Peak retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) believes the 2013-14 Tasmanian Budget released today offers little reward for consumers and retailers.
ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said that although today’s State Budget will relieve some pressure off small business costs, there still leaves much to be desired from a retailer’s point of view.
“While today’s State Budget could have been much worse in terms of cuts, the fundamental question has to remain over where the money is coming from in the long term to pay off the budget blow-out.
“In slightly more encouraging news, small business will get a tax-free threshold rise from $1 million to $1.25 million, which is expected to benefit about 2380 small businesses through payroll tax cuts.
“There also appears to be an attempt to stimulate construction with a schools program, but at the cost of the first homebuyers grant for existing homebuyers.
“All in all this could have been a much worse budget. The real problem remains in how the State is living beyond its income and that money will need to be found elsewhere in the near future,” Mr Zimmerman said.
Since 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body representing Australia’s $258 billion retail sector, which employs over 1.2 million people. The ARA ensures retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 5,000 independent and national retail members throughout Australia. Visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.
ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman
