18 April 2017 Australia’s peak hospitality body, the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) called on the Federal Government to consider the specific needs of the hospitality sector in the design of a new temporary working visa system, following the announcement today by Prime Minister Turnbull that the current 457 visa system would be scrapped. AHA said that while full details were not currently available it was important that the Government recognise the specific skilled labour needs of the hospitality sector as it was currently undergoing its largest ever expansion. “The hospitality industry is growing at unprecedented rates at the present and
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Archives for Media Release
A step in the right direction for a modern day hospitality industry
The Fair Work Commission’s (FWC) decision to reform Sunday and Public Holiday penalty rates is a first step towards a modern hospitality industry, the Australian Hotels Association said. AHA and Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA) led the submissions to the FWC on behalf of the hotel sector – TAA is chaired by the Hon Martin Ferguson AM, a former ACTU President and Federal Tourism Minister. Mr Ferguson said the FWC decision should be respected. “From the industry point of view we haven’t got everything we want. That is the nature of the Fair Work Commission.” “We respect their decision and we
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Latest News and Media Release.
TAA and AHA welcome reduction in ‘backpacker tax’ and charges
27 September 2016 Australia’s peak accommodation body, Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA) and the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) welcomed today’s decision by the Federal Government to reduce the tax on Working Holiday Makers (WHM) from 32.5c to 19c along with a $10 million promotional fund aimed at revitalising the sector, but said the imposition of a $5 increase in the Passenger Movement Charge (PMC) was counter-productive. Under the original proposal, which was scheduled to come into force from 1 July 2016, working holiday makers would have been treated as non-residents and taxed at 32.5% from the first dollar they earned. They
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Latest News and Media Release.
AHA National Awards for Excellence – winners announced
Media Release Monday 19 September, 2016 The shining stars of Australia’s hospitality and accommodation industry were honored in a glittering national function held on the Gold Coast in Queensland last night.Over 460 people gathered at the Australian Hotels Association National Awards for Excellence dinner, held at the RACV Royal Pines Resort. Among the highlights was the induction of Melbourne-based liquor industry stalwart, Gordon Broderick, into the Johnnie Walker Hall of Fame. Mr Broderick has filled the role of executive director of the Distilled Spirits Industry Council of Australia since its formation in 1982, and was involved in key industry roles
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Awards and Media Release.
PaTH programme a great initiative
The Australian Hotels Association (AHA) has commended the Government’s announcement of an innovative $752 million Youth Jobs PaTH (Prepare-Trial-Hire) Programme aimed at helping young job seekers to move off welfare and into employment. AHA National CEO Stephen Ferguson said, “Previous employment programmes had not quite lined up the needs of young job seekers with the needs of business”. “Minister Michaelia Cash has taken the time to discuss with employers the best way of getting young Australians into employment.” “The PaTH Programme delivers a package that will really help our hotels help young people who may not be quite job ready”.
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Hotels welcome small business tax concessions
The Australian Hotels Association (AHA) has commended the Government’s announcement that the small business entity annual turnover threshold will be increased from $2 million to $10 million from 1 July and that the corporate tax will decrease by 1%. AHA National CEO Stephen Ferguson said, “The previous threshold of $2 million for immediate deductions was welcomed last year; however the lifting of the threshold to $10 million will enable far more hotels to invest and grow”. “The 1% reduction in the corporate tax rate for small business will really help small to midsized hotels”. “Hotels operate in the highly competitive
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Illegal Offshore Wagering Review
AHA today welcomed the release of the Federal Government’s response to the review of illegal offshore wagering as delivered by the Hon Barry O’Farrell. AHA National CEO Stephen Ferguson said, “Importantly, the Government recognised the need for consumer protections for online gambling and the need to strengthen existing laws against illegal operators.” “The decision to maintain the prohibition of ‘online in play’ gambling will be welcomed by the vast majority of Australians.” “‘Click to call’ in play betting is clearly a breach of the intent of the Interactive Gambling Act and the Government is commended for its intention to block
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Time for unions to stop politicking and let FWC reform 1950s hospitality work conditions for benefit of workers and business
It’s time for the unions to stop politicking and allow the Fair Work Commission (FWC) to do its job in reforming the Hospitality Industry (General) Award for the benefit of workers and business. The FWC has concluded hearings into the review of the Hospitality award and is scheduled to make a decision in the middle of the year, but already the unions are indicating that they will not accept the umpire’s decision if the Commission agrees to reform penalty rates and working conditions, which were established in the 1950s and are no longer relevant to today’s work environment. Specifically, the
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National Visitor Survey and Backpacker Tax
Government’s review of ‘backpacker tax’ welcomed to maintain tourism growth momentum – Tourism Accommodation Australia Australia’s peak accommodation body, Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA), has welcomed the announcement this morning by the Minister for Tourism, Senator Richard Colbeck, that the Government would review its plans regarding the ‘backpacker tax’. Under the original proposal, the Government planned to scrap the tax‐free threshold for visitors on working holiday visas, meaning backpackers and other working holidaymakers would pay 32.5 cents tax on every dollar they earned. TAA has made strong representations to Government that the measure would significantly affect hotels in regional and remote areas and their ability to attract
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NSW Inquiry into Short term Accommodation Joint Press Release
Accommodation industry responds to NSW inquiry into short-term letting time to level playing field for commercial short-term accommodation Australia’s accommodation sector has called on the NSW Government to level the playing field for all accommodation including commercial property owners using on-line distribution channels to rent houses and units for short-term letting. In response to the rapid rise in the unregulated short-term accommodation sector, accommodation providers are advocating for the NSW Government committee to recommend: Increasing transparency of supply in the sector by implementing a register for all short-term accommodation providers, and advocating for the Federal Government to implement permanent research tools to better understand the extent
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