Hold-off on IR reforms, new BCA chief Bran Black tells Labor

The new head of the BCA, Bran Black, has urged Labor to delay the introduction of new industrial relations laws.

Incoming Business Council of Australia chief executive Bran Black. Picture: Britta Campion

The incoming head of the nation’s peak business lobby, Bran Black, has warned Labor not to rush its second tranche of workplace reforms through the parliament, while also declaring his support for a constitutionally enshrined voice.

Mr Black, who served as the chief of staff to former NSW premier and treasurer Dominic Perrottet, will take over as head of the Business Council of Australia in September from Jennifer Westacott, who has served in the role since 2011.

He told The Weekend Australian he would be focused on de­regulation, taxation, industrial relations, the clean energy transition, jobs and skills, artificial intelligence, migration, and the role of infrastructure in better connecting the regions.

His appointment marks the beginning of a new era for the BCA, with Mr Black saying his energies in the role would be ­focused on addressing the nation’s flagging productivity performance and delivering real wages growth.

He cautioned the government over the introduction of its second round of industrial relations legislation, suggesting it consider holding off until the economic impact of the first tranche of changes was better understood.

“I would always say that it is useful to understand the impact on the ground of one round of reform before you embark on another,” Mr Black told The Weekend Australian. “I think it’s always important when you undertake reform to look the impact on the ground of what you have already brought into effect.”

Labor passed its first wave of workplace reforms in December, including changes expanding ­access to multi-employer bargaining, which the BCA warned would lead to more disruption, strikes and a less-innovative economy.

The government is now consulting on further changes including its “same job, same pay” overhaul, new measures to tackle wage theft, changes for casuals, and a proposed extension of the industrial umpire’s powers to ­cover gig economy workers.

Mr Black, who began his career as a corporate lawyer, said the impact of the first round of changes on productivity was “something we need to see the evidence on”, adding it would require “close consideration”.

“We need to appreciate businesses are facing pressures and we want them to be as productive as possible so they can translate that to real wages growth.”

The Productivity Commission has warned that over the decade to 2020, average annual labour productivity growth in Australia was the slowest in 60 years, falling to 1.1 per cent compared with 1.8 per cent over the 60 years to 2019-20.

Mr Black said his priority was to ensure Australia was “economically and socially prosperous”. “At the BCA, the best way of doing that is making sure that business success translates to the success of all Australians. When business succeeds … it benefits families and communities across Australia,” he said.

Mr Black also endorsed the BCA’s support for a constitutionally enshrined voice to parliament, saying it was a position that had been “informed by consultation with members” – although he conceded not every BCA member would take a public stance on the issue.

“I’m a supporter of the voice myself,” Mr Black said.

“The board has a position on the voice. It’s a position that I ­personally support.”

Ms Westacott said that the BCA was “in very good hands with Bran” and that he had the “ability to continue to bring different groups together for the ­national good.”

BCA president Tim Reed said Mr Black had a “unique understanding of how to deliver practical economic and social reforms by bringing together business, governments and academia in strong, collaborative partnerships.”