We’re always working in our Members’ interests, and the State election on March 13 is no different. We’ve identified five key priorities for an incoming government.
- Relieve the burden of payroll tax on WA businesses
Many WA businesses face the highest payroll tax burden in the country. Though the State’s payroll tax threshold was raised in 2019, once a local business reaches about 25 employees, its payroll tax burden would be 156% higher than if it operated in South Australia. CCIWA’s proposed payroll tax reforms would remove this disincentive and better enable the State’s economy to grow.
- Make it easier for women to re-enter the workforce after having children
CCIWA’s report ‘Making Paid Work Pay for Families with Children’ highlights the significant economic and social benefits to unlocking the full potential of working parents. A key reform is allowing funding to deliver kindergarten services that ‘follow the child’ – i.e. applying the same funding to wherever a child gets care – as occurs in most other States.
- Ease WA’s shopping restrictions
Easing shopping restrictions would create more jobs and hours of work, as shown in CCIWA’s ‘Time To Open’ report. CCIWA has surveyed WA small businesses and households, who show strong support to easing the State’s pre-internet era shopping restrictions.
- Signal the State is keen to welcome international students as soon as it is safe
WA’s COVID-safe status makes it well positioned to attract international students. A strong positive signal to these students and overseas agents from our politicians would set WA up to grow this economically vital sector.
- Press into international markets
Expanding WA’s trade footprint overseas, investing to promote WA brand awareness and establishing a WA Investment Dealbook will help secure the trade and investment opportunities to catalyse WA’s economic recovery and diversification.
Rodwell says WA is fortunate that strong commodity prices globally have flowed through to local business, with significant Federal stimulus and other measures helping bolster sectors reliant on consumer spending.
“However, we cannot expect this to continue in the long term,” he adds.
“These priority recommendations reflect some of the significant work CCIWA has conducted in the past 12 months, to identify more ways to improve conditions for WA businesses and jobs.”
Read our media release here.