What is it An association representing the

What is it? • An association representing the business software industry • ABSIA will • • • Represent the interests of hundreds of software companies Via the software providers it represents 1, 500, 000 businesses Have membership categories which extend outside of software developers

The History • Spawned from the SDCG • An SDCG with benefits • • Independent of ATO Able to lobby government Extends beyond ATO and Treasury Can lead as well as be lead

What will it do? • Interact with Government • Interact with other industry associations • Provide a centralised information source • Provide education resources for members • Facilitate co-operation between members

The Structure • A public company limited by guarantee • A not for profit organisation • A formal constitution lodged with ASIC • A board of between 5 and 11 directors • Initial interim board is 6 directors until first AGM • After AGM the board will be 9 elected directors and 2 co-opted directors

Current board members Name Company Karen Lay-Brew Impact Management Group Nicholas Perrott Attache David Field Ozedi Jeevan Tokhi BGL Kevin Johnson Reckon Geoff Schaller Software Objectives

Membership Categories • Developer members • Can vote, must have ABN, develop business software, can use ABSIA logo • Business members • Cannot vote, must have ABN or ARBN, have an interest in ABSIA objects, may or may not develop software, can use ABSIA logo • Individual members • Cannot vote, have an interest in ABSIA objects

The Administration • The Association Specialists • • • Manage mailing lists and newsletter circulation Collect and manage membership fees Meeting administration and secretariat Event management Website and marketing management Human resource management

The State of ABSIA • We have a company with an ABN which is registered for GST • We have a board of directors • We have a bank account • We have a temporary web site • We have an on-line forum for members • Sponsors contributed initial start-up funds as loans

The Special Interest Groups (SIGs) • • • ABSIA board committee SDCG re-invented Superannuation (APRA and SMSF sub-groups) Super. Stream Standard Business Reporting (Tax Practitioners and general commercial) Payroll Tax Practitioners B 2 B electronic transactions GST

External Involvements • B 2 B and B 2 G electronic transactions (e-invoicing) • Board of Taxation • Designing a digital newsletter for business • Small Business Liaison Group • SBR Board

Membership Fees • • • Developer Members Level 1 – up to 19 Australian based staff $1, 100 Developer Members Level 2 – 20 -99 Australian based staff $2, 200 Developer Members Level 3 – 100+ Australian based staff $3, 300 Business membership $550 Individual membership $99 Pay an annual fee or pay by the month

The Plan • Recruit members • Set up Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and appoint sub-committees • Design web site • Create links to Government and other associations • Appoint permanent staff

The member involvement • Membership fees will fund permanent staff • Attending external meetings • Membership of sub-committees and SIGs • Providing input for submissions to governments • Providing input for newsletters etc

Join at www. absia. asn. au Questions