Leading business groups in New South Wales came together yesterday to discuss business priorities with senior Government and Coalition MPs in the lead up to the State Election in March.
Representatives from Australian Business Limited, State Chamber of Commerce, Property Council of Australia, Australian Retailers Association and the Australian Council for Infrastructure Development (AusCID), met with key decision makers for over four hours.
Their message to Ministers and Shadow Ministers was that without a vibrant and confident business community maintaining and creating jobs there can be no foundation for delivering the services the community needs.
While NSW and Australia are doing relatively well in the current international economic environment, we must guard against complacency.
More action is needed by the next NSW Government to minimise the business tax burden, to minimise regulatory roadblocks in employment law, to improve the education and training system's responsiveness to the job market and to mobilise the private sector in providing much needed new and updated infrastructure.
Business will be keen to see positive responses to these issues in the election platforms of the parties as the date for the election draws nearer.
Ministers that attended the pre-election business consultations included:
- Treasurer and Minister for State and Regional Development, Hon Michael Egan MLC
- Shadow Treasurer George Souris MP
- Minister for Transport, Hon Carl Scully MP
- Shadow Minister for Transport and Insurance, Mr Peter Debnam MP
- Minister for Education, Hon John Watkins MP
- Shadow Minister for Education, Barry O’ Farrell MP
- Minister for Industrial Relations, Hon John Della Bosca MLC
- Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, Hon Michael Gallacher MLC
