IN A 30-YEAR JOURNEY FROM PANEL BEATER TO BUSINESS OWNER, MARK BURTON UNDERSTANDS THAT TO GROW, SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN TO SCALE BACK. If there’s a statement that sums up Mark Burton best, it’s ‘if you say no to me, I’m going to say yes’. Mark and his wife Trish have been running Barossa Valley Hire in South Australia for 30 years. It’s a business that’s grown from one small hire shop providing jackhammers and hand tools to home handymen to five separate businesses servicing customers across the Barossa and metropolitan Adelaide. The Burton’s hire journey started inauspiciously, with M ..read more

Camden Hire’s Tom Wood, Young Professional of the Year in 2023, looks back on a year of life-changing experiences. WHEN THE RECIPIENT OF THIS YEAR’S HRIA YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR was announced at HIRE24, Tom Wood knew exactly what would await them in the year ahead: amazing opportunities to learn, develop and give back to the industry. It’s what Tom calls an enormously exciting yet humbling experience. “I was so honoured to receive this recognition,” he says. “It was pretty overwhelming, but it means so much to me.” The HRIA Young Professional of the Year recognises young professionals w ..read more

Haulotte Australia marked a significant milestone in May, celebrating 25 years of local operation. It also marked 25 years for one of their original employees, Robyne Kerr. Robyne has been with Haulotte in Australia since it opened in 1999. She’s seen technology emerge, the industry boom and the business go from humble beginnings in Melbourne to over 70 employees in four states across Australia. “I thought it would be a great challenge to help the company get started and use my skills to assist with progress,” says Robyne. “With only three of us in the beginning, I was able to learn all aspect ..read more

The ban on engineered stone starts 1 July. On Friday June 14th Worksafe NSW will be hosting an online webinar to address the conditions for use, supply and manufacture of engineered stone benchtops, panels, and slabs. If you are a person carrying out a business or undertaking (PCBU) that undertakes, or directs workers to carry out, work involving the manufacture, supply, processing, or installation of engineered stone benchtops, panels, and slabs, this is an important event for you to attend. While members of the HRIA are not directly PCBUs, they are encouraged to draw customers attention to c ..read more

In the latest report from Ibis World, the Australian Hire industry has been valued at $10.2 billion. The market, which comes under the ANZSIC 2006 code 6631, captures all dry hire equipment categories, including cranes, scaffolding, powered access, general construction machinery, and site services. According to the most recent Ibis data, the sector has slowed through 2024, with some significant downturns in some areas of construction, notably the continued decline in high-rise residential construction, and project housebuilding markets throughout Australia, which have been subject to multiple ..read more

Scaling Sydney’s steepest street takes grit and determination, but for the ‘Coates Climbers’, the annual Balmoral Burn is more than just a physical challenge. It’s about making a difference in the lives of sick children across Australia. Coates employees joined more than 2,000 participants, including families, students and other corporate teams, at this year’s 420-metre fun run up Mosman’s infamous Awaba Street to raise funds for the Humpty Dumpty Foundation. Held each May, the Burn has been raising money for vital medical equipment for sick and injured children in hospital for 24 years. “As a ..read more

Changes to the Western Australian Workers Compensation Act come into force from 1st July 2024. The legislative updates could affect HRIA members, who are urged to familiarise themselves on the changes which include: Reporting Timeframes for claims (Significant penalties for claims delays) Increase of the General Limit Amount Return-to-Work Programs Employers will be Prohibited From Attending Worker Treatment Appointments Workers’ Compensation Privacy During Pre-Employment Screening Exclusion of Psychological or Psychiatric Disorders Specialist advice is available at the next HRIA/EWPA WA Sta ..read more

Major music events industry suppliers are feeling the impact of dwindling ticket sales and frequent cancellations over the last year. Following the cancellation of one of Australia’s biggest events, Spendour In The Grass, earlier this year, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts launched an inquiry into the Australian live music industry following Perfect Storm According to Bec Williamson at No Fuss Events, “the challenge intensifies when festivals proceed with poor ticket sales, prompting clients to resort to long-term payment plans to manage their cash ..read more

Aggreko has today celebrated the launch of its second Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) during National Reconciliation Week (NRW), with special guest speaker Cathy Freeman. Aggreko’s first RAP was launched during National Reconciliation Week 2020, which provided a blueprint to ensure the organisation’s commitment to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ cultures, acknowledge our history, build closer relationships, provide employment opportunities and focus on supplier diversity. To commemorate the milestone of being one of the first companies in the hire and rental ..read more

Bluey creator Joe Brumm, is among the star-studded speaker line up at this year’s HIRE24. Tickets for the Hire Industry Excellence Awards have already sold out, with the Brisbane Convention Centre’s magnificent ballroom nearing capacity. Register Now Held between the 4th and 6th of June at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, HIRE24 will be bringing together the best collection of keynote speakers, motivation and strategic content in its illustrious 56 year history. Day 1 kicks off with a keynote from business maestro, Mark Bouris AM. Needing no introduction, Mark is an Australian en ..read more