Jobs & Growth
South Australia urgently needs bold economic reforms to drive recovery and growth, especially in the midst of a health crisis. SA-BEST is committed to a multi-faceted approach to revitalising the state's economy, supporting businesses, and fostering job creation.
Key Business Policies
Payroll Tax Inquiry: Continue to advocate for an inquiry into payroll tax, widely recognised as a barrier to job creation. Payroll tax is a tax on jobs, and reform is essential to encourage employment and business growth. Seeing the state's healthcare prices surge in the wake of zero changes made to the payroll text threshold in the most recent State Budget has only reaffirmed SA-BEST's position that the tax is in urgent need of reform.
Regional Businesses: A 50% reduction in payroll tax for regional businesses, recognising their unique challenges and contributions to the state economy.
Healthcare Industry Support: Introduce payroll tax incentives for businesses in the healthcare sector, crucial for meeting the state’s health needs. The state finds itself in a health crisis and as such, the government should be encouraging the hiring of allied health professionals instead of disincentivising employment through a regressive tax.
Regulatory Simplification: Reduce bureaucratic hurdles that increase the cost of running small businesses and impede job creation. Streamlining regulations will make it easier for businesses to thrive.
Small Business Initiatives: Promote policies that support the growth and sustainability of small businesses, recognising their role in the state’s economy.
A Strong University Sector: A strong university sector is crucial for the success of small businesses. SA-BEST supported the merger of two of the state's universities after a thorough investigation by the Select Committee.
First Homebuyers Grants: Continue to support schemes that benefit both homebuyers and the building industry. Addressing housing affordability is essential, with measures to make housing more accessible.
Construction Industry Support: Advocate for financial supports that ensure the construction industry thrives, contributing to overall economic growth.
Innovative Industries: Support the establishment and growth of new, innovative manufacturing industries, such as electric vehicle and component manufacturing.
Local Production: Champion policies that encourage local manufacturing and buying local, aiming to rebuild South Australia's manufacturing capacity.
Opposition to Deregulation: SA-BEST firmly opposes any move towards deregulating shop trading hours, recognising the detrimental impact it would have on local businesses and communities. Deregulation would only serve to benefit large supermarket chains like Coles, Woolworths, and Aldi, while jeopardising the survival of smaller independent retailers.
Support for Independent Retailers: Stand in solidarity with South Australia’s small independent retailers, who play a vital role in our communities. SA-BEST believes it is essential to support and protect these businesses, which contribute significantly to our local economy and cultural fabric.
Reforms Supporting Workers and Consumers: SA-BEST supported government reforms following the 2022 state election, enabling two additional trading hours on Sundays. These reforms strike a balance between competition and workers' wellbeing, allowing consumers greater flexibility while ensuring retails workers have adequate rest periods.
