Directors Call for Action on Efficient Regulation
24 July 2013 at 9:33 am
The Australian Institute of Company Directors has issued a call to the next government of Australia to take action on key issues for directors, including a new approach to regulation and better consultation with business and the Not for Profit sector.
The AICD’s policy priorities paper, Governing for a More Prosperous Australia: Key Issues for Directors in the 2013 Election, has been sent to Federal Government ministers, Opposition shadow ministers and all members of Parliament.
One of the big issues for the Not for Profit sector is the funding agreements with Federal, State and Territory Governments, according to the AICD’s Not for Profit Manager Phil Butler.
“The reporting requirements across different funding agreements with these governments deliver draconian powers to the providers and are nightmares for Not for Profits trying to deliver good outcomes.
Butler says the AICD has always supported the introduction of the charity regulator, the Australian Charities and Not for profits Commission and its plans to reduce red-tape for the sector.
However, he says the ACNC is not yet at that point and the issues around incorporated charities are still a challenge.
“The coming election gives the nation an opportunity to focus on issues which are vital to Australia’s future, including ways in which we can improve the environment for business and so enhance our productivity growth and the prosperity of everyone,” Australian Institute of Company Directors Chief Executive, John Colvin said.
“We believe deregulation – both stemming the growth in new regulation and cutting back existing red tape – is a crucial part of the new government's economic policy challenge. Creating a new system of efficient regulation is a key element of the agenda for boosting national productivity,” he said.
“That is why we are calling on the next Government, whoever wins the coming Federal poll, to get serious about regulatory reform.”
He stressed that the reform agenda being put forward on behalf of Company Directors’ more than 33,000 members and the 2.2 million directors in Australia was a policy blueprint for a more prosperous future and not a case of ‘taking sides’ in the current political contest.
“Company Directors is a non-partisan organisation and we are putting forward these proposals for reform in that spirit.”
“This is a message to whichever side of politics the Australian people give the task of governing after the coming election – we are not necessarily singling out one side or the other for criticism or support or rating either party’s policies. We think these reforms should be adopted, full stop.”
“It is the policies that are important, not the party implementing them.”
