Outlook 2012: CEO Survey – The Australian December 2011

THE AUSTRALIAN SURVEY 17/12/11  
   
If you had the ability to make one change  
to improve the nation, what would it be?  
   
MOST CONSTRUCTIVELY ACCURATE, agreeable to ecinya
Rob Murray Lion Nathan A genuine debate on population, infrastructure, taxation
  and the model by which we govern ourselves
Patrick Snowball Suncorp Metway Longer terms for governments
Mike Smith ANZ Simplify and rationalise the tax system
Frank O’Halloran QBE Greater control over (and reduced) government spending
Elmer Funke Kupper ASX Radically reduce state and federal inefficiencies
Mark Selway Boral Review Australia’s welfare system to put the country back
  to work
Terry Davis Coca Cola Engage better with Asia
Doug Rathbone A greater emphasis on Australian agriculture
Malcolm Jackman Elders A sustainable plan for the Murray Darling basin
David Thodey Telstra Less regulation and greater focus on productivity
  across all industries
Mike Wilkins IAG Eliminate inefficient state taxes
Chris Lynch Transurban Leadership
Mathew Grounds UBS An election to produce a clear mandate
   
HELPFUL BUT A CONSEQUENCE OF OTHER ACTIONS
Productivity  
Mike Hurst Bendigo & Adelaide Bank Increased national productivity to allow broader
  participation in wealth
Tony Albanese Rio Tinto To keep productivity at the front of the political agenda
Kerrie Mather MAP Airports Improve national productivity
Mathew Quinn Stockland Bipartisan support for planning reform
David Attenborough Tabcorp Eliminate interstate rivalry and inconsistencies
Michael Cameron GPT More effective infrastructure investment
James Fazzino Incitec Pivot Develop world scale downstream industries on
  the back of the resources boom
Andrew Reitzer Metcash Focus on industries to help after the mining boom
Nicholas Moore Macquarie Reform of urban infrastructure
John Mullen Asciano An economically viable dedicated rail network
Education  
Kim Williams News Ltd Have the national direction united by education renewal
Richard Freudenstein  Foxtel Making our education system better
Tom Gorman Brambles Increased focus on education and training
John Macfarlane Deutsche Bank Recognise the value of education
Rob Priestely JPMorgan Increase innovation and education investment
Other  
Graham Twartz Hills Industries A modestly lower (say 10c) lower and relatively stable
  Aussie dollar

 

WISHFUL THINKING BUT NAÏVE, WOOLLY,

John Borghetti Virgin A post resources boom growth plan
Bernie Brookes Myer Policy vision, wealth and prosperity
Grant King Origin Business & government work together on productivity
Ian Narev CBA Genuine bipartisanship on key debates about
  maximising the many opportunities to build a
  strong Australia for the long term
Dominic Stevens Challenger Policy debates triumphs politics and personalities
   
   
INTERESTING WORTH THINKING ABOUT  
David Dearie Treasury Wine estates Invite more Scots in
David Livingstone Credit Suisse Modern nuclear power
Richard Goyder Wesfarmers Real progress in reconciliation with Aboriginal and
  Torres Strait islanders
Sue Morphett Pacific brands Build a national program to reverse the obesity trend
Neville Power Fortesque Show greater tolerance and understanding of the plight
  of many aboriginal Australians
Mike Young BC Iron Make Janet Albrechtsen the PM for life
   
MOTHERHOOD, POSSIBLY SELF SERVING & SHALLOW, BUT?
Craig Dunn AMP Improve national pool of savings
David Knox santos Create better conditions for the businesses that
  provide the investment, jobs and wealth
Ahmed Fahour Australia Post Abetter perspective on what a wonderful place Australia
  is
David Flanagan Atlas Iron Voters and politicians take a long-term approach to policy
Gail Kelly Westpac Ensure superannuation and insurance become higher
  priorities
James McPhee ME Bank That key stakeholders work collectively and
  collaboratively to act in the best interests of the nation
Grant O’Brien Woolworths Increase economic confidence of Australian consumers
Chris Ryan Perpetual We are too quick to criticise and need to grab the
  opportunities before us
Paul Zahra Improved consumer confidence
   
   
NOT TERRIBLY INTERESTING  
Ahmed Fahour Australia Post A better perspective on what a wonderful place Australia
  is
Alan Joyce Qantas Make regular health checks compulsory
Paul O’Malley Bluescope A Colorbond steel roof on every house
Paul O’Sullivan Every school age child has a tablet
Mike Quigley NBN For public debate to be grounded in reality rather than
  scaremongering
George Plummer Onesteel Australia must realise it’s been lucky and needs to do
  better