Welcome to this special election edition of Regulator.
With the Australian election result in a state of flux, we thought our clients might value a brief overview of the differences between the major parties on key areas of policy and our perspectives on the associated issues.
For example, what are the implications for taxation, superannuation and foreign investment policy if the Coalition is able to form a minority government with the support of the independents? Alternatively, if Labor is returned, what compromises might the Party need to make on contentious areas of ALP policy such as climate change? Not to forget broadband, which has become a key negotiating point on both sides of politics.
There will obviously be many column inches in newspapers devoted to the Federal election over coming days and weeks. We hope this edition of Regulator can play a small part in the general dialogue and you find it helpful as your organisation works through the implications of this momentous period in Australian politics.
Best wishes
Stuart Fuller
Managing Partner
Andrew Gray
Partner, Workplace Employee Relations
Unlike in 2007 where Work Choices dominated the election, workplace relations change did not play a major role in either the ALP or Coalition 2010 campaign.
The ALP did not release a new industrial relations policy before the election, noting that the Fair Work Act was the government’s policy. Similarly, the Coalition did not include any new policy initiatives and Mr Abbott famously pledged that Work Choices was “dead, buried and cremated.” The Coalition’s stated policy position is reproduced below: Read more
Jeff Clark
Partner, Banking & Finance
The Coalition released its election policy for infrastructure in early August 2010 and there are broadly four separate limbs to its reform package. The ALP has not released any overarching strategy for infrastructure or institutional reform but has responded to the Coalition's plans for the Infrastructure Partnership Bonds Scheme and has announced the establishment of a $6 billion Regional Infrastructure Fund. Read more