ACCI Commerce & Industry Magazine - Autumn 2015

V O L U M E 1 3 - A U T U M N 2 0 1 5 - $ 9 . 5 0 P E R E D I T I O N - $ 3 6 A N N U A L S U B S C R I P T I O N

A U S T R A L I A N C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E A N D I N D U S T R Y

PLUS Technology tipped to turn predicted doom into spending boom

Export Growth China

Business holds the key to trade success

ICT & TRADE Unlocking a world of potential

52nd Annual Export Awards

Winners

SKILLED EMPLOYED

[email protected] 620 124

Our serviceWe provide a single point of contact for employers within the ACCI network to access Job Services Australia and Disability Employment Service candidates.

Our goals are to provide the best possible outcome for employers and job seekers and to support sustainable employment.

Our promise

We ensure that employer needs are met by well-matched job seekers. We will identify those support services available to employers that will assist in making sure that job seekers are job ready, their skills are up to date and that wage subsidies are utilised to the fullest extent. Currently available support includes: • Accredited training • Work tools, tickets and licenses (e.g.

White Cards)• Uniforms• Safety equipment and workplace

modifications.

Our purpose Getting Australia WorkingThe collaboration between Campbell Page and ACCI improves job outcomes for job seekers, including people with a disability, mature aged and Indigenous Australians.

Campbell Page is committed to Getting Australia Working by assisting more people to find work.

Contact us today to find out more about our free service.

Contact us

A Message from the CEO FIXING THE BUDGET MUST BE OUR TOP NATIONAL PRIORITY 2

FeatureBUSINESS HOLDS KEY TO TRADE SUCCESS - THE HON. ANDREW ROBB AO MP 4

TradeBEWARE THE PERILS OF DEFYING GLOBAL RULES ON CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN 6

COUNTRY-OF-ORIGIN BRANDING IN A FREE TRADE ENVIRONMENT 8

UNLOCKING A WORLD OF EXPORT POTENTIAL 10

EXPORT GROWTH CHINA 12

INDIA-AUSTRALIA FTA TO OPEN MORE DOORS FOR AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS 14

INVESTMENT IN INDONESIA 16

AUSTRALIAN EXPORT AWARDS – RECOGNISING INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS 18

Information & Communication Technology OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE COMING OF AGE IN AUSTRALIA 22

SAVING LIVES: THE NEXT GENERATION OF VEHICLE SAFETY 23

AUSTRALIAN EXPORT AWARDS ICT FINALISTS 24

HELPING SMALL BUSINESS ACHIEVE ITS BIG POTENTIAL ONLINE 25

TECHNOLOGY TIPPED TO TURN PREDICTED DOOM INTO SPENDING BOOM 26

MYOB GIVES SAIBU NO AKUMA THE EDGE 28

CHALLENGES FOR AN ICT WORKFORCE 30

GOOGLE AND ACCI TEAM UP TO GET SMALL BUSINESS ONLINE 3 1

THE CLOUD – RAINING PRODUCTIVITY OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESS 32

YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO FUNDING YOU NEVER KNEW EXISTED 33

ACCI Member Network 2014 ACCI AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS LEADERS’ ANNUAL DINNER 34

WHY THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF YOUR STAFF IS FUNDAMENTAL TO PRODUCTIVITY IN THE WORKPLACE 36

Contents

COMMERCE & INDUSTRYPublished by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) Commerce House 24 Brisbane Avenue BARTON ACT 2600

ISBN 9780646534091

EDITORSarah McGregor Senior Manager Marketing and Communications P: 02 6273 2311 E: [email protected] www.acci.asn.au

DESIGN3 Degrees Marketing 3dm.com.au

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner or form without written permission from ACCI.

The views expressed in Commerce & Industry are not necessarily those of the editors or the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

SKILLED EMPLOYED

[email protected] 620 124

Our serviceWe provide a single point of contact for employers within the ACCI network to access Job Services Australia and Disability Employment Service candidates.

Our goals are to provide the best possible outcome for employers and job seekers and to support sustainable employment.

Our promise

We ensure that employer needs are met by well-matched job seekers. We will identify those support services available to employers that will assist in making sure that job seekers are job ready, their skills are up to date and that wage subsidies are utilised to the fullest extent. Currently available support includes: • Accredited training • Work tools, tickets and licenses (e.g.

White Cards)• Uniforms• Safety equipment and workplace

modifications.

Our purpose Getting Australia WorkingThe collaboration between Campbell Page and ACCI improves job outcomes for job seekers, including people with a disability, mature aged and Indigenous Australians.

Campbell Page is committed to Getting Australia Working by assisting more people to find work.

Contact us today to find out more about our free service.

Contact us

Unlocking a world of export potential

P.10

FIXING THE BUDGET TO GET AUSTRALIA BACK ON A STRONG GROWTH FOOTING MUST BE OUR TOP NATIONAL PRIORITY. WE CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER YEAR OF POLICY GRIDLOCK AND A SEA OF RED INK WITH RISING DEBT FAR INTO THE FUTURE. THIS WOULD INEVITABLY LEAD TO HIGHER UNEMPLOYMENT AND DECLINING LIVING STANDARDS.

The Government must use the upcoming budget to bring the public with them on necessary policy changes. According to the recently released intergenerational report (IGR), every day Australia spends $1.1 billion and collects $1 billion in revenue so we are borrowing $100 million every day. Australia is living beyond its means. The May budget must put a lid on expenditure growth while implementing economic settings that will allow business to grow. With business growth comes increased employment and increased government revenue.

Reserve Bank governor Glenn Stevens and new Treasury secretary John Fraser are right to continue warning of the severe debt and deficit consequences of inaction. Only a constructive and mature process will allow progress back to an achievable surplus and begin to address the growing structural deficit at the heart of the budget.

The National Commission of Audit report remains a key framework of options for restoring Australia’s financial position and contains recommendations, supported by the ACCI, for greater budget transparency. This budget is a critical chance to secure sensible tax reform and enable much-needed reinvestment in infrastructure. It should deliver no new net taxes and begin to ease the high personal and company tax burdens that stifle incentives to work and to build small businesses.

The Government must ensure its promised 1.5 per cent company tax cut applies to all businesses, unlike the former Labor Government’s backflip on its promised 1 per cent reduction. Australia risks becoming an increasingly unattractive investment destination as other OECD countries undergo reform and reduce their company tax burdens.

The IGR provides one the clearest accounts yet of the costs of failing to break the reform gridlock. Sweep away the inevitable political posturing around the report and we are left with one inescapable conclusion – Australia’s changing demographics and

2 COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AUTUMN 2015

BY KATE CARNELL AO, CEO, ACCI

Fixing the Budget must be our top national priority

A MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

“The National Commission of Audit report remains a key framework of options for restoring Australia’s financial position and contains recommendations, supported by the ACCI, for greater budget transparency.”

current policy settings have us on a collision course for mounting debt, deeper deficits and weaker economic growth unless decisive action is taken.

The fact that the ratio of working age people to those over 65 was 7.5 in 1975, falling to 4.5 today and is estimated to drop to 2.7 over the next four decades must be a major wake-up call. It highlights the urgent need for continued workplace reform to encourage older people to stay in the workforce and to make it easier for employers to hire them. It also brings starkly into focus the challenge of continuing to fund current entitlements into the future with fewer people working compared to those receiving benefits.

The fact that projected government spending will surge to 31 per cent of GDP by 2055 under current settings and our net debt will swell to $2.6 trillion must also be a major wake-up call. We cannot continue to mortgage our nation’s future on the questionable assumption that we may be in a better position to fix the budget on the never-never.

ACCI has welcomed the Government’s renewed focus on raising female workforce participation by making childcare more affordable and has urged all parties to look more closely at the

Canadian approach. Canada’s success is based on combining policies delivered through the income tax system with subsidised childcare, rather than relying on only one instrument. It does not make sense to simply pump more government money into childcare. Under the current and previous governments childcare expenditure has increased to $7 billion per year with virtually no increase in female participation rates. The major impact of increased government subsidies seems to have been increased childcare costs!

A sensible and no-cost budget reform would be to extend the current four-year forecasting period which has been exploited by former governments to hide the full cost of policies. Surely, greater transparency in the budget process will lead to greater accountability in future decision making and help avoid unsustainable funding promises being made by governments in the out-years. The National Disability Insurance Scheme is a case in point. The significant costs of this important program fell outside the forward estimates so an informed debate on how Australia was going to pay for the scheme in the future was not had.

There is no escaping that reform is hard and often unpopular in the short term, but it is critical for the ongoing improvement in our living standards and that of our children and grandchildren.

“We cannot continue to mortgage our nation’s future on the questionable assumption that we may be in a better position to fix the budget on the never-never.”

COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AUTUMN 2015 3

INNOVATIVE AUSTRALIAN BUSINESSES – OUR EXPORTERS, HIGH-END MANUFACTURERS, SMES – HOLD THE KEY TO UNLOCKING THE FULL POTENTIAL OF THE GOVERNMENT’S AGGRESSIVE TRADE AND INVESTMENT AGENDA.

The primary role of government is to put in place the best possible settings to enable business to flourish. The three landmark free trade agreements we have concluded over the past 12 months with the major economies of North Asia are indicative of this role.

The Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement (KAFTA) and the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement (JAEPA) have entered into force, and we are working hard to ensure that the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement comes into effect later this year.

Tariffs to Korea have been cut twice already; the second of two tariff cuts for exports to Japan is just around the corner on 1 April.

These three agreements form a powerful trifecta, which will open up many doors across goods, services and investment. Together, China, Japan and Korea account for more than 62 per cent of Australia’s goods exports, and more than half of our goods and services exports combined.

With the tapering of the resources boom, the Agreements come at a crucial time to unlock new potential in these important markets, in areas like food and agribusiness, and high-end manufacturing, and across a wide range of services in which we excel – things like tourism and hospitality, international education and financial services. Diversifying our economy is crucial to supporting continued growth, jobs and higher living standards.

This year, we will also work to lock away new agreements such as the 12-country Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP).

The TPP offers an opportunity to strengthen job-creating trade and investment, and to further integrate Australia into the fast-growing Asia-Pacific region by pursuing common and liberalising policy outcomes. It will also improve access to increasingly important global value chains, which offer great promise for Australian high-end manufacturers, including our SMEs.

