Activities & October-December 2016 Achievements October-December 2016

Highlights

CEO: James Pearson This quarter Chamber hosted several major events to connect our members with leading figures in business, politics, government and media.

The Prime Minister addressed the Australian Prime Minister the Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP addresses guests at the Chamber Business Leaders Dinner in November. The gala Business Leaders Dinner. event, sponsored by MYOB, CareSuper, the Australian Made Campaign and 3 Degrees Marketing, attracted more than 360 members heard briefings from Treasury Secretary John Fraser on members and guests at the National Gallery of . the state of the economy and former Foreign Minister Bob Carr on the implications of Donald Trump’s election. The Australian Chamber Business Leaders Summit in October hosted leaders from across the chamber network in Canberra We welcomed Campbell Page, Laureate Australia, National Heart to discuss issues including workplace relations, infrastructure, Foundation, Pfizer, Sanofi and Telstra as newBusiness Leaders tourism and vocational education. The event, sponsored by Google Council members, bringing the total to 45. Australia and Fairfax Media, concluded with a cocktail reception at Parliament House attended by dozens of members of Parliament. We welcomed to the team Paul Cristofani (Director of Work Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation Policy), Scott At our Annual General Meeting in November, President Terry Barklamb (Director of Workplace Relations Policy) and Haidee Wetherall and Vice President Jeremy Johnson were reappointed Whiteley (Trade and International Affairs Project Adviser). We also to their positions. At our November General Council meeting farewelled several staff.

Urbis Chief Economist Nicki Hutley, Shadow Assistant Treasurer the Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Minister for Revenue and Financial Services the Hon Kelly Former Foreign Minister Bob Carr, Treasury Secretary John Fraser and O’Dwyer MP and Australian Chamber CEO James Pearson at the Business Australian Made Campaign Chief Executive Ian Harrison at the November Leaders Summit. General Council meeting.

www.acci.asn.au | [email protected] | 02 6270 8000 | Twitter: @AusChamber Working for business. Working for Australia October-December 2016

We met with minister and shadow ministers Anthony Economics and Industry Albanese and Joel Fitzgibbon to discuss company tax, working Director: Jenny Lambert (acting) holiday makers, regional economies and innovation.

The December-quarter Australian Chamber-Westpac Survey We represented members in a Government roundtable on research of Industrial Trends, launched at Parliament House, found that and development, in Australian Taxation Office consultations on Australia’s manufacturers finished the year strongly and were the introduction of single-touch payroll and in Australian Bureau of looking to increase investments in equipment and buildings Statistics discussions on labour statistics in 2017. Board members met with Philip Lowe, the Governor of the Employment, Education Reserve Bank of Australia, to offer a business perspective on the state of the economy. and Training Director: Jenny Lambert We gained member input into our Pre-Budget Submission to Treasury, our submission to the Productivity Commission’s review The Australian Chamber launched our refreshed higher education of productivity and our submission to a review of funding for the policy, outlining the nine principles that should guide funding for Australian Securities and Investments Commission. the sector. We are working with the Federal Government to optimise the design of “Housing affordability will not be addressed its youth employment program, JobActive PaTH. We have met by political point scoring around negative with government officials, joined stakeholder engagement sessions and gearing or capital gains tax.” facilitated feedback from members. Graham Wolfe, Housing Industry Association We had close contact with the offices ofministers and assistant ministers, including , and . We gave evidence to a Senate committee investigating the VET Student Loans program, and have begun chairing the Federal Government’s VET Student Loans Advisory Group.

We collaborated with other employer groups to encourage the Federal Government to increase its investment in apprenticeships and traineeships.

We spoke at panel sessions at the Department of Immigration and Border Protection’s Industry Summit. We judged the National Training Awards and participated in the National Career Education Westpac’s Andrew Hanlan and the Australian Chamber’s Jenny Lambert Roundtable in Darwin. We joined a forum on technical and vocational presented the findings of the Australian Chamber-Westpac Survey of education and training in Korea. Industrial Trends at Parliament House. “A failure to plan is a plan to fail. Unless “Payroll tax is a tax on jobs that holds we get higher education funding settings businesses back from growing and creating right, graduates won’t be able to grasp the more jobs.” opportunities ahead.” Deidre Willmott, CCI James Pearson, The Australian, December 14

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We gave evidence to a Senate committee investigating the VET We participated in government consultations on the Government’s Student Loans program, and have begun chairing the Federal policy for protecting vulnerable workers and new registration Government’s VET Student Loans Advisory Group. requirements for employers taking on working holiday makers.

We have taken a place as an employer representative on the We made a submission to parliamentary inquiries into corporate Disability Employment Reference Group. avoidance of the Fair Work Act, proposed changes to paid parental leave and the Racial Discrimination Act, and appeared before “Engaging local industry on projects like naval a Senate inquiry into proposed restrictions on pay secrecy. We shipbuilding that occur over extended periods also made a submission to the Productivity Commission on superannuation. not only helps retain the nation’s industrial skills base and job creation, but also boosts We have connected with former minister to facilitate confidence for local industry to continue to member engagement in his consultation with small businesses on behalf of the Fair Work Commission. invest in advanced capability.” Tony Dixon, Australian Steel Institute “Reducing high penalty rates on Sundays to be in line with Saturdays will make it easier Workplace Relations for businesses to open for longer, hire more Director: Dick Grozier (acting) and Scott Barklamb (incoming) people and give them more hours of work.” Our advocacy efforts on the Australian Building and Construction James Pearson, Sydney Morning Herald, November 27 Commission contributed to its return, which will improve productivity and respect for the rule of law on construction sites. Work Health and Safety In the Fair Work Commission’s Four-yearly Review of Modern Director: Jennifer Low (acting) and Paul Cristofani (incoming) Awards we argued against the ACTU’s claim for 10 days of paid For National Safe Work Month in October the Australian Chamber leave for people experiencing domestic violence, explaining that conducted a panel discussion, “Facts and fallacies behind mentally domestic violence is a community issue that requires a community healthy workplaces”, which is available for download on the Safe response. We also opposed a union proposal that the Commission’s Work Australia website. Minimum Wage Panel set a medium-term minimum wage target. We have taken the strategic decision to elevate our representation We represented Australian employers at the International Labour on the board of SWA to CEO level, with support provided by the Organisation, including at an Asia-Pacific meeting in Indonesia, in Work Health and Safety Director. The CEO’s first board meeting a meeting to discuss violence in workplaces and in a working group took place in . revising labour force surveys. We continued to ensure effective industry influence in several “Employment law can be hard for many regulatory forums, including SWA (on agricultural chemicals and business people to get their heads around, veterinary medicines labelling, the regulation impact statement for especially given complex and overlapping diving, high-risk work licensing, working in heat, older workers and migrant workers, and the Review into the SWA itself) and the anti-discrimination, unfair dismissal and Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency. We have also engaged general protection laws.” in the proposed reforms affecting the National Industrial Chemicals James Pearson, Daily Telegraph, November 12 Notification and Assessment Scheme.

www.acci.asn.au | [email protected] | 02 6270 8000 | Twitter: @AusChamber Working for business. Working for Australia October-December 2016

Trade and International Australian Chamber – Affairs Tourism Director: Bryan Clark Manager: Steve Whan The recommendations from a parliamentary inquiry into the Trans- Australian Chamber – Tourism informed debate on the Pacific Partnership aligned closely with our proposals for greater Government’s changes to the tax paid by working holiday makers through our submission to a , which included consultation and evaluation of outcomes. Senate inquiry research commissioned from Lateral Economics. In Indonesia we hosted two events on women’s economic We urged the Parliament to resolve this matter in a way that empowerment as part of our involvement in the Indian Ocean Rim minimised the harm inflicted on businesses in tourism and agriculture. Association. We also represented Australia in the IORA Business This contributed to the ultimate settlement on a 15 per cent rate Forum in Jakarta and attended Australia-Indonesia Business Week of tax, down from the initial proposal of 32.5 per cent. in Perth. We met with Immigration Minister to discuss “If Australia builds a metaphorical wall we visa issues. can only expect the countries with whom We have developed action points for Austrade’s Tourism Labour we depend on for economic growth … to and Skills Roundtable, which will contribute to a paper to be do the same.” presented in February 2017. Australian Chamber – Tourism Chair James Pearson, 3AW, November 15 John Hart made a presentation on key issues for tourism in 2030 to the Australian Standing Committee on Tourism, which brings We represented Australian business at the Confederation of together senior state and federal public servants. Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry annual conference in Taiwan, and also delivered a presentation to the Sustainability Taiwan Government on Australian trade policy. Manager: Joe Doleschal-Ridnell

We secured an International Chamber of Commerce global The Australian Chamber has been active in public debate on energy policy on preferential rules of origin. and climate policy through media releases and discussions with ministerial offices and departments. Media and energy influencers We made a presentation on non-tariff trade barriers and investor- are contacting us for advice, recognising the recent elevation of our state dispute settlement mechanisms at a negotiating round for the engagement in this area. Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. We argue for an energy supply that is secure, reliable and “The threshold for goods purchased overseas affordable, and explain that Australia needs a national approach rather than one in which states and territories pursue divergent policies. is a huge concern for Australian retailers.” Russell Zimmerman, Australian Retailers Association “Climate change is a global problem requiring a global solution, so we must also We also launched the inaugural Asia-Pacific Mediation Competition, to be held in Melbourne in June 2017. We consider how international permits can supported preparations for the World Chambers Congress in deliver credible greenhouse gas reductions.” Sydney in September 2017. James Pearson, Australian Financial Review, December 6.

www.acci.asn.au | [email protected] | 02 6270 8000 | Twitter: @AusChamber Working for business. Working for Australia October-December 2016

We contributed to the Chief Scientist’s review of the National We delivered The Great Australian Workplace webinars, in Electricity Market, including writing a letter to the review panel partnership with Smart Company, on spotlighting workplace outlining business priorities, and meeting with the Chief Scientist. regulation and enhancing workplace diversity.

We have also started to develop our input into the Federal Our website now hosts 70 articles across our seven themes, Government’s review of Australia’s climate policy through attracting more than 20,000 visits since its 2015 launch. There are engagement with the office of , the Minister for the more than 900 people on our Biz Better Together mailing list and Environment and Energy, and his department. our @BizBT Twitter account now has more than 1,100 followers.

Biz Better Together Media, Marketing and Manager: Adelina La Vita Communications Biz Better Together, our initiative to improve workplace productivity, Senior Managers: Sarah McGregor and Ari Sharp has now delivered 76 events and planned further events for the new year. The Australian Chamber has helped to shape the public under- standing of issues including workplace relations, company tax and We delivered the latest budget repair. instalment in our Mobile- Opinion pieces by our CEO, James Pearson, have been published ising Women in Business in The Australian (on our refreshed higher education policy) and the event series in Melbourne Huffington Post (on the need to improve the state of the budget). in November, in partnership with the Victorian Chamber, During the quarter the Australian Chamber had 24 broadcast Emergent CEO, Holly Ransom and developed plans for the media appearances, including on Sky News, 2GB and the ABC, will present at the next Mobile- ising Women in Business in Canberra event in February and 98 print media mentions, including in The Australian, the Canberra 2017. Confirmed speakers Financial Review and the Sydney Morning Herald. Popular topics at the Canberra Mobile-ising for comment included the mid-year budget update, the Australian Women in Business event on February 28 include Emergent CEO Building and Construction Commission and migration. Holly Ransom, Neural Complexity Specialist Dr Fiona Kerr and Social Media InfluencerLaurel Papworth. A special discount is There were 13 posts on our blog, Commerce & Industry, including available for members. our first sponsored post, by Fairfax Media. Topics for staff posts included red tape, workforce skills and the backpacker tax. We delivered Cultural and Business Awareness Training Asia workshops in and Adelaide. Our website received 87,000 page views, our Twitter account 204,000 impressions and our Facebook posts achieved 86,000 impressions.

Across the quarter we issued 27 media releases.

“Australia must not be like the frog in the pot of water that is slowly brought to boil. … We must encourage our businesses, which employ most Australian workers, to invest and grow.” Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive Mark Stone James Pearson, , December 7 addresses delegates at Mobile-ising Women in Business in Melbourne.

www.acci.asn.au | [email protected] | 02 6270 8000 | Twitter: @AusChamber Working for business. Working for Australia www.acci.asn.au | [email protected] | 02 6270 8000 | Twitter: @AusChamber Working for business. Working for Australia October-December 2016

Business Leaders Summit Australian Chamber members were invited to an exclusive day of ideas and insights from leading figures in Australian business, politics and media on October 10. The event attracted more than 120 business leaders from across Australia to hear policy discussion on issues including small business, workplace relations, vocational education, digital technology, federal politics, infrastructure and tourism.

