Our Task Forces

Business Reform Task Force

WORDS FROM THE TASK FORCE CHAIRMAN

 

On involvement in the task force: ‘You have got to push yourself to take on other obligations, to take every opportunity you can to go into an environment where you can hear others, learn from others and put forward your own views.’

On the task of regulatory reform: ‘Progress on regulatory reform has been slower than business – and the government – would like. The government needs to look for cut-through strategies, and ask whether in many areas there really is a market failure that demands a regulatory response.’

– ROBERT MILLINER, CHAIRMAN, BUSINESS REFORM TASK FORCE AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE PARTNER, MALLESONS STEPHEN JACQUES

Joining Robert on the task force are the following BCA members:

Michael Andrew, KPMG
Mark Chellew, Adelaide Brighton Ltd
David Deverall, Perpetual Limited
David Fagan, Clayton Utz
John Gaskell, ABB Australia Pty Limited
John O’Sullivan, Credit Suisse (Australia) Ltd
David Peever, Rio Tinto Australia
Andrew Penn, AXA Asia Pacific Holdings

The BCA Secretariat contact for the task force is Peter Crone, Director Policy.

Task force aims

The task force focuses on three policy areas that will contribute most to a stronger business environment and economy.

  • Taxation: Advocating a tax system designed to promote investment and economic growth and to encourage higher savings.
  • Regulation: Governments must deliver smarter regulation rather than more regulation.
  • Federal–state relations: Over the past two years the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has been recharged, but all levels of government must now follow through on their commitments to deliver microeconomic reform.

Task force priorities for 2009–10

  • Microeconomic reform for productivity: Continue to press for microeconomic reforms and for COAG to deliver on those reforms.
  • Seamless economy: Strengthen governments’ resolve and urgency to deliver a seamless national economy.
  • Best practice regulation: Hold the government to its commitments to pursue genuine evidence-based policy processes in creating and changing regulation.

Highlights of the task force’s achievements for 2008–09 are contained in the BCA 2009 Annual Review, Many Connections. One Focus. Contact us to request a copy of the review.