Directors Call for GST Reform

Company Directors from both the private sector and Not for Profit organisations have indicated their overwhelming support for significant reform of the GST, including an increase in its rate, and also called for an end to an obstructionist Senate, according to a new survey.

The bi-annual Director Sentiment Index compiled by the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) found that GST reform was the top priority for any comprehensive review of the taxation system and that 78 per cent of directors believed the GST should be increased and/or broadened.

“The results are a telling indication of the desire for change as our members come from all parts of the community, not just business. However, the survey also highlights a widespread fear that hostile Senates are a barrier to significant reform of any kind,” AICD’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer John Brogden said.

“The Director Sentiment Index is the only indicator measuring the sentiment and future intentions of directors of Australian companies, Not for Profit organisations and public sector bodies.The latest survey shows that the overall sentiment of directors has slipped 2.4 points so far in 2015."

The need for broad tax reform was a dominant theme in the latest survey, with 35 per cent of respondents indicating that the Government’s priority for next week’s Federal Budget should be increasing long-term revenue by restructuring the tax system. Thirty-seven per cent of directors believed that the Government should aim to achieve a budget surplus within the next five years.

One-third of respondents ranked the balance of power in the Senate as among the top three economic issues facing business, behind low productivity growth and low consumer confidence.

“This unexpected outcome is indicative of the degree to which the Federal Government’s efforts to implement policies are hamstrung by the Senate make-up. It is operating in an environment in which it is almost impossible to govern effectively,” Brogden said.

“It is a problem now faced by successive Governments and is an impediment to sensible policy-making. Directors are looking for quality public debate on a range of issues impacting the economy – including budgetary policy, tax reform, industrial relations and infrastructure.

“A remarkable 85 per cent of respondents to our survey rated the quality of current public policy debate as ‘poor’,” Brogden said.

Almost 90 per cent of directors believed that Government spending on infrastructure was too low and over 70 per cent believed the Government should pursue significant industrial relations reform.

Directors were more pessimistic about the health of the Australian economy compared to the second half of 2014. Almost 70 per cent expect the domestic economy to be weak over the next 12 months and almost 40 per cent were pessimistic about the general business outlook.

The AICD’s Director Sentiment Index can be downloaded HERE.