The head of one of the Wimmera's largest registered training organisations says new incentives to address skills shortages in the federal budget will have a positive impact in the Wimmera.
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On Tuesday night, treasurer Josh Frydenburg promised to create 80,000 apprenticeships nationwide in industries with skills shortages by doubling incentive payments to employers to $8,000 per placement and $2000 for apprentices in some occupations.
Skillinvest chief executive Darren Webster said it followed an inquiry which highlighted a number of issues with the training at vocational education sectors.
"Encouraging employers to put on more apprentices is a good outcome. Cost is certainly an obstacle to hiring, especially in those first years of training," he said.
"For apprentices on a low wage, any incentive is attractive to them. We have Wimmera apprentices that will be covered by that including carpenters, hairdressers, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics, bricklayers, tilers and bakers."
Mr Webster also welcomed the proposed review of the VET sector that would streamline some areas. "In regional areas, the shortages are in the auto and heavy machinery industries, but also construction," he said.
The federal government is committing an extra $55 million towards the project.
Business Horsham has also welcomed several measures included in the 2019 budget.
Executive administrator Sarah Kelm said members had been hoping to see incentives for employers to employ young Australians and commitment to tax cuts for low and middle income earners among other measures.
Mr Frydenburg committed to increasing tax cuts from $530 to $1080 for individual pay packets, rising to $2100 for dual-income families.
The cuts will come in the form of a payment to low and middle-income earners after they lodge this year's tax returns.
The treasurer also announced the instant asset write-off would be increased from $25,000 up to $30,000 and expanded to businesses with turnover of up to $50 million. It currently applies only to businesses with turnover of up to $10 million.
Wimmera Development Association acting executive officer Mark Fletcher said with farming incomes set to drop this year, and the flow on effects this will have for the region's economy, the renewed write-off could encourage the region's managers to make purchases for their businesses they might otherwise have delayed.
Many of the measures announced on budget night will be predicated on the government being re-elected, as after Wednesday there will be no more days of parliament on which both houses sit between now and the election.
A date for the 2019 federal election is yet to be announced, but it will likely be held on a Saturday next month.