Charter of Contractual Fairness
On 1 July we launched our Charter of Contractual Fairness

We have heavily drawn the principles of contract fairness from the new consumer unfair contract protections laws. If it's fair for consumers, it's fair for small business people - the self-employed and independent contractors.

We are currently writing to Australian corporations asking them to commit to contract fairness in their dealings with small business people.
Election Face-off 2010
Here's how the 2 sides currently shape up for small business/self employed people! (10 July 2010)
Gillard's ALP

So far, they've told us "here's what we've done!"

• Started a superannuation clearing house
• Begun a small business online inquiry service
• Established a Small Business Advisory Committee
• New liability contract guidelines for government procurement
• National Business Name Registration
• A new guide for self-employed people
Abbott's Coalition
They've announced the first part of "here's what we're going to do!"

• A dedicated Small Business Minister who will be in Cabinet
• A new Small Business Ombudsman to handle and resolve small business complaints about the federal government
• The extension of consumer unfair contract protections to small business people
• Retention of the current self-employed (PSI) tax laws
• Stop small business red tape on Paid Parental Leave
• Mr Abbott's and Mr Billson's joint press release
What we've been asking for
• The extension of consumer unfair contract protections to small business people

• Retention of the current self-employed (PSI) tax laws. Our letter to the PM (28 May 2010)

Failure to fix unfair business contracts
ICA says "extend unfair contract protections for consumers to small business".

New laws:
Legislation #1 (March 2010)
Legislation #2 (June 2010)

Here's our summary of the situation.
How the legislation defines unfair contract terms.
Why small business people should have TPA protections from unfair contracts.
We need an answer on tax, please
We've made it quite clear that self-employed (PSI) tax should not be changed.

We've written to the PM for an answer, but we do not yet have a reply.

Tony Abbott has been clear. NO change!
Industry/Retail super funds must come out
The Cooper Review into superannuation says the big funds are not disclosing enough and must be forced to do so. This is vital. See Chapter 4.

Here's why workers' money is at risk if disclosure is not enforced.
Look after your retirement
The Cooper Review of superannuation says Self Managed Super Funds are good and need little change to existing arrangements. This is welcome. See Chapter 8.

The Report also seems to have stopped the attack against SMSF's.
Stand Up for Your (Contract) Rights!
We're monitoring contracts in general and promoting good contracts in particular. For example:
Another bad contract (Jun 2010)
One of the worst contracts we've seen (Jan 2010)
'Tom' versus DEEWR (Nov 2009)
But a positive development from government
Ken Phillips comments
And some interesting discussions
Central Banks on Debt
Since mid-May, central banks have been worried about sovereign debt. Click here for a list of useful links and summaries.
Problems with Phoenix companies
Two ICA members' tell their stories
ATO information on reporting suspect activity.

Govt's attempts to do something:
ICA comment

Newspaper comment:
The Australian
The Age/Sydney Morning Herald
Business Spectator

What 'Tom' thinks
What 'Jim' thinks
Dick Davies Writes...
"...the human fabric of the workplace precedes in importance that of technology!"
Dick Davies prods us to think about management, independence and motivation. Click here.
Stop Sham Contracts!
ICA supports the prevention of sham contracts. We monitor what's happening with them:
One person's story
Successful FWO prosecution (Dec 2009)
Info from Fair Work Ombudsman (July 2009)
First sham contract prosecution: ICA summary
Make a complaint to FWO
Business Spectator article
Read the debate
... Unquote
The Pessimists' Economic Views
(Posted January 2010)
We've brought together some pessimistic views about economics and likely economic trends in 2010:
US toxic loans
'US as sick as Greece'
Ken Phillips's summary
An 'IMF' perspective
Predicting 2010
Government debt a giant ponzi scheme?


Click to enlarge.

Ken Phillips on the debt equation


Watching Goldman Sachs
Rolling Stone magazine has blown the lid on Goldman Sachs:
Article 1 [July 2009]
Article 2 [April 2010]
Article 3 [May 2010]
Tax burden: UK versus Australia
Just as the UK is moving toward more sensible small business (contractor) tax laws, in Australia we're having to defend the progress we've made.
Laughing lawyers
You'll be amazed by the 'slips' that some lawyers make in court.

Who or What is ICA?

ICA Rules of Association
Click here for ICA's Rules of Association (ICA members only).
ICA Information Brochure
Click here for the 2010 ICA brochure which explains membership.
Contractor Rights Manifesto
Click here for ICA's Declaration of Contractor Rights [PDF].

Independent Contractors of Australia (ICA) is a not for profit association incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act (1981) of Victoria. ICA is governed by a committee under the rules established by the Articles of Association adopted as recommended under the Victorian Act and as amended.

Membership. Membership is open to all independent contractors or those who are interested in being independent contractors. Membership is also available to companies who use independent contractors and industry groups whose members use independent contractors. Click here for the 2010 ICA brochure which explains membership.

Objectives. ICA has been formed to protect the rights of independent contractors to be treated fairly, justly and equitably in Australia and to be allowed to work free from intimidation or harassment from bureaucrats, the Australian Taxation Office, political parties, unions and others.

Achieving Objectives
ICA seeks to achieve independent contractors rights by:
  • Education. Assisting all independent contractors to understand their status and their rights under law. This is a primary task of the web site.
  • Networking. To assist independent contractors across all industry sectors to network on issues of common interest. Attacks against independent contractors in one sector must be seen and defended as attacks all independent contractors.
  • Lobbying. To undertake public and private lobbying to ensure that legislation and regulation treats independent contractors with justice and equity. The chief lobbying power comes from the ability of ICA to network as proven in the 2001 effort in relation to the Personal Services Income (Tax) legislation.
 Management of ICA
ICA has established a broad and wide membership and is committed to keeping operational costs and membership fees low. For this reason the administration of ICA including membership contact is handled predominantly through this web site. Where issues relate to a specific industry ICA will assist members to find resolution through a relevant industry association.

ICA Articles of Association state:
The objectives for which the association is established are
  1. To uphold and defend the right of all Australians to engage in the labour market as free and independent contractors, and to be fully and unambiguously recognised by governments, tax officials and regulators as independent contactors.
  2. To engage in lobbying and public debate to ensure that the Australian community is constantly reminded that freedom is indivisible, and that if Australians' rights to engage freely in the labour market are impaired or denied, then the rights of all Australians to live in freedom will be at risk.
  3. To take advantage of opportunities to entrench within the common law the distinctions which the courts, over many years, have made between employment and contract in labour market relationships.
  4. To do all such other things as the association or the committee shall think incidental or conducive to the attainment of the aforesaid objects.
Registrations
  • Australian Business Number: 54 403 453 626
  • Incorporation Number (Victoria): [A0050004U]
  • Independent Contractors of Australia Trademark Registration Number: 1173433
  • "Contract World" is the business name of ICA registered or pending in each Australian state.
  • "Contract World" is the registered domain name of ICA.