![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/Pool-in-article-96.png\")
Business and Tourism Anglesea (BATA) president Damian Cerantonio agreed that the Commonwealth Games would be a boost for tourism, describing it as a \u201cmajor announcement\u201d, but worried that skills and labour shortages were not being addressed, nor were housing shortages.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe biggest issue remains workers and staff, it\u2019s the biggest omission from the budget. Unless our businesses are resourced and staffed, there\u2019s almost no point.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether it\u2019s social or affordable housing or just housing in general, it\u2019s an issue across the board.\u201d<\/p>\n
As the state emerges from more than two years of lockdowns, both the chamber and BATA lament that more wasn\u2019t done to reduce burdens on business.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere could have been something in terms of payroll tax reductions, there seems to be no logic why businesses are penalised for hiring staff, we could have seen reforms there,\u201d Mr Cerantonio said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019d always like to see reductions in payroll taxes, and other taxes on business, but that may come down the track,\u201d Mr Flynn added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
COMMERCE and trader groups have welcomed big spending health and tourism items in this month\u2019s State Budget but have observed the region\u2019s infrastructure isn\u2019t keeping up with its booming population. Big-ticket items include a $500 million expansion of Geelong\u2019s women\u2019s and children\u2019s hospital, $2.6 billion to develop infrastructure for the 2026 regional Commonwealth Games and […]<\/p>\n