A message from the President, Steve Maras

The past year has showcased the Property Council’s key strengths: the ability to deliver excellent policy outcomes and powerful economic and community benefits while advocating the interests of the property industry.

Despite the change of leaders at a federal level and the constant jobs challenge presented to us at a state level, the Property Council has continued to advocate the importance of our industry to South Australia’s economy:

• We are South Australia’s biggest industry, accounting for 10.8% of the State’s economic activity
• We are South Australia’s second largest employer, generating almost 170,000 direct and indirect jobs – more than mining and manufacturing combined
• 1 in 6 South Australians draw their wage directly or indirectly from the property industry
• We contribute 56.6% of South Australia’s taxes, local Government rates, fees and charges

Our industry touches the lives of all Australians, and if we can get the policy settings right, our industry will play the leading role in growing our economy to where we all want it to be.

Even right up until Christmas, the Property Council has been busy selling this message.

This year we have developed and launched an award winning new website and, in a Property Council first, a national industry image campaign across a range of media platforms. Our message was spread across The Advertiser, The Australian, the Australian Financial Review and other mediums.

Over the course of 2015, the South Australian Division has participated in 135 advocacy meetings, and put forward 202 pages of evidence-based policy submissions to the State Government.

The fruits of these efforts are regularly propagated in the public domain. From the abolition of stamp duty on non-residential property transfers to leading the charge on planning reform, from securing building upgrade finance to protecting foreign investment – the Property Council has continued to influence positive outcomes for the industry.

Of course, the work of the Property Council would not be possible without the 151 industry volunteers who serve across the 10 member committees.

Of particular note this year has been the work undertaken by our State Development & Taxation Committee in assisting with our submission to the Tax Reform Discussion Paper.

Today we host our final event for 2015. Over the course of the year, 4,557 guests have heard from 63 speakers at Property Council events, including lunch with the now former Prime Minister – cementing our position as South Australia’s foremost provider of networking, learning and professional development opportunities.

These events have been made possible by the incredibly generous support of our Corporate Partners, event sponsors and each of you.

I want to take this opportunity to thank our Executive Director, Daniel Gannon, for all his terrific efforts and contribution throughout the year and to our energetic and hard-working operations team.  I also wish to acknowledge the important ongoing contribution of my fellow Division Councillors who share my passion for our great State.

On behalf of the Property Council team and Division Council, I’d like to wish everyone an enjoyable and safe Christmas and New Year break.