Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland representations
Vocational Education and Training Workforce: CCIQ Submission
July 2010
As the state's peak business organisation, Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) welcomes the opportunity to provide input to the Productivity Commission's Education and Training Workforce Study.
Creating a strong and productive workforce is central to business success and underpins employment and economic growth. Workforce planning and continued investment in the vocational education and training sector is therefore a high priority for Queensland employers.
Submission to the Senate regarding the Exposure Draft of the Paid Parental Leave Bill
May 2010
Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland welcomes the initiative of the Federal Government to deliver Australia's first wholly taxpayer-funded Paid Parental Leave (PPL) scheme.
CCIQ believes that the scheme will have positive impacts on productivity and workforce participation within Queensland businesses, as well as have additional social benefits for employees and their families. However, CCIQ does have some concerns relating to the Bill which are addressed in some detail in the below submission.
Paid Parental Leave & Payroll Tax
May 2010
Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland welcomes the initiative of the Federal Government to deliver Australia's first wholly taxpayer-funded Paid Parental Leave (PPL) scheme.
CCIQ believes that the significant positive benefits relating to such a scheme would be undermined if PPL payments were liable for payroll tax. It would be unfair and inequitable for employers to be expected to pay payroll tax on costs that are essentially payments to their employees from the Federal Government.
Submission to Fair Work Australia regarding Annual Wage Review 2009-10
May 2010
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) welcomed the opportunity to provide feedback into Fair Work Australia's Annual Wage Review.
CCIQ believes a moderate increase in the Federal Minimum Wage (FMW) is justifiable given the early stages of an economic recovery. However, it is essential that any increase is moderate, particularly in light of the results of the latest CCIQ Commonwealth Bank Pulse Survey of Business Conditions for the March Quarter 2010 that demonstrates the national and state economies may not be performing as strongly as hoped.
Letter to the Reserve Bank Governor regarding interest rates
May 2010
On behalf of our members Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland is writing to ask the Bank to carefully consider future interest rate decisions on the basis that Queensland's regions are not experiencing the levels of economic recovery being experienced at a national level. In particular, business and industry in Far North Queensland are experiencing severe financial hardship and are continuing to be affected by reducing profitability, sales and revenue.
Results from the latest Commonwealth Bank CCIQ Pulse Survey of Business Conditions the Queensland economy is not performing as strongly as hoped and continues to lag the national economy across most indicators. Business confidence has also declined with fewer businesses expecting conditions to improve over the coming months.
National Population Strategy
April 2010
Following the Queensland Summit, the Prime Minister announced that the Hon. Tony Burke MP will be appointed as the Minister for Population under the Treasury portfolio. Minister Burke will be responsible for developing Australia's first comprehensive Population Strategy that will consider the social and economic infrastructure Australia will need to support a growing population and the challenges and opportunities a growing population will create for economic growth.
CCIQ has written to Minister Burke expressing support for a Population Strategy and our willingness to work with the Federal Government to deliver the strategies outlined under the CCIQ Population and Infrastructure Blueprint.
Inquiry into Access of Small Business to Finance
April 2010
Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland (CCIQ) welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback to the Senate Economics Reference Committee to the Inquiry into Access of Small Business to Finance. We are supportive of this review, as access to capital is the lifeblood of our members.
Overall, CCIQ believes that enhancing the capacity of small businesses to access finance will go a long way towards increasing the nation's economic productivity and employment growth rates.
The Coalition's Paid Parental Leave Scheme
April 2010
Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland (CCIQ) welcomes the Coalition's commitment to a Paid Parental Leave (PPL) scheme. However, CCIQ is strongly opposed to some of the approaches advocated by the Coalition under its Direct Action Plan on Paid Parental Leave policy.
In particular, CCIQ is strongly opposed to the proposal to fund the Coalition's PPL scheme through a levy of up to 1.7 per cent on companies that have a taxable income in excess of $5 million..
Skills Australia new Skilled Occupations List (SOL)
March 2010
Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland (CCIQ) welcomes the opportunity to provide input into Skills Australia's development of a new Skilled Occupations List (SOL).
