Free HR Services from our Employee Relations Experts. Find out more.

Our Business Services

Chamber of Commerce & Industry WA

With over 130 years of experience representing WA businesses, we’re ready to help with the resources and advice you need to succeed.

Employee Relations Helpline

Employee Relations Helpline

Get timely, reliable and practical employee relations advice on employment laws, the awards system and other human resource matters. CCIWA Members get unlimited access.

Legal Services

Legal Services

Our team of experienced, client-focused business lawyers offer a full range of Commercial Law & Employment Law services for all your essential legal needs.

Accounting & Taxation Services

Optima Partners and CCIWA

Innovative and personalised accounting, taxation and business advisory services that focus on delivering the best results to help your business grow.

Workplace Health & Safety Services

Workplace Health & Safety Services

Unlock the potential of your business with our suite of staff training and development programs, crafted by workplace relations experts and tailored to your business needs.

Construction & Mining IR Services

Construction & Mining IR Services

We offer extensive, independent and practical industrial and labour relations support to the engineering, construction and mining industries.

Workplace Training & Development

Workplace Training & Development

Unlock the potential of your business with our suite of staff training and development programs, crafted by workplace relations experts and tailored to your business needs.

Apprenticeship Support Australia WA

Apprenticeship Support Australia WA

Our dedicated team specialises in assisting employers maximise the benefits of investing in apprenticeships and traineeships to build local skills for the diverse WA workforce. Our team of experts will provide all the advice, support and services you need — free of charge.

Work Integrated Learning – Internships

Work Integrated Learning - Internships

Tap into WA’s future workforce with our Work Integrated Learning – Internships program. This free service facilitates university student work experience placements for your business.

Industry Capability Network WA

Industry Capability Network WA

Connecting your business with mining, construction, infrastructure, defence and other major projects using the ICN Gateway.

International Trade Services

International Trade Services

Take your business global using our comprehensive suite of international trade services to streamline importing and exporting, reduce risks and identify international partners.

Federal Budget a strong prescription for economic shock 

Today’s Federal Budget grapples with the most severe economic shock in living memory, and provides a powerful prescription for businesses to recover.

 

In this pandemic Budget, the Federal Government’s prescription is for $507 billion in recovery support, including $17.8 billion in income tax cuts, wage subsidies, and business investment incentives, bringing the deficit to $213.7 billion this financial year. The deficit will take years to repair, set to remain at $49.5 billion until 2030-31.

 

Although gross debt will exceed $1 trillion next year, this is not as acute as feared three months ago. Record low interest rates mean that interest payments will actually be lower in coming years. 

 

The contraction in GDP is forecast to be 1.5 per cent this financial year, down from an expected 2.5 per cent contraction in July. The budget includes an optimistic expectation of a bounce back of 4.75 per cent growth next year. 

 

CCIWA will continue to press for more fundamental tax and industrial relations reform, but the Budget provides a comprehensive response to support the Australian economy for coming months and years. 

 

The Budget confirms the current phase of fiscal policy will remain until the unemployment rate returns to below 6 per cent. It looks to support businesses to land on their feet, while retaining jobs, as they transition off emergency payments like JobKeeper. JobKeeper is still slated to expire at the end of March next year, with a shift to JobMaker wage subsidies for new hires and tax cuts for households.  

 

Critically, the Government commits to a recovery without increasing taxes. This will be welcome confirmation for the business community.

 

Direct incentives will stoke business investment, sorely lacking in the WA economy. Investment outside the mining sector is set to contract 14.5 per cent this financial year. 

 

The Budget includes $1.5 billion to power up advanced manufacturing, additional funding for research and development and $800 million to help firms do business online. It applies fringe benefits tax breaks to help start-ups buy assets, and to re-skill workers into areas of need.  

These important bottom-up initiatives help the private sector to begin the task of creating the industries and jobs of the future. 

 

There is a still a significant opportunity to achieve real structural reform, to permanently ease the tax burden on business, to generate investment and attract foreign capital. These reforms are more important than ever, with Australia no longer able to rely on population driven growth — lower migration and fertility is expected to see population permanently lower in coming years. 

Share This Post