SKIP TO MAIN CONTENT

Labor view on tax cuts dangerous: business

The Business Council is worried by Labor's rejection of business tax cuts, while believing the coalition could have done more for industrial relations.

File image of Jennifer Westacott
File image of Jennifer Westacott Source: AAP

3 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Skip to article content

Business is not happy with either side of politics.

Business Council of Australia head Jennifer Westacott is "gobsmacked" by Labor's anti-business election campaign, describing it as a dangerous ploy.

But she also believes the coalition government should have been more ambitious on industrial relations during its term in office.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has labelled as "anti-business" Labor's rejection of his plan to reduce the company tax rate to 25 per cent from 30 per cent over the next 10 years.

But Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is not for moving, insisting it's a choice between standing up for lower and middle-income families or a handout to companies which "simply don't need it at this point".

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Ms Westacott is bewildered by Labor's stance.

"How are we going to grow our economy when 80 per cent of our economic output is dependent on business?" she said on Sunday.

"It's gobsmacking, it's very dangerous."

Ms Westacott also wants to see Mr Turnbull talk more about industrial relations during the campaign, especially reintroduction of the Australian Building and Construction Commission, one of the triggers for the July 2 double-dissolution election.

While bringing back the ABCC would be a "huge step" in restoring confidence in the industrial relations system, the government could have done more.

"We would have liked to have seen a more ambitious agenda by the government over the last three years," Ms Westacott said.

Employment Minister Michaelia Cash believes the government has been active in industrial relations, citing its attempts to restore the ABCC.

She dismissed suggestions that releasing the government's formal response to the Heydon royal commission into trade union corruption before polling day will be seen as a political stunt.

"Our response is already in play, we will of course respond to the additional recommendations of Heydon over the next few weeks," Senator Cash said.

The Business Council will be launching its own campaign in the run-up to July 2, promoting how business underpins the wealth of the country.

Ms Westacott is concerned opinion polls are pointing to a tight election outcome, saying Australia will be in a far worse position if there is a hung parliament or another obstructive Senate.

She believes Australia is at a turning point.

"A spending plan without a growth plan will just lead to crippling rates of taxation and more and more deficits and a very, very fragile and non-resilient economy."


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world