MINUTES FOR THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Date: 7 June 2005
Firstly, I attended the Kiama Chamber of Commerce meeting Thursday 26/5 and
the seminar was run by the NSW Chamber of Commerce and was titled "The
three people you least want to visit your business".
Presentations were given by The Tax Office who now appear to be a bit more
client focused and the have new systems in place for self lodgement of Bas
returns. All the information needed is on www.ato.com.au see business
Portals.
The second presenter was from the Department of Industrial relations and he
advised that next year that 12500 business will be visited to ensure that
they comply with the following:-
· Is the awards of your employees available and on display?
· Do you issue a pay slip? Does is detail all relevant info including
leave entitlements
· Do you make staff award of their rights and obligations?
When an inspector visits your business their job is to investigate, mediate
and in most cases problems are resolved. In the rare cases they may also
have to prosecute.
For more information on their operations and assistance on awards etc
contact Shaun on www.industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au or 131628
The third presenter was from Workcover who now also have a Business
Assistance Unit 131050.
The news is that this unit can arrange a time for you to visit them or them
to visit you with any workcover concerns which is so important bearing in
mind the current onerous obligations for workplace safety, and OH& S
regulations.
Their website also provides lots of info
www.businessassist@workcover.nsw.gov.au
or hotline 131050
A very informative session and we should consider joining the NSW Chamber
as there are many benefits and I think that the joining fee is about $500.
The following information was taken straight from their website and lists
the services for a standard membership. I tried to ring them to find out
exactly how much, but I had to leave a message.
Recommended for sole traders or small businesses of up to 10 employees, to
provide access to a standard range of Chamber services & opportunities.
Benefits General Business Development: Access to the Chamber's
comprehensive online membership network Chamber referrals for member to
member new business opportunities and advice Opportunity to link with
metropolitan and regional Chambers of Commerce Password access to
exclusive member-only content on www.thechamber.com.au BizNews advertising
- standard member-only rate Events: Member-only business forums and events
Opportunity to attend a variety of networking events held by the Chamber
each year Member discount pricing for public events International Trade:
Free membership to the World Trade Centre Association Online Opportunities
to meet visiting international delegations / businesses face-to-face
Discounted member pricing on Export Documentation services, training and
market research Invitations to International Trade Delegations and events
Access to the international business community Industrial Relations: Free
IR advice centre Industrial Relations tribunal representation - $121 per
hour (inc. GST) plus any associated costs. Available to members only
Provision of up to three (3) State or Federal Awards, their updates and IR
newsletters Staff Handbook - 20% off the normal purchase price IR seminar
at your office - Negotiable plus any associated costs Lobbying & Policy:
Access to The Common Good, a program dedicated to promoting competitive
advantage strategies through best-practice business models for corporate
social and environmental responsibility Access to economic trends and
information via our in-house Economist Access to Local, State and Federal
Government Business advocacy on issues such as GST, Taxation, Insurance,
Franchising, Superannuation Opportunity to contribute to Chamber lobbying
through our Standing Committees: - Economic Affairs - Employment -
Infrastructure - Industry, Innovation and Small Business - International
Trade Online access to Chamber Policy papers Free Publications: BizNews,
news@thechamber email newsletter, World of Trade & Commerce Newsletter and
associated business magazines Common Good newsletter if requested
Business Education : Member pricing on workshops and seminars Discounts
on alliance partner programs Join Now: For more information, please email
us <mailto:newmembers@thechamber.com.au> or telephone the Chamber on 1300
137 153 between 9:00am and 5:00pm weekdays and a Sales Executive will
assist you with your membership requirements.
The other matter that I wanted to raise was Peter Holstein. Yesterday I received a letter supporting Peter from a guy in Sydney (sorry I left the letter at home). It basically advised that he was a client of theirs and would be devastated to see the business have to relocate or even close with the loss of jobs and services. The letter then went on to say that he would support us in any action that we were going to present to the council on Peter's behalf.
Which leads me to ask, is how do we want to support him?
Do we want to support him? As a member I feel that perhaps we/ I could
mediate with the council and Peter to see of there was any possibility of
conciliation. Is it a total dead duck or is there any room to move? Where is Peter up to with Legal action? If it was going to cost the council
and rate payers money it would be in their best interest to have a
satisfactory resolve.
I would really hate to see spare hanger space and a business left out in
the could if we could intervene somehow to arbitrate.
Also for our next meeting, I would like to invite Tony Green- Regional
Business Development Manager for the Department of State and Regional
Development. It is his job to ensure that funding is offered to suitable
projects (such as ours) and any other in the area that may be needy and
that may result in extra employment.
