Page 2313 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 1 November 1989
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INDUSTRY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Ministerial Statement and Paper
MR WHALAN (Minister for Industry, Employment and Education), by leave: The 1989 ACT budget provides funds for new initiatives in the field of industry assistance. The purpose of the allocation is to provide assistance for new business activity in the ACT which meets stated government economic and development objectives.
Included in the budget statement was a specific reference to the establishment of a new program aimed at assisting the training and other human resource development programs of eligible companies. This and other funding for business development purposes will be associated with existing support for industry, such as direct land purchase and ACT participation in the Commonwealth-State national industry extension service. They will form a new, coordinated ACT industry assistance program.
The new program will be developed and administered to avoid overlap with other programs, including Commonwealth government programs aimed at improving productivity, investment and exports. The ACT Government is committed to a commercial and industry development strategy which will assist in developing a community based on social justice and economic security.
We are committed to the growth and diversification of the Territory's industrial base. This Government welcomes new business investment which produces employment and exports, which complements the Territory's unique economy and environment, and which makes the best use of the skills and talents of the people of the ACT.
Suitable businesses are being encouraged to locate in the ACT, and existing ACT firms are being encouraged to diversify their investment in the Territory. The industry assistance program will provide a range of assistance measures to eligible businesses. Some of these include: assistance with the one-off costs of establishing a new business activity in the Territory; assistance with analysis of training needs, work design and other aspects of human resource development; market and feasibility studies; the direct purchase of land; and assistance with strategic and business planning and improved enterprise efficiency.
The program aims to provide carefully targeted and evaluated assistance to selected firms which have something to contribute to the ACT economic base. The program dovetails with linked Commonwealth industry assistance programs and does not attempt to compete dollar for dollar with incentives which are provided by other State and local governments. The ACT Government does not have the resources for this type of approach.
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