Startups can be forgiven for feeling abandoned by the Turnbull Government.

Budget 2017 holds very few - if any - new measures to advance the growth of job generating startups in this country.

What a phenomenal retreat from where we have recently been.

Last year, the Prime Minister told us it was exciting time to be alive (and agile) - less than 12 months later hes deftly taken a big step away from the startup sector.

As the peak body StartupAus observed:

Startups and entrepreneurs, once seen as the heart of the Ideas Boom and the governments economic agenda, were not mentioned in the Treasurers speech at all.

Alex McCauley, StartupAus CEO

9 May 2017

Any measures that have been announced in this Budget, like the boost to rural and regional incubator funding, are welcomed: because Labor advocated these initiatives for some time.

While the Turnbull Government was spending millions on its Ideas Boom ad campaign, Labor was prepared to invest in preparing our regions for technological change and the jobs of the future.

In some cases their initiatives are a guilt driven response by the Turnbull Government to clean up the harsh impact of other Government policy failures.

Its no coincidence that $10 million will be spent in setting up Innovation Labs in South Australia and Victoria - the same states that have seen the collapse of auto manufacturing sector due to the Turnbull Government.

Given the waves of technological change and automation approaching the nation, we need better than cheap rhetoric from the Turnbull Government.

We need a stronger, more inclusive approach to advancing the innovation agenda in this country to ensure we look after people affected by change and prepare the next generation of Australians for the jobs of the future.

WEDNESDAY, 10 MAY 2017