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ACAPMA PETROLEUM INDUSTRY REPORT JOIN ACAPMA ACAPMA IS A NATIONAL INDUSTRY BODY REPRESENTING FUEL DISTRIBUTORS AND FUEL RETAILERS IN AUSTRALIA ACAPMA Membership includes access to a range of benefits: • ADVOCACY: on behalf of the industry • EMPLOYMENT & COMPLIANCE: advice, support health check audits, template documents & representation (including unfair dismissal) • TRAINING: and recognition schemes focused on standardised online safety and compliance training for employees in fuel retail, transport & contractor roles • EVENTS: by the industry, for the industry • NEWS & INFORMATION: updated daily online and delivered to your inbox every Friday EMPLOYMENT ADVOCACY EVENTS TRAINING INFORMATION ACAPMA 1300 160 270 communications@acapma.com.au So, why does it take an emergency to get businesses motivated to give associations the information they need to be effective? The answer is that running a business takes time and effort, and another email with yet another survey from your industry body can seem like an unnecessary chore, especially when there’s no crisis. Perhaps we need to reframe the question by asking: how can businesses in an industry ensure that their association has a seat at the table, and is armed with the information and support they need to be effective? Simple ... engage! Join up, become a member, then engage in those programs and information gathering exercises that will provide your association with the backing it needs to argue on your behalf. It’s worth noting that it’s rare for organisations to gain credibility in the wake of a crisis – it has to be developed beforehand by constant engagement with governments on issues that are both industry relevant and publicly credible. Success means that your industry association is working behind your industry to prosecute good government policy that builds the value of an industry during normal times, but also steps out in front when there’s a crisis. So, if you have said a silent thank you to your association for their response to the series of disasters that have characterised 2020, I would ask you to do a couple of things that are in your businesses’ long term interest. Join your relevant industry body (or renew your membership) and support them with their periodic requests for information, which, after all, put them into a stronger position to advocate for the interests of your business in the future. COVID-19 has reinforced the power of industry cooperation. Let’s not let the ‘work together’ spirit that has been developed through this COVID-19 crisis fade away as the lockdowns ease. Let us harness the collective fighting spirit to strengthen our industry associations, which in turn enhances the ability of all Australian businesses to respond to the challenges that lie ahead of us all. About Mark McKenzie CEO Mark holds formal qualifications in engineering (BEng) and business (MBA). He has 30 years of varied experience in private- and public-sector roles, with much of this time spent addressing strategic issues and public policy for the road transport, conventional fuels and alternative fuels industries. Email him at markm@acapma.com.au or go to www.acapma.com.au. About ACAPMA First established in 1976, the Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association is the peak industry association representing the interests of most businesses that comprise the downstream petroleum sector in Australia. Membership of the association ranges from large corporations to small family owned businesses, including fuel wholesalers, fuel distributors, fuel retailers, petroleum contractors and petroleum equipment suppliers. For further information about the nature of petroleum marketing in Australia, contact the ACAPMA Secretariat on 1300 160 270, or email assist@acapma.com.au. MAY/JUN, 2020 CONVENIENCE WORLD 61