Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) has lodged its 2026-27 pre-budget submission calling for the Federal Government to address the declining pipeline of critical accounting skills and talent, modernise and streamline the tax system, implement digital financial reporting and improve access to retirement advice.

In the submission, CA ANZ advocates for:

• Boosting productivity by building the declining pipeline of critical accounting skills and talent
• Streamlining regulatory requirements and processes in administering the tax system
• A better and more efficient tax system
• Funding effective standard-setting and regulation of reporting and audit
• Supporting resilient and dynamic businesses
• Protecting dignified retirement for an ageing population
• Enabling the transition to a sustainable future through transparent and consistent reporting.

Policymakers now face the dual challenge of restoring fiscal sustainability and lifting national productivity. In the submission, CA ANZ notes the importance of prudent budget management, and does not call for new, large-scale spending programs. Instead, it is focused on reforms to drive productivity and modernise the tax system. The submission is also particularly supportive of initiatives that reduce red tape and streamline compliance, including the ‘tell us once’ principle.

The accounting profession continues to face a declining talent pipeline. Our submission leads with the need to reduce fees for accounting students, include accounting, audit and finance-related occupations on Australia’s skills lists and add accounting traineeships to the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List.

Overall, the submission includes 44 short and long-term actions across CA ANZ’s policy priorities including tax, superannuation and financial advice, sustainability, small business and reporting.