Wage subsidies and tax breaks expected in Tuesday's federal budget are being welcomed, but some business owners want to see more help for small and emerging entities.
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It's expected Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will announce the government will pay half the wages of new apprentices or trainees, Fringe Benefits Tax will be scrapped for those who pay to retrain or reskill employees who move to a different role, and businesses with a turnover of up to $50 million will be eligible for concessions - up from the previous threshold of $10 million.
Retailer Janine Leghissa has been running Desiderate jewellery for three years but her sales weren't low enough to obtain relief funding throughout the pandemic, and now she feels she's missing out again in the budget.
"Most small businesses go bust within the first year or three," she said. "To be hanging in there with everything that's going on, more help for newer businesses I think would be wonderful."
Ms Leghissa said with help going to well-established organisations it didn't seem "fair" for start-ups like herself.
His Boy Elroy owner Lachlan Stevens was excited for apprentice wage subsidies due to a "shortage of chefs", but would like to see the government be scrupulous as to who reaps the benefits.
"There are a lot of businesses that are being propped up by government incentives throughout [the pandemic] who were already teetering on the edge prior," he said.
Meantime, Lube Markovski who owns Grill'd Wollongong and the Charli & Kate hair salons, has a "whatever is takes" attitude towards the government improving the economy.
"It's all about confidence at the moment," Mr Markovski said. "The focus is about creating jobs and maintaining jobs and that's definitely what we need."
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