Business Leaders Annual Dinner The Australian Chamber’s premier event, the Business Leaders Annual Dinner, held on November 9 in Canberra. More than 360 business leaders, ambassadors, members of parliament, senators, their advisers, public servants and senior members of the Press Gallery gathered to hear from keynote speaker Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

www.acci.asn.au | [email protected] | 02 6270 8000 | Twitter: @AusChamber Working for business. Working for Australia October-December 2016

Events Director: Paul Nicolaou

Luncheon with the Hon MP (Member for Kennedy) | Sydney | Cocktail reception with Senator the Hon James McGrath (Assistant Minister October 14 to the Prime Minister) | Sydney | November 3

Luncheon: Evolution of Cybercrime in Australian Business | The Hon Dan Tourism Morning Tea and Tour of Flemington Racecourse | The Hon Keith Tehan MP (Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Cyber Security), Detective Pitt MP (Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) | Melbourne Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis (NSW Police), Marta Ganko (Deloitte) and | October 28 | Co-hosted with the Tourism Industry Council, Victoria James North (Corrs Chambers Westgarth) | Sydney | October 21 Events Industry Council and Victoria Racing Club

End-of-year Drinks with the Hon Peter Dutton MP (Minister for Immigration End-of-year Drinks with Greg Medcraft (Chairman of the Australian Securities and Border Protection) | Sydney | December 6 and Investments Commission) | Melbourne | December 15

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 www.acci.asn.au/our-members. www.acci.asn.au | [email protected] | 02 6270 8000 | Twitter: @AusChamber Working for business. Working for Australia www.acci.asn.au | [email protected] | 02 6270 8000 | Twitter: @AusChamber Working for business. Working for Australia AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER MEMBERS: BUSINESS SA | CANBERRA BUSINESS CHAMBEROctober-December | CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2016 NORTHERN TERRITORY | CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY | CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA | BUSINESS CHAMBER | TASMANIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY | VICTORIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY MEMBER NATIONAL INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS: ACCORD – HYGIENE, COSMETIC & SPECIALTY PRODUCTS INDUSTRY | AGED AND COMMUNITY SERVICES AUSTRALIA | AIR CONDITIONING & MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS’ ASSOCIATION | ASSOCIATION OF FINANCIAL ADVISERS | ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS OF NSW | AUSTRALASIAN PIZZA ASSOCIATION | AUSTRALIA ARAB CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY | AUSTRALIAN BEVERAGES COUNCIL LIMITED | AUSTRALIAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION | AUSTRALIAN DENTAL INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION | AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION OF EMPLOYERS & INDUSTRIES | AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION OF TRAVEL AGENTS | AUSTRALIAN GIFT & HOMEWARES ASSOCIATION | AUSTRALIAN HOTELS ASSOCIATION | AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES OPERATIONS GROUP | AUSTRALIAN MADE CAMPAIGN LIMITED | AUSTRALIAN MINES & METALS ASSOCIATION | AUSTRALIAN PAINT MANUFACTURERS’ FEDERATION | AUSTRALIAN RECORDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION | AUSTRALIAN RETAILERS ASSOCIATION | AUSTRALIAN SELF MEDICATION INDUSTRY | AUSTRALIAN STEEL INSTITUTE | AUSTRALIAN SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION AND RADIO ASSOCIATION | 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 AND AGGREGATES AUSTRALIA | CHIROPRACTORS' ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA | CONCRETE AND MASONRY ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA | CONSULT AUSTRALIA | COUNCIL OF PRIVATE HIGHER EDUCATION AUSTRALIA | CRUISE LINES INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALASIA | CUSTOMER OWNED BANKING ASSOCIATION | DIRECT SELLING ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA | EXHIBITION AND EVENT ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALASIA | FITNESS AUSTRALIA | HIRE AND RENTAL INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION | HOUSING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION| LARGE FORMAT RETAIL ASSOCIATION | LIVE PERFORMANCE AUSTRALIA | MASTER BUILDERS AUSTRALIA | MASTER PLUMBERS’ & MECHANICAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA | MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA | MEDICINES AUSTRALIA | NATIONAL DISABILITY SERVICES | NATIONAL ELECTRICAL & COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION | NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICES ASSOCIATION | NATIONAL FIRE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION | NATIONAL ONLINE RETAILERS ASSOCIATION | NATIONAL RETAIL ASSOCIATION | NATIONAL ROAD AND MOTORISTS’ ASSOCIATION | NSW TAXI COUNCIL | OIL INDUSTRY INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION | OUTDOOR MEDIA ASSOCIATION | PHARMACY GUILD OF AUSTRALIA | PHONOGRAPHIC PERFORMANCE COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA | PLASTICS & CHEMICALS INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION | PRINTING INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA | RECRUITMENT & CONSULTING SERVICES ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND | RESTAURANT & CATERING AUSTRALIA | ROOFING TILE ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA | SCREEN PRODUCERS AUSTRALIA | THE TAX INSTITUTE | THINK BRICK AUSTRALIA | VICTORIAN AUTOMOBILE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE