Advocating for a healthier more productive workforce

http://www.fitnotfbt.org.au/

#FITnotFBT –  Let's get Our Tax System Into Shape

Imagine an Australia of the future where more employers can encourage and provide incentives to their employees to get active, fit and healthy with the support of the fitness industry. The nation’s workplaces would reap the benefit through:

• Improved productivity
• Increased employee motivation and engagement
• Improved employee morale
• Reduced absenteeism
• Reductions in the health and economic costs of physical inactivity.
  
  This generates economic growth, which is good for everyone!
  The current Fringe Benefits Tax legislation is a barrier to this vision. That’s why we all need to get behind the #FITnotFBT Campaign.
  
  WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
  Today, an employer who can provide fitness services on their premises qualifies for a Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemption. However, if a small to medium sized business, which doesn’t have the space on-site, wants to provide the same service off-site, they don’t qualify for an FBT exemption. Given that small to medium businesses account for 70% of all jobs, it is counterproductive to have a tax incentive that effectively discourages the majority of businesses from helping to create a healthier, more productive workforce.
  
  Fitness Australia is urging the Federal Government to address this inequity.
  
  THE PROPOSED SOLUTION 
  

  The #FITnotFBT campaign proposes expanding the exemption to include registered fitness services offered off-site such as visits to local gyms, personal training services, outdoor training and yoga/pilates studios.
  
  

LOBBYING ACTIVITY

Fitness Australia has met with all of the relevant Ministers and Shadow Ministers to discuss the #FITnotFBT campaign and regularly makes submissions to Treasury through the Budget process. The campaign has been well received by government because it 
(a) makes sense, 
(b) offers support to small business, 
(c) encourages investment in the health and wellbeing of workers and 
(d) is not costly to implement. 

The campaign also has the support of influential groups such as the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), the Council of Small Business of Australia (COSBOA) and the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU). 

The next phase of Fitness Australia’s direct lobbying efforts will be to meet with Members of Parliament across Australia in partnership with fitness business operators and members of their local business community. Our aim is to ensure that as many MP’s as possible are aware of and understand the issue and our proposed solution.

However, to achieve change to this legislation, we need to do more as a united industry and we need to have a louder voice on this issue.

That’s why we need every fitness business in Australia to get behind the #FITnotFBT campaign.

WHY GET INVOLVED?

If off-site fitness services were exempt from FBT, more employers would be financially empowered to offer incentives to their staff to engage in fitness services. That means more clients for the fitness industry, as well as more people getting active and healthy. Therefore, the employer WINS, the employee WINS and the fitness business WINS. So what are you waiting for? 

What you can do to help

1. At the most basic level, you can visit www.FITnotFBT.org.au and show your support. This will generate an email to your local MP about the campaign.
2. Share the #FITnotFBT messages and video through your business – face to face and online.
3. Talk to your clients about the campaign and encourage them to show their support online.
4. Talk to your local business contacts, and encourage them to support the campaign.
5. Utilise the resources in the Campaign Kit that has been sent to all Business Members of Fitness Australia.
6. Contact Fitness Australia to learn more or get involved by emailing fitnotfbt@fitness.org.au or call 1300 211 311.