Page 14 - The Bulletin #135 Summer 2021

NATIONAL CEO REPORT
CCF CONTINUES ADVOCACY WITH
STATE & FEDERAL
GOVERNMENTS
FROM THE CCF NATIONAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CHRIS MELHAM
,
Irecently participated in an online event Key topics discussed during the
hosted by CCF Victoria to promote the
role CCF National plays in advocating to Government on behalf of its members.
CCF Victoria’s online webinars are a crucial tool in getting information out to members and interested stakeholders
on the topics and issues of importance to the civil construction industry, and
so I was delighted to join John Kilgour, CCF Victoria CEO to provide an overview of our respective advocacy efforts throughout 2020 and a snapshot of 2021.
At the top of the agenda were CCF National’s advocacy activities in response to COVID-19, and how we went about highlighting industry’s priorities to the Federal Government in the lead-up to the 2020-2021 Federal Government Budget.
The webinar is available for download at www.civilcontractors.com/ communication/national-news.
procurement and foreign investment. Engaged with a range of government and non-government bodies to advocate for policies that support the civil construction sector.
webinar included how CCF National: n Has been advocating on behalf of
members in calling for additional monetary infrastructure investment commitments from the Federal Government and to increase funding for skills.
n Directly engaged with senior ministers during the year, including the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Michael McCormack.
n Undertook surveys to demonstrate our sector’s strong capacity to take on more infrastructure projects and employ more workers to stimulate the Australian economy.
n Provided formal submissions to the Federal Government on a range of matters consistent with CCF National’s policy pillars, including infrastructure investment, skills, industrial relations,
n
One of the issues I highlight during the presentation is our advocacy work in the area of skills.
CCF National has been stepping
up its efforts to ensure there are sufficient skilled workers in the civil construction sector to support a thriving and sustainable industry that will lead Australia’s economic recovery.
In October, CCF National surveyed
its members to obtain information on their skills needs and any recruitment difficulties. CCF National provided data from this survey to the National Skills Commission, which provides advice to the Federal Government on Australia’s labour
14 SUMMER 2021
THE BULLETIN – Civil Contractors Federation VIC