Federal Budget 2014:Key facts & tips

insight

The 2014 Federal Budget has been handed down and has been met with mixed reactions of varying degrees of support and criticism with winners and losers across all sectors where businesses will be e�ected directly or indirectly.

The government has stated that this budget is geared towards long term economic recovery based, in part, on the Australian business sector’s ability to diversify, to compete globally, and to generate greater revenue.

The 2014-15 Federal Budget

High income earners

The private sector

OverviewForeign aid

Families Senior Citizens EducationHealthThe Public Sector The unemployed Young People University Students People with Disabilities Low income earners

Indigenous Programs Public broadcasting

The environment

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-13/budget-winners-and-losers/5433178

Defence Medical Research Infrastructure Mining

Any efficiencies found in Defence costs will be reinvested back into Defence.

The Government will receive

originally scheduled for$1.5 billion

Defence

2017-2018

MedicalResearch

Medical Research Future Fund that will grow each year (predicted to hit $1 billion by 2022-23).

$20billion

Not as fortunate, funding for other research organisations including the CSIRO will be reduced by

$146.8millionover 4 years

Infrastructurefor roads funding

15%

2.2 billion

The Federal Government to contribute up to

of the value of State investments in new

infrastructure projects.$11.6billion

in funding for newprojects. Including:

of the Minerals Resource Rent Tax

Mining

No increaseThe abolition

over four years for minerals exploration for small explorers not making any taxable income access in the form of a refundable tax offset for their Australian shareholders.

in the diesel fuel excise for commercial vehicles used in mining and agriculture

$100 million

A temporary increase inthe efficiency dividend by

Public Service

$16,500

70 0.25%

Commonwealth public servants will lose their jobs

federal agencies are set to be closed, with more pending

Merging the back-end operations of major cultural institutions including the National Gallery, the National Archives, the National Portrait Gallery, and the National Library

The potential sale of Defence Housing Australia and the National Mint

Environment

The abolition of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency

$2.5 billion$460 millionover three years

$525million

Emissions Reduction Fund will now be allocated over 10 years, not 4 as previously planned

The Carbon Capture and Storage program will lose

in funding for the Green Army initiative will be offset by a $438 million loss to Landcare

Private Sector

1.5%

cut in the company tax rate

levy on big businesses to pay for its parental leave scheme

A $484.2 millionEntrepreneurs Infrastructure Programme to support the commercialisation of good ideas and provide market and industry information and advice.

Cuts to the Automotive Transformation Scheme that was established to allow the industry to restructure and transition for the

that will be lost when Toyota, Holden and Ford cease manufacturing.

The elimination of eight separate industry assistance bodies and programs that perform a similar function.

1.5%

10,000+ jobs

+

High income earners

over four years as a tax offset for Australian shareholders who fund small mineral explorers.

in the diesel fuel excise for commercial vehicles used in mining and agriculture.

The abolition of the Minerals Resource Rent Tax.

No increase$100 million

Budget time is always a good time to review your infrastructure and practices.

While the 2014 Budget has winners & losers, its a chance to look for the opportunities for your organisation.

So what does it mean for you?

A review of your current IT systems, applications and data is an important step.

• Identify potential redundant systems and duplication.• Use applications, hardware and systems across the organisation rather than by individual departments.• Consider the cost savings of outsourcing to cloud service providers.

1. Review your IT architecture

Commit to doing things in the most environmentally responsible way possible and reduce costs.

• Set your electronic devices such as your printer to optimise power during peak/off peak periods.• Reduce air conditioning settings, minimise artificial lighting and install energy efficient lighting options.• Make turning off computers at the end of the day company policy.

Modern devices are now smart enough to predict patterns of use and optimise to these patterns.

2. Review your eco policy and save

Simple strategies can make a big difference to business operational costs.

• Challenge your staff to find ways to do things differently.• Reducing the paper trail and establishing an electronic workflow will improve efficiencies, minimise risk of human error, and save you money on paper.• Offer incentives for employees who suggest ideas that will help the company save money and improve performance.

3. Work together to streamline processes

Businesses that rely heavily on transport and distribution will incur extra fuel costs over the next few years.

• Invest in fuel efficient vehicles; coordinate deliveries to cut the number of trips needed.• Train your drivers to drive efficiently; ensure all your vehicles are properly maintained.• Plan routes to minimise the distance, taking into account likely road and traffic conditions.

4. Review fleet and fuel usage

“The Federal Budget 2014 focused on the expenditure side of the ledger for the longer term together with two revenue raising measures to substantially reduce the forecasted budget deficits. … In essence, the Government's strategy centres on expenditure savings in the areas of health service contributions, foreign aid, education loan programs, family and other welfare benefits. Coupled with the reintroduction of fuel excise indexation and a personal tax increase, the Budget savings dramatically reduce the forecasted deficits. The Budget also makes room for redirected expenditure priorities in infrastructure and the establishment of a medical research future fund.”

KPMG's Federal Budget Brief 2014

A final word from the experts

Australian Industry GroupChief Executive, Innes Willox

Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia

“… many of the challenges confronting us require long-term solutions. We need to remain competitive globally into the future and this year's federal budget presents an opportunity to rise to that challenge.”

“The Government's proposals to rein in spending growth and to reintroduce fuel tax indexation are difficult measures spread across all sections of the community – including businesses. In the face of the undisputed longer-term pressures on Australia's public finances the measures will put the budget on a more secure foundation and will make the Australian economy more productive and resilient.”

Our Print & Document Management services and systems can free IT teams and businesses from the struggle of managing a large printing infrastructure and re-focus their energies on building their core business.

We can analyse both print environments and document-dependent business processes in order to diagnose cost saving and productivity enhancing opportunities.

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