In my last column, I wrote about CA ANZ’s member-led approach to advocacy and trusted advice to government, founded on evidence-led research and informed by your professional experience. These principles are on full display as we approach the Australian Federal Budget.

The Federal Budget will be the first since the government’s re-election with an increased majority. Clear, consistent positions are an important part of effective advocacy and, in February, we released our 2026–27 Budget Submission that reflects the recommendations CA ANZ made to the Productivity Commission last year, ahead of the Federal Government’s Economic Reform Roundtable.

The talent pipeline

A key theme in our budget submission is addressing the talent pipeline challenge. As CA ANZ CEO Ainslie van Onselen hears consistently at her CEO Connects, and as I hear from members, the shortage of accountants jeopardises our capacity to meet the evolving needs of businesses and capital markets.

That’s why we’re advocating for the reclassification of university accounting degree fees to make study costs fairer and more affordable for students. Since 2021, the cost of accounting study has increased, creating barriers for future accountants. By reducing student contribution fees and increasing Commonwealth support, we can lower student debt and attract more talent into the profession.

While our ‘Make Epic Things Happen’ campaign is busy flipping the script to show how the CA designation opens doors to impactful, purpose-driven careers, in our submission we also call for the retention of accounting, audit, and finance roles on Australia’s Occupation Shortage List and adding accounting traineeships to the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List. These measures will help employers address skills gaps and support a more diverse, inclusive profession.

Among our other recommendations, we focus on improving productivity, building a skilled and adaptable workforce, tax system modernisation and advancing government priorities such as intergenerational equity and digital transformation.

Tax reform

Everyone agrees that Australia’s system relies too heavily on personal income tax, impacting younger Australians and those striving to buy a home. Our members providing tax agent services consistently tell us that tax system regulation and administration need simplifying, hence our call for targeted investment in the ATO’s digital services, streamlined reporting requirements and making the instant asset write-off permanent.

Because high quality reporting and audit standards underpin trust in capital markets, our submission also reflects our consistent view that the new External Reporting Australia should be resourced effectively, as should ASIC, to ensure enhanced oversight and better regulation.

Another practical ask recognises that small businesses remain the backbone of our economy. In addition to calling for permanent instant asset write-off thresholds, we’re also calling for streamlined insolvency laws and regular review of regulatory frameworks to ensure they remain fit for purpose.

Our budget submission also addresses a policy gap that will widen as Australia’s population ages: access to affordable, practical retirement advice. The number of Australians who need help navigating superannuation, tax and retirement decisions exceeds the limited supply of licensed financial advisers, so we’re calling for changes that would make it easier for chartered accountants to provide strategic retirement and tax advice, without unnecessary licensing barriers.

Sustainability reporting

To enable the transition to a sustainable future, our submission supports policy consistency, clarity and certainty across regulatory frameworks, particularly in relation to sustainability reporting. We recommend that standard setters have sufficient resources to evaluate and improve the scalability of standards, ensuring useful reporting while considering all stakeholders’ capacity and capability.

Thanks for continuing to engage with our advocacy and amplifying our collective voice. Together, we’re helping shape a more productive, equitable and sustainable future for our profession and the communities we serve.