In addition to the TPP, we are pursuing other economic integration opportunities for Australian businesses through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), covering 16 countries in the Indo-Pacific.

BY THE HON. ANDREW ROBB AO MP, MINISTER FOR TRADE AND INVESTMENT

BUSINESS HOLDS KEY TO TRADE SUCCESS

“Our business and investment missions abroad, combined with the trade agreements we have concluded and those in prospect, will create all types of opportunities for Australian business in the years and decades ahead.”


FEATURE

Negotiations with India are also well underway, as we work towards an ambitious target to conclude an economic partnership agreement by the end of 2015. India is a market with great potential. In many respects it is where China was 10-15 years ago. India has the population of China, but our trade with India is only one-tenth of that with China.

Earlier this year, I visited India for Australia Business Week in India with a delegation of 450 Australian business leaders – our largest to the sub-continent. The trip demonstrated the potential for Australian businesses in the ever-growing Indian market, with a number of companies announcing business deals during the visit. I will be working hard to build on the successes of this trip over the coming year.

Our business and investment missions abroad, combined with the trade agreements we have concluded and those in prospect, will create all types of opportunities for Australian business in the years and decades ahead.

A key focus for the government throughout 2015 will be to help as many Australian businesses as possible to understand the potential benefits of our free trade agreements. This includes through the provision of sophisticated but user-friendly ICT resources, including a trade dashboard and comprehensive tariff finder, along with a series of roadshows across the country.

We have been consulting with key business and industry groups, including ACCI, to ensure that the resources we provide reflect the actual needs of business. This process is fundamental to ensuring that we get the most out of these agreements, because at the end of the day that will only occur if business is well informed and armed with the information it needs to take full advantage.

These initiatives will complement the existing support to assist business in taking advantage of overseas markets. Austrade, the government’s export promotion agency, provides in-market advice, and the Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) program and the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC) provide a range of assistance options for business.

There really has never been a better time to be an Australian business looking to widen your horizons abroad. Over to you.

Andrew Robb is the member for Goldstein, Victoria, and the Minister for Trade and Investment.


BEWARE THE PERILS OF DEFYING GLOBAL RULES ON

CERTIFICATES OF ORIGINBY BRYAN CLARK, DIRECTOR OF TRADE AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, ACCI

THE RECENT HEALTH CONCERNS INVOLVING PRODUCTS FROM CHINA HAS LEFT SOME CONSUMERS ANXIOUS ABOUT WHAT THEY EAT AND WHERE IT COMES FROM. THIS ANXIETY HAS

PROMPTED CALLS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON WHERE PRODUCTS ARE MADE SO THAT CONSUMERS CAN MORE EASILY

KNOW THE SOURCE OF WHAT THEY ARE BUYING.


TRADE

While these proposals relate to the origin of products, they do nothing to address the adequacy of safety testing regimes, the real source of the problem. The origin of goods is not a proxy for consumer safety.

If we are not careful, we will end up with multiple, inconsistent systems for determining a product’s country of origin, leading to extra compliance costs for business and consumers but no better outcome on product safety.

In an era of global supply chains and inputs sourced from multiple places, determining the country of origin is no easy thing. Australia has wisely in the past sought to apply international standards and mutual recognition schemes, reducing costs for Australian businesses and consumers. Any move to break away would be a mistake, creating additional compliance burdens in a kneejerk reaction to a food safety issue.

The ability to identify the source of a product has been subject to a globally accepted certification regime for almost 140 years. In the 1950s this system was augmented by the concept of “last substantial transformation”, developed by the International Chamber of Commerce in an effort to ensure a global approach. This principle has stood the test of time, and courts, for more than 50 years.

This is the process by which Swiss chocolates can be called Swiss even though Switzerland has no cocoa trees. Products are brought from one or more locations and another good is created. The place of that last substantial transformation can be identified as the location of production.

The same applies in Australia. Surely products recognised by global markets as “Australian” should also be recognised as “Australian” in the domestic market. If the world accepts products as “Australian” then so should domestic consumers and regulators.

These systems of determining origin are often used by businesses and governments around the world to support statements about where things are made as well as to apply anti-dumping regimes, sanctions, compliance regimes for preferential trade agreements and import quota schemes.

Unfortunately, some governments have allowed the development of multiple systems to determine claims of origin and the calculations underpinning the claims. Preferential trade agreements have exacerbated this issue by creating agreement-specific rules of origin and compliance methodologies that are disconnected from other global processes.

Australia has to some extent contributed to the problem. In recent years the Australian Government has allowed a system of origin self-declaration to be acceptable in international trade. This has reduced the rigour for making claims about where products come from. To ensure product integrity in Australia and to support Australian products in international markets, Government-certified origin should be made mandatory.

Regulations that differ from market to market have a big impact on compliance costs faced by businesses, particularly smaller companies. In the recent ACCI National Red Tape Survey, nearly half of respondents reported that the impact of regulation had prevented them from making changes to grow their business, while more than one in four respondents said they spent 11 hours a week or more on compliance and almost one in two put the annual cost of compliance at beyond $10,000.

If we are to encourage businesses to embrace the opportunities brought about by free-trade agreements, we need to ensure our rules are in harmony with global standards.

Many years ago, ACCI was instrumental in creating the “Australian Made, Australian Grown” campaign to inform marketplaces at home and abroad of Australian products. This campaign has developed a highly recognisable logo and is backed by a strict compliance regime. Yet stakeholders and governments continue to try to reinvent the wheel.

Ministers and other members of parliament need to ensure that our international trade is supported by a strong system of certified origin that protects Australian producers and their claims about what is “Australian” product.

We already have these systems. We just need to work together to use them.


FREE TRADE HAS A CERTAIN APPEAL. THE IDEA THAT WE CAN ACCESS LOWER-COST PRODUCTS FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, AND AT THE SAME TIME GET MUCH GREATER ACCESS TO BIGGER MARKETS ELSEWHERE, HAS OBVIOUS ATTRACTIONS; LOWER INPUT COSTS FOR OUR BUSINESSES AND LOWER CONSUMPTION COSTS FOR OUR CONSUMERS – ALL GOOD STUFF!

Country-of-origin branding in a free trade environmentBY IAN HARRISON, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, AUSTRALIAN MADE CAMPAIGN LIMITED


TRADE - ACCI MEMBER NETWORK

“Fortunately, Australia has a seriously good nation brand. We are well regarded for what we make, do and grow – especially because of our high health and safety standards. Consumers, increasingly including the middle and upper classes in Asia, are prepared to pay a premium for our products – which is vital given our competitive position.”

“The feedback from all of these organisations is that Australian products are highly regarded in their markets and can obtain a price premium, and that the Australian Made, Australian Grown logo is an excellent tool to facilitate this.”

The challenge is that Australia is a high-cost country – one of the highest, in fact. Whether you are making things, growing things, processing things or even delivering services, there will most probably be a cheaper option available somewhere else.

Michael Porter’s work on comparative economics notwithstanding, the problem is that the theory of free trade (yes, it is just a theory) only tackles one part of the cost of doing business in this country. It does nothing directly about our labour market rates and inflexibility, the incidence of taxation, our inadequate infrastructure, the lack of any strategic energy policy or the country’s burgeoning and multi-layered public sector, to name a few of the major contributors. In the absence of political will, or capacity, it ends up being left to the market, a fairly blunt instrument, to drive the necessary change. Structural adjustment can be painful – politically (quite obvious recently), as well as the community.

All of that said, we are where we are, and Australia is enthusiastically entering into bilateral trade agreements with the very important economies of the future – these being predominantly in Asia.

Fortunately, Australia has a seriously good nation brand. We are well regarded for what we make, do and grow – especially because of our high health and safety standards. Consumers, increasingly including the middle and upper classes in Asia, are prepared to pay a premium for our products – which is vital given our competitive position.

Being perceived as genuinely Aussie is an asset in the marketplace, and that is where the green-and-gold Australian Made, Australian Grown logo plays its very important role. In Australia, it has high recognition and trust; globally, it has significant and growing recognition. All this makes it a powerful marketing symbol for Australian growers and manufacturers.

It also provides crucial authenticity in the marketplace, reinforced in recent years

by the registration of the mark in China, Singapore, South Korea and the United States. This provides a legal framework for the protection of exporters using the symbol in those jurisdictions. With a bit of support from the Australian Government, the logo should be registered more widely throughout Asia.

Australian Made Campaign Limited (AMCL) has also entered into formal contracts recently to enable the introduction of ‘Australian Made’ branded stores into China and South Korea, similar to those in airport precincts around Australia. In addition, there are a number of offshore-based companies licensed to use the Aussie logo on their imported Australian products and produce. The Cold Storage retail chain in Singapore is a good example, and the network continues to grow.

The feedback from all of these organisations is that Australian products are highly regarded in their markets and can obtain a price premium, and that the Australian Made, Australian Grown logo is an excellent tool to facilitate this.

The challenge then for government in Australia in a free trade environment is to create a business environment that is more conducive to Australian businesses becoming internationally competitive (without the Australian dollar needing to revert to its ‘banana republic’ levels), and to be far more aggressive about country-of-origin branding.

The Australian Made, Australian Grown logo was created by the federal government in 1986. The not-for-profit organisation Australian Made Campaign Limited was founded by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry network in 1999 to administer and promote the logo under a formal agreement with the federal government. It continues to do so today.

To find out more about the Australian Made Campaign, or the Australian Made, Australian Grown logo, visit www.australianmade.com.au.


Unlocking a world of export potential

BY MARK BIRRELL, PRESIDENT, VICTORIAN EMPLOYERS’ CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY



Australia will enjoy a record increase in the value and volume of the goods and services we sell to our top three export markets – China, Japan and South Korea – as a result of the landmark free trade agreements (FTAs) sealed by the Australian Government. The business growth and investment outcomes will be broad and beneficial. Over time, the greatest winners will be the thousands of Australians who secure sustainable new jobs as local companies seize the opportunities that arise from these deals.

Australia’s ability to export agricultural products and professional services to the economic engines of Asia has been constrained for too long. The removal of trade barriers through the recently enacted Japanese and South Korean agreements, and the historic China deal, will unlock unprecedented transformative opportunities for Australian business in these critical markets.

