The Budget Speech in Reply by Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman has kept a welcome focus on housing and the need to keep NSW the best place to run a business.

Tackling the housing crisis remains a top priority for business across the state and all positive contributions to this debate are welcome.  

Thursday it was the Opposition’s turn to step up on housing and their positive calls for substantial extra funding and fresh thinking were welcome.

Business NSW CEO Daniel Hunter said the organisation supports Mr Speakman’s proposal to broaden housing supply by encouraging empty nesters downsize through stamp duty concessions.

“Councils that meet ambitious housing targets should be supported with genuine funding,” Mr Hunter said.

“That’s why Business NSW has previously called for a doubling of the size of our CBDs’ permanent populations over the next 10 years, an increase in the supply of lower impact medium density housing and the rezoning of large cities like the Sydney metropolis to permit this type of medium-density housing.

“NSW didn’t become the best state to own and run a business by accident – previous governments worked hard to make NSW number one for business and it’s only with the support of both sides of politics that we can hope to keep it that way.

“The Coalition provided unprecedented support to business through the pandemic and natural disasters and understand the essential role businesses play in our local communities right across every region in NSW.

“Looking to the future – we need to keep NSW the number one state to start, own and run a business. This is the basis for a growing state, with well-paid productive jobs and should be above politics.

“Competing globally, and with the other states, to keep our home-grown entrepreneurial talent in NSW requires access to venture capital, a highly skilled workforce, productivity enhancing infrastructure, a pro-growth planning system and competitive business tax regime.

“Both the government and opposition have made positive contributions to tackling top business issues including the cost of energy and the availability of housing for workers.

“However, the scale of these challenges means all sides need to work across the aisle to achieve the outcomes businesses want to see.”