Small business tax cuts crucial

A NEW campaign to put pressure on federal politicians to retain business tax cuts has been launched in the Far North.

It comes as more than 50 delegates representing the business community are in Canberra today to meet a host of high-level leaders with a hit-list of $1.5 billion in infrastructure and policy measures to make life better for all of us in the Far North.

In the meantime “Tax Cuts In Action” has been unveiled by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland.

The chamber fears that current business tax cuts may not last with some Labor and crossbench MPs threatening to pull them apart.

The campaign was launched in the Far North yesterday as well as elsewhere across the state.

It aims to tell people how the tax cuts are leading to new investment in businesses, including jobs growth and higher wages. They say the Coalition government’s progressive program of tax cuts is a boon to small business.

Ian Button of Independent Aviation at Edge Hill says the extra money available to his business has led to casual staff being made permanent, with increased hours and the retention of the firm’s call centre in Cairns instead of outsourcing overseas.

Kate Whittle from the chamber says the tax cuts are working for many businesses and any move to unwind the tax cuts would be devastating to Cairns, “especially now that it looks like we’re just starting to get some real momentum”.

Small businesses are the lifeblood of the Far North and need the tax cuts to grow and prosper. Nick Dalton Deputy editor