COSBOA welcomes new Small Business Minister but seeks answers from Govt

TODAY, the Council of Small Business of Australia (COSBOA) welcomed the announcement that Michael McCormack MP will be the new dedicated Small Business Minister. However, COSBOA stressed its concern that the small business portfolio has moved from Cabinet.

Peter Strong, CEO of COSBOA, praised the work of Minister Kelly O’Dwyer and hopes Mr McCormack can continue her hard work.

“Kelly O’Dwyer has been doing an exceptional job, but we understand that being the Assistant Treasurer, which will now be known as Minister for Revenue and Financial Services, is time consuming and we certainly don’t want Kelly burnt out.

"As a community of small business people, we are certainly aware of the importance of health and well-being,” says Mr. Strong.

“Mr McCormack has the confidence of the sector, however we are disappointed the portfolio has moved from cabinet and we will be seeking answers to why this has happened. Small business is powerful, employing around five million Australians and driving the country’s economy, so why has the portfolio moved? What’s happened and what pressures have caused this, perhaps big businesses and unions, are in play? In our opinion this is a step backwards for small business,” states Mr Strong.

COSBOA have highlighted some of the key issues for small business and for the future of the Australian economy, the key points are as follows:

• Competition policy and the enacting the Effects Test
• Creating a viable and effective vocational education and training system
• Confronting the two tiered workplace relation system that see big businesses and big unions manipulating legislation for their benefit not the benefit of workers or of the economy
• Inclusion of the self-employed in the health framework particularly for mental health
• Confronting manipulation of policy by these big businesses and unions
• Creation of a more efficient superannuation collection process

Peter Strong concluded, “We look forward to working with Mr. McCormack and progressing good policy for small business.”

He also adds: “We would also like to congratulate Senator Matthew Canavan on his appointment to cabinet, as he is a true champion of community and small business.”

For more information visit: http://www.cosboa.org.au

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