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Other welcome measures include additional skills migration and greater access to tertiary education, say private sector leaders.
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Budget: business applauds cash for childcare, TAFE, and mental health
27 October 2022
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Funding for childcare, TAFE and mental health were among some of the key proposals that business associations were pleased to see in the budget that would assist their members.
“This budget delivers benefits for small business owners and sole traders in four key areas, namely: improved internet connectivity, small business mental health support, cost of living improvements to childcare support, and VET and skills planning,” said Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) chief executive Alexi Boyd.
“As 98 per cent of businesses in Australia are small and medium sized enterprises and a third of this group are sole traders, the small business sector is a major stakeholder in this budget and its impacts will be felt in almost every home across the country.”
The combined $15 million in funding for mental health and financial counselling support was also welcomed by Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) ombudsman Bruce Billson.
“For many small and family business owners, their identities are interwoven into their business and the stakes are so much higher than just a job,” said Mr Billson.
“Many people have invested a lifetime, and in some cases their family home, into building up their business, which amplifies the emotional challenges.”
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Over $531 million over four years in extra funding to expand paid parental leave to 26 weeks by 2026 and an additional $4.7 billion to reduce the cost of childcare was also seen as a win by both large and small business associations.
“The high cost of childcare is a career barrier for many female business owners — on whom the burden of at-home childcare still disproportionately falls even in the modern era,” said Ms Boyd.
“Lowering the cost of childcare will give women entrepreneurs more time and freedom to focus on running and growing their businesses.”
Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott applauded the decision to support cheaper childcare and cut back elsewhere.
“The government is right to stay the course on its childcare measures, ensuring the sector is prepared for increased demand and that Australian families can access care,” she said.
“Moves to boost the duration of paid parental leave are welcome steps to increase participation and let families choose what suits them.”
Mr Billson said affordable childcare was one of three measures that would help businesses trying to recruit.
“There is also a relaxation for mature-aged people, primarily on pensions, who can go and do some work and not have their pension eligibility impacted adversely,” he told radio 2BS.
“And then also for student visa holders, there was ordinarily a 20-hour limit on the number of hours a student visa holder can work, that’s also been relaxed as we see more and more students coming back into the economy who play a vital contribution in so many areas, being able to work more hours.”
Another measure to help businesses struggling with skills shortages was the introduction of 480,000 fee-free TAFE places over four years.
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Andrew McKellar agreed the TAFE places were useful, but not the whole answer.
“A new national skills agreement that delivers a real increase in VET funding is essential,” he said. “However, accelerating job creation cannot solely be achieved through increasing TAFE funding alone. The importance of private training providers must also be recognised.”
The business associations agreed that the government’s expansion of the permanent migration program to 195,000 people in 2022–23 was another positive step.
“We strongly support the government’s comprehensive skills package and migration announcement,” said Ms Westacott.
“These measures mean we can start to tackle our labour shortages while building the skills of the future which will be essential to attracting new industries and growing wages.”
Ms Boyd said the 35,000 extra places would greatly assist small businesses.
“COSBOA will continue to work with the government to ensure that the migration strategy meets the needs of the small business community,” she said.
“We want to ensure that the associations which represent small business are at the strategic end of workforce planning consultation.”
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