It’s been a busy week for government with the Federal Budget handed down on Tuesday (April 2) delivery not inly the usual fiscal items but expected to form the principal platform for the Coalition’s election campaign.
Small business will particularly welcome tax cuts, higher tax discount rates and the increased limit to the instant asset write off scheme. We welcome the announcement of a budget surplus for the first time in a decade and the massive investment in skills and training.
The budget also touched on many key themes that were telegraphed ahead of time, including housing affordability, pharmacare and seniors’ issues. Whitsunday Coast Chamber will provide more analysis and information on our website – we will keep you posted.
All eyes now turn to Scott Morrison for an election date announcement. Currently, it’s predicted the Federal Election will take place on either May 11or May 18. Which means an election would need to be declared by April 8 or 15th respectively to allow for 33 days of campaigning.
Either way, we will be heading to the polls soon, and the outcome will have far-reaching repercussions for the Whitsundays, so make your vote count. Towards that end, Mackay Chamber of Commerce has organised the 2019 Dawson Debate in Mackay on 11th April. See our website or www.mackayregionchamber.com.au for more details and tickets – chamber members get discounted rates
Closer to home, there is a lot happening with the imminent reopening of Daydream Island and, later in the year, Hayman Island, as well as the much anticipated reopening of the Airlie Beach Hotel and the completion of the Airlie Foreshore redevelopment.
All this is good news for the region as we head into winter, which is a key holiday period for people from NSW and Victoria, and also our main events season.
We have the inaugural Whitsundays Festival of Motoring, and also the Hamilton Island Hilly Half Marathon, in May, the Bowen River Rodeo and the Great Whitehaven Beach Run in June, and the Whitsunday Reef Festival, Airlie Beach Race Week Festival of Sailing and Hamilton Island Race Week, all in August.
Winter is a glorious time in the Whitsundays and events such as these give visitors another reason to visit our wonderful region, so well done to all the organisers and volunteers.
We hope you all have a great fortnight – please email me directly with ideas and suggestions for Whitsunday Coast Chamber – and if you‘re not already a member, please consider joining our growing band of businesses – visit www.whitsundaycoastchamber.com.au/join
The election is looming – your chance to grill the Dawson candidates!