Competition Policy in Western Australia
This paper sets the scene for competition policy in Western Australia. It highlights key competition reform objectives for Western Australia in the areas of legislative and structural reforms, and in the application of competitive neutrality principles by government. Importantly, it also highlights the need for the Government to change the way it manages competition policy to better meet its responsibilities under the new reform agenda.

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Federalism in Australia
This discussion paper starts by outlining a history of federalism in Australia, as well as some of the key challenges facing Australia's federation going forward. This will be followed by what CCI believes to be the five key principles that should shape and inform reform of government relations and a renewed agenda for political and economic reform in Australia. The final section will then look into more detail some of the kay issues in relation to Australia's federation.

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Regulation and Compliance
This paper provides a regulatory policy to pursue in addressing and reducing government 'red tape'. It reports on the scope and manner in which regulations impact on business activity and addresses in some part the initiatives of the Federal Government over the past twenty years to diminish the impact of the regulatory burden.

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Security: the threat to business continuity
This paper briefly examines the major security threats to West Australian industry. It outlines many of the government initiatives to counter major criminal and terrorist activities and contain and control a pandemic. Overall the paper identifies the large and continually increasing government infrastructure to identify, assess and prevent or control security threats to Australia.

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The next state government will have a crucial role in helping to shape and secure Western Australia's economic future. It must develop a policy agenda that has a long term focus.

CCI believes that Western Australia's future is bright, provided that strategies are developed to both build the productive capacity of the economy, and create an economic environment which is conducive to innovation, growth and entrepreneurialism.

This report presents 10 key policy priorities for the incoming WA government, which are crucial to the development of a strong and sustainable economy.

1. Addressing Labour Shortages – as the most important challenge facing WA today, it is imperative that the next state government put in place a human capital strategy that addresses current and future labour shortages.
2. Energy – with the recent disruptions to the state’s gas supply highlighting the vulnerable nature of WA's energy supply, it is critical that the next state government produce a State Energy Strategy, which would provide direction with respect to management and development of natural energy resources, energy production, security and supply.
3. Tax Competitiveness – taxation is the most costly and intrusive aspect of the interaction between government and business. Getting the tax structure right is the single most constructive reform that governments can do to promote a productive economy and competitive business sector. It is imperative that the next state government provide tax relief and broader reforms aimed at addressing Western Australia's unwelcome ranking as the highest taxing state in Australia.
4. Public Sector Reform – control over general government expenses is the cornerstone of good financial management. With government spending growing at unsustainable growth rates in recent years, the next state government must initiate reforms to deliver a more efficient and streamlined public sector.
5. Infrastructure Development – WA’s recent economic growth has tested the adequacy of the state’s infrastructure, and highlighted difficulties associated with responding to the need for enhanced capacity. The next state government should deliver the long awaited State  Infrastructure Strategy, which will not only provide a sound framework from which projects are assessed, but also provide a greater degree of certainty as to the likely future infrastructure projects that will be undertaken in the State and assist in de-politicising the prioritisation process.
6. Retail Trading Hours – removing the complex and inconsistent retail trading hours regulations remains a key competition reform that will lead to a range of substantial benefits for WA business and consumers. Only full deregulation will deliver greater competition, increased business investment, greater choice for consumers and lower prices.
7. Regulatory Reform – while effective regulation is a vehicle to ensure the government’s social, environmental and economic objectives are met, excessive regulation and red tape adversely affect the ability of businesses to operate efficiently in WA.
8. Education and Training – a strong education and training system is critical to ensure that young people are provided with the necessary skills to ensure that WA maintains an appropriately skilled workforce. The next state government should introduce further reforms aimed at delivering an education and training system that is internationally competitive, provides choice, promotes flexibility and is responsive to the needs of individuals and industry.
9. Health and Community Services – as one of the primary areas of government responsibility, the next state government ought to implement further reforms across the health and community  services sector, including a shift in focus of health care to primary and preventative care, as well as reforms that form part of the national reform agenda. It is also important that funding increases in the sector are indexed to reflect the true costs required to deliver services.
10. Climate Change – while climate change and the policies implemented to manage it are national issues, the next state government must play a leading role in ensuring that Western Australia’s energy-intensive industries are not unfairly treated by a national emissions trading regime. National climate change policies should not adversely impact on the State’s international competitiveness.

Click here to view the Strategies for Growth paper