The Accommodation Association unites Australia's expanding accommodation sector with a
single vision and a single voice. Our proactive approach to industry advocacy includes:

• Representation on tourism boards & industry committees
  
• Legislation updates
  
• Government lobbying
  
• Fair Work Australia submissions
   

Submissions to Government

“Should Queensland maintain or terminate the referral of industrial relations jurisdiction for the unincorporated private sector to the Commonwealth?” - March 2013

2013/14 Pre-Budget Submission - January 2013

Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee Inquiry into Exposure Draft of Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012 - January 2013

Business Tax Working Group Consultation - September 2012
The industry opposes any change which would result in operators paying more taxation and the Accommodation Association calls on the Business Tax Working Group to ensure that this does not eventuate.

Building Code of Australia Review - September 2012
The Association’s position is that the definitions of Class 2 and Class 3 buildings should be clarified to ensure that buildings used for short-term tourism accommodation are Class 3, subject to the certain conditions.

Passenger Movement Charge Amendment Bill 2012 - June 2012
There should be a broader debate about the merits or otherwise of recalibrating the Passenger Movement Charge so that it benefits domestic tourism.

Annual Wage Review Reply Submission - April 2012
The Association has considered the written submissions of the ACTU and other trade unions and wishes to comment on a number of submissions presented by the ACTU.

Productivity Commission Enquiry into Default Superannuation - April 2012
We support a process for the selection of default funds within awards that both ensures those funds that
are considered for inclusion in awards as default funds have an adequate performance history.

Annual Wage Review - April 2012
The Association submits that FWA should not award an increase in excess of 2.25 per cent on minimum wages in modern awards, as well as 2.25 per cent to the national minimum wage. Such a scenario would preclude many businesses from consolidating on 2011, where our industry is still in recovery mode from the global financial crisis.

Foxtel Proposed Undertaking - March 2012
The proposed acquisition of Austar by Foxtel would create a highly uncompetitive environment. This combined with the negotiating power brought by FOXTEL’s Ultimate Shareholders has the potential to create a virtual monopoly which would discourage new entrants into the market.

New Template Labour Agreement - March 2012
It is the Association’s view that the Agreement be available for tourism and hospitality employers in both regional and metropolitan areas. According to the Australian Tourism Labour Force Report, 53% of forecast accumulated labour demand by 2015 will be in Sydney or Melbourne.

New NT Tourism Strategic Plan - March 2012
Without it being overly detrimental to existing tourism businesses, the Association is supportive of the NT’s new tourism strategic plan containing measures to assist with stimulating the development of new premium accommodation businesses which target high-end leisure visitors through incentives including payroll tax relief and land tax relief.

Application to Vary Modern Award - March 2012 
The Accommodation Association makes this application to vary a number of the Award’s provisions on its own behalf, and having obtained feedback from its members

ACT Budget Submission - March 2012
The ACT Government – through the 2012-13 Budget and other policy settings – must create a regulatory and investment environment that does not result in a glut of tourism accommodation rooms in Canberra.The minimum investment in tourism by the ACT Government should be 1.0 per cent of the Budget.

Fair Work Act Review Submission - February 2012
There are areas of concern, notably a lack of protection from unfair dismissal provisions and a lack of flexibility, which imposes costly restrictions on small businesses which operate in a 24/7 environment, as the overwhelming majority of members of our Association.

Pre-Budget Submission - January 2012
There should be a broader debate about the merits or otherwise of recalibrating the Passenger Movement Charge so that it benefits domestic tourism.Taxation incentives should be considered to promote refurbishment and development of tourism accommodation businesses.

Future of Financial Advice Legislation - December 2011
Timeshare is an integral part of Australia’s accommodation and tourism industries.If both the Future of Financial Advice (FOFA) bills pass Parliament in their current form, the impact on timeshare in Australia will be immediate and devastating.

Energy Efficiency Information Grants Program - December 2011
Accommodation businesses across Australia are at varying stages of preparedness for the introduction of a price on carbon from 1 July 2012 and the transition to an emissions trading scheme from 2015.

Coalition Industries for Australia's Future Review - November 2011
There should be harmonisation of payroll tax rates and thresholds across Australia. To assist with stimulating new tourism infrastructure, land sites – particularly in major Australian capital cities – should be specifically designated for development of tourism accommodation businesses.

