a majority liberal government will:
- Double the Building Projects Support Program with an additional $10 million to get stalled projects off the ground.
- Provide an additional $5 million to lower headworks costs for new subdivisions on top of the $10 million committed by the Liberal Government*.
- Release a refreshed Small Business Growth Strategy 2022-2026 to build on our 39,000-strong small businesses.
- Boost Business Tasmania resources so it can deliver information and support to more small businesses more quickly – as the first point of contact when small businesses need help.
- Establish a new $2 million Small Business Incubator and Accelerator Pilot Program, with services to be delivered by the private sector, to encourage entrepreneurs to establish and grow their small business ventures.
- Provide up to $75,000 per annum to support continuation of the No Interest Micro Business Loan Program run by NILS – the No Interest Loans Scheme.
- Deliver a $1.2 million Small Business Financial Counselling and Advice Support Program, with the delivery model determined in consultation with the Tasmanian Small Business Council and regional chambers of commerce.
- Extend our Small Business Mental Health Support Package to continue to support small business owners to manage their mental health and well-being.
- Provide $300 000 over three years for Regional Chambers of Commerce to support their small business members and promote collaboration and business development in their regions.
- Provide $50,000 per annum over three years to the Tasmanian Small Business Council to support its members through advocacy.
- Support small business to access the skilled workforce it needs by investing $98.5 million into TasTAFE over the next four years and investing $13.8 million through our Jobs Tasmania - Local Jobs for Local People initiatives*.
Tasmania’s 39,000 small businesses employ over 100,000 people, with about 60 per cent being sole traders.
The Tasmanian Liberals are committed to back our Tasmanian small businesses by supporting business resilience, confidence and growth.
We know this will stimulate jobs so at the same time we are also investing in ensuring people have the skills they need for jobs available.
We will also help connect Tasmanians to available jobs through our Local Jobs for Local People policy, with new Jobs Hubs around Tasmania.
Double the Building Projects Support Program with an additional $10 million to get stalled projects off the ground
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will provide another $10 million in grant funding to get even more projects out of the ground.
This program will mirror the first round, currently open, that will bring forward even more shovel-ready projects that help to further stimulate Tasmania’s construction sector and generate additional local jobs.
Round two will open early in the term of a re-elected Majority Liberal Government and will complement the current first round process, due to close on 14 May 2021.
Like the first Round, funding will meet up to 25 per cent of the construction cost of community and commercial projects with a minimum construction of $2 million.
A maximum grant of $1 million will be available per applicant, however applicants outside these parameters may be eligible on a case-by-case basis and considered within the merit-based assessment process.
All projects will need to be shovel-ready and commence within six months of receiving funding approval, demonstrate community benefit and broad economic and social benefit to Tasmania.
Provide an additional $5 million to lower headworks costs for new subdivisions on top of the $10 million committed by the Liberal Government
The Liberal Government committed $10 million to activate residential zoned land, not currently being developed through a ‘Headworks Holiday’ for new residential subdivisions.
This includes up to $5,000 per residential lot for power and up to $5,000 per residential lot delivered for water and sewerage infrastructure.
To ensure further land activation, a re-elected Majority Liberal Government will commit a further $5 million* to open up development of privately-owned vacant residential zoned land across Tasmania.
Release a refreshed Small Business Growth Strategy 2022-2026 to build on our 39,000 small businesses
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will release a refreshed Small Business Growth Strategy 2022-2026, in conjunction with the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Tasmanian Small Business Council.
Following the disruption of COVID-19, and taking into consideration recommendations of the PESRAC report, the refreshed Strategy will ensure all priorities and actions remain relevant.
The new Strategy will be developed and released by the end of 2021.
Boost Business Tasmania resources so it can deliver information and support to more small businesses more quickly
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will boost Business Tasmania resourcing, to better support small businesses more quickly.
We want Business Tasmania to be a first point of contact when small business people need help to resolve problems, when businesses are first established, or when they want to expand.
As part of this initiative, Business Tasmania will work closely with the Red Tape Reduction Coordinator and Small Business Advocate, as well as the Tasmanian Small Business Council, to design and deliver support for small businesses to help small businesses to access and understand essential regulatory information.
We will provide $800,000 over four years for better, faster small business advice.
Establish a new $2 million Small Business Incubator and Accelerator Pilot Program
Micro and small-business entrepreneurs will play an important role in the Tasmanian economy and will be front and centre as we recover from the COVID‑19 pandemic.
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will support the creation of more businesses, and help ensure the success of existing early stage businesses, with the establishment of a Tasmanian Enterprise Small Business Incubator and Accelerator Pilot Program.
This new program will encourage start-ups as well as help small businesses to grow their ventures by providing them with the specialist advice, support and assistance they need to decrease risk and increase sustainable, viable business development.
The Tasmanian Enterprise – Small Business Incubator and Accelerator Pilot Program will deliver services through private sector expert partners, selected through a competitive process.
It will build on and complement existing Government-funded supports available to new and early stage businesses, such as the Tasmanian Enterprise Centres network and the Digital Ready for Business program.
We will provide $2 million over three years for this pilot program and will commence a request for proposal process by December this year to find partners for this initiative.
Provide up to $75,000 per annum to support continuation of the No Interest Micro Business Loan Program run by NILS
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will support Tasmania’s microbusiness sector by providing ongoing support to NILS Tasmania.
