Business Chamber Queensland

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Business Chamber Queensland Your business is our business. We know business matters.

For 155 years, Business Chamber Queensland has represented businesses of every industry, every size and in every part of the state. Formerly Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ), we’re an independent, not-for-profit organisation, with a rich legacy of putting Queensland business first, providing practical support backed by innovative thinking and powerful advocacy.

19/10/2026

Last week Business Chamber Queensland CEO Heidi Cooper joined the Deputy Premier and Small Business Minister to welcome reforms to Queensland’s workers’ compensation system.

We’ve heard consistently from businesses, particularly small and family businesses, that the current system can be difficult to navigate and increasingly costly.

We’ve been advocating for changes including more cost-effective WorkCover premiums, shorter claim timeframes, a better approach to psychological injury claims and stronger measures to prevent fraud.

The reforms announced today respond to many of those concerns and are an important step towards a workers’ compensation system that is more affordable, sustainable and easier to navigate, while continuing to support workers when they need it.

We’re pleased to see progress and will continue working with the State Government to ensure the system delivers the best possible outcomes for Queensland businesses and their employees.

There’s been plenty of conversation about card surcharges over the past few days, but for businesses the issue is simple...
14/10/2026

There’s been plenty of conversation about card surcharges over the past few days, but for businesses the issue is simple: who pays the cost?

The surcharge ban doesn’t remove merchant fees charged to businesses for accepting card payments.

Our latest snap poll shows businesses are looking at a range of ways to respond, with 38% saying they would absorb the cost and 36% looking to renegotiate merchant fees. Others are considering increasing prices (11%), encouraging alternative payment methods (9%) or moving away from credit cards altogether (7%).

As Business Chamber Queensland CEO Heidi Cooper said in the media this week, the real test will be whether reforms lead to lower payment costs for small businesses.

If they do, that’s a win for business and consumers.

If they don’t, the risk is that the cost will be shifted from the checkout to the business.

Pulse Survey for the September quarter now open 📣Over the past year, energy costs and the standard of infrastructure has...
13/10/2026

Pulse Survey for the September quarter now open 📣

Over the past year, energy costs and the standard of infrastructure has consistently ranked among the top 10 constraints on business growth in Queensland, rising to the fourth largest constraint in the March quarter.

In the September quarter Pulse Survey, we're taking a deep dive into the impact of electricity costs on Queensland businesses and what improvements can be made to optimise the network for cost, reliability and flexibility.

Share your valuable business perspective today: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VWXCPLC

Is your business based in Longreach? Join us next week for a Building Business Masterclass with The University of Queens...
12/10/2026

Is your business based in Longreach? Join us next week for a Building Business Masterclass with The University of Queensland Associate Professor Sarel Gronum on identifying, building and sustaining your competitive edge.

You’ll leave with a practical set of tools and decision rules you can apply immediately to guide strategic choices, focus effort where it matters most, and build an advantage that supports sustainable growth.

Event details
📅 Wednesday 21 October
🕞 7am – 9:30am (includes a 1.5-hour masterclass, Q&A and networking)
📍 Qantas Founders Museum
🎟️ Free for Longreach business owners and leaders! Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/building-business-excellence-masterclass-2026-longreach

This week, Business Chamber Queensland CEO Heidi Cooper appeared before the House Select Committee Inquiry into Cyber Se...
07/10/2026

This week, Business Chamber Queensland CEO Heidi Cooper appeared before the House Select Committee Inquiry into Cyber Security for Small and Medium Businesses in Canberra, sharing what Queensland businesses are saying about cyber security, artificial intelligence and digital capability.

The message was clear: businesses understand the risks, but many are facing significant challenges around capability, cost and complexity.

With AI-enabled scams emerging as one of the fastest-growing cyber threats, Business Chamber Queensland has called for a skills-led approach that helps businesses build cyber resilience through practical training, trusted support and implementation assistance, rather than additional compliance burdens.

Queensland businesses want to embrace new technologies like AI with confidence. To do that, they need capability, not complexity.

Queensland women’s working lives are evolving – and maximising their contribution to the state’s business community is c...
30/09/2026

Queensland women’s working lives are evolving – and maximising their contribution to the state’s business community is critical to building a productive, inclusive, and resilient economy.

