Fran Kelly: Well, the support of the business community may not swing the election for one party or another, but it can boost their economic credentials. All year, business has been pretty vocal in saying what it wants from the major parties. It launched a multi-million dollar advertising blitz in support of ongoing industrial relations reforms, and by extension the government’s WorkChoices program.

But now the business sector is having to face up to the possibility that it might have to deal with a federal Labor government after this election. Here’s our Breakfast business editor, Sheryle Bagwell.

Sheryle Bagwell: The business sector has a wish list of demands that it’s shopping around to the two major parties this election. The Business Council of Australia, the sector’s peak body, says it’s sick of the blame game that’s dominated federal–state relations of late, and wants a comprehensive national approach to improving Australia’s ailing infrastructure. Katie Lahey is the BCA’s chief executive.

Katie Lahey: We often do see a lot of pork barrelling and piecemeal approaches to infrastructure during an election campaign but we’re optimistic that given the profile that infrastructure is now getting in the national debate, that we will start to see the major parties looking at a national infrastructure plan, priorities across the whole of the economy, rather than a little bit here and a little bit there.

Sheryle Bagwell: When business speaks, it’s usually through lobby groups and associations like the BCA, ACCI and hundreds of others. And in the lead-up to this election, the business groups have been very vocal, not least in the area of industrial relations. Earlier this year, several groups funded a multi-million dollar advertising blitz backing ongoing workplace reform, and by extension the government’s WorkChoices program. Katie Lahey believes the campaign by business led directly to the ALP altering parts of its IR policy to make it more business-friendly.

Katie Lahey: We took the issue very, very seriously. And we have seen some movement in the ALP’s policy, not enough, but it’s a start. And we are obviously still continuing to talk to the people in the ALP. And our view was we had to speak up before the election. It’s too late to speak up afterwards.

Read the BCA roadmap for infrastructure reform here.