Coalition plan for small businesses

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Created on Monday, 19 November 2012 15:06

Written by Editorial staff

Australian migration agents may be interested to learn that opposition leader Tony Abbott has discussed the future of small and medium-sized businesses under a Coalition government.

Speaking at the Menzies Research Centre's Small Business Forum, he talked about how small and medium-sized businesses are a cog in the machine of the opposition's plan for economic prosperity under his leadership.

Since 2008, the federal government has increased the burden on these companies, said Mr Abbott, as they have introduced nearly 20,000 regulations, repealed only just over 100 and ensured small and medium-sized businesses are worse off as a result.

Mr Abbott has visited almost 200 enterprises across Australia and discussed with them their concerns and fears regarding federal government regulation.

The carbon tax has also caused a great amount of concern for the public due to rising costs, he added.

In an eight point policy, the Coalition plans to bring a new level of prosperity to the small and medium-sized businesses of Australia by:

1.       Removing the carbon tax, which will remove the burden of rising electricity prices from companies that rely on cheap power to run an effective and productive operation.

2.       Embark upon a comprehensive deregulation program that will see $1 billion of red tape cut.

3.       Re-establish the Australian Building and Construction Commission, enabling law and order to be implemented in the national workplace.

4.       Focus on infrastructure through reducing bottlenecks and traffic jams on major motorways and highways.

5.   Simplify the process of superannuation reporting, which would see businesses pay the compulsory employer payments directly to the Australian Tax Office - where it would be distributed to superannuation funds.

6.   Review competition laws to give small businesses a fighting chance against big enterprises.

7.   Support small businesses and independent contractors by broadening unfair contract protections.

8.   Transferring the burden of paperwork for the national paid parental leave scheme from small businesses to the government's Family Assistance Office.

The federal opposition is planning on implementing all these ideas when it obtains office (which may be within a year, based on current polling) to roll out its fiscal agenda for Australia's future.

By reducing taxes and minimising red tape, the Coalition believes that small businesses can prosper and run more efficiently to drive a stronger Australian economy.