The Premier's Business Council: A Shift in Engagement
Key Updates
- No meetings in 2026: The council, established by Premier Jacinta Allan in December 2024, has not convened this year.
- Four meetings in 2025: The group held four sessions with the Premier last year.
- Leadership change: Chairman Ahmed Fahour has been replaced by Premier Allan as chair of the advisory body.
- Formal role concluded: The council's official function as a sounding board ended in December 2025, transitioning to an informal arrangement.
- Cancelled gathering: An informal meeting scheduled for May 2026 was scrapped.
Background
The Premier's Business Council was announced in December 2024 with 15 members, including prominent business leaders:
- Ahmed Fahour (Gurner Group)
- Andrew Irvine (NAB)
- Andrew Dillon (AFL)
- Anthony Pratt (Visy Industries)
Premier Allan stated at the time that the council would provide "a direct line of engagement between business and government."
Statements
"The group agreed to move to a more informal arrangement," a council member (who spoke anonymously) said.
A spokesperson for Premier Allan said the council is "an important forum" but added that it is "not the only way the government engages with the business community."
Related Context
This change comes as Victoria prepares to implement work-from-home legislation, a policy that has drawn criticism from business groups and some industrial relations lawyers.