Cruse Ship Garden Island Access - November 2011
Accommodation businesses are one of a number of businesses that derive significant economic benefits from the cruising industry. When large cruise ships berth at Australian ports, it often results in more than a thousand visitors coming onshore.

Productivity Commission Study: Role of Local Government - October 2011
The Accommodation Association welcomes the opportunity to put forward the following submission to be considered as part of the Productivity Commission’s study to benchmark the extent to which particular approaches to the exercise of regulatory responsibilities by local governments affect costs incurred by business.

Future COAG Regulatory Reform Agenda - October 2011
There should be harmonisation of payroll tax rates and thresholds across Australia.To assist with stimulating new tourism infrastructure, land sites – particularly in major Australian capital cities – should be specifically designated for development of tourism accommodation businesses.

Tax Forum Submission  - October 2011
The Association acknowledges that the Federal Government wishes to bring the Budget back into surplus by 2012-13. Consistent with this, the Association’s submission contains taxation policy proposals that would result in less government revenue, as well as proposals that may generate additional government revenue.

NSW Enquiry into International Student Accommodation - October 2011
The international education sector is one of the fastest growing in Australia and this has corresponded with the entry into the market of commercial businesses in the sector, alongside universities who continue to control and manage the majority of student housing in Australia.

QLD Bunk Bed Safety in Accommodation Premises - October 2011
Tourism accommodation businesses across Australia invest significant capital in conforming with mandated safety requirements including the Building Code of Australia, building fire safety requirements and various other local government regulations.

Building Code of Australia Review - August 2011
The Accommodation Association – through this submission – will address issues raised in the ABCB Discussion Paper dated 11 July 2011 about the impact of different classifications within the BCA on tourism accommodation within Australia.

Other Submissions

Submission to RBA - Credit Card Surcharging - July 2011
The Association welcomes the opportunity to provide input into the Payments System Board’s public consultation on potential modifications to the “no-surcharge” Standards that apply to credit card and debit card systems in Australia.

The Accommodation Association unites Australia's expanding accommodation sector with a
single vision and a single voice. Our proactive approach to industry advocacy includes:

• Representation on tourism boards & industry committees
  
• Legislation updates
  
• Government lobbying
  
• Fair Work Australia submissions
   

Submissions to Government

“Should Queensland maintain or terminate the referral of industrial relations jurisdiction for the unincorporated private sector to the Commonwealth?” - March 2013

2013/14 Pre-Budget Submission - January 2013

Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee Inquiry into Exposure Draft of Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012 - January 2013

Business Tax Working Group Consultation - September 2012
The industry opposes any change which would result in operators paying more taxation and the Accommodation Association calls on the Business Tax Working Group to ensure that this does not eventuate.

Building Code of Australia Review - September 2012
The Association’s position is that the definitions of Class 2 and Class 3 buildings should be clarified to ensure that buildings used for short-term tourism accommodation are Class 3, subject to the certain conditions.

Passenger Movement Charge Amendment Bill 2012 - June 2012
There should be a broader debate about the merits or otherwise of recalibrating the Passenger Movement Charge so that it benefits domestic tourism.

Annual Wage Review Reply Submission - April 2012
The Association has considered the written submissions of the ACTU and other trade unions and wishes to comment on a number of submissions presented by the ACTU.

Productivity Commission Enquiry into Default Superannuation - April 2012
We support a process for the selection of default funds within awards that both ensures those funds that
are considered for inclusion in awards as default funds have an adequate performance history.

Annual Wage Review - April 2012
The Association submits that FWA should not award an increase in excess of 2.25 per cent on minimum wages in modern awards, as well as 2.25 per cent to the national minimum wage. Such a scenario would preclude many businesses from consolidating on 2011, where our industry is still in recovery mode from the global financial crisis.

Foxtel Proposed Undertaking - March 2012
The proposed acquisition of Austar by Foxtel would create a highly uncompetitive environment. This combined with the negotiating power brought by FOXTEL’s Ultimate Shareholders has the potential to create a virtual monopoly which would discourage new entrants into the market.

