Business groups have welcomed the Marshall Government’s first State Budget giving cost cuts and infrastructure spending the tick

BUSINESS groups have welcomed the State Liberal Government’s first Budget and say it provides welcome infrastructure spending, cost relief for small business and no “nasty surprises”.

BUSINESS groups have welcomed the State Liberal Government’s first Budget and say it provides welcome infrastructure spending, cost relief for small business and no “nasty surprises”.

Business SA chief executive Nigel McBride said cuts to payroll and land tax and the emergency services levy would reduce costs while the infrastructure program, including spending on regional road projects, was positive.

“We welcome genuine cost relief for small employers who are the backbone of so many of our communities and responsible for employing tens of thousands of South Australians,” Mr McBride said.

“A combination of payroll tax relief, land tax reform and lower emergency services levies will help South Australian small businesses create that extra job and find room for a new apprentice or trainee.”

SA Property Council executive director Daniel Gannon said the Government had adopted several of its key policy ideas.

“The message coming out of this Budget is very clear – it’s about positive new infrastructure spending without punitive new taxes,” said Mr Gannon.

“This is a blueprint that will put hard hats and steel caps on workers now and into the future with a massive $11.3 billion in infrastructure spending.

“If you’re a chippie, sparky, plumber, landscaper, architect, engineer or conveyancer, the infrastructure investment made through this Budget is welcome news.’’

Master Builders Association chief executive Ian Markos said it was “generally a financially responsible, pro-business Budget that focuses on delivering election commitments’’. Civil Contractors Federation chief Phil Sutherland said the Budget gets the “tick of approval’’.

The South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy expressed disappointment that funding for grant programs under the PACE Minerals scheme which supported high-risk exploration and a subsequent round of PACE Gas had been overlooked in the 2018-19 State Budget.