Melbourne: A leading Australian politician has called on Australians to learn from Ireland's economic success.
The call came from Mr Robert Doyle MP, the leader of the Victorian Liberal Party, at his guest of honour address to over 800 guests at the Irish Australian Chamber of Commerce St Patrick's Day breakfast at the Crown Palladium in Melbourne yesterday.
"I think that we have a lot to learn from Ireland and I mean that very seriously about Victoria," said Mr Doyle.
"Ireland addressed, in its remarkable growth story in the EU, competitive operating costs. That is very important if you are to be internationally competitive," said Mr Doyle.
"The way that Ireland moved to the IT and T industries was quiet remarkable. I think one of the most interesting stories was the low corporate taxation regime, particularly in manufacturing, and the agreement between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael that regardless of which of the major parties was in power that they would continue the 10 per cent corporate taxation rate," said Mr Doyle.
Mr Doyle said the political agreement on corporation tax in Ireland could be held "up as a great example of how a political decision can drive good investment".