Competing State leaders make their pitch to business

Beyond the campaign headlines, Victoria’s business community is looking for something more enduring: the confidence and certainty to plan for the future. That was the focus of this week's Victoria Votes forum held by the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Committee for Melbourne, where business leaders heard directly from Premier Ben Carroll and Opposition Leader Jess Wilson about their priorities for the state.

Held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the forum brought both leaders before a business audience ahead of the State Election. State Political Commentator Heidi Murphy moderated the event, giving each leader an opportunity to outline their vision and face questions on the issues that matter to business.

Murphy set the tone with a clear reminder of what is at stake: “Restoring confidence and competitiveness is fundamental to our future and should be fundamental to this election.” Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Acting Chief Executive Amelia Bitsis reinforced the ambition behind that message, outlining members’ vision for a state that supports enterprise, attracts investment and creates opportunities across metropolitan and regional Victoria. “We want to be a state that values business, allows business to thrive in a growing and competitive economy and provides opportunities for all and leaves no one behind.”

From skills and education to taxes, regulation and reliable, affordable energy, she put the conditions for business growth at the centre of the conversation - the same key reforms outlined in the Victorian Chamber's State Election Platform 2026. With both leaders making their case, the forum provided an opportunity to look beyond election messaging and consider how their priorities could shape Victoria’s competitiveness and prosperity.

Premier Ben Carroll outlines business-focused growth agenda

Victorian Premier Ben Carroll MP put business growth, tax relief and a sharper focus on health and education at the centre of his pitch for re-election, saying he wants to work with businesses to improve outcomes across the state. Drawing on his upbringing as the son of an electrician and small business owner, he linked his approach to an appreciation of hard work and the value of every dollar. 

“I am pro-business.” 

Tax relief was a key commitment, with Premier Carroll pledging to cut land tax in his first budget. He also outlined a proposed three-year stamp duty exemption for discretionary trusts if Labor is re-elected, responding to concerns he said businesses had raised about the impact of Federal Budget changes on confidence. 

“I want to keep working with you to find competitive advantages and to maximise growth and jobs.” 

Carroll also pointed to spending decisions he said were designed to make Victorian dollars go further. These included savings on major rail infrastructure, consultants and public service executives, alongside ending duplication in the solar homes program. He said some level crossing removals had been delayed to prioritise road repairs and redirect funding towards savings, schools and hospitals, while airport rail was being fast-tracked. 

Looking ahead, Carroll described a shift from the “big build” towards the “social build”, with health, education and workforce capability central to his plans to lift productivity. He argued that the state’s existing infrastructure provided a foundation for growth, and pledged to reduce net debt relative to GSP without sacrificing economic growth or the services that keep workers and families healthy and skilled. 

“I'm also a pro-growth Premier and I'm a Premier who listens to business.” 

For businesses, his pitch centred on a government that would listen, pursue competitive advantages and support investment and jobs, while balancing financial restraint with improvements to the skills and wellbeing of Victoria’s workforce. 

Labor’s plans for debt, energy and industry

In the Q&A that followed, Heidi Murphy pressed Premier Carroll on how quickly he would reduce debt and prevent interest costs from constraining Victoria’s growth. He pointed to delivering infrastructure more efficiently and pursuing critical minerals, while reiterating that his approach would protect services and support economic activity. 

“I'll be bringing the debt down, Heidi, by doing the work I've already started.” 

Carroll outlined opportunities to expand manufacturing, pursue defence work, and return mining royalties to the regions where resources are extracted. He also spoke of a greater role for public-private partnerships as part of his shift towards investment in people. 

“Defence is the new auto sector.” 

When asked about the Victorian Chamber’s call for an independent fiscal review commissioned within the next government’s first 30 days with findings tabled in Parliament within six months, Premier Carroll expressed openness rather than making a firm commitment. 

“I would look at that, Heidi. I'm open to that.” 

He pointed to reviews he said were already underway on the suburban rail loop and Western Renewables Link, emphasising transparency and business input. When Murphy asked whether he would accept recommendations to discontinue projects, he reiterated that he would not break contracts. 

Energy affordability and reliability were another focus, with Murphy asking how manufacturers, regional businesses and energy-intensive industries would be supported. Carroll said he backed both gas and renewables, and that the government was exploring gas expansion and increased storage, with further detail to come from Minister Symes. 

“Labor is a sensible centre doing both gas and renewables.” 

Carroll also defended the Victoria-New South Wales interconnector and argued that more electricity transmission was needed to support the state, including its data centres. 

“We need more transmission to help support and power our state.” 

On medical research and medtech, he identified an opportunity to turn scientific discoveries into more manufacturing jobs in Victoria, pointing to the state’s university and research capabilities. 

Murphy also questioned the importance of business experience in government. Carroll returned to his family’s small business background and the impact of a recession on his parents, saying that breadth and depth of experience mattered. 

“I value every small business person.” 

When asked what would look different under another term, Carroll reiterated his focus on people, education, health and community safety, building on existing investment to broaden opportunities across Victoria. 

