The Business Council of Australia (BCA) is an industry association that comprises the chief executives of more than 130 of Australia's biggest corporations.
It was formed in 1983 by the merger of the Business Roundtable – a spin-off of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia – and the Australian Industry Development Association. The organisation is headquartered in Melbourne with offices in Sydney and Canberra.
BCA's stated goal is to give the business community a greater voice in public policy debates about the direction of Australian society.
History AIPL/AIDA The Australian Industries Protection League (AIPL) was established in Melbourne in January 1919 as a successor to the Protectionist Association of Victoria. James Hume Cook, a former federal MP and ally of Nationalist leader Billy Hughes, was appointed secretary of the organisation in 1922 and held the position until his death in 1942. He represented the league at the British Empire Economic Conference in Ottawa in 1932.
According to Peter Cochrane, its members were "first and foremost, advocates of high, even prohibitive, protection; they possessed a profound belief in the virtuosity of the small business enterprise and the necessity to furnish it with a financial and political superstructure".
In June 1951, the AIPL was renamed as the Australian Industries Development Association (AIDA). Hosiery manufacturer George Foletta served as the organisation's president from 1951 to 1956.
Post-merger The Business Council of Australia was formed in 1983, from a merger of AIDA and the Business Roundtable.
Structure
Board The board oversees the council's secretariat, committees and task forces, makes recommendations about membership and appointments, and proposes policies.
Board members, as of November 2024, were:Board Business Council of Australia President: Geoff Culbert - Chair of the NSW Fundraising Committee for the Australian Olympic Committee Chief executive: Bran Black Matt Comyn - CEO, Commonwealth Bank Karen Dobson - Managing Director, Dow Australia & New Zealand Danny Gilbert - Managing Partner, Gilbert + Tobin Mike Henry - CEO, BHP Meg O'Neill - CEO and Managing Director, Woodside Energy Kellie Parker - Chief Executive, Australia Rio Tinto Rob Scott - Managing Director, Wesfarmers Mel Silva, Managing Director and Vice President, Google Australia & New Zealand
Former presidents include Tim Reed, Catherine Livingstone, Tony Shepherd, Michael Chaney, Hugh Morgan, Roderick Carnegie and Arvi Parbo.
The secretariat works on policy, research, communications and administrative support.
The Strong Australia Network was established to lobby for regional businesses, and BizRebuild to help businesses damaged by floods or bushfires.
Policy The council's policy agenda has included plans to reform post-secondary education, cut rates of personal and company tax, and strengthen enterprise bargaining.
Members help develop policy through committees and special-issue task forces.
Membership As April 2025, members of the council were:Membership Business Council of Australia
See also
Economy of Australia Australian Competition & Consumer Commission Council of Australian Governments National Competition Policy
References
External links Official website