The state’s peak business group says time is running out for the state government to fulfil its promises of public sector and industrial relations reform from the last election.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry Western Australia released its fourth scorecard for the Barnett government this morning, which evaluated the government’s performance across a range of 11 key policy areas.
The CCI rated the government’s performance in health and community services, education, retail trading and labour shortages as highly satisfactory, but performances in energy, tax competitiveness, infrastructure and planning, regulatory reforms and climate change were all rated as neutral.
The report said the government’s performance on public sector reform and industrial relations were less than satisfactory.
CCI WA chief executive James Pearson said the coming election should be seen as an opportunity to complete the reforms promised in the 2008 election.
“Examples that would make a real improvement for businesses include the full implementation of the findings of the Red Tape Reduction Group and the Economic Audit Committee’s recommendations,” Mr Pearson said in a statement.
“CCI encourages the government and the opposition to commit to policies this coming election that will remove the barriers holding back business and encourage growth.
“Policies which reduce the high cost of doing business should be at the forefront of both parties’ election plans.”
