MARK ALDRIDGE

Small business reform 

Mark M Aldridge Independent Candidate for the Senate and small business operator for over 20 years believes in the importance of small business as both a life style choice and a major employer and contributor to the Australian economy.

The many hard working, men and women of Australia’s small business sector, take substantial risks and create jobs right across the economy.

So where is the government that supports and understands them, says Mark The Coalition are promising to cut company tax from 30 per cent to 28.5 per cent, which is nothing but a vote buying exercise, which goes no where far enough to make up for years of added costs and red tape, said Mark.

Issues like easier access to affordable capital, income support in times of financial need and a reduction in red tape, would go a long way to re-invigorating the sector.

The company sectors that employ the most employees by total number, receive the majority of the governments attention, yet dare they forget that small business are the largest employer. 

The Coalition’s paid parental leave, may well help small business attract and retain workers, but also opens the door to added costs in regards to replacement training, Small businesses, independent contractors and the self-employed in most are doing it hard, with the onset of on-line sales and the disparity with overseas labor costs, proving a huge hurdle, couple this with huge increases in over heads, and more action is needed to ensure their long term viability, says Mark.

As an Independent candidate and operator, I would have to loose everything I own before I could access any support services, as such ending up a burden to the economy, rather than the much more economical idea of support services, which currently do not exist.

My running mate and I, will demand small business access to Commonwealth contracts, also added scrutiny on Local government departments and agencies to use tender procedures and procurement practices that do not disadvantage small business participation, and instead, actively encourage local participation.

There has been a serious issue with State Governments awarding contracts out of state, with the sole idea of saving a buck, rather than supporting the local work force, which is not good enough said Mark.

Other simple changes like ensuring government departments and agencies pay small business in a timely manner are simple but effective, the lowering of stamp duties, and equity of land tax rates across the states would go a long way to allowing small business and the self employed to invest more in future growth.

With the governments habit of telling us how to spend what little hand outs we do receive and the labyrinth of increasing regulations and red tape, there is little wonder the sectors are doing it hard.

The LPG rebate did not apply to those who would have benefited the most, especially considering small business and the self employed do the most miles, investment in cost saving and environmental measures should also be rewarded, rather than becoming another cost to those already wearing most of the burden, Mark concluded.

Mark M Aldridge Senate candidate for the only Independent Group in South Australia Vote 1 in Box B, the only Blank Box on the Ballot paper. 08 82847482 / 0403379500