AUSTRALIA’S resource employers have thanked former West Australian Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Bill Marmion, for his "support for the industry and service to Western Australia during his three year tenure in this critical and often challenging portfolio."

Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA) Executive Director Policy & Public Affairs, Scott Barklamb made the following statement:

"Minister Marmion has taken a highly considered, common sense approach to regulating one of Australia’s most important industries, and has been generous with his time and engagement at several AMMA industry events.

"Significantly, he leaves the mines and petroleum portfolio with Western Australia ranked as the world’s most attractive destination for mining investment (source: Fraser Institute, Annual Global Survey of Mining Companies 2015).

"We wish him well in his new role as Minister for State Development.

"AMMA and our members throughout Western Australia also welcome and congratulate Sean L'Estrange’s promotion to Cabinet as the new Minister for Mines and Petroleum. After serving on important parliamentary committees, Minister L'Estrange takes on a central portfolio for the West Australian economy and community.

"While the Premier has described today’s reshuffle as a commitment to diversifying the state’s economy, there is no question that the ongoing success and growth of the state’s resources sector remains critical to Western Australia’s economic, employment and community wellbeing.

"Iron ore remains Australia’s most important export and Western Australia is responsible for the vast majority of it. By 2020, Australia is also forecast to be the world’s largest exporter of LNG, driven in substantial part by major West Australian projects.

"Key priorities for Minister L'Estrange should be encouraging ongoing resources exploration and looking at new ways to ensure West Australian resource projects successfully transition from feasibility, into construction, and then production – delivering ongoing royalties and jobs for the state for decades to come.

"With suppressed commodity prices and other economic challenges, all eyes will be on lifting productivity, cutting red tape and supporting innovation and agility within Western Australia’s resources marketplace.

"AMMA looks forward to working with Minister L’Estrange in tackling these issues."

www.amma.org.au

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THE Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s recent submission to the Federal Government’s Quality of Assessment in Vocational Education and Training (VET) consultation calls for reforms to the national VET system to drive economic growth and create jobs.

“Restoring Australia’s reputation as a quality provider of VET programs is a priority,” said Victorian Chamber Chief Executive Mark Stone.

“It is crucial to improving workforce skills, lifting productivity and helping to address the recent fall in apprenticeship and traineeship numbers.”

The Victorian Chamber’s submission focuses on measures to reduce the complexity of the VET sector and boost quality standards across the training system.

“Feedback from our members shows that more must be done to ensure student, industry and employer demands are front and centre of the VET system.”

Mr Stone said differences in operating models in various states and territories increased complexity for employers operating across state borders.

“There is a clear need for greater national consistency in course funding, qualification assessment, qualification content and contact hours.”

Mr Stone said practical reforms were needed to lift the quality of training right across the system.

“Businesses need assurance that employees are equipped with the right skills to do their job and need to be able to trust in the quality of training that the VET system provides,” said Mr Stone.

“While many training providers are working hard to deliver high quality training that meets the needs of the labour market, all too often we see instances of providers engaging in inappropriate conduct.”

The Victorian Chamber’s submission supports changes to the regulatory framework that improve the capacity of the Australian Skills Quality Authority to monitor and enforce standards of conduct and assessment.

These include the re-testing of graduates where there have been a high number of complaints, a stronger role for employers in the validation of assessment and better targeting of high risk providers.

“Reforms in these areas will help make the system more responsive to individual and business needs,” said Mr Stone.

“Governments at all levels must commit to overcoming the currently disjointed VET models and their inconsistent and unreliable funding.”

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, established in 1851, is the most influential business organisation in Victoria, informing and servicing more than 15,000 members, customers and clients around the state.

victorianchamber.com.au

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NEW CEDA research has shown the Federal Budget deficit can be eliminated by 2018-19 and delaying a return to surplus will penalise those under 30 unfairly.

Releasing CEDA’s latest research report Deficit to balance: budget repair options, CEDA National Chairman Paul McClintock AO said Australia’s deficit problem is particularly alarming because despite a quarter century of sustained economic expansion, we have had eight years of deficit, with four more to go at a minimum according to Government.

“Despite promises from both major political parties to return to surplus this is yet to eventuate and on current forecasts, achieving sustained surplus seems implausible,” he said.

“The CEDA report shows that balance can be achieved using measures that will be politically palatable and can gain community consensus.

