Activities & Achievements

April-June 2016 April-June 2016 AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER MEMBERS: BUSINESS SA | CANBERRA BUSINESS CHAMBER | CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Activities & NORTHERN TERRITORY | CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND | CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY WESTERN AUSTRALIA | NEW SOUTH WALES BUSINESS CHAMBER | TASMANIAN CHAMBER OF Achievements COMMERCE & INDUSTRY | VICTORIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY April-June 2016 NATIONAL INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION MEMBERS: ACCORD – HYGIENE, COSMETIC & SPECIALTY PRODUCTS

INDUSTRY | AGED AND COMMUNITY SERVICES AUSTRALIA | AIR CONDITIONING & MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION | AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION OF EMPLOYERS & INDUSTRIES | AUSTRALIAN This quarter we welcomed James Pearson as our new Chief Executive Officer. James has previously served as a senior FEDERATION OF TRAVEL AGENTS | AUSTRALIAN FOOD & GROCERY COUNCIL | AUSTRALIAN GIFT AND HOMEWARES executive at Shell Australia and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce ASSOCIATION | AUSTRALIAN HOTELS ASSOCIATION | AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES OPERATIONS and Industry Western Australia, and has also gained experience at Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association and the GROUP | AUSTRALIAN MADE CAMPAIGN LIMITED | AUSTRALIAN MINES & METALS ASSOCIATION | AUSTRALIAN Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. PAINT MANUFACTURERS FEDERATION | AUSTRALIAN RECORDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION | AUSTRALIAN Chamber Representatives at the Top 10 in 10 campaign launch We welcomed as new industry association members the RETAILERS ASSOCIATION | AUSTRALIAN SELF MEDICATION INDUSTRY | AUSTRALIAN STEEL INSTITUTE | Australasian Pizza Association, the Australian Gift and Homewares Our campaign involved a launch in Sydney, a Top 10 in 10 AUSTRALIAN TOURISM AWARDS INC | AUSTRALIAN TOURISM EXPORT COUNCIL | AUSTRALIAN VETERINARY Association, the Boating Industry Association, the Council of Private website, social media, opinion pieces in prominent news outlets, Higher Education and Think Brick Australia, bringing our industry two short videos, a media lunch in Melbourne, a glossy 16-page ASSOCIATION | BOATING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION | BUS INDUSTRY CONFEDERATION | BUSINESS COUNCIL OF association membership to 63. publication and an in-depth 32-page “Getting on With Business” CO-OPERATIVES AND MUTUALS | CARAVAN INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA | CEMENT CONCRETE manifesto. We welcomed as new Business Leaders Council participants AND AGGREGATES AUSTRALIA | COMMERCIAL RADIO AUSTRALIA | CONCRETE MASONRY ASSOCIATION OF Airbnb, Fairfax Media, Investec Australia and Mastercard, bringing We hosted a vocational education election debate in Melbourne, involving Minister Scott Ryan and Shadow Minister Sharon Bird, AUSTRALIA | CONSULT AUSTRALIA | CUSTOMER OWNED BANKING ASSOCIATION | CRUISE LINES INTERNATIONAL the total number of participants to 38. and we facilitated a trade policy discussion involving Minister ASSOCIATION | DIRECT SELLING ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA | ECOTOURISM AUSTRALIA | EXHIBITION AND During the quarter we farewelled several staff and have welcomed Steve Ciobo and Shadow Minister Penny Wong. Our CEO, James Tiffany Wallace as the executive assistant to the CEO. Pearson, debated the head of the ACTU at the National Press Club. EVENT ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALASIA | FITNESS AUSTRALIA | HOUSING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION | HIRE AND

RENTAL INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION LTD | LARGE FORMAT RETAIL ASSOCIATION | LIVE PERFORMANCE AUSTRALIA The resonance of our Election Campaign message was reflected | MASTER BUILDERS AUSTRALIA | MASTER PLUMBERS & MECHANICAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA Our leaders must act to improve Australia’s in the fact political parties | MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA | NATIONAL DISABILITY SERVICES | NATIONAL ELECTRICAL economic competitiveness. That was the key made several commitments message of our Top 10 in 10 campaign for the on the issues in our Top 10 & COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION | NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICES ASSOCIATION | NATIONAL FIRE federal election, which urged parties to support and several commentators INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION | NATIONAL RETAIL ASSOCIATION | NATIONAL ROAD AND MOTORISTS ASSOCIATION | our 10 policies to take Australia towards the top identified improvingeconomic 10 in the Global Competitiveness Index. James Pearson debating at the competitiveness as election NSW TAXI COUNCIL | NATIONAL ONLINE RETAIL ASSOCIATION | OIL INDUSTRY INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION | OUTDOOR National Press Club themes. The Top 10 in 10 involved policy action on apprenticeships, MEDIA ASSOCIATION | PHARMACY GUILD OF AUSTRALIA | PHONOGRAPHIC PERFORMANCE COMPANY OF government spending, workplace regulation, red tape, company Following the election the Australian Chamber will connect with AUSTRALIA | PLASTICS & CHEMICALS INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION | PRINTING INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION OF tax, infrastructure, the Australian Building and Construction senators and members of parliament to encourage them to AUSTRALIA | RESTAURANT & CATERING AUSTRALIA | ROOFING TILE ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA | SCREEN Commission, competition and international visas. back our plans for a more competitive Australia.

