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For hundreds of thousands of businesses throughout Victoria, 2020 has been the hardest year they will endure. Shortly after our state was confronted with some of the worst bushfires in living memory, an unprecedented global pandemic disrupted life and work as we knew it.

Through countless phone calls, emails, webinars, and roundtables, we have listened to our members to understand what they need to see in the 2020-21 State Budget to get back on track and thrive. On the back of these discussions with members, the VCCI has presented more than 50 specific recommendations to the State Government on behalf of all Victorian businesses ahead of the 2020-21 State Budget. 

VCCI’s full State Budget submission

Priority recommendations

 Echoing the calls from businesses, the VCCI has written to Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas to outline three key priorities which will impact every business across the state: 

1. Protect and grow local businesses and jobs
2. Reclaim our global reputation
3. Define and implement the next big build

After the disruption of 2020, Victoria needs to grow businesses to grow jobs and prosperity. Our state was the engine room of the Australian economy and we need to rise to that position once again, not just for ourselves, but for the prosperity of Australia. 

The task is massive and will need the Government’s attention on reducing the cost and complexity of doing business through tax reform, such as payroll tax which is a tax on jobs, and red tape removal. We also need to assist businesses that have accumulated debt over our extended lockdowns before they collapse.

COVID-19 and subsequent extended lockdowns have stalled our progression and prosperity, but we still have the capability to bounce back and become an icon once again. Victoria needs to reclaim our global reputation as not only the home of the world’s most livable city, but an events mecca, a culinary and fashion powerhouse, and a hi-tech manufacturing nucleus supported by hubs of knowledge and academic research. Let’s put our innovation capability on supercharge.

As our state moves forward, we will need the infrastructure to grow and develop. We need to identify and implement the next ‘big build’. As the current ‘big build’ across Victoria will soon be complete, we need to remain ambitious and become bigger and better. The long-term implications of infrastructure projects are apparent, but the short and medium-term benefits of job creation, secondary business support and investment catapults our economy even before the projects come to fruition.

The VCCI and Victorian businesses need the support of the State Government to action these three, inter-connected themes which hold the key to arresting the economic fallout caused by COVID-19 and propelling us into a new era of prosperity.

2020 has been a disaster in many regards, but our recovery starts now.

Advocacy and support

For more information on the Victorian Chamber’s advocacy work, 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 policy@victorianchamber.com.au.