ABI’S PURPOSE

ABI’s main role is to develop workplace policy and to shape debate on major workplace relations issues. As an organisation of employers, it will always develop or respond to workplace issues from the perspective of business.

ABI has three key functions

  1. Representation of members' interests in test cases, award matters and inquiries before the Fair Work Commission, the New South Wales Industrial Relations Commission and the Federal Courts.
  2. Advocacy and lobbying on behalf of employers' interests to federal and NSW government departments, regulatory authorities, ministers and opposition representatives about workplace and industrial relations issues.
  3. Information and education of members regarding developments in industrial relations and workplace law and policy matters. ABI also provides assistance for members to comply with relevant workplace and related legislation.

ABI RULES AND ELECTIONS

AMENDMENTS

ABI Rules amended as at April 2022.

  • On 24 December 2021, Australian Business Industrial (ABI) notified the General Manager - Fair Work Commission of changes to its rules. The changes were approved by ABI Council at its 8 December 2021 meeting.
  • On 27 April 2022 the delegate of the General Manager of the Fair Work Commission certified rules amendments under s159(1) of the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009.

View the certificate here.  

ABI'S PRIVACY POLICY

The ABI Privacy Policy, which is subject to the Privacy Act and APPs, regulates how we collect, use and disclose personal information.  

ABI’S HISTORY

ABI began life as the Chamber of Manufactures of NSW (CMNSW) which was established in 1885 and the CMNSW registered as an industrial organisation in the NSW industrial system in April 1925. The CMNSW changed its name to the Chamber of Manufactures of NSW (Industrial) in November 1995 when the CMNSW separated into an industrial organisation and Australian Business Limited. In May 1999 the CMNSW(I) changed its name to Australian Business Industrial.
In July 2006 following the expansion of the federal industrial system, ABI gained transitional federal registration and in October 2009, ABI became fully registered in the national industrial system.  In May 2012 ABI relinquished its registration in the NSW industrial system.

ABI COUNCIL

Past Elections - Councillor Vacancy Election E2017/162 
The Council of ABI is elected from its membership each four years. The last elections for a new Council and then for the Council offices were held in September 2017.  One of the newly elected councillors became ineligible to hold office as a councillor. On July 2017 FWC made arrangements with Australian Electoral Commission to conduct an election to fill the casual vacancy.
On 28 September 2017 the AEC declared the results of this election and on 13 October 2017 issued its Post-Election Report. The AEC is required to issue a report and also identifying any difficulties in the election or with the rules. These reports can be accessed below.

ABI ANNUAL REPORTS AND AGM

Australian Business Industrial reports to members within four months of the financial year ending. 

The 2023-2024 Annual report contains the President's review of the year together with the financial report of the year's operations. View ABI's Annual Reports below:

AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS INDUSTRIAL - NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 

Australian Business Industrial has also scheduled its Annual General Meeting:

Date: Wednesday 30 October 2024

Time: 1:45pm

The meeting will be held via Zoom.

The agenda for the meeting is:

The zoom details for the AGM are below:

Please click below URL to Join Zoom Meeting

https://businessnsw.zoom.us/j/99604965846?pwd=prD7YSwE3xWfbaPaDfkOyzGFB92K2m.1

Meeting ID: 996 0496 5846

Passcode: 936380

Dial by your location

+61 2 8015 6011 NSW/ACT

+61 3 7018 2005 VIC

+61 7 3185 3730 QLD

+61 8 6119 3900 WA/SA/NT

+61 8 7150 1149 WA/SA/NT

HOW THE ABI DEVELOPS ITS POLICY 

ABI policy is based on research, member consultation and dialogue with government ministers, department heads and industry leaders. ABI:

  • responds to the needs and concerns of members;
  • works with other employer/business organisations to make joint or consistent submissions when doing so better serves members and the interests of business; and
  • capitalises on the experience of elected ABI Councillors who are from a variety of industries and understand practical realities and issues facing business.

We seek to respond appropriately whenever regulation likely to impact the workplace is being considered, and to persuade government to make necessary changes to existing regulation. It works to ensure that our policy positions are founded on practical business experience and command respect in government.

HOW TO BECOME AN
ABI MEMBER 

As a member of Business NSW, you can become a member of Australian Business Industrial free of charge.

If you're already a Business NSW member and want to activate your ABI membership, call us.


BUSINESS HOTLINE ON 13 26 96

ABI COUNCIL ELECTIONS 2021

The Council of Australian Business Industrial (ABI) is elected from its membership each four years.

The last election for the Council was held in March 2021 and appointed 13 new Councillors. 

Stage 2 Elections to appoint office bearers was held in June 2021. On 1 July 2021 the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) declared the results of the stage 2 election.

The AEC is required to make such a report after an election is conducted by ABI. The report contains the results of the election and discusses other matters such as whether there were any irregularities with the conduct of the election or any rules of the AFPA which were difficult to interpret or apply.

The official AEC Declaration of Results and Post-Election Report is below.