The Geelong Chamber of Commerce__
Advancing Business and Industry in the Geelong Region
Victorian Business Centre  69-71 Moorabool Street GEELONG  VIC  3220

Tel: 03 52222234                     E-mail: admin@geelongchamber.com.au                     Fax: 03 52224845

27 May 2003

Dr David Robertson
Commissioner
Productivity Commission
P.O. Box 80
BELCONNEN   ACT   2616

Dear Dr Robertson

Inquiry into Post-2005 TCFL Assistance Arrangements. Public Hearing

You have been advised that the Chamber wishes to make a presentation to the Public Hearing by the Productivity Commission, relating to the above Inquiry, which is scheduled at Geelong on Thursday, 5 June 2003. 

I advise that the Chamber will rely on its original submission forwarded to the Commission on 6 March and numbered 62.

The Chamber also wishes to discuss the following points:
•	Geelong's TCF industries which survived the 1996 tariff cuts have dramatically "lifted their game" since that time and have come together as an operative cluster to improve their efficiency and competitiveness and, as a consequence, should be recognised for this and receive special assistance.
•	Lowered tariffs will see much more market penetration from overseas, particularly in the carpet industry, which will see Australian and Geelong region manufacturers lose market share and eventually close down.
•	The impact on the Geelong region's TCF industries following the 1996 tariff cuts, with the loss of 1150 jobs, was far more severe than was projected by the Productivity Commission which leads the Chamber to conclude that the impact from the Commission's preferred tariff regime will, likewise, be more severe than currently projected.

Copies of the Chamber's submission that it proposes to speak to will be made available to the Commission prior to the hearing in Geelong on 5 June 2003.

Yours sincerely

Lawrie Miller
Executive Director

Proudly Celebrating 150 Years of Service to Geelong's Business and Industry in June 2003