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Slashing COAG bureaucracy will help create jobs
02 Jun 2020 | Media Release
ACCI heralds the replacement of COAG with National Cabinet and the establishment of a National Federal Reform Council as a chance to slash layers of bureaucratic red tape and help create jobs as the country faces the economic fallout of the COVID-19 crisis.
“While COAG had achieved a number of agreements, it had become increasingly challenging for stakeholders to negotiate the various councils which made up the Coalition,” ACCI CEO James Pearson said.
“We need our political leaders to make sure federal decision-making structures and processes are fit for the new national purpose.
“ACCI looks forward to communicating the needs of business, in order to create jobs, directly with the National Cabinet. Throughout the COVID crisis, National Cabinet has demonstrated that Australian governments can come together to tackle big issues and deliver significant outcomes quickly.
“The same ambition and speed of decision making seen in dealing with the COVID crisis is going to be needed in its wake.
“The number one challenge facing the Australian economy after COVID is getting people into jobs. Supporting businesses to get back on their feet, get people back to work, save jobs and create new ones is going to be critical for a speedy, sustainable recovery.
“If Australia is to retain its place in the world after COVID, the economy will need to be more productive and competitive over coming years. The same willingness we have seen from federal, state and territory governments during COVID is going to be needed to take on long overdue major reform in the areas of tax, IR, regulation and skills. National Cabinet and the National Federation Reform Council give us the best chance of achieving this by bringing political leaders face to face, with a continuing sense of urgency, to make decisions.
“ACCI strongly supports job creation being the focus of the National Cabinet and the National Federation Reform Council. It must be through the lens of a business-led recovery, with particular support for small, medium and family enterprises because that is where so many jobs and opportunities are to be found,” Mr Pearson said.