“So I’m not too sure where that comment came from, from my perspective.”
On Monday, Dutton ruled out Australia as more in tune with Labor and Greens these days, saying the path back to Liberal Party power depended on small and micro businesses, suburbs and businesses. regions.
New opposition leader Peter Dutton will focus more on small businesses. Alex Ellinghausen
Mr Dutton, who once said Qantas CEO Alan Joyce should “cling to his fabric” after speaking out in favor of same-sex marriage, said they used to talk more on social issues and climate change than helping the Coalition. advocating economic reform.
“We will have a cordial relationship with big business, and we will work on it, but I think frankly now many CEOs are closer to the other parties and outside the Liberal Party, that is the modern reality,” he said.
“No one is advocating for changes in labor relations or wage policy in relation to economic policy or fiscal policy in general. I think we are a poorer country because of that.
“I think a lot of them are probably afraid to step up because they’re worried about the Twitter attack, and they live in that environment.
“I hope we can continue to work with them, but I need them to work to talk about a lot of policies, not just social but economic policies, not just about climate change.”
Australia Business Council Director Danny Gilbert said it was wrong to say that big business was “somehow out of touch with Australian workers, regions, job creation, economic and industrial reform”. “.
“The BCA has consistently advocated in these areas,” he said. “The BCA has worked very closely with the Morrison government, such as forest fires, COVID, and policy making.
“In any case, it is critical that large companies have a strong working relationship with the Coalition as we focus on the future.”
Alexi Boyd, CEO of the Small Business Organizations Council of Australia, said that the priority of Mr. Dutton of small businesses was positive and “says a lot about the need for politicians from all parties to get involved again with the unique needs of small businesses.”
“It’s the design of the policy that has been skewed towards the big ones and all their resources,” he said.
“There is a lack of consideration for how small business should implement government policy.”
At the banking summit, a high school student asked Mr. McEwan and Commonwealth Bank of Australia CEO Matt Comyn about an alleged failure to help the economy decarbonize faster.
Matt Comyn, CEO of Commonwealth Bank, with Anna Bligh, CEO of the Australian Banking Association. Louie Douvis
Anna Bligh, managing director of the Australian Banking Association and former Labor leader in Queensland, said that “a central business of banks is to assess risk, plan for it, mitigate it, take it into account, and make the transition from your portfolio when needed. “
“This is the main activity of banking.
“It’s not a secondary issue,” he said, referring to banks playing a leading role in the climate and energy transition.
Ms Bligh added: “But going to the comments of the new opposition leader.
“I noticed that he also said in the same interview that he would consider working as a leader to work with everyone.
“I would expect there to be all sorts of rhetoric around that, but in my experience, when things have to be done, people usually sit at the table and try to solve problems, and I think this is what we will see.
“I think if there is nothing left after this election, one of the messages for everyone on all sides of parliament is that the people of Australia want to see a change in the way politics is done.”
Business leaders also hope that the rise of former banker David Littleproud to Nationals leader will help the Coalition’s relationship with business, including climate change and its new commitment to zero net emissions by 2050.
In a statement, Board of Directors Jennifer Westacott congratulated Dutton and Littleproud on their election to the leadership of the Coalition parties.
“The Business Council worked closely with former Prime Minister Scott Morrison and former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg to save hundreds of thousands of jobs through the pandemic and make Australia’s recovery the envy of the world. “We look forward to maintaining that spirit of collaboration,” he said.
“We will continue to work constructively with all policy leaders to deliver policies that create a larger, faster-growing economy that offers better jobs and opportunities for Australians.”