The much-anticipated China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) will remove tariffs from more than 85 per cent of goods exports when signed and enacted; this will increase to 95 per cent upon full implementation.

The Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement (JAEPA), which took effect in January 2015, will eventually make 97 per cent of exports duty-free, or give them preferential access, while the Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement (KAFTA), enacted in December 2014, will cut tariffs from almost all exports – 99.8 per cent – when fully implemented.

In my home state, Victoria, we are well positioned to embrace the significant opportunities that these agreements create. With Asia’s burgeoning consumer markets and growing focus on food security, Victoria can play to its strength as Australia’s largest food and fibre exporting state.

The prospects for new trade and investment extend not only to our agricultural industries, but also to our services sector, which is Victoria’s and many states’ largest employer, and includes the high-value industries of health, education and finance.

Major industries that stand to benefit from the new trade agreements include:

DAIRY

The Chinese FTA will open up the world’s biggest dairy import market to Australia’s largest dairy-producing state. Hailed as a “game changer” for the local industry, ChAFTA will progressively remove tariffs from all dairy products, placing Australia in a much stronger position against rival New Zealand producers, who already benefit from a bilateral agreement with China. In further good news for our dairy sector, KAFTA will remove high tariffs on many dairy products exported to South Korea by 2033.

BEEF

Australia’s large agricultural industry will enjoy benefits from all three FTAs. China’s beef imports will be tariff-free within nine years, South Korea will remove its 40 per cent tariff by 2028, and Japan is to cut its 38.5 per cent duty on fresh beef to 23.5 per cent within 15 years.

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

Victoria was Australia’s largest exporter of horticultural goods in 2013–14, and the removal of all Chinese tariffs on vegetables, fruit and nuts will open up even more opportunities for farmers and other agribusinesses. Japan will also remove tariffs on most fruit, vegetable, nut and juice imports.

EDUCATION

Australia’s world-renowned private higher education sector will receive increased promotion and recognition in the Chinese student market, with a Chinese Ministry of Education website listing all registered providers. Education is already Victoria’s biggest export earner – it generated $4.3 billion in 2012–13 – with China the biggest source of enrolments.

HEALTH SERVICES

With healthcare exports already a major contributor to our national economy, and China alone expected to increase its healthcare spending from around $350 billion to $1 trillion by 2020, the export opportunities are significant. Through ChAFTA, increased ownership rights have been secured for Australian hospitals and aged care providers, allowing them to wholly own hospitals and related facilities in China.

FINANCIAL AND LEGAL

Australia is already recognised as a global business centre, and ChAFTA will create new opportunities for financial services providers in the banking, insurance and funds management sectors, with China committing to deliver new or improved market access. The agreement also breaks down barriers for our legal sector, with local law firms able to establish commercial associations with Chinese law firms in the Shanghai Free Trade Zone. In another positive step for Australian lawyers keen to practise in Asia, under KAFTA, local firms can now establish representative offices in South Korea.

THE NEXT STEPS

The FTAs reflect highly successful rounds of trade liberalisation – with credit especially due to our Trade and Investment Minister, the Hon. Andrew Robb MP, for securing three groundbreaking agreements. They will bolster investor confidence in Australia, and help level the playing field with other exporting nations.

The next steps are potential trade deals with India and then Indonesia. If global momentum continues, an APEC-wide FTA seems feasible. We all look set to gain, as open markets allow Australian businesses and workers to thrive.

Mark Birrell is the President of the Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry. A prominent non-executive director, he is Chairman of Regis Healthcare Limited, Port of Melbourne Corporation, Infrastructure Australia and the Australia Post Superannuation Fund.


On the day that Australia and China concluded negotiations on their historic Free Trade Agreement, NSW Business Chamber unveiled Export Growth China, a program that redefines the export landscape for small to medium-sized business.



China, with a population of 1.3 billion, is Australia’s number one export market and has a rapidly growing consumer appetite for clean, green and high-quality products. Australian SMEs are well placed to service this demand; however, until now, the journey for Aussie products to Chinese shelves has been fraught with risk for those prepared to try their hand.

Export Growth China turns that notion on its head. For only a fraction of the cost of trade shows, Australian Chamber member businesses can feature their products in a custom-designed showroom in Shanghai’s international zone, where wholesalers congregate in the thousands. SMEs can showcase their products in sample form to garner international interest, feedback and genuine buyer attention prior to a full-scale market entry.

“Rather than commencing the incredibly time-consuming, costly and often frustrating process of getting Australian products on the shelves in Chinese stores, all they have to do is register to become part of this program, and find out for themselves whether their product is suited to this highly segmented, hard to reach, and influential Chinese trade audience.” says Stephen Cartwright, CEO of NSW Business Chamber.

When a product does generate interest from Chinese buyers, the Chamber’s International Trade Division will work with the Australian company to facilitate individual trade agreements so they can retail their products throughout China. ‘What this does is substantially reduce the costs to businesses, as well as provide end-to end assistance – from identification of an opportunity to the ultimate export sale,’ Cartwright says.

Helping businesses close the gapCartwright was leading a trade delegation of Australian SMEs to Shanghai in 2012 when the idea came to him. “I was struck by how well some other countries marketed themselves and their products. I saw an opportunity for the Chamber to assist all members in cutting through the red tape, and to reduce some of the complexity and frustration of getting products onto shelves.”

Harnessing the Chamber movementCartwright believes that the strength of the national Chamber movement can be harnessed to remove the stress from these business owners and “hold their hand” through the entire exporting process. “We will be there every step of the way, and keep them updated on the interest in their products from the Chinese buyers.”

In addition, the Chamber’s intelligence on the ground in China will focus on providing real-time advice where it matters – for example, redesigning the labelling or packaging to fit the local market, or tailoring the size or ingredients of the product for a particular market niche.

Any member of a Chamber of Commerce throughout Australia is eligible for the program. “So many business owners across Australia have told me that they are ready to back the strength of their product internationally, but don’t know where to start. That’s now been taken care of, and the Chamber movement will be alongside them every step of the way.”

Registrations for the program have begun in earnest, ahead of the showroom opening in July 2015. “Our marketing campaign has already seen us inundated in recent weeks, as business owners have heard about our new service offering in China. My message to all chamber members is: I hope you seriously consider this opportunity to test your products and services in this enormous market to our north,” Cartwright says.

“What this does is substantially reduce the costs to businesses, as well as provide end-to end assistance – from identification of an opportunity to the ultimate export sale”

Strategic PartnersTo deliver such an all-encompassing program, the Chamber has the benefit of some strong strategic partners. Austrade provided funding through its Asian Business Engagement Program, and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and all the State Chambers of Commerce have delivered their clout to provide seamless cut-through, and to assist SMEs in achieving their business success.

A sign of good luck? Export Growth China was officially launched at a ceremony in Sydney on 17 November last year – the day that Australia signed a Free Trade Agreement with China, which had been in negotiation for more than five years. The ceremony was attended by senior Chinese Government officials, including Mr Yu Ping, Vice Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.

Learn more and start your export journey today Membership of any Chamber of Commerce in Australia makes your business eligible for the program, and registrations for Export Growth China are now open.

To ensure you don’t miss this massive opportunity to have your product or services in the Shanghai showroom in July 2015, visit exportgrowth.com.au, or call 1800 505 529 today.

Export Growth China is an initiative of the Australian Chamber movement, and the program received funding from the Australian Government as part of the Asian Business Engagement plan.


BY DEIDRE WILLMOTT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

INDIA - AUSTRALIA FTA TO OPEN MORE DOORS FOR AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS

Image: Kurkul / Shutterstock.com14 COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AUTUMN 2015


THE BUSINESS AND POLITICAL LANDSCAPE IN INDIA IS CHANGING AND THE OPPORTUNITIES AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY WITH THE EXPECTED COMPLETION OF AN AUSTRALIA-INDIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT THIS YEAR.

In January I travelled with more than 20 members of CCIWA to India to join the Minister for Trade and Investment, THE Hon Andrew Robb AO MP, and 450 other Australian businesses at the 2015 Australia Business Week in India (ABWI).

During the week-long visit to New Delhi and Mumbai, the key message from the Indian business community was that they are very optimistic that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for India will lead to real reforms and economic growth.

Minister Robb also used the ABWI forum to confirm his commitment to finalising an India-Australia Free Trade Agreement this year.

These messages were welcomed by Australian business representatives and will be particularly important to organisations in Western Australia looking to Indian Ocean Rim markets for opportunities.

The finalisation of an India-Australia Free Trade Agreement this year is the first step in a potential increase in relationships between Western Australia and Indian businesses.

The second step will be the change in the Indian business landscape as Prime Minister Modi’s vision for reform and growth is implemented.

I was fortunate to spend time on the trade mission with several CCIWA members who are already taking advantage of the growth potential in the Indian Market.

Andy Byk, CEO of WA-owned MAK

Water, said his company hoped to secure contracts under the Indian Government’s recently announced US$1.5 billion program to clean the Ganges, supply better quality drinking water and improve waste water treatment for India’s vast population.

A successful outcome for the project would be significant both for MAK and the communities along the Ganges who would enjoy a better quality of life.

It is also a great example for policy makers of the importance of ensuring Australia’s global competitiveness and highlights the issues raised in “The Future of Manufacturing: A Vision for WA”, which we released in January this year.

There is a misconception that manufacturing is no longer a viable industry in Australia – our report, however, shows that in Western Australia this is absolutely not the case.

Manufacturing is the unsung hero of the WA economy, growing quietly alongside the mining industry for the past 10 years.

Currently, the manufacturing sector is a significant component of Western Australia’s export base, representing 17 per cent of the state’s export earnings. It is also a major employer, providing work for more than 91,000 people.

The opportunities following the upcoming FTA with India, and the start of trade liberalisation agreements with Korea, Japan and China, will continue to strengthen this position.

For WA manufacturers to grasp the full potential of the urbanisation and development of Asia and the broader Indian Ocean Rim region, governments must shift their policy agenda away from providing direct assistance to businesses and industries.

Prime Minister Modi’s reformist vision for India is an incredibly important step – it should pave the way for the Australian Government to remove barriers to innovation and growth so that the local manufacturing sector can capture the significant international opportunities on our doorstep.

