Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Mark Stone will give the keynote speech at the ‘Victoria Summit 2015 – Regional Victoria,’ alongside state Minister for Public Transport and Employment Jacinta Allan and opposition leader Matthew Guy.

And though he is already a man with considerable access to government and shadow ministers, Mr Stone is quick to identify the one proposal he would ideally like to see both parties adopt in the wake of the summit. 

“It’s urgent we retract the two new public holidays adopted last year,” he said.

The only people we can find who think [those public holidays] are a good idea is the government… even employees think it is bizarre idea.” 

VECCI says the Grand Final Eve alone could cost employers across the state $543 million to pay employees not to come to work – with regional Victoria hardest hit.

“You can imagine how many people you could employ with that money,” Mr Stone said.

Mr Stone said another priority among VECCI’s proposals would tackle unemployment –raising the payroll tax threshold from $550,000 to $850,000.

He said it would benefit 40,000 businesses across the state and could see them double their workforce.

“When we surveyed our members they said they consider the cap and try to stay below it by not employing an extra person,” Mr Stone said.

“Also, they said that if it was raised they would look at trying to bring in extra people.”

Among VECCI priorities for the Bendigo area were ensuring the upgrade to the Bendigo airport got over the line, developing the Marong Business Park, completing the East Bendigo Link Road and accelerating the roll out of the NBN, Mr Stone said. 

“Also, we’d like to get much better Wi-Fi access on the Bendigo V/Line,” he said.

“A lot more people are commuting for work from regional areas and students can also use these trains to study.”