More could be done to support small business owners setting up shop in the ACT, says Jacob Robertson, who runs a boutique law firm.
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While not overly critical of the budget's general direction, Mr Robertson questioned whether small business was being neglected in Canberra.
Little things like rates rises and more expensive parking in the city could all hurt the bottom line of fledgling firms and make it harder to compete for talented staff, Mr Robertson said.
Chief Minister and Treasurer Andrew Barr outlined a number of big ticket infrastructure priorities on Tuesday, including a new theatre, stadium and convention centre over the next decade.
"The only businesses to derive any benefit fromt this particular government focus are those in construction and infrastructure," Mr Robertson said.
"Meanwhile, we are having to compete with wages, costs and incentives that a government job will always have as an advantage, which ultimately makes it increasingly difficult to attract and keep staff."
The territory government has set aside $1.8 million for upgrades to the Canberra Theatre this year, and allocated $700,000 to start developing a business case for a new theatre.
It has set aside about $1.3 million to be spent on improving Canberra Stadium this year, and up to $3.7 million over the forward estimates.
On Tuesday the government said it would dump stamp duty for commercial transactions for properties worth under $1.5 million from this July.
The change is expected to affect more than 70 per cent of commercial transactions.
However, this change would be offest by higher rates and land taxation.
Mr Robertson, who is a director of Sharman Robertson Solicitors, acknowledged there was only so much the territory government could do for small business.
However, he said there should be some realisation of the unique difficulties of running a company in the capital, where the public service accounted for 42 per cent of the workforce.
"The employment market in the territory pits the safety and security of the public service against the risk and potential rewards of growing a small business," Mr Robertson said.
"The government is missing the bigger picture, that small business is the engine room of the economy.
"Small businesses are being forgotten."
A survey by marketing company Sensis last year showed small business attitudes towards the territory government had dropped, with payroll tax one of the biggest concerns.
The revenue generated from payroll rax paid by territory business is expected to rise 6 per cent in the coming financial year.
Payroll tax is only paid by business with a wages bill of more than $2 million each year.