Economics and Industry “The business community should recognise Director: Tim Hicks it has a legitimate point of view, it has a well- When the was released the Australian Federal Budget informed point of view. And it should never be Chamber joined stakeholders to get advanced access at the scared of taking part in debate, public policy Treasury lock-up. We then provided detailed commentary and debate, no matter how robust it becomes, analysis, ensuring the public heard a business perspective Australia’s Trade Future event with the Hon Steve Ciobo MP and Senator the Hon because those voices that are against the and our members could access detailed information. Penny Wong interests of business will not silence George Tambassis, National President, The Pharmacy Guild of Australia with We made submissions to government reviews of themselves. So why should business?” Marcus Blackmore intellectual property, insolvency, consumer law, research James Pearson, The Australian, June 27 impact and innovation.

Our Business Expectations Survey for the March quarter showed that overall business conditions and confidence Employment, Education and improved strongly. Training Stephen Chapman, Director, Blackmores, Christine Holgate, CEO, Blackmores, Dan Rosen, CEO, ARIA, Alvin Yong, Deputy General Manager, Bank of China. Our Small Business Survey for the March quarter showed Director: Jenny Lambert improving conditions and confidence, with measures of small business investment pulling ahead of the overall readings The Australian Chamber’s ongoing advocacy was reflected for all businesses. in the inclusion in the Coalition election policy platform of Luncheon, with former ministers Philip Ruddock and Craig Emerson (Sydney) an initiative to encourage unemployed Our Australian Chamber-Westpac Survey of Industrial Youth Jobs PaTH, Trends for the June quarter showed Australia’s manufacturers young people to undertake internships, and minimum remain upbeat thanks to an uptick in home building activity requirements for literacy and numeracy and career and the lower Australian dollar. Melina Morrison, Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals, The Hon Dr Craig development strategy. Emerson, Dr Ashley Tsacalos, Clayton Utz, & Kyle Loades, NRMA

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 & John Hart, CEO, Restaurant & Catering Australia, Anne Sherry AO, Executive Skills Committee, the industry leadership committee for Patricia Forsythe, Sydney Business Chamber, Neil Linwood, Cruise Lines Chairman, Carnival Australia, Tony Shepherd AO, Macquarie Specialised International Association Australasia, John Hart, Restaurant and Catering Australia, Management Chairman and James Pearson, Chief Executive Officer, Australian vocational education and training. Richard Colbeck, James Pearson, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chamber of Commerce and Industry Westpac senior economist Andrew Hanlan and James Pearson We twice met Vocational Education Minister Scott Ryan About the Australian Chamber “It’s important that the budget be a budget for the to build the case for changes to apprenticeship policy. The Australian Chamber represents over 300,000 businesses in every state and territory and next two decades, not just for next two months.” across all industries. Ranging from the top 100 companies to small and medium businesses, our James Pearson, AAP, May 2 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 April-June 2016 April-June 2016

Events Director: Paul Nicolaou Workplace Relations Work Health and Safety Director: Richard Calver Director: Carolyn Davis

