Boost for businesses
SKILLS shortages are among the biggest challenges impacting small businesses across the Far North, Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland’s Kate Whittle says.
Up to 18 local small businesses came together yesterday to launch a nationwide campaign to show voters how supporting business can lead to employment, growth and higher wages.
“Often Cairns is marketed as a tourism destination, but not somewhere to come and live and work,” CCIQ general manager of advocacy Ms Whittle said.
“So we think there’s a lot to be said about how we can better market Cairns and the region, and how businesses owners can talk to each other and people that they know about doing business here.
“The point of these events is for the state-based chamber to discuss the local issues on the ground.
“We talk to people that employ locals, employers and particularly small businesses to get an idea how they feel the Cairns economy is tracking, how they feel like their government is performing and what we can do as a state chamber to better represent their interests.”
Independent Aviation managing director Ian Button said the prospect of tax cuts, thanks to the Federal Government, was a win.
“As far as we’re concerned it’s a great start at 2.5 per cent, but the fact they’re now going to legislate it to 5 per cent gives us an opportunity to reinvest back in our business,” Mr Button said.
“In our case, a small tax cut like that and locking it in with the prospect of it dropping to 5 per cent longer term, allows us to put one of our casuals on full time and with the longterm picture of being able to grow our business.”
There are fears that some Labor and crossbench MPs will try to wind back the tax cuts and the chamber has launched the Tax Cuts in Action campaign to convince voters of the worth of the tax breaks.
“Some Labor and crossbench MPs have said publicly that they would undo most or all of the tax package,” Ms Whittle said.
“This would be really devastating to Cairns, especially now that it looks like we’re just starting to get some real momentum.”