‘Building things’ is only one part of the budget picture.
Posted by Kevin de Vries | 13/05/2009
The Bendigo Business Council today welcomed Federal budget announcements of infrastructure investment in our region. BBC executive officer Kevin de Vries said "infrastructure spending is only one part of the budget picture. We are looking for ways that the region's businesses and university can participate in innovation, entrepreneurship, renewable energy and research projects."
"Like most of the community we share our delight in the announcements of funding for the La Trobe University Clinical School, funding for BRIT for training facilities in Echuca, the establishment of a nation-wide fast broadband network and spending on roads, rail and ports. This is spending on ‘building things' that the community needs, and on top of spending on schools and home insulation will provide valuable jobs in the construction sector in our region," Mr de Vries said today.
"Mr Swan announced ‘nation building for every corner of Australia' last night and the Bendigo region appears to be well served by these budget announcements. The Government's emphasis on saving jobs and minimising unemployment is important during this global financial crisis."
"We welcome support in the budget for the business community in these difficult times, particularly the extension of the business tax breaks on asset purchases to December 2009 and a new system of tax credits for business research and development expenditure."
Mr de Vries said "the Bendigo Business Council is pleased with announcements that the Government intends to ‘build things', but we would also like to see an emphasis on Australians in regional areas ‘making things', ‘inventing things', ‘designing things' and ‘developing things'."
"We look with promise at announcements in the budget regarding Clean Energy Initiatives, Renewables Australia, Solar Flagships, the Commonwealth Commercialisation Institute, and collaborative research networks for regional universities. This is where opportunities for present and future economic development reside and these are equally important as far as the business community is concerned."
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