Federal budget miss: chamber
THE federal budget has fallen short for Bowen with a focus on job creation but no incentives and a lack of concrete funding for major water projects.
Bowen Chamber of Commerce chairman Bruce Hedditch said “there’s not a lot in the budget for Bowen” and was disappointed in funding allocated for jobs, TAFE and water infrastructure.
The budget included a $1.2bn investment aimed at encouraging businesses to take on trainees and apprentices with the government offering to subsidise 50 per cent of their wages.
Small businesses affected by the pandemic also will be able to claim some tax relief as well as instant asset write-offs.
Mr Hedditch said while it was important to support small businesses, the Bowen region needed funding for development that would work in the region.
“I’m concerned (the federal government is) putting a lot of emphasis on job creation and supporting small business, or any small business that is employing people, but the jobs aren’t there,” he said.
“I just worry that they’re really putting the cart before the horse.
“They’ve got to create an environment where businesses want to employ people, and tax incentivise reductions will assist, but there’s a lot of other taxes that need to be addressed.”
Mr Hedditch said this included reductions in payroll tax and council charges that would only be possible with collaboration from all levels of government.
“They’ve all got to come together as one united group and provide incentives for people to do things whether it’s development or whether it’s shops opening up.
“The federal government can’t do it on their own, they need the state government and the local government.”
Mr Hedditch also hoped the budget would have included more concrete funding for water infrastructure.
“I cannot for the life of me understand why they didn’t just nominate a sum of money and say we’re going to build the Urannah dam or we’re going to build the Hells Gates dam,” he said.
Dawson MP George Christensen said the region may benefit from $2bn in water infrastructure funding, which could go towards the Urannah Dam project.
Businesses across the region heavily reliant on international tourism will benefit from a $50m Regional Tourism Recovery initiative to help them adapt their offerings, experiences and marketing to appeal to domestic visitors in the shortterm.