The inaugural Future of Women in Business Report, supported by Australian Retirement Trust, examines the pathways, barriers, and systemic changes needed to unlock women’s economic potential across Queensland.

Join us in Brisbane as we launch this valuable resource for businesses, industry leaders and government decision makers, with expert insights from:
➡️ Anne Fuchs, Acting Chief People and Impact Officer at Australian Retirement Trust
➡️ Dalene Wray, Managing Director at OBE Organic
➡️ Dr Terrance Fitzsimmons, Associate Professor in Leadership at The University of Queensland Business School and Managing Director of the Australian Gender Equality Council
➡️ Heidi Cooper, CEO at Business Chamber Queensland

Event details
📅 Thursday, 22 October 2026
🕞 12:00pm - 2:00pm
📍 Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Plaza Meeting Room 7&8
🎟️ Book your tickets today: https://events.humanitix.com/future-of-women-in-business-brisbane

Almost one in three Queensland businesses say they are not ready for the card payment surcharge ban coming into effect o...
28/09/2026

Almost one in three Queensland businesses say they are not ready for the card payment surcharge ban coming into effect on 1 October.
That’s what we found when we surveyed 600 businesses ahead of the changes.
The topic sparked discussion at today’s business Chamber Queensland webinar, where businesses from hospitality, tourism, construction, professional services, retail and healthcare explored not only the surcharge ban itself, but also the opportunity to take a fresh look at systems, costs and planning.
Some of the key questions businesses should be asking:
• Are you getting the best deal from your payment provider?
• Are you paying unnecessary fees through outdated systems or duplicate services?
• Does your pricing reflect how your customers actually choose to pay?
As the ban approaches, we're encouraging businesses to compare card payment and point-of-sale providers and review their current arrangements. Businesses processing around $1 million in card transactions have often faced surcharge costs approaching 2%, making this an important opportunity to identify savings and improve efficiency.
If you're still preparing for the changes, our quick-read factsheet provides a practical checklist to help you get ready: Download the factsheet
Thanks to David Garrett from SumUp Australia for sharing practical insights on a change that will affect businesses right across Queensland, the businesses who joined us online, and to our host Myles Lawrence from Business Chamber Queensland.

28/09/2026

How we present Queensland to the world in the six years leading up to will shape investment, visitation, partnerships, and economic opportunities for decades to come. That was the key theme from our latest Business Matters event, supported by Australian Retirement Trust.

The challenge now lies in carefully crafting the Queensland story, building momentum, and ensuring businesses across the state are ready to tell their part.

Watch the event highlights below.

Calling all Longreach businesses 📣Next month, alongside The University of Queensland, we're hosting a Building Business ...
25/09/2026

Calling all Longreach businesses 📣

Next month, alongside The University of Queensland, we're hosting a Building Business Excellence Masterclass on how to identify, build and sustain your competitive edge.

You’ll leave with a practical set of tools and decision rules you can apply immediately to guide strategic choices, focus effort where it matters most, and build an advantage that supports sustainable growth.

Event details:
📅 Wednesday 21 October
🕞 7–9:30am (includes a 1.5-hour masterclass, Q&A and networking)
📍 Qantas Founders Museum, Longreach
🎟️ https://events.humanitix.com/building-business-excellence-masterclass-2026-longreach

This event is free to attend for Queensland businesses.

With the China International Import Expo (CIIE) taking place this November, many Queensland businesses are considering h...
24/09/2026

With the China International Import Expo (CIIE) taking place this November, many Queensland businesses are considering how to strengthen their presence in one of the world's largest and most dynamic markets.

China continues to present significant opportunities for Queensland businesses, but success rarely happens by accident. It's a market that rewards preparation, local knowledge, and attention to detail.

That's why Business Chamber Queensland and Asialink Business have partnered to offer the Get Market-Ready: China Export Bundle. For businesses attending CIIE, it is an ideal way to prepare before stepping onto the exhibition floor: https://shop.businesschamberqld.com.au/product/get-marketready-china-export-bundle/01tRF00000RDIFwYAP

Address

300 Queen Street
Brisbane, QLD
4000

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+611300731988

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