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More assistance with skills needed, thanks!

Many small and medium-sized businesses are in desperate need of a new management skills program to help them take on overseas competition and engage with global supply chains, says the chief executive of Australian Industry Group (AIG), Heather Ridout.

As pressure mounts on the Federal Government to do more to assist business in an election year, AIG has put forward a detailed list for the May budget which covers water, transport, R&D concessions and a skills program. “I think the skills program has a good chance of getting up,” she says. “There are some programs in Victoria and Queensland, though not much in NSW.