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Can’t find what you are looking for? If it is twelve months old, it will be here in our Archived publications.
29/03/2017 | Public Access
Submission | Minimum Wage Review 2016-2017
The Australian Chamber has long advocated for a policy and regulatory environment that helps make Australia a globally leading place to do business, invest and create jobs, and to thereby ensure Australians can enjoy the jobs, living standards and opportunities to which they aspire. Minimum wages are an important part of the parameters for doing business and employing in Australia, particularly so for smaller employers and award reliant industries.
23/03/2017 | Public Access
Submission | Foreign Affairs White Paper
Australia has enjoyed a largely peaceful and overwhelmingly prosperous history over the past 70 years. Our position as a key ally, interlocutor and/or trade and investment partner to some of the world’s largest economies has been reinforced by our capacity to contribute to global initiatives and influence global decisions economically, diplomatically and militarily. But this position will be challenged into the future. Other nations are growing rapidly and will overtake us in global economic rankings over the coming decades, unless policies are adopted in Australia to boost the international competitiveness of our economy. Australia needs to ensure that we are...
17/03/2017 | Public Access
Submission to the independent review into the future security of the national electricity market
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry objective is for affordable, reliable and secure energy for business and households. Our ambition is to reduce the real cost of energy in the long-term. Download the submission below.
16/03/2017 | Public Access
Australian Chamber–Westpac Survey of Industrial Trends | March 2017
The Australian Chamber-Westpac Survey of Industrial Trends, Australia's longest running business survey dating from 1966, provides a timely update on manufacturing and insights into economy-wide trends.
15/03/2017 | Public Access
Submission | Exposure Draft of the Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Australian Workers) Bill 2016
The Australian Chamber welcomes the opportunity to comment on the exposure draft of the Australian Labor Party’s proposed Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Australian Workers) Bill 2016.
14/03/2017 | Public Access
Coalition of business groups calls for decisive action to rescue Australia’s ailing apprenticeship system
Australia’s peak business organisations have united to call on governments to take urgent action to avert an imminent crisis in our apprenticeship system, one that risks leaving young people without pathways to work and many businesses unable to access the skills they need to grow. The call for action has come from Australia’s leading business organisations, The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; The Australian Industry Group; and the Business Council of Australia. For the full Policy Position document on VET and apprenticeships released by the Australian Chamber, AiG and BCA click here.
07/03/2017 | Public Access
Submission | PC Review into the Multi-Regulator Model of the Australian Consumer Law
The Australian Chamber welcomes the opportunity to provide a submission to the Productivity Commisson's (PC) Inquiry into Consumer Law Enforcement and Administration. The Australian Chamber reiterates its view — as expressed in its June 2016 submission to the Consumer Affairs Australia and New Zealand review of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) — that the ACL is working well and provides an appropriate balance between the needs of consumers and business.
06/03/2017 | Public Access
Submission | Inquiry into the Non-Payment of the Superannuation Guarantee
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Australian Chamber) thanks the Economics References Committee (Committee) for the opportunity to make submissions in relation to its inquiry into the impact of non-payment of the Superannuation Guarantee (Inquiry). The subject matter of the Inquiry is important. Non-payment of superannuation contributions affects us all. Unpaid superannuation deprives employees of their full retirement asset and it has implications for the age pension and other age related tax funded social protection. Continuing wilful non-payment constitutes intentional unfair competition for complying businesses.
23/02/2017 | Public Access
Submission | Inquiry into the Growth Potential in Australia’s Trade and Investment Relationship with Indonesia
The Australian Chamber views Indonesia as a nation with whom Australian needs to broaden and deepen ties and strengthen our bilateral trade and investment relationship. Indonesia has strong growth rates, is a G20 member and has a population of almost 260 million people who are increasingly rising into the middle class. This is a relationship we cannot afford to be complacent about.
14/02/2017 | Public Access
Submission | Tourism’s 2017-2018 Pre-Budget Submission to Treasury
At a time when many Australian exports are struggling, tourism is booming. Last financial year the tourism sector contributed $53 billion to the Australian economy, up 7.4 per cent from the previous year. And it has enormous potential for future growth – if we get the policy settings right in this highly competitive international market. The 2017-18 Budget provides an opportunity to invest in tourism so that Australia can enjoy the jobs, growth and export income that the sector can generate.