The Australian Chamber represented employers in formal The Australian Chamber consulted with our members to inform our position as an employer representative at processes and public forums. Safe Work Australia, the Asbestos Safety and Eradication We promoted the cause of owner-drivers in the trucking Agency and the National Industrial Chemicals and Notification industry by successfully lobbying for the abolition of the Assessment Scheme. Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal and earlier using legal We made submissions on issues including explosives, action to defer the Road Safety Remuneration Order. Carmel Coate, Director, Training & Education, National Fire Industry Association and workplace exposure standards, sedentary work, cattle Rod Sims, Chairman, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission handling, diving regulations, workplace bullying and at-risk We advocated a job-friendly minimum wage increase of migrant workers. Budget briefing, with Major Projects Minister Paul Fletcher, Deutsche Bank no more than 1.2 per cent, contributing to the decision of the economist Adam Boyton and Financial Services Council CEO Sally Loane, in Sydney Fair Work Commission to set the increase at 2.4 per cent, We worked towards improvement in the model work which was closer to the increase sought by employers than health and safety regulations and other legislation. the increase sought by unions. We undertook work on Australia’s move to globally We made a submission to Senate inquiries on a National harmonised chemicals labelling, state WHS legislation, Integrity Commission and Labor’s proposed changes to the agriculture veterinary labelling, Australian and international Put Your Business on the Map, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in Bondi standards, high-risk work licensing and quad bikes. Fair Work Act. We also made a submission to a Treasury inquiry into the objects of superannuation. “The construction industry is the largest full- We represented employers in the Fair Work Commission’s time employer of Australians under 24 years Libby Lyons, Director, Workplace Gender Equality Agency, Annette Hughes, Partner four-yearly review of modern awards, making at Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Leyla Yilmaz, Deputy Executive Director Industrial of age. It also trains the largest number of Relations Policy and Engagement, VACC and Alana Matheson, Deputy Director submissions on penalty rates and part-time and casual Workplace Relations Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry apprentices with 48,200 Australians enrolled employment. in construction training across Australia. Master Builders Australia has set a target We joined the International Labour Conference in Geneva, of 100,000 building trade apprentices in Stephen Conry, CEO, JLL Australia & Megan Motto, CEO, Consult Australia with the Hon Angus Taylor MP representing Australian employers in discussions over decent training by 2020 and a reduction in the 50 per work in global supply chains, employment and decent work cent drop out rate in launching its call for a for peace and resilience and reviewing the Declaration on revitalised apprenticeship training system.” Social Justice for a Fair Globalisation. Wilhelm Harnisch, CEO, We participated in a tax office working party to establish the Master Builders Australia, June 20 new Superannuation Transaction Network.

Post-Budget luncheon, with Cabinet Secretary Arthur Sinodinos and Shadow Staff from the Association of Independent Schools NSW with Naomi Simson, Treasurer Chris Bowen Founder of Redballoon at her book launch in Sydney

National Tourism Council Media, Marketing and “We all know there is enormous “Despite the rhetoric, mining continues opportunity for Australian businesses in Manager: Steve Whan to do a great deal of heavy lifting for our Communications exporting to countries like China, Japan economy thanks to the rewards we are During the Federal election campaign the National Tourism Managers: Sarah McGregor, Ari Sharp and Jessica Wright now reaping from decades of investment.” and South Korea, but for many small Council put tourism on the policy agenda through the businesses securing export finance is still The Australian Chamber was the voice of business in inclusion of a call for making visas cheaper and easier to Steve Knott, CEO, AMMA, June 28 a huge barrier in breaking into these very in our Top 10 in 10 policy manifesto. mainstream media and social media, ensuring a business competitive markets. The Small Business obtain Export Loan will enable more small perspective was heard in key policy debates. We participated in meetings with government officials, businesses to access capital when their including the Austrade tourism labour force and skills bank is unable to assist.” Biz Better Together During the quarter we secured 12 television interviews and roundtable, Tourism Research Australia roundtables, the Manager: Adelina La Vita Stephen Cartwright, CEO, NSW 20 radio interviews, held six live media events and issued 46 Tourist Refund Scheme working group and the National As part of our efforts to improve workplace productivity Business Chamber, April 6 media releases. Passenger Facilitation Committee. in Australian businesses, we supported 12 events in partnership with BIM-MEP AUS, the Australian National We participated in social media discussion via our University, the National Retailers Association, the Centre for Trade and International @AusChamTourism Twitter account. Workplace Leadership, Rare Birds and the Geelong Chamber Affairs of Commerce. Director: Bryan Clark “We need to encourage foreign investment. The Australian Chamber provided direct advisory support And we don’t want to be sending the wrong messages to the marketplace.” to exporter members of state chambers using free trade agreements. Bryan Clark, The Australian, June 10

We spearheaded the Business Partnership Group to James Pearson conducting a media conference at Parliament House. provide business input into negotiations over the Indonesia- “Business SA proudly supports the next Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, generation of business in SA through the Mobile-ising Women in Business Highlights of our media engagement include opinion pieces hosting meetings in Perth and Jakarta. SAYES program where the focus on proper business planning is paramount. Our We have advanced plans for a further 31 events this year, in the Herald Sun, the Huffington Post and SBS, a media We participated in the stakeholder events in Perth relating to graduates have gone on to create sustainable reaching a total attendance of over 9,000. conference broadcast on ABC News 24 and Sky News and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. businesses providing employment radio interviews across the ABC and commercial outlets. opportunities for South Australians.” Our social media presence – @BizBT on Twitter and We began using the Intelledex certificate of origin BizBetterTogether on Facebook – continues to grow. management system. Jenny Briggs, Executive Director of Employer Solutions and Our Twitter profile (@AusChamber) has reached more than Programs, Business SA, June 6 We have published 29 articles on bizbettertogether.com, 2500 followers and our Facebook page (2Big2Ignore) has We completed the first phase of the IndianOcean Rim with 13 articles re-published through associations and partner Association Women’s Economic Empowerment project. communications channels. more than 24,000 likes.