This joint statement is on behalf of:
- Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Australian Industry Group
- Business Council of Australia
- Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia
Australia's small, medium and large business representatives stood as one during this week's Economic Reform Roundtable, supporting efforts to lift living standards and business investment while rejecting policies that take Australia backwards through higher taxes.
The tax process announced tonight by the Treasurer must be considered properly, and any reform must increase productivity, grow investment and therefore increase real wages.
The Roundtable provided an important and constructive process for some priority areas for reform, including our proposals on investment, cutting red tape, trade, housing, faster approvals and skills.
The Treasurer has also taken positive steps to reduce red tape across the economy, and we continue to call for a 25 per cent target to reduce red tape by 2030.
We have made progress in these areas, and now it is time to capitalise on this momentum created by the Government.
We said the test for the Roundtable was simple - any proposal must lift business investment across the economy to boost productivity and drive higher living standards for all Australians.
We spoke out strongly against policies that did not meet this important test.
Higher taxes and levies on all businesses were roundly rejected.
We look forward to working with the government in the months ahead on progressing these issues.
