"Steps forward include progress in trade measurement, rail safety, product safety, Standard Business Reporting, payroll tax and electronic conveyancing.

"Nevertheless, we are very concerned that the COAG Reform Council (CRC) has identified a number of areas that are at risk of not being achieved. The most important of these is the harmonisation of occupational health and safety across the federation. Others include the national trade licensing system, reforms to chemicals and plastics regulations, uniform regulation of the legal profession, and a number of energy market reforms.

"It is incongruous that, at a time when lifting productivity is assuming so much importance and attracting so much lip service, the delivery of these reforms should be at risk.

"Addressing the at-risk areas should be a priority for all governments. Ai Group supports the CRC's Recommendations to ensure regulatory and competition reforms currently at risk are put back on track or reinvigorated. We also support the continuing role of the CRC in assessing and publicising the state of progress and making constructive suggestions about remedial measures where they are required.

"The Seamless National Economy initiative is an example of co-operative federalism and, for good reason, it attracted considerable praise when it was first announced. It is an approach to achieving national reforms that retains the benefits of Australia's federal arrangements. In this way regulatory powers can be shared between national and state governments while still enabling progress to be made across the nation to improve the competitiveness of markets and to reduce complexity and costs of administration and compliance.

"Ai Group is a strong supporter of the Seamless National Economy initiative. It remains an important avenue for regulatory reform and improving the competitiveness of markets. Both of these are key elements of the broader productivity agenda that is fundamental to improving competitiveness and particularly relevant to businesses adversely affected by the high Australian dollar in sectors such as manufacturing, tourism and education

"We are also strong supporters of the role of the COAG Reform Council in providing transparent assessments of progress and recommendations for further action where appropriate," Mrs Ridout said.

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