council participants Airbnb, Fairfax Media, Investec Australia and Mastercard, bringing the total number of participants to 38. During the quarter we farewelled several staff and have welcomed Tiffany Wallace as the executive assistant to the CEO. Election Campaign Our leaders must act to improve Australia s economic competitiveness. That was the key message of our Top 10 in 10 campaign for the federal election, which urged parties to support our 10 policies to take Australia towards the top 10 in the Global Competitiveness Index. The Top 10 in 10 involved policy action on apprenticeships, government spending, workplace regulation, red tape, company tax, infrastructure, the Australian Building and Construction Commission, competition and international visas. Chamber Representatives at the Top 10 in 10 campaign launch Our campaign involved a launch in Sydney, a Top 10 in 10 website, social media, opinion pieces in prominent news outlets, two short videos, a media lunch in Melbourne, a glossy 16-page publication and an in-depth 32-page Getting on With Business manifesto. We hosted a vocational education election debate in Melbourne, involving Minister Scott Ryan and Shadow Minister Sharon Bird, and we facilitated a trade policy discussion involving Minister Steve Ciobo and Shadow Minister Penny Wong. Our CEO, James Pearson, debated the head of the ACTU at the National Press Club. James Pearson debating at the National Press Club The resonance of our message was reflected in the fact political parties made several commitments on the issues in our Top 10 and several commentators identified improving economic competitiveness as election themes. Following the election the Australian Chamber will connect with senators and members of parliament to encourage them to back our plans for a more competitive Australia. info@acci.asn.au Working for business. Working for Australia

2 Workplace Relations Director: Richard Calver The Australian Chamber represented employers in formal processes and public forums. We promoted the cause of owner-drivers in the trucking industry by successfully lobbying for the abolition of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal and earlier using legal action to defer the Road Safety Remuneration Order. We advocated a job-friendly minimum wage increase of no more than 1.2 per cent, contributing to the decision of the Fair Work Commission to set the increase at 2.4 per cent, which was closer to the increase sought by employers than the increase sought by unions. We made a submission to Senate inquiries on a National Integrity Commission and Labor s proposed changes to the Fair Work Act. We also made a submission to a Treasury inquiry into the objects of superannuation. We represented employers in the Fair Work Commission s four-yearly review of modern awards, making submissions on penalty rates and part-time and casual employment. We joined the International Labour Conference in Geneva, representing Australian employers in discussions over decent work in global supply chains, employment and decent work for peace and resilience and reviewing the Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalisation. We participated in a tax office working party to establish the new Superannuation Transaction Network. Work Health and Safety Director: Carolyn Davis The Australian Chamber consulted with our members to inform our position as an employer representative at Safe Work Australia, the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency and the National Industrial Chemicals and Notification Assessment Scheme. We made submissions on issues including explosives, workplace exposure standards, sedentary work, cattle handling, diving regulations, workplace bullying and at-risk migrant workers. We worked towards improvement in the model work health and safety regulations and other legislation. We undertook work on Australia s move to globally harmonised chemicals labelling, state WHS legislation, agriculture veterinary labelling, Australian and international standards, high-risk work licensing and quad bikes. The construction industry is the largest fulltime employer of Australians under 24 years of age. It also trains the largest number of apprentices with 48,200 Australians enrolled in construction training across Australia. Master Builders Australia has set a target of 100,000 building trade apprentices in training by 2020 and a reduction in the 50 per cent drop out rate in launching its call for a revitalised apprenticeship training system. Wilhelm Harnisch, CEO, Master Builders Australia, June 20 info@acci.asn.au Working for business. Working for Australia

3 Economics and Industry Director: Tim Hicks When the Federal Budget was released the Australian Chamber joined stakeholders to get advanced access at the Treasury lock-up. We then provided detailed commentary and analysis, ensuring the public heard a business perspective and our members could access detailed information. We made submissions to government reviews of intellectual property, insolvency, consumer law, research impact and innovation. Our Business Expectations Survey for the March quarter showed that overall business conditions and confidence improved strongly. Our Small Business Survey for the March quarter showed improving conditions and confidence, with measures of small business investment pulling ahead of the overall readings for all businesses. Our Australian Chamber-Westpac Survey of Industrial Trends for the June quarter showed Australia s manufacturers remain upbeat thanks to an uptick in home building activity and the lower Australian dollar. The business community should recognise it has a legitimate point of view, it has a wellinformed point of view. And it should never be scared of taking part in debate, public policy debate, no matter how robust it becomes, because those voices that are against the interests of business will not silence themselves. So why should business? James Pearson, The Australian, June 27 Employment, Education and Training Director: Jenny Lambert The Australian Chamber s ongoing advocacy was reflected in the inclusion in the Coalition election policy platform of Youth Jobs PaTH, an initiative to encourage unemployed young people to undertake internships, and minimum requirements for literacy and numeracy and career development strategy. We hosted the Group Manager of the Federal Department of Education and Training at a meeting of the Employment, Education and Training Committee in Sydney. We represented employers on the Australian Industry & Skills Committee, the industry leadership committee for Westpac senior economist Andrew Hanlan and James Pearson vocational education and training. We twice met Vocational Education Minister Scott Ryan It s important that the budget be a budget for the next two decades, not just for next two months. to build the case for changes to apprenticeship policy. James Pearson, AAP, May 2 info@acci.asn.au Working for business. Working for Australia

4 We all know there is enormous opportunity for Australian businesses in exporting to countries like China, Japan and South Korea, but for many small businesses securing export finance is still a huge barrier in breaking into these very competitive markets. The Small Business Export Loan will enable more small businesses to access capital when their bank is unable to assist. Stephen Cartwright, CEO, NSW Business Chamber, April 6 Trade and International Affairs Director: Bryan Clark The Australian Chamber provided direct advisory support to exporter members of state chambers using free trade agreements. We spearheaded the Business Partnership Group to provide business input into negotiations over the Indonesia- Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, hosting meetings in Perth and Jakarta. We participated in the stakeholder events in Perth relating to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. We began using the Intelledex certificate of origin management system. We completed the first phase of the Indian Ocean Rim Association Women s Economic Empowerment project. National Tourism Council Manager: Steve Whan During the Federal election campaign the National Tourism Council put tourism on the policy agenda through the inclusion of a call for making visas cheaper and easier to obtain in our Top 10 in 10 policy manifesto. We participated in meetings with government officials, including the Austrade tourism labour force and skills roundtable, Tourism Research Australia roundtables, the Tourist Refund Scheme working group and the National Passenger Facilitation Committee. We participated in social media discussion via Twitter account. We need to encourage foreign investment. And we don t want to be sending the wrong messages to the marketplace. Bryan Clark, The Australian, June 10 Business SA proudly supports the next generation of business in SA through the SAYES program where the focus on proper business planning is paramount. Our graduates have gone on to create sustainable businesses providing employment opportunities for South Australians. Jenny Briggs, Executive Director of Employer Solutions and Programs, Business SA, June 6 info@acci.asn.au Working for business. Working for Australia

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