Government Connect
A fundamental role of the Association as the Furniture & Bedding Industry's PEAK BODY is to interact with legislative Governments - Federal, State & Local - as a means of originating or promoting improvements in legislation or administration for the purpose of promoting and/or safeguarding the interests of our manufacturing sector. Petitioning and conferring with Government representatives at all levels is the means by which we give effect to this responsibility. As a UNION OF EMPLOYERS we seek to participate in the regulation of the relation between employees and employers and between employers and employers.
A profile example of how the Association - on behalf of the Industry - CONNECTS WITH GOVERNMENT - follows. Early in 2010 we requested a meeting with the Minister for Employment, Economic Development & Innovation (DEEDI) for the purpose of:-
- Making him aware of the Queensland Furniture & Bedding Industry;
- Highlighting the rapid and serious decline of the Industry;
- Briefing him on initiatives taken to redress the situation; and seeking high-level support from the Government to assist the Industry.
The Minister readily agreed to our request. At the meeting a raft of possible initiatives were discussed. The Minister admitted he was not aware of the size and significance of our Industry or the extent of its decline over the last decade. It was agreed a high-level Workshop should be convened by the Director of DEEDI in conjunction with the Association and additional relevant Government Departments. The principal purpose of the Workshop was to identify the critical issues and the areas where assistance and/or direct Government action could be taken as a matter of urgency.
In summary THE INDUSTRY WAS PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO INFLUENCE THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION-MAKERS.
At a joint Industry-Government Workshop in June 2010, representatives from twenty (20) companies "acted" as delegates for our Industry. Both the Federal and Queensland Governments were represented by a similar number of senior bureaucrats. A range of actionable initiatives were identified, both short and long term, with six (6) key initiatives - as set out below - selected for immediate action:
- Government Tendering Assistance;
- Department of Housing & Procurement Opportunities;
- Access to Government Grants;
- Possible representation on the Government Industry Advisory Group;
- Electronic Business Opportunities; and
- Raising the Profile of the Association.
The above initiatives were a recognition that the NO. 1 PRIORITY WAS TO INCREASE (sales) INCOME. The Government Support initiatives were considered to be an important but distant priority No. 2.
As at the end of March 2011 it is extremely disappointing to report there has been NO PROGRESS in even moving forward on the NO 1 PRIORITY!