Small businesses are still struggling and may yet need further support through another cut in interest rates, a leading business group warns.
But Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) acting chief economist Burchell Wilson also says the federal government must be allowed to cut red tape and repeal the carbon and mining taxes.
"We need to see the opposition get on board and admit that the carbon tax is orphaned internationally and needs to be repealed," Mr Wilson told reporters in Canberra on Monday.
Labor says it will support the legislation only if it means going to an emissions trading scheme rather than the government's direct action plan.
ACCI's small business survey for the September quarter shows business taxes and government charges remain the number one constraint on small-business investment intentions, just like the past 11 consecutive quarters.
However, Mr Wilson described the political row over the government's wish to lift the debt ceiling to $500 billion as a "beat-up", saying its legislation should be allowed to pass.
"The key issue for the budget is the national commission of audit. That is where our focus should be at the moment," Mr Wilson said.
An appearance by Treasury secretary Martin Parkinson at Senate estimates later this week could be crucial to whether the debt ceiling is raised to $500 billion when the Senate sits again on December 2.
A Senate amendment last week by Labor and the Australian Greens to restrict the increase to $400 billion was rejected by Treasurer Joe Hockey.
The current $300 billion limit will be hit on December 12.
Greens deputy leader Adam Bandt wants to hear what Dr Parkinson has to say.
"It is an extraordinarily large amount of money, and we want to know why (it is necessary)," Mr Bandt told reporters.
Labor continues to press for the release of the midyear budget review to reveal the state of the books and the need for such a big increase in the debt ceiling, but Mr Hockey has repeatedly said he won't release the update until mid-December.
"If the Treasurer of Australia can't make the case to the Australian people, why they should give him a higher debt cap ... then what on earth is his day job?" Opposition Leader Bill Shorten told Sky News.
The ACCI survey showed business conditions remain subdued, even though confidence has improved markedly since the September election.
Mr Wilson said the weak conditions suggested the boom in confidence was fragile, and built the case for lower interest rates in the new year.
"It seems unlikely that the Reserve Bank is going to cut in December but more likely, if the non-mining sector of the economy fails to pick up, then they will have to reconsider monetary policy settings in February," Mr Wilson said.
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