Tax, Red Tape: OBrien, McKellars Wishlists
Business, union, community representatives and experts have gathered in Canberra to grapple with some of Australia’s most intractable problems: how to make us a more productive, sustainable and resilient country.
A vast amount of work has been done before the roundtable, with most groups coming in with ideas on what should be done – some, of course driven by self-interest.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has also invited his opposition counterpart, Shadow Treasurer Ted O’Brien.
On this podcast we are joined by O’Brien, followed by one of the business representatives, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKellar.
This follows our interviews with Australian Council of Trade Union secretary Sally McManus and Chalmers last week.
Asked about which of the Productivity Commission’s pre-roundtable ideas he supports, O’Brien says he:
On what he and Chalmers might agree on during this summit, the answer is not much.
When asked if they at least agreed on the same destination, if not the same roads, O’Brien stresses the difference he sees between himself and the government:
Meanwhile, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s CEO Andrew McKellar says he’s optimistic going into the roundtable and highlights where we might see consensus emerge this week.
McKellar says looking beyond this week’s talks, he hopes the government will have the courage to take on comprehensive, long-term tax reform. But he says the challenge for the government is:
Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
View Original | AusPol.co Disclaimer