The Chamber’s submission has identified 38 localised and specific priorities to empower the state’s businesses. These priorities have been established through roundtable discussions, member surveys and via independent focus groups involving a cross-section of Victorians.

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive Paul Guerra said: “Business is the heart of our community and this year’s Federal Budget must recognise and encourage the partnership between business, community and government in growing the economy.

“Small, medium and family businesses are the biggest employers and largest contributors to economic growth. We must ensure that there are efficient mechanisms in place for them to continue thriving and increasing productivity, while alleviating them of unnecessary tax and regulatory burdens.

“Contained within this submission are recommendations that will help drive Victoria’s economy – we know that Victoria is the engine room of Australia’s economy and by providing a thriving private sector through a diverse and modernised economy, we can play our part and help build a stronger future for our state and the nation.”

The Chamber’s key recommendations focus on Victoria’s economic prosperity and the health of our business community while also addressing the high cost of living impacting our economy. They include:

Migration

• Relax visa constraints so that migrant workers can work across different jobs within the same sector to address critical skills shortages in high-demand industries (e.g., allow migrant nurses to work on hospital wards and in an aged care facilities)
• Further address visa processing times and backlogs by increasing capacity in Home Affairs to give certainty to business and applicants
• Enable pathways to permanency for all temporary skilled migrants to increase attractiveness of Australia to foreign workers and secure longer-term skills and labour pipelines
• Rename temporary working visas to reduce confusion and increase employability of visa holders.

Taxation

• Provide tax incentives for businesses to invest in energy-efficient technologies and practices, to encourage cost-effective energy use in the short-term while larger projects are developed
• Provide interim income tax relief to incentivise more Australians to work a second job and keep more businesses operating
• Negotiate a national approach to payroll taxation to create a consistent, employment-friendly payroll tax threshold.

Trade and Export

• Fund an industry-led mentoring program to help more Australian businesses become export-ready
• Fund the Western Interstate Freight Terminal to revitalise industry, create jobs and cement Victoria’s status as Australia’s principal freight point
• Expand funding and eligibility for the Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) scheme to help more SMFEs enter new export markets.

Other

• Create a Tourism Resilience Fund to assist tourism, accommodation, events and creative businesses to remain viable and operate at full capacity by the end of 2024
• Fund cyber education and awareness campaigns and develop programs to help businesses harden their defences and comply with regulations.

As Victoria’s peak business and industry body, the Chamber represents the collective voice of more than 65,000 members and clients, advocating for better conditions so that every business – small, medium or large – can start up, grow and thrive in our State.

The Victorian Chamber’s full list of recommendations is contained in our 2023-2024 Federal Budget Submission.

Advocacy and Support

For more information on the Victorian Chamber’s advocacy work, please visit the Policy and Advocacy section of our website.

If you have any questions or would like to be involved in our advocacy work, please contact us via policy@victorianchamber.com.au.