Dialogue on trans-Tasman issues welcome
This week provides a good opportunity to advance the New Zealand-Australia relationship, says BusinessNZ.
The business delegation visit and meeting of both Prime Ministers in Sydney is one of many occasions for the ongoing
work of drawing our two economies closer, says BusinessNZ Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly.
“New Zealand and Australian businesses agree on many things and would like to advance our shared interests further by
doing more business together in third markets, achieving good outcomes for both countries from TPP, and getting more
investment in each other’s enterprises.
“The business communities of both countries are working together towards improvements in a number of areas.
“Double taxation of dividends is a key example – companies based in Australia or New Zealand with operations in the
other country have their profits taxed twice since neither country recognises the other’s system for offsetting tax
credits. Businesses on both sides of the Tasman are seeking to have this rectified.
“And business and consumers will want to see New Zealand products back on the shelves of Australian supermarkets as
Australian consumers are losing out from being denied access to competitive New Zealand products.
“Such issues can only be advanced through dialogue. There is significant trans-Tasman interaction occurring at all
levels, and the Prime Ministers’ meeting this week is a timely example of that dialogue occurring at the highest level.”
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