14 Jun 2024
International Education and Skills Framework
ACCI submitted to the consultation on the draft of Australia’s International Education and Skills Strategic Framework this week. The submission emphasises Australia’s international education sector’s significant economic contribution, worth nearly $48 billion in 2023. ACCI highlights concerns over recent government policies and proposed regulations that could adversely impact the industry, including caps on student enrolments and increased visa requirements, potentially damaging Australia’s reputation as a premier international education destination. The submission calls for careful policy consideration, avoiding overly prescriptive measures, and ensuring quality and integrity while supporting sustainable growth and workforce contributions. ACCI stresses the importance of international students in alleviating skills shortages and urges the government to avoid attributing the housing crisis to international students.
Strengthening Employer Compliance Act
ACCI met with the Department of Home Affairs this week to receive an update on the Strengthening Employer Compliance Act, which will commence on 1 July. Home Affairs is producing a series of fact sheets and related information to help inform relevant parties. ACCI will send these to members as they are distributed.
May Vacancy Report
Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) has released their monthly report on employment vacancy numbers. Key statistics include online job advertisements increasing by 0.2% (or 420 job advertisements) in May 2024 to stand at 239,600. However, over the year to May 2024, they have decreased by 15.4% (or 43,600 job advertisements). The increases were largely driven by jobs for Sales workers, Technicians and Trade Workers.
New TAFE Centre of Excellence
The government has announced its second TAFE Centre of Excellence in WA. The centre will operate across the WA TAFE network and will be a skills leader in clean energy science, engineering, construction, and operation. It aims to support the net-zero transformation and a Future Made in Australia. This follows the first announcement of an Electric Vehicle Centre of Excellence in early May hosted by the Canberra Institute of Technology.
26/07/2024
Modern Awards – Casual Employment Term Last week, the Fair Work Commission President, Justice Hatcher, made a statement announcing proceedings on the Commission’s own initiative to determine...
19/07/2024
Modern Awards Review The Fair Work Commission published its report on the Modern Awards Review 2023-24 yesterday, along with a statement from Fair Work Commission President, Justice Adam Hatcher,...
19/07/2024
Small Business Survey The Small Business Committee met this week, and members received a briefing on the results of the Small Business Survey ahead of...
19/07/2024
There is still time to join the next ACCI Trade Policy Committee on 1 August, at 2:00 pm AEST, featuring special guest speaker George Mina. ...
19/07/2024
Sustainable Aviation Fuel submission Australian Chamber - Tourism made a submission to the government's consultation on low-carbon liquid fuels this week. The submission outlines the...
19/07/2024
Apprenticeship Incentives Review The 'What We Heard' summary paper from the Strategic Review of the Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System was released this week. The critical...
19/07/2024
Unemployment rate slightly up Labour force statistics released this week highlight that the unemployment rate increased slightly from 4 per cent in May to 4.1 per cent...
12/07/2024
Right to Disconnect The President of the Fair Work Commission, Justice Adam Hatcher, has published a statement and the draft modern award term for the...
12/07/2024
ACCI Trade Committee Meeting The next ACCI Trade Policy Committee will feature special guest speaker George Mina, followed by a short Q&A session. George is...
12/07/2024
Upcoming forum meeting The Data, Digital & Cyber (DDC) Forum will hold a meeting on Wednesday 17th July from 10:30am to 12pm AEST. Please contact Ross Creelman for more information.
12/07/2024
Upcoming committee meeting The next meeting of the Small Business Committee will be held online on Friday, 19 July from 10:30 am-11:30 AEST. The meeting...
12/07/2024
Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Tony Burke has endorsed ACCI's nomination of Jennifer Low, director of health, safety, resilience, and digital policy, to the...
12/07/2024
Productivity Commission report on economic mobility The Productivity Commission report on economic mobility released this week shows that, on average, Australia’s long-term economic growth has led...
12/07/2024
New NCVER data release: Government-funded students and courses 2023 According to the recent National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) release, an estimated 7.1 per cent...
5/07/2024
ACCI Trade Committee Meeting Join us at the next ACCI Trade Committee on Thursday, 1 August, at 2:00 pm AEST. This meeting will feature a...
5/07/2024
Payment times reforms pass Amendments to the Payment Times Reporting Act 2020 passed Parliament this week. The amendments implement recommendations made through the Statutory Review conducted by Dr Craig...
5/07/2024
Engineered stone ban is now in effect The prohibition on the manufacture, supply, processing and installation of engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs commenced on...
5/07/2024
Nature Positive Bill introduced The Nature Positive Bill was introduced to Parliament this week. This Bill establishes a new Environment Protection Agency (EPA) responsible for...
5/07/2024
Future Made in Australia The Future Made in Australia Bill 2024 and Future Made in Australia (Omnibus Amendments No. 1) Bill 2024 was tabled in...
5/07/2024
Changes from 1 July From 1 July (last Monday) a series of changes have taken place in the workplace relations system. Employers must be aware...