Our manufacturing paper was the second of eight papers that outline our long-term vision for Western Australia to become a world-leading place to live and do business.

This month, we released “The Future of Infrastructure: A Vision for WA”, the third paper in our vision series, which continues our mission to outline a path to prosperity for the state.

You can join the conversation on Twitter with @CCI_CEO and @CCI_WA.

CCIWA’s vision is to make Western Australia a world leading place to live and do business. Supporting over 9000 members through membership services and consultancy teams, CCIWA strives to be the voice of WA business. For more information visit cciwa.com

“The finalisation of an India-Australia Free Trade Agreement this year is the first step in a potential increase in relationships between Western Australia and Indian businesses.”


BY ARI SHARP, SENIOR MANAGER - MEDIA, ACCI

Investment in Indonesia

AS A YOUNG DEMOCRACY WITH AN EMERGING MIDDLE CLASS AND AN ABUNDANCE OF NATURAL RESOURCES, INDONESIA IS ATTRACTING PLENTY OF INTEREST FROM FOREIGN INVESTORS. WHILE THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF DOING BUSINESS IN THE DEVELOPING ASIAN ECONOMY ARE OBVIOUS, THE RISKS CAN BE TOUGHER TO SPOT. WITH WIDESPREAD CORRUPTION, A CROOKED LEGAL SYSTEM AND DYSFUNCTIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE, INDONESIA CAN BE A HIGH-RISK DESTINATION FOR OUTSIDERS KEEN TO INVEST.

For foreign investors, there are a few measures that can be taken to manage the risk, and thereby bolster the risk-adjusted return. So with that in mind, what can foreign investors do to ensure they maximise their chances of benefitting from the riches the country has to offer?

SEEK OUT INDUSTRIES WITH FEWER SUNK COSTS.

Many companies that in recent years have had difficulties in Indonesia involved large resources projects that required years of investment before they realised a return. Much of the risk they faced came from those sunk costs, and the progressively decreasing leverage they had over government and other stakeholders as those sunk costs accumulated. Many of the investment success stories, however, involve investment in industries with a lighter footprint, for example retail, banking and professional services.

Those industries can be entered incrementally, starting with a small operation and scaling up as confidence grows. They also give to the investor power over the timing and certainty of advancement, given they usually need fewer licences and permits than do infrastructure-heavy projects. The rates of return in those service sectors rarely match those of the mining and energy industries, but they are far less risky.


TRADE

CHOOSE A LOCAL PARTNER CAREFULLY, AND DON’T SKIMP ON THE DUE DILIGENCE.

Words are cheap, so a local partner needs to establish its credibility with a track record of success and integrity. Local partners should ideally bring to the table a skill set that complements that of the foreign partner, in particular the ability to get things done amid the chaos that is business-as-usual in Indonesia. Many local entrepreneurs seeking out foreign capital have an impressive array of contacts in government, but don’t necessarily have the resilience to cope should the personalities change. Be particularly wary of local partners who seek to dazzle with mention of a father/uncle/brother in an influential position.

There is no shortage of corporate intelligence firms operating in Indonesia with the ability to conduct a thorough due diligence on a prospective partner. It takes extensive experience on the ground in Indonesia to know the relevant people, and to have the connections to winnow out the key information. Formal record keeping in Indonesia can be rather poor, so old tax records, company filings and court rulings can be frustratingly difficult to access, even if they are notionally public documents. Using the expertise of people on the ground can save a lot of heartache later.

BUILD REDUNDANCY INTO INVESTMENT DECISIONS.

Prices will rise, regulations will change, deadlines will be blown – that’s the reality of life, not just in Indonesia. Howling at the moon in frustration has so far not proven to be an effective salve, so instead investors need to be prepared. Including some extra fat in plans gives them some robustness to cope with the shocks they will inevitably face. Even the most thorough of risk analysis ahead of time will still be subject to Black Swan surprises that can destroy more fragile plans.

BUILD CONNECTIONS WITH ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.

More than a decade of decentralisation has meant that provincial, regency and district governments are vested with tremendous power to control licences involved in big projects. While most strive to exercise the role with diligence, many simply lack the skilled staff they need to do a proper job of scrutinising the environmental, social and economic impacts of the projects before them. Sometimes corruption is the outcome of this process, but more likely it is confusion and uncertainty, particularly if local people develop a strong view either way on the merits of a project.

Thoughtful companies can maximise the chances of success by building bonds with the regulators at all levels of government.

Typically this involves regular briefing of the progress of projects, honesty and openness when plans change and the building of a perception that the success of the project is a shared interest. Dealing with the central government in Jakarta might be easier but it won’t yield the results necessary when the decision lies with other levels of government.

DEVELOP GRASSROOTS SUPPORT FOR PROJECTS.

A social licence to operate has become a vital conceptual frame for the way that investors need to connect to local people. A corporate social responsibility program is an essential component of gaining such a licence, but their very ubiquity has meant that they no longer are effective on their own. Also necessary is a thorough information campaign so that people can be confident that a given resources project is not going to pollute their lungs, destroy their fisheries or send habitat-destroyed tigers roaming their streets.

There are plenty of traps in Indonesia for the unwary, but with the right attitude and an abundance of caution, investors can find lucrative opportunities on Australia’s doorstep.

This is an edited excerpt from “Risky Business: How Indonesia’s economic nationalism is hurting foreign investment – and local people”, published by Connor Court Publishing. Ari Sharp is the Senior Manager - Media at the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Image: ZRyzner / Shutterstock.com


TRADE – AUSTRALIAN EXPORT AWARDS WINNERS

GP GRADERS, VICAUSTRALIAN EXPORTER OF THE YEAR + MANUFACTURING AWARD

GP Graders manufactures market-leading fruit grading machinery. Its AirJet® cherry grader accounts for 85 per cent of its sales. GP Graders has customers in Canada, Chile, Greece, South Africa, Turkey, the USA and mainland Europe. Over the past 10 years, export sales have grown from 10 per cent to 75 per cent of total sales. The growth in exports can be attributed to a service-oriented approach and substantial investment in research and development, which incorporates customer feedback into future product designs. In 2013–14, GP Graders opened an office in Chile and an assembly plant in Seattle, and manufactured and installed the world’s largest cherry grading machine and packing line in California.

www.gpgraders.com.au

AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURAL COMPANY, QLDAGRIBUSINESS AWARD

The Australian Agricultural Company (AACo) is Australia’s largest vertically integrated cattle and beef producer. In 2013, the company’s total sales grew by 20 per cent, due to its focus on offering premium products to high-value customers including award-winning Wagyu beef. With customers in more than 20 countries, export sales account for 77 per cent of AACo’s revenue. In 2013, AACo began constructing its own processing facility in Darwin. The $91 million Northern Beef Processing Facility will allow AACo to capitalise on its proximity to Asian markets, diversify its product range to include high-quality manufacturing beef, and strengthen market access, sustainability and profitability. The facility will create over 300 jobs in the local community when operating to capacity.

www.aaco.com.au

ON 27 NOVEMBER 2014, THE AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY AND AUSTRADE CO-HOSTED THE AUSTRALIAN EXPORT AWARDS. THESE AWARDS CELEBRATED THE EFFORTS OF MANY AUSTRALIAN FIRMS SUCCESSFULLY ENGAGED IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE. THE 12 CATEGORY WINNERS WERE SELECTED FROM 74 FINALISTS, WHO TOGETHER GENERATED $3.1 BILLION IN EXPORT EARNINGS AND EMPLOYED 41,000 PEOPLE IN THE 2013-14 FINANCIAL YEAR.

APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2015 AUSTRALIAN EXPORT AWARDS WILL OPEN IN MAY. FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT: WWW.EXPORTAWARDS.GOV.AU


BEGA CHEESE, NSW REGIONAL EXPORTERS AWARD

Founded in 1899 as a dairy cooperative, Bega Cheese is today one of Australia’s major food exporters. The 1600-person company has six production facilities in NSW and Victoria manufacturing cheese products, infant formulas and dairy-based nutritionals. In recent years, Bega has evolved its business focus to high-value, technically sophisticated dairy products to supply growth markets in Asia. In 2013–14, the company built an infant formula canning factory, expanded its cheddar cheese and lactoferrin production, and launched new product lines into Asia and the Middle East. Bega achieved $325 million in exports during the year, driven by a 37 per cent increase in sales to China.

www.begacheese.com.au

CARDNO, QLD BUSINESS SERVICES AWARD

With 8 200 staff working on projects in 100 countries, Cardno is one of the world’s largest engineering and environmental services firms. The company combines engineering, environmental, social and economic services to plan, design, manage and deliver complex infrastructure projects that have positive physical and social impacts. Cardno has supervised construction of the first subway in Ecuador, managed an initiative to improve education in the Philippines, worked on improving the quality of international trade in southern Africa and provided engineering services for major highway upgrades in Florida in the USA. Over the past three years, Cardno’s international revenue has increased more than threefold to over $650 million.

www.cardno.com

CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY, NT EDUCATION AND TRAINING AWARD

Charles Darwin University (CDU) is ranked in the top two per cent of universities in the world. It is the Northern Territory’s leading education services exporter, with more than 1,500 students from 50 countries enrolled in Bachelor, Masters and PhD programs and Vocational Education and Training courses across all CDU locations in the territory, Sydney and Melbourne. A decision to expand the delivery of CDU courses to new locations in Melbourne and Sydney helped grow international enrolments overall by more than 20 per cent in 2013–14. CDU also grew its market share in India and Nepal, expanded to Sri Lanka and Vietnam, undertook more research activities in Indonesia and increased enrolments from Timor Leste following an education and training contract with the Timor Leste Ministry of Finance.

www.cdu.edu.au

HALFBRICK, QLD ONLINE SALES AWARD

Who knew a game that involves slicing fruit with a blade could be so addictive? Created by games developer Halfbrick, Fruit Ninja has been downloaded 500 million times since 2010 and is the second highest-selling game of all time on the iOS platform. The company’s other games, including Jetpack Joyride and Fish Out of Water, have also been hits, with the latter becoming its first number one game in the USA during 2014. Halfbrick games are available for mobile devices and consoles, and distributed through the Apple App Store, Amazon and Google Play. In 2014, the 110-person company diversified into games publishing to create a new revenue stream.

