The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has described the federal budget as lacking in vision, a disappointment and a lost opportunity.
ACCI chief executive Peter Anderson said the decision to abandon the company tax cut was dripping with politics and a low blow to the business sector.
“That is a $400 million hit to the Australian business community which is then redistributed to broader society in a way that will not necessarily provide the economic kick and the spreading of the benefits of the mining boom that the government has promised,” he told reporters.
Mr Anderson said the budget was a lost opportunity for the government to suspend the carbon tax.
“The failure to do so is a setback for competitiveness and common sense,” he said.
Mr Anderson said the carbon tax and the loss of company tax reductions overshadowed any budget support for small business.
“All in all, the budget … does not do enough heavy lifting to support the economy, and it’s that private-sector economy that’s going to have to take a heavier load after tonight than what we had expected,” he said.
Australian Industry Group chief Innes Willox told reporters the budget was tough on business.
He said the decision to scrap the corporate tax cut was disappointing.
“This will be a hard blow for business to take,” he said.
But Mr Willox praised the plan in the budget to increase skilled migration.
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