Anthony Albanese enlists CEOs as partners for growth in pre-jobs summit address

Anthony Albanese has told the nation’s top chief executives that he will not allow ‘blinkered ideological dogma’ to damage the economy.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has told industry leaders the government would work in partnership with big business and not act as a barrier. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Anthony Albanese has told the nation’s top chief executives that he will not allow “blinkered ideological dogma” to damage the economy or hold back growth, in a pre-jobs summit address rallying corporate Australia to his policy agenda.

Speaking in Sydney at the Business Council of Australia annual dinner on Wednesday night, Mr Albanese said “not only does a culture of division and dysfunction create urgent problems in the short-term, it stops our country building for the long-term”.

“It stifles debate, it shrinks the national policy conversation down to ‘with us or against us’,” Mr Albanese said.

The Prime Minister told industry leaders the government would work in partnership with big business and not act as a barrier.

“It shouldn’t be surprising that a Labor government is seeking to work closely with all the business and industry leaders in this room and around our country. Because at the core of it, I believe we all share the same fundamental goals.”

Mr Albanese – who will join business, union, political and community leaders in Canberra for the two-day jobs and skills summit where he will deliver opening and closing addresses – said co-operation between employers, unions and the government should not be “for the look of it, for appearances sake”.

“I mean genuine engagement and substantial partnership – because this is how we will get things done in this country. It’s how we will drive the change and progress Australia needs,” he said.

“I recognise business has been providing leadership and showing initiative on – greater economic equality and security for women, sustainability and climate action and empowering more Australians with disability to participate in work.

“But it’s always going to be harder and slower and less rewarding when you’re going it alone, when you’re striving for progress ‘in spite of’ government.”

Mr Albanese also lowered expectations around jobs summit outcomes, telling business leaders that “everyone in government knows – as you do – that two days of discussions aren’t going to solve every issue”.

“Of course, these conversations don’t end on Friday and they’re not confined to a room in Canberra. All of you have ideas to share, all of you have a role to play. All of you can continue to help set the standard and elevate our country’s ambitions.”

He urged business leaders to continue backing the government’s net zero and medium-term emissions reduction targets because climate change action and more renewables presented a “once-in-a-century opportunity”.

“Australian workers, Australian technology, Australian resources and Australian research – taking the world to net zero.

“I want us to keep talking about how we can include every sector of our economy and every part of our country in the benefits of this once-in-a-century opportunity.”

Mr Albanese, who will lean on the private sector to drive the Yes referendum campaign, acknowledged the “support your organisations have shown for enshrining an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice to parliament, in our constitution”.