Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Founded	1992
Headquarters	Canberra, Australia
CEO	Andrew McKellar
Website	www.acci.com.au

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) is Australia's largestbusiness association, comprising state and territory chambers of commerce and national industry associations. ACCI represents Australian businesses of all shapes and sizes, across all sectors of the economy, and from every corner of the country.^[1]

ACCI contributes to public discussion and government decision-making on issues that impact on business, including economics, trade, workplace relations, work health and safety and employment, education and training. The Chamber also speaks on behalf of Australian business in international forums.^[2]

The current chief executive of ACCI is Andrew McKellar and the president is Nola Watson.^[3]^[4] The organisation is headquartered in Canberra, with offices in Sydney and Melbourne.

Leadership

Andrew McKellar, current chief executive of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Chief Executive Officers

Ian Spicer AM, 1992–1996
Mark Paterson AO, 1996–2001
Lyndon Rowe, (acting) 2001–2002
Dr Peter Hendy, 2002–2008
Peter Anderson, 2008–2014
Kate Carnell AO, 2014–2016
James Pearson, 2016–2021
Andrew McKellar, 2021–present^[5]

Nola Watson, current president of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Presidents

John Clark AM, 1992–1993
Harold Clough AO, OBE, 1993–1995
Graeme Samuel AO, 1995–1997
Robert Gerard AO, 1997–1999
Dr John Keniry AM, 1999–2001
David Gray AM, 2001–2003
Neville Sawyer AM, 2003–2005
Peter O’Brien, 2005–2007
Tony Howarth AO, 2007–2009
David Michaelis, 2009–2011
Richard Holyman, 2011–2013
Peter Hood, 2013–2015
Terry Wetherall AM, 2015–2017
Jeremy Johnson AM, 2017–2019
Ray Sputore, 2019–2021
Nola Watson, 2021–present^[5]

History

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has a history that dates back more than 190 years.^[6]

The Chamber Movement commenced in Australia when the Sydney Chamber of Commerce was established in 1826. Across the 19th century, Chambers of Commerce were formed in Adelaide (1839), Melbourne, Hobart and Launceston (each in the 1850s), Brisbane (1868), Fremantle (1873) and Perth (1890).^[6]

Chambers of Manufacturers were also formed in this era, including in Victoria (1865), South Australia (1869), NSW (1885), Western Australia (1890) and Queensland (1911). Australia's first industry association was Master Builders Australia (1870).

Employer unions and federations also emerged, including the Victorian Employers Union (1865), the NSW Employers Union (1888), South Australian Employers Federation (1889) and the Queensland Employers Federation (1886). Business actors were important for Australia's development from the beginning, with a growing population driving the establishment of enterprises.^[7]

In the decade before Federation in 1901, several Australia-wide bodies were formed to advocate national policies: the Australian Chamber of Commerce (ACC), the Associated Chambers of Manufacturers of Australia (ACMA) and the Australian Council of Employers Federations (ACEF).

In 1977 the ACMA and the ACEF merged to form the Confederation of Australian Industry (CAI). In 1992 the CAI merged with the ACC to form the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).^[8]

In 2015 the organization launched a new corporate identity, featuring the Federation Star to demonstrate "the way they bring together businesses from all parts of the country" according to their website^[9]

Structure

The Australian Chamber is a non-profit organisation whose members are chambers of commerce of Australia's states and territories and national industry associations.

The Australian Chamber is governed by a constitution and is led by a Board. Board members are elected from the membership at the Annual General Meeting held each November.

The General Council, comprising the Board and other member representatives, oversees the Australian Chamber's policy development. The General Council meets three times a year and is advised by policy committees and working parties that meet between General Council meetings.^[10]

Policy

The Australian Chamber has formal policies on a range of matters:^[11]

Economics and Industry: The Australian Chamber supports a strong, dynamic and globally competitive Australian economy can only be achieved by advancing economic reform. It argues to lower and simplify taxes, streamline the federation, reduce the size of government, cut excessive red tape, improve efficiency and enhance national productivity.

Employment, Education and Training: The Australian Chamber supports developing innovative and proactive programs that improve workforce participation, encourage apprenticeships and provide for better transitions from learning to work. It argues for a focus on greater employment of young or disadvantaged job seekers, including mature-age workers, people with a disability and indigenous Australians.

Small Business: The Australian Chamber says Australia's two million small businesses that employ seven million people are the backbone of the economy. It argues for a focus on cutting red tape, simplifying the tax system, improving access to finance, making it easier to employ people and building better infrastructure.

Sustainability: The Australian Chamber supports sustainable development that maintains the capacity of society, the economy and the environment to satisfy the needs of current and future generations. It argues for a focus on improving transport infrastructure and services to ensure Australia's growing cities are efficient, productive and liveable.

Trade and International Affairs: The Australian Chamber supports global free trade as a principal driver of economic prosperity and peace, with greater cooperation facilitated through multilateral, plurilateral and bilateral trade liberalisation. It argues for a focus on ensuring better, easier and more seamless access to new markets, investment opportunities and innovations for Australian businesses.

Workplace Relations: The Australian Chambers supports a world-class workplace relations system that promotes individual flexibility, greater job opportunities and more productive and effective workplaces. It argues for a focus on ensuring modern workplace laws reflect and address 21st century business and community needs without undue third-party interference or lost competitiveness.

