Name tax slammed

THE State Opposition has slammed the Government’s plan to reintroduce the business name fee, saying it will cost the small business sector an extra $2.4 million annually.

Consumer and Employment Minister John Kobelke entered new legislation to Parliament last week that reintroduces the business name fee that was scrapped by the Liberal Government in 2001.

Deputy Opposition leader Dan Sullivan said the Labor Government was unsuccessful in attempting to introduce the fee by regulation last year.

“The Gallop Labor Government is showing its contempt for the small business sector by attempting to reintroduce this impost after being defeated in Parliament once already,” he said.

The proposed legislation would require WA business owners to pay a $75 renewal fee every three years. There is now a one-off business name registration of $103 but no fee for its renewal.

Mr Kobelke said the extra cost would create a more efficient system for business and Government.

“The renewal fee deters non-operating businesses from renewing a business name but the absence of a fee has the opposite effect by allowing names to be hogged by businesses which are no longer operating,” he said.