by Ashley Gardiner | Feb 25, 2024 | Media Release
The Australian Universities Accord Final Report released today provides a transformative roadmap for advancing higher education.
“The report has set out a far-reaching strategy in relation to equity, access, governance and potential future funding mechanisms. A dynamic, high-quality and sustainable post-secondary education sector is essential for meeting current and future knowledge, and skills demands,” ACCI chief executive officer Andrew McKellar said.
“In considering the establishment of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission, we urge the government to ensure that there is an independent-sector commissioner to represent independent higher education providers.
“ACCI strongly supports the recommendations to improve integration of vocational education and training, and higher education, to meet learners’ needs better. Nine in ten new jobs will require a post-secondary qualification, so we need a system to meet these demands.
“Recognising the importance of work-integrated learning and the emphasis on lifelong learning is welcome, particularly with recommendations of reforms for recognition of prior learning.
“The extension of Commonwealth-supported places to TAFE providers should be available to students regardless of provider type. Students should be at the heart of their education decision-making.
“The report’s release is the culmination of the Accord process led by Professor Mary O’Kane and a panel of experts, who engaged in extensive consultations with stakeholders to deliver 47 detailed recommendations.
“Establishing the Implementation Advisory Committee is a critical next step to advise on implementing the review’s recommendations. We look forward to participating in the process and working with the government and other key stakeholders on the delivery of the recommendations.”
by Ashley Gardiner | Feb 19, 2024 | Media Release
The announcement of a strategic review of the Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System has been welcomed by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“Incentives play an essential role in the apprenticeship model, providing necessary support for both apprentices and employers,” David Alexander, ACCI’s Chief of Policy and Advocacy said.
“The apprenticeship model plays a vital role in skills development and successful transitions from education to employment. To ensure those looking for work have the skills and training required for the jobs of today and tomorrow, we must get the incentives right.”
The Review comes at a critical time for the incentive system. From 1 July 2024, the Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System will see an up to 70% decrease in incentive payments for high-priority occupations and the removal of incentives altogether for those non-priority.
“The decrease in incentive payments has the potential to significantly impair the ability of businesses to train up apprentices,” Mr Alexander said.
ACCI’s pre-Budget submission calls for government support for all apprenticeships and traineeships of no less than 30% in wage subsidies across two years. ACCI also seeks reinstatement of the fixed monetary completion incentives of $2500 to employers and support of up to $5000, to assist in the completion of their training to all endorsed apprentices and traineeships.
“ACCI looks forward to providing input into the review and will work closely with the Hon. Justice Iain Ross AO and Ms Lisa Paul AO, industry partners and the government to ensure Australia maintains a strong and dynamic workforce for the future.”
by Ashley Gardiner | Feb 12, 2024 | Media Release
Criminal sanctions against employers who breach the botched ‘right to disconnect’ provisions rushed through Parliament is set to become proclaimed Australian law.
Despite earlier claims the House of Representatives would wait until the Senate sits to remove the prospect of employers facing criminal charges, the bill was passed today.
“Rather than waiting for another Senate sitting day, the government decided to push the bill through today without removing the criminal element to the new right to disconnect laws,” ACCI chief executive officer Andrew McKellar said.
“This Greens-inspired amendment was rushed through the Parliament with unseemly haste, without the scrutiny the rest of the bill has undergone over months.
“While the error in the bill was apparently inadvertent, the result is a complete mess which adds to the grave misgivings business has about this legislation.
“It is unfathomable that this botched legislation will become the law of the land once given royal assent.
“This highlights the problems that have been caused by this productivity-wrecking legislation that has been subject to virtually no parliamentary scrutiny.
“It is essential that the government makes crystal clear when the amending legislation will be introduced to fix this mess.
“Further, this legislation should be subjected to the same degree of examination applied to the rest of the legislation.”
by Ashley Gardiner | Feb 10, 2024 | Media Release
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomes the appointment of Professor Barney Glover AO as the new Commissioner of Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA).
“Professor Glover’s appointment as the Commissioner of JSA will help provide a steady hand to guide its mission,” ACCI chief executive officer Andrew McKellar said.
“JSA is essential to helping to identify our present and future skills and labour needs. We know that the best defence against recurring skills shortages is access to comprehensive data that anticipates our skills needs.”
The work of JSA allows for the application of a whole-of-economy and nationwide perspective which guides the strategic direction of the organisation.
Market analysis and forecasting conducted by JSA will play a fundamental role in informing migration strategies, ensuring a proactive response to evolving workforce demands.
“With his immediate background as vice chancellor and president of Western Sydney University, Professor Glover’s understanding of management and business leadership makes him well placed to lead JSA and ensure the agency responsible for monitoring Australia’s workforce needs is well equipped,” Mr McKellar said.
ACCI looks forward to working closely with him and JSA over the coming years to help prevent further skills shortages.
by Ashley Gardiner | Feb 9, 2024 | Media Release
The botched introduction of the ‘right to disconnect’ amendment that exposes employers to criminal penalties has made bad legislation even worse.
“This amendment was rushed through the Parliament with unseemly haste, without the scrutiny the rest of the bill has undergone over months,” ACCI chief executive officer Andrew McKellar said.
“While the error in the bill was apparently inadvertent, the result is a complete mess which adds to the grave misgivings business has about this legislation.
“This regressive union-dictated legislation will do nothing to grow productivity or create jobs and has ended up with the spectre of employers facing criminal charges for calling an employee.
“While a further amendment will correct this, it simply is not good enough. It has exposed the dangers of adhering to a radical agenda without careful scrutiny.”
The legislation more broadly will present immense practical issues for businesses that employ millions of Australians.
“Employers are very concerned about the impact of these sweeping changes. They will add to the cost of doing business and create more red tape,” ACCI chief executive officer Andrew McKellar said.
“Negotiations this week have slightly improved some aspects of the legislation. But, as a whole, these changes will be a deadweight on productivity and jobs growth. This is bad legislation and it is an enormous step backwards for the modern workforce.
“At a time when the cost of living and cost of doing business is becoming more difficult to manage, small businesses should not need to seek costly legal advice just to employ casuals or engage independent contractors.
“The rate of change across two years is causing significant fatigue and this this union-inspired legalism will only add to the administrative burden of business owners.”
ACCI acknowledges the efforts of the crossbench, particularly Senators David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie, to achieve some improvements to this productivity-wrecking legislation.
“The crossbench has worked constructively to ensure that some of our concerns could be ameliorated,” Mr McKellar said.
Improvements ACCI has advocated successfully for include:
- A clearer definition of casual employment that will provide more certainty to employers.
- Providing businesses with the ability to provide ‘fair and reasonable grounds’ to decline a casual employee’s request to convert to permanent employment.
- Repealing the existing requirement on businesses to offer conversion and providing a single legislated pathway for casuals to convert to permanent employment; reducing the administrative burden on employers.
- Narrowing of the definition of ‘employee-like’, ensuring that tradespersons and independent small businesses are less likely to be captured by a minimum standards order.
