Boating News

The Boating Industry Association Ltd (BIA) has teamed up with the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) to help marine industry businesses navigate significant changes to employment legislation.

BIA CEO Andrew Scott said this collaboration follows the Australian Federal Government’s introduction of the Closing Loopholes amendments made to the Fair Work Act 2009.

“BIA members now have access to a series of guides covering casual employment, employee-like workers, independent contracting, labour hire agreements, delegates’ rights, right of entry, and the much-talked-about right to disconnect,” Scott said.

“These guides are designed purely to provide digestible information to assist employers and businesses to navigate the workplace relations changes.

“Our members strive to be fully compliant with relevant legislation and this additional support from their association and our excellent relationship with ACCI will help ensure they are best placed to navigate these changes.”

Joining Scott in launching the new guides, ACCI CEO Andrew McKellar said, “ACCI stands for a workplace relations framework that provides a genuine safety net of employment conditions and empowers employers and employees. 

“In our rapidly changing workplace relations landscape, already encumbered with copious regulations and procedures, ensuring a clear communication between government and business, and also business and its workforce, is now more important than ever,” Mr McKellar said.

“We are very pleased to be able to assist the BIA, as a member of ACCI, with this new support for its own member businesses.”

BIA members will be provided with access to the guides online and are reminded that it is important to note these guides are for educational purposes only and do not contain advice. The sheer breadth of the industrial relations changes mean that the guides cannot provide guidance for all circumstances. Employers and businesses are strongly encouraged to seek individual advice tailored to their specific needs.

BIA is the peak industry body in Australia that represents the interests of boating which includes designers, manufacturers, importers, brokers, insurers, retailers, charters, yacht and boat clubs, marinas, events, surveyors and trades from boat builders to riggers, and more. BIA is an advocate for boaters and the boating lifestyle and supports safe, responsible, and enjoyable boating. BIA has members in all States and Territories.