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TAX WHACK ON SUCCESS, COSTS KEEP A LID ON GROWTH HOPES

Seven in 10 WA businesses are struggling to find workers for specific skills as they battle what the State’s leading business group has described as a “tax on success”. Rising operating costs are being fuelled by what the chamber calls the State’s excessive payroll tax burden – hitting small and family businesses hardest. “We know that WA pays the highest payroll tax in the country, despite the fact that our State’s finances are the best in the nation,” CCIWA chief economist Aaron Morey, said.

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Farmers Wary of IR Bill

A nationwide overhaul of industrial relations laws has passed through the House of Representatives, angering farmers who had urged Federal Labor to take the “catastrophic” legislation back to the drawing board.

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Businesses warn of extra costs & less casual work if more changes to IR Bill

CCIWA chief executive Chris Rodwell said the biggest losers would be casuals themselves. “Christmas is a great time of year for casual workers, many of whom are university students or working parents because they can take on more hours,” Mr Rodwell said. Employers will see casuals as a liability, knowing they could be forced to convert them to permanent after just six months if they have a regular pattern of work, regardless of any legitimate business reasons they may have to keep the worker as a casual.

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IR Battle could end Labour

The Government is already ending the year on an absolute shocker with the complete farce over the concerning list of people released from immigration detention. And now it has pushed ahead with controversial industrial relations laws and Tania Constable, the head of the Minerals Council of Australia, says the Government has started a “war” with the booming industry.

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THIS ‘WIN’ FOR GOVERNMENT MAY TURN OUT TO BE A LOSER

There were many “merry Christmases” bandied around during Thursday’s debate on industrial relations. Some of them were genuine. Others, like those from Michaelia Cash talking of employers hit by the changes, dripped with sarcasm. The Government’s surprise end-of-year deal to pass a chunk of the changes — crucially, including a crackdown on labour hire — has infuriated businesses which were sure they had crossbenchers in their corner. It gives Labor a win to end the year after a dismal few weeks. But at what cost?

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AUSTRALIANS WILL PAY DEARLY

Big business and miners have lashed out at crossbenchers and the Federal Government for a “sneaky” deal that has led to the surprise passage of changes in industrial relations, saying it amounts to a “toxic attack” on the resources sector. They have pledged to continue campaigning against the changes — and the Government.

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Projects regulated to death

As the minister overseeing the process, he has been unable to effect any real change in seven years, so there’s little confidence that change will happen quickly. According to the CCIWA, there are about $381 billion of investment projects in the pipeline that are yet to receive environmental approval that could create an estimated 106,000 jobs. Of those the CCIWA surveyed, 40 per cent were at risk of abandoning their project due to longer-than expected approval times. As outlined in the WA CCI’s Green Web report, businesses have described working with the State Environmental Protection Authority as “laborious and frustrating” with “ever-changing guidelines and shifting goal posts”. Currently, the normal expectation for a mine to come online is eight to 10 years, double traditional expectations of four to five years.

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Cornering a different market?

Mining billionaire Gina Rinehart has taken a majority stake in the Bunbury Farmers Market, heralding a new era for the South West business. The West Australian can reveal that Hancock Prospecting, Mrs Rinehart’s key investment vehicle, has reached a deal with the market’s current owners — Kevin Opferkuch and Graham Heath — but the exact terms were not disclosed. In a statement, Hancock said the investment would help to accelerate plans to grow the much-loved market, including the development of the recently announced Vasse Village Bunbury Farmers Market, which is set to open in late 2024. “Additional future sites, including Perth locations, will also allow new customers to enjoy the unique BFM experience,” Hancock said.

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Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting out to market with Bunbury Farmers Market purchase, eyes Perth expansion

Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting out to market with Bunbury Farmers Market purchase, eye Mining billionaire Gina Rinehart has taken a majority stake in the Bunbury Farmers Market, heralding a new era of big growth plans for the iconic South West business. The West Australian can reveal Hancock Prospecting, which is Mrs Rinehart’s key investment vehicle, has reached a deal with the market’s current owners — Kevin Opferkuch and Graham Heath — but the exact terms were not undisclosed.

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