Governance & Social Commentary

After 32 years of providing remuneration advisory and associated governance services GNA has changed direction and now focuses on commentary on the major issues facing boards, CEOs, the Australian business sector, government and community organisations.

Good governance

across the globe is being challenged. Institutions which once formed the backbone of our democracies are being dismantled or rendered ineffective.

The world order is being reshaped in ways that is not always in Australia’s best interests.

The commentary on this website is designed to present some of the issues

in a non-political way. We believe in pro-active governance; taking action before a situation becomes a crisis, and key stakeholder engagement in policy development. The environment is at the forefront of our thinking.

 

An Independent Perspective

  • We provide commentary on governance issues such as:

    • Governance Practice

    • Executive Remuneration

    • Shareholder Primacy

    • Corporate Conduct

    • Risk Frameworks

  • We offer commentary on specific issues affecting Australia. Our commentary is based on the best available research, detailed analysis and an independent perspective. The issues we are confronting in 2025, and beyond, are of such magnitude that the very foundation of democracy is under threat. An environmental catastrophe seems just around the corner.

  • Sometimes it’s hard to find a path through the maze of regulation and stakeholder interests. Our Strategic Navigation approach provides business, governments and community organisations with a model to chart the future in a disrupted environment.

    We undertake in-depth research and analysis into specific issues. These could be governance or social issues. We share some of our research findings on this website, and the model we use for analysis. It is primarily targeted at community organisations.

  • Sometimes the structures and language that surround us inhibit creative thinking. Each of us have the potential to go beyond these limitations and tap into a rich wellspring of ideas. We just need to be present and let go of our preconceptions.

 

Disclaimer:  the comments and opinions expressed in this website are the personal views of the author, Geoff Nunn, and do not represent professional advice. 

Economic Reform Roundtable

From the 19.8.2025 to 21.8.2025 Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, will host a gathering of business leaders,union representatives, subject matter experts and government representatives in an endeavour to boost Australia’s flagging productivity and secure our economic future. It will be guided by the Productivity Commission’s five current Inquiries. See: Productivity Commission (PC) (click to follow link).

We have decided to make a submission based on some of the governance and social imperatives identified on this website as follows:

Regulation and Compliance Obligations

  • The level of government regulation and compliance obligations for organisations of all types is extraordinary and significantly impact on national productivity. There is scope for a full blown review with a view of rationalising and simplifying regulation and compliance requirements.

Tax Reform

  • Negative gearing on investment properties have made made this an attractive investment option for 1.3 million Australians. Especially in a rising market. See: https://treasury.gov.au/review/tax-white-paper/negative-gearing It increases demand and forces up prices, leaving many less wealthy Australians unable to find affordable housing.

  • The 50% capital gains tax (CGT) concession on gains on investment property sales (held for longer than 12 months) further supports the attractiveness of residential property as an investment vehicle.

    As part of an overall review of the tax system in Australia, we propose the government consider negative gearing and CGT taxation concessions with a a view to improving housing affordability and going part way to addressing homelessness.

Areas of focus on the website:

  • Governance Issues

    Recent Inquiries have highlighted the tension between the need for directors to pursue financial returns for shareholders, and to consider the interests of other stakeholders. Shareholder primacy is a hot topic in governance circles. Unfortunately sometimes the interests of other stakeholder groups gets sidelined or elicits a tokenistic response. Our focus is on finding a sustainable balance.

    More Here

  • Social Issues

    Sometimes what you read in the newspaper, or see on television does not hit the mark. Social media news is fragmented and unreliable at best. We make use of a wide variety of sources to formulate a balanced view. Why do we do this. Because we can.

    We do not offer our commentary for commercial gain and have no political affiliations.

    More Here

  • Strategic Navigation

    Strategic Navigation usually has a business focus. It’s about charting the future and navigating all the obstacles and roadblocks that inevitably appear.

    The techniques we use are equally applicable to commercial, not-for-profits, government entities and community organisations. We offer an independent perspective with over 50 years of experience working with organisations of all types.

    More Here

  • Applied Intelligence

    Sometimes the most intractable of problems need a fresh perspective. You can look at the same situation many times and yet become imprisoned in your own reality. It’s hard to find a solution. Structures that seem solid and impermeable get in the way. Yet most of these structures are made by human beings. And if a human being can make them then a human being can change them. Dare to have a go.

    More Here

  • Tapping the Wellspring

    “We combine and recombine in different ways what we know, looking for a combination that clarifies something. We leave out pieces that previously seemed essential if they get in the way. We take risks, albeit calculated ones. We linger on the border of our knowledge. We familiarise ourselves with it, walking back and forth along its length, searching for a gap. We try out new combinations. New concepts.”

    Rovelli, Carlo. White Holes: Inside the Horizon. Alan Lane, London, 2023. P51

    More Here

Core purpose:

Our Core Purpose is to bring an independent perspective to issues confronting governments, organisations of all types, and communities. We provide informed commentary, strategic navigation and applied intelligence models to help chart the future.