www.halfbrick.com

SDI LIMITED, VICHEALTH AND BIOTECHNOLOGY AWARD

Founded in 1972, SDI Limited manufactures and sells specialist dental materials such as fillings, tooth whitening products and equipment. The company undertakes extensive research and development to create products that are technologically advanced, easy for dentists to place, and offer high strength and fluoride release to extend the longevity of teeth. More than 90 per cent of SDI’s sales are to overseas markets. It has fully owned subsidiaries in Brazil, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand and the USA, and employs sales teams in Europe and North America. SDI also has distributors and dealer networks in high-growth markets such as Asia, Africa and the Middle East, building a solid base for expansion.

www.sdi.com.au

THE CREATURE TECHNOLOGY COMPANY, VICCREATIVE INDUSTRIES AWARD

The Creature Technology Company (CTC) is the creator of several unforgettable animatronic figures, from the dinosaurs in ‘Walking with Dinosaurs – the Arena Spectacular’ to the star of the stage production ‘King Kong’. A decision to pursue international projects met with immediate success, with CTC winning contracts to create the three mascots of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia and a 7.5-metre talking Statue of Liberty for New York’s Radio City Music Hall. The bespoke creations are researched, designed and made in CTC’s West Melbourne office and assembled in situ. CTC is now expanding into the worldwide theatrical, theme park, exhibition and event industries.

www.creaturetechnology.com


You may be contacted in the coming weeks to tell us how you meet your skill needs as we ask employers from across the country:

• Do your employees have the skills you need?• Do you use training to improve their skills?• Are you satisfied with this training?Ten minutes of your time will help shape future training in Australia.For further information www.ncver.edu.au/employerviews/faq.html

The Survey of Australian Employers is conducted on behalf of the Australian, state and territory governments.

Have your say: Survey of Australian Employers

TTG TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY, NSWENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS AWARD

TTG’s Energymiser® Driver Advisory System is proven technology that enables passenger and freight train companies to reduce their environmental impact. The System advises train drivers in real time to ensure energy use is minimised while still making certain the train arrives on time. The System is also an important traffic management sub-system that aids network planning and optimisation. It reduces train maintenance costs and improves the passenger journey experience. In 2014, TTG extended its Australasian and UK base and secured several major contracts in Europe for its Energymiser® DAS including SNCF in France and Bombardier Spain, as well as contracts with Network Rail UK and Translink Northern Ireland. It also completed a significant trial in China. TTG is well positioned to exploit the growing global market demand for this innovative, energy-saving technology.

www.ttgtransportationtechnology.com

Blast Movement Technologies, QLDMINERALS, ENERGY AND RELATED SERVICES AWARD

Blast Movement Technologies (BMT) was founded by a University of Queensland researcher who, along with three colleagues, invented a system to measure rock movements during the blasting process. The system helps mines locate valuable ore zones after blasting. BMT’s patented solution is now used worldwide and the company is considered a global leader in blast movement monitoring technology. An export-focused organisation since its establishment, BMT has achieved 50 per cent sales growth year-on-year. The number of new customers increased by 15 per cent in 2013–14 and exports contributed 69 per cent of the company’s total revenue during the year.

www.bmt.com.au

TURBOSMART, NSWSMALL BUSINESS AWARD

Turbosmart’s founder took his passion

for motorsports and turbocharged

vehicles and turned it into a multimillion

dollar global business. The company

manufactures a wide range of parts and

accessories for turbocharged vehicles,

helping improve engine efficiency and

performance. Turbosmart’s products are

used in automotive, marine and aircraft

applications. It exports to 50 countries

and has subsidiaries in the USA and the

UK. Export sales grew by 108 per cent

in 2013–14. Turbosmart also signed new

distributors in Africa, Asia, Europe, the

Middle East and North America, and

designed and engineered several new

products during the year.

www.turbosmart.com.au

TRADE – AUSTRALIAN EXPORT AWARDS WINNERS


AUSTRALIA’S DIGITAL ECONOMY IS NOW VALUED AT $50 BILLION. OUR RELIANCE ON ONLINE SERVICES NOW ENCOMPASSES ALMOST EVERY ASPECT OF DAILY LIFE, FROM CHECKING TOMORROW’S WEATHER FORECAST, TO PREPARING A MEAL, PAYING A BILL, SHOPPING FOR GROCERIES, ARRANGING A HOLIDAY OR ACCESSING EDUCATION AND HEALTH SERVICES FROM REMOTE LOCATIONS.

WHILE SOME COMPANIES ARE EMBRACING THE OPPORTUNITIES, OTHERS ARE RELUCTANT. RECENT RESEARCH FOUND GROWING SMALL BUSINESSES ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO EMBRACE THE INTERNET THAN ARE THOSE WHO ARE TREADING WATER.

THE DIGITAL ECONOMY CAN HELP SMALL BUSINESSES REACH SUPPLIERS AND CUSTOMERS AROUND THE CORNER OR AROUND THE WORLD – QUICKLY, RELIABLY AND ON THE CHEAP. THERE ARE MANY GREAT AUSTRALIAN SUCCESS STORIES, AND PLENTY OF WAYS FOR OTHER BUSINESSES TO REACH OUT AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED BY THE INTERNET.

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY


INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY - AUSTRALIAN EXPORT AWARDS ICT WINNER

OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE COMING OF AGE IN AUSTRALIA, WITH OPMANTEK RECOGNISED AS ICT EXPORTER OF THE YEAR

THE 52ND AUSTRALIAN EXPORT AWARDS MARKED A TURNING POINT FOR OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE IN AUSTRALIA, WITH NETWORK MANAGEMENT AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AUDIT SOFTWARE COMPANY, OPMANTEK, RECOGNISED AS THE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT) EXPORTER OF THE YEAR FOR ITS INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT AND CUSTOMER ACQUISITION.

Opmantek software is offered under a commercial open-source software (COSS) model. This model has been largely overlooked in Australia, although it provides huge value to growing businesses and significant cost savings to larger enterprise and government departments. Europe has taken advantage of the flexibility and security of COSS for many years, and, more recently, popularity has been growing in

the Americas. With a no-cost framework providing the core functionality, additional features and specialist support services can be added at a fraction of the cost of a traditional off-the-shelf (OTS) solution, and can be customised to the suit the requirements of the business.

Opmantek develops network and infrastructure management tools that are essential to the smooth running of more than 55,000 small and large organisations globally. Opmantek’s flagship product, NMIS, can be installed for free and helps IT teams detect faults, review current and historical network performance, and predict where future failures are likely to occur. Commercial support and additional business modules and custom dashboards can be added as the need grows. Every six minutes somewhere in the world, an organisation implements an Opmantek product.

COSS is an effective and safe way to update ageing or disparate systems. COSS is generally easier to integrate, more secure and almost certainly lower-cost than traditional commercial software. Organisations deploying COSS receive the commercial support, certainty of product direction and company stability that free open-source software (FOSS) usually lacks. In fact, COSS, is indeed commercial software, however, users get access to the source code. Opmantek has shown through the commercial signing of some of the

world’s largest telecommunications, government, and banking organisations that they are riding a strong global trend towards COSS, and that COSS competes head-on with commercial software companies, not with FOSS.

There are many benefits of COSS to organisations large and small, and the global rise of COSS companies like Opmantek is set to continue. The proposition is compelling: increasing the capability of software systems while reducing the cost. There is a compelling position for these companies in developed economies like Australia, the United States and Europe – it can combat the offshoring of research and development, by maintaining key expertise in the country of origin, and accessing a global community of contributors and followers at zero cost. The COSS revolution and coming of age in Australia has massive commercial benefits for organisations that embrace it, and no doubt we will see the rise of more Australian software companies like Opmantek.

Opmantek was named number one ICT exporter in Australia in 2014. Based on the Gold Coast, Opmantek services customers in more than 130 countries, has more than 55,000 organisations using its software, and gains a new customer every six minutes.

OPMANTEK


SAVING LIVES: THE NEXT GENERATION OF VEHICLE SAFETY

WHEN IT COMES TO DAYDREAMS, START-UP BUSINESSES ARE USUALLY ABOUT HAVING THEM, NOT PREVENTING THEM. BUT STOPPING PEOPLE FROM DAYDREAMING – ALSO KNOWN AS COGNITIVE LOADING – IS

ONE WAY THAT SEEING MACHINES WILL SAVE LIVES IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF VEHICLES.

Everyone knows it’s dangerous to use your phone while driving, so it’s illegal. Fewer people know that five times more fatalities are caused by drivers who are daydreaming, which you can’t make illegal – so you need to look for other answers.

In January, we were part of Intel’s presence at the International CES, the world’s largest consumer electronics show, where we demonstrated technology that knows whether the driver is paying attention to the road or not, and alerts them in time to avoid catastrophe.

Behind what we do are sophisticated eye-tracking sensors, big data and complicated algorithms written by PhDs. But when people ask what Seeing Machines does, I tell them that we make sure people get home safely – because that’s the part that matters the most. Our technology and 24/7 monitoring services are used by best practice mining companies all over the world. Later this year, it will be available to trucking fleets; soon, it will be used in trains; and in a few years you’ll find it built into the steering wheels of cars.

By monitoring drivers in real time for signs of fatigue and distraction, we quite literally save lives. We’ve heard from a driver who told us of being woken just in time to stop driving a mining truck and a 200-tonne load over a cliff. We’ve heard stories from train drivers who have woken up 60 kilometres further down the track from the last point they remember. It happens every day.

What began as a research project at the Australian National University is now a listed company with more than 100 members of staff, and offices around the world. We have alliances with massive players like Caterpillar and Takata, a tier-one supplier to global automotive manufacturers. But we are still very proud to call Canberra, Australia home.

Seeing Machines is a multi-award winning technology company based in Canberra, Australia and exporting its products and expertise across the globe. We save lives by building machines that see.

Seeing Machines was a National Finalist in the Information, Communication and Technology category at the 52nd Australian Export Awards.

