Chamber welcomes Business Growth Agenda priorities

Wellington Employers’ Chamber of Commerce welcomes the National Government’s 10 highest priorities for its Business Growth Agenda as essential to continuing strong business performance and economic growth.

President John Milford said business needs to see solid and achievable targets into the medium future, and the priorities deliver that.

“The Business Growth Agenda’s focus on these top 10 issues, among others, is exactly what business and the economy needs if we are to continue to build following the Global Financial Crisis.

“It’s all basic but it’s essential stuff: progressing free trade agreements, improving the RMA, addressing skills shortages, doubling R&D by 2018, extending broadband rollout, improving employment law, simplifying tax, accelerating oil and minerals exploration, and continuing the road improvement programme.

“Progressing these will give business the confidence to invest and grow jobs.

“We can all argue about the fine detail and the speed with which they may be implemented – and the Chamber is prepared to do that after the election should the Government be returned – but the main thing is we all agree that these are essential items on business’ shopping list.

“These are well-aligned with our own Wellington election priorities, such as:

• A real focus on economic development: building on Wellington's strengths, such as new and emerging ICT, hi-tech, film and knowledge-based industries, to achieve growth, higher wages, and innovation.

• Local government amalgamation: reducing the current nine local councils to just one so there is a unified, clear and consistent vision for the Wellington region backed by more efficient and effective spending.

• Modern and connected infrastructure: progressing strategic transport networks, including the Wellington Northern Corridor, investigating the airport runway proposal, solving the Basin bottleneck.

• A supportive employment and wages policy: to ensure flexible and industrious conditions to employ, create jobs, add value, and generate economic growth through investment, including lower taxes and reduced compliance costs.

“We look forward to the election outcome and the incoming Government getting on with what is needed to support business.”

For the Wellington Employers’ Chamber of Commerce election priorities, see here.

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