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Jacinta Allan’s primary vehicle of consultation with the Victorian business sector has been wound back, and its chairman moved aside, as the state government’s relations with the business community deteriorate.
Several sources connected with the high-profile Premier’s Business Council, but not authorised to speak on its operations, confirmed to The Age that it had not met at all this year, having held only four meetings with the premier since it was first formed.
The Age understands Allan has inserted herself as the new chair of what is her own business advisory body in place of Ahmed Fahour, who was previously appointed chair by the premier 18 months ago when the 15-member council was created.
“The council formally concluded its role as a sounding board to the premier at the end of 2025,” said a member who requested anonymity.
“It was agreed the group would move … to a more informal arrangement.”
It is understood that an informal gathering had been scheduled for last month but was cancelled, with a new date yet to be confirmed.
Allan first announced the creation of the Business Council in December 2024, recruiting business leaders including Gurner Group chief executive Fahour, along with National Australia Bank chief executive Andrew Irvine, AFL boss Andrew Dillon, and billionaire chairman of Visy Industries Anthony Pratt.
At the time, Allan declared that “Victoria is open for business”.
“Through the Premier’s Business Council, I’ll hear directly from some of Victoria’s best business minds – ensuring government and business are working together for the benefit of our whole state,” she said.
The premier declared the new council would provide “a direct line of engagement between business and government” and her announcement of the new body was headlined, “Giving Business The Certainty They Need To Invest In Our Future”.
The demise of the leader’s hand-picked advisory council’s formal structure comes as businesses in Victoria prepare for the implementation of the Labor government’s contentious work-from-home laws – the development of which has strained relations with the business community since they were announced last year.
Big business groups have called the laws unnecessary, and say that given most workplaces already allow for flexibility and working from home where practical, legislation is not required. Some industrial relations lawyers have also predicted an avalanche of legal disputes over what jobs can reasonably be done remotely.
“We gave our advice when asked as independent business people,” a member of the council said of the proposed legislation.
“By Christmas last year, our collective view was given confidentiality on a range of topics.”
It is understood that a major report on business issues across the state was prepared for and submitted by the advisory group to Allan.
The premier’s diary records reveal the council – which also comprised Reserve Bank deputy chair Carol Schwartz, KordMentha co-founder and partner Mark Mentha, and Rupert Murdoch’s niece and Herald and Weekly Times chair Penny Fowler – met with Allan quarterly throughout the 2025 calendar year.
The premier also met with Fahour in his capacity as council chair a further three times in 2025, as well as once with Schwartz in December last year. This was the last time Allan’s diary reflects any meetings with the advisory group or any of her appointees on council matters.
Other advisory council members included the managing director of Bunnings Mike Schneider, Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece and Monash University vice-chancellor and president Professor Sharon Pickering.
Also part of the group were Asian Australian Business Association Whitehorse president Bihong Wang, CEO of housing development group Assemble Carolyn Viney, co-founder and chair of mining solutions company Gekko Systems Elizabeth Lewis-Gray, fashion designer and businesswoman Lisa Barron and founder of Mind Blowing Films Mitu Bhowmick Lange.
On Thursday, a spokeswoman for Allan said the Premier’s Business Council was “an important business forum, but it is not the only way the government engages meaningfully with the business community”.
“The premier and her office regularly meet with leaders across AI, tourism and defence to discuss the growing investment opportunities in Victoria, all of which will inform the next council meeting.”
All members of the advisory body contacted by The Age declined to comment and referred inquiries to the premier’s office.
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