Opinion Editorials & Articles
A selection of commentary
The BCA regularly contributes opinion editorials and commentary to newspapers around the country, highlighting BCA positions on key policy areas and reaction to policy developments. For copies of 2006 articles, visit the News Room archive.
Bold Vision Still Needed, Whoever’s in Charge
Reform remains a priority for the economy despite a hung parliament, writes Graham Bradley.
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School Education Must Be National Priority
Education and training is a priority for business because we depend, more than ever, on the skills of our people.
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Economic Prosperity Depends on Migration
The electorate isn’t always provided with the information it needs to engage in this important debate, Graham Bradley writes.
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Reform Born of Mutual Respect
Australians, honestly consulted, will back policies that are sustainable and realistic, writes Graham Bradley in the Herald Sun.
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Taking Care of Business
If there is to be a sustained financial recovery, then G20 leaders must listen to the private sector, writes John Denton in The Age.
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Scrap RSPT and Start Again from Ground Up
The BCA, representing all industry sectors, calls on the government to instigate the appropriate reform process in developing its approach to resource taxation.
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Don’t Spook the Punters
At this challenging time in the global economy, we must be on our guard against complacency, writes John Denton in The Age.
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This Is No Time to Undermine Corporate Confidence
Economic policies need to be set and communicated in a way that builds confidence and minimises unnecessary uncertainty, writes Graham Bradley in The Australian.
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Radical Reform Changes Game
The resource super profits tax is truly radical, and raises issues which need to addressed, writes Katie Lahey in The Australian Financial Review.
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Patient-Centred Health Reform
Is better value for healthcare patients achievable? The answer is yes.
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Raise the GST, and Cut Personal and Company Tax to Support Growth
A switch in the tax mix to reduce personal income and company taxes and make greater use of the GST will encourage investment and offer greater incentives to working Australians.
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If We Want More People We Have to Plan Better
We can build a ‘Big Australia’ – but only with strong community support and government leadership.
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G20 Role Needs Greater Clarification
The Group of 20 has the potential to provide the leadership needed for a new era of global co-operation and stability.
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Australia Must Learn from the Crisis
Our challenge is to learn from the economic crisis – and to make our prosperity more sustainable and accessible to more Australians, Graham Bradley writes.
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League Tables Will Improve the Education System
The one outcome from education reform that matters most is improvement in student learning. This means the learning of relevant knowledge and skills by students in all schools, writes Hutch Ranck.
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How We Can Use Technology to Improve Productivity
When it comes to skills we need to think broadly and remember the importance of effective use of ICT by our businesses, governments and households.
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Stronger Plans Are Needed to Ensure Gender Parity
It defies belief that, in a sophisticated and modern country such as Australia, we are even talking about paying a woman the same amount as a man for a day’s work – it should already be long-established practice.
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APEC Should Heed Signs of the Changing Times
APEC is important to Australia’s interests and is an influential institution for economic dialogue and policy, writes John Denton in The Age.
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Time to End Haphazard Approach to the Basics
If good infrastructure is the groundwork for economic growth, Australia’s recent economic growth has been built on shaky foundations, writes Rod Pearse in The Australian Financial Review.
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Infrastructure a Key to Populate and Be Prosperous
We can sustain the higher population that has been predicted as well as economic growth but only if federal and state governments reform their infrastructure policies, writes Rod Sims in The Australian.
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Political Uncertainty on Emissions Will Cost Jobs and Investment
Bipartisanship is the key to addressing two key areas of uncertainty relating to Australia’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, writes Katie Lahey.
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That’s No Way to Treat Patients
Health care should be reformed to empower the user with transparency.
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Real Trade Reform Begins After Doha
Trade liberalisation is the missing piece of the global policy response to the financial crisis and recession, writes John Denton in The Australian Financial Review.
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G20 the Right Body for Economic Leadership
The group has proven itself the best forum for its times, writes John Denton in The Age.
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Keeping Tabs on Infrastructure Effort
More can be done to ensure that expensive projects will make a real contribution to national productivity, writes Rod Pearse in The Australian Financial Review.
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Second-Track Diplomacy Aids Foreign Policy
The private sector can improve Australia’s relationships abroad, argues John Denton in The Australian.
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The Planet Needs Both Sides
The emissions trading scheme must not come at the cost of competitiveness, writes Greig Gailey in the Herald Sun.
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Reject Devilish Detail in Carbon Laws
Legislation should not be approved until the scheme’s design is resolved, argues Greig Gailey in The Australian.
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Prepare to Share Pain
The government must tighten its belt and let the private sector grow, urges Greig Gailey in The Australian.
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Plans Must Be Shovel Ready
This is the right time to fix the problems with Australia’s system of economic infrastructure, and to start delivering the better infrastructure we know we should have, writes Greig Gailey in The Australian.
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Keep Politics Out of Emissions Solution
The government and Opposition must work together to find the best solution to climate change, writes Greig Gailey in The Australian Financial Review.
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Industry Role Vital to Recovery
If the G-20 is going to truly promote recovery, it must anticipate the responses of the global business community, writes John Denton in The Australian Financial Review.
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Productivity the New Focus
Behavioural changes are crucial to new workplace laws, writes Greig Gailey in The Age.
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States Can’t Let Feds Carry All the Economic Load
Taxation and spending policies should align between state and federal governments, writes Greig Gailey in The Age.
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