WA Govt rates best among small business

The Barnett governmet is more popular with small business than either the federal government or its peers in other states.

New research by MYOB has found small businesses in the west are relatively satisfied with the state government’s performance; 19 per cent were quite satisfied and 8 per cent were very satisfied.

The research also found that 37 per cent were dissatisfied with how the state government has performed, but that was noticeably lower than in every other state.

More than half of small businesses in both Queensland and South Australia are unhappy with the support provided from their state governments.

Despite the level if dissatisfaction in Queensland, it has actually been an improvement since the last survey was undertaken in the March 2012 quarter. That period saw the Liberals' Campbell Newman replace Labor's Anna Bligh as Queensland premier.

Meanwhile the research has found almost three in five small to medium business operators are unhappy with the federal government’s support, and only one in six were satisfied.

The level of dissatisfaction has soared in the last two and a half years; in the quarter to March 2010 38 per cent of survey respondents were unhappy with the federal government – that has now increased to 57 per cent and is the highest level of dissatisfaction since MYOB began its surveys.

MYOB chief executive Tim Reed said it appeared policies introduced by the federal government, such as the carbon tax, have affected sentiment from business owners.

“The tax loss carry-back scheme is generally seen as positive, but the carbon tax is deeply unpopular amongst business owners,” Mr Reed said.

“It is difficult to know if these factors are driving their negative view of the government, or whether it is simply that many businesses are doing it tough.”

The MYOB research surveyed 1,004 business owners and managers across Australia.