While Victorian businesses have experienced some of the toughest conditions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022-23 Federal Budget presents an opportunity for our leaders to map out a prosperous future for Victoria and the nation, as we continue to repair and rebuild.

To be handed down at the end of March, we need the Budget to deliver for Victorian business ahead of the Federal Election in May.

The Chamber is proud to have lodged our pre-budget submission based on our members’ feedback, which captures our localised and specific priorities for Victoria. These include priorities that, if delivered, will create thousands of jobs, help businesses thrive, and significantly increase economic activity. We are also pleased to have worked closely with our national body, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), to contribute our broader priorities for Victorian business to their Pre-Budget submission, a document which has our full support.

Our submission features 17 priority areas for the Federal Government to consider – all of which fall into two key themes:

Building back business:

• Continue to lead nationally consistent COVIDSafe guidelines to foster public confidence and rebuild business certainty
• Fund free Rapid Antigen Test kits for small to medium enterprises to allow businesses to remain open and maximise their available workforce
• Restore Australia’s mantle as the number one destination for international students through a campaign promoting the quality, safety and outcomes of Australia’s higher education system
• Explore opportunities to progress more temporary humanitarian visa holders to become permanent Australian residents
• Provide interim income tax relief to allow more Australians to work a second job and keep more businesses operating
• Negotiate a national approach to payroll taxation with a consistent, employment-friendly payroll tax threshold
• Support the creation of more apprenticeships and traineeships by extending the Boosting Apprenticeships Commencement Scheme
• Allow more Australians to access VET Student Loans by restoring the Student Loan Fee exemption and broadening eligibility to Certificate III and IV qualifications
• Create a Tourism Recovery Fund to assist tourism, accommodation, events and creative businesses to remain viable and operate at full capacity by the end of 2022 and
• Rebuild Australia’s international visitor markets by requiring a negative Rapid Antigen Test result and asking the Therapeutic Goods Administration to approve a wider range of vaccines for entry to Australia.

Building for our future

• Fund the Western Interstate Freight Terminal to revitalise industry, create Victorian jobs and cement Victoria’s place as Australia’s principal freight point
• Maximise the strategic opportunities of Australia’s airports by amending the Airports Act 1996 (Cth) to streamline arrangements for major development plan approvals, including raising the monetary threshold to a more realistic $75 million
• Scale the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain Project or fund a similar public-private venture to boost Victoria’s advanced manufacturing sector and produce a secure, reliable, domestic supply of hydrogen
• Introduce a subsidy for industries transitioning to clean hydrogen as a primary energy source
• Fund more ultra-rapid electric vehicle charging stations to encourage Australians to transition to electric vehicles
• Fund an industry-led mentoring program to help more Australian businesses become export-ready and
• Expand funding and eligibility for the Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) scheme to help more SMEs enter new export markets.

In preparation of our submission, we sought feedback from our member businesses – the lifeblood of our economy - which have informed our key funding and policy recommendations. We have validated these priorities through roundtable discussions, member surveys and via independent focus groups involving a cross-section of Victorians.

Speaking on the Victorian Chamber’s 2022-23 Federal Budget Submission, Chief Executive Paul Guerra said “The Victorian Chamber has a vital role to advocate for what our members and clients need to survive and thrive in a post-COVID-19 Victoria.

“These proposals are based on direct feedback from business, who have been the heart and soul of our economy and communities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“These initiatives would help to future-proof Victoria, giving our industries the leg-up they need to pioneer us into pole positions across industry, technology, infrastructure, education, tourism and the economy and leading the other states by example.”

With a double election year upon us, we know that politicians from all parties will be out on the hustings over the coming months. We look forward to a Budget that lowers business costs, rebuilds the nation’s finances, cuts red tape, safeguards and supports our major industries so that they can rebound from the pandemic, builds our skilled workforce, promotes clean energy and delivers productivity boosting infrastructure.

By putting measures in place that enable businesses to grow, governments can help to create jobs and wealth, which in turn helps deliver benefits to households, families and individuals. This Budget, our political leaders must take action to deliver on pro-business priorities.

The Victorian Chamber will continue to advocate on behalf of Victorian businesses to ensure our member’s voices are heard, so that every business – small, medium and large – has the best opportunity to start up, grow and thrive in our State.

View a full copy of the Victorian Chamber’s 2022-23 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.