Michael Chaney and The AFR Magazine ‘Power 2007’ Issue

The chairman of NAB and Woodside has now become the well-known face of big business through his activist presidency at the Business Council of Australia. The Chaney-led BCA took a leading role in the industrial relations debate, going so far as to bankroll a business advertising campaign backing the merits of the government’s WorkChoices regime and challenging the ACTU’s ‘dishonest and defamatory’ campaign against the system. Chaney has also inspired a significant shift in the attitude of big business to the environment.

BCA President Michael Chaney nominated as Australia’s third most influential business leader in ‘Business’ by Damon Kitney, The Australian Financial Review Magazine, ‘Power 2007’ issue, October 2007, p. 103.

Chaney presented a BCA position on climate change. It was cogent, comprehensive and, most importantly, consistent with the diverse positions that still existed among BCA members. There was no sleight of hand but there was a very deft sidestep implicit in the position: the BCA moved beyond Kyoto and proposed an emissions trading scheme … Indeed, other groups are now accreting proposals around the BCA position.

From ‘The AP6’ by Andrew Cornell, The Australian Financial Review, ‘Power 2007’ issue, October 2007, pp. 84–85.