The alignment of some of the Coalition’s election commitments with business priorities is welcome. We keenly anticipate the progression of commitments to boost business competitiveness, including those to lower the tax burden on small and medium sized businesses, support 80,000 new apprentices and invest in critical Victorian infrastructure.

We look forward to a public-private partnership of growth and prosperity with the returning Government over the next four years - and to working together to develop policies that support small businesses and the five million Australians employed by them.

The Victorian Chamber also acknowledged the strong support for business received from the Hon Bill Shorten MP and the Australian Labor Party during the election campaign.

Next week, we look forward to presenting our fourth consecutive post Budget lunch with the Treasurer of Victoria, Tim Pallas MP.

The day after handing down the 2019-20 State Budget, the Treasurer will outline its key features and impacts on business competitiveness, jobs and investment, to over 450 members of the business community.

The Victorian Chamber is calling on the Victorian Government to use the 2019-20 Budget to map out a long-term vision for the State, including better integrating infrastructure and land use planning, ensuring expenditure growth does not exceed revenue growth, lifting the moratorium on onshore conventional gas exploration and investing in regional Victoria. To view our priority recommendations and for further information you can read the full submission here.

We will be monitoring any announcements in advance of the budget to inform our members how these will impact them.