By CEO Robyn Hendry

Canberra Business Chamber welcome’s the Budget’s focus on stimulating the economy, driving business competitiveness, and addressing skills shortages, but condemns its lack of
infrastructure investment in the ACT compared to other jurisdictions.

“Last year, the Coalition Government committed to tax cuts for small and medium businesses. We are pleased to see these and the $20,000 instant asset write-off continuing.

“The Chamber has continued to argue that Australia must have a more internationally competitive company tax rate, and tonight the Federal Government indicated it has heeded that call,” Canberra Business Chamber CEO, Robyn Hendry praised.

Business will also be pleased by moves to reduce red tape and increase traineeship and apprenticeship numbers. Moves to improve housing affordability, if effective, will play a role in the ACT keeping and attracting essential workers.

 

 

“Unfortunately, when it comes to increasing the pool of skilled workers in Australia, the Budget seems to give with one hand and take with the other when it comes to the ACT,” Ms Hendry said. “While we agree it is important to skill Australians, in the short-term businesses in the ACT will take a financial hit and potentially find it more difficult to fill skills gaps. To sponsor a skilled migrant ACT businesses will be up for $1200 to $3000, compared to the current cost of less than $500.

“The ACT’s growth industries, such as education, ICT, cyber-security, astronomy, may now find it more difficult to compete with other countries when it comes to attracting talent from around the world. Canberra is a new-industries, knowledge economy and that means we have a greater reliance on workers with skills often in short supply.

“Canberra Business Chamber is also concerned that initiatives being pursued by the Federal Government will damage some of our key industries, particularly education. A broad sweep efficiency dividend of 2.5 per cent over two years that does not take into account any individual factors, combined with higher fees for students may limit tertiary course offerings and subsequently specialist skills development.”

The biggest shortcoming of this Budget for the ACT is the fact it almost completely ignores the Territory when allocating $75 billion in infrastructure funding. “Comparable jurisdictions, like Tasmania and the Northern Territory, are getting significant new funds for infrastructure projects. In the ACT, we are getting a paltry $3 million to plan two road upgrades,” Ms Hendry said.

[Canberra Business Chamber]