The top five business policy priorities for the next government should include industrial relations, cutting red tape and tax reforms, a new survey released this month says.
Ai Group surveyed over 330 businesses in the manufacturing, services and construction sectors on their policy priorities. Industrial relations reform to boost productivity was the number one overall priority for Australian businesses (on a weighted average basis) and almost a quarter (23.1%) nominated it as their biggest concern.
Top five business policy priorities for next government (on weighted average basis):
- Industrial relations reform to boost productivity — number one priority overall and major concern for manufacturers (31.3%).
- Reducing red tape and regulatory duplication — second overall, with 23 per cent of respondents nominating it as their highest priority for the next government. This is a particularly important issue for small businesses and for construction companies (40 per cent of whom nominated it as their highest priority).
- Reducing company tax rates and implementing tax reform — renewed calls to implement Henry Tax Review recommendations including cutting company tax rate to 25 per cent and revisiting GST.
- Investing in physical infrastructure — ranked by 17 per cent of businesses as their number one priority. Infrastructure investment was seen as a relatively high priority for NSW businesses.
- Encouraging workforce skills and training — a relatively high priority for construction businesses in Queensland and Western Australia where skill shortages have been particularly acute.
Claire Harrison is the Founder and Managing Director of Harrisons, a flourishing HR consulting business that sprouted in 2009 from Claire’s passionate belief that inspiring leaders and superstar employees are the key success factor to any business. With over 20 years’ experience, Claire has worked as a HR Director of multi-national organisations, as a Non-Executive Board Director, and a small business owner. Claire’s corporate career includes working with companies such as BHP, Westpac, Fonterra and Mayne Nickless.
