Sector News

Australia Day honours bestowed on association leaders

Associations Forum extends congratulations to association leaders who were honoured with Australia Day awards this year. Recipients included:MEMBER (AM) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION: John Gilbert Brogden, Chief Executive Officer, Financial Services Council, for significant service to welfare organisations, particularly Lifeline, to business and to NSW Parliament.Joseph Chakman, Chief Policy…

Petition launched to reverse Alcohol and other Drugs Council funding cut

Friends of ADCA, the Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia, has launched a petition http://chn.ge/1b9KBCx to the Prime Minister to reinstate the organisation's funding. ADCA, the national peak body representing organisations and workers in the sector for nearly half a century, learnt in late November that the Assistant Minister…

New National Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islands Tourism Body to be established - WAITOC

Western Australia Indigenous Tourism Operators Council (WAITOC) Chairman, Doc Reynolds, is pleased to announce the first steps in the establishment of a new National Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islands Tourism Body, with finalized name to be determined by the National Operators in 2014. Doc Reynolds and Simon Haigh CEO said: “With the endorsement of national Aboriginal tourism operators across Australia,…

Food and Grocery Code agreed by supermarkets and food industry

The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) and Australia’s two largest supermarket retailers, Coles and Woolworths, have reached an historic agreement on the terms of a food and grocery industry code of conduct. The Food and Grocery Code establishes a clear set of principles relating to key aspects of trading relationships between retailers and suppliers and will provide greater certainty and clarity about dealings in the industry without adding complexity or cost in a fast moving…

Diabetes Queensland CEO among the state's top women leaders

Diabetes Queensland CEO and diabetes champion Michelle Trute has been recognised as one of Queensland's most influential women. Ms Trute joins her Excellency Governor-General Quentin Bryce, former Queensland Premier Anna Bligh and former Lord Mayor of Brisbane Sally Anne Atkinson in the honour list of YWCA Queensland's top 125 women leaders in the state.

Auto glass industry forms new association

The Australian auto glass industry has joined forces to launch Australia’s largest independent association for the industry, the Auto Glass Association (AGA). National franchises and suppliers through to individual contractors will be represented by the new association, which will give all sides of the auto glass industry a unified voice and act as a central hub for communication and training.

Institute of Chartered Accountants merger to proceed

Members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia (ICAA) and the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA) have overwhelmingly voted in favour of the proposal to amalgamate and create One New Institute. Members of both Institutes voted throughout October on the proposal to create a single trans-Tasman Chartered Accountants Institute. The following results have been independently scrutinised…

Government scraps proposed cap on self-education

On 6 November 2013, the Treasurer, the Hon Joe Hockey MP, and the Assistant Treasurer, Senator the Hon Arthur Sinodinos AO, announced the former government’s proposal of a $2,000 cap on tax deductions for self-education expenses will be scrapped. Taxpayers will continue to deduct expenses according to the current rules, including textbooks as well as training and education courses. Associations Forum welcomed this…

Improving the governance of incorporated associations

Minister for Fair Trading Anthony Roberts today released a Discussion Paper which aims to improve governance in the 36,900 incorporated associations across NSW. “Examples of incorporated associations in our communities include sporting clubs, musical societies, arts, crafts, cultural and community groups,” Mr Roberts said. “Incorporated associations are generally run by volunteers and we need to make their work easier while also ensuring…

Integration of national mining representative groups

Statement from Andrew Michelmore, Chairman - Minerals Council of Australia and Ross Willims, Chairman - Australian Coal AssociationRepresentation of the mining industry nationally is to be streamlined through the integration of the Australian Coal Association (ACA) with the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA).The decision to integrate the two organisations has been taken by member companies to ensure the industry is well positioned for the…

Bringing Associations Together To Boost Performance