Illawarra Business Chamber has congratulated the Australian Labor Party and Prime Minister-Elect Kevin Rudd, and local MPs Sharon Bird and Jennie George on their victory in the 2007 Federal Election.

Mr Grimson, CEO of the Illawarra Business Chamber said the fact the Australian Labor Party held office in every Australian State and Territory provided a unique opportunity to significantly improve the performance of the Federation.

“There is a unique aligning of the planets with 2008 marking only the third occasion since Federation that no Federal or State elections are scheduled.

“The absence of any elections and the historic precedent of “wall to wall” Labor allow the new Government to undertake major reforms similar in scale to that undertaken by the Hawke Government in 1983.

Mr Grimson said the IBC in conjunction with the NSW Business Chamber, in its Fixing the Federation report made 10 recommendations detailing a national reform agenda. Those recommendations include holding a Constitutional Convention in 2008, appointing a national Minister for Infrastructure, a Productivity Commission review of the GST distribution formula, and the development of a national framework for climate change.

“IBC is pleased that in recent weeks the Premier of Queensland, the Premier of Victoria and the NSW Leader of the Opposition have publicly supported the Chamber’s call for a constitutional convention to be held in 2008. I urge the Prime Minister-Elect to convene such a convention so that we can start the work of fixing federal state relations.

“It cannot be denied that the relationship with the Federal, State and Territory Governments has become dysfunctional and has become a drain on Australia’s capacity to grow and achieve. We hope Mr Rudd will aggressively pursue a new agenda of co-operative federalism as we need an end to the “blame game”.

Mr Grimson urged the new Government to be cautious in workplace relations, and had the opportunity to discuss its views on a range of issues to Craig Emerson during his visit to the Illawarra last week.

“It is on the record that the IBC and the NSW Business Chamber has a different view about aspects of workplace relations than the new Government. However, I recognise the Government has an electoral mandate for changes to the workplace relations laws.

We offer an open hand to the new Government to work with them in negotiating new workplace relations regulations that do not sacrifice productivity and maintain business confidence by providing an environment in which business will continue to invest and in turn create jobs here in the Illawarra.

Copies of Fixing the Federation are available at www.nswbc.com.au/election07

For Further information contact Mark Grimson on 4229 4722 or 0409 155 240