A lift in the Payroll Tax threshold to $1 million over the next four years will be celebrated by businesses across NSW, particularly those who were approaching or are just over the current threshold, says the State’s peak business organisation, the NSW Business Chamber.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced the change as part of the State Budget, to be delivered on Tuesday.
“This is a very positive step and something that the NSW Business Chamber has been campaigning for over a long period,” said Kellon Beard Regional Manager Mid North Coast NSW Business Chamber.
“Payroll tax, and the very low threshold in NSW, has discouraged small businesses from hiring additional staff, and worse still it costs many small businesses thousands of dollars each year in administration costs for relatively little additional state revenue,” Mr Beard said.
“Lifting the payroll tax threshold was a central plank of our Keeping NSW Number One campaign which was launched in March, and of our pre-budget submission, which was released in April.
“Payroll tax is a tax on jobs and job creation and serves as a disincentive to employ more people.
“An increase from $750,000 to $850,000 in the first year, and then by $50,000 per year for the next 3 years means a business with an annual payroll of around $750,000 can hire two extra young job seekers without being slugged by a tax penalty and extra administrative costs.
“Being penalised for creating new jobs is just ridiculous.
“As cost pressures on doing business in NSW increase, especially energy prices, the State Government has heard the message loud and clear from the business community that they need relief if they are going to employ more of their fellow Australians.
“What’s important about this announcement is that it’s not just Sydney centric – in fact, regional NSW has a higher relative share of businesses just over the payroll tax threshold, and these are “mum and dad” businesses that shouldn’t be caught up in the complication of processing and remitting payroll tax.
“With a State Election in March next year, the NSW Business Chamber will continue to advocate for both major parties to develop and articulate policies that drive business confidence, investment and more jobs in this state,” Mr Beard said.
The NSW Treasurer is set to hand down the State Budget on Tuesday and while NSW is currently the nation’s strongest economy, now is not the time for timidity or half measures.
The strength of the NSW Budget and economy provides an opportunity to build future capacity and provide the economic settings necessary to ensure NSW remains the number one state for investment, business and jobs growth for the next decade and beyond.
Key to this future are the small businesses of NSW who employ half our workforce, and contribute $300 billion dollars a year to the state’s economy. This is also a sector of the economy that is doing it tough with cost pressures threatening their viability and ability to grow. The NSW Business Chamber has spelt out the benefits of increasing the payroll tax threshold as a practical and immediate way to provide a direct stimulus to jobs growth and much needed support for NSW small business.
Let’s be clear, Payroll Tax is a tax on jobs and for those small businesses approaching, or above the existing NSW payroll tax threshold, the second lowest in Australia, there is a direct financial penalty on employing additional staff. Increasing the threshold will remove a barrier to employment growth and reduce costly administrative red-tape on businesses across the Mid North Coast.
The NSW Business Chamber has also stressed the importance of investing more in trades and related training. Boosting investment in skills and training particularly in the construction, hospitality and community service sectors was a key plank of the NSW Business Chamber’s Pre-Budget submission.
The Budget provides an opportunity to outline measures to tackle our unacceptably high youth unemployment rate and help ensure NSW has the skills required for the future. On the Mid North Coast, current youth unemployment is far too high, with some areas as high as 22 per cent.
The pre-Budget announcements to ensure 20 per cent of jobs on new public infrastructure projects provide training opportunities and the commitment to boost apprenticeship numbers are positive steps. However, there is a need to bolster training availability and accessibility for young job seekers and for targeted measures to address the crippling skill shortages faced by employers.
We also hope to see in the Budget plans to speed up the delivery of promised infrastructure. Sydney is booming off the back of the Government’s pipeline of projects but there is a need to expedite the delivery of infrastructure in the Mid North Coast and surrounding region.
The NSW Government, backed strongly by the NSW Business Chamber, made the right decision to raise substantial funds through asset recycling, there is now a need to focus on the timely investment of these proceeds in projects that provide the long-term economic infrastructure required on the Mid North Coast.
