Greens focus on small business in WA

The Australian Greens have announced a plan to ease the pressure on small business by expanding tax breaks and strengthening the role of the national Small Business Commissioner.

Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam said The Greens’ plan to lower the company tax rate from 30% to 28% for companies with turnovers of less than $2 million dollars would be a huge boost for small business in Western Australia.

“There are more than 211,000 small businesses in Western Australia – that’s more than 95% of businesses in our state – and they will benefit greatly from our reform plan,” said Senator Ludlam.

“95.1% of businesses in Western Australia have less than 20 staff, and 84.2% of business in Western Australia have fewer than five staff.  That’s a huge proportion of the state’s businesses, yet small business continues to be neglected by the Liberals and Labor alike.

“Despite their rhetoric, when it comes to concrete policy Labor and the Coalition ignore the pressures faced by small businesses.  Only The Greens have a comprehensive plan to support the sector that employs more than five million Australians.

“In early 2013 our legislation to empower the Federal small business commissioner was rejected by the Liberals, the Nationals and Labor despite stakeholder support for the proposed reforms.

“The Greens recognise small business does a lot for the Western Australia - which is why we are lowering tax rates, expanding tax breaks, and providing extra funding and legislative powers for the national Small Business Commissioner.

“Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott should back our plan to encourage investment in small business and help strengthen our economy,” said Senator Ludlam.

The Greens small business reform package: http://peter-whish-wilson.greensmps.org.au/sites/default/files/small_business_initiative.pdf

The Greens plan for lower tax for small business: http://peter-whish-wilson.greensmps.org.au/sites/default/files/small_business_tax_cut.pdf