WHEN I’m out and about in the electorate one of my favourite things to do is to speak with small business owners.
It was an honour to attend the Beenleigh Yatala Chamber of Commerce AGM last Friday (September 20) and gauge the temperature of our local businesses and see how they’re doing.
They’re part of the lifeblood that makes Forde so great.
They employ our kids, support their community and make things tick.
But moods have changed.
Conversations are more sombre than they used to be.
The incumbent governments at both Federal and State levels like to spruik how much they’re giving to you.
Tax cut for every taxpayer, electricity rebates etc.
We’ve heard the slogans.
But it’s simply a case of giving with one hand and taking back with the other.
It’s their attempt at sleight of hand.
Twelve interest rate hikes since May 2022 is taking a toll – both on homeowners and business owners.
I can’t talk to a single business owner who doesn’t tell me they’re drowning in red tape and bureaucratically complex nonsense.
I was lucky enough to meet with Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson during the last sitting week in Canberra.
He didn’t speak glowingly about the health of Australian small businesses.
Since Labor formed Government, electricity costs are up 14 per cent – even after rebates – and gas is up 33 per cent.
Australian small businesses now pay among the most expensive energy bills in the world.
Council of Small Business Organisations Australia, just very recently, confirmed what many small and family business owners knew in May – the Albanese Government’s $325 energy bill relief band-aid will barely have an impact.
The Howard Government did a great job in articulating the Liberal Party’s support for Aussie “battlers”.
Because of an Albanese led Government – people have never battled harder. Businesses have never had to battle harder.
More than 11,000 small businesses in Australia became insolvent in 2023/24 alone.
An LNP Government will get Australia and our economy back-to-basics, and I believe that is good for you and for our businesses.
