Business Council of Australia facts for kids

The Business Council of Australia (BCA) is a group made up of the leaders (called chief executives) from over 130 of Australia's largest companies. It started in 1983 when two other groups, the Business Roundtable and the Australian Industry Development Association, joined together. The BCA has its main office in Melbourne, with other offices in Sydney and Canberra.

Its main goal is to help big businesses share their ideas and opinions when important decisions are being made about Australia's future. They want to make sure the business community has a strong voice in these discussions.

History of the BCA

The Business Council of Australia was created in 1983. It was formed when two older groups, the Australian Industry Development Association (AIDA) and the Business Roundtable, decided to merge.

Before the Merger

The Australian Industries Protection League (AIPL) was set up in Melbourne in 1919. It was a group that wanted to protect Australian industries. Later, in 1951, the AIPL changed its name to the Australian Industries Development Association (AIDA).

How the BCA Works

The BCA has a board that helps run the organisation. This board looks after the different teams and groups within the BCA. They also suggest new members and help create the BCA's policies.

BCA Board Members

As of November 2024, some of the people on the BCA board include:

• President: Geoff Culbert
• 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

The BCA also has a team called the secretariat. This team helps with research, communication, and daily tasks.

The BCA has special groups like the Strong Australia Network, which helps businesses in regional areas. Another group, BizRebuild, helps businesses recover after natural disasters like floods or bushfires.

BCA's Policy Ideas

The Business Council of Australia works on different policy ideas. These include plans to improve education after high school and to lower taxes for people and companies. They also work on making enterprise bargaining stronger, which is about how workers and employers agree on pay and conditions.

Members of the BCA help create these policies by working in special committees and task forces.

Who are the BCA Members?

As of April 2025, the BCA has many members from different industries. These members are some of Australia's biggest companies.

See also

• Economy of Australia
• Australian Competition & Consumer Commission
• Council of Australian Governments
• National Competition Policy