On the #FITnotFBT Campaign Trail

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

The Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) Campaign for the fitness industry is now in full swing and gathering momentum. Our overriding aim is to create a level playing field for small businesses by enabling them to take advantage of the same FBT exemption on fitness services that large businesses can benefit from.

Good progress has been made towards this goal, including:

• Development of a substantial policy proposal, with Deloitte modelling, to make a clear case for a policy shift on FBT.
• Submission of a proposal to the Federal Government Tax White Paper consultation process.
• Productive meetings with key Ministers and other influencers and favourable indications that Fitness Australia's proposals have registered with Government and will be given serious consideration.
• Gained support from key employer & employee bodies - ACCI, COSBOA, ACTU.
• The issue and campaign has been put on key decision makers' radar through a detailed article outlining the case, published in the Australian Financial Review and a range of follow-up media.

In recent weeks I've attended meetings, as have other industry campaign supporters, with key people:

• Pre-budget event with the Prime Minister, the Hon Tony Abbott MP
• South Australian Federal Ministers Budget lunch in Adelaide, the Hon Joe Hockey MP, Senator Birmingham, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP and the Hon Jamie Briggs MP.
• Meeting with the Hon John Alexander MP, Member for Bennelong. Accompanied by Tony Dempsey, Head of Legal Counsel for Fitness First.
• Greg Oliver of Goodlife Health Clubs (and former Fitness Australia Board member) has also started to meet with local MP’s in Brisbane to discuss the campaign.
• The Bradfield Dinner in Parliament House on Budget night, hosted by the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, Member for Bradfield.
• Two post-Budget events with Treasurer, Joe Hockey and Assistant Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg.
• A presentation by the Tax Commissioner, Chris Jordan AO.

All of these meetings have served to raise awareness of the FBT campaign and Fitness Australia amongst key political leaders.

We continue to have a range of opportunities to gain further traction and influence, including:

• Lobbying to have the FBT issue included in the Tax Green Paper later this year.
• Build on our support base to show the FBT proposal as an easy win for inclusion in the 2016 Federal Budget.
• Mobilise our support base, including the Opposition, to support a Bill through the Senate.
• In the lead up to the next election, firm up support among all parties to ensure that commitment is maintained.

Whilst this progress has been made it is vitally important that we maintain and build on the momentum. 

In the coming months, Fitness Australia will continue to lobby for this reform, but we need the support of the fitness industry to be successful. You can help by pledging support for the #FITnotFBT campaign and using the campaign resources to raise awareness of the issue with your local Federal Member of Parliament.

We'll be rolling out some local lobbying efforts with leading industry businesses and working to raise more awareness of the campaign amongst the small business sector.