Rudd begins building bridges with business THE federal Labor government has followed up its commitment to rebuild bridges with the business community and held talks with a group representing the nation's top 100 bosses. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Finance Minister Penny Wong met Business Council of Australia (BCA) representatives, led by president Tony Shepherd, in Canberra on Tuesday. Last week, after Mr Rudd was re-installed as Labor leader, Mr Shepherd issued a business wish list centred on restoring shaky business and consumer confidence. He called for the carbon price to be lowered to the international level, a withdrawal of "damaging" amendments to skilled worker temporary 457 visa laws and the Fair Work Act and for the repeal of other business-related legislation. Senator Wong said it was important to have discussions on productivity, the global economy and ensuring the local economy remained strong. But she shied away from claims Labor and business had a bad relationship under former prime minster Julia Gillard, whose regime was blamed for trying to incite a politically motivated class war in the community. "I'm not going to get into some criticism of what's gone before," Senator Wong told Sky News. Treasurer Chris Bowen last week told parliament he had contacted a number of business groups, including the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Australian Industry Group and Council of Small Business of Australia. So far only the BCA has had a formal meeting. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott questioned the value of the government's meeting with the BCA, describing it as just a "conversation." Has the carbon tax been abolished? Has the attack on skilled migration been changed? Has the government announced there will be less regulation on business? No," he told reporters in Melbourne. So nothing's changed. All that's happened is a conversation, but we know from Mr Rudd's previous record that he's all talk and no action. Meanwhile, Senator Wong denied Mr Rudd's call for Mr Abbott to agree to a National Press Club debate on economy this week was a stunt. "The reason he doesn't want a debate is because he knows the facts don't support his scare campaign," she said. Mr Abbott said if Mr Rudd wanted a formal debate, he should name the election date, or recall parliament.