A Meeting with the Federal Minister for Small Business

Stuart Lamont, CEO of Caravan Industry Association of Australia, along with Julian Harniman recently met with the Federal Minister for Small Business, Michael McCormack MP, to discuss issues that concern the caravan industry.

The points of discussion included:

• The need for local governments be included in the effects test when it comes to assessing free camping against competitive neutrality guidelines.
• The MVSA and the issue of caravans falling under ‘trailers’ in the act.  Also raised giving the Minister the final say in compliance issues rather than the ACCC.
• Noise corridor regulations in terms of how they can affect caravan park development, for example, on the Bruce Hwy near Cairns.
• The issue of the ABS conducting research on hotel accommodation nights but not on caravan industry nights.
• Advised the Minister that his electorate in NSW, Riverina, is ranked 12 out of 13 for the number of caravan industry visitor nights and 13 out of 13 for average length of stay.

The meeting between Caravan Industry Association of Australia and Minister Michael McCormack MP represents part of a concerted effort that will see us meet with over 12 sitting MPs to discuss caravan industry issues in the coming weeks.  Included in these meetings is one with the Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce, the second-most senior officer in the Government of Australia.