17-April-2009
Goldstein Media Releases, Workplace Relations, Community
Times are definitely tough for small businesses. As the Bayside Leader reported on 24 March 2009, “Plummeting retail sales, empty shops and sackings are evidence the global financial crisis is biting Bayside business.” Given this, the Coalition has launched a six point small business action plan, designed to boost small businesses in Bayside.
Making matters worse for Bayside’s small businesses, in the midst of this global financial crisis, is the Rudd Labor Government’s poor economic management and reluctance to develop an economic plan for local small businesses.
“Small businesses are the engine room of our economy. Here in Goldstein alone we have roughly 5,000 small businesses, all of which are crucial to job creation in Australia.
“In this difficult economic time it is therefore essential to support these small businesses and provide them with means by which they can lead the way towards economic recovery.
“You talk to any small business in Bayside and they will tell you cash flow is the life blood of their business. The Rudd Government has failed to take measures to address this critically important area,” Andrew Robb, Federal Member for Goldstein, said.
Unfortunately, all Mr Rudd has provided is alarmist rhetoric about “economic cyclones” and predictions the future for Australia will be “tough, ugly and hard”.
The Rudd Government is investing less in small businesses now than it was before the global financial crisis. In addition to this, Mr Rudd’s new industrial relations laws will allow unions to march into workplaces, no matter how small, inspect and copy the records of employees without their consent.
The Coalition is reaching out to small businesses through a six point business action plan which, among other initiatives, is designed to ease the cash flow problems for struggling small businesses during this difficult economic time.
The plan includes:
1. A two year window for businesses to offset the tax value of any operating losses they suffer in 2009 or 2010 years against taxes they paid over the past three years, up to $100,000. This will boost small business cash flow.
2. The Commonwealth partially covering the Superannuation Guarantee Contribution for two years by contributing 3% in the first year and 1.5% in the second year, for businesses with 20 or fewer staff. This will make it easier to keep employees on the payroll.
3. Cutting red tape, time spent filling in forms and filing taxes by reducing Australia’s overall regulatory burden to match and surpass OECD best practice.
4. Providing a one-stop-shop regulatory portal offering online access to all forms, regardless of which level of government imposes them.
5. More support for family businesses through the development of a new program that will provide advice on succession planning and family professionalism.
6. Cabinet-level representation for small firms, ensuring they have a seat at the table in Canberra that matches their importance to the national economy.
“The Rudd Government has done nothing to relieve Australia’s small businesses of tax burden, regulation, and red tape.
“We should all be working together to focus on maintaining and creating jobs,” Mr Robb said.
Media contact: Skye Buttenshaw, 9557 4644