Australia: The Western Australian business community appreciates that Prime Minister Gillard is visiting Western Australia just a fortnight after being appointed.

CCI urges Ms Gillard to use her first visit to WA as Prime Minister to better understand the many challenges that the State, and local employers face, and work with the business community to address them.

With a Federal election looming, there is no better time than now to put in place sound and sensible policies that will lock in our economic growth and prosperity for many years to come.

CCI calls on the Prime Minister to address the following issues while in WA;

• Resources Tax: The Federal Government must explain how a new $10.5 billion tax on one of this State’s key industries won’t harm the local economy, its people and the resources industry.
• Health Reform: The debate over the future of Australia’s health care system continues to raise more questions than answers. CCI supports the development of a more efficient health system, but wants the Federal Government to explain the detail of the package and what will be the benefit to Western Australia by signing up.
• Labour shortages: It’s one of the biggest challenges facing the State. CCI estimates WA will need nearly an extra half a million workers over the next decade. The Prime Minister needs to help grow the local workforce, including through increased, and easier, immigration to WA.
• Industrial Relations: Balance and fairness needs to be restored to the industrial relations system. The recent changes add red tape, increase costs and hand unions too much power.
• Infrastructure: Better infrastructure is needed to support new investment and attract workers to WA. With WA accounting for over 40 per cent of the Nation’s exports, and leading the country’s economic recovery, it’s time for the State to get its fair share.

Source: http://www.cciwa.com/9_July_2010.aspx#21373