WITH China as Australia’s largest trading partner, a round of public hearings to examine the costs and benefits of the proposed China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) will begin next week.

The Treaties Committee will commence hearings on Monday 27 July in Brisbane. The second hearing will take place in Sydney on Friday 31 July to be followed by hearings in Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Tasmania.   

China provides Australia’s largest agriculture and fisheries market and biggest export market for resources, energy and manufacturing. Chinese investment in Australia has grown strongly in recent years and the country is Australia’s largest services market as well.

The Agreement is expected to eliminate or significantly reduce tariffs on a wide range of Australian goods exports including beef, dairy, sheep meat, wine, horticulture and energy and resource products. It also delivers China’s best services commitments to date, including the provision of new or significantly improved market access for financial, legal, education and health and aged care services.

Committee Chair, Mr Wyatt Roy MP, said that Australia’s free trade agreements are intended to reduce barriers to trade for Australian producers and exporters.

“However, the committee understands that there are some serious questions regarding the impact of these agreements on the broader economy and it is interested in hearing from a range of witnesses on the possible positive and negative aspects of implementing this agreement,” he said.   

Public Hearing: Monday 27 July 2015,
Level 6 Mediation Room 2, Commonwealth Law Courts 119 North Quay, Brisbane

12.30pm Queensland Seafood Industry Association
Queensland Seafood Marketers Association Inc
1.10pm Packer Leather
1.50pm HopgoodGanim
2.30pm ThomsonAdsett
3.10pm Close

Public Hearing: Friday 31 July 2015,
Macquarie Room, Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney

9.30am Council of Private Higher Education
10.15am Australian Fair Trade Investment Network
11.00am Financial Services Council
11.45am Australian Red Meat Industry
12.30pm Lunch
1.30pm Private individual
2.15pm Blackmores Ltd
3.00pm Communications Electrical Plumbing Union
3.45pm Close

The hearing will be broadcast through: www.aph.gov.au/live
Hearing programs, copies of the treaties and submissions received can be found at: http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Treaties  Alternatively, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone (02) 6277 4002.

RISING employment costs hampered business trading performance over the June quarter, according to the VECCI - Bank of Melbourne Survey of Business Trends and Prospects released today.

Wages growth was a driver of this rise, as it remained widespread in the June quarter 2015 with a net balance of 18 per cent of respondents reporting an increase. Wages growth is forecast to accelerate in the September quarter 2015, with a net balance of 30 per cent of respondents expecting a rise.

With little change in selling prices and higher operating costs, business profitability was under pressure with a visible weakening in profits over the quarter. A net balance of 18 per cent of businesses reported declines; a 10 percentage point deterioration compared to the previous quarter’s result.

Not surprisingly, the quarterly survey of nearly 500 businesses across seven major industry sectors also found that employment levels were adversely affected by the general weakness in profits and rising cost pressures. Over the June quarter, a net balance of six per cent of surveyed firms reported a decline in employment.

Exports, which had performed strongly in the previous quarter, eased in the current quarter; as did trends in buildings and structures investment. Encouragingly, a rebound in export activity is forecast over the next three months.

Sales, which were relatively flat during the June quarter, are also expected to recover over coming months.

“Cost pressures are an increasing headwind to Victorian business growth,” said VECCI Chief Executive Mark Stone.

“More must be done to reduce the employment cost burden on business by lifting the payroll tax threshold, reducing WorkCover premiums and reforming penalty rate structures.”

Bank of Melbourne Chief Executive Scott Tanner said, “While businesses are still uncertain about conditions in the Victorian economy, there were some encouraging signs for the outlook with confidence emerging.

"Stronger household and business balance sheets, coupled with low interest rates and a weaker Australian dollar, should put growth and investment plans back on the agenda for businesses when the right opportunities arise.”

The outlook for the Victorian economy weakened slightly in the June quarter, with 15 per cent of respondents anticipating improved state economic conditions in the year ahead, compared to 17 per cent in the previous quarter.

The outlook for the Australian economy mirrored results from the previous quarter, with 18 per cent of respondents expecting stronger growth over the next 12 months. 

VECCI & Bank of Melbourne partnership 
VECCI is pleased to partner with Bank of Melbourne. The bank supports VECCI’s quarterly Survey of Business Trends and Prospects, Business Leaders event series and Women in Business event series. The partnership builds on both VECCI’s and the Bank of Melbourne’s mutual goals in supporting businesses in Victoria.

Background – About VECCI
The Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) is the most influential business organisation in Victoria, informing and servicing more than 15,000 members, customers and clients around the state.

www.vecci.org.au

Background – About Bank of Melbourne
Bank of Melbourne is investing in Melbourne and regional Victoria. Since re-launching in July 2011, the bank has tripled its workforce, opened 100 branches and become even more involved in the local community. The bank partners with the organisations and events that matter to Victorians. As a full-service bank, its team of lenders, account executives and industry specialists are supporting Victorian businesses, both large and small.

www.bankofmelbourne.com.au

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THE Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) welcomes the State Government’s announced funding for Tourism Greater Geelong and The Bellarine and its establishment as an official Regional Tourism Board (RTB).

“VTIC has consistently called on the government to recognise and provide funding for this vital organisation and we applaud this announcement,” said VTIC Chief Executive Dianne Smith.

“This is recognition of the organisation’s significance and the resultant funding will allow it to expand its efforts to grow tourism in the area.

"Greater Geelong and the Bellarine is one of the jewels in Victorian tourism’s crown and we will continue to support this organisation and local operators to grow our industry in the region.”

The announcement was made today by the Hon. John Eren MP, Minister for Tourism and Major Events, at the Victorian Tourism Conference 2015, attended by over 400 tourism leaders and proudly presented by VTIC in partnership with Tourism Victoria.

The Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) is the peak body for Victoria’s tourism and events industry, providing one united industry voice.

Tourism and events are growth industries for Victoria and contribute $19.6 billion to the state economy each year and employ more than 200,000 people.

vtic.com.au

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THE Australian Parliament’s Trade and Investment Growth Committee is currently undertaking an Inquiry into the Business Experience in Utilising Australia’s Free Trade Agreements.

The Inquiry is examining the experience of Australian business in using existing free trade agreements (FTAs), including any barriers that may be preventing business from realising the benefits of these FTAs.

As part of its inquiry, the committee will be holding public hearings in Melbourne on 27 July and Sydney on 28 July.

The Melbourne hearing features a range of industry associations including many representing horticulture businesses.

"Horticulture businesses are being prevented from accessing some export markets because of quarantine and phytosanitary concerns. Without market access these businesses cannot benefit from Australia’s FTAs. We need to understand why this is occurring and how these obstacles can be overcome," Chair of the Committee, Mr Ken O’Dowd said.

In Sydney, witnesses will include representatives from a range of service industries.

"Asia’s growing economies present many opportunities for Australian service industries to expand. To benefit from these opportunities we need to seek to remove any barriers to Australian foreign investment, and ensure that Australians are enabled to conduct business in key overseas markets," Mr O’Dowd said.

Melbourne
Date: Monday 27 July 2015, 9.00 am – 3.40 pm
Location: Room G6, Parliament of Victoria, Melbourne

Sydney
Date: Tuesday 28 July 2015, 9.00 am – 5.40 pm
Location: Macquarie Room, 6 Macquarie Street, Sydney

More information is available at: www.aph.gov.au/fta

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