A Matt Guy Liberals and Nationals Government will always put Victorians and Victorian businesses first.
That’s why, for example, we have committed to legislating that 100 per cent of all new natural gas extracted in Victoria be quarantined for Victorians, to keep energy affordable and reliable for households and small business.
Today, we can announce that if elected we will establish a Love Victorian Made campaign to emphasise the importance of supporting our local growers, manufacturers and businesses;
Love Victorian Made will include:
- A media campaign showcasing the best of Victorian goods from agricultural produce to biomedical products and everything in between.
- A new Victorian Made specific logo and branding to enhance and differentiate Victorian products in the marketplace; and
- A Buy Victorian Rebate Program to incentivise Victorian businesses buying from other Victorian businesses.
In addition to Love Victorian Made, we will boost Victorian businesses with:
- Victorian Made, Victorian Proud: We will reform Victoria’s laws to strengthen local content requirements and procurement obligations on all government-funded infrastructure projects to ensure Victorian locally made and produced content is give absolute priority.
- Buying Victorian to Support Victorians: Introduce a whole of Government Buy Victorian Procurement Policy, to ensure government departments, statutory agencies and corporations prioritise and lead by example in purchasing of Victorian made products and services.
- Supporting Victorian Micro-Manufacturers: Support micro and small manufacturers with advice, networking and grant opportunities to develop, grow and commercialise their grassroots manufacturing operations, access new markets and enhance their online presence. Grants will be $1 for $1, and range from $5,000 up to $50,000.
These four business-boosting investments will be funded from the already announced $2.5 billion Rebuilding Jobs and Bringing Manufacturing Home program.
To give small business owners the confidence to invest and grow, a Matt Guy Liberals and Nationals Government will also support Victorian small businesses through:
- Establishing a new Small Business Victoria statutory authority to drive the promotion, growth and development of small businesses in Victoria, alongside a Small Business Ministerial Advisory Group.
- A $25 million Small Business Investment Fund that will provide support for innovative small and medium sized businesses to grow their business and employ more Victorians, partnering with established businesses with proven products and services that will accelerate growth across the Victorian economy.
- A $20 million Rapid Skills Program focused on enhancing the skills and capability of the Victorian workforce, with employers eligible to receive $3,000 for each new person hired, trained and retained for at least six months.
- An additional $30 million will be provided for more traineeships, pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships to grow skills development opportunities for young men and women. Employers will again receive $3,000 incentives for each person hired and retained.
Leader of the Liberal Party, Matt Guy, said the plan delivered real solutions to return confidence to Victoria’s economy.
“Victorian products are some of the world’s best and to grow for the future, we must back local businesses competing on the world’s stage,” Mr Guy said.
“By backing local producers and helping to sell their products interstate and internationally, our plan will drive a new wave of economic opportunities throughout our state.”
Shadow Minister for Jobs and Employment, David Southwick, said the Liberals and Nationals would provide real incentives to grow the workforce.
“We need to do all we can to support Victorian businesses after years of restrictions which forced owners to worry about surviving rather than growing,” Mr Southwick said.
“This is a real solution to support small and medium businesses as the engine room of the Victorian economy once again.”
Shadow Minister for Manufacturing, Bridget Vallence, said only a Matt Guy Liberals and Nationals Government would champion manufacturing.
“Victoria was once the manufacturing heart of Australia, and we are determined to make our great state exactly that once again with our $2.5 billion Rebuilding Victorian Manufacturing Package,” Ms Vallence said.
“We will bring manufacturing home, skill our workforce, create manufacturing jobs of the future, strengthen our economy and help Victorians to recover and rebuild.”
