The Allan Labor Government has once again been caught recycling old policies and repackaging them as new ideas, this time in a bid to convince Victorians it has a plan to grow local industry.
In December, the Allan Labor Government released its so-called Economic Growth Statement, promising to deliver a new industry policy in “early 2025.”
More than six months later, that long-awaited policy has finally arrived, but of the 32 initiatives announced, 31 have already been released in either the Growth Statement or the recent State Budget.
The sole “new” measure is a vague commitment to expand industry input into policy development through existing channels.
Worse still, the policy does nothing to ease the nation’s highest tax burden on Victorian businesses or reduce red tape.
After the policy was rehashed this morning, the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions admitted, under questioning at a Public Accounts and Estimates Committee hearing, that no modelling had been done on the economic impact of the initiatives.
The Minister for Industry and Advanced Manufacturing, Colin Brooks, refused to take responsibility for the crippling tax burden on Victorian industry, instead deflecting blame to the Treasurer.
Shadow Minister for Industry and Economic Growth, Jess Wilson, said: “Labor’s so-called Economic Growth Statement has already proven to be a fraud, and this belated industry policy is no different.
“Recycling old ideas and selling existing policies as something new, is an insult to Victorian industry, employers and workers who continue to face the most uncompetitive business conditions in the nation.
“After a decade, this tired Labor government is clearly out of ideas and inspiration to drive industry forward and create economic opportunities for Victorians.
“Labor cannot manage money, cannot manage our industry and Victorians are paying the price.”
