GST Start-Up Web Site

The GST Start-Up Assistance Office released today funding details of the 131 contracts signed with peak bodies to deliver industry-specific GST education to their respective sectors. Contracts signed cover areas in small business, the community sector (charities, churches, not-for-profit) and educational bodies.

Ninety-two contracts are specifically related to the small business sector, with over $74 million secured. Many of these contracted organisations have produced or will be producing GST education booklets and run GST education seminars.

Dr Jim Hagan, General Manager, GST Start-Up Assistance Office explained, "attendance levels at many seminars have exceeded expectations and we are providing more funding to peak bodies for additional seminars to meet industry demand. This means that the value of programmes run by organisations will increase in response to demand."

"We expect these organisations to deliver over 12,000 workshops and seminars in the first half of this year."

The GST Start-Up Assistance Office has secured 24 contracts in the community sector, with over $15 million committed for GST education materials and seminars.

Moreover, nearly $15 million has been committed in 15 contracts with education peak bodies.

"An additional nine peak bodies are preparing their programmes while finalising contract details," explained Dr Hagan.

"The Office understands that each sector has individual needs—the GST is going to affect industries across the board and we’re pleased to be able to provide funding to help small and medium businesses, the community sector and educational bodies."

"We’re very happy with the response from contracted peak bodies—everyone is eager to prepare and educate their sector on GST issues."

"Peak bodies are responding to their industry needs and they play a valuable role in educating small business across all sectors", said Jim Hagan.

Carole Frost, General Manager of the Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NTCCI) explained, "There was an expectation from small business that the NTCCI should be across GST issues and provide practical information. Through the funding we’ve received from the GST Start-Up Assistance Office, we’ve been able to meet this expectation. We’ve been able to get out into the regions and use our network in the NT to provide general business and industry-specific seminars—they’ve been very successful."

A list of contracted peak bodies with the amount of funding is attached. Funding was allocated using criteria, including:

Coverage: ( e.g. how many people they are communicating with in their sector and other organisations included in their coverage—avoiding duplication)
Reach: (e.g. geographical coverage)
Complexity of the task: (e.g. GST issues particular to the industry; familiarity of industry with the indirect tax system)

