Aust Reform Must Continue

The Abbott government must remain focused on economic reform despite the uncertainty surrounding its leadership.

That’s the view of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, warning its members that policy action since the global financial crisis appears to be losing steam.

It comes as Prime Minster Tony Abbott conceded, after fending off a party room push for a leadership spill, that his first budget may have been too ambitious.

Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop this morning told the Nine Network that Mr Hockey’s job as Treasurer was safe, despite ongoing criticism, meaning much of the OECD’s call for reform will fall on his shoulders.

“Joe’s continuing as treasurer,” she said.

“In fact, we had a very strong discussion, a very frank discussion in cabinet last night about the budget he is now preparing.”

The OECD makes a number of recommendations in a report prepared for the G20 finance ministers meeting in Istanbul on Monday that supports the Australian government’s agenda.

It is Turkey’s first major meeting since taking over the G20 presidency from Australia.

Treasurer Joe Hockey was unable to attend because of the leadership spill, sending Nationals MP and parliamentary secretary to the finance minister Michael McCormack instead.

The Paris-based institution backs the government’s road-building push, including the asset recycling initiative that promotes privatization to fund new projects, even though this is causing angst among some states.

But it says the government must ensure such spending delivers value for money while taking into account environmental concerns through user and congestion charges.

It also backs the 1.5 per cent cut in the company tax rate promised from July 1, describing income taxes in Australia as “heavy”, yet it is still not clear from the government that all businesses will get this cut.

The OECD again pushed for a higher and broader GST, but Prime Minister Tony Abbott said only last week the government had no plans to touch the GST “this term or next”, insisting the rate could not change unless all the states and territories agreed.

Among other key recommendations, the OECD said the government must pursue greater access to affordable childcare to allow combining work and family life.

In its latest Going for Growth report, the OECD concedes the headwinds facing the global economy are “impressive”, including persistently high unemployment, slowing productivity, high debt and deficits, and the lingering effects of the financial crisis.

“Addressing these challenges requires commensurate and steady policy changes,” it says.

This news story is reprinted from www.businessspectator.com.au

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