New Template Labour Agreement - March 2012
It is the Association’s view that the Agreement be available for tourism and hospitality employers in both regional and metropolitan areas. According to the Australian Tourism Labour Force Report, 53% of forecast accumulated labour demand by 2015 will be in Sydney or Melbourne.

New NT Tourism Strategic Plan - March 2012
Without it being overly detrimental to existing tourism businesses, the Association is supportive of the NT’s new tourism strategic plan containing measures to assist with stimulating the development of new premium accommodation businesses which target high-end leisure visitors through incentives including payroll tax relief and land tax relief.

Application to Vary Modern Award - March 2012 
The Accommodation Association makes this application to vary a number of the Award’s provisions on its own behalf, and having obtained feedback from its members

ACT Budget Submission - March 2012
The ACT Government – through the 2012-13 Budget and other policy settings – must create a regulatory and investment environment that does not result in a glut of tourism accommodation rooms in Canberra.The minimum investment in tourism by the ACT Government should be 1.0 per cent of the Budget.

Fair Work Act Review Submission - February 2012
There are areas of concern, notably a lack of protection from unfair dismissal provisions and a lack of flexibility, which imposes costly restrictions on small businesses which operate in a 24/7 environment, as the overwhelming majority of members of our Association.

Pre-Budget Submission - January 2012
There should be a broader debate about the merits or otherwise of recalibrating the Passenger Movement Charge so that it benefits domestic tourism.Taxation incentives should be considered to promote refurbishment and development of tourism accommodation businesses.

Future of Financial Advice Legislation - December 2011
Timeshare is an integral part of Australia’s accommodation and tourism industries.If both the Future of Financial Advice (FOFA) bills pass Parliament in their current form, the impact on timeshare in Australia will be immediate and devastating.

Energy Efficiency Information Grants Program - December 2011
Accommodation businesses across Australia are at varying stages of preparedness for the introduction of a price on carbon from 1 July 2012 and the transition to an emissions trading scheme from 2015.

Coalition Industries for Australia's Future Review - November 2011
There should be harmonisation of payroll tax rates and thresholds across Australia. To assist with stimulating new tourism infrastructure, land sites – particularly in major Australian capital cities – should be specifically designated for development of tourism accommodation businesses.

Cruse Ship Garden Island Access - November 2011
Accommodation businesses are one of a number of businesses that derive significant economic benefits from the cruising industry. When large cruise ships berth at Australian ports, it often results in more than a thousand visitors coming onshore.

Productivity Commission Study: Role of Local Government - October 2011
The Accommodation Association welcomes the opportunity to put forward the following submission to be considered as part of the Productivity Commission’s study to benchmark the extent to which particular approaches to the exercise of regulatory responsibilities by local governments affect costs incurred by business.

Future COAG Regulatory Reform Agenda - October 2011
There should be harmonisation of payroll tax rates and thresholds across Australia.To assist with stimulating new tourism infrastructure, land sites – particularly in major Australian capital cities – should be specifically designated for development of tourism accommodation businesses.

Tax Forum Submission  - October 2011
The Association acknowledges that the Federal Government wishes to bring the Budget back into surplus by 2012-13. Consistent with this, the Association’s submission contains taxation policy proposals that would result in less government revenue, as well as proposals that may generate additional government revenue.

NSW Enquiry into International Student Accommodation - October 2011
The international education sector is one of the fastest growing in Australia and this has corresponded with the entry into the market of commercial businesses in the sector, alongside universities who continue to control and manage the majority of student housing in Australia.

QLD Bunk Bed Safety in Accommodation Premises - October 2011
Tourism accommodation businesses across Australia invest significant capital in conforming with mandated safety requirements including the Building Code of Australia, building fire safety requirements and various other local government regulations.

Building Code of Australia Review - August 2011
The Accommodation Association – through this submission – will address issues raised in the ABCB Discussion Paper dated 11 July 2011 about the impact of different classifications within the BCA on tourism accommodation within Australia.

Other Submissions

Submission to RBA - Credit Card Surcharging - July 2011
The Association welcomes the opportunity to provide input into the Payments System Board’s public consultation on potential modifications to the “no-surcharge” Standards that apply to credit card and debit card systems in Australia.