Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Founded	1992 (1992)
Headquarters	Canberra, Australia
CEO	Andrew McKellar

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) is Australia's biggest group for businesses. It brings together many different business groups from all over Australia. Think of it as a big team that speaks for Australian businesses.

ACCI helps businesses by talking to the government and the public. They share ideas on important topics like money, trade, and how workplaces should be. They also talk about job safety, education, and training. ACCI even speaks for Australian businesses on the world stage.

The main leader of ACCI is called the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The current CEO is Andrew McKellar. The President of ACCI is Nola Watson. ACCI has its main office in Canberra. They also have offices in Sydney and Melbourne.

Leadership

Andrew McKellar is the current CEO of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The leaders of ACCI help guide the organisation. They make sure that businesses across Australia have a voice.

Chief Executive Officers

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is like the main manager of ACCI. They run the daily operations.

• Ian Spicer AM, 1992–1996
• Mark Paterson AO, 1996–2001
• Lyndon Rowe, (acting) 2001–2002
• Dr Peter Hendy, 2002–2008
• Peter Anderson, 2008–2014
• Kate Carnell AO, 2014–2016
• James Pearson, 2016–2021
• Andrew McKellar, 2021–present

Nola Watson is the current President of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Presidents

The President of ACCI leads the Board. They help set the overall direction for the organisation.

• John Clark AM, 1992–1993
• Harold Clough AO, OBE, 1993–1995
• Graeme Samuel AO, 1995–1997
• Robert Gerard AO, 1997–1999
• Dr John Keniry AM, 1999–2001
• David Gray AM, 2001–2003
• Neville Sawyer AM, 2003–2005
• Peter O’Brien, 2005–2007
• Tony Howarth AO, 2007–2009
• David Michaelis, 2009–2011
• Richard Holyman, 2011–2013
• Peter Hood, 2013–2015
• Terry Wetherall AM, 2015–2017
• Jeremy Johnson AM, 2017–2019
• Ray Sputore, 2019–2021
• Nola Watson, 2021–present

History

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has a very long history. It goes back more than 190 years.

The idea of "Chambers of Commerce" started in Australia in 1826. The first one was in Sydney. Over time, more Chambers of Commerce were set up in other cities. These included Adelaide, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

Groups for manufacturers also began. These were for businesses that make things. Australia's first industry group was Master Builders Australia in 1870.

Groups for employers also formed. These groups helped businesses with their workers. As Australia grew, these business groups became very important.

Before Australia became a country in 1901 (this is called Federation), several national business groups formed. They wanted to speak for businesses across the whole country.

In 1977, two big groups joined together. Then, in 1992, they merged with another group. This is how the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) was formed.

In 2015, ACCI got a new logo. It features the Commonwealth Star, also known as the Federation Star. This star shows how ACCI brings together businesses from all parts of Australia.

Structure

The Australian Chamber is a non-profit organisation. This means it doesn't aim to make money for itself. Its members are business groups from each state and territory. It also includes national industry groups.

ACCI is guided by its rules, called a constitution. A group of leaders called the Board runs ACCI. Board members are chosen by the members each November.

There is also a General Council. This group includes the Board and other member representatives. The General Council helps create ACCI's policies. They meet three times a year. They also get advice from special committees.

Policy

The Australian Chamber has official plans and ideas on many topics. These plans are called policies.

Economics and Industry: ACCI wants Australia to have a strong economy. They believe this happens when businesses can compete globally. They suggest making taxes simpler and smaller. They also want to reduce government rules and improve how things are done.

Employment, Education and Training: ACCI supports programs that help people find jobs. They want more apprenticeships. They also help young people and those who find it harder to get work. This includes older workers and people with disabilities.

Small Business: ACCI says that Australia's two million small businesses are vital. These businesses employ seven million people. ACCI wants to make it easier for small businesses to operate. They suggest cutting rules, simplifying taxes, and helping businesses get money.

Sustainability: ACCI supports development that helps society, the economy, and the environment. This means meeting today's needs without harming the future. They want better transport systems. This helps cities be efficient and good places to live.

Trade and International Affairs: ACCI believes that global free trade helps countries become richer and more peaceful. They want to make it easier for Australian businesses to trade with other countries. This includes finding new markets and investment chances.

Workplace Relations: ACCI wants Australia to have excellent workplace rules. These rules should help workers and businesses be flexible. They should also create more job chances. ACCI wants modern laws that fit today's businesses.

Work Health and Safety: ACCI wants everyone to go home safely from work every day. They believe businesses should always look for better ways to keep people safe. This includes looking after mental health at work. ACCI supports clear safety laws across Australia. They believe everyone has a part in keeping workplaces safe.

Advocacy

ACCI works to convince others about its ideas. This is called advocacy. In 2016, ACCI shared its "Top 10 in 10" plan. This plan listed ten steps to make Australia more competitive.

Here are some of their main goals:

• Help young people succeed by making it easier to hire apprentices.
• Make sure government spending is sensible.
• Help industries grow with better workplace rules.
• Let business owners grow their companies by reducing government rules.
• Create jobs by letting employers and workers agree on what works best.
• Increase incomes by lowering company taxes over ten years.
• Build better transport, communication, and energy systems.
• Lower building costs.
• Encourage new ideas in education, health, and aged care.
• Welcome more international visitors by making visas easier to get.

ACCI also speaks for employers at the Fair Work Commission. This is a special court for workplace issues. They also take part in discussions about the Annual Wage Review. This review decides how much the minimum wage should be.

Members

The members of the Australian Chamber are business groups from each state and territory. They also include national groups for different industries.

Chamber Members

• Business SA
• Canberra Business Chamber
• Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland
• Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia
• Chamber of Commerce Northern Territory
• New South Wales Business Chamber
• Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Industry Association Members

International Network

The Australian Chamber also speaks for Australian businesses around the world. They are part of several important international groups, including:

• International Chamber of Commerce
• Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
• International Organisation of Employers
• Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry
• Confederation of Asia-Pacific Employers
• International Labour Organization

Notable former staff

Some people who used to work at the Australian Chamber have become well-known.

• Dan Tehan was a Director at ACCI from 2007 to 2008. He later became a government minister.
• Nicolle Flint was a Director at ACCI from 2004 to 2007. She later became a member of Parliament.

See also

• Economy of Australia