SEEING MACHINES

BY KEN KROEGER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, SEEING MACHINES

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY - AUSTRALIAN EXPORT AWARDS ICT FINALIST


INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY - AUSTRALIAN EXPORT AWARDS ICT FINALISTS

STARNET SYSTEMS

StarNet Systems provides enterprise housing and conference software for residential communities in the higher education market. StarNet Systems won the Business 3000 Awards for Export and Business of the Year in 2012, and the Victorian Government Export Award for Information and Communication Technology in 2013 and 2014 for its total end-to-end management solution, which accommodates all the functions of a housing and conference operation for residential communities.

The company is the world’s largest student accommodation software provider, with more than 450 customers globally, including acclaimed international educational institutions Cornell University, Stanford University, Harvard University, the University of Toronto, University College London, the National University of Singapore, the University of Canberra, the University of Auckland and more.

After strong success in our home market of Australia, with more than 90 per cent market share, StarNet began exporting the solution to New Zealand in 1999 (90 per cent market share), the United States in 2002 (10 per cent market share), Canada in 2003 (30 per cent market share), the United Kingdom in 2008 (10 per cent market share), Singapore in 2009 (50 per cent market share) and now the Middle East and other parts of Europe. It also holds a majority market share in Australia for specialised secure telephone management systems for correctional facilities.

The Victorian Export Awards recognise the hard work and dedication of our team in developing and delivering a leading product to highly competitive global markets. We are passionate about our community and technology, which is the foundation of our continued success.

www.starrez.com

WARGAMING AUSTRALIA

Wargaming Australia’s BigWorld Technology underpins many of the world’s massively multi-player online games (MMOGs), including the World of War trilogy. The company’s software enables millions of people to play online games together, and is licensed to studios developing MMOGs. In 2013–14, all of Wargaming Australia’s revenue was derived from licence sales and services to overseas developers. The company also diversified, developing software for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 console

and iOS mobile platforms, and expanding into eSport, where game play can be recorded, replayed and streamed live to players worldwide. Future releases of its software will be designed to support cloud-based gaming and smart television. Wargaming holds two Guinness World Records, has more than 3500 employees worldwide, and unites more than 108 million players in the Wargaming universe.

www.bigworldtech.com

AVINET

Avinet offers a suite of web-based software – Air Maestro, Rail Maestro and Road Maestro – that helps users meet and manage operational, safety and compliance requirements from anywhere and at any time. The company’s 172 customers include aviation, rail and road organisations from 25 countries. In 2013–14, Avinet grew its customer base by 23 per cent; of this growth, 52 were overseas companies.

The company increased export revenue by 56 per cent during the year, and strengthened its international partner alliance network. It also increased its engagement with regulators and other organisations that determine compliance standards to ensure its products incorporate the latest guidelines.

www.avinet.com.au

METROCOUNT

MetroCount designs, manufactures and sells hardware and software for monitoring road traffic. The company’s most recognisable product comprises black rubber strips that lie across roads, which are connected to a roadside unit that records the axle hits or magnetic signatures of motor vehicles as they drive over the strip. The data is then analysed using MetroCount’s Traffic Executive software. MetroCount also offers FieldPod®, a remote

access module that is attached to roadside units so data can be accessed via the internet. Deployed by governments, engineering companies and planning consultants in more than 100 countries, MetroCount systems provide information that is integral to the efficient planning, construction and management of the world’s roads.

www.metrocount.com


HELPING SMALL BUSINESS ACHIEVE ITS BIG POTENTIAL ONLINESMALL BUSINESSES IN QUEENSLAND CAN HAVE AN INTERNET STORE READY TO GO WITHIN AN HOUR THANKS TO A NEW ONLINE SHOPPING PLATFORM ESTABLISHED BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY IN QUEENSLAND (CCIQ).

Ninepence, named after a silver coin from the 16th century, is seeking to become a major online currency in Queensland as part of the project developed by CCIQ in conjunction with Brisbane-based digital creative agency Studio None.

More than 200 small businesses have signed on to ninepence since it went live in December, including outlets for women’s fashion, jewellery, food delivery, books and sports gear.

Developed specifically for small to medium-sized business, ninepence cuts the hassle and cost of selling online. A small business can go from sign-up to selling in under an hour.

The concept originated when CCIQ put out a challenge on social media last year calling for small businesses that could help other small businesses connect. Many answered the call, including Studio None with its e-commerce solution – an online shopping platform that enables small businesses to quickly, easily and cheaply set up their own online shop.

For retailers keen to sign up, there are three packages available. The Start-Up option is free to set up, with 5 per cent transaction fees on what a business sells. The Active option is $25 per month with 4 per cent transaction fees, and the Premium option is $60 per month with 2 per cent transaction fees.

Studio None co-founder and managing director Catherine Gray said: “It is a virtual home for your online shop. We take all the hassle out of setting up an online business by managing everything for you.

“We look after the security and hosting, domain registration and design at no cost. And with unlimited products and unlimited storage, there’s every reason to start building your empire today.”

A recent CCIQ Digital Readiness Study found companies have wide scope for enhancing their online retail and e-commerce capabilities. Results revealed that 60 per cent of Queensland businesses receive less than 10 per cent of their revenues through online sales.

Studio None found there was a gap in the market for an efficient and cost-effective solution to help start-ups bring their products and services to the table.

“We developed a system over a number of years and we kept modifying and refining it until we got everything absolutely right,” Ms Gray said.

“It’s usually quite difficult for small businesses to sell online, particularly those who are just starting out and have very little capital for marketing. This is game-changing in that it provides a simple fool-proof solution.”

Ninepence launched in December, ready to cash in on the Christmas consumer spend.

CCIQ CEO Stephen Tait said SMEs were crying out for help and the early results showed CCIQ and Studio None were on to a winner.

“We put our heads together to see how we could solve small business challenges,” he said.

“We know there are plenty of innovative, smart and savvy businesses out there who would be in a position to help small businesses if only they had the chance.

“They have great ideas, products and solutions, but not the connections to flourish. That’s where we at CCIQ step in.

“Ninepence is a brilliant idea and we are thrilled to be able to help small business cash in.

“The results to date are very exciting and we look forward to ninepence growing bigger and better in 2015 and small businesses doing well from this innovative venture.”

For more infomation on Ninepence visit: cciq.com.au/products/ninepence



INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY - ACCI MEMBER NETWORK

TECHNOLOGY TIPPED TO TURN PREDICTED DOOM INTO SPENDING

BY TREVOR EVANS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, NATIONAL RETAIL ASSOCIATION

The global retail landscape has changed dramatically over the past decade, making competition fiercer than ever before, but Australian retailers have the added disadvantage of relatively high wages and rents. There is also the ongoing disadvantage of the tax loophole, which allows offshore competitors to avoid collecting the GST (although new Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has recently put the issue back on the table).

The increased competition presents a major challenge on Australian shores, but despite the initial predictions of a mass exodus of consumers from stores, the statistics suggest that shoppers still enjoy the bricks-and-mortar experience.

More than 90 per cent of Australian transactions are still in store, giving retailers across all categories the opportunity to make information and communication technology developments work for them, rather than against them, through the creation of more consumer-centric strategies.

Allowing customers to bypass the wait staff to order extra wine and tapas via the restaurant table’s iPad, giving shoppers the option of simply ordering a handbag by scanning a barcode on the interactive wall (such as at Sportsgirl’s Chapel Street, Melbourne store), or alerting shoppers to special offers and discounts with a smart phone notification via a network of strategically placed iBeacons on supermarket shelves – these are just some of the new offerings that retailers are trialling to greatly enhance the customer experience.

When it comes to online sales, more than half are through the online channels of Australian bricks-and-mortar stores, meaning that the in-store experience remains critical to building brand awareness and loyalty, and securing those later online purchases.

NATIONAL RETAIL ASSOCIATION CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER TREVOR EVANS EXPLAINS HOW RETAILERS ARE EMBRACING INNOVATION WHEN IT COMES TO SATISFYING CUSTOMERS.


A raft of IT innovations is giving retailers the unprecedented opportunity to give shoppers the best of both of these worlds, which, coupled with savvy social media strategies, leads to greater ‘brick and click’ traffic.

The NRA recently introduced our own Innovation and Technology Committee (ITC) to ensure that the uptake of big data and analytics, RFID, payment and POS technologies, digital barcoding and receipts, foot traffic intelligence, geofencing, cloud computing, beacon technology, social media and conception marketing in Australia follows a path that is in the best interests of the retail business community, as well as consumers. The ITC is trialling new initiatives behind the scenes and using its research to advise industry suppliers and regulators, and government policymakers.

The prevailing theme among this new wave of ICT innovations is their ability to give the consumer the power of choice.

Those in a hurry when there are only two supermarket checkouts open can choose the self-service option instead of lining up, whereas those who prefer a traditional face-to-face encounter can still choose that option. Or shoppers will be choosing to PayWave purchases of less than $100 if it suits them, PayPal their coffee, or ‘digital wallet’ their children’s sport fees.

The key for retailers wanting to maintain this competitive edge will be their willingness to assess their own business’s situation and make the best decisions around how to utilise new technologies accordingly, to empower the consumer to shape their own shopping experience.

Trevor Evans is Chief Executive Officer of the National Retail Association (NRA), which has represented the interests of the retail, fast food and broader service sector for almost 100 years.

“THE PREVAILING THEME AMONG THIS NEW WAVE OF ICT INNOVATIONS IS THEIR ABILITY OF GIVE THE CONSUMER THE POWER OF CHOICE.”

“DESPITE THE INITIAL PREDICTIONS OF A MASS EXODUS OF CONSUMERS FROM STORES, THE STATISTICS SUGGEST THAT SHOPPERS STILL ENJOY THE BRICKS-AND-MORTAR EXPERIENCE.”


Such an audacious goal would be too much for most start-ups to even consider. But from first look it’s clear that Saibu no Akuma isn’t any average shirtmaker nor start-up. Even the name (a Japanese translation of ‘devil is in the detail’) is an insight into the mindset of partners Tony Wu, Paul Trinh and Sebastian Rodriguez.

The devil the trio refers to isn’t just in the high-end, custom shirts they design; it’s a nod to their entire business strategy. “For us, it’s all about the brand, what it stands for, and of course, the unique experiences we provide to our clients. We really pride ourselves on giving our clients an experience like no other. Instead of serving whisky and scotch [during fittings], we serve carefully selected sake and green tea,” Wu said.

The team has such a meticulously approach to their customer experience that they’ve taken the time and a considered eye to plan how they take payments from their clients.

