VECCI has welcomed the release of Melcourne's Western Distributor proposal, according to Chief Executive Mark Stone.

"The project has the potential to visibly enhance freight productivity by reducing traffic congestion, decreasing commuter travel times and improving port access," Mr Stone said.

"VECCI has consistently called for a second river crossing. The proposal represents a major step forward in achieving this and improving the movement of freight around Melbourne.

"With the Port of Melbourne’s throughput expected to triple by 2041, improved access to the port provided by this project will be crucial to the state’s longer-term trade and economic performance.

"Together with the government’s planned widening of the CityLink / Tullamarine Freeway, the announcement represents a major step forward in improving Melbourne’s transport network. These projects will save business money, help people get to work on time, improve urban liveability and create thousands of new jobs," Mr Stone said.

"The proposal also demonstrates the important role the private sector has to play in not only funding major projects, but bringing forward new ideas that have the potential to address Victoria’s most pressing infrastructure challenges. VECCI commends Transurban on this great initiative.

"If realised, the proposal would be one of a small number of projects that transform our transport system, delivering enduring economic benefits for generations to come."

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.

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VECCI Chief Executive Mark Stone has welcomed today’s announcement by the State Government that will see the continuation of Avalon Airport’s passenger operations and the expansion of Jetstar’s services at the airport.

"We are delighted that the agreement will see 200 jobs saved, as well as an increase in the number of Jetstar flights from five to seven daily and the introduction of flights to two new domestic destinations," Mr Stone said.

"Avalon Airport supports tourism and business travel in Victoria, particularly to our state’s drawcard tourist destinations such as the Great Ocean Road and Bellarine Peninsula.

"The expansion will see the arrival of approximately 700 more visitors in the region each week which will be a positive for the local tourism industry.

"We commend the State Government for working together with Jetstar to reach this outcome and deliver a win for Victorian business."

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.

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WITH JUSTt over one week until entries close on Friday 8 May, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) encourages all retailers to prepare their submissions for the 2015 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards.

Tickets are selling fast for the retail industry’s most recognised awards event of the year - the ARA Awards Breakfast on Thursday 2 July at the Grand Hyatt, Melbourne – where all award winners will be announced.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman encourages any retailers who are yet to enter to visit the ARA Awards website and submit their entry.

“There is an award category to suit everyone - from our HR superstars, retail graduates and mum-and-dad owner operators, right through to those who have completed an amazing retail store fit-out or those leading the way in retail payment technologies. Of course, we’re also looking for the ‘Retailer of the Year,’ ‘Innovator of the Year’ and ‘Retail Employer of the Year.’

“We have had an overwhelmingly positive response this year from retailers across Australia who have put their hands up and are willing to share their stories. As Australia’s first and largest national retail awards program, the ARA Awards have celebrated Australia’s leading retailers for over 40 years and have become something of an icon in the retail industry.

“The Awards Breakfast, where all winners will be announced, is a valuable networking event for all retailers to attend and enjoy. Attendees will gain valuable insights from this year’s keynote speaker Jodie Fox, Chief Creative Officer and co-founder of multichannel sensation Shoes of Prey and have the opportunity to network with retail professionals from across Australia and abroad,” Mr Zimmerman said.

This year, the ARA Awards are again proudly supported by eftpos as the events major sponsor. eftpos Managing Director Bruce Mansfield said he hoped to see a record number of retailers enter the awards and share their inspiring success stories about how they contribute to Australia and the communities in which they operate.

“eftpos is proud to support these awards because they recognise the extraordinary work that is done by the hundreds of thousands of retailers who serve Australian communities every single day,” Mr Mansfield said. 

“Retail is an industry that touches all Australians and contributes to the economies of almost every community across the nation, no matter how small.  It is an exceptionally important industry that impacts all of our daily lives and it is great to have an opportunity to recognise the contribution of these businesses and the people who run them."

