Changes to payroll tax needed to help businesses

AROUND 100 businesses from Toowoomba and the region took the opportunity to hear Hon Curtis Pitt explain the Queensland 2017/18 State Budget in more detail at a breakfast event hosted jointly by Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce and TSBE last week.

The Treasurer outlined a range of initiatives including a Darling Downs Trade and Investment Action Plan and associated training for small to medium-sized businesses to boost the regional economy, the Back to Work program aimed at addressing skills shortages through to infrastructure investment as part of the Building our Regions fund.

The Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce made representation to the Treasurer on a number of issues facing our members.

Energy was top of the list. It seems that energy has become a political football and whilst the Finkel Report provides a way forward through supporting growth in renewables and storage, businesses in the meantime continue to struggle with increasing costs of energy and uncertainty about the future.

It is time for bi-partisan support on the issue of energy.

Many Chamber members have welcomed the extension of payroll tax rebates relating to apprentices and trainees, but we are still calling for an overhaul of payroll tax which continues to be a very real barrier for small to medium size businesses when it comes to putting on additional staff. During discussions with the Treasurer, local businesses called for consideration into payroll tax relief for regional businesses as a measure to support future employment.

Businesses welcomed the opportunity to hear from the Treasurer directly and to have the chance to raise issues pertinent to their own individual businesses.

Ongoing advocacy is critical to ensure policy and budgetary decisions at all levels of government support the growth of business. The Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce is here to represent the business community of Toowoomba – please do not hesitate to reach out if there is any issue facing your business and you need advocacy assistance via toowoombachamber.com.au