5th September 2023
Minister for Workplace Relations, Tony Burke, has introduced the ‘Closing the Loopholes’ bill, which includes much anticipated and speculated changes to casual work, ’employee-like’ work, road transport issues, and more. Continue reading
The AMA is an active member of COSBOA which has initiated the Cyber Wardens program, now available to all AMA members. Continue reading
25th August 2023
The World Radiocommunications Conference will be held later this year (WRC-23) and will as usual consider a wide range of telecommunications and spectrum management issues.
There is one agenda item of particular interest to the music products industry, item 1.5 relating to the 470-694 MHz frequency band in Region 1 (Europe / Africa). This covers the frequency range (520 to 694 MHz) currently available for broadcast in Australia, and devices such as wireless microphones. Continue reading
20th July 2023
The National Retail Association, Australia’s most representative retail industry organisation, and the Australian Music Association, the renowned industry body for the music products sector, are thrilled to announce their strategic partnership aimed at supporting, informing and representing the retailers and wholesaler’s landscape. This exciting collaboration brings together two industry leaders with a shared vision to support and represent members of the Retail Industry.
19th July 2023
The following notes come from the Summary Record of the Twenty-sixth meeting of the CITES Plants Committee, held in Geneva (Switzerland), 5 – 9 June 2023 Continue reading
19th July 2023
The Australian Music Association, in partnership with Marsh, is excited to announce a new membership benefit for you and your customers. Continue reading
19th July 2023
On July 1, 2023, Australian Musician entered a new phase in its long and proud history, changing ownership from the Australian Music Association (which has published the magazine since 1995) to its editor and magazine co-founder Greg Phillips (trading as Mediaville). Continue reading
13th July 2023
On Monday 10th July, Anthony Ursino gave notice that he would be stepping down from the role of President, and the board, effective immediately. The AMA board is schedule to meet in August and the AGM is scheduled for 18th October, Vice President Warrick Baker has agreed to step into the role in the interim, the board will make a decision in August about whether to appoint a new President for the period leading up to the AGM (where the role will be open for nominations anyway).
The convention is that President and Vice President positions are held for two years at a time, although the limit under the Constitution is longer than this. This coming AGM marks the end of that two year cycle and under normal circumstances, and Anthony’s intentions, there would have been a change of leadership in October.
Thanks to Anthony for his tireless work for the AMA during his almost two years as President, and two years as Vice President before that. His commitment to moving the association forward, representing the interests of retailers, willingness to ask big questions, and determination to bring in new voices either within the board or in consultation with other members, has resonated with all of the AMA’s work during a period of considerable change.
– Alex Masso, Executive Officer.
|
Economic snapshot |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
|
Economic Growthi |
2.75% |
4.2% |
1.1% |
|
Unemployment Rate |
3.5% |
4.0% |
6.3% |
|
Cash Rate Targetii |
0.1% (Jan) 3.10% (Dec) |
0.1% |
0.1% |
|
Wage Price Indexiii |
3.4% |
2.3% |
1.4% |
|
Populationiv |
26.27 million |
25.75 million |
25.68 million |
|
Consumer Price Indexv |
7.8% |
3.5% |
0.9% |
Throughout 2022 the Australian economy entered a period of increasing inflation and interest rates, creating difficult conditions for retail trade in consumer products. Unemployment fell below 4% early in the year and stayed there, reaching a low point of 3.4% and ending the year at 3.5%.i Wages increased at a faster pace than usual, with the Wage Price Index moving above 3% for the first time in almost 10 years. However, higher wages and low unemployment were matched with higher interest rates, with the RBA cash rate moving from 0.1% to 3.1%, and consumer price index reaching a high point of 7.8%. Continue reading
Updated 19th July, 2023
The Senate References Committee for Environment and Communications is holding an inquiry into the National Cultural Policy. The AMA has written submissions to the initial consultation, and to this inquiry, offering constructive suggestions for policies that would benefit members and progress the AMA’s interest in more music makers. Continue reading