Wu said, “After a recent visit to Japan, I learnt that taking payment from our clients is an art in itself, and our missing link appeared. Our previous credit card payment method was convoluted and the hardware costs associated with installing a point-of-sales system is just not in our budget. It can also get a bit awkward taking payment so we wanted something that was quick, safe and importantly mobile. We shopped around but when we heard about MYOB’s mobile payment solution, MYOB PayDirect, we knew it would close the gap and add value to our proposition.”

The use of MYOB PayDirect has allowed Saibu no Akuma to become even more agile without compromising their client offering or eating into their productivity. The team is now attending pop-up events in offices and bars across Melbourne and capturing a new and loyal audience eager to join them on the journey.


MYOB gives Saibu no Akuma the mobile edgeLAUNCHED IN JULY OF 2014, MELBOURNE-BASED SHIRTMAKER SAIBU NO AKUMA HAS BEEN BUILDING A BRAND THAT SPEAKS TO PEOPLE AND INSPIRES THEM TO KEEP ON DREAMING AND CREATING.

NOW THEY’RE TAKING IT TO THE PEOPLE, THANKS TO MYOB PAYDIRECT.


Wu admits that being a marketing-led rather than a sales-

led business has meant that growth and revenue has not

come easily. “We’re constantly being tempted to look at the

commercial aspects, but we want to stay true to what we

believe in and invest that extra time in providing great products

and service. We will sacrifice a bit of that short term growth in

return for longer-term success.”

As Wu goes on to explain, the intricate process behind creating

tailored shirts is centred on the three elements of “human

interaction”, “creativity” and “imagination” which Wu says he and

his partners consider to be dying arts.

“We need to be adaptable to our clients’ needs. Mobility is a big

part of this – whether it’s at our studio, in a café down the road,

or their offices, we want to be face-to-face with our clients. We

want to get to know them, their styles and their lives before we

collaborate on everything from fabric choices and designs, down

to the cuffs and even buttons. By taking the time to bring them

on the journey and through this collaboration our clients are able

to imagine their shirt, which creates excitement and a real bond.

It’s for this reason MYOB PayDirect forms an important part of

the journey.”


MYOB gives Saibu no Akuma the mobile edge

INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY - 52ND EXPORT AWARDS ICT FINALISTS

CHALLENGES FOR AN ICT WORKFORCEThe challenges in growing skills in information and communications technology (ICT) are at two levels:

• creating digital literacy skills across the entire workforce, commencing from early childhood education into post-secondary studies

• developing specialist expertise in an ICT workforce that will service the needs of businesses into the future.

The recent debate about digital skills in the Australian Curriculum, which followed the Review Panel’s recommendation that digital technologies be confined as a subject until at least Year 9, shows the interest in this issue. The recommendation was interpreted as being a step back in ICT, although a proper reading of the report shows the distinction drawn between specialist subjects and general digital literacy.

Clearly, digital literacy across its entire workforce is a critical capability for a business. Common sense suggests that school students should be exposed and increasingly skilled in digital technologies from a young age. Whether this outcome is achieved by having it as a dedicated curriculum, or embedded across the subject-specific curriculum, or a combination of the two, is for the experts to decide. There is no doubt that the new jobs of the future will increasingly need the STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as the Competitiveness Agenda released last year by the federal government highlighted.

Despite the strategic need, developing a specialist ICT workforce is challenging, and was the subject of a detailed workforce study by the Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency (AWPA) in 2013. Trends in knowledge management, including big data and analytics, as well as the pace of change in technology and the pervasiveness of it in everyday society, are creating ongoing opportunities for a skilled ICT workforce. One challenge is ensuring this workforce is adaptable, and that the education and training delivered by tertiary education providers (both VET and university) is relevant to industry needs. Also, attracting people, particularly women, to study ICT and embark on a career in the field is problematic. According to the AWPA report, women occupy less than 20 per cent of ICT positions – well below the all-occupation average of more than 45 per cent. Even once a decision is taken to study ICT, securing an entry-level job for both genders is difficult, and investment in developing the skills of the existing workforce is low.

These workforce features are symptomatic of an industry that seeks very particular expertise with skills that are not easily translatable, and customer demands that are time-critical and leave little room for long-term workforce development of inexperienced people. These are challenges that the ICT industry must face in order to better match workforce supply and demand.

BY JENNY LAMBERT, DIRECTOR EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION AND TRAINING, ACCI



Google and ACCI team up to get small business online

AUSTRALIANS ARE SOME OF THE MOST TECHNOLOGICALLY SAVVY PEOPLE ON EARTH. WIFI WAS INVENTED BY THE CSIRO (AND DON’T WE LOVE TO USE IT), AND WE’RE AMONG THE WORLD’S MOST ACTIVE USERS OF TABLETS AND SMARTPHONES, AND SERVICES LIKE MOBILE INTERNET BANKING.

Yet half of Australian small businesses don’t even have a website. That’s a huge drawback for those businesses, because research demonstrates that small businesses which make the most of the web are twice as likely to be growing, and four times more likely to be hiring staff. It’s also a missed opportunity for Australia, because small businesses make up a third of our GDP.

The internet can give a big boost to small businesses, helping them prosper and grow. It can save them money, because cloud computing is cheaper than hosting a server. It can save them time, for example by providing real-time traffic information to calculate better delivery routes. And it can help generate income from customers who have never heard of a particular business until it shows up in search results.

The internet can also help small business spread their net far further than they have in the past. The use of targeted online marketing means that Tim White, the owner of specialist Melbourne bookshop Books for Cooks, now sells books not just in the vicinity of his Fitzroy shopfront, but also to cooking fans across Australia and the rest of the world. He has created an export business without having to leave his shop, let alone the country.

The thing is, most small business owners don’t have the time or resources to figure out how to do all this. That’s why Google and ACCI have teamed up to hit the road, and help small business owners make the most from the web.

Together with the Small Business Minister, Bruce Billson, we recently launched a five-city roadshow to help small businesses get online. Our first stop was Frankston, where we polled local business owners on their use of the web. The results were sobering: nearly all of Frankston’s small business owners believed that the internet was important to their future growth, but only 50 per cent believed they had the skills to grow their company online.

Through the roadshow and other efforts, we want to change this. Using a network of 2,000 web experts, Google aims to help 350,000 Australian small businesses make the most of the web this year. The good news is there are plenty of Australian SMB success stories to learn from. Matt Bede, for example, set up Mornington Peninsula Brewery in an industrial side street. Several investors pulled out, saying the location was too remote. But through a combination of great beer and Google Maps, people beat a path to his door. The

company is now expanding, and thanks to the internet, is looking to export its liquid gold overseas.

The internet can be a huge boost to small to small business. And when small business thrives, so does Australia.

BY JOHN BALL, HEAD OF SMALL BUSINESS, GOOGLE AUSTRALIA

Harry Ozkoch from Anny’s Jewellers gets some tips during the Google-ACCI roadshow

Participants at the Frankston roadshow event on

11 March 2015.


The Cloud - raining productivity opportunities for businessWhat is file sync and share and why does it matter?At its heart, sync is pretty straightforward. Every time you save a file on one device, it’s uploaded to an online server. Since the files now also reside somewhere other than your hard drive — someplace that’s always connected to the internet — you can access the file from any other device. Plus, you don’t need to do anything to get the latest version. Each device repeatedly checks in with the server to see if there’s anything new; if there is, they download it automatically. The really exciting part of sync, though, is how it connects multiple people. Many sync solutions let individuals share data, giving teams of people access to the same set of up-to-date files.

What does that mean for you? In a word, flexibility. Sync gives you the flexibility to work from the locations and with the people that make your business tick. Previously, collaboration required being on the same corporate network or relying on inconvenient workarounds like emailing files back and forth — or even overnighting hard drives. Now, sync allows people to collaborate seamlessly.

The unsung driver of productivityCollaboration works best when everyone’s using the same solution. Finding the tools most likely to be adopted will go a long way toward making that happen. Understanding how employees do their job, and what capabilities the business needs for file sharing are paramount. This not only helps identify the appropriate file sync and share solution, but also addresses usability and increases the likelihood of broader and faster adoption of the tool within the enterprise.

For Mirvac, an Australian property industry company. Dropbox for Business has enabled their retail team to have secure, reliable access to the information they need without a steep learning curve for those who may not be tech savvy.

It’s no surprise that security and compliance requirements are the top criteria for solution selection. However, with most of the focus on IT-centric requirements, considerations like user experience have been alarmingly overlooked. If you’re considering a solution, here are a few things to dig into to ensure you’re making the best decision for your business:

• Assess the kinds of files — formats and sizes — your teams work on regularly.

• Review the distribution of different operating systems in use across devices.

• Talk to employees to see how and what they share with partners outside the team.

• Audit the amount of time your IT team spends training employees.

Armed with this information, you can pick the solution that makes the most sense for your business. There are huge implications: 97 per cent of information workers regularly collaborate with others in their company, while 76 per cent do with customers or clients, and 64 per cent do with suppliers, vendors, and partners1. If you want to see better collaboration, it’s not enough to have just a few people on board.

Truth about cloud securityCloud-based solutions can offer you some significant security advantages. First, services like Dropbox make security a top priority. It’s like putting your money in a bank. Making sure that money stays safe is the bank’s number one priority, or they won’t have a business. The same holds true for any cloud service. Trust takes years to build, but can be lost in seconds. That deep commitment to security means Dropbox has to invest far more in scalable infrastructure and information security than most organizations. Those investments are quite significant, and your cloud provider bears that burden for you. Services like Dropbox can create economies of scale and efficiencies that benefit you.

What happens when you get this right?When you select a solution that makes both your users and the IT team happy, then you have the potential to truly enhance the agility of your business. More agility means lower costs and improved communication, internally and externally. If the goal is to make your business more effective, the right file sync and sharing solution can be the foundation for a transformation of your business.

1. “Market Trends: Secure File Sharing and Collaboration in the Enterprise, Q1 2014,” Forrester Consulting, February 4, 2014.

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY - ACCI MEMBER NETWORK

32 COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AUTUMN 201532 COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AUTUMN 2015

EVERY YEAR, HUNDREDS OF ASTUTE AUSTRALIAN BUSINESSES SHARE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY GRANTS. MANY MORE, HOWEVER, MISS OUT – SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT’S AVAILABLE.

