Goodwill Is Positive, but Action Is the Real Test
The goodwill demonstrated by COAG in support of national reforms must be translated into action, the BCA argues.
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First Step for COAG Must Be a Charter for New Federalism
Federal, state and territory leaders must agree to a Charter for New Federalism.
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BCA Welcomes New South Wales Government Energy Strategy
11 December 2007: Statement by BCA Policy Director Maria Tarrant on an announcement this week by the New South Wales Government regarding electricity privatisation.
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A Call to Leadership on the Doha Round
Business groups worldwide unite to push for the conclusion of an ambitious and balanced outcome to the Doha Round of trade negotiations.
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2007 Election Outcome: Time to Ensure Australia’s Future Prosperity
25 November 2007: The Business Council of Australia welcomes the commitment of the new federal government to make economic prosperity for all Australians its primary goal for the coming term.
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BCA Response to ALP ‘Researchers in Business’ Proposal
21 November 2007: The BCA has emphasised increasing the linkages between research and business, especially when research is at an early stage, in order to maximise the opportunity to better utilise new ideas.
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BCA Response to ALP Trade Policy
21 November 2007: The BCA welcomes the ALP’s commitment to undertake a broad-based review of Australia’s trade policies and programs. It is important and timely that such a review is undertaken in close consultation with business.
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New Thinking Needed to Find Jobs for Those Who Want Them
New policy thinking and concerted action are needed if Australia is to reduce the unacceptable number of individuals who are jobless or on the margins of the workforce at a time of record employment.
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Election Must Be a Catalyst for Long-Term Reform Focus
14 October 2007: The BCA has challenged the major political parties to focus on policies needed to secure Australia’s long-term economic future, after Prime Minister John Howard today announced a general election for 24 November.
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BCA Shines High Beam Down Road to Infrastructure Reform
The BCA has launched a roadmap for infrastructure reform to address challenges faced by the Australian economy to maintain and build on prosperity.
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Statement by Katie Lahey, BCA Chief Executive, on the report of the Owen Inquiry into Electricity Supply in New South Wales
12 September 2007: The BCA strongly backs the Owen Inquiry’s key recommendation for the New South Wales Government to divest itself from ownership of the state’s retail and generation sectors.
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Statement in Response to Proposed Amendments to the Trade Practices Act
11 September 2007: The BCA today warned that the introduction into the Senate of new predatory pricing amendments to trade practices laws ran the risk of significant impacts on business competition and for consumers.
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Australia–China CEO Roundtable to Be Mutually Valuable
6 September 2007: The Business Council of Australia has welcomed the establishment today of an Australia–China CEO Roundtable.
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ALP Policy an Important First Step but Much More Needed
28 August 2007: The BCA acknowledges changes to the ALP’s workplace relations policy are an important first step in recognising the needs of a flexible workplace relations system for a modern economy.
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Action Required to Make Education Australia’s Advantage
26 August 2007: Too many young Australians are being left behind by our school education system, a discussion paper released today by the Business Council of Australia has found.
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Business Coalition for Workplace Reform
An alliance of 19 business groups has launched a campaign to highlight the benefits of workplace reform and the economic costs of turning the clock back.
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New Policy Directions Needed for Australia’s Underserviced Services Economy
23 July 2007: Australia needs to undertake a fundamental policy rethink on how to improve its flagging performance in services exports, according to a new discussion paper released today by the Business Council of Australia.
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BCA Considers Good Workplace Relations Policy Push
20 June 2007: Policies needed to sustain Australia’s current prosperity, and in particular the benefits of maintaining a flexible workplace relations system, will be the focus of any potential advertising program by the Business Council of Australia, the BCA said today.
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Business–Community Partnerships Now a Core Part of Business Strategy
13 June 2007: Australia’s largest companies are increasing and deepening their involvement in the community as corporate community investment (CCI) is becoming a core part of business activity and strategy, according to a landmark report released today.
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BCA Welcomes Greater Certainty on Climate Change
3 June 2007: The BCA today welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement that the federal government will move ahead with key elements to reduce emissions outlined in last week’s report of the Task Group on Emissions Trading.
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Take it a Step at a Time to Hit Emissions Reduction Targets
30 May 2007: The Business Council of Australia has proposed a three-tiered system of greenhouse gas emissions targets to make sure action to respond to climate change is credible and achievable while maintaining Australia’s competitive advantage.
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Business Still Tied up by State and Territory Red Tape
27 May 2007: State and territory governments are failing to get their red tape blow-out under control, BCA report finds.
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New Regulatory System Bill Keeps It Simple
24 May 2007: The Business Council of Australia welcomes the introduction into parliament today by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, Mr Chris Pearce, of the Simpler Regulatory System Bill.
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Now Is the Time to Invite Those Facing Employment Barriers in from the Cold
23 May 2007: The BCA today announced it would lead a major new initiative on workforce participation with the aim of increasing participation including among Australians who are marginalised.
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2006 AGMs: Review and Results
14 May 2007: A study of over 70 annual general meetings (AGMs) identifying practices and procedures that were used in AGMs in 2006 has been released today.
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Business to Put Federal Government Red Tape Performance Under the Microscope
13 May 2007: Leading business groups concerned about the growth of red tape have joined together in an initiative to put federal government performance in cutting red tape under closer scrutiny.
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Strategic Tax Vision Still Missing from Federal Budget
8 May 2007: The federal Budget outlined important spending measures to support key areas of economic reform, but again falls short of outlining a plan for strategic tax reform,
particularly in addressing Australia’s growing business tax burden, the Business Council said tonight.
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Industry Statement a Smart Step in Winning the Innovation Race
1 May 2007: The Business Council of Australia today welcomed the emphasis on innovation and lifting the capabilities of all businesses in the federal government’s Industry Statement.
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ALP Workplace Policy to Turn Back the Clock on Prosperity
29 April 2007: The BCA said today that further details of the ALP’s workplace relations platform released at the weekend confirmed business fears that Labor’s policy amounted to a significant reversal of workplace flexibility that would threaten the nation’s economic prosperity.
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Time to Review the Dead Weight of Australia’s Business Taxes
9 April 2007: A new report on business taxation in Australia has found that the country’s business sector is being increasingly weighed down by a tax system which is inefficient, overly complex and levies too many taxes for little return.
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Business Council Settles Climate Change Policy
3 April 2007: The Business Council of Australia has agreed on a policy position to tackle climate change involving sustainable emissions reduction strategies while protecting Australia’s economic base.
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2007 Intergenerational Report Highlights the Need for Long-Term Reform Planning
2 April 2007: Business today welcomed the release of the federal government’s 2007 Intergenerational Report, saying the report showed the importance of strategic policy action in tackling the challenges of an ageing population.
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Market Mechanisms the Basis for a Global Solution to Climate Change Says BCA Submission
14 March 2007: The Business Council has outlined a series of principles around a ‘cap and trade’ scheme to tackle greenhouse emissions as part of a framework which it believes can provide the foundation for an integrated global solution to emissions reduction.
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BCA Budget Submission Outlines ‘Top Five’ Economy Target for Australia by 2012
6 February 2007: The BCA is calling on the federal government to commit to real improvements in federal–state relations, as well as reversing Australia’s declining business tax competitiveness, as major reform priorities for 2007.
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Real Progress Must Be the Priority for Doha
29 January 2007: The Business Council of Australia has called for real concessions by all parties to break the impasse in the Doha round of trade negotiations.
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BCA Welcomes Big Step Forward on Water Reform
25 January 2007: The Business Council of Australia welcomes the long-term plan to address Australia’s water crisis outlined by Prime Minister John Howard today.
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