Australian Business Department

Australia does not have a single department called the Business Department. Instead, business responsibilities are split across several major federal departments. Australia’s business system is fragmented, with responsibilities spread across multiple departments. This leads to:

  • Slow approvals

  • Conflicting regulations

  • High compliance costs

  • Weak accountability

A prime area for reform under Australians Unified.

Industry, Science & Resources (DISR)

Closest thing to a business department.

  • Industry development

  • Manufacturing & sovereign capability

  • Mining & critical minerals

  • Innovation, science, technology Core role: Builds national industrial strength and competitiveness.

Treasury

Sets the economic rules businesses operate under.

  • Tax policy

  • Competition (ACCC)

  • Foreign investment (FIRB)

  • Economic forecasting Core role: Shapes the economic environment for all businesses.

Employment & Workplace Relations (DEWR)

Controls the workforce side of business.

  • Fair Work system

  • Industrial relations

  • Skills & training

  • Workforce participation Core role: Determines labor costs, rights, and workforce supply

Infrastructure, Transport & Regional Development (DITRDCA)

Provides the physical and digital backbone for business.

  • Roads, rail, ports, airports

  • Freight & supply chains

  • Regional development

  • Communications & digital connectivity Core role: Enables movement, logistics, and regional growth.

Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry (DAFF)

For agribusiness and food industries.

  • Farm policy

  • Biosecurity

  • Water & irrigation

  • Export markets Core role: Supports food production and regional economies.

Home Affairs (Business Functions)

Regulates business‑critical systems.

  • Skilled visas

  • Cybersecurity

  • Border & trade compliance Core role: Controls workforce access and supply chain security.

Australian Taxation Office (ATO)

(Not a department, but essential.)

  • Business tax

  • GST

  • Superannuation compliance Core role: Shapes the financial reality of doing business.

Why Australia needs a Department of Business That Feeds into Every Area of Government

Australia’s business environment is shaped by seven separate federal entities, each controlling a different pillar: economic rules, industry capability, workforce, infrastructure, agriculture, trade security, and taxation.

This fragmentation is a core structural weakness — and a prime reform opportunity for Australians Unified