SA Business Journal

Welcome Prime Minister Albanese

The South Australian Business Chamber congratulates the newly elected Albanese Labor Government. Australia has spoken, and we now see ourselves here in South Australia with Labor state and federal leadership for the first time in nearly a decade.

During the campaign, Labor campaigned for a better future built on a stronger, broader, more inclusive and more sustainable economy. Their promises included cleaner and cheaper energy and a better-trained workforce. They now come into the national leadership facing significant economic challenges around rising inflation, higher interest rates, and significant public debt levels.

Skills remain a constant constraint for many businesses, particularly SME businesses that are the engine room of the local economy. Labor’s promises around skills are of the utmost importance. Over the coming years, we look forward to working with our peak body in Canberra, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the state chambers around Australia to hold them to account to deliver those promises for the Australian business community.

Labor has promised to establish Jobs and Skills Australia as a national partnership to drive VET education and strengthen workforce planning by working with employers, unions and the training and education sector. Their promise is for hundreds of thousands of Australians to be able to earn a qualification or upskill with fee-free TAFE. These fee-free places will be available to students studying for industries with skills shortages.

On behalf of our members and the broader South Australian business community, the South Australian Business Chamber has been pushing for an extension to the 50% subsidy available to employers to employ an apprentice or trainee under the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements scheme. We encourage Prime Minister Albanese to consider what a quick win it would be for his new government to extend this current scheme to ensure as many employers have the opportunity to create the right skills mix within their business.

One surprise of this election is the rise of the teal independent’ – those primarily campaigning on a platform of climate action. Here at the South Australian Business Chamber, we have been increasingly hearing from our members that this is a priority for them too. Labor’s Powering Australia plan promises direct financial support for measures that improve energy efficiency within existing industries. They state that this plan will see electricity costs for businesses fall, mainly supporting electricity-intensive industries.

On behalf of our members and the broader business community, we thank former Prime Minister Scott Morrison, former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and the former Liberal Government for their efforts in keeping Australians safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, we credit the JobKeeper program as saving many businesses from collapse and saving many jobs. It was no easy task to balance health priorities and the economy. 

As the last two years of the pandemic now draw to a close, I encourage our newly elected Prime Minister to remember what a significant employer the SME business community collectively is. The business community drives innovation, and it is business owners and employers who are the risk-takers and the job makers. 

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