TLN Support Australia-NZ Business Council Study

TLN Support Australia-New Zealand Business Council Study

The Australia-New Zealand Business Council study provides further economic rationale for more integration with Australia.

"It is clear this is just what New Zealand business wants," said TLN Executive Director, Suse Reynolds.

"It's equally plain that Australian Ministers and business are preoccupied with the prospect of getting a free trade deal with the USA.

"This puts the obligation squarely on our own senior political and business leaders to draw the attention of their Australian counterparts back to the promise of real trade liberalization. The sort of liberalization that an enhanced CER relationship would undoubtedly deliver," Reynolds added.

A Telstra Clear survey of 150 chief executives released a week ago demonstrated plainly the desire for greater assimilation with the Australian market. More than 90% said CER was important and there was overwhelming agreement on the importance of a uniform tax system between the two countries.

The Australia-New Zealand Business Council's NZIER study underpins these findings by showing the extent to which our economy would benefit in dollar terms.

Reynolds pointed out that even the most conservative estimates show the financial returns would be twice the one off costs and potentially five times as high.

"Both CER partners depend on trade and this dependency will only increase. New Zealand and Australian businesses need to be at the cutting edge of their international markets.

"Developing CER into a true single market is a vital part of building a truly supportive launching pad into those international markets," Reynolds concluded.

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