Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has gone on the offensive in a row with business over economic reform, telling corporate chiefs that Labor was sparing them from “extreme” policies including Coalition ideas against their interest.
The pointed exchanges at a business dinner on Tuesday night followed a clash in the Senate on housing policy, with the Coalition and the Greens joining forces to drag out debate on a Labor proposal to use federal funds to help 40,000 people buy their first homes. Albanese said the government was “very cautious” about negative gearing because there was a risk that changing the tax rules would reduce housing supply rather than helping renters.With economic growth sliding to just 0.2 per cent in the June quarter, the government is fighting Opposition Leader Peter Dutton over the cost of living while facing business fears that workplace law and environmental regulations are adding to costs.
“We don’t do any of this because it’s politically convenient. We do it out of respect for what you do – and because we value what you say.” Business Council president Geoff Culbert, a former chief executive at Sydney Airport, repeated the peak group’s warnings about higher costs from workplace laws and red tape.“We have to be prepared to face into and tackle the hard issues that will define our future. And the scapegoating of business has to stop.”
“It’s why workplace relations will be a key battleground at the next election and Australians will have a clear choice to make.