Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission is moving into a new mode, shifting its focus to concentrate on creating jobs and stimulating our economy as we learn to live with this pandemic.
In its new role as an Advisory Board, the Commission will be concentrating its effort on supporting the Government’s plans for Australia’s economic recovery and getting as many people back into jobs as quickly as possible.
Nev Power, the Chair of the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission (pictured), welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement of the Commission’s sharpened focus on providing advice on the economic recovery.
“I am proud of the role we have played so far in brokering solutions as we worked through the initial COVID-19 crisis and helped businesses prepare and plan for their re-opening wherever possible,” Mr Power said.
“There will continue to be a concerted effort from across governments and health authorities to get on top of outbreaks, but at the same time we’ve arrived at a point where we need to sharpen our focus on the Government’s plan for recovery.
“I am delighted that our board of highly committed and engaged Commissioners and Secretaries of key government agencies will be joined in this task by six additional leaders from across the private sector,” he said. “I welcome our new members to the Board and look forward to continuing our important work.”
“Their wealth of knowledge and networks across the areas of finance, resources and infrastructure, regional Australia, small business and workforce issues will be critical in this next stage of our work, with each bringing their own unique perspectives and views to the way forward,” Mr Power said.
As part of this change, the Prime Minister has announced the Commission will be renamed as the National COVID-19 Commission (NCC) Advisory Board, to more accurately reflect its strategic advisory role in providing a business perspective to Government on Australia’s economic recovery.
The Advisory Board will continue to work closely with government departments on the Government’s agenda as it adapts to meet the challenges of COVID-19 for Australia’s economic recovery.
Mr Morrison highlighted the Government’s JobMaker Plan is built on enabling a business-led economic recovery.
“We are driving skills and training reform, bringing business and unions together to create the industrial relations conditions to get people into work, locking in affordable and reliable energy, expanding opportunities for small business in the digital economy, boosting our manufacturing capability, underpinning renewed housing construction, delivering a record infrastructure investment pipeline, deregulation and streamlining project approvals and federation reform.”
“And there is more to do on issues such as taxation, research collaboration and ensuring regional Australia prospers in the years ahead.”
Mr Morrison has asked the Commission to concentrate its efforts and business expertise on providing advice on what more could be done to create as many jobs as quickly as possible to accelerate Australia’s economic recovery.
Under the leadership of Mr Power, the Commission will continue to work closely with business leaders and key industry sectors, focusing on areas where we can make the most gains, most quickly.
Joining this effort as part of the new Commission Board will be Mike Hirst, Samantha Hogg, Su McCluskey, Bao Hoang, Laura Berry and Paul Howes, bringing expertise in the sectors of finance, resources and infrastructure, regional Australia, small business and workforce issues.  They join existing members Nev Power (Chair), Jane Halton, Paul Little and David Thodey.
Current member Catherine Tanna will step down from the Commission once existing projects on utilities and energy are completed.
The group is now known as the National COVID-19 Commission (NCC) Advisory Board, to better reflect its role.
