Chartered Accountants ANZ (CA ANZ) has launched its policy asks ahead of the 2025 federal election, calling on the next parliament to adopt seven practical proposals for better financial security, productivity and regulatory certainty.
The policies range from making it easier for businesses to crack down on money laundering to making financial advice more accessible to the 11.8 million Australians who need it.
CA ANZ CEO Ainslie van Onselen said the coming election was an opportunity to commit to sensible policies that improve the lives of Australians and ease pressure on small businesses.
“Our message to political parties and parliamentarians is clear: Australians need help, and we have some practical and implementable policy asks for you,” Ms van Onselen said.
“From scrapping the annual superannuation cap to improve women’s financial security to freeing up small business cash-flow – these are pragmatic steps that can make a big difference.”
CA ANZ’s seven policy asks are:
- Enable all Australians to access financial advice by allowing qualified accountants to provide it.
- Give small business crucial cash-flow certainty by making the instant asset write-off permanent.
- Scrap the annual super cap to build superannuation and improve women’s financial security.
- Make it easier to crack down on money laundering with free ASIC checks.
- Address the skills shortage and reduce education costs to boost productivity.
- Stay the course on climate disclosures for regulatory and investor certainty.
- Don’t let Australia fall behind the rest of the world on digital reporting.
Ms van Onselen also reiterated the peak body’s long-standing call for tax reform, asking the next government to remove the overreliance on personal income tax.
“Australia’s tax system has been broken for too long, penalising hard working and aspirational Australians by slogging them with huge income taxes,” Ms van Onselen said.
“We look forward to engaging with both major parties and the crossbenchers on these important issues, and we stand ready to work with the next government and parliament to ensure they’re on the policy agenda.”
ENDS
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Gillian Bowen
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About Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand
Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand represents nearly 140,000 financial professionals, supporting them to make a difference to the businesses, organisations and communities in which they work and live. Chartered Accountants are known as Difference Makers. The depth and breadth of their expertise helps them to see the big picture and chart the best course of action.