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Wesfarmers CEO Rob Scott Warns CGT Changes Threaten Entrepreneurship; Reveals AI Productivity Gains at Bunnings and Kmart
Australian Financial Review
ENRICHED
Details
- Date Published
- 10 June 2026
- Priority Score
- 1
- Australian
- Yes
- Created
- 10 June 2026, 10:00 am
Authors (1)
Description
Rob Scott has slammed Labor’s tax changes, warning they will damage aspiration and entrepreneurship and could lead to investment being redirected overseas.
Summary
This report highlights the deployment of AI within one of Australia's largest conglomerates, Wesfarmers, to drive operational efficiencies in retail sectors like Kmart and Bunnings. While demonstrating the rapid adoption of AI capabilities in the Australian private sector, the article focuses primarily on economic productivity and tax policy rather than safety risks. It provides evidence of the accelerating integration of AI into critical domestic supply chains but lacks substantive analysis regarding catastrophic risk or technical safety governance.
Body
CompaniesRetailPrint articleCarrie LaFrenzSenior reporterUpdated Jun 10, 2026 – 5.19pm, first published at 10.08amWesfarmers chief executive Rob Scott has warned that Labor’s budget tax changes will deter entrepreneurship and investment, and risk sending the economy backwards in what he fears will be a lost decade for Australia.Scott, whose West Australian-based conglomerate has operations spanning hardware giant Bunnings and discount chain Kmart to lithium mines, said the business was well positioned to weather an economic slowdown, but he was disappointed in the budget and its overhaul of capital gains tax rules.Loading...SaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy linkCopiedEmailLinkedInTwitterFacebookCopy linkCopiedShare via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? LoginLicense articleFollow the topics, people and companies that matter to you.Find out moreRead MoreRetailWesfarmersRob ScottHardwareOnline shoppingIranAIFetching latest articles