Opinion Editorials and Articles
Opinion Editorials and Articles
The BCA regularly contributes opinion editorials and commentary to newspapers around the country, highlighting BCA positions on key policy areas and reaction to policy developments. For copies of earlier articles, visit the News Room archive.
States Need to Cut Retail Red Tape: Op-ed by Tony Shepherd in The Australian Financial Review
15 May 2013 – The states persist with regulations that restrict the productivity of traditional retailers and obstruct their ability to meet customer expectations and respond to the online challenge.
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National Disability Insurance Scheme: Op-ed by Tony Shepherd in The Daily Telegraph
3 May 2013 – The National Disability Insurance Scheme is too important to politicise.
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Economic Action Plan for Australia: Columns by Jennifer Westacott in The Australian
A series of columns exploring the Business Council of Australia’s economic action plan for Australia.
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Taxes Won’t Fix Budget Woes
1 May 2013 – Op-ed by Jennifer Westacott in The Australian discusses three ways to restore the integrity of budget management.
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Lack of Discipline a Real Concern
15 March 2013 – There is a widening gap between the rhetoric of red tape reform and the reality of ill-disciplined regulation making for political expediency.
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Time to Budget for the Future
The Australian Financial Review, 6 March 2013 – This year we need a budget for the next decade and beyond, not just a budget designed to win the next election.
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Build a Better Road and the People Will Come
The Daily Telegraph, 5 March 2013 – We cannot have vital transport connections caught up in drawn-out approval processes or intergovernmental bickering over funding shares and design.
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Praise for Indigenous Core Values
The Australian Financial Review, 15 October 2012BCA member companies are experiencing the two-way benefits of working with Indigenous organisations and individuals.
[more]Better Value and Better Health
The Australian Financial Review, 6 November 2012Australia’s rising healthcare costs are unsustainable writes Australian Unity’s Group Managing Director, Rohan Mead.
[more]Disadvantaged Still Missing Fair Share of Rich Pickings
Herald Sun, 12 October 2012Anti-Poverty Week gives the community the chance to reflect on what has been achieved in tackling poverty and disadvantage – and on continuing failures in breaking cycles of disadvantage.
[more]Health and Education Not Exempt from Cuts
The Daily Telegraph, 24 September 2012We’ve not had the checks and balances to ensure the public sector doesn’t grow beyond our capacity to afford it, writes Tony Shepherd.
[more]A Servant to Short-Termism
The Australian, 21 September 2012Edited extract of speech by Jennifer Westacott to the Institute of Public Administration Australia.
[more]Time to Put in Hard Yards for China
The Australian Financial Review, 12 September 2012
In our relationship with China, we face a swiftly changing and competitive landscape and we cannot expect what has worked in the past to work in the future, BCA President Tony Shepherd writes.
[more]Get Costs under Control or We’ll All Be Poorer
The Australian, 7 September 2012 Edited published extract of a speech BCA Vice President Graham Bradley to the Infrastructure Partnerships Australia conference.
[more]Resources Growth Can't Be Taken for Granted
The Australian Financial Review, 24 August 2012Australia must lock in a future investment pipeline by increasing competitiveness, encouraging skills development and building economic infrastructure.
[more]Media Curbs Go Down a Dangerous Road
The Australian Financial Review, 26 July 2012Business has a right to expect that there is a genuine problem that has been rigorously analysed, and the need for regulation has been thoroughly tested.
[more]IR Isn't Working So Let's All Fix It
The Australian, 20 July 2012 Business wants to work with government to raise wages by boosting productivity.
[more]Productivity Lift Overdue
The Australian Financial Review, 28 June 2012We must acknowledge we are a high-cost place in which to invest and do business, and focus on lifting productivity and competitiveness so we can continue to have rising wages and living standards.
[more]Asia Pacific Has to Be in Focus
The Age, 19 June 2012
If Australian businesses are to create wealth and generate new jobs now and in the future, then they must be internationally competitive.
[more]Capital Investments Will Grow Our Economy
Herald Sun, 8 June 2012
If Australia is able to deliver on an unprecedented $921 billion pipeline of major capital investment projects, we will transform our cities and regions for the better.
[more]Change of Policy Must Benefit All Businesses
The Daily Telegraph, 27 March 2012
The current debate in Canberra about which sector of Australian business, large or small, most needs or deserves a tax cut is dangerously misleading.
[more]Tough Decisions Pay off in the Long Term
Herald Sun, 15 February 2012
We are all players on the same team when it comes to keeping our economy strong, so we can all share the wealth that is generated.
