When the treasurer talks about “partnering with business” and “making markets better”, there is simply scepticism and nervousness among the business community, writes Allegra Spender.
There are areas I agree, others I don’t. But borrowing from John F Kennedy, I challenge the treasurer to ask not just what business can do for the government, but to ask what you can do for business – and then actually deliver on it.
A row of shops near Bondi CBD. Wentworth independent MP Allegra Spender says the business community is losing faith in the government.Although the treasurer focuses on market failures, businesses focus on the government failures of the past two decades and ask why the new government isn’t fully addressing those.The Henry review showed a burning need for genuine reform, but the Rudd, Gillard, Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison governments have failed to deliver.
Industrial relations reforms are a clear example. Business went to the Jobs and Skills summit in good faith, but last year’s IR legislation did not reflect that good faith. COSBOA naively said it was open to opt-in, multi-employer bargaining templates andthat was opposed by every business group, including COSBOA.
As well as a lack of action, there is a lack of recognition at how much better government should be. A sectoral level review of value-destroying regulation, a sequencing of regulatory reform, a wholesale review of the awards and a commitment from government to be a good contract partner to business would show that the government is serious about being a partner of business.
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