VACC Calls on the Treasurer to Present a Victorian State Budget for Small Business

VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA – Apr 26, 2012: VACC, the peak automotive industry body in Victoria, with more than 5,000 small business members, has called on the Victorian Treasurer, Kim Wells, to consider small business issues when delivering the State Budget on Tuesday, 1 May, 2012.

In its Victorian State Budget 2012/13 Submission, VACC called on the Treasurer to consider the effects the Budget will have on a ‘patchy’ automotive retail sector.

“A recent VACC member survey revealed that business confidence is at low ebb,” VACC Executive Director, David Purchase, said.

“Small business owners are tied up by red tape and compliance costs, with little of the benefits of the nation’s mining boom impacting on them. They are doing the hard yards with little relief in sight.

“VACC calls on Treasurer Wells to provide this relief by considering small business owners in the Victorian State Budget. The business community does not want to see any new taxes and it would like to see increased assistance to small business owners through tax reductions,” Mr Purchase said.

VACC has presented the Treasurer with 10 State Budget recommendations:

No new or increased taxes on business, business transactions or motor vehicle use;

No dividend to be taken from the accumulated surpluses of the WorkSafe Fund;

Significantly reduce Land Tax on business premises;

Increase the Motor Vehicle Stamp Duty threshold to at least $75,000;

Reduce Payroll Tax and increase the threshold to $1million;

Repeal the CBD Car Parking Levy and promote powered two wheeled vehicles to ease congestion;

Provide greater budget support to crackdown on Unlicensed Motor Car Trading;

Increase funding to support the Victorian Small Business Commissioner;

Set up an agency (an Office of Regulation) to assist the Victorian Small Business Commissioner;

Commit funds for the expansion of the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.

“In order to continue to provide jobs and support communities, VACC members require an environment in which they can remain active. With a combination of increased business ownership costs and a dip in consumer confidence, now is the time for the Treasurer to provide small business with stability, reduced red tape and greater assistance through tax reforms,” Mr Purchase said.