BCSDA to submit evidence-led recommendations to Senate inquiry on productivity

Sydney, 19 February 2026 – The Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia (BCSDA) is developing a submission to the Senate Select Committee on Productivity in Australia that positions productivity reform as an opportunity to improve regulatory effectiveness, strengthen confidence for investment, and deliver better outcomes for business, communities and the economy.

The submission will focus on practical, system-level reforms that can lift Australia’s productivity by reducing friction in regulation and approvals, improving digital interoperability and data re-use, strengthening skills portability, and embedding evaluation into policy design and implementation. Importantly, the submission will emphasise that productivity reform and strong safeguards are not competing objectives. Well-designed systems can support investment certainty while delivering net zero, nature-positive and inclusive outcomes.

BCSDA’s approach is grounded in evidence and implementation experience, with a focus on regulatory effectiveness, system reliability and policy settings that support confident investment and sustainable development outcomes.

Key themes expected to be addressed include improving digital interoperability and data re-use, strengthening skills portability, and embedding evaluation to support effective policy design and implementation. The submission will emphasise that productivity gains can be achieved through smarter regulation and faster, more reliable processes, while maintaining strong safeguards and public trust.

The submission will also highlight the importance of investment certainty, particularly for long-term and complex projects. For small and medium enterprises and supply chains, clearer and more workable systems can reduce uncertainty and compliance burden, supporting participation and growth. For communities, better system design can enable timely delivery of benefits while maintaining accountability and confidence in regulatory settings.

BCSDA will lodge its submission before the 20 February deadline and will share a summary of key points publicly with members and stakeholders once submitted.

ENDS

About BCSDA

The Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia (BCSDA) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to operationalising sustainable development practices among Australian businesses. BCSDA was established in Australia in 1991 and works with over 70 leading global businesses and other organisations to drive systemic transformation in key sectors, advocating for sustainable leadership and rewarding action through education, partnerships, and policy influence.

In 2014 the organisation was appointed Australia’s Network Partner for World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

BCSDA’s members believe that by integrating social and environmental impacts with financial results, business lowers its risk profile, makes better decisions and creates the solutions needed to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.

BCSDA’s members include leading Australian businesses, from all sectors, who share a commitment to economic, environmental and social development. It represents member companies, public sector enterprises and institutions, and community organisations, which in turn represent 120,000+ Australian employees. www.bcsda.org.au 

For further information contact: Andrew Petersen, CEO, Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia, +61 412 545 994