Dear Meshelle

For the past year, Australia’s political leaders have engaged in an epic struggle. 
Such a struggle is only right and proper in a democracy as vibrant and as strong as Australia.

With the people having decided the election, the NSW Business Chamber congratulates Prime Minister-Elect Kevin Rudd on his election. It is a unique and special honour to be elected Prime Minister of Australia and Mr Rudd can feel immensely proud of this historic achievement.

The challenge now is for the new Government to move decisively in the same way as the Hawke Government did when it was first elected in 1983. 

There are no State elections on the horizon until 2009 and coupled with “wall to wall” Labor State Governments this offers a once in a generation opportunity fix some of the vexing issues that are confronting the Federation. 

Prior to the campaign, NSW Business Chamber released Fixing the Federation [PDF] which detailed a reform agenda for the elected Federal Government. This is the reform agenda we will be advocating to the Government over coming months – at its heart is a belief that we can dramatically improve the performance of government across Australia.

It cannot be denied that the relationship between the Federal, State and Territory Governments has become dysfunctional and has become a drain on Australia’s capacity to grow and achieve. We hope Mr Rudd will aggressively pursue a new agenda of co-operative federalism as we need an end to the “blame game”. 

In recent months and weeks, we have met with senior members of the Rudd team to discuss these ideas and will continue to advance an agenda that encourages growth, productivity and enterprise.

It is on the record that NSW Business Chamber has a different view about workplace relations than the new Government. However, I recognise the Government has an electoral mandate for changes to the workplace relations laws and we will endeavour to work with the Government in negotiating new workplace relations that do not sacrifice productivity or return workplaces to the bad old days of industrial strife.

In coming weeks you will receive a special edition of Business Connect which will focus on what the change of Government means for business. Our website www.nswbc.com.au/election07 also contains a comprehensive list of the new Government’s policy commitments.

To assist you in understanding what the new Government means for your business, NSW Business Chamber has prepared a detailed overview of the Rudd Government’s business policies. 

 The Rudd Government: overview of business policies [PDF 300KB]

If you have any questions about what the change of Government may mean for your business, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Kevin MacDonald
Chief Executive Officer
NSW Business Chamber

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Disclaimer: In preparing this eNewsletter, NSW Business Chamber relies on information supplied by external sources. While care has been taken in the preparation of the information and published materials on this eNewsletter, NSW Business Chamber accepts no responsibility or liability and makes no warranties or representations with respect to the accuracy of the information and published materials. The information and published materials in this eNewsletter are intended as general information only and should not be relied on in place of specific legal or professional advice. To the full extent permitted by law, NSW Business Chamber excludes liability for any loss or damage which may be suffered or incurred by any person arising from or in connection with the supply or use of information or published materials contained in this eNewsletter.