FIX THE UNFAIR PAYROLL TAX ON TOOWOOMBA BUSINESSES
20 February 2025 | Media Release
Queenslanders depend heavily on small businesses to meet their personal and
family’s day to day needs. Queensland has over 420,000 small businesses which contribute in the order of 116 billion to the state economy each year, employing more than 40% of Queensland’s workforce.
During the state election campaign, the Toowoomba Chamber advocated for a range of matters for the Toowoomba business community. Specifically, this included the application of the payroll tax discount to all the Toowoomba Local Government area.
In Queensland, there is a discount from the regular payroll tax rate for “regional” employers. Under the current State Government arrangements “Regional Queensland” is defined as the following areas Cairns, Central Queensland, Darling Downs Maranoa, Mackay – Isaac – Whitsunday, Queensland – Outback, Townsville, and Wide Bay. The legislation excludes Toowoomba.
Chief Executive Officer Todd Rohl, said “Toowoomba faces the same challenges as other regional employers when doing business, including attracting staff, increased energy costs and reduced internet connectivity.
“In a survey of 1000 Queensland residents, conducted by leading national firm
McCrindle, more than half hold the view that Toowoomba is part of regional
Queensland.
“Our research indicates that fixing this unfair tax burden would create a $33 million benefit to Toowoomba businesses and ultimately its ratepayers.
“The Toowoomba Chamber calls on all local elected officials to publicly back this change and create a consistent and equitable approach to tax in regional Queensland which will enable local Toowoomba businesses to grow and thrive.
“Once again, we publicly call on the Queensland Government to rapidly fix this anomaly in the legislation, as part of the current budget deliberations and provide a WIN for Toowoomba small businesses’, Todd expressed.
