The chairman of three of Australia’s largest companies – Telstra, Woolworths and Commonwealth Bank – railed against excessive legislative complexity, including in industrial awards, calling on Canberra to cut the politics in workplace policy to support economic growth.

Telstra chairman John Mullen said during the days of former prime minster Paul Keating and trade unionist Bill Kelty, leaders – especially in industrial relations – showed a “genuine intent, on both sides, to find solutions that allow companies to grow and be successful, and share in the growing pie rather than cutting the pie up”.