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.

‘Steady as she goes’ State Budget with slowdown ahead

CCIWA Chief Economist

Aaron Morey 

The 2023-24 State Budget confirms the current strength of the WA economy, but highlights risks to the outlook as growth is forecast to plummet in coming years.

 

Western Australia’s economy is expected to grow 4.25% in the current financial year, the highest rate in nine years. This result is largely on the back of business investment and exports. The Government also expects inflation to decline rapidly next year, falling to 3.5%. However, growth will reach just 1.5% at the end of the budget forecast period.

 

The State’s finances are still very strong, especially compared to other states. The Government is expected to bank a $4.2b surplus this financial year. However net debt is not expected to peak over the forward estimates. 

 

A critical support for the State’s finances is the 2018 GST deal. In the absence of the deal, WA would receive just 9.8 cents in the dollar next financial year. CCIWA was at the heart of the effort to fix the GST. We stand ready to campaign to defend the deal in the national interest, and we support the $1.6m commitment in the Budget for a Treasury team to safeguard it.

 

Importantly, the State and Federal governments have jointly funded a $650 credit for small businesses with annual electricity consumption of less than 50 Megawatt hours.

 

But despite the State’s good fiscal fortune, the State Government has not alleviated the burden of payroll tax on WA small and family businesses. This means WA small and family businesses will still bear the heaviest payroll tax burden in the country, with total payroll tax collections forecast to reach $5.5 billion in coming years. It’s critical action is taken to reduce the burden to help alleviate the higher costs of doing business and to make WA a more attractive place to invest.

 

The State Government has taken some steps to diversify the economy, including a $40 million Sustainable Geoscience Investments package to accelerate critical minerals discoveries, an expansion of the New Industry Fund, and funding for the previously announced Trade and Investment Office in Austin, Texas. It should remain open to do more given the transformative efforts from other economies, notably the US and Canada, to redirect capital flows to drive decarbonisation.

 

In addition to relieving the burden of payroll tax on small and family businesses, it’s critical the State Government also accelerate its efforts to make it easier to get approvals for major projects, including by pushing the Federal Government to rein in the Federal Department of Environment, which is increasingly frustrating the efforts of WA investors.

 

Share This Post