Shadow Minister Media Releases
Westpac Report Confirms NSW Small Business Suffering With Too Much Red Tape ( 12/05/2008)
A recent report released by Westpac confirms that NSW small businesses spend more time on red tape than any other state.
Shadow Minister for Small Business and Regulatory Reform, Don Page, said that according to the report NSW businesses spend up to 5 hours a week more than their Queensland counterparts on complying with the onerous demands of this NSW Labor Government’s red tape.
The Report states that NSW small businesses on average spend 20 hours a week on administration and red tape compared to 15 hours in Queensland.
“Twenty hours of administration and red tape per week is way too much for any small business to suffer,” he said.
“Whilst all small businesses must comply with Federal Regulation the extra time taken in NSW is directly attributable to red tape in NSW,” Mr Page said.
“The Iemma Government’s failure in refusing to adopt the ‘one on-one off’ policy that the Coalition strongly support on new regulations is disappointing, especially in light of this report,” Mr Page said.
“NSW Small businesses are also struggling with the highest taxes of any other state or territory. It is not possible for many of them to follow the reports recommendations of paying consultants to handle the red tape.
“The ‘one on-one off’ policy of the NSW Coalition is supported by the small business community and acts as a form of discipline on bureaucrats intent on creating more red tape,” he said.
“Three quarters of small businesses report they are sacrificing personal time to comply with NSW regulation. The burdensome regulations in NSW are not only affecting the productivity of small business, but are also having an effect on family and personal lives.
“Their rejection of the ‘one on-one off’ policy proves the NSW Government is not concerned about cutting red tape in this State,” Mr Page said.
