Member Login
Member Update
18/08/2023 | Public Access
Preparing for, and responding to, future pandemics and other international health emergencies
Background: The Departments of Health and Foreign Affairs and Trade are engaging in two negotiation processes through the World Health Organization (WHO) to strengthen the international legal framework to prepare for and respond to future pandemics and other international health emergencies. The two negotiation processes, which will build on lessons learned from...
28/07/2023 | Public Access
Employment and skills update | July 28, 2023
The latest vocational education and training (VET) data from 2022 is showing the beginning of a decline in student numbers. The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) has recently released two separate reports showing student numbers declining in VET in schools and the number of government-funded VET students have also decreased. In 2022, there...
28/07/2023 | Public Access
Trade and international update | July 28, 2023
ICC Australia National Policy Committee Meeting ACCI held the ICC Australia National Policy Committee Meeting with special guest speaker Paul Hubbard, acting deputy head of the Simplified Trade System Implementation Taskforce on Thursday. Paul provided a brief overview of the STS followed by a short Q&A. The ACCI trade team...
28/07/2023 | Public Access
Tourism update | July 28, 2023
Minister for Tourism Senator Don Farrell this week announced that funding through the $7.5 million ‘Choose Tourism’ program had been allocated. The program was established to provide assistance to help rebuild Australia’s tourism workforce by offering state and territory governments, and tourism bodies, a share of $7.5 million for programs...
28/07/2023 | Public Access
Economics update | July 28, 2023
Inflationary pressure softens ABS Consumer Price Index data released earlier this week showed inflation had dropped to 6 per cent year on year in the second quarter of 2023, down from 7 per cent in the previous quarter, defying the market expectations of 6.2 per cent. This is the lowest...
21/07/2023 | Public Access
Economics update | July 21, 2023
The labour market remains extremely tight, with the most recent ABS Labour Force data, released yesterday, showing unemployment settling back to its low of 3.5 per cent. Unemployment has sat at this low level for the past 12 months , suggesting the labour market has reached its lower limit. An additional 33,000 people joined...
14/07/2023 | Public Access
Trade & International Affairs Update | 14 July 2023
ICC Australia National Policy Committee Meeting The ICC Australia National Policy Committee Meeting will be held virtually on Thursday, July 27 (2:30 – 3:30pm AEST). Special guest speaker Paul Hubbard, acting deputy head of the Simplified Trade System Implementation Taskforce will provide a brief overview of the Simplified Trade Taskforce...
14/07/2023 | Public Access
Workplace Relations Update | 14 July 2023
Next tranche of workplace relations law changes The ACCI workplace relations team continues to consult with members and industry on the government’s next tranche of IR changes, including “employee-like” changes which will impact independent contracting arrangements, “same job, same pay” changes which will impact labour hire arrangements, casual changes and the introduction...
14/07/2023 | Public Access
Tourism Update | 14 July 2023
National Visitor Survey The latest National Visitor Survey results for domestic visitors was released this week. April 2023 saw mixed domestic tourism results when compared to the April 2019 pre-COVID period. Overnight spend was up, buoyed by Easter and school holidays. However, the number of trips and nights away...
14/07/2023 | Public Access
Employment & Skills Update | 14 July 2023
All Jobs and Skills Councils officially online Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor this week confirmed all Jobs and Skills Councils have been formally established, with nine now operational. The additional five JSCs are: Energy, Gas and Renewables; Early Educators, Health and Human Services; Arts, Personal Services, Retail, Tourism and Hospitality; Public Safety...
14/07/2023 | Public Access
WHS & Health update | 14 July 2023
Ensuring targeted disaster funding – Independent Review Andrew Colvin AO APM will lead the Independent Review commissioned by the Federal Government. The review will consider how Commonwealth arrangements for disaster funding can be optimised. ACCI is participating in consultation with the review team and intends on making a submission. Submissions close on August...
14/07/2023 | Public Access
Economics update | 14 July 2023
Historically low labour productivity The Productivity Commission this week reported a 4.6 per cent decline in labour productivity for the 12 months to March 2023. This decline is partly structural due to unwinding of COVID-19 restrictions. Service sectors were most affected by the restrictions; with less productive workers in these sectors more likely to...
07/07/2023 | Public Access
WHS update | 7 July 2023
Following advice that WHS ministers would be asked to make a decision on whether to continue regulatory impact analysis for nine chemicals of concern - including silica and formaldehyde - ACCI and Ai Group have written a joint letter to responsible state and territory ministers. We strongly urged the ministers...
07/07/2023 | Public Access
Workplace relations update | 7 July 2023
Next tranche of workplace relations law changes The ACCI workplace relations team continues to consult with members and industry on the government’s next tranche of IR changes, including “employee-like” changes which will impact independent contracting arrangements, “same job, same pay” changes which will impact labour hire arrangements, casual changes and...
07/07/2023 | Public Access
Trade and international affairs update | 7 July 2023
ICC Australia National Policy Committee meeting The ICC Australia National Policy Committee will meet virtually on Thursday, 27 July, from 2:30 – 3:30pm AEST/ Special guest speaker Paul Hubbard, acting deputy head of the Simplified Trade System Implementation Taskforce, will provide a brief overview of the taskforce and the...
07/07/2023 | Public Access
Employment and skills update | 7 July 2023
Skills ministers meeting Federal, state and territory skills and training ministers met last week to progress key reforms. On a new National Skills Agreement (NSA), it appears the states and territories have obtained complete autonomy. This is another missed opportunity for reform in the VET sector, with the wording in...
07/07/2023 | Public Access
Economics update | 7 July 2023
Reserve Bank pauses, though high inflation still a concern Contrary to market expectations, the Reserve Bank this week left the cash rate unchanged at 4.1 per cent. With 12 interest rate increases since May 2022, the interest rate continues to be the highest in 11 years. This pause follows consumer...
30/06/2023 | Public Access
Tourism update | 30 June 2023
The ACCI Sustainable Tourism Advisory Committee met virtually last week to plan the basis for a net zero emissions target for tourism. Susanne Becken, Professor of Sustainable Tourism at Griffith University, delivered a presentation about ‘The Tourism Net Zero journey’. Professor Becken challenged the committee to understand the science behind...
30/06/2023 | Public Access
Trade update | 30 June 2023
ICC Australia National Policy Committee Meeting The ICC Australia National Policy Committee Meeting will be held virtually on Thursday, July 27 (2:30 – 3:30pm AEST). Special guest speaker Paul Hubbard, Acting Deputy Head of the Simplified Trade System Implementation Taskforce, will provide a brief overview of the Simplified Trade Taskforce...
30/06/2023 | Public Access
Data, digital & cyber update | 30 June 2023
ACCI's Data, Digital and Cyber Security Forum will meet on July 6 to discuss topics such as the recently released discussion paper Safe and Responsible AI in Australia and the Cyber Security Strategy. Interested members not already on the forum are requested to contact [email protected]. Michael Pezzullo AO, Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs, will...