David Alexander interview on the Today Show

Transcript: June 15 2026

Joel Dry:

Joining us is the Chief of Policy and Advocacy at the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, David Alexander. David, good morning to you. Many critics of the tax changes have been blocked as witnesses. So I mean, what is the point of this inquiry? Do you agree that the review is essentially a whitewash?

David Alexander:

Yeah, we're very concerned. These are big tax changes and quite complex and there's no excuse for having a snap inquiry two days when there's problems that are emerging every day, really this deserves a longer period of scrutiny. We have grave concerns about the impacts of this on the business community. The extra tax on investment in business is going to have a significant and sustained negative impact on business investment and that's going to flow through to our growth, our productivity and even wages in the years ahead. So we have serious concerns about this.

Sarah Abo:

We know that productivity growth has been a massive issue for the government and for this nation now for several years. Why would they introduce something that stifles that even further?

David Alexander:

Yeah, it was a great puzzle to us. Last year at the Treasurer's Productivity Roundtable conversation was about the need to stimulate productivity. So we were very surprised on budget night when this measure appeared, which has a major new tax being imposed on investment in business and that can only drive down investment in business and that's the reverse of what we need to be doing.

Joel Dry:

David, thank you. We know that this has been a controversial topic and I think perhaps even the government's been surprised by the amount of backlash in the community about it. So interesting to see where it goes from here. Thank you.

Sarah Abo:

Thanks, David.