May 13, 2015
Local LNP members have welcomed Tuesday night’s Federal Budget, while the Labor State Government has been less than enthusiastic.
* * *
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington (LNP – State) said measures in the Budget will go a long way in helping local small business owners.
She said the Jobs and Small Business Package included several key initiatives such as a tax cut, red tape cuts and measures to encourage start-ups and entrepreneurship.
“There are hundreds of South Burnett small business owners who will really appreciate these announcements that will help them grow their business and our local economy,” Mrs Frecklington said.
Local Kingaroy businesswoman, Anitta Stallwood of RBM Bags said the Federal Government should be commended for the small business initiatives brought down in the Federal Budget.
“Finally, someone’s focusing on the issues affecting the whole country. Small businesses like RBM Industrial Bags who employ 5-15 people are the backbone of this nation and real measures such as lowering the company tax rate by 1.5 per cent will directly assist our business and keep people employed,” Ms Stallwood said.
“Our business will also directly benefit from the Accelerated Depreciation changes, helping us to expand and create further job security for our employees into the future.
“This is important, as it ensures a prosperous business for us, a prosperous region for the South Burnett and a prosperous Australian society.”
“Everybody wins in the end,” she said.
Mrs Frecklington said the Federal Budget also contained record investment in health and education plus commitments to key regional road infrastructure projects.
“Funding for several key road infrastructure projects will be of great benefit to our region, helping improve freight movement and encouraging people to visit our region on drive holidays,” she said.
These projects included:
- Bruce Highway: up to $6.7 billion with $500 million provided in 2015-16
- Toowoomba Second Range Crossing: Up to $1.285 billion with $316.65 million provided in 2015-16
- Warrego Highway: $508 million with $101.5 million provided in 2015-16
* * *
Member for Maranoa Bruce Scott (LNP – Federal) said Regional Australia was at the heart of the Federal Budget.
“This Federal Budget is an infrastructure investment in the Maranoa to unlock our economic capacity and make this electorate an even better place to live and do business,” Mr Scott said.
“In the Maranoa, this investment will create jobs and growth with funding to upgrade the Warrego and New England highways, start work on the Inland Rail, target dangerous section of roads and allocating funding to local governments.”
Mr Scott said Australia’s beating heart was its farmers and small business and the Federal Government committed to growing these sectors.
“Farmers will be able to write-off the accelerated depreciation of water assets, fodder storage and fencing from July 1 next year. This is in addition to the $333 million drought support package announced at the weekend,” he said.
“Small business will also receive a 5 per cent tax cut and will be able to claim an instant tax deduction for any work-related purchase up to $20,000.”
Mr Scott said there was a number of programs guaranteed funding within the Maranoa including:
- Melbourne–Brisbane Inland Rail Preconstruction Works – More than $100 million as part of the $300 million Federal contribution to significantly improve freight movements – including agriculture and coal – within Maranoa including the South Burnett, Southern Downs, Western Downs and Surat Basin.
- Stronger Communities Program: $150,000 per year, for two years, to fund small capital projects in the Maranoa electorate to deliver social and economic benefits to local communities.
- National Stronger Regions Fund: This fund will deliver $1 billion over five years to promote economic development through capital infrastructure projects in regional Australia.
- Regional Development Australia: Funding of $3,860,085 will be provided to the 12 RDA committees in Queensland.
* * *
Member for Flynn Ken O’Dowd (LNP – Federal) welcomed the Budget boost to communities hit by the drought, taking the total value of measures available in this year’s Budget to more than $400 million.
“Drought is part of the landscape in Flynn and whilst some areas continue to battle severe conditions, as a nation we must better prepare for drought in the long term,” Mr O’Dowd said.
“The accelerated depreciation measures as well as the immediate response package announced at the weekend by the Prime Minister are vital and welcome.
“This is a practical package that funds shovel ready projects, helps with feral animals, expands community support, and provides more financial counsellors and further drought concessional loans.
“Droughts don’t last forever – so we need to keep as many people in jobs and families on properties while it continues.”
Mr O’Dowd said the $70 million in depreciation measures was in addition to other measures already announced as part of the Budget:
- $35 million for shovel-ready, local infrastructure and employment projects
- $25 million to manage pest animals and weeds in drought-affected areas
- $20 million to expand existing social and community support programs
- $1.8 million for additional rural financial counsellors in drought-affected areas
- $250 million in 2015–16 to continue access to existing drought specific concessional loans schemes
* * *
State Agriculture Minister Bill Byrne (ALP) was less enthusiastic about the Federal Budget.
“For the past weeks we’ve heard plenty of spin and very little substance,” Mr Byrne said.
“In fact, the Federal budget hasn’t laid out a plan for Australian agriculture – if anything, it has set the scene for a messy fight between the States for basic funding.
“Queensland farmers wanted some solid answers last night and were left wanting. There is still no commitment for Queensland for the Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate, no solid answers on the cost sharing of pests and diseases and some undefined loans for roads off in the distance.
“There are still no guidelines, no detail and no consultation to explain plans for feral pest management due to start in just six weeks.
“There’s no detail where any new financial counsellors will be based and no clear plan where ‘shovel ready projects’ for drought impacted farmers are located.
“Big numbers might make for good headlines but without clear and detailed commitments it’s hard to take a (Budget by a) government that has cut so much and hurt so many … seriously yet.
“I will go into bat for Queensland to make sure that Queensland gets its fair share of any new funding – our farmers and farming communities deserve it.”
He said the agriculture budget relied on a noticeable missing piece: The Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper.
“I call on the Federal Government to be upfront with the Australian people and release both the Northern Australia and the Agricultural Competitiveness White papers immediately,” Mr Byrne said.
“The White Papers that were due last year that could have allowed open and meaningful discussions about agriculture funding for last night’s Budget, yet are still being hidden from view.”
Related articles:
Tax cuts for small business are only of benefit to those turning a profit, and many don’t. Small business need to be able to make money before they can spend it and need to make a profit to pay tax. Business confidence doesn’t come from tax cuts, it comes from consumer demand. Economic growth and stimulation would create more jobs. More jobs generate greater income streams, consumer confidence, market confidence and more tax revenue for government. Without greater tax revenue, the budget’s promises of (record) spending on health, education and infrastructure will not eventuate. This is a boring budget, a thinly veiled apology for last year’s cruel budget, and has no vision for growing the economy. The tax cuts are nothing more than a placebo, designed to fool us into thinking the government cares. But we won’t be fooled.
If you are going to quote a “local Kingaroy business woman” it should also be pointed out that the business woman is also a staunch LNP supporter paying lip service.