03/02/2017 | Public Access
Futureproofing Australia: 2017-18 Pre-Budget Submission
A decade after the onset of the Global Financial Crisis, Australia’s public finances remain in heavy deficit. Our productivity growth is lagging historical performance, workforce participation remains stagnant and private sector investment is weak. Domestic and international risks are undermining business and consumer confidence. Combined, these factors have put at risk the high living standards that Australians expect. The 2017-18 Budget provides an opportunity to take action. The Budget should aim to encourage competition, stimulate economic growth and provide certainty. Australia needs to take decisive action to prepare our economy for negative external conditions, including a slowdown in global growth,...
31/01/2017 | Public Access
Submission | Submission Regarding S 18E of the Racial Discrimination Act
The Australian Chamber opposes racial discrimination and supports a strong statutory framework of protections in this area. No one should face unlawful racial discrimination. However the laws that seek to achieve this outcome need to recognise that there are limits to the control employers have over the behaviour of their employees and agents. The Australian Chamber’s concern regarding Part IIA of the RD Act relates to the imposition of vicarious liability and the narrow defence in these circumstances.
17/01/2017 | Public Access
Submission | Inquiry into the Incidence of, and Trends in, Corporate Avoidance of the Fair Work Act 2009
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Australian Chamber) thanks the Senate Education and Employment References Committee (Committee) for the opportunity to make submissions in relation to its inquiry into the incidence of, and trends in, corporate avoidance of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth)(Inquiry). The Macquarie Dictionary (2003) defines “avoid” as “to keep away from; keep clear of; shun; evade”. When considered in the context of “avoidance” of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth)(Act) the Australian Chamber understands this term to have a negative connotation generally implying deliberate non-compliance. The Australian Chamber does not consider it sinister or evidence...
15/01/2017 | Public Access
Submission | Comments on the Discussion Paper on the new Disability Employment Service from 2018
The ambition of Government and for the community generally, should be that more people with disability are in work. The ambition should be bold and aim for a significant shift in the workforce participation rates, not just seeking to make a marginal improvement. The Australian Chamber has recommended that there should be more fundamental change to the approach to disability employment services than the discussion paper envisages. The Disability Employment Service should be delivered by the same portfolio as the larger Jobactive employment service, being the Department of Employment, offering a single interface to employers. Employer engagement needs to be...
12/01/2017 | Public Access
Submission | Fairer Paid Parental Leave Bill 2016
The Australian Chamber maintains its position that a balanced paid parental leave scheme should be underpinned by the policy objectives of (a) maximum impact for child-bearing employees and their partners and (b) minimum administrative and cost impost on employers.
05/01/2017 | Public Access
Submission | Proposed Industry Funding Model for ASIC
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry appreciates the opportunity to comment on the discussion paper issued by the Treasury on the proposed funding model for ASIC. We believe ASIC should be appropriately resourced to ensure proper regulatory oversight. Given the importance of budget repair, partially recovering the Government’s costs to fund ASIC is a reasonable approach. However, user charges must be affordable, reasonable, not distort industry practices and be administered in a simple and efficient manner.
30/12/2016 | Public Access
Activities & Achievements | October – December 2016
In the final quarter for 2016 the Australian Chamber hosted several major events to connect our members with leading figures in business, politics, government and media.
23/12/2016 | Public Access
Submission | The Superannuation (Objective) Bill 2016 – Submissions to Senate Economics Legislation Committee
The Superannuation (Objective) Bill 2016 (Bill) proposes a stand-alone act prescribing a statutory objective for the superannuation system and establishing a regulation making power to support the making of subsidiary objectives. The Bill was tabled in the House on 9 November 2016 and referred to the Senate Economics Legislation Committee (Committee) on 10 November for inquiry and report. The Australian Chamber thanks the Committee for extending the opportunity to make a submission.
23/12/2016 | Public Access
Submission | 5 Year Productivity Review
This submission provides ideas to the Productivity Commission to tackle lagging productivity growth. Following more than two decades of prosperity driven by the mining boom, Australia now faces the real prospect of a sustained decline in living standards. This concern is affecting how businesses invest, as well as how they capture and retain talent. The Australian Chamber stresses the importance of improving the accuracy of indicators, which will allow for better targeted policy reform, including the incentive structures that will drive growth. The submission contains recommendations to create better functioning cities that aim to enhance supply chains, connectivity within and...
14/12/2016 | Public Access
Australian Chamber Westpac Survey of Industrial Trends | December 2016
Australia’s manufacturers have finished the year strongly and are looking to increase investments in equipment and buildings in 2017, the December quarter Australia Chamber-Westpac Survey of Industrial Trends has found.