One year to NSW election:
Leaders challenged to take up 10 Big Ideas to Grow NSW

26 March 2010 

On the one year anniversary from the next NSW state election, NSW’s largest business organisation, NSW Business Chamber, has called on Premier Kristina Keneally and Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell to implement its policy blueprint, the 10 Big Ideas to Grow NSW.

“We need the political debate in NSW to shift away from name-calling, blame and complaint to one that focuses on the future and on the ways we can grow NSW,” said Stephen Cartwright, CEO of NSW Business Chamber.

“We don’t want to see 12 months of glib one-liners, talking points and focus-grouped mini announcements. The issues facing NSW are too important to continue politics as usual.

“There is no doubt NSW faces significant challenges, and we won’t deny them, but the time has come to talk meaningfully about real policies and practical solutions.”

The 10 Big Ideas cover the performance of Government, taxation, red tape, transport, infrastructure, Commonwealth-State relations, health funding, regional development, local government, the business environment, education and skills.

The 10 Big Ideas is a combination of savings, new spending initiatives and tax cuts.  Implementing the 10 Big Ideas, whilst providing $1.9 billion in tax cuts will, improve the Budget position of NSW by at least $670 million over four years.

Specific recommendations included in the blueprint include:

Ø  Establishing a Commission of Audit – staffed by local, interstate and overseas experts from the public and private sectors.  The Commission would exist for three years and report on every area of government performance and activity.

Ø  Abolish the Office of State Revenue – and commission the ATO to administer and collect NSW taxes on behalf of NSW.

Ø  Establish a Department of Business Growth – to actively remove red tape, attract new businesses and actively support existing NSW businesses.

Ø  Appoint a Small Business Commissioner to provide small business with a dispute resolution mechanism when dealing with disputes with government agencies and big business.

Ø  Hand Hospital Funding over to the Federal Government.

Ø  Create 10 strong super councils in Sydney – replacing the existing 41 metropolitan councils.

Ø  Encourage business and government relocations to regional NSW through the establishment of a $250 million Develop Regional NSW Fund.

Ø  Appoint a Transport Tsar – responsible for delivering full electronic ticketing by 2012 and a traffic and transport demand management strategy.

Ø  Make the HSC more responsive to students not intending to undertake tertiary study – commence a Green Paper and White Paper process thereby encouraging a community debate on vocational education and training.

Ø  Reform the GST formula – ensuring a fairer and simpler distribution of the GST.

“With a year to go until the next state election, the challenge for Premier Kristina Keneally and Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell is to demonstrate the drive and commitment to implement this blueprint.” Mr Cartwright said.

“Our 10 Big Ideas are about embracing a renewed sense of purpose, urgency and energy for NSW.

“What these ideas do require is a willingness to question the status quo, a capacity to challenge vested interests and a desire to make decisions based on the broader public good – both leaders need to demonstrate that they can rise above party politics and put the future of NSW first.

“There is no copyright on these 10 Big Ideas.  We hope that both sides of politics take up these ideas and claim them as their own.

Find our more information and register your support at www.10bigideas.com.au. 

The community can also support the 10 Big Ideas on Facebook with the fan page 10 Big Ideas to Grow NSW and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/nswbc and #10bigideas.