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The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged the Government to use November’s interim budget as an opportunity to show restraint on spending rather than turning to new or increased taxes.
TCCI Chief Executive Officer Michael Bailey said Tasmanian households and businesses are already carrying significant cost pressures and cannot afford higher taxes.
“Tasmania’s economy needs confidence and stability right now, not new taxes,” Mr Bailey said.
“Government must focus on getting its own spending under control. Every dollar spent should be directed at delivering real outcomes for the community, not propping up a bloated bureaucracy and the cross bench needs to understand that too.”
Mr Bailey said businesses understand the challenges of balancing a budget under difficult circumstances but warned against short-term fixes that would undermine long-term growth.
“Just as businesses have to make tough decisions about how they allocate scarce resources, Government must also be disciplined in how it spends taxpayers’ money,” he said.
“Resorting to more revenue-raising will only make it harder for businesses to invest and employ, which in turn risks slowing the very growth needed to repair the budget.”
TCCI has consistently called for a focus on efficiency and productivity in government spending.
“The best way to get Tasmania’s budget back on track is to support private sector investment and jobs growth,” Mr Bailey said.
“That requires a steady hand on government finances, not knee-jerk revenue measures that hurt business confidence.”
Mr Bailey said the business community would be looking closely at the November budget to see a clear commitment to fiscal discipline and a long-term plan for economic sustainability.
TCCI Chief Executive Officer Michael Bailey said Tasmanian households and businesses are already carrying significant cost pressures and cannot afford higher taxes.
“Tasmania’s economy needs confidence and stability right now, not new taxes,” Mr Bailey said.
“Government must focus on getting its own spending under control. Every dollar spent should be directed at delivering real outcomes for the community, not propping up a bloated bureaucracy and the cross bench needs to understand that too.”
Mr Bailey said businesses understand the challenges of balancing a budget under difficult circumstances but warned against short-term fixes that would undermine long-term growth.
“Just as businesses have to make tough decisions about how they allocate scarce resources, Government must also be disciplined in how it spends taxpayers’ money,” he said.
“Resorting to more revenue-raising will only make it harder for businesses to invest and employ, which in turn risks slowing the very growth needed to repair the budget.”
TCCI has consistently called for a focus on efficiency and productivity in government spending.
“The best way to get Tasmania’s budget back on track is to support private sector investment and jobs growth,” Mr Bailey said.
“That requires a steady hand on government finances, not knee-jerk revenue measures that hurt business confidence.”
Mr Bailey said the business community would be looking closely at the November budget to see a clear commitment to fiscal discipline and a long-term plan for economic sustainability.