[more]Job Flexibility Tops the List for Staff and Bosses
Herald Sun, 11 February 2012
Far from being a source of insecurity, our changing labour market has provided the foundation for the nation’s wealth to be shared more broadly.
[more]Aboriginal Jobs Push Here to Stay
The Australian Financial Review, 8 February 2012Creative initiatives by Australia’s largest businesses are having an increasingly significant impact in supporting Indigenous employment and economic development.
[more]We Need to Talk about Refurbishing All Our Safety Nets
The Australian, 23 January 2012
In looking at the adequacy of the Newstart Allowance, we need to look at reform that will afford Australia true wealth in terms of a sustainable, meaningful social safety net.
[more]Tough Talk Needed to Plan Equal Future for All
Herald Sun, 31 December 2011
Creating true wealth is a shared responsibility that has a shared benefit.
[more]Chasing the Fast Boat to Asia
The Age, 20 December 2011
Lifting productivity and competitiveness will be the key to making the most of our opportunities within Asia.
[more]Remove Racism of a Previous Era from the Heart of our Constitution
The Australian, 8 December 2011
Full and equal recognition of Indigenous Australians our Constitution is essential, argues Graham Bradley in The Australian.
[more]Opportunity Is Measure of True Wealth
The Australian, 24 November 2011
Unless our industries and businesses are prosperous, thriving and competitive, we cannot create national wealth and we certainly cannot use or share something we do not have.
[more]Four Ways in Which the Fair Work Act Is Reducing Productivity
The Australian, 7 November 2011
The Fair Work Act is turning out to be another example of poorly thought-through regulation whose costs and risk outweigh the benefits.
[more]With Trade Barriers Reappearing, G20 Leaders Must Get Serious
The Age, 1 November 2011As the principal international body for economic policy, the G20 has a particular responsibility to set an example to removing or reducing barriers to international trade and investment.
[more]We Must Join the Asian Century
The Australian Financial Review, 18 October 2011The economic opportunities available from engagement with Asia won’t wait for those who are unprepared to grasp them.
[more]Support for Workers with Disabilities Calls for Three-way Partnership
The Age, 1 September 2011Countries such as New Zealand could serve as a model, writes Graham Bradley.
[more]Government Will Be Judged on Productivity
The Australian, 1 September 2011
The test of this parliament is whether it can lift the bar on productivity and ensure a strong economy.
[more]Long Way to Go on Crucial Tax Reform
The Australian Financial Review, 20 July 2011 It is important not to confuse climate change policy with tax reform, argues Robert Milliner.
[more]Carbon Decision Must Focus on National Interest
The Australian Financial Review, 8 July 2011How will the parliament manage its biggest test since the past election?
[more]Global Emission Cuts Should Be Policy Focus
The Australian, 9 June 2011Much of the current debate is focused on putting a price on greenhouse gas emissions at any cost and within an artificially short timeframe.
[more]No Need to Delay Health Reform
The Australian Financial Review, 15 June 2011The Council of Australian Governments meeting today will once again test the mettle of government leaders on their commitment to creating a sustainable healthcare system.
[more]We Need to Have Faith in the Government’s Sums
The Australian, 30 May 2011 The challenge for the government is to build community support for the more comprehensive suite of economic reforms needed to secure Australia’s long-term prosperity.
[more]Essential Skills in Short Supply
The Australian, 6 May 2011Australia is positioned to take advantage of opportunities from the Asia–Pacific Century. With the right leadership and workforce and population policies we can become a stronger, better society.
[more]Companies Need Better Information on Rules
The Australian Financial Review, 30 April 2011For Australia and China to keep reaping the benefits of our rapidly growing economic relationship, we must continue discussions on bilateral matters of importance, involving both government and business leaders.
[more]We Must Commit to Coherent Regulation
The Australian Financial Review, 18 April 2011What is regulatory governance? Robert Milliner explains.
[more]Companies Must Support and Guide Education Sector
The Australian, 2 April 2011Quality higher education can lay the foundation for Australia’s economic success over the next 25 years.
[more]Nation Needs Population Strategy
Herald Sun, 1 March 2011Low or no population growth is not the way to preserve the way of life we all cherish.
[more]Health Reform Hasn’t Started
The Australian, 14 February 2011It is time to rethink health and healthcare service delivery, writes Rohan Mead in The Australian.
[more]Productivity Is Key to Everything
The Australian, 14 January 2011There is a good deal of common ground in what Australians are looking for from political and business leaders.
[more]BCA Represents Wide Interests
The Australian Financial Review, 10 January 2011The argument that members of the BCA represent narrow sectional interests and could therefore be ineligible for appointment to the RBA Board is thin on several levels.
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