Q&A: Business leaders discuss new government, carbon tax, paid parental leave and the gender pay gap - Women's Agenda

Q&A: Business leaders discuss new government, carbon tax, paid parental leave and the gender pay gap

Last night the ABC hosted the first ever corporate leaders Q&A panel. The host Tony Jones was joined by Aussie Home Loans founder John Symond, Santos chief executive David Knox, Nestle Australia’s chair Elizabeth Proust, Stockland’s non executive director Graham Bradley and the founding chair of the Women’s Leadership Institute Carol Schwartz.

Unsurprisingly the tone – and subject matter covered – was very different from last week’s Festival of Dangerous Ideas panel. As someone tweeted, at times the discussion sounded a lot like a board meeting but it was a refreshing departure from the political manoeuvring that is inevitable when politicians are on the panel. The panellists were free to speak about everything from paid parental leave, carbon pricing, the gender pay gap, housing affordability, the economy, foreign investment and productivity without being wedded to particular policy or party line. Of course some of the panellists were constrained by their own positions – as the head of a resources company David Knox was understandably questioned on his company’s policies regarding coal seam gas.

For the most part the conversation was respectful, constructive and intelligent. Of course talking alone doesn’t create change but having high-profile established business leaders discuss these issues of national significance achieves something. It raises the debate above party lines and it allows the focus to be on the ideas rather than point scoring.

Having politicians on a panel program like Q&A is of course vital but I hope they include business leaders more regularly. It adds an important dimension to the discussion and if nothing else it might promote better manners.

Here is a snapshot of what was said*.

On business confidence regarding the new government

Graham Bradley: “The business community has high expectations. We know we have problems but we have great underlying strengths and natural advantages. The critical task is harnessing those.”

Carol Schwartz: “My concern is this. Can a cabinet of 18 men and 1 woman make the right decisions for our economy? All the research has shown that diverse groups of people make the best decisions. Even a homogenous group of people with very high IQs can’t make decisions as well as a more diverse group. I am really concerned we’re not going to get the best decisions and outcomes we need for the economy, the community and business as a result.”

On climate change and carbon pricing

Elizabeth Proust: “Look I don’t know anyone who doesn’t think climate change is real. Consensus broke down so it became hugely divisive in the political arena and in the community. There should be a carbon price and an emissions trading scheme. In opposition simple statements like ‘Stop the boats’ and ‘Cut the carbon tax’ might suffice but in government you have to deal with the fundamental causes.”

John Symond: “There needs to be a price on carbon but structured as tax is not right.”

David Knox: “Australia needs to remain competitive and we need to drive down carbon emissions. Direct action can do those things if it’s done properly. Long term there are 3 levers we can use for energy: coal, gas and renewables. Everyone in this room understands we can get our carbon down – by half – if we pull those levers the right way. That’s the challenge going forward.”

Graham Bradley: “It’s interesting that the country with greatest reduction in emissions is the United States and they’ve done it without a tax or signing up to international agreements. They have used technology, science and natural resources to reduce emissions without a price on carbon.”

Carol Schwartz: “There was a consensus in this country in 2007-08 to deal with carbon emissions. We are the second largest polluter of carbon per capita in the world and I don’t think any of us are proud of it. Julia Gillard has said herself that calling it a carbon tax – rather than the first step in an emissions trading scheme – was a mistake. It created a big problem and a political problem. The consensus gained was lost.”

On the Coalition’s paid parental leave policy 

John Symond: “I’m against it. I don’t think it’s fair across the board. It’s clutching at straws. It was probably a good vote winner particularly for women.”

Carol Schwartz: “Paid parental leave is already a given. The government pays 18 weeks and lots of companies have their own schemes freely and willingly because they value the parents within their companies. The bigger issue is affordable and accessible childcare and until we address that – we’ll have participation and priducvity problems.”

David Knox: “In the US people had to come back to work 4 weeks after having baby which is not civilised. Good companies already do it here. The issue is about retaining women throughout their careers and that’s not what this scheme achieves.”

Elizabeth Proust: “What are we trying to solve? Getting affordable and quality childcare is the bigger issue. This just solves the problem for 6 months so it’s not the right answer at all. Certainly [among the business community] the view is that it’s a double whammy because many companies already pay parental leave.”

Graham Bradley: “It’s a very enlightened policy but it may have set the bar too high. It allows small business owners – who might otherwise not have afforded maternity leave –to give parents paid leave.”

On the gender pay gap

Carol Schwartz: “This is a really big issue and it’s very complex. One of the ways to get around this as an organisation is to publish pay rates on a mthly basis. It seems archaic that remuneration is so secretive. Remuneration on boards is disclosed. I heard people say ‘Oh we don’t know how to tackle this, it’s so difficult’. It’s not that hard. Conduct remuneration audits so there is absolute equity.”

On plans to sell Graincorp

Elizbeth Proust: “We shouldn’t be afraid of foreign investment. It doesn’t need to be an either or. We need to have a sensible conversation about what is in our interests but we do that in a manner which looks and feels xenophobic that is the wrong signal to send.”

John Symond: “Generally I am very accepting of foreign investment but this needs to be looked at closely. Globally people are talking about food and water shortages and this is a strategic asset. In this instance the government has to look so closely.”

Carol Schwartz: “Foreign investment is absolutely crucial particularly as we move towards a global economy. On this issue Joe Hockey has said he won’t be bullied. So if any of the national party cabinet members resign over this, then that’s a good opportunity to appoint more women to cabinet.”

* The program’s transcript is not yet available so these quotes are based on my notes from the show.

×

Stay Smart! Get Savvy!

Get Women’s Agenda in your inbox