G20 action plans face domestic blocks

G20 leaders face domestic political hurdles in achieving the goals of this weekend's summit.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott will fly to Brisbane on Friday night to greet business chiefs and leaders before formalities start on Saturday.

He is spending the day in Canberra, where British Prime Minister David Cameron has addressed parliament, speaking of the strength of the UK-Australia relationship .

The pair attended a business breakfast in Sydney where they both spoke about the importance of infrastructure spending to boost global growth.

Mr Abbott has asked G20 leaders to bring to the summit individual plans for their countries to help boost world growth by at least two per cent by 2018.

However, the plans, which are being assessed for their effectiveness by the OECD and IMF, face political hurdles.

'There will be a domestic expectation upon leaders to deliver at home, and an expectation from fellow G20 members who have resolved to hold each other accountable,' Mr Abbott said in an opinion piece published overnight on Wednesday.

Australia's plan will centre on the federal budget, which has been delivered in part with $30 billion worth of measures being blocked by the Senate.

Mr Abbott says domestic politics could determine the success of the G20 action plans, such as for higher education.

'In the end we can say we're going to deregulate higher education and that will produce savings or 0.2 per cent a year improvement to GDP but if the Senate proves to be recalcitrant, its difficult to do, isn't it,' he told the Australian Financial Review.

Treasurer Joe Hockey said the only road block to growth and jobs in Australia was the Labor opposition.

'We are focused on laying down an agenda that can generate future prosperity, generate opportunity,' Mr Hockey said.

Labor says the government's budget measures are unfair and break election pledges.

US President Barack Obama also faces domestic problems, with the Republicans gaining control of congress.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the key was to persuade the congress that smart policy can be good for the planet and the American economy.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who will land in Brisbane on Friday, is expected to use his heightened global profile and renewed economic commitments at the G20 summit to launch an early election.

The mid-December election could be called early next week, Japanese media reports suggest.

The summit communique and other reports will be released on Sunday afternoon.

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