Factors Impacting your Local Economy
There was a great deal of conversation during our monthly RCCIWA Member Teleconference this week regarding the global, local and external factors that either have the potential to or already are, having an impact on regional businesses and regional economies. It is definitely a time of flux and some of the feedback we are getting is that there is quite a bit of uncertainty and some regional businesses feel like they are in a holding pattern. On the other hand, after spending a bit of time in the regions over the past few weeks and being able to speak directly with business owners, we also get the feedback that some regional  businesses think there needs to be a bit of perspective and calm, they are very busy, their business is currently experiencing growth, and they not worrying about those factors that they have no control over until they have to. They are just getting on with the job, so to speak.

The economic factors that were discussed during the teleconference were:

• The implications of COVID 19 – how have our regional businesses been affected so far, how can we assist in preparing our businesses or making sure they are well informed, what can our members do, how can RCCIWA assist all members?
• Bushfire recovery and impacts on WA businesses
• The dramatic drop in oil prices
• The current share-market conditions and stability/instability
• Low interest rates
• Slow economy

We are also faced with the reality that several regions in WA are currently going through a strong economic upturn. A period of construction, building, new developments and skills and jobs shortages. They are forward focused and looking at true economic growth. So how do we balance that type of economic optimism with the concerns on a global scale? Are we prepared, are we panicking, are we overreacting, are we underreacting?

We are seeing a rapid escalation daily of reactions and measures taken to minimise the impact of COVID 19 from events being cancelled, to airlines reducing flights and Executives taking pay cuts – the question then becomes – how can we make sure our members and their members have the most up to date information available?

Further to this conversation, RCCIWA are looking at ways we can gather information in a short period of time from our members and their members, to try and point our regional businesses in the right direction for support as well as to provide collective and relevant information to both the State and Federal Government agencies charged with providing support and possible stimulus to our economy and particularly to businesses.

In regard to COVID19 and with both the State and Federal Governments’ releasing COVID 19 Plans and Stimulus Packages this week, it is crucial that we find out directly from our members what they need. We will be in touch with all of our members so they can find out from their members what the practical and real solutions might be to ensure our businesses can survive any potential economic impact over the next 12 months.

We need to find out:

• If there is a State Government stimulus package – what should it be?
• What can RCCIWA do as a collective?
• Are you concerned about your region’s economic resilience?
• What is the state of your local economy? What is actually happening?
• Are there any opportunities we should be focussing on to sure up business resilience in the regions?

We will be in direct contact with our members over the next few days to work out how we can approach this together. In the meantime if you want to talk about this further please email me at ceo@regionalchamberswa.com.au at any time. The questions is – what approach should RCCIWA take to help our members help their members?

RCCIWA Member Visits – Karratha & Districts CCI and Broome CCI
I loved visiting Karratha last week and Broome this week to spend time with our terrific members the KDCCI and the Broome CCI, meet some of their members and work on some projects together. Both are very active and dynamic Chambers with a strategic and focussed approach to supporting their members, delivering genuine benefits and supporting the growth of their local economies.

In Karratha, their CEO Tanya Dodd and her brilliant team kept me very busy.

• I attended the Quarterly Business Breakfast Briefing co-hosted by the City of Karratha and the KDCCI. With a focus of housing availability and affordability, with various presentations it was a very informative way to start the day with over 130 Karratha business people in attendance.
• I took part in the KDCCI  Local Suppliers and Projects Roundtable – and invitation only event featuring key resource and supply chain companies, each giving an update on projects and business opportunities coming up. It was a very valuable meeting with a presentation on FBT and suggested ways to offer tax relief to regional businesses – a thought provoking presentation.
• I took part in the Grow Local business support services Roundtable. Organised by Grow Local, all of the providers of business support services in Karratha were brought together to share what they offer and also discuss ways we can all work in collaboration, refer each other and avoid duplication.
• I took part in the Grow Local Partners catch – up – meeting with the KDCCI and Lareesa from Rio Tinto and Corinne from Woodside to discuss the progress to date and plans going forward. A terrific meeting. We are so proud to be involved in Grow Local – to find out more on what Grow Local is offering  visit here.

In Broome, their CEO Elaine Jolliffe and her superstar team also kept me on my toes!

