S9551 Business and Professional Association Services

Big pressure to scrap small firms tax cut

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 24-Mar-15

The Council of Small Business Australia has urged the Federal Government to abandon a proposed 1.5 per cent tax cut for small businesses. CEO Peter Strong argues that the tax cut that has been proposed for the May 2016 Budget will do little to improve business confidence. The council instead favours the introduction of an accelerated depreciation rate of 150 per cent for the sector, a move which is also supported by several government MPs

CORPORATES
COUNCIL OF SMALL BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY AND SCIENCE, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE

Future of work could be one award

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 9 : 20-Mar-15

The Business Council of Australia’s submission to an inquiry into workplace relations has proposed a gradual shift to a single industrial award for all sectors of the economy. As an interim measure, just one award would apply to each industry before being phased out in favour of a universal award. The employers’ association also proposes the adoption of one penalty rate for all employees, and paring back awards to cover just 10 employment issues

CORPORATES
BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION

Unions push for casual worker rights

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 17-Mar-15

The ACTU wants casual workers to have a legal right to compulsory arbitration when employers do not "bargain in good faith". The ACTU will present its views on the matter in a submission to the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into workplace relations. The Australian Industry Group argues in its submission that workplace agreements should include a mandatory clause about measures to improve productivity

CORPORATES
ACTU, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION

Business fears a return to union chaos

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 4-Mar-15

Fair Work Building & Construction’s powers to take action over unlawful conduct by unions are slated to expire at the end of May 2015. The Australian Government faces resistance from the Opposition and the Australian Greens to extend these powers. Groups such as the Australian Industry Union and Master Builders Australia are concerned about the impact on the construction industry if the sunset clause introduced by the Australian Labor Party takes effect

CORPORATES
FAIR WORK BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, MASTER BUILDERS AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION OF AUSTRALIA, PALMER UNITED PARTY

Unions seek part-time guarantee

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Original article by Joanna Heath, Joanna Mather
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 16-Feb-15

Employers’ groups want the Fair Work Commission’s review of the modern awards system to include changes to penalty rates for people who work on weekends and public holidays. Meanwhile, the ACTU’s submission to the review will argue the case for employers to have a legal requirement to offer flexible working arrangements to female workers who return to work after having a baby. Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry CEO Kate Carnell warns that this could deter employers from hiring women

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, ACTU, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, RESTAURANT AND CATERING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN HOTELS ASSOCIATION

Rethink call for two-tier tax

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 11-Feb-15

Employers’ groups have expressed concern about a proposal to reduce the corporate tax rate for small businesses while retaining the existing rate that applies to large companies. Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry CEO Kate Carnell says businesses will face more red tape if the Federal Government implements a "two-tiered" corporate tax system. She has urged the Government to consult the business sector on the issue

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Weapons drawn in IR battle

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Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 4 : 23-Jan-15

An issues paper has been made public by the Productivity Commission, for its investigation of Australia’s industrial relations system. While the focus on reform of the Fair Work Act is being applauded by the Business Council of Australia, the Australian Industry Group, the Council of Small Business of Australia and the Australian Chamber of Commerce & Indus­try, the ACTU union umbrella group sees it as dominated by the "obsession" of the Federal Government with penalty rates and individual workplace agreements. Enterprise bargaining and the minimum wage are also on the agenda

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, ACTU, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, COUNCIL OF SMALL BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, FRIENDS

Budget deficit saps confidence

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Original article by Adam Creighton
The Australian – Page: 19 : 20-Jan-15

Roy Morgan Research’s business confidence index has fallen to its lowest level since August 2011. The index fell to 105.3 in December 2014, compared with 123 in November. Roy Morgan’s Norman Morris says business confidence was adversely affected by the Australian Government’s forecast of a $A40bn Budget deficit for 2014-15. A survey by the Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry also shows that there has been a sharp fall in business conditions

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, TD SECURITIES, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

Patients face $20 GP bill

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Original article by Julia Medew
The Age – Page: 1 : 13-Jan-15

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) opposes changes to Medicare rebates, which are due to come into effect on 19 January 2015. From that day, Medicare will pay only $A16.95 towards visits lasting six to 10 minutes. The current rate is $A37.05. The AMA warned that many doctors will cease bulk billing shorter consultations

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES. MEDICARE AUSTRALIA

Change GST before next election, pleads business

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Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 2 : 9-Jan-15

John Osborn of the Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry says a sweeping review of the tax system is needed, and has urged immediate action. The goods and services tax (GST) has been at the centre of recent debate on tax reform, but Peter Strong of the Council of Small Business of Australia has also called for reforms such as the reintroduction of the loss carry back scheme. The Australia Institute has suggested broadening the GST to include private health insurance and private schools

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, COUNCIL OF SMALL BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, THE AUSTRALIA INSTITUTE LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN RETAILERS ASSOCIATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS LIMITED, ASSOCIATION OF HEADS OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS