The Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum welcomes the deepening of trans-Tasman relations following a joint meeting of Australian and New Zealand Cabinet Ministers in Sydney today.

New Zealand ANZLF Chair Andrew Thorburn commended Australia’s invitation for New Zealand to be represented on the leadership team for the B20 meeting in Australia later this year.

“Australia’s B20 Presidency will bring a focus on enterprise, investment and trade and New Zealand will be keen to contribute to its deliberations,” Mr Thorburn said.

New Zealand ANZLF organiser Phil O’Reilly said the Australasia Business Week event prior to the B20 summit would showcase innovative New Zealand and Australian business.

“Business in both countries and joint undertakings where Australian and New Zealand enterprises do business together will be a highlight of this international forum,” Mr O’Reilly said.

The Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum noted the Prime Ministers’ support for the joint work by the Productivity Commissions of both Australia and New Zealand, aimed at improving productivity and the environment for business in both countries.

“It will be important for the recommendations of the joint productivity report to be implemented, and business looks forward to contributing to this process,” Mr O’Reilly said.

ANZLF also congratulated the Australian Prime Minister for taking up the issue of mutual recognition of imputation credits as part of a wider review of tax policy in Australia.

Mr Thorburn said the current lack of mutual recognition of imputation credits was a barrier to trans-Tasman business and resolution of this issue was a top priority.

“New Zealand and Australian business will want to see recommendations for mutual recognition become a reality,” he said.

Contact: Phil O’Reilly 0064 21711866

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