Work Health and Safety: The Australian Chamber says its member network is committed to ensuring that every person, every day, returns home safely from work; work where everyone is continually looking for better ways of doing things and improving work health and safety culture, and performance, including in psychological health. It says business supports nationally consistent WHS legislation and supports non-regulatory approaches where all parties, employers, employees and others have mutual and collective responsibilities for health and safety.

Advocacy

In 2016 the Australian Chamber released its “Top 10 in 10: Ten steps towards a more competitive Australia” policy manifesto.^[12] The 10 steps are:

Give young people a chance to succeed by making it easier for employers to take on apprentices and trainees
Ensure government spending is sustainable by reducing it to less than 25% of GDP
Help industries grow through workplace regulation that better responds to their needs
Let entrepreneurs get on with growing their businesses by reducing government red tape each year
Create jobs by allowing employers and employees to negotiate workplace arrangements that best meet their needs
Boost incomes by cutting the company tax rate to 25% within ten years through annual reductions
Build the transport, communications and energy facilities we need by backing the independent plan of Infrastructure Australia
Lower building costs by bringing back the Australian Building and Construction Commission
Encourage innovation and value for money by facilitating greater competition in government-funded education, health and aged care services
Welcome more international visitors by making visas cheaper and easier to obtain

The Australian Chamber advocates on behalf of employers at the Fair Work Commission and other industrial bodies in matters including the Annual Wage Review.

Members

Members of the Australian Chamber are state and territory chambers of business, and national industry associations.^[13] They include:

Chamber Members

Business SA
Canberra Business Chamber
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia
Chamber of Commerce Northern Territory
New South Wales Business Chamber
Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Industry Association Members

Accord Australasia
Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors' Association
Aged and Community Services Australia
Association of Independent Schools of NSW
Association of Financial Advisers
Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association
Australian Automotive Dealer Association
Australian Beverages Council Limited
Australian Dental Association
Australian Dental Industry Association
Australian Federation of Employers and Industries
Australian Federation of Travel Agents
Australian Gift and Homewares Association
Australian Hotels Association
Australian International Airlines Operations Group
Australian Made Campaign Limited
Australian Mines and Metals Association
Australian Paint Manufacturers' Federation Inc
Australasian Pizza Association
Australian Recording Industry Association Ltd
Australian Retailers' Association
Australian Self Medication Industry Inc
Australian Steel Institute
Australian Tourism Awards Inc
The Australian Veterinary Association
Boating Industry Association
Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals
Bus Industry Confederation
Caravan Industry Association
Cement Concrete Aggregates Australia
Chiropractors' Association of Australia
Cruise Lines International Association
Consult Australia
Customer Owned Banking Association
Council of Private Higher Education Inc
Direct Selling Association of Australia Inc
Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia
Fitness Australia
Hire & Rental Industry Assoc Ltd
Housing Industry Association
Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA)
Large Format Retail Association
Live Performance Australia
Master Builders Australia Limited
Master Plumbers & Mechanical Services Association of Australia
Medicines Australia
Medical Technology Association of Australia
National Disability Services
National Electrical and Communications Association
National Employment Service Association
National Fire Industry Association
National Online Retail Association
National Retail Association Limited
The National Roads and Motorists Association
Think Brick Australia
NSW Taxi Council
Outdoor Media Association
Oil Industry Industrial Association
Pharmacy Guild of Australia
Phonographic Performance Company of Australia
Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association
Printing Industries Association of Australia
Recruitment and Consulting Services Association of Australia and New Zealand
Restaurant and Catering Australia
Screen Producers Australia
The Tax Institute
Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce

International Network

The Australian Chamber speaks on behalf of Australian business in international forums, including:

International Chamber of Commerce
Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
International Organisation of Employers
Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry
Confederation of Asia-Pacific Employers
International Labour Organization

Notable former staff

Former staff at the Australian Chamber include:

Dan Tehan, a government minister who was the Australian Chamber's Director of Trade Policy and International Affairs in 2007–08.^[14]
Nicolle Flint, a member of Parliament who was the Australian Chamber's Director of Corporate Relations in 2004–07.^[15]

References

^ "Who we are - Australian Chamber". www.australianchamber.com.au. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
^ "Our policies - Australian Chamber". www.australianchamber.com.au. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
^ "Staff Members - Australian Chamber". www.australianchamber.com.au. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
^ "Board Members - Australian Chamber". www.australianchamber.com.au. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Australian Chamber of Commerce and IndustryOur History". Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Archived from the original on 13 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
^ ^a ^b "History of the Australian Chamber - Australian Chamber". www.acci.asn.au. Archived from the original on 3 March 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
^ "Western Australian industrial court hands down record fine for nurses' strike". World Socialist Web Site. 10 June 2023. Archived from the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
^ Chambers, Sam (19 October 2022). "CAI International and Beacon Intermodal Leasing to merge". Splash247. Archived from the original on 1 December 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
^ "Australian Chamber of Commerce and IndustryOur History". Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Archived from the original on 13 June 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
^ "Our structure - Australian Chamber". www.acci.asn.au. Archived from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
^ "Policy - Australian Chamber". www.acci.asn.au. Archived from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
^ "Top10in10". www.top10in10.com.au. Archived from the original on 25 February 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
^ "Our Members - Australian Chamber". www.acci.asn.au. Archived from the original on 30 January 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
^ "Hon Dan Tehan MP". www.aph.gov.au. Archived from the original on 7 March 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
^ "Ms Nicolle Flint MP". www.aph.gov.au. Archived from the original on 2 March 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2017.

External links