News releases highlight announcements of new reports, submissions and policy positions as well as reaction to developments in areas of policy focus related to the BCA agenda.
COAG Still Lagging on Important Productivity Reforms
All governments will need to substantially lift their game if COAG’s increasingly ambitious timetable is to be met.
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Construction Industry Needs a Strong Cop on the Block
The primary value of a regulator like the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner is to make sure industrial practices are lawful and appropriate.
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Cultural Recognition Promotes Economic Equality
Constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians could play an important role in closing economic opportunity gaps between Indigenous and other Australians.
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Review of the Fair Work Act
The review is a welcome opportunity to get workplace relations right in Australia.
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Health Check Shows We Must Change Our Aged Care Approach
The Australian Parliament must agree a long-term plan to reform the health and aged care system to address an unsustainable growth in demand and rising costs that will consume more than 40 per cent of most government budgets by 2050.
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Review of Regulatory Impact Assessments
The government’s announcement of measures to enhance the resources and capability of agencies to prepare regulatory impact statements is a positive development.
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A Competitive Australia Is Key to Effective Asian Engagement
Improving the competitiveness of the Australian economy will be fundamental to making the most of opportunities for engagement with the world’s growth hub of Asia.
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Business Welcomes Big State Focus on a Strong Economy
The Interstate Reform Partnership agreed between New South Wales and Victoria is a welcome step in kick-starting cross-border reforms to grow the national economy and lift productivity.
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White Paper a Solid Foundation for Future Energy Policy
The draft Energy White Paper released by the government today provides a solid foundation for ensuring secure, affordable and sustainable energy in the long term.
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Conclusion of the Durban Climate Change Negotiations
The success or otherwise of the Durban climate change negotiations will not be clear until all major emitters have taken on binding commitments to reduce global emissions.
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Not Too Late for Cost–Benefit Analysis of NBN Policy
The Productivity Commission’s finding that NBN Co’s business model is potentially in breach of the federal government’s own competition policy underlines the need for a cost–benefit analysis of the National Broadband Network.
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Statement on the Decision by Heather Ridout to Move on from the Australian Industry Group
Heather Ridout has made an outstanding contribution to debates about the policies that are required to lift productivity and maintain business competitiveness.
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Airport Plan Marks Historic Advancement for Australia
Developing Sydney Airport to better meet current and future needs would support Australia’s economic growth in a number of important ways.
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Statement by BCA President Tony Shepherd on the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook
The announcement by the federal government of a fiscal strategy that returns the budget to surplus in 2012–13 is the right economic policy for the times.
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Minerals Resource Rent Tax an Improvement but Not a Template for Tax Reform
Although a marked improvement on the Resource Super Profits Tax, the tax falls well short of the principles of good tax design the Business Council of Australia has previously articulated.
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Supporting India’s Growth a Boost to Australia’s Resilience
The BCA welcomes the plans by Prime Minister Julia Gillard to change Labor Party policy to open the way to sell uranium to India with important safeguards.
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Tony Shepherd Elected as New President of the Business Council of Australia
The Business Council of Australia today announced the election of Tony Shepherd as its new president for a term of two years.
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Business Trailblazing in Indigenous Economic Engagement
Business Council of Australia members are reaching out in ever larger numbers to help improve outcomes for Indigenous Australians.
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Statement by BCA Chief Executive Jennifer Westacott on the Passage of the Clean Energy Future Package Legislation
The legislation passed by parliament today has the potential to significantly increase risks to Australia’s economic growth and competitiveness.
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Australia Must Play a Constructive Role in the G20 Deliberations on Europe
Australia must stand ready to play its part in the G20 deliberations on the European banking and sovereign debt crisis.
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Statement by Business Council of Australia Chief Executive Jennifer Westacott on the Qantas Industrial Issues
It is vital for our national economy and the long-term future of Australian jobs that our major industries have the flexibility to remain competitive in an increasingly tough global economy.
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Joint Letter to Federal Members of Parliament Regarding the Need for Safeguards to be Included in the Clean Energy Future Legislation
Without additional safeguards, the Clean Energy Future legislation will create risks to Australia’s competitiveness, making it a flawed approach to putting a price on greenhouse gas emissions.
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Statement by BCA Chief Executive Jennifer Westacott
The Clean Energy Future legislation without the safeguards proposed by the Business Council of Australia is neither workable nor responsible and is a flawed approach to pricing greenhouse gas emissions.
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Lifting Productivity the Key to Supporting Jobs Growth
The Business Council of Australia welcomes the renewed focus on initiatives to support jobs growth at the Future Jobs Forum in Canberra.
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Opportunity Must Not Be Lost to Prepare for the Future
Some welcome and important first steps have been taken at the national tax forum but we are a long way short of a 10-year plan to overhaul the tax system and improve the efficiency of government spending.
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Major Tax Reform Needed to Avoid an Unfolding Fiscal Crisis
A call for Australia’s governments to agree to a 10-year overhaul of the tax system.
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Government–Business Collaboration Will Strengthen Asia Links
The Prime Minister's announcement reinforces the value of having governments and business working together to develop Australia’s ties with the nations of Asia.
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Business Welcomes Action on International Student Visas
The federal government’s decision to streamline visa requirements for international students is a welcome development.
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Business Council of Australia Calls for Proper Process to Deliberate the Clean Energy Future Legislation
A call for the federal parliament to review the risks associated with the government’s Clean Energy Future legislation.