• I took part in their inaugural International Women’s Day Signature Luncheon at the fabulous Cable Beach Resort. With an incredible line up of three outstanding speakers – Michelle Cowan, Kira Fong and Darrylin Gordon the event was both inspirational and though provoking and a true success.
• I attended their Business After Hours, in their terrific new offices, hosted by Sheffield Resources. It was a great opportunity to hear an update on this important project as well as meet many Broome CCI members.
• I attended the Broome CCI hosted Broome Tourism Industry Breakfast Briefing. A very informative session bringing together Broome’s Tourism Sector’s organisations and businesses to hear about plans for the next 6 to 12 months and discuss ways they can all work in collaborative. Another very well received and valuable briefing.

Visiting our members and meeting their members is our favourite thing to do – so please let us know if there ever is a good time or a good opportunity for us to come to you. We have visits planned over the next month to Manjimup, Gidgegannup and Newman, which we are really looking forward to.

A note from Tourism WA -  Narrative Forums coming to Regional WA
I hope this email finds you well in what has been a difficult couple of months for our industry.  All of us at Tourism WA are conscious of the challenges you and your business may be facing.  The tourism landscape is constantly changing and evolving.  My team and I are committed to supporting our industry to get through this trying time.

As you may recall, we postponed the narrative forums scheduled for last month, so we could focus on developing domestic marketing campaigns and partnerships to help attract visitors to the State in this current climate.  We are close to being able to share these exciting campaigns with you - they will be announced very soon. 

While we know the industry is facing difficulties, many of you are waiting to see your ‘WA Tourism - Our Story.’

‘WA Tourism – Our Story’ has been created in consultation with more than 500 tourism industry business owners and leaders from across the State, and was tested with over 100 intrastate, interstate and international consumers. The forums will detail Our Story, and also provide practical examples and case studies about how it could be applied to your business.

You can register for the forums below:

• Perth: Thursday, March 26, Double Tree By Hilton Perth Northbridge
• Broome: Friday, March 27, Cable Beach Club
• Exmouth: Tuesday, March 31, Ningaloo Centre
• Margaret River: Wednesday, April 1, Eight Willows Retreat
• Esperance: Thursday, April 2, Esperance Civic Centre  

The presentations will be followed by discussions and morning or afternoon tea.

If you’re unable to attend in person, you can watch the live stream with key people from your business/region on Thursday, March 26 from 10am to 12pm. Details can be found here.

We also understand for many of you there are more urgent concerns at the moment.  For this reason, we commit to also sharing the ‘WA Tourism - Our Story’ concept later in the year. 

Brody Carr Tourism WA

RCCIWA Members Forum – June 18^th and 19^th 2020 – We’d love your input
Planning has already commenced for the first biannual RCCIWA Members Forum, to be held in Perth at Parliament House on Thursday June 18^th and at a venue to be confirmed soon in Perth on Friday June 19^th.  To ensure we deliver a valuable and information packed Forum we would love your input. We are keen to know:

• Which MP’s and speakers you would like to hear from on both days?
• Is there a particular topic or session you would like us to deliver on either day?
• Do you have any suggestions for the format of both days?
• If you will be unable to attend in person, would you be interested in joining in for parts of the forum utilising technology? And if yes – what platform works for you?
• For our first day at Parliament House do you have any suggestions as to how we format the day? Should we change it up? Would you like opportunities for smaller group meetings with individual Ministers?
• Do you have any speakers you can recommend to us for the second day?
• Any other comments or suggestion you would like to offer?

RCCIWA Member Portal - Send us your Documents
Our member portal is live and we are keen to upload member documents and information for our members to access. To assist us, could you please email admin@regionalchamberswa.com.au any documents that you are happy to share with your fellow members. We will assume if you send it to us that you are happy for us to upload this on the members only access section of our website. Please send in pdf format (and in the smallest size you can), documents such as:

• Your Constitution
• Your Strategic or Operational Plans
• Membership Forms, Membership prospectus
• Member Benefits flyer
• BAH information
• Sponsorship information
• Directory information
• Business Awards Information
• Job and Position Descriptions
• Events information
• Policies and Procedures
• Committee Induction pack  etc