THE state government has formed an alliance with Coalition colleagues in New South Wales in a bid to avoid the ''limitations'' of the federal reform process, promising to work together to deliver co-ordinated tax reform, slash environmental regulation and cut business red tape.
Denying it represented a snub to the national Council of Australian Governments' reform process, Premier Ted Baillieu and his NSW counterpart, Barry O'Farrell, yesterday signed a deal aiming at speeding up efforts to slash business costs, boost economic growth and tackle cost-of-living pressures.
Reforms include aligning energy efficiency schemes, fighting the federal government for a national tax overhaul for a more reliable share of the national tax take and standardising apprenticeships. NSW and Victoria have invited other states and territories that want to be involved to participate.
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