Over recent years GHA has been actively involved in representing its Members to various Government authorities and departments on numerous major issues of concern and relevance to Members.
These issues include the following:
• Absorption Costing;
• Australian Customs’ Integrated Cargo System;
• Reduction of Plastic Bags Usage; and
• International Free Trade Agreements.
The Australian Taxation Office released Draft Ruling TR 2005/11 which concerned the cost basis of valuing trading stock for taxpayers in the retail and wholesale industries - thus directly affecting GHA Member businesses.
To support the development of Australian business, to reduce current levels of ‘red tape’ and in light of the serious concerns raised, GHA requested that the ATO urgently review this Draft Ruling. GHA also undertook a survey of our Members (to which more than 440 companies replied) which indicated that 99% of those companies had a turnover of less than $10 Million.
As a result of submissions made and meetings held with representatives of the ATO, the ATO introduced a minimum turnover level of $10 Million for businesses before they would be required to comply with draft taxation ruling TR 2005/D11 thereby ensuring the vast majority of GHA Members were not affected.
In response to the enormous problems created by the Australian Customs Service’s (Customs) implementation of its Integrated Cargo System (ICS), an urgent Ministerial roundtable meeting was called and attended by the major stakeholders from the entire supply chain including international transport companies, stevedores, brokers, carriers, forwarders, transport, importers and retailers. GHA was the sole representative of the last two stakeholder groups.
At this meeting GHA forcefully conveyed Member concerns about the problems with customs duty and imports caused by the introduction of ICS. The meeting resulted in the creation of an Industry Action Group (IAG) to urgently address the current problems and ensure any further problems were kept to a minimum.
Since then GHA has continued to represent all Members by being actively involved in the work of the IAG, and provided regular reports on progress and developments from the IAG meetings. This representation continued as the process to dramatically improve the ICS moved forward, a process which – with the return to normal service levels this year – finally concluded with the dissolving of the IAG in 2009.
In response to strong government pressure to reduce bag use and increase recycling, GHA developed, in agreement with the Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC), a policy for a managed reduction and recycling of single-use plastic carry bags.
The key commitments in this policy were to reduce single use carry bag litter throughout Australia, to reduce the number of single-use plastic carry bags issued and to increase the recycling rate of single use plastic carry bags.
Last but by no means least, GHA has also provided submissions and made representations in support of free trade agreements with China, Thailand, Canada and the United States, as well as making submissions on standards that apply to the importation of electrical appliances into Australia.
As Australia’s industry Association for the gift and homewares business sector GHA is ever mindful of the effects that developments outside the sector can have on enterprises within the sector. Accordingly, GHA maintains an ongoing watch over the activities of government and similar bodies to ensure the interests of our Members and the industry as a whole are supported.
We encourage every Member to take an active part, and do not hesitate to let us know when we as a group should take a stand against governmental and regulatory positions that will adversely affect the industry as a whole.