Small business party would have instant political clout

SMALL businesses are the lifeblood of our city and I admire the efforts of Paul Donovan, the chair of Destination GC.

Clearly this man seems to have his finger on the pulse, however it is not just about tourism.

The length and breadth of the GC is a plethora of SME businesses from small to large enterprises. Families rely on such businesses for employment. The business owners are now governed by mountains of red tape dished out by the council, State and Federal Governments.

It is all very well to look at tourism support but what about the rest of the small businesses?

The medical professions have a guaranteed income subsidy from Medicare, child care centers have guaranteed income through the Child Care Subsidy, unemployed have a guaranteed income and the list goes on, and what about the farmers and all their subsidies?

Well who carries the risk for the small business owner?

You guessed it, the owner of the business, who more often than not works long hours, puts their family home at risk etc, while unscrupulous landlords charge, in the most part, exorbitant rents.

Banks say “come to us we will help the SME operator” but we all know that is ‘BS’. The governments offer start-up subsidies which are impossible to get and they offer employment subsidies for new employees that are paid in arrears and really not worth the effort.

In politics we have the Coalition party (Liberal and National), we have Labor, One Nation etc. All these parties say they are on the side of small business but what do they really offer? Nothing but lip service. It’s time for change.

I say it is high time for a SME united political party that represents the small business operator and their families and employees. Can you imagine the votes they would draw? There would be a landslide vote and new Federal and State representation in no time at all.

Maybe Paul Donovan is the man to lead a SME United Party to government!

There must be a better deal out there for the SME employer, not give heavy tax benefits or subsidies to the big end of town.

I say small business counts or nothing counts!