SMALL businesses across the state say that they need a “hand up” not a “hand out”, according to Deputy Leader of the NSW Labor Party and Shadow Minister for Energy, Industrial Relations and Small Business, Adam Searle.
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Mr Searle visited the campaign office of Goulburn’s State Labor candidate Dr Ursula Stephens for afternoon tea on Monday.
He also sat down with local Corrective Services officers to discuss changes to Workers Compensation laws and attended a ‘Politics in the Pub’ forum along with President of the Asbestos Diseases Foundation Australia (ADFA), Barry Robson, which was held at the Tattersalls Hotel on Monday evening.
Mr Searle heard from small business owners that there were continuous problems that have plagued them for so long.
“Issues they addressed with me included the amount of red tape, dealings with larger businesses, landlords and the like,” he said.
“Of course Labor in this term of Parliament has proposed a number of solutions.
“When I became the Shadow Minister for Small Business I spoke with a number of small business owners across the state about what they needed.
“The government had promised to appoint a Small Business Commissioner, which they did, but they gave her no role. She had no powers and no legislation.”
Mr Searle outlined Labor’s plan to increase the role of the Small Business Commissioner (SBC).
“We have introduced a bold plan to give the SBC real ‘teeth’ to support small businesses,” he said
“And we propose giving small businesses extra legal protections from unfair commercial practices and contracts.
“The government blocked that in parliament. I’ve got no problems with the SBC the Liberals appointed, but the impression I’ve been getting from small businesses is that they actually need somebody to give them a ‘hand up’ not someone just ‘handing out’ government propaganda or information.”
Mr Searle said that Dr Stephens was a formidable candidate for the seat of Goulburn.
“I believe Dr Stephens is giving Pru Goward a run for her money,” he said.
“Ms Goward and the Liberal Party have taken Goulburn for granted for far too long.
“I’ve been meeting with both individuals and groups from the electorate and the strong feedback I’ve been getting is they feel the State Government has neglected them, because it has been such a safe seat for so long.
“They have a lot of discontent across a range of issues, and obviously relevant to my portfolio I’ve been speaking to people about small business issues.”
