A taxing question: how to match services and revenue

By MARK BOWLES

TCCI Chief Economist

DEATH and taxes. Said to be the only certainties in life but is raising taxes the answer to the ever-increasing cost of government services?

The Greens leader Nick McKim was correct when he told a recent rally that you cannot divorce the discussion about community expectations for government services from the one about revenue raising.

Mark Bowles - TCCI Chief Economist

Premium fresh philosophy wins export accolade

FORTH agricultural producer Premium Fresh Tasmania won this year’s Tasmanian Government regional exporter of the year award for outstanding export achievement by a business whose head office is based in a non-metropolitan location.

From left, Premium Fresh Tasmania owners – brothers Rick, Jim and Mike Ertler

Asbestos safety a priority for Tasmanian business

WHILE asbestos in the workplace can be a highly emotive issue, if there is no budget for its removal, its presence can be managed safely.

Tasmanian asbestos expert Caroline Langley, of Injury Prevention & Management (IPM), said while asbestos was highly toxic and caused a range of often deadly lung diseases, including mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer, there was very little risk if asbestos-containing materials remained in the building undisturbed.

The IPM asbestos team – from left, Richard Jackson, Matt Gmelig, Caroline Langley and John Snooks.

Inquiry on Fair Work Laws urged

TASMANIA’S peak employer body the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) has backed calls for an independent inquiry into Australia’s Fair Work laws, particularly as they impact on the State’s small business sector.

The problem with minority government

By ROBERT WALLACE

TCCI Chief Executive

THE late leader of the Australian Democrats Don Chipp famously said that minor parties were needed to “keep the bastards honest”. However, in the current parliaments, state and federal, the minor parties are NOT working to ensure the government keeps its promises. In fact, they’re doing exactly the reverse.

A couple of recent examples demonstrate very clearly that minority governments are not working well, either for Tasmania or the nation.

Electrical firm has energy aplenty

TCCI member Urban Energy Electrical Contractors boasts a friendly and efficient team at reasonable prices focused on customer service, quality and safety.

Managing director Bruno Lei said the company had a fleet of vans that operated from Bellerive, lead by directors with more than 20 years experience in the industry between them.

The Urban Energy team is ready to help business with its electrical needs.

Cost-of-living strategy gets TCCI support

PEAK employer group, the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) has welcomed the Costs of Living Strategy provided by the independent Social Inclusion Commissioner.

In releasing the strategy Premier Lara Giddings said it would help all levels of government and the community sector to better understand the pressures facing Tasmanian households.

Statistics show the real value of twitter

By CRAIG HARDING*

TWITTER is one of the fastest growing social marketing mediums and it can play a valuable role in your marketing and communication mix.  But it is important to put its value into perspective.

Twitter has grown exponentially over the past five years. In 2006, it was just an idea with three people working on it. Fast forward to today and it has more than 200 million users and the platform could be worth as much $10 billion. Both Google and Facebook are rumoured to be keen to acquire Twitter to access its vast audience and are looking at a price tag of between $8 billion and $10 billion.

Business must become active in local government elections

By TROY HARPER*

As Chairman of the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and through my own activities, I regularly speak to businesses throughout the State, both large and small, and it usually takes very little time to get to the subject of politics.

Business is despairing at the condition of both state and local government, the embarrassing number of councils and their cost, the quality of our political representatives and the absolute lack of effective vision for any future growth and development in Tasmania.

Salmon industry growth leads to fish feed factory expansion

THE planned expansion of the salmonid industry in Tasmania and New Zealand was the catalyst for a $36-million redevelopment at Skretting’s fish feed plant on Hobart’s Eastern Shore.

Officially unveiled by Premier Lara Giddings and Skretting’s Norway-based chief operating officer, Knut Nesse, the installation of a second production line and the upgrading of the existing production line will double the Cambridge plant’s capacity to 140,000 tonnes of fish feed per annum.

The Skretting team