Costello to speak at Property Congress

Costello to speak at Property CongressFormer Treasurer Peter Costello will lead a stellar line-up of speakers at this year’s Property Congress to be held in Sydney on 17 and 18 September 2014.Mr Costello will give the keynote address on the first day of The Property Congress and will address issues such as:future reform priorities. What are the key areas of reform that we need to keep Australia productive and prosperous?the politics of Treasury, the media and steering major economic reforms through Parliament and in the media; andthe changing nature of investment.Counsel in some of Australia’s best-known industrial disputes, Mr Costello was first elected a Member of the House of Representatives in March 1990 and subsequently re-elected on six occasions. The Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia from 1994 to 2007 and the Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Australia from 1996 to 2007, he is the longest serving Treasurer in our nation’s history.He introduced the largest tax reform in Australian history called: A New Tax System, which introduced GST, abolished seven taxes and reduced income, capital gains and company taxes.Amongst other things, during his time as Treasurer Mr Costello:re-designed financial supervision and established new prudential and consumer regulators;established the Takeovers Panel to hear disputes over mergers and acquisitions;introduced the largest reform of superannuation with the abolition of tax on superannuation payouts for those over 60;established the Future Fund currently holding around $100 billion in assets;paid off all Commonwealth debt; andraised Australia’s Sovereign rating to AAA Status.His best-selling autobiography was published in 2008. In 2009 he was appointed a Guardian to Australia’s Future Fund and in 2014 appointed Chairman. In 2011 he was made a Companion in the Order of Australia. He has just concluded a six-year term on the independent Advisory Board to the World Bank in Washington.Mr Costello is now Chairman of ECG Financial Pty Ltd, a boutique corporate advisory firm with offices in Canberra and Melbourne.Mr Costello’s keynote address will be introduced by David Speers, one of Australia’s most respected political journalists and interviewers. He has been chosen to host every debate and forum at the last two federal elections.For more about The Property Congress speakers and program, or to register, go to: www.thepropertycongress.com.au/