The Australian Treasurer, the Hon. Wayne Swan, handed down the 2011–12 Australian Federal Budget on Tuesday 10 May.
CPA Australia CEO Alex Malley says it is a 'steady as she goes' Budget with a touch of caution, predicated by the Australian Government's imperative of a return to surplus by 2012–13, and is more notable for what is not in it, given what is still to come – including the carbon tax, Minerals Resource Rent Tax and the National Tax Forum in October.
CEDA post-Budget briefing
Following the handing down of the 2011–12 Australian Federal Budget, CPA Australia CEO Alex Malley facilitated the Committee for the Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) post-Budget briefing in Melbourne with Warren Hogan, Chief Economist, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited, and Alan Kohler, Editor in Chief, Business Spectator.
The expert commentators reflected on the key points of the Budget, implications for business and the broader economic and political themes emerging.
Left to right: Alan Kohler, Editor in Chief, Business Spectator; Warren Hogan, Chief Economist, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited; Alex Malley, CEO, CPA Australia.
2011 Federal Budget Breakfast
CPA Australia co-hosted a breakfast briefing on Wednesday 11 May at Parliament House, Canberra
Guest speakers included: the Hon. Bill Shorten MP, Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation; Senator Mathias Cormann, Shadow Assistant Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation; and Robert Gottliebsen, Business Commentator, Business Spectator and The Eureka Report.
In his opening remarks, Mr Shorten congratulated CPA Australia and the other accounting bodies for championing tax reform in their Pre-Budget submissions, and engaging in constructive dialogue to support fairness and integrity in the tax system.
CPA Australia's doorstop commentary
CPA Australia's Paul Drum, Head of Business and Investment Policy, speaking to media in Canberra on Australia's 2011–12 Federal Budget.