Organisation	Sub-sector	Contract Amount
Australian Hotels Association	Accommodation	$811,000
Hotel Motel & Accommodation Association of Australia Ltd	Accommodation	$160,000
Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia	Accounting & Finance	$137,500
Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants	Accounting & Finance	$4,000,000
Credit Union Services Corp (Australia)	Accounting & Finance	$87,500
Financial Planning Association	Accounting & Finance	$168,100
Institute of Chartered Accountants	Accounting & Finance	$1,406,000
National Institute of Accountants	Accounting & Finance	$725,350
Aged and Community Services Australia	Aged Care	$1,435,200
Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry Australia (Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of State farming organisations)	Agriculture	$15,250,000
National Agriculture Commodities Marketing Association	Agriculture	$78,550
Area Consultative Committees	Business Services	$3,000,000
Auctioneers and Valuers Association	Business Services	$4,000
Australian Council of Housing Societies	Business Services	$48,800
Australian Trainers' Association	Business Services	$165,000
Australian Wool Selling Brokers Employers' Federation	Business Services	$241,150
Business Enterprise Centres	Business Services	$1,165,000
Copyright Agency Ltd	Business Services	$210,000
Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia	Business Services	$498,500
Customs Brokers Council of Australia Inc	Business Services	$99,800
Direct Selling Association of Australia	Business Services	$802,445
Franchise Council of Australia	Business Services	$329,740
Institute of Management Consultants	Business Services	$37,560
Insurance Agents Association of Australia	Business Services	$15,000
Law Society of NSW	Business Services	$1,375,945
Malaga and District Business Association	Business Services	$1,600
Micro Business Network	Business Services	$57,750
National Insurance Brokers Association of Australia	Business Services	$63,000
Real Estate Institute of Australia	Business Services	$1,000,000
Recruitment and Consulting Services Association	Business Services	$69,472
ACT and Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry	Commerce / Manufacturing	$201,450
Australian Business Limited	Commerce / Manufacturing	$1,862,000
Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association	Commerce / Manufacturing	$69,500
Australian Industry Group	Commerce / Manufacturing	$745,000
Australian Stainless Steel Development Association	Commerce / Manufacturing	$33,400
Chamber of Commerce and Industry W.A.	Commerce / Manufacturing	$1,196,460
Employers Federation of NSW	Commerce / Manufacturing	$311,250
Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce & Industry	Commerce / Manufacturing	$477,850
Queensland Chamber of Commerce and Industry	Commerce / Manufacturing	$2,204,040
South Australian Employer's Chamber of Commerce and Industry	Commerce / Manufacturing	$1,780,830
State Chamber of Commerce (New South Wales)	Commerce / Manufacturing	$411,500
Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry	Commerce / Manufacturing	$650,000
Timber Merchants Association	Commerce / Manufacturing	$9,380
Tractor and Machinery Association of Australia	Commerce / Manufacturing	$127,500
Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry	Commerce / Manufacturing	$1,780,000
Australian Information Industry Association	Communication	$62,213
National Electrical and Communications Association	Communication	$200,000
Printing Industries Association of Australia - NSW	Communication	$289,840
Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors of Australia	Construction	$32,750
Association of Consulting Surveyors Australia	Construction	$15,600
Australian Council of Building Design Professions Ltd	Construction	$769,230
Australian Property Institute	Construction	$134,000
Civil Contractors Federation	Construction	$148,432
Housing Industry Association	Construction	$3,847,096
Master Builders Australia Inc	Construction	$2,936,340
Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia	Construction	$306,492
Master Plumbers Ltd	Construction	$394,975
National Furnishing Industry Association of Australia	Construction	$510,710
Australia Council for the Arts	Cultural / Heritage	$1,058,900
Australian Council of National Trust	Cultural / Heritage	$116,834
Australian Film Commission	Cultural / Heritage	$378,400
ACROD - ACT	Disability	$698,500
Australian Early Childhood Association	Early Childhood	$1,089,321
Adult Learning Australia	Education	$596,656
Association of Heads of Australian University Colleges and Halls	Education	$185,000
Australasian Campus Union Managers Association	Education	$300,000
Australian Association of Christian Schools	Education	$446,740
Australian College of Education	Education	$643,000
Australian Council for Private Education and Training	Education	$1,087,000
Australian Council of State School Organisations	Education	$319,885
Australian Primary Principals Association	Education	$390,000
Australian Secondary Principals Association	Education	$294,000
Australian Vice-Chancellors Committee	Education	$182,000
Canberra Pre-School Society	Education	$21,340
Group Training Australia	Education	$104,150
National Catholic Education Commission	Education	$5,997,472
National Council of Independent Schools' Associations	Education	$4,000,000
TAFE Directors Australia	Education	$320,000
Jobs Australia	Employment	$171,760
Australasian Soft Drink Association	Food & Beverages	$5,000
Australian Chamber of Fruit and Vegetables	Food & Beverages	$72,000
Australian Food and Grocery Council	Food & Beverages	$500,000
Winemakers' Federation of Australia	Food & Beverages	$74,000
Australian Catholic Health	Health	$170,250
Australian College of Audiology	Health	$8,600
Australian Friendly Societies Pharmacy Association	Health	$11,400
Australian Medical Association	Health	$3,179,745
Pharmacy Guild of Australia	Health	$825,000
Women's Hospitals Australia Inc	Health	$251,950
Community Housing Federation of Australia	Housing	$473,581
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission	Indigenous	$424,000
National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation	Indigenous	$217,200
Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy	Other	$32,832
Australian & New Zealand Association of Antiquarian Booksellers	Other	$2,480
Australian Council for Radio for the Print Handicapped Co-op Ltd	Other	$7,800
Australian Council of Trade Unions	Other	$39,150
Australian Institute of Management (on behalf of several smaller organisations: eg ex-service associations; environment, heritage & landcare groups; Rotary, Lions & Apex clubs; National Subcontractors Association)	Other	variable (estimate $350,000)
Australian Marine Industries Federation Limited	Other	$64,000
Cooperative Federation of Queensland	Other	$4,000
Institution of Engineers Australia	Other	$1,188,500
International Window Film Association	Other	$45,700
Master Locksmiths of Australia	Other	$8,000
Anglicare Australia	Religious	$727,800
Australian Resources Ltd (Catholic Bishops Conference)	Religious	$792,100
Conference of Churches Western Australia	Religious	$40,767
Salvation Army	Religious	$281,010
Seventh Day Adventist Church South Pacific Division	Religious	$33,200
St Vincent de Paul Society National Council of Australia	Religious	$500,000
Uniting Church of Australia	Religious	$799,400
Victorian Council of Churches	Religious	$567,492
Australian Newsagents Federation	Retail	$319,250
Australian Retailers Association	Retail	$2,358,200
WA Council of Retail Associations	Retail	$45,000
Australian Catholic Social Welfare Commission	Social Services	$222,200
Council of Social Service of New South Wales	Social Services	$3,640,408
Relationships Australia	Social Services	$61,450
Australia and NZ Greyhound Racing Association	Sport & Recreation	$760,003
Australian Camping Association	Sport & Recreation	$55,000
Australian Harness Racing Council Inc	Sport & Recreation	$500,000
Australian Racing Board	Sport & Recreation	$1,233,700
Australian Sports Commission	Sport & Recreation	$900,000
Clubs Australia and New Zealand Incorporated	Sport & Recreation	$249,000
Surf Lifesaving Australia	Sport & Recreation	$104,000
Tourism Council of Australia	Sport & Recreation	$2,316,850
Australian Federation of International Forwarders	Transport	$106,080
Australian Taxi Industry Association	Transport	$1,415,000
Australian Trucking Association	Transport	$1,716,000
Automotive Industry Group Services Team	Transport	$1,000,000
Bus Industry Confederation	Transport	$230,000
Megabus	Transport	$162,000
Motor Traders Association of Australia	Transport	$1,534,000
	TOTAL	$103,977,856

(An additional 9 contracts are currently under negotiation with smaller organisations)

Erratum: In the Press Release of 25 April 2000, the Australian Sports Commission contract was incorrectly listed as $960,000, Women's Hospitals Australia Inc as $291,950 and the Customs Brokers Council of Australia Inc as $250,000.