The State Coalition has focused on reducing costs, cutting red tape and reforming industrial relations in its small business policy released this week.
The State Coalition has focused on reducing costs, cutting red tape and reforming industrial relations in its small business policy released this week.
A centerpiece of the small business launch was the Coalition’s industrial relations policy, originally released last July.
Opposition leader Colin Barnett said he would introduce industrial relations legislation allowing for more flexible working arrangements to assist small businesses that currently incur penalty rate costs when they operate outside normal business hours.
Small business spokesman Dan Sullivan said the Coalition would also implement measures to ease the cost burden on small businesses and assist them reduce and navigate through government red tape.
“The Coalition will develop a new trouble-shooter service within the Small Business Development Corporation to help small and medium enterprises tackle regulations and red tape,” Mr Sullivan said.
“We will also work with small business to reduce red tape and remove barriers to business growth, as well as introduce a comprehensive package of legislation to protect small business tenants from unconscionable conduct.”
The Coalition plans legislation to protect against predatory pricing and unconscionable conduct in business-to-business dealings.
The policy does not make any reference to tax reform, which is surprising since the Coalition has repeatedly claimed that payroll tax changes adopted by the Gallop Government have hurt small business.
Mr Barnett has stated in the past that he would ensure future payroll tax changes are weighted in favour of small business.
Nevertheless, Mr Sullivan claimed the Gallop Government’s tax and industrial relations policies have attacked the fundamentals of small business.
“Labor’s policies in key areas such as taxation, industrial relations and workers’ compensation have hurt small business, making it even harder for owners to create jobs and contribute to the economy,” Mr Sullivan said.
Specific measures in the small business policy, which will cost $10 million over four years, include abolishing the $75 business name renewal fee.
The Coalition has pledged support for business enterprise centres, which have been the subject of an as-yet incomplete review.
It proposes opening a new business enterprise centre in Wanneroo and maintaining operational grants at current levels.
The Coalition proposes to establish a business placement program to encourage university and TAFE students to undertake practical internships in WA businesses.
It also intends to rejig government tendering and procurement to ensure all small businesses have more opportunity to participate.
Under the Gallop Government, government purchasing has been centralised, which is expected to generate big savings but arguably at the expense of small suppliers, particularly in regional areas.
Another Coalition proposal is a workers’ compensation system that provides fair and adequate compensation for injured workers and facilitates the earliest possible return to the workforce.