“Australia needs to have a much larger national conversation around structural economic reform, in particular tax and key areas such as bracket creep, corporate tax rates and GST.

“Reform is much easier during periods of fiscal strength. Removing the deficit by 2018-19 will allow Australia to reset the conversation on economic reform.

“Current generations of Australians have experienced an explosion of wealth in recent decades.

“Yet by running deficits during this period of economic expansion we are essentially saying that our increased wealth is not enough and we expect future generations to pay for our spending today.

“In particular, if you are under 30 you should be up in arms because the current situation is completely unfair.

“In addition to the penalty on future generations, as a player in the global economy, running a large deficit means we have no flexibility to respond to unexpected economic shocks.

“This means political choices to insulate and boost our economy become limited.

“Deficit and the resultant interest on debt narrows government spending choices by reducing the Budget pool and diverting money that could otherwise be spent on delivering services and infrastructure.”

Mr McClintock said the seriousness and urgency of dealing with the Federal Budget deficit means CEDA has taken a significantly different approach to delivering this report, with a high level expert Balanced Budget Commission formed to oversee the research.

“Commission members were chosen because of significant experience working in economics and policy, having served under governments from both sides, as public servants and leading economists,” he said.

“This is a unique CEDA report but it is necessary because no economic problem, which is in our power to resolve, is graver or more urgent in Australia than the persistence of large budget deficits.”

Mr McClintock said the report provides a number of options for bringing the Budget back to balance by 2018-19 which include a range of measures from changes to the private health insurance rebate, negative gearing, taxes on luxury cars, alcohol and tobacco, industry assistance and public sector efficiency.

“Getting back to surplus won’t be painless – some of it will be tough but we have tried to ensure almost all measures proposed will not affect the most disadvantaged in our society,” he said.

“This is not about taking away concessions from people or money from industry because they don’t deserve it.

“The reality is we have been spending more than we earn for too long and we need a realistic approach to returning to surplus.

“We recognise that it will be for the government of the day to select the measures to achieve a balanced Budget but these options show it is absolutely achievable by 2018-19.

“If our Federal politicians want to deliver something useful in the next term, balancing the Budget should be it.”

Deficit to balance: budget repair options is being launched at a National Press Club Address by CEDA National Chairman Paul McClintock AO today.

www.ceda.com.au.

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THE Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is asking Australians to spare a thought for the owners of small retail stores who will be forced to work over the Easter long weekend in order to bear the brunt of prohibitive labour costs as a result of penalty rates as high as two and a half times normal pay.

ARA Executive Director, Russell Zimmerman, said that should mum and dad owners of small retail businesses choose to open during the Easter long weekend period (where laws permit), most will forfeit their holidays as they will be unable to afford the stratospheric costs of penalty rates.

“The high cost of public holiday penalty rates will see the majority of mum and dad retailers stripped of their choice to work, with most left with no option than to work themselves or simply close their doors – missing out on crucial revenue,” said Mr Zimmerman.

“While the financial windfalls of excessive penalty rates are a boon to workers, small business owners are left at a major disadvantage as the payment of out of the ordinary labour costs eat into their bottom line. If a small retailer chooses to close instead of work themselves, they will still be forced to lose money, as the Australian consumer now expects to be able to visit stores across this period.

“If penalty rates were reduced, small business owners would be able to afford to employ staff on these days, giving them the opportunity to enjoy a day off – it is well known that the owners of small businesses are often too under resourced or financed to be able to enjoy the same holiday opportunities as paid employees.”

The ARA believes retail penalty rates must be addressed to allow business to respond to customer needs, rather than having to fit their allocation of labour to an antiquated system. The ARA is currently engaged in a review of General Retail Industry Award 2010 (GRIA), with the view to reducing costs for retailers, particularly on Sundays, with the independent arbitrator, Fair Work Commission (FWC).

“In light of online retail and the effects of globalisation, we now live in a 24/7 economy. Australian lifestyles are changing, and it is important to allow physical retailers the scope to be able to keep up with this change and compete effectively against these new challenges to provide consumers with the access and convenience to shopping they expect,” Mr Zimmerman said.

About the Australian Retailers Association:

Founded in 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is the retail industry’s peak representative body representing Australia’s more than $293 billion sector, which employs more than 1.2 million people. The ARA works to ensure retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 5,000 independent and national retail members throughout Australia. For more information, visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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