Tony Shepherd, President of the Business Council of Australia, addresses the National Press Club in Canberra. Picture: Ray Strange Source: News Limited
AUSTRALIA'S peak big business lobby has called for a radical overhaul of economic and social policy including the "aim" of having 50 per cent of business executive positions held by women within a decade.
In an election-year call to arms, Business Council of Australia president Tony Shepherd has also called for nuclear power to be placed "on the table" as part of a broad-ranging national energy policy that cuts costs and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
The corporate leader also favoured four-year electoral terms to help politicians embark on long-term and sustainable reform "plan" that looks beyond the next six months.
In a wide ranging speech to the National Press Club, Mr Shepherd challenged both sides of politics to look beyond their narrow self-interests and the ballot box.
"The plan we're putting forward for Australia requires political leaders who are prepared to lose their jobs to get things done," he said.
"The test of reform for us is whether it advances national prosperity over the long term. Not whether it advances the attainment or retention of power."
He was unwilling to say whether the BCA - which represents more than 100 of the biggest firms in Australia - supported Tony Abbott's policy of repealing the carbon tax, saying the business lobby would wait to see the Coalition's final policy.
But he did call for business red tape to be slashed and claimed regulation was "choking" business and that Australia ranked 96th out of 144 in an international measure of "regulatory burden".
Just days before Julia Gillard's showdown with the State Premiers over the Gonski education reforms, the BCA chair called for the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) structure to be axed.
"Despite the best intentions, COAG has failed," he said.
The address by Mr Shepherd, who is chairman of Transfield Services, came as the business lobby also launched a nationwide advertising campaign - "When business works, Australia works" - which reinforces the call for longer-term thinking about Australia's future.
The newspaper advertisements say: "In many countries, creating jobs, raising living standards and securing long-term prosperity is a challenge. In Australia, it's a choice."
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