Lower taxes on companies and individuals, fewer state taxes and increasing the GST or replacing it with a cash-flow tax, should all be considered to restore the nation’s flagging productivity, Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox said.

With both major political parties shying away from any tax debate, Mr Willox said high and inefficient taxes, along with an impenetrable industrial relations system and a growing skills gap, have rendered the country increasingly uncompetitive and unproductive.