The Australian Industry Group congratulates all the new and returning federal Shadow Ministers who will take their positions in the next parliament.
Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, commented on a number of the new Shadow Ministers in areas of importance to boosting Australia’s lagging productivity performance:
“Deputy Opposition Leader in the Senate, Home Affairs, Immigration and Citizenship Shadow, Senator Kristina Keneally, understands Australia’s immigration story well and will appreciate the importance of maintaining a strong skills-focused migration program.
“Industrial Relations Shadow, Tony Burke, will have an important job to work with industry to hopefully reset Labor’s workplace relations agenda on boosting Australia’s productivity while maintaining fairness for all parties. He will understand the need to develop policies that will contribute to wealth creation for the benefit of employees of employers.
“Business hopes that with his authority as former Leader, NDIS and Government Services Shadow, Bill Shorten, will be well placed to help refocus the NDIS on its original objective of being a productivity enhancing rather than welfare-only program.
“As Australia goes through a period of softening economic conditions, Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers will need to develop a set of policies to boost growth and ensure prosperity for all Australians.
“Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Shadow, Catherine King, has a key productivity boosting portfolio.
“Employment and Industry, Science, Small and Family business Shadow, Brendan O’Connor, already has well-established relations with the business community and we look forward to working with him in his new role.
“We also look forward to continuing to work with Mark Butler on Energy and Climate and with Terri Butler in the related Environment and Water portfolio.
“With the global trading system in dispute we look forward to working with Trade Shadow, Madeleine King, to help maintain and support Australia’s trading interests.
“Now more than ever it is vital that the Opposition develop and maintain strong relationships with industry in Australia’s national economic interests,” Mr Willox said.
