Business chamber cheers budget boosts

The Logan Chamber of Commerce has praised the state government’s latest budget, despite criticisms from Queensland’s peak bodies for its lack of support for small businesses.

Business Chamber Queensland CEO Heidi Cooper said the budget’s short-term measures, such as energy rebates and registration discounts, were welcomed but didn’t “meet expectations for long-term, systematic relief from business cost and economic pressures”.

“Business confidence is weak, conditions are tough, productivity and profitability are declining, and this budget doesn’t address those challenges,” Ms Cooper said.

But Logan Chamber president Arwen McGregor said the government directed funding towards projects that would benefit local business in the long term.

“The Logan Chamber of Commerce applauds the ongoing funding and support for Skilling Queensland programs and the payroll rebates for apprentices,” Ms McGregor said.

“Future employment pathways are very important to the sustainability of our economy, and it is well past time to promote the training up of our youth.

“Pathways from schooling and into the workplace, with a continuance in that workplace and industry are essential.

“We need to stop relying on importing skills and instead impart the skills to the next generation.”

$96.7 million was outlined in last week’s budget for skills training to deliver the “skills needed for our economy and provide access to good jobs with better pay”

A further $11.3 million was allocated towards funding more training opportunities and increased workforce participation.

“We also welcome the proposed improvements to public transport infrastructure in Logan, especially for our outlying suburbs, as this will enhance youth access to employment opportunities beyond their immediate vicinity,” Ms McGregor said.

“However, these upgrades are still a few years from fruition.”

She said small business was the “lifeblood” of Logan’s economy, comprising more than 95 per cent of businesses in the city.

“The cost-of-living measures with electricity bills subsidies, car registration discounts, and limited time cheap public transport fares are always welcome, no matter how short term,” she said.

“These measures are designed to be relief for households, not necessarily extra money to spend in the local economy.

“There will be funding [and] grants available for eligible businesses, these eligibility factors are listed when grant applications are made available. This may be enough for some.

“Tourism received a significant boost with the upcoming Olympics in mind.

“The Chamber encourages all local businesses to begin securing supplier agreements to capitalize on this opportunity.”

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