CCIQ believes the skilled migration program should ensure the necessary levels of population to sustain economic growth. Additionally, there must be sufficient numbers of skilled workers to improve existing or introduce new technology and bolster Australia's workforce in those sectors suffering from skills shortages, especially in regional and rural areas.
CCIQ opposes increase in workers compensation premiums
March 2010
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIQ) has today strongly opposed the recommendation to State Government to progressively increase Queensland's workers compensation premiums on the basis that it would ultimately jeopardise employment and business viability.
State Budget 2010-11 Submission
March 2010
Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland's State Budget Submission for 2010-11 calls on the Queensland Government to invest in infrastructure and reduce operating expenses to return the budget to surplus.
This submission was provided to the State Government and Opposition in December 2009 to have the most influence on the budget framing process and was publicly released and discussed with the Treasurer earlier this month. > Read more
QCA's draft decision regarding the 2010-11 Benchmark Retail Cost Index for electricity
February 2010
The Queensland Competition Authority (QCA) released its Draft Decision on the 2010-11 Benchmark Retail Cost Index (BRCI) on 18 December 2009. In its Draft Decision, the QCA has recommended an electricity price rise of 13.8 per cent from 1 July 2010, for twelve months. This represents an increase of over $250 on the average annual electricity bill.
Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland has made a submission to the QCA on the Draft Decision opposing the recommended price increase. The Authority anticipates releasing its Final Decision in late May 2010.
Draft South East Queensland Water Strategy
February 2010
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback to the Queensland Water Commission (QWC) and the Queensland Government on the draft South East Queensland (SEQ) Water Strategy.
CCIQ is strongly supportive of developing a long-term comprehensive water supply strategy that ensures the ongoing adequacy and security of the region’s water supplies for local communities and businesses.
Valuation of Land and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2010
February 2010
Every region in Australia is in competition with each other in the area of investment attraction through competitive taxation regimes. Whilst still competitive Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland is increasingly of the view that Queensland is unfortunately losing its low tax status.
The passage of this Bill will further lead to our state falling back into the pack. Indeed the Valuation of Land and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 will be creating a significant competitive disadvantage through the considerable expansion of the land tax base.
Skills Australia - National Workforce Development Strategy
November 2009
Skills Australia has proposed a new approach to workforce development in Australia. The discussion paper, Workforce Futures, released in October recommended a broader and more multifaceted response from Federal, State and Territory governments, industry, and education providers to the nations future workforce challenges.
CCIQ applauds Skills Australia in its attempt to explore innovative and strategic approaches to meeting Australia's future skills needs and for challenging the current Government approaches to workforce development and productivity and participation issues. Unfortunately the strategies and proposals outlined in the Workforce Futures papers fall short in delivering any fundamentally new ideas or approaches and much of the rhetoric in the paper does not reflect the reality of the workforce today nor the current and future needs of industry, employers and individuals.
Abolition of the State Procurement Advisory Council
November 2009
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland has written to Robert Schwarten, Minister for Public Works and Information and Communication Technology, regarding the Queensland Government's decision to abolish the State Procurement Advisory Council.
Exposure Draft for Model Act and Stage 1 Model Regulations
November 2009
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the draft documents on model occupational health and safety (OHS) legislation.
The Queensland business community strongly supports a nationally consistent model of OHS regulation that will apply across all jurisdictions. A nationally consistent model will reduce red tape, unnecessary complexity and cost especially to employers that operate across jurisdictions.
Submission to the review of the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act
October 2009
Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland (CCIQ) welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback into the review of the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999. CCIQ is supportive of undertaking a contemporary assessment of the Act and its effectiveness in promoting equal opportunity for women. We strongly pushed for the review to thoroughly explore alternative approaches to regulation for promoting equal employment opportunities for women.
Submission to the Federal Government regarding the proposed Paid Parental Leave scheme
October 2009
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland has written to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) regarding Queensland employers concerns around the proposed Paid Parental Leave (PPL) scheme. Employers have strong arguments on why they should not be the paymasters of a federally funded scheme and these reasons have been outlined to the department.
Blueprint for Fighting Queensland's Over-Regulation
September 2009
Currently there exists an enormous regulatory burden facing business which is stifling its capacity to grow and employ. The Queensland economy is losing up to $17.9 billion as businesses struggle to comply with 70,000 pages of State legislation, the highest by far of any state in Australia.
Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland has released its Blueprint for Fighting Queensland's Over-Regulation, which reveals that excessive red tape is significantly impeding the Queensland economy. This Blueprint was forwarded to all Queensland Federal and State politicians, as well as all Queensland Mayors.
Submission to the Review of the Migration Occupations in Demand List
September 2009
As the state's peak business association, Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland (CCIQ) welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the federal government's review of the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL). In this submission, CCIQ outlines how MODL could be used to improve the ability of Queensland businesses to meet their skills needs and address ongoing skill shortages.
Supplementary Submission to the Review of Australia's Future Tax System
August 2009
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) has previously made a submission to Review of Australia's Tax System. In that submission, CCIQ strongly advocated for the winding back and ultimate removal of payroll tax on the basis that it is a tax on employment. In particular, CCIQ argued for the removal of the removal of the diminishing exemption and the introduction of a flat taxable wage threshold of at least $1million.
CCIQ recently lodged a Freedom of Information application with the Queensland Government seeking information about the state's payroll tax base. The application was successful and the information obtained supports CCIQ's earlier position that the existing payroll tax threshold could be lifted and the diminishing exemption threshold removed without having a major impact on the state's revenue base.
Response to the COAG Australian Apprentices Taskforce Discussion Paper
August 2009
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) welcomes the opportunity to make this submission to the COAG Australian Apprentices Taskforce. Given the significant impact of skills shortages on Queensland business and the economy over the past few years, it is vital that governments and industry support the continued investment in skills and workforce development.
Australian industry needs a skilled, flexible and motivated workforce that further contributes to productivity gains and drives economic growth. Ensuring that the available workforce has the skills and knowledge required to meet the workforce needs of employers is a prominent issue for business and industry.
Keynote address to the Independent Schools Queensland State Conference
August 2009
Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland (CCIQ) delivered a key note address on the Productivity Agenda and its implications for schools at the Independnent Schools Queensland state conference in August. The address focussed on the role independent schools can play in helping the business community enhance Australia's productivity growth and develop a highly skilled workforce.
The importance of a partnership approach between schools and industry organisations to ensure schools have the capacity to respond to skill shortages, industry and regional needs, and changing economic conditions was also addressed. Such a partnership will ensure that schools have a wide understanding of the current business environment and where opportunities lie in order to provide accurate and reliable advice to students.
Submission to the Queensland Government Economic Development Committee
August 2009
As the state's peak business association, Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) welcomes the opportunity to participate in the Economic Development Committee's Inquiry into Employment Creation Opportunities in Queensland.
On behalf of the Queensland business community, it is with please that we provide a copy of CCIQ's Pulse Survey of Business Conditions for the June Quarter 2009, Blueprint for Growth: Policy Priorities for Queensland's Government, and CCIQ's Blueprint for Fighting Queensland's Overregulation. These reports will greatly aid the Committee's consideration of employment opportunities in Queensland.
Queensland Industrial Relations Commission - Queensland Minimum Wage
July 2009
As the peak business organisation in this State, Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the 2009 State Wage Case.
CCIQ's submission to the 2009 State Wage Case is taking place at a time when Queensland is facing serious economic challenges with the economy in both practical and technical terms in a recession. The State Wage Case is taking place when Queensland is facing its worst possible economic climate in many decades.
Petition to the Queensland Government regarding the State Fuel Subsidy
June 2009
On behalf of the 1,600 signatories Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland presents this petition opposing the scrapping of the Queensland Fuel Subsidy Scheme.
The 8.354 cents per litre subsidy has assured Queensland businesses enjoy a competitive advantage over their southern interstate competitors that has in turn provided real jobs for many Queenslanders.
Letter to Queensland Treasurer regarding the State Fuel Subsidy
May 2009
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) wishes to convey its strong support for the retention of the State Fuel Subsidy.
Under the current arrangements, the State Government has supported Queensland road users with the subsidy to offset the High Court decision (Ha vs New South Wales [1997] HCA 34) which resulted in a Commonwealth-imposed tax on fuel.
Further information
To have your say on any Queensland business issue, contact Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland's Business Representation team by calling 07 3842 2267 or email .