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

Andrew McKellar, the CEO of ACCI.

Mark Birrell, the president of ACCI.

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) is Australia's biggest group for businesses. It brings together different business groups from all over Australia. ACCI helps businesses of all sizes, from small shops to large companies, and from every part of the country. It was created in 1992 when two older groups, the Confederation of Australian Industry (CAI) and the Australian Chamber of Commerce (ACC), joined together.

ACCI talks about important issues that affect businesses. This includes things like the economy, trade, how workplaces are run, keeping workers safe, and education. The Chamber also speaks for Australian businesses on the world stage.

As of August 2025, the chief executive of ACCI is Andrew McKellar. The president is Mark Birrell. ACCI's main office is in Canberra, with other offices in Sydney and Melbourne.

A Look Back: ACCI's History

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

The idea of "Chambers of Commerce" started in Australia when the Sydney Chamber of Commerce was set up in 1826. Over the 1800s, similar groups were formed in other cities like Adelaide, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

Groups for manufacturers also started around this time. These included groups in Victoria (1865) and New South Wales (1885). Australia's first group for a specific industry was Master Builders Australia, formed in 1870.

Before Australia became a single country in 1901 (this is called Federation), several national groups were formed. These included the Australian Chamber of Commerce (ACC) and the Associated Chambers of Manufacturers of Australia (ACMA).

In 1977, the ACMA and another group joined to form the Confederation of Australian Industry (CAI). Then, in 1992, the CAI merged with the ACC. This big merger created the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) that we know today.

In 2015, ACCI updated its logo. The new logo includes the Commonwealth Star. This star shows how ACCI connects businesses from all parts of Australia.

How ACCI Works

The Australian Chamber is a group that does not aim to make a profit. Its members are business groups from Australia's states and territories. It also includes national groups for different industries.

The Australian Chamber follows a set of rules called a constitution. It is led by a Board. Members of the Board are chosen by the other members at a yearly meeting held in November.

A larger group called the General Council helps create ACCI's policies. Policies are like rules or guidelines. The General Council meets three times a year. It gets advice from smaller committees that focus on specific topics.

What ACCI Believes In: Its Policies

The Australian Chamber has official policies on many important topics:

Helping the Economy and Industries Grow

ACCI believes Australia needs a strong economy that can compete globally. It thinks this happens by making economic changes. ACCI suggests making taxes simpler and lower. It also wants to reduce government spending and cut down on too many rules. This helps businesses work better and become more productive.

Jobs, Learning, and Training

ACCI supports programs that help more people find jobs. It encourages apprenticeships and helps young people move from school to work. It also wants to help people who might find it harder to get a job. This includes older workers, people with disabilities, and Indigenous Australians.

Supporting Small Businesses

ACCI says that Australia's two million small businesses are very important. They employ millions of people and are the backbone of the economy. ACCI wants to make things easier for small businesses. This means cutting down on rules, simplifying taxes, and making it easier for them to get money. It also means improving roads and other important services.

Keeping Australia Sustainable

ACCI supports development that helps society, the economy, and the environment. This means meeting today's needs without harming the future. ACCI wants to improve transport and other services. This helps Australia's growing cities be efficient, productive, and good places to live.

Trade and International Connections

ACCI believes that global free trade helps countries become richer and more peaceful. It supports working with other countries to make trade easier. ACCI wants Australian businesses to have better access to new markets, investment chances, and new ideas around the world.

Fair Workplaces

ACCI supports a modern workplace system that allows for flexibility. It wants to create more job opportunities and make workplaces more productive. ACCI believes that workplace laws should fit today's business needs. It wants to avoid too much outside interference that could hurt businesses.

Keeping Workers Safe and Healthy

ACCI's members are dedicated to making sure everyone goes home safely from work every day. They want workplaces to always look for better ways to improve safety and health. This includes looking after mental health too. ACCI supports national safety laws. It also believes that employers, employees, and others all share responsibility for health and safety.

How ACCI Speaks Up

In 2016, the Australian Chamber shared its "Top 10 in 10" plan. This plan listed ten steps to make Australia more competitive. Some of these steps included:

• Making it easier for businesses to hire apprentices and trainees.
• Reducing government spending.
• Making workplace rules more helpful for different industries.
• Cutting down on government rules for businesses.
• Making it easier for employers and employees to agree on work arrangements.
• Lowering the company tax rate over time.
• Building better transport, communication, and energy facilities.
• Bringing back a commission to help lower building costs.
• Encouraging more competition in education, health, and aged care.
• Making it cheaper and easier for international visitors to get visas.

The Australian Chamber also speaks for employers at the Fair Work Commission. This is a body that deals with workplace issues, including yearly wage reviews.

Who Has Led ACCI

Chief Executive Officers

• 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)

Presidents

• 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 (2021–2023)
• Mark Birrell AM (2023–Present)

ACCI's Members

The members of the Australian Chamber are business groups from states and territories. 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

ACCI's Global Connections

The Australian Chamber speaks for Australian businesses in important international groups. These include:

• International Chamber of Commerce
• Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
• 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 later became well-known worked at the Australian Chamber. These include:

• Dan Tehan, who was a government minister. He was ACCI's Director of Trade Policy and International Affairs from 2007 to 2008.
• Nicolle Flint, who was a member of Parliament. She was ACCI's Director of Corporate Relations from 2004 to 2007.

See Also

• Economy of Australia