ARA Awards Breakfast

When: Thursday 2 July 2015, 7.00am (for 7.30am start) to 10.30am
Where: Grand Hyatt, 123 Collins Street, Melbourne
Ticket prices:
ARA members $60 / guests $80
ARA members table of 10 $500 / guest table of 10 $700
 
The 2015 ARA Awards are open now – visit www.australianretailawards.com.au to enter. Entries close Friday 8 May. To reserve your tickets now email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ARA Award categories:
eftpos Australian Retailer of the Year, BDO Australian Retail Employer of the Year, The Realise Group Australian Independent Retailer of the Year, Pronto Software Australian Retail Innovator of the Year, Expr3ss! Staff Selection Software Australian Retail Graduate of the Year, NORA Australian Multichannel Retailer of the Year, FCB Australian Retail HR Rising Star of the Year, Rest Industry Super Individual Retailer of the Year, Roy Morgan Customer Satisfaction Retailer of the Year, Shop for Shops Australian Retail Store Fit-out of the Year and MasterCard Australian Retail Payments Leader of the Year.
 
Since 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body representing Australia’s $265 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.
 

THERE's only one week until CeMAT, the global intralogistics and materials handling event, hits Australia for the first time at Sydney Olympic Park, 5–7 May 2015.

The three day exhibition, conference, workshops and site tours promise to inspire the industry and offer solutions to improve all elements of the supply chain.

Here’s a list of the top 5 things that are not to be missed at CeMAT AUSTRALIA:

1. See the industry’s best on the show floor

With five specialist exhibition zones including Store & Load, Move & Lift and Logistics IT; the 100+ exhibitors will showcase a huge range of products and services, some of which have never before been seen in Australia. Highlight exhibitors include Adaptalift Hyster, SeaBox International, Knapp and Dematic.

2. Learn from those who’ve already implemented game-changing solutions

There are sessions and workshops that offer real world solutions to improve processes, including gathering a solid business case for automation, with speakers from Australia Post, Linfox, NICTA, Coles Australia, Foodstuffs NZ and Speedshield Technologies.

3. See the newest products which will set the industry’s trends for the next year

There will be over 33 product launches and demonstrations at CeMAT including the Albany RR3000 ISO which is set to revolutionise the rigid high-performance door market; the Combilift Walkie Reach which is the only pedestrian reach stacker able to work in an aisle width of 2000mm pallet to pallet; and Hyundai’s latest 9-series electric and diesel forklifts.

4. Get a feel for it with product demonstrations

Adaptalift Hyster will be demonstrating their state of the art fleet management and safety system, ForkTrack so attendees at CeMAT will be able to interact with the system to see how it can improve safety and provide greater fleet visibility.

ZiPline Conveyors will be showcasing the Belted Zero Pressure DC Conveyor that provides zero pressure accumulation of products. The model will show how easy it is to convey small cartons due to the small transition gaps between the belted zones.

The new and innovative Tennant T17 battery-powered ride on scrubber is designed to tackle the harshest of environments whilst reducing the cost to clean, the scrubber will be showing attendees its power, with the largest battery capacity in its class.

5. Win a trip to CeMAT Hannover

CeMAT AUSTRALIA is offering all confirmed visitors who attend, the chance to win a trip to CeMAT Hannover including accommodation, airfare and event pass valued up to $10,000 + GST.

Register now: http://www.cemat.com.au/register-expo-conference/

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VECCI has welcomed the Commonwealth Government’s announced release of draft legislation to extend unfair contract term protections to small business, according to Chief Executive Mark Stone.

"VECCI’s Small Business Taskforce report, “Small Business. Big Opportunity”, urged the Commonwealth Government to commit to implementing the proposed protections detailed in this scheme and we welcome the progression of this important measure," Mr Stone said.

"Once the protections are implemented, a court will have the power to strike out a term of a small business contract that is considered unfair. 

"The protections will apply to small businesses (employing less than 20 people) for transactions under $100,000, or $250,000 for contracts that last longer than 12 months.

"The changes will support small businesses in their daily operations, but businesses must remain vigilant in conducting due diligence on large contracts.

"VECCI commends the Government for this action."

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.

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REPRESENTATIVES from one of Europe’s leading aerospace regions are touring Australia this week to build links with Australian industry.

The delegation from Poland will meet business leaders from the local aerospace sector and conduct site visits to manufacturers and suppliers in both Sydney and Melbourne.

Austrade Senior Trade Commissioner in Warsaw Steve Rank said Poland was a significant player in global aerospace supply chains.