The sad fact is that 90 per cent of businesses are unaware of the range of grants and assistance available to them, and 75 per cent simply don’t know where to find them.

Enter GrantGuru, a free business grants database developed by grants specialists GrantReady, and launched last year by the federal Minister for Small Business, the Hon. Bruce Billson MP. The GrantGuru Business website lists more than 700 federal, state, council and corporate grants, totalling in the billions. These are searchable by location, industry and activity, and provide up-to-date, easy-to-understand information that helps you quickly assess your eligibility and chance of success.

‘Business shouldn’t be disadvantaged by the lack of a single source of information, nor should it have to pay for information that is in the public domain,’ says GrantReady CEO Adrian Spencer.

Before starting his grants consultancy service in 2006, Adrian worked in the government incentives area with one of the big four accounting firms, and found the fragmentation and complexity of the ‘grantspace’ extremely frustrating – so much so that he and his wife and business partner Heather decided to do something about it.

‘We started with the simple question: What grants can business get?’ recalls Adrian. ‘And that’s driven everything we’ve done in the business.’

The first thing that became obvious was that there was more funding available from more sources than either of them had realised, closely followed by the realisation that some pretty sophisticated ICT solutions would be required to achieve the sort of comprehensive but manageable online resource they wanted to be able to offer.

You may be entitled to funding you never knew existed

‘We began our GrantGuru database on a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, but that pretty quickly got out of hand, so we went to a CMS-based platform to cope with our expanding data,’ explains Adrian.

‘The turning point came when we moved over to a custom-designed knowledge management system (KMS). Because this was such a complex problem, there were no existing tools that met our needs. Even the major database solutions, customisable as they are, couldn’t effectively satisfy the specific requirements we had.’

Finding out what grants are available is one thing. The other side of the grants coin is preparing clients for success by assisting them to develop their own ongoing grant strategy. GrantReady has helped countless organisations to find the right grants at the right time, and so maximise their chances of success. This has established GrantReady as a leading authority in the grantspace Australia-wide: the business grant guru.

These days, GrantReady has grown into a national team, and its client base is a broad one. GrantGuru Business is complemented by GrantGuru Community, which coordinates the similarly broad-ranging array of assistance that is available for not-for-profit and community organisations.

And, somewhat paradoxically, GrantReady regularly helps government clients to develop and structure their grant assistance programs in more effective and user-friendly ways.

‘Grant providers are just as eager to deliver funds efficiently as target enterprises are to receive them,’ explains Adrian. ‘Making the process as easy as possible for both parties to do business together is the essence of what we do.’

If GrantReady’s growing subscriber base is anything to go by, more and more businesses are waking up to the fact that potential funding comes in many shapes and sizes, and realising that they simply cannot afford to miss out on money to which they are entitled.

The challenge for GrantReady is to keep pace, developing and improving the ICT solutions that underpin GrantGuru Business, GrantGuru Community and the analytic resources that their clients rely on.

‘We’re continually looking at a better ways to deliver this information,’ says Adrian. ‘You can never get too satisfied if you want to stay the best in the business.’

For more information on GrantGuru, and to learn how it can help your chamber or industry association, visit www.grantguru.com.au.


ACCI MEMBER NETWORK

The 2014 ACCI Australian Business Leaders’ Annual Dinner took place at the National Gallery of Australia on Wednesday 26 November. The annual event was well attended and addressed by Prime Minister, the Hon Tony Abbott MP, for the second year in a row. ACCI would like to thank its membership, partners and sponsors for supporting the Business Leaders Dinner.



ACCI MEMBER NETWORK

BY IAN MACDONALD, MAHRI, NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS MANAGER, BUS INDUSTRY CONFEDERATION

IN 2012, THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT, PROVIDED FUNDS TO THE AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (ACCI) UNDER ITS PRODUCTIVITY EDUCATION AND TRAINING (PET) FUND.

The objective of the PET was for industry to participate to create long-term programs of education and skills development to support cooperative and productive workplace relations that promoted national prosperity and social inclusion for all Australians.

The Bus Industry Confederation (BIC), as a member of ACCI, contracted with ACCI to contribute to the objective of the Leadership Program.

The Australian Public Transport Industrial Association (APTIA) – the industrial arm of BIC – along with consultants Interact Injury Management – a privately owned company that is one of Australia’s largest providers of injury and disability management – participated in the development of an industry-specific Health and Wellbeing Kit as part of the Leadership Program.

In 2013, workplace health specialists, Interact Injury Management conducted a survey of five large bus and coach operator members of APTIA across the country, from Perth to Brisbane to Sydney. The survey sought to identify aspects of the bus and coach industry that would ascertain the influence of health and wellbeing in determining workplace performance. The outcome of this survey confirmed the employment profile and challenges for the industry.

EMPLOYMENT PROFILE • An older, predominantly male workforce that represented

health risks, in line with the ageing national population.

• To maintain this workforce, the industry needed to be proactive in managing their older workforce.

• For an older workforce to remain healthy and to contribute to their workplace, they needed to maintain good exercise habits.

• Mental health issues also impacted on job satisfaction and the ability of employees to safely perform their duties.

• The older workforce was more reliable and more inclined to understand instruction and deal with supervision.

In 2014, Interact Injury Management conducted an ergonomic workplace assessment at Forest Coach Lines, a mid-size route and school bus operator on Sydney’s northern beaches. Several visits were made to the bus depot at Terrey Hills, and Interact Injury Management accompanied drivers on buses to gauge the ‘day in the life’ of a bus driver. The environmental, physical, cognitive and psychological demands on the bus drivers were identified, with a view to raising awareness and improvement of the drivers’ general health and wellbeing.

Some of the demands on drivers that impacted on their health included the size of the buses designed to carry up to 55 passengers (environment), constant sitting and frequent rotation of the neck (physical), far and near vision, problem sensitivity, spatial orientation and reaction time (cognitive), interaction with customers, negotiating traffic hazards, and maintaining timelines and breaks (psychological).

In concert with the drivers’ group from Forest Coach Lines, Interact Injury Management, and APTIA, actions were undertaken at Forest Coach Lines to address the issues identified. These actions, trialled in the second half of 2014, were designed to improve the mental and physical health of the workforce.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING INITIATIVES: • The introduction of a 1000-step pedometer: each employee

was encouraged, in a competitive environment, to wear the pedometer for a short period to provide motivation for exercise, healthy competition and improvement to cardiovascular fitness.

• A health notice board was located in the drivers’ staff room to promote the health awareness campaign, and to provide social interaction as well as health education.

• A fresh fruit bowl was made available to staff along with encouragement to take their breaks at healthy food outlets identified at bus interchanges.

• A workplace relationship was established with a local chiropractor, who attended the depot and presented training sessions that included an understanding of the anatomy of the body, core strengthening exercises and nutrition advice.

• The completion of bullying and harassment training for all staff, as well as the provision of an Employee Assistance Program to assist in managing the psychological demands on the drivers.

• Interact Injury Management revisited the Forest Coach Lines depot to interview its drivers to ascertain the effectiveness, awareness and participation of the workforce to the trialled initiatives.

About BIC: The Bus Industry Confederation is the peak national body whose members are bus and coach operators, bus and coach manufacturers, and parts and service suppliers to the industry. BIC’s members carry more than 1.5 billion urban public transport passengers per year. Its members employ more than 50,000 people. The BIC represents the interests of its members to governments and the community on a range of issues, including technical vehicle- and parts-based issues, and the broader challenge of meeting the growing passenger transport task and providing Australian commuters with a genuine alternative to the car.

Why the health and wellbeing of your staff is fundamental to productivity in the workplace


PEOPLE · PLACE · TECHNOLOGY

FUTURE OF WORK MELBOURNE 29-30 APRIL 2015

The world of work is changing.... Are you ready?Bernard Salt, Director at KPMG and one of Australia’s leading social commentators,

asks how we need to change to compete on a global scale

Simone Carroll, EGM People & Brand, REA Group and Dale Fisher, Chief Executive, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, debate ‘What will it take to lead the future of work?’

Best-selling author of Drive, A Whole New Mind and To Sell Is Human, Dan Pink will explore which environments promote innovation – and which suffocate it

Amy Mullins, Director, Communications and Strategy, Women’s Leadership Institute Australia (WLIA), will teach us how to better utilise social media to leverage ourselves and our future at work

PRODUCTIVITYLEADERSHIP

Special 40% discount for ACCI readers: $990+ BFDiscount code: ACCI40

workplaceleadership.com.au/future of work

ACCI NATIONAL MEMBER NETWORK: BUSINESS SA CANBERRA BUSINESS CHAMBER CHAMBER

OF COMMERCE NORTHERN TERRITORY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY QUEENSLAND

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY WESTERN AUSTRALIA NSW BUSINESS CHAMBER

TASMANIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY VICTORIAN EMPLOYERS CHAMBER OF

COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ACCORD - HYGIENE, COSMETIC AND SPECIALTY PRODUCTS INDUSTRY

AIRCONDITIONING & MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIAN BEVERAGES

COUNCIL AUSTRALIAN DENTAL INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION OF EMPLOYERS

AND INDUSTRIES AUSTRALIAN FOOD & GROCERY COUNCIL AUSTRALIAN HOTELS ASSOCIATION

AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES OPERATIONS GROUP AUSTRALIAN MADE CAMPAIGN

LIMITED AUSTRALIAN MINES & METALS ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIAN PAINT MANUFACTURERS

FEDERATION AUSTRALIAN RETAILERS ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIAN SELF MEDICATION INDUSTRY

BUS INDUSTRY CONFEDERATION CONSULT AUSTRALIA HOUSING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION LIVE

PERFORMANCE AUSTRALIA MASTER BUILDERS AUSTRALIA MASTER PLUMBERS & MECHANICAL

SERVICES ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA NATIONAL BAKING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION NATIONAL

ELECTRICAL & COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION NATIONAL FIRE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION NATIONAL

RETAIL ASSOCIATION OIL INDUSTRY INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION PHARMACY GUILD OF AUSTRALIA

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ACCI Commerce & Industry Magazine - Autumn 2015