Shadow Minister Media Releases
Rees Government Must Support Struggling Small Businesses (30/03/2009)
Shadow Minister for Small Business, Don Page called on the NSW Labor Government to start supporting NSW small businesses.
“Business owners in NSW are desperate to see some strong leadership and positive measures from the Rees Labor Government to get them through the current global economic crisis,” Mr Page said.
“Small business want to see fewer taxes, lower taxes and less red tape to make them competitive with other States.
“New South Wales economic statistics are a testament to the poor job the State Labor Government are doing,” he said.
New South Wales unemployment is the equal highest in the country at 5.8%, more than 22,000 people left NSW last year, 200 people a day are losing their jobs and for the 20th consecutive quarter the State Labor Government have had the lowest level of business support for any State or Territory government in Australia.
“These statistics speak for themselves. The State Labor Government is failing New South Wales under its current economic and business policy,” Mr Page said.
“New South Wales is the highest taxing and most regulated economy in Australian history. And the bad news just keeps coming.
“Small businesses are facing a potential 20% increase to their electricity costs and the State Labor Government can’t pay their bills on time with 75,000 invoices outstanding, averaging $1,749 each,” Mr Page said.
“Small businesses are the backbone of this State’s economy. They provide jobs and keep money in local economies,” he said.
“The Rees Labor Government must take urgent action to reduce business taxes and red tape.”
Small business operators in NSW spend approximately 5 hours a week more complying with red tape than their Queensland counterparts.
“Small business in NSW deserve a Government that will genuinely respond to their concerns and support them with real change. They are not getting this under the State Labor Government,” Mr Page said.
