PM, business chiefs meet ahead of COAG

April 10th, 2012

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

Some of Australia’s most prominent corporate chiefs will call on the federal government to fast-track cuts to business red tape at an inaugural forum in Canberra on Thursday.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard and all state and territory leaders, except WA Premier Colin Barnett, will sit down with 25 bosses at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Business Advisory Forum for three hours to talk about their priorities for deregulation.

The forum is also expected to discuss ways to ensure any gains made through cutting regulation are not eroded over time through the imposition of more red tape – a key concern of small and large business.

Among those attending will be BHP Billiton chief Marius Kloppers, Westpac’s Gail Kelly, Rio Tinto’s David Peever, Cameron Clyne from NAB and Telstra boss David Thodey.

The Productivity Commission has estimated that changes in 17 areas of regulation could lower business costs by about $4 billion a year and boost GDP by more than $6 billion in the longer term.

However, the opposition and business critics say the Labor government has introduced more than 16,000 new regulations since coming to office in 2007 and repealed fewer than 80.

The Business Council of Australia (BCA) on Tuesday released a paper, prepared in consultation with the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and the Australian Industry Group (AiGroup), outlining how COAG can better deliver on its agenda.

The paper nominates six key reform initiatives for the federation, including lifting regulatory performance, streamlining environmental assessments and approvals, and improving the efficiency of approvals for major development projects.

Other priorities include better development assessment processes for low-risk, low-impact developments, the removal of unnecessary carbon reduction and energy efficiency initiatives and the delivery of energy market reforms.

BCA chief Jennifer Westacott said the recommendations were made on the basis of their capacity to fast-track productivity improvements and lift Australia’s competitiveness.

“The paper calls for a greater focus on fewer areas so that outcomes can be achieved more effectively in the areas that will have the greatest impact on improving the economy on the ground,” Ms Westacott said in a statement.

ACCI chief Peter Anderson said one of the important aspects of the forum was that it was being driven by business, not government.

“It’s about making sure our federation works for an economy operating locally, nationally and globally,” Mr Anderson said.

The forum will be held a day before the Council of Australian Governments meeting, involving the prime minister and state and territory leaders.

That meeting will discuss a national skills strategy, environmental regulation and better capital city planning, as well as receive a report on talks to kick start a National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Mr Barnett, who will be at Friday’s meeting, believes the balance of power now lies with the states.

He said on Tuesday that federal Labor had lost its influence, after the successive election of Liberal-National governments in major states.

“Clearly there is a change in the balance of power – the big states now are all Liberal governments,” he told reporters in Perth.

Mr Barnett said the carve-up of GST revenue would likely dominate COAG, after state treasurers delivered a strong complaint to the federal government last week about changes to sharing arrangements.