VICTORIA'S lead tourism body has called for the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) to be funded to stem Melbourne's loss of international business events.

Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) Chief Executive, Dianne Smith said:

"VTIC calls on the State Government to fund the expansion of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). 

"MCEC turns away 17 percent of potential clients due to lack of capacity. 

"VTIC has been a consistent advocate of the need for this project and the VTIC 2014-15 state budget submission encourages the government to prioritise funding for this expansion.

"Business events are vital to Victoria, as they contribute $1.2 billion to the economy and are responsible for 22,000 jobs.

"Work recently commenced on Sydney’s convention and exhibition centre renovation, so if the MCEC expansion does not go ahead Victoria will lose a significant amount of business to NSW. 

"Losing business events to Sydney would mean Victoria loses the very high return on investment benefits that business events provide to the events and associated sectors.

"Victoria's priority sectors, such as health and medical research, greatly benefit from the array of worldwide industry leaders that congregate in Melbourne for events, such as for the recent Diabetes World Conference or the upcoming AIDS conference.

"There is also significant flow-on benefit for local businesses such as hotels and restaurants."

* The Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC) is the peak body for Victoria’s s tourism and events industry, providing one united industry voice. Tourism and events are growth industries for Victoria and contribute $19.1 billion to the state economy each year and employ more than 201,000 people.

www.vtic.com.au

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NATIONAL resource industry employer group AMMA acknowledges Paul Howes’ contribution to the union movement and industrial relations landscape, following today’s announcement that he will step down as national secretary of the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) in July.

“AMMA and our members wish Paul Howes all the best in the next phase of his career,” AMMA chief executive Steve Knott says.

“In serving the union movement as national secretary of the AWU and vice president of the ACTU, Mr Howes has achieved a great deal in what is still a developing career. I have no doubt he will make a strong impact in his next position.”

Mr Knott acknowledged the important role of the AWU in the hard rock mining, metal smelting and oil and gas industries; all sectors in which AMMA members operate.

“During Mr Howes’ AWU leadership, AMMA has enjoyed both a constructive and sometimes robust relationship with the union and its officials. However, this has generally occurred in the prism of our respective members’ best interests,” he says.

“Mr Howes and I both take the representation of our members very seriously and as such have had some very public disagreements. Nonetheless, we have a strong history of constructive industrial relations away from the public eye and AMMA looks forward to continuing this with the AWU leadership.

“AMMA has also worked positively with Mr Howes behind the scenes to progress new resource project investment, another area in which we appreciate his support and insight.”

Mr Knott also urged the union movement to take note of Mr Howes’ recent recognition of Australia’s uncompetitive workplace relations environment.

“We urge Mr Howes’ successor and fellow leaders of the union movement to heed his warning that our tumultuous industrial relations system is damaging the economy. In particular, attention should be given to his criticism of unstainable wage inflation in the offshore sector, which is not conducive to a globally exposed industry,” he says.

“The union movement should work with resource employers and the Abbott Government to ensure our industry remains an attractive place to invest and employ people.

“AMMA wishes Mr Howes well in his next career move and looks forward to continuing a productive relationship with the AWU.”

www.amma.org.au

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PEAK retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) strongly condemned the Fair Work Commission (FWC) inexplicable decision last Friday to abolish junior wage rates for 20 year old employees.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said retailers are outraged at the decision which was based on no evidence and will kill jobs for youth as well as hinder skills developments.

“This junior wage increase will severely hit retailers financially, as well as change the face of employment for 20 year olds.

“Young people are done a disservice if our system of wage regulation locks them out of employment opportunities – and it is now clear that young people will be forced to compete against older and more experienced job-seekers.

“Unfortunately, youth unemployment is at its highest level in 11 years and with the unions case to remove junior wage rates now successful, young Australians are going to find employment near impossible.

“What retailer is going to employ a young Australian without any experience in the industry, when they can employ someone a few years older with more experience for exactly the same wage? This decision will prove detrimental to both employers and employees.

“Friday’s decision was also inconsistent with previous FWC decisions, making it obvious this was a narrow review. Previous FWC decisions have held that major changes like this require expert evidence.

“The retail sector is struggling, and although the industry is just starting to show signs of improvement in terms of retail employment, this is certainly a major setback.

“The ARA is looking into all possible appeal options and will be raising this matter directly with Minister Abetz, as well as instructing its legal team to look at all options to address this poor decision.

"The ARA will also fight against the already promised claims from the union movement to move on under 20 year old pay rates,” Mr Zimmerman said.

s $258 billion retail sector, which employs over 1.2 million people. The ARA ensures retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 5,000 independent and national retail members throughout Australia.

Visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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Queensland Resources Council has acknowledged passage of the Regional Planning Interests Act 2014 in the Parliament as a foundation for delivering a better system of planning for regional Queensland.

Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche said the Act is the culmination of more than a decade’s work by Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney – both in opposition and in government.

"Jeff Seeney is passionate about maximising opportunities for regional Queensland communities," Mr Roche said.

"As a major driver of economic growth in regional Queensland, the minerals and energy sector welcomes this renewed focus on outcomes in terms of jobs, growth, opportunity and sustainable prosperity."

Mr Roche said that for the first time, Queensland has a system of regional plans focused on cooperation between compatible land uses. 

"While the Act creates new categories of land use priorities, the focus is on delivering practical and productive coexistence.

"The industries we represent see this as an opportunity to enhance their contribution to the government’s economic, social and environmental goals."

Mr Roche said the draft bill had benefited from intensive scrutiny by stakeholders and a multi-party Parliamentary Committee.

"The QRC’s submissions echoed suggestions made from stakeholders as diverse as the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee, the Queensland Law Society and the Queensland Farmers’ Federation.

"Two aspects of this process came through with flying colours – the contribution of the Parliamentary Committee for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning chaired by MP David Gibson – and the Deputy Premier’s willingness to hear the views of all stakeholders," Mr Roche said.

The committee’s 22 recommendations generated 110 amendments to the final Act.

Mr Roche said that in tabling the Bill, the Deputy Premier provided draft regulations for public comment that will give detail to a regional planning vision.

"QRC members will embrace the opportunity to help develop this important step recognising that coexistence is the key to unlocking sustained prosperity for regional Queensland."

www.qrc.org.au

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