The formation of the ABL-State Chamber was announced on 18 January 2006 as an amalgamation of two NSW business organisations - Australian Business Limited (ABL) and the State Chamber of Commerce.

ABL was formed in 1885 as the NSW Chamber of Manufactures and at the time of the merger announcement reportedly had 5,000 full and 23,000 associated members. Most members were of a small to medium size and spread throughout the state.

The State Chamber was set up in 1820 as the Sydney Chamber of Commerce. At the date of the announcement membership was given as 800, mainly representatives of "big business" based in the city.

Chief executive Mark Bethwaite said the new group would call for a "rethink of business taxation and business regulation" by the NSW State Government, including budget cuts to liberate funds for tax relief.

Industry Associations