Charter receives widespread approval
Widespread endorsement was received from business and community leaders following the launch of Business SA’s A Charter for a Prosperous South Australia last month.
Released at a lunch attended by almost 600 people, the Charter was widely acclaimed for its forward-thinking and bold recommendations for change in South Australia.
Developed in consultation with Business SA’s members, the Charter outlined more than 80 recommendations for the State’s economic sustainability over the next decade and beyond.
Business SA Chief Executive Officer, Peter Vaughan, launched the document and said the Charter targeted crucial issues that will ultimately drive the State’s long-term economic prosperity.
“With the retention of the triple A credit rating, strong investment in infrastructure and businesses taking action to avoid reducing staff levels, the State is in a strong position to come out of the economic downturn,” Mr Vaughan said.
“The document is a call to action to ensure that the emerging strength of the local economy is built on over the next decade, to enable businesses of all sizes and across all sectors to thrive, in both domestic and global markets.
“Having a supportive and competitive business environment will provide the vibrancy to generate employment, economic growth and income for all South Australians.”
Key recommendations in the Charter include:
> Complete reform of payroll and land tax
> Fully deregulate shop trading hours
> Reform the Legislative Council
> Introduce three metropolitan “super” Councils and restructure regional councils
> Rationalise the Public Sector
> Facilitate greater investment in water supply infrastructure that is independent of the River Murray
> Introduce cost-reflective and consumption based water pricing
> Pursue the development of a nuclear energy industry in South Australia
> Increase research into methods to raise agricultural productivity.
Mr Vaughan said he hoped that all of South Australia’s key political parties would heed and endorse the recommendations contained in the Charter as part of their election platform.
“The party that wins the State election and forms Government will have the opportunity to create a legacy for a sustainable economic future for all South Australians,” Mr Vaughan added.
Business SA provided leaders of both major political parties with a copy of the Charter in order to respond to the recommendations.
The Labor Party agreed or provided in-principle support for 80 per cent of Business SA’s recommendations, while for the Liberal Party this figure was 70 per cent. Some areas remained under review for both parties. More information about the political party responses is available here.
Business SA also released another document at the lunch, Making a Difference, outlining the recent history of Business SA, from 1999 to 2009, highlighting many of the major achievements and consequent benefits flowing to business from those successes.
The Charter can be accessed at www.business-sa.com.