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National Health Agreement Welcome but Only a First Step
The BCA welcomes the leadership shown by the federal government in securing agreement by the states and territories to a national healthcare reform package.
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Carbon Price Package Raises Risks and Costs of Reducing Emissions
The BCA will carefully examine the details of the federal government’s proposed carbon pricing package to fully consider its potential impacts and risks to the Australian economy.
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Transparency Essential in Major Infrastructure Spending
The report to COAG released by Infrastructure Australia is an important step towards greater transparency in assessing the merits of major projects under consideration by state governments.
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Commonwealth Business Forum 2011
Partnering for Global Growth: The Commonwealth, Indian Ocean and the Pacific Rim: Perth, 25–27 October.
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Strategic Focus on Emerging Markets Vital to Our Future
The Business Council of Australia has strongly supported the reforms to Austrade announced today by the Minister for Trade, Craig Emerson.
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Sustainable Population Report: Where’s the Strategy?
The government’s sustainable population report articulates important national objectives but does not provide the strategy needed to achieve them.
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Budget Shows What Is Needed to Build a Stronger Future
The federal government has taken some necessary steps in the 2011–12 Budget to support productivity and to ensure the nation’s finances are sustainable over the medium term.
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Training Reforms Necessary to Meet Future Demand for Skills
The Skills Australia ‘Skills for Prosperity’ report provides a detailed and timely plan for the reform of the vocational education and training system.
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Regulatory Body Appointments Will Steer a Steady Ship
The BCA welcomes the federal government’s nominations of new chairmen for the important regulatory bodies, ASIC and the ACCC.
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Teacher Rewards Support Better Education Outcomes
The BCA has expressed strong support for the federal government’s commitment to introduce a national system of bonus payments to reward high-performing school teachers.
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Letter to the Prime Minister regarding Current Negotiations on the Proposed Carbon Price
Records the issues the BCA wants to see addressed in the government’s consultation process to determine the details for putting a price on greenhouse gas emissions.
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A Positive Step Taken on the Road to Better Infrastructure
The infrastructure policy announced by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott today is a positive step towards better infrastructure provision in Australia.
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Trade Liberalisation a Strong Basis to Support Productivity
The trade policy framework announced today will provide a solid basis for achieving effective trade and investment outcomes for Australia.
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Clear Signals Needed as to What Is in the National Interest
Treasurer Wayne Swan needs to be clear and open about why the merger between the ASX and the Singapore Stock Exchange is not in the national interest, should the government decide to reject the proposal.
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Continuing to Lift the Quality of Higher Education
Australia’s higher education sector is responsible for delivering much of the knowledge and the capabilities required to maintain a strong and productive economy for the benefit of all Australians.
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Business Leaders Call for Continued Asia Focus in School Language and Cultural Studies
Australia will risk its wealth, harmony and security unless significant government investment goes to equipping the next generation of Australians to compete in the ‘Asian Century’.
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AIGN–BCA Carbon Pricing Forum
Industry forum canvasses the issues influencing the implementation of a carbon price in Australia.
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Tax Forum a Chance to Make a Compelling Case for Reform
Statement by Business Council of Australia Acting Chief Executive Maria Tarrant.
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Skills Response Will Help Meet Economic Needs
The federal government’s response to the Resourcing the Future report will make an important contribution to meeting future workforce requirements of the resources and energy sector.
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Performance Authority Can Help Lift Health System Game
The proposed National Performance Authority will help drive better outcomes in the health system.
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Moderate Population Growth the Best Path to Prosperity
Choosing low or no population growth over the next 40 years poses unacceptable risks to our way of life.
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Statement by BCA Acting Chief Executive Maria Tarrant
Response to the federal government’s proposed climate change framework as announced today.
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Health Reform Is Still Not Putting the Patient First
COAG health reforms are a first step in improving the funding of the healthcare system but are a long way short of the reforms we need.
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BCA Not Calling for Disability Support Pensions to be Cut
The Disability Support Pension forms a vital function in Australia’s welfare system for those who do not have, or have limited capacity, to participate in the paid workforce.
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Refocused COAG Must Now Turn to Delivery
COAG’s agreement to its priorities and operations around five strategic themes and rationalise ministerial councils should see COAG better equipped to deliver on its mandate.
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Finding a Budget Balance Will Restore Community Confidence and Help Take Pressure off Interest Rates
BCA 2011–12 Budget Submission.
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BCA Appoints New Chief Executive
The BCA Board has announced Jennifer Westacott, currently a national lead partner at KPMG, as the organisation’s new chief executive.
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Farewell to Katie Lahey Part of Orderly CEO Transition
Past and present BCA presidents joined members and special guests from business and the community at a council dinner tonight to farewell Chief Executive Katie Lahey after almost a decade at the helm of the organisation.
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All Savings Options Should Be Exhausted Before a Levy
Every effort should be made to restore the livelihoods of communities and people affected by the floods, but the federal government is putting the cart before the horse with a flood levy when the full cost of rebuilding after the floods is not yet known.
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Large Business Bond with Devastated Communities
Australia’s largest businesses have assumed a significant role in the massive relief and reconstruction effort in Queensland and will readily respond to the Prime Minister’s request for ongoing assistance.
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Message from the BCA President on the Queensland Floods Disaster
I am grateful to BCA members for all of their efforts in supporting communities of which they are a part.
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Queensland Floods Disaster
BCA member companies are making cash donations to the Queensland Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal, and are undertaking other measures.
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Ports Strategy a Chance for COAG to Shine
The national port strategy provides an opportunity COAG to support an important piece of economic reform.
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