September 2026
Magazine
CBCC 2026: Building the Future of Business Business, Jobs and Growth
Canterbury-Bankstown’s businesses, people and opportunities. Inside Your Dynamic Connection to Southwest Sydney's Growth: > Inflation: Why Australia Needs a Broader Approach > CBCC Jobs & Careers Expo > Multibillion Dollar City Forum > Autism & Disability Forum > Business & Entrepreneurship Expo > Upcoming Events and Opportunities
TABLE OF CONTENTS CEO Message
04
Corporate Partners
08
Upcoming Events
10
Advertise with us
40
Join - Membership Benefits
41
Contact
42
2026 STRATEGIC GOALS
The Canterbury Bankstown Chamber of Commerce
BUSINESS GRWOTH
LOCAL INVESTMENT
BILL PARASIRIS
TRACY MINETT
WSU - Director
Minett Group - CEO
BOARD OF
ANTOINETTE KHALIL Khalil Lawyers - Principal Solicitor
DI RECTORS
JASON ARRAJ IFLEX - Director
NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES
CEO Message
Inflation: We Need a Broader Approach Inflation remains a major challenge for Australia, and bringing the cost of living under control must remain a priority for households, businesses and governments. The Reserve Bank of Australia has an important role to play in maintaining price stability, and interest rates remain one of the key tools available to manage inflation. However, I believe Australia needs to recognise the limitations of relying too heavily on interest rates to address the range of pressures currently facing our economy. The Canterbury Bankstown Chamber of Commerce does not support further increases in interest rates at this stage. This is not a call for the RBA to abandon its inflation mandate, nor is it a call for rates to be reduced prematurely. Rather, we believe the significant increases already implemented should be given time to work through the economy before further tightening is considered. Australian households and businesses have already experienced a substantial increase in borrowing costs, while financial conditions remain restrictive. For many families and businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, the impact of higher interest rates is being felt alongside rising wages, insurance, rent, energy, transport and compliance costs. Interest rates can help moderate demand, but they cannot directly build more homes, reduce energy costs, improve productivity, address supplychain pressures or remove unnecessary regulatory costs. That is why Australia needs a broader and more coordinated approach to inflation.
We need to accelerate housing supply and the infrastructure required to support new communities. We need to improve productivity by making it easier for businesses to invest in technology, skills, innovation and expansion. We need governments at every level to continue reviewing regulation and compliance, removing unnecessary barriers and reducing the cost of doing business. We need a long-term approach to reliable and affordable energy. And we need responsible fiscal policy that supports economic stability without unnecessarily adding to inflationary pressures. At the same time, we must recognise that some inflationary pressures are outside Australia’s direct control. Global energy prices, international supply chains, geopolitical developments and other international factors can all affect the cost of living and the cost of doing business in Australia. This makes it even more important that we focus on the areas we can influence.
Canterbury-Bankstown Businesses Need Certainty For Canterbury-Bankstown, this conversation is particularly important. Our small and medium-sized businesses are at the heart of our local economy. They employ local people, support families, sponsor community organisations, invest in their businesses and contribute to the social and economic strength of our region. They need certainty and confidence. They need access to finance at sustainable costs. They need customers who feel confident about spending. And they need an economic environment that encourages them to invest, employ and grow. Higher interest rates do not affect every business equally. For a small business already facing higher operating costs, another increase can mean delaying an investment, putting off employing another worker, reducing expansion plans or simply making it harder to maintain cash flow. That is why we need to consider the broader economic consequences of further tightening. A Shared Responsibility.
As the Canterbury Bankstown Chamber of Commerce, we respect the independence of the Reserve Bank and its responsibility to maintain price stability. However, we also believe the broader business community has a legitimate voice in the national economic conversation. We should not expect monetary policy alone to carry the responsibility for controlling inflation. Governments, business and industry all have a role to play. The objective should be to bring inflation sustainably under control while protecting jobs, investment, business confidence and economic growth. That means addressing the underlying causes of rising costs, improving Australia’s productive capacity and ensuring that policy settings work together rather than placing the burden disproportionately on households and businesses. Ultimately, controlling inflation should not simply be about slowing the economy. It should be about building a more productive, competitive and resilient economy that can grow sustainably while keeping the cost of living under control. That is the balance Australia needs. And it is a conversation our business community deserves to be part of.
CORPORATE
PARTNERS
Upcoming Events SEP
10 SEP
29 NOV
21
JOBS AND CAREERS EXPO Connect, Discover, Succeed
AUTISM & DISABILITY FORUM Building awareness, strengthening inclusion & connecting individuals, families and services.
2026 ANNUAL GALA Save the Date!
SEP
MULTIBILLION DOLLAR CITY
21
Shaping the future of Canterbury Bankstown.
OCT
BUSINESS & ENTREPRENEURSHIP EXPO
19 MAR
05
Celebrating small business month 2026.
2027 WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP Save the Date! Sponsorship opportunities available. Contact Wally.
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103/53 Stanley St, Bankstown, 2200
PO Box CP 156 Condell Park NSW 2200 0416 012 747 ceo@cbchamber.org.au
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