The time is approaching for employers to apply recent legislative reforms to the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 around gender equality reporting to mitigate gender pay gaps in Australia.

Recent power outages have highlighted the need for a plan that outlines not only Victoria’s journey to net zero emissions, but also ensures energy supply during the transition, a special Victorian Chamber event has heard.

The Victorian Chamber’s advocacy for a plan on how our state will transition to net zero has been further supported with a survey of our members which revealed that 86 per cent of businesses believe the move to renewables will impact the quality of their output.

A grievance or complaint needs to be addressed in a timely and appropriate manner to protect a business, its reputation and impacted employees.

A Pay Equality Toolkit has been developed by the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) achieve pay equality in their workplace.

Following months of strong advocacy on behalf of Victoria’s business community, I’m pleased to see WorkCover premiums will be frozen, with no increase on premiums for 12 months, after the State Parliament passed the WorkCover Scheme Modernisation Bill 2023.

Businesses will be relieved to know their WorkCover premiums will be frozen for the 2024-25 financial year, with the Victorian Parliament passing the changes in the early hours of yesterday (Wednesday).

The Victorian Chamber has been instrumental in the WorkCover negotiations and welcomes today’s developments.

It’s been another hot week, with bushfires raging and many parts of Victoria on high alert due to severe weather.

The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) will report the gender pay gaps for every Australian employer with 100 or more employees as of 27 February 2024.

As workplace relations reform continues in 2024, the Victorian Chamber has compiled a guide of workplace rule changes and timeframes for their implementation to date.

Victoria’s Sentencing Advisory Council has released a consultation paper exploring potential reforms to the sentencing of occupational health and safety (OHS) offences.

In a stark reminder to employers of their safety responsibilities, a stonemasonry business became the first company convicted under Victoria's workplace manslaughter laws, fined $1.3 million after causing the death of a worker who was fatally crushed at a Somerton factory.

It was great to get back to Regional Victoria this week as some of the Victorian Chamber Team and I spent a couple of jam-packed days in Geelong.

With the state budget still months away, earnest discussions are occurring now to influence what will be handed down.

Whether starting, building, or transforming your business, Business Victoria’s Small Business Bus can help you develop your ideas and capabilities.