Opposition Leader Wilson puts business at the centre of economic repair

Leader of the Opposition Jess Wilson MP outlined a Liberal and Nationals pitch centred on budget repair, lower business costs and private sector growth. She argued that restoring business investment and job creation was essential to funding services and improving living standards. 

“We have to get business back at the centre of the economy, investing and creating jobs in this state.” 

Opposition Leader Wilson pledged to increase the payroll tax threshold to $1.2 million and reduce the metropolitan rate to 4.8%, which alongside announced land tax changes she said would improve Victoria’s competitiveness. 

Reducing the administrative burden on hospitality businesses was another priority. She outlined a single application through Service Victoria covering planning, food registration, outdoor footpath trading and liquor licensing, supported by dedicated business concierges to help owners and councils resolve bottlenecks and conflicting advice. 

“When businesses are growing, investing and hiring, it creates the economic conditions for everyone to get ahead.” 

Opposition Leader Wilson linked targeted spending to economic growth, pointing to a proposed $50 weekly toll cap and a $607 million road upgrade commitment. She argued that toll relief would ease small business costs and support reinvestment, while road investment would improve access to industrial land and enable local jobs. 

She also framed community safety and health as economic priorities, outlining commitments for 3,000 new police, reopened police stations, and a stronger justice system. Her elective surgery policy, she said, would halve waitlists and deliver an additional 25,000 surgeries each year, helping people return to the workforce. 

On energy, she pledged an energy security requirement, repeal of Labor’s gas ban and greater access to conventional gas opportunities, arguing that affordable and reliable supply would support households, businesses and economic recovery. 

“Victorian gas for Victorians.” 

Budget discipline underpinned her pitch, promising a return to cash surplus by 2032 and presenting economic growth as central to reducing debt and protecting essential services. 

“We will return Victoria to a cash surplus by 2032, calmly and methodically, over six years, so we can start paying down debt.” 

Opposition Party plans for savings, energy security and business consultation

In her Q&A with Heidi Murphy, Opposition Leader Wilson was pressed on the difficult decisions needed to deliver her budget plans. She pointed to a hiring freeze on back-office public service workers and more than $24 billion in announced savings, which she said would support essential services and a pathway to cash surplus. 

Murphy challenged whether the announced savings were sufficient, citing economists’ concerns, which she disputed and said her costings would be released before the election. 

She also outlined the proposed sale of Melbourne Market, describing it as a down payment on debt, and a pause and review of the suburban rail project. She raised concerns about funding, value capture and a lack of visibility over signed contracts, saying decisions would be made in taxpayers’ interests, and the review would be public. 

“We will have a review and that will be open to the public.” 

When asked whether she would adopt the Chamber’s call for an independent fiscal review within the next government’s first 30 days, Opposition Leader Wilson instead pointed to a budget update within 100 days. She said that would be the starting point for further decisions, without making a firm commitment to the requested review. 

On energy affordability and reliability, she said her energy security requirement would contract for supply shortfalls and require eight hours of continuous generation. She expects gas to play a significant role and outlined plans to invite industry exploration proposals early in a new government’s term, alongside a Cabinet subcommittee focused on energy security. 

Business consultation was another commitment. When asked by Murphy about a Premier’s business advisory body, Wilson pledged a council that would contribute to government decision-making. 

“We will put in place a real Premier's Advisory Council but one that does provide that contribution to the decision making that we're making.” 

She identified education and medical research partnerships as opportunities for Victoria, while arguing that getting tax and energy settings right would support a manufacturing resurgence. Wilson also emphasised the varied professional and business backgrounds of her team and the importance of working with industry. 

“I've said I want to put the business community back at the centre of the economy, and that means consultation and working with industry, with business, to make sure we can grow the economy now.” 

Closing the discussion, Wilson acknowledged the scale of the budget challenge she expected to face if elected, while reiterating her team’s readiness to begin work. 

Pannelists 

The event also saw a panel of experts unpacking the State Election outcomes for business: 

• Amelia Bitsis, Acting Chief Executive, Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry 
• Stephen Walters, Principal and Chief Economist, Optimal Economics 
• Stephen Michelson, Founder and Director, Banksia Strategic Partners 
• Heidi Murphy, State Political Commentator 

Business-led solutions for Victoria 

Delivering the vote of thanks on behalf of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Committee for Melbourne, Victorian Chamber President Brendan Britton thanked Premier Ben Carroll MP and Leader of the Opposition Jess Wilson MP for outlining their visions for Victoria. He emphasised business’s role in building a stronger economy and community, and said the Chamber would bring together leaders from business, unions, community, academia, sport and media in the coming weeks to work towards practical solutions. 

Preparing business for what comes next 

Representing the event’s Major Sponsor, Banksia Strategic Partners, Special Adviser Hon. Ryan Smith MAICD reminded attendees that business challenges would continue regardless of the election outcome. Investment, regulation, approvals and government policy would still require constructive engagement, with strong outcomes built on understanding the issues and presenting a sound case, not simply gaining access to decision makers. 

Experts from Banksia and SAS Group will explore possible election outcomes and what they could mean for businesses' government relations, advocacy and stakeholder engagement strategies in an insightful webinar happening soon.  

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