Skills and industry budget to help power Victoria’s future > Small Business AnswersSmall Business Answers

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is pleased to see many of our recommendations included in the Federal Government’s 2022-2023 Budget.

The following highlights align with the Victorian Chamber’s Federal Budget Submission:

Skills and workforce

Expanding the Permanent Migration Program to accelerate visa processing, reduce the visa backlog and raise awareness of opportunities for high-skilled migrants;
Relaxing work restrictions for student and secondary training visa holders to enable them to work additional hours in any sector until 30 June 2023;
480,000 fee-free TAFE and community-based vocational education places over four years and providing 20,000 more university places to under-represented groups to study in areas of in-demand skills;
$100 million for New Energy Apprenticeships and New Energy Skills and
Encouraging higher workforce participation through cheaper childcare and expanding paid parental leave to 26 weeks for working parents.

Establishing a National Reconstruction Fund to provide $15 billion of capital to grow our industrial base, diversify our economy and boost regional development;
Modernising the electric grid to help put downward pressure on power prices and support the transformation to a clean energy future;
Additional investment in renewables generation and storage;
Delivering the Better Deal for Small Business which will include investing in energy efficiency, workplace relations support and well-being programs and
Retaining the 20 per cent tax deduction boost for small businesses to upskill employees and embrace new technology, as well as the instant asset write off for small and medium businesses.

Delivering a $10 billion investment into the Housing Australia Future Fund, which will provide 50,000 affordable and social homes via this fund and the national Housing Accord;
$2.2 billion funding for the Suburban Rail Loop;
$500 million to reduce transport emissions, including electric vehicle charging stations and government fleet purchases of 75 per cent electric vehicles;
Rewiring the Nation with $20 billion in low-cost finance to make upgrades to the electricity grid, including the Marinus Link between Tasmania and Victoria and
$2.4 billion expansion of the NBN over the next four years to boost to digital capability.