Just Embarrassing - Small Business

After promising to release the NSW Labor Government’s Small Business Strategy and Small Business Charter in 2023, Member for Kiama, Gareth Ward, says that it’s still nowhere to be seen.

Mr Ward asked about the government’s election-pledge to small businesses in Parliament last year, only to be told that plans would be released by the end of 2023. (See QONs: 1569 - SMALL BUSINESS BUREAU AND SMALL BUSINESS CHARTER (nsw.gov.au) and 1568 - NSW SMALL BUSINESS STRATEGY 2023-26).

Mr Ward has used Parliament last week to ask the Minister why he hasn’t delivered on this promise to small businesses across NSW (See QON: 2408 - SMALL BUSINESS REPORTS NSW.

“This Minister is beyond hopeless. He hasn’t even managed to update the name and photo of the Government’s website from the last person to be the Minister for Small Business (See Minister's foreword: NSW Small Business Strategy 2023-2026),” Mr Ward said.

“If Kamper can’t deliver ‘a document’ on time, how can he be expected to step up and deliver on the challenges facing small businesses across our State? Clearly, small business just isn’t a priority for this Minns Labor Government.

“What an absolute laughingstock. You’ve got Labor in Canberra criminalising employers for contacting staff after-hours and State Labor cares so little about small business they can’t even update a document that already exists.

“Power prices, commercial rents, staffing awards, costs of materials are all going up and it’s getting harder and harder to run a small business.

“I want to hear from this government about how it’s going to make it more attractive to run a business in NSW. I’d like to know their plan for regulation and red tape reduction, tax reduction and small business support.

“But we have no clue about any of that because this government doesn’t have a plan and they just don’t care.

“Having grown up in a small business family, I care about small business, and I’ll continue to fight for people who are the backbone of regional economies,” Mr Ward concluded.

https://assets.nationbuilder.com/garethward/pages/1072/attachments/original/1707783440/20240213_GW_MedRel_JustEmbarrassing.pdf?1707783440

Image:  https://www.nsw.gov.au/working-and-business/nsw-small-business-strategy-2023-2026/ministers-foreword