Page 2838 - Week 07 - Thursday, 7 June 2012
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
investment. These are of course all at the core of the government’s recently delivered business development strategy—growth, jobs and diversification. This week’s budget has backed that strategy, with more than $20 million over the next four years. There is funding to support NICTA, Australia’s centre of excellence in ICT, to expand our grants program, to establish new streams of grants in clean tech and sustainability oriented companies. Importantly, this business development strategy supports a better dialogue between government and business, including the red tape reduction task force. The government is also investing in local business through our cuts to payroll tax, a major incentive for businesses in Canberra to grow and for businesses to establish themselves in the city.
MR SPEAKER: Ms Porter, a supplementary question.
MS PORTER: Treasurer, can you tell the Assembly a little more about how this week’s budget is creating a good environment for the economy?
MR BARR: A range of tax reforms ease the burden on business, particularly, as I was saying, the cut in payroll tax which means 115 businesses in the territory will no longer pay payroll tax. That is something I would have thought the opposition would have supported, but, no, no, they are going to sit there and criticise and carp on every initiative from this government. Well, we are in the business of actually delivering on these outcomes, and it has been very good to see the response—
Members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order! Ms Gallagher, Mr Smyth!
Members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order! The Treasurer has the floor.
MR BARR: It has been very pleasing to see the response of the chamber of commerce and the Canberra Business Council to the suite of initiatives contained within this budget and the business development strategy. I know it hurts those opposite that, in fact, business is looking to this side of politics to deliver outcomes. They have given up on the Liberal Party because there is nothing new from the Canberra Liberals. There has been nothing by way of a constructive policy agenda that would aid business growth or development in this city.
The government has been undertaking the hard policy work. I would like to acknowledge some of the team from the Economic Development Directorate who are here in the chamber today and who have been working hard on this policy strategy. I thank them for that contribution, because the work they have done and the partnerships that we have with the chamber of commerce and the Canberra Business Council and other industry bodies will lead to more growth in this economy, more people in employment and a bright economic future for this city. There would appear to be only one side of politics that has a vision beyond such a narrow area as that we hear from the opposition leader, and that is coming from the Labor Party.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video