The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party have called on The National Party to adopt their payroll tax exemption policy to further alleviate the strain on all regional businesses feeling the effects of drought.
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Tamworth candidate Jeff Bacon and Northern Tablelands candidate Rayne Single have asked for the payroll tax to be exempt on all businesses outside of Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong.
“When the National Party and Liberal Party Government came into power in 2011, they said that New South Wales is open for business,” Mr Bacon said.
“Unfortunately for the bush, what they really meant is ‘Sydney is open for business’. All the benefits have gone to the city at the expense of rural areas.”
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The pair have also called out their National counterparts Kevin Anderson and Adam Marshall, stating that the payroll exemption will also make regional areas more attractive for businesses to start up and increase decentrilisation.
“We want payroll tax to be cut to zero for all rural areas,” Mr Bacon said.
“This will provide a further economic stimulus for the bush, and will alleviate the economic impact of the drought.
“Cutting payroll tax will also encourage businesses to set up shop in rural areas, and give those already in the bush the boost they deserve.”
Mr Single estimates the exemption will cost $120 million annually, and would like to see that taken out of the $4.1 billion that the NSW Government are set to receive after selling the Snowy Hydro scheme to the Federal Government.
That money has been promised to regional NSW, although was not earmarked for a specific purpose in the recent budget.
“Since Kevin Anderson and Adam Marshall have finally discovered the drought, the least they can do is support our policy and deliver this important exemption for the bush," Mr Single said.
Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party MLC Robert Brown called on the National Party to have his party’s payroll tax exemption included in the upcoming state budget.
“Anything less than a payroll tax cut for all rural areas in this year’s budget will be another failure by the National Party to stand up for regional New South Wales,” Mr Brown said.
"Cutting payroll tax for the bush will encourage investment outside of the major coastal cities, boost employment, and ensure that our state is a step closer to being truly decentralised.
“New South Wales is not just Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong.”
Mr Anderson’s office was approached, but declined to comment.
