Trade, Business, Tourism and Investment:
2007-08 Budget initiatives
Enhanced Australian Tourism Development Programme
The Australian Government is enhancing the Australian Tourism Development Programme (ATDP) by allocating an additional $34.9 million until June 2011. The programme is being enhanced to support tourism projects in drought‑affected areas. The ATDP promotes tourism development in regional Australia, contributes to long term economic growth, increases visitor numbers and enhances tourism expenditure in regional areas. The ATDP is a highly competitive merit-based grants programme that aims to assist in the development of a continuous tourism experience across Australia.
Building Entrepreneurship in Small Business Programme
The Australian Government is providing $2.6 million in 2007-08 and a further $11.7 million in 2008-09 to assist small business under the Building Entrepreneurship in Small Business Programme (BESB). Small businesses make an invaluable contribution to Australia. However, many are time poor and find it difficult to quickly access reliable sources of information and advice. The BESB Programme is meeting this need by funding over 70 third party service providers, in its first two rounds, to deliver skills development, mentoring, succession planning, incubator and advisory services to about 10,000 small businesses throughout regional Australia. The other key element of the BESB Programme is the network of about 70 Small Business Field Officers (SBFO) who deliver these vital referral services across Australia. Over 60 of these SBFOs are located in regional Australia and to date have made over 1 million contacts with small businesses in regional Australia.
Global Opportunities
As part of the Industry Statement, the Global Opportunities programme will provide ongoing support of $96 million over the next four years, starting in 2007-08. The programme will provide dedicated resources to help smaller Australian manufacturing and services firms win work in global supply chains and major international projects. The programme will provide practical support such as identifying opportunities in other countries, facilitating trade missions and placing Australian industry experts in international procurement offices to build linkages between global firms and Australian businesses. The programme will provide positive benefits for regional Australia as it targets firms in trade exposed sectors, which may include firms located in regional areas.
Australian Industry Productivity Centres
As part of the Industry Statement, the Australian Government is providing ongoing funding of $170.8 million over the next five years from 2007-08 to establish Australian Industry Productivity Centres. The Centres will provide business improvement services to assist firms to respond strategically to change and to capitalise on its opportunities. The Centres will also provide matching funding of up to $20,000 to firms for Tailored Advisory Services and Technology and Knowledge Solutions.
It is anticipated that the Centres will have a positive impact upon regional areas. The Centres will assist small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in the trade-exposed manufacturing and services sectors, many of which are located in regional areas. Productivity Centres will have a presence in key locations throughout Australia and staff of the centre will travel to regional locations to provide services to SMEs.
Intermediary Access Programme
As part of the Industry Statement, the Australian Government is providing $15 million over the next four years from 2007-08 to extend the Intermediary Access Programme which will help overcome the cultural and resource barriers faced by Australian small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in collaborating with others to acquire and apply new knowledge and technology.
Intermediaries are trusted third parties who work closely with SMEs to assist them to collaborate, identify and use research, access and adapt new technologies, and develop partnerships within Australia and overseas.
The Intermediary Access Programme will deliver intermediary services to metropolitan and regionally-based companies, increasing linkages between companies and research organisations, and between large and small companies. This will lead to improved economic development with increased employment and profits for regional companies and boost the regional Australian economy.
Scottsdale Industry and Community Development Fund
The Scottsdale Industry and Community Development Fund has been allocated $10 million in administered funding of which $6 million relates to a merit-based grants programme. The purpose of the Fund is to provide financial support for a range of development initiatives for the benefit of the Scottsdale community in northern Tasmania, and also to assist with improvements to road access to the planned eco-tourism development at Musselroe Bay. The initiatives will be aimed at creating or retaining long-term sustainable employment opportunities for the Scottsdale community.
Commercial Ready Plus
From 2007-08, the Australian Government is providing an additional $32.1 million over four years to establish a new element of the Commercial Ready Programme – Commercial Ready Plus – that will provide grants of up to $250,000 to innovative businesses. The new element will have a simpler more streamlined application process providing faster access to funding. Commercial Ready, and Commercial Ready Plus have the potential to improve local economies in regional areas, by increasing the commercial viability of innovating small businesses and consequent employment, and private and public investment.