'Businesses need a commitment to their future operating environment'
Queensland businesses and employers had recently appealed for more detailed policies to address immediate concerns in the next federal government’s agenda.
In a media release, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) called on those gearing for the upcoming election that employers are “waiting to hear details” on policies for skills, sustainability, growth and better business operating environments. The group also criticised the “few details” that were made available about how businesses “will be supported.”
Essentially, according to the CCIQ, the “top business priorities” this federal election are:
- Overcoming critical labour and skills shortages 
- Creating job opportunities
- Creating a better environment for small businesses to flourish with less red tape
- Incentivise business investment to drive productivity growth over the long term
- Maximising sustainability opportunities for economic diversification in the green economy
CCIQ policy and advocacy manager Cherie Josephson said that the plan laid out by politicians to create “hundreds of thousands of new businesses” in the state was “welcome,” but it regrettably came “without insight as to how existing businesses would be supported long-term.”
Specifically, the CCIQ would want to clarify the details on policies designed to “back Australian businesses, including addressing labour and skills shortages, jobs, incentives to drive long-term productivity growth and opportunities to diversify through sustainability.”
“There are already more than 400,000 small businesses in Queensland waiting for policy details to help them find skilled labour, drive long-term productivity growth and diversify,” Josephson said.
“We know recovery and growth will be key business drivers at the ballot box but so far we haven’t seen commitments to existing businesses, but for a focus on creating new businesses,” Josephson said, highlighting the challenges employers face every day.
Concerns over COVID-19’s consequences, natural disaster recovery, skills gaps, staffing, disruptions to consumer confidence and government red tape are among the priorities that CCIQ endorses for the next federal government. Businesses need a commitment to their future operating environment
“Businesses want to know how they will be empowered to maximise opportunities for diversification and sustainability, or be incentivised to invest and drive productivity growth over the long term,” Josephson said.
“Businesses need a commitment to their future operating environment, including what incentives, support and protections they’ll have to run their business now, next year and even in the next decade,” Josephson added.
