Page 1687 - Week 08 - Thursday, 28 September 1989
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This new burden of increased taxes and fees comes at a time when many businesses are struggling to keep afloat. How does the Labor Government expect it will encourage economic development if, on the one hand, the public sector is simply unable to provide growth as it has in the past and on the other hand, the Government makes policies which will restrict the private sector?
Mr Speaker, the new incentives for business are lacking in several respects and are ad hoc. They do not contribute to an overall plan, which is necessary if the private sector is to take the leading edge in our economy. First, the women's business enterprise service is supposed to be supplemented by community sponsorship. I find it hard to imagine that the business community would offer monetary assistance to a scheme which, in itself, defies basic business principles. The business enterprise service is an insult to real businesswomen, who have had to get where they are as a result of their own efforts. The initiative demonstrates the ACT Government's lack of confidence in the abilities of women to succeed in the business community without some form of assistance.
Another new initiative included in the budget is the Labor Government's regulation review unit. This is to consist of two officers from the social policy division of the Chief Minister's Department. May I say that outdated regulations are severely restricting our business sector, but a comprehensive review of business regulations necessitates the involvement of representatives from the business community and officials from the public sector. What is needed is a regulation review board, not a unit. The two-member unit that the Labor Government has created will merely consult with the business community. This Government has the gall to lump an extra $45m on businesses in increased taxes and fees, yet it is not including representatives of the business community in the process of reviewing regulations.
The budget includes no initiatives that will specifically seek to diversify Canberra's private sector base beyond the construction and tourist industries. If the revenue base of the Territory were expanded by implementing policies that will diversify Canberra's private sector base, less burden would need to be placed on each individual business for revenue. There would be no need to increase taxes and fees, as Labor has done.
When I mention diversifying Canberra's private sector base, I am talking about the high-tech industry in Canberra and its potential for growth in this area. The ACT has all the elements for such high-tech industry already. We have a highly educated population; we have a computer base; and we have a good research capacity. Businesses need a framework in which they can work together with government. It is not appropriate for the Labor Government to create individual initiatives on the one hand and not indicate where they are
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