9 things government can do to reduce your living costs

4. Withdraw the 'Closing the Loopholes' Bill

This is a brutally misnamed bill that will make casual and self-employed work marginal.

It strikes at the heart of ambitious Australians who want to do things for themselves and will make our workforce significantly less flexible, increasing costs all around.

In fact, this bill ought to be known as the "Enabling Greater Union Power and Screwing the Small Business Sector" Bill.

The "loopholes" that it claims to close are in fact, not bugs, but features in what has been a remarkably flexible and productive workforce.

5. Reform Environmental Protection Laws

The Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act is strangling the growth of projects in Australia and urgently needs review.

It gives too much power to objectors, who in many cases are environmental groups (not conservation groups) set on sabotaging wealth creation rather than protecting the environment.

There is enough sovereign risk in Australia these days without amplifying it.

6. Stop Capping Prices

When prices go up the government's first impulse appears to be to control the price.

They've certainly done this with gas which, in the long-term, actually sends prices up.