THE State Government must review Tasmania’s water and sewerage authorities to ensure that taxpayers are not paying excessive charges to build a bureaucracy as well as a service arm that is competing unfairly with the private sector.
The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) says while it generally supports the water and sewerage reforms introduced by the Government, it believes the pandering to parochial interests that saw the establishment of three regional authorities and an overarching ‘head office’ is costly and not an efficient model.
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MORE than 150 Hobart business owners took advantage of complimentary tickets to a recent hard-hitting ‘Edge’ event at Hobart Function Centre
The Edge was co-hosted by business development experts, 10X Tasmania, and Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in a bid to help even more business owners take control and transform their businesses and lives. 10x Hobart is a locally owned business that provides the next generation of ‘Business Coaching Solutions’ to business owners and managers throughout Hobart.
The aim was to help business owners tackle these issues head on and the big-picture goals of growth and increased profits, which many attendees have said they are not committed to doing - 10X's Dean Demeyer.
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AFTER more than 25 years volunteering as a business mentor in Tasmania, Geoff Fader is ‘retiring’.
Through Business Mentor Services Tasmania, he said he had mentored many small business people since the organisation’s inception in the early 1980s.
Graham Marshall, general manager of O Group company Business & Employment that operates Business Mentor Services. estimated that the economic value of Mr Fader’s contribution over 25 years would be well in excess of $1 million.
Business & Employment general manager Graham Marshall, left, with Geoff Fader and Andrew Windle, of Business Mentor Services.
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KPMG in conjunction with Senator Guy Barnett, conducted its annual Federal Budget briefing at a breakfast held at the Country Club Resort in Launceston only hours after it was handed down by Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan.
Some of the students who attended the budget summary session hosted by KPMG following the handing down of the Federal Budget.
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THERE were no wins for Tasmanian infrastructure in May’s Federal Budget, but the $390 million upward revision of Tasmania’s GST receipts should be used to repair the State Budget bottom line.
The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) says the Budget projects an optimistic yet realistic view of the growth prospects of the Australian economy and wisely commences the process of bringing the Commonwealth budget into repair after 18 months of substantial stimulus spending.
TCCI chief executive Robert Wallace said the earlier than expected return to a surplus position in 2012-13 was welcomed and this was essential to ensure higher debt and deficits did not place pressure on interest rates.
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TREASURER Michael Aird’s forthcoming State Budget must honour one key election commitment made by Premier David Bartlett and his Labor Party.
That is to be fiscally responsible and bring the Budget back into surplus as soon as possible.
The Tasmanian economy and Tasmanian people demand this. The Government’s fiscal strategy must be built around responsible expenditure directed towards infrastructure rather than building public service numbers, and taxation reform that enables business to prosper and provide new employment for Tasmanians.
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By TCCI Chief Executive Robert Wallace
Robert Wallace
TASMANIA’S new power-sharing Cabinet will need to cooperate on economic policy or risk scaring off investors.
The State’s economy is at a crossroads, with some sectors improving but others declining at a worrying rate. The TCCI’s Survey of Business Expectations shows that while businesses confidence remains relatively stable, there is concern at a decline in exports and a fall in development. More than ever, Tasmania needs political stability to increase confidence, and attract big investors to the state.
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By TCCI Chief Economist Richard Dowling
Richard Dowling
IT has now been more three months since the State Election was called and Tasmania has only had a functioning State Government for the past two weeks or so.
Some friends in business have wryly commented that far from eroding business confidence, they enjoyed the temporary nirvana of limited political interference. The fact that Tasmanian businesses and consumers continued to go about their daily lives in spite of a functional government perhaps indicates that sometimes political junkies and the media overstate the importance of politics on economic and social affairs.
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STRONG leadership is now more relevant than ever for Tasmanian businesses according to the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI).
Speaking following the launch of this year’s TCCI IOOF 2010 Tasmanian Business Leaders Award’s (TBLA), TCCI’s CEO Robert Wallace said that the effect of the protracted formation of government since the State elections in March combined with the aftermath of the worldwide economic downturn, required Tasmanian business leaders who were clearly focused on ensuring the future success of their businesses and who were engaging their workforce by positive example.
Sally Broadhurst, left, Maree Davis and Karyn French all of the Hobart Media Centre at this year's launch of the TCCI IOOF Tasmanian Business Leaders Awards.
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TASMANIA’S peak employer body, the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI), has warned that the 25 basis point interest rate rise, taking the official rate to 4.50 per cent, highlights the two-speed nature of Australian economy.
TCCI chief economist Richard Dowling said that many Tasmanian businesses have not returned to profit growth, while sales revenue and investment remain weak.
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