Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland representations
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.
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.
Submission to the Senate Select Committee on Climate Policy
May 2009
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) welcomes the opportunity to participate in the Senate Select Committee inquiry into climate change policy and the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS).
CCIQ is the peak business organisation in Queensland, representing the interests of 25,000 businesses and 135 chambers of commerce across the state. All of these businesses will be impacted to some extent, either directly or indirectly, by the CPRS and any other measures which may be adopted to address climate change.
Letter to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry regarding the AQIS Horticulture Export Program
May 2009
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland wishes to express concerns in respect to the proposed changes that the Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service (AQIS) are proposing for the Horticulture Exports Program.
Specifically, our concern relates to the proposed cost recover model that is being proposed. For many years, the Australian Government has worked with industry to support and encourage exporters
Submission to the Fair Pay Commission regarding the 2009 Minimum Wage Review
May 2009
Further to our earlier submission to the Commission on the 2009 Minimum Wage Review, Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland (CCIQ) has had the opportunity to gather further information relevant to this process.
CCIQ has surveyed over 800 Queensland employers on the impact that a wage increase would have on their business.
Urgent Queensland Industry Association Roundtable on Payroll Tax
May 2009
On 7 May 2009 a special roundtable of Queensland industry associations met in Brisbane to discuss what could be done to assist the Queensland business community to retain and grow jobs through the global and national economic recessions.
These associations collectively represent the majority of the state's 405,000 businesses, which provide in excess of 1.8 million jobs.
Submission to the Treasurer regarding Commonwealth Government's Third Stimulus Package
April 2009
Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland (CCIQ) invites the Commonwealth Government to consider a reduction in payroll tax as part of its third stimulus package to be announced in the May Federal Budget.
CCIQ is proposing the Federal Government fund a temporary 50% payroll tax cut to the states for the next financial year (2009/10) to provide much needed relief for businesses.
Submission to the Senate Standing Committee - Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme
April 2009
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the exposure draft of the legislation which will implement the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS).
Queensland business acknowledges that it has a social responsibility to minimise the impact that its activities have on the environment. It is also aware that it needs to work co-operatively with all levels of government and the wider community to address important environmental issues such as climate change.
Blueprint for Growth - Policy Priorities for Queensland's State Government
March 2009
The single greatest thing a business can do to enhance the wellbeing of our state's community is to provide secure ongoing employment. Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland (CCIQ) believes Queensland's future is bright provided the next State Government is highly active in bringing down the barriers for business to employ and grow.
This Blueprint provides the foundations for growth building upon earlier 2004 and 2006 CCIQ Policy Blueprints. It was developed in consultation with our members and identifies the major issues of concern for the Queensland business community.
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 .