Business and community groups have joined forces to urge Australia's leaders to keep all options on the table when discussing tax and federation.
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Australian Council of Social Service and the Business Council of Australia are urging a level of bipartisanship not seen for a long time, in the lead up to Prime Minister Tony Abbott's special leaders retreat on Wednesday.
Premiers and chief ministers from across the country will attend the event.
The business and community groups believe the case for comprehensive tax reform is compelling.
ACOSS boss Cassandra Goldie says if governments continue to avoid serious tax reform they will face a budget crisis where choices will be a lot tougher.
"Experience shows us that tax and budget reform can be achieved, but it will require a degree of vision, consensus and bi-partisanship, starting with our political leaders," she said.
The groups want the leaders to work towards a tax system that raises the revenue governments need to provide services to the community, in a way that supports a stronger economy, job creation and that is fair.
They say reform will only happen if Australia's political, business and community leaders put the national interest first.
"If our diverse organisations can sit down together and nut out the objectives for tax reform ... this provides our political leaders with a solid platform of consensus and support to take things forward," BCA chief executive Jennifer Westacott says.
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