“There are opportunities for Australian companies to form partnerships with Polish firms, accessing wider networks in Europe and the United States,” Mr Rank said.

“There are also opportunities for Australian firms and research institutions to join cooperative R&D efforts to develop new technologies.”

Poland has a long tradition of aerospace manufacturing dating back to the early 20th Century and was a leading force in the development of helicopters.

Today PwC ranks Poland’s aerospace industry among the world’s top-ten. It includes significant manufacturing and assembly operations, including the Sikorsky Black Hawk S-70i helicopters and Pratt & Whitney aircraft engines.

The delegation includes representatives from Poland’s Aviation Valley, an industry cluster created in 2003 that now employs 20,000 workers and generates sales of A$1.5 billion, 80 per cent of which are exports.

This week’s visit follows a joint business event promoting Australian and Polish capability and collaboration at the last Paris Air Show held in 2013.

“Poland may seem like a distant market to many Australians but the growing importance of global supply chains, particularly in the aerospace sector, makes it impossible to ignore,” Mr Rank said.

"Australia’s manufacturing and technologies are world class but need to be integrated with global networks to reach their full potential.”

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IN acknowledgement of VECCI’s outstanding record of quality service delivery, VECCI Apprenticeships Services (VAS) has secured a new, expanded Federal Government contract to deliver apprenticeship services.

“We take pride in our record of quality in the provision of traineeship and apprenticeship services. We’re delighted to be delivering this crucial program to increase the completion rates of apprentices, as it will be a win for both employers and apprentices,” said VECCI Executive Director and Apprenticeship Support Australia Chairman Denis James.

The announcement means VAS will be part of the newly-formed country-wide Apprenticeship Support Australia organisation which also includes ABAC in NSW, CCIWA Apprenticeships Solutions in WA and Business SA’s Australian Apprenticeships Centre.

The organisation combines 60 years of collective experience in the area to deliver Australia’s premium apprenticeship support service throughout the country from 1 July 2015.

The Australian Government has committed $600 million over three years to the new scheme that is designed to give young Australians the best opportunity to find work through earning and learning opportunities, while facilitating businesses being matched with suitably skilled employees.

The new program will build on the existing apprenticeship model and include:
- Offering job-matching services to connect apprentices and employers.
- Delivering tailored mentoring support to apprentices who need additional help.
- Managing the administration of an apprenticeship and traineeship, including the training contract.
- Administering the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program, including employer incentives and trade support loans.
- Assisting individuals to find the right Vocational Education and Training or employment pathway. 

“This new program gives VECCI a wider, national reach with greater opportunity to work with Victorian business and workers to deliver strong results,” said Mr James.

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.

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IMPROVING small business skills, strengthening innovation and leveraging new export opportunities must be the priority of governments to keep small business competitive and create jobs.

These are the key findings of VECCI’s Small Business Taskforce report, “Small business. Big opportunities”, released today.

“Small business is important business. Ninety eight per cent of Victoria’s businesses are small. Though small in size, they are big on innovation, major employers and key drivers of economic activity, investment and trade,” said VECCI Chief Executive Mark Stone. 

“In recognition of this vital contribution, VECCI’s Small Business Taskforce has developed a series of policy recommendations to drive further small business growth and success through 2015 and beyond.” 

The report outlines priority areas for policy makers including reduced red tape and cuts to direct business costs, improved small business access to competitively priced finance and new initiatives to raise the skills of small business operators and their workforces.

Governments must also work harder to improve small business access to government purchasing and more effectively leverage public and private sector partnerships to strengthen small business innovation.

In light of the exciting growth opportunities presented by the Asian Century and recently signed Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), it is more important than ever that we get more small businesses into exporting.

The report’s priority areas include:

Skills: Support the skills growth of small business workforces and management.

Costs: Lower small business direct and indirect costs. 

Exports: Get more small businesses into overseas markets. 

Innovation: Encourage more small business innovation and entrepreneurship. 

Finance: Improve small business access to competitively priced finance. 

Procurement: Provide small business with greater opportunity to sell goods and services to government.

“We seek a commitment from governments at all levels to make small business a priority by taking up the recommendations contained in our agenda.”  

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.

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