The Victorian Chamber is looking for business input on the future of careers advice and ensuring students make well-informed choices when transitioning to further education, training or employment.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has released its 2023-24 State Budget submission, putting forward 68 recommendations to boost jobs and investment around energy, tax, regulation, skills and training, infrastructure, manufacturing, transport, major events and Victoria’s regions.

There goes summer for another year. Not quite the warm weather we had hoped for, but we look ahead to what autumn brings, particularly with the Moomba Festival, AFL Season, Grand Prix, and the highly anticipated opening of “& Juliet” not far away.

Addressing labour and skills shortages, adopting a national approach to payroll tax and providing tax incentives to business to invest in energy efficient technologies are among the key recommendations of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s 2023-24 Federal Budget submission.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is looking for assistance from businesses to help grow Victoria’s export sector.  

Not since Einstein’s famous equation, E=mc², have we spoken so much about energy. It’s not something that Victorians have needed to overly worry about in the past. But as Bob Dylan sings, ‘the times they are a changing’.

I’ve been asked to address a number of different forums in recent weeks to give the Chamber’s view on the outlook for business for 2023 and the role of business in driving economic growth.

The Victorian Chamber welcomes Federal Government changes to boost the international education sector and address skills shortages in key industries.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is seeking input on how to improve the status and uptake of vocational pathways, including apprenticeships.

The Victorian Chamber encourages members to participate in the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (ACCI’s) 2023 National Trade Survey, which closes on March 1.

I’ve spent a large part of the last week engaging with various stakeholders including Victorian Government Ministers and our members about the rising costs involved with running a business, escalating electricity and gas prices, and what the road to net zero looks like.

Well, it seems we are going to have to get used to interest rates continuing to rise if this weeks commentary is anything to go by. I’m sure you all felt the impact of the latest interest rate rise in some way. It’s another cost increase that will hit most businesses either directly or indirectly via the potential decline in consumer spending.

The Victorian Chamber has released a roadmap aimed at helping reduce energy prices, ensure the reliability of energy supply, capitalise on investment opportunities and support businesses in the transition to a net-zero economy.

It’s great to be back after a break enjoying Regional Victoria and thank you to Chanelle, Scott and the team for doing such a fantastic job while I was away. It has already been a big week as school holidays finish and students head back to the classroom. No doubt there’s been a few tears shed by parents of those children starting school and even some tears of joy for parents of those returning!

As Acting Chief Executive, it’s exciting to see so many people getting out and about across Victoria as the summer weather provides the perfect conditions for lapping up what we love about this great state. Many Victorians are returning to work while others are taking an extended break at our tourist hot spots, enjoying the Australian Open, the Lunar New Year and a myriad of other events.

Your business could benefit from the many grants and assistance programs available to help local exporters grow and sell their products globally.