CARR TALKS GLOBAL, IGNORES LOCALS
19-December-2010
Another week passes, and still the paralysing uncertainty continues for Australian business over the fate of proposed research and development (R&D) tax changes.
For well over a year, Innovation Minister Kim Carr has arrogantly ignored feedback on his plans to change the R&D regime.
He has also flatly resisted the opportunity to discuss the Coalition’s sensible, workable amendments to his proposals by removing his Bill from the parliamentary schedule without explanation on at least three separate occasions.
And now Mr Carr is refusing to publicly state how he intends to resolve this urgent situation.
Amazingly, at the same time, Mr Carr is attending a workshop with the OECD today to apparently receive "advice on the mechanisms to … build globally competitive industries and to create jobs for our prosperity and wellbeing".
Of course, Mr Carr should be talking with international bodies like the OECD.
He has, however, a more immediate obligation to speak with Australian industry first.
Every interested stakeholder knows that finalising a sensible outcome for future R&D policy will do more to "build globally competitive industries and to create jobs for our prosperity and wellbeing" than any other current alternative.
Business people across the country are dismayed and angry at the Government’s paralysis.
The Opposition continues to join with them in calling for immediate action to end the confusion and chaos.