Quote:The Kennett government pursued strong economic growth, sound budgets and investment in infrastructure. My government and, subsequently, the Brumby government did the same and, in addition, invested our surpluses in service delivery.
On coming to power in 1999, the Bracks Government adopted a number of incomplete Kennett government projects - such as Federation Square, the County Court, Melbourne Museum and the CityLink toll - without question
and completed each without complaint
- there may be a lesson here for our new state government.
We also need to keep the cost of doing business in Victoria as competitive as possible.
The government should ditch home stamp-duty cuts and instead use the money to further cut WorkCover premiums and payroll tax rates, since these cuts are more likely to generate jobs.
The government should also support industries that are part of Victoria's future, and get on with infrastructure projects.
- Steve Bracks
28/04/2011
The Victorian government should set a timetable for
payroll tax reform
and debt reduction, and keep a lid on public sector wages, the business lobby says.
.The opposition has called on Premier Ted Baillieu to keep the trust Victorians placed in his government and deliver on every commitment made before last November's election when he delivers his first budget on Tuesday.
Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief economist Steven Wojtkiw has been granted meetings with representatives from Treasurer Kim Wells' office but not with the man himself.
Mr Wojtkiw urged the government to ease cost pressures on business and lay out its strategy to reduce debt and
invest in infrastructure.
"If there are no substantive measures in terms of
tax relief for business in this budget
we would certainly expect that coming budgets will provide that relief," Mr Wojtkiw told reporters on budget eve.
"But this budget can and should provide a timetable for
taxation reform
and further
reduction in business red tape.
"It is important we do have a timetable for
payroll tax relief
recognising that other states, and for that matter other countries, are continually looking at ways that they can make their business tax agenda much more competitive."