This includes up to $50,000 per annum over four years for the NILS no interest Micro Business Loan Program, and $25,000 per annum for four years to support additional staffing for this valuable service.
This will support NILS to increase loan output from 90 loans per year to 140 per year supporting more Tasmanians, who are on Government benefits, to access a $3,000 no interest loan to start up or expand their own small business.
Surveys of previous recipients indicate that many business owners supported by NILS Micro Business loans are able to achieve financial independence, moving off benefits and relying solely on the business income they generate, and over 30 per cent employ others in their business.
Deliver a $1.2 million Small Business Financial Counselling and Professional Advice Support Program
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will provide an additional $200 000 for small businesses to access professional business advice from the private sector.
This will take our $1 million COVID-19 Small Business Financial Counselling and Professional Advice Support Program to a $1.2 million program over four years, with the delivery model to be determined in consultation with the Tasmanian Small Business Council and regional chambers of commerce.
Extend our Small Business Mental Health Support Package to continue to support small business owners to manage their mental health and well-being
We know that many business operators continue to experience stress as they deal with uncertainty relating to the impacts of COVID.
We will extend our Small Business Mental Health Support Package by providing an additional $400 000 over two years to a Tasmanian Lifeline for it to continue providing free mental health first aid training and provide outreach services to small businesses all around Tasmania.
We know regionally dispersed businesses such as tourism and hospitality businesses have been particularly hard hit because of the additional impact of their relative isolation.A state-wide outreach service will ensure all Tasmanian small businesses can access face to face support if they need it.
Provide $300,000 over three years for Regional Chambers of Commerce
We will provide $300 000 over three years for Regional Chambers of Commerce to support their small business members and promote business collaboration and development in their regions, contributing to strong and diverse local economies.
We will work with the Department of State Growth and the regional chambers to target this resource to best benefit small businesses around Tasmania.
Provide $50,000 per annum over three years to the Tasmanian Small Business Council to support its members through advocacy
The Liberals acknowledge the Tasmanian Small Business Council as the peak body for small business in Tasmania, and a re-elected Majority Liberal Government will provide $50,000 per annum for the Council to support its members through its advocacy.
Support small business to access the skilled workforce it needs
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will invest $98.5 million into TasTAFE over the next four years, as well as invest $13.8 million through our Jobs Tasmania - Local Jobs for Local People initiatives.
This will help our small businesses connect with employees who are job-ready and will deliver greater choice and opportunities for learning for job-seekers, including training in our regions and more flexible hours aligned to business and industry vocational needs.
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will also:
- Establish a Jobs Tasmania Unit in the Department of State Growth.
- Ensure local workforce capability can be matched to local jobs.
- Invest $8 million into our hospitality sector.
- Extend the Digital Ready for Business program.
- Extend the Enterprize Innovation hubs in Hobart and Launceston.
- Deliver additional Enterprize hub for the North-West.
- Extend the successful Project Springboard pilot.
- Invest millions into rebuilding sport, community and recreational infrastructure around the State, providing a pipeline of work for small businesses.
- Set up a Job Ready Fund for jobseekers to get the tools they need to start work.
- Provide the Tasmanian Employment Bonus for employers to take on a long-term job seeker.
- Invest $8m to create a High Vis army to boost capacity and skills.
- Land tax relief for nearly 70,000 land tax payers.
- $100 million local content secured in TT-Line agreement.
- $31 million for events support and attraction
- Additional $315 million in social and affordable housing, with significant positive flow-on to small business in building and retail sectors.
- $100m investment into school upgrades and maintenance.
- $10m solar for sports clubs and $5m solar for schools.
- $5m for trade advancement.
Work underway right now
- Implementing the Business Growth Strategy 2019-2023.
- Red Tape Reduction Coordinator and Small Business Advocate, reducing regulatory burden and supporting small business.
- Small Business Support Program for COVID-19 recovery projects.
- Business Tasmania advice to thousands of Tasmanian small businesses.
- $800,000 per annum to Enterprise Centres Tasmania – including extra $300,000 in 2020-21 in COVID support package.
- $200,000 Small Business Regional Referral Support Program
- $1 million towards free mental health support.
- $60 million Business Growth Loan Scheme.
- $10 million Building Projects Support Program – round one.
- $2.5 million for a Small Business Grants for Apprentices and Trainees Program.
- $22 million to extend the payroll tax rebate for trainees, apprentices, and youth employees, including extending the Targeted Apprentice and Trainee Grant for Small Businesses.
- A Tasmanian Travel Agent Support Package.
Our record in Government:
- $1 billion economic and social support during COVID-19, including:
- More than $80 million in direct financial assistance to business.
- Targeted support for mental health and wellbeing for business.
- $100 000 to the TICT to deliver a targeted program of initiatives to support mental health and well-being in the tourism sector.
- Interim Trade Action Plan to support Tasmanian business.
- $5 billion infrastructure pipeline.
- New competitive payroll tax regime.
- Supporting Enterprise Centres Tasmania.
- Winning Government Business program.
- Buy Local policy strengthened.
- Digital Ready for Business program.
Labor-Green Government:
Under the last Labor-Green Government between 2010 and 2014:
- Small businesses closed, never to re-open.
- The unemployment rate reached 8.6 per cent.
- 10,400 jobs were lost between February 2011 and October 2013.
- Youth unemployment reached a high of 20.6% in December 2013.
Costings:
The cost of this policy is $20 million over four years.
*Costed in another policy.