Tuesday’s Budget should be about Keeping NSW Number 1, to achieve this it is essential the Budget supports small business, invests more in training and skilling the next generation and fast-tracks the delivery of infrastructure across the Region. These three areas are vital to improve productivity and economic capacity.
Council are partnering with youth focused groups , services and businesses and are in the processes of planning a program for Youth Week 2018 - Unity Through Diversity . Stay tuned for further information via http://www.pmhc.nsw.gov.au/Community-Culture/Youth/National-Youth-Week
National Youth Week is an opportunity for young people to share ideas, attend live events, have their voices heard on issues of concern to them, showcase their talents, celebrate their contribution to the community, take part in competitions but most of all have fun!
YAC presents - Fright Night Friday
Headspace Greenspace
Artwalk- Creative Youth Zone
Creative Wauchope Festival
YACAM Presents - Rainbow Rhythms
Cosplay
Locals Talk @ The Library
Youth Week Library Techie Stuff
ETC has today announced $250,000 in community funding via the ETC Community Support Fund.
Organisations can apply for up to $20,000 each, with smaller grants encouraged.
Applications will be assessed based on how well they align with ETC’s focus on employment and training, and meet one or more of the funding objectives:
Contribute to reducing disadvantage faced by the unemployed and/or other disadvantaged groups
Support the availability and/or sustainability of employment and training opportunities
Enhance community support services and/or build community capacity
For further information and to apply online visit etcltd.com.au/csf
Applications close 5pm Friday 13 April.
Despite the blustery weather we had a great turn out to the "Lose Yourself in the Bago Maze" Chamber event last night, 26th Feb 2018 at Bago Maze & Winery.
As the weather settled in we replaced the Maze experience for a tour of the Bago Vineyard wine processing plant. Jim Mobbs talked us through the process and demonstrated the equipment used.
An update from Wauchope Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Gary Rainbow shared the status of projects such as the Wauchope Main St Plan, the Chamber Volunteer Program, the proposed Heritage Riverside Walk the Wauchope District Historical Society are working on and the forum on the 27th Feb for the Hastings Regional Sporting complex planned for Wauchope.
Vana from Vasnas Designs - Out of the Ordinary shared an update on Creative Wauchope who are in talks to join the Wauchope Chamber of Commerce and Industry as a subcommittee which will foster a closer partnership.
We were joined also by Mark Wilson of the Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce sharing a concept for a buy local campaign which we look forward to hearing more about in the coming months.
The next meeting will be Monday 19th March 2018 (3rd Mon each month) and details will be out soon!
More pics on Facebook here
The Wauchope Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc are delighted to share correspondence from the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council (PMHC) that the Wauchope Main St Plan works are to progress in the near future.
State Government funding to the tune of $1.8 M has been made available for the project. While this funding offer was presented to Council a few months ago certain criteria required PMHC to contribute further ratepayer dollars to employ an RMS approved Project Officer which was not part of the original cost estimate.
PMHC has made representations to Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) to revise this criteria and the variation has been accepted. Council can now take the next steps to secure a Project Officer and commence with procurement of contractors.
The Wauchope Chamber highlighted the Wauchope Main St Plan as a key Agenda item and advocated on this issue this year. We thank Melinda Pavey MP - Member for Oxley and Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, RMS and PMHC for their work to progress this project and we cannot wait to see the results.
See more information on the Wauchope Main St Plan Here
The Port Macquarie-Hastings Council recently announced they were successful with a $147,000 EPA Clean up and Prevention Grant to target Illegal Dumping in the LGA in partnership with PMHC and Forestry NSW and NPWS in 2017/18.
We are excited to see things are underway with several abandoned vehicles being picked up from the Bago area.
The Wauchope Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc thank PMHC for their work in this area. Dumping of rubbish in the State Forests and National Parks was highlighted as a Chamber Agenda item and raised with Council earlier this year.
Bain Park Wauchope will be home to Wauchope’s first Town Christmas Tree this year. The tree located near the mural wall will be dressed in the coming days with the official ‘lighting of the tree’ set for the evening of Saturday 9th December as the finale of the Wauchope and Hinterland Community Christmas in Bain Park celebrations, presented by Holiday Coast Credit Union.
The Wauchope Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc are delighted to announce the “Lighting of the Tree” as a new addition to the night. The tree will stay lit until after Christmas night giving all a chance to enjoy it. Wauchope is known as a destination for great Christmas lights and the tree will be another stop on the map.
Thanks go to many Wauchope businesses and groups who have sponsored the Christmas celebrations and made the tree a reality; these include Holiday Coast Credit Union, Bundaleer Care Services, North Coast TAFE, A1 Auto Parts, Hastings Co-op, Presbyterian Church, Curly's Café, Waterman's Café, Elements of Design, Party Professionals, Expressway Spares, Wauchope Gazette, Head AV, Harcourts, Valley Guitar, Mount Seaview Water and Red Shed Hire. Special mention to Chris Bowser, MNC Tree Services and Abstract Plastics for their assistance with dressing the tree and Port Macquarie Hastings Council to approve the works.
The evening offers stalls and children’s activities from 5pm and entertainment on stage from 6pm.
Local performers will join us on the night and Sing Australia Wauchope accompanied by the Hastings Municipal Band will lead the carols. Visitors and locals are invited to come along with your rug or chair and sing along. There is plenty to do for the kids with face painting, jumping castles, cookie decorating and of course a picture with Santa.
For more information go to www.visitwauchope.com.au/Wauchope-Christmas or visit the Wauchope Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.
The Wauchope Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc are delighted to announce the 7th Wauchope and Hinterland Community Christmas in Bain Park will kick off from 5pm on Saturday 9th December 2017 in Bain Park Wauchope, proudly presented by Holiday Coast Credit Union.
The Holiday Coast Credit Union have continued their support as the Major Sponsor along with several other local businesses including Bundaleer Care Services, North Coast TAFE, Hastings Coop, Wauchope Gazette, Party Professionals and Head AV. Port Macquarie Hastings Council Community grants are a great contributor to this iconic annual event.
“Holiday Coast Credit Union having just celebrated 50 years of serving the Wauchope and broader Hastings community is proud to again be the Major Sponsor for the Wauchope Community Christmas celebrations in Bain Park on Saturday 9 December 2017. It is very appropriate that a home-grown business is the major sponsor and we are delighted to do so.” said Neville Parsons CEO Holiday Coast Credit Union.
Local performers will join us on the night and Sing Australia Wauchope and Community Choir accompanied by the Hastings Municipal Band will lead the carols. Visitors and locals are invited to come along with your rug or chair and sing along. There is plenty to do for the kids with face painting, jumping castles, cookie decorating and of course a picture with Santa.
The Wauchope Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc are beyond excited that the 2017 Moto Fest Wauchope is on tomorrow, Sat 18th November at the Wauchope Showground.
The work of the wonderful people on the Motorcycle Friendly Wauchope Committee, a sub-committee of the Chamber, are to be commended on the tireless efforts to bring the Moto Fest event about. A Special mention goes out to Jenny Pursehouse, Coordinator of the sub-committee and the Moto Fest event for her contributions.
Moto Fest celebrates the one year Anniversary of the announcement of Wauchope as a Motorcycle Friendly Town, and what a great job the Wauchope community and local business have done in welcoming riders.
Thank you to the many volunteers and Sponsors of the event for your support as we take another step in making Wauchope THE destination for motorcyclists.
The Chamber hopes all have a fantastic day enjoying Moto Fest tomorrow. The event is family friendly so grab the family and friends and head on down!
For more information head to to www.motofest.com.au
Po Box 270, WAUCHOPE NSW 2446 | wauchopechamber@